Archive of Our Own ^beta

Wei Ying met Lan Zhan almost a year ago, when he moved to Suzhou with his adopted family and transferred to Gusu Lan.

Lan Zhan’s uncle is the headmaster here, and Lan Zhan is notoriously at the top of his class. 

Lan Zhan has a reputation. People speak of him with reverence and longing and a little bit of fear, like he’s someone intangible. A perfect student. A model alpha. A paragon of beauty. Reserved. Aloof and intimidating.

They’re not wrong. Lan Zhan is too good to be true. He’s serious and funny and above all a really, really good person. He’s the nicest, most upstanding alpha Wei Ying has ever met. He’s also gorgeous, like an immortal amongst men. 

Wei Ying likes him a lot. 

He met Lan Zhan on his first day of classes - well, observed him from afar, occasionally catching his gaze and then biting back a smile as butterflies danced in his stomach. 

On the second day of classes, Wei Ying forgot to bring his pencil case, and put up a great show of searching for it in his bag. Then, sighing dejectedly, he turned to face Lan Zhan, a seat diagonally behind him.

“Say, you wouldn’t happen to have a pen I could borrow, would you?”

Lan Zhan stared at him for a moment, like he was trying to make sense of the request. And then, with no hesitation, offered him the pen from his desk.

So nice.

Wei Ying smiled, feeling rather giddy as his fingertips brushed with Lan Zhan’s. 

“Thanks gege! My name is Wei Ying, by the way.”

A strange look passed over Lan Zhan’s face. Wei Ying found his gaze drawn the movement of his Adam's apple as he swallowed. 

“Lan Zhan.”

“Nice to meet you, Lan Zhan~” 

Wei Ying shot him a coy smile and turned back to face the front of the classroom as their instructor entered the room.

The pen Lan Zhan had lent him was heavy in his fingers and clearly good quality. Wei Ying used it for the rest of the day, and then took it home and weighed it in his hand, tracing its edges with his fingertips. 

Lan Zhan’s pen. For some reason, Wei Ying didn’t want to let it go. 

Compelled by some strange, overwhelming impulse, he tucked it into the top drawer of his bedside cabinet. 

The next day, he returned to class and walked right up to Lan Zhan’s desk. 

“Lan Zhan, good morning!”

Lan Zhan stared at him, gaze briefly flicking to the hem of his skirt. It sent shivers down his spine. 

“Good morning, Wei Ying.”

“Lan Zhan, I’m sorry to say I might have misplaced your pen. But I hope you’ll accept one of mine, in the meantime.”

Lan Zhan stared at him impassively, gaze slowly flicking to the (very cute) bunny pen he was offering. Wei Ying had an entire collection of them. He wasn’t sure why, but he was dying to give one to Lan Zhan, to see how he would react.

“It is no trouble.”

Lan Zhan accepted the pen with such a serious expression. So calm! Wei Ying wondered what it was like in Lan Zhan’s mind. 

He wondered about it for the rest of class.

--

Lan Zhan used Wei Ying’s pen everyday. 

It got to the point that Wei Ying felt a little bad about keeping Lan Zhan’s fancy, expensive pen hidden away in his bedside cabinet (and occasionally in his backpack, or his pocket). 

He realized, with some regret, that it might have been Lan Zhan’s favorite. It might have been sentimental. 

Wei Ying came across Lan Zhan in the library one day, after classes had ended. 

Lan Zhan was working on something, laptop in front in him, and a notebook beside it. He was still using Wei Ying’s pen. 

The sight of it in his hand did something funny to Wei Ying. Lan Zhan had nice hands. And while everything about him was so serious, the pen was so cute. 

And, most importantly, it was something Wei Ying had given him. 

But Wei Ying still felt a little guilty about the pen-stealing incident, so he wandered very casually towards Lan Zhan’s table.

“Oh! Lan Zhan! What a surprise to see you here.”

Wei Ying slipped his backpack from his shoulders and slid into the seat across from him with a smile, leaning forward and resting his cheek on his palm in what he knew to be a cute gesture. Most alphas became wide-eyed and stupid when he did things like this.

But Lan Zhan looked at him with serene intensity, like a pool of undisturbed water. Like the vastness of space. 

“Wei Ying.”

His voice was so soft and low. Wei Ying could feel a flush creeping up in his cheeks. He lowered his gaze, glancing at Lan Zhan’s hand, the cute pen he was holding. 

“Lan Zhan, do you like rabbits?”

It wasn’t the question he had meant to ask, but Lan Zhan regarded it seriously, regarded him seriously, nonetheless.

“I do.”

So sincere! Wei Ying was certainly blushing now, his cheeks felt so warm. 

“Lan Zhan! I had no idea you liked cute things. How unexpected... you always seem so serious, gege.”

Wei Ying pouted, glancing up from where he was tracing a finger absently along the woodgrain of the table, to gauge Lan Zhan’s reaction.

Lan Zhan was watching him, serene and attentive as always, his expression giving nothing away. 

Wei Ying realized, abruptly, that Lan Zhan had stopped writing halfway through his sentence. And yet, he held the pen there, still and steady, right where he had left off, as though he had been momentarily frozen. 

“You know, this whole time, I’ve been feeling bad about misplacing your pen. But you like the one I gave you, yeah?”

Lan Zhan looked him in the eye, very seriously. 

“Wei Ying, please do not feel bad.” 

A pause.

“I like it.”

Wei Ying bit back a smile and sat up a little straighter, fidgeting with the hem of his skirt.

“Gege, so serious! You really like it?”

“I do.”

“Then please keep it, to make up for how long it took me to return this to you.”

Wei Ying retrieved Lan Zhan’s nice, heavy pen from his pocket, and delicately placed it on the table. For some reason, at the sight of it there, he felt almost nervous.

Lan Zhan’s gaze dropped to the pen. He was very quiet.

Oh no.

“Lan Zhan-“

“Wei Ying should keep it.”

Wei Ying felt his eyes widen comically. 

“Lan Zhan, no, you don’t need to-“

“Wei Ying should keep it.”

There was something fierce and determined in Lan Zhan’s gaze that made Wei Ying’s breath catch in his throat. And then, Lan Zhan’s hand was on his wrist, gently, firmly turning his hand over and placing the pen in his open palm. 

Wei Ying almost whimpered. His mind went blank. Lan Zhan’s hand was so big compared to his, and his grip was so warm and directing. So insistent. It made something hot and primal light up inside him, like something natural falling into place.

He stared dumbly at their hands, feeling a little dizzy as Lan Zhan guided him to curl his fingers around the pen. 

It was heavy. It felt so heavy in his hand. 

“Wei Ying. Please keep it.”

Lan Zhan looked him in the eye, steadfast and sincere, and Wei Ying swallowed, letting his gaze fall to Lan Zhan’s lips. They looked so soft. 

Lan Zhan let go of his hand and Wei Ying blinked, flexing his fingers slightly against the pen. Lan Zhan’s pen. Lan Zhan’s fancy, expensive pen.

“You... you want me to keep it?”

Wei Ying realized that he had spaced out a bit there. He suddenly felt rather embarrassed.

“Yes. Please keep it. If you like.”

Lan Zhan’s tone of voice had become gentler, his gaze a little softer. 

“Okay.”

Wei Ying’s voice felt a little funny. He held the pen closer to himself and glanced at it in his palm before looking back up at Lan Zhan, smiling in a way that felt a little giddy. 

“Okay, Lan Zhan. I’ll keep it.”

“Mn.”

Lan Zhan made a small noise of approval, and Wei Ying felt something warm stir in his stomach. He realized, belatedly, that he had been unconsciously loose with his scent, filling the air with soft, content lavender. 

He quickly closed his eyes and tried to reign it in. It was one thing to talk and flirt with others, but even Wei Ying wasn’t so shameless as to flaunt his scent in public. Lan Zhan probably thought-

“Wei Ying. What are you doing in the library? Did you come here to study?”

Lan Zhan’s voice was so captivating. Magnetic. Instantly grounding Wei Ying from his spiraling train of thought.

Wei Ying had never been this affected by an alpha before. He took a deep breath.

“Ah. Yeah. I need to finish a paper. Thanks for reminding me, Lan Zhan!”

“Do you want to work on it here?”

Lan Zhan was watching him carefully. He was inviting him to stay here, to work with him at this table.

Wei Ying was filled with warm delight.

“Gege, are you inviting me to study with you? What if I bother you the whole time, hmm? I can be very distracting.”

A strange look passed over Lan Zhan’s face. His eyes widened slightly, and Wei Ying realized, abruptly, that his words carried a bit of an implication.

Wei Ying only meant it in the way that Jiang Cheng did, every time he complained about Wei Ying annoying and distracting him. But somehow it came out a little differently.

Wei Ying flushed, shifting in his seat slightly.

“Haha, Lan Zhan, I’m only joking! I’m a very diligent student, actually. Can you believe that? I won’t distract you at all, I swear! You won’t even notice I’m here.”

Wei Ying lifted his fingers in a formal salute and offered Lan Zhan his best, most convincing smile. 

Lan Zhan swallowed, and offered him a stilted nod in response. 

Wei Ying tried to be on his best behavior. He really did. He spread out his materials across from Lan Zhan and worked quietly, but he couldn’t help but find his gaze drawn to Lan Zhan, his thoughts drawn to Lan Zhan, right across from him, so close.

Lan Zhan truly was attractive. His features were so striking, so beautiful it almost seemed unnatural. Everything from the cut of his jaw to the softness of his lips, the intensity behind his focused gaze... Molten gold irises, shadowed by long lashes...

He looked almost angelic. Almost scary. And his body... Lan Zhan was built . His shoulders were wide, his arms looked absolutely solid, like pure, compact muscle, and everything about his posture radiated casual strength. 

Lan Zhan could probably pick Wei Ying up, no problem. He could probably pick him up like a sack of rice, or hoist him up against a wall, or pin him down and restrain him with just one of his huge, perfect hands. 

God, his hands... Lan Zhan’s hands had been so big against his, and his touch had made Wei Ying feel so small and sensitive. So blissful and compliant. 

Wei Ying bit his lip, fidgeting in his seat in between stolen glances. He wanted Lan Zhan to touch him again. He really wanted Lan Zhan to touch him again. 

He felt almost entranced, watching Lan Zhan‘s grip on his pen as he diligently wrote in his notebook, the slight flex of his fingers. 

One of Lan Zhan’s hands could probably cover the width of Wei Ying’s thigh easily, if he were to grab it. 

Lan Zhan’s hand on his thigh... 

Wei Ying placed his own hand there, subtly testing out the sensation. He was nowhere near as strong as Lan Zhan. His hands were nowhere near as big. But he dug his fingers in slightly, into the soft fat there, and shivered.

Lan Zhan looked up at him, pinning him in place with piercing focus, and Wei Ying’s mind went pleasantly blank. He smiled dizzily and relaxed his grip under the table. 

He realized, absently, that he was getting a bit hard. That under his skirt, his panties felt a bit wet. 

How embarrassing. Wei Ying had never reacted like this before, to an alpha. He had never even kissed someone before. 

