"What are you doing in my room?"

Wei Ying glared at the boy, who was surprisingly calm for someone who had just broken into another person's apartment. "This is my room," Wei Ying said, crossing his arms over his chest. "And you're sitting on my bed."

The boy continued sitting Wei Ying's bed, unaffected by Wei Ying's glare. "No it isn't. This room is mine."

Wei Ying huffed indignantly. "Is too. I was here first."

"How did you get in?" the boy asked, looking past Wei Ying into the hallway as though the answer would be there.

"That's my question for you." Wei Ying sat down on the bed, now more curious than anything else. "Who are you, anyway?"

"Lan Zhan," the boy answered. "I live here. I just moved in yesterday." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Who are you?"

"Me? I'm Wei Ying. I've lived here since I was six." He counted out the years on his fingers. "So I've been here for three years." He glanced at Lan Zhan with new interest. "You're new here, so I guess it's okay for you to stay in my room for now." He spoke slowly to give the impression that it was a great sacrifice to have to share his room, but he was terribly excited to have another child around, especially one who seemed so close to his own age. "We'll find you a new one later."

Lan Zhan gave a single nod of acknowledgement before returning to looking at the books he had spread across the bed.

Wei Ying leaned in to get a closer look at the books. "Whatcha doing?"

"Homework." Lan Zhan turned a page of the book he was currently looking at.

"Homework, eh?" Wei Ying snorted. "Glad I don't have to do that anymore."

Lan Zhan looked up with a slight frown. "You shouldn't skip your homework."

Wei Ying rolled his eyes. "Why do homework when you could do so many other things?" He was about to jump off the bed so he could demonstrate his point, but he was grabbed by the collar and pulled back toward Lan Zhan. "What do you want?" Wei Ying sputtered, struggling to dislodge Lan Zhan's hand from his collar.

"Homework," Lan Zhan grunted, maintaining a firm grip despite Wei Ying's attempts at escape. "You need to do it."

Wei Ying looked at the books, but all he saw were snakes. "But it's not even mine," he whined, even as Lan Zhan was already pushing a book into his hands.

"We'll share." Lan Zhan picked up a book of his own, still keeping one hand tightly clenched around Wei Ying's collar.

"How do you share homework?" Wei Ying muttered. "I'm not doing your work for you if that's what you want."

Lan Zhan merely hummed in response.

I don't think I like him at all, Wei Ying thought to himself. But still, at least now he had someone to talk to. He hadn't had that in a long time.

…...

"I made a friend."

Xichen smiled as he handed Wangji his dinner. "You did? Are they in the same class as you?"

Wangji shook his head. "He said he doesn't go to school."

Ah, a grown up friend, then. Xichen was a little disappointed, he was always hoping that Wangji would make some friends his own age. Wangji had never made friends of any age before though, so it was still a step in the right direction. "Does he live near here?"

"He lives here," Wangji answered, looking over his shoulder at the open door to his room. "Wei Ying, you shouldn't make faces."

Xichen's heart sank, but he continued to smile. An imaginary friend. He hadn't expected it from Wangji, the boy rarely played and never pretended. He crouched down in front of Wangji so he could look him in the eye. "Wangji, are you having trouble getting along at school?"

Wangji shook his head again.

Xichen put his hand on Wangji's shoulder. "I know moving to a new school is tough. If you ever have anything you want to talk about, let me know, okay?"

Wangji nodded. "I will."

Xichen stood, turning back to the stove. He paused when Wangji tugged on his sleeve.

"Can Wei Ying have a plate too?"

"Of course."