Chapter Text
As Cale looks at the Elder with amusement, Lan Qiren simply ignored him.
"Who is the first Sect Leader of Gusu Lan?" The old man asks, caressing his goatee as he willed himself to ignore Cale.
The Lan disciples averaging five to ten years old raised their hands in a proper manner, truly befitting to be called a disciple of the proud Sect.
Well, except for a certain troublemaker that is. Both Cale and Lan Qiren thought that the child is Wei Wuxian incarnate himself when the man is still clearly alive.
"Lan Jingyi, answer."
The said child flinched at first before standing up abruptly, slightly trembling at his name suddenly being called.
"Uhmmm...Qingheng-jun?"
The look on the old man's face is enough for Cale to cackle as softly as he could.
"Remain standing. Any answer?"
Another Lan disciple raised his hand and the Elder chose him.
"Lan Zhe."
"It was Lan An, Elder Qiren."
The old man nodded his head in approval, "Correct. Lan Jingyi."
"Y-yes!"
Cale simply shook his head, pitying the child.
"Don't shout. Answer my question or you'll do a handstand while citing the three thousand rules. Who is the famed genius of Yunmeng Jiang?"
Cale let out a small gasp, as if he couldn't believe the pettiness of the Elder.
This time, Lan Jingyi answered jovially.
"Wei Xianghuan, Elder Qiren!"
Cale simply huffs, not like he could do anything about that annoying title Sect Leader Jiang had made after so many years.
Lan Qiren continued to teach the children about the history of cultivation world, and Cale had heard his name being answered for a total of three times.
Who is the commander that led the Sunshot Campaign to a victory?
Who is the current aide of Yunmeng Jiang?
Even a surreal question was asked, who is the first person to tame the black tortoise of slaughter?
As the time for the class to come to an end, Lan Qiren had dismissed the children minutes earlier.
And Cale also went close to the Elder as he jokingly frowned at the old man.
"I didn't know you could be so petty like that, Grandmaster Lan."
The old man just averted his eyes and said, "I do not know what you are talking about."
He said that while looking at Cale with a slight confusion in his face.
Cale just scoffs at the Elder in disbelief and amusement.
"More so, what is with your appearance? I did not quite recognized you until you looked at me like how your younger brother made a mess." Lan Qiren asks, fixing the scrolls in his hands as Cale grabbed some to help the old man.
He was wearing Gusu Lan's first rank disciple robes, completed with the accessory of the forehead ribbon.
Cale then answers while sneaking a glance at his black hair, thinking that the elder was pertaining to the current color, "Qing-jie had me try her new ointment that changes hair color. It'll be gone after I wash it off."
"I see..." Lan Qiren trails before looking at Cale.
"Xichen is in his room." Lan Qiren says before Cale could ask him.
The elder knew that Cale wouldn't go to Gusu just to watch someone's class.
"Many thanks, Elder Qiren!"
Before Lan Qiren could reprimand him for being to noisy, he was gone in an instant.
As Cale walks to where the Hanshi is, he sees a disciple that was about to knock on Lan Xichen's door while carrying some snacks and refreshments.
He then proceeds to tap the disciple's shoulder, making the latter turn to look at him.
Cale then says, "I'll give this to Zewu-jun, Grandmaster Qiren is looking for you in the library."
He felt bad for lying into an innocent disciple, but Cale told himself it's for a good cause.
"Ah, yes. Thank you." The disciple says then bows after giving the snacks to him, he then leaves Cale alone in front of Hanshi.
As he was sure that the disciple is gone out of his sight, he knocks at the door.
"Zewu-jun, please have some snacks first." He says with a slightly lower voice and a softer tone, befitting for the image of a Gusu Lan disciple.
"Come in." Cale then heard an answer from the other side as he slides the door open.
He could simply sigh internally as he sees Lan Xichen didn't even turned to look at his guest, too busy from the books and scrolls that were placed in his desk as Cale couldn't hold back a wince.
