Work Text:
It all started due to Lan Xichen.
He was absolutely perfect. Even his flaws were perfect and yes, contrary to popular belief, he did have flaws.
Jiang Cheng knew this, because he was his best friend. Had been since sophomore year. It was also how he knew that despite not having a manipulative or dishonest bone in his body, Lan Xichen only became his friend because their brothers were more than sort of dating. Which of course meant that Jiang Cheng had been thrown together with Lan XIchen more times that he could count.
It had been Lan Xichen who had struck up a conversation with him first - as if he would have ever approached the gorgeous older boy - because he was just that nice.
“Jiang Cheng, right?” The junior had asked one day during lunch, stunning Jiang Cheng, who could only nod. “Do you mind if I sit with you?”
Like Jiang Cheng would turn him down, again only nodding.
Lan Xichen grinned. “Great,” he commented, sitting across from Jiang Cheng. “I thought maybe we could become better acquainted. Since our brothers are dating, we’ll probably be seeing a lot more of each other.”
And of course that was what it was about. Jiang Cheng could feel his stomach drop.
As though realizing the problem, Lan Xichen frowned. “Please don’t get the wrong idea. It isn’t just because of them. I realized we don’t know each other very well. I’d like to change that. If that’s okay with you, of course.”
And oh. That was unexpected.
“Okay,” Jiang Cheng agreed, feeling stupid that he couldn’t managed to say anything else.
Not that Lan Xichen seemed bothered, eyes lighting up. “Perfect. So, tell me about yourself.”
Jiang Cheng thought about it, drawing a blank on what he could possibly say that the other would find interesting. “Like what?”
“College plans, maybe?” Lan Xichen suggested. “Any idea what you might want to do?”
Jiang Cheng just shook his head.
Lan Xichen gave a sympathetic nod. “I understand. I’m still figuring it out as well. My uncle definitely has some ideas, though. Why don’t you tell me your interests.”
And despite how awkward he felt, Jiang Cheng somehow managed to talk to the other boy, finding the conversation flowed easily with time. It was all so much better than he anticipated.
That one conversation became two, and before he knew it, they were talking regularly. Like friends. Except how could Lan Xichen actually want to be friends with a mess like him?
Yet somehow, beyond all of Jiang Cheng’s expectations, it happened. They were friends. Then they were best friends.
It also happened that he might have fallen more than a little in love with the older student. Not that it mattered. Lan Xichen was so far out of his league, it wasn’t even funny. Not to mention the older Lan more than had a thing for Jin Guangyao. While Jiang Cheng knew he wasn’t the most observant, it was obvious to everyone that Lan Xichen had clearly been harboring a crush on the other boy. Okay, so probably more than a crush. And it also looked like those feelings might have been more than a little reciprocated.
Yes, Jiang Cheng was stupidly in love with his best friend who he knew would never feel the same. He also had no plans to ever tell him, knowing what a disaster that would be.
No, he needed to move on.
Which is how he found himself working for the school newspaper the following year. Needing to take his mind off his non-existent love life, he decided to pick up a hobby. Writing for the paper seemed like a good idea and it was bound to look good on his college applications. Well, it would if he ever figured out where he was going and what he was doing; as a junior, he knew he had some time, so no need to rush it.
It also didn’t hurt that he enjoyed writing articles. Or that the head of the newspaper was Wen Qing, who was unlike anyone Jiang Cheng had ever met before, which he meant in only the best possible way. So really, it should not have surprised him at all when he found himself with a small - maybe large - crush on the older girl.
‘Fuck my life,’ he thought to himself. ‘Only I would be stupid enough to fall for one friend while trying to get over another.’
He knew how it would go. This crush had just as much chance of success as his feelings for Lan Xichen. So he hadn’t planned to tell Wen Qing. He really hadn’t. Contrary to what some might believe, he wasn’t that much of a masochist.
Unfortunately for Jiang Cheng, his life never seemed to work the way he wanted or even planned.
It was late one afternoon, Jiang Cheng staying behind with Wen Qing to work on the newspaper. They were up against a deadline crunch, the two of them pushing hard to get the next issue out. Fatigue was starting to set in, but both were determined.
As they stood together, going over the layout, it happened.
“You really are something,” Wen Qing commented offhandedly to Jiang Cheng as she continued to glance over the design.
