Soulmates are a thing?!

Part 2

               That night, Wei Wuxian barely slept with all the thoughts running through his head. He had honestly never considered getting married in his plans. Never considered the idea of being intimate with anyone. Sure, he was a known flirt, but he had never really been interested in anyone. His plans consisted of traveling and helping Jiang Cheng with the sect. What if he was a horrible husband, and his spouse grew to resent him? Shit! He wished Lan Zhan was there. He would have been able to rationalize all this with just a few words. After hours of restlessness, he fell asleep from exhaustion.

               A knock at his door woke him abruptly. He pulled the sleep from his eyes as he opened the door. His eyes widened, taking in the disheveled person in front of him, wide awake suddenly. Signature Lan's white robes were too bright, combined with the solemn face in front of him, had him thinking that Lan Wangji was there. This man's demeanor was gentler, and his eyes were two shades darker than Lan Wangji's honey-gold. There were bags under the man's eyes, and his hair seemed to have been put together in a hurry. 

             Yesterday's conversation came to his mind like a bucket of cold water. "Sect leader Xichen I take it our conversation is private? Right... Come in and allow me to at least get dressed." He stepped to the side to allow the man in and rushed behind the privacy screen to change. Exhaling harshly, he forced himself to relax and made a quick pot of his favorite tea for the table.

             Both drank at least one cup in silence before Wei Wuxian's nerves couldn't wait anymore. "Sect Leader Lan, am I to assume the marriage I heard of was requested by you? Who would I be marrying, and why me? Lan Qiren was quite happy to have kicked me out for good." His business face broke when the Lan Sect Leader bowed with his head on the floor. "Wei-Gongzi, please save my brother's life. I...Only you can save him." 

             Wei Wuxian felt his whole world tilt on its axis as he pulled the crying man into a hug, trying to imitate what his sister did to help him. "Hush now, Xichen'ge breath. I am right here, but I need you to breathe and explain so I can understand."

          Getting his emotions back under control in Wei Wuxian's comforting hold made Xichen appreciate what his brother saw in the man. This man was a warm and bright soul. He had no care for rules or etiquette if it helped someone else. 

          Lan Xichen pulled back into his seat to explain the situation." First, I want to say thank you. It has been a rough few days. Let me start by saying that the Lan clan's biggest secret is that we were blessed to recognize our soulmate at first sight. We normally let nature run its course since Lans only live once, and it is dangerous." Wei Wuxian looked at him, puzzled. "I see you are wondering why I would tell you this. Well, you happen to be my brother's soulmate. Knowing him, he would have never told you since he doesn't want you to end up like our mother."

            Wei Wuxian processed the information, stunned. He was Lan Zhan's soulmate?! Why was that not as worrying as it sounded? Actually, he had to admit that it made him feel warm and...was he pleased? Wait. Lan Zhan would have never told him. Was he not good enough to be his soulmate? Of course, he wasn't. Lan Zhan was the heir of the Lan clan, and he was just the head disciple son of a servant. His face must have shown his defeated thoughts since Xichen spoke up again.

             "Wuxian, another Lan secret is my mother. She was just like you, a cheerful, free spirit. My father met her when she was sentenced to death for murdering his teacher. He recognized her as his right away, and in a desperate attempt to save her life, he eloped with her. The elders were furious and punished both of them to separate seclusion. He could only see her once a month, and even then, she ended up loving him. When Wangji was born, to further punish her, he canceled his visits and only allowed her to see her children once a month. It... well, it broke her spirit, and she died of sadness when Wangji was only five years old. Since then he swore he would never trap his soulmate by his side. He doesn't want to clip your wings and prefers to see you smile while he watches from afar."

                Oh, Wei Wuxian understood now. His eyes glittered with tears, imagining a tiny Lan Zhan crying over his mother. His heart felt tight. It wasn't that Lan Zhan thought he wasn't good enough; it was that he wanted to protect him from his sect. According to Madam Yu, the contract made it so he was still the Jiang head disciple. Therefore, the elders couldn't touch him without insulting the Jiang sect. It was genius! "Why now, Xichen-ge?"

                  Lan Xichen looked at the floor sadly again, seeming to look for words, making Wei Wuxian worry. "Well... Wangji was cursed. It should have been a harmless trick, but because he already met you, it is no longer harmless. He has three months to consummate the soulmate link, or he dies. Before I left, he said he would rather die than besmirch your honor. Hence, my idea for a fast marriage. So please consider my proposal. I will come back tomorrow to get your answer. I wish I could give you more time, but time is not on our side." Xichen left quickly without looking back at Wei Wuxian.

               He was overwhelmed. First, he has a soulmate, then his soulmate is a man, more importantly, a man that acts like he hates him, and then he only has three months to have sex with Lan Zhan, or he dies...WHAT THE FUCK!!! 

                Needing some air, he bolts out of his room to the abandoned dock at the back of the sect. He sits on the edge, just staring at the calm water in the lake. He isn't quite sure how long he sat there stagnant when he felt someone sit on the dock beside him. His eyes almost popped out of his skull when he realized it was Madam Yusmiling sadly at him. "When you are sad or overwhelmed, you look just like your father."