The Baby

A sharp cry broke through the room, abruptly waking Lan Wangji up. With a tiny fish clench through Lan Wangji’s thin robes, accompanied by a small feet kicking at his side that force Lan Wangji to turn around. The kicks didn’t hurt at all, what was alarming was the tiny presence at his side.

Frustration started to kick in at the corner of his mind, but that didn’t feel like his own emotion, it’s like it’s another being’s emotions that’s being sent to him? Or rather it felt connected to him, looking down at the small bundle next to him.

Lan Wangji let out a soft sigh, and blink his eyes in surprise upon seeing a baby next to him. It was close to his chest, it’s tiny hand fisted on his robes, with it’s other hand flailing along with it’s feet. It’s cries immediately came to a stop as if it already sensed that it succeeded in waking Lan Wangji up, as if even without looking at Lan Wangji up, it knows that Lan Wangji was truly awake.

How did a baby got here? What was it doing here? There couldn’t be anyone who could come into Lan Wangji’s room, he always locked it up, and no one can break through his room.

Pushing himself up, yet unable to when the baby refused to let go of his robe. Lan Wangji felt the corner of his mouth twitching, unable to think on how he should act it out. It was just a baby, it doesn’t know or even won’t understand if he ask for the baby to let him go. Setting his aside his earlier action, he looked down at the baby.

The baby didn’t seem like a newborn one, they seem a few month old already. Yet the baby seemed so quiet, it didn't seem as fussy like any other baby should be. Lan Wangji didnt even know how babies should behave, let alone what they looked like after the first months of being born. How small and fragile they would be like the adults said, but looking at this baby?

It seemed so different compared to the stories and lectures he has gotten, the baby just flailed it's arms around, kept it's tight hold against Lan Wangji. It seemed like it wanted to turn around, wanting to lay on its stomach, but unfortunately they didn't seem to have the strength to do that yet.

Laying awkwardly beside the baby, Lan Wangji tried to get a better look at the baby. It's cheeks were chubby and round, it's nose and cheeks were red from the crying it must had done, but that was short. It's cries immediately halted when Lan Wangji opened his eyes and moved.

Looking further into it, it's nose seemed familiar. It's lips were small and plum, it didn't seem like they have any teeth yet. Lan Wangji took his chance to sit up when the baby let go of him, he moved carefully not wanting to squish the tiny life beside him.

Even without examining for any resentful energy, it would be impossible for any resentful creature would be in his room. This was an actual baby that appeared out of nowhere in his room for some odd reason, prank or not, the baby had no call on it.

Lan Wangji tilted his head, looking down at the baby's eyes to find any clue on who's baby it was. Instead what greeted Lan Wangji was a pair of gold and silver eyes.

A sharp exhale escaped him, it couldn't be anyone else from the Lan clan, be the inner disciples from his clan won't meant that it could be Lan Wangji's distinct family. Only a few members of the Lan clan had this eyecolor, one would be him, his brother, and his uncle.

They're mother was already dead, and they're father was locked in seclusion, there was another person who could have this kind of eyecolor.

Lan Wangji bit his lower lip, forcing himself to bring the baby up, cradling it closer to his chest. The baby seemed to brighten up at that, reaching it's tiny hand up at Lan Wangji, before closing and opening his hand at Lan Wangji. But then who would be the other parent?

A coo escape the baby's mouth, as it twitches nose. It was no use to go back to bed since it's almost time to wake up, Lan Wangji rose up to his feet. Placing the baby down back on the bed, he made certain that the baby won't fall, placing his pillow by its side, and making sure that it was comfortable on his bed before leaving.

Taking another careful glance at the baby's appearance, Lan Wangji look at it's clothes. It's clothes were a softer shade of blue, the inner of it's clothes seemed to loitered with complicated and stronger talismans alongside the patches of clouds sewn on it.

That would just meant that the baby wasn't his cousin?

Lan Wangji furrowed his eyebrow, as the baby cooed at him this time. Each side of it's cheek had dimples, as it smiled at Lan Wangji, showing that it didn't still didn't have any teeth yet.

Tearing his gaze away from the baby, Lan Wangji turned, yet stopped on his tracks. Looking at the baby, it didn't cry, and only smile again when Lan Wangji turned it's gaze back at it.

That smile reminded him of someone else, they seemed like happy little baby. Unbothered by anything else, as the baby just kept cooing at Lan Wangji, like it's trying to converse with him.

Lan Wangji felt the corner of his mouth lifting slightly at that, yet in a blink of an eyes, his smile was gone.

When he was certain that the baby won't cry, he turned his back again. Picking up his forehead ribbon on, he placed it back on it's right place. Tying it securely on his head, Lan Wangji didn't waste any time. Walking towards the privacy screen, and picking up his robes.

He began to put it on one by one, yet his gaze kept shifting back at the baby back and forth, unable to keep his eyes away from them, uncertain of what would happen to baby if he keep his eyes off of them for that longer. It didn't cry, or made any fuss.

Lan Wangji's moved was still stiff and uncertain, he didn't know what babies need. He quickly headed back at the babies side the moment he was done, and there it was.

The smile was back again, the baby couldn't turn it's head to look up at Lan Wangji. Yet the emotion kept rushing at him, it seemed contented and happy. Another soft coo escape the baby's mouth, as it flailed it's hand again.

Crouching down near the bed, Lan Wangji awkwardly picked the baby up. Supporting the back of it's head, and placing his hand on its bottom, he could finally see the baby's face again. It's smile just widen at the sight of Lan Wangji appearing at it's gaze, a satisfied and delighted sound was directed at Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji pursed his lips, and glanced back at his bed. He could make the bed later, yet it didn't sit right with him. Frowning at his situation, Lan Wangji cradled the baby in his left hand. He seemed to be able to hold the baby with one hand, considering how small they still seemed under his hand.

Was it under weight? It didn't seem like it, but it didn't seem to be that small either, just light enough for Lan Wangji to hold without using both of his hand.

Lan Wangji knelt down on his knees, fixing his bed was an easy task. It wasn't that crumpled or messed up either, he just fixed his blanket around. Its not like he toss and turn around in his sleep, so there wasn't much anything to clean up.

Satisfied by the result, Lan Wangji stood up. His gaze immediately turning back at the baby, it's mouth was open, which seemed to always fix itself into a smile when Lan Wangji's attention was on them.

They seemed happy whenever Lan Wangji pay attention to them, even without sensing the emotion that seem to sent him, it was evident alone on the smile on its face. The soft happy coos, and the way it kicked its feet around.

Lan Wangji blinked his eyes, before he found himself wrapping the baby in a bundle. It was staring back at Lan Wangji with intense eyes, it's mouth parted.

It wasn't that cold yet outside, but there was no risking it. The baby was too small, they would be unable to defend themselves from the cold. A soft pleased sigh escaped his mouth, when he was satisfied by wrapping the baby in his inner robe from his closet. The baby won't be able to handle bigger and thicker clothing if Lan Wangji chose that one, they would be unable to move.

It would be too heavy and would restrict their movement, causing them to be in discomfort. It was just something he observed during his small time with the inner disciples, they were small. But this baby was smaller than them, so it wouldn't be reasonable to put in his cloaks. Those were lighter, yet it still seemed a lot bigger than the baby.

Shaking his thoughts away, Lan Wangji cradled the baby closer to him again. His movements were stiff yet he knows what he was supposed to do.

🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇🐇

Soft babbles echoed through the medical ward, with the baby still latched onto Lan Wangji's robes. It's fist still clenched around Lan Wangji's inner robe, the baby was complaint and didn't even made a fuss through the entire procedure. It only seemed to have it's gaze at Lan Wangji alone, and didn't even bat an eye on the one examining them. The baby seemed so enthralled by Lan Wangji, and would just look at the man poking and prodding at them, yet their eyes would drift back at Lan Wangji after that.

"It seems like Lan-sān-gōngzi has gotten your personality Lan-er-gongzi." A soft smile was sent towards Lan Wangji, yet the way they spoke confused Lan Wangji.

Words have seem to left him, as his gaze fall back on the little baby he was holding. Lan-Dàifu was the only available person that Lan Wangji could call up, most of the medical personnel hadn't been awake. It was almost between yín shí and mǎo shí, most people around cloud recesses was just waking up. While some might be still asleep in their bed, still unused to the time of waking up early.

"I assume that your uncle have already asked to cover for this kind of lectures too right?" Lan-Dàifu asked, reminding Lan Wangji of his predicament.

Uncertain of what the latter meant, yet Lan Wangji could still get a small grasp of it. He nodded his head slowly, and let out a hum. Lan Wangji could still feel the healers gaze on him, as if slowly assessing Lan Wangji rather than the baby. The assessment was already done, but Lan Wangji didn't really come as a patient here either.

"Ah, I still advise for Lan-er-gongzi to ask for someone to feed Lan-sān-gōngzi."

Lan Wangji didn't know what came up to him to bring the baby here, rather than search for it's actual parent. But somethings nagging him at the back of his mind, that rather find the said 'parent', it seemed rather important to check if the baby was healthy or not, before he could bring the baby over the older female cultivator to ask them for food for the baby, and to see if they ever lost this baby.

"Mn..."

Embarrassing as that might be, and it was really against the rules to bother female cultivators, let alone go to their designated area. But Lan Wangji needed to find the parent, and in order to do that he still have to ask for permission.

"Does Lan-er-gongzi have any other questions for this lowly healer?" The healer opened up, unable to read Lan Wangji out.

Lan Wangji neither had uttered a word, nor moved his eyes away from the baby, he didn't seemed unsatisfied either. The two just seemed enarmed by each other's presence alone, that anyone would see how lovely and cute the scene might be. It might made them doubt that the second Lan can't feel anything with how intense the two stared at each other.

It was like two peas in a pod.

"Mn." Lan Wangji forced himself to answer, blinking his eyes, as the baby reached over.

Lifting both of it's hand towards Lan Wangji again, like it had always previously done before. Soft giggles came from the babies mouth, always delighted to see Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji pried his eyes away from the babbling baby, as the baby flail it's arms flail again,"Have anyone given birth lately?"

Lan-Dàifu coughed at the question, his eyes widening at the mere question that came out of Lan Wangji's mouth. It's not that normal, and not an everyday event you'll get someone like Lan Wangji to show up your doorstop, with a baby in hand. Then proceeds to ask for your help, then to only ask a question if any female cultivator had given birth.

"Not—" Lan-Dàifu cleared his throat, reeling back his composure and shaking his head,"Not at all Lan-er-gongzi."

That was certainly odd, Lan Wangji's eyebrows furrowed, his mouth curling downwards in displeasure. This wasn't what he expected, it was impossible to break in the Jingshi, the wards there was complicated to break in. And it's impossible for any kind of resentful monster to manifest within the cloud recess no matter what they were.

This was an actual baby left at the Jingshi, and not just the front of his house, but inside his own house.

"I was under the assumption that Lan-sān-gōngzi over here was your youngest brother." Lan-Dàifu's word made Lan Wangji looked at the baby again, it's eyes were too different to be from his parent.

Other than that, Lan Wangji's mother was already dead, and his father was still in seclusion. So who's baby was this

It was clear that even Lan-Dàifu know nothing of the baby's origins either, let alone it's parent. Had someone given birth from the Lan clan through secret? Then why is even the baby placed in Lan Wangji's room? Lan Wangji was certain that nobody goes in his room without him noticing it, he would have noticed it, and his room were locked in. Lan Wangji is certain that no one can break in his room, and no one would be willing to break in either.

"No need for thanks Lan-er-gongzi, it's my pleasure to help you out." The healer smiled, and nodded his head.

Other than Wei Ying, none would dare. But Wei Ying doesn't seem like someone would go this far just to prank Lan Wangji up, and mess up with him. Wei Ying's pranks honestly were innocent, and just meant to annoy people and not hurt them in any way.

Stiffly nodded his head, accompanied by a small hum,"Mn."

So who's baby was this?

It's eyes were different from one another, it even looked similar to Lan Wangji's eyes—

A soft sigh escape Lan Wangji, as he thanked the healer out.

Lan Wangji flicked his hand out, and placed it behind him, while he held the baby in his right hand where he should be holding his sword right now. But Lan Wangji couldn't bring it anywhere near the baby, bringing the sword seems to be a recipe for disaster while he still held the baby in his arms. Instead he just had the sword on his waist, it wasn't uncomfortable, but it just didn't felt right to have the sword on his hand right now.

The healer didn't seem to move, not till Lan Wangji begin to wrap the baby with his inner robe again, like he had done before. They helped him without even asking again, only just smiling when the baby's fully done being wrapped with the cloth. Nodding his head towards the healer, he thanked the healer again, before he held the baby in his arms again.

Yet the healer seemed to be amused by Lan Wangji's attempt of poorly holding the baby, he might know how to hold one, but being uncertain and his lack of experience of holding someone this small on his arm terrified him. Lan Wangji was certainly someone not a fan of physical contact, and everyone knows that.

"If I may correct your hold, Lan-er-gongzi?"

Embarrassment filled Lan Wangji, as he stiffly nodded his head.

"May I hold Lan-sān-gōngzi, Lan-er-gongzi?" The healer softly asked.

Lan Wangji handed the baby over at Lan-Dàifu, as the latter instructed on how to hold on the baby. His words were soft and thoroughly explained, explaining how Lan Wangji almost got it right. But the way he held the baby seemed awkward, the baby was far too small to hold it that way. Correcting Lan Wangji's hold by demonstrating it, before he handed the baby back at Lan Wangji's arm.

Shame crept up Lan Wangji's system, his eyes reddened at the correction and physical contact, yet kept his mouth shut. He awkwardly just nodded his head, his gaze trailing back at Lan-Dàifu and the baby back and forth, just to see if his holding the baby right.

"That's right Lan-er-gongzi, that's the way."

Lan Wangji nodded his head again, and let out another hum. When he was going to bow to his gratitude, the healer just chuckle and shook his head.

"It is truly fine Lan-er-gongzi, I have done nothing much for you to frequently thank me. Just come and visit me once you found something troubling you concerning about sān-gōngzi."

"Mn,"Lan Wangji hummed out, his gaze trailing down the baby.

Lan Wangji stiffly gave out his salute, despite the healers confusion evident on the healers face, they saluted back.

Lan Wangji headed out, and began trekking his ways towards his brothers house. It wasn't far from where he resided, if anyone who would know about this, it should be his brother. His uncle was still out for the conference for this following days, and Lan Wangji didn't know if he could have the courage to face his uncle.

It didn't take too long for him to find his brothers house, few disciples were awake most of them were from the inner clan. They didn't bother asking what Lan Wangji was holding, perhaps too afraid to experience Lan Wangji's ire. But that was ridiculous, Lan Wangji only punished who deserved it.

Lan Xichen seemed to be on his way out, with his hand on the door of his house, seemingly in the middle of closing it. Basing on this, Lan Wangji could take a few guesses, and one of it was his brother was heading towards the Jingshi to invite Lan Wangji for breakfast at the hall.

A smile presented quickly on Lan Xichen's face, the moment he turned and saw Lan Wangji,"Wangji, I was just about to call you for breakfast."

"Xiongzhang." Lan Wangji greeted, bowing at his brother, while place his hand under the baby's head to support the back of its head.

Lan Xichen seemed to have caught what Lan Wangji was holding, as curiosity started to tinge Lan Xichen's gaze. Yet he remained on his spot, clearly waiting for Lan Wangji to open up about what he wanted to talk about. He seemed to wanted to ask Lan Wangji about it, yet didn't want to push through.

"Xiongzhang," Lan Wangji called out again, unable to form words, his eyebrows furrowing in a deeper frown.

It did made sense for Lan Wangji being unable to speak it out loud, there was no better way to say to your brother that a random baby appeared out of nowhere in his room. All options to say it out didn't sound any better, and even if it was phrased in a light and good manner won't make that it's still something reasonable to talk about.

Words seemed to be unneeded with Lan Xichen understanding what Lan Wangji to ask of his brother without further explanation, nor another word spoken between the two of them. Lan Xichen nodded his head, sliding his door open, he went in without saying anything else.

With Lan Wangji trailing from behind, eyebrows pinched together and mouth firmly shut. It was clear to Lan Xichen that something was stressing his brother out, even if Lan Wangji isn't someone as expressive as Lan Xichen, it's not difficult for Lan Xichen to pick out what Lan Wangji's body language.

Lan Wangji could feel Lan Xichen's gaze on him, staring at him, patiently waiting for Lan Wangji to speak out about his worries and maybe see what Lan Wangji held in his arms. Lan Wangji slid the door close behind him, unwrapping the cloth around the baby's body, till it's head peak out of the clothing.

A gasp escaped Lan Xichen's lips the moment he saw the head poking out of the cloth, his gaze seemed begin to be uncertain of the situation laid in front of him. Yet he kept his mouth shut, still patiently waiting for Lan Wangji.

The baby began to flail it's arms again, as they giggle and smiled at Lan Wangji again.

"Wangji?" Lan Xichen finally seemed to have find his voice again, as he shake his head out of his trance.

"Xiongzhang," Lan Wangji sighed out his brother's name, forcing himself to step his feet one after another.

Lan Xichen's gaze remained on Lan Wangji, till Lan Wangji stopped in front of Lan Xichen, his gaze fell down on the baby on Lan Wangji's arms.

"Am I an uncle now?" That seemed to be a joke that Lan Xichen tried to pull in order to lighten up the mood, yet the joke seemed to have just stabbed Lan Wangji instead.

It didn't help that Lan-Dàifu had not once, but repeatedly mistaken the baby as Lan Wangji's baby brother. But that was impossible, nobody knows that Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen's mothers already dead. Other than the elders and their uncle, nobody knows.

It was clear that they had already forgotten about her, nobody knows about Lan Wangji's parent. The information had never gotten out, her records never existed, and nobody wants to talk about her either.

The thought made Lan Wangji frown, it hurts that no one knows about his mother.

"Wangji?" Lan Xichen softly called out, but it's almost clear his voice is close to cracking.

Ignoring that, Lan Wangji presented the baby at Lan Xichen. It was just in time as the babbles happily at Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen let out another gasp, as his eyes widen at the sight of the baby. His smile almost faltering, and his playful demeanor seemed to be disappearing, almost like his to be about on the edge.

"Wangji, didi." Lan Xichen covered his mouth, and cleared his throat out, his expression smoothening out into the same familiar smile on his face.

It didn't seemed right, Lan Xichen's smile didn't seemed right. That was telling already Lan Wangji that this baby wasn't just someone related to Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen from the inner clan. Basing on the cloud motif cloth the baby wore, it was someone from the main clan instead. That seemed to leave a bad taste on Lan Wangji's mouth, yet there's a tinge of feeling that he didn't seem to mind it either.

"Didi," Lan Xichen called out again,"Are you truly making me an uncle now, at this age?" Lan Xichen tried to pull the same joke again, but his voice was starting to loose it's playfulness, even though Lan Xichen seemed to calm about it, he seemed edging on being more serious than he was.

Lan Wangji looked down, unable to answer that question. A sigh escaped out of Lan Xichen's mouth, as he brought his finger towards the baby's hand. They seemed to immediately latched their tiny little hands around Lan Xichen's finger, tightly holding it between their palms, as they squealed out in delight.

Dread and shame started to fill the bottom of Lan Wangji's stomach, biting his lower lip for a mere second, before letting it go. He found himself clenching the hem of his robes, while Lan Xichen slowly took the baby from Lan Wangji.

The feeling of parting with the baby again seems to even feel terrible, but not as it did before. He trusted the healer, and mostly Lan Xichen too, but Lan Wangji couldn't still but help but feel at lost when his parting with the baby.

"How about we talk this after breakfast? I'm sure the little one must be hungry now."