HOAHUHU

left = alternative colour palette for this piece

right = original version of this piece which ultimately felt kinda hollow

Cue wangxian standing shoulder-to-shoulder at the hand dryers holding LWJ's shoes and socks (at WWX's insistence) under the hot air. WWX is definitely looking respectfully at the way LWJ's wet shirt clings to his chest. And LWJ is definitely dying a thousand deaths that WWX is touching his socks (so inappropriate! what are they, married???)

Footwear somewhat dry, WWX focusses on LWJ's shirt for real. He takes off his own sweater so that he's just in a plain black t-shirt and tells LWJ to wear it instead while they dry his shirt.

And LWJ wants to protest but also he's shivering and feels gross so fuck it. He peels out of his cardigan and t-shirt and slips into WWX's sweater and oh wow it's a little worn-out but in the softest way. And it smells like WWX and OMG WHAT IS HAPPENING??

What's happening is WWX saw how cold he looked so he's rapidly rubbing LWJ's arms to help warm him up because of friction or whatever that LWJ can't bring himself to grasp atm. (LWJ is 30% sure this counts as foreplay, but doesn't dare say so)

They return to wringing out as much water as possible from the shirt and cardigan in the sink, then continue their previous shoulder-to-shoulder dryer bonding.

"Lan Zhan! You know, if you wanted your sweater back, all you had to do was ask. So elaborate!"

"What?"

Your sweater!" He gestures to his sweater that LWJ is now wearing.

"This is not my sweater."

"Are you sure? It really suits you! You look so good!"

A look in the mirror at his still very "drowned rat" face/hair makes LWJ doubt that WWX is being completely honest, but also WWX said he looked good and he likes the idea of *that*

"Your sweater is very... cozy."

"Right??"

Anyway, they get his shirt and cardigan reasonably dry and WWX tries to convince LWJ to dry his pants as well but the thought of either standing in the library bathroom in his underwear and WWX's sweater where anybody could walk in OR standing pants-less in a stall while WWX dries his pants for him are both too unbearable. His pants are damp but not as bad as his upper body or feet that trudged through forming puddles.

He barely manages to win the argument, but he does. They finally leave the bathroom to get a bit of studying done, LWJ still wearing WWX's sweater while his shirts do their last bit of drying draped across the backs of their chairs.

Studying is mostly a bust because LWJ can barely focus on anything but "sweater is warm, sweater smells like Wei Ying, Wei Ying said I looked good in his clothes" and WWX keeps taking breaks to do things like run down to the coffeeshop on the main floor to beg them to brew decaf before they close up for the night (Barista: "We're in a university library, I don't think we we even stock decaf")

Apparently they do have decaf and WWX buys LWJ two cups to warm him up (along with something with an unhealthy amount of espresso shots for himself, bringing balance back to the delicate uni library ecosystem)

And LWJ is just... kinda loving being doted on? He's aware that his brother indulges him a lot and it's not a foreign concept to his life, but this is different because it's *Wei Ying* and did I mention that he's wearing WWX's sweater which is soft and smells like his cologne and is cozy and smells nice?

Also WWX occasionally rubs his hands together really fast and then places them on LWJ's forearm to give him a little extra warmth because he apparently still looks "so cold!" even though his hair is almost dry.

So LWJ is basically ready to propose marriage, and he's pretty sure WWX will say yes because how is this not courting? Right? He's being courted by WWX, right?

But the library is closing up so they have to leave. It's still raining, but WWX refuses let LWJ change back into his damp-ish clothes for the walk home. Instead, he tosses the shirts into a plastic grocery bag he'd brought his lunch in earlier that day and offers to lend LWJ his umbrella too.

"But won't you get wet?"

"Uhh, it's called wearing a coat? Honestly, Lan Zhan, what's going on with you? I get the umbrella thing, but no rain coat?"

What's going on is LWJ completely forgot that coats existed because he was so focussed on his handsome cardigan look that got ruined by mother nature anyway. He can't be too mad at that though because of the whole "sweater + Wei Ying + smells good + doting = you know the drill" thing.

They settle on WWX wearing his coat, walking LWJ (wearing his sweater) home with his umbrella. And it's nearly 10pm so LWJ asks if WWX wants to come up for some tea to warm him for his walk back to campus (even though it's only like, 15 minutes away. The Lan bros live off-campus, but like, *right there* basically)

So LWJ unlocks the door to his apartment with WWX very close behind him, and... gets whacked on the head with his missing umbrella. Apparently LXC was still awake and assumed someone was breaking in because wtf was LWJ doing out?? Wasn't he studying in his room this entire time?? And he's sneaking a "friend" into their apartment after bedtime?? How often does this happen if he feels bold enough to try it while their uncle is visiting??

