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“So you will finally do it?”
“En,” Lan Wangji said, hands carefully tucked behind his back.
Lan Xichen didn’t smile, but it was a close thing. He stopped, his face turned towards the gentle scenery of Cloud Recesses, and Lan Wangji was left feeling… nervous, one would say, if he wasn’t Hanguang Jun.
He lowered his head, the childish urge to tug on his brother’s robes was a teasing itch under his palm.
Brave, Wei Wuxian would always call him. Brave and good and so very honorable. Lan Wangji doesn’t feel particularly brave right now.
“Brother,” Lan Wangji started, but couldn’t finish. His voice, a strained thing.
“Wangji,” Lan Xichen said, voice warm, amused even. The same voice when he catches Lan Wangji doing something he isn’t supposed to. A familiar pat on his head. “Wangji, you must like him very much to be this nervous.”
“Mn.” It was a pointless thing to deny.
Lan Xichen’s eyes crinkled, the faintest sign of his age.
“Even if I forbid it?” He asked, and Lan Wangji’s heart sank slightly. “Even if Uncle goes through another round of qi deviation from pure rage?”
There was a slight hesitation–but really, what was there to say?
“Even then,” Lan Wangji said, his voice quiet, but steady.
Lan Xichen laughed, ruffling his brother’s hair until Lan Wangji stepped out of range. Even then, he was a joyous thing, bright eyes and boyish smile. In the isolated roads of Cloud Recesses, Lan Wangji allowed himself to bask in that joy, to close his eyes and step closer. It has been too long since he last heard his brother laugh so loud and unguarded.
“I’m happy,” Lan Xichen said, “that Wangji has found someone to love so dearly. You have my blessing if that’s what you’re looking for—” Lan Wangji bowed his head more, ears red “—and leave Uncle to me.”
“Brother—”
“All I ask,” Lan Xichen said, taking his brother’s hands, “Is that Wangji stays happy for a very long time. Okay?”
Lan Wangji’s heart melts a little. He steps closer, pressing his head against Lan Xichen’s shoulder. They are about the same height now, but Lan Wangji always feels shorter than his brother—it is natural, afterall, for younger brothers to always seek the larger embrace of the older.
“Mn,” he says.
Lan Xichen chuckles slightly, pulling Lan Wangji closer.
“I must ask though,” he says innocently. “How do you plan on proposing to Wei-gongzi?”
--
Frankly, Lan Wangji had no idea how.
He tried asking Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi for advice, but they were…
“I’ve read about this, Hanguang Jun!” Lan Jingyi said, eyes sparking with excitement. Lan Wangji decided to turn a blind eye to Lan Jingyi’s… evolving reading resume, because romance was definitely not a category in Cloud Recess’s library—he’s checked.
Lan Sizhui sighed, a faint flush overcoming his cheeks. “Jingyi…”
“No, no,” Lan Jingyi swiped Lan Sizhui’s reaching hands away. “Okay! So! Basically, you and Wei-gonzi must find yourself in a dangerous situation. Then, when Wei-gongzi is about to fall into the palms of demise, you swipe in and heroically save him! By the sheer power and confidence you radiate, Wei-gongzi is bound to fall for you. Then, at the very last moment, with him in your arms, he will confess his undying love to you—so you don’t even need to do anything!”
…
“Oh! And flowers of course! Flowers must be falling romantically upon you!”
Lan Sizhui looked like he wanted to bury himself into the ground while Lan Jingyi looked horribly proud of his own intellect. Lan Wangji made a note to talk to Ouyang Zizhen about his reading recommendations.
“If… if Hanguang Jun really doesn’t know what to do,” Lan Sizhui said, still a little flustered and trying to shove Lan Jingyi away. “Maybe you can take Wei-gongzi out for dinner in Caiyi Town? But honestly… Hanguang Jun already spoils Wei-gongzi as if he was…” Lan Sizhui blushed.
Lan Wangji saved the boy (and himself) by gently patting him on the head, moving the conversation past rocky roads.
“Wei Ying is my zhiji, of course I treat him well,” Lan Wangji said. “But I will take note of your suggestions nonetheless, A-Yuan.”
