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Chapter Text

Wei WuXian was invited by his cousin, Jiang YanLi to the goukon. Jiang Cheng and a few friends from other universities were going to come as well, she said. It was going to be fun, she said.

"So why do I have to come?" Wei WuXian had asked. It did not seem like the goukon was lacking any participants.

"Weeeelll…" Jiang YanLi drawled. "Did you not say that you want to try getting to know Mian Mian?"

Wei WuXian perked up. Oh. Mian Mian was coming? Why did Jiang YanLi not say sooner???

The young man had not even said that he would go but Jiang YanLi could read her cousin like a book.

"I knew it. I just have to invite Mian Mian and you are going to come right away."

Wei WuXian grinned.

"I didn't know that Mian Mian is interested in goukons. Is she by chance looking for a boyfriend?"

"Maybe? But A Xian, this time a lot of beautiful girls and handsome boys are coming. Don't just limit your perimeter to Mian Mian. It is time for you to get your first girlfriend, be it Mian Mian or someone else."

Jiang Cheng came with a tray of burgers. He managed to hear the last bit of their conversation and took the chance to tease his cousin.

"He is going to stick to Mian Mian like butter to bread. The poor girl will not be able to talk to any other guy properly, HAHAHAHAH!"

Wei WuXian pouted and slapped at Jiang Cheng's head, who dodged his attack quickly.

He met Mian Mian on the day his university announced the students who got accepted. Wei WuXian, Jiang Cheng, and Jiang YanLi had all managed to enter into their desired major, but Mian Mian had failed. The pretty girl bawled her eyes out and had to be escorted by her friends out of the courtyard. Other boys might think that she was a crybaby, but Wei WuXian fell for her beauty. Even while crying, so Wei WuXian said, Mian Mian looked lovely. Imagine when she was smiling instead. Mian Mian was quickly comforted when Wei WuXian started to hit on her. It might be Heaven's blessing that she did not have to visit the same university as someone as daring as Wei WuXian, who did not care the least for the TPO before hitting on her. She was crying, goddamnit!

While Mian Mian clearly ignored him, her friends went awwww at Wei WuXian's sweet wooing attempts. Since the university students knew each other from being in same schools previously, they quickly established a network. Wei WuXian got to know a few things about Mian Mian, but the girl still rejected his "subtle" advances. This goukon would be a good chance for Wei WuXian to approach Mian Mian again. Hopefully this time she would respond to his feelings!

Just like what Jiang YanLi told him before, the goukon was attended by a lot of people. All of them were university students, studying different majors, and most of them pretty and handsome. Two young men especially stood out. Brothers. Lan XiChen and Lan WangJi from the Gusu University. Lan XiChen was studying to be a doctor while Lan WangJi was majoring in law. They were so good-looking that all the other boys knew right away that they would not be able to snatch themselves any girl as long as these two did not go home with any girl yet!

Wei WuXian remembered downing one glass of beer after another, watching Mian Mian fawning over Lan WangJi. The usually shy girl seemed to be determined to win over Lan WangJi, she even went as far as giving him her personally made perfume sachet! Wei WuXian was burning with jealousy. He also wanted one! He remembered staggering toward Mian Mian to ask for a perfume sachet. She did not want to give him any so he wailed and hugged her arm and begged some more. That was the last thing he remembered.

When he opened his eyes again, he was lying on a warm bed, and something heavy was pressing on top of him. Wei WuXian blinked and stared at the ceiling, trying to piece together what exactly happened the night before. He really could not remember anything beyond passing out. Somewhere close, he could hear the sound of a ticking clock.

Where was he?

This was not his dorm room…

Jiang Cheng? YanLi-Jie?

Ah… my head hurts so much…

Wei WuXian wanted to rub his aching temple, but he was completely trapped under the heavy something. He tried to move the heavy thing off his body, and what he touched gave him goosebumps. It was not a thing. It was someone. Someone was lying on top of him. And judging from the muscular arms, it was a man. A man!!! A naked man!!!

"Mnnn…"

The man on top of him started to stir. A sharp pain spread from the lower part of Wei WuXian's body when the man started to get off his own body.

"Ah… Ahnn, hurts!"

It felt as if someone was in the middle of pulling a knife out of his body. Wei WuXian grimaced from pain and clawed into the man's shoulder.

"Wait, no!!! Stop! STOP!!!!"

The man stopped moving and waited for Wei WuXian to stop shaking. The boy panted heavily and gathered all the courage he had to take a look at what was happening down there.

Then he saw it.

He could not be mistaken. He had the same unit after all, albeit smaller and normal-looking.

There was a huge, enormous cock embedded into his ass. Into his ass!!! When Wei WuXian sucked in his breath, he could sense the hot organ pulsating fiercely inside him. He… a man. He and a man.

Wei WuXian looked up very slowly and gazed into a pair of beautiful golden eyes. The color was as beautiful as the golden sun itself, but the gaze was rather cold and aloof. It was Lan WangJi!

Lan WangJi had his cock up his ass! Lan WangJi and him, he and Lan WangJi… They did it. They were doing it. They…

Wei WuXian's body slumped backward. It was a miracle that he did not pass out again due to the shock.

"Are you okay? Hey."

No, dude. I am not okay.

What makes you think I am okay?

Wei WuXian howled into the pillow. His whole life long he waited for the day he would lose his virginity. Which was supposed to be to a girl. He was supposed to have a girl panting under him, while they made sweet love from sunset to sunrise. How did it end up like this???

Lan WangJi put his hand on Wei WuXian's lower abdomen and the latter immediately turned around and glared at him.

"I will come out, alright? Bear with it."

Lan WangJi pulled out with one smooth movement. It really felt as if he just pulled a knife out of Wei WuXian's body, leaving a fresh, gaping wound. Even worse, he was not wearing a condom! Waaaaa!!!!

Globs of white liquid with red streaks trickled out of his body along with searing, burning pain in his tunnel. Wei WuXian never felt more pitiful in his life.

"I am sorry," Lan WangJi said. "You are hurt. I will ask my brother to come and…"

"No need!!!!!"

Wei WuXian would rather die than have some other man look at him in his current situation.

"He's a medical student, he can help…"

"I said NO NEED!"

