About a year before the famous classes were to be held in Gusu, more specifically, within Cloud Recesses, when all the major heirs and disciples of all the clans would get together and learn something...someone had the bright idea of all the students getting to know one another, anonymously.

Each clan had their own way of passing messages, and this was detrimental to the idea because then the recipient would easily be able to determine where and from whom their letters were coming from, so it was decided early on that no real names were to be used, and this was just a get-to-know-strangers type of thing. The writers were told not to give away anything personal, so no one, including elders or members of their family were to be named, and no kind of personal information was to be shared at all.

Everything was going to be random but once letters went back and forth, the recipients would remain the same.

A new and arbitrary postal system was created, and the workers sworn to secrecy, and of course, this added the mysterious romance element to the whole thing.

Wei WuXian, head disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang Clan, was not very happy about this enforced assignment, more homework, he had whined to his Shijie, who had told him that the faster he got on with it, the faster he could take a swim and cool off.

"Jiang Cheng..." Wei WuXian sidled up to his younger brother and practiced his charm. "What are you going to write about?" He slung his arm around the younger boy's shoulder in an overly friendly manner.

Jiang Cheng shrugged him off quickly.

"The usual, how-are-you and I-am-well small talk. What else are you supposed to talk about? And you better get started, A-Niang is going to check on us soon."

Just the threat of Madam Yu with her crackling Zidian was enough to have Wei WuXian scurrying away to his own corner.

He ground his ink carefully, thinking about what he was going to say. The problem was, he didn't want to write Jiang Cheng's boring letter, he didn't want it to be so...so tepid in nature. He wanted the person who was going to read this letter to be interested, to care about him. If Wei WuXian was going to take the time and the trouble to actually write something, he wanted the other person to notice.

So he picked out his writing brush, favouring the one with a slight indentation where its former owner had pressed a little bit too hard, and began.

Dear Friend,

My apologies for the informal address, but as we are not allowed to share anything personal, I thought it would do. Have you done anything interesting today? My sister told me I have to finish this assignment first before I can go swimming....

It feels like such a chore; I hope you're an interesting person...but knowing my luck, I bet you're the sort of person who likes dogs...ew.

My favourite colour is red. I love the vibrancy of it, how it stands out from the crowd, how my eyes are drawn to it immediately. I love how it's the colour of blood and blood is the life-force...the same within every one of us, and yet isn't it amazing that we're all so different?

What's your favourite food? How often do you get to eat it? Mine is my sister's lotus root and pork rib soup...it is amazing!

What do you like to do, when you're not you know, doing all of the boring stuff, like meditation and all the rest of it? I love sparring...have you gotten your spiritual weapon yet? If you can tell me what it is without actually telling me, I'd love to know...

I can't think of anything else...so...

Bye for now,

Suibian.

He went and handed it over to the person in charge of sending them out and thought nothing more about it.

However, he was surprised when he received a letter back three days later.

Dear Suibian,

I hope you and your family are well.

I like rabbits.

Favourite colour is white and then pale blue.

I like sparring too.

I have a sword. And a musical instrument.

Thank you for your letter.

Bichen.

Wei WuXian read it three times. And then once more, because he couldn't believe how bland it was.

How boring...he didn't think anyone could be this...this...this ...he didn't have words...

After the effort he had put into his letter, this just felt like an insult.

Wei WuXian read it one more time, and turned it over, just in case he had missed something. He even held it up to the light, just in case someone had decided to be clever and use lemon juice, which was a great substitute for invisible ink. But the back of it was also blank.

So now he was more than irritated. Alright, his effort might have been ten minutes in the making, but he wasn't going to see those ten minutes ever again, and this person had taken all of maybe one? One minute to answer his questions in the most boring and unimaginative way possible, and there was no way Wei WuXian was going to take this lying down...

He grabbed his lucky brush and a random piece of parchment and spilled his heart out.

Dear Bichen,

I don't know about you, I guess that's the point of this assignment, but I want you to know, my letter took a great deal of effort, definitely more than what your six lines seemed to take. I'll be kind and add the greetings, but still, only eight lines???

Aren't you curious about me at all? I know we're not supposed to share details of a personal nature, but I may as well be writing to a plank of wood, with your responses. And it's not like either of us can do anything about it anyway, I'm afraid we're going to be stuck with each other for the most part.

