TFOD Chapter 32

After summoning Wen Ning, Wei Wuxian’s mind was in slight turmoil, making it difficult for him to be aware of everything around him. Lan Wangji, if he didn’t want to be noticed, could easily arrive silently. Thus, when he suddenly turned his head, he saw that increasingly cold, icy face in the moonlight. His heart skipped a beat, and he was slightly startled.

He didn’t know how long Lan Wangji had been there, whether he had heard everything he had done and said. If he hadn’t been drunk from the beginning and had followed him the whole way, this scene would be even more awkward. To not mention Wen Ning in person, and then to summon him secretly after the other person fell asleep, was indeed embarrassing.

Lan Wangji, arms crossed, held his Bichen sword to his chest, his expression extremely cold. Wei Wuxian had never seen him display his displeasure so obviously, and felt he had to give an explanation first to ease the atmosphere. He said, “Ahem, Hanguang-Jun.”

Lan Wangji didn’t respond.

Wei Wuxian stood in front of Wen Ning, staring at Lan Wangji face to face, and touched his chin. For some reason, he felt a strong sense of guilt.

Finally, Lan Wangji lowered the hand holding Bichen and took two steps forward. Wei Wuxian saw him go straight for Wen Ning with his sword and thought he was going to kill Wen Ning. His mind raced. “This is bad. Could it be that Lan Zhan was pretending to be drunk, waiting for me to summon Wen Ning so he could kill him? Right, no one would really pass out after only one bowl.”

He said, “Hanguang-Jun, listen to me…”

With a “smack,” Lan Wangji struck Wen Ning with a palm.

Although the strike sounded loud, it didn’t have much actual killing power. Wen Ning stumbled back several steps, wobbled, steadied himself, and continued to stand there, his face blank.

Although Wen Ning’s current state was not as violent and irritable as when he had previously gone berserk, his temper was not much better. That night at Dafan Mountain, when he was surrounded, even without being stabbed by a sword, he had sent everyone flying and lifted them by the neck. If Wei Wuxian hadn’t stopped him, he would have strangled everyone present. But now, after being struck by Lan Wangji, he lowered his head, looking like he wouldn’t dare resist. Wei Wuxian felt a little strange, but he was more relieved. If Wen Ning had fought back, it would be even more difficult to mediate.

At this time, Lan Wangji seemed to feel that the single strike was not enough to express his anger, and pushed Wen Ning again, sending him several meters away.

He said to Wen Ning with displeasure, “Go away.”

Wei Wuxian finally noticed something was wrong.

Lan Wangji’s two strikes, whether in behavior or words, were very… childish.

After pushing Wen Ning far enough away, Lan Wangji seemed finally satisfied. He turned around, walked back, and stood beside Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian carefully stared at him.

Lan Wangji’s face and expression were no different from usual. He was even more serious than usual, more proper, more impeccable. His forehead ribbon was worn perfectly straight, his face was not flushed, he wasn’t out of breath, he walked with a steady gait. He still looked like that dignified, calm, and self-restrained sect leader, Hanguang-Jun.

But when he glanced down, he found that Lan Wangji’s boots were on the wrong feet.

Before he had come out, he had helped Lan Wangji take off his boots and tossed them to the side of the bed. But now, Lan Wangji’s left boot was on his right foot, and his right boot was on his left foot.

Hanguang-Jun, who came from a prestigious family and valued demeanor and etiquette, would never go out to meet people dressed like this.

Wei Wuxian cautiously asked, “Hanguang-Jun, how much is this?”

He held up two fingers. Lan Wangji didn’t answer but solemnly stretched out both hands and carefully held his two fingers, one on each side.

With a “thud,” Bichen sword fell to the ground.

Wei Wuxian: “…”

This was definitely not the normal Lan Zhan!

Wei Wuxian said, “Hanguang-Jun, are you drunk?”

Lan Wangji said, “No.”

People who are drunk never admit they are drunk. Wei Wuxian pulled back his fingers. Lan Wangji still maintained the posture of holding his fingers, intently clenching his hands into two fists. Wei Wuxian looked at him speechlessly and, in the cold night wind, raised his head to look at the moon.

People usually got drunk and then went to sleep, but Lan Wangji was sleeping and then getting drunk. Moreover, after he was drunk, he looked no different from usual, making it difficult to tell.

In the past, Wei Wuxian had countless drinking buddies and had seen all sorts of strange drunken behaviors. Some would howl and cry, some would giggle foolishly, some would go crazy and throw tantrums, some would just collapse in the street, some would try to commit suicide, and some would sob and say “Why don’t you want me anymore.” This was the first time he had seen someone like Lan Wangji, who neither argued nor made a fuss, but had a solemn expression and acted bizarrely.

