Archive of Our Own

The first rain of the spring season always brings a sense of tranquility and belonging to Yunmeng. The sweet scent of blooming flowers clings to the air, just like the freshness the rain leaves behind. 

Wei Ying loves this season the most because there is a legend that old grannies will tell every passerby who is kind enough to stop and listen; every time the rain stops they will pull a chair out of their homes, set up a small table outside, and retell this old tale, old as time, they say, older than their homes passed from generation to generation, older than perhaps the ancient tree that looks over them from the top of the hill. 

Wei Ying, who loves to spend time with the old folks since he was a kid, has heard the tale maybe close to a hundred times, but he never gets tired of it. 

On more than one occasion, especially when it was dark, when it was stormy, and Wei Ying was a child with nowhere to go, small and with filthy rags for clothes, the story served as his only comfort. 

The thought that one day the hero of the folk tale would show up and shine a light on the dark roads was enough to keep him hopeful. 

After all, the hero was called the light bringer. The story has endless versions, but the beginning never changes; it goes like this, “A long, long time ago, when peace was upon all lands, it was because of our great benefactor, Hanguang-Jun, who brought light whenever the dark times loomed close…”

Now that Wei Ying is an adult with a job and responsibilities, he still makes time for the sweet old ladies, who cherish his company. 

Every Saturday afternoon, Wei Ying will bring all the grannies gifts and sit with them to tell the ages old tale to every willing person who will stop. It’s usually children, curious little things, who stop for a bit of homemade food and to listen to an interesting story.

One day, it's not a child who stops by, but the person who takes a seat in front of Wei Ying is a handsome stranger, dressed in what Wei Ying can only guess is a super detailed cosplay of those dramas his colleague Mianmian likes to watch.
It does look good on him, though, so forgive Wei Ying for being distracted when the stranger opens his mouth to ask: 

“Are you still waiting?” 

First of all, how rude of this man to be so handsome and tall and did he say handsome? Second of all, how rude of him to have such piercing eyes, and such a deep voice. Third of all, Wei Ying forgot words. 

“Huh?”

It’s there for a split second, but the stranger’s eyes widen slightly, before asking the same question in a more detailed manner.

“Are you and the kind ladies waiting for Hanguang-Jun’s return?”

“... that’s, I.. uh, don’t know?”

Unfazed, the stranger asks another question. “What would you ask of him if you were to meet him?”

Wei Ying tilts his head to one side, pouting slightly, as he thinks of an answer. 

“Hmmm, I would… I would ask him if he knows how to have fun! Hahah, he seems a little serious if I go by all these stories, so I would help him relax!”

“Shameless,” the stranger says through gritted teeth.

“Eh? Are you calling me shameless?!”

Wei Ying cannot believe the audacity of this man! He’s the one dressed up like the male lead of some high budget drama and he’s calling Wei Ying shameless?!

“A-Ying, who were you talking to?” A concerned granny asks, a trembling, old hand on Wei Ying’s shoulder.

“Uh, to this… uh where did he go?” 

“A-Ying, there was no one there.”

“What?”

The chair in front of him is undeniably empty. Has he been talking to himself this whole time?

When he returns home that evening, Wei Ying can’t stop thinking about the man who stopped by to talk to him. Was it really all a hallucination? Is he so tired and so sex-deprived (read: a virgin) that his mind is sending him SOS signals this way?

Should he keep this to himself or should he tell someone?

In the end, he doesn’t speak a word of it to anyone, not even to his sister, who has been his closest confidante since he was adopted into her family .

A few days pass by, and Wei Ying almost forgets about the incident. 

The next time he sees him again, Wei Ying is out for a day-trip with his class of tiny little kindergarten troublemakers so he is 100%, no doubts about it, absolutely sober.

Because Wei Ying has the worst luck imaginable, one of the children goes missing and Wei Ying starts thinking of the worst possible outcomes the very second he notices. 

Leaving the other children in the care of his colleague, MianMian, he retraces his steps in a rush. When he turns the corner, he bumps into someone. 

The someone turns out to be the handsome stranger from last time and he is guarding the child, who seems to have fallen asleep. 

“What did you do to him!” Wei Ying whisper-screams.

“... here,” the stranger says, unexpectedly (for a kidnapper), pointing at the child.

Wei Ying blinks, “You… you kept him safe?”

“Mn.”

 Within the few seconds Wei Ying takes to check the child over and realize that he’s simply sleeping, the stranger is gone again.

The bus ride back home is quiet, most children are asleep, tired from the excitement of their first trip outside the school grounds. Wei Ying's brain is not quiet, though. 

What if he's really having hallucinations? 

As he doesn’t want to worry his siblings, he decides to tell his weirdest friend, who happens to be Nie Huaisang, after they're both slightly tipsy from drinking just about enough for ten people.

“You mean he’s transparent or like other people cannot see him at all?” Nie Huaisang asks, waving his hand around, trying to convey more meaning to the sentence and failing.

“No, he’s not transparent! Like, I can even touch him, but other people cannot even sense his presence!”

“Ohh Wei-Xiong, where did you touch him?” Nie Huaisang snickers, hiding his face behind the wine glass.

“Nie-Xiong!”

“Hmm… what if he’s a ghost?”

“... he… doesn’t give me the vibe…”

“Ghosts give you vibes?”

“....aiya, you know what I mean!”

“Did you try to take any pictures of him?”

“How would I do that without being creepy?”

“I don’t know. You’re smart, think of a way.”

Wei Ying sighs and slumps in his seat. This conversation only made things worse, but for some strange reason, Wei Ying can't wait to see the stranger again.

The first time Lan Zhan had seen Wei Ying had been a few years ago. He had been observing a young child who seemed to have lost her way, when she bumped into Wei Ying (or Wei Ying’s leg to be more specific).

The roads were desert, if not for the falling leaves - it was no different than any other fall day. 

“Sorry, gege!” The child said.

“Aiya, no worries, little one! What’re you doing out there all alone? It’s about to rain, you need to be quick. Didn’t your parents tell you that the god of rain’s got a quick temper on them?”

The child fidgeted, tears welling up in her eyes. It reminded Wei Ying of his own childhood, when he was helpless and lost too, so he crouched down next to her.

“What’s wrong, did you forget your way home or are you scared of that ugly god?”

As someone who had observed the human world for longer than he would care to admit, Lan Zhan had never shown a marked interest towards any human - but this one, he shone so brightly, and Lan Zhan has been unable to take his eyes off ever since. 

