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In Cloud Recesses Private Academy at Gusu, there were two occasions students anticipated the most: the year-end ceremony, where every student lit up lanterns and watched them float gently into the night sky, and the Home Economics project for final-year students.

On the other hand, there were two occasions students dreaded the most: detention with head disciplinarian Lan Qiren, where they had to copy lines from the school’s four thousand-something rules, and the Home Economics project for final-year students.

Fortunately, (and unfortunately) for Wei Wuxian’s class, the Home Economics project was now upon them.

Wei Wuxian was not one to pay full attention in class. Not because he was lazy, but because he knew everything the laoshi was rambling on and on about already. This time, however, his eyes were locked onto their teacher. His tongue stuck out between his teeth in concentration as he fiddled with his pen.

“I repeat,” said their Home Economics teacher. “This project lasts for the entire semester and is worth forty percent of your final grade. The rules are simple. Each student will be paired up with another at random. Both of you must take care of a fake baby, which has been engineered to imitate the common behaviors of a six-month-old infant. They can cry, burp, laugh, wail, fall asleep, wake up, and even—” the teacher paused, stifling a cough, “excrete.”

The entire class shifted restlessly. No one wanted to know how exactly this toy child was able to pee.

“You and your partner are tasked to take care of this fake baby. You must feed it, change its diapers, bathe it, put it to sleep, wake it up… everything a caretaker does to a child. This is the ultimate test of the homemaking abilities you have built over the past three years. Of course, you still have your other classes and coursework to attend to, so I don’t expect you to take care of it full-time. The baby is programmed to activate only outside of school hours.”

Half the class furrowed their brows as they caught on to what this meant. After school, they were already swamped with mountains of coursework, exams, and even extra lessons to prepare for university. Now they had a baby to take care of, on top of all that. The allure of this legendary project quickly began to dwindle, giving way to dread.

“Points will be tracked based on how punctual and adept you are in taking care of the baby. The baby records when you feed it, bathe it, change its clothes, and even whether you rock it to sleep properly. It will remember if you forget to burp the baby after feeding, or if you let it cry for hours on end without attending to it. The points will be converted to the final grade of your project, which, I will remind you again, is worth forty percent of this class’s grade.” At the mention of grades, half the students’ shoulders sagged, as if an invisible weight was suddenly thrust upon them.

“Of course, the top-scoring pair will be rewarded handsomely. You will enjoy a dinner at a five-star restaurant. Where you will be dining has yet to be decided, but rest assured that all expenses will be covered.”

At this, everyone’s mouths began to water, including Wei Wuxian’s. Living with the Jiang family, he never exactly starved, not when Jiang Yanli indulged him with delicious lotus root soup. But he couldn’t stuff himself with his favorite food either, out of guilt and respect for Jiang Fengmian, who took him in.

Wei Wuxian didn’t care about the final grade of this taxing project—as long as he didn’t absolutely botch it by somehow killing the baby, he wouldn’t fail the class. But a fancy dinner, all expenses paid? He joined in with the other students who sighed dreamily. He, like everyone else, was sick of Cloud Recesses’ bland hospital food that they served in the cafeteria. Shouldn’t teens be getting their nutrients from something other than plain rice, bland soup, and bitter vegetables?

He almost didn’t catch their teacher’s final announcement. “The list of pairs will be posted on the bulletin board after this class period is over. Remember, except in the case of a force majeure, you are not allowed to switch pairs. Good luck.”

“Wei-xiong, you’re not anxious?” said Nie Huaisang, already a ball of nerves before they even reached the bulletin board where the list of names was posted.

“Why would I be?” Wei Wuxian shrugged, putting both hands behind his head. “I won’t fail the class, and it doesn’t matter who my partner is.”

“It should!” Nie Huaisang nearly wailed. “Wei-xiong, haven’t you heard?”

“Aaah, you mean about how at least one pair will end up together by the end?” They had reached the bulletin board. It was so crowded that Wei Wuxian could barely spot the paper posted on it.

It was a rumor he had heard since his first days at Cloud Recesses. At least one pair from the home economics final exam would become a couple. This happened every year, without fail. Wei Wuxian didn’t get how feeding and changing the diapers of a doll could foster love between students, but this year, he was determined to find out. Whoever the lucky pair would be, he would barrage them with questions about this irrational phenomenon.

On top of that, there was also another rumor: because they were at the age of presenting their secondary genders, there was always at least one student who presented during or after the exam. The current hypothesis circling among students was that the experience of taking care of a baby—and with a partner, no less—was very stimulating. This was especially true for omegas, but over the years, some students had presented as alphas, too.

If Wei Wuxian was skeptical when he heard the first rumor, the second one intrigued him. Presenting made more sense than falling in love, in his opinion. Wei Wuxian hadn’t presented himself, but he wasn’t too worried about it. He’d probably be a beta. An alpha was less likely, he thought, because the Jiang household was full of them already. Jiang Cheng had presented before him, which irked him a bit, but what was he supposed to do? It wasn’t like you could force these things to happen.

He was so busy mulling over this that he failed to catch Nie Huaisang’s words at all. “And if you’re stuck with a bad partner, not only will you get a bad grade, you might also be put off by your partner’s scent… ugh, I don’t know, Wei-xiong, this exam sounds like a nightmare already.”

Wei Wuxian squinted at the bulletin board. “I can’t see anything… ‘Scuse me!” He tried his best to sneak between the students standing shoulder to shoulder. “Hey, sorry, coming through… Just wanna see who my partner is, can you find the name Wei Wuxian?”

When Wei Wuxian reached the front of the crowd, he didn’t expect to find a familiar face. “Jiang Cheng! Man, if you’re already here, you could’ve told me who my partner is and saved me the trouble… what’s with that face?”

Jiang Cheng’s lips were pressed in a thin line. He turned to stare at Wei Wuxian with hard eyes. “I just found your name, alright.” He pointed to a line on the paper. “Good luck.”

Wei Wuxian followed his finger and made a noise that sounded like a choke and a curse that would definitely send Lan Qiren into an enraged lecture.

He was paired up with Lan Wangji!

Before Wei Wuxian could react, another wave of students rushed to the bulletin board. He was pushed and shoved aside until, inadvertently, he was out of the sea of humans. “Ow, ow, ow… aiyo, these people couldn’t be any more vicious,” Wei Wuxian mumbled. He scanned the crowd, wondering if Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng were still in the center of the crowd, but his eyes landed on a figure next to him. Suddenly, he perked up. “Oh! Lan Zhan!”

Lan Wangji, the xueba—honor student, second son of Cloud Recesses’ director, and the nephew of head disciplinarian Lan Qiren (and a younger, more handsome version of him due to his strictness), stared at Wei Wuxian with indecipherable eyes. Wei Wuxian stared back with a grin, but he couldn’t help but drown in those twin pools of amber. Lan Wangji’s eyes were calm, some might even argue they were cold, but looking at each other like this, Wei Wuxian could sense a drop of warmth. He even dared himself to believe that, if he extended his hand and poked Lan Wangji enough, he could turn that trickle into a waterfall.

“Wei Ying.”

That was all. Wei Wuxian sighed at having his train of thought interrupted, but he couldn’t really complain. Lan Wangji had a wonderfully deep voice that felt like a caress to his ears. Wei Wuxian shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“Did you see the pairing list? I guess we’re gonna be taking care of a little one together!”

Lan Wangji blinked slowly. His face betrayed no change in expression. Wei Wuxian tilted his head. Was he glad? Was he upset? He could never tell with this guy. He was a pure white stone wall! Wei Wuxian felt the urge to break it down so he could understand Lan Wangji, one brick at a time.

