Archive of Our Own

Friday evening found Lan Wangji grading papers in his small, quiet office. He frowned at the jarring amount of typos on one of the papers and proceeded to write a lengthy comment on the back of the last page, firm and direct with his wording. The students were used to his critical style of grading by now, but that didn’t stop them from complaining amongst each other in what they thought were discrete voices.

Lan Wangji didn’t pay the comments any mind. His only wish was for the students to succeed in passing the course. If they had a problem with it, they could talk to him directly. However, with his impassive face and quiet nature, most people found him unapproachable and tend to stay away from him. Only few were brave enough to actually visit him during office hours, and those few found Lan Wangji surprisingly agreeable, albeit a little stoic. They would speak up for him from time to time, telling the other students that their “ice prince” TA was not as cold as they thought. Of course, no one would believe it, and dismissed their claims as misplaced admiration. Lan Wangji appreciated the effort nonetheless.

When he finished grading the last of the papers, he placed his pen down and straightened the essays into a neat stack. It was fairly late already, way past the time he usually turned in for the night. Normally Lan Wangji would have his grading done way in advance, but this particular week bombarded him left and right with term papers and exams, one after another. Hence, the late-night grading.

He slid the papers into a manila folder and left it sitting on his desk, ready to be turned in to the professor next week. He turned off the lights and stepped into the hallway, which was so empty that even his quiet footsteps echoed in the silence. Not a single soul occupied any of the rooms or hallways, most students opting to either go out and party or catch up on much needed sleep. 

At least, that’s what Lan Wangji thought. He only took a few steps before he heard something – a voice, coming from down the corridor. It was faint, but still audible enough to be heard due to the lack of other noises in the hall.

Against his better judgment, Lan Wangji followed the sound until he stopped in front of a door. It was one of the lesser used lecture halls, hidden in an inconspicuous corner at the very end of the hall. The sound had become clearer and clearer as he approached, and he realized that the person inside was singing. Lan Wangji frowned. While it wasn’t explicitly prohibited, it was inappropriate to use lecture halls for non-educational purposes, and at such a late hour no less.

He was prepared to open the door and reprimand the person, but something stopped him. Upon closer listen, the voice actually sounded… really, really nice. Curious, Lan Wangji peered inside the room through the door’s window. Though the person’s figure was illuminated by the moonlight, they had their back turned to Lan Wangji so he could not make out their appearance.

Lan Wangji gave up on figuring out who it was. Instead, he listened to their voice. The more he listened, the more consumed he became. He closed his eyes and lost himself in the sound, feeling as if he was under some sort of spell. He had never heard a voice this enchanting before, and he never wanted to stop listening. 

After several minutes, though it felt more like seconds, the singing came to an abrupt stop. For Lan Wangji, it was over too soon. He stepped away from the door and hurried down the hall, making sure to step lightly to conceal his presence.

When he reached his apartment, he realized that his heart was beating wildly in his chest. He pressed a hand over his heart, willing it to calm down. He felt like he had just stumbled upon a precious secret.

Every night, Lan Wangji would visit the room in hopes of catching the mysterious singer. Unfortunately, they were not there every night, and Lan Wangji couldn’t really figure out the pattern of when they would appear. He assumed that they only came whenever their schedule permitted.  

On the nights they were absent, Lan Wangji would feel strangely bereft, like a vital part of his day was missing and he was scrambling to figure out where it had gone. He knew his behavior was irrational, but he couldn’t get enough of that voice. It was intoxicating in the best way and not even Lan Wangji’s iron willpower was strong enough to make him stop visiting.

There was one problem though; he couldn’t hear the voice clearly, since it was muffled by the door. It would be so easy to just open the door to leave the tiniest crack, then press his ear to the opening and listen, letting himself drown in the dulcet tones. Sometimes, he would even imagine the person singing right in front of him, though he would quickly dismiss those daydreams as an impossibility. He told himself he was content with just listening from the door, and that he shouldn’t get ahead of himself.

One night, in a fit of boldness, he decided to act out his idea of cracking the door open the slightest bit. He arrived at the door and peered in, as he usually did, and was pleased to see that the singer was there tonight. They were seated on one of the desks facing the window, which was perfect since they would not be able to see the door move.   

Lan Wangji swallowed his apprehension and placed his hand on the door handle. With the utmost care, he managed to not make a sound, even as he turned the handle and slowly pulled. 

Unfortunately, he did not foresee the hinges of the door being rusty. 

A damning creak resounded in the air. Lan Wangji froze, hoping that the person hadn’t heard it. His hopes were in vain as the person stopped singing and whirled around to face him.

For a moment, he considered running, but his feet wouldn’t move. Or rather, they couldn’t move. Because, standing in front him was quite possibly the most beautiful person he’d ever seen. 

Lan Wangji noticed his eyes first: a stormy gray, wide with surprise at Lan Wangji’s arrival. Then he noticed the pair of rosy lips, slightly parted, and the unruly fringe that framed his face. 

Lan Wangji hadn’t noticed the breath he was holding until he let out a shaky exhale. Countless nights of imagining a face to match the voice couldn’t compare to seeing the real thing. 

He broke out of his stupor when he saw the distress evident on the other man’s features, almost resembling a cornered animal. Lan Wangji felt a pang of guilt at being the cause of such panic.

At this point, Lan Wangji had nothing to lose. He opened the door and revealed himself, stepping into the room carefully. His ears were burning with embarrassment at being caught eavesdropping, but his flustered expression slipped past the singer’s notice.   

“Please don’t tell anyone that I sing,” he pleaded.

For a moment, Lan Wangji was perplexed, but not surprised. The fact that the man liked to sing in abandoned lecture halls bespoke of shyness, a want for privacy. What he couldn’t understand was why. He had such a lovely voice: surely, he would want to share it with at least one person, right?

“Sing for me,” Lan Wangji murmured, the words coming out before he can stop them.

The other man blinked. “Huh?”

“Sing for me and I won’t tell anyone.” 

Internally, Lan Wangji scolded himself. He knew it was a selfish request, but something about his actions felt right. 

“Are you... blackmailing me?”

Lan Wangji looked away and didn’t reply.

The worried expression on the other man’s face gave way to a more playful one. 

“You are blackmailing me!” He looked way too amused for someone in his predicament. “I see how it is... And I thought the esteemed Lan Wangji would never resort to such a thing!” 

Lan Wangji’s brows furrowed. “You know me?” 

The man scoffed, like Lan Wangji just made the most ridiculous joke. “Who doesn’t know you? One of the Twin Jades, rivaled by none in beauty and skill! You and your brother are practically considered gods by everyone on campus!” 

It was nothing Lan Wangji hadn’t heard before, but for some reason it left a bitter taste in his mouth when he said it. 

“Anyway, my name is Wei Ying, courtesy name Wei Wuxian,” he grinned as he introduced himself, and looked at Lan Wangji expectantly to do the same. 

“Lan Zhan. Courtesy name Lan Wangji.” 

“It’s nice to meet you Lan Zhan! Well, besides the fact that you barged in and practically blackmailed me!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed, the beginnings of a pout forming on his face. 

Lan Wangji looked away again, ear lobes reddening in shame. 

Wei Wuxian gave him a toothy smile. “Just kidding! For some reason, I don’t mind that you wanna hear me sing. It’s kinda flattering, actually,”

“Mn,” A smile almost tugged at the corners of Lan Wangji’s lips. Almost.

“Actually… do you really want to hear me sing every night? I’m not even that good.” Wei Wuxian said sheepishly, scratching his cheek. 

“You are good.” Lan Wangji protested, though it was barely above a whisper.

“What?”

“Not just good. Very good.” He amended, speaking more clearly.

A flush settled on Wei Wuxian’s cheeks. 

“L-Lan Zhan, you can’t just spring those lines on me out of nowhere!” 

After that first night, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji made it a habit to meet up for their nightly singing sessions. Granted, they had to consider their schedules and couldn’t realistically meet every night, but they tried. 

He didn’t show it, but Lan Wangji was over the moon at this new arrangement. Any stress related to grading papers or his own coursework would diminish, giving way to a deep sense of calm and peace. As long as he could hear Wei Wuxian’s voice, nothing else mattered. 

Lan Wangji thought he was good at hiding it, but he should have learned by now that nothing slipped past his brother.

“You look happy today, Wangji,” Lan Xichen observed, an ever-present smile on his face. The brothers were having dinner together at Xichen’s apartment, as they usually did every other weekend. They had been chopping vegetables and boiling soup in silence, working in perfect tandem, until Xichen spoke. 

For a moment, Lan Wangji considered lying. However, the thought was quickly pushed aside. There were no secrets between them, and anyway, his brother would detect if he was lying. So, he opted to tell the truth. Besides the singing part, of course. 

“I... met someone.”

Surprise flickered across Xichen’s face, but he quickly schooled his expression into a pleasantly neutral one.

“Oh? And who is this... someone?” A hint of amusement danced in his eyes. He had been waiting a long time for this day to come, if what he was thinking was correct. And when it came to Lan Wangji, he was always correct. 

“I met him in class. We are... friends,” Lan Wangji replied, frowning as he struggled to find the right word to describe his and Wei Wuxian’s relationship. Were they friends? Acquaintances? They were more like strangers, really, but Lan Wangji did not consider him a stranger. ‘Friends’ would have to do for now. 

The two brothers fell silent once more as they prepared dinner, only picking up the conversation when they finished and were both seated. Steaming bowls of rice, boiled vegetables and mild broth were spread out before them. Bland, but it tasted like home.

“So what is your friend’s name?” Lan Xichen inquired, picking up a piece of bok choy with his chopsticks. 

“Wei Ying,”

“And what is he like?” 

Lan Wangji thought for a moment before answering, “He is playful, and shameless. But he is kind, and has good intentions,”

“Shameless? He sounds like an interesting person,” Lan Xichen chuckled, “You’ll have to introduce us someday, Wangji,” 

For some reason, the thought of Wei Wuxian meeting his brother made Lan Wangji’s heart skip a beat. He couldn’t even imagine how that interaction would go. 

Sensing his brother’s unease, Lan Xichen gave a comforting smile and switched topics. The two chatted comfortably over the course of dinner. 

Lan Wangji talked sparingly about his classes and the students he tutored in the past week. In return, Lan Xichen spoke about flute practice and asked Lan Wangji if he would be able to attend one of his upcoming performances, to which Lan Wangji replied with an affirmative. 

When both brothers finished eating, they began to clean up. Afterwards, Lan Wangji bid his brother good night before returning to his own apartment. As he was preparing for bed, a smile came to his lips, unbidden. Spending time with his brother always had that effect on him. 

One night, after Wei Wuxian finished singing, he walked over and sat next to Lan Wangji, who was sitting in his usual spot at the front row of the small lecture hall. Lan Wangji’s eyes were still closed as he tried to savor the last few notes of the song, as if this would be his only chance to hear it. 

He only opened them again when he felt Wei Wuxian’s eyes on him. The other man had turned to stare at him, a dopey smile playing on his lips. His cheek squished against the hand that supported it and he was leaning towards Lan Wangji, most likely trying to start a conversation. Lan Wangji felt his heartbeat stutter under the other man’s scrutiny.

“Say, Lan Zhan. Tell me about yourself.”

The question caught Lan Wangji off guard but he should have known that it was inevitable, given that they met almost every night. Also, he figured that Wei Wuxian was the type to be curious about people and ask questions.

He looked at Wei Wuxian’s expectant face, but the words were stuck in his throat. Sensing his internal struggle, Wei Wuxian chuckled and leaned back, giving Lan Wangji a bit of space. 

“Alright, maybe I should go first,” Wei Wuxian conceded with an easy smile.

Lan Wangji listened as Wei Wuxian spilled all the details of his life. He was a biochem major who was neck-deep in coursework thanks to midterms. He was adopted as a child and had two siblings, a younger brother and an older sister. His favorite food was his sister’s lotus root and pork rib soup. His birthday was, funnily enough, on Halloween. He had two roommates - one was his younger brother, whose name was Jiang Wanyin, and another friend named Nie Huaisang. 

Lan Wangji perked up at the familiar name. Nie Huaisang was the younger brother of Nie Mingjue, who was a close friend of Xichen’s. He’d only met Nie Mingjue, but given how much the man complained about his ‘no-good little brother’, Lan Wangji had some knowledge of Nie Huaisang as well. Lan Wangji came to the conclusion that Nie Huaisang was very suited to be Wei Wuxian’s friend, personality-wise. 

“Jiang Cheng is so grumpy all the time, and Huaisang is like a scared little puppy,” Wei Wuxian explained. “Though sometimes, I feel like he’s more perceptive than he lets on... like he’s only just pretending to be timid, y’know?”

He did not know, but Lan Wangji nodded regardless. 

Wei Wuxian suddenly giggled, “Lan Zhan, are you only agreeing just to agree with me?”

Lan Wangji stiffened, not knowing how to respond to Wei Wuxian’s teasing. The other man laughed and shook his head. 

“Ah, Lan Zhan... you know, I had a hard time reading you at first. But now you’re like an open book! Your reactions are the best!”

“Do not tease,” Lan Wangji scolded, unable to look Wei Wuxian in the eye. 

Wei Wuxian pretended to wipe a tear from his eye as his laughter died down. 

“But anyway, it’s your turn now!” he grinned, giving Lan Wangji his full attention. 

Lan Wangji paused, then slowly began to divulge tidbits of his life. He was a Chinese history major with such a fervent passion for the subject that he became a TA. He spoke of the close bond between him and his brother. He liked to play the guqin in his spare time, which earned a fascinated hum from Wei Wuxian. He began to talk about his parents but stopped himself, deciding that it was a story for another time. Instead, he talked about the strict upbringing he’d been given by his uncle as a child.

