#in reality lan Zhan has a big crush

[illuminchim]

MDZS Kingsman AU.

Is Wen Ning third wheeling? Yes, of course… someone save him

[rarepears]

Masterpost [Aug 2022 3/3]

Masterpost [Aug 2022 1/3] | Masterpost [Aug 2022 2/3] | Masterpost [Aug 2022 3/3]

sung jinwoo makes a mobile game and lets beru decide the plot and characters of said game au

brainrot anon's shen jiu reincarnates as Yu Ziyuan au

Ibiki is the president of the shinobi district HOA group au

reborn into modern era cang qiong peak lords believe that santa claus is a real immortal au

shang qinghua vs jiraiya: the battle of the better smut writer au

sung jinwoo learns that there are many minor monarchs and rulers out in the world... au

 the married life of sung jinwoo and wen ruohan au

when george and fred weasley become friends with urahara kisuke au

Marvel meets Elder God Sung Jinwoo who's godhood is clearly mislabeled and really should be God of Ideal BoyfriendTM au

beru needs reading glasses au

sung jinwoo gets a stalker by the name of thanos. yes that thanos au

the hulk gets a crush on liu qingge (svsss) au

in which people blame all things weather on thor and thor is Not Having a Good Time On Earth au

shen jiu gets a thirsty onlyfans system so he never goes to cang qiong au

shen yuan and luo binghe transmigrate as wen chao and wen zhuliu respectively au

there are three version of wei wuxian running around in jjk as gojo; toji; and a cursed spirit; meanwhile lan zhan is reborn as getou au

sung jinwoo x sebastian

sung jinwoo signs the shadow soldiers up for dance classes au

where sephiroth believes that sung jinwoo (solo leveling) is his mother au

scarlet (ff7) actually goes and employs a product manager for once au

sherlock holmes is reborn as anakin skywalker au

Shang Qinghua's PIDW monsters are based on dinosaurs au

thor x bruce wayne au

Star Wars Galactic Senate has a long history of physical fights breaking out and if Palpatine ends up dying from one of them... heh. au

the women in the lan clan are taller than the men so the lan males traditionally wear heels... aka lan wangji is shorter than wei wuxian au

pokemon animals in svsss au

Liu Mingyan (Svsss) gets reborn as Sung Jinah (Solo Leveling) and gets reunited with her brother again... with a twist au

orochimaru lands in star wars and accidentally saves the jedi order while being mistaken for a sith au

ron introduces hermonie to the world of magical conspiracy theories and now hermonie has the Need to discover if they are true or not au

Gojo (JJK) is reborn as Sephiroth's older twin brother au

luo bingge goes to kamino to get himself a harem of shiun clones made au

Sherlock transmigrates into a Kardashian type of trashy reality show celebrity au

sung jinwoo somehow ends up dating kim kardashian au

Cultivators meet Jedi (Scum Villain meets Star Wars) au

when that Heavenly Demon physique unlocking itself made Luo Binghe get Pregnant by holding SQQ's hand except he gets pushed into abyss au

shen yuan's 600 children au

Han yoojin (s classes that i raised) transmigrates into sung jinwoo (solo leveling) au

toss a danzo into jjk and then sit back and enjoy the chaos au

ed (FMA) becomes overhaul's adoptive big brother au

the time sung jinah signed up her brother to be the Bachelor au

Sherlock transmigrates into a Kardashian type of trashy reality show celebrity au

aizawa gets put in charge of a deaged angry xanxus who's anything but happy about being in a child's body au

kakashi awakens shinigami (bleach) powers an becomes a substitute soul reaper like ichigo au

in which obi wan goes undercover as bounty hunter rako hardeen who is an omega posing as an alpha au

the many ways to make obiwan's rako hardeen episode 100X harder au

jedi obi wan's deep dark secret: his illustrious film career au

meet percy jackson god of kamino and star wars clones au

system plucks wei wuxian (& wen yuan) out of mdzs & dumps them into mdzs - shen yuan & shang qinghua have a lot of outlandish theories au

in which the system picks up a 12 year old Shen Yuan to transmigrate into PIDW instead au

in which batman turns out to be a potential cloud guardian for xanxus au

checkerface decides to recruit sung jinwoo as the cloud arcobaleno au

[a-very-fond-farewell]

The forbidden crack! Untamed prompts: 19/?

Wedding Planner AU [xicheng edition]: “Chickens on the Loose”

[let me have this]

Jiang Cheng doesn’t believe in love and that’s precisely the reason why he plans other people’s special day. The most extravagant, the boldest, the loudest, the better. Because if there’s something he got to accept over the years is that people aren’t willing to pay for something realistic, but for something unattainable instead. Over-compensating bland, ordinary reality with fantasy and dreams is his job and he’s well aware that no one can compete with his genius. Not with his father owning a catering and food chain company. Not with his mother being the most sought out wedding gown fashion designer on the market. They taught him everything there is to know on how to make other people’s dream come true before the inevitable envelope of a dainty, innocuous divorce application can make its way in a once happy household. Better make the satisfaction last, because Jiang Cheng will only accept advanced payments in cash, no monthly installments allowed.

His sister YanLi may have married honoring tradition over useless exaggeration, but what did her love bring aside from suffering and neglect? Marrying into the richest family in the country to the heir of a textile empire has given her nothing but sorrow and a husband too proud and distant to even visit her regularly. Jin Ling growing up without a father, spoiled rotten by the wrong side of the family who lured him into their shining world of nothingness day after day. At least Jiang Cheng’s family did rise from nothing and learned to trick the rich into relying on useless services soon enough. But Jin ZiXuan and his family had never worked once in their life and didn’t know how to take care of their loved ones. Not that Jiang Cheng’s parents could do any better, their marriage a wasteland where no love could grow, but at least they were honest about it. Better enjoy a dream while it lasts.

That is why if even Wei Ying’s marriage were to turn out to utter shit like YanLi’s, at least it will not be Jiang Cheng’s fault. Everything needs to be perfect, from the vows to the tea ceremony, from the food to the color scheme, from the seat arrangements to the music. Hell, some of his stepbrother’s requests may be too much to handle for most, but not for Jiang Cheng and if Wei Ying wants a parade and a whole week worth of celebrations, Wei Ying will have exactly that.

Hence he will not, under any circumstance, allow anyone snooping around as he plans the wedding of the century. No, not even the fiancée’s overprotective older brother asking people for blackmailing material on Wei Ying behind Jiang Cheng’s back. Not even if he pays him in nature, no ma’am.

... . ... . ... . ...

Lan Huan is the best divorce attorney in town precisely because he believes in unconditional love. That’s why he doesn’t see the point of two people (or three people, on one memorable case in Europe) spending the rest of their life together if change is inevitable and something to be expected. He would much prefer to get the best deal out of it for his clients and prevent children to suffer from it in the process.