So, with that in mind, is there anything you wish to know about me? You can ask me anything, and I shall do my best to answer. Maybe you're a really talkative person in real life, maybe letters aren't your thing, and maybe we just have to find the right groove for us to fit. I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt here, and assume that you simply didn't have the time.

However, I am eagerly awaiting your next response and it better be good.

Sincerely,

Suibian.

***********

Lan WangJi was not happy.

He had entered the Jingshi with the hopes of leaving everything that did not belong in here, out there...but it was not to be.

All he wanted to do was sit by his guqin and play, just for a few hours until it was time for bed.

Was that too much to ask?

And now he was looking at the plain envelope on the desk as if it was a snake.

He didn't really mind snakes at all, and probably had nothing against them, it was just that snakes didn't really belong here in Gusu. It was too cold for the most part of the year, and snakes being cold-blooded creatures, far preferred the warmer climates of the city below.

In much the same way, that letter did not belong here.

He paced for a while, wondering how to deal with it.

If he left it there, and went past it to his instrument, well, that was unthinkable because it was still there, mocking him. His cultivation would definitely suffer because of his scattered thoughts, and therefore only one option remained.

He went to sit at his table, and arranged his robes just so, folding his legs beneath himself. His hands rested on WangJi, his guqin, a caress, a longing...for a few seconds more than wished, because there was something in the way of his peace, namely that letter.

He let out a final sigh, barely audible in that silent room, and gave in to the weight of resignation, picking up the offending letter.

Just the first line pissed him off.

Friend? Who's friend?

Certainly not his?!

Lan WangJi did not have any friends, and definitely not anyone who would approach him willingly.

He had known this letter would arrive sooner or later, the latter being his preference and he knew he would have to respond to it...but he really did not want to.

He read on.

At least whoever this was, knew they had stepped out of line, and duly apologised, which went some way of appeasing the beast of indignation rising by the second within Lan WangJi...but still, this whole concept was such an intrusion.

The letter itself felt like an invasion into his most private of places, requesting knowledge of his self, something Lan WangJi was not ready to share with anyone else...ever.

There were actual questions lost in the middle of all that rambling, and Lan WangJi did his best to decipher the atrocious handwriting, sure that he had made a mistake in reading whatever was really intended within those complex characters, but he dutifully took a clean piece of parchment and made a list of what they were.

By the time he finished, he felt exhausted.

As the Second Jade of Gusu, Lan WangJi had to complete a lot of paperwork for his brother all the time, and now XiChen let him answer letters if they were unimportant and required the most basic of answers, anything else which needed a more emotional response was dealt with by his brother, something that gave him a small measure of relief.

So daily, Lan WangJi was writing and sending off at least thirty to forty letters daily, yet none of these could compare to how tired he felt just by trying to answer this one. And he hadn't even made a start on how to answer it yet....

Maybe he shouldn't attempt it just yet, perhaps it was better left to the morning. So he stood up and got ready for bed.

Sleep was disturbed and Lan WangJi had trouble actually resting in the end. He woke up feeling even more tired than when he had first laid down to rest.

And the scowl on his face when he spotted the letter...it was real.

So before he sat down to meditate, he quickly wrote out his answers, as precisely and concisely as he could, and delivered the letter to his brother's office before he could change his mind.

But then...meditation, something he had done since he was so young, became the hardest thing to do. His mind kept drifting back to both sheets of parchment, and he pulled out the first letter again, wondering if he had been too harsh?

He had answered the questions methodically as they had appeared, and since he wasn't allowed to give away any personal information, he thought he had done a great job.

Until his brain started overthinking.

What if he hadn't done as good a job as he thought? XiChen often told him he had to try and empathise with people who tried to talk to him, but Lan Zhan had always thought of them as pesky irritating mosquitoes, complete with the whining.

Most of their problems could be easily solved with a tiny bit of thinking, and why they didn't do that was beyond Lan WangJi's capacity for understanding, and when he tried to explain what they needed to do, he was met with a wall of obstinate stupidity.

So far too often, Lan WangJi walked away from people while they were still talking..

He wondered how long he would have to wait until Suibian answered him back.

Not too long, it seemed, because Suibian must have a lot of time on their hands. The very next day, Lan WangJi was startled to see the familiar white envelope sitting next to his guqin. He paused at the door, still open and stared at it, in two minds.

