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Chapter Text

The door violently opened, and the sound of running feet echoed through the otherwise silent room. Lan Xichen refused to look up. When the intruder dramatically flopped next to him on the floor, Lan Xichen glared at his book but said nothing. 

“Xichen-ge, I need your help!”

The voice was whiny, and unpleasantly loud considering they were right next to each other. 

“Inside voice,” Lan Xichen tiredly demanded.

“Ge, I can't be quiet,” Nie Huaisang cried out, even louder now. “My life is ruined. My dreams are dashed. My future is crushed. I may as well die already!”

A slow breath, in and out, failed to calm Lan Xichen. If he did not ask for details, perhaps Nie Huaisang would go and pester someone else. 

That strategy had never yet worked, but Lan Xichen was a hopeful person. 

He was soon disappointed when Nie Huaisang poked him in the ribs.

“Xichen-ge, aren't you going to ask what's wrong? Don't you care about me at all?”

Still refusing to answer, Lan Xichen pointedly turned a page in his book, though he hadn't managed to read a single character since interrupted. If Nie Huaisang really wanted to share his misfortune, then he’d just… 

“I'm going to tell you anyway,” Nie Huaisang announced with a nearly audible pout. “Even though you are very rude. But this also concerns you, and I am very kind and generous.”

That did catch Lan Xichen's attention enough that he glanced away from his book. Regrettably, Nie Huaisang noticed it.

“The thing is that Wangji is causing me problems,” he explained.

Lan Xichen rolled his eyes, and returned to his book. 

“Wangji demanding that you follow the rules does not equate to him causing problems,” he couldn't resist saying. “In fact, one might argue it is the opposite of a problem.”

“I never break the rules.”

Lan Xichen gripped his book tighter. He ought not to engage Huaisang in conversation. Nothing good ever came of that, because Huaisang was a little too skilled at convincing people to do as he liked. Not necessarily because he argued his case well, and more because he could get so annoying. Lan Xichen just shouldn't talk to him. 

“You never get caught breaking the rules,” he heard himself say anyway. “There's a difference.”

“If I don't get caught, you can't prove I did anything wrong,” Nie Huaisang smugly argued. 

Lan Xichen snapped his book shut and glared at him. 

“You may not bring alcohol and meat inside the Cloud Recesses, but you still partake in it once it's there. And I know you have more money to waste on frivolities than any of the other guest disciples, so you're likely the reason others are able to make those purchases so frequently.”

Nie Huaisang gasped and pathetically pressed one hand to his heart. 

“Xichen-ge, you know Da-ge gives me such a small allowance when I come here! You know it's a sore subject, I have to survive without so many necessities.”

“You aren't relying on that allowance. I know of your little business, Huaisang.” 

To this, Nie Huaisang grinned, an expression not unlike that his brother showed when a Night Hunt proved more interesting than expected. 

“Gege, you know nothing,” he claimed, unbearably smug as he poked Lan Xichen’s ribs again. “You suspect, maybe, but that is not knowing. If you knew through respectable means, I'd have gotten in trouble already. Instead, the only way you could know I have a business would be if you were among my clients.”

Nie Huaisang's grin turned predatory as he waited for an answer. 

There, Lan Xichen thought. Winning again through sheer power of annoyance. 

“Someday you will be caught,” he warned.

“But not today! So, anyway, about my problem…”

With a sigh, Lan Xichen nodded, admitting defeat. He'd listen. Listening was not a promise to help.

“So, the situation is that Wangji-xiong is ruining my life,” Nie Huaisang explained. “You see, I’d taken to studying with Wei-xiong and Jiang-xiong, and we were doing fine enough. My grades were getting better. But then, lately, Lan Zhan is always trying to cause problems with Wei-xiong, and wanting to give him detentions over petty things. And then if Wei-xiong is in trouble, Jiang-xiong isn’t in the mood to study anymore. And now my grades are down again, and I am so miserable! Isn’t that awful, gege? Don’t you pity me terribly?”

Ignoring Nie Huaisang’s pitiful expression and tearful eyes, Lan Xichen pondered on what he’d heard. His first impulse was to scold the other boy for calling Lan Wangji ‘Wangji-xiong’ and ‘Lan Zhan’ when he knew how much those addresses were despised by the person in question.

His second thought was that Nie Huaisang’s grades had only improved because Wei Wuxian had found ways to help him cheat, so he deserved to fail now that his accomplice couldn’t help.

It was only his final thought that Lan Xichen found worth sharing with others.

“I fail to see how I could help with that. I cannot ask Wangji to mind our rules less, and I certainly cannot be expected to control Wei Wuxian either.”

Although he tried to sound stern, Lan Xichen was privately amused by the situation with Wei Wuxian. Having never dared to rebel against his strict uncle, he was interested in seeing another do it so cleverly. It would have been a different matter had Wei Wuxian been crass or violent, but daring to debate Lan Qiren on topics of morality, taking his orders to the letter as a means to mock him…

It was all terribly entertaining. Lan Xichen liked that Wei Wuxian, especially since the younger boy wasn’t all talk. When the Jiang disciples had helped with the Waterborne Abyss, Wei Wuxian had proven he could be entirely depended on when circumstances forced him to be serious. It was a shame that Lan Wangji was so ambivalent on the topic of becoming friends with that boy, and that Lan Xichen’s own duties didn’t allow him much free time, or else…

“I’m glad you asked what you can do, Xichen-gege!” Nie Huaisang exclaimed. “You see, I have a plan!”

Lan Xichen considered pointing out he had asked no such thing, but Nie Huaisang was already speaking again.

“My plan is of course flawless, as you’ll see. You see, we need to make Lan Zhan and Wei-xiong kiss each other, and all my problems will be solved!”

The book in Lan Xichen’s hands, already long forgotten, slipped from his hands and fell to the floor.

“I think I may have misheard you, Huaisang. Would you repeat that for me?”

“I said they should kiss each other, Xichen-ge. You Lans know what kissing is, right? You’re not that sheltered, right?”

Lan Xichen glared at him, his face heating up.

So he’d heard right. He’d hoped that Nie Huaisang had said the two other boys should kill each other which… would have been a pretty bad plan as well, though a more logical one, considering past interactions.

“Actually maybe if you don’t know about kissing, that would explain a lot,” Nie Huaisang blabbered on, quite used to carrying a conversation on his own because others around him had grown tired of listening. “Poor Lan Zhan! He’s there feeling his blood boiling, and he doesn’t understand why, except that it’s because of Wei-xiong, so he’s got to be assuming he’s angry! And then he tries to fight him, because that’s the only way he knows to react to strange things, when instead he should be flirting! Maybe all he needs is for someone to make sure he gets his hands on some really good art books to help him figure things out. And then he’ll...”

“Do not lend porn to my brother,” Lan Xichen ordered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Nie Huaisang was exhausting.

The more tiresome thing about him was how often he could be right about things. His analysis of Lan Wangji’s thought process, for example, made more sense than Lan Xichen cared to admit. It fit with the way his brother seemed obsessed with Wei Wuxian, when he never cared much about others. Certainly Lan Wangji was in charge of punishments, but he rarely went looking for evil-doers and rule-breakers on his own. Anything that involved talking to people was normally avoided. Yet there he was, uncontrollably drawn to Wei Wuxian, changing all his habits as a result, blushing even…

Lan Xichen glanced at Nie Huaisang, and found the younger boy observing him with a grin that widened when their eyes met.

“You’re seeing it too!” he exclaimed. “Gege, now you really have to help me!”

“I have to do no such thing,” Lan Xichen retorted, embarrassed. “First of all, Wangji might feel a certain way, but it is likely not reciprocated.”

“I have it on good authority that Wei-xiong is also acting weird around Wangji-xiong,” Nie Huaisang assured him. “Jiang-xiong says he’s behaving weird and creepy and annoying, and he can’t shut up about Wangji-xiong, and he’s always looking at him.”

That was a compelling argument, Lan Xichen couldn’t deny it.

“You’ve prepared your case well, I see. What a pity you can’t put a tenth of that effort toward something useful. You could be my uncle’s best student if you only tried.”

“But I am his worst one instead!” Nie Huaisang triumphantly laughed. “Can you believe it’s already my third year here, gege? And I’ll need a fourth one for sure if I can’t get the Jiang disciples to study with me again. Well, at least I’ll get to spend more time with you. Isn’t that going to be fun?”

The transparent attempt to manipulate Lan Xichen into helping was all the more humiliating because, in spite of being so obvious, it was impossible to resist.

Although Nie Huaisang wasn't always unpleasant, Lan Xichen couldn't imagine how annoying he might make himself if he resented Lan Xichen’s refusal to help his great quest. The very thought made him shiver.

“If they are both sweet on each other, isn’t it better to let nature follow its course?” he still argued, for the sake of not giving in too easily.

“An excellent point, gege,” Nie Huaisang replied. “Consider this major obstacle, though: Lan Wangji’s whole personality.”

“Fair enough,” Lan Xichen admitted with a grimace.

He loved his brother, really. He sincerely believed that Lan Wangji was one of the smarter boys in their generation, smarter than himself perhaps. But however academically and martially gifted he was, when it came to dealing with people, Lan Wangji was…

Well, there was a comparison to be made with Nie Huaisang’s talent for academia.

“So you’re going to help me,” Nie Huaisang said, more of a statement than a question.

Lan Xichen sighed. He was going to regret this. He already regretted it.

And yet, if this could ensure his brother’s happiness…

“Yes, I’m going to help you, Huaisang. But only within reason! Do you hear me? I will not break rules, nor let you break rules, and you may not…”

But all of his conditions fell onto deaf ears and Nie Huaisang, thrilled to have won what he wanted, immediately started sharing his plan.

He’s drawn charts, as it turned out. He’d also written down a worryingly precise timetable of how Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji spent their days. Lan Xichen couldn’t decide if he ought to be awed or scared.

Truly, Nie Huaisang never did things by halves on those rare occasions he bothered to do anything at all.

Chapter Text

Having won a major victory in convincing Lan Xichen to help with his little scheme, Nie Huaisang proved willing to compromise on the means through which to reach his goal. He listened with more attention than expected when Lan Xichen requested that they first try one of his own ideas to bring Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji closer. More surprising still, Nie Huaisang enthusiastically agreed with that course of action.

“I recruited you for a reason,” he pointed out with a cheerful grin, before giving his pile of notes a sorrowful glance. “I have a good sense of who your brother is as a person, but if I’m very honest, I’m more familiar with the things he hates than the things he likes. Honestly, until Wei-xiong sauntered into our lives with his sexy devilish smile and sexy disrespectful attitude and sexy grabbable waist, I didn’t think Lan Zhan liked anything or anyone.”

“He can give that impression,” Lan Xichen agreed. “But please do not call people ‘sexy’ in front of me again.”

Nie Huaisang’s grin widened, while his eyes narrowed

“Why not? Is gege jealous?”

“Gege couldn’t care less what you enjoy, but the way you pronounce that word makes it sound dirty. Also we are talking about my brother. How would you like it if I started speculating on what Mingjue-xiong finds attractive in others?”

“I would love it,” Huaisang replied without hesitation. “Do you know anything? Please tell me if you know anything. Wangji-xiong is hard to read, but Da-ge is so much worse. At this point, I’m starting to suspect he doesn’t like anything at all. But then I did think the same about Lan Zhan, and…”

“We are getting off topic,” Lan Xichen interrupted him.

Nie Huaisang pouted, as if he would have been happy to gossip about anyone at all, as long as he could gossip. But Lan Xichen had signed up to meddle with his own brother’s life only, and he refused to be dragged into anything else.

“Xichen-ge is right of course,” Nie Huaisang muttered, rolling his eyes. “All right, what do you think might work to bring Wangji-xiong and Wei-xiong to kiss?”

“The two things Wangji loves the most are studying and training,” Lan Xichen started explaining. “So it would make sense that…”

Before he could finish, Nie Huaisang had grasped his arm tightly, his face split in two by a manic smile.

“Xichen-ge, I can’t believe we had the same idea!” he exclaimed.

“We did?” Lan Xichen asked with suspicion, while trying to free his arm.

No luck there. Nie Huaisang might skip most lessons that involved physical exercise, but he had good strength. 

How much better could he have been if he’d only tried?

That was the frustrating thing with him, Lan Xichen lamented, not for the first time. Nie Huaisang just never tried, and wasted any potential he might have.

