Ouyang Zizhen, Jin Chan, Lan Jingyi, Lan Hao, Nie Xiyuan and the cheeky boy in purple, Jiang Liwei, all gathered together at a large table with empty cups by their fingertips. Their pals sat elsewhere, dispersed all over the inn, but this gang of six decided to sit together. 

Tonight's boasting will be long, Jin Xiyi sighed and shook her head.

Wei Wuxian was at the reception bar, leaning on the high wooden table, chatting with the innkeeper. Because his husband was NOT in a good mood. Wei Wuxian leant in and whispered something to the innkeeper, while the grip on Bichen hardened elsewhere. The innkeeper listened close, with a smile on his face, occasionally glancing at the furious man in white sitting near the door of the inn. 

"Master Wei, your husband looks like he's been tricked into a cup of sour wine," the innkeeper chuckled as he stepped back once the whispering was over. 

"Never mind him. He's always like that, grumpy Lan. Could you do what I said?" Wei Wuxian pursed his lips and made a baby face. 

The innkeeper lady chuckled. "Master Wei need not plead so much, it's for Yingxiong Laozu and Hanguang-Jun, of course I'll do it!"

"Thank you, Mother!" Wei Wuxian beamed. 

"You should never thank me for little things like this. I owe it all to Master Wei for saving my daughter from that Mo Long Hu the other day," the innkeeper bowed to him.

Master Wei laughed. "Mother, that was nothing! Plus, I know I struck it that day, but do you know who killed it?"

"Of course it's that young Jin Sect Leader!" A bright, cheery girl chimed in from the boys' table. 

"How do you know?" Wei Wuxian turned to her. 

"This one told us all that night," the girl giggled, pointing to Zizhen.

"Why of course, I forgot," Wei Wuxian sniggered back. Zizhen was clearly enjoying the attention from the girl a lot, and Wei Wuxian was happy for him. The two had been chatting together since they stepped into the inn, that Wei Wuxian had begun to wonder if their friendship had any final boundary at all between them. 

"Waiter! Bring more wine," a female voice shouted. 

Wei Wuxian turned around and told the waiter, "Goodness, Xiyi, done so soon? Waiter! Not that, something milder. This is the first time these guys are drinking, Emperor's Smile might cause chaos at home. Get them your Lavender Lust. Soft, mellow, fragrant, light. Should do good for a first-time." The waiter nodded, amazed at his wonderful knowledge of Gusu wines and sprinted back to the cellar. 

The girl who shouted smiled at her idol, nodding gratefully. Just then a loud shout of laughter sounded from the roud table. "Senior Wei, can't you tell these idiots to stop bragging so loudly!" Jin Xiyi frowned from another table. 

"And you think they'd listen? Not even your Goatee Shifu can stop them from doing that!" Wei Wuxian laughed. Jin Xiyi chuckled along. 

Lan Wangji had had enough. First it had been some Jiang Baozhai, then some innkeeper woman, then this little Jin Xiyi. Three women in one night. Just how much longer was Wei Ying going to torture him? Gripping Bichen tighter, Lan Zhan downed his cup of wine and stood up. Before the juniors could stand up in respect, Lan Wangji was out of the door. 

"Senior Wei..." the children turned to their senior. 

Wei Wuxian waved. "Nah, he's not mad at you all, you keep talking. I'll be right back. Tch, damn this grumpy Lan," Wei Wuxian grabbed a jar of Emperor's Smile from the counter. 

"Master Wei, it's ready!" Wei Wuxian left with a nod to the innkeeper lady who had just returned from the rooms above. 

On the way out, Wei Wuxian waved to the children. "Guys, once your cups are done, leave. Go home. All together, no wandering. The snowing stopped so get home quick. You better be back at Cloud Recesses and your homes by midnight, hear me?" 

"Yes, Senior!" 

"Mn." He nodded, winked to the kids and ran out. 

**********

"A-Zhan! A-Zhan!" Wei Wuxian ran around Caiyi Town looking for his husband. Goodness, where did he run off to? Can't have gone home so quick... Wei Wuxian searched and searched. There was no way he was going to believe Lan Zhan actually just left him like that. He'd prepared so much and this idiot left just like that? No way. No damned way. Wei Wuxian would roam around Caiyi until Lan Zhan popped up.

