Chapter Text
`*{~Skipping Class Is Worth The trouble~}*`
Wen Ning was in the medicine house of the Gusu Lan clan. His Jie was out getting some materials for their work 'I wonder when Jie will be back...?' He thought this to himself whilst grinding up herbs for a tea
Nie Huaisang hated the class he was in 'Ughhhh, this class is always so boring. I'll just skip this time' he sighed and left his dorm. Instead of going to class as he was instructed to he had decided to go to the medicine house 'I wonder if there's anyone here?' He knocked on the door and entered
There was a taller boy of about seventeen in the medicine hall, he looked up and jumped slightly at Nie Huaisang's entrance
"A-Ahh Uhm... H-Hello! How may I help you..?"
"Shhhhh, I'm just here to skip class," Nie Huaisang said with a mischievous glint in his eyes "Don't tell anyone though!!!"
"I'm n-not sure that master Lan would be p-pleased about that..." Wen Ning's guilty conscious was bothering him
"Then just say I was sick, please??"
"Uhhh... c-come lay down..." He patted the bed that patients would rest in "W-Would you like me to get you anything...?"
"Hmmm, no... not right now I guess, and thanks!!"
"Mn..."
He sat down and continues grinding the herbs, he had put countless beneficial herbs and minerals. He smelled the mixture and frowns, he was missing something very important, he racked his brain to remember what it could be
Nie Huaisang layed down and looked at the confused boy "What's wrong?"
Wen Ning tasted the medicine that he was making, but something was off. He furrowed his brows and thought for a second then looked at Nie Huaisang
"I'll be right back."
"Mkays!" He waved at the Wen happily
After going through the garden to pick the perfect herbs Wen Ning came back with Ginger root and peppermint
"Ohhhh herbs" Nie Huaisang watched curiously
"Mhm! These will be put into a tea for a headache..."
"Oh, that sounds interesting!"
"Y-Yeah... it's a new recipe that I've thought of..." Wen Ning grabbed a teapot and filled it with water, once he finished that task he put it on the stove to brew the water
"You created it?" Nie Huaisang propped himself up and watched as Wen Ning prepared the tea
"Mhm..."
"That's neat!!!"
"T-Thank you, young master Nie..." Wen Ning poured the finished tea into two cups, and he then added warm honey into one of the cups "I- I don't know if you've g-got a headache... but this tea can help p-prevent any that might come along...."
"Oh okay. Thank you then!" Nie Huaisang greatly accepted the tea and sipped slowly
Nie Huaisang took a sip of the tea, his eyes widened, and he perked up in excitement 'Oh Woah this is delicious!!' "This is amazing!!!!!"
Wen Ning felt his face warm in embarrassment "Th-Thank you... Jiejie doesn't usually let me make my recipes... b-but my headaches have been getting worse so I did this in secret..."
"Oh well I hope it gets better, also your Jie should let you do this more!!! You're extremely talented!!!"
"I-Im not really... it's just basic knowledge....."
"No, I mean it! it!! Not many can do this and make it so delicious!!"
Wen Ning's face turned dark red and he bowed to Nie Huaisang
"Th-Thank you, young master Nie Huaisang..."
The Nie smiled at the Wen 'Awww how cute- Wait- did I just think that!?!?!?'
"O-Oh no problem...."
They sat in silence whilst drinking their tea, Wen Ning felt a little awkward but Nie Huaisang was different, more accepting, and warm than others
"Soo, how has everything been lately?" Nie Huaisang asked after getting bored of the silence "Anything fun or interesting?"
"It's just been the same as always.... what about you...?"
"Eheheheh" An impish smile painted across the Nies's round lips "My friend has played quite the interesting prank on one of the Lans here"
"Huh...?" Wen Ning couldn't help but feel intrigued
"Soo Wei-Xiong borrowed one of my 'Fine Arts' books but it's actually filled with cut sleeve images~ And then he gave the book to Lan Wangji! HAH, it was so funny!! Although he ended up ruining my book...." Nie Huaisang playfully sighs as he said the last part "Anywho so that's what happened while Wei-Xiong was in the library pavilion!"
Wen Ning was struck with horror, his face had managed to become an even darker red and he seemed flustered "H-He did that too... L-Lan Wangji!?"
The Nie still had the impish smile as he nodded "Yup!!" 'Why is he so cute?!?!'
"That's... poor young master Lan Wangji... " Although he felt bad for the Lan he couldn't help but giggle
"Yeah but oh well" a chuckle escaped past Nie Huaisang's lips
"Y-You shouldn't skip class anymore..."
"Hm???" Wen Ning's suddenly seriousness confused Nie Huaisang
"Only come in here when you need it... okay..?"
The Nie pouted and sipped his tea "But the classes are soooooo boring!! We had to read all of the rules on the first day!!"
Wen Ning covered his face with his sleeve as he giggled
"Huh, what's so funny??" 'This kid...'
"N-Nothing nothing..." The Wen sipped his tea and smiled cutely
"Hmmph... okaaayyy~"
"B-But uhh... if you ever want to skip again... J-Just make sure Jiejie isn't here... she'll tell Master Lan..."
The impish smile turned into a bright genuine one "Okay!! Thank you!!!"
Wen Ning noded and finishes his tea, once the cup was empty he stood up from where he was sitting and washed it along with a couple of other dishes, then he sat back down
"So I know that you're not sick, but are you perhaps dealing with allergies?"
"Hmmm... no? Not... just slight stress and pressure from my brother, but other than that I think that's all!"
"W-Would you like to talk about it... the best form of medicine is to communicate...."
"..."
"...?" Wen Ning tilted his head and looked at Nie Huaisang curiously
"He just.... he just wants me to be strong, and perfect the art of the saber.... but I'm more into actual arts, and crafts..." Nie Huaisang never confided in anyone about his internal worry 'Why am I even saying any of this?????'
Wen nodded, he fully understood what older sibling stress was like "I'm sorry... I'm sure you're great at art, maybe your brother will come along soon..." He smiled shyly at The Nie
"Y-Yes, maybe... but I don't think any time soon..." His face turned a light shade of pink "A-And thank you..." 'Why- He's easy to talk to and cute... what's going on!?'
Wen Ning continued to smile "C-Could you... perhaps show me your art sometime...?"
This time the Nie felt his face turn bright red, his eyes widened in surprise and his heart pitter-pattered "Y-Y-You... a-actually want to s-see my art????"
"I... yes if it's okay...?"
"T-Then yeah. I-I'll come back and show you sometime!"
"I can't wait..." Wen Ning became even shyer
'Fudge- Do I like him?!?!? No. He's just precious and interested in my art, along with listening to me.' Yet, Nie Huaisang couldn't help but feel a little hopeful
Wen Ning looked at the strange expression on Nie Huaisang's face "Are... you okay....?"
"Oh- huh? Yeah, I'm alright...."
"Oh... okay...." He grabbed a book and a pencil, then started annotating and writing notes
Nie humanizing watched as Wen Ning did this action
He read the notes that he had just written, "I think the class should be over now..."
"Mn... I guess this is bye for now, then...?"
"D-Dont forget... you have to show me your art sometime!" Wen Ning was genuinely interested in seeing Nie's art and spending more time with him
"Mhm!! W-will do!! Alright then... later..." Nie Huaisang gets up from the bed and left, his face was the darkest pink it'd ever been