Little fight

The tension in the Cloud Recesses could be cut with a sword. Wei WuXian paced back and forth near the lotus pond, his arms crossed and his face set in a stubborn pout. Lan WangJi stood a few feet away, his expression calm but his golden eyes showing the faintest flicker of frustration.

“You’re impossible, Lan Zhan!” Wei WuXian finally burst out, throwing his hands in the air. “Why do you have to be so... so stoic all the time? Can’t you just say what you’re feeling instead of giving me that mn?”

Lan WangJi’s brow furrowed ever so slightly. “You were reckless.”

Wei WuXian groaned. “Reckless? Lan Zhan, I was saving a village from a spirit! What was I supposed to do? Let it run wild because someone didn’t think it fit into their ‘rules’?”

“You acted without consulting me,” Lan WangJi replied, his voice even but firm. “It was dangerous.”

“I’m not a child, Lan Zhan! I don’t need permission to do what I think is right!” Wei WuXian snapped, his eyes blazing.

Lan WangJi opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, a soft cough interrupted them.

Lan XiChen approached, his expression serene but with a hint of concern in his eyes. Right behind him was Jiang Cheng, who looked less concerned and more irritated.

“What is going on here?” Lan XiChen asked, his voice gentle but commanding.

“Nothing,” Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi said at the same time, though the tension in the air said otherwise.

Jiang Cheng crossed his arms, glaring at Wei WuXian. “Don’t ‘nothing’ me, Wei WuXian. What did you do this time?”

“Why do you always assume it’s me?” Wei WuXian shot back, his voice indignant. “Maybe it’s Lan Zhan’s fault for being so inflexible!”

“Lan WangJi?” Lan XiChen asked, raising an elegant eyebrow.

Lan WangJi hesitated, then spoke. “Wei Ying acted recklessly.”

Wei WuXian rolled his eyes dramatically. “Here we go again! Reckless this, reckless that. Lan Zhan, you make me sound like I’m out setting fires or something.”

“Technically,” Jiang Cheng muttered under his breath, “you have done that before.”

“Not helping, Jiang Cheng!” Wei WuXian snapped.

Lan XiChen sighed softly and turned to Lan WangJi. “WangJi, while I understand your concerns, perhaps you could express them in a way that doesn’t make Wei Gongzi feel... restricted?”

Wei WuXian grinned. “See? Listen to your brother, Lan Zhan. He actually gets it.”

“And Wei WuXian,” Lan XiChen added, his tone firm but kind, “perhaps you could consider how your actions might worry WangJi. He only speaks out because he cares for you.”

Wei WuXian’s grin faltered, replaced by a sheepish expression. “Oh.”

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. “Finally. Someone who can knock some sense into you.”

“Don’t get too smug,” Lan XiChen said, turning to Jiang Cheng with a faint smile. “You could learn a thing or two about expressing your own concerns without yelling.”

Jiang Cheng scowled but didn’t argue.

Lan WangJi looked at Wei WuXian, his gaze softening. “I did not mean to make you feel restricted. But when you are in danger, it is... difficult.”

Wei WuXian’s shoulders sagged, the fight draining out of him. “Lan Zhan, I didn’t mean to upset you. I just—sometimes I act before I think, but it’s because I want to help. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

Lan XiChen smiled, his serene presence easing the tension further. “There. That wasn’t so difficult, was it?”

Jiang Cheng snorted. “You don’t know Wei WuXian. Give it an hour, and he’ll be in trouble again.”

Wei WuXian shot him a playful glare. “I’ll take that as a compliment, Jiang Cheng.”

Lan WangJi stepped closer to Wei WuXian, his hand brushing against his wrist in a silent gesture of reconciliation. “Wei Ying, be careful next time.”

Wei WuXian smiled, the warmth returning to his eyes. “Alright, alright. I promise. No more reckless heroics—well, not without telling you first.”

Lan XiChen and Jiang Cheng exchanged a glance, both looking slightly exasperated but also relieved.

As the four of them walked back toward the main hall, Wei WuXian leaned close to Lan WangJi, whispering, “You know, Lan Zhan, I only argue with you because I love you so much.”

Lan WangJi’s ears turned red, but he didn’t respond. The faintest twitch of his lips, however, said everything.

--

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***