Judges fear him and his diplomatic smile that can never hide his tunnel vision drive for victory. His trusty private investigator Nie HuaiSang is equally terrified by his assets, but still feeds him with the juiciest details whenever Lan Huan asks for favors, discreetly requesting the younger man to do background checks on this or that subject. Settlements may be nice, but not if the (soon to be ex) husband or wife in question can be easily found guilty of adultery, gaslighting, or even violence. Not on Lan Huan’s watch.

That’s why his world gets completely turned over the moment his younger brother Lan Zhan announces his intention to marry a man he hasn’t known for a full three months yet. Truth to be told, Lan Huan had never seen him this happy: glowing with something akin to adoration, affection dripping from every pore, love spilling all over just by mentioning one name, Wei Ying. In case this rascal happens to crush his precious baby brother’s heart, Lan Huan needs to find dirt on this man and squeeze everything he has out of his dead cold hands the second his brother files a request for a divorce.

But for some reason Nie HuaiSang cannot seem to be found for the job this time around. Not unlike most of his other contacts and informants, who have seemingly disappeared at the mention of his brother’s fiancee’s name. If this Wei Ying is such a big fish in the sea to make even Lan Huan’s most loyal colleagues dissolve into thin air, then he must find the answers by himself.

And if it means to bomb the wedding preparations to get shit done, oh he will. He’s not above flirting to get what he wants, but if this Wei Ying turns out to be a good person in the end... well. Lan Huan prays things won’t get too messy to proceed with the celebrations in the end. Hopefully, that is.

[fun stuff under the cut.]

NHS went to uni with Wei Ying and he knows LXC won’t find anything on him bc WWX himself is a blackmail master and will 100% diss you in front of your children calling you out on your deepest secrets so no. NHS will not mess with that and he urges to do as much to all LXC’s informants and sources.

JC looks scary but his staff loves how dedicated he is and they make bets on when he’s going to lose it and sleep with someone out of frustration. although they think he gets more turned on by going over every point in his check-lists at times...

LXC’s colleague always ask him if he’s dating anyone, clearly to set him up with someone (who will not be of LXC’s liking, he’s sure). to which he answers by smiling and lying saying he has a terrible personality. since nobody believes him, he asked his friend Meng Yao to make a scene at the firm once: (all too pleased to mess with his bestie’s reputation) Meng Yao murder-walked into the office and demanded to meet LXC, only to cry in front of everyone and smack him across the face for cheating on him. THEN his sister A-Su made her sudden appearance and smacked LXC’s other cheek lamenting the same, ridiculous thing. the two siblings gaped in fake horror at each other before spitting on LXC and storming off of the building.

NMJ laughed his ass off for weeks after the sharade. he started dating A-Su not long after (with both JGY and LXC’s blessings) bc he was mildly impressed by her willingness to jump on the opportunity to make a fool of both LXC and her brother at once. LXC thinks they are a good match, but he worries A-Su might be too tiny and full of undiluted mischief for NMJ to be able to handle her antics.

NMJ used to date LXC, but they were too driven and competitive to let their relationship get in the way and in the end they stopped seeing each other. they still care deeply for one another, but they love their jobs at the firm too much and making things messy at the office wasn’t worth it. A-Su knows about it and doesn’t feel left out because of it, glad that they settled into their respective lives while still being loyal friends to each other.

JGY tries to set LXC up with a new woman every week, saying he would benefit from having a cute wife taking care of him. but LXC doesn’t know what business JGY has to talk about women that way when Meng Yao’s been a raging homosexual since the first time he has landed his eyes on another boy in kindergarten. too many crushes on boys to even be aware of how many hearts he has broken in his life. all those pretty girls falling for his looks, poor kids. only JGY’s younger brother Mo XuanYu could rival his victim count, but barely so.

ZiXuan is secretly keeping an eye on his half-brothers and half-sister while he works as a representative for his family company and this is mainly the reason why he has distanced himself from YanLi and Jin Ling in these past few years. he would like to approach his three half-siblings and maybe have a chance to rekindle lost relationships, but by stressing over it he is losing sight of the found family he actually has. YanLi wants him to come around, eventually, but she knows how lonely ZiXuan has been with no siblings and how secretly jealous he is of the bond that she has with her family. so she won’t pressure her husband, but she feels lonely nonetheless.

the two wangxian lovebirds are too happy to notice the mess LXC is making and they don’t even realize he’s there until like, three days before the actual wedding.

LXC may be a shark but he’s not subtle. JC doesn’t know what he does for a living but he assumes he has too much time on his hands, hence not someone worthy of his time. but LXC always causes troubles on the venue or messes up with the flower arrangements or prods for information to the wrong people and JC is over it.

“if you don’t have anything better to do help me find the sommelier so I can ask him what’s wrong with him and if he studied anything at all” or “if you have so much time to waste be useful and learn how to make flower crowns for the children to play with” or “if you can sit on your ass all day at least look over my nephew while I go look for someone to emotionally bully to let off some steam.”

Jin Ling is five and even more bossy than his uncle and orders LXC around to be his pony when JC should babysit him at work. LXC discovers the boy is JGY and A-Su and Mo XuanYu’s nephew and that JC doesn’t what any of them to interact with Jin Ling. but LXC secretly lets them hang out with the boy when JC is too busy to notice.

JC and LXC get closer the more the latter understands that there’s not much dirt on Wei Ying (aside from some questionable pictures taken during a university party back in the days, but that’s beside the point). LXC appreciates how crafty and ingenious JC is, always helping others around instead of just shouting orders...even if his temper is atrocious at times.

JC forces LXC to take dance lessons with the lot of the main family members and LXC meets JC’s mother for the first time. she is competitive about her dancing skills and Wei Ying tries to win her over by asking her to show everybody how it’s done by leading her ex-husband in a tango. after publicly humiliating her ex-husband (and making him fall in love with her once more), she insists on practicing a waltz with LXC and basically threatens him to cut off his balls if he dares to lead JC on with his charms.

LXC realizes he’s been playing and flirting too much with the man for him not to notice, but JC seems oblivious. no. he’s completely oblivious and kind and beautiful as he dances with Jin Ling and twirls him around in delight. LXC played too hard and now he’s in too deep.

the only source of drama in this would be JC finding out LXC let Jin Ling hang out with his other uncles and aunt despite the warnings. JC was starting to trust the man... and LXC stabbed him in the back. he would have much preferred not to discover it from his nephew (who let it slip that LXC “told him not to speak of his uncles and aunt to Jiujiu”), because he would have given LXC a chance to explain himself otherwise. but no. JC cannot have good things apparently and now he’s heartbroken without even knowing why.

without the lucky charm that is JC (holed up in his flat eating junk food to forget the pain of being an afterthought in other people’s lives), everything goes to shit three days before the wedding: the chef quits, the tea set for the ceremony breaks, one of the maids has accidentally torn apart one set of wedding robes and so on.

the venue gets flooded with live chickens when a truck transporting them breaks down in front of the building and the chicken escape. Jin Ling is loving every second of it, but everything gets destroyed in the ruckus and JC’s hard work is ruined.

