Chapter Text
Lan Sizhui had never put eyeliner on before. Jingyi had taken him to his dorm last week to show him the difference between liquid, gel, and pencil liners. Sizhui was very good now at the bottom lid but couldn’t quite get the makeup close enough to his upper lashes, so Jingyi ended up doing all of his makeup for him at 4 a.m. before the team had to go to the grand ballroom to help set up.
This was his first competition! He had practiced all semester for this. His partner for Latin/rhythm was a short but sprightly girl named Lulu. His partner for smooth-standard was a taller and somewhat intimidating girl named Qianhe. He liked both styles of dance but felt himself more inclined to the latter: he enjoyed the graceful movements and performance aspect of the waltz, tango, and foxtrot. Plus, his smooth-standard coach, Lan Wangji, was pre-champion level in those dances.
Sizhui liked both of his partners, too, but felt he didn’t click with either of them—not for a long-term dance partnership, at least. He couldn’t quite articulate it, but he thought it worked best when there was a level of trust that would allow for mutual criticism and open communication. Lulu was often too hard on herself, and this got in the way of learning new steps. And Qianhe still scared him a little bit. She never said anything outright mean, but whenever he mis-stepped or forgot a move, she would look displeased, and he would only grow more self-conscious.
He wished that he and Jingyi could be ballroom partners. He trusted Jingyi; they were friends; they were even lab partners in STEM courses at the university. They had a playful rapport and could easily correct each other and applaud each other without any awkwardness. Lan Jingyi was also a really talented dancer—he was at the Newcomer level as well, but he made it all look so effortless.
But alas, the intercollegiate ballroom system didn’t allow for same-sex partners, especially beyond the Newcomer level.
Plus, there were so many girls on the ballroom team that each guy had to be paired with two girls for this competition.
Sizhui looked around. The middle of the ballroom had been cleared for dancing. The DJ was here. The tables surrounding were labeled with the competing school names: Gusu University, Yunmeng University, Modao College, Lanling College, and Qinghe College. This would be a pretty good turnout for this: Gusu was hosting this year and organizing everything was hard work for the team captains.
Sizhui straightened his back. Speak of the devil. Lan Wangji and Mianmian walked by, counting off the teammates who were sitting on the bleachers.
When done, Lan Wangji said, “Most of you look like you’ve put on your makeup already. Take the next half an hour before everyone arrives to change into your ballroom clothes.”
“You’ve all worked so hard,” Mianmian said, a sparkle in her eye. “I’m very proud of all of you. Good luck!”
Lan Wangji looked more serious than usual, almost somber. This was probably because his partner of four years, Mianmian, was leaving to attend graduate school abroad. He always knew this day would come. Mianmian was an independent and free spirit, having transferred from Lanling College in her first year. Now, she was off again, ready to make a new home. He on the other hand was staying here, moving from Gusu University to Gusu School of Arts to continue dance. He’d become pre-champ in three years. Could Sizhui do that too?
As if he could read Sizhui’s mind, Lan Wangji walked over to his young trainee and said, “Everything okay?”
Sizhui perked up and smiled. “Yes, thank you! I’m excited!”
A smile played at the edge of Lan Wangji’s lips. “You will do great.”
*
Wei Wuxian stretched and yawned as the bus pulled to a stop at Gusu University. Wen Qing, sitting next to him in the window seat, nudged him. He pulled his long limbs back to himself. “Sorry,” he said. “I wanted to get all of that out before we go in.” The six hour drive had made him very weary. He’d probably need to crack his back later.
She rolled her eyes for good measure, but then said, “It’s fine. It’s probably best to stretch beforehand anyway.”
“Yes, especially because these Gusu students are supposedly very stuck-up. They can afford two pre-champ coaches and occasional guest coaches from the region! And they have their own ballroom, several dance studios…” he trailed off, mesmerized by the very idea.
“You shouldn’t gossip with Wen Ning so much,” she said. “They could be very nice.”
Wen Ning poked his head up from the seat in front of them. “Sorry, Jiejie. I only said the facts, but I do think they could be nice.”
She pat his head, and they all left the bus once the doors opened. Wei Wuxian carried his one suit bag over his shoulder and Wen Ning carried his sister’s, shuffling behind. Wen Ning wasn’t going to be competing this time; he’d gotten a knee injury from practice. He was excited to see his sister and Wei Ying compete, though, as they’d just come up with a new routine and had advanced to Gold.
