Thread by @cicerfics

I think it would be cute if LWJ and WWX had an ~arranged marriage~ in place before they even met at the CR lectures.

Because I can see WWX pushing back against this, and almost-but-not-quite behaving like JZX!

...Not quite, though. Because unlike JZX, WWX has a jie.

I can see WWX simultaneously crushing on LWJ and feeling resentful that his future has already been decided for him, and coping with these conflicting feelings by bullying LWJ.

Mostly affectionate bullying! But sometimes he bullies Too Hard, and JYL looks at him like 😠

WWX promptly wilts like a delicate springtime flower! He stammers out an apology and flees with his tail between his legs!

Then he goes and buys LWJ a present in Caiyi Town. He gives it to LWJ, and then turns to JYL like, "🥺 Look. I said sorry. 🥺 I made it up to him. 🥺"

"Xianxian is sorry. 🥺 I'll be nice to him now, just like Shijie taught me. 🥺 Pet me, Shijie, I'm sad. 🥺"

Also, I can see WWX and JZX having a fight that basically ends with both of them yelling that they're worried about their respecting marriages, and afraid they'll be miserable, and they resent having their future decided for them.

But their respective betrotheds are really pretty!

Like, so pretty it's hard to even know what to do around them!

So. What now???? They're so confused! 😭

They wind up awkwardly comparing notes and coping mechanisms. 😭

JZX: I got upset about being forced into the marriage and I insulted Lady Jiang. 😰

WWX: Yeah, I did that with Lan Zhan, too. But then I got him a little figurine of painted rabbits, and I think he forgave me!

JZX: *desperately scrawling down 'buy rabbit figurine???' in his notes*

WWX: But you also have to say sorry. 😠 I said sorry to Lan Zhan, so you have to say sorry to Shijie too. 😠

JZX: *nods, scrawling down 'apologize - in writing???' in his notes*

Anyway. I think LWJ and JYL are just sitting in the garden, drinking tea together.

Regrettably, they are both already head-over-heels in love with their dumb future husbands. 😔 At least they can have some support from someone else who is also Going Through It.

At least they get a good chuckle out of JZX formally presenting JYL with a gilded rabbit figurine.

(He was not aware that WWX got LWJ a rabbit figurine specifically because LWJ likes rabbits. JZX just though rabbit figurines are the official 'sorry I was an asshole' gift.)

JYL and LWJ, after JZX is gone:

WWX and JZX's extremely awkward and clumsy attempts at courting their respective future spouses during the CR lectures!

Each attempt involves:
-At least three arguments between WWX and JZX
-JZX throwing something at WWX
-JZX getting noogied by WWX
-JZX spending too much money

-WWX doing something physically dangerous/reckless to try to get LWJ's attention
-LQR yelling at both of them
-WWX and JZX clutching a bouquet of crumpled flowers, standing in the middle of a truly chaotic situation, going "😌 Nailed it. We're so good at courting."

JZX and WWX, in the aftermath of each new courting gesture: