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Chapter Twenty Six
The window screen above the canopy bed was left partially opened, allowing the refreshing gentle breeze of the early spring in as the two pairs of eyes stared at each other heatedly, one with unhidden anticipation, the other with helplessness covered with unmoved façade. The light, cool wind softly caressed their faces, ruffling their long soft hairs along with the red sheer curtains of the canopy bed, ruffling it like the thoughts inside their heads.
A long silence lasted before the one resting on the bed finally moved, propping her upper body up with one elbow, and tilting her head to study the man in pristine white robes standing beside the canopy bed. His white robes were quite striking against the festive decoration of the room just as how the attention of the beauty on the bed was only paid to him.
The woman on the bed, Wei Wuxian, slowly repeated the question that he initially meant as a joke but now with an ulterior meaning behind it. Letting every words softly escape from his lips he asked, “Do you really want us to sleep in separate rooms?” He paused, slowly unhooking the veil from his ears with his free hand to reveal a coquettish curve on his lips, as though provoking whatever patience left on the other man. “Hanguang-Jun?”
Lan Wangji remained silent, breaking their eye contact and looking down as he stood beside the bed where Wei Wuxian was lying, one arm behind his back, hiding the hand that tightened up slightly.
Wei Wuxian laughed at Lan Wangji’s response or lack of rather, “Fine, fine, you don’t have to answer.”
With Lan Wangji’s character, even if you ask him, he might not give you an answer.
Wei Wuxian’s first intention in asking this shameless question was just to tease Lan Wangji. But after noticing how Lan Wangji hadn’t responded even after so long, Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but feel some anticipation on the other’s response. It was unfortunate that Lan Wangji was still as unmoved as ever, or so he thought.
When Wei Wuxian realized it, his hands were already pinned down above his head. The curvature of a teasing smile was frozen on his lips with the eyes that were slowly turning from mischief to regret.
Lan Wangji was above him, one hand restricting Wei Wuxian’s mischievous paws and the other supporting his body. Their faces so near Wei Wuxian could feel the other’s warm breath on his face, causing it to heat up unreasonably.
Lan Wangji, “Do not tease.”
His voice was low and deep, serious and demanding, but Wei Wuxian had somehow saw the illusion of pleading on Lan Wangji’s tone.
Wei Wuxian was tongue-tied. He could feel his heart pounding on his chest, blood rushing on his head, numbing his mind, and preventing him from thinking straight.
It was true that in Wei Wuxian’s first night in Chongyang, Lan Wangji had stayed in the same tent with him. Howbeit, no one would doubt Lan Wangji’s decency and ethics. Of course Wei Wuxian knew that Lan Wangji’s sole purpose in staying with him throughout the night was only to help him remove the thin layer of resentful energy that was surrounding his body. After that event, they started to live in different tents. So Wei Wuxian had really no idea if Lan Wangji had the intention to further develop their relationship. Wei Wuxian felt hope blooming in his heart. Was this finally the chance to move to the next stage?
The smile slowly dropping on Wei Wuxian’s lips quickly curved back. Lan Wangji frowned, barely holding onto his self-control. Taking advantage of Lan Wangji’s inattentiveness, Wei Wuxian made successive swift movements, freeing himself from Lan Wangji’s grip, and flipping the two of them so that Lan Wangji was lying on the bed while he was on the top of him.
Wei Wuxian’s entire body was above Lan Wangji’s, with legs separated, kneeling with one on each side of his waist. His hands were against the soft bed, trapping Lan Wangji between his arms. He gradually lowered his head. The distance between the two faces became closer and closer. At the point where it became hard for Wei Wuxian to breathe.
After the initial surprise, Lan Wangji finally opened his mouth. He stayed silent for a few moments then ordered, “Get off.”
Wei Wuxian grinned even more, “Why would I?”
A pair of glass-like eyes which reflected the soft moonlight from the window gazed at Wei Wuxian at a very close distance. Lan Wangji stared fixatedly at him, and repeated, “… Get off”
Wei Wuxian softly laughed, his melodious voice filled the room like a music gently ringing in Lan Wangji’s ear.
Wei Wuxian, “Do you really want us to sleep in separate rooms? No, let me rephrase it for you. Do you want to sleep with me, Hanguang-Jun?”
Lan Wangji instead asked him back, “Are you sure that this is what you want?”
