Chapter Text
In the small town of Yiling there lived a family who dwelled under the name Sanren. They lived in a Victorian manor home painted midnight black and perched on the crest of a hill at the edge of town. The family was as old as and as constant as the town of Yiling itself. The residents knew the family of Sanren well, for they cast a shadow on Yiling, one drenched in blood and rumors of witchcraft.
It was said that the first Sanren to live inside the manor was a woman of great beauty who bewitched a married man into her bed. When the man ultimately left the pregnant Madame Sanren, she cursed his name and vowed never to let love into her heart again. A spell was cast in the murky depths of the night that doomed any man who dared love a member of the Sanren family to misfortune and death.
As the centuries passed, each man who came into the lives of the Saren family was met with an untimely end, with no exceptions. Wei Wuxian remembered vividly the morning his father died. His mother, Cangse Sanren, had torn the floorboards off the porch in search of the ominous sound of the death watch beetle. He had been five years old playing on the porch of the Saren home, when a police car pulled into their driveway. His mother’s panicked movements instantly stilled when the officer stepped from his car, hat in hand, for she knew what he was about to tell her.
Within a year of his father’s car accident and passing, Wei Wuxian lost his mother as well. Cangse Sanren succumbed to a broken heart, leaving her six year old son in the care of her aunt, Baoshan Sanren. Wei Wuxian watched his mother fade away and vowed each day that he would never love another person so much that it would cause him such pain. On the sixth anniversary of his mother’s passing, twelve year old Wei Ying found a love spell inside his aunt’s heavy leather bound spell book and set to work casting an enchantment that would ensure he would never share the same fate as his mother.
“What are you doing?” Jiang Cheng asked as he sat perched on a plant stand inside Baoshan Sanren’s greenhouse as Wei Wuxian skittered about collecting the ingredients for his spell. “You’re not doing magic again, are you? Remember what happened to the frog last week?”
“That was an accident,” Wei Wuxian dismissed, “I didn’t know it was going to explode when I cast that teleportation spell. I think I put too much sage in my bowl.”
“My mother almost flogged me when I came home with frog blood on my shirt,” Jiang Cheng complained, scrunching his nose at his best friend as Wei Ying placed a porcelain bowl on the table beside him and began filling it with ingredients for his spell.
“I’m surprised your mother let you come back after I set your
shoelaces on fire that one time,”
“My mom and your Aunt are best friends, she knows this house is full of chaos.” Jiang Cheng excused.
“As long as you don’t fall in love with me, you’ll be fine.” Wei Wuxian chuckled, opening a leatherbound notebook and picking up a pen.
“No offense, but I don’t think I like guys,” Jiang Cheng snorted, “And, even if I did, I wouldn’t like you like that. Again, no offense.”
“I wouldn’t like you like that either,” Wei Ying agreed, “And, I’m going to make sure that I never like anyone like that until the day I die as a happy old man.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m casting a spell to call to the heart of my soulmate,” Wei Wuxian explained, “It will seal my love and theirs together and make it impossible for either of us to ever love anyone else.”
“But, I thought you didn’t want to fall in love. Why would you cast a spell to find your soulmate?”
“With this spell, I can pick specific details for my true love to possess.” Wei Wuxian began, feeling clever as he began to jot down the traits he wished to bestow on his love. “If I pick impossible things that no man or woman would ever have, then I will never be able to fall in love because my heart is sealed to a person who doesn’t exist.”
“I feel like this may backfire,” Jiang Cheng warned, “What if you accidentally conjure a freak that stalks you all your life?”
“That’s not how the spell works,” Wei Wuxian dismissed, “Do you want to hear what traits I picked?”
“Alright, let’s hear them.”
“I want my soulmate to be the most handsome man to walk the earth,” Wei Wuxian began, “I want him to have long black hair and beautiful golden eyes.”
“Golden eyes?” Jiang Cheng repeated with an eyebrow raise, “No one has golden eyes.”
“That’s the point,” Wei Wuxian reminded him, “I want him to be incredibly shy and soft spoken, but also have a deep voice. He should be really good with kids and have a herd of rabbits in his backyard.”
“Why rabbits?”
“Because I hate dogs,” Wei Wuxian clarified, “OH! One guinea pig as well. Its name will be Mr. Sniffles. And, two roosters.”
