Lan Wangji was expecting neither tears nor such a declaration and he cannot help but panic a little as he tries to wipe at Wei Ying's face and process the words all at the same time.

He knows Wei Ying loves him, in some way. Wei Ying is full of love and Lan Wangji is lucky to have basked in that warmth at all. But this type of love...

"Like - like I love you?" he asks, needing to be certain, needing to be certain that this is not like the touching at the club, apparently free for anyone who wants it. He wants to know that this is just for him.