For some reasons, Wei Wuxian felt that he should carefully consider his reply. But what should he need to consider, ah? He has been patiently waiting for Lan Wangji to confess to him for five months, but to no avail, Lan Wangji was still Lan Wangji. Now is the chance, no?
As Wei Wuxian was about to retort, numbness suddenly spread from his waist, and his legs gave out. With a thump, he fell on Lan Wangji’s body.
His face was on the crook of Lan Wangji’s neck, and he couldn’t move at all! Lan Wangji’s voice came beside him, his warm breath blowing on his ear.
“Then stay like this until dinner.” His chest vibrated slightly as he spoke each word. His voice was deep and alluring, it would make one’s heart tremble when they hear it.
Wei Wuxian didn’t expect to end up like this at all. He shifted around, wanting to get up, but his waist continued to ache and felt limp. But who was Wei Wuxian? This small thing wouldn’t restrict his mischievous nature. At most, he would be the one taking the most profit from this situation.
Wei Wuxian suddenly stopped struggling. He slightly raised his head, and gently yet decisively bit Lan Wangji’s soft white ear.
Lan Wangji twisted his head towards Wei Wuxian in suprise, their nose touching, eyes fixatedly staring at each other. Wei Wuxian whispered in a provocative voice, “How could I resist teasing you when you’re this interesting?”
Unfortunately, Wei Wuxian didn’t noticed that after Lan Wangji heard this, his body froze slightly.
Lan Wangji suddenly released his locked meridians. He gently pushed Wei Wuxian aside and stood up. Back facing the confused Wei Wuxian, he said, “The food is here.”
The warm atmosphere suddenly dissipated as though it’s never been there. Like a hot iron thrown in the cold water.
Only a few seconds after and they indeed heard a knock on the door.
Wei Wuxian sat up, still assessing the situation as he watched Lan Wangji let the owner place their order on the table. He didn’t even notice that Lan Wangji glared at the said owner after noticing its curious glance on the messy appearance of Wei Wuxian, causing the woman to immediately withdraw.
When the owner left, Lan Wangji looked at him as though nothing had happened, “Let us eat.”
Wei Wuxian stood up mechanically. It was baffling how this Lan Wangji who always remained unfazed suddenly acted like his teenage self. But no, if it was his past self he would push Wei Wuxian off the bed for sure. It couldn’t be that Lan Wangji was so hungry, right?
Wei Wuxian shook his head. Was he overthinking things? But he couldn’t help but still feel that there was indeed something wrong with Lan Wangji’s abrupt reaction. Was it because of something he said? Or was his teasing too much? Well, perhaps this Lan Wangji indeed didn’t like his teasing.
Wei Wuxian sat up in front of the table. Glancing at the man next to him. After seeing his still bright red ears, he quickly dismissed this incident as Lan Wangji being shy.
Wei Wuxian beamed, “Okay, let’s eat.”
Wei Wuxian spot the small pot of liquor among the dishes on the table. After all this distractions, he still remembered his initial purpose.
When they were younger, he once forced Lan Wangji to drink Emperor’s Smile with him. The result was quite obvious for a man who had never touched a liquor in his entire life: One cup, knocked out.
Wei Wuxian steadily poured wine on their cups, making it appear as natural and unsuspicious as possible. He placed his own cup near his lips, discreetly watching the situation in Lan Wangji’s side. Yet, after just a tiny sip, he immediately choked. The owner really was an honest person. Wei Wuxian told her that the stronger the better, and she indeed gave him such as a strong one. So strong that Lan Wangji immediately fell asleep right on the sitting mat. He still sat properly. Apart from his closed eyes and chin pointing downward, his sitting pose was no different from the norm.
Wei Wuxian, “Lan Zhan, are you awake?”
Hearing no response, Wei Wuxian waved a few times on Lan Wangji’s face. After confirming that Lan Wangji was indeed defeated by his magical wine, a triumph smile bloomed on his face.
Wei Wuxian, “I’ve been trying to escape from you all these months, who would have thought that the esteemed Hanguang-Jun would be this easy to defeat?”
But fearing that the effect of the alcohol wouldn’t last long, Wei Wuxian supported Lan Wangji with her small frame, throwing him onto the bed, taking his boots off, and tucking him in.
With one last look, Wei Wuxian jumped onto the window sill and slipped into the night.
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