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"Sizhui, please tell me how to get a girlfriend!”
It was the middle of autumn and though the leaves were starting to fall it was still hot enough for Jingyi to slump over his chair and moan about his worries to his long time friend, Sizhui.
Sizhui merely smiles at Jingyi's remarks, brushing the hair away from his friends face gently.
”Jingyi, you know I’ve never had a girlfriend before so I can't exactly tell you how.”
Jingyi sits up straight, stretching his arms then settling them over Sizhui’s hands.
"But that’s because you’re single by choice Sizhui. Its suuuch a waste because on average at least 3 girls would confess to you and they aren’t even from our school." Jingyi laments.
Hiding his blush from how Jingyi just grabbed his hand, Sizhui focuses instead on intertwining their fingers together relishing how tightly his hands were clasped in between Jingyi’s soft ones.
Jingyi thinks its purely platonic on Sizhui's part and Sizhui thanks his ancestors everyday for providing him with enough luck that his best friend Jingyi is so incredibly dense that he doesn't notice Sizhui's intense feeling of love for him.
"I mean hasn’t there been anyone of them that even caught your attention Sizhui?"
He’s here and he’s right in front of me. Sizhui thought, but that was the last thing he wanted to say while Jingyi still remained oblivious to his feelings. So Sizhui says “No”. Like a liar.
Jingyi groans, "But you could have anybody Sizhui!"
"I'm not really interested in anyone right now." It was technically the truth. Sizhui was not interested in anyone but Jingyi but he wasn't going to admit that while Jingyi still showed no awareness for Sizhui or of the same sex.
Sizhui supposed he should be thankful. Ever since a group of girls that were not from their school had started confessing to him. He decided to investigate on why so many people seemed to know him. This lead to an internet search on a discrete forum, where girls rated guys from different schools and gave their opinions on them. Sizhui would never brag about his top 3 standing on the web because all he saw once he found out was that among the ranked bachelors was Lan Jingyi.
Ever since they entered middle school Lan Jingyi had been complaining that he wanted to have a girlfriend. He had not grown into his boyish charms then, so not many girls had tried to approach him but Lan Sizhui had known Jingyi's beauty. And he knew that once puberty hit Lan Jingyi, his wonderful best friend, with his rugged looks, doting personality and over-all boyfriend material traits would gather girls as far as the eye could see. Sizhui could not picture himself fighting off a crowd, so fortunately he had long prepared for the time Jingyi would bloom into a teen.
His preparation however did not stop his fear from resurfacing when he saw the website and how many girls were beginning to catch on to Lan Jingyi’s charms.
Lan Sizhui didnt have time to sit around and do nothing.
He had no plans for Jingyi to be taken from him.
Sizhui is currently still waiting for Jingyi to realize his feelings for him but in the meanwhile to prevent anyone from approaching his beloved, plans to stake his claim were put in place.
“Jingyi,” With his hands intertwined around Jingyi, it was easy for Sizhui to pull his friend closer to him. Sizhui successfully managed to place theirs heads together, just a few inches away from an actual kiss and since Jingyi did not seem to mind Sizhui just continued staring into Jingyi’s eyes closely. The bustle of activity around them immediately stops and others stare at them unabashedly.
“I just want to hang out with my best friend for now. Aren’t we enough?” Sizhui admits, lowering his eyes to enforce his puppy dog effect.
The action always made Jingyi weak to his pleas and today would not be the exception.
Lan Sizhui hears Jingyi sigh and he knows the conversation is now over. Jingyi nods his agreement and Sizhui beams triumphantly.
Pleased that he had staked his claim for today in their classroom, Sizhui looks towards his informant and simply gives the signal to spread the pictures of him and Jingyi being intimate on their fanpage.
Ever since the website listings, Sizhui had done his best to make Jingyi look unavailable by doing his best friend duties with added tenderness and love that others may misconstrue as romantic.
After months of sticking to Jingyi’s side, feeding him during lunch, wiping his sweat during P.E., having individual tutoring sessions during self-study and of course the creme de la creme, letting him sleep on his lap in what Jingyi thought to be discrete places but what actually wasn’t; people had eventually started speculating that they were dating.
