#He just doesn't think he should have to when to comes to WWX

[beneath-a-moonlit-lake]

It's really boring and annoying to see Jiang Cheng's personality being reduced to nothing more than a bog-standard tsundere in this fandom. No, I don't think that some readers are evil for favouring flawed and 'unlikeable' characters. I have been a proud and unapologetic villainfucker in other fandoms. But I do think that their insistence on turning this character with a shitty personality into a sad misunderstood woobie comes at the cost of erasing the story's study of the ways that abuse can be inflicted and perpetuated even by people who are 'nice' and 'friendly' to each another.

Jiang Cheng is not a tsundere or a misunderstood woobie who just struggles to show that he cares. That character type is only hostile and verbally unpleasant on the surface. Jiang Cheng is a mess of classism, entitlement and abuse hiding under a veneer of friendship. The friendship is what exists on the surface level, not the hostility. He did some good things for WWX (such as rushing to rescue him from the Xuanwu's cave), but the underlying potential for abuse was already there even during their teenage years.

It's not that Jiang Cheng has never suffered or that he deserved to be left without his family, but JC has arguably received more restitution for his suffering that any other character apart from LWJ, who only received his happy ending after WWX returned to life via the completely unexpected sacrifice of Mo Xuanyu.

JC's parents were killed by the Wen? JC was able to avenge them via the Sunshot Campaign and rebuild the clan after the war. He lost his golden core by taking the risk to lead Wen soldiers away from WWX? Well, he received a new one shortly after (via WWX's sacrifice, but he doesn't know that and doesn't need to bear that guilt until the end of the story). Jiang Yanli was killed by a trigger-happy kid during the confrontation at Buyetian? That kid died in WWX's rampage, and JC got to lead the Siege on the Burial Mounds to kill almost every member of the surviving Wen clan and watch WWX destroy himself.

Would it have been better if none of these terrible things happened? Yes, obviously. And it's fine if JC continues to feel the burden of the loss. But why has he never found an ounce of peace in the long years after WWX's death? It's because he holds WWX responsible for everything instead of placing any of the blame where it belongs.

Xue Yang and JGY mock him for being obsessed with WWX, and they are completely right to do so!

WWX is Jiang Cheng's emotional punching bag for everything that has not gone right in his life. When JC feels stressed, miserable or threatened, WWX is the person who gets kicked under the bus to attend to JC's needs. Even after JGY's complicity has been revealed, even long after Wen Ruohan is dead, even after the full extent of Jin Guangshan's awfulness and scheming and the ways in which the cultivation world and JC himself enabled that awfulness has been revealed, JC still makes it a point to scream about WWX's debt to his family. He makes it clear that he still holds WWX responsible for things that clearly were not and never would have been his fault, such as the deaths of his parents. Jiang Cheng believes, and still at some level, continues to believe even after the confrontation at Guanyin Temple that he is owed the right to demand that level of unwarranted responsibility for WWX.

And Jiang Cheng is thankfully, not a monster like Jin Guangshan. But this entitlement is not that far off from what JGS used to expect of JGY. WWX is still expected to set aside his needs, to soothe and bolster his bad moods, to cut out parts of himself to restore JC if necessary, and yes, to endure physical abuse (2 strangling attempts, physical blows to help JC vent his frustrations and endless whippings from both Madame Yu and JC).

The loss of the dogs was not a sacrifice that JC made to put up with WWX. WWX was meant to be a replacement for the dogs, and it clearly shows in the expectations that JC had of him.

----

And if you consider the argument that JC just had to slander WWX as someone who turned to evil once he left for the Burial Mounds in order to protect his clan/family as a legitimate argument, you'd have to believe that JC has never considered WWX to count as clan or family, which just makes him look even worse (unless you start twisting WWX's character to make him a traitorous troublemaker, which he very much is not).

[shanastoryteller]

happy Halloween! something mdzs bruised fruit/ mdzs female!wwx/ spn wincest pls??

Sam is bleeding way too much and if Dean isn't careful, he's going to put them in a ditch before he can get them to the emergency room. "Will you slow down?"

He figures if the last thing he ever sees is the underside of Dean's chin, that's not the worst thing. The last time he died, he got to see Dean in his entirety, got to feel his arms around him instead of just his head against his brother's thigh while he breaks every traffic law ever invented, and a few that after tonight they'll pass through just for him. But beggars can't be choosers.

"Shut up," Dean says, one hand on the wheel and the other pressed to the bandage on Sam's side, like he doesn't think Sam's doing a good enough job of putting pressure on it. He's right, unfortunately.

The pain is dulling, which is a bad sign. Almost as bad as the fact he can't quite keep his brother in focus. He doesn't want to die. He still has to save his brother from his stupid deal. Then again, maybe this is how he does it. If he dies before the year is done, that could be the end of it. No alive little brother, no Dean going to hell. A fair enough trade as far as he's concerned.

if he could be certain it really would work that way, he'd take care of it himself. Gladly. He just doesn't think they'll be that lucky. Maybe it'll work as long as he's not the one to do it. Like an insurance payout.

Fuck, he hopes so. He doesn't want to leave his brother to burn.

"Do y'want my last words?" he asks, internally wincing at the way his words are slurring. Bad, bad sign.

"No!" Dean snaps, then risks a glance down at him. That's nice. He likes Dean's eyes. And his lips. His face in general, really, although he has particularly fond memories of his lips. "Do you have them prepared?"

"Wasn't prepared last time," he explains, mouth feeling numb. He's pretty sure the words come out sort of mushy. "Wasn't fair. Figured I should think about it."

"Jesus," Dean says, looking at the road again. Probably for the best. "No. You're not dying. Shut up."

He totally is. He knows what it feels like. He means to tell Dean that, but he passes out before he gets the chance.

~

He wakes up cold to the sound of beeping and knows where he is before he pries his eyes open. It's a hospital, as expected, and Dean is slumped in the chair next to his bed, also expected.

That he woke up at all wasn't expected, but it's not like he's complaining.

He watches Dean for a while, because it's not like there's anything better to do, and it's a favorite pastime of his anyway. He's changed his shirt, but he's still got blood on his jeans. There are lines of worry and stress carved into his face even in sleep, and dark circles under his eyes that means this is more succumbing to the inevitable rather than an active choice. Sam's not surprised. Dean's a master of sleeping at bedsides and he's much better at contorting himself into a sort of comfortable position with the furniture he has available when he does it on purpose. He's going to wake up with a crick in his neck that he'll complain about for the next two days at least.

Like he can hear Sam mocking him, his eyes flutter open, blinking twice before he seems to notice Sam watching him. He shoots upright and then his leg buckles and he has to hold onto the side table with a curse. Sam would be concerned except he knows damn well it's just that his leg's fallen asleep in that terrible position he was in, and he's laughing by the time Dean makes it over to him, sitting on the edge of his bed and leaning over him, each of his hands pressed on either side of Sam's head.

"It's not funny," he says, face too pale and eyes too wide.

Sam sobers, offering him a quirk of the lips in apology. It would have been funny a few months ago, but he supposes that was before he died in Dean's arms. There are new rules now. "I'm fine."

He's guessing, but he's pretty sure. He's not hooked up to anything fancy and he's not in the ICU. Blood loss kills, but if they took care of that and nothing important was nicked, they can probably bounce in a day or two.

"Sammy," he says, breathing too quickly. They're close enough to kiss, except if he tries that right now he thinks he's going to get punched.

"Do you want to hear my last words now?" he offers.

Dean closes his eyes. "No. Shut up."

"We really have to work on your vocabulary," he says. "It's not a big deal. I can say them twice."

"How about you just don't die?" he tries, and he clearly means for it to come out as growl but it's closer to a whine. "You can't do this to me, Sammy. Not again."

Yeah, well, passing the nightmare on to him because Dean couldn't deal with it hadn't exactly been his brother's most compassionate move. Now's not the time for that argument, so Sam says, "I love you."

Dean jerks back like he's the one that got punched, but Sam's already fisted his hand in the front of his brother's shirt in preparation for this exact reaction.

"You're a good brother," he continues. "I'm glad I got to spend my life with you."

His face crumples. "Sam."

"The last two are provisional on you not dying on me at the end of the year," he says. "Just so we're clear."

"That's what you would have said? At," he cuts himself off, not even able to say it after all this time.

"At Cold Oak?" he finishes. "Yeah." He shakes his head and Sam tugs him closer. He's not strong enough to actually move him, but Dean leans back into him anyway. Sucker. "They don't have to be last words, you know. They can just be three true things."

"Three true things, huh?" Dean says. Some of the frantic fear has left him, leaving behind something more tender, less painful.

Sam wonders if he'll ever be able to see that look of fear on his brother's face and not think of that moment Dean walked into the shit cabin in the middle of nowhere, of that moment he saw Sam alive again after leaving his corpse rotting on that piece of shit mattress.

He's going to be pissed about Dean selling his soul until the day he dies, but it's not like he doesn't get it.

"Yeah," he says, then tilts his head up and capturing Dean's bottom lip between his teeth, coaxing him into a kiss that's going to set off the heart monitor if they're not careful.

He really hopes Dean used aliases with different last names this time.

[runespoor7]

hiii! for the ask game, an au where jc gets de-aged post-canon to his freshly traumatized 17 year old self? playing happy family in cloud recesses, wwx is brutally pulled out of his ‘the past is in the past’ bubble when he finds out. for extra knives, maybe wn tells him

1. I think it should be JL, and not WN, who tells WWX. JL is invested in JC (and in JC and WWX’s relationship)! WN is mostly invested in #getwreckedSLJ.

WWX doesn't really understand what JL expects of him - WWX’s heart leaped when he understood the content of JL’s letter, and his belly twisted as though he was going to be sick, but he managed to calm down enough to write a reassuring letter back to JL. (Surely that was what JL expected, right?) WWX had to sit on his own hands to keep from doing something stupid like grabbing a sword and flying off, and then he had to ask to LWJ to distract him, because it keeps buzzing, buzzing under his skin.

There's no new letter from JL. WWX forces himself to think it means everything went back to normal. And makes himself distracted (he loves his husband!) before his mind trips down the path of what if not. (JL wouldn't write then. He'd show up.)

2. There’s no second letter but JL shows up. WWX, who's been thinking that there was no reason for JL to come but if things had gone worst with JC, doesn't know what he looks like when he sees JL and doesn't really register the sound of people sliding their swords out.

“You have to come, why didn't you come! I had to leave jiujiu because you weren't coming, and I'm going to have to return to Jinlintai once I’ve brought you back, so grab your things, shibo. Oh, you don't need to take much, LP will put you up with what you need. What matters is going back so jiujiu can see you.”

JC is alive. JC is alive. Once the news break through the dull rushing sound in WWX’s ears, tension he didn't know had frozen his body seeps away.

The Jin disciple accompanying JL puts his sword away, under the misapprehension that WWX isn't ready to leave right away. LWJ says WWX’s name and presses his arm, and WWX nods fiercely. No time to waste, is there? Now JC wants him there.

3. There’s a disciple of YMJ as a welcoming committee when they fly down, or maybe two; WWX doesn't pay attention, he leaves JL and LWJ to deal with them - “hey, wait!” JL yelps, “do you even know where you’re going?”

WWX’s feet slow, stop. LP is changed. WWX isn't even sure JC left the infirmary where it once was.

JL catches up with an annoyed, worried huff. He sounds just like JC. “Here, this way.”

4. JC looks– JC looks.

WWX’s legs give up from under him.

JC looks at him with an intense frown, features almost twisted in desperation - WWX’s name on his lips. WWX scrambles on the ground, knees banging on the polished wood, fingers feverishly untangled as he reaches for the long-lost shape of WWX’s shidi, crumpled as discarded hopes, slight as a memory.

“You– why are you here?” JC's words fall like stones on WWX’s bones before WWX can reassure himself JC’s real. “They told me you live in Gusu. You don't even look like yourself, why did you come back?”

