小别 （A Brief Separation）

简介：蓝忘机离开云深不知处数日，魏无羡想念他了。一章完结。甜文。

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静室已经不是从前那个静室了。

家具陈设还是那些，东西也大致还在原来的位置，然而整个屋子的气质不一样了。尽管第一眼看还是有一尘不染仙乐飘飘的错觉，但靠近书桌的地上或立或滚的数个酒坛子立刻会凸显出来，再一看地板上这里那里落着草屑枯叶，深深浅浅的烂泥脚印布满房间，椅子背上胡乱搭着肮脏的外袍和腕带，至于榻上的被子，更是没可能叠好的。

最破坏静室气质的人此刻正坐在书桌前。书桌的一角斜斜摆着一个托盘，里面是吃残了的早餐，旁边横着鬼笛陈情；另一角则搁着他的两条长腿。魏无羡靠在椅子背上，一手举着一张纸，另一手提着一管笔，时不时心不在焉地在纸上涂几笔。他有点百无聊赖。

这几天蓝忘机去云梦参加百家清谈会了。本来他是绝不愿意跟蓝忘机分开的，蓝忘机去哪儿他就去哪儿，但是云梦例外。目前他还不是特别想跟江澄像没事儿人似的见面。其实蓝忘机更不想去云梦，但是不久前在外云游了三个月回到云深不知处之后，蓝忘机发现家里的情况不容乐观。兄长一闭关，一大堆宗族日常事物就压在叔父身上。叔父既要忙族中琐事，又要兼顾教学，又担心兄长，不胜负荷。于是蓝忘机责无旁贷，把兄长那部分职务接了过来。魏无羡则不着痕迹顺理成章地带领小辈出猎练习。叔父终于得以休息，专心生魏无羡的气。家中上下面貌顿时整肃多了。

这次云梦的清谈会，也是蓝忘机不想让叔父奔波操劳，虽然不喜江晚吟，还是自己去了。他告诉魏无羡谈完正事即回，算着今天该回来了。魏无羡这几日几乎每天都带蓝家子弟出去，倒是热闹开心，偶尔有几天子弟们上文课，他就去山下买了酒找温宁，也逍遥快活。不过今天他不打算出去了，他要等蓝忘机回来。几日不见，如隔好几十秋，他想蓝湛了。

这时他抬眼看了看日头，把纸笔扔回桌上，提起手边的酒坛喝了一口，放下两条腿，在屋里踱了几圈，走到屋外草地上打了几个虎跳，把花花草草虫虫看了一遍，奔回屋中拿了早餐剩下的一点馒头喂了池中小鱼，又走回书桌前掂起那张纸打量。纸上画的是他最近在琢磨的一个符，还有几个地方没想通。

他走到书架前，想找本书看看换换脑子，看了一会儿没看到感兴趣的书目，便信手拉开书架下方的数个小抽屉，看看里面有什么。蓝忘机的东西照例收得整整齐齐，目前书架还没有被魏无羡荼毒。他找到了蓝忘机的一些法器，配饰，还有一条备用抹额，摆得四平八稳，他忍不住嘿嘿一笑。最靠里的一个小抽屉里则有一个深蓝封皮的册子，没有书名，样子普普通通。

魏无羡信手拿起册子，细看才发现在封皮的右下方，有一个墨笔书写的小小的“婴”字，是蓝湛的字迹。他翻开册子，顿时捧腹大笑。

原来册子里是他当年在此地听学胡闹时写给蓝忘机的各种纸团。竟然都被蓝忘机收起来抚平了钉成一本！

第一页就是他给蓝忘机画的头戴一朵花的画像。魏无羡一边欣赏自己的大作，一边笑得打跌，说了一句“好你个蓝湛！”。再往后翻，一页上面写着“忘机兄！你看看我！” 另一页是“快给我解开禁言术！！！” 有的密密麻麻写满了“对不起”，还有什么“蓝二公子！原谅我吧，改天请你喝酒！”，字迹潦草，张牙舞爪。有的是乱七八糟的动物，有的干脆只是一大团墨。

