A way to a man's heart

Lan XiChen was at their mother's old house, secluded as he has been for months. His gaze was withdrawn, his face blank. If not for his rigorous upbringing and his dedication to his role as the leader of the clan, he would never leave this place. Even now he only left it when he had to, relying on his uncle and nephew for support in administrative tasks, preferring to withdraw to these rooms whenever he could.

Today was one of the days he could spend there alone, lost in his regret and grief. Jin GuangYao had betrayed him... He had taken Lan XiChen's love, unspoken though it had been, fed on it, and then thrown it all on Lan XiChen's face in a colossal betrayal that spanned decades.

His head fell toward the flute he was holding in his hand listlessly, even music tainted now that Jin GuangYao had used the same instrument for his evil deeds.

There was a soft knock on the door.

"Enter."

Lan XiChen didn't look up as soft steps sounded. 

"I will leave your meal here, ZeWu-Jun," came a soft voice. Then a scent of something unexpected.

Lan XiChen lifted his head. The soup bearer had stopped at the low table in the adjoining space and Lan XiChen looked up curiously, hearing a voice he didn't recognize. The young disciple was short and sturdy, almost plump, and his warm golden skin glowed with dewy health in the soft morning light coming through the open door. He had an aura of happiness and contentment that touched Lan XiChen. Had he ever been that young? Or happy?

"I've seen you before, haven't I?"

"Yes, ZeWu-Jun. I am Xie XiYue, a new disciple. I have been training here for a month."

"What sin did you commit to get this thankless task of bringing me my morning meal?" Lan XiChen asked, a faint smile on his lips.

Xie XiYue blushed and turned away, to place the bowl on the table. "I volunteered, ZeWu-Jun." In truth, Xie XiYue had had to beg and trade favors and promises to get this task. Lan XiChen was popular with the young disciples, and anyone chosen to serve him took it as a point of pride. Xie XiYue would have no rest for the next few months, taking care of the laundry and other errands for several of the other disciples.

Lan XiChen rose. "Volunteered. Why?"

"You saved my life during my first encounter with fierce ghosts, a few weeks ago." The boy's face registered glowing gratitude and a glimpse of something, perhaps disappointment that Lan XiChen didn't remember.

"It was battle, we all protect each other. There was no need for this."

"I wanted to," Xie XiYue said, and Lan XiChen bowed his head in thanks.

As Lan XiChen got closer, Lan XiChen smelled the enticing scent he had caught before. "What is this? This is not what we eat in Cloud Recesses."

"I... I heard you had trouble eating. So I took the liberty... Just some wild herbs, growing in Cloud Recesses. It's not against the rules." Could Recesses had by latest count over 4000 rules. It was one of the reasons Wei WuXian wasn't too eager to visit. The food was another.

"Wild herbs?" Lan XiChen asked, taking his seat behind the table, inhaling the scent of the soup.

"My mother is skilled with edible plants and herbs. She taught me. I found these near the place with the rabbits, and asked permission to use the kitchen."

"And head cook gave you leave?"

"He wasn't there, so I asked his assistant. I said it was for you. He might have thought you had asked me for it..." Xie XiYue's voice faded away. "He seemed so happy that you were taking interest in food again."

"You did this... for me?"

"Yes," Xie XiYue whispered, his face turning red.

Lan XiChen looked at him, then at the soup. It was fresh greens and roots, as usual, but the scent was fragrant, rather than the bland, mildly bitter he was used to. He lifted the spoon and took a taste. His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "It's good."

Xie XiYue's face broke in a delighted smile, and he bowed. "Thank you, ZeWu Jun!"

Lan XiChen blinked at the radiant face in front of him. Such a simple act from him made the boy so happy. He took another spoonful, then another, his eyes fixed on that glowing smile. Before he realised he had eaten the whole bowl, something that he hadn't done in the months since the confrontation at Gunyin temple.

"There is a little more in the pot," Xie XiYue offered hopefully.

Lan XiChen bent his head in agreement and the boy clapped his hands happily and ladled the remaining soup into the bowl.

Lan XiChen finished that bowl, as well, Xie XiYue beaming the whole time.

"May I... cook for you again today?" Xie XiYue asked Lan XiChen hopefully when he was packing the used bowl and spoon away.

"Surely you have other tasks, Xie XiYue. The kitchen can provide me what everyone else is having."

He said my name! It took Xie XiYue a moment to reply. "Please... It would make me happy."

Lan XiChen didn't have the heart to refuse. "As you wish. I will see you for my midday meal, then."

Xie XiYue bowed delightedly and practically skipped with joy as he left, after stammering his thank you and promise to come back promptly at midday.

As Lan XiChen watched him leave, he felt nourished in a way that the simple soup alone couldn't explain. He remembered how the boy's face had lit up and couldn't help but smile. Xie XiYue... XiYue... He was well named. 

And he was coming back at midday.

-- 

A/N:

Xie XiYue is an original character and I imagine his family roots are somewhere further south, in Thailand, perhaps, which explains his warm golden skin. XiYue means 'joy', and Xie 'thankful'.

I haven't been able to find an actor who would fit the role, especially one who would have appeared in a show set in ancient China. Perhaps its best. You can imagine the cutest, sweetest, happiest young man for the character. 

I think Lan XiChen deserves some happiness, don't you? A youtube commenter called Jin GuangYao "Creepy Dimples" and for me that nickname stuck. Poor Lan XiChen had the misfortune to love him, whether it was brotherly love or romantic, the show or novels never made clear. The author apparently meant for only Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian to be gay, but there are more shades under the rainbow.