Archive of Our Own ^beta

“This isn’t the worst day of my life.” Wei Ying firmly told herself. She may have been sitting on the side of the street at 8.30 p.m. after having been forcibly disowned. She may also have nothing on her but her phone (which was rapidly bleeding battery life) and the clothes on her back but it still wasn’t the worst day of her life. 

With an almost comical clap of thunder it began to pour with rain.

"Ah, pathetic fallacy." Wei Ying muttered to herself. 

She made the executive decision to sprint out of the downpour into the small covered space under the awning of a closed shop and repeated to herself that it still wasn’t the worst day of her life. If she said it enough times the heavens would perhaps give up on changing her mind. 

Lighting flashed ominously. Thunder boomed. The rain was so thick it was practically opaque. 

Well…. It definitely wasn’t the best day of her life but it was still going to take more than a little rain to top her list of worst days. Wei Ying glowered at the sky. Still… the rain was incredibly rude.

She turned her considering gaze to her phone. She had 42% battery left and nowhere to stay for the night. It wouldn’t have been such a problem if she had been a little less scatter-brained (or rather distracted) and had managed to grab her bag while she was being kicked out. Unfortunately, when Madam Yu had told her to get out that instant in that voice she used when she was 1000% serious Wei Ying’s head had gone a little blank and every self-preservation instinct she had had been screaming to just leave. Like how a squirrel feels when faced with a dangerous predator. Like a hawk. Did hawks hunt squirrels? Wei Ying resisted the absolutely stupid instinct to use up valuable data and battery to google it. In other words she had excellent instincts that both recognised that Madam Yu was supremely dangerous and that resistance was futile when she was really angry. Wei Ying can't even remember what in particular she did this time to set her off but she definitely said something. 

She sighed, and alone in this dark alcove with not a single sign of life within a two hundred metre radius and the sound of the rain drumming against the ground, she allowed herself one deep shaky breath.

“Fuck.” She whispered, “Wei Wuxian you’ve really fucked this up. You’ve really fucked it up this time.”

Somehow it was strangely comforting to say it out loud.

She did it again.

“Wei Wuxian you stupid fucking idiot. Of course, it ended up like this. Of fucking course! You’re so fucking dumb! You know this would happen eventually! And now look where you are. Alone on the street in the rain with no money and no fucking idea of what to do.” She whispered the self-castigation and while it did feel a little better to let the bad feelings out somehow it didn’t make her feel as good as she thought it would.

“Okay Wei Wuxian. You’re not actually completely stupid so try and figure out what you’re going to do. If this was inevitable then what can you do? Not give up now that's what.” She muttered to herself, hand clenched hard around her phone.

Okay. She could always find some way to get back to Yilling where she was doing her PhD. The scholarship covered her tuition which meant that any meagre income she had picked up teaching undergrad classes and doing shifts at the coffee shop could all go towards her rent on the spare room in that very creepy house she had ended up living in. A strike against that plan was that her lease had ended a few days previously and like she had every other summer she had already packed up all her belongings and headed back to Lotus Pier to spend some time with the Jiangs at Jiang-shu shu's insistence. So even if she could get back to Yilling she didn’t have anywhere to stay. And no money currently to get a room. 

She bit her lip. Wen Ning and Wen Qing had both gone back to Dafan Mountain for the summer. She could always call them and beg for a place to stay. She was sure they wouldn’t say no even if she hadn’t done them that huge favour… that huge favour that had been one of the deciding factors to her disownment (not that she had ever been properly owned by the Jiangs, Madam Yu had always made very clear that she wasn’t exactly wanted around which was fine if a little detrimental at the current moment). 

“Get out! Fengmian and I have spoken and we have never regretted anything as much as taking you in a child! You repay out kindness with your shameless actions! Ungrateful wretch!”

Wei Ying had gotten out pretty sharpish.

Okay so options… she was limited by the fact that she didn’t have any money on her and therefore had no way to get out of Lotus Cove and go elsewhere even if she had somewhere to stay. At least she had walked far enough from the main part of the city in her sad daze that she didn’t think she was in danger of running into anyone who she was sure wouldn’t hesitate to throw her bodily out of the province at Madam Yu’s instructions.

She was pretty sure Uncle Jiang wouldn’t condone that kind of stuff (he wasn’t the mean type) and sure he hadn’t been there when Madam Yu had kicked her out but her sharp voice telling her “Fengmian and I” spun around her skull in a painful tattoo that just lined up to every stupid abandoned kid instinct she still harboured. Those stupid instincts had whispered for years that this wasn’t her family no matter what she thought and to not get too comfortable and y’know what? They were right. Stupid justifiable instincts. 

Well… at least now the other shoe had dropped. Nothing else could be sprung on her. Good to look at the silver lining. 

She considered her other options. She was sure if she asked (and made up some outrageous story to save everyone the embarrassment) Huaisang would also be quick to offer her his spare room or couch, but he was in Qinghe and that was even further than Dafan Mountain. And there weren’t any overnight trains out of the province this late even if she had the money to pay for a ticket. But still, the Wens and Huaisang. Two solid options. 

Shijie and Jiang Cheng…. If they had been around Wei Ying would have gone and begged some cash off them (pride and everything else be damned because at this point the priority was getting off Madam Yu’s radar and then wriggling into a hole to lick her wounds). Despite the fact that talking to them would be excruciating she would have done it, probably made up some story to save family strife, but she would have done it. Besides... her throat gets a little thick thinking of them and what they would have thought. Jiang Cheng had been a shade beyond angry when everything with the Wens had gone down but she could never forget the way he had actually stood up to Madam Yu for her. Shijie... shijie was perfect, an angel and Wei Ying would never be rained on with her around. 

Unfortunately, Jiang Cheng was in another country entirely on a work trip and Shijie was… happy in Lanling with Jin Zixuan (the worst man to walk the earth… well apart from Wen Chao. And Wen Xu. And Jin Guangshan.. okay the Peacock really isn’t that bad relatively speaking but the standard is so low its actually embarrassing) and the only thing Wei Ying can think of that would be more excruciating than going to beg them for money in person (though she could probably spin it in a way that was minimally embarrassing for all the parties involved; being regularly shameless had given her a lot of practice) would be calling them for money after being kicked out and having Jin Zixuan listening over Shijie's shoulder. Besides, what time is it wherever Jiang Cheng is? Who knows. She makes a (slightly shaky) vow to herself that if she still needs help by whatever time is Jiang Cheng's morning she'll bite the bullet and call him. Oh heavens and Shijie is pregnant! She doesn’t need the stress, it’s bad for the baby!

Oh god… do they already know? Has Madam Yu told them? She said she discussed it with Uncle Jiang… did she discuss it with shijie and Jiang Cheng too? The thought makes her want to throw up. Just a little, she feels sick and nauseous even though she logically knows that Jiang Cheng and shijie would never do that, but she's so furiously humiliated and hurt there’s nothing to do but stop thinking about it.

She probably would have kept thinking about it and melted her own brain if her phone hadn’t buzzed with a text. She’d turned her data off to conserve battery which meant she had expected precisely no messages. Who texts nowadays. She’s half-convinced it’ll be her favourite restaurant in Yilling texting her a promotional update but when she checks it’s not. It’s so much better. It’s a text that immediately distracts her from the queasy roiling in her stomach.

It’s Lan Zhan.

Wei Ying taps on the text and is transported to their (pretty meagre) existing text exchange.

They had first met as part of the orchestra during her undergrad degree when she was at Gusu University. A glorious four years where Wei Ying would relentlessly pester Lan Zhan and try to drag him to parties and be her friend to which effort he manfully resisted (though he still occasionally gloriously capitulated and spent one memorable house party standing stiffly by her side while she steadily got drunker and drunker and pestered him even more shamelessly than usual until he eventually left in a huff).

When she had left to do her masters and now PhD at Yilling they had kept in very sporadic contact. There had been that one time three years ago when Lan Zhan had been passing through Lotus Pier and had texted her out of the blue to ask if she was around. Wei Ying had all but shrieked with joy and had taken great pleasure in showing him all her favourite spots. For all that he had said he was just passing through on his way to Qinghe he had still stayed and indulged her for more than six hours. Wei Ying still looks back on that day fondly.

When Wei Ying had decided to accept the full ride scholarship for her masters at Yilling despite it being a… substandard institution compared to the prestigious Gusu (where she could have done it but she would have had to ask Uncle Jiang to pay and that was just out of the question no matter how many times he offered) Lan Zhan hadn’t questioned her like her other friends and even her siblings beyond one, “Wei Ying, why?” He had swallowed her lacklustre explanation and nothing had changed.

He had even visited Yiling once. It had been a completely out of the blue coincidence that she had bumped into him in the town centre when she was out with Wen Ning and Wen Qing’s adorable little cousin. She still chuckles to herself sometimes thinking of the look on his face when she had lied and said that A-Yuan was hers. And then the second disapproving look he had given her when she had been unable to sustain the prank due to her all but collapsing with laughter and being forced to lean heavily on him.

They had shared a lovely meal and then he had left, saying that like Lotus Pier he was just passing through. She had acted far more offended than she actually was over him not warning her he was visiting and had teased loudly and shamelessly about the way he was skulking around Yilling without even trying to see her, his dearest friend! Lan Zhan had left a little huffily and Wei Ying had almost laughed herself sick over it.

Their message exchange mostly consisted of her sending him random things she found funny and him replying with one-word answers. On the rarest of occasions she would receive an entirely unprompted message from him and when that happened she treasured them like the solid gold they were.

This time Lan Zhan had sent her an article about how numbers of people playing the dizi have gone up in recent years. Apparently traditional music is experiencing a revival.

Wei Ying looks down at the link and brief description of the article that Lan Zhan had painstakingly texted out in perfect form with no text speech or emojis.

She has the sudden urge to cry which is stupid.

Before she can second guess herself she hits call.

Her and Lan Zhan don’t call each other. That’s not the way their relationship works but for a moment there’s nothing she wants more than to hear the sound of his voice. They’ve seen each other less than a handful of times since the time they were in the orchestra together and Wei Ying has friends she sees on an almost daily basis but somehow Lan Zhan is suddenly the person she wants to talk to more than anyone else in the whole world at that moment.

Wei Ying bites her lip hard and tries not to second guess herself.

Lan Zhan picks up after less than one ring.

“Wei Ying?” His tone is questioning which makes sense because she has no idea why she called him.

“Ah Lan Zhan! I saw your message and suddenly was wondering what you were doing!” Wei Ying tries to inject as much false cheer into her voice as she can, “Can I not call one of my best friends to catch up?”

She must not sound convincingly cheerful because in reply Lan Zhan asks (in that careful way he does sometimes when they speak), “Wei Ying, are you alright?”

“Am I alright? Of course I’m alright! Why would you ask that?” There’s a flash of lightning and Wei Ying feels as though she needs to end the call asap before she does something utterly humiliating like start to cry, “Ahh Lan Zhan it must be near your bedtime now! I’m sorry. I know you sleep at nine, I’ll just go-“

Lan Zhan interrupts which usually would be cause for unthinkable glee because is Lan Zhan being rude but what he says just tips her closer to the edge of sobbing, “Wei Ying.” His voice is soft, “Do not go. What is wrong? Please tell me.”

“Ah Lan Zhan I-“ And Wei Ying’s voice cracks awfully and she can’t help the sobs at that point. She hates it. Hates herself for the weakness on the phone to Lan Wangji of all people. The best, most put together, most impressive person she knows. The person whose pity she could never handle.

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan’s voice is as panicked as it can be while also remaining soft and smooth, “I am here. What is wrong?”

“Lan Zhan.” She chokes out, her voice is a pathetic warble, “Lan Zhan.”

“Wei Ying. I am here.”

She sobs uselessly for who knows how much longer with the comforting sound of Lan Zhan’s even breathing in her ear. As usual Lan Zhan makes everything feel so much better. That’s the way it’s always been. Something about Lan Zhan feels… clean. The fact that he spends time with her, replies to her messages, sends messages of his own; all of that just makes her feel like an infinitely better person than she is because if the great Lan Wangji, peerless jade of Gusu, Hanguang-jun, likes her (even a little) than there must be something about her that’s worth the effort.

Eventually her crying tails off and with great effort she stops the little sad hiccups and pulls herself together.

“Sorry about that.” She tries to get back to the cheery tone she always uses with him, “That was so-“ Before she can try and salvage her dignity somehow Lan Zhan interrupts again. It must be some kind of unbelievable record.

“Wei Ying, what is wrong? If you feel comfortable telling me I would be open to listening. I would like to help.” That’s such classic Lan Zhan. So earnest. So good. The best. The best person who’s ever lived.

The words she should stay stick in her throat for a second, the words that run along the lines of “ah Lan Zhan it’s no big deal” followed by her hanging up, but she blames the fact that she’s still emotionally fragile and messed up on what she says next.

“I… Madam Yu kicked me out. And it’s not that big a deal! Like it’s fine! We all knew this day would come haha… but I left my bags and all my stuff there and I… can’t go back so I don’t have any money or any way to get out of Lotus Cove and I guess I don’t exactly have a place to stay right now but it’s not that bad I promise! I’m sure I can work something out.” Wei Ying trails off as the crushing weight of the situation presses down painfully on her again. Fuck it really does sound bad when she lays it out.

“Where are you right now?” Lan Zhan asks, voice very smooth and calm though… he sounds a little angry. She can’t imagine why. Ah, it’s probably because it’s definitely past his bedtime and she’s just been crying down the phone at him.

“Huh? Oh, I walked a bit away from Lotus Pier so I’m out the outskirts of Lotus Cove right now.”

“What is the street name?”

Wei Ying blinks but Lan Zhan’s voice has started to do that quietly confident take charge thing that he does sometimes. She personally finds its very difficult not to let him just get his way when he gets like that and to be honest she’s exhausted now so not really in the headspace to resist anyway.

She rattles off the street name (having to peer into the misty rain-soaked street to find it) and Lan Zhan makes a humming sound of acknowledgment.

“Wei Ying. Come to Gusu?” He asks and Wei Ying again blinks at that.

