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Over a week has passed since he's last seen the other. How the fuck does someone just vanish from the face of the earth?? They were having a good time, weren't they? Well, it wasn't exactly great, but Wei Ying wouldn't say it was detestable either. At least he wasn't bored at all. He obviously couldn't know about Lan Zhan, because no one can read that stone cold expression of the contemporary dance major. They had spent the last weekend with each other, just half awkwardly, half relaxed driving around the area. They both wanted to get out to have a breath of fresh air, so their plans fortunately aligned.
Wei Ying sighs as he hesitantly picks up his phone again. He has sent Lan Zhan three messages so far, which seems like the exact right amount to stop spamming if he wants to avoid annoying the other. So, he puts it back down again and just bites into his sandwich aggressively in order to let out his frustration. Did he do something that made the older avoid him? Wei Ying knows he can be quite cheeky sometimes, but he does try to conceal his words around the person he has a hopeless crush on. he's not that eager to get his heart broken.
Huaisang arrives the usual fifteen minutes later than planned, even though wei ying is pretty sure it is indeed planned. By the other, at least. To make up for it he offers the newest gossip around campus. The two study different majors, but Huaisang, for some reason, always knows everything that's happening at uni. Maybe Wei Ying should recommend him a different hobby. Sudoku would definitely ruin less relationships.
Apparently three bachelor of arts students were caught smoking weed in the basement of their faculty, which is absolutely stupid, so wei ying doesn't show much interest in it. He's only ever intrigued by actually shocking or surprising news. His best friend goes on about Guangyao awkwardly trying to approach Lan Xichen again, after his confession last month was crushed by some medicine assholes. They really can't leave him alone, just because his mom is working in a strip bar. She's not even stripping there, not that that would've been any bad, she's managing the place. Wei Ying scrunches his nose and scoffs at that. He knows through Lan Zhan that the boy's brother doesn't care about anything related to that, but he has no idea what he thinks about the younger having feelings for him. Wei Ying admires Guangyao for having the courage to confess to one of the jade brothers. He sometimes wishes he could get a bit of that courage.
Since the thing with Guangyao isn't really anything new, - is huaisang losing his ability to know all the tea or is this semester truly this boring? - Wei Ying only perks up when Lan Zhan's name is mentioned. Huaisang has a mischievous gleam in his eyes when telling his story: "Zixuan told everyone that his cousin is coming to town next month and now apparently he confirmed that she's the one who was seen with Lan Zhan in that fancy restaurant." LanZhan was seen going out with a girl? What? When? He apparently neglected his friendship with Huaisang these past days, pitying himself for not being able to be around Lan Zhan, to miss out on this kind of tea. Holy fuck, Lan Zhan, the mighty, cold-as-ice Lan Zhan was seen on a date?? It sounds ridiculous and Wei Ying would definitely not believe it if it was anyone else who told him. But this was Nie Huaisang, a walking hot tea pot that always made sure to only serve the most exclusive stuff that he has at least triple checked.
Wei Ying just blinks and can't even form a question to ask huaisang. After realizing that he won't get more of a reaction right now the other continues: "Anyways, I did some research and approached the one and only Jin Zixuan myself. With my natural charm, he was very willing to tell me exactly what was happening. Turns out," he leans forward, as if he needs more close proximity to catch Wei Ying's full attention. it's not like Lan Zhan's name itself is already able to do that. He impatiently nudges his friend, so huaisang continues, a sly smirk displaying on his usual soft features:
"Turns out, their families have been meeting up a lot recently. It seems like they get along well, so Mianmian's dad, that's Zixuan's cousin's name, proposed the idea of them joining forces. " He leans back again, apparently done and satisfied with his report. For wei ying, it's definitely not enough. He knows, rationally, what Huaisang is implying. Only an absolute dumb fuck would not get it. He likes to think of himself as at least mildly intelligent. However, he simply refuses to believe what the younger is saying. Huaisang rolls his eyes: "They're gonna get engaged, you idiot."
Wei Ying is running across the campus for a good twenty minutes already. The messages in his and Lan Zhan's line chat are adding up to at least fourteen, but Wei Ying doesn't give a shit anymore. He needs to talk to the older. He knows he has no actually valid reason to appear upset, other than confessing his feelings to lan zhan and like he said, he wishes to have the courage that requires. They aren't even close enough for him to be concerned about the other. Nevertheless, here he is, frantically searching for his friend. Just as he races around the next corner, he almost runs over a tall figure that walks towards him. The figure catches his arm, before he has the chance to hastily apologize and keep running.
