"Um…is Lan Qiren out sick today? Who's the new guy?"

None of the guest disciples recognized the GusuLan sect cultivator standing in front of the class.

The GusuLan sect cultivator frowned. "What is it? What are you all staring at?"

Upon hearing the man's voice, the guest disciples realized that it was Lan Qiren.

"Lan-xiansheng?!"

Lan Qiren noticed the guest disciples staring intently at his face.

Lan Qiren felt a hand around his face. His hand came to rest under his chin.

His empty, hairless chin.

At the disgruntled expression on Lan Qiren's face, Wei Wuxian burst into uncontrollable laughter. He wanted to play one big prank on Lan Qiren before leaving the Cloud Recesses in a few weeks.

"Wei Wuxian!" Lan Qiren's shout was so loud it was as if his voice echoed throughout the Cloud Recesses.

Lan Qiren pointed at Wei Wuxian in anger. "You really are just like your mother, Cangse Sanren!"

Wei Wuxian stopped laughing. His eyes widened. "My mother! Did you know my mother?"

At the look on Wei Wuxian's face, Lan Qiren was stunned. It was so unlike Wei Wuxian to have such desperation in his eyes.

"Please, Lan-xiansheng. Did you know my mother?"

Lan Qiren was unswayed by Wei Wuxian's pleading. He did not want to think of Cangse Sanren. "Enough! I will speak no more of this!"

"But-!"

"No more!"

For once, Wei Wuxian went quiet. He trembled where he stood.

Pan Wukun and Lan Wangji watched him with concern.

Wei Wuxian was so dazed that Jiang Cheng had to pull him by the arm to sit back down.

Lan Qiren continued with the class as normal and dismissed the guest disciples without another glance at Wei Wuxian.

Over the next few days, Pan Wukun noticed that Wei Wuxian acted gloomy. His heart just wasn't into his usual pranking.

Was Wei Wuxian trying to get on Lan Qiren's good side to be able to talk about his mother?

Seeing Wei Wuxian like this bothered Pan Wukun. She didn't know if Lan Qiren ever told Wei Wuxian more about Cangse Sanren after he married Lan Wangji. So she felt bad for Wei Wuxian.

There had to be something she could do for him…

"You wished to speak with me, Pan Wukun?"

Pan Wukun bowed respectfully to Lan Qiren.

"Wei Wuxian has been unresponsive and sad lately. He is…a good friend to me. I am concerned about his well-being."

Lan Qiren frowned.

"Lan-xiansheng. Wei Wuxian could barely even remember his parents. I know he can be…difficult." - And clingy. And cocky. And too mischievous for his own good, Pan Wukun thought. - "But he is still young. Please, he needs closure."

The stiffness in Lan Qiren's jaw lessened.

"You are the finest grandmaster of the GusuLan sect, Lan-xiansheng. You know what's best for your students. What child wouldn't want to know more about their parents? You know the importance of filial piety. Wei Wuxian can pay better respects to his parents' memories if he can get to know them more."

Lan Qiren never stopped frowning. But he did not yell at Pan Wukun. "I see…that will be all, Pan Wukun."

"I thank you for hearing me out, Lan-xiansheng."

Pan Wukun wasn't entirely sure if she was successful. She would just have to wait and see…

"Shufu, I wish to speak with you."

Lan Wangji bowed respectfully.

Lan Qiren's eyes narrowed. First Pan Wukun. Now Lan Wangji? Were the Heavens trying to send him a message? "Why do you wish to speak about Wei Wuxian, Wangji?"

"I am merely concerned about the health and mind of a guest disciple, shufu. It's part of my duties."

Lan Qiren was proud that Lan Wangji upheld his duties as the second son of the GusuLan sect leader even with the nuisance that was Wei Wuxian.

And Wei Wuxian was a nuisance just as much as Cangse Sanren was…

…Before she died.

Years ago, Lan Qiren received the news of Cangse Sanren's death from Jiang Fengmian.