Wei Wuxian soaked up every word, despite the awkward pauses and stilted sentences. He was good at filling in gaps in the conversation and asking the right questions at the right time. Lan Wangji has never talked this much in one sitting in his entire life, but surprisingly, he felt... comfortable. 

“You mentioned you had pets, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian observed. “What kind of pets are they?” 

“Rabbits,” replied Lan Wangji.

Wei Wuxian’s eyebrows shot up to his forehead. “Really Lan Zhan, you raise rabbits?! That’s so cute!!”

“Cute?” Lan Wangji asked, like he never heard the word before and was testing it out. 

“You have to show me one day!” Wei Wuxian practically squealed, “Promise me that you’ll show me your rabbits one day Lan Zhan!”

“I will,” promised Lan Wangji.

The rest of the night went on like that, with the two of them talking about anything and everything. Well, it was mostly Wei Wuxian doing all the talking, but Lan Wangji was happy to listen. Before they knew it, it was already the middle of the night. 

Wei Wuxian let out a yawn. “Wow, look at the time! It’s so fun talking to you that I didn’t even realize it was this late,” 

Lan Wangji’s eyelids were starting to droop - this was way past the time he usually slept. “We should turn in for the night,” he suggested.

Letting out another yawn, Wei Wuxian nodded. “Well, good night Lan Zhan! See you tomorrow night?” 

“Mn,” Lan Wangji nodded in reply. 

  Before settling down to sleep, Lan Wangji decided to check on his rabbits. He sat on the floor and allowed them to crowd around him, their twitching noses bumping against his legs. He carefully picked up one of the black ones and stroked it gently, cradling it like a newborn.

“A friend wants to meet you,” Lan Wangji murmured at the rabbit as he continued to stroke it. “Are you excited? He is very nice. I think you will like him,” 

The rabbit only responded by wiggling out of his grip and putting its paws on his chest, trying to climb up to his shoulder. 

Lan Zhan sighed fondly and extricated the little rabbit from his shoulder. This one was mischievous and always loved clinging to him. Funny enough, it reminded him of someone, though he couldn’t place who. 

After checking that he had plenty of food and water set out for the little fluff balls, Lan Wangji finally laid down to sleep. 

The problem was, although he was tired, sleep did not come to him. Instead, he kept replaying his conversation with Wei Wuxian over and over again in his mind. He kept recalling his smile, the way he laughed, the way he could ramble on about anything and still keep Lan Wangji hanging onto every word. 

As he thought about it more and more, warmth spread from his chest and throughout his whole body.

So this is what it felt like to make a friend.

After meeting Wei Wuxian, it was as if Lan Wangji could not avoid running into him on campus. They were in different majors but somehow their paths managed to cross very often.

Lan Wangji did not deign to approach him. He was always flanked on either side by Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang, deterring Lan Wangji from even saying hello. It’s not that he was scared of them or anything, it’s just that he did not feel like striking up a conversation with all three of them at once. Even just the prospect of doing so made him uncomfortable. 

He had been fortunate enough to avoid Wei Wuxian’s gaze so far, always swiftly turning and walking away before the other man could catch a glimpse of him. 

It didn’t dawn on him how ridiculous his behavior was until someone else pointed it out to him. 

“Are you trying to avoid someone?” Jin Zixuan asked as he watched Lan Wangji do an about-face and walk in the opposite direction of their class.

When Lan Wangji didn’t answer, Jin Zixuan followed after him with a huff. He turned back to find the person Lan Wangji was trying to avoid, but only saw Wei Wuxian and his idiot friends laughing about something. Well, more like Nie Huaisang and Wei Wuxian were laughing while Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes at their stupidity. 

“Don’t tell me that it’s Wei Wuxian you’re avoiding,” Jin Zixuan said flatly, falling into step beside Lan Wangji. 

“You know him?” asked Lan Wangji, changing the subject.

“Know him? He hates my guts! He even punched me once because I-“ Jin Zixuan stopped himself, a look of remorse on his face. “N-Never mind. Stop trying to change the subject - you’re avoiding him aren’t you?” 

“I am,” Lan Wangji replied evenly.

“... do you wanna tell me why?”

“Not in particular,” 

Jin Zixuan threw his hands up in frustration. “You’re so...! God, I don’t even know! Why are we friends again?”

Lan Wangji sighed and kept walking, ignoring the annoyed looks Jin Zixuan kept shooting at him. 

Lan Wangji doesn’t even remember how exactly they had crossed the line from being acquaintances to being friends. They had known each other since childhood, both of them belonging to wealthy families who also happened to be close. Whenever the adults would meet, the two of them would be lumped together since they were the same age. 

At first, they only became friends out of obligation, exchanging nothing but pleasantries and lukewarm conversations. Then, over the years, they started to spend more time with each other, especially since they ended up going to the same university and even decided on the same major. Over time, a fondness and mutual respect naturally formed between the two.

Admittedly, Lan Wangji was a little put off by Jin Zixuan’s arrogance at first. When he was younger, Jin Zixuan thought that everyone was beneath him. He didn’t have any friends besides Lan Wangji because he thought no one else was worthy enough to stand by his side. Time had done its part to temper that aspect of him, for which Lan Wangji was grateful. He found the Jin Zixuan of today to be a lot more tolerable. 

For his part, Jin Zixuan did not mind that Lan Wangji was quiet - he was a little taciturn himself, and did not know how to express his emotions well. Some would say that he was awkward, or emotionally stunted. In that regard, they were similar. Similar enough to get along... most of the time.

“Alright, fine. You don’t have to tell me. I’ll just ask him and find out myself!” 

Panic made Lan Wangji move fast - as Jin Zixuan turned to accost Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji caught him by the collar of his shirt and dragged him backwards.

“L-Lan Wangji, let... go...!” Jin Zixuan choked out, clutching at his throat dramatically. 

Lan Wangji almost rolled his eyes at the theatrics, but nevertheless let go of his friend, who let out some exaggerated coughs and straightened his collar. 

They walked in silence for a bit, Jin Zixuan sulking while Lan Wangji looked straight ahead. After a while, Jin Zixuan had an idea. He smirked and cleared his throat, as if he was making a serious announcement.

“I think I know what it is... You guys slept together, didn’t you?”

Lan Wangji, caught off guard, almost tripped over nothing. Jin Zixuan had to stop himself from collapsing on the sidewalk from laughter. 

“I’m totally right, aren’t I? It’s written all over your face!” Jin Zixuan snickered. He was having way too much fun with this. 

“Ridiculous!” Lan Wangji huffed, his ears burning with embarrassment. 

Jin Zixuan continued relentlessly, “So Wei Wuxian is your type, huh? In all our years of friendship, I’ve never seen you look so flustered!”

“We did not sleep together. We are just friends,” Lan Wangji clarified with a pained look. He still had not recovered from the words that just came out of his friend’s mouth. 

Jin Zixuan was smug. “Sure, I believe you. Just promise me that I’ll be the godfather of your future children!” 