Jiang Cheng wasn’t sure what to make of that. “Um, okay?”
She stopped what she was doing, looking up for a moment before she shook her head. “I meant that in a good way,” she assured him. "Not everyone would stay here and help.” She then gestured around the empty room. “You put in a lot of work here. I wasn’t sure when you first started if you’d be able to do it. You didn’t exactly strike me as a writer. But you stuck it out and got better. I can see you have a lot of passion for this.”
It stunned him. That was more than he was expecting from her. Or from anyone. He couldn’t remember getting a compliment like that in his life. Actually, he was struggling to recall the last time he got a compliment period.
“Thank you.”
Or that was what he meant to say. Instead, something else passed his lips. Something he never intended to say, but the words came out anyway.
“I like you.”
And there it was, out in the open. He could tell the moment the words left his mouth, her eyes widening as time seemed to stand still. Horrified, he just stood there, waiting for her to say something. Anything really.
“You…like me?”
He knew he could try to play it off. Maybe even blame it on fatigue - she might have even let him have that one, despite the sympathetic look she was giving him, one that looked totally out of place on her face - but he didn’t. There was no point lying to her when they both knew he meant it. He knew pity when he saw it, having been on the receiving end of that far too many times before. But he never thought he would see that expression from her, much less directed at him.
It was a day for a lot of firsts, all of them so wrong. So there was something almost comforting about what followed.
“I don’t feel the same way for you,” she said, not even trying to spare his feelings or sugar coat her rejection. No, she just came right out and said it without even apologizing.
Not that he expected anything less from her. Honestly, he didn’t even want an apology, knowing that would just make him feel worse. Like ripping off a bandaid, this was better.
“You know, it’s getting late,” she commented when he didn’t say anything. “You can go home if you want.”
But that was the last thing he wanted. His pride refused to let him be seen as weak, just because he was rejected by his crush. And that really was all the deeper his feelings went for her, much as it hurt being turned down. He honestly never had any delusions of some great love for her. Maybe not even if she had entertained his confession with something other than straight rejection. Because he didn’t love her and knew there was a chance he never could.
He suspected there was only one person who would ever fit that description and he had already given up on that ever happening.
Shaking his head, he declined her offer. “I said I’d stay until we finished, so I’ll stay. I don’t break my promises.”
“Of course,” she said plainly before turning back to the work at hand without another word.
In that moment, he realized that it might have been for her as much as for him, but it was too late to back out now. So the two spent the rest of the afternoon in awkward silence, something Jiang Cheng never thought he would experience when around Wen Qing. Anger, frustration, indifference? Yes. Maybe even the rare smile. Even silence by itself wasn’t unusual, but it was never like this.
This was something bitter and hard, that clung to the air and refused to leave even as they finished, Jiang Cheng finally grabbing his things.
Wen Qing gave him one last look as she collected her own things and walked out the door, not uttering a word.
With a sigh, Jiang Cheng slowly followed, wanting to make sure there was as much physical distance between them as possible. Although he dragged his feet, it still didn’t feel like much time had passed when he reached the doors to the school. Opening them, he stepped outside and prepared himself for the long, lonely walk home.
“Oh, were you just leaving?”
Stopping, Jiang Cheng turned around and saw Lan Xichen standing in the doorway, a smile on his face.
Of course he would run into him today. When had the universe ever been kind to him? He also really should have remembered the older youth had a student council meeting; he only knew the other’s schedule because they were friends. Well, mostly. Not like he had memorized it or anything…
“Newspaper’s due out tomorrow,” he finally managed to say to Lan Xichen, watching the other’s face light up with recognition before nodding.
“Ah, right. Then it’s lucky I happened to catch you. I’ll give you a ride home.”
And yes, Jiang Cheng really should have known Lan Xichen would offer. Because of course he would. It was nothing to do with Jiang Cheng, he knew that. Lan Xichen was just that type of person. So fucking nice to everyone, including total strangers. Jiang Cheng had no doubt the older boy would be nice to a serial killer if he ever came across one.
There was also no point arguing with him. Lan Xichen may not have looked it, but he could be just as stubborn as Jiang Cheng when he wanted something. For reasons Jiang Cheng had yet to understand, the senior was especially adamant about ensuring his safety. Like making sure he got home okay.
So there really was only one thing to do.