Of course, her recklessness was going to get her killed eventually, Lan Qiren thought.

"This past winter, Wei Wuxian comforted me when I was mourning my mother's passing. It is only honorable that I repay Wei Wuxian for his kindness." Lan Wangji kept his head down, his figure solemn in front of Lan Qiren.

Lan Xichen had informed Lan Qiren of Wei Wuxian spending time with Lan Wangji on his mother's death anniversary.

Looking upon Lan Wangji made Lan Qiren remember that Lan Wangji had also lost his mother when he was a child. Wei Wuxian lost his mother at an even younger age than Lan Wangji. At least Lan Wangji got to know his mother before her passing.

Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze left behind a young orphaned son.

The desperation in Wei Wuxian's eyes in Lan Qiren's class made it even more clear that the boy knew almost nothing of his parents.

Lan Qiren did not like Wei Wuxian. But it was still his duty as grandmaster to ensure that his students paid the proper respects to their parents and found peace of mind.

Finally, Lan Qiren sighed. "Very well, I shall talk to Wei Wuxian about what I know of his mother."

Lan Wangji bowed. "Thank you, shufu."

Wei Wuxian and Lan Qiren sat across from each other awkwardly.

This was the first time Wei Wuxian willingly responded to any summons from Lan Qiren.

For once, Wei Wuxian was silent and listened to Lan Qiren intently.

Lan Qiren wished Wei Wuxian was always this quiet.

Lan Qiren cleared his throat. "So what is it that you wish to know about Cangse Sanren?"

Wei Wuxian leaned forward attentively. "What was my mother's personality like?"

Lan Qiren rubbed his chin. "Hmm…Loud, boisterous, mischievous…You share all her traits, Wei Ying. She also shaved my goatee many years ago."

Wei Wuxian coughed and cleared his throat to cover up the laugh he almost let out. "Ahem! I see."

"You wear a red ribbon in your hair like she did too. You are just like her, Wei Ying. There is no doubt that you are Cangse Sanren's son."

"…And what about my father?"

"Wei Changze was quiet, calm, and dutiful. You resemble your father in appearance."

Wei Wuxian laughed. "So I have my mother's bright personality and my father's good looks!"

"Yes…that is all I know of your parents, Wei Ying," Lan Qiren said. He refused to talk about the time Cangse Sanren accused him of almost getting her, Wei Changze, and Jiang Fengmian killed on a night-hunt once. Wei Wuxian did not need to know that and Lan Qiren did not need any mention of that incident ruining this meeting.

Wei Wuxian bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Lan-xiansheng!"

Maybe he isn't too bad of an old stick-in-the-mud after all, Wei Wuxian thought.

With the meeting finished, Wei Wuxian stepped outside and contemplated.

Back at Lotus Pier, he would never have gotten the chance to learn more about his parents.

Yu Ziyuan got furious if anyone spoke about Cangse Sanren. And Wei Changze was a sensitive subject with Jiang Fengmian.

So no one spoke to Wei Wuxian about his parents at all.

All he had were childhood memories he could vaguely recall.

He never even got his parents' ashes…

But now…at least he finally knew what they were like in life.

A peaceful smile graced Wei Wuxian's face as the sun's rays shone over him with warmth.

It was weird for everyone to see Lan Qiren come to class without a goatee.

It was even weirder to see Wei Wuxian sitting upright in his seat and directly facing Lan Qiren without uttering a single noise.

Wei Wuxian was the quietest he'd ever been.

Jiang Cheng pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

Nie Huaisang rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

Pan Wukun could not stop glancing at Wei Wuxian, blinking repeatedly.

Lan Wangji was the most relaxed he ever had around Wei Wuxian. For once, he did not have to watch out for any mischief Wei Wuxian might pull. Briefly anyway.

Once Wei Wuxian was out of the classroom, he was back to his usual mischievous prankster self.

Lan Qiren sighed. He knew that this was the best he could expect from Wei Wuxian. Any chance that Cangse Sanren's son could behave even a little, he would take it.