NOTE:
Corresponding chapter in XiCheng: All The Things I Never Told You:
[My Love. [Lan XiChen]]
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Inspiration for this chapter's title:
Pearl Jam - "Daughter"
Credit: https://www.instagram.com/yizhan__1/
Link: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CffoA20Fczr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
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Lan Wangji observed him get up and leave him, and he felt the lack immediately.
His face became a mask of stone – he knew that the evening could easily be ruined now. Slowly, he pressed the green button and put the call on speaker, placing the phone on the table between them.
- Hello, Mother. – he said coldly. – I am sure you understand that what you've been doing is harassment. Should I change my phone number again?
- Wangji! – there was some sort of desperation in Madam Lan's voice. – I have been trying... For weeks... - she sobbed now.
- I have only picked up because my fiancé has asked me to. What do you need? – he said, tired of the same old song. It had been exactly the same, every time, years upon years.
- Fiancé??? – she gasped. – Are you being serious right now?! Just when---
- After last month's fiasco, you have no right to demand details, Mother. What is it that's so urgent? You know how much I hate talking on the phone!
Wei Wuxian was listening to all this, a little pale.
He had never heard Lan Zhan be so cold when talking to anyone. With him, he had always been shy, or angry, or excited, or annoyed, or caring, or turned-on... but never so harsh, never so rude.
He was listening, well aware that whatever the problem was – it needed a resolution, but nevertheless, he was a little sorry that he had forced Lan Wangji's hand about this one. After all, he knew his own mother better.
- Yes... - she sighed. – I am the one who suffers the most, just as always. I really would have called your brother, but... I don't have his number... Not since... last Christmas.
- I wonder why that is. – there was no mockery or joke in Lan Wangji's voice. Now he understood too well, firsthand, just how his Ge was feeling, and why he had changed his phone number the very next day after the gigantic row. - My brother is smarter than me. - he added nonchalantly.
- Are you really... Son, are you really getting married? – she ventured, incredulous, sniffling now.
- Soon. – Lan Wangji barked. – What do you need? Stop beating around the bush, or I'll be hanging up. I am in the middle of something important anyway.
- I see. – Madam Lan sighed again. – It's your father. He's been... unwell, since New Year's. I am afraid... The doctors have advised for him to be... to be... - her voice broke and she sobbed, unable to brave it out any more.
- Why should I care? - Lan Zhan's voice was ice. - Ge says he has blocked all our bank accounts. So---
- Wangji!!!
Wei Ying had been sipping on his wine nervously, but now those sounds over the line broke his heart. He jumped in his seat and approached Lan Wangji instinctively. But the blond boy remained very still, unmoved.
His eyes were empty.
- What is it, then, Mother? – he asked, still quite unmoved.
- How cold are you, Wangji?! – her mood changed and she now attacked him. – Will you, like your degenerate brother, just call me "Mother" now??? Where is my sweet boy who used to call me "Mom"? I miss him! I want to talk to him again! I don't know who you are any more! Wangji!!!
- Forget that boy, Mother. He's gone. He had to grow up very quickly. – Lan Zhan growled. – I am a man now. And I am giving you just one more minute to tell me what this is about, because then I'll be hanging up. I am serious.
- Yes... I can hear that... - she said bitterly. – You are just like your Ge! Just like him! Breaking my heart! Cruel, cold! All of you are breaking my heart, both of you are taking after your own father so perfectly in this! Torturing me! Punishing me! For what?! For nothing! I've done nothing!!! – she screamed hysterically, breaking down completely.
- Good-bye, Mother. – Lan Wangji's face expressed impatience now.
He was ready to press the button, but a warm hand on his hand stopped him.
- Please. Wangji, please. She is your mom... Please. – Wei Ying begged.
- Who's that?! – Madam Lan asked sharply. – Who's there???
- Ummm... Hi! – Wei Wuxian leaned over the table now, smiling foolishly, as if he was talking to a real-time person. – We... We haven't met, but... - he wondered what to say now: Lan Zhan was sulking fiercely, and there was a dead silence on the line. – But we can still meet! – he chirped. – Will you come to our wedding?
- WEI YING!!! – the blond boy yelled now, angry and frustrated.
- Are you... Are you inviting me? – the woman asked weakly.
- NO! – Lan Wangji shouted.
- Yes! – Wei Wuxian cheered.
Without thinking too much now, Wei Wuxian just grabbed the phone and sat back in his most favorite spot in the world – despite the fact that Lan Wangji didn't hug him this time, as he was far too angry with him now, he still made himself comfortable in his lap.
He wrapped his arm around his shoulders and started chatting:
- Please, don't listen to Lan Zhan, he has been quite grumpy today! Please, please, come to our wedding!!! We will be so happy to have you! I really wanna see Wangji's mom and dad, finally! I promise you, he will behave! I promise! Will you come?! - he finally babbled, hopeful.
