Chapter Text
"𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦
𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘦
𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬
𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵"
Wei Wuxian had a date with Lan Wangji.
Well, okay it wasn't really a date, they both had just areed to visit the nearby art exhibition that was hosted recently.
Wei Wuxian really wanted to go but he didn't really feel like going alone. Jiang Cheng already had plans with Nie Huaisang and Jiang Yanli was swamped with all her college work.
So that left Lan Wangji
Wei Wuxian had an interesting relationship with Lan Wangji. Although they weren't exactly friends, it wasn't like they were strangers.
Lan Wangji took the same classes as him but they had never really talked until a few months ago.
Lan Wangji had noticed that Wei Wuxian had forgot to bring a pen to class and silently lend him his.
Wei Wuxian was surprised. He hadn't expected Lan Wangji to be paying attention to him. Nonetheless he was grateful for his help.
And that’s how they started talking. Lan Wangji was quiet and thoughtful and could be unexpectedly funny. Wei Wuxian enjoyed his company more than he had initially thought.
*
“So, you’re free this Saturday?”
“Mn”
“Great! So, you’re okay with accompanying me to the exhibition?”
Lan Wangji nodded his head curtly.
Wei Wuxian could feel his smile widen. He couldn’t wait for Saturday to come.
He somehow felt happy that Jiang Cheng and Yanli were busy. At least he could spend time with Lan Wangji.
*
The art exhibition had the theme of “Modernity meets tradition” and the artworks were a fusion of ancient design and modern techniques. Wei Wuxian was immensely fascinated by the various art pieces.
“These Jade ornaments are so pretty! The designs are so intricate”
“Mn” Lan Wangji agreed, his eyes soft.
“I wonder why most of these ornaments have a hole in the middle”
“Well, as you may know Jade is the symbol of immortality, perfection and nobility. It is considered to be the essence of heaven and earth.”
Wei Wuxian nodded, listening intently.
“In Ancient China, heaven was considered to be round and the earth was considered to be square. The hole in the centre of the ornaments was created to honour the gods in heaven. You see the rectangular side? It’s called Tsung, and it was created to honour the earth.”
“Lan Zhan…you’re so knowledgeable. I think I just fell for you”
Lan Wangji turned around, his ears pink. “Don’t say things you don’t mean”
“Who says I don’t mean it” Wei Wuxian muttered to himself.
They spent three hours in the exhibition, looking at each artwork with extreme interest. Lan Wangji really did have an unsurmountable amount of knowledge about the pieces displayed. Wei Wuxian was extremely impressed.
“Lan Zhan I’m so tired. And hungry. So so hungry.” Wei Wuxian whined and crouched on the floor.
“There’s a fast food restaurant nearby. Let’s have our lunch there.”
“My legs are hurting so much. Can’t you carry me?”
Lan Wangji’s face contorted slightly.
“We are in public” He raised his eyebrows, as if to say ‘why are you acting like a child and making a fool of yourself in front of so many people’
Wei Wuxian intentionally misinterpreted his expression.
“Are you saying you would have carried me if we were alone? Lan Zhan, I didn’t think you would be so bold.” He said, fanning himself, as if he was scandalized by the idea.
Lan Wangji was speechless.
Wei Wuxian felt as if he would leave him there and go to eat by himself, so he quickly held his hands out and said “I was only joking, Lan Zhan, here hold my hand and help me up”
Lan Wangji helped Wei Wuxian up and both walked towards the exit to find the restaurant.
They were still holding hands, it wasn’t necessary, but it seemed as if neither of them wanted to let go…
*
While Lan Wangji ordered their food, Wei Wuxian scrolled through his phone, reading the news. There wasn’t anything interesting, except maybe the news of a deranged serial killer who stabs his victims in dark alleyways.
Lan Wangji came, holding their food in a tray which he kept on the table.
Wei Wuxian picked up his burger, unwrapped it and emptied the entire Tabasco sauce bottle onto it. Lan Wangji looked at him in slight shock.
“Do you really like spice that much?” He asked, his voice low
“Of course! Food only tastes good if it’s spicy enough to burn your tongue. I can’t eat it otherwise. Jiang Cheng often jokes that I would choose my future partner based on their spice tolerance.”
