#lan huan x jiang cheng | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

schmuwuwu · 4 years

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Let Me Love You - XiCheng FF

Pairing: Jiang Cheng|Jiang Wanyin x Lan Huan|Lan Xichen

There’s not really any spoilers to the novel/drama/donghua/manhua so please enjoy! For my friend who showed me a pic of Jiang Wanyin with puppies and so I used it as a prompt for this fanfiction.

Jiang Wanyin entered the room where he was directed from the front desk clerk. She had said that due to it being the busy tourist period, there was too little personnel working on the current production that featured him and thus there wasn’t anyone available to guide him there. He didn’t mind as he was tired at having prepared Yunmeng Jiang and the whole of Lotus Pier for the upcoming New Year’s celebrations. He was only here as his council and his right-hand man literally pushed him out of the gates of his sect before sending him off with good wishes on relaxing. At first, he couldn’t grasp how coming to an interview would help him relax. Even now, he couldn’t relax. Just by the busy atmosphere around him, he couldn’t help but worry about the preparations back home. What’s more, he was even more worried about who was going to interview him today. He had been blacklisted one too many times with the reason that he was too serious, too angry, too… frowny.

His scowl deepened as he remembered those dates. It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t change his personality. In fact, if the other party couldn’t accept his personality, there was no reason for them to marry at all. After all, he wouldn’t want a loveless marriage like his parents had and the constant disappointment that maybe he wasn’t what his wife always thought he was. That made him scowl even more. Women were such complicated beings, he concluded. He entered the room in deep thought and looked around. It wasn’t beautifully decorated like the lotus lakes back in Yunmeng, wasn’t pristinely pictured like the Cloud Recesses in Gusu, nor was it as extravagant as Koi Tower in Lanling. Of course, it wasn’t as moody and boring as the Unclean Realm in Qinghe. It was beautiful in its own right and even someone who was not talented in the arts such as Lan Xichen or Nie Huaisang could appreciate its unique beauty. Untalented in anything overall, he added on bitterly.

He glanced around. The furniture was simple, a table and a few seats, a few cabinets and some shelves lining the walls. The walls themselves were painted with faint motifs of the four great cultivational sects. The head of a beast for the Qinghe Nie, the white peony for the Lanling Jin, the cloud for the Gusu Lan and finally the nine-petalled lotus for the Yunmeng Jiang. He noticed that there were other sects’ motifs that were hidden between the spaces of the more dominant sects and realised that all four walls were representing different areas of the cultivation world; where each of the four dominant sects had conquered and the smaller sects that hid under their protection. He had also noticed there was no imagery of the Qishan Wen sect, which he wasn’t complaining off. In fact, his scowl lightened quite a few degrees after discovering this fact. None could blame him, seeing as how Yunmeng Jiang had one of the more devastating losses during Qishan Wen’s dominance over the whole entire country. He could still smell the flames as they rose up from the ground and suddenly they were all around him, burning the once-beautifully standing Lotus Pier. He could only watch in anger and resent, vision blurred through the curtain of tears and red, as the Yunmeng Jiang sect flags were torn from their flag poles, still half burnt, stomped to the ground and even trampled upon in disrespect.

He shook his head. He shouldn’t dwell on the past anymore. What mattered more was the present. And at present, he needed to worry about the interview. He went to seat on one of the provided seats at the table where tea and refreshments had been laid out. It was simple china but it was polished till he could see his own reflection on his face. Tilting his head from side to side, he couldn’t help but praise the maids for their effort in hiding the traces of long nights and lack of food in his face, Though his cheeks and eyes were still more hollow than ever before, the heavy eyebags had gone and there was slight colouring to his cheeks. Even his usually dry lips were moisturised and preserved so that they wouldn’t suddenly turn dry and crack in the middle of the interview. Though he originally felt uncomfortable at the thought of applying make-up on a male such as him, it didn’t feel unnatural to wear it on his face. In fact, he had taken a newfound liking to it and even newfound respect to maids or noblewomen for putting on such thick make-up every single day. He was already weary at having to sit still for more than 30 minutes in front of a mirror just to be told that his makeup was not even half the time of most women’s make-up regime. Even doing his hair took less than 10 minutes!

