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"We'll get you feeling better and deal with all of it then, okay?"

Sizhui just nodded.

A knock on Nie Huaisang's window made him jump and then curse himself for not paying attention.

Dr. Yu was standing there with a wheelchair.

"Lan Xichen sent me. Let's get our patient in, shall we?"
-----
Jiang Yanli arrived in the private room to find Wei Ying with red swollen eyes and a detective who was fidgeting when she looked at him for any length of time.

"A'Ying? Are you in pain?" She dumped her coat and purse in a chair before moving to the bed. "Good day, Yu Bin. Detective."

Yu Bin smiled at her. Lan Wangji had nodded politely.

"I'm fine, ShiJie." Wei Ying smiled but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Why were you crying?" She leaned over and kissed his forehead before doing the same to the sleeping child curled next to him.

"It was my fault." It was Lan Wangji deep voice. She looked at him in surprise. Watching the two of them together, she knew the detective had feelings for her brother. He was dedicated to A'Ying's care.

She settled herself on the side of the bed.

"What happened?" she asked gently.

"Jin Zixuan brought Meng Yao here. He had hired Wei Ying when... when he was Yiling. I was... upset by this. I was going to hurt him. For hurting Wei Ying." He swallowed.

"He didn't hurt Wei Ying. Meng Yao wanted someone to hold him in the belief it would help him sleep. I have apologized to Wei Ying and A'Yuan. I will apologize to Meng Yao whenever he finds it appropriate and convenient." Lan Wangji laid it all out as simply and directly as possible. A deep breath and he stared down.

Yanli had gasped when she heard Meng Yao had hired her A'Ying. As the explanation continued, she relaxed a little. Looking at the two men, all she could see was hurt. Exhaustion. Regret on so many levels.

"Thank you, Wangji." It was the first time she had addressed him with this much familiarity. "I think my first reaction would have been to protect A'Ying as well though perhaps not in the same way."

She paused in thought. "This will take time for all of us. Time to understand. Time to heal.  Let us be gentle with each other, supportive, as we find our way."

She held their joined hands. "I have a brave brother willing to sacrifice himself for his ShiJie and Ge-ge. And now my brother has a brave protector. It will be okay. Give it time. Slowly but surely, you will heal. Together I think."

She gave them a soft smile. "Now, have you eaten?"
-----

Lan Xichen watched the pale face of the man lying in the bed. An IV dripped in measured time.

Drip.   
Drip.
Drip.

Clinically, the information registered. Oxygen levels. Remaining IV. Number of breaths in a minute.

His thoughts were elsewhere though.

Xichen had never really dated. He knew he would like to but somehow it had never happened. A few scattered dates here and there. Some were more interested in his family name than him. Others couldn't handle his dedication to his studies and then his hospital.

Slowly, the days had slipped away one after another. Consumed by administrative duties, his patients, emergencies until the only part of his life not absorbed by the hospital was his relationship with Lan Zhan. Now, he looked at his life and realized how lonely he was. 

He reached out and gently held Meng Yao's limp hand. What the pull was he wasn't sure but it was definitely  there. Perhaps it was the dimples. Perhaps it was how shy his smile was. Maybe the way Meng Yao's large eyes looked at him.

He didn't think it was just these things though. There was a comfortable familiarity he couldn't explain. They spoke easily.  Meng Yao had made him smile and he was pretty sure he had made Meng Yao smile too.

He wanted to explore how this man made him feel and see if, just perhaps, Meng Yao felt the same way.

His attentioned focused in on Meng Yao as the man made a small sound and moved slightly. As his eyes began to flutter, Lan Xichen stood and leaned over him.  He watched as Meng Yao's eyes opened. Smiling, he caressed the bangs back off his forehead.

"Hi." Xichen whispered. "How do you feel?"

Meng Yao looked into those warm smiling eyes with their amber flecks. 

"Much better now."

And they shared a smile.
~♡~♡~♡~

The International School of Bejing is a private bilingual school (English and Chinese). I made up the Science Emphasis.

Thank you so much for your patience!! I sincerely appreciate it! ❤️❤️❤️

Hugs, Smiles and Chocolate for All!

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