Lan WangJi's gaze softened. He pulled Wei WuXian into an embrace before the latter could even protest, and pressed their lips together. Maybe it was the hangover. Maybe it was something else. They ended up sucking each other's lips for a long time before Wei WuXian realized something and pushed Lan WangJi away.

Wait a minute! I am straight! Straight!!

Am I not?

It must be the hangover, because Wei WuXian did not refuse when Lan WangJi led him into the bathroom and cleaned him up. His back was pressed against Lan WangJi's chest while the latter had his slender finger up his ass to clean him inside out. More and more of his semen poured out. Wei WuXian blushed. Just how many times did they do it? Last night, he lost his first kiss and his virginity to Lan WangJi. But how the fuck did it happen???

"Um," Wei WuXian started. The warm water poured on their naked bodies, and he started to sober up a little. "So uh, how did I end up here? How did we…?"

How the hell did we end up having sex?

"… You don't remember?"

Wei WuXian shook his head. He felt more and more stupid under Lan WangJi's sharp gaze.

"You hugged my arm and would not let me go the whole night. I had no option but to take you home. And then…"

Oh God. It was not Mian Mian. It was Lan WangJi!!!!

"And then…?"

"And then, we… ended up kissing. I was drunk too. Sorry."

He did not need to say more. They were both drunk. One thing led to another, and they ended up having sex.

"I… I want to go home."

"Mn. Alright. Let me take you home."

As expected of someone who studied in Gusu University, the Lan brothers were loaded. They did not live in a dorm, but in a beautiful penthouse in the middle of the city. When Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi emerged from Lan WangJi's bedroom, they saw Lan XiChen, who was enjoying breakfast with another handsome, muscular guy. Wei WuXian suddenly felt self-conscious. Why was it that he was surrounded by good-looking guys when all he wanted was to be surrounded by pretty girls???

The handsome, muscular guy only had black shorts on while Lan XiChen wore T-shirt and house pants. The latter greeted them with a smile when he spotted them.

"Wei Ying, isn't it? How are you feeling? You were quite drunk yesterday."

Wei WuXian turned red in a flash.

Did he know? No, he couldn't have.

"It must hurt for the first time."

Fuck.

The handsome man opposite Lan XiChen roared with laughter. He draped an arm around Lan WangJi and asked, "Did you clean him up properly, WangJi?"

"Mn."

Lan XiChen poured a cup of tea and set the teacup in front of Wei WuXian.

"Th-Thank you."

Wei WuXian thankfully grabbed the warm cup and drank the content slowly.

"Stop teasing my brother, Nie-Xiong. It was his first time as well."

The man giggled and sauntered over to Lan XiChen. Groping his ass, he whispered, "You are right. I would rather tease you."

Lan XiChen laughed.

"We are not done with breakfast."

"Leave it for later."

Lan XiChen gave his brother and Wei WuXian an apologetic smile before following the man into the other bedroom. Wei WuXian stared and stared. He was so fixated at them that the tea ran down the corner of his mouth and dripped on his clothes.

"Wei Ying."

"Oh."

Lan WangJi offered him a napkin. He took it, feeling rather embarrassed. Who would know that the Lan brothers, the handsome, popular Lan brothers were in actuality gay??? Those girls would scream bloody murder if they knew.

"I-It is a huge place, for three people."

Lan WangJi fetched two plates and loaded them with freshly made pancakes from the kitchen.

"Two. Only my brother and I live here."

"So t-that was…"

"My brother's fiancé does not live here. He comes by often to hang out."

Fiancé.

Fiancé.

You guys are taking this thing seriously.

Wei WuXian gobbled down the pancake and shifted around anxiously in his seat.

"Um, I, uh. You still have a hangover. I will go take the bus."

"No need. My chauffeur can take you home."

Chauffeur.

He has a chauffeur.

Dude, are you not a normal university student???

He still took the generous offer though. If he had not just had the wildest night in his life to date, he would have appreciated the luxurious car he sat in more, before he absent-mindedly exited the car and pushed the door to the dorm open.

When Wei WuXian got back to the bedroom he shared with Jiang Cheng, Jiang Cheng was already waiting for him, grinning widely.

"Well, well, well. Young Master Wei, I did not expect to see you back home so soon. I thought you already moved out to live with Mian Mian!"

Wei WuXian did not reply. He threw a pillow at Jiang Cheng before he marched straight toward his bedroom, ignoring Jiang Cheng's giggle. Wei WuXian threw himself on the bed. His ass still hurt. He closed his eyes to sleep, but the image of Lan WangJi's cock inside his hole refused to fade.

He sighed.

Over at the penthouse, after Nie MingJue finally left to go to work, Lan XiChen and Lan WangJi prepared lunch together. Smiling, the elder brother threw curious glances at Lan WangJi.

Lan WangJi, "Xiongzhang, do you want to say something?"

Lan XiChen grinned.

"Well, I am mostly happy for you. The reason we even took part in the goukon was because you wanted to get to know Wei Ying. Are you not glad about the rapid development between you two?"

Lan WangJi, "I don't know. We were drunk."

Lan XiChen, "Would you rather talk about it first before doing it?"

Lan WangJi, "Ideally, yes."

Lan XiChen, "Do you regret sleeping with him?"

Lan WangJi, "No. It was good."

Lan XiChen hummed and commented, "To be honest, I was really surprised when he started kissing you. I thought he was straight. Then again, he had been staring at you the whole night. Maybe he fell in love with you on the first sight?"

That was too good to be true.

If so, what would happen next?

Chapter Text

It might not look like it, but Wei WuXian was the opposite of a player. He liked to hit on girls and flirt with them, but he had never even held hands with girls before, let alone having a girlfriend. What he liked about girls was their cuteness, their pretty face, their shyness, and their gentleness. He always had the urge to protect tiny, soft creatures, be it animals or girls, but that was pretty much it. There was no love, passion, or lust.

One girl was only one of many.

They came and went. He met new ones and forgot the old ones.