During that rainy afternoon, Wei Ying had befriended the child in mere minutes, and had seen her back home safely, not leaving until he saw her greeting her father with a happy smile. 

Just like the weather reports had predicted, the weather turned cold and stormy soon, giving Wei Ying and his little umbrella a hard time. It would have been inappropriate for Lan Zhan to follow him inside, so he didn't, but he caught himself finding Wei Ying’s little sneeze, as he locked the door, adorable. 

That was the first sign that something was wrong with Lan Zhan. 

Wei Ying is like the sun that never stops shining; even during his darkest moments, he ensures that the people he loves are safe and happy.

How brave and righteous he is, despite all the difficulties that life throws at him.

When did Lan Zhan give up the fight? 

So, one day he found the courage to approach Wei Ying, although he was prepared to have a one-way conversation. 

Yet, Wei Ying saw him, talked to him. 

Lan Zhan has been around for so long, he has observed the most bizarre events, he has watched humans be born and die in solitude, but there’s never been someone as annoying as Wei Ying, there’s never been someone who got stuck in his mind (heart) like that, someone who surprises him every day. 

Inevitably, after Lan Zhan found out that Wei Ying can actually see him and even talk to him, they gravitate towards each other. Wei Ying blindly so, Lan Zhan deliberately so.
Whenever Wei Ying looks like he needs help with whatever it may be, Lan Zhan is there. 

One night, when Wei Ying is on his way home way too late than he should for a work day, and tipsy enough to not be able to walk in a straight line, Lan Zhan follows him closely, to make sure that nothing happens to him. 

Lan Zhan helps him unlock the door; he would like nothing more than to follow him inside, but he respects his boundaries, so he turns to leave instead, only to be stopped by Wei Ying himself.  

“Wait! Can you tell me your name?”

And so, for the first time, Lan Zhan follows him inside.

It might all be a dream for all Wei Ying knows, but he really wants to make sure that he knows his name, that he has a name to go with that beautiful face of his whenever Wei Ying thinks about him.

The stranger looks at him with a puzzled look - it seems that the answer to such a simple question is not as easy as Wei Ying thought.
Finally, he speaks softly, as if he’s letting Wei Ying in on a secret.

“If I told you I was the Hanguang-Jun from your stories, would you believe me?”

Wei Ying blinks - his heart rate quickens a little bit. The world spins around him. 

“You…?”

“Mn.”

“Is this a joke? Are you making fun of me?”

Wei Ying receives no answer to that, although the look the stranger (Hanguang-Jun) gives him obviously spells out “does it look like I’m joking?” and no, it doesn’t.
So, Wei Ying changes tactics; he still doesn’t believe the man but two can play this game. 

“Why did you … I mean, this is insane… Why did you suddenly appear? You don’t have a mission for me or something equally crazy, right?”

Hanguang-Jun raises an eyebrow, but he answers nonetheless. 

“I have always been here, and no, I don’t have any missions for you.”

“But… but then why?”

The fact that Wei Ying should not believe a stranger he knows little to nothing about is forgotten for a moment. 

Why me? Why would you show yourself to someone like me? Wei Ying thinks instead. 

“I was surprised when I realized you could see me.”

“Well, you didn’t show it!”

As they keep talking, Wei Ying suspends his disbelief more and more.

The conversation goes on until the early hours of the morning, and Wei Ying finds out that this being, this ethereal and beautiful immortal, has been wandering for centuries, like a lonely ghost, trapped in a dimension where he could observe the world, but couldn’t do anything about it, couldn’t interact with it.
They share stories about their families, and despite the two of them being from different worlds, they both share a look of understanding.
Hanguang-Jun’s family might still be around somewhere but he has lost track of them, he wonders if they think he’s dead, he wonders if they have stopped looking for him, and if so, when. 
At the look of regret on his face, Wei Ying swallows, and places his hand on top of Hanguang-Jun’s. Wei Ying confesses that he doesn’t even remember what his parents look like; he admits for the first time that he feels guilty about this, and wishes that he could be a bit more careful with his memories, treasure them more.

For some reason, Wei Ying cannot find it in himself to distrust this man, who says that he’s an immortal. Wei Ying believes him.

When the first rays of sunlight shine through the window, Wei Ying suddenly scrambles to his feet in a panic.

“Fuck! I need to be at work in two hours!”

There’s no time for a nap so he will have to power through eight awful long hours with tiny humans, how the fuck is he going to do that! It’s going to be worse than when he’s hungover. 

“Wei Ying,” Hanguang-Jun says, getting to his feet. 

“What? I’m panicking here!”

“Come here.”

And Wei Ying does, for no reason other than he cannot refuse this man. 

Without taking his eyes off Wei Ying’s, Hanguang-Jun wraps his hand around Wei Ying’s wrist, and lets his energy flow through their bodies.
It has been thousands of years for Lan Zhan - he blinks at the sheer intensity of the shared experience. Finally, he can speak to another, finally, he can touch something, someone other than his lonely body.
Wei Ying gasps softly, mesmerized by the feeling. It takes only seconds for him to feel rested enough, but Hanguang-Jun doesn’t let go. 

“You may call me Lan Zhan,” is what he says when he lets Wei Ying’s wrist go. 

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying repeats, voice full of wonder. 

The fact that he knows something about him that nobody else seems to know makes him feel giddy and excited in a way he’s never been. 

Lan Zhan (!!) nods and watches him, as if he’s trying to decipher what he’s thinking, and to be honest, Wei Ying is not even sure he himself knows!

“Lan Zhan, will you still be here …when I come back?” He blurts out. 

“If Wei Ying would like me to.”

“I would!!”

“Then, I will wait for Wei Ying.”

The rush to make it in time for the first lesson of the day doesn’t give Wei Ying time to think about what just occurred. Hours into the work day, it hits him like a brick, and he stares ahead in shock.  
What the fuck.
Has he actually met the hero of his childhood stories?! It’s like saying he’s met Batman or something. Maybe he just got too drunk and he imagined the whole thing!
Or maybe it was a dream.

On impulse, he opens up the group chat he has with his (perpetually angry) brother, Jiang Cheng, and with his friend Nie Huaisang, appropriately named “trioblemakers”.

There’s no way he can actually say what really happened. Maybe Huaisang would believe him, but Jiang Cheng is another story. 

WY: What if… hypothetically someone met .. like someone who is not human?

NHS: 👀 is it about that ghost we talked about?

JC: What ghost? The fuck?

WY: noo! I’m just coming up with a new story to tell the children! How would you react?

NHS: depends, is this ghost hot?