“Okay,” Jiang Cheng agreed, trying not to let his heart flip as Lan Xichen’s smile widened, the two making their way to the older boy’s car in silence.
Unlike before, this one was comfortable. It always was with Lan Xichen. Still, Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but feel anxious.
‘Don’t make a fool of yourself,’ he chastised himself as he got in. ‘You’ve already done that enough for one day.’
“You can listen to whatever you want,” Lan Xichen offered, the same as he always did as he pulled out of the school lot.
“It’s fine,” Jiang Cheng declined as he stared morosely out the window.
Rather than take him home, Lan Xichen drove down the street and pulled into the lot of a nearby cafe, one the two had frequented together before.
“What are we doing here?” Jiang Cheng asked in confusion even as he unbuckled the seatbelt. “I thought you were taking me home.”
Lan Xichen shrugged with a small smile. “We’ve both been busy lately. I thought it might be nice to catch up. Though if you’d rather not-.”
“No!” Jiang Cheng quickly stopped him, feeling his heart flip again as Lan Xichen’s smile reached all the way up to his eyes. There was a part of him that felt embarrassed at his own outburst, but it was giving way to the small spark of happiness at seeing the other’s joy. Swallowing, he added softer, “It’s fine.”
The two entered the cafe and Lan Xichen directed Jiang Cheng to take a seat.
“I can pay,” Jiang Cheng insisted, only for Lan Xichen to wave him off.
“I brought you here. It’s the least I can do.” Then, before Jiang Cheng could even say anything, much less stop him, Lan Xichen walked up to the counter to place their order.
With a sigh, Jiang Cheng walked over to their usual table in the back corner while he waited for the senior to return. Staring out the window, he became lost in thought.
It was only a few minutes later that Lan Xichen returned, startling him as he placed a mug down in front of him.
Jiang Cheng stared at it for a moment before looking back up to Lan Xichen. “What’s this?” He asked skeptically.
Lan Xichen sat down with a laugh. “Your usual.”
And oh. He hadn’t thought Lan Xichen would notice. He also didn’t recall his usual including the cookie sitting on the plate in front of him. “And what’s this?” He asked, pointing to it, even though it was obvious.
“You looked like you could use it.”
Despite his nice disposition, Jiang Cheng knew Lan Xichen wasn’t nearly as naive or oblivious as people thought. He also wasn’t stupid; far from it. So Jiang Cheng really shouldn’t have been surprised that the older Lan noticed something was wrong with him.
Not that he was doing such a great job hiding it.
Although Lan Xichen hadn’t said anything - he would never push - he was waiting for the younger to talk, which was the last thing Jiang Cheng wanted to do. Especially given the mess he had already made of his life and the reason it had happened in the first place.
But plying him with his favorite drink and the white chocolate macadamia cookie he secretly liked (or maybe not-so-secretly if Lan Xichen knew) was definitely a step in the right direction. Not that Jiang Cheng would tell him that. Though judging by the knowing look on Lan Xichen's face as Jiang Cheng moaned into the bite of cookie, he probably didn’t have to say anything.
Sitting there, drinking his coffee and munching on his cookie with the older boy watching him with a mixture of concern and warmth, he found he was relaxing despite himself. It was all of his favorite things - including Lan Xichen - in one place. Lan Xichen knew all the right ways to make Jiang Cheng compliant.
It really wasn’t fair.
Jiang Cheng was weak to the other boy, not that he would ever admit it. So he should have known it would lull him into a false sense of security. He would later suspect that had been Lan Xichen’s plan all along.
That innocent face didn’t fool him. Though it did make him do some of the dumbest things.
Like opening his mouth, saying things he never intended anyone to know, much less Lan Xichen.
“I’m an idiot,” he muttered.
Lan Xichen frowned. “Don’t say that.”
“No, I am,” Jiang Cheng insisted. “I just destroyed whatever friendship or working relationship I might have had with Wen Qing.”
“I honestly doubt that,” Lan Xichen said, trying to sound comforting, though it was obvious he was worried. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”
There was part of Jiang Cheng that wanted to tell him, longing for someone to share his problems with, while another part didn’t want to say anything, far too embarrassed.
As though sensing the problem, Lan Xichen reached over and took Jiang Cheng’s hand. He squeezed it reassuringly, stunning Jiang Cheng. “Whatever you say, I won’t judge you. I promise. I will just sit here and listen. Getting it out might help.”
