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This second meeting was a fragile thing, Wei Ying was still insisting—loudly, to anyone who dared suggest otherwise—that the first time hadn’t been a date. Just dinner between friends, nothing more. But still, he had been waiting all week for this night, refusing to squander the chance of finally spending a quiet evening with Lan Zhan. Just Lan Zhan and him, no interruptions, no disasters—certainly not his irritating little brother lurking around to ruin everything again.
He had dressed carefully this time, pulled his hair into his signature ponytail leaving his bangs out to frame his face and a few locks of hair in the front to make his face look smaller. He looked in the mirror for a second and patted his bangs.
"Date night with Lan Wangji?" Jiang Cheng asked, walking in.
Wei Ying flinched. "No. Saturday dinner." He said, not divulging any further details. Jiang Cheng smiled cheekily.
"Can I come?"
Oh no. No. No. No. Not again. This is not going to happen again.
Wei Ying frowned, his whole face scrunching, he said darkly "If you come with me, I will tell aunty Yu what happened last Tuesday." Jiang Cheng's face paled and he held up his arms "Okay. Okay fine I'm not going with you"
Wei Ying looked at him, narrowing his eyes, he walked over and chose a pair of black boots, he muttered, putting the shoes on, "Good."
"Although I can't guarantee that I won't snitch on you to mom"
Wei Ying glared again. Before he could say something, Yu Ziyuan walked in, "tell me what?" "Oh nothing aunty!" "He's going on a date!" Jiang Cheng snitched immediately pointing at Wei Ying like a little kid. Wei Ying shot him a glare before looking back at his aunt. "Oh? Really? Well then Wei Ying, good luck. Let's hope you'll bring him over to meet us before you cause any trouble and give everyone a heart attack."
He sputtered. Really, what was his aunty insinuating? "It's not—its–its nothing like that. Au–Aunty!" Yu Ziyuan crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow "nothing like that? Are you suggesting that I think it's something more than a reunion?" She asked "...is it something more than just a simple reunion?" She added a few seconds later, smiling amusedly. Wei Ying waved his hands around, still flustered, "Well. Just have fun, don't do anything you will regret I suppose."
"Regret? Wh–What's there to regret? There would be absolutely nothing to regret since we are absolutely just–" Wei Ying's frantic justification was cut off, "–friends? Because of course, friends, no, sorry, best friends definitely look at each other like that." Jiang Cheng finished for him, nodding to himself in approval. Yu Ziyuan, seemingly unfazed by the chaos, continued smoothly "If it's really nothing, as you insist, then there's no reason to panic, is there?"
Wei Ying groaned dramatically, dragging his hands down his face, mindful of not ruining his hair. Yu Ziyuan's lips twitched in the faintest smile and she said "are you getting late? Wouldn't want to miss a precious reunion" all she got in response was a groan and hurried footsteps, a door opening and slamming shut and then snickering.
___
"Love me, love me, say that you love me, fool me, fool me, go on and fool me" the cafe speakers sing, the workers humming along.
Ok. Wei Ying don't let aunt's words get to you. This is not a date, not a date, just friends, we're just friends.
This is not a date.
but, what if it was?
Wei Ying trips on his own feet at the thought provided so graciously by his own brain. ok, what the fuck was that? This is not a date Wei Ying, get it together. Lan Zhan does not like you.
he enters the cafe, still simmering in his own thoughts and promptly forgets how to breathe when he looks up. It's Lan Zhan, dressed in white, hair in a half up-half down. He looks up and those golden eyes bore straight into Wei Ying's soul. Lan Zhan is so handsome. Wei Ying slaps himself loudly, Lan Zhan looks slightly concerned.
Wei Ying, still embarrassed, gives a small awkward laugh and takes his seat. "Wow, great atmosphere huh?" He asks.
"Wei Ying are you okay?" Lan Zhan asks, straight forward, now eyeing the fading red mark on his face attentively. "Ah, hah, no, I'm fine Lan Zhan!" Wei Ying says, still nervously laughing.
"Wei Ying would you like some ointment for tha-" Wei Ying cuts him off "Lan Zhan I'm fine really," then his grin turns cheeky "if anyone saw you fussing over me like that, they might think you're my boyfriend" he leans over a little and Lan Zhan's eyes zero in on the slight sliver of collar bone showing through his shirt.
"Mn." Says Lan Zhan, Wei Ying completely shell-shocked, misses the blush rising high on his ears. "Eh, ha-haha—Lan Zhan you should really mind what you say, take care of your best friend's fragile heart!" He gives one of his awkward laughs, planting a hand to his chest and slumping in his seat dramatically.
"Mn. Of course" Lan Zhan indulges.
They exchange a few more words and the waitress, by then, comes to take their orders.
"And what will you two be having today?"
"Oh can I have the Kung Pao chicken and braised pork belly, and wontons with chilli oil, extra spicy please—oh and Lan Zhan? You?"
"I would like the braised eggplant, mapo tofu and scallion pancakes paired with Jasmine tea. That will be all. Thankyou"
Wei Ying blinks at him "Lan Zhan, that's it?"
