Sleeping beauty and the stoic jade (Wangxian)

Chapter 5

Lan Wangji that night went back to the jingshi, with the flower crown atop his head. When He got to the jingshi, he opened the door and saw Lan Xichen waiting patiently for Lan Wangji to return. Lan Xichen looked up to the door to see him with a flower crown made of orchids on his head. A knowing smile quickly appeared on Lan Xichen's face.
"Were you out with young master Wei?" Lan Xichen said and it wasn't really a question, more like statement of what he already knows. When he saw the expression on Lan Wangji's face, he couldn't help but feel happy that his brother was happy.
Lan Xichen, "Don't worry Wangji, I won't tell uncle. I know how you feel about him and your suspicions towards his health."

What Lan Xichen didn't tell him was that he had already sent a letter of inquiry to Jiang Fengmian. The reason Lan Xichen didn't tell him was because chances were it would be a while till he got a response. He didn't want to worry Lan Wangji or make him anxious. Besides, with how close they are he's sure Lan Wangji will figure it out.

---

It'd been about a month since the guest disciples came to the cloud recesses and Lan Wangji sat in the library pavilion copying scriptures in a quiet but lonely peace.

A welcomed shout teared through the silence making Lan Wangji look up to the excited look on Wei Ying's face as he ran up to him.
"Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan! I heard they have tanghulu in Caiyi town! Have you ever had it before??"
Lan Wangji, "... haven't."
"Really!? Its a chewy, sour fruit with a sweet caramelized sugar coating! Its very yummy, do you want to go with me to get some?" Wei Ying said the smile never leaving his face.
"Mn." Lan Wangji said putting down the brush in his hand and putting away the book he was copying from.
"Yay! Let's go!" Wei Ying cheered as he ushered Lan Wangji out of the library and to Caiyi.

-

Wei Ying was practically radiating happiness as he dragged Lan Wangji by the hand through town. Wei Ying pulled him up to a vendor selling the bright red tanghulu. Wei Ying handed some money over to the vendor and the vendor handed him one tanghulu on a bamboo stick.
"I only had enough money for one, so we'll just have to share, okay?" Wei Ying said.
Lan Wangji thought about taking out his money and buying another one but after seeing Wei Ying smiling at him with rosy cheeks, he couldn't help but give in to his own desires.
"Mn."
Wei Ying held the tanghulu up to him.
"You get the first bite!" Wei Ying cheered innocently.
He gently grabbed Wei Ying's hand that was holding the tanghulu and brought it his mouth. Lan Wangji's heart beat fast and ears burned red as took a bite out of the juicy candied hawthorn. The tanghulu was delicious but Lan Wangji wasn't sure if it was because it tasted good or because it was given to him by Wei Ying. When he let go of Wei Ying's hand he noticed that the red from Wei Ying's rosy cheeks had spread to his ears and neck. Wei Ying quickly turned away from him, taking a big bite out of the tanghulu.

They walked side by side for a while throughout town. Wei Ying rambled on and on about his time in lotus pier, and he listened attentively. Wei Ying told stories of how Jiang Cheng and his Shijie were really protective of him and how Jiang Cheng would always protect him even though his dogs had to go away because of him. Then Wei Ying started talking about how he was afraid of dogs when he was younger and Lan Wangji couldn't help but ask.
"Why?"
Wei Ying, "Ah. I'm not going to lie, I'm still afraid of them, promise you won't tell anyone? When I lived on the streets I had to fight with dogs for the scraps nobody else wanted."
"Mn."
"Will you protect from the dogs~?" Wei Ying said changing the sad tone to a teasing one.
"Mn. Will protect." He said with determination.
"Haha, you treat me too well Lan Zhan~!" Wei Ying teased.
He looked away from Wei Ying's bright smile but paused when he saw his brother, with a worried look on his face. Wei Ying followed his line of sight and saw Lan Xichen not too far away.
"Lets go say hi to Zewu-Jun, Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying said grabbing Lan Wangji's hand without a second thought and dragged him over to Lan Xichen.
"Brother." He greeted simply.
"Greetings, Its nice to see you Wangji, and it's nice to see your doing well young master Wei."
"Hello Zewu-Jun, what brings you to town?" Wei Ying asks not letting go of Lan Wangji's hand as he bowed to Lan Xichen.
"No need for the formalities young master Wei. I'm here investigating the water ghouls in Biling Lake." Lan Xichen said smiling kindly as he noticed Wei Ying was holding Lan Wangji's hand.
"Water ghouls? Perhaps Lan Zhan and I could help? I've had experience back at Lotus Pier with water ghouls." Wei Ying said.