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curiosity-killed · 3 years

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evidence of a lost past part 4

(chronologically WAY after parts 1, 2, or 3 BUT i wanted to write kissing so i wrote kissing)

cw: mentions of internalized acephobia and generally wonky feelings about sex. no actual on-screen sex, just a lot of making out

story tag

Xie Lian slides to his knees from the penche and drops his head to rest on Hua Cheng’s chest, groaning in laughter. All the rest of the piece is coming together, but this transition still feels sticky, clunky, like they’re missing a step. Burying his face in Hua Cheng’s t-shirt, he huffs out a laugh. They’ll figure it out. It’s right there, just out of reach. For once, not being able to do it perfectly doesn’t feel like a failure or calamity; with Hua Cheng’s little huff of laughter underneath him, it feels like they’re trying to chart a new path through undisturbed woods, hand in hand. He likes it, the challenge, the back and forth, the bright spark of epiphany when it comes together.

Groaning, he props himself up to grin at Hua Cheng.

“San Lang,” he says and then stops.

Until he looked up, he hadn’t realized how close they are. It’s not the first time they’ve been pressed chest-to-chest—between the choreography itself and slips in lifts or turns, they’ve been spinning within each other’s orbit for all of this—but Xie Lian looks up and realizes that he’s draped across Hua Cheng, arms bracketing his ribs, hips caged by his thighs. And Hua Cheng— Hua Cheng is looking at him so steadily, lips a little parted and cheeks dusted pink.

At the academy, they discouraged dating as a distraction. Students were supposed to be focused on their studies, on excelling in both school and auditions, not making out in the backseat of a teenager’s old sedan. Jun Wu had been blunter.

“You can tell,” he’d said once, amused and a little condescending.

He’d pointed out company members with careless ease, making Xie Lian flush with mortification. When he said Feng Xin had been experimenting, Xie Lian had been relieved to find out that Jun Wu’s insight wasn’t infallible—and then, they’d been back in their little shoebox apartment three blocks from the studio and it had come up and—

For months, Xie Lian had walked around the studios with a prickling over-awareness of his own skin, as if everyone could know every secret he hid from just one look.

But now, Hua Cheng is looking at him and there’s no judgment, no smug curl. He looks at Xie Lian like he sees him, all of him, and wants it, blood and blisters and all. Xie Lian hesitates, drawing his bottom lip under his teeth as he tries to wrestle his panting breath back under control. Hua Cheng’s gaze dips. He swallows.

“San Lang,” Xie Lian says, quiet, like a secret, “I—may I—“

“Yes.”

A burble of nervous laughter escapes Xie Lian, and his fingers tighten in Hua Cheng’s t-shirt.

“Ah you don’t even know what I was going to say,” he scolds. “I could’ve said anything—“

“Gege,” Hua Cheng interrupts firmly, “yes.”

“Oh.”

He holds back a moment longer, his breathing finally settling into a natural rhythm. Hua Cheng waits, hands flat against the marley and gaze trained on Xie Lian. Biting his lip, Xie Lian takes a breath and leans in.

Hua Cheng always feels cool—his fingers are often ice-like and his silk and Dri-fit tops stay sleek and chilled even out in the summer smog.

He doesn’t now. His lips are soft and warm when Xie Lian meets them; the mint of his chapstick stings against Xie Lian’s lips. Pressed this close, Xie Lian can feel the rabbit beat of his heart, the heat radiating from his chest. Pulling back slightly, Xie Lian releases a shuddering exhale and blinks his eyes open to find Hua Cheng staring up at him, hunger in his eye.

“San Lang,” Xie Lian says.

“Gege,” he answers, gaze dropping back to Xie Lian’s lips before he drags it up again.

Xie Lian can’t help smiling, a sudden, heady rush cascading through him. It doesn’t feel like a distraction or disgrace. It feels like the most natural thing in the world to find how their bodies fit together in this dance, too.

“San Lang,” Xie Lian says, “say my name.”

Hua Cheng pauses a moment, watching Xie Lian with open hunger. His breathing has picked up again, and Xie Lian feels a smug sense of satisfaction. He did that. He did that with just one kiss.

“Xie Lian,” Hua Cheng says. “Xie Lian.”

He curls up as he says it, hands finally leaving the floor to grip Xie Lian’s waist. There’s no hesitation in this kiss, and Xie Lian closes his eyes on a sigh as Hua Cheng takes the lead. He chases Xie Lian’s sigh, tongue slipping against the seam of his lips, and Xie Lian opens to him. For once, Hua Cheng is greedy with him, his hands mapping out Xie Lian’s back and sliding up to comb into his hair. He kisses as if he’s drowning and Xie Lian is a breath of life, and Xie Lian can’t help but cling to him, awash in pleasure and delight.

They’re both panting when they separate, and they’re still pressed so close that their breath is shared in the slim space between them. Hua Cheng’s eye is half-lidded, his cheeks pink and lips slick, and Xie Lian gazes down at him with slack wonder. His hands are still tangled in Hua Cheng’s t-shirt, tight enough they’ve drawn the fabric up to bare a pale stripe of his belly. Releasing one, he reaches up to brush Hua Cheng’s hair from his face, and his hand slides down the curve of his cheek to cup his jaw.

He leans in, gently guides Hua Cheng toward him, and kisses slow and long and sweet. The hand in his hair tightens briefly, and Xie Lian hums low in pleasure before it releases, slipping away from his nape to smooth his hair back from his brow. He doesn’t bother opening his eyes; he trusts Hua Cheng’s hands to hold him steady.

The strained elastic in his hair slides out with Hua Cheng’s absent combing, spilling his hair around them like a curtain, and Xie Lian can’t help giggling at the way it tickles his neck. He pulls back just a little, just enough to tuck the front section behind his ear. Beneath him, a grin dawns across Hua Cheng’s face—bright as sunlight, slow and sweet as spring. He reaches up to run his fingers through the length, knuckle brushing the side of Xie Lian’s neck, and a shiver runs through Xie Lian at the touch.

“Xie Lian,” Hua Cheng murmurs, soft as prayer.

Smiling, Xie Lian shifts so that his forearms rest on the floor by Hua Cheng’s head and lowers himself to lay flat across Hua Cheng’s chest. The motion makes Hua Cheng’s breath hitch, and he grins even as he draws Hua Cheng’s hair back from his face and presses a kiss to his lips.

“San Lang,” he murmurs without pulling back. “San Lang, San Lang, I never knew kissing could be so nice.”

Hua Cheng laughs, his smile curling against Xie Lian’s featherlight kisses. His hands have returned to Xie Lian’s back and hips. Restless, they travel the breadth of his shoulders and knead the dip of his lower spine. Even now, they stay above his baggy t-shirt, rumpling the fabric and never slipping to the skin beneath.

“Only with gege,” Hua Cheng promises inanely, and Xie Lian laughs as he leans in to kiss the tip of Hua Cheng’s nose.

Reaching behind himself, he curls a hand around Hua Cheng’s wrist and guides his hand under the rucked up hem of his t-shirt. Hua Cheng stills, shifting back to look at Xie Lian searchingly.

“Gege?” he asks.

“I trust you,” Xie Lian answers, letting go.

Hua Cheng’s hand stays flat and still against his lower back for a moment, as if waiting for a trap to spring. Xie Lian exhales, lets his body go slack and heavy against his and kisses him soft and chaste. Finally, Hua Cheng seems to believe him, and his hand drags up the muscles of Xie Lian’s back in a long, light stroke. His fingertips are still cold, a startlingly contrast to Xie Lian’s overheated skin, and as they skate against Xie Lian’s back, a shiver chases after them.

Pressed together as they are, every little shift and brush sends heat pooling low in his belly, and for once, he can’t spare a thought to be embarrassed. He’s always thought this was something he couldn’t have—all of it, any of it. He didn’t mind, mostly, but a quiet, bitter part of him had been sure that this was yet another of his failings. When he thought of dating, it was always chased away by the spectre of looming confrontation, of his not being willing enough or experienced enough or being too shy altogether. He didn’t want to mislead someone, let them think he would want everything they did only to turn around and deny him.

But that shadow can’t endure Hua Cheng’s unyielding light. He knows, down to the core of himself, that if he pulled back—if he stood up and said that this was just an experiment and he never wanted any more—Hua Cheng would let him and wouldn’t leave him. He’d stay, and he’d never ask for it or suggest it or slip half a step beyond the boundary Xie Lian sets.

Xie Lian doesn’t deserve such care, but he presses into it and holds tight.

He loses track of time, tangled together on the floor. Hua Cheng’s legs have tightened around his hips, and his hands trace frostwork shapes against his skin, just enough to have Xie Lian’s whole body trembling with not-quite-enough. He presses down more firmly and swallows the low moan that escapes Hua Cheng’s lips.

The door creaks.

“Hua Cheng, the— Uh.”

Xie Lian freezes, eyes flying open. Under him, Hua Cheng goes suddenly stiff and still. His hands freeze where they’re spread across Xie Lian’s back, one trapped under his shirt and one just above the waistband of his sweats.

Behind them, Yin Yu clears his throat.

“My apologies,” he says. There’s the metallic squeak and quiet thud of the door swaying back into a body, like he’s turned away to give them some privacy. “The second company is all here.”

Mortification flushes Xie Lian’s entire face, and he retreats to hide in Hua Cheng’s chest. Hua Cheng’s hands slip out from under his shirt to draw him close in a protective kind of hug, like his arms can hide Xie Lian away when they’re blatantly making out in the middle of the studio floor.

“Go ahead and start warming them up,” Hua Cheng says after a moment. “I’ll be there shortly.”

There’s a small pause.

“Perhaps I should inform them you will just be joining us for rehearsal?”

“Yin Yu,” Hua Cheng snaps, tone a warning.

Based on the quiet laughter Xie Lian hears as the door swings shut, it’s not a very successful one. With his face still pressed to Hua Cheng’s chest, he tries to calm his heart and beat down the heat scalding his cheeks. Hua Cheng continues to hold him as around them, the quiet ticking of the studio comes back into his awareness. Beyond it, Xie Lian can hear distant chatter and laughter, the company as they prepare for class. The walls are thin enough here that they should have been able to hear the front doors opening and closing if they weren’t so distracted. His cheeks burn hotter.