He twitched the corner of his mouth, forcefully suppressing his laughter, picked up Bichen which had been thrown on the ground, and slung it on his back, saying, “Okay, let’s go back.”

He couldn’t let Lan Wangji run around like this, who knows what else he would do.

Fortunately, Lan Wangji seemed to be quite amenable when drunk and nodded with good manners, walking alongside him. If someone were to pass by, they would certainly believe that these were two close friends enjoying a leisurely stroll at night and praise their elegant behavior.

Behind them, Wen Ning silently followed. Wei Wuxian was about to say something to him, when Lan Wangji suddenly turned around and gave him another angry palm strike. This time, it hit Wen Ning’s head.

Wen Ning’s head was knocked to the side, making it drop even lower. Although his facial muscles were stiff and he had no expression, and his eyes had no visible emotion, it was clear that he appeared aggrieved. Wei Wuxian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and grabbed Lan Wangji’s arm, saying, “Why did you hit him!”

Lan Wangji said to Wen Ning in a threatening tone that he would never use when sober, “Go away!”

Wei Wuxian knew that you couldn’t argue with a drunk person, so he quickly said, “Okay, okay, as you wish, go away.” He said, and then pulled out his bamboo flute. But before he could even put the flute to his lips, Lan Wangji grabbed it, saying, “You’re not allowed to play it for him.”

Wei Wuxian teased, “Why are you so domineering?”

Lan Wangji repeated with displeasure, “You’re not allowed to play it for him!”

Wei Wuxian had figured it out. Drunk people often have a lot to say, but Lan Wangji usually didn’t like to talk much, so when he had too much to drink, he would keep repeating the same sentence. He thought that Lan Wangji disliked demonic practices, and probably didn’t like him controlling Wen Ning with his flute. He had to follow his lead, and said, “Okay. I’ll only play it for you, okay?”

Lan Wangji nodded in satisfaction, but kept the flute in his hands, playing with it instead of returning it to him.

Wei Wuxian had to whistle twice to Wen Ning, saying, “Hide yourself well, don’t let anyone find you.”

Wen Ning seemed like he wanted to follow them, but after receiving the command, he was also afraid of being hit by Lan Wangji again, so he slowly turned around and, dragging his feet and clanking, walked away with a rather dejected air.

Wei Wuxian said to Lan Wangji, “Lan Zhan, how is it that when you are drunk, your face doesn’t even get red?”

Because Lan Wangji seemed too normal, even more normal than Wei Wuxian, he couldn’t help but speak to him in a normal tone. Who would have guessed that, upon hearing that sentence, Lan Wangji would suddenly reach out and pull him into his arms?

Caught off guard, Wei Wuxian was pulled headfirst into his chest.

While he was still dazed, Lan Wangji’s voice came from above, “Listen to my heartbeat.”

“What?”

Lan Wangji said, “Can’t tell by looking at my face, so listen to my heartbeat.”

While speaking, his chest vibrated with his low voice, his heart was beating steadily and powerfully, thud, thud, a little faster than usual. Wei Wuxian raised his head, understanding. “Can’t tell by looking at your face, so I have to listen to your heartbeat to judge?”

Lan Wangji honestly said, “Mm.”

Wei Wuxian was amused.

Was it possible that Lan Wangji’s skin was so thick that no blush could show through? It didn’t seem like it!

The drunk Lan Wangji was actually so honest, and his actions and words were much more… unrestrained than usual!

It was rare to see such an honest and frank Lan Wangji, and how could Wei Wuxian treat him with courtesy and not play a few tricks?

He chased Lan Wangji back to the inn. After entering the room, he first pressed him onto the bed and took off the pair of boots he had put on the wrong feet. Considering that he probably wouldn’t wipe his face himself right now, he took off Lan Wangji’s headband, brought in a basin of hot water and a towel, wrung it out, and folded it into a square, and gently wiped his face with it.

During this process, Lan Wangji didn’t resist at all, letting him do whatever he wanted. Except for squinting slightly when the towel was near his eyes, he kept staring at him with unblinking eyes. Wei Wuxian was harboring all kinds of mischievous thoughts, and seeing his clear gaze, couldn’t help but tickle Lan Wangji’s chin and laugh, “Why are you staring at me? Am I handsome?”

He finished wiping him, and without waiting for Lan Wangji to respond, Wei Wuxian tossed the towel into the basin, saying, “Your face is clean, would you like to drink some water?”

There was no movement behind him. He turned his head to look and saw that Lan Wangji was holding the basin and had already buried his face in it.

Wei Wuxian was shocked and quickly grabbed it, moving the basin away. “I didn’t say for you to drink the water in here!”

