Chapter Text
After the very embarrassing talk with Shufu, Lan Wangji had went immediately to the guest quarters to see Wei Ying. Only to find him curled up in bed, tear tracks on his cheeks and watched over by a scowling Jiang Wanyin who begrudgingly let him in and hold his betrothed’s hand. Leaving Wei Ying behind after he woke up had been hard, and yet he had no other choice that did not involve fighting Jiang Wanyin. Which would probably not please Wei Ying.
Thankfully, he had seen him at the next meal, seemingly happier. Furthermore after the meal his betrothed skipped to his side and asked him for a walk. A walk that did not involve Jiang Wanyin. It unfortunately did involve his brother who was looking at them with suspicious mirth. Lan Wangji narrowed his eyes at him. He might have an idea of who was at fault for Shufu giving him that terrible earful on how to behave properly toward his beloved. He did not want to hear Shufu mention intercourse ever again.
In any case, he had plans for this walk. He was happy to simply amble around without a destination while Wei Ying chattered to him about anything that crossed his mind, but right now he had something, someone, to show him. With a proprietary hand on the small of Wei Ying’s back (that got him a snort from Xiongzhang), he guided him to an isolated part of Cloud Recesses.
A small cottage, surrounded by gentians, at the sight of which an uncharacteristic silence came over his betrothed. Turning to look at him, Lan Wangji’s heart clenched in adoration seeing the former Jiang disciple parted lips and bright eyes. The air of awe and solemnity he exuded, transpired in his voice when he broke the silence.
“Lan Zhan, what is this place?”
Bracing himself a little, and noticing from the corner of his eye the sad smile his brother gave him, Lan Wangji answered.
“It was A-Niang’s house. Xiongzhang and I were allowed to visit her once a month. She would have liked you. She liked to tease. Said my cheeks looked like plump buns and pinch them. Her tablet is inside the house, I wanted to introduce you to her.”
“Lan Zhan…”
Wei Ying looked at him a bit surprised, before rising his hand and caressing his cheek, making him notice the lone tear that had escaped.
“Thanks for telling me about her. You must love her a lot. I don’t remember much about my own parents…” Lan Wangji could hear his brother moving further away, out of earshot. “There’s really only one memory that sticks out of us three together: we had a donkey, Mama was sitting on it and Baba was holding the reins while carrying me on his shoulder. They were talking and laughing, I don’t remember about what, but I remember the warmth of feeling loved.”
A soft yet brittle silence descended upon them both. Feeling a little raw from the emotional talk, Lan Wangji couldn’t resist dragging Wei Ying into a comforting hug… If they didn’t have such an emotional talk, Lan Wangji might have risked slipping his hand lower, but as it stood, everything stayed perfectly proper. Maybe, not according to Shufu… (Grieving in excess is forbidden. The one rule he could never abide by according to numerous Lan elders).
When they break the hug, it feels like their bond has deepened with new understanding, and so it was the perfect moment. Lan Wangji had struggled since his brother gave him the pouch with some of his mother’s possessions, wondering when it would be appropriate to gift them to his betrothed. Courting was not as easy as people made it seem. But now seemed fitting, felt fitting.
“Wei Ying, there is something else.” Lan Wangji reached in his sleeve and pulled out the pouch with the comb and the hairpin. “Those were my mother’s, but I think they would suit Wei Ying as well.”
“Lan Zhan? Are you sure?”
“Mn.”
An hesitant hand, delicately seized the pouch, before opening it and first pulling out a wooden comb engraved with gentians and cloud motifs, then a delicate jade hairpin with a simple cloud carving at the end, one that could be easily worn indiscriminately by either gender. To Lan Wangji’s delight, Wei Ying proceeds to put it in his ponytail immediately, and this time he doesn’t resist pulling in his betrothed for a kiss, profiting of his brother momentary lapse in chaperoning.