“Gege?” Hua Cheng asks after a few moments.

“Hmrf,” Xie Lian mumbles into his shirt.

Hua Cheng waits. Dragging up his tattered dignity, Xie Lian finally pulls his face from Hua Cheng’s t-shirt, though he still can’t meet his eyes.

“Um,” he says. Swallows. “Ah San Lang, I’m sorry, that was—inappropriate.”

His stomach twists as he says it, shame finally catching up to him. He knows Hua Cheng likes him, cares about him. He doesn’t want to ruin what they have.

“Gege can be inappropriate with me,” Hua Cheng says. Xie Lian looks up, startled, to find a hint of a blush still lingering on Hua Cheng’s cheeks. “I liked it.”

“Oh,” Xie Lian says intelligently. His cheeks heat up again, but this time when he ducks his head, he can’t help smiling. “Um. I—me too. I mean, I liked it, too.”

A grin breaks across Hua Cheng’s face, and Xie Lian’s unease dissipates from the force of it. As the shame fades, he can’t help picturing Yin Yu, and he drops his forehead to Hua Cheng’s chest, laughing.

“Ah San Lang, poor Yin Yu,” he says.

“Serves him right,” Hua Cheng says sourly. “He could’ve checked the room first.”

Xie Lian snorts, his shoulders shaking with laughter. He can only imagine what they looked like, tangled together like two teenagers who were too desperate to get their hands on each other to wait for an appropriate space. He can feel Hua Cheng’s laugh escape him in a breath, and one hand sets to smoothing up and down Xie Lian’s back in long, easy strokes. He stays above the shirt this time, which is probably for the best.

“Ah, I should let you go teach,” Xie Lian says, even as he shifts to lay his head flat against Hua Cheng’s ribs.

His heart thuds steady and strong under his ear, and Xie Lian smiles at the reassuring drumbeat. Hua Cheng combs Xie Lian’s hair back, tucking it behind his ear.

“Mm,” he hums, noncommittal. “Yin Yu can deal with them.”

“San Lang,” Xie Lian scolds, laughing. He sits up to look Hua Cheng in the face. “If you don’t show up, his imagination will run wild.”

Hua Cheng’s eye narrows.

“He better not think of gege like that at all,” he says, low, and a funny sense of delight chases down Xie Lian’s veins at the possessive rumble in his voice.

Biting his lips, Xie Lian breathes out a laugh and finally scoots back to kneel instead of draping across Hua Cheng. Hua Cheng follows, sitting up with his arms folded over his knees. Xie Lian hesitates a moment, fidgeting with the edge of his shirt.

“I should let you go,” he says again, “but ah would you want to maybe come over tonight? I can cook dinner and we could just...hang out.”

He cringes as he says it, feeling like a middle schooler who’s never had a crush before. It doesn’t matter that he really hasn’t liked someone like this before. He’s twenty-five, he should be able to ask his—well, whatever Hua Cheng is to him—to come over without sounding so lame.

“How could I say no to gege’s cooking?” Hua Cheng replies with a smile that crinkles up by his eye.

Breathing out a laugh, Xie Lian reaches up to rub at the nape of his neck.

“Ah alright,” he says. “Yay.”

It escapes him weakly, but Hua Cheng’s grin grows. He looks so bright like this, so larger than life in his happiness.

“Yay,” he echoes. “It’s a date.”

The words send a nervy trill through Xie Lian, but he can’t help smiling back.

“It’s a date.”

#tgcf #hualian #tgcf au #tgcf fic #heaven official's blessing #dance au #my writing #story: evidence of a lost past

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onceinabluehanguangjun · 3 years

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into you like a train (5/5)

thank you guys for reading! :)

previous |

ao3

Lan Huan was going to be at the base of the mountain in three hours.

Lan Zhan had found himself wedged between the couch and the coffee table again for at least a few hours now, trying to remember how to stay calm. His mind felt packed with thoughts that wouldn’t leave or even make sense which was ungodly frustrating. The buns he made with Wei Ying and A-Yuan the day before sat in their little container on the table next to his bag. Wei Ying himself was due to be there any second to come to say goodbye, maybe stay for a while.

He wasn’t even sure why he was so anxious about everything. Going home was good and he wanted to be back in his own bed, his own house, his own safe spaces. He wanted the comfort of his routine and he wanted his brother’s presence just a few feet away. But Lan Zhan had begun to find new comfort in kissing Wei Ying and he wasn’t sure he would be interested in doing that with anyone else. The idea sounded frustrating and he would much rather just keep what he’d found.

Wei Ying's rhythmic knock on the door slowly dragged him out of his slightly out of it state, but Lan Zhan couldn't bring himself to move. That sounded like so much effort that his body didn't have the energy to execute. So, instead, he called a soft 'come in' and hoped that it would reach his ears.

Whether it did or not, Wei Ying let himself in.

"I was thinking on my walk here that it might be a little weird when my jiejie comes back, I'm going to expect you to be here!" Wei Ying said as he entered, closing the door behind him. Lan Zhan laid his cheek against his knee and watched as Wei Ying tugged the scarf off his neck. "Or just maybe the next time someone comes to stay. Or even when it's empty. It's going to be so empty without you, Lan Zhan . You're such a nice new face! I like new faces, Lan Zhan, but yours is easily my favorite."

"Mn."

"Do you know what A-Yuan said today?" Wei Ying asked as he came closer. His movements seemed so natural and casual like it didn't even cross his mind what he was doing. He sat on the couch, behind Lan Zhan, bracketing him in between his knees. "He asked me if his Zhan-gege could come over so he could sing him his new song. What an expectant little boy I've raised, don't you think?"

Warm hands ghosted over Lan Zhan's arms, fingers dancing over his shoulder before he touched his chin. Lan Zhan let his head be tilted onto Wei Ying's lower thigh. That hand weaved through his hair.

"Mn."

"Tell me if I do something you don't like, Er-gege," Wei Ying whispered. Lan Zhan almost laughed at the way he seemed to treat acknowledging what he was doing as if he was breaking the fourth wall. "Going off of body language is only so effective, you know."

"Mn."

" Anyway ," Wei Ying said, again running his fingers through his hair. Lan Zhan closed his eyes. "I had to break the news that Zhan-gege would be going home soon and he couldn't and he was not happy. I told him that maybe you'd come to visit us again one day, but then I realized I don't even have your number! Isn't that crazy?"

"Wei Ying can have my phone number," Lan Zhan said without thought. Wei Ying can have anything, Lan Zhan didn't say because he at least had some thought.

"Ah, Lan Zhan, that'd be fun! I promise to keep my pestering to a minimum," Wei Ying said firmly. One day, Lan Zhan would ask him to pester him more, to give him something to focus on when he needed it most. Today, he just turned his face into his jeans and focused on that. "Maybe... Well, maybe we could come to Gusu, me and A-Yuan. It's been so long since I've traveled and I miss it so much, so maybe we'll go somewhere new and I'll come to see you while I'm there. If you want to see me, that is, no pressure."

"Mn," Lan Zhan hummed, relaxing more and more with each scrape of Wei Ying's nails against his scalp, "I have an air mattress."

"Of course you do, you seem very prepared," Wei Ying nearly cooed, "Well, we'll talk about that later. I don't want to impose and I-I don't even have plans yet, but I would like to."

"I would like you to."

"Aiya, Lan Zhan, how do you make such simple words feel so overwhelming? Is that something you learned in your fancy school?" Wei Ying laughed, warm and comforting. Lan Zhan didn't answer, just letting his mind focus on simply the feeling of Wei Ying. His laughter slowly died and he hummed that soft little hum. "I like your face, Lan Zhan."

Lan Zhan breathed.

"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying whispered, fingers moving from his hair to his jaw, "I like you. "

It was a unique admission, namely because no one had ever said anything like that to him before. He was Lan Zhan, Lan Huan's weird younger brother. He wasn't something people liked, platonically nor romantically. Lan Zhan tilted his head back and opened his eyes to look up at him.

Wei Ying looked a bit hesitant despite his smile and he asked, "Is that alright?"

"I like Wei Ying," Lan Zhan offered back. Wei Ying smiled so much his eyes got a bit crinkly. It was undeniably one of the sweetest things he'd ever seen.

"Like you wanna date me, right?" Wei Ying asked, "Just clarifying."

Lan Zhan blinked a few times. He felt boneless and a little hazy and he wanted to just say yes. It was true, but it wasn't that easy. He was leaving soon.

"I'm leaving."

"Well, yes, but," Wei Ying said, smiling softly as he touched his jaw, "Long-distance is a thing we could try, right? Unless you don't want to. I just... I don't meet new people often."

He kept saying that like he had to justify why he was so forward and eager. Lan Zhan stared up at him and blinked, trying to find the right thing to say. There were many things that came to mind. How Lan Zhan didn’t find people he liked often either, or perhaps that he didn’t need to settle for Lan Zhan just because he was a new person. Instead, he said none of that and reached up, gently grabbing his shirt and tugging him down.

Wei Ying smiled as he complied, leaning down to kiss him. It was a little disjointed from the differing directions, but it still felt nice. He was warm and soft and handsome. He was handsome.

“We can try long-distance,” Wei Ying suggested against his lips, “It isn’t ideal, but… Well, you’re not too far away. We could just travel every few weeks when we can. If you want. I just…”

“Mn.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes.”

“So we’ll try.”

“Try.”

“And absolutely no pressure.”

“No pressure.”

“Because I like you,” Wei Ying breathed, pure confidence rippling off him now, “And I want you. I don’t want many things, but I want you.”

Lan Zhan gripped his shirt a little tighter, closing his eyes as he kept him close and let his words sink in. He didn’t know him long enough for this to matter to him. He’d met so many people that had entered and left his life and he didn’t think twice about it. But now Wei Ying was here and he didn’t want to let him go.

