"ChengCheng!" Wei Ying called as we got to his living quarters?

"What?" He spat having his angry resting face expression as always.

"Lan Zhan and I are joining Xichen-Ge to investigate Water Ghouls, would you like to come help?" Wei Ying offered.

"Sure," He said, "Someone has to make sure you stay out of trouble."

"AiYa! ChengCheng!" Wei Ying whined, "I don't go to trouble, trouble finds me."

"Who's your ChengCheng?!" He reprimanded.

Wei Ying giggled and walked beside me again. Jiang Wanyin was on the other side of him, "How long has this been going? The water ghouls?" Wanyin asked.

"Xiongzhang did not say, he just said he got reports from a disciple who came from town," I answered, "We can ask him when we meet him at the gate."

"Oh," Wanyin said, "Hey, Wuxian isn't cause you trouble or anything write? As I know he rooms with you."

"We get along fine," I told him, "he has a fun personality."

"Fun?" Wanyin asked, "More like mischievous and annoying."

"No," I assured him, "Fun and kind are the terms for him."

"Are you really Lan Wangji?" Jiang Wanyin asked me causing me to stop walking and look at him.

"Pardon me?" I asked, as I was starting to get a bit annoyed with him.

I now remembered why I didn't like him before all the events happened in the past life. Always has something bad or negative to say or misunderstands the situation. He even believes false rumors. He will never change will he?

"I mean, I heard you were someone who does not tolerate playfulness and mischievous behavior," He said confused.

"That would be my uncle, and sometimes I am like that, but not with Wei Ying. He his special to me," I told him, "Believe me, if you know your brother as you think you do, I think you should think before you speak, especially before judging others."

Before he could say anything more, I started walking again. Wanyin was speechless anyway at my statement. I met up with my brother and he could see that I was annoyed.

"Is everything okay?" He asked me.

"I will tell you later," I told him and looked around, "No Su She this time?"

He smirked, "No, do you think I want to put 'someone' in danger a second time," He said nonchalantly gesturing his head to Wei Ying.

I let out a chuck at his comment. We continued forward and all gathered in a few boats to head to Biling Lake. I was in a boat on my own and Wei Ying was in a boat beside me, alone. I had a feeling he was going to repeat what happened before.

"Xichen-Ge, water ghouls are usually pretty cunning, what if we don't spot them today?" Wei Ying asked.

"We will keep looking until we do," I told him.

He did not respond right away, and then, "Lan Zhan, look at me!" he called out.

I did as before, looked at him and jumped to his boat as he splashed water towards my direction, "Shameless," I told him in a low voice.

"Hey, you're welcome," He said with a giggle.

I looked at him and couldn't help but smile at him. Of course brother question about why they were under the boat and Wuxian said the displacement was strange, saying the boat sunk deeper of having two people instead of one, so there might have been a ghoul.

'Observant little shit,' I thought to myself in amusement, 'but I love you all the same.'

This time around, taking care of the water ghouls water a lot better and easier. Wei Ying did well too, as would be expected. He did not fall into the water this time as Su She was not with us to screw things up. We all gathered after and made our way back to Cloud Recesses.

"Wei Wuxian," I heard Wanyin call after him. Wei Ying was standing beside me.

"Yes, ChengCheng?" He teased.

"Call me, ChengCheng again! I dare you!" He warned, "I only wanted to tell you that you did good today. Mother will be happy to know you didn't lose face today."

Wei Ying's happy smile now turned to a forced smile, "I haven't yet, now have I."

"I'm sure there may be a day," Wanyin mumbled.

"Young Master Jiang," My brother interjected, "do you always treat your brother this way?"

"What way?" Wanyin asked.

"You treat him as if he is incapable or irresponsible," Xiongzhang told him, "your brother is very smart and although you gave him a good comment, you also just berated him in front of another clan leader."

Last time my brother and I didn't think anything of their bickering and his berating behavior towards Wei Ying. This time, he will not allow it, especially if he sees it himself. I am glad that my brother stepped in before I did. I probably would have been worse, as Wanyin probably would have lost a limb. I have no problem to take a limb if it keeps him from bullying Wei Ying.

"I'm not saying he isn't capable of irresponsible, it's just trouble seems to follow him everywhere and I usually have to be the one to help clean it up or cover it up so Mother won't go nuclear," Wanyin answered.

"But you did just said that he didn't lose face, 'today,' you make it sound like he lost face before, and I have not noticed anything where he has done wrong or lose face." Xiongzhang explained.