How like JC! One thousand words to cut through WWX like one thousand blades. WWX ignores him, fists his hands in JC's robes, presses his face against JC’s thighs. He needs to feel the warmth of JC’s body, make sure he’s not a ghost, not a dream.

JC's hand on his shoulder, shaking. WWX is suddenly reminded of JC’s hands pushing him down, this same JC throttling him. It feels like the last time they touched, did JC ever touch him after that, did WWX let him?

5. “I’ll fix it – I promise, JC, I’ll make it right,” WWX breathes, recklessly, helplessly. How easy it is to fall back into these old, dizzying habits!

JC’s eyes are full of shattered distrust and cloudy hopes, like he’s been told WWX lies, like he still believes WWX first.

[ultimateshixiongfuckertournament]

THIRD PLACE ROUND - Jiang Cheng vs Wen Kexing

The battle for third place is between Jiang Cheng (shixiong: Wei Wuxian) from Mo Dao Zu Shi and Wen Kexing (shixiong: Zhou Zishu) from Word of Honor

Propaganda under the cut

Wen Kexing:

(okay so the canon part is confusing. cause wenzhou are officially canon in Faraway Wanderers and are censored bromance in Word of Honor. but they're only shixiong/shidi in Word of Honor and not in Faraway Wanderers. so idk what you want to do in regards to the canonicity of their relationship)

I mean Wen Kexing is all over Zhou Zishu from day 1, though he has very complicated emotions surrounding the whole shixiong/shidi element to their relationship, he does eventually declare himself as the second disciple of Shiji Manor and publicly acknowledges Zhou Zishu as his shixiong. anyways if you know anything about Wen Kexing you know how desperately he wants Zhou Zishu, even the censorship couldn't hide the fact that Wen Kexing wants to rail Zhou Zishu to kingdom come

the utter simp that is WKX for his ZZS? No contest. None. None at all.

#WKX now actually fucked his shixiong like pls the entire book/show is about him wanting to get with him

#WKX hands down wanna fck or get fcked by his “Ah-Xu~” from day 1

#y'all have the audacity. as if Wen Kexing did baby trap is shixiong with TWO kids

Jiang Cheng:

Clinged to WWX constantly for 7+ years, wanted to have WWX as his right hand man forever after becoming sect leader, cried after WWX left, cried when he discovered what WWX sacrificed for him, was TORN APART when it got explained to him that if they were more outwardly close knit, WWX might not have died

PROPAGANDA!! to start, i'm still very bitter about how fairy lost the sentient animal poll and i want to win this badly. very very badly. current stats are 50.6 in favour of jc but that's too less of a gap for me. jc should be winning this by a landslide, y'all hear me? anyways. starting with a class act, like the clown i am->

64.media.tumblr.com

64.media.tumblr.com

64.media.tumblr.com

a few links ( because i'm chengxian trash, as always and i'd love if poll-guy could copy paste them on the og post): one, two, three, four (gif), five, six, seven (gif), eight (thoughts on different wavelengths), the absolute circles of them saving each other, the fucking golden core reveal scene. golden scene reveal part 2, jiang cheng will always forgive wei wuxian

to start with. jiang cheng is literally the picture of "i knew from the moment i met you that i'd spend a lifetime forgiving you".

the earliest dynamic of jiang cheng and wei wuxian is jiang cheng giving away his dogs (the only gift his father has ever given him, btw) because wei wuxian is scared of the dogs. tis only the start of it.

his father very obviously prefers his shixiong over him, his mother berates him for not being as good as wei wuxian and tells him his inheritance is in danger, and his sister (in my opinion) has more care for him (visibly. maybe jiang yanli doesn't show it because jc is an emotionally complicated purple grape, maybe because jc doesn't need it, or wei wuxian is traumatised but that's my opinion). but still. still. Jiang Cheng loves Wei Wuxian. so much. jealousy is like. the most tame response i can think of. and jiang cheng is proud of wei wuxian, okay? he'd believe his big brother if he'd said anything. want proof? well, here you go-> link

to paraphrase the link:

Jiang Cheng had just lost his family, his home, and his very golden core, and his older brother - his brilliant older brother who could fix anything, who could sneak wine into Cloud Recesses and defeat an ancient turtle nearly-god and make Jiang Cheng share a smile when Jiang Cheng’s mother was disappointed and furious at both of them - His big brother smiled and said, “I can fix this.”And Jiang Cheng believed him then, and believed him three months later when Wei Wuxian crawled out of the Burial Mounds (just the second miracle in three months), and believed him every day of the next seventeen(?) years until the pieces were shoved into place for him to see.

also. the circle these two go in protecting each other. (gif set by @sandushengshou), the 'if one of us is to die, then, i beg, let it be me' that they both do for one another in a seemingly neverending loop of sacrifice. via this post a la my lovely @backtoyunmeng

64.media.tumblr.com

64.media.tumblr.com

64.media.tumblr.com

jiang cheng is a cannonically ruined woman archetype, justified via the countless posts you'll get in the top posts of jiang cheng tag. he keeps chenqing, wwx's flute in perfect condition even when he hates wei wuxian, even when wwx, if only indirectly, has a part in jiang yanli's murder and oof okay someone pointed out to him that he's known to have killed wei wuxian and he almost cries. he absolutely believes, with his whole heart, that wei wuxian lives even when the world is sure he doesnt. and it always read to me like, i'd know if he was dead. he's a part of my soul, so i'd know if he was dead. he can't be dead.

this is getting too long, so, to sum up, some absolute poetry by @jiangchengsjawline

64.media.tumblr.com

64.media.tumblr.com

64.media.tumblr.com

#JC On The Other Hand Has His Entire Life Shaped By His Shixiong And Ended Up Cast As The Ruined Woman By The End

#jiang cheng though. wasn't able to fuck his shixiong but his shixiong definitely fucked with him

#hello?? the answer is Jiang cheng pls#he's the shixiongfucker or all shixiong fucker you wish you could be as pathetically in love with your shixiong as he is#chengxian

#i do not go here (chengxian) but the propaganda is incredibly correct they are insane abt each other#also sorry jiang cheng ik you're suffering but they are so funny to me#neway VOTE JIANG CHENG FOR CLEAR SKIN

#look I rarely go here#(here being chengxian)#but by GOD their lvoe compels me#they’re tragic and doomed and they love each other without knowing how to say it in words the other would understand#or in words at all because communication??? we don’t know her???

64.media.tumblr.com

64.media.tumblr.com

64.media.tumblr.com

he didn't even think about sacrificing himself, and consequently his entire bloodline, his sect, pretty much everything that depends on him for his shixiong??????????

is this not convincing->

64.media.tumblr.com

64.media.tumblr.com

64.media.tumblr.com

#had to vote jc though i have more feelings about chengxian#i think jc should have a huge gege kink

#like. jiang cheng should win the entire tournament hands down period

#jiang cheng#is the only correct answer in my gay little brain#i’m sure everyone else’s shixiong fuckers are great too#but jiang cheng is MY favorite#tumblr polls#mdzs#if chengxian fucked in canon it would make everything about their situation at least 65% less complicated you can’t change my mind

[lwjsbedtime]

I tried to make gifs of this because it reset my brain a little, but it didn't work out, so... 🤷

No thoughts, dancers Wangxian:

...Okay, some thoughts:

I'd like to think WWX and LWJ first got paired together as part of a scholarship program. Something about 'nurturing great talent' and 'investing in the future of the arts', which basically just amounted to classically trained danseur LWJ being designated babysitter of the chaotic WWX during their first year at Cloud Recesses School of the Arts.

LWJ is, quite naturally, a little furious. He's worked hard to excel and earn his place at his family's academy without relying on nepotism, and yet here this...boy is - no talent, no skill, no drive. His only apparent accomplishment is succeeding in driving LWJ to madness.

Finally, after WWX weaves him a flower crown in some strange attempt at mockery, he has enough. LWJ asks to be assigned a new partner.

LXC refuses: kindly, but it's still a refusal. He assures LWJ that WWX is a once in a lifetime genius. LXC would know; he's on the auditions committee and has to approve every incoming hopeful's application. And he was very impressed by WWX.

LWJ wonders if his brother was ill on the day WWX auditioned, or if he's confused the boy with someone else. All WWX knows how to do is jump around, and put his hands on LWJ's waist while they stumble through their choreography.

And smile.

And laugh.

And look at LWJ with those stormy eyes while drawing close-

...The point is, LWJ isn't convinced WWX knows how to dance at all. And since he's swindled his way into Cloud Recesses somehow, he might as well learn. However, for all LWJ knows his art inside and out, he's not a certified teacher.

Surely then, the honour of tutoring WWX should go to someone more qualified?

"Wangji," LXC says, and LWJ's brows tick downward at the laughter glimmering in his brother's eyes. "Just give him a chance. I have no doubt you're the perfect fit for one another."

"Yes, brother."

Seeing no other option, LWJ concedes - for now. He leaves his brother's office, throwing one last reproachful glance over his shoulder to ensure LXC knows he still doesn't like the situation.

LXC, infuriatingly, only looks more amused.

----

Little does LWJ know, his brother isn't lying about WWX's talent. Sure, he's a little rough around the edges - and secretly very nervous - but his skill, once observed, cannot be denied.

WWX grew up with the Jiang, a traditional family who enrolled him in martial arts lessons as soon as his adoption papers were signed. But before that - before the pain and the hunger, and the brief stint of homelessness - he was Wei Ying, son of CSSR and WCZ, reigning king and queen of the international ballroom scene.

WWX's earliest memories are of his parents wrapped in a loving embrace, dancing with him held between them. They moved to the music crooning out of their staticky little radio like water following the path of a stream - effortless, and joyful.

They were so, so happy.

For the first five years of his life, WWX accompanied his parents all around the world as they danced in competitions, and performed live shows - and even acted, on one memorable occasion!

WWX's greatest dream was to follow in their footsteps, but then tragedy struck and he was left alone. When he was taken in by the Jiangs, he thought perhaps...

...But Auntie Yu scolded him harshly every time it seemed like he was finally coming out of his shell. WWX didn't want to think how badly she would have reacted to him asking for dance lessons. He knew he'd have to keep his passion secret in her house, or lose it forever; lose his parents with it.

For years, he practised in secret, locked in his room at night, or on the roof of his school building during breaks. WWX wasn't certain what he thought he was doing, or why, but in the moments he was dancing, he truly felt free.

And then, he saw him and everything made sense.

During the last year of high school, when everyone else had chosen the path their futures would take, and WWX was still unsure of his own, JYL suddenly handed him two tickets to the ballet.

"I'm sorry it's short notice, but Jin-the person I was going with cancelled, and I don't think I would like going alone," his sister said, her expression heavy with sadness. "I thought maybe you could take a date? Or a friend?"

WWX flushed at the idea of taking a date anywhere, but accepted the tickets. Clearly, his sister couldn't stand the sight of them. Whoever cancelled on her had a lot to answer for.

But also...the idea of seeing others dance - professionals, at that - sparked something small and bright in his heart.

"Thank you, jiejie," he said, his words more sincere than JYL would ever realise.

----

WWX hadn't asked anyone to accompany him in the end. He wasn't interested in dating, and his friends weren't the type to enjoy spending three hours watching 'grown adults prance around a stage' - a direct quote from JC, several years earlier when WWX made the mistake of looking too delighted by the performance of The Lady of the Camellias advertised in the paper.

Even if anyone had wanted to come with him, he wasn't certain he'd be good company with how his heart was hammering in his chest.

Arriving at the theatre, he took a deep breath and stepped inside. He'd arrived early (for once) so he had plenty of time to bounce his legs and look around anxiously before the seats filled up around him and the lights bordering the stage dimmed.

WWX looked straight ahead, his eyes riveted to the stage as the curtains drew back. From the pit, the lonely cry of a trombone sounded, soon accompanied by the rest of the orchestra.