Maybe because Lan WangJi was not a girl, but he would not leave Wei WuXian's mind at all. Or maybe because they had sex once? Or maybe because it was his first. And Lan WangJi's first too. Wei WuXian did not know. He only knew that during the two days after that, he holed himself up in his bedroom and could not stop thinking about Lan WangJi. It was not because he was depressed or anything. It was because his ass hurt so much that he thought he might need to go to ICU for some treatment. He didn't go at the end because he wanted to preserve what's left of his masculinity. The ICU personnel could not have anything positive to say after they took a good look at his ass. He would end up as the laughing stock of the town. What if Mian Mian found out? Waaaaaahhhh!!!

On the third day, Jiang Cheng had enough and barged into Wei WuXian's bedroom to drag him out. The latter clung onto his blanket while screaming as Jiang Cheng dragged him off his bed.

"Come out already Wei Ying, for goodness sake!!! If you miss Mian Mian so much just give her a call! Why are you acting like a girl who just lost her virginity???"

Wei WuXian slapped Jiang Cheng with a pillow.

Him? Like a girl who just lost her virginity??

How dare Jiang Cheng say that!!!

What an insensitive jerk!!!

Jiang Cheng almost tumbled to the floor. He grabbed another pillow and return the blow. If not for his aching ass, Wei WuXian would have retaliated. He could win this pillow war. Alas, his legs were weak and his butt hurt. All he could do was groan and fell on the carpet.

Jiang Cheng was speechless. Was Wei WuXian truly sick and not just faking some illness?

"Are you okay??"

He helped his pathetic cousin to his feet.

"Should I call Mian Mian for you or what? Wei Ying, there are so many cute girls on campus. I can find you a girlfriend if you really want one."

Wei WuXian facepalmed. He was not sure if he should tell Jiang Cheng or not. He did not know where to start.

"Jiang Cheng, actually…"

"What?"

"… Never mind."

He still had some dignity left to maintain. Getting fucked by a man was one thing, having his family finding out about it was another thing. Wei WuXian rubbed his waist and stood up slowly to get a glass of water. Jiang Cheng followed him to the kitchen.

"By the way, Lan WangJi came to our campus yesterday and today. He was looking for you."

Wei WuXian sprayed water all over Jiang Cheng's face.

Jiang Cheng, "…"

"WHAT THE FUCK??? THAT WAS SO GROSS!!!"

Jiang Cheng went to wash his face. Then he changed his clothes. Then, because he still felt icky, he took a shower. Wei WuXian patiently waited until he came out before asking further about Lan WangJi.

"Why is he looking for me?"

"I should ask YOU. How should I know?"

Wei WuXian rolled with his eyes. Duh.

"Well did he not say anything else other than he's looking for me???"

Jiang Cheng moved the water dispenser and glass out of Wei WuXian's reach, for fear that he would spray him again.

"Well, I also don't know why but apparently he has your wallet? You must have dropped it at the goukon."

Wei WuXian knew exactly where he dropped his wallet, and it was definitely not at the restaurant where they had the goukon. How did he not notice that he lost his wallet anyway? This was rather alarming! But then Wei WuXian remembered that he had been staying at home for two whole days after that night, naturally he would not need to use his wallet or anything.

"So um… is he coming again tomorrow? I need to get my wallet back."

"I offered to take it, but he said he wanted to give it to you personally."

Wei WuXian frowned.

"What? Why? I mean…"

While Wei WuXian was rambling, the entrance door opened and Jiang YanLi was heard apologizing profusely for the messy dorm.

"I am sorry, the boys are really messy. A Xian, A Xian! Are you home? Lan WangJi is here for you…!"

Although Wei WuXian said that he wanted to get his wallet back, he was not mentally prepared to meet with Lan WangJi. Face-to-face. In his humble little abode!

Lan WangJi wore a blue, expensive-looking overcoat on top of the white sweater and blue-grey pants. He looked around in the dorm and said nothing in response. Wei WuXian was not sure what he was more ashamed of… the messy dorm or wearing cheap dirty T-shirt and shorts in his presence. At least Jiang Cheng took a shower. Wei WuXian could not remember if he had taken any shower that day.

"A Xian, why are you standing around? Lan WangJi is here to return your wallet. Invite him in to take a seat!"

Stiffly, Wei WuXian walked to the living room, gave Lan WangJi a stiff smile, and made a hand gesture to the couch.

"Please come in and have a seat, Lan WangJi."

"…"

Lan WangJi mn-ed, and then he took a seat on the couch. Jiang YanLi hurried to the kitchen to make some tea, and Jiang Cheng suddenly felt the urge to help his sister out. Taking out the tea cups from the cupboard was quite a strenuous task, as people might know. Wei WuXian was left alone with Lan WangJi in awkward silence. After some time, Lan WangJi took out the wallet and handed it over to Wei WuXian.

Wei WuXian mumbled, "Thanks… um…"

Lan WangJi, "Are you alright? You did not come to class for two days."

"Yeah, I… I am a little unwell."

"If you are feeling uncomfortable, we should have it examined. I can drive you to…"

"No no no no. No. Thanks. I'll be fine. I only need to rest a little."

"I see."

Another round of awkward silence. Wei WuXian cursed in the kitchen's direction. How long did it take to brew some tea? And why the heck did YanLi-Jie invite Lan WangJi to their dorm???

"I have something else for you."

"Huh?"

Lan WangJi took out a small white tube and handed it over to the confused man. Wei WuXian read the description. It was a soothing gel for external application.

"…"

"My brother said this is really good. Especially if you have some tear wound inside."

Wei WuXian turned beet-red. He couldn't help but imagining Lan WangJi's slender finger inside his body back when he cleaned him up. Wei WuXian could not imagine sticking his own finger up his ass. He tucked away the gel discreetly and muttered, "Thanks."

Lan WangJi did not stay for long. He waited long enough for the tea to finally be served, drank the tea, and had an amicable chat with the Jiangs while Wei WuXian only chimed in with awkward, fake laughter whenever one of the Jiangs poked him. Then, he excused himself politely. Like a rich young master that he was. His manners were flawless.

Wei WuXian followed Lan WangJi to the door to send him off. Lan WangJi turned to him and said, "Call me if your wound does not get better."

"It already is getting better. You don't need to worry."

"Mn."

Lan WangJi leaned forward and Wei WuXian reflexively did the same, thinking that he wanted to whisper into his ear. He did not. Lan WangJi put an arm around Wei WuXian's waist and pulled him in for an intimate kiss.

