Chapter Text
"What?!" Jiang Cheng says loudly, loud enough for Lan Wangji to be worried
"What do you mean- You expect me to bring Lan Wangji to the apartment and drag Lan Xichen out? Why would we-" Jiang Cheng gets cut off by Wei Wuxian quite rudely
"Lan Zhan sit still. A-Cheng, Put it on speaker and Bring it here." He patted the empty seat on the sofa beside him and Lan Wangji, who's foot was being treated carefully by Wei Ying.
Jiang Cheng hesitates but puts the call on speaker just because he thinks Lan Wangji would understand Chen Sumao's words better than him. After all, from their story it seemed that Chen Sumao and Lan Wangji knew each other pretty well.
"Hold on. I'll put you on speaker, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian are here." Jiang Cheng clarifies to Chen Sumao as he sits on the living room sofa, a deep frown on his face
"Alright," The speaker turns on and Chen Sumao spills
"Wangji, Jin Guangyao is back"
"Mn. Since when?"
"A week ago, and he went to 'visit' Lan Xichen 3 days ago." Lan Wangji looks at Wei Ying, then glares at Jiang Cheng as if it's his fault.
"Could you head over to his apartment and pick him up?" Chen Sumao says with such a casual grammar that it could sound like she's asking them to pick up her child at daycare, but the fear was noticeable in her tone, which made Jiang Cheng think otherwise.
"Mn-"
"No, he stepped on glass just a few minutes ago, he's not walking anywhere. Jiang Cheng can go himself." Wei Ying cuts in, and Lan Wangji looked like he wanted to fight back, saying something selfless as usual, but Chen Sumao spoke sooner
"Wei Wuxian you can drive fast right?" This time Wei Ying's eyes twinkled, and Jiang Cheng widened his eyes. That's something only a few people knew about, his brother used to do car racing and won many awards anonymously, and he loved it, until when the family got leaked by some obsessed dumbass and he stopped racing completely. Jiang Cheng was surprised that Chen Sumao knew,
Oh, Lan Wangji probably told her.
"Heck yeah i can!- wait- how'd you know?"
"Ah- I'll tell you later, but we need your skills right now, You know where Lan Xichen's apartment is?"
"Yep" Wei Ying pops the 'P' annoyingly as he continues to bandage Lan Wangji's feet
Why were they in such a hurry to drag Xichen out of his apartment? Jiang Cheng sat there holding the phone awkwardly as his tongue felt heavy
"Then I'll need you, Lan Wangji and Jiang Cheng to head over there and try to get Lan Xichen to leave."
"And what makes you think that we would do that?" Jiang Cheng felt like it was odd for them to head to Lan Xichen's apartment as if they're on a heist, wasn't he enjoying his lovely sweet like with Jin Guangyao? he thought bitterly
but he had a nagging feeling that something was horribly wrong with Xichen that neither Cheng Sumao or Lan Wangji could explain to him.
Lan Wangji glares at him like he was about to beat Jiang Cheng up, but winces when Wei Ying disinfects his other foot
"I don't have time, the main point is that Lan Xichen needs to get out of there." Chen Sumao says, Jiang Cheng felt dread climb up his feet and back
"What are you doing that makes you so busy?-"
"You and Lan Xichen are not my only patients Jiang Cheng." Chen Sumao basically spits back in a cold voice, and Jiang Cheng grits his teeth
"Then why do I have to be there?! We're ex's now!"
"Only 3 days have passed since then, and as i said Xichen still loves you Jiang Cheng. we will need you to assure him that leaving the apartment is a good choice."
Jiang Cheng pauses, he felt the words dying in his throat
"Alright I will have to hang up now, hurry." is what she says before the phone beeps and the call ends.
Coincidentally, Wei Ying finished bandaging Lan Wangji's foot, and the selfless Lan simply kissed Wei Ying on his cheek and stood up, grabbing the car keys and tossing them to a stunned Wei Ying while walking all over the place to get ready to leave as if his feet were alright.
