Madam Yu made the boys train and study three times as hard that day after her irritating conversation with Qingheng-Jun. The toll on their bodies was so harsh that Lan Wangji felt they needed to use the cold springs to heal and replenish their energy. There was already someone there when they arrived. Wei Wuxian was too tired to care until he realized Lan Wangji was no longer at his side. The young man was frozen in place, staring at the man in the springs.
"Lan Zhan?" Wei Wuxian's call garnered not only Lan Wangji's attention but also the man's. He was now facing them, allowing them to see his features. Wei Wuxian was shocked, looking between both men repeatedly. The unknown male looked like an older Lan Wangji but with sad, haunted brown eyes. The man waved his hand towards the spring, motioning for them to join him.
Both boys stripped to their last two layers before walking into the water. Right away Wei Wuxian was shivering and cursing the cold while Lan Wangji looked unsure of what to do. The older man's soft voice drew their attention. " I can help if you like. Then I can teach you how to help him if you allow it." His soft words were directed to Lan Wangji the quality of it hinting that this man was unused to speaking.
Lan Wangji looked at the man wearily before taking note of Wei Wuxian's pale face and semi-blue lips. He nodded to the man slowly but watched his every move. The man didn't seem put off by Lan Wangji's distrustful demeanor; in fact, he seemed relieved to be allowed to do anything at all.
With slow, telegraphed movements, he closed the distance, standing in front of Wei Wuxian. He tapped the center of his forehead ribbon twice, then tapped where a ribbon would be on Wei Wuxian's forehead, and then moved away with a small smile. The effect was immediate. The freezing cold was no longer biting. It was now a cool caress against his skin, allowing Wei Wuxian's body temperature to return to normal.
He looked over at Lan Wangji and noticed his eyes wide with surprise while the older man seemed smug. To save some face for his lover, Wei Wuxian decided to speak. "Wow, thank you, elder... I'm afraid I don't know to who I owe my gratitude." The man smiled a small glimmering his previously dead eyes.
The man seemed to study Wei Wuxian before bowing his head in greeting. "Forgive my rudeness, young one. Seclusion takes a toll on formalities. I am out of practice. "This one is Qingheng-Jun, the father of Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji, at your service." Wei Wuxian's mind was racing all over the place. Lan Wangji was frozen in place again, staring at his father like he had randomly grown five heads.
"Father, I thought you had decided to stay secluded for the rest of your life." Was barely heard from Lan Wangji's shaky voice making Wei Wuxian grasp his lover's hand in solidarity.The man nodded solemnly. "I had, but an old friend of your mother came to inform me of the situation my youngest son found himself in. I had not been informed before. She told me to man up and stop the elders from meddling with you boys. Honestly, I believe she may castrate me if I fail to keep them at bay. Know I would have come out sooner had I been told my son needed help. " He finished with a fond smile and misty eyes looking over them.
Wei Wuxian could feel Lan Wangji shaking in his hold, so he squeezed his hand comfortingly before letting go. He walked to the shore, got dressed, and left, knowing neither man was paying him any attention at the moment. He rushed back to the Jingshi to give them the privacy they seemed to need. Madam Yu was waiting for him by the front door. She took one look at him and pulled him into a hug, rubbing gentle circles on his back.
He was happy that Lan Wangji was getting the chance to speak to his father, but it made him sad to realize he would never get a chance with his father. At least Madam Yu reminded him that he wasn't alone. He had her, his siblings, his betrothed, and even Lan Xichen now. She was actually trying to be a better maternal figure now, which he appreciated. She held him until he was calm.
" Wei Ying, we leave tomorrow. Pack your things tonight. Oh, pack Lan Wangji's things, too. He will stay with us until the wedding. You asked for a month, and I will give you a month. Don't worry; Qingheng-Jun will join us in a few days with a bride's gift, not bride price since you will remain part of the Jiang sect." He nodded, and Madam Yu patted his head before walking back to her room.
He meticulously packed a qiankun bag with Lan Wangji's clothes, incense sticks, some books, and a few headpieces he had noticed his lover wore often. Then, he repacked all his things less carefully. He was surprised to realize that he would miss the Jingshi after such a short time. Wei Wuxian took a bath and started working on some talismans he wanted to create.
He was determined to find a way to teleport reports instantly to make long-distance work easier. Lan Wangji was a clan heir, and Wei Wuxian was the first disciple. At that moment, Madam Yu was doing most of the paperwork since he was studying, but in two years, it would be all on him.
It was around eight o'clock when Wei Wuxian's hunger could no longer wait. With a heavy sigh, he sat at the table to eat alone. Lan Wangji arrived as he picked up his chopsticks. He looked gaunt and pale, with red teary eyes. Wei Wuxian dropped his chopsticks and ran to hug the other young man. The boy didn't react at all, so Wei Wuxian led him towards the bath and reheated the water.
Lan Wangji still stared into space with no reaction. Wei Wuxian, with worried eyes and a red face, undressed his future husband, leaving only his pants on. His skin was smooth as jade, with no imperfections apart from the cursed circle around his heart. Wei Wuxian forced Lan Wangji into the bath and gently began to wash his hair.
He was almost done when he saw Lan Wangji's shoulders relax, even though his mind still seemed somewhere far away. He carefully washed Lan Wangji's upper body with a small towel, looking into the boy's eyes, noticing that he was slowly resurfacing but not completely. He rinsed the soap off and pulled Lan Wangji out of the tube before gently wrapping him in a towel.
Gathering his courage, he pulled Lan Wangji's pants down under the towel without looking. He rushed off to get Lan Wangji's night clothes. In the room, Wei Wuxian yelled at himself for getting so flustered while trying to help his fiance. He put the night robes on the boy before finally looking at him. Lan Wangji's eyes were no longer hazy, but he looked so confused, lost, and young like he didn't know what to do with himself.
He gave Lan Wangji a comforting smile. "Don't worry, Lan Zhan. I will take care of you. Can you be a good boy for your Wei Ying and eat while I take care of your hair?" He sat behind Lan Wangji to gently unknot and comb his long hair. The man ate slowly and silently, but it was enough to ease Wei Wuxian's worry. He made sure Lan Wangji's hair was perfectly combed before he rushed to eat his food, almost choking on how fast he was trying to eat.
That whole time he could tell Lan Wangji's mind was still far away while his body moved to eat automatically. After eating, Wei Wuxian put all the plates together and led Lan Wangji to bed. It hurt him to see Lan Wangji in such a state. To be extra comforting, he laid Lan Wangji down on his chest, holding him close.
They stayed wrapped around each other for about twenty minutes without sleeping when Wei Wuxian spoke up. "Lan Zhan?" "Mn" "Madam Yu and I are going to kidnap you and I will show you all my favorite places in Lotus Pier. Let's give you a break from this place ok A-Zhan?" Lan Wangji's breath hitched at the address, and he wrapped himself tighter against Wei Wuxian. "Mn"
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Soulmates are a thing?!
FanfictionThe Lan clan is one of the few clans that was secretly blessed by the gods to recognize their soulmate at first sight. Lan Wangji has always considered this more a hinderance than anything. He refused to be like his father and trap his soulmate but...