JC: WTF????!!

WY: uh yes yeah 

NHS: well then find out if he wants to kill you, then fuck him

NHS: *they, *them, *them

NHS: not like i know who they are after all

JC: i’m lost, you two are fucking insane

WY: …what if he wants to kill me?

WY: *they, *them

NHS: fuck him, then kill him first

NHS: *them, *them

JC: it doesn’t sound like you two are coming up with a story for children! What the hell!

NHS: boohoo jiang cheng you’re so boring 

Well, that didn’t help. Guess he will have to go home and find out if that was all a dream or if he’s going mad.

As promised, when Wei Ying returns home, Lan Zhan is still there. It seems like he hasn’t even moved from the position Wei Ying had last seen him in. 

Wei Ying’s heart thumps against his chest, like a scared beast wanting to get out of its cage. His chest feels tight. 

“You’re here.”

“Mn. I waited for Wei Ying.”

“You didn’t even leave? Lan Zhan, aiya! Didn’t you get bored, I don’t even have a pet to keep you company!”

Where does this familiarity even come from! Must he be so shameless!

“I am used to waiting, it’s no matter.”

There’s a question that Wei Ying doesn’t ask, it’s on the tip of his tongue, but it may be too sharp, too painful. How long have you been waiting for?

Instead, he busies himself with his usual after-work routine. After a shower, he sinks down onto the couch next to Lan Zhan, checking his phone for a good place to order food from.
Another question pops into his mind. 

“Lan Zhan, do you eat?”

“No.”

“What! How?!”

“I … exist between dimensions. To put it bluntly, I don’t really exist in your world, therefore I don't require sustenance.”

“Ahhh, we have to fix this! Food is one of the best things the world has to offer, you can’t miss out! When’s the la-... ah hahaha nevermind! I’ll help you get back or whatever, you know what I mean!”

“I haven’t found a way. I’m unsure if that is feasible.”

“Well, nobody could even see you before meeting me, so! I will find a solution! Trust me!”

“...mn,” Lan Zhan says, completely focused on the water drop currently making its way down Wei Ying’s exposed collarbone. It seems that Wei Ying is blissfully unaware of the effect he is having on Lan Zhan.

Lan Zhan feels like has finally clawed his way back into the light, after a lifetime of darkness. 

From then on, Lan Zhan stops wandering around and becomes a permanent figure in Wei Ying’s everyday life. 

Within the first week, Lan Zhan learns that Wei Ying is sleep-deprived on top of eating takeaway food all the time. On the very bad nights, Lan Zhan sits by Wei Ying’s bed and intones a quiet lullaby that he remembers from his past (life).
It almost comes naturally, it’s like they just settle into each other’s life, as if they were soulmates in a previous one. 

The takeaway restaurants are probably wondering if the person who ordered every day is dead, but in reality Lan Zhan has been cooking homemade meals just for Wei Ying. The first time it had come out too bland, “Aiya, I know you can’t taste this but it’s like eating paper, Lan Zhan!”, but Wei Ying had eaten it anyway. 
The second time it was better, Lan Zhan followed Wei Ying’s instructions and dropped a whole packet of chili powder on the food.
Wei Ying smiled so wide, so beautifully, that Lan Zhan wanted to punch a wall. 

The first week of their cohabiting ends on a Monday night; there’s a storm outside, and Wei Ying is tired from the day, the weariness makes him brave enough to reach for Lan Zhan’s hand in the darkness of his bedroom. 

“Come to bed…?” He asks, with a small voice, as if he expects to be turned down. 

Lan Zhan’s heart does a somersault, beats violently against his ribs. Thousands of years have not prepared him for this; there’s never been anyone who has elicited this kind of reaction from his body.
It’s unnerving. Beyond frustrating.

“You’re always sitting for the whole night, your back must hurt,” Wei Ying says as an excuse; he knows very well that Lan Zhan, in the state that he is now, doesn’t feel any pain. 

How could he say no when Wei Ying pleads his case with such a soft, vulnerable voice?
Lan Zhan indulges him (or perhaps he indulges himself). 

Wei Ying sleeps so comfortably snuggled into the warmth of Lan Zhan’s chest; without even realizing, he buries his face in Lan Zhan’s neck, his nose squished against his pulse point. Lan Zhan’s smell is so, so calming, so good. 

It becomes the first of many nights - Wei Ying doesn’t even need to ask anymore, Lan Zhan will climb into bed with him and hold him until morning, quiet and unmoving, so as to not disturb his peaceful sleep.

“It’s a friend thing, friends do this all the time,” Wei Ying tells himself and a doubtful Lan Zhan. 

“Mn,” Lan Zhan agrees anyway, with truly the self restraint only an immortal would have. 

The thought of Wei Ying doing this with his other friends irritates Lan Zhan, in some primal way that is not proper for an immortal.
However, he soon notices a definite shift in that Wei Ying comes back home earlier on weekends and on Fridays; on workdays he comes home straight from work. 
Lan Zhan feels weirdly possessive about Wei Ying’s time so he is pleased that even when Wei Ying goes out with his friends or family, he always comes back to Lan Zhan; he doesn’t stay out too late. 

The truth is Wei Ying can’t wait to be with Lan Zhan, parties are so boring when he has someone to tease back at home, and Lan Zhan doesn’t know that Wei Ying comes up with an excuse every time someone asks him to stay longer.
The sudden departure from his self-declared party animal lifestyle raises some eyebrows, but some of his friends are just happy that he has decided to lead a healthier life (finally!).

During the day, when Wei Ying is not at home, Lan Zhan researches ways to break the spell so that he could look for his family.
Wei Ying brings him as many old and rare books as he can find on the subject. He also taught him how to use a laptop and surf the internet to find information, which has been a wild ride. Especially teaching Lan Zhan how not to fall for clickbait or for scams. 
Wei Ying laughed so hard his belly hurt and had tears in his eyes, missing the love-struck gaze Lan Zhan sent his way more than once.

“Lan Zhan! You’ve been around for so long but you’ve never taken an interest in technology?”

“Lan Zhan! Here, here, let me show you!” Wei Ying says one day, slinging a bare leg over Lan Zhan’s knee to get closer, of course it was only to show him how to properly use the apps on his old phone. A bunch of sirens go off in Lan Zhan’s brain. 

“Hahaha, you don’t need to say please to Siri, Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying says another day, an arm coming up to rest against Lan Zhan’s shoulder.

“It’s the polite thing to do.”

“You’re so funny!”

No one has ever said that to Lan Zhan before.