The ballroom was indeed large, with chandeliers hanging overhead and beautiful banquet tables laid out for each team. There wouldn’t be food here, but it was more luxurious than anything they’d gotten at Modao. Modao had been built as a nursing and STEM school, and didn’t prioritize the arts. They’d had to fundraise a lot in order to afford lessons and dresses. They ended up renting a lot of their equipment.
Wei Wuxian headed to the dressing room to change. Once in his suit, he looked at his hair, which had grown a bit long, so he tied half of it up into a small ponytail. It looked plain. He puckered his lips and pondered. He took a red ribbon that had been used to bound the rental suit package and looped it around his hair to tie a bow. It deflated and was uneven. He puckered his lips again.
At that moment, a tall man passed behind him in the mirror. “Ey, excuse me!” Wei Wuxian called.
The man, tall, broad-chested and very serious looking, with golden eyes and short hair, turned around.
Wei Wuxian chuckled and pointed to his hair ribbon. “I can’t get it to be even. Can you tie it for me?”
The man looked at him appraisingly for a moment, sighed, and obliged. The bow he tied was impeccable.
“Thank you!” Wei Wuxian sang. “What’s your name? Are you from Gusu?”
But the man was already gone into another part of the dressing room.
How elegant he was, Wei Wuxian thought. I wonder if he’s a judge? Maybe that’s why he has to maintain some professional distance.
*
The ballroom filled with about two-hundred couples. Each dance style had several rounds of competition, and Sizhui had to listen hard to make sure that he was going when Newcomers were called. The first half of the day was Latin-rhythm, the second half smooth-standard. It would be a long day.
Sizhui did okay with Lulu in the first couple of rounds, but they only progressed to semi-finals for the cha-cha. He and Lulu hugged when they didn’t make the finals.
“I’m sorry. We’ll do better next time,” he said.
She shook her head. “No, I’m having fun! And we did so well, considering how many couples there are!”
He smiled and hoped that Qianhe would be as understanding.
Although he was sad to lose, he found this gave him time to sit and watch the more advanced dancers and learn from them.
Lan Wangji and Mianmian were breathtaking on the floor. The other Gold couples in Latin-rhythm—and there were about twenty of them—were also good, of course, but they were only good technically. Lan Wangji and Mianmian had flare and style. They were artists, with skill and talent and passion. Their slower dances in the afternoon would only be better.
It wasn’t just Sizhui who was mesmerized by the couple. Usually during a competition, there would be the music and the DJ announcing the next round, and a whole lot of white noise and chatter. But the entire room went quiet to watch this pair.
At around noon, the prizes were announced for each dance and each level. Jingyi and his partners won Newcomer first place for two of the Latin dances. Sizhui stood and cheered for his friend.
Lan Wangji and Mianmian placed in all Latin-rhythm dances. The Gusu team cheered, despite their usually quiet demeanors.
The DJ was handed the mic from the judges at the end of the award ceremony. “I am told that there is a short event now before lunchtime! It is time for the tradition of the Fun Dance! This is where you get creative and you improvise based on the prompts given. For this year’s Fun Dance, I want each person participating to grab someone from another school for….The Same-Sex Waltz!”
Sizhui decided he wanted to try. He joined the crowd in the middle and found another Newcomer named Jin Ling, who seemed icy at first but started doing lunges to prepare for the Fun Dance, and Sizhui found this endearing.
Wei Wuxian knew exactly who he wanted to ask. He knew now from the prize ceremony that the man he had met in the dressing room was Lan Wangji, and could spot him easily from the crowd by his white cummerbund.
Wei Wuxian sidled up to him and waved. Lan Wangji’s ears grew red—although it could’ve been the heat of the many bodies in the room. “Hi, Lan Wangji! It’s me again, Wei Wuxian. Care for a dance? You can lead me!”
Lan Wangji looked uncertainly at Mianmian, the closest confidante there, and she nodded. “Hey, Wei Wuxian, can I grab your partner?”
Wei Wuxian nodded and beckoned Wen Qing, who was flattered to have such a talented Fun Dance partner.
Wei Ying grabbed Lan Wangji’s wrist and led him to the middle of the dancefloor.
