"That's not how it works, idiot," Jiang Cheng, who was in third, groused "You can't be world champions together!"
"We could take turns," Lan Zhan pointed out, and Wei Ying laughed, delighted, as he enveloped Lan Zhan in a sticky champagne hug.
That moment stayed with Lan Zhan.
"We could take turns," Lan Zhan pointed out, and Wei Ying laughed, delighted, as he enveloped Lan Zhan in a sticky champagne hug.
That moment stayed with Lan Zhan.
They advance to F2, Wei Ying somehow always finding him amidst the constant bustle and Lan Zhan finds that there is something more now, every time he gets into his car. There are talks of F1 contracts, and the road ahead is wide and clear.
And then the accident happened.
And then the accident happened.
Spa has always been difficult, the turns too sharp and the circuit too narrow in places. Lan Zhan sees the safety car first, then the purple and red pieces of debris, before the race is stopped altogether.
Jiang Cheng and Wen Chao recovers. Wei Ying doesn't.
Jiang Cheng and Wen Chao recovers. Wei Ying doesn't.
Lan Zhan's F1 contract with Gusu racing feels like a hollow thing, feels like a betrayal as Wei Ying smiles at him, still bright even after everything.
"You'll do great, Lan Zhan," he says softly, "I believe in you."
It would be the last time Lan Zhan sees Wei Ying for years.
"You'll do great, Lan Zhan," he says softly, "I believe in you."
It would be the last time Lan Zhan sees Wei Ying for years.
Later, Lan Zhan watches footages of the crash, and realizes Wei Ying's split second decision to spare Jiang Cheng the worst of it.
Jiang Cheng doesn't know this, doesn't keep quiet at how irresponsible Wei Ying is for simply disappearing. Lan Zhan has no sympathy for him.
Jiang Cheng doesn't know this, doesn't keep quiet at how irresponsible Wei Ying is for simply disappearing. Lan Zhan has no sympathy for him.
He races on - Test drives for a year, gets into the driver lineup proper, then bears with his inept race engineer Su She and the team's mounting internal problems.
At the end of his second season in F1, Gusu racing finally parts ways with the Jin's dubious money.
At the end of his second season in F1, Gusu racing finally parts ways with the Jin's dubious money.
Sponsors are easy to come by when you carry the Lan name, but Jin Guangyao had also taken off with nearly half of their crew. Lan Wangji is just pleased that Su She is one of them.
"You won't believe who they headhunted for you," their test driver Jingyi says, eyes shining.
"You won't believe who they headhunted for you," their test driver Jingyi says, eyes shining.
Jingyi can be tight-lipped when he wants to, so Lan Zhan is genuinely taken by surprise when his new race engineer ducks into the garage - Hair longer, face thinner, but the bright smile unmistakably his.
"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying says, and somehow it's as if he's never left.
"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying says, and somehow it's as if he's never left.
It's surprisingly easy for Wei Ying to slip back into Lan Zhan's life - A blur of red amongst Gusu's signature white and blue, laughter ringing bright in the air.
But perhaps it's not so surprising, considering how easily Wei Ying had once made himself part of his life.
But perhaps it's not so surprising, considering how easily Wei Ying had once made himself part of his life.
"I'm glad Senior Wei is here," Wen Sizhui, their other test driver smiles at him between test runs, and Lan Zhan stares back.
"Thought no one could ever get you to smile, Senior Lan," Jingyi pokes his head from behind Sizhui, eyebrows waggling.
The thing is, they're not wrong.
"Thought no one could ever get you to smile, Senior Lan," Jingyi pokes his head from behind Sizhui, eyebrows waggling.
The thing is, they're not wrong.
Lan Zhan knows that he's missed Wei Ying, perhaps more than he cares to admit to himself.
He spends hours with Wei Ying on the garage, tweaking and adjusting and testing, spends days with Wei Ying's voice on his ears as Lan Zhan runs laps in their test circuit.