"Nnn…"

He looked so pure and innocent, but Lan WangJi was quite an aggressive kisser. His tongue started to ravage the inside of Wei WuXian's mouth, and the latter complied without much protest. Some saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth when they finally stopped sucking and biting on each other's lips. All red, Wei WuXian hastily wiped the saliva off.

"I'll be going."

"U-Un."

The door closed and Wei WuXian exhaled out of relief. He turned around and saw Jiang Cheng and Jiang YanLi gaping at him. Both of them looked pale, almost as if they just saw a ghost.

Drat.

They saw.

And why the fuck did I not push him away?

Am I gay now?? ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

His lips were swollen from the kiss just now. Wei WuXian cleared his throat while he anxiously rubbed at his stinging lips.

"Um, I have to tell you guys something."

Wei WuXian did not waste the time to go around the block to tell the story. Truth to be told, there was not much to tell. He mistakenly grabbed Lan WangJi and stuck to him the whole night. They were drunk, and they had sex.

Jiang YanLi, "Wow."

Jiang Cheng, "Wow indeed. What the fuck, Wei Ying??? What are you planning to do now???"

Wei WuXian, "Do you think I know???"

Jiang Cheng, "You guys had sex! Sex! You just met him that night and you guys had sex!"

Wei WuXian was so close to hitting Jiang Cheng.

"Thank you Jiang Cheng, I am well aware of it." he answered, dripping with sarcasm.

Jiang Cheng, "He… I mean, you guys just kissed! Are you guys dating now???"

Wei WuXian, "Fuck, no! I like women! I want women!"

Jiang Cheng, "I bet a lot of women like it when their boyfriends were kissed by other men."

Wei WuXian facepalmed.

Alright, Wei Ying, focus. You guys just had sex. A one-night-stand. You made no commitment to Lan WangJi, and he made none to you. You are not dating him. He is not dating you. That kiss just now was just… a greeting. Yes, a greeting, nothing else.

Wei WuXian did not realize that he said all that out loud. Jiang YanLi sounded rather concerned when she said, "A Xian, it did not look like a greeting to me. It looked like a lot more."

Jiang Cheng, "If you really are not going out with him, I think you need to tell him that that's not the case."

Wei WuXian buried his face into a nearby pillow.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HOW AM I GOING TO EXPLAIN THIS TO LAN WANGJI??????

Over at the penthouse…

When Lan WangJi came through the door, the house was sparsely lit. He knew that his brother was in the study, probably working on some university assignments. He knocked at the door before entering.

Lan WangJi, "I'm home."

Lan XiChen looked up from a stack of paper, took off his glasses and smiled at his brother, who took off his coat and hung it neatly at the coat hanger.

"How is it going? Did you meet with Wei Ying today?"

"Mn. I went to his house."

"Is he doing well?"

"Mn."

Lan XiChen smiled expectantly at his brother, but Lan WangJi did not say anything else. The elder brother finally decided to ask further.

"Well? Did you talk to him about your feelings?"

Lan WangJi shook his head.

"Too many people."

"Ah. I see."

"But we kissed before I went home."

"Aaah. Now, isn't that a good sign?"

Red color slowly crept up Lan WangJi's neck as he nodded shyly. Lan XiChen could not help but grin. Lan WangJi was never good at expressing his feelings, so Lan XiChen was very worried about the outcome of the one-night stand. It turned out that everything worked just fine. He worried too much.

Chapter Text

"Lan WangJi, you are very handsome and cool. I like you. Very much."

"No no no, it sounds like I am confessing to him."

"Lan WangJi, although you are handsome and cool, we have to stop doing this."

"What the fuck, doing what??? It sounds like I am rejecting him!"

"Lan WangJi, I am straight."

"Straight A's???? Am I criticizing him for being gay?? ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

Wei WuXian threw himself at the sofa and howled into the cushion. Jiang Cheng, who had been observing his cousin's abnormal attitude, finally felt safe enough to approach him.

"You know, Wei Ying, all of that sounds like you are out of your mind."

Wei WuXian glared at Jiang Cheng.

"You think you can do it better? Let me see you do it!"

Jiang Cheng snorted.

"I would not even get into this kind of mess in the first place! Look, why don't you just pretend there's nothing? It has been two weeks since and he has not contacted you right?"

"He sent me a chat message saying that they are having an exam period so he doesn't have time to hang out."

"… You guys send each other chat messages?"

"Yes…?"

Jiang Cheng facepalmed. This cousin of his was surely an idiot. Maybe he dropped a lot on his head as a toddler.

"Y'know, Wei Ying, why don't you just, ghost him? You know, don't reply to his texts. He will get it."

Wei Ying sucked in his breath and stared at Jiang Cheng in disbelief.

"Are you crazy? Do you want him to fail his exams because of me???"

"Wei Ying, you…"

Jiang Cheng was speechless. Wei WuXian had a pretty face and all, so maybe Lan WangJi fell for his beauty but that was pretty much it. They had zero things in common. Their relationship, whatever it was, had a fleeting nature and would never last. To think that Wei WuXian needed someone to spell it out for him was unbelievable. Or better said, maybe he got too much self-confidence? It was after Lan WangJi who they were talking about. Way before they met on that night, they had heard long winding tales about the Lan brothers, who were tall, rich, and handsome (literally 高富帅 xixixi). They were the very definition of hot bachelors. Jiang Cheng was pretty sure that during this "exam period", Lan WangJi must have picked other lovers and already intended to ghost Wei WuXian. Wei WuXian should not take their casual fling seriously. But how to tell that to this overconfident blockhead?

"Fine. But promise me one thing, Wei Ying. You must not initiate the conversation. When did he contact you last?"

"Umm…"

Wei WuXian grabbed his android and scrolled through the chat messages.

"Um… three days ago."

Three days. Sounds like the beginning of ghosting. Alright.

"Then you must never, never be tempted to say hi and ask how he's doing, alright? Let's hope he already forgot about you."

Wei WuXian did not know why, but Jiang Cheng's well-meant words felt like a thousand needles stabbing his heart. Would Lan WangJi really forget about him so easily? After all they had sex. Alright, it was a one-night-stand. Most people did not bother with one-night-stand partners. But he was kind enough to return his wallet and they also kissed… Did that mean nothing?

