*Lanling*

"Jin Ling why the fuck are you crying? That is not how a grown boy should behave!" Jian Cheng scolds the young boy sitting in front of him in a most irritated voice.

Jin Ling wipes his tears and says, "Sorry uncle... I... don't know why I am crying."

"Do you regret stabbing that fool?" Jiang Cheng asks.

"Yes.. No... I don't know how I feel." the boy says in between sobs.

"That stupid fucking half wit! What was he thinking walking into Lanling like that? Did he think he will be welcomed? ... After what he did... He should have stayed dead.!" Jiang Cheng says throwing the cup he was holding. The cup falls to the floor and shatters.
The young boy flinches and stops crying.

"He.. he saved me." the boy whispers.

"What did you say?" Jiang Cheng says still irritated.

"Senior Mo.. I mean Him... He saved me back at Dafan Mountain... And later when I got buried in the Nie sect tomb ...I think I got cursed there. When I freed Senior Mo from your captivity to repay his debt for saving me, he hit me and I feel unconscious. When I came to, I saw that the curse mark on my leg was gone." Jin Ling says slowly keeping his head down and adds, "And most recently he saved me and my friends at Yi City.... I had thought he was a good person...I had thought we could be friends."

Jiang Cheng doesn't say anything for a few minutes. He is in deep thought.

Then his face changes again and he scolds the boy again, "You are stupid if you think HE can ever be your friend. He doesn't know how to be a friend. He doesn't deserve to be called a friend....Now go fix yourself... And stop acting like a princess."

The boy nods and leaves the room.

'Wei Wuxian is the bane of my existence... That Fucking bastard....And then he goes and saves Jin Ling ...does he think he can fix everything by doing that... I hate him...' Jiang Cheng thinks to himself '....but you don't really hate him enough to want him dead right?' his brain adds.

'Well Fuck emotions... Who needs them' Jiang Cheng thinks making up his mind about certain things and gets up.

He hears a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" he shouts at the door.

Chu replies, "Clan leader, it's me. I have a message from Aunty Yenay."

"Come in."

Clan leader reads the message and writes a reply. He seals it and hands it over to Chu.

"Give this to Aunty Yenay only. And don't mention about coming to see me to anyone....Now leave." Jian Cheng says authoritatively.

Chu leaves with the letter.

Jiang Cheng stands in the room contemplating his next move and then leaves to go find Meng Yao.
For the first time in years, The Angry Lotus.... smiles.

*Lotus Cove*

The first rays of the sun hit Wei Ying's face and he slowly opens his eyes. He doesn't want to wake up. He wants to go back to sleep again but his stomach grumbles...'I need food' , he thinks and slowly sits up on the bed.
He looks around only to be met with the sight of his friend meditating.
'So pure', Wei Ying's brain supplies.

He sees that Lan Zhan is still wearing his night cloths. They are red. They look beautiful on Lan Zhan.

He tiptoes towards Hanguang Jun and quietly sits in front of him. He wants to cherish these moments. He wants to memorize how Lan Zhan looks in red.
It's only been a few seconds when Lan Zhan opens his eyes and smiles sweetly at his friend.
"You're awake." he says.

"Hm. Lan Zhan, did you dream about me last night?" Wei Ying asks innocently.

"No."

Wei Ying pouts and asks, "Then... Did you dream of Mianmian?"

Lan Zhan just gives him a 'Are you stupid' look and says, "Manners Wei Ying, she is a married woman now."

Wei Ying smile, "Oh no Hanguang Jun , who will marry you now?"

Lan Zhan knows that his friend is in a playful mood. He deadpans , "Since I have promised to never abandon you... I guess I will have to marry you. No woman will have me with you tagging along ,will she now?"

Wei Ying doesn't know how to answer his friend so he just keeps looking at his friend with a dumbfounded expression.

Lan Zhan says, "You are hungry. Yenay came a while ago and left food for us. Let's eat."

The thought of food puts Wei in good mood again.
They eat in silence.

Once they are done Lan Zhan says, "Wei Ying take off your Robes."

"What?... Why?", Wei Ying says holding his robes.

"I need to check on your wound." Lan Zhan says as he pulls Wei Ying to bed and starts to take off his clothes.

"Lan Zhan... I... I..can do it myself." Wei Ying says blushing and holding his friends hand.

"Why?"

"Because I am a grownass man who doesn't need help to disrobe himself." Wei Ying says irritated...but still blushing.