“Like… Cloud Recesses Gusu?” She confirms, “Lan ancestral lands and all that? You… are you asking me to come stay in Gusu?”

“Mn.” Lan Zhan confirms.

Huh.

Lan Zhan really is the best. He probably can find some random spare room at a cousin’s place or some apartment no one is using right now and because he’s the best person to ever live he’s giving her a place to stay. Besides, Lan Zhan is the current heir of the Lan clan with all the pull and power that entails since his brother took charge. She’s sure it would be no effort to find some distant relative willing to put up with her for a few days.

Wei Ying’s eyes well up again as the kindness hits her. Kindness always hurts this way. Pokes sharply at her vulnerable underbelly uncomfortably. But if it’s Lan Zhan’s kindness it’s a little easier to swallow because he’s just so good and just so... Lan Zhan.

“Ah, Lan Zhan you’re too good. I can’t accept. You’re too generous.”

“Please Wei Ying. It will ease my mind.” His voice is soft again.

Wei Ying wipes away a few of the tears that have escaped and quells a juddery sob.

“I guess if Lan-er-gege insists!” She tries to make her voice light again. She also tries to justify to herself that since Lan Zhan is the breed of good person whose mind really would be eased by helping her, she should accept if just for that.

She also has to admit that she has no other better options currently. “I’ll try and find a train to Gusu in the morning then. I’m not sure when they’ll start running but I’m sure I can weasel my way onto one.” That’s a worry for tomorrow. Once it’s morning she can maybe try and pawn the earrings she’s wearing? They’re not very nice but surely they’d be worth a one-way train ticket. Once she’s in Gusu… she’ll figure it out. Without her bank card or any ID it’ll be challenging to get into her account with its meagre savings but she’s sure she can work something out. She’s Wei Wuxian! She always lands on her feet.

Lan Zhan doesn’t answer for a second but then with a decisive noise he says, “No need. I have ordered you a car. The number plate is LN4723.”

Wei Ying chokes on her own spit before gathering herself enough to reply, “Lan Zhan! That’s way too much! It’s one thing finding me somewhere to stay but it’s hours in a car from here to Gusu! You can’t pay for a taxi-“

As she’s saying this the aforementioned car rolls up the street to stop at the exact spot she’s standing. To be fair it’s not as though there’s anyone else on this street so options as to who they’re meant to pick up are limited but how did they know- “Lan Zhan! Was that why you asked for the street name? You already ordered the car then?? I hadn’t even said I would go to Gusu!”

“Mn. Would have had the car take you where you would have chosen if not Gusu.”

“No Lan Zhan! This is too much! I’m… I mean I know I always say I’m your best friend but we’ve only seen each other a few times since university and this is way too generous for some random person! I really can’t accept!”

The (admittedly pretty fancy) car dawdles next to the little awning she is still ducked under and the driver doesn’t seem to be in danger of leaving while she argues with Lan Zhan over the phone.

“Wei Ying is not a random person. The weather forecast says it is raining in Lotus Cove. Please Wei Ying.” It’s the please that seals it. Wei Ying feels her every defence crumble as she leaves the safety of the awning.

“I… I suppose it would be a waste if I didn’t accept… but I’ll pay you back I promise!” Wei Ying assures him as she tugs open the door and all but falls into the car. She’s a little damp from the rain and her phone makes a little noise then to let her know she’s very low on battery, “You’re too generous!” She scolds as the car pulls away down the street, “You need to be careful; people will take advantage!”

“Mn.” Lan Zhan says in a tone that clearly means he’s not really absorbing the wisdom she’s imparting, “Wei Ying should get some sleep. The drive is several hours.”

“I… I guess so.” Wei Ying doesn’t know what to say, “I promise I’ll pay you back Lan Zhan.” She feels strangely helpless but also abruptly like a fat and happy chinchilla that’s been wrapped in a fresh dryer towel which make absolutely no sense as an analogy.

“No need. Go to sleep.” Is all Lan Zhan says in reply.

Wei Ying swallows thickly and after saying goodbye hangs up the call. The car has a dark interior with a privacy screen between her and driver. It’s a big car with a spacious backseat; perfect to sleep.

She sprawls herself over the cool leather, curling up into a ball and hugging herself. She feels… not as crappy as she did even an hour ago.

Despite that the sleep she falls into is uneasy.

*

“Lan-taitai? We are arriving.”

Wei Ying startles awake abruptly. Her mouth feels stale and her eyes are crusty. There’s a pretty bad crick in her neck from sleeping in the back of the car and she doesn’t know for how long the driver’s been trying to get her attention.

When she pokes her phone she realises its died completely. To be fair it’s an older model and already pre-owned when she had gotten it, but the battery truly is shitty beyond comprehension.

She levers herself up to sitting and looks out the tinted window to see a long curving driveway flanked by natural forest the car is currently travelling up. There’s a house at the end of the drive. It’s a traditional design but somehow manages to look vaguely modern.

Wei Ying decides she likes the curved roof and bright white terrace wrapping around the second story. It’s both at once understated and obviously extravagant. Wei Ying wonders who lives here. They must be both wealthy and important to have such a grand house in the Cloud Recesses. A member of the main family maybe? Oh heavens… Lan Zhan hasn’t found her a room in his Uncle’s house has he? She’s grateful of course but she thinks Lan Qiren would rather spit blood than have her living under his roof.

As the car pulls up alongside the house she sees that Lan Zhan is waiting outside. He looks perfect and pristine as always. Something in Wei Ying aches for how awful she must look. In the past twenty-four hours she’s been rained on, cried raw, slapped and made homeless (and not necessarily in that order). It's not vanity but rather the uncomfortable reminder of how above her in every way Lan Zhan sits. She’s sure her breath smells horrible which is a strange thing to be so concerned about in the face of everything else, but she’s decided to fixate on it so… that’s cool. She breathes hastily onto her palm and tries to sniff it but she must just smell stale in general because she doesn’t detect anything truly awful.

When the car comes to a stop Lan Zhan glides forward, but Wei Ying flings open the door and all but tumbles out before he can be any more gentlemanly and do something like open the door for her.

“Lan Zhan!” She says before he can say anything, “Thank you so much! I’ll pay you back I promise.” She assures to which he just frowns, “Ah, so whose house is this?” She asks quickly, trying to get rid of the sudden half-angry expression on his face, “Is it someone I know? I hope they don’t mind me staying. It’ll only be for a little bit I promise! I’ll be out of their hair before they know it.” She assures.

Lan Zhan just frowns harder before he turns to the driver, “Thank you for your service.” He says.

The driver nods, “A pleasure Lan-gogzi. Lan-taitai.”

Wei Ying opens her mouth to tell him she’s not a Lan (and what the fuck- definitely not married) but he’s already driving away.

“Huh. Where did he get the idea I was married from?” She questioned, absolutely bewildered, “I’m not wearing a ring and I don’t even look like a Lan. Do I Lan Zhan? Ah if only. I wish I had the Lan genes! All of you are so attractive it makes my eyes hurt!” She laughs a little and Lan Zhan hums before pushing a ceramic cup of perfectly steeped tea into her hands. She hadn’t even realised he was holding tea.

The thought of Lan Zhan making tea and coming outside to wait for her to arrive to give it to her makes her chest hurt. She clenches her hands on the hot porcelain as her eyes burn a little.

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan’s voice is once again back to its soft thing, “Would you like to come inside?”

Wei Ying manages a jerky nod and when Lan Zhan’s back turns to the entrance away from her she watches a single tear splash into the hot tea. She takes in a shaky breath as she follows and thanks her lucky stars that Lan Zhan doesn’t turn back around to watch her try to wrestle herself back into order.

She downs a large gulp of the tea to stave off any more of the stupid sobs in her chest. It’s good. A little bitter and medicinal in the way that all things in Gusu are, but it’s also light and most of all warm- punching down to her currently frozen centre and warming her to the tips of her fingers.

Lan Zhan leads her into the surprisingly modern interior, “I will show you to the guest room. You of course may take a shower if you wish and get some more sleep.”

“Ah yeah. What time is it anyway?” Wei Ying asks, “My phone is kind of dead.”

Lan Zhan hums, “It is five twenty a.m. I will try and find you a phone charger.”

Wei Ying laughs, “Ah don’t bother Lan Zhan, my phone is an actual brick. I doubt you have a centuries old charger for it just lying around.”

“May I?” Lan Zhan asks, polite as always.

Wei Ying shrugs and hands him her dead phone. He takes a look and then nods, “I will try and find a charger.” He repeats.

Wei Ying hums but doesn’t try and take her phone back. It’s useless right now away. Instead, she keeps both hands on the cup and follows Lan Zhan up the stairs to the guest room.

It’s gorgeous, white with pale blue accents; Gusu Lan colours. The thread count on the bed looks disturbingly high and the attached ensuite is light and bright with cool stone counters and is so clean it practically glows. The room overlooks the house’s inner courtyard and Wei Ying can’t help herself from rushing around a little excitedly and poking at things.

“It’s so nice! I swear this is like a super fancy hotel room! Ahhh look at the bed!” She can’t help but fling herself down onto the sheets. Everything smells faintly like sandalwood which is actually what Lan Zhan smells like and must be the smell of the incense that he burns regularly. It’s nice. Really nice. She decides that if the whole of the Cloud Recesses smells like this she might have to revaluate her opinion of Gusu being a sad land of no fun. 

When she looks back at Lan Zhan his face is… soft. She blinks but the expression doesn’t vanish.

“I will leave you to rest. I will be downstairs, if you need me you only need to call.” With another look back he leaves the room, closing the door on his way out.

Wei Ying blinks again feeling rather thrown for a loop. Lan Zhan has never been mean to her despite his coldness when they first met and he’s definitely not a bad person. He’s unequivocally a good person but she always got the sense she had only managed to sustain this relationship she had with him through extreme effort on her part (not that she minds). The way Lan Zhan has been treating her…. It’s a lot like the way you would treat someone if you actually properly liked them and cared about them- and not just a little bit.

Wei Ying can’t help but smile then. Big and bright into the softest pillow she’s ever felt.

Lying there she’s all of a sudden exhausted and all but tears off her clothes to crawl under the covers in just her underwear before passing out.

*

She wakes a little while later feeling very groggy but overall a thousand times more human.

In a half-daze she drags herself to the bathroom to wash up. With practically closed eyes she fumbles with the shower and is ecstatic to find the water pressure is absolutely gorgeous.

She stands there for several minutes just letting the warm water beat down on her and wash away what feels like an entire layer of awful grimy emotions. She’s then pleasantly surprised to find the shower pre-stocked with shampoo, conditioner and bodywash. All from a nice brand (far nicer than she could ever afford on her own) and scented like lotus flowers. Huh, she really lucked out! It’s such a happy coincidence that the guest room is stocked with bath products in her favourite scent.

She stumbles out of the shower to wrap herself in a thick fluffy towel before going over to the sink. On the countertop are lined up a variety of never-opened skincare items. Wei Ying peers at each of them. She doesn’t have a particularly complex skincare routine and that’s partly due to extremely lucky genetics and partly due to laziness but here there’s what looks like a whole fancy cosmetics store. There’s facewash, toner, eye-cream, face moisturiser and even SPF (which Wen Qing always lectures her to wear and which she never does).

There’s also a body lotion that matches the lotus scent in the shower and a toothbrush still in its wrappings with an unopened tube of toothpaste next to it.

Lan Zhan might just be the best host in the whole world. Or whichever random Lan lives here normally. If this is the way they stock the guest room just in case random people drop by… no wonder the Lan clan is known for their impeccable manners.

Wei Ying feels strangely indulgent as she washes her face and walks herself through the whole routine. She brushes her teeth which immediately makes her feel better and even moisturises her entire body. She smells divine and spends some time making faces at herself in the wide mirror naked just because. 

She eventually wraps the towel more securely around herself and exits to the bedroom.

There comes the issue of clothes, she realises, which she has completely neglected. Her own dirty clothes are still crumpled in a pile on the floor and she doesn’t even have any clean underwear.

She’s about to leave the room in just the towel to hunt down some clothes (she’s sure this house must have something spare) when she spots a small pile of white and grey on a chair by the window. When she investigates she finds a folded up white t-shirt, grey sweatshirt, grey sweatpants and white socks in a neat pile and pulls them on. Lan Zhan must have left these clothes for her. His thoughtfulness is starting to make her feel on the edge of a heart attack or stroke.

The clothing is thick and good quality and also smells slightly of sandalwood. She gives them an appreciative sniff. The clothes are obviously male and she rolls the waistband on the sweatpants twice but the sweatshirt is just right- big and cosy like a huge warm hug.

She happily leaves the room to go look for Lan Zhan now that she feels more alive. Plus she smells good and no longer looks like a recently resurrected corpse that someone has unsuccessfully tried to shove sentience into.

“Lan Zhan?” She calls as she wanders, “Lan Zhaaaaaaaan.”

“Wei Ying.” He answers her as she bounces into what looks like kitchen, just as beautiful and airy as all the rooms she's seen so far. The entire house has the same burnished wood, priceless huanghuali furniture, light coloured accents vibe and Wei Ying again has to ask.

“Lan Zhan.” She settles into leaning against the counter next to him and veering right into his personal space, “Whose house is this? You never answered before. It’s really nice! Honestly in the top five best fancy houses I’ve ever been to. Not that it has much competition to be honest. I hate the architecture in Lanling and the buildings in Qinghe aren’t exactly designed to look pretty you feel?”

Lan Zhan has been poking at something on the stove though he turns off the heat and gives her his full attention while she rambles. His eyes are very intense as he carefully scrutinises every inch of her. Honestly, it’s probably to make sure she really did shower and isn’t just dragging her gross, germy, unwashed body around polluting the atmosphere of the Cloud Recesses.

“This is my house.” Lan Zhan answers very simply, “I am glad to hear that Wei Ying likes it.”

Wei Ying blinks, mouth dropping open in a little o, “Whaaaat? This is your house? Ah Lan Zhan! You really don’t have to take me into your own home! Aiyo you need to stop being so generous! I’m so annoying! You don’t want to live with that!”

