Xiao Zhan yawned for the fifth time now as he dragged himself towards the direction of the conference hall while he muttered, "Fucking endless meeting..."
"How do you feel?" Xiao Zhan heard Lan Wangji say as the latter appeared next to him in the hallway. He looked at the boy's concerned frown and couldn't help but chuckle, "Like heaven and hell converged at the same time." He then got a little closer to Lan Wangji and whispered lowly, "Although, I would gladly go through that hell to meet Heaven again."
"..." Lan Wangji said nothing for several moments, his ears turning redder than normal. He huffed, "Frivolous."
Xiao Zhan simply smiled innocently at him before saying, "You didn't have problem with me being just that last night."
"Wei Ying, stop talking nonsense." Lan Wangji said, trying to keep a straight face.
"No can't do. You know how it is when I am sleep deprived." Xiao Zhan replied, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "And you know exactly whose fault is that."
"..." Lan Wangji sighed softly as he continued to walk beside Xiao Zhan who had his arm draped casually over his broad shoulder. A tiny smile crept into his lips despite his efforts not to show it, "Sorry."
Xiao Zhan just giggled softly while they walked side by side. They continued to have a harmonious conversation on their way to the conference hall and entered together, settling down next to each other after greeting the elders that present there.
Xiao Zhan couldn't help more yawns that escaped him as they sat there, waiting for the meeting to begin.
Lan Wangji poured out two cups of tea from the pot in front of him and held the first one out toward Xiao Zhan, "Drink."
"Ah, thank you," Xiao Zhan took it without hesitation, his eyes sparkling at the sight of the steaming hot cup filled with jasmine tea. His lips curved into an enchanting smile. He sipped gingerly, humming in appreciation when the warmth hit his throat pleasantly. Lan Wangji refilled his cup again when he emptied the previous one.
Lan Qiren's eyes landed upon both teenagers immediately, narrowing slightly at the way his nephew treated the other with such gentleness that seemed out of place. He then looked at Xiao Zhan, sizing him up and down as if he was looking for any flaw but found none. Eventually, he called out to Lan Wangji and told him sternly, " Wangji, he's not a child. He can serve himself. Stop indulging him so easily."
Lan Qiren's words were directed at Lan Wangji but his attention was focused solely on Xiao Zhan. Xiao Zhan merely raised an eyebrow at the older man who clearly disapproved of them being so comfortable around each other.
Here we go again.
Lan Wangji shifted uneasily in his seat at his uncle's disdainful remark regarding Xiao Zhan, knowing the older man disliked his lover since the beginning of time. But he could hardly argue with his uncle out of reverence for the old man for raising him ever since he was born. So, he bit back his retort and merely nodded curtly instead, "Yes, Uncle."
Did he just say 'yes'?
Lan Wangji glanced sideways at Xiao Zhan, and he almost choked when the silvery irises glared briefly at him for agreeing with that sentiment. Then Xiao Zhan looked away quickly before he could make out anything other than the flicker of irritation in his lover's eyes. He was equally unsure what to say or do when both his uncle and his lover were having a long, silent staring battle soon after. Before long, he tensed involuntarily as he noticed the slow tilting of Xiao Zhan's head which was the very indicator that he was going to retaliate.
Two can play this game.
"How about I serve you some tea, Lan-xiansheng?" Xiao Zhan asked Lan Qiren in his best presentation of proprietary, his voice was calm and collected, but inwardly he was seething. He couldn't help it. He was physically and mentally exhausted, and he barely had two to three hours of sleep for the past few days. There was nothing in this world that annoyed him more right now than Lan Qiren doing something to ruin the harmony between him and Lan Wangji.
Lan Qiren eyed Xiao Zhan suspiciously before he responded, "Why would I want you to do that?"
"It can help you relax. It is not good to be all tensed up all the time. As the younger one, I naturally care for your wellbeing." Xiao Zhan replied smoothly, his tone was still pleasant, and a sweet smile adorned his face but there was a cold fire burning in his iris. He continued, "Besides, it is in the rules of Gusu Lan Sect that we should treat people kindly regardless of their age, gender or status."