“This is getting ridiculous,” Jiang Cheng spat, “Are you finished yet?”
“Not even close,” Wei Wuxian laughed, “I want him to ride a blue bicycle with a white basket and two bells. He needs to wear glasses and braid his hair. He should love music and play many instruments, but be a terrible dancer. He can make flower crowns and he likes to read children's books about rabbits. Finally, he has to be strong enough to do handstands at will and read books up-side-down.”
“This person seems like a crazy librarian with a rabbit addiction,”
“And, one guinea pig and two roosters.” Wei Wuxian reminded, “And, he should be able to make the best cup of coffee ever made, but he only drinks tea. Also, he can’t handle spicy food, not even too much pepper. I could never love anyone who hates spices. Also, his ears should turn pink when he’s embarrassed, and I want him to have a dragon tattooed on his back.”
“Is that all?” Jiang Cheng questioned, growing tired of his friend’s nonsense.
“One last thing,” Wei Wuxian began as he placed his list into his bowl. “He should have an older brother that looks like him, that is the only person, besides myself, that he trusts with his entire heart and soul.”
“Why should he have a brother?”
“Because he shouldn’t have to be lonely like I am,” Wei Wuxian whispered, “If there’s even a tiny chance this man exists, then he should at least be happy and loved before I destroy his life.”
Years went by and Wei Wuxian all but forgot about his spell as he grew from a boy to a strong young man. He left Yiling for a small time to attend a nearby college and returned with a toddler on his hip. A-Yuan was an orphan that Wei Wuxian fell head over heels in love with during his childhood development workshops. A-Yuan’s parents had died in a car accident and he was being raised by his grandmother. When the elderly woman was unable to care for the boy, Wei Wuxian put in to adopt the child.
Wei Wuxian returned to Yiling with a degree in childhood psychology and the hopes to become a counselor at the local elementary school. He had a soft spot for children with mental health struggles, and those who may be suffering from bullying, for he’d gone through a lot of struggles during his school days. Being the only son of the infamous Sanren family made him a prime target for hatred and isolation. Unfortunately, the local parents did not want their children to be influenced by Baoshan Sanren’s nephew. Instead, Wei Wuxian found himself opening a shop on the square instead, one that sold herbal remedies and non threatening magical items that the local population secretly bought when no one was watching.
“He has to go to school, you know?” Jiang Yanli spoke up as she leaned against the counter in the shop watching A-Yuan hop about the displays with his favorite stuffed rabbit in his arms. “He’s going to miss all of kindergarten at this rate.”
“The other children were cruel to him,” Wei Wuxian whispered, “I can’t send him back to public school, Yanli. Especially not after he threatened to curse the Wen kid with chickenpox after he ripped the ear off his rabbit.”
“Aren’t they cousins?”
“Yes, but A-Yuan is legally a Wei now. He’s part of my cursed family. They don’t care what blood is in his veins. He lives in the Sanren Mansion, therefore he’s a child of witchcraft.” Wei Wuxian lamented, “I’m going to teach him myself.”
“Your degree is in psychology, not education.” Yanli reminded him, “Also, you can’t spend all day teaching a child. You have tinctures and soaps to make. This store won’t supply itself.”
“I’m not sending him back to school,” Wei Wuxian denied, shaking his head as he spotted a group of kids peering into his display window.
“Hi!” A-Yuan called out to the kids, skipping over to the door and opening it to greet them. “Do you want to play? Bunny and I were dancing.”
“No,” one of the boys answered with a sneer. “We can’t play with you.”
“Are you busy?"
“My mom says your dad is a witch,” a little girl told him. “She said he seduces men in the night and kidnaps babies.”
“What does seduce mean?” a boy asked in confusion.
“I don’t know, but it’s bad.” the girl huffed, “We can’t play with evil kids.”
“I’m not evil!” A-Yuan began, his voice shaking as tears formed in his eyes. “My dad isn’t evil either. He’s good. Your mom is the evil one!”
“A-yuan, close the door.” Wei Wuxian called from the counter, causing the kids to scatter and retreat up the sidewalk. “I need help rearranging the pretty soaps.”
“By color or smell this time?” A-Yuan asked, shutting the door and wiping his tears with the back of his hand.
“Smell,” Wei Wuxian challenged, “You pick the order.”