Lan Zhan is frowning now. He looks that very Lan Zhan mixture of angry and upset for no reason Wei Ying can understand.

“Wei Ying is not annoying. I do not mind Wei Ying living with me.”

Wei Ying is given a few more seconds to gape while Lan Zhan spoons what looks to be plain congee out of the pot on the stove into a bowl.

Lan Zhan looks at her a little questioningly, but she waves away his curiosity and instead exclaims happily over the little bottle of chili oil already sitting on the table.

“I never knew you liked spice!” Wei Ying exclaims as she drenches her meal, “I mean I know you don’t mind ordering it in restaurants when we’re together but this is a really good brand of chilli oil! You must be a real aficionado like me! Lan Zhan I’m really seeing new sides of you. Also,” She gestures with her spoon which is no doubt unspeakably rude, but Lan Zhan doesn’t even try and chide her. Instead he sits opposite her drinking tea and nudging her own cup towards her. “The guest room is fully stocked up! I was super impressed. There are more skincare items in there than I actually own! You really are the superior host Lan Zhan, ah not that there could be any doubt.” She ducks her head to eat then. The congee is good, no surprise that Lan Zhan is also a good cook. Well, of the blandest dish on earth, but still.

“Does Wei Ying not use those products?” Lan Zhan asked, a slight hint of anxiety on his face if she peered closely, “I simply purchased what the shop assistant advised me to.”

“No no! They’re all great! It’s more a reflection of my terrible skincare routine ha! Maybe in the time I stay here my skin will experience new life! In fact,” Wei Ying pokes at one of her cheeks, “I think it’s already a little softer than usual. Here, feel!”

She turns her cheek towards Lan Zhan and though his ears turn pink in that adorable way of his he still obligingly strokes the back of a finger over her skin. Wei Ying suppresses a shiver with great effort. Ugh, Lan Zhan also has perfect musician’s fingers. He really is too much, it's unfair! 

“But like I was saying,” Wei Ying continues, “You really know how to stock up for guests! I feel super jealous to whoever’s stayed in that room before and experienced the benefits of the fully stocked bathroom! I even moisturised my entire body, I’m living in luxury here!”

Lan Zhan’s ears have gone an even deeper shade of pink. But he manages to reply (though it’s a little stiffly), “No one else has stayed in that room. I purchased the items in preparation for Wei Ying’s arrival.”

Wei Ying blinks. Her mind is whirring. First of all, when they spoke and Lan Zhan invited her over it was kind of late late. Kind of very late for a Lan. Maybe shops in Gusu close later? It doesn’t seem likely considering the way the Lans are with their bedtimes and thousands of rules. And the Lan family is the founding family of Gusu but…. Wei Ying can’t quite get all the pieces of this to fit in her mind so instead she reverts back to her natural form.

“Lan Zhan!” She teases, “Who knew you had such good taste in bath products! How did you know lotus was my favourite scent? Any person would be lucky to have you as their husband.” She winks and Lan Zhan’s ears blush even more fiercely for a moment before he stiffens even more.

“I am glad that Wei Ying likes the scent.” He says and then takes her empty bowl away only to fill it back up and come back with it.

“Lan Zhaaan! You’re going to spoil me.” Wei Ying whines as she shovels down more congee.

“Good.” Lan Zhan says and Wei Ying chokes.

When she recovers from spluttering unattractively, she turns her whining up a few notches, “Lan Zhan! That’s not good! Spoiling people is bad! For example,” She casts around for an example, “Ah yes, how will you ever be a good father if you just spoil people all the time.” She gives a deep put-upon sigh, “Ah I suppose it will fall on me to be the disciplinarian lest I allow your children to grow up and turn into mini-peacocks. I would never have thought it would be possible for a Lan but with that attitude Lan Zhan I think the danger is very real!”

For some unfathomable reason Lan Zhan looks pleased as her words. “Eat.” Is what he says, nudging her refilled tea at her.

“Okay okay. Ah, so bossy Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying takes a long drink of tea, “How long was I asleep anyway?” She asks.

“It is just past ten a.m now. You did not sleep for too long.”

“Mmm. I feel way better Lan Zhan.” Wei Ying feels a sudden rush of… not embarrassment but suddenly everything hits her at once. Crying down the phone, being disowned, the queasy feeling in her stomach as she remembers it… Lan Zhan’s house is like a little oasis and in the past few hours since she called him she’s let Lan Zhan take control and happily slipped into the backseat.

She might be a little ashamed about it. She’s pretty sure she’s always managed to give Lan Zhan the impression that she was someone with… well if not her shit all the way together then at least most things figured out. At least someone impressive enough to be friends with (though that initial impressiveness has surely begun to dissipate as the years have gone on and her life had done a steady moonwalk into disrepute). 

“Lan Zhan…” She starts, she’s not quite sure how to phrase this and as a result ends up stalling while poking at the remains of her congee, “I’m sorry about last night. I didn’t mean to call you and just… cry all over you. Really- I wasn’t looking for you to drop everything and help me out as much as you did. I promise, I’ll pay you back for everything and be gone before you know it.”

When she risks a look at Lan Zhan’s face she finds him frowning even more than before, “No need. Wei Ying does not need to pay me back nor does she need to go. Wei Ying may stay here as long as she wishes.”

The kindness pokes at something vulnerable and squishy inside of her. It’s a little painful but also immensely pleasurable. She resists the urge to squirm. “Lan Zhan I can’t take advantage of you like that.”

“Wei Ying is not taking advantage. Wei Ying is welcome to stay.” Lan Zhan argues back with all that grace she both loves and hates in him. He speaks every word like it’s a fact and from the years of knowing him Wei Ying knows that Lan Zhan does not lie. He’s been telling the truth this entire time.

Wei Ying swallows heavily. The kindness is a bit like a big boulder crushing her chest. But in a good way? Is there a good way to describe something so weighty and comforting in its pressure? She remembers the sappy movies she used to watch with shijie as a kid where women were all meant to be rescued and looked after. Wei Ying had scoffed at that as a kid but... there's something so comforting in letting herself be caught by Lan Zhan. In falling and letting Lan Zhan (upright, trustworthy, kind to the core) break her fall. She doesn't think she would be able to accept help from anyone else. Only if it's Lan Zhan. 

It has to be Lan Zhan. 

“Okay.” Is all she manages to get out before taking another huge gulp of tea to wash away the feelings, “But if I start to get annoying tell me, I’ll be gone before you know it.”

“No need.” Lan Zhan says.

Wei Ying wonders if she can tell him to turn around for a second so she can release at least a few of the tears that are threatening to spill.

*

Lan Zhan tours her around the house later. It really is lovely and also seems like way too much space for just one person. Wei Ying jokes about that and how he would surely have gotten lonely without her there to liven the place up and Lan Zhan gives a very ambiguous “Mn” that Wei Ying decides to interpret as “Yes Wei Ying, my best friend and person who understands me best, I truly am locked in a cage of solitude of my own making and will slowly waste away without you here to add interest to my life”.

Lan Zhan leads her outside the back of the house to a grassy area where the boundary seems to melt into the gorgeous wooded mountains that make up the majority of the Cloud Recesses estate. Wei Ying has visited Gusu before, she’s even been to Caiyi town with the Jiangs, but she’s only ever seen photos of the mountains the Lan family traditionally reside in.

That’s when Wei Ying spots the rabbits. With a squeal she launches herself forward to grab one only for it to run away.

“Come back!” Whines Wei Ying as she lunges after the escaping animal. “Lan Zhan! You have rabbits!” She pauses in the chase to turn back to Lan Zhan who is watching in that way that denotes amusement from him. “Wait a second… Lan Zhan! Are these the rabbits I got you at university? In first year? You kept them!” Her eyes widened and she beamed.

Lan Zhan mned softly, “There are more rabbits now.”

Wei Ying laughed, “You’re telling me! You have a whole gang of them out here! A herd of rabbits!” She once again tries to pick one up only for it to scramble away and hop over to nuzzle at Lan Zhan’s leg. He bends down and picks it up gently while Wei Ying loudly whines at the betrayal.

He walks up and offers her the rabbit’s soft fur to pet. Wei Ying hurumphs but strokes a gentle hand down its back, “Y’know Lan Zhan, this one’s pretty plump and you do have a whole back garden full of rabbits… how do you feel about having rabbit stew later? I’ll cook.”

Lan Zhan looked so comically affronted she couldn’t help but laugh, taking her hand off the rabbit to clutch at Lan Zhan’s arm to stay upright, “Lan Zhan your face! Hahaha! Oh I’m dying!”

“Wei Ying should not die.” Was Lan Zhan’s reproachful response which only made Wei Ying laugh harder.

“Ah never change.” She said once she had laughed hard enough to leave her stomach sore, “I haven’t laughed that well in months!” And was it just her imagination or did Lan Zhan seem slightly smug at that statement.

As Wei Ying followed Lan Zhan back into the house she kept pestering him, giving into every instinct she didn’t realise she still had after all these years. Lan Zhan was surprisingly indulgent.

They ended up back in what looked to be the main room, a large and airy space with big sliding doors that were opened up onto the inner courtyard, letting a cool refreshing breeze through. Wei Ying darted around, testing the softness of the furniture and looking in all the drawers she could find. The entire time Lan Zhan sat there and watched her without a word of reproach. There wasn’t anything particularly interesting anyway. If she had thought Lan Zhan was the kind of guy to hide… sex toys or dead bodies or anything else incriminating in the drawers of his sitting room side-table she was sorely disappointed.

Finally Wei Ying tired herself out with her snooping and retreated to sit by Lan Zhan.

“Also,” She started, plucking slightly at the sweatshirt she was wearing, “Don’t tell me these are also your clothes! I mean, who else’s clothes could they be but still you’re really showing me up Lan Zhan, being so good and generous…. My little heart can’t take it.” She pretends to swoon into his side dramatically and is fully prepared for him to shove her off like she did with her more ridiculous poking and prodding during university.

He doesn’t push her off.

In fact, Lan Zhan seems perfectly happy to let her drape herself over his shoulder.

Well… that’s… a change of pace?

Wei Ying feels strangely caught in the moment. She doesn’t want to concede defeat and get off of him immediately (she was good at making Lan Zhan uncomfortable, not the other way around!) but she’s not sure she can continue leaning into his side this way. Together side by side on the couch when there’s no one around it feels a little too… intimate?

Wei Ying reminds herself that she’s literally wearing Lan Zhan’s clothes sitting in his house. Oh but that reminds her…

“Hey Lan Zhan do you have any spare underwear?” The man in question chokes, his ears beginning to burn up, “I know it’ll be guy’s underwear so it won’t really fit.” And now she’s desperately curious about what kind of underwear Lan Zhan wears, “But I didn’t really show up with anything but the clothes on my back so I’m kind of lacking clean underwear.”

“You may order yourself some.” Lan Zhan says sounding like he’s choking which may be one of the most undignified tones she’s ever heard from him. Ha, turns out the way to crack Lan Zhan nowadays isn’t through physical contact but through talking about underwear. That’s good to know.

He all but thrusts his phone at her, opened to one of those department store websites, in a gesture clearly meant to indicate that she’s meant to just order what she wants.

“Aiya Lan Zhan! What did I say about taking advantage?” She scolds once more, trying to give the phone back while he dodges those attempts, “You can’t just give me free reign!”

“Is Wei Ying planning on taking advantage?” Lan Zhan asks and Wei Ying’s mouth drops open because…. Is Lan Zhan teasing?

It kind of throws her for a loop. Turns out the way to crack Wei Ying is for Lan Zhan to tease her back.

The smile of pure delight curls onto her lips, “Lan Zhan! You can’t turn my words against me! For shame!”

“Mn.” A barely there smile hooks onto the corner of Lan Zhan’s mouth. Wei Ying wants to expire with joy.

Before she can say anything else he taps insistently at the phone in her hand, “Please Wei Ying. I do not want you to be deprived.”

Wei Ying concludes that there must be a part of perfect proper Lan Zhan that is desperately uncomfortable at the thought of her traipsing around his house without underwear on. Okay she’ll take one for the team and buy some underwear on Lan Zhan’s dime to stop offending his sensibilities.

“Okay okay Lan Zhan. But I promise to pay you back! You need to start making a note of what I owe you.” She says as she taps into the underwear section of the store.

Holy shit this stuff is nice. Like what fucking store is this? She knows Lan Zhan has family wealth in that casual “generational-everything-I-own-is-nice” way. All these clothes lowkey cost more than her rent on the room in Yilling. The Jiangs are wealthy too but Wei Ying always felt way too awkward to tap into that once she hit a certain age and that feeling had only grown exponentially in the past few years.

“Ah Lan Zhan this is a little pricey, I’m just gonna go to a different website.”

Lan Zhan looks about to say something but restrains himself and gives a regular little “Mn.”

Wei Ying taps away and finds a cheaper website where she shoves a multipack of panties in her size and a bralette (she can’t try it on so bras are a little suspect with the sizing and all that) into her basket and then passes the phone back to Lan Zhan so he can put his card details in.

Once that’s done of course her brain goes back to why she doesn’t have any underwear and its little like a painful cloud settles over her.

“Ah Lan Zhan,” She starts and isn’t sure what to say next, “I… did you manage to find a charger for my phone?”

Once her phone is charged she’ll no longer be cut off from the outside world in Lan Zhan’s beautiful house. Once her phone is charged she’ll have to actually deal with what happened. The thought of having to talk to Jiang Cheng or shijie or Uncle Jiang makes her want to both curl into a ball on Lan Zhan’s fancy couch and never uncurl like one of those roly-poly pill bugs she used to catch in the woods as a kid.

Lan Zhan must notice the abrupt change in her mood because he places a hand on her shoulder. She thinks it might be one of the first times Lan Zhan has voluntarily touched her first. He’s really displaying a whole new side of himself. Maybe it’s part of being in his own house?

“I am here.” He says.

He had said the same thing on the phone the night before and to tell the truth she does find it an immensely comforting thought that Lan Zhan is here. Solid and steady at her side. Maybe she shouldn’t rely on someone else this much but Lan Zhan has been so amazing the past twelve-ish hours since she spontaneously called him that she can’t help but sink into it. Besides Lan Zhan wouldn’t leave her in the lurch- he’s way too good a person for that no matter what happens.

“Thanks Lan Zhan.” She replies and can’t help the way her voice is a little brittle, “I really do appreciate it.”

“I ordered a charger for your phone. It should arrive later. You may also make any calls you wish to on my phone.” He offers.

Wei Ying nods, “Thanks. I… it’s okay for now Lan Zhan. I would prefer to see what everyone’s saying to me before I hit them up.”

Lan Zhan frowns at that, “Jiang Wanyin and Jiang-guniang surely do not approve of what happened?”

Wei Ying shrugs, “I don’t know. They weren’t there but Madam Yu said-“ The words are a little too painful to recall but she forces herself to do it anyway though she can’t quite bring herself to repeat them to Lan Zhan, “She made it clear that I should stay away.”

Lan Zhan does that angry frowny thing, “She should not-“

“It’s not a big deal! I knew this was gonna happen. Like Uncle Jiang never officially adopted me or anything. I was just this random kid who lived with them. It’s fine, to be honest since… the whole thing with the Wens that happened, or maybe since they took me in, I’ve been kinda waiting for this.”

Lan Zhan still looks stiff but instead of saying anything else about her unfortunate life he simply nods. “I will make some lunch. Wei Ying should make a list of things that she needs, I will procure the items for you.”

“Lan Zhan seriously, you’ve already been so good I don’t want you to get me anything else, seriously.” Wei Ying feels as though she’s about to expire in the face of Lan Zhan’s generosity. Has he always been this generous? Wei Ying thinks…. Maybe? Maybe it hadn’t been as obvious before when she wasn’t so financially unstable and the monetary gap between them didn’t feel like a gulf the way it does now. Although right now the circumstances are pretty exceptional in that Wei Ying literally has nothing to her name.

Suddenly the thought of having to think about everything is so debilitatingly exhausting that she wants to just curl up and go to sleep.

“My PhD research and outline are all saved onto the university intranet thing.” She says, more out loud to herself than to Lan Zhan but he stays and listens anyway, “So I don’t really need my actual laptop, piece of shit as it is, back. I can also always cancel my cards and order new ones. My ID is gonna be a bitch to replace but I’m sure there’s a way of doing that.” Still, thinking about it isn’t inspiring her with confidence, “I can live without my clothes and whatever. So… yeah. I don’t really need anything I don’t think. Uh,” She turns her pleading gaze on Lan Zhan, “Could I borrow your computer to do work on and answer emails sometimes? I swear I won’t take up too much of your time.”

Lan Zhan nods, “You do not need to ask. I will get it for you now.”

“No!” Wei Ying lunges forward and manages to grasp the edge of one of his sleeves. “You need to stop being so accommodating right now! I insist! Lan-er-gege needs to grow a spine!” And wow, that’s something she had never pictured herself saying to Lan Zhan.

Lan Zhan gives her a funny look. Probably because she just suggested he grow a spine.

“If you’re gonna cook anyway I wouldn’t mind some lunch.” Wei Ying manages to say while lowkey feeling like a tool because Lan Zhan is being so nice and it’s kinda painful.

Lan Zhan nods slowly but he loses the funny look and walks away to the kitchen.

Wei Ying collapses back onto the couch feeling a little like she’s run a marathon and her heart still hadn’t recovered.

Talking to Lan Zhan is hard. She’s always wanted to think they’re close (against all evidence and the opinions of the people around them) but Lan Zhan is being so above and beyond nice to her right now. So nice that’s its skipped accommodating and done the cha cha slide right into indulgent, and she has no idea what to do. Her image of Lan Zhan is still (even now) slightly fixed in that early university days image of him; stoic, glaring at everything that moved, and shrugging off her loud company and teasing with nothing more than a hissed “ridiculous” or “shameless.” Honestly, the time she managed to make him break and he told her to “Get lost!” was maybe one of the proudest moments of her life.

When she compares the images of the two Lan Zhans in her head she comes out feeling a little stumped. When had Lan Zhan changed? How had she not noticed? Is their relationship really so different now?

All this thinking is making her pretty tired so she ends up lying back on the couch and closing her eyes for just a second.

When she wakes up she’s covered by a blanket and the light outside is a little dimmer.

Wei Ying feels that strange “Where am I? What’s going on? What day is it?” awareness that you get when you wake up somewhere new. She’s had it a few times, like after the first night in Yilling or those weird days when she was in Qishan dealing with… Wen stuff or even after a real rager in those early days of uni when she’d wake up on some randos couch. Those are better memories.

She blinks a little, yawning and stretching like a cat to try and shake off the tiredness. Why the hell is she so tired anyway? She’s been sleeping so much today. It’s weird.

Wei Ying sits up and finger combs her hair which honestly just pucks clumps of it out. She’s now stuck with a little hairball in her hand and gets up to look for a bin so she doesn’t just drop into onto the floor of Lan Zhan’s perfect sitting room.

She makes her way back to the kitchen (confident that there’s a bin in there) and is proven right. After disposing of her little hairball she isn’t sure what to do for a second. Lan Zhan is obviously somewhere in the house, she’s not sure how long she slept for, but should she really go bother him? He presumably has something to do with his days that don’t involve having her follow him around and yap at him. Maybe he had been okay with that during their undergrad degree, but their lives had moved on.

Case in point: Wei Ying being unceremoniously ordered out of the Jiang’s house. She winced a little as the thought hit again but somehow she felt a world of better. Lan Zhan’s house was all good vibes and feng shui and the man himself was so… good. Wei Ying had of course always known that but it was never more apparent than right now when he had basically saved her from a night on the streets and seemed determined to keep helping.

Wei Ying’s stomach growled and she turned towards the fridge in search of food. Because this was Lan Zhan she found her uneaten lunch neatly labelled with her name and even how long to put it in the microwave for.

Wei Ying wanted to cry again and that wasn’t cool. Lan Zhan needed to stop being so accommodating or she was going to drop firmly into “kindness overdose- mental breakdown pending” and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

*

Lan Zhan found her after she had finished eating and was washing out the bowl and cutlery she had used.

“You do not need to wash up.” He informed her and Wei Ying rolled her eyes so hard she thought they were going to pop out of her head.

“Lan Zhaaaan. Remember what I said about growing a spine? I can’t believe I even have to say this to you but it looks like the situation is desperate.” She sighed in faux exasperation.

“Wei Ying is a guest.” He countered, “Therefore she does not need to do household tasks.”

“Oh yeah? Well you said I could stay as long as I liked and I think that makes me more of a housemate than a guest. A guest stays for a determinate amount of time whereas a housemate is more of a nebulous indefinite thing.” Wei Ying argued back, “So there! I can wash as many bowls as I want!” With great equanimity she placed her freshly washed bowl on the drying rack.

When she turned back to Lan Zhan to either continue her point or lord her victory if he had conceded she found him with that small smile he sometimes wore.

“I am pleased Wei Ying has decided to stay.” He said, all soft like her staying was making his deepest dreams come true which Wei Ying knew couldn’t be right. In less than a week his house would be a mess with her here.

“Well… okay then.” It really wasn’t the best reply but a smiling Lan Zhan was way too much.

“While you were asleep.” Lan Zhan continued, “Your phone charger was delivered.” He left the room for a second and returned with a little cardboard package.

Wei Ying stared at the package in Lan Zhan’s hands.

It was dumb to feel apprehensive. Her phone was her connection to the world outside this little Lan oasis. Once she had her phone fully charged there would be people she would have to talk to. Things she would have to do. She didn’t think she was ready.

“You do not have to charge your phone if you do not want to.” Lan Zhan said, his voice was closer than before. When Wei Ying removed her fists from pressing into her eyes (and when had she done that) he was standing right in front of her.

“I… I don’t want to. Is that dumb? I just… I don’t want to have to deal with everything.” Wei Ying gave a rather brittle laugh, “I’m such a coward.”

When she snuck a look back at Lan Zhan he was frowning, “You are not a coward. Wei Ying does not have to speak to anyone if she does not wish. You do not owe anything to anyone.”

Wei Ying laughed and it was a little lighter. There was something about the way Lan Zhan spoke- the complete certainty that when combined with his unimpeachable morals made everything he said sound like pure fact. If Lan Zhan said it, it must be true, and she was going to shamelessly take advantage of that.

“Apart from you right?” She couldn’t help but tease, “Lan-er-gege has been so good letting me stay in his house and buying things for me. What could I do to repay his kindness hmm?” She held back a laugh with great effort but knew that her eyes were dancing with amusement.

Lan Zhan turned his face away from her sharply and she noticed (with delight) that his ears were a deep blushy red, “Ridiculous.” But it came out as more of a mumble than a sharp rebuke.

“Ah Lan Zhan! No need to be so restrained!” Wei Ying leaned into his space even more, “Whatever you want from me I will endeavour to give you! I’m entirely at your mercy!”

And okay, that must have been her imagination, because for a second she could have sworn an expression had crossed his face that was kind of… hungry? But it faded just as fast so she couldn’t be sure.

“Wei Ying does not have to do anything to pay me back.” Lan Zhan takes a breath and Wei Ying wonders (fascinated) what he’s going to say next, “I enjoy Wei Ying’s company.”

Wei Ying’s eyes widen and she all but shrieks with delight. This is amazing. She can maybe even stand the awful pain of being sort of disowned if this is her prize!

“Lan Zhan!” She beams, “Are you saying we’re friends? Best friends? Am I your favourite person? Apart from your brother of course.”

Lan Zhan’s ears might burn off but he nods, “Mn.”

Wei Ying can’t help how big her smile has become. After a moment she sighs and then nods, “Thanks Lan Zhan. I mean… I know I should get my phone and get back to the outside world but… thanks.”

“You may have some time. You do not have to do everything right away. And,” Here he pauses again (as she has noticed Lan Zhan has started to do before he says something emotionally devastating), “I will be here.”

Wei Ying can’t help the way her smile softens, “Okay then. Thanks Lan Zhan. You really are the best.”

*

With Lan Zhan’s tacit approval Wei Ying does not charge her phone. Instead the charger and the dead phone take up residence on a side table in the sitting room- ready for Wei Ying to take the plunge but not so in the way that she’s always reminded of it.

Besides she’s too busy revelling in the benefits that being Lan Zhan’s (now admitted) best friend bring.

Lan Zhan is fun.

Look, Wei Ying has always known Lan Zhan was fun- but it was in more of a “his reactions are fun! Teasing him to make him blush is fun! He’s surprisingly kind and thoughtful and I like how he listens to what I say type of fun”. But now Wei Ying has actual proof that Lan Zhan is fun.

She’s always known he was funny but now that she’s living in his house, she of course has to force him to watch all her favourite TV shows and movies. And Lan Zhan’s running commentary when she prods him has her in stitches. She has to beg him to stop talking at times because he’s too funny and she might just bust a gut. Who would have thought? Wei Ying begging Lan Zhan to stop talking.

Lan Zhan is also up for doing whatever random stuff she wants. He’s practically given her his laptop and since he has a desktop that he tells her he uses way more and even proves to her he uses she leaves it alone and gratefully accepts the laptop. Honestly using a computer where the keystrokes don’t lag and it’s not in danger of crashing at any moment is a luxury she won’t take for granted. Her last laptop (now probably thrown at the bottom of a dumpster by Madam Yu RIP for its years of service) was a nightmare and the reason why she has everything saved onto the university portal since she had lost precious research at least three times because of its strange whims.

They made boba that afternoon because she had been craving it. Lan Zhan had ordered tapioca flour and before she knew it they had spent a few hours hand crafting the pearls and making the milk tea and it was maybe some of the most fun she could remember having recently.

When she had gone to take a shower after (tapioca flour in her hair) she hadn’t been able to stop the happy squirming in her stomach. She’d always loved spending time with Lan Zhan and she can remember getting that happy jolt in her stomach when he would pay attention to her all the way back at the beginning of their acquaintance. But unlike the very beginning now Lan Zhan openly seems to like spending time with her too!

Honestly Wei Ying might be getting (very) a little spoiled with all his attention.

*

“Hey Lan Zhan!”

“Mn.” Lan Zhan calls back from where he’s reading on the sofa.

Wei Ying is sitting on the floor at the coffee table with the borrowed laptop in front of her and her scribbled notes spread out around her. “Can you think of another word for inevitable? Like a fancy word too. I’ve already used it once and I want this article to sound, y’know, smart and official.”

Lan Zhan considers it deeply, “Inexorable?” He eventually offers.

“You’re a genius. I love you.” Wei Ying declares before turning back to the article. A few more edits and a proofread and she sends it off to her professor to be approved before they’ll submit it to the journal for publishing.

Having the laptop also means that she can access her University email which is useful because her professors were kind of wondering where she had vanished to for a few days considering usually she’s glued to her work.

“All done! Lan Zhan what’re we gonna make for dinner?” Wei Ying asks then, leaning her head on her hand,

“I was thinking we could try mapo tofu.” Lan Zhan tells her as he slides a bookmark (an actual bookmark! This man uses real bookmarks and doesn’t either dogear the pages or shove random receipts in to mark his page!), “I have not made it before but I do not think it will be too challenging.”

“Oooh! I love mapo tofu! How did you know?” Wei Ying bounces up.

“Wei Ying tends to enjoy most dishes with too much spice.” Lan Zhan says rather dryly as they make their way to the kitchen.

“For shame Lan Zhan! There is no such thing as too much spice!” Wei Ying declares while waving a finger at him.

“Mn.” Is Lan Zhan’s only response.

Wei Ying laughs again and helps him in gathering the ingredients. She’s been at Lan Zhan’s for over a week now, completely cut off from the outside world apart from the few professors who bother to email her and she kind of loves it. She feels weirdly… settled. And it helps that she’s never eaten or slept as well or as regularly as she does in Lan Zhan’s house. For once all the frantic energy inside of her feels like it’s calmed a little. There’re no responsibilities or worries and even if something happens she knows she’ll have Lan Zhan by her side with his steady, unwavering support. 

