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Wei Wuxian’s husband is late to dinner.

It’s not the first time he’s been late, but it is the first time he hasn’t texted or called.

Wei Wuxian sighs, running his finger up and down their message history on his phone. No reply yet.

Wen Xu is usually so responsive. He always updates Wei Wuxian on how his work day is going, and when he expects to be home. 

Wei Wuxian had tried calling him, earlier, and the phone rang and rang and rang. 

Perhaps he’s held up in a meeting. 

Perhaps he lost his phone.

Perhaps…

Perhaps something happened to him.

Wei Wuxian swallows the lump in his throat. He’s surely overthinking this. He must be. Wen Xu is fine. He’ll be home any minute now, and he’ll tell Wei Wuxian about how he lost his phone, and everything will be fine.

Wei Wuxian blinks several times, staring at the array of cold dishes on the table. He had cooked them all after he returned home from work. He’s still wearing the apron Jiang Yanli got him for his birthday last year, embroidered with little chili peppers. His hair is tied up in a messy bun and he’s sitting in one of their dining room chairs, hugging his knee close to his chest.

It has been over two hours. 

Wen Xu has never been this late before. He has never failed to reply like this.

Wei Wuxian’s finger hovers over his phone screen. 

He takes a deep breath, and then navigates to his contacts. 

Lan Wangji’s name stares up at him. 

It would be so simple, to call him. Wei Wuxian would only need to tap the screen twice to do it.

He has never actually called Lan Wangji before. They have been friends for months now - him, his husband, and Lan Wangji. Incredibly close friends, in fact, given the relatively short time they’ve known each other. But Wei Wuxian has never once directly called Lan Wangji. That communication has always been handled by his husband. 

Wen Xu originally knew Lan Wangji through work, but they weren’t especially close, likely because they both have such reserved personalities and hadn’t spoken much before. However, they quickly became friends after Wei Wuxian accompanied his husband to a company dinner, and struck up a conversation with Lan Wangji.

As it turns out, Lan Wangji and Wen Xu have many interests in common. They both are introverted, and enjoy reading and travel. They both enjoy golfing, which they have taken up practicing together on weekends. Wen Xu and Lan Wangji both like boring things, so they keep each other occupied well.

The three of them spend time together every week, going out to dinner together or attending various events. Wei Wuxian has even managed to get Lan Wangji to try rock climbing, and was floored to discover that Lan Wangji was naturally gifted at it. The arm strength he possesses is insane- And he’s talented at sailing, too, which Wei Wuxian was thrilled to learn, since Wen Xu is susceptible to seasickness and doesn’t have an affinity for the ocean in the way that Wei Wuxian does, having taken many sailing vacations while growing up with the Jiang’s. 

Lan Wangji is also openly gay. 

Which is, of course, the other reason that Wen Xu is always the one to call Lan Wangji. They’ve never discussed it, and since Lan Wangji is technically Wen Xu’s friend from work, there has never been a reason to explain it further than that. 

But the truth is, Wei Wuxian knows that his husband prefers to be the one to contact Lan Wangji. It’s a territorial boundary. 

Lan Wangji, like Wen Xu, is very obviously a dom and a top. They’ve never discussed it - at least, not around Wei Wuxian - but it is abundantly clear that this is another thing Lan Wangji has in common with his husband. Wei Wuxian can feel it in Lan Wangji’s gaze and mannerisms. He knows exactly what to look for to recognize it - it’s part of what has made him so compatible with Wen Xu, after all.  

Wei Wuxian hadn’t always known what to look for. When he was younger, he had always presumed himself to be straight, simply because he had never really considered the alternative. And then he had invited his classmate Mo Xuanyu over to work on a project together, and Mo Xuanyu had told him about how unbelievably hot he thought their instructor was, and don’t you agree, Wei Ying? You would totally fuck him, right?  

Startled by the question, Wei Wuxian had stared at him blankly for several moments and then responded weakly, “I’m not gay?” to which Mo Xuanyu had stared at him back, completely serious, and asked, “Are you sure ?” 

And then, minutes later, Wei Wuxian found himself pinned down on his bed, whimpering into Mo Xuanyu’s mouth helplessly as he was kissed out of his mind, rolling his hips weakly against Mo Xuanyu’s thigh where it was shoved between his parted legs, more aroused than he had ever been in his entire life-

Mo Xuanyu wasn’t taller or stronger than Wei Wuxian. He was, in fact, a little shorter, and a little slimmer. But he was more assertive, and more experienced. He knew what he wanted, and apparently what Wei Wuxian wanted, too. 

It was more than a self-discovery. It was an awakening. 

And it was interrupted by Yu Ziyuan flinging open the door and screaming in surprise.

“ What the hell do you think you are doing ,” she had hissed, her face flushed with outrage, after she had ushered Mo Xuanyu out of the room, “ Doing something like that in this house. Are you trying to bring a scandal upon us? ”

Mo Xuanyu had offered Wei Wuxian a sympathetic look as he was shown to the door. Wei Wuxian had only nodded to him weakly. 

There wasn’t much more he could say to Yu Ziyuan, after Mo Xuanyu’s departure. And Yu Ziyuan couldn’t seem to find much to say to him either. She stared him down for several very long minutes, glaring and opening and closing her mouth like she was on the verge of saying something but she couldn’t find the words. 

Wei Wuxian stared blankly at the floor the entire time, his shoulders drooped like a wilted flower. His lips were still tender where Mo Xuanyu had bitten them, and his hair was falling loose from his ponytail, after being mussed up against his bedsheets. 

With one last look at him, Yu Ziyuan had ordered him to return to his room, and clean himself up before dinner.

She didn’t speak of the incident for several days.

Wei Wuxian had been strangely unmoored during those several days. He had trouble sleeping at night, and would stare up at the ceiling with his mind utterly blank. Sometimes, he would find himself thinking about it- Mo Xuanyu pinning him to the bed, so sure of himself, and so aware of what Wei Wuxian wanted. The giddiness and thrill of it- the immediate spark of arousal it had ignited in him-

Is it obvious? Wei Wuxian had wondered to himself, as he stared up at the ceiling, faintly touching his lips. Can everyone see that I’m like this?

And then, several days later, Wei Wuxian had been pulled into Yu Ziyuan’s study. She had watched him keenly, and told him to take a seat.

Then, she told him that he would be attending lunch with her and an acquaintance later in the week.

“I will not have you bringing a scandal upon this family,” she had stated simply. “If you must engage in these proclivities, we will find you a suitable match.”

Wei Wuxian had stared at her, dumbstruck, as she calmly explained the situation like it was nothing out of the ordinary.

A suitable match, as it turned out, was Wen Xu. 

Wen Xu was only a few years older than Wei Wuxian. According to Yi Ziyuan, he shared the same proclivities, and was therefore not entertaining an audience with any young women. He was also, most importantly, socially eligible to date Wei Wuxian, per Yu Ziyuan’s criteria. As the first son and the eldest heir to the Wen family, he would be an even more ideal match than what she could have hoped for. It was also fortunate that the Wen family was eager to find a suitable match for Wen Xu, given his long-standing position as a bachelor. The timing couldn’t have been better.

“Yanli has had enough trouble with Jin Zixuan, and A-Cheng has had no luck with any of the young women I’ve introduced him to,” Yu Ziyuan had confided in him, sternly. “Wei Wuxian, do not make this difficult for me.”

And Wei Wuxian didn’t.

He went to lunch with her, and met Wen Xu and his mother. 

It went surprisingly well.

Wei Wuxian had not met Wen Xu before, but he had met Wen Chao, the second son in the Wen family. He couldn’t say he was looking forward to the prospect of having the man as his brother-in-law. He especially wasn’t looking forward to spending any amount of time with Wen Chao’s two-faced girlfriend. And if Wen Xu was anything like his brother, Wei Wuxian was absolutely dreading the prospect of dating, much less marrying the man. 

Wen Xu, however, proved to be a surprisingly palatable companion. Where Wen Chao was brash and pompous, Wen Xu was calm and aloof. Where Wen Chao was greedy and indulgent, Wen Xu was level-headed and focused. 

Wen Xu looked Wei Wuxian in the eyes, and Wei Wuxian understood immediately why the Wen family was so desperate to find a suitable match for him. This was not a man who would compromise on what he wanted, and marry a woman to please his family. It wouldn’t matter how powerful his family was. Wen Xu’s gaze was steady and uncaring, like a cold flame. 

Once they arrived at the restaurant, they were led to a private dining room, where Wen Chao’s mother and Yu Ziyuan made the obligatory introductions and exchanged gifts. 

Wen Xu did not sit down, right away. He stood calmly to the side, watching Wei Wuxian with an unreadable expression. 

“So you are Wei Ying.” 

