OUR HAPPILY EVER AFTER (A WANGXIAN STORY)

Chapter 49

Years Ago In The Immortal Realm...

The metamorphosis was complete. Unlike his previous features, ZhiHao gained a bit more muscle and height in his growth spurt. His snowy white locks now had greyer highlights and his eyes shone darker than the night. Nails merged with fingers; you could not tell them apart. He was as gorgeous as he was terrifying. 

"A'Hao, won't you come inside?", Ping climbed up the demon's usual spot with a fur coat to help keep him warm. "I don't need that", the man intoned with his deep resonating voice. Ping felt a slight shiver down her spine. Bending carefully, she draped the coat over him and sat down. 

"Where did you get that?", Ping observed the funny looking twig in ZhiHao's hand. Resting his elbow in the grass, the male curved his neck backward and grinned; his chiseled cheeks gave him more edge. "This is Lin...", He said.

"Oh...Hello Lin.", Ping assumed the twig was alive. ZhiHao chuckled, "Ping, this is a piece of Lin's remains."

Chen Ping covered her flushed cheeks, feeling stupid for prying too much. "You remind me of her...Kind, sweet, beautiful. She always saw the good in people even when their ugly side was slapping her in the face.", ZhiHao said; his gaze flashed up in the night light. 

"You miss her?"

"Will telling you that not upset you?", The demon placed the twig back in its fabric and carefully wrapped it. "It will not if you look at me.", Ping smiled. In a playful sigh, the man stretched his long neck at her. Ping grabbed onto his face and completed the ceremonious first kiss. He wanted to take it slow since his return was not guaranteed, except Ping was going for more than a kiss. She flinched when his long canines pricked her tender lips. "Sorry", he grunted. "Never mind.", Ping jumped him...

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(Three months later...)

Present-day...

A sharp pain woke Wei Ying in the middle of the night. He flinched when the second stroke came. Before he could say another word Wangji was already up, wearing a worried look. Wei Ying's grey eyes were circled with bright gold and it shook Wangji. 

"Wei Ying, words.", He said as the other slowly sat up; tears streaming down his face. 

Wei Ying sobbed uncontrollably, fighting the cramps. Wangji quickly lifted the cover cloth when Wei Ying's hands seemed numb.

His eyes grew wide at the spreading red, and for a moment he froze not knowing what to do. "Lan Zhan...Lan Zhan.", Wei Ying's breath came in short heaves as he began to perspire. Hanguanjun quickly recollected himself. After the search for the special signal, he runs out of the Jingshi, leaving his wife alone. A minute later he returned to Wei Ying.

"Wei Ying, breathe...Easy...Steady your breath.", Wangji had to refrain from giving him spiritual energy. "Wei Ying, look at me. Nothing will happen to our baby. You have to do what I say now, okay?", Wangji tried to be as calm as possible on the outside. Wei Ying bit on his lips, nodding fast.

Hanguanjun went for the black flute, "Play your Chenqin..."

"Lan Zhan!", Wei Ying was almost angry with his suggestion at such a time. "Trust me my love, play."

It sounded absurd but Wei Ying took the flute and brought it to his lips, leaning onto the bedpost. The first notes were shakey. Lan Wangji's heart clenched in his chest as he looked into his wife's eyes. He realized that the brighter circle was gradually swallowing the grey. The more it spread, the harder it became for Wei Ying to breathe.