魏无羡倒在榻上，滚来滚去地笑，一边继续翻。一页上面居然还有一首“诗”：

“绝代有佳人，幽居在空谷。 “当窗理云鬓，对镜贴花黄。 “举杯邀明月，对影成三人。 “我醉君复乐，陶然共忘机。

魏无羡早已将这些忘得一干二净，此时乍又见到，乐不可支。但是再翻了数页，他的笑容渐渐淡了下来。册子的最后一页，是一张字条，上写：

“蓝湛，忘机兄，我错了。我知道你很想要我的墨宝，所以才每次都截我写给别人的纸团，因此，这张纸团是我特意写给你的。虽然我有错，但你也有错，若你想要与我做朋友，应该直接说出来，而不是以这种方式吸引我的注意力。这样吧，倘若你下次不截我的纸条，我便带你去你家后山打山鸡，有什么好看的春宫定会与你分享。上次你打翻了我的天子笑，我也不计前嫌了，今天就带你去喝酒。总之，我有的都会分你一份。所以你别生气了，也别再截我的纸团了。”

只见纸上的字迹有好几处被水洇过，墨色模糊，纸质粗皱，是一个个大小不一的不规则圆形。若非这张字条是魏无羡自己写的，有些字真的不知道是什么。

魏无羡的笑容终于完全隐去，他伸出一根手指轻轻抚过那些圆形水渍印，接着从榻上坐起来，抱头静坐了一会儿，起身把册子原样放回抽屉，走到书桌前抓起酒坛咕嘟咕嘟灌了一气，放下酒坛，咕哝道：“怎么还不回来！”

他抓了抓头发，环视一下房间，弯腰抱起那几个空酒坛走到屋外，排放在墙根。回转身，把外袍挂在衣架上，腕带顺手缠上手腕，接着走到榻前，把被子捞起来叠了叠。然后端起餐盘，离开了静室。

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蓝忘机回到云深不知处已经是傍晚。他先去见过蓝启仁，知会他清谈会的事宜，接着去兄长那里小坐了一会儿，才回到静室。

一只脚刚跨过门槛，就被魏无羡抱了个满怀，只听他大叫一声：“蓝湛你可回来了！想死我了。怎么现在才回来！等了你一天！” 蓝忘机也抱住他，过了一会儿，轻轻说：“我也想你。” 魏无羡的唇旋即封住了他的嘴… …两人唇齿缠绵了好一阵，魏无羡才稍微推开蓝忘机，说：“你累不累？快歇着。吃东西了没有？见过你叔父和兄长了吧？”

蓝忘机嗯了一声，说：“不累。见过了。你用过晚饭了？” 说着抬眼看到屋内的样子，不禁轻轻挑起了眉毛。

魏无羡道：“没有，等你呢，没心情吃饭。哎哎，看到了吧？这屋子怎么样？我收拾过了，干净吧？快夸我！”

蓝忘机微微一笑，道：“干净。怎么忽然想起收拾？”

魏无羡道：“这不是迎接你回家嘛！别看不起人好吧，我也是会收拾的。只是平时懒得动手而已，真要收拾起来包你井井有条。你歇一会儿，洗把脸，咱们这就吃饭，我特地叫厨房做了你爱吃的。”

说着，他将书桌上的托盘拉了一拉，揭起各个盘碗上面扣着的空碗，兴致勃勃地摆出两副碗筷。

蓝忘机放下行囊等物，稍事休整，走到桌边，看了看盘子里的食物，微笑摇头，从乾坤袖中取出了一个食盒，道：“给你加两个菜。”

魏无羡道：“什么菜？”说着打开了食盒的盖子，只见里面竟是一碗油辣冬笋尖和一碗莲藕排骨汤，屋里顿时飘散着魏无羡熟悉的香味。

魏无羡目瞪口呆道：“蓝湛，莲藕排骨汤哪里来的？你你你… … 难道你是从云梦带回来的？” 蓝忘机笑着点了点头。魏无羡跳起来一把搂住蓝忘机的脖子，在颈项上大声亲了一口：“蓝二哥哥，你是最好的！太有心了！其实你现在做的已经很可以了，不用特地那么千里迢迢地带回来。”

蓝忘机道：“不，这是金凌让我带给你的。”

魏无羡奇道：“金凌？他让你带的？”

蓝忘机道：“是。今日离开云梦之时，他把这个食盒交与我，说是莲花坞的厨子做的。”

