Lan Qiren has a headache, and it's not going to go away soon. Its physical manifestation is sitting right in front of him, pouring out tea, and looking calm when the words that just came out of WangJi's mouth have done the opposite already, at least in himself.

Lan Zhan carefully takes out his list, lovingly compiled just that morning. Lan Qiren eyes it warily and then lifts his gaze to look at his nephew properly. He does think of him as his son, but that's what is making this even harder. He suspects that his path is suddenly going to become a vertical challenge filled with thorns and craters just because this might be the most stubborn person to walk upon the earth, ever.

It's even harder to reconcile this golden-eyed man as his six year old nephew, having had just a few days to get used to it. It really isn't fair, he thinks, and there should definitely have been a gestation period for him to come to terms with this situation. It was one thing to know and barely accept that this one's six year old body contained an adult Lan WangJi, and another thing entirely to see who his nephew will grow into being right now. It's making his head spin.

Lan Zhan is a powerful cultivator.

Lan Qiren can sense the strength of his golden core from here, no, from the moment Lan Zhan knocked on the door of his office and entered. He, along with the person he wants to marry, is an immortal, and so this is where the problems start, and Lan Qiren's headache worsens.

"I have a list, Shufu," Lan Zhan tells him.

That's another thing. The attitude.

Gone are the days when this kid will ask him anything. He's just going to do whatever the hell he wants to, and not even the Elders can say a thing about it. Lan Qiren sighs. He's already tired, and the sun hasn't even shown his face yet. Maybe he should do the same. Take that as an example. If he ignores Lan Zhan and goes back to bed, will that work?

Lan Zhan pushes the paper towards Lan Qiren urgently. Insistently.

"You're good at lists, aren't you?" Lan Qiren can't help snipping. After all, it's Lan Zhan's kill list, which brought them all to this point in the first place.

Lan Zhan doesn't answer. His face doesn't change, either. Lan Qiren had forgotten about this regarding him, and he narrows his eyes, staring intensely at him and trying to determine what exactly is going on up there in his head. There's a smugness in that tiny crease between his brows and the only minute change on his stoic face. Otherwise, Lan Qiren might as well be talking to a Jade statue right now.

"It is urgent," Lan Zhan adds, unhelpfully.

"I'm sure it is," Lan Qiren reluctantly pulls the cursed list closer. Honestly, he'd rather deal with a dozen Tortoises of Slaughter, he thinks, than whatever is on here. He starts reading it, and okay, the first item on the list is alright.

The Jingshi.

As a young man, now of marriageable age, it is expected that Lan Zhan might not want to share a bed with members of his own family. He would want his own independence, his own space, a home that can house all of his own things in a respectable manner.

"I would have thought you would be more interested in having your sword," Lan Qiren replies offhandedly.

Lan Zhan puts Bichen on the table between them.

Lan Qiren gapes at him.

And now, that IS a smug tilt of his lips.

"When?" He demands, wondering why he never noticed what Lan Zhan was carrying when he walked in. "How?"

"Bichen always belonged to our Ancestors. I merely visited the Cold Pond Cave this morning and was presented with what already belongs to me. WangJi, too, is with me now. I spent the appropriate time re-establishing our spiritual connection. There is nothing to worry about." Lan Zhan looks pointedly at the list again, drawing his uncle's attention to the matter at hand. Shufu is unusually and particularly slow today, for some reason. He just needs a push.

Lan Qiren breathes long and slow, five deep breaths like Healer Fei taught him, to manage his stress levels. It isn't working that well today.

"These are the modifications to the first item on the list. As soon as possible."

Again, with the tone! It's not rude exactly, but it sure feels like it.

Lan Qiren holds up this second paper closer to his face, not really believing what he's seeing. It is a detailed drawing of the Jingshi, but with extras. There are a few more rooms added, a whole new kitchen, and a new bathroom including what looks like a sunken bath, instead of making do with a wooden bathtub like everyone else. There's also another building that doesn't exist yet, planned to be constructed in the near future by the looks of this plan.

"Talk me through this?"