Wei WuXian sulked until dinner time. Although Jiang YanLi cooked his favourite lotus root soup, he barely ate half a bowl. This had never happened before. When Wei WuXian pushed away his unfinished bowl of rice, Jiang YanLi immediately exclaimed, "A Xian, are you sick??? Where does it hurt???"

"I am not. I just don't have appetite. YanLi-Jie, I want to go to bed early."

"But… A Xian, if you don't eat enough you will get hungry at night!"

Wei WuXian could not care less. Right now his pride was hurting. He could not eat another bite. Unfortunately, his stomach did not care whether or not his ego was trampled or crushed. Soon he was not only unhappy but also very hungry. Wei WuXian had no choice but to get off his bed and sneaked into the kitchen. He made himself some instant ramen, and while slurping down the hot noodles he thought and thought. He knew for a fact that tomorrow was the last day before semester break for all universities, be it Gusu or Yunmeng. Lan WangJi's exams should end tomorrow, if not already ended.

The sullen young man whipped out his phone and checked Lan WangJi's status on the chat app. He was online three minutes ago. He could have chatted Wei WuXian but noo, he did not do that. Wei WuXian bit into his own lip. He did not like this. He had to clear it with Lan WangJi before the semester break.

The next day went almost in a rush, possibly because Wei WuXian could not concentrate at all. He was absent-minded throughout the lectures, dragged his feet from class to class thinking about what would happen that afternoon. After all his classes were done, he sent quick text messages to both Jiang Cheng and Jiang YanLi, telling them that he had something to do so he could not go home together with them, and then he made his way to Gusu University.

Wei WuXian did not want to call Lan WangJi beforehand. He just marched through the gates, endured the curious looks of rich boys in their expensive clothing and accessories, and bravely asked those who looked humbler about Lan WangJi's whereabout.

"Aaah, Lan WangJi? Lan WangJi from Law Faculty?"

Wei WuXian nodded.

The man giggled.

"You are not the first one today. Go into that white building, second floor, Clarity Hall. Lan WangJi is there doing his mock trial."

Wei WuXian thanked him and made his way to Clarity Hall. The closer he was, the more his feet felt as if they were made of clay. Not the first one? But he was already here. He could not just turn around and go on semester holiday like that. No way. He had to make it clear with Lan WangJi.

He knocked at the double door but no one answered, so he carefully opened the door. The sound of people arguing quickly rang through the air. Wei WuXian sneaked in hastily and took his seat at the back row. It was a regular mock trial for law students to put their skills into practice, but the hall was full of spectators. Most of them were girls.

Lan WangJi was in the middle of the hall, pacing around while speaking out.

"The defendant was found at the crime scene, holding a knife. Evidence shows that the stab wound on the victim matches with the knife's blade. I have here two witnesses who claim that they saw the defendant entering the crime scene shortly before the murder happened. I would like to call them to the stand."

Wei WuXian almost jumped from surprise when the group of girls in front of him stood up and held up a big colorful banner while screaming in unison "LAN WANGJI IS THE BEST!!!! LAN WANGJI GOOD LUCK!!!!"

Same words were written on the banner, with a lot of heart symbols. Wei WuXian cringed. An older man in a suit angrily stood up and shooed the ladies off the hall.

"This is a mock trial! Not a basketball tournament! Go, go! All of you who have no business with the mock trial, GO!"

His eyes fell on Wei WuXian, who was dressed casually and did not look like he fell off a BMW on his way here. The older man knitted his forehead.

"Who are you? Are you a law student? What business do you have here?"

Wei WuXian stuttered, "Uh, I… Um..."

Hearing Wei WuXian's voice, Lan WangJi lifted his gaze and their eyes met. Wei WuXian immediately blushed and turned away.

Lan WangJi, "Professor, he comes for me. Can he wait in the waiting room?"

The professor snorted.

"Another one? Fine. Out, lad. Go wait in the waiting room."

And so Wei WuXian was shooed outside. Before the doors closed, he caught Lan WangJi looking at him. With mixed feelings, he dragged his feet to the waiting room. The room was not empty. A girl was waiting inside. Wei WuXian's eyes grew big when he saw who it was.

"Mian Mian???"

"Ahhhhh, it's you!!!"

Mian Mian jumped from her seat and pointed a trembling finger at Wei WuXian.

"Wei WuXian! I told you that I am not interested! Stop stalking me!"

"I did not stalk you!"

"Then why are you here! You embarrass me enough in front of Lan WangJi during the goukon!"

"Mian Mian, what are you yourself doing here? You don't go to Gusu University!"

Mian Mian turned slightly pink.

"None of your business. I just want to visit Lan WangJi, that's all."

Wei WuXian was pissed. He had been trying to woo Mian Mian for ages, but Mian Mian would not even give him a side look. Enter Lan WangJi who made zero effort but scored all girls within the vicinity in a split second!

Mian Mian put both hands at her hips and glared at Wei WuXian.

"Wei WuXian, will you please leave? I really have something important to talk to Lan WangJi about."

Wei WuXian, "I also have something important to talk to him about."

"Whatever it is can wait. Mine is a very delicate matter!"

"Mine is also a very delicate matter!"

"Wei WuXian!!!"

Wei WuXian did not want to back off. He stubbornly glared back at Mian Mian.

"Just because you like me, I am not obligated to like you. Stop meddling in my romance!"

The door opened with a click, and Lan WangJi came in, wearing his usual poker face. Both Mian Mian and Wei WuXian shut up. Wei WuXian's heart beat fast in his chest. How much did Lan WangJi hear? He wanted to say something, but Mian Mian rushed to Lan WangJi, all teary and spoiled.

"Lan Zhaaaan, I have waited so long! I need to talk to you. Badly. Can we go somewhere private?"

Instead of answering immediately, Lan WangJi's eyes swept over Wei WuXian, who looked rather terrified.

"Sorry QingYang, I need to go with other students to celebrate the semester break. If it is urgent, we can meet up later."

Mian Mian pursed her lips. She took out a perfume sachet from her bag and pressed it against Lan WangJi's chest.

"Then just take this for now. My phone number is inside. Call me, okay?"

"… Mn."