Wei Ying is heartbroken and Lan Zhan silently accuses LXC of being the cause of this and urges him to fix the mess unless he wants to receive the cold shoulder for the rest of his days. but LXC is a cowards and spends his time actually fixing the broken things or replacing them or finding seamstresses to help with the garments and so on himself. anything but facing JC and be rejected.

ZiXuan comes to his senses and blurts out that “he really just wanted to have a loving family” the moment JGY, A-Su and Mo XuanYu come check on LXC. they hug and cry and laugh and YanLi gently reminds them that this is not about them right now and that they should help with the preparations if they have so much time on their hands. her mother is very proud of her and nods appreciatively at ZiXuan’s shocked and weirdly intrigued expression after being humiliated so boldly in front of everyone. the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree indeed.

the day before the wedding Wei Ying threatens to call the wedding off if JC doesn’t show up for his big day: not because he’s the planner, but because Wei Ying wants him close on his happiest day and he will not have it any other way.

LXC goes to fetch JC in his apartment himself the night before the wedding and they yell and they make peace and then they make love and then they woke up late the next day and they have to rush to the venue.

Wei Ying is livid until JC appears and then they celebrate the wedding of the century. A week of celebrations later Lan Zhan deadpans that they actually got married already like, one month in after meeting each other, but Wei Ying wanted a big wedding and he didn’t want to deny his husband a single thing.

JC tries to strangle his brother as the last family picture is being taken.

give me an award already.

[poetatertot]

It’s Not So Bad (In LA): part two

“So.” Wei Wuxian perches on the couch arm. “The summer camp seems to be working out.”

They’ve ordered a pizza for dinner—the sweet luxury of pay day. Jin Ling has sauce all over his chin, and greasy cheese fingers. Jiang Cheng watches him rip two pepperonis off the top and stack them in his mouth. 

“Yeah.” He sips his water. “You really like it, don’t you a-Ling?”

His nephew grunts through his mouthful. “It’s alright. Coach Xichen is too nice, though.”

Wei Wuxian lifts an eyebrow. “Too nice? How can someone be too nice?”

Jin Ling shrugs one shoulder. “He smiles so much. He makes us all share. He listens to all of Lan Jingyi’s stupid stories, even though he tells the same ones ove and over.” He scowls. “Lan Jingyi is stupid.”

Jiang Cheng snorts. “Big words coming from you.”

“What does that mean?”

Wei Wuxian cackles. “Uncle thinks you’re a clown!”

Jin Ling’s face screws up around his food. “But didn’t Wei-gege say Uncle was a fat—”

Wei Wuxian lunges across the table and slaps one hand over Jin Ling’s greasy mouth. 

Jiang Cheng swallows his crust. “No, go on, a-Ling. Tell me.”

Jin Ling’s eyes flick between them. “Um.. He scoots back his chair. “I have to pee!” He runs down the hall and slams the door behind him.

Jiang Cheng glares. “What bullshit are you telling my nephew?”

“Ah-ah, our nephew, a-Cheng!” Wei Wuxian ducks under Jiang Cheng’s swing. “He just needs to know the truth is all!”

“I’ll show you truth, you big, mangy—” 

They tussle, pulling hair and knocking plates until Jin Ling returns and squabbles at them for fighting. 

The next morning, Jiang Cheng wakes early enough to catch Wei Wuxian in the kitchen. Coffee brews from their old Kitchenaid, filling the living room with cheap-bean-smell. Jiang Cheng wrinkles his nose.

“I’m taking a-Ling to camp.”

Wei Wuxian peeks up from under his bangs. “Oh? Have something to do afterwards?” He frowns. “I thought it was my turn to get groceries.”

“It is.” Jiang Cheng fiddles with the peeling edge of the countertop. “I’m going to just drop him off and come back before work.”

They stand in silence for a moment. The Kitchenaid beeps feebly and turns off. 

A warm flush threatens to betray Jiang Cheng’s composure. He turns away, pinching at the behavior update Jin Ling came home with—a whole page of pen-written characters, signed at the bottom with elegant flourish. 

Lan Xichen.

“If you say so,” Wei Wuxian sing-songs. “Should I get those loquats you like while I’m out, then?”

Jiang Cheng thumbs over the signature. “I don’t care. You’re the one that likes them, remember?”

“Hmm.” 

He looks up. Wei Wuxian smiles back at him from the kitchenette, dark eyes bright. 

“What?” Jiang Cheng demands.

“Nothing,” Wei Wuxian says, but he grins into his mug as he lies, and Jiang Cheng knows he’s been caught. “Shall I pick him up this evening, then? Before groceries?”

The idea of Wei Wuxian laying eyes on Lan Xichen makes Jiang Cheng want to hide in the closest dumpster. Or move back to San Francisco. Or both. 

But he can’t be irrational. He has work; Wei Wuxian knows this.

“Do what you want,” he mutters, and lets the report fall from his fingers.

When they pull up to the Y—Jiang Cheng parks Zidian in the right spot this time—there aren’t too many kids. In fact, they’re a whole half-hour early. 

Jiang Cheng likes to think this is a coincidence. 

“Come on, a-Ling.” He pats his nephew’s leg. “Unbuckle. We’re here.”

Mianmian—because Jiang Cheng still hasn’t figured out her real name and doesn’t want to ask—sits at the front desk again. She looks up and actually beams at the sight of them.

“On time for Day 2!” She waves her pen. “That’s the spirit!”

“Er, yeah.” Jiang Cheng shoves Jin Ling in front. “Where’s today’s meetup for the 8-12’s?”

“Second door on the right.” Mianmian checks her monitor. “Looks like today is Morning Craft-Making! Have fun a-Ling!”

Jin Ling flushes an impressive shade of pink. “Thanks.”

The room in question is like a clown-house: bright tiles, walls covered in handprints, art tacked on every available surface. The smell of glue and paint hangs like nostalgic cloud; Jiang Cheng inhales deep and instantly is flung back to fifth grade when he painted purple dragons the whole year. They still have a few of them stored away. Somewhere. 

Lan Xichen pokes his head out of a cabinet. “Oh! You’re early today.”

“Yes, Coach.” Jin Ling throws his backpack into a chair. “Uncle said we had to.”

Jiang Cheng flushes. “I, ah. I have work.”