“Hey Lan Zhan.” Wei Ying ventures, nudging him a little as they stand side by side in the kitchen, “You’re great, y’know that right?”

Lan Zhan turns to her and gives her a very soft look, “Wei Ying is also great.”

She has to bury her face in her hands then to prevent herself from combusting at the certainty in his tone.

They finish making dinner without any more intense declarations and are sitting at the dining table eating in silence (well Lan Zhan is mostly silent, Wei Ying is loud as always) when there’s the sound of the doorbell ringing.

Wei Ying starts curiously, the doorbell has rung before various times, mostly for deliveries and the like but never this late.

Lan Zhan gets up and she follows him to the door. “Who do you think it is?” She asks as she trails him, “Long-lost son? A witch seeking shelter from the cold? Ooh! A mafia boss you wronged here to take revenge? Don't worry Lan Zhan, if it's the last one I'll protect you.”

Lan Zhan gives her his driest look and doesn’t dignify what she says with a response.

When he opens the door it’s at an angle so Wei Ying is slightly concealed. She wonders if that’s on purpose.

“Xiongzhang.” Lan Zhan greets Lan Xichen.

“Wangji.” His brother replies warmly, “I just returned from Qinghe. How are you- oh!” He spots Wei Ying leaning out from behind Lan Zhan, “I did not know Wei-guninag was here. Good evening.” He smiles at her with that patented “really nice friendly puts everyone at ease” smile that he must have perfected in the womb; it’s that good. In fact it seems even turned up a few notches from the way she's seen him before. 

 

“Zewu-jun.” Wei Ying smiles back, using his title because she is nowhere near close enough with Lan Xichen to call him by even his courtesy name. Besides, she’s pretty sure he doesn’t dislike her but that was before she started living in his little brother’s house and taking advantage of his kindness so… yeah good impressions and perfect manners are necessary. “How are you? Oh come in! Lan Zhan, you can’t just leave your brother to languish on the doorstep.” She play-scolds as she shoves Lan Zhan to open the door wider, “Where’s your filial piety?” She ushers a bemused looking Lan Xichen inside.

“Thank you Wei-guniang.” Lan Xichen is still smiling at her, “How long have you been staying with my brother for?”

Wei Ying hums, “I think… just over a week?”

“Eight days and nine nights.” Lan Zhan answers immediately.

Wei Yings blinks, “Wow. That sounds longer than it feels to be honest.”

“Ah.” Something in Lan Xichen seems to have relaxed though Wei Ying has no idea what or why, “I see. That’s good.”

Wei Ying wants to say something like, “It is? Why do you think its good?” But doesn’t because she’s not sure what Lan Xichen would say and isn’t certain she knows where this conversation is going to go.

“Xiongzhang, Wei Ying will be staying with me for as long as she wishes. I would say it would be at least until the university term starts in late September.”  Lan Zhan looks very placid as he says it but Wei Ying chokes a little (as she seems to keep doing).

“Lan Zhan! That’s months away! You- ugh! I told you to stop being so generous. You’re ripe for being ripped off you know.” She pokes at his arm, “I bet you’re terrible at bartering at markets huh?”

“If the price requested is one I am able to afford then why should I not pay the proprietor the amount they value their goods for?” Lan Zhan asks and Wei Ying groans dramatically.

“Zewu-jun!” She gives him a serious look, “You need to keep a watch on your brother! He’s in grave danger and doesn’t even seem to realise it! I can only watch him so much, you need to do your fair share to make sure he doesn’t end up drained dry by some opportunistic person.”

“I will make sure to take that into consideration Wei-guniang.” Lan Xichen’s smile has only widened watching the way Lan Zhan seems entirely unable to stand up for himself.

“Aiyo Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying throws her hands up, “You need to defend yourself! I’m here slandering your good name to your very own brother and you’re not even trying to fight back.”

Lan Zhan just looks at her very placidly with his “super-chill I am a Daoist god of tranquillity or something similar” expression.

Wei Ying sighs and has to look away, “Lan Zhan… I’m grateful and I promise I’ll pay you back for everything you’ve done for me but I really can’t just stay with you forever. I promised I’d be out of your hair soon. In fact I’ll leave before next week.”

Lan Zhan reaches out and suddenly grabs her hand. Wei Ying blinks as she looks at the way his fingers are clenched almost desperately around hers, “No need. Wei Ying does not have to leave.” He says and he sounds… not pleased? In fact he sounds almost panicked. Wei Ying has no idea what is going on.

Lan Xichen clears his throat delicately, “Ah Wei-guniang, my brother thinks very highly of you, it should not surprise you that he would want to be able to spend time with and support you at this time.”

“I mean, I know Lan Zhan is like the best person to ever live, so obviously he would want to help me out. Altruism is the basis of at least a thousand of the Lan rules anyway.” Wei Ying tries a laugh but it comes out a little weird, “But I don’t want to be a burden. Really Lan Zhan, it’s a miracle you haven’t kicked me out already.”

“No.” Lan Zhan’s answer is as fast as it is firm. He grabs her other hand and Wei Ying wonders if she’s having qi deviation like on those xianxia style shows. “I would never ask Wei Ying to leave. Never.”

Lan Zhan doesn’t lie. It’s a big Lan rule and more than that a big Lan Zhan rule. Wei Ying has never heard him utter even the smallest white lie. That means he’s deadly serious.

Oh god what is happening??

“Well… what about your reputation!” Wei Ying wonders why she’s trying so hard to convince Lan Zhan to kick her out, it’s not like she wants to leave but she feels this need to keep pushing. To push Lan Zhan until he does it just so she knows he will. Lan Zhan can’t honestly want her around, he’s Lan Wangji. Peerless second jade of Gusu. People call him Hanguang-jun because of his commitment to justice and so on! This is ridiculous! He needs to start thinking properly! “You can’t live with me! I have a terrible reputation and you’ll just damage your own by living with me, people will say all kinds of stuff.”

Lan Zhan just stiffened further and got that angry look again. Before he could say anything Lan Xichen stepped in with all the diplomacy he was famed for.

“Wei-guniang, while your concerns about Wanji’s reputation are… thoughtful, it is unnecessary. I am sure no one would dare to besmirch my brother’s helping you.” The man then gave an entirely terrifying smile. Wow, yeah Wei Ying was not getting on his bad side. At this point she felt more sympathy for the people trying to besmirch Lan Zhan’s perfect reputation.

“Uh… okay.” Was what Wei Ying managed to get out.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan seemed to turn something over in his mind, he was still clutching her hands and overall this was distressingly intimate. His thoughtful expression became frustrated like he wasn’t sure how to say what he wanted to say, despite that he still gave it a go, “You are always welcome here. I would be… unhappy if you decided to leave.”

He was distressingly sincere. This entire situation was giving Wei Ying… well not whiplash but something similar. Like a very nice emotional punch to the face.

Wei Ying had always been good at pushing through the emotions to reassimilate into daily life unscathed though so she rallied hard, “Well we can’t have that!” She declared as cheerfully as she could, “Lan Zhan’s emotional well-being is my number one priority.”

“Mn.” Lan Zhan seem mollified by the answer though he still hadn’t let go of her hands. Wei Ying had always loved Lan Zhan’s hands with their long instrument calloused fingers, and delicate wrists. Lan Zhan probably had the nicest hands out of everyone she had ever met. But still, this was a little… much.

“Ah Lan Zhan… you can let go now.” She suggested.

Lan Zhan’s ears did the blushy thing again but he was pretty slow to let go of her hands.

“So,” Wei Ying rallied from that whole scene, turning to Lan Xichen, “Zewu-jun would you like some tea? If you were travelling you probably haven’t seen Lan Zhan for a bit so you guys should catch up! I’ll go make tea.” She then made a swift escape to the kitchen.

Wei Ying felt emotionally poleaxed. Not that she thought Lan Zhan would ever be the type to prioritise his reputation over helping other people, Lan Zhan was way too good for that and he barely cared what other people thought (not that Hanguang-jun had to care what other people thought about him).

Wei Ying boiled the water as she considered what her long-term plans were going to be. The appearance of Lan Xichen had reminded her that the outside world did exist and that world was one that didn’t particularly like her. Or at least she wasn’t sure if they liked her or not. It would be stupid to think that everything that happened could ever stay quiet. And Madam Yu kicking her out would only lend more credence to the other rumours, not that it mattered anyway. Everyone already believed all of it. She had made sure everyone would believe it, it was better that way. 

Wei Ying leaned over and propped her chin on the cool counter.

Eventually the tea was steeped sufficiently long enough and she loaded it onto a tray and carried it out to the sitting room where Lan Zhan and his brother had settled down.

“Here you go.” She said as cheerfully as she could, setting down the cups, “I’m gonna go feed the rabbits.” And then she escapes again.

The outside world presses down, an uncomfortable pressure she can’t hope to avoid or ignore.

*

Lan Zhan finds her later amongst the rabbits.

The rabbits still don’t like her, not the way that they obviously love Lan Zhan. A lot of that can probably be attributed to the way she chases them around but she maintains that they need the exercise. And besides, she can always coax them closer with some snacks which is what she’s currently attempting. They really are fat little things.

So that’s how Lan Zhan finds her. Lying her stomach and waving some lettuce half-heartedly at a white rabbit that’s twitching its nose at her slightly dubiously.

And of course Lan Zhan goes to look for her. Of course he checks up on her and sits down next to her and doesn’t ask questions and doesn’t say anything weird. Of course Lan Zhan is there. He’s so… he’s so Lan Zhan and that really is the end of that.

They sit in silence for a little bit. Wei Ying assumes Zewu-jun has left by now and she wastes time continuing to attempt to coax the bunny. The bunny that immediately abandons her for Lan Zhan.

She huffs a little and Lan Zhan does his small smile thing.

Well, she’s wasted enough time being a coward which Lan Xichen’s visit had reminded her of.

“Hey Lan Zhan… I think I need to charge my phone. Finally get back in touch with the outside world and out of seclusion.” She laughed though it wasn’t as carefree as she would have liked.

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan paused slightly before taking a breath and continuing, “I would like you to know, there are no conditions to you staying here. There is nothing Wei Ying has to do to ensure my… friendship. Wei Ying is always welcome and there is nothing she could do to change that.”

Wei Ying’s mouth had popped open sometime in the middle of that speech and the earnest honesty on Lan Zhan’s face made her swallow hard. How could he be real? How could someone like this exist and more than anything else how could they like her so much? Lan Zhan genuinely liked her and it was blindingly obvious by now that he cared about her.

“Y’know Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying said a little shakily, she made sure not to look at him as she spoke, “I always thought you… well not disliked me, but I always thought that we were friends more because I wouldn’t leave you alone.”

“I have always liked Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan’s answer was so prompt it was almost embarrassing.

Wei Ying felt the gross, needy parts of her squirm. They want her to push, she feels so hollowed out she wants desperately for something and if that something comes from Lan Zhan then she wants it most of all.

She gives him a smile that she’s worried comes out looking slightly queasy.

“Ah Lan Zhan, it’s good to know I never irritated you that much. When did you realise you could stand my company? In third year? After graduation? That time you visited Lotus Pier?”

“Since we first met I have enjoyed Wei Ying’s company.”

Before Wei Ying can question that absolutely bonkers assertion, it’s lowkey going to make her reassess the past few years, Lan Zhan continues.

“I have… regrets over the way I treated Wei Ying at the beginning of our acquaintance. I am… more able to communicate the way I wish to now.”

Wei Ying’s mouth is still open.

“Well, it sure looks like it.” She says sounding ever so slightly strangled, “When did you become such a smooth talker?”

Lan Zhan just hums his usual non-reply but in the time they’ve spent together Wei Ying can comfortably say she can interpret this one as “indulgent and pleased that she’s accepted what he’s said”.

Together they sit side by side with the rabbits until it becomes too cold and uncomfortably damp.

*

Wei Ying has left her phone to charge overnight and then hid in her room until she naturally woke up around noon. When she finally trooped downstairs Lan Zhan was ready waiting with a cup of tea and his usual calm look as he tapped away at phone. She noticed that despite Lan Zhan’s (frankly beautiful) study he had taken to hanging out mostly in the communal living areas alongside her.

Wei Ying sidled up and hip-checked him lightly as she reached for a mug she could use for coffee.

“Morning.” She yawns widely.

“Mn. Good morning.” Lan Zhan passes her the milk from the fridge without even needing prompting and Wei Ying can’t help the way she feels an inevitable fondness at this wonderful man. He’s so sweet, he’s going to make someone the very best husband one day.

“Ready or not.” Wei Ying proclaimed before downing half her coffee in one gulp, “Time to get connected to the outside world.” She gave Lan Zhan her best smile though she was afraid it only displayed her deep apprehension.

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan reached for her hand and held it earnestly as he had seemed to be doing a lot recently. “No matter what happens, you are always welcome to stay here.” His voice was almost beseeching, “Wei Ying is free to stay for as long as she wants.”

Wei Ying’s stomach settled abruptly and she felt… so much better. It was incredible how a few words from Lan Zhan could ease all her fears abruptly. Lan Zhan was so good she knew that he would hold himself to those words no matter what, no matter what happened Wei Ying wouldn’t be alone ever again with Lan Zhan beside her.

She gave him a blinding smile, “You’re the best Lan Zhan.” She stroked a thumb over the back of his hand, “Thank you.”

And with that she walked over to where her piece of shit phone had been charging overnight and plucked it free from the charger.

Oh. There weren’t many missed calls to be honest. The highest number were from Wen Qing and Shijie although they had both also texted to say that they hoped whatever research hole she had thrown herself into was going well.

Wei Ying swallowed thickly.

No one was looking for her.

It should have filled her with relief, the thought that her life was nice and simple, but instead it only made her feel as though someone had punched her. It was an utterly stupid emotion considering how anxious she had been. She should be happy that her little absence and disowning would have been kept quiet, it was all better that way. And besides, who would even be worried? Jiang Cheng was overseas so he wouldn’t know, Shijie was pregnant and happy in Lanling, her friends all knew how she occasionally disappeared when she was researching. It was better this way than the humiliating alternative.

