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Day 1
Lan Xichen isn’t too happy with the lockdown. It means he can’t work like he wants to, and he definitely can’t practice like he wants to either, because he left his flute Liebing at the company.
It had been a good idea, before the lockdown, because playing his flute was relaxing to Lan Xichen and he sure as hell needed that between meetings, but now everything was closed and his flute was not where it was supposed to be.
Which was with Lan Xichen, at home, where he could play it. His fingers already itched for it.
But it would be fine. The lockdown was set for a month, and he surely could survive a month without his flute.
It would be fine.
Day 5
Lan Xichen wakes up from his afternoon nap because of a shrill piercing sound. At first, he thinks it’s the fire alarm and he gets up in a panic, wildly looking around.
But the sound stops only to pick up again in a different key and it’s only then that Lan Xichen realizes that it’s a flute.
Someone is playing a flute. Well, abusing it more like, but Lan Xichen forces himself not to judge.
Everyone has to start somewhere after all, and his very first attempts at playing the flute haven’t been anything to write home about either.
Surely, the person would learn soon enough.
Day 7
Lan Xichen is aware that it’s still too early to judge, but so far, the person is not learning.
Lan Xichen is tortured by the same piercing sounds for hours in the afternoon, and he really wishes he was a little bit more social with his neighbours prior to this lockdown so he would know who is responsible for this horrid noise.
But all Lan Xichen knows is that a man lives above him, who doesn’t seem to be very social either, or he just works really strange hours, because Lan Xichen has only seen him once, jogging up the stairs.
The man had a very memorable behind, but Lan Xichen hadn’t caught a glance of his face. Or managed to talk to him. Or got his phone number which would have been really helpful now, if only to tell the man to please stop.
Lan Xichen takes a deep breath and reminds himself that it’s only the third day the man is playing the flute and that surely, improvement will not be far off.
Day 12
Lan Xichen is pacing in his living-room, wringing his hands in front of his chest.
He jumps when the next off-key note reaches him and it itches him to simply storm up there and show his neighbour how that song is supposed to sound.
But instead Lan Xichen has to endure yet another off-key shriek and he honestly worries for the flute that’s being abused like this.
Instead of storming up there, like Lan Xichen really wants, he sits down on the couch and forces himself to relax.
“It’s admirable that he’s trying to pick up a new skill,” Lan Xichen lowly tells himself and then repeats it louder when the same horrible noise starts again.
Day 17
“Wangji, I’m going insane. Let me come over.”
“No,” Lan Wangji gives back through the screen and Lan Xichen glares at him.
“Please. I’ll get some groceries and then I’ll just return to your apartment rather than mine. Surely you have a spare bed for me,” Lan Xichen cajoles his brother but still, no luck.
“I do not,” Lan Wangji gives back, and now that is an outright lie, because Lan Xichen knows there is a guest room in Lan Wangji’s apartment.
“Who’s that?” a voice in the background suddenly asks and Lan Xichen narrows his eyes at hearing it.
“Is there someone with you?” Lan Xichen asks and notes how Lan Wangji’s ears turn red.
“Yes,” Lan Wangji eventually admits and Lan Xichen sighs.
The couch is still an option, in his opinion.
“Ah, that must be the brother,” a man suddenly says and leans over Lan Wangji’s shoulder to peer into the camera.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji quietly admonishes him but Lan Xichen smiles at them.
“I am. Lan Xichen,” he introduces himself and is met with a dazzling smile.
“Wei Wuxian, nice to finally meet you. Lan Zhan speaks very highly of you!”
Lan Xichen raises one eyebrow at hearing how familiar Wei Wuxian refers to Lan Wangji and Lan Wangji must notice because he shoves Wei Wuxian out of the frame.
“Behave,” Lan Wangji tells him and Lan Xichen watches the interaction with interest.
“Aiyo, Lan Zhan, you’re always so mean to me. What does a guy have to do to get some love around here?” Wei Wuxian wails off camera and Lan Wangji goes even redder in the face.
“As you can see, I do not have a spare bed,” Lan Wangji tries to bring the conversation back to the previous topic but Lan Xichen only smiles sweetly at him.
“Are you trying to make me believe he sleeps in the guest room, Wangji?” Lan Xichen asks his brother and he grins when there’s laughter in the background.
“Goodbye,” Lan Wangji snaps and ends the video call, which was to be expected, but Lan Xichen couldn’t help himself.
Teasing his little brother is always worth it, even if it means Lan Xichen has to endure more of the horrible flute playing.
Day 22
Lan Xichen is tentatively noting the improvement in his neighbour’s playing. He isn’t good—far from it, actually—but Lan Xichen can actually make out what song he’s trying to learn and he only hits the wrong note every five notes in, and not every note, like before.
It’s slow progress, Lan Xichen has to admit that, but he guesses his neighbour doesn’t have any musical talent, so his sheer tenacity is admirable in Lan Xichen’s eyes.