Anyway, WWX takes a raincheck on the "tea" that he definitely didn't think was actually tea but was literally tea because LWJ doesn't understand how these things work.

Fast forward a few weeks and LWJ still has WWX's sweater because he insists he looks better in it anyway. And they've started hanging out in cooler places than the library, and occasionally just share clothes like two bros do and not because they're both into the "boyfriend shirt" idea.

But then disaster strikes. Some dude spills his beer all over MianMian at a party and WWX lends her his sweatshirt. And it's a good sweatshirt that LWJ has had his eye on for the past two weeks because it has little holes worn into the seams of the cuffs and the hole on the right sleeve is big enough that sometimes WWX pokes his thumb through it when he's fidgety and it's very cute. And now MianMian is wearing it instead of LWJ, hmpf! 😠

Cue two idiots in love vastly misunderstanding a situation while MianMian is just relieved that she won't get "wet t-shirt contest" comments from gross frat bros.

What LWJ thinks: *Oh no, WWX must really like her. He's mentioned before that they went to high school together. Clearly he's had a crush on her this entire time*

What WWX thinks: *Why does LWJ seem to be in such a bad mood all of a sudden? Ohhhhh. He must have a crush on MianMian! They have a class or two together, don't they? WWX should be a Good Friend™ and help LWJ out with this instead of ogling him all the time*

So cue a torturous month while they both try to be supportive of the other's non-existent crush on MianMian. WWX trying to get LWJ to admit his crush so that he can play matchmaker, and LWJ trying his best to tolerate WWX's new MianMian fixation.

"MianMian is really pretty, isn't she? What do you think, Lan Zhan?"

"Mn."

"That's all you have to say? You can tell me how you really feel, you know?"

No, LWJ can't.

MEANWHILE, MianMian is baffled about why this acquaintance from high school and the quiet guy from her intro to sociology course are suddenly so intent on bumping into her everywhere. She's pretty sure it's deliberate, but she can't figure out why??? If it were anyone else she would be creeped out, but LWJ seems harmless and it's nice to have a familiar face like WWX around sometimes. She trusts him, for sure.

Then one day the three of them are hanging around on the quad and WWX leaves briefly to go get a drink from the vending machine and MianMian sees a look in LWJ's eyes as he walks away. The Longing™ and she's like 'Ohhh, so THAT'S why LWJ is always tagging along' so she tries to talk WWX up a little to LWJ, and vice versa, while they're both trying to pitch what a great boyfriend the other one would be to her.

What MianMian thinks: *Yes, he would be a good boyfriend. You should ask him out already*

What MianMian says: "Hey, did WWX ever tell you about the time he saved my life? Some asshole ran a red light and he pulled me back onto the curb at the last second or else I would have been a goner!"

What LWJ thinks: *That sounds straight out of one of those dramas my brother watches. No wonder she's fallen for him. I can't compete.*

What LWJ says: "Very heroic."

What WWX thinks: *I should talk this up a little more. If I tell Lan Zhan about how I saved the life of the girl he wants to kiss, maybe he'll be so grateful that he'll want to kiss me instead*

What WWX says: "(insert some horribly misguided comment about how the world would be a duller place without her beautiful smile) --isn't that right, Lan Zhan?"

"Mn."

And then "disaster" #2 strikes -- MianMian gets a boyfriend. While WWX and LWJ are both partially relieved that she's dating someone else, they both feel bad for the other man's crush. WWX shows up at LWJ's door with a bottle of the cheapest vodka he could buy 20 mins after she posts a picture with her new bf on instagram.

"I know you don't normally drink, but there are sorrows to be drowned!"

"I will make an exception just this once."

Both of them thinking: *I must be a good friend to him during this time of heartbreak*

Also, WWX is wearing that good hoodie with the holes and LWJ assumes it's because it reminds WWX of MianMian. It's actually just the only thing WWX doesn't have sitting in the laundry basket at the moment.

WWX is secretly hoping he can snag some shirts from LWJ while he's there because let's face it, it's gonna be another week until he gets around to doing that laundry. LWJ is secretly hoping he can snag that good hoodie once and for all.