He spends hours with Wei Ying on the garage, tweaking and adjusting and testing, spends days with Wei Ying's voice on his ears as Lan Zhan runs laps in their test circuit.
By the time a new season rolls along, Lan Zhan's car feels like an extension of himself with how much they've modified it to his preferences. Wei Ying has always been brilliant like that, taking care of his own car even when he was still racing. And now he takes care of Lan Zhan.
Melbourne goes without a hitch, and then Sakhir. The first time Lan Zhan secures a podium finish, Wei Ying's loud whoop over the team radio almost deafens him.
By his third podium finish in Baku, Lan Zhan has come to anticipate it, smiles inside the safety of his cockpit.
By his third podium finish in Baku, Lan Zhan has come to anticipate it, smiles inside the safety of his cockpit.
Lan Zhan finds that he likes having Wei Ying's voice in his ears, have Wei Ying parse through ever-changing numbers and maneuvers and weather conditions and relay it succinctly to him.
The Wei Ying that talks in Lan Zhan's ears as he races is a steady, unshakeable anchor.
The Wei Ying that talks in Lan Zhan's ears as he races is a steady, unshakeable anchor.
Wei Ying listens to Lan Zhan's minimal words, is always quick to check on vibrations or rattling rear wings a or a balding tyre. Knows when to soothe and when to tell Lan Zhan to keep pushing. Knows when Lan Zhan simply needs his voice to keep him grounded.
He knows whenever their team radio is shown on broadcasts, it's just Wei Ying rambling on and Lan Zhan responding with a single "Mn".
And every time Lan Zhan feels like he's flagging, like he's slipping, Wei Ying would stop and say gently to his ears -
"Lan Zhan, I'm here."
And every time Lan Zhan feels like he's flagging, like he's slipping, Wei Ying would stop and say gently to his ears -
"Lan Zhan, I'm here."
And then, in Monaco, drunk with a first-place finish and a sip of podium champagne Wei Ying's pilfered, Lan Zhan says,
"Thank you, for getting me through that last lap"
At the very end, Lan Zhan had three wheels and something nearing panic - Wei Ying's voice his only tether.
"Thank you, for getting me through that last lap"
At the very end, Lan Zhan had three wheels and something nearing panic - Wei Ying's voice his only tether.
"Aw Lan Zhan, it's just what I do! No need to thank me for that! No need for thank you between us!"
Lan Zhan frowns, "No," he insists, the warmth in his guts nudging him on, "I - I appreciate, like it when Wei Ying talks to me."
"Oh," Wei Ying's voice is strangely high.
Lan Zhan frowns, "No," he insists, the warmth in his guts nudging him on, "I - I appreciate, like it when Wei Ying talks to me."
"Oh," Wei Ying's voice is strangely high.
"I-" this close, Lan Zhan can see the tinge of red on Wei Ying's sun-kissed cheek, the messy strands of hair that always seems to find their way into Wei Ying's face.
"I like talking to you too," Wei Ying whispers before they both fall silent, like a stalled engine.
"I like talking to you too," Wei Ying whispers before they both fall silent, like a stalled engine.
And then, when Lan Zhan thinks he can't bear it anymore, Wei Ying's lips straightens before it breaks into a grin.
"Ha! But you don't need me telling you that, right? Everyone knows I like talking to you!" Wei Ying falls back into the hotel sofa, reaching for his phone.
"Ha! But you don't need me telling you that, right? Everyone knows I like talking to you!" Wei Ying falls back into the hotel sofa, reaching for his phone.
"Look, there's all these Youtube compilation videos! 30 minutes of Lan Zhan's race engineer talking to himself! Ha! There's even memes! Have you seen these?"
"Ridiculous," Lan Zhan scoffs, a strange mix of relief and disappointment in his guts as he falls back into the familiar.
"Ridiculous," Lan Zhan scoffs, a strange mix of relief and disappointment in his guts as he falls back into the familiar.
They continue across Europe, Lan Zhan's days a blur of hotel rooms and gyms and practice runs, Wei Ying's voice the only constant thing in the chaos.