He poured himself a cup of tea and enjoyed the light refreshments that were served in variations. He had recognised them as the portrayed images of the four great sects. Lotus-flavoured obviously for Yunmeng Jiang-though he preferred desserts made back at Yunmeng; desserts made anywhere else were under-par with those served back home! A slightly herbal taste while refreshing for the Gusu Lan; he was more surprised that it wasn’t plain bitter or just tasteless. Unexpectedly, the tea complemented with this dessert the most. A fairly rich taste of expensive for Lanling Jin and a more impactful and forceful taste for Qinghe Nie. They were rotated with sour, bitter, salty, sweet and sometimes even spicy, acidic or even tasteless! Really, did they have to invent a tasteless flavour too?

Time passed and by the time the interviewer had come, he was busy playing a game he made up to try and differentiate the different tastes. He even managed to play a game similar to bingo! It just showed how bored he really was.

“Uhm, Sect Leader Jiang?” a voice called out hesitantly.

He looked up from his small game and saw a young boy around the age of twenty. He had a tired face and looked as though he had pulled through as many nights as he did as a sect leader. He immediately felt pity for the boy; he wasn’t in any important positions in the whole world, even in the country, and yet he had to pull on as many hours working as him.

Seeing as Jiang Wanyin didn’t reply, he hesitantly said, “I sincerely apologise for having you wait for such a long time. I can only hope I can repay it with something if it’s within my abilities.”

He shook off the boy’s offer and said gently, “It is fine. It is not like I could make you wait in return.”

The boy was immediately relieved as he broke into a small smile. Sect Leader Jiang wasn’t as fearful as he had thought. Contrarily, however, the boy reminded Jiang Wanyin much of his sister for some odd reason. He couldn’t put his finger on it and he wasn’t in the mood to try. He merely took another dessert and drank another sip from his third cup of tea; he must admit it was quite good.

“Would you like to indulge yourself with more sweets?” the boy peeked at him.

“Oh, no,” Jiang Wanyin fumbled, draining the remaining tea. “They are quite enjoyable, however.”

The boy smiled, free of tension. “Then, if you would, please follow me to the next room where we will begin your interview.”

Jiang Wanyin nodded and stood up to follow the surprisingly brisk boy. The other room was a little ways from his waiting room but it was relatively a replica, albeit smaller. The same walls adorned the different motifs of different sects and it was furnished relatively the same way. Pasted on the walls were different talismans. He peeked at them and could guess they’re vaguely for enclosing the sounds within these four walls and a few other spells scrawled to record their voices for future references. There was also another spell scrawled in the middle of the table on a white cloth with the exact same purpose. He went ahead to sit down on the table where there was already the interviewer seated. He was looking up and down a large stack of notes and occasionally looked up to see if a new communication talisman had arrived. He looked stressed and even to Jiang Wanyin, he looked way overworked, though he wasn’t in any position to judge himself. As he seated himself, the interviewer in front of him suddenly looked at his direction dumbfounded. A look of realisation dawned when he finally remembered why the esteemed Sandu Shengshou would come to their humble offices.

“Sandu Shengshou, sir! I apologise for being unable to meet you in person and for having you wait for a long time!” he squawked.

Jiang Wanyin raised an eyebrow.

The interviewer stumbled, “If—if it is alright with you, we can start whenever you are ready. The preparations have been done…”

Jiang Wanyin, though he understood the poor interviewer’s position, was starting to get annoyed. Was he really that feared? It wasn’t as if he was going to raise a hand on unarmed people. Well, he wouldn’t spare anyone of his sharp tongue though.

“But.”

The interviewer startled, “But something is holding up the last party and so we will need to wait for them…”

Jiang Wanyin stared at him dubiously. “Them?”

“Uh, yes, sir. Them.”

The interviewer answered just as a communication talisman entered the room and stopped in front of him. Jiang Wanyin could care less of what was about to happen. Though he was grateful for the extra time to eat more snacks. He poured tea in his newly given cup and stayed oblivious to the conspicuous sneaking around of the interviewer. Well, it was more of he couldn’t give a shit. When he finally looked at the interviewer after finishing his short but very much relaxing teatime, suspicion was written all over his body. His demeanour changed fully. He was no longer nervous or glancing around the room but was now smiling widely and was even sitting closer to the table right to his face. He even had his hands on the table as though anticipating something from Jiang Wanyin. He was staring at Jiang Wanyin with eyes full of adoration and worship. Jiang Wanyin could feel a chill down his back. Somehow, he felt that they were familiar. Too familiar.

He cleared his throat. “Are we going to start? I’d appreciate if my time is not wasted much more than this already has.”

The interviewer nodded and pulled out his notes, the movement looking very elegant. Too elegant. Jiang Wanyin stared down on him and reaffirmed the tugging feeling in the back of his mind. He cautiously watched as the interviewer asked the questions.