Wen Xu’s voice had been utterly calm, and he had addressed Wei Wuxian directly, paying little mind to Yu Ziyuan or his mother.

Despite the boldness of his introduction, he hadn’t come across as pompous or condescending. Rather, he seemed confident and self-possessed, as though he was watching Wei Wuxian assessingly, and making up his own opinion on him.

Well-versed in introductions to business partners of the Jiang family, Wei Wuxian had smiled at him politely, and inclined his head. “Wen Xu. It’s nice to meet you.”

Wen Xu had watched him keenly for a moment, as though attempting to make his mind up about something. And then, he had offered Wei Wuxian his hand. 

Wen Xu’s hand was larger than his, and he also immediately took the more assertive position in their handshake, cradling Wei Wuxian’s hand in his and squeezing gently. 

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Wen Xu had commented, as he stroked his thumb along the back of Wei Wuxian’s hand. 

It was little more than a faint, lingering caress, but it was undeniably suggestive. It sent a pleasant shiver down Wei Wuxian’s spine and made his breath hitch. 

Wei Wuxian had never been treated like this before, but he immediately understood the touch for what it was. 

Wen Xu was interested in him.

Wen Xu was testing him. 

And Wei Wuxian knew exactly what he wanted. 

The memory of Mo Xuanyu taking charge, pinning him to the bed, was still vivid in his mind, a secret and enticing thrill.

Wei Wuxian kept his hand limp in Wen Xu’s grip, docile and accepting, like a delicate creature being handed off to its new owner. He looked up at Wen Xu from under his eyelashes, meeting his gaze head-on.

“As have I.”

And the cold flame in Wen Xu’s gaze had flickered and reoriented itself, like it had been disturbed by a breeze and was resettling, flaring to life brighter than before.

Wei Wuxian had succeeded. 

Yu Ziyuan and Wen Xu’s mother had been undeniably anxious, as lunch progressed. They both had tried to steer the conversation, and Wen Xu had allowed them to. But it was clear that his focus was not on them. He was more interested in quietly watching Wei Wuxian.

And Wei Wuxian had quietly watched him, back.

After lunch, as the four of them prepared to leave, Wen Xu had abruptly addressed his mother and Yu Ziyuan.

“Will you allow Wei Ying and I a moment alone?”

And Wei Wuxian had found himself briskly guided out of their private dining room, down a hallway and into a secluded alcove in the restaurant. 

The instant they were alone, Wen Xu had backed him up against a wall, behind the cover of a partition. Wei Wuxian had gasped in surprise as his back hit the wall, but Wen Xu had paid his startled reaction no mind. Instead, he had grabbed Wei Wuxian by the jaw.

His touch was gentle yet firm, and Wei Wuxian had immediately frozen in anticipation, unspeakable thrill racing through his body and silencing his thoughts. 

For a moment, Wen Xu had been completely silent, tilting Wei Wuxian’s face ever so slightly and gazing at him, cool and aloof, like a jeweler admiring a gemstone under a beam of light. 

And then, he had stroked his thumb along Wei Wuxian’s cheek.

“You are very pretty.”

Wen Xu’s voice had been utterly calm and matter-of-fact, and Wei Wuxian had been so shocked, he had immediately felt a warm flush overtake his cheeks. 

He had never been called pretty before, certainly not by another man, and it was doing something funny to him. He parted his lips helplessly, searching Wen Xu’s intense and cold eyes. 

“Have you ever done this before?” Wen Xu had asked him, as he held him by the jaw, staring calmly into his eyes. “With a man?”

Wei Wuxian realized, with a degree of alarm, that he was getting turned on by this treatment. He was nearly trembling from it. 

But he wasn’t going to give in that easily. He had been raised in the same world of social politics as Wen Xu. He understood the value of playing your cards slowly, and not revealing too much all at once.

“What do you think?” he had countered, making his voice soft and his expression carefully neutral. He watched as Wen Xu studied him, unfaltering and intent, like he was searching for something below the surface, just out of sight.

And then Wen Xu had run a thumb over his lip, delicate like he was caressing a flower petal, and Wei Wuxian had nearly whimpered. 

Never once did Wen Xu look away from him. Never once did he break eye contact.

“I think you are a virgin.”

Oh. This man was making him dizzy .

Wei Wuxian found himself wondering if Wen Xu could see through him, just like Mo Xuanyu had.

Do you know what I need? he wondered, as Wen Xu held him by the jaw.

Wen Xu’s eyes were cold and Wei Wuxian’s cheeks were so, so warm. Wei Wuxian had never blushed like this before. He was not sure that he had ever blushed at all before this encounter.

“I- I’ve kissed a man,” Wei Wuxian admitted, and his voice came out softer than he expected. 

My first and only kiss , he didn’t say.

Wen Xu had watched him calmly, completely unfazed.

“How was it?”

Wei Wuxian had swallowed, searching Wen Xu’s gaze. There had been no malice in Wen Xu’s cold eyes, only keen intellect and something unexpectedly gentle and patient.

This man is looking for the same thing I am , Wei Wuxian had realized. He won’t hurt me.

Something vulnerable in Wei Wuxian’s heart had settled at the realization.

“Overwhelming,” he had whispered, more honest than he had intended.

Wen Xu had not seemed surprised by his confession. He stroked his thumb along Wei Wuxian’s jaw like he was admiring him.

“You are sensitive,” he told Wei Wuxian, his eyes dark and serious. 

And then he had leaned in close and kissed him, searchingly at first, faintly nudging their lips together, like he was asking for permission. 

Wei Wuxian had melted against the wall and whimpered, Wen Xu’s fingers firm along his jaw like an anchor holding him afloat. 

His reaction had been all the encouragement Wen Xu needed. The moment Wei Wuxian softened against him, Wen Xu became more forceful. He kissed Wei Wuxian like he was intent on dominating him, pinning him against the wall and licking into his mouth. Wei Wuxian opened his mouth obediently. He could feel the swell of Wen Xu’s erection poking against his hip, hot and hard and unbelievably vulgar.

He wondered, vaguely, if Wen Xu might turn him around and pin him to the wall, undo his pants and fuck him right here, muffled and discrete behind the partition. Wei Wuxian had never done anything like that before, but he would be helpless to stop it. He would let this man do anything to him. 

He could only take it. 

The thought made his mind fuzzy at the edges with some strange want he didn’t fully understand.

Despite his wandering train of thought, Wen Xu did not take him against the wall, hidden away in that restaurant. Instead, he kissed him until he was dizzy, and then he slowed down the pace, watching him carefully with his dark, intent eyes.

Wen Xu had looked at Wei Wuxian differently, in the aftermath of that kiss. His gaze was gentler, lingering like he was committing the sight of Wei Wuxian to his memory.

“Have you done it before?” Wei Wuxian had asked, returning the question as Wen Xu attentively tucked a strand of loose hair behind his ear. “With a man?”

For a moment, Wen Xu had only gazed down at him, stroking his cheek. Wei Wuxian thought he could see a glint of amusement in his eyes. 

“I will take care of you, Wei Ying.”

—

And Wen Xu did. He took care of Wei Wuxian very, very well. 

Wei Wuxian became fond of him. 

Their marriage was arranged quickly. Shortly after Wei Wuxian graduated from university, the date was set and a banquet hall was reserved. 

After the wedding, they moved into a house their families had prepared, in an upscale neighborhood in the city. 

They had everything they could want or need.

They went out to eat at nice restaurants. They traveled together. Wen Xu was supportive of Wei Wuxian’s career, but assured him that he didn’t need to work if he didn’t want to.

Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng came to visit often. Sometimes Jin Zixuan even joined them.

Wen Chao and Wang Lingjiao came to visit on a few occasions, and Wei Wuxian learned that Wen Xu wasn’t especially close with his brother. He was even less close with Wang Lingjiao. The discovery was an immense relief. 

Several years passed.

And then, they met Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji and Wen Xu hit it off so well, after Wei Wuxian initiated a conversation between them. The two of them immediately understood each other.

Lan Wangji is like Wen Xu. A provider.

A protector.

Lan Wangji fit into their life so easily, as if he had always been a part of it. 

On one occasion, he had joined Wei Wuxian and Wen Xu on a hiking trip, and Wei Wuxian had fallen on a loose rock and twisted his ankle. 

Wei Wuxian had tried to pick himself up and carry on with their hike, but it quickly became apparent that he could not put any weight on his ankle without experiencing sharp pain that made him gasp and grit his teeth. He could hardly stand, much less proceed with an arduous trek down the mountain.

Lan Wangji and Wen Xu had both helped gently lower him so that he was sitting on a fallen log with his injured leg extended. It was fortunate that Lan Wangji was trained in first aid - Wen Xu had no experience with emergency medical care, so it was up to Lan Wangji to tend to Wei Wuxian’s ankle.