“Yes, our minds are aligned, our hearts beat as one, we both came to the same conclusion!” Nie Huaisang blabbered. “It’s amazing. I knew I was right to ask you. We need to get Wei-xiong and Lan Zhan to fight! It really is the only way!”

Annoyed and horrified, Lan Xichen finally managed to free his arm.

“That is not what I had in mind,” he announced. “It couldn’t be further from my idea. Instead, I was going to suggest we get them to talk about a book they have both read and appreciated. Wangji knows that Wei-gongzi can fight, but finding out that he’s also capable of intellectual conversations would definitely help overcome his reservations concerning Wei-gongzi’s personality.”

Having explained his plan, Lan Xichen braced himself for Nie Huaisang’s reaction. He was certain the younger boy would call his idea boring. It certainly wasn’t as flashy as organising a moonlight duel, or whatever romantic nonsense Nie Huaisang had imagined.

To his surprise, Nie Huaisang turned serious for a moment and nodded.

“You are right, we do need to make him realise this is an interest they share. After all, Wei-xiong is very knowledgeable about cultivation theories. He’s also an expert with talismans, good enough that he’s improved some and even invented a few. Gege is so clever! That is the perfect plan! I can’t believe I didn’t think of it myself, it’s brilliant!”

In spite of himself, Lan Xichen was pleased by the compliment. He did think he’d come up with a great idea, actually. And while he was no stranger to being praised, Nie Huaisang’s effusive manners made it more agreeable than the occasional ‘acceptable, keep working hard’ he would get from his uncle and other seniors.

“Just a quick question,” Nie Huaisang went on. “How do we get them talking about that?”

“Very easily,” Lan Xichen replied. “Trust me, I know exactly what to do.”

As it turned out, Lan Xichen’s plan really had been pretty excellent.

He had suggested to his brother that next time Wei Wuxian needed to be punished, it ought to be something that would improve his mind instead of mindlessly copying the rules. If the usual method did not work, was it not time to try another one they used on their own sect members? And since Wei Wuxian seemed to believe himself so much smarter than others, why not force him to confront himself to true brilliance? Why not have him write a commentary on some essay or treatise, so he could learn to appreciate the wisdom of his elders and better understand why certain lessons were taught to guests? Lan Wangji seemed to particularly like the suggestion of a certain treatise on talismans and their uses, which Lan Xichen knew his brother held in high regard, and which Nie Huaisang assured him Wei Wuxian had mentioned once or twice as something he believed all cultivators ought to read.

Wei Wuxian soon misbehaved.

The punishment was given.

There ended Lan Xichen’s success.

When he later got to read Wei Wuxian’s essay, he found nothing in it that might cause particular outrage. Compared to some of the things Wei Wuxian had said and done since arriving in the Cloud Recesses, that essay showed sincere academic talent and taste. It made very interesting points regarding some talismans, the use of which may be extended with some imagination. Others were dismissed as outdated and cumbersome. All this with clear and articulate argumentation. If there was one reproach to be made, it was the lack of elegance in the style of writing, and the very rough handwriting, giving the impression Wei Wuxian’s hand had struggled to follow the speed of his mind. With a little guidance, Wei Wuxian could have made a stunning scholar. Lan Xichen made a note of several things and promised himself to bring them up to his uncle for future improvement of their sect’s teachings.

That was what Lan Xichen saw in that essay.

Lan Wangji, for his part, saw in it an insolent attempt to challenge established tradition, disrespect toward methods that had proven their worth, and a complete want of humility which alone could explain that desire to shake the way things worked. He also took the illegible hand as a personal insult, a clear attempt to make the punishment as unpleasant to him as it had been to Wei Wuxian.

In the end, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian did not talk about a book they had both read, and which both valued for its contributions to cultivators of all sects. They chose instead to argue about it, and while even that might have helped them grow closer, it did nothing but further the distance between them. Lan Wangji was upset. And Wei Wuxian, as Lan Xichen soon learned, was hardly pleased either.

“He had some very strong words about Wangji-xiong’s attitude,” Nie Huaisang later lamented.

Nie Huaisang had, like before, barged in unannounced and uninvited into Lan Xichen’s room. Lan Xichen had considered protesting against it, before quickly deciding he’d rather pretend he was fine with it. It would be very undignified if he ordered Nie Huaisang to stop visiting, only to never be obeyed. Instead he merely allowed Nie Huaisang to slump down at his side, so theatrically miserable and upset it became rather cute.

“All the blame is on Lan Zhan,” Huaisang whined. “So rigid! So unfeeling! He did this to spite me personally! He knew if Wei-xiong was upset he would not help me with homework, and neither would Jiang-xiong, and I'm going to get punished, and Wangji-xiong did it on purpose because he hates me!”

“I do not think Wangji was thinking of you when he argued with Wei-gongzi,” Lan Xichen retorted, trying not to laugh. “But you are right he was… more rigid than I had expected. I was so sure this would work.”

“It would have worked on me,” Nie Huaisang assured him with a condescending pat on his shoulder, as if trying to comfort him.

His tone displeased Lan Xichen, but nothing in Nie Huaisang's expression betrayed any mockery. He seemed truly sorry that things hadn't worked out. 

“I do not dare ask what sort of books you would wish to discuss,” Lan Xichen said, a little unkindly.

But really, he knew of Huaisang’s little business, and he’d never seen him open a book in all his years in the Cloud Recesses unless a teacher demanded it, and…

“Oh, poetry for sure,” Nie Huaisang replied without hesitation.

Lan Xichen frowned.

“Is that your sincere opinion, or something you're saying because you believe it's the answer I'd want to hear?”

Nie Huaisang shrugged. 

“Not everything is about you, Xichen-ge,” he said as he pulled out his notes on Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian from his sleeve. “I really like poetry. Why is everyone surprised when I say that?”

“Maybe because you never get decent grades when that topic comes up in my uncle's quizzes?” 

Nie Huaisang shrugged again and unfolded his notes on the floor around them, organising them meticulously in a pattern that only made sense to him.

“Your uncle has terrible taste, gege.”

In spite of himself, Lan Xichen smiled.

“My uncle tests you on classics, Huaisang. Are you saying the poems everyone considered most perfectly written are actually bad?” 

Looking up from his work, Nie Huaisang frowned. 