“Alright, sir. If you could, please introduce yourself, your name and titles, if you would?”

Jiang Wanyin gave him a long stare but the interviewer didn’t even quake, it even looked as though his smile grew bigger. That smile was unsettling. Too unsettling. As though Jiang Wanyin should be anticipating something very detestable after this interview was over. Or maybe even during.

“Jiang Cheng, courtesy name Jiang Wanyin. Sect leader of Yunmeng Jiang and holder of title Sandu Shengshou,” he said slowly.

He expected another intimidatingly familiar reaction but all he got out of the other person was a nod and him writing a few lines in his notes.

“Next question, do you like dogs?”

Jiang Wanyin, “Yes, I do.”

The interviewer beamed at him before opening the door to the room. Jiang Wanyin could only look on curiously as a trail of people entered the room, carrying something in their arms. The first person went up to him and deposited a round white object into his lap. He looked at the unknown object with curious eyes. The object moved and a pair of curious eyes met with his. He only then realised that it was a puppy. He was pleasantly surprised as he was quickly surrounded by multiple puppies that were brought in by the staff. His clothes were quickly dishevelled and his hair was mussed out of its usual tight bun. He was quickly caught up in the puppies’ tireless energy and was overwhelmed. He could barely keep a grin off his face and would occasionally be attacked by a barrage of small but sloppy tongues. He happily accepted the sudden bombardment of the small and cute puppies. His shoulders immediately lost their usual tension and his signature frown on his face had completely disappeared. He had a relaxed face and constantly moved his upper body to account for every single puppy who demanded his attention.

Everyone in the room held their breaths at this moment of weakness. The Sandu Shengshou had his guard down. And it was so easily accomplished by the appearance of dogs. There was a warm and fluffy atmosphere surround Jiang Wanyin, as though encompassing him in this very joyous haven that he could enjoy alone. They could see the small but innocent smile of his face and even the slight tint of pink in his cheeks. His eyes were soft and were looking at the puppies with tenderness. They could not believe at this blessing to see a side of the notoriously infamous Sandu Shengshou. A man who was ruthless and merciless towards his enemies and could make one’s blood run cold at a mere glance. They could only savour this rare, if not once in a blue moon, side of Jiang Wanyin.

Suddenly, it had felt as though the room chilled. A murderous intent lurked into the four walls of the room. The staff members could only look towards the only other involved person in the room; the interviewer. He was glaring intensely at the small puppies that hang off Jiang Wanyin’s arms and occasionally looked at the staff members, harbouring a stiff smile and cold, lifeless eyes. They could only gulp in fear and quickly shuffled out of the room, afraid of their lives. Once outside, they quickly ran away as far as they could, informing every personnel not to enter the room until further notice before collapsing and thanking the Gods that they made it out alive.

Inside, Jiang Wanyin was fully oblivious to the on-goings of possible murder. Even more, his guard was fully down. He had put aside Zidian and Sandu for fear of harming the puppies due to their playfulness and his inability to occupy every single one of them. He was constantly kept busy by switching between multiple puppies who lay around his body as though they were worshipping him. Being in such a blissful situation, he didn’t realise when a certain someone snuck up from behind him, only realising when he was finally encased in someone’s warm embrace.

“Wanyin.”

Jiang Wanyin turned around, expecting it to be the interviewer but was met with the familiar dazzling smile of Lan Xichen.

“Sect leader Lan?” he squawked in surprise. “What are you doing here? Where are the rest of the people?”

He looked around quickly only to realise now that they were the only ones in the room. His sight landed back onto Lan Xichen.

“I am unsure of what happened to those pitiful people. However, I don’t assume that you have something for me?”

Jiang Wanyin stared at him dubiously. “I don’t recall having anything to give you.” He frowned.

Lan Xichen only looked at him expectantly and seeing his serious eyes, he proceeded to bait him.

“See, I heard you liked dogs…”

Jiang Wanyin nodded in agreement.

“But you are also notorious for not liking people…”

Jiang Wanyin impatiently snapped. “So, what is your point, Sect leader Lan?”

Lan Xichen sighed. “Now, now, Wanyin. Have we not agreed just the other day to drop formalities? Call me Lan Huan.”

The pink in Jiang Wanyin’s cheeks grew deeper. “We never agreed to! You went ahead and made it up yourself!”

He tutted. “But you didn’t complain about it, so I had taken it upon myself to call you so.”

