finding love.

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They lay on the muddy ground as soon as they got out from the river. Lan Zhan pants aloud, taking a deep breath to stabilize his uneven breathing. The rain subtle down a little and Wei Ying let out a breath of relief. He looks over at the boy beside him with worries evident in his eyes.

" Lan Zhan.. ", He gently grabs the taller boy his shoulders, " You- You okay right? ", He looks over Lan Zhan's figure , searching for any injuries. His eyes gaze upon the taller's leg and his eyesbrows crease into a worried frown. .

" Lan Zhan.. ", His voice shaking slightly. " Your leg.. What happened? ", He chokes out, his eyes are still fixed on the huge open wound on Lan Zhan's right leg. Blood are gushing out from the wound, some skin are slightly torn off around the wound making the shorter winces just from looking at the view.

Lan Zhan opens his mouth, yet no words come out. His teeth are clattering from the freezing cold water. His once full strawberry red lips are now blue, so pale. His breathing is uneven, as his half lidded eyes began to close itself slowly, causing Wei Ying to panic.

" Please! Don't close your eyes! " He panics, looking at his surrounding, searching for something he himself don't actually know what. His gaze fell on a huge tree not far from them. Let's use that tree as a shelter from the rain for now.

" Lan Zhan. I'm sorry but can you walk? ", He gently asks the shivering taller boy, Lan Zhan looks at the worried bunny in front of him, eyes softening. " Don't worry about me, Wei Ying. ", he cracks a small smile and nods ever so slightly, almost unnoticeable.

He tries to sit up straight first with Wei Ying's help. The shorter wraps his arms around the latter's waist, supporting him to stand. Lan Zhan winces in pain, he hope that the wound would not get infected before the help arrives.

They both staggers slowly towards the huge tree. Luckily, this tree has a lot of branches, although there are no leaves, it's still sheltering them from the rain a little. Wei Ying slowly helps Lan Zhan to sit on the ground, resting his back against the said tree.

Wei Ying crouches down in front of Lan Zhan, giving him a reassuring smile, " I'm going to search for woods for your leg, okay. " As Wei Ying just about to stand up, a cold hand engulfs his causing him to stop in his track.

" Don't leave me... ", The grasp on Wei Ying's hand tighten, his voice cracking, " Not again. "

Wei Ying's heart drops at the sound of Lan Zhan's quiet pleads. He must've been scared. I mean, who wouldn't be. The shorter crouches down in front of him again, cupping the latter's cheek in his bloodied hands. " I won't be long. I won't be too far either, I'll make sure you can see me from the distance okay. ", He smiles reassuring. Wei Ying stares into latter's teary eyes, his thumb gently strokes the boy's cheek, " I won't leave you. Ever. "

He stands up straight and walk towards the nearby trees, searching for woods that are suitable to temporary help Lan Zhan to walk. His eyes fell on two thick rectangular shaped woods, in about an arm long. There are rusty nails sticking out from the pieces of the woods. Is this from a small hut? Are there any other shelter in this forest?

He yanks out the nails from the pieces of woods with his fingers. " Ah. Shit. ", the nail somehow pricks his finger. Wei Ying put his finger in his clothes and press on it to put some pressure on the cut, causing the blood to seep through his already wet clothes. I'm so clumsy. I hate it.

He walks back towards Lan Zhan with the woods in his arms, " I told you I'll be quick right? ", Wei Ying grins at the boy which he returns with a relieved smile. " Mn. ", He hums, nodding.

He sits on the ground in front of the latter's injured leg. " The wound is bad, let's get you to hospital as soon as the help arrives okay? ", He assures the taller boy. Wei Ying situates the two woods on Lan Zhan's leg. Now we need something to tie them together. " Lan Zhan, can you hold these woods for me? ", He asks, to which Lan Zhan just do as told. " Hold it like this. Make sure your leg is in between. "

" Mn. "

After Lan Zhan did as told rightly, Wei Ying takes off his jacket, it fell to the ground with a light thud. Lan Zhan's eyes narrows, wondering what is the boy before him is doing.

Wei Ying starts ripping off his shirt, causing the latter to panic. " W-What are you doing? ", The Lan stammers, looking everywhere except for shorter boy in front of him. Wei Ying raises his eyesbrows, " We need something to tie the woods to your leg together. ", he reasons, continues to rip the cotton material of a shirt he's wearing. Lan Zhan looks away from the boy, his cheek feels hot all of the sudden despite the cold weather they are in.

" Lan Zhan! ", Wei Ying laughs at the latter's reaction. " We're both boys. I have what you have. No need to get embarrassed. ", Lan Zhan's eyes widen at the shorter boy's words causing Wei Ying to laugh harder.