Other people would have given up long ago, and while Lan Xichen might have wished that for his neighbour too, he’s actually a little bit proud to hear the improvement.
Day 27
Lan Xichen knew he shouldn’t have congratulated his neighbour too soon, because somehow all the progress is gone.
Lan Xichen doesn’t know what happened, or if his neighbour has amnesia, but it’s almost worse than on the first day of his playing and Lan Xichen is ready to tear his hair out.
Not only are the shrill notes causing a headache, the flutist inside Lan Xichen is dying a little bit with every time the guy gets the easiest things wrong.
Lan Xichen tries for patience and calmness, but it’s very hard to come by these days.
Day 29
As soon as this lockdown ends, Lan Xichen will go upstairs, ring his neighbour out of his apartment and then chuck the damn flute out the window.
This is ridiculous.
Lan Xichen cannot understand how a person can be this musically deaf and then continue to torture themselves and everyone around as well.
Surely, there must be a law for that. This cannot be legal.
Lan Xichen winces with every wrong note that reaches his ear, and he’s this close to ignore the lockdown and the social distancing to go up there and beg his neighbour to stop.
Just one day. That’s all Lan Xichen wants. One day of peace and quiet.
One singel day cannot be too much to ask for.
Day 31
The lockdown has been lifted and people are allowed to leave and work and steal the flutes of their neighbours again.
Lan Xichen is very happy with that development, because as soon as the news reach his ears he’s out of his door and taking the stairs up two at a time.
There’s only one inhabited apartment on that floor, so it’s not too difficult for Lan Xichen to locate the right door.
He rings the doorbell, once and then again when there’s no reaction, and he’s bouncing on his feet, he’s so ready to beg his neighbour to stop.
Lan Xichen is not at all prepared for the most beautiful man to appear behind the door and he’s honestly at a loss for words.
“Yes?” the man scowls at him and may the gods help Lan Xichen, but he finds it adorable.
“I heard your flute playing,” Lan Xichen blurts out and his heart stumbles in his chest when the cute guy blushes.
“Oh, you did? I’m sorry about that,” he offers with a self-deprecating smile and Lan Xichen knows he’s staring but he can’t seem to stop.
“Is there—something you want?” the neighbour asks when Lan Xichen doesn’t say for the longest time and Lan Xichen shakes himself out of it.
“I’m a flutist,” Lan Xichen tells him, “I could teach you if you want?” he then offers and mentally smacks himself, because he is not actually sure the guy is teachable.
And this certainly wasn’t what he came up here to do, but Lan Xichen pushes that thought away.
“Eh, listen—,” his neighbour starts and then stares questioningly at Lan Xichen.
“Lan Xichen,” he offers.
“Jiang Cheng,” Jiang Cheng gives back and then shrugs again. “Listen, Lan Xichen, the offer is really nice and all, but I just don’t think I’m cut out to play the flute.”
“Thank the gods,” Lan Xichen mutters and Jiang Cheng actually laughs at that.
“That bad, huh?” he asks and Lan Xichen can’t help but be honest.
“It was so bad,” he agrees. “My poor ears. I wanted to yell at you so many times.”
“Understandable,” Jiang Cheng nods and then presses his lips together. “How about instead of me driving you even more insane with my playing you let me invite you out on a coffee to make up for all the pain I caused?” Jiang Cheng asks and blushes very adorably.
“It’s a date,” Lan Xichen immediately agrees and enjoys to see the blush spread even further.
“I—okay,” Jiang Cheng agrees and leans against the door. “You want to exchange phone numbers, so we can set a date?”
“Please,” Lan Xichen breathes out and he will never admit it, but he absolutely watches Jiang Cheng walk away from him.
That back simply must be admired after all.
It’s not long before Jiang Cheng comes back though, phone in his hand, and Lan Xichen has to admit that the view from the front is so much better.
“Your number?” Jiang Cheng asks him when Lan Xichen fails yet again to react immediately and this time his staring must have been so obvious, because Jiang Cheng is blushing again.
“Let me,” Lan Xichen offers and gently takes the phone out of Jiang Cheng’s hands.
He saves his number under his name, but he puts a little flute next to it and Jiang Cheng smiles when he sees it.
“Please don’t put one next to my name,” Jiang Cheng says as he shoots him as text and Lan Xichen smiles.
“I think a coffee would fit you better,” Lan Xichen gives back and takes a step away from the door. “I’ll write you?”
“Make sure you do,” Jiang Cheng says and waves him goodbye as Lan Xichen goes back down to his own apartment.
Lan Xichen doesn’t hesitate to pick up his phone, saves Jiang Cheng’s number with the promised coffee emoji, and then shoots him a text.
They arrange a date for the very next day, and honestly, Lan Xichen cannot wait.