The Rise of the Divine Oracle

Chapter 97 - Mama

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Lan Ran thought that finding Hweiru and taking her in was going to be simple. After all, Lan children are very obedient and Hweiru was an exceptionally smart young girl. Her attachment to Wei Wuxian was a curveball that none of them saw coming. They only met once before this mess happened. But the glee in her newly orphaned niece as she looks at a silently sobbing and begging with his eyes Wuxian made her agree to this temporary arrangement.

Lan Ran tried to soothe her disheveled hair and robes: "If you will excuse me, I will go clean up and make arrangements for her new accommodation."

All the men present nodded and she bowed, dragging the finder with her on her way out. They have unfinished business that cannot wait.

Wuxian crouches and looks at the little girl: "We're about to have lunch. Would you like to join us?"

Hweiru nods enthusiastically. When Wuxian puts his hands out to carry her, Wangji voiced his protest: "No."

Wuxian looks up at his approaching soul-bond and his lips quiver begging him not to protest her company. His aching heart is barely holding it together: "Lan Zhan, she called me 'mama'.."

Wangji kneels next to them and smiles reassuringly at him before addressing the little girl: "Hello, Lan Hweiru."

Hweiru puts her hands together and bows perfectly to Wangji: "Your Excellency."

Wangji nods his approval before taking Wuxian's right hand and bringing it up between them: "Treasure Wei broke his hand a few weeks back. It's still on the mend and the healer advised us not to allow him to carry heavy objects or use it excessively."

Wangji gently bends and places a soft kiss on Wuxian's hand. Hweiru nods and steps closer to kiss the hand just like Wangji did: "I understand."

She turns to an amused Wuxian and says: "Mama, I'm old enough to walk on my own. Would you mind holding my hand with your left one?"

Wuxian lets out a strangled sound and nods, thinking to himself: 'She's a mini Lan Wangji!'

Zewu Jun sighs and says: "I will go see what Liwei has brought with him and what Lan Ran is doing to the poor man."

Grandmaster Qiren moves towards his son and whispers to him: "Are you sure you want to get involved with this child? She might get attached."

Wuxian looks at the smiling girl and smiles back before whispering to his father: "She called me 'mama'.."

Qiren nods and leaves, following his nephew to see what the finder has for them.

Wangji, Wuxian and Hweiru made their way back to the bond-mates room and sat at the table to eat their food. The little girl knew the Lan Clan rules and ate in silence but kept giving Wuxian side-looks filled with concern. After a few moments, she got up and stood next to him and when he turned to look at her in confusion she slid into his lap and took the chopsticks from his hand. She gave Wangji a nod as if she's accomplishing some type of silent command and proceeded to feed Wuxian and herself.

Wangji smiled when Wuxian gave him an amused look. The little girl took the taller man's warning about his broken hand to heart and thought he wasn't supposed to use it at all. None of the men at the table wanted to correct her and silently let her have her way. Well.. almost silently. Wuxian kept poking the girl's sides, earning giggles and laughter while she fed him almost everything on the table. Wangji found himself unable to finish his meal. The childish laughter coming from the little girl and the happiness radiating from his soul-bond was more than fulfilling. He found himself wishing that this moment of pure bliss never ends.