MDZS College AU

NIE HUAISANG

Basic: Nie Huaisang is a 21-year-old college student majoring in Fine Arts. He is the younger brother of Nie Mingjue, who is six years older than him and runs the Nie family business. Huaisang lives in an off-campus apartment with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng. He enjoys art, collecting things, socializing, and attending parties, where he drinks more frequently than is good for him. He is in the closet and has not openly discussed his sexuality with his family or friends. His growing drinking problem and inconsistent academic performance have become major sources of conflict with Mingjue, who wants him to focus on his education and find better friends.

Personality: Huaisang is expressive, dramatic, socially clever, playful, and more observant than people tend to assume. He enjoys gossip, fashionable accessories, art, and knowing what everyone around him is doing. He can appear helpless or irresponsible when it suits him, occasionally using that reputation to avoid expectations or uncomfortable conversations. Although he genuinely loves art and has considerable artistic talent, he struggles with consistency and responsibility in other areas of his life. He enjoys partying and drinking, sometimes using social activities to avoid stress or difficult feelings. He loves Mingjue but resents being treated like a child, particularly when his older brother criticizes his friends and lifestyle. Beneath his dramatic behavior, Huaisang is perceptive and capable of understanding people and situations far better than he lets on.

Appearance/Outfits: Huaisang has soft, attractive features, expressive eyes, and medium-length black hair that falls messily over his forehead and brushes his ears. His hairstyle is deliberately tousled, giving him a fashionable, slightly disheveled appearance. His wardrobe consists of oversized graphic T-shirts, loose cardigans, baggy jeans, cargo pants, fashionable sneakers, and layered accessories. He likes rings, bracelets, necklaces, and occasionally expensive pieces that he cannot reasonably justify purchasing. His color palette includes sage green, cream, muted blue, dusty pink, and black. He usually looks stylish without appearing to have put much effort into getting dressed, even when his actual life is considerably less organized than his outfits suggest.

NIE MINGJUE

Basic: Nie Mingjue is 27 years old and the older brother of Nie Huaisang. He runs the Nie family business, managing company operations, employees, finances, and major decisions. He has a background in business or finance and is already established professionally. He lives independently and owns a car. Mingjue is deeply invested in his younger brother's future and has become increasingly frustrated with Huaisang's drinking, partying, academic difficulties, and choice of friends. Although he wants Huaisang to succeed, their relationship is strained by his attempts to control his brother's decisions.

Personality: Mingjue is direct, disciplined, hardworking, protective, and stubborn. He has a strong sense of responsibility and expects people to take their obligations seriously. He dislikes dishonesty, irresponsibility, and people who take advantage of others. He is accustomed to carrying substantial professional responsibility and often approaches personal problems with the same uncompromising attitude he uses at work. His love for Huaisang is genuine, but his concern can become overbearing when he believes his brother is making poor decisions. He tends to express care through practical assistance, criticism, and attempts to solve problems rather than emotional reassurance. His greatest weakness is assuming that protecting someone means making decisions for them. He struggles to recognize that Huaisang is an adult who must make his own choices and experience the consequences.

Appearance/Outfits: Mingjue is tall, broad-shouldered, and muscular, with strong facial features, short black hair, and a naturally intimidating expression. His hair is kept neat and practical, and he generally looks well-groomed without being particularly concerned with fashion trends. He wears fitted black T-shirts, dark button-down shirts, tailored trousers, structured coats, and clean leather shoes or sneakers. His work wardrobe consists of understated, well-fitted professional clothing, while his casual clothes are usually dark and simple. His color palette includes black, charcoal, dark navy, brown, and white. He wears a quality watch and prefers practical, well-maintained possessions. His overall appearance conveys authority and seriousness, even when he is doing something as ordinary as picking up his brother.

WEI WUXIAN

Basic: Wei Wuxian is a 21-year-old college student majoring in Electrical Engineering. He was adopted by Jiang Fengmian and grew up alongside Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli as part of the Jiang family. He shares an off-campus apartment with Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang. He is dating Lan Wangji, a 22-year-old Computer Science student who frequently visits and acts as the designated driver during frat nights. Wei Wuxian enjoys parties, practical experimentation, and making people laugh. Despite his intelligence and potential, his tendency to procrastinate and become distracted by interesting projects sometimes interferes with his academic responsibilities. Madam Yu continues to resent him despite his adoption into the family.

