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Nie Huaisang took out his sage green fan that his brother had bought him recently. When he first saw it, all he did was call it pretty and Nie Mingjue took out his wallet.

He had the best brother in the world, without a doubt. 

He fanned his face, looking left and right. He used his free hand to readjust the little tiara on top of his head. He couldn't help but examine the silk scarf that had been thrown at him before they started playing. He liked how it shimmered like water. Maybe he could convince his friends to keep this stuff. 

Or get my own. Nie Huaisang smiled in satisfaction at that idea. 

When he saw no one was around, he scurried over to underneath the playground structure. When he made it under the red slide, he shrieked. 

Standing underneath the slide with a wicked grin was Wei Wuxian, dressed in a thick black cloak that was for an adult. "I've caught the princess! He is mine!" Nie Huaisang turned to dart away when the other boy grabbed his wrist. 

"No, no, no!" Nie Huaisang squealed. 

Wei Wuxian cackled like a Disney villain. "I'll poison you, my pretty!" He placed his other hand around his chin. "Eh... What else can I do? Ugh... I can turn you into a frog, nah! That's lame, hmm... How about a bug?"

Nie Huaisang twisted his face in disgust. "Ew, bugs!" Wei Wuxian had found a worm during recess last week and kept trying to show him. The pink, squirming thing made him want to throw up. 

While he was struggling, trying to pull away from the other boy, Wei Wuxian asked. "Sangsang, what food do you hate the most in the world?" 

Nie Huaisang used his free hand to pinch his nose like he had smelled something rotten. In his head, he could imagine a plate of squares of tofu. "Stinky tofu!" He gagged right after. He never wanted to eat it again after trying it the first time. His brother said that was fine—all that mattered was he tried it. 

Wei Wuxian laughed loudly. "I'll force the princess to eat all the stinky tofu in the world!" 

Nie Huaisang wailed, tears coming out of his eyes at his friend's idea. "No, no, please! Wei-xiong, don't!" 

Wei Wuxian grinned mischievously, whipping out a tiny black dizi from a sleeve inside his oversized cloak. He pointed it at Nie Huaisang. "Then tell me, princess! Where is the dragon pearl?" 

Nie Huaisang croaked, nearly dropping his fan. He didn't remember what he was supposed to say. He thought for a moment. What had been said about the dragon pearl? 

All he remembered was he was a defenseless princess who was wandering out in the palace gardens. Had he missed something else? 

Wei Wuxian stomped his foot. "Give me the dragon pearl or you'll get stinky tofu!" 

Nie Huaisang cried. "I don't know, I don't know!" Wei Wuxian pressed the dizi onto his chest like people did with swords in movies. "I really don't know!" 

A scoff shut him up.  

"Did you forget to tell him about the dragon pearl?" Both boys looked behind them. Standing there in all purple (Nie Huaisang learned that was his favorite color), Jiang Cheng stood with a small wooden sword and water bottle taped around his waist (Jiang Fengmian's belt had been too big for him to use, so Wei Wuxian suggested the tape), with his arms crossed and a disapproving look on his face. 

Wei Wuxian put a finger on his bottom lip, moving his dizi from Nie Huaisang. "I know I did!" Nie Huaisang thought to himself. Had Wei Wuxian mentioned it and he just forgot? 

Or worse, had he not been paying attention? 

His brother warned him that he did that too often. "You're gonna fail in school if you keep doing that, A-Sang," Nie Mingjue told him one time during dinner when he was scolded for forgetting to tell him about his progress report he had to sign. 

He had whined back. "But Da-ge!!!!!!!" His brother shook his head, telling him to do better. 

His friends were going to hate him if he kept doing this. 

"I remember I did. That's when Jiejie came in!" Wei Wuxian nodded his head, the memory coming back to him. "She was asking if we wanted mapo tofu or soup for dinner." 

Nie Huaisang could feel his mouth salivating. Mapo tofu was better than stinky tofu. 

Okay. Now that made sense. How could he be paying attention to anything else when Jiang Yanli had mentioned mapo tofu? 

Nie Huaisang still thought a bowl of mapo tofu sounded like the best thing in the world right now. He'd rather be eating mapo tofu than playing. "My bad... I didn't hear it." 

Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian exchanged a small look before shrugging. 

"Ah well! The show must go on, right?" Wei Wuxian shrugged, clearing his throat, earning another scoff from Jiang Cheng. He shoved the dizi back on Nie Huaisang, aiming it at his throat. "You've hidden the dragon pearl, haven't you, Princess Sang? I will have it! What can a weak damsel do with it anyway?" 

Nie Huaisang whimpered at the pressure of the dizi on his throat. "I don't have it, I don't!!!" 

"Pfft. How can a powerless princess have gotten the dragon pearl anyway?" Jiang Cheng chimed in. 

Nie Huaisang nodded his head, agreeing with Jiang Cheng. He liked drawing and pretty things—how could he have ever stolen something from a dragon? 

"Princess Sang tricked the dragon with his beauty!  Or probably promised the dragon he'd marry him or something like that," Wei Wuxian said nonchalantly, not caring if the story made sense or not.

Nie Huaisang didn't understand why a dragon would want to marry a random princess. 

"Ha, I doubt it." Jiang Cheng moved a few steps closer, withdrawing his wooden sword. "A princess would never agree to marry such a beast! You're lying, Witch Wei!" 

Wei Wuxian giggled, snatching the silk scarf from Nie Huaisang. He gasped that the pretty accessory was no longer on him. Wei Wuxian took one end of the scarf and tied it around one of Nie Huaisang's wrists. 

Dangling Nie Huaisang's wrist in the air, Wei Wuxian taunted. "Come get your princess, Knight Cheng~!" 

"My fan!" Nie Huaisang whimpered when he accidentally dropped his fan. 

Wei Wuxian was truly playing the part of a cruel witch since he began dragging him from beneath the slide using the silk scarf (Nie Huaisang yearned for his fan). It ached a little bit, probably because the other boy tied it a little too tightly. 

"Not stinky tofu!" Nie Huaisang sobbed, memories of the smell invading his nostrils. 