"Mn. The extra bedrooms are for the children we want. Both of us are eager to start a family, and this is just the beginning. The kitchen is necessary because I will be cooking all of my husband's meals, and the building at the back of the Jingshi will be fortified with protective talismans and spells into the walls and foundations, because my husband is a genius and will require an independent place to work." Lan Zhan maintains an unflinching eye contact while pointing all of this out.

"What about the bathroom, then? And you're not married yet." Lan Qiren insists.

"My Betrothed," Lan Zhan places an emphasis on that singular word, "likes looking at the stars when we bathe. There should be a skylight. As for anything else, trust me, you don't want to know." Lan Zhan is confident, self-assured, and downright infuriating.

Lan Qiren massages the side of his head and continues onto the next item on the list.

A bigger bed because Wei Ying is going to live with Lan Zhan in the Jingshi.

"Arrangements can be made for that nearer the wedding," Lan Qiren dismisses, but Lan Zhan has other plans.

"We are not going to wait for the wedding to live together."

Lan Qiren's head snaps up in disbelief. "What?"

"I said-"

"I heard you! WangJi! Be serious!" Lan Qiren glares at him.

"Shufu, the fact that I'm telling you at all goes a long way towards showing you a great respect. That it will happen regardless of informing you goes without saying."

"WANGJI! IS THIS HOW I'VE RAISED YOU?" Lan Qiren yells, and then remembers himself. Breathe in, hold it, breathe out...

"It is what we both want." Lan Zhan tacks on, as if it's necessary.

Really, this boy...

"Where is A-Ying now?" Lan Qiren whispers. He can't do this. He definitely doesn't want to do this alone. Maybe he can appeal to the other one. Perhaps explain about propriety, about losing face, about respecting tradition.

"Yuefu* has taken him into Caiyi Town. My Betrothed is eager to buy gifts." Lan Zhan replies in a pleased tone. (*Father-in-law)

When Lan Qiren looks up at the difference in his voice, he notices a soft look in his child's eyes, and pink tips of his ears peeking out from behind his ears.

"And speaking of gifts, I would like to make arrangements with our seamstresses."

The headache moves from the side of his temples to Lan Qiren's forehead. It is also increasing in strength, directly sapping on its host's supply, as if Lan Qiren has any to spare.

"WangJi, I realise this is your first time getting married, and I can overlook certain mistakes out of ignorance." Lan Qiren pinches the bridge of his nose in an attempt to relieve some pressure. "But there are procedures we cannot ignore when planning a wedding."

"Such as?"

Oh, no. His voice has gone all hard and uncompromising.

"Matchmakers must be invited, and based upon the presentation of the Eight Characters, after giving them the hour, day, month and year of your births, THEN, we must consult the Astrologers. Only they can determine whether it is a compatible match or ...." Lan Qiren risks a glance up and wisely stops speaking at the growing fury in ever-darkening golden eyes that are positively frightening in their intensity.

Can immortals burn things with just their eyes? Lan Qiren frantically tries to remember if there was anything recorded along these lines in any of the vast tomes and scriptures contained in the famous Lan Library.

"Wei Ying and I are getting married. Your choice is, we either do it here, or we elope." Lan Zhan stands up, takes Bichen and turns around, leaving.

Lan Qiren stares after him.

His family hates him, that's what this is. It's the only explanation.

He bends and rests his hot forehead on the table, letting the cool wood ease some of the fast spreading headache. He closes his eyes and throws out a barricading talisman towards the door in case his child wants to come back in. The shudder that thought provokes cannot be suppressed.

***************

Lan Zhan is seething. How dare his uncle imply that he and Wei Ying might not be compatible? After everything he's done? Everything they've done? He stomps off to the guest house, needing to hold a baby or two just to calm down.

Cangse Sanren takes one look at his face and gives him the red-faced angry baby to hold. "Comfort in solidarity," she murmurs, smiling.

An Jing is sleeping peacefully in the cradle, but this little Madam is fully awake and ready to make it everyone else's problem. She's also Lan Zhan's favourite but he'll submit to lingchi before admitting it.

They sit in companionable silence as Meihua stares furiously back at Lan Zhan. At least she's not crying, even though Lan Zhan doesn't mind it. Her fists are clenched in tight balls of anger, and it would be funny if Lan Zhan wasn't sharing her emotions right now.