Because Wei Wuxian knew he will.

He strolled through the streets, waving at passers-by, as he approached his favourite spot at Caiyi: the night market. 

Light glistened all around, lanterns of multiple colours lit up with flaming candles illuminating the entire town that was covered in snow from the morning's snowfall. Wei Wuxian sauntered amid the fluorescent spectacle of red, gold, white and blue, gasping softly at the wonderful carvings on some wooden ornament, or shouting out a compliment praising the decorations on another lantern.

The townspeople loved this merry soul, and so made way as he walked along, smiling and waving to him. But something seemed off today: their Yingxiong Laozu wasn't in much of a good mood. He was smiling, as always, but everyone knew Wei Wuxian would smile his way to his death. Smiles meant nothing when it came from Wei Wuxian. There was something else wrong...

"Master Wei!" 

A young lady ran to him, holding the hand of a much older man. "Madam Shen?"

"Master Wei! Hello!" The gorgeous village girl beamed at him. "This is my husband, Shen Tang. Tangtang, this is–"

"Of course it's Master Wei Wuxian, hello, Master Wei!" Shen Tang bowed to him.

"Mister Shen, why isn't it great to see you again! Oh, Mister Shen, allow me to apologise for my idiotic junior's behaviour the other day."

"What behaviour?"

"Well, I'm glad you've forgotten, but it's Zizhen. Lan Jingyi told me Ouyang Zizhen might have... kissed your wife's hand, unaware that she was married. Not that I can blame him, Madam Shen really does look good!" Wei Wuxian nodded to the lady, and she blushed. "Still, Mister Shen, I apologise–"

"Master Wei! That's fine! They apologised the next day, the two boys came with a young Lan boy who was all smiles, so I forgave them. It was just a misunderstanding, it's fine, Master Wei." 

"Thank you, Mister Shen," Wei Wuxian smiled at the thought of his sweet son, Sizhui. 

But both Shen Tang and his wife noticed that his voice hardly had the lightness the smile feigned. "Tangtang..."

"Mn." Mister Shen squeezed his wife's hand and turned to Wei Wuxian. "Master Wei, is everything alright?"

Wei Wuxian sighed. "No, no. Nothing's right. I was an idiot again..." Wei Wuxian absentmindedly looked around. 

"Master Wei is looking for someone?"

"Ah, yes. My husband vanished all of a sudden..." he mumbled sadly. 

Shen Tang smiled knowingly. "I see." Wei Wuxian had gone from jolly-hero to lost-child mode. "I haven't seen Hanguang-Jun anywhere nearby... But I have a suggestion." Madam Shen grinned knowing what was to ensue. 

"What?" Wei Wuxian spun back to Shen Tang, eyes wide with childish keenness. 

"See that store there?" Shen Tang pointed. Wei Ying looked along his hand to see a lantern stall. "Go there. Get a lantern of your liking. They've got blessed lanterns, both beautiful and effective. Very fruitful, I promise. Then go over to the river and let it off to the sky."

"They say your wish reaches the Heavens with a lantern such as that. You'll find your sweetheart in no time!" Madam Shen beamed.

Wei Wuxian listened in wonder and then beamed back. He nodded eagerly, thanked them with his glistening eyes because he was too excited to talk, and sprinted towards the lantern stall. 

"Tangtang."

"Darling?"

"Didn't you say you saw Hanguang-Jun lingering near that stall?" 

"Why that's why I said Master Wei to go there! Hanguang-Jun will see him there. Master Wei's wish will be fulfilled wonderfully well!" Shen Tang grinned. 

"Why you cunning man!" 

"I thought my name was Tangtang," Mister Shen pinched her cheek and walked away, chortling. 

**********

Wei Wuxian reached the stall and looked around, looking for a lantern. One shimmering white lantern caught his eye and he smiled softly as memories crashed in.

"Master Wei?"

"Give me this. How much?"

"Master Wei can have it free–"

"Oh no, please, this is too beautiful. I'll give this then," Wei Ying placed a small block of silver, grabbed the lantern, nodded and sprinted away. The stallkeeper stared shocked. Silver? Did he just pay in SILVER for a lantern? Hanguang-Jun must be as rich as the Jade Emperor!

Wei Wuxian ran to the river's docks and stood at the edge of the pier, eyes gleaming with expectation. He looked down at the lantern. 

White background, white as snow. And in the centre, a round, chubby and fluffy rabbit. White rabbit, its eyes painted a sparkling gold, one paw raised cutely to show a soft, pink foot. Wei Ying smiled silently and shut his eyes. He couldn't believe he was doing this, but it was more for the sake of old times than to find Lan Zhan. It wasn't like Lan Wangji would disappear! Wei Ying did this to reminisce. 

Once the wish was made, he held the lantern over the water and let go. The lantern floated upwards. Wei Wuxian sighed and knelt on the pier, gazing down at the gleaming waters. Magically enough, the river hadn't turned ice, albeit being frosty to the touch. He watched the reflection of the bunny lantern fly further and further away. Wei Wuxian's heart was melancholy as he observed its flight path, wondering why Lan Zhan was like this. 

Why has he got to be so grumpy all the time? And all that jealousy. For what? He knows I'm only kidding. He knows I love him.

Does he? 

He does. 

Right? Wei Wuxian's mind was a mess as he stared at his reflection in the water. Had I never made things that clear? But 'I love you' is the one thing I always say... Every morning... Every night... Every day...

Everyday means everyday, a cold voice echoed in his head, making him chuckle softly. Yes, yes he knows. But then why is he so easily angered? If he knows I love him, then why be so ill-tempered? 

"A-Zhan..." he whispered to his reflection. For somehow, in the reflection of his silver eyes, he saw a glint of Lan Zhan's gold. It made him smile to think Lan Zhan lived in him. "A-Zhan, for God's sake, when will it go into your head that you're the only one I love?" Wei Ying smiled and shook his head. "Fuddy-duddy." 

"Bunny." 

Wei Ying jumped at the sudden whisper near his neck. Tripping over the edge, he almost fell into the water before a strong arm gripped his and pulled him right back onto the jetty, his head crashed into a hard chest. Wei Ying smiled. He snuggled up to the familiar warmth, letting the aroma of sandalwood envelop him. "A-Zhan."

"A-Ying let off a lantern?" 

"How do you know?"

"I was near the shop."

"WHAT?" Wei Ying stepped back. Seeing Wei Ying seemed fated to fall into the river tonight, Lan Zhan pulled him away from the pier and began walking with him towards the inn. Wei Ying chattered on. "But how could I not see you?"

"A-Ying was excited."

"Oh. Right." 

Wait a minute, Lan Zhan must have seen him talking to the couple too. Damn it. "A-Zhan? A-Zhan, that lady, that was Madam Shen. She's the wife of another innkeeper here, Shen Tang. I... I complimented her only because I had to, I... I felt obliged to! Zizhen. Zizhen made a mistake. I was trying to make amends. Please don't be mad, A-Zhan, don't take it to heart, I–"

"I know."

"Ah?" Wei Ying stopped walking. Lan Zhan halted and turned around. 

"What is it, A-Ying?"

"I... I thought you'd... you'd be mad at me... again..."

"Never angry with A-Ying."

Wei Ying blinked, then hit the white-robed chest hard. "Then what was all that grumpy face about?"

"I..." Lan Zhan crimsoned. He gulped and answered, "A-Ying was having fun. I thought I was a hindrance. It was past nine, too..."

"Oh, so you call that sleepiness? NOT jealousy?" Wei Ying crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. 

Lan Zhan opened his mouth to protest, but couldn't bring himself to lie. So he decided to go with the truth. He shook his head. 

"Ha! See? Knew it. A-Zhan, just how many times should I drill it into this brain of yours," he bonked the side of his husband's head, "that you're the only person I love? Only! You hear me? ONLY!" Wei Wuxian cupped his mouth and raised his head to the sky. To Lan Wangji's horror, he shouted out loud at the top of his lungs. "SECOND YOUNG MASTER LAN, YOUNGER JADE OF GUSU, BROTHER OF THE CHIEF CULTIVATOR, HANGUANG-JUN, LAN WANGJI IS THE ONLY PERSON I, THE YINGXIONG LAOZU, WEI WUXIAN, LOVE IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!" 

"WOOHOO!" Hundreds of Caiyi townspeople clapped and cheered and whistled to his daring adoration. Lan Zhan looked around to see every last person staring at them, rooting for their pure bond, shouting out blessings for their immortal lives together. 

"Wei Ying!"

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying shouted above the ruckus. "You listen to me. I'm guessing the reason you stomped out of the inn was because I talked too long and too intimately with that lady? Well guess what I talked about."

Lan Zhan saw the mischievous grin and twinkle in his husband's eyes. Without a word, Wei Ying pulled off his headband, tied their wrists together and dragged him back to the inn amidst rising hurrahs. 

The children at the inn were clearing up to leave when their seniors walked in. Seeing the headband tied like that, the Lans reddened. So much for the sacred Lan headband. The juniors sniggered and winked to Senior Wei before walking out in single file. 

Lan Zhan silently let Wei Ying drag him up to the first floor, all the way to a room at the end. He kicked open the door, tossed Lan Zhan inside and locked the door shut. 

Lan Zhan looked around and gasped.

White four-poster bed strewn with rose petals. Candles all along the floor close to the walls were the only light. Circular window opened wide to let in the gentle moonlight and cool autumn breeze. And even a smaller attached room was glowing from within. Seeing Lan Zhan staring at the door, Wei Ying walked him to it and opened the smaller door. An en-suite bathroom with a beautiful, polished wooden tub. Its water was full of bubbles and pink petals. With a strangely familiar scent. 

Lan Zhan looked questioningly at Wei Ying. 

"Oh, lotuses! Thought it'd feel good!" Wei Ying smiled. 

"This is what A-Ying talked about with the lady?"

"Exactly! Thank heavens you got it!" Wei Ying smiled with a sigh of relief. 

"Mn." Lan Zhan felt upset for having worried him and for being so angry. When all Wei Ying had done was for him... A-Ying... 

"A-Zhan, dear, are you alright? You went silent?"

"Mn. I'm fine. Are we staying here tonight?"

"Of course! Tomorrow's a great day, might as well get a break before that!" 

"Tomorrow?"

"You don't know?" He forgot? Wow. Never mind, I'll remind him in the morning. "Ah, nothing, nothing! A-Zhan, didn't you say you wanted to punish me when we got home, for calling Miss Fox pretty?" 

Lan Zhan smiled. "Mn." 

Wei Ying beamed and nodded. "Well then," he undid the headband tying them together and tossed it away. He stretched his arms to span the room and cried, "Let this be your punishment chamber!" He squealed and let himself fall backwards onto the plush bed, wiggling his feet. "Come on, Hanguang-Jun, punish this sinful husband all you want!" 

Lan Zhan grinned. "Mn." He tossed his robes aside and climbed onto Wei Ying's body. 

When Lan Zhan leant in, Wei Ying placed his finger against Lan Zhan's smiling mouth. "Hey, take it slow."

"Why?"

"So we'll be late for breakfast tomorrow. I don't want Shifu seeing my love bites early morning." 

"Mn." 

Wei Ying grinned and replaced his finger with his lips. 

**********

Sunlight washed over the rose petals and the lotuses dotting the bathtub, as dawn arrived and illuminated the lovers' room. Wei Ying lay on the bed, his head propped up on his elbow, staring at the silvery god next to him. This idiot. He actually forgot. Hanguang-Jun... Really has dedicated his life to me and the world. 

When the sunlight fell on his face, Wei Ying moved to block it, to let his husband sleep. He deserved a good rest, especially today. But the body clock in Lan Wangji woke him up as the fifth hour of the day arrived. Lan Zhan turned slightly, softly groaning, before opening his eyes to look into rose-red lips and eyes shining with affection. The tender touch of Wei Ying's fingers stroking his face woke him up fully. "A-Ying?" 

"A-Zhan, you're awake."

"Mn." Lan Zhan was drawn to sit up by the fragrance of lotuses soothing his soul. Wei Ying sat up with him. 

