Wei Ying takes a deep breath outside the room they're about to enter. He concentrates on the comforting feeling of being in a light and airy space, full of pale colours and contrasting dark furniture and floors, a theme constant throughout the old manor. Even the room he is sharing with Lan Zhan looks the same, and the continuity of the soothing aesthetic reduces his nerves. The only modern addition he could see was the adjoining bathroom, something Lan Zhan mentioned as part of the changes brought about by Lan Qiren.

The Uncle who has looked after both Lan XiChen and Lan Zhan since they were nine and six respectively.

How bad is it going to be?

He knows Lan Qiren might be a little stern, given his age and the fact that he's recovering from a severe stroke, but aside from seeing him on that last video call, Wei Ying hasn't got a lot to go on.

Lan Zhan brings him closer for a hug, his lips finding that spot between his brows that bolsters his courage.

“He's just a person,” Lan Zhan smiles encouragingly.

“I know…but I want to make a good impression,” Wei Ying whispers, mindful that whatever he says may be overheard in the open room. “I don't want to give anyone the chance to say something bad to you because they're disappointed in me.”

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan’s tone is enough, wanting to convey more than he's able to tell him. “You can never disappoint. You are enough. Better than that.”

Wei Ying gives him a bright smile, hugging him back tightly before pulling away to march into the room.

Luckily, XiChen has joined them and his smile indicates that he heard every word. Uncle Qiren and he stand up to greet them, and both Lan Zhan and Wei Ying bow with respect. XiChen pours out the tea and passes steaming cups around, serving Uncle Qiren first.

Wei Ying looks up after sitting down and finds Uncle Qiren staring at him. It's a penetrative gaze and he has to make himself maintain eye contact. No one speaks and it's a tense encounter, but after a few minutes, Uncle Qiren nods to himself and addresses Lan Zhan.

“Introduce us.”

Lan Zhan had forgotten to do this, realising belatedly that he's been holding his breath all this time, and when he lets go, the tension in his neck and shoulders leaves as well. Feeling much better, he bows.

“Shufu, this is Wei Ying, courtesy name, Wei WuXian. Wei Ying, this is our Uncle Qiren, and the equal of our father, Lan Qingheng-Jun. Even before his passing.”

Wei Ying stands up and goes to him, his mind yelling at him because of what he's about to do, but sometimes, going all out is the way. Plus, he can blame growing up in a Western country if it goes belly-up.

“Nice to meet you, Uncle.” He bows and then hugs the stiff man.

There's a gasp from behind them, and Wei Ying wonders if he's just made a colossal mistake, and maybe he shouldn't have been so tactile from the get-go, when he feels two arms come around his shoulders to hug him back.

“Welcome to our family. Has WangJi been treating you well?”

Wei Ying pulls back to stare at him, believing it to be a joke question since Lan Zhan is Lan Zhan, and of course he would look after Wei Ying perfectly. However, Lan Qiren looks completely serious. Aside from the growing twinkle in his dark eyes as he looks over to his youngest nephew. Wei Ying backs away to his seat next to his fiance.

“Yes. Lan Zhan has been as gracious and understanding as you would have expected him to be.” Wei Ying turns to find Lan Zhan staring between them with a mix of different emotions.

“It is nothing less than what Wei Ying deserves. But Shufu is correct. If I have been remiss in anything, then Wei Ying must tell me. This one seeks to apologise in adva–”

“No!” Wei Ying throws his arms around Lan Zhan’s neck in a protest, uncaring of who sees them like this. “Lan Zhan! How dare you say something like that? If anything, I should be the one asking you if I've been lacking in anything!”

Lan Zhan feels him tremble in his arms. Perhaps it is time to let this go.

“Then let us say that we are in accord.” He pats Wei Ying’s back and Wei Ying lets go of him with a flaming face, having realised that they're not alone.

Everyone takes a sip of the fragrant tea, and XiChen hides a smile behind his cup.

“How are things in London?” He chimes in, changing the subject while the newly engaged couple calm themselves.

“Still busy, but we are beginning to understand our customers better,” Lan Zhan tells him. “And we are learning to discern whether or not they're timewasters.”

XiChen splutters into his cup while Uncle Qiren frowns at him, for the unmannerly display.