LXC is getting ready for bed as all of this starts going down. He's been informed by his baby bro about WWX's everlasting love for MianMian, as well as the existence of the good hoodie. LWJ has never told him that he's in love with WWX, but like... yeah, he fucking knows lol

And he's not entirely convinced that WWX is into MianMian anyway because, well, he sure likes to compliment LWJ a lot, and wasn't he totally interested in coming up for late night (9:45pm!) tea the day of that storm? LXC watches romcoms, he knows what inviting someone up for coffee/tea is supposed to mean.

(It was very awkward trying to explain this to his brother later, who thought a hot beverage was literally part of the process. It's not their faults. LQR was one of those "I don't own a TV" guys so they've missed out on a lot lol)

LXC loiters in the kitchen long enough to watch WWX pour them both shots of straight vodka (politely declining a third one offered to himself) and directs them to the living room, then clears the area around them of sharp objects that a passed-out LWJ might hurt himself on.

"I know nothing about this new boyfriend except that he probably sucks. What's MianMian thinking going for some random dude when the world's most perfect man is standing right in front of her?"

"Mn."

"To broken hearts!" WWX toasts and they both down their shot of vodka.

LWJ coughs because wow it burns way more than he was expecting it to. That sip of champagne at his cousin's wedding did not prepare him for this at all. WWX pats his back and he's sitting so close and that feels so nice. He IS the world's most perfect man, LWJ agrees silently. MianMian doesn't deserve him and...

"MianMian doesn't deserve the good hoodie," LWJ says before passing the fuck out.

LXC brings a glass of water from the kitchen and places it on the coffee table while WWX panics.

"This is what happens when he drinks, no need for concern. My brother will wake up in ten minutes or so."

"You're sure he's okay?"

"He will be fine, don't worry. I am turning in for the night, but my room is just down the hall if you need me for anything urgent."

"And he's definitely okay?" WWX asks as he rubs LWJ's back.

"He is. How are you doing? You seem upset by this news about your friend MianMian."

"Who wouldn't be, right?"

"Right... Well, good night. I'll see you in the morning." (Because LXC damn well knows WWX isn't going home tonight.)

WWX spends the next 5-10 minutes wondering why LXC just assumes he's spending the night. WWX has every intention on stumbling back to his dorm room -- or at least HAD every intention of doing so until LWJ passed out. LXC must want him to take responsibility for getting his baby bro drunk on a single shot of vodka.

WWX eases LWJ's forehead off the table and lays him on the floor with his head in WWX's lap instead. Then he takes another shot of vodka because LWJ looks cute and he's an idiot for being so in love with a straight guy like LWJ who is currently heartbroken over a girl.

LWJ wakes up while WWX is petting his hair and he should stay there because it's nice but Drunkji has bigger plans. He sits bolt upright then gets to his feet using the coffee table and couch as supports. He offers a hand to help WWX up, who declines due to the fact that he's basically sober still and is almost positive that LWJ isn't stable enough not to topple over when he pulls. LWJ frowns when WWX stands on his own, then grabs the sleeve of the good hoodie and tugs WWX to his room.

WWX has a couple ideas about where this is gonna go, but he's apparently wrong because LWJ wants some kind of fashion show? He opens his closet and starts taking out every shirt, then pulls the good hoodie off of WWX.

"Lan Zhan! Dragging me into your bedroom and undressing me like this! What do you have in mind?"

"To replace it," LWJ says as he shoves three cardigans into WWX's hands and puts the coveted good hoodie on himself.

"Replace? Are you planning on keeping my ratty old sweatshirt? It's full of holes, Lan Zhan!" WWX laughs.

"Mn."

"What if I don't find anything I like in here?" WWX asks as he helps himself to searching through LWJ's closet.

"I will buy a new one. To replace it." LWJ hugs it tight around his body, having decided that he is keeping the good hoodie. "You may borrow this occasionally."

"Borrow my own hoodie? Lan Zhan, you're too cute!"

"Mine."

LWJ flops the hood over his head and pulls the drawstrings until only one eye and his nose are visible. Then folds up his legs and tucks them under the hem of the oversized hoodie as well, encasing as much of his body in it as possible.

WWX takes a picture because how could he not? Then tries on the first cardigan.

"How do I look?"

"Handsome."

WWX tosses it into the replacement pile and tries the next one, getting a "handsome" as a response every time.

"That pile is getting pretty big. Just how many of these am I allowed to take home tonight?"

"Everything."

"Hahaha you're so funny."

"Mn."