“I like you,” Lan Zhan repeated, “I want you.”

Wei Ying let out a breath that fanned over his face and instead of being annoyed by it, Lan Zhan felt frozen. Could he call his brother and ask him to wait a little while?

“Ah, Lan Zhan, you’re too much,” Wei Ying told him, kissing him again before he could ask how he was too much when he was just repeating him.

Lan Zhan shifted a little and Wei Ying did as well so their lips could meet in a more efficient way. Even that only lasted a few moments, mainly out of concern for Wei Ying’s back, and Lan Zhan pulled himself onto the couch. Wei Ying pressed close and pushed his tongue past his lips, deepening the kiss and holding him close. It was a little overwhelming, but in a way that blocked any negative feeling that could’ve tried to enter. He decided this might be his new favorite pastime.

They kissed until Lan Zhan's phone buzzed to let him know his brother had arrived which instantly broke the state of denial he'd found himself in. He opened his eyes to see Wei Ying's soft smile. He didn't want to say goodbye just yet, long-distance relationship or not. He kept him close as he reached for his phone.

Huan-ge: here! is the door unlocked?

Lan Zhan took a deep breath and he turned to face Wei Ying again, kissing him once more and hoping to make it last.

"My brother is here," Lan Zhan whispered. Wei Ying's eyebrows rose a bit.

"Oh," he said, "Do you want me to, like, hide beneath the bed or something?"

"No," Lan Zhan said, looking over his face, "Unless you don't want to meet him."

"No, no, I'm good, I'll meet him. I mean, you've already met my A-Yuan and slept in my jiejie's bed and had your tongue in my mouth, I feel like we're familiar enough for it to not be weird, right?" Wei Ying said though he was rambling a bit. Lan Zhan smiled softly and gave him another kiss. He wanted to make sure he got in enough before he left.

They both managed to stand up as he let Lan Huan know that he should come in. It only took a few seconds for him to open the door.

For a moment, that familiar feeling that perhaps his brother was going to simply woo Wei Ying more than he could started to burn in his stomach. Lan Huan smiled that bright smile that caught the eye of strangers and bowed politely as if he wasn't older and introduced himself with his comforting voice.

"Lan Huan," his brother said.

"Wei Ying," Wei Ying introduced, smiling brightly right back. Lan Zhan stood a bit to the side and tried not to let his thoughts taint the fact that the two most calming people he'd ever met were in the same room.

"I know," Lan Huan grinned, his eyes going back to Lan Zhan, "I've heard a lot about you."

"Oh. All good I hope," Wei Ying laughed, rubbing his palm against his jeans.

"Considering my brother's high standards, even a modicum of praise says a lot," Lan Huan said, "And you've won him over much more than that."

Lan Zhan felt his ears heat up and he turned his eyes to the floor. Wei Ying laughed more because it was Wei Ying and that's what he did.

"Well, I've heard a lot about you too! The infamous big brother," Wei Ying teased. Lan Zhan's thumb rubbed the skin between his middle finger and his ring finger.

"Infamous?" Lan Huan repeated.

"Ah, yes, ever-charming and impossible not to like," Wei Ying said. Lan Huan hummed in amusement.

"A-Zhan speaks too highly of me, then."

Lan Zhan wasn't sure he liked this. They were both too kind, too friendly, too confusingly familiar despite being absolute strangers. He didn't understand what it meant for them to instantly be that way and where that left him. Logically, he knew it was irrational to even think that Lan Huan would see him that way, but it still had to stomach tense.

"Oh, you call him A-Zhan! That's so cute! Can I call you A-Zhan? Or maybe Zhanzhan? Which one do you like better?" Wei Ying asked, leaning into Lan Zhan's side and his hand going to the side of his neck. It instantly dragged him out of his thoughts and into reality.

Lan Zhan looked to Wei Ying and then quickly moved his eyes to his brother to make sure he wasn't uncomfortable with the affection. Lan Huan had kept all of that with his dates out of Lan Zhan's line of view, so it was only fair that he would do the same. Only his brother was smiling wider than he had in a while.

"You can call me anything," Lan Zhan said. Wei Ying hummed and let his hand graze the length of Lan Zhan's spine as he dropped his hand.

"I'll stick to Lan Zhan right now and change it when you least expect it," Wei Ying said, tapping him on the shoulder as he put some space between them once again. Lan Zhan didn't know how to tell him that he would consistently not expect him to say his name at all in any variation, so he just said nothing.

"Well, Wei Ying, I feel bad just leaving so soon after we've met. Maybe we could all go to lunch?" Lan Huan offered. Wei Ying smiled as he shook his head and waved it off.

"I couldn't, really," Wei Ying said, "You both have a long way home, I don't want to keep you. Besides, I have to get home, I only said I would be gone for a little while."

"I understand," Lan Huan said, "Maybe some other time."

"Absolutely! I plan to come to Gusu and cause all kinds of problems, just you wait!" Wei Ying insisted. Lan Zhan couldn't help the smile that found his face.

Saying goodbye wasn't what he wanted to be doing, but he managed it anyway. Wei Ying hugged him tighter than he'd ever been hugged and it was difficult to let go. He did.

"Call me," Wei Ying said as he walked him to Lan Huan's car, "And Facetime when you can. I can do all the talking and you can just hum, it'll be romantic."

"Mn."

"See? Already there," Wei Ying laughed. His laugh was a little hollow though and his smile seemed to have extra effort behind it. "Just... don't be a stranger."

"I won't."

"Good," Wei Ying said. He glanced over at Lan Huan once before placing a quick little kiss on the corner of Lan Zhan's lips. "And I'll start making plans to come down. It won't be too long."

"Mn."

"Goodbye, Lan Zhan, be safe."

"Be safe, Wei Ying."

"Bye, Lan Huan, it was nice meeting you!" Wei Ying added, slowly extracting himself from Lan Zhan. For the first time in a few days, Lan Zhan felt the cold.

"It was nice meeting you as well."

Lan Zhan got in the passenger seat of the car and watched as Wei Ying stood in the doorway of the little cabin. It felt strange to leave him after how much time they'd spent together, but he had to. He had a job to get back to, students to teach, a life. This was just a vacation.

"He's nice," Lan Huan said, "Friendly."

"Mn."

"Handsome."

"Yes."

"Tall, too, I wasn't expecting that."

"Mn."

"And you plan to keep in touch, so that's nice. I'm happy for you, A-Zhan. Everyone needs friends, you know?" Lan Huan said. Lan Zhan nodded and stared out the window as he drove down the mountain and they lapsed into silence outside of the soft music on the radio.

The further they got from the little cabin, the more Lan Zhan's stomach became impossibly tense. He knew he just had to push through. He didn't want to leave, yes, but he typically never wanted to leave once he finally got comfortable somewhere. This was just one of those times.

And yet that feeling never went away. Instead, it slowly started to bleed into a panic. His hands felt shaky and he couldn't get comfortable, his breath feeling a bit harder to find each moment. His thoughts were nagging at him, like he forgot something that he very much couldn't leave without. He looked into the back seat a few different times, trying to spot what wasn't there and yet not being able to remember what . It was too much.

"Are you alright?" Lan Huan asked warmly. He most certainly was not.

"The buns," Lan Zhan said the moment he noticed what he forgot.

"I'm sorry?"

"The buns," he repeated, "I forgot the buns."

"I'll turn around, then."

"No," Lan Zhan said, shaking his head, "No, I just--"

"A-Zhan," Lan Huan said warmly, "You don't have to push through everything, you know that, right?"

Lan Zhan took a deep breath. He nodded.

The entire ride back up the mountain, Lan Zhan was tapping against the car door and he knew he was being annoying. He had to be. He couldn't stop, though, because if he stopped, he knew he would be worse. Lan Huan didn't say anything about it.

It was agonizing, really, and it felt like it took much more time to get back to the cabin than it should've. It felt like a few hours, though he knew it couldn't have been more than twenty minutes. He quickly got out of the car once Lan Huan pulled to a stop and made his way to the cabin, needing the buns or else he was sure the world was going to end. Or, at least, something like that.

The door opened before he could find the key.

"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying said, voice quieter than normal. Lan Zhan looked at him, at his damp eyes and his gorgeous face. "Aren't you supposed to be going home?"

"I forgot something."

"What'd you forget?"

And suddenly whatever it was slipped his mind and he could only focus on him. He didn't want to leave. He really, really didn't want to leave.

Lan Zhan pulled Wei Ying into a hug and it was met with equal if not more enthusiasm as Wei Ying wrapped his arms around his neck. He squeezed him and breathed him in, not letting up.

"I wish you could stay," Wei Ying said against his neck and he wished the same.

Lan Zhan wasn't sure how long he stood there, hugging him and refusing to let go. Long enough that Lan Huan turned off the car and suggested they go inside before they froze to death. Long enough that it seemed like it would be physically painful to let go.

"If your brother wasn't here, I would ask you to stay one more night," Wei Ying said, "Just a little bit longer."

"We could always leave in the morning," Lan Huan offered casually as if he wasn't eavesdropping. Or maybe it didn't count as eavesdropping when there was no other sound for him to focus on. "As long as your sister wouldn't mind it, of course."

Wei Ying pulled back a little bit to look at Lan Huan over Lan Zhan's shoulder.

"She wouldn't!" he insisted, "But I'll ask just to make sure. I'll be right back, Lan Zhan."

It was almost torturing to watch Wei Ying go outside to call his sister. Lan Zhan's eyes drifted from the door to his brother who was leaning against the wall and looking far too smug.

"I'm sure he'll fit in nicely in Gusu," Lan Huan said, "Nie Huaisang will surely like him."

"I don't care what Nie Huaisang thinks," Lan Zhan said. And he didn't. He did, however, care what Lan Huan thought and that must've been obvious on his face.

"I'll have to get to know him more," Lan Huan said, " You should get to know him more."

Lan Zhan nodded.

"You're staying!" Wei Ying announced as he came back in, nearly tackling Lan Zhan to the couch. The room filled with Wei Ying and Lan Huan laughing as Wei Ying latched onto him again.

