Xue Meng doesn't stay long. Once he's sure Wanning is breathing and won't relapse he leaves to his room to get more rest. He's been going on more missions to get more experience under his belt.
Mo Ran stays by Wanning side, watching him sleep, eyes glued to those long dark lashes, those thin and soft looking eyebrows, the planes of his face. Taking note of the way it's changed in this form. Wanning face was very sharp, sharp lines everywhere but still beautiful and breathtaking. Now those sharp lines have soften. Especially his nose that now curve upward at the tip. Still beautiful and breathtaking but so much more, now precious and enticing. Those lips are more lush and pink.
Mo Ran presses a finger to Wanning wrist, checking his pulse and meridians. Everything is still stable, like he checked twenty minutes ago. Mo Ran takes a breath, slumping in his seat. He's been waiting here for about three hours. He's missed breakfast but doesn't care. He leans his head back, staring blankly at the ceiling. He's was so scared. Thought he lost Wanning again.
Almost lost Wanning just when their relationship can start anew.
Though nothings happened besides finally being able to say sorry. After that they went quiet. Mo Ran doesn't know what he was expecting but what he got wasn't it. The whole way back Wanning sat or stood mostly in silence. It could have been because Mengmeng was too busy yapping away the whole time, not letting anyone say anything. Though Mo Ran tuned his cousin out to focus on Wanning, the other seem to actually be listening to one of the peacocks rambling. There were times when Wanning look as if he were thinking about something, but that could just be because Mo Ran is still trying to understand the subtle ways Wanning hides his true feelings and what those feelings mean. He's trying. Yuheng didn't make it easy sitting like a statue, face neutral.
And now that they are back, it's been a while and Mo Ran hasn't seen Wanning in that time. Their paths never crossed naturally. It didn't occur to him that he can technically still go to the Red Lotus pavilion to ask for some guidance from his former shizun. Of course hanging out with his aunt was a much better excuse. Just walking side by side made Mo Ran feel better. He did wish there was something he can talk about but he didn't know what? What do Xue Meng and Shi Mei talk about with him?
He spent so long hating and stewing in his own bitterness caused by a misunderstanding he doesn't know how to talk to Wanning anymore. It makes him feel worse about his treatment towards the older man when he hears more about the small seeds of kindness Wanning leaves everywhere he goes. He's heard the newer disciples gossip about Wanning, of course they were told Wanning is cold, strict and harsh to everyone, he's a stick in the mud but now? He's not, and the newer disciples are of course surprised in turn. Wanning has, from what Mo Ran has heard, helped bandage a disciple small injury. Carried another disciple up the steps when they had collapsed from exhaustion. And lastly he has once again used a barrier to keep some disciples dry during a rainy day, though that one is still unknown by them but Mo Ran knew who it was when they said the barrier was pretty. His actions are nice but his face is still cold. Neutral but the disciples don't know that.
"Mmm?" Mo Ran sits up hearing the small mumble from Wanning. Violet eyes going to the way Wanning eyelashes tremble and his eyebrows furrow. Mo Ran steps to the edge of Wanning bed as Yuheng opens his eyes a sliver, glassy honey eyes look up in a daze. Mo Ran smiles.
"Shizun." He smiles, happy the man (in a woman's body which is still funny and weird to think about) is waking. Wanning tilts his head to look at where the voice is coming from. Gaze is blurry but can see bright violet eyes so he knows who it is.
"M-Mo Ran..." Wanning rasps, voice sore from vomiting so much blood all night. His eyes narrow a bit. "E-eating... d-don't te-tell them tha-that." He slurs a bit. Head turning to the other side eyes closing again, hair free from its confines so Wanning did a good job spreading his hair just now.
Mo Ran blinks. What? He starts to think about what Wanning is talking about. Then remembers, for Wanning he's sure no time has passed but it's been half a day for Mo Ran. They were eating and Mo Ran was talking about the cannibals. Mo Ran starts with a chuckle then, not able to hold it in, he lets out a deep belly laugh. The sound surprising Wanning, causing him to snap open his eyes and bolt upright. He turns his head to the sound only to look at Mo Ran dumbfounded. What could the man be laughing at?
Wanning blinks. He looks around the room as Mo Ran laughter dies down. He's at the medical building. Why? Wanning eyes narrow, eyebrows furrow as he thinks, not taking long as he remembers the blood.