Personality: Wei Wuxian is charismatic, playful, mischievous, intelligent, curious, and fiercely loyal. He enjoys teasing people, pulling pranks, attending parties, and making even ordinary situations entertaining. He is inventive and good at approaching problems from unconventional angles, particularly when something captures his interest. He can be academically brilliant without being especially organized, sometimes leaving basic assignments unfinished because he became absorbed in a more interesting project. His carefree attitude can conceal complicated feelings, and he often uses humor to redirect attention away from painful subjects. He dislikes feeling like a burden and may struggle to ask for help when he believes doing so will inconvenience someone else. He has a complicated sibling relationship with Jiang Cheng, involving affection, rivalry, jealousy, and years of family tension. He is affectionate toward Jiang Yanli and deeply devoted to Wangji, whom he enjoys teasing and encouraging to participate in experiences outside his comfort zone.

Appearance/Outfits: Wei Wuxian has a lean, athletic build, expressive eyes, and short, tousled black hair that is slightly longer on top. His hair rarely stays neat for long, and a few strands frequently fall into his eyes. His face is animated, and his mischievous smile often makes it difficult for others to stay angry with him. He favors oversized hoodies, graphic T-shirts, loose jeans, black joggers, sneakers, and casual jackets. His color palette includes black, red, white, gray, and denim blue. He often wears a red bracelet or hair tie around his wrist. His backpack is usually disorganized, and he has a habit of borrowing other people's clothes without remembering to return them. His style is relaxed, youthful, and slightly chaotic, reflecting his tendency to prioritize comfort and fun over careful planning.

LAN WANGJI

Basic: Lan Wangji is 22 years old and a college student majoring in Computer Science. He is the younger brother of Lan Xichen and the nephew of Lan Qiren, who helped raise him after the deaths of his parents when he was young. Wangji lives independently and owns a car. He is already dating Wei Wuxian when the story begins. Although he does not particularly enjoy frat parties, he regularly accompanies Wei Wuxian to support him and ensure he gets home safely. He serves as the designated driver, refuses to drink when driving, and is willing to help other friends get home safely as well. He takes his education seriously and prefers a structured, responsible approach to daily life.

Personality: Wangji is reserved, disciplined, observant, principled, and quietly affectionate. He values honesty, responsibility, and consistency, and he has little patience for reckless behavior that puts people in danger. He tends to express affection through actions rather than elaborate declarations, often anticipating what someone needs and providing practical help without making a fuss about it. His serious demeanor does not mean he lacks humor; he has a dry, understated sense of humor and can be quietly stubborn when dealing with people he loves. He is deeply devoted to Wei Wuxian but does not blindly approve of every decision his boyfriend makes. He will tolerate harmless mischief while maintaining boundaries when behavior becomes genuinely dangerous. His upbringing contributed to his strong sense of responsibility, though he must also learn that caring for someone does not mean he can prevent every mistake they make.

Appearance/Outfits: Wangji is tall and lean, with an athletic build, striking features, and short, neatly cut black hair. His hair is carefully parted and maintained without looking overly styled. He usually has a composed expression and an immaculate appearance. His wardrobe consists of neutral sweaters, plain T-shirts, straight-leg khakis, tailored trousers, simple coats, and clean sneakers. His preferred colors are white, cream, beige, gray, black, and muted blue. He wears understated accessories, such as a simple watch, and prefers quality basics over conspicuous brands or passing trends. When attending parties, he dresses casually but neatly, often wearing a sweater or fitted T-shirt with dark trousers and a jacket. He frequently ends up carrying Wei Wuxian's belongings, a water bottle, and his car keys by the end of the evening.

LAN XICHEN

Basic: Lan Xichen is in his late twenties, with his exact age yet to be established. He is Lan Wangji's older brother and Lan Qiren's nephew. Unlike Wangji, who is still attending college, Xichen has completed his education and works in the corporate world, possibly in management or business administration. He works for a company separate from the Nie family business and owns a car. His professional responsibilities give him an independent life outside the younger characters' college activities. His work may occasionally bring him into contact with Nie Mingjue through professional meetings or business collaborations.

Personality: Xichen is warm, diplomatic, perceptive, patient, and socially capable. He is skilled at reading a room, smoothing over disagreements, and helping people feel heard. He tends to approach conflict calmly and prefers to resolve problems through conversation rather than confrontation. His approachable personality makes him well-liked in professional and social settings. He is close to Wangji and respects his younger brother's independence while remaining available when Wangji needs advice or support. However, his desire to maintain harmony can sometimes cause him to avoid necessary confrontations. He may be inclined to shoulder other people's emotional burdens rather than acknowledge his own frustrations. His calm demeanor should not be mistaken for weakness; when someone crosses an important boundary, he can be unexpectedly firm.