“Look,” Wei Wuxian rambled on to hide his confusion and awkwardness. “I’ve never really taken care of kids before, but it shouldn’t be too hard, yeah? Like, I can’t say I’m good, because I’ve never done it, but it’s not like I can kill it or anything. That’s what matters, isn’t it? Of course, knowing you, you want to get the top score. Isn’t that right, Lan-er-gege?” He didn’t give Lan Wangji a chance to speak, even when he saw him opening his mouth. “Me too. I want that all-expenses-paid dinner. With the two of us, we’re gonna be the best parents this damn school has ever seen!”

“Mn,” Lan Wangji finally got a word in. And just like that, Wei Wuxian shut up. “Wei Ying will do great. I am certain of it.” While saying this in that melodious low voice of his, Lan Wangji looked at Wei Wuxian with so much conviction that it was painful.

“Oh…” Wei Wuxian’s mind short-circuited for a moment. But he was someone who could recover quickly, or he would change his last name to Lan. “Of course! Who do you think I am?”

Some idiot who clearly doesn’t know the first thing about babies, that’s who I am, Wei Wuxian thought to himself as he dumbly stared at a naked robotic baby. Its skin was pale, its soft hair was inky black, and most importantly, it was activated right now, so its lips opened and closed as it babbled incoherently. A thought crossed Wei Wuxian’s mind. Did a voice actor record this? Or did they get a real baby?

Right now, Wei Wuxian was in Lan Wangji’s room. It wasn’t the first time he visited Lan Wangji’s house—they were, after all, classmates. Lan Wangji’s house was in the heart of the Lan residential complex, right behind Cloud Recesses. Meanwhile, the Jiang family residence was a few blocks away, so he and Jiang Cheng had to take the bus. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji agreed that it was easier to keep the robot baby at Lan Wangji’s place.

By the way, Lan Wangji was also staring at the babbling toy with his typical deadpan. His arms hung awkwardly by his side as he blinked slowly. If Wei Wuxian wasn’t as clueless, he’d laugh. Lan-er-gege’s confused state was much too amusing!

Except it didn’t last long. If Wei Wuxian prided his quick recovery, Lan Wangji was quicker. He grabbed a school-issued diaper and swiftly put it on the robot with skilled hands. He followed up by dressing it in clean clothes. Watching Lan Wangji’s practiced movements, Wei Wuxian could only gape.

“How… Where did you learn how to do that?”

“Parenting books,” said Lan Wangji calmly. He was already cradling the robot in his arms, rocking it back and forth as it continued babbling. Its impossibly realistic eyes looked at Lan Wangji with… well, Wei Wuxian would describe it as curiosity or wonder, but what did he know about robot babies?

“Parenting books…” Wei Wuxian echoed incredulously. “Did your uncle tell you to?”

But then he caught himself. Some families, especially the more traditional ones, indeed equipped their children with knowledge about roles and responsibilities that alphas, betas, and omegas traditionally took on. But since when had the Lan clan produced a male that was anything but an alpha?

“Wait, sorry,” said Wei Wuxian before Lan Wangji could answer. “Have you… presented?” Having not presented himself, Wei Wuxian couldn’t pick up any scent from Lan Wangji.

Lan Wangji nodded imperceptibly. “I am an alpha,” he said smoothly. “However, I believe parenting knowledge is essential for anyone who wishes to raise a child.”

The robot in Lan Wangji’s arms began cooing, as if agreeing with him. Wei Wuxian glanced at it and briefly wondered exactly how trained the AI was. He smiled. “You sure are something, Lan-er-gege. It’s so comfy in your arms already.”

“He.”

“What?”

“The baby is male.”

Wei Wuxian ignored the fact that Lan Wangji was addressing the amalgamation of plastics, metal, silicone, fiber, and who-knows-what-else as a human. Between the two of them, he always thought Lan Wangji would be the pragmatic one. The no-nonsense one who viewed everything literally. But five minutes with this toy, and he had begun treating it like it was his actual pup… Huh. Lan Wangji would be a very responsible real dad, then.

Wei Wuxian chased the thought away as quickly as it came. “Oh?” He grinned. “Have you checked, Lan Zhan?”

Lan Wangji gave Wei Wuxian a blank stare. “I changed him, after all.”

Wei Wuxian snorted. “Ha! Lan Zhan, you’re so straightforward.”

“Wei Ying should learn how to do this, too.”

“Haha, you’re right, you’re right.” Wei Wuxian casually rolled the sleeves of his uniform. “The project is a team effort, after all. Can’t have you do all the work while I just enjoy the fruits of your labor, as tempting as it sounds. Give it—er, give him to me.” He extended his arms. He didn’t have a clue how to handle a baby, but Lan Wangji learned it from parenting books, for heaven’s sake, so it shouldn’t be that hard, right?

“If that is how Wei Ying views it,” Lan Wangji said. He carefully placed the robot baby in Wei Wuxian’s arms, adjusting its head so it was properly supported. “I mentioned that Wei Ying should learn how to do this… because parenting is a team effort.”

Wei Wuxian nearly dropped the baby.

Aside from his fast recovery, Wei Wuxian prided his ability to pick up new skills quickly. With some instructions from Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian handled the baby with great care. In just a few minutes, it was babbling in Wei Wuxian’s arms. Wei Wuxian mimicked the rocking motion he saw Lan Wangji performed with a grin. “I’m a natural at this.”

Lan Wangji nodded firmly. “Wei Ying is.”

Wei Wuxian sputtered. If he didn’t have such a comfortably firm hold on the baby, he would have dropped it again. “Aiyah, Lan Zhan,” he said. His voice came out slightly breathy. “Didn’t expect you to be so generous with your compliment.” He had to be careful, lest he became greedy and chase those compliments to the end of the world, and then what would happen to him?

“Wei Ying deserves to know when he has done something well,” Lan Wangji states. “Look, he is even snuggling up to you.”

They both looked down at the baby in Wei Wuxian’s arms. Wei Wuxian stilled. The baby’s head was pressed close to Wei Wuxian’s chest. His arms were tucked in, and his babbles grew softer as he blinked slowly, slowly…

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian watched in astonishment when the baby undoubtedly fell asleep, chest rising and falling in even breaths. His long eyelashes cast soft shadows on his smooth, pale skin, while his lips parted slightly as he snored.

Something stirred in Wei Wuxian then. Something primal. It was foreign, but not really, as if it had been lying dormant inside him all along, waiting for the right time to show itself. It moved him to whisper, “We should name him.”

There was a beat of silence. “I mean,” Wei Wuxian laughed lightly, “we gotta call him something, yeah? We have a long report to fill, after all.”

“…Mn. Does Wei Ying have any name suggestions?”

“Uh…” Wei Wuxian’s eyes darted around. Between naming his thrifted electric guitar “Suibian” and an ugly donkey plushie that he won from an arcade “Little Apple," he didn’t exactly have good sense in naming a baby.

A toy, he corrected himself. But a toy baby, nonetheless. It should have a proper human name, right? He racked his brain, trying to extract a glimmer of inspiration from the many poems he had to read for class. If he could find a good name to impress Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian might as well pass the rest of his language classes.

His gaze landed on the Lan family estate’s garden, visible through the window. He used to laugh at how the Lan family was so proper that they even grew their own food. But honestly? After seeing the price of groceries, Wei Wuxian could only grind his teeth and wish the Jiang family estate were big enough to grow his own crops. Or maybe he could sneak into Lan Wangji’s house and pester him into sharing some of their yields?

“Yuan,” Wei Wuxian blurted out. “How about A-Yuan?”

Lan Wangji blinked. “Yuan, as in…?”

“Yeah, look.” Wei Wuxian gestured for Lan Wangi to grab the printout they were given. They were supposed to fill it with the baby’s name, the parents’ names (Wei Wuxian sputtered at this—parents?), its height and weight (as if these numbers could change), and its daily routine and activities. Lan Wangji had already recorded their experience in changing, dressing, and putting the baby to sleep. He had also meticulously filled in the baby’s physical attributes, except for his name. “Yuan, as in garden. What do you think?”