"What do you know about rules?" Lan Qiren shot back.
"I can recite all 3218 of them, one by one if you wish to hear them, Lan-xiansheng. Maybe it will be helpful to jog your memory." Xiao Zhan stated plainly, his smile stayed on his lips although it didn't quite reach his eyes.
Lan Wangji sighed softly and shook his head towards Xiao Zhan as if silently warning him against saying anything to aggravate the elder anymore but the other ignored it.
Lan Qiren glowered at Xiao Zhan who returned the glare coolly without wavering in any way. "What is the use of memorizing the rules if they can't help or even prevent you from breaking them, let alone make you abide by them?"
"Exactly, Lan-xiansheng. We should practice what we preach, shouldn't we?" Xiao Zhan said, in his most innocent and saccharine tone possible.
Lan Qiren's s expression tightened further, a vein protruding from his forehead as his fingers twitched on the surface of the table. He gritted his teeth, looking like he was in pain, "Insolent child! Do you think I don't notice your constant disrespect?!"
"Name one occasion that I have behaved in such a manner." Xiao Zhan retorted; his expression unchanged.
"Wei Wuxian! You-!" Lan Qiren exploded, rising from his seat as if ready to lunge at the teen.
Xiao Zhan didn't even blink nor did he move, as he looked into the old man's eyes with a calmness he didn't really feel. He simply lifted the teacup to sip the hot liquid before he spoke in unbothered tone, "You see, Lan-xiansheng, from where I came from, respect goes both ways. Treat people like you want to be treated. Talk to people like you wanted to be talked to. Respect is earned, not given. But I still hold you in high esteem regardless."
The other Elders in the room shifted nervously in their seats as if they couldn't believe the young envoy would dare talk back so daringly to the great Lan Qiren.
The youth did not seem the slightest affected by the elder's glare, however. He remained in his utmost decorum, calmly sipping his tea with the most innocent and kind smile plastered across his face.
Lan Wangji could no longer ignore the increasing tension between the two. He tried to diffuse the situation. He said in his gentle voice, "Wei Ying, stop this."
At once, Xiao Zhan turned to stare at Lan Wangji with furrowed brows, "Excuse me?"
Me? Your uncle started this!
Lan Wangji stared back at him and replied firmly, "You are making a scene here."
I am literally sitting my ass very still!
Xiao Zhan fingers tightened around the cup he was holding as he narrowed his eyes at his lover. "Ah, am I now?"
"Yes," Lan Wangji nodded solemnly. "Don't forget where we are, Wei Ying."
The calm facade Xiao Zhan wore cracked slightly at Lan Wangji's words, it was bad enough that he had to endure his lover's uncle's ridiculous criticism, the thought that Lan Wangji chose to speak against him in public was infuriating. He felt his blood simmer and heat up angrily.
"I am fully aware," Xiao Zhan bit out, his voice becoming hard and frosty.
So, you have chosen your side, huh?
"Then, please apologize." Lan Wangji said pleadingly.
"Apologize?" Xiao Zhan asked in disbelief, glaring daggers at the white clad teenager. He snapped, "What for? Have I done anything wrong?"
Now, you are really pissing me off, Lan Zhan!
Lan Wangji was taken aback by Xiao Zhan's reaction, though he kept his composure as he answered, "That's not what I meant. You might not mean it but Uncle was offended by what you said."
"So, you meant to say that I have to apologize although I am not the wrong one. Am I right, Lan Wangji?" Xiao Zhan questioned coldly. His hands clenched tightly around the empty teacup he held that it shattered under the force. He didn't even flinch when blood trickled down from where the porcelain shards had dug deep into his skin.
The hall broke out into shocked murmurs at Xiao Zhan's outburst.
"Wei Ying!" Lan Wangji gasped in shock as he reached over to hold his lover's injured hand, but Xiao Zhan pulled away from his grasp harshly.
"I can handle myself, Second Young Master Lan." Xiao Zhan did nothing to stop the crimson liquid as it pooled on the table and just turned his head away, refusing to even glance in Lan Wangji's direction. He spoke through gritted teeth, "I'll do as your wish."
Lan Wangji's heart clenched painfully at Xiao Zhan's cold tone. This was not the outcome he wanted to achieve. He just wanted the two of them to stop fighting.
"My apologies, Lan-xiansheng, if you found my words offensive." Xiao Zhan spoke with a face that was devoid of emotion. His voice seemed so calm and tranquil, but his heart was racing with fury. He then stood up swiftly from his chair before lowered his head respectfully at the rest of the elders in the room, "If you will excuse me."
Lan Qiren was too shocked by Xiao Zhan's actions to say or do anything. The entire hall seemed to have gone still, and Lan Qiren wasn't sure if there were any more noises.
At that very moment, Qingheng-Jun walked in followed by Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue trailing behind him. They came a little later than everyone else as they had been having breakfast together with the juniors. All eyes in the room turned to look at the three men who instantly sensed the tension in the room.
Xiao Zhan bowed politely in their direction like nothing happened, his voice sounded almost nonchalant as he greeted them and said, "Sect Leader Lan, I'm afraid I have to skip today's discussion."
"Brother, what happened to your hand?" Nie Mingjue asked as he noticed the blood dripping down from Xiao Zhan's palm, staining the floor. Qingheng-Jun and Lan Xichen asked the same question simultaneously.
"The teacup suddenly broke. It's nothing serious. If I may be excused..." Xiao Zhan said with feigned indifference.
"Please go and treat yourself, Young Master Wei. You don't have to worry about the meeting. Just rest for the day. " Qingheng-Jun said in his soft, soothing voice, which always seemed to melt the hard edges off anyone he spoke to.
Xiao Zhan nodded gratefully. He inclined his head towards the two Lans before he strode out of the hall with Nie Mingjue following his steps closely. He heard Lan Wangji uttered his name faintly, but he refused to look back.
He was done with the bullshit of the day, and he was absolutely livid with the Second Young Master of Gusu Lan Sect, the person who was supposed to be his other half.
What a load of shit!
Nie Mingjue walked silently beside Xiao Zhan whose face still serenely retained its composure although his aura said otherwise. He asked after a while, "What's going on?"
Xiao Zhan glanced at him briefly and said, "Nothing happened, Da Ge."
Nie Mingjue pointed out, "Your hand is injured."
Xiao Zhan simply laughed, though it sounded bitter. "Da Ge, please do not concern yourself over such trivial matter. It's nothing much. This is just scratch wound."
"Scratch wound?" Nie Mingjue said, giving Xiao Zhan a dubious stare, "How deep is the scratch wound to be bleeding this much?"
As deep as the wound in my heart.
Xiao Zhan clenched his jaw to stop from blurting out those words and tried to keep his emotions in control. He looked down at his palm to see the severity of the cut. Some pieces of sharp shard were still embedded deep within his palm, piercing through the flesh and causing blood to ooze out from the wound. He didn't notice it earlier, but he literally crushed the cup in his hand during his outburst earlier.
Nie Mingjue almost yelled at him as he saw the extent of his injury, "You called that a scratch wound? What were you thinking? Did you try to be one with the teacup or what?"
"This isn't a big deal." Xiao Zhan protested, shaking his head lightly as he continued walking briskly towards his room. His steps were firm and deliberate despite his injured hand. He ignored the slight throbbing pain in his hand as well as his growing headache. All he wanted to do now was to get away from everyone as soon as possible.
"How did the cup break?" Nie Mingjue asked again as he fell into step besides Xiao Zhan.
"I might've held on to it too tightly." Xiao Zhan shrugged carelessly in response as he continued walking, ignoring Nie Mingjue's disbelieving stare.
Nie Mingjue opened his mouth to reply to that comment but decided against it and instead opted to drop the subject. Xiao Zhan was definitely hiding something, the last thing Nie Mingjue wanted to do right now was interrogate him because Xiao Zhan clearly wasn't in a good mood. He changed the topic, "I am going back to Qinghe tomorrow."
"Oh...Has it been two weeks already?" Xiao Zhan murmured absentmindedly.
"Yes. So, when are you planning to come back?" Nie Mingjue asked with curiosity in his tone.
Xiao Zhan's footsteps abruptly halted as he heard that question. He was about to ask what Nie Mingjue meant when he realized that Nie Mingjue was talking about returning to Qinghe. He hesitated for a little while before he answered honestly," I don't know yet."
Despite being mad at Lan Wangji, he had made his promise to stay with him and he would not break it over something as minor as this. Even though he was tempted so badly to just leave this suffocating place for a while this very minute.
With that, he resumed his pace and soon, both of them stood in front of his room. He looked back and stared straight into Nie Mingjue's dark eyes as he said quietly, "Da Ge, I need some time alone. "
"Won't you get that hand treated first?" Nie Mingjue replied.
"I can heal it myself." Xiao Zhan reassured him firmly. He gave him a sincere smile as he added, "I will see you at dinner time."
Nie Mingjue nodded in understanding before he finally left Xiao Zhan's presence. Xiao Zhan pushed open the door to his room and slipped inside. As soon as it closed, his shoulders sagged as he let out an exhausted sigh. He sat down at the table and lifted his right hand to examine it. A string of silent curses left Xiao Zhan's lips as he pulled out the several pieces of broken fragments from his flesh before cleaning up the mess that was his bloody palm. He didn't want to waste a healing potion for this small cut because he knew it would heal on its own within a half a day. He was utterly worn out that the moment his body touched his bed, he fell asleep almost at in instant.
Meanwhile, back in conference room. Qingheng-Jun listened attentively at Lan Wangji's account on what had transpired earlier today. He contemplated on it quietly for a while before he spoke in a low yet authoritative tone. "I had made it clear that Young Master Wei is our respectable guest and should be treated as such. Has he not done enough for our sect to deserve a proper hospitality?"
The silence persisted for a few moments until Lan Qiren eventually said in a scornful tone, "That boy is discourteous to the elders. What he deserves, is a punishment."
Qingheng-Jun's expression darkened at those words. "Qiren, you can't possibly think that Young Master Wei would keep quiet when he was treated with prejudice, can you? You need to stop treating him like a mere disciple. Punishment? He is an official envoy from two sects, for heaven's sake! Do you want to jeopardize our alliance in this way?"
Lan Qiren sighed, "A pity that you are biased towards him, Brother."
"And are you sure your personal dislike towards him isn't taking precedence over your judgement?" Qingheng Jun rebuked sharply. He shook his head in frustration before addressing the council members, "Is there any of you who can replicate what Young Master Wei had done for us all this while?"
The hall was filled with silence, and no one dared to make even the tiniest sound.
Qingheng Jun looked around at each person in their respective seats but found no one to speak up. "Our sect strives for being righteous. So, tell me, how does treating our benefactor with contempt, fit with our ideals of righteousness?"
The council of elders exchanged glances, but none offered a single word in response. They merely sat silently, pondering over the question posed by their Sect Leader.
"I would like for each and every one of you to reflect on your actions and behavior towards this young master. We are all adult and should act with maturity rather than being childish." Qingheng Jun stated resolutely as he rose from his seat. Let's end this discussion here. We shall reconvene in five days."
"Qiren, you are coming with me to Qinghe tomorrow along with Eldest Young Master Nie." Qingheng-Jun said as he turned his attention to Lan Qiren.
Lan Qiren's brow creased in confusion, but he nevertheless nodded. "Understood. "
Once outside the other's hearing, Lan Qiren immediately began questioning him once they had reached a distance from the council chambers. "What are we doing in Qinghe?"
"You should see for yourself of what kind of a person Young Master Wei is." Qingheng-Jun stated with solemnity.
Lan Qiren frowned at the words, not understanding what exactly he meant by that. Guess he had to find out on his own.
Lan Wangji looked like a lost puppy as he stared blankly at the table that was being cleared by the servants. His heart clenched painfully at the sight of blood and the remnant of the broken cup. The guilt was overwhelming and consuming him. He knew that he would never get rid of his regret no matter how hard he tried to forget about what had happened. His eyes trailed the red stains on the floor, and he gauged the extent of the damage on his lover's hand. It must be quite deep, considering the amount of blood. The realization hit Lan Wangji like a ton of bricks, and he shot up to his feet, he needed to check on his beloved regardless of whether or not, Xiao Zhan wants to see him or not at the moment.
He was stopped midway by Lan Xichen who suggested with a worried gaze, "Wangji, if you are thinking of checking up on Young Master Wei, please don't go yet."
Lan Wangji furrowed his eyebrows deeply in wonderment, "Why?"
Lan Xichen gave his brother a gentle smile as he spoke, "Wangji, you know him better than most. I'm sure he just needs some time to sort everything out in his head and calm down."
"But he's hurt." Lan Wangji replied in a low tone, ignoring Lan Xichen's attempts to placate him.
Lan Xichen sighed and said, "You know it yourself. Young Master Wei is very capable of taking care of himself. Please give him some space. He probably does not want to see you for the moment."
As soon as he had spoken, Lan Wangji's face darkened even more, and his body language became stiff. He rasped, "How do you know that he doesn't want to see me?"
Lan Xichen patted his brother's shoulder gently, trying to calm him down. "He is emotional right now and you're only going to upset him further if you act rashly like this."
Lan Wangji closed his eyes tightly as he took in a long breath in attempt to control the raging emotions in his chest. His eyes flickered open as he asked his brother dejectedly, "Brother, what should I do?"
"Why don't we talk about this in my place?" Lan Xichen suggested with a gentle smile on his lips, hoping that this could work. He genuinely wanted to help his younger brother to fix his relationship with Young Master Wei.
"Mn." Lan Wangji hummed his agreement, sounding dispirited. He followed his brother walking down the corridors in silence, wearing a forlorn expression that was masked with his usual impassive look. His mind was reeling over the events of today, replaying over the events that occurred earlier.
"Wangji, do you know why Young Master Wei is upset with you?" Lan Xichen asked as they sat across each other.
Lan Wangji shook his head lightly as he stared into the void in front of him. He knew that Xiao Zhan was angry at him, but he could not pinpoint what drove his beloved to that point of anger that he hurt himself. What exactly did he do to warrant such intense wrath from the man that he would refuse to look at him now? He didn't know what to do except apologize and seek forgiveness. He had to at least try to earn the forgiveness and understanding Xiao Zhan would have.
Lan Xichen noticed his brother's uncharacteristic expression; the young man rarely showed even a hint of emotion in front of others, but he looked like he was about to burst into tears at any given moment. His expression was so serious and full of anguish that it broke Lan Xichen's heart to see him that way.
He inquired softly, "Wangji, what exactly did you say to Young Master Wei?"
It took all of Lan Wangji's effort to remain composed in front of his elder brother as he recounted their exchange, words for words.
When Lan Wangji finished explaining everything to his brother, Lan Xichen's eyebrows were drawn together and he stared at his younger brother for a few moments, trying to decipher his feelings before he replied in a somber tone, "It seems to me like you might have made a grievous error."
Lan Wangji frowned slightly at his brother, not understanding what he meant. He watched as his older brother took a sip from his tea before saying, "You shouldn't have spoken against him."
Lan Wangji blinked confusedly at his brother as he tried to comprehend what he said, "I didn't speak against him. I was trying to stop the altercation from getting worst."
Lan Xichen looked at his brother with an understanding gaze, "Regardless of your intentions, you said something that may hurt Young Master Wei more than if you hadn't. You know his personality well enough to know that he would not let others to walk all over him. If it were anyone else, he would have been fine with allowing them to continue to treat him in a nonchalant manner. But when it comes to you, it is different. He wants you to be on his side. When you pushed him to apologize when he had no reason to, he must have felt betrayed."
Lan Wangji looked thoughtful after hearing that. He remembered the expression on Xiao Zhan's face when he told him to apologize to his uncle although he too agreed that his beloved had done nothing wrong. He could still vividly picture his beloved crushing the cup with his bare hand as if it was the very representation of his heartbreak when he did not stand by his side even though he had promised to do so in all circumstances. He closed his eyes briefly as he came upon a memory of a dream that he once had. The dream where he saw Wei Ying had to fight with the entire world all alone and he was not by his side. He would never wish for anything bad happen to the man who he loved with every fiber of his being. But here he was, he made the same mistake as he did in that horrifying nightmare. He was riddled with guilt for making his partner felt like he was alone even in his presence.
