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Fanfic / Best of My Love

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Best of My Love is a fanfic for The Untamed by Justkeeptrekkin, with art by littlesmartart. It follows Meng Yao as he works to juggle his studies, raising his little brother Xuanyu, his job, and dating. The last part is hardest for Meng Yao, who is asexual in a world where it's neither understood nor respected.

Enter Lan Xichen, who's handsome, kind, funny, and gets along well with Xuanyu. How will these two make it work?

Best Of My Love includes the following Tropes:

  • Adaptational Relationship Overhaul: Qin Su and Meng Yao are just close friends/half-siblings rather than a married couple. Thankfully.
    • They’re also both Mo Xuanyu’s primary caretakers, whereas in-series they have a problem with Xuanyu when he harasses one of them (which one depends on the medium).
  • Adaptational Sexuality: In canon, Meng Yao had a romantic relationship with a woman and had a child with her. In this, he's asexual.
  • Added Alliterative Appeal: The peacock print Peugeot, Meng Yao's car.
  • Alone Among the Couples: When the gang goes bowling, Mingjue says he’s this. Even though Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng are single, they’ve clearly got a thing, and everyone else is definitely a couple. Except the kids. For what it's worth, Mingjue doesn't seem to mind.
  • Babies Ever After: In between chapter 9 and the timeskip, Jiang Yanli has given birth to Jin Ling, and is pregnant again.
  • Backhanded Apology: Jin Zixun offers Meng Yao one after Lan Xichen demands he make one (after beating him up for insulting Meng Shi and humiliating Meng Yao on the job). Meng Yao responds by attacking him with a trashcan lid.
    Jin Zixun: I’m sorry you’re so fucking below me that you have be a bitch about it.
  • Balcony Escape: The fic starts with Meng Yao making one of these. Apparently it’s not his first rodeo.
  • Deadpan Snarker: Meng Yao.
    Wei Wuxian: “Fuck me, YaoYao, this is good.”
    Meng Yao: “Thank you. Especially for the part where I got to see the masticated food in your mouth.”
  • Deceased Parents Are the Best: Meng Shi is remembered far more fondly than Jin Guangshan by Meng Yao.
  • Diner Brawl: Between Jin Zixun and Lan Xichen in Skate Skate Disco! After Zixun tripped Meng Yao and then insulted his mother. It moves into the parking lot outside not long after.
  • Distant Finale: The last chapter is set three years after the main action of the story, at Lan Xichen and Meng Yao's wedding.
  • Does Not Know His Own Strength: Nie Mingjue apparently throws a bowling ball so hard at one point that he might actually have dented the bowling lane. He’s embarrassed and apologetic about it.
  • Everyone Can See It: Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang in the bowling scene are clearly dancing on the edge of couple-dom. They’re together by the end.
  • First Kiss: Happens after date #4 between Xichen and Meng Yao. Qin Su may have witnessed it.
  • Happily Adopted: Mo Xuanyu, by Meng Yao. Qin Su also helps out.
  • Happily Married: Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, who get married between chapter 1 and chapter 2 and are always happy around each other.
    • Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan
    • By the end, Meng Yao and Lan Xichen.
  • Her Boyfriend's Jacket: Meng Yao has a sweater of Xichen’s, and wears it right before they have sex.
  • If It's You, It's Okay: Meng Yao, who basically never feels sexual attraction, ends up having sex with Lan Xichen at one point on one of the rare days he feels the urge.
    • Lan Xichen, meanwhile, is so attracted to Meng Yao that he’s willing to forego sex if need be.
  • Lie Back and Think of England: Meng Yao commits to lying back and thinking of Lanling after initiating sex and losing interest midway through, thinking it’d be unfair to Xichen. Xichen, noticing something is wrong, stops him.
  • Love at First Sight: Averted, as Meng Yao doesn’t believe in it. But he’s intrigued by Lan Xichen immediately.
  • Manly Tears: Nie Mingjue cries so hard at Xichen and Meng Yao’s wedding that he can’t get through with his speech, and just hugs Xichen.
  • Modern AU Fic: The characters of The Untamed in a modern China-esque setting.
  • My Secret Pregnancy: Yanli is pregnant throughout the fic and hasn't told anyone except Qin Su. Meng Yao figures out when he sees her avoiding alcohol, but doesn’t say anything. Likely, this is due to Madam Yu, who would probably be furious about her daughter pregnant prior to getting married.
  • Nice Guy: Lan Xichen, who is very kindhearted.
  • Oh, Crap!: Meng Yao’s reaction when he sees Lan Xichen in Skate Skate Disco!, where he works as a waiter, as he’s a bit embarrassed about his outfit. Played for laughs.
  • OOCIS Serious Business: Wei Wuxian is very worried about Lan Xichen when Xichen checks his phone at brunch, then leaves midway through that brunch. He’s just gotten a message from Meng Yao that he’s horny.
  • Romantic Comedy: With Meng Yao/Lan Xichen as the main couple. In a twist, part of the formula is that Meng Yao is asexual.
    • Lampshaded in-universe by Mianmian, who comments that “that was a romcom” when she sees the two interact.
  • Supreme Chef: Meng Yao is a talented one. He wants to be a cook.
  • Their First Time: One of the most heartwarming, triumphant moments in the fic is this, when Meng Yao and Lan Xichen finally, comfortably have sex. It’s made clear that Meng Yao is still ace, he was just finally up for it.
  • Tragic Dropout: Meng Yao had to leave school due to his mother’s illness. Subverted by the end of the main action, when he’s on the way to cooking school, and a few lines in the last chapter suggest he's either in or nearly done with his course.
  • Tranquil Fury: Xichen is very calm as he beats up Jin Zixun for publicly humiliating Meng Yao.
  • Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: Mo Xuanyu, sort of. He’s a lot more sad than most kids in writing stories and his paintings are disturbing. That said, it’s justified, as he’s had a hard life.

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