After his display, he catches the fan page talking about whether or not they were a real couple.
He implies that they were.
His vague words were enough. Enough to fan the flames and spur people on.
There was a million ways it could have gone out of control but after telling them that they wanted to be discrete because Jingyi was afraid of the pubic backlash many of them were sympathetic and had promised to not make their relationship a big deal. Lan Sizhui may have asked their ship captain to help in keeping the fan page a secret from Lan Jingyi but that was a story for another day.
Thankfully, by the end of their freshmen year, almost the entirety of the student body was already aware of their alleged relationship.
Lan Jingyi was the only one who wasn’t but he would know in time.
Lan Sizhui only had to wait.
With the end of their freshmen year, only a few of the girls had still dared to confess and they were becoming fewer and fewer.
Everyone now knows Sizhui had staked his claim on Jingyi. Although Jingyi himself remained oblivious, other people had a working set of eyes. With Sizhui's statement they believed him and although Jingyi would deny it when other's asked, the people just took it as a way for their relationship to stay hidden.
Actions after all spoke louder than words. It was also impossible to miss the possessive hold Sizhui had on Jingyi from afar, anyone who tried to get close would soon get the hint from Sizhui's own threateningly polite smile warning all those who tried, to back off.
There were times however, that Lan Jingyi's own denial of their own relationship made people question the validity of Lan Sizhui's claim. Lan Sizhui had after all only implied it.
Luckily with the establishment of the Zhuiyi fanpage, other girls steered clear.
Until now.
“Jingyi, there's someone at the door to see you.”
Shizui, along with their classmates swivels their heads towards the door where a petite looking girl with long hair and fair skin was standing. One of their classmates mumbles an "Oh shit" before he is quickly shushed out by his friend.
The temperature in the room began to drop while Lan Jingyi remained oblivious and even seemed nervous as he walked towards the girl. However Lan Sizhui became busy recalling the information the student council had on students and in particular who this girl was. While Lan Sizhui about how he could find the girl's information and "talk" later, Lan Jingyi was already escorting the woman towards a more private place.
When the two were no longer in view, everyone immediately shifts their attention to Sizhui.
Sizhui smile remains but it doesn't reach his eyes.
He writes and doesn't dignify his classmates with a response. Sometimes it was better to stay silent.
After a few minutes, Lan Jingyi returned while still sporting a red tint on his face.
Lan Sizhui was a fair, patient, kind, courteous and polite man.
He was the perfect gentleman.
Imagining Lan Jingyi saying yes to the girl’s confession is testing all his well-developed virtues.
Jingyi casually sits on his chair beside Sizhui with a somewhat dreamy expression on his face and Sizhui confirms that the universe is testing him as he breaks his pencil in half to relieve his tension.
Sizhui finally couldn’t help but ask despite the fact that he knew he was going to regret any actions that may stem from Jingyi admitting that he already had a girlfriend.
Quickly hiding the fact that he had just broken his pencil, Sizhui tried his best to sound as happy and non-judgemental at the outcome of the confessions.
"A-Yi, Care to share what happened."
A few of their classmates craned their necks as well.
Blushing, Jingyi whispers. "She confessed Sizhui."
There's a tone in JIngyi's voice which makes Sizhui thinks he's treating the confession reverently. "Can you believe it?”
Sizhui can definitely believe it. The broken pencil that was once in his hand was slowly beginning to get crushed.
Sizhui's smiles is all teeth, as resentment begins to bubble up inside of him.
"Yes. Yes I can. What did you say?”
Sizhui always knew Jingyi could turn into an unbelievable shade of red but seeing someone else be able to elicit the sort of reaction, made him want to punch something.
Noticing a murderous glint in his eyes, a few of their classmates who were seated close to them moved their tables a few inches further.
"I-" Jingyi down, wringing his hands. He was nervous, Shizui could tell. Could it be? Did he say yes?
"I told her I had someone I liked."
"You do." his tone deepens, Sizhui can't help but frown, his once polite visage becoming scary.
"Who?"
