Lan Zhan focuses wholly on the lantern making and does not look at Wen Ying at all. She takes the precision of this lantern structure Very Seriously and will allow No Distractions.

There are brushes and ink set out for the disciples to use for decorating. Lan Zhan passes a brush to Wen Ying without looking at her.

Wen Ying concentrates fiercely, the tip of her tongue sticking out of her mouth and her off hand coming up to rub her nose occasionally. 

She ultimately completes a scene of a bunny nibbling on grass in a field; in the sky the sun peeks out from behind a cloud. 

Wen Ying is adorable when she’s painting. Lan Zhan looks up at her once and immediately regrets it. (TONGUE. Tongue!!!)

Her eyes dart back down.

Wen Ying turns the lantern around when she's finished. 

"What do you think?"

!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee she likes it. 

"I thought it was--fitting," she murmurs. 

Fitting...?

Oh, and now she processes the sun and the clouds above the bunny. Oh. Oh.

“It is drawn well,” she murmurs. 

"Thank you." 

When they release the lanterns, it's--beautiful. Wen Ying gazes at the sky and NOT at the girl beside her and wonders why everything in Gusu is so beautiful. 

The lanterns are beautiful, soaring up into the sky. Even on the verge of war, with this terrifying girl beside her, she can feel at peace for a moment.

All around, disciples clasp their hands together and make wishes.

Wen Qing closes her eyes. “I wish that my little brother could be safe and sound and my little sister could stay out of trouble more than she does and never be hurt. I wish I could look after them well their whole lives.”

“I wish that all my silly friends will stop being adorably bad at their romance lives and start instead being adorably competent at their romance lives and kiss each other finally please!”

"I wish that from now on I can always do what's right, and live a life without regrets." 

oh

As the lanterns float off into the sky, some people start murmuring not nearly as quietly as they thought about why hadn't Jin-gongxi released their lantern together with Jiang-guniang. They're engaged, after all! Wouldn't it be so auspicious to wish for a happy marriage together?

Those people can mind their own business and never mention his """auspicious marriage""" ever again, how about that!!! He snaps at the Jin disciples around him to drop it.

Ah huh. 

She walks over to him and folds her arms. 

"You're hurting Yanli's feelings," she informs him coolly. 

"It's none of your business. Who gave you the right to approach me about this?"

"But Jin-gongzi, you were both so cute working beside each other! You were having fun, don't think I didn't see that you were having fun! You can't say it didn't make you even a little excited to --"

"Drop it, Mianmian. Never bring it up again!"

"How is it that I'm the one related to that boor Wen Chao and yet you're the one who has no manners?"

"How dare you! Where are the manners in you inserting yourself into the Jiang Sect and Jin Sect's private affairs?" He scoffs and yanks his sleeves indignantly. "I have no interest in you speaking to me ever again!"

He storms off, Mianmian frowning and fluttering after him.

She follows him. "There's nothing unmannerly about defending my friend when someone is rude to her! Whatever issues you have with your parents arranging your marriage without consulting you, Jiang Yanli is a fine young lady and does not deserve your misplaced scorn!" 

"Leave me alone! I didn't say anything scornful to Jiang Yanli at all, I have no interest in saying anything to her!"

"Talking about someone like they're not there when they are is even ruder!" 

He flushes. "Fine, then I'll never talk about her again! Go away!"