Lan Wangji was internally sulking when he arrived from a night-hunt after 3 days and still hasn't found his chance to 'accidentally cross paths' with Wei Ying!

He just got freedom after Nie Huaisang's punishment was finished! But he still didn't cross paths with him! 'Wei Yiiinnggg!' He wailed in his mind while making his way to the Hanshi to have a talk with his brother about the night-hunt he did successfully without any supervision.

'Wei Ying! Why did you create the 'Compass of Evil' instead of 'Compass of Soulmates'?' he sulked internally but to outsiders he looked irritated rather than sulking.

When he entered the Hanshi to give his report he was stopped by his brother "Wangji, what happened?" Lan Wangji looked at his brother 'Damn you and your mind reading ability!'

"Mn." (Why?)

"You look like you're sulking, you can't hide anything from me Wangji. The last time I saw that face was when you were 3 years old during the time you accidentally lost your training ribbon. Then the other time it happened you-"

"Brother." Lan Wangji hissed.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop." Lan Xichen said. "Now why the long face?" He asked.

'I can't lie...but I can't tell the truth either...mmm...If I just bend over the truth it wouldn't be considered lying right? Wei Ying, look what you did to me, I'm already bending the rules!'

Lan Wangji huffed before he glared at the cup of tea in front of him.

"Wanted to meet someone."

This caught his older brother's interest because why wouldn't it not catch his interest!? He's been trying to make me communicate with literally anything that breathes!

'I'll only talk to family and Wei Ying...A-Yuan as well can't forget about him!'

"Oh? Who is this person who's caught your attention? Did you meet them yet?" Lan Xichen asked curiously to the Younger Lan.

"We have not met yet." He decided to dodge the question because he was planning to give both his brother and his Uncle a heart attack on who caught his eye and for his soon-to-be shameless behavior around the said man.

He's been studying really hard about human psychology because he wanted to make sure he didn't cross any lines by himself instead of apologizing every single time he would attempt to flirt.

"You didn't answer my first question." Lan Xichen reminded his brother. "I am aware." Lan Wangji said as he sipped his tea. "Then tell this brother of yours who you want to meet, for sure I can arrange something."

'Of course you would! You meddle with a lot of stuff! Don't think I didn't know you planned to purposely let Wei Ying visit the cold pond when you knew very well I was bathing in there!'

"Xiongzhang doesn't need to meddle." Lan Wangji said after a while. "I want to know who caught your attention, is it wrong for me to get curious?" Lan Xichen asked. "Mn." (I don't know.)

"You are NOT TO MAKE YUNMENG JIANG LOSE FACE! UNDERSTAND?"

Another whip landed on his back in the ancestral hall.

"I asked you a question! Do you understand?!" Another hit was sent on Wei Wuxian's way.

"T-This one understands Madam Yu." He said as he bit his tongue.

"Good that you know! Servants should learn their place! You dare do better than A-Cheng and dare take his place as Head Disciple! Next time I hear you do better than the sect heir you will have more than just the whip!" One last hit was sent his way and he held in the blood he was supposed to vomit out.

"You will stay here for one hour to repent then go see yourself to the healers! You better not tell anyone about this!" She yelled at him one last time before leaving with her Zidian still cracking.

Wei Wuxian sighed after she was a good distance away from him.

He then hissed at the pain from his back as he shifted 'I haven't gone out on a night-hunt in 2 months because of this.' he shook his head.

'Dear ancestors please help me, I wish to leave but I owe them a great debt! What should I do?' he held back his tears because he was still in public.

"A-Xian." his head shot up when he heard his Shijie's voice. Shijie would always help him no matter what and he loves her for that. "A-Xian what happened this time?" She asked worriedly. "Nothing Shijie, we were just a few minutes late to training."

"Oh A-Xian." she said. "I came to say that an hour has passed and you should go see a healer." she said as she helped him up. "Please forgive Mother, you know her temper, she doesn't mean to do this. She's tough on the outside but a softie on the inside. Please don't hold on to it."

'Softie on the inside? Shijie, I love you but she's been doing this ever since I arrived here. So far you've only shown me kindness but I don't think you...'

Wei Wuxian frowned before smiling again but Jiang Yanli didn't catch that, she was dusting her robes. "I'll keep that in mind." he said. "I should go to the Healers." Jiang Yanli nodded. "Meet A-Cheng and I near the docks we're planning on eating lotus seeds, I shall go and prepare soup first." the taller nodded and headed towards the healer.

By Healer, he meant his undercover secret best friend/mom because she was there with him from the beginning and he was her first patient as she was his first doctor.

"Jiang Fen-jie."

He called out to the healer before the doors opened and the doctor in her early thirties immediately motioned him to go inside.

"Take off your robes. I'll finish making the ointment." she said softly as she placed a silencing talisman on the door.

"What happened this time?" She asked. Her voice was literally saying 'It better be a good reason or else I'll lose my shit.'

"We were late for a few minutes..." was what he said and Jiang Fen slammed the table.

"Seriously!? What kind of woman is she!? Co-leader of Lotus Pier!? Please! All she knows is to use her Zidian! When did she even pick up her sword!?" She ranted as she took the ointment she was holding near Wei Wuxian and started to place it on the wound.

"She isn't even the Heir nor the spare! She is just the Third Lady of her sect! What would they teach her about politics and leading the Clan!?" She muttered while carefully trying to not aggravate the marks.

