Chapter 9
The next day, Qing Yi was on high alert, determined to avoid any interaction with Lan Xichen at all costs. He moved cautiously through the corridors of Hogwarts, always on the lookout for any sign of the older student. His heart pounded every time he turned a corner, half-expecting to see that gentle smile that had once been a source of comfort but now only filled him with embarrassment.
As he made his way to Transfiguration class with Professor Granger, Qing Yi’s worst fear was realized. Down the hall, he spotted Lan Xichen, engaging in conversation with another Ravenclaw student. His face instantly flushed a vivid shade of red the moment Lan Xichen’s gaze found him.
“Oh, hey, Qing Yi!” Lan Xichen called out, his voice warm and inviting, accompanied by a bright, welcoming smile.
But before Lan Xichen could say anything more, Qing Yi bolted around the corner as if he had seen a ghost, not even glancing back. Lan Xichen's smile faltered, replaced by a look of genuine confusion. He blinked, trying to process what had just happened, clearly puzzled by Qing Yi's sudden and frantic escape.
Meanwhile, Qing Yi raced through the winding corridors, taking the longest possible route to avoid running into Lan Xichen again. By the time he finally made it to Professor Granger’s classroom, he was ten minutes late, slightly out of breath as he slipped through the door.
Professor Granger raised an eyebrow, her sharp gaze landing on him as he took his seat. “Mr. Koh Qing Yi, you’re late! I saw you outside the classroom not ten minutes before class began. Care to explain why you decided to take a scenic route?”
Qing Yi stammered, his face still flushed. “I… I got lost, Professor,” he mumbled, avoiding her eyes as the rest of the class stifled their giggles.
Professor Granger sighed, her expression softening into a small, understanding smile. “Hogwarts can be quite confusing, especially for first years. Next time, consider asking a prefect for help or using one of the school maps.” With that, she turned back to the blackboard and continued her lesson.
Qing Yi quickly found an empty seat at the back of the classroom and sank into it, wishing he could disappear. And this was only the beginning.
Later that day, as he hurried to Potions with Professor Slughorn, Qing Yi’s luck ran out again. He was just about to reach the dungeon entrance when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Lan Xichen coming down the stairs.
Lan Xichen noticed him and started to speak, “Qing Yi—”
But Qing Yi didn’t wait to hear the rest. He bolted in the opposite direction, practically skidding around a corner and sprinting down the corridor. His heart raced, not from fear, but from sheer mortification.
By the time he finally made it to the Potions classroom, he was once again late. Professor Slughorn gave him a confused look as Qing Yi slipped into his seat. “Qing Yi, my boy, what kept you? You were just outside the classroom a moment ago!”
Qing Yi, red-faced and out of breath, muttered something unintelligible about a wrong turn. Professor Slughorn chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. “Ah, well, better late than never. But do try to keep up, yes?”
Qing Yi nodded, sinking lower into his seat as the other students whispered and exchanged curious glances.
The final straw came when he was on his way to Charms with Professor Flitwick. He had carefully planned his route, confident that he would be able to avoid Lan Xichen. But as fate would have it, he rounded a corner only to come face-to-face with Lan Xichen, who was walking from the opposite direction.
“Qing—”
“Not again!” Qing Yi blurted out, his eyes wide with panic. Without missing a beat, he spun around and bolted, sprinting down the corridor like his life depended on it. In his frantic escape, he nearly bowled over a group of startled first-year students, who scattered in his wake.
Lan Xichen stood frozen in place, completely bewildered, his hand still half-raised as if he were about to wave. He watched, utterly perplexed, as Qing Yi skedaddled out of sight before he could even finish saying his name.
Qing Yi’s detour took him through several winding corridors, up two flights of stairs, and past a couple of secret passages, before he finally arrived at the Charms classroom, late once more. Professor Flitwick, who had just begun the lesson, looked up in surprise.
“Qing Yi? I could’ve sworn I saw you heading this way earlier,” Flitwick remarked, his bushy eyebrows knitting together in confusion.
“I, um… took a wrong turn, Professor,” Qing Yi mumbled, his face burning with embarrassment as he hurried to his seat.
Flitwick nodded slowly, clearly unconvinced, but he didn’t press the matter. “Well, do try to be on time in the future. Charms is a subject that requires promptness and precision.”