“Naturally, some are very good,” he conceded with a pout. “Most, in fact But it's too obvious that they were written in a certain manner, with a certain public in mind, by scholars trying to show off their talent. As a result, they lack spontaneity, they lack soul.”

“Then would you prefer the mediocre work of an unskilled poet as long as they wrote from the heart?” Lan Xichen asked, unable to hide a smile.

“Yes!” Nie Huaisang exclaimed with such passion it surprised Lan Xichen. “Yes, that is better indeed. I prefer something that is lesser in talent, but greater in sincerity. Isn't that what poetry is for? Isn't it its goal to express feelings for which no words exist, to invent a language, to weave images that connect hearts?”

He suddenly stopped, blushed, and lowered his head to look at his notes on the floor. 

“Of course, I'm probably wrong,” he muttered. “I usually am. Let's forget about this, and focus again on the problem at hand. I still think making them fight is a good option.”

It would have been easy to drop the matter of poetry. Lan Xichen ought to do so. The sooner they could push Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian into each other's arms, the better. It was an unkind thing to think, but time spent around Nie Huaisang was usually time completely wasted, and so ought to be kept to a minimum. Their conversations had never brought him any pleasure in the years of their acquaintance, nor had they elevated his mind in any way. He ought to be grateful that Nie Huaisang was willing to change the topic.

“I think you make an interesting point about poetry,” Lan Xichen said anyway.

He told himself he felt sorry for Huaisang, who sounded as though he’d been scolded for his opinions before. That was the only reason. It had nothing to do with any interest in Nie Huaisang’s ideas, nor any curiosity as to what poems might be judged good by him, and even less with the way Nie Huaisang's face illuminated for a moment as he defended his beliefs.

“Xichen-ge is mocking me!” Nie Huaisang whined. “You asked a question, and I answered, and now you’re making fun of me! Everyone is always so cruel to me, and I think I’m going to cry.”

He dared to look up again, and indeed his eyes were shining in a most distressing manner. Lan Xichen knew he ought not to let it affect him. Lan Qiren had once mentioned that he suspected Nie Huaisang had learned to cry on command.

To Lan Xichen those tears always seemed perfectly sincere. 

“Come now, don’t be so upset,” Lan Xichen gently scolded. “Aren’t you too old to let things affect you so much? Besides, I really didn’t mean to tease you. I like poetry too, you know, and I also… that is to say, my uncle’s tastes are not always mine, and Wangji cares little for it.”

“Of course he doesn’t,” Nie Huaisang sniffed, a lone tear falling on his cheek. “Wangji is a cold and awful monster who only lives to ruin my life. Someone like that cannot understand poetry.”

Lan Xichen chuckled and, without thinking, patted Huaisang’s head. He did not mean anything in particular by it. It was just that Huaisang, with his tearful eyes and his miserable tone of voice, seemed a lot younger than he was, triggering Lan Xichen’s impulse to comfort him as one would a child. He only stopped when Huaisang’s face coloured, and the other boy stared at him with a shocked expression.

Ah.

Lan Xichen quickly removed his hand. Cute, childish, and pretty as he appeared, Huaisang was still nearly the same age as him. Touching him, even in this manner, was probably inappropriate.

“Let’s talk about poetry again someday,” Lan Xichen quickly offered to distract from his mistake. “I really want to. But right now, there are more urgent matters.”

“Right! We need to make Lan Zhan and Wei-xiong kiss!” Nie Huaisang agreed, his face still quite red.

“I actually meant that we should take a look together at your homework,” Lan Xichen countered. “It’s my fault if your friends were too upset to help you, so I owe you a little help. But we can still see about our little mission when we’re done with that, yes.”

It clearly wasn’t what Nie Huaisang would have preferred, and a series of grimaces played on his face until he decided that it wasn’t an offer he could refuse. Then he smiled, all sweet and pleased, his earlier tears a distant memory. 

It was clear he was hoping to make Lan Xichen do all the work, but Lan Xichen fought back the entire way and ensured that at least some of the words and ideas they wrote down were Nie Huaisang’s own.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian’s hold on his sword was light, almost careless, yet he easily blocked Lan Wangji’s blow. Instead of retreating, Lan Wangji pushed on his blade, briefly unbalancing Wei Wuxian, yet his next attack was narrowly avoided, as was the following. Before he could attempt a fourth one, Wei Wuxian seized his chance and stabbed forward, forcing Lan Wangji to leap to the side to avoid his blade.

Around them, the crowd gasped, cheered, booed. A number of boys of all ages, as well as some fully grown Lan disciples, had gathered to watch that highly anticipated duel. 

Most of the Lan disciples were quietly cheering for Lan Wangji, who represented their sect with such elegance and power, but a few, those who’d most often been punished under his watchful eyes, clenched their fists and tried to hide grins whenever Wei Wuxian had the upper hand.

Guests from other sects who had come to attend Lan Qiren’s lectures were no less divided. Some sided with Lan Wangji, or were hoping to see Wei Wuxian put in his place. Jin Zixuan and others from his sect were the most vocal about their opinion, shouting every time Lan Wangji’s strength seemed to overpower his opponent. But Wei Wuxian’s supporters were no less vocal, chief among them Jiang Cheng who kept shouting advice at his shixiong, and threatening to never let him come home if he dared to let Lan Wangji defeat him.

That the sparring match he'd helped organise had drawn such a crowd surprised Lan Xichen more than it perhaps ought to. He had not realised that others had also noticed the growing tension between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, though thankfully they attributed it entirely to a clash of opinions and personalities. While those others were merely entertained by a fight which they hoped to see degenerate, Lan Xichen took it as a chance to better assess the feelings of the two opponents.

Regarding his brother, it was obvious that Lan Wangji took things seriously. It was so rare for him to find an opponent whose skill matched his own, but Wei Wuxian offered him just that. Better yet, Wei Wuxian’s fighting still was radically different from the Lan style, forcing Lan Wangji to truly watch his moves and adapt. It was a complicated duel for him, not because he was overwhelmed, nor because the challenge was above his strength, but because Wei Wuxian would take advantage of any mistakes he made. And if Lan Xichen knew his brother at all, it had to mean Lan Wangji was having a great time.

As for Wei Wuxian, it was harder to guess his feelings. In some ways he seemed forced to adapt just as much as Lan Wangji, but Lan Xichen did not know his personality enough to say if he would enjoy the challenge or resent it.

