"What comes next?" Asked Wei Ying. 

Lan XiChen replied. "Well, since it is clear that this is a Lan Zhan neither of us has ever known before, I suggest we peruse this application."

"Isn't that ...ummm, unethical?"

"Indeed it is. But since you will be interning with me this year, I think we can stretch the rules a bit."

Lan XiChen walked over and locked the door, which caused Wei Ying's straight-laced conscience to twinge, at first. However, curiosity tweaked the cat, and he pulled close to peer into the screen. That face...it was older and more mature, but there was such an embracing innocence there. He swallowed hard.

"Nice to look at, isn't he?"

"Mmmm. Yes, but this Lan Zhan seems to show more dimensions. Before, he was still so young, In the other lives, the two I remember most clearly, he seemed reluctant to show them."

"Which would have been natural, coming from a place with 2000 rules...4000 after you entered the picture..."

Wei Ying cringed. "I was really that horrid?"

Lan XiChen ruffled Ying's already unruly hair. He had been in such a rush, he had not applied hair product to tame it. "Not horrid, just a breath of unwanted fresh air."

Wei Ying sighed at the picture. Lan XiChen paused. "We can stop if this is too much for you."

Ying shook his head. "No. This is not too much. But I am worried he might be too much for me."

"Why?"

"Because, look how vibrant, how confident he seems with the world."

"Let's see what you two might have in common. Let's start with Accomplishments

Captain on the Basketball Team. League Champions his Senior  year.

Statewide Swimming Champion.

Homecoming King.

Prom King.

4.0 Grade Average.

First Chair Pianist.

Senior Class President.

Junior Class...

Wei Ying groaned.  "Okay. Okay! I get the picture. Brilliant AND Mr. Personality."

"It sure looks like he bloomed this lifetime."

"BLOOMED? He sounds like he is the entire, blasted garden!!! He bloomed. I am doomed! How do I even begin to related to this new personality?"

"How is he going to adjust to a Wei Ying who sits and waits for fate to slap him in the face again? That is not you at the core. The child before the accident? You have to rediscover him and set him free once more.  Besides, didn't you just want to ensure he was okay this time?"

"Yeah. But..."

"But you were secretly hoping for more. That is fine. If you should make his acquaintance again, just be yourself. You are bright, and handsome as hell. Leave out the hair products and let the wind blow freely. He always loved that mane of hair. Give it a fair and natural chance. OK?"

You sound like an old Meiren."

"Been my job for you two for centuries. Do you trust me?"

"That's a loaded question. Right now, I am not so sure."

Lan XiChen walked over with two cups of tea. Drink. Then we will continue."

Wei Ying looked at his mentor with huge gray eyes. 

"This is goining to be bad again, isn't it?"

"Weeellll...Maybe not bad...."

"Oh God."

"Be prepared for your first roomie. He needs a dorm room. Last minute request and yours was the only one with a vacant bed. I am afraid that you and Lan Zhan will be stuck with one another."

"Oh no...No...NO! Lan XiChen, DO something. Get me out of this, PLEASE. I can't. I am not ready. PLEASE find him another roommate. I'm begging you."

"The only other room available is with George "The Giant" Grzeszkiewicz. And you know  he is bordering on a full psychotic breakdown. You don't want that for poor Lan Zhan do you?"

"You bastard. You seem happy about this, aren't you?" He glared at XiChen who twinkled at him as he simultaneously typed a text out on his phone. Clearly, his 2nd Gege was not treating this as seriously as Ying.

"Me? I am not that Machiavellian,"

"No. Maybe not, But you are every bit as bad as Sun Tzu."

"That is The Art of War, not The Art of Love."

So what. That's not so far apart, is it?"

"Is it?"

"You...you....bastard." Wei Ying rose and stomped to the door.

"You already called me that. Pick up a Thesaurus while you are at the bookstore!"

As he slammed the door shut and turned to leave, his nose plowed into the chest of a tall, lean figure. He raised his head up, and further up and met the merriest, most beautiful golden gleam in the world. 

Lan Zhan stood there, smiling happily down at him. He would have stepped back, but he was pressed up against the doorway, suddenly surrounded by the dizzying scent of sandalwood body spray. 

"Hey, Bruh! Didn't mean to, like, literally, run right into you! Hey! Aren't you the guy who tried to stop me from "jumping " off the Monet Bridge? Sorry about the misunderstanding."

Wei Ying  stuttered."I...I..." Then he remembered the tall, androgynous Z'er in the Gardens. Same lean body. Same glossy hair to the waist. The same voice, like honey with a pinch of chili pepper in it. This could not have just gotten any worse.

"What's your name? Mine is Lan Zhan."

"Wei...Wuxian. Some call me Wei Ying."

"Wei Wuxian...Wei Wuxian. Seems familiar. Oh, yeah! They just assigned me to be your new roommate. Got the text just now. That's why I smacked into you. Never walk and talk at the same time, Bruh!" 

Wei Ying was sure of it now, He was going to cheerfully strangle Lan XiChen the next time he saw him.

"Well, got my first meeting with my advisor. CYA, Wei Wuxian!" And the tall kid knocked on the door above Wei Ying's head.

"Enter." Lan XiChen's somewhat amused voice sounded, a little too close to the glass. Of course, his 2nd Gege had ears like a bat. His own ears aflame, Ying took off like a scalded ape and left the two behind the closed door.

Meiren is one of the Chinese words for matchmaker.