Lan Wangji was relieved that the quarrel between them had come to an end. He wrapped his arms around Xiao Zhan protectively and whispered, "Thank you, Wei Ying."
Xiao Zhan indulged in the warmth of the embrace and smiled warmly, "What for?"
"For forgiving me." Lan Wangji replied. He was glad that they were finally back on familiar ground again. The last conversation they had the day before made him feel like he had lost something vital. He was terrified that his mistake would cause irreparable damage to their relationship. He felt like he finally could breathe again when he saw the smile that spread across Xiao Zhan's face.
"I can't stay mad at you, Lan Zhan." Xiao Zhan said as he snuggled closer in against Lan Wangji's chest. He added, "Although, I must say it again. It was an utterly stupid plan."
"Mn." Lan Wangji agreed wholeheartedly as he gently rubbed circles into the small of Xiao Zhan's back.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you. I was being petty and childish." Xiao Zhan mumbled into Lan Wangji's chest, muffled by his robes. He lifted his head off Lan Wangji's chest to look up and add with a pout, "I guess that wasn't my smartest move either..."
A small smile formed on Lan Wangji's lips as he watched the way the light reflected off the dark strands of hair framing Xiao Zhan's face. "Wei Ying, you don't have to apologize. It is my fault, not yours."
"I completely understood why you did what you did," Xiao Zhan replied earnestly. He continued, "I just hope that you would realize that it hurt me more than anything to be apart from you."
"It will never happen again." Lan Wangji tightened his hug around his lover.
"And, you don't have to protect me from yourself. You'll never harm me. Even if you do lose control, just remember, it happens only because I allow it to happen. If I don't want it, I can just kick you away." Xiao Zhan stated matter-of-factly, making sure that his point sunk in.
"Mn." Lan Wangji murmured, "I will keep that in mind."
Both were happy to be back in each other's arm once more at their private safe haven, they sat there quietly for some time, until Lan Wangji remembered something that he had been meaning to ask for a while. He inquired tentatively, "Wei Ying?"
"Hmm?" Xiao Zhan answered while his fingers lazily playing with the end tails of Lan Wangji's ribbon.
"Something is different about your energy flow." Lan Wangji pointed out. He noticed the changes since yesterday when Xiao Zhan ran his test run. There was more force behind of the stream of energy. It was more fluid and energetic but something seemed odd and unnatural. He trailed off, "It feels off..."
"Ah, you are indeed observant," Xiao Zhan responded noncommittally and paused for a second before responding. He laughed lightly. "I put some inscriptions on my robe. A prototype, I would say. Just to reduce the usual energy consumption and speed up the replenishment. At the same time, amplify it a little."
"Does it help?" Lan Wangji questioned dubiously. He was not surprised at his nifty contraption. however, the effect did not feel quite right. The energy didn't feel natural; it felt a little artificial to some sense. Like trying to hold something too heavy with only one hand. It was too vague for him to identify.
"Yeah, but only to a certain point." Xiao Zhan replied. "It helps with efficiency of the energy flow and erase the physical fatigue. It's like getting a continual boost from a constant supply of energy drink. But I guess nothing can help with mental exhaustion or sleep deprivation. I feel almost like I am drunk right now. "
"What do you mean?" Lan Wangji inquired.
"I barely got some sleep." Xiao Zhan murmured. He rested his forehead against Lan Wangji's chest. "I couldn't fall asleep no matter how much I tossed and turned. So, I decided to be productive instead."
"How much sleep did you get?" Lan Wangji asked worriedly, concerned for his partner's wellbeing.
"About four hours in total." Xiao Zhan said nonchalantly.
Lan Wangji studied his face carefully and furrowed his brows. His lover's pupil was dilated, revealing a hint of red at the edges. He asked again to confirm his hunch, "You slept four hours last night?"
"In two days." Xiao Zhan amended.
Lan Wangji's frown deepened with the statement. Four hours out of forty-eight hours sounded like an emergency alarm. He urged. "You need to sleep, Wei Ying. It isn't good for your health."
"I know." Xiao Zhan sighed dejectedly.
Lan Wangji proposed, "Let's go back now. You need some rest."
"No way. I'd rather spend quality time with you, Lan Zhan." Xiao Zhan rejected adamantly. He gave a slight pout and looked up at Lan Wangji, "Besides, I've been busy all day with the array and all I think about during the tediously long discussion, was making up with you."
Lan Wangji smiled a little as he tightened his grip around Xiao Zhan's waist affectionately, "So was I."
After a brief moment of comfortable silence, Xiao Zhan suddenly asked, "Lan Zhan, how do you feel?"
"Feel what?" Lan Wangji wondered in confusion.
"Does it bother you that your father is now suddenly out of seclusion?" He inquired softly as he stared directly into Lan Wangji's eyes, his hands resting on his partner's chest.
"Not really," Lan Wangji confessed truthfully, "But, I was afraid that you might be troubled by such things."
"Me? Why would I?" Xiao Zhan chuckled lightly. "I'm more concerned about you, Lan Zhan."
Lan Wangji gave Xiao Zhan a fond glance and replied, "I am fine, Wei Ying."
"Really?" Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow questioningly, "So, how did the dinner went?"
"It was alright." Lan Wangji said flatly.
"Hurm... Is that so?" Xiao Zhan delved into his expression closely, "Are you sure?"
Lan Wangji nodded. He tried to avoid further question on his feelings and said, "Father was happy to meet you. He thought highly of you."
"Lan Zhan, don't change the subject." Xiao Zhan couldn't suppress the smile that crept onto his features. It was adorable attempt to evade his question. He voiced, "Let me guess. You did almost zero talking while you brother talked a whole lot for you. Am I right?"
"Mn." Lan Wangji agreed without even thinking about it.
Xiao Zhan shook his head slightly. He suspired and asked gently, "Lan Zhan, tell me. Are you happy that your father is back?"
Lan Wangji didn't reply immediately to contemplate, but then eventually uttered, "Maybe."
"Do you resent him?"
"A little." Lan Wangji admitted reluctantly. "I never knew how a family should be before I met you. But now that I learned about it, I wish he was around more often."
Xiao Zhan stared at Lan Wangji silently for a moment, "How about now? Do you still wish the same?"
"I suppose." Lan Wangji spoke softly.
Xiao Zhan smiled lightly, "Perhaps, this is a chance for you to reconnect with him."
"Perhaps." Lan Wangji mused. "But now, I would rather spend more time with you."
"Of course, you would!" Xiao Zhan exclaimed before hugging him and nuzzling his neck affectionately, "Me too!"
"You sure? Because my brother seemed to be close to you earlier." Lan Wangji asked quietly, but there was unmistakable jealousy in his tone.
"He was teasing you." Xiao Zhan replied bluntly. "You shouldn't take what he says too seriously."
Lan Wangji frowned, "He didn't actually tease me. He just teased you."
"I'll ignore him anyway, okay?" Xiao Zhan waved it off in a relaxed manner.
"Okay." Lan Wangji agreed after a pause, feeling that he should not argue the point any further.
Xiao Zhan grinned mischievously. "You're cute when you're jealous."
Lan Wangji huffed, "Am not!"
"Look at you, lying through your teeth for the first time. You do remember that I can see through you?" Xiao Zhan teased before resting his head in the crook of Lan Wangji's with a content sigh.
"I'm not jealous." Lan Wangji muttered petulantly but he also nuzzled back against Xiao Zhan lovingly.
"Sure, Lan Zhan. Sure." Xiao Zhan's body trembled with muffled laugh.
Lan Wangji didn't even try to deny it anymore. He knew that he wouldn't win against Xiao Zhan's perceptiveness. He murmured in his ears, "I love you, Wei Ying."
Xiao Zhan felt warmth with those words and replied dreamily, "I love you too."
His answer made Lan Wangji's heart flutter since it was the first time he heard those confession from his beloved. He lifted Xiao Zhan's chin up to meet his eyes and gazed down at his treasured Wei Ying with tenderness and adoration, "Say that again, Wei Ying."
"Hmm? Say what again?" Xiao Zhan asked playfully.