“Timewasters?” He inquires politely.

“Yeah. Mostly it's old people with nothing better to do, or if they're “asking for a friend”, that type of thing,” Wei Ying explains. “If we're free, we try our best to entertain them, but truthfully, the shop itself takes a lot of maintenance. Like, we're constantly tidying it up.”

“That does not stop them,” Lan Zhan adds distastefully.

“Some of them are serial timewasters. Like, every week.”

“I see,” XiChen sympathises. “But other than that, do you both enjoy doing the work?”

Lan Zhan thinks about his answer as Wei Ying gives his response. “Oh yeah! We came across some writing that Madam Lan left behind, and it gave us ideas to make improvements. When she ran the shop before, she used to host community events. She took a lot of pictures, too, which I'm going to put up on the website. But now we've got Wen Popo holding knitting and crocheting classes as well as some artists holding hour-long workshops starting in a few weeks. Everything goes up on Facebook and Instagram, generating more interest. Plus, we're thinking of starting up on TikTok. That ought to be interesting.” Wei Ying unconsciously leans against Lan Zhan, whose arms come around his waist naturally holding him close.

“And you, Didi? Have you changed your mind about the shop? Do you want to continue running it?”

“Mn. It is more than just a shop. I like it there.”

XiChen smiles at the comparatively short answer. “Well, it's never too late to find something that brings us joy, isn't that right, Shufu?”

“Hm. That is correct. I remember speaking about something similar with your mother. I am glad she was able to find that in her life.” Uncle Qiren looks pensive. “In that, perhaps I owe both of you an apology. Lying in bed with nothing but your faults in front of you, tends to make one reevaluate one's priorities.” Uncle Qiren glances between the brothers.

XiChen is already shaking his head, but Lan Qiren holds up his hand to stop him from speaking.

“It is nothing but the truth. I helped to convince your mother that she was unhappy here, aside from having you both. That was a role which gave her satisfaction, but while being a parent can be enough for some people, and yet being a wife to someone who had forgotten how to love her was definitely diminishing her soul. Had she stayed here in this stifling environment, I have no doubts that she would have withered away. But then her absence led to a shortage in my brother's life, however indirectly. I cannot even say whose life should have had to make such a sacrifice, because I believe that had they stayed together, both of theirs might have ended prematurely. So in my defence, at least one of your parents led a fulfilling life. That is my consolation.”

“Shufu, you also made a sacrifice of time and patience, do not overlook that.” Lan Zhan says to him, with a sincerity that makes Uncle Qiren blink a little too much.

“WangJi is correct, Shufu. With hindsight, there are so many paths laid out for us. It is supremely difficult to judge the right course of action in the heat of the moment. And even though we missed our mother greatly, we had you. And now the knowledge that she not only gained happiness away from her life in China, but that she was thriving, that eases the ache in my heart.” XiChen pours more tea for Lan Qiren.

Lan Qiren is about to say something in response when he levels his gaze at Wei Ying with a sharpness that has Wei Ying sitting up straighter.

“Wei WuXian! Were your parents named Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze?” He demands.

“Yes, but how did you–”

“I knew them. I went to school, university, in Oxford. Coincidentally, so did your parents, that's where they met, and so did Jiang Fengmian and Yu ZiYuan. Do you know about the Jiangs? I must have pictures stored somewhere….” he's lost in thought and so misses Wei Ying suddenly rigid posture.

But Lan Zhan didn't.

“Wei Ying, I think we should tell Shufu about them.” There's a question in his tone.

Wei Ying shakes his head, but whatever they're about to say is interrupted by XiChen.

“WangJi, A-Xian, and you may say if I've lost the right to call you that, but since it seems to be a day for apologising, then please accept mine, and please be gracious with forgiving me.”

“Why, Ge?” Lan Zhan pulls Wei Ying closer again, uncaring of where they are or who is with them. His Wei Ying is in shock, and after two unexpected revelations, so there's no way he's not going to be supportive. On the bright side, better let them get used to it because he has no intention of sitting apart from Wei Ying in a familial setting in the future.