Lan Wangji smiled softly when Lan Suzhui turned more red under his praise.
--
Somehow, he crossed paths with Jin Ling while the boy was on his way to visit his two friends, and… really, Lan Wangji was getting desperate.
“Jin Ling,” Lan Wangji called out, and stopped because honestly what was he doing?
Alas, the damage was done and Jin Ling froze midstep, closing his eyes as if that would make Lan Wangji disappear. Lan Wangji wondered if he should save both of their faces and do exactly that.
“...Hanguang Jun,” Jin Ling said, bowing slowly. Ah, too late. “How… how have you been?”
“Good.” Lan Wangji said. And probably because the idea of asking for Jiang Cheng’s blessing first is so traumatic: “Jin Ling, may I have your blessing to marry Wei Ying?”
Lan Wangji has never seen someone turn gray so fast.
“I—” Jin Ling choked. “You—?”
He briefly wondered if leaving now would be too rude (something akin to Uncle’s voice told him that, yes, it would be). Lan Wangji squared up his shoulder and stayed deathly still—if he couldn’t even ask this young master, he would have no hope in trying for Jiang Cheng’s blessing.
“I thought—” Jin Ling’s voice cracked; he still had quite a haunted look in his eyes. “Jiujiu said that you two were already…?”
“Do not always trust the words of others,” Lan Wangji said.
“But—?” Jin Ling blinked, childish and confused. Jin Ling’s face finally found color as he regained his footing. “I… Nevermind, I don’t care. Go marry that guy. Whatever. At least then he’d stay out of trouble.”
“...Many thanks to Jin Ling,” Lan Wangji said, bowing low enough to fluster the boy. Then, because his mouth has been continuously betraying his mind: “Does… young master have any suggestions on how I can ask?”
“You—!” Jin Ling looked like minutes away from a qi deviation. “I-I… Who knows what that man wants!” Jin Ling yelled, finally losing all composure, and Lan Wangji winced slightly at the volume. “He’s always so gross with you… you… agh, I can’t do this! I’m leaving!”
Before Lan Wangji could even offer an apology, Jin Ling stormed away, cursing loud enough to make Jiang Cheng proud.
(Lan Wangji hopes that Lan Suzhui and Lan Jingyi’s company could heal Jin Ling from this traumatic event. Lan Wangji knows he’s going to personally shut up for the next week—or maybe forever.)
--
‘Lan-gongzi ought to be more funny; Wei-gongzi like funny people,’ Nie Huaisang wrote to him—unprompted, Lan Wangji might add (it must’ve been Lan Xichen). To Lan Wangji’s second horror, the letter came with… well, safe to say the moment Lan Wangji saw the yellow cover, he threw it in the trash without another thought.
(And then, with the guilt of a thousand street dogs, he fished it out later that day for educational purposes.)
--
So… asking people wasn’t exactly… helpful.
Lan Wangji sighed softly, gently rubbing the ears of the bunny that was currently on his lap. Wei Wuxian was coming to visit Cloud Recesses soon, and Lan Wangji desperately needed to confess; he wasn’t sure if he could survive another month without the man’s warmth by his side.
At this point, this unspoken confession was just taunting him, and he was a weak, weak man.
The rabbits around him jumped around, burrowing into his palm and side. A few started biting at the paper he had out in front, and he softly pulled them off, hands coming up to draw at the words long dried.
‘Lan Zhan, it’s been too long!
I hope you missed me a lot, because I really missed you!!
How are A-Yuan and Jingyi doing? I heard they’ve been bothering Jin Ling a lot. It’s good for him to get some friends, but I’m scared that little peacock is going to taint our little A-Yuan! Or maybe if we’re lucky, A-Yuan’s kindness will corrupt Jin Ling to finally write me a letter—can you believe that brat hasn’t even responded to any of my letters?! I wrote five!
Anyways. Lan Zhan! I hope you haven’t been spoiling the rabbits again, ‘cause last time I was there, they were fat enough to eat!! It’s like you’re asking for an evil man to come around them and cook them! Well, if that’s the case, this evil, demonic man will be visiting you in a week’s time! Be prepared to fight for those rabbits’ lives, Hanguang Jun!