He is rewarded by arms coming around his neck and a mouth dropping open the tiniest bit. He was going to slip his tongue inside Wei Wuxian’s mouth but that was the moment Xiongzhang had apparently decided to come back and check on them. Coughing to signal his presence and looking amused when Wei Ying leaped out of his arms. Lan Wangji glared at him promising himself to be just as annoying when his brother gets into a relationship. He might need to contact Nie Huaisang about that…
After that the atmosphere was awkward and so Lan Wangji simply offered his arm to Wei Ying before guiding him back to the guests quarters.
Two days later, Lan Wangji was in the Jingshi, getting ready for bed: sleeping robe on, ribbon off and hair down; when he heard a knock on his window. It was about a ke before curfew but he already had an idea of who it could be. And of course, he wasn’t mistaken.
“Wei Ying. It is soon to be curfew, you shouldn’t wander around.”
Wei Ying beamed at him.
“Well, Lan Zhan, if you let me in, I won’t be wandering outside after curfew!”
It wasn’t wrong per se, though Lan Wangji could already hear his Shufu protesting the logic of it. And so, he simply answered by fully opening the window and getting out of the way. That’s when he noticed that Wei Ying was very clearly hiding something in his robes. Once he was inside, Lan Wangji closed the window behind him.
“So, what are you doing on this fine evening Lan Zhan?”
“Getting ready for bed. And what is Wei Ying’s purpose in coming here?”
Lan Wangji couldn’t help but have his thoughts racing in a lot of different directions, but one more than others. After all why would Wei Ying be here if not to put in practice what couples did at night. But that would not explain whatever was hiding under his robes. Robes that Lan Wangji wanted to take off of him. If only to admire how beautiful his Wei Ying is, but he could admit to himself that he wanted to do much more than admire. His eyes raked along the lithe and deceptively strong figure, almost missing the other boy’s answer from being lost in thought.
“I’ve come bearing gifts! You gave me courting gifts it’s only fair, I do the same! I didn’t really went the traditional route, but I hope you’ll like them!”
At this Wei Ying dug into his robes and pulled out two bunnies. Two adorable balls of white fluff kicking their feet in the air while Wei Ying held them by the ears. When he let them down, one settled immediately while the other set to explore his room. He wanted to pet them. They looked so soft. And they were a gift from Wei Ying.
“Pets are forbidden.”
“Ah…” Wei Ying looked disappointed, that wouldn’t do.
“However gifts and friends are not. I like them very much. Thank you Wei Ying.”
His beloved beamed and jumped on him. Lan Wangji easily caught him and kept his hands on his waist, battling the desire to grip his behind and instead digging reflexively into the sinfully thin waist, Wei Ying was flaunting. Knowing that this time there was no risks of interruption did not help him keep control. Wei Ying looking up at him looking with mischievous silver eyes was not helping either.
“Is there anything else my betrothed would like to do before abiding to his bedtime like a proper Lan?”
His beloved was a little minx. He stopped holding back and crashed their lips together, taking advantage of the gasp of surprise Wei Ying let out, to invade his mouth with his tongue. Something that made him give himself a mental pat on the back for, when it pulled a moan from the other boy. It was definitely worth bending the rules a little. The taste of Wei Ying on his tongue was addictive, and he couldn’t help the disappointment when they had to break away to catch their breath only for his Wei Ying to stop the moment here.
“We…we should behave. I can’t believe I’m the one saying that Lan Zhan! But… I do want to prove to your Shufu that I’m able to follow at least some rules…”
“Wei Ying does not need to prove anything to Shufu or to anyone else.”
“Not need, want. I want to show both to the others and myself that I’ll have a place at your side here. Allow me to do so please? At least until the end of the lectures? After that feel free to do whatever you want to me. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it as long as it comes from you.”
“Mn.” Lan Wangji was not happy with that decision but if that was what Wei Ying wanted, then he’ll get it. “For now, Wei Ying should come to bed, it is time to sleep.”
After shedding his outer robe and letting his hair down, Wei Ying joined him and snuggled against him.
“Love you, Lan Zhan…” Was whispered next to his heart, before Wei Ying breathing evened out.
“Love you, Wei Ying.”
Lan Wangji soon fell asleep as well.