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It was only for a night and day, but Lan WangJi was unwilling to part with his fiancé. Never mind that they had been living together for a while now. Never mind that they saw each other every day. Never mind that they spent most of the days night-hunting and cultivating together and the nights in each other's arms. For Lan WangJi, letting Wei WuXian go became the most difficult thing to do ever. Including the Lunar New Year celebration.
Wei WuXian was supposed to leave sometime after breakfast. Jiang Cheng had emphasized many times before that Wei WuXian must come early to help decorating Lotus Pier. This year he must come early. Punctuality was not one of Wei WuXian's best traits. Wei WuXian had promised Jiang Cheng many times in his letters. And when they met during night hunts. And yet when he was about to leave that day and decided to give Lan WangJi a good-bye kiss, the latter would not let him go.
Nibbling at his lover's shoulder, Lan WangJi guiltlessly delayed Wei WuXian's departure to Lotus Pier.
"Mmm… ahh… Lan Zhan, I have to go…"
Lan WangJi effectively shut him up by kissing that pair of luscious lips, biting and sucking at them with abandon.
"Mmmm… mmm…"
Wei WuXian's protests were drowned by the passionate kisses. His cheeks, which were suffused with the red-pink color, gradually turned red. At first he had his hands pushing at Lan WangJi's chest, but then he gave up. Was he kidding himself? Lan WangJi was usually very agreeable and gentle. Except when he was rolling between the sheets with Wei WuXian.
Newly entitled HanGuang-Jun thus dragged the helpless boy back to their bed-chamber for another make-out session.
Wei WuXian tried his best to escape from Lan WangJi's love trap, really. He did his best. No one should blame him for not making efforts.
The first time he made it past the bed-chamber door. The second time he made it to the living room. The third time he was pinned down right then and there on the porch.
Morning turned to noon. Noon turned to evening.
Alarmed, Wei WuXian glanced at the setting sun.
"Lan Zhaaaaan~!" he wailed at last.
Lan WangJi looked up lazily from a pitiful-looking red cherry bud that he had been attacking for a while.
Wei WuXian broke free from Lan WangJi's grip and got his clothes in order.
"I really have to go! Jiang Cheng is going to kill me! I was supposed to be in Lotus Pier hours ago!"
Lan WangJi calmly wiped down some saliva from his lips and licked his finger. He looked pretty satisfied with himself. Wei WuXian stormed off the porch and walked away wordlessly.
On top of that, Lan WangJi still had the audacity to ask, "No good-bye kiss?"
Wei WuXian neither answered nor turned back. Any more good-bye kiss and he would never be able to leave Cloud Recesses until the next Lunar New Year celebration!
Wei WuXian already walked close to Cloud Recesses' entrance but then immense guilt flooded his heart. His steps became heavier until he just stood there and raged.
Damn it, Lan Zhan!
Wei WuXian ran back to the Jingshi.
Lan WangJi still sat on the porch, the exact spot where Wei WuXian left him. He had his eyes closed and he was sitting in the lotus position, apparently in the middle of meditation. Light as a feather, Wei WuXian drew closer and pressed a quick kiss on Lan WangJi's lips. Startled, the latter opened his eyes abruptly but Wei WuXian already escaped. He only saw his retreating silhouette, his white robe fluttering in a hurry. Lan WangJi smiled.
Come back soon, Wei Ying…
Wei WuXian was not surprised when Jiang Cheng yelled at him as soon as he arrived at Lotus Pier.
"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE HOURS AGO!!!"
"Yes, I am sorry."
"THANKS TO YOU, I HAD TO DO YOUR JOB AS WELL!!!!"
"Yes, I am sorry."
"AS A PUNISHMENT, YOU CANNOT LEAVE TOMORROW! YOU MUST HELP WITH TIDYING UP!!!"
"No, I am not sorry."
Jiang Cheng's jaw dropped.
Wei WuXian laughed and hit his brother on the back.
"A Cheng, don't be silly. What help do you need? I'll help you okay? Let's finish quickly. I am hungry."
Jiang Cheng could not believe his ears.
"You have not even helped with anything but you already want to eat???"
Wei WuXian refrained from telling Jiang Cheng that truthfully, he had been working with Lan WangJi for hours since morning.