Then Hungaroring comes along, and for the first time after meeting him again, Wei Ying's voice falters. Their next race is Spa.
Then Hungaroring comes along, and for the first time after meeting him again, Wei Ying's voice falters. Their next race is Spa.
For days, Wei Ying doesn't show up for breakfasts and lunches, doesn't slip into Lan Zhan's room before his 9 pm bedtime and rope him into watching random videos and twitch streams.
Lan Zhan finds him in the garage, surrounded by papers and screens and cans of energy drinks.
Lan Zhan finds him in the garage, surrounded by papers and screens and cans of energy drinks.
He's seen Wei Ying like this, of course, all frantic energy and an edge of desperation that Lan Zhan had always hated. Back when they were both still racing, Lan Zhan hadn't know how to react, how to soothe. But now, now that the years have smoothed over him, he wants to try.
"Oh, Lan Zhan, hey," Wei Ying blinks up at him, dark circles under his eyes and the beginning of a stubble on his chin. Lan Zhan has the irrational urge to run his fingers over it.
"Were you looking for me? Sorry - Oof, I know it looks a mess but don't worry, I -"
"Were you looking for me? Sorry - Oof, I know it looks a mess but don't worry, I -"
"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan says, pointedly picking up the half-full can of energy drink beside his laptop, "You're consorting with the enemy team. Of course I worry."
For a moment, Wei Ying merely stares at him, lips parted, before he collapses with laughter.
For a moment, Wei Ying merely stares at him, lips parted, before he collapses with laughter.
"Oh," Wei Ying gasps, grasping at his arm while Lan Zhan simply delights in the sound of Wei Ying's laughter after days without it "Oh Lan Zhan, was that actually a joke? Ugh, and no one would believe me that you're a riot to be around"
He waits for Wei Ying to settle down.
He waits for Wei Ying to settle down.
When Wei Ying looks at him again, his eyes are softer, the shadows not as deep, and Lan Zhan feels a flutter in his stomach that he did that, him.
"Look, I know how this looks like," he sweeps a vague arm at their surroundings, "But I just -"
"I just want you safe, Lan Zhan"
"Look, I know how this looks like," he sweeps a vague arm at their surroundings, "But I just -"
"I just want you safe, Lan Zhan"
"I understand," Lan Zhan says, "But Wei Ying has kept me safe all this time."
"So all Wei Ying has to do is what he's always done all this time," he takes one of Wei Ying hands, squeezes it gently in his.
"Talk me through it"
"So all Wei Ying has to do is what he's always done all this time," he takes one of Wei Ying hands, squeezes it gently in his.
"Talk me through it"
So Wei Ying talks to Lan Zhan. He rambles on through practice and qualification, frets over weather forecasts and gathering clouds and their choice of medium compound tyres all the way to the green light.
He talks to Lan Zhan as rain starts to fall across the Belgian Grand Prix
He talks to Lan Zhan as rain starts to fall across the Belgian Grand Prix
He guides Lan Zhan to pit for wet tyres, ahead of the traffic as other cars fall in line behind him, guides him safely out of the pitlane and through a sudden pile-up on Eau Rouge.
Lan Zhan can barely see a thing amidst the rain, but Wei Ying's voice never once wavers.
Lan Zhan can barely see a thing amidst the rain, but Wei Ying's voice never once wavers.
Wei Ying talks him through the rain, his voice a steady anchor guiding him all the way to the chequered flag, where Lan Zhan belatedly realizes that there is no other car in front of him, that he's won the race.
Lan Zhan waits, confused, for Wei Ying's usual congratulations.
Lan Zhan waits, confused, for Wei Ying's usual congratulations.
Instead, there is silence, and then what sounds suspiciously like a sob at the other end of the team radio. Oh, Lan Zhan's heart clenches. Oh.
"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan says gently, his heart so fond and so thankful that it could burst.
"Wei Ying, I'm here."
"Wei Ying," Lan Zhan says gently, his heart so fond and so thankful that it could burst.
