The Echo of Forgotten Dreams

Winter's Chill

It was a crisp December evening, the sky painted with swirling snowflakes as Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen drove home from the movies. The streets were quiet, lined with twinkling holiday lights, but the heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures were a reminder of the unforgiving winter.

Lan Xichen was focused on the road ahead, the windshield wipers working hard to clear the accumulating snow. Lan Wangji, sitting in the passenger seat, gazed out at the snow-covered park they were passing when something caught his eye.

"Xichen, slow down," Lan Wangji said, his voice calm but alert.

Lan Xichen eased his foot off the accelerator, glancing in the direction Lan Wangji was looking. On a park bench, partially hidden by the falling snow, was a figure—a teen, asleep and shivering in the bitter cold.

"Is that...?" Lan Xichen squinted through the snow. "A person?"

Lan Wangji's brow furrowed. "Yes. We need to check on them."

Without another word, Lan Xichen pulled the car over to the curb. The two brothers got out, the icy wind biting at their skin as they hurried toward the park bench. As they drew closer, they could see the teen was lanky and frail, using a backpack as a pillow, his body curled up to preserve warmth. A thin layer of snow had already settled over him.

The sight was heart-wrenching. The boy had no gloves, his fingers were red from the cold, and his old sneakers were taped together, with holes in his socks visible. He wore sweatpants that were not made for winter, and his upper body was only covered by a torn black sweatshirt and a red shirt that did little to fend off the freezing air. His lips were tinged blue, and his teeth were chattering uncontrollably.

Lan Wangji knelt beside the boy, gently shaking him. "Hey, can you hear me?" he asked, his voice soft but urgent.

The boy didn't stir.

Lan Xichen moved closer, his heart racing as he knelt to check the teen's pulse. It was faint but steady. "We need to get him out of here. He's freezing."

They moved quickly, lifting the boy as carefully as they could. His body was stiff from the cold, and his breath came in shallow puffs. As they placed him in the back seat of their car, Lan Xichen's eyes widened in recognition.

"It's Wei Wuxian," he whispered, glancing at his brother. "This is my student."

Lan Wangji, settling into the passenger seat again, was equally shocked. "Wei Wuxian? The same boy I gave the scholarship application to?"

Lan Xichen nodded, the gravity of the situation hitting him like a punch to the chest. He had known Wei Wuxian wasn't well-off, but this—this was much worse than he had ever imagined. How had Wei Wuxian fallen into such a dire situation, with no one to help him?

As Lan Xichen drove them toward their home, his mind raced with worry. "Do you think we should take him to the hospital? He's severely cold. What if..." He trailed off, not wanting to consider the worst.

Lan Wangji looked at the still form in the back seat. "He's stable, but we need to get him warm immediately. If he doesn't wake up soon, we'll take him to the hospital. But for now, let's take him home."

Lan Xichen nodded, trusting his brother's instincts. They drove in silence, the only sound the hum of the car and the soft breathing of the boy in the back seat. Neither brother could shake the image of Wei Wuxian, huddled on that park bench in the snow, so vulnerable and alone.

When they arrived home, Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen carried Wei Wuxian inside. They carefully laid him on the couch, covering him with blankets. His face was pale, his body still shivering despite the warmth of their home.

Lan Wangji fetched a warm cloth and began gently rubbing Wei Wuxian's hands and feet to stimulate circulation. Lan Xichen heated a pot of tea and prepared some soup for when the boy woke up, but both of them were on edge. Hours passed, and Wei Wuxian remained asleep, his body slowly warming but still not waking.

It wasn't until nearly 16 hours later that Wei Wuxian stirred. He blinked slowly, his eyes adjusting to the soft light of the living room. For a moment, he seemed confused, his mind groggy from the cold and exhaustion. He struggled to sit up, but his body was still weak.

Lan Xichen, who had been sitting nearby, immediately moved to help him. "Easy, Wei Wuxian. You're safe. You're with us now."

Wei Wuxian looked at him, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Lan Xichen...?" His voice was hoarse and barely audible.

Lan Xichen nodded, offering a reassuring smile. "Yes, it's me. And Lan Wangji is here too. We found you last night, asleep in the park. It was freezing out there."

Wei Wuxian's eyes widened in shock, the memory of the cold coming back to him. He looked down at the blankets wrapped around him, then at Lan Wangji, who was standing quietly by the doorway, watching over him like a guardian.

"I—I didn't mean to..." Wei Wuxian's voice cracked, shame flooding his expression. "I was just resting for a bit."

Lan Wangji stepped forward, his voice gentle. "You could have died out there, Wei Wuxian. It was below freezing."

Wei Wuxian lowered his gaze, his hands clutching the blankets. He had no explanation. He knew how dangerous it had been, but he hadn't had anywhere else to go. The shelter had been full, and he had run out of options.

Lan Xichen's voice was filled with concern. "Wei Wuxian, how long have you been living like this? You gave the restaurant your address, but no one knew where you were."

Tears welled up in Wei Wuxian's eyes, but he quickly wiped them away, refusing to let himself break down. "I... I've been staying wherever I can. The streets, the shelters. It's not permanent."

Lan Wangji's chest tightened at the words. He and his brother exchanged a look, both knowing that this situation couldn't continue. They couldn't let Wei Wuxian face such hardship alone any longer.

Lan Xichen spoke softly but firmly. "You don't have to go back to the streets, Wei Wuxian. You can stay here with us. We'll help you, I promise."

Wei Wuxian looked up at him, his eyes wide with disbelief. "You mean that? You'd really let me stay?"

Lan Wangji nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Yes. You're like family now."

In that moment, Wei Wuxian's defenses crumbled, and the weight of his struggle seemed to lift, if only a little. He nodded, grateful beyond words. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he wasn't completely alone.