Lan Xichen nods—and then he steps out fully from behind the cabinets and Jiang Cheng has to close his eyes for a moment. Nobody should look that good in an apron and sweatshirt. He even has the sleeves pushed up, baring muscular forearms, showcasing elegant fingers and a cute little friendship bracelet.

Jiang Cheng’s palms are starting to sweat. He crams his hands in his pockets.

“Well,” he forces out, “a-Ling. Are we going to have another good day?”

“Yes Uncle,” Jin Ling drones. He wrinkles his nose. “As long as Lan Jingyi isn’t here.”

“Now, now.” Lan Xichen puts his hands on his hips. How did Jiang Cheng never notice how nice his hips were? “Is that any way to talk about our family?”

And it’s stupid. Our family is decidedly not Jiang Cheng’s family. He knows this, so why is his face getting red anyway?

Jin Ling peers up at him. “Uncle, you’re all sweaty.”

Oh my god. Okay. It’s definitely time to go.

“I’ll just be.. Leaving.” He points towards the door. “Um. Have a good day, Jin Ling. Lan Xichen.”

Lan Xichen smiles with all of his perfect teeth. A dimple pops on one side. “Certainly,” he says. “You too.”

Jiang Cheng is totally a goner.

He floats on that smile all day. Nothing can bring him down. Not when Zidian fakes her own death on the I-5 freeway. Not when AAA informs him there’s a waiting time of over an hour. Not when he arrives to work late, and then has to spend extra time cleaning all the bathrooms by himself. 

He has a dimple, Jiang Cheng thinks to himself. Oh god. He has a dimple.

He nearly drops his rag into the toilet.

Jiang Cheng floats on Cloud Nine all the way until he pulls into his shitty parking space and trudges up two flights to the apartment.

The living room light is on.

“Wei Wuxian?” He locks the door, toeing off his sneakers. “What are you doing awake?”

His adoptive brother should be asleep by now. Not that he follows a schedule—even with work, Wei Wuxian’s proclivities for late-night reality TV is well-documented—but it’s a Tuesday night, and Wei Wuxian usually opens Wednesdays and Fridays.

Wei Wuxian looks up from the table. “Oh, hey. Just..” He waves a hand. “Making a playlist.”

“At midnight? Don’t you have work tomorrow?”

His brother blows a raspberry. “It’s for somebody. I wouldn’t expect you to understand. Don’t you have, like, two friends?”

Jiang Cheng has one. It’s his brother. “So? Can’t you make that in the morning?”

“But I told Lan Zhan I’d have it done tomorrow.” Wei Wuxian sighs, twirling a lock of hair around one finger. 

There’s leftover pizza in the fridge. Jiang Cheng doesn’t even bother with a plate. “Lan Zhan?” 

Wei Wuxian has the audacity to blush. 

“Don’t worry about it,” he mutters, which means Jiang Cheng should absolutely worry about it. But then: “Here’s Ling-er’s report from today.”

Jiang Cheng swoops to snatch it from his fingers. All smiley-faces again. Whatever black magic Lan Xichen has at his disposal, he’s doing some serious legwork with it. Jin Ling never gets along well with other kids.

Another wonderful day, he’s written at the bottom. How lucky for Jin Ling to have such a good role model! There’s a little waving stickman next to his name.

“So,” Wei Wuxian says. “Coach Lan Xichen, huh?”

Jiang Cheng gives him a look over the paper that would kill small birds. “Don’t.”

“What? I didn’t even say anything!”

“Yeah. Yet.”

“You’re such a sourpuss,” Wei Wuxian complains. “No wonder you never get any dates. Your aura repels people from a mile away.”

“What does this have to do with getting dates?” Jiang Cheng can see the gears turning in Wei Wuxian’s brain—no, they’ve already been turning. He just happened to walk in right at the end. “Wei Wuxian—”

“Jiang Cheng,” his brother mimics. “I think it’s time we try again.”

“‘We?’ There is no we in this! And I’m not going on any dates!” He crinkles the paper in his irritation and pauses to smooth it out again. “You’re delusional.”

“And you have a crush on the hot YMCA supervisor,” Wei Wuxian sing-songs. 

“Do not!”

“Do too.” Wei Wuxian leans in, eyebrows waggling. “Come on. I would too, if I were you. Thank goodness I’m not, though—you’re bound to get premature grey hairs.”

Jiang Cheng’s eye twitches. “Do. Not. Meddle.”

“So you admit there’s something to meddle with?”

“Don’t you have a playlist to make?”

Wei Wuxian rolls his eyes. “I’m almost done! Don’t change the subject.” He leans in. “Picture this: you. Mr. Hunky Coach Man. On a date.” He pauses, considering. “A good date.”

“I don’t want to picture anything,” Jiang Cheng says. It’s a lie. He’s already picturing them on their second date. And their third. And when they adopt a dog together after he moves in.

“Uh-huh.” Wei Wuxian wags a finger. “I know you. If I don’t help out, you’ll be a sad, lonely hermit for the rest of your life! Come on, a-Cheng. When was the last time you went on a date? A year ago? Two years ago?”

Jiang Cheng knows when it was. A cold rush of something bitter seethes below his skin, poisoning his already-failing mood. He drops his pizza on the table. He’s not hungry anymore.

“Try five,” he snaps. “Some of us have bigger problems, you inconsiderate twat.”

He sees Wei Wuxian do the math. The way his eyebrows raise, and then fall. His lips part in a silent o, but for once, he has nothing to say. Jiang Cheng wishes he could call it a victory.

“I..” Wei Wuxian swallows. “I didn’t—”

“No, you didn’t,” Jiang Cheng snaps. “It’s all just a big, fucking game to you, is that it? My life isn’t one of your TV shows! At least one of us has to take care of Jin Ling, and if it has to be me then I’m fine with it. I don’t need you giving me shit while you’re off making playlists for random pieces of ass!”

“Lan Zhan is not a piece of ass!” Wei Wuxian snaps. He stands, lips twisting. “Just because one of us knows when to move on—”

“Move on? Move on?” Jiang Cheng lunges over the table and shakes him. “How can you fucking say that? Are you listening to yourself?” He sucks in a sharp breath and lets go. “Forget it. I’m going to bed.”

“Jiang Cheng, wait—”

He slams his bedroom door.

The next morning is rough. Jiang Cheng hardly slept. His eyes feel like someone’s kicked a whole sandbox into them. His body aches more than when Jin Ling accidentally gave him the flu. He almost wishes he were sick. Maybe then he wouldn’t have to leave his bedroom ever again.

But no. It’s a Wednesday, so there’s still a-Ling’s summer camp to go to.

“Uncle, you look bad,” his nephew tells him plaintively. 

Jiang Cheng squints over his cup of coffee. Jin Ling blinks up from his bowl of Cheerio’s, the picture of seven-year-old innocence. 