The eve of Lunar New Year was an important event for families. It was during this particular event that children came home to pay homage to their parents and celebrate the upcoming New Year together. Cultivation sects were no exception. The major sects even secretly competed in the magnificence of their celebration. Of course, Jin Sect which never spared a dime to show off its extravagance shot the most fireworks into the sky. Jiang Sect cared more about hearty meals and thus served best food and wine throughout the night. Nie Sect had the tradition to go hunting on the day and then roast the game over open fire to enjoy with the whole sect. Wen Sect held a huge party for two days and one night, putting emphasis on the range of entertainment. Lan Sect, ever the modest one, held a quiet and reserved banquet at Cloud Recesses while keeping everything prim and proper.
"Must be boring," Jiang Cheng remarked while they were tying up red ribbons around the pillars and fireworks at the hall entrance.
Wei WuXian knitted his brows, "Well, you never know."
Jiang Cheng sneered at him, "Well, you are getting married in a few months. Next year you will celebrate your first Lunar New Year with your new family. You can tell us all about it later."
Wei WuXian grinned.
The wait was almost over indeed. In just a few months, he would officially get married to Lan WangJi and become part of Lan Sect. This year was supposed to be his last year to celebrate New Year over at Lotus Pier. After that, all Lunar New Years would be celebrated at Cloud Recesses, at Lan WangJi's side as his officially wedded wife husband.
The wind carried a distinctly fragrant smell to where the boys were busy decorating. It tickled their noses and made their stomach rumble.
"Shijie is cooking the lotus root pork rib soup!" Wei WuXian exclaimed. He discarded the red ribbons in his hands and stormed to the kitchen.
"Wei WuXian!!! What about the decoration!!! Hey, wait for me!!!"
Jiang Cheng rushed to the kitchen after Wei WuXian. He was very worried that Wei WuXian would gobble up all the pork ribs, leaving only a few lotus root pieces and soup for him to drink. Wei WuXian had done this not only one time but many times.
Jiang YanLi smiled when she saw her two brothers scuffled at the kitchen entrance.
"A Cheng, let me in!!"
"Wei WuXian! Stop elbowing me, let me through first!"
"A Xian, A Cheng, don't fight. There is enough soup for everyone."
Jiang YanLi really cooked a huge cauldron full of soup. Naturally, it was meant to be served to all guests and not just to her two brothers, but she knew that these two would want to eat their fill first beforehand.
"Shijie is the best!"
"A Jie, don't trust this glutton! He can finish the whole pot by himself!"
Watching Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng argue over a pot of soup, Jiang YanLi almost felt like nothing had changed. Wei WuXian had assured her many times that he would always be her A Xian, no matter what. Probably that was true.
Jiang YanLi stretched her arms and hugged both of her brothers in an embrace. She only had one thing to say.
"A Xian, welcome home."
Jiang Cheng peeked at Wei WuXian and muttered, "Welcome home, Wei WuXian."
Wei WuXian laughed and messed up Jiang Cheng's hair, inviting the latter to scowl at him in displeasure.
After both boys had finished a few bowls of soup, Jiang YanLi urged her two brothers to help bringing the food and wine outside. A lot of sect members had already gathered at the courtyard to celebrate the Lunar New Year's Eve together in Lotus Pier.
"Sect Leader Jiang, Happy New Year!!!"
"Madam Jiang, Happy New Year!!!"
The crowd cheered when seeing Jiang FengMian and Yu ZiYuan exiting the main building to join the celebration. Hand in hand, they smiled brightly at each other before Jiang FengMian returned the greeting.
"Happy Lunar New Year!!! Everyone, do enjoy yourselves to the fullest tonight! Let's celebrate together!"
"Ooooooh!!!" everyone cheered, raising their cups to the air.
Jiang Sect's banquets were not as lavish as Jin Sect's, but everyone who attended felt like a big family. In fact, they were really a big family. Jiang FengMian treated everyone in the sect fairly without showing any kind of favoritism. Jiang YanLi, Jiang Cheng, and Wei WuXian grew up knowing every each of Jiang Sect members, including the uncles in the subsidiary sects. In turn, they also watched the three children of Jiang FengMian grow up year after year.
Even after Wei WuXian moved to Cloud Recesses, they still treated him as part of Jiang Sect.
Gazing at the merry crowd gathering at the vast courtyard, Wei WuXian felt all warm inside. It felt like home, but something was missing. Something important. His heart longed for someone far away.
One by one, entertainers took the stage. Singers and musicians, then a group of actors and actresses performed a play.
Wei WuXian lay on a soft cushion while watching the play with Jiang Cheng. The play told a story about a pair of lovers who were separated for many years due to war and unfortunate circumstances. Each thought that the other had long perished, but none of them remarried because they could not get over the passionate love they had for each other. They went on with their life, until one day they met again on a Lunar New Year's Eve. From then on, they never again separated.
Especially the young girls liked this kind of sappy story very much. They made big eyes and went "Oooh" and "Aaah" when the lead actor and lead actress were finally united in a heartfelt reunion scene.
Wei WuXian chuckled and Jiang Cheng snorted at the ridiculous girls.
Jiang Cheng mocked, "Cheap love story."
Wei WuXian giggled. He rubbed his temple. Somehow, the reunion scene kept playing before his eyes. He imagined himself as one of the leads, holding a certain someone in his arms. Maybe he drank too much. The wine was getting to his head and he started hallucinating.
Jiang Cheng, "Your face is all red. Are you okay? Stop drinking."
Wei WuXian hummed.
Shortly after midnight had passed and everyone had given the customary New Year's greetings to Jiang FengMian and Yu ZiYuan, people excused themselves one by one. By the time everyone in Lotus Pier had entered their bed-chambers to sleep, Wei WuXian sneaked out of Lotus Pier.
Lan WangJi rubbed at his temples. The banquet was finally over. After bidding good night to his father, uncle, and brother, Lan WangJi went back to the Jingshi to sleep. Although all Cloud Recesses inhabitants were supposed to be in bed by nine, Lan Sect made an exception for this one night every year. He used to have difficulties to stay awake in past years, but his sleeping schedule had been quite irregular with a certain rascal in his bed night after night.
Lan WangJi took off his outer robe and lay on his bed. He pulled the quilt over himself and closed his eyes to sleep. His bed felt empty. He was used to having another warm body next to him, cuddling against him, his warm breath blowing into his neck and chest. This person was currently far away, spending New Year's Eve in Lotus Pier.
Rustle.
Lan WangJi frowned.
Rustle rustle.
Lan WangJi opened his eyes immediately and climbed off his bed quietly. He grabbed Bichen and inched closer to the window to catch whatever or whoever it was that was lurking outside.
A thief?
An intruder?
On New Year's Eve?
What audacity!
Rustle.
Rustle rustle rustle.
Lan WangJi squinted, his grip on Bichen tightened. The window flew open and revealed a pair of hands, which were struggling to grab unto the sill.
Bichen was already unsheathed with a shing sound before the owner of the pair of hands said something with a familiar tone.
"Lan Zhaaaan~!"
Lan WangJi, "…"
He put Bichen back into its scabbard before approaching the window and looked down at the person. His silly fiancé was surprisingly lurking there, placing his chin on the window sill and grinning widely at him.
"Wei Ying? Why are you here?"
It was a pleasant surprise, but Wei WuXian was supposed to be in Lotus Pier, spending the last New Year's Eve with his family. Lan WangJi wondered if he himself had actually fallen asleep and dreamed about Wei WuXian. There could be no other explanation.
Wei WuXian pursed his lips, looking rather dissatisfied that Lan WangJi only had that one question to ask after seeing him.
"I made the painstaking efforts to rush back here from Lotus Pier, and you won't even invite me inside? How cold, HanGuang-Jun…"
Lan WangJi bent down toward Wei WuXian, put both hands at his waist and lifted him up right away. Wei WuXian's eyes turned round when he was "invited" inside the room.
"Wait wait wait slow slow!"
Lan WangJi put Wei WuXian gently on the bed and caressed his red cheek.
"Wei Ying, are you drunk? You should not ride your sword when you are drunk."
Wei WuXian grinned at him again, slapping his chest a few times.
"I am not that weak to wine, ahahaha. I am fine, really."
Lan WangJi rose from the bed to close the window, but Wei WuXian would not let him go. Lan WangJi thus closed the windows with a wave of his hand and went to cradle his fiancé instead. Wei WuXian's whole body was cold, probably from the long travel during the cold night. Lan WangJi kissed his fingers and gazed into his eyes lovingly.
"Why did you suddenly come back?"
His answer was inaudible. Lan WangJi leaned closer to hear better. Wei WuXian took the chance to pull Lan WangJi's head to his chest and buried his fingers into Lan WangJi's hair while they fell backwards into the bed.
Lan WangJi, "…"
Wei WuXian whispered, "I forgot something."
Lan WangJi, "What did you forget?"
Wei WuXian, "Mmm… not telling you!"
Lan WangJi, "Okay."
Wei WuXian cradled him closer to his chest and kissed the top of Lan WangJi's head. The latter put his arms around Wei WuXian's waist and inhaled his lover's faint scent.