Lan Wangji never felt such a strong urge to inflict pain on anyone until now. Luckily for Jin Zixuan, at least one of them still had their dignity. 

“No, but seriously, how did you two even meet?” Jin Zixuan wondered aloud as they sat in their respective seats. They still had a little time before class started, and Jin Zixuan was determined to use that time to figure out this mystery. “You’re a history major, he’s in science... Your buildings are literally all the way across campus from each other, and you don’t go to parties... it doesn’t add up.” 

“I cannot tell you how we met,” Lan Wangji replied as he laid out his notebook and pens. He was hoping that, given this unsatisfying answer, his friend would finally drop the subject. Unfortunately, it only served to fuel the flames even more. 

Jin Zixuan’s brows were knitted in confusion. “Why not?” He thought about it, then came to a realization, eyes widening. “Don’t tell me... it was a one night stand?!”

Several heads turned toward them, even though Jin Zixuan had said it in a hushed whisper. It was a curious phenomenon that affected everyone on campus - whenever either of the Twin Jades were in the vicinity, people couldn’t help but be aware of them, even if it was just in their periphery. As such, every action or conversation they had that was out of the ordinary would always garner some sort of attention. 

Lan Wangji sighed, ignoring the stares. “Think what you want. Class is about to start,” he pointed out as the professor entered the room.

Jin Zixuan scowled with determination. “I will find out one of these days Lan Wangji. Mark my words,” 

Lan Wangji didn’t have a chance to reply as the professor began his lecture. 

Lan Wangji’s luck was bound to run out someday, and unfortunately, that day was today. He and Jin Zixuan had been walking to a cafe for lunch and Lan Wangji’s guard was lowered. Lowered enough to not notice Wei Wuxian and his friends walking towards them.

A familiar voice called out to him, “Lan Zhan!” 

He could not turn around fast enough. Lan Wangji could only stand and stare, helpless, as Wei Wuxian bounded toward him, his hair becoming even more tousled than usual by the wind. 

He skidded to a stop in front of Lan Wangji, wearing his usual carefree smile. Lan Wangji could feel eyes on him and shifted uncomfortably, unable to say anything. Wei Wuxian’s smile faltered a bit, then his eyes strayed towards Jin Zixuan. His expression turned into one of disdain.

“Peacock,” Wei Wuxian said in lieu of a greeting.

“Stop calling me that,” Jin Zixuan hissed, glaring at the other man. “And by the way, what are your intentions with Lan Wangji? Do I have to give you a shovel talk?”

Wei Wuxian was taken aback by the question. “W-What are you even talking about, we’re not-“ 

“Enough,” The conviction in Lan Wangji’s voice was enough to stop their bickering. The two settled for glaring at each other instead. 

Wei Wuxian then turned to Lan Wangji. “Anyway, Lan Zhan, want to eat lunch with me? Jiang Cheng and Huaisang won’t mind eating without me for one day!”

Lan Wangji felt a sudden twinge of fondness for the other man. Wei Wuxian knew he would be uncomfortable around strangers and thought to accommodate him. 

Off to the side, Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang were murmuring to each other with curious looks on their faces. Lan Wangji could only imagine what they were talking about. If he had to guess, it was probably the same thing Jin Zixuan had been talking about incessantly for the entire day. 

Lan Wangji sighed and turned to Jin Zixuan. “Would you like to join us?”

“And be a third wheel? No thanks,” Jin Zixuan scoffed, crossing his arms. “You guys have fun. I’ll... go somewhere else,”

After bidding goodbye to Lan Wangji (and pointedly ignoring Wei Wuxian), Jin Zixuan turned and walked away. 

Wei Wuxian told him to wait a minute and went back to his friends to explain the situation. Lan Wangji watched as they started to bicker, Wei Wuxian pouting while the other two elbowed him and raised their eyebrows suggestively.

After a while, Nie Huaisang and Jiang Wanyin also said their goodbyes and departed, leaving him and Wei Wuxian alone. 

“Hey, Lan Zhan, do you like spicy food?” Wei Wuxian asked, steps light and bouncy as he walked. “I know this great place that has the best spicy hotpot!”

Seeing how excited Wei Wuxian was, Lan Wangji could only dip his head and reply, “Mn,”

Wei Wuxian grinned, “You’re the best Lan Zhan! I promise you won’t regret it!”

Lan Wangji looked around as they entered the restaurant. It was small but quite crowded, and had a cozy feel to it. The smell of various peppers and spices permeated the entire space. Lan Wangji could already feel his mouth watering, and it wasn’t from hunger.

Once they were seated, Wei Wuxian didn’t even need to look at the menu to order. The staff and owner even made small talk with him as they waited for their food. They also tried talking to Lan Wangji, who could only nod and give monosyllabic replies in return. Once they left, Wei Wuxian gave him a sheepish smile. 

“Sorry Lan Zhan, they know me so well because I come here at least twice a week,” 

Lan Wangji’s lips parted to reply, but before he could, a huge pot filled to the brim with soup was set down in front of them. Wei Wuxian’s eyes lit up at the obscene amount of chilis that floated on the surface of the hot pot broth. 

“Wow, this looks so good!” Wei Wuxian took a sip and sighed, content. “Could use a little more of a kick though,”

Lan Wangji watched in horror as Wei Wuxian dumped practically a whole jar of chili oil into the soup, turning it into an alarming shade of red. 

“There, perfect! Dig in Lan Zhan!” 

Wei Wuxian began to eat with gusto, not at all affected by the spice. Lan Wangji paused in trepidation before taking his first bite. 

The spice assaulted his tongue in an instant. Lan Wangji could barely hold back the tears that welled up in his eyes. He only managed to swallow through sheer willpower, and his mouth began to tingle. 

Lan Wangji stewed in his own agony until Wei Wuxian looked up at him and smiled, eyes turning to crescents. “Do you like it?”

“Mn. It is good,” It wasn’t a lie. Despite the overwhelming amount of spice, the broth was delicious. 

“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” Wei Wuxian laughed. “Not a lot of people can keep up with my spice tolerance. You really are amazing Lan Zhan!”

After that, they ate in companionable silence. Lan Wangji never liked talking during meals anyway. It was something his uncle had ingrained in him at a young age, and he saw no reason to fill the silence with chatter. It was enough for him to watch Wei Wuxian’s gleeful expressions as he spooned mouthful after mouthful of spicy broth into his mouth. 

By the time they finished eating, the sky was flushed pink and orange. Wei Wuxian turned to Lan Wangji with an eager smile, “Should we go to the usual place?” 

Lan Wangji nodded, and after a bit of walking, they found themselves in the empty lecture hall. Wei Wuxian took his place in front of Lan Wangji, doing stretches as if he was about to exercise. Lan Wangji found it ridiculously endearing.

“Any song requests tonight?” 

This question always popped up every night before Wei Wuxian started to sing. On the first night, Lan Wangji admitted that he did not know much outside of classical and traditional music. Growing up, it seemed that he and his brother were out of touch with the rest of the world, given their strict upbringing. 