"Wei Ying, I'm here."
Something shifts between them, after Spa - thrumming gently beneath them like an unseen river. They breeze through Monza before packing up for Singapore.
The heat is brutal, but Wei Ying insists on staying longer during practice to scope out the track.
The heat is brutal, but Wei Ying insists on staying longer during practice to scope out the track.
"We didn't get to race here, back then," Wei Ying explains as Lan Zhan tries to tug Wei Ying back to the hotel with him "So I don't have as much data and feel of the track as I do others I've raced in"
Something twinges inside Lan Zhan at that, something not quite like guilt.
Something twinges inside Lan Zhan at that, something not quite like guilt.
Wei Ying sees it, of course, like he sees everything in otherwise indecipherable lines of data. Lan Zhan often wonders if that's why Wei Ying is always so good in reading him.
"Hey, it's alright!" Wei Ying smiles, "After your race, I'll know this track like the back of my hand!"
"Hey, it's alright!" Wei Ying smiles, "After your race, I'll know this track like the back of my hand!"
Lan Zhan would like to blame it on the heat, or the jetlag, but he knows it's all him - His years of not-quite-guilt and what-ifs when he finally asks.
"Do you miss it?"
Wei Ying's eyes are a gentle echo of the blazing sunset behind him - Patient and warm.
"Do you miss it?"
Wei Ying's eyes are a gentle echo of the blazing sunset behind him - Patient and warm.
"Of course I do," Wei Ying says, "Sometimes, there's nothing else I want to do. But then-"
"But then?"
"But then, I'm still racing, right? I'm still racing with you, Lan Zhan."
Later on, no one would believe that Jingyi saw Senior Lan hugging his race engineer in the garage.
"But then?"
"But then, I'm still racing, right? I'm still racing with you, Lan Zhan."
Later on, no one would believe that Jingyi saw Senior Lan hugging his race engineer in the garage.
The season draws slowly to a close as they approach Sao Paulo, and Lan Zhan is rather taken aback that he's so far up in the drivers standing - Only ten points away from the top.
"Pays to have a good engineer, huh?" Jingyi winks at him, even as Wei Ying shushes the younger man
"Pays to have a good engineer, huh?" Jingyi winks at him, even as Wei Ying shushes the younger man
Years ago, Lan Zhan would have floundered in his own confusion, would have rebuffed with coldness. But now-
"Yes," he says, his tone neutral as he looks at Wei Ying, "It's good that I have the best engineer there is."
The blush on Wei Ying's cheeks makes Lan Zhan dare to hope.
"Yes," he says, his tone neutral as he looks at Wei Ying, "It's good that I have the best engineer there is."
The blush on Wei Ying's cheeks makes Lan Zhan dare to hope.
Abu Dhabi finds Lan Zhan closing the margin to a mere five points to the top. If he wins this, the 25 points he gets will effectively crown him world champion.
It feels surreal, after only two short, rather turbulent rookie years under his belt. And he says as much to Wei Ying.
It feels surreal, after only two short, rather turbulent rookie years under his belt. And he says as much to Wei Ying.
"Oh, Lan Zhan," Wei Ying smiles, "If anyone's gonna be a world champion in their third season, of course it's gonna be you!"
"Us," Lan Zhan is quick to amend, and feels almost smug at the pleased look in Wei Ying's eyes, "It's going to be us."
"Then let's get it."
"Us," Lan Zhan is quick to amend, and feels almost smug at the pleased look in Wei Ying's eyes, "It's going to be us."
"Then let's get it."
There is something about night races - A different kind of energy in the air, mingling with the smell of the sea next door.
Lan Zhan knows that he's supposed to be nervous, starting from P2, knows that with its long straights, the circuit doesn't lend itself well to overtaking.
Lan Zhan knows that he's supposed to be nervous, starting from P2, knows that with its long straights, the circuit doesn't lend itself well to overtaking.