Wei Wuxian dragged him up the stairs to get into the playground set. He pulled at his arm to try and get away, but for a boy who was just a few months older than him, Wei Wuxian was stronger than he. 

Nie Huaisang couldn't even beat the other boy in an arm wrestle. Wei Wuxian was the strongest kid in their whole class—Jiang Cheng being the second strongest for sure. 

Wei Wuxian had him on the highest part of the playground set when he made it to where you went down the slide. "Aiya!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed. 

Jiang Cheng came into view. Waiting there for him. 

Nie Huaisang gasped, covering his mouth with a hand. Jiang Cheng had climbed up! 

Wei Wuxian dug out a sandwich plastic bag with sand. He opened it with his hands, grabbing a handful and tossing it at Jiang Cheng. "Death dust!" 

Nie Huaisang's eyes widened when Jiang Cheng successfully moved to the right, dodging the sand that Wei Wuxian had thrown at him. When Wei Wuxian was about to get another handful of sand, Jiang Cheng was in front of him, using his wooden sword to hit the bag—all the sand falling onto the playground set. 

Jiang Cheng moved to attack with his sword, Wei Wuxian using his dizi to counterattack. Nie Huaisang whined. Wei Wuxian still had one hand holding the silk scarf, causing him to be pulled back and forth as the two brothers fought.

Wooden sword versus dizi. He didn't have the slightest clue who would win. 

Nie Huaisang briefly looked down at the sand to see his fan was nowhere in sight. Tears started streaming down his face. Was his fan lost forever? His brother wouldn't be too happy learning he had lost it. 

"Why me..." Nie Huaisang cried. 

SPLASH! 

Nie Huaisang hiccuped, whirling around to see that Jiang Cheng had uncapped the water bottle he had been holding—water coming down Wei Wuxian's head. 

"Oh no! I'm melting! I'm melting!" Wei Wuxian placed a hand on his chest, dramatically shouting. The boy fell onto his back, grabbing the water bottle and pouring the remaining bits of water as he pretended to choke and gag on blood. "How unfair and cruel the world is! All I wanted was the dragon pearl! Death is better than this place! I'll get my revenge! I'll haunt you both! Ack! What a world, what a world..." Wei Wuxian rambled. 

Nie Huaisang couldn't help giggling at Wei Wuxian. 

He felt himself being tugged away when Jiang Cheng dragged him down the stairs of the playground set. The nice thing was that the other boy wasn't dragging him with the silk scarf. 

Jiang Cheng took him to the shed in the background where Jiang Fengmian kept all the tools. Madam Yu's gardening tools were in there as well. There was a little purple banner that said LOTUS PIER with a lotus flower drawing. A tiny table with a bowl of candy and canned bubble tea that was not Madam Yu-approved. 

"Here." Jiang Cheng handed him one of the cans.

Nie Huaisang took the can, his eyes sparkling at the green can while he watched Jiang Cheng take his wrist with the silk scarf. While he was enjoying the delicious taste of milk tea, the other boy groaned in annoyance. "What's wrong?" 

"That stupid Wei Wuxian made this knot too tight!" Jiang Cheng let go of his wrist and ran over to a nearby table. Nie Huaisang was too busy enjoying his bubble tea to think of what Jiang Cheng was saying. His wrist was starting to ache a little, though. 

He moved his mouth from the creamy drink. "I'm so happy I won't have to eat stinky tofu..." Nie Huaisang randomly spouted. "Thanks for saving me, Jiang-xiong." 

Jiang Cheng ran back with a pair of rusty scissors. The boy grabbed his wrist. 

Nie Huaisang spat out some of his bubble tea, taking back his wrist. "What are those for?!" 

Jiang Cheng gave him a look as if he was asking a ridiculous question. "The scarf has to be cut, Huaisang." 

"That's sad, it's so pretty!" Nie Huaisang had wanted to convince his two friends if he could keep it. If Madam Yu wasn't using it, it should be fine for him to have it, right? "I want it!" 

Jiang Cheng reached for his wrist, but Nie Huaisang kept moving. "You can have it after I've cut it! Stop being difficult!" 

Nie Huaisang cried. "No, Jiang-xiong!!!!" 

Jiang Cheng had successfully grabbed his wrist and raised the knot to place the scissors underneath. Nie Huaisang sobbed as the blades clamped onto the silk fabric. 

Maybe they should have gotten an adult to help. 

Madam Yu might have been able to make sure the scarf was still kept intact while undoing the knot. Even Jiang Fengmian might have been able to figure something out too. 

Nie Huaisang couldn't think of anything else until he felt pain. "Ow!!!" He looked down at his wrist where a tiny cut adorned his skin. Seeing the cut scarf and now feeling pain—it was like a dam had broken. He sobbed louder. 

Jiang Cheng, holding the scissors, was relieved that the scarf wasn't constricting the other boy's wrist but now was hurt, he looked worried. "Huaisang! It's okay, it's okay," he rambled, grabbing one of the candies in the bowl. "Look, want some?" 

Nothing could make him happy at this point. 

He lost his fan. His silk scarf he wanted was damaged. And now he was hurt! 

Trouble always followed Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian, why didn't he listen to his teacher when she said they'd only lead him to getting in trouble too? 

He didn't notice he wasn't outside anymore when he heard a soft, sweet voice. 

"A-Sang, what happened?" He looked up and saw Jiang Yanli giving him a caring smile. Nie Huaisang sniffled, feeling his body slide down gently onto the ground. Jiang Cheng was right in front of him, meaning he must have given him a piggyback ride inside the house. 

"We were playing, Jiejie. I was changing my clothes when I heard Sangsang crying." Wei Wuxian was still in his huge cloak, but he had changed out of the red shirt Nie Huaisang remembered seeing him wear at school. 

Jiang Cheng had his head bowed. "It's my fault, Jie. I just wanted to cut the scarf off... I didn't mean to..." 

Nie Huaisang was forced to sit down by Jiang Yanli, hiccuping. "I got cut." He raised his wrist to show Jiang Yanli. 

Jiang Yanli took his wrist, inspecting it a few times before humming. "You're really brave, you know that, A-Sang?"  

He sniffled. "I am?" No one has ever called him brave before. Not even his brother. 

Jiang Yanli nodded. "Getting cut is never fun. It hurts a lot too. Some people can't stand it, but you're taking it so well!" she said, smiling sweetly. 

Nie Huaisang used his other hand to wipe off the tears from his face. He did like Jiang Yanli. She was a classmate of his brother's and he always said he could trust her. She never forgot to look out for him when she agreed to babysit him along with her brothers. 

Plus, she cooked better than his brother. 

"A-Cheng, please go get Huaisang a bao from the kitchen." Nie Huaisang lit up at the sound of steamed buns. Had Jiang Yanli made some? Jiang Yanli looked at Wei Wuxian. Before he knew it, he was up on his feet and following Jiang Yanli towards another room. "You like red bean, don't you, Huaisang?" 

He nodded his head vigorously. "I do!" His mom used to make red bean buns. They tasted better than the ones his dad preferred—crispy duck with a bunch of ginger and garlic—he never was a fan of those. 

It had been so long since he had some of the steamed buns his mom used to make. He cried. "A-Niang..." 

Jiang Yanli wrapped an arm around his shoulders, pulling him close to her. She gently stroked his hair. "It's okay, Huaisang." 

"I want A-Niang!" Nie Huaisang cried, rubbing his eyes with his clenched, unharmed hand. "Da-ge!!!!!" 

Jiang Yanli grabbed a towel and placed it under the faucet of the sink. "I'll call your da-ge, okay? We should clean your cut, Huaisang." 

He sniffled when Jiang Yanli helped clean his cut.

He knew he couldn't see his mom and dad. His brother had told him that they had to go away and that one day, he would see them again. "They'll always be with you, A-Sang, so don't forget. And I'm never gonna leave you," his brother had promised him. 

Even if his brother promised to always be there, he still wished his parents were here. 

Tears continued to stream down his face and his cries turned into whimpers, but before he knew it, some cream was being put on his cut and a bandaid was applied. 

He let Jiang Yanli lead him back to the living room. When they reentered the room, Wei Wuxian ran over to him, a bao in his hands. "For you!" Nie Huaisang noticed Jiang Cheng was nowhere to be found. 

He didn't take a moment to wonder where his other friend was as hurriedly shoved the steamed bun into his mouth. Jiang Yanli had taken her phone and moved to the other side of the room. Wei Wuxian was sitting on the couch, munching on his own steamed bun. 

Swallowing a mouthful of steamed bun, Wei Wuxian exclaimed. "Jiejie makes the best food in the world, Sangsang!" 

He nodded his head, smiling at the sweet and earthy taste of the red bean paste. "It's really good." 

Wei Wuxian pulled another bao from his pocket. Nie Huaisang wondered what else the boy had in there. Hopefully not more death dust. "I have another one if you want it, Sangsang!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed. 

"I want it!" Nie Huaisang replied.

His brother rarely let him have two red bean steamed buns—he said they were too sweet. He disagreed. They tasted amazing! He swore to his brother he could have ten if he would let him. 

Nie Huaisang looked around the room. "Where's Jiang-xiong?" 

Wei Wuxian was eating the last few bits of his steamed bun. "Doing what he does when he knows he did wrong. Avoids everyone in his room!" Wei Wuxian said with a small grin. 

Oh yeah. Jiang Cheng was the one who cut his hand. He was also at fault for ruining that pretty scarf. What a shame. 

Jiang Yanli approached them, handing her phone to Nie Huaisang. "Your da-ge would like to talk to you, Huaisang." 

He kept the steamed bun in his mouth while using his other hand to take the phone. "Da-ge?" 

"Huaisang," his brother greeted him in that intense tone that wasn't an angry one. "How is your hand?" 

He glanced down at it, frowning at the fact that the Jiangs only had brown bandaids. His brother had purchased pretty bandaids that had paintings designs on them. 

"I wish I had a different bandaid," he admitted, taking the last bit of steamed bun into his mouth. Wei Wuxian handed him his second one, which he took happily. He would have to keep this a secret. 

His brother sighed on the other line. "You sound fine to me." 

Nie Huaisang sniffled a little, squishing the steamed bun with his fingers. "Da-ge!!! When can we go home?" He liked hanging out with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng, but he wanted to be around his stuffed animals and Zhengui. 

Another sigh. "Huaisang, you know I'm at work." He could feel his eyes getting water again, so he stuffed his snack into his mouth. "I'll get you later when it's time for me to leave." 

He moved his steamed bun and placed it on his leg. "When's that, Da-ge???" 

"At 5, like always." 

Nie Huaisang sniffled. "It's not fair..." 

There was silence from his brother. He gulped. Did his brother hang up on him? 

"I know it isn't, Huaisang. But it's just how it is," his brother said when he had to tell him something so he bent down to reach his eye-level. If he was at the Jiang Residence with him, he knew that's what his brother would do. "Look, how about we eat your favorite today if you just chill at the Jiangs until it's time for me to pick you up?" 

Nie Huaisang pouted. He didn't want anything. He wanted his brother here! He wanted his plushes and Zhengui! He wanted to go home! 

Why couldn't his brother see that? 

"But Da-ge..." 

"Please Huaisang?" His brother rarely ever said please. He just threw out demands and since he could remember how frightening his brother could be, he usually would stop. "For me?" 

Nie Huaisang looked around. Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian weren't in the room, but he could see the two of them from where the kitchen was. Jiang Yanli was probably getting ready to cook dinner with Wei Wuxian's assistance.  

He looked at the clock that had pretty lotuses painted on it. There were still another hour until his brother would come pick him up. 

Not wanting to hear his brother get angry, he sighed. "Okay, Da-ge..." 

"Good. Behave at the Jiangs, okay? No more getting hurt. You're lucky you already got your tetanus shots so you should be fine." 

He scrunched up his face. "I hate shots." 

"I know you do. Be grateful you don't have to get them."  

