The Mad Ҡìղց

Confession

Wanji's voice was soft, almost too quiet, but the weight of his words hung heavy. "I will tell Ayana to ask Father," Wanji said, his hands trembling slightly as they clenched and unclenched. "He has a soft spot for her. He'll tell her what you need to know. You don't need to stay here."

Wei Ying didn't move, his gaze fixed on the floor. Wanji continued, a bitter smile forming on his lips.

"I was happy when you came," Wanji said, voice cracking, "I thought you came to see me because you wanted to, not because you had to." He inhaled sharply, trying to steady himself. "I liked you from the moment you touched my hand, when we bumped into each other. It felt... right. I wanted more of that, and I loved you when you turned and protected me without a second thought."

Wei Ying's silence felt like a wall, impenetrable, and Wanji's heart sank further. He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his strength.

"I thought maybe you felt the same way about me," Wanji admitted, his chest tightening as the words tumbled out. "I'm sorry if I misunderstood. I shouldn't have kissed you."

With a shaky breath, Wanji stood up from the edge of the bed and bowed deeply, a full ninety degrees, before Wei Ying. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I won't bother you again after today."

The finality in his words echoed in the room, and Wanji straightened, his eyes avoiding Wei Ying's, knowing that the feelings were not mutual.

"Love?" Wei Ying asked, his voice filled with confusion and shock. He stared at the man before him, his mind racing. "Young Master Lan, you... you can't love me," he stammered. His voice trembled as he gestured with his hand, lifting it above his head. "You are up here." Then, he slowly lowered his hand to his ankle, his gaze dropping with it. "And I am down here."

The words hung heavy between them, but Wei Ying continued, determined to make his point. "The gap between us is huge. You need someone from a wealthy family, someone who matches your standards." His tone was insistent, his heart pounding as he tried to make Lan Wanji understand. "Please, don't lower your standards because of me. I'm not worth it."

Wei Ying's eyes shifted, filled with doubt and fear. He couldn't bear the thought of ruining Wanji's life, tarnishing his name. "It will only bring shame to your clan, and you can't do that to them," he added softly, the weight of his words sinking in. "Not after all they have done for you."

"Wanji," he muttered, his gaze fixed on the dirt beneath his straw sandals. "I have nothing to offer you. Not a single coin or a title. I'm just a slave boy." His voice trembled slightly, though his face remained emotionless. He lifted his eyes to meet Wanji, his sorrow weighing him down. "I guess the good life isn't meant for everyone."

Wanji stood in silence, his heart pounding in his chest. He had expected rejection, but not the words that Wei Ying had just spoken. He had prepared himself for indifference, maybe even a cold dismissal, but not this sense of self-deprecation, not this wide chasm that Wei Ying had placed between them as if it were an insurmountable divide.

"I don't understand," Wanji said quietly, "How could you think you're not worth it? How could you believe that you bring shame?"

Wei Ying shook his head, eyes downcast, unable to hold Wanji's gaze. "Because it's true," he replied softly. "You and I, we come from different worlds. Your family, the Lan clan—they have traditions, they have status. They've given you everything, trained you to be perfect, honorable, strong... and me, I'm... well, I'm just Wei Ying."

"You're not 'just' anything," Wanji interrupted, stepping forward. His voice was firm, but there was an underlying sadness in it. "You're clever, brave, and more capable than most people I know. You don't give yourself enough credit."