Chapter Text
Chapter 8
Lan Wangj knew they had agreed to meet around two but he had gotten into a routine of coming to the museum around noon, so her he was, sitting in the Yiling Louzu exhibit like normal. The only thing was that it wasn’t normal. He no longer felt sad sitting here in front of the two paintings, wanting to buy them for his personal collection. He could now smile to himself, heart feeling so happy that it might burst at the thought that he and Wei Ying had found each other in every lifetime. He could finally feel like he once did in his past life.
He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard a few footsteps and a small chuckle that made his heart skip a beat.
“Aren’t you early, Lan Zhan?” The voice was like music to his now blushing ears.
“Mn. I came here everyday.” He said as Wei Ying and Xiao Xingchen came over to sit.
“Ah! So you didn’t know what else to do then.” It wasn’t a question but instead an observation.
Lan Zhan nodded, hearing his heartbeat in his ears as it raced. No one other than his brother could usually understand him so easily. He knew he wasn’t that great with words.
Wei Ying seemed to enjoy whatever he was seeing because his eyes lit up. “Hey, Xingchen, do you mind if we re-reschedule our lunch?” He was facing the other man now.
Xingchen gave a knowing smile and stood. “Of course! I’ll see you another time, then! You too, Lan Wangji!” Then he was walking out the doors rather quickly.
Now they were left alone on the bench, in an exhibit dedicated to their love in a past life.
“This gives a chance to to talk and get to know each other a little more before we meet my sister and her husband today.” Wei Ying said, scooting closer to Lan Zhan so their sides were against one another. He then leaned into him lightly, his hand slowly finding Lan Zhan’s before intertwining their fingers. “What’s something interesting about you, Lan Zhan?”
Lan Zhan thought for a moment before speaking. “I...still have memories....from their lives.” He said, nodding at the two portraits in front of him.
Wei Ying felt so many emotions once those words registered completely. He felt bad for Lan Zhan having to go through so much more pain than him but also slightly guilty that he had no memories and didn’t know how to comfort him. So instead he did what he did best. “I hope I can be as good as he was then. I have no memories but he looks like he might have been a lot smarter than I am. I can’t draw at all.” He chuckled. “It’s amazing that you can remember.” He whispered, leaning his head on Lan Zhan’s shoulder.
Lan Zhan noticed how the other was seemingly getting sad so he changed the subject quickly. “What about Wei Ying?”
Wei Ying sat up a bit. “Well my family isn’t my biological family. My parents got into a car crash when I was four. My dad and uncle were really close so uncle Jiang Fengmian adopted me and I’ve been in the family ever since.” He smiled to himself a bit. “What about your family? Your brother seems really nice. Kinda like a puppy.” He chuckled.
Lan Zhan laughter a bit and it made Wei Ying freeze for a second, heart hammering in his chest. “My mother passed away when I was still a small child. Our father wasn’t really around much. He was a secluded person but eventually passed a year after our mother did from heart failure. Our uncle took over being our primary caregiver but brother always tried to be more of a guardian since uncle is so strict.”
Lan Zhan was surprised at himself for telling Wei Ying all of the things he hasn’t even been able to say to his brother. His hands were slightly trembling and Wei Ying squeezed the one he was holding lightly. “I’m sorry you had to go through all of that. I wish I could’ve found you sooner, Lan Zhan. I wish there was something I could do to help you now.”
Lan Zhan just smiled, leaning down to kiss the other’s head lightly. “Just stay with me. There’s no reason to say sorry between us.”
Wei Ying sat up more to kiss his cheek, eyes gaining a sparkle when he looked at his ears turning a crimson color. “Your face never changes but your ears blush?! That’s really cute, Lan Zhan!” Lan Zhan’s ears went even redder, his gaze still focused on Wei Ying.
“Wei Ying is the cute one.”
It was Wei Wuxian’s turn to get flustered. He felt the heat rushing to his cheeks, his whole face turning red. “W-Warn me before you say stuff like that, Lan Zhan!!”
They were both standing outside of the café. Lan Zhan seemed calm, cool and collected but Wei Wuxian on the other hand was nervously picking at his fingernails. “Listen, my sister is really nice but she can be really intense when she wants to be.”
Lan Wangji smiled. “That’s fine. She’s protective of you which means we should get along because I am also protective of you.” He stared intently as the other’s face turned red again and he let out a nervous laugh.
“Let’s get inside.” He took Lan Wangji’s hand and led him in.
At the counter, Jin Zixuan was cleaning up and froze when he turned around. “A-Xian?!” He was looking between the two men.
Wei Wuxian ran over to cover his mouth. “Shhh!” He hissed. “Where’s Shijie? I don’t want to surprise her to much.”
Jin Zixuan had to move the others hand before shaking his head to bring himself back from the shock. “She is in the back, cleaning up and setting the table with food. You said you were bringing someone but this is kinda crazy.” He huffed out a laugh.