It's Lan Xichen. "Wei Wuxian." he speaks, "it is good to see you." Wei Ying nods his head quickly and wants to ask about Lan Zhan and who the hell had the idea to marry him off. Maybe the taller boy's brother can bring a little light into this insanity. Before he can open his mouth, Lan Zichen continues: "I have a favor to ask from you, actually." Wei Ying nods again, baffled. "I'm sure, you have heard the news from someone at this point. Sensations spread quicker nowadays." He talks as if he wasn't also born into the digital generation. Wei Ying nods for a third time.
Lan Xichen sighs. Wei Ying notices, for the first time, how tired the older looks. Has he always looked like he was carrying so many burdens at once? Maybe this is both his brother's situation and his own with Jin Guangyao that are weighing him down. "My brother is not very happy about this situation. He might not look like it, but he's easily hurt when his opinion and freedom is overlooked like this. Wei Wuxian, if you don't mind, would you talk to my brother? Wangji is too stubborn to open up to me, he thinks he has to bear all of this on his own. Please, if you would be that kind, find out how he can be helped."
Lan Xichen has this pleading look in his eyes that makes it impossible for people to refuse him anything. Not that Wei Ying wanted to refuse him this favor. He'll gladly do his best to ease Lan Zhan's troubles. "Of course, I'll speak with him. It's horrible that such a thing still exists nowadays." The other looks, like the air around him has lifted a bit. There's still something clearly troubling him, but it is not Wei Ying's place to point that out. "Thank you. I had hoped to be able to count on you, Wei Wuxian. My brother values your thoughts and presence a lot, so I think you're the best person to ask this favor. I also know that you care about my little brother, so I figured trusting you with this will be the best option."
Wei Ying's heart feels warm, but heavy under this much responsibility. Lan Xichen sighs, again. This time he sounds sad, not just exhausted: "Unfortunately, we still somehow live in a society, that sometimes approves of such methods to maintain a business relationship." Wei Ying nods. "Lan Xichen, do you know, where Lan Zhan is right now? I can't find him anywhere on campus." The older smiles: "I believe he's skipped classes today. Yesterday's meeting with Ms Jin seemed to have been too much for him." He chuckles at Wei Ying's raised eyebrow: "This isn't a joke. He's locked himself in his room and luckily i could convince our uncle that he has caught a cold."
Wei Ying splutters out a "Thank you" and dashes off, feeling like he already wasted too much time. Gosh, he really needs to stop acting like he's Lan Zhan's worried lover. His role is the supportive friend, he needs to get that into his head. When he reaches the Lan's estate and gets off his bike, he swallows down his nerves. This isn't the first time he's visited Lan Zhan's place and he isn't here to confess either. So why is he so anxious? He runs the last meters to the front gate to strip off the worries eating at him. Knowing he looks too disheveled right now to just play the role of the slightly confused bro, he rings the doorbell. He just hopes, Lan Zhan is as oblivious as always.
Wei Ying soon forgets about that concern when Lan Zhan opens the door. The older looks bad. Wei Ying doesn't mean to judge his handsomeness here, of course Lan Zhan is still as beautiful as always, but his appearance is just so unusually uncared for it makes Wei Ying speechless. It's like he catches him slipping for a moment, like Lan Zhan let go of his usual aim for perfection. It's what Wei Ying always wanted. He wants to be the reason the taller's ice-cold exterior is melting, wants to wake up to lazy hair in a messy bun, to burnt omelet, even though he speaks from experience when he says, Lan Zhan makes perfect eggs for breakfast, to sweat pants and sleepy kisses. It's all he wants, all he knows he can never get.
But he doesn't want it like that. He'd be happy to have the other open up to him and for them to share their struggles, but that doesn't include seeing Lan Zhan this empty. It's only minor imperfections, but the wrongly buttoned shirt and the lack of effort to have fixed it, because lan zhan definitely noticed it, shows how little he cares about, well, anything right now. He looks tired, even more so than his brother, deep, dark circles around his eyes. He doesn't smile, when he sees wei ying on his doorstep. not that he usually does, but wei ying has had a lot of time to figure out that the tiny shift in the corner of his mouth means Lan Zhan's pleased to see him. Nothing of that right now.
