He blames being sleep soft still for why he didn't scramble away before his legs were grasped, and he's half attached to Lan Zhan with even less ceremony than the last time he'd been carried on his back. He's more awake in that moment, the warm flush of embarrassment over how he still asks after the dog, and will again tomorrow, and avoids or races through to not deal with the animal that has not personally done anything to him... yet. Then the manner of being carried again with no need, on Lan Zhan's back when he'd wanted to forget the first time, the ages ago offer, that it feels different and squirmingly uncomfortable to be taken care of and not be a child leaping into his Shijie's arms.

Save me!

"Lan Zhan, you don't—" He didn't what? Have to? That was an obvious given, they both knew it. "I can walk!"

He says, but he doesn't fight it enough to get away, and after pressing his hands against Lan Zhan's back, he frowns to himself. Lightens that touch, until his fingertips are the only contact points. "The dog's tall."

Lan Zhan is far from diminutive, but he's not a tree, spanning taller than the rooftops of even the larger buildings around. If the dog jumps, the dog will still get to Wei Wuxian, so why carry him at all? Couldn't they walk side by side so he can try to hide behind Lan Zhan at a moment's glance?