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Wei Wuxian didn’t expect to wake up today and focus on anything but his best friend’s wedding. Wen Qing is finally up at the altar in front of the love her life, Mianmian. Wei Wuxian is grinning ear to ear. Months of work and preparations have led to this.
But he is distracted.
He first sees the man across the aisle, and watches this handsome stranger's face burn throughout the ceremony. Mianmian’s best man—why is his face burning so red during the whole exchange of romantic vows? Could Lan Wangji have been in love with Mianmian?
Why would this stranger's fingers be trembling at his sides? Does he want to object to this marriage and profess his love for his childhood friend Mianmian?? Wei Wuxian shakes his head. He's letting his imagination jump ahead of himself, clearly. He tends to do that--weave narratives in his overactive mind, make constellations out of random stars, mere coincidences. Sometimes this trait has led him to success--
He was once an avid fic writer in his youth, though now at the age of thirty, he hasn't found the spoons for that lately. But back then, weaving stories out of random events made him one of the most prolific writers in the Heartbreak Hotel fandom. That's neither here nor there, however.
His overactive imagination has also led him to some trouble and misunderstandings. He thought for the longest time that Wen Qing and Mianmian were just hanging out, for example. It took him the LONGEST time to realize they were gay.
He's not silly for it. It took him a while to realize he was queer himself--a mixture of being on the ace spectrum and having a rough childhood made it so that he didn't think about his sexuality until probably college. "You may kiss the bride."
Wen Qing and Mianmian lean in for a sweet kiss on the lips and as they bend forward, Wei Wuxian sees Lan Wangji behind Mianmian, fully now, and he's looking--at him.
Amber eyes struck with recognition. Or fear. Or shock? Some sort of knowledge. Maybe Lan Wangji can feel me staring at him and making all these assumptions, Wei Wuxian thinks. Maybe I'll ask him later.
They have an entire evening together after all. The processional music plays and the brides walk out together. Everyone cheers. Wei Wuxian feels tears come to his eyes. They truly deserve each other.
Now he and Lan Wangji must meet on the aisle and walk down together. Wei Wuxian grins at him as he approaches and somehow they both trip over a ruffle in the carpet and careen into each other.
Their lips smash against one another's.
Wei Wuxian blinks and pulls away, an apology exiting his lips and Lan Wangji's.
(Lan Wangji's lips are very beautiful, he notes.)
"Sorry," they both say.
Wei Wuxian laughs. They haven't quite stepped off the altar yet. "Guess that means we're married too, now."
Lan Wangji's ears continue to burn.
Perhaps he is in love with Mianmian. Wei Wuxian shouldn't joke about such a subject.
They only have a few beats of music to leave the scene and go to the reception, so they don't dally on the aisle.
The photographer points to them and gestures--a reminder to hook their arms together for the picture.
Lan Wangji holds his arm out and Wei Wuxian loops his through. The two best men are seated at the wedding party table with Wen Ning and Nie Huaisang, and a couple of Mianmian's college friends. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian arrive together and sit beside one another.
Everyone at the table introduces themselves. Wen Ning is nervously practicing his speech. Wei Wuxian wraps an arm around him casually. They're a touchy group of friends.
Out of Wei Wuxian's sight, Lan Wangji blushes seeing them so close together.
Wei Wuxian even rests one of his legs over Wen Ning's knee.
Lan Wangji startles. Are they dating?
The brides are lovely walking in, Wen Qing with a black and red corseted top and a very beautiful suit over it, and Mianmian changed now into a qipao. Their first dance starts, and they twirl effortlessly to the music. Wei Wuxian can't help but glance back at Lan Wangji. His ears still retain the faint blush from before, but he's looking much more in-the-moment now, much less flustered. Perhaps he's realizing he must let go?? Wei Wuxian himself marvels at Wen Qing. He knows she's been through so much with her family. Only Wen Ning showed up today. He knows she's the eldest sibling who has responsibility on her shoulders: go to med school, do well, marry properly. So for her to be here, dancing with the love of her life--
Tears well up in his eyes. He leans forward and hugs Wen Ning, who pats his arm with his muscular hand. When the brides sit down to eat and they finish their first course, Wen Ning stands up to give his speech.
And then Wei Wuxian does as well. He rushes through it, a little nervous, and very emotional. Wen Qing scowls at him--but it's her way of stopping herself from crying. And then Lan Wangji.
He stands to give his toast.
Wei Wuxian turns towards him, realizing again how beautiful this man is, how graceful. His ears are pierced, too, and--no longer blushing.
Here, somehow, speaking in front of everyone, he is calm. "I never thought I needed a friend until I met Luo Qingyang," Lan Wangji says. He's not looking at notes. He is speaking from the heart. "Most people think I am serious."
"You are!" she yells across the ballroom.
"I am," he says, a small smile on his face. "But Mianmian sees more in me than I did, than most people do. That is her gift."
Mianmian brings a tissue to her eyes.
"When I met Wen Qing, I asked her what she loved about my best friend. I expected her to say that she is strong, resilient, smart. I expected her to say that she is witty and quick. These are the things people usually say about her: that she has been through a lot, and therefore is worthy."
Wen Qing rubs Mianmian's shoulder.
"People see the tough parts of her. But Wen Qing saw all the gentleness and warmth."
Wei Wuxian's tears spill over.
Lan Wangji continues to the enraptured crowd, "Wen Qing saw what few people take the time to see. Which is that Mianmian is loving, and caring, and kind. And that is her strength. I am very protective over my best friend. But I am happy that she has found another best friend in Wen Qing. You are both perfect for each other. Cheers to your love and happiness."
Everyone raises their glass. Wei Wuxian wipes a tear away. He turns to Lan Wangji, "That was really moving."
And before another word can be said, a song begins to blast on the speakers and people are trickling towards the dance floor.
It's "Together" by Heartbreak Hotel.
A duet between Ailing Gu and SWEET. Or, loveSWEET, Lan Wangji's favorite ship.
Wei Wuxian rises and cheers. "THIS IS MY SONG!"
"Do you know it, Wangji Gege?"
"Call me Lan Zhan," he says, after a moment.
And yes.
Yes he knows it.
And he knows Wei Wuxian knows it because 5 years ago, he saw Wei Wuxian on a rookie idol show singing it for a live audience.
***
Lan Wangji has trouble sleeping with the single from Heartbreak Hotel playing incessantly in his memory. He decides to take a quick walk around the hotel, just to clear his head.
Most of the guests will have been asleep by now.
He turns the corner in the hallway, and sees a figure, sitting on the ground outside a doorway, head buried in his arms, knees propped up.
Some jilted lover?
But upon further inspection, the man is clad in a nice suit.
It's Wei Wu--Wei Ying. That's what he told Lan Wangji to call him as they danced. He clears his throat.
Wei Wuxian doesn't stir.
He clears his throat again.
Wei Wuxian startles and looks up. Sleepy eyes peer up at him, and a broad smile blooms on his face. "Lan Zhan?"
"Were you...sleeping here?" Lan Wangji asks. He is very aware of his own feet, slowly bringing him closer. "Mm." The man rubs his sleepy eyes. "I think I lost my keys. Probably while I was moving around today. Silly me."
He actually helped set up, acting as a stage manager of sorts for the wedding, and also helped clean up.
"We can go to the concierge and--"
"No, no," Wei Wuxian says. "The staff isn't downstairs right now, and I'm honestly too lazy to go down and speak to more people."
Lan Wangji shifts his weight from one foot to the other. "Or we could call Wen Ning and..."
"He's fast asleep," Wei Wuxian waves his hand. "I don't want to be a nuisance."
A huff of breath. "Then accept my help."
Dang. That came out more straightforward than he'd intended. He's tired, too, and he doesn't want to go back and forth again. Wei Wuxian is too nice, too self-sacrificial. Wei Wuxian blinks slowly, then a naughty twinkle flashes in his eye. "You'll give me, a stranger, your bed, Lan Zhan?~"
His ears burn. He wore a suit too long today, apparently. "Just come. We will find your key in the morning."
Wei Wuxian obeys, standing up and following Lan Wangji to his room. There is, of course, only one bed.
"May I shower, Lan Zhan?"
"Mn."
Lan Wangji paces around while the shower turns on, and then he decides he looks like a fool, so he climbs into bed, scooches down to the left side, and brings the blanket up to his shoulders. He faces the ceiling. Silly, he thinks to himself as he feels his heart pound in his chest, singing in his ears. He's just a man.
But Lan Wangji knows this isn't true. Not just. Wei Wuxian is a talented writer and singer. Their paths have crossed before, at least--at least to Lan Wangji's knowledge, if not to Wei Wuxian's. Sleep does not come to him.
He hears the water turn off.
He takes a deep meditative breath.
Wei Wuxian emerges from the bathroom, backlit for a second by the yellow light. For a second, Lan Wangji marvels at his half-naked silhouette.
"I don't have pjs with me, is that okay?"
Lan Wangji hears his own voice croak out, "I don't mind."