But Wei Ying's voice is steady and warm in his ears, rehashing the turns where they might utilize the DRS and the possibility of the Mercedes-Jin drivers' strategies. By the time the green lights flares up, Lan Zhan is in a place of calm that only Wei Ying could give.
Night descends in earnest as the laps go by, the track is bathed in floodlights as Lan Zhan goes for his first pit pretty late into the race.
A crash ensues on turn 8, and Wei Ying hums thoughtfully as they line up behind the safety car, cutting down his interval with the lead.
A crash ensues on turn 8, and Wei Ying hums thoughtfully as they line up behind the safety car, cutting down his interval with the lead.
"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying says, just before the safety car draws back, and Lan Zhan immediately knows.
"Mn," he acknowledges.
He's quick to activate his DRS, the turn embracing them as he skirts dangerously close to the kerbs. Hears Wei Ying's drawn breath together with his own.
"Mn," he acknowledges.
He's quick to activate his DRS, the turn embracing them as he skirts dangerously close to the kerbs. Hears Wei Ying's drawn breath together with his own.
As they both exhale, he slips past the Mercedes-Jin on the lead, and for a moment, everything is silent before the world comes rushing back in like the air in his lungs.
He flies through the remaining laps as if in a dream, the long straights now a blessing when he's leading.
He flies through the remaining laps as if in a dream, the long straights now a blessing when he's leading.
He scarcely registers it when he drives past the chequered flag, only Wei Ying's wild whoop of joy indicating that he's won, that he's somehow the world champion.
"Wei Ying," he says, hoarse over the radio.
"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying, ever steadfast, replies, "Lan Zhan, I'm here."
"Wei Ying," he says, hoarse over the radio.
"Lan Zhan," Wei Ying, ever steadfast, replies, "Lan Zhan, I'm here."
"You got your promise," Lan Zhan says, a bubbly, unfamiliar thing in his chest.
"Oh God, Lan Zhan, do you actually still remember that?" Wei Ying's voice is strangled and wet, "Oh my God, Lan Zhan, are you laughing?"
They're probably getting broadcasted. He doesn't really care.
"Oh God, Lan Zhan, do you actually still remember that?" Wei Ying's voice is strangled and wet, "Oh my God, Lan Zhan, are you laughing?"
They're probably getting broadcasted. He doesn't really care.
Lan Zhan finds, with alarming clarity, that he doesn't care about a lot of things at the moment as he pulls in and hops out of his car, as he finds Wei Ying amongst the crowd of Gusu's white and blue and pulls him into a searing kiss.
"Oh my God," Wei Ying says again.
"Oh my God," Wei Ying says again.
He's had Wei Ying on the podium with him before, as both a racer & taking the Constructor's trophy for Gusu. But there is something about having Wei Ying on the podium with him as he is declared world champion, as confetti and champagne sprays all around them and their eyes meet.
"Hey," Wei Ying whispers, almost shy, confetti on his hair and champagne on his flushed cheeks. "So when I promised you this, I didn't really specify how many times we get to be world champions, right?"
Lan Zhan laughs, an easy thing now that Wei Ying is here.
Lan Zhan laughs, an easy thing now that Wei Ying is here.
"Wanna try and do it all over again next year?" Wei Ying winks, and Lan Zhan has no choice but to pull the other man towards him and kiss him again. Cameras and reporters be damned.
He will simply race on, and have no regrets. Not while Wei Ying is by his side.
He will simply race on, and have no regrets. Not while Wei Ying is by his side.
THE END! ❤️✨ Thank you so much for joining me in this high-speed yet fluffy F1 ride!
Bonus : The clips of their team radio conversation, naturally, becomes viral, and the internet just goes nuts because YOO WE BEEN KNEW THERE'S SOMETHING BETWEEN LAN ZHAN AND HIS RACE ENGINEER
Bonus : The clips of their team radio conversation, naturally, becomes viral, and the internet just goes nuts because YOO WE BEEN KNEW THERE'S SOMETHING BETWEEN LAN ZHAN AND HIS RACE ENGINEER