If Lan Wangji silently questioned Wei Wuxian’s suggestion, he didn’t show it, which Wei Wuxian appreciated. Instead, he only said, “That can be his nickname, if Wei Ying wishes. However, I have a suggestion for the writing of his name.”

Using a mechanical pencil, he carefully wrote in neat strokes: Yuan. To wish.

 “That’s…” Wei Wuxian inhaled deeply. “A great name,” he finished lamely. As expected from Lan-er-gege. “Let’s go with that. He should have a last name, too.”

Wei Wuxian was surprised to find Lan Wangji’s ears a light shade of pink. Was it from the compliment, or the mention of a last name? Either way, this was such a rare and adorable sight that Wei Wuxian wanted to see more and more of. So he pressed on, “He should have yours! Lan Yuan, doesn’t that sound great?”

“I…” Lan Wangji seemed to be at a loss for words. Lan Wangji! Of all people! Now this is a new sight Wei Wuxian couldn’t get enough of. He wondered how many new expressions he could force out of Lan Wangji. “If Wei Ying is alright with it.”

If Wei Wuxian wasn’t rocking a sleeping A-Yuan, he would wave his hand and seize the printout and pencil himself. “Aiyah, of course I do! Just write down the name of our baby, Lan Zhan!”

The bark of laughter that Wei Wuxian let out at the sight of Lan Wangji’s now-red ears was too much for the baby (or whatever sensor he was equipped with). A-Yuan woke up with a small wail, and Wei Wuxian hurriedly shushed him back to sleep.

Thus, a colorful six months began for Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, and their (robot) baby A-Yuan.

They quickly settled into a routine. Every day after school, Wei Wuxian would walk back with Lan Wangji to the Lan clan’s housing complex, where A-Yuan was waiting in his makeshift crib. The “crib” in question was just a bunch of spare wooden planks that Wei Wuxian found in one of the club rooms and assembled with a trusty hammer, but they were comfortably lined with Wei Wuxian’s and Lan Wangji’s softest jackets.

“Would you look at that,” Wei Wuxian said after laying down Lan Wangji’s pristine white coat over his own black hoodie. “Looks like a nest for our little pup.”

Lan Wangji’s reddening ears and slightly widening eyes showed that he interpreted Wei Wuxian’s nonsense chatter as anything but.

Wei Wuxian grinned. He wanted to tease Lan Wangji some more, but then he caught a whiff of sandalwood. He swore he had never smelled this particular manly aroma before, and yet something inside him relaxed and basked in strange comfort.

“Huh,” Wei Wuxian began sniffing the air. “Say, Lan Zhan. Are you wearing any cologne?”

“…No.”

“Huh. Is it your room diffuser then?” Wei Wuxian eyed the offending item on the other side of the room. “But why is it so strong all of a sudden…”

At that moment, A-Yuan began to cry.

They both looked down immediately. Lan Wangji made to move, but Wei Wuxian was quicker. He scooped A-Yuan into his arms and started rocking the baby back and forth in practiced motions. “What is it, A-Yuan?” Wei Wuxian cooed. “You’ve got your diaper, you’ve been fed, you’re not uncomfortable, are you? Or was it a nightmare?” He blinked and looked up. Trying his best to cover A-Yuan’s ears, he whispered to Lan Wangji. “Their algorithm can’t just… make up nightmares, right?”

“…I am not certain.”

“Haha, I guess not. Surely?” Wei Wuxian shrugged and continued cradling A-Yuan. Faintly, he sensed the sandalwood smell growing stronger, but he brushed it off. A-Yuan came first. “Sleep now, A-Yuan,” Wei Wuxian whispered close to the baby’s ear. “Your a-die and a-niang have to do their biology homework after this.”

He sneaked a glance at Lan Wangji and grinned when he caught sight of familiar red ears. The grin was immediately wiped off his face as a strong sandalwood scent enveloped his senses.

…Was this Lan Wangji’s scent? Why could he smell it, all of a sudden?!

“Wei Ying is getting better at calming A-Yuan down,” Lan Wangji commented, snapping Wei Wuxian out of his panic. Indeed, A-Yuan had fallen back to sleep.

“Oh, um…” If Wei Wuxian’s hands weren’t occupied, he would scratch his head. His eyes looked at anything in Lan Wangji’s organized bedroom aside from the owner. “Haaa, Lan Zhan…  I’m still not used to your compliments, after all. Warn a guy, would you?”

“Mn. Let us tuck him in.” Lan Wangji moved to take A-Yuan from Wei Wuxian’s arms.

“Huh. Usually, you want to look at him for longer, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian commented, but he let A-Yuan leave his embrace anyway. They had done this exchange so many times now that it felt like muscle memory. Wei Wuxian knew how to position his arms and where to put his hands so A-Yuan could remain asleep.

Lan Wangji bent down and placed A-Yuan back in his crib. When he straightened up, he looked at Wei Wuxian and said smoothly, “As Wei Ying says, a-die and a-niang have biology homework to complete.”

Wei Wuxian couldn’t focus on biology homework that day.

Their routine continued. Wei Wuxian was practically treating Lan Wangji’s room as his second home. He tiptoed around the halls to sneak to the kitchen, but was disappointed to find not a single can of coffee or energy drink. He was half-tempted to bang on the door that he knew led to Lan Qiren’s home office. He occasionally crossed paths with Lan Xichen, Lan Wangji’s much more amicable older brother, who always looked at Wei Wuxian with a serene smile that hinted at something Wei Wuxian didn’t understand.

“I trust the home economics project is going well?” Lan Xichen ventured during one of their coincidental meetings, after Wei Wuxian returned from the kitchen to refill his water.

“It is. We’ve pretty much settled into a routine.” Wei Wuxian practically spent more time in Lan Wangji’s bedroom than his own these days.

“That is wonderful to hear! Wangji has been… rather joyful recently.”

Wei Wuxian snorted. “Has he, now?” With which sixth sense could Lan Xichen look at his brother’s plain white wall of a face and conclude that he was joyful?

“Yes. He looks more serene, too.”

“Serene…” With him around? Wei Wuxian laughed deprecatingly. If anything, Lan Wangji was tolerating him because the Second Young Master would accept nothing less than perfection for this project.

When Wei Wuxian opened the door to Lan Wangji’s bedroom, he saw A-Yuan nestled safely in Lan Wangji’s arms. Lan Wangji had probably rocked him to sleep but was now only staring at the baby with an unreadable expression on his face. Upon closer inspection, A-Yuan’s small hand had a tight hold on Lan Wangji’s index finger.

Wei Wuxian looked at Lan Wangji’s downcast eyes, studying how he was studying the baby.

Was this what Lan Xichen meant by serene? The faint scent of sandalwood permeated the air. At that moment, every force in the universe seemed to draw him towards Lan Wangji’s figure, holding a sleeping A-Yuan. His protective stance as he cradled the baby close to his chest. His gentle eyes, which reflected flecks of gold, looked thoughtful, as if imagining a future with A-Yuan. His big hands, which could carry the guqin like it weighed nothing and manipulated the strings as if they were extensions of his fingers, now held A-Yuan’s with the lightest of touches. His prominent nose, his perfectly sculpted cheekbones, his lips, which were usually pressed flat but now carried the ghost of a smile…

Lan Wangji looked up, meeting Wei Wuxian’s dumbfounded stare. For some reason, his nose twitched minutely. “Wei Ying?”