The set was revealed slowly - the painted backdrop of a grand home. In a chair, a man was sleeping while beside him-

WWX's breath caught in his chest. Beside him danced the most beautiful, most graceful, prettiest fairy, bathed in the glow of silvery light.

The fairy's steps were light and playful as he bounded across the floor, the stones sewn into his costume glimmering like stars in the night sky.

WWX watched him, rapt; all his attention honed in to each soft, supple movement of the fairy's limbs. His heart fell when soon the dancer bounded off stage, replaced by a second, distinctly less lovely man.

For the rest of the performance, WWX could think of nothing but that graceful fairy, his entire being tingling whenever the boy again appeared on stage. There was something about the dancer's steps - the precision and joy of his movements - that brought a slumbering piece of WWX back to life.

After the curtains fell, WWX found out - through no small amount of internet sleuthing - that the fairy was in fact Lan Wangji, of the Lan family. The very same Lan family that ran Cloud Recesses School of the Arts - which coincidentally LWJ would be attending the next year.

WWX submitted his application the very same evening. By the time Auntie Yu kicked him out for rejecting the university she'd decided he would attend, he'd already been accepted into CR's very generous scholarship program.

All this to say, when WWX was matched with LWJ, he was 1) very surprised, 2) slightly nervous, and 3) halfway in love.

Surprisingly, none of these complex emotions interacted very well with one another. In fact, they made WWX worse.

And now LWJ thinks he's a good-for-nothing phoney, albeit with very large, very warm hands.

(WWX is not aware of this opinion, or else he might try to change it.)

As for what does make LWJ change his mind...

LWJ also studies musical composition. He's very practical like that. He won't be able to dance at his current level forever, and music is another passion of his - one less taxing on the joints. If push comes to shove, he wouldn't mind becoming a music tutor.

In truth, he might even prefer it. A part of him dislikes being the centre of attention, as well as the constant travel that comes with performing. Ballet is freeing, and it makes him feel closer to his mother, who was also a dancer. But music makes him feel at peace with himself. Safe. Warm. Home.

He's practising on his guqin one night when a shadow catches his eye from outside.

There, on the balcony of the neighbouring dorm, is WWX. And he's dancing - dancing properly to LWJ's music.

LWJ's fingers trip over the strings for a single moment before he manages to overcome his shock. WWX is good. Very good.

Which begs the question: why is he trying to sabotage their performances?

----

He resolves to confront WWX the next day but never quite manages to find the words to express his frustration.

Instead, he drives WWX into a corner, performing increasingly complex moves until WWX is forced to step up his game.

Surprisingly, it works, to an extent. However, there's no quick fix for inexperience. WWX is not a ballet dancer; naturally he's thrown off when LWJ slips into the solo from his last tour.

He falls back, watching slack jawed at the fine control demonstrated by LWJ; the quiet strength held in his lean body. He's so beautiful WWX can't look away.

It takes far too long for LWJ to realise he's gone off their choreography. Embarrassed with himself, he slips back into the routine they're meant to be practising, hoping the burning in his ears isn't noticeable.

WWX shakes himself into motion, falling into step with LWJ once more. But LWJ is growing increasingly frustrated. Unlike before, when LWJ was testing him, WWX keeps hesitating. He's back to playing the clumsy fool.

With something akin to anger thrumming in his veins, LWJ pins a flustered WWX against his body. He grabs the boy's hips, showing him how to move them properly.

"Like this," he all but demands.

WWX's answering hum is a little strangled, but surely he can be forgiven for that? The poor boy's experiencing a very sudden awakening, with his crotch pressed against LWJ's soft stomach.

LWJ continues to manhandle WWX through the steps until WWX is certain he's going to do something embarrassing. Pulling himself free, he chuckles.

"Ah, LZ, you know I don't usually do this sort of dancing."

LWJ stares at him. "This sort of dancing?"

"You know, with a partner."

LWJ continues to stare, hoping it will convince WWX to expand upon that. His audition sheet said he specialised in ballroom dancing. How could he not be familiar with partnered choreography?

Thankfully, WWX has never been reticent, and helpfully explains. "I kinda had to learn in secret, so I never really had the chance to dance with anyone else. Until you."

Inexplicably, LWJ's heart picks up. That explains some things then.

Feeling somewhat foolish about how unreasonable he's been acting, he moves his hands back to WWX's hips.

"I will teach you," he promises.

And then he proceeds to do just that.

For some reason, WWX's cheeks turn red.

"So kind, er gege," he jokes. "I'm in your hands."

Yes, LWJ thinks, his fingers flexing. You are.

----

Over the next few weeks, WWX and LWJ grow closer, their dance sessions turning into shared lunches, and lazy afternoon walks through campus. On the weekends, LWJ shows WWX his favourite spots in Caiyi, while WWX entices LWJ to try new - terrible, spicy - things he'd never dared to before.

By the time break comes around, LWJ thinks they've become friends.

LWJ, as always, plans to spend the break at his family manor, hidden in the forest behind campus. WWX...has only just realised he has nowhere to go. When he left home, Auntie Yu told him not to expect to be allowed back.

He sighs, frowning down at the untied laces of his booties, and wonders what he's going to do until classes start again.

LWJ, noticing how downcast WWX seems to be, asks what's wrong.

"It's nothing," he replies with a crooked grin that makes LWJ's heart skip a beat. "Just...I have nowhere to go during the holiday."

LWJ's brows furrow in understanding. Though he's unaware of the situation with the Jiangs, WWX has mentioned before he was orphaned at a young age.

LWJ does not like to see his friend look so dejected. He does the only thing he can possibly do. He invites WWX home with him.

At first, WWX almost refuses, but he likes LZ too much, and will miss not seeing him everyday otherwise.

"Okay, er gege," he agrees. "Take me home with you."

WWX's smile is so disarming, the next thing LWJ recalls is entering his family home with his partner in tow, the sound of luggage wheels scraping over concrete following them.

"Wow..." WWX says. "LZ, just how rich is your family?"

"Wealthy enough to run a private academy," he replies, just barely refraining from rolling his eyes.

From close behind him, he hears WWX laugh.

----

The next several days pass by like a dream LWJ is still half-afraid he'll wake from. Due to Uncle inviting some of their relatives over during the break, WWX has been relegated to sharing LWJ's bedroom with him. Which means LWJ wakes each morning to the sound of WWX's breathing, and falls asleep each night to his laughter.

During the day, they're inseparable, spending almost every spare waking moment in one another's company. It is...doing something to LWJ, and he isn't sure yet whether that something should be encouraged, or cut off at the root.

He thinks it would hurt him to smother the feeling, more than it would hurt to nurture it.

From across the kitchen counter, WWX smiles and asks him a question, and LWJ brushes all thoughts of strange new emotions aside.

Later that night they sit together in the lounge, cups of hot chocolate warming their hands. Uncle left earlier with LXC to pick up their visiting relatives, and so for now LWJ and WWX have the house to themselves.

There's something sizzling under LWJ's skin, and across the room, there's a DVD player connected to the TV that wasn't there before.

WWX has been quieter today than usual - almost melancholy. LWJ had asked if he was alright, to which his friend had ruefully admitted that it was the anniversary of his parents' death.

LWJ had been momentarily horrified for bringing it up, but WWX had looked up at him with an expression of guarded hope, and asked if LWJ would like to see them.

"Of course," he agreed instantly.

And so now here he sits, as WWX navigates the menu of a homemade DVD.

"I didn't have anything of theirs from before, and I wasn't really allowed to talk about them once I was adopted," WWX admits, almost carelessly. "But I found these online a few years ago. Turns out my parents were pretty popular."

He shoots a grin at LWJ as he presses play, looking very much like the little boy he must once have been.

On the TV, a disembodied voice announces the arrival of WCZ and CSSR to the floor, and LWJ's eyes widen as the couple steps out.

Wei Wuxian.

Wei Changze.

Wei Ying is the son of CSSR and WCZ?

He glances at his friend out of the corner of his eye, taking in the expression of longing on his face as the couple begins to dance.

Popular is an understatement! WWX's parents were lauded for their accomplishments. Even Uncle, who had something against CSSR in particular, used their choreography as examples in his class.

And WWX had barely had the chance to know them - hadn't been allowed to.

LWJ's fists clench around his mug. He'll look into the school's archive later. He's certain there's footage there WWX hasn't yet seen. If anyone deserves to watch CSSR and WCZ's famous dances, it would be their son.

"Weren't they great?"

LWJ startles, the sound of WWX's voice drawing him from his musings.

"Mn," he agrees, his throat tight. "They were wonderful."

He watches the rest of the video in awed silence, his arm brushing up against WWX's as his friend shifts about, eyes glued to the sight of his parents gliding across the screen.

LWJ is little better. He hardly registers the TV dimming as the video ends, engrossed as he is in the dancing.

It's once again WWX's voice that startles him back to full awareness.

"Hey, why don't we try doing that?"

LWJ looks up at WWX, uncomprehending. "Mn?"

"The last dance." His hand reaches out for LWJ to take, but he's facing away, as if shy. "My parents' dance. It looks fun."

LWJ feels himself flush. The last dance performed by WCZ and CSSR was...quite romantic.

But it would make WWX feel better, and LWJ is not entirely against being close to him, so...

"Mn," he agrees, placing his hand in WWX's waiting palm.

WWX turns to him with a grin so bright it must hurt. "Really?"

He pulls LWJ up from the couch.

"Mn," LWJ replies again, looking up at WWX through his eyelashes. Hesitantly, he places his free hand over the boy's chest. "Let's begin."

They're so close, he can feel the erratic beating of WWX's heart under his palm.

"We don't have music," WWX murmurs, as if afraid speaking any louder would break the tension suddenly palpable between them.

LWJ bends to collect the remote, presses play, and returns it to the table. On the TV screen, the host announces WCZ and CSSR again, and music begins to filter out into the lounge.

"Now we do." His voice is hushed as WWX's own, as he draws even closer.

"So smart, LZ," WWX says, his hands moving to LWJ's waist. "What would I do without you?"

"Many foolish things," LWJ replies, wrapping his own arms around WWX's neck.

WWX breaks out into a quiet chuckle, his hand tightening on LWJ's waist.

"So mean, er gege."

LWJ blinks up at him. Last week, WWX tried to catch one of the pheasants on campus, and almost got pecked to death. "It is true."

WWX sighs, leaning forward so their brows press together. "...It is."

In the darkness, LWJ smiles.

They rock together in the middle of the floor for a few moments, before WWX speaks again.

"This isn't the dance."

"It is not," LWJ agrees.

On the TV screen, WCZ and CSSR are sweeping across the floor. LWJ can't remember if they danced a tango or not. His mind has been utterly overtaken by the thought of 'Weiyingweiyingweiying' cycling through his head.

"I still like it," WWX admits.

LWJ kisses him.

He startles, shocked by his own boldness, and starts to pull away, but WWX kisses him back.

They stand, swaying - kissing - in the middle of the living room until they break for air.

"Lan Zhan-" Wei Wuxian begins, his eyes turbid with emotion.

LWJ grabs the remote again, turns the TV off, and pulls WWX closer, steering them both towards the door.

"Your parents should not see this," he says.

The way WWX's eyes grow darker sends a shiver down his spine.

----

LWJ wakes the next morning to the sound of WWX's breathing, exactly as he had the days before. However, the strange fluttering in his chest has quelled, replaced by a near-dazzling warmth.

WWX's arm is around his waist, his lips pressed to LWJ's scalp. LWJ rolls over to stare at him.

He brushes a stray strand of hair from WWX's brow; counts his eyelashes; lays a kiss to his chin.

"We will learn the dance," he whispers against his lover's skin, before rising to go about his day.

And, eventually, they do.

They dance. They kiss. They go on to take the world by storm for a very short time.

Several years later, LWJ retires from dancing professionally, reserving all his future performances for his husband, alone. In turn, WWX learns how to play the flute, so he can join LWJ in his love of music.