In contrast, it seemed as if Wei Wuxian knew and loved all types of music. Pop, R&B, indie, rock, techno... the list went on and on. As such, he made it his personal mission to expose Lan Wangji to as many different types of music as possible. Sometimes he would whip out his phone and a pair of earphones and split them with Lan Wangji so he could show him a new song. 

For Lan Wangji, it was like exploring a whole new world. He found that he actually liked a lot of the songs that Wei Wuxian shared with him. He was particularly fond of ballads and soft acoustic songs, though sometimes he would also like certain pop and R&B songs. 

Lan Wangji took a bit of time to decide which song he wanted to hear before replying, “The song you sang when we first met,” 

“Oh, that one?” Wei Wuxian smiled fondly at the memory. “I didn’t tell you this before, but I wrote that song. I wrote it a long time ago, and I never told anyone about it,” 

Lan Wangji was surprised. “You wrote it?”

Wei Wuxian nodded. “Mhmm! It’s probably not the best, but-“

“It is beautiful,” Lan Wangji interjected. Usually he wouldn’t interrupt someone mid-sentence, but he didn’t like it when Wei Wuxian downplayed himself in any way. 

Besides, the song was indeed beautiful. It spoke of looming mortality, the irrepressible flow of time, a love that defied fate. The melody was haunting and it suited Wei Wuxian’s voice perfectly. 

Even though he’d done this countless times before, Wei Wuxian still looked a bit nervous. He bounced on his toes, inhaled, then exhaled. 

Then, he began to sing. 

Goosebumps raised along Lan Wangji’s arms and the back of his neck as Wei Wuxian’s lips curled around the first few lyrics of the song, each word filled with the tenderness of love and the ache of longing.

The singer poured his entire being into the melody, eyes glinting with unrestrained emotion. Lan Wangji felt as if the breath was being stolen from his lungs. Wei Wuxian’s voice was as cold and gentle as the moon and Lan Wangji was an ocean tide, drawn to him by the inescapable pull of gravity.

Perhaps, Lan Wangji thought, this is what it felt like to fall in love. 

Before he knew it, the last few notes of the song faded. Lan Wangji stared at Wei Wuxian and it felt like he was seeing him for the first time. His eyes traced over the sweet curve of his mouth, the tiny mole under his bottom lip, his kind and earnest eyes. Lan Wangji’s heart thudded in his chest, affection swelling inside him and threatening to burst. 

He didn’t trust himself to speak so he said nothing, struggling to maintain his composure.

Wei Wuxian gave a nervous smile at his lack of reaction. “So, Lan Zhan... what did you think?”

Lan Wangji scrambled to find the right words. 

I think I’m falling in love with you.

I could listen to you sing every day for the rest of my life and never tire of it. 

I’ll be yours, if you’ll have me.

Instead, he opted for, “It was wonderful, Wei Ying.”

Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened at the praise, pleasure coloring his cheeks a soft pink. “Aiyo, Lan Zhan, you shouldn’t say these kinds of things so easily!” he whined. “At this rate, I’ll have to chase your admirers away with a stick!” 

“It is only the truth,” said Lan Wangji, a thin smile gracing his lips. 

There was a beat of silence. It took Lan Wangji a while to realize that Wei Wuxian was gaping at him. “L-Lan Zhan... you’re smiling!” 

The smile disappeared from Lan Wangji’s face as quickly as it came. He hadn’t even realized.

“No no, by all means, keep smiling!” Wei Wuxian laughed, “Lan-er-gege, your smile is so pretty!” 

“Not pretty,” Lan Wangji denied, mouth settling into its usual placid line. He willed the burning in his ears to subside.

Now that he’d realized his feelings for Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji was even more helpless in the face of the other man’s teasing. Lan Wangji feared that he might not be able to make it out of this with his dignity intact.

Eating lunch together turned into an everyday occurrence. It earned Lan Wangji some dirty looks from Wei Wuxian’s friends, as if to say ‘how dare you steal him from us?’ The looks had an undercurrent of playfulness, though. Lan Wangji was grateful that they weren’t actually upset. 

Jin Zixuan was all huffy about it, though he could sense that Lan Wangji was happy with this new arrangement. Lan Wangji hadn’t told him about his feelings, but he didn’t have to. When it came to reading him, Jin Zixuan was almost as adept as his brother.

“If he breaks your heart, tell me and I’ll break his entire body,” Jin Zixuan threatened, a menacing scowl on his face. In that moment, Lan Wangji felt a surge of affection for his friend. Though he showed it in a rough and clumsy way, Jin Zixuan always had his best interests in mind. 

“So Lan Zhan, how exactly did you become friends with that pea- I mean, Jin Zixuan?” Wei Wuxian popped this question one day as they were eating lunch at a nice cafe. They were sitting outdoors, the wind gently stirring their hair and spreading the scent of spring blossoms through the air.

Lan Wangji set his teacup down. “We met when we were children. Our families are close and they always made us play together.”

Wei Wuxian was surprised. “You guys were childhood friends?” 

“Mn,” Lan Wangji nodded in affirmation.

“What was he like as a kid? I bet he was a spoiled little brat- I mean uh, a nice boy!” 

Lan Wangji almost smiled at the conscious effort Wei Wuxian was making to not insult Jin Zixuan in his face. He knew full well what most people thought of his friend, but he appreciated it nonetheless. 

“He was very... stubborn, as a child,” Lan Wangji began, the words flowing out of him as he told Wei Wuxian stories from his childhood. Wei Wuxian was fully engaged, laughing at the sillier stories and nodding and humming along at the more serious ones. 

“You know, when you talk about him like this, he doesn’t sound so bad,” Wei Wuxian admitted, a thoughtful look on his face. “He actually sounds like a good friend to you Lan Zhan,” 

“Mn, he is.” A question bubbled up in Lan Wangji’s mind. “What has he done to make you despise him so much?” Even though they were close, Jin Zixuan didn’t really make it a point to tell Lan Wangji about every single thing that happened to him, and Lan Wangji was the same. That was just how their friendship worked, and neither of them complained about it. 

The expression on Wei Wuxian’s face darkened. “It was a while ago, actually,” he began, “My jiejie, for whatever reason, had a crush on him and everyone knew about it, including him. One day I overheard him talking to someone, saying that she was plain and boring and not worthy of his time,” as he said this, his fists clenched. “So I went up to the bastard and punched him. It was so satisfying to see that arrogant look wiped off his face!” 

Lan Wangji frowned, then sighed. It did sound like something Jin Zixuan would have done in the past. 

Lan Wangji did know about Miss Jiang, but in a totally different context. These days he would notice Jin Zixuan giving her furtive glances, but not daring to approach her, probably from shame at his past transgressions. He hadn’t understood his friend’s hesitance, until now. 

“Forgive him, he was... different back then,” said Lan Wangji. 