Jiang Wanyin couldn’t retort. It was true; he didn’t really hate it when Lan Xichen called him by his name. Although… He shook his head. No, no! He wasn’t just trying to imagine Lan Xichen calling him by his birth name. Not at all!

Seeing as he didn’t answer, Lan Xichen proceeded to pout. “Well, if you dislike it this much, I will immediately cease calling—”

“No, no! You can!” Jiang Wanyin was flustered and refused to meet Lan Xichen’s eyes. “I—I mean, you can call me however you wish to.”

Lan Xichen’s face immediately brightened. “Then, I shall take up your offer, A-Cheng!”

Jiang Wanyin’s heart stilled before beating at Mach 20 speed. A-Cheng! Lan Xichen’s voice was looping in his head and he couldn’t stop the heat that spread from his cheeks all the way to his ears. He didn’t even notice when Lan Xichen’s arms circled around his waist and were snuggled comfortably at the nook of his hips. He sat closer to him, his chest now coming into contact with his back. At the sudden contact of warmth, Jiang Wanyin was immediately snapped out of his daze.

“A-Cheng, do you like me?” Lan Xichen breathed into his ear. Jiang Wanyin couldn’t help but shiver, his nerves tingling at the low rumble.

“O—Of course, I mean, Sect leader Lan is very likeable…”

“Not like that, A-Cheng.” His mouth was dangerously close to Jiang Wanyin’s neck now and he couldn’t stop his trembling and the feeling of longing. He unconsciously leaned back towards that inviting warmth but was quickly dragged to reality when Lan Xichen immediately drew back and stood up. He stared up at him dumbfoundedly.

“There is no need to think so seriously, Wanyin. After all, I have no obligation to rush for an answer right now.”

Jiang Wanyin stared after him as Lan Xichen walked dejectedly towards the door. Jiang Wanyin could have sworn he saw a pair of ears and a long tail droop down in accordance. He couldn’t ignore his demand now and hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Y—Yes…l—like…” he whispered softly.

Lan Xichen immediately perked up. “I’m sorry, would you care to repeat that?”

“Yes! I like you, Lan Xichen!”

Jiang Wanyin’s face was on fire and he immediately avoided Lan Xichen’s gaze when he turned to look at him. In all honesty, Lan Xichen didn’t need him to repeat his answer as his trained ear could pick out any of Jiang Wanyin’s clear voice, brimming with emotion. His uncut anger when he spouts out complains, his curt responses when he brutally gives his opinion, his sorrow-filled whispers as he voices out his regrets, the carefree laughter as he let go of his restraints and smiled freely, the shy and embarrassing responses to his words of love… Lan Xichen loved it all. His open and direct character drew him in. He who could only wear a smile through thick and thin could only watch in wonder at this rare gem that had coincidentally been sent to his doorstep. A gem laden with pain and longing, hurt by what he lacked but scorned the idea of weakness. He was attracted to that strength. An imperfection with an obvious flaw.

And despite Jiang Wanyin’s constant criticisms to his self, Lan Xichen, a man who was born to be perfect, born raised to be perfect, expected to be perfect, could only find this imperfection beautiful. That someone who was so self-deprecating about his flaw was this powerful and successful.

“Thank you, A-Cheng.”

Jiang Wanyin startled as Lan Xichen held him to his chest.

“F—For what? I didn’t do anything,” he said.

“No, you did.” But I’ll save the explanation for later.

Jiang Wanyin stilled, unused to being embraced, before surrendering and leaned into Lan Xichen. Lan Xichen could feel a smile spread and tightened his hold on Jiang Wanyin, forcing them to press even closer. Jiang Wanyin was flustered and tried to push with his hands on Lan Xichen’s chest. He stopped his futile attempt when he felt Lan Xichen’s lips back on his neck.

“W-w-w-w-what are you doing?!”

Lan Xichen sighed, his hot breath making Jiang Wanyin unable to resist the shiver down his back and his rapid heartbeat. “Well, it seems as though my A-Cheng is being needy so I wanted to pamper him…”

He sighed again. “Alas, it seems that I was merely speculating…”

He trailed off dramatically. Jiang Wanyin could never get used to his antics and thus it caused his anger to spike up. “Who said I needed pampering?!”

“Hmm… I am unsure of that myself but I heard you were going to celebrate the New Year by yourself, since Young Master Jin — oh, should I be saying Sect Leader Jin, now? — has gone off to celebrate with some of my disciples.”