He continues to perform for a while longer, before taking up a teaching position at Cloud Recesses alongside his husband. His students are all very small and chubby-cheeked. WWX has never been happier.

Eventually, WWX and LWJ have a child of their own - a boy as happy and playful as any ever was. WWX looks at him and remembers the days of his early childhood, when love flowed freely, and the laughter never stopped. LWJ recalls his mother holding him, teaching him how to dance as she'd once taught him to walk; encouraging him to smile; reassuring him it was safe to experience big emotions.

Together, they think of their future ahead of them - a future of light and happiness, and so much dancing. Looking into one another's eyes, they see nothing but pure bliss.

----

...That was a lot more thoughts than I expected a modern AU to bring tbh. 😅

Seriously though, the video: those lifts. The chin tilt. I am not normal about this.

[ninjakk]

Hey!!

I recently saw someone claim that Wei Wuxian was starved of conversation on his journey to Yiling with Lan Wangji and Wen Ning and so board he needed to chat to people before they ascend the mountain. I hadn't really noticed this until it was mentioned. What do you think of that scene?

I love your meta and fics btw. You use your understanding of the novel in your writing and it's just *chef's kiss*

Hi anon 👋🏻

Personally, I've not seen any comments regarding the above - but we can certainly look at the text in question 😊

Let's take a look at the scene in question:

Several days later, they arrived in Yiling.

The Burial Mounds were less than five kilometers ahead of this small town. Although they didn’t know exactly what awaited them there, Wei Wuxian had a feeling it wasn’t anything good. But Lan Wangji was right by his side, his gait steady, his gaze cool. Wei Wuxian had never been one with any sense of crisis to begin with, and with the way Lan Wangji looked, he was even less likely to get nervous at all.

Passing through the small town of Yiling, he was awash in the sounds of the local accent. It was invigorating and incomparably endearing. While he wasn’t planning on buying anything, he couldn’t help but strike up conversations in the local dialect with the street vendors. Only after he’d had his fill of socializing did he get down to business.

“Hanguang-jun, you remember this town, right?”

7S translation

So the scene opens with WWX gushing over how safe and happy he feels around LWJ. He's just so thankful to have someone by his side, someone he can fully depend on and is there for him, should he need it. This very much echoes his thoughts from when they began their descent from the Cloud Recesses, at the start of their journey here. For someone nearing the place he met such a gruesome end at previously, he seems incredibly content and calm - all thanks to LWJ. So straight away, we are reminded of how WWX feels around the other man. It's there for a reason, to set the scene. WWX is relaxed and enjoying himself because he's with LWJ.

They have just arrived in a city he is very familiar with. It's the place he both lived as an orphan and frequented as a man while residing at the burial mounds. He is surrounded by the accent of his "home" for the first time in over 13 years and it's making him feel sentimental. I also think it's a great parallel between when WWX finally visits Lotus Pier in the coming chapters and how desolate and subdued the place has become since JC became sect leader.

I think the above reaction is very normal considering the emotional impact it obviously had on him. WWX has already stated on numerous occasions that LWJ makes him happy and he enjoys his company, but he's also very sociable and likes to look around markets and chat with vendors - there's even a scene in the novel which states as such and many other examples. Although WWX is running around chatting and exploring the stalls, LWJ is still by his side. Doing so does not subtract from his obvious enjoyment of having LWJ's unwavering presence.

We see more than enough evidence that WWX happily chats to LWJ and that he, in turn, even responds and asks questions also. There seems to be this mind-boggling misconception that LWJ literally doesn't speak, and if he does he's like some caveman that can't communicate effectively, when it's the exact opposite. LWJ talks when necessary and is very succinct with his words - he's a true gentleman of their time. Of course, in comparison to WWX, he's much less chatty - but when he does talk it's sincere and relevant. WWX loves this about him! He's also an incredible listener and doesn't miss a single thing WWX says, which WWX also appreciates! Hardly anyone listens to all his ramblings and holds them all so dearly!

It's funny, because although WWX chats to anyone and everyone, it's obvious he enjoys conversing with LWJ the most. He treasures the fact they are on the same wavelength and understand each other implicitly 🥰

Aww! Thank you so much anon! I'm glad you are enjoying my meta and fics ❤️

I hope I managed to answer your question! Have a lovely day 😘

[doufudanshi]

for anyone who criticizes jyl for bringing soup to yiling instead of like, money—

we should first ask: could jyl actually have given wwx money? she must have something, you say. the jins are rich! she could even give him some of her betrothal gifts.

but realistically jyl probably didn't have much money at all! let's think this through. not only did she not marry jzx yet at the time of her yiling visit, but (based on many, many imperial palace tv shows lol) all her worth would be in betrothal gifts of jewelry, fine clothing, or other misc items, which is 1) heavy and difficult to transport without notice, but that doesn't actually matter bc it's ultimately 2) disrespectful to sell and worse to have the gifter find out when they come by for tea and you begin chatting about the event in two days and they say oh where's that one-of-a-kind jade bracelet I gave you wouldn't it match the also one-of-a-kind silk garment that lady jin gave you sooo well oh you will look so lovely in it won't you wear it.

or worse, have it recognized in some random pawn shop on the street by someone who has never really liked you and WILL get you in deep shit for it.

does jyl have any money from the jiang side? well, jc has been busy at work rebuilding lotus pier and the clan since before wwx's defection, and even if he's not borrowing a shitton of money from the jins (which he almost certainly is), he definitely has the opposite of surplus funds. he's also busy organizing and buying gifts for the wedding too, making him go more in the red because you know the jins aren't going to want cheap-ass things even if you don't have money.

let's say jyl did get a significant bride price (aka given money money)—not only does that go to her family (jc), but it is given during the ceremony (which, again, hasn't happened yet). and, realistically, jc probably will have to use it to offset the costs of the above.

beyond that, let's just take this scene from a storytelling perspective. sometimes it is simply about the emotional resonance. the vibes. let's say jyl did have some funds to give wwx. but imagine if jyl was like here a-xian take all this money 😐 ok sure useful for some period. but is that the gift that wwx would want during the first time he's gotten to see her in months, and likely the last time he will see her in a long, long time (possibly years)? would that be impactful for the story?

meanwhile, the soup she brings represents her love. we hear in the extra, from wwx's own words, the care she put into selecting the ingredients, making sure the lotus root is fresh and perfectly ripe. it also takes hours for her to even make iirc. wwx derives so much comfort from it—that's why it comes up again and again. it is one of his first memories of feeling safe in lotus pier, of home. it provides wwx some semblance of normalcy. he hasn't had any this entire time, and is likely something he aches for whenever he's homesick or sad or questioning his choices. it is simply, given the circumstances, incredibly thoughtful. (and how meaningful was it to see wn treat it with such respect? seeing that is literally the moment in the chapter when wwx realizes—ah. the wens are people I cherish as well.)

and regarding jyl coming in her wedding dress—it is not for herself. it is for wwx. we saw how devastated wwx was just to even hear that jyl was getting married because he had to hear it from someone who wasn't jc or jyl. and to immediately then realize he cannot go? even more heartbreaking. and jyl, who clearly knows wwx extremely well, would know, without having to ask, how upset wwx would be to miss such a huge occasion in their lives that was previously a given. this is what she can do to offset that, even just a little. because jyl came in her dress, wwx gets to experience a piece of her wedding even though he cannot physically be there. not to be a 2000s mastercard ad, but there really are some things that money can't buy.

idk there's also some fist-shaking at the class discrepancy in the scene. and I get it. it sucks! her dress is certainly lavish, and the wens are farming on a corpse mountain and have only just started making a bit of money. yes, it's fine to think that if you were in the character's shoes, maybe you would've found it to be in poor taste—but the story isn't about you. it is about these characters, and what this scene means to them. and I'm of the camp that if there is no indication that wwx is upset by any of this, and in fact moved by it, there really isn't reason for the reader to be righteously indignant about these things on a character's behalf. that's just not the focus or the point of the scene.

plus, jyl is sharp. she is likely more aware of the discrepancy than most people think. she has also been shown in the text to not just be another sheltered, spoiled noble (re jzx soup incident). but if what you want is guilt from jyl—I personally think that guilt is performative, and accomplishes nothing. her guilt would've only made wwx unhappy. instead, here is an action that is meaningful and brings joy to wwx. to share her joy with him is not selfishness, nor is it some lack of awareness of their situation. if in this moment, she shows off her dress, if she revels in her joy, her happiness, it is for wwx, and wwx is incredibly moved by it.

and let's face it—wwx, of all people, would want to see jyl in a wedding dress that cost more than rebuilding lotus pier from the ground up. he wouldn't want anything less.

[only10th]

Todays thoughts!

Wangxian meeting at the mall, single mom wwx shopping for some clothes with his little radish.

Wei Ying had gone to the mall cause he needed to buy a nice outfit for a date he did not want to go to, but of course his shijie was the one to set it up for him. Something about being time for him to put himself out there, find someone to take care of him as much as he takes care of his son. He, of course, insisted that he was fine fairing on his own. If anything, the reason why Wei Ying didn't want to date at all is more of finding someone that would put the same love and dedication to A-Yuan as he does.

And he knows, from experience, that's hard if not impossible to find.

So cut to a very stressed and distracted Wei Ying looking through clothes while his son played hide and seek in the racks of clothes. He'd been making sure to see A-Yuan popping his head out through the clothesline with a bright smile that matches his own, every so often calling out to him if he noticed he was taking too long to pop out. At least one of them was having fun. This was the third clothing store he visited, and the frustration of not finding anything remotely nice, or something that matched his style, was taking its toll. At the end, he sighs with exasperation. He'll just have to call his sister and tell her that he's sick, or something.

"A-Yuan, come out. We're leaving." There's no response, "A-Yuan, did you hear me?"

His brows dip with concern, it did get too quiet at some point. The giggling and the scraping of the hangers had come to a stop without him noticing. "Mister, if you're playing a joke on your poor A-Niang we won't get ice cream." He mumbles as he looks through the rack, moving the clothes around in mild panic. A-Yuan is nowhere to be found.

Wei Ying is practically panicking at this point, frantically searching for his son, practically yelling his name. He's on the verge of tears as he passes the rows and rows of racks and fixtures. All logic and reason are thrown out the window. There's no way.. there's no way he lost A-Yuan. He's always paid attention, always told him to stay by his side no matter what. What the hell is he going to do? The worst scenarios start crossing through his mind, but he keeps searching. A-Yuan knows to stay put if he ever gets separated from Wei Ying, he knows to not talk to strangers but he's only a toddler. Anything can happen.

