A yuan

If I say, meeting that child today made me realise, there are angels sent by the almighty to act as a salve to a bruised heart, then I am not lying.

Walking through the crowded market, my heart is eager to meet the only man who means everything to me. Wei, where are you?

As I take the next step, I am jostled by a ball clinging to my left leg. Surprised, I look down and I realise, it's not a ball. It's a child. When he looks up, I am thrown back to a memory of another child.

At first the child grins but soon when his eyes meet mine starts to wail. He cries his heart out and I am out of my wits. Who is this child? From where did he come? Who are his parents? His wails attract the crowd nearby and soon a huge mob is gathered around us. The child clings on and continues to cry.

I look around worried, I want to ask someone for help. Can someone please help me? Can someone help me quieten this child?

Can I use my muting spell?

40

No Wangji, that's not right. I sigh.

Suddenly a man peers at us and comments tona bystander next to him "Why is this child crying so much?" He then directs his question to me "why don't you pick up the child?"

Perpelxed, I am shocked. Me? Pick up the child? What? How?

"Are you a new father? Don't you know how to console a child?" Another questions.

What? Father? I am speechless. What's happening?

"Wait till you have more kids, like me you'll learn" another Snickers.

Have more kids? But...

Suddenly this child starts calling out "Papa" and my heart palpitates.

Papa? What? I am not your father? Someone please help? I look around.

"You're child is calling for you, why aren't you picking him up? Don't be so cruel" another bystander mocks.

.jade tassel fastened on my waist belt.

"Where is the mother?" Someone enquires and my heart falls. Mother?

5

"He's got your face. He looks like you. But you're so cold. Maybe he's like his mother" someone comments.

3

"Oh your son must be hungry" a lady speaks and the child blinks. I blink at the child. Unable to fathom my situation, we both stand there in middle of the market with unknown strangers surrounding us, when I hear a voice.

"Wait, he's mine" a man walks towards us and I turn.

It's my Wei.

His smile is a balm to my battered heart. Meeting him after so long, it's not fair that my heart still falters when he's nearby.

Wei stands in front of me and he grins "Lan Zhan, fancy seeing you here" the child suddenly giggles and Wei's eyes crinkle. The child immediately leaves my leg and clings on to Wei's. The confused crowd yet again questions,' Where is the mother? Who is the father?" Grinning Wei disperses the crowd and they all look disappointed for not being able to watch the drama unfold anymore.

Turning back to me, Wei's eyes sparkle "Lan Zhan, how come you're at Yiling?"

To be with you.

I want to say that, but unable to. So instead I lie "Night Hunt".

"Here?" He ponders.

"Nearby" I quickly evade the question and ask the one thing that's been bothering me "the child?" and I immediately regret asking when he says "it's mine".

What? Did... Did you fall...in love? How? This kid looks about to be 3 or 4 years of age!

1

1

Just as I start assuming, Wei being as he is, starts laughing "Lan Zhan, Oh Lan Zhan, you haven't changed. I loved teasing you back then and even now. He isn't mine. He's the child of a member of Wen Clan. A Yuan" he calls the child's name and wipes his tears.

The kid looks up and smiles "A Yuan, this is my friend, Lan Wangji" and looking at me, Wei smiles "this is A Yuan" the kid smiles and then hides behind Wei.

What do I say? Should I...bow? No I can't do that? Why haven't we ever been taught how to speak to a child? What should one do? But before I could contemplate, Wei distracts A Yuan "Look there" he points out to various toys "are they pretty?" The kid nods. "Do you like them?" The kid nods again, his eyes sparkling with interest. "Do you want one?" The kid nods vigorously.

8

2

Wei laughs and leaves the stall and walks towards the opposite direction.

Wait. What? He's not going to buy the kid those toys? A Yuan who had just stopped crying starts to wail again. What is Wei upto?

"Wei?"

"Yeah!"

"Aren't you going to buy the kid those toys?"

"Why should I?"

Unbelievable. What a... Not bothering him, I look at the kid "Which one do you want?" and the kid looks at me as if he is terrified. Maybe he is. I tone down my annoyance on Wei and enquire again softly, pointing out to the toys "Which one do you want?" and the kid still is unable to answer. Glaring at Wei, I turn towards the seller "Give me everything" problem solved. Everyone are happy. Especially the angel who looks absolutely delighted with his pockets full.

17

Just as I am about to turn to Wei ans talk to him, I yet again feel a heavy weight on my leg. Looking down, I see a much happier A Yuan, grinning at me.

