Chapter Text
"Wen Qing," says Wei Wuxian in a faux casual tone. "Do you think Lan Zhan likes Mianmian?"
"What?" Well Qing puts down the fork she was eating her rice with. "Why the hell would you think that?"
"Because," Wei Wuxian says, poking a fork into his apple. "He's always looking at her."
They both turn to look at Lan Zhan who is sitting at his table, innocently reading his biology textbook.
"Okay maybe not now but whenever he looks up."
Immediately, as if he can hear Wei Wuxian and wants to prove him wrong, Lan Zhan looks up from his book and glances at him or Wen Qing. Well, their table anyway.
Wen Qing turns to glare at him.
"Okay, okay, but that's not a proper representation! Mianmian isn't here anyway. If she was, he would be looking at her a lot."
Wen Qing sighs and mutters something. Wei Wuxian thinks he hears her say, "Why, oh why do I have to suffer like this? What did I do to deserve this?"
Out loud she says, "Where's everyone else?"
Wei Wuxian begins to list the names on his fingers. "Jiang Cheng is having a meeting with his Chemistry teacher-"
"Ouch," says Wen Qing and Wei Wuxian agrees with her. If Jiang Cheng's grades dip again, Aunt Yu is going to have a chat with both of them. Because that's how things work in their house.
Anyway,
"Mianmian had a headache so she went to the nurses office for some medicine a few minutes ago."
"Oh," said Wen Qing who, despite studying to become a doctor, is not the nurturing type. "I'm always telling her to stop spending too much time on her phone."
"Don't say that to her," Wei Wuxian orders. "And Wen Ning was roped into helping, I don't know, some club set up."
Wen Qing grumbles. "He can never say no."
Wei Wuxian shrugs. "I tried to teach him. Just Say No. But, eh, you know what he's like."
Wen Qing sighs."Yeah I know." She picks up her fork again, chewing a mouthful before asking, "Nie Huaisang?"
"I actually have no idea. He said he was joining us but…"
Wen Qing looks unimpressed. "So it's just you and me?"
Wei Wuxian is offended. "Hey! Don't say it like that. I'm your favourite person."
Wen Qing snorts.
"But back to Lan Zhan, do you think he-"
Wen Qing doesn't even let him finish his sentence before she holds up a hand."Nope, I'm not doing this."
She gets up and leaves.
"Wen Qing, where are you going?" Wei Wuxian leans back to see her make her way out of the cafeteria. "You haven't finished your lunch!" He calls out but she just waves her hand, "You spoiled my appetite."
Wei Wuxian shrugs and goes back to poking his apple and not eating it. It's not like he cares who Lan Zhan likes, really he doesn't. He's just curious, that's all. He can be curious, right? Lan Zhan is his kind-of, sort-of friend, so of course he can be curious. It doesn't mean anything, okay.
The next day, Wei Wuxian is walking to his History class with Wen Ning who's in the same class as him and explaining how Wen Qing left him to eat lunch alone. Emotionally. Physically, Wei Wuxian has no lack of friends and he went and sat at another table. But he prefers a prickly Wen Qing and the rest of their group to his other friends any day. At least his Chinese friends can pronounce his name right, although, to be fair, Brandon only slipped up and called him Way Wusan twice this week. That's a lot of progress.
Wen Ning says diplomatically, "You know how Jiejie is."
Wei Wuxian sighs dramatically, "Of course you're going to take her side. Wen Ning! Where's the loyalty?"
Wen Ning looks instantly concerned. "Of course I'm on your s-side too, Wei Ying I, I- just-"
"Ah, relax," says Wei Wuxian, throwing an arm around Wen Ning. "I'm just joking. I'm not really upset with Wen Qing."
Wen Ning looks vastly relieved. "I'm glad, I don't want you and Jiejie fighting."
"Aw Wen Ning." Wei Wuxian is bursting with affection for his friend. "Even if we were to fight, you know that we'd never put you in the middle of it."
Wen Ning smiles back shyly. "That's because you're a really good friend." He says it so earnestly that Wei Wuxian wants to hug him.
"And, um, about Lan Wangji, d-do you like him?"
