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Language:
English
Series:
Part 4 of Lan-Furen
Stats:
Published:
2023-09-11
Completed:
2023-10-16
Words:
698
Chapters:
2/2
Comments:
14
Kudos:
109
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8
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884

all my heart demons are gone

Summary:

Lan Wangji learns how to make shrimp dumplings from his brother-in-law, Meng Yao.

Notes:

Part of a collab with Jenn! Artwork will be posted tmm!

Thank you to the Thepurplewombat for typo catching!

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

Upon his palm laid a very unassuming white blob with pinkish filling spilling out—nothing about it screamed the culmination of an entire incense stick's worth of the Second Jade of Lan, Hanguang-jun's time and effort. 

And yet.

The pale lump sitting on his hand stared pallidly back at him.

Lan Wangji frowned, inside. 

He glanced over at Meng Yao's flawless creations which ranged from cute bunnies to beautiful magnolia blossoms to elegant koi. His brother-in-law was perfect at this, as he was at everything he sought to do. 

He waited for that familiar spike of resentment to flare up. Lan Wangji had long consoled himself that it was natural to be angry at the man who stole his brother from him, but he was surprised to find it did not appear this time. Was he finally able to overcome that particular heart demon?

He took a deep, thorough inhale and let it out.

Nothing.

No resentment, no anger, no petulant frustration. Just disappointment at his ill-formed blob.

Lan Wangji smiled, inside. 

There was a strange sense of smugness against his past self who never thought it would happen. Being happily married probably helped. If your older brother wasn't your only possession, being resentful he spent all of his time elsewhere wasn't quite as persistent an emotion.

Plus, now that Lan Wangji was married and had an "outsider" husband to care for, his brother-in-law was a fount of useful information. Things like how to mend the thick clothing that Wei Wuxian tore through like paper, how to sew sleeping robes, ways to get Wei Wuxian to eat his vegetables, how to make his husband not regret marrying into the Lan, all indispensable knowledge. 

Like learning how to make xiajiao. 

He looked again at the lump in his hand.

Lan Wangji sighed, inside.

He hated being a burden, but he knew it would take much longer on his own and his husband would return any day now. (Otherwise, he'd find a quiet time to figure this out on his own.) Wouldn't it be a nice surprise to show Wei Wuxian what Lan Wangji had been able to accomplish?

His failed creation melted a bit further into a flatter sort of blob.

It was a mystery. He and his brother were clearly very talented in the arts, but there was a high activation barrier when it came to household competency. 

Lan Wangji was about to give up and ask Meng Yao to show him how to make the bunnies, when his brother-in-law's small hand on his shoulder startled him from his reverie.

Meng Yao smiled gently at him. It seemed it was true that married couples looked more and more alike because for a moment it felt like Lan Xichen was the one smiling down at him.

"Rabbits are very cute, aren't they? Let me show you how I make mine."

Meng Yao handed Lan Wangji a flat round wrapper he'd already prepared so that Lan Wangji could follow along.

Lan Wangji watched carefully as Meng Yao measured out a small amount of filling then meticulously, patiently, formed a little rabbit, waiting at each step for Lan Wangji to finish.

Meng Yao set his perfect bunny down on the tray with the others he'd made and slung a comforting arm around Lan Wangji's shoulders to wait for his brother-in-law to finish. 

Lan Wangji added the black sesame eyes very carefully, mindful of that Lan arm strength Wei Wuxian and Meng Yao were always teasing him and his brother about. Using soft strokes, he painted the tops with the light pink sugar water Meng Yao prepared. Lan Wangji held the little bunny up to his nose for a final inspection.

He pursed his lips with suppressed joy, inside. 

Outside he lifted his head excitedly to show Meng Yao. His brother-in-law smiled back at him.

"It's pretty fun, isn't it?" 

Lan Wangji nodded.

Meng Yao continued, "When we put them in the steamer, we'll be careful to leave enough space so they don't stick together. It's always best to..."

Lan Wangji smiled brightly, inside. He had to admit it after all these years, his brother-in-law was the best he could ask for.

Chapter 2

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Brother-in-laws

Notes:

This was a collab with Jenn, go give them lots of love!

https://x.com/Jennlikesthings/status/1701760751214748135?s=20

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