True. Nie Huaisang didn't want any more needles in his body. It sucks he had to get a flu shot every year. 

He overheard a familiar voice that wasn't his brother's, "A-Jue, is everything okay?" He heard his brother respond with, "Yeah, it's all good. It's Huaisang." 

Nie Huaisang continued chewing on his steamed bun as he listened to his brother chat with who he could have sworn was Lan Xichen. He also happened to be one of his brother's friends he liked. Like Jiang Yanli, Lan Xichen was kind and was easier to deal with than his brother. 

Lan Xichen must have left since he didn't hear his voice anymore. "I have to go, Huaisang. I'll see you later." 

Nie Huaisang dug his feet into the purple carpet, still not a fan of having to wait. "Okay... I love you, da-ge." 

"I love you too, Huaisang."

Then his brother hung up. And then he was reminded that he would see his brother in an hour. 

To not think about it, he continued eating his delicious steamed bun. Maybe there was more? Jiang Yanli wouldn't tell his brother if he ate three, right? 

He got up to go ask for another one when he heard small sniffles. Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian had their backs turned to him while they were in the kitchen. In the hallway that was near the kitchen, he could still hear the sniffling. 

That was weird. He's the one who got cut—why would someone else be crying? 

Eating the last of his steamed bun, he went down the hallway, listening to the crying. It took passing a few doors until he found the one where he could hear the crying the loudest. It was right across from Wei Wuxian's door where the boy had drawn all over it in black sharpie. 

His brother would break his legs if he had damaged his bedroom door like that. And having heard Madam Yu speak before, he would have thought she would have punished his friend severely. Wei Wuxian had just shrugged his shoulders, grinning playfully, telling him, "Uncle Jiang said it was creative!" 

The door he was standing in front of wasn't decorated. It was a simple door. Sure, he didn't have any decor on his own door at home, but when he was a baby, his parents had a little sign custom-made for the front of his door. The little sign was wooden and had dark green engravings: his name with vines and a mulberry tree. 

His brother had his own too. It always nearly fell when his brother was in a mood. Nie Mingjue was a door-slammer when he was mad. 

Since the door was right across from Wei Wuxian's, he had a pretty good guess as to whose room this could be. There was someone's room he hadn't been allowed in yet. 

He gently knocked on the door. "Jiang-xiong?" 

The crying stopped for a moment. So he was right! 

Speaking of the boy, he hadn't seen him since he had piggybacked him into the house. Wei Wuxian had also said Jiang Cheng went to his room when he knew he was wrong. 

Since Jiang Cheng hadn't said anything, he spoke up again. "Jiang-xiong, can I come in?"

There was small sniffling from inside. "Just go bother Wei Wuxian!" 

At first, he didn't think the other boy was going to talk. He had a feeling that he would have stayed silent to act like no one was in the room. 

He didn't want to bother Wei Wuxian though. His friend was too busy cooking—something he didn't find that fun as eating. He wanted to know why Jiang Cheng was crying. He wasn't the one who got cut. 

"Wei-xiong is boring right now!!" he whined, knowing his friend would probably ask him to start chopping a vegetable or two if he went to the kitchen. "And I want to talk to you, Jiang-xiong." 

"Why? I... I don't want to talk to you!" 

Nie Huaisang would have felt hurt by that, but he had caught Jiang Cheng crying. Some people didn't like other people seeing them cry. He caught his brother crying during Marley & Me, and when he brought it up, his brother threatened to break his legs if he told anyone. 

He doubted Jiang Cheng would break his legs when he had already cut his hand. 

Nie Huaisang sat down in front of the door, resting his back against it. He still had some steamed bun in his hand, he carefully held it. 

His brother wouldn't be proud of him for prying. "Why are you crying, Jiang-xiong?" He didn't get it. His brother didn't burst into tears after threatening to break his legs—would he ever cry if he ever did? 

Jiang Cheng's sniffles had gotten louder than quieter. "I told you to go away!" 

"No you didn't, Jiang-xiong." Nie Huaisang shook his head even though the other boy couldn't see him.

There was some silence. "What?! Yeah I did!" Jiang Cheng was starting to sound like him when his brother asked him why he didn't want to try new food. He was just being stubborn. 

Nie Huaisang explained. "You told me to go bother Wei-xiong, not leave." It was way more fun talking to Jiang Cheng than helping Wei Wuxian cook. Besides, what could Wei Wuxian cook that didn't include too many chilies? No thank you! "Jiang-xiong, you should let me in! We can talk better in there. And it's uncomfortable leaning against your door." 

A bitter laugh came from behind the door. "I didn't tell you to do that, did I?" 

No, he didn't, but that wasn't the point either. "It's really uncountable!" he wailed, adjusting his back a bit. "Jiang-xiong!!" 

He heard Jiang Cheng sigh in annoyance like his brother did when he begged him to buy him something. "You're really not gonna go away?" 

Instead of a yes or no, he whined a little louder. "Jiang-xiong!!!" He smiled when he heard footsteps come towards the door. Unfortunately, he didn't think to move. 

Plop! He went down. Looking up, Jiang Cheng's face was looking down at him. His eyes were a bit red and puffy. 

Without any tears coming out of his eyes this time,  he cried. "Ow!!! You hurt me again, Jiang-xiong!" 

"Next time don't sit against the door!" Jiang Cheng scolded him, helping him off the ground and leading him into his room. 

Nie Huaisang looked around the room. It was "forbidden" as Jiang Cheng liked to say. He didn't know why. Jiang Cheng's bedroom was painted purple. He knew the boy liked purple, but now he knew he was wrong. 

Jiang Cheng really LOVED purple. 

There was a calendar on the wall with puppies on it which was strange since the Jiangs didn't have dogs. Was Jiang Cheng's favorite animal dogs maybe?

He checked out the other stuff on the wall—some martial arts posters, photo booth strips of the Jiang siblings, origami lotuses and dogs. It wasn't as wild as Wei Wuxian's room where he had drawings taped up or on his wall from carvings or sharpies. 