It was the most perfect way to live.

That night was spent with Wei Ying in his arms as they made plans. How often they would talk, how often they would visit, what boundaries they had. It was fast and they knew it, but it wasn't just nothing. This wasn't something that just went away. He was sure of it.

And he wasn't ready to let go.

- Two Years Later-

"Holy shit, who is that?"

"He's an education major, I had him in a class last semester. He's so hot."

"I can tell. "

Lan Zhan kept his eyes on his laptop he bit the inside of his cheek to keep any sort of expression at bay. It wasn't something he ever had to do much before, but it was something that he'd been doing more and more these days now that Wei Ying lived with him. It'd taken over a year and a lot of convincing him that he could go back to school before Wei Ying made the decision, but he was here.

"Is that his kid?"

"I think so. Doesn't make him any less hot."

"True."

Lan Zhan slowly let his eyes lift to where he knew the students sitting in front of him were already looking. Wei Ying stood in line at the campus coffee shop, gazing up at the menu as A-Yuan held his hand and leaned into him. They had matching ponytails and matching backpacks, A-Yuan's dwarfing him slightly. Lan Zhan was incredibly fond at the sight.

"I wonder if he's dating anyone."

"Probably, look at that ass."

"That doesn't mean anything."

"But doesn't it?"

Wei Ying ordered and paid, turning around to walk to the other side to wait. However, after he turned, he caught Lan Zhan's eye and lit up. A-Yuan noticed only a few seconds later.

"Zhan-gege!" he called, breaking free from Wei Ying's grip and carefully weaving through the store to get to him. Lan Zhan had just enough time to move his tea to a safe zone before A-Yuan clambered into his lap. "Zhan-gege!"

"A-Yuan," Lan Zhan responded, voice softer. A-Yuan smiled at him, one of his two front teeth missing and making it that much more endearing.

"A-Yuan, how many times do I have to tell you not to run off? Even if it is to A-Zhan," Wei Ying said, grinning despite his firm tone. Lan Zhan tilted his head towards him and accepted the kiss on the cheek.

"Oh shit, he's with Professor Lan? Seriously?"

"That makes sense."

"No, it doesn't, they're two different types of hot!"

"Still both hot."

"I guess. "

"Sorry, Baba," A-Yuan said, though it wasn't truly apologetic. He immediately pulled out his tablet (a far too expensive gift from Lan Huan and Nie Mingjue for his last birthday, but how could they say no?) and started playing some game to distract himself.

"Yeah, yeah. I was actually coming to find you, my Lan Zhan," Wei Ying said, leaning against Lan Zhan's side as he stayed standing. His fingers mindlessly went to his hair.

"Oh?"

"I need to write a very last minute essay. Can you pretty please let A-Yuan sit in on your next class so I can do it?" Wei Ying asked, a pout on his lips. The answer was already yes, but Lan Zhan raised an eyebrow anyway.

"And why did you wait?"

Wei Ying scoffed, "As if anyone would look at you, my fiance , and not understand why I waited! I had much more interesting things to focus on!"

"Mn," Lan Zhan said, doubtful despite the smile on his face, "He can join."

"Thank you so much," Wei Ying said, pressing a kiss to his face, "You're the best."

"Mn."

Wei Ying snorted a laugh and slowly extracted himself from his side as his name was called. Lan Zhan watched him walk to the counter and fetch his coffee and a much smaller, less caffeinated drink for A-Yuan.

"And here you go," Wei Ying said, sitting the drink in front of him.

"Thank you," A-Yuan said as he carefully went to take a sip.

There was something so perfect about the scene, the boy he was helping Wei Ying raise in his lap and the man he loved more than anything at his side. It wasn't something he imagined for himself and yet here it was. Even when Wei Ying kissed him goodbye and A-Yuan moved to sit in the chair beside him, he still felt content.

He had something all on his own, something that put things into perspective and that made it all easier. He didn't want it any other way.

"Damn. Who would've thought Professor Lan had a man that looked like that?"

"Honestly, we all should've guessed."

#wangxian #wangxian fic #lan wangji #lan xichen #wei wuxian #the untamed #mdzs #my fic

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hua-lian · 5 years

Note

Hello , so um I want to request something I hope its not too much , can you maybe translate some interesting parts of that chapter where MQ ,FX XL gets to HC cave and find the statues and HC gives(?)XL a red string on his finger , and can you tell me what chapter that is ? , thanks , anx sorry if its a bother

MASSIVE SPOILERS

first of all, you have low standard if you’re asking me for translations HAHAHAHAHA

okay so the chapter that HC gives XL the red string is chapter 158, and only from chapter 173 onwards did XL, HC, MQ and FX get to HC’s cave, and I would argue the interesting parts is the whole thing but I can’t translate that without taking a year so I compromised and put summaries in between translations in [brackets]

warning, this is one hell of a long post because I don’t know how to use google docs

Red string part (Chapter 158)

Xie Lian was contemplating whether he should smash the stone wall to see what was behind, when he heard Hua Cheng: “Gege, give me your hand.”

Xie Lian: “???”

Even though he was confused, he still relented and gave his hand to Hua Cheng. Hua Cheng gently held his hand, putting his hand in his palm, his other hand covering, as if he was putting something on him. Xie Lian’s heart jumped faster, and he held his breath for a moment, at once, he raised his hand, and questioned: “This is?”

On his right hand’s third finger was a fine red string, which was what Hua Cheng put on him. Additionally, this red string continuously extended, connected to Hua Cheng’s own finger’s red string.

Hua Cheng raised his hand, showing the two’s identical butterfly knot, smiling as he said: “Tied together.”

Hearing this, Xie Lian’s face heated up, quickly he rubbed his face twice, afraid Hua Cheng could detect his unusually quick heartbeat, laughing as he said: “San Lang this is a form of magic?”

“En.” Hua Cheng slightly straightened his expression, putting down his hand, he said, “Even though we won’t leave each other on our own, we can’t guarantee there will be no outside forces. This string won’t snap, and won’t be short. Unless the other was gone, otherwise, we can definitely follow the string to find the other person.”

Xie Lian said: “Gone, meaning?”

Hua Cheng said: “Dying, or vanishing into thin air. If the string is unbroken, it means the other person is fine.”

Chapter 173

[HC and XL fall into HC’s Ten-Thousand Gods Cave, and as they continue walking XL sees a lot of different types of statues, all with their faces covered.]

Some was fully covered, extremely unusual. Xie Lian found it weird, wanting to pull down one statue’s gauze and see its face, but behind him Hua Cheng said: “Gege, I suggest you don’t.”

Xie Lian turned his head back, questioningly asked: “Why? I feel that these god statues are a little weird.”

Hua Cheng walked forward, and said: “Because it’s weird, it’s best if you don’t. Since these faces are covered, there must be a reason why. The head is where the spiritual energy assembles, if the cover is removed, allowing these weird god statues to assemble the spiritual energy, who knows what might happen. Gege, didn’t you want to find your two footmen? Since we haven’t found them, it’s best not to touch them (god statues) so as to avoid side issues.”

His words were mysterious and confusing, but it was not without reason, in the case of removing the face gauze, awakening whatever these god statues had, that would not be any fun at all. Xie Lian thought for a bit, deciding to put down his hand, and said: “I’m just a little curious as to who the god is.”

Hua Cheng, playing it down, said: “This place is Wu Yong’s national border, perhaps it’s Wu Yong’s crown prince’s god statue, not strange at all.”

Xie Lian: “I’m afraid it’s not.”

Hua Cheng said: “Eh? How can one be sure?”

Xie Lian faced him, and said: “From the murals we saw on the way here, Wu Yong’s crown prince and Wu Yong Nation’s people’s clothes, compared to these god statue’s dress style, it’s not the same. Therefore, I’m afraid that these god statues and Wu Yong’s crown prince are unrelated. Additionally, it’s possible they weren’t made by the hands of Wu Yong’s people.”

Hua Cheng laughed and said: “Really? Gege is really meticulous.”

Xie Lian also laughed, and said: “No, no. Only that the style of these god statues, whatever craft labor, clothes, or the streamline and details of the clothes, all seems to have a more modern style. For example……the style of Xian Le Nation.”

Hua Cheng raised a brow, and said: “It seems, gege has a rather deep knowledge of this aspect.”

Xie Lian said: “Where, where. It’s only that I’ve seen too many god statues, sooner or later I’ll be more perceptive.”

Even though he didn’t know why, but he kept feeling, from just now till now, Hua Cheng was a little off. After talking to this point, he seemed to be faintly nervous.

[XL decided to listen to HC, and not touch the statues, then they come across a path split into 2, and XL questions why HC immediately goes to the right if he claims he doesn’t know the place. HC makes up nonsense, saying he’s more lucky so he randomly picked the right side. XL then hears voices from the left path, and heads there despite HC calling him back. It’s MQ and FX, stuck in a hole. HC did not follow him.]

Chapter 174

[XL jumps into the hole, HC comes and brings him out, XL brings MQ and FX out of the hole. XL, MQ, and FX spend the whole chapter talking, generally about how XL knew MQ and FX were FY and NF all along.]

Chapter 175

[As they continue walking, MQ tries to touch one of the statues, and HC immediately holds a sword towards him, and reluctantly MQ relents after a standoff. Suddenly, MQ and FX grab XL and runs away from HC, and MQ mentions that the red bead XL had lost long ago was found again, and it’s the red bead in HC’s hair. XL is in disbelief, and MQ takes off a veil covering a statue’s face, and it’s XL’s face. All the statues are of him, made by HC. They then see some murals, and it’s all drawn by HC, one being Pleased God XL saving small HC, one being HC holding an umbrella over a white flower, and FX and MQ are horrified to realize that HC’s been watching XL all this time.]

Feng Xin was simply absolutely terrified, and said: “What kind of person is this? Staring at you from 800 years till now?! Still staying with you until today? Fuck me! This is too horrifying! Is he possessed?! What does he want? Ordinary believers completely would not do this kind of thing, what does he want?!”