On the one hand he felt strangely apprehensive about it, but there was a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach. Was that...excitement?

He felt jittery with nerves.

What did Suibian think of his letter?

There was only one way to find out...

Lan Zhan ripped open the letter, not even waiting to use the letter opener as usual.

Well!

Lan Zhan felt terribly affronted.

The cheek of this person! To suggest that he had spent no effort in writing his letter? Here he had people petitioning for his letters, and Suibian should be grateful that Lan WangJi had taken the time and the trouble to write to them in the first place.

And eight lines was not enough???

Lan WangJi had to put the letter down and take deep calming breaths. When that didn't work, he stood up and began pacing...eight lines wasn't enough, eight lines wasn't enough...the phrase was on repeat in his head...

And they were being kind by saying that??

If Suibian had been standing right in front of him, Lan WangJi was not above shoving them into the cold pond immediately...

Lan WangJi calmed himself as much as he was going to be and sat back down again, only to glare the piece of parchment with the hatred of a thousand suns...how dare Suibian compare him to a plank of wood??

A. Plank. Of. Wood.

Lan WangJi wanted to uproot a tree...or something...

He could feel his ears getting hot, and it was harder to breathe...

This Suibian was surely overstepping the line.

There was a knock on the door and when Lan WangJi called out, XiChen entered.

His smile disappeared upon first glance at his baby brother.

"WangJi, what is it?"

Lan WangJi thrust the letter in his face, letting it speak for itself.

He watched his brother's face intently, looking for any sign of what he might be thinking...but he wasn't at all prepared for the short, sharp burst of laughter.

Why was XiChen laughing?

It didn't make sense...

"I see you have made a new friend." The laughter had moved up to XiChen's eyes now, if not apparent on his mouth. "That's quite a colourful character there." He sobered, noting the expression on Lan WangJi's face. "Are you upset, Didi?" He finally asked.

Upset? Upset?

Of course he was upset!

Was this any way to conduct oneself? By leaping over social boundaries and saying whatever came into their mind? This letter served as a red flag, a definition of the very reason why Lan WangJi did not venture outside of Cloud Recesses for anything other than night hunts.

He glared at the letter in XiChen's hands once again, wishing he could burn it by his gaze alone.

"Well, it seems you have to answer...maybe put it aside for a few days?" XiChen suggested calmly, trying to douse the flames of rage burning in Lan WangJi's golden eyes.

Still he could not bring himself to answer, so consumed by waves of indignation and anger.

"What if you ignored their references to you and concentrated upon asking them questions instead?" XiChen continued, as if he wasn't sitting next to a meltdown.

"Questions?" Lan WangJi bit out.

XiChen stifled a laugh. His baby brother could be so cute!

"Yes, they're inviting you to ask questions about them...aren't you curious at all?" XiChen scratched his chin, thinking. "You have to be careful what you ask, but this could be a valuable lesson in diplomacy...as long as you keep it lighthearted."

Lan WangJi did not do lighthearted.

"Anyway, I just came to inform you that Uncle wants to see you after breakfast. See you later, Didi."

XiChen got up and left, and Lan WangJi was left watching the place he had vacated, deep in thought.

When it was time to leave the Jingshi, Lan WangJi carefully folded the letter and put it away within the pages of a new notebook with the first one.

He would think on what to write as his answer, later.

**********

Wei WuXian was bored. It was summertime in Yunmeng, too hot to train, too hot to sit, too hot for anything...and his mind kept thinking back to his letter.

It had been over a week, and...nothing...

His feet were pruning under the cooler waters of river as he waited on the pier...waiting...it was all he seemed to be doing these days. The training grounds were dangerous these days, as Madam Yu's temperament was on a par with the rising temperatures and anything could make her lash out...but she seemed to have a special kind of aversion to Wei WuXian and him just breathing wrong could set her off.

All around him were the beautiful lotus flowers, the namesake and clan flower of the Jiangs, yet these delicate blooms were far more resilient than they looked. He briefly wondered if his new pen pal had lotus flowers growing anywhere near them...or even if there were flowers. If so...what kind would they be?

The brilliant blue skies changed hues into a painter's dream, a vivid rendition of purples, oranges and fiery reds as the sun laid down to rest. One by one, a carpet of silver diamonds shone in the night sky, cheering his anxious mood. When it was cool enough that he might be able to actually sleep tonight, Wei WuXian stood up, splashed water all over his robes and his face and neck, and wet his sash to plaster upon his face to help him sleep later, and returned to his rooms.

