Chapter Text
The older Lan Wangji was a tall and broad man, standing out among the other senior masters in the clan. Compared to his younger self, this future version of the young Second Master seemed icier, yet his countenance was remarkably relaxed at the same time. He had obviously grown to be powerful in his cultivation, radiating the kind of strength that came from years of experience.
Wei Wuxian was fascinated of course, turning his tricky attention from his classmate Lan and turning them to this future version. He could not be deterred – for the future Lan Wangji, Hanguang-jun , as he had said his title to be, did not seem to have a detrimental effect on their current timeline.
“If Lan Wangji did not hate you before, he will surely hate you now,” said Jiang Cheng, exasperated when he first noticed what Wei Wuxian was up to. “Continuously bothering him even now, how shameless can you be? He must be an even worse disciplinarian now that he is all grown up!”
This only made Wei Wuxian even more determined to try to make friends. He wanted to know what the future was like. Did Jiang Cheng ever get married? Was Wei Wuxian still good-looking in the future? He wanted to know if Lan Wangji would ever come to consider them close, considering how much time Wei Wuxian had spent, teasing him for attention and fun.
But to everyone’s surprise - himself included - his pestering did not seem to bother the older Lan Wangji. Not even the slightest.
That day -- after five days of questioning, researching, and scratching their heads while arguing amongst each other -- the GusuLan cultivators had finally let Hanguang-jun free after determining that he was not going to cause reality to immediately fall apart.
(Moreover, they had become more preoccupied with some sensitive information that had been revealed. They turned their attention to quietly contacting other sect leaders with warnings about the sun and strengthening their wards. But that is a story for another time).
Wei Wuxian had waited for this, ever since Hanguang-jun walked out of a tear in space, right in the middle of Lan Qiren’s lecture. What a strange and exciting day that had been! Unfortunately before they could question the man, he’d been swept away by the other senior Lan clan members. The look on his face at that time had been funny though, just as shocked as the rest of them. It was the most emotion he’d seen on Lan Wangji’s face besides anger.
Wei Wuxian endured the present Lan Wangji’s glaring all throughout class as he had tapped his fingers incessantly throughout. After, he practically flew out the door, sneakily heading towards the isolated courtyard where Hanguang-jun was being kept in seclusion before anyone could stop him. It was easy to hide among the trees.
He came at a good time, peeking out from one of them -- Hanguang-jun was just leaving the house, blinking slowly in the afternoon sunlight like a lazy tomcat.
He cut a striking figure then. Forehead ribbon fluttering in the breeze, standing regally straight and true, a pure jade against a green backdrop. He had a harmonious bearing, something that his younger counterpart lacked. His face was slightly tilted up, his pale eyes tracking something in the sky.
Who knew Lan Wangji would grow so tall? Where there was still a layer of fat to Lan Wangji’s cheeks, Hanguang-jun’s cheeks had become sculpted. Hanguang-jun’s shoulders were so wide too, unlike Lan Wangji’s currently narrow ones. He was powerfully confident, tempered by unknown experience.
It was fascinating, all of these changes and to witness what Lan Wangji would grow into. Wei Wuxian had unconsciously been drawing a line between these two existences before, so the realization struck him hard as lightning.
This was Lan Wangji. His classmate Lan, the boy he loved to tease so much was… this man. These two existences were one and the same, a possibility of this uncertain future.
A strange heat grew in Wei Wuxian’s chest as he thought of the present Lan Wangji, whose gaze was cold and cutting, who followed after him with reprimands and words of duty. Whose beauty was as sharp as his sword. Who he loved to tease and bother because his reactions were always good. His heart beat faster, and he suddenly felt that he missed him. He wished that he stayed in the classroom.
But at that moment, like a ribbon drawn taut, Hanguang-jun’s eyes suddenly snapped towards his.
Wei Wuxian froze when his piercing gaze met his own across the distance. Suddenly, he felt unsure of himself. A feeling of inadequacy had enveloped him. Who was he - a boy - to pesture this man as if an equal?
The inappropriateness of the situation finally dawned on him. This was Lan Wangji’s future self, the Second Master of the Lan Sect. A senior. An elder.
Hanguang-jun. Aiya, what an austere title. How could a genius like Wei Wuxian miss the implications?