Appearance/Outfits: Xichen is tall and elegant, with short black hair styled in a soft side part and gentle, well-defined features. He smiles easily and has an approachable appearance that contrasts with Wangji's more reserved demeanor. His wardrobe consists of crisp button-down shirts, knit polos, tailored trousers, wool coats, loafers, and understated business-casual clothing. His palette includes cream, pale blue, navy, soft gray, and warm brown. He carries a leather messenger bag or briefcase and wears a tasteful watch. His clothes are well made and carefully coordinated without being flashy. He looks polished in professional settings but can also dress comfortably for a quiet weekend or casual dinner.

JIANG CHENG

Basic: Jiang Cheng is a 21-year-old college student majoring in Business Administration. He is the son of Madam Yu and Jiang Fengmian, the younger brother of Jiang Yanli, and the adopted brother of Wei Wuxian, with whom he grew up. He shares an off-campus apartment with Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang. His parents divorced before the story begins, when their children were already adults. Jiang Cheng takes his education seriously and wants to establish a successful, independent future. He sometimes attends parties with his roommates but is less committed to the social scene than Huaisang and Wei Wuxian.

Personality: Jiang Cheng is proud, stubborn, sharp-tongued, competitive, and deeply loyal. He values responsibility and wants to prove that he is capable of succeeding on his own merits. He is easily frustrated by people who disregard deadlines or create problems that could have been avoided with better planning. His ambition makes Business Administration a practical choice, and he takes grades, internships, and career opportunities seriously. He often becomes the unwilling voice of reason among his roommates, attempting to maintain a functional household while complaining about the others' behavior. His relationship with Wei Wuxian is complicated by years of growing up together, sibling-like affection, rivalry, jealousy, and unresolved family tensions. He can be harsh toward Wei Wuxian but remains deeply attached to him. He loves Jiang Yanli and values her support, even when he finds her tendency to mediate disagreements frustrating.

Appearance/Outfits: Jiang Cheng has an athletic build, short black hair styled in a slightly textured or spiky finish, sharp eyes, and an expressive scowl. His features are attractive but often appear tense because of his habitual frustration. He favors fitted T-shirts, zip-up hoodies, athletic jackets, straight-leg jeans, joggers, and sneakers. His color palette includes purple, black, dark blue, gray, and white. He prefers practical clothing but cares more about his appearance than he admits. He often wears the same purple hoodie and has a phone full of reminders about assignments, bills, and deadlines. His style is casual and functional, with enough attention to fit and coordination to show that he is not nearly as indifferent to appearances as he claims.

MADAM YU (YU ZIYUAN)

Basic: Madam Yu is the mother of Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli and the adoptive mother of Wei Wuxian. She was married to Jiang Fengmian, but their marriage ended in divorce before the story begins. Her children are all adults, so her relationship with them is no longer defined by day-to-day parental authority. Nevertheless, her longstanding resentment toward Wei Wuxian continues to influence the family's dynamics.

Personality: Madam Yu is proud, sharp-tongued, demanding, and fiercely concerned with family reputation and expectations. She has never genuinely accepted Wei Wuxian as her son and continues to treat him differently from her biological children. She is stubborn in her opinions and rarely admits that her behavior may have contributed to the family's problems. Her relationship with Jiang Fengmian was marked by unresolved resentment and disagreements, and the divorce has not automatically removed those feelings. She may justify her criticism of Wei Wuxian as discipline or concern, but her treatment of him remains a source of emotional tension. Her relationships with Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli are also shaped by her high expectations and difficulty expressing affection without criticism.

Appearance/Outfits: Madam Yu's modern appearance is polished, mature, and commanding. She has dark hair, sharp features, and a posture that communicates authority. She favors tailored blouses, fitted trousers, structured jackets, elegant dresses, and understated but expensive accessories. Her wardrobe uses deep purple, black, burgundy, charcoal, and other rich colors. She takes care with her presentation and prefers clothing that looks refined and appropriate to the occasion. Her style is sophisticated without being particularly relaxed, reflecting her pride and desire to maintain control over how others perceive her.

JIANG FENGMIAN

Basic: Jiang Fengmian is the father of Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli and the adoptive father of Wei Wuxian. He was married to Madam Yu before their divorce, which took place when their children were already adults. He remains part of the family despite the separation and continues to have relationships with his adult children. His adoption of Wei Wuxian reflects his belief that Wei belongs in the Jiang family, even though he has not always handled the resulting family tensions effectively.

