Drunken Mistake

DM 48

Lan Wangji stood by the window of Lan Xichen's study, his sharp gaze fixed on the moonlit courtyard below. His brother's home was immaculate, as always, a mirror of Cloud Recesses' serenity. Yet tonight, the tranquility was an illusion. Beside him, Mianmian shifted nervously, her fingers twisting the hem of her scarf. 

 "What everything?" Lan Wangji's voice had been calm, but it sliced through the room like a blade.

 Mianmian hesitated, gripping her phone tightly as if it could shield her from his unrelenting stare. "It's not—" 

 "You were speaking to Xue Yang," Lan Wangji stated, his tone leaving no room for denial. 

 Mianmian's eyes widened, but she clamped her lips shut.

 Lan Wangji's gaze didn't waver. "I saw his car outside the Jingshi," he continued, his voice low. "Xue Yang found... him, didn't he?" 

 Mianmian opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her silence was damning. 

 Lan Wangji reached into his pocket, retrieving his phone with a measured precision that only made Mianmian more anxious. Without another word, he dialed Xue Yang. 

***

In the Jingshi, Xue Yang was sprawled on the couch, one leg slung over the armrest as he examined the latest logo draft. 

Wei Wuxian was pacing, his brows knit together in irritation. "Do you think she'll actually tell him?" Wei Wuxian asked, glancing at Xue Yang for the tenth time. 

 "She's not that reckless," Xue Yang replied lazily, but his smug grin faltered when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, and his expression shifted into something sharper. "Well, well," he said, sitting up. "Your husband's calling me." 

 Wei Wuxian froze mid-step. "Lan Zhan?" 

 Xue Yang raised a brow. "Who else? Let's see what he wants, shall we?" He answered the call, his voice slipping into its usual drawl. "Wangji, to what do I owe this honor?" 

 "Where is he?" Lan Wangji's voice was calm, but Xue Yang could hear the tension beneath it. 

 "Where's who?" Xue Yang replied, playing innocent. 

 "You were at the Jingshi," Lan Wangji said. "You found him, didn't you?" Xue Yang leaned back, shooting Wei Wuxian a look that screamed don't panic. 

"Are you already in Suzhou?" Xue Yang feigned ignorance.

"Yes, I went to meet Shufu at Hanshi," he stated demurely.

"Ah, so you noticed my car. I was just there for some business with your charming neighbor. He's got an eye for design, you know." Wei Wuxian clapped a hand over his face, muffling a groan. 

 "Do not lie to me," Lan Wangji said, his tone hardening. 

 "Lie?" Xue Yang's voice took on a mockingly wounded tone. "I'd never. But I'll admit, your little neighbor's fascinating. Artistic, clever... quite the conversationalist." He smirked, watching Wei Wuxian pace like a caged animal. "I can see why you'd be interested in him.... a lifetime ago" he added meaningfully.

 There was a long silence on the other end. 

Xue Yang's smirk widened. "But no, I didn't find whoever you're looking for. Just a bit of logo brainstorming. Nothing more, nothing less." 

 Wei Wuxian glared at him, mouthing, Logo brainstorming?! 

Xue Yang waved him off, keeping his tone light as he added, "You seem tense, Wangji. Maybe you should come visit your old home yourself. It might do you some good." 

 Lan Wangji's response was measured, but Xue Yang didn't miss the edge in his voice. "Do not meddle, Xue Yang." 

 "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," Xue Yang said smoothly. "Have a good night, Lan Zhan." He hung up before Lan Wangji could reply, tossing the phone onto the couch with a flourish. 

 "You're insane," Wei Wuxian hissed, his arms flailing in exasperation. 

 "Insanely good at keeping your secrets," Xue Yang shot back, his grin unapologetic. "You're welcome, by the way." 

 Wei Wuxian groaned, slumping onto the couch beside him. "He's going to figure it out sooner or later." Xue Yang shrugged. 

"Maybe. But until then, let's see if your precious Lan Zhan can handle the suspense." 

***

The air in Lan Xichen's study felt heavy, the late afternoon light casting long shadows that danced uneasily across the polished floor. Lan Wangji's jaw tightened as he ended the call, his grip on the phone white-knuckled. His eyes were darker than usual, filled with a storm he wasn't yet ready to unleash.

Mianmian shifted uneasily in her seat. The silence between them was suffocating. "Did he... confirm anything?" she ventured, her voice barely above a whisper. 

 Lan Wangji turned his gaze to her, sharp and piercing. "No," he said evenly, his tone betraying nothing. "But he's hiding something. Are you in on it?" 

 Mianmian's breath caught. The accusation in his words wasn't overt, but the weight of his scrutiny made her palms clammy. "I—" she started, faltering under his unrelenting stare. 

 This was dangerous. If Xue Yang was spinning a web of half-truths to protect Wei Ying's secret, she needed to weave her own thread to keep the illusion intact. Taking a steadying breath, she plunged ahead. "Xue Yang came to visit me at the hospital," she began, her voice deliberately calm.

 "I was with a patient at the time—your uncle brought him in. He called him A'Ying." Lan Wangji's posture stiffened, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. Mianmian forged on, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "He said A'Ying had memory gaps and nightmares. He wasn't even sure if that was his real name. I started counseling him to help piece things together." She hesitated, letting the pause hang just long enough to appear natural. 

"Apparently, his name—and Uncle Lan's presence—caught Xue Yang's attention. Curiosity got the better of him." Lan Wangji's expression didn't shift, but the silence in the room grew heavier. Mianmian pressed forward, each word chosen carefully, like navigating a minefield. "In one of our next sessions, A'Ying mentioned that Xue Yang had approached him. Told him I'd brought up his name in passing." She exhaled, her tone turning firm. "I warned A'Ying not to say anything about his past, but you know how persistent Xue Yang can be." 

 For a moment, the only sound was the faint ticking of the study's clock. Lan Wangji's gaze burned into her, his thoughts an enigma. Mianmian's heartbeat drummed in her ears, but she kept her face neutral, her posture unthreatening. 

 Finally, Lan Wangji spoke, his voice as cool as winter frost. "And now Xue Yang knows more than he should." 

 Mianmian's stomach churned. She didn't dare agree, didn't dare deny it. Instead, she forced a soft sigh, leaning into her role as a concerned counselor. "If he does, it's because he's too curious for his own good. But A'Ying trusts me. He listens when I tell him to be cautious." 

 Lan Wangji's gaze lingered on her for another long moment before he rose from his seat with an almost imperceptible sigh. "Curiosity can be dangerous," he murmured, his voice low. "For everyone." He turned to leave but paused at the door. 

"If there is more, you will tell me,"He said without looking back. 

 Mianmian nodded, the movement almost imperceptible. "Of course," she lied. 

 As the door clicked shut behind him, she let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Her mind raced. If Lan Wangji was already suspicious, it was only a matter of time before the truth began to unravel. Somewhere, probably with a wicked grin on his face, Xue Yang was improvising like his life depended on it. And Wei Ying? She could only hope he was ready for the storm brewing in Lan Wangji's mind.

A/N It's not a question of when, it's a question of how Lan Wangji finds out and how is he going to react to it. 

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