Before he could stutter out an apology and flee, Hanguang-jun did something that shocked him to his very core.
Slowly, like a blossoming flower, the corners of his lips lifted into a sincere smile. “Ah,” said Lan Wangji softly. “Wei Ying. It’s you.”
Hanguang-jun listened attentively on the doorsteps of that house as Wei Wuxian chattered on and on. They had sat together for what felt like hours as Wei Wuxian’s mind jumped from topic to topic.
“You really didn’t expect to end up here either, did you Senior Lan? Your face was just too funny that day! Hahahaha, but how strange it is to call you ‘senior’ now when just this morning, you were simply Lan Zhan!”
Hanguang-jun’s eyes crinkled just the slightest. “To Wei Ying, I will always be Lan Zhan.”
This made Wei Wuxian feel embarrassed heat in his cheeks. He ducked his head down, shyly. “‘Wei Ying,’ you call me. I have been trying to convince Senior Lan’s present self to call me that for ages now.” He looked up and down again, unable to take the strangely tender gaze directed at him.
This older Lan Wangji was certainly easier to read.
“Mm, I remember.”
“Of course you do.” Wei Wuxian thought for a moment, and decided to just blurt out the question that he had been dying to ask. “Does this mean that we are close in the future?”
A huff of air escaped from Hanguang-jun’s lips. “En. Very close.”
Wei Wuxian practically bounced in his seat. “Really! Really, really, truly! We are good friends then!”
“There is no one closer to me than Wei Ying,” Hanguang-jun admitted.
“Hahaha, but you are so cold to me now. When does this change?”
“To me… well.” Hanguang-jun softened in remembrance. “I have considered Wei Ying close from the very beginning.” He looked straight at Wei Wuxian then, gaze turning serious. “I remember this time and there are many things I regret. But Wei Ying - you have always been my friend.”
Wei Wuxian pouted. “Lying is forbidden,” he said, thinking of all the times he had broken the rules and been coldly reprimanded by Lan Wangji.
“Indeed.” Hanguang-jun’s hand came up to pat his head twice. “But it is easy to lie to oneself.”
That was that.
Wei Wuxian was easy to please and he followed the older Lan Wangji constantly. Worst of all, was that the man did not mind.
Jiang Cheng watched this unfold over the long week with an increasing sense of disbelief.
“I can’t believe it,” he complained. “Either Hanguang-jun has gained the patience of Buddha, or he truly did become close friends with Wei Wuxian in the future. What is up with Wei Wuxian anyways, hanging off of him so shamelessly like that?”
“Careful there, you almost sound jealous,” someone muttered.
“You be silent!” Jiang Cheng snapped back.
Beside him, Nie Huaisang said, “I don’t know. It is kind of sweet?”
“Shut up!” Jiang Cheng yelled louder.
The current year’s cluster of disciples were watching from a distance near the trees, as nearby, Wei Wuxian tugged on Hanguang-jun’s sleeves for one thing or another, but mostly for attention. Hanguang-jun appeared as frosty as his younger counterpart, but it was hard to deny the soft regard and the doting manner he handled their fellow classmate. Wei Wuxian preened under his attention.
Jiang Cheng scowled at this sight, but he felt shivers up his spine as nobody wanted to acknowledge the donkey in the room.
That donkey was their Lan Wangji who had also been watching the interaction between his older self and Wei Wuxian with a stoic expression. That was nothing new. What was new was his tightly clenched fists and the murderous aura he was failing to repress.
Jiang Cheng truly worried that Lan Wangji might actually kill Wei Wuxian. Indeed, it was certainly embarrassing and Jiang Cheng and everyone else felt it on Wei Wuxian’s behalf for the way he acted around Hanguang-jun. Dare he say it - like a lovesick maiden .
He’d never seen Wei Wuxian like this before, so clingy and whiny and all, “ Senior Lan~”, “Master Lan~”, “Hanguang-jun~”, or “ Lan-laoshi~” with hearts in his eyes.
No, not true. He’d been like this to Lan Wangji, Jiang Cheng remembered, albeit to a lesser degree. But he’d always thought it was in a teasing manner to get his reactions.
Jiang Cheng watched Lan Wangji out of the corner of his eyes. Apparently he was wrong, because right now? Wei Wuxian was completely and utterly infatuated. Did that mean Wei Wuxian also held… certain inclinations to their current Lan-gongzi?