“No,” Lan Wangji said, taking Wei Ying’s hand, and leading him to the outer circle. “Here is better, so we don’t crash into others.”
Smiling, Wei Ying said, “That makes sense! Bigger strides too. You have long legs.”
The DJ returned to the mic: “Okay, now this is the Same-Sex Waltz with Flare! Be as exuberant as possible. The most creative improvisers get to advance to the next round.”
There were about fifty couples on the floor. Wei Wuxian whispered to his partner, “I suppose you’re leading me?”
Lan Wangji met his eyes. They were softer than before. “Mn. Have you followed before?”
“I love dancing, and I don’t care whether I lead or follow,” Wei Wuxian said. “Whenever my partner Wen Qing learns her steps, I learn alongside her. I think it’s important that each leader learns both parts, to empathize. People think the followers have the easier job.”
“Those people are foolish.”
“You learn your partner’s parts too?” Wei Wuxian said, in awe that such a well-regarded leader did this. Many leaders were self-conscious about their masculinity.
Lan Wangji nodded, opening his arms up for ballroom frame. Wei Wuxian fell into frame. Lan Wangji’s hand was strong under his shoulder blade. Their hands, even though vastly different sizes, fit together well.
The music started, and Wangji did a preparation step, signaling to Wei Ying that they were going to begin. Wangji led with confidence and without force. The way he used his hand on Wei Ying’s back to communicate the next mood, the next step, the next direction! Wei Ying was impressed and took note for himself as a leader. Wangji sent Wei Ying into a turn and Wei Ying made sure to make this turn the Prettiest Turn Ever, twirling his free hand around and kicking his leg up for extra flare.
He glimpsed Wen Qing and Mianmian. Wen Qing looked absolutely smitten and glowing with her partner.
The music stopped, and the DJ called out the leaders numbers: “Please stay if you have these numbers. 215, 189, 17, 3, and 15.”
Wei Wuxian gasped. “We made it!”
“You know my number?”
Wei Wuxian laughed. “Of course! Everyone here knows it by now. You won every round.”
Lan Wangji took a deep breath. “Mianmian and your partner, Wen Qing, also are staying.”
Wei Wuxian gave a wave to that couple. They waved back.
The music was about to start again. “Lan Wangji,” Wei Wuxian whispered. “What if you dipped me for this one? That will surely get us more points.”
The waltz music started again. Lan Wangji’s strides were long, so long that Wei Wuxian could hardly match them, but he managed. He flicked his ponytail for flare during a turn, he touched his face, he struck poses, and at the end, Lan Wangji brought him into a reverse turn, so that he was even closer to his body, and dipped him.
Wei Wuxian blinked, marveling at the perfection of Lan Wangji’s face. While everyone else had sweat beads forming on their foreheads, Lan Wangji’s forehead was pristine. He looked like marble. He had the urge to run his hands through Lan Wangji’s hair, which looked soft and a bit tussled from all the dancing.
The last chord played, and Wei Wuxian cupped Lan Wangji’s face. Lan Wangji blushed, but he was a performer: he didn’t flinch, he didn’t look fazed.
The DJ came back on: “Great job, couples! Let’s get the judges’ notes…”
Lan Wangji gently placed Wei Wuxian back on his two feet. Wei Wuxian felt dizzy, and he never felt dizzy. The two stood a few feet apart, breathing harder than was warranted.
Wen Qing and Mianmian were smiling ear-to-ear.
The DJ announced the top three: “In third place, Wen Qing of Modao University and Mianmian of Gusu University. In second place, Lan Sizhui of Gusu University and Jin Ling of Lanling College. And in first place…”
Wei Wuxian took Lan Wangji’s hand. Lan Wangji stiffened.
Wei Wuxian withdrew. “Sorry, habit. I usually do this with Wen Qing whenever we wait for announcements.”
He faced forward again, but felt Lan Wangji’s hand brush his, like a gentle question. He smiled, and took Lan Wangji’s hand again.
“Lan Wangji of Gusu University and Wei Wuxian of Modao University!”
Wei Wuxian jumped in glee, putting his hands on Lan Zhan’s tall shoulders. They went to collect their ribbons for the Fun Dance. The crowd was loud with cheers, and both men were soon swamped with teammates congratulating them. Amidst the ruckus, Wei Wuxian searched again for Lan Zhan’s eyes, and found that the pre-champ dancer was already looking at him.