The hard work paid off in the end, resulting in a more technology-oriented Lan Zhan, as well as a hornier Lan Zhan. His practiced restraint went out of the window.

So, when one night, as they lay in bed, Wei Ying asks:

“Why do you think I am the only one who can see you… and touch you?”

Lan Zhan responds, “Because you’re mine,” staring into Wei Ying’s eyes.

“....ah?”

Wei Ying is so flustered that he almost falls off the bed. It’s not like he hasn’t had the thought, but he has avoided thinking about such things for so long; he knows Lan Zhan is handsome, beautiful, but he has thought of him as something he cannot touch like that, something he absolutely cannot have, like those extravagant Gucci jackets he sometimes looks at when window shopping.
Sure, he flirts, but that’s his default setting. Nothing had prepared him for Lan Zhan flirting back.
What if… what if he can … ? No, that would be asking way too much. Wei Ying should be content with what he has, he shouldn’t ask for more and ruin things like he always does. 
Also, Wei Ying is different; people like him should be extinct, gone.

“Ah.. hahaha Lan Zhan, you can’t just say that!”

“Why not?”

Why not indeed! What should Wei Ying do now? Pretend to sleep? Ignore him? Act like he’s not bright red and embarrassed, act like he isn’t shaking like a leaf because the mere vibration of Lan Zhan’s voice against his skin makes him shiver?

“Ah… Lan Zhan… I’m getting sleepy…”

Lan Zhan exhales, pulling Wei Ying even closer.

“Mn. Sleep.”

“Night night, Lan Zhan.”

Wei Ying does not sleep that night. How could he sleep with Lan Zhan’s face buried into the side of his neck, with Lan Zhan’s hands securely holding him in place?

On the other hand, Lan Zhan does not need sleep - he enjoys laying down like this every night, leisurely watching over Wei Ying, who always smells so sweet, so enticing. 

They don't talk about it the next morning, and go through their morning routine, as if their late night conversation was nothing but a dream. 

At work, Wei Ying is so distracted that he trips on his own feet and crashes into the classroom’s door, which is not even transparent. How embarrassing. 

“.... Wei Laoshi, you alright there?” Mianmian asks. 

“...no. I’ll be right back...I’m at the infirmary, if someone asks...”

It’s the third time in the year that he has to go and see the school nurse, Wen Qing, which is something he’s not looking forward to. Outside of work, she’s one of his best friends, but at work, she is to be feared. 

“What have you done now?” is her resigned greeting.

“Can’t you see my nose is bleeding! I’m suffering here and you’re bullying me!”

“Who’s bullying you?! Sit and let me fix you up. How the fuck did you almost break your nose?”

“Ah… haha I was thinking…about-”

“Bad idea.”

“Wen Qing!! You’re heartless!”

“You want me to punch you or heal you? I’m already stressed as it is so punching you in the face might turn out to be therapeutic.”

With a pout that would rival many three year old children in terms of cuteness, Wei Ying turns docile and quiet. Unexpectedly, he doesn’t whine when Wen Qing stitches him up and cleans the wound. 

“There,” she says, once she’s done, “you’ll have a ugly bump and a bruise for a few days but you’ll be fine.”

Wei Ying nods, but he doesn’t leave and he lingers on the doorway. Something pushes him to ask a question that gives Wen Qing reason to be concerned. After all, ever since he had presented as an omega, Wei Ying has been taking suppressants and she’s the only one who knows.
In this day and age, being part of these dynamics is rare, and being a male omega is even rarer. Less than 0.1% of people fall into that category and Wei Ying being exposed as such would have made life difficult for his adoptive family, so he has never mentioned it to anyone, except Wen Qing, who had helped him get his hands on his first suppressants, as a teenager.

“Qing-Jie, if I stop taking suppressants today… how… how long before …uhm?”

“Why do you want to stop? Are you having any side effects?”

“...no, I just… “

Wen Qing raises an eyebrow and waits. 

“...never mind. It’s stupid.”

“You like someone,” she says. It’s not a question, but a statement. 

“What!?! No!!!” Wei Ying covers his face with his hands and runs back to class. The children will not bully him at least!

For a while, he is distracted enough by their silly questions and demands. 

But, when he picks up his phone, there’s a message from Wen Qing waiting for him.

WQ: Look, if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine, I get it, but you know how dangerous stopping is
WQ: like you’ve never mentioned anyone you like before, and i assume that if you want to be off your suppressants, you want to get pregnant so it’s either some alpha, who these days are even rarer than omegas
WQ: or it’s some guy, so please don’t be stupid and think it through, you know men are trash
WQ: before you do anything come see me or i’ll curse your fucking firstborn 

The last message gets a chuckle out of him, he responds with a string of silly emojis. It’s just a daydream, there’s no need for her to worry.

Despite being surrounded by friends and by some people he is lucky enough to call family, Wei Ying always felt like there was no place for him in the whole world. How could he fit in such a world where he can't even be himself?

Wen Qing really shouldn't worry.

It’s entirely by accident that they find out that Lan Zhan is now visible to everyone.

One afternoon, Wei Ying’s sister and her husband Jin Zixuan drop by unannounced because they were in the neighborhood, much to her husband’s annoyance who has a mutual hate relationship with Wei Ying.

While his wife re-arranges the shoes in the shoe rack by the entrance, Jin Zixuan stands in the doorway, hands at his sides and eyes wide, “Uh…”

Wei Ying raises an eyebrow, “What? You seen a ghost?”

“… why is there a man wearing a hanfu in your living room?”

Lan Zhan stills, Wei Ying’s brain takes a moment to reboot.

“… you can see him?”

“… yes,” says Jin Zixuan, growing increasingly concerned for the sanity of his brother-in-law.

“Can you also hear me?” Lan Zhan asks, hopeful.

“… yeah?” Jin Zixuan gives them a ‘is this a trap, or a joke’ look. 

The three men stare at each other dumbfounded, until Jiang Yanli steps into the room. 

“A-Ying, who’s your friend?”

“Hahaha … he’s…uh,” Wei Ying isn’t really sure how to explain. 

Somehow, they end up making up a story about Lan Zhan being a friend of Huaisang, who comes from the north, and he needed a place to stay so Wei Ying volunteered because he’s nice like that! Lan Zhan nods throughout the whole story, without adding anything.

“So, you must be the new good influence in my brother’s life, who makes him go back home on time and sleep like a normal person!” Jiang Yanli says, excitedly.

Lan Zhan nods again, overwhelmed by being suddenly able to speak to three people at once.