It was late and no doubt, if he was caught at this sort of time, it would lead to inevitable punishment of kneeling in the ancestral Hall...and Wei WuXian had no desire to visit that even stuffier place tonight.

Light as a fox, just as secretly, he ran across the rooftops to his quarters, out of breath and panting, closing the doors behind his back.

And right there on the table with his talisman experiments, was the letter he had been waiting to receive.

Without hesitation, Wei WuXian ran forward and ripped it apart, having no patience with the outer cover, and began eagerly reading.

Dear Suibian,

I would like to imagine what you look like, but perhaps that is against the rules. However, if you do not mind and because you said I could ask you anything, I wish to know if you are a boy or a girl.

It does not matter to me, for I shall harbour the same feelings and countenance towards you.

In your last letter, you accused me of not making an effort; so then I have to ask: does thinking about what to write count in the time spent?

You should know, I do not do anything by half measures, but as I live by that rule, I should and do expect the same respect from you. I value honesty, and trust that you will not lie to me within these pages, as I will also speak my truth.

If you are in agreement, only then shall we continue.

Sincerely,

Bichen.

Wei WuXian sat down heavily.

He couldn't help feeling that somewhere along these words and in between the lines of characters...he had inadvertently hurt the recipient by his casual accusation...even if it could be called that. And he wouldn't say accusations, suggestion would have been a far more accurate word.

Unconsciously, he rubbed the heel of his palm on his chest, sighing at the twinge of pain.

Now he felt bad for his hasty reply.

Well, there was only one way to rectify this problem, because if he was sure of anything, and judging by the way this week had passed ever so slowly, he definitely wanted to continue this friendship.

It was the one thing he had been looking forward to, and the one thing that made each passing day bearable, in this unbearable heat. So in spite of the late hour, Wei WuXian grabbed a fresh piece of parchment and began grounding the charcoal for the ink, thinking about what he wanted to say.

This time, he wanted to get it right.

When he was sure, he began writing.

**********

Lan WangJi had not lied when he had written that he wanted to know what Suibian looked like...though he had not stated the reason why. Mostly it was because if Suibian was a girl, he would have felt guilty about thinking of choking her, and most  certainly not, if she was a he.

Regardless, he stood by his words and anxiously awaited Suibian's reply. In his last letter, he had merely defended himself from what he saw as a clear accusation of lack of effort, but in regards to honesty, he was very much invested. Any relationship, be it friend or otherwise could only be built on a foundation of trust, and Lan WangJi felt partially responsible for being a good example in this experience of being the ideal pen pal, mostly because it was Cloud Recesses who was going to host the formal lectures next year. Therefore, he had to lead by example. Uncle would expect nothing less.

He was meditating the next day, and it was early morning. The peaceful quiet of the day was interrupted by the sliding of a parchment across his pristine floor.

Lan WangJi's eyes snapped open, casting his golden gaze upon the thing that dared disturb him.

It was another letter.

So fast? What could be the reason?

Lan WangJi did not let himself dwell on the cause; he snatched up the letter and calmly, efficiently sliced it open. Only the tremble in his fingers gave away how much he affected by this item.

He flung his robes back and sat down, eager to read.

Dear Bichen,

I can't help feeling that we have gotten off on the wrong foot, as it were, and firstly, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies. I think my previous words may have come across as harsh and unwarranted, and I hope we can make a fresh start.

Lan WangJi felt better immediately. He let himself bask in that righteous glow of having his feathers stroked instead of ruffled.

Suibian might not be as bad as he had first thought.

Apology accepted, Lan WangJi thought to himself and took out everything he would need to reply back. He started off his letter, addressing that first concern, and then began to read further.

As a gesture of good faith, I think it's okay to tell you that I'm a boy. Female cultivators make up a quarter of the students attending the lectures at Cloud Recesses next year, and so I believe we will have maintained the anonymity so valued by the organisers of this assignment. I will be eighteen during the lectures held in Cloud Recesses - I am divulging this fact because it's both a measure of trust and I'd rather know now if I'm talking to a pre-pubescent child still wet behind the ears, or not.

