innocent lotus flower

WEN QING THOUGHTS

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"So the therapist can't do anything except wait for him to come back to himself? That's preposterous," Wen Ning said as he entered, his expression tight with frustration. "The first treatment for someone who dissociates is talk therapy—psychotherapy. It's used to guide someone gently out of their emotional state through discussion, listening, and counseling. If that doesn't work, then other steps can be taken. But Xiao Zhan..." Wen Ning's voice softened. "He likely dissociated as a form of defense. Right now, he's hiding in his mind, seeing everything around him as dangerous."

"Exactly," Wen Qing agreed. She stood by the window, arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Which is why I find it strange that the therapist just said to wait. I called someone else to get a second opinion—they should be here in ten minutes. He also thought the diagnosis was odd and wanted to see Xiao Zhan himself before coming to any conclusions."

She turned to face Lan Wangji, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Which brings us to you. There has to be a reason why Jiang Cheng was able to get Xiao Zhan's number. But beyond that—the therapist’s diagnosis was questionable, and then I found this."

From her pocket, she pulled out a small, empty vial and held it up.

Lan Wangji leaned closer. "What's that?"

"Methoxetamine," she replied flatly.

Wen Ning gasped. "What?"

"Why is that bad?" Lan Wangji asked, confused.

Wen Qing’s voice took on a dangerous edge. “Under normal circumstances, it might not be severe. But for someone in a dissociative state? It’s disastrous. It aggravates the condition. Worse still, it's highly addictive. The therapist gave this to Xiao Zhan after sending me on a false errand—now that I think back. But I returned unexpectedly and startled him. He dropped this, and I saw it. Later, I found a freshly made pinhole on Xiao Zhan’s arm, confirming it had been administered.”

Her eyes darkened. “And during my entire time in the room before then, no medication was given. That means it was done when I was away. It’s not a coincidence. So I knew I had to get you involved.”

“Get me involved?” Lan Wangji repeated, almost in a whisper, trying to follow her logic.

Wen Qing turned to Wen Ning. “A-Ning, where’s Yuan?”

She had deliberately ignored Lan Wangji’s question to give him a moment to breathe. She’d seen the way his face shifted when Wen Ning walked in—as if he expected Yuan to be with him.

Lan Wangji didn’t ask about Yuan immediately. He had assumed Wen Ning would mention it, but now it struck him. He hadn’t thought to ask, unsure whether Yuan had started daycare or was simply left at home. He didn’t know the siblings well enough to press. Still, it had been the first thought that crossed his mind.

He took in their tired faces. The night had been long for them.

Wen Ning, with his gentle aura and soft features, looked almost like someone who belonged in a boyband rather than in the thick of a crisis. His tall, slightly lanky frame and comforting presence gave off an aura that would attract others. Yet, Lan Wangji reminded himself that appearances could be deceiving.

What disturbed him more than anything was the irrational jealousy that stirred in his chest. In this moment of crisis, Xiao Zhan hadn’t called him. He had relied on Wen Qing and Wen Ning instead. Lan Wangji knew it wasn’t the time for such feelings, but they clung to him stubbornly.

Wen Ning’s reply interrupted his thoughts. “Yuan is with our grandmother,” he said softly.

That seemed to relax Wen Qing.

Lan Wangji nodded, letting himself accept that. After all, he was still just an outsider—skirting the edges of something he hoped to rebuild. If he made the wrong move now, it could unravel everything he had started to repair with Xiao Zhan.

He looked at Wen Qing. “Are you trying to imply someone is behind this?”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s not a difficult deduction. One thing is clear—you led them to Xiao Zhan. This wasn’t meant to hurt him; it was aimed at you. Think about it. If they really wanted to harm Xiao Zhan, they’d have used poison, not a drug that worsens his condition without killing him. This was a warning—to you.”

Her words struck him like a blow. Lan Wangji stumbled backward, sinking into a chair. His vision blurred for a moment as he tried to process it.

Wen Qing caught the shift and quietly signaled Wen Ning to return to Xiao Zhan’s room. They couldn’t afford to leave him unattended for too long.

Lan Wangji sat there, stunned. “So what do I do now?”

Wen Qing opened her mouth to answer—but the twinkle of the front door chimes interrupted her.

A visitor had arrived.

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Hi everyone,

Hope you had a good day! I'm really sorry for the short chapter—I’ll try to make it longer tomorrow. Please don’t hesitate to drop your thoughts or questions in the comments; your input helps me improve the story and catch any holes I might have missed!

Thank you so much 💜

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