He turned to Nie Huaisang, who had been watching with him from the start.

“What do you think?” he asked, curious to see if the other boy might better assess any progress of good feelings on Wei Wuxian’s part.

“They’re not badly matched,” Nie Huaisang distractedly replied without looking away from the fight. “Wangji-xiong is stronger than I realised, but he’s too attached to having perfect form. If he doesn’t learn some flexibility, he’ll run into trouble soon. Wei-xiong isn’t actually trying to hurt him, but against an intelligent demon or monster, he’d be at real risk. As for Wei-xiong, he is very light on his feet. A little too light, I would say. He’s so focused on avoiding Lan Zhan that he’s missed several chances to attack, and when he does it lacks the power it should have. He’s trying too hard to tease Lan Zhan, and doesn’t take this seriously enough, which is a shame because in terms of sheer technique, I think he’s the better one. But Wangji-xiong has strength and endurance on his side, so there's that to consider.”

Nie Huaisang paused, observed the two fighters with an air of great concentration, pensively tapped his fan against his chin, then grimaced.

“Ultimately, Wei-xiong is going to lose,” he announced, “but Lan Zhan is going to be exhausted by his victory and he’d make easy pickings for another opponent if this were a serious fight. Still, they’re pretty well matched. Makes me want to watch them fight side by side, they could make a pretty devastating team. Don’t you agree?”

Nie Huaisang turned to Lan Xichen, whom he found staring at him in astonishment. As if he’d been caught doing something wrong, Nie Huaisang blushed and hurriedly opened his fan to hide.

“I said something silly again, didn’t I?” he whined. “Gege, have mercy! I don’t know these things! I don’t know why you even asked me at all! I’m probably wrong, Wei-xiong might win! Don't judge me for saying nonsense!”

“If you said nonsense it would be one thing,” Lan Xichen replied. “I’m only shocked because you’ve said nothing wrong.”

Behind his fan, Nie Huaisang’s face took on a brighter shade of red.

“Gege is mocking me again,” he mumbled with something like genuine pain.

“Do I seem so dishonest to you that you never believe me?” Lan Xichen retorted.

To this Nie Huaisang immediately shook his head, but the manner in which his eyes avoided Lan Xichen, as well as the worried crease on his brow, seemed to say he could more easily believe he was lied to, than the idea Lan Xichen might be truly impressed by his analysis.

‘Huaisang, if you said anything I didn’t also think, it’s only because I didn’t notice that Wei-gongzi was more focused on teasing than fighting,” Lan Xichen insisted. “I also agree with you regarding Wangji’s lack of flexibility, and he could tell you it is something I’ve advised him to work on. I never knew you had such an eye for these things. Could it be that you've been hiding your martial skills all this time?”

“I don’t, I didn’t, I haven’t!” Nie Huaisang cried out, trying to hide better behind his fan. “I shouldn’t have said anything, now you’re going to expect all sorts of things from me! Gege, I just said random things, I didn’t mean anything, I don’t know anything!”

“You do realise nobody will scold you for being right?” Lan Xichen asked, amused by that reaction.

Nobody but Nie Huaisang could ever be worried that saying something clever would get them in trouble.

“But you’ll think that because I can see how others fight, I can do it myself!” Nie Huaisang whined. “Except I really can’t. I only notice things because Da-ge often forces me to watch others practice, and he doesn’t let me have books or paper or anything, and I get so bored I do watch them. But then if I ever tell him what I saw, he gets upset that I criticised others when I work so little, or say that if I can see these things then I must try to do them myself, and he gets even more upset when I can't. And now you’re going to do the same, and you’ll be angry that I fail.”

It was Lan Xichen’s turn to blush.

Lan Xichen had indeed started thinking that Nie Huaisang’s comments meant he might be a better martial artist than he let on. Surely nobody who analysed so well the way others fought could be entirely devoid of talent themself. And yet Nie Huaisang sounded sincerely distressed at the idea of being pushed to train, of Lan Xichen becoming disappointed in his inevitable failure.

It might have been laziness, or a ploy to hide his true strength. But even someone merely lazy would have made progress after years of training, simply by being forced to do it as regularly as Nie Huaisang was. As for hiding… what goal would it serve? There wasn’t a single person in Nie Huaisang’s life who wouldn’t praise him if he showed some talent. His brother would likely let him get away with far more mischief if Huaisang’s skill could ease some of his worries. Not only that, but if Nie Huaisang were a decent fighter, Nie Mingjue would likely have given up on turning him into a gentleman, and allowed him to give up on studying under Lan Qiren.

Nie Huaisang had never hidden how little he enjoyed his time in the Cloud Recesses. After three years there, he was desperate for anything to get him out of Lan Qiren’s classes. Enough so to try and organise a match between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian so he could cheat his way to success.

If that sounded like a reasonable plan, then surely someone as clever as Nie Huaisang apparently was should have considered the option of simply studying and showing up for sword practice.

“I won’t force you to do anything you don’t like,” Lan Xichen promised, earning a very suspicious look from Nie Huaisang. “I won’t, really. But I might ask you a favour.”

“Whatever it is, I probably can’t do it,” Nie Huaisang replied, closing his fan to reveal a pathetic pout. “I can never do anything.”

Lan Xichen smiled, a little endeared by that cute expression, and couldn’t resist patting Nie Huaisang’s head.

“You’ve already done it once, I won’t believe you can’t do it twice,” he said. “And you should listen to people’s requests before you turn them down, or they will think you rude. Now, here is what I want to ask: would you watch me spar with someone one day, and tell me after what I can improve?”

“You’re mocking me again!” Nie Huaisang cried out, his pout transforming into a miserable grimace.

“I’m not. In fact, I’m going to be a little cross if you keep saying that. I do not think I’ve done anything to you that justify you calling me a liar so often.”

Nie Huaisang’s expression turned even more pathetic, which Lan Xichen would not have thought possible. It made him want to pat Nie Huaisang’s head again and comfort him, though he remembered in time that they were in public.

“I’m not saying you’re a liar!” Nie Huaisang assured him. “It’s just… How could I ever dare tell the first jade of Gusu Lan that he needs to do better?”

“Everyone has faults, Huaisang,” Lan Xichen replied with a smile. “I want to know mine.”