Ah, Lan Zhan, I miss saying your name! It’s just not the same writing it or thinking it, so if I end up being really annoying when I get back, you have to be nice, okay? And warn your uncle, because I don’t want to scare him again like last time!
Send my love to everyone in Cloud Recess (except for your Uncle. He might have a qi deviation).
Yours,
Wei Ying’
Lan Wangji’s hands brushed over the last ‘Wei Ying.’ He closed his eyes and gently pressed his lips to the brush strokes.
“Wei Ying,” He murmured quietly. Truly, it has been too long.
--
Caiyi Town is busy as always, people squeezing by shoulder-to-shoulder. The sound of street-venders and citizens danced around the air, never allowing a moment of break. Normally, Lan Wangji would ask Lan Sizhui to go to town if he ever needed anything, but he wanted to make the stop himself today. Wei Wuxian was returning in three days and Lan Wangji wanted to prepare for his arrival—most importantly, stocking up on Emperor's Smiles and spices. Once, a long time ago, Lan Wangji tried to buy meat for Wei Wuxian’s return, but panicked at the unbelievable amount of options there were. When he saw rabbit meat for sale, he immediately left, and has yet to build the courage to return to the meat market.
Lan Wangji was picking out lotus roots and wondering if he could make the soup Wei Wuxian liked so much without pork when a sudden crash from the other side of the street rang out. He looked up slowly, hands around Bichen before a familiar voice got him to immediately drop it.
“Woah,” a laughter Lan Wangji hasn’t heard in so long ringed in the air. “You okay, old man?”
In a way, he still looked the same. He still ties his hair up, messy but tight, and curls slightly at the ends. The red ribbon still flutters slightly in the wind; Chenqing loose in his hands. He was helping an old man whose cart had collapsed on one side, watermelons rolling around on the street.
Even with a different face, a different body, a different everything, Lan Wangji will always be able to find him; they were zhijis after all.
“Wei Ying,” he breathed, so soft so quite the wind barely carried it. Even still, those gray eyes snapped up and—
“Lan Zhan?”
Lan Wangji’s foot carried him forward—an instinct whenever he sees the man—and didn't stop until he could almost feel Wei Wuxian’s gentle breaths brushing against his. He looked thinner; paler.
“Wei Ying.”
“I… Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian yelled, and it was loud and piercing and Lan Wangji had forgotten how his heart would skip a beat each time. Wei Wuxian jumped up from where he was holding a watermelon. “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, you’re here?”
“En,” Lan Wangji said, voice soft to keep the tremors less noticeable.
Wei Wuxian laughed, swaying into Lan Wangji. His hands—still coarse and slightly scarred, even in another life—reach up to grab Lan Wangji’s sleeves and pull him down, closer. Lan Wangji bit his lip to not let any sound escape, his steps weak as he sinks into Wei Wuxian’s warmth.
“Hahaha, Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian laughed, tugging and pulling at Lan Wangji’s robes like he was a string puppet; frankly, Lan Wangji felt like one, allowing Wei Wuxian to move him around and about. “Lan Zhan, what are you doing here? Are the little juniors with you?” Wei Wuxian asked, looking around him. “Are you returning from a night hunt? Did you get my letter?”
“Mn,” Lan Wangji nodded. “I got Wei Ying’s letter. No, I’m not returning from a night hunt.”
“Hm?” Wei Wuian got on his tip-toe and Lan Wangji held his breath as the man got closer to his face. “Then what is the esteemed Hanguang Jun doing here?”
Perhaps it was the closeness—the sheer lack of distance between the two—or maybe the fact he could feel Wei Wuxian breath on his face, his strong hands gripping Lan Wangji’s arm, keeping him steady, but at most, he could only weakly croak out:
“Wei Ying.”
That got Wei Wuxian to laugh again. He gently blew air on Lan Wangji’s face, causing the man to freeze up.
“Hehe… Lan Zhan, why look so stressed?” Wei Wuxian teased. “I promise I won’t tell your uncle, or– Lan Zhan! Are those Emperor’s Smiles?” He quickly grabbed the three jars Lan Wangji had been carrying around throughout the day. Wei Wuxian flashed him a smile so bright he almost had to look away. “Lan Zhan! You’re going to spoil me with all this!”