"A Yuan likes you" Wei comments offhandedly and I look at A Yuan "He only hugs those whom he likes and it seems he likes you. Lan Zhan, be happy, there is someone who likes your cold nature" Wei laughs and I inwardly sigh.

"Lan Zhan, forget your night hunt for now, come lets have lunch. I am meeting you after such a long time, let's reminisce our past together" he picks up A Yuan and does not even wait for my reply.

As for me, I am delighted to spend some time with him.

We enter the Yiling Lunch House and occupy a table in the middle. "Lan Zhan, it's my treat. Please order what ever you want" he smiles and then plays with A Yuan.

look old too. Are you well, Wei? Why does your spiritual power seem to be so low? A paper containing an assortment of dishes names are written in front of me.

My Wei likes spicy food and sol order some. As for A Yuan, I order a bowl of sweet soup. As I finish ordering, A Yuan occupies a seat next to me and looks at me with contemplation. "A Yuan, come here" Wei calls out "let Lan Zhan eat properly, don't get in his way". The child looks at me then him and pouts "No". "A Yuan" Wei calls his name and he clings to my side. "Let it be, he is not bothering me" I look at Wei, afraid he might make the child cry again.

"He likes you because you purchased all those goods for him" he teases me and then sticks his tongue out towards A Yuan. I smile inwardly. Something's don't change, do they?

Please Wei, don't change.

Just as the food arrived, A Yuan was least bothered. He continued to play with the butterflies he had in his hand. He showed them to me and smiled. He used the one in his right hand to bring it as close to the one in his left and said shyly "I like you".

What?

Sputtering, Wei calls A Yuan "where did you learn all this? Keep it aside and come, eat your food" but the child wasn't interested.

Sputtering, Wei calls A Yuan "where did you learn all this? Keep it aside and come, eat your food" but the child wasn't interested.

"A Yuan, drink this, your new dad got it for you" at that, his ears perk up and sitting beside me, he placed the butterflies carefully on the table and rejoiced the food he was having. Watching Wei and the kid eating, I could detect that their life was far from easy. Here was a man who had wealth and fame with him one upon a time and had a life of ease and happiness.

What happened Wei? When did all this change? Are you truly alright? Are you hurting?

Pushing the bowl to Wei, A Yuan urged Wei to try some soup "Xian, brother, eat" and Wei took a spoonful and nodded "Yes tasty".

"Don't talk and eat" listening to my voice, A Yuan immediately dug into his bowl and Wei looked surprised "How come he listens to you but not me?" Looking at Weil repeat "Don't talk, whilst eating". He grins and shakes his head "Lan Zhan, you won't ever change, would you?"

For you, never. But the words were left unsaid. "So Lan Zhan, what's happening in

the outside world?" He takes a bite

of the bread in front of him.

'Hanguang-Jun, could you pass on a message to him?' I remember Wei's Shijie requesting me.

"Marriage" I simply reply.

"Marriage?" He enquires and I nod.

"Arrange marriage"

"Which two sect?" He takes another bite.

"Lan Lingjin Sect and Yunmeng Jiang Sect" I wait for his reaction and he freezes. Slowly his eyes seek mine.

"Shi... I mean Lady Jiang and Jin Zi Xuan?" His eyes look pained and I nod. I want to hug him, caresses his cheeks and soothe the pain in there and tell him, these things shouldn't matter. I am here for you. But I am unable to do a thing for him.

My Wei.

"Lan Zhan, my sister deserves the best, but she fell in love with him. I wish I could see the marriage. But, I won't be allowed" his voice is coarse.

Dear Wei.

He's quite and the tension is broken when A Yuan pats my leg. He holds two entangled butterflies. He wants me to help him.

Patiently, I help him and he grins happily.

1

Lan Zhan" Wei teases "I never knew you were good with kids, if you spoil him, he would never want to come back with me" he pauses and his eyes widen. Taking out a talisman, it burns red.

"Oh no, something has happened back home, Lan Zhan, we need to leave" he immediately picks up A Yuan and runs out of the Inn. Quickly paying the owner for the food, I look at the toys. A memory flashes as I run towards Wei and A Yuan.

"Wei?" I hand him the toys and he looks concerned "I am sorry to leave this way, but I need to head back". Nodding, I pick up A Yuan "I'll come with you" and he looks shocked.

As we walk, I watch the toys in Wei's hand. One he had back then too, the one that I had given him a lifetime ago.

Phew, this is the longest chapter I have ever written with a word count of 1907 So finally Lan Zhan meets his future family. Yay!!! A Yuan is the cutest (^.^)