Wei Wuxian pouts, no longer wanting to hug him. "Not you too, Wen Ning! I already told your sister that I was just curious. That's it."
Wen Ning nods but says, "Wei Ying even if you did like him, h-he'd be very lucky to have you. Anyone you liked would be lucky to have you because you're s-so kind and- "
"Nooo, stop. I can't take anymore of this niceness. Stop saying things like that, Wen Qionglin," Wei Wuxian whines in protest. Maybe too loudly because a few students turn to look at him. Wen Ning blushes but Wei Wuxian turns to wave at his audience, he's never minded people staring at him but then he catches Lan Zhan looking at him and Wen Ning. When Wei Wuxian's eyes collide with Lan Zhan's, he holds his gaze for a second before focusing it somewhere else.
"Wei Ying." Wen Ning is tugging on his arm.
"Huh?" Wei Wuxian is just a little distracted, Lan Zhan has already left.
"We're gonna be late for c-class."
Wei Wuxian shakes his head, trying to focus. "Right. We should hurry up."
Later, Wei Wuxian has a free period and when he learns from Wen Ning that Wen Qing is also free, he finds her outside on a patch of grass.
"So," he says, falling down beside. Wen Qing squawks in surprise and then glares at him, pulling a notepad from under him that he honestly hadn't even noticed. "What do you think, Lan Zhan and Mianmian - yes or no?"
"What," says Wen Qing flatly. "In the world made you think that I wanted to continue this conversation."
Wei Wuxian ignores this very mean comment and spreads out on the grass. It's been cold recently but today the sun is shining.
When Wen Qing realises that there's no answer forthcoming, she rolls her eyes, poking him on the shoulder. "What are you doing here anyway? Are you ditching? Wei Wuxian, I'll tell your Jiejie if you're-"
Wei Wuxian bats her hand away. "Relax. I'm not ditching. My Maths teacher isn't in today."
Wen Qing grumbles but leaves him alone, taking out her books and notepads and pencil case.
"So?"
"So what?" Wen Qing isn't even looking at him, her notebook is balanced on her knee and she's writing something.
"About Mianmian, what do you think?"
Wen Qing puts a hand to her forehead, looking deeply pained. "Wei Wuxian, why do you care so much?"
"I don't," splutters Wei Wuxian. "I don't care at all. I'm just curious. Can't I be curious? Lan Zhan is my friend and Mianmian is also my friend so that's all."
"Right," says Wen Qing unconvinced. "And you know what, I'm actually going to help because maybe that way you'll leave me alone and shut up."
"Yes! Tell me what you think." Wei Wuxian sits up eagerly to hear what Wen Qing thinks.
"Maybe, just maybe," says Wen Qing, eyes intent on him. "He's not looking at Mianmian but someone else."
"Someone else?" Wei Wuxian frowns thoughtfully.
"Yes," says Wen Qing meaningfully. "Someone else."
"You?" Wei Wuxian is slightly horrified. "You think he likes you?"
Wen Qing closes her eyes.
"I mean, I guess it makes sense because he's always-"
"Okay, that's it. I'm done. I'm officially done with your stupidity. I will literally kill you or myself if I have to stay a second longer and listen to you and I refuse to commit suicide or go to jail for homicide. Wen Ning would never recover from the trauma." Wen Qing shoves her stuff into her bag and walks away. Very fast. Almost running.
"Hey!" Yells Wei Wuxian after her. "That's very rude."
Wen Qing does not turn around but she flips him the finger.
Wei Wuxian gasps. "I'm telling Wen Ning on you!" But it's too late, she's already out of sight. Wei Wuxian lies back on the grass but the sun seems to have disappeared. It's a lot cooler now. He wonders why Wen Qing got so irritated at him. Was it something he said? He thinks back over their conversation but nope, nothing stands out. Huh. It probably wasn't him then.
When the bell rings, signaling that school is over for the day, Wei Wuxian is at his locker.
"You haven't gotten your books yet? Hurry the fuck up, Wei Wuxian," barks his loving brother.
