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“Jiang Cheng is going on a second date with Song Lan,” Nie Huaisang says casually from their couch, flicking to the next page of the magazine he’s reading.
Nie Mingjue’s hand misses the oil he was reaching for, causing the glass bottle to clink against its neighbor. He tries again—this time successfully—and pours it into the hot pan before he speaks.
“…oh? That’s a surprise, right?” he asks nonchalantly, “I didn’t realize they’d hit it off.”
“Mm,” Nie Huaisang hums noncommittally, and for once Nie Mingjue can’t read his brother, no matter how hard he tries. “Jiang Cheng just wasn’t sure if he was interested because he’s so quiet.”
Nie Mingjue pours his eggs into the pan and pokes at them with the spatula, annoyed at how long they’re taking to cook. Turns out he does want coffee this morning, but now he has to wait for the eggs to cook before he can set to making some. “That’s good, I guess. It’s been a while since he’s had a second date.”
“Mm...” Nie Huaisang hums again, just as unhelpfully as before. “He deserves someone who will make him happy.”
“Absolutely,” Nie Mingjue can readily agree with that. In the year since he moved in with Huaisang, Nie Mingjue’s gotten to know his brother’s best friend much better and Jiang Cheng is incredible. He's full of surprises, passion, and kindness. And, well... he’s not exactly hard on the eyes either.
Not that Nie Mingjue is looking, of course; it’s just that Nie Mingjue has seen him with his taut stomach muscles on display in a crop top while clubbing and adorably bundled up in the winter. He manages to make both look good and frankly it would be disingenuous to suggest otherwise. It’s a bit of a puzzle to Nie Mingjue how he’s managed to be single for so long, honestly.
He finally gets his food and coffee and moves to the small dining table that abuts their couch.
“Didn’t that guy not text him after their date?” Nie Mingjue asks, before taking a bite.
“Who now?” Nie Huaisang asks lightly, already thumbing through a new magazine.
“Jiang Cheng,” Nie Mingjue clarifies. “I thought Jiang Cheng said Song Lan hadn’t texted him after the date.”
“Oh, Jiang Cheng. Didn’t realize you were still on that,” Nie Huaisang remarks. “No, Song Lan didn’t text Jiang Cheng back that day, but then he texted him back the next day.”
Nie Mingjue frowns. “Isn’t that a bad sign? Making someone wait like that?”
“I mean, people are busy, and Song Lan’s consulting work can get hectic. 24 hours after one date isn’t too bad. Isn’t the standard three days?” Nie Huaisang shrugs, unconcerned, and Nie Mingjue wonders if he hasn’t taught his brother better manners.
“You can’t make people wait three days. It’s rude,” Nie Mingjue chides. “Jiang Cheng can do better than that.”
Suddenly, it feels very important that Jiang Cheng knows this. Nie Mingjue has always had a sneaking suspicion that Jiang Cheng doesn’t know how one-of-a-kind he is, which is a damn shame. “You should tell him he can do better.”
Nie Huaisang shoots his brother a look over the top of his magazine before letting out a small sigh. He bookmarks the page he was on with a post-it and sets it on the coffee table.
“So we’re finally doing this,” Nie Huaisang says cryptically. As far as Nie Mingjue is concerned, they’re having the same (perfectly normal) conversation they started this morning.
He says as much, and Nie Huaisang has the gall to scoff.
“I’m just saying,” Nie Huaisang says, “have you given any thought as to why you’re so invested in Jiang Cheng’s love life?”
That’s far from the ‘gotcha’ his brother clearly seems to think it is. “I care about Jiang Cheng,” Nie Mingjue readily admits. “You should care too. He’s your friend, and it’s important to look out for your friends.”
Nie Mingjue looks pointedly at Nie Huaisang’s phone sitting next to the magazine on the coffee table, idle and primed to shoot Jiang Cheng a cautionary text. Nie Huaisang does not seem to get the hint.
“You never cared this much about who Wei Ying was dating, and he’s my friend too,” Nie Huaisang points out.
“Jiang Cheng comes around more,” Nie Mingjue counters. “I know him more. He’s like a second younger brother to me.”
“A brother,” Nie Huaisang says incredulously.
“Yes! Why is that so hard to believe? You two were always hanging out as kids. It makes sense that I feel protective of him.”
“Uh-huh,” Nie Huaisang remains skeptical. “We hung out as kids and then you barely saw him for ten years before you moved back here.”
“Once a da-ge, always a da-ge,” Nie Mingjue declares sagely, although it doesn’t have the desired effect of getting Nie Huaisang to drop it.
“So let me get this straight: when you think about Jiang Cheng, the thoughts and feelings you have are the same thoughts and feelings that you have for me.”
The glint in Nie Huaisang’s eyes is a little terrifying; Nie Mingjue has only ever seen it directed at other people, and it’s never ended well for them. He has the distinct feeling he’s headed into a trap.
“I mean, it’s not exactly the same,” Nie Mingjue ventures cautiously. “But it’s the same general ballpark. Jiang Cheng deserves to have someone looking out for him; heaven knows no one else in that family is doing it.”
“Right,” Nie Huaisang clarifies, “so what you’re telling me is that when we went to Wei Ying and Lan Zhan’s pool party last month and you stared at Jiang Cheng when he got out of the water, that was a brotherly gaze.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Huaisang.” Nie Mingjue turns away, partly to start washing the frying pan and partly to hide the heat he suddenly finds flooding his face. He remembers that day a little too well: the smell of barbecue smoke, drops of water trailing down tan skin, and wet purple trunks clinging to long toned thighs. But Nie Mingjue is a gym guy! It’s not so surprising he’d taken a second (or third) look. He hadn’t known his brother was scrutinizing him…
“Fine,” Nie Huaisang opts for a different tactic. “So if Jiang Cheng were to go on a second date with a decent guy—”
“Song Lan is not a decent guy; he’s proven that already,” Nie Mingjue interrupts.
Nie Huaisang makes a strangled sound. “So if Jiang Cheng were to go on a second date with a decent guy—who may or may not be Song Lan—you would be fine with that.”
“If he was a good guy, who treated Jiang Cheng well, I don’t see why not,” Nie Mingjue says.
“Okay,” Nie Huaisang continues, “so then if Jiang Cheng were to then go on a third date with this guy—”
“It would also be fine, Huaisang. Why are you on this?” Nie Mingjue chides.
It’s as if he hasn’t spoken at all.
“Okay, so then you would, I suppose, also be fine if after the third date Jiang Cheng and this hypothetical guy went back to this guy’s apartment and this hypothetical guy fucked him into the mattress.”
Nie Mingjue chokes on air.
“Huaisang!” Nie Mingjue yells. “Don’t—that’s—so inappropriate—”
“Please, like I haven't heard you joke about worse." Nie Huaisang wrinkles his nose. "But okay, fine, maybe they’re just like, making out on this guy’s couch, and he’s telling Jiang Cheng how nice he looks with his hair up, and he’s running his thumb over his jawline.”
Nie Mingjue feels a little queasy.
“No, that’s—” he searches around for an explanation. “I mean, it’s the older brother thing. I don’t like to think about that.”
“No,” Nie Huaisang mutters, “why would you feel comfortable with your ‘little brother’ being doted on.” Nie Huaisang rolls his eyes. “Okay, da-ge, what exactly would you like for your precious Jiang Cheng.”
“Just…” Nie Mingjue sputters, “someone good for him. Someone who doesn’t leave him waiting, who appreciates that dry sense of humor he has.” Nie Mingjue wipes his hands on the tea towel as he thinks about what else he wants for Jiang Cheng. “Someone who will support him when he wants to stand up to his parents, makes him feel like he can want things, tells him he’s wonderful as often as he deserves, and just… makes him feel safe. A good guy.”
Nie Mingjue remembers the glimpses he’s seen of Jiang Cheng when he’s truly relaxed and happy, usually curled up late at night on their couch. He imagines that sweet smile, then how Jiang Cheng’s face might look, shyly open and tilted up as he admits that he’s in love too.