Wei Wuxian hummed, “Well, I guess I wouldn’t hate him so much if he at least apologized to my jiejie. Sometimes he stares at her but he never actually talks to her! I don’t know what he wants, but if he dares to hurt her again, I’ll give him two black eyes instead of just one!” 

So Wei Wuxian had noticed the furtive glances too. “I will discuss this with him at a later time,” Lan Wangji decided, then dipped his head. “I am sorry that he insulted your jiejie,”

Wei Wuxian chuckled. “Don’t apologize for him, Lan Zhan! It was a long time ago. Besides, it’s not like you’re responsible for his actions or anything,” 

Lan Wangji nodded again, though he still felt a slight sense of guilt. He really would have to talk to Jin Zixuan later. 

The two continued to chat, Wei Wuxian coaxing some more stories out of Lan Wangji and telling some of his own, involving his brother and Nie Huaisang. A few of them even managed to get a chuckle out of Lan Wangji, prompting an exaggerated gasp from Wei Wuxian and a plea to keep doing it. They spent what seemed like hours enjoying each other’s company and the good weather. 

During a lull in the conversation, Lan Wangji took the opportunity to ask Wei Wuxian a question that’s been burning in the back of his mind. 

“Wei Ying, may I ask you a question?” 

Wei Wuxian smiled softly and nodded. “Sure, go ahead,”

Lan Wangji steeled himself before continuing in a hushed voice, “Why do you not want others to know that you sing?”

The question caught Wei Wuxian off guard. Lan Wangji saw the change in his face, from easy contentment to sudden disbelief and finally, resigned acceptance. His eyes, although they stared right at Lan Wangji, looked vacant. 

Lan Wangji’s hands trembled slightly at the sudden change in atmosphere. He hated himself for putting such an expression on Wei Wuxian’s face and tried to salvage the situation. 

“I apologize, you do not need to-“

“No, I want to,” Wei Wuxian interrupted. He forced a strained smile, before standing up. “Let’s go somewhere more private.”

Wei Wuxian led Lan Wangji to a deserted corner of campus. The two sat on a bench shadowed by willow trees, their swaying branches providing a semblance of privacy. 

Lan Wangji waited patiently for Wei Wuxian to begin. The other man seemed content to stare into the distance for a while, before finally parting his lips to speak. 

“Both of my parents died when I was four,” Wei Wuxian began, “I don’t remember a lot about them, but I do remember some bits and pieces,” 

Lan Wangji nodded, prompting Wei Wuxian to continue.

“Every night, before I went to sleep, my mother would sing to me,” His smile was wistful. “She would sing lullabies, mostly. I used to believe that her singing would fight away my nightmares, and that’s why I never had any,” He paused to chuckle at his childhood innocence, then went on. 

“One day, she started teaching me how to sing. I probably wasn’t very good at it in the beginning, but she would always praise me.” His voice wavered as he continued, “After a while, I got better and better. She was so happy, but she never pressured me to join competitions or anything like that. I was really shy as a kid and she knew that I wouldn’t have felt comfortable. The day before she died, she-“ Wei Wuxian swallowed thickly. “She smiled at me, and said ‘this could be our little secret’,” 

All at once, Lan Wangji understood. Guilt and sorrow washed over him as tears began to run down Wei Wuxian’s face.

“Her voice was so beautiful, Lan Zhan. Even now, I can still...”

Wei Wuxian broke off and had to turn away, shoulders trembling as he tried to contain himself. Lan Wangji wanted nothing more than to comfort him, hold him in his arms and gently wipe his tears away. Instead, he planted his hands on the bench and clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. 

“I’m sorry, Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji closed his eyes, voice heavy with remorse. “I’m sorry for making you break your promise,” 

Wei Wuxian shook his head. “You don’t have to apologize, Lan Zhan,” He wiped his tears with the back of his hand and finally looked at Lan Wangji, a sad smile on his lips. “For some reason, I don’t mind sharing this secret with you.” 

The weeks following their conversation were surprisingly peaceful. Neither of them acknowledged what had happened and continued on as normal. They still met up at night and talked like they usually did. 

Inside, however, Lan Wangji felt strange. The guilt was still there, simmering underneath the surface of his usual stoic demeanor. He had been so selfish when he made Wei Wuxian sing for him, not knowing the gravity of the situation. Every time they talked, Lan Wangji would feel the urge to apologize, but held back in fear of disturbing the careful equilibrium they had. 

On the other hand, Wei Wuxian seemed unaffected. His smile was as bright as ever and his laugh even more so. Gradually, Lan Wangji began to feel less and less conflicted. If anything, he was grateful that at least Wei Wuxian did not resent him. 

“People are talking about you two, you know,” Jin Zixuan remarked one day in the library as they were studying for their finals. 

Lan Wangji wasn’t surprised. He and Wei Wuxian had been spending more and more time together, outside of lunch and their nightly meetings. It was bound to garner speculation from those who spotted them around campus. Admittedly, they did make an odd pair. 

“Let them talk,” was his succinct reply. But oh, how Lan Wangji wished the rumors were true. Although he was aware of his own feelings, he would never reveal them to Wei Wuxian. Residual guilt aside, he was certain that the other man saw him as nothing but a friend. 

“When are you going to tell him? You two can’t keep dancing around each other like this,” 

“There is no dancing around. Wei Ying does not see me in that way.” Lan Wangji said without batting an eye, turning to the next page in his textbook.

“Oh please, it’s so obvious that you two are in love with each other.” Jin Zixuan scoffed, “Do us all a favor and just get on with it already.”

“What about you and Miss Jiang?”

That made Jin Zixuan shut up. He was flabbergasted, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to find a suitable comeback. 

“Y-You...! Stop trying to turn this on me! There’s nothing between me and her!” he denied vehemently, though a conflicted look crossed over his face. Lan Wangji decided not to press too hard, at least not this time. 

Instead, he decided to keep studying as Jin Zixuan nursed his wounds. He had to utilize his time efficiently, because he would be meeting Wei Wuxian in a few hours. 

  There was something different about their meeting tonight. Lan Wangji couldn’t quite place what it was, but it made him feel on edge. Wei Wuxian wouldn’t look him in the eye, and when he did, his gaze would flicker away instantly. He talked too fast, and his usual carefree grin seemed frayed at the edges. 

“Wei Ying, is there something wrong?” Lan Wangji asked, concerned at his strange behavior. 

Wei Wuxian gave a nervous laugh. “Oh, it’s nothing! I’m just, uh... stressed! From finals, y’know?”

That seemed to be a reasonable enough answer, but Lan Wangji wasn’t convinced. He frowned but chose not to pursue it any further. Wei Wuxian would tell him in his own time. 

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian suddenly spoke, pulling Lan Wangji from his thoughts. There was a certain determination in his eyes now, though the cautious energy still lingered. 

“I wrote another song. Do you want to hear it?”

“Mn,” Lan Wangji nodded, pleasantly surprised and eager to hear what Wei Wuxian had come up with this time.