Lan Xichen put down his teacup and looked at his younger brother sympathetically. He attempted to alleviate his worries, "Think about why Young Master Wei does everything that he is doing now. Why is he willing to stay by your side even if he doesn't need to? He is powerful enough to go wherever he wishes to, and he can easily leave whenever he chooses. What reason does he have to continue staying here when he doesn't need to?"
His brother's words struck a chord within Lan Wangji and he realized that Xiao Zhan could like Lan Xichen had said, leave him at any given moment if he wished to. That thought sent a pang of pain through him and he felt anxious about the possibility of losing his lover over his misjudgment.
"Wangji, are you alright? You have gone quite pale." Lan Xichen asked worriedly after catching sight of the distress etched into his features.
Lan Wangji's voice was shaky when he inquired desperately, "Brother, do you think Wei Ying will leave?"
Lan Xichen sighed helplessly. The brother of his was so hopeless, so full in love and yet, so oblivious about the feelings of the person he loves sometimes. He then replied with a reassuring smile on his face, "I don't think so. It seems as if Young Master Wei has made it abundantly clear where he stands on when it comes to you. He might even fight the entire world for you."
"But will he forgive me?" Lan Wangji's voice was barely above a whisper.
At those words, Lan Xichen hesitated slightly, unsure of how to respond as he took a sip of tea. After taking a deep breath, he answered Lan Wangji's query with another rhetorical question, "Do you believe in his love?"
The answer was immediate. "Yes."
Lan Xichen smiled fondly at his little brother who had his eyes trained at him expectantly, "Then, you should trust his feelings, Wangji. There is no one else he would rather be with."
Lan Wangji nodded his head with a determined look on his face. He was about to stand up as he stated, "I will go to him now."
"Not now, Wangji." Lan Xichen said firmly, shaking his head slowly. He then proceeded to give his brother a knowing look, "It's not the right time yet."
Lan Wangji gave him a confused look. How long had his older brother been holding onto him now to stop him from rushing off to go to his beloved?
Lan Xichen had to stifle a laugh as he saw his brother crestfallen face at his reply. He tried to console the eager youth, "Give Young Master Wei some time to calm down. If you go now, you might end up with a long sparring session with him and he would not be holding back. You might really get hurt."
Lan Wangji recalled at all those times his beloved threatened to kick his ass if he ever made him mad again. Or worse, the non-violence policy. He sat down at that instance. Perhaps, it would be good to heed to his brother's warning this time.
"Besides, he looks really exhausted these days. Why don't you let him take this opportunity to recuperate, instead of running off to confront him without giving him time to cool off?" Lan Xichen added another of his point of view.
"You're right, Brother." Lan Wangji agreed. The last thing he wanted for his lover right now was, more strain to his body and more stress to his mind. At this rate, the demonic cultivation might not even be the cause if Xiao Zhan's mental state turn into one of instability but the stressful life in Cloud Recesses might.
"On that note, Young Master Wei did appear as if he couldn't catch a proper restful sleep these days. Did he suffer from insomnia?" Lan Xichen pondered out loud, genuinely concerned of Xiao Zhan's wellbeing.
"..." Lan Wangji didn't say anything, avoiding eye contact.
"Oh..." Lan Xichen murmured softly in realization, noticing Lan Wangji's dubious countenance. He shook his head and tried to hide his amusement from his younger brother before telling him, "You should really let him rest. No wonder he was irritable and easily provoked."
He then looked at his brother with a teasing grin, "How much sleep did you get last night?"
"Three hours." Lan Wangji responded flatly.
"Ah, no wonder you are grumpy too." Lan Xichen remarked. He watched as his brother glared at him, clearly displeased. He laughed lightly to himself, thinking that his aloof and stoic younger brother had a different side to him compared to what others saw. He then urged the teen, "You should get some rest too, Wangji."
****
A/N: Real couple fight sometimes. ð¬