WWX stops and takes a good long look at LWJ, who is balled up inside his hoodie with just half his face and his feet poking out, and his arms wrapped around him.

"So cute, Lan Zhan."

"You are."

"You are!" WWX stumbles a little over a discarded hanger on the floor and lands hard on the bed next to LWJ, but quickly sits up.

"Are you injured?" LWJ opens the hood a little more to see him better.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Really. Ah, Lan Zhan you're really too cute like this. A little lump. I want to just bundle this little lump of you up and give you a big hug."

"Okay."

"Do you want a hug?"

"Mn."

WWX is more than happy to oblige, firstly because LWJ usually isn't a hug kinda guy, but also because if he wants a hug now it must be because he's so brokenhearted about MianMian.

"How's that?" WWX asks as he turns sideways and pulls the hoodie-encased LWJ in for a tight, warm hug.

"You are a very kind person, Wei Ying."

"Nah, I have an ulterior motive with this. I'm not going to pass up a chance to hug the one and only Lan Zhan."

"Still kind."

"I'm here for you, okay? Always. Anything you need, you've got it."

"MianMian--" LWJ stops himself, belatedly realizing through his drunken fog that maybe WWX would be upset to think about her at the moment. "Sorry."

"She doesn't know what she's missing."

"Mn."

"I am also... I am also here for you, Wei Ying. Always. If you want hugs, or..."

WWX giggles and rests his chin on LWJ's shoulder. "You're very kind too, Lan Zhan. So sweet. I wouldn't bug you for that, though. I know touching isn't normally your thing."

"You are allowed."

"Huh?"

"Please hug me whenever you want."

WWX laughs more and topples them sideways onto the bed. LWJ's legs pop out of the hoodie in the meantime, so WWX cuddles even closer now that they're lying chest-to-chest.

"Be careful what you wish for, Lan Zhan. What if I secretly want to hug you all the time?"

"I'll allow it."

"Seriously, I'll be a barnacle -- even more of a barnacle than usual if you tell me that."

"I am telling you. I do not mind."

WWX squeezes him extra tight and LWJ wraps his arms around him in return. It's comforting and heartbreaking at the same time, and WWX unexpectedly finds tears soaking the shoulder of his hoodie.

"Are you crying?"

LWJ wiggles his head free a little more from the hood, but WWX reaches up and pulls it tighter, blocking his vision again.

"I'm fine. Sorry. Don't look at me, I'm just..." WWX tucks his face against LWJ's shoulder again. "You're so good, Lan Zhan. You deserve everything. I'm sorry things didn't work out with MianMian. I wish things were different. If I had you as a boyfriend, I'd..."

LWJ goes rigid.

"Ah, no, I know. I know you're straight or whatever.. I'm not going to try anything, especially since you're feeling so-- Ahh, just ignore me, okay? I guess I'm pretty drunk. I always get emotional when I'm drunk. Pretend I didn't say anything, okay?"

"Wei Ying..."

"I'm sorry, please don't make a big deal of it. I swear I'm happy to be your friend. Uh, but, I understand if you want to revoke the whole 'you can always hug me' thing, given... hey, it doesn't even matter because you're gonna forget all of this, right? Promise?"

"Wei Ying." LWJ holds his hug firm when WWX tries to squirm away. "Please continue."

"I don't even know what I was saying. Just rambling on about whatever, I think."

"If I was your boyfriend, you would..." LWJ prompts.

"Oh. I..."

WWX gives a nervous chuckle, but LWJ is still hugging him so he thinks maybe it's okay to say? He's so drunk on one shot of vodka he won't remember any of it anyway. This might be WWX's only chance to say how he really feels.

"I was just thinking that if I was in MianMian's shoes or whatever, I definitely would have chosen you. You're... you're so wonderful, Lan Zhan. I would make sure you knew how much I love you every day. And appreciate all the thoughtful little things you do-- Ah, not that I don't appreciate it all already. I know you, uh, humour me a lot and let me get away with things that probably annoy you."

"I'm not humouring you."

"Indulging, then. You--"

"Mn. Because I love you."

WWX makes a squeaking sound, then quickly covers it with a laugh while trying to keep his heart from breaking. LWJ is drunk and clearly doesn't mean love in the sense that WWX wants it to mean.

"Ah, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan! You're gonna be so embrassed in the morning. Saying 'I love you' like that to your friend. I'm not nice enough not to tease you about it later, you know?"

"You don't feel the same way."

"Of course I do! I mean, 'love' is an unexpectedly strong word to use, but if that's what we're going with here then... Yeah, I love you too, buddy."