That broke down every bit of resolve Jiang Cheng had, words spilling forth.
“I was working late, which you know,” he started, Lan Xichen nodding his head. “Wen Qing and I have been putting in a lot of hours on the newspaper together. She’s very dedicated.”
“So are you,” Lan Xichen commented.
Jiang Cheng stared at him a moment, breath catching before hiding it behind annoyance. “What happened to listening?”
Lan Xichen had the decency to look apologetic even as he uttered, “Sorry. Please continue.”
Jiang Cheng gave him a pointed look before continuing. “Right. So we’re standing there going over the last details to make sure everything was perfect, when she gave me a compliment.” He stopped for a moment, watching Lan Xichen to see if he was about to interrupt again, but all he got was a nod and a motion to keep going. “I didn’t realize it was a compliment at the time”- he tired to ignore the knowing smile on Lan Xichen’s face as he kept speaking - “but what she said pretty much confirmed it.”
He stopped entirely and stared down at the table, not sure he wanted to tell Lan Xichen the next part. Bad enough he was foolishly still in love with the older boy. He didn’t exactly need to tell him about his unrequited feelings for someone else.
Not that he expected to be mocked or ridiculed for it. If it had been Wei Wuxian? Sure, but Lan Xichen was too fucking nice for that. The older boy’s previous promise was unnecessary since he never judged anyone. If anything, he tended to be too trusting of people, always expecting the best, sometimes to his own detriment. It was just how we was. Jiang Cheng knew, he’d seen it enough directed at everyone the senior met. It was one of the many reasons everyone loved the older Lan, himself included.
‘No, you’re not thinking about that now,’ he scolded himself. ‘Not after everything and definitely not with him sitting literally right across from you.’
As though sensing his anxiety, Lan Xichen squeezed his hand again, causing Jiang Cheng’s eyes to snap up as he had forgotten the older boy was still holding it.
“It’s okay,” Lan Xichen reassured him.
Except it wasn’t. Nothing was okay. Jiang Cheng was destined to give his heart to people who could never feel the same for him.
“No,” Jiang Cheng frantically denied, shaking his head.
“Jiang Cheng - ,” Lan Xichen started, only for Jiang Cheng to cut him off.
“You don’t understand.” Unbidden, the words started pouring forth again. “She was standing right there, saying something nice about me - me! - when no one ever does. So what did I do? I told her I liked her! I knew she didn’t feel the same, but I still stupidly said it. Not like I planned to. I was never going to say anything. I’m not that stupid, but it just came out. Who the fuck does that?” He groaned, putting his head in his hands, unable to see Lan Xichen’s sympathetic eyes staring back at him any longer.
Suddenly, he froze as it hit him what he had just done.
‘Of fucking course,’ he thought bitterly, realizing he had just spilled out the rest of the sordid mess, sure he appeared even more pathetic than he already felt. And in front of Lan Xichen no less. ‘Can’t keep my mouth shut for shit today.’
So he should have known he would put his foot in his mouth, making things even worse. His embarrassment always made him say things he didn’t mean, this time no different as his temper came through.
“I seriously doubt Wen Qing will end your friendship over this,” Lan Xichen assured him. “I know it hurts now, but it will ease with time. One day, you’ll find someone who can love you as much as you love them, the way you deserve.”
Jiang Cheng’s eyes snapped up, shock followed by anger. The hurt he felt combined with the embarrassment he’d suffered, causing him to lash out. “What the hell do you know about it? Everyone loves you. I bet you’ve never been rejected before in your life. Who would ever be stupid enough to turn you down?”
Lan Xichen’s eyes softened, though there was sadness in them mixed with a pain that Jiang Cheng hadn’t seen before. “You might be surprised.”
“Stop trying to make me feel better.”
“I’m not,” Lan Xichen insisted. “I’m being honest. I understand what it feels like to love someone who doesn’t feel the same.”
Jiang Cheng scoffed. “Seriously, you?”