He’d imagined it, of course. In an abstract sense, when he’d been in heat, or exploring his own body.

But he’d never imagined it with a specific person before, not like this. He’d never imagined a specific person manhandling him or touching him, much less someone he’s innocently studying with in public.

Wei Ying thought, strangely, that he might let Lan Zhan have his way with him. if Lan Zhan asked for it - no, if he simply grabbed Wei Ying and hoisted him up on this table, or pulled him away amongst the bookshelves...

Wei Ying would let him. Wei Ying would like it.

“Wei Ying. Are you alright?”

Lan Zhan’s voice was soft and low, gentle, so steady, and Wei Ying was, quite literally, enraptured. It took him a few moments to process the question, but Lan Zhan was ever so patient, watching him attentively, waiting for a response.

Wei Ying swallowed roughly, trying to will away the flush that was creeping up in his cheeks, the warm arousal between his legs. 

“Lan Zhan, I’m fine, I’m fine! Haha, it’s just a little hot in here, don’t you think?”

Lan Zhan regarded him for a moment, with an unreadable expression.

“If Wei Ying is uncomfortable-“

“No no no, I’m totally okay! Let’s just finish up our work, yeah?” 

Wei Ying quickly shuffled around his notebooks, making a show of settling in to finish up his work. Lan Zhan hummed in agreement before returning to his notebook.

Unfortunately, Wei Ying had accomplished virtually no work since he had joined Lan Zhan in the library. He had promised not to distract Lan Zhan, but it seemed Lan Zhan was the one distracting him. How unfair! 

Eventually, Wei Ying abandoned his paper, and instead sketched absently in his notebook. Without realizing it, his thoughts wandered once again to Lan Zhan across from him, and he found himself absently sketching Lan Zhan’s features. 

The resulting sketch wasn’t bad. Wei Ying finished it off, and then, on a whim, carefully tore it from his notebook and set it aside as he packed up his belongings.

Lan Zhan seemed to notice him preparing to leave, and paused in his work.

“Lan Zhan, thank you for inviting me to study with you. I need to head home, but maybe we can do this again sometime.”

Wei Ying placed the sketch in front of Lan Zhan, watching as Lan Zhan’s eyes widened and his jaw went slack. 

“Bye, Lan Zhan!”

Wei Ying quickly darted out of the library, feeling a little giddy at the shocked look he had left on Lan Zhan’s face. 

The next day, Wei Ying caught Lan Zhan gazing intently at him, several times throughout class. Each time Wei Ying caught him in the act, Lan Zhan glanced away, seeming almost conflicted about something.

Finally, at the start of their last class, Lan Zhan stopped him outside the classroom door.

“Wei Ying.”

Wei Ying turned to face him, trying to remain calm despite the butterflies dancing in his stomach.

Lan Zhan looked at him intently, like he had something important to say.

“Yesterday. You never finished your paper.”

“Lan Zhan, how did you-“

“Wei Ying. Do you have plans today? After class?”

Wei Ying shook his head, feeling both shocked and pleased at Lan Zhan’s insistence.

“Study with me, at the library.”

And then, almost hesitantly.

“If you like.”

Wei Ying bit back an exuberant smile.

--

Wei Ying and Lan Zhan quickly fell into a routine, studying together at the library after classes, or sometimes in one of the courtyards on the school grounds. 

Lan Zhan was smart and calm and an excellent study partner. He indulged Wei Ying and challenged him in equal parts. He was so sincere, so stable, so funny, and Wei Ying felt so comfortable around him. So light and happy.

Wei Ying soon realized that he liked Lan Zhan, really liked him, in a way that went beyond admiring his good looks or lusting after him or having fun teasing him. He thought about Lan Zhan almost constantly, whenever they weren’t together.

When they were together, well... spending time with Lan Zhan was simply the best. Lan Zhan’s presence and demeanor made Wei Ying feel small and safe, giddy and a little bit floaty. 

Wei Ying knew it wasn’t unusual for omegas to feel this way in the presence of alphas. But still, Lan Zhan was the only alpha he’d ever encountered who had made him feel so utterly relaxed in that headspace, so deeply, blissfully in touch with his instincts. 

He wanted Lan Zhan. He wanted Lan Zhan to put his big hands on him, to hold him tightly, to touch him everywhere, to make his mind go soft and quiet. 

If simply being in Lan Zhan’s presence could make him feel this blissful, he could only imagine what it would be like to do more, to feel the full force of Lan Zhan’s intensity and sincerity.

And yet, Lan Zhan seemed to be only interested in him as a friend. He indulged Wei Ying, and took care of him in the way that Wei Ying knew alphas were driven to, instinctually. 

But Lan Zhan never made a move further than that. He never took the bait when Wei Ying tried to flirt with him properly, or instigate something physical.

Lan Zhan lent Wei Ying his jacket when he was cold and deliberately underdressed, and didn’t even complain or react when Wei Ying returned it days later, covered in his own lavender scent. 

“Lan Zhan, you smell so good, your scent is sooo nice!” Wei Ying had praised, when Lan Zhan draped the jacket over his shoulders. 

And it was true - Lan Zhan’s scent was nice, really nice, soft and woody and elegant and masculine, like sandalwood. 

Wei Ying wanted to curl up in it - and he did, dozing off under the comfort and weight of Lan Zhan’s borrowed jacket until Jiang Cheng shook him awake and told him to stop nesting with a strange alpha’s jacket on their living room couch. 

Jiang Cheng was of the opinion that Lan Zhan couldn’t be trusted. He narrowed his eyes at Lan Zhan when Wei Ying invited him over to study at their house, or when he saw Lan Zhan and Wei Ying together at school.

“He’s an alpha, Wei Ying. Be careful around him. Alphas only want one thing.”

“Jiang Cheng, Lan Zhan isn’t like that! He’s just a friend, and he’s very considerate. Besides, aren’t you an alpha? You should know better than to stereotype.” 

Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth in frustration. “It’s not a stereotype, Wei Ying, It’s the truth. Lan Zhan is just like every other alpha. He’s territorial and possessive. He practically growled at me the other day when I walked you home after class.”

Wei Ying clasped a hand over his mouth to hold back his laughter. Jiang Cheng couldn’t be more wrong! In fact, Wei Ying had developed a suspicion that Lan Zhan might like Mianmian, a pretty omega girl he was partnered with on a class project. 

“Jiang Cheng, maybe he just doesn’t like you! What did you do to offend him, hmm?” Wei Ying  pondered in mock accusation. “Maybe it’s you who’s being territorial and possessive, Jiang Cheng!”

“Wei Ying!!!” 

Jiang Cheng snarled out his name in frustration and flung a pillow at his face. 

They didn’t discuss it further, but Jiang Cheng did continue to shoot Lan Zhan scathing glances whenever they encountered each other. 

Wei Ying found the situation rather hilarious, and began to cling to Lan Zhan even more so, as if to prove to Jiang Cheng that they were only close friends, that Lan Zhan was a respectable alpha in the face of all Wei Ying’s antics. 

Wei Ying tucked flowers and notes in Lan Zhan’s books. He leaned against Lan Zhan’s side and pouted until Lan Zhan gave him his big jacket to curl up in while they studied. 

He whined that his backpack was too heavy, and lit up with delight when Lan Zhan wordlessly, insistently took it from him, carrying it alongside his own like it weighed nothing. 

Wei Ying let himself fall asleep in the grass, curled up next to Lan Zhan with his bare legs exposed, and when he woke, he found that Lan Zhan had covered him with his jacket. So sweet and respectable. Lan Zhan really was a model alpha. 

Wei Ying had asked him, one day, out of the blue, as they were sitting together in the courtyard. “Lan Zhan, is there anyone you like?”

Lan Zhan had swallowed roughly, gazing off to the side, where Mianmian was sitting with her friends. 

“Yes. There is someone.”

So Wei Ying knew that Lan Zhan wasn’t interested in him. Not like that. He was just a friend, a good friend - maybe they were even best friends. 

But Lan Zhan liked Mianmian, and as kind as he was to Wei Ying - as patient and indulgent as he could be - he never once initiated anything physically affectionate, never once took advantage of the many openings Wei Ying gave him.

Wei Ying knows, objectively, that he’s good looking. He knows other alphas find him cute. He sees the way their expressions go slack and stupid when he smiles, they way their eyes become glazed and they can’t help but want to move closer.

On some occasions, he can feel their predatory gazes on him, staring at him like he’s a pretty little creature they want to snatch up, sink their teeth into.

He’s heard it from everyone, from family friends, from classmates, from strangers in public.

“Look at you! So pretty. What an innocent face.”

“Such soft features. And those eyes! He’s a beautiful omega.”

“You need to be careful. There are alphas who will try to steal away a pretty thing like you.”

There are so many other alphas who would reach out to touch him, if he pouted against their shoulder and made himself vulnerable alongside them. Who would be itching to feel him up, to pull him close, to whisper commands in his ear. 

And yet, Lan Zhan has never once made a move. He’s always kept some distance between them, in that regard. At most, his gaze has caught on Wei Ying’s skirt, and he has abruptly looked away.

So Wei Ying knows Lan Zhan isn’t interested in him - at least, not like that. Perhaps it’s because he’s too impulsive, too chatty and loud. 

Mianmian, in comparison, seems much more calm and demure. 

Even when Wei Ying has played demure, Lan Zhan has always seen right through him. It’s one of the things he likes about Lan Zhan. He looks at Wei Ying and really sees him.

It’s just a shame that Lan Zhan has seen him so clearly, and hasn’t liked what he’s seen. Not in the way Wei Ying wishes he would. 

Lan Zhan has seen a friend. Perhaps someone amusing. Someone needy. And Lan Zhan has indulged him, again and again, because Lan Zhan is an incredibly good person.

It’s okay, that Lan Zhan doesn’t like him back. That he doesn’t want him. That he turns his gaze away from Wei Ying in disinterest.

Wei Ying is resilient. He’s used to not being wanted, or liked. He’s perfectly capable of carrying on as things are. There’s not much that can shake him. He’s bounced back from much worse.

When little twinges of jealousy creep up at the sight of Lan Zhan working with mianmian, he squashes them viciously. 

When he sees other couples out in public, holding hands so lovingly, he takes a deep breath and violently smothers the pangs of hurt in his chest. 

When other alphas stare at him, running their gaze over him lecherously in public, he bites back the bitterness, the frustration. 

When Lan Zhan tucks away every flower and note Wei Ying leaves him, Wei Ying squashes the delicate bud of hope that surfaces, time and time again. 

When he’s in preheat, and everything within him screams at him to climb into Lan Zhan’s lap and nuzzle into heady sandalwood and straddle Lan Zhan’s thigh, he fights to ignore the urge and swallows down extra heat suppressants.

After a day of this, Wei Ying inevitably ends up curled up in his bed at home, straddling a pillow and whimpering into his bedsheets. 

If Lan Zhan knew Wei Ying was thinking of him as he brought himself to climax, he would surely be disgusted. They are only friends, after all. Even if he tolerates Wei Ying’s shameless flirting, this would surely be too much.