魏无羡道：“这可真是想不到，金凌这孩子还会有这份心思。下次可得好好疼他一番。” 此时，蓝忘机已将莲藕排骨汤和油辣冬笋尖放在魏无羡前面。两人开始用晚饭。照例是魏无羡边吃饭边喝酒，蓝忘机直接吃饭。

魏无羡埋头喝了一阵子汤，便问：“清谈会怎么样？仙门百家那帮人还是一般的混蛋吧？”

蓝忘机道：“嗯。赤峰尊和敛芳尊的墓地禁制是主要议题。聂宗主问候你。”

魏无羡点点头，还想再问什么，却停了一下。蓝忘机难得见他欲言又止的样子，便道：“云梦跟我们上次去时无甚变化。江晚吟一如往昔。他问起你。“

魏无羡道：“哦。那小子没有对你胡说八道吧？“

蓝忘机淡淡地道：“怎可能。“

他接着道：“他还让我交给你这个。说是物归原主。“ 说着从行囊中拿出一把剑，正是”随便“，交到魏无羡手中。

魏无羡楞了楞，拿剑在手，抚摸了几下，道：“其实给我我也没什么用，不过他要还就还吧。想来他也不乐意总是看到这把剑… …不对啊蓝湛，金凌怎么会知道我喜欢莲藕排骨汤？我从没对他提过这种事。”

蓝忘机道：“如此说来… …”

魏无羡道沉默了片刻，道：“那家伙还是这个德性。”

蓝忘机道：“对江晚吟来说，此举已属难得。”

魏无羡欣然道：“含光君言之有理，下次见面要谢谢他！… …唉这把剑也不知道什么时候才会解除封剑。这剑不应该叫随便，应该叫随意，随它自己的意… …好好好，我不胡说了。还回来也好，把它跟避尘放在一起，凑成一对儿。”

他嘴里说着“一对儿“，眼睛就朝蓝忘机瞟了过去，低声笑道：”你刚才说想我，是怎么想的呀？“

蓝忘机道：“喝汤。”

魏无羡嘻嘻一笑，道：“喝就喝！”说着三两口就把排骨汤喝得见了底。他道：“这个汤不错，莲花坞的厨子应该也不是当年那几个了，难得味道还是不走样。只是比起师姐的… … ”

蓝忘机伸出左手握住魏无羡的右手。魏无羡翻掌覆住蓝忘机修长的手指，顺势摩梭，低头轻轻在手背上吹了口气，蓝忘机的手指微微缩了一下，他浅浅地看着魏无羡。魏无羡抬头展颜一笑，道：“蓝湛，那天经过岙头镇，听到一首好听的曲子，我吹给你听。”

他举起陈情，轻轻吹出一段舒缓悠扬的曲子。灯光下，蓝忘机目不转睛地看着他低垂的眼眉，起落的手指，半启微颤的嘴唇，不由得痴了。忽然，魏无羡抬起眼睛，向蓝忘机看过来。

蓝忘机站起身，轻轻抽走陈情，拦腰抱起魏无羡，低头吻住，向床榻走去。

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离静室最近的闲室是蓝启仁的住所，他老人家正在批改子弟们的功课。当晚风把静室的动静隐约送过来时，他熟门熟路地从案头一个匣子里取出两个小棉花球塞进耳朵，面不改色，继续埋头批注。

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过了良久，夜色已深，蓝忘机从魏无羡身上爬起来，下榻捡起衣服穿上。魏无羡唔声道：“你去哪里？” 蓝忘机道：“打水沐浴。” 魏无羡道：“你刚回来，歇着吧，我去打水。” 蓝忘机柔声道：“我去。” 说完就出去了。魏无羡其实也没力气起床，就由得他。

稍顷蓝忘机准备好了热水，将魏无羡从榻上抱起放进浴桶，自己也宽衣坐了进去。他们早就改变次序，做完事才沐浴，因此浴桶的损耗已经大大降低。蓝忘机环抱着魏无羡，魏无羡仰头靠在蓝忘机胸前，道：“蓝湛，我要送你一个礼物。”

蓝忘机道：“嗯，何物？”

魏无羡道：“还没有弄好，先不告诉你。”

蓝忘机道：“好。”

魏无羡道：“唉你怎么不追问我呀？”

蓝忘机道：“你给我，我自然就知道了。”

