Unfortunately, Jiang Cheng is not the boy he had been once; he is not the one who had been able to reach across the bounds of anger and hurt to repair things. He cannot do that now no more than he had been able to do so when he was much, much younger and now, halting and hesitating, all he can do is try and be the best that he is able with no hesitation.

When Wei Wuxian reaches across the bounds and embraces him, though, all he can do is crumple into it. It's hard to do anything else, to pretend as though he does not want to be held, to never be allowed to forget the dear moments like this that they have been able to share.

None of it will be the same when he returns, but...

There is no anger, no rage, no envy nor regret. It is simply this: knowing that he is a brother once again, loved and cherished, to be reminded of that in all his waking moments. It's impossible to ignore the way that it hangs heavy on his heart, but at least he might muster something of a pathetic smile to show the family that he will never be able to forget.

They have grown and repaired - not completely, but enough that it will not shatter once again.

"I would have to find you first," he says finally, voice low, a little scoff. "But I will try. You have my word on that, at least."