- Wei Ying. – Lan Zhan growled menacingly, but the arm around his shoulders was having quite a disarming effect on him.
There were more sobs on the line, and it took some time for Madam Lan to calm down enough so that she could speak.
- Oh, Wangji... - she whimpered. – He sounds really sweet... Like you used to be... before.
- Yes. – he snapped. – He is quite great. The one you hate. A sinner like me. Like Ge.
Lan Wangji was blushing now, torn between his feelings for his mother, and for Wei Ying, but this last sentence earned him a soft, comforting kiss on the cheek, and he blushed deeper.
- Dear boy... - she started. – I am afraid Wangji's dad won't be going anywhere. He suffered a stroke a month ago, and has been in bed ever since... I tried to reach Lan Huan, but the obstinate child seems to have instructed his firm not to allow me any contact with him... - she said sadly. – And they are the law agency that handles our family affairs... My husband's will needs to be revised, because... because... soon... he...
There were more desperate sobs on the line and Wei Ying bit his lips. He could not bear it when a woman was crying. Perhaps it was some kind of deeper sadness, left in him after the loss of his own mother that was still buried deep inside him, perhaps subconsciously.
- Ge is smarter than me. – Lan Wangji repeated coldly.
- Don't be an asshole, Wangji! – Wei Ying now snapped at him, echoing Lan Xichen's words.
- Oh, don't you start too, Wei Ying! – he snapped back, now trying to push him out of his lap, but the dark-haired boy clung to him harder.
- Ma'am, I promise to talk to Da-Ge! – Wei Ying now assured her, suddenly serious about it. – Don't listen to Grumpy here! I will persuade Da-Ge to talk to you about it! It sounds... really serious.
- Da-Ge... - she repeated, amazed. Somebody was calling her own son with the respectful title "Da-Ge". It sounded like a dream.
- I... Thank you... - she stuttered. – I think my husband has changed the will now... I think... I'm afraid... he won't be leaving any money to Wangji and Xichen... I...
There was a deep sigh again, but Wei Ying knew how to fix this.
- Oh, no worries! I am rich, so... We don't need more money! – he cheered, pecking Lan Wangji's cheek swiftly, before he could react and try to push him away again.
- I don't need that blood-money, Mother. Not a cent of it. – Lan Wangji hissed, but his hands slid over Wei Ying's waist, to his great satisfaction and pleasure.
- What... Rich? – Madam Lan was quite breathless on the line. – What... How?
- Ehh, it's a long story! – Wei Ying grinned. – Do you wanna come visit us and we can talk? Maybe? Wangji's birthday's next week, so it would be perfect too! – he exclaimed, far too pleased with his own great idea.
- WEI YING!!! – Lan Wangji's eyes were daggers. – STOP THIS. PLEASE! – he hissed.
- Ehhh, don't mind him! – Wei Wuxian chirruped over the line, ignoring him. – Will you come? Yea? For tea?
- I...
There was a shared awkward silence now, during which Wei Ying was grinning broadly and Lan Wangji was glaring, but still holding him very tight.
- I... will be happy to. – the woman said finally. – Wei... Ying?
- Yup! That's my name! Actually, my name is Wei Wuxian, but you can call me anything! You will be my mom soon, after all! – he chanted happily.
- Your... mom... - she said weakly.
- We have to go now. – Lan Wangji growled. He'd really had enough. – Good-bye, Mother. Wei Ying will be texting you. – he hissed through clenched teeth.
- Thank you.
The call was over, and now the two of them were just staring at each other.
- Did you just invite my mother to my birthday, Wei Ying? – the blond boy snapped.
- I did! – he answered perkily. – She is you mom, Wangji! Your only mom!
Lan Wangji bit his lips. He remembered the story of Wei Wuxian's life... he probably craved to have a mom. A normal mom. He'd had none that were normal so far.
- Get off me. – he growled, still quite irritated.
- No! – Wei Ying pecked his other cheek now, making him blush again. – No! I like it here!
- You cheeky brat... – Lan Wangji hissed.
- I am older than you! You should call me "Ge"! – Wei Wuxian suddenly realized, far too amused at his annoyance. – Come on, Wangji! Call me "Ge"!
- No. – he growled, but the redness now spread from his cheeks to his chin and neck, and he looked away.
- No and no... You say "no" to everything! You are no fun, Lan Zhan! – he mumbled, sighing too, but hid his face in the blond boy's neck. – Then... What do you wanna call me... Wangji...? Mmmm? – he purred.
- I...
- Yes?
There was so much quiet expectation in that last word that Lan Wangji shuddered slightly. He pressed Wei Ying closer to himself, and smiled at his happy little sigh.
- I wanna... Wei Ying...
- Yes?
- I really wanna call you...
- Yes?
- ....
- Yes...?
- ... husband.
- Silly Wangji...