魏无羡道：“一点好奇心都没有，真没劲。”

蓝忘机道：“嗯，到底是何物？告诉我？”

魏无羡哈哈一笑：“就不说！只给你一个提示：跟你家的玉牌有关！”

蓝忘机环着他腰间的手臂一紧，在他耳边道：“嗯？”

魏无羡连忙道：“哎哎小心浴桶啊！好啦好啦。这次你独自出门，我很挂念你。不许笑！我知道蓝二公子本领高强神通广大，一定不会有事，不过我还是很想知道你到了哪里。你家的玉牌在示警时能显示出事的地点，我就从那里想到做一种符篆，两人各持一份，可以互知对方所在之地，随时可以驰援。你觉得怎样？”

蓝忘机将脸贴在他的头发上，道：“很好。比烟花信号细微隐秘，另堪大用。但，为何是给我的礼物？”

魏无羡道：“没什么，喜欢啊。以后我做的符篆，都是给你的礼物！嗯，这个么，可以叫做含光威武符一号。”

蓝忘机轻笑一声，摇摇头。魏无羡道：“怎么？这名字不好么？那你说该叫什么？”

蓝忘机低声道：“等你做好了，我们再商量。嗯，含光威武符，你确定？这可是你说的……”

二人喃喃低语，渐渐不可闻悉。

完。

P.S. 后来符篆做成，蓝忘机将之命名为“千里留行符”。不过魏无羡私底下还是叫它“含光威武符”，并且之后还有二号、三号、四号等等。

P.P.S. 魏无羡吹奏的那首曲子，是《问情》，歌中唱道：山川载不动太多悲哀，岁月禁不起太长的等待。春花最爱向风中摇摆，黄沙偏要将痴和怨掩埋… … 这首歌，路知行大大唱过，忍不住将之埋入文中。

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英文版：

The Jingshi was no longer the Jingshi of the past.

The furniture was still the same, everything was where it was meant to be, but the whole house felt different. At first glance it retained its spotless, ethereal illusion, but the wine jars sitting on the table and rolling on the floor were conspicuously out of place. The fallen leaves on the floor, the muddy footprints trodden all over the room, the dirty robes and belt draped haphazardly over the chair, the unmade bed.

The perpetrator was currently seated before the bureau. There was a plate placed carelessly at the corner, containing the remains of breakfast, right next to the demon flute Chenqing; the other corner was reserved for his legs. Wei Wuxian leaned back in the chair, one hand holding a piece of paper, the other a brush pen, absently painting a few strokes now and then. He seemed, for lack of a better word, bored out of his mind.

Lan Wangji had gone off to Yunmeng for the conference of a hundred sects. He hadn’t planned on being separated from Lan Wangji: wherever Lan Wangji went, he went too. But Yunmeng was an exception for he was, at present, still unwilling to see Jiang Cheng’s sulky face. Lan Wangji hadn’t wanted to go to Yunmeng either, but when they had returned to Cloud Recesses after three months away, Lan Wangji had come to discover his home in a less than desirable state. His older brother was in seclusion, leaving the burden of running a sect on his uncle’s shoulders. His uncle had to take care of every miscellaneous sect matter, oversee the schooling and worry about his brother, leaving him little room to breathe. Lan Wangji had duties to fulfill and hence took on his brother’s responsibilities. Wei Wuxian managed to take on the task of taking the juniors out on night hunts without much difficulty. His uncle finally had time to rest and could focus his energy on being angry at Wei Wuxian. EVerything was finally returning to its proper state.

Lan Wangji going to this conference at Yunmeng was also because he hadn’t wanted his uncle to tire himself and, despite not liking Jiang Wanyin, volunteered himself instead. He had told Wei Wuxian that he would return immediately after the talks ended, which should be today. A few days apart felt like decades...he missed Lan Zhan.

He looked up at the sun and threw the brush onto the table, picking up a wine jar and taking a swig. He took his feet off the table and paced around the room a few times, doing a few hops on the grass outside for good measure. He examined every blossom, grass blade and insect thoroughly, he ran into the room to retrieve the remnants of breakfast and fed them to the fish in the pond, then he walked back to the table and studied the piece of paper. He’d been mulling over this talisman for a while, still trying to figure out certain areas.

