Chapter Seven
"Lan Zhan?" Wei Yue whispered after they left the classroom, glancing at the man from the corner of her eye.
"Hm?" He hummed, walking through the grounds swiftly with the girl in tow.
"Has my presence ever bothered you as much as my brothers does?" She asked, he looked at her and frowned.
"You're entirely different from your brother. I am utterly shocked that he is your twin, as I would never have pegged you as siblings except for how similar you look." He stated, shaking his head lightly before looking forwards. "You have never bothered me, Wei Yue. Someone wants you." He murmured before turning, though the girl stopped walking and saw Jiang Yanli hurrying towards her.
"Wei Yingyue!" She laughed, hugging her close friend and sister tightly. The younger girl smiled softly, gently patting Yanli's shoulder.
"Hello, Jiejie." She whispered, closing her eyes as the two girls held each other closely. When they broke apart, Yanli and Wei Yue walked towards Wei Yue's room in the Recesses that she has been living in since her second visit. Once inside, Wei Yue called for tea and she sat Yanli down before sitting across from her older sister.
"How have you been, A-Yue?" The older girl asked, grabbing her Meimei's hand.
"I've been good, Jiejie. And you?" The girl returned, rubbing her sister's hand.
"I have missed you, I was excited when father told me you were attending these lessons too, though I am not surprised." Yanli smiled, looking at her younger sibling's face when the tea was brought to them. "So, are you and the Light Bearing Lord close? I heard him call you by your birth name earlier. Only few people do that." She stated before she lifted her glass.
"Lan Zhan and I have practically grown up together, Jiejie. Of course he calls me by my birth name." Wei Yingyue shrugged, though she knew she was one of the only people Lan Zhan would even consider spending more time with than necessary. "I feel as if we're close, but I don't know if he feels that way." Wei Yue confessed.
"What about you and Zewu-Jun?" The other girl asked, a small grin on her face.
"Zewu-Jun and I have gotten closer, though I refuse to call him anything other than his title." Wei Yue stated, looking at Jiang Yanli from under her lashes.
"Because you're a tease, Wei Yue." The latter muttered, shaking her head as the younger girl refilled her cup while they laughed lightly.
Wei Yue walked down the path from her bedroom and study, her hands behind her back as she walked towards the Library Pavilion. As she walked inside, her eyes scanned around before falling on the person who she was in search for. She smiled as she looked at her older brother, the man so immersed in drawing that he did not notice her until she was standing right behind him.
"Ah!" He jumped when she let out a small bark, mimicking a small dog. He turned and his eyes landed on his sister, a small giggle leaving her lips as he let out a sound of annoyance. "Wei Yue, honestly." He huffed, shaking his head as he pushed her when she knelt beside him. She smirked as she looked at the drawing on his table, showing the picture of her sitting beside Lan Zhan in class.
"Wei Ying, this is not what you're supposed to be doing." She whispered as she moved the picture away, placing it on the ground as she set up a new sheet for him. "Write the GusuLan rules, just like Lan Qiren ordered." She looked into his eyes, their identical eyes silently challenging each other. He narrowed his eyes, her eyes followed suit and she returned his glare. Finally, after a while, the girl stood and walked to her own table. Halfway across from him, she stopped and looked down at her brother. "Wei Wuxian, please don't stir up trouble. It is fine when it is at home, people there know you. But here, your actions reflect badly on the YunmengJiang Sect. It reflects badly on me." The look on her brother's face changed, showing one of guilt. "Please do as Teacher Qiren tells you, Wei Ying." She finished, bowing her head once before she turned and walked to her table. She began to study silently, ignoring the glances her brother would throw at her. She simply studied and wrote notes, flipping through various books as her brother watched her silently.
Over the years, the way his sister studied had not changed. She still studied with multiple books finding their way to her desk, on the floor on either side of her, and even on her lap as she read multiple at once. Now, she seemed to be at peace as she worked in the Library Pavilion in the Recesses. Wei Ying smiled as he watched his little sister stand to walk to another shelf, though when she walked passed the door she stopped. He went to say something when Lan Wangji walked in, his eyes not leaving Wei Yue as she bowed to him slightly.
"It is time for my secluded meditation, but I know you haven't had time to rest since this morning. Would you like to come with me?" Lan Zhan asked her, she smiled gently and nodded. Wei Wuxian watched as his little sister rushed about, putting away her books and gathering her papers before stopping in front of his table.
"Wei Ying, finish the section you're in now. When you're done, it should be dinner time. And, please, make sure you're in bed by nine." She whispered to him as she handed back his drawing of her, though he shook his head.
"Keep it, I have plenty. Enjoy your meditation, Yingying." He smiled as she bowed her head gently, turning to walk towards the already retreating Lan Wangji.