The older still asks him inside and Wei Ying appreciates that. He would've probably slammed the door shut in anyone's face who would've shown up at his door with potential pity. He gets a cup of perfectly heated tea and they sit down. Wei Ying can see that the taller hasn't been crying, nor is he starting to whine in front of his guest right now. Once again, he admires the other for his composure. He's a mess, yes, but a perfectly acceptable one, that no one can criticize.
Wow, this is harder than he thought. He wants to support lan zhan with all he has, but he doesn't know if that's appropriate. They're friends, but even that just merely. Wei Ying pulls himself together. Lan Xichen has asked him to do this, he isn't here to impose himself on his crush.
"I heard what happened just today. Sorry, if I annoyed you with my text messages about totally irrelevant shit." 'Really?' He asks himself. Talk about yourself in the first sentence of trying to console him, just great. Lan Zhan shakes his head: "I do not mind. It is enjoyable to read about your day." Ah, right. his first text was him ranting over a rude cashier at a café. Can this talk get anymore uncomfortable?
"I am sorry for not replying, though. My mind was... occupied." Lan Zhan continues.
Wei ying waves him of quickly.
He wants to hide, but he forces himself to keep going: "That's totally fine. Look, I know this might be a bit weird coming from me, but i just wanna tell you that your family kinda sucks." Oh my god, Wei Ying. What... even was that?
Suddenly, a hint of amusement flashes over the other's else neutral features. Wei Ying's eyes widen. Is he actually humoring Lan Zhan with his dumb comments? Testing the waters he goes on: "I know, I never met your uncle or anyone apart from your brother, but i think it's really unfair what they did." He doesn't get much more visible reaction, so he decides to stop.
Instead, he decides to question more about the situation itself, because so far he's only gotten his information second hand. "Lan Zhan, what happened exactly? I mean if you don't mind sharing it with me."
Lan Zhan let's out an almost inaudible sigh: "So far, not that much. My uncle has told me and my brother about the offer that Jin Guang Shan had made him. He said he thinks it might be a good idea. He thinks it might be helpful if i am in a stable relationship. It will take a lot of issues away." Wei Ying feels himself getting angry. How dare that old man decide over Lan Zhan's head, what is apparently the best for his nephew. He keeps listening: " He set me up on three dates with her so far. Yesterday, he called and asked if we had talked about marriage already. I felt a little bit overwhelmed, which is why i stayed home today." Wei Ying hides a smile. even when he isn't confronted, lan zhan makes sure he doesn't admit that he literally skipped class. He's just so cute. "Thank you for coming, Wei Ying. It is very nice of you to listen."
His heart swells. Goddammit, how is he ever supposed to get over this guy?? When he's being like this?! "Of course, you can always talk to me Lan Zhan. So, what's gonna happen now? Are you gonna keep going out with her?" The older's eyes lower. The light that has managed to sneak into his eyes and voice, disappears. Wei Ying helplessly has to watch it fade away. "I do not know how to handle this situation at the moment." Lan Zhan starts explaining, "Uncle told me that he does not believe this marriage will get in the way of me finding love on my own. A person that i would start an actual, serious relationship with. He does not believe i am capable of doing so."
Wei Ying is bewildered. He doesn't want to believe his ears. "He doesn't think you're capable of loving someone?" He asks to confirm. "Mn." is the other's answer. "How would he know?" Wei Ying exclaims. Lan Zhan doesn't answer him. Maybe... does he maybe believe his uncle? That can't be, right? Lan Zhan will be the best significant other to someone some day, if that's what he wants, Wei Ying just knows that.
He's already a great friend to the few he has and Wei Ying is lucky enough to be counted as one of them. The other might be a bit awkward sometimes, but he's a great listener and always makes you feel like you deserve to be the center of attention. The best kind of attention, because it's lan zhan that's listening to you. He just has that kind of effect on people. Wei Ying knows it's not just his hopeless crush speaking here, he's heard it from a few people that had gotten the bliss of a discussion of some sorts with the handsome man.
He also picks up on his friends interests quietly and tries to adjust every hang out to make it meet their habits and personalities. It's great. Wei Ying couldn't wish for anyone better to fall for. He sighs, louder than both of the jade twins did today and puts a hand on Lan Zhan's shoulder: "Well, i know he's not right about that. you're like, perfect husband material to someone you're actually in love with.. I mean you could be. Do you even want to be?" Way to go, assuming things about Lan Zhan's sexuality.