“Thanks,” he deadpans.

At least Wei Wuxian already went to work. There’s no morning awkwardness to deal with, no avoidance tactics Jiang Cheng has to employ. It’s just him and his nephew, alone in the apartment at 8AM. 

Jiang Cheng looks at Jin Ling—really looks at him. He’s grown a ton over the past year, shooting out of all of his pants. His hair is getting a little long; Wei Wuxian will have to give him a trim soon. 

Every day he looks more and more like his mother.

Jiang Cheng wonders what Jiejie would think if she could see him today. Would she be happy with the way they’ve raised her son? Would she scorn them for living like this? What would she do in this situation?

A-Cheng. I know you’re not good with words, but you have to apologize.

For what? I didn’t do anything wrong!

Maybe not. But isn’t it best to mend the bridge before it breaks?

His fingers curl tighter around his coffee mug. 

“Come on, a-Ling,” he says. “It’s time to get dressed for camp.”

☁️

It’s Pool Day. 

It’s Pool Day and nobody warned Jiang Cheng about it being Pool Day, because what happens on Pool Day but the most beautiful man on Earth walking around in tight swim trunks and a tank-top? With sunglasses? 

His long hair is twisted into a messy bun. His arms are defined enough to make a sculptor weep. And his collarbones— 

Jiang Cheng likes to think he isn’t a weak man, but sometimes? There are exceptions.

“Coach!” Jin Ling shrieks. “Look at my swim trunks!” 

They’re bright yellow with little elephants. Lan Xichen beams.

“They suit you,” he says. “Very bright. Just like you!”

Jin Ling smiles wide enough to practically close his eyes. He tosses his backpack aside and immediately makes for the group of kids in the warm-up zone. In a moment, he’s merged into their group entirely.

It makes Jiang Cheng proud. He doesn’t know what Lan Xichen’s done to improve his nephew’s behavior, but it makes Jiang Cheng hopeful for second grade. He wants Jin Ling to grow up surrounded by love, by friends and affection. Seeing him do warm-up stretches with the other kids gives Jiang Cheng light.

Lan Xichen turns the loveliest shade of pink when Jiang Cheng tells him this. He even blushes all the way down his chest. Jiang Cheng is utterly delighted.

“I’m just doing my best,” Lan Xichen says. His honesty warms Jiang Cheng all the way to his toes. “I want them to feel like they’re really part of a family.”

“Yeah,” Jiang Cheng breathes. He follows Lan Xichen’s gaze to the group of laughing, smiling children. “I know what you mean.”

[moonwaif]

Graphic by ao3commentoftheday

Soooo I was working on a story for w/ang/xian week but I don’t think I’ll be finishing it in time. Anyway, here’s the premise:

Wei Wuxian, the Cultivation World’s resident disaster, thinks it’s a good idea to set up his shijie with someone so that she’ll get over her hopeless crush on Jin Zixuan. He enlists the help of his BFF-and-totally-not-crush Lan Wangji, whose older brother Lan Xichen has just come out of conclusion and is the perfect candidate for Jiang Yanli. But chaos ensues when Wei Wuxian’s plan starts to run afoul. Are- are his shijie and Lan Zhan falling for each other?!

Aka, the one where Wei Wuxian jumps to the wrong conclusion like it’s an Olympic sport and he’s a professional athlete. 

Aka, the Emma!AU.

Here’s a very unedited excerpt:

Growing up, Wei Wuxian was always the life of the party. Now, as the Yiling Patriarch, he’s far more content to just sit with Lan Wangji after the party is over. Although “sit” might not be the most accurate description, at least not at the moment. Right now, full and sleepy and perhaps just a bit tipsy after the wedding banquet, Wei Wuxian prefers to lay down. On the floor, to be specific, rolled over onto his side, chin propped on his hand so that he can gaze up at Lan Wangji’s face in the candlelight.

“You’re the only one here who isn’t afraid to talk to me, Lan Zhan.” He tosses back another cup of wine, then slams it on the low table between them. “Everyone probably thinks I’ve got you possessed.”

Lan Wangji takes the cup and refills it. “Not Luo Qingyang.”

“Heh. That’s different. Of course she’s glad to see me. After all, I’m the whole reason she’s getting married.”

Lan Wangji raises a brow. His skepticism causes Wei Wuxian to sigh.

“Come on, Lan Zhan--think about it. If it weren’t for me rescuing the Wen remnants, Mianmian would have never defected from the Jin sect. And if she’d never deflected from the Jin sect, then she never would have met her husband. In a way, it’s like I helped match them!”

“Mn. Luo Qingyang must be grateful.”

Wei Wuxian shoots him a sour glance, but doesn’t argue further. His gaze drifts thoughtfully. “Not only did Mianmian get married, she was even able to reunite with the Jin sect. It’s a happy ending, right? It’s really too bad . . .”

Lan Wangji frowns. “What is too bad?”

“That Jin Zixuan is here!” Wei Wuxian bursts out. “Did you see Mianmian and her husband thanking him? What for? He should be thanking them for even wanting to rejoin his stupid sect! Ugh, he thinks he’s so great, just because he’s the Chief Cultivator. All those people flocking around him all night, just trying to marry off their daughters--he didn’t spare them a single look! I can’t stand that peacock! What does shijie see in him?!”

“Many admire the Chief Cultivator,” Lan Wangji says politely, after a pause. “He is a man of culture and refinement.”

Wei Wuxian nearly chokes. “Refinement?” he repeats incredulously. “Lan Zhan, since when did you get so flowery with your praise? Didn’t you see how he treated my shijie at the banquet? She greeted him, and he barely mumbled a word to her in response. He was so stiff and uncharitable. I guess he still thinks he’s too good for her. Well up his, I say! Only a fool wouldn’t recognize my shijie’s peerless qualities. Even the corner of her handkerchief is too good for him. If Jiang Cheng hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve knocked that peacock down a peg or too tonight, dammit.”

Wei Wuxian pauses his tirade to pour more wine down his throat. Lan Wangji watches him drink, eyes moving to Wei Wuxian’s mouth as he swallows, smacking his lips with relish.

“And you know what else bugs me?” Wei Wuxian continues. “As if his head isn’t already big enough, everyone goes around acting like he’s the hero. The sects throw all these banquets and conferences in his honor when in reality, it was your hard work and investigation that brought everything to light, Lan Zhan!”

Wei Wuxian doesn’t need to explain. He can only be referring to one thing, after all--the assassination of Jin Guangshan, the attempted murder of Jin Zixuan, and the fiasco that was Jin Guangyao’s betrayal. Lan Wangji sighs. He reaches for the jar of wine and pours Wei Wuxian another cup. “Wei Ying’s hard work, too.”