"That you love me." Lan Wangji repeated with determination.
"Did I say that?" Xiao Zhan pretended to look confused while raising his eyebrows.
"You did." Lan Wangji declared solemnly. His pair of light golden eyes shone with a strong sense of conviction and hopefulness.
Xiao Zhan laughed heartily and snaked his arms around Lan Wangji's neck, to whisper close to his ears, "I love you, Lan Zhan."
Hearing those three words, Lan Wangji tightened his embrace even further and buried his face in Xiao Zhan's shoulder. Xiao Zhan pulled away slightly as he felt his shoulder become wet with tears, he cupped Lan Wangji's cheeks and wiped the tears off his face. He asked tenderly. "Why are you crying?"
"I'm happy." Lan Wangji replied through his teary haze as he leaned into Xiao Zhan's palm.
Xiao Zhan smiled brightly at the adorable gesture before wiping the remaining tears from Lan Wangji's face, "Lan Zhan, you have a funny way to show happiness. If I didn't know better, I would think that you're sad."
A genuinely joyful smile adorned Lan Wangji's face, "I only learned what happiness meant when I met you, Wei Ying."
Xiao Zhan rubbed the sides of the soft cheeks gently and planted a kiss on his forehead, "Then, I'm glad that you're happy."
Lan Wangji leaned into his palm as he held his lover tightly. They sat together in silence for a moment while enjoying each other's presence. After a while, Xiao Zhan broke the comfortable silence as a thought crossed his mind, "Lan Zhan, why is it you never mentioned that your father designed the previous array?"
Lan Wangji shrugged, "There wasn't a need to mention something so trivial."
"Trivial, huh?" Xiao Zhan raised both of his brows. He muttered, "I almost offended him when I criticized that formation."
"It wasn't really that bad." Lan Wangji reassured him.
"Not that bad you say?" Xiao Zhan grumbled bitterly. "There goes my first impression..."
Lan Wangji looked amused at Xiao Zhan, who was pouting in vexation. He corrected, "It's your second time meeting him."
"Thank you for your reminder, Lan Zhan." Xiao Zhan stated sardonically, rolling his eyes. "I just recalled that I caused an earthquake brought him out of hibernation period and called him out rudely. I even pointed my sword right in front of his neck! Yep, very good impression indeed."
Lan Wangji laughed softly at his antics, "He was pleased with your mathematical expertise and impressed with your upgrades on the barrier nonetheless."
"He does have a mind of an intellectual." Xiao Zhan remarked before his voice raised an octave higher as he talked fast, "Which reminds me, I want to hear everything about your father. Anything I should avoid talking about tomorrow? Or any subjects he was interested in? Apart from mathematics of course. Or should I pretend that I'm sick and avoid the breakfast altogether? Maybe I shouldâ"
Lan Wangji pressed his lips gently over Xiao Zhan's mouth to shush him before answering, "Why are you so nervous, Wei Ying? I'm sure Father likes you."
"Yeah sure, and your uncle loves me." Xiao Zhan retorted dryly.
Lan Wangji made an effort to appease him, "Uncle values your talents and skills."
Xiao Zhan rolled his eyes, "Yeah, right. He just loves to get under my skin unreasonably. What a grumpy old man."
Lan Wangji pinched Xiao Zhan on his cheek at his statement, "You seemed to enjoy provoking him too."
Xiao Zhan yelped and rubbed his now pink cheek and said poutingly, "Well, you have a point there. I did enjoy to rile him up. Maybe I should just shave his goatee to settle the score, for once and for all."
Lan Wangji stared at Xiao Zhan for a while before replying, "Wei Ying, you are not serious, are you?"
"What is it that I'm not serious about?" He answered with a devilish grin.
"You do not intend to cut Uncle's beard, do you?" Lan Wangji repeated his question.
"Why not? It's a perfectly acceptable revenge. "Xiao Zhan argued. His lips shaped in a cute pout, "He couldn't let go of his personal grudge on my mother. Well, I'm always a bad apple in his eyes."
"If so, he must have bad eyesight." Lan Wangji kissed his cheek to placate him.