Mian Mian threw one last glare at Wei WuXian before leaving in huff and puff. An awkward silence fell over the room. Lan WangJi stood at the door, the perfume sachet in his hand. Wei WuXian bowed his head and clawed into his bag. Now that he stood directly before Lan WangJi, he forgot everything that he wanted to say to him. His mind was blank. As blank as white paper.

"Is that true?"

Wei WuXian looked up.

"Is what true?"

"Do you like her?"

So he heard…

Wei WuXian swallowed.

"Uh… Yeah."

"I see."

Lan WangJi walked over and pressed the perfume sachet against Wei WuXian's chest. Wei WuXian's lips parted in surprise. Lan WangJi kept his gaze down. He then turned around and walked out of the room. Wei WuXian did not even get to say anything in his defense. His brain felt numb. All he heard was the sound of Lan WangJi's steps distancing away from him.

Chapter Text

Rrrrrrrrrr…

Rrrrrrrrrr…

Lan WangJi buried his head under the quilt. He did not wish to talk to anyone or to be talked to. All he wanted to do was sleep. The phone rang a few more times, but then it fell silent. Lan WangJi sighed and fell asleep. He did not know how long he slept, but when he opened his eyes again, his brother was sitting at his bedside, reading a book. Lan XiChen smiled at his brother when he noticed that the latter finally opened his eyes.

"Oh, WangJi, you are awake? What's wrong, are you uncomfortable somewhere?"

"…No."

"You skipped the semester break dinner party, I was so worried. Why did you not answer the phone?"

"…"

After Lan XiChen heard that Wei WuXian came to Gusu University to look for Lan WangJi, he was not at all surprised when Lan WangJi skipped the dinner party. He expected Lan WangJi to go on a date with Wei WuXian, maybe even planning the semester break together. But no, Lan WangJi went straight home. Alone. And he did not look like he had a good time.

"Does this have something to do with…"

"Xiongzhang," Lan WangJi abruptly interrupted. "I don't want to talk about it."

"… Alright."

Lan XiChen patted Lan WangJi's head a few times and then he left his brother alone. Whatever happened between Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian, as long as Lan WangJi did not wish to talk about it, Lan XiChen did not feel right to interfere or even inquire about it. He closed the door behind him and sighed.

Not long after, his own phone rang. It was Nie MingJue.

"Oh, Nie-Xiong. Yes, I found WangJi. No, he is not feeling well. You have what? I don't know… Maybe. Oh well. No, no he doesn't have any plans yet. Especially not after tonight…"

Alone in his bedroom, Lan WangJi gazed into an empty space for a while before he sighed again and rolled back into the quilt to sleep.

Jiang YanLi was worried about Wei WuXian. The latter marched directly into his bedroom right after he came home and went to sleep. When Jiang YanLi inquired after his health, he just mumbled some incoherent things from under the thick blanket, basically telling Jiang YanLi that he was okay and that he wanted to be alone. He sounded almost as if he was crying.

When WeiWuXian came out of his bedroom the morning after, his eyes were all puffy.

Jiang Cheng frowned.

"What's wrong with you?"

"What? Nothing."

"Your eyes."

"Oh, I couldn't sleep. It's nothing."

Jiang YanLi, "… A Xian, have you been crying?"

Wei WuXian turned slightly red.

"No, I have not! I just had a nightmare, and…"

Jiang Cheng mumbled between two bites of the peanut butter sandwich that he was having for breakfast, "If you could not sleep, how could you have a nightmare?"

Wei WuXian glared at him. Jiang Cheng, you talk too much!

Semester break started that day. The three people visibly felt the pressure lifted from their shoulders. Who cared about the exam results. All they needed to do was enjoy the two-week break and care for nothing. While Jiang Cheng and Jiang YanLi chattered away about their plan for two weeks, Wei WuXian sat on the couch, pulled his legs to his chest, and stared out of the window.

I did not want it to end that way.

I wanted it to end, but… not like this.

I want to talk to him, I want to explain, but… he must hate me very much now.

He did not say it, but he will not want to see me ever again.

It might be the best this way. After all, our universities are not affiliated. We will never meet again, so… it's okay, isn't it?

Lan WangJi, I…

Wei WuXian sighed.

To you, I…

Jiang Cheng appeared out of nowhere behind Wei WuXian and slapped the back of his head.

"OWWWWW!!!"

"Ow your head. Did you not hear us? We plan to go to the summer camp."

"What summer camp?"

"So you really did not hear us! Lanling University Dean, Mr. Jin put together a plan for a summer camp, inviting many students to join. Mom called today, telling us to join as well."

Wei WuXian wrinkled his nose as if he just discovered shit under his nose.

"Jin GuangShan? Ewwww. I don't want to."

"You have to. Your mom already agreed as well. Go ask her if you don't believe me."

Wei WuXian did not need to ask. He knew very well why he and Jiang Cheng had to join. Jiang Cheng's mom and Jin GuangShan's wife, Madam Jin, were besties. They planned to pair Jiang YanLi and Jin ZiXuan, the Jins' eldest son up. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng disliked Jin ZiXuan for being an arrogant peacock, but Jiang YanLi had always had a soft spot for him. She had always treated him kindly since childhood. Almost kindlier than his own mom did.

"What is this summer camp about?"

"Oh, there are many activities… Here are some pamphlets for you to read."

Wei WuXian lazily took some from Jiang YanLi and started to flip through it. While the content did seem interesting, Wei WuXian was not up to it. He merely dropped them on the table and curled up on the couch. Summer camp here or there, he did not feel like participating. Maybe he would just go to appease the parents, but he did not have to participate in anything.

"Let's pack, A Xian."

"Mmm…"

"We leave tomorrow morning, A Xian."

"Mmm…"

"…"

Jiang YanLi took the initiative to pack Wei WuXian's daily necessities for the summer camp instead of waiting for him to move from the couch. Indeed, Wei WuXian only left the couch for food and then at night he sluggishly moved to his bedroom and slept till morning.

Jiang YanLi knew she was right. Wei WuXian did not even know that his stuff was all packed and he was ready to go. Well after a good bath and delicious breakfast of course. Wei WuXian became even lazier than the day before. He even had the audacity to ask Jiang Cheng to piggyback him all the way to summer camp. Jiang Cheng very abnormally agreed. He carried Wei WuXian on his back, and then he dumped his poor cousin into the bathtub. The latter shouted out all kinds of curses, especially because the water was cold.

