Chapter 167 Gentle Punishment
Ever since he could feel the flow of spiritual energy, Wei Wuxian had been like a child who had found a new toy, eager to try it out all day. That afternoon, Lan Wangji had gone to the company to handle an urgent matter, and before leaving, he specifically told him to stay home and rest, and not to mess around.
But he couldn't stay any longer. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice onto the floor, warm enough to make him want to stretch his muscles. He remembered the Qi-nourishing Pill Lin Mo had given him a few days ago, claiming it could aid the flow of spiritual energy. He took one and swallowed it, testing his luck. The warmth in his Dantian was indeed more active than usual, flowing slowly along his meridians, bringing a tingling, numb feeling.
"I think I actually have strength." Wei Wuxian's eyes lit up, and he stood up, leaning against the table. He wanted to walk to the window to see the newly sprouted blue grass, but his steps were lighter than expected, and he couldn't stop for a moment, so he leaned straight out the window—he wanted to touch the leaves of the tallest plant.
The windowsill was not low, and he stood on tiptoe and reached out, when a familiar, sinking pain suddenly rang through his waist. The pain was sharper than usual, like a needle piercing an old wound. The pain made him instantly double over, resting his forehead on the windowsill, and a cold sweat broke out.
"Hiss..." He gritted his teeth and took a breath. The spiritual power he had just condensed instantly dissipated, and he slid to the ground as if he had lost all his strength.
At this moment, the door lock turned and Lan Wangji pushed the door open. What he saw was this scene: Wei Wuxian was half-lying on the windowsill, his face as pale as paper, his hands covering his waist, blood oozing faintly between his fingers - he had moved too hard just now and tore the dressing covering the old wound.
“Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji’s heart tightened, and he quickly rushed over to support him, his tone filled with suppressed anger, “I told you to stay still, so who told you to climb onto the windowsill?”
Wei Wuxian was in so much pain he couldn't speak. He could only grab Lan Wangji's sleeve and shake his head, his eyes red with pain and fear. He knew he was disobeying again, but the "strength" he had just felt made him want to try again.
Lan Wangji carefully helped him onto the sofa and unbuttoned his shirt to examine him. The skin over the old wound was indeed red and swollen, and the blood on the dressing had spread into a small, shocking patch. He turned to get the medicine box, his movements so quick that he sent a gust of wind through him. When he returned, the iodine swab in his hand was shaking slightly.
"Bear with it." His voice was as deep as ice. When the cotton swab touched the wound, Wei Wuxian still winced in pain and groaned.
"Lan Zhan..." He begged for mercy in a tearful voice, "Be gentle..."
Lan Wangji said nothing, but he softened his grip. After treating the wound, he stood up and looked at the limp figure on the sofa, his brows knitted into a knot. "Do you know you're wrong?"
Wei WuXian lowered his head, twisting the corner of his clothes with his fingers, like a schoolboy who had been caught: "I know... I shouldn't have shown off..."
"What's wrong?" Lan Wangji looked down at him, his eyes serious as if he were interrogating a case. "Shouldn't you have climbed the windowsill, or shouldn't you have disobeyed instructions?"
“It was all wrong…” Wei Wuxian’s voice gradually faded away. He secretly glanced up at him, and seeing that Lan Wangji’s face was still gloomy, he quickly added, “I shouldn’t have acted recklessly just because my spiritual power had returned. I shouldn’t have made you worry…”
Lan Wangji stared at him for a long moment, until Wei Wuxian's ears were completely red, then he slowly spoke, "Go stand in the corner as punishment. Come back when you figure it out."
"Huh?" Wei Wuxian was stunned. He'd thought he'd just be scolded, but he hadn't expected to be punished by standing. He felt weak after standing for even a moment, especially since the corner of the wall was facing the draft...
“Not going?” Lan Wangji raised his eyebrows, the sense of oppression in his tone becoming heavier.