When she extends her hand, Lan Zhan automatically goes to shake it but the touch goes through her skin. 

He can’t touch her. And he’s about to panic. 

However, before he can say anything, she smiles at him and acts as if nothing happened.

“Alright, who’s gonna help me set the table?” She says, giving Lan Zhan an excuse to disappear into the kitchen. 

Jiang Yanli drops the carefully boxed food on the table, earning a sweet little smooch on her cheek from her brother.

“Jiejie, you’re the best!”

It’s almost a reflex when Lan Zhan brings the tableware and sets the table, and as a thank you, Wei Ying kisses him on the cheek and says “Thank you.You’re also the best!”

Lan Zhan and Wei Ying both freeze.

Fuck. Wait, did he just do that? Did he just kiss Lan Zhan!?

What the fuck should he do? Should he also kiss Jin Zixuan for good measure? No, that would be too much. Also ew.

Jin Zixuan notices the look Wei Ying gives him and sweats cold for a minute.

To his relief, nothing happens - they just don’t talk about it.

Instead, they talk about trivial little things over dinner, until Jin Zixuan, being admirably even more awkward than Lan Zhan at social interactions, asks about Lan Zhan’s family.

“They’re far away,” Lan Zhan responds, but the question clearly leaves a sour taste in his mouth, and he keeps silent for the rest of the dinner, answering only with a mn or a nod whenever he is asked something.

After they leave, Lan Zhan helps Wei Ying with the dishes. 

Between drying one bowl and another, Wei Ying gets Lan Zhan to open up about his family. He finds out that Lan Zhan is trapped in Yunmeng and he can’t get out as there is an invisible barrier which will send him back as soon as he tries to take a step outside of it. Over the years he has spent in solitude, he has attempted many times in vain. 

Warm, thin fingers wrap themselves around Lan Zhan’s wrist to stop him from taking more bowls; then, they slide down until Wei Ying is holding Lan Zhan’s hand in his own, looking up at him.
Lan Zhan’s breath hitches in his throat. 

“Let’s try again, together,” Wei Ying says, barely above a whisper. 

“Mn,” is the only thing Lan Zhan manages to say, overcome with emotion. 

If he were to add actual words, he might actually start sobbing. 

Wei Ying understands him, he’s so gentle when he pulls Lan Zhan close to wrap him up in a hug, to press a soft kiss against Lan Zhan’s forehead. 

Although Lan Zhan doesn’t sleep, Wei Ying holds him in his arms for the whole night. 

In the following days, the first chance they get, they test the barrier out again to see if it’s still in place and sure enough, Lan Zhan is flung back against the wall by an invisible force.
The grief, the pain Wei Ying can see on Lan Zhan’s face is heartbreaking, he wishes he could take it all away. 
It’s not a decision he takes lightly, but the need to do something to make it better eats at him every day, so Wei Ying is determined to go and look for Lan Zhan’s family on his behalf. 
His sister and Nie Huaisang are strangely supportive of the idea, and Mianmian offers to cover for him at work. 

If Lan Zhan could go and look for himself, the first place he would explore would be the Gusu Mountains, where he grew up. That’s where Wei Ying will start. 

After putting his luggage in the taxi’s trunk, Wei Ying rushes back inside to say goodbye to Lan Zhan for a second time. The first hug just wasn’t enough.

“Lan Zhan, wait for me, okay?” 

Maybe it’s the uncertainty of the situation, the constant fear that he might never see Lan Zhan again, that pushes Wei Ying to wrap his arms around Lan Zhan’s neck. They’re so close their noses are touching. 

“For good luck,” Wei Ying says before closing the distance between them to press a soft kiss to Lan Zhan’s lips - heart racing like never before. 

The kiss is over way too quick for Lan Zhan’s taste - before Wei Ying can escape, he pulls him back in and kisses him a second time, just as softly and as quickly as the first. They don’t have time to indulge themselves now.

“Good luck,” Lan Zhan says.

Then, without a word, he takes off the forehead ribbon he always wears and loops it around Wei Ying’s wrist, tying a secure knot. 

“To keep you safe,” he explains. 

Wei Ying beams at him, and Lan Zhan wants nothing more than to keep him by his side, hold him close and make sure no one will ever give him a reason not to smile. 

While Wei Ying is gone, now that he is at least visible to other people, Lan Zhan spends time with his friends and family. There’s an ache in his chest that won’t go away, a melancholy that he doesn’t know how to get rid of. It’s different from what he feels for his family.

Jiang Yanli drops by to visit him at least once every three days, with food and stories of how her day went. Sometimes, she brings her son, who is a little ball of rage and adorableness.

Every time she smiles at him, he feels like she knows what he’s thinking - it’s the same feeling of being understood, in a way that he has experienced only with his brother.

“You’re too kind,” he says, whenever she does too much work around the house or keeps him company for far longer than she should. 

“No such thing. You’re important to A-Ying, so you’re important to me,” she always responds. 

Lan Zhan’s chest always feels warm at those words.

Exactly a month after the last time he saw Wei Ying, Lan Zhan turns to her, speaking softly.

“I miss Wei Ying.”

Her smile is tender, “I miss him too. He will be back soon, don’t you worry.”

How bizarre that Lan Zhan has been stuck in a gray world, void of any interaction, for such a long time without ever feeling despair, but at the thought of never seeing Wei Ying again, his heart clenches.  

“Would you like to learn how to make Wei Ying’s favorite dish?”

“Mn.”

Now he understands what Wei Ying meant when he said that his sister can soothe any kind of pain. No matter how vulnerable you are in front of her, she will try to make it better and she will not judge you.

Sometimes, her husband will also join, whenever he has a break from work. Lan Zhan has become rather friendly with him (to Wei Ying’s dismay).

The Gusu mountains are imposing, giving Wei Ying a sense of his own smallness. For a fleeting moment, he thinks of sending a goodbye text to the people he loves, should things turn for the worse as he’s making his way up the torturous roads that bring to the top of the mountains.
However, the thought only helps to fuel his desire to succeed. 

It takes Wei Ying almost a whole week to reach the gate of what looks to be an ancient clan. There is no one to greet him at the gate, so he walks around and explores the area. He almost ran out of food so he hopes to find at least an old hermit or something.

The further he walks, the more desolated the place seems, until he comes across a pond well looked after. There are gentians growing close by, and cranes resting near the water. 

“Who are you?” Someone asks, and Wei Ying hears the questions before he can hear any footsteps. 

