"Hey guys, come on in! We got plenty of food to feed an army... here...".his voice faltered, as if sensing the atmosphere between the two that has just got in.
The tension that enveloped them was thick enough that it could be cut by a knife, and neither of them seemed to be in the mood for talking.
Jiang Yanli, as usual, seemed to notice it right away, and she came over to her brother, Jiang Cheng giving him a quick hug.
"A-Cheng, come help me in the kitchen." She hooked her arm onto Cheng's and half dragged him into the kitchen, giving Wei Wuxian a wink, behind Cheng's back.

Wei Wuxian received the signal loud and clear, and dragged Huaisang to the balcony.
"Dude, what happened? I thought you both were just fine last night?" He pushed Huaisang on a chair and sat beside him, and Ning on the other side while Lan Wangji and Wen Qing stood a bit far, not wanting to interrupt them.
"Can I get something to eat first? I'm fucking starving." He stood up and went to the table, picking some of the dumplings and a glass of milkshake, thankfully his favourite, before he went back out to the balcony. Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning waited patiently for Huaisang to eat his fill first, but he spent the majority of the time just staring at the food.

"I guess by now you will be able to describe every single detail of that dumpling." Wuxian said. "Would you like to tell us what happened now?" He could be impatient if it concerned his friends.
"Well, yeah, I know for sure that this dumpling was bought from the little store near Lan Wangji'a house, ao that means he bought it, am I right? You see this little crease of folding of the skin is different than any other dumpling I've seen, and the filling has the special bone broth infused..."
"How do you know this?" Ning asked, surprised at the minute details Huaisang had on the tiny dumpling
 
"Da-ge always gets me some when he stays over at the Lans."

"Nie Huaisang!" Wei Wuxian grabbed the dumpling and almost threw it away in anger. "You're deflecting. That's how I know that something must have happened last night. Tell us please? I don't give a damn about the fucking dumpling, just...tell us. I'm worried about you guys." His own voice sounded harsh even to his own ears but he just couldn't help it.
Hearing the curse word leaving Wuxian's mouth, Lan Wangji looked up surprised and raised his eyebrow in question. He was just about to say something but Wen Qing caught his eyes and shook her head.
 
They were both newcomers, and they hadn't really understood the rhythm of the others' friendship yet. So they chose to observe from the side-lines, ready to offer help if needed.

Wen Ning on the other hand, patted Wei Wuxian's arm, to remind him to cool down before Huaisang's usual response of flight kicked in.
 Wei Wuxian took a few deep breaths, before he finally calmed down.
"I'm sorry I lost my cool bro, but I've been noticing this tension between you and Cheng for sometime now. Is there anything I can do to help? Please?" He squeezed Huaisang's arms in support.
Huaisang eventually let out a heavy sigh.
"We kissed..."
"About time…" Wuxian started but then shut up immediately after getting a look from Wangji. "Sorry go on…"
 
"Well it happened twice but both times, Cheng decided it was just the adrenaline talking and asked me to forget about it."
 
"You love him..." Ning said. It wasn't a question but a statement which made Huaisang look at him.
 
"I do. I have loved him for years and I think he likes me too but he never takes the first step."
 
"Then why don't you?" Ning asked innocently.
 
"Why don't I?" Huaisang repeated the question. "I don't know, Ning. Maybe I am scared to ruin my friendship with him. I mean we have kissed but if he always finds excuses for those instances, I think he is not ready yet. I have waited so long, I can wait longer, I suppose." A single tear rolled down his cheek as he finished talking.
 
"Sang…" Wuxian whispered. "I know my brother is an idiot but I don't think he means to hurt you like this."
 
"I know, Xian. He has always been emotionally constipated." Huaisang laughed a mirthless laughter.
"Sang, I do not know you guys that well but I have seen the way he looks at you. He has feelings for you, alright." Ning tried to offer his view.
"I agree. I guess he needs a push." Wuxian muttered.
 
Huaisang slurped his milkshake and then wiped the single tear as he said, "Anyway, let's not talk about it anymore today. We don't get a chance to meet like this often so let's just have some food and fun, yeah?"
 
Wei Wuxian finally relented, and gave him a tight hug, before dragging him to the table. He then started to pile food to his plate.
 
"Are you trying to kill me XianXian? I will blow up like a balloon if I eat that much. You remember what happened to Aunt Marge in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?" Huaisang, joked.
 
"How can I forget? We spent 3 months’ worth of pocket money to get that book!" Wuxian exclaimed, then turned towards Ning. "Ning! Tell me you have read Harry Potter!"
 
"I haven't, sorry…" Ning apologized.
 
Wuxian and Huaisang both gasped. "OK, we need to baptise him soon," Sang said.
 
"Seconded" Wuxian agreed.
Lan Wangji smiled at the random change in subject and walked to his bunny's side. He patted the small of the latter's back in encouragement, and Wei Wuxian had never been more grateful for it.
 
 

----
 
 
 
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Jiang Cheng knew exactly why his sister had used the excuse of needing help and dragged him there promptly. It was pretty obvious by the looks that the others gave him and Nie Huaisang when they entered the apartment. Not to mention, he had noticed his siblings having a silent conversation even when they were being subtle about it. True he felt guilty, but he still could not make up his mind about his feelings, and what to do with them. At the end of it all, he just didn't want to ruin his friendship with Huaisang.
"How have you been?" Jiang Yanli spoke to him first, in a low voice, as if knowing the turmoil inside of him. She sat on one of the chairs at the kitchen island motioning Cheng to take the one opposite hers.

