Kiss

Lan Wangji raised his eyes coldly and repeated, “Excuse me.” He told Wei Wuxian.

A faint smile by his lips, Wei Wuxian raised his brows and turned to the side. The arch door of the entrance was rather narrow. Lan Wangji could only brush by him as he walked in.

After he entered, Wei Wuxian shouted from behind him, “Lan Zhan, your forehead ribbon is crooked.” He told Lan Wangji.

All disciples from prominent sects took great care to maintain their appearances, especially those from the GusuLan Sect. Hearing this, Lan Wangji reached to adjust it without a second thought. Yet, the forehead ribbon was clearly as proper as always. Turning around, he casted an annoyed look at Wei Wuxian. The latter only laughed as he turned to the YunmengJiang Sect’s entrance.

After everyone had entered and the competition had officially began, one by one, disciples left due to accidentally shooting normal mannequins.

Lan Xichen made his footsteps lighter as he silently followed Jiang Cheng, not too fast nor too slow. Earlier, he wanted to approach Jiang Cheng and talked to him. However, he stopped at the last minute, feeling his heart itching and somewhat shy. His hand trembled since he badly wanted to touch the other. If he’d just suddenly approach him, he doesn’t know what would he do to the other. Also – he raised his head and looked at Jiang Cheng’s group. There are other people, and so he just can’t be that careless.

Jiang Cheng suddenly stopped and turned to his group. “Let’s all split up. If we’d hunt by groups, we can only find few targets.” He told them.

“Yes!” the YunmengJiang disciples answered and immediately dispersed.

Jiang Cheng was left alone. He looked around for a target, then pulled his bowstring. “Who is it?” he asked, slowly tugging the bowstring. He already noticed a burning gaze on his back. An enemy? He thought, his bowstring became taut because of being pulled.

Lan Xichen stopped in his steps. Ah. I was careless in the end. He thought and smiled. He finally approached Jiang Cheng now that the other is alone.

Hearing no answer but only approaching footsteps, Jiang Cheng turned and aimed the bow behind him. However, his eyes went wide when he saw Lan Xichen standing behind him. Surprised, his hand holding the arrow loosened and the arrow shot towards Lan Xichen. He felt his heart stopped and his face paled as the arrow flew towards the man.

Lan Xichen immediately caught the arrow. The arrow dispersed into violet qi and disappeared. “It’s been a year and two months we haven’t seen each other. Young master Jiang’s greeting is… intense.” He said and smiled at Jiang Cheng. “Could it be young master Jiang missed me very much?” he asked, his voice teasing and at the same time inquiring.

However, Jiang Cheng, still was shocked, didn’t notice the meaning behind Lan Xichen’s words. “Z-Zewu-jun!” he exclaimed and his face flushed. He immediately put away his bow and bowed. “I apologize for my sudden behavior.” He said, nervous. He almost killed the other!

Lan Xichen felt a little disappointment because of his unanswered question. Nevertheless, he chuckled. The youth seemed to not change since he last saw him. He’s still the same youth full of determination and justice. Although the youth should know he (LXC) can dodge that attack, still the youth is apologize. Sometimes, too much courtesy is annoying. He thought. An example is his younger brother. Courtesy puts a distance between people. Too much courtesy puts one in a pedestal. This just further his distance towards the youth. He sighed in his heart. “Don’t mind it. I am fine.” He told the youth and raised his hand to help the youth stand straight. However, his hand touched the youth’s hands. He felt like his skin was electrified and as his hand touched the youth longer, he felt the burning sensation. His fingers twitched and slowly felt the youth’s skin against his. From the youth’s palm… to his fingers… he felt his heart beating faster and faster.

Jiang Cheng felt the other fell silent. He felt his heart sank as he stood straight when the other helped him up. “Z-Zewu-jun…” he called, his heart beating fast in nervousness. His cheeks flushed in embarrassment as he withdrew his hand, unknowingly made the other feel a sense of loss. “I-I’m really sorry… I didn’t do it on purpose! I’m sorry!” he said and lowered his head and immediately ran away. Geez! What did I do? Will he get mad? He might think I hate him! Ugh! He ran and disappeared.

Lan Xichen was left speechless. Just when he woke up from his daze he saw the other had already disappeared. “What…” he felt his heart sank. Did I scare him? He noticed me? He felt his face burned, ashamed. He lowered his hands that were still raised as he lowered his head in shame. I scared him because of my uncontrolled feelings… he thought and walked away.

He continued to hunt the targets to vent out his self-anger.

Jiang Cheng finally felt his burning face cooled down. He took a deep breath and exhaled. He saw a target and immediately shot it. However, he suddenly saw Lan Xichen’s face. His eyes went wide and his hands shook. He missed his target. He sighed and lowered his bow. He still can’t overcome that feeling earlier. He felt his heart is being twisted. He bit his lip. “Should I apologize again?” he said and sighed as he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he saw something white fluttered. Then, he felt his eyes being covered from behind. “What – “ he exclaimed when he felt he was hugged from behind by a strong arm, tight and steady but not hurting him. The other arm was on his other side and a hand is covering his eyes. “Who –“ he said, confused. He raised his hand and touched the person behind him. However, the person behind him slightly moved his head back. Jiang Cheng felt the tip of his fingers touched something smooth and soft and it moved. He was about to remove it but his hand slid down and touched a big but smooth hand. He was about to remove the hand when he felt his head being turned. His eyes went wide. Will the enemy twist his head off? He thought, alarmed. However, what death that he thought didn’t arrive. Instead, he felt something warm and soft was pressed against his lips. This is - ! He thought, his eyes went wide and his face burned when he realized he was being kissed! Who dared -?! He thought, his face red both in anger and embarrassment. Who is this?! Why are they kissing him?! He thought as he felt his eyes watered and a sob came out of his mouth, his voice wronged.