The voice belongs to a man who looks like his (when did he start calling Lan Zhan his ?) Lan Zhan, but there’s also something different about him.
Wei Ying must have been staring in silence for a long time because the man repeats his question, with veiled impatience this time. 

“Uh… ah, I’m Wei Ying?” He tries, and as he gestures with his hands, the man catches a glimpse of the forehead ribbon tied around Wei Ying’s wrist and his eyes widen.

A similar ribbon is tied around his forehead too. 

“Ah… this? My … my uh… friend gave it to me.”

“Your friend,” the man repeats, then pauses and adds, sounding afraid of what the answer might be, “… who is your friend? Did he send you here?”

Wei Ying nods, explaining the reason why he went all the way to Gusu by himself. The man listens to his story calmly, but there are tears in his eyes by the time Wei Ying is done. 

“I’m his brother,” the man says, voice full of emotion. 

Wei Ying is also close to tears; he didn’t dare hope.

“Is it just you …?” 

“My uncle lives, it’s just the two of us.”

Wei Ying thinks that’s more than he hoped to find. Lan Zhan can still meet some family members and he is so happy for him, his heart is about to burst. 

The brother introduces himself as Lan Huan and leads him through a narrow pathway, until they come to a beautiful garden which gives space to a very ancient looking, modest traditional house (Wei Ying has seen those in books only).
Lan Huan invites him inside, offers him some warm tea and cakes, before leaving to fetch his uncle, who must be tending to the (wild) animals. Apparently, there’s a family rule banning them from raising house pets so Lan Huan made a point to specify that the animals they take care of are all wild. 

Wei Ying is stuffing his face with a third cake when the brother returns with a grumpy looking old man, who seems like he’s had enough of pretty much everything. 

“Hi, uncle!” Wei Ying waves excitedly, the ribbon swaying with the motion. 

“Hmmph,” is the response he gets. 

Not a good start. 

Despite how loud and annoying Wei Ying can be, the grumpy uncle’s expression softens whenever Wei Ying speaks of Lan Zhan with a fond look on his face. 

Wei Ying counts it as a win when they invite him to stay with them until they can make arrangements for the animals and plants to be taken care of while they’re gone, so that they can follow Wei Ying back to Yunmeng. 
It’s been a week since Wei Ying has arrived and he has already carved out a space for himself in their lives.
In the morning, he will help with the crops, watering them with care, taking back home what’s ripe and ready to be cooked or eaten raw.

On one of these mornings, Wei Ying is mostly speaking to himself, as uncle Lan Qiren will dutifully ignore his ramblings, when he speaks of his fantasies out loud.

How he would love to live in a secluded farmhouse, not too far from the city though; he would have all kind of plants to look after, maybe on sunny days he would venture out in the forest to look for wild berries, or on gloomy fall days, he would go mushrooms foraging.
Lan Zhan would tend to their animals, because animals and Wei Yings don’t really get along (how unfair!), he would look after the house, prepare warm meals for Wei Ying to come back to.
Only the thought makes him smile so wide. 

Lan Qiren asks him then, “You would like a life like that with my nephew?”

Truth be told, Wei Ying had included Lan Zhan without thinking, because he is part of his life now and he cannot imagine a life without Lan Zhan in it. How boring, how terrible would that be!?
So, he takes a few seconds to answer, and when he does, he’s incredibly shy, as if he’s confessing a secret he had been keeping for long.

“Yeah… I would like that with Lan Zhan…”

“Hmmph,” Lan Qiren scoffs in annoyance, “... what about children?”

“I … ah,” Wei Ying blushes, biting his lip,”... I can give… um, I can carry…”

“You?”

“I’m an omega,” he says. 

“I thought they went extinct… years ago, if not centuries.”

“.. well, here I am!”

The last thing he expects to happen is for Lan Qiren to visibly tear up, but he does. Perhaps he has been around for far too long, because when he hides his trembling hands into the folds of his clothes, when he attempts to disguise his emotion as something that should be quickly dismissed, Wei Ying suddenly has the impression that this man is no different from the sweet little grannies who keep him company on weekend mornings.
Wei Ying waits for him to speak. 

“A-Zhan has been through so much suffering… I thought I would never see him again, I’m glad he is loved.”

Wei Ying swallows around the lump in his throat, then simply says, “He is”.

The day Wei Ying returns with Lan Zhan’s surviving family, his uncle and his brother, Lan Zhan feels overwhelmed. His elder brother had never given up on him, he had been waiting for this day so that he could release his brother from the curse. 

They shed tears for perhaps the first time in centuries, hands clasped together tightly. Lan Huan had been keeping the spiritual energy of an ancient god inside a tiny bottle, had been keeping it safe at all times, so that when he finally reunited with his brother, he would be able to lift the spell. What he had never expected was for the spell to be weakened by the presence of a mortal man like Wei Ying, who proved to be the only one able to get through to his brother, in thousands of years.

There’s an urge within Lan Zhan that he finds unbearably hard to fight - Wei Ying has done so much for him; Lan Zhan wants to do nothing more than to show him how much he loves him. The tension between him and Wei Ying while his family is around is excruciating. 

His brother has the grace to not bat an eye when his gaze falls to Lan Zhan’s index finger hooked around Wei Ying’s thumb. Similarly, his uncle does not question how close he and Wei Ying are sitting, although they’re shoulder to shoulder. 

They don’t ask any questions when Lan Zhan thanks Wei Ying for bringing out the dessert with a sweet peck on the corner of his lips - he feels Wei Ying tremble against him, it takes all of his self-restraint not to chase his lips for more. 

It doesn’t come as a surprise, when they invite Lan Zhan back to Gusu, that he tells them he has something to attend to first, he says that he will follow them at a later date. 

The moment they are out of Wei Ying’s apartment, Lan Zhan grabs Wei Ying and slams him against the nearest surface, which happens to be the door they just locked. 

“Lan Zhan! Wh-”

Lan Zhan cuts him off by kissing him, swallowing the rest of Wei Ying’s words. 

“Wei Ying… Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan repeats, in between hungry, heated kisses, which make Wei Ying’s knees feel like jelly, but oh, he kisses back, he lets Lan Zhan’s tongue into his mouth. 

“Lan Zhan…,” Wei Ying moans against Lan Zhan’s lips. 

It’s been years, but Wei Ying recognizes the feeling of his body heating up to the point that there’s slick running down his body; he is so wet, his dick is so hard, rubbing against Lan Zhan’s thigh. 