As Qing Yi sat down, he couldn’t help but groan inwardly. This day was turning into a nightmare of epic proportions, and all because he couldn’t face Lan Xichen without turning into a complete mess.
Little did he know, Lan Xichen was just as flustered, though for very different reasons.
****
Qing Yi had spent the entire day carefully avoiding any chance of running into Lan Xichen. Every time he saw even a glimpse of him, his face would flush bright red, and he would immediately change direction, sometimes taking the longest routes just to steer clear. By lunchtime, his nerves were frayed, and he was more determined than ever to avoid Lan Xichen at all costs.
As he crept cautiously through the corridor leading to the Great Hall, his heart pounded in his chest. He hugged the wall as if it were his only refuge, peeking around the corner to see if Lan Xichen was already inside. His eyes darted back and forth, scanning the room with laser focus. So far, so good—no sign of him. Qing Yi was so absorbed in his task that he didn’t notice someone sneaking up behind him.
“What are you doing?”
Qing Yi nearly leaped out of his skin, spinning around so fast he almost lost his balance. His eyes were wide with shock as he came face to face with Wei Wuxian, who was standing there with a broad grin, clearly enjoying the scene.
“Good lord, Wei Ying!” Qing Yi gasped, clutching his chest as if his heart might burst out any moment. His breath came in short, panicked bursts as he tried to calm down.
Wei Wuxian chuckled, the amusement dancing in his eyes. “You looked like you were about to pull off a heist or something. Why didn’t you just go inside?”
Qing Yi’s face flushed a deep crimson as he waved his arms in a frantic attempt to explain. “Ah, well... I was just, um, checking if—”
Before he could finish his rambling excuse, another voice cut through the air. “Hello.”
Qing Yi turned around and, for a split second, his heart stopped as he thought he was staring at Lan Xichen. He yelped in surprise, his pulse skyrocketing, but then quickly realized it was just Lan Wangji. The shock made him jump so suddenly that it startled Lan Wangji too, who instinctively took a step back, his usual steady composure momentarily shaken.
“Oh gosh, it’s just you, Wangji,” Qing Yi exhaled, letting out a long, shaky breath as he sagged with relief. “I thought you were... someone else.” He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, trying to regain his composure. “I was about to bolt out of here.”
Lan Wangji’s eyes narrowed slightly, his voice calm but direct. “You thought I was my brother?”
Qing Yi froze, his eyes widening in alarm as if Lan Wangji had just hit the bullseye with his question. His face turned a deep shade of red, and he quickly began waving his hands in a flustered attempt to deflect.
“W-What? No, I mean... I was just—uh—let’s just go inside and have lunch, alright? I’m starving!” He blurted out, his words tumbling over each other in his haste to change the subject.
Wei Wuxian raised an eyebrow, sensing there was a lot more to the story than Qing Yi was letting on. He smirked but decided to let it go for now, knowing that pressing Qing Yi would only make him more flustered. “Alright, if you say so,” he said with a playful grin, and the three of them headed toward the Great Hall.
As they walked in, the bustling noise of students filled the hall. The three boys went their separate ways—Qing Yi to the Slytherin table, Wei Wuxian to Gryffindor, and Lan Wangji to Ravenclaw. But as Qing Yi made his way to his seat, he kept his head down, determined not to catch Lan Xichen’s eye, his heart still pounding from all the close encounters earlier that day.
As Qing Yi sat down at the Slytherin table, his nerves were still on edge. He cautiously glanced around the hall, and his heart skipped a beat when he spotted Lan Xichen at the Ravenclaw table, casually engaged in conversation with his fellow students. Just then, Lan Xichen turned slightly, and their eyes met across the hall.
Qing Yi’s heart lurched in his chest. The memory of his truth serum-induced confession flooded back, causing his face to burn a vivid shade of red. In a panic, he tore his gaze away, his eyes glued to the floor. He could feel Lan Xichen’s gaze lingering on him, and the thought made his skin crawl with embarrassment. His pulse raced, and he could barely focus on the food he was piling onto his plate.
