"Be careful!" Wang Yibo half-shrieked while Xiao Zhan moved around him like some kind of godly maniacal dancer with a sword, slashing away and unleashing sword glares like he was playing an RPG game but the only difference was, it was real life. He then felt something wet hit his cheek. "Fuck! It splattered on my face!" He complained. He was used to getting doused with fake blood during his acting jobs but real blood was an entirely new experience. Not to mention that, it was a flesh-eating monster's blood. His nose twitched; it smelled disgusting like it just ate something dead and rotten. His face turned a little green as nausea hit him right in the gut.
Xiao Zhan simply gave him, what Wang Yibo interpreted as, a bombastic side-eye as he continued cutting down the beasts that were surrounding them. "Just wipe it off. You'll be fine." He said bluntly.
"Easy for you to say! You're already used to this kind of thing and I am not." Wang Yibo retorted grumpily, completely giving up any pretense to act like the ever-so-dignified Lan Wangji as he wiped the sticky substance with his sleeve.
"Just imagine that you are playing League of Legends but with VR goggles. Aren't you always good at it?" Xiao Zhan said callously as he continued to protect Wang Yibo from any attempt of assault.
"League of Legends is a MOBA okay! It's not the same! The enemies are not murderous monsters like this!" Wang Yibo was almost yelling out of agitation. To be fair, it wasn't like he didn't want to use his sword, it was just... his first time seeing real-life horror movie monsters in action, and he was too mortified to even remember that he had a powerful weapon with him. He had been scared shitless earlier when one suddenly burst out of nowhere and jumped onto him from the tree tops, causing him to freeze like a statue and almost pissed his pants at the jump scare. Thankfully for him (and his pants), Xiao Zhan was quick on the draw and sliced clean through the ugly thing in a heartbeat before it could lay its long sharp claws on him.
Unfortunately for them, it wasn't the only one. There were at least a dozen more ambushing them and they were called bloodthirsty monsters for a reason. They were like a horde of mutated baboons on steroids, unlike those normal cute ones he saw in national geographic channels. And they were relentless in their pursuit of blood.
"Well, I can end this faster if you don't mind seeing my summons. I am just being considerate towards you, you know." Xiao Zhan offered, noticing how pale and miserable Wang Yibo looked at the moment.
"How terrifying can they be when we are already surrounded by these horrifying monsters?! Just end this faster!" Wang Yibo exclaimed as a few more monsters charged their way towards them.
"These damn monkeys!" Xiao Zhan cursed as he sent a powerful sword glare at the fanged ape-like creatures, knocking a few back several feet away before turning to look at Wang Yibo, "You sure?" He asked again for confirmation.
"Yes!!" Wang Yibo answered without hesitation. "Do it!" If this dragged on any longer, the stench that was assaulting his senses would make him vomit all over himself, seriously. He really did not want to lose his face like this.
"Fine. Brace yourself." Xiao Zhan said. A sharp whistle was all it took him to rouse the resentful spirits in the area from their slumber.
Wang Yibo's eyes went wide as black mass of darkness appeared out of nowhere along with several fierce corpses that look like they came from the most bottom pit of hell.
"Rip them apart." Came Xiao Zhan's command.
Wang Yibo shuddered at the sight; he was dead wrong about the beastly monkeys being terrifying. The ferocious ghouls violently shredding their victims were enough to give him nightmares for days after! He averted his eyes, looking at Xiao Zhan instead, hoping the familiar face would somewhat calm his nerves. However, the vicious look on Xiao Zhan's face made him quiver slightly. The red eyes shining like bloody ruby against the fair face were not unfamiliar but at this very moment, they were looking alarmingly dangerous, especially when coupled with the deadly aura exuding from Xiao Zhan's body. Xiao Zhan's fingers now holding his flute to his lips and soon, an eerie shrill sound echoed throughout the forest.
Chills. Literal chills. That was what Wang Yibo's entire body had felt upon hearing that. Even now he still felt goosebumps prickling his arms and legs, as Xiao Zhan played that chilling tune.
And as the Yiling Patriarch said, it certainly ended way faster than Wang Yibo could have imagined. With the last surviving monkey torn to pieces, the peace and quiet finally returned to the land.
Xiao Zhan snapped his fingers and the fierce corpses dispersed, going back into where they belonged. He turned to Wang Yibo, "You alright?" He asked, looking as unperturbed as ever.
"Physically, I am. Mentally, scarred." Wang Yibo admitted, not able to hide his own trepidation at having witnessed such an intense scene of blood and carnage. The thought made his stomach turn again.
Xiao Zhan looked entertained at that as he patted Wang Yibo's arm, "You'll get used to this." He reassured.
"That didn't exactly make me feel better." Wang Yibo replied dryly, he didn't think he would ever get used to it nor he would want to get used to it.
Xiao Zhan chuckled, "You will, in time." His eyes scanned the area for a few seconds before saying cheerfully, "Come on now, let's get out of here while there is still some daylight left. I'm getting hungry..."
"Hungry??" Wang Yibo couldn't help but ask incredulously.
"Yeah, very. I'm starving." Xiao Zhan said in laid laid-back manner.
Wang Yibo gaped, unsure if he should feel mortified or clap his hands at the statement and Xiao Zhan's unfazed face. "How can you think about food when..." His eyes motioned towards a very unappetizing shredded pile of meat before them, looking at it and making him feel even more nauseous.
"Well, we didn't have a proper lunch just now... or breakfast." Xiao Zhan answered, shrugging carelessly. "And it's almost sunset. So, it seems logical to be hungry now."
"..." Wang Yibo couldn't even argue with that. Hence, he just followed Xiao Zhan, walking away from the bloody scene, and heading towards where he presumed would be a safe place to spend the night. And he, for heaven's love, couldn't wait to wash up.
Luckily for him, they weren't too far from Moling town, their destination for their witch hunt. Wang Yibo blinked a few times when he saw the kind of food that Xiao Zhan ordered at the inn. Red was the predominant color of most of what he saw and it smelled seriously spicy.
Xiao Zhan didn't exactly lie about being hungry though, because the man devoured a large bowl of spicy beef noodles in a matter of minutes before moving on to rice and other dishes.
"Wow, you're really hungry." Wang Yibo remarked as he watched Xiao Zhan eat with gusto. "Won't you worry about a stomach upset with all these foods? I thought you didn't usually eat this much of chilies?"
Xiao Zhan swallowed his food down. "It has never been an issue for me so far." He said, shrugging. "Besides, spicy foods are the best in this weather." It was almost winter time and the temperature at night these days was cold.
"Make sense." Wang Yibo agreed and started eating as well. Watching live mukbang somehow helped with his appetite. As he was eating the dishes that Xiao Zhan had kindly separated for him, he couldn't help his curiosity on the heat level of the dishes that Xiao Zhan was gobbling up even though he was not a big fan of chilies. Thus, he reached out and took some to try it.
"Wait!" Xiao Zhan noticed belatedly and tried to stop him but Wang Yibo already put it in his mouth.
"Spicy!" Wang Yibo yelped; the flavor of the food burned his tongue. It was hell-level of spicy! He coughed, trying not to choke on it.
Xiao Zhan handed him a cup of water which he downed quickly. "You know you can't eat spicy stuff." He reminded, sighing at the sight of Wang Yibo's red face.
"I can!" Wang Yibo snapped defensively. He could eat Mala Tang just fine before. He once finished a whole bowl of Buldak ramen when he was challenged to do so (the day after was not pretty though).
"Yeah, I can see that." Xiao Zhan rolled his eyes, grinning at the way Wang Yibo seemed to be struggling to hold himself together. It was adorable. "You know, lying is forbidden right?" He teased.
Wang Yibo huffed, not wanting to admit defeat so easily and he stubbornly went in for a second try right after. He held out longer this time but his flushed face couldn't hide how he actually felt inside. His entire upper gastrointestinal tract felt like they were on fire. To make the matters worse, there was no more water on the table.
Xiao Zhan hailed the waiter to bring some for them quickly and when it arrived, Wang Yibo grabbed the cup, downing it in one go. When he finished it, his brows furrowed tightly, "...This is not water." He said quietly.
"What do you mean?" Xiao Zhan questioned. He got his answer three seconds later when Wang Yibo's head drooped. "Shit!" He gasped. Thanks to his quick reflex, he managed to catch the other man before his head could fall face-first onto the table. "Oh no..."
Wang Yibo might have a good tolerance to alcohol in the modern era, but in the body of Lan Wangji, he couldn't handle even a cup of liquor. Or spicy food, apparently.
"Ah! I'm sorry, Young Master. I'm so sorry. I made a mistake." The waiter said when he came back belatedly a minute later.
"It's okay. Things happened." Xiao Zhan waved it off to the waiter's relief. He then sighed deeply. "It's going to be a long night." He muttered as he supported Wang Yibo, heading towards their room. He carefully laid the drunken man on the bed, helping him out of his outer robes and his headpiece. When he was done, he took a seat at the edge, staring down at the peaceful-looking face and hoping that the man stayed asleep throughout the night. The memory of the disastrous dinner the night before came back to him, prompting another heavy exhale.
It all started when one of the Lan elders brought up the topic of an upcoming marriage of one of the indirect line descendants to a daughter of the sect leader of a minor clan after the dinner concluded. Unsurprisingly, the conversation drifted to a discussion of the continuity of direct lineage despite of the mourning period that was still imposed on the Twin Jades.
Lan Xichen kept a calm facade as he felt the weight of responsibility land on his shoulders. He was well aware that it was only natural for the elders to think about such things, considering their relative importance in their sects' heritage. However, this was the first time this matter was brought up in open discussion. It wasn't like there were no proposals being sent over before but none were being given due consideration by the former sect leader who wanted his children to have freedom of choice in that matter.
"Xichen, is there anyone that you are interested in?" An elder inquired.
Lan Xichen hesitated to answer since he didn't know if this was inappropriate for him to say. There was someone whom he liked but it was complicated since the other party was already engaged. "There is," He admitted finally, unable to lie partly due to the sect's rules and also due to Xiao Zhan whose eyes were on him like a watchful hawk.
There were murmurs across the table, mainly those of surprise at the news.
"Who is it?" Another elder asked inquisitively.
Lan Xichen took his time to choose his words carefully before he answered truthfully, "The daughter of Sect Leader Jiang."
"Isn't she already betrothed to the heir of the Jin Clan?" One elder questioned with confusion evident in his voice.
"The engagement will be called off. My Shijie will not be marrying into the Jin Clan." Xiao Zhan interjected from his seat across the table. That was what Jiang Fengmian had decided upon their discussion the other day and Jiang Yanli agreed to it wholeheartedly.
"Really?" Lan Xichen asked, his eyes twinkling in delight.
Xiao Zhan nodded his head in confirmation, "Yes."
"I see." Lan Xichen smiled brightly; his eyes shone like diamonds at the prospect. The elders seemed appeased with this revelation as well.
"What about Wangji? Any lady caught your interest?" An elder popped the question. He was among those who shared the same disapproving sentiment with Lan Qiren towards Xiao Zhan and refused to acknowledge a man for the Second Jade of Gusu's partner.
Wang Yibo flinched visibly at the unexpected question while Xiao Zhan's expression hardened instantly. Even Lan Xichen's eyes went wide with shock.
Lan Qiren didn't help with the matter as he spoke, "Yes, what about you, Wangji?" He asked, looking intently at Wang Yibo.
Xiao Zhan gritted his teeth as his hands balled into fists under the table. His heart rate picked up and he couldn't quite keep himself calm. How dare these old men ask such a question in my presence!
"Uncle, I don't think-" Lan Xichen began, intending to try and ease the situation before Lan Qiren interrupted him curtly.
"It's a question for your brother and he is fully capable of answering it himself, Xichen." Lan Qiren replied with a stern voice. He glanced sideways at Xiao Zhan then added, "It's better than wasting his time, going around with his friend." He put the emphasis on the last word.
This old man is doing this on purpose! Xiao Zhan tried his best not to explode in his seat at the statement, clenching his fists tightly and biting his lower lip hard to stop himself from saying something he might regret later. Angry tears started to collect at the rim of his eyes.
Wang Yibo frowned deeply as he saw how Xiao Zhan trembled with frustration and on the verge of tearing up. He could not hold back any longer and stood up from his seat. "I WILL MARRY WEI YING!" he exclaimed determinedly.
"Wangji!" Lan Qiren sputtered; his face was redder than tomato while Lan Xichen choked on his own saliva at his brother's sudden boldness.
Xiao Zhan's expression morphed from rage to utter shock, looking at Wang Yibo with slightly agape mouth. Everyone else was staring at the scene with their mouths hanging open; Lan Wangji would never raise his voice in any circumstances, especially not towards his uncle or the other elders.
Wang Yibo didn't give a damn about all that. Instead, he bent down, took Xiao Zhan's hand in his, and pulled the still-flabbergasted man up to stand by his side. "Wei Ying is my soulmate and my only future spouse." He declared as he squeezed at the intertwined hand to make his point across.
"Lan Zhan..." Xiao Zhan managed to croak in his daze.
"I will marry no one but Wei Ying." Wang Yibo said while staring intensely at the sparkly silver eyes with a slight upturn of his lips. It was as if he was re-enacting the most cliché romantic confession scene but his tone was sincere. If it wasn't enough, he even made a show of grabbing Xiao Zhan's waist and pulling him even closer before the utterly shocked audience.
"You... you idiot..." Xiao Zhan whispered as he too stared at Wang Yibo's serious yet tender expression. No matter how much he wanted to say something else, he couldn't stop the smile from growing on his lip. He didn't even have it in himself to scold the man for being impulsive at the moment. Not when Wang Yibo was being the perfect mirror of his beloved Lan Wangji.
With that (k-drama-worthy) spectacle, Lan Qiren almost Qi deviated on the spot and passed out from the anger, causing a commotion among the entire dining room.
"Wangji, Young Master Wei. I think it will be best if you two can go back to Jingshi for now. I will take care of Uncle." Lan Xichen said to them, taking charge to damage control the mess Wang Yibo had just caused.
"We'll take our leave then, Brother." Wang Yibo said without any sign of guilt.
Lan Xichen smiled at him as he put a hand on Wang Yibo's shoulder, "I'm glad that you spoke your mind, Wangji." He stated with brotherly pride.
Wang Yibo returned his smile wordlessly and that was enough to make Lan Xichen even happier (despite the ruckus happening around them). He then bowed to the older male before leaving the hall with Xiao Zhan in tow.
In Jingshi, as soon as they both received the news from the healers that Lan Qiren suffered no harm despite the dramatic fainting, Xiao Zhan could finally let out the amused laugh he was holding inside. "You should take into account that the old man's heart might give away, you know?" He said after recovering his breath from laughing.
"He'll live." Wang Yibo answered with a shrug. He then looked at Xiao Zhan and asked, "Are you not mad at me?"
Xiao Zhan wiped away the remnant of his laughter and simply shook his head, "I can't be mad even if I want to."
Wang Yibo raised his brows in curiosity. "Do you actually want to marry... other me?" He questioned.
Xiao Zhan's smile faltered slightly and silence took over the room for a second too long. When it did break, Xiao Zhan answered, looking at the Guqin at the desk before him. "Yes," he admitted in a small voice.
"Oh..." Wang Yibo uttered. "You are serious about this, aren't you?"
Xiao Zhan looked up at Wang Yibo. "I am." He confessed.
Wang Yibo pondered for a second and asked, "Isn't this qualify as 'old cow eating young grass'?"
Xiao Zhan rolled his eyes and shrugged, "Age doesn't matter here, okay? There are literally celestial beings and immortals in this realm. Besides, age is correspondent to the physical body, okay?"
"Sure. Sure. Whatever you say." Wang Yibo chuckled, earning him another eye roll. "But, are you really up for marriage?" He asked.
"I mean, not now. We still need to wait for a year plus." Xiao Zhan replied, a somber look crossed his face.
Wang Yibo tilted his head, his expression turned serious, "You love him that much?"
Xiao Zhan looked back at Wang Yibo and saw how Wang Yibo's brow was furrowed and lips were pressed together tightly. He sighed before he answered in all honesty, "Yes. I do."
Wang Yibo was silent for a while. "I see." He said, sounding a little bitter. He knew he shouldn't be jealous over this since he is, in a way, essentially in a relationship with the man. Just a different version of him.
"Don't you love him, too?" Xiao Zhan asked him back.
Wang Yibo looked down to his lap, nodding slightly, "Yes." He said quietly. Now that he thought about it, his Wei Ying is probably with Lan Wangji now and a scowl formed on his face as he wondered how would the two interact with each other. After all, they were technically soulmates as well. As confusing as the bond between their souls and how they were connected with each other, there is one clear conclusion, Wang Yibo was currently drinking vinegar left and right.
Xiao Zhan could read Wang Yibo's mood easily enough since it was written all over his face and changed the subject to distract him. "Anyway, we should leave here early in the morning to Moling and find that despicable scum." He said, getting up to draw a bath. "The old man might not want to see us hanging around here for a while too."
"Mn." Wang Yibo hummed his acknowledgment, still displeased with his own train of thought which continued to bother him for the rest of the night.
They left Cloud Recesses early in the morning with Wang Yibo sleep deprived.
******
The soft glow of the moon filtered through the window, casting a gentle light across the room where Lan Wangji lay on the couch. His normally serene expression was furrowed slightly in his sleep, a testament to the unrest that lingered beneath his calm exterior.
As the night deepened, a sudden noise pierced the stillness, jolting Lan Wangji awake. The sound was faint at first, a mere whisper of distress, but it was enough to rouse him from his slumber. With a quick, fluid motion, he sat up, his heart quickening with a mix of concern and determination.
Wei Wuxian's room was just a few steps away, the door slightly ajar. Lan Wangji approached it swiftly, his steps silent against the cool floor. He paused for a moment, listening intently. The room beyond was shrouded in darkness, but the faint sounds of rustling and murmurs reached his ears.
Pushing the door open gently, Lan Wangji stepped inside, his keen eyes adjusting to the dimness. His gaze fell upon Wei Wuxian, who was tangled in his sheets, his face contorted in a restless expression. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, a stark contrast to his normally carefree demeanor.
"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji called softly, his voice a soothing presence in the darkness. He approached the bed, his heart aching at the sight of the man in distress.
"Lan Zhan..." Wei Wuxian muttered, his body shuddering uncontrollably. "Don't leave me..."
The tone of the man's words was laced with anguish, fear, and something that Lan Wangji could only describe as pain. "Shh...it's alright, I'm here." Taking hold of Wei Wuxian's hand, he stroked it with his thumb.
"Lan Zhan.." Another whimper escaped Wei Wuxian's lips, and he gripped Lan Wangji's hand tightly. The grip was so tight that his knuckles were turning white, and there was no mistaking the emotion in Wei Wuxian's eyes. Tears were streaming down Wei Wuxian's cheeks, his breath coming out in shudders. "Lan Zhan....don't leave me..."
Lan Wangji's chest clenched painfully at those words. "I'm here." He lay down beside Wei Wuxian instinctively, curling around him in a protective manner. His fingers ran through Wei Wuxian's hair as he hummed the tune he knew would soothe the other.
Slowly, Wei Wuxian's shaking began to subside, until the occasional tremors ceased entirely. His breathing was evening out again, and by now, his grip on Lan Wangji had slackened.
Lan Wangji sighed softly. His soulmate, regardless of which appearance they took, seemed to be plagued by the same demons that plagued their subconscious. There was nothing more that he wished right then than to chase away every last trace of negativity that haunted the other.
"Sleep well, Wei Ying." He murmured. Closing his eyes, he relaxed into slumber once more. Tomorrow, he had to leave the apartment early despite how unwilling he was to do so.
The next morning came much too quickly, Lan Wangji noted with regretful resignation. When he had woken at his usual waking hour to the sight of Wei Wuxian sleeping peacefully in his arms, it had been a struggle not to give in to his urge to kiss the man like he always did to his Wei Ying. He carefully extricated himself, trying not to disturb the other but failed when Wei Wuxian stirred.
Wei Wuxian lifted his head blearily as he stared at Lan Wangji. "Hmm?" He mumbled, blinking sleep from his eyes. "Is it morning already?"
Lan Wangji nodded. "Mn." He replied.
Wei Wuxian slowly got up and yawned. "Morning then, Lan Zhan." He said, still sounding sleepy before he leaned forward and gave a quick peck on Lan Wangji's lips.
"..." Lan Wangji blinked; he didn't expect that at all.
Wei Wuxian froze at the realization a second later. He flustered profusely. "Ah! I'm sorry, Lan Zhan!" he babbled. "I wasn't thinking clearly but now I am! Excuse me." He blabbered and hastily moved off the bed, nearly tripping over his blanket.
They looked away like bashful teenagers who just kissed for the first time. For a minute, there was silence between them.
Lan Wangji spoke first, bowing his head slightly, "I'm sorry for entering your room last night. You had a nightmare."
"Ah... I see. No, you don't have to say sorry for that. I should thank you instead." Wei Wuxian said sincerely, his voice soft and grateful. "I usually couldn't fall back asleep whenever the nightmares come if I was alone."
Lan Wangji's heart clenched at the vulnerability in Wei Wuxian's words. Despite the confident facade he often wore, there were moments like these when the weight of his past seemed to bear down on him relentlessly. Just like how it was for his Wei Ying. "Do you often have nightmares?" Lan Wangji asked, his gaze finally meeting Wei Wuxian's.
Wei Wuxian nodded slowly. "Yes, they tend to haunt me. That's why I need strong coffee to keep me awake and power through the day sometimes." He chuckled lightly, trying to dispel the heaviness that lingered in the air. "Oh, look at the time. Yan Yan Ge will pick you up in half an hour. You have a flight to catch, remember?" he reminded, shifting the focus away from the somber moment.
As Lan Wangji processed the reminder of his impending departure, a sense of dread began to settle within him, a heavy weight resting in his stomach. "Yes," he replied quietly, his voice tinged with reluctance. Standing up, Lan Wangji started to gather his (Wang Yibo's) few belongings, his movements stiff and robotic.
"Lan Zhan." Wei Wuxian called gently, moving closer to Lan Wangji and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You'll be fine. If anything happens and you need help, just call me, okay?"
Lan Wangji nodded. "Mn."
Leaving the apartment proved to be a daunting task, yet assuming the persona of Wang Yibo was an even greater challenge. And it was even harder when he realized how famous of a celebrity Wang Yibo was. The bustling airport, teeming with a frenzied crowd made him uncomfortable. He certainly disliked the clamorous cries for attention, devoid of grace, and the indecorous behavior of so-called 'fans' who aggressively thrust their phones in his direction for a fleeting snapshot. At one point, one even got too close to him and he had to control himself not to shove them away.
The flight, however, was an interesting experience. A world without cultivation is somehow far more advanced in terms of flying in the sky and everything else. A convenient world indeed, he thought to himself.
"What do you think you are doing?" Lan Wangji said, stopping the makeup artist from touching his face. He couldn't stop his aversion to physical touches (except for Wei Ying) from showing. Especially after his experience at the airport earlier.
The makeup artist blinked in surprise. "Your makeup? It's my job to put it on." She said tentatively.
Lan Wangji frowned slightly, "Can I not have it?"
The artist looked uncertain before replying cautiously, "Well, it isn't up to me. The shooting director has a very specific look in mind for this photo shoot."
Lan Wangji's frown deepened but he couldn't say anything else nor could he do something about it. He gripped the side of the chair as the makeup artist applied things that he deemed unnecessary to his face.
Throughout the photoshoots that followed, Lan Wangji relied fully on the memories of Wang Yibo to guide him through the unfamiliar territory of the entertainment industry. The cameras clicked incessantly, the bright lights blinding at times, and the instructions to pose felt like a foreign language to him. But he persevered and endured. He had been through battlefields. This should be nothing compared to the war.
As the day wore on and the shoot finally came to an end, Lan Wangji felt a sense of relief wash over him. It had been a long and arduous day.
"Yibo, your phone," Yan Yan, the manager, said, handing over the ringing device.
Lan Wangji took the phone gratefully, his eyes scanning the caller ID before answering it. "Wei Ying," he greeted.
"Lan Zhan! How did everything go? Are there any problems?" Wei Wuxian's voice came through the phone, filled with concern.
"No problems," Lan Wangji responded monotonously.
"Good. Good. I know you can do it!" Wei Wuxian chirped.
"Mn."
"Anyway, I called to tell you that the author had responded and agreed to meet us. We can see her next week." Wei Wuxian informed.
"Next week?" Lan Wang echoed. Next week felt a little too long.
"Yes. Next week. So, bear with it for a few more days, okay?" Wei Wuxian reassured.
"Okay." Lan Wangji replied, suppressing a sigh.
It wasn't okay. Lan Wangji found the next few days to be one of the hardest moments in his life. Especially the commercial filming. He had to do multiple takes for less than a minute ad because he just couldn't deliver his line without being monotonous. Fighting ina bloodied battle was much easier than this.
When he finally got back to Wang Yibo's apartment days later, he was stunned, surprised to his core. Faces that he thought he would never see again were standing in front of the door, waiting for him.
"Ah, my precious boy, you're finally home!" The familiar voice that he once heard only as a child came to his ears before he was engulfed in a warm hug.
"Don't mind us coming earlier than planned, son. Your Mama is excited to cook for you after finding some fresh ingredients at the market nearby." Another voice that Lan Wangji would not mistake for anyone else interjected, patting him on his shoulder.
Tears somehow rolled down Lan Wangji's cheeks unbidden. His parents. Both of them.
They are alive.
And they were both panicking over him as he cried silently in his mother's and father's embrace. Or more accurately, their reincarnations.