grow as we go

better company

(a modern college/uni au)

.

Jiang Cheng should not have come to the party.

But no, Wei Ying had to insist that it would be fun.

“Even Wen Ning is going!” he had said, to which Jiang Cheng huffed because of course Wen Ning is going, it’s his cousin’s party.

“There’s gonna be free drinks and snacks!” he told Jiang Cheng too, and that only helped just because Jiang Cheng was feeling too lazy to cook anything that night.

“You should go, I’m gonna prank that peacock Jin Zixuan!” he had added, and so Jiang Cheng decided fine, maybe he’ll go.

Maybe he could just get free snacks and drinks, then from afar he can watch his brother do something that makes Jin Zixuan look even stupider than usual and then he’ll go home. It will be a simple and chill time.

What’s the worst that could happen, right?

.

.

There’s a guy crying on Jiang Cheng.

There’s a guy crying on Jiang Cheng at his dorm room doorway, and they are both dripping wet.

It turns out, the worst that could happen in the stupid party is that Jiang Cheng had to jump in the pool. Wei Ying had set off whatever prank it was he had planned, and some poor guy standing right beside Jin Zixuan lost his balance in the commotion and fell on the pool.

Jiang Cheng, from years of experience chaperoning younger cousins swimming in the lake on his hometown, is very familiar with recognizing someone who cannot swim.

Wei Ying should be too, but he and Jin Zixuan were too busy shouting at each other, and while there had been other people watching and calling out, concerned, none of them really seemed to realize that the guy on the pool was actively drowning.

So much for a simple and chill time. Jiang Cheng should have stayed at their dorm and finished working on that (fictional) murder mystery he’s trying to solve.

So now Jiang Cheng is wet, not in the fun way, awkwardly patting Can’t-Swim-Guy’s back as he sobs on Jiang Cheng’s chest.

Jiang Cheng met him earlier that night at the party, when they ran into each other in the kitchen, and the guy very nicely asked Jiang Cheng to help him get some snacks from a shelf he couldn’t reach. He had been charming, cracking a joke about Wen Chao that actually made Jiang Cheng chuckle, before thanking him for the help and walking off. Jiang Cheng thought he was cute.

The next time Jiang Cheng saw him, he was clinging to Jin Zixuan, so he became less cute.

Not even five minutes later, Jiang Cheng is rescuing him from dying in the pool. Then he was wrapping him in a jacket that Wen Ning kindly volunteered, because he was shivering and trying to cover himself up, clearly very uncomfortable that everyone in the vicinity can see his chest binder as his white shirt had become see-through.

Jin Zixuan and Wei Ying were being idiots. They tried to ask if the guy was okay but lost that thread so quick when they started to blame each other for the whole fiasco. Then Wen Chao arrived and whatever came out of his mouth made things worse. Jiang Cheng didn’t have time for their bullshit. He is dripping wet and there is some poor guy beside him who looked traumatized and seconds away from passing out. So he told Wen Ning that he’s going, and to maybe push the three idiots in the pool if they don’t stop being idiots soon. Then he asked Can’t-Swim-Guy if he’d like to go to Jiang Cheng’s dorm, just on the next block, to dry off.

On the way, he learned that Can’t-Swim-Guy’s name is Nie Huaisang. He is friends with Jin Zixuan. He knows Jiang Cheng’s sister. He is a freshman like Jiang Cheng, but they don’t share any classes.

And they’d almost almost made it inside the dorm that he shares with his brother and Wen Ning, when he heard Nie Huaisang sniffle.

“You caught that cold quick, there’s a vending machine outside with some hot drinks-”

Another sniffle, and a hiccup. Oh, no. That’s not a cold. Jiang Cheng turned around to see the dripping wet, very flustered, understandably upset stranger that he had dragged home with him… starting to cry.

“H-Hey.” Jiang Cheng starts. “Uh- We’re here now- Are you-… Are you okay?”

“S-Sorry, I just-” Can’t-Swim- err… Nie Huaisang mumbles. To his credit, he looks like he’s trying his best to not break down, as he dabs at his eyes with the sleeve of the borrowed jacket. “I’m-… I’m okay. I think. I should be. I don’t know…?”

“Err… Are you like, hurt anywhere or…? Do you want to go to a clinic instead or-”

“I’m okay.” Nie Huaisang says, sounding so far from okay. “I don’t want to go anywhere… I want to die.”

