*Lotus Cove*
*Yenay's Room*

There is a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Chu enters and hands over a letter to Yenay. She nods in acknowledgement and adds with an air of authority, "Chu,  inform the house help and the other students and trainees that we have two guests from Nie sect visiting us. They are here for confidential official business and will be staying with us for a few days . We are to assist them in every way we can. We are not to disturb them."

"Now go." She adds when the boy just stands there looking at her.

Chu leaves.

Yenay opens the letter.
She looks worried for just a second. Then she smiles. She puts the letter in her vanity case and walk out the door.

*Lotus Cove*
*Outside Wei Ying's room*

Walking out of their room Wei Ying's mind is filled with confusion and self doubt. 'I am sure he loves me... does he love me through?....he has never once said it... But then again I haven't said it either.... OMG... I love him... I love my best friend... I am in love with my best friend... But wait... What if he is not really into my body... No that can't be it... Can it though?... I mean I am pretty good-looking right?.... OK so no one has actually said I am good-looking... Except for Shijie...'

The thought of his senior sister pulls him our of his daze and he sees that his feet have carried him to the yard.
It's a very familiar sight.
Wei Ying smiles to himself. 'Jiang Cheng has made it look exactly like before. '

"Hey you there." a voice calls
Wei Ying looks on as a boy of about 16 or 17 walk towards him. Sword in hand.

"Who are you?" the boy asks in a tone which reminds him of Jiang Cheng.

Wei Ying smiles and replies, "I am... I am clearly a very good-looking man. Wouldn't you agree. "
Wei Ying smiles again.

The boy makes an irritated face ,"Who said you are good-looking?...No.. Wait... Who are you? "

"So I am not good-looking then?" Wei Ying continues to tease the boy.

"It doesn't matter if you are goodlooking or not. Just answer my question." the boy says shaking in anger.

"Well... I am dressed in Jiang sect cloths same as you, then who do you think I am?" Wei Ying says not giving up on teasing the young boy.

The boy has had enough. He draws out his sword to scare Wei Ying. He says, "Answer me now or suffer consequences."  He eyes his sword.

"Oh. So this is how the Jiang sect teaches it's young boys." Wei Ying says as if thinking something seriously.

"What do you mean?" the boy says clearly confused.

Wei Ying scoffs and pointing to himself he says, "I am clearly not carrying a sword and yet you still draw you sword. I guess you have not been taught manners."

The boy's temper get the best of him and he unsheathes his sword and attacks Wei Ying.
Wei Ying ducks... But the sword doesn't even come close.
Bichen has already stopped the attack.

Wei Ying looks on as Lan Zhan lands in front of him.
One look at Lan Zhan and the boy lowers his sword and 'Bows?'

The young boy says in a most humble tone, "Senior, you must be one of the cultivators Aunty Yenay told us about. Welcome to Lotus Cove. Is there anything I can help you with Senior?"

Lan Zhan replies in his usual monotone, "No. Leave."

The boy bows again and literally runs away.

Wei Ying walks in front of Lan Zhan and turns to face him.
He smiles innocently and say, "Lan Zhan, You came. You always come for me."
Tips of Lan Zhan's ears turn pink again 'How did he know I came... I came for him???....did he perhaps spy on me?..does he know what I did while calling his name.'

"Lan Zhan, what's wrong?" Wei Ying asks looking at Lan Zhan who is shaking slightly.

Lan Zhan is pulled out of his thoughts at Wei Ying's voice.

"Mn?"

"Are you cold Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying asks innocently in worrying tone.

"Mn?"

Wei Ying puts his hand to Lan Zhan's forehead. Lan Zhan's breath hitches and he takes a step back.
Wei Ying's had is left hanging in the air. He pulls it back.

"I am fine." Lan Zhan's calm has returned. He stops shaking. 'He meant I came to protect him again... What is wrong with you Wangji!.' his brain berates him.

"By the way Lan Zhan ,how come that boy behaved so badly with me and yet he treated you like... Like.. Like how people usually treat you...i mean you are not even wearing your headband and yet you look like the Light bearer.... " 'You look amazing, gorgeous, breathtakingly beautiful, hot... Wait what?'

"Wei Ying, you are not carrying your sword so he failed to recognize you as a cultivator." Lan Zhan says gently as if soothing Wei Ying's feelings with words.

Wei Ying shruggs. His face becomes gloomy once more and dejectedly he agrees, "You have a point, Cultivators carry swords...i don't... I can't. I am afterall a mediocre..."

"No. Don't." Lan Zhan says angrily cutting Wei Ying's words .