"Your room is... nice," he muttered, knowing it would look pretty if there were some paintings, but Jiang Cheng wasn't the painting type. 

"Thanks... I guess." Jiang Cheng simply said, closing the door. 

He went searching for beanbags like the ones Wei Wuxian had in his room. When he realized there were none, he sat down on the floor, leaning his back against Jiang Cheng's bed. He looked up at the other boy. "So why are you in here?" 

"I'm done playing for the day." Jiang Cheng turned away from him, making his way over to his desk.  With a scoff, he commented. "It was a dumb game anyway." 

Nie Huaisang still hated the day of stinky tofu being his punishment for not knowing anything about the dragon pearl, but he was having a good time. "I had fun." He spotted a mirror across the room, seeing that the little tiara was still on his head. He frowned when he realized that although he had the tiara, the silk scarf was gone. Jiang Yanli probably threw it away. 

Jiang Cheng turned his head a little bit. "How was that fun? You got cut." 

"Well, no you're right. That wasn't fun. That hurt." He lifted his hand up, displeased by the bandaid. "I wish the bandaid was pretty." 

Jiang Cheng scrunched up his face. Nie Huaisang almost forgot the boy had been crying now that he looked like his usual angry self. "If it was pretty, you'd never take it off." 

"You're right." He never wanted to take off the bandaids at home. "But still, it was fun. You saved me from Wei-xiong's wrath of stinky tofu."

Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow. "You know, Jie doesn't even make stinky tofu, right? It's not like Wei Wuxian was actually gonna make you eat any. There is none." 

Thankfully Jiang Yanli didn't make stinky tofu—he never had to worry about eating that at the Jiangs.

Still, that didn't mean Witch Wei wouldn't have forced spicy congee down his throat. He would rather not have his taste buds burned off. "You did save me though, Knight Cheng." 

"We're not playing anymore," Jiang Cheng grumbled. 

"Why not?" Nie Huaisang would rather play than help with cooking. "Da-ge still can't get out of work yet so we can continue playing." 

Jiang Cheng gazed at the bandaid on his wrist. "Why not? Look at what happened when we did!" 

Nie Huaisang shrugged. Jiang Cheng wasn't right or wrong. "Yeah, but next time we just won't use scissors. Or tie my wrist. That's all," he said, like it was the easiest problem to find a solution for. 

Jiang Cheng clearly didn't think so. "Why? Just so something else can end up hurting you?" 

He would hope not. He didn't want to get hurt again and end up with another ugly bandaid on him. 

Why wouldn't Jiang Cheng just accept that even though he got hurt, it was still a fun game. Jiang Cheng hadn't complained about it until after he got hurt. 

Maybe Jiang Cheng was mad that he hadn't been paying attention when they were playing? 

"Is this because I didn't listen when Wei-xiong was talking about the dragon pearl?" he asked. Maybe Jiang Cheng didn't want to play with him anymore—why play with someone who wasn't going to play right? 

Jiang Cheng craned his head. "Huh? No!" Jiang Cheng grabbed a piece of pink construction paper from his desk. Nie Huaisang watched as he began folding the edges. "I didn't care about that. I still think Wei Wuxian wasn't explaining it properly, but it doesn't matter." 

Nie Huaisang kept his eyes on the paper origami Jiang Cheng was making. He didn't know how to make those. Drawing and painting on paper seemed more fun than turning it into something else. 

But, that was how paper fans were made... He might have to consider using paper to make things one day. "Can you teach me?" he blurted out. 

Jiang Cheng looked up from the origami. "Huh?"

Nie Huaisang pointed at the origami lotus Jiang Cheng had just made. "Can you teach me how to make origami lotuses? They look pretty!" 

Jiang Cheng groaned, but that didn't stop him from taking out two pieces of construction paper. Nie Huaisang took the purple one and sat at the edge of Jiang Cheng's bed, watching the other boy at his desk. 

"You fold the bottom edge of the paper up to the top edge," Jiang Cheng began the first piece of instructions, following his own steps. "Then you unfold the paper. Fold the right edge over to the left edge—like this." 

Nie Huaisang watched the other boy talk and then constructed a second lotus flower. By the time Jiang Cheng was done, he had forgotten about all the instructions he had told him. 

He chuckled nervously. "Tell me again, please?" 

Although he looked angry, Jiang Cheng just grabbed another piece of construction paper. Nie Huaisang awed at the green paper even though most lotuses he saw were pink or purple. 

He actually attempted to make a lotus himself while Jiang Cheng recited the instructions for a second time. 

"You fold one of the corners in a little—not too much. Just a little." Nie Huaisang did as Jiang Cheng said, accidentally folding too many of the corners. "Aiya! I said a LITTLE."

Nie Huaisang giggled. Jiang Cheng could look and sound so angry, but he seemed harmless. It wasn't like talking to his brother who was like a ferocious giant. 

It was funny watching Jiang Cheng get upset. 

Once he finally got a lotus after getting it explained to him four times, a pink lotus flower was resting right next to him. "Whoa! It's so pretty!" 

Jiang Cheng sighed, wiping some sweat off his forehead like he had been working a hard job for the past thirty minutes. "See? Not so hard when you pay attention, is it?" 

"I should show Da-ge how to do it." Nie Huaisang wanted to go to the store and buy a bunch of construction paper. If he taught his brother, he could always give one to Lan Xichen. "You're the best, Jiang-xiong!" When he extended his hand towards the other boy, Jiang Cheng gave him a piece of pink construction paper. 

Nie Huaisang started working on the second lotus flower. 

When he was ready to work on a third lotus, he looked at Jiang Cheng. "Can I have red paper?" Jiang Cheng handed him the construction paper and he started folding again. 

"Remember you when you flip the flower over to the other side, you peel the flaps carefully over to the other side." Jiang Cheng reminded him when he was on his third lotus that was green. "Don't be too harsh with it!" 

With four lotus flowers sitting alongside him, he started working on a fourth one. This time this one was purple. 

How fun! He was going to paint some lotus flowers when he got home. 

"The game was fun." 

Nie Huaisang looked up from his purple lotus, eyes widened. "Huh?" 