For my part, it does not change how I feel about you, rather, how I will feel about you, as I have not yet made up my mind. However, as you must know, it does affect our topics suitable for discussion. Above everything, I would value your safety and would want an assurance that you're not going to try any of my suggestions in cultivation unless properly supervised.

I am assuming that's the end goal in this exercise, to share knowledge and improve individual cultivation too.

But I think some background information is imperative to form a rough idea of the kind of people we are. You said you wanted us to be honest with each other, well I'm going to take that a step further and suggest that these letters become our safe haven.

Wouldn't it be great if we could be totally honest with each other here, and not have to worry about personal gain? Just live in the moment? I hope you agree.

Lan WangJi paused and began writing in his elegant calligraphy, the replies that he had already formed in his mind. Then he returned to the letter.

And one last thing, you can answer with a simple yes or a no, but do you have any flowers growing nearby? Or a garden? It would be so amazing if you did, because I have something I wish to share with you about that, maybe later... we'll see.

I like writing to you like this...and it's strange because I never thought I would. This assignment felt like extra homework, and who needs that? But instead, I have come to look forward to your letters every day, and I hope the same is true for you.

If this letter finds your eyes in the early morning, then I hope you have a great day. If it reaches you when your eyes are about to close for the night, then I wish for you to dream of rabbits. (Check out the bottom right hand corner.)

Sincerely,

Suibian.

Lan WangJi finished off his letter, realising that he had just discovered the best and most efficient way to handle Suibian.

If he wrote down his answers as soon as the questions were understood, it made everything so much easier, and consequently, he wasn't feeling stressed about what he had written either.

And then, he decided to add something extra too, in exchange for the gift that Suibian had given him. In the bottom right hand corner, Suibian had drawn two rabbits nuzzling their noses together, and it was the sweetest thing Lan WangJi had ever seen. They were so cute, they even had two fluffy tails, and Lan WangJi appreciated the attention to details.

Finally, he sealed his letter and decided to post it when he went to eat breakfast, a little while from now.

*********

Wei WuXian was surprised at how quickly the next letter came.

He was not a morning person by any means, and the other disciples were lucky if they saw him earlier than midday; this coupled with the fact that he had stayed up to write his letter to Bichen last night, meant he was bleary eyed and still half asleep by the time lunchtime rolled around.

But the moment his silver eyes landed upon the white envelope lying near his closed door, he was up and falling out of bed in his hurry to see what Bichen had said back to him.

The envelope did not survive his eagerness.

Dear Suibian,

I am in agreement with you. A fresh start sounds ideal. I accept your apology. Yes, it will be good if we can be honest here, without fear of judgement.

I will be nineteen when the lectures take place in Cloud Recesses. I too, am a boy. I am happy that you too, are male.

Yes, I have a front garden to look upon and a back garden too. Others tend to the flowers.

I am eagerly waiting for what you wish to tell me about flowers.

My mother used to love gentian flowers. They are a vivid blue and have delicate petals. When I was little, my mother told me that fairies come out at night, and fill these flowers with their drink, and sing and dance the night away, because the flowers themselves are tubular in shape.

She had wild gentian growing outside her house.

Thank you for your gift. Rabbits make me happy. And yours were cute.

I too, look forward to your letters. You are an interesting person.

Sincerely,

Bichen.

Wei WuXian forgot about lunch and swept away the things on his small table, and started to write his next letter immediately.

That day, nothing could dampen Wei Wuxian’s spirits, not even a Madam Yu on a rampage.

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

Dear Bichen,

Thank you so much for accepting my apology and my friendship. I knew afterwards that I must have upset you, and please know that nothing was further from my intentions.

Today I managed to upset someone really important in our clan. I did not mean to, but then as she's so quick to remind me, I always say that. At least my punishment wasn't so bad this time, only two strikes...but I suspect it was because my Shidi interrupted her.

They're a mischievous bunch, will do anything for each other, and so much fun! I wish one day you could meet them...I mean for real, not while none of us know each other when we're going to be studying together a year from now.

I'm also wondering if the organisers of this pen pal thing will ever let us find out who we are to each other...I mean, wouldn't it be funny if we're really something important like Sect heirs? Or something equally unimportant? I'm not fishing for details here, so please don't answer!

Have you ever eaten lotus pods? They taste the best when still attached to the stalks. What about fried, seasoned watermelon rind? If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend them.