"Hitting a CHILD! A LITERAL FUCKING CHILD! JUST BECAUSE SHE IS JEALOUS OF A DEAD WOMAN!" She harshly slammed her hand on the table before taking a deep breath and softly applied the ointment to the remaining marks as she heard Wei Wuxian's soft hisses.

"She would have been a great woman but she has too much pride, arrogance, and even motherfucking jealousy!" She said as she went to grab the bandages.

"Shijie found me." Wei Wuxian said, for the first time after he entered.

"What did she say?"

"She said that...Madam Yu doesn't mean it-" a breath hitched from Jiang Fen "-that she's only tough on the outside but a softie on the inside." he finished.

"I expected better from the Young Lady of Lotus Pier. If she's only tough on you does that mean she doesn't act that way towards her kids?" She asked no one as she patched up the teen in front of her.

"Also let me guess, she invited you for soup?" Wei Wuxian nodded. "Pathetic. Does she think soup will cure everything!? She doesn't even focus on her cultivation, the only back up she has is her name." she shook her head.

"But Shijie can't-"

"The motto of the Jiang sect is 'Attempt the Impossible'. I have met many kids who grew up sickly but even so, they have managed to at least build an average core. Young Maiden Jiang isn't even trying! She could have at least tried healing, but no! Her excuse would always be that she 'grew up sickly'."

Wei Wuxian would have defended her honor but he couldn't because he was thinking about what his Shijie told him earlier.

"You'll be leaving for Cloud Recesses. Try to stay there as long as possible to at least take a break from this. I have tried all I can to stop her from using the Zidian but Jiang Fengmian wouldn't budge. The elders don't like her but the Sect Leader still gets the final say." she grumbled out of frustration.

"Put your robes back on."

Wei Wuxian did as told.

Out of everyone in Lotus Pier, Jiang Fen was the only one who stood up for him without giving up. He would forever be grateful for her.

"You know...it's not too late to defect from the sect." she said, the last time they had this conversation was 2 years ago.

"Jiejie...I can't. I am-"

"Indebted to them? Let me tell you this. No you aren't indebted to them. Sect leader Jiang took you in out of guilt. He is also training you to be their shield. It's either you leave and live your life freely like your parents, or be chained and die by the family who didn't even care for you."

Wei Wuxian stayed silent.

Jiang Fen sighed as he placed her hand on the boy's shoulder "Listen, Yunmeng Jiang around this generation isn't that popular as it used to be, you are the one Yunmeng needs to bring it back to glory, when the time is right, use that moment to leave the sect, Yunmeng is useless without you." she said.

Wei Wuxian inhaled as he closed his eyes "I'll think about it, thank you Jiejie." he smiled, a real one instead of the usual fake smiles he gave.

"Now there's the shy and real Wei Ying I know." Wei Wuxian blushed and looked away. "I'm not shy." the older lady raised a brow "Oh really? I know you flirt a lot but when someone sincerely flirts back at you, you'd blush like a maiden."

"I haven't and no one would say it sincerely!"

"We'll see. I have a good feeling someone's going to crack that wall of yours."

"Jie!"

"Go on now! That Young Lady and her brother are probably waiting!"

Lan Wangji was in secluded meditation so that he could...show off...

PRIDE IS FORBIDDEN BUT IF YOU WANT TO IMPRESS SOMEONE IT'S BOUND TO BREAK!

Uncle might die from blood loss but he somehow surprises me from it...a little more might not hurt especially since he's still young.

I'll make sure my little bunny won't get in trouble and I will be the one.

Brother will understand but I'm pretty sure he'd get a heart attack.

I'll make sure that Wei Ying trusts me! Though...he's very oblivious, he even thought I liked Mianmian...BUNNY I LOVE YOU BUT I'M JEALOUS OF HER!

That Wen Ning...

Especially Wen Ning...

He got all your attention!!!! What about me?????? (● ˃̶͈̀ロ˂̶͈́)੭ꠥ⁾⁾

Why is it taking so long!?!? There's only 5 months left but it's too long!

I can't wait that long!

Now I understand why Wei Ying gets bored...but I don't understand why he keeps on wanting to get a reaction out of me...

Perhaps I'll find out soon!

I'M SO BORED!

I HAVE WAITED FOR YEARSSSSSSS!

I WANT TO SEE MY SOULMATE RIGHT NOWWWW (╥﹏╥)

"Wangji."

'AISHHH BROTHER! Can you not scare a man!? Did you even knock!?'

"I have knocked but it seemed like you were in deep meditation that you weren't able to hear me." Lan Xichen looked worried.

'Ahh...about that....I wasn't meditating....I already built my core which was a lot stronger than my previous timeline when I was at this age...'

"Wangji are you alright? You've been distracted since yesterday."

'No shit brother I'm too impatient to see Wei Ying.'

"Curious."

Lan Xichen turned his head a bit. "Curious about what?"

"Next year's batch."

Lan Xichen nodded "I suppose you want to join?"

'Heh last time I was forced to join! This time I need to join.'

Lan Wangji nodded which made Lan Xichen smile and softly clapped his hands. "You should make friends. Nie Huaisang must have been too scared to talk to you but try to make some friends."

"Mn."

'Instead of friends, I think you mean to find myself a spouse.'

( edited | ✓ )

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