The other man’s face lit up, and there was a hint of shyness in his smile. He still wouldn’t look Lan Wangji in the eye, though, much to Lan Wangji’s confusion. 

Wei Wuxian assumed his usual position at the front of the room. A change seemed to come over him, and he looked up, finally meeting Lan Wangji’s gaze. He was trying to convey something, but Lan Wangji didn’t know what. He shifted in his seat, feeling as if the room was charged with static. Had Wei Wuxian ever looked at him like this before? 

“Well... here I go.” Wei Wuxian took a deep breath, steadying himself. A beat of silence passed, then he opened his mouth to sing.

His voice was soft and delicate at first, almost tentative. Without even realizing it, Lan Wangji’s lips curved into a smile at the words that flowed out of the other man’s mouth. Words of precious memories, of being satisfied with the one he loved by his side, no matter what may happen to them in the future. It was gentle and warm, wrapping around Lan Wangji like a thick, soothing blanket.

He stared at Wei Wuxian, captivated by the sheer affection in the other man’s eyes. To Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian’s voice was like spending time with his brother, having a quiet study session with Jin Zixuan, or playing with his rabbits. It felt like comfort. It felt like home. 

Before Lan Wangji knew it, the song ended. His heart thundered in his ears as he tried to process what Wei Wuxian meant by singing him this song. He had sung countless love songs for Lan Wangji before, but this one felt different. Wei Wuxian’s eyes hadn’t left his the entire time. 

Lan Wangji was so lost in his thoughts, he didn’t notice that the smile had disappeared from Wei Wuxian’s face. When Lan Wangji finally looked up, the other man was already halfway to the door. His eyes widened and he stood up, hurrying after him. 

“Wei Ying!” he called, but it was no use. Wei Wuxian had already disappeared down the corridor, leaving Lan Wangji standing alone in the middle of the hall. 

Lan Wangji thought he would have the chance to clear up the misunderstanding, but the chance never came. 

Before, he would run into Wei Wuxian so often, it felt as if they were drawn together by some unknown force. Now, there seemed to be no trace of the other man at all, no matter where he looked. 

Lan Wangji had even gone up to Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang one day, but they were tight-lipped and refused to divulge any information. From the way they looked at him, cold and displeased, Lan Wangji knew that he had messed up. 

In times of crisis, the first thing that came to Lan Wangji’s mind was to ask his brother for advice. He shot a quick text to Xichen after finishing one of his final exams, and he replied almost immediately, telling Lan Wangji that he was free to chat.

That’s how Lan Wangji found himself in his brother’s apartment with a cup of tea in his hands, Xichen sitting across from him as they sat at the dining table.

“What happened, Wangji?” asked Xichen, concern creasing his brow. 

“Brother, I... I made Wei Ying upset.” Lan Wangji began. He proceeded to tell the entire story, from how he and Wei Wuxian had become closer in the past month, to how the other man had confessed to him and he reacted too slowly, causing Wei Wuxian to take his silence as rejection and run away. 

At the end of the story, Xichen looked at him for a moment, not saying a word. Then, he sighed and gave Lan Wangji a calm smile. 

“It wasn’t your fault, Wangji. It was a misunderstanding, so do not torment yourself so much.” 

“I should have reacted more quickly.” Lan Wangji’s gaze shifted to his lap. “Now I cannot even explain myself. He is avoiding me.”

Xichen hummed. “Have you tried approaching his friends?” 

“Yes, I have. They are not telling me anything.” 

“Do you know of anyone else that is close to him?”

Anyone else close to Wei Wuxian? Lan Wangji thought about it, then looked up at his brother. “He has an older sister.” 

Xichen nodded. “Perhaps you should try speaking with her. If he’ll listen to anyone, it would probably be her.”

It was a good idea, and probably his best shot at getting to Wei Wuxian. However, another problem arose in his mind. 

“What will I say to him?” asked Lan Wangji. “I am... not good with words.”

Xichen took a sip of tea, then set his cup down with a knowing smile. “There are other ways to show your feelings besides words.” 

Show his feelings... without words? In that moment, an epiphany struck Lan Wangji.

“I think I know what to do now.” he bowed his head slightly to Xichen. “Thank you, brother.”

Xichen chuckled. “I’m always happy to help, Wangji. Let me know how it goes.” 

“You want me to what ?” Jin Zixuan hissed. 

“Arrange a meeting between Miss Jiang and I,” Lan Wangji replied calmly. 

In truth, he was capable of getting in touch with Miss Jiang by himself, but he also saw this as an opportunity to help his friend finally make amends and properly pursue a relationship with her. He just needed a little push in the right direction. 

“But she hates me,” Jin Zixuan murmured. “If I approach her, she’ll definitely ignore me and walk away,”

“You could apologize to her,” Lan Wangji suggested. “She does not seem like the type to just ignore someone.”

“God, I hate it when you’re right,” Jin Zixuan groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fine, I’ll try. Don’t have too much faith in me though. You know how I am when it comes to this kind of stuff.”

“I believe you will be able to pull through just fine.” Lan Wangji reassured him. 

  It turned out that Lan Wangji’s faith in Jin Zixuan ended up paying off. The day after they set their plan, the two decided to touch base at the cafe they usually frequented. He could tell by the smile on his friend’s face and the bounce in his step that the meeting had gone well. 

“How was it?” asked Lan Wangji. 

“You were right, she didn’t ignore me after all.” Jin Zixuan began. “In fact, she was actually willing to hear me out. I apologized for how I treated her before and she just smiled and said she already forgave me. I guess my guilt was pretty obvious to her, because I wasn’t exactly being subtle.” He scratched his cheek. “Even Wei Wuxian, who’s a dumbass- I mean, uh, kinda dense, noticed it too.” 

“You did openly stare at her all the time.” Lan Wangji pointed out. 

“I did.” Jin Zixuan admitted, a slight flush on his cheeks. “A-Anyway, I told her that I wanted to try being friends with her, so we’re going out for lunch next week.” 

A brief smile tugged at the corners of Lan Wangji’s lips. “I am glad you managed to work things out.”

“Yeah, thanks for pushing me. I probably would’ve stared at her forever if you hadn’t told me to talk to her,” Jin Zixuan sighed, a love-struck smile on his face. Then, it was replaced by a more serious expression. “Oh yeah, and about arranging a meeting with her...” 

Lan Wangji sat up a little straighter. “What did she say?”

“She said she would like to meet you,” said Jin Zixuan. Lan Wangji sagged a little with relief, until his friend went on. “But she really, really loves Wei Wuxian. It won’t be easy to convince her to talk to him. She’s practically his mother. It’ll be like meeting his parent for the first time.” 

Lan Wangji swallowed around the nervous lump in his throat. He knew how important Miss Jiang was to Wei Wuxian, and vice versa. If he messed up and she refused to let him speak to her little brother, Lan Wangji didn’t know what else he could do at that point. 

