Drunken Mistake

DM 53

The warmth of the Hanshi pavilion seemed to wrap around Wei Wuxian like an old, familiar embrace, but the sight that greeted him was unexpected. Mianmian, poised elegantly at a table, glanced up with her trademark mischievous smile. Kneeling beside her was a man who could have been Lan Wangji's mirror, save for his warmer, more inviting gaze. His attire—beige shirt, brown slacks, and a matching waistcoat—gave him an air of understated sophistication.

Wei Wuxian froze mid-step, his heart skipping as recognition struck. "Huan Ge?" he called out, disbelief laced with nostalgia. Memories crashed over him like waves, vivid and unbidden.

Lan Xichen looked up, his own smile kindling in response. "A'Ying," he greeted, his voice deep and melodic, carrying the weight of years. "It has been so long. I'm surprised you recognized me."

Wei Wuxian's brows knitted for a split second. How would A'Ying recognize Lan Xichen without ever meeting Lan Wangji? Panic flickered, but Mianmian, ever the savior, interjected smoothly.

"It was my idea," she explained, her tone light. "I showed him pictures of everyone to jog his memory. We even tried hypnosis. It worked like magic."

Wei Wuxian's silent gratitude flickered in his eyes before he composed himself. "Ah, yes, Mianmian's ingenuity knows no bounds."

Before Lan Xichen could respond, Lan Qiren emerged from the study, clutching a stack of documents. His gaze was sharp as ever, though there was an undeniable warmth when he addressed Lan Xichen. "Is everything in order?"

"Yes, Shufu," Lan Xichen replied, standing to hand over the papers. "Since this project relies on its collaboration with the Lan Research Lab, your signature is indispensable."

Lan Qiren nodded, then turned his attention to Wei Wuxian, the faintest quirk at the corner of his mouth. "Lotus root soup, I hear. Cangse Sanren's famous recipe?"

Wei Wuxian laughed, scratching the back of his head. "I wouldn't call it her recipe exactly. I don't have it. It's something I've pieced together from memory. The family I stayed with had a similar dish, though theirs included pork ribs. I adapted it, especially since Ji Ge avoids meat."

The words slipped out before he could stop them, and Wei Wuxian bit his tongue, glancing nervously at Lan Xichen. Fortunately, Lan Xichen seemed oblivious to the slip.

Lan Qiren, however, wasn't. With a knowing look, he took a spoonful from the container Wei Wuxian had brought. His expression softened slightly as he tasted it. "It's close. Your mother used less cinnamon and more pepper, though I imagine you toned down the spice for a reason."

Wei Wuxian flushed, caught but not reprimanded. A servant quietly took the container to serve the soup into bowls, the warm aroma filling the pavilion.

Once everyone was seated, Lan Xichen broke the silence. "How have you been, A'Ying? How severe was your memory loss?"

Wei Wuxian hesitated, gathering his thoughts. "I remembered my name. Bits and pieces came to me in dreams—like glimpses of my room here in Hanshi. Er Ge, too. But beyond that...nothing. 

Tastes and smells, though—those stayed. The taste of Lan Clan porridge, for instance—it's always been my comfort food. And this lotus root soup, or at least the version my Jie made, reminded me of home."

Lan Xichen nodded thoughtfully. "That's natural. Taste and smell connect to memory in ways sight and sound can't. They utilize different parts of the brain."

Wei Wuxian smiled, grateful for the understanding. "And you, Huan Ge? How have you been?"

Lan Xichen chuckled, his laughter tinged with self-deprecation. "Me? I was fine, I suppose. When you vanished, I buried myself in work. It gave me an excuse to avoid the chaos you left behind. Lan Zhan was stubborn, Shufu was strict, and you..." He paused, shaking his head. "You were gone."

Wei Wuxian winced, the guilt threading through him like a dull ache. "The past is the past," he said softly. "We can only move forward."

Lan Qiren, silent until now, spoke. "How is Lan Wangji adjusting to Suzhou?"

Lan Xichen hesitated, glancing at Wei Wuxian as though seeking permission to speak. Wei Wuxian gave no indication of protest, so Lan Xichen continued. "He's staying in our guest room for now. We've finalized a building, and he plans to move on Monday. It's closer to Cloud Recess. He insisted on it."

Lan Qiren's gaze sharpened as it turned to Wei Wuxian. "Do you always insist on complicating things?"

Wei Wuxian sighed, the weight of the question pressing against his chest. He offered a tentative smile. "Er Ge is a complicated man. If I want to help him uncomplicate his life, I have to complicate mine first."

Lan Xichen's brow furrowed. "What exactly do you intend to do with Lan Zhan?" he asked, his voice carrying a warning. "He's married. In love with his partner. You have no right to interfere."

Mianmian burst out laughing, a loud, unrestrained guffaw that cut through the tension like a knife. "Oh, Lan Xichen," she said, wiping at her eyes. "You haven't guessed yet, have you?"

Lan Xichen turned to her, confusion clouding his features. "Luo Qingyang, just because Wangji is your old friend doesn't mean you can dredge up old wounds. You know how hard it's been for him to move on. He was a child, for heaven's sake. How long does everyone plan to punish him?"

Wei Wuxian shook his head, his smile soft but firm. "The only person punishing Lan Zhan is himself. First, with his pursuit of Ying'er, then with Mo Xuanyu, and now with this attempt to reconcile with his A'Ying. He's trying to make sense of his feelings for A'Xian."

Lan Xichen blinked. "How do you know about A'Xian?"

Wei Wuxian chuckled, the sound warm and light. "Because I am A'Xian."

The room fell into stunned silence. Lan Xichen's hand reached for his teacup, which he drained in one swift motion. "What?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"My adoptive parents in Beijing renamed me Wei Wuxian," Wei Wuxian explained. "That's how I met Ji Ge. He just hasn't pieced it all together yet."

Lan Xichen set his empty cup down with a deliberate motion. "What is going on?" he demanded.

Wei Wuxian leaned back, his expression calm despite the tension. "An attempt," he said, "to help Wangji overcome his guilt and embrace me for who I truly am—his past, his present, and, hopefully, his future."

Mianmian nodded, her grin cheeky. "Well said."

A/N A breather before we return to Lan Wangji's obsession and confusion

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