There was no mistaking the glint in her eyes. Cheng wanted to avoid the issue at all cost so he slapped a smile on his face and replied, "Jie, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." Unconsciously, he looked towards the archway leading into the living room, as if expecting someone to walk in at any moment but no one did. He was sure his brother was interrogating Huaisang while his sister was interrogating him. Both his siblings were pretty good at reading him, after all he had spent the most time around them.
"You don't have to treat me like I'm going to break anytime soon, Cheng. I'm pregnant, not dying." Yanli admonished. Although she looked as soft as a marshmallow, she was anything. And even when she had been unable to defend herself when she was with Zixuan, she would happily lay down her life for her brothers. "Now tell me or I won't let you go out there until I know the whole story."

'Guess there's no escape this time,' he thought.
"Chengcheng.." Jiang Yanli prompted him again.
"I kissed Sang." He blurted out.
"And?" His sister kept looking at him, waiting for him to divulge all the information.
"And what? That's it..." Jiang Cheng looked embarrassed to even tell his sister about his so-called love life...which was non-existent. "I don't want to ruin our friendship for... lust. I treasure him too much, and if we do get in a relationship, what if... what if..." He couldn't bring himself to say... what if Sang realized later that he wasn't what he needed. What if they broke up and things ended badly for them? He had seen Yanli's and Jin Zixuan's relationship crumble right in front of his eyes and that kind of end scared him. He couldn't imagine his life without Nie Huaisang. He had been his closest friend apart from his brother. Sang really was too damn precious to him. Head hanging low, he wrung his hand, as if his life depended on it.

Jiang Yanli's heart broke at her brother's confession.
"I love you Chengcheng and I'm sorry to break it to you but you're an idiot," she huffed.
Jiang Cheng looked up in surprise. "What? Why?"
"Why? Because you're too dense to see how every time you deny what's between you, what has always been between you, you are pushing Huaisang away. You are building walls around your heart my dear brother. I understand that you're trying to protect yourself from the hurt you think you will feel but not only does it hurt you more in the long run but it will hurt him as well," she reasoned. She suddenly stood up, walked up to him and hugged him tight.
"What is this for, jie?" Cheng seemed to be confused by Yanli's sudden emotional hug.
"I need you to know that not every relationship is like mine and Zixuan's. True we did start as friends, but it was worth it, Cheng, although the end was not what I had expected, but it was all worth it." She took Cheng's hand and placed it, palm down on her belly. "Feel that Chengcheng? This is the reason it was worth it."
Jiang Cheng's eyes widened as he nodded but he still couldn't stop himself from asking, "Is it really worth it if I one day lose my best friend? I think I'd rather be best friends forever, than jeopardize everything... for something so fickle as love."
"Chengcheng, love isn't fickle. Love gives you courage, love makes you want to be a better person for your beloved..." She paused while cupping his face in her hands. "Maybe...you have to follow your heart. And maybe, it doesn't have to end."
"I know jie, but I don't think I'm ready for it... yet."
"Alright, I will back off for now but please, listen to what your heart says, baby brother. Trust your gut instead of dwelling on the what ifs." Having said that she grinned at him. "Ready to dive into food now?"
Jiang Cheng nodded and they went out to the living room where the others had already started piling their plates with food.
 
 
----
 

 
Although the conversation was a bit restrained, they were all having fun with Yanli and Qing bantering about the amount of ice cream Yanli consumed and the dumplings Wen Ning hoarded.
Lan Wangji had made sure to grab the nearest seat to Wei Wuxian. He didn't touch him but his constant presence beside him kept Wuxian on edge. He had to force himself to not let his traitorous body react to the remembered feeling of Wangji running his hands over him while kissing him until his insides had turned to mush.
"Are you guys always this loud?" Lan Wangji enquired, amused with the amount of sound produced by them. 
Wei Wuxian almost jumped out of his skin when he heard the other's voice so close to his ears. He felt the other's breath fanning his nape as a shiver ran down his spine but he responded as calmly as possible, "Well, if we have the rare chance to meet then yes, we're always this loud, right jie?"
"Umm hmm...'' Jiang Yanli responded while patting Cheng's shoulder.
 
Wei Wuxian looked around just to make sure no one had caught his reaction to the drop-dead gorgeous man beside him. When he saw all were still focusing on the food and conversations, he let out a relieved breath. He was not ashamed to admit that he included his sister in the conversation as a buffer, avoiding the smirk that he now knew graced Wangji's breath-taking features.
 
"So, boys, why don't we go somewhere for a stroll today? I want to stretch my legs for a bit, and we can all use a day out, don't you think?" Yanli said out of the blue.
 
Everyone agreed at once.
 
---
 
The others were still stuffing themselves with food while the girls decided to get ready.
“Do you think this will help cut down the tension brewing between my brother and Sang?” Yanli asked quietly while she did her make-up.
 Wen Qing who was in the middle of wearing her wrist watch, looked at her, their eyes meeting in the mirror. 
 
“Is that why you suggested going out?”
 
“Yeah. Well… I have seen Chang and Sang grow up together, so it worries me to see them hurt so much and that too for a stupid reason. Both of them are idiots!” Yanli threw her hands in the air, exasperated.
 
“Hmm… I am sure they will figure it out soon. If not, we can always lock them up in a room while they man up and admit their feelings,” Qing shrugged.
 
Jiang Yanli laughed at the suggestion. “Now I know why Wangji and you are best friends.”
 
“Hey! I am not as bad as him, OK?”
 
Yanli snorted while Qing stuck her tongue out in response.