“A-Yuan! Where are you?!” Wei Ying calls as he jogs through the store.

~~~~

Cut to A-Yuan staring wide eye at a tall guy with honey eyes. They're both having a staring contest at this point. That’s not his A-Nian, A-Yuan thinks to himself.

"Hello?" Lan Zhan says with caution. When did this child get here?

The child pursed his lips, slowly retreating into the rack with blue sweaters he was browsing through. "I-I’m not supposed to talk to strangers."

Lan Zhan blinks, staying quiet before nodding in approval. The toddler's parents are smart. He should probably alert security, he looks around in search of security or a staff member. As soon as he spots someone, he starts to walk away to try and get their attention but a small hand takes a tight grip on his light cream trousers.

"W-Wait! Mister— My a-niang told me to stay put if I ever get separated... A-niang will find me soon. Please, don't go."

Scared pleading eyes stare at him, the man seems to think through it for a moment. The smart thing to do would be to report the missing child. But at the same time, he's not sure how he would handle the situation if the toddler were to start crying.

"Alright.” He agrees with a nod. Though, the toddler doesn't let go of his trousers for a moment. At least he looks somewhat more calm. "We'll wait for your mother together."

Not a moment later, Wei Ying runs past them, yelling A-Yuan's name. At first, Lan Zhan looks at him with confusion. The child didn't say anything about his dad looking for him, so instinctively he shields and conceals the toddler. You can never be too safe, he knows people can put any sort of act just to take a child away. However, the toddler scrambled past Lan Zhan's legs and shouts, “A-Niang!"

Wei Ying skids to a stop, whipping his head towards the sound of his son's voice. Relief floods through his body as he falls to his knees and hugs his toddler, so glad that he's safe and sound. At first he doesn't notice the man who had stayed with his son because he's too busy peppering kisses to A-Yuan's chubby cheeks and mumbling "Don't ever scare me like that again!" And “We've talked about this, don't leave my side."

While this exchange is happening, Lan Zhan Is just thinking. The man... that drop dead gorgeous man was the toddler's mother?

A-Yuan clings to Wei Ying's neck, rubbing his face on his cheek, “A-Yuan is sorry, A-niang. Please don't be mad."

The puppy eyes win Wei Ying over and he can't be mad anymore. Silver eyes quickly scan his child, making sure there’s no injuries. He hugs his little radish once more, only then is when he notices the man watching the whole scene, and he can tell he's kinda not knowing what to do with himself.

"Um... can I help you?" Wei Ying asks a little defensive while hugging his son closer.

Before the man can utter an answer, A-Yuan beams with excitement. “That gege helped A-Yuan wait for A-niang!"

“Oh. Is that so?" He says, silver eyes softening and shoulders letting the tension leave.

"Mn. My name is Lan Zhan." He introduced himself and woah, how could Wei Ying not notice how handsome this man was.

“Thank you, Lan Zhan, for keeping an eye on my son. I really don't know how to repay you…”

"A-niang, is this the gege you're meeting later?" The toddler looked at Lan Zhan with hopeful eyes. "Gege taking my a-niang to dinner?"

Wei Ying quickly gets all embarrassed, cheeks flushed red like the ribbon holding his long hair in a ponytail. “Aiya, aiya! Stop bothering the nice gege! I'm sure he has many things to do."

"But!” A-Yuan begins to protest with a pout.

"No buts." Wei Ying picks A-Yuan in his arms, letting some of his weight rest on his hip. Silver eyes meet honey ones. “Thank you, again. I-I gotta get going."

And Lan Zhan can only watch the pair walking away, saying something about "I told you to call me a-niang at home and baba out here." And "I'm never leaving you out of my sight again. You gave me a heart attack.”

He’s sure he hears the child, A-Yuan, mumble “But I like that gege…”

Lan Zhan turns around, shaking his head before continuing his shopping. His chest aches a bit cause he just met the most beautiful man he has ever laid eyes on... It's childish, but he can't help but quietly sulk because he was in fact thinking of asking him out but... it looks like someone had beaten him to it. Wait, he didn't even get his name. He sulks even more.

~~~~~

Back in Wei Ying's home, he was getting ready for his date. It shouldn't be too late to cancel, right?

“You look dashing!” His sister compliments with a soft clap. “Come now, don’t make that face.”

“Jie, I don’t know this man… What if he doesn’t like A-Yuan? What if he’s secretly an asshole?” Anxiety was clear in his voice, though it was quickly soothed when Jiang Yanli walked over and fixed the collar of his burgundy button up.

“You doubt your A-Jie will pick a good man for you?” She teases with a thin eyebrow raising in question.

“Not you… I don’t trust A-Sang.” He side-eyes his friend, who is sitting on the couch making faces to his baby nephew. “Are you sure it’s not too late to cancel?”

“A-Ying, you need this. I promise it’ll be good for you.” His sister reassures, gently patting his shoulders. She smiles softly at her younger brother. “I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy.” He reassures her

She chuckles, patting the top of his hand. “You know what I mean. YingYing, are you sure you don’t want me to watch over A-Yuan?”

“Nuh-huh, if I’m meeting this guy then he’s meeting a-yuan too. If he doesn’t love him then I won’t even give him a chance!”

“A-Ying.”

“I’ve made up my mind, Jie. Now, tell me A-Yuan doesn’t look like the most adorable gentleman you’ve ever seen.” Wei Ying coos as his son walks into the living room wearing a t-shirt with the print of a tuxedo. He picks him up and peppers his cheeks with many kisses.

Soon, they’re both arriving at the restaurant. At least the guy he’s meeting has good taste. Before they step in, Wei Ying sets down his son, going through the motions of fixing his clothes. “If you don’t like the guy, we’ll leave as soon as you want, okay? No one can pull my attention from my little radish.”

A-Yuan nods, and with that they both walked into the bustling restaurant. Wei Ying couldn’t help but to feel irritated at bit his sister and best friend. What the hell did Nei Huaisang mean that I’ll know when I see him? Would’ve been better if he just showed me a picture. He thinks to himself while rolling his eyes. Though, he couldn’t deny he was extremely nervous to meet this mystery guy that he had been set up with.

“A-Niang, look! It’s the nice gege from earlier!”

Wei Ying is quick to follow his son’s line of sight, and there he was. Lan Zhan sat at a tsks closer to the window, dressed up in a light blue suit with a light cream shirt. He knew Lan Zhan was handsome, but to see him in a suit? How the sleeves seemed hug his arms just tight enough to let you know the man works out. Before he knew it, Wei Ying was being tugged towards Lan Zhan’s table. “Hey, hey! Baobei let’s not bother the nice gege, he’s probably waiting for someone.” He tried to whisper, tugging his son the other way but they were already spotted.

“Gege! Hi gege!” A-Yuan chimes as Lan Zhan stands from his chair. Was he always this tall?

“Hi, Lan Zhan. What a coincidence! A-Are you here by yourself, or…”

He can see golden eyes scanning him up and down before landing back on his face. He can’t help but shift in place at the intensity of Lan Zhan’s gaze. “I am waiting for someone.” Lan Zhan responds quietly, gaze still on Wei Ying.

“Oh… Me too!” He’s quick to add before chuckling, “Well, you already knew that… A-Are you waiting for a date?”

Lan Zhan seems to consider his answer, and Wei Ying can’t help but to find it amusing at how deflated and defeated the other looks when he responds with a quiet “Yes.”

Wei Ying laughs once more, “Not really looking forward to it? I get it, my sister and best friend set me up for mine. I don’t even know who I’m supposed to meet! Can you believe they refused to give me his name? Or even show me a picture? They really took the definition of ‘blind date’ way too serious.”

Lan Zhan stares at him wide eye, and for a moment Wei Ying thinks he said something wrong. “No offense to whoever you’re meeting, of course! I bet they’re—“

“Wei Ying?” Lan Zhan takes a step closer towards him, but he doesn’t see himself taking a step back.

Brows furrow, “Yeah? Do… Do I have something on my face?”

“I’m meeting with Wei Ying… You are Wei Ying.”

The father can only look at the other in bewilderment, was… was Lan Zhan his blind date? No, this was to good to be true. A guy like Lan Zhan… he could have anyone, the man looked like a god! “Who set you up?” He decided to ask, if he’s says ut was Nei Huaisang then he really was having a date with Lan Zhan. There were no other Wei Ying’s around, not that he knows of.

Wei Ying can tell Lan Zhan is having the same train of thought. “My brother… He was convinced by a family friend that I should… attempt to meet new people.”

“Was it Nie Huaisang? Oh my god! That asshole set everything up!” Wei Ying exclaims once Lan Zhan confirms his suspicions, hands brushing the already messy bangs from his face, a loud laugh echoing through the restaurant. He winced, tho, when people enjoying their food shoot a glare at him. “I can’t believe this…Wait, if you knew my name, why didn’t you say anything earlier.”

Lan Zhan pressed his lips together before answering. “You did not give me your name.”

“Oh— I… Huh, I was really distracted. It would’ve made things easier for the both of us, huh?” Wei Ying smiles at him. “Well… mind if we join you, then? My treat, since you were my hero earlier and I must repay your kindness and patience!”

“Are we having dinner with the nice gege??” A-Yuan suddenly chimes, wide eyes darting between the two adults. Wei Ying smiles as he ruffles his hair.

“We sure are!”

“I knew it! The Nice gege is taking my a-niang for dinner!” The toddler soon clings to Lan Zhan’s leg, which caught him off guard.

“Aiya, A-Yuan! Where are your manners?” Wei Ying chides playfully, attempting to pull his son back to his side.

“I do not mind.” Lan Zhan responds with a smile ghosting over his lips.

The three of them sit at the table. Wei Ying talks away about anything and everything, and Lan Zhan pays full attention to every single word, attention unflinching. It especially melts his heart when Lan Zhan gives the same type of attention to A-Yuan, listening with much seriousness to all the stories he has to tell. He looks at both of them with so much fondness that he feels his heart bursting at the seams. Yeah… it was good he decided to not cancel the date.

[witch-and-writer]

Ek passe tu babbu, ek passe hai jag saara

-You on one side, my beloved, the entire world on another-

[About Ch-3 of Something is Wrong with A-Zhan!]

Remember the morally grey Wei Wuxian tag? Yeah, that line at the top is what I meant by that. I don’t think Wei Wuxian would ever be morally grey, he’s the most morally upright character I have ever come across, but just for this fic, as long as it’s Lan Wangji vs the world, Wei Wuxian would always choose Lan Wangji, even if it conflicts with his moral and principles. Putting it simply, Wei Wuxian would condemn murder and harming the innocents, but if it’s Lan Wangji committing these crimes, he wouldn’t be able to bring himself to condemn him, instead, he’ll come up with possible justifications for Lan Wangji and defend him.

I hope I was able to capture an inkling, an essence of this in the chapter.

Also, is anyone surprised that no Lan elders except Lan Qiren are furious at Lan Wangji's wantonness? I just think that after the whole Qingheng-jun fiasco, they will think Lan Wangji much more tame, especially since Wei Wuxian, unlike the Madam Lan in my head, doesn't seem too bothered by their second heir's behavior. Maybe they are even turning a blind eye to this because of how much they love Wei Wuxian and his genius.

My thought process behind their thought process is that- since Wei Wuxian is a once in a lifetime genius and he is here (in cloud recesses) because of Lan Wangji and he is staying because of his obvious love for their second heir, and they know this. They can see this. So, just for the sake of keeping Wei Wuxian in their sect as their prized disciple who is famous all around for his no-less-than-miraculous inventions, they all collectively decide to overlook Lan Wangji's shameless behaviour that is definitely not befitting of someone holding the title of the Second Jade of GusuLan.

Of course, no one added Lan Qiren to the group chat and that's why he's still bitter about his nephew's changed behaviour.

Mini Theater:-

*lwj acting shameless, holding wwx by the waist and kissing him publicly* Lan Elders: I can't see, I'm blind~ blind~ Lan Qiren, who was not added to the chat and thus was not informed that they have to ignore all this: *qi-deviates* Lan Xichen, who now has to deal with his dramatic uncle: Wangji, if you could just get a room, I would be grateful. You know uncle can't handle this much pda. Lan Wangji: *too busy sucking wwx's soul out through his mouth to hear, further sending his dramatic but weak-hearted single uncle into a qi-deviation* Lan Xichen: ... I love you, didi, but I feel like I should not. When did you become such a menace?!

I don't even know why I'm babbling, but I am and I refuse to suffer through the on-goings of my mind alone, so here we are~

Sofia out~

[gentil-minou]

The teen wangxian version of lwj playing inquiry after wwx's death would be lwj texting the number wwx used to use before he deactivated everything. He does this every couple months, with a Hi or How are you or I miss you.

The stranger who uses that number now doesn't want to break the poor boys heart and tell him so they just ignore it.

Wwx isn't dead btw he dropped out of his ivy league after some really bad mental health to live a nomadic lifestyle out of his old beat up van Chenqing, but during that time he'd purposely pushed everyone away

Eventually after 13 months when wwx decides he's ready to go back online and come out of hiding he manages to get his old number back!

