Nie Huaisang

When Nie Huaisang had learned that Wei Ying had been attacked after a fight on Monday evening on his way home from the college, he was shocked. He couldn't believe it at first either. He was sure that Jiang Cheng - who told him this - had been pulling his leg.

Unfortunately, however, Jiang Cheng said that Lan Zhan - Wei Ying's fiancé - had called him while they were at the hospital that evening and told him what happened. And since Lan Zhan never lied about anything, Nie Huaisang knew that Jiang Cheng wasn't kidding.

He couldn't understand it. Why would anybody want to attack Wei Ying? And who attacked him?

Nie Huaisang was certain that he didn't instigate the fight, unless the other person had upset or provoked him. He wouldn't have even bothered with them otherwise. He was generally quite easy-going; he wouldn't fight someone unless the situation was personal. Or if he were defending himself or those he cared about.

He called Wei Ying as soon as Jiang Cheng had finished talking to him on Tuesday morning. He wanted to make sure that he didn't get too banged up. He was also curious as to when he'd be able to come back to school. His doctor had recommended that he take the next few days off.

Wei Ying didn't answer, however, so he sent a text message instead. He figured that he was probably asleep or resting and decided to let him be.

It wasn't until early in the afternoon when he replied. He didn't say much, except that he wasn't doing so good at all, and that maybe he'd return on Friday if he was better by then.

His short response confused Nie Huaisang. He found it odd that he didn't mention the fight, or about being attacked besides. He usually would, and in great detail, too.

Then again, perhaps Wei Ying just wasn't in the mood to talk about it at the moment. He could understand it if that was the case, so he let him be. He knew that he would talk to him about everything later.

Little did he know then that the situation was much worse than he had been told.

xXXXXXXx

As it had on Tuesday, Wednesday morning dawned bright and sunny. It would have been a perfect day for bird-watching if it wasn't cold outside; winter would be starting in two weeks.

Nie Huaisang prepared for school and had breakfast with his older brother, Nie Mingjue. The latter was dressed for his job; he worked at the town's police department. He had the morning shift and also needed to be leaving soon.

While they were eating, he turned to him. "Your finals are coming up soon, aren't they?" he demanded.

"Yeah," Nie Huaisang replied in a low voice.

"Mmm. Do better this time. You barely passed your freshman year. I'm not paying your tuition just for you to flunk out of college. If you do, I'll take your car and your books away. Do you hear me?"

Nie Huaisang knew that he wasn't kidding. He had done so temporarily several times before.

He pouted. "Yes, Da-ge, I know."

"Good."

They finished their meal soon after that. Da-ge nudged him towards the door once they had put their coats on.

"You better hurry up, or you'll be late. Behave, and let me know if you aren't coming home after your classes right away, or if there is an emergency. And let me know if you hear from Wei Wuxian. I hope he's doing better today. He's a good kid," he said.

He had been told about what happened the evening before.

Nie Huaisang nodded. "Okay, Da-ge. Can you bring me home some pastries, if you don't leave the police department too late?" he inquired hopefully.

He grunted. "I'll think about it when I'm not busy. I'll see you when I'm off work."

"Okay."

They left the house together and got into their vehicles. Nie Huaisang waved to him before driving away.

He arrived at the college just in time for his first class. After making it there, he took his books out and quickly checked his phone.

There was a text message from Jiang Cheng. He had received it while he was on the way to school.

Meet me during our break between our first and second classes. We need to have a talk about Wei Wuxian. It's serious, it said.

Nie Huaisang was instantly worried. Did something else happen to him? Did Lan Zhan have to take him back to the hospital? He hoped not.

All right. Where do you want me to meet you?

Jiang Cheng

Our usual spot in the courtyard.

Nie Huaisang

Okay. See you there in a bit. But what's going on? Is he at the hospital again or something?

Jiang Cheng

No. He's at Shijie's house for today and tomorrow.

But what I have to tell you is bad. Really bad...

Uh oh.

...I'll explain more soon.

Nie Huaisang

Okay. I have to go now. My class has already started.

Jiang Cheng

See you in a bit.

He didn't send any more messages, so Nie Huaisang put his phone back in his pocket. He tried to pay attention to the lecture after that, but he was too nervous about what Jiang Cheng had to tell him to focus. Just how "bad" was the situation?

