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The April Fools' day went by as anyone would have expected. Pure chaos. The Jianghu University student board put together some events for its' pupils but as always the people went far and beyond with the pranks. The original plan was to have some fun time with organized activities like professor taping for fundraising or water dumping (to which Lan Qiren somehow agreed?). Another activity for the juniors was to have an opportunity where they could ask the seniors for a sign on their shirts and clothes (no skin allowed).
You know Jiang Cheng had no desire to participate in any of those activities but as it turns out life had some other plans for him.
It all started out fine. First thing he saw in the morning was his brother stating on the internet how he was going on a vacation. That followed by a picture taken from the window of an airplane. His profile was deactivated shortly after that as well. Then and there Jiang Cheng decided he quite liked April Fools' actually, if it meant having a bit of silence from Wei Wuxian. Maybe he would be left alone just as he planned.
He had no idea what the others were doing and frankly he had no desire to find out. His sister was probably going on with her everyday life with some no-harm fun here or there. The juniors he was sure participated in all of the university made programs. He couldn't even blame them. Who would miss the opportunity to do shit to your professors without consequences. I mean He would but that's different. Jin Guangyao was probably busy being proud of himself for putting together such an event and quietly watching as the chaos slowed unfolded. Huaisang was doing… something? He really had no idea what the younger got up to but he was also reluctant to ask in case it was something illegal.
So you see, everyone had their own things figured. No need to bother him with stupid tricks for their amusement. He also might had forgotten other students outside of his usual circle were occupying the university too.
The first prank he got (or so he thinks it was part the joke) was a group of girls approaching him on his walk to the library. The plain white tee was visible in their hands so he was ready to be asked and maybe sign for them. jiang Cheng was not expecting any of the freshmen to want his name on their clothes. He wasn't the most popular and well liked person. It was actually kind of nice to know someone might actually admire him a little bit.
The girls looked a bit nervous as they called out to him. Shuffling on their feet clearly not knowing what to say and how to go from there. He decided to go ahead and do the job for them. Maybe that would ease the tension a bit.
"What do you want?" He asked. Frowning when the girls shrieked a little. Was something wrong with his voice?
"We uhm.. never mind Jiang-gongzi. Have a nice day!" One of them rushed out before they all but ran away and into a nearby building.
"What the fuck was that about?" He murdered under his breath, mood immediately soured. Fuck this stupid April Fools' idiocy. In his frustration he decided to ask the others if they knew anything about tricks like this. Maybe he just misunderstood the concept put out by Jin Guangyao? With bis brother nowhere to be found and everyone else busy with their own things, the only reply he got was from Huaisang, asking for the freshmen's exact identities?
He also noticed one other anonymous question on his profile with the prompt: Lotus or Grapes?
Who and why would even ask him that? A simple question but with all the bullshit happening around him, even this made him suspicious. He quickly sent back his answer: Lotus, for obvious reasons.
The reply said, and i quote:
"Congratulations! You chose the Lotus! You will now be subjected to one (1) water balloon to the back of the head from an unknown source every hour for the remainder of the day :)"
Oh hell no. It was on, and he won't just sit around waiting to get completely soaked by some fucking stranger.
Or so was the plan. Three hours and two balloons later Jiang Cheng was starting to question his approach to the situation. He was going on with his day as if nothing happened. At first he actually thought the threat was fake and whoever wrote it wouldn't have the balls to actually throw water at him. Not without constantly checking his surroundings though. Fake self confidence runs deep but paranoia ran deeper. In the end, he had no luck there and got soaked as a result. The next time he was more attentive and as the end of the hour reached closer and closer he noticed himself looking around more and more. It took one (1) singular blink and lack of sight to get ballooned once again.
He was starting to feel truly frustrated with the situation. More at his inability to stop it rather than the trick itself. So he continued his day waiting for the the next opportunity to catch the fucker.
The third time came as an absolute surprise and the most annoying of them all. He was in the middle of posting about the situation. Complaining and threatening the person doing this to him that if Jiang Cheng ever caught him, he would break his legs or so help him.
Then: Boom
At first he only registered the sound of the plasticy material hitting the skin on his neck before actually feeling the water once again drenching him and his clothes. When he looked up he could only see the back of the man running away at full speed and a way too familiar laugh.
"CAME BACK YOU FUCKER OR I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!" He shouted and sprinted after his attacker. The man was obviously too far for him to reach but he was sure as fuck going to try.
The chase was unsuccessful of course but luckily he had no more balloons thrown at him the rest of the day.
Later he also found out his friends suffered different but just as 'hilarious' jokes as well. Reading through said posts almost made him less mad about the day. Emphasis on almost.