Lan Wangji seemed to have paled a little.
“Do you like spicy food, Lan Zhan?”
“…Yes..”
“Really? Ahh then I should have saved some of that Tabasco sauce for you. Here you can have my burger.”
“No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll eat my own”
“Aww Lan Zhan, you’re going to refuse my kindness?” Wei Wuxian pouted.
Lan Wangji stared at him.
“Okay I’ll eat it”
Wei Wuxian’s face broke into a smile.
Lan Wangji sweated a little while eating the ridiculously spicy burger.
*
Both of them walked towards their college after lunch.
“Today was so fun. Right, Lan Zhan?”
“Mn. It was fun.” Lan Wangji agreed.
“The sunset is so pretty. The wind is so cool. Today is a great day.” Wei Wuxian twirled around in the empty street.
“Be careful” Lan Wangji reprimanded, but he was smiling, albeit slightly.
*
When Wei Wuxian returned to his room, he saw Yanli waiting outside.
“Shijie! What are you doing here?”
“Well, I finished all my assignments and since we didn’t talk for such a long time, I thought I’d come to meet you.” She lifted the little bag she was holding. “I bought your favourite soup for you”
Wei Wuxian smiled. “I love you so much”
The step siblings talked a lot, catching up on each other. Wei Wuxian told Yanli all about his day with Lan Wangji.
Jiang Yanli had a slight smile to her face when she listened to her brother ramble on and on about Lan Wangji. It kind of reminded her of the days when she first met her boyfriend, Jin Zixuan. She didn’t say that to Wei Wuxian though.
She was sure that he would figure out on his own soon.
“A-xian, I’ll get going now. You know how strict my hostel is with the curfew.”
“Yes, okay. I’m glad you came to visit. Let’s go somewhere after college tomorrow. You, me and Jiang Cheng.”
“I’m sure A-Cheng would like that. Let’s do it. It’s been ages since the three of us went somewhere.”
Wei Wuxian bid his farewell to his sister.
*
Now that Yanli was gone, Wei Wuxian felt a little lonely. He watched television for a while and then decided to take a shower and sleep.
He really had enjoyed today so much. Maybe he should send Lan Zhan a thank note for accompanying him today. He wondered if that would be weird.
He came out of the shower and saw that he had ten missed calls from Jiang Cheng.
Concerned, Wei Wuxian called his brother. He had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Jiang Cheng had never called him so many times before.
“WEI WUXIAN! WHERE WERE YOU? WHY WEREN’T YOU PICKING UP YOUR PHONE?” Jiang Cheng yelled.
“I was showering…what happened?”
“It’s Shijie” Jiang Cheng seemed to be sobbing.
Wei Wuxian’s apprehension grew.
“W-what happened to her?”
“She was s-” Jiang Cheng choked on his words. “She was stabbed on her way to her hostel”
“WHAT?” Wei Wuxian couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Jiang Yanli was the sweetest person in the world. Who would want to stab her?
His mind went to the news he had read earlier today. The serial killer who stabbed people in dark alleyways.
Fuck. How could he let his sister go? He should have insisted on accompanying her. He should have made her stay with him. He knew that there was a serial killer on the loose. How could he forget it? This was all his fault.
His fault.
He was wrapped up in his own world and his sister got hurt because of that.
“WEI WUXIAN? ARE YOU THERE?” he heard Jiang Cheng’s voice over the phone.
“Is she okay?” Wei Wuxian asked, his voice trembling.
“She’s in the hospital near to your place. I’ll text you the address. Let’s meet up there.”
Wei Wuxian rushed out of his house.
‘She’s going to be okay’ He tried to reassure himself. ‘She promised to meet me and A-Cheng tomorrow. And unlike him, Shijie never breaks her promises. It will be okay. It has to be’
He was running now.
‘I should have taken my driver’s license with Jiang Cheng’ Wei Wuxian cursed at himself.
Fortunately, the hospital was close to where he lived. He’ll reach Yanli soon.
Just a few minutes more.
Suddenly he heard the honking of a car. He looked to his side and the last thing he saw was the blinding headlights of the vehicle.
Piercing pain creeped up from his leg and spread to his body.
And then his vision turned black as he fell unconscious on the road.
*