10Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! Time for a different pairing this time round. While I don't condone Meng Yao/Jin GuangYao's many crimes, I do feel sorry that he and Lan XiChen didn't get to have their happy ending. Perhaps if Lan XiChen hadn't second guessed the instant attraction between himself and the boy with the round innocent eyes, dimpled smile and humble demeanour, things might have turned out differently for them and everyone else. Hope you enjoy this little what-if :)
Summary: In which Lan XiChen is determined to get to know Meng Yao better despite what gossip mongers say.
Warnings: Spoilers for The Untamed TV series up to Episode 4. Scenes from The Untamed drama are italicised.
Rating: T
Disclaimer: The Untamed series is based on the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation novel which belongs to Mo Xiang Tong Xiu.
- Story Start -
The first time Meng Yao laid eyes on Lan XiChen was in the Orchid Room, one of the study halls at Cloud Recesses.
He had heard of the two Jades of Lan, of course. They were famous for their incomparable beauty, noble bearing, exceptional sword skills and musical prowess. But while the younger brother had a cold and unsmiling disposition, the elder one... ahh!
It was as if the sun, the moon and the stars had all combined together to create this perfect being. Lan XiChen was like... like a God come to life. Well, more like a celestial maiden for he possessed the clearest complexion Meng Yao had ever seen, the fairest skin, the gentlest eyes and the kindest smile. But Lan XiChen was taller than the average maiden, his body slender yet strong and upright.
Meng Yao had an instant crush on him.
- o -
The first time Meng Yao touched Lan XiChen was in that same room, on that same day.
It was the start of the three month lecture and every head disciple from the other Sects had to introduce themselves and present a gift for Teacher Lan QiRen. When it was the Nie Sect's turn, young Master Nie hurriedly set down the small cage containing the goldfinch he had captured earlier. Meng Yao picked up their gift enclosed in a metal box and followed him to the middle of the room, standing a few feet behind him as an attendant should.
Young Master Nie bowed and introduced himself.
"I, Nie HuaiSang, of the Nie Clan of Qinghe greet Teacher."
He knelt down and bowed again with his forehead almost touching the floor and then he got up, Meng Yao scrupulously copying his movements.
"On behalf of the Nie Clan, I present Teacher with a purple ceramic cauldron," he continued before prompting Meng Yao to continue.
With a slight bow of acknowledgement, Meng Yao introduced himself.
"I'm Meng Yao, the Vice Envoy of the Nie Clan. I present this purple ceramic cauldron to you on behalf of Sect Leader Nie. The purple sand is ancient and solemn. It's simple and rich in quality. It's fitting to the style of Teacher Lan's lessons. I hope Teacher will look favourably on it."
Before he could finish, two disciples behind him started whispering and he heard the same detested words that had burned themselves into his brain even before he was old enough to understand what they meant.
One of the many illegitimate sons of the Jin Sect Leader Jin GuangShan.
But much, much worse because he was the son of a prostitute.
As incomparable to the legitimate heir, Jin ZiXuan, also attending the same lecture, as Hell was from Heaven.
"Quiet!" Teacher Lan snapped, but it was too late; the damage was already done. Meng Yao was immediately subjected to looks of speculation, sympathy or disdain from the other disciples. Worse still, the two Jade Lans were also in attendance and had heard every demeaning word.
Meng Yao didn't care what the stoic younger brother thought, but he dreaded seeing the familiar disgust in the elder brother's eyes. He wanted to drop the box and flee right there and then. He couldn't. Instead, he kept his head lowered, digging a thumbnail in the intricate metal carvings on the box in his hands to ground himself.
As if he could ever forget his late beloved mother's profession! It seemed to be an insurmountable stigma he could never escape from. Not in this life.
When Lan XiChen, the famed ZeWu Jun himself stepped down from the front dais, Meng Yao trembled, wondering if he would be thrown out to prevent his unworthy upbringing from besmirching the pristine purity of the Orchid Room. To his utter astonishment, he was complimented on his capability and eloquence.
Daring to look up, Meng Yao saw the instant Lan XiChen's pink lips part in surprise, saw the same surprise reflected in those beautiful eyes. He quickly lowered his head again, heart inexplicably racing inside his chest.
Impossible!
He must have imagined that flicker of interest. No one could possibly be interested in a nobody like him, let alone someone like Lan XiChen. But it didn't end there. Lan XiChen surprised him yet again by lifting the cover of the box to look at and praise the gift. Then he replaced the cover and took the box from Meng Yao himself.
Oh.
For several seconds, each a tiny eternity in itself, warm fingers placed themselves under Meng Yao's, sharing the weight of the gift before the box exchanged hands. He could swear Lan XiChen's touch left tingles in its wake, causing his heart rate to double in speed. It was all he could manage to not faint on the spot in sheer delight. He managed a shaky smile and a soft 'Thank you, ZeWu Zun" and was bestowed with another gracious smile and nod.