Mu Qing said: “There’s a plot……There definitely must be a plot! Quickly continue looking, a clue can definitely be found here!”

Xie Lian was already shocked stupid, staring at the small red boy on the wall, he hadn’t reacted yet, he only felt that there was much he hadn’t forgotten, but he had not cared to remember all the messy and confusing things which were all fighting to appear first in Xie Lian’s head, when the two beside him starting making noise. He shivered once, and asked: “What happened now?”

Feng Xin and Mu Qing were standing in front of a stone wall, as if they had seen some kind of terrible thing. On seeing that he wanted to walk over, Feng Xin quickly turned and pushed him back, and said: “Don’t fucking look!”

Xie Lian: “? What is it? What thing? Why can’t I see it?”

Mu Qing’s face also darkened, and he said: “……Don’t see it. It’s nothing worth looking at, quickly run!”

The two of them grabbed an arm, once again rushing towards a path. Dragged by them, Xie Lian said: “What are you two doing? I still have not seen the entirety of the murals?!”

Feng Xin ran and angrily said: “No use looking! You can’t see that kind of thing! Fuck, honestly! I really have never seen this kind of fucking thing before! This kind of person!!!”

Xie Lian was confused: “You have never see what before? What’s did San Lang do?”

Mu Qing scolded: “Still calling him San Lang, stop calling him that! It’s too late to run! From now on don’t approach him! He’s not normal, he’s sick, he’s a lunatic!!!”

Xie Lian couldn’t listen to it anymore, and said: “Why are you two scolding like that? Didn’t I say, not everyone who’s not normal is bad?”

Feng Xin said: “Stop asking! I don’t know! He’s entirely different from us! He’s sick! Towards you, he……he……”

Xie Lian said: “Towards me what?”

One wants to return, the other two want to pull, the three of them were locked in a stalemate, suddenly a cold voice came from their front, and said: “Didn’t I say before, once at other’s domain, don’t touch their things randomly? Otherwise, whatever happens next, it’s hard to say.”

The three of them stiffened, turning their heads. They could only see a red figure in front of them. Hua Cheng was leaning against a stone wall, blocking their way.

Chapter 176

[They run again, and XL says he wants to ask HC about the statues and murals instead, and MQ and FX, obviously, refuses, and they both think XL is too trusting of HC. MQ puts a tally (talisman?) on him which makes him obey and prevents him from being able to speak. HC appears again.]

Feng Xin and Mu Qing instantly backed a distance. Hua Cheng did not look at them, his eye moving to one side, taking a step towards Xie Lian. Feng Xin and Mu Qing reacted when they saw who he was heading towards, quickly putting Xie Lian behind them, and said in unison: “Don’t come over!”

Hua Cheng’s expression darkened.

If this was a normal day, whoever dared to tell Seeking Flowers in Blood Rain not to come over, he would completely not care about these words, it would be weird if he didn’t laughed and purposefully headed over, but this time, he instead seemed as if he was a little afraid, not daring to act rashly, halting his footsteps.

A while later, he then slowly said: “What is the meaning of this?”

This tone seemed calm. Feng Xin instead said directly: “There’s no need to act anymore, this place has always been your nest. We have already seen these god statues, and those drawings of yours, we have seen it all!”

Hua Cheng was blocking them, hearing this, the hand behind his back trembled, two finger unconsciously curled up.

“……” He slowly drooped, and weakly said, “His Highness, has also seen?”

This tone was very low, even though this manner of speaking was nothing exciting, it was a little hoarse, clearly unusual. Xie Lian thought: “I have not!”

Actually, he didn’t see a lot, however, at this moment he couldn’t speak nor move, honestly only able lean against the stone wall in the corner, as if he was hiding behind the two, afraid to come out to face Hua Cheng, and unwilling to talk to him. Feng Xin drew his bow, and said: “Correct. Whatever…thoughts you have, we are clear. With respect to you as a Ghost King, if you still have some respect and dignity, please do not come close to His Highness the Crown Prince anymore.”

[HC, angered, fights them, and traps them in cocoon silk, then MQ says he was the one who drove HC out of the military, and then HC tells them to admit if the thing they were talking about before was true or not. MQ shouts for XL to run away, XL runs and falls down pretty much immediately.]

Xie Lian’s hands and feet were tightly bound by white thread, lying on the ground, his black hair and white sleeves scattered, his bamboo hat having fallen aside. Hua Cheng slowly turned towards him, pausing for a long time, he headed towards him. Having walked only a few steps, Feng Xin couldn’t control himself and said: “Hua Cheng!”

Hua Cheng paused in his steps, slowly inclining his head.

Feng Xin summoned up his courage to say: “You…You let go of His Highness! He’s already so miserable. Towards him, don’t……”

Hua Cheng didn’t say a thing, walking to Xie Lian’s side, bending his knees for a bit, he picked him up.

[HC carries him and leaves, and MQ bites the silk aggressively.]

Chapter 177 (Confession!!!)

[HC carries him away, his hands stiff, and HC then notices the tally MQ had put on XL, preventing him from speaking.]

Xie Lian’s organs were in disarray, the effect of the Obey Talisman on his back starting to fade away, he moved his leg with force, letting out a “Ah.” Even though it looked like a dying fish futilely fighting its last battle and letting out a protest without any deterrence, Hua Cheng still stiffened, instantly retracting his hand, and said: “I will not!”

Seeming as if he thought his voice was too loud, and was afraid to startle Xie Lian, Hua Cheng took a few steps back, lightening his tone, and said, lowly: “Your Highness, I will not do anything. You…don’t have to be afraid.”

[XL is injured, which he hadn’t realized until HC was taking off his clothes and helping him (?), MQ and FX come again, but it turns out they were fake, and Bai Wuxiang had been pretending to be them.]

here’s a link to a translation for the confession!!

#whew this took a while #tian guan ci fu #asks!#tgcf spoilers #my (bad) translations

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chisie12 · 5 years

Text

A Family Outing - A MDZS Secret Santa Gift

Peekaboo! Hi @theancientraven

I'm your secret santa for the exchange! I do hope you like it!

I had to finish this on my phone, thus posting it on my phone. So I can't do squat for formatting. :( Pardon me for any mistakes that I made. I accidentally lost the first - now second - draft and had to redo it all ;w;

Also the words in the brackets is a roughly translated Chinese poem:《离思》by Yuan Zhen. I did not write it whatsoever.

Warning: This might also be uh, a tad bit explicit.

~*~

I rarely ever heard of him talking about his family; not a word of either mother or father, but there was always that bright smile forever gracing his lips.

Intoxicating. Annoying. Painful.

The smile I grew to love, after countless moments of sheer irritation at the sight, started to fade, replaced by a demonic, desperate, smile.

Agony. Despair. Piercing.

The laughter that brightened the darkness in the black and white world that I saw… I never got to see it again.

Not for 13 years.

But even that, it wasn’t a face I recognised.

…

But that song. That song. That, I recognised.

The notes that scratched within the makeshift bamboo flute, the crude melody that it sang, only he would have known. Only him.

Because I wrote it for him.

[Insignificant waters become when sailed to the oceans abound.]

The vision shifts and fades. The damp, musky scent sullied by the stench of blood pervaded my nose. It was dim, so dark, but I wasn’t alone.

“Why don’t you play me a song?”

His body was bruised and battered, a furrow in his brows despite the small smile upon those intoxicating lips. A bitterness crept up my throat, the breath hitching as my insides churned uneasily.

My heart throbbed achingly with every beat of staring at him. Willing myself to calm, flexing and relaxing the taut muscles of my fingers, I plucked the first note of many. The song that I wrote for him danced in the dead cave, bouncing off the cavern walls and I felt the vibrations in my throat as I hummed along. Darkness fell when my eyes hid behind their lids, clutching desperately at the emotions trying to sneak out. They were tight, pained, as I listened to his ragged breathing from behind.

It hurt. So much.

I really should have brought him home then.

“Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan!”

I remembered ignoring his calls, my face remaining unfazed, but hidden in the shadows of my sleeves, my fingers were clenched, my heart tightening its heartstrings.

Just why?

When I walked past all the other cultivators, both men and women alike, they never incited the same feelings as he did. And when I reached the steps back home high in the clouds, the calm that I previously felt, disappeared.

I really should have brought him home.

“He is so arrogant! Does he think that he is so great?”

I gritted my teeth as my face maintained it’s indifference. The other cultivators were loud, shouting out the injustices that befell because of him.

~*~

“I’ll share it with you!” Wei WuXian grinned as he held up the jaws of Emperor’s Smile.

...

“Here, look inside to see if you can use any of it.” The grin was gone, replaced by a grimace as he handed me the pouch; A sliver of hope in the herbs it held.

...

Then there came the grin again, and the pleasant laughter as beautiful blooms rained down in my gaze. They dimmed in comparison to him.

...

“I won’t buy it for him,” he chuckled as the young child clinging onto him looked appalled at his words. Rather than stealing candy from a baby, this was simply hell for the kid.

...

“Lan Zhan!”

~*~

His smile was always so bright. So happy. So carefree.

I ignored the cultivators that surrounded me, forcing the temptation to use the silencing spell down. ‘It’s because you don’t know him. So you wouldn’t understand the kind of person that he is.’

[No cloud is as beautiful as that which crowns the peak.]

Even when drenched in blood, surrounded by fierce sounds of fighting, he looked as beautiful as he did before.

The sounds of my guqin danced together with the melodies of his flute, the corpses he controlled tearing and ripping apart the enemies with ease.

[I pass by flowers without a second glance.]

I walked by the other cultivators without a second glance, the same air and look of indifference on my face. The giggles and blushes of the women missed my heartstrings, drifting pass me like a cold breeze.

None could spur me on like he could.

[For my destined love is half for you, and half for the Taoism.]

Because one look at him, and I couldn’t look at another.

…

“Lan Zhan!”

“Mmm.”

I instinctively answered.

“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan. Look at me.”