As for the thing about flowers...Well I'm going to just say it, even if it sounds lame or mushy...you can just add it to the list of things you'll be forgiving me for in the future.

There was an old Gardner who looked after the roses in...in...this place, and he told me this: true friends are the ones who overlook the broken fence in favour of admiring the flowers in your garden.

I just thought that was so sweet. I had to ask him who his friend was, and he cried, saying it was his wife. She's passed away now, and it felt like he was just waiting to join her, you know what I mean?

Anyway, I don't mean to end this on a sad note, in fact, I want to promise you something.

I want to be that friend to you, the one that sits on the metaphorical broken fence and admires your pretty flowers.

I want you to know, you can tell me anything you want, and I'll be your confidante.

Always and forever,

Suibian.

*********

Dear Suibian,

I too, want to be sitting on that fence with you. We can admire the flowers together.

Thank you for the picture of the rabbits again...it is a high point of my day. Also your letter is too...no less important to me.

I don't have much time to play my instrument these days. My time is taken away by monsters of the night hunt, and then clan duties.

I must eek out the time to actually be able to write to you...time seems to be so short these days. But for once, I do not feel so...alone.

I hope too that one day, we will know each other as we are. I am not sure why but I feel increasingly close to you.

May I also offer you myself as your shelter? I hope you also can tell me anything you wish to, and it shall remain close to my heart. 

I like to spend my time in the library. It is peaceful there...and I am not disturbed too much. People seem to be afraid of me...and I am not sure of the reason. But I do not feel lonely...anymore.

Thank you once again,

Bichen.

*******

So it went on. Soon, Suibian and Bichen were sending and receiving three or four letters a week.

Wei WuXian was telling Bichen all about his life with important deletions. Sometimes it was just boring stuff, although Bichen assured him nothing he wrote was boring, could ever be boring, and it was the same for Lan WangJi.

Lan WangJi was excited, though nothing showed upon his face, every time he saw one of those white envelopes. He was used to deciphering code, more specifically, Suibian's code easily now and looked forward to each one. Suibian was a lively person, prone to getting himself into all sorts of trouble and was not in the least bit embarrassed to tell Bichen about it.

There was the time he and his Shidis and Shimeis stole lotus pod seeds from an irate farmer and had to swim away before they were caught, only to find the man reporting them to an elder. Suibian had sounded a little bit upset that day, though unrepentant and while Lan WangJi disapproved of the actual act, he thought that Suibian wasn't telling him everything, or at least keeping something back, especially with the tone and the words which were not used.

So to cheer him up, he told Suibian that he was writing a song for when they would meet, even if they did not know each other, the song could be like a bridge between them.

Suibian had asked for few details regarding Bichen's true identity and Lan WangJi did the same. He wasn't sure if Suibian felt the same way, but for his part he found the mystery of not knowing, added to the excitement of their friendship, plus the rules had specifically forbidden this.

There was something comforting about staying hidden, about not exposing yourself to a complete stranger that made Lan WangJi feel safe.

Their letters had lost the awkwardness of first acquaintances now and had taken the tone of a much more casual dependency. Lan WangJi found that he really could tell Suibian anything and Suibian was encouraging when he thought that's what Bichen needed, and offered his advice if Bichen requested an opinion.

All in all, both were happy in each other's pen pal.

Wei WuXian had saved all his letters and then, because they wouldn't fit inside the wallet that his Shijie had given him, he made a folder and found a way to secure each one. It was a useful gift to himself because even when he was waiting for Bichen's next letter, he liked to go back and previous ones, just in case he had missed any questions that Bichen had asked. This back and forth thing resulted in nearly three hundred letters, a feat that Wei WuXian was quite proud of, especially when he'd seen what his siblings had saved.

Jiang Cheng had stuffed his ones into an identical wallet that Jiang YanLi had given him too, but he still had plenty of room in his, as did Jiang YanLi in hers.

Wei WuXian had decided against showing them his collection, just in case it got back to Madam Yu, and this became yet another thing he had surpassed Jiang Cheng in.

And then, before they knew it, it was time to leave.

Dear Bichen,

It's actually happening!!! I'm so excited, but terribly nervous too! I want to jump up and down with how I'm feeling.

WE'RE COMING TO CLOUD RECESSES!!!!!!