“I hope both of you understand, WangJi is in line to inherit a considerable fortune, even aside from his own independently achieved income. To that end, I was advised to get a background check done on him, which I only went ahead with after I realised how close you two were becoming with each other. But I did not share the results with anyone, in the interests of your privacy, A-Xian. I'm sorry. Now that I know you, and given how worried you were about my brother when he went missing, I realise my concerns were invalid because I can see that you genuinely care for him.”

“Wow. You actually thought I was a golddigger.” Wei Ying looks up at him with hurt.

“That was before I got to know you. And not specifically THAT. I was worried about WangJi and wanted to protect him, nothing more than that.” XiChen looks embarrassed about it.

Good, Lan Zhan thinks unrepentantly. He's upset on two counts: his brother's overprotective stance when Lan Zhan is pretty sure he can look after himself, and secondly, second hand outrage on behalf of his Wei Ying.

“Ge, you should know that Wei Ying refused to be paid for helping me, at the beginning. In fact, his own Uncle told me that I shouldn't let him know how much he is earning, so I have also been dishonest with him. As you said, it's a day of apologising.”

“Fucking hell!” Wei Ying twists in his arms to stare at him. “You and Uncle Four? In cahoots? What the hell?”

“Language,” Lan Zhan reminds him, a small smile on his face.

“Oh no, Mister! You don't get to say anything about MY behaviour! That ship has sailed in light of you two! What behaviour!” Wei Ying pouts. “I can't believe you went along with whatever nonsense Uncle Four put you up to!”

“Wei Ying. We agreed that the secret was necessary. At the time, while my feelings were changing, I had no idea about yours. And it was to protect you.” Lan Zhan stares back at him with the softest expression.

How can Wei Ying remain upset with him when he looks like that?

“If you want forgiveness, then you have to promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“No more secrets from either of us. Trust is important to me, no matter your motives.”

“Agreed.” Lan Zhan hugs him out of relief.

“On that note, may it also apply to me? I will also promise not to keep secrets from both of you.” XiChen jumps in at the first opportunity with an opening.

Lan Zhan lets go of Wei Ying and turns him slightly so that he's still in his arms but now they're both facing his brother.

“Ge, you said you were advised. Who requested you to have Wei Ying investigated?”

“Is that important?”

“Yes,” both Wei Ying and Lan Zhan say.

“Alright, it was Yang Zichen. But he meant it for your protection, WangJi.”

Lan Zhan lets himself feel angry about that. How dare an outsider dictate his brother's behaviour on the pretext of “looking out” for him? Isn't this a family issue? What right does that man have to have a say in how the people in this room respond to one another?

“WangJi, you've never hidden your dislike of him, that's why I didn't want to mention him.” XiChen looks apologetic. “But you must know that he is invaluable to myself and the company. I am closer to him than you are, and that makes me a better judge of his character. When I say that he only has our best interests at heart, I mean it.”

“XiChen, you work with him daily, so it is easy to see your point of view.” Uncle Qiren speaks for the first time in this conversation since his revelations about studying with Wei Ying’s parents. “But sometimes, people can be looking for ways to sow discord. Just remember, if ever the choice occurs to stand with or against family, make sure you know what to do. A family is like a hand. As individual fingers, we are important, but as a fist, we are stronger. Remember that.”

“Yes, Shufu.” XiChen bows to him, chastised.

“Now, since XiChen knows something, do you want to tell me anything?” Uncle Qiren turns to Wei Ying. “I understand if you do not, but you should understand too, that anything not discussed beforehand can be a chink in our armour. I want to be prepared if a situation arises where I need to protect you.”

“Well, when you put it like that, I guess it makes sense to tell you,” Wei Ying says finally. But his shoulders have tensed and it's obvious how much he doesn't want to have this conversation.

Lan Zhan radiates his approval and squeezes his waist for courage.

“My parents died when I was young, and Uncle Jiang took me in. Yu-Ayi didn't want to, because there were rumours in her social circles that well, basically accused him of having an affair with my mother. She always held that against him and me, and because of that, she kept comparing me to Jiang Cheng. I tried to stay behind him in our studies, because they kept putting pressure on him that since he was going to inherit their company, he had to do better. I had an older sister too, but she was already betrothed to some Jin heir, I forget his name.