Desperate to distract himself from the overwhelming embarrassment, Qing Yi let his eyes wander across the room. They drifted to the Hufflepuff table, where his sisters, Jing Xiang and Jing Shi, sat chatting animatedly. But it wasn’t his sisters that caught his attention. No, it was Jiang Yanli, sitting beside Jing Shi, her warm, kind smile lighting up her face as she spoke. Her gentle demeanor and graceful presence were the epitome of everything Qing Yi admired in a lady, and yet, at this moment, all he could see was a rival.
His gaze sharpened, narrowing into a lethal glare as he stared her down with fierce determination. There she is, he thought darkly, the rival in my pursuit of love. How could she sit there, looking so perfect, so... so... perfect? The thought infuriated him, and his grip tightened around his fork. His glare was so intense, it felt like he was trying to carve a path of destruction straight to Jiang Yanli with his eyes alone.
Unconsciously, Qing Yi began scooping food onto his plate with reckless abandon, barely noticing what he was grabbing. His mind was entirely preoccupied with his silent showdown against Jiang Yanli. He piled on mashed potatoes, bread rolls, a few slices of roast beef—and a handful of napkins. With his focus solely on Jiang Yanli, he didn’t even realize he was mechanically shoveling everything into his mouth, his eyes never leaving his supposed rival. The taste didn’t register, his brain too clouded by jealousy and frustration.
Jin Guangyao and Ming Zhe, sitting across from Qing Yi, however, did notice. They watched in stunned silence as Qing Yi continued to pile random items onto his plate and eat them with an oblivious intensity. Jin Guangyao, finally leaning over the table, spoke up, his voice a mix of concern and confusion.
“Uh... Qing Yi... that’s wax you’re chewing on.”
Qing Yi blinked, his intense focus momentarily broken. He glanced down at his plate and spat out the piece of candle he had been gnawing on, grimacing in disgust.
“Ugh... gross,” he muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. But as soon as the taste was gone, his eyes were back on Jiang Yanli, the death stare as potent as ever.
Jin Guangyao and Ming Zhe exchanged bewildered glances, unsure whether to be more concerned about the fact that Qing Yi had just eaten wax or the sheer intensity of his glare. Unable to contain their curiosity, both boys glanced over their shoulders, scanning the room to figure out what—or who—had captured Qing Yi’s undivided attention. When they turned back, their eyes met, and Jin Guangyao mouthed, "Who’s he staring at?"
Ming Zhe shrugged, shaking his head in confusion. "No idea," he whispered back, a mix of amusement and bewilderment on his face.
As they watched, Qing Yi continued to absentmindedly scoop food, napkins, and whatever else was within reach onto his plate, his gaze locked onto Jiang Yanli like a predator zeroing in on its prey.
Across the room, Jiang Yanli suddenly shivered, a chill running down her spine. She paused mid-conversation, glancing around as if trying to find the source of her discomfort. The Great Hall seemed perfectly normal, bustling with students, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. She pulled her shawl a little tighter around her shoulders, an inexplicable sense of unease settling over her.
Meanwhile, Lan Xichen, who had been casually observing Qing Yi from across the hall, noticed the unusual behavior. At first, he wasn’t sure what Qing Yi was so focused on, but as he traced the line of his stare, he realized that Qing Yi was glaring daggers at Jiang Yanli. Lan Xichen’s eyebrows rose in mild surprise. Why is he staring at Yanli like that? he wondered.
It took him a moment to piece it together, and when he did, a small, amused smile tugged at his lips. So, Qing Yi must have heard about my conversation with Jiang Yanli, he thought, and he’s... jealous? The idea was so unexpected, so oddly endearing, that Lan Xichen couldn’t help but find it both funny and flattering.
Lan Xichen continued to watch, his amusement growing as Qing Yi, oblivious to his surroundings, took another bite—this time of a napkin—and spat it out in disgust, all while maintaining that fierce glare at Jiang Yanli. The scene was both absurd and charming, a testament to Qing Yi’s earnest, unfiltered emotions. There was something undeniably genuine about him, something that made Lan Xichen’s heart warm with affection.
As the meal went on, Lan Xichen found himself increasingly captivated by Qing Yi’s antics. The younger boy’s behavior, while a bit outlandish, was also incredibly honest. Qing Yi wore his heart on his sleeve, and that kind of openness was rare and refreshing. It was hard not to be charmed by him, even in the midst of such an unusual situation.