The class seemed to take longer than usual to be over. When it finally was, he all but ran out of the door.

He reached the courtyard a few minutes later. Jiang Cheng was sitting at a table in a secluded spot in the upper right corner. Wen Ning was with him. Other students were here and there too, but not many.

It was when he was a few feet away from them when he suddenly paused. Jiang Cheng, who had already been upset about Wei Ying being attacked, looked even angrier today. However, what really made Nie Huaisang stop in his tracks was Wen Ning.

The latter looked twice as upset as Jiang Cheng; he was literally vibrating with fury! Nie Huaisang had never seen him look that way for as long as he had known him. He wondered if it was actually him for a second!

After a brief hesitation, he sat next to Jiang Cheng. "Uh...H-Hey," he greeted cautiously.

"Hey," the latter muttered.

"Hi," Wen Ning added in a tight voice.

They were silent for a moment before Nie Huaisang cleared his throat.

"So...uh...what did you have to tell me about Wei-xiong? You said it was really bad," he noted.

Jiang Cheng balled his hand in a fist, and Wen Ning's scowl deepened.

"It is," the former affirmed. "And before I tell you, I'm warning you to brace yourself."

Nie Huaisang gulped nervously. "O-Okay. Well...what's going on?"

"You remember that I was going to visit him and Lan Wangji with Shijie, A-Niang, and A-Die after school yesterday, right?"

He nodded.

"Well, it turns out that there was more to what happened on Monday night than what Lan Wangji told us."

"'More'?" Nie Huaisang echoed. "What do you mean, 'more'?"

"Wei Wuxian told us himself that something else happened when he was attacked. I thought he was going to say that he had been mugged at first, but no. It's worse. Much worse."

Jiang Cheng went on, revealing that it was Wen Chao who had attacked him. He also told him that he was drunk and harassed Wei Ying, and described the fight that ensued when he refused to stop.

"What happened when he pulled him into the alleyway the second time? If he wasn't mugged, then...then what happened?" Nie Huaisang inquired, a feeling of dread seeping into him.

Jiang Cheng clenched his hand again. "Wei Wuxian said that that bastard pushed him to the ground, and after that..." Another ferocious scowl appeared on his face. "...he held a knife against his throat and forced himself on him," he snarled in a low voice so that the other people in the courtyard wouldn't hear him.

Nie Huaisang jaw practically dropped to the floor. For a moment, the only thing he could do was stare at him.

"What?!" he finally breathed.

Wen Ning inclined his head. "You heard him right. He and Jiejie told me this themselves last night," he growled, speaking for the first time since he had said "Hi" to him. He was bouncing his leg up and down. It was as if it were taking everything in him to remain seated.

Nie Huaisang thought he was going to faint. Of all the things he thought may have happened, this wasn't one of them.

It was no wonder that Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning were so furious. Nie Huaisang especially couldn't blame the latter. Wen Chao was his cousin. That was a line that should never have been crossed; Wen Chao knew that Wei Ying was his best friend too. He had no business in bothering him, let alone...hurting him the way he did. He couldn't even begin to imagine the pain Wei Ying was in, nor could he imagine why Wen Chao would want to put him through that pain.

His poor friend. No wonder he didn't say much to him last night.

Jiang Cheng told him about what happened after the assault minutes later. However, Nie Huaisang could barely process what he was saying. He was still too deep in shock to.

The former was seething when he was done minutes later. "I'm going to find that motherfucker and beat the shit out of him, and I don't care if I get in trouble or not...

"Me too," Wen Ning piped in.

"...He deserves it for how much he hurt my gege. He was so quiet when we visited him yesterday; he was too scared to tell us about what Wen Chao did at first. And for a moment, I didn't think he would. I should have known then that something worse had happened. You know that isn't like him," he remarked.

Nie Huaisang shook his head gloomily. "No. No, it isn't. But...but I don't know if beating Wen Chao up is a good idea. I mean...didn't you say that Wei-xiong and Wangji-xiong talked to the police?"

It wasn't that he didn't believe that Wen Chao deserved a good thrashing. In the midst of his overwhelming shock, sadness, and disbelief, he was just as enraged as they were. But like Wen Ning, he (usually) didn't have a tendency to show his anger. He wasn't like Da-ge.

