Time Travel: Wei Wuxian is Third or Fourth Disciple

What if Wei Wuxian time travels to the past and, as part of fixing for the future, he does not assume the Head Disciple position in the Jiang sect?

I absolutely love time travel fics for the MDZS fandom.  The original story, the CQL derivation, and even the other media versions provide such a robust world and set of characters that there are so many avenue to allow for divergences or "what if" situations to take new paths. 

A lot of time travel fics I've read have Wei Wuxian reliving his time in the Jiang sect in mostly the same fashion - as Head Disciple and following the same dynamics he held with the Jiang family, OR where he does not engage with the Jiang much at all (grows up elsewhere).  However, what about something in the middle?  

Let's say that he enters the Jiang sect, but he plays a lesser role:

1. He is not Head Disciple.  

Similar to my other prompt (linked here), Wei Wuxian would not be the Head Disciple.  He knows that that position draws a lot of attention as well as the ire of Madam Yu and Jiang Cheng.  So, perhaps he does cultivate his strength and hides it to the point that he only achieves the role of Third or Fourth Disciple.  He is not in a decision making or leadership capacity among the sect.  

      2. His relationship with the Jiangs is less like family.

Wei Wuxian decides to distance himself from the conflict that historically arose with his uncertain position in the Jiang family.  Perhaps he does not allow Jiang Yanli or Jiang Cheng to form such a close relation with him, by denying their offer of rooms close to the family and instead sleeps in the sect dorms with the other disciples as fitting his role... he doesn't avoid them altogether, yet his relationship is lessor than before since his interactions are not as common.  He is to them the same as other disciples only.  When the Gusu Lectures arrive, they normally send 5-10 disciples of similar age range who have not attended before (or if they did, didn't pass).  Therefore, Wei Wuxian would qualify to attend with the Jiang Heir.  

Given these two major characterization changes, I think there could be quite a few directions the story could take once they arrive in Gusu and the characters have their first interactions with other clan disciples.  This would potentially be the first interaction of Wei Wuxian with other clans and they may never have heard of him before, since he kept a low profile or did not develop a reputation as he did in his past life.  Think how reputations of leaders develop more than their followers.  The leader often gets the credit, or someone with a leadership position - like Head Disciple.  Wei Wuxian would not have that, instead, he'd be one of those disciples clustered around the leader and hiding his abilities meanwhile.  

He could choose the Gusu Lectures as an opportunity to step out of the shadows and gain recognition, or continue to operate behind the scenes.

If Lan Wangji also time travelled, then they likely could foster a relationship much more easily or be seen together without such close attention.  

If Lan Wangji did not time travel, then he might be curious about the disciple who appears to be holding back.  

Regardless, if WangXian wanted to marry or arrange a betrothal early, I imagine the Jiang sect would have no bearing on the decision since he is not "family" and a disciple can decide their own relationships at will.  He would only have to notify them if he intended to leave the sect... which could be an interesting direction to take as well. 

Anyways, lots of directions this could go!