“But you don’t really have any, gege,” Huaisang protested with a hint of a whine. “You have as much strength as Wangji-xiong, and your form is just as perfect, but you’re more willing to learn and borrow from other styles when necessary. You’re also pretty good at evasion, but without sacrificing your own chances to attack. You’re really very well balanced, it’s not for nothing you’re considered the best cultivator of our generation! The only thing that might need work is that you expect your opponents to fight as cleanly as you do, and I think it would be easy for an ill-intentioned person to take advantage of your fairness. But it would take someone who knows you particularly well to fool you, so I hesitate to even call it a problem. Xichen-ge, I can’t find any fault with you!”

Had Nie Huaisang not found that one defect to criticise, Lan Xichen would have suspected him of flattering him to end the conversation sooner. But because there was one criticism, it made the compliments seem more sincere, and thus more impactful.

Lan Xichen’s face heated up.

“How… when did you even…”

“I always watch when Da-ge and you spar together,” Nie Huaisang explained, his face very red. “Or when you spar with our other disciples. Or if you’re in the training grounds here. You’re so talented, I don’t understand how others don’t drop everything to watch you as well.”

In the midst of a crowd cheering and screaming, Lan Xichen suddenly heard nothing but his own heart beating too hard, drowning all other sounds.

He had never noticed that Nie Huaisang came to watch him train. Then again, there were many things he’d apparently failed to notice about Nie Huaisang.

Perhaps it was time he started paying attention. 

“I am glad you found my skill worth your time,” Lan Xichen said, finding it difficult to force the words out, when Nie Huaisang’s compliments still resonated in his mind. “I will be rude and maintain my request. And maybe with your help, I could convince Wei-gongzi or Jiang-gongzi to spar with me, so this might entertain you more.”

“They're both very good,” Nie Huaisang warned. “Jiang-xiong especially, he's better than anybody realises and he'll give you a hard time.”

“Then I'm all the more interested in training with him. Besides, even if he beats me once, I'll only need to listen to your advice to win the second time.”

Nie Huaisang's blush deepened. He opened his fan to hide, but not quickly enough that Lan Xichen couldn't catch a glimpse of a very pleased little grin. 

It was a good look on him, Lan Xichen decided. What a shame that Nie Huaisang so rarely had a chance to be proud of himself.

Before he could fully process that very unexpected thought, people around them started shouting with renewed fervor. Recalling that he wasn't alone with Nie Huaisang, that they were in the midst of a crowd, that they had a purpose in being there, Lan Xichen tore his eyes from Nie Huaisang and forced himself to check again the far less interesting sight of his brother's fight. 

While Lan Xichen and Nie Huaisang were distracted, the fight had come to an end, though there appeared to be no clear winner. Instead Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian had begun an argument. One suspected cheating and an attack in bad form. The other laughed as he claimed his innocence, while also pointing out real fights did not have rules and winning was all that mattered. When the argument threatened to devolve into another fight, and a less polite one this time, Lan Xichen sighed and went to separate the two boys. 

The crowd hung around a moment, hoping for more violence, then dispersed once Jiang Cheng dragged Wei Wuxian away, signalling the end of the show. Lan Xichen watched the Jiang boys be joined by Nie Huaisang, and his eyes stayed on the three of them walking away. 

In the end this new attempt to bring Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian closer had been another failure. Still Lan Xichen couldn't help feeling happy, and he almost convinced himself it was only because Lan Wangji, though aggravated, spoke of his opponent’s skill with greater respect than before.

Chapter Text

After the failure of the fight he’d organised between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, Nie Huaisang struggled to find a new idea to bring them closer. He even considered giving up on the idea, until Lan Xichen encouraged him to keep trying. There was something about Wangji’s attitude that hinted he was far from disliking Wei Wuxian, and now that Lan Xichen knew to look for it, he believed Wei Wuxian was not indifferent either, though clearly even more clueless of his own feelings than Lan Wangji.

“But I really don’t know how to help them,” Nie Huaisang had whined.

“Then come see me sometimes, and we can try to find an idea together,” Lan Xichen had countered. “And I’ll help you with your schoolwork too.”

That offer was eagerly accepted, and Nie Huaisang started joining him nearly every afternoon after his classes.

At first, Lan Xichen expected this time together would be short lived. Once Nie Huaisang realised Lan Xichen wouldn’t help him cheat, nor do all his work for him, he would stop coming until he’d found a new idea to advance their great scheme.

Instead, they soon established a routine of sorts, where Lan Xichen did only most of Nie Huaisang’s work, then took care of his own studies while Nie Huaisang finished what had been started for him. And once they were both done, they often ended up chatting.

At first they only discussed Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian’s respective tempers, and how those clearly stood in the way of a romance that would have profited both of them. But there was only so much that could be said on such a frustrating topic, and soon their conversations expanded to other things. Nie Huaisang was no scholar, and his tastes were not those expected of a well born young man. He preferred simple peasant songs over refined poetry, and openly admitted his taste for erotic prints and novels when he should have valued scholarly paintings and elegant calligraphy. At times, Lan Xichen suspected those tastes were not entirely honest, that Nie Huaisang was only trying to shock those around him whose expectations weighed him down. But there must also have been something sincere to this, because Nie Huaisang showed skill and passion when defending those lower arts he loved.

Encouraged by his example, Lan Xichen allowed himself to share his own taste, defend his own interests with perhaps more heat than he would have done around other people. 

Sometimes this led them into good spirited arguments if Nie Huaisang was in a mood to be contradictory, or if Lan Xichen was too tired to entertain the other boy’s unorthodox opinions. More often than not, though, chatting together was good fun. Lan Xichen soon gained a new appreciation for lower arts he’d been taught were beneath his consideration. He also got Nie Huaisang to not only read classics, but also admit they might not all be boring and conceited. It was no small victory, and it would likely help Huaisang's grades, though Lan Xichen cared less about that than he did about having a stimulating conversation.

Because he enjoyed so much the time they spent together, Lan Xichen was not particularly sorry to see so little progress in the business that had initially brought them closer. He had never expected that their efforts see quick success. He sometimes feared that they'd done more harm than good. If Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian were meant to find companionship in each other, they would do it without requiring some complicated scheme on Nie Huaisang's part. Otherwise, it was better not to force them together.