"Feeling better?" Mo Ran asks voice light and airy having just laughed though Wanning still can't think about what. He must have missed it. Wanning blinks as Mo Ran reaches forward, softly brushing a stray strand of hair out of his face. His eyes widen as he stares. That was... something. It caused Wanning heart to spike for a second, he pushed it to calm down after. Realizing what he did seeing the shocked look on Wanning face Mo Ran pulls back his hand, clearing his throat as he turns his head away. A small blush decorating his cheeks. Why did he just do that?
Their heads turn at the door hearing it open. A disciple walk in, pausing at the doorway, getting a glance at Wanning. His eyes light up, he gives a grin. "You're finally awake. Wait here shizun wants a word with you." He says giving them a bow before closing the door again. Leaving the two in silence. Wanning turns his attention to Mo Ran.
"How long was I asleep?" Wanning wonders. Mo Ran twitches at the word 'asleep' as if that's what truly happen, trying to downplay what happen. He wasn't asleep, Wanning passed out.
"It's been at least fifteen hours." Mo Ran answers, voice deep and harsh but not at Wanning per se, but the situation that had happen. Of course Wanning eyes grow wide for a second time for a moment before he schools his face.
"I see." Wanning says getting off the bed, his bare feet smacking on the floor. Taking a second Mo Ran and Wanning take a look. Wanning feet are small, cute and his toes are pink and most of all bare. What happened to his shoes? Also he's not wearing his cultivation robes but woman's clothes in white. Wanning raises an eyebrow looking at Mo Ran almost accusatory. "Who changed me?" He wonders. Mo Ran puts his hands up.
"It must have been auntie," he says quickly. It must have been her considering she was the only female of the three. Shi Mei wouldn't cross the line. And Tanlang wouldn't care. Wanning face relax but he stays watching.
Before another word can be exchanged between the two Tanlang and Chuqing walk in. Chuqing smiles at Wanning. Tanlang gets in front of Wanning, a glare already on his face. He crosses his arms, eyes accusing him already. Wanning levels him a glare back, though now smaller has to crane his neck up.
"So how long did you feel off after taking the pill?" He demands an answer.
"I felt nothing until I started vomiting blood." Wanning says turning his head to the side, head held high.
Tanlang stare, glaring deeper. "Not true, some blood got into your lungs we had to force it out." He answers pointing a finger at Wanning. Now it's Wanning turn for his glare to get deeper.
"It was unsanitary to get blood everywhere. I didn't hold it long. A minute at most." Wanning answers haughty, head still being held high. Not seeing what is wrong with his actions. Tanlang grumbles.
"You're an idiot." He mumbles rubbing his eyes then pinching the bridge of his nose. "Why do you always do this! Keeping it in, any injury of yours, is dangerous! You may end up dying by a bad infection! Did you like dying because you seem to want to again!" He shouts.
"I was going to get help, and I don't plan on dying!" Wanning shouts back.
"Whatever." He grumbles deciding to get to the root of why he's here, both stubborn enough they can go back and forth for hours. Though he doesn't believe Wanning a bit. "Do you know what caused the bleeding?" He asks, Wanning may be an idiot when it comes to taking care of himself (herself? He's not really sure how to address himself) but he's smart enough to figure and piece clues together.
"Obviously the pill." Wanning crosses his arms.
"Yes. From what it looks like, your body didn't like it and expelled it forcefully and violently. It has something to do with the pink dust that made you like this. I took the pill and nothings happened and it's been four hours, way longer than you lasted. I also sprinkled the dust on a pill and it rejected each other." He explains.
"So what now?" Wanning wonders, actually asking, arms uncrossing and falling to his side, face smoothing out. Does he wait for Tanlang to try again or do they look for another solution?
"I'll try something else." He says, not wanting to beat around the bush. He turns and leaves, only giving a courteous bow to madam Wang. He does slam the door shut.
Wanning huffs. Madam Wang steps up. She gives them a smile. "Your robes got covered in blood so I changed you. Here are your shoes, and your head piece is over there on the nightstand." She says handing Wanning shoes, but not his usual shoes. It's to go with the outfit. "Please message me if anything ever happens." She says then leave.
Wanning gets his shoes on, then grabs his hair piece, leaving the room, wanting to hurry out this place. Forgetting Mo Ran was still in the room.
So much for talking to Wanning.