Still, he knew that they would get in trouble if they beat him up. And if they did it in public, they would get arrested.

"Yeah, they did inform the police, but I don't care. That asshole has earned a good ass-kicking," Jiang Cheng stated.

"But...!" Nie Huaisang tried to protest.

Wen Ning shook his head as well. "Just let it be, Nie-xiong. We've made up our minds." He looked at his phone. "My second class is about to start. I gotta go."

Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng had to also, so they prepared to leave the courtyard too. Before they did, the former sent Wei Ying a text message.

Oh, my gods, Wei Wuxian! Why didn't you tell me what happened yesterday??? A-Cheng told me everything. I'm so sorry! Are you okay??? Do you need me to do anything??? Whatever it is, you know I have your back! it said.

He didn't answer.

Nie Huaisang went through the rest of the morning and afternoon in a daze. If he had had trouble concentrating during his first class, it was doubly worse this time, especially after Wen Ning further confirmed that it was true that Wei Ying had been assaulted. He had asked Lan Zhan himself in between his second and third classes. However, Nie Huaisang already believed it when Jiang Cheng told him everything. He knew that he wouldn't lie about that, and neither would Wei Ying. A matter like this was too serious for them to.

As they left the college hours later, Nie Huaisang heard them plotting to look for Wen Chao. He tried to beg them not to again, but they asked him to please stay out of it. Then they walked over to Jiang Cheng's car on the other side of the parking lot and talked some more. After that, they got in before he drove away.

Nie Huaisang had a bad feeling about all of this as he went home. Da-ge wasn't there when he arrived, but that was not unusual. There were times when he didn't show up until it was very late at night, or the next day.

He headed to his room and tried to do his homework assignments after getting something to snack on. However, his continued inability to focus made his attempts to complete them useless. His mind was still on what happened to Wei Ying. Plus, he was nervous. He still hadn't received a response to his text message, and he didn't hear from Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning either. He hoped that they had changed their minds.

It was nearly five o'clock when he heard the front door opening. Da-ge's heavy footsteps followed after. He trudged around downstairs for a bit, then came to his room.

"Huaisang! Are you home?" he inquired.

"Yeah," he replied.

Da-ge opened the door and walked in. "Oh, good. You're doing your homework. And...what is this? Huaisang! You've barely made a dent in this!" he exclaimed in annoyance.

Nie Huaisang just looked down and sighed.

He scowled at him for a moment before he realized that something was wrong. "Huaisang...what is it? You're looking more down than usual. What's the matter? Are you sick?" he demanded next, placing a hand on his forehead.

"No...I'm not sick, Da-ge."

"Then what is it?"

Nie Huaisang's eyes filled with tears then, making him even more concerned.

He placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey...what is it, A-Sang? Was someone bullying you again? Do you need me to take care of them?"

He shook his head. "No, it's not that. It's about...it's about Wei-xiong."

Da-ge frowned again. "Wei Wuxian? What about him? Did you hear from him today? Is he all right?"

"No...he hasn't spoken to me. And he isn't all right either. A-Cheng...he...he told me that..."

"Told you what? Tell me."

And with that, Nie Huaisang revealed what happened to Wei Ying. He watched as Da-ge's expression went from angry, to incredulous, to aghast, before his face finally turned crimson with outrage.

"ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?! THAT MOTHERFUCKER DID THAT TO HIM?!" he bellowed after he finished the story.

Nie Huaisang nodded. "Yes. Wen Ning even told me it's true after he asked Wangji-xiong if it is," he mumbled.

Da-ge's hands balled into fists, and he spent the next half hour or so ranting and raving. He yelled that he wished that he had been one of the police officers that Wei Ying and Lan Zhan had spoken to and that he would love to teach him a lesson. Nie Huaisang didn't say anything, just continued to watch him.

After Da-ge calmed down a little, he placed his hand on his shoulder. "Tell Wei Wuxian that if he needs anything, he can come to me. I will do whatever I can for him."

He nodded. "I will."

Even if Nie Huaisang had any doubts that what happened was true, they would have been erased more than an hour later. As Wei Ying and Lan Zhan watched the video of Jiang Cheng and Wen Ning beating up Wen Chao and getting arrested, he saw the change in Wei Ying that Jiang Cheng had alluded to.

He seemed defeated, and the brightness in his eyes had dimmed.