"Mn." Lan Zhan replies
"For all your elegance, you have always had the eating habits of an old man Lan Zhan" Wei Ying remarks, smug-grin in place.
Lan Zhan doesn't look offended, in fact, there's a ghost of a smile tugging on his lips, he leans slightly forward "and you" he says soft and even, "eat like a child let loose in a market"
Wei Ying gasps in mock outrage. “Rude! I just appreciate flavour, Lan Zhan! It’s called passion!”
“Mess,” Lan Zhan corrects under his breath.
“Excuse me!?” Wei Ying gapes, then bursts into laughter, bright and loud enough that a few nearby diners glance over. Lan Zhan just watches him, a faint warmth in his gaze that lingers long after the laughter fades.
The waitress comes back with their dishes just a few more minutes later, "Alright, sirs, enjoy your meal and please let me know if there's any problem, now, then I won't disturb your date any further, you two are so cute!" She gushes slightly.
Lan Zhan only nods, stilted but unnoticeable "Mn."
With that, the waitress is gone, leaving behind a shocked Wei Ying.
"Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan! Why did you say yes? Why did you nod at her?" He asks, Lan Zhan blinks once, "she was being polite."
"But-thats-Lan Zhan!"
"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan cuts him off mid-hand wave "you should eat." He says, handing him a piece of scallion pancake and smoothly changing topics
It is silent for the rest of dinner, neither knowing what to say. Even after years of knowing each other, Wei Ying for once in his life, stays silent. Not because he didn't have things to say but because he doesn't know how exactly to say them.
They are bestfriends. Yes that's it. sure, they hangout often and are way closer than normal but that's just how friendships are. And sure more than one person has assumed they were in a relationship back in college but that's only because one could never be seen without the other. And sure, Wei Ying thinks Lan Zhan is beautiful in that quiet, untouchable, god-like way but that's just normal isn't it? They are definitely just friends and Wei Ying just really likes Lan Zhan. That's it!
He stares at Lan Zhan sipping his steaming tea and thinks only one thing—Lan Zhan is so handsome. He mentally slaps himself again. Wei Ying get your thoughts in control!
Realisation hits, just a moment later, wait what? he really likes Lan Zhan.
He really likes Lan Zhan
Oh.
Oh.
"Wei Ying, shall we leave? I have already paid the bill."
Wei Ying snaps out of his spiral, his voice softer than usual. “Oh—yes, Lan Zhan, let’s go.”
They step out together, shoulders brushing now and then, the silence stretching between them—comfortable, but humming with something new— The tension of newfound realisations. The night air is cool, the streetlights catching on Lan Zhan’s hair like pale gold. Wei Ying’s thoughts are still spinning out of control, I like Lan Zhan, I like Lan Zhan looping in his head like a broken record.
He doesn’t even notice they’ve reached his building until Lan Zhan’s voice breaks the quiet.
“Wei Ying,” he says, steady and low, “today was… enjoyable.”
“Lan Zhan—” Wei Ying cuts in, blurting before he can lose his nerve. “I need to tell you something.” He squeezes his eyes shut, words tumbling out all at once. “I—Lan Zhan, I think—I really like you.”
He lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, and the silence that follows feels endless. Panic creeps up his throat. He suddenly tries turning away to hurry into the apartment so he can wallow in his embarrassment alone. “Lan Zhan? Uh—haha, you can just ignore that, actually, I was just joki—”
A gentle tug stops him mid-turn.
“Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan says quietly, fingers still wrapped around his wrist, “won’t you like to know my answer?”
Wei Ying’s heart lurches. “Eh? I—what?”
“I like you too.”
It’s said so simply, so certainly, that Wei Ying’s brain nearly short-circuits.
“You—what? Really?”
“Mn.” Lan Zhan’s voice softens. “Since the first day of college.”
Wei Ying blinks, the world going soft around the edges. He doesn’t know what to say, doesn’t need to, really. Lan Zhan likes him. That feels like enough.
And then—
“Are you two lovebirds done?” Jiang Cheng’s voice cuts in, loud and dry from the balcony above. He leans lazily on the railing, picking at his nails like he didn’t just ruin the most important moment of Wei Ying’s life.
Lan Zhan’s expression shifts instantly, warm ease replaced with frosty composure. Wei Ying groans. “Must you be so insufferable?”
“Hey, I’m just doing my job as a good younger brother. Anyway, Mom’s looking for you, so hurry your ass up,” Jiang Cheng says, already turning back inside.
Wei Ying sighs, then looks up at Lan Zhan again—softly, shy in a way that feels unfamiliar. “I guess I’ll have to go.”
Before he can second-guess himself, he leans in, pressing a quick, fleeting kiss to Lan Zhan’s cheek. “Goodnight, Lan Zhan,” he whispers, voice barely steady, and slips inside.
Lan Zhan stands there for a long moment, frozen in place, the ghost of that kiss still lingering on his skin. Then, slowly, he raises his hand and waves toward the closed door, his expression faintly dazed.
“Goodnight, Wei Ying,” he murmurs, and walks off. The city hums in its nightlife, but for Lan Zhan, everything is softer and quieter.
Like something he had been waiting for, had finally, softly begun.