The other looks adorably confused. "Do I want to be a husband?" He asks. Wei Ying panics: "Yeah? I mean no, not necessarily. Do you even want to be in a relationship? There's no rule that says you have to be interested in that."
lan zhan says nothing for a bit. he just looks at him. Then his eyes soften and he replies: "Yes, I think I'd like that."
Wei Ying knows he's blushing. There's no way he can control his face heating up, when Lan Zhan's so here and so close and all he'd have to do to show him how easy it is to find someone that's utterly in love with him, is lean up and kiss those perfect lips.
He doesn't. Instead, he smiles up at the older and finally, finally, catches that slight lift of Lan Zhan's lip. Mission achieved, Lan Zhan is a tiny bit happier! Wei Ying sits back on the couch. He's breathing a little heavier, but it's okay, he didn't give himself away. He folds his arms over his chest while thinking out loud: "So, even though it sucks that your uncle doesn't trust your ability to fall in love naturally, I think your problem itself isn't that hard to solve!" lan zhan raises an eyebrow, meaning that he's listening.
"We just have to find that person for you! Then he can't say anything, right? If we sit the love of your life in front of him, he can't just marry you off to some chick!" Wei Ying is surprised that he's able to bring out those words that effortlessly, but damn, it fucking hurts on the inside! Is he actually ready to help his crush meet another person? Someone else, who will catch lan zhan slipping, who will have all that glowing attention on them? Someone else, who will kiss those perfect lips, whenever they feel like doing so? Someone else that will make lan zhan happy for the rest of his life?
The answer is yes, anything so the light in him won't die out. Love truly makes selfless, huh? "So." he clears his throat, looking at Lan Zhan's unreadable expression. "Tell me about your ideal person. I will successfully ruin your wedding, Lan Zhan!"
Wei Ying goes home with a brain full of information. Lan Zhan was surprisingly willing to talk about his ideal type. It almost makes Wei Ying suspect that there is already someone that fits the description that Lan Zhan admires. Back at his dorm, he writes down what he's learned today. If he's honest, he really enjoyed hanging out with the older and getting to know him a bit better, even for reasons like this. In the end, his notes look like this when he turns of his desk lamp and crawls into bed:
lan zhan's perfect match:
1. lively, brings out the hidden adventurer in lan zhan
2. passionate about what they do. regardless of what that passion is
3. humorous
4. loves music, shares it with lan zhan
5. openly spoken, good at reading feelings, since lan zhan isn't the most expressive
6. organized
Wei Ying sighs, that last one definitely crosses him off the list. Other than the last bit, the list is great and very relatable. He can definitely work with that. He hasn't told Lan Zhan exactly, that he'll try and play matchmaker, because he knows he'd just get stared at disapprovingly. Wei Ying doesn't really know where to start, but he's determined he'll find a way.
Okay, for some reason, this is a lot harder than he thought it would be and maybe that's just, because he's picky. Lan Zhan goes on every date he sets up for him, but for some reason he gets gloomier every time and Wei Ying realizes that they can't go on like this. His heart feels only a minimal amount of relief that Lan Zhan didn't find the right one yet, it's hurting more for Lan Zhan being under so much pressure.
it's two weeks later and they haven't gotten any further. Lan Zhan could just lie to him and pretend that he found someone he's interested in, but Wei Ying just knows that the taller won't do such a thing. They quietly drink coffee in front of the university's library, in what is called the "campus' green navel". It's a tiny excuse of a park, but it does its job.
"Lan Zhan." he breaks the silence. "Wei Ying." the older replies. Wei Ying shivers at the way he says his name, but goes on: "I'm sorry that i keep failing. I just can't stand seeing you in this position. This is supposed to give you your freedom back, but it's still me, preparing all these "potential partners" for you. Isn't that a bit hypocritical? So...", he takes a meaningful break and a sip of his lukewarm cappuccino, "Tell me, Lan er Gege. Is there someone on your mind already? Because i feel like your description was too specific to be about your general type." Lan Zhan stays silent and Wei Ying spots something on his face that could be interpreted as disappointment. He doesn't get it. Does Lan Zhan not have a crush on anyone?
"Look, if you tell me who it is this could get a lot easier. I bet, I could talk to them and mention you. They have to fall for you, I mean come on, who could resist you?"