Wei Wuxian towels himself off and then, once dry, climbs into bed. Lan Wangji feels the mattress sink with his weight. He feels the warmth of the man beside him.
After a while, Wei Wuxian shifts his weight. "Are you awake?" he whispers. "...Mn." He swallows. "You can't sleep?"
"Still buzzed from all the socializing today."
"Mn."
"What do you do, Lan Zhan? Wen Qing said you do music."
"I...I produce. Mostly...jingles for commercials."
"Oh that's wonderful. That takes a lot of skill!"
"I'd like to do more, but...I am happy."
He can feel Wei Wuxian smile in the darkness.
"What do you do, Wei Ying?"
With so much artistic talent, he must be doing something in that industry.
"I...model."
Lan Wangji swallows audibly, remembering the silhouette. "Oh."
Wei Wuxian laughs. "Just kidding!! I would hate being in that kind of spotlight, I think. No, I'm sort of floating around. Right now, I'm Wen Qing's receptionist but I'm awful at it."
"Do you...do you sing?"
"Hahaha no, not anymore. I used to a little. I actually loved it a lot but it wasn't for me. Well, people didn't like me very much. So I quit."
Lan Wangji is silent for a while. "You shouldn't quit what you love."
"I have to be practical. I don't want to disappoint my family either. I could tell every time I didn't make an audition, my Jiejie was so sad for me...I couldn't take the look in her eyes."
Lan Wangji nods. He remembers that look in his brother's eyes--but that was when he thought about quitting music altogether.
Wei Wuxian yawns, and Lan Wangji says, "You should sleep."
"Okay--" he shifts, and his hand accidentally brushes
Lan Wangji's under the covers.
Lan Wangji must let out an audible gasp because Wei Wuxian says, "Sorry."
"It's okay," he says. He can hear his heartbeat again, loud. He wonders if Wei Wuxian can hear it too. In the morning, Wei Wuxian wakes up. It is well past noon—he rises and rubs his eyes. “Lan Zhan?”
A note on the table reads: “I paid for another night so you can sleep in. I had to catch a flight. It was nice to meet you.”
And below that, a doodle of five musical notes—
The ending to that Heartbreak Hotel song Wei Wuxian danced to, the one he sang on tv, Crossing Paths.
"I'm going to get a head start, but don't be late, okay?" Wen Qing takes her jacket off the hanger and starts to leave the office.
"Yeah, just finishing up one more email," Wei Wuxian answers. "I won't be late to your housewarming."
It's been three months since the wedding and Wen Qing and Mianmian have bought a really cute apartment together in Gusu.
"Oh uh by the way," Wei Wuxian calls after her, "will Lan Zhan be there?"
"Lan Zhan?" she blinks, then eyes him suspiciously. "Wow you're calling Wangji by nicknames now?"
He rolls his eyes, shuffles his feet. "I promised myself I'd pay him back."
"For what?"
"Oh." He didn't realize he hadn't told her. "For the extra night at the hotel. He seems to be a really generous man."
Another twinkle in her eye. "Not sure if that's most people's first impression of him."
A pause, then: "Yeah, he'll be there. He's Mianmian's best friend, and he lives around there too. See you!"
He waves goodbye, finishes his emails, and locks up her office for her. He climbs into his car and starts going towards the address in Gusu Wen Qing gave him. He's got his playlist of throwbacks playing, and of course Heartbreak Hotel's best jams are on it. He's halfway through the playlist when one of the pop ballads, "Kismet," plays.
He turns it up and sings along, "And just like that, you're in my heart, just like that, we're not miles apart, anymoreeeeee, anymoreeeee!"
It's been a while since he's sung but he's still got those notes, his voice sliding up effortlessly.
"Anymoreeeeeeee---whoa!"
There's a car smoking on the side of the road. There's no one else around, so he pulls over in front of it to help. He's got some tools in his trunk from when he used to have a really beaten up old car.
Getting out, he asks, "Sir, do you need help?"
The smoke parts, and Wei Wuxian freezes.
It's none other than Lan Wangji, looking as handsome as ever, and wearing a muscle shirt that exposes his generous biceps.
Lan Wangji looks at him and startles with recognition. “Wei Ying. You’re here.”
“On my way to the housewarming,” he explains. “Is your car okay?”
“The dashboard said I need air in my tires, but I think we’re late…”
“I can drive us!” Wei Wuxian says, gesturing to his red car.
“My house is just down the street. I can park my car there?”
“Sounds good!”