"Lan Zhan," he called out.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
Lan WangJi smiled.
"I love you too."
Wei WuXian sighed.
"Lan WangJi, you are a terrible person."
"…"
Shocked to hear such a statement, Lan WangJi lifted his head and looked into Wei WuXian's sleepy eyes. The latter did not at all seem concerned about what he said just then.
"Before I met you, New Year was fun. Then it is not fun anymore."
Lan WangJi sighed and lay next to Wei WuXian. Holding his fiancé closely, he caressed his arm in a comforting manner.
"Wei Ying, did something happen? Is that why you came back in a rush?"
Wei Ying poked at Lan WangJi's chest with his finger.
"Yeah. You. You caused all of this."
Lan WangJi did not understand. Could it be that Jiang Cheng was that angry with Wei WuXian for being late?
"You. Why must you be so handsome and lovable? Why did you make me fall in love with you…"
Warmth crept into Lan WangJi's heart. Wei WuXian yawned and hurled another accusation at him.
"Lotus Pier is not fun anymore. All because of you."
"…"
Lan WangJi really did not get it. First Wei WuXian complimented him, told him that he loved him, and then blamed him for making Lotus Pier a less fun place. Lan WangJi decided that his lover was too drunk to hold a proper conversation, so he pulled the quilt on top of them to coax Wei WuXian to sleep. Wei WuXian kissed Lan WangJi and murmured, "Lotus Pier is not my home anymore."
Lan WangJi felt guilty immediately. Jiang Cheng must have accused Wei WuXian of putting his family second after Lan WangJi again. Jiang YanLi and Jiang Cheng never really got over the fact that Wei WuXian left Jiang Sect to marry into Lan Sect. Of the both of them, Jiang Cheng was the most vocal one. Lan WangJi's chest ached for his lover. He wanted Wei WuXian to have one last happy New Year celebration over at Lotus Pier, but it seemed that he had ruined it. Maybe he should say something to Jiang Cheng to take the blame off him, just so Wei WuXian would feel better.
"Home is where Lan Zhan is." Wei WuXian declared.
Lan WangJi's eyes turned round when he heard Wei WuXian's words. The latter chuckled and pulled him in for a kiss. Lan WangJi climbed on top of his lover and intensified the kiss.
"Mmnn…"
Truthfully, Lan WangJi had always felt a bit guilty because Wei WuXian had to give up everything to be with him. He left the home he knew to join Lan Sect, which he always criticized for being over strict and inflexible. With his cheerful and playful personality, it must have been hard to stand by Lan WangJi all this time, to abide by the rules that he could not make sense of. And yet, Wei WuXian was willing to call Cloud Recesses his home just because Lan WangJi was there. For Lan WangJi, this simple statement made the New Year a lot more meaningful. He longed to show Wei WuXian how much he loved him for everything that he had done, for being the way he was. No words could convey the depth of his feelings, so he wanted to carve his love deep into Wei WuXian's body.
"Ah…"
Wei WuXian moaned softly when he felt something hard press into his tummy. His cheeks flushed beautifully, enticing Lan WangJi even more. He slipped a hand inside Wei WuXian's robe and felt his way down, only separated by the latter's inner robe.
"Wei Ying, I want you. Can I…?"
Wei WuXian blushed even more. He nodded shyly.
Lan WangJi took out a tiny jar of ointment from the bedside table drawer and extinguished the light with another wave of his hand. Kisses were exchanged while layers of clothes were peeled off their bodies and tossed on the floor. Having slept with each other almost every day ever since Wei WuXian started to live in Cloud Recesses, Wei WuXian's body had long since become accustomed to Lan WangJi's touch and kisses. It did not take long before he begged the latter to enter him and make him his.
With only the moonlight to illuminate their bodies, Lan WangJi thus made love to Wei WuXian over and over again, pouring his love nectar inside Wei WuXian's deepest recess after the latter came many times from the stimulation. His essence splattered all over their abdomens and chests.
While lying there exhausted and gasping for breath, Wei WuXian's mind was clear. He smiled at Lan WangJi and said, "I'm home, Lan Zhan."
"Mn. Welcome home, Wei Ying."
Lan WangJi withdrew himself, flipped Wei WuXian on his stomach and pulled his hips toward himself. Wei WuXian moaned when the thick rod again entered his body and poked at his soft insides. Arching his back, a shiver ran down his spine.
"Mmnn… Ahh…"
The night was still long. Lan WangJi was not that sleepy after all.