“Wei Ying?” Lan Zhan had gotten up, she didn’t know when he had moved so close to her but she could feel the heat of him next to her elbow.

“Ah Lan Zhan.” Her voice was a little wobbly but she steeled herself and diligently began answering all her missed messages with appropriately light-hearted little missives about being busy and absent-minded. Normal stuff. “No trouble at all! Isn’t that good news.” She swallowed and then looked up at him.

Lan Zhan looked angry. She wondered why. But he didn’t say anything as she sent off the last teasing message to Nie Huaisang before putting down her phone.

This was a positive thing. In fact this was good! This was very good. This meant she could stay here in the bubble of Lan Zhan’s safety for a little while longer, of course it was embarrassing that no one seemed to notice or worry about her abrupt disappearance but she had caused that behaviour to begin with with her bad communication skills and periodic dropping off the face of the earth. Her own actions over the years had created this “boy who cried wolf” effect and besides, she should be grateful for it. The awful feeling suffusing her chest right now was obviously only embarrassment which was completely understandable considering how big a deal she had made this to poor Lan Zhan who was still watching her with that unimpeachable expression on his face.

“Lan Zhan.” Maybe she just felt too vulnerable and scraped raw but she couldn’t look at him as she said the next part, “I… You’ll always want me around right? You’re my best friend, you… you want me around, right?”

And she should never have doubted, Lan Zhan was the best even when he was being sweet enough to make her cry.

“Wei Ying should never leave.” Lan Zhan said with such certainty in his voice that she could feel her expression crumble, “I will always be there. I would be honoured to have Wei Ying in my life always.”

Wei Ying couldn’t help herself. She turned and without looking at Lan Zhan’s expression, buried her face in his soft sweater.

“You’re the best Lan Zhan.” She mumbled into the soft cashmere, “I don’t deserve you.”

Lan Zhan may have said something else but Wei Ying just squeezed her eyes shut and let the rapid thump-thump of his heartbeat lull her.

*

“I’m fine Shijie!” Wei Ying laughed at the fussing coming down the phone. She was cossetted in another one of Lan Zhan’s soft sweaters. All these weeks and she still didn’t have any clothes of her own, not that she minded, Lan Zhan’s clothing was all of such high quality it was ridiculous, and it all smelled so good. “I swear! I’ve just been busy with my research.”

“Xianxian is only three. She should not work herself so hard.” Came Shijie’s teasingly disapproving reply.

“Ah but how can Xianxian remember to take a break without Shijie reminding her? Xianxian is not even one! She needs Shijie to feed her soup and remind her to take breaks!”

Shijie chuckles, “Ah, since Xianxian is only a baby I suppose I will soon have two.”

Wei Ying abruptly shut off her baby voice, “How’s the pregnancy? Is the peacock being good to you?”

“Yes A-Xuan is being wonderful.” Shijie’s voice is disgustingly soft considering she’s talking about the peacock. Wei Ying gags to herself. “Actually A-Xuan will be travelling to Lotus Pier to pick up some things for me and will be heading past Yilling on the way back to Lanling, I can give him some things to pass on to A-Xian? Maybe some soup?” Her voice is light and teasing and Wei Ying is a second away from agreeing before remembering that she isn’t even in Yilling.

“I would love soup Shijie! But I’m not in Yilling right now.”

“Oh? Are you visiting one of your friends? If it’s not too out of the way I can always get A-Xuan to swing by.” Shijie’s voice is full of gentle curiosity because Shijie is the best and wants to get her husband to deliver soup and also doesn’t have any idea that Wei Ying has been disowned without even any clothes to her name and is currently leeching off Lan Zhan for her every need. Well…

“I’m actually in Gusu right now.” Wei Ying decides to just tell her Shijie. Why not? And besides, the thought of having the peacock act as a delivery boy fills her with a gleeful warmth. “I think I actually left some stuff in Lotus Pier, but my memory is so bad.” She attempts to soften it; there’s a real possibility Madam Yu might have thrown both her suitcases into the dump but if not… “If your husband can pick it up for me as well I might stop calling him the peacock to his face.”

Shijie sighs but it’s not an unhappy sound, “Gusu is not too out of the way. Just let me know the address, I’ll have A-Xuan pick up what you need.”

Wei Ying grins to herself, Shijie really is the best! The peacock acting like a common errand boy? Truly only Shijie has the power to make it happen!

*

The doorbell rings just as Wei Ying and Lan Zhan are settling down on the couch to watch the latest terrible reality TV show Wei Ying has become obsessed with and forced Lan Zhan to watch with her.

The best part of watching Lan Zhan isn’t only his dry commentary but also the way she can drape herself all over him with only minimal protests from the man in question. Wei Ying really feels as though she’s maxed out her shameless meter recently but Lan Zhan doesn’t seem care about the way she leans against him. Really, when she keeps warning Lan Zhan about people taking advantage of him it really is true! Wei Ying eats Lan Zhan’s food, sleeps in his guest bed, uses his products, wears his clothes and even uses him like a large cushion! And all this has happened without a single word of protest from the man in question. It really is too much!

“Hmmm. I wonder who that could be.” Wei Ying says, head cocked slightly.

“They would have needed to report in to the guards at the gate so we can be certain they are an approved visitor.” Lan Zhan says succinctly.

Ah yes. The security measures had been something Wei Ying hadn’t noticed until they had taken a trip to Caiyi outside of the Cloud Recesses’ estate. Both leaving and coming back there had been guards watching them. With Lan Zhan with her they had simply been waved through but she had become aware that everyone else that wasn’t a family member would have to state their name and purpose and have their ID checked. Really, those security measures were too much. Though if this way the way Lan Zhan had grown up it was no surprise how repressed he was when they had first met.

Wei Ying nodded and yawned, “Aish, just as the episode was about to start as well! Ah I suppose I should go see who it is.”

“I will go.” Lan Zhan answered, “You are… not decent.”

Wei Ying blinked and looked down at what she was wearing. One of Lan Zhan’s old t-shirts that she had found at the back of a drawer (she’d had no idea Lan Zhan even owned t-shirts, she had never seen him wear something so unrefined, but apparently he did! And now they all belonged to Wei Ying) and a pair of Lan Zhan’s old workout shorts, again too undignified an item of clothing for Lan Zhan to own so Wei Ying had graciously taken it off his hands.

“I’m plenty decent!” She argued back, “You see me like this everyday!”

“Mn.” Was all Lan Zhan replied with as he got up.

“Oi!” Wei Ying stood up as well, “Fine, how about we go together and that way you can protect me from any aspersions on my virtue due to my inappropriate dress.”

Lan Zhan seemed to find that satisfactory because he nodded seriously and the two of them both walked over to the front door. Wei Ying personally thought it was unnecessary but Lan Zhan could be strange like that sometimes.

Wei Ying managed to reach the door before him and stuck her tongue out in victory before yanking it open to reveal….

Oh shit the peacock was standing on Lan Zhan’s doorstep laden down with two suitcases and several bags staring at her with his mouth open.

“Jin Zixuan.” Wei Ying greeted. She knew the peacock would come at some point but she didn’t know it would be now. Why hadn’t he called ahead or something?

“Hanguang-jun.” The peacock greeted Lan Zhan, eyes fixed to the figure behind her, completely ignoring her. Wei Ying didn’t even have the energy to feel offended, it wasn’t as though she had ever expected much from Jin Zixuan, ostensibly the most arrogant and awkward man to exist.

“Mn.” Lan Zhan basically ignoring him was great and made Wei Ying feel about a thousand percent better. She immediately brightened.

“That’s all for me?” She asked, feeling quite pleased.

Jin Zixuan nodded stiffly, his eyes flicking between Lan Zhan and her, “Yes. My driver will assist-“

“No need no need!” Wei Ying darted forward and began pushing everything inside, “Lemme just- Lan Zhan! Stop! You need to let me do things aiya, stop letting me walk all over you.”

Lan Zhan hummed placidly, “Wei Ying did not even ask, how could she be taking advantage?”

Wei Ying groaned as she grabbed a bag out of Jin Zixian’s limp hands, “I’m starting to realise it’s more of a subliminal issue. You’ve been raised too well!” She was just about to say something else when the peacock interrupted.

“You’re- you’re living together.” He sounded like he was choking.

Wei Ying tilted her head, “Yes?”

“I- since when?!”

“It’s been a few weeks.” Wei Ying shared a confused look with Lan Zhan who didn’t look at though he had anything illuminating to share.

“Do your families know?”

Before Wei Ying could answer that Lan Zhan swept forward, “Gusu Lan are perfectly aware, xiongzhang has visited and expressed his approval. Wei Ying is welcome in the Cloud Recesses for as long as she wishes to be here.”

Wei Ying has the distinct feeling she’s missing something.

“I see.” The peacock straightens slightly though he pales in comparison to Lan Zhan in every possible way, “I understand that you and Wei Wuxian may have your own… agreement, but my wife considers her a sister. I would ask that you do not conduct yourself dishonourably.”

Okay Wei Ying can’t help but interrupt then, “Dishonourably?! Lan Zhan?! Do you even know who you’re speaking to? Lan Zhan is the most honourable man to have ever lived, and after the way you treated my Shijie do you really think you have the face to be throwing around accusations like this?”

The peacock (rightfully) stalled then and looked a little constipated.

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan touched her elbow lightly from where he had been edged behind her body in her attempt to shield him from having to look at the peacock and listen to him try to cast doubt on Lan Zhan’s honour. What a joke!

“Hmph!” Wei Ying turned her head abruptly so her hair swished and almost hit the peacock in the face, “My Shijie is by some miracle in love with you and about to grace all of us with the cutest baby to ever live so I suppose I’ll forgive your misstep. And,” Oh god she doesn’t want to say it but this is for Shijie, “Thank you for bringing me my stuff.”

At that the peacock seemed to relax a little, “Yes well. You seemed to have left all your belongings at lotus pier. Yu-furen had to pull all of this out of storage, I have no idea why you need all of this crap.”

“Ah.” Wei Ying wasn’t sure what to say to that so thank god Lan Zhan stepped in.

“Thank you for delivering Wei Ying’s belongings.”

“Ah, yes. Well.” Ha! Apparently even the peacock could be intimidated. Take that! Lan Zhan really was peerless!

Wei Ying turned to give Lan Zhan a conspiratorial little smile to express her approval at his attitude towards the peacock who had seemed to finally find his voice.

“Yes well, no worries. A-Li asked me to, so yes. I’m going to go now.” He turned then with only a fraction of his usual swagger and walked off to slip into his fancy chauffeured car.

The departure was extremely abrupt and also extremely in character. Wei Ying sighed, “He really is such a mess, isn’t he? Why is Shijie in love with him? Though I suppose a lot of that just now is because of you Lan Zhan, I truly applaud your intimidation skills, you can make anyone cower!”

“Not Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan had his serious face on again, “Wei Ying has never been intimidated by me.”

Wei Ying laughed, “That’s because I’m a fool Lan Zhan! Now will you let me take advantage of you some more and help me unpack? If you do there’s food in it for you! Shijie packed some soup for me!” She beamed as she held up the food bag.

Lan Zhan nodded, picked up both her cases at once, slung her bag over his shoulder and began to march off to her room. The Lan arm strength was no joke!

“Lan Zhan! You’re so impressive! Aiya this Wei Ying is swooning in the face of your prowess!” Wei Ying couldn’t help but give Lan Zhan a grin when he looked at her.

She was already anticipating the shout of “shameless!” but instead when Lan Zhan looks at her his gaze is soft and indulgent. It strikes Wei Ying suddenly as he gently places her cases down on the floor of her room that Lan Zhan is just that way with her now; indulgent. Too kind by far.

She busies herself with unpacking.

“It’s so good to finally have my own clothes back!” She cheers slightly, “Though of course I would never forsake your clothes Lan Zhan, they’re too comfortable!”

“Mn.” Lan Zhan and her work side by side for a while, putting away her clothes and things until the guest room that she’s co-opted now looks more lived in than most of the house.

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan sounds hesitant but he continues regardless, “Why did you not go to your Shijie?”

“Hmm.” Wei Ying leans back on the bed where she’s decided to rest. She pats the spot next to her and Lan Zhan actually comes over and sits where directed, “It’s complicated I guess. But, hmmm, how do I put this? Well, Shijie is my Shijie and I love her but she’s not my real sister. Madam Yu used to get so mad when I called her jiejie. The Jiangs never officially adopted me anyway and I always used to cause so much trouble for them just by being there. If I went to Shijie it just would have made more problems for her, conflict between her and Madam Yu. I don’t want that. Plus she’s pregnant and besides, I really hate Lanling. Could you imagine me in Koi tower?” She laughed, “Terrible! I’d be kicked out in less than an hour!”

Lan Zhan was strangely quiet then.

Wei Ying picked at the bedding feeling slightly raw.

“Then I am glad Wei Ying called me. I am… happy you are here.” Lan Zhan looked up at her and he was so beautiful Wei Ying felt a little like she might burn up.

“So sincere Lan Zhan. With a look like that you’d have people falling at your feet. Ah promise me that even when you’re married and happy you won’t forget your Wei Ying? I reserve the right to still be your best friend!”

Lan Zhan’s expression did this strange spasm before he shook his head slightly and reached for her hand, “I would never forget my Wei Ying.”

And well… if the way he said “my Wei Ying” made her want to gasp (and maybe pass out) she would keep that to herself.

*

“Ugh Lan Zhan I’m so bored! Do we have to be here?” Wei Ying pouts slightly.

“Mn. We do not have to stay long.” Lan Zhan looks similarly out of sorts, “Xiongzhang insisted.”

Wei Ying sighs, “I get it I get it. Second jade of Gusu has to show his face, but why do I have to be here? I’d be very happy at home on the couch, there’s a new episode of Parties in Paradise tonight! I can’t believe you’re happy with missing that? We have to know if the guy with the terrible dye joy managed to convince the girl with the snake tattoo to run away with him!”

Her and Lan Zhan are currently comfortably ensconced in one of the corners of the (fancy in an ascetic way as is the whole of the Cloud Recesses) ballroom type hall.