Wei Wuxian follows Lan Wangji’s car—they drive carefully and slowly—and then at the driveway, Lan Wangji hops into Wei Wuxian’s passenger seat. “Thank you.”
“No problem, Lan Zhan!”
They head over to Mianmian and Wen Qing’s new house in Gusu and Lan Wangji’s ears perk up.
“You know this song?” Wei Wuxian asks, turning up the volume.
Yes, Lan Wangji wants to say. I wrote it.
It was a song he put up on soundcloud years ago when he was just starting out. He didn’t know anyone knew it! It got a considerable amount of likes but it wasn’t famous or anything. Wei Wuxian must be really active in the music scene.
“It’s cute, isn’t it?” Wei Wuxian says, smiling. He starts to hum along to it, and Lan Wangji’s heart stirs from the warmth of this man’s voice.
As they near their destination, Lan Wangji musters the courage to say, with the excuse of professionalism, “Would you ever want to collaborate?”
“In music?” Wei Wuxian asks, excited. “I guess! I’ve never done that before. You think someone would want to do that with me?”
Lan Wangji wants to facepalm. “Uh, I mean with me. I could produce something. We could co-write.”
Wei Wuxian’s jaw drops. “I’m rusty, Lan Zhan! And not very experienced—but—if you’re willing to work with a rookie like me, sure!”
“Mn.”
They both feel warm, and the feeling lingers as they take their cake and flowers inside for the party.
Mianmian is wearing a pair of overalls and Wen Qing a crop top and shorts. The house is adorable, with several succulents and candles adorning the place already.
“Welcome!!” Mianmian says.
“You came together,” Wen Qing says with a brow raised at Wei Wuxian.
“Hahahaha yes! Lan Zhan had some car trouble so I drove him here.”
“Mn.”
Mianmian smiles a bit too widely at her best friend and she says, “Wangji, help me with the cake.”
He knows this is her subtle way of getting him to catch up. He follows her and helps her plate slices of ube cake for the guests.
“Thanks for helping me move,” she said. “It’s all coming together.”
“Of course.”
“You and Wei Wuxian look cozy,” she whispers.
“Uh, he is kind.”
“Mmhm and single.”
He coughs on nothing.
“Just putting that out there,” she says. “His siblings and Wen Qing have always hoped he’d find someone. He’s not frenzied about dating but he seems to be really comfortable around you.”
Lan Wangji isn’t frenzied about dating either. This could be a point of connection—or something that wedges distance between them.
“He’s not…dating Wen Ning?”
Mianmian shakes her head. “Oh my gosh, no. They are like siblings. They are really close friends, not romantic at all.”
“Oh. Okay.” Another stir of the heart. He takes utensils out for the cake. Tries to keep busy.
But he glances over to the living room where Wen Qing and Wei Wuxian are talking animatedly to each other.
A few feet away, Wen Qing is goading Wei Wuxian in a similar way. “You and Lan Zhan as you call him are close.”
“We’ve only met a couple of times—the first was at your wedding!”
“Still, I can read body language.”
“Ey? And? You couldn’t have seen much except friendliness.”
A raised brow and a nudge. “You both stand very close to each other. And he seems…I don’t know, tender around you.”
“Tender.”
“Tender! Just keep an eye out for it. That’s all. You know, he’s single.”
Wei Wuxian chokes on air. “Okay.”
“Don’t tell me you weren’t curious.”
“I mean—”
She holds his shoulders and looks into his eyes. “He’s Mianmian’s favorite person. You’re one of my favorite people. Just think about it. Unless..you don’t like him?”
I like him, Wei Wuxian wants to say. But he’s blushing hard and scratching his head, embarrassed. Though he hasn’t known the man for too long, he feels a deep connection to him, as though they’d known each other much longer. A comfort, and understanding.
This is enough for Wen Qing. She smiles and pats his shoulder before making him queue the playlist for the party.
***
They stay at the housewarming much later than expected. Wen Qing wanted to play one of the longest boardgames Wei Wuxian has ever witnessed and afterwards, seeing Lan Wangji offer to do dishes, Wei Wuxian knew it’d be polite to linger as well.
It is about 1a.m. when they leave in Wei Wuxian’s cute red car, and Lan Wangji is stifling a yawn.
“You tired, Lan Zhan? What time do you usually sleep?”
“It depends. Ideally…9p.m.”
Wei Wuxian chuckles. “I haven’t heard anyone our age prefer that as their bedtime!”
“I’m a morning person. But when I have a deadline, sometimes I sleep later.”
“You must be super sleepy, then! We’ll get you home.”