There is really a similarity between Alver and Lan Xichen, Cale had assessed.
Cale silently trudged near the older as he settles the snacks near but far enough to not let it accidentally spill in the older's paperwork.
He could see how Lan Xichen's nose twitch like a rabbit, amusing Cale as he poured some tea over a cup.
"Is cedarwood a famous scent nowadays?" He could hear Lan Xichen ask, but still intently focused on what he's scribbling.
Cale then answers with the usual disciple act, "It is. Would you like me to get you one, Zewu-jun?"
He could see how there is a small smile that appeared on the older's face.
"Please do so. I shall need it whenever I miss someone."
How romantic, this guy is.
"If you miss Jiangshuai-zun that much, shall I call for him?" Cale tries then, just to see what kind of reaction the older would show him.
Instead, Lan Xichen just smiles tiredly.
"I can't have him see me like this. As much as I want to go and see him right now, I still need to finish these tasks."
Cale could only thank Xie Lian that Lan Xichen is currently focused on whatever he's writing and not see the frown on his face.
"Your tea, Zewu-jun." Cale says as he hands the latter the cup, and Lan Xichen received it.
"You have the same hands as him."
Normally if Cale would receive such words, he would frown uncomfortably. But right now, he could only sigh.
As Lan Xichen holds his cup and place it at his table for a while, finally taking a break, Cale stands up abruptly making the older look in surprise.
"Is there something wronㅡ!"
Cale wriggles himself in Lan Xichen's hold, surprising the older as he backed away.
"Disciple, what do you think you are doiㅡ"
Good, he's angry that someone is trying to get close to him like this.
"If you miss me that much, just call me. If you yearn for me that much, then there is no need to buy cedarwood scent since I'll be here. If you are acting like someone just took me away, then hug me you doofus." He says with his now normal voice, his ears flushing red.
It was a good thing that he's facing away from Lan Xichen. Or God knows what he'll do to the annoying Lan Elders the moment he sees Lan Xichen's tired eyes.
Lan Xichen couldn't even utter something as his mind processed whatever is happening.
"A-Xun?"
He only received a hum in reply.
"A-Xun..."
Cale just caressed the latter's hair, "I'm here."
Lan Xichen's hands circled around his waist, his head placed on Cale's shoulders as he sniffed the familiar scent of cedarwood.
"I'm not dreaming, aren't I?" He asks, still couldn't comprehend the present.
"You're not. I'm here, Huàn-ge." Cale says as he patted the older's hands in a soothing manner, leaning his back against Lan Xichen's firm chest.
"Why is your hair fully black then? Did you die without me knowing? Are you a ghosㅡ"
Cale stops the older from rambling such vicious words as he kissed him on the lips, "Don't say such vicious words, Er-Ge. It's an ointment that changes hair color. It'll be gone after I wash it off."
The arms on his waist hugged him more tightly. And if Cale focused more, he could feel the small tremble in those arms.
"I see...I was scared when your hair turned black."
Cale simply hums knowongly, now fiddling the older's hands.
Just then, he sees a familiar invitation card piled up amongst the books.
"What's this?" He asks, feigning ignorance as he grabbed the invitation.
"Oh, that. A-Yao gave it to me earlier, saying that they will host a banquet and have a meeting with the Sect Leaders to elect a chief cultivator."
Cale visibly frowns in having the simple thought of Jin Guangyao being in Lan Xichen's room, to the point that he scowled as he imagined their encounter.
"I see." Cale says rather coldly, and Lan Xichen noticed the shift in his lover's tone.
"Are you jealous, baobei?"
Lan Xichen didn't receive an answer, but the scoff from Cale was enough reply to his question.
He couldn't help but fawn at how cute his lover is. Instead, he went close to Cale's nape and started peppering it with soft kisses.
"Don't be mad, baobei. You do know that Lans only love once, right? And you will be the only one I will love until the end."
Safe to say that it is enough to bring relief in Cale's mind.