Sleeping beauty and the stoic jade (Wangxian)

Chapter 6

When Jiang Cheng was invited to help with the water ghouls in Biling Lake, he was livid to say the least when he saw Wei Wuxian was going too.
Jiang Cheng pulled Wei Wuxian aside from the group that was going to help.
"What do you think you're doing!?" He whisper shouted so only Wei Wuxian would hear.
"It'll be fine Jiang Cheng, it's just water ghouls. As long as I don't leave the boat, it's fine. I know my limits." Wei Wuxian whispered back.
"Fine my ass! What if you have a sleep attack and fall over the edge of the boat!" He argued angrily, but Wei Wuxian knew he was just worried.
"I'm not worried because I know you'll be there for me." Wei Wuxian said sincerely and pulled a grumbling Jiang Cheng with red cheeks back to the group.

———————

Under Jiang Cheng's insistence, Wei Wuxian was put on the same boat as him. Wei Wuxian figured like this would happen but it was definitely better than not going at all.

Wei Wuxian swears he wasn't doing it on purpose but he kept finding himself glancing at Lan Zhan every once in awhile. Lan Zhan's golden eyes met his.
"Lan Zhan, can I ride on your boat?" He said as if he had not just been caught staring.
"...mn."
Wei Wuxian expected Jiang Cheng to argue with him about it but surprisingly he did not, so he hopped onto Lan Zhan's boat with a grin.

Lan Xichen and the Lan disciples were using nets to catch the water ghouls but were catching less the closer they got to the center of the lake. They mostly pulled up hair and pieces of clothing.

"Lan Zhan, don't you think it's weird? Doesn't it seem like we're being lured to the centre of the lake?" Wei Wuxian said and Lan Zhan's eyes widened ever so slightly.
"Water borne abyss." Jiang Cheng realized in horror as the water got extremely turbulent.
Wei Ying realized it was too late to just row back to safety as the water was so ferocious that it would swallow them whole any second now. Everyone began to get on their swords, and Wei Ying hesitated before drawing his sword. Wei Ying got on his sword but faltered as he felt his eyes droop ever so slightly. Before he knew it he was asleep and falling into the cold water, water filling his lungs.

•

•

•

Wei Ying squeezed his eyes shut as he curled in on him self, coughing up large amounts of water. He couldn't help it when the coughs turned into wrenching up whatever he had eaten that morning.
Wei Ying's clothes were completely soaked, making him shiver despite the warm weather. Lan Zhan draped his outer robe over Wei Ying and it was only then that he looked up from where he was to see Lan Zhan, Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng standing there.

Wei Ying stared at the three for a moment before a self deprecating laugh escaped from his lips as he tasted salt from his tears.

They know.

They know.

"Weak. Weak. Weak. Weak." He mumbled incoherently to himself, the three people in front of him were saying something but it felt like his ears were stuffed full of cotton.

Lan Zhan reached into his robe and pulled out a flower. He held it in front of Wei Ying, his voice calm as he said "for you."

Wei Ying's heart calmed as his thoughts focused on the flower in Lan Zhan's hand. It was undeniably a flower from the flower crown he had made for Lan Zhan. The edges of the petals were beginning to wilt but was undoubtedly well kept.
"You kept it...?" Wei Ying asked surprised.
He looked at Lan Zhan's face which was emotionless as always but Wei Ying could see his ears were red and he seemed determined...
He couldn't help but feel like a maiden being courted by Lan Zhan. At that Wei Ying's cheeks flushed a deep red as he accepted the flower.
"Mn." Lan Zhan said and Wei Ying couldn't help but reply with, "But I think it looks prettier in your hair Lan Zhan!"
Lan Zhan's brows furrowed slightly, "Wei Ying looks prettier."
"No, you do!" Wei Ying argued.
"No." Lan Zhan argued back.
"Let me put it in your hair Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying said giggling at the childish argument.
"No, put it Wei Ying's hair." Lan Zhan argued back just as childishly.

They continued to argue as both Lan Xichen and Jiang looked fondly at their brothers before looking at each other and silently agreed to leave and give their brothers some privacy.

In the end Wei Ying lost the argument and Lan Zhan put the flower in his hair. Wei Ying couldn't help but think "what did I ever do to deserve someone like Lan Zhan?"