Wei Wuxian was bored. The hunt, a joint exercise between the Yunmeng Jiang and the Gusu Lan disciples, had been his only hope for entertainment.

You, Lan Wangji, were as frustratingly perfect as ever. Your white robes were immaculate, not a single speck of dirt or a stray leaf clinging to them. Your sword, Bichen, moved with a grace that was both beautiful and infuriatingly efficient.

"Lan Zhan~" He called, his voice carrying a singsong quality. "You're no fun at all. You're so boring. You're like a one-man extermination squad. Where's the thrill? The suspense? You've stolen all the excitement."

You didn't even turn to look at him. You simply sheathed Bichen with a quiet click and began walking further into the forest. Wei Wuxian, undeterred, scrambled after you.

"Lan Zhan~!" He whined, falling into step beside you. "Lan Zhan, are you angry~? I'm just trying to liven things up a bit. This place is like a tomb. No, sorry, that's an insult to tombs. At least tombs have some character." He glanced around at the pristine, orderly trees. "I mean, look at this place! Even trees are standing in perfect formation."

You continued walking, your pace steady and unhurried. Wei Wuxian leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You know what your problem is, Lan Zhan? You need to relax. You wound up tighter than my guqin strings. If you smiled, I bet the sun would come out. Or maybe the whole cultivation world would just combust."

He saw your jaw tighten slightly, a tiny crack in the facade. That was all the encouragement he needed.

"Your rules!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands up in mock despair. "All those rules! 'Do not run,' 'Do not laugh,' 'Do not have fun.' If I had to follow all of them, I think my soul would just wither away and die."

He fell silent, waiting for a response. Anything but the infuriating silence. But you just kept walking, your gaze fixed ahead.

Wei Wuxian’s eyes drifted, looking for a new target, a new way to get under your skin: the ribbon that held your forehead, the Gusu Lan Clan's signature headband. It was a symbol of all your disciplined, rule-abiding perfection.

"Lan~ Zhan~" He said slowly, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "What is the deal with that headband? Is it a fashion statement? A magical artifact? Or is it just there to make you look even more annoyingly handsome?"

He watched for your reaction. There was a slight shift in your posture, a barely perceptible tensing of your shoulders. You didn’t answer. It was as if you hadn't even heard him. That was it. The final straw.

Wei Wuxian saw red. Or rather, he saw white and decided to grab it. With the speed of a striking snake, he darted forward and, before you could react, his fingers closed around the silky ribbon. With a quick, sharp tug, he yanked it from your forehead.

The headband came away easily, a piece of white silk in his hand. He held it up, laughing. "Hah! Got it!"

You went rigid, turned slowly, unnervingly deliberate. The usual placid calm of your eyes gone, replaced by a tempestuous fury. Your face, usually so impassive, was flushed, jaw tight with barely controlled rage.

“Wei… Ying…!” The 2 words were uttered with a low, dangerous growl, a sound that promised swift and devastating retribution. As you snatched it from his hand with a sharp, violent motion, he saw the depth of your anger.

"It's just a ribbon," He said, trying for his usual levity.

"It is not 'just a ribbon.'"

You're facing away from Wei Wuxian now, shoulders rigid, hands trembling slightly as you carefully, reverently, tied the ribbon back around your forehead.

"It is a symbol of discipline," You continued, voice tight. "It is not meant to be-" You broke off, and Wei Wuxian could see the tension in his back, the barely restrained fury.

"It's not meant to be what?" Wei Wuxian asked, genuinely curious now.

You turned, flushing. "It is only ever meant to be touched by my spouse!"

[swipe for more]