"Oh?" Xiao Zhan chuckled. "Is that so, Lan Zhan? Are you criticizing your beloved uncle?"
"Mn." Lan Wangji hummed and kissed Xiao Zhan sweetly on the corner of his mouth before saying, "Now, how about you rest early tonight? You're getting more delirious by the second, judging from your ridiculousness."
"Can I just stay here with you?" Xiao Zhan whined in protest. "You owed me two days' worth of cuddles."
"You need to sleep, Wei Ying." Lan Wangji reminded him.
"Lan Zhan, I need cuddles more than sleep." Xiao Zhan insisted.
"No, you need sleep." Lan Wangji reiterated adamantly.
He stubbornly besought, "Cuddles."
"Sleep." Lan Wangji emphasized firmly while stroking his hair.
"You're no fun." Xiao Zhan complained childishly.
"That doesn't change the fact that you need sleep. You're going to collapse if you don't." Lan Wangji said sternly.
"How about I just sleep here while you hug me?" Xiao Zhan countered.
"Wei Ying, it's going to be very cold here at night. Also, you might not be comfortable." Lan Wangji pointed out at the magnificent cascading water in front of them. The temperature was already a little bit chilly and would only get colder during the night.
"Fine. Fine. Let's go back." Xiao Zhan sighed dramatically. "You're boring, Lan Zhan."
"And you're impulsive." Lan Wangji retorted before standing up and offering Xiao Zhan his hand.
The latter took it gratefully and allowed himself to be helped up. His mouth still ran, "You know, at such young age, you should be more adventurous. Explore the world of wildernesses, enjoy the nature and go for fun and thrilling experiences. It doesn't hurt to try something new every once in a while!"
Lan Wangji shook his head fondly at the nonsense rambling as he wrapped an arm around Xiao Zhan's waist, and led the way back towards cloud recesses. "You can't even stand the cold, Wei Ying. I doubt that you will enjoy the nature at sub-zero degrees."
"But it'll be thrilling."
"It will be indeed, if you find shivering pleasant." Lan Wangji replied wryly.
Xiao Zhan pouted before complaining, "But I have you and you're warm."
"It's not enough to warm you up. You'll catch a cold."
"I got talismans for that."
Xiao Zhan did not stop his ranting even after they walked pass the territory of Cloud Recesses. He was definitely experiencing the aftereffect of sleep deprivation as his talkativeness reached a whole new level of pestering.
"Wei Ying."
"Yes, Lan Zhan?"
"If you don't stop complaining, I will silence you." Lan Wangji said stoically.
"Wow, so you resort to violence huh? Are you really going to use the spell on me?" Xiao Zhan gasped loudly.
"No, I will just kiss you all the way until we reach your room." Lan Wangji replied seriously.
"Shameless! How could you?!" Xiao Zhan exclaimed in mock offence.
"Two more sentences." Lan Wangji said warningly.
"You're joking." He looked around to see other disciples are pretty much everywhere in their line of sights.
"No, I'm not joking." Lan Wangji replied challengingly, "Say one more word."
"..." Xiao Zhan pressed his lips together in a thin line, trying his best to not utter another word.
Lan Wangji smiled triumphantly, "Good. So, you have no more complaints?"
"..." Xiao Zhan's glaring intensified and he grumbled silently under his breath. They walked quietly together until they finally reached Xiao Zhan's door.
He immediately dragged Lan Wangji in, shut the door behind them before turning around to face Lan Wangji, "How bold of you, Lan Zhan to threaten me like that."
Lan Wangji smiled as he stepped forward and pulled Xiao Zhan into a kiss. His soft lips moved against Xiao Zhan's firmly but gently before he stopped to catch his breathe. "Forgive me?"
"You're lucky that you're handsome. "Xiao Zhan smirked, "and a damn good kisser!"
Lan Wangji hummed in acknowledgement and leaned down again to capture his soft pink lips.
"I love you." Lan Wangji whispered against Xiao Zhan's lips.
Xiao Zhan kissed him back before whispering his own reply, "I love you too."