Lan Xichen nodded. “You may not believe it, but it’s true. The person I love is very dear to me. Most people don’t realize how amazing he is. Even he doesn’t see it, but I do. People think he’s harsh, but I know there’s someone loving and caring underneath. I know he doesn’t return my feelings, but I can’t stop loving him. It isn’t possible. So I am content to just be his friend.” Silence hung between them for several moments before he added, “I don’t think I say it enough, but I value our friendship, Jiang Cheng. Honesty and loyalty like yours are hard to come by. Whoever you end up with will be lucky to have you.”
Of course. Friendship. Lan Xichen loved Jin Guangyao. An awful lot, if he could wax poetically about the other boy. But Jiang Cheng would only ever be his friend, something Lan Xichen was making painfully clear. He must have figured out Jiang Cheng’s feelings - of course he did - and was trying to let him down gently. Though unlike Wen Qing’s flat rejection, this one fucking hurt.
Jiang Cheng thought he had done a good job keeping his feelings hidden, but he must have made it obvious for Lan Xichen to pick up on it. So he managed to get two rejections in the same day. All because he couldn’t keep his damn mouth shut.
How could he be so fucking stupid?
But that didn’t explain the way Lan Xichen was talking about his crush - ‘Love’, his brain bitterly corrected - right now. Jiang Cheng had been positive those feelings were returned. Especially if the way Jin Guangyao all but hung off of Lan Xichen was anything to go by. Besides, he had been honest with Lan Xichen; he couldn’t imagine anyone - even Jin Guangyao - actually turning the older Lan down.
It made absolutely no sense.
Not that he wanted to think about that. The last thing he needed was to think about the two of them together, knowing it was likely to happen whether he thought about it or not.
Actually, he didn’t want to think about anything right now. All he wanted was to go home and curl up on his bed with his sad playlist. He’d made it for days when he was foolish enough to get his heart broken, like this one. At least that was one thing he had done right.
“Jiang Cheng?”
Finding himself rooted back in the present moment, Jiang Cheng saw Lan Xichen staring at him with concern and something else he couldn’t understand. Having that directed at him, now knowing what he did, was too much. He couldn’t do this. His heart could only take so much in one day and it was past its breaking point.
Wrenching his hand out of Lan Xichen’s, trying not to let his heart break any further at the hurt on the other boy’s face, he yelled, “Why are you doing this to me?”
“What are you talking about?” Lan Xichen asked in confusion, brows furrowed.
Jiang Cheng shook his head. “Don’t play stupid. Why do you always have to be so fucking nice all the time? I know you you’re trying to help, but this is just too much.” He took a deep breath. “Can’t you just leave me alone?”
Pain crossed his Lan Xichen’s face as he gave a small nod. “If that’s what you want.”
“What I want?” Jiang Cheng asked incredulously. “What does that have to do with anything? What I want is to stop falling for people who will never love me back, but that doesn’t seem likely to happen anytime soon. Because who the hell would ever love me?” Even as he said it, he knew he wasn’t talking about Wen Qing anymore. He also knew if he stayed much longer, he’d break into tears and he’d already embarrassed himself enough for a lifetime. “Fuck, I can’t do this.”
He was just about to stand up and leave - forget the fact he was storming out on his ride - when Lan Xichen said something that froze him in place.
“I love you.”
Jiang Cheng just sat there, eyes wide as he tried to process what had just happened.
‘No,’ he thought to himself. ‘That isn’t possible.’ There was no way he heard what he thought come from the older boy’s mouth. He must have imagined it.
Yet glancing across the table, the expectant look on the other’s face told him that something had happened.
“What?” He finally managed to get out, voice barely audible, though it was obvious Lan Xichen had heard him.
“I love you,” Lan Xichen repeated. “I don’t expect anything. I know you like Wen Qing. I think I knew that even before you said anything. I’ve seen how you are around her. But I couldn’t sit here and watch you think you were unloveable when the truth is, I’m in love with you. I just hope this won’t ruin our friendship.”
Hearing it a second time was no less jarring because yes, he really did hear those words come from Lan Xichen. More importantly, they were directed at him.
Lan Xichen, perfect and unreachable Lan Xichen, liked him. No, he was pretty sure the word the other boy used was love. The very person he could never hope to deserve was in love with him. Not Jin Guangyao, but him. That didn’t seem possible either.
He had a hard time believing it, but he knew Lan Xichen wasn’t lying; Lans didn’t lie and Lan Xichen lied for shit anyway. He knew that firsthand, having watched that disaster.