"Fine," Wei WuXian grumbled after the refreshingly cold bath, "I will walk. Where are we going?"

They traveled by train. Jiang YanLi mistook Wei WuXian's gloominess for motion sickness, so she took out the perfume sachet she found in Wei WuXian's room and offered it to him.

"Take a sniff. It is quite good for motion sickness."

Wei WuXian was too lazy to explain to Jiang YanLi what was wrong with him. He simply thanked her and tucked the perfume sachet away.

The campsite was located in a nature conservative area at the bottom of Phoenix mountain. The air was fresh and the water was ice cold. When Wei WuXian and his cousins arrived, a few other students had already collected at the entrance at the campsite and were chattering away cheerfully.

Madam Jin was also present, and she waved at Jiang YanLi enthusiastically.

"A Li! Over here!"

A few heads turned around to look at Jiang YanLi. Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng looked at the faces surrounding them. Then Wei WuXian gasped.

Lan XiChen, "Oh, Wei Ying? What a coincidence…!"

Wei WuXian stuttered, "Oh, XiChen-Ge. Long time no see."

What am I so flustered about? It is just Lan XiChen. Lan WangJi would not be here. That guy does not like crowded places…

"Xiongzhang."

Lan WangJi's voice preceded his entrance, giving Wei WuXian goosebumps. When they looked at each other, both quickly averted their eyes. Jiang Cheng and Jiang YanLi exchanged puzzled looks.

"…"

"…"

Lan XiChen smiled.

"Look WangJi, it's Wei Ying. What a coincidence, huh?"

"Mn."

Lan WangJi still wouldn't look into his eyes. Wei WuXian wanted to dig himself a hole and bury himself alive. The situation could not be worse, could it?

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WEI WUXIAN!!!!"

Wei WuXian grimaced. Apparently it could. He was close to shaking his fist at the sky.

When I said it could not be worse, I was not challenging you!!!

Mian Mian came down like a storm and stood between Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi, arms stretched out to protect the latter.

"Why are you bugging Lan Zhan again???"

Wei WuXian was slowly getting angry.

"I am not...!"

Mian Mian ignored him, clearly only making a scene to impress Lan WangJi. She hugged Lan WangJi's arm and batted her eyelashes at him.

"Lan Zhannnnn, I miss you so much. Why did you not give me a call?"

Lan WangJi wanted to say something, but then he shut his mouth. Obviously he could not give her a call even if he wanted to, because he gave the perfume sachet containing Mian Mian's number to Wei WuXian. Realizing that Lan WangJi was in a tight spot, Wei WuXian hastily took out the perfume sachet from his pocket.

"Mian Mian, I am sorry. I took the perfume sachet from Lan WangJi."

"WHAAAAAATTTTT???"

Mian Mian grabbed the perfume sachet out of Wei WuXian's hand. She glared at the latter in disbelief.

"How dare you! I was giving it to Lan Zhan and not to you!"

Wei WuXian pretended to be miffed.

"Well, I also wanted one, but you never gave it to me, so I just… I just took his!"

"You… shameless!"

Wei WuXian laughed. He stole a glance at Lan WangJi, and found that the latter was also looking at him. That single look was worth it. Besides, the perfume sachet was rightfully his.

Wei WuXian apologized over and over again before leaving with his cousins. Not at all noticing that behind him, Lan WangJi gazed at his back for the longest time.

Chapter Text

The summer camp offered a range of activities for which the students must register in time because some activities were so popular that the spots were quickly filled by overeager students. Jiang Cheng was interested in a lot of activities, but he was too lazy to register. Wei WuXian was so depressed the whole time that he did not even take a look at the pamphlets let alone register for any of the activities. Knowing that her brother and cousin did not register for anything, Jiang YanLi had taken the initiative to register all three of them for activities to her liking, not taking into consideration that her brother and her cousin might not be very much interested in the activities that she liked, such as cooking.

That was how the two Jiangs and a Wei got stuck with kitchen duty for the entirety of the summer camp, along with many others who either joined out of passion or due to being punished. Not wanting to hurt Jiang YanLi's feelings, the two boys could only complain to each other bitterly while stirring the big pots of soup. That evening, Jiang Cheng and Wei WuXian were the only ones in the kitchen. All the other dishes were ready, only the pots of soup needed re-heating. The two boys had volunteered to do the chore just to complain to each other while the others went to take a bath before dinner.

"I so want to play soccer. Damn it, why did I not register for soccer???" Jiang Cheng complained loudly.

"I am willing to die if I can join the orchestra. Ahhhh, I want to practice my flute so bad," Wei WuXian lamented.

Jiang Cheng stared at Wei WuXian.

"You know what, Wei WuXian? You are sounding gayer and gayer ever since you slept with Lan WangJi."

Wei WuXian quickly clamped a hand over Jiang Cheng's mouth while looking around the kitchen in bewilderment.

"Mmmmph!!!" the latter protested to no avail.

"Shut your mouth!" Wei WuXian hissed. "It's alright if you want to laugh at me, but think about Lan WangJi for a moment! Someone might be standing just outside the kitchen, waiting for food!"

Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow. He freed himself and whispered with all seriousness, "Wei WuXian, you might be a little sexually confused, but Lan WangJi is gay, isn't he? What is so wrong with people finding out?"

"You are too insensitive," Wei WuXian scolded his cousin. "Maybe he's not out yet. Maybe he's bi. Anyway, Mian Mian likes him. He might also be interested in Mian Mian."

There was a trace of sadness when Wei WuXian said the last sentence, and it did not escape Jiang Cheng's observation.

"Are they…?"

"I don't know," Wei WuXian mumbled. "I happened to see them eating dinner together yesterday. And this morning. And this afternoon too."

"…"

Jiang Cheng stared at Wei WuXian, causing him to be self-conscious. He bit his lips, not daring to look Jiang Cheng in the eyes. What's with the "happened to see"? He obviously was searching for Lan WangJi every time the students started to pour into the dining hall one by one to have their meals.