And then there is the matter of Mianmian. Wei Ying does feel a bit bad, monopolizing Lan Zhan’s attention when he knows Lan Zhan is interested in her. Having another omega hanging around him like this surely could be seen as an obstacle. 

And yet Lan Zhan seems hesitant to make a move with Mianmian, even despite Wei Ying’s subtle encouragements. He seems to want to spend time with Wei Ying, instead.

Probably because their friendship is easy and comfortable, Wei Ying reasons. Lan Zhan is probably feeling shy towards mianmian. 

It’s a shame, really. Lan Zhan is so attractive, so wonderful, he should have nothing to fear! Mianmian would be so lucky to receive his affections.

The thought makes Wei Ying feel stupidly jealous, but he endures it and carries on.

--

Everything is fine, until one day, Wei Ying is on the way to meet Lan Zhan in their typical spot in the courtyard, and he sees another person there, talking to Lan Zhan. 

At first glance, it almost looks like there are two Lan Zhans. But then Wei Ying quickly realizes that this person must be Lan xichen, Lan Zhan’s older brother! He must be visiting.

Wei Ying slips behind a pillar, inching closer to the pair. He’s not eavesdropping, not really, he’s just curious, and he doesn’t want to disturb the moment, but what he hears makes his blood run cold.

“You have to tell him. It’s not fair for things to continue on like this. If there’s even a change of your feelings being returned...”

Oh.

This is about Mianmian.

It’s... they’re talking about him. 

Wei Ying knows he’s been in the way, he’s known it all along, but to hear it so plainly, to know that Lan Zhan has felt this way all along... even his brother knows. 

Wei Ying feels so so stupid. He feels so angry. 

He wishes he could sink into a black hole and disappear. He wishes the ground would swallow him up. 

Lan Zhan and his brother are still talking, but Wei Ying hears none of it. He presses a hand over his mouth, trying to calm his breathing. There’s a sting of oncoming tears in his eyes, but he holds it back. 

He feels so embarrassed. He’s known all along, that Lan Zhan only tolerated him, only viewed him as a friend. But even then, Wei Ying had to push it further, past where he was welcome or wanted. 

Wei Ying isn’t sure how he makes it home. The walk is all a blur and he’s feeling rather dizzy. He doesn’t want to face anyone, so he wanders into the gardens and drops down into the grass behind the rose bushes so he can compose himself. 

It takes some time, to beat back the wave of anguish that hits him. The worst part is, he knows he’s only brought it on himself. He’s always been like this. Pushing into spaces he’s not wanted, latching onto others like a parasite. 

Eventually, Wei Ying calms down enough that he can make his way inside. He still feels a bit shaky, but he’s managed to hold back any tears and calm his breathing. 

He runs into Jiang Yanli as he’s attempting to sneak into his bedroom. She takes one look at him and her eyes soften.

Jiang Yanli always sees right through him. 

“A-Ying?”

“Jiejie...”

“Come here.” 

Jiang Yanli pulls him into her arms and holds him close. Wei Ying hesitantly wraps his arms around her, clinging to her sweater and taking a deep, shaky breath. 

His phone vibrates in the pocket of his blazer. He winces and pulls away, digging it out of his pocket with clumsy fingers. It’s Lan Zhan. He already knew it would be Lan Zhan before he looked at the screen.

Wei Ying hadn’t shown up at their usual spot, where they agreed to meet. Lan Zhan is probably worried about him. Or maybe just double checking that he’s really gone. That Lan Zhan is finally free of him.

Wei Ying knows he’s being dramatic, but he can’t bear to read the text right now. He silences his phone and tucks it back into his pocket. 

Jiang Yanli watches with gentle concern. She tucks back a strand of his hair that’s fallen loose and gently entwines her hand with his. 

“Come sit with me, okay?”

Wei Ying nods and lets her lead him to her room. They sit on the edge of her bed in silence for a moment, before Wei Ying sinks to the side morosely. 

Jiang Yanli guides him to rest his head in her lap, and runs gentle fingers through his hair. She’s always done this to comfort him, ever since they were children. 

It shakes something loose in Wei Ying, being held like this. He bites at his lip, and a stupid tear races down his cheek.

“Jiejie, why... why would a person like another person?” His voice feels rough and choked up, like he can barely get the question out. And then, tiny, like a whisper. “I mean... that kind of like...”

“A-Ying, is there someone you like?” 

Jiang Yanli clearly knows, she probably already knows it’s Lan Zhan, in fact. But she’s giving him the space to talk about it, if he wants to. 

She is so nice. So patient.

Wei Ying closes his eyes and shakes his head stubbornly. “It’s not... it’s not like that. I just...”

Jiang Yanli wipes tenderly at the tear track on his cheek.

“Who is it that made my A-Ying cry?”

Wei Ying swallows roughly and bites back a smile. “No one, jiejie. I’m just feeling really sensitive right now. I don’t know.” 

Jiang Yanli only strokes at his cheek, so gentle and patient. Wei Ying can hardly look at her or he feels like he might burst into tears.

“Can we just... stay like this for a little bit?”

He knows it’s a selfish question, but Jiang Yanli never seems to mind. She smiles down at him, sweet and playful.

“Of course. My A-Ying is only three years old, after all.”

--

Later that night, Wei Ying finally checks his messages when he’s curled up in bed. He swipes to unlock his phone, with a terrible feeling of dread in his stomach. 

There are a number of unread messages and missed calls from Lan Zhan, asking where he is, if he’s okay, if something happened. And then, the final messages:

Wei Ying, I hope you don’t mind, but I reached out to your sister, to make sure you were okay. She said you weren’t feeling well, but you made it home alright.

Wei Ying, I hope you feel better soon.

If you need anything, let me know.

Wei Ying limply drops the phone onto his bedsheets, blinking back the tears he’s been holding in all day. 

Why is Lan Zhan always so nice to him!

It just makes this so much harder. Wei Ying is weak to this kind of treatment, and Lan Zhan knows it! He should know better than this. Is he holding onto Wei Ying just to torment him?!

Wei Ying knows that’s not it. Lan Zhan isn’t cruel. Lan Zhan is a good person. He’s genuinely concerned about Wei Ying, and why wouldn’t he be? Wei Ying never showed up and gave him no warning or explanation. 

But what else was he supposed to do? Show up and play along like everything was okay? Continue to cling to Lan Zhan when he knows, definitively, that he’s not wanted?

Eventually, Wei Ying works himself up to sending a reply:

Lan Zhan, sorry for not replying until now! and for missing our study session. I didn’t mean to make you worry

I’m feeling a bit better now, so please don’t be concerned about me, okay? 

The response is immediate:

Wei Ying, there is no need to apologize. 

I am glad to hear you are feeling better.

If there is anything you need, please let me know. 

Wei Ying allows himself one shaky smile. Even now, there are butterflies in his stomach when Lan Zhan says things like this.

thanks, Lan Zhan

you are too nice!

I’m okay though. thank you for thinking of me 

good night, Lan Zhan 

Wei Ying flips his phone over on his bedside table before he’s tempted to reply further.

He watches as his phone vibrates once, and then twice, with Lan Zhan’s reply, and then he turns around and curls up amongst his pillows.

This is not going to be easy.

The next day, Wei Ying returns to school and is carefully distant from Lan Zhan, and the rest of his friends. 

“I’m fine!” He waves off their concerns with a smile. “Just tired. And I’m not feeling well. I’ll probably head home right after class today.”

And he does. He keeps to himself and doesn’t linger around the library, or the courtyard where he and Lan Zhan used to study. He keeps it up for several weeks, heading home everyday immediately after class, dodging invitations to hang out.

Truth be told, Wei Ying doesn’t really fancy hanging out with anyone, at the moment. His mood is abysmal and his heart literally hurts. 

But he knows that Lan Zhan needs space, and he’s not going to make him ask for it, he’s not going to put Lan Zhan in that position, not when Lan Zhan has always been so kind to him. 

So Wei Ying endures it, waiting for the stupid ache in his chest to fade. 

He studies alone, wistfully reflecting on the moments where Lan Zhan let him curl up in his jacket or use his scarf, the many times that Lan Zhan insistently brought him tea and snacks when they were studying. 

Wei Ying misses him. He misses his serious demeanor, he misses his tiny, almost imperceptible smiles, he misses his scent, the way it mingled with Wei Ying’s to create something soft and heady. 

He misses Lan Zhan so, so much. It’s almost unbearable. 

It had been harder, at first, when Lan Zhan texted him everyday to make sure he was okay, when he continued to reach out to Wei Ying with invitations to spend time together. 

But a few weeks in, Lan Zhan began to respond to Wei Ying’s distance in kind. He finally accepted the space Wei Ying gave him. 

Wei Ying still caught Lan Zhan gazing at him, once in a while. But Lan Zhan was quick to turn away his gaze each time, never approaching Wei Ying further. 

It was a relief, but it hurt .

Jiang Yanli, and even Jiang Cheng, asked about Lan Zhan. Wei Ying dodged their questions each time, always evading the topic, but he could see the way they looked at him with concern, like they knew something had happened.

Each day after classes ended, Wei Ying was especially careful to avoid the places where he used to hang out with Lan Zhan. He often left from a side door of the building, avoiding the main courtyards and foot traffic. 

--

One day, Wei Ying stays a bit later than usual. He forgets his flute in the music room and needs to double back and pick it up, so by the time he makes his way to his usual side exit, almost everyone has left.

It’s a pleasant day outside, and Wei Ying closes his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath before he begins the walk home. However, the serenity is abruptly shattered by the horrible, piercing bellow of a dog barking.

The sound startles Wei Ying like a gunshot. It’s deep and low and loud and sharp, like it’s a big dog, like it’s close . Wei Ying flinches with each bark, and takes slow, hesitant steps backwards towards the door. 

By the time the dog is visible, Wei Ying is fumbling with the door handle with clammy hands, mind blank with panic. 

It’s a big, disgusting dog. It’s enormous and hairy and it looks strong and fast. It has a long, gross snout and sharp, nasty-looking teeth, and big, twitchy ears, and it is barking so, so loudly, tugging at its leash like it wants to attack.

The door won’t open. Wei Ying is absolutely plastered against it in fear, weakly clinging to the handle. The dog is rushing towards him, vicious and huge, and there is no escape. 

It’s going to bite him, it’s going to jump on him and maul him, clamp its strong jaw around his arm and pierce him with all of its gross, filthy teeth and tear into him, shake him around like it wants to rip him apart and eat him.

“Wei Ying! What are you doing?”

The dog’s owner. Wei Ying knows that voice. He knows that voice but he can’t look away from the dog. He cannot take his eyes off of it, or it is going to maim him. He cannot open his mouth to speak, he is absolutely frozen in terror.

“Wei Ying, what’s wrong with you? Don’t tell me you’re scared of dogs.”

Wei Ying flinches at the accusation, tugging helplessly at the door. He feels suddenly quite dizzy. He thinks he might be hyperventilating.

“That’s locked, you know. It’s always locked from the outside.”

