Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! Just a small idea that came to me. Enjoy :)

Summary: Eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves. Unless they're ZeWu Jun. But there lay the problem.

Setting: Spoilers for the early episodes of The Untamed drama series.

Warnings: Some silliness and Possible OOC-ness.

Rating: T

Disclaimer: The Untamed series is based on the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation novel which belongs to Mo Xiang Tong Xiu.

- Story Start -

Lan XiChen finished going over the day's activities with his uncle and wished him goodnight. He was on his way to the Hanshi when he saw WangJi returning from patrolling the outer courtyards. It was a beautiful moonlit night so he decided to accompany WangJi on the last leg of his patrol before calling it a night.

The guest quarters had a number of guest disciples attending the three month lecture this time. Staying close to the shadows with their white boots making no sound on the pebble strewn path, the two brothers spied a figure emerging from one of the quarters, holding something in his hand and walking somewhat unsteadily.

"Isn't that HuaiSang?" XiChen asked. He had promised Nie MingJue, HuaiSang's stern older brother, to keep an eye out for him.

"Mn," WangJi answered. "Going to the Yunmeng Jiang brothers' quarters. Looks inebriated."

Which meant that a rule was broken. XiChen normally left the punishment of minor offenses to WangJi, but being sworn brothers with Nie MingJue, he also felt responsible for young HuaiSang.

They moved closer to the quarters in question, keeping to the shadows until they stood outside an open window and peeped through the curtain.

It seemed like this party had gone on for some time. Four bottles of Emperor Smile were on the floor, two of them lying on their sides. The small table in the centre of the room and surrounding floor were strewn with peanut shells. Seated around the table, talking and laughing and drinking, were Wei WuXian, Jiang WanYin and Nie HuaiSang.

The two Lans drew back into the shadows as the unmistakable scent of sweet liquor drifted out the window, together with the conversation.

"She doesn't even give me the time of day," Jiang WanYin was complaining. "She doesn't even look at me with those big, round eyes of hers."

"She's not your type, remember?" Wei WuXian sounded bored, like they had had this conversation many times before.

"Whaddaya mean? She's exactly my type!"

"Who is?"

"Nie-xiong, isn't it obvious? It's Maiden Wen Qing."

There was a groan followed by a thumping noise as if someone had knocked his head on the table.

"Jiang Cheng," Wei WuXian said in a patronising tone, "didn't you say you wanted someone less smarter than you?"

"She's a Healer. You can't compare a Header to a Cultivator!" Jiang WanYin sounded defensive.

"Of course we can't," HuaiSang said in soothing tones. "Is she your ideal woman then?"

"If you must know," Wei WuXian sounded gleeful, "he likes a naturally beautiful woman who is graceful and obedient-"

"Shut up!"

"-hardworking and thrifty-"

"That's enough!"

A choked off laugh and the sounds of clothes rustling and socked feet slipping on the floorboards made the two Lans peep in again. Jiang WanYin was chasing Wei WuXian around the table, the former scowling and the latter laughing.

"-cultivation level not too high-"

Wei WuXian! I'm going to kill you!"

"-personality not too strong-"

"Not another word!"

"Do stop running," HuaiSang begged, waving his fan in his agitation and sending more peanut shells onto the floor. "You two are giving me a headache."

XiChen and WangJi ducked out of sight as the Jiang siblings sat down again. There was the sound of liquid being poured out and then silence for a minute.

"What about you, Wei-xiong?" HuaiSang asked.

"Don't get him started!" Jiang WanYin's voice sounded sharp, almost panicked. "He'll be waxing lyrical about him the whole night long!"

"Him? Him who?"

"Second young Master Lan, that's who." Wei WuXian's voice turned dreamy, followed by a long, drawn out sigh that seemed to come from the depths of his soul.

Outside the window, XiChen's eyes met a shocked WangJi's.

"Great," Jiang WanYin groused. "That'll be the only topic of conversation for the rest of tonight. Worse, he talks in his sleep. I am so done hearing about the great HanGuang Jun - his looks, his virtues, his skills and every single word the two of them have ever exchanged. Gah!"

Nie HuaiSang's delighted laugh was followed by Wei WuXian's sheepish one.

"I can't help it," the latter protested. "Everything about Lan Zhan is perfect! His bearing, his looks, his skills, his voice..." another heartfelt sigh "... except for him not smiling at me or looking at me or talking to me..."

"Or giving you the time of day?" There was a very definite snide tone in Jiang WanYin's voice now.

"Shut up!"

Again, there was the sounds of liquid being poured three times and the thump of a bottle set down none too gently.

"What about you, Nie-xiong?" Wei WuXian asked after a while, sounding more cheerful again. "Who's your crush?"

A loud, mournful sigh sounded.

"He'd never give me the time of day either."

"Your crush is a 'he' too?" Jiang WanYin sounded shocked.

"Yes. What of it?" HuaiSang sounded testy.

"Nothing!"

"Who is it?" Wei WuXian sounded curious.

There was a muffled groan as if HuaiSang had covered his face with his hands.

Outside the window, XiChen felt a small smile tugging at his lips. He could just picture Da-ge's younger brother behaving like that, hiding his cute face in his small hands.

Wait. Since when did he think of him as cute?

Even though he... well, he was.

"Tell us who, Nie-xiong!" Wei WuXian urged.

"Yeah, you already know ours," Jiang WanYin grumbled.

"It's... it's ZeWu Jun," HuaiSang said in a small voice.

"What, the other Twin Jade?" Jiang WanYin exclaimed.

Outside the window, XiChen's eyes widened in shock at he stared at his brother, but inside the conversation continued.

"Well, he and Lan Zhan are famous, right?" Wei WuXian pointed out.