Jiang Cheng was looking at the ground. "It was fun, but... It wasn't fun seeing you get hurt." Nie Huaisang noticed Jiang Cheng digging his feet into the ground. "I was so stupid!" Jiang Cheng smacked a hand across his face. 

Nie Huaisang tilted his head, catching Jiang Cheng's shoulders shaking. He folded the other three corners of the paper to the middle of the square like Jiang Cheng had told him before. "How did you cut me? I thought you had only cut the scarf! I still hate that you did that..." How could he convince his brother to get him a silk scarf? 

Jiang Cheng removed his hand, forming it into a clenched fist. "You kept moving. 'No, Jiang-xiong!', you kept crying. I had the scarf. I did!" Jiang Cheng grabbed one of the lotus flowers he had made, picking at it a bit. "And then... Then I didn't... I'm so stupid!" Jiang Cheng's hand clamped over the lotus. 

Nie Huaisang jumped off from the bed, grabbing Jiang Cheng's hand. "You're gonna ruin it!" Jiang Cheng let him move his fingers to reveal the origami lotus. "Hurt something your own size!" he commented. It was something Jiang Cheng had said once during recess when Wen Chao had shoved him to the ground. 

Jiang Cheng stared at him for a little too long before glancing back at the floor. "I shouldn't have hurt you. Jiejie said you could have gotten an infection. I..." 

He could have? 

His brother wouldn't have been happy about that. 

Jiang Cheng grabbed something from his desk drawer and handed it to him. 

Seeing sage green, he gasped. "My fan!" He placed the lotus on the bed with the other lotuses and grabbed his fan. "Where did you find it?" 

"After Jiejie went to clean your cut, I went to go find it. I know how much you like your fan." Jiang Cheng watched as he flicked his wrist and the fan opened up, revealing the pretty designs. 

"I love my fan!" Nie Huaisang beamed, fanning himself. He took it everywhere with him. His brother said that one day he would grow out of it since it was so small. Even if his brother was correct, he still loved it. 

"I'm sorry, Huaisang." Jiang Cheng apologized, this time he was looking at him. "I hate that I got you hurt. I'm happy you're not gonna get an infection." 

"That's okay, Jiang-xiong," he said, waving a hand like it meant nothing. At least the other boy wasn't annoyed about the dragon pearl thing. "You won't do it again next time, right?" 

Jiang Cheng. "Mmh-hmm! I promise." 

Nie Huaisang thought of the game they were playing earlier. "Knights are supposed to save, not hurt, remember?" 

"Right! I'll never hurt you again!" Jiang Cheng promised.

Nie Huaisang imagined his brother's face if Jiang Cheng ever hurt him again. It didn't sound like his brother was too mad on the phone, but who knows what he would do if it happens again. "Besides, if you do, Da-ge will be really angry." 

Jiang Cheng chuckled nervously. "It's probably best not to make Mingjue mad, huh?" 

He nodded his head. "I wouldn't recommend it. Or else he'll break your legs." 

Jiang Cheng still looked frightened, but there was a sparkle in his eyes. "Then I'll always protect you."

Thank goodness for that. There was no way he could go up against Wen Chao on his own. 

𑁍        𑁍       𑁍

"Sangsang!!! Did you see how many views your reel made?" Wei Wuxian greeted him, grabbing his shoulders, shaking him like he was a cocktail shaker. 

Groaning at the dizziness he felt, Nie Huaisang composed himself and flipped back his hair. "I saw." He whipped out his fan, waving it in his hand. "I have blessed the masses with my paintings." Art class had just ended and of course he had to post his masterpiece before he had to leave school.

He was just thankful the teacher had left the room to talk to a student so she wouldn't remind him about how much he took about his phone. 

He had to give his audience what they wanted—his work! His brother wouldn't approve of it, but he could make a long list of all the things his brother disapproved of. 

Nie Huaisang crossed his arms, a pout growing on his face. "And still! Da-ge thinks I should spend my time doing other things." 

Wei Wuxian chuckles. "Yeah, cause going to the gym all the time is such a fun hobby. Your brother is such a gym nut."  

"Tian-ah!" Nie Huaisang approached his locker, Wei Wuxian resting his shoulder on the one nearby that was decorated with heart stickers and drawings.

Wei Wuxian looked at the locker with an adoring look. He knew his friend was always happy to see his handiwork was still present. 

Thinking of a different Lan, he shook his head. "Thank the heavens he finally confessed to Xichen-gege." It felt like the whole world was waiting for that to finally happen. He had made bets with his friends on how long it would take for his brother to say something.

He might have helped out and pushed his brother towards an opportunity. This had many pros since his brother was happier earlier than what was gambled. And, he got some extra money to spend. 

"He can drag his fiancé to the gym instead of me." He could spend all his free time painting and adding things on his online shopping cart on what other pretty things he wanted to buy next. 

Wei Wuxian playfully shoved him, fishing out his phone from his pocket. "Boyfriends going to the gym has its perks. You wouldn't believe the arm strength Lan Zhan has!" Wei Wuxian looked away with dreamy eyes. "All the handstands he does makes perfect for when he wants to manhandle me," he said with a wink. 

Nie Huaisang fanned himself as he walked alongside his friend, resting the top of his fan on his chin. "Hmm. Maybe I should get A-Cheng to do handstands..." 

Wei Wuxian scrunched up his nose, shaking his head. "Ew, TMI! I don't need to know what you want to do with my didi." 

Nie Huaisang scoffed, looking at his best friend like he had gravely insulted him. "Oh, but it's not too much information that you share your sex life with me?" 

"Lan Zhan isn't your brother, Sangsang!" 

Nie Huaisang shrugged. "Future brother-in-law." And he was certain that was far in the future. If it took his brother forever to ask Lan Xichen out, he could only imagine it would be even longer for him to propose to him. 

Wei Wuxian stopped what he was typing on his phone. "Well Jiang Cheng and I are brothers! That's completely different than you and Lan Zhan, who aren't in-laws yet." He then continued texting whoever he was chatting with. 