Wei Ying can feel a pitiful whine building in his throat. He is trapped, and the dog is approaching him now, trying to sniff at his bare legs. He can feel its warm, disgusting breath against his skin. 

Wei Ying can hardly think over the blood rushing in his ears. He needs to get away from this dog. But it’s right here in front of him. It and Wen Chao, who Wei Ying can’t even spare a glance to because if he does he will be utterly unprepared and defenseless.

The dog is deceptively calm and quiet now, now that it’s stunned and cornered its prey. 

It’s looking at him. Watching him. Its eyes are like little unfathomable black pits. 

“Wei Ying!”

Wen Chao is clearly irritated at being ignored. Which would be fine, because Wei Ying absolutely hates him, except for the fact that Wen Chao has a fucking huge, terrifying dog, and he’s barely holding onto the leash.

“You... you can’t have dogs here.” 

Wei Ying’s voice comes out small and scared and cracked open, but he can’t help it, he really can’t. It’s taking everything he has to string a complete thought together.

“Says who?” Wen Chao retorts, like he doesn’t care at all. 

Which he doesn’t, he definitely doesn’t. He is a complete dick. Always parading around the school, trying to feel up any omegas he can get his hands on, even though he has a girlfriend. 

Wei Ying hates him. He really, really hates him.

“You know you can’t. It’s not allowed.”

Wei Ying’s voice is steadier this time. His gaze flicks cautiously between Wen Chao and the dog. He’s trying very hard to even out his breathing, to hold back the wave of panic.

Wen Chao laughs. 

“Wei Ying, don’t tell me you care about rules. You’re just scared.” Wen Chao smirks at him, like he’s enjoying this. “How cute.”

Wei Ying hates him. He hates him so much.

“Don’t be afraid. It’s just a dog. An obedient one, too.” Wen Chao pauses, as if for dramatic effect. “You can pet him, if you like.”

Wei Ying whimpers as cold terror rushes through him. There is no way he is touching that disgusting dog. There is no way he is putting his fingers anywhere near it and its vicious mouth. There is absolutely no way. 

Wen Chao steps forward, and Wei Ying promptly bolts away from the door, making a run for it. He’s just barely had a taste of freedom, when-

“Stop!”

Wen Chao’s command hits him like a bucket of ice water. Wei Ying freezes and barely manages to keep from stumbling to the ground as the force of it seizes through him, bone-deep. 

Wei Ying is so shocked he almost cannot speak.

He slowly turns to face Wen Chao, absolutely livid with disbelief and rage.

“Excuse me?”

He spits the words out like an attack. Like the only attack he has. His hands are shaking slightly. He’s not sure if it’s from fear or anger.

For an alpha to command an omega like this... it’s an act of outright hostility. Alphas do not just do things like this, unless they have malicious intent. 

Wei Ying is suddenly very aware of how alone they are, how very helpless he is in the presence of Wen Chao, who is smirking at him with sadistic glee as he steps closer with that disgusting dog loping along at his side.

“You’re just like every other omega. So whiny and fussy. You need an alpha to calm you down.”

Wei Ying glares at him venomously, gritting his teeth. “You’re disgusting.”

Wen Chao ignores him. He leads his stupid dog closer.

“Wei Ying. Pet him.”

It’s a command. Wei Ying can feel it crawling under his skin, like an itch he cannot possibly scratch. 

“How dare you.” Wei Ying chokes out. “You... you’re sick!”

He’s clenching his hands into fists at his sides, digging his nails into his palms so hard it hurts. He cannot touch that dog. But the command is pulsing through him, overriding his senses. 

“Wei Ying.” Wen Chao grounds his name out, fiercer this time, more intent. “I said, pet him.”

Wei Ying can’t breathe. He can’t breathe at all. The dog is looking at him with its horrifying, beady eyes like some type of soulless demon from his nightmares. Its mouth curls in the shape of a snarl and it growls . 

“I can’t! I can’t, I can’t!” Wei Ying gasps frantically, clasping his shaky hands together and holding them against his chest. He’s breathing so fast it hurts. 

“You can.” Wen Chao insists, smirking like he’s enjoying this. “Wei Ying, do it.”

He can’t. Every fiber of his being is aching to do it, to satisfy the command, but he can’t. The dog is so close, its mouth is so huge and slobbery and full of so many sharp teeth. 

Wei Ying whines pathetically. He can feel hot, angry tears clouding his eyes. 

“F-fuck off.” 

It’s barely more than a whisper, broken up between his frantic breathing, but the instant it leaves his lips, Wen Chao’s expression is overcome with shock and rage.

“What did you just say to me?”

Wei Ying gasps as a sob wracks his body and the tears finally spill over, racing down his cheeks. 

“Fuck off!!! Leave me alone!! What... what is wrong with you?!” He cries hysterically, choking out the words between frantic breaths. There are little black spots dancing in his vision, and he feels light and dizzy, like he’s on the verge of passing out.

The dog growls at him, low and nasty, and steps towards him. Wei Ying shrieks in terror. 

“Shut up!” Wen Chao snarls. “Wei Ying, you stupid bitch! Do as you’re told.”

Wei Ying feels, abruptly, as if his throat has closed up. He cannot make a sound. The dog is advancing on him and he cannot make a single sound.

“Do it.”

Wen Chao is vicious. His expression is so vicious and mean, so sadistic, like he’s having the time of his life right now.

Wei Ying knows he isn’t going to make it out of here without being attacked. The dog is going to bite him. Wen Chao is setting it all up. The dog is looking at Wei Ying like it’s just waiting for the perfect moment to snap. 

Wei Ying extends a shaky hand forward. There are tears racing down his face. He feels so out of his body with terror, he thinks he might truly be about to pass out.

And then, there are big, warm hands on him and he’s being swept into an earnest embrace, tucked protectively against someone’s chest. 

This warmth. The scent of scandalwood. 

“That is enough.”

Lan Zhan sounds absolutely livid.

Lan Zhan is pissed .

Wei Ying realizes, distantly, that he should react. He should say something to Lan Zhan, he should do something , but he’s so dizzy and numb with fear that he can hardly feel the way tears are streaming down his cheeks, the way he’s trembling, breathing so fast he’s almost choking. 

Lan Zhan has a hand in his hair, an arm around his waist. He is holding him so, so close, flush against his body. 

He smells wonderful. He feels wonderful. Warm and calm and safe. 

Wei Ying can feel himself becoming hazy and calm, as Lan Zhan strokes his hair. He can feel sensation returning to his body, he can feel the way he’s shaking, the way his body feels heavy and light and weak all at once.

It feels like there is cotton stuffed in his ears. Everything is heady and distorted and out of balance. His vision is watery with tears. He can hear some sort of conversation between Lan Zhan and Wen Chao, muddled but slowly coming into focus. 

“Lan Zhan,” Wen Chao spits out, sarcastic and nasty. “You think you’re such hot shit. So high and mighty. But you’re just a condescending, pretentious bitch. Don’t pretend like you’re so much better than the rest of us. You just want him for yourself, is that it?”

Wei Ying can feel the rage in Lan Zhan’s scent. It’s extremely heavy, dark and woody. but it’s not directed at Wei Ying, no. It surrounds Wei Ying, gentle and fiercely protective. 

“He’s pretty when he cries, isn’t he?” 

Wen Chao’s voice is sleazy and sickening.

Wei Ying clenches a shaky hand in Lan Zhan’s shirt, turning his head to the side to glare at Wen Chao, to catch sight of the disgusting sneer on his face.

Lan Zhan takes a deep, heavy breath. He gently tilts Wei Ying’s head back, hiding his face against the collar of his shirt. 

“Enough.” Lan Zhan’s voice is steady, stern. He holds Wei Ying so firmly in place. “ Leave .”

Oh.

Oh, he means it.

Lan Zhan’s voice is fierce and vicious. His one word carries the full weight of an alpha command, and he’s directing it at Wen Chao, challenging another alpha!

Wei Ying feels his eyes widen at the realization. He tries to turn his head again, but Lan Zhan holds him firmly in place like he’s shielding him. So protective. 

“You’re crazy! You think you can command me like some omega bitch?” 

Wen Chao sounds a bit hysterical. His dog is whimpering slightly. 

Wei Ying shivers at the reminder of its presence, digs his fingers more securely into Lan Zhan’s shirt. 

“Wen Chao.” Lan Zhan spits his name out like a curse, like it’s something disgusting. “I said to leave.”

The command is so heavy in his voice. Holy shit. Lan Zhan is truly livid with anger. 

“Why should I?!” 

Wei Ying can hear the resolve crumbling in Wen Chao’s voice, can sense the way he’s scrambling to save face. His dog is whimpering like it’s afraid. 

“Because if you don’t, I am going to hurt you.” 

Lan Zhan pauses, tightening his hold on Wei Ying, like he wants to pull him more securely into his arms. 

“And I do not know if I will be able to stop.” 

Lan Zhan’s voice is so lethally calm, but it carries the promise of an incoming storm, like a rumble of thunder on the horizon. 

He means it.

He really, really means it.

Wei Ying feels an involuntary shiver run up his spine. He had no idea Lan Zhan could sound like this, could behave so viciously like this. There is a bloodthirsty undercurrent to his tone that makes Wei Ying want to bare his neck in submission.

“Hah. You’re fucked up. Going this far for one stupid omega.” Wen Chao bites out, like he’s trying to reframe this to preserve his dignity. “Wei Ying, you’re pathetic. Have fun with him. I’ll play with you later.”

Wei Ying shivers at that. He knows Wen Chao is just talking himself up, but he can’t help but recall the nasty glint in that dog’s eyes, the shape of its cruel mouth and its gross teeth, its horrible, twitchy ears, so attune and alert, waiting for the right moment to leap on him and... and...

It’s so vivid, in his mind. He can’t unthink it, can’t banish the sight of the dog’s teeth, its black, nasty eyes. The sensation of ice cold, paralyzing fear. The utter helplessness, being at the mercy of such a disgusting creature.

Wei Ying knows what it feels like, to have a dog lock its jaw onto your arm and bite into your body with its nasty teeth and tear into you like a piece of meat. 

He knows and he can’t stop thinking about it.

Lan Zhan is stroking his hair gently, pulling him back slightly as if to check on him. 

“He’s gone now, Wei Ying.”

“It’s okay now. You’re safe.”

Wei Ying knows he’s still hyperventilating. The panic hasn’t quite left him and his legs feel like jelly. He can’t get the image of the dog out of his mind, and the impulse is still there, the compulsion to pet it, to touch it, offer it his fingers. 

He can’t even do it now, now that the dog is gone, and the realization makes his stomach twist in knots. He can’t do it, he truly, physically cannot now, and somehow that makes the compulsion all the worse, all the more alight under his skin. 

He opens his mouth to speak, to explain to Lan Zhan, to say something , but the words are caught in his throat. He can’t even make a proper sound, save for his frantic breathing.

Wei Ying places a hand against his throat, willing himself to overcome this command, at least for a moment, at least for a single sound. But it’s hard . It’s so, so hard. He can feel the strain in every inch of his body. 