He gasps: "Do i know them??" Lan Zhan sighs his small, elegant Lan Zhan sigh. Wei Ying waits. "You know them.", the taller says after a while. His words sting a lot, but Wei Ying ignores it.
This isn't the time to whine about his broken heart. "Really? That's cool. " he chokes out. before Lan Zhan can let him in any further on this big secret of his, their conversation is interrupted by a shrill: "Wei Ying!"
Wei Ying is trying his hardest not to smack the bench they're sitting on. He knows that voice too well and it's ironically perfect, that it's exactly that voice that stops him from knowing the world's biggest secret. It's no surprise, that Jiang Cheng is still as incompetent as always.
He turns around with the most sickeningly sweet smile plastered on his face. He'd never smile at Lan Zhan like this. "My lovely brother, how nice it is to see you, too." Jiang Cheng grunts at his greeting - the imbecile - and goes, as usual, straight to business: "What the hell have you been up t these days? Sis is worried like crazy, because she can't get a hold of you. Also, you missed a family dinner, so mom is extra pissed at you." When isn't she, Wei Ying wants to ask, but he feels bad about his sister, so he promises to call her soon.
After a few second of thick silence and awkward stares, he can't stand it anymore. "Jiang Cheng, this is my friend Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan, this is my stupid baby brother." Jiang Cheng hits him on the head, before he suspiciously eyes the older and nods at him. Lan Zhan nods back, a lot more graceful. This has to be one of the weirdest meetings in the universe.
Lan Zhan doesn't tell him who he likes that day and a part of him is relieved. He doesn't know what he should do with himself once he knows. The other part is dying of curiosity; who the fuck gets the honor of having living and breathing perfection Lan Wangji love them. he's obviously jealous as fuck.
During the next week they meet up occasionally, but Wei Ying doesn't set him up with anyone anymore. Instead he tries to come up with other ideas to convince the man's uncle of not marrying him off. It feels wrong to try to force a relationship on him. Lan Zhan deserves to go at his pace and fall in love whenever he wants.
His ideas are met with reactions ranging from mildly amused to absolutely against it. Nevertheless, both of them are aware that they won't really work. Wei Ying sighs deeply and lays his head on the counter of the café they're currently ordering in. This is worse than homework and Lan Quiren starts manifesting the idea of a near proposal. Their time is running out. Wei Ying realizes, he's never even met the girl. What the fuck is he doing, actually? Playing matchmaker for the guy he can't deny he's in love with? And a bad matchmaker at that.
They go to Wei Ying's room today, because the Lan's are having the Jin's over and there's no way he'd let Lan Zhan go back there now. The other doesn't protest, simply tagging along, but he truly doesn't seem to mind it.Wei ying cooks them a quick, light lunch, something he's learned from his sister.
Lan Zhan compliments him and he feels like he's floating. When did they get this domestic? A few months ago he had merely started talking to the man he started to catch feelings for and now they're here. Weirdly enough, this has brought them closer than anything else could so far. He smiles at the sight of Lan Zhan washing the dishes after they finished. He jumps up to help, he can't let his guest do all the work after all. Lan Zhan quietly mumble to himself: "He even got the literal meaning right now. It's just one thing missing, then." He swears, there's a certain bitter sweetness in the taller's voice, but Wei Ying doesn't dare to question, what his words meant.
There's another annoying family dinner of the Jiang's this Saturday, and Wei Ying decides to drop by to ease their tempers. Especially Mrs Yu's. It's pretty boring, but his sister made the dessert, so he's definitely staying for that. Later on, the adults have gone to bed and Yanli is watching tv. Wei Ying thought about joining her, but he knows she'll ask him a bunch of things and everything still feels too unresolved to talk about. It's a pretty weird situation he maneuvered himself into, after all.
He knows Yanli won't be mad, she's already happy he came tonight and she respects Wei Ying's need for space enough to not force him to talk to her. They'll meet up soon anyways and Wei Ying will tell her what's been going on. Hopefully then, he'll know a bit more clearly how things will progress. So, instead of going into the living room, he grabs a beer and joins Jiang Cheng on the balcony.
