Thread by @kissthesorcerer

#zhancheng childhood friends, crushes, fluff

'he loves me not-' a petal is torn off the stem. '-he loves me.'

and so goes the mantra in his head until there's only one petal left. the answer from the universe is: 'he loves me not.'

lan zhan purses his lips, feeling upset. +

that's not right! he knows in his heart of hearts that jiang cheng loves him!! they shared a box of blueberries at lunch yesterday!!!

with renewed vigor, he wades through the dewy grass yet again and plucks another daisy out of the ground. he has to double check. +

eight year old lan zhan is sure he knows a thing or two about love. it's when a mother comforts her child and although he was young when his passed away, he still remembers her warm smiles. it's when his uncle makes a hearty meal from the veggies they've grown in their garden. +

it's the secret language he and his brother have where they can read each other like ancient books others just don't understand.

and then there's jiang cheng, the boy next door who's quickly become lan zhan's best friend. +

love is when jiang cheng is as sweet to bao (lan zhan's pet bunny) as he is to little love, princess, and jasmine.

it's the confusion fading away when he had to explain his family is vegan and now jiang cheng makes sure to bring dairy, egg, & meat free snacks just for him. +

it's situations where they've learned to make compromises like what game they're going to play first after jiang cheng tries to be bossy and lan zhan's temper flares.

it's like the time jiang cheng adjusted lan zhan's glasses by gently pushing the round, wire frames back up +

the bridge of his tiny nose before they could slide off and accidentally snap in two.

or, lan zhan thinks, maybe that's just friendship? maybe love is supposed to be friendship? and you're supposed to marry your best friend who you love? +

so maybe he'll marry jiang cheng when they're older? they can live together with bao, little love, princess, and jasmine. they can munch on cucumber slices so they don't spoil their appetite before supper. they can buy a house on the same street as their families so no one will +

be sad living so far away.

lan zhan is delighted when the universe finally confirms it- the first time must have been a mistake, he just knows it! there is only one petal left on the stem and this time it reads: 'he loves me.'