He stopped before the bookshelf, maybe a book would clear his mind. He perused a few boring titles before pulling open the small shelves below the shelf, seeing if there was anything interesting inside. Lan Wangji kept his possessions neat and ordered, untainted by Wei Wuxian. He found some of Lan Wangji’s artifacts, accessories, a spare forehead ribbon, all arranged tidily. He couldn’t help but chuckle. In the innermost drawer lay a navy blue-bound volume, it was untitled, unassuming.

Wei Wuxian picked up the book and realised, upon closer examination, that at the bottom right corner was written the smallest character “Ying” in Lan Zhan’s handwriting. He flipped the book open and burst into laughter.

The book turned out to be a collection of all the nonsense he’d written for Lan Wangji during their schooling days. Lan Wangji had collected and smoothed out every crumpled ball and bound them together!

The first page was the portrait he’d drawn of Lan Wangji with a flower in his hair. Wei Wuxian admired his masterpiece, howling with laughter and managing to get out, “Good on you, Lan Zhan!”. Flipping through, there was a page with “Wangji brother! Look at me!”, another with “Get rid of the silencing spell!!!”. Some were packed with “sorry” written over and over again, others with, “young master Lan! Forgive me, I’ll treat you to wine some other day!”. The writing was messy, all over the place. Some had scribbles of animals, some might as well be a huge ink blob.

Wei Wuxian fell back onto the floor, rolling around while laughing and flipping through more pages. One even had a “poem”.

“There is a fair lady, the fairest of the age, who lives hidden away in a bare valley.

Before the window she arranges her hair，And in the mirror sees her image fair.

Toasting to the moon, I invite her to drink with me. I count the shadows cast, three including she.

I’m drunk and you’re merry and glad：We both forget the world is sad.”[1]

Wei Wuxian had long forgotten about this, and seeing it again brought him enormous amusement. But as he continued to read, his smile slowly faded. On the last page was a note.

“Lan Zhan, Wangji brother, I was wrong. I know you really want my beautiful calligraphy, that’s why you always intercept the notes I write for others. That’s why I’m writing this just for you. Although I’m in the wrong, so are you. If you want to be my friend, you can just tell me instead of trying to catch my attention like this. How about this, if you stop intercepting my notes, I’ll take you to the mountains to hunt pheasants, I’ll share any good erotica with you. I’ll even forgive you for smashing my bottle of Emperor’s Smile, we can go for a drink today. In conclusion, what’s mine is yours. So don’t be angry, and please don’t intercept my notes.”

The words were blotched in multiple places where the ink had smudged, the paper was of poor quality, some awkwardly sized, lopsided circles. If Wei Wuxian hadn’t written it himself, he wouldn’t have been able to read any of it.

Wei Wuxian’s smile had completely disappeared as he brushed the splotches, he sat up and stayed there for a moment, clutching his head, before getting up and returning the volume to its drawer. He returned to the bureau and took a long swig from the wine jar, putting it down and mumbling, “Why isn’t he back yet!”

He scratched his head and looked around the room, then bent down and scooped up the empty jars. After placing them by a wall outside the house, he turned around to put his outer robe on a rack, coiling his ribbon around his wrist. Then, he walked over to the bed, folded the sheets, picked up the dining tray, and left the Jingshi.

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It was already evening when Lan Wangji returned to Cloud Recesses. He paid a visit first to Lan Qiren, relaying the contents of the conference, then to his older brother for a brief chat before returning to the Jingshi.

He’d just stepped over the threshold when he was engulfed by Wei Wuxian, his ears full of, “Lan Zhan you’re finally back! I’ve missed you so much. Why are you back only now! I waited the whole day!”

Lan Wangji returned the hug, saying gently after a moment, “I missed you too.”

Wei Wuxian sealed his lips with his own...after a long moment of locked lips and tangled teeth, Wei Wuxian finally loosened his hold slightly, “Are you tired? Come rest. Have you eaten? Have you seen your uncle and your brother?”

Lan Wangji gave a “mn” and said, “Not tired. Visited. Have you had dinner?” As he said this, his eyes swept across the room and he couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows slightly.

Wei Wuxian replied, “No, I was waiting for you, wasn’t in the mood to eat. Hey, have you seen? How’s the house? I tidied it up, it’s really clean, right? You may praise me!”