And, ha! Take that, Huaisang! Picturing Jiang Cheng saying those words doesn’t bother him at all. It just makes him feel content and warm.
Nie Huaisang’s snort brings him back into the kitchen.
“Well, I have good news for you then,” Nie Huaisang says. “Because Wei Ying told me that if this thing with Song Lan doesn’t work out, Lan Huan is thinking about asking Jiang Cheng out.”
In an instant, Nie Mingjue’s stomach turns to lead and he finds himself relying on the counter to stay upright. It can’t be true, can it? Lan Huan hadn’t mentioned anything about that. He desperately wants Nie Huaisang to be wrong about this, but his brother has a frighteningly perfect record when it comes to these matters.
“He didn’t say anything to me,” Nie Mingjue says despondently. “I thought he was into…” he pauses, realizing that Nie Huaisang has leaned forward attentively, “…someone else.”
Leaning back, disappointed, Nie Huaisang shrugs. “It’s relatively new. But you should be happy right? That’s your best friend, and surely he must be good enough for Jiang Cheng? Everyone knows how well Huan-ge treats his partners.”
Nie Huaisang’s logic is sound, but for some reason Nie Mingjue still wants to be sick. Or punch something.
“It’s just… not the right fit…” he manages.
“Right. So when you picture Jiang Cheng in the future, happy and settled, who, exactly, do you picture by his side? Not what qualities that guy might have, but who?” Nie Huaisang’s speech has slowed, like he’s talking to a small child. Normally, Nie Mingjue would give him a speech and a flick on the forehead for being so insolent, but he’s struggling to muster the energy right now.
Nie Mingjue takes a beat, really considers what Nie Huaisang is saying. Pictures Jiang Cheng, happy and in love again, and turns the camera around to see who he’s talking to.
“…fuck.”
“There it is,” Nie Huaisang says primly.
“Wait—” Nie Mingjue’s head is spinning with all of the morning’s revelations. “Did Wei Ying say how serious Lan Huan is about Jiang Cheng? I have to—”
“Oh no, I made that up,” Nie Huaisang cuts him off, like he hasn’t just pulled several rugs out from under Nie Mingjue.
“What the fuck, Huaisang—” Nie Mingjue starts, pointing an accusatory finger at his brother. “Don’t lie to me!”
He’s about to launch into a lecture about respecting your elders before he realizes he has more pressing matters at hand. Lan Huan might not be vying for Jiang Cheng’s attention, but Song Lan certainly is. He can feel panic seeping in; how many years has he wasted oblivious? What if Song Lan sweeps Jiang Cheng off his feet?
“I should… I mean…” he manages.
“It's early days with Song Lan and I think Jiang Cheng’s second date isn’t until Tuesday. Jiang Cheng is probably still at home too if you want to catch him, given that his brother didn’t wake him up at the crack of dawn so as not to 'waste the day,'” Nie Huaisang helpfully supplies.
“I—shit, okay, yeah. I… I have to go.” Nie Mingjue grabs his wallet and keys, already making a plan. There’s a flower store on the way that he can stop at; he noticed yesterday that they had some roses in a dusky lavender, Jiang Cheng’s favorite shade of purple.
He makes it to the front door before he realizes Nie Huaisang is still watching him, amused. He backtracks enough to ruffle his brother’s hair, ignoring the squawk the motion produces.
“Thanks, Huaisang,” he says gruffly. “I don’t know how Jiang Cheng feels or if this will work out, but because of you I’ll at least have thrown my hat in the ring.”
Nie Huaisang gives a nonchalant shrug as he pulls Nie Mingjue’s half-finished jiangbing towards him, but his small smile is pleased. “You’re welcome, da-ge. But from what I’ve seen, you don’t need to worry too much about how Jiang Cheng feels.”
As Nie Mingjue runs out the door, he feels his anxiety morph into excitement. His brother does, after all, have a frighteningly perfect record when it comes to these matters.