“Pfft. Yeah right,” Wei Wuxian mutters. “We both know I wasn’t good for much back then . . .”

Lan Wangji’s face darkens. Wei Wuxian knows what he’s thinking. He must be remembering Wei Wuxian’s meltdown, how he almost lost control. Better yet, how he almost played right into Jin Guangyao’s hands. If it hadn’t been for Lan Wangji’s--and Wen Qing’s--quick thinking, Wei Wuxian would never have been able to clear his name from the Curse of 1000 Holes. At least, not while he still had the Stygian Tiger Amulet pumping his body full of resentful energy day in and day out.

‘I owe Lan Zhan everything,’ he thinks to himself.

In the past, that thought would have bothered him. After all, Wei Wuxian hates being indebted, even though it’s been the constant state of his life as far back as he can remember. First he was indebted to the Jiangs for saving him from the streets, then the Wen siblings for rescuing him and his shidi. Now he’s indebted to Lan Wangji for--well, for everything, basically. But oddly enough, he doesn’t mind. 

Trying to pay Lan Wangji back doesn’t sound like such a bad way to spend the rest of his life.

“What is it?” Lan Wangji asks, concerned. Wei Wuxian smiles.

“Nothing. I was just thinking. You really are amazing, Lan Zhan. How come you’re still a bachelor?”

Normally, Lan Wangji would dismiss this kind of frivolous question. Tonight, he seems to really consider.

“I am satisfied,” he says at last. “What about Wei Ying?”

“Ha! The answer is obvious. Who in their right mind would have me?” This time, Wei Wuxian drinks straight from the jar. “Besides, isn’t marriage just tying yourself down? What’s the point?”

“Companionship,” Lan Wangji answers. “Security. Affection.”

Wei Wuxian raises a brow. “Lan Zhan, how long have you been such a romantic? Since when have you been holding out on me?”

Lan Wangji’s ears redden, but he says nothing. Wei Wuxian smirks. He goes back for another drink, then frowns. The jar is empty.

Sighing, Lan Wangji reaches behind himself to retrieve another jar. Wei Wuxian takes it with a grin.

“Anyway, Lan Zhan--I have an idea. Since I helped Mianmian and her husband get together--” Lan Wangji frowns. Wei Wuxian keeps going. “--this time I’m going to do the same thing for my shijie. With a little nudge in the right direction, I think she’ll finally be able to let go of Jin Zixuan.”

“Letting go is difficult,” Lan Wangji cautions. “Sometimes, impossible.”

Wei Wuxian rolls his eyes. “That’s just because Shijie won’t even give anyone else a chance! Look, Lan Zhan--I don’t want her pining after someone who doesn’t even notice her. Who doesn’t even deserve her! She’s spent her whole life looking out for me. It’s time I finally stepped up and took care of her, too. That’s why I’ve picked out the perfect candidate for her cultivation partner!” 

“Who?”

Wei Wuxian smiles mysteriously. “Someone who’s gentle, but also strong and protective. Someone who’s wealthy and powerful, but humble, with a kind heart. Someone who knows how to take matters seriously, but who also has a good sense of humor. Better yet, someone famous for his good looks! Can you guess who it is?”

Lan Wangji blinks, expressionless. Wei Wuxian lets the suspense build for a few more moments, then throws his head back and laughs.

“Who else? It’s your brother, Zewu Jun!”

All things considered, Lan Wangji receives this declaration fairly well. “Brother just recently exited seclusion,” he says, after a beat of silence.

“Then what better way to help him move past his grief than by bringing love into his life? Think about it, Lan Zhan. Wouldn’t they make a beautiful couple?”

Lan Wangji tries again. “Brother has no intentions to marry.”

“Just wait until Zewu Jun gets to know my shijie,” Wei Wuxian scoffs. “I’m sure that’ll change. Unless you don’t think my shijie is good enough for him?”

Lan Wangji knows better than to take the bait. “Do not trifle with matters of the heart.”

Wei Wuxian gapes at him. “Wow. Lan Zhan, did you get that from a poem? Anyway, are you going to help me or not?”

Lan Wangji lowers his gaze, resigned. “I will help.”

TBC..........

[antiquecompass]

Untamed Fest Day Twenty-One: Dream

Where ‘asking out your crush’ really hits that ‘Expectation vs. Reality’ example hard.

Sizhui was in that hazy post-nap state, where he wasn’t quite awake, but he wasn’t still asleep. He remembered curling up on the chair next to his bedroom window, breathing in the crisp air of a mid-October afternoon finally turning cold. He remembered he had a mug of hot chocolate and a book he’d been waiting to read for almost a month. He remembered his dad knocking on his door and telling him to close the window because a storm was coming.

It was the first tap tap taps that finally dragged him out of his sleep daze. He blindly felt for the window latch and pulled it close just as the heavens ripped open and started to pour.

Tap tap tap.

Sizhui squinted up at his window. All he could see was regular raindrops. No hail yet. And the rain wasn’t hard enough to sound that loud.

Tap tap tap.

Sizhui jumped as his phone vibrated, loud against the glass coaster on his side table. 

“Jingyi?” Sizhui asked as he answered.

“Well--come--window!” Jingyi’s words were cut up by the storm and Sizhui’s phone beeped with the dropped call.

A text came through.

Open your fucking window!

Well, that was rude.

Sizhui sat up, pushing his hair out of his face and pushed opened the window. He looked down near the big oak tree where Jingyi stood, soaking wet already in his Lan Academy blue zip-up hoodie and a pair of jeans. He was waving his phone in the air and yelling something up at Sizhui.

“I can’t hear you, dumbass!” Sizhui yelled back. “Did you lose your key? Get in the house!”

“Sizhui!” Jingyi yelled, obviously frustrated.

“Get in the house!” Sizhui yelled back as he closed his window.

He marched downstairs, muttering the entire time about his best friend’s stupidity, and who just stood in the rain outside someone’s window like that when he obviously had a perfectly working phone?

Sizhui was in love with a complete and utter idiot.

“Sizhui?” Papa asked.

“Jingyi’s outside,” Sizhui explained as he dashed into the laundry room and dug some of Jingyi’s clothes out of the clean wash bin. “Idiot was standing out in the rain. He’s going to get sick.”

Papa stood in the kitchen, frozen, eyes trained on the calendar near the clock.

“It’s the 21st,” he said.

“Uh, yeah,” Sizhui said as he shifted Jingyi’s clothes in his arms and pushed past Papa. “Is it someone’s birthday or something?”

“No,” Papa said. “No, it’s not.” He stopped Sizhui with a hand on his shoulder and stared down at him, a warm smile on his face.

“Papa?” Sizhui asked, suddenly worried. 

“It’s nothing,” Papa said. He kissed the top of Sizhui’s head. “I love you. Go get Jingyi.”