When the Wen clan disrupted the ceremony, Meng Yao kept quiet and stood in front of young Master Nie to protect him. Rash words between young Master Wei and Wen Chao led to a standoff with swords drawn. Meng Yao was once again, lost in admiration as ZeWu Jun played his flute Liebing, the low dulcet notes sending the swords flying up into the air and landing straight down, point buried in the wooden floor.
With the hot headed disciples disarmed, the situation was defused. The Wen clan disciples soon marched off, leaving behind Wen Qing and her brother Wen Ning to attend the same lecture. After the ceremony ended, Meng Yao knew it was time to return to QingHe. He wasn't a student here after all. Still, he loitered outside, waiting for ZeWu Jun to finish his discussion with Teacher Lan.
As soon as the tall, blue garbed figure came out, Meng Yao hurried over to him.
"ZeWu Jun," he greeted with a formal salutation and bow.
"Young Master Meng," Lan XiChen greeted with a brief bow in return. "The ceremony has ended. Why aren't you resting?"
"I especially came to say goodbye to you," Meng Yao replied.
"Say goodbye?" Lan XiChen replied, sounding surprised, even dismayed. "Young Master Meng, why don't you leave after a few days?"
It was terribly tempting to say yes to such a gracious invitation, but Meng Yao forced himself to decline.
"I'm just a guest disciple of the Nie Clan. It is probably best to return there soon," he stated in a monotone.
"If that's the case, then XiChen will not ask you to stay any longer," Lan XiChen replied and offered a few words of advice about Sect Leader Nie which Meng Yao already knew, but listened to intently anyway. He was already loathe to leave this lovely place and the tall kind man talking to him.
"I'll remember that," Meng Yao replied and took a deep breath. "A moment ago at the ceremony, it was all thanks to you that I was saved from embarrassment."
Taking a step back, he offered an even grander salutation and bow, only to have two strong hands stopping his arms, preventing him from bowing any lower.
"That's too much," ZeWu Jun protested. "You and I are peers. You do not need to make such big gestures."
Touched by his words, Meng Yao managed a smile.
"I'll take my leave," he said and turned on his heel.
How he wished that the man would call after him, maybe talk to him a while longer. But there was only silence as each step he took brought him further and further away from-
"Young Master Meng. Please wait."
Meng Yao stopped at once and turned around.
"Yes?"
"At least stay a day," Lan XiChen requested.
Meng Yao blinked, wondering if he had heard wrong.
"It would be exceedingly rude of me to let you leave without showing you a few notable sights of Cloud Recesses. Sect Leader Nie would be disappointed if he found out about this," Lan XiChen explained with a charming smile that did all sorts of things to Meng Yao's insides.
"He would never know," Meng Yao replied, not realising he was already walking back towards the man.
"But I would," Lan XiChen countered.
Meng Yao couldn't help smiling despite the heat rising in his face.
"In that case, I'll leave tomorrow morning," he said impulsively and watched Lan XiChen's eyes light up.
"Thank you. That would allow me to give you a proper tour of Cloud Recesses."
Meng Yao's mouth fell open in shock.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of imposing on ZeWu Jun for so long!"
"It's no trouble at all," Lan XiChen insisted. "I am free this afternoon and evening."
Speechless with delight, Meng Yao could only smile and bow his thanks.
"Our library contains many well known manuscripts. I will take you there this afternoon," Lan XiChen continued. "In the meantime, I will show you one of our training fields on the way to my quarters."
"Your... quarters...?" This time, Meng Yao was convinced he had heard wrong.
"Yes. I thought we might have our lunch there. I will request for another tray."
"ZeWu Jun, I really shouldn't take up your lunch hour too," Meng Yao protested. "You should dine with your uncle or brother. I will go find Master Nie..."
Xichen smiled and shook his head.
"I believe young Master Nie isn't in his room and I was going to eat alone anyway. Why not join me?"
Meng Yao stared at him.
"You - you want to dine with me? I'm just a servant..."
XiChen held up a hand
"You are an envoy from the Nie Sect," he said firmly, "as well as my honoured guest."
Meng Yao had to bite his lip to stop smiling, had to pinch his inner arm to make sure he wasn't just having some fantastic dream.
"Thank you for your kindness, ZeWu Jun."
"It would be my pleasure. This way, please."
As they walked on, they met several of the other disciples. Meng Yao was subjected to the same looks again, but they were covert ones and no malicious whispers followed, not with Lan XiChen standing beside him.
This feeling of being safe, of being protected was a new one for Meng Yao. Knowing it would last only for as long as he kept company with Lan XiChen, he made up his mind to enjoy every second of today.
- Chapter End -
A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed it and want to read more :)