“Wei Ying?”

Lan Zhan is looking at him so frantically, like he can tell that something is wrong. He steps back slightly, like he’s giving Wei Ying space, and the world swims and tilts on its axis. 

Wei Ying is fairly certain he is going to hit the ground, but the next thing he knows, he’s being swept up in Lan Zhan’s arms like a bride, with one of Lan Zhan’s arms under his knees and the other tucked just under his backpack.

Lan Zhan picks him up like it’s easy, like Wei Ying weighs nothing. It’s so terribly ironic, that Wei Ying used to imagine Lan Zhan picking him up like this, manhandling him, and now it is happening in the worst possible circumstance. 

Wei Ying turns his face into Lan Zhan’s collar, trying to hide the tear that’s racing down his cheek. This is so embarrassing. He is so frustrated with himself. 

He should have just touched the stupid dog when he had the chance, let it bite off all his fingers. The unsatisfied command that’s crawling under his skin is twisting his insides, making him feel like he might be sick. 

Lan Zhan settles him down on a bench, so gentle and careful. He crouches down before Wei Ying, pressing a hand against his forehead, eyes filled with worry. 

Wei Ying has never seen this expression on Lan Zhan’s face before. It’s devastating. He opens his mouth to try to say something, and he feels like he’s choking. 

/ shut up shut up shut up /

It’s inside him like a poison. It’s all he can think, all he can do. But Lan Zhan’s eyes suddenly widen, almost as if in horror, and he reaches out to cradle Wei Ying’s face, directing him to look him in the eye.

Lan Zhan’s gaze is fierce and determined, piercing through the conflict possessing Wei Ying. 

“Wei Ying, you can speak.”

It’s a command. It rips through all the tension in him, leaving him loose and dizzy. 

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying gasps, breathless with relief. “Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan-“

In one swift move, Lan Zhan rises and sits next to Wei Ying on the bench, sweeping him into his arms and cradling him firmly against him against his chest. 

“Wei Ying. Whatever Wen Chao told you, you do not need to do it. You do not need to listen to him.” Lan Zhan’s breathing is low and shaky against his hair. His voice is so sincere. “Do what you want.”

It’s a command, it’s the most freeing, transcendent command Wei Ying has ever experienced. He feels light as a feather. There are tears rushing down his face again, but he can’t be bothered to stop them because they feel utterly blissful, like sheer relief.

“Lan Zhan...” Wei Ying whispers into his shirt, wet and muffled. “Thank you. Thank you so much!”

/ do what you want /

Lan Zhan squeezes Wei Ying into his chest, holding him so wonderfully close. 

“Wei Ying, there is no need for thanks. I am sorry I was not there sooner.”

Lan Zhan sounds like he means it, like he’s really, truly sorry he wasn’t there sooner, and then he pulls back and oh- he looks so regretful. He cradles Wei Ying’s face gently and thumbs away at the tears on his cheeks.

Wei Ying is sure his face must be so swollen and messy from crying. What an embarrassing day. He sniffles, and Lan Zhan hands him the most pristine, elegant handkerchief he has ever seen. 

Wei Ying stares at it, hesitant to ruin something so clean, but then Lan Zhan takes it into his own hands and dabs gently at Wei Ying’s face. 

Wei Ying swallows roughly, trying to hold back another wave of tears. Lan Zhan is so nice to him, always so nice to him, and for what. 

He strokes back Wei Ying’s loose, messy hair and presses the handkerchief into his hands, like he’s encouraging him to use it further.

“Wei Ying, I’ll get you something to drink, from the vending machine right over there. I’ll be right back. Will you be okay here?”

Wei Ying can only nod, feeling his bottom lip wobble slightly. Why is Lan Zhan like this? It makes his heart hurt so much, it makes him want so, so much. 

Lan Zhan doesn’t even seem to be upset at Wei Ying, after he avoided him for so long. He’s right here, caring for Wei Ying, looking after him like he always does. 

Lan Zhan brings Wei Ying a can of iced tea and a bottle of water. The kinds he knows Wei Ying likes. He unscrews the bottle of water and presses it into Wei Ying’s hands, like he has so many times before. 

Wei Ying takes a shaky breath and brings the water to his lips. The first sip is so, so soothing. He truly hadn’t realized how thirsty he was, how sore his throat was.

But Lan Zhan noticed. He noticed and he took care of Wei Ying without Wei Ying even needing to ask for it. 

Wei Ying finishes the entire bottle of water in record time. He’s panting by the end of it. His mouth is so wet.

“Better?”

Lan Zhan takes the empty bottle from him, searching Wei Ying’s expression attentively. 

Wei Ying turns to face him. He stares wordlessly at Lan Zhan’s beautiful face, his serious, concerned expression. His soft, pink lips.

There is blood rushing in Wei Ying’s ears, a deafening impulse rising up in him.

/ do what you want /

Wei Ying swallows, trying to control his breathing. The can of iced tea Lan Zhan bought is sitting on the bench beside him. It’s Wei Ying’s favorite. And Lan Zhan... Lan Zhan is looking at him so, so sincerely. 

Wei Ying missed him. He missed him so, so much.

“Wei Ying.” 

Lan Zhan’s voice is a low whisper. He reaches a hand forward almost tentatively, as though he’s about to touch Wei Ying’s hair again, but he falters, inches away. And then, he starts to pull his hand back.

Wei Ying grabs Lan Zhan’s wrist. He grabs Lan Zhan’s wrist without a single thought and he surges forward and presses his lips against Lan Zhan’s. 

It’s soft and wet. Wei Ying has never kissed someone before, has never been kissed before. But here he is, pressing his lips against Lan Zhan’s, so warm and soft. 

It feels incredible. Lan Zhan smells so good, and it’s incredibly thrilling, kissing him. 

But Lan Zhan doesn’t move. He stays frozen, absolutely immobile like a statue. 

The realization is a terrible, heavy stone, sinking fast in Wei Ying’s stomach. He pulls away frantically, releases Lan Zhan’s wrist as though it had burned him. 

He’s done it again. Why, why is he always like this? 

Wei Ying fists his hands in his skirt. He looks down morosely, unable to meet Lan Zhan’s gaze. There’s a hot sting of tears in his eyes again. He wishes he could disappear. He wishes he could take it all back.

“Wei Ying...”

Lan Zhan’s voice is rough and shaky, almost broken open. 

“Lan Zhan, stop. It’s okay. you-“ Wei Ying takes a deep, shaky breath. “I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry. I know you don’t like me like that. I know I’ve made you uncomfortable. and I’m truly sorry. The truth is... Lan Zhan, I like you. I really like you a lot. I love spending time with you. I think about you all the time. I want to study together everyday. I want to borrow your clothes all the time and I want to steal all your pens and I really don’t care what we do at all, I just want to be with you. But I know you don’t like me like that, and I’m truly so sorry for bothering you. I just-“

Wei Ying is abruptly silenced by Lan Zhan’s hands in his hair, by the press of warm, soft lips against his own. 

It’s nothing like the first kiss. Lan Zhan pulls Wei Ying into him like he wants to meld them together. His lips are quivering slightly against Wei Ying’s, but he presses forward insistently, kissing Wei Ying like he really, really means it.

Wei Ying’s mind is blank with shock. Lan Zhan is kissing him. He is sucking and biting at his lips, fisting his hair and pulling him close, and Wei Ying is melting in his hands. 

Wei Ying lets his mouth fall open, lets Lan Zhan kiss him, wet and messy and hungry. Lan Zhan probes his tongue in Wei Ying’s mouth, and the sensation evokes a full body shiver in Wei Ying.

Who knew Lan Zhan could be so obscene, violating his mouth like this!

Wei Ying whimpers into the kiss, letting Lan Zhan explore his mouth, letting him suck on his lips and tug at his hair. It feels incredible. It makes Wei Ying lightheaded, dizzy with want.

Lan Zhan pulls back, keeping his hands fisted in Wei Ying’s hair, like he doesn’t want to let go.

Lan Zhan’s breathing is ragged and his eyes look wild, more intense than Wei Ying has ever seen him. He almost looks angry. His lips are red and wet. Wei Ying is certain his own lips must be similarly debauched. It feels like his mouth has been utterly ravaged.

The situation, what is happening, feels impossible. Unreal.

“Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan, what-“

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan’s voice is so low and intent. His gaze is utterly piercing, heavy with unidentifiable emotion. “What makes you think I don’t want you?”

Oh. 

Wei Ying feels like the earth has dropped out from below him.

“W-what?”

“Why do you think... how could you think I don’t want you?”

Oh. That emotion in Lan Zhan’s voice, in his eyes...

“Lan Zhan. You... you like Mianmian...”

Lan Zhan stares at him, like he is utterly dumbfounded.

“Wei Ying. I do not like anyone but you. I do not want anyone but you.”

Wei Ying feels as if his heart is in his throat.

“Lan Zhan, you can’t! That’s- you and your brother... I heard you talking... and you, you have feelings for...”

“Wei Ying, please.” Lan Zhan seems so distressed. He is staring at Wei Ying almost beseechingly. “There is no one I want, other than you. It has always been you! It could only ever be you. I want to spend every day with you. I want to see you smile everyday.”

“Lan Zhan, you can’t just say things like this to me, please! You can’t, you have no idea how much I-“

Lan Zhan takes a deep breath, tightening his grip on Wei Ying’s hair. “Wei Ying. I want to have you in every possible way. It is all I can think about. I want you so badly, you cannot imagine.”

“Lan Zhan- Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan-“ Wei Ying gasps, grabbing at Lan Zhan’s collar frantically. “You- you have no idea, no idea how much I want you... I want-“

Lan Zhan surges forward and presses their lips together again. And, oh- he wants Wei Ying, he really, really does. 

Lan Zhan winds an arm around his waist and pulls him close, and then tips him backward, cradling his head as he lowers him onto the park bench, sliding between Wei Ying’s parted legs and leaning over him, pressing into him and kissing him viciously.

Wei Ying gasps and moans into it. He surges up and pulls Lan Zhan more firmly down into him, parts his legs and tilts his hips up encouragingly towards Lan Zhan, baring the soft flesh of his thighs. He winds his hands around Lan Zhan’s neck and buries them firmly in his soft hair. 

Lan Zhan groans and rolls his hips down and oh- oh, that is-

“Ahhh-! Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, you’re so- are you gonna do it, are you just gonna take me right here- right here, where anyone could see us-“

Lan Zhan kisses him as if to shut him up. He grinds his hips down, right in between Wei Ying’s parted legs, right where he is so, so sensitive, and Wei Ying keens, arching into him as warmth and pleasure blossoms deep inside him. 

“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, you can do it, you can take me right here, okay? I want you, I want you so much-“

Wei Ying’s mind is utterly foggy with desire, soft and yielding in the best, most transcendent way.

Lan Zhan looks at him with glazed eyes that almost seem tinted red. His expression is so strained.

“Wei Ying. I- I’m being serious, you can’t just say these things. I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop.”

Wei Ying whines, shifting his hips and raking a hand through Lan Zhan’s hair in encouragement. 