They stayed like that for some time in complete bliss. Finally, Lan Wangji pulled away, smiling widely, "Rest well, Wei Ying. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay. You too."
Xiao Zhan slept very well that night.
Xiao Zhan fidgeted with the teacup in front of him. Qingheng-Jun was seated across from him, sipping tea leisurely.
Lan Wangji glanced at his lover out of the corner of his eyes, and sneakily hold Xiao Zhan's hand that was under the table to ease his nervousness.
Qingheng-Jun smiled softly. "Young Master Wei, how old are you?"
"I am turning sixteen in four months." Xiao Zhan answered politely.
"I see," Qingheng Jun said, "It is unusual to see someone with your level of cultivation at such young age. How exceptional."
Xiao Zhan was a little uncomfortable under his scrutiny, but remained his calm demeanor, "I'm am not that great yet, Sect Leader Lan."
"Your spiritual energy has already surpassed my own, Young Master Wei. It's almost felt like you have been cultivating for more than a century." Qingheng-Jun remarked.
Xiao Zhan froze momentarily.
How did he read my cultivation base? Was it from that one tap the other day? This man is not ordinary at all. Did he sense the demonic energy as well? Wait, more than a century? What does that mean?
Xiao Zhan swallowed his blooming anxiety and swiftly reasoned, "It's probably due to the prototype that I made to reduce the energy consumption which at the same time amplified my power output."
"Is that so? That's quite interesting." Qingheng Jun commented, "You are really a multitalented young man."
Xiao Zhan breathed a relief with the older male's following comment. Seemed like Qingheng-Jun was not aware of the presence of the darkness within him after all. The rest of the meal passed peacefully and Qingheng Jun had told him about many other things during their conversation. Xiao Zhan could tell that this man was a true cultivator and knowledgeable beyond any of the other elders in Gusu. It was a shame that he went into seclusion when he was still young. He could've become something amazing and accomplished. This however still did not clear his disdain at Qingheng-Jun's poor parenting skill which caused his beloved to have lonely childhood. He turned his face to his side and looked intently at Lan Wangji's face. He noticed the similarities between the father and son. Their facial structure and eyes were alike.
So, that's where he got that golden eyes from. The sharp jawline was similar to Lan Zhan's and the shape of their eyes has similar curves too. But, of course my Lan Zhan was way more handsome. Just look at those lips, they were soft and plush looking!
Lan Xichen cleared his throat to bring the distracted Xiao Zhan to earth, his eyes twinkled mischievously, "Young Master Wei, is there anything interesting on Wangji's face?"
The sudden question caught Xiao Zhan off guard. He didn't even realize that he was staring so brazenly. His cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. He tried to hide it by looking down at the ground.
Lan Wangji frowned at his brother's teasing, he reprimanded softly, "Please do not tease Wei Ying, Brother."
Qingheng-Jun raised his brows curiously at how Lan Wangji addressed the young man sitting by his side m, but decided to let it go for now. He took another sip of his tea before saying, "I heard you have been helping with Wangji to train the disciples, Young Master Wei. It's good to hear that you are doing a great job at teaching them. Wangji seems to be making great progress too."
Xiao Zhan was taken aback slightly, he wasn't sure how to respond to the praise. He was flattered though. He replied with slight smile gracing his features, "I'm just doing what is expected of me , Sect Leader Lan."
"Young master Wei, if I may ask, why are you helping our clan?" Qingheng-Jun asked.
Xiao Zhan took a second before responding truthfully, "I guess it's because I like this place a lot and its people. So, I decided to do whatever I can to keep this place safe. After all, I got plenty of good memories and experiences here. I don't want to lose these things."
A thoughtful expression appeared on Qingheng Jun's face. A young man who was not even his clan members was willing to do this just for a simple reason while he was still caught up on the fact that he lost everything he once knew. He couldn't help but feel a little ashamed of himself. As an esteemed leader of a sect, he should have be the pillar of his clan. As a father, he should have been able to protect his loved ones. How could he be such a failure as a father? He still could be better. There was still chance to make things right again.
