Chapter Text
„Welcome to Forget-Me-Not. In this special episode, we’re looking back at some of the most interesting cases we took on this year, based on viewer ratings and online polls, in which our audience could vote which episodes they would love to get an update on. An overwhelming number of viewers were especially touched by the story of Lan Sizhui, the adopted son of famous novelist Lan Wangji, who set out to find his childhood friend, and ended up reunited with his birth family and his father’s long-lost love.”
Qin Su smiles fondly as she recalls those weeks after Lan Sizhui’s email had reached their team. The weeks in which they talked to him and Lan Wangji first, went looking for clues, ran into frustrating dead-ends, only to discover what she still believes to be a miracle: the person they were looking for and the boy’s birth family, together in the same spot, both willing to see him.
Qin Su still remembers the moment in which Wei Wuxian looked up at Lan Wangji and said: “I never stopped loving you.” It’s as vivid as it was the day she first witnessed it. They had all stayed in contact with each other, a friendship like no other blossoming between the Lans, the Wens, Jiang Yanli, Wei Wuxian, Luo Qingyang and herself. They know how the story unfolded after the cameras were turned off, but she cannot wait to see the finished special episode and hear from the audience.
Luo Qingyang is the one conducting the interview for the special episode. She’s meeting Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji and Lan Sizhui at the Lan house, where they interviewed Sizhui for the first time.
The three of them are sitting on the very same couch as Lan Sizhui had back then, Luo Qingyang in the armchair opposite them. It’s a sunny day; light is flooding the vast living room, as if to reflect and emphasize the happiness radiating off the small family.
“Thank you for having us again,” Luo Qingyang says. Lan Wangji inclines his head.
“Our viewers were very invested in your story. I hope your readers did not bother you too much about it?”
“They have been very gracious,” Lan Wangji says. “My publisher issued a statement right after the episode aired. I received a few emails and letters, but they all were very friendly, telling me how happy they were for me. I had a few students approach me at university for the very same reasons. No one has bothered us.”
Luo Qingyang turns to face Sizhui next. “You were the one who initially contacted us, Sizhui. How has life been for you since then?”
Sizhui smiles at her. “It’s been great! I’m in close contact with my birth family, and I visit them in Yiling whenever I can. Popo and Uncle Four don’t travel that much anymore due to their age, and Wen Qing has her job as a doctor, but Wen Ning took me on a road trip in early spring to celebrate my eighteenth birthday, and it’s been lovely. I’ve learned a lot about my birth parents, and I do have way more aunts, uncles, and cousins than I can possibly count!”
He looks back to his father and to Wei Wuxian. “They already adopted Xian-gege as one of theirs, but they declared that my baba is an honourary Wen now, too. It really feels as if we all merged together into one big family. Even Baba’s brother and their uncle regularly get roped into visits and cookouts. As for Xian-gege-“
“Beware of what you’re saying, young man!” Wei Wuxian interjects, playfully wagging his finger at him.
“-Xian-gege is his usual chaotic self, but we love that about him. It’s a joy to have him back.”
Luo Qingyang laughs. “I can see how happy you are. Wei Wuxian, I gathered you moved back to Gusu, then?”
“Yes,” Wei Wuxian confirms. “It took me about four months until I moved from Yiling back to Gusu. I had a job to quit and wanted to find a new one here. I mean, I know that Lan Zhan would support me no matter what, but I like to be financially independent. Besides, I would have gone crazy without something to do. Plus, it took me a while to convince myself to leave the Wens. They practically had to kick me out, even if they did so with much love.”
”Thirteen years is a long time,” Luo Qingyang agrees. “It couldn’t have been easy to leave them.”
“It wasn’t,” Wei Wuxian admits. “They’re my family too. I felt guilty leaving them behind…which is actually something I decided to go to therapy for. You know, the whole guilt thing? Not only in relation to the Wens, but in general. I realised at one point that it was something that I needed to work through but couldn’t do on my own. Wen Qing got me in touch with a therapist. I’m still going, and it really helps. I am not a hundred percent there yet, but I am much better now.”
“Has your relationship with your own family improved since then? Luo Qingyang inquires.
Wei Wuxian sighs. “Yes, and no. Jiejie and I are in close contact. We visit each other regularly, and she and Lan Zhan are actually very good friends. Oh, and Sizhui and Jin Ling, my sister’s son, knew each other the whole time and had no idea Jin Ling was my nephew?”
“Finding that out was…how did Jin Ling call it? Sick,” Sizhui says and laughs.
“Pretty wild,” Wei Wuxian confirms. “My brother…Jiang Cheng and I do talk, but I think it’s going to take some time. I’m not sure if things are ever going to be like they were when we were still young, but I’m glad that we’re at least in contact again. I don’t talk to my adoptive parents anymore. I’ve tried, for Uncle Jiang’s sake, but was immediately shut down by Madam Yu, so…”
He shakes his head. “It’s no use, and truthfully? I think it’s for the best.”
Lan Wangji takes Wei Wuxian’s hand and kisses it. „You have us now,” he says softly.
“I do,” Wei Wuxian replies and leans his head onto Lan Wangji’s shoulder for a moment.
