Fluffy WangXian Oneshots Book Two

Music And Memories Part 5

Wen Qing's alarm goes off five hours later. They all freshen up, and then they find labelled bags with designer clothes waiting for them, all in the correct sizes and colour/style preferences of each band member. Another thing to notice about whoever is running this operation. Their attention to detail is unprecedented.

Once they're presentable, the band picks a bunk to sit on, one sheltered from the ceiling and away from any cameras. Wen Qing types out messages on her phone and encourages them all to do the same; if they're being monitored, this is a way for them all to communicate without giving the game away.

WEN QING: We can't send messages because I bet none of us have a signal, but if we have a typed conversation, there's no way anyone will know what we are talking about.

LAN ZHAN: Agreed. I am not sure how far we can trust Luo QingYang. We don't know who she's working for, and it's best to remain cautious for now.

SIZHUI: I like her, but I get it. When can we go meet dad?

LAN ZHAN: As soon as possible.

His hands hover over his phone, thumbs anxious to convey more. He wants to see Wei Ying now, like, yesterday. As soon as possible doesn't seem urgent enough. SiZhui sitting next to him, wraps an arm around his waist and leans his head on Lan Zhan's shoulder.

He's so much older now than the last time Wei Ying saw him. A toddler, a baby really, to the eighteen year old of now. So much lost time. That's another thing making Lan Zhan angry at Luo QingYang, but at the back of his mind is also the lurking fear that it was more important to keep Wei Ying safe and alive than his own peace of mind about that fact. The truth of it is that there is nobody to blame right in front of him. Luo QingYang would be the obvious target but Lan Zhan knows he can't - she is not responsible for what happened to Wei Ying. That crime and fault lies with Wen Ruohan, Wen Chao and Zhao Zhuliu. If anything, and as much as Lan Zhan hates to admit it, Luo QingYang and her boss have to be thanked for keeping Wei Ying alive.

Wen Qing nudges him with her elbow because he's distracted and not paying attention to the messages.

WEN QING: The real question is how much Wei Ying knows. Have they told him anything about who he really is? But what's seriously bugging me is why now? She said it's because she met us in the hospital, and she implied that she was always going to contact us about him...but can we trust that?

WEN NING: Xian-Gege should know.

LAN ZHAN: What if it hurts him?

WEN QING: You'll never know unless you try. It's like walking across an iced over pond - gently and with full awareness. If the ice cracks, turn back.

UNCLE FOUR: He can't remain in this no man's land forever. Living between two lives must be extremely confusing and disorienting for him. I can't believe that both of his lives exist separately in his mind. Especially after all this time.

LAN ZHAN: We need to see Wei Ying before we can correctly ascertain his condition. Whether or not he would be willing to spend time with us again. He should be given a choice.

WEN NING: Ms. Luo said his life was in danger and continuing to pretend he's Mo XuanYu is the best thing for now.

WEN QING: Outside our bubble, yes. When it's just us, we can be normal about him.

Lan Zhan sees her fingers tremble as she types, and it reinforces the realisation that this situation is tough for all of them. He knew that already, but seeing the evidence of it brings it home. He might have lost his best friend, his lover, his confidant, his zhiji, but all the people here lost someone dear to them. Wen Qing lost a younger brother, Wen Ning lost an older brother, Uncle Four lost a nephew, and SiZhui lost a father. To think about that makes his vision blur.