“Gege, can’t you feel what you’re doing to me?” Wei Ying slides a hand down, toying with the hem on his skirt and raking it up, just enough that he can cant his hips up and press himself against Lan Zhan, emphasizing the places where he’s warm and wanting.

“Can’t you feel how much I want you?”

Wei Ying whispers coyly, tracing a hand up Lan Zhan’s side. He can feel the weight of Lan Zhan’s desire, pressed right between his legs, so huge and heavy against his own. 

It feels incredible, mind numbing. He can feel the way it twitches when he whispers encouragements, when he presses against it.

“Wei Ying... I don’t... I don’t want to take advantage-“

“Lan Zhaaaaan, I want you so much. I really- I really, really want you! You can have me anywhere, gege, anywhere, anyway you like.”

Lan Zhan makes a choking sound, and Wei Ying lowers his voice to a whisper.

“Can’t you feel how wet you’re making me?”

“Wei Ying-“ Lan Zhan forces out, seeming almost like he’s in pain. “You are. Very sensitive. I don’t- I‘ve always tried to- Wei Ying, I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

“Lan Zhan! I’m only sensitive around you! You make me so- I feel so-“ 

Lan Zhan dips down and kisses him again, fierce and insistent. He grabs one of Wei Ying’s thighs with his huge, warm hand and squeezes, roughly feeling up the soft flesh there. Wei Ying whimpers as hot pleasure races through his body at the sensation.

When Lan Zhan pulls back, his gaze is dark and glazed and his breathing is so, so heavy. He looks down at Wei Ying like he’s a meal, something to be devoured.

“Gege, er-gege, please, I want you...”

Something solidifies in Lan Zhan’s gaze, and the next thing Wei Ying knows, Lan Zhan is scooping him up and balancing him on his hip. 

Wei Ying hums in delight and winds his arms around Lan Zhan’s shoulders, nuzzling at Lan Zhan’s neck. He hooks his legs around Lan Zhan’s waist as Lan Zhan arranges him, as he slides one arm right below Wei Ying’s ass to hoist him up and hold him in place. 

Lan Zhan has picked up both of their backpacks, somehow. He has them slung over his shoulder, and he is carrying Wei Ying away from the path, into one of the gardens on the school grounds. 

“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, are you going to do it here? Are you going to fuck me right here on the school grounds?”

Lan Zhan brings them to a large willow tree, ducking down slightly to pass through the curtain of leaves. He drops their backpacks and cradles Wei Ying, laying him out on the grass like something delicate and precious.

“Yes.”

“Yes?” Wei Ying tilts his head to the side in confusion. The grass is wet and ticklish against his bare thighs. Lan Zhan is shucking his jacket off and spreading it out onto the ground. He turns to face Wei Ying, and his eyes are steady, focused. dark and intent. 

“I am going to fuck you, right here on the school grounds.”

It’s the only warning Wei Ying receives before Lan Zhan leans forward and grabs him, flipping him over and manhandling him until he’s face first in Lan Zhan’s discarded jacket.

“Lan Zhan-!”

Lan Zhan fists a hand in his hair and holds him down as he runs a hand up the back of Wei Ying’s thigh.

Oh, he wants- he wants...

Wei Ying shivers and tilts his hips, pressing his ass up and shifting to get his knees under him. He knows what to do, instinctually. He arches his back in a manner that feels absolutely vulgar, that exposes the private areas where he’s so vulnerable and wet with desire. 

Lan Zhan’s hand stokes up and down his thigh, squeezing and helping to guide him into place. And then, Lan Zhan releases his hair and settles behind him, running big, warm hands up his thighs and exploring the hem of his skirt, making Wei Ying whimper in anticipation.

Lan Zhan lifts Wei Ying’s skirt up, exposing his panties, and pauses for a moment like he’s taking in the sight.

“Gege...”

Wei Ying’s mind feels so pleasantly hazy. 

Everything has narrowed in on the sensation of Lan Zhan’s hands on him, of Lan Zhan toying with the hem of his panties and tracing a finger against the wetness that is no doubt visible, rubbing a finger between his cheeks to bunch up the fabric.

Lan Zhan dips down and presses a kiss against the material, lingers there like he’s enjoying the scent of Wei Ying’s arousal.

“Gege, please...”

Wei Ying isn’t sure what he’s asking for. He only knows that he needs it, badly.

But Lan Zhan seems to know, because he grabs Wei Ying by the hips and flips him over, laying him out across the makeshift nest of his jacket and immediately working at the buttons on Wei Ying’s shirt, steadily pulling it open. 

He strips the material back and pushes it down Wei Ying’s shoulders to reveal his collar bones, to reveal pale flesh and small pink nipples that are hard with arousal. 

Lan Zhan pauses there, brushing his thumb against Wei Ying’s nipple. 

“Oh!” 

It sends a flash of hot sensation through Wei Ying’s body, making him cry out in surprise. No one has ever touched him there before. He had no idea it would be so sensitive, like this. 

Lan Zhan’s expression darkens, and something seems to flicker through his eyes. He rubs at Wei Ying’s nipple, and then pinches it, hard!

“Ahhh-! Gege, so rough with me. Don’t you know this is my first time?”

Lan Zhan freezes at that. For a moment, he seems almost unaware of his surroundings. And then, his gaze turns heavy and he pinches Wei Ying again, even harder this time.

“Lan Zhan, so mean! You want to hurt this poor virgin?” 

“Wei Ying...”

Lan Zhan’s ears are flushed pink. He traces his finger along Wei Ying’s other nipple, flicking it lightly.

“Oh, you like that, Lan Zhan? You like knowing that I’m a virgin? That I’m yours to defile? You want to put your big dick in me and-”

Lan Zhan dips down and kisses him silent, pinching at Wei Ying’s nipple in earnest. Wei Ying cries out into his mouth, wet and muffled. 

It stings, when Lan Zhan fondles him so roughly, but the burst of sensation goes straight to his cock. It feels so good. 

Lan Zhan pulls back and braces himself over Wei Ying. His mouth is wet and his eyes look almost bloodshot. The collar of his shirt is disheveled where Wei Ying had clung to him earlier. 

Wei Ying grabs at his shirt once more, tugging at the buttons and working to pull them loose. 

“Lan Zhan, I like it just like this. Please, you can do anything to me. Anything you want. I’ll like it all, as long as it’s you doing it.”

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan whispers, low and ragged. “Mark your words.” 

Lan Zhan runs his hands up Wei Ying’s thighs and shoves up his skirt, until it’s tangled with his rumpled shirt around his waist. He kneels between Wei Ying’s legs and forces his thighs apart so that his wet panties and the soft swell of his arousal are on full display. 

Somehow, Wei Ying feels a bit shy in this position. He’s truly never done this before, although he’s imagined it so many times. 

There’s something awfully revealing about being spread out like this, seeing the way Lan Zhan is gazing at him with absolute lust, taking in every bit of him.

He can only imagine what he must look like, laid out on the grass, curled up in Lan Zhan’s jacket with his hair messy and loose, his face tender from crying, his lips wet and swollen. His clothes ripped apart and rucked up, legs spread so vulgarly. 

Lan Zhan palms Wei Ying’s dick. He cradles it in his hand, through the wet material of Wei Ying’s panties. He gently rolls the palm of his hand against Wei Ying’s soft balls. 

Lan Zhan’s hands are so, so big. He can cradle all of Wei Ying, the entire swell of his arousal, his delicate balls, all in one hand. 

It makes Wei Ying feel small and giddy. He whimpers and presses up against Lan Zhan’s hand, nuzzling the side of his face deliriously against Lan Zhan’s jacket.

“Wei Ying...” Lan Zhan breathes out, squeezing him gently and moving to slip his fingers under the edge of Wei Ying’s panties, to slide them down and slip one of Wei Ying’s legs out of them. 

Wei Ying lifts his hips eagerly and moves his legs as Lan Zhan guides him. He feels so malleable, so wonderfully pliant in Lan Zhan’s hands. 

Lan Zhan leaves the panties tangled around Wei Ying’s thigh, and Wei Ying spreads his legs wider, shyly hiding his face under the lapel of Lan Zhan’s jacket.

Lan Zhan tugs the lapel away from him, tilts Wei Ying’s face towards him insistently. 

“Wei Ying. I want to see you.”

Lan Zhan strokes at his cheek, and Wei Ying keens, shifting his hips and turning to mouth at Lan Zhan’s hand, to kiss his big, elegant fingers. 

Lan Zhan’s breathing is heavy. He slides his thumb into Wei Ying’s pliant mouth, and Wei Ying latches onto it immediately, sucking lewdly and insistently. 

Lan Zhan sucks in a sharp breath. He pulls his thumb away and replaces it with two more fingers, his pointer and index, and Wei Ying suckles on them hazily, looking up at Lan Zhan from under his eyelashes. 

Lan Zhan traces Wei Ying’s teeth. He presses down on his tongue. He slides in another finger, and then one more, until Wei Ying is almost gagging and his eyes are overflowing with tears. Lan Zhan pulls his fingers away and Wei Ying whines in protest. 

His mouth feels so empty now. but Lan Zhan quickly distracts him, easing back down in between Wei Ying’s legs and digging his fingers into the fat of Wei Ying’s ass, spreading him open to reveal where he’s warm and wet.

“Gege...” Wei Ying slurs, feeling more slick oozing out of him, more precum leaking from his dick onto the sensitive flesh of his belly. “Er-gege, please.”

Lan Zhan presses his thumb against the tender flesh of Wei Ying’s hole and massages it gently, quickly growing more and more insistent. He rubs at it with his other fingers, making slippery, wet sounds as he coaxes more slick out, as Wei Ying whines, high and nasal.

And then, Lan Zhan dips a finger inside, and oh- is it big. So much bigger and longer than Wei Ying’s own fingers, when he’s done this during his heat. The force of Lan Zhan’s finger is different than his own - more curious, probing, testing the angles inside of Wei Ying’s body. 

Wei Ying flinches and whimpers, and soon Lan Zhan finds it, the spot that makes Wei Ying curl up and moan as warm pleasure builds inside him. 

Lan Zhan strokes it, then slides in another finger and thrusts them in and out, so loud and wet. He curls his fingers inside of Wei Ying and pets that spot, massages it attentively until Wei Ying is panting and gasping, clinging frantically to Lan Zhan’s jacket. 

“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying cries out as Lan Zhan pulls his fingers back, and then slides in again, more this time. He pumps them in and out, making the slickest, most vulgar sounds, right out in the open, hidden away beneath the willow tree cascading around them. 

Lan Zhan doesn’t touch that spot, anymore. He seems more focused on spreading Wei Ying open with his fingers, stuffing him as full as he possibly can. 

“Lan Zhan... gege, I was so close, and now you’re being like this. So cruel! Who would have thought you would be like this. No one would believe me.” Wei Ying mumbles pitifully, trying to shift his hips so that Lan Zhan touches that spot again. 

Lan Zhan slips his fingers out, and squeezes Wei Ying’s thigh roughly. 

“Wei Ying likes it.” 