With every passing moment, Lan Xichen’s fondness for Qing Yi grew, a soft smile playing on his lips as he watched the younger boy. Qing Yi might be glaring at Jiang Yanli with all the intensity he could muster, but all Lan Xichen could see was how adorable and sincere he was, even when consumed by jealousy.
But as this warmth settled in his chest, a small voice in the back of his mind began to whisper, urging caution. What am I thinking? Lan Xichen wondered, his smile fading into a more thoughtful expression. Qing Yi is still so young, and his feelings for me—if they are indeed feelings—might just be the result of admiration, nothing more. It’s possible that as he matures, those feelings will fade away, leaving only a fond memory of his school days.
The more he thought about it, the more complicated it became. Qing Yi’s genuine, almost innocent affection had certainly captured his attention, but Lan Xichen knew he had to be careful. I’m a man, and so is he, he reminded himself. Though he didn’t hold prejudice against same-sex relationships, the reality of his own situation gave him pause. He had always thought of himself as someone who would eventually marry a woman and start a family, upholding the Lan family’s legacy. The idea of developing romantic feelings for another man—especially one so much younger—felt foreign and unsettling.
Lan Xichen sighed quietly, his brow furrowing as he glanced away from Qing Yi. It wouldn’t be right to encourage this, not when I’m not even sure of my own feelings. He could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on him, urging him to take a step back, to avoid seeing Qing Yi more than necessary. After all, the last thing he wanted was to complicate the younger boy’s life—or his own—by letting things progress any further.
And yet, even as he made up his mind to create some distance, a part of him hesitated, reluctant to lose the warmth and sincerity that Qing Yi brought into his life. It was a contradiction he wasn’t sure how to resolve
As lunch in the Great Hall drew to a close, the simmering frustration Qing Yi felt toward Jiang Yanli was hard to shake off. His eyes kept darting back to where she sat, still chatting away with Jing Shi, her every move seemingly designed to irk him further. He was so absorbed in his one-sided standoff that he barely noticed when lunch ended and students began to rise from their seats.
With a huff, Qing Yi pushed his plate away, intending to make a quick exit to his next class. But just as he was about to leave, he saw Lan Xichen approaching the Hufflepuff table, his graceful steps carrying him directly towards Jiang Yanli. Qing Yi’s heart lurched in his chest, and he couldn’t help but slow his steps, curiosity and that familiar pang of jealousy rooting him to the spot.
"Oh, come on!" Qing Yi muttered under his breath, his face scrunching up in annoyance. "Does he have to look so perfect doing everything? Even walking is like... like... a dance of the angels or something!"
He watched as Lan Xichen reached Jiang Yanli, leaning down to say something that Qing Yi couldn't hear. Whatever it was, it made Jiang Yanli's face light up like a Lumos Maxima spell. She smiled warmly at Lan Xichen, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear in a gesture that Qing Yi found utterly infuriating in its demureness.
Qing Yi's inner monologue kicked into overdrive. Look at them, smiling at each other like they haven't seen each other in years. It's been what, ONE hour? TWO, tops! Merlin's pants, is this what love does to people? Makes them lose all sense of time and... and... COMMON DECENCY?
He felt a lump forming in his throat, his eyes starting to sting. Great, now I'm going to cry. In the middle of the Great Hall. Over the guy I've fallen head over heels for, who's clearly interested in someone else. Just perfect. Maybe I should just transfigure myself into a puddle and be done with it.
Just as a tear threatened to escape, Qing Yi noticed something odd. Lan Xichen's gaze had shifted, landing squarely on him. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Qing Yi felt his heart skip a beat, unsure whether to look away or hold the gaze.
Lan Xichen's expression was unreadable, a mix of emotions flitting across his face too quickly for Qing Yi to decipher. Was that... conflict in his eyes? Before Qing Yi could ponder it further, Lan Xichen broke the connection, turning his attention back to Jiang Yanli.
Qing Yi blinked rapidly, his mind whirling. What in the name of Merlin's saggy left... was THAT? He shook his head, trying to clear the confusion. Maybe I'm hallucinating. Yes, that's it. Too much emotional turmoil and not enough sleep.Next thing you know, I'll be seeing Peeves and the Bloody Baron waltzing through the walls.
With one last glance at the pair, Qing Yi fixed his eyes on Jiang Yanli, channeling all his frustration and jealousy into one final, piercing glare.
Jiang Yanli shivered once more, a slight tremor running through her body. Pausing mid-sentence, she looked around in confusion, then back to Lan Xichen. "Goodness, is there a lost gust of wind in the Great Hall today? I've been feeling chills all through lunch."
Lan Xichen smiled warmly at her, but his eyes flickered towards the exit, catching sight of Qing Yi's retreating form. A hint of amusement mixed with something unreadable crossed his face before he turned his attention back to Jiang Yanli.
Qing Yi turned his back on the scene and exited the Great Hall, muttering under his breath, “Stupid Lan Xichen and his stupid... nice smile.”
The day had finally come to an end, and Qing Yi found himself heading to the library to study. He hoped to find a quiet corner where he could focus and—most importantly—avoid any more encounters with Lan Xichen or Jiang Yanli. But as soon as he entered the library, his hopes were dashed."
There they were, sitting together at a table by the window, books spread out in front of them, deep in study. Lan Xichen and Jiang Yanli, once again sharing a quiet moment. Qing Yi groaned inwardly, exasperation bubbling to the surface.
“Oh, for the love of—" he muttered under his breath, "Is this castle shrinking? It’s like trying to avoid a bad dream that keeps repeating itself.” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I swear, the universe must be plotting against me. What’s next? Are they going to pop out of my dinner at the Great Hall?”
His annoyance flared up instantly, and before he knew it, he was glaring daggers at Jiang Yanli. It had become so instinctual by now that it was like a reflex—every time he saw her, his eyes narrowed, and his frustration zeroed in on her.
As if on cue, Jiang Yanli shivered, wrapping her shawl tighter around her shoulders. “Why does it keep getting cold in here?” she murmured, glancing around the library with a puzzled expression. “It’s like there’s a draft following me.”
Qing Yi huffed in annoyance and quickly turned away, not wanting to watch them any longer. He stalked off in the opposite direction, muttering to himself, when he spotted two familiar faces—Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian—sitting at another table.
Without thinking, Qing Yi made a beeline for them, his expression still twisted in annoyance. As he approached, Wei Wuxian looked up and immediately noticed the stormy look on Qing Yi’s face.
“Goodness, Qing Yi,” Wei Wuxian said with a playful grin, “Did someone steal your money, or did you just lose a duel to a Hufflepuff?”
Qing Yi shot him a withering glare before turning his gaze to Jiang Cheng, his annoyance somehow intensifying. “I hate your sister,” Qing Yi declared, his voice dripping with frustration.
Jiang Cheng's jaw dropped, his expression a comical mix of confusion and indignation. "What in the name of all that is magical? Why? Did she accidentally turn your favorite quill into a caterpillar or something?"
Wei Wuxian, catching on quickly, grinned like a Cheshire cat. He jerked his head toward the table where Lan Xichen and Jiang Yanli were quietly studying. "I think our friend here is suffering from a severe case of green-eyed monster syndrome.”
Jiang Cheng twisted in his seat, his eyes widening as he spotted the pair. "Oh," he said, comprehension dawning on his face. "OH. Wait, you like Lan Xichen? Since when?"
Qing Yi's face flushed a brilliant shade of red. "Since... since forever! Weren't you paying attention during the whole truth serum fiasco?"
Wei Wuxian's eyes lit up with mischievous glee as he leaned forward. "Well, well, how the mighty have fallen! Qing Yi, my lovestruck friend, remind me again, wasn't it you who said, and I quote, 'I'll pass on joining the Lan Xichen Fan Club. I prefer my dignity intact'?" He affected a mock-serious tone, mimicking Qing Yi's earlier declaration.
"And now look at you!" Wei Wuxian continued, barely containing his laughter. "You're not just a member of the fan club, you're the president! Should we start making badges? Perhaps 'Qing Yi: Head of Lan Xichen Appreciation Society'?"
Qing Yi glowered at him, his face growing even redder. "I'd rather gargle with goblin bile," he muttered, but his eyes involuntarily darted back to where Lan Xichen sat.