Wen Xu had tried calling for help, but all of his calls had failed and he was unable to get service. He instructed Wei Wuxian to remain sitting while Lan Wangji looked after him, and then wandered off to search for reception.

Lan Wangji hadn’t once tried to call for help like Wen Xu. Instead, he had focused entirely on Wei Wuxian, delicately holding his ankle as he assessed the extent of the injury, his light-colored eyes focused and concerned. 

“Does it hurt?” he had asked, his gaze flicking up to meet Wei Wuxian’s. 

Lan Wangji’s voice is soft and deep, and his eyes are piercing, light like amber and shadowed by long, dark lashes. He is truly beautiful, and it’s always a bit overwhelming to be the focus of his attention. 

“Not really, it’s just a little sore,” Wei Wuxian had replied, shrugging off the pain as best he could. 

He is normally a very good liar. 

But Lan Wangji always has a way of seeing through him.

“Wei Ying.”

Lan Wangji only ever has to say his name to disarm him. He is so gentle and stern. No one else can make Wei Wuxian’s name sound the way he does.

Wei Wuxian had sighed, trying another approach. 

He bit his lip, and smiled at Lan Wangji sweetly. 

“If I say it hurts, will you carry me?”

He had meant it as a joke, a way to distract Lan Wangji from whatever anxiety or concern he was feeling. He had imagined Lan Wangji calling him ridiculous, and changing the topic entirely.

But Lan Wangji had only faltered for a moment, his eyes widening slightly in shock and his lips parting. He had quickly recovered, returning all his focus to diligently wrapping Wei Wuxian’s ankle with a makeshift bandage.

Lan Wangji’s hands are strong and capable. They are also very large, especially in proportion to Wei Wuxian’s ankle. Lan Wangji’s fingers are long and elegant, and Wei Wuxian is easily transfixed by them. 

Especially when they are carefully rolling up the edge of his pants as Lan Wangji kneels before him, gently peeling off his sock and cradling his ankle like it is made of fragile porcelain. 

Lan Wangji’s hands were one of the first things Wei Wuxian noticed when he met the man, on a balcony outside of the company event he had accompanied Wen Xu to. 

“You can’t bring alcohol out here,” Lan Wangji had stated, when Wei Wuxian slipped onto the balcony before dinner with a half-full bottle of wine in hand. He had snatched it from a buffet table, and had been desperate to get a breath of fresh air and escape the networking that Wen Xu was occupied with. 

Typically, Wen Xu prefers Wei Wuxian to stay at his side and be quiet at these events, allowing him to take the lead and steer the discussion with whatever business contacts he is chatting with. 

Wei Wuxian absolutely hates it. There is nothing worse than standing there quietly and nodding along to whatever Wen Xu is saying, laughing at jokes that aren’t funny. It is so boring, it makes Wei Wuxian’s skin itch.

But he hadn’t been the only one who needed to slip away from the party. For some reason or another, Lan Wangji had been on that balcony, calm and serene like a heavenly being in the moonlight, far removed from the concerns of mortals. 

Wei Wuxian had smiled mischievously, and sidled up along the edge of the balcony next to Lan Wangji. He was rather pent up, after standing calmly at Wen Xu’s side for so long.  

Lan Wangji watched him coldly, and Wei Wuxian pressed a finger to his lips in a shushing motion, winking at him in a way that he knew was very cute. 

“I won’t tell if you won’t,” he had promised, taking a swig from the bottle and offering it to Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji didn’t even look at the bottle. He just stared back at Wei Wuxian, stern and aloof, his eyes bright and warm in the moonlight.

Exactly my type , Wei Wuxian had thought, in the back of his mind. If he weren’t already married, Lan Wangji was exactly the type of man he would be interested in pursuing.

Lan Wangji was unmoved by his offer, but hadn’t rejected his company, so Wei Wuxian simply shrugged. 

“Suit yourself. That’s more for me!” he concluded with a winning smile, taking another swig from the bottle. 

Lan Wangji watched silently as Wei Wuxian drank, his expression giving nothing away. 

What an interesting man , Wei Wuxian had thought. He propped his elbow against the balcony and rested his chin on his palm, watching Lan Wangji curiously. 

“So who are you?” he had asked, tapping his finger against his lip. “Wait, let me guess!”

He had paused, squinting his eyes at Lan Wangji and studying him carefully. 

Lan Wangji was tall and broad-shouldered, and appeared quite fit. He had big, elegant hands, and a calm expression. His hair was styled neatly, and appeared to have been treated with a subtle, expensive perm. The bone structure of his face was very handsome and striking, and his skin was flawless and glassy, like fine jade. All in all, he was an incredibly attractive man. It was clear that he took good care of himself, but he didn’t appear to be overly vain or flashy. 

Wei Wuxian felt his smile curl in fascination as he studied him.

“You look pretty straight-laced, and that’s a nice suit,” he began, running his gaze down Lan Wangji’s body. “Tom Ford, if I’m not mistaken? And it’s properly tailored, too.”

Lan Wangji watched him calmly, offering no response, so Wei Wuxian continued.

“Your watch is a vintage Omega,” he noted, turning his gaze to Lan Wangji’s elegant hands. “Good quality, but sensible, and not too flashy. Well maintained. Perhaps sentimental?”

Lan Wangji’s gaze sharpened at that, almost like a warning.

Definitely sentimental.

Wei Wuxian tilted his head to the side thoughtfully, his ponytail slipping over his shoulder. Lan Wangji was listening to him calmly, and allowing his inquiry. He was definitely a confident man, and seemed very self-possessed.

“You’re out here all alone when you could be in there networking… Is it that you don’t like to socialize with the people here, or you don’t need to?” Wei Wuxian paused, watching him cleverly. “Or is it both?”

Wei Wuxian knew what type of background Lan Wangji came from. He knew because Wen Xu was currently undercover in a mid-level management position in his father’s company. 

One day, Wen Xu will take over as a director and join the board, but for now, he is floating under the radar, learning the ins and outs of the lower levels of the organization.

Wei Wuxian could tell that Lan Wangji and Wen Xu were cut from the same cloth. It was more than evident in the way Lan Wangji carried himself, and the way he dressed. 

Lan Wangji watched him coldly for a moment, seeming rather tense.

“You are very perceptive,” he had remarked, and oh- his voice was deep and melodic. But there was a stilted edge to his words, like he had nothing more to say on the subject.

Wei Wuxian smiled anxiously, fidgeting with his earring. 

“Sorry if I’ve overstepped!” he rushed to apologize. “I’m just so bored in there, my husband enjoys these types of events much more than I do. It’s better sometimes if I just get out of the way and let him socialize.”

Lan Wangji’s expression did something interesting at the word ‘husband.’ 

His eyes widened slightly and he tensed even more noticeably than before. His gaze flitted from Wei Wuxian’s long hair to his earring and the jewelry around his wrist with newfound interest. Wei Wuxian’s suit jacket was draped over his arm, and was wearing a silk button-down with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of fitted trousers. Lan Wangji’s gaze lingered for several moments on the fit of his clothes.

“Lan Zhan,” Lan Wangji had introduced himself, noticeably swallowing to clear his throat. “My name is Lan Zhan.”

Wei Wuxian hadn’t known it at the time, but he had quickly learned that Lan Wangji could be quite shy at times. It was unexpected, from such a confident man, but Wei Wuxian noticed over time that many things made Lan Wangji shy. He surely had, that night on the balcony.

After they had broken the ice, Wei Wuxian hit it off well with Lan Wangji. He had found him later, at dinner, and enthusiastically struck up a conversation between him and Wen Xu. 

The rest was history. Lan Wangji became an incredibly competent and reliable friend. 

He was also incredibly competent at first aid. While Wen Xu was off searching for service, Lan Wangji had stayed by Wei Wuxian’s side the entire time, monitoring his swollen ankle and making sure he was resting and drinking water. He insisted on sharing the mixed nuts he had packed, and offered Wei Wuxian his own pair of sunglasses when the clouds shifted overhead. 

Wei Wuxian had joked about it, but in truth, he would happily trust Lan Wangji to carry him down the mountain. Who wouldn’t want to be carried by such a strong and reliable man?

In the end, though, Lan Wangji wasn’t the one who ended up carrying Wei Wuxian for the majority of their descent. Wen Xu took care of that, lifting Wei Wuxian onto his back and instructing him to loop his arms around his shoulders and hold on. 

Lan Wangji, meanwhile, carried all three of their backpacks down the mountain, one slung over each shoulder and one in the front. It was quite a sight to behold.

Lan Wangji never complained, and he never wavered. Even when they needed to stop so Wen Xu could set Wei Wuxian down for a moment, Lan Wangji never expressed impatience. He checked on Wei Wuxian’s ankle diligently, and offered to switch with Wen Xu if needed.

Wen Xu finally caved and accepted his help during the final stretch down the mountain. The terrain was rather steep, and Wen Xu was undeniably exhausted from carrying Wei Wuxian on his back for miles. His pride could only sustain him for so long.

Lan Wangji carried Wei Wuxian onto his back, just like Wen Xu had. He made it feel effortless. He didn’t even need to ask Wei Wuxian to hold on, he just lifted him up like it was the easiest thing in the world and then started down the mountain at a steady pace. 

Wei Wuxian slumped against his shoulder, breathing in the soft sandalwood smell of his shampoo. He was fussy and in pain, but being carried by Lan Wangji was incredibly soothing. They had never been this close, before.

“Hang in there, Wei Ying.”

Lan Wangji’s voice was gentle are caring. He had noticed, at some point in their descent, that Wei Wuxian was growing uncomfortable.

Wei Wuxian hadn’t said a word about the pain he was feeling, but Lan Wangji had noticed.

That’s the type of person Lan Wangji is.

He always notices things, and he always knows what to say.

He always makes Wei Wuxian feel at ease.

Early on in their relationship, Wen Xu had asked Wei Wuxian to attend a charity event at a local animal shelter that his father’s company was sponsoring. 

Wei Wuxian had immediately tried to back out. 

“I don’t know if I should come,” he had explained nervously. “I really don’t like dogs.”

But Wen Xu had heard none of it.

“You don’t like dogs?" he had asked, and Wei Wuxian had nodded anxiously.

“It’s just- I don’t like when they bark and jump, and I really don’t like being near them-”

Wen Xu’s eyes had softened, like he was looking at something precious. He had pulled Wei Wuxian into his arms and stroked his hair gently. 

“Shh,” he had soothed. “You don’t need to explain.”

“But I-“

“It will be okay,” he had promised. “The staff are very well trained at handling them. I won’t let any dogs hurt you.”

Wei Wuxian swallowed down the words that were caught in his throat. 

He had tucked his face into Wen Xu’s shoulder and taken a deep, shaky breath. He could do this, he told himself. He could do it for Wen Xu, and for Yu Ziyuan and the Jiang family. 

It was not okay. 

On the day of the event, Wei Wuxian had followed Wen Xu dutifully on a tour of the facility. He had played with the cats and the bunnies, and Wen Xu had smiled at him gently, like he found Wei Wuxian just as adorable as the kittens he was holding. Wang Lingjiao had been clinging to Wen Chao and vlogging about the animals, so Wei Wuxian really hadn't needed to interact with either of them too much. 

Everything had been going so well. But then they had entered the dog facility, and Wei Wuxian had frozen up at once. 

Some of the dogs were in kennels, and some were in a fenced-in play area. They were all watching him, with their beady little eyes, and some of them were barking, lunging in their cages- snapping their jaws and baring their disgusting teeth-

Wei Wuxian held it together enough to spend several minutes in that room. And then, he quietly stepped outside and hyperventilated until he nearly passed out.

Wen Xu found him at the end of the hallway, as far away as possible from the entrance to the dog kennels. He was huddled on the floor to the side of a large shelving unit, where he had sunk down the wall, hands plastered over his mouth to stop himself from making a sound. 

Wen Xu was terrified. He had never seen Wei Wuxian in such a state. He apologized frantically and fell to his knees, trying to help as best he could. 

Wei Wuxian was shaking badly, but here was little he could do to stop himself. When Wen Xu tried to touch him, he flinched violently. It took quite a while for him to calm down and come back to himself. When he did, he apologized quietly and wiped the tears from his cheeks, feeling very ashamed that he hadn’t been able to hold it together for a simple tour.

Wen Xu had assured him that it wasn’t his fault at all. He apologized for pushing him too hard, and told him they would be heading home now.

“But we need to be here for your family,” Wei Wuxian had protested, wiping his tears with his shaking fingers. “We have to finish the tour.”

“It’s okay,” Wen Xu had said sardonically. “I think Jiaojiao has everything under control.”

Which was the understatement of the century. The last Wei Wuxian had seen of her, she was gushing to the camera about how this shelter had the cutest dogs and Wen Chao’s family was sooo generous to be sponsoring it. 

Wei Wuxian was fairly certain she wasn’t actually interested in adopting a shelter dog, since she had bragged to him before that her dogs were all purebreds from a champion lineage, and that they were the only dogs worth spending money on.

Regardless, Wei Wuxian had laughed weakly at Wen Xu’s sarcasm, and allowed himself to be helped up and led to the car. 

Wen Xu felt terrible afterwards. He was extremely attentive to Wei Wuxian after that, and he always made sure to shield him from any dogs they came across. There was no more talk of visiting the animal shelter, or any event that featured dogs. 

The topic did come up once, with Lan Wangji. 

The three of them had been sailing one weekend, and had crossed paths with several large dogs on the dock as they were preparing to board. Wei Wuxian had stepped backwards anxiously, and had nearly overstepped and fallen off the edge of the dock. 

Lan Wangji quickly caught him, grabbing him by the bicep to steady him. Wen Xu had also stepped in, quickly guiding Wei Wuxian onto the boat and helping to settle him into a seat.

“Wei Ying is scared of dogs,” he had explained, petting Wei Wuxian’s hair. 

Wei Wuxian had swallowed, averting his gaze. He never likes telling people about his aversion to dogs. It’s embarrassing. 

Everyone likes dogs, and they always question him about why he’s scared of them, and if there are some dogs he likes more than others. Wei Wuxian prefers to avoid the topic altogether. 

Wen Xu turned his attention to the remaining supplies on the dock, and began to work on loading them onto the boat. Lan Wangji, meanwhile, took a seat beside Wei Wuxian. 

“It’s not that I’m scared of dogs,” Wei Wuxian quickly explained. “I just had a bad experience in the past and I really don’t like them-”

Lan Wangji had, in a rare moment of physical contact, placed his hand on top of Wei Wuxian’s.

“Wei Ying,” he had said, simple and gentle. “You don’t need to explain.”

And somehow, the way he had said it, the sincerity in his gaze, had immediately settled the anxiety in Wei Wuxian’s heart.

—

It’s that same easy sincerity that has Wei Wuxian’s finger hovering over Lan Wangji’s contact on his phone, as he sits anxiously at the dinner table. 

Lan Wangji always knows what to say, and he is so close with Wen Xu. He probably knows exactly where he is and why he isn’t answering his phone. Surely he can help shed some light on the situation.

Wei Wuxian calls him, and Lan Wangji picks up on the third ring.

“Wei Ying.”

“Lan Zhan! Sorry to call you like this, but have you seen Wen Xu recently? He isn’t home yet, and he isn’t answering his phone. It keeps ringing, so it doesn’t seem like the battery’s dead, but he isn’t picking up and I’m worried that he lost it or something might have happened to him.”

Wei Wuxian paused, letting out the breath he was holding in.

Lan Wangji was silent for several moments. 

Then, there was a loud thump in the background. 

“Lan Zhan?”

“I apologize, Wei Ying. Give me one moment.”

The line went silent for several minutes. Wei Wuxian toyed with his earring anxiously. 

Finally, Lan Wangji returned, sounding rather out of breath.

“Wei Ying. I apologize. I am preparing dinner, and the cutting board slipped off the counter. You were saying that Wen Xu isn’t home yet? I haven’t seen him, but I can try giving him a call.”

Wei Wuxian could not help but feel a small, hesitant smile take over his face at Lan Wangji’s offer to help. 

He had been sitting in the kitchen worrying about Wen Xu all alone. It was much better to have Lan Wangji to talk with. 

“That would be great, Lan Zhan. Sorry to bother you while you’re cooking. I’m just worried because he’s never been late like this before.”

“How long has it been?” Lan Wangji asked him.

“Over two hours. He hasn’t responded at all, or mentioned any plans after work.”

Lan Wangji paused for a moment.

“Have you tried calling his family?”

“Not yet,” Wei Wuxian replied, biting his lip nervously.

He isn’t especially close with Wen Xu’s family. Wen Chao is often intolerable, and Wen Xu’s parents tend to regard Wei Wuxian with indifference. They’ve never made an attempt to get to know him or speak with him directly.

“It might be helpful to give them a call, in case they know anything,” Lan Wangji suggested. 

That was a fair point - if Wen Xu’s parents had heard anything, it was unlikely that they would reach out to Wei Wuxian directly unless he initiated it. 

“I’ll give that a try,” Wei Wuxian replied. “Thanks, Lan Zhan.”

“No need for thanks,” Lan Wangji deflected. “Please let me know how it goes. I will try calling Wen Xu to see if I can reach him.”