“S-Sure.” Jiang Cheng nods, then realizes what he said. “Wait. I mean. No, don’t die. You’re good. My brother was being stupid, and Jin Zixuan was- well, he’s also stupid. But I’m sure they didn’t mean for you to fall in the pool and die, c’mon-”

Nie Huaisang doesn’t look like he heard any of that, looking down at the ground as he shakes and sobs. “Bijou is gone.”

“Wha-… Who?”

“M-My hamster. She died two days ago.”

Aw, shit. Jiang Cheng didn’t sign up to be a pet grief counselor tonight. He sympathizes, he really does, and he thinks of what to say to that, instead of asking how this is related to their current problem of… well… being at risk of getting sick.

“Um… I’m sure she’s… in a better place now-?”

“She-… She’s my baby…” Nie Huaisang sobs. “And- and she’s all I can think about now, but I have to get it together, because my teammates for my final project are so stupid, one of them just ghosted me and the other one spilled fucking coffee on the piece. My piece! My painting! That I worked on for weeks, and I finished it right before Bijou died and that bastard just ruined it, and now I have to kick everyone off the group and just do the project alone and do the painting all over again-”

Ah. So Jiang Cheng’s new companion has had a day. Or days. Wait, weeks, he said he was working for weeks. Also, he’s an art student. Jiang Cheng mentally jots that down. And wow, he’s not done-

“-and I thought, okay, everything sucks, but maybe going with Zixuan-ge to Wen Chao’s stupid party will cheer me up a bit but no, I just end up dying in the pool… That’s so stupid, dying on Wen Chao’s stupid pool…”

“You’re not dead.” Jiang Cheng says. “Like, I’m pretty sure you’re not. I checked and everything.”

“You should’ve let me though…” Nie Huaisang says miserably hands awkwardly clutching at Wen Ning’s jacket.

Jiang Cheng didn’t miss that he’s been trying his best to cover himself up ever since he got rescued from the pool. So he helps adjust the jacket so it’s more snug around Nie Huaisang.

“I’m-… I’m probably gonna fail that class because of that project and da-ge is gonna kill me and Bijou is gone and I’m so cold and my head hurts, and- Ow. Ow, ow, shit-”

Jiang Cheng blinks, as the guy suddenly flinches and bends over as if in pain. “W-What’s wrong? Hey-”

Nie Huaisang groans once, and then straightens up with a pained expression, and it’s clear that he’s trying to power through whatever this is. “I’m. Wait. Whooo. Sorry. M-My cramps have been killing me since yesterday…”

Ah. That’s a thing too. Jiang Cheng nods, adding that to the list…

“I… I really didn’t wanna make a big deal out of it ‘cause Zixuan-ge was really nice to ask me to go hang out with him at the party and my phone is probably dead-…” He breaks down again then, not quite finished sobbing. “Da-ge will so be mad that I’m not answering his calls, he really is gonna kill me, maybe drowning would be better after all… Maybe then I’ll get to be with Bijou…”

In the middle of all that, Jiang Cheng had somehow found himself awkwardly holding Nie Huaisang as he sobs, now and then rubbing his back, because what else can he do at this point?

So now there’s a guy crying on Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng won’t shame him for crying, because everything he mentioned sure sounded like an actual nightmare. Jiang Cheng even wonders how he looked so normal and okay, when they met earlier in the party… considering what he’s going through…

Well. It seems that it only took being plunged into a pool and almost dying for him to actually break down over his no good, terrible, very bad week.

Jiang Cheng wishes he wasn’t the one dealing with this, though. Jiang Cheng didn’t sign up to be anyone’s emotional support person tonight, much less to a stranger. He is a cute stranger. But he could be a serial killer for all Jiang Cheng knew.

After a few more moments of sniffling, of people from other dorm rooms passing by and Jiang Cheng glaring at them for staring at their very wet, very upset states, Nie Huaisang finally draws away, still looking miserable, but definitely crying less.

“I’m s-sorry… I don’t know what’s gotten into me-”

“Pool water. Tons of it.” Jiang Cheng answers.

And that. That makes Nie Huaisang laugh. A teary, surprised, bewildered laugh. He looks up at Jiang Cheng, hiccups, and then breaks down, shoulders shaking – not crying this time – but laughing.