“Lan Zhan, … what, why’d you do-”

Lan Zhan doesn’t let him finish that thought, he presses Wei Ying against the door, hands sliding down Wei Ying’s ass and hoisting him up. There’s an urgency to every single one of Lan Zhan’s touches.
Wei Ying’s arms find their way around Lan Zhan’s neck, holding on tightly, a playful smile brightening Wei Ying’s face.

“Lan Zhan.. who knew, you’re always so stone-faced, but you’re so rough!”

Lan Zhan bites at Wei Ying’s bottom lip in retaliation, which makes Wei Ying pull away and laugh, head thrown back in delight. 

“Lan Zhan! What are you, a wild animal? Biting me like this!!”

But then, Wei Ying catches the intense look in Lan Zhan’s eyes and his breath is knocked right out of him.

“Come here, Lan Zhan…,” he says, voice low and husky, “kiss me properly, won’t you?”

Lan Zhan obliges, he kisses him slow and deep, until both of them slide down to the cold, hard floor, Wei Ying’s back still pressed against the door, as he frantically tries to pull Lan Zhan’s t-shirt off. 

It would be a good idea to move things to the bedroom, or to the couch at least, which is not too far away, but their thoughts are consumed by the hunger they have for each other; they cannot think clearly, 

Wei Ying regrets introducing Lan Zhan to the world of jeans (or sweatpants, for that matter), because the outline of his dick in those pants looks absolutely criminal and should not be legal. 

There’s absolutely nothing more breath-taking than the sight of Wei Ying right now, all bare for Lan Zhan to see and adore, to worship.
He takes his time learning the tiny, little sounds Wei Ying lets out whenever he touches him, he drinks them in as if they were nectar from the gods. 

Lan Zhan spreads Wei Ying’s legs as far apart as he can, he takes in the sight of Wei Ying’s pretty little hole leaking all over himself, all over the floor, just for him. 

“Wei Ying is so wet,” and if Lan Zhan’s breath gets caught in his throat as he says that, so what. 

“And whose fault is that?! You should take responsibility!”

“Mn,” Lan Zhan would like nothing more than that. 

Wei Ying wants to ask why Lan Zhan is not surprised about Wei Ying being an omega, but he forgets all about it when Lan Zhan’s fingers reach deep inside him, sending a jolt of pleasure throughout his whole body. 

“Fuck me… please… please,” Wei Ying whines, digging his fingers into Lan Zhan’s skin.

Lan Zhan groans, taking his clothes off in a haste; Wei Ying doesn’t even have the time to realize what’s happening before Lan Zhan pushes his cock inside in one go. 

“Fuck me!!!AH!!”

“I am.”

“Ah, no!!… I mean, fuck, warn me next time! Oh god, you’re so big…”

Lan Zhan ignores everything Wei Ying just said, except for ‘next time’. He splays a hand against the door, picking up the pace as he thrusts into Wei Ying’s body, earning little pleased moans. 

“Does it feel good inside me, Lan Zhan?”

Lan Zhan growls a response into Wei Ying’s sweaty skin, hitting a spot that makes Wei Ying scream out loud. 

“Wei Ying is so tight.”

Wei Ying squeezes him even tighter then, reveling in the praise. 

“Be gentle, won’t you, ah? My poor virgin body can’t take it!”

“Wei Ying is no longer a virgin,” Lan Zhan reminds him, punctuating every single word with a rough thrust, fingertips leaving bruises all over Wei Ying’s soft, plump thighs. 

“Fuck… fuck… and who’s to blame for that, hmm?? Who stole my virginity, hmm? AH! Fuck!”

Every time Wei Ying protests it makes Lan Zhan want to be rougher, faster. 

“Lan Zhan!! I’m going to break!”

“Fuck, Lan Zhan… Lan Zhan!! Please…ah…,” Wei Ying begs, so close to the edge, as he strokes himself and pushes back against Lan Zhan’s thrusts. 

When Wei Ying comes, he screams out loud. Lan Zhan holds him in place through the aftershocks, as Wei Ying begs quietly into Lan Zhan’s shoulder to please fill him up.

That does it for Lan Zhan, he spills deep inside Wei Ying. 

They exchange sloppy, slow kisses, until they realize they’re still on the floor, which has become a filthy mess. Wei Ying bursts out laughing, hugging Lan Zhan affectionately and peppering his face with kisses.

“Lan Zhan, you were so impatient! Look at the mess we made!”

“… I’ll clean up.”

“Take me to bed first, won’t you, ah? Your poor Wei Ying is tired, my elbows hurt, my ass is sore…”

“…”

No one can say Lan Zhan didn’t attempt to, it’s just that it takes a long time for them to reach the bedroom.

Lan Zhan fucks Wei Ying against the wall and on the couch before they make it to the bedroom, late into the night. 

As they lay together in bed, in each other’s arms, Lan Zhan’s half-hard dick still buried inside Wei Ying, he suddenly tightens his hold and asks: 

“But… Lan Zhan, I will age….and … you will be alone?”

For a brief moment, Wei Ying worries that his question is too much, especially after such mind-blowing sex. Way to dampen the mood, Wei Ying!
The thought is cut short by Lan Zhan’s hesitant answer. 

“If… Wei Ying wishes...I would like to claim him so he can spend forever with me.”

Wei Ying’s eyes widen, Lan Zhan tucks Wei Ying’s hair behind his ear, smiling softly at the myriad of emotions reflected on Wei Ying’s face.

“... that… you could do that?”

“Mn.”

“How?”

“Claiming you as my mate.”

“You mean… bonding with me?”

“Mn.”

“But… you’re not an Alpha…”

“I’m an immortal, I’m much more powerful than a mere alpha.”

“Ah, Hanguang-Jun, so mighty!”

“… would Wei Ying like that?”

In response, Wei Ying kisses him, and doesn’t let him go until he can feel Lan Zhan’s heart beating against his own, out of control. 

“Do it,” he says, breathless.

Lan Zhan licks at the sensitive skin before sinking his teeth into it until he draws blood.

Wei Ying gasps for air. 

When he completes the bond with a bite of his own, he can’t stop shivering. There might be tears in his eyes, he’s not sure, it’s like he’s experiencing everything all at once.

“Lan Zhan… Lan Zhan… Lan Zhan..”

“I’m here.”

“Come inside me again? Please… fill me up…”

Lan Zhan does.

Lan Zhan has been waiting for a long time, he has been stuck in a world where no one can see him. 

For all that matters, he had been prepared to spend eternity alone, lonely, without a soul to keep him company.
The immortal who had cursed him had been clear enough when he cast the spell and plunged the world into darkness, sealing Lan Zhan in between dimensions. With time, he has forgotten the face of the immortal, he has even let go of the hatred.
Who could fathom that the person who would break the spell would be a loud, bright-eyed man whose smile would put the god of the sun to shame? 

