Only a few minutes have passed since Wei Ying had fallen asleep in the Light Bearer's arms when Lan Zhan spots a glowing butterfly at the window.

Lan Zhan leaves the bed and the butterfly flies over to him.

Lan Zhan cleans himself, gets dressed and walks out of their room .

Once outside he looks around the perimeter checking for any suspicious people or activity.
When he is satisfied he walks to Jiang Cheng's room.

"Jiang Wanyin" Lan Zhan calls knocking at the clan leader's room.

When there is no response Lan Zhan adds, "I need to talk to you about Brother.. "

The door opens to reveal a very flushed looking Clan leader.
The flush on Jiang Cheng deepens when his eyes fall on Lan Zhan.

'Lan Er gege.... Ah!' Jiang Cheng's mind recalls what he should most definitely erase from his mind... He has to burn it out of his mind some way or he would never be able to look at Lan... No.. Just Wangji..

Lan Zhan has never once seen Jiang Cheng in this state. He stares.
He knows this look.
This is exactly how Wei Ying had looked just minutes before he...when he had been with Wei Ying.
'Was he with a lady? Did I disturb him when... But the Clan leader is not married... Oh! maybe he has someone.'
Lan Zhan gulps.

The awkward silence stretches as both men look at each other tongue-tied.

Finally Lan Zhan speaks with his eyes on the floor, "Brother...he... "

Jiang Cheng panics, "Is Zewu Jun ok? Is he in trouble? Is he not coming tomorrow?"

Lan Zhan has never seen the Clan leader so out of sorts.
'Maybe he is under a spell or maybe the demon cursed him before we were able to subdue it.'

Wangji's cultivation level has improved tremendously over the last decade or so... But when it comes to matters of the heart, he has made little progress. Wangji has once again attributed Jiang Cheng's worry and concern for Zewu Jun, to him being under a curse.

"Clan leader, Brother is fine. He sent a message confirming what Wei Ying had already guessed." Lan Zhan informs.

"So it was afterall Meng Yao." Jiang Cheng sighs, "Zewu Jun must be feeling betrayed. He must be sad."

'He is definitely under a curse.' Lan Zhan sighs internally before continuing, "He heard Meng Yao say that he wanted Clan Jiang to fall."

"How dare he betray Zewu Jun like that!?" Jiang Cheng says, his tone and temper rising.

"Jiang Wanyin! Focus." Lan Zhan says sternly adding, "Meng Yao is planning to use Jin Ling to get to you. To control you and the Jin Clan."

Hearing Jin Ling's name finally brings Jiang Cheng out of his... not very pure thoughts. He blinks as if he has finally heard what Lan Zhan had been trying to tell him.
"That fucking bastard! Jin Ling is his nephew too. He has practically raised him... I thought he loved Jin Ling." Jiang Cheng shouts again.

"Clan Leader, once we leave, you need to do everything in your power to convince Meng Yao that you have got nothing to do with us. You need to act like before." Lan Zhan says without meeting clan Leader's eyes.

'He wants me to act like the jerk that I have been for the past decade.' Jiang Cheng thinks as the feeling of guilt makes its way into his heart.

"Mn."

"Brother wants you to ignore him completely." Lan Zhan says, and when Jiang Cheng gives a blank look, he adds, "Meng Yao might suspect you and brother of hiding something if he sees you being polite to him."

'So now I have to be a rude jerk to my Zewu Jun...' Jiang Cheng's face flushes again as soon as he realizes what he had thought.

'It's the curse... it's effecting Jiang Wanyin as we speak... Maybe Wei Ying can help him... But now is not the time.. He has to endure it.' Lan Zhan thinks sympathising with his brother in law.

"Mn." Jiang Cheng nods.

"You need to tell Jin Ling not to disclose anything that he saw or heard here. As far as he is concerned he did not see us here....Brother suspects that Meng Yao's men may already be keeping an eye on Lotus Cove."

"Mn." Jiang Cheng nods again in deep thought.

"Wei Ying will meet you before we leave, we will see you before sunrise." Lan Zhan informs.

"Mn."

"Clan leader, thank you for all you have done for Wei Ying." Lan Zhan says at last before bowing to the man he once hated, before leaving.

Lan Zhan returns to the room with a bucket of water. He lifts a still sleeping Wei Ying and puts him on the smaller bed.
He changes the sheets.
When he returns to Wei Ying with a wash cloth he sees the younger man stirring in his sleep.
"Amm.. " Wei Ying says making grabby hands at Lan Zhan.
Wei Ying looks extremely cute like this... Wangji has always loved it.
"Sleep, I will clean you up and join you....the water is warm. It will not feel uncomfortable." Lan Zhan says putting his hand over Wei Ying's forehead..gently stroking his eyebrows.
"Am." Wei Ying murmurs and goes back to sleep.
Lan Zhan's hands are slow yet sure as he cleans Wei Ying.
He carries the still sleeping man to bed before joining him.