Lan Wangji smiled slightly and said, “Clean. Why did you suddenly decide to tidy?”

Wei Wuxian replied, “To welcome you back, of course! Don’t think so poorly of me, I can do housekeeping too. I’m just usually too lazy, if I really wanted to, the room would be spotless. Rest up, wash your face, then we’ll eat, I ordered your favourite dishes from the kitchen.”

He adjusted the tray on the bureau, removing the lids from the various bowls and excitedly arranged two sets of bowls and chopsticks.

Lan Wangji put down his luggage, cleaned up slightly and moved to the bureau’s edge, examining the dishes. He smiled and shook his head, taking a lunchbox out from his qiankun sleeve and saying, “I’ll add two more dishes.”

“What?”

Wei Wuxian opened the lid of the box and saw that it contained a bowl of spicy bamboo shoots and a bowl of lotus pork rib soup, the room instantly filling with that familiar fragrance.

Wei Wuxian gaped, “Lan Zhan, where did you get the lotus pork rib soup? Y-y-you...did you get it from Yunmeng?”

Lan Wangji nodded with a smile and Wei Wuxian leapt up to fling his arms around Lan Wangji’s neck, giving it a big kiss. “Lan-er gege, you’re the best! You’re so sweet! The food you make is fine, actually, you didn’t have to bring it all the way just for me.”

Lan Wangji replied, “No, Jin Ling wanted me to bring it to you.””

Wei Wuxian was puzzled, “Jin Ling? He gave you this?”

Lan Wangji answered, “Yes. Before I left Yunmeng, he gave this box to me, said the chefs at Lotus pier made it.”

Wei Wuxian said, “Who would’ve thought, the kid would have it in him to do this. I’ll have to spoil him properly next time.”

Lan Wangji had already placed the soup and bamboo shoots before him and the two began to eat. As usual, Wei Wuxian drank as he ate, while Lan Wangji only ate.

After a long time spent slurping soup, Wei Wuxian asked, “How was the conference? Bet the sect leaders are still a bunch of bastards.”

Lan Wangji replied, “Mn. Chifeng-zun and Jianfang-zun’s forbidden grave was the main topic of discussion. Sect leader Nie sends his regards.”

Wei Wuxian nodded, looking as if he was about to ask something before thinking better of it. Lan Wangji observed this rare moment of silence before saying, “Yunmeng is as it was upon our last visit. So is Jiang Wanyin. He asked about you.”

Wei Wuxian squinted, “Oh. Did the punk say anything inappropriate?”

Lan Wangji answered coolly, “Of course not.”

He added, “He asked me to pass this to you. Said it ought to be returned to its rightful owner.”

He pulled out a sword from his travel bag and placed Suibian into Wei Wuxian’s hands.

Wei Wuxian was stunned as he ran his hands over the sword, “I don’t have much use for it, but if he wants to return it, so be it. I guess he doesn’t like seeing it either… Say, Lan Zhan, how does Jin Ling know that I like lotus pork rib soup? I’ve never told him about it.”

Lan Wangji replied, “Now that you mention it…”

Wei Wuxian pondered for a moment, “He hasn’t changed.”

Lan Wangji said, “For Jiang Wanyin, this is already a rare gesture.”

Wei Wuxian said with gratitude, “Hanguang-jun is right, I’ll have to thank him!”

He sighed, “...I wonder when the seal on the sword will be removed. It shouldn’t be called Suibian, it should be called Suiyi, following its own intentions….alright, I’ll stop blabbering. Getting it back is a good thing, it’ll make a pair with Bichen.”

He glanced at Lan Wangji as he said “pair”, chuckling, “When you said you missed me, in what way did you miss me?”

Lan Wangji deflected, “Drink your soup.”

Wei Wuxian laughed, “Alright!”

He downed his soup in a few gulps, remarking, “It’s not bad, the chefs at Lotus pier must’ve changed, it’s a miracle the flavour hasn’t changed too much, just that compared to Shijie’s…”

Lan Wangji reached out his left hand to hold Wei Wuxian’s. Wei Wuxian covered Lan Wangji’s long fingers with his palms in one smooth move, bowing his head to blow lightly on the back of his hand. Lan Wangji’s fingers twitched ever so slightly, staring stoically at Wei Wuxian. The latter raised his head and grinned, “Lan Zhan, I heard a wonderful tune when I was passing by Ao’tou village, I’ll play it for you.”