Our Elders said that this pen pal assignment has been so popular and the participants have expressed their desires for it to continue, even while we're there!!!! I'm screaming....internally, of course...but oh, my gosh! Bichen, isn't it really cool of the Lans to make an array all over Cloud Recesses so letters can STILL reach the intended ones?? How are we so lucky??

I must tell you, I was deathly afraid that once we reached Cloud Recesses, they were gonna stop the whole thing. It's been a worry in my head since I started getting to know you better. I don't know what I'd do, if they took this away from me, if I sent you a letter and it was the last one ever...and neither of us knew? I can't think of a worse thing to happen.

I'd rather be whipped a thousand times over if they were going to let us keep chatting like this.

Also, I must let you know, the delay in my letter yesterday was entirely my fault. Did you know they have put detection talismans somewhere, that tell them if an envelope contains more than just a letter? I found out because I tried to send you a feather.

For two reasons, one, because it's incredibly beautiful and I don't know why I immediately thought of you, and two, I confess, it was an experiment to see if I could send you something else, like a proper gift. Maybe we could organise a specific drop off point in Cloud Recesses where I can leave something for you?

I have a whole collection of stuff, which I AM bringing, and don’t say no, I've saved them up for you. They already have YOUR name on them...kind of. I'm guessing that Bichen is somehow connected to you, even though it might not be your actual name...but even if it is related to you in a more personal way, that's fine.

And to get back to my original excitement, did you also know, that specific drop off points have been organised in each of the major towns we pass through on our way to Cloud Recesses?? Isn't that just the best news??

It means that I can send you even MORE letters, and even better, you'll actually still get them!!!

I cannot contain how I'm feeling right now!!

I've run out of space, so the rest is in the next part,

Sincerely,

Suibian.

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

Dear Bichen,

I almost forgot to tell you, we're leaving tomorrow morning. I think it's okay to tell you that it's going to take us two weeks to get to Cloud Recesses, and that could be from anywhere, so don't worry, I haven't given anything away.

I'm coming with my siblings and some of my Shidis and Shimeis.

That part is the same as countless others, so yay! Still haven't given anything away.

I think, apart from the mystery of who you might be, I'm more excited about the fact that we're going to be in the SAME PLACE TOGETHER!!!!

How wonderful is that??

Though, I must tell you, I'm on my best behaviour, at least until we actually leave.

I managed to piss off someone quite important and my back is still sore from the last time...haha...Don't worry though, even though she threatened to not let me go, I think she's secretly happy that she's not going to see me for a whole year, or there abouts.

I for one am NOT going to miss the punishments...

The next letter will be from the first town we hit...

Sincerely,

Suibian.

***********

Dear Bichen,

I'm packing clothes and I wonder if this will reach you in time, how cold do you think it is in Cloud Recesses? Is it as beautiful as people say? Do you even know, or is it like me, going to be your first time?

Whoever I ask has told me one thing: beware of the Twin Jades of Gusu...

And they won't even tell me why?? Seriously, it's like reading a really good book and getting to the long anticipated ending, only to find out that some vindictive twerp has ripped out the last few pages.

(That's actually happened to me...)

So anyway, you can probably tell, I'm waaay too excited...I don't think I'll even be able to sleep...

Sincerely

Suibian.

**********

Dear Suibian,

I received all three letters within one incense stick burning. I know you're busy so I appreciate your efforts in continuing to write, thank you.

I too am excited by the thought of knowing that you will also be in Cloud Recesses at the same time as I. As for your clothes, please pack for cold weather. It will be cold for nine months out of the twelve, and even then, it will still be cool towards the morning and evening in summertime.

Cloud Recesses is beautiful.

I will still look forward to your letters, on your way to Cloud Recesses and during your stay, if you are able to find the time in between lectures and studying.

I heard there are spells and incantations that can be performed on the written word, more specifically, on books, which then show who the culprits of vandalising them are and so they can be caught.

Any damage to books is abhorrent.

I hope this letter finds you in time, especially before you finish packing.

I hope you are not too hurt. I hate the idea of you and punishments.

Sincerely,

Bichen.

**********

Dear Bichen,

Thank you sooo much! As you can see, I got your letter literally on the pier - seriously,  how cool is that?? It makes me think they have somehow rigged the system so that our letters will only reach each other, kind of like homing pigeons...

So no time to change what I've packed, but I have some money, and I'll probably be able to buy whatever I need.