LWJ sighs. "You don't feel the same way. I... know this. I'm sorry."

"What? Lan Zhan! I just said I felt the same. We're best friends, right? You tolerate me somehow, that's..."

While WWX is trying to think of what he wants to say, LWJ kisses his forehead then starts to roll away so he won't have to deal with what he assumes will be a negative reaction. Instead, WWX grabs his biceps and refuses to let him turn away.

"Lan Zhan?" WWX can barely hear his own words over the sound of his heart beating. "Why did you kiss me?"

LWJ silently reaches up and pulls the strings on his hoodie so that it closes around his face, and WWX remembers that he is still very drunk. He'd had a lucid moment, but that's apparently gone.

WWX tries to give his shoulders a little shake, but it's no use -- LWJ has fallen asleep. Knowing this might be his only moment to have this, WWX snuggles closer and eventually falls asleep too.

WWX wakes the next morning and immediately sees LWJ's face, still in each other's arms. He's so beautiful that WWX can hardly stand it. The hood has loosened at some point during the night, and WWX resists the overwhelming urge return his forehead kiss from the night before.

"Lan Zhan, are you awake?" WWX whispers. "You must be asleep if we're still like this. I hope you sleep in for a while. I know that's selfish, but... just let me stay here like this a little longer, okay? And then I'll get over this stupid crush and be a proper friend."

"Take your time, Wei Ying. I know how much you cared for MianMian."

WWX freezes because holy shit LWJ is awake but then is like wtf?

"This isn't really the same as your crush on MianMian, but thank you."

"I do not have a crush on MianMian."

WWX winces. "Sorry, is that too juvenile? Love, then?"

"...Do you think I am also in love with MianMian?"

"Also?"

"I think of her as only a friend."

"Oh. Then why were you upset about her boyfriend?"

"I was upset for your sake."

"I was only upset because... Do you think I'm in love with MianMian?"

"Are you not?"

"No! I'm--" WWX starts to piece things together, but it's almost too good to be true. "Lan Zhan... Why did you kiss me last night?"

LWJ pales. "I kissed you?"

"Well, just on the forehead, but... You don't remember?" WWX asks and LWJ shakes his head. "Do you remember any of the stuff I said?" More 'no' head shakes. "Oh. Okay, well, that's... that's probably for the best."

"Were you upset that I kissed your forehead?"

"No, the opposite, really. I--" WWX squeezes his eyes shut tight and takes a big breath. "Fuck it. I really hope you don't hate me for this and we can still be friends, but I-- I've never been in love with MianMian. It's always been you. Only you. Since... I don't even know. Probably since before that night at the library, but that's when I realized that I..."

"You love me?"

"Yeah. And last night when we were cuddling you kissed my forehead and said you loved me and I assumed you were just one of those 'I love my friends' kinda drunks but maybe... I'm hoping that maybe you mean it the same way I do. Or-- If I'm way off base here then I'll give you space while I--"

"Wei Ying. Wei Ying." LWJ has a desperate look in his eyes that WWX has never seen before and then his eyelids close and they're kissing. It's great and still really confusing but neither man wants to ruin the moment yet.

WWX finally ruins the moment. "So you don't have a crush on MianMian?"

"Wei Ying, I am gay."

"Really?"

"Very much so, yes."

"I'm bi. Oh! But I've never-- I mean, there was probably a week or whatever in high school when I had a crush on MianMian but nothing more than that. Not like-- Ugh, I really wish you could remember what I said last night. It's too embarassing to repeat in the sober light of day. I said a lot of nice things about you, Lan Zhan. A bunch of reasons why I love you and everything. Why is this so scary? You feel the same way, right? Did you change your mind after making out just now? My morning breath isn't that--"

"Wei Ying. I love you."

WWX's body feels like it goes liquid as his tension melts away. "Oh, good. That's good. I... Yeah, me too."

They kiss again for a while and slowly progress into just holding each other in LWJ's bed.

"Okay, so... how did MianMian get caught up in all this if neither of us had a crush on her? Why did you think I did?"

"You frequently bragged about saving her life."

"Oh, that's what made you think-- Oh man, now I'm just embarassed."

"There is no need to be embrassed with me."

"No... No, there is definitely a need for it here. I thought that since you liked her that you would, I don't know, be so grateful to me that you'd like me more I guess? I can't really explain."

"That is very flawed logic."

"Believe me, I know."

"Were you hoping for a kiss of gratitude?"