“Ah,” Wei Wuxian stuttered. He forced himself to tear his gaze away from Lan Wangji—a herculean feat, truly. His eyes landed on the wall clock, which read 8:50 pm. “Uh… maybe I should go home for the night.” To be fair, it didn’t matter at what time he arrived back at the Jiang estate. No one was waiting for him (he insisted Jiang Yanli not wait for him). Besides, he had his own key, so all he had to do was sneak in without making any noise. It was more a matter of 9 pm being Lan Wangji’s bedtime, which, Wei Wuxian thought, was ridiculously early for teenagers like them. But if he said this, they would only be arguing in circles.

Lan Wangji followed his gaze, then slowly put A-Yuan into his crib. “Mn. I will walk you to the bus stop.”

“Aiyah, you really don’t have to do that every time I get back,” Wei Wuxian said, but they both knew this was futile.

Soon, Wei Wuxian finished stuffing his books into his bag. Before leaving, he peeked at A-Yuan’s crib. “Good night, A-Yuan,” he whispered. “See you tomorrow.” He couldn’t help but blow A-Yuan a kiss.

Wei Wuxian whipped around, catching a whiff of sandalwood along the way. It couldn’t be Lan Wangji’s scent, so the diffuser must be pretty strong. Or could it have come from whatever fabric softener Lan Wangji used?

“Well! Let’s go, then?”

“Mm.”

After putting on their shoes, Lan Wangji unlocked the front door. They were immediately hit by a strong gust of wind.

“Uwah.” Wei Wuxian shivered. He braced himself, but before he could step out into the cold night air, a thick cardigan had been wrapped around his shoulders. Wei Wuxian turned around to see Lan Wangji wearing only a long-sleeved undershirt. “Lan Zhan, you can’t…”

He made to shrug the cardigan off, but Lan Wangji placed both hands on his shoulders. Wei Wuxian shivered again, not from the cold this time, but from how those strong hands felt on him. Comfortable. Warm. Safe.

Like they belonged there, whispered a voice in his head. Wei Wuxian swatted it away like a mosquito.

“Wei Ying needs it more,” said Lan Wangji, and his voice bore no room for further argument. “You have a longer way to go, after all.”

Wei Wuxian sighed, accepting defeat. They walked through the quiet Lan complex. One by one, the residents of each house turned off their lights, no doubt preparing for bed. Wei Wuxian’s voice was the only thing that echoed through the streets. Lan Wangji didn’t try to tell him to keep his voice down. Was it because it wasn’t technically curfew yet?

When Wei Wuxian reached the bus stop, he didn’t even make a show of trying to remove the cardigan for courtesy’s sake. First, because he knew Lan Wangji would insist he wear it for the whole ride back, and second… he was actually getting comfortable in it.

“Oh, that’s mine,” Wei Wuxian piped up at the approaching bus. He quickly felt around his pocket for his phone. “Good night, Lan Zhan! See you tomorrow!”

“Mm. Have a good night, Wei Ying. I will see you tomorrow.”

Wei Wuxian used his phone to pay, walked through the ticket gate, and gave one last wave at Lan Wangji before he disappeared inside the bus. Lan Wangji didn’t wave back, but the gentle stare directed his way was enough. Or was Wei Wuxian seeing things because it was dark?

He didn’t have much time to think about it. Wei Wuxian located an empty seat, put on headphones, and leaned his head against the window. It wasn’t even 9 pm, but somehow, he felt drowsy. He couldn’t help but snuggle into the thick cardigan. The soft fabric caressed his skin, the masculine scent of sandalwood soothed his senses, and the guqin instrumental music from his QQ Music (it came up when he hit shuffle, no, really) might not have been as beautiful as Lan Wangji’s playing, but it was an okay replacement. Slowly but surely, he drifted off to sleep.

Wei Wuxian prided his body for being able to wake up automatically when the bus was approaching his stop, but he had to reluctantly admit he almost missed it this time. That night, he threw himself onto the bed, Lan Wangji’s cardigan and all. He’d take a shower in the morning.

On their way to school the next morning, Jiang Cheng looked at him with narrow eyes. “You smell.”

Wei Wuxian gasped in mock offense. “Excuse me? I showered this morning!”

Jiang Cheng wouldn’t humor him. “I meant the other kind of smell.”

“What?” Wei Wuxian blinked a few times. “You’re… I’m not supposed to smell like anything.” He hadn’t presented, after all.

“So why can I smell…” Jiang Cheng paused to think. “Sandalwood on you?”

Wei Wuxian gulped. No way. There was no way, was it? An alpha’s scent wouldn’t last overnight unless strong, possessive feelings were involved, especially on someone who hadn’t presented like him. It wouldn’t stick to him just because of prolonged proximity. Otherwise, Wei Wuxian would have reeked like Jiang Cheng, or Jiang Yanli, or even Jiang Fengmian by now.

“Huh… I wonder why?” Wei Wuxian laughed out loud to deafen the whirring of the gears in his head. “Uh, Lan Zhan lent me his cardigan last night, and I fell asleep while still wearing it…” Speaking of, he had forgotten to bring that cardigan with him this morning. Crap.

Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow, knowing full well that was not a valid explanation. He only said, “Oh, so it’s Lan Wangji. That’s unexpected.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve no clue what he sees in you, but well, just know what you’re getting into. You always complain about the Lan clan having a permanent stick up their ass.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?!”

But Jiang Cheng had put on earphones, effectively tuning him out.

Wei Wuxian couldn’t focus on class that day. Not that he needed to—he knew all these things already. His hands were playing with pieces of paper he tore out of his notebook. When he looked down, he discovered he had created a lopsided paper doll.

Wei Wuxian smiled to himself. Forget the sandalwood smell (which, by the way, Nie Huaisang also noticed). He got an idea to please A-Yuan and (hopefully) impress Lan Wangji.

“Sorry, I forgot to bring your cardigan today…” Wei Wuxian said when they were walking to Lan Wangji’s house.

“That is no problem,” Lan Wangji said lightly. “Wei Ying can keep it for longer.”

Wei Wuxian narrowed his eyes. A smile played across his lips. “Isn’t it in the Lan family rules to return things that we borrow?”

Lan Wangji hesitated. “Does Wei Ying have no intention to return it?”

Yes, Wei Wuxian almost blurted out. Because, for some reason, last night he had the best sleep he had gotten in literal years. It was softer and more comfortable than any weighted blanket, and the sandalwood scent reminded him of a home he didn’t know he wanted or had. The last time Wei Wuxian felt that much comfort was the night Jiang Fengmian brought him to the Jiang estate and Jiang Yanli fed him soup.

Wei Wuxian couldn’t say all this, could he? So he laughed. “And so what if I do?”

“Then,” Lan Wangji’s reply came without hesitation this time, “Wei Ying can keep it.”

Wei Wuxian cursed in his head as his whole body tingled with electricity. What could he say to that? Guess he was a thief of Lan Wangji’s cardigan now.

Fortunately, Wei Wuxian didn’t have to scramble for a reply, because they had reached Lan Wangji’s house. “I made something!” Wei Wuxian hopped up and down as he took off his shoes. He reached Lan Wangji’s bedroom before the owner himself, and opened the door wide (because of course Lan Wangji didn’t lock his door, he had nothing to hide). Placing his bag on the floor, he opened the zipper and carefully took out something he had sneakily crafted throughout the school day.

“Hey, baobei!” Wei Wuxian greeted A-Yuan, who began to stir at his voice. He didn’t know what drove him to say that recently, but just like how he knew without a shadow of a doubt that the sun would rise, or that Jiang Yanli’s pork lotus soup was the best in the world, or that Lan Wangji had a wonderful sandalwood scent, he knew that it only felt right to call A-Yuan “baobei.”

A-Yuan babbled, his limbs moving this way and that as Wei Wuxian fiddled with the top of his crib. Then, he moved away, revealing an overhead toy made of paper dolls, feathers, and wooden blocks, strung together with pieces of elastic string that made the blocks clatter softly as they clacked against one another. Wei Wuxian even took care to choose white, grey, and beige for the feathers to match Lan Wangji’s bedroom aesthetic. How much more of a genius could he be?