Jingyi rolls his eyes but flicks his fingers at Sizhui's crunched up eyebrows. Jingyi's smile is sweet but mischevious.
"You."
"Zizhen, why hasn't he confessed yet?!"
"You've got to stop doing this while we're doing a campaign."
"But Zizhen! He implied we're dating! Our ship has a fanpage! He says he wants to hang out with me a little bit longer but he always says he's not interested in anyone as of the moment. Can't you see how much I'm suffering from his mixed signals."
"If you're so worried then why don't you confess."
"Zizhen!! Why are you so stupid."
"Hey! I may not rank 1st among the students in the school but I'm still in the top 5." Sizhui was first and Jingyi 2nd. With the presence of the Lans no one else even held the chance to steal the top spots from them. Being in the top 5 was already an achievement. "And what's wrong with confessing first?"
When JIngyi was young and impressionable, he had once thought he was not good enough for Sizhui. He had promised himself that unless he managed to surpass Sizhui in any area, he would not confess. Otherwise how could he prove to Sizhui's father and in particular his hard to please uncle that he could provide for Sizhui for the rest of his life. Sixteen years in the making, and he was still eating dust (or so Jin Ling had said but JIngyi preferred to call it worshipping Sizhui's feet).
"I can't."
"Why not!"
"It's a matter of my pride." Jingyi explained his reason for not confessing. To which Zizhen only called bullshit.
"Jingyi, you're not allowed to call me stupid anymore."
"What?!"
"Jingyi, are you really going to risk growing old and only being satisfied with being Sizhui's friend?"
"He only has me. "
"Are you really sure about that."
Jingyi wasn't. Jingyi did not consider himself to be a self-important person, but with Sizhui at his side always re-enforcing his worth how could he still have room for self- doubts.
Sizhui was the apple of Jingyi's eyes and Sizhui had always thought he was the apple of Sizhui's eyes, but only now did he realize that although he was willing to wait for Sizhui, Sizhui had never given any hints that he was willing to wait for Jingyi.
Jingyi's normally loud voice becomes silent over the computer. Behind his screen,Ouyang Zizhen scores a win for the team. He can't help but feel proud at shutting up the normally boisterous Lan Jingyi and still getting the most kills.
Smugly Ouyang Zizhen says as a matter of fact, "I didn't think so."
Sizhui's inner thoughts consists of only screams and the word "Is this happening."
Jingyi is smiling at him, his eyes teasing him.
"Sizhui, I've waited long enough.." This time it is Jingyi who pulls Sizhui close but without the usual excuse of platonic comfort. Their gazes are heated and all thoughts of where they are, are forgotten. They stand, bodies close and foreheads touching.Lan Sizhui is still very much in shock which amuses Lan Jingyi to no end.
"I'm sorry for letting you wait Sizhui. Stay with me forever please."
"You can't take those back, Jingyi."
"Sizhui, I will never want to."
It was only ever going to be them, for each other.
"Did those two finally get together?" Jin Ling says, his voice full of disbelief.
Jin Ling shows Ouyang Zizhen a photo of Sizhui and Jingyi kissing in their fanpage and Ouyang Zizhen immediately slides his arms off Jin Ling's waist before taking Jin Ling's phone and squinting at it, trying to determine if it was photoshopped.
It did not look like it was photoshopped.
"Jingyi, actually did it." Ouyang Zizhen was so proud.
"I honestly thought Sizhui would confess first."
"Nah babe, Jingyi had a moment of revelation and just risked it."
"You seem to know a lot about this." Jin LIng narrowed his eyes, wondering if his boyfriend helped the idiot couple together, which would leave him starved of his entertainment.
"Well, you see..." Ouyang Zizhen proceeds to tell Jin Ling about what happened during their gamin session.
Jin Ling scoffs, "For someone who is 2nd in the entire region, Jingyi sure is dumb."
"That's what I said!"
"Doesn't he remember that he already won against Sizhui."
"He did?!"
"Of course the moron doesn't remember."
"What? When? And How?"
Pulling Ouyang Zizhen close, it was Jin Ling's time to be the big spoon as he began his story "Okay, so do you remember the time..."