“Wei Ying should be spoiled,” Lan Wangji says.
A beautiful flush ran across Wei Wuxian’s cheeks; the red against his black robes made him devastatingly beautiful in Lan Wangji’s eyes. He clenched his fists tight, else end up doing something ridiculous, like brushing his thumb over Wei Wuxian’s lips.
“Aiya, Lan Zhan is too good,” Wei Wuxian said, something he repeats often. Lan Wangji hopes he doesn’t actually think it’s true—not after everything.
“Mn,” Lan Zhan. Then, probably too late, he remembered they were still in the middle of a crowded street with curious eyes. “Is Wei Ying hungry?”
“I… uh… was hoping my first meal back would include A-Yuan,” Wei Wuxian said. “But if Lan Zhan is really hungry–”
“No. Let’s go home.” He’d prefer if they were somewhere more quiet anyways.
Wei Wuxian went to finish helping the old man fix his cart while Lan Wangji went to find Little Apple who ran away to terrorize some small children. Maybe it was love-sickness, but Lan Wangji found himself glad to see the donkey, even if it tried to bite his hands multiple times.
“Have you ever had cooked watermelon skin?” Wei Wuxian said on their way back to Cloud Recesses. He rode on Little Apple while Lan Wangji guided the donkey next to him. “It’s really good, I used to have it all the time as a kid. When we finish eating this, I can cook some for you.”
“En.”
“Do you think I should’ve bought someone for your Uncle or brother? Wouldn’t it be rude if I showed up empty-handed?” Wei Wuxian was talking to himself now. “We could say this watermelon is for them. Is that too casual? See, your uncle is so picky: I make something nice for him–he thinks it’s demonic; I get watermelon for him–he’s going to think I’m making fun of him. Lan Zhan, it's impossible!”
“Wei Ying shouldn’t worry,” Lan Wangji said. “His presence is enough of a gift.”
“Only you’d say that,” Wei Wuxian sighed. “Ahh… Lan Zhan is too kind. Did you know I was trying to find something nice to get you too? That’s why I was here early. I was trying to prepare myself and surprise you, but you ended up surprising me instead!”
Lan Wangji’s steps faltered slightly.
“Mn… I was also preparing for Wei Ying,” he said, the words sticky on his tongue, clotting his throat. He swallowed. Be brave. “I wanted Wei Ying to enjoy his stay.” Saying he wanted Wei Ying to stay forever would be too much.
“Lan Zhan! You can’t say things like that!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, hand shaking Lan Wangji’s shoulder. “A handsome guy like you needs to save those sweet words for a cute girl, not me!”
Lan Wangji wisely said nothing.
“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan.”
“Mn?”
“...” When Wei Wuxian didn’t say anything, Lan Wangji looked up to find the other looking… frustrated? Without warning, Wei Wuxian jumped into his arms, startling both him and Little Apple.
“Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji’s arms firmly held onto Wei Wuxian.
Wei Wuxian refused to let Lan Wangji place him down on the ground, arms locked around Lan Wangji’s neck. He fits perfectly in my arm, Lan Wangji’s evil brain thought.
“Lan Zhan, y’know how I said Jin Ling refused to answer any of my letters?”
“...Mn,” Lan Wangji said, nervous and confused and not quite sure how they got in this position.
“Well… I sorta lied. He did respond,” Wei Wuxian said into Lan Wangji’s neck, which really distracted Lan Wangji from actually listening and understanding. “He… he said you were going to propose soon.”
Really, something should come and strike Lan Wangji dead right now. The only reason why the heavens shouldn’t is because Wei Wuxian is horribly sticky and refused to get off and could get hurt in the process. But still.
Lan Wangji didn’t know what to say in response.
“And well, I thought maybe after everything we’d be close, right? So you’d tell me these things,” Wei Wuxian continued, oblivious to Lan Wangji mentally writing his will. “But you didn’t, so I thought maybe it was personal and you wanted to tell me in person.”
