MingYu

5

"..."

"You know, he doesn't have a golden core, right Lan Zhan?"

No, Wangji did not actually know of this. Was it really fine for Wei Ying to be telling him all this? It must be, otherwise why would he say anything to a person he met just a few days ago?

"It's not because he doesn't have it, but rather he doesn't have it anymore. He lost it and Auntie Yu believes it's because of that Wen ZhuLiu," Wei Ying spat out the name hatefully.

It was the first time Wei Ying ever showed an emotion other than happiness. He was alarmed.

"I was very surprised, Lan Zhan. It was a shock to know that I—"

Wangji pursed his lips at the uncharacteristic cut-off. He had never seen Wei Ying look like that frustrated. He was captivated. The boy had always been laid-back, never once showing anything but happiness.

"Did you know that MingYu-ge would be act exactly like me if he hadn't gone through what he did?"

"Preposterous."

Wei Ying laughed at the instant denial, understanding the reason too well. He would have denied it too, had he not seen it for himself. [But he never pushed his future self for information, not because he didn't want to hurt him but because he was afraid. There were only a few things that could break him like that. And he didn't want to confront it yet.]

"But it's true! He is me, after all!"

"Wei Ying..."

But the head disciple did not seem to notice the confused look, lost in his own musings.

"It's a good thing that Uncle Jiang and Auntie Yu cares about us. If Teacher Lan hadn't had apologized and punished him instead, then it would have been bad. Like really bad. They really care about MingYu-ge after all."

Wei Ying chuckled recalling the extreme concentration the Jiangs had when they watched both MingYu and him. It seems that seeing MingYu-ge acting like that had them fear for Wei Ying's future. Now Wei Ying couldn't go anywhere without Jiang Cheng interrogating him.

Even Auntie Yu was watching him carefully!

"Not sad?"

Startled, Wei Ying turned to Lan Zhan.

"Sad? Why would I be sad?"

Lan Zhan just stared, "They like your brother more...?"

At that, Wei Ying boisterously laughed. The sound reverberating in the Library walls. Lan Wangji couldn't find it within himself to scold the other, even though he was laughing at his expense. He was beautiful.

"I'm not jealous, Lan Zhan! I'm actually very very happy!" Because liking my brother is the same as liking me! We are the same people after all... even if I'm reluctant to admit it.

And he wasn't even lying.

Auntie Yu had called him family. Had accepted him. Not only that, they cared enough to not let the same mistake occur again. They wanted to protect him.

That said a lot more than anything else could.

"Uncle Jiang always accepted me, but always fought with Auntie Yu. Now Auntie Yu has accepted me and cares for me. I am really, really happy. I get a family again. They don't want to repeat the same mistakes. They don't want me to become him."

Furrowing his eyebrows, Lan Wangji asks, "Why do you speak as though you and your brother are the same people?"

A silence and then Wei Ying bursts out laughing.