They pull up to Lan Wangji’s driveway and Wei Wuxian starts yawning as well. It’s been a while since he’s gone to a party. His adult life is quite tame these days—work at Wen Qing’s office, fiddle around on his guitar, bother Wen Ning and Jiang Cheng on weekends. “I shouldn’t tease you, Lan Zhan! I’m sleepy too.”
Lan Wangji gets out of the car and asks, “Would you like to…stay over?” The drive back to Yunmeng is long.
“Is…that okay?”
“Mn. My house isn’t big but I do have a nice couch-bed.”
“If you don’t mind.”
It is quite the nice couch-bed. As they enter, Wei Wuxian spots two fluffy bunnies playing in one corner. “Oh my goodness, they are so cute!”
Lan Wangji prepares the bed and says, “Do you want to feed them hay? You can go ahead.”
Does he ever! Wei Wuxian bounces towards the bunnies, pets them and coos at them. Over in the bedroom, grabbing an extra pair of pajamas and towel for his guest, Lan Wangji smiles to himself. “Here, you can shower if you want.”
Wei Wuxian’s face is buried in one of the bunny’s fluff. “Ah thank you, Lan Zhan!” He raises his head and beams. “I’m very happy!”
Lan Wangji beams back. “I’m glad.” His ears burn.
Wei Wuxian grabs the supplies and heads into the bathroom. Lan Wangji lies down on the floor with his buns and hears the water start running.
And then he hears the song from the car before. The song he wrote.
Wei Wuxian sings all of the words.
He doesn’t just know the song. He knows it well, singing all the riffs and harmonies too.
Lan Wangji is stunned, and raises himself on his elbow, breathless.
“Uh, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian calls when he’s done. “Can you bring the towel? I forgot it on the sofa?”
Heart beating in his ears, Lan Wangji does so, and opens the bathroom door tentatively. Steam billows out.
“You okay?” Wei Wuxian peeks his head out from behind the shower curtain.
“Mn. I…I know that song.”
“Oh? It’s one of my favorites. It’s by a soundcloud artist I followed for the longest time. He was going to stop making music for a while, and I was sad, but I decided to leave him a comment.”
Lan Wangji holds out the towel and asks, “What..was the comment?”
Wei Wuxian takes the towel and begins to dry his hair. “Um...something like, ‘Please never stop making music, wherever you go.’”
Lan Wangji feels a lump in his throat. “Wei Ying.”
Wei Wuxian stands stunned, and wraps the towel around his waist before stepping out. Something in him aligns.
A memory.
Back when he was a rookie on that TV show, he scored one of the lowest scores of all the contestants.
He ran to the bathroom and cried, feeling disappointed in himself, feeling like he had let down his whole family and should give up completely.
He heard someone come into the restroom and say, “You did great out there. I have always been a fan.”
“You…you have?”
“You have something special.”
When Wei Wuxian came out of the stall, no one was there.
But that voice—it echoed deeply and beautifully in the tiled bathroom.
And now, in this tiled bathroom in Gusu, Wei Wuxian hears the same voice say to him. “You have something special, Wei Ying.”
“You’re…you’re the fan?” Wei Wuxian asks. He steps out of the shower and faces Lan Wangji.
Lan Wangji says, “And you’re…yiling6969? The user who encouraged me to pursue my music career?”
Wei Wuxian is overcome, too overcome to be embarrassed by his old username.
“Lan Zhan, you knew me as…as yiling6969?”
“I was bichen33. I…”
“You commented on my fics!”
“And you posted about how you were going to be on the idol rookie show. I happened to be there and I recognized you.”
Wei Wuxian used to post many personal things on his blog, including selfies and snippets of his songs.
So when he appeared on stage at the show, it was easy for Lan Wangji to recognize him.
“You’re the reason why I got through that night,” Wei Wuxian says.
“You’re the reason why I never gave up on music.”
“You recognized me, at the wedding?"
“Mn.
“And you’re…” Not into Mianmian. “You’re gay?” Bichen33 was active in the queer fic community.
“Mn.”
They embrace, overwhelmed and emotional.
Lan Wangji feels the warm wetness of Wei Wuxian’s skin against his. And when he moves again, he feels the lushness of Wei Wuxian’s lips against his.
He doesn’t know how made the first move. He doesn’t know who shifted towards whom.
But they are kissing in his bathroom, and then moving towards the couch, gleeful.
***
A YEAR LATER
Wei Wuxian sees Lan Wangji at the altar, and their faces are red with joy throughout the ceremony. Mianmian and Wen Qing are at their sides, each holding one of Lan Wangji’s buns, mouthing to each other, Finally.