Nie Huaisang guessed. "Wangji?" 

"We're planning our date night." Wei Wuxian grinned, clicking on something. "I'm thinking Hunan chicken and a movie." 

He seemed to remember that the Lans didn't eat meat. "What about Wangji?" 

Wei Wuxian smiled so brightly his eyes closed. "Hunan tofu for my Lan Zhan." His friend laughed, picking his chin up proudly. "What? I'd never forget about my man," he said, sending him a knowing smirk. 

"Aiya! What??" Nie Huaisang gripped onto his fan tightly. "It was one time, Wei-xiong!" Of course the one time Jiang Cheng wanted him to use the kitchen, he ended up forgetting that one time when he told him he was allergic to mangoes. 

Who heard of an allergy to mango?? He hadn't until Jiang Cheng! 

"Cutsleeves!" Wen Chao growled as he came across their path. 

Nie Huaisang flinched at the other guy. Years had gone by—so many grades they've been in and all the mean comments that have come out of that mouth, and yet he still made him stumble back. 

His brother had threatened to beat up Wen Chao's death if he didn't stop bullying him. Wen Chao had stopped for a while, but the comments were still there. Plus, he wasn't always alone when encountering the boy.

"Get lost, Wen Chao!" Wei Wuxian barked, stuffing his phone in his pocket. "I swear all you're good at is ruining everyone's day."

Wen Chao jutted his chin out, which reminded Nie Huaisang of Jin Zixuan—which had always bothered Wei Wuxian, but not him—but he knew the whole world agreed when Wen Chao did it it was worse. 

Jin Peacock was the most tolerable person in the world compared to Wen Chao. 

"Wei Wuxian!" Wen Chao stomped his foot like a petulant child throwing a tantrum. "You're nothing but an orphan amongst people with an actual place to belong." 

Nie Huaisang eyed his best friend, clenching his teeth. It wasn't the first time Wen Chao had used this insult at his friend. When Wen Chao had used it for the first time in elementary school, he could tell it had broken something inside of his friend. 

He didn't understand how someone could say something so mean. 

"You got anything else up your sleeves but that one insult? Wei Wuxian planted a hand on his hip, smirking at the bully. He then crossed his arms. "Hate to burst your bubble, Wen Chao, but your ability to tell an insult is as bad as everything else you do." 

Wen Chao's face went red. "Wei Wuxian!" 

Nie Huaisang gulped when he caught Wen Chao clenching his fist at his sides. 

"You know, you're always bothering Huaisang and I all the time, it might make people think things." Wei Wuxian placed a single finger on his bottom lip, humming to himself. "Why're so obsessed with us? You don't seem to want to be friends with us... Hmm, could it be something else?" Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow. 

Nie Huaisang gasped, hiding behind his fan.  Was Wei Wuxian really implying that... 

"You!" Wen Chao pointed at Wei Wuxian, growling and looking like he was about to burst a vein. "I'm not a cutsleeve!" 

Wei Wuxian shrugged one shoulder, wrapping an arm around his. "Well, while you spend your time thinking about it, we're getting the fuck out of here." Nie Huaisang didn't look back to see Wen Chao's face, letting his friend drag him out of there. 

When they were far away, Nie Huaisang fanned himself, turning to his friend. "Do you really think Wen Chao is gay??" 

Wei Wuxian chuckled. "I don't know. And I don't really care. Wen Chao can go choke on his words and die for all I care. He's such an asshole." 

"That he is." He couldn't disagree with that. Why the heck did the Wens think they were better than everyone? Wen Chao's brother, Wen Xu, who was classmates with his brother was just as bad. "HOW in the world is Wen Ning and his sister related to him??" 

Wei Wuxian beamed at the mention of the nicer Wens. "I don't have the slightest clue. But Wen Qing will happily beat Wen Chao. She used to when he used to pick on A-Ning when he was smaller." 

As Wei Wuxian began rambling, his phone buzzed. Happily, he checked it. 

Angry Lotus ​​sent at 11:23 AM

Plans for tonight? 

He giggled at the idea that his home would just be Jiang Cheng and tonight. When Jin Zixuan was visiting Jiang Yanli, Jiang Cheng usually came to sleepover at his place. His brother never looked happy about it—but that's where Lan Xichen came in—always reeling his brother back into sense. 

Bless your heart, Xichen-gege, he thought. The fact that it was Friday meant his brother and Lan Xichen would be out on their own weekly date night. 

Sangsang sent at 11:24 AM

making fun of everyone on 90 day fiancé & snacks? 

Angry Lotus sent at 11:26 AM 

Remind me why you like that show again? 

Sangsang sent at 11:28 AM

cuz its fun judging people's relationships 

Angry Lotus sent at 11:30 AM 

You do know there are better things to watch right? 

Sangsang sent 11:31 AM 

c'mon, a-cheng - yknow it's fun seeing people be stupid 

plus, don't you get a little happy that none of 'em can have what you have? 

Angry Lotus sent at 11:32 AM 

Common sense? 

Sangsang sent at 11:33 AM 

Jiang Cheng! I'm hurt :'(

Me, that's what they can't have... now I'm not so sure.... 

Angry Lotus sent at 11:35 AM 

Aiya, chill Huaisang. 

I was joking. 

Meet up at the gym? 

Sangsang sent at 11:37 AM 

ugh the gym :/ but fine 

Angry Lotus sent at 11:39 AM 

I love you 

Sangsang sent at 11:40 

i luv u too 

Nie Huaisang stuffed his phone back into his pocket, continuing to fan himself. "I'm gonna meet A-Cheng at the gym." 

Wei Wuxian nodded. "Y'know even if you convinced Chengcheng to do handstands, Lan Zhan would still beat him with his arm strength." 

Nie Huaisang looked at him incredulously. What was this insult towards his Jiang Cheng? "You're just saying that cause he's your boyfriend!" 

Wei Wuxian kicked at a stray pebble in his path. "Pfft, as if! Lan Zhan has been doing handstands since he was nine." 