After snapping out of his temporary shock, Wei Ying immediately scolded Lan Wangji but did as he was told to anyways, Jiang Cheng was told to enter the car and he hesitates
"Do I really have to go?-"
"Yes." Lan Wangji of all people shoves him into the back seat and closes the door, buckling himself in the passenger seat and told Wei Ying to drive safely and fast. Jiang Cheng thought that the world needed to end before he would ever hear Lan Wangji, of all people to tell someone to hit the gas.
Jiang Cheng felt car sick. He wasn't one to get car sick easily, but his dread and nervous stomach were spiraling sickeningly in his stomach, he was near to throwing up his breakfast with every sharp turn Wei Ying took. Why couldn't his idiot of a brother learn to drive more smoothly?! his breakfast earlier was going to waste if this continued!
Fortunately, or not, they reached their- Lan Xichen's apartment complex.
Wei Ying parks, and half of Jiang Cheng's consciousness wanted to stay in the car, but the other half and Lan Wangji's ridiculous Lan arm strength dragged him all the way up the stairs- why not the elevator?! he shot a confused look at Wei Ying who was following up from behind and he himself shrugged in confusion, they then halted at front door.
This was where he had left. And now he's back 3 days later. Guess he wasn't really set on leaving forever in the first place,
Lan Wangji finally let's go of Jiang Cheng's arm and knocks on the door firmly, Jiang Cheng clenches his fists.
Faint rustling could be heard inside and Jiang Cheng took a deep breath, a stuttering voice says something inside, but Jiang Cheng can't hear it over the ringing in his ears
"Xiongzhang." Lan Wangji calls out
The door swings open in a second and both Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying startle. Lan Wangji was standing right in front of the door, nearly getting hit, while Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng stood on either sides, all three of them had slightly ruffled hair from running up the stairs
His breath stutters when he see's Xichen again after 3 long and tiring days, he wanted to run up to him and kiss him- ...
And to think that his brother was the shameless one,
But he looked.. not well.
To say the least, Xichen had seen better days.
Xichen's eyes were wide with surprise, although not noticeable, his face had dried tear streaks and- Jiang Cheng thinks that he had never seen Xichen cry before. Maybe during a movie they watched but that was different.
Jiang Cheng's eyes drift over to Lan Xichen's clothes
He was wearing a black long sleeved turtle neck that framed his body perfectly- no- and oh- his pants matched the shirt quite nicely- ahem.
He's getting sidetracked
"Wangji?- you.. Oh! Hello Wuxian and- Wanyin" Xichen semi-bows to each of them, and Jiang Cheng doesn't respond since his heart was to busy breaking and his anger boiling.
After what he'd done of course he should call him by his courtesy name- they had ended things there's no reason to be upset now
"Hey- Zewu-Jun! We're.. " Wei Ying hesitates, and honestly Jiang Cheng sure as hell is as nervous- no even more nervous than Wei Ying is.
"Come stay at our place." Lan Wangji says without hesitating. Jiang Cheng watches as Xichen's jaw drops as he feels the same need to gape at that stupid Lan-
"On what- occasion, if i may ask?" Xichen asks, he looks confused at their sudden intrusion party, and Jiang Cheng wonders why Chen Sumao told them to drag Xichen out of the apartment when he seems to be perfectly fine.
Alright, maybe he didn't look completely fine, but Jiang Cheng see's no big red sign that tells them to evacuate the building.
Or was he blind?-
--------
"I need help with a proposal." Wangji, his Didi says with a straight face, but Lan Xichen noticed that his right hand clenched into a fist
"Ah, I would gladly help you Wangji. But can't we do so on the phone?" He smiles, he knows what his Didi is trying to do, but right now- Meng Yao might worry if he suddenly disappeared-
"I have lost my phone." Wangji says again, and this time his eyes drift to the floor guiltily. His Didi always looked so cute every time he lies, it's endearing
Lan Xichen sighs, a genuine smile on his lips "Let's talk inside-"
"No. Let's leave." Wangji grabbed his hand back gently, but still firmly that Lan Xichen could tell he was desperate.
His smile falters, and suddenly he struggles to keep his mask up, he gently hold Wangji's hand that was gripping his,
Suddenly, it clicked. Wangji knows that Meng Yao was back- when he knew and how Lan Xichen had no clue
"Wangji.. When did you- I can't leave." He stutters, feeling the judging eyes from the other two people on the other side of the door, watching.
"You can." Wangji has always been stubborn, and this is one of the few times Lan Xichen doesn't like his stubbornness.
He frowns, he can't leave- what will he say to Meng Yao?- Meng Yao would be worried, he's going to look for him- and he's going to panic- god he's going to be upset-
"Say your helping me with my project." Wangji says, and Lan Xichen almost missed it, but once he registers it he can't help but feel warm, but it was only a second, because his eyes drift towards Wanyin. And he hesitates.
Wouldn't Wanyin be upset? well- he was already upset from what Xichen had done, surely him being in the same building would make Wanyin uncomfortable? After all Xichen dissapointed him- betrayed his trust, ruined their relationship and-
"But wouldn't Jiang Wanyin be- uncomfortable, with me there?" Wangji glares at Wanyin, and Lan Xichen felt guilty as Jiang Wanyin jumps and looks at the both of them with widened eyes
Then, without a breath he shakes his head, "No, I wouldn't mind." Now it's Lan Xichen's turn to widen his eyes
"Are you- sure? aren't you mad?- I did-" cheat on you, lied to you, didn't think straight- made a mistake- made you upset-
"We are going to talk about that later. Privately." Wanyin says in a cold tone that makes Lan Xichen feel barren, but he turns to look at his Didi, and nods defeatedly, if Wanyin agrees.. Then- he guesses that leaving the apartment does sound rather pleasing at the moment, his body ached and his mind was desperate for air- Ah alright his Didi has won this argument.
"... Alright, you've won Wangji, but I wouldn't want to meddle in your love life." He half jokes, despite knowing that A Ch- Wanyin would be there too, and probably was for the past 3 days.
"You won't, Xichen Ge, our house is big enough for 4 people." Wuxian assures him with a bright smile, and Lan Xichen can't help but feel proud of his Didi for finding such a perfect soulmate, always colluding together at every 'mission' they had.
".. If you insist, then let me get ready first, I'm afraid that you caught me while I was-" He wasn't finished with the dishes, if he leaves them now, half done, who knows how upset Meng Yao would be-
"We're leaving now. " Wangji suddenly interrupts him and drags him from his arm, he yelps in confusion, he hears his apartment door close as they head down the stairs quickly with Wuxian and Wanyin following behind them, speed walking to the parking lot as Lan Xichen heard alarm bells ring inside his head
Why was Wangji in such a hurry- oh.
In the distance of long parked cars, he notices Meng Yao's yellow car.
They enter a black car, a car he has never seen before, then Wangji opens the passenger door and gently shoves Lan Xichen in, he was surprised Wangji was able to force his own Xiongzhang into a car, but then he closes the door and opens the other side of the door to shove Wanyin in like a rag doll and slamming the door.
Wanyin grunts at the shove he received and bumps into Xichen's side with the momentum. But he quickly slides far away from him, and apologizes silently as Wangji sits in the passengers seat and buckles in.
Lan Xichen smiles in assurance at Wanyin, nodding that everything was alright, When it really felt like it wasn't, the dishes! they weren't done and Meng Yao is probably on the elevator by now-
"Wangji I-"
"Drive." He hears Wangji say in the passengers seat
Wuxian, who was already ready on the drivers seat then quickly exits the parking, zooms away from the apartment complex like a skilled car racer- well much much slower since he was still following the speed limit per Wangji's request.
But it was still quite impressive.
-----------
Jiang Cheng took a deep breath, he stared at the window, trying to not look at A Huan's- Lan Xichen's face, but he could see a light reflection of it on the window, and he looked so nervous that he could be mistaken as a child that was brought home by his parents from detention.
He was still mad, not furious as he was 2 days ago, just.. Upset, about what happened
But clearly there was something he missed, which caused a misunderstanding here, the problem is that no one seems to be telling him exactly what that misunderstanding is.
So he's still upset. He is confused but right now he can't help but feel upset. Wei Ying his own brother who just gossiped with him 3 days ago about Lan Xichen, is now driving the same Lan to stay at their house.
And worse of all he doesn't even know if Lan Xichen truly cheated on him or not! What if what he saw was all a misunderstanding- but Jiang Cheng doesn't remember any of Lan Xichen's friend who would call him 'A Huan' in such a loving tone, plus they were goddamn lovers before!
Was it really Jiang Cheng's fault if he 'misunderstood'? After all, all the clues were basically written in big red neon lights, but apparently he had missed the small intricate handwritten notes on some corner.
Jiang Cheng grit his teeth and closed his eyes in annoyance
Whatever, if he really did misunderstood, he was going to demand a proper explanation. He swallows his guilt down as he slowly realises that there may be a possibilty that Xichen got yelled and broken up with for something he didn't even do-
irritated Jiang Cheng let's out a heavy sigh, his hand massages his forehead, and a small mumble slips out in the quiet, tense car ride
"Xichen... "
In the reflection Jiang Cheng could see Xichen jumping at the sudden words, and Xichen's head turns slightly to face Jiang Cheng, his usual polite smile on his face, but now it look more guilty rather than calm.
"I'm sorry Wanyin-" Jiang Cheng quickly held up his finger to Xichen, shushing him, but his head was still turned
"No- that's not what I meant- you know what, not here. I don't want to be stabbed and skinned by your brother." Xichen widens his pretty brown eyes- his eyes
"Wangji would never" a small, sincere smile was on his face, and Jiang Cheng felt his heart soften, atleast now it didn't look plastered and fake
He huffs lightly "Yeah, he wouldn't be so merciful." He could basically feel the glare or eye roll that Lan Wangji has on his face even when it wasn't faced towards him.
It seemed that Xichen could see Lan Wangji's expression, since his smile got bigger and more genuine.
The ride back then became comfortable silence, once they have reached their house, Wei Ying unlocks the hastily locked door earlier, and Jiang Cheng pretends not to notice that Lan Wangji was helping his older brother exit the car with minimal stumbling. He felt worry stirring at the bottom of his stomach and hands, but he simply crosses his arms and enters the house in silence
"Thank you, Wangji, Wuxian and Wanyin for allowing me to stay.. For a few days." Lan Xichen says in a nervous voice that replaced his usual calm and confident tone
"Xiongzhang can stay for as long as he likes." Lan Wangji takes the words out of Jiang Cheng's mouth and says it straight forwardly to Lan Xichen in the special way Lan's do
"Oh I wouldn't-"
"Yeah! Zewu Jun can stay for a full 16 years if he likes! Would you like some water or food?" Wei Wuxian cuts in with his loud and ringing voice, Jiang Cheng simply sighs and sits on the far end of their living room sofa.
"He can leave if he wants to. We're not imprisoning him here." Jiang Cheng says with a glare towards his insolent brother
Wei Wuxian just laughs nervously after that, and Lan Xichen tighten his fists
"Just water is fine." Lan Xichen smiles softly, Wei Wuxian gives him a thumbs up and heads to the kitchen, while Lan Wangji urges him to sit down on the sofa aswell, Lan Xichen complies but sits on the opposite end where Jiang Cheng sat. Suddenly Jiang Cheng felt his body go cold, but he didn't dare ask for him to scoot over.
They sat in silence for a while, Wei Ying hands Lan Xichen the glass of water with a smile, Jiang Cheng can see the obvious guilt in his eyes, but he stays quiet
"Thank you, Wuxian" Lan Xichen says politely with a nod and takes a sip, placing it back down, and Jiang Cheng wonders if he had been eating or drinking enough these past 3 days, he looked like he lost weight-
He sighs a heavy breath, his mind really betrays him in these situations. maybe Chen Sumao might know how to fix it. Yeah he'll ask her about it in their next meeting, he looks to the side to silently eye Xichen- but he notices how Xichen was also looking at him and their eyes met. Then Xichen flinched and looked away, making Jiang Cheng's heart throb, remembering what he had done.
He was still lost though.. What happened exactly? Was Jin Guangyao not who he thought he was? or did Lan Xichen's regret drown him a day after they broke up and he spiraled into depression that was so bad that they had to pull him out of the slums? But then they wouldn't be so angry at Jin Guangyao.. Maybe Jin Guangyao was a type of sticky booger that the Lan's didn't approve of, but Xichen loved endlessly?
His last assumption made his heart ache. He was going to die of heart break at this point, but what has his heart not survived?
"Wanyin, I'm sorry for what I did. I swear it wasn't my intention-" Xichen of all people at this moment apologized to Jiang Cheng, aka the person who misunderstood the whole thing (it seems) and broke up in the first place!
"Yeah yeah I get it. There was a misunderstanding and I-"
Jiang Cheng sighs so heavily it could be considered a groan, and his hand raised to massage his forehead, or hold his nose bridge- or anything, but hit Xichen- but Xichen for some reason to Jiang Cheng's utter shock flinches even farther away on the couch.
Okay.
Either Xichen's depression makes him imagine horrible shit about Jiang Cheng or Jin Guangyao's an asshole that hits his lovers.
"What?" Jiang Cheng says because he honestly couldn't think of anything else to say after that.
Xichen widens his eyes, as if he just noticed Jiang Cheng sitting there and he stutters "Ah- sorry- I was just- excuse me." Xichen then gets up and heads to the bathroom
Jiang Cheng stares at Xichen, who disappears into the bathroom.
Xichen's hands were shaking and Jiang Cheng felt his shake aswell, with anger.
'Cuz what the fuck?
--------
Lan Xichen excuses himself to the bathroom
What is wrong with me today?
Wanyin would never raise his hand at him, he just said he wasn't- oh but he looked so mad and what Lan Xichen did was so wrong.
Lan Xichen stared at his hands, gripping the porcelain sink trembling.
He looked at the mirror and saw the most pathetic look he had ever seen stare back at him
The last time he had looked so pathetic was during Da Ge's death- and Meng Yao- he looked relieved. Why? Lan Xichen had tried so hard to get them to get along together.. Perhaps he shouldn't have from the beginning, It was a waste of time.
He felt a lone tear escape his eye, quickly it was gone as cold tap water splashes his face.
Deep breaths, in 1. 2. 3. And out.
Once he looks back at the mirror and sees a less pathetic man, he sighs a relieved breath and smiles naturally, he stares at his smile for a few seconds and feels the ghost of a hand on his shoulder, a yellow petite figure of a man looms over it
'A-Huan, relax your smile, you don't look so happy right now, aren't you happy?'
"I am. " he whispers, despite knowing it was just his imagination.
His mind was going crazy again, he sighs heavily and rubs his heavy shoulder to shake the invisible weight off
He looks back at the mirror, and fixes his smile, making it look more gentle and relaxed, when he felt the pure opposite.
He washes his hands for the 3rd time, and wipes it bone dry, exiting the bathroom even when he felt like he'd rather locked himself in for 7 days straight, perhaps years.
He widens his eyes when he almost bumps into A Ch- Wanyin
"Wanyin? What's wrong? " maybe he was making sure Lan Xichen didn't steal anything? The bathroom did look quite fancy
"Oh, I uhm was just wondering if you were dead or alive still in there." Wanyin was worried? About him? After what he did?
He felt his heart swell and his smile spread across his cheeks
"Well I'm fine, are Wangji and Wuxian busy?" He asks, not changing the subject
"Oh yeah they went upstairs to have a 'talk' which we should probably do aswell- Not in the same context- in my room."
Lan Xichen inwardly wilts, of course Wanyin wanted to talk, these past 3 days he has been imagining the many ways he could have explained the misunderstanding to Wanyin but- he was a coward. He always had been.
"Alright, there's something I should explain."
Lan Xichen says, despite feeling the apologies building up behind his lips, each as sincere as the other, his heart beating in its nervousness, and his hands trembling with fear.
Wanyin simply nods and walks off without a word, Lan Xichen might be imagining things but he looked like he wanted to say something, but it would be about how stupid Lan Xichen was, judging from his face expression
And Lan Xichen felt his hands and feet grow cold.
-------
Jiang Cheng thought that things were going well, Lan Xichen agreed to coming to his room and talk, it was going well!
But every question Jiang Cheng asked, Xichen always replies with an apology and a vague answer! What was Jiang Cheng? A mind reader?! And here he thought Lan's were straight forward. The Lan infront of him seemed like living proof that Lan's couldn't lie, but could hide poorly.
"Xichen, what happened?"