Personality: Fengmian is gentle, reserved, and conflict-avoidant. He often means well but struggles to confront difficult situations directly, particularly when doing so would require challenging Madam Yu or acknowledging the damage caused by longstanding family conflicts. He loves his children and considers Wei Wuxian family, yet his reluctance to intervene has allowed resentment and misunderstandings to persist. He may prefer to believe that time and good intentions will resolve problems that actually require honest conversations and accountability. His relationship with his adult children is complicated by the ways his passivity affected their childhoods. The divorce may give him more independence, but it does not erase the consequences of his earlier choices.

Appearance/Outfits: Fengmian has a mature, composed appearance, with dark hair that may show some gray and gentle facial features. He generally dresses in understated business-casual clothing, including button-down shirts, plain sweaters, tailored trousers, and practical jackets. His color palette includes navy, gray, brown, cream, and muted blue. His style is neat and conservative without being overly formal. He prefers comfortable, respectable clothing rather than conspicuous fashion, reflecting his reserved personality and preference for avoiding unnecessary attention.

JIANG YANLI

Basic: Jiang Yanli is the older sister of Jiang Cheng and the adopted older sister of Wei Wuxian. She is the daughter of Madam Yu and Jiang Fengmian. She is an adult with her own life outside the apartment and remains emotionally connected to both of her brothers. Her parents' divorce has complicated the family dynamic, but she continues to value her relationships with her siblings and often serves as a source of comfort when they struggle.

Personality: Yanli is gentle, compassionate, patient, and emotionally perceptive. She is good at recognizing when someone is upset, even when they attempt to hide their feelings behind anger or humor. She cares deeply about her brothers and tries to help them navigate disagreements without forcing them to reveal more than they are comfortable sharing. She can be quietly firm when someone she loves is being treated unfairly. Although she often acts as a mediator, she should not be reduced to the family's caretaker; she has her own interests, responsibilities, friendships, and goals. She loves Jiang Cheng despite his sharp tongue and remains affectionate toward Wei Wuxian, who trusts her deeply.

Appearance/Outfits: Yanli has a soft, graceful appearance, with dark hair usually worn in a neat, feminine style and gentle features. Her wardrobe consists of comfortable sweaters, blouses, long skirts, dresses, and simple trousers. She favors soft pink, lavender, cream, pale blue, and warm neutral colors. Her clothing is feminine and understated, emphasizing comfort and elegance rather than trends. She may wear delicate jewelry or carry a practical handbag. Her overall style feels warm and approachable, reflecting her gentle personality without making her appear overly formal.

LAN QIREN

Basic: Lan Qiren is the uncle of Lan Xichen and Lan Wangji and helped raise the brothers after their parents died. He is an older adult who remains involved in their lives, particularly Wangji's. His relationship with his nephews is shaped by his strong beliefs about education, responsibility, discipline, and appropriate behavior. In the modern AU, he has to contend with the realities of contemporary college life, including parties and Wangji's relationship with Wei Wuxian.

Personality: Lan Qiren is strict, traditional, principled, and deeply concerned with proper conduct. He values discipline, academic achievement, honesty, and respect for established rules. He can be critical of people he considers reckless or undisciplined and is not easily persuaded to change his opinions. His disapproval of Wei Wuxian's behavior may create friction, particularly when he believes Wangji is being drawn into unnecessary trouble. Nevertheless, his concern for his nephews comes from genuine care and a desire to see them succeed. He may struggle to recognize that protecting young adults also requires trusting them to make their own decisions. His relationships with Xichen and Wangji are important to him, even when his expectations create tension.

Appearance/Outfits: Lan Qiren has a mature appearance, with dark hair that has turned gray or white, neatly maintained facial hair, and a stern expression. He dresses conservatively, favoring button-down shirts, sweaters, tailored trousers, and structured jackets. His color palette includes white, cream, gray, navy, and black. He prefers modest, practical clothing and is unlikely to follow current fashion trends. His appearance is always neat and appropriate, reflecting his traditional values and preference for order.

WORLD AND STORY BASELINE

The AU takes place in the contemporary world, centered on university life, an off-campus apartment, college parties, established romantic relationships, and complicated family dynamics. Nie Huaisang, Wei Wuxian, and Jiang Cheng are roommates. Lan Wangji is Wei Wuxian's established boyfriend and frequently visits, particularly for frat nights, when he serves as the designated driver. Nie Mingjue runs the Nie family business, while Lan Xichen works in the corporate world at a separate company.

The story balances college comedy and friendship with more serious themes involving family conflict, adult independence, responsibility, and personal growth. The characters retain their recognizable personalities while living ordinary modern lives. Their clothing, education, careers, and relationships reflect contemporary circumstances rather than cultivation-era roles.

The university's name and location, exact birthdays beyond the established ages, Huaisang's romantic history, and additional supporting characters remain open for future development.