His voice was smooth, the tone warming up my insides. It was pleasant to hear, just as pleasant as the music of the guqin. A face suddenly appeared on top of the book I was holding. Soft black hair pooled on the table as he blinked those captivating eyes up at me, his lips jutted out into an addictive pout. His body was bent backwards on the wooden table as he stared at me from below.

I shifted my eyes from his curved lips towards his eyes that glinted with a knowing light. He licked his lips and I resisted the urge to lick my own at the beautiful sight.

He sang my name again, a hand catching a lock of my hair and twirling it around the digit. I gave him a questioning hum, the corner of my lips twitching into a gentle smile.

“What were you thinking about? I was calling you so many times and you weren’t responding!”

“Mmm.” I was thinking about you.

Seeing no response, Wei Wuxian sighed and said, “Let’s go outside!”

“Mmm.”

Before Wei Wuxian could move, the pages of the book drifted from my fingertips as they latched onto his chin and I locked my lips with his. His nose tickled my chin as I kissed him upside down. Warmth bubbled in my stomach as he instantly melted into the kiss, licking and biting the other’s lips. Hot breaths fanned my cheeks as we parted, his sweetness still lingering on my tongue. I could hear his breathless pants below me, the room suddenly becoming warmer than it should have been in winter.

A breath hitched in my throat as I felt those same lips now redder and swollen gently planting themselves on my chin. Wei Wuxian slowly pushed himself higher onto the table, his kisses trailing down my neck, my Adam’s apple and to the space in between my collarbone. My fingers curled into the table, my heart beating furiously in my chest.

“Lan Zhan. Lan-er gege,” he giggled, the breaths heating the skin of my neck. “Do you want to go outside?”

I glanced down at him, the rims of my eyes reddening. “No.”

Gracefully and effortlessly, my arms slipped under his body as he wrapped his own around my neck before adjusting himself comfortably into my embrace. “But it’s snowing outside! Let’s go.”

“No.”

I lifted his chin with a hand and swallowed him in with a kiss. His moans brought upon an indescribable feeling within me despite being married for years. His hand snaked into my hair, tugging at the strands before I felt the silky ribbon around my forehead loosen.

Wei Wuxian pulled back with a grin and glanced at the firm grip on his hand with the ribbon. “Lan Zhan, come on. We’ve been inside for so long! I want to go out.”

My eyes burned with desire. My grip on his body tightened.

Seeing his husband’s mouth opening and fearing the rejection, Wei Wuxian immediately purred, “We can do it all you want tonight. Isn’t it going to be cold? You can warm me up in bed for as long as you want.”

I peered down at his cheeky smile with pursed lips. Bending my head, I bit down onto his neck and licked at the spot before grunting out my agreement, only to hear his whine.

“You’re always biting me!”

With my head still positioned at the crook of his neck, I bit down again at his skin. Seeing the skin reddening with my marks made me swell with pride, but a tug shifted my attention towards his pouting expression.

“Lan -”

I silenced him with another deep kiss, swallowing the words he was about to utter as my hands roamed around his body. His moans filled my ears, causing a warmth to pool in my guts, spreading outwards through my veins. His tongue battled with mine in a bout of dominance. I clutched a handful of his soft hair. The kiss grew more desperate and his sinful moans grew louder, turning the warmth from earlier into a scorching heat, tingling through my nerves and gathering below my abdomen. My hand easily slipped through his robes, calloused fingertips caressing his skin and he obediently tilted his head to the side, allowing me to kiss and bite at his soft spots near his neck, when loud thudding across the wooden floorboards outside echoed through the hallways before the doors were suddenly pulled open, followed by a frightened shriek and the slamming of said door.

“I already told you we shouldn’t have disturbed them,” came the familiar voice of Lan Sizhui.

“I didn’t expect that in broad daylight!” retorted Lan Jingyi. “I just wanted to see if they wanted to go outside and see the snow!”

“You just want to go down the mountain…”

“But Senior Wei said he’ll bring us down today!”

Warm laughter filled the suddenly silent room as the children’s footsteps dimmed into the distance with their bickering. Wei Wuxian peeked at his husband with a coy glance, his lips curving upwards and he winked. “So, almighty Hanguang-Jun, do you want to see the snow?”

I pursed my lips at him and straightened his clothes. Seeing his smirk lengthened into a grin, a shining gaze in his eyes, I could only sigh and force my desires down. “Mmm.”

“You’re the best!” My lips twitched upward as Wei Wuxian’s chaste kiss upon them after I nodded.

‘It might not be so bad of an idea after all.’

A blanket of white covered the mountain tops, powdery flakes gently falling like a curtain that coloured their vision. Amidst the fog that normally obscured their sights, there was winter’s beautiful snow covering the trees and land, making it an enchanting palace above the clouds. A few shadowy figures walked down the long steps of the Gusu Lan sect. Cladded in warm clothing, they finally reached the bottom before heading towards the nearby town.

Bright red lanterns lined the streets bustling with people, cheerful chatter filled the afternoon air.

“Hehe, the atmosphere’s so good!” Wei Wuxian looked back at the children following him. “Are you guys hungry?”

Following him were Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi.

“A little bit,” Lan Jingyi rubbed his nose sheepishly as Lan Sizhui sighed with a knowing smile.

Wei Wuxian glanced at me who walked by his side. Tacitly, I wordlessly pointed at a restaurant with a finger and our group of four made our way over. Lan Jingyi patted in his pouch before seating himself next to Lan Sizhui with a contented smile. Wei Wuxian looked curiously at the unfamiliar restaurant and nudged my waist. With a mental sigh, I quickly ordered some dishes and a pot of tea. Food quickly came.

“Eh, eh. Try some of these too!”

I watched with a sense of warmth as Wei Wuxian placed some meat in the boys’ bowls of rice.

“And this!”

And some more meat.

“This is good too!”

… and more.

… ‘I didn’t order those dishes for the children. They can’t -’

“Senior Wei! I can’t eat this! It’s too spicy!”

“Nonsense! It’s not even spicy! See, Lan Sizhui is perfectly fine!”

I elegantly nibbled on my chicken, definitely not bathing in red, definitely not too spicy but only with just the slightest of a pang, and glanced at the young man before me, unsurprised that he could remain calm. He was chewing and swallowing the spicy meat as though it was nothing, still elegantly eating his food, though beads of sweat had begun collecting at his hairline, inching to slide down.

‘He’s probably used to it…’ Remembering the times that the younger him had to eat and endure Wei Wuxian’s cooking, I let out an inward smile before it quickly vanished.

“It’s too spic -”

I watched calmly as Lan Sizhui skillfully stuffed a piece of deep fried chicken into Lan Jingyi’s mouth with his chopsticks, his words coming out muffled and incoherent. His eyebrows furrowed into a ‘V’ as he angrily chewed on the piece of meat and glared at his friend, who - I’m proud to say - was sitting unnerved at the events with the still graceful air of a Gusu Lan sect disciple.

“Aiya, aiya. No need to quarrel. It makes the food bad. Hurry up and eat,” Wei Wuxian waved his hand and placated the angry Lan before relaxing back into his seat.

Lan Jingyi pouted and lifted his chopsticks when a hard force bumped into him from behind. The porcelain teacup tipped over, the hot tea spilling over the table with a splash. Already enraged, he stood up and whirled around, only to find no suspect. The crowd was standing a ways away from him, not close enough to have knocked into him. I eyed the crowd, slowly chewing my chicken before swallowing it. I glanced back at Lan Jingyi who was grumbling and helping Lan Sizhui wipe up the mess on the table.

“Oh, no! It’s not here!”

I placed my chopsticks down at Lan Jingyi’s outburst with a frown. ‘What is it now?’

His face was twisted into a panic, eyes wide and brows furrowed. His hands were frantically patting himself down and then searching below the table.

“What are you looking for?”

Under the table, Lan Jingyi looked up from the ground and saw Wei Wuxian’s questioning expression. Seeing that face, somehow, brought upon a wave of calm that could only douse the slightest flames of his panic. “I can’t find it! It’s not here!”

“And I asked you, what are you looking for?”

Lan Jingyi didn’t even hesitate as he shouted - very un-Lan might I add - that: “It’s Sizhui’s gift!”

“Gift? What gift?” Lan Sizhui perked up, his food paused midway.

Pink crept up Lan Jingyi’s cheeks, up to his ears. With a scowl, he grumbled, “It was your Christmas gift…”

“Why didn’t you just leave it in your room?” Wei Wuxian asked with a dismissive wave of his hand. “It’s your fault for bringing it out and not taking care of it properly.”

“...I was afraid Sizhui would see it.”

“I will? What is it?”

“It’s a gift! I can’t tell you!” The flustered young man turned his head towards us. “Please help me find it!”

“Eh…” Wei Wuxian rested his elbow on the table and leaned into his palm with an eye closed. “But why? It’s not like you got a gift for us.”

Lan Jingyi’s face turned redder. His face scrunched up further and his hands gripped the edge of the table harder. It should have been safe inside his pouch; It would have been with him at all times. But now, even the pouch is missing.

…

The pouch is missing.

Lan Jingyi’s expression fell into despair, mouth agape as though someone had just told him Lan Sizhui was actually a girl. No, he probably wouldn't be too surprised... His body slumped back into the wooden chair, bewildered denial painted across his face.

Wei Wuxia waved him to relax. “It's alright. You can always buy another gift. Finish your food first. Don't waste it. It's not good to waste -”

“Mama! Just help me okay! I don’t have any more money to buy another one!”

…

Silence had reigned over the table. I gently laid down my chopsticks that hung in midair after a long pause and slowly blinked once. The soft sound of the cutlery setting on the table brought my lover out of his reverie. I looked at the children; Lan Sizhui looked dejected whereas Lan Jingyi looked even more flustered as his head was burned red in embarrassment and anxiety.

“What! It’s true! We all think that you are!!” Lan Jingyi stared at Wei Wuxian rebelliously, his nose slightly turned up into the air. “Even Young Mistress Jin Ling thinks so!”

“What do I think?”

A voice brought their attention towards the street. Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling curiously stared at the silent quartet sitting outside near the restaurant’s entrance; well, there was still that slight furrow of his eyebrows and frown on the older man’s face.

