The next morning, Wei Wuxian stirred awake to find himself alone in bed. The space where Lan Wangji usually lay was empty, and the lingering warmth had long since faded. Frowning, Wei Wuxian rubbed his eyes, his messy hair sticking out in all directions.
"Where's Lan Zhan gone so early?" he muttered. A hint of unease crept into his thoughts, but he brushed it aside with a yawn. "Maybe he's attending some boring clan duty. I'll just find him myself."
Throwing on a fresh robe, he meandered out of the Jingshi and down the stone paths of the Cloud Recesses, lazily swiping an apple from one of the courtyards as he passed.
That was when he saw it.
Under a blooming plum tree near the library pavilion, Lan Zhong and Lan Wangji stood close, their heads bent in conversation. Lan Zhong's hand rested lightly on Lan Wangji's arm as he leaned in to whisper something, and—unbearably—Lan Wangji did not pull away.
Wei Wuxian stopped in his tracks, apple halfway to his mouth.
"What's this?" he muttered to himself, squinting at the scene. His stomach churned as he saw Lan Zhong smile warmly and Lan Wangji incline his head ever so slightly, responding to whatever was said.
Wei Wuxian gritted his teeth, the playful cheer that usually fueled his antics replaced by something much darker. "So that's why Lan Zhan left early without telling me."
A Growing Doubt
The rest of the morning passed in a haze.
Wei Wuxian tried to occupy himself with archery practice and teasing the Lan juniors, but his sharp eyes kept flickering to where Lan Zhong was. Whether he was sharing a quiet word with Lan Wangji during a walk or laughing softly with him during a shared meal, the two seemed inseparable.
By midday, Wei Wuxian had enough. He found Lan Wangji outside the guest quarters, his husband carrying a tray of medicinal tea destined for Lan Zhong's room. Wei Wuxian didn't let him get far before stepping into his path, arms crossed and his tone dangerously light.
"Lan Zhan. You've been spending a lot of time with Lan Zhong, haven't you?"
Lan Wangji's gaze was as steady as ever. "He is a guest. I am only ensuring his comfort."
Wei Wuxian gave a dry laugh. "Oh, you're ensuring his comfort? Must be exhausting, seeing as you haven't had time to tell your husband where you've been all morning."
Lan Wangji hesitated, his grip on the tray tightening ever so slightly. "Wei Ying."
"No, don't 'Wei Ying' me," Wei Wuxian snapped, his earlier irritation boiling to the surface. "I saw you this morning with him. Whispering under the plum tree. Looking all… serious. You looked like you didn't want anyone to interrupt. Tell me, Lan Zhan, what were you talking about?"
Lan Wangji didn't respond immediately, his expression unreadable. "It is private."
The words hit Wei Wuxian harder than he'd expected. He blinked, taking a step back. "Private? Oh, I see. I suppose I shouldn't pry into such intimate matters then, should I?"
Lan Wangji frowned. "Wei Ying, it is not what you think."
"No? Because I'm starting to think I'm just getting in the way," Wei Wuxian said sharply, his grin growing brittle. "Maybe I should leave you two to reminisce about your youthful days. Wouldn't that be nice? No unruly troublemaker distracting you."
"Wei Ying!" Lan Wangji's voice was uncharacteristically stern, but Wei Wuxian shook his head, his chest tight with frustration.
"Forget it, Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian muttered, turning on his heel and walking away. His shoulders were tense, and he couldn't bring himself to look back.
Lan Wangji watched him go, his expression pained but resolute.
An Explanation Revealed
That evening, Wei Wuxian sat by a quiet stream, poking at the water's surface with a stick. He had hoped the cool air would soothe his restless thoughts, but the image of Lan Zhong's hand on Lan Wangji's arm continued to burn in his mind.
He didn't look up when footsteps approached.
"Are you always this dramatic, or is it a skill reserved just for Wangji's sake?"
Wei Wuxian blinked and looked up to find Lan Zhong standing there, hands folded behind his back. His expression was polite, but his gaze was piercing.
"Why are you here?" Wei Wuxian said, scowling.
Lan Zhong sat down on the grass, unperturbed. "Because someone needs to clear this misunderstanding before you make things worse."
Wei Wuxian opened his mouth to retort, but Lan Zhong cut him off.
"Before you get any more ridiculous ideas, let me make one thing clear: Wangji and I are only friends. That hasn't changed, not in all the years we've known each other."
Wei Wuxian's hand tightened on the stick. "Then what were you talking about this morning? What's so private it couldn't be shared with me?"
Lan Zhong smiled faintly. "If you'd waited a little longer, perhaps Wangji would have told you himself. He was asking for advice on a gift for you. Something special."
Wei Wuxian froze.
"A gift?"
Lan Zhong nodded. "Apparently, your marriage has given him plenty of excuses to be sentimental. He didn't want you to see it before it was ready."
Wei Wuxian's face turned crimson, and the stick snapped in his hand.
Lan Zhong stood, brushing grass from his robes. "So, next time you see Wangji, perhaps you should thank him. And try to be a little less insufferable."
With that, Lan Zhong walked off, leaving Wei Wuxian sitting by the stream with a mix of embarrassment and guilt twisting in his gut.
A Silent Apology
When Wei Wuxian finally returned to the Jingshi that night, he found Lan Wangji sitting by the window with a small, intricately carved box in his lap. The look on his face was calm but faintly resigned, as if he had been preparing for another fight.
"Lan Zhan," Wei Wuxian said softly, his earlier irritation completely gone. He approached, hesitating just long enough for Lan Wangji to tilt his head in quiet curiosity.
Wei Wuxian dropped down beside him, taking his hand. "I'm sorry. I—I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions."
Lan Wangji studied him for a moment before placing the carved box into Wei Wuxian's hands. "For you," he said simply.
Wei Wuxian opened the box to find a beautifully crafted jade pendant, the design intricately resembling the lotus flowers from his childhood home. His chest tightened.
"Lan Zhan," he murmured, tears threatening to spill.
"You are my only one," Lan Wangji said, his voice unwavering. "No one else."
Wei Wuxian swallowed the lump in his throat, then leaned forward to press a deep kiss against Lan Wangji's lips. This time, there was no misunderstanding. Only love.