“Alright,” A-Yuan agreed, shuffling over to the soap display and dragging his bunny sadly behind him by the ear.
“Maybe, we can get him a private tutor,” Yanli suggested, “I just heard we have a new librarian. Old man Lan retired and his nephew from Gusu is taking over. He has a degree in education and library science.”
“I didn’t know Lan Qiren had a family,” Wei Wuxian said, scrunching his nose when he thought of the grumpy librarian who used to chase him out of the stacks for being too loud as a kid.
“Mom says he had a brother and sister-in-law that were killed in a car crash when their kids were in elementary school. Old man Lan adopted them, but they spent all their time in boarding school. I don’t think they’ve ever lived here.”
“Poor kids,” Wei Wuxian sympathized, “They must have a lot of issues growing up in schools away from their real family. I don’t think Old Lan would want his crazy nephew teaching the son of the Sanren family. He and my mother had a complicated relationship. She liked to tease him a lot growing up.”
“It’s worth a try at least,” Yanli advised with a shrug. “Think of what’s best for A-Yuan.”
“Fine,” Wei Wuxian agreed, “Can you watch the shop while I go visit the library? It shouldn’t take A-yuan and I long to be rejected.”
“Go ahead, it’s not like there’s a rush.” Yanli chuckled, gesturing to the one customer in the corner staring at the perfume bottles. “Take your time.”
“Come with me, A-Yuan.” Wei Wuxian announced, crossing the shop and scooping his son up off the floor. “We’re going to check out a new book for bedtime stories.”
“Can I pick this time?” A-Yuan excitedly asked, clinging to his father. “The book about the littlest ghost was scary. I want a bunny story.”
The Yiling Library was conveniently located at the edge of west main street within sight of Wei Wuxian’s shop. It was a large brick building with a tall spire that was used as a reading nook after the building’s conversion from a church in the early twentieth century. The Lan family were the proprietors of books in Yiling, having run the library for over a century.
Stepping through the heavy wooden doors, Wei Wuxian inhaled the distinct scent of books as he scanned the stacks for the new librarian. Morning light filled the room, glittering through the line of stained glass windows that encompassed the main room and casting the books in a rainbow of color. A-Yuan giggled wildly as he ran down a long row of bookcases towards the children’s corner in the back.
“Shush!” Old man Lan’s voice echoed off the walls as he appeared from a side room with an arm full of books and scowl on his bearded face. “No running in the library.”
“Sorry,” A-Yuan apologized, slowing his steps to a tiny pitter. “I’m going to find a bunny book. The little ghost book was too scary.”
“We have plenty of bunny books in the back corner,” Lan Qiren told him in a kinder tone. “My nephew Wangji is organizing the reading area in the children’s section. He can help you find a bunny book.”
“Thank-you, Mr. Lan.” A-Yuan answered, before dashing towards the sun filled back corner to find the perfect bedtime story.
“Your son is much more polite than you were at his age,” Lan Qiren commented, eying Wei Wuxian as if he were something offensive. “The ghost book is overdue. You’ll have to pay the late fee before he can check out another one.”
“I heard that you’re retiring,” Wei Wuxian changed the subject as he heard A-Yuan chattering happily to someone in the back of the library.
“I am,” Lan Qiren confirmed, “My nephew is taking my place. He specializes in children's literature and education. He has plans to start reading classes for the local kids and themed nights to teach them craft skills and history.”
“He seems very passionate about children’s education,” Wei Wuxian excitedly concluded, “Has he ever considered teaching?”
“He did for a while, but I convinced him to take the librarian position instead,” Lan Qiren informed him, “Why do you ask?”
“I’m looking for a private tutor for A-Yuan,” Wei Wuxian explained, “I want to homeschool him, but I don’t have the time to teach him myself. I can’t pay much though.”
“That would be a question for my nephew,” Lan Qiren huffed, “Though, I would have to object if your son distracts him from his library duties. He can’t spend all day tutoring your son just because he’s too wild for school.”
“A-Yuan isn’t wild,” Wei Wuxian defended his son, “The other kids are cruel to him because he’s my son. It’s not his fault they bully him. I’m tired of seeing him cry because of prejudices he doesn’t deserve.”
“All children deserve an education,” Lan Qiren spoke, a softer look in his eyes. “Your son shouldn’t have to suffer because he’s a Sanren. I’m sure Wangji will be happy to help teach A-Yuan.”