He doesn't say it out loud very often, but he really enjoys spending time with his little bro. All the bickering is just the tip of the ice berg that is their relationship. Jiang Cheng silently pushes over a bowl with peanuts and they sit in silence for a while. "So." his little brother starts the conversation, "What's bothering you?" Wei Ying didn't expect to be questioned here too, simply because he thought Jiang Cheng hadn't noticed. Apparently, he was a lot less subtle than he thought.
he sighs. Maybe it's good to get some advice. Jiang Cheng might not look like it, but he's actually quite good with that. "I'm currently trying to help out a friend. The one you met, actually. He's in a pretty tight situation right now, in which we have to find him someone that'll convince his uncle, that Lan Zhan is very much capable of having his own love life."
Jiang Cheng looks confused. "It's" wei ying tries, "It's complicated and i don't wanna go into too much detail. Well basically, he came up with a few factors that make up his ideal significant other and I made a list out of it and tried to find them for him. But, for some reason, everyone that seems to have fulfilled those criteria, just didn't seem to be right. I don't know how to explain it, really, but i could tell Lan Zhan wasn't happy. That's why I thought maybe he was describing an actual person. He just never told me who it is."
Jiang Cheng frowns: "What's on the list? An actual description of someone's appearance?" Wei Ying pulls out the folded piece of paper. For some reason, he always carries it around with him now. "Nah, it's more like personality traits and stuff."
His brother takes the list from him and studies it for a minute. When he looks up, he has this teacher-like look on his face, that Wei Ying hates. It literally screams: "How is an idiot like you speaking to me?" Wei Ying has gotten that look enough to know its meaning. Only that jiang cheng looks even more stunned. "What?", Wei Ying asks. he really wants to know what he has overlooked. Jiang Cheng closes his eyes for a split second. Then he opens them again and points at the list:" This is talking about you." is all he says.
Wei Ying furrows his eyebrows: "Huh?" is all he manages. Jiang Cheng's shoulders slump. "This" he aggressively slams the paper on the table in between them, " is a literal description of you, you absolute fucking moron."
Wei Ying let's his words sink in. 'Huh?!' is all that's in his mind. He's dumbfounded. absolutely, terrifyingly dumbfounded. This might be the first thing that truly knocked all speech out of his lungs. and it comes from Jiang Cheng, of all people.
"That- that can't be...", he stutters after a solid two minutes of processing. He looks his brother in the eyes, who does the bare minimum to hide his annoyance. "I'm not organized, like at all! You're wrong!" he accuses Jiang Cheng to which the boy only rolls his eyes.
"Are you being serious? you have like the most structured, strategic brain, I've ever encountered. No one can beat your system up there, remember? The only thing I think isn't matching is the thing about reading people's emotions well. I mean, at least in this case." Wei Ying's mouth gapes open. He's right! Fucking Jiang Cheng is right!! How can he be so stupid to miss this. He just assumed he knew what Lan Zhan meant with the traits he mentioned, but it turns out he'd been so wrong. He remembers, what Lan Zhan said while washing the dishes: 'He even got the literal meaning right now. It's just one thing missing, then.'
He is really, really dumb. The clues have been right in front of him and the fact that he couldn't put them together just proves, that there is indeed one thing missing. Does that mean he isn't supposed to be Lan Zhan's love? is that the thing that stands between them now?
Jiang Cheng sighs next to him, bringing him back to reality. "Don't fucking overthink now, Wei Wuxian. That obvious, disgusting pining is starting to hurt even me. Jeez, how do you do it? Just go see him and apologize for being a dumb fuck and he'll take you back in a heartbeat." Upon seeing his brother's doubtful expression, he rolls his eyes even longer than before. "I promise. ", he grunts out after a painful second. Apparently, that's all Wei Ying's heart needs.
He immediately gets up and runs out after sending a flying kiss to his brother. He can hear the fake gagging noises until he's out the door, but hell, does he give no shits about that right now. He wishes he could say, it's like he's flying over to the Lan's property, but truth is, traffic in Boston sucks. It takes him almost forty minutes, but he makes it before curfew for the lan brothers. He rushes inside, ignoring the confused cook that opens the door for him and barges into Lan Zhan's room.
The older looks up from his book in slight surprise. "Hi." Wei Ying breathes out, his voice suddenly very ready to give out. He's never seen Lan Zhan ready for bed and now that he has he can't deny, it's fucking adorable. His glasses are on the tip of his nose and he uses one long finger to push them back up. Glasses? That's new information for Wei Ying. And because he's Wei Ying and he always talks before his brain can follow, he of course has to comment on it: "You wear glasses? Do you usually have contact lenses?"