"I'm sorry, Meng Yao came back and I didn't think to tell you first I'm sorry I wasn't thinking straight-"
"Alright stop, if you keep apologizing it makes me feel weird, one apology is enough."
"Sorry- I mean sorry- sorry I said sorry too much and annoying you-" Lan Xichen bows down and Jiang Cheng sighs tiredly, Xichen of all people would never annoy him at all. Despite it being his nature, he never really found himself annoyed at the lovable Lan
"You did nothing- I think, if you would tell me what happened then I would know. But it seems your keeping more from me other than the fact that Meng Yao was your ex. "
Lan Xichen widens his eyes and shakes his head frantically
"We're not together anymore I swear! We broke up long ago and that was official! There was supposed to be no more contact between us-"
Jiang Cheng quirks his eye brow "Supposed?"
And Lan Xichen looks a bit guilty and regretful. "I.. He kept contacting me the last few weeks, but I didn't recognize his number.."
Jiang Cheng widens his eyes a fraction, he felt it twitch, Jin fucking Guangyao kept contacting Xichen these past few weeks? With a different number? did Xichen block him- no.
"What- wait, why would he contact you?"
Lan Xichen looked upset- or more solemn really
"I.. He said he needed a place to stay- something happened and I said no, but he visited me anyways 3 days ago and you entered at the wrong time.. I'm sorry-"
Jiang Cheng felt his worried fade, his shoulders dropped slightly with relief as he assures Xichen
"You said no and that's what's important for me, " Jiang Cheng looked at Xichen in the eyes, and said man looked back with tearfull eyes which made his heart ache, he wanted to hug him and drown him in kisses- but they needed to get the misunderstanding straight first.
"I didn't- I didn't tell you though.. "
"Yes and I'll admit I was hurt, but what's good is that you didn't outright cheated on me with your ex. " Jiang Cheng clarified and Xichen looked horified
"I would never! I love you A Cheng and Meng Yao has never been able to change that! I swear please believe me-"
Jiang Cheng pats Lan Xichen's arms
"Yes, I believe you wouldn't cheat on me. But why did you still let him stay? In our apartment for 3 days? "
And Lan Xichen looked lost
"I.. He didn't have anywhere else to go.. He kept-"
"Begging you to let him stay? "
Jiang Cheng raised a brow and Xichen grimaced
"... I wouldn't say it like that.. " except he did, didn't he? Jiang cheng was mad that Xichen kept taking Jin Guangyao's side but,
Jin Guangyao was well known for his ability to manipulate people once all his wrong doings were exposed, and Jiang Cheng was a victim once, his credit was not given when it was due.
But let by gones be by gones, hell his brother Wei Wuxian was living proof of it.
But he was still suspicious, what did Jin Guangyao the popular manipulator do to his beloved A Huan- Xichen? For Lan Wangji to be steaming mad as earlier
"Then what did you do these past 3 days? I want to know. "
Lan Xichen hesitated and Jiang Cheng's suspicion grew.
"Nothing much, at first I kept trying to make him leave, saying there were more safer options than my apartment, but he said-"
Xichen paused and Jiang Cheng sat on his chair and motioned for Xichen to sit down beside him
"Continue, you can repeat what he said" he knew Xichen had a small tendency to copy people's words word to word like a recorder
And he praised it, he saw it as an amazing audio memory but Xichen thought otherwise.
".. He said- 'But A Huan what other place is more safe than yours? Who else can I trust but you?'... I didn't know what else to say to get rid of him then.. I'm sorry I should've-"
Jiang Cheng hushes him
"No apologies during your story, just explain and I won't be mad"
".. Really? " Xichen sounded so small Jiang Cheng felt whatever anger he had left melt away in a few seconds
"Yes, I'll bite my own hand if I do get angry"
A slight glitter of disbelief flickers his Xichen's eyes and Jiang Cheng wonders if those ridiculous words are words he has never heard a partner say
"Don't hurt yourself. " Ofcourse he would say that, he wasn't A Huan if he didn't
"Tell me everything and I won't" maybe, went unsaid, but Xichen simply looked at him dead in the eyes
A heavy sigh left his pretty lips-
"Alright, But I don't know what to tell you.." Jiang Cheng thinks for a moment, and comes up with a million questions that Lan Xichen clearly can't answer all in one night
"You don't have to tell me everything today, only.." He looks at Xichen- his A Huan and sees pure love stare back at him.