Jiang Wanyin impatiently replied. “Well, yes. That has been happening since recent years so I am used to celebrating alone. It doesn’t seem like a big deal to me.”

Lan Xichen turned his head and looked at Jiang Wanyin, resting it on his shoulder.

“I am merely upset that you didn’t feel that it was necessary to invite me to celebrate with you.”

Jiang Wanyin opened his mouth to retort only to stop when he met Lan Xichen’s eyes. Oh God, the eyes. He could even swear that the dog ears were back, drooping down flat onto the sides of his head. It wouldn’t be presumptuous for him to assume that the tail was also back.

“It—It wasn’t as though I didn’t want to…” he looked away from Lan Xichen.

“But you’re not looking at me… so you really don’t want to celebrate with me…” he could hear the sadness in his voice.

He was quite certain that it was feigned but he really couldn’t bring himself to push away the older sect leader.

“… Fine. You can celebrate it with me.”

Lan Xichen immediately lit up and released his hold on Jiang Wanyin, sliding his hand into his and pulling him towards the exit.

“W—wait, where are we going??” Jiang Wanyin exclaimed in bewilderment.

“First things first, we are going to be a family!” Lan Xichen excitedly replied.

Although he was at the mercy of the Lan superhuman, even for cultivators, strength, he still stubbornly resisted being dragged across the room to the door. “What do you mean family?? Aren’t we technically already?”

Lan Xichen stopped and turned to face him. “You… Don’t want to be family?”

Oh, for fuck sakes! “Alright, alright, yes, I do! Happy now?”

Lan Xichen smiled again and before Jiang Wanyin could retaliate, he was picked up into Lan Xichen’s arms who proceeded to exit the building merrily. Jiang Wanyin knew there was no use in fighting a Lan and could only hide the growing embarrassment he felt with anger.

“Can you at least tell me where we are going and what we are going to be doing?”

Lan Xichen merely looked straight ahead and smiled. “Lotus Pier should be empty due to the New Year, so we shall be going there and become family!”

There was a slight tone of pride as though he was patting himself on the back for thinking of such a smart idea. Jiang Wanyin immediately picked up on it and his face darkened when he realised what Lan Xichen had been hinting at.

“Don’t tell me.”

“That’s right! We shall make love, my dear A-Cheng!”

“Lan Xichen, you—”

“Lan Huan.”

He sighed, exasperated. “L—Lan Huan, we don’t have to rush into it, do we? You already told your uncle that you would abstain!”

Lan Xichen nodded. “Indeed. Abstain till you agreed to it. Which you did.”

His scowl deepened. “You planned for this, didn’t you?!”

Lan Xichen only chuckled lightly.

With nothing else to entertain him during the journey back home, he decided to provoke the Lan.

“Were you in the room when I got there?” Lan Xichen hummed in agreement.

“Were you the one who organised the interview?” A shake of his head.

“How did I not notice you when I entered the room?” His smile grew wider. He was certainly playing hard to get that’s for sure.

“Was the whole interview just a sham?” A hum.

“Did you switch places with the interviewer?” A hum.

“Did you— Wait… You switched places with the interviewer?”

Lan Xichen nodded and finally looked down at him. “Yes, I did, A-Cheng.”

Jiang Wanyin finally realised as to why the interviewer was questionably familiar. “You… Did you use that new spell that you constructed just recently?”

Lan Xichen beamed at him despite his ploy being out in the open. “Yes, I did! A-Cheng, you’re very smart!”

Jiang Wanyin snorted. “I’m not smart. I didn’t even realise that you were in the room at all until now.”

Lan Xichen frowned and chided, “Of course you’re smart. How else have you maintained Yunmeng Jiang sect as one of the top cultivation sects without any guidance? You even denied any help offered to you.”

“That’s different.”

“And how is it different?”

“No one would do it. So, of course, I’d take it up upon myself to do it. After all, I am the only son of the previous Sect leader Jiang.”

Lan Xichen went quiet. There was truth to his words but…

“If it were anyone else in your position, do you think they’d do it?”

“…Of course,” Jiang Wanyin said hesitantly, his confidence slipping.

Lan Xichen shook his head. “No, A-Cheng. Even I wouldn’t.”

Jiang Wanyin disagreed in disbelief. “The esteemed and obedient Zewu-Jun wouldn’t save his clan and sect from the brink of destruction?”

Lan Xichen smiled at him, with a hint of sadness. “Do you think I would? If the Cloud Recesses sat atop ashes, no signs of life, or any traces of the previous Gusu Lan?” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t. There wouldn’t have been any point. Even if I managed to rebuild the Cloud Recesses, what about the recruitment of disciples? What about the lost techniques that were lost in the destruction? And what about being left alone again?”