Wei Wuxian beamed at Lan Wangji’s minutely widening eyes and deep intake of breath. “Wei Ying…”

“I made it, yup! Pretty cool, huh? This will keep A-Yuan occupied when we’re not here, I hope.”

It took him a full ten seconds of silence to remember that A-Yuan was not a human baby, but a robot that would only activate when Lan Wangji or Wei Wuxian was in the vicinity.

If Lan Wangji noticed his mistake, he didn’t point it out. Before the smile was fully wiped off Wei Wuxian’s face, he said, “Wei Ying is very considerate. I appreciate it.”

“A-ah…” Wei Wuxian fidgeted. “It’s nothing.” He cleared his throat. “So, uh, what’s the plan today? We don’t have any homework.”

Lan Wangji opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted when A-Yuan let out a wail.

To untrained ears, it sounded like any other incoherent noise a baby would make. But Wei Wuxian knew better. Either by constant exposure or some innate instinct he didn’t know he possessed, he quickly learned to be very good at telling whether A-Yuan was hungry, needed a change in diapers, or simply wanted to play. Not even Lan Wangji’s guesses were as accurate as his—something Wei Wuxian secretly took pride in, especially whenever he received praise from his project partner.

This time, A-Yuan’s cry was unlike anything Wei Wuxian had heard before.

He had A-Yuan in his arms before registering that his body had moved. A second later, Lan Wangji joined his side.

“He’s warm.” Wei Wuxian’s voice cracked with worry after retracting a hand from A-Yuan’s forehead. “I—Lan Zhan, I think he’s sick.”

Lan Wangji gave a firm nod. He placed a hand on Wei Wuxian’s shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze.

“Keep him close,” Lan Wangji whispered, ever so softly, ever so calmly, the way he always was. But for once, it did little to calm Wei Wuxian down. If anything, his breathing quickened at how A-Yuan’s cries grew louder, no matter how much he rocked him, or held his hand, or kissed his forehead, or whispered sweet nothings of, “It’s okay, A-Yuan, baba is here…”

“Where are you going?” Wei Wuxian yelped when he felt Lan Wangji moving away. “Don’t… don’t leave,” he blurted out. He could barely suppress the full sentence of what he wanted to say. Don’t leave us. Don’t leave me.

“I am not.” Lan Wangji took the time to turn his head and send Wei Wuxian a reassuring gaze. “However, I recall that our supplies included a first-aid kit.”

Amid A-Yuan’s wails, Wei Wuxian’s gears took a lot longer than usual to start clicking into place. “A first-aid kit,” he dumbly repeated. Right, there was probably something like that, though he did nothing more than gloss over. Lan Wangji always took care of the nitty-gritty details of recording their activities and checking off supplies, because Wei Wuxian preferred spending time with A-Yuan. After all, Lan Wangji got to spend the whole night with their baby, while he didn’t.

Lan Wangji had returned with said first-aid kit in one hand, while the other held the small handbook that their teacher provided. He was religious about doing everything by the book at first, but he had been checking the guide so much less nowadays that Wei Wuxian had forgotten they had one at all.

Placing the handbook on the bedside table, Lan Wangji opened the first-aid kit and pulled out a thermometer. “Can you please check his temperature?”

Wei Wuxian snatched the thermometer from Lan Wangji’s hand, but fiddled with it in confusion. He still couldn’t think as clearly as he’d like. “Uh, where… exactly? Under his armpit?”

Lan Wangji nodded, eyes back on the handbook. “That should work. While we wait…” He took out several tiny plastic bags filled with different-colored powder-like substances.

“What are those?”

Lan Wangji perused the label on each bag, eyes darting between the packets and the handbook. “Crushed medicinal herbs.”

“We’re supposed to mix the medicine ourselves?!” Wei Wuxian’s distressed yelp was drowned by a particularly loud wail from A-Yuan. “Oops. Sorry, baobei… it’s okay, it’s okay… It won’t hurt for long… or at least,” he muttered that last bit, “it shouldn’t, if only we got the actual medicine instead of having to play pharmacy.”

Lan Wangji didn’t reply, his hands moving quickly to measure different herbs using the small measuring spoons that also came with the packets, even as Wei Wuxian continued muttering mindlessly, “Seriously, all our teachers are lunatics… Haaa, baobei, maybe you shouldn’t study at Cloud Recesses when you’re older, even if your a-die is practically on his way to becoming a teacher there one day. Based on merit, of course! Absolute zero tolerance for nepotism is one of their rules. I think.”

The thermometer beeped, graciously cutting Wei Wuxian off.

“Thirty-eight point five,” Wei Wuxian read. He cringed. “That’s bad, Lan Zhan.” He looked down at A-Yuan, who was now reduced to soft sobs. “Oh, A-Yuan, it must be so uncomfortable…” Wei Wuxian was the type who never cared about checking his temperature. If he felt ill, then he was ill—he didn’t need a concrete measurement of how ill. Yet, looking at A-Yuan’s temperature and his scrunched-up eyebrows, Wei Wuxian’s heart hurt all the same.

Lan Wangji had finished mixing the herbs, and now he was diluting a portion of the medicine in water. “Then he should have about three spoonfuls.” With quick precision, he poured the liquid medicine into a spoon, making sure not to waste a single drop, then brought it close to A-Yuan’s lips.

“Here comes the medicine, A-Yuan,” Wei Wuxian cooed. “Come on, it will make you feel better.”

This always worked whenever Wei Wuxian fed A-Yuan his baby food, and this time was no different. A-Yuan opened his mouth, clamped on the spoon, and swallowed.

The next wail was deafening.

“Is it too bitter?” Wei Wuxian asked with worry. “Of course it is. But, A-Yuan,” his voice dropped to almost a whisper, “you have to take it so you can get better! Okay, baobei?”

A-Yuan still refused to drink another spoonful, his head turning this way and that. But his cries had turned into sniffles, so Wei Wuxian spurred on. He dipped his head, nuzzling A-Yuan’s forehead with his nose. The skin was so smooth, so delicate, and for a breather, Wei Wuxian was so afraid to hurt A-Yuan. But the thought of A-Yuan being unwell hurt him more.

“You can do it, baobei,” Wei Wuxian whispered. “Two spoonfuls, and you’ll be healthy as can be.”

For a brief moment, A-Yuan seemed to be enticed by the promise of recovery. He stopped thrashing about, lips parting slightly.

Lan Wangji, bless him, was a great, albeit silent, teammate throughout all of this. He quickly slipped the spoon into A-Yuan’s open mouth. Wei Wuxian rubbed A-Yuan’s back, leaving him no choice but to swallow.

As expected, A-Yuan cried again. Wei Wuxian’s chest twisted with so many emotions. Hope because they only needed to feed A-Yuan one more spoonful of medicine. Guilt for having to make him taste something awful one more time. Pain at the reminder that A-Yuan was unwell, and he had to take the medicine to heal. Then Wei Wuxian felt guilty again, because to nurse A-Yuan to health, he had to force him to take something unpleasant first. Rinse and repeat.

Lan Wangji reached out a hand, but not the one holding the spoon. He didn’t even use it to placate A-Yuan—instead, he cupped Wei Wuxian’s face.

“Eh…?”

Wordlessly, Lan Wangji swiped a thumb across Wei Wuxian’s cheek. And that was when he realized there was moisture there.

Lan Wangji didn’t comment on how he had cried without realizing it. He simply said, “Perhaps Wei Ying should take a break.” He gestured to the spoonful of medicine. “I will hold him.”

“Ah, Lan Zhan…” Wei Wuxian breathed out, his mind struggling for words. Warmth cut through the pressure in his chest. “That’s so considerate of you.”