He raised Chenqing and began to gently play a slow, comforting tune. Under the candlelight, Lan Wangji’s gaze was fixed on his lowered lashes, his dancing fingers, his quivering lips, entranced. Suddenly, Wei Wuxian raised his gaze to meet Lan Wangji’s.

Lan Wangji stood up, gently taking Chenqing out of his hands and picking Wei Wuxian up. He bowed his head in a kiss as they walked towards the bed.

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Lan Qiren’s Xianshi was nearest the Jingshi, the old man currently marking the juniors’ homework. As the faint sounds were carried by the evening breeze, he deftly took out a pair of cotton balls from a cupboard and stuffed them into his ears with practiced ease, continuing with his work without the slightest change in expression.

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Finally, hours after nightfall, Lan Wangji disengaged himself from Wei Wuxian, picking up his robes from beside the bed and dressing himself.

Wei Wuxian mumbled, “Where’re you going?

Lan Wangji said, “Drawing a bath.”

Wei Wuxian protested, “Come back, rest, I’ll get the water.”

Lan Wangji replied softly, “I’ll do it.” He left before Wei Wuxian could object and the latter was too tired to get up anyway, might as well.

When the hot water was ready, Lan Wangji scooped Wei Wuxian up from the bed and placed him into the tub, joining him shortly after. They had long since adjusted their routine so that they took baths after doing it, therefore resulting in a fortunate decrease in the number of bathtubs sacrificed. Lan Wangji put his arms around Wei Wuxian who leaned back against him, saying, “Lan Zhan, I want to give you something.”

Lan Wangji asked, “Mn, what?”

Wei Wuxian said mysteriously, “It’s not then, I won’t tell you.”

“Okay.”

“Why don’t you ask me about it??”

“When you give it to me, I’ll know.”

Wei Wuxian grumbled, “Not curious at all, how dull.”

“Mn, what is it? Tell me?”

Wei Wuxian giggled, “Not telling! But I’ll give you a hint: it’s something to do with your family’s jade amulet!”

Lan Wangji’s arms tightened around his waist, his breath ghosting over Wei Wuxian’s ear, “Mn?”

Wei Wuxian said hastily, “Hey hey watch the tub! Alright alright, I really missed you this time- Don’t laugh! I know the second Lan master is all powerful and definitely won’t run into danger, but I still want to want to know where you are. Your family’s jade amulet can show the location of any incidents, so I wanted to make a talisman from that. We’ll each have one, so we’ll know each other’s whereabouts, in case anyone needs help. What do you think?”

Lan Wangji pressed his face into the other’s hair, saying, “Good. More private than fireworks, versatile. But, why a present for me?”

“No reason, I just felt like it. In the future, all the talismans I make will be gifts for you! Hm, this one can be called ‘Hanguang-jun is the greatest’ talisman number one.”

Lan Wangji huffed and shook his head.

Wei Wuxian asked, “What? You don’t like it? What do you want to call it?”

Lan Wangji said in a low voice, “We’ll discuss it when you’re done. Mn, ‘Hanguang-jun is the greatest’, you’re sure? Your words…”

Their hushed voices gradually faded into the night.

Fin.

P.S. After the talisman was completed, Lan Wangji named it ‘across a thousand miles’. But Wei Wuxian still called it ‘Hanguang-jun is the greatest’ in private, followed up by #2,#3, #4 etc.

P.P.S. The song Wei Wuxian plays is called “Question Love”, the lyrics: Mountains and rivers can't load excessive sorrow, time can't afford too long waiting, spring flowers love swinging into breeze, yellow sands persist in burying infatuation and grudge… Lu Zhixing (WWX’s cn VA) has sung this before, I couldn’t help adding this to the fic.

[1] 忘机 (Wangji) means to forget your troubles so here it’s a pun of sorts.

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翻译花絮：

小主吐槽：你竟然在里面放了一首诗！你让我怎么办？我要掐你的脖子！

我：谁让你小时候我让你学古诗你不好好学。

小主吐槽：你这一整段只是一句话！你让我怎么办？你的动作描写这么intense这么dry，你让我怎么办？！

我：对不起。对不起。