Later that night, after eating, bathing, and getting into fresh comfortable robes, Lan Zhan and I sat down on the bed. He leaned back again the headboard of the bed as I was laying on him, my arms wrapped around him and my head on his shoulder.

"Are you okay with me telling you?" I asked him.

"I am," he said. Before I could even say anything, there was a knock at the door. I sighed and groaned laying back in the bed. Lan Zhan chuckled, "it's probably Brother," he said.

"Okay," I said, "you answer it."

Lan Zhan nodded and went to answer the door, "Huan-Ge," Lan Zhan greeted.

"Hello Wangji, sorry to just stop by," he said.

"It is fine," Lan Zhan said letting him in, "Wei Ying was going to talk to me about something."

"Was he?" Xichen-Ge asked.

I sat up, "I can share it with you both if you want," I said.

"What was it you were talking about?" Xichen-Ge asked sitting at the table. I moved over to the table as well as Lan Zhan prepared tea.

"While we were watching A'Yuan earlier today, I was telling Lan Zhan that I could relate to A'Yuan's situation. Losing my parents in such a horrible situation and being so young. He has more support than I did at the time but we still had a similar situation," I explained.

"I see, so was the conversation dealing more with that when I walked in?" He asked.

I nodded, "since A'Yuan was around, I didn't want to bring up my situation from the past. I told him I would share it later tonight...with the added potential of tears," I told him.

"I told Wei Ying he can cry if he needs to," Lan Zhan added.

Xichen-Ge smiled, "seems to me that you two are doing much better."

"Mnn," Lan Zhan responded.

"Do you mind if I hear about it?" Xichen-Ge asked.

I shook my head, "I don't mind."

"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan said, "you can tell as much or as little as you want."

I nodded and took in a deep breath, "I was around four or five. I remember my parents and I walking through the woods to find a nearby town to rest for the night. Since they were cultivators, they could sense something was wrong so they had me hide in a tree. I hid as I watched three dire wolves appear. My parents were doing fine with the first two, but the last one was the biggest and the strongest. They killed it but I saw that giant beast tear my parents apart. So many bites and flesh wounds.

I remember begging my parents to be okay and get up. Asking them to keep going as a town was not too far away. My father died first, telling me to remain strong and to always remember who I am and never forget that. My mother, she gave me her red ribbon, telling me that it will be something to remember her by. She also handed me the money pouch with what they had left. She told me that I should always smile. I had too cute of a smile to hide it away. To not hold hatred in my heart no matter how much I have been wronged. Not to cry when things get too tough.

I laid there all night with them. By morning, I knew they were dead, and they were never going to wake again. I found old sticks and brush to create a fire and burn their bodies. I had an extra pouch and put their ashes inside it. I was on my own. I don't know how long I was by myself. A memory always stuck to me though as I lived on the streets."

"What is that?" Xichen-Ge asked.

"It was very cold out but I didn't care. I had a few straw dolls made and as I was playing with them," I pulled out the old rattle drum from a pouch in my robes and showed it to them, "a little boy in white came over to me. He handed me this toy drum and a steam bun. He didn't say anything but he was really kind enough to give those to me. I've always had that memory in my head. Of the boy..." I looked at Lan Zhan, "he had Gusu robes in and a forehead ribbon."

"Wangji?" Xichen-Ge asked.

Lan Zhan smiled. The tips of his ears turned red, "the little boy was Wei Ying," he said, "I figured it out when I first met him back during lectures. His smile was the same."

"Turns out we first met long ago," I said handed him the drum, "this was yours."

"Gave it to Wei Ying," he said, "you kept it all this time?"

I nodded, "it felt as if it gave me comfort as I had it with me every day. I kept it in this pouch so I never lost it."

I caught a glimpse of Lan Xichen, who seemed to be very amused by all this. I couldn't help but turn the tides in him a bit, "Xichen-Ge, how was your day with Qing-Jie?" I asked.

His smile disappeared as he caught on to my antics, "it went prefectly fine," he said confidently.

"Is that so?" I asked, "did you two do anything scandalous?" He lunged at me, but I quickly moved back and moved to Lan Zhan's lap, "Lan Zhan, you will protect me right?"

"Mnn," he said wrapping his arms around me.

"Wangji!" Xichen-Ge said loudly, "you are siding with him?"

"Huan-Ge is happier," Lan Zhan said, "you like her. Are you too shy to admit it? What happened? Do you not want to listen to your own advice? Admit it not hide it?"

Xichen-Ge huffed, "unbelievable. Even my own brother."

I smiled and kissed Lan Zhan's jaw before wrapping my arms around him, "Lan Zhan, you are getting more playful."

"Mnn, Wei Ying is a good teacher," he said, "right Huan-Ge?"

Xichen-Ge sighed, "what am I going to do with you two?"

"Plan our wedding," I told him.

He laughed, "I will have to get your siblings involved."

"Oh no!" I said remembering something.

"What?" Lan Zhan asked.

"There is a tradition at Lotus Pier for the bride and groom," I said.

"What is that?" Xichen-Ge asked.

"The disciples plan a prank on couple...knowing Jiang Cheng he has ideas already brewing," I said.

"I am going to help him," Xichen-Ge said.

"What?" Lan Zhan and I asked.

"You two tease me, I pay back with the prank," he said, "since it will be outside of Cloud Recesses, it's even better. Xichen-Ge then stood up, "it's getting late. I should head back before curfew."

I nodded and looked at Lan Zhan, "should we be scared?"

"I do not know," he said.

"You two love birds have a good night," Xichen-Ge said.

"Hope you dream of your wife-to-Be," I teased.

Xichen-Ge looked at me. Lan Zhan held me more firmly as if he were protecting me, "Mine!" He said.

"I will get back at you both!" Xichen-Ge said before leaving.

I laughed and looked up at Lan Zhan, "He is getting so flustered."

"Mnn," Lan Zhan nodded.

"Thank you for listening earlier," I said.

"Wei Ying, you can tell me what ever you want. I will listen," he said.

I nodded as I reached up and pulled him down to kiss me. This man, he was doing so much better. I think after our latest misunderstanding, Xichen-Ge must have said something to him to really get him to understand what I am dealing with right now. Lan Zhan is doing so much better and he is being the best support I could ever need in a partner. He makes me feel valued and he makes me feel like I am worthy of him. There have been so many times where I felt as if I was not worthy of him, but he has proven time and time again just how much I am worth it to him.

I pulled away from his lips, "Lan Zhan?" I asked.

"Hmm?" He replied looking into my eyes.

"If you are willing to help me, and be there with me through this, I will try to contact my mother. I just need to know you will be there with me every step of the way. You are very important to me, and I don't want to lose you," I told him.

"I will help you," he said, "and I will always be with you. I will always be willing to help you, protect you, fight by your side, stand with you, and always be by your side. I cannot lose you either, Wei Ying."

"Thank you so much," I said quietly.

"Mnn, love you, my Wei Ying."

"And I love you, my Lan Zhan."