Wei Wuxian thanked him, and hung up the phone. He called Wen Xu’s mother, and she didn’t have any information about where he could be. 

Lan Wangji tried Wen Xu, and was unable to reach him.

“It’s been over four hours now, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian reported anxiously over the phone, his voice breaking slightly. “I don’t know what to do. I have no idea where he could be and there’s no one who can help.”

Wei Wuxian bit his lip, gazing at the wedding band around his finger. It was solid gold, with a simple, elegant design. Wen Xu had picked it out, and Wei Wuxian had loved it immediately. It wasn’t too flashy, and it fit perfectly on his finger. 

Wen Xu’s wedding band was an exact match.

It was a symbol of commitment. A promise they had made to each other. 

And right now, Wei Wuxian had no idea where Wen Xu was, or what had happened to him.

The dishes he had prepared for dinner were untouched. The house was achingly quiet.

Wei Wuxian was alone.

His vision went foggy, and he had to blink several times to compose himself.

“Everything is going to be okay, Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji was saying over the phone. “You need to file a missing person’s report. If something has happened to him, time is of the essence.”

Wei Wuxian swallowed, trying to gather himself. 

“A missing person’s report,” he repeated. “Right. I need to- the police will need to know…”

He faltered, taking a shaky breath. 

“Wei Ying?”

Wei Wuxian closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as a tear slipped down his cheek.

“It’s going to be okay, isn’t it, Lan Zhan?” he whispered, and his voice came out horrible and pained. “People go missing all the time. He’s going to turn up and everything’s going to be fine. He’ll probably show up any minute now, and I’ll feel so ridiculous for worrying like this.”

Wei Wuxian laughed anxiously, wiping the tears from his cheeks.

Lan Wangji could surely hear that he was crying. He waited for several moments while Wei Wuxian composed himself and calmed his ragged breathing.

When Lan Wangji spoke, his voice was gentle and pained.

“I am so sorry, Wei Ying. This cannot be easy for you. I will be with you every step of the way.”

Wei Wuxian sniffled weakly and thanked Lan Wangji for the help. And then, he called the police.

Submitting a missing person’s report took far longer than he expected. The police asked him many, many questions. They asked about Wen Xu’s appearance, address and occupation. They asked where he was last spotted, and about the places he typically visits. They asked about his habits and vices, his health and the clothing he was wearing. They directed Wei Wuxian to upload recent pictures of him. 

By the end of it, Wei Wuxian was emotionally exhausted. He sat in the kitchen, staring at the dishes on the table, and then blankly stood up and walked to the stairway in the foyer. He sat at the bottom of the stairs, vacantly watching the front door. 

Wei Wuxian couldn’t say how long he sat there. He had skipped dinner, and yet he hadn’t felt hungry in the slightest. By the time his eyes started slipping closed, the sun had started to rise and morning light was bleeding through the curtains.

Finally, he stood up and got himself a glass of water from the kitchen. He drank it mechanically, staring at all of the neglected dishes on the kitchen table. They would need to be thrown away, at some point. 

He set his empty glass in the kitchen sink and returned to the foyer, grabbing a blanket and pillow from the sofa and curling up on an armchair that had a clear line of sight to the front entrance.

He tucked his phone in beside him, so that he would hear it and feel it if it rang. The police had his contact information, and Lan Wangji had promised to call him in the morning to check in.

Wei Wuxian knows that Lan Wangji is an honest man. 

Lan Wangji had said that everything would be okay. He had said that he would be with Wei Wuxian every step of the way. And Wei Wuxian believed him. 

But Lan Wangji never once said that Wen Xu was okay. He never once said that Wen Xu would turn up.

He is not the type of person who would give someone false hope. 

Wei Wuxian took a deep, shaky breath.

And then, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

—

Wen Xu’s body was found several days later, in a desolate alley in a seedy neighborhood. It was an absolute mystery as to how he had gotten there, or what he was doing in such a place.

But then his credit card statements were pulled by the police, and a very ugly picture emerged.

Wen Xu had a secret credit card. In the month leading up to his disappearance, he had used it to purchase lavish items and cheap hotel rooms in the same seedy neighborhood he had later turned up in.

The implication was more than clear. 

His autopsy revealed that he had been strangled and stabbed to death. It appeared to be a mugging that ended badly. His wallet had been stolen, and his phone was shattered. 

Wei Wuxian had identified the body. The police had taken his statement, and he wasn’t sure what he had said. Wen Xu’s parents had arrived, and had spoken with the officers, as well. 

Wei Wuxian had floated through it in a daze. When he drove home, his hands were shaking and he had to pull over on the side of the road to compose himself. 

He made it home, walked directly to bed, and buried himself under the heavy blankets.

He wasn’t hungry at all, so he didn’t eat. 

Jiang Yanli called him later that day, to check in on Wen Xu’s disappearance. Wei Wuxian had picked up the phone, but had barely been able to speak.

“Jiejie,” he had whispered, and his voice had come out small and broken. He hadn’t sounded like himself at all. 

Jiang Yanli had immediately known what had happened.

“A-Xian, where are you?” she had asked, gentle and urgent. 

And then, she had jumped in the car and rushed over to the house.

Wei Wuxian had dragged himself out of bed, knowing that she was coming over. He had poured himself a glass of water. 

By the time Jiang Yanli arrived, he had calmed down enough to properly answer the door.

Wei Wuxian told her what had happened. He told her about the credit card, too. About the hotels and the secret purchases. 

He felt strangely detached as he explained it to her, as if he was reciting something that had happened to someone else. 

Jiang Yanli had held him and stroked his hair and apologized and told him that everything was going to be okay. She had insisted on staying with him, or having him come home with her. Wei Wuxian had assured her that it wasn’t necessary. He told her that he needed some time alone.

Jiang Yanli broke the news to Jiang Cheng. The two of them stopped by later to drop off food for Wei Wuxian, and make sure he was doing okay. 

After they had left, Wei Wuxian took a hot shower. He stayed under the water for a very long time, and then he crawled back into bed and tried his best to fall asleep.

Time passed in a haze. 

The police contacted him the next day, for further questioning. He was brought into the station, and thoroughly interrogated. 

He returned home, and didn’t even bother opening the refrigerator. The thought of food was nauseating. His vision was blurry and there was something huge and terrifying welling up inside him, like an avalanche that had just begun to rupture. It was too late to escape it.

Wei Wuxian paced through the first floor of the house for several minutes, taking shaky breaths. And then, his phone rang.

It was Lan Wangji.

Wei Wuxian only hesitated for a moment before taking the call.

He tried to say hello, but the words caught in his throat.

“Wei Ying? Are you there?”

Lan Wangji’s voice was concerned. Frightened. 

Wei Wuxian closed his eyes and fought back a wave of panic. 

“Lan Zhan,” he whispered weakly into the phone. “Lan Zhan, can you come over?”

“Are you at home? Wei Ying, I am leaving now. I will be there in a few minutes.”

And Lan Wangji was true to his word. He arrived quickly, and appeared quite frantic when Wei Wuxian greeted him at the door.

“I’m sorry for bothering you,” Wei Wuxian apologized, as soon as Lan Wangji came inside. His voice was tremulous and wet, and he had to blink several times to clear the tears from his eyes. “I know I shouldn’t have asked- I just-“

“Wei Ying, I am so sorry.”

Lan Wangji’s voice was rough with emotion, and his eyes were full of deep remorse. 

He looked utterly heartbroken.

Wei Wuxian felt his bottom lip tremble, and his vision go misty. Whatever was about to hit him was coming on hard and fast. 

“I’m sorry, Lan Zhan,” he whispered, his voice thick and wet. “I don’t want to bother you, on top of what you’re already going through. I- I know he was your friend, too.”

Lan Wangji’s face, if possible, softened even further with sadness.

“Wei Ying…” he whispered, and Wei Wuxian burst into tears, hiding his face in his hands and closing his eyes.

For just a moment, he stood there, fighting for breath as tears raced down his cheeks. 

And then, Lan Wangji wrapped his arms around him, hesitantly pulling him into a gentle embrace. 

Wei Wuxian collapsed into him immediately.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Lan Wangji whispered roughly, holding Wei Wuxian close and gently stroking his hair as he sobbed. “There is nowhere I would rather be.”

Wei Wuxian cried for a long, long time in Lan Wangji’s arms. When he was finished, Lan Wangji helped him find a seat on the sofa, and fetched him a box of tissues and a glass of water.

“I was brought in to the police station today,” Wei Wuxian explained, his voice shaky as he finished wiping the tears from his face. “They asked me so many questions. They asked if I knew anything about what Wen Xu was doing in that neighborhood. They asked me where I was when it happened, and how my relationship was with my husband.”