"Don't what Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying asks. He eyes hold unshed tears.

Lan Zhan looks around and pulls him towards an empty shed away from the court yard.
Wei Ying doesn't question Lan Zhan as his friend backs him up against the wall and leans into him.

Lan Zhan's hand comes to rest on Wei Ying's face and he looks deep into his eyes.

"Don't think you are mediocre. Never think that. I would never stand with a mediocre person Wei Ying. I stand with you because you are special. And let no one tell you otherwise. Not even yourself. " He says. His usual emotionless tone is filled with warmth, it's soothing and gentle.

"Lan Zhan... " Wei Ying whispers, a tear starts making it's way down his cheek but before it has rolled half way through Lan Zhan puts his mouth on it and kisses it away. He does the same with the next one too.

He is a little late in catching the third one. It rolls towards Wei Ying's lips.
Lan Zhan hesitates to put his lips on the third tear which is sitting pretty on Wei Ying's bow shaped full lips.

Wei Ying can see the hesitation in Lan Zhan's eyes. He opens his mouth and the tear rolls into his mouth.
Lan Zhan's eyes are glued to where the third tear disappeared.
"Lan Zhan... " Wei Ying whispers, pulling Lan Zhan closer, " aren't you going to kiss this one away?"

Lan Zhan puts his thumb on Wei Ying's lower lip and parts his lips.
Lan Zhan looks at Wei Ying's eyes as if asking for permission.
Wei Ying blinks once...granting permission.

Lan Zhan puts his lips on Wei Ying's and with his tongue he traces Wei Ying's lips.
He takes Wei Ying's upper lip between his lips and puts slight pressure on it.
Wei Ying's hands tighten on Lan Zhan's waist and he moans, but it gets muffed when Lan Zhan takes Wei Ying's lower lip between his lips.
He first puts slight pressure on it and then sucks on it.
Wei Ying's moan is louder. Lan Zhan takes this opportunity to enter Wei Ying's mouth. Their tongues touch briefly.
No sooner do they touch, Lan Zhan becomes aware of where they are and then he remembers what Yenay had told him ,so he slowly breaks the kiss.
Wei Ying's lips follow Lan Zhan's but Lan Zhan puts a finger on Wei Ying's mouth and brings his attention to where they are.
Wei Ying blushes and steps away from his friend.
He takes a moment to catch his breath.

"Lan Zhan, how dare you distract me like this. What if someone saw us?  This is my home you know. Hanguang Jun , do you want to embarrass me in front of everyone? " he says faking angry tone.

Lan Zhan smirks and says matter-of-factly, "There is no one here Wei Ying." and with one look at Wei Ying he walks out of the shed and goes towards the court yard.

Wei Ying follows him out.

They walk around the court yard, with Wei Ying sharing his childhood memories with the man he loves.

Wei Ying's eyes fall on Yenay who is approaching them and asks in a confused look, "What happened Master Wei?  Did Chu pull a sword on you?"

"Aunty, Lotus Cove sure has changed." Wei Ying pouts.

'Adorable.' Lan Zhan's brain whispers.

"Why is that Master Wei?" She says returning the pout.

"In the olden days everyone thought I was good-looking. All the girls flocked around me and wanted me to accompany them everywhere and all the boys envied me and they too flocked around me to be like me...but now...no one thinks I am good-looking." Wei Ying rants.

"Not true. You are goodlooking." Lan Zhan blurts out and then realizes that Aunty is standing right there.

Wei Ying looks as surprised as Lan Zhan feels.
'What is wrong with you Wangji.' Lan Zhan's brain scolds him again.

They look at each other awkwardly for a few seconds forgetting that they have third person among them.

Aunty Yenay coughs.
Both men look at her as if seeing her for the first time.

Wei Ying shruggs his shoulders.

Yenay asks, "A Xian, you mentioned yesterday that you wanted to look around Lotus Cove. Is there a reason for that?"

Wei Ying doesn't want to scare her so he simply says, "There is nothing to worry about yet.. but there maybe something... I am not sure I can say anything at the moment. Aunty I need to ask you something and I want you so to be honest with me. Can you please do that?  Lives of many people may depend on it."

"Master Wei, if lives of our people depend on it I will surly not hide anything from you. Please ask me whatever you wish to." Yenay says confidently.

{Note:- Romance in small doses 😉😅
Sorry. There is a ust tag on this story for a reason. Lol.
Trust me 'it' will happen.
Let me know your feelings about the story so far if you can spare sometime.
Please vote and/or comment.
Thanks for reading.
Have a nice day }