Chapter 60

                                    

                                          
Wei Wuxian was sitting at his table in the Jingshi together with Jin Zixuan and he was almost drowning in happiness. He could still not believe he was allowed to have this man by his side, all for himself. And the Lanling Jin sect heir actually felt the same about him! He could not have asked for anything else really. They were just holding hands and talking happily, both amazed by the fact that Wei Wuxian was now also speaking.
                          
Suddenly, the Gusu Lan sect disciple felt his brother was approaching and only a second later, Lan Wangji informed them: "Wei Ying, Jiang Yanli and Jiang Wanyin asked to talk to you. Do you want me to let them in?"
                          
Wei Wuxian silently wondered: "I have no idea who they are, why would they come to visit me? I am pretty sure I have met them during the guest lectures but we have never as much as greeted each other..." He was on the verge of starting to worry, perhaps unnecessarily, however he calmed down right away when he felt Jin Zixuan squeeze his hand. 
                          
"No matter. Perhaps they have heard about me from Zixuan and came to keep me company before the lectures start again tomorrow. It is possible I would be able to make some more friends. When I have Zixuan by my side, I cannot wait to try new things which I would not even think about a few days ago. I wish to be able to stay by his side at all times, not only being the one pampered and visited while I hide away in the Jingshi. I have to try harder, for him, and also for myself."
                          
He nodded his agreement and heard how his brother went to open the door for the new visitors while wondering if they already knew about his condition. Although he was now more than comfortable talking to Jin Zixuan, he could still not imagine speaking to complete strangers. Surely Jin Zixuan would not be too bothered if he left all the talking to him for now, at least until he would become more familiar with the Jiang siblings.
                          
Soon, he felt two new presences approach and he made sure to examine them thoroughly. They both felt slightly familiar. He paid it no mind because he had certainly just remembered them from the time they have spent in the same room during the lectures. Even though he should not know Jiang Yanli's spiritual energy since the female disciples had lectures separately. So where could he have met her?
                          
"Good afternoon, Young Master Wei, Jin Zixuan."
                          
He was not left in the dark for any longer as he heard a familiar gentle voice and he immediately understood. And all his fears and worries returned: "I have never inquired about the name of Zixuan's former fiancée... So it was Jiang Yanli. And Jiang Wanyin must be her brother... I should have paid more attention to the explanation but I had been too lost in my own thoughts... Did they come to scold me for breaking the engagement? Would Jiang Wanyin be angry at me again for stealing her sister's fiancé from her?"
                          
The only thing which held Wei Wuxian back from falling into panic was Jin Zixuan's hand in his own, a steadying presence in all his inner turmoil. "It will be fine; I have Zixuan here with me. He assured me about his feelings repeatedly and I am not about to doubt them anymore. The engagement was also broken, so Jiang Yanli have no more claims over him. Even if they scold or berate me, as long as they do not take Zixuan from me, I will not mind."
                          
His heart prepared for the worst, he was completely stunned when Jiang Yanli started talking in her ever so gentle tone: "Young Master Wei, thank you very much for agreeing to meet us. I know we did not meet under the best circumstances previously and we wish to make amends. My brother wanted to tell you something."
                          
Despite her gentle words, Wei Wuxian was not convinced that Jiang Wanyin wanted to tell him anything pleasant. He clearly remembered just how angry the other had been just a few days ago. He did not approve of his relationship with Jin Zixuan in the slightest. The Gusu Lan sect disciple could now only hope that Jiang Wanyin had either changed his mind or that he had at least calmed down. Otherwise he feared that a fight could start again.
                          
Wei Wuxian was waiting what the Yunmeng Jiang sect heir wanted to tell him. However, it did not seem like the other wanted to talk at all, there was a long and pregnant silence in the room. Then Jiang Yanli prompted: "A-Cheng." The Gusu Lan sect disciple was surprised, her voice, although still gentle, had now a definite edge to it, it was clearly a demand. 
                          
Despite all Wei Wuxian's worries and expectations, when Jiang Wanyin spoke, he was not shouting. Neither were his words a scolding. In reality, it almost sounded like a nervous apology: "Wei Wuxian, you should know... well... I did not really mean what I said the other day. My sister suggested to break off the engagement so... yeah, you know...I just wanted to say I am not really mad at you." There was a pause in his words after that. 
                          
Wei Wuxian was at a loss about how he should react to such an apology, if it actually was one. It seemed like Jiang Wanyin was regretting his outburst. The Gusu Lan sect disciple could not understand why he came to apologize in the first place, the other had every right to be angry at him. He had after all destroyed his sister's future. Perhaps it was Jiang Yanli who dragged her brother to talk to him.
                          
He was surprised from his contemplation by the Yunmeng Jiang sect heir's voice again. This time, it sounded irritated, although it was not yet loud enough to be called shouting. 
                          
"Will you look at me when I am talking to you? I am trying my best over here!"
                          
"Ah, so that is the problem," understood Wei Wuxian at once, "I suppose talking to someone who is not looking at you is hard. Well, it is not like I can really tell, but I have heard about it from other Gusu Lan sect disciples who complained about having to come talk to me... But it is not like I can actually help it. Not really."
                          
Still, he tried his best and lifted his head in the direction where he guessed Jiang Wanyin was sitting. He never found out if his efforts worked because he was startled and slightly flinched when Jin Zixuan angrily growled: "Jiang Wanyin..." Wei Wuxian was afraid that the way things were going, another fight was inevitable.  
                          
"A-Cheng, none of this," a gentle reprimand came from Jiang Yanli, "we have come to apologize to Young Master Wei, not to offend him. I am sorry for my brother's behaviour. Please excuse his rudeness."
                          
Wei Wuxian shook his head to show her that he did not mind. He did not want for this kind person to feel the need to apologize to him over and over again. He had to make her understand that it was not her fault, nothing of it, it was his own for not coping well enough with his condition. He would have to ask Lan Zhan how to behave so others would not be bothered by it if he wanted to spend more time in others' company now. 
                          
Although he did not want to find excuses for himself, he just felt like they should know. Hopefully, they will be able to accept him the way he was, just like Nie Huisang and Jin Zixuan had.
                          
Suddenly, before he could even think about what he was doing, he was explaining his behaviour: "It is me who should be sorry. I did not do it on purpose, I cannot help it." Then he took a deep breath and for the first time in his life, he admitted aloud, proud that his voice was shaking only a bit: "Actually, I cannot see."