Title: Follow This Clue
Fandom: Modao Zushi
Pairing: Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian
Rating: PG-13
Length: 1,057
Content notes: one instance of kissing someone without their consent.
Author notes: written for Challenge: Clue
Summary: Lan Wangji believes Wei Ying is many things: kind, beautiful, determined, loyal, and clueless.

Unbelievably clueless.





Lan Wangji believes Wei Ying is many things: kind, beautiful, determined, loyal, and clueless.

Unbelievably clueless.

“Does this mean she likes me?” Wei Ying asks and stares down at the red velvet cupcake Luo Qingyang placed in front of him thirty seconds ago. They’re at Wei Ying’s favorite cafe near the university, hoping to catch a few minutes of rest and a few bites of food before they must leave for their afternoon classes.

Lan Wangji scowls.

Luo Qingyang had very specifically said the cupcake was a thank you for Wei Ying’s help moving her things from her old apartment to the new place she’s renting with Wen Qing. Lan Wangji would have helped as well, but he had to study for an exam.

Wei Ying catches Lan Wangji’s scowl. His eyes widen in surprise before leans in and smiles. “Lan Zhan?”

“Hm?” Lan Wangji is momentarily distracted away from Wei Ying’s cluelessness by the brightness of his eyes. Wei Ying has beautiful eyes.

“Do you like Mianmian?” Wei Ying whispers.

Lan Wangji doesn’t know what sort of expression his face makes, but it is enough for Wei Ying to bite down on his bottom lip and pull back a little.

“Do you?” Wei Ying asks again.

“Wei Ying,” Lan Wangji huffs. “Why would you think that?”

Lan Wangji likes Luo Qingyang well enough, as a person and a friend. He has no other feelings for her.

Other feelings he reserves for Wei Ying.

“Your face did a thing,” Wei Ying explains and then does a very poor imitation of Lan Wangji scowling, “when I asked if she liked me. I know that’s your angry expression.”

“So you jump to the conclusion that must mean I like Luo Qingyang.”

“Yes.” Wei Ying nods. “It’s a clue. I can follow clues.”

Lan Wangji sighs.

He’s in love with the man.

“I do not have romantic feelings for Luo Qingyang,” Lan Wangji replies.

“Oh!” Wei Ying straightens a little in his seat. “Then why did your face do the thing?”

Lan Wangji stares at Wei Ying.

Wei Ying stares back.

“You can follow clues,” Lan Wangji says.

Wei Ying blinks. “Yes?”

“Follow this clue.”

Lan Wangji, very gently, grabs Wei Ying by the front of his black t-shirt and pulls him closer. He watches in slow motion as Wei Ying’s mouth parts and his eyes widen again, but he doesn’t stop to admire Wei Ying’s stare. Instead, he closes the distance between them.

He kisses Wei Ying.

Light and quick and full on the lips.

Wei Ying makes a tiny squeaky sound that reminds Lan Wangji of a rabbit and then presses the tips of his fingers to his mouth when Lan Wangji lets him go and leans back in his seat. Wei Ying’s cheeks are pink and there is a slight dazed look on his face.

Lan Wangji would feel proud of himself for making Wei Ying look like that, but his heart is hammering inside his chest.

“You…” Wei Ying starts, stops, swallows hard. “You…”

“Me.”

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying points an accusing finger at him. “What was that?”

Lan Wangji raises an eyebrow at him. “A clue.”

“A clue for what?”

Lan Wangji frowns at him. “Figure it out.”

Wei Ying opens and closes his mouth a couple of times before his expression turns into something that resembles contemplation. He fixes his eyes on Lan Wangji and scratches the tip of his nose, gaze flickering down to Lan Wangji mouth and back up again.

“That was a clue,” Wei Ying tells him.

Lan Wangji nods.

“A clue,” Wei Ying continues, “that you don’t like Mianmian.”

Lan Wangji tries very hard not to despair. He even wraps his hands around his green tea mug so he won’t facepalm. “I told you that.”

“It is a clue!” Wei Ying smiles, then. “A clue that you don’t like Mianmian because you like someone else.”

“Wei Yi—”

“And that someone else,” Wei Ying interrupts him, “is me.”

Wei Ying is grinning wide when he finishes, looking incredibly proud of himself.

Finally, Lan Wangji thinks.

“Yes,” Lan Wangji confirms Wei Ying’s suspicions. “I like you.”

“That’s what I—” Wei Ying stops himself mid-sentence and his face goes all soft. “Lan Zhan, you like me!”

“I do,” Lan Wangji confirms once again and his lips twitch into a small smile.

“Oh my god, Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying tips forward so he rest his forehead on Lan Wangji’s shoulder. “You like me and you kissed me.”

“I apologize for kissing you without your consent,” Lan Wangji murmurs and lets himself place a light hand on Wei Ying’s back.

“I forgive you,” Wei Ying mumbles back and then lifts his head. Their faces are very close. “I can’t believe I thought you liked Mianmian.”

“I can’t, either,” Lan Wangji admits and is rewarded by Wei Ying’s loud laugh.

“Lan Zhan! Don’t be like that.”

“And Luo Qingyang does not like you in that way,” Lan Wangji adds.

“Hey! I’m likable,” Wei Ying protests. “You like me.”

“That is because I like men,” Lan Wangji points out. “Unlike Luo Qingyang.”

Wei Ying gasps and then slaps a hand on his forehead. “She told me the first time we met she couldn’t join our study group because she had to go meet her girlfriend.”

Lan Wangji nods and then pats Wei Ying on the head. Wei Ying’s hair is as soft as it looks.

“She’s not dating Wen Qing now, is she?” Wei Ying asks him, very unsure of himself.

“Not that I’m aware.”

Not that it is an impossibility, either. Lan Wangji is pretty sure they both have crushes on each other.

“Are you sure you like me?” Wei Ying asks when he lowers his hand away from his face. “Because I’m an idiot sometimes.”

“I know,” Lan Wangji assures him and then grabs Wei Ying’s hands in his when Wei Ying starts sputtering. “I like you. And I would like to kiss you again.”

Wei Ying’s face goes soft again. “I’d like that,” he says, and then adds, “and I like you too, Lan Zhan.”

This time, when Lan Wangji kisses Wei Ying, Wei Ying kisses him back.