“Parenting is a team effort, after all,” said Lan Wangji simply.

Wei Wuxian flashed him a smile. “Thanks, er-gege,” he said nasally. “But I’m okay. I’ll stay with A-Yuan… I can’t leave him.”

Lan Wangji tilted his head. “I never implied that…”

“I know, I know.” Wei Wuxian was now rocking A-Yuan again, hoping to repeat the tactic from before. “I just mean… I want to keep holding him, you know. I don’t know why, but I have this feeling that… he needs me. It has to be me.”

Wei Wuxian felt his throat tightening. He sniffed, and the masculine sandalwood scent in the room soothed his nerves a bit. He didn’t have time to think whether it was Lan Wangji’s room diffuser or Lan Wangji himself. “Not to discredit everything you’ve done, of course! But I just… I feel so… connected to A-Yuan right now. I don’t want him to leave my side. I can’t allow that.”

Allow. Why did he phrase it like that? So possessive all of a sudden…

But Lan Wangji only nodded. “I understand.” He bent lower, whispering to A-Yuan’s other ear. “I hope you heard everything, A-Yuan.”

Wei Wuxian looked the other way. He could feel heat creeping up his face. “That was so dramatic! I can’t believe I said all that. A-Yuan, forget everything baba said and just drink the damn—”

“Wei Ying, language,” Lan Wangji softly interrupted. “And I disagree that it was dramatic. Rather, it was well articulated.”

Wei Wuxian was sure steam was rising from the top of his head now. “Haaa, you’re impossible… Can you forget what I said, at least?”

“I could never forget.”

Silence. Wei Wuxian’s ears buzzed.

Then, they both spoke at the same time.

“W-what?”

“There. Great work, A-Yuan.”

Wei Wuxian looked down and saw Lan Wangji retracting the spoon from A-Yuan’s mouth. Sometime during his parents (wait, parents?) chattering, A-Yuan calmed down, and Lan Wangji seized the chance. A-Yuan swallowed the medicine, cried, thrashed, and kicked, but at least the deed was done. He had downed three spoonfuls of medicine.

Wei Wuxian stared open-mouthed at Lan Wangji’s back as he went to place the spoon on top of a napkin. Lan Wangji’s hand moved skillfully to pack up the first-aid kit, but his ears were slightly pink. “Now, we are supposed to wait for his fever to break,” he said, no doubt having consulted the handbook at some point.

“Okay…” Wei Wuxian extended the syllable. His eyes followed Lan Wangji’s figure as he crossed the room.

“I am going to wash the spoon.”

“Okay.”

A-Yuan was now getting drowsy. Maybe it was the medicine’s quick effect, or maybe he just tired himself, but now it was Wei Wuxian’s turn to shift uncomfortably. There was something in the air between them. It wasn’t tension, exactly. If that was the case, Wei Wuxian would want nothing but to leave, the way he felt in the Jiang estate whenever Madam Yu was present.

It was more like… like when he was flying kites with Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli, and the wind blew his kite far, far away. That feeling, when the string slipped between his fingers, when he watched his beautiful paper kite float somewhere he couldn’t reach, and his legs burned in a race against nature to retrieve his treasured item…

Was this what longing meant?

At that moment, Lan Wangji spoke up from his place lingering at the door. “Wei Ying.”

“Hm?”

“I meant what I said. I could never forget any of your words.”

After saying that, he ducked his head and exited the room, leaving Wei Wuxian with a fresh scent of sandalwood… and fluttering in his stomach.

His feet felt like lead, but Wei Wuxian forced himself to move, anyway. He placed the sleeping A-Yuan carefully in his crib, then ran a hand through his hair. He slumped carelessly onto the floor, next to Lan Wangji’s bed.

What was he supposed to say to that?! His heart was thumping unusually fast, and the heat in his face still hadn’t dissipated. There was no way he was the one catching a fever now, right?

Wei Wuxian leaned his head against the foot of Lan Wangji’s bed with a sigh. He turned his face, entranced by the scent of sandalwood from Lan Wangji’s bed sheet. It was faint and light, definitely not as strong as what he was used to, but it was pleasant all the same.

Curious, Wei Wuxian got up and sat on the bed. Lan Wangji never forbade him to do so—he just preferred sitting cross-legged on the floor. And since Lan Wangji had a low table that they always occupied whenever they did their homework, Wei Wuxian never really got the chance to sit on Lan Wangji’s bed like this.

Lan Wangji’s bed was considered spacious for someone of his build, but Wei Wuxian had a feeling he slept like his personality—rigid. If it were Wei Wuxian, he would toss and turn and roll over all night until the sheets were so crumpled, you wouldn’t believe that they were fresh out of the washer.

From his position, he had a comfortable view of A-Yuan. Wei Wuxian rested his chin on his hand, using his thigh to support his elbow. His lips naturally curved into a smile as he watched A-Yuan sleeping peacefully. Come to think of it, he was getting drowsy, too… It was barely 9 pm. Where was Lan Wangji? How long did it take to wash one small spoon? If Lan Wangji didn’t plan on using his bed tonight, Wei Wuxian would be happy to lay claim to it. To sleep on his pillow, to lie on top of his sheets, to be blanketed by his scent…

The door creaked open at that moment, and Wei Wuxian jolted up. Though he was sure Lan Wangji realized he had been sitting on the bed anyway.

Lan Wangji didn’t say a word. He strode in, placing the now-clean spoon back into the first-aid kit. Then, he glanced at the clock. Lan Wangji had never told him to leave. He would never. He simply said, “It is getting late.”

Wei Wuxian refused to ever say it out loud, but he was getting tired (at the early hour of 9 pm, how humiliating). Yet, after the scare with A-Yuan, he really didn’t want to leave his baby’s side. So he blurted out, “Can I stay here tonight?"

Lan Wangji blinked slowly.

“Uh,” Wei Wuxian reeled back. That was too forward! He began rambling. “You said we need to wait for the fever to break. A-Yuan might wake up in the middle of the night. And I know you need to sleep on time,” he quipped, grabbing his familiar shield that was his sense of humor. “So I figured I should stay here and watch A-Yuan with you. It’s only fair. And besides,” he steeled himself, preparing to cringe again. “I… I also meant what I said. About wanting to stay near A-Yuan, at least for tonight. He… he needs me.”

There it was, the sandalwood scent again. With it came Lan Wangji’s warm voice. “Alright.”

“Oh, but I didn’t bring my clothes with me…”

Lan Wangji’s ears had gone back to their pale color, but now pink was starting to dust the shells again. “Wei Ying can borrow mine. I have a spare toothbrush as well.”

Wei Wuxian grinned. “You’re the best, Lan Zhan. Thanks!”

They quickly got ready for bed—well, Lan Wangji did, because it was close to his actual bedtime. Wei Wuxian, for his part, plopped back onto Lan Wangji’s bed while he waited for him to use the bathroom. Normally, at this hour, he would still be binging videos on Bilibili. So why was he genuinely sleepy? The off-white sheets were cool underneath his fingertips, as if beckoning him to feel the snug texture on his skin. But it wasn’t as if the fabric was anything fancy. The Lan clan disapproved of opulence, after all.

Wei Wuxian managed to stay awake long enough to brush his teeth and change into the long-sleeved shirt and cotton pants Lan Wangji owned. They were around the same height, so the shirt and pants didn’t hang awkwardly on his body, but Lan Wangji had slightly broader shoulders. This meant that the upper sleeves were baggier on Wei Wuxian, which was all well and good, because he enjoyed the texture of the fabric.

When Wei Wuxian returned to Lan Wangji’s room, he was setting up another mattress on the floor.

“Wei Ying can take the bed,” Lan Wangji said, before Wei Wuxian could ask.