“Thanks Old man,” Wei Wuxain laughed, skipping away from the grumpy librarian.
“No skipping in the library!”
Waving off Lan Qiren’s scolding, Wei Wuxian made his way to the children’s area in the back of the library. It was one of his favorite places in the library. The children’s books were placed atop what used to be the former church’s altar. It was a raised, rounded area lit by a large stained glass window at its back and dotted with low tables and beanbags for the kids to use.
Wei Wuxian found his son bouncing up and down in front of an entire display of bunny themed books that seemed to have been arranged prominently just for him. Kneeling on the carpet beside his excited child was a young man dressed in a soft white sweater and wispy wide legged blue culottes pants. He had long black hair that was braided neatly down his back and his voice was soft, yet incredibly deep, as he gently guided A-Yuan through the selection of bunny books.
“You must be the new librarian,” Wei Wuxian began, winning the attention of the man on the floor.
The man turned to look at him, his eyes catching the sunlight from the window and flashing a deep gold. Wei Wuxian froze, the unique color of the man’s eyes making his heart skip a beat. The new Librarian seemed just as surprised by Wei Wuxian, for he remained silent and simply blinked slowly in his direction. Wei Wuxian swallowed nervously and resisted the urge to run as he observed the most beautifully handsome man he’d ever laid eyes on.
The new librarian had a strong refined jaw and high nose. His eyes were large and expressive and his lips were full and pouting. Dark hair framed his pale skin, which had a slight golden undertone. He had large hands and long fingers that traced the spines of the books on the shelf with ease. His shoulders were broad, yet Wei Wuxain could see the hint of a trim waist beneath his bulky sweater. Lan Qiren’s nephew was a gorgeous mixture of soft and hard, all elegant lines and defined beauty.
“Dad!” A-Yuan interrupted their staring, “This is Teacher Lan. He’s the new library man.”
“Lan Wangji,” the man introduced himself as he gracefully climbed to his feet. “This is your son?”
“Yes, this is A-yuan,” Wei Wuxian introduced, his voice shaking slightly. “I’m Wei Wuxian.”
“You’re a member of the Sanren family,” Lan Wangji stated, catching Wei Wuxian off guard.
“Yes, how did you know?” Wei Wuxian nervously laughed, smoothing his hands over his red flannel shirt and ripped black skinny jeans.
“Uncle has mentioned you before,” Lan Wangji clarified, “He says you like to make noise in the library.”
“I only do that to drive Old man Lan crazy,” Wei Wuxian reassured him, “I will be very quiet for our new handsome librarian.”
“Mn,” Lan Wangji replied, the tips of his ear turning pink as he diverted his golden gaze back to A-Yuan and the bookshelf.
Wei Wuxian felt his mouth go dry as he observed the pink skin on Lan Wangji’s ears, which almost glowed in the warm light from the stained glass window behind him. For some reason, he felt like he’d met this man before, but where?
“A-Yuan tells me that he needs a new bedtime story,” Lan Wangji began, kneeling back down beside the child and selecting a book from the shelf. “His father keeps reading him stories about ghosts and they give him bad dreams.”
“It’s not what it sounds like,” Wei Wuxian defended himself, “I’ve been reading the littlest ghost books. They’re for kids.”
“Mn, they are.” Lan Wangji agreed, handing A-Yuan a book with a bunny wearing a vampire cape. “But, some children can be sensitive to dark imagery.”
“I know that,” Wei Wuxian added, “I have a degree in childhood psychology.”
“Yet, you’re scaring your child with little ghosts.” Lan Wangji commented, “Try this one instead. It’s about a vampire rabbit that drinks fruit juice.”
“Vampire bunny!” A-Yuan squealed, taking the book. “Read this one!”
“Alright, we’ll take that one.” Wei Wuxian agreed.
“Is there anything else I can do for you, A-Yuan?” Lan Wangji gently asked the excited five year old in front of him.
“Be my teacher!” A-Yuan boldly asked. “I can’t go to school with the other kids, so Dad said you could teach me.”
“And, why can’t you go to school with the other kids?” Lan Wangji carefully asked, “A-Yuan is such a nice boy.”
“I am nice,” A-Yuan agreed, stomping his feet. “The other kids are mean to me because I live in the witch house. They said my Dad seduces men in the night time.”
