Jiang Cheng was munching on an onion, walking back to the Hanshi with his new stash of snacks, safely ensconced within his sleeves, when he found himself standing outside the Jingshi.

He looked at the doors and felt a pang go through his heart.

He missed his brother.

He missed Lan WangJi too.

That last one was a surprise, one he never thought he'd feel, but there it was. Jiang Cheng had never actually liked him, so he'd never thought about how he felt towards Lan WangJi.

In the beginning, when they'd first met, only by chance and probably never would have out of choice, through a forgotten invitation, the Jade had struck him as cold and unfeeling, well representing his nickname. Calmly refusing entry, despite the many protesting pouts from his brother, which up till now, Jiang Cheng had found nobody could resist, but this young man.

Throughout their interactions, he had always assumed that Lan WangJi had only tolerated Wei WuXian out of politeness, and it was through the painful days of separation, his family destroyed and Wei WuXian going missing, that he had begun to suspect that perhaps their friendship wasn't as one-sided as he had thought.

During that time, he had learned to work, sword by sword with the younger Jade, to the point of developing, if not friendship, at least a deep respect for one another. Although that probably was one-sided.

He knew Lan WangJi only tolerated him, in the way one tolerates a stain on one's clothes only until they can be changed, and Jiang Cheng didn't mind it. He understood that as the brother of Wei WuXian, he had a lot to answer for, and to say it was because he was the younger brother, well, that was just lame even to his own ears.

He wondered why his younger self had made such bad decisions? Why, when Jin GuangYao had pointed them out, one by one, he was forced to examine himself...and come up short.

He could blame the pressures of being a Sect Leader at such a young age, but he knew that was not the whole truth. In fact, if he was honest, it was the perpetual tug of war between his parents, the constant shoving of himself by one parent to the other, consequently feeling unwanted. It was no fun being used as ammunition to make the other feel bad, and somehow, it was only he who felt bad at the end of every argument.

And then of course, Wei WuXian had to come along.

The boy was a genius, a prodigy. He was good, no, excellent at everything.

His parents noticed. His mother used him as an example in every single conversation. His father showered the orphan boy with more love and attention in a day than he had shown his blood son in a year. How could Jiang Cheng not be affected?

Teachers noticed, other disciples noticed. Wei WuXian became head disciple, and then everyone noticed.

Jiang Cheng wished he could have hated Wei WuXian. It would have made everything so much easier to handle, to understand, but the truth was, he loved Wei WuXian.

Their sister had made him see. Perhaps that was one relationship that wasn't tarnished by his jealousy, in that he could see, and A-Jie made clear, that she loved them both equally. Even if it was a little bit tipped towards Wei WuXian, Jiang Cheng didn't mind so much here.

Wei WuXian was a lantern in a dark sky, the full moon at night, as every one of the brilliant stars haunting the darkness. Wei WuXian shined.

He was the flame to which all moths flocked towards, the light at the end of a tunnel, the warm bed at the end of a day full of toil.

Wei WuXian attracted everyone and everything; in that, he could be compared to a magnet.

And if there was one thing he regretted, every single day, it was how easily he had caved. "Let me go." Wei WuXian had said, and Jiang Cheng did.

Tears fell from his eyes.

Where was Wei WuXian now? They had not received any news for a few days now, and it was certainly worrying.

He was surprised at himself too, because his brother had managed to find the most annoying, carbon copy of himself, to adopt. Li XiWang was clever, and not afraid to show it if she thought she was right. It was hard to like her, but even harder not to love her.

Jiang Cheng couldn't imagine living without her, or any of them, for that matter.

"Wanyin?"

The soft voice brought him out of his thoughts. He looked up to find Huan staring at him, first at his eyes, and then pointedly at his snack.

"I'm guessing that's not what made you cry." He wiped away the tears with the pads of his thumbs.

"Who's crying? Not me!" Jiang Cheng continued to protest, even while he was gathered up into the warmest embrace.

"It's alright, you know. They'll be back sooner than you think." XiChen found himself stroking his hair, like he used to for baby WangJi whenever he was upset.

It seemed to be working ror Jiang Cheng too. He felt him calm, his arms coming around him too.

"Do you feel better now?" He leaned back so he could look into that handsome face.

Purple eyes stared back, a rare vulnerability shining forth, and XiChen wondered how it was possible to fall in love with him more.

"I have good news for you." XiChen took hold of his free hand and gently turned him towards the library.

Jiang Cheng took another bite, after asking, "really? What?"

"Brother sent a message. Uncle Qiren is waiting for us in the library, with Jin Ling. I thought we could find out what news he has, together."

Jiang Cheng hummed his approval, and they walked hand in hand to the library.

*****

Uncle Qiren stared at the nervous boy in front of him, and stroked his beard. He sipped his tea, a stronger brew because, well, of a certain someone, conspicuously absent from Cloud Recesses these days.

Jin Ling reminded him of those days gone by, when his uncle was the same around him, perhaps more daring and definitely less afraid.

Wei WuXian had somehow wormed his way, much like a parasite, into his heart, and now the absence was causing him discomfort.

Uncle Qiren did not mean to hate the boy, in the beginning. Given the pressures of old acquaintances, he was willing to give the boy a chance, but he was so loud...so contrary...so difficult to control.

Just like his mother.

He shut down those thoughts immediately. That was a path of pain and regret, he had no wish to relive.

Instead, he thought of the boy, now a man, who had fallen in love with his precious nephew. The youngest one, the most brilliant one, stolen by this...this good person.

Uncle Qiren was shocked.

When had he changed his mind? When had he forgiven the boy for being too much? Too much like his mother? He knew this because forgiveness came before love, and now he had no doubts about it: he loved Wei WuXian.

Just as much as Lan WangJi and Lan XiChen.

And of course, it went without saying, he would never tell him so.

It would make him entirely too happy, and a happy Wei WuXian was asking for trouble.

Maybe it was in the way he would come and see him, of his own accord, at any given time of day, or night, for that matter. Uncle Qiren found himself enjoying these impromptu visits, even looking forward to them. He liked the fact that Wei WuXian used to run ideas by him, asking him for suggestions, and actually listened to his answers.

He didn't want to admit it, but Wei Ying visited him far more frequently than his nephews, something that was better not mentioned. They compared different types of tea, because now, Wei WuXian had developed quite a taste for it. Even swapping recipes. Uncle Qiren blushed.

Jin Ling watched the old man, stepping back when he changed colour.

Had he done something wrong? He wished his uncles would get here faster, because then he could leave. Yes, he wanted to know what his other uncles were up to, but he was really only here for one person, and he could take all the stupid teasing that was sure to follow, if they would just get a move on.

He and SiZhui had been sending messages on the regular, but those talismans had finished, and he made a mental note to ask his Uncle Wei for more, when he saw him.

Finally, the welcome sound of two sets of footsteps, but how was it that the scent reached them first?

Uncle Qiren pointedly stepped back, and Jin Ling tried to breathe through his teeth. He wondered how his Uncle XiChen tolerated this new...interest in vegetables.

The couple entered and XiChen opened his palm to reveal a shining golden butterfly. It looked heavier than normal, and when he opened it, they found out why.

Nestled within the folds of parchment, Wei Ying had placed the tiniest conch shell.