Wei Wuxian laughed, too. “Yeah, trust me I of all people know.” He started to walk back to Lan Wangji when Jin Zixuan called out to him again.
“I’m happy for you, Wei Wuxian.” He smiled at his brother-in-law.
Wei Wuxian waved him off, taking Lan Wangji’s hand and leading him toward the back. “You’re supposed to call me A-Xian now, remember?”
They walked to the back as Wei Wuxian whispered. “That’s my sister’s husband, Jin Zixuan. Jiang Cheng and I hated him forever but he’s honestly a good guy. He makes Shijie happy.” They came to a door down the hall. “I’m going to go in first and talk to her, you should stay here until I call for you. She’s pregnant and I don’t want the surprise to cause any trouble.” He laughed.
He then went into the large room they always ate lunch in. His nerves were back now that he was looking at his sister as she had her back to him. “H-Hey, Shijie.”
Jiang Yanli turned around in an instant, walking over to Wei Wuxian and holding his face with her hands, turning him this way and that to look him over. “You had me worried! Xiao Xingchen said something happened yesterday and that it wasn’t bad but I still was worried about you. You didn’t call me at all and A-Cheng wouldn’t tell me anything. I thought you were hurt or got in trouble at the museum.” She let out a sigh of relief when she deemed that he was really okay. “What is going on?”
Wei Wuxian let out a small nervous chuckle. “I actually have someone I want you to meet, okay?”
Jiang Yanli stepped back as Wei Wuxian went to open the door, motioning at someone to follow him inside the room. “Shijie, this is Lan Zhan. I-I mean Lan Wangji.” He grinned at her, his cheeks a shade of pink as the other man entered the room, face void of emotion but ears red.
Yanli was at a loss for words, tears filling her vision as she took a few steps closer, looking between the him and Wei Wuxian.
“We met yesterday. That’s what Xiao Xingchen was talking about when he said it wasn’t bad.” His eyes were filling with tears that he was trying to discreetly blink away. “Lan Zhan and I were soulmates in our passed lives...and we get to be in this life too.” He looked over at Lan Zhan, both of them catching each other’s eyes which caused their soul marks to glow brightly together.
Jiang Yanli pulled both of the men into her embrace, crying a little in relief. “Thank goodness. I was so worried about you, A-Xian.” She then looked at Lan Wangji. “You have to take good care of him, understand? He doesn’t think about himself at all so you better make him happy.”
Lan Wangji nodded into the embrace. “I promise I will.” His eyes floated above Yanli’s head to meet Wei Wuxian’s eyes. “Forever.”
It’s been about three months since they met and Wei Wuxian was sitting as properly as he could, being on his best behavior as he was seated across from the two people who were most important to his boyfriend. He was trying to keep from shaking by digging his nails into his knees but a hand squeezed his and helped him calm down.
“This is Wei Ying, or rather, Wei Wuxian. He’s my soulmate. We met three months ago at the museum in Yunmeng.” Lan Zhan spoke so formally and it took everything Wei Wuxian had to not mock him. He was never this formal when they weren’t around his family.
Lan Xichen was smiling like every time they had met which helped put Wei Wuxian at ease before Lan Qiren spoke.
“You’re related to the Jiang, yes?” He words felt so heavy in the room and it almost made Wei Wuxian feel sick.
“Yes. The late Jiang Fengmeng took me in and adopted me when I was five years old after my parents died in a car accident. They’ve been my family ever since.” He was proud of himself for keeping his voice from shaking.
He stroked his beard a bit and Wei Wuxian took note on how the action caused the other two in the room to relax.
“Your uncle and I were friends before he passed.” He looked Wei Wuxian in the eye. “I have no qualms with you joining our family. I’m thankful the my youngest nephew has finally found you. He’s been through quite a lot.”
Wei Wuxian felt his cheek getting damp before he realized he was crying. He bowed his head. “I promise to always love and take care of Lan Zhan!”
When he lifted his head he was met by a smile from the elder. “I know you will.”
A year had come and gone so fast and now here Wei Wuxian was, shaking like a leaf through his nerves as he held Lan Zhan’s hand, dressed in black and white just like the other, standing outside the banquet hall. They had gotten legally married yesterday and Wei Wuxian wasn’t nervous at all but now that they were celebrating with their family and friends, he was nearly about to fall down.
Lan Zhan leaned down to kiss his cheek. “It’s okay. They all care and want to celebrate. You can’t mess up celebrating. That’s what your best at.” He chuckled.
Wei Ying smiled at his husband and leaned up more to give him a proper kiss on the lips. “I know. Plus I have you now so I don’t know why I’m even nervous anyways.” He giggled a bit and felt the nervousness subsiding.
Lan Zhan smiled. “Forever?”
Wei Ying grinned. “Forever.”
Then they opened the doors together to enter the banquet with everyone that cared about them