"He has brought shame to the clan once before, so it isn't new to say he won't," Wanyin said with an arrogant looking on his face.

"Arrogance is forbidden in Cloud Recesses," Brother told him, as we were now inside the gate of Cloud Recesses, "as well as bullying is also forbidden. And you have done both of those. Copy the rules fifty times by tomorrow morning before lectures. Bring them to me when you are done."

Brother walked off with a smug grin, and I laughed on the inside. Wanyin stormed off angrily as well leaving Wei Ying with me.

"Are you okay?" I asked him.

"Can we go back to Jingshi?" He asked, "I don't want to be out in public right now."

I nodded and put my arm around his waist and lead him back home. After we stepped inside and the door shut, Wei Ying immediately put his arms around me and put his face into my neck. I wrapped my arms around him to comfort him. I gently picked him up and went to sit on the bed for a while. I sat there holding him as he cried into my shoulder. 

"Wei Ying?" I said softly, "Do you want me to find a way for you to stay at Cloud Recesses after lectures are over?"

"How would you think of something to do that?" He asked with his head still on my shoulder.

I thought for a moment and then spoke, "Marriage?" I asked.

He sat up and looked at me, "Marriage? As in you and me?" He asked, "We would have two wait at least two years as we are not of age to marry."

"It will still be a reason to stay in Gusu," I told him, "And if you want to visit Lotus Pier we can at any time. I'm only saying that for the sake of your Uncle and Shijie, as I know they care most about you. From what you told me."

Wei Ying nodded, "Would your Uncle and Brother be okay with with this?" he asked. 

"Okay with what?" Brother asked entering Jingshi. 

"I told Wei Ying he could stay at Cloud Recesses after lectures," I answered.

"Of course we would be fine with that," Xiongzhang said, "Why wouldn't we be?"

"Well, we needed to think of a reason for the Jiangs to be fine with it," Wei Ying said. 

"And did you?" He asked sitting on the other end of the bed.

"I suggested marriage," I admitted.

Xiongzhang smiled, "It would be reasonable enough to have him stay."

"I told him he can visit Lotus Pier when ever he wants, only because of his relationship with Jiang Fengmian and his Shijie," I noted.

Brother nodded, "I will talk with Shufu, although I am sure he will be fine with it, and we can discuss sending a proposal letter over to Yunmeng. Plus a marriage alliance with them would be added to the proposal," he said and looked at Wei Ying, "How are you feeling, by the way?"

"Better," Wei Ying answered, "No one has stood up for me like that before...especially to Jiang Cheng. I know his personality. He does care for me but he just doesn't know how to express them so he just runs his mouth. So thank you for saying something."

"You are welcome," Xiongzhang answered, "I have had some students inform me of some issues of you two in the past so I wanted to keep an eye on that. I know there is good in your younger brother, but he is too caught up trying to level up to you."

"That would be his parents doing," Wei Ying admitted, "Uncle Jiang would praise me a lot for my cultivation and training, but won't say much to his own son. His mother praises him sometimes, but she just tears me down in the process."

"Well, you will be treated fairly here," Xiongzhang said.

"By the way, I have heard people talk about how your shufu is strict but I have interacted with him a few times. Although he seems intimidating, he doesn't seem to be so to me," Wei Ying said, "Am I misinformed or is it something else?"

"Shufu is usually strict, yes," I said, "But even though he says you are like your mother, you are quite smart and he respects that as well as being impressed with your level of cultivation. I am sure he will try to keep you from being too mischievous in the future though."

"Ha, good luck," Wei Ying said, "Even I know I have no filter when it comes to antics sometimes."

Xiongzhang laughed, "I remember Shufu telling me about your mother, he told me about one time she was angry at him for getting her into trouble over something when she studied here for a while."

"What did she do?" Wei Ying asked.

"She tried to pull a prank on one of the instructors but Shufu found out ahead of time and warned them," Xiongzhang explained, "As revenge, she ended up shaving his beard."

Wei Ying laughed, "that is amazing," He said.

"I don't know if I want to even imagine being around at that time," I said, "Although, it would have been a sight to see."

"It would, huh?" Brother said thoughtfully.

"I feel so much better now," Wei Ying said trying to gain back his composure after laughing so hard. 

"That is good," Xiongzhang said and stood up, "I will go speak with Shufu and let you know what he says."

Wei Ying and I nodded and watched him leave. After he left Wei Ying put his hand on my face and turned me to look at him only to pull me in for a kiss.