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It was most certainly the wrong moment to realize that he was in fact in love with Jiang Cheng. There they were sitting in the DND shop waiting on Lan Wangji to do his turn. But it’s where it happened. Jin Zixuan felt the heat rising and he tried to will it away. How could he not have realized it at a better location or time? He’d been friends with Jiang Cheng since they were infants due to their mother’s being the best of friends when they were in highschool. Jin Zixuan swallowed as he looked over at said love interest as Nie Huaisang sung for his Bard trying to save them from the new guy’s idiot move of opening the cell door against the party’s wishes.
But that’s not what got him thinking about Jiang Cheng as more than just a best friend. Nope. It was the fact that from the moment that the new player sat down he’d been flirting with Jiang Cheng. Jin Zixuan’s blood started to boil as his brain came to the before mentioned realization. When Jiang Cheng didn’t return the flirting then the guy started having his character flirt with Jiang Cheng’s. First it was the flowers but then the guy tried to give Jiang Cheng’s character the blessed dagger from the body he’d looted. It made Jin Zixuan’s eye twitch and started him competing via his character for Jiang Cheng’s cleric’s attention.
Across the table, Jiang Cheng turned his head, feeling eyes on him. Well two sets of eyes because the new guy had been staring him down since he got here and Jin Zixuan on and off. He tilted his head at him when Jin Zixuan didn’t mouth anything. When he got the head shake he couldn’t help but message him with his ipad. A small smile spread as he tapped the keys of the wireless typewriter keyboard that Jin Zixuan had gifted him for his birthday last year. He would have signed but then his friends would have realized what he was saying.
Jin Zixuan looked down to his own computer to see the chat window open from Jiang Cheng.
Zidian511 : You ok?
Suihua202 : Yeah, I’m fine. Do you want me to get you something from the drink machine?
Zidian511 : Another baja would be fine. Are you sure your okay? You looked like you had an idea.
Suihua202 : Unless you count killing the new guy on day one an idea. Nope.
Zidian511 : That’d be rude but I’m game if he does anything like that again tonight.
That made Jin Zixuan smile as he looked over the top of his screen at Jiang Cheng. His heart skipped a beat at the bright smile coming from the other at him. He felt a slight heat to his cheeks but ducked his head to hide his blush. Thankfully he hadn’t listened to his cousin and cut his hair just yet.
“Alright, we will take a quick break and come back to tackle what happens next.” Mo Xuanyu stated before standing up. He gave his older brother an incredulous look till he caught sight of his glancing at Jiang Cheng. Then just chuckled and went to get his snacks with Nie Huaisang before Jin Zixuan could start to fluster.
“Be right back.” Jin Zixuan said, tapping Jiang Cheng’s ipad to get his attention where he was probably typing to Lan Wangji at the other end of the table. The two of them had become friends after he started dating Jiang Cheng’s close friend Wei Wuxian. Speaking of which he was surprised that Wei Wuxian hadn’t been able to talk his way out of work tonight. He was usually very good at and for once would be on his side about the new guy trying to get to Jiang Cheng. Wei Wuxian was very protective of their friend.
Okay . Jiang Cheng mouthed with a smile.
That smile fueled his own happiness as he brought back their snacks. For a bit as the game resumed he wondered if someone, or Jiang Cheng himself had mentioned to the guy that Jiang Cheng wasn’t interested. For one Jiang Cheng was demixsexual and that guy didn’t stand a chance of getting close to his best friend by the faces Jiang Cheng made or the IMs he’d gotten from him. Speaking of which there came another one and it made him snort but not smile.
Zidian511 : Hey, where did my smile go?
Suihua202 : I don’t know, you tell me.
Zidian511 : I know he is annoying but don’t let him get you down. Are we still up for tonight?
Jin Zixuan swallowed at that. He probably should just go home alone and figure out his feelings some more. Because he knew that he was just going to act weird and make Jiang Cheng uncomfortable enough to leave. He was a little lost in his thoughts till another message came through. He immediately schooled his face but didn’t look at Jiang Cheng knowing he’d lose control if he did. Jin Zixuan also just went against his better judgement.
Zidian511
: What’s with that face? We aren’t are we…
Did your dad text you again?
Suihua202 : What? Of course we are. I just...
The channel for the entire party blinked because he’d been tagged and he let out a soft sigh to look at it.
RedLipRebellion : Xuan-ge, you're on deck after Su She.
Yeah, and my mind isn’t on that right now . Jin Zixuan sighed softly again.
Zidian511 : Just what? …
Suihua202
: What? Of course we are and no he didn’t thankfully.
Zidian511
: Then what is it? We’ve been looking forward to seeing Mortal Kombat all week!
Jin Zixuan looked up when Jiang Cheng kicked him lightly on the shin. He winced while Jiang Cheng just gave him a pointed look.
Suihua202
: I…
….uh don’t want to talk about it here.
Don’t worry it’s not important.
Zidian511 : … are you friend breaking up with me? Is that why you’ve been weirdly nice but also irritable?
Suihua202 : What? No! Why would you think that?
Zidian511 : “Don’t worry” that’s exactly what someone says before the shoe drops.
Jin Zixuan this time kicked Jiang Cheng.
Zidian511 : OUCH!?! What! It’s the truth! Just tell me what it is.
Suihua202 : No, it’s not. Now stop it.
Once more he was kicked to get him to look at him. There it was on that beautiful face. It was the one that mirrored Yu Ziyuan when she was determined to get information out of someone for a case. His hands got a little sweaty as he bit his lip and ducked his head.
Suihua202 : I like you.
Zidian511 : Really? Of course you like me. We’re best friends. I like you too.
Suihua202 : No, I don’t think you like me the same way I like you. I like you like I want to date you kind of like.
When there wasn’t a response or at least a kick, Jin Zixuan found the courage to lift his head. When he did he found that Jiang Cheng was flushing and staring at his screen. The best part was that there was a smile on his face. Sapphire eyes flicked up to meet his gaze and it made butterflies swarm in his stomach. Jiang Cheng pointed down to his laptop to get him to look at their chat.
Zidian511 : So then don’t cancel our date, A-Xuan.
Suihua202
: I’m not.
Zidian511
: Good, now be a good boyfriend and kill the skeleton naga so that we won’t have to spend all night with the party idiot.
Suihua202 : Will do!