“What! No way. I’m the guest here, so I should…”

“Please, I insist.”

Wei Wuxian sighed. He knew they both had their flavor of stubbornness. Secretly, he did want to sleep on Lan Wangji’s bed, but he couldn’t just let the owner sleep on the floor. “The bed can still fit two people. Come on, I won’t move around too much.” I’ll try, he added internally.

Lan Wangji lingered awkwardly next to his bed while Wei Wuxian made himself comfortable. He took the left side, where the bed was pressed against the wall.

“Are you gonna sleep standing, Lan Zhan?” said Wei Wuxian after he lay down. He patted the empty spot next to him. “Come on, don't you have to sleep at exactly nine?”

“…Very well.”

There was rustling next to him when Lan Wangji settled in. It wasn’t exactly spacious, but it wasn’t uncomfortable either. In fact, a thought crossed Wei Wuxian’s mind, I could get used to this. He and Lan Wangji, sharing a bed, with A-Yuan in deep slumber in a crib next to them. Their deep, stable breaths lulled Wei Wuxian to one of the best sleeps he had ever had.

Wei Wuxian woke up to the faint smell of sandalwood and the fresh smell of breakfast.

“Good morning, Wei Ying.”

Wei Wuxian stirred. “Lan Zhan… come back to bed,” he slurred. Later, this would probably embarrass him, but his brain wasn’t functioning in full. “’s still so early…”

There was a soft but pleasant sigh. “It is a weekday. We have school.”

Wei Wuxian groaned loudly. But then his ears perked up when he heard the soft coos of a baby. He sprang up from the bed. “How’s A-Yuan?”

“He is much better.” Lan Wangji was carrying A-Yuan in his arms. “Thanks to you.”

It was still too early in the morning to be praised by Lan Wangji’s dulcet voice. Wei Wuxian was only half awake, but he could feel his cheeks warming up. “You helped a lot too, Lan Zhan, what are you talking about?”

Lan Wangji hummed without replying. He placed A-Yuan back in his crib. It seemed like he had just changed him.

“Wei Ying should eat breakfast. Then, we can head to school together.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.” Lan Wangji gestured to the breakfast he had made. Wei Wuxian blinked a few times and realized there was breakfast for two. His heart warmed at the sight. Well, even though bland Lan food wasn’t his favorite…

“Whoa!” Wei Wuxian’s jaw dropped at the cuisine in front of him. Steaming congee, runny eggs, and light broth were still common Lan food, but Lan Wangji must have added spices and herbs that made the meal smell heavenly to Wei Wuxian’s senses. “Lan Zhan, I didn’t know your kitchen had something other than salt and pepper!” He took a sip of the broth and nearly moaned. “Where did you even learn to cook like this?”

Lan Wangji didn’t deign to reply to the jab, but he answered, “Cookbooks. I know Wei Ying enjoys the rich taste.”

Wei Wuxian almost choked on his broth. “You… You’re too good to me, Lan Zhan.”

“Wei Ying deserves to be treated like this.”

Wei Wuxian’s hand froze from taking a spoonful of congee. His heart thumped faster. Did he? Sharing a bed with Lan Wangji, taking care of a baby together, waking up to the incredible smell of Lan Wangji’s cooking, and serenely eating breakfast together before starting the day… in the Jiang estate, he’d be lucky if he could sip some broth before leaving out the door.

Suddenly, the rich flavor in his tongue tasted like bland rabbit food. Wasn’t this temporary? He wouldn’t have been able to experience this moment with Lan Wangji had A-Yuan not gotten sick. And he wouldn’t be in Lan Wangji’s room in the first place if fate didn’t pair them together for the project.

They were only a month into the project, but Wei Wuxian began dreading the end. After the project was over… where would they stand? Would they be back to being classmates who occasionally got paired together? Would he still be welcomed in Lan Wangji’s bedroom without preamble? And once they graduated…

Wei Wuxian felt heat in the back of his eyes. Crap. Since when had he gotten this sensitive?

He forced himself to finish his portion of the breakfast, because wasting food was frowned upon by the Lan family (and he didn’t like doing it, either). “We should hurry,” he said lightly, knowing full well that they were probably two hours earlier than his usual wake-up time. “Don’t wanna be late for school, huh?”

At school, they discovered that A-Yuan hadn’t been the only baby who had suddenly fallen ill. At least half the class showed up with circles under their eyes.

“It was hell!” Nie Huaisang whined for the fifth time that day. It wasn’t even noon yet. “Mine cried so much and wouldn’t take all the medicine. Do you think laoshi would dock my points because of this?”

“Probably,” said Jiang Cheng, leaning back on his chair. He was grumpier than usual. Wei Wuxian could only imagine what happened with the baby he had to care for. He remembered Jiang Yanli not having much trouble during her project. Sadly, it seemed that the child-rearing skills ended with her. “What about yours?” Jiang Cheng nudged Wei Wuxian next to him. “Dude, you reek of Lan Wangji.”

Wei Wuxian minutely flinched. He jerked more visibly when Nie Huaisang joined in. “Did you have to stay at his house last night? Is that why?”

“Well…”

“So you did,” Jiang Cheng snorted. “Well, I would hope it wasn’t for nothing.”

It hadn’t been for nothing, alright, Wei Wuxian grumbled inwardly. He came out with a healthy baby and too much longing towards everything Lan Wangji was and had to offer that he didn’t know what to do with it.

But he still managed to suppress the complicated stirrings in his chest, stuck out his tongue at Jiang Cheng, and said, “My baby’s healthy as ever, thank you very much!”

In fact, it was probably Wei Wuxian himself who wasn’t doing fine. Usually, he silently played around in class because he didn’t need to pay attention. This time, he couldn’t pay attention to a single word that was being said, even if he wanted to.

Even though he had borrowed Lan Wangji’s bathroom to shower that morning, he still felt surrounded by Lan Wangji’s scent. It couldn’t be from his body soap—Lan Wangji’s products were unscented, as one would expect. So it must have been the lingering effect of sleeping next to him, on his bed, probably curled up to him at some point, too…

Wei Wuxian’s suspicions were confirmed when he entered Lan Wangji’s room that afternoon, and he swore he couldn’t control the way his legs carried him to plop onto Lan Wangji’s bed, instead of greeting A-Yuan in his crib like usual.

“…Wei Ying?”

“Sorry, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian muttered. If he spoke louder than this, his chest would burst. The sheets were made. They were soft and cool on his skin, which conversely grew increasingly warm. He reluctantly had to admit that there was no reasonable explanation for him to act like this. “I’m not feeling like myself today.”

Lan Wangji was by his side within seconds. Even A-Yuan was silent, as if knowing he should give his parents space. Through hazy eyes, Wei Wuxian could barely make out the way Lan Wangji’s eyebrows furrowed in worry.

“Do you think I caught A-Yuan’s fever…?” Wei Wuxian rambled on, tossing and turning on the bed. “Haha, that’s not possible…” Wei Wuxian hid his face in Lan Wangji’s pillow and took a deep inhale. The husky and masculine scent of sandalwood satisfied his senses, but it was not enough. Far from it. He wanted more, more, more, what was wrong with him? Somehow, he still had the clear mind to mutter, “Sorry if I’m messing up your sheets… Oh yeah, your cardigan, too. I still have it with me…” The cardigan. The warm cardigan that hugged him so perfectly and lulled him to one of the most comfortable rests he had ever had, second only to sleeping next to Lan Wangji. Maybe it started his obsession with Lan Wangji’s scent. Or maybe his obsession with Lan Wangji had started way before that. Wei Wuxian couldn’t think clearly.

Lan Wangji’s voice cut through his jumble of thoughts. “Wei Ying.”