“Go…” Wei Wuxian didn’t dare disobey, and slowly stood up, leaning against the armrest of the sofa. The wound on his waist was still aching, and every step was painful. He gritted his teeth and moved to the corner, standing with his back to the living room, his spine straight. Even though he felt wronged, he never dared to be perfunctory in front of Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji sat on the sofa, not looking at him, but he could feel the small figure behind him trembling slightly. It was pain, but also fear. He felt heartbroken, but if he didn't punish Wei Wuxian severely this time, given his temper, there was no telling what kind of trouble he would cause next time.
The draft in the corner was indeed chilly. Wei Wuxian hadn't stood there for more than a quarter of an hour when his knees felt weak and the pain in his waist intensified, as if soaked by the cold wind. He secretly glanced back and saw Lan Wangji still flipping through the medical records, his face as cold as an ice sculpture. He turned back and muttered softly, "I really know I'm wrong..."
His voice was quiet, but loud enough for Lan Wangji to hear. He turned a page of the medical records and said calmly, "Do you know what's wrong?"
“I shouldn’t have disobeyed you, I shouldn’t have messed with my body…” Wei Wuxian’s voice was filled with tears. He had stood there for so long that his vision was blurry. “Lan Zhan, my waist hurts… and my legs are numb…”
Lan Wangji tightened his grip on the book page, but ultimately didn't look back: "If you know the pain, you'll remember it next time."
A moment later, there was a faint movement behind him, as if he had staggered. Lan Wangji looked up suddenly and saw Wei Wuxian leaning against the wall, gasping for breath. His face was even paler than before, and his lips were blue.
His heart ached, but he couldn't help it and stood up and walked over.
"Can't stand anymore?" His voice was still cold, but he reached out and supported Wei Wuxian's shaky body.
Wei Wuxian clutched his arm like a lifeline, tears finally falling: "Lan Zhan, I was wrong... I won't dare to do it again... Please let me sit down, my legs are almost broken..."
His nose turned red from crying, and tears hung on his eyelashes. He looked like a little animal drenched by the rain. He no longer had any of his usual playfulness, only feeling aggrieved and dependent.
Seeing him like this, Lan Wangji's anger had long since dissipated, leaving only heartache. He bent down and picked him up horizontally. Wei Wuxian immediately wrapped his arms around his neck, burying his face in the crook of his neck and nuzzling it, his tears wetting his collar.
"I've already been punished. Do you remember it?" Lan Wangji put him on the sofa and took a blanket to cover his legs.
“I’ve got it!” Wei WuXian nodded hastily, fearing he’d throw him back into the corner. “From now on, if you tell me to go east, I won’t go west. If you tell me to lie down, I won’t sit…”
Lan Wangji couldn't help being amused by him, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly: "It's not that exaggerated." He picked up the medical records he hadn't finished reading and sat down beside him to flip through them. "But you are not allowed to show off again. Do you understand?"
“I heard you!” Wei Wuxian responded obediently, but he moved closer to him and rested his head on Lan Wangji’s shoulder. “Lan Zhan, please don’t be angry, okay? Let me sing a little tune for you.”
Lan Wangji turned his head to look at him, and saw that his eyes were shining with tears, like a cat trying to please its owner. In the end, he sighed and reached out to ruffle his hair: "Don't be angry anymore."
Wei Wuxian smiled immediately, snuggling into his arms and finding a comfortable position to lie down. The sunlight from the window fell on the two of them, making them feel warm. As he listened to the sound of Lan Wangji turning the pages, the pain in his waist seemed to ease a little.
It turns out that being punished isn't that painful after all. At least, the care hidden in this punishment reassures him more than any sweet words.
"Lan Zhan," he suddenly whispered, "Next time I make a mistake, please don't make me stand in the corner, okay?"
"What's the punishment then?"
Wei WuXian thought for a moment and winked slyly: "As a punishment... kiss me?"
Lan Wangji lowered his head, looked at his mischievous smiling eyes, shook his head helplessly and indulgently, and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, gilding the two cuddling figures. In the shadows of the corner, the figure standing there obediently seemed to still linger, reminding them that love is never about unconditional indulgence, but rather about restraint with care. It's knowing you'll make mistakes, yet willing to wait for you to learn to cherish yourself.
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