Untamed Feeling ( wangxian )

chapter fifty three 🫰

Whispers spread through the hall like an uncontrolled ripple.

“So it’s true… nobody burned paper money for Yiling Laozu.”

“It’s not surprising—everyone hated him.”

“But still… at the very least, shouldn’t his lover have paid him respect?”

“How could even the Second Young Master of Gusu Lan fail to burn a single piece of paper for him? —Did he truly love Wei Wuxian?”

“Hmph. All men are the same. Once their partner is gone, they move on.”

The murmurs grew bolder, sharper—each sentence cutting deeper than the last, making Lan Clan uncomfortable and Lan disciples quietly turned their gazes toward Lan Qiren, as though waiting for him to clear his throat and recite—by reflex—the Rules of the Cloud Recesses.

“Please have patience, and do not judge Wangji so hastily,” Lan Xichen said gently.

If Wangji truly did not care for Young Master Wei—if he did not love him—he would never have gone against the Lan Clan, nor would he have waited for him through so many years of solitude and silence.

Because the love that endured thirteen years of silence, guilt, punishment, and waiting, did not need paper money to prove its existence.

Lan Xichen wished he could explain to everyone, but some feelings were not meant to be spoken aloud by others. He understood the meaning behind his brother’s choices—understood why Lan Wangji never burned paper.

Among everyone present, Lan Xichen knew this best.After all, no one understood Lan Wangji more deeply than he did.

Jiang Yanli’s eyes were already red. She reached out, her gaze resting on Wei Wuxian with the same gentle affection she had always shown him.

“They’re just children,” she said softly, her voice trembling despite her effort to stay calm. “And… and you’re right. Once a person stops breathing, they don’t receive anything anymore. Don’t take their words to heart.”

She paused, then added quietly, with certainty rather than persuasion,
“And Second Young Master Lan truly devoted to you.”

Wen Qing, who had been watching Wei Wuxian closely, spoke up in support.“Exactly. It was a childish remark.” She glanced briefly at Wei Wuxian’s posture—the way his shoulders had stiffened ever so slightly.

Wei Wuxian blinked at both ladies, then smiled.“Shijie,” he said lightly, “since when did I become so fragile?”

He laughed, waved a hand, as if brushing away dust. Jiang cheng could only groan at Wei Wuxian's as usual non chalant behaviour.

Only Now did the juniors realize how cruel their words must have sounded.
Wei Wuxian had brushed it off, as he always did, but not because it didn’t hurt—because he was used to it.

Lan JingYi and Lan SiZhui lowered their heads in embarrassment. Even Jin Ling fell silent.

Lan Wangji's expression did not change. His posture remained straight. But the hand resting at his side slowly tightened, knuckles whitening beneath his sleeve.