"A-Zhan, we'll have a wash before going down. I'll tell the innkeeper to get breakfast ready for us."

"Mn." Lan Zhan watched as Wei Ying patted his cheek fondly, stood up and put on inner garments. Lan Zhan's jaw dropped open. Wei Ying walked to the door with just the inner shirt and trousers on, leaving out the outer robes. "You're going down like that?"

"What? Don't worry, the lady's married with a fifteen-year-old daughter; she can't be seduced by this!" Wei Ying winked as he tied the red ribbon to his hair. 

"But those are my robes..." Hearing Lan Zhan's words, Wei Ying looked down. 

True. He was wearing a set of pristine white inner robes, the expected lotus scent swapped for sandalwood.

Wei Ying grinned. "Nah, so what? She will be happy her efforts were successful!" Wei Ying walked over to Lan Zhan. "A-Zhan?"

"Mn?" Lan Zhan, still seated on the bed, looked up at his smiling husband. 

Wei Ying waved to the room. "How do you like the gift?" 

"Gift?" The word choked in Lan Zhan's throat. What gift? Why was all this a gift? What did Wei Ying mean? Lan Zhan had a bad feeling he'd forgotten something big. 

Wei Ying bent down and cupped his face. "You really did forget, didn't you?" 

Lan Zhan's heart picked up pace. He'd forgotten? Oh no, was it their anniversary? But no, wasn't their anniversary a couple months later? What was Wei Ying talking about? 

Wei Ying chuckled at the confusion on Lan ZHan's face and took the frowning mouth in his. Light-heartedly kissing him for a pleasant ten minutes, he felt satisfied and stood back up. 

"You fuddy-duddy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" 

Lan Zhan blinked. "Ah?"

"Tch! So much for the smile I expected. You really forgot! It's January 23rd, Mister BusyBee!" 

"Oh. Right," Lan Zhan nodded. He quickly smiled when he realised what Wei Ying had done. "The gift is waking up here with you?" 

"Yay, you got it!" Wei Ying flung his arms around Lan Zhan's neck, seated himself on Lan Zhan's lap and kissed his face all over in glee. Lan Zhan smiled and let him finish it, before finally turning him over in a flash and pinning him on the bed. 

"Hey! Get off! I've got to get breakfast!" 

"Don't care."

"Lan ZHAN! I'm hungry! We'll starve, you idiot, get off!" Wei Ying flung his legs when Lan Zhan's lips began to trace his neck.

"Immortal. Can't starve to death."

"Why you!" Wei Ying tackled Lan Zhan and rolled over to lie atop his husband. "Ha! Immortal! Strong enough to tackle you now!"

Before Lan Zhan could fight back, Wei Ying bit his neck and dashed out of the room, laughing. Lan Zhan lay there, hand on his forehead, sighing. He teases me, arouses me, then ditches me. Alright. Fine. Good. You'll come back. Let's see what happens in the bath. Lan Zhan grinned as he waited.

**********

"Master Wei, last night was good?" 

Wei Wuxian, hopping down the stairs in black robes and white inner garments, waved to the innkeeper. "Yes, Mother, things were greater than I hoped! Even this morning!" He rubbed the mark on the side of his neck. "Thank you!"

"I told you, no need to thank me. Hanguang-Jun," the lady greeted their Gusu Jade.

Lan Zhan nodded, mumbled a 'thank you' and sat at their arranged breakfast table. Nobody else was there yet so the two could eat in peace.

The old lady stared. Hanguang-Jun had thanked her! Oh, the joy. And why was he wearing black inner garments beneath his Lan robes? Ah... the lady grinned. She winked to Wei Wuxian who reddened and ran back to his seat. 

"A-Zhan, why did you wear those?"

"A-Ying wore mine, what am I to wear?"

"Oh." Wei Ying shut his mouth, defeated.

"WEI-GEGE!" 

Wei Wuxian spun around to see the little girl from before running to him. She stood beside them, waving to Wei Wuxian. 

"Hello, you're the girl I saved that day!"

"Saved?"

"Yes, A-Zhan. That Mo Long Hu. Remember me coming back limping? This mother and daughter were searching for herbs in the woods when the beast attacked. Poor girl had quite a fright. What's your name again?"