" How shameless! ", Lan Zhan mutters under his breath. Wei Ying smirks. " Oho, Lan Zhan. I'm talking about something else. What are you thinking? " Wei Ying teases the blushing boy in front of him.

Lan Zhan smacks the latter on his head with the wood repeatedly, " Shut up. "

Wei Ying takes a hold of Lan Zhan's hand to prevent him from hitting him any further, " Okay, okay! I'll shut up, stop hitting me. ", He whines with a chuckles.

Lan Zhan's lips curve into a small smile. He looks at Wei Ying's focused face as he tries to tie the woods together with the piece of clothes he ripped from his shirt. Just then he realize that the boy who is treating his wound was injured himself. Bloods are seeping through his pants, that is now dark red in colour.

" Wei Ying. Your leg are bleeding too. ", Lan Zhan voices out, worries evident in his voice. " Oh this? " Wei Ying turns to look at his leg, " This is nothing. Don't worry. It doesn't hurt at all. ", Wei Ying grins, waving his hand dismissively in front of Lan Zhan.

Lan Zhan eyes him warily, lifting his left leg and kicks on Wei Ying's leg making him let out a painful yelp. He brings his hands to his leg. " Ow.. what the hell Lan Zhan. ", He frowns at the taller boy.

" You said it didn't hurt. ", Lan Zhan examines the wound. Wei Ying let out a chuckles and stands up before Lan Zhan manages to take a good look on his leg. " Finished. That will do for now. ", He exclaims proudly, looking at his finished work on Lan Zhan's injured leg.

" Don't change the topic, Wei Ying. ", Lan Zhan frowns at the boy which he returns with a grin. Plopping himself next to Lan Zhan, he rest his back against the tree. The sound of rain subtle down a little. The skies slowly clears up as the bright moon slightly appear behind the clouds.

" Lan Zhan. How did you end up here? ", Wei Ying breaks the tranquility of the night.

" ...I received a message from you.. telling me to meet you here.. ", Lan Zhan quietly mutters, looking down. Wei Ying's eyes widen upon hearing the words that left his mouth.

" What? I didn't text you anything. ", His mouth slightly agape, he grabs the other by his sleeve gently. " I didn't send you any messages. I would never thought of harming you like this. "

Lan Zhan turns to look at the boy's face. Worries evident in his expression, he seems genuinely confused too. Lan Zhan pats him on his head, cracking a small smile, " Silly, I don't blame you at all. "

Wei Ying slowly looks up at the boy, " What exactly happened? ", his gaze then fall on the wound on Lan Zhan's leg. " How did you get injured? "

" I don't see his face. "

Wei Ying's eyes filled with shock and seconds later his dark brown orbs are filled with rage. " Someone did this to you? ", He spits out of anger.

Lan Zhan looks away from Wei Ying. Great, Lan Zhan. He will thinks of you as a weakling now that he knows you can't even protect yourself.

" He broke my leg.. and pushed me off the bridge.. ", He slowly let those words left his mouth. " I was caught off guard. I can't do anything. I'm sorry. "

Wei Ying grabs the boy by his shoulders gently, " Why would you apologize? It's not your fault. If anyone were to blame, it should be that son of a bitch who harmed you! "

" If I get my hands on him, I'll make sure he'll regret doing all this to you.. ", He grits his teeth. His grips on Lan Zhan's shirt tighten, to the point that his knuckles turns white.

Lan Zhan puts his hand on top of Wei Ying's trembling ones, " Wei Ying. "

The frown immediately left Wei Ying's face upon hearing Lan Zhan's soft voice. His face soften, " Sorry.. I'm just so angry at that son of a bitch. How could he do this to you? " Lan Zhan is not hated by anyone, nor did he ever do something worth holding grudges. Who? Just who is that bastard that did this to him?

Lan Zhan withdraws his hand back, his eyes gaze upon the slighty unclear skies, " How did you found me? ", He suddenly asks without tearing his gaze from the skies.

Wei Ying grins, shoving his hand into his pocket and takes out a certain shiny thing. " I found this in front of the this forest! ", He holds it front of the latter's eyes.

Lan Zhan cracks a small smile upon seeing the little thing dangling in front of him, " I thought I lost it. ", he lifts his right hand to take it, which Wei Ying gladly put it on the latter's palm.

" This is really important to me. ", He mutters which makes Wei Ying let out a chuckles.

" It's just a cheap keychain. "

" But you gave it to me. ", Lan Zhan states. He turns to look at the shorter boy beside him. " It's what makes it important. "

" Hey hey! It's my turn! ", Huaisang whines, shoving Jiang Cheng away from the gashapon machine in front of auntie Jin's shop. The boy scowls at his long haired friend.