It was an opinion Nie Huaisang himself did not share. Although his grades were not as bad as they had been previously, every new quiz and essay brought back the spectre of a fourth year trapped in the Cloud Recesses. No matter how many times Lan Xichen assured him that he had improved enough to pass, Nie Huaisang's fears grew daily until one afternoon he asked for permission to put in motion a plan Lan Xichen would not approve of. 

He'd run into the room as always, and sat down far too close to Lan Xichen, until their shoulders nearly touched. Knowing how the Nies were, it must have been meant as a respectful distance, but Lan Xichen found it to be distracting. If either of them leaned to the side, they would touch, and he knew from experience Nie Huaisang never sat still for very long. 

“You're doing a poor job of convincing me if that's all you have to say,” Lan Xichen replied with an indulgent smile, trying to ignore their proximity. “What is your plan?”

Nie Huaisang grimaced and, with affected calm, opened his fan to hide behind. 

“If I tell you anything, you will stop me.”

“Then why let me know at all that you are doing something? Am I expected to contribute?”

Fanning himself slowly, Nie Huaisang shook his head. 

“I can't involve you in this, gege. But we've been accomplices so far, and it would feel wrong to go behind your back. I don't want you to think I don't trust you.”

“And yet you won't give me any details,” Lan Xichen teased, amused by that air of mystery. 

The fan in Nie Huaisang's hand slowed and lowered, revealing a conflicted pout. 

“If I could, I would,” he sighed. “But you really won't like it. It will work, though. I'm absolutely certain. Well, nearly absolutely certain.”

“You were quite sure the other times too,” Lan Xichen pointed out. 

“Gege, don't remind me of my failures!” Nie Huaisang whined, closing his fan with a sharp gesture, to better display the adorably pathetic way his bottom lip trembled. “Gege is mean and cruel. Gege thinks I cannot learn from my mistakes. That I'm stupid!” 

“Gege thinks you are very clever,” Lan Xichen assured him, for which he was rewarded by a pretty blush crawling all over Nie Huaisang's face. “Gege also thinks you probably have good reasons to be so mysterious. Can you just promise me it is nothing dangerous? That nobody risks being harmed?” 

He had expected that Nie Huaisang would easily promise this, and that he would be teased for making such a dramatic request. Instead Nie Huaisang turned very serious, and fidgeted with his fan. 

“I wouldn't call it dangerous,” he mused. “And I'm almost certain nobody will get hurt. Well, not seriously, anyway.”

His eyes darted toward Lan Xichen's face, and he soon burst out laughing. 

“Gege is so serious!” he exclaimed as he fidgeted with his fan. “Xichen-ge, can't you tell I was joking? Of course nothing bad will happen. I'm very confident my plan is very safe for everyone involved. It's only a little, tiny bit unethical, but sometimes there's no choice.”

“There's always a choice,” Lan Xichen tried to scold, though the smile on his face contradicted his tone. “Is this why you keep failing ethics quizzes? Are you like this in my uncle's class?” 

“I'm even worse!” Nie Huaisang proudly replied, grinning so smugly it made him look kissable. 

The thought passed through Lan Xichen with a shiver. Just as quickly as it sprung, it was put away in the corner of his mind where all uncomfortable thoughts were hurriedly stashed, never to be seen again.

It was made more difficult when Nie Huaisang chose that precise moment to lean against him, casually resting one arm on Lan Xichen’s shoulder while flashing him a conspiratorial glance. He was so close Lan Xichen felt the warmth of his breath on his neck when he spoke.

“Speaking of classes… there’s a big test coming, you know,” Nie Huaisang stage-whispered. “I don’t imagine you might…”

“I don’t know the answers, Huaisang,” Lan Xichen cut him, earning a pout that, again, drew attention to his lips. “Even if I did, I would not tell you.”

Nie Huaisang’s pout turned beautifully pathetic.

“Gege is once more so cruel. Gege wants me to suffer. Gege doesn’t love me at all!”

Gege does love you, Lan Xichen almost protested. He stopped himself in time. Just like realisations of Nie Huaisang having grown into a pretty boy in the years since they first met, or how soft his lips looked, that seemed like a dangerous train of thoughts. He’d grown to like Nie Huaisang a good deal better recently, but surely he did not love him.

It would be very inconvenient to be in love. Lan Xichen had long decided he took after his uncle for these things, and was not interested in love. He’d never caught himself looking at girls, after all, and usually did a good job of convincing himself it didn’t matter much when his eyes instead lingered on other boys.

Aside from the lack of interest Lan Xichen had assigned himself, it would be supremely unwise to feel that way for Nie Huaisang, of all people. Nie Huaisang only saw him as a second older brother, or at least an adequate replacement for Nie Mingjue while away from home. They were friendly at the moment, but once Nie Huaisang had secured a way to pass his exams, once he had graduated from Lan Qiren’s classes, it was unlikely he’d ever seek Lan Xichen’s company again. Aside from their current shared goal they had nothing in common, except for a similar interest in poetry, and an appreciation for martial art, and the fact that time spent together was very pleasant.

Nie Huaisang was clearly not interested in him at all, that much was certain.
Which was naturally for the best. Nie Huaisang was too much of a distraction. Lan Xichen could never get any work done around him.

“I can’t help you cheat, but I’ll help you study,” Lan Xichen still offered just so Nie Huaisang wouldn’t look so despondent anymore.

“But that’s boring!”

“Perhaps it is. But I will be very proud of you if you succeed on your own merits. And Mingjue-xiong will be as well, of course.”

Lan Xichen expected more protests, a few more attempts to bribe him into doing something unethical. But Nie Huaisang was in a less contradictory mood than usual, and instead just took the help he was offered.

The whole time they studied together, Nie Huaisang remained pressed against Lan Xichen’s side, leaning toward him more than necessary.

Lan Xichen ought to have protested against it.

He did not.

-

While that study session remained on Lan Xichen’s mind for days, the conversation that had come before it regarding Nie Huaisang’s newest plan to help Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian was soon forgotten. Since nothing immediately happened, it had to be assumed that the plan had failed to launch, or that Lan Qiren’s latest class on ethics had finally awakened something in Nie Huaisang. In which case it might also have caused him to find the fortitude to do his own homework, because he stopped visiting Lan Xichen and asking him to do his work for him.