It’s Gusu Lan’s turn to host the anniversary of peace party. Wei Ying personally thinks it’s a little dumb, like why are they all sitting round celebrating peace instead of going out and making a more conscious effort towards it. Peace hasn’t really been achieved especially in the more far-flung territories where small conflicts still arise.

She tells Lan Zhan all of this while the two of them basically hide in the corner together. Wei Ying has absolutely no compunctions with saying that Lan Zhan is the best part of everything. Even if she had come here with the Jiangs (she hasn’t seen any in attendance) she would have still done her best to track down Lan Zhan and spend her time with only him.

She tells him that now and he gives her a very satisfied “Mn”. She’s noticed Lan Zhan can be kind of petty and self-satisfied sometimes, especially when she gives him her sole focus. It’s something she had never realised about Lan Zhan but now that she knows, she can’t help but kind of love it. Lan Zhan being petty is the best! Lan Zhan wanting her attention is the best! Lan Zhan is the best!

Really Wei Ying should just start a fanclub for him or something.

The two of them eventually have to do a lap of the room when Lan Xichen comes over and gently coaxes them out of their private little corner. Wei Ying never thought she could be the kind of person that eschewed human interaction in favour of just one person but apparently that’s exactly who she is.

So with that the two of them leave their corner to walk around the room proper. Lan Zhan is close enough that they keep brushing elbows which is really very nice and exactly what she wants. She’s even wearing a dress Lan Zhan had bought her (his justification being: I’m making you go to this thing so let me get you the dress which to be fair it was a good justification) which matches what he’s wearing. It actually feels… comfortable. Being here as a matching set with Lan Zhan.

They talk to some old Lans who give her looks but nothing more stringent especially with Lan Zhan’s proprietary hand on her elbow. It’s quite funny how possessive he can be, like a child with their favourite toy. Wei Ying had never expected that he would want all her attention to himself but here they are! She’s finally trained Lan Zhan through sheer determination to prize her company! Living in his house and spending every waking moment with him was really the key.

The night is going pretty well. If people are shocked by seeing her and Lan Zhan together they quickly seem to conclude it’s not a big deal which it isn’t. Wei Ying is just a hanger on in Lan Zhan’s life and that’s the way she likes it. Lan Zhan with his perfect face, unimpeachable manners, morals, and clear gravitas is the main event. Wei Ying is the funny emcee that comes beforehand and announces him, like the opening band at a concert.

They’ve done their lap as Lan Xichen had asked and are about to run off to get food (Wei Ying had pleaded for fast food and Lan Zhan had crumbled in the face of her puppy-dog pout) when a certain snivelling rat stops them.

“Wei Wuxian.”

Ugh.

“Wen Chao.” Wei Ying can’t help the way her nose wrinkles in distaste.

“Second master Lan.” Wen Chao gives Lan Zhan a bow at least which is barely returned (petty Lan Zhan is the best) before he turns back to Wei Ying in all his gross glory. He’s flanked on one side by Wen Zhuliu who is honestly a weirdo hanger-on and his mistress, that JiaoJiao girl (Wei Ying has never actually heard her full name so is forced to call her by Wen Chao’s cutesy nickname for her in her head) is hanging off his arm.

“I’m surprised to see you anywhere near the right kind of society.” Wen Chao drawls, “But I suppose it’s not a surprise that you would simply find someone else to sell your services to, though I’m surprised the great second young master Lan would fall prey to your wiles.”

Okay, Wei Ying has a few things to say to that: the first is wiles. What kind of stupid word… Why does Wen Chao always speak in that weird pretentious voice where half of what he says sounds stolen from a bad drama?

The second is he isn’t even trying to be subtle. Wei Ying doesn’t actually mind being called a prostitute or whore. It’s happened before (numerous times) and to be fair this isn’t even the first time Wen Chao has said it, but implying that Lan Zhan would have to pay for company?? That’s way too much, any woman would pay Lan Zhan to be able to look at him. Wen Chao is an idiot.

And thirdly, the weird whatever between her and Wen Chao goes both ways. And she’s going to remind him of that.

“It’s surprising to hear you say that.” Wei Ying says, stepping in front of Lan Zhan to shield him from the absolute shit show that is the man in front of them, “Considering you seemed to think me the right kind of society numerous times before. But, ah that makes sense. It’s only right that a man such as yourself can recognise that Lan Zhan is in a completely different league to your own.”

Wen Chao’s face does that gross thing where it goes all red and ugly in anger, “You presumptuous who-“

Wei Ying doesn’t let him finish, “Careful Chaochao.” She leans in so it’s just between the two of them (and maybe Jiaojiao and Wen Zhuliu), “I hope you don’t forget who’s holding the knife here. Now be a good boy and leave Hanguang-jun alone.”

Wen Chao’s face twists again but he seems to recognise the futility of going toe to toe with her while she still has the reigns. Wei Ying can’t do shit about her own ruined reputation but she sure as hell is going to save Lan Zhan’s.

“Now Chaochao, you’re going to apologise to Lan Wangji, pretty loudly so everyone can hear and then you’re going to turn around and walk away. Is that clear?” Wei Ying’s voice has gone low and intimate, smooth in the way it is when she’s making a threat. She smiles at him. It’s not a very nice smile.

Wen Chao flushes further but can’t do anything which is great. See this odious little man thinks that the swords that hangs over each of them are of the same weight but really Wei Ying couldn’t give a shit about her own standing whereas Wen Chao seems to care about his so in fact they’re fairly unequal.

Wen Chao turns very slightly and very stiffly bows to Lan Zhan, “I apologise for my previous words towards you.”

Wen Chao’s obvious discomfort makes it so much better. Wen Zhuliu is watching impassively and JiaoJiao looks outraged but also can’t do anything. This is great!

“Brilliant, Lan Zhan do you accept that apology or do you want another one?” Wei Ying asks Lan Zhan who is frowning, probably in displeasure at the situation though he also looks a little confused.

“That is fine.”

“Great!” Wei Ying claps her hands slightly, “Then you can go away now.” She makes a little shooing motion at Wen Chao whose fists clench and face looks so mad it’s hilarious. But he can’t do anything! It’s brilliant. He leaves stiffly and Wei Ying beams and turns back to Lan Zhan, “Let’s go?”

Lan Zhan nods and completely unexpectedly he slides an arm around her waist to lead her out of the room. Wei Ying can’t help but lean into his hold a little because Wen Chao is a gross little rat who she greatly dislikes and every time she sees him and has to threaten him into compliance it feels like it takes time off her lifespan.

“Ugh what a little toad.” She tells Lan Zhan as they wander off down the path.

They’ve decided to walk all the way to Caiyi to get food, not a conscious choice but neither of them make a move to call a car. Wei Ying doesn’t mind, the dress gives her some freedom of movement and she’s always been good at walking in heels. These ones are surprisingly comfortable too. “Y’know Lan Zhan,” She tells her best friend as they stroll at a pretty leisurely pace, “I used to love, well not love but like, things like that but ever since… all of that they’ve become significantly more of an annoyance.”

Wei Ying used to be hungry for attention the same way pigeons are hungry for any stale leftovers you throw their way but ever since the tide turned against her she has found that actually obscurity suits her much better. Maybe its maturity.

She can live without the positive attention of the world if she can only have the regard of her few special people. Her mind is cast back to the last “fancy” event she can gone to where the peacock’s gross cousin had basically asked her to suck his dick in front of everyone. That part of the memory is whatever; not summoning any real emotion from her apart from a kind of grossed out stomach turning at the thought of that guy’s dick. No, the real treat had been the way Shijie had stepped up and forced the man to apologise with nothing but her courtesy alone, the way she had stayed by Wei Ying’s side the entire night; making a visible statement that Wei Ying wasn’t some gutter whore but the sister to a saint.  

And now she has Lan Zhan by her side, it’s far more than enough for her.

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan pauses, “I apologise. I should have said more.”

“What? No! Don’t give that guy the time of day! I swear Lan-er-gege, he doesn’t deserve your attention.”

“He does not deserve Wei Ying’s attention either.” Lan Zhan says and he sounds salty as hell. God Wei Ying loves him. Wait. What?! What the hell did I just think??? Oh god. Nope nope table that for now. Think about it later.

While Wei Ying is having a private little freak out Lan Zhan seems to be working up the courage to say something.

“Wei Ying… you and… Wen Chao?” Lan Zhan’s voice is very hesitant, “I realise it is not my business-“

“What?? No! Gross gross grosss! Ewwwwww!” Wei Ying laughs and waves her hands. Lan Zhan’s hand which is still on her waist tightens slightly. She leans into his hold, “Ah Lan Zhan! Do you think I’m completely devoid of taste or sense? I’m offended!” She pouts and Lan Zhan exhales slowly.

“Forgive me.” He says, “I was being-“

“It’s fine it’s fine. It’s nothing no one’s thinking or saying anyway. I’m used to it.”

That just seems to make Lan Zhan even more upset, “I should not have asked. That was rude of me. I was satisfying my own curiosity at the expense of Wei Ying’s-“

“My what? My honour? Ah Lan Zhan I don’t have much of that left anymore. Have you heard all the rumours? According to the general narrative I haven’t only had Wen Chao but Wen Xu, Wen Zhuliu, Wen Ning, even Wen Ruohan. The consensus seems to be that if someone is surnamed Wen I can’t help myself.” She laughs, “Ah maybe Jin as well. The peacock’s weird cousin certainly tried to make that clear. I’m unrepentantly greedy according to gossip!”

Lan Zhan looks slightly miserable, “I apologise, people should not speak that way of Wei Ying- I should have said something.”

“It’s fine Lan Zhan, really. It’s fine. I don’t mind. I’m only worried at how being associated with me could hurt your reputation. You’re the best person I know!” She tells Lan Zhan seriously, “You don’t deserve that.”

Lan Zhan suddenly stops and it pulls Wei Ying to a stop with him. They’re walking down the back way of the Cloud Recesses, through the dark trees with the moon overhead. It’s a beautiful night.

Lan Zhan turns so they’re facing each other and he brings his other arm to curl around her waist alongside the first, “Wei Ying, no one should speak to you or of you the way that they have been doing. I deeply regret not speaking up when it started. Wei Ying does not deserve any of this.”

Wei Ying makes a face, “Ah Lan Zhan don’t be so hard on yourself! Even back then you still spent time with me and associated with me, that’s far more than most people.” It’s true but doesn’t seem to placate Lan Zhan whose frown has deepened. Wei Ying sighs and brings her hand up to smooth at the wrinkle in his brow, “Lan Zhan, your face will stick that way.”

Lan Zhan’s frown doesn’t abate, instead he grabs that hand and brings it to his face.

“Lan Zhan.” She knows she sounds slightly strangled.

“Wei Ying.”

That’s it. They stand there opposite each other with her hand pressed to his face while the night breeze blows around them.

I’m in love with Lan Zhan. Wie Ying can’t ignore it any longer.

And she finds she doesn’t dislike the feeling as much as maybe she thought she would.

*

Being in love with Lan Zhan is very easy. In fact it’s so easy Wei Ying turns over how long she must have been in love with him for a while and comes to the conclusion it’s probably been happening subliminally for years. She tells the rabbits as such when Lan Zhan is out one day but they don’t react much to her declaration of love on their beloved master.

More than that, Lan Zhan stays.

As the summer starts to melt around them Lan Zhan stays. Wei Ying knows Lan Zhan is sincere. The most sincere man she knows, but he’s truly outdone himself this time.

Her room in his house begins to fill with her keepsakes. She keeps using Lan Zhan’s laptop since it’s clearly the superior machine but now she has some of her own clothes to wear when they go outside together.

She feels comfortable in a way she never had before. Settled in fact. Lan Zhan’s house in an oasis and Wei Ying colonises it. She lives in every corner of the space. Her belongings spread out. Her many half-finished mugs of coffee scattered through the rooms. The sound of her music and preferred TV shows blare in the space. She doesn’t have to make herself smaller the way she has tried and failed to many times before. Lan Zhan wants nothing less from her than her noise and her attention. He seems to revel in the way she pokes and prods at him, calling his name in that whining tone she had perfected with Jiang Cheng. It delights her like nothing else, having Lan Zhan as hungry for her time as she is for his.

If Lan Zhan doesn’t love her then she’s still his best friend and that’s more than enough.

Twice a week if he can Lan Zhan’s brother will come over for dinner or at least tea. Wei Ying is always delighted to spend time with Zewu-jun who smiles as freely and seems privately amused and indulgent by the way Wei Ying teases his brother. Wei Ying wants to give Lan Zhan everything and if Lan Zhan wants her laughter he can have all of it. Lan Zhan can turn out to be a vampire and want to bleed her dry for all she cares, take her blood. Take it!

She’s yawning to herself while she tries to coax a bunny closer when she hears the distinctive sound of the doorbell.

With a small hop the bunny bounds away and Wei Ying pouts but stands up. She brushes off her clothes and runs through the house for the door.

“Coming!” She yells as she yanks it open.

It’s Lan Xichen.

“Oh Zewu-jun! Sorry Lan Zhan isn’t here right now. Is it something urgent?”

Lan Xichen instead smiles his soft smile, “No, it’s nothing urgent. I actually came to speak to you.”

“To me? Oh. Well you should come in then!” Wei Ying gestures for him to come inside and settle in the kitchen, “Would you like tea? I can do a passable attempt of brewing.”

Lan Xichen smiles, “I would appreciate it Wei-guniang.”

She turns to the tea and tries to ignore the way he peers around the room in interest.

Probably taking in all the changes like the strips of arcade photos she pinned up on the fridge that she forced Lan Zhan to take with her the last they went out. Lan Zhan looks unimpeachably perfect in every one while Wei Ying pulls faces and mugs it for the camera. There’re also the plethora of cactuses. Wei Ying had mentioned once that she wanted a cactus and now there's an entire colony of them taking up windowsill space. Lan Zhan is ridiculous like that.

Wei Ying places the fresh tea down in front of Lan Xichen, “I hope it’s okay.”