Have you ever drank Emperor's Smile? It's apparently the best, I mean, THE BEST wine out there, and guess what??? It's right there!! In GUSU!!!

There's a town, Caiyi Town, to be specific, and you can buy it there!!! I am going to try some the moment I set foot in Gusu! I mean, how can I not, right??

Wouldn't it be super cool if we became drinking buddies? How's your alcohol tolerance? I suppose I've never asked because it was a moot point until now..

Oops, gotta go, I'm getting daggers from my brother...

See ya later!

Suibian

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

Dear Suibian,

Alcohol is prohibited in Cloud Recesses.

Yes you can buy whatever you need in Caiyi Town, it's quite big and they have an extensive range of shops and market stalls.

Sincerely,

Bichen

********

Lan WangJi was nervous.

He hadn't felt like this in such a long time, that he had forgotten what it felt like.

Cloud Recesses was going to be busy for a whole year, with students coming to stay from all over the cultivation world, and for someone who did not like talking to strangers, this was a stressful time, something he could definitely do without.

In the two weeks while Suibian was leaving his home town to travel to Gusu, Lan WangJi was busier than ever, and thus it became the reason for his shorter and shorter responses to Suibian's letters. Also, he didn't want to give too much away, since Suibian seemed to still like the mystery surrounding their real identities.

However, Lan WangJi had been entertaining a dangerous thought for the past few months.

He wanted to see Suibian.

In real life.

He wanted to meet this boy, who had captured his imagination with his wild tales of exciting adventures, of all the things he did with his Shimeis and his Shidis.

Lan WangJi wondered what it would be like to actually talk to him in person, to be able to see what he looked like, the expressions on his face as he spoke.

He imagined Suibian to be, while not a model of perfection, judging by his stories, but at least a renowned cultivator. He seemed to be quite accomplished in whatever he did, from the few hints he dropped now and then.

Perhaps he was from the Nie Clan, and that was not an undesirable thought. The Nies had arrived earlier, because Nie MingJue had come to escort his younger brother, with explicit instructions to XiChen about not holding back, and giving no special treatment - Nie Huaisang was to be treated the same as everyone else coming to study.

But then, Lan WangJi reminded himself, Suibian would already be here.

He was coming from a warm place, and Lan WangJi knew that much from the constant references to swimming and so there must be a body of water near wherever Suibian lived.

He shuddered at the thought of Suibian belonging to the Jin Clan. Jin GuanShan visited now and then, and Lan WangJi always felt an inexplicable need to bathe afterwards...

Worse was the arrogant Wens...Lan WangJi made sure to make himself scarce whenever Wen Rouhan came to visit XiChen, although part of him wanted to stay to protect his brother. There was something calculating in the way the Wen Sect Leader gazed around Cloud Recesses, as if searching for something...or checking them out.

Last but not least, was the Jiang Clan from Yunmeng.

Lan WangJi wasn't sure what to make of them, yet.

He preferred to wait to decide, wanting to form his own opinion above all others, but there was and had been talk over the years about the formidable Purple Spider, Madam Yu. The word was that she was unnecessarily harsh, both with her clan and with her children. In particular, she was unwilling to let even the mildest of faults go unpunished, especially regarding the Head disciple, Wei WuXian.

Despite gossip being prohibited in Cloud Recesses, this kind of news had reached them multiple times, but rather than reflect poorly on the Head disciple, the tone of common opinion was that Madam Yu was intolerant of him, and therefore it cast her in a bad light.

And it seemed her temper had passed onto the Jiang heir, though not much else was known about him.

Lan WangJi wanted to stay away from all of them.

The single most important factor in all of this was, that his own friend and pen pal, confidante and fellow gazer of flowers was going to be here, in Cloud Recesses.

And Lan WangJi had one whole year to meet him.

*******

A/N

Happy April and what a good morning it is!

The sun is shining outside and I just discovered a special type of chocolate I can have, that ticks all the boxes in being allowed even while I'm fasting, so win-win!!!

What do you guys think? 7670 word count, though I think I stopped caring. I would have written more but it's time for work, so I have to love you and leave you, as it were.

I've been listening to Day6 constantly, so it's bound to have an affect, scattered with lots of Untamed OST and Xiao Zhan + Wang Yibo...

Will our boys meet? Or won't they? Let's see...

Charlie.