[[忘羡 | WangXian 3]] : Our Flesh And Bones

The Will.

Note:
For this chapte,r I am using the most recent art of one of the most amazing people on IG:  
IG: @ riceandpetals  as a header.  

The artist has given permission for their art to be used, as I am lucky enough to know them this time.🥰😍 It is a gentle piece of art, and this is one gentle chapter. 💙❤️💜🤍

Link:   https://www.instagram.com/riceandpetals/
Enjoy!

***

The Library Room was always chilly. 

Lan Sizhui was waiting patiently, rummaging through some manuscripts and smiling at the memories of his school days here, in this very hall. Time stood still at Cloud Recesses. He grew up, his friends grew up and got married, but everything else, it seemed, was the same – the rooms, the ambience of the place, his fathers – they all remained sealed in a timeless loop that contained some sort of a preserved paradise. Perhaps this was what Hanguang-Jun aimed for, as he was running the House now, and it was all tailored in accordance with his temperament.

A-Yuan also knew that it was an illusion, it was all just on the surface. Nothing was really perfect, nor the same, and it was far from a paradise. The amount of time Hanguang-Jun and Wei Qianbei spent together alone meant that something was deeply, seriously wrong. He fully understood that his dads did not always tell him all, that they often wore a mask because of him, protecting him. He loved and hated them for it.

He turned at the sound of the doors opening and saw them enter – Wei Ying's lips were bruised, and Lan Wangji had forgotten to put his hair right and it was now flowing freely over his shoulders, and they both looked flushed and very happy. Lan Sizhui grinned and bowed:

- You are late, Hanguang-Jun.

Wei Ying laughed:

- It's my fault this time, son! We missed lunch! I am afraid we kind of missed breakfast too! – he grinned happily. – And I cannot guarantee what will happen at dinner time either!

Lan Zhan looked at him coldly and approached to hug his son.

- Forgive me, A-Yuan. I had an important conversation with your father, and I wanted to talk to you too. Privately.  –  he glared at his husband, mumbling the last word.

Astonished, Lan Sizhui looked at the one, and then – at the other; he was not worried, he knew that it was physically impossible for his dads to fall out seriously. He melted in Lan Zhan's arms and murmured, hugging him too:

- I will miss you, Dad.

- My boy...  -  Lan Zhan said gently and let him go, but smiled at him and caressed his face. For the millionth time he felt incredibly proud and happy to have him by his side, to be his father.

Wei Ying's heart melted, nothing was more important in his life than those two people – he always considered having them both near a blessing. He moved to the window and watched them sit at the low table, ready to talk. He was not planning to interrupt, he just wanted to be here. Lan Wangji started, solemnly:

- I am planning to start the procedures for preparing my will. – he said calmly.

- What?!?  -  Lan Sizhui yelled, shocked.

- What... what did you say... -  Wei Wuxian felt that his knees gave way, those words cut through him like a knife and he felt dizzy.

- Papa!!!  –  the young man gasped and jumped to his feet to support him, as he was watching him stumble and almost fall. But no one was faster than Hanguang-Jun when it came to his husband.

- Wei Ying!  –  he cried. – Wei Ying...

In just a moment, Lan Wangji was holding him in his arms carefully, pale as a sheet. He said weakly:

- Why... why would you say that, husband... Why...?

- Wei Ying...

Wei Wuxian felt two strong arms lift him up and bring him to the cushions strewn around the table; he never left Hanguang-Jun's embrace and now he felt his strong body support and hold him. His head was spinning – perhaps he was tired. Or old. Or terrified.

- My love... I didn't even finish. Why are you like this... - Lan Zhan said bitterly, worried sick. Wei Ying's head was resting on his chest once again, and he wrapped his right arm around his waist, making sure he is safe and comfortable.

- Don't ever say those words... I forbid it.  –  Wei Ying said weakly.

- Oh, Papa! - Lan Sizhui's eyes were filled with tears. He hated to see his dads suffer. Alas, it happened way too often. – But Dad, what does it all mean? Why are you talking about such scary things? – he asked desperately.

- Please, listen. Let me explain. – Lan Zhan looked at his lover's pale face and kissed his forehead gently, worried about his physical, but also mental exhaustion; the last days had been too much for Wei Wuxian. He continued, trying to calm his voice so that his family was not worried.

- A-Yuan, you don't know this, but Zewu-Jun, your Uncle, was planning on spending his remaining days in seclusion. If that had happened, he would have foregone all his earthly possessions, making me the sole heir to the Gusu Lan Clan's property. I can't thank the Gods enough that he changed his mind. – Lan Zhan murmured. He felt his husband stir and look up at him:

- You were not joking about him and Jiang Cheng, right? Right?

- No. I was serious. He told me so himself, and he was desperately sad about it. I think he had hidden it too deep for too long ... - Lan Wangji sighed.

- The damned Gusu Lan Clan... - Wei Ying mumbled under his nose, unable to understand how anyone could torture himself for years for no reason. Lan Wangji frowned.

- Uh... what does this mean? – A-Yuan was gaping at them foolishly.

