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Jiang Cheng is nervous, more nervous than he could ever remember being in his entire life and with all the stupid, idiotic shit Wei Wuxian put him through, that really meant something.
And he couldn’t even blame this on Wei Wuxian, because this is his own stupid idea.
Wei Wuxian even laughed in his face when Jiang Cheng told him his idea, and really, that should have been deterrent enough.
But Jiang Cheng is determined to go through with this.
He’ll never be brave enough to confess to Lan Xichen, he knows that, and at least like this he can play it off as a stupid joke.
It’s better than nothing.
So he tags along with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, under the guise of having to study together, but as soon as Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji get distracted by more physical things, Jiang Cheng flees the room, wandering out into the living-room, where Lan Xichen is sitting.
Jiang Cheng takes a moment to simply look at him, because it might be the last time he gets to do this, stupid joke or not.
If Lan Xichen is especially appalled, it will be the last time Jiang Cheng is allowed into this apartment and gets to see Lan Xichen all domestic.
And he is; Jiang Cheng doesn’t know if he’s working from home or just reading something for the fun of it, but he’s clad in soft sweatpants and a loose shirt, laptop balanced on his thighs, and Jiang Cheng wants to do nothing more than replace that laptop with himself and cuddle close.
Which won’t work without confessing first.
So he squares his shoulders and marches out into the living-room.
There’s a dangerous flutter in his stomach when Lan Xichen looks up and smiles at him as soon as he sees him and it mixes unpleasantly with Jiang Cheng’s nervousness.
“Jiang Cheng,” Lan Xichen greets him warmly. “How are you?” he asks and focuses his complete attention on Jiang Cheng.
It’s one of the things Jiang Cheng loves so much about him—for the first time in forever Jiang Cheng really feels seen—but right now he wishes Lan Xichen would pay more attention to whatever it is that he is reading.
Having Lan Xichen’s eyes on him makes this situation so much more nerve-wrecking.
“Hey,” Jiang Cheng still somehow gets out. “I’m good, I’m good,” he rambles and then decides to get this over with as quick as he can manage.
“That’s wonderful to hear,” Lan Xichen says with a smile and Jiang Cheng fears his heart is going to jump right out of his chest.
It’s either now or never, Jiang Cheng thinks, and then tries to push all his nervousness aside.
“Yeah, yeah, it is,” he starts and when Lan Xichen narrows his eyes at him in clear concern, Jiang Cheng simply barrels on. “Listen, Lan Xichen, I like you,” he then blurts out. “I really, really like you.”
He’s watching Lan Xichen closely to gauge his reaction, and so he sees the way Lan Xichen’s eyes go wide and move slightly away from him and how he leans back as if to create more distance between them.
Jiang Cheng’s heart falls, right down to the floor, but he forces himself to keep it together. It’s what he expected anyway.
There was no chance that Lan Xichen would actually feel the same for him, after all.
“Haha,” Jiang Cheng forces out before Lan Xichen can even open his mouth. “Happy April fools’ day!”
The words are heavy in Jiang Cheng’s mouth and the smile feels cutting on his face.
“Oh,” Lan Xichen breathes out and he keeps his eyes firmly away from Jiang Cheng. “I see,” he then goes on, and puts the laptop aside to stand up.
Jiang Cheng is taken aback by his strange reaction, because it doesn’t make sense, and Jiang Cheng takes half a step forward, unsure what he wants to do.
“Did you do that with many people today?” Lan Xichen asks, as he turns away from Jiang Cheng and his voice sounds strange, almost as if he’s—angry?
But no, that doesn’t quite fit and it takes Jiang Cheng an embarrassing long moment to realize what is going on.
“Wait a minute,” Jiang Cheng blurts out and despite everything Lan Xichen stops his retreat, though he keeps his back to Jiang Cheng. “Are you—are you jealous?” Jiang Cheng asks, even though he can hardly believe it.
“And what of it?” Lan Xichen bites out, tension seeking into his back and Jiang Cheng is so completely out of his depth, he doesn’t even know what’s happening anymore.
“Xichen,” he breathes out and it’s only when Lan Xichen starts to walk away from him again that Jiang Cheng regains some sort of control over his body.
His brain is clearly not involved, because he rushes forward and crashes right into Lan Xichen’s back, presses his face between his shoulder blades and slings his arms around his middle.
At the very least it’s enough to stop Lan Xichen once more.
“What are you doing?” Lan Xichen wants to know, as he carefully rests a hand over Jiang Cheng’s on his stomach.
“I don’t know,” Jiang Cheng admits, mumbles the words into Lan Xichen’s back, but he hugs him tighter. “Depends on weather you are jealous or not.”
“What if I’m not?” Lan Xichen wants to know and Jiang Cheng’s stomach lurches dangerously at that.
“Then I am really sorry, and I’ll let go of you in a second to properly apologize,” Jiang Cheng presses out, but he relaxes a bit when Lan Xichen’s hand flexes on his, tightening his grip just a little bit as if he doesn’t want Jiang Cheng to let go.
“What if I am?” Lan Xichen then asks, more hesitant than before and Jiang Cheng squeezes his eyes shut.
“Then I’d tell you that I didn’t really do this with anyone else, because you’re the only one I like.”
At his words, Lan Xichen relaxes in his arms and hope bubbles up in Jiang Cheng.
“Why make it look like an April fools joke?” Lan Xichen wants to know and Jiang Cheng presses his face harder into Lan Xichen’s back.
“I thought it would make it easier to take your rejection this way,” Jiang Cheng admits. “And it’s not like I could ever gather up the courage to tell you on any other day.”
“I didn’t reject you,” Lan Xichen whispers. “You didn’t even give me a chance to say anything.”
“I thought your reaction was telling enough,” Jiang Cheng mumbles and he feels Lan Xichen sigh more than he hears him.
“I was surprised,” Lan Xichen gently says and turns around in Jiang Cheng’s arms.
Jiang Cheng’s heart skips a beat or two when Lan Xichen puts his arms around him because it’s a proper hug now, and not just something one-sided anymore.
“I was surprised, because I really like you, too, and thought I couldn’t burden you with my feelings,” Lan Xichen tells him and then presses a kiss to Jiang Cheng’s head.
“Oh,” Jiang Cheng breathes out but then the words really reach him and he beams at Lan Xichen. “Oh,” he repeats, much softer this time when Lan Xichen gently cups his cheek in one hand.
“So not an April fools’ joke?” Lan Xichen asks and Jiang Cheng shakes his head, careful not to dislodge Lan Xichen’s hand on his cheek.
“Not a joke,” Jiang Cheng tells him and he loves the way Lan Xichen smiles at him at that.
“Would you mind saying it again, then?”
“Not at all,” Jiang Cheng says and quickly presses a kiss to Lan Xichen’s palm, before he nuzzles further into his hand. “I like you, I really, really like you.”
“Good,” Lan Xichen says and then leans forward to capture Jiang Cheng’s lips in a sweet kiss, that kind of changes Jiang Cheng’s entire world.
Confessing on this day hasn’t been such a stupid idea after all.