“I’m sure it’s very nice.” Lan Xichen gracefully takes a sip while Wei Ying slumps down next to him on one of the kitchen stools. Another new purchase. Lan Zhan doesn’t believe in eating in the kitchen because he’s too proper and formal but Wei Ying thinks there’s no better place for morning coffee and chats and afternoon snacks. Plus Lan Zhan has a perfectly nice kitchen island. She’d whined at Lan Zhan for her cause until he caved and now there are two kitchen stools at the island. To be fair Lan Zhan uses them just as much as she does, so there’s that.

“Wei-guniang, you are happy here? With my brother?”

Happy? Wei Ying is better than happy. She is content.

She can measure the seasons of her life easily. The early days of love with her parents that faded into the constant pain and struggle of the streets and then the group homes until Jiang shushu had appeared. Despite how much she loved the Jiangs she always knew it was a temporary arrangement as much as everything in her life is.

Wei Ying is used to change and is not used to being kept. As soon as University started she began to pull away in the increments she was allowed to. Then the Wens happened and she abandoned herself before she let herself be abandoned.  

Lan Zhan had reached out despite how stained she was and drawn her into his embrace, into his home, and begun to plaster over the cracks left by years of self-isolation. Wei Ying has known happiness, as bright and sharp-edged as pain, but this low thrumming contentment is better. It lasts longer, it takes less from her when it ebbs and flows. Wei Ying is so much more than simply happy.

She doesn’t bother to explain all of this to Lan Xichen.

“Yes.” She answers simply, “I am very happy here.”

Lan Xichen’s eyes curve as he smiles, “Good, I am very glad to hear that. My brother is happy with you here.”

Wei Ying smiles. Her presence has always made people happy to differing degrees but there has always been a level of performance to it. Wei Ying is funny and entertaining, she is charming, she can make others laugh easily. But Lan Zhan seems happy to have her type away at her laptop without speaking. Lan Zhan doesn’t seem to want the best and shiniest parts of her, he doesn’t even want the entertaining parts that used to get her into trouble. It’s strange to have herself feel valued for what she believes to be the most useless parts of herself.

“I really like Lan Zhan, he’s the best.” She settles on saying. It comes out less cheerful then perhaps she would have intended and instead sounds almost solemn.

They end up sipping in silence for a period.

“Wei-guniang, or may I call you Wuxian?”

Wei Ying beams, “Call me Wuxian.”

“Thank you, I was just going to ask, you will be going back to University soon, yes?”

“Mmn, when the new term starts in a few weeks. I have my TA job and my supervisor to talk to.” She laughs, “To be honest I’m not thinking as much about it as I should be! Lan Zhan makes my life too easy, I’ve stopped thinking about practical things.”

Lan Xichen regards her, “Will you return? After you leave?”

Wei Ying blinks, “To Gusu? Of course if Lan Zhan is okay with it I’ll visit.”

“And if he were you to visit you in Yilling?”

“He can come whenever he wants! I’ve taken advantage of his hospitality too many times! He can move in with me this time!”

Though Wei Ying has to be honest, she doesn’t really have the ability to make that a reality considering she barely has money to make ends meet with her one rented room. She should pawn off some of her remaining jewellery. They were gifts from Jiang shu shu for her various birthdays over the years but it’s more useful to have a rainy-day fun than a few necklaces she never wears. Besides, Wei Ying has never been quite accustomed to the casual privilege that the people she had been surrounded by for most of her life wield. Her mother had been someone important, but her father had been no one in the cruel eyes of society and they hadn’t had much when she was younger. After they died she’d had nothing at all. And even now the things she has don’t really feel like hers.

Lan Xichen is smiling softly at her, “I am happy to hear your association with my brother will continue.”

“You might be the only one.” Wei Ying jokes and Lan Xichen shakes his head.

“You are a good woman Wuxian and my brother cares deeply for you. Why should I worry what the rest of the world thinks? Wangji was always alone growing up, I am very happy that he has you now.”

“I would never leave him alone.” Wei Ying promises and Lan Xichen looks even more pleased.

They slip into easier conversation after that until he takes his leave. Wei Ying clears away the cups and wonders at the strange conversation. But still there are always things to do and her thoughts are quickly stolen away.

*

The whole story of what really happened with the Wens comes out quite randomly in fact.

Her and Lan Zhan are packing up her stuff for her to go back to Yilling. Her room will be left the way it is, lived in, for her to come back whenever she has the chance. Lan Zhan had been very insistent. He was equally as insistent at accompanying her to Yilling as well and helping her move into the small studio she was renting. She’d saved up a lot from not having to pay for rent or groceries, or really anything, over the summer months and with the money she had made from her academic writing (her words flowed so much smoother now that she was eating and sleeping well and not constantly stressed) she now had enough to pay for a tiny studio all to her own in, well it was a pretty bad area, but still!

Lan Zhan is closing her suitcase while Wei Ying lounges back on the bed and barely does anything. She’s become far too spoilt with Lan Zhan, she has no idea what she’ll do when she has to start fending for herself.

“I’m excited to see Wen Qing and Wen Ning again.” She tells Lan Zhan.

“Mn.”

“I wonder what new rumours will have sprung up about me after that whole thing with Wen Chao. He’ll leave your name out of the mud I’m sure but I wonder what he’ll say about me.” Wei Ying hums to herself.

“Wei Ying… I wanted to ask but I do not mind if you do not wish to answer, what occurred between you and Wen Chao?”

“Ah Lan Zhan, will you believe that you’re the first person who’s ever really asked?” Wei Ying laughs a little, “It’s kinda a long sort of complicated story.” When she turns back to Lan Zhan he’s sitting to attention and clearly giving her his entire attention as always. It’s an intoxicating feeling to finally have that childish desire of hers fulfilled.

Wei Ying is struck by the sudden thought that Lan Zhan doesn't actually care. In the sense that no matter how bad the story makes Wei Ying seem, no matter if she'd slept with Wen Ruohan mutliple times, no matter if she tells him the truth or a lie Lan Zhan will nod and mn and simply move on. Lan Zhan doesn't care if she's done bad things, he'll like her anyway. 

Maybe that's what makes Wei Ying spill the whole story right from the beginning. 

“Okay so we start our tale when at seventeen, yes I know! Such a long time ago!” Wei Ying laughs, “So Jiang Cheng and I had been brought by Jiang shu- I mean Lord Jiang to some event in Qishan while he had business with Wen Ruohan. Jiang Cheng and I went out that night, more like snuck out, and Jiang Cheng got pretty drunk. Like throwing up on the street, start a fight drunk. Definitely also illegal underaged drunk. He had no idea what was going on and he doesn’t remember any of the night. Anyway, at some point he must have thought I was some random pretty girl, maybe Wen Qing? He always had a crush on her.”

Wei Ying laughs at herself, “How weird huh? She’s the complete opposite of what he always says his ideal wife would be! How ironic! Anyway, our clothes were ruined by the night of revelry we’d been having so far and he tried to kiss me- promise you won’t tell anyone this! Jiang Cheng has no idea. It was a disaster! The last thing we needed was rumours of some affair between Jiang Cheng and I! We might have been forced to marry or something, Lord Jiang was always strangely into that idea, but Jiang Cheng was a mess and I didn’t know what to do with him. He’s unsurprisingly a very strong drunk and trying to corral him back to our accommodation wasn’t working.”

Lan Zhan is watching with a frown on his face.

“And you know everyone in Qishan reports to the Wens. Ugh, it was about to be a political nightmare! You know the Wens would have no issue with blackmailing the Jiangs with this kind of stuff, especially with Jiang Cheng causing trouble in the dark city streets! Anyways, I was despairing when Wen Ning appeared! He helped smuggle us back to his and Wen Qing’s private estate and hide us. Jiang Cheng sobered up and in one fell swoop Wen Ning had saved the Jiang’s reputation! So life goes on, and then one day Wen Qing came to me and said that Wen Ning was in trouble with Wen Chao. What drama! Apparently she had fallen out of favour with Wen Ruohan due to whatever trouble it was so she needed help, she knew that I owed Wen Ning. So off I went. To cut the boring bits out basically I pretended to seduce Wen Chao and then got him to say some pretty incriminating things which I recorded and still have. So that’s what I’ve got over him. Honestly, the actual story is very anti-climactic. But I managed to get Wen Ning out of trouble and with what I have on Wen Chao no one I care about is in danger of any Wen interference. So yeah, there’s that.”

She doesn’t look at Lan Zhan but she doesn’t need to. His presence is warm and comforting and (incredibly) she’s not afraid that he’ll turn away at this. She trusts him.

“Wei Ying,” His voice is smooth, comforting and sweet in its intensity, “I would never think less of you. Thank you for sharing this with me.”

“Ah Lan Zhan, since you seem so determined to entwine your life with mine I thought you should know. But that’s not the whole reason, in truth I’m simply selfish and I wanted to tell someone.” She hums before getting up and scootching over to Lan Zhan, “Can I tell you a secret?” She whispers, gets right up and close with him.

Lan Zhan’s gaze is steady, “Yes.”

Wei Ying laughs again, “Okay okay. The truth is Lan Zhan I don’t actually have any recording of Wen Chao.” Her voice has dropped to a whisper, “In truth I was prepared to do whatever I needed to but he got so drunk he passed out. The next morning I joked that he had told me all manner of scandalous things and by his reaction I knew I had hit the jackpot. It’s all a carefully balanced lie.” She pulls back and meets Lan Zhan’s eyes, “Can you still say you think no ill of me?” Wei Ying had been ugly back then. Not in face or body but in mind. She looks back and feel disconnected from the bitter person she had been, how much she had revelled in hurting.

Lan Zhan’s gaze is still as steady as before, “Wei Ying, I would never forsake any part of you. You are my… best friend. My closest person. There is nothing you could say to push me away.”

Wei Ying’s smile blooms over her face, “Ah Lan Zhan. You really are the best.”

*

This time when the holidays roll around Wei Ying doesn’t spend them in her tiny room in Yiling. This time when she exits her building with her bag in hand Lan Zhan is waiting outside in his car.

“Lan Zhan!” She calls joyfully, “I missed you!” She slips into the passenger’s seat and Lan Zhan hums, pleased as he pulls away from the curb.

“Missed Wei Ying also.”

Wei Ying beams.

The holidays are spent at Lan Zhan’s. No one bothers her to go back to Lotus Pier. Not even Jiang Cheng who had come back from overseas grumpy as ever and didn’t ask where she had gone. (Though he had eyed her suspiciously the entire time they had met up.) Small mercies she supposes. Nowadays she lives her life in a strange seclusion. But soon Shijie will give birth and Wei Ying knows that while she can’t be there while Madam Yu is there, maybe she can visit another time. Maybe she can bring Lan Zhan.

The future seems sweeter when she can lean on Lan Zhan.

She turns her head to him and smiles, “Lan Zhan.”

“Mn.”

I love you. She thinks with all the fondness she has inside of herself. But she doesn’t say that. Instead she pouts.

“I’m hungry.”

Lan Zhan is as beautifully predictable as ever.

“Then we will stop for food.”

*

“Ah Shijie! He’s adorable! The best baby! The best baby ever!!” Wei Ying coos at Jin Ling as her nephew babbles before all by yanking Lan Zhan closer. “Look Lan Zhan look! Look at the perfect little person my Shijie made!”

“Mn.”

“Isn’t he the most beautiful baby to ever exist?” Wei Ying pressed a sweet kiss to Jin Ling’s chubby cheek and the baby cooed in response, “Ah remember A-Yuan Lan Zhan? He was pretty cute too! I don’t want to pick favourites-“

“A-Yuan? Who is A-Yuan?” Shijie’s voice was soft and graceful as ever and Wei Ying turned to her.

“A-Yuan is my little radish baby of course! Though he’s much more of a radish toddler now I suppose-“

“So the rumours are true? You and Wen Chao do have an illegitimate son?”

Wei Ying blinked at the figure who had suddenly appeared, some random Jin by the looks of it, “Who are you?” She asked honestly puzzled.

That simply seemed to agitate the man further, “Your shamelessness really knows no bounds! Cavorting with Wens, flaunting your own illegitimate child, dragging poor second master Lan’s name through the mud alongside your own!”

Wei Ying felt mostly confused by the sudden attack.

“Eh? I don’t-“

But before she could say anything more Lan Zhan stepped in. “Apologise.” His icy visage was probably terrifying to this random Jin if the way he looked as though he was about to wet himself was any indication.

“Excuse me! I-“

“Apologise.” Lan Zhan interrupted and his eyes glinted with something almost violent, “Now.”

The man stuttered a little more but it only took Lan Zhan twitching slightly for him to break and choke out an apology.

Wei Ying had no idea what had just happened but she couldn’t help but enjoy the display. Surprisingly Lan Zhan continued to speak.

“The details of Wei Ying’s private life, fabricated or not, do not exist for your amusement. Learn to hold your tongue.” And then Lan Zhan dismissed the man entirely and turned back to where Wei Ying was still holding Jin Ling, he moved close enough to rub elbows and Jin Ling reached for him with small grabby hands.

And fuck, that was the single sexiest display Wei Ying had ever seen.

Later as they walked together in the Jin’s (frankly disgustingly big) garden Wei Ying turned to Lan Zhan.

“Hey Lan Zhan, not to sound like a crazy lady, but you know you’re my soulmate right?”

Lan Zhan hummed in affirmation.

“And you know there’s no one else for me right?”

Lan Zhan and her were making firm eye contact at this point (it was a lot) and she could read everything in the minute twitches of his face. 

Wei Ying swallowed hard, “Lan Zhan, you’re so important to me. You’ve stood by me this entire time.”

“Should have done more.”

“Hush now. Just let me speak Lan-er-gege, aiya so impatient. As I was saying, I love you a lot. Like a lot a lot. For me it can’t be anyone but you. And… I mean that in a gross I fancy you, want to spend every waking moment with you, want to wear wedding red with you, want to eat your cooking forever kind of way.”

Lan Zhan’s eyes were bright now.

“And I’m hoping… that you might feel the same way.”

Lan Zhan just pulled her closer, “Can’t be anyone but you, don’t want anyone but you.”

And Wei Ying pushed further into Lan Zhan’s space, pressing against the material of his sweater, and breathed in the familiar sandalwood scent of coming home.