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( He hums in response, shuffling papers with no real aim. )

At first I went along with things because I needed to see the lay of the land. I know it never seems like it but I do know the positives of patience. ( His vengeance might have hurtled steadily ahead and beyond his control once he finally set foot out in the Jianghu, but it had taken time to orchestrate in the first place. The ghosts, the intel, the songs, they hadn't been whims. ) And then -? I don't know. Where would I take people once they'd shaken the shackles off? What would we do? Could I be responsible for that when, if given even the slightest chance, I would have returned home without a care?

( A then, more quiet. )

Would I want to risk it, if it jeopardised getting back?

I know.

[ Wen Kexing wouldn't do anything that would keep him the slightest chance away from him. Not when home meant avenging his parents, Gu Xiang, Chengling, and Zhou Zishu himself. ]

You've done well, Lao Wen.

( He huffs out a breath, shakes his head a little. )

Aiya, it doesn't feel like it. But it doesn't matter, we have to do whatever we can to make it through here. As long as we get back. Your boy needs you.

Your girl and her silly little rabbit need you.

Ugh.

( It's overdramatic, but Wen Kexing is sure Zhou Zishu can tell just how much Gu Xiang's absense has been wearing on him. He misses her, though he is not surprised by that. He'd meant to find her a new life, the longing would have come either way. He just wishes he could be near to make sure she's safe. )

Is she happy? ( Sudden, though he looks down at his desk rather than Zhou Zishu. ) She must be, right? But she was never the type of girl to play pretend at weddings - she is doing it because she wants to, isn't she?

Deliriously so.

You, on the other hand, are terrorizing everyone with the need to make sure things are absolutely perfect.

[ He reaches out, covering Wen Kexing's hand with his own. ]

Why does she still call you zhuren when she should call you ge?

Well, they should be! It's what she deserves.

( It's no secret that Wen Kexing has a romantic heart, he talks about it often enough. But there are parts that are more earnest, more desperate, sore like a bruise. He wanted better for Gu Xiang, wants more for her. She is the only good thing he has ever managed to do, his silly girl. )

Ah? Safer? For her, I mean. ( He shrugs a shoulder, fidgety. ) In the beginning I didn't let her call me anything at all, it was better that people didn't know I cared, but she was so small and so innocent that it couldn't last long. So then I had to pretend she was a ... protégé? I don't know. The old Valley Master thought it was funny, so he let me look after her. She was a handy enough leash in case I acted out. When I killed him - ( A pause, momentary. ) I thought it best she kept that up. She could take better care of herself by then, I raised her to be deadly enough. But she's still a weak spot, and someone is always looking for one of those.

( And then, a hum. )

We're different, out in the Jianghu. We get to pretend to be something else. I'd hoped when I found her somewhere safer she could think back on me kindly like that, call me whatever she wanted, like a nice memory.

( He hadn't expected to survive, but then - Zhou Zishu. )

[ Perhaps, if he'd had that sort of foresight, his eighty brothers that followed him down the mountain would still be alive. But, no. Helian Yi knew perfectly well who the men from Siji were, and Zishu had (foolishly, foolishly) thought, hoped that the association would protect them. Instead, it killed them. ]

Well. There's time, still.

Maybe.

( And then sly. )

What should she call you? Sao zi?

'Ge' will serve perfectly well, thank you.

Ah, we're already divorced, how sad.

( He makes a big show of pouting, eyes wide. )

I never even got to see the benefits of marriage before you cast me off, Lord Zhou, how cruel you are!

If you're her ge, doesn't that make me her ge as well?

( There's a small smile threatening to burst free across his features, his expression pleased. )

Mm, I suppose so. That isn't so bad, is it? Us, Chengling, her --. Her Cao Weining. She has Luo Fumeng and Liu Qianqiao too. She hasn't done terribly, all things considered.

( It isn't a perfect family, but he thinks it could be a nice one. Maybe she doesn't have to forget her roots in entirety. )

Though what Cao Weining's family thinks of us I don't know. ( A sudden thought, his eyes narrowing. ) Are they allowing it?

What Mo Huaiyang is like... you are well-aware. Xiao Cao knew, though, when he chose to stay after learning that she's from the Valley. He's at the Valley, being teased by Chengling and intimidated by you, getting ready for this wedding.

[ He knocks his knuckles lightly against Wen Kexing's forehead. He also knows what he's implying, by mentioning Chengling at the Valley, and trusts that Wen Kexing understands. ]

He's a simple boy. All he wants is a place by A-Xiang's side.

( He blinks, goes still. Ghost Valley is a terrible crushing weight even with his crimes exposed. There is a terrible, sickly pride, of course there is, but more often than not there's pain and regret. Chengling is one of those. Wen Kexing, an orphan hellbent on his vengeance, had passed on that terrible legacy. He doesn't know why he's being treated kindly now.

He doesn't deserve it. )

Chengling -. ( His fingers twitch, he considers reaching for the wine. ) - why?

( Why is nobody angry? Why is their silly child still with them? Why does Wen Kexing still get to have all this? )

Because he loves you.

[ it's simple as that. ]

I don't know what happened when he found out. I wasn't there. [ He only saw a false version, though he believed it. He should have trusted Chengling more. ] But he calls you shishu, Lao Wen.

( How many times will Zhou Zishu move him to tears now that he's here? Wen Kexing doesn't know, but he blinks furiously, half scowling because he doesn't know what else to do. )

Ha, shishu.

( What a terrible yearning thing he has become. ) That silly boy, what are we going to do with him?

( And then, a pause, thoughtful, wet eyes narrowing. ) You don't make me call you shixiong, do you? Ah-Xu, you better not, it's hardly romantic.

[ He opens his mouth and then closes it again, scowling as the tips of his ears and the tops of his cheeks skew pink. ]

You--!

Oh?

( Something more sly settles across his face, foxlike. He notes those pretty pink ears with interest, grin widening, the tip of his tongue flitting across the bottom of his teeth. Flirting with Zhou Zishu has always felt like a thrilling game, and he can't help but seize his chance now, leaning one elbow against the desk and fluttering his dark eyelashes. )

So that's how it is? Well, it isn't exactly my kink shixiong, but I'm willing to work with it.

Wen Kexing!

[ It's not a kink. He really wants to throw something at the other man. ]

( Another bright peal of laughter. )

All right, all right, I'll leave it.

( The for now goes unsaid. It will return when Zhou Zishu least expects it, that's for sure. )

[ He's sulking, now, though he'll deny it if Wen Kexing tries to say so. ]

( Ah, he's so easily tormented, Wen Kexing had forgotten just how fun it was. His smile is sly and pleased as he turns back to his abandoned paperwork, leaving Zhou Zishu to his embarrassed sulking.

He's cute! So cute! )

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