Wei Wuxian paused to take a shaky breath, blinking back another wave of tears. “It was like they thought I was responsible. I- I can’t-”

Lan Wangji immediately took hold of his shaking hands.

“Wei Ying, it was not your fault,” he stated, with absolute sincerity. “You have nothing to be afraid of.”

Wei Wuxian took a shaky breath, another tear slipping loose and running down his cheek, and Lan Wangji pulled him into a gentle hug.

“Wen Xu loved you very much.”

Wei Wuxian whimpered and let himself be held. His eyes were stinging, but there were still tears welling up in his eyes.

“It hurts,” he whispered, and Lan Wangji made a small, sad sound, like he was holding back a sob. Wei Wuxian’s face was hidden in Lan Wangji’s shoulder, but he could feel the emotion Lan Wangji was holding back. His hands were trembling faintly as he stoked Wei Wuxian’s hair. The heartbreak had been written all over his face, when he had entered the house. 

Wen Xu had been his best friend.  

On the second night after Wen Xu’s disappearance, when the search was still ongoing, Lan Wangji had offered to come over, or for Wei Wuxian to stay with him if needed. He had asked Wei Wuxian if he would be okay alone, and if there was anything he needed.

Wei Wuxian had told him there was no need. It was the same answer he had given to Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng, after the news had come to light. 

The truth was, Wei Wuxian couldn’t stay with Jiang Yanli. She had offered sincerely, and it was clear that she wanted to be there for him. 

But only a few weeks ago she and Jin Zixuan had come over for dinner.

We’re trying for a baby , she had confided, her cheeks faintly dusted pink, as Jin Zixuan gazed at her warmly.

Wei Wuxian knew how much it had taken for Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan to get to this point, and there was no way he could get in the middle of that .

Jiang Cheng wasn’t an option, either, since he was living at home with his parents at the moment, with no romantic prospects in sight.

In truth, Wei Wuxian was feeling lonely. He hadn’t been alone like this in a long, long time. Wen Xu had been with him every day, a constant presence in his life. He was a person Wei Wuxian could rely on, a person he had committed himself to, and now he was simply gone.

The house was too quiet. His absence was too painful and jarring.

Wei Wuxian was lonely, and he was scared. 

He was so, so grateful for Lan Wangji.

Wei Wuxian had cried in front of Lan Wangji only once before.

It had been a little over a month ago, at a charity gala. The Jiang family had attended, as well as the Wen and the Lan.

Jiang Cheng had clearly been in an emotional state throughout the evening. He greeted Wei Wuxian coldly, and glared at him from across the room.

Later in the evening, he had run into Wei Wuxian in the hallway, outside of the restroom. 

Jiang Cheng had rolled his eyes at him, and walked past as though he didn’t have anything to say to him. 

After an entire evening of dealing with Jiang Cheng’s attitude, Wei Wuxian was at his limit. 

“What is your problem with me?” he had snapped, stepping forward to block Jiang Cheng’s path. 

“Who says I have a problem with you?” Jiang Cheng had sneered at him, stepping to the side to get around him.

Wei Wuxian had bitten his lip, feeling abruptly furious. He followed Jiang Cheng obediently down the hall, and around a corner into an alcove, where Jiang Cheng finally turned around to face him and complete their conversation.

Wei Wuxian took a deep, steadying breath. His blood was boiling with anger.

“You’ve been glaring at me all night. You never reply to my texts anymore, and you ignore me in our group chat with jiejie. What reason could you possibly have for shutting me out with no explanation?”

A muscle in Jiang Cheng’s jaw twitched with anger. 

“Are you telling me you don’t know?” he had hissed. “You really don’t get it? Wei Wuxian, I thought you were supposed to be the smart one.”

Jiang Cheng paused, sneering in disdain. “Look at you now. You were supposed to be by my side. My right-hand man. Now you’re nothing more than a pet for the Wens.”

Despite the cruelty of his words, Jiang Cheng’s accusation had wavered with emotion. 

There was real hurt in Jiang Cheng’s voice. 

All at once, the anger Wei Wuxian was feeling let out like a deflated balloon. 

“I’m not a pet,” he whispered.

Jiang Cheng swallowed thickly and rolled his eyes. 

“Sure you’re not.”

And then he spun on heel, leaving Wei Wuxian stunned and alone in that alcove. 

Wei Wuxian had done what Yi Ziyuan had wanted. He had done the best he could. He had tried to do the right thing. 

But he had hurt Jiang Cheng in the process.

“Wei Ying?”

Lan Wangji’s voice startled him out of his thoughts. He sounded hesitant and concerned. It appeared that he had been passing by, and had just noticed Wei Wuxian alone in the hall. 

“Hi, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian had greeted him with a weak smile.

Lan Wangji had stared at him for a moment, appearing deeply shocked. When he spoke, his voice was extremely gentle.

“Wei Ying, you are crying.”

Wei Wuxian froze, and quickly moved to wipe the tears from his cheeks.

“I’m not crying,” he had insisted with a smile, as another tear slipped down his cheek. “I’m not- this is just- there was something in my eye-“

Lan Wangji stared at him for a moment, seeming almost horrified. 

“I should find your husband,” he said, vacantly.

“No! No, don’t bother him with this, Lan Zhan, I’m fine! I’m really, really fine,” Wei Wuxian insisted, grabbing on to Lan Wangji’s sleeve to keep him from leaving. “He’s in an important conversation with Jiang-shushu anyways. We can’t interrupt that.”

Lan Wangji had stared at him with wide eyes. 

He had never looked at Wei Wuxian in such a way before. His expression was extremely complicated, like he was shocked and reevaluating something. 

Although they had known each other for months, it almost felt like he was seeing Wei Wuxian for the first time. 

Wei Wuxian hadn’t been able to fully make sense of what Lan Wangji was thinking in that moment, but it was clear that he was deeply concerned and upset at the sight of Wei Wuxian crying. 

“Can you just stay with me for a minute?” Wei Wuxian had asked, and Lan Wangji had immediately nodded.

He released Lan Wangji’s sleeve, and the two of them took a seat on a nearby bench. 

For several moments, they sat in silence.

Lan Wangji was a kind person. Wei Wuxian knew that he was incredibly moral and just, and filial to his family. 

He was the type of person who would always try to do the right thing, even if it was difficult.

Wei Wuxian wiped the last of the tears from his cheeks, and took a shaky breath. 

“You would do anything for your family, right?” he asked Lan Wangji, his voice breaking slightly as he very deliberately kept his gaze fixed on the wallpaper across from them. “If your uncle or brother asked you to do something, really asked you to do it, you would listen to them, wouldn’t you?”

Lan Wangji didn’t respond at first. He seemed to be thinking very seriously about the question. 

When he finally spoke, his voice was soft and carried a heavy gravity.

“Family is important, but I believe there is a difference between respect and obedience.”

Wei Wuxian blinked several times, mulling over Lan Wangji’s words. 

“So you’re saying that you respect your family, but you might not always obey them?”

Lan Wangji was quiet in response, as if he was avoiding incriminating himself. 

Unexpectedly, Wei Wuxian found himself smiling.

“That’s far more rebellious than I expected from you, Lan Zhan.”

Lan Wangji hesitated for a moment, and then turned to face Wei Wuxian.

“I believe that sometimes we must make choices and take actions that others will not understand,” Lan Wangji told him. There was something incredibly sharp and meaningful in his gaze, like he was imparting a deeply held secret. “Wei Ying, I would do anything for the people I love.”

At Lan Wangji’s words, something warm and fond bubbled up in Wei Wuxian.

I would do anything for the people I love.

For a moment, Wei Wuxian had simply stared at him, his lips parted in disbelief. 

And then, a small smile overtook his face. 

“That was too cool, Lan Zhan,” he whispered, suddenly feeling rather shy. “You can’t just say things like that so casually!”

At Wei Wuxian’s words, the smallest hint of a smile overtook Lan Wangji’s serious expression. 

“Let me get you some water,” Lan Wangji offered, ignoring Wei Wuxian’s protests. “Wait right here.”

True to his word, Lan Wangji returned with a glass of water, and some tissues from the restroom so that Wei Wuxian could wipe his tears. It was an incredibly thoughtful gesture.

Wei Wuxian held the glass Lan Wangji handed him, blinking at it and thinking absently about how, if it was Wen Xu, he would have brought wine.

The water was warm and soothing, and Wei Wuxian felt much more clear headed after drinking it. 

“Thanks, Lan Zhan,” he said, with a small, sincere smile. 

Lan Wangji’s gaze was incredibly gentle as he took the empty glass from Wei Wuxian.

“There is no need for thanks, Wei Ying.”

—

Lan Wangji was called in for questioning a few days after Wen Xu’s body was discovered. 