"Ok."

"Thank you." Wei Ying says as he removes his night shirt. He doesn't look at Lan Zhan. So he doesn't see the lust and longing that is visible clearly all over Hanguang Jun's face.

Hanguang Jun gulps and turns away before he is caught red handed.
"Wei Ying... You need to... undo your ...pants..as well. I will be back with first aid items." he says and walks away.

For the first time Wei Ying actually sees the unfortunate positioning of his wound..
'Damn it Jin Ling.'

Wei Ying reluctantly loosens the belt holding his pants up.
Lan Zhan returns with the necessary items.

"Lan Zhan, you don't have to do it." Wei Ying says.

"I have to." Lan Zhan replies.

"Aunty Yenay can do it or anyone else can... Lotus Cove has doctors you know." Wei Ying argues.

"I will do it." Lan Zhan says resolutely.

"Why? Why can't others do it Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying asks. He fails to understand the logic behind Lan Zhan's actions.

Lan Zhan doesn't answer.

Wei Ying asks again, "Tell me Lan Zhan why can't someone else do it?...Why? Lan Zhan! "

Lan Zhan looks down at his hands and says, "I don't want them to see you."

"Why is that Lan Zhan? Why can't they see me? Don't you trust me when I say that we are safe here? Lan Zhan I trust Aunty Yenay to take care of us." Wei Ying says getting frustrated.

"I will do it. It has to be me." Lan Zhan says in a small dejected voice. He knows that he is loosing the argument.

Wei Ying's heart can't bare to look at Lan Zhan being this disheartened, so he holds his friend's hands and asks, "Lan Zhan can you please tell me why it has to be you? I promise, if you tell me the reason I will let you do it."

When Lan Zhan doesn't say anything. Wei Ying nods like he understands and squeezes his friend's hands.

"OK." Wei Ying says and adds, "You can do it. But you need to give me something in return too. "

Lan Zhan nods "Mn."
And gets to work.

He unwraps the bandage and checks for infection. Fully satisfied that the wound is healing nicely he tries to use his spiritual energy to heal it faster.
Wei Ying feels like he is heaven when the energy touches him. The mild pain he had been feeling is gone.
To Lan Zhan's surprise the wound starts closing. It takes more spiritual energy and concentration.
Wei Ying looks on, as sweatbeads form on Lan Zhan's forehead.

"Lan Zhan that's enough." Wei Ying says feeling guilty.

"Not yet." Lan Zhan says closing his eyes tightly and continuing to transfer more energy.

Wei Ying gives him a few seconds more but when Lan Zhan still doesn't stop, Wei Ying holds his friend's hands.
"Lan Zhan! That's. Enough." Wei Ying says angrily. And Lan Zhan opens his eyes, visibly in pain.

Wei Ying feels guilty that Lan Zhan would bring himself pain and use his spiritual power just to heal his skin wound. Wei Ying doesn't say anything. He knows it will only hurt and embarrass  Lan Zhan if he said anything further about using his spiritual power on the wound.

Lan Zhan checks the wound again.
'I will transfer more power tomorrow... I will heal it... I will make sure it doesn't leave a scar', Lan Zhan thinks observing the almost healed wound. He touches it lightly.

Wei Ying shivers at the touch.

'Sorry. Did I hurt you?" Lan Zhan asks in a worried tone.

"No. Your touch startled me is all." Wei Ying answers and starts getting dressed.

"Sorry." Lan Zhan mouths again but Wei Ying doesn't hear it.

"Lan Zhan, " Wei Ying says once he is fully dressed, "Thank you"

Lan Zhan mutters a "Mn." again and starts to put the unused items away.

After he is done Lan Zhan looks at Wei Ying who is following his every move and asks ,"What?"

Wei Ying walks towards him.
And comes and stands in front of him

Wei Ying asks , "You promised me that I can take a thing from you as a payment for letting you treat me remember?"

"Mn. I remember. What do you want?" Lan Zhan asks confidently.

Wei Ying stares at Lan Zhan's lips and then lifts his eyes to look into his eyes, "I was wondering... Hanguang Jun , have you ever kissed anyone?" then Wei Ying's eyes drop to look at Lan Zhan's lips again.

{Note :- Sorry for the cliffhanger.
But the waiting period is not long rt , so that should be fine.
Plus, certain things happen in the next chapter.
Please let me know how you liked it in comments and thru votes.
Thank you for reading
Have a nice day }