Lan Wangji's words kept ringing in Wu Ming's head from the moment he left. Lan Wangji was an extremely competent and intelligent person. He would not fall into defeat for no reason. Had he really seen something between him and Wei Ying? Should Wu Ming really confess his romantic feelings to Wei Wuxian already?

"Wu Ming!" Wei Wuxian rushed to the boy as he saw Lan Wangji leave. "Wu Ming, what happened? Lan Zhan left already? He didn't even bid his good bye to me. He never leaves without saying good bye. What's wrong? What did he talk to you about? Is he upset? He is upset because of me, isn't he? I think I even saw him a little teary. Did he tell you what happened? Is it me? Is it my fault he is suddenly so upset? I have never seen Lan Zhan this upset. Something must be wrong, no? Say something!"

Wei Wuxian kept rambling till he was out of breath. Wu Ming held his shoulders, steadying him. "Ying-Ge, calm down. Please don't panic again. I will tell you, just calm yourself first." Wei Wuxian almost looked like he was gonna cry.

Wu Ming sighed. "Lan Wangji is a little upset, yes, but I cannot tell you why. I do promise you though, it is not your fault. It doesn't have anything to do with you. He will come back in a few days, you don't need to worry."

"Are you sure? I really think it is me. I didn't mean to upset him. He will come back, right? He wouldn't leave me, right?" There was desperation in Wei Wuxian's eyes, much bigger than the one he had when he asked the same to Wu Ming.

Wu Ming gave him a small reassuring smile. "He would not."

Wei Wuxian merely nodded. Still, throughout the evening, Wei Wuxian seemed lost and sad. Wu Ming could not see Wei Wuxian like that. It was painful to see. That was why, he took permission from Grandmaster Baoshan, and brought Wei Ying downhill, in the city to treat him with Tsua-Bing.

(TN: Tsua-Bing is like ancient Chinese ice cream. Like shaved ice with syrup and toppings and all)

Sitting by the window of an inn, almost finished with their sweet treat, they looked up at the stars and the moon. Wei Wuxian seemed to have cooled down, and pretty much forgotten about Lan Wangji at the moment, just enjoying the present.

Something in Wu Ming's gut feeling said to listen to what Lan Wangji said, and confess his true feelings to Wei Wuxian. Right there. Right then.

"Ge," Wu Ming softly called, nervous in his heart. "Could I confess something to you?"

"Hm? Um, yeah. Go ahead."

Wu Ming gently held Wei Wuxian's hand, caressing the back of it. "For a long time now, in fact, almost since I have known you, I have had feelings for you. Feelings that are more than just friends. Especially these days, it has been growing. I really like you, Ge. I... I love you."

Wei Wuxian's hand became still in his. There was a change of expression on Wei Wuxian's face. Wu Ming had swayed in Lan Wangji's half promising words. He had, before Wei Wuxian even said anything, assumed that the other had mutual romantic feelings. That's is where he went wrong. That's when he mistook the polite hesitance of Wei Wuxian for blushing shyness. That's when he made his biggest mistake.

Before Wei Wuxian could even respond, Wu Ming leaned to Wei Wuxian and kissed his lips. It was a paradise on Wei Wuxian's lips. Soft, plump, and naturally pink.

But for Wu Ming, those moments of utter pleasure and happiness lasted for even less than a second, when Wei Wuxian instantly purses his lips, pulling back. "W-Wu Ming, no. What are you... What are you doing?"

Wu Ming's paradise shattered when he realised that Lan Wangji was, infact, wrong. He was wrong, when he promised Wu Ming of Wei Wuxian's love. Wei Wuxian did not love him either. The instantly troubled and displeased face of Wei Wuxian immediately revealed it.

Wu Ming's eyes went wide. "Wei... Ying-Ge... Do you not... Lan Wangji told me you... You don't return my feelings, do you?" He asked in horror.

Wei Wuxian looked down in guilt, as if it was his fault. "Wu Ming... I... I love you, but not like this. I love like a friend, like a brother. Not like a lover or something. I... I have someone else I like."

Wu Ming's heart broke. Wei Wuxian does not love him. he would not. Wu Ming looked down to his feet, clenching his fists. He let out a forced chuckle. "I'm sorry. I didnt think this through. I... i shouldve known."

"Wu ming, please, dont be angry at me." Wei Wuxian said, falling into tears from overwhelming. "Why would you even fall in love with someone like me? Like i have nothing good. I neither look that good nor have a charismatic personality for you to like me at all, let alone love me. You are a great person, but i am not. You shouldn't have fallen in love with me. I am sorry, i am really sorry."

Wu Ming immediately held Wei Wuxian's shoulder, "Hey, hey, hey! Wei Ying, stop putting the blame on yourself. Its not your fault. And dare you ever say you are not good enough. Ying-Ge, you are indeed the best person I have ever met. Its not your fault, Ying-Ge. I should be the one apologizing. Please dont cry."

"I really dont wanna lose you because of something like this." Wei Wuxian cried, hugging Wu Ming. "I don't love you like that, but you indeed are one of my best friends. Please don't leave me."

Wu Ming hugged Wei Wuxian  back, tears filling his eyes. Wu Ming sighed, rubbing Wei Wuxian's back in comfort. "Who is it that you... like?"

Wei Wuxian sniffled, "What?"

"You said you like someone else." Wu Ming cleared. "Who is the luckier person?"

Wei Wuxian hesitated, pulling back. "You really want to know? You won't... be sad, would you?"

"I won't."

"Its..." Wei Wuxian sighed with sadness. "Its Lan Zhan."

Wu Ming's eyebrows creased. "Lan Wangji? Lan-Er Gongzi? I thought... You didn't like him." Lan Wangji had never explained the reason of his defeat. Wu Ming instinctively fell upon the conclusion that it must be because of rejection. But how could it be, when Wei Wuxian claims to like him?

"What? No. I have liked him for a long time. In fact its the other way around. He is so perfect in everything, how am I not supposed to ─" Wei Wuxian paused. "Shit, I am sorry Wu Ming. I shouldn't be saying this stuff after you said all those things... I am sorry."

Wu Ming shook his head. "No, don't be. Its fine. I just wanted to know."

Wei Wuxian look down. "We are still friends, right?"

And despite how much more Wu Ming craved for, he could not get any of it. So he just forced a smile, "Of course."

Y'ALL GUYS START CRYING FOR WU MING!