He was incredibly calm about it. It’s routine procedure , he explained, when he stopped by afterwards, with takeout from Wei Wuxian’s favorite restaurant. In an investigation like this, it is critical to obtain as much information as possible from those who were close to the victim.

Wei Wuxian still felt anxious, though. The killer had not been identified, and no new information or suspects had turned up yet. He had been told that the police were actively scouring Wen Xu’s phone records and digital presence to search for leads, as well as searching nearby security camera footage, but so far, the killer’s identity was a mystery. 

Wei Wuxian knew that Wen Xu’s parents were trying very hard to keep the details of the investigation and where and how Wen Xu had been killed from being leaked to the press. It would be a huge news story if the first son of the Wen family was found murdered in a back alley of a neighborhood known for drugs and prostitution. 

Wei Wuxian tried not to think about it too hard. When he did think about it, his thoughts started to spiral to the secret credit card and the seedy hotels, and he started to feel sick with betrayal.

Instead of involving himself in the investigation, Wei Wuxian committed himself to his work. 

Ever since he had graduated from university, he had been working from home as a full stack developer in a start-up with Wen Ruohan’s niece and nephew. 

His background isn’t technically computer science - his degree is in business management, since he had originally been training to help run operations for Jiang Cheng one day. But Wei Wuxian has always enjoyed working with technology, and coding and development has always come naturally and impulsively to him. He started contributing to open source codebases in his free time during university and built up a rather large repository of work. 

When he met Wen Ning through Wen Xu, he was thrilled to learn that Wen Ning was also incredibly talented at coding and interested in development. Wen Ning was building an app, and Wei Wuxian was intrigued. They hit it off immediately, and Wei Wuxian started working with him not long after.

It’s convenient that Wei Wuxian has been working remotely, since he has minimal desire to leave the house after Wen Xu’s passing. 

He does, however, have a strong desire to keep himself busy with work. He quickly falls into a routine of coding for at least 10 hours a day. Wen Qing tells him he needs to cut back, and suggests that he take time off, but Wei Wuxian has absolutely no interest in doing that. If he stops coding and allows his mind to wander, he’s going to feel alone again. 

Lan Wangji comes by nearly every day for dinner, and brings Wei Wuxian takeout or cooks something for him in the kitchen. Wei Wuxian had objected, at first, but then he realized it was helpful for Lan Wangji to spend time with someone. 

He had lost his best friend, too.

So Wei Wuxian accepts Lan Wangji’s presence in the evenings.  

He had expected that Lan Wangji would cook simple, bland, healthy food for dinner. He has seen Lan Wangji’s cooking style before, and has a sense of his palate. 

But Lan Wangji utterly surprises him. Every evening he makes something spicy and flavorful, and loaded with meat, exactly the way Wei Wuxian likes it. 

Wen Xu hadn’t let Wei Wuxian cook spicy food very often. When he did, he always told him it was too hot and refused to eat it. 

Lan Wangji, however, seems to be hellbent on liking spicy food. Wei Wuxian can tell that he is forcing himself. His expression is tense and vaguely pained when he tries something especially hot, but he never gives in and expresses that he is uncomfortable. 

It’s extremely cute, and Wei Wuxian is oddly touched by it. 

Lan Wangji is not only accommodating about Wei Wuxian’s preference for spicy food, he is also incredibly perceptive, and notices things that other people don’t. 

He knows Wei Wuxian’s favorite drinks and desserts. He knows which foods he doesn’t like, and he understands that Wei Wuxian finds his work to be relaxing and necessary. 

He never tells Wei Wuxian that he needs to take a day off, but he does encourage him to eat dinner, and he does invite him to take walks together afterwards.

He brings Wei Wuxian coffee, and invites him out to eat when he’s been at home for days on end.

When Wei Wuxian is having an especially rough day, Lan Wangji listens to him. He spends time with him, and gives him space when he needs it. He coaxes him out of the house, and he hits it off incredibly well with Jiang Yanli when she brings Wei Wuxian’s favorite soup over. Wei Wuxian is fairly certain that the two of them have started texting and exchanging recipes.

Some days are worse than others. There have been extreme ups and downs, in the months following Wen Xu’s passing. But over time, the loss becomes less raw. Wei Wuxian slowly begins to enjoy things again, and even takes a day off once and a while, to Wen Qing’s immense approval.

Jiang Cheng apologizes, too. Wei Wuxian had already forgiven him, long ago. But it feels amazing to see him happy and doing well, and to be able to text him and hang out with him again.

Throughout it all, Lan Wangji makes sure that he is never alone.

One evening, when they are sitting in the living room together watching a movie, Wei Wuxian begins to toy with the wedding band that is still around his finger. 

“Do you think Wen Xu cheated on me?” he asks, staring vacantly at the tv. 

It’s a question that he has been avoiding seriously asking himself. His heart wants to say no, but the evidence to the contrary has been deeply unsettling. 

Wei Wuxian truly thought he knew who Wen Xu was, and what he was capable of. He would never have imagined Wen Xu would commit a betrayal like this. 

Wei Wuxian had committed himself obediently to their relationship, and had never strayed. 

It’s an absolutely gut-wrenching blow to consider that Wen Xu hadn’t done the same.

Lan Wangji only hesitates for a moment, before he replies.

“I can’t imagine anyone ever cheating on you,” he says, gazing at Wei Wuxian with an expression that is soft and sincere. “Wen Xu was a very lucky man to be married to you, Wei Ying.”

At Lan Wangji’s words, Wei Wuxian’s stomach swims with butterflies. He spins his wedding band around his finger, again and again and again.

—

In truth, Wei Wuxian has been attracted to Lan Wangji for a long time. 

He had never acted on it. He had never even imagined being with Lan Wangji as a real possibility for himself. 

But he had fantasized about it.

He had brought himself off, thinking about it.

Was it wrong to do so? he wonders to himself, as he sits alone on the edge of his bed. He never cheated on Wen Xu, but he certainly entertained the thought of sleeping with another man. He enjoyed the feeling of thinking about it. He enjoyed imagining himself with Lan Wangji, and he enjoyed that it was forbidden, a secret he could keep to himself, in the privacy of his mind.

Wei Wuxian gazes at his wedding band, twisting the familiar weight of it around his finger. 

He hadn’t taken it off yet.

Did Wen Xu keep his on, in those seedy hotels?

Wei Wuxian cannot say. It is likely that he will never know for sure. 

Very carefully, Wei Wuxian slides the ring from his finger. It comes off easier than he expected. 

He gazes at it for a moment, and then stores it in a little box, in his bedside drawer. 

—

Wei Wuxian is aware that Lan Wangji treats him differently than other people. 

But what he isn’t aware of is how Lan Wangji feels about him.

Does Lan Wangji only treat him like this because they share a bond of common loss? Or does Lan Wangji feel something for him, something that exceeds simple attraction?

Wei Wuxian is aware that they have chemistry. He can feel it, and he is certain that Lan Wangji can feel it, too.

It is becoming difficult to ignore. 

Lan Wangji has spent the night on several occasions, and each time has stayed in the guest room. He has never once asked for more, or initiated anything physical between them. 

But he has brought Wei Wuxian small, thoughtful gifts. He has cooked for him, and spent time with him. He has even started cleaning the house, with remarkable effectiveness.

I would do anything for the people I love , Lan Wangji had said. 

There are times that Lan Wangji looks at Wei Wuxian with such gentle affection, it makes his heart ache.

One day, when Lan Wangji is in the middle of preparing pork ribs and lotus soup, Wei Wuxian kisses him. 

Lan Wangji freezes immediately. He is wearing Wei Wuxian’s apron, and holding a wooden spoon in one hand.

Wei Wuxian steps very close him, looking him carefully in the eye. Lan Wangji does not back away.

Wei Wuxian kisses him. 

It’s gentle at first, like a question. He brushes their lips together and then pauses, searching Lan Wangji’s gaze and waiting for his response.

Lan Wangji’s eyes are wide and his ears are flushed pink. He looks surprised and a bit dazed, but he does not once look away from Wei Wuxian. 

He sets the wooden spoon down, and cradles Wei Wuxian’s cheek in his palm. 

And then, he kisses him back.

Kissing Lan Wangji is unlike anything Wei Wuxian has ever experienced. The brush of Lan Wangji’s lips is electric. It immediately makes We Wuxian’s knees weak and sends literal shivers of excitement down his spine. His mind feels so vast and dizzy he can hardly think.

There is only the soft, warm caress of Lan Wangji’s lips. The weight of Lan Wangji’s hand settling on his hip, anchoring him close. 

And Lan Wangji is forceful . He quickly moves on from a gentle, exploratory kiss to kissing Wei Wuxian like he wants to devour him. 

Wei Wuxian feels crazy, and desperate. He feels like he is spinning out of control.