“When we got to college, it was our last year and the only way to get through it with the pressure of graduating and their constant nagging, me and Jiang Cheng, well, we started going clubbing. I loved it because that was a totally different culture and I was learning things about myself. I loved making clothes and having people ask me where I got my outfits from, you know?” Wei Ying blushes then, readying himself to say the next part. It was a totally different decision when he had to tell Lan Zhan all of this, but this feels extremely weird, telling his Uncle-in-law about his sexual awakening. You only have to do this once, Wei Ying tells himself before continuing. “Jiang Cheng liked going because he used to get wasted, um, drunk, and I knew it was his way of coping with his mum, and the rest of it, so I used to be the designated driver.

“I also got a lot of attention because of my clothes. Since I was basically recycling and modifying my old ready made outfits, whatever I created wasn't available in the shops, but also, I was experimenting with what I liked.” Okay, there's no way Wei Ying can look at either XiChen or Uncle Qiren when he confesses to this next part.

“Um, also who I liked. As in their gender. Because, up until then, I really thought I only liked girls but er, so anyway, I was kissing a boy and Jiang Cheng saw me. When we got home, he mentioned it to his mother, and Yu-Ayi was basically looking for a reason to kick me out, but she'd also discovered my sewing machine in the back shed and freaked out. She accused me of trying to seduce my brother, which, ew, but she didn't want to hear it. Anyway, long story short, I left home. But when I returned to college, I found out that she'd withdrawn funds for my education and I no longer had a place there. Wen Ning found me at the bus stop and took me to their home. The rest is history. Uncle Four needed a hand in his business and they all needed someone to help them with A-Yuan. As it is, I think Wen Popo is slowly losing it.” Wei Ying all but melts against Lan Zhan.

Lan Zhan rubs up and down on Wei Ying’s arms, also upset on his behalf. He wonders what his uncle thinks about Wei Ying’s early life.

“That's awful!” XiChen is angry and sad about it. “How could a family do that to one of their own? Didn't your brother or sister say anything?”

“I doubt either one could stand up against Madam Yu,” Lan Qiren answers him. “Do you remember when the Jiang daughter married the Jin heir? What a circus that was! We had to attend,” Lan Qiren turns to Wei Ying and continues, “and she made several florists cry for getting the specific colour of the lotus flowers wrong. Overall a small thing, but that woman kicked up a fuss on a par with the heavenly trials. It is a shame how she treated you, but now I have a serious question for you. As you are engaged now, marriage is the next logical step. Do you agree?”

Both Wei Ying and Lan Zhan nod at him.

“How about holding the wedding here? I am not allowed to go into work nowadays, so I'm basically twiddling my thumbs, so to speak. I could organise everything for you…if you like.” Uncle Qiren looks ever so eager.

“We haven't thought that far in advance, Shufu,” Lan Zhan informs him. He's not sure what Wei Ying’s thoughts are on their special day, yet.

“Well, you're here for the next few days. You can think it over,” Lan Qiren tells them enthusiastically, standing up. “I'm going to see if I can find those photos. I'm sure you would like to see them.”

“A-huh,” Wei Ying replies, absentmindedly. His head hurts, what with travelling here, and then finding out that Uncle Qiren knew his parents, plus the whole thing about the Jiangs and Madam Yu coming out, and now Uncle Qiren talking about their wedding and wanting to organise it himself. “I dunno about you,” he looks up at Lan Zhan, “but I'm half tempted to say yes to him. About the wedding.”

Lan Zhan bends to kiss his forehead again, thinking about it. Does he want to relinquish control of that special day?

“I would imagine you would hold another ceremony over in the UK, right?” XiChen says with a small smile. He leans forward, lowering his voice. “Please, I beg you, let him do it, WangJi. He's been driving me up the wall with his backseat driving! If I'd known that the doctors were going to ban him from the office, I would have fought for him, but he's never taken a break in his life! Plus, you've got to know, same sex marriages aren't valid here but they are in England and Wales. You'll have to do it twice no matter what. The one over here can be just a celebration so all the old folk are happy!” His eyes are desperate.

“We'll think about it,” Lan Zhan replies firmly, remembering that his brother had had Wei Ying investigated. He can wait a while….