(A/N: here we go with the angst again 😢😢😢)
"Young master Wei... I am really thankful for everything." Wen Ning said.
"Hm?" Wei Wuxian said and turned. "Did you say something?" He asked, his cold face puzzled and his forehead knotted. His black elegant robes is bitter and his long silky hair is down, tied by a blood-red ribbon.
Wen Ning immediately lowered his head. "It’s nothing." He answered.
"Come here." Wei Wuxian told him. He’s going to check the talismans he put to restrain him.
"Yes." He answered as he walked towards him. He just stared at Wei Wuxian’s face all this time. Young master... he thought. Master...
Wei Wuxian’s brightly smiling face in the past overlapped Wei Wuxian’s cold face as the Yiling Patriarch. But, it was just a moment. Wen Ning couldn’t think of it more now, since Wei Wuxian’s dark as the night eyes are boring on him.
"We’ve got a long day ahead tomorrow." Wei Wuxian told him as he stood up and walked towards his chamber which is inside the cave.
"Yes." Wen Ning answered and bowed. When he looked up, Wei Wuxian is gone.
He slowly opened his eyes when he felt the sun’s rays are burning his cheek. "Ah! Ghost general, you’re awake!" Lan Jingyi’s loud voice said. "Amazing... so even fierce corpses could sleep...!" He said as he stared at him in awe.
"Jingyi, that’s rude!" Lan Sizhui told him and turned to Wen Ning. "Uncle Ning." He greeted and bowed.
"Ghost general." Ouyang Zizhen greeted and respectfully bowed.
"What... happened to me?" Wen Ning asked.
"You suddenly passed out last night. We don’t know what happened. We’re not the Yiling Patriarch, so we couldn’t know and don’t know what to do." Lan Jingyi explained.
Wen Ning nodded. "We already sent message to HanGuang-jun. He’ll be bringing Senior Wei here." Lan Sizhui told him.
Wen Ning perked his head up. Master... he thought, then stopped. Wei Wuxian’s cold face as the Yiling Patriarch flashed in his mind, followed by the brightly smiling youth Wei Wuxian. "Young master..." he called.
"Hm? Did you say something?" Lan Jingyi asked.
Wen Ning shook his head and stood up, the chains on his limbs clanged. "I troubled master... when I shouldn’t have..." he muttered and walked away dejectedly.
"Huh?" They said as they watched him leave. "Sizhui, what happened to him? Where is he going?" Lan Jingyi asked, puzzled, as their eyes followed Wen Ning’s sorry figure.
"Dunno..." Lan Sizhui answered, as puzzled as the two.
Wen Ning’s mind drifted to past as he wandered in the forest. He remembered the first time they met, the time Wei Wuxian helped him and his sister. The time he died and when he woke up, it was Wei Wuxian whom he first saw. But... that time... the young master in his heart and became his first friend in life... is still smiling. Not long after, and his face started to turn cold.
He raised his head when he heard a bird chirped. He reached his hand out, and the chains clanged again. The bird was alarmed, yet it jumped on his fist. He smiled, but stiff. Young master Wei... he thought.
"Wen Ning?" A voice called behind him. The voice, nor his face, no matter how it changed he would still recognize it.
He slowly turned and saw that familiar yet not really familiar face. The silky black hair... the locks of his hair... that blood-red ribbon on his hair... yes. It was that hair he always combed at night, running through his fingers as he watched him finally peacefully sleep after suffering from his nightmares. He felt his chest is empty, like those nights always. Yet, he could still remember that thing wildly beating against his own chest, making him feel warm all over his body just seeing the sight of the brightly smiling boyish face.
"... I am really thankful for everything... young master Wei." He said as he lowered his hand. The bird flew away.
They stared at each other. Every time, the one before him is taller than him. Now, he’s the one taller than him. Yet, his respect towards this person could compete against the heavens. Yes... he respects him, that is why...
"Wei Ying." Lan Wangji called as he appeared behind Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian turned and his face lit up when he saw his husband. “Lan Zhan!” he said and smiled brightly.
If he could, Wen Ning already drew a sharp breath upon seeing that smile. No matter what, that smile will never change. He thought as he respectfully bowed. “Master… second young master Lan.” He said.
“Aia! How many times must I tell you not to call me that!” Wei Wuxian said and sighed, his hands on his waist. “Come here. Let me check you – “ he told him as he waved his hand, making him come over.
Wen Ning stared at him. He shook his head. “Master. I’m already fine.” He told him.
“Eh?” Wei Wuxian said, surprised.
“I…” he said. “Thank you…” he told him, then smiled.
The two looked at him, surprised. … and I am happy for you. He added as he bowed towards them and walked back to the junior disciples of the GusuLan Sect. “Ah! Ghost general, you’re back! How are you?” Lan Jingyi asked and grinned.
“Uncle Ning. What did Senior Wei said?” Lan Sizhui asked, worried.
“… ghost general?” Ouyang Zizhen called seeing Wen Ning’s silent.
After a few seconds and he spoke. “I am fine. I can continue accompany you all for your night hunt.” He told them.
They sighed, relieved. “Yes! Let’s start now – !” Lan Jingyi said, running away.
“Jingyi! It’s still 3 pm!” Lan Sizhui said as he followed him.
“Wait!” Ouyang Zizhen called and followed the two.
Watching them brought that memory of warmth in his mind. For the second time and he smiled.
I really am grateful to you… young master Wei. He thought and followed them.
“What was that just now? Did he hit his head?” Wei Wuxian asked as he and Lan Wangji walk in their own pace. They could hear the junior disciples’ voices afar.
“No matter how you hit him, he won’t budge.” Lan Wangji said, a concealed contempt in his voice.
“Right, ah…” Wei Wuxian said and grimaced, remembered how Lan Wangji hit multiple times – and even kicked, Wen Ning the times Lan Wangji was drunk. He sighed.
Lan Wangji stared at his wife, then looked at Wen Ning who’s walking near the junior disciples. He didn’t hit his head, but his heart. He thought. For poking his lonely heart… who wouldn’t be touched and fell for that person? He thought, then looked at his wife.
Since it’s the same case as me.
(A/N: Lan Wangji’s the sweet husband as ever! 😍)
P.S.: credits to the artist for the photo 😄😄😄😄😄😄😄