Wei Wuxian chuckled, leaning back in his chair with a smug look. "Well, if you're planning to declare war on Yanli, you'd better be ready for a fight. Jiang Cheng doesn't take kindly to people hating his sister."
Qing Yi groaned, flopping into the chair beside them. “I’m not declaring war... I just—” He cut himself off, realizing there was no way to explain this without sounding ridiculous. Instead, he just glared at the table, his mood darkening even further.
Jiang Cheng, still a bit defensive, crossed his arms. “You’ve got some nerve,” he grumbled, but there was a hint of amusement in his tone. “You know she’s basically harmless, right?”
“Harmless?” Qing Yi scoffed, glancing back over his shoulder at the pair by the window. “She’s... too perfect. It’s annoying.”
Wei Wuxian snorted, clearly enjoying Qing Yi’s predicament. “Perfect is exactly what Lan Xichen seems to like, though.”
Qing Yi groaned again, burying his face in his hands. “This is hopeless.”
Wei Wuxian clapped him on the back with a grin. “Cheer up, Qing Yi. At least you’ve got the rest of us to keep you company while you stew in jealousy.”
Qing Yi just sighed, feeling the weight of his unspoken feelings and the annoying presence of Jiang Yanli all the more intensely. But as he sat there with his friends, a small part of him was grateful to have them around, even if they were making light of his situation. His mind whirled with a mixture of self-pity and frustration, wishing he could just vanish into thin air.
Suddenly, Jiang Cheng's eyes widened, and he started shaking Qing Yi's arm with unexpected vigor. "Oi, lover boy! Look alive! Your knight in shining armor is making his grand exit."
Qing Yi looked over his shoulder, his curiosity piqued. Sure enough, Lan Xichen was rising from his seat, gathering his books with his usual poise. Qing Yi couldn't help but notice the effortless grace with which Lan Xichen moved, feeling a mixture of admiration and mild annoyance at how even this simple act seemed so refined.
"Great," Qing Yi muttered, his voice a mix of longing and sarcasm. "Now I can watch him leave in slow motion. It's like a tragic romance novel, except I'm just the pathetic side character who doesn't even get a proper storyline."
Just then, Jiang Yanli glanced their way, her eyes lighting up with recognition. Jiang Cheng, with a mischievous glint in his eye, waved enthusiastically at his sister. Qing Yi felt a surge of panic rise in his chest, his eyes widening in horror as he desperately wished he could melt into the floor.
"What are you doing?" Qing Yi hissed, his face a mask of betrayal. "Why are you calling her over?" His stomach churned at the thought of having to face Jiang Yanli, the unwitting object of his jealousy.
Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't get stuck. "She's my sister, you dolt," he said, his tone a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "What, am I supposed to pretend she doesn't exist because you're too busy drowning in your own angst?"
Before Qing Yi could formulate a suitably scathing response, Jiang Yanli had already made her way over, her smile as bright and warm as ever. Qing Yi felt his heart sink, a complicated mixture of guilt and envy swirling in his chest.
"Hello, everyone!" she greeted cheerfully, her voice as gentle as a summer breeze.
"Hey, Jie!" Jiang Cheng responded warmly, his earlier exasperation melting away in his sister's presence.
Wei Wuxian's face split into a wide grin. "Yanli-jie! Come to grace us mere mortals with your presence?" he teased, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
Qing Yi, feeling like he was being strangled by his own tie, managed a smile that looked more like he was suffering from a particularly nasty bout of indigestion. He nodded awkwardly at Jiang Yanli, not trusting himself to speak without saying something he'd regret.
Jiang Cheng leaned forward with a knowing smirk. "So, dear sister, did you have a productive study session with the esteemed Senior Lan? I'm sure it was absolutely riveting." His tone was light, but Qing Yi could detect the underlying teasing directed at him.
Qing Yi shot him a glare that could have curdled milk, silently pleading with his eyes for Jiang Cheng to stop. His fingers gripped the edge of the table so hard his knuckles turned white, bracing himself for Jiang Yanli's response.
Jiang Yanli, blissfully unaware of the tension, nodded happily. "Oh, it was wonderful!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. Qing Yi felt each word like a dagger to his heart. "Lan Xichen is such a patient tutor. He helped me with so many subjects I've been struggling with."