He holds Wei Ying like there is nothing more precious or fragile than the man in his arms, before falling asleep.

*Jiang Cheng's jingshin*
*Before sunrise*

Jiang Cheng is already up and ready to receive his brother and his partner.

Last night Jiang Cheng had not been able to sleep.
The thought of Wei Wuxian leaving again had made him feel a little scared.
'Fucking Meng Yao.' Jiang Cheng thinks again as he walks out to do his daily rounds of his premises.
When he steps out, it's still dark.
'What am I even doing!?...I should be sleeping!' the tells himself when he sees the glowing butterfly.

'Wangji???' Jiang Cheng thinks and opens his palm and the butterfly turns into a letter.

'Zewu Jun!' Jiang Cheng whispers before walking into his jingshin and closing the door.

His heart beats fast as he holds the letter to his chest.

'Jiang Cheng! What the fuck is wrong with you!? You are not a maiden. You are the Clan leader of Jiang Sect!' Jiang Cheng tries to reason with himself.
Once he has calmed down enough he opens the letter.

Jiang Cheng,
Hope you are safe.
Wangji told me that you are now connected to our clan. He did not tell me how and why that came to be, but I am glad.
You know that you have always had my support.
I want to apologize for what Meng Yao has done.I am guilty for not realizing his true nature. Maybe I was too trusting.
Jiang Cheng, we will see you in the evening. You need to trust me and Wangji.
I will try my best to keep Lotus Cove safe. And Wangji has taken a vow to protect your brother. It's the Lan way to protect what is dear to us.
Wangji must have already told you about what you have to do.
I will see you soon.
ZJ
The letter combusts as soon as it has been read.

Jiang Cheng has tears in his eyes.
'All these years wasted in hating and ignoring what was right in front of me.'

The words in the simple yet touching letter warm Jiang Cheng's heart, 'It's the Lan way to protect what is dear to us.'
Jiang Cheng wipes his tears and decides to rectify his mistakes.
He needs to prove to himself that he can be relied upon, that he will stand by the people he cares about....and the people he Loves.

*Wei Ying's jingshin*
*Before sunrise*

Wei Ying opens his eyes and finds Lan Zhan's face next to him. He turns to look outside the window and it's still dark.
His eyes fall on a single candle burning on the bed side.
He looks at himself. He is clean and covered.

'Lan Zhan... always so proper, always so perfect.' Wei Ying thinks and kisses Lan Zhan's forehead.

"Wei.. " Lan Zhan says slowly opening his eyes but Wei Ying doesn't let him finish. He holds the light Bearer close ,"It's still early." he whispers placing a light kiss on his husband's lips.
"Mn." Lan Zhan nods but instead of going back to sleep he hugs Wei Ying and chases his lips.
He doesn't want the kiss to end just yet.
Wei Ying gives in.
Lan Zhan's lips are back on his, nipping at the lower lip.
Wei Ying pushes against Lan Zhan's chest.
Lan Zhan finally opens his eyes and looks at his husband.
"Mn?"
"Lan Zhan... Haven't you had enough. Don't you want to rest some more?" Wei Ying asks stroking nape of Lan Zhan's neck.
"Never enough." Comes the simple reply before Lan Zhan pushes his husband into the bed and settles on top of him.
Wei Ying smiles mischievously ,"Lan Zhan... You are heavy.. I really think you should sleep. Or you will get dark circles under your eyes and all the ladies of Lotus Cove will be upset....Ouch.. Hanguang Jun!" Wei Ying yelps rubbing his waist.
"Hanguang Jun...why did you pinch me!? This will leave a bruise!" Wei Ying scolds the Light Bearer.

Lan Zhan's brows crease.
"Don't talk about them." Lan Zhan says slowly looking into Wei Ying's eyes.
There is still sleep in them.
"Lan Zhan you are still sleepy... you must rest." Wei Ying says lightly carassing the Light Bearer's cheek.
Lan Zhan smiles and buries his face in Wei Ying's neck and falls asleep.

Wei Ying feels happy...he feels calm... he feels like he has finally come home.

{Note :- As mentioned in the last update ie. important note, my updates will be much slower till 4th January.
If anyone has skipped that update please read it as it holds some important information about the future updates.

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Also comment if you felt that this update touched you or made you feel things.
Thank you for reading.
Have a nice day.}