"Did Qiren piss you off?" Cangse Sanren asks him.

She's lounging around the little table and motions towards the teapot in a gesture of offering. Lan Zhan shakes his head at her hand, knowing she won't mistake this answer for her other question. And it's nice, just sitting here. She's an intelligent woman, frighteningly so, and Lan Zhan likes that she doesn't make rash judgements, but she likes to give people space to think. That could be one of the reasons why Wei Ying is so bright and clever, because he has never lost the art of problem solving. Lan Zhan just really wants Wei Ying now, but he'll settle for his extended family for now.

And then he ends up telling her everything, from start to finish. Somewhere along the way, Meihua falls asleep against his chest, and Lan Zhan refuses to put her down, scared that she might wake up from being jostled, even accidentally. Plus he secretly thinks she might like the sound of his voice because her ear is so close to him.

"Qiren has had to grow up fast," Cangse Sanren says quietly, after a while. "It's a lonely job, doing everything he's had to, until now. And if you take into account that he never wanted the responsibility of the Sect in the first place, you can kind of understand where he's coming from. I can't believe you threatened him, though."

"That wasn't a threat. I was merely giving him the truth." Lan Zhan replies, a little confused.

"Oh, Sweet Pea, that's exactly why he's crapping in his pants right now," she giggles. "I can see how entertaining it's going to be, living in Cloud Recesses these days!"

"Who threatened who?" Another bright voice joins them as Wei Ying races in, his father following at a more sedate pace.

He rushes up to Lan Zhan, the brightest smile on his face and he plants himself right next to his beloved. Wei Ying throws an arm around his shoulders even as he strokes the soft red cheek of his baby sister, who remains blissfully asleep in Lan Zhan's arms.

Lan Zhan immediately feels much better now.

"Your husband is upset because Qiren is dragging his feet about the wedding. He left his uncle with an ultimatum of either doing it like he wants or both of you are going to elope."

Lan Zhan hears the gasp right next to his ear and resolutely refuses to see Wei Ying's reaction. He's feeling petulant about this, sulky even.

"Maybe both of you should go for a walk," Wei Changze offers, his voice so full of kindness that Lan Zhan easily gives up his favourite little monster to her father.

Wei Ying takes his hand and leads Lan Zhan outside. Lan Zhan is content to follow him anywhere he wishes to go. He just wants to stop thinking for a while. Their fingers tangle in a comforting clasp, and just their palms touching brings peace to Lan Zhan.

It's the sound of rushing waters that gives away where Wei Ying has brought them, as they've been walking for a bit now. They're by one of the tallest waterfalls of Cloud Recesses, with an open view of the impending sunrise between two peaks of the mountains that tower above them. The flowing waters are filled with a bubbling melody all their own as they gush over boulder, rock and stone, an ancient, joyous song full of anticipation and wonder.

Lan Zhan has been silent all the way here, content to hear how Wei Ying spent the money he gave him, visiting a merchant long before his shop was open for business. Now, he lets himself be pushed to sitting down on a flat boulder before Wei Ying climbs onto his lap. The first thing he does is wrap his arms around Lan Zhan's neck and hug him tightly, both of them relaxing into it as if it's the most natural thing in the world.

Lan Zhan presses his nose into Wei Ying's neck, drinking in the subtle floral scent that always seems to be clinging onto his soft, golden skin. This might be Lan Zhan's favourite part of Wei Ying, and it's a tough clear winner though that's subject for change. With one hand, Wei Ying rubs his back soothingly, and Lan Zhan melts into his embrace as if they've always done this.

"I bet Shifu is really freaking out, huh?" Wei Ying whispers close to his ear. His fingers toy with the ends of Lan Zhan's white headband, playfully tugging at them like a kitten would.

"He should agree." Lan Zhan tells him firmly, not pouting.

Wei Ying is helpless not to kiss it, and how can he resist when Lan Zhan gets so cute when he's obstructed from getting his own way?

Lan Zhan's hand slides to the back of Wei Ying's neck and drags him back for another kiss, a proper one, this time. He doesn't think he'll ever tire of this feeling, of that bubbling joy that bursts forth from his heart, singing the same tune as the river flowing past them. There is so much happiness in him that he worries his body won't be enough to contain it, and he feels dizzy with excitement. His lips are bold enough to make Wei Ying's shy gasp be heard, and then Lan Zhan takes his chance to slip his tongue inside.