Wei WuXian did not know why. He just unconsciously started to scan table after table, going from face to face to find the handsome young man with cold expression on his face and sharp gaze. Wei WuXian remembered how those beautiful light-colored eyes looked like when they were looking at him. Although he was not gay and was not interested in pursuing a relationship with Lan WangJi, Wei WuXian missed Lan WangJi. He missed his messages. He missed his attention. He missed his…

PA!

Wei WuXian suddenly slapped himself to sober up, frightening Jiang Cheng who was staring at him.

"What the heck? Why did you slap yourself???"

"Nothing," Wei WuXian said, his right cheek red and stinging from the slap that he inflicted on himself. Wei WuXian ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.

"Jiang Cheng, can you help me with distributing dinner tonight? I will wash all dishes after dinner."

Wei WuXian ran out of the kitchen, ignoring Jiang Cheng shouting after him, "What about your dinner??? HEY! WEI WUXIAN! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS I HAVE TO FEED HERE???"

Wei WuXian stopped running after he could no longer hear Jiang Cheng. He feared that his cousin would run after him with a wooden ladle and drag him back into the kitchen, but Jiang Cheng did not come after him.

It was close to dinner time, so most students already finished their activities for the day and started to go into the dining hall, chattering noisily all the way. Wei WuXian kept his head down as he slowly walked in the opposite direction, not wanting to talk to anyone who passed by him.

Wei WuXian slowly walked and passed by the lakeside. He saw a lone boat floating in the middle of the lake. On top of it were two people, sitting at each end of the small boat. Wei WuXian squinted at the figures. It looked like a couple of lovers, but they sat so far apart from each other, almost as if they were sitting in there just to make sure that the boat would not topple over.

It did not matter who they were.

Wei WuXian walked to the end of the campsite and arrived at the running track. There was no one on the running track. Wei WuXian took off his jacket and started to run on the track. He started slowly and went faster and faster. After running for ten laps, he eventually got tired and sat down on the floor while catching his breath.

The sun was setting when he left the kitchen. By the time Wei WuXian finished running, the moon had already come out. Drenched in sweat, he gazed at the moon and waited until the sweat dried up before he went back to the kitchen to wash all the dishes.

GRRRR…

Wei WuXian scrunched up his face. He was hungry. Great. Dinner time was over. These students were all greedy bastards. Wei WuXian would be lucky if the rice cooker still had three grains of rice left inside.

Dejected, he walked into the kitchen and saw piling plates and pots and glasses in the sink. Wei WuXian laughed dryly. Washing dishes was the chore that all those having kitchen duties hated the most, so when someone stupid like Wei WuXian volunteered to do it for a night, naturally everyone would scatter to make sure that they did not disturb him while performing this very important, heart-rending chore.

There was some food stored in the kitchen. Wei WuXian could cook himself something after he washed the necessary cooking utensils. Wei WuXian opened the refrigerator and did not find anything that could be heated up. He was not interested in spending more than ten minutes to cook before he could eat, so he abolished the cooking plan. That being said, his options were limited. Thankfully, there were some instant noodles in the kitchen cupboards. Wei WuXian happily took out a cup of instant noodle with spicy beef flavor and put it on the counter. Then he went to boil some water in the water boiler.

After putting the spices, vegetable oil and adding extra chili peppers into the cup, Wei WuXian waited patiently for the water to boil. The water had not started to boil, and someone already entered the kitchen. Wei WuXian whipped around in surprise. What he saw almost gave him a heart attack. It was Lan WangJi, still clothed in his basketball team uniform. Sweat dripping from his forehead, he parted his lips in surprise when he recognized Wei WuXian.

"You…"

"…"

Wei WuXian gulped. He did not expect to see Lan WangJi at all.

"I… I have kitchen duty," he said.

"I know."

Wei WuXian swallowed hard.

He knows?

Oh.

Lan WangJi averted his gaze from Wei WuXian and walked into the kitchen. He glanced at the pile of dirty dishes on the sink, then at Wei WuXian. His gaze landed on the cup of instant noodle that Wei WuXian was holding. The latter quickly hid the cup of instant noodle as if he were harboring some sinful pleasures.

What the hell?

Why am I hiding a cup of instant noodles from Lan WangJi?

So what if I am eating instant noodles?

Is that not allowed?

Wei WuXian looked at the water boiler.

Oh, the hot water is ready.

Wei WuXian hurriedly poured hot water into the noodle cup. Wisps of steam carrying the fragrant smell rose from the cup, making Wei WuXian even hungrier. He quickly put a spoon over the cup lid to prevent the heat from escaping the cup. Wei WuXian swallowed his saliva. Only three minutes, then he could finally have his dinner.

"Instant noodles are unhealthy."

Wei WuXian turned around. Lan WangJi was looking at him.

"I know. I have nothing else to eat. I am too hungry. I don't usually eat this."

He was lying through his teeth. Wei WuXian loved instant noodles. He ate instant noodles the whole time, treating them as midnight snacks especially when he was studying for exams.

Lan WangJi said nothing. Wei WuXian felt even more and more awkward to be with him alone in the kitchen.

What was there to talk about?

Wei WuXian scratched at his head.

These three minutes felt like ages.

When Wei WuXian visited Lan WangJi at the Gusu University, he wanted to tell him that he was straight as a needle.

Then Lan WangJi overheard Wei WuXian's conversation with Mian Mian, and they had parted ways on bad terms. It was clear that Lan WangJi was angry at him. Wei WuXian wanted Lan WangJi to no longer be angry at him. After all, they had had an intimate encounter.

Wei WuXian stole a glance at Lan WangJi, who was just standing there in the kitchen motionlessly.

The longest three minutes in Wei WuXian's life were finally over.

Wei WuXian grabbed the cup of instant noodles and opened the lid. The fragrant smell of spicy beef noodles wafted into his nose and filled him with instant happiness. Wei WuXian grabbed a pair of wooden chopsticks and started to eat. The first strands of noodles tasted like ambrosia.

Wei WuXian chewed and swallowed a mouthful of noodles before he exchanged glances with Lan WangJi who was still standing there, looking at him. Immense guilt filled Wei WuXian's heart. He carefully said to Lan WangJi, "Do you want to try it? Or do you want me to make you another cup?"

Lan WangJi shook his head slightly.

"No need," he said, grabbing Wei WuXian's precious cup of noodles and eating from it using the same pair of chopsticks.