Xiao Zhan's POV:

I can feel the cool breeze gently stroke my face and a faint familiar smell of sandalwood teases my senses. I urge my eyes to open and find myself sleeping on mat made of soft grass. I look around and I realise, I am inside a room or am I inside a cave?

A small lantern is placed just beside my mat which gives the surroundings a subtle glow and the cool air gives me the feeling that I am near a waterfall.

But where am I? More so, what happened? Ah, my head! I clutch my head as the nausea comes back with a full force.

Not wanting to delve on it more, I slowly will myself to get up and follow the faint light from the sky. The dusk has adorned the sky with hues of purple and a lone figure stands there with his one hand on his Bichen.

Lan Zhan?

Walking slowly, with each step taking a toll on my health, I am about to stumble when he's there beside me in a second. Making me lean on him, he helps me sit on a tree stump.

Trying to fuss over me and not meeting my eyes, Lan Zhan does not act this way, look at me Lan Zhan, when he doesn't, I hold his hand and cease his movements, just to pull him closer to me and that's when I notice.

His eyes are red.

My Lan Zhan has been crying.

Without any words, I pull him into my embrace and he shivers.

Lan Zhan, I am so sorry.

He slowly pulls apart and places his hand on my heart "You're weak" he says sadly.

It stings my heart. He for the very first time, spoke to me.

"You're getting weak, Wei Ying" he whispers.

"Ah, finally the great Hanguang Jun has spoken" I grin and he huffs.

Seem certain things don't change and that's when it occurs to me, I am in a very different set of clothes.

"Take me to the lake" I look at Lan Zhan. He looks perplexed but agrees. Slowly, leaning on him, he takes me to the nearby lake, and when I see my reflection, I am stumped.

Same long raven hair. Same red band. Black robes. Red eyes. I have been transformed into Wei Wuxian.

I look at Lan Zhan "What's the meaning of all this?"

He looks impassively at me but I know, I know his looks. He's as worried as I am. Or rather could be even more worried than I am.

"Are you real Lan Zhan? Am I real?"

Sitting next to me and watching the now darkening sky, he answers "I am a memory, Wei Ying. A memory of the Lan Zhan of the past and present" he sighs softly "I am a memory stuck in form of a soul connecting both of them" he pauses and then looks directly into my soul "to you" he gazes adoringly "Lan Zhan of the past lived his life in your memory, the Lan Zhan of present is fighting with his life, in your memory".

"And you?" I ask, hurting for my Lan Zhan.

"I am as alive as I can be" he smiles sadly.

"Is my Lan Zhan, really dea..." I choke, unable to finish my sentence.

"Sadly, he's within me. We're what you call stuck in a purgatory. A lifeless cycle"

"Yibo?"

"He carries us within him. He's the boon I received when I chose to search you for eternity" he smiles sadly "I am glad, I found you".

"What will happen to you?"

"That depends on you"

"Huh?"

He closes in and rests his cheeks against mine "You bind me to you. What happens to you, will decide my fate too" he caresses my face with love and devotion "and Wei Ying, whatever you decide, I'll follow you, my love".

Soon things start to haze out and I black out.

---

I wake up. Was it all a dream?

I look around and I see that I am in the same cave. Wasn't a dream after all.

Lan Zhan!

I bolt from the mat, only to groan in pain. Darn! Slowly I get up and go in search of the one who holds my heart.

Walking around I stumble across the most beautiful scene of my life!

(A/N: Am I drooling? No. You are!!!)

Lan Zhan, taking a dip in the lake. Have I ever seen Lan Zhan so vulnerable? Hearing me approach, he looks over and dips into the water to cover his modesty, but not before I could catch a glimpse of the scars on his skin.

I remember what brother Xi Chen told me 'he carries the scars of the last life even in this'

Lan Zhan.

Not caring for my health, I slither into the water and stand before him. He's as wet as sin.

Trailing my fingers slowly against his skin, up his shoulders to the nape of his neck, I bring him in for a kiss.

My other hand snakes across his back and slowly caresses his scars and he gasps.
I deepen the kiss and I realise Lan Zhan would never have kissed Wei before. This is his first kiss.

I pull him even closer and promise him a lifetime with that one kiss.

My cheeks feel wet and when I open my eyes, I find Lan Zhan in tears.

"Lan Zhan" I whisper.

"Wei" he leans down and kisses me once more.

That one moment was enough for us. Our hearts beat as one. Two souls had finally found eachother.

---
So I personally, loved the way Wei Ying's love for Lan Zhan is much more pronounced now.

I wanted to show more vulnerability of Lan Zhan. I see him beyond the cold and aloof portrayed personal. I want his true nature out there and that is just to love Wei Ying.

So what's gonna happen with these two?

Bonus Pic: