The morning sun rays passed by the inn's window and landed over the empty yet disheveled bed. The person who slept on the bed wasn't there anymore.

Down the bed was still someone sleeping. He must've been feeling unease, that he woke up with a deep frown.

Jin Ling massaged his temples, the throbbing headache was really killing him. He smelled a heavy stench of alcohol and as he was about to shout at who had gone totally wasted, he realised that the source of that odour was himself. Thus, he remained quite.

He looked here and there. Beside him there was an empty place on the blanket or the so called bed , but it was neatly kept. Then his gaze landed on the real bed beside him that was hasty and messed.

'Where am I?' This was the first question that popped into his mind.

As he was about to get up, he heard the door leading into the bathroom creak. He turned his face only to greeted by a pale faced Jingyi.

He said, "What happened to you?"

As he spoke he had to part his lips. He realised that his lips were hurting. He thought that due to the lack of care his lips must have gone dry and now it hurt.

And why would he even care about his lip going dry? He was a man. Moreover, a Sect Leader. He didn't had anytime to take care of his lips.

Jingyi looked up and was about to reply, but right then, his hands covered the mouth automatically, and he again dashed back into the bathroom, followed by the sound of pukeing.

"..."

This sound was making Jin Ling feel like pukeing.

He stood up and sat on the bed. There was another creak of a door. This time it was from main door.

Shizui came in while holding two bowls of soup kept on the wooden tray.

He smiled, "Goodmorning Jin Ling."

Jin Ling gazed at him and subconciously his face was turning red. He replied in a voice no less than a wishper, "En. Morning."

Shizui noticed his uncertain behaviour. He put the tray on the table and said, "Are you okay? The alcohol hasn't put off yet? You're so red."

Hearing these words Jin Ling couldn't help but be more red. He hastily said, "I'm fine! And I'm not red! Don't think I'm b-blushing!"

Shizui blinked twice, "Okay."

Jin Ling blinked twice as well.

Shizui said, "You first go and clean up yourself. But you need to do it fast, otherwise your hangover soup will go cold without even having a taste of it."

Jin Ling glanced at him, "Jingyi is still inside the bathroomm."

As he said that the door of the bathroom slammed open. Jingyi was even paler and a bit greener than before.

Seeing him in this state Jin Ling felt like pukeing. As he thought he felt like all the dishes that he ate last night, travelled back into his oesophagus, in an instant Jin Ling turned purple, then green.

He covered his mouth with his hand and dashed to the bathroom, he didn't care if it was just now used by Jingyi to puke. He slammed shut the door.

Jingyi turned and knocked on the door, "Hey open it! I'm not done yet!" As only the sound that he didn't wanted to hear responded from inside the room, he knocking turned into slamming.

"Open the damn door!"

In midst of this commotion, Shizui sat on the bed and gazed the sky outside the window. He rested his cheek on his left hand and sighed. That sigh was gentle than the breeze that passed by him, that made his silky jade black hair flutter.

After god knows how many minutes, Jin Ling and Jingyi finally cooled down. They both sat on the bed.

Jingyi said, "Ah my head still hurts."

Jin Ling snorted, Huh serves you right."

Shizui passed them both a bowl of hangover soup, "Okay okay, now drink it up, and get better soon." He had already folded the blankets on the floor and neatly placed them in their respective place.

"Where's Hanguang jun?" Jingyi said while wiping his mouth with the handkerchief that Shizui had passed him earlier.

Shizui replied, "He is downstairs with Wei gongzi. They're waiting for us."

"Crap." Jingyi exclaimed, "Then we need to hurry!"

Jin Ling elegantly placed down the empty bowl, and said, "You people go."

"..."

"..."

Shizui tilted his head to look at Jin Ling and said, "Ofcourse we'll go. But we'll go together."

Jin Ling averted his eyes to the floor, "You people... go. I need to meet my uncle."

"Oh, then shall we drop you to the Lotus Pier? Or shall I?"

"N-no need!"

Jingyi, "...."

Though Jingyi was silent he noted in his mind, 'Why do I always feel like being left out?'

After biding the Lan family a farewell, Jin Ling pursed his lips. He didn't walk towards Lotus Pier, but again headed inside the inn. He directly went into the bathroom and stood in front of mirror.

He half opened his outer robe. He grabbed the collar of his inner robe and stretched it out to dispose the white collar bone.

His eyes fixated on the refection of his collar bone in the mirror which was stained by a red mark.

That mark was neither a scratch or any other kind if wound. A mosquito's bite won't be so large. Then what was it? When did he get injured? 

Suddenly he remembered something, he gulped and brought his other hand near his mouth. He licked his lips that hurt a little less than before and bit his hand. He looked at that mark and then at the mark on his collar bone. They were similar, just that the latter one was redder.

Yes, he remembered his spring dream that he once had. Their that person was also biting him and leaving his marks here and there on his body like this. But, fortunately or maybe unfortunately, his dream was interfered by that old maiden.

Jin Ling frowned and intently gazed at that flower like mark. The more he looked at it, more angry he became. At a point he wasn't able to hold his rage and blasted, "Which asshole bit me?! I'm going to bite him back and even carve out his flesh!"
.
.
.

"Achooo."

"What happened Shizui?" Wei Wuxian asked as he turned his hand to look at Shizui.

Shizui apologetically smiled, "Ah I'm sorry for my behaviour."

Wei Wuxian patted his back, "I mean did you caught cold?"

Shizui rubbed his nose, "Maybe. The weather is changing right."

Jingyi chimed in"Or maybe someone is remembering you."

Shizui straightened his expression, "Its more likely I've caught cold."

"Okay then I'll cook for you a special congee." Wei Wuxian said, then he turned towards Lan Wangji, "Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, you'll let me use the kitchen right?"

Lan Wangji replied with a face straighter than his silky hair, "Mn."

"Ah... Many thanks." Shizui replied.

A/N
Unedited
Yo guyzzz i'm not dead! But I also can't say that i'm fully alive. I posted a chaoter after three weeks or so right -_-+ really sorry for that.

These online classes are really one of the biggest headache i've ever had in my life. I haven't even read any novel since many weeks (╥﹏╥)

And now I've my exams from next to next week. And i dunno when to start preparing for it. Goddd!

Thankyou very much of spending your time for reading and supporting my work. Really thankyou ♡ stay safe ♡

Merry Christmas everyone!
🎄🎁🎅🏻