Lan Zhan grabs Wei Ying's hand as they're about to visit the guest house. They're finally done with the day and all their lessons, and now it's time to ask Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze if Wei Ying can go with Lan Zhan and his family to the conference in Nightless City.
"It will be alright, Wei Ying," Lan Zhan tells him. "They're reasonable people. They will understand."
"I dunno. They can be reasonable, and they might say yes, but I'm more worried that they'll catch on about us. I'm going to have to be super careful. And annoying! Again!" Wei Ying briefly buries his face in Lan Zhan's shoulder.
"Boys?" It's Uncle Qiren. "I thought I might join you for tonight's visit, if you don't mind. Let's go in," he says, marching past them and opening the door.
Wei Ying drags his feet but obediently walks in, not letting go of Lan Zhan's hand. "Do you think he heard us?"
Lan Zhan shrugs. It's hard to tell, and they should pretend everything is normal even if they're called out on it.
Inside the guest house, Lan Qiren is already pouring out tea into five cups.
"He's fast for an old man," Wei Ying mutters under his breath, before running to his mother and getting a boost from his father to climb up so he can sit next to her.
Wei Ying is a hundred percent aware of what a rare opportunity this is. Not only does he get to spend precious time with his parents, time that was stolen by their fates, but he gets to be loved well into his childhood, and that is a treasure few would understand.
Whilst living with the Jiangs in his previous life, Madam Yu never, ever failed to let him know what a burden he was, despite being one of the richest five families of the Cultivation world. She begrudged any mercy, any food and clothing, any affection he received from the other members of his so-called new family, to the point that he wondered if living on the streets would have been better than that.
To be adopted but not included in the book of their ancestors, to live little better than a servant, and to be expected to give up one's life for the sake of the others, was too high a price to pay in exchange for his well being. In that past life, Wei Ying had exchanged the threat of starvation and dogs for Madam Yu and her wrath, and he honestly couldn't say which was worse.
So if he wants more cuddles from his mother and his father, who can blame him?
"A-Ying, is that true? Do you want to accompany A-Zhan, their Uncle, and Lan Huan to Nightless City?"
His mother's gentle question brings him back to himself, and Wei Ying looks around the room in confusion, well aware that he's not been listening. Lan Zhan looks worried about him, as does Lan Qiren.
"Wanna go wiv Wan Zhan," he makes himself say, hiding his face out of embarrassment. He wants to throw up at the language he's forced to use, wondering how on earth anyone had the patience to deal with him, before.
"Qiren, to tell you the truth, I'm not comfortable with sending him there," Wei Changze says.
"Perhaps this is a conversation for later?" Cangse Sanren says, pointedly motioning with her eyes towards the youngest members of the room.
"My love, even if we send them outside, they'll just listen outside the window," Wei Changze laughs softly. "They might as well stay and learn about the place where they wish to go."
"It is a gathering of the biggest and best of its kind," Lan Qiren says, with a hint of sarcasm. "At least, according to the invitation. But we thought, because children from the other Sects will be there, Lan Huan was excited last night, when he was telling them about it. It will be a chance to make new allies and new friends. After all, they will be the next generation of cultivators."