" No way! It's not fair! This dumb machine ate my money! ", Jiang Cheng slaps the machine, making a loud 'bang' noise. Auntie Jin looks up from her haircut magazine and and walks out from her shop, " What are you kids doing? ", She frowns, crossing her arms.

The eleven years old trio just stood there quietly, nudging each other. Wei Ying clears his throat and flashes auntie Jin his toothy grin, " Jiang Cheng saw a mosquito on the machine so he wants to kill it but accidentally slapped the machine instead. He's so clumsy, right auntie? ", Wei Ying crosses his arms and shakes his head disapprovingly at Jiang Cheng.

" Ah is that so? ", She flashes them a smile. " Don't be too loud, okay? I'm reading inside. ", She said as she lifts up the magazine in her hands and walks inside the shop back.

The three of them let out a breath of relief. Wei Ying then smacks Jiang Cheng on his head, " Are you out of your mind? What if Auntie Jin know? We can't play here anymore if that's so. "

Jiang Cheng holds his head, scowling at his brother, " Fine! I know I'm wrong here. I just want the keychain from this machine. ", He scoffs, Wei Ying let out a snort.

" Keychain? Since when are you so girly? "

Huaisang chimes in before Jiang Cheng manages to open his mouth, " There's only 10 percent of chances that you'll get it. They said anyone who have them will be lucky for the rest of their life. ", He shrugs, " I really doubt that but hey, no harm's done right? "

Jiang Cheng crosses his arms, " Maybe that's a lie so that children like us will spend our pocket money on this useless thing. "

" What make you think so, Jiang Cheng? ", Wei Ying raises his eyesbrows at his brother.

" I played this machine since the past 5 days and the only things I get are plastic rings and notes that say ' better luck next time '. ", He glares at the machine.

" Why are you still trying though? ", Wei Ying cocked an eyebrow while smirking at the frowning boy.

" Because I'm not a quitter! ", The boy exclaims loudly, earning himself a shush by Auntie Jin. He nods at her, flashing her a sorry smile.

" Aish! Why do I always get plastic rings? ", Huaisang sighs, shoving the fourth rings he got inside his pocket.

Wei Ying looks at his two dejected friends funnily. He then walks in front of the gashapon machine, " I'm going to give this a try. A-Cheng, lend me your money. I'll pay it back at home. ", He holds his hand out at his brother. Jiang Cheng gives him a look, " You smacked my head and expect me to lend you my money? No way! "

Wei Ying puffs his cheek, " So greedy, you're gonna be a grumpy uncle in the future! "

The younger fishes his pocket and a smile makes its way to his face. He takes the thing out and smirks. Good thing I still have this 20 cents jiejie gave me yesterday.

Jiang Cheng snorts at his brother, " You expect to get that on your first try? "

" Shaddap. ", Wei Ying scoffs at his brother with some words he heard Lan Zhan said to his father. He doesn't know what that mean himself. He hopes it's not a bad word.

Wei Ying puts his coin into the machine and twists the handle, he waits and waits yet nothing happened making the boy's face crease into a frown. Jiang Cheng let out a chuckles, " It ate your money too? "

Suddenly a red color ball rolls down from the machine. Wei Ying raises his eyesbrows curiously, picking up the ball shaped gashapon. Jiang Cheng and Huaisang quickly run to his sides, examining the thing.

" No way. You really got it? ", Huaisang widens his eyes. Jiang Cheng eyes the thing in his brother's hand in disbelief.

Wei Ying cracks the thing open and a shiny snow white rabbit keychain comes out from it. Wei Ying smirks at his two friends, " I guess I'm the luckiest boy in this town. ", He exclaims proudly, dangling the keychain in front of the other two.

" It's so pretty. ", They both gawk at the shiny keychain. Huaisang looks up from the thing and let out a chuckles, " You know Wei ge, if you give this to any girl, they'll surely develop a crush on you. "

Wei Ying scrunches up his nose, " No. Girls are gross. They like Barbie. ", He sticks out his tongue in disgust.

Something comes up in his mind, his face brighten almost immediately. " Lan Zhan! ", He suddenly exclaims, startling the other two boys.

" What's about Wangji? ", Jiang Cheng raises an eyebrow at his smiling brother.

" He has been kind of sad lately. ", He stares at the keychain in his hand, smiling cornily, " I'll give this to him instead. "

" Why are you smiling, silly? ", Lan Zhan's lips curve into a small smile, eyeing the boy beside him.

" I just remembered something funny. ", Wei Ying grins at the other boy.

A light breeze blows at them, causing them both to shiver. Wei Ying looks at Lan Zhan. " Are you cold? ", He asks, lifting his hand to reach for his jacket.

Lan Zhan's eyes darken upon remembering what happened yesterday night when he draped his jacket over the girl's shoulder. He is going to do the same to me right? Lan Zhan internally let out a dry chuckles.

