Fluffy WangXian Oneshots Book Two

Music And Memories Part 20

Summertime in the mountains is blissfully cooler than down in Caiyi Town, and Wei Ying loves waking up to the fresh air from the open windows because of a very considerate husband who lets him go back to bed for a nap after yoga. Sometimes, if Wei Ying is lucky, he can get Lan Zhan to join him.

Today is not one of those days.

When Wei Ying reaches out to touch what should be the warmth of another body, his sharp ears hear the crinkling of paper and since this is a soft place, he sits up with confusion because paper has no business being in bed with him.

“Dear Husband ❤ ️(Wei Ying ❤ ️)” - it says that in brackets as though Wei Ying won't know it's himself, and that brings a smile to his lips. There's even a heart next to each reference.

“Breakfast is ready downstairs in the kitchen, but now we are out of milk which necessitates a grocery trip. Text me if you want something, otherwise, I shall be back soon.

Lan Zhan (Wei Ying’s husband ❤️)”

Wei Ying reads the note again, kicking his feet at the thrill of it. He grabs his phone and messages his husband.

Wei Ying: 💙Lan Er-Gege💙!! I miss you already!! 💞💓💗💖❣️💋❤️‍🔥💝

Lan Zhan might be driving, because there's no blue ticks to indicate he's seen the message. Now bored, Wei Ying is forced to get up. Lounging around in bed is only a fun activity if his husband is with him, and sadly, he is not, so Wei Ying must leave the sanctuary of it and go and shower.

************

After breakfast, and still bored because no Lan Zhan has appeared on the horizon, Wei Ying decides to take a stroll outside. It's a beautiful day and the paths have sheltering trees to make the walk even better. He decides to drop in to see A-Yuan. Things are getting busy for the Untamed Boys too, since their debut performance as the supporting band for the Burial Mounds is in four weeks. Wei Ying is also looking forward to the concert. Both SiZhui and Lan Zhan have asked Wei Ying if he wants to sing a few songs, but so far, he doesn't want to.

Lan Zhan has assured him that he has a beautiful voice and although SiZhui is doing great as the lead singer of both bands, Wei Ying also adding his take on some of the songs will give them a new lease of life.

But there's something stopping Wei Ying from taking that step. Maybe he's scared of being up there, on the stage and looking out at the sea of expectant faces, the pressure of having to perform and actually do it well. By now, Wei Ying has watched the old videos of their busking days and side-eyeing the continual growth of the viewing numbers, and it's strange to him that he can't feel the connection between the old Wei WuXian, the leader of that group and performer extraordinaire, and himself, plain old Wei Ying. They are no longer the same person, and getting up there on stage gives him bouts of imposter syndrome, of trying to meld two opposing forces when they clearly don't gel together. So mentally, he shies away from thinking about it.

He knows that Lan Zhan is aware of the deeper issues he's struggling with, and it's a credit to his patience that he's waiting for Wei Ying to talk to him when he's ready. But the question is, will he ever be ready for that conversation?

Wei Ying walks up the impersonal path to the recording studio. He unlocks the door, unwilling to wake up his son if he's sleeping, though in this he's more like Lan Zhan by being used to waking up at godawful times, and he goes inside. Quickly bypassing the shut doors of the studio with their dark glass windows, Wei Ying’s long legs carry him up the stairs two at a time, and he's proud that he's not out of breath. Again, that's a testament to the exercise regime Lan Zhan has him doing daily.