Akio's POV:

Why do they keep torturing Yibo? Let them come after me, I have no qualms, but why him? All Yibo ever did is support me. Irony is we were never close. He'd always been a brother who was in his own world. Either studying or working. His passion has always been bikes and cars. He's a soul who could never interact with other beings.

There were times when it never bothered me that he wasn't around. He was never around. Zane, Hans, Mom and Dad were my life. Until they stopped being and Yibo Ge, became my everything.

A warm blanket engulfs my cold body and I peek at the person smiling kindly at me. Hair tied together at the top of his head, the tresses sway lightly as cool breeze kindle them.

Sizhui.

"Saw you were sitting out here all alone and shivering." At his word I look around and realise that indeed somewhere in middle of the night, unable to sleep, I came out to the patio.

"Thanks" my voice is bland and devoid of any emotions. Does it make a difference for a person whose own don't want him?

Taking a seat next to me he tucks himself into his arms and quietly stares at the expanse in front of him. With a sigh I turn to observe his profile and it take me by surprise to see a faint blush colouring his cheeks. Shifting, I pull him closer to me and cover us both with the blanket. "Why are you here Sizhui?"

"I was worried." His answer confounds me and I smile sadly "Worried? Why? There is nothing special about me for people to worry. I am nothing but just a shell of a person, Sizhui." with a chuckle I continue "Even my own heart does not like me. It's not even strong to survive.Who cares whether I live or die."

"Don't say that!" His anger laced voice startles me. "Don't say that!" He repeats "I care. I will always care."

"Why?" With a smirk I taunt "Why should you care?" Never did my soul expect an anwer, but when it did, my core stilled into silence.

"Because I like you!" At his claim, my face whips towards him and I gasp when his eyes manifests the depth of seriousness in them. "I like you Akio. I like you a lot!"

No. He shouldn't. Not now. He shouldn't.

"Don't." My voice is a dust of whisper "Don't like me. Not now. Not ever. I am not a good person Sizhui. You deserve to be with a man who makes you happy. Who you can be happy with forever."

"Then you're perfect for me." His answer hits my heart.

"Sizhui" closing my eyes I plead for him to understand "I am not a good person. I have-" thinking about all the times I have slept around, he shouldn't be with a person who has not valued love "had many partners in my life Sizhui. I have never been with one man for more than a single night. There was a time when I believed in forever and stuff, but I don't deserve all that. My parents once said that they wished I weren't alive when they found out that I am gay. Their words will eventually come true Sizhui. I don't have much time. Don't like me."

A cold palm cups my face and I raise my eyes to meet his as a lone small smile paints his lips "One thing about Lan men, when we like or love someone, there is no place for another. It's forever. Akio, do you know why I like you?" His question is simple. Shaking my head, he cups my other cheek too "Because you make me smile. You make my heart flutter. You make me realise that there is someone for me to share my heart with."

"Sizhui..." his words make my heart ache "I won't survive for long. Each day that I breathe, makes my brother relieved. My heart is extremely weak. What would you get by liking a person like me?"

"Nothing." His answer stuns me. "I won't get anything, but Akio, I am not even asking for anything." His smile takes over my fatigue heart. "Hanguang-Jun's loves for Elder Patriarch taught me that to love someone without any expectation. For 13 years he lived in the memories of Elder Patriarch. I can too."

What is he saying?

"Sizhui, your Elder Patriarch retured. I am just a mortal. I won't ever return. Why do you want to suffer?"

Gently bringing our face closer he answers "Because for this soul, there is just you. I believe our story cannot just end. We haven't known eachother for long, but as a Lan my heart knows when it sees his mate. Akio, kiss me."

Wide eye I stare at his face. Is he for real?

"Sizhui..." My heart thunders. Reflecting back to our time together for past few days, I begin to realise that my soul has felt more at ease, smiled a bit more, laughed a lot, shared each moments of happiness with him around. I haven't felt all this for so long. I haven't felt this alive in last 5 years. He made me feel.

"Once I kiss you" inching more closer to him, my voice is coarse "there is no turning back."

"It's only you." His eyes shimmer and I take that one final step. Placing my hand behind his head, the other bands around his waist, I kiss his lips. His soft breath tickles my skin and my heart beats erratically.

His fingers tentatively dig into my hair and tugs them gently as our kiss deepens. His teeth bites my lips and I moan into his mouth.

"Stop." Panting I kiss his lips again. "Not here. Not like this." Moving away, I help him up and we enter my bedroom. Letting in the cool breeze chill our heated body, raising my hand to the hem of his shirt, he nods and I comply. Unwrapping him slowly, my eyes admire his milky smooth skin. His fingers reach to undo his pants when I stop his movements "Not tonight. I want to date you before we have sex. I want you to cherish your first time, unlike mine. Please give me that."

Taking me into his warm embrace, he kisses my nape and croons in my ear "Whatever you wish is my wish too."

Threading our fingers together, I gently lay him down on the bed and whip out my shirt in the process. Caressing every contour of his body, I grin when he lightly shivers at my touch as they leave goosebumps on him. Snapping the hair tie away, his hair curtains around us and I gasp "So beautiful."

Slowly taking his lips in mine, we kiss for a long long time. This is what love feels like. Warm. Safe. Soul.

Wei Wuxian's POV:

Walking closer to him, placing my hand on his forehead, "Ready?" I enquire and he nods. With a smile I knew, it's now or never.

Wait for me Lan Zhan. Just a little while longer. Hopefully.

~ WangXian Timeline ~
~ A Month Ago ~

"Elder Patriarch?" Sizhui calls out and I look up from my ... umm adult book... ahem.

"Yeah?" Raising my eyebrows I narrow my eyes. He looks flustered. "Why is your face all red? Have you been having any naughty thoughts?" At my question his eyes widen and shakes his head.

"No. No. I just..." Not meeting my eyes he looks away "had a dream."

Oh! This is interesting.

"What kind?" I probe and his entire face is flushed. "Um, I saw a person's face and he..." turning back to look at me he confesses "made me feel."

"Feel what?"

"I don't know." My poor kid is almost at the verge of tears "But in my dream I saw myself look at him the way Hanguang-Jun looks at you!"

Wow!

Placing an arm on his shoulders I pat his head "Well here." Handing him the book I whisper and wink "Read this. Next time you dream and want to experience all this with him, you'll know that you're ready."

"What is this?" He questions and I bite my lips from grinning "Guide to know whether you're in love." I answer sincerely and it seems he does not believe my words. "Don't open them now!" Pating his back I push him out of Jingshi "Now go quickly and read this. Don't show it to Uncle Lan. Now bye."

With a doubtful look he walks away and I finally laugh out loud. Serves you right. You once ratted me out in front of Lan Zhan. Now you'll read the same book I once showed your father. Ahem.

That night as we sit down to eat, Lan Zhan by my side, it was then my gaze lands on fuming Sizhui and I eye the book on his hand.

"Elder Patriarch, what is this?" His eyes are red and I laugh again. What should I say? Picking up the book, Lan Zhan eyes the content and his immediately raises to meet mine "Wei Ying?"

Ok, time to leave. Without another word I sprint away from them. Phew! Ambling my way to the cave where all my equipments are set up, I pick up the one that can teleport me. Sizhui, please wait for a while longer. You'll soon be with him. This is my promise.