"You resembled your parents, Young Master Wei," Qingheng Jun expressed solemnly after a while, "They both were talented and diligent cultivators. They were kind souls who always helped anyone who needed help, no matter how insignificant they may seem without expecting anything in return. I can see the same kindness in your personality."
This comment caused Xiao Zhan to freeze. He wasn't expecting that statement from the older man. He asked slowly, "You know my parents?"
"Yes, they were both students here. In fact, your mother was the most brilliant among her peers." Qingheng-Jun replied, smiling gently. "She excelled in many subjects, just like you and you have her carefree spirit, Young Master Wei."
"Oh..." Xiao Zhan replied quietly. He didn't know what to say to that.
"Young Master Wei, your mother was a genius just like you. In fact, I never thought I'd find two geniuses living in Yunmeng." Qingheng Jun told him softly.
"That is nice to hear." Xiao Zhan replied with a small smile. "Thank you for telling me all this. I appreciate it a lot Sect Leader Lan."
Qingheng Jun nodded hallowedly, "Don't mention it, Young Master Wei. Your parents would have been proud of you."
"I hope so." Xiao Zhan whispered quietly. He looked at his empty teacup with an unseeing gaze. His heart ached upon hearing those words. He didn't know much about the parents of Wei Wuxian. He knew that Wei Wuxian's parents died when he was very young, but that was pretty much it. But hearing all these made his heart felt warm and at the same time, sorrow crept its way into the cracks in his heart. He couldn't help himself, but his voice came out slightly croaked when he continued, "I was a child when they passed so I don't remember much about them."
Qingheng-Jun stared sadly at him, "I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."
Xiao Zhan shook his head slightly, "No, it's fine. I don't mind talking about them. They were good parents when they were still alive. Even though I can barely remember them, it still means the world to me." He confessed. He looked at his empty teacup with an unseeing gaze.
The sullen atmosphere was interrupted by the cook who took the initiative to serve the food himself. The cooked greeted him happily after bowing to the section leader and his sons.
"Young Master Wei, I made these according to you recipe!" He announced proudly as he presented baskets of steaming stuffed steam lotus buns. Xiao Zhan complimented him on his achievement to duplicate the dish almost accurately and shared a small talk with him.
In the meantime, Lan Wangji's heart beat wildly in his chest. Xiao Zhan never failed to make people to adore him wherever he went and he was glad for that. However, every time Xiao Zhan spoke with the cook, his heart began to send a twisting sensation that made him uncomfortable. He wished Xiao Zhan would not be too close with others. He wanted Xiao Zhan to be solely with him. Not to be surrounded by everyone else. The thought alone gave him goosebumps. Lan Wangji shook his head slightly. He was being unnecessarily jealous now.
Qingheng-Jun's eyes was locked on the young man in black attire while he interacted with familiarity with the chef. The cook seemed to be genuinely fond of Xiao Zhan. He also noticed the unblinking staring of his youngest son on the Young Master Wei's face as the latter chatted with the cook. He saw his past self in Lan Wangji's demeanor. The gaze held pure admiration and if he was not mistaken, possessiveness. A thought crossed his mind.
Qingheng-Jun made a comment after the cook went back into the kitchen, "I see now why the food menus changed drastically for these past few months."
"Aren't these meals taste wonderful, Father?" Lan Xichen smiled with satisfaction after finishing up his portion.
"Indeed, they are." Qingheng Jun agreed easily. He shifted his attention back to Xiao Zhan, "What is it that you can't do, Young Master Wei? You seem to be very good at a lot of things."
Before Lan Wangji could open his mouth to answer on his behalf, Xiao Zhan placed his palm on his thigh under the table to stop him. He pretended not to see the sharp glare from his ridiculous boyfriend and looked away. He had to do that if he wanted Lan Wangji to stop his shameless bragging about him. He answered politely, "There's plenty of things I can't do, Sect Leader Lan."
Lan Xichen could not help his brotherly instinct any longer. He had to tease the Young Master Wei and this was becoming his favourite past time recently. He expressed with a glint of playfulness in his eyes and his face wore a grin, "You're too humble Young, Master Wei. You have exceptional cultivation, your swordplay is unparalleled, you can cook, you're a genius with perfect memorization and innovative with tools and arrays, and can even play flute. Did I miss anything?"