Wei Wuxian grinned and took out Jiang Cheng's letter from under his belt and threw it at him. Lan Sizhui opened it and read it, confused.

- Read and weep. – he scoffed. - It is an interesting combination, indeed. – Wei Ying was thinking out loud, now color returning in his cheeks. Lan Zhan let him speak, although he interrupted him, all too happy that he was feeling alright again. Subconsciously, his grip on his waist tightened – his first instinct was to keep him close, to keep him safe. Wei Ying felt that, and, looking up again, stirred to reach and kiss the dear face. Lan Zhan blushed.

- They are a very balanced combination too. My brother needs someone is ground him constantly, and Zewu-Jun is the calmest person I know. I am in a way happy they understood each other so smoothly. I guess Jiang Cheng is getting old too. – Wei Wuxian giggled.

Lan Sizhui just gaped. The news was too much for him.

- A-Yuan, we might visit them for your Dad's birthday, unless there is too much snow. And we must also think about the baby too. – Wei Ying smiled.

- Yes. Precisely. – Lan Zhan managed to get to the point again. – This is the other thing, A-Yuan. If we have another child, he or she will be a direct heir to the Clan too, probably a Clan Leader one day too. – Lan Wangji looked at the both of them carefully.

- Why are you saying all this, Dad? - Lan Sizhui was looking at him now, suspecting that all this was just an introduction, and the important part was yet to come.

- Listen to me, son. – Lan Zhan leaned in over the table, which caused Wei Wuxian to sink even deeper into his soft robes. He didn't mind. At all. Breathing in Hanguang-Jun, and feeling his heart beat so close – this meant perfect happiness.

- I am not sure about the future. We are not sure about Miao Lu's pregnancy yet even. I am not certain whether your uncles would want to have children of their own one day... But... Whatever happens – I want you to remember that you are our son.  Nothing can change that. You are an heir of ours just as much as any other children we might have one day. We love you so very much, Lan Sizhui. You are a part of the future of the Lan Clan, if you choose to, no matter what.

Wei Ying hugged him, tears streaking down his sides, and soon he felt how A-Yuan had also stood up and approached them and was now hugging them both.

- I love you, Dad. I love you, Papa. I only want you to be well and happy. I don't care about money and property. I only care about our family, this is all. I am so blessed to have two Clans love me and cherish me so much! – he was sniffing and mumbling through tears. – I really don't want to leave tomorrow! – he hiccupped.

- Oh, baby...  -  Wei Ying was caressing his hair, cuddling him in a shared embrace – the young man was taller than him, but in his eyes he would forever be his child. – We will be here, you can always come back home, to us. Now, hopefully, our family will be getting bigger... and things will be getting better... Don't be upset, my heart... -  he murmured, once again lifting his eyes to stare at his husband's eyes.

- I want to get the documents ready so that no one can have claim over what is rightfully yours. I want to make sure that all the people I love are happy and fully protected. If we manage to meet Lan Xichen in 3 months – I will settle this with him too. Although your Uncle would never even think of harming you, A-Yuan. – Lan Zhan kissed his son's cheek. – Neither of your uncles.

- I know, of course I know... Both Uncle Huan and Sandu Shengshou have always been good to me... I really don't know what got into him at Papa's birthday! - Lan Sizhui exclaimed.

- I think things will be different now. He's in love. Trust me.  –  Wei Ying grinned.

- How do you know? – Lan Zhan raised an eyebrow, still a little worried about his own brother and this headstrong new romance.

- Oh, I am very sure, my love.  –  Wei Wuxian said, taking Lan Zhan's hand and bringing it to his lips to kiss.

- Jiang Cheng would never have taken him to Lotus Pier if he didn't truly care about him. He only lets people from the Clan and family to enter. The whole region is insanely guarded. He is a little obsessed with security, you know why... - he stuttered, still dreading all the memories of death that Lotus Pier kept deep and soaking through and through. He added thoughtfully:

- My guess is that Zewu-Jun confessed his feelings...as you told me about your own conversation with him ...hm, and then he somehow bewitched my brother! – he laughed. – Or maybe Jiang Cheng already had feelings for him too? Who knows? We will see! – he grinned. – I am itching to meet them! A most interesting situation indeed!

- Don't be mean, my heart. Let's just be happy for them? – Lan Zhan kissed his forehead again, thus also making sure he is not feverish.

Wei Wuxian turned his face up more, so that he could be closer to his husband, and as his lips were parted and his breathing hitched, Lan Zhan knew he wanted a kiss. He blushed and said, never breaking eye contact with his loved one:

- A-Yuan, go to the kitchen and order whatever you wish to be served at dinner. I am guessing you will be setting off tomorrow early?

- Yes, Dad. It's a long way to the Capital. – he was watching them stare at each other longingly and knew he had to leave very soon, as they were doing their best not to jump on each other; it was well known to have happened before.

- Bai Li will be happy to cook your favorite meals, son. We will see you at dinner.  –  Wei Ying gasped, lost in the golden glow of his husband's eyes.

- Yes. Yes. Wei Qianbei, Hanguang-Jun. - Lan Sizhui bowed and left the room grinning.