"NINE?" Not a day went by that he felt lucky that he wasn't born into the Lan family. To have Lan Qiren be your guardian? Sounded like a nightmare! "Geez, the Lans are weird." 

Wei Wuxian glared at him. "I should be insulted by that since they're gonna be my in-laws one day, but... I'll let it slide." 

By the time they got to the gym, Wei Wuxian offered to stay with him until Jiang Cheng showed up. Knowing his friend had a date, he told him he'd be fine. Besides, Jiang Cheng should be arriving soon. 

Nie Huaisang waved at his friend as he watched him go, telling him he'd talk to him later. 

Closing his fan with a single flick, he took out his phone to check his TikTok. Like his best friend had mentioned, his latest reel had gotten a ton of views after posing it. 

He examined the painting. 

He could still recall when he was dipping his fingers in paint jars when he was tiny. Now he couldn't imagine not having a brush with him. 

Nie Huaisang smiled at the pink lotuses that were scattered throughout the lotus lake. There were some boats out in the far distance, but the main focus was the person standing at the edge of the pier, looking out at the horizon. 

The exact shade of purple of the person's shirt, the correct length of that silky dark hair, the way he stood still and tall like a leader—it was perfect. 

It still needed to be graded, but it was one of his favorite things he had ever painted. 

He smiled dreamily at his phone when it got snatched. 

"Hey!" He looked up, hoping to see Jiang Cheng, but the greasy hair confirmed who he knew well. "Uh... Can I have my phone back?" Aiya, I sound like a wimp, he thought.

Gripping his phone tighter, Wen Chao laughed. "Why? So you can spread whatever ridiculous lies you and Wei Wuxian come up with about me?" 

Believe it or not, not everything is about you, Nie Huaisang could hear his best friend saying exactly that. "I don't know what you're talking about." 

Wen Chao raised a fist. "I'll beat you for going around calling me a cutsleeve. I'm nothing like you and Wei Wuxian." 

"Then leave us alone!" Nie Huaisang blurted out, cowering away at the possibility of being hit. Maybe there was some truth to Wei Wuxian's words. Perhaps Wen Chao was obsessed. 

Wen Chao grabbed his collar, earning a cry from Nie Huaisang.

Cackling like a creep. "Where's your guard dog?" 

He didn't have any guts to fight back, but he felt annoyed. "Don't call him that!" It was the safest thing anyone could call Jiang Cheng, but Wen Chao referring to him as anything but his name rubbed him the wrong way.  

Wen Chao smirked evilly. "I could scare the shit out of that bastard. He won't know what hit him!" 

"I'm not afraid of you, Wen Chao." 

Nie Huaisang gasped, his eyes lighting up. Jiang Cheng entered further into the room in a violet purple shirt (his man was always wearing people), with that pissed off scowl that just seemed to live on his handsome face. 

"Jiang Cheng!" he called out. 

Wen Chao let him go, laughing as he turned to look at the new arrival. "Look who showed up!" 

Jiang Cheng crossed his arms. "You're such a dick for going around picking on people for no reason, Wen Chao."

"Do I need to have a reason, Jiang Cheng?" Wen Chao scoffed. 

Jiang Cheng walked in front of Nie Huaisang. He could tell his boyfriend was purposely separating them. "Didn't I warn you to pick on someone your size?" 

"We're not kids anymore, Jiang Cheng. Those threats are as worthless as Nie Mingjue's." Nie Huaisang doubted that his brother couldn't make Wen Chao regret that he was born. 

Jiang Cheng popped his knuckles. "Yeah, and I can still kick your ass like I could back then." Nie Huaisang eyed the silver ring with a purple shone on his boyfriend's finger that shone brightly. 

He moved away from the two, looking worriedly at Jiang Cheng. Was his boyfriend really going to fight Wen Chao? His parents would be pissed! Wei Wuxian and Jiang Yanli would be proud—so would he, but he would be punished wouldn't he? He didn't want Jiang Cheng to endure anything unnecessary.

"AH!" 

Nie Huaisang looked to see Wen Chao was clutching his cherry red cheek where he knew Jiang Cheng must have punched. 

"You son of a bitch! I won't let you get away with this!" Instead of fighting back, Wen Chao ran off like a coward.  

"Yeah you better run!" Jiang Cheng shouted, looking back at him. "I thought Wei Wuxian was with you."  

Nie Huaisang bent down to pick up his phone. "I told him to go meet up with Wangji—they have a date planned tonight." 

"True, but he can defend you against that bastard." Nie Huaisang narrowed his eyes without spite—now Jiang Cheng was starting to sound like his brother who wanted to teach him to defend himself. That turned out to be an epic fail. "You need to be careful, Huaisang," he said, heading outside of the gym.  

Nie Huaisang pouted at noticing the cracks on his phone. Stupid Wen Chao just had to break his phone. His brother wasn't going to be happy about this. 

He looked down to see Jiang Cheng's familiar purple backpack on the ground. He eyed the zipper slider where a string held a purple lotus flower keychain made from construction paper. It was a little crumpled and paper looked worn-down, but the fact that Jiang Cheng never took it off showed how valuable it was to him.  

With a sweet smile and single flick Nie Huaisang opened his fan. "Why, when I have my Knight Cheng to come and save me?" 

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah."  He took Nie Huaisang's hand. "Y'know we're not kids anymore right? 

Nie Huaisang's pout grew. Now his boyfriend was just being a meanie. Well, two could play that game. "Oh I see..." He tried to untangle his fingers from Jiang Cheng's. "So, should I find someone else to be my knight in shining armor?" he teased. He looked up at Jiang Cheng innocently. "I understand if the respectable Jiang Cheng isn't fit for—" 

Jiang Cheng shut him up with a kiss. A few seconds later, Jiang Cheng pulled away, tightening his grip on his hand.

Nie Huaisang hummed softly. "A-Cheng?"  

"What?" 

"So you'll always be my knight in shining armor?" 

"I'll protect you from dumbasses like Wen Chao, and weird guys like Witch Wei... Princess Sang." 

Nie Huaisang giggled, leaning the side of his face against his boyfriend's shoulders—just him and his angry knight.