Except he keeps getting these messages for a number he doesn't know and he thinks 'wow I wonder what it's like to be loved by someone like this'

(There was a time where he used to know that number by heart

There was a time when a text from that number was the first thing he'd see in the morning and the last message he'd send that night

There was a time when he never would have thought he could forget that number…)

5 months after he's gotten his number back and moved in with the Wens, slowly becoming himself again, the mystery number starts leaving voicemails

They don't say anything, just some faint breathing on the line, like wind whistling by. Soothing, in a way wwx can't figure out why

WQ says he should delete them and block the number. WN says he should politely message the person and let them know they have the wrong number.

Wwx does neither.

His inbox slowly fills with them, and on his worst nights when he feels like hes going to lose it again, when he feels like hes back on that ledge looking over calculating the force from the impact, he'll listen those breaths as he slowly falls asleep

Years pass and the world goes on.

Wwx gets back in touch with his siblings. Their meetings are tense and won't ever be the same as it was…before. But for now, it's enough.

He's working nights at a bar and going to art school during the day. Therapy every week.

It's strange how much he likes school now that he gets to learn the things that interest him. There's a lot he misses from his old life, and a lot he doesn't.

He keeps every message and voice-mail he gets, but he never replies. He can't explain why.

On the side, he helps out the Wens with recovering from their own tragedy.

Years ago there'd been an accident where they'd lost their cousins. At the time, they'd thought that included their nephew. That they'd lost him too.

When Wen Qing finally gets a hold of the report, they learn they didn't.

It's takes some not so legal finagling, but what else is wwx going to use his coding skills for?

The Wens learn their cousins son was injured but alive. That he'd been adopted while he was still recovering in the hospital.

The number the hospital has on file is eerily familiar.

There's no time to think any more about it. The Wens are in hyperdrive, trying to figure out how to contact this person. Hoping they might see their nephew, finally.

WQ says she was able to call the number and talk to the adoptive father about meeting up.

Wwx goes to bed feeling happy and good and like he can still do some things right. He falls asleep with a smile on his face.

He wakes up at 5am the next morning to a text, and he realizes why that number was so familiar.

The text, from a-yuan's adoptive dad, what are the chances, reads:

"I have always lived my life to be true and do what is right, but I find myself afraid. What if I have done something terrible? What would you say?"

His heart beating a hole in his chest, wwx finally texts back.

(threadfic here)

[sonik-kun]

Reminder that WWX did use a homophobic slur (cutsleeve) before he found out he was, in fact, a "cutsleeve" himself.

I'd also argue that him taking advantage of MXY's body and the rumours associated with him by acting as a "stereotypical gay" to get out of situations was a form of homophobia in itself.

He assumed this was how crazy, gay people act - like sexual deviants. He used that stereotype on top of the rumours about MXY just to get out of sticky situations and avoid being captured.

Whilst this isn't aggressive homophobia, nor would I consider him a raging homophobe myself, he still took advantage of the world view he was raised in, which, in modern terms, was problematic in itself.

Think the harmful, stereotypical, predatory gay trope in anime that a lot of anime fans have taken issue with. That's the stereotype WWX was trying to perpetuate and brush off as a silly joke which is bordering that harmful stereotype territory mentioned above. And yet I don't see the moral "holier than thou" crowd talking about that in their analysis on "fictional characters in an ancient Chinese setting."

(Note before I get jumped on: I don't think WWX was being cruel or malicious when he did this. Nor do I think he purposely intended to sully poor MXY's image further. And I ofc don't think that WWX is a terrible person for doing so either. The guy was desperate and needed to pull tricks to avoid capture. But that still doesn't make things right by modern standards. Even if said stereotype was used to goad a load of "homophobes." Would also like to add that even after coming out, WWX didn't really challenge the societal standard or think ill of anyone who thought like that. It's not like he toured the CW with LWJ, promoting gay rights. He'd be very extraordinary for doing that and brave, too. But he didn't. Instead, he just got up to sexy times with his husband daily and lazed about living the good life. Which is valid of him, tbh, giving the shit he went through. But my point still stands. The social norm persists.)

Also, bare in mind, WWX was heavily in denial about his own sexuality at first and struggled to come to terms with it in the beginning due to the societal norms back then, anyway.

Homophobia was the norm. Stop denying that when you know most of the characters found it bizarre.

By their standards being gay was, unfortunate as it is, unusual and to them, perhaps even immoral in its own right.

By modern standards, we know now that it is wrong. And the moral consensus is that being gay is normal and should not be vilified (even then, not all cultures today have reached that consensus and LGBT rights still have a long way to go).

With this in mind and the notion of what morality meant to people back then, you mustn't hold the characters to modern standards because that was simply the world view. What was "right" back then.

You cannot say with certainty that you wouldn't be homophobic back then, in a world where people called it strange and immoral. As much as I'd like to believe that I would be one of the few who find it wrong to treat gay people poorly, most of us probably would find homosexuality strange because that was the moral consensus of that time. As such, it is unfair to hold characters like JC, JL, and JGY to modern standards for that reason. That's the point we've all been trying to make here.

(Even then, JC and JL both watched as WWX left with his hubby into the sunset and didn't speak illy of their relationship again, nor consider them social outcasts like the Jins and Mos treated MXY. It's almost as if people can change their world views entirely (or to some extent) after things become normalised. Hmm. 🧐

Furthermore, MXTX herself said that JC wasn't a bad person. She wouldn't say that if he's the "aggressive homophobe, incapable of change" like you all seem to imply he is.)

You all make this point about historical context when us JC fans criticise WWX for his clear breach of bodily autonomy with the core transfer and his own war crimes. You should apply that logic to the period typical homophobia too. Because as I have said before, you cannot say for certain that the characters would be homophobic had this taken place in a society where being gay was the norm whilst homophobia was frowned upon. Let's use some logic and context when talking about characters from an ancient time period, shall we?

[celestialbruise]

Hello! For fanfic club, may I request canonverse no war AU where Wei wuxian doesn't get kicked out of the lectures? Please give me humour, everyone else face palming at oblivious wangxian, fluff, them being adorable and I love and figuring what they wanna be months before the lectures end. Most likely with implied future ending (like it could be lwj planning to propose 2 years later and making mental notes, etc). Thank you!

this is so late!! I am the worst!! hopefully, I did your wonderful prompt justice, enough to make up for my tardiness :') I had such fun writing this, so thank you sm for that<3 I love to be back on the let wangxian be happy agenda

(side note: I read that according to old customs, couples sometimes exchanged their jade pendants at their engagement ceremony, which is why nhs tells wwx to buy it at caiyi town) 

-

So, it’s not weird. It’s very casual, y’know, nothing to write home about. It’s just that Wei Wuxian has found himself going back to the Library Pavilion. Every day. And that’s! Normal!

“But,” Nie Huaisang’s brows scrunched in confusion. “Your punishment ended a week ago…right?”

“Yeah, so?”

“....No reason….” Nie Huaisang flipped open his fan, his tone all-too-casual all he followed his cryptic musings up with an offer, “Wei-xiong, on a completely unrelated note, I’d be happy to lend you some more of my books, if you want any.”

-

“I’ve noticed that Wei-gongzi seems to be visiting the Library Pavillion often these days,” Lan Xichen hedged, sounding far-too curious for his own good. Lan Wangji’s spine felt somehow stiffer as he walked alongside his brother and although he was confident nothing about his expression gave him away, he could feel his traitorous ears burning. 

“He is an avid reader,” Lan Wangji said, straight-faced, like a liar. He was sure Wei Wuxian was well-read so it wasn’t technically a lie, since they were in the Cloud Recesses, where that was strictly forbidden.

It’s only that when Wei Wuxian visited, he didn’t exactly sit quietly and pick up scrolls. He’d pester Lan Wangji, sprawling over his desk, tugging on his sleeve, drawing him frivolous (pretty) things that Lan Wangji would pretend not to look at, and recently, he’d even begun to bring in little violets he picked from the back mountain which - who knows how he’d found his way there.

It was a simple omission of the truth. Nothing more. 

“Well, whatever the case,” Lan Xichen smiled, lashes dipping. “It’s good to see you have a friend.”

“He is not a friend,” Lan Wangji informed his brother curtly, but Lan Xichen’s smile did not waver even a fraction.

“Then it’s good you have a companion.”

Lan Wangji didn’t dignify that with a response, mostly because he didn’t have one. He feared his second denial would fall flatter than the first. 

Because he kept coming back, is the thing. Wei Wuxian always came back. His punishment had ended long ago - he had no reasn to visit the Library Pavilion as frequently, as faithfully as he did. He only came, after all, to find Lan Wangji. And despite Lan Wangji’s attempts to ice him out, Wei Wuxian was a warmth that burned through all of his many layers of frost, settling pleasantly in his chest. It was a warmth Lan Wangji had come to crave. 

If not a companion, then what was Wei Wuxian, to Lan Wangji?

-

“Do you think Lan Zhan would like the purple one or the green one better? Or, should I just stick with blue?”

“Lan Zhan?” Nie Huaisang raised an inquisitive brow. Wei Wuxian blinked, wide grey eyes innocent and sparkling like the river that ran behind them.

“Yes…?”

“You call him by his birth name?”

“I think I just did?”

“To his face?”

“What other body part of his would I be talking to?”

Oh, this was too much fun. Nie Huaisang bit his tongue against all the innuendos poised atop the tip. “And he hasn’t murdered you yet?”

Wei Wuxian huffed, throwing his hands out, all dramatics. “I don’t know, Nie-xiong, are you talking to a ghost right now?”

“....To be determined,” Nie Huaisang decided, nodding towards the money purses clutched in Wei Wuxian’s hands. “If you want my advice, don’t give him that. You should get him a jade pendant.”

This recent entertainment Nie Huaisang had found in watching Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji dance around each other was a double-edged blade, one he could actually wield. For one, it was endlessly amusing that Wei Wuxian thought all that he wanted from Lan Wangji was his friendship. Nie Huaisang wasn’t fluent in spring books and romance novels for nothing - he was practically an expert on these kinds of affairs, and he’d eat his own fan if it really turned out Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian were only ‘friends.’ And then, as if that wasn’t enough, on a day free of classes Wei Wuxian had all but dragged Nie Huaisang along with him to Caiyi Town to go shopping, for a ‘friendship gift’ for ‘his Lan Zhan.’ Yes, Wei Wuxian had used those exact words. 

“Why a jade pendant?” Wei Wuxian frowned, but obediently put down the money purse to hold the jade pendant above his head, studying the way it sparkled when the light hit it just right. 

“You want him to know you’re interested in him, don’t you?”

“In his friendship? Duh. I like Lan Zhan. He’s a funny guy.”

“Uh-huh,” Nie Huaisang smiled a fox’s smile behind his fan. “Well, this will make your intentions crystal clear, Wei-xiong, trust me.”

In his defense, Nie Huaisang hadn’t specified the exact intention the jade pendant would bring light to. 

-

“Lan Zhan!”

Lan Wangji freezes in his tracks, tongue caught in between his teeth. It’s enough time for Wei Wuxian to catch up to him, all radiant light and buoyant smiles and laughter that rings out like bells.

“You were walking so fast, er-gege, I had to run to catch up! Where are you off to in such a rush, hm?”

Lan Wangji feels terribly tongue-tied, feels as if he cannot possibly say he is going to feed the bunnies Wei Wuxian gifted him. It feels far too vulnerable to state in the warm light of day. Too much like a confession for something Lan Wangji had only recently put into words. 

Unfortunately, Wei Wuxian eyes aren’t just arresting, crystalline clear and sparkling grey, but keen as well. They dart to the carrots Lan Wangji holds in his hands - and, well, even if Wei Wuxian wasn’t a genius, anyone would be able to put two and two together. 

A steady, burning flush spreads from the tips of his ears down to his throat. Lan Wangji thinks, with no small amount of mortification, that it may have bled to his cheeks as well. 