Wei Ying can feel a warm flush creeping up in his cheeks. Lan Zhan pinches at the soft skin of his inner thigh, like a reprimand for his teasing. It stings in the best way possible.

“Lan Zhan! So mean to me...” Wei Ying whispers in despair, doing his best to hide a giddy smile. 

Lan Zhan reaches for his belt. He unbuckles it, and the metallic click, the sound of thick leather being tugged loose, makes Wei Ying’s exposed cock pulse and drip onto his stomach. Lan Zhan unzips his pants and pulls them down just enough that he can pull out his cock.

Wei Ying is speechless. Lan Zhan’s cock is huge, absolutely massive and absurdly hard. It bobs in the air, thick and veiny and beautiful, and Lan Zhan strokes his wet hand along it, like he’s preparing it to ease the way.

Oh, oh- that is going inside of him. Lan Zhan’s really going to put it in him.

Wei Ying wants it. Holy fuck, he wants it. He wants Lan Zhan to force it all inside of him, make his small body take it like it was made to. 

Lan Zhan lines up between his legs. He braces himself above Wei Ying and uses one hand to guide himself to Wei Ying’s hole, to rub the tip of his dick there. And oh, that feels good. It feels really, really good, Lan Zhan rubbing his dick on him like this. 

“Wei Ying...”

“Yeah, Lan Zhan, yeah, please.”

It’s an incredible strain. Lan Zhan’s cock presses into him less like an object and more like a boundless force. It’s hard to even tell what’s happening, down there. Wei Ying’s mouth falls open in shock. He claws at Lan Zhan’s jacket and makes a low, choked sound.

Lan Zhan pauses above him, eyes wild and expression tense. “Wei Ying... are you...”

“La-Lan Zhan... Lan Zhan, holy shit, how- how much...” Wei Ying forces out between shaky pants. He had thought he was so loose and wet, Lan Zhan had made sure of it, but this-

“Just the tip.” Lan Zhan bites out, like he’s terribly strained, like he’s in agony.

What .

There is a moment of absolute silence where Wei Ying blinks up at him, not comprehending.

“O-oh, lan- Lan Zhan, that’s... you gotta- gege, you gotta keep going.”

Lan Zhan grits his teeth. “Wei Ying. Are you sure.”

“Yes! Yes. Lan Zhan, do it- do it fast.”

Lan Zhan breathes through his nose, low and heavy, and locks eyes with Wei Ying.

He pushes forward.

Wei Ying wails .

“Ahhhh-! Ahhh, ahhh, o-ohhhh, ghhh, fu-fuck! Lan- Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan Lan Zhan Lan Zhan!” 

It feels nothing like Wei Ying had imagined, nothing like fingers could have ever prepared him for. Lan Zhan’s dick is rearranging his insides, he’s sure of it. He’s certain he felt something in his pelvis shift under the pressure, he’s sure of it. 

It’s so intense, so overwhelming. Lan Zhan is inside of him, he is so, so deeply inside of him. The pressure, the depth of it is so shocking that Wei Ying can hardly process anything else, any other sensation. He thinks he might be crying.

Lan Zhan stills above him, eyes wild. “Wei- Wei Ying.”

“Did- did you- Lan Zhan, how much.”

Oh, he is crying. His voice sounds so wet.

“Over half.” Lan Zhan seems distressed, almost paralyzed.

“More. More, Lan Zhan, pleease-“

“Wei Ying. You are so small, so tight, I don’t-“

“I can, I can, I can do it, I want your cock, please Lan Zhan. Fuck, please-“

“Wei Ying...”

“It’s my first time gege, please, let me have it.”

Lan Zhan looks strained, unsure. So Wei Ying shifts against his jacket, exposing the side of his neck submissively and trailing his fingers along it, down the sides of it and lightly across his collarbones.

“ Alphaaaa ... please, fuck me...”

Wei Ying isn’t sure how he managed to make his voice so reedy, so whiny and soft. But Lan Zhan responds to it like he’s utterly entranced. He grabs Wei Ying’s wrists and pins them down and thrusts into him fiercely and oh- oh, that’s it. 

Wei Ying can feel him now, can feel them locked together, Lan Zhan’s pelvis buried snug between his legs, skin against skin, the full length of his huge alpha cock resting deep inside him.

Lan Zhan drops down and sinks his teeth into Wei Ying’s shoulder, making Wei Ying cry out and seize up against him, straining against his hold. 

He sucks and licks at the bite, letting go of Wei Ying’s wrists in favor of tilting Wei Ying’s jaw to the side, holding him in place like he’s pinning him into submission.

Wei Ying shifts slightly, and Lan Zhan growls . Holy shit. 

Wei Ying has never felt like this before, so deeply pinned down, so relentlessly held. It makes his mind so calm, so blissful. He lets himself sink into it, softening against Lan Zhan submissively and whining, high and breathy. 

Lan Zhan pulls back to regard Wei Ying. There is blood on his lips, which is no surprise because, although it wasn’t a mating bite, it stings and aches like a real wound. Lan Zhan looks down at him like he’s dazed. And then, he kisses Wei Ying, rough and messy and metallic.

Lan Zhan draws back from the kiss with glazed eyes and pulls his tie loose. He seizes Wei Ying’s wrists and binds them together, wrapping them securely in thick, sturdy silk.

Wei Ying has never been tied up before. The sensation, the tension around his wrists, sends literal shivers down his spine.

“Y-yeah, yeah gege, just like that, please-“

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan breathes out. there’s a bit of lucidity returning to his gaze. “Wei Ying...”

“Lan Zhaaaan, don’t stop! Don’t stop, I like it. You can do anything to me. Lan Zhan, I mean it.”

Lan Zhan drops his head to Wei Ying’s shoulder and groans. “Wei Ying, you are- I-“

“Lan Zhan, you’re so deep inside of me. You’re so big. You feel so big inside of me. Alphaaa, don’t you like me like this? Don’t you wanna fuck me like this?” Wei Ying coos against Lan Zhan’s warm, flushed ear. He can feel Lan Zhan’s dick twitch inside of him at his words. 

The ache, the strain is still there, but it’s less shocking now. Wei Ying rocks his hips slightly, enticingly, reveling in the burn of it, the overwhelming penetration of Lan Zhan’s sex inside of him. His body was made for this, made to take it.

“I like you so much, Lan Zhan. I like every part of you. I want you to fill me up. Be a good boy, yeah? Fuck my-“

Wei Ying’s breath is knocked out of him with the force of Lan Zhan’s thrust. Lan Zhan pulls back and slams into him with absolute ferocity, pinning down his bound wrists with one hand and wrenching his legs further apart with a bruisingly tight grip on his thigh.

“Ahh-! Hhh, hhh, g-gege... you’re- you’re so- ahhhh, fu- hhhh, fuck, Lan Zhan...”

Wei Ying squirms against Lan Zhan’s jacket, breathing out wet, choked cries as Lan Zhan fucks into him, firm and steady, brows drawn together seriously, as if in concentration. 

Lan Zhan’s gaze is so heavy, molten gold eclipsed by dark pupils, like some sort of otherworldly predator. 

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan breathes his name out like it’s heavy with meaning, like it’s sacred, like it encapsulates multitudes. 

He shifts them slightly, hoists Wei Ying up so his hips are resting on Lan Zhan’s lap, tilted up like an offering. And then, he fucks into him, deep and hard, and warm, tingling pleasure shoots up Wei Ying’s spine.

“O-ohh! Lan Zhan-! Lan Zhan, y-yeah, right there, good boy...”

Lan Zhan growls and grabs at his thigh, holding him open and digging his fingers into his flesh like he wants to leave bruises there. 

“Hhhh, Lan Zhaaan, you’re- so rough with me. Such a big, strong alpha and you’re so- hnnn, s-so rough. Who would have thought you would be like this, so- ahh! So forceful! No manners at all!”

Lan Zhan’s expression darkens and he leans down to sink his teeth into Wei Ying’s shoulder and then slightly up his neck, biting and sucking like he’s intent on marking him up. 

“Lan Zhaaaan, alpha, you want- ahhh- want everyone to see, huh? Want everyone to see what you- what you did to me?”

Lan Zhan growls against his neck, like the absolute picture of an alpha consumed by their base urges. He tightens his hold on Wei Ying’s thigh and presses it up further, fucking into him harder and faster like he’s frustrated.

Oh, Lan Zhan is so possessive.

Wei Ying wonders how it took him so long to realize.

How could he have missed it. All the gentle, subtly possessive gestures... Lan Zhan wasn’t being kind to him out of charity or pure friendship.

Lan Zhan was marking him as his own.

His omega.

He was warding off other alphas, marking Wei Ying as his .

Wei Ying is giddy with delight at the realization. He has wanted Lan Zhan so much, so badly, and all along, Lan Zhan has felt the same, has been just as obsessed with Wei Ying as Wei Ying has been with him. It’s more than Wei Ying could have ever hoped for.

And now, Lan Zhan is breathing heavily against his neck, fucking into him so sharply that Wei Ying can feel the slap of his balls against him with each thrust. It sounds absolutely vulgar, carnal, flesh striking flesh. 

It makes Wei Ying feel a strange, primal thrill, like he’s being conquered so, so viscerally, a headiness at being on the receiving end of such a vulgar act. With his hands bound together above him, with Lan Zhan handling him so forcefully, wanting him so fiercely...

His body feels absolutely pushed to its limits in the best way possible, like he’s adrift in sensation, on the verge of sinking into ecstasy. There is hot pleasure racing through him with each thrust, making him contort and pant and whine desperately as Lan Zhan pounds into him.

“Lan Zhaaaan, hhhh... you’re- you’re so good, so- so rough with me, I like you so much, Lan Zhan, so much...”

Wei Ying is mumbling senselessly, voice wet and choked as he shivers and convulses in Lan Zhan’s hold. His vision is so, so watery. 

“Wei Ying...”

Lan Zhan groans out his name. He holds him tighter, fucks into him harder, and noses his way up Wei Ying’s neck like he’s searching for something. And then, he nuzzles in close, against Wei Ying’s mating gland, and licks it.

Wei Ying wails, tossing his head back and flexing his fingers helplessly as white-hot pleasure courses through him and his cock pulses onto his belly. And then, Lan Zhan drags his teeth against his mating gland, and Wei Ying cums .

The orgasm rips through him, tearing a strangled, wet cry from his throat as he seizes up and convulses in mind-numbing pleasure, his small cock spilling warm, useless cum onto his belly, his rucked-up skirt. 

“Wei Ying, Wei Ying...” Lan Zhan breathes out his name as he grinds into him, fucking him through it. Wei Ying gasps and hiccups at each jolt, shivering in the wake of his orgasm. 

He can feel Lan Zhan swelling inside him, can feel the way his thrusts are becoming more shallow and erratic.

“Lan Zhaaan... are you gonna- are you gonna do it- are you- you gonna knot me, Lan Zhan, g-gege, fucking... cum in me, knot me with your big, alpha cock, make me take it -“

Wei Ying’s voice comes out wet and slurred. Lan Zhan releases his grip on his bound wrists and fists a hand in his hair, holding him in place as he leans above him, gaze wild and searching.