Lan Xichen told himself he hardly noticed at all when Nie Huaisang deserted him for nearly an entire week. He did not miss the time spent together. In fact, it was wonderful to enjoy some quiet again, especially as Lan Xichen had so many things to deal with in the aftermath of that terrible waterborne abyss. Letters must be written, materials ordered and paid for to expose the lake’s floor to the sun, compensations made and requested… Lan Xichen was so busy he really shouldn't have made time for Nie Huaisang before, and he ought to be glad to finally catch up on his work.

If he sometimes caught himself staring at the door, expecting it to open with a bang, to hear cries of exaggerated despair or unrestrained triumph, well, that was a private shame nobody needed to ever know about.

The shame only grew greater once Lan Wangji informed him one morning that Nie Huaisang’s friendship had found a new target. If he hadn’t come to spend any time with Lan Xichen, it was to be around Jin Zixuan instead.

Though Jin Zixuan was a boy with many qualities, upon hearing the news Lan Xichen could not think of a single one. The only thing that might have drawn Nie Huaisang to him was their shared eagerness to pass their exams. Jin Zixuan was a better student than most boys in their group, and perhaps Nie Huaisang had realised that Lan Qiren would be so busy watching Wei Wuxian that he might not notice if other less troublesome students took it as a chance to cheat.

Out of all of Nie Huaisang’s plans to graduate, that might well be the soundest, and Lan Xichen wished him the best of luck. He’d need it.

On his side, Lan Xichen quietly scolded himself for being disappointed even when he’d known from the start that Nie Huaisang never cared for him as anything but a way to finally leave the Cloud Recesses for good.

The afternoon after that unpleasant revelation, Lan Xichen set out to work on a series of letters he’d been asked to write some days earlier, but which he’d found countless excuses to ignore. None of them were urgent business, and yet they would have required more concentration than he was capable of when he had company. Now that he was certain his afternoons would once more be permanently lonely, he had no choice but to get to work.

He’d made some good progress when the sound of rushed footsteps somewhere in the house caught his attention. Lan Xichen glared at his letter, certain his mind was playing tricks on him, and yet the sound, far from disappearing, drew closer.

The door opened. Lan Xichen looked up, hardly daring to breathe, then shrunk when he saw only a young Lan disciple in front of him. The boy’s face was red and he was breathless, which did nothing to improve Lan Xichen’s mood.

“I hope you have good reasons to be running,” he coldly remarked.

“Yes, gongzi. It’s… there’s a fight, you’re needed!”

Lan Xichen dropped his brush, and quickly got up to his feet. A fight! There were only two people whom he could imagine fighting these days, or at least only two whose skills and intense emotions might require intervention on his part.

“Where are they?”

“In your uncle’s classroom, gongzi,” the boy quickly explained, confirming his fears. “It’s… I’m not sure who started it, and over what, but Wei gongzi threw the first punch, I’ve heard, and he got a few punches in return, and it’s getting nasty, and nobody can stop them, so your uncle asked to fetch you!”

His heart jumping in his chest, Lan Xichen left the room. He did not run, but some elders would have found something to complain had they witnessed the speed at which he strode toward the classroom. The boy who had come to fetch him struggled to keep up with him, though Lan Xichen hardly noticed.

A fight! A fistfight at that! What was Wangji thinking? He was supposed to be an example for other boys their age! Worse still, he wasn’t even supposed to be in class with the guest disciples that day. Hadn’t he been asked to supervise some of the younger juniors whose teacher was sick? Why had he shirked his duty, and to get in a fight of all things? And not just get into a fight, either, but start one! Because there was much to say against Wei Wuxian, but he did not strike Lan Xichen as someone who would throw a punch unprovoked. What had Wangji done, what had he said to cause that attack? Had Wei Wuxian provoked him? But Wangji wasn’t one to lose his calm, not now that he was used to Wei Wuxian's manners. Even when they’d argued after their sparing match, there had not been any reasons to worry, because both boys were ultimately well in control of their tempers.

How had things turned out so bad? It seemed out of character for both of them, and Lan Xichen could make no sense of it.

When he arrived at the scene, Lan Xichen had to push his way through a small crowd to catch a glimpse of the opponents. Just as they’d done when Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji’s friendly spar, a number of guest disciples were arranged in a circle to watch the fight. This time, nobody was shouting encouragement, or making bets on a possible winner. Instead they were either begging the opponents to stop, or threatening to join the fight if proper apologies weren’t soon offered, gold against purple, with other colours on one side or the other.

It wasn’t Lan Wangji who Wei Wuxian had picked a fight with, but Jin Zixuan.

To his mild shame, Lan Xichen was at first relieved, and a little vindicated that his brother would never have misbehaved that way, that he’d been right to find it impossible. 

Such good feelings were short-lived when confronted with the violence of the two boys. Nobody dared to go close to them, not even Jiang Cheng, who was usually the one stopping Wei Wuxian from causing troubles. Even Lan Qiren could only watch as the two boys traded blows, stunned by violence of a sort which the Cloud Recesses so rarely saw. He was no fighter, as his nephew knew well, and if his authoritative voice had done nothing to stop the two boys, he must have felt at a loss on how to end this.

That was why Lan Xichen had been called for. In a moment he would come closer and physically force apart the two fighters. He ought to have done so already, but instead his eyes fell on Nie Huaisang, who alone among all the guest disciples was not watching the fight. Instead he was half hidden behind another Nie disciple, trying to keep his back turned to the fight, and yet sometimes glancing over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of the violence, only to quickly hide again.

There was something horrifyingly pitiful in his wide eyes, in the manner he’d covered his ears. And naturally that terrible scene must have been awful to him. He was perhaps the only person in all of the Cloud Recesses to be friends with both fighters. Even if one friendship was more recent than the other, he was a sensitive boy, and…

Nie Huaisang noticed Lan Xichen. His eyes grew wider, his face turned pale. He quickly looked away and shuffled away to hide better, not just from the fight, but also from Lan Xichen who was seized by a terrible suspicion.

It was an unethical plan, Nie Huaisang had said. He had refused to promise that nobody would get hurt, though he'd been certain it wouldn't be anything serious if it came to that.

Lan Xichen gritted his teeth, and sprung forward to finally force apart the two fighters, earning himself a few blows and kicks in the process.

If he’d guessed right about the reason that fight started, Nie Huaisang and him needed to talk.