“Oh! You’re off to feed our children, huh?” Wei Wuxian grins, and before Lan Wangji’s can grow any more flustered, Wei Wuxian asks, “Mind if I tag along?”

Wei Wuxian doesn’t wait for Lan Wangji’s answer - maybe because he fears Lan Wangji will reject his advances yet again - whatever the case, he simply winds his arm around the crook of Lan Wangji’s elbow and begins leading them down the gravel path as if he knows the way. Which, to be fair, he probably does. Lan Wangji doesn’t rebuff Wei Wuxian nor does he try to shake him off, so he supposes that is enough of an answer on its own. 

“I knew you were fond of those bunnies Lan Zhan,” Lan Wangji can hear the grin in Wei Wuxian’s tone, can imagine it curved across his face, his eyes twin crescent-moons of mirth. He keeps his eyes on the path before him. This simple point of contact between them, after all, already feels fit to send him into qi deviation. Lan Wangji doesn’t know how much more his painfully thin face can take. He can barely manage to hum in acknowledgement. 

“Mn.” 

“I’m glad I didn’t roast them then, hahaha! Aiyah, don’t look at me like that - you can call me a lot of things, but I’m not a bunny killer, really Lan Zhan. They’re too fluffy to eat!” Wei Wuxian chattered along, his voice like the babbling of an excitable brook. Lan Wangji found it incomparably soothing, as he always did. “I always kind of wanted a pet, y’know? But not, like, a dog.” Wei Wuxian shuddered and Lan Wangji felt the aftershocks shiver into his arm, melting into his bones. It may have been a bit dramatic, but Lan Wangji thought Wei Wuxian’s eyes grew a bit too wide for him to be exaggerating. “Rabbits are tiny and fluffy and sweet. Dogs are just the worst, don’t you agree Lan Zhan?”

Lan Wangji had never had much of an opinion on dogs before, but in that instant, he unequivocally decided they were intolerable. “Dogs are forbidden in the Cloud Recesses,” Lan Wangji said - and he realized only after he had said it that yes, he had said it to comfort Wei Wuxian. He wanted to soothe the tightness with which that arm suddenly squeezed around his own. 

“Really?” Wei Wuxian asked, easing up. “How did I miss that rule? That would have been my favorite one!”

“My uncle does not like them,” Lan Wangji responded, which was, technically, not a lie. Of course, his uncle would not like the rabbits Lan Wangji was keeping either - but the bunnies were small, and far out of the way, as much as they possibly could be.

Lan Wangji figured that he could allow himself this small act of rebellion.

For Wei Wuxian, he could. 

He made a mental note to suggest to his uncle that they should specify no dogs were allowed in the Cloud Recesses. 

“Oh!” Lan Wangji’s eyes darted over at Wei Wuxian’s exclamation. “Before I forget, I have a gift for you.”

A gift?

“There is no need,” Lan Wangji said, stilted, mostly because he was confused over why he would be receiving a gift, and because this was breaking yet another rule. Do not overindulge. 

“Of course, there’s a need,” Wei Wuxian laughed, pulling something out of his sleeve. “Everyone likes gifts. Here - you have to take it, I bought it, just for you. Don’t reject me so harshly, okay? It’ll hurt my feelings.”

Lan Wangji bit his tongue, but relented with a small nod. It was also against the rules to be unnecessarily cruel, after all. 

Blood pounded in his ears, almost deafening Wei Wuxian’s explanation of his gift - but even if the wave of sound resounding in his head had somehow swept away Wei Wuxian’s words, Lan Wangji would have known what the gift meant, anyway. Lan Wangji felt useless, he could only stare at the exquisitely carved jade pendant as it soaked up golden sunlight, carefully cradled in Wei Wuxian’s palm. 

The implications sent his mind reeling, and his heart into disarray. Wei Wuxian couldn’t possibly mean-

Lan Wangji couldn’t remember a time his face had felt so hot, besides any other moment he had shared with Wei Wuxian - Wei Ying. Yes, Wei Wuxian had given Lan Wangji permission to call him by his birth name, hadn’t he? He had, and Lan Wangji had long ago forgotten when he’d stopped minding the sound of his own on Wei Wuxian’s tongue. It felt like it belonged there. As if it were meant for Wei Wuxian’s lips and Wei Wuxian’s alone.

“Don’t tease,” Lan Wangji said, his voice coming out somewhat sharper than he meant it. Quieter, too. Because if this was a joke, like he had suspected so many of Wei Wuxian’s flirtations to be-

“I’m not!” Wei Wuxian protested, his free hand thumping atop his heart as he bounced beside Lan Wangji. “Lan Zhan, you wound me. I present you this gift with only the sincerest intentions. Won’t you believe me? I’ll hold onto the tail-end of your forehead ribbon and swear on my parents’ graves if that’ll give it more weight.”

“No need,” Lan Wangji managed through the sudden lump that had appeared in his throat, unswallowable. So, they shared a kinship in this? Unconsciously, he found himself softening. “I believe you.”

“Good,” Wei Wuxian’s tongue teased the sharp tip of his canine. Lan Wangji’s eyes couldn’t help but track the movement. “You have to believe me. Lying is prohibited in the Cloud Recesses, don’t you know?”

Something strange happened, then. A foreign feeling welled up inside of his chest, not unlike a flurry of excited butterflies. Lan Wangji didn’t think he had felt it since he had last seen his mother, ten long years ago.

It was the urge - to smile. To laugh. 

“I do know,” Lan Wangji shot Wei Wuxian a side-long look. “Do you?”

“When it comes to the important stuff, of course,” Wei Wuxian sounded so solemn, and heart-wrenchingly sincere. And under the warm summer sunlight, caught in a fragrant, gentle breeze-

How couldn’t Lan Wangji believe him?

They continued down the path together, arms entwined. 

-

From a bridge not too far away, two figures watched the two dressed in white disappear into the forest, their white, swirling robes lost in the thick swathes of swaying green.

“Romance is in the air, wouldn’t you say, Jin-xiong?” Nie Huaisang sighed, a dreamy smile curving his lips as he idly fanned himself. Jin Zixuan had joined him in watching Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian blush and make eyes at each other - mostly to make disgusted, retching noises, but it hadn’t gone unnoticed by Nie Huaisang, how round his eyes had gotten when Wei Wuxian had presented Lan Wangji with his gift. Clearly, he was taking notes. 

“How is it romantic? It’s hopeless, is what it is,” Jin Zixuan groaned, though Nie Huaisang noticed he hadn’t torn his eyes away, his gaze still settled on where Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian’s afterimages lingered. “And my cousins tease me for being oblivious.”

“You are,” Nie Huaisang says, because he was present for the mess Jin Zixuan made of himself in front of Jiang Yanli at the last Jiang Clan banquet. 

Jin Zixuan shot Nie Huaisang a horrible glare, but there was really nothing he could say in his defense. 

-

Later, away from the prying eyes of others - how could Lan Wangji, with his sharp senses, be somehow unaware they were being watched? - as Lan Wangji watched Wei Wuxian tumble around in the grass around the rabbits, laughing and calling out the names he had given them, these children of theirs he had claimed them to be, a thought solidified in his mind, sunlight shining through amber, revealing the treasure inside.

I want to spend forever with him.

Lan Wangji had thought he’d think himself in circles trying to come up with the perfect gift to give Wei Wuxian in return. He wasn’t good at expressing himself, the breadth of his emotions - but Lan Wangji had come to realize, as the sun started to slink past the horizon, and the world was enveloped in rosy tones and shades of blue, that maybe it was only he wasn’t the best with words.

Maybe something like this didn’t need words, in the end. 

As they turned to leave, and Wei Wuxian looked at him with those silver, sparkling eyes, pure happiness in his voice as he asked Lan Wangji if they could visit their rabbits every day, Lan Wangji could no longer resist. He took Wei Wuxian around the waist, into his arms, and only shook a little as he pressed their lips together. 

Wei Wuxian tasted like spring. Lush against Lan Wangji’s lips, incomparably soft and impossibly sweet. Lan Wangji pulled away, only because air was a necessity and it was quickly running from his lungs, in the face of what he had just done. 

“Ah?” Wei Wuxian’s fingers trembled as they traced his lips, his cheeks dusting an intoxicating pink. “What was that for?”

Lan Wangji swallowed, and though the kiss had been chaste, his voice came out hoarse. “Your gift.”

“My gift,” Wei Wuxian murmured, lashes fluttering, and before Lan Wangji could worry he’d somehow misread the situation, Wei Wuxian was clinging to his arms, crying out. “Lan Zhan! Now mine looks inadequate! I’m going to have to buy you a thousand more jade pendants! A million! Even that won’t be enough!”

A shadow of a smile tucked itself into the corner of his lips. 

“Or,” Lan Wangji cleared his throat, preserving valiantly through the waves of his own shamelessness. “You could kiss me again.”

Wei Wuxian quieted, a dangerous, beautiful gleam alighting in his star-bright eyes. 

“I could do that,” Wei Wuxian agreed, pulling Lan Wangji down once more.

[letteredlettered]

I've always found the umbrella scene in the rain in CQL a little hard to swallow. Both WWX and LWJ have seen the Wen remnants abused over and over again. WWX has now discovered a whole camp of them not only being abused but murdered, and the murder includes a friend of his who helped him during the war. WWX decides to do something about these atrocities and save a bunch of women and children and elderly people, and . . . LWJ protests? Does he even know what's going on? Why does he want to stop WWX from doing the right thing?

My interpretation of this scene has always been that while LWJ is aware of the abuses they have witnesses together, he was not aware of what specifically happened at the camp and with Wen Ning. However, he is aware that WWX is turning his back on the cultivation world, and he believes that there is another way to handle this without WWX suddenly becoming enemy number one. My interpretation is that LWJ thinks that surely this can be handled through negotiation--or, if resolution with the Jin Sect can't be reached, then an agreement can be made between the other sects that will force the Jin Sect to handle this a different way.

Still, it really does look like he's there to protest protecting the innocent, so it isn't a scene that I love. As I've stated elsewhere, I have no idea what we're supposed to think about fucking Lan Xichen sitting around while the Wen prisoners are so sorely abused, other than that the show can only have one hero, which seems silly to me when WWX does such bad things.

My understanding was that LWJ was not there when WWX absconded with the Wen remnants in the book, so I was eager to read the book's explanation. As I've stated elsewhere, the handling of the Wens' abuse is much, much easier to understand in the book, because no one is really seeing it. The Jin Sect knows it's happening, but my impression of the book is that even Jin Zixuan would object to the abuses of the prisoners, much less Lan Xichen. It's easy to believe that Jin Zixuan and even Lan Xichen think that WWX just went crazy and really took the Wens to start his own sect or create an army. It's possible to understand that JC doesn't understand why WWX would bother (though I gotta say that the aid WN and WQ render to both WWX and JC in the book feels even more risky and monumental, so while it's understandable that JC wasn't super aware of their help at the time, it definitely comes across as pretty awful that JC can't look past their names).

But I'm actually even more confused about LWJ in the book than I am in the show. In the show, you really feel like "okay, so LWJ just disagrees and is unwilling to walk the narrow bridge," fine. But in the book--like, what is his opinion on what WWX did? After the NIghtless City massacre, LWJ says he doesn't know if WWX is right or wrong, but he's willing to suffer the punishment for WWX's crimes with WWX. And you could apply that to this situation and say that LWJ doesn't know whether it's right or wrong that WWX absconded with the Wens--but the other half of the statement, that he's willing to accept WWX's punishment with him, seems he really should had just gone to the Burial Mounds when WWX took the Wens there and helped him the whole time. Is it that LWJ doesn't know whether absconding with the Wens is right or wrong, but that he'd not yet willing to suffer punishment with WWX for his crimes?

