There has, perhaps, been a tiny part of him that may have imagined some part of this wedding when they were younger, when he saw the effect that Wei Wuxian had on his brother. When he had been so pleased there was someone who could almost match Wangji in skill and cleverness, who could draw Wangji out of himself. Lately, he has been more assured that Wei Wuxian could match Wangji in devotion as well - or at least, the closest that anyone could come to such a thing.

But he will have to think more on that later, as his chest tightens a little when Wangji looks down. He doesn't admonish him that he is the elder brother, that it's his responsibility to protect Wangji - he is, and it is, but he knows that Wangji worries for him as well.

"We cannot always be at each other's sides."

There is no denying that they are formidable together, that they could have perhaps defeated the creature that he and Meng Yao had been forced to run from, but - perhaps not, all the same. He and Meng Yao had been standing too close, and it had sprang upon them so swiftly, that he could do nothing else but plant himself in front of Meng Yao, and shield them both with the only weapon he had.

He would never have made any other choice.

"It happened so quickly, Wangji. One moment there was nothing, the next it was there. Who is to say that were you there, you would not have simply been forced to fight it alone?"