The other looks oddly chill about him just showing up in the middle of the night. He just says: "Hello. I do. In the evening, I like to put them out, because they hurt my eyes and I read better with glasses." Oh my god. How is everything this dude does so motherfucking dazzling? That's not how humans are supposed to be. Okay, maybe wei ying is a tiny bit biased here.
"Wei Ying." Lan Zhan speaks into the silence that sets in after that awkward exchange. "May I ask, what brings you here?" Wei Ying fidgets awkwardly where he's standing and luckily Lan Zhan pays enough attention to people that he notices, so he pats on the bed next to where he's laying. Or maybe, he's just paying enough attention to Wei Ying. He allows the thought to cross his mind, while sitting down, the butterflies dancing in his stomach.
"Lan Zhan.", he starts, already sounding guilty. This is going great so far. " I might've been a massive idiot about something and I don't know what to do about it." Lan Zhan listens intently. Wei Ying's words definitely perked his interest. Wei Ying takes a deep breath. He has to go through with this now, he has to know. Wow, this time he actually did come to Lan Zhan's house to confess. kind of. Jiang Cheng better be right about this.
"This list", he puts it carefully on the sheets, "I showed it to someone else to see if maybe they had some other input and they said something that made me wonder."
Suddenly, the air around them seems ten times thicker. Wow, breathing can be really hard, huh? Lan Zhan's voice sounds an octave deeper when he replies: "What did you wonder about, Wei Ying?" Wei Ying's hoarse voice breaks on almost every second syllable: "You wrote this about someone specific, am I right?"
He already knows this! Why the fuck is he dragging it out?? Did he just move closer to the other? Lan Zhan nods to confirm his question. His eyes never leave Wei Ying's. He gulps: "I- I gave it some thoughts. It... sounds suspiciously like me, Lan Zhan." There he said it. What now? He notices that Lan Zhan's glasses have slid down the bridge of his nose again and he gives in to the reflex of pushing them back up for him. Lan Zhan stays silent for a painfully long moment. Then he seems to have decided on something: "It does not sound like it is about you, Wei Ying. It is about you." Nothing else. He just leaves this statement hanging in the room and expects Wei Ying not to faint and die.
Wei Ying leans forward, his whole body trembling and leans his forehead against Lan Zhan's. "It's confirmed.", he chuckles dryly, " I am a massive idiot. Lan Zhan. Oh, Lan Zhan, I'm so sorry." He opens his eyes, just to be caught in the taller's mesmerizing ones. He doesn't want to look away. Ever. "I think this is where i say how much I like you too. because I do! I really, really like you so much, Lan Zhan!"
The glow in Lan Zhan's eyes swells, until it reaches the corners of his mouth and lifts them up, more than wei ying has ever seen. It's gorgeous, seeing Lan Wangji smile.
"Be with me, Wei Ying?" he murmurs in a low voice. "Yes, of course!" Wei Ying exclaims and softly frames the other's face with his hands. "I'd love nothing more." he whispers, "Lan Zhan?"
The man hums. Wei Ying thinks that now is the perfect chance to be bold: "Can- can we kiss?" His question is answered with a pair of soft lips pressed against his, warmth spreading through every cell of his body. Lan Zhan kisses are demanding, he kisses with passion and teasingly and Wei Ying soon finds himself softly gasping for air. They pull away reluctantly and Lan Zhan instantly pulls him to his chest, safe arms encircling his waist. "But, lan zhan?" Wei Ying whispers half teasingly, half seriously insecure. "Mn?",
" I didn't match your list fully, did I? I didn't understand by myself how you were feeling. Doesn't that mean, I'm not the one we were looking for?" The grip around him gets tighter: "Ninety nine percent." Lan Zhan mumbles into his hair. Wei Ying waits till he continues: "Ninety nine percent a perfect match. One hundred percent would be boring. No room for improvement. No room for the natural development of our love."
Wei Ying feels like crying. "Your uncle really doesn't know you well, huh? To think, that you're not good at relationships, tsk.", he grins.
He lays down next to the older and snuggles up to him. His head rests on Lan Zhan's chest and his leg is loosely thrown over the other's. "We'll have a lot of explaining to do tomorrow. Lan Qiren must brace himself.""Indeed." is all Lan Zhan replies, before he turns off the light, presses a kiss on top of Wei Ying's hair, and falls asleep.
What he forgets to mention is that his uncle is always the one waking him up in the morning. Needless to say that their explanation has to begin very early.