He looks away and clears his throat "You- you can take a bath first." It was already close to afternoon and A Huan must be feeling sweaty from all the running earlier.
Jiang Cheng wasn't looking but he could tell Xichen was just sitting there, still staring-
He lets out a breath
"Stop staring and go shower, Lan Wangji will hand over his spare clothes" He says finally after a few minutes of silence
A Huan blinks "Ah- alright then, excuse me" He says semi bowing being all polite and prim and proper-
It's not that Jiang Cheng doesn't mind though, A Huan's cute that way, but he wishes that they weren't so formal with each other. But he did that didn't he? he drew the line himself and he's the one complaining.
When Jiang Cheng blinked into awareness A Huan was already in the bathroom and Lan Wangji was already knocking on the door. Apparently he has a weird 6th sense. which Wei Ying swears that all Lan's do, but A Huan isn't weird like Lan Wangji so he doesn't see the similarity.
He opened the door and sees Lan Wangji and Wei Ying standing on the other side
"Heya Jiang Cheng, Lan Zhan here is a bit worried about Lan Xichen so he's checking in" Wei Ying smiles brightly, ofcourse he would be.
"How are things going?" Lan Wangji asks with his usual stoic face, but his tone didn't leave out the worried tone
Jiang Cheng lets out a tired sigh "He won't talk. Well- he did but what he told me was vague."
All 3 of them stayed silent at that, Well, what were they supposed to do? all they could do now was give A Huan space and hope for the best
"Brother doesn't.. Realize that Jin Guangyao doesn't deserve him." Lan Wangji was the first to speak for once, and both Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian turned to look at him
Lan Wangji continues, "His mental state is not well, Jin Guangyao has affected him deeply and he will need time and patience to recover" Jiang Cheng is secretly grateful that Lan Wangji can certainly be a chatter box when it comes to the people he cares for, other wise their whole life would have been far different from where it is now.
Jiang Cheng looks back into his room, hearing the shower turn on "Right, Xichen might need to borrow your clothes for the night" He says as he turns to look at Lan Wangji
Lan Wangji nods, knowing that his and Xichen's size are now the same so they could borrow clothes freely without a problem, and heads to his- and Wei Ying's bedroom, ofcourse, to grab a new set of sleep wear that would fit Xichen
Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian were left alone, standing in front of Jiang Cheng's bedroom with A-Huan in the bathroom
"Are you alright A-Cheng?- I mean- your view about Lan Xichen all but flipped in one single phone call today" It's rare for Wei Wuxian to ask him if he's alright, maybe he looked more like a mess than he thought
Jiang Cheng lets out a long sigh "I'm still processing this shit. But what I really need now is a bath."
Wei Ying looked like he was going to say something stupid, but held back. Which, Jiang Cheng was grateful for
Lan Wangji then returns with a blue set of sleep wear that looked newly washed, and hands it over to Jiang Cheng
"Oh and-" Before he could say anything, Lan Wangji grabs Wei Ying's hand and with a yelp they both leave Jiang Cheng with an open mouth infront of his bedroom door. with A Huan showering just in the connected bathroom
Jiang Cheng sighs for what he thinks the 10th time today and enters his bedroom, closing the door behind him.
He knocks on the bathroom door
"Hey, Lan Wangji brought you some spare clothes."
At first there was silence, then the door silently opened a crack as Xichen's head pops out of it, his face had a soft smile growing on it as their eyes met
Jiang Cheng felt his heart skip a beat at that. He didn't know why- maybe he did but he wouldn't admit to it, atleast now.
"Here, If there too big or small I can ask for a different pair, I'm sure that Lan has more clothes here than he does at his own house"
Jiang Cheng says with sarcasm in his tone, and Xichen smiles, his teeth showing
"This is his house though, Thank you Wanyin"
Xichen says with a giggle, grabbing the clothes from Jiang Cheng's outstretched hand, and Jiang Cheng freezes.
His eyes caught a glimpse of purple and blue, but before he could comment on it, or even respond to Xichen's remark-
Xichen slipped away and shut the bathroom door with a click.