It’s infectious, because Jiang Cheng snorts, realizing what an asshole response he gave back there, and how ridiculous it is that Nie Huaisang is not offended or upset about it, and instead somehow found that funny. He laughs as well, and he keeps laughing even as he places his hands on either side of Nie Huaisang’s arms to steady him when he leans forward to muffle his laughter against Jiang Cheng’s chest.

More of his dorm neighbors pass by, some of them actually looking concerned, and Jiang Cheng just waves them off.

“We should-… We should go inside.” he says, once again awkwardly patting the other’s back. “We look crazy out here.”

“Okay, Jiang-xiong.” Nie Huaisang says, voice tiny as he nods, not quite able to look back at Jiang Cheng, eyes puffy, nose and cheeks red.

.

.

Jiang Cheng lends his guest one of his towels (the good one, fresh from the laundry) and insists that he use the bath first. Nie Huaisang is grateful and goes to wash up. Jiang Cheng then hands over a shirt (one of his bigger ones) and track pants (one of his fitting ones) and Nie Huaisang takes those without question as well.

Jiang Cheng was just starting to towel dry his hair and take off his wet shirt when he hears Nie Huaisang’s meek call from the bathroom.

“What is it? Is the shower broken again-”

“N-no, I think it’s working fine.” Nie Huaisang assures him, voice tentative, peeking out from behind the bathroom door. “But, um… I really hate to ask this but I kinda have to, uhhh… What are the chances that you or any of your roommates might have… period supplies?”

Jiang Cheng stares at him, and mentally backtracks. Nie Huaisang did mention that earlier, on his long list of things that are very terrible about his week. Also, it actually would kinda explain the guy being an emotional wreck just minutes ago…

Unfortunately, Jiang Cheng doesn’t have period supplies. So he activates his problem-solving brain, and immediately thinks of who could help him with this. He first thinks of MianMian next door, but then he recalls seeing MianMian and her roommates at Wen Chao’s earlier, so knocking on their door probably won’t do anything. There’s another girl two doors over who Wei Ying had been flirting with. Which means Jiang Cheng isn’t going anywhere near her, nope. And that’s the end of his list.

Well, almost.

“What do you need?” he asks. “There’s a convenience store just across the street.”

Nie Huaisang blinks at him, then shakes his head, looking horrified. “O-Oh-! You really don’t have to-”

“What, it’s not like you could go yourself. So what do you need?” Jiang Cheng shrugs. “It’s cool. I wanna buy a drink, anyway.”

Cheeks red, sounding like he wants to go jump back in the pool and drown for real, Nie Huaisang gives him a short list, plus options, just in case. Jiang Cheng lists them down on his phone, puts on a dry shirt, then tells his guest (it’s guest now, he supposes) that he’ll be back.

.

As he goes through the convenience store aisles, he idly thinks that maybe he is too chill about this. He just left a stranger in his dorm, which he shares with his brother and Wen Ning. Where all their things are. All their valuables. From money to personal identification to school papers to laptops and all that shit.

Then he shrugs. Whatever. Nie Huaisang might still turn out to be a serial killer, but he’s probably not a thief. He’s hanging out with Jin Zixuan, so he’s probably also rich.

He gets the period stuff without much fuss, and tries his best to ignore the look of wonder and amazement he gets from the guy hanging around the same aisle who had been obviously struggling to figure out which of the five products he is holding in his arms is the right one. Jiang Cheng just walks away.

Then he goes back and takes one of the products the guy has been quietly having a meltdown about and tosses it on the guy’s basket.

Then he goes away for real, going to grab drinks for himself (and an extra in case Nie Huaisang felt like having some too). He also gets some chocolate bars (because those always seemed to help jiejie, and if Nie Huaisang wasn’t partial to them, then it’s cool, so Jiang Cheng will have chocolate then).

He pays for the things. Wei Ying owes him. Maybe Jin Zixuan too. Fuck it, he’ll tell Jin Zixuan to pay, maybe. He was the one who brought Nie Huaisang to the party, he should’ve been the one doing this for his friend. Or Wei Ying, because he’s the reason the guy got pushed into the pool anyway.

Those two idiots. Jiang Cheng hopes Wen Ning pushes them both into the pool. Wen Ning probably wouldn’t. Jiang Cheng still hopes. Maybe MianMian can do it. Jiang Cheng wants to text MianMian and tell her to throw them in the pool. Maybe add in Wen Chao too. Just because.

