Moonlit Hearts

Chapter 69: Three Doors and a Kiss

The first light of dawn filtered softly through the leaves. Wangji's eyes fluttered open, his body heavy and unfamiliar beneath him. He lay sprawled on the cool grass of the garden, the scent of earth and blooming jasmine filling his senses.

A voice, low and urgent, pulled him from the haze.

"Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan, where are you?"

Wei Ying's voice was low but urgent, threaded with worry. It pulled at something inside Wangji, stirring him fully awake.

He sat up slowly, brushing dirt from his sleeves as the memories of last night came back: the vial Wen Qing had given him, the agreement with Xuanyu, the time he had promised to give him freedom, the quiet moments shared without fear or battle.

But he had never meant to disappear, never meant to worry them.

Wei Ying burst into view, breathless, eyes wide and wild with worry.

The moment their eyes met, Wei Ying froze. For a heartbeat, he didn't move. Then he rushed forward, dropping to his knees before Wangji.

"You-! Are you you?" he demanded, hands already reaching for Wangji's shoulders, his jaw trembling.

Wangji nodded, quietly. "I'm me."

Wei Ying's hands gripped tighter before releasing with a soft exhale, as if he'd been holding his breath for hours. He cupped Wangji's face, brushing his thumbs against his cheeks.

"Lan Zhan... what the hell," he breathed. "I woke up and you were gone. The bed was cold. You never came back."

Wangji frowned slightly. "I didn't want to wake you."

Wei Ying's mouth opened-then closed. His gaze dropped to Wangji's hands, then scanned his body, as though checking for bruises or breaks.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, softer now. "Did it work? The vial? Is Xuanyu-?"

"It worked," Wangji said gently. "Perfectly. Xuanyu and I spoke. There was no fight. He returned control willingly." A pause. "I was simply... tired. I fell asleep here."

Wei Ying blinked, the worry still not fully gone from his face.

"I thought something went wrong. That he took over and you couldn't come back. Wen Qing didn't tell me about the potion until this morning. We've all been searching. I thought I'd lost you-"

"You didn't." Wangji reached up, took Wei Ying's hand, and pressed it against his heart. "I'm right here."

Wei Ying's expression crumpled, just a little. He leaned forward, wrapping his arms tightly around Wangji's shoulders and burying his face into the crook of his neck.

"Idiot," he mumbled against his skin. "Next time leave a note. Or shake me awake. Or throw a rock at my head. Anything."

Wangji's arms wrapped around him just as tightly. "I'm sorry."

"You should be," Wei Ying grumbled-but he wasn't pulling away.

They stayed like that for a while, quiet in the gentle hush of morning, wrapped in each other beneath the trees.

Then Wei Ying tilted his head back, studying him with a gaze that was still soft with lingering panic. "So... you and Xuanyu really didn't argue?"

"No," Wangji said, brushing a strand of hair behind Wei Ying's ear. "We agreed on everything. We even made a plan for next time. He kept his word."

Wei Ying leaned in, eyes fluttering closed as he pressed a kiss to Wangji's lips-slow, lingering, and full of silent relief.

"Good," he whispered, forehead resting against Wangji's. "Because I'd really like to see what you're both like when you're not trying to destroy yourselves."