“Jiang Cheng! Jin Ling! Why are you here?” Wei Wuxian stood up. “Come, come. Sit and eat with us. We were just having lunch.”

Two chairs were added as they squeezed in together.

“Shouldn’t you ask us if we ate already?” Jiang Cheng glared at Wei Wuxian who merely grinned.

“Well, you guys are here. Most likely, you just arrived and if you're wandering around the restaurants, you're probably looking for something to eat. And visiting Gusu? What do you need?” Wei Wuxian casually remarked as he continued eating carefreely.

The only sect leader in the group groaned and rubbed his temple in response. Jin Ling however leaned forward towards the only other two boys his age.

“What were you talking about?”

Lan Jingyi clammed up and angrily ate his food, but as I stared at him with pursed lips, he quickly corrected himself and ate with at least some grace. I may or may not have ignored his stabbing of the rice with his chopsticks.

Seeing that Lan Jingyi wouldn’t explain, Lan Sizhui gently told their friend, “Lan Jingyi called Senior Wei ‘Mama’ just now.”

There was a burst of laughter at their table. Wei Wuxian grinned and his chest rose and fall with his laughs, but realisation soon dawned that no one else was laughing with him. All but him were silent. They were all staring at him, and when he turned to look at me and saw me staring too, he frowned.

“Don’t tell me that you boys think of me really as a mother?”

“What? It’s true. I think so too.” Jin Ling shrugged.

“Jiang Cheng?”

The man in question shrugged and grabbed a chicken. “You are. You mother the boys too much.”

Wei Wuxian: “...”

He turned to look at me and I simply hummed in agreement before continuing with my meal now that the atmosphere has grown lighter.

“Well? Are you going to help me or not, mama?” Lan Jingyi suddenly faced Wei Wuxian, the feared Yiling Patriarch, with a resolute determination… and with a blush still over his fair cheeks.

Wei Wuxian blinks before bursting out into laughter again. “Fine, fine. Let’s go catch the thief. He shouldn’t have gone too far.”

As the group stood up to leave after I paid for the unfinished meal and gave a word of apology for wasting the food, I returned to see Jin Ling quickly stuffing some food into his mouth.

“What? I am hungry.”

“Then hurry up and eat more,” Wei Wuxian ruffled his hair. “We can still spare some time.”

“Hurry up, Jin Ling!” Lan Jingyi groaned, undaring to use his nickname for the other boy with Jiang Cheng around. “I gotta find that pouch!”

“What pouch?”

“An important pouch!”

“But I’m hungry!”

I mentally sighed at the bickering of the children, though I was inwardly content at the sight. Remembering the days when the children first met, they naturally did not act as familiar as they did now. Of course I was also proud that Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi were persistent enough with Jin Ling, enough that they broke his walls.

“The pouch is seriously important! We have to quickly go before we lose the guy!”

Jin Ling sighed exasperatedly. “But what if he’s gone already?”

“No! I can’t buy the things again!” Lan Jingyi cried out.

“Shh, not too loud. We’re in public,” Lan Sizhui sighed as he tried placating his frantic friend.

“What’s in the pouch anyway?” Jin Ling asked with a lick of his lips. ‘The chicken just now tasted good…’

“The pouch with yours, Sizhui’s, mama’s and papa’s Christmas gifts!”

For the second time that day, everyone froze and stared at the flustered Lan disciple, whose cooled face instantly heated up again. He looked at me fearfully and hurriedly backpedalled, “Ah, Hanguang-Jun! I didn’t mean, I’m uh -”

Wei Wuxian slung an arm around my shoulder and smiled. “Mum’s really the one with milk while dad’s the one with gold.” Seeing the small twitch of my lips, his smile brightened further. He turned the the others while I quickly dropped my smile. “Come, let’s go find the guy wearing a black robe with a white ribbon in his hair. He should have a scar on his neck. Hurry up, Jin Ling.”

“But you said that you could spare some time!”

“That was before I knew the thief took Lan Zhan’s gift too! Hurry up!”

“Aren’t you worried about your gift?” Jiang Cheng asked with lifted eyebrows.

“Nope! Lan Zhan’s more important!”

Jiang Cheng groaned and ignored the blatant dog food thrown at his face while begrudgingly, Jin Ling stuffed his face full of food before rendezvousing with the group, just in time to hear Lan Sizhui shyly ask, “...Mama, how did you know how he looks like?”

I mentally smiled at his voice. ‘Sounds like he’s upset that he wasn’t the first one to call Wei Ying that.’

I placed a hand on his back and he grinned up at me with twinkly dark orbs. His lips never parted except to smile but it was like I could clearly hear him say: Papa!

After that, I walked forward to the front of the group as Wei Wuxian’s voice sounded.

“I saw him walking away sneakily and hide into the crowd, and he was the one that bumped into my son Jingyi just now. At first I thought he was pushed because he stumbled, but that may not be the case. Isn’t that right, Lan Zhan?”

“Mmm.”

“Maybe it was all a setup?” one of the boys asked.

“Possibly!”

“How are we going to find him though? Where do we start?” Lan Jingyi began to panic. “And if you knew what he looked like, why'd you tell me to buy a new gift!”

Wei Wuxian shrugged nonchalantly. “Who told you to bring something like that out? Serves you right. You sound have kept something that valuable at home.”

I stared at him from the corner of my eyes. ‘Does that mean I should keep you at home too?’

As if sending my stare, Wei Wuxian whirled his head towards me. “No! Definitely not!”

I frowned.

“You can't do that. I don't agree to it.”

I could only sigh resignedly and start walking.

The others watched in utter bafflement at the scene playing out before them. Just how…

‘Lan Wangji didn't even say a word…’

Then, as though nothing had happened, Wei Wuxian bounded up next to me. “If he’s this slippery, it means he’s done it before. We can ask around.” “Though I’m surprised. We’re so close to Gusu and there are people that dare steal?”

I stayed silent, sparing only a glance.

“Though I guess you guys can’t catch everyone and there’s bound to be one bad guy or two nearby.”

“Mmm.” My heart warmed at the silent understanding between us. He really is my wife. ‘...I want to kiss him. ...No. Not here. Wifey will get mad.’

Snow squelched beneath our hastened steps. We asked around and sure enough, recently, there was a group of people that has been going around stealing, and only a lady managed to describe one of the thieves; Just because he stole her favourite carrots out of her basket.

It was the same guy Wei Wuxian saw. Tall man in black robes and a white ribbon in his hair, with the same scar on the neck.

“Sounds like they’re a poor group trying to make ends meet…” Lan Sizhui lamented softly.

“Yeah…” Jin Ling subconsciously agreed.

“I just want them to give me back the presents! I’m already broke after buying them!” Lan Jingyi roared.

“What did you buy that’s so expensive?” Jin Ling quirked a questioning brow at his friend.

“For four of you, it was expensive! I didn’t know what else to get!”

“Aiya, aiya. As long as mine’s the most expensive gift, it’s alright. After all, you have to treat your mama well right? Of course papa’s gift gotta be good too!”

I watched the surroundings, the children’s voices alongside my wife’s dimming in my ears. We were walking along the main footpath that branched out into smaller alleys. The crowd slowly thinned out, no longer as bustling and lively as before. It was a lot calmer with a few people buying vegetables and chicken, most likely for dinner tonight.

My eyes suddenly darted to the left, catching the glimpse of a black shadow rushing into an alley.

“I think I saw someone run away just now!”

I shared knowing glances with Wei Wuxian who was grinning from ear to ear. I praised Lan Sizhui in my heart. ‘Definitely our son.’

“Let’s go!” Lan Jingyi shouted, running in the direction Lan Sizhui pointed at.

We followed after the young Lan disciple, even turning when he ducked into another alley, and yet another, only to then stop short at the dead end after a long while. Before us stood a ragged shack, torn fabrics of cloth hanging over like a makeshift roof, yet what stood out were the children huddled together in the cold with smudges of dirt on their faces and bodies covered only by rags. Standing in front of them was the same man that Wei Wuxian described.

“Shit, I should have just stayed hidden.” The man scowled, adopting an offensive stance. “I’m not giving you back your things!”

“Oh, so you really had them?” Wei Wuxian lazily called out, strolling to the front before tutting. “And don't curse in front if the kids!”

The man cursed again and glared at Wei Wuxian, but I could see his face muscles tensing when the sheer realisation dawned upon him on just who he was actually cursing at. “Don’t think I’m afraid of you just cause you're the Yiling Patriarch!”

“Oh?” Wei Wuxian’s tone deepened as he stood in a deceptively relaxed stance. One hand rested on his hip near Chengqing and the other hung at the side. “You know who I am? Then why try steal from one of my children?”

“Children? He’s not your child!” The man sneered, forcing his wobbling legs to still. “No woman will dare have a child with you!”

Dark chuckles left Wei Wuxian’s lips. Venom coated his next words as he took a menacing step forward. His head was slightly tilted to the side, fingers fiddling with his flute. “Why would I need a woman?” His laughter deepened, a mockery of the man’s words. “He’s from Gusu and I’m married to their dear Hanguang-Jun. You dare say he’s not my child?”

Pride welled up in me at those words as the Lan disciples similarly felt the same as they stood straighter. Only Jiang Cheng and Jin Ling stood further back, watching the show.

Wei Wuxian’s lips curled. “Return my son’s belongings. Now.”

Seeing the Yiling Patriarch lift the flute, the man broke out into a cold sweat, but he gave one last attempt. “You, you cut-sleeve! How dare you slander Hanguang-Jun’s name! He would never marry -”

His words were stuck. He clawed at his throat as horror curtained him. Broken “ah”s and “oh”s left his tongue, and I felt a dark satisfaction emerge when I watched him, gripped with fear, back away before dropping to his knees and begging for mercy.

I turned my head away.

Wei Wuxian woke up from his daze, staring at me with a bright gleam in his eyes and he chuckled lightly seeing the small twitch of my lips. He turned to face the grovelling man. “Well? Are you going to return them or not?”

