Changing Fates: The Second Chance [under editing]

Chapter 3: The Weight of Silence

The Weight of Silence :

The next few days passed in a blur for Wei Wuxian. Despite his best efforts to keep his distance, he found himself constantly under the watchful eyes of the Lan sect members—especially the brothers, Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji. Their presence was subtle, but Wei Wuxian could feel their concern and curiosity lingering in the air.

Lan Xichen, ever warm and gentle, had been trying to talk to him more frequently, while Lan Wangji remained the silent observer, his unreadable gaze always finding Wei Wuxian in the quiet moments. It was becoming harder to avoid them, and with each encounter, Wei Wuxian felt his anxiety grow.

He had lived through the war, seen the devastation, and carried the burden of choices he couldn’t undo. Now, back in a time where none of it had yet come to pass, he felt utterly lost. He had returned to change things, to protect everyone—but the weight of the future was suffocating, and he had no one to confide in.

One evening, after yet another round of punishment for breaking Lan sect rules—this time for wandering the grounds after curfew—Wei Wuxian sat by the river outside the Cloud Recesses, watching the water flow endlessly. His mind raced with memories of the future he had escaped. The bloodshed, the betrayal, the unbearable loneliness.

He traced the faint scar on his wrist, the one that no one had noticed yet. A silent reminder of how close he had come to ending it all once before.

“Why did I even come back?” he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. “Can I really save them all?”

As he sat there, lost in his thoughts, the sound of soft footsteps approached. Wei Wuxian didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. He could sense Lan Wangji’s presence, his quiet strength filling the air around him.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Wei Wuxian continued to stare at the water, while Lan Wangji stood a short distance behind him, watching with his usual stoic expression.

Finally, Lan Wangji broke the silence with a single word. “Wei Ying.”

Wei Wuxian tensed, his heart skipping a beat at the sound of his name. There was something about the way Lan Wangji said it, with such quiet intensity, that made it feel like a question, a command, and a plea all at once.

He didn’t turn around. “What is it, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian’s voice was softer than usual, lacking its typical playful lilt. He felt exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

“Mhm,” Lan Wangji responded, but there was no further explanation. He stood there, simply watching, as if his presence alone could offer Wei Wuxian some form of comfort.

Wei Wuxian closed his eyes, trying to steel himself against the emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. He didn’t want to show any weakness in front of Lan Wangji—not now, not ever. But the weight of his past, the guilt that gnawed at him day and night, was becoming too much to bear.

“Why are you following me?” Wei Wuxian asked quietly, his voice almost trembling.

Lan Wangji didn’t answer immediately. When he finally spoke, his words were soft but firm. “You are… different.”

Wei Wuxian let out a humorless chuckle. “Different, huh? I guess I’ve changed.”

“Mhm.”

The simplicity of Lan Wangji’s response only made the ache in Wei Wuxian’s chest worse. He had expected judgment, maybe even reprimand, but Lan Wangji’s quiet acknowledgment of his change cut deeper than any harsh words could have.

“I’m not the same person I used to be,” Wei Wuxian whispered, more to himself than to Lan Wangji. “I can’t be that person anymore.”

Lan Wangji’s gaze never wavered. He had sensed the turmoil in Wei Wuxian from the moment they meet in the Cloud Recesses. It was in the way Wei Ying avoided eye contact, in the way his laughter had become forced, and in the moments of silence where he seemed to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“I am… here,” Lan Wangji said softly, his words filled with a depth of meaning that only he could convey in so few syllables.

Wei Wuxian’s breath caught in his throat. Of all the people in this world, he hadn’t expected Lan Wangji to be the one to reach out to him. They had always been rivals, opposite in every way, and yet here was Lan Wangji, offering him silent support.

But Wei Wuxian couldn’t allow himself to lean on anyone, not even someone as steady as Lan Wangji. He had a mission to complete, a future to change, and getting close to anyone would only put them at risk.

“I appreciate it, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian said, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “But I’m fine. Really.”

Lan Wangji didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t press the matter. Instead, he simply nodded and took a step back, giving Wei Wuxian the space he clearly needed.

As Lan Wangji turned to leave, Wei Wuxian felt a pang of guilt. He didn’t deserve Lan Wangji’s kindness—not after everything that had happened, and everything that was still to come. But the part of him that had once sought comfort, the part that still longed for connection, wanted to reach out, to ask for help.

Before he could act on that impulse, a familiar voice called out from the distance.

“Wei Wuxian!” Jiang Cheng’s sharp tone cut through the air. “What are you doing out here?”

Wei Wuxian quickly wiped the emotion from his face, turning to face his brother with a grin. “Just enjoying the view, Jiang Cheng. No need to get all worked up.”

Jiang Cheng frowned, his gaze shifting briefly to Lan Wangji, who had now fully turned away. “You’re not causing trouble, are you?”

“Of course not,” Wei Wuxian replied with exaggerated innocence. “I’m on my best behavior.”

Jiang Cheng didn’t look convinced, but he sighed and waved his hand dismissively. “Come on. Shijie’s looking for you. She made soup.”

Wei Wuxian’s smile softened at the mention of Jiang Yanli. “Alright, alright. Let’s go.”

As they walked back toward the Cloud Recesses, Wei Wuxian felt Lan Wangji’s gaze linger on him for a moment longer before disappearing into the night. The burden of his secret still weighed heavily on him, but for now, he would keep moving forward, one step at a time.

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