He placed a hand on Wei Wuxian’s forehead, and Wei Wuxian could just melt. He wanted that hand to stay there forever, but at the same time, he wanted that hand to explore more parts of him. “Ah?” Wei Wuxian hoped it didn’t sound like a moan.

“I do not think you caught a fever. Rather…”

Wei Wuxian fidgeted with Lan Wangji’s blanket by the foot of the bed. With his foot, he pulled the blanket close to his chest, then unfolded it until it entangled with his limbs. “Rather?”

Lan Wangji hedged. “Wei Ying, have you read of the symptoms of pre-heat?”

For a few seconds, Wei Wuxian could only stare. Of course he knew. Sleepiness. Light fever. Constant need to be surrounded by an alpha’s scent. He had his suspicions, but he was so certain he would just be a beta that the possibility never really crossed his mind.

“Ah… so it really is pre-heat…” Wei Wuxian buried his face into Lan Wangji’s pillow even deeper. “Well, this is embarrassing.”

“There is nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“There is, though!” Somehow, despite his sluggishness, Wei Wuxian found the strength to jolt his head up and glared at Lan Wangji. “Because, at some point, I realized I want you!”

The silence was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. It took a while before Lan Wangji forced out, “I do not see anything wrong with that.”

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian laughed. He was getting into dangerous territory, but he couldn’t even hold the reins of his mouth on a good day, let alone now. “Do you even like me that way?”

“…I have always thought you were aware of my feelings.” Lan Wangji’s words were carefully chosen. “I am certain you realize my scent lingers on you.”

“Only because we’re in close proximity with each other for weeks on end,” Wei Wuxian mumbled. But…

“You know that is not the reason.”

Wei Wuxian sighed. Lan Wangji was right. He had had this conversation with Jiang Cheng before. An alpha’s scent would only last for long periods of time if possessive feelings were involved. He readjusted his limbs nervously. His skin once again tingled all over.

“So…”

Lan Wangji now knelt by the side of the bed, forcing Wei Wuxian to meet his eyes. His ears were red, but his words were sure. “At some point,” he began, “I realized I desire Wei Ying, too.”

Eyes widening, Wei Wuxian took a deep breath. The scent of sandalwood had never been stronger than at that moment, and it made Wei Wuxian’s heart full. He stared at Lan Wangji’s golden eyes, which always reflected sureness and serenity but were now open and vulnerable. He saw gentle care, he saw ardent affection, he saw possessive desire. He saw his own deep longing reflected in those twin pools of amber.

Moved by emotions, or hormones, or a combination of both, Wei Wuxian breathed out. “Just so you know, I’m too lazy to move my head from this pillow, so just kiss me already, Lan Zhan.”

Lan Wangji leaned in. “Mn.”

When their lips touched, it was as if stars collided in Wei Wuxian’s chest. His heart soared. His entire body felt warm, but this time, it didn’t make him burn with discomfort like before. Lan Wangji trailed light kisses across his cheeks, his nose, then up his forehead, and the burning heat engulfing Wei Wuxian’s skin turned to simmering warmth at Lan Wangji’s touch. It was as if his body understood. It was okay now. He would be okay now. The alpha his body longed for, before he himself had realized it, was here. Lan Wangji was here, and the sandalwood scent that sent him into a feverish mess now carried him to a pleasant sanctuary.

With this thought, and with Lan Wangji’s lips pressed on the crown of his head, Wei Wuxian fell into light sleep. His skin no longer burned. His thoughts were no longer distressed and confused. His heart no longer cried for something he didn’t know he wanted.

All was right in the world when Wei Wuxian fell asleep in Lan Wangji’s embrace, along with the light snoring of A-Yuan in the crib next to them.

When this whole project started, Wei Wuxian was part curious, part disbelieving about the circulating rumors. About how at least one pair would end up together for real, and about how at least one student would discover their secondary gender along the way.

Oh, how he hated to confirm both rumors to be true. With himself as the concrete proof, no less! Of course, being him, he couldn’t hide his relationship with Lan Wangji for long. The next day in class, he couldn’t help but leave a loud smooch on Lan Wangji’s cheek before skipping to his own desk, snickering to himself when Lan Wangji called his name in a strained growl. They had already arrived at school together, so even a half-blind person could tell what was going on.

“Don’t tell me anything,” Jiang Cheng said when Wei Wuxian reached his desk. “I really don’t want to know.”

“Oh, but I do!” Nie Huaisang piped up. “What happened? Did you…” He dropped his voice. It was useless because half the class was blatantly eavesdropping. “Um… go into heat?”

“Pre-heat,” Wei Wuxian sighed when he slumped into his chair. “No one told me it would feel so… weird. And it’s only the first time! You’re telling me there will be more of,” his hands gestured wildly. “Whatever that was, before the actual heat starts?!”

Nie Huaisang nodded in sympathy. “Well…” he began, hiding a smile behind his hand. “I heard being around the alpha should help?”

“Oi…” Jiang Cheng began.

“Oh, I’m sure it will!” Wei Wuxian grinned, then shamelessly yelled to where a red-eared Lan Wangji sat across the classroom. “Of course I have to spend my first heat with my alpha, right, Lan Zhan?”

Amid Lan Wangji’s choked, “Wei Ying!” and Wei Wuxian’s own boisterous laughter, the class could just hear Jiang Cheng’s annoyed muttering.

“Gods, stop talking about your business in the bedroom and just get some damn heat suppressants like any other person would…”

It was clear to everyone in their grade who the top-ranking pair would be in this Home Economics project.

Wei Wuxian toyed with the all-expenses-paid dinner voucher in his hand. “To be honest, Lan Zhan, I forgot we would get this for reaching the top score.”

“Mn.”

“I’ve never heard of this restaurant before, but I checked the reviews! The pictures look great. I’ll show you later.”

“Alright.”

“I wanna try a bit of everything! You’re not allowed to order anything bland. That’s a waste of stomach space.”

Wei Wuxian was rambling now, but Lan Wangji hummed in reply anyway. Wei Wuxian shifted his weight and swung his arms around. A small part of him was relieved that what was undoubtedly the hardest exam in his high school career was over, but a larger part of him felt empty. He still couldn’t get over the stabbing pain in his chest when he had to hand (a fully deactivated) A-Yuan back to their laoshi. If he had cried a bit, well, that was between him, Lan Wangji, and their Home Economics teacher.

“Lan Zhan…”

“Yes?”

“I’m gonna be greedy.”

Lan Wangji tilted his head. “I believe our dinner is fully covered, so Wei Ying can eat however much he wants. Though I would still argue eating moderately is best for your health—”

“No, I mean,” Wei Wuxian chuckled. “I… I miss him.”

Who he meant was obvious. Lan Wangji nodded slowly. “So do I.”

It was a while before Wei Wuxian threw caution to the wind and raised his voice. “Lan Zhan!”

“Yes, Wei Ying.”

“I’m gonna be greedy. Now I want a baby.”

“Mn.”

“Seriously, Lan Zhan, what have you done to me?”

Lan Wangji gave an imperceptible shrug. “If that is what Wei Ying wants, I will do my best to fulfill your wish. Allow me to court you properly.” Then, he took Wei Wuxian’s hand.

Wei Wuxian burst out in laughter, even as he narrowed the distance between them. “What, talking to my family and all that?”

“Correct.” Lan Wangji’s face was so close now.

“Oh, just wait until your uncle hears this…”

But Wei Wuxian would deal with Lan Qiren’s wrath for “corrupting his nephew” later. He would worry about breaking the news to Uncle Jiang and Madam Yu later. He would fantasize about a family with Lan Wangji later.

For now, he simply kissed Lan Wangji’s lips, again and again, losing himself in his alpha’s touch.

Omake

20 Years Later

Lan Sizhui: So… my name came from… what…?

Wei Wuxian: Should I tell the story again, A-Yuan?