.

.

Nie Huaisang thanks him no less than ten times when he hands over the period things, before disappearing into the bathroom again. He doesn’t take long to reappear. He looks meek and small in Jiang Cheng’s very big shirt, but at least he doesn’t look uncomfortable and sick anymore. His hair is longer than Jiang Cheng expected, out of the messy bun, it reached down the middle of his back. Jiang Cheng only now notices the green streaks. His eyes are still puffy from crying, but he looks much better now.

Jiang Cheng tells him he also bought some chocolate in case it will help, and then Nie Huaisang goes back to looking like he’s about to cry.

“J-Jiang-xiong… You’re-… You’re too kind-”

Jiang Cheng steps back. Nope.

“Sure, yeah, okay, uhhhhh- Have a drink, there’s some on the fridge, and water, and I guess coffee, lots of coffee, and- Y’know what, just do whatever. I’m gonna… go. Okay. Bye.”

Before Nie Huaisang could say anything to that, Jiang Cheng escapes to the bathroom, and just stands there dumbly for a full minute, before stepping into the shower.

.

.

When Jiang Cheng is done washing up and hiding from his very unplanned, very emotional guest, he finds Nie Huaisang sitting on the couch, pouring over the puzzle book that Jiang Cheng had left there before leaving for the party earlier that night.

Nie Huaisang looks up at him, looking like a kid caught with his hand on the cookie jar.

Well. He is a guy caught with a pencil on the puzzle book.

“Ah! Jiang-xiong, sorry, my phone is just… dead and I… didn’t know what to do, I guess, I just… picked this up? I kinda… solved one… This one I think you left unfinished…?”

“Oh.” Jiang Cheng blinks. “Sure, no problem. I got stuck earlier anyway. You like Murdle?”

For the first time since the whole pool accident, Nie Huaisang smiles. “Yeah, I love Murdle.”

Oh.

He loves Murdle.

Jiang Cheng will marry this guy tomorrow-

Okay, okay, no- nope. What was that? Jiang Cheng has to physically shake his head and blink away the thoughts, because what the hell. He almost asked Nie Huaisang to marry him. That’s not cool. He doesn’t know this guy. He’s just helping him out, because Jiang Cheng feels partially responsible for the whole debacle, because he did not stop his brother from pulling a stupid prank even though jiejie asked them both to please get along with her boyfriend.

Jiang Cheng didn’t just fall in love with this cute stranger in his clothes who said he loves Jiang Cheng’s favorite book. He doesn’t do that!

What he does, though, is play things cool, because that’s the kind of person he is. A cool person to hang out and talk about puzzles with, not a proposing-to-strangers person.

“Cool.” he says, as he also sits on the couch, careful to maintain a good, respectful distance between him and his guest who he now will ask if he’s single-

Stop. Okay. Think normal. Talk normal!

“So do you have, like, all the books? Or do you just do the online daily thing?”

“I’m done with the first and second one…” Nie Huaisang says, closing the book and looking at the cover. “And… this is the third, right? I should buy a copy already, the cases look fun. But yeah, for now I’m just doing the daily puzzles. Do you do them too?”

“Sometimes. I like the books better.” Jiang Cheng shrugs, then turns to his companion. “Wait, so who did it, for that one you just solved?”

“Ah, it’s the Earl.” Nie Huaisang answers. He opens the book again, and gingerly scoots closer to Jiang Cheng on the couch so they can both look at the current page. “He was at the theatre, and the weapon’s a poisoned apple.”

“Huh.” Jiang Cheng leans over as well to look at the puzzle grid that Nie Huaisang had filled out. “Of course it’s him, their family has so many issues.”

“So many!” Nie Huaisang laughs. “And, um, I think I know why you got stuck?” He angles the book better so he can point at a spot for Jiang Cheng to look at. “Here, I dunno why, you probably missed marking this clue… It would’ve crossed out these two others…”

“Shit, you’re right.” Jiang Cheng sighs, then shakes his head. “I’m blaming Wei Ying. Wouldn’t even let me finish thinking before bugging me to go to the stupid party.”

“What, he was really that excited to slime Zixuan-ge?” Nie Huaisang asks, thankfully not sounding too upset. Jiang Cheng supposes that he does understand that the pool debacle happened purely on accident – he was just standing at the wrong spot at the wrong time.

“Yeah… It was stupid.” Jiang Cheng scoffs. “And why was he that close, anyway? And owning it too… If it was me I’d make it look like an accident.”

Nie Huaisang raises an eyebrow. “An accident… with… slime?”

“Yeah, somehow. Probably not slime. I’m not in gradeschool.‘” Jiang Cheng shrugs. “But think about it. That will make Jin Zixuan look more like an idiot.”

“I guess…?” A small grin tugs at Nie Huaisang’s lips, as he puts the puzzle book down for a moment so he can properly shift and turn towards Jiang Cheng. “So you don’t disagree with the prank, you just hate the execution…”

Jiang Cheng pauses for a second, as he realizes that his companion has just settled as if getting ready for story time.

Oh, no. Jiang Cheng is not a story time person.

Still, it’ll be too awkward if he says nothing, so he replies with a nod. “He’s dating my big sister. It’s my duty to give him a hard time.”

“Ah. I guess it is.” NIe Huaisang chuckles, looking fairly amused. “Jiang-xiong, that sounds like a line from one of our murder cases here.”

Jiang Cheng thinks about it. Yes, that did sound like one of the statements from the Murdle books. Yes, that was a really good quip- No, don’t get distracted-

“Well, do you always let strangers take you home? What if I am a murderer?”

“You’re not a stranger. You’re my friend’s girlfriend’s brother.” Nie Huaisang says, like that makes sense. Then he matches that with, “And do you always take strangers home? What if I am the murderer here?”

“I thought about that, actually.” Jiang Cheng admits, as he leans back comfortably against the couch, looking back at his guest. “Then you cried about the hamster.”

Nie Huaisang blinks. “Wait. That made you think I’m not shady?”

Jiang Cheng shakes his head. “No, that made you even shadier, I think. And I was like, this guy is really good at crying. At least if he turns out to be a serial killer, I won’t be stupid to fall for it, ‘cause it was a really good performance.”

Nie Huaisang blinks at him – once, twice – then he laughs, disbelieving – “I’m going to take that as some kinda compliment. I think.”

“Yeah. You’re good for a serial killer, is what I’m saying.” Jiang Cheng nods again, like that’s a normal thing for him to say.

It is not. It shouldn’t be a normal thing for any person to say, Jiang Cheng thinks.

“Thank you! And you’ve been such a kind, helpful gentleman throughout all of this, which is also really good, for a serial killer.”

Alright, so Nie Huaisang is weird.

Jiang Cheng doesn’t fight the snort of laughter that escapes him, which makes Nie Huaisang continue laughing. Good. That’s better than crying.

Also, this vibe is closer to the one they had when they met, earlier in the evening. Jiang Cheng liked that vibe. Jiang Cheng likes this vibe.

As their laughter dies down, Jiang Cheng takes a breath before he speaks, “And, hey, in case you really aren’t a murderer, I’m… sorry to hear about your hamster, uh…”

“Bijou.” Nie Huaisang provides.

“Yeah.”

Nie Huaisang continues, “Like Bijou from Hamtaro.”

“Oh.” Jiang Cheng blinks, as things click into place. “I only know Hamtaro from Hamtaro.”

A nonchalant hum. “That’s fair.”

“…and the other things, too. I mean, the other shit you said you had to deal with. That all sounds… rough. I hope things look up soon.”

“Yeah… it has been… a week.” Nie Huaisang sighs, looking down at the book he now holds in his lap, to hide from Jiang Cheng’s gaze. “Thank you, though? I was having a really bad time back there, I didn’t mean to just… um, vent on you. I guess. You’re really nice, Jiang-xiong.”

Jiang Cheng only lets out a noncommittal shrug. “Eh.”

“I’m serious! Really, thanks for being so chill and… err, also making that supply run! I’m glad you were cool about it. Your girlfriend is very lucky.”

Jiang Cheng squints. “I don’t have one of those…” then he continues, “I have a sister, though. You’ve met her, you said.”

Nie Huaisang looks at him, blushing lightly. “O-oh… Oh, yeah, that too- I mean- Yeah! Yes, I’ve met Yanli-jie, I tagged along with her and Zixuan-ge in one of their dates… She’s like, the loveliest person!”

Jiang Cheng only nods. “Yeah, she’s the best. No one deserves her.”

“Ah… So you really do subscribe to the Jin Zixuan Sucks Agenda.” Nie Huaisang says with a grin.

Jiang Cheng huffs. “If Wei Ying hadn’t started it, I would’ve.”

Nie Huaisang lets out an awkward laugh. “Haha… I guess I was just… y’know? You’re really handsome and cool and nice and smart! Surely you’re not single- Oh! Boyfriend?”

Jiang Cheng looks at his new… friend? And- ah. His eyes are very shiny. He does look like the kind of person who would name his pet hamster after Hamtaro’s friend. Jiang Cheng wants to know why he likes Murdle. Jiang Cheng is now realizing he lent Nie Huaisang sleeping clothes like they’ll be having a sleepover. Why did he do that? Jiang Cheng doesn’t know how all those thoughts connect. This night is weird as hell.

“Nah.” He says first, to answer the question. Then, because he knows from experience that people will usually ask for a follow-up to that, he thinks of what to say to distract him. “I can’t let anyone get too close. They’ll find out about all the serial killing…”

“I see, I see…” Nie Huaisang giggles. “That makes a lot of sense, Jiang-xiong…”

“Yeah, just being careful, you know.”

“So… what if they’re chill with the murders, then?”

Jiang Cheng stops to think about it again. “Hm… I don’t know why, but that’s worse, somehow.” he says. “But it might work. You never know.”

Jiang Cheng has known Nie Huaisang for maybe two hours tops, but he knows a blank look when he sees it. And then the guy smiles, bright and cheerful, like the smile he had earlier that night pre-pool and pre-crash out.

Then he says, “Jiang-xiong, you are very weird!”

Jiang Cheng frowns. “Hey, the fuck-”

“I like you. Can I try to ask you to go out with me, another time, when I don’t look like a drowned rat and having a nightmare week?”

“Sure- Wait, what-…?”

“Yay! Okay, I’ll do that, then.”

Jiang Cheng blinks. Okay, so that just happened.

Did Nie Huaisang just tell him he’s putting a pin on… asking him out?

That’s… actually okay, with Jiang Cheng. Nie Huaisang sounds honest and to-the-point about liking him, and he wants to ask him at a better time. When he doesn’t “look like a drowned rat” (he really doesn’t, right now, he just looks cute and cozy) and when he’s not “having a nightmare week” (valid, he’s got a lot going on).

That is very practical and sensible of him. Jiang Cheng likes practical and sensible.

Then Nie Huaisang opens the Murdle book again. “Hey, is it okay if I solve this next one too? It has my favorite suspect!”

He… has a favorite suspect.

“Who?”

“Miss Saffron.” Nie Huaisang grins. “She is life goals. Why did she have a whole bear trap in her purse, Jiang-xiong? They never explained it. What an icon. Who’s yours?”

He now thinks Jiang Cheng has a favorite suspect.

Jiang Cheng totally does. Like a nerd.

“The chef. Aubergine.” he says. “It’s been three books. We still don’t know if she cooks people. That’s insane.”

“Oh, that’s a good one! Hm… Does the Inspector count as a suspect? He’s more like a sidekick, right?”

“Yeah, I’d say he’s like… Player Two.”

“True, true… Also, they’re in love. The Detective and the Inspector, I mean.”

“They’re very in love. It’s a slow burn.”

“It is! Ah, they’re so cute!”

Yeah. If Nie Huaisang doesn’t ask him out, Jiang Cheng will probably do it. Because what the hell.

Nie Huaisang has just started crossing out and checking things on the grid, when Jiang Cheng’s phone rings.

Ugh. He hates that Jin Zixuan has his number. He hates it more that he has Jin Zixuan’s number. But jiejie had insisted, so this is just a thing.

He picks up. “What do you want?”

Jin Zixuan sounds tired, but he also somehow still manages to sound like a snob. “Jiang Cheng. Is A-Sang with you?”

“Yeah, we’re at the dorm.” Jiang Cheng replies, making Nie Huaisang look up from his puzzle.

“Is he okay?” – to his credit, Jin Zixuan does sound genuinely worried.

“He’s alive. His phone’s dead, though. Here.”

He passes his phone over to Nie Huaisang, who smiles at him as he takes it.

“Hi, Zixuan-ge… Yeah, no, I’m okay… Jiang-xiong took care of me! He’s super nice.”