So that would mean…
‘He actually loves me,’ his brain finally supplied in awe as he just sat there, staring at the older boy in shock.
And that’s when he realized that Lan Xichen was still waiting for a response, a rejection, something. Anything, really. Because Jiang Cheng had just been stupidly sitting there doing his best goldfish impression.
How Lan Xichen ever fell for him was beyond him, but he wasn’t about to question that. Not yet.
“I love you too,” he managed to blurt out, wincing internally even as he could feel his face turning red, likely resembling a tomato now.
Lan Xichen stare in stunned silence for a moment. “What about Wen Qing?”
Jiang Cheng shrugged, muttering, “Just a crush. I never loved her. I was trying to get over you.”
“Oh.”
When Lan Xichen just sat there without saying another word, Jiang Cheng didn’t think he was going to get anything else out of him, wondering why he suddenly felt his stomach drop. But then, he watched as a smile formed on the older boy’s lips, quickly spreading as it lit up his face with a brilliant grin.
Oh indeed.
“Would you want to go out sometime?” Lan Xichen finally asked him, a hopeful expression on his face as though there was any other response Jiang Cheng could give.
“Yes,” Jiang Cheng quickly agreed, a small part of him still not sure this was real. His life never worked out like this. Then, gesturing around, he asked, “But what’s this?”
Lan Xichen chuckled. “Not a date. I think I can do better than this.”
“Really?” Jiang Cheng challenged. “That confident?”
“For you? Yes,” Lan Xichen said firmly. Then, more softly, he added, “You deserve so much. I’m going to show you.”
And yes, Jiang Cheng decided he would be spending the rest of his life looking like a tomato. Somehow, he found it didn’t bother him as much as it should. Not when Lan Xichen was saying things like that.
Screwing up what little courage he had - more than he thought possible - he asked, “Can I kiss you?”
Lan Xichen looked at him stunned, not saying anything.
“I’m sorry!” Jiang Cheng immediately got out, realizing he had overstepped. “That was stupid. Of course you don’t have to kiss me. Forget I said anything.”
He was debating how he could leave without Lan Xichen noticing when suddenly a pair of lips were on his. And oh. That was not what he was expecting, but he wasn’t about to complain. It took him a moment, but he returned the kiss, knowing his inexperience must be obvious to the older boy yet not caring too much as he was in sheer bliss.
When they pulled apart, Lan Xichen gave him a soft smile. “Thank you.”
Jiang Cheng was confused. “What are you thanking me for? You’re the one who kissed me.”
Lan Xichen wasn’t even offended, shaking his head with an amused grin. “For loving me, Jiang Cheng. Just for loving me.”
He would eventually get the full story from Lan Xichen.
The older boy had been in love with him for a while, Jin Guangyao nothing more than a brief crush before Jiang Cheng entered the picture. He admittedly hadn’t paid much attention to Jiang Cheng until their brothers got together. Then he did and immediately thought Jiang Cheng was cute.
Not something Jiang Cheng ever thought anyone would say about him, much less Lan Xichen.
That first conversation, all the way back in the school cafeteria during Jiang Cheng’s sophomore year, had been an attempt by Lan Xichen to get closer to the younger boy. It had only been a crush then, but it didn't take Lan Xichen long to completely fall for Jiang Cheng.
And okay, that would have been nice to know before Jiang Cheng began the process of humiliating himself in front of Wen Qing.
“That was the reason we got together,” Lan Xichen would be quick to point out. “If it hadn’t been for Wen Qing rejecting you, we might not be here.”
“Fine,” Jiang Cheng would grumble, knowing Lan Xichen was right. He would concede that one since it did get him a boyfriend. An absolutely amazing boyfriend.
Lan Xichen would also assure him that yes, all of those wonderful things he had said - the ones Jiang Cheng had been positive were about Jin Guangyao - were about Jiang Cheng, because how could they possibly be about anyone else? That was exactly how he saw the younger boy. Not even Jiang Cheng’s protests would change Lan Xichen’s mind on that, stubbornly standing just as firm in his resolve; it was one fight the older boy was determined to win.
But that would all come later. Right now, none of that mattered because Jiang Cheng was sitting with the boy he loved who unbelievably loved him back. And he was happy. Happier than he had ever been before. Far happier than he ever imagined he could be.
And it was all because of Lan Xichen.