Untying The Red Ribbon


Among the four thousand rules that were engraved on the wall, there were few about sleeping habits. To build a healthy mind and body, it was a must that a Lan child developed a sleeping schedule from an early age.

One particular rule went something like this— "A body needs rest and mind sleep, oversleeping and indulging in dreams is a vice."

Lan Wangji, had always abided by the rules— waking up at 5 am and retiring to bed at 9 pm. Since childhood, he was a deep sleeper, and dreams were scarce to him—because even as a child he knew dreams were just a manifestation of unbridled desires.

Everything changed at the age of fifteen, when a teen with wings stitched to his feet and mischief painted on his smile had appeared in front of Lan Wangji.

The first time he saw Wei Wuxian, the boy's back was facing Lan Wangji— he was busy climbing inside the walls of Gusu — he looked slender but had strong limbs and arms which were camouflaged by the delicate white robes given to every new guest pupil! Wei Wuxian shouldn't have had mattered, yet he did. It was the after image of his naughty red ribbon that had captured Lan Wangji's soul!

The inky black hair had been pulled high up into a ponytail and tied with a bright red silk ribbon, and it kept fluttering shamelessly in the breezy night.

Lan Wangji's first reaction was — want — he wanted to touch the red piece of cloth, and then it happened — Wei Wuxian turned around.

Grey curious eyes met the calm confusion of the golden orbs.

Jars of emperor's smile in his palm and a sword tied to his gait, Wei Wuxian had winked at him! He shone under the moonlight, and Lan Wangji had jumped at him without a second thought.

And like a velvety hibiscus on a rainy evening, Wei Wuxian slipped out of his hand! Only echoes of his giggles were left behind!

Red, was a colour the Lan sect, frowned upon. It was the colour of passion and anger— it was only permitted and to be indulged with only when a Lan was getting married.

Otherwise, red, was not a colour of stable soul!

And yet it was the most natural colour for the love of his life.

Lan Wangji's first vivid dream was of Wei Wuxian.

In his dream.

The notorious teen sat opposite him, and the honourable and ideal student of Lan sect — had his fingers coiled with the soft red ribbon — one tug was all it took for the red knot to fall apart and free Wei Wuxian's black waterfall like hair.

The dream had grown from a single desire of wanting to touch the silky hair to numerous intricate stories and scenarios where the owner of the red ribbon found himself tied up and left begging — if these dreams were exposed to public — Lan Wangji would have been frowned upon and shunned by all!

Now that every desire of his had been fulfilled two decades later, he found himself far from satiated. If anything, his want for his Wei Ying had transcended in to hunger for everything.

There was new hunger in his belly for life and its various forms of joys!

Lan Wangji found his appetite for food had grown because Wei Wuxian fed him, his desire to sleep stretched a bit longer because Wei Wuxian clung to his waist— his urge to talk back was high because Wei Wuxian asked him silly questions! Lan Wangji dared to pick colourful fabrics that were no longer on the sober and dignified scale, and most importantly his desire to laugh out loud because he wanted to match Wei Wuxian's sweet giggles.

Oversleeping was a vice, but his rough fingers thought otherwise! As he gently parted the dark hair to free a pink ear, Lan Wangji concluded he didn't trust the rules about sleep any more.

Placing a kiss on the mole hidden behind the ear, he tied Wei Wuxian's silky hair in a loose braid with the infamous red ribbon. His husband was deep in sleep, his shoulders bare and marked with kisses, his blissful face half buried in the pillow and swollen lips slightly apart.

But at the slightest movement from the taller man and Wei Wuxian would hug Lan Wangji tighter— so afraid he was to let him go that multiple mornings Lan Wangji found their wrists bound in talismans that had handcuffed him to Wei Wuxian.

The colour of sky changed from deep blue to soft tangerine — the windows of Jingshi witnessed the progression of the new day, but Lan Wangji had closed his eyes and pulled his husband's palm into his own and placed it on his chest.

Lan Wangji's heart purred like a content cat under the gentle fingers of Wei Wuxian.

The cultivation world was correct — Lan Wangji had indeed become a man full of vices because of Wei Wuxian!


The End!