Chapter 166: Warmth Prompts New Buds
After Wei Wuxian's fever subsided, his body strangely relaxed. No longer the limp, panting at the slightest movement, he felt like earth moistened by spring rain, quietly brimming with life.
That morning, he woke earlier than usual. The bluegrass outside the window was wet with dew, gleaming brightly in the morning light. He tried to sit up on his own. While his chest still felt a little stuffy, the tearing pain he'd felt before was gone.
"Awake?" Lan Wangji walked in with a bowl of medicine. Seeing him leaning against the headboard and looking out the window, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. "You got up early today."
Wei Wuxian turned around and smiled, his voice a bit cheerful. “I couldn’t sleep, so I woke up to the sound of birds singing.” He pointed out the window. “Look at that blue grass. It seems to have grown taller.”
Lan Wangji followed his gaze and saw that the clumps of blue grass had indeed sprouted new leaves, so tender they looked like they could be squeezed to extract water. He placed the medicine bowl on the bedside table and reached out to touch Wei Wuxian's forehead—it was still warm, and even the touch of his fingertips felt warmer than usual.
"Drink the medicine first." Lan Wangji helped him up and handed him the medicine bowl.
Wei Wuxian took the bowl and looked at the dark brown medicine inside. Surprisingly, he didn't frown as usual. He tilted his head back and drank most of it before he realized the taste seemed lighter, with a subtle sweetness. "This medicine... has the recipe changed?"
"Yes, Jun Wu's father sent some new herbs." Lan Wangji handed over the candied fruit and said calmly, "He said he added some warming herbs, which is suitable for your current condition."
Wei Wuxian choked on the candied fruit and suddenly remembered the spiritual energy liquid Lan Wangji had fed him that day when he had a high fever. The refreshing sweetness faintly matched the taste that lingered on his tongue. He looked at the bloodshot eyes and suddenly understood - the so-called "turnaround" was not a providential act, but simply the silent support of someone behind him, using their spiritual energy and hard work to gradually warm his frozen meridians.
In the morning, Lin Mo and Lin Yan came to deliver the wood carving. Seeing Wei Wuxian sitting by the window reading a book, he couldn't help but be surprised: "Young Master Wei looks much better today."
"Thanks to the old man, I've been feeling refreshed after a few days of sleep." Wei Wuxian smiled as he closed the book and pointed at the wooden carving of a family portrait on the table. "It's really well done. Sizhui slept with it yesterday and said he wanted the father in the carving to stay with him too."
Lin Yan added, "He also said that when Uncle Wei gets better, he'll hang the wood carving in the most conspicuous place in the living room."
Wei Wuxian was amused by him, and suddenly felt an itch in his throat, but instead of coughing like usual, he simply cleared his throat. He subconsciously touched his chest, and the old wound there seemed to have been soaked in warm water, leaving only a faint numbness, no longer the sharp pain.
"Oh right," Lin Mo suddenly took out a small cloth bag from his bag, "This is the Qi-nourishing Pill passed down from my family. It's good for conditioning the body. If you don't mind, give it a try."
Inside the cloth bag were several plump pills, emitting a delicate herbal fragrance. Wei Wuxian was about to decline when Lan Wangji held his hand. "Thank you, Mr. Lin," Lan Wangji said sincerely as he took the bag. "We accept this kind gesture."
Lin Mo smiled so hard that his eyes narrowed into slits: "I'm glad you don't mind me, sir. If you hadn't helped me back then, I wouldn't have had the chance to watch Ah Yan grow up. It's my blessing to be able to do my best for you now."
Wei Wuxian looked at the white hair on his temples and suddenly recalled the years in the mass grave. Back then, he thought he was walking alone in the darkness, unaware that the kindness he had sown had already grown into a shady tree over time, shielding him from a storm more than twenty years later.
In the afternoon, Sizhui came home from school and rushed to Wei Wuxian as soon as he entered the room: "Daddy! You didn't stay in bed today!"
"Yes, Daddy can help you with your homework." Wei Wuxian rubbed his hair and suddenly found that the child had grown taller, and the top of his head was almost reaching his shoulders.
Si Zhui looked up at him, his little face full of surprise: "Daddy, your face is not pale anymore!"
Wei Wuxian subconsciously touched his cheek, and indeed, there was a hint of redness there that he hadn't seen in a long time. He smiled and nodded, "Yes, Daddy is getting better."
At dinner, Wei Wuxian drank a full bowl of lotus root and pork rib soup and ate half a bowl of rice. Lan Wangji watched how often he moved his chopsticks, unable to hide the smile in his eyes. He would occasionally put food in his bowl, as if to make up for the nutrition he had missed out on over the years.
At night, Wei Wuxian leaned against the headboard as Lan Wangji massaged his calves. The moonlight from outside filtered through the gauze curtains, casting dappled shadows on his body. "Lan Zhan," he suddenly spoke, a hint of uncertainty in his voice, "I seem to... be able to sense spiritual energy."
Lan Wangji paused, a glint in his eyes: "Really?"
“Hmm,” Wei Wuxian closed his eyes and felt it for a moment, “It feels like a warm current is flowing through my dantian. Although it’s very weak, it’s very clear.”
That was a sign that his sealed spiritual power was slowly awakening, proof that his body functions were gradually recovering. Lan Wangji leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead: "Everything will be fine."
Wei Wuxian nodded in his embrace, listening to the chirping of insects outside the window, suddenly feeling incredibly at ease. A so-called turnaround was never a miracle that happened overnight, but rather the accumulation of countless heartwarming moments—Lan Wangji's sleepless nights of protection, Jun Wu's silent delivery of medicinal herbs, Lin Mo's gratitude spanning over twenty years, and Si Zhui's daily prayers, "Daddy, get well soon," as he lay by his bedside.
These subtle bits of warmth, like spring rain and sunshine, seeped into his frozen life bit by bit, giving birth to new buds.
He knows the road to recovery is still long, but he is no longer afraid because he is not walking alone. He is surrounded by people he loves, people who care about him, and people who are willing to support him.
The moonlight gently falls on their clasped hands, as if witnessing this belated rebirth. And the love and protection hidden in time will eventually take root, grow, and bloom into the most tenacious flowers, just like the blue grass outside the window.
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