Well, Jiang Cheng had not realized that Wei Wuxian had cut-sleeve tendencies and it definitely grossed him out, but he would not stand by silently for Lan Wangji to just casually kill him! Even if Lan Wangji was mortified by this affection, should he not just reject him politely instead?
See there- Lan Wangji was visibly scowling now and--
CRACK.
Every disciple gasped and stared open-mouthed as Lan Wangji casually pulled his fist back from the tree he had just punched a hole through. He blinked back at them in an almost lazy manner.
“....Eavesdropping is against the rules,” he said.
(The sheer power to have just--
What kind of arm strength--)
Suddenly, Jiang Cheng felt very afraid for Wei Wuxian’s life. He also felt that it was unfair to be reprimanded like this and in a fit of courage, he spoke out, “Don’t act like you’re above it all. You’re here with us too, aren’t you?!”
“Aiyah,” Nie Huaisang sighed.
“You should be pleased. It is your future self, Second Master Lan, that is taking the brunt of Wei Wuxian’s obnoxious self. He’s left you alone for a week now, and even willingly finishing his punishments early so he can bother Hanguang-jun instead.”
Nie Huaisang tugged on his sleeves with a rapidly paling face. “Bro, you should really stop now,” he frantically whispered, but Jiang Cheng shook him off. The other disciples were already stepping back, but Jiang Cheng didn’t notice.
Jiang Yanli had been rejected harshly by Jin Zixuan once in their youth. He would never forget that look on her face, which had made him want to cry afterward. He could not bear to see that same expression upon Wei Wuxian’s face and watch as that cheery demeanor diminished from heartbreak.
“He’s even behaving well recently! He’s forgotten all about you and will not bother you anymore, so leave him be! If you’re so disgusted, at least it is not you that he currently likes!”
Lan Wangji looked on the verge of qi deviation with his truly darkened face and reddened eyes and that was when Jiang Cheng realized, ah, the Jiang Clan is going to lose its heir today.
Before the fist that punched a hole in a tree could punch a hole in his face, Wei Wuxian’s bright voice carried over to them.
“Why is everyone gathered here, huh? Are you playing a new game and leaving me out of the fun?” He bounded over, nudging an arm against Jiang Cheng’s side. Everyone sighed in relief as the tension dispelled.
Even Lan Wangji looked back to normal with his dead fish expression. Strangely, he was regarding Wei Wuxian with something other than anger, his posture becoming straighter and his gaze intense.
What did he want, Jiang Cheng wondered.
Wei Wuxian seemed to be pleasantly taken aback by Lan Wangji’s presence. “Lan Zhan,” he greeted happily. “You truly will grow into a fine cultivator! Hanguang-jun was just telling me about an adventure of his…”
He trailed off with a light and bubbly giggle, his hand coming up to twirl a strand of hair around his finger. His face was dusted with a charming pink. “He’s just so cool,” he finally whispered. “You’re really cool.”
The creeping sense of embarrassment was back. Before Jiang Cheng could reprimand him for how foolish he was acting, Lan Wangji leapt forward and grabbed Wei Wuxian’s hand.
“Wei Ying ,” Lan Wangji roared.
“I - huh?!” Wei Wuxian was shocked out of his mind. “Why are you mad?!”
Lan Wangji’s jaw tensed as he hissed, “I’m not. ”
“Ah?”
“You- you…”
Jiang Cheng grabbed Wei Wuxian’s other hand and tugged him back with a sneer. “Are you this angry that your future self is less of a fuddy-duddy that he can put up with him?”
Nie Huaisang and the other disciples watched with increasing fear and fascination with where this was going to go.
Lan Wangji ignored him, focusing his attention solely on Wei Wuxian. It seemed as if he was struggling for words.
Finally he spat out, “Come with me to Caiyi.”
Wei Wuxian, “What?”
Jiang Cheng, “Wha- mmph?!”
Unable to take it anymore, Lan Wangji casted a silencing spell on Jiang Cheng. “You wanted to go to Caiyi and visit the markets.”
Wei Wuxian, cheerfully, “Oh yes, that. Hanguang-jun already said he will take me later.”
“We’re going now .”
“...Huh?”