Lan Wangji nodded along slightly. Did… people normally propose through letters? Weren't those more for arranged marriages? What… what was going on??
“But…” Wei Wuxian groaned, tightening his hold around Lan Wangji. “Lan Zhan! I’m selfish. I’m really, really selfish.”
Lan Wangji wanted to tell him it was okay to be selfish. If anything, be more selfish.
“So you can’t propose to them!”
…?
Lan Wangji tried to get Wei Wuxian to show his face, but the man refused to move. His clumsy hands reached up to brush Wei Wuxian’s hair, nudging him to…? Lan Wangji wasn’t even sure what.
“Wei Ying,” he said. “Wei Ying, what are you talking about?”
“Don’t be cruel now!” Wei Wuxian almost whined. “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, how can… how can you suddenly fall in love and not give me time to prepare? I never… I thought…” His voice cracked. “I wanted…”
Lan Wangji wished Wei Wuxian wasn’t pressed so close to him—pressed so close to his drumming heart. He almost couldn’t hear the whispers from Wei Wuxian’s voice.
“What does Wei Ying want?” Lan Wangji asked, his voice raw.
“...”
Lan Wangji pressed his lips against Wei Wuxian’s ear. A shudder ran through both of them.
“Wei Ying?”
“It’s just that,” and to Lan Wangji’s horror, Wei Wuxian sounded choked up. “Even Nie Huaisang knew, or something, ‘cause he was sending me like… wedding planning whatevers—which? It’s your wedding! Lan Zhan always has good taste! Or aha… maybe this one here was your one bad taste—”
“Wei Ying.”
“And I was on my way here when I found out, and… Lan Zhan, that’s really mean of you to not even give me a heads up. I made Little Apple run all the way here, that’s why they are so angry today. I’m just a weak man, what am I supposed to do once you leave me—”
“Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji’s hands found Wei Wuxian’s neck and gently pried him away. He couldn’t listen to this nonsense anymore. “Wei Ying, I wanted to propose to you.”
That got Wei Wuxian to step back, finally letting Lan Wangji breath, but Lan Wangji kept him close, the warmth still lingering between them. Lan Wangji froze slightly when he saw that Wei Wuxian’s eyes were wet. His hands came up to brush a hair that was out of place.
Only Wei Wuxian would leave him so confused, so lightheaded and out of place. He didn’t know if he wanted to laugh or cry.
“You…” Wei Wuxian blinked. “Were going to propose to…”
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji said, words like bricks on his tongue, but Wei Ying must… he must know. “Always Wei Ying.
“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian threw himself on Lan Wangji again, causing both to stumble back. Lan Wangji was surprised his knees haven’t buckled yet. “Lan Zhan, you like me?”
“Mn,” Lan Wangji nodded, closing his eyes.
“You scared me!” Wei Wuxian said. “Lan Zhan, I thought I was too late! I thought… well…” he pulled back to look at Lan Wangji. “I never thought you’d like me like that!”
“Always liked Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji said. He could feel his ears burn red. He could feel everything burn.
“Always? But Lan Zhan, you hated me when we first met.”
“No. Always.”
“You—you can’t say things like that!” Wei Wuxian blushed so wickly beautiful.
Lan Wangji almost smiled. “But I’m not saving them for cute girls.”
“Evil! Mean! Horrible!” Wei Wuxian smacked his chest. “You’ll kill my weak heart!”
“Apologies,” and because it has been a dream hidden in his chest for so long, finally allowed to breathe, Lan Wangji slowly leaned down to press his lips against Wei Wuxian’s soft cheeks. Sweet.
Wei Wuxian made a sound, almost groaning, deep within his throat, and draped his weight onto Lan Wangji. He looked up at Lan Wangji, lips pouting and red and Lan Wangji wants to bite—
“Apologies not accepted!” Wei Wuxian said. “You’ll have to work harder for that, Lan Zhan! Starting with…” His tongue ran over his lips, and Lan Wangji saw that as a kind, welcoming invitation.
By the time the two finally got to Cloud Recesses, night had soon since kissed the sky’s eyes.
--
Now… the only thing Lan Wangji needed to do was get Jiang Cheng’s blessing.