Lan Xichen loves Meng Yao. He does not like Jin Guangyao. This is the problem.
Jin Guangyao tips his head lower than Meng Yao did, his bows are precise, he smiles over sharp teeth. His hands are generous and drop ingots into Lan Xichen's sleeves.
"Er-ge," he says in that new, syrupy way. "Don't worry, ever, about anything."
Sometimes, Lan Xichen feels that if it wasn't for the ashes of his home he might turn away from this "Jin Guangyao" and never look back.