Jiang Wanyin could only stare at him. He didn’t have the answers to them. He only knew that he should regain Yunmeng Jiang’s and his former glory. He wasn’t about to let the Wens think they had brought down a strong sect with their petty ways. He wasn’t going to let the other cultivators think of what they wished about how Lotus Pier fell. And he wasn’t going to let the world think that he was that much of a coward to listen to all those whispers.

“It’s all my selfishness. Only that,” he muttered finally.

“Then,” Lan Xichen replied firmly. “let me be selfish just this once and say that I want to spend time with you.”

Jiang Wanyin pursed his lips. “Fine, have it your way.”

Lan Xichen gave him a small smile and they travelled the rest of the way in silence. After dismounting from Shuoyue, Jiang Wanyin immediately marched to the direction of the kitchens. Lan Xichen followed him, shutting his mouth when he saw the stubborn expression on the younger man. Jiang Wanyin approached the stove, sleeves rolled up, and began to prepare the food. Lan Xichen could not hold it in anymore and opened his mouth to ask when Jiang Wanyin spoke first.

“If you want to spend time together, then make yourself useful,” he said, his back towards Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen stared at him and processed his words before getting the hint. He beamed as he noticed the familiar pink tint that climbed up his neck. “Of course, A-Cheng!”

Lan Xichen immediately busied himself with the preparation of the ingredients, falling into step with Jiang Wanyin easily. They worked in silence, easily coordinating with one another as easily as breathing, having spent too long on the same battlefield.

The day quickly passed and the sun quickly fell from its mighty position. The food, now completed, was laid out in front of them where they were sitting at one of Jiang Wanyin’s favourite spots that looked out over the lotus lakes. They ate in silence as they were both not too keen on conversing while eating, unlike a certain male whose mouth and words were as abundant as the rabbits back in the Cloud Recesses. And unlike that same certain person, they settled comfortably in the silence, especially Jiang Wanyin.

The entire Lotus Pier was empty, including all of his attendants and there was only him staying there for the next few days. He didn’t know how comfortable he felt with another person intruding into his personal space but Lan Xichen was tolerable, if not comfortable, to be around. Lan Xichen held his questions back and perfectly assisted him as though he was his right-hand man currently.

Ending up back in his study, he finally asked Lan Xichen the question that had bothered him since that afternoon—no, since he confessed three months ago.

“… Why me?”

Lan Xichen looked up from the scroll he was reading right into Jiang Wanyin’s questioning eyes.

“… Do I need a reason to love someone?” Jiang Wanyin didn’t answer. “Love needs no rhyme or reason. It just is.”

Jiang Wanyin became exasperated. Sure, he could agree that love was an unreasonable feeling. But it didn’t explain why it was him.

“It’s because it’s you.” Jiang Wanyin looked up at Lan Xichen who was now standing right in front of him, a serious expression on his face rid of the usual polite smile.

“Hah?” Jiang Wanyin could only reply dumbfoundedly.

“I love you because it’s you.” Lan Xichen was now behind the desk and stepping even closer to Jiang Wanyin. Unused to close contact, Jiang Wanyin unconsciously took a step back to which Lan Xichen covered the distance with a step of his own. That was until Jiang Wanyin’s back hit the wall. He was trapped in Lan Xichen’s gaze and he couldn’t help but swallow stiffly. He wasn’t worthy… He didn’t deserve him…

“If you’re thinking of how I can easily find someone like you, then you’re wrong. Where am I going to find someone who decided to do something as grand as reviving a dead sect and rebuilding their burnt home from the ground up and went through with it? Where am I going to find someone who although is finicky when it comes to standards but so entertaining when he tries to make an expression?” Lan Xichen continued. He cupped Jiang Wanyin’s face and made him look up to meet his eyes. This pitiful man could only look at him helplessly, unable to refute. He wanted to say that there were millions of other people in the world, and even if they didn’t meet his standards now, what about in the future? There was bound to be someone. Even his family. Even though his father had him, he was more satisfied with someone else’s son. Even though his mother had him, she was more satisfied pampering his older sister. Even though his siblings loved him, in the end, they chose to stay with their beloved who would keep them safe. Because he couldn’t give them that safety. That warm comfort of love that he never learnt to reciprocate.

“Then, what if it isn’t me? Someone totally different from me. Not a stubborn, annoying and hard to please