“Okay,” Sizhui said. 

“Lan Zhan, where’s the popcorn?” Dad asked before he suddenly gave a yelp, Papa pulling him into the laundry room and shutting the door.

“Weird,” Sizhui said, but not necessarily unusual for his parents.

He finally got to the front door and pulled it open. He glared up at the stupid fool soaking wet and shivering on the front step.

“You could’ve just knocked,” Sizhui said.

A song was playing on Jingyi’s phone, clutched in his hands.

“Is that In Your Eyes?” Sizhui asked. “Are you back on the 80s music binge?” Sizhui turned and headed back towards the kitchen. “Come on, get in here.”

“Sizhui,” Jingyi said.

Sizhui turned back around. “Jingyi are you suddenly living under vampire rules? Do I need to officially invite you in? Come inside before you get sick.” Jingyi already looked a little green. “I’m serious, don’t make me drag you inside.”

“Sizhui,” Jingyi repeated, voice soft.

“What?” Sizhui asked. He shifted Jingyi’s clothes again and felt around his face. “Do I have a big zit  or something?” He felt his hair and...oh. Ugh. He could feel the rats nest. “Okay, look, I was sleeping.”

“Sizhui,” Jingyi said again, this time near laughter.

“What?” Sizhui asked.

Jingyi came inside then, his sneakers squeaking on the foyer floor as he toed them off. He walked over to Sizhui, leaving puddles in his wake, before cold hands cupped Sizhui’s face.

“What?” Sizhui asked, suddenly feeling lost.

“Stop talking,” Jingyi said.

“Oh...okay,” Sizhui said.

Jingyi nodded. He took a deep breath and then rested his forehead against Sizhui’s own.

“You’re my best friend. You’re probably the most important person in my life. And I’m scared shitless right now.”

Sizhui tried to reassure him but Jingyi quickly put one of his shaking hands over Sizhui’s mouth.

“Shh, it’s not your turn yet,” Jingyi admonished. “I’ve been dreaming, for months, for years, of this moment. I planned how I’d ask. I had speeches prepared. I probably shouldn't have gone with the Say Anything inspiration without checking the weather report first. And now I’m standing here and I all I can think of is Persuasion. That letter. At the end. And that line. I am half agony, half hope. And I get that. Holy shit, do I get that.”

“Jingyi?” Sizhui tried to ask.

“Sizhui,” Jingyi said. “Sizhui, will you go out with me? On a date? On every date? Forever?” He laughed. “I mean, I’ll start with one, but I have a fifteen year plan.”

The clothes toppled out of Sizhui’s arms. His jaw dropped. He could hear the low whispers of his fathers coming from the laundry room. 

What?

He’d been dreaming of this for over a year, telling himself it would never happen, and just recently decided that if he wanted it, he’d have to ask himself and then Jingyi just showed up like nothing and Sizhui was still not awake enough to fully deal with all of this, and all his emotions, and joy was fighting pretty hard with indignation and worry to come out on top.

“You utter fucking asshole,” Sizhui spat out as he pushed Jingyi’s hand off his mouth. “Do you know how long I’ve been trying to get over you? How I’ve spent the past year trying to get over myself because of the way you smile at Ari fucking Ramos and you’re just going to come over here and quote Persuasion at me and then try to catch a fever and die?” He cupped Jingyi’s shocked face in his hands. “Oh, we’re going out,” Sizhui said. “And you’re going to properly apologize to me for the emotional hell I’ve been putting myself through for the past year just so you could have some grand romantic gesture.”

“You avoided me for the first two weeks of school!” Jingyi said. “I thought you had a crush on Zizhen and didn’t know how to tell me!”

“That’s like having a crush on a puppy,” Sizhui said. He gripped his hands in Jingyi’s soaked white t-shirt. “Jingyi, when has it ever been anyone else but you for me?”

“Yeah, well, ditto,” Jingyi said.He pulled Sizhui into a hug. “You ruined my romantic gesture,” he murmured into Sizhui’s hair.

“Mother Nature ruined your romantic gesture,” Sizhui said. He pulled back and daringly pressed a kiss to Jingyi’s cheek. “Though your efforts are appreciated. Now, please, go get dressed. I’m not doing your homework if you wind up in the hospital with some sort of respiratory infection.”

“Yes, you will,” Jingyi said as he bent and picked up his clothes. He pressed a kiss to Sizhui’s cheek as he passed, right over his mole.

“Yes, I will,” Sizhui said as Jingyi closed the door to the first floor bathroom.

From the laundry room loud clapping echoed through the kitchen and into the main hall.

Sizhui narrowed his eyes. Papa had checked the calendar. He knew. He fucking knew.

“Family conference!” Sizhui yelled.

Part II

[rosethornewrites]

Tuesday’s T and G fics

Again, all The Untamed/MDZS.

I’m 5ish pages away from my goal of clearing most of the fics under 3k words from my AO3 to-read list. (It’s 60 pages long lol.) Then I start on the 5k and under.

Finished:

Rated T:

Everything Is Solved With Soup (And Poison), by Love_Psycho

Waking up from a nightmare – that may or may not just be a nightmare – Jiang Yanli decides she needs to stop that nightmare from becoming reality.

Any moment now, by Anonymous

A heavily pregnant Wei Wuxian takes a moment to breathe and look forward to the life ahead of him.

& again tomorrow, by bleuett

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying exclaims. He pretends to be annoyed but he bursts into laughter. “Gege, you’re too much. What would I do without you? My life would be so boring.”

Lan Wangji’s breath hitches, but he doesn’t cry.

Or: 114 days in space.

zooming out of the scene, then rapidly zooming back in, by kkochiya (loveta)

"Haven’t you noticed?" Nie-xiong snickered, fluttering his fan in front of his face. "Second Childe Lan always smiles when he says your name."

or:

Wei Ying sneaks some of his precious Emperor's Smile into Cloud Recesses. It goes a little differently than expected.

slipping secrets, skipping stones, by LaivineNinuiel

There’s a chubbiness to A-Zhan’s cheeks, especially when his head is turned down the way it is, and his bottom lip is pushed out in a pout that never fails to make Lan Huan laugh. His little brother manages to keep his expression even, no matter if he’s frowning or pouting, often not even responding to the measured praises the Lan elders give him for being such a well-behaved child. It’s only Lan Huan who seems to see the subtleties of his blankness, and who already understands that the young child’s guardedness isn’t necessarily something to be praised. A-Zhan is quiet, but he’s too quiet, as if he’s told himself to keep all his feelings a secret, only to be whispered about. And he only whispers it in A-Huan’s ear.

About a Farm shop, Toy Castles, and Bunny Pictures, by KrisisUnmanaged

Lan Zhan’s bunnies’ castle broke. He is, against all odds, very thankful for this.