Qing Yi's mind unhelpfully supplied images of Lan Xichen leaning close to Jiang Yanli, explaining complex theories with that soft, melodious voice of his. He gritted his teeth, trying to push the thoughts away.
Jiang Yanli paused, a slight frown creasing her brow. "We had to cut it short, though. He has Quidditch practice - the championship game against Gryffindor is tomorrow, after all."
Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng's eyes widened comically, as if they'd just remembered they'd left a cauldron boiling over in Potions class. Qing Yi couldn't help but feel a twinge of amusement at their expressions, momentarily distracted from his jealousy.
"Merlin's pants!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed, slapping his forehead dramatically. "How could we forget? It's going to be the match of the century!"
Jiang Cheng nodded vigorously, excitement building in his voice. "Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor... it's going to be epic! We're going to crush them!"
Qing Yi, feeling like he might spontaneously combust if he had to sit next to Jiang Yanli for one more second, stood up abruptly. His chair scraped loudly against the floor, drawing curious glances from nearby students.
"Well, this has been absolutely delightful," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "but I'm afraid I must take my leave. Good luck with the game tomorrow and all that jazz." He silently cursed himself for his inability to hide his emotions better.
Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng exchanged a knowing look, eyebrows raised in silent communication. Qing Yi felt a flash of irritation at their obvious amusement at his discomfort.
"Hold your Hippogriffs, Qing Yi," Wei Wuxian called out, a teasing lilt to his voice. "You're coming to the match, right? I know Slytherin got their scaly tails handed to them by Ravenclaw, but come on! It's the championship!" His eyes twinkled mischievously as he added, "At least come to cheer on your beloved role model."
Qing Yi's glare could have melted steel. "What role model?" he scoffed, his voice pitched higher than usual in indignation. "I have no idea what you're talking about." His cheeks burned as he realized how unconvincing he sounded.
"And I'll pass, thank you very much. Quidditch isn't exactly my cup of tea. Besides," he added with a sniff, drawing himself up to his full height, "I'm allergic to excessive amounts of teenage hormones."
Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng burst into laughter, while Jiang Yanli looked politely confused. Qing Yi felt a mixture of embarrassment and a strange sense of pride at having made his friends laugh, even if it was at his own expense.
"Oh, come on," Wei Wuxian gasped between chuckles, wiping a tear from his eye. "You can't tell me you don't want to see Lan Xichen in his Quidditch robes, soaring majestically through the air like some kind of... of..."
"Overgrown peacock?" Qing Yi supplied dryly, even as his traitorous mind conjured up an image of Lan Xichen in his Quidditch gear, wind tousling his hair as he soared through the air. He shook his head slightly, trying to dispel the thought.
Jiang Cheng snorted, a grin splitting his face. "Merlin's beard, you Slytherins and your pride. It's like you're allergic to fun."
Qing Yi drew himself up to his full height (which, admittedly, wasn't very impressive) and fixed them with his haughtiest look. "I'll have you know that we Slytherins have plenty of fun," he retorted, his chin tilted up defiantly.
"We just prefer our entertainment to be a bit more... refined." Even as he said it, he could hear how pompous he sounded, but his pride wouldn't let him back down now.
With that, he gave a slight bow to Jiang Yanli - because even in the depths of jealousy, his manners were impeccable - and strode off with as much dignity as he could muster. As he walked away, he could feel their eyes on his back, and he silently prayed he wouldn't trip or do anything else to embarrass himself further.
As Qing Yi's form retreated, Wei Wuxian shook his head, a grin splitting his face. "That boy is wound tighter than a Mandrake's scream. One of these days, he's going to petrify himself with his own glare."
Jiang Cheng nodded sagely, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ah, yes. The great Slytherin defense mechanism - when in doubt, turn yourself into a statue and hope no one notices."
Jiang Yanli looked between her brother and Wei Wuxian, her expression a mixture of amusement and confusion. "I feel like I'm missing something here," she said softly, her brow furrowed slightly.
Wei Wuxian patted her hand sympathetically, his voice warm with affection. "Don't worry about it, Yanli-jie. It's just another day in the soap opera that is Hogwarts." He leaned in conspiratorially, a mischievous grin on his face.
()()()()()