Jin Zixuan gave him a sympathetic look. “I’m sure it’ll turn out fine. You just have to show her how much you really care for Wei Wuxian. I think everyone knows how you feel for him by now.” 

Lan Wangji nodded gratefully. Just as Jin Zixuan had faith in him, he needed to have faith in himself. 

Jiang Yanli was as gentle and kind as everyone made her out to be. Her eyes held a natural warmth that Lan Wangji rarely saw in others. Her voice was soft and serene, and had the effect of putting people at ease. Lan Wangji could see why Jin Zixuan was head over heels for her. 

“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me today, Miss Jiang.” Lan Wangji dipped his head in respect. 

“Please, there’s no need to be so formal.” She assured with a smile, pouring more tea for herself. “I‘ve heard a lot of things about you from A-Xian.”

Lan Wangji tensed, and she continued. “I don’t think I’ve seen him this happy in a long while.” Suddenly, her eyes grew cold. The set of her mouth became firm. “Nor have I ever seen him this unhappy.” 

The contrast from her previous demeanor to this one made a chill run down Lan Wangji’s spine. The message was clear: he had hurt Wei Wuxian deeply, and she was not pleased. 

“He did not tell me the details of what happened,” she explained. “All I know is that you have upset him to the point where he buries himself in his studies, barely eating or sleeping. Neither me nor A-Cheng can snap him out of it. What have you done to make him like this?”

Lan Wangji frowned, the self-loathing he had been trying to suppress coming back full force. The thought of Wei Wuxian being unhappy, especially because of him, made his stomach churn unpleasantly. 

“I did not mean to hurt him,” Lan Wangji replied, the remorse clear on his face. “It was my fault for not being able to express myself. I created a misunderstanding, and I wish to fix it.” 

Jiang Yanli nodded, but her expression remained sharp. “Do you already know how to fix it? Will you be able to make him happy again?” 

Lan Wangji nodded, quiet determination in his eyes. “Yes, Miss Jiang. If you give me the opportunity, I will do everything I can to make him happy,”

Her face softened a bit at that. “I have one last question. What exactly do you want from A-Xian?”

Lan Wangji was silent, calmly trying to find the right words to convey what he felt for her brother. 

“I... do not want anything from him, nor do I expect anything from him.” His words were careful, yet firm. 

“I only want him to know that I care as deeply for him as he does for me.”

A slow, lovely smile bloomed on Jiang Yanli’s face. The warmth returned to her eyes and she gave a single nod. 

“That’s all I needed to hear.” 

Lan Wangji was never one to fidget, but at the moment, he was sorely tempted to. He sat alone in the empty lecture hall, hands folded in front of him. Instead of his usual place in the front row, he was at the front of the room where Wei Wuxian usually stood, except he was seated at the desk the professors used. 

His eyes flickered to the clock on the wall. Jiang Yanli told him that Wei Wuxian would come at around 9 or 10. Lan Wangji had been in the room since 8. He needed the time to mentally prepare himself for what he was about to do. This was probably how Wei Wuxian had felt before confessing to him. 

It was already past 9 and nearing 10. Lan Wangji sat there, staring at the door and wondering if Wei Wuxian would actually show up. 

Before he could get even more anxious, the door slowly creaked open. Wei Wuxian poked his head in, his eyes automatically going to Lan Wangji’s usual spot. When he saw Lan Wangji was not there, his brows furrowed in confusion until his eyes came to the front of the room. 

“Lan Zhan? What are you doing there?”

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji nodded in greeting. “I am sorry about... the last time we met.”

Wei Wuxian gave a tense smile. At least he was actually looking at Lan Wangji instead of avoiding eye contact. “Don’t worry about it, Lan Zhan. It’s not your fault.”

Lan Wangji shook his head. “No, it was.” He steeled himself and decided to carry out the plan before he lost his nerve. “I... I want to play a song. Will you listen?” 

Wei Wuxian blinked in confusion. “You’re gonna play your guqin?” 

“Mn,” Lan Wangji replied. In one fluid motion, he took his guqin off his lap and placed it on the table. 

Wei Wuxian seemed caught off guard. “O-Okay... of course I’ll listen.” He headed to the front row, but instead of sitting in a seat, he sat right on the desk. 

Lan Wangji’s hands rested on the strings, the familiarity of the feeling comforting him. He took a deep breath before finally plucking out the first few notes of the song. 

The distinct sound of the guqin reverberated around the room. Lan Wangji’s fingers coaxed the melody out slowly yet firmly, making sure not to make a single mistake. 

The song itself was rich and resonant, and the meaning of it filled Lan Wangji’s heart with a deep fondness. Wei Wuxian must have sensed it, too, because his eyes slowly began filling with tears. Lan Wangji continued to play, even though every inch of him longed to go up to the other man and embrace him until his tears subsided. He was determined to follow this through to the end. 

The last few notes of the song faded. The two of them stared at each other in silence, unable to find words after Lan Wangji’s performance.

Wei Wuxian seemed to come back to himself, and he hurriedly wiped the tears from his eyes. “That was beautiful, Lan Zhan. Did you compose it yourself?”

“Mn. For you.” 

“For me?”

“Mn.”

Wei Wuxian paused, before asking, “What is it called?”

Lan Wangji answered without hesitation. “WangXian.”

All at once, realization dawned on Wei Wuxian. He jumped off his perch and went to the front of the room, expression unreadable. Lan Wangji stood as well, afraid of what his response would be. 

As Wei Wuxian got closer, a grin broke out across his face. Lan Wangji’s eyes widened, startled, as the other man flung himself into his arms. 

“Only you would confess like that, Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian laughed, burying his face in Lan Wangji’s shoulder.

“You confessed to me with a song as well.” Lan Wangji pointed out, wrapping his arms around Wei Wuxian. 

Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes. “Details, details.” After a moment, they pulled back, though they did not let go of each other. Instead, they stared at one another, as if they couldn’t believe that it turned out like this. 

Wei Wuxian’s eyes flickered down to Lan Wangji’s lips. “Lan Zhan. Can I kiss you?”

The tips of Lan Wangji’s ears reddened, but he nodded. 

Wei Wuxian closed the distance between them, and their lips met in a chaste kiss. When they separated, they took a moment to look at each other before going in for a deeper kiss. Lan Wangji closed his eyes, breath hitching in his throat as Wei Wuxian’s mouth pressed into his. 

They were clumsy and inexperienced, noses bumping and teeth clacking against each other, but in Lan Wangji’s opinion, he couldn’t have asked for a better first kiss. 

They pulled away for air, and Lan Wangji took the time to appreciate the swell of Wei Wuxian’s reddening lips. The other man was smiling, cheeks flushed.

“Lan Zhan. I like you a lot.”

“Mn. I like you a lot too, Wei Ying,”

Wei Wuxian let out a laugh, arms hooked on Lan Wangji’s shoulders. As Lan Wangji stared into his eyes, a single thought came to mind. He thought of Wei Wuxian’s mother, and sent a silent message to her. 

‘Thank you, for helping me find him.’