Wei Ying spends a lot of time contemplating whether or not he might be hallucinating.

What else is there to say?

Rated G:

Hold On Tight (Never Let Go), by Purplepulu (2 chapters)

4 times Wei Wuxian asked Lan Wangji to let him go and the 1 time he doesn't.

Let The Spice Flow, by hinotoriii

With Lan Wangji facing a cold, Wei Wuxian fixes him a meal. One with enough flavour that he hopes his husband can taste.

Close Captioned Enabled, by makebelieveanything & nerdzeword

Lan Wangji is not good at talking, luckily, he doesn’t have to because Wei Wuxian will do it for him.

OR

Jiang Cheng thinks his brother is a menace with a big mouth, and he's only half wrong.

stained with red, by mnousay

Lan Wangji’s life was a series of black and white pictures, monotone and dull.

Until he met the man painted a vibrant, alluring red.

Spice, by 1PB2PB3PB4

"Sugar and spice and all things nice. That's what little girls are made of."

Jiang Yanli is a Yunmeng girl, spice burns.

Character study of JYL and some of her relationships while trying to meet expectations.

Affection, by eponinemylove

Lan Wangji is amazed by how easily Wei Wuxian shows affection. Luckily, Wei Wuxian doesn't seem to mind that Lan Wangji is a little bit more reserved, especially when it comes to PDA.

I Will Remember, by Grace_Logan

Wei Wuxian has a moment of clarity through the resentment filled haze over his mind during the sunshot campaign and begs Lan Zhan to help him once the Sunshot campaign is over.

Watching The Sunrise, by Preludian_Staves

Sometimes he likes to get early even before his husband and watch the sunrise break through the mists that have settled around the Cloud Recesses during the night.

Jasmine Tea, by Speechless_since_1998

Yanli was the first to recognize that demonic cultivation had changed her younger brother. It would be hypocritical, however, not to see how the war had changed the people around her.

A-Cheng looked more like their mother. They had always had similar characters, but it had gotten worse. He was shooting for anything, the weight of the reconstruction of the sect all on his shoulders. And she felt guilty, because she was weak, useless, and all she could do as the world destroyed her family was cook.

But sometimes even the little things could help.

Wangji, by youjezebel

In the end, he picks the guqin. It is the exact opposite of who Lan Wangji is; it is loud, and it is passionate. The thrum of the strings demand attention and evoke raw feeling. It is everything he has ever wanted to be.

And so he named it Wangji.

trees sing with the river, by twigofwillow

When Jiang Yanli was eight years old, she was sent on a visit to her grandmother in Meishan.

Let us be there for you, by Jade_Pearl

Sizhui was always there for them, no matter what; now they have a chance to return the favor. It's got to be perfect; can they pull it off?

Cleansing, by tabulaxrasa

Sizhui didn’t remember Wei Wuxian. He would not have used resentful energy on purpose.

WangXian 4ever, by Aki_no_hikari

At the end of their latest concert, as Wei Wuxian is saying their goodbyes, Lan Wangji interrupts him for the first time ever.

“How long do you want to keep doing this?”

“As long as I can, of course!”

“How about forever?”

Wangxian Week Day 1: Modern AU

Radish, Rabbits, Rinse, Repeat, by scifigeek14

Lan Wangji was not planning to save a child from falling into a washing machine and get a date when he set out to do his laundry, but these things happen.

Short little Wangxian Meet-Cute at a Laundromat, feat A-Yuan being the cutest.

Unfinished:

Rated T:

love's a hand-me-down brew, by tricksterity

After being convinced by his brother that his current life as an office drone for the Lan family business is making him unhappy, Lan Wangji moves across the globe to follow his dream of opening his own café.

Lan Wangji is happy, and Jingshi is running well - even if it has to be closed on Tuesdays so that Lan Wangji can get some sleep outside of his seventy-hour work week. But as usual, Xichen is right, and Lan Wangji needs to let go of his careful control and let a second staff member into his café, and into his life.

Enter Wei Wuxian: everything that Lan Wangji is looking for in an employee wrapped in the personality of his worst nightmare. But maybe, just maybe, this will work out. If Lan Wangji can stop himself from strangling Wei Wuxian to death. Or bending him over the counter and licking coldbrew espresso off his neck.

To Dream the Impossible, by LadyHallen

Lan Hui is Lan Zhan's cousin.

She is the kind of curious that would stop at nothing until she achieved results.

Unfortunately, she and Wei Wuxian get along very well.

let's call the whole thing off, by jotarems

Recently returned from being burnt at the stake after being tried as a witch, Wei Wuxian wakes to the past and does everything in his power to not repeat it.

Chenqing: "setting forth one's thoughts and explaining one's actions", by LyzDrake

After an assassin is nearly successful, Wei Wuxian grows concerned that should it be needed, there will be no one who knows the truth. She decides to entrust it to someone honorable, and the last person she ever thought possible.

An Inch of Grass, and All The Sunshine of Spring, by ChilianXianzi

"Did you…Did you know our A-Ying?"

Cangse Sanren's eyes are wide and full of hope, and Lan Wangji is suddenly struck by the realization that he is the only one in the world now who would still speak of Wei Ying with fondness. Who knows him enough outside of the wild and hurtful rumors scattered across the land. Just him, in all of his own failings and his poor grasp of words.

But Lan Wangji had failed Wei Ying once, and if he could not speak for Wei Ying when the whole world had bayed for his blood, then he owes it to Wei Ying to speak of him kindly now, to let his meagre words tumble out of lips unused still to speech after years of silence. He doesn't expect there to be so much words inside him, doesn't expect that his words would carry him until the sky darkens around them. Doesn't expect the embrace enveloping him after he is done - Warm and firm and safe.

Making Different Choices (For A More Hopeful Future), by Preludian_Staves

Through a bout of unexpected time traveling, they decide to usurp Fate's plans and do their best to make different choices to create more hopeful future.

Dawn, by Jengabears

The canon divergence which might have happened, if Wen Qing came with Wei Wuxian to ask the Jins where Wen Ning was being held, rather than waiting outside.

fade into view, by Zoodan21

Jin Ling is pretty sure that his friend’s dad is the same guy that his uncle used to have a crush on in the ’90s, it’s just a matter of figuring out how to get them to actually talk to each other.

Journey, by ninho_emy

This is the story what could have been if Lan Zhan returned to the Bourial Mounds before the Siege, took Wei Ying and A-Yuan and travelled together as rogue cultivators as a family of three.

Rated G:

the sum of us, by baobeijuns (canyoudamianot)

A series of ficlets about reincarnation across time and universes, where soulmates only remember their past lives when their eyes meet.

First up: fashionista!wwx/model!lwj at Paris Fashion Week.