“Wei Ying...”

“Lan Zhan... Lan Zhan, I’m not- I’m not on birth control. You could- it could...”

The chances are slim, they are so slim. Male omegas are rarely fertile outside of heat. And yet, the possibility is there, hanging between them, heavy in the air.

“Wei Ying.”

Lan Zhan’s voice is low and heavy with intent. He rolls his hips forward, burying himself deep inside Wei Ying, and then holds himself there, breathing heavily, clenching his hand in Wei Ying’s hair. 

“Do you want to, Lan Zhan?” Wei Ying’s voice comes out rather small and soft. “Do you... do you want to cum in me? Make me pregnant?”

Something passes over Lan Zhan’s expression, something dark and wanting. He swallows, looking conflicted, almost as if he’s in pain. 

“Wei Ying, don’t say things you don’t mean.”

Oh.

“But gege, I mean it... I like you so much, Lan Zhan... I really like you so much. I only ever want you. You can do anything to me, fuck me how you like, make a baby in me, please, I want it, I want everything with you...”

Wei Ying’s voice breaks on his final words. It feels like his heart is caught in his throat. He really, really means it, he does. There’s nothing he wants more.

Lan Zhan dips down to kiss him, wet and fierce. He moves, thrusting shallowly into Wei Ying, keeping his growing knot buried inside. He’s doing it, he’s really doing it, he’s going to knot-break Wei Ying and spill his seed so deep inside him...

“Wei Ying.” Lan Zhan’s voice is a low, rough whisper, heavy with sincerity. “Whatever happens, I will take responsibility. I want you. Want to fuck a baby into you. Fuck you everyday. Be with you everyday.”

“Y-yeah, Lan Zhan, please!”

“Make you take it. Make you mine.”

“Yes! Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan-“

Wei Ying arches under him, turning his head to the side and exposing the delicate skin of his neck, the mating gland Lan Zhan has been so, so close to violating. 

“Mine. My omega.”

Lan Zhan’s warm breath ghosts across the skin of Wei Ying’s neck, sending shivers down his spine. The press of his lips is soft and wet, and the gentle pressure against his mating gland makes Wei Ying feel drunk and hazy. 

“ Alphaa ... my alpha... please, please please please...”

Lan Zhan shudders against him. His voice is rough and choked.

“Wei Ying. This is- we should-“

“I want it just like this, Lan Zhan. Just like this.”

“I should... court you. Properly. Wei Ying, you- you deserve-“

“Lan Zhaaan... you’ve already taken my first time! You’ve ruined me with your big cock, right here out in the open, and now you’re acting like this? Gege, I thought you wanted me...”

“Wei Ying...”

Wei Ying lowers his voice to a gentle whisper. “And you’ve already courted me, haven’t you? You’ve always been courting me... before I even knew what you were doing, you’ve been marking me as yours, haven’t you?”

Lan Zhan pulls back to gaze at him, seeming strangely shy, almost vulnerable. 

“Gege, I want you so much! I like you so much. Fuck. I- I fancy you. I feel- you make me feel so-“

Lan Zhan sucks in a sharp breath and dips down to kiss Wei Ying’s neck. His shallow thrusts become more urgent, more decisive. 

“Wei Ying. I love you.”

Lan Zhan’s confession is a whisper against his neck, against the sensitive skin where he is most vulnerable, where he can be taken, made to belong to someone, to need them. 

“I love you. I love you.”

Lan Zhan whispers it into his skin like a promise, like a secret. 

“Lan Zhan, I love you! I love you too, I love you so much-“

Lan Zhan sinks his teeth in. 

Wei Ying freezes in shock. It’s painful, at first. A wound right where he’s so vulnerable, so sensitive. But there’s a warm, radiant wave of pleasure running through his body, making him feel light as a feather as Lan Zhan’s alpha venom courses through him. 

And then, like he’s a feather floating down to the ground, sensation returns, and he can feel it. Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan’s desire, his love. It’s so vast, so all-consuming, Wei Ying feels struck dumb. 

His alpha. 

He can feel Lan Zhan, feel his presence inside of him, like a radiant song in his being. Like an integral part of him.

“O-oh, Lan Zhan...”

Wei Ying’s voice is slurred. There are ecstatic tears running down his cheeks. 

“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan... ahhh-!“

Lan Zhan is sucking at his neck as his knot swells inside him and oh- it’s so big, so, so big, it feels impossible, it feels like it’s going to break him. 

Wei Ying is hyperventilating, torn between shock and ecstasy as Lan Zhan digs shaky fingers into his hair and cums, thrusting erratically and trembling against him, holding him so, so tightly.

Wei Ying feels out of his mind. Lan Zhan’s knot is massive , paralyzing. He’s whimpering and crying from the shock of it as Lan Zhan nuzzles against him, petting his hair, breathing shakily like he’s trying to regain his bearings.

“La- nnngh, hhh. H-hurts. It- it hurts-“

Lan Zhan fumbles with the silk around his wrists, tugging it loose and bringing Wei Ying’s numb hands between them, stroking his wrists and tucking him so close. He presses a kiss against Wei Ying’s forehead, strokes his hair gently.

“You are doing so well, Wei Ying.”

“La- Lan Zhan. You- you’re inside me.”

“Mn. Breathe, Wei Ying.” 

“I- I’m...”

“Shhh. Slowly.” Lan Zhan is looking at him with a gaze so tender, so gentle. “Deep breaths.”

He breaths slowly, like an example, and Wei Ying follows, dizzy with the depth of Lan Zhan’s want coursing through him, with the exertion of his body, responding to such an extreme intrusion. With the knowledge that Lan Zhan has spilled his seed in him. that it might take .

“Lan Zhan... Lan Zhan, I love you. Love you, love you, love you.”

“As I love you.”

Lan Zhan slips his arms under Wei Ying and lifts him, shifting so that Wei Ying is on top of him, straddling him, curled up on his chest. He smooths down Wei Ying’s messy skirt and drapes his jacket over him, like he’s tucking him in. So protective.

As the shock starts to wear off, Wei Ying can feel himself becoming sleepy and content, purring slightly against Lan Zhan’s chest. The feeling of Lan Zhan inside of him, of being locked onto him like this, freshly bonded, is so wonderful, so vulgar and intimate. 

“Wei Ying.”

Lan Zhan strokes Wei Ying’s hair back and guides him to Lan Zhan’s neck, where he smells so deeply intoxicating. 

Wei Ying doesn’t need to be told what to do. 

He can feel it, Lan Zhan’s desire singing inside of him. He nuzzles close and licks at the skin there, savoring the way Lan Zhan tastes, the way he smells, the way he shudders under Wei Ying and digs his fingers into Wei Ying’s hair in encouragement.

Wei Ying can feel it, running through his veins. His little omega canines, just big enough to break skin, are aching with it. 

Wei Ying nuzzles close and sinks his teeth in.

It feels incredible. The taste, the scent... he feels drunk. He sucks lewdly at the bite, mouthing at it deliriously as Lan Zhan groans, tensing under him, clutching him possessively, almost painfully. 

Lan Zhan’s cock pulses in him like he’s coming again, and oh- he is, he’s really-

Wei Ying can feel the wave of Lan Zhan’s orgasm, the way it tears through him. and he can feel the way Lan Zhan responds to his claim, the way he’s stunned, wondrous.

“Wei Ying...”

Lan Zhan’s voice is broken open, like he’s in disbelief. 

“ Wei Ying .”

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying affirms, dizzy and delighted as he nuzzles at Lan Zhan, overflowing with affection. “My alpha.”

“Yours.” 

Lan Zhan squeezes Wei Ying against him. He pets his hair, strokes his back, soothing Wei Ying as his eyes fall closed, as his purrs deepen and a wave of drowsiness overtakes him.

When Wei Ying wakes up, he’s curled up in Lan Zhan’s lap, drooling on the collar of his shirt while big hands stroke his hair, caressing him so gently. Lan Zhan is sitting under the willow tree, leaning against it with Wei Ying straddling his lap, tucked against him. 

“Mmm, Lan Zhan...”

Wei Ying shifts on his lap, letting out a little gasp at the motion of Lan Zhan’s cock inside him. It’s soft now, but it feels so nice, being connected to Lan Zhan like this. 

“Wei Ying.”

Lan Zhan kisses his forehead. He eases Wei Ying off of his dick and traces his fingers through the semen that drips out, rubbing at Wei Ying’s tender hole like he wants to push it back inside. Wei Ying whimpers, fussy and clingy, wanting to sit back on Lan Zhan’s dick, feel it inside him. 

Lan Zhan lays Wei Ying down and slides his panties back on, adjusts his clothing as best he can. He licks at the wound on Wei Ying’s neck. Wraps his jacket securely around Wei Ying’s shoulders. Kisses him indulgently and runs a hand up his thigh.

“Jiejie is going to kill you.” Wei Ying whispers, as Lan Zhan carries him home. “You think Jiang Cheng is bad... Lan Zhan, I’m telling you, jiejie is the scary one.”

Lan Zhan presses a kiss against his hair. “Your jiejie cares about you very much. I will reassure her.”

“And Lan Zhan, your uncle... your brother... they will be so mad! You’re doomed Lan Zhan, your uncle can’t stand me.”

Lan Zhan isn’t flustered in the slightest. 

“It is no matter. They will be supportive.”

“Lan Zhan! How can you be so confident about these things.”

“Wei Ying. I will make sure of it.”

“Lan Zhaaan! Such a confident alpha. And so strong, carrying me all this way. My heart!”

Lan Zhan smiles at him, so, so gentle, like a reflection of the sun on a snowy day. 

“My Wei Ying.”

--

Three weeks later, Wei Ying is on the train with his friend, Nie Huaisang, when he hears the news.

“A-Ying, you won’t believe this! Wen Chao has been expelled!”

“Expelled?”

Nie Huaisang looks up from his phone with a sly smile. 

“Mmhm! It says here he’s been charged criminally, as well... apparently there is a ton of evidence that he’s been harassing omegas... someone beat him up and left him tied to a bench in the locker room. There was a ton of evidence in his locker and on his phone...”

“A-Sang, what did you do?!”

“Nothing, nothing! I don’t know anything, I swear!” Nie Huaisang wails, hiding his face slyly behind his phone.

Wei Ying nudges him playfully, cozying up beside him. “A-Sang, I’ve noticed you and Lan Zhan have been on such good terms recently. Almost like you’ve been working together on something.”

“A-Ying, what a suspicious mind you have! Lan Zhan and I are simply good friends, in-laws, practically, considering how well da-ge and Xichen-ge have been getting along...”

“A-Sang, that makes you my in-law, as well, no?” Wei Ying sings, cuddling closer against his side. “Next time you’re scheming to enact revenge, include me, yeah? How could you leave me out of all the fun, A-Sang?” Wei Ying pouts dramatically. “Wen Chao really had it coming.”

“That he did.” Nie Huaisang agrees, threading his hand affectionately with Wei Ying’s. “That he did.”