“Mmpfh, mmpfh!” He nodded his head frantically and respectfully returned the pouch to Lan Jingyi who quickly took it and checked the contents, before letting out a relieved sigh.

I watched as Wei Wuxian knelt down before the man who immediately shrunk away in fear. I eyed him warningly and upon seeing me, he froze and allowed my wife to near him.

“Geez. I won’t even bite,” Wei Wuxian drawled. ‘My husband does.’ “Are you looking after these kids?”

The man nodded.

“Orphans?”

Another nod.

“Why not go to an orphanage?”

The man hesitated and I reluctantly removed the Silencing Spell after a glance from Wei Wuxian. “We didn’t want go be separated…”

“We? Are you all siblings?”

Upon a closer look, the children indeed did differ in ages and they all looked similar. The youngest should have only been 3 years old at most, with the man as the oldest.

“Why not work earnestly?”

The man avoided his gaze. “...I have no skills. I’m a useless man.”

“No one’s useless.” Wei Wuxian frowned. “You should always try.” He turned to me. “Lan Zhan.”

I walked over to them and Wei Wuxian held out a hand, to which I set a small money pouch.

“Here. At least use this to buy proper winter clothes for them. They’re shivering.”

The man stared at the hand warily. He glanced at me, but I stared back indifferently. Reluctantly, he took the pouch with a meek word of thanks.

“Take it as an early Christmas gift.” Wei Wuxian dusted himself as he stood up. “Let’s go.”

Everyone followed suite. None brought up the incident. When we reached the rows of restaurants again, a loud grumble sounded. Red faced, Jin Ling could only lower his head.

With a laugh, Wei Wuxian slung an arm over the embarrassed boy’s shoulders who was glaring at the arm like it was the devil’s arm. “Let’s go find the young child something to eat.” He paused in his tracks. “Isn’t today the winter solstice too?”

I nodded after a moment of thought. 22 December. It really was the winter solstice.

“Let’s celebrate!”

…

In the same restaurant, each of us had our own bowl of Tang Yuan. It felt lively, cheerful and free, as we gathered around together.

“That’s right. Jiang Cheng. You haven’t told us why you’re visiting Gusu.”

“It’s not me. Jin Ling wanted to visit his friends.”

“You did?” Lan Jingyi beamed at the blushing boy, totally fling the fact that the young mistress considered them as his friends in house mind. “Hehe. Did you want to play? Go for a night hunt?”

Jin Ling hurriedly shook his head at the blazing aura raising off his Uncle. “I wanted to give you your Christmas gifts. Uncle wouldn’t let me come on the day itself.”

Jiang Cheng scoffed, the menacing aura dimming at knowing his nephew wasn't going to run off on a random night hunt. Jin Ling ignored his uncle and took out two small boxes and passed them towards the two Lan disciples, before taking out another box and shyly giving it to Wei Wuxian.

“Oh? I get one too? Thank you!” Wei Wuxian gingerly took the box into his hands and smiled at Jin Ling who blushed and turned his head away.

“You’re welcome! It wasn’t like I deliberately thought of getting you a gift!”

Wei Wuxian chuckled as a gentle look appeared in his eyes when he looked at the box. I patted his thigh from beneath the table and he smiled at me.

“Here’s my gift too!” Seeing that Jin Ling gave them their gifts, Lan Jingyi thought to do the same. He handed a box similar to the one Jin Ling gave him to both Wei Wuxian and I.

Flustered, Lan Sizhui softly said and fumbled for his pouch, “Me too!”

“Oh! Sizhui too? ...Did you bring the gift everywhere with you too?”

Lan Sizhui meekly nodded his head with a nervous laugh.

“...were you afraid I’d see it?”

He nodded again.

Laughter rang across the table but Jiang Cheng’s mood darkened with each passing second. A firm hand gripped his shoulder and he looked up to see Wei Wuxian grinning. “Don’t worry! I got you a gift! It’s only in Gusu right now.”

“What nonsense! I don’t need a gift from you!” he snapped.

The three children: ‘...But you definitely want Mama to give you one the most!’

“Aww, Jiang Cheng. Don’t be like that. I put so much thought into it,” Wei Wuxian pouted. “Even Lan Zhan liked the gift I got you.”

Jiang Cheng turned a suspicious gaze at me and I simply nodded, enjoying the atmosphere around me while drinking my soup. Seeing my nod, he calmed down, but still huffed and turned his head away from my wife.

‘...He definitely wants that gift.’

I watched on happily, although it didn’t show on my face. ‘I may not know much about Wei Ying’s family, but I'm glad we have one of our own.’

Later in the day, when the snow let up, a couple walked down the long steps of Gusu and stopped before two silhouettes, one tall cladded in purple, one short cladded in yellow. Both looked royally elegant, except…

“You always have a scowl on your face. So not handsome,” Wei Wuxian frowned.

“So what? Where’s my gift?” Jiang Cheng’s frown deepened.

“I’ll only give it to you if you smile,” taunted Wei Wuxian.

I instinctively took a step back with Jin Ling as the two brother started locking onto each other’s necks, one scolding and one complaining. I watched on endearingly as my wife managed to turn the tables and lock his arms around Jiang Cheng who immediately started complaining and fighting back.

“Smile!”

“No!”

“For your present!”

“...fine.”

“For your pre - What?”

“I'll do it.”

“Can't hear you.”

Jiang Cheng growled at Wei Wuxian whose face was mere inches away, arms locking his neck. The other man simply smiled innocently.

“... I'll smile.”

“Hehe. I don't see it!”

…

Jiang Cheng’s lips twitched upward awkwardly. His eyes were strained in crescent shapes curves, the muscle around them twitching in sheer annoyance.

“Not good enough!”

The smile immediately dropped. He scowled and cursed under his breath. “I don't want it anymore!” With a new burst of strength, Jiang Cheng easily threw Wei Wuxian off and stepped away with the blackest expression. “You can keep the gift! I don't -”

“Uncle! Look what they got me! It's so cute!”

Jin Ling bounded up to his furious uncle, unperturbed by the seething rage flaring out of those dark eyes. In his small hands were two carefully carved dogs made of beautiful green jade. One of it was sitting tall while the second one was lying down regally.

“Oh, that is pretty…”

Jiang Cheng’s softened gaze immediately hardened at Wei Wuxian’s voice and he whirled around at once. Jin Ling pursed his lips at Wei Wuxian’s untimely antics.

‘Do you want Uncle to kill you? Sigh.’

“Aiya! What did I do?” Wei Wuxian ducked the swipe at his head and hid behind me with a pout. “Lan Zhan, let’s go! I can see when we're unwelcomed.”

“Mmm.”

I placed a hand at the small of his waist and led him back up the stair to Gusu. As we took the first few steps, Wei Wuxian suddenly turned around.

“Jiang Cheng!”

The man in question whirled around and expertly caught the box thrown at his head. He frowned.

“Merry early Christmas! Safe journey back!”

Wei Wuxian quickly skipped up the steps, leaving behind a confused sect leader and a grinning nephew.

“Do you think he’ll like it?”

“Mmm.” Then after a pause, “I’m sure he will.”

“I hope so! Mentally, I’m ready for Christmas. Financially, I don’t think so.”

A chuckle left my lips as I kissed his pouting ones. “The children will love anything you give them.”

“I didn’t mean them! I meant for you!” Wei Wuxian gazed up at me and a thought crossed my mind. A knowing smile curved upon his lips as he felt the bulge below my pants. “Hmm? Lan Zhan, what were you thinking of?” He trailed a finger up my chest whilst flushing his body closer to mine.

Leaning close to his ear, my lips parted into a husky whisper. “Tying you up in red ribbon and presenting that as my Christmas gift.”

The next time we saw the sect leader, there was an exquisitely carved jade dog that stood proudly hanging by a red thread tied to his sash by the waist, only to have him deny that he liked it with a blush splashed across his cheeks.

Upon seeing that sight, Wei Wuxian puffed his chest out in pride, all the way till we got home.

“You chose well,” I praised with a smile as I pulled him close.

“I know right? I’m glad! Or else I’d be broke and sad!” He chuckled into my chest and planted a kiss at my throat before moving up to my chin and finally upon my lips.

I eagerly returned and deepened it.

Off to the side were two white jade bunnies placed side by side atop the wooden table, one bigger than the other, with a jade tassel accompanying them as they watched the couple get consumed by a heated passion.

Needless to say, Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi didn’t dare go to their rooms since the other day, and instead waited for the pair to surface.

...

My hand slipped inside his robe, caressing the bumps upon his body from the brand as I bit and sucked on his lips, before sliding up towards his shoulder and moving the fabric further away. My other hand expertly tugged at his sash and loosening it.

“Eh?”

Wei Wuxian’s lustful gaze stared up at me in bewilderment when I abruptly stopped and sat back. I looked down at Wei Wuxian whose lips were swollen from our kisses and his ponytail pooling around him.

‘That’s it.’

Bending forward, I removed the red ribbon in his hair and helped him sit up, his jet black hair pooling around him like a curtain.

“What are you doing?”

Slipping the red ribbon around his upper back, I wound it back forward and across his shoulders, before criss-crossing around his neck and finishing it with a neat bow in front of his throat.

“Lan Zhan?”

Leaning back, I stared at my handiwork before pulling at my forehead ribbon and proceeded to tying his hands with it.

‘Perfect.’

The day continued on full of passion and heated moans. After a few times, panting and kissing, we parted and I stared at my lover, my wife. His robes were askew, chest bared. Lips were red and swollen, making him all the more endearing and tempting. Seeing me stare at him from head to toe, with a cheeky grin, he tightened his legs around me, pulling me closer, letting out a moan as I sunk in deeper, evidently growing larger at the view and sound.

“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan. This is the last one okay? Let me rest for tomorrow?”

“No.”

“But Lan Zhan…!”

My lips curved into a smile at his teasing tone and I bit down at his neck, pulling myself out slowly before fully sinking back in with one deep push, eliciting another passion-inducing moan. “Everyday means everyday. No matter how many times you ask me.”

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