Chapter 117 Concern
Si Zhui sat on the bench in the office, his fingertips unconsciously picking at the strap of his schoolbag.
When the teacher placed the test paper in front of him just now, the bright red "65" was like a slap in the face, making him dizzy. It wasn't that he couldn't do it, but he was too sleepy during the test and fell asleep on the table. When he woke up, there were only ten minutes left. He filled in a few blanks randomly and handed in the paper.
"Lan Sizhui, you haven't been in a good mood lately." The head teacher's voice still echoed in his ears. "You've been daydreaming in class and sleeping during exams. Is something wrong at home? Let's call your parents."
He didn't dare tell his teacher that he couldn't sleep because he missed his father and his dad. They'd been in the Medicine Valley looking for herbs for two weeks, and he'd only called twice, each time saying they'd be back soon, but they'd never showed up. Lying in his empty room at night, he'd remember his dad crying in his arms, his father's silent, worried eyes, and he'd toss and turn, unable to fall asleep.
The office door opened, and Lan Xichen walked in. He was still as gentle as ever, and nodded slightly to the head teacher: "Hello, teacher, I am Sizhui's great uncle."
The head teacher quickly stood up and said, "Mr. Lan, you're finally here. Please take a look at this child's test paper..."
Lan Xichen took the test paper and his eyes fell on the eye-catching score. He frowned slightly, then relaxed again and looked at Sizhui gently: "Sizhui, apologize to the teacher."
"I'm sorry, teacher. I won't do it again next time." Si Zhui lowered his head, his voice muffled.
The head teacher sighed. "It's not that I have to criticize him, but his current state is really worrying. How about this? As punishment, he must copy the wrong questions ten times and hand them in to me tomorrow."
“Okay, thank you, teacher.” Lan Xichen agreed with a smile and took Sizhui’s hand. “Let’s go back first.”
As they walked out of the office, the setting sun stretched their shadows very long. Sizhui lowered his head, kicking pebbles on the roadside, and said nothing.
"Are you still thinking about Daddy and Father?" Lan Xichen spoke first, his tone gentle.
Si Zhui raised his head, his eyes full of confusion: "Uncle, when will they come back? Will it take so long to find the herbs?"
Lan Xichen stopped, crouched down, and looked him in the eye. His fingertips gently stroked his hair, his smile still gentle. "The roads in the Medicine Valley are difficult to navigate, and those herbs are hidden away, so it takes a bit of effort. Your father didn't want you to worry, so he specifically asked me not to tell you. He accidentally sprained his ankle while searching for herbs a few days ago and is recovering from the injury."
"Sprained your ankle?!" Si Zhui immediately became nervous. "Is it serious? Did you apply any medicine?"
“Don’t worry, your father is taking care of you.” Lan Xichen reassured him with a smile, “It’s just that walking isn’t very convenient yet, so I’ve been delayed for a few days.”
He had already discussed an excuse with Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. It had to explain why they hadn't returned yet, but it also didn't arouse Si Zhui's suspicion. Spraining his ankle was the safest explanation - it fit the "looking for medicinal herbs" scenario and wouldn't make the child overly worried.
Si Zhui was relieved, but still frowned: "Then they should tell me..."
“Your father is just worried you’ll get distracted.” Lan Xichen stood up and took his hand. “Let’s go back and finish copying the wrong questions. By the way, your father just sent me a message saying he’s free tonight and wants to video chat with you.”
Sizhui's eyes lit up instantly: "Really?"
“Indeed.” Lan Xichen nodded, “But you have to wait until you finish copying the wrong questions and complete the teacher’s punishment.”
"Okay! I'll copy it now!" Si Zhui immediately quickened his pace. The depressed mood he had just felt because he was going to be punished disappeared, and all that was left was the excitement of video chatting with his father and daddy.
Watching his bouncing figure, Lan Xichen's smile faded a little, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Coaxing this child was even more troublesome than dealing with the disputes among the hundreds of immortal sects. He took out his phone and sent a message to Lan Wangji: "Si Zhui wants to video chat tonight, you guys get ready."
Soon, Lan Wangji replied with an "OK".
Lan Xichen put away his phone and sighed inwardly as he looked at Sizhui's back. He hoped Wei Wuxian would be in better shape tonight, so the kid wouldn't see through his flaws.
Back at Yunshen Pavilion, Sizhui was, as expected, sitting at his desk, copying down the wrong answers, meticulously and carefully. Lan Xichen sat beside him, reading, occasionally glancing up at him, his eyes filled with satisfaction. This child, after all, was sensible.
After copying the last word, Si Zhui let out a long sigh and ran to Lan Xichen, holding the notebook in his hand. "Uncle, I'm done! Can we video chat now?"
“Okay.” Lan Xichen took out his phone and made a video call to Lan Wangji.
The phone rang a few times before being picked up. Lan Wangji's face appeared on the screen, with a familiar room in the background. Wei Wuxian was leaning against the head of the bed, wrapped in a thick cloak, his face looking quite rosy.
"Daddy! Father!" Si Zhui immediately came to the screen, his eyes shining.
“Si Zhui.” Wei Wuxian smiled and waved his hand. His voice sounded a little weak, but with a clear smile, “Have you finished copying the wrong questions?”
"I've finished copying!" Si Zhui nodded, then asked nervously, "Daddy, is your ankle seriously sprained? Does it hurt?"
“It’s fine now.” Wei WuXian patted his legs and laughed loudly on purpose. “Look, I can move and jump.”
Lan Wangji quietly supported him from the side, fearing that his excessive movements would cause damage to the wound.
"That's good." Si Zhui breathed a sigh of relief and began to ramble on about school, about Jin Ling and Lan Jingyi arguing again, about how the medicine Uncle Wen Ning had sent was very bitter, and about how he had fallen asleep during the exam today...
Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji listened patiently, occasionally responding with eyes so gentle that tears could be dripping from their eyes.
After half an hour of video chatting, Wei Wuxian's face gradually turned pale, and fine beads of cold sweat oozed out of his forehead. Lan Wangji saw this and said calmly, "Si Zhui, your father needs to take his medicine. Shall we hang up now?"
"Okay! Daddy has to take his medicine on time!" Si Zhui nodded immediately and shouted at the screen, "You guys have to come back soon!"
"Okay." Wei Wuxian nodded with a smile, but his eyes were secretly red.
After hanging up the video, Si Zhui was still holding the phone and grinning foolishly, obviously he hadn't recovered from the joy of talking to his parents.
Lan Xichen looked at him and breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, nothing was exposed.
He took out his phone and sent a message to Lan Wangji: [Si Zhui is very happy, don't worry.]
In a small courtyard far away on the outskirts of the city, Wei Wuxian leaned in Lan Wangji's arms and started coughing violently. The smile he had just forced on his face had long since disappeared, and his face was as white as paper.
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have talked for so long." Lan Wangji patted his back with heartache, his voice trembling.
“I don’t blame you…” Wei WuXian was coughing so hard he couldn’t speak. It took him a while to recover and he smiled weakly. “It’s worth it to see him smile.”
He picked up his phone and looked at Sizhui's photo on the screen, stroking it gently with his fingertips.
Wait a little longer, Sizhui.
Daddy went back soon.
must.
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