Sizhui looks at Luo Qingyang and winks at her. “Bringing those two back together was the best idea I’ve ever had, wasn’t it?”
Luo Qingyang chuckles. “Oh, I think so,” she says, “and what an adventure it was. We were all so scared it would backfire!”
Lan Wangji shakes his head. “Not from my side,” he explains. “Wei Ying has always been the one who owns my heart. That hasn’t changed in thirteen years, and I don’t think it will ever change.”
Wei Wuxian’s cheeks turn pink. He lets out a long whiny “Lan Zhaaaaaaaan” before hiding his face behind his hands. Sizhui laughs again before leaning over and prying Wei Wuxian’s hand away.
“Come on, you love Baba just as much,” he says, and Wei Wuxian turns even pinker, all while nodding.
“I really do,” he says. “Lan Zhan is…he’s everything to me. I’m so glad he was willing to take me back.”
“Was it easy for you, getting back together after all these years?” Luo Qingyang asks.
Lan Wangji hums. “On one hand, yes. The love we have for each other is just as strong as it always was, if not stronger. We know each other in and out, so we fell back into our very own rhythm very quickly. It felt a bit like…coming home.”
Wei Wuxian nods as Lan Wangji takes his hand in his own.
“On the other hand,” he continues, “we did change. Thirteen years is a long time, as you said, and circumstances were bound to change us. Which is not strictly a bad thing; it is exciting to explore each other’s newer facets, the ways in which we are different yet the same. Still, it was not easy. Wei Ying was not the only one to seek out the help of a therapist.”
Sizhui nods. “Baba discovered that he had developed an almost panic-like fear of losing Xian-gege. It didn’t show itself very often, but whenever it did, it was intense.”
“My therapist thinks it’s because I never really got over losing him in the first place and it manifested in an emotionally violent way,” Lan Wangji says. “I can handle it very well now, and I am getting better day by day.”
It’s Wei Wuxian’s turn to press a kiss to Lan Wangji’s fingers. “I promise, I won’t leave without either telling you first, or taking you with me,” he vows.
Luo Qingyang sits back, just observing the three of them. They really make for a gorgeous family. She feels incredibly happy that she and her team were able to reunite them.
“Now that you’re together again, what does the future hold for you?” she asks.
“Oh, I am going to quit my job soon!” Wei Wuxian announces.
“Again?” Luo Qingyang exclaims, surprised.
“Yep!” Wei Wuxian says. “I might look for something I can do part-time, but I’m actually going back to university to finish my degree. I’m already rolled into refresher classes, and it’s just so funny to me how much I missed studying. I’m excited!”
“Also,” Lan Wangji says, “there is still a wedding to prepare.”
Luo Qingyang gasps. “Wait. So you’re really getting married?”
“Yes. The date is set for early summer so it won’t be too warm yet, and we can have a honeymoon before Wei Ying has to go back to university.”
Sizhui winks at Luo Qingyang again. “…amongst other things.”
Wei Wuxian gives him a look. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Sizhui looks up at his father, who just nods with a small smile on his face.
“Well,” Sizhui says, “not all of my wishes have been fulfilled. There’s one, in particular, that is still very dear to my heart.”
He reaches behind the couch and produces an inconspicuous envelope. Wordlessly, he hands it over to Wei Wuxian, who takes it with a small “Huh?”
“You know,” Sizhui tells Luo Qingyang as Wei Wuxian opens the envelope and starts reading its contents. “Most people think of…babies or small children when they think of adoption, but did you know that you can adopt people who are of legal age, too? For example, if one part of a couple already has a child from a previous relationship, the other part of the couple might be willing to adopt said child, even if they're already eighteen years old, or even older. It’s a decision one takes as a family, and – well.”
Wei Wuxian has gone very still. He is staring at the document in his hand, reads it once, then a second time, before looking up to Sizhui.
“Sizhui, I – A-Yuan, do you…you’re serious, right?”
Sizhui nods. “I told you that I always saw you as my dad before I met Baba, and you told me that you wanted to try and adopt me yourself back then. So, now that you and Baba are getting married soon…why not try for real?”
Wei Wuxian turns to Lan Wangji, as if seeking help.
“It was Sizhui’s idea,” Lan Wangji tells him. “We won’t begrudge you if you refuse; after all it’s a huge responsibility, and you will always be his father too, whether you officially adopt him or not, but…we wanted you to have the option. We wanted you to know that it’s something you’re allowed to do, and that we would welcome it, should you choose to go through with it.”
Wei Wuxian just – stares at both of them.
Luo Qingyang holds her breath.
“I – you’re asking me if I want to adopt you?” Wei Wuxian all but splutters. “For real? And giving me the choice to say no? As if I would ever do that – of course I am going to adopt you!”
Sizhui’s eyes widen before he squeals in delight and throws himself into Wei Wuxian’s waiting arms. Lan Wangji shifts so he can embrace both of them.
“You know, I might have to stop calling you Xian-gege,” Sizhui says.
“Oh?” Wei Wuxian goes. “What would you call me then, hm?”
“I’m not sure yet, but…how about I call you A-Die instead?”
Wei Wuxian bursts out crying.