This is better than heaven, to feel their hearts thudding maddeningly fast next to each other, lost in each kiss as the magic of being together envelopes them both. They're bursting with ecstatic joy to the point of delirium, a rare kind of crazy that just feels right.

When they calm themselves a little more, their kisses turn even sweeter, the rush of their reunion leaving nothing but a tranquil contentment in its place. When Lan Zhan leans back, he's smug again because Wei Ying's lips are kiss-bitten red, puffy and even more irresistible. But his eyes, ever so beautiful and kind are what captures Lan Zhan's interest and stops him from kissing and biting down that gorgeous smooth neck.

"Lan Zhan, my love, I bought you a gift. Well, I know you know because you've kind of paid for it, but one day I'll buy you something from my own money."

Lan Zhan is already shaking his head, even before Wei Ying finishes speaking.

"Wei Ying."

"You know, no one says my name like you do," he breathes out, planting another soft kiss on Lan Zhan's cheek.

"But I want you to know this. We are Zhiji. What's mine is yours. It does not matter who pays for what, as long as you are happy." Lan Zhan kisses the tip of his nose because it's closer.

Wei Ying smiles down at him, and really, is there anything better than this? Lan Zhan is lost to how his beautiful eyes begin to glow, changing colour with the rising sun as silver grows into peach and pink, reflecting the splashes of colours beginning to dance across the horizon.

"Tell me what's really bothering you?" Wei Ying asks him, the words gently full of caring.

"I want to marry you now. I don't want to wait."

Wei Ying smiles even wider, settling down in his lap more comfortably. His shoulder rests against Lan Zhan's chest and he's sitting sideways now, playing with Lan Zhan's sleeve.

"You said this morning, we are as good as married already."

"Mn. We have handfasted. It is the first ritual." It's only now that Lan Zhan thinks Wei Ying doesn't know about this custom.

"Lan Zhan! You sly thing! When did that happen?"

"In the Cold Pond Cave. Chord Assassination Technique. Bichen protected you." Lan Zhan holds his breath as Wei Ying's fingers glide over his metal sword, tracing the intricate pattern of Ivory and pearl inlay.

"Ah...and then we figured out why it was attacking me in particular. You wrapped your headband around our wrists!" Wei Ying takes his hand and slowly brushes his lips across Lan Zhan's knuckles, the gesture so full of love that it brings moisture to golden eyes. "Then, Darling, Sweet, Most Beautiful Husband of mine, if we are already married, then what's the problem?" He murmurs, planting another sweet kiss in the centre of Lan Zhan's palm.

"Matchmakers, Astrologers, wasting time," Lan Zhan murmurs back, lost in the beauty that is his husband, here, safe and warm in his arms. "And Shufu is against us living together before we are officially married."

"Oh." Wei Ying looks disappointed.

"Mn."

Wei Ying pulls out a piece of red brocade silk, embroidered with a blue dragon in mid-flight, dancing around a five-tailed phoenix with fiery feathers, and in each corner, there's a pair of bunnies. One white and one black, always together.

"Beloved...Zhiji, this is for you." Wei Ying puts the wrapped item into both of Lan Zhan's hands, his beautiful smile lighting up his face.

Lan Zhan pulls him closer for another mind-melting kiss before slowly unwrapping the gift.

It is a pair of Ivory combs, with clouds across the dark wood, hiding a pair of dragons. Both are identical, and equally stunning in craftsmanship. Tiny silver jewels are embedded in the dragons' eyes, curiously lifelike. They're elegant and graceful, their powerful bodies depicted as if they were gliding weightlessly in the sky.

Lan Zhan carefully tucks one on the side of Wei Ying's hair, smiling when he's done. Then he holds his palm open for Wei Ying to take the second comb and slide it into his hair in return.

"There, now. We're engaged." Wei Ying giggles, letting his fingers linger. "And as for Shifu, well, what he doesn't know won't hurt him."

It takes Lan Zhan half a second to figure it out.