Once, a long time ago, Lan Zhan would have cared to find out how this is possible, but not now. There are many possibilities, one being that Wei Ying is the son of an immortal, but there’s nothing that would stop Lan Zhan from loving him, so there’s no reason for him to investigate the matter. 

Now, standing in the kitchen of the man he loves to prepare breakfast, Lan Zhan is content.  

“Lan Zhan, how many people… or like, I mean, uh … like you are out there?” Wei Ying asks, as he cuts into the fluffy waffle.

“More than you think.”

“And you’re stuck here forever? Can you at least go to another planet?”

“We can ascend, if we perform enough good deeds.”

“Ohh, really? And where do you go then?”

“This, I wouldn’t know, as I haven’t experienced it.”

“Would you like to?”

“I would rather spend an eternity with Wei Ying.”

“Hahhhhhhha oh my god!! Warn me! I thought my heart was about to self combust!”

Lan Zhan smiles, treading their fingers together and bringing Wei Ying’s hand to his lips, so he can press a soft kiss there, which makes Wei Ying go bright red.

Suddenly there is too much space between them, and Wei Ying gets up from his chair to settle into Lan Zhan’s lap instead, burying his face into the crook of Lan Zhan’s neck, still terribly flustered by the previous admission. 

It doesn’t matter, though, they have all the time in the world, and they both indulge in these idle afternoons, in each other’s embrace, doing nothing at all. 

“Lan Zhan.”

“Mn?”

“Nothing. I just love saying your name.”

“I love Wei Ying saying my name. I love Wei Ying.”

“Aiya, Lan Zhan, my brain just went brr, stop it!!”

“Mn.”

“I love you too, Lan Zhan! So much!” 

Lan Zhan smiles. 

To keep up appearances, Wei Ying (and Nie Huaisang) help Lan Zhan get a job as a researcher, which it’s something he can do from home and to no one’s surprise, Lan Zhan enjoys it and takes it very seriously. 

They split their time between Yunmeng and Gusu; and Wei Ying will annoy Lan Zhan as soon as he comes back home.

Every work day, he will quietly slip into Lan Zhan’s office and give him a sweet kiss on the cheek.

“I’m home!”

“Mn. Welcome home, Wei Ying.”

“You just keep doing what you’re doing, Lan Zhan…”

And with that, Wei Ying settles in between his legs, makes quick work of unbuttoning his trousers and pulling his underwear out of the way, and takes Lan Zhan’s cock in his mouth.
Wei Ying loves to feel its weight in his mouth, he loves when Lan Zhan’s cock stretches his mouth open to its limits and makes tears well up in his eyes, when it hits the back of his throat.
He is still not amazing at sucking Lan Zhan off, but he’s getting there - soon his gag reflex will be a distant memory.
Every single time, Lan Zhan will still stroke his hair adoringly, though, even when he chokes on his own spit and on his pre-cum.

Sometimes, it goes on for hours - Lan Zhan will keep writing, and Wei Ying will find himself dozing off, keeping Lan Zhan’s dick in his mouth, warm and half-hard.

Today is one of those days. 

“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan whispers, tenderly, as he puts away the books and the pens on his desk. 

Wei Ying responds with a noise vaguely resembling a whine, so Lan Zhan runs a hand through Wei Ying’s silky hair and tries again.
After various attempts, Wei Ying finally gets up, with a pout, and takes a seat on Lan Zhan’s lap.

“Lan Zhaaan, you didn’t pay any attention to me so I fell asleep!”

“Mn.”

“But I kept your cock nice and warm, didn’t I?”

“Mn.”

“Lan Zhan, you really are cold! Give me a reaction, won’t you!”

Without a word, Lan Zhan lifts Wei Ying up so he’s sitting on the desk, taking all the time in the world to undress Wei Ying, who just can’t stop shivering at every touch. He is so sensitive, so beautiful. 

Like the rest of him, Wei Ying’s pretty cock begs for attention, leaking against his stomach. 

Lan Zhan takes him in his mouth and takes him apart, until Wei Ying is unable to form any coherent thoughts. 

Some people like to live dangerously and Wei Ying is one of them, he likes to live by that rule, especially when Lan Zhan is concerned. 

Nie Huaisang has told him more than once that they have become that annoying, insufferable couple everyone avoids because they like to flaunt their love life in other people’s faces.
Wei Ying would like to see someone else in his shoes, how is someone supposed to refrain from teasing Lan Zhan until he gives in and fucks him within an inch of his life?
Is there someone who is strong enough to resist? Wei Ying doesn’t think so!
So, he doesn’t hold it against himself when he goes to find Lan Zhan, who is busy with dinner preparations, and he hugs him from behind.  

“Wei Ying. I need to cook.”

“Then do it.”

“I can’t, if you don’t let me go.”

“Aren’t you strong enough to fuck me while cooking, Hanguang-Jun?” Wei Ying practically purrs in his ear. 

“....”

They discover that Lan Zhan is indeed strong enough to do so. 

When they’re both exhausted and resting on the couch, Wei Ying rubs his nose against Lan Zhan’s skin, finding the sandalwood scent soothing, he places the softest of kisses against Lan Zhan’s neck. 

“Lan Zhan, what if I get pregnant and have the strangest cravings?”

“…”

“Can you imagine? What if I crave your cum hahaha?”

“… Wei Ying.” 

“And like I’m at work, I would be like… Qing-jie, sorry but I need to go and suck my Lan Zhan off or I’ll die, hahaha!”

“… you will not die.”

Wei Ying pouts, “Lan Zhan wouldn’t indulge me? He would deny me?”

“I would never deny Wei Ying. Try it and see if I would.”

Wei Ying grins; surely, Wen Qing won’t hold it against him for such an innocent prank! 

Years later, Wei Ying's daydream is no longer a fantasy. 

“I love you so much, Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying tells Lan Zhan, with his feet dipped into the cool water of the lotus pond they had built at the back of their house. 

It’s the sunset, the warm tones make Lan Zhan’s eyes shine, as he smiles at his husband, “I love Wei Ying too.”

Their youngest children are swimming in the pond, giggling and eating lotus seeds.
The oldest son, A-Yuan, is putting away the clothes Lan Zhan had fixed for Wei Ying, and their daughter is collecting the crops in the garden. 

In the distance, Wei Ying can see rain clouds; he can't wait for the spring rain.