"Ugh, you know me too well."

"Mn." LWJ kisses him again for reasons other than gratitude for saving MianMian years before he ever met her. "I have an embarassing confession as well."

"Ooh! Yes! Tell me, tell me! This is perfect. I'm all yours-- ears! I'm also all yours but I meant to say 'I'm all ears.' Continue, please."

"I also thought you liked MianMian because you lent her your hoodie."

"What? When?"

"At the party."

"Which par-- ohh! Wait, what? Why? That was-- She was wearing a white shirt and it got soaked in beer. You know how gross some dudes are. I heard TWO 'wet t-shirt contest' jokes in the time it took me to pass it to her. I just didn't want assholes to ruin her night."

"I understand that now."

"And wasn't that after-- It was!" WWX laughs as he answers his own question. "It was way after the library. Lan Zhan! We were definitely already swapping clothes by then. If you thought that meant I liked MianMian, why didn't you think that maybe I liked you?"

"But that was the good hoodie."

"Okay, hang on. Some things are starting to click. You mentioned the 'good hoodie' last night too. What is..." WWX stops as he smells his own cologne on the clothes LWJ is wearing. "It can't be THIS hoodie?"

"Mn."

"Lan Zhan! This thing is practically a rag! It's full of holes and all stretched out."

"It is cozy."

LWJ remembers that he can finally do what he's been dreaming of for months and shifts his body position to free his arm. He then pokes his thumb through the hole near the sleeve cuff and gives a small smile because all is right with the world.

"See? It's barely holding together. A strong breeze might make it disintegrate. I was thinking of throwing it away if--"

"No!" LWJ looks at him with panic in his eyes. "I will keep it."

WWX laughs and kisses the bridge of LWJ's nose. "Too cute. Really, it's not fair. You know, when you were drunk last night you promised to exchange basically your entire closet for this ratty old thing, so I feel like I should get to choose your nicest, sofest sweater in return."

"Mn. My previous offer stands."

"What previous offer? Your whole closet?"

"Mn."

"Unnecessary, but appreciated. I will limit myself to three."

"Mn. Also..."

"What?"

"I would like to buy you a new hoodie. To replace this one."

"No need. I'm already getting three sweaters out of this deal and--"

"For later. After this one disintegrates, as you predict it will."

"Okay, deal."

Anyway they eventually leave the bed and find LXC in the kitchen making breakfast for three. He doesn't comment, but smiles when he sees LWJ wearing the "good hoodie". He doesn't need to know the details, but the outcome is obvious -- that is a boyfriend hoodie, although it's not like all their clothes-swapping wasn't very boyfriend behaviour already. This is as official as it can get short of actually saying "we are dating now".

"Wei Ying and I are dating now," LWJ announces while they eat, just to make everything clear. WWX nearly spits out his coffee, and looks nervously at LXC for his reaction.

"I'm happy to hear you worked it out at last. You should treat your friend MianMian and her boyfriend to a dinner to thank them for the role they unwittingly played in the matter. Perhaps it can be a double-date."

"Mn. Good idea."

"You knew he didn't like MianMian?" WWX asks.

"Of course."

"Did you know I didn't like MianMian?"

"I strongly suspected."

"Did you know we liked each other?"

"There were signs."

"Why do I feel like we owe you a thank you dinner as well?"

"I wouldn't turn down the offer."

"How have you helped?" LWJ asks his brother.

"I have listened to you talk for months about how--"

"--Where would you like to go dinner?"

WWX blushes and laughs but LXC simply smiles and takes a bite of food without comment. "Ah, Huan-ge. You're such a trooper."

"That's what older brothers are for."

"Are you sure? I would definitely roast my brother to the sun and back if he came to me about a crush."

"Don't let him fool you. He will enjoy teasing me about it as well," LWJ says.

"These smiles are purely smiles of support."

"And the snickering?"

LXC smiles. "There is an Indian restaurant that opened down the street last month that I've been meaning to visit. Why don't try there for dinner."

"Mn."

"Then it's settled!"

"And there isn't a particular dress code, so no need to worry."

WWX chuckles. "I didn't even think about a dress code, but good to know. Why would that matter?"

"Just wanted to be clear that hoodies would be  allowed, since I expect my brother will wear this one until it falls into shreds."

"Hahaha I'm sure he'd wear something nicer to dinner, right Lan Zhan?"

"No. My brother is correct. I only want to wear this one."

"But why?"

"It is a very good hoodie."