XiChen bit his lip, wishing he wouldn't sound so... encouraging.

"That isn't why!"

"ZeWu Jun is also polite," Wei WuXian continued. "Remember how he praised the Nie Sect's gift during the ceremony and how kind he was to your Vice Envoy?"

"Yes, but that isn't why either!"

"Er... because he's beautiful?"

"Yes, but it's not just that!" HuaiSang sounded desperate. "He's also sworn brothers with Da-ge so I've met him many times. XiChen-ge is just the nicest person in the world. He's friendly to everyone. He always has a kind word for me. I... I swear if he ever raises his voice at me one day, I'll just curl up and die!"

Following that dramatic declaration, XiChen pressed his lips together and looked away, goose bumps prickling all over. Hearing this by himself was awkward. Hearing this with WangJi was... even more so.

Neither of them would plead ignorance to how admired and well known they were throughout the Cultivation World, but it wasn't something they liked to dwell on. Not to mention their rules forbade pride and arrogance.

"Well, just tell him how you feel then!" Wei WuXian urged.

There was another thump. The two Lans peeped in to see HuaiSang's head resting on the table this time.

"I can't," he moaned.

"Why not?"

"Because Da-ge is also in love with him!"

As two shocked 'What?!'s rang out, XiChen's shocked eyes met WangJi's for the second time.

"Do you mean Sect Leader Nie MingJue?" Wei WuXian sounded scandalised.

"He can't be!" Jiang WanYin sounded horrified.

"I do and he is," HuaiSang sounded miserable. He heaved a big sigh.

"Before I came here, I had to finish all the pending correspondence for our sect. Da-ge doesn't care much for writing letters, he prefers talking face to face. It was quite late at night when I brought him the last few letters to sign off. He didn't answer when I knocked on the door so I entered."

"Yes? And?" Wei WuXian sounded eager.

"Da-ge had fallen asleep at his desk. He was... uhm... talking in his sleep."

"He was? What about?" Wei WuXian sounded even more eager.

"Wei WuXian!" Jiang WanYin sounded annoyed. "This is confidential! Sect Leader Nie would have our heads if-"

"Shh! You're just as curious, Jiang Cheng, don't deny it! Go on, Nie-xiong."

"Well, Da-ge was er... praising XiChen-ge's looks."

"He was?" Wei WuXian sounded delighted.

"I don't want to hear anymore," Jiang WanYin moaned.

"Yes, he said XiChen-ge always looks so pretty-"

"Pretty!" Wei WuXian sounded positively ecstatic. "Didn't I tell you, Jiang Cheng? Both the Twin Jades are famed beauties!"

"I'm not hearing this. I'm not hearing this!"

"Shh, you two!"

"Sorry, Nie-xiong. What else did your brother say?"

"Uhm, well... that XiChen-ge is beautiful and soft spoken and an excellent diplomat. He always knows what to say or do."

Another despondent sigh sounded and both the Lan brothers chanced another peep inside. HuaiSang was wringing his hands.

"Da-ge wants to woo him, but doesn't know how to. He can't write poetry, he isn't as cultured and only knows blunt speech. He also doesn't know if XiChen-ge is... well, like me."

"Like you and your brother, you mean."

"Oh. Er... yes."

"That's so romantic, two brothers in love with the same man!" Wei WuXian gave a dramatic sigh. "But that's unfair of Sect Leader Nie, wanting to write poetry and scolding you for doing the same."

"Yes, well..." Nie HuaiSang trailed off, sounding even more despondent than before.

"You should tell ZeWu Jun how you feel," Wei WuXian said.

"I can't!" HuaiSang sounded almost in tears. "He'd laugh at me for sure. Da-ge's cultivation is high. He's strong and powerful and a sect leader. He's someone worthy of ZeWu Jun. I-I'm just his useless younger brother who plays around with fans!"

He burst into tears.

"Wei WuXian, look at what you've done!"

"What? I didn't do anything!" Wei WuXian sounded both guilty and defensive.

"Nie-xiong, don't listen to my idiot brother," Jiang WanYin said. "He doesn't know anything. You just need to... uh..."

"We need to finish the last bottle of Emperor Smile!" Wei WuXian's voice held fake cheer and the sounds of liquid being poured sounded again. "Let's all drown our sorrows together!"

With an abrupt movement, WangJi spun around and started walking away. XiChen followed, making sure he didn't make a sound. It wasn't until they had left the guest quarters far behind that WangJi stopped walking, turning to face XiChen.

There was something a little different in his face now, XiChen noted. The usual weight of his cool gaze seemed... lighter.

"Will you be reporting their transgressions, WangJi?"

"No."

"Oh?"

"It is forbidden to drink alcohol in Cloud Recesses. It is also forbidden to eavesdrop on others' conversation."

XiChen blinked in surprise. That was true. How could they report what they had seen and heard without giving themselves away?

"Don't you agree?" WangJi asked and there was something almost like a twinkle in his eyes. But of course it had to be a trick of the moonlight shining down on them.

"Of course. Goodnight, WangJi," XiChen said and returned his brother's too formal bow.

"Goodnight, xiongzhang."

XiChen watched him walk off in the direction of the Jingshi, his steps looking almost... light. He would wish young Master Wei good luck except he didn't need it because WangJi had a crush on him as well, only better hidden.

Uttering a sigh, XiChen glanced back in the direction of the guest quarters, his eyebrows drawing together in a frown. He, on the other hand, had something of a dilemma now. He was very fond of MingJue, his older sworn brother, and young HuaiSang too. But he had never thought of them in a romantic sense.

Perhaps the best thing to do about this accidental revelation... was nothing at all?

- Story End -

A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed it :)