Lan Wangji’s hands are everywhere, exploring his body, fisting his hair. Wei Wuxian is pressed against the kitchen counter, whining into Lan Wangji’s mouth, and then they are stumbling to the bedroom, the master bedroom, frantically kissing like they are drowning and desperate for air. 

They stand before the bed, and Lan Wangji pauses, gazing down at him and panting, eyes dark and hair ruffled, his button-down shirt yanked open at the top.

Wei Wuxian is sure that he must be in a similar state. His lips are tender and swollen, and his hair feels wild where Lan Wangji had fisted it.

They don’t speak a word to each other. They simply watch each other for a moment, and then Wei Wuxian sinks to his knees.

Without a word, he unbuckles Lan Wangji’s belt and unzips his pants. 

He gazes up at Lan Wangji the entire time, never once breaking eye contact. 

Lan Wangji is looking down at him like he is transfixed. His lips are parted and he looks disheveled and faintly bullied, like he has been accosted by something unbelievable.

With trembling hands, he helps Wei Wuxian lower his pants and free his cock. 

Lan Wangji’s cock is massive . It appears quite heavy, and curves upward proudly. 

Wei Wuxian gazes at it, and feels his mind go hazy.

He leans forward and licks the tip, looking up at Lan Wangji from under his eyelashes and watching him shudder. 

The reaction ignites a burst of arousal in Wei Wuxian. 

Lan Wangji wants this.

Wei Wuxian smiles up at him cleverly, and takes the tip in his mouth, suckling gently to tease him. Lan Wangji gasps, appearing to try his best to remain composed.

Lan Wangji’s precum is salty and musky, and a bit sweet on his tongue. Wei Wuxian enjoys the taste of it immensely. He moans softly, to show Lan Wangji his appreciation. 

And then, he sinks forward, taking Lan Wangji’s cock deep into his mouth and throat. 

Lan Wangji makes a choked-off sound like he has completely and utterly been taken by surprise. 

Wei Wuxian excels at sucking cock. He enjoys it immensely, and has a natural affinity for it. He likes the challenge, he likes being able to tease and surprise, and he likes gagging on it. 

Still, it takes several tries to do it all the way. Lan Wangji’s cock is extremely large, and it grows wetter as Wei Wuxian works his mouth on it, devoutly gazing up at Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji looks utterly tormented. He watches Wei Wuxian deepthroat his cock with something akin to disbelief. His eyes are glazed and red-trimmed, and he is clenching and unclenching his fists, like he is holding himself back from something violent.

He looks incredibly vulnerable. 

His cock is much bigger and far sweeter than Wei Wuxian had imagined. It feels amazing in his mouth.

He lavishes it with attention, showing Lan Wangji just how obscene and appreciative he can be. He bobs his head expertly, looking up at Lan Wangji from under his eyelashes, and sinks down to the root, swallowing Lan Wangji’s cock deeply in his throat as Lan Wangji gasps and shudders with pleasure.

Lan Wangji gently threads his fingers into Wei Wuxian’s hair, and Wei Wuxian whimpers around his cock in encouragement.

“ Wei Ying ,” Lan Wangji breathes, fisting his hands more securely in Wei Wuxian’s hair, and tugging him forward on his cock experimentally. 

Wei Wuxian submits to his control immediately, allowing Lan Wangji to tug him forward and back, to hold him in place and fuck his face as he likes. 

Lan Wangji whispers his name, again and again, like he is in disbelief. His expression is so tense, like he is about to come.

He pulls Wei Wuxian off of his cock, as though hesitant to come in his mouth, but Wei Wuxian chases after it insistently, suckling on it and taking it deep, deep-

Lan Wangji’s mouth falls open and he makes a little startled sound, tensing and twitching and spilling in Wei Wuxian’s mouth, flooding it with his release.

Wei Wuxian whines and swallows it. It feels so, so sweet and obscene in his mouth. 

Lan Wangji appears to be quite shocked by what Wei Wuxian has done. He stares, utterly dumbstruck, as Wei Wuxian opens his mouth and shows his tongue to let Lan Wangji see that he has swallowed it all. 

Lan Wangji stares at him for a moment, and then promptly sinks to his knees, kissing Wei Wuxian with aggressive intensity, like he want to steal his breath away.

He pulls Wei Wuxian up from the floor, and practically carries him to the bed, kissing him and licking and biting his neck all the while. 

He tosses Wei Wuxian onto the bedsheets, and climbs on top of him, and suddenly they are tearing at each other’s clothes, grabbing and kissing and Lan Wangji is settling between Wei Wuxian’s parted legs-

Their joining is rough and forceful, with little in the way of prep. Wei Wuxian insists on it, grabbing Lan Wangji by the hair and whispering filth into his ear, nipping at his earlobe and kissing his neck.

It feels incredible. Wei Wuxian cries out when Lan Wangji enters him, digging his fingers into Lan Wangji’s biceps and shoulders and throwing his head back against the pillow. He curses and begs for more, and Lan Wangji is so, so diligent, giving him exactly what he needs. The bedroom is filled with the sound of their panting, the bed creaking with each thrust, and the rhythmic slap of flesh on flesh.

It sounds absolutely vulgar. Wei Wuxian whimpers and cries, whining “more, fuck me more, harder-“ and Lan Wangji curses under his breath, like he is in disbelief. He grabs Wei Wuxian roughly and fucks him with unbelievable intensity, pounding his hips against his ass and panting in exertion. 

Lan Wangji isn’t wearing a condom, and when Wei Wuxian can tell he is nearing his release, he grabs Lan Wangji by the hair.

“Fucking come inside me,” he whines, “Come inside me and fuck me again-“

“I’ll fuck you again,” Lan Wangji swears, his eyes dark and captivated and utterly dazed. “I’ll fuck you everyday.”

Lan Wangji comes inside him, and Wei Wuxian nearly cries in pleasure. 

“Lan Zhaaan, fuck-“

Lan Wangji silences him with a kiss, shuddering and licking into his mouth.

Even after coming, Lan Wangji is, amazingly, still hard. He only needs a few moments before he begins to roll his hips again, kissing and nipping at Wei Wuxian’s neck.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian breathes, whiny and out of his mind with need. “Lan Zhan, I want to come on your cock.”

Lan Wangji curses and shudders. 

“ Come on my cock ,” he whispers, faintly under his breath, like he is repeating Wei Wuxian’s words in adoration and disbelief. 

He holds Wei Wuxian close and fucks him again, pinching his nipples and squeezing his body appreciatively, like he wants to leave bruises. 

He bites Wei Wuxian’s neck, hard, and Wei Wuxian cries out in shock. 

Oh, Lan Wangji wants him terribly .

The realization sends a shiver of fear down Wei Wuxian’s spine.

He doesn’t have a reason to be afraid. 

Lan Wangji has never hurt him, Wei Wuxian tells himself. He would never hurt him.

He has no idea where the fright comes from, or why he is even considering the idea that Lan Wangji could be dangerous.

An instant later, the feeling passes like something from a dream.

Lan Wangji fucks him devoutly, kissing the wound on his neck apologetically and holding him by the hair. He drives him over the edge, and when Wei Wuxian comes, convulsing and shaking and spilling on his stomach, Lan Wangji presses a kiss against his temple, whispering under his breath, just a murmur, as quiet as a heartbeat and as delicate as a kiss, something that sounds suspiciously like “ mine .”

Lan Wangji cares for him so, so well in the aftermath. He kisses him gently, and combs his fingers through his hair soothingly. Wei Wuxian curls against his side, resting his head on Lan Wangji’s chest. 

I would do anything for the people I love.

The thought floats through Wei Wuxian’s mind, ambient like a passing cloud.

“Do you have any secrets, Lan Zhan?” he asks, gentle and curious in the calm that has fallen over the bedroom.

Lan Wangji doesn’t respond right away, and his hand falters where it has been petting Wei Wuxian’s hair.

“I have a secret,” Wei Wuxian tells him, gazing up into his warm, light-colored eyes. 

He presses a kiss against Lan Wangji’s chest, and, small and secret, whispers “I like you,” against Lan Wangji’s heart. 

Lan Wangji’s breath hitches. He buries his hand in Wei Wuxian’s hair.

“I like you, too,” he whispers. “Wei Ying, I like you very much.”

Wei Wuxian smiles, small and electric. Lan Wangji’s eyes are impossibly warm as he gazes down at him.

For a moment, they lay together in peaceful quiet. 

Wei Wuxian nuzzles against Lan Wangji’s chest.

“Lan Zhan,” he whispers. “Do you ever feel like everything is okay, if we can be together?”

Lan Wangji stills under him, and Wei Wuxian wraps his arm around him soothingly. 

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji breathes. “Being with you makes everything okay.”