“A-Yuan!” Wei Wuxian sputtered, “Don’t use words you don’t understand. I do not seduce me.., I…,”
“I don’t think your mother would approve of that,” Lan Wangji said, “She keeps your Dad inside at night, I bet.”
“A-Yuan has no mommy,” A-Yuan informed, shaking his head. “Dad is alone.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to assume.” Lan Wangji apologized, looking flustered. “I just..,”
“He’s adopted,” Wei Wuxian clarified, “His parents passed when he was two. I met A-Yuan during my college research at his orphanage. The little radish was so sweet I couldn’t leave him there, so I adopted him after graduation. We’ve been a family for almost three years now. He’ll be six soon.”
“I’m adopted,” A-Yuan proudly declared, “My birth parents are in heaven.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, A-Yuan.” Lan Wangji told the child, “My birth parents are also in heaven. My uncle raised me. You could say, he’s like my father.”
“Teacher Lan is like A-Yuan,” A-Yuan declared, “We should stick together. Help me learn things and become smart like the other kids. I want to read the bunny vampire book myself.”
“That one is for third graders,” Lan Wangji informed, shaking his head as he chose another book from the shelf and handed it to A-Yuan. “You’ll have to work up to that one. How about something easier? This one is good for bedtime.”
“Th..eee…,” A-Yuan sounded out the words on the book cover. “L..it…, I can’t read that word.”
“Little,” Lan Wangji read it for him, “And, do you know this word?”
“Bunny!” A-Yuan proudly declared, “Daddy taught me that word already. I can read, but only a little.”
“Your son is very smart, considering he’s had no formal schooling.” Lan Wangji complimented, “What did you have in mind for homeschooling?”
“There’s an online academy I can enroll him in, but it needs supplementation and supervision. If I could quit my job and teach him myself, I would.” Wei Wuxian explained, sounding frustrated. “I can’t stock the shop, run it, and teach him at the same time. I need help.”
“Mn,” Lan Wangji began, rising to his feet. “Bring him to the library and I will watch over him while he does his computer lessons. We have a computer station right in front of my desk. He can help me organize the books when he’s done and we can do supplemental lessons while I work.”
“That’s too much,” Wei Wuxian panicked, waving his hands. “I can’t ask you to babysit him too.”
“How about he comes only three days a week then,” Lan Wangji suggested, “He can have lessons Monday through Wednesday and spend the rest of the week playing. Five days of lessons is a lot for a child his age. He needs time to be a child as well.”
“I will pay,” Wei Wuxian offered, “Is five hundred a week alright?”
“Five hundred is too much,” Lan Wangji rejected, shaking his head. “A-Yuan will be helping me with the books, so I don’t mind..,”
“Ok, three hundred and not a penny less.” Wei Wuxian cut off. “No arguments.”
“Two hundred and dinner every Thursday night to go over his progress,” Lan Wangji negotiated, “No arguments.”
“Teacher Lan can come to our house and meet Aunt Baoshan,” A-Yuan excitedly chirped, “He can see my room and meet my fish!”
“I’m sure he doesn’t want to have dinner at the Sanren witch house,” Wei Wuxian denied, receiving a pout from his son. “We can eat in town.”
“But, I want him to meet Potato!”
“Potato?” Lan Wangji repeated, raising a curious brow.
“His goldfish,” Wei Wuxian explained, “He’s fat like a potato, thus the name.”
“I would love to meet Potato,” Lan Wangji told A-Yuan. “Your house doesn’t scare me. A-Yuan and his handsome father live there, so it must be nice inside.”
“It’s very nice,” A-Yuan confirmed, “Even the ghosts like it.”
“You have ghosts?” Lan Wangji asked in a calm manner.
“They’re not as scary as the littlest ghost. They make wind in the halls and the candles all go out. Dad has to light them again afterwards. He can light candles with his mouth.” A-Yuan explained, pursing his lips and blowing futility as if trying to light a candle with dragon fire.
“Ok, that’s enough for today,” Wei Wuxian stepped in, “We’ll see you Monday, Teacher Lan. I have to go pay my late fees and get this one back to the shop. He has to finish organizing the soaps.”
“I’m sorting them by smell. Bad smell to good smell,” A-Yuan explained, “The brown one smells like dirty socks. It goes last.”