Jiang Cheng tries not feel too smug about that. Of course he’s super nice. Of course he took care of his new friend. When jiejie hears about all this, he’ll probably not get in trouble. Unlike Wei Ying and Jin Zixuan. They’ll probably be on timeout or something. Hah.

“Mm-hm. We’re doing Murdle now.” – a pause, because Jin Zixuan probably doesn’t know what that is – “Murdle- Y’know, the book, the… uh, murder sudoku! Whatever! How’s it going over there? Sorry, I didn’t go back anymore, I’m, uh, in someone else’s pajamas…”

As they talk, Jiang Cheng picks up the Murdle book from Nie Huaisang’s lap, and accepts the pencil that the guy hands over to him.

Sometime during their conversation about murders and serial killing and maybe-asking-out, they’ve somehow moved to sit right beside each other. So as Jiang Cheng picks up on solving the puzzle, Nie Huaisang is able to lean over his shoulder to watch him.

“Oh, okay! Yeah, I’ll just wait here.” Nie Huaisang says to the phone. “Thank you, gege!”

He hangs up, and gives Jiang Cheng his phone back.

“He’s going to pick me up and take me home.”

“Good. Least he can do.” Jiang Cheng says, as he crosses off a bunch of grid spaces and checks one. Nie Huaisang points at another space, and after a second, he checks that too.

Nie Huaisang props his chin on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder. “You think we can solve this one before he’s here?”

Jiang Cheng looks at him.

Their faces are too close. His eyes stray to Nie Huaisang’s lips, and Nie Huaisang must have caught that, because he grins, shy but teasing. Jiang Cheng grins too, and leans forward just a little bit, just to tease back… Then he turns to his book again.

“Sure, we can try.”

.

.

A week later, early on a Saturday morning, someone knocks on the door while Jiang Cheng and his roommates are having breakfast.

Well. He and Wen Ning are eating breakfast. Wei Ying is on the couch nursing a hangover from yet another (thankfully pool accident-free) party and sulking about how jiejie is still replying to him with only frowny emojis on their group chat.

Hah. That’s what he gets. Jiang Cheng wonders if Jin Zixuan is also getting the same treatment.

Wen Ning goes to get the door. Jiang Cheng easily recognizes the voice that answers his roommate’s meek greeting.

“Hi! Good morning! Wen Ning, right? Is Jiang-xiong here? I’m returning the clothes I borrowed from him last week.”

Jiang Cheng sees Wei Ying lift his head from where he is sulking on the couch. “Is-… Is that-…?”

Yep. It is.

Wen Ning lets Nie Huaisang in. Their guest bounds inside their dorm, looking cheerful and much better than the last time he was there. He is in a colorful crop top and cargo jeans with too many patches and pockets. There’s at least three of those trendy tiny plushie keychains hanging from his waist.

“Jiang-xiong! Good morning!” he greets as he beelines for Jiang Cheng who is standing by the counter drinking coffee.

“You are too bright for my morning brain. Hi.” Jiang Cheng says, as Nie Huaisang holds out a reusable shopping bag just as brightly-colored as he is, then sets it down on the counter.

Nie Huaisang smiles at him. “Hi! Here’s your clothes, and chocolates too, since you bought me some last time. And I remembered you guys like coffee, so there’s some here too… And, um, snacks? Other stuff.”

“This is… a lot. You didn’t have to.” Jiang Cheng blinks down at the contents of the bag.

“It’s fine! A thank-you token. Zixuan-ge left me with his credit card unattended and the only thing that stopped me from buying like, a whole month of groceries… is that I’d have to carry everything. So I just did, um, a care package for you guys.”

“Oh. Well. Thanks.” Jiang Cheng says. “Feeling better now?”

“Yeah, this week was really tough, but I think the worst is over. My professor agreed to give me an extension on that project.”

Surprising himself, Jiang Cheng feels relief. He is glad to hear that. He didn’t think he was that invested. Turns out he is. Huh.

“That sounds great.” he says, sending Nie Huaisang a small smile.

“Yeah… Thank God she was understanding about it when I told her…” Nie Huaisang sighs, but is quick to shake it off. “So things are looking up, I guess! For me, not much for Zixuan-ge. He says Yanli-jie is just sending him frownies. For like the whole week now.”

That makes Jiang Cheng grin, smug. So Wei Ying and Jin Zixuan are both on timeout.