Lan Xichen froze when he felt his palm covering Jiang Cheng’s eyes became wet and he heard the youth’s sob. He felt his heart being squeezed. Wanyin… he thought as he stared ay the youth’s face, tears trickling from his hand covering his (JC) eyes. Wanyin… earlier, he felt elated when he saw the youth again. His emotions gotten over him and he approached the youth, only to see he youth’s melancholic face. He knew, the youth must be thinking of his ‘mistake’ earlier. He opened his mouth to call the youth. However, when he saw the youth’s face, he felt his heart wanting to get out of his chest. For one year… he never saw him. For one year… he never heard his voice. For one year… he never felt his presence. Wanyin… he thought, he felt like he’s going crazy. And so, he hid behind the youth so that the youth would not see his face and kissed him. The moment his lips touched those soft lips he always dreamed of kissing, he felt his heart and body would explode. He felt his soul stirred. Ah… Wanyin… he thought. I love you so much. Can you feel it? He thought as he slowly let go of the youth. You might. That is why you got scared. I scared you… because I love you… he thought and closed his eyes as his tears fell. He immediately flew up in the trees and flew away.

Jiang Cheng immediately turned around. However, he didn’t see anyone. Who was it?! He thought as he looked around. However, not a soul was in sight. He thought it might be his imagination, but immediately discarded that thought. He could still feel the warmth against his lips. Was it just my eyes failing me…? He thought when he remembered.

Between the fingers covering his eyes, he thought he saw a forehead ribbon sewn with drifting clouds pattern.

On the other hand…

Wei WuXian was still holding the soft ribbon in his hand, “I’m sorry. It wasn’t on purpose. Here, you can tie it up again.” He told Lan Wangji.

Lan WangJi’s expression was darker than ever. It almost seemed as if a cloud of black fog hovered over his face. As he clenched his arrow, veins climbed over the back of his hand. He appeared so angry that his body was almost shaking. Seeing that even his eyes looked bloodshot, Wei WuXian couldn’t help but squeeze the forehead ribbon, Am I sure that the thing I pulled of is a forehead ribbon and not some part of his body? Shocked that he dared to squeeze it, Lan WangJi snatched the forehead ribbon from his hands as fast as he could.

Wei WuXian let go the moment he snatched it. The rest of the Lan Sect’s disciples ceased with their attacks as well, and everyone came over.

Arm around his younger brother, Lan Xichen talked to the unspeaking Lan WangJi in a low voice. After he kissed Jiang Cheng, he continued shooting the targets again to vent out his emotions again. Because if he didn’t, he’d suffer in qi deviation. “Wangji.” He called to his younger brother as he appeased him.

All of the others seemed similarly serious, as though they were facing a powerful enemy. They shook their heads as they spoke, glancing at Wei WuXian with odd, indescribable looks on their faces.

Wei WuXian only heard a few vague terms, such as “accident”, “calm down”, “no need to worry”, “a man”, “the sect rules”, and so on. He felt even more confused. After glowering at him one last time, Lan WangJi turned around and walked alone toward the outside of the range.

Jiang Cheng walked out of the entrance, still absent-minded of what had just happened. The competition had already ended. Fingers still pressed on his lips like earlier when another lips pressed on his lips, he felt his face flushed. However, he woke from his daze when he heard a commotion. Feeling that only Wei Wuxian could create this ruckus, he came over and asked, “What did you do, this time? Didn’t I tell you not to tease him? Your day just won’t be complete unless you dig your own grave at least once, huh?” he asked. His emotions now calmed down.

Wei WuXian shrugged, “I said that his forehead ribbon was crooked. I was tricking him the first time but the second time was real. He didn’t believe me and got mad. I didn’t pull off his forehead ribbon on purpose. Why do you think he’s so angry? He’s not even participating in the contest anymore.”

Jiang Cheng mocked, “Isn’t it clear? It’s because he especially hates you!” he told the other outright. He sighed when the other just shrugged at him. He shook his head and his sight landed on the GusuLan sect. His feeling of guilt earlier returned. Earlier, he pointed an arrow on Lan Xichen. Now, Wei Wuxian pulled the important ribbon of Lan Wangji.

Suddenly, he felt like the YunmengJiang Sect was born to offend the GusuLan Sect. With a heavy heart, he sighed and turned to pat Wei Wuxian on the shoulder and walked to line up in their sect’s designated area.

Just as Jiang Cheng left, Lan Xichen looked at the youth walking away. Wanyin… he thought and looked at Wei Wuxian following Jiang Cheng. Then, he looked at his younger brother whose face is now red. Others might think it was because of anger and embarrassment, but Lan Xichen knew better. Wangji… how lucky you are for making other know that young master Wei is yours. When can I… he thought and touched his forehead ribbon that was unnoticeably crooked. Jiang Cheng touched it earlier, trying to find out his identity.

He suddenly thought he should’ve kissed Jiang Cheng in front of everyone, so that they would see Jiang Cheng touching his forehead ribbon, and he would announce his feelings in front of everyone – including Jiang Cheng.

However, all those were just wishful thoughts.

(A/N: If you have noticed, Lan Xichen’s thoughts were what he had confessed to Jiang Cheng in my What Should I Do XiCheng fanfic 😁 so... should I end this here?)