Does he think WWX doesn't need him? I can see LWJ convincing himself that WWX is powerful and doesn't need help. I can also see LWJ telling himself that WWX has rejected him time and time again and so would not want him at the Burial Mounds. But idk, LWJ goes to Yiling and WWX doesn't reject him at all. Plus, LWJ sees what's happening there, that there are just a bunch of people farming and trying to make a living. If he is so upright and just, why wouldn't he help? And if he doesn't know whether helping would be upright and just, isn't he in love? Why wouldn't he help?

I think the only argument that can be made is that LWJ hasn't accepted his own love and doesn't until WWX goes mad at Nightless City. But I think it's still weird that this character who is supposed to be so good and noble doesn't see that helping the Wens is right, and if he does see it, doesn't stand with WWX against the world.

See, what works for me in CQL is that LWJ actively regrets the past. He clearly states that he thinks he wronged WWX. And that makes a lot more sense to me than MDZS!LWJ, who ...well, never says much. So, now I'll tell you my interpretation of the book--my Doylian interpretation, since I can't make a Watsonian one make much sense.

My interpretation of the book is that MXTX wants LWJ to be noble and good and just, but it's actually hard to make anyone turning their backs on WWX at the Burial Mound look good, which is why we never get even a whiff of what JYL and LWJ think about the Wen remnants or WWX's little settlement near Yiling. Because MXTX wants WWX to be noble and good and just but also rejected by the world. Imo, the case with JC is made much more strongly; JC sees what's going on at the Burial Mounds and gets that WWX is being a hero, but is frustrated by it because JC has his own things going on and is drowning and needs help. Meanwhile all JYL has going on is a wedding and all LWJ has going on is...WWX, so you really can't say much about what they think about everything or the plot kinda falls apart.

It's very frustrating and has made me come to love the umbrella scene a lot more.

[qeireinier]

I think what Original Luo Binghe did to Shen Jiu parallels what happened between Wei Wuxian and Wen Chao. Let me yap.

Look this might sound stupid to you but I just rewatched MDZS and I JUST saw some similarities with PIDW. After coming out of the Burial Mounds, WWX literally tortured WC before his death. The Burial Mounds is a place of literal torture and WWX went through HELL in it without his golden core. Because of what? Because of WC, he's the one who threw him into there.

It's an eye for an eye. WWX must've gotten his organs rearranged, bones crushed by constant attacks from walking corpses, eaten corpse fingers to survive, and many other horrors MXTX didn't mention. So WC SHOULD feel all of that, as payment for his sins to WWX and all other people he inflicted.

With LBG and SJ, the Endless Abyss is almost no different than Burial Mounds except it's festered with demonic instead of resentful energy (I think they're not really the same type?) and various types of beasts iirc. So even with his golden core, it's still harder for LBH because he barely knew how to avoid or fight them, where their weak spots are, etc. And instead of 3 months, it's 5 YEARS so it's enough time for his hatred for SJ to fester like a fairytale witch's soup. In the very beginning, he must've also gone through hell. Maybe the beasts ripped his limbs apart, stabbed his eyes, pulled his tongue out and only because of his Heavenly Demon blood that he recovered himself back (probably). It's very different from running away from resentful corpses because you KNOW just how to fight them off, even though it's just impossible for their number.

So, seeing LBH making SJ into a human stick doesn't surprise me too much. It's the case of an eye for an eye. No, it's still wrong, I'm not justifying it. I'm just making my analysis. THAT'S why it reminds me so much of WC's death.

Even both of the MCs have a demonic object in their hands, the Stygian Tiger Seal and Xin Mo. Both are untamable and capable of driving their holders insane. What differs our MC however—is that WWX has things to lose, and that's why he's often shown to be holding himself back from a killing spree. Hell, he's even the actual most righteous character in the novel.

While LBH doesn't have anything left to lose. He doesn't have a family, friends, all these wives and servants probably don't mean much on him. Also, his demon blood affects his mindset, giving his brain more "predatory instincts" as I'm gonna call it. Added with the fact that he spent more time in the Endless Abyss and how his mind had been corrupted by Xin Mo, LBH would pull a "No More Mr. Nice Guy, Heh >:)". That makes him not so kind as to give SJ the mercy of death. He probably wanted to keep SJ alive for 5 years or maybe forever til his brain finally decides "yep, that's it, go die or whatever idc anymore". Yeah, until BingggeMei extra happened and we could probably assume SJ's death is never gonna happen, but that's for another story nevermind.

However, it does mean that the latter won't hold himself back. The point where he crosses the line is when he burns down the CQMS, kills the Peak Lords, and even went so far as to merge the demonic and mortal realms. That's what differs him from WWX, so much. It's literally canonically said that he's not the nice kind of protag.

SO in conclusion—when I see people talking about how "SJ didn't deserve all that", I'm between agreeing and disagreeing. What LBG did to SJ is terribly inhumane, but that's to be expected from a demon emperor like him. Hey I'm a SJ stan, it doesn't mean my views are completely biased. Especially considering what LBG possibly went through in the Endless Abyss for five years as a mere disciple without a sword like Xuan Su.

I think this is why PIDW readers rooted for LBG, because the story was from his POV. Tragic MC, thrown into the pits of hell by his cruel master. Our perspective is widened through reading SV and we can see the tragic POV of SJ and so we start to root for him too. No, it doesn't mean that either of these 2 are completely right in their choices, the both of them are very flawed and they're trapped in this cycle of abuse, very harmful to the surroundings. We can't fully fault or justify them. Yes, they need therapists, perchance one hidden behind a very powerful barrier in case any of them decides to attack the poor therapist.

But this realization—the parallels between LBG&SJ and WWX&WC—just kind of amazes me. Okay, ted talk ends, thank you for surviving through, if you don't have any nice words to say please scroll away :(

[mxtxfanatic]

Heyy ✨ hope you're having a good day. I wanted to ask:

What are your views on lan qiren and the so called "righteous" lan sect?

Their hypocrisy baffles me SO MUCH especially if we see the parallel drawn between the situations of madam lan and wwx. Without even knowing the full story or giving them a chance to explain their actions they just serve their judgement upon them. They spend their whole lives conforming to a set of strict rules but then go on and break those same rules (which they punish and berate others for) when it suits them .They go on about rules to not be prideful, to not be arrogant but ARE prideful borderline arrogant about the fact that they are righteous, that they are elegant, that they are the LAN sect . Again, They have rules for forbidding gossip and to not make assumptions but all the judgements they laid about wwx were based upon rumors. The RUMOURS they didn't even bother to check. Moreover, after the siege when they were all proved wrong, they (and all of the jianghu) just kept silent. They didn't even acknowledge their mistakes and wrongdoings. They didn't correct the false assumptions about the wen remnants. They kept on willfully being blind. They fucking portrayed the history with THEM being the beacons of justice and then have the AUDACITY, the NERVE to call themselves righteous, moral and good. I recently read a post comparing wwx and the lan righteous and I couldn't agree more with it.

I'm sorry I'm new to Tumblr idk how to attach it here (I think I was successful at adding a link). Basically it was drawing a parallel between Hindu religious texts like Bhagwadgeeta and Mahabharata with MDZS pertaining to morality and righteousness, and the parallel drawn between Lord Krishna and Wwx's character.

""  The lesson is - don’t do good deeds out of pride or with the desire to win God’s favor. Do it because being righteous is its own reward. That is the distinct difference between the Lan righteousness, which has become performative - done to preserve reputation and save face, and WWX’s righteousness, which is done simply because it is the right thing to do. The former is a slippery slope that can lead to mistakes and an unrighteous path. The latter is a difficult but ultimately the superior path."

Pheww... I'm sorry.😭 I got carried away and started ranting 😅 but it just makes me so MAD. it was so unfair what happened and the jianghu didn't got any punishment neither did they repent. I bet, post canon, even after the whole truth is out, they wouldn't treat my boy wwx as he deserves.

So coming back to the question what is your take about the lan sect and lan qiren?

Btw I love your blog 🥰especially your takes on MDZS. Your arguments and opinions are very concise and factual it leaves less to be desired.

This is a very long and engaging exchange I once had with @/ladyqueth on the topic, and with a few small changes to my view on Lan Xichen (I said he "isn't shown to have learned" by the end of the novel when I should have said he's still processing; the former makes it sound like he pulls a jc or lqr) and a caveat that there is validity to wangxian choosing to leave the Cloud Recesses to enter seclusion elsewhere and I just couldn't find it during that convo, this is pretty much how I still feel.

Idk who said it or if this would even apply to a translation of mdzs since I do not know the language breakdown, but someone once said that it was a mistake that cultivation sects/clans got translated as "righteous" instead of "orthodox," because "righteous" holds a connotation in English that doesn't necessarily carry through to what is meant when used to describe the clans/sect in cultivation cnovels. Can't say that you are a "righteous" cultivator in a world where it is perfectly acceptable and expected of you to kill someone on the street and steal their stuff just because they're weaker than you. That's like the opposite of righteousness as English speakers use the word lmao!

[achillesuwu]

Bringing back that thing I wrote like, 2 years ago in a forgotten small thread "fic" because I want to :

What if

What if

Instead of the "one person transmigrate in an AU" /every/ cultivators of the main sects (post sun-shot they think wwx is dead) get transmigrated in a world were YLLZ is very much alive and a powerful sect leader that's ~400 years old or something.

Like at first most don't see anything wrong, I mean, why would they?

Except that there is some weird thing. Some reports that don't make any sens. Some people that aren't simply there. Some scars that suddenly totally healed.

But above all, some people that shouldn't be alive are very much alive and confuse

However, none of them could be as confuse as the servants that work in those sect.

What do you mean you don't remember me? I work here since I'm 6 and I have been your personal servant for forty years !?????

What do you mean you never heard of that sect!? They are your allies!🙄

But most of all : how the heck did you forget about the YLLZ!?!? THE YLLZ? It doesn't matter. HE GOING TO COME AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE MASTER YOU BETTER GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER, BE CAREFUL AND /NOT/ CALL HIM WEN DOG!

Every servants at the moment : Those rich cultivators 🙄🙄 They are down right suicidale on a regular basis and now they are amnesiac! Great!! Fuck my life!!!!!

Anyway, cut scene to this annual conference where everyone is very awkward.

Everyone thinks that they are the only one that transmigrated or that only their clan did

The Jin are very much angry because all their job to kick yllz out of the living had gone to waste AND they aren't the biggest sect anymore.

Meanwhile, the Jiang are really awkward because JFM and YZY don't really understand why their kid are so weird??? (they didn't transmigrated but JYL did because I say so and same for her not-yet-husband (which weirded out even more the servant when the sect heir ran crying towards the ex he hates)

The lan are... Weirder than usual.... it's well know that the sect leader is very gloomy since his ex-wife left him for a YillingWei female disciple (not even a high ranked one but she is still under the YLLZ protection so...) & that he doesn't have a good relationship with his sons but still. It wasn't like... that.

LQR is looking like he is 10 years older and ready to kill anyone that talk about demonic cultivation. (don't ask why to any servant there, they don't know! He literally taught about it last months without any issue!!). He doesn't even look at the sect leader in the eyes either!

The first jade isn't looking at the second jade and they seems distant (!?) and he is completely ignoring the sect leader. Meanwhile the second jade doesn't seem to be able to sit still (!?!?). The more their second young master looks at the door the angrier the second master and his eldest nephew seem to be.

Truly, truly from every corner it's just awkward from everywhere. The servant truly don't understand 😩 that conference is THE event of the year!!!

The event that everyone expect, that everyone prepared carefully from the clothing of the lowest servant to the rings on the finger of the leader everything is carefully chosen to impress the Yilling loazu!! Nothing should be awkward like that, everyone should be thrilled!

They should be ready to make new alliance and secure their trade! Not doing... Whatever they are doing!!!

The servants can only wait and hope that YLLZ will not mind it 😩 it's already so difficult to make him come to this conference once every 5 years!!!! Some of us are aiming to get a demonic scholarship, venerable (dumbass) cultivators !!!!