“Good.” he says.

“He’s being very sulky about it, but he did buy me a new phone. And I got him to get me this too!” Nie Huaisang retrieves what looks like a pair of tickets to… somewhere.

It is very alarmingly dark-colored with bright red accents, Jiang Cheng observes.

“Do you wanna go on this really cool escape room with me, Jiang-xiong? I always wanted to go but I couldn’t find anyone to go with meeee~”

Jiang Cheng takes one of the tickets, and finally recognizes that the red accents on the design are, in fact, blood splatters. “It’s… horror-themed?”

“A haunted house!”

Jiang Cheng idly wonders if this happy, bouncy person who is now clinging to his arm has been stalking him or something, to know exactly the kind of stuff he’s into.

Eh. Whatever. It’s a haunted house escape room. More importantly – it’s free.

He looks at Nie Huaisang. “This sounds sick. I’m in.”

Nie Huaisang cheers, hugging his arm happily. “Yay! I’m excited!”

“Alright, alright… Don’t scream at my ear, I haven’t finished my coffee…” is all Jiang Cheng says, trying his best to keep himself from smiling too much, because his roommates, which include his brother, are both watching this whole thing wide-eyed.

That’s when Wei Ying raises his hand, like he’s in class. “U-Um… Hey, uh, Nie-xiong, right? Hi???”

“Hello…” Nie Huaisang blinks at him. “Wei-xiong?”

“I didn’t get to say sorry for the pool accident thing… last week?” Wei Ying says, looking genuinely remorseful, made even more convincing by his hungover state. “So… I’m really sorry… that you fell in the pool. You look like, super cool, and jiejie told me you’re really nice, too. So I hope you don’t… hate me?”

Jiang Cheng looks at his brother, then at Nie Huaisang in his arm.

“Um… Well… I’m not as angry at you as I should be, I think. I kinda get it…” Nie Huaisang says, with a light laugh. “So um, don’t worry, I don’t hate you. But I really like Zixuan-ge, he’s super nice to me and he buys me things and drives me to places, and I’m not gonna stop hanging out with him, so maybe… Maybe next time, you aim the slime better and make sure no one’s in the way. Cool?”

“Oh.” Wei Ying blinks, looking relieved. “Cool. Yeah. Thanks for… not being mad…?”

Nie Huaisang just smiles prettily at him, and then looks back at Jiang Cheng. “So… I still have stuff to turn in today. See you tomorrow?”

“Sure.” Jiang Cheng says. “Dinner, after the escape room?”

“Sounds great.” Nie Huaisang grins. “Okay, I’m gonna go now. Zixuan-ge is probably getting bored in the car.” He tiptoes to kiss Jiang Cheng on the cheek, and then finally steps back, adjusts his very tiny backpack on his back, and turns to leave. “Nice meeting you, Wen-xiong, Wei-xiong! Have a nice day!”

And then he’s gone. Just like that.

Jiang Cheng takes a sip of his coffee as both Wen Ning and Wei Ying look bewildered at him.

“What the-… A-Cheng, what is that… Why is that?” Wei Ying whines. “Jiejie’s been mad at me? For a week? And you get a boyfriend?”

“That’s how it is, I guess.” Jiang Cheng shrugs, as he peeks at the contents of the “little” care package that Nie Huaisang left. His clothes, chocolate, fancy coffee, some teas, good instant ramen and snacks. Nice.

Wei Ying returns to his miserable slump on the couch. “Unbelievable! No sympathy from my own brother…”

“Y’know, I’ll support you if you made better choices.”

From the table, Wen Ning says, “C-Congratulations, Jiang-xiong.”

Jiang Cheng raises his cup at his friend. “Thanks, Wen Ning.”

“Wait, wait! How did all that happen anyway?” Wei Ying asks, propping himself up on the couch armrest. “You just met the guy, right? He hung around here for a while? What did you guys even do?”

Jiang Cheng picks up the care package bag, propping it on one shoulder. “We solved a murder.”

Oh, that made Wen Ning almost choke on his food. Jiang Cheng actually feels bad about that.

“What?” Wei Ying calls out. “Wait, Jiang Cheng- What??? Give me details!”

Jiang Cheng simply ignores that and heads off to his room.

“Nobody bother me today. Gotta finish my paper. I have a date tomorrow.”

.

.

fin.