Chapter 183: I Do Not Have A Favourite
Ningyan had known this would happen. At some point, he had expected to face this version of Lan Meishan.
But never like this.
Never in a way where he would be forced to remain with him until Lan Yunlai was dead. Killed by Meishan’s own hands.
His gaze remained fixed on him, disbelief still lingering in his expression.
Lan Meishan only smiled. Too easily. Too often.
It didn’t belong to him.
"...Plan gone wrong, huh?" Wuhen’s voice drawled from behind.
He stepped closer, resting his chin lazily against Ningyan’s shoulder, red-gold eyes gleaming as he looked ahead.
"I wanted to save him," Ningyan said, his voice tightening.
Wuhen’s ears perked slightly. "You did save him."
There was amusement in his tone now.
Ningyan immediately shrugged him off. Hard.
Wuhen only chuckled under his breath.
Ningyan didn’t spare him another glance as he stepped forward, closing the distance between himself and Meishan.
He pointed directly at him.
"If you’re staying until Lan Yunlai dies," Ningyan said, his voice firm, unwavering, "then you are not doing it alone."
He straightened, crossing his arms. "And it ends quickly. I want my husband back."
There was no hesitation in his voice. None.
Because there was no way.. No way he was letting this play out like the original story.
The Su family was gone, Jun Yongrui was gone and now... Meishan....
"...You really do have a favourite," Meishan’s head tilted, eyes gleaming with something unreadable before shifting toward Wuhen. "It’s obvious, isn’t it?"
Wuhen hummed, thoughtful. "Painfully."
Meishan exhaled, almost amused.
"How do you tolerate it?" he asked, glancing back at Ningyan before lazily adding, "If I were you, I would’ve killed Lan Meishan already." As if he weren’t speaking about himself.
Wuhen sighed, pushing damp strands of hair from his face. "Trust me," he said dryly, "the urge is there."
Ningyan closed his eyes briefly and let out a deep breath. "I do not have a favourite."
Silence.
Wuhen and Meishan looked at each other. Then they both burst into laughter.
Ningyan froze. Because no matter how many times he imagined it, he had never once imagined this.
Wuhen and Meishan. Laughing. Together. At him!
"Oh, Yan’er," Wuhen said, his voice laced with wicked amusement, his tails curling lazily around Ningyan’s waist, "we all know it’s Meishan."
Ningyan exhaled sharply, pushing the tails away. "Enough."
His tone cut through the moment cleanly. "We’re going back to the palace."
He turned and walked away without waiting for them.
Behind him, Meishan and Wuhen exchanged a look. A silent understanding passing between them.
Wuhen’s lips curved.
"I like this version of you," he said lightly. "If it were up to me... I’d keep you like this."
Meishan shrugged, utterly unbothered. "...Same."
^°^
Ningyan, Wuhen, and Meishan returned to the Azure Dragon Palace through Meishan’s portal, stepping out into the grand halls drenched from the relentless rain.
Water clung to their robes, dripping onto the polished floors.
Ningyan’s expression remained tight, his brows drawn as Wuhen and Meishan continued their relentless teasing behind him.
It grated on him.
More than that, Meishan felt... wrong. Too unfamiliar.
He wasn’t even wearing his spectacles.
The guards at the entrance stiffened at their appearance but said nothing, quickly stepping aside to let them pass.
They had barely taken a few steps into the hall when Jun Haoxuan appeared.
He strode toward them with two guards trailing behind, his presence steady, composed yet his gaze landed on Ningyan alone.
Ningyan’s chest tightened.
...Right. He had avoided him.
Not just avoided, he had disappeared after that night. After accepting him.
Guilt settled heavily in his chest.
"You have returned." Haoxuan’s voice was calm, direct and entirely for him as if Wuhen and Meishan didn’t exist.
Wuhen raised a hand lazily. "I’m here too."
Meishan tilted his head. "And me."
Ningyan exhaled quietly.
Two Wuhens. That was what this felt like. Equally troublesome.
Haoxuan’s gaze shifted briefly to Meishan, his golden reptilian eyes narrowing.
"It’s you," he said. "His other side."
"The fun side," Wuhen corrected and shivered, his wet tails flicking irritably behind him. "I’m going to dry off."
Before Ningyan could react, Wuhen stepped forward. His hand came up, cupping Ningyan’s face without hesitation.
And then, he kissed him softly.
Ningyan’s eyes widened, caught completely off guard.
By the time he processed it, Wuhen was already pulling away, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. Then he turned and walked off down the corridor, his tails swaying lazily behind him.
Meishan studied Ningyan for a moment longer, his gaze lingering on those glowing purple eyes and looked away.
"You should take care of the crystal," he said, his tone light but deliberate. "Before it damages him more than it already has."
"I will." Jun Haoxuan’s response was immediate.
Ningyan’s lips parted slightly as his gaze returned to Meishan, something unspoken flickering in his expression.
Meishan noticed and a slow, almost dangerous smile curved his lips.
"I am still your husband, Ningyan," he said softly, stepping closer, not too close. Just enough. "You don’t have to look at me like you don’t recognize me."
Ningyan’s jaw tightened. He shook his head. "You’re not him."
Meishan nodded, as if he had expected that answer all along.
"He wants you safe," he murmured, lifting his hands before letting them fall again. "And my hands..."
He glanced at them, amused. "...are off you. Until he returns."
His gaze lifted again, locking onto Ningyan’s. "So you’re safe. Alright?"
And just like that, he stepped back. A dark portal bloomed beneath his feet, swallowing him whole.
Ningyan exhaled slowly, the tension finally slipping through his chest as he turned toward Jun Haoxuan.
The moment their eyes met, that tight, familiar pain surged again. The purple glow in his eyes flared brighter.
"I really should have killed Lan Yunlai first," he muttered, his voice quieter now... edged with frustration.
Jun Haoxuan’s lips twitched faintly. He stepped forward slowly and reached out, his fingers resting gently against Ningyan’s cheek.
A faint blue glow slipped from his touch, seeping into Ningyan’s skin like calm water over fire.
"Hm," he murmured. "You should have."