Lan Wangji lifted his head with a calm expression, drops of clear water sliding from his jaw, soaking his front collar. Wei Wuxian looked at him with mixed feelings, a myriad of complex emotions, “… Did he drink it or not? It’s best that Lan Zhan doesn’t remember anything after sobering up, or else he’ll never be able to show his face to anyone again.”

Wei Wuxian used his sleeve to wipe away the water droplets on his jaw, and put his arm around his shoulder, “Hanguang-Jun, right now is it true that you’ll do whatever I say?”

Lan Wangji said, “Mm.”

Wei Wuxian, “Will you answer whatever I ask?”

Lan Wangji, “Mm.”

Wei Wuxian put a knee on the bed, hooked up one side of his mouth, and said, “Okay. I’ll ask you, did you ever sneak a sip of the Emperor’s Smile hidden in your room?”

Lan Wangji, “No.”

Wei Wuxian, “Do you like rabbits?”

Lan Wangji, “Like.”

Wei Wuxian, “Have you ever broken any rules?”

Lan Wangji, “Yes.”

Wei Wuxian, “Have you ever liked anyone?”

Lan Wangji, “Yes.”

Wei Wuxian’s questions all stopped at the point of curiosity, he wasn’t really trying to take advantage of the situation to steal Lan Wangji’s secrets, he was just confirming whether he would indeed answer everything. He continued to ask, “What about Jiang Cheng?”

Frowning, “Hmph.”

Wei Wuxian, “What about Wen Ning?”

Coldly, “Heh.”

Wei Wuxian pointed to himself with a smile, “What about this?”

Lan Wangji, “Mine.”

“…”

Lan Wangji stared at him, speaking clearly and deliberately, “Mine.”

Wei Wuxian suddenly understood.

He took off Bichen and thought, “Just now when I pointed at myself, Lan Zhan must have understood that the word ‘this’ was referring to the Bichen I was carrying.”

Thinking of this, he got off the bed, holding Bichen and walking from left to right and from east to west in the room. Sure enough, wherever he walked, Lan Wangji’s gaze followed him intently. He was sincere, candid, straightforward, and open.

Wei Wuxian was so overwhelmed by his almost passionate gaze that he could barely stand. He held Bichen in front of Lan Wangji, “Do you want it?”

Lan Wangji said, “Want.”

Seeming to think this wasn’t enough to demonstrate his desire, Lan Wangji grabbed the hand holding Bichen, his light eyes looking directly at him, taking a soft breath and repeating each word forcefully, “…want.”

Wei Wuxian knew he was completely drunk and that these words weren’t said to him, but he was still stunned by those two words, and his arms and legs felt weak.

He thought, “Lan Zhan is really… if he were so honest and passionate with a girl, what a terrifying man he would be!”

Steadying his heart, Wei Wuxian said, “How did you recognize me? Why did you help me?”

Lan Wangji softly parted his lips. Wei Wuxian leaned closer to hear his answer. Who would have thought, Lan Wangji would suddenly turn his face and push him down onto the bed with his hand.

The candlelight was extinguished with a wave and Bichen was tossed to the ground by its owner again.

Wei Wuxian’s vision swam from the push, and thought that he was awake, he said, “Lan Zhan?!”

A familiar place behind his waist was smacked, and he felt like he did the first night at Cloud Recesses, his whole body weak and numb, unable to move. Lan Wangji pulled back his hand, lay down beside him, pulled the blanket over both of them, and carefully tucked in Wei Wuxian’s edges, saying, “It is Hai time. Rest.”

It turned out that the Lan family’s frightening sleep schedule was at work.

Wei Wuxian’s question was interrupted, and he stared at the bed canopy, “Can’t we chat while resting?”

Lan Wangji said, “Cannot.”

…Oh well, there will always be a chance to get Lan Wangji drunk again, he’ll ask him sooner or later.

Wei Wuxian said, “Lan Zhan, release me. I booked two rooms, we don’t have to squeeze into one bed.”

After a moment of silence, Lan Wangji’s hand reached over, and after fumbling around under the blankets for a while, began slowly undoing his belt. Wei Wuxian yelled, “Okay! Stop! Not that undoing!!! Uhm!!! Okay! I’ll lie down, I’ll sleep!!”

In the darkness, it was deathly silent.

After a long silence, Wei Wuxian said again, “I finally know why your family bans alcohol. You pass out after one bowl, and your drinking etiquette is so bad. If the Lan family members are all like you when drunk, alcohol should be banned. Whoever drinks gets beaten.”

Lan Wangji closed his eyes and put his hand over his mouth.

He said, “Shhh.”

Wei Wuxian felt like his breath was stuck between his chest and his lips, unable to go up or down.

It seemed like, ever since he came back, every time he tried to tease Lan Wangji like before, it always turned into self-inflicted suffering.

It shouldn’t be like this?! Where did he go wrong?!