"I would have already gotten them if you weren't pressuring me," argues back Wei Wuxian because he can never miss a chance to antagonise Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng, predictably gets fired up, "Pressuring you? How the hell can you feel pressured taking books out? It's one of the most simplest things ever, all you have to do is-"
"Shh," Wei Wuxian whispers.
"Why should I shut up when you're the one who-"
"Shhh," hisses Wei Wuxian. "This is important."
Jiang Cheng looks doubtful but he snaps "What?" in a slightly lower tone than his usual growling.
Wei Wuxian gestures across from them. "Lan Zhan is over there." He's taking out books from his locker as well but unlike Wei Wuxian's chaotic act of throwing all of his books into his bag, Lan Zhan is taking his books out one by one and each time he puts a book into his bag, he marks off something from a list in his left hand. Ahhh, why does he look so neat and cute and serious? How can someone look cute doing something as mundane as that?
"And?"
"And," whispers Wei Wuxian, who had momentarily forgotten that Jiang Cheng was standing right beside him. "There's something I need to ask you."
"What is it?" Jiang Cheng looks immediately regretful, like he wishes he hadn't asked but it's too late because Wei Wuxian is leaning forwards excitedly.
"Do you think that Lan Zhan likes Mianmian? Or Wen Qing?"
Yeah, Jiang Cheng is filled with regret. Why did he ask?
"Wen Qing talked about this but I didn't believe her," mutters Jiang Cheng.
Wei Wuxian squints suspiciously. "What did you say?"
Jiang Cheng sighs. "Nothing. Nothing."
"Well, what do you think?"
"Okay," Jiang Cheng takes a deep breath. "Okay, fine I'll do this but only for Jiejie's sake."
Wei Wuxian grins, gesturing for Jiang Cheng to start.
"What if," Jiang Cheng says, looking disgusted, pinching his nose. "What if Lan Zhan doesn't like either Wen Qing or Mianmian."
Wei Wuxian nods along but then pauses in confusion.
"I can't believe I'm actually doing this," says Jiang Cheng but he continues anyway. "What if he likes, you know. Not girls.
Wei Wuxian blinks.
"Boys. What if he likes boys."
"Boys?" Wei Wuxian is shocked. He'd never thought of that before.
"Maybe a specific boy," suggests Jiang Cheng.
"A boy," murmurs Wei Wuxian consideringly. "That he likes."
"Yes." Jiang Cheng looks at him encouragingly. "Do you know who I'm talking about?"
Wei Wuxian bites his lip. "I think so. I mean, I never thought about it before. It's really surprising but Lan Zhan must like-"
"Who," says Jiang Cheng urgently. "Who is it? Say the name."
Wei Wuxian breathes deeply, looks at Jiang Cheng's intense, questioning gaze and says,
"Wen Ning. Lan Zhan must like Wen Ning."
Jiang Cheng gapes at him for a few seconds and then he walks over to the lockers and slams his head into one. There's a loud clanging sound and nearly everyone turns to look at Jiang Cheng who is now repeatedly banging his head into the locker and asking "Why, why, why, why."
Even Lan Zhan glances at Jiang Cheng. Whenever Wei Wuxian peeks to see whether Lan Zhan is still looking their way, his gaze is focused on them.
Maybe it's Jiang Cheng he likes. Hmm, a thought for another day, right now though, he has to deal with his brother.
His brother who he is filled with concern about. Well half of it is concern and the other half is regret that Wei Wuxian's phone has no battery. This would make great blackmail material.
"Um, Jiang Cheng? Are you alright? Everyone's looking at you. And you know I don't mind being the centre of attention and making a fool of myself but I don't think you-"
Jiang Cheng straightens and levels him with such a ferocious glare that Wei Wuxian takes a step back.
"I don't care about any of this stupid shit. I really don't. The only reason I'm even trying is because Jiejie asked me and I- This is literally my nightmare and now I'm leaving. Jiejie would be very angry with me if I killed you. And I will kill you if I have to hear any more of this."
Jiang Cheng shoulders his bag and storms away. Wow, thinks Wei Wuxian, so dramatic. He wonders what's gotten into Jiang Cheng? And Wen Qing for that matter? And, wait, what did Jiang Cheng say about Jiejie??