Shen Qingqiu took a deep breath. He slowly exhaled.

Okay.

He stood in front of a closed-door with the rest of the group behind him. Nie Huaisang was evidently confused.

Shen Qingqiu turned to face the group and then he said, "Now, I want all of you to be quiet, don't make a noise."

The boys vigorously nodded their heads. Shen Qingqiu took another deep breath and raised his hand to knock on the door.

The door swung open. Shen Qingqiu blinked. His hand was raised in midair still.

A Lan Wangji lookalike stood on the other side of the door, their hand still on the knob. The guy also blinked.

It was Lan Xichen. Lan Xichen is Lan Wangji's brother. It was remarkable how the two brothers look alike although a few years apart. They might as well be called twins that only look slightly different.

Not that anyone ever got them mixed up. Lan Xichen was a happy sunshine boy whose presence can light up a whole room. He can make the shyest people talk and make the most awkward situation disappear with a couple of words. He was a peacemaker, someone who can make two people who were at each other's throats laugh together a moment later, calling each other bros over tea.

Hey. Shen Qingqiu had seen it happen. Although it only lasted as long as Lan Xichen was in the room. Then they were back at each other's throats.

Lan Xichen looked at the group of kids in front of his door. He looked over Shen Qingqiu's shoulder and recognized Xie Lian.

"Ah! You guys must be Wangji's friends! He's in his room right now, come in!" Lan Xichen smiled, "I'm glad Wangji has so many friends!"

Lan Xichen ushered them in. "Unfortunately I can't stay, I have dorm monitor duty, but Wangji's in the room to the left! There are snacks in the pantry if you find yourself hungry!" he pointed to the bedroom and then to the pantry. Which wasn't necessary because all dorms have the same interior structure.

"Alright, have fun then! Just make sure to not open the balcony window! We are having some rough weather these days, aren't we? Goodbye now!" with a cheerily wave, Lan Xichen left the room.

"..." the four boys stood in the middle of the room.

"Why do I feel like we just broke into someone's dorm?"

"That's just you, Nie-xiong."

They looked around. It was neat. And clean. There was a bunny origami on a shelf next to a photo of little Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji with their late parents. The room was also spacious and even the air was crisp with that fresh linen smell.

It makes their dorm look like a dump.

"Alright, let's do it guys."

"After you, Shen-xiong!"

...

Lan Wangji was in his room, reading a book when there was a knock on the door. He turned to see Shen Qingqiu's head poking in from the doorway.

Lan Wangji: "...."

Shen Qingqiu: "Heyyyyyyyyy, um Wangji-xiong!"

Lan Wangji: "...what is it."

Lan Wangji watched as Shen Qingqiu awkwardly stepped into the room with Xie Lian poking his head in before clumsily following Shen Qingqiu's moves.

"Hey, Wangji-xiong!" Xie Lian said cheerfully.

Lan Wangji: "..."

Then Shi Qingxuan and Nie Huaisang also shuffled in.

Lan Wangji: "..."

Suddenly there were four extra people in the already small room.

"...what is it," repeated Lan Wangji.

"Well," Shen Qingqiu begins-

"WE NEED FOOD, WANGJI-XIONG!" Shi Qingxuan blurted out.

"..."

"Yeah, what he said," Shen Qingqiu finishes.

"Please, Wangji-xiong!" Shi Qingxuan wasn't done.

"None of us can cook, we are all rich, spoiled brats, Xie Lian can't cook shit, and heck I can't even boil water without overboiling it!" Shi Qingxuan rants, "if you don't help us, I think we might die! Right, Xie Lian???? RIGHT??!"

"Um, yeah, Qingxuan! Please, calm down!" Xie Lian patted the other boy's back, concerned.

Lan Wangji: "..."

Shen Qingqiu thinks they were two seconds away from being kicked out of the dorm.

Lan Wangji stood up. Well, at least they tried.

But then something unexpected happens. Lan Wangji opened the door and glanced at the boys to follow him.

The group trailed behind Lan Wangji into the kitchen.

...

...

Lan Wangji handed Shen Qingqiu a knife.

Shen Qingqiu took the knife. He stares at it. What is he supposed to do with this? Surely, not to cut his head off?

"Chop."

Oh.

Shen Qingqiu placed one halved cabbage on the cutting board. Placing the washed cabbage on the flat side down, he starts cutting it with great focus. His parents are visiting in a few weeks and he bet his parents wouldn't appreciate it if he surprised them with a missing finger.

"Oooh, I want to help too! Wangji-xiong, give me a task too! Oops," Shi Qingxuan accidentally knocked over the salt shaker.

Lan Wangji, "...go set the table."

"Okay! Nie-xiong, come help me!" Shi Qingxuan waved Nie Huaisang over.

Xie Lian looked at everyone being busy. He wanted to help too!

"Wangji-xiong... Can I help?" he asked.

Lan Wangji: "...mn."

Xie Lian: ":D"

...

Soon the food was ready and set on the table and the aroma had long filled the room, everyone sat down in the tiny dining room, ready to dig in.

"WAIT!" Shi Qingxuan yelled, "I wanna take some pictures and post them on Weibo!"

...

Snap snap click

"Okay! I'm done!"

Now they are ready to dig in.

Shi Qingxuan stuffed a bite into his mouth. He blinked.

"W-what is this...! It's so good! *sob* Am I crying?? Why is it so good???? The last time I cried while eating was when I tried Xie Lian's-!"

"..."

Xie Lian: "Ahaha..."

...

After eating, the group waved goodbye to Lan Wangji. Outside was no longer in danger of a tornado and so Nie Huaisang was picked up by his very tall and scary-looking brother.

Shi Qingxuan, Xie Lian, and Shen Qingqiu went back to their shared dorm.

Shi Qingxuan plopped down on the couch. Next to him was Xie Lian's stuffed fox.

"Oi, Xie Lian, catch!" Shi Qingxuan grabbed the fox by the leg and tossed it at Xie Lian who was sitting cross-legged on the carpet floor.

Xie Lian caught the stuffed animal.

Shen Qingqiu walked over and handed the two boys a cup of warm milk before sitting down on the couch next to Shi Qingxuan.

"Thank you, Shen-xiong," both boys said simultaneously. Shen Qingqiu smiled.

"Oh, by the way, guys," Shi Qingxuan kicked his feet, almost spilling his milk onto the sofa, "do you wonder if your pen pal received the response letter yet? Because I am!"

Shen Qingqiu tensed up before loosening and taking a sip of the milk. "I don't know. Maybe," he answered.

"I am!" Xie Lian said, smiling, petting the fluffy stuffed fox on the head, "I think I figured out the writing!"

Then he paused, "You know... I wonder what Wangji-xiong had written to that pen pal of his..."

✨

Thank you for reading!

('▽')/✨

Comments and votes will be (highly) appreciated!

Word Count: 1325