"Xiuying. Shen Xiuying!" She was all merry and bright.

"Shen? Are you a relative of Shen Tang's?"

"Yes, Wei-gege! He's my uncle."

"Oh, I see– Ey, what did you call me? Gege? Wow, am I proud to be called gege by a girl as young as you!"

Shen Xiuying smiled and blushed. "Zizhen calls you that, I thought..."

"It's fine, it's fine, come, sit." Wei Wuxian patted beside him. Xiuying flopped down, greeting Hanguang-Jun who nodded back.

"You and my little Zizhen seem good friends," Wei Wuxian wagged his chopsticks at the girl. 

The girl blushed. "Wei-gege, I was wondering if you could tell me more about him."

Wei Wuxian laughed. "Why, I'll tell you everything about him! Well, he's from a cultivation sect called the Ouyang sect–"

"Ouyang sect? Aren't Ouyangs from Baling? What's Zizhen doing all the way here?"

"His friends are all from the major sects, studying here, so he night-hunts with them."

"Oh. And Wei-gege, his parents?"

"Hey, young lady, you're thinking very far, not bad, not bad," he chuckled. 

Xiuying blushed furiously. "Wei-gege..."

"Zizhen has no mother."

"Ah? That's sad," Xiuying's face drooped.

"Mn, but he has enough friends for that. And me!" Lan Zhan nodded along. "Also, his father. His father's the Ouyang Clan Leader."

"What! Clan Leader Ouyang! So Zizhen is the clan leader's son? The next clan leader?" Xiuying's eyes were blended with amazement and horror. The second feeling, Wei Ying couldn't understand, but Lan Zhan could.

Wei Ying watched as her face fell. All signs of mirth flew away. "Hey, hey, Xiuying, why so sad?"

Xiuying's voice faded as she muttered, "He's such a big person... I'm just... just a regular girl... not even a cultivator... and he's a future Clan Leader..." She sniffed. "Too far away, Wei-gege," she tugged on his sleeve sadly. 

"Nonsense." 

Wei Wuxian and Shen Xiuying both rose their heads to look at the man who'd spoken. 

"A-Zhan?"

"Doesn't matter what he is. Or who's son he is. He's Zizhen. Your love. That's all you need to know," the cold voice explained through the meal. 

"Hanguang-Jun?" Xiuying was amazed to see him actually talking.

"Lovers don't mind whether one's the Chief Cultivator and the other's a beggar. They just love. Zizhen's a sensible boy. If you love him, you love him. Him, not his father, not his sect, not his golden core. Have faith in your heart. There's a reason you ever met him." 

Xiuying stared at him for some time before realising. "Right! Like Hanguang-Jun and Wei-gege!"

"Huh? Me?" Wei Wuxian turned to the girl.

"Yes, you! Hanguang-Jun is the Jade of Gusu, former Chief Cultivator, former Sect Leader Lan. Wei-gege, back then, was deemed a villain, and didn't some people call Wei-gege servant's son?" Xiuying beamed at him, excited once more.

Wei Ying blinked. And I was at one point a beggar too... "A-Zhan, you meant this?" 

"Mn." 

While Wei Ying was happy enough to kiss him all over right then, Xiuying leapt up. "Hanguang-Jun gives better advice than Wei-gege! Thank you, Hanguang-Jun!"

"Mn."

Shen Xiuying skipped back to her mother.

The two silently finished their meal and departed for the Cloud Recesses.

"A-Zhan, why don't you spend the day freely today? It's your birthday. We'll play with the snow!"

"Mn."

"So what do you say? What's the agenda?"

"Xiongzhang. Bunnies."

"And then?"

"All day, bunnies."

"Ah! A-Zhan! Then what about me? I did all this for you and you won't even spend the day with your darling?"

"I said bunnies."

Wei Ying blinked. Then he gasped. "Why you!" He grinned, thrashed his fists on Lan Zhan's insensible arm and let himself drown in the crimson spreading across his face.

Which only doubled when all at Cloud Recesses saw that the two were wearing opposite inner garments. Zewu-Jun had never been a happier brother.