But what happened next is the very opposite of his thoughts. He doesn't expect this at all. Wei Ying stands up from his sitting position and plops himself next to Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan's face warms at the very close proximity between them, their arms basically glued to each other. Wei Ying then drapes the jacket over the both of them.

" W-What are you doing? ", Lan Zhan stammers at Wei Ying's boldness. The latter raises his eyebrows at him, confused. " Why not? Aren't you cold? I'm cold too. ", He flashes the taller boy a wide grin. The shorter boy then puts his head on the taller's shoulder, rubbing his head on it like a cat. " Moreover, it's warmer this way. "

" Wei Ying, the jacket is wet. "

" So what? ", he chuckles as moves his head further, resting it in the crook of Lan Zhan's neck.

The same silence fills the atmosphere between them. Wei Ying's head is really close to Lan Zhan's chest causing the boy to panic internally, hoping the latter won't notice the loud thumping of his heart.

" Hey. Lan Zhan. "

" M-Mn. ", Even his hums are stuttering.

" I'm really sorry... about what I said today. ", Wei Ying quietly voices out. " I didn't mean it, really.. "

" Wei Ying.. "

" I'm blinded with anger. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. " The broken pieces in Lan Zhan's heart slowly sewn together, sending butterflies to his stomach. " I know. "

" I-I.. ", Wei Ying's voice cracks. Lan Zhan turns to look at him, " Wei Ying. ", the worries is evident in this voice, he pat the shorter's back gently.

" I'm so scared, Lan Zhan... ", He sobs quietly, Lan Zhan engulfs the latter in a hug upon hearing the heartbreaking sob. " What-What would happened if your brother didn't call me? O-Or if I didn't fall off my bike and ride pass the forest without knowing you're freaking drowning in the river? ", He chokes out between his cries.

" You may not be here tommorow and it's all my fault, you know? ", Wei Ying brings both his hands to his eyes. " I'm sorry, Lan Zhan.. I really am.. ", his shoulder trembles.

Lan Zhan hugs the crying boy in his arms tightly, " It's not your fault, don't put the blame on yourself, Wei Ying. "

" You're very important to me, I can't ever afford to lose you. ", his hiccups worsen, causing Lan Zhan to grab the boy by his shoulder gently. " You're important to me too, it hurts me to see you crying like this. ", Lan Zhan's eyes soften.

Hotness makes it way to Lan Zhan's cheeks, his heart is beating loudly against its cage, this is it Wangji. " Wei Ying, listen to me. ", He stares at the shorter's half lidded teary eyes. He fights the urge to avert the shorter's confused gaze. You can't chicken out now.

Taking a deep breath, he musters up his courage to say those three words as had always wanted to say to the boy since the past 6 years. " Wei Ying, I-I love you. "

Wei Ying's eyes widen before breaking into a wide smile, the happiest smile Lan Zhan has ever seen on his face. " Lan Zhan.. ", the tears rolls down his slightly tinted pink cheeks down to his face. Wei Ying slowly leans his face towards the panicking boy in front of him.

" I love my bestfriend so much too. ", Wei Ying smiles through his blurry vision.

After those words left his mouth, his body turns limp under Lan Zhan's grip. His head fell on Lan Zhan's chest with a light thud. Lan Zhan's face contorted with worries as he shakes the latter gently, " Wei Ying? Wei Ying! "

He lifts his hands to cup the unconscious boy's face. His eyes widen. ' He's burning! Wei Ying has a fever! ' He shakes the boy gently, " Wei Ying. Can you wake up? ", He lifts Wei Ying's hand and it drops to his sides.

At this point is where Lan Wangji starts panicking. He looks around him, frantically searching for something that he himself don't know what. As if a bottle of antibiotics will magically appears in the middle of the forest.

Suddenly, a ringtone that sounds more than familiar comes out from Wei Ying's pocket. Lan Zhan snaps his head towards the noise. Is that what I think it is? He rummages his hand through Wei Ying's pocket and comes outside a freaking phone.

Lan Zhan stares at this stupid unconscious boy before him in disbelief, ' You're telling me that the phone has been there the whole entire time? '

" Unbelievable. ", He mutters under his breath. He looks at the caller ID and raises his eyesbrows. ' How did Xichen-ge gets his number. '

" Ge? ", Lan Zhan brings the phone to his ears. The person on the other line gasps. " Wangji? Where are you? Where is Wei Wuxian? "

" Come here now please. ", Lan Zhan hugs the unconscious boy, holding him in his arms securely. " Wei Ying fainted. "

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this is a gashapon machine if any of y'all are wondering.

jin guang yao's character song is a bop.

©KEWLGHOST