Good God Lan Xichen! I barely contained the shameless younger brother of yours...
"Singing, Brother." Lan Wangji added, unwilling to let his older brother to take his spot as a person who knew his lover the best. His additional remark earned him a sharp glare from Xiao Zhan. He simply smiled innocently at him.
"Oh! So you can sing too, Young Master Wei?" Lan Xichen smiled knowingly of his younger brother's intention.
I also can beat you up silly.
Xiao Zhan rolled his eyes, he was trying very hard to stay composed. This older brother of his partner was definitely the cause of all this ridiculous rainbow talking. He sighed internally, "Zewu-Jun, you're praising me too much."
"No, I don't think I am." Lan Xichen insisted.
"I agree. Wei Ying is good in everythiâ"
"Lan Zhan, stop exaggerating." Xiao Zhan quickly interjected before Lan Wangji could finish, he was almost bursting into flames with the unsolicited complimentary.
Lan Wangji frowned deeply, "It's a fact, Wei Ying. How is it exaggeration when it's the truth?"
Oh come on, your father is watching, Lan Zhan. This is so embarrassing.
"It doesn't matter. Just stop it." Xiao Zhan said firmly, feeling a headache coming and his lover was not helping. He bit his lip, trying so hard not to sigh at Lan Wangji's stubborn antics but the Second Jade wasn't listening to him. They continued to bicker on what was the truth and what was not.
Lan Xichen on the other hand, was enjoying to see the young couple interacted with each other while he sipped on the fragrant tea in front of him. It was refreshing to see such a lively relationship between his younger brother and his lover. Seemed like the pair had patched up from whatever had happened between them before this. He was pretty pleased with himself for getting a rise out of Xiao Zhan. After all, he knew that his younger brother would definitely react and talk a little more. It also gave him a chance to observe the situation with interest at the same time, he was observing his father's reaction with amusement. He definitely felt the joy of teasing and he didn't think that he would ever give this new hobby of his up anytime soon.
Qingheng-Jun smiled as he looked his two sons interacting with each other and exchanging banters with the Young Master Wei, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with guilt. His heart clenched painfully whenever he remembered their mother's death. He had to remind himself that it has been years since she passed away. He should have been there to watch his sons grow up to be the men they were now. Remorse once again filled him to the brim as he realized, he had missed a huge chuck of time in his sons' lives because of his selfishness. Now, he regretted the fact that he did not spend more time with his sons. His heart yearned to connect with his children and now that he was already out in the open, he was determined to rectify his mistakes. He wanted to be a better father to both of the boys and to mend his relationship with them. And now was the perfect opportunity to start.
He was rather thankful for the strange phenomenon that shook the whole mountain which brought him out from his isolation and led him to meet this Young Master Wei. When he saw the young man cladded in black robes in the center of an array, manipulating an enormous amount of energy with precision and finesse, he was fascinated. Not only by the intricacies or the power that the array contained; it was also interesting to see how well he managed to hold his composure as his magic flew around him expertly. It was clear that he had experience, skill and knowledge in arrays. He could sense the intensity of spiritual energy that was emanating from the young man. That display was not something that could have come from anyone that young and his cultivation base was utterly massive. He had the feeling he had encountered someone that was far beyond his level. The kind you expected to see from a celestial being and not from a fifteen years old child and he could tell immediately that the Young Master Wei was no ordinary youth. Something drew him towards him, perhaps it was the aura he exuded. It was powerful like he had experienced a lot of things. A mighty presence radiated from the young man. He found himself curious and attracted to this unique soul that was hidden beneath the young man.
The swiftness in his swordplay was another thing he noticed. The sword seemed to have a mind of its own. It was as if it understood exactly what the Young Master Wei needed and protected him at every cost even before its master made any gestures. The way it executed defensive maneuver with impeccable perfection, it seemed as though the sword spirit possessed conscious awareness. He was lucky that the young man had no killing intent at that moment he was met with the sharp blade. He could tell that, the head disciple of Yunmeng Jiang had exceptional swordsmanship from the way he grasp the hilt of his sword alone.
During the discussion, the fluency in mathematical and physics knowledge he displayed in his calculations were quite impressive too. As he kept observing the boy while he was going thoroughly into details while sketching the blue print of his design, he was astounded by how incredibly talented he was. His movements were flawless with no errors in the slightest, even the way his hands moved when he explained the principles behind his plans was graceful and elegant. The manner of speech the boy used in explaining his drawings were comparable to his youngest child. Concise, eloquent and precise. It almost felt like he was a scholar reading off of a textbook. However, he could detect subtle nuances of the lad's voice. He could also pick out the different tones and cadences of his voice. The way that he enunciated his words showed how well-versed he was in those academic topics.
Another thing caught his eye while he looked across the table, studying the young man. There were innocence and sincerity in those beautiful eyes which shone with a glimmer of life, which caused the corners of Lan Wangji's mouth to quirk up ever so slightly. That was not a sight he had seen before. The youngest never smiled the last time he saw him during dinner the other day. He always wore a serious and aloof look previously, and rarely opened his mouth. This new expression was quite unfamiliar but he liked it nonetheless since the boy looked happier and more alive now.
"Lan Zhan, please stop talking." Xiao Zhan pleaded, burying his face in his hand.
Lan Wangji looked over to see a red tint on Xiao Zhan's cheeks and smiled cheekily, "What, did I say something incorrect?"
Xiao Zhan rolled his eyes and groaned defeatedly, "Of course not, Lan Zhan."
Qingheng-Jun chuckled slightly listening to that exchange. It was indeed a rare moment for someone to tell his usually reserved and quiet son to shut up. He did not expect Xiao Zhan to have such a great influence over his youngest son. He looked back towards Xiao Zhan, wondering if there was a hint of affection in the young man's eyes towards Lan Wangji as well. He saw that their expressions appeared almost identical. Their faces held the same softness of adoration as they looked upon each other without hesitation. They were somewhat similar, yet so different in personality and temperament and they blended so well. A polar opposite but still shared similar axis. A harmony of two worlds that compliment each other and made them complete. His interest was piqued again as he wondered what kind of relationship the two boys share. He wanted to see more of the dynamic between the two of them. It wouldn't hurt to get to know this enigmatic young man, would it?
Meanwhile, Xiao Zhan was just about ready to scream internally with the twin Jades of Lan's combined attack in making him cringed with discomfiture.
Qingheng-Jun glanced at Xiao Zhan and he was tickled with the aggravation in his expression. He asked curiously, "You can play flute, Young Master Wei?"
Xiao Zhan nodded silently. He was already embarrassed enough as it was. There was no way that he would add more fuel to the fire. He cursed in his heart when Lan Xichen unashamedly ask him to play something. He swore in his heart that, he would definitely would get his revenge on Lan Xichen one day.
Xiao Zhan still ended up obliging the request when Qingheng-Jun joined hands and supported his first born. Not long after, a melody emerged from the black bamboo flute and it began playing slowly yet beautifully, carrying an enchanting tune that resonated throughout the hall. The clear and crisp music sounded like liquid silk and made everyone in the area halted from whatever they were doing to listen to it.
Beside him was Lan Wangji who listened quietly to the song, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips when he heard the familiar soft melody. His eyes gleamed with pride and fondness as he watched the his lover play his instrument effortlessly.
Lan Xichen could see the soft expression on Lan Wangji's face, causing his lips to stretched into a wide grin at the adorable reaction, before his gaze turned towards his father who seemed entranced by the melody. Although, he could feel a chill spread across his spine as he caught a glimpse of Xiao Zhan glared begrudgingly at him. He suppressed his laughter and continued to listen to the melody in a lackadaisical manner.
Qingheng-Jun, however, was captivated by the melodious sounds that was unmistakably carried a tone of Gusu Lan's style in composition. In particular, the melody was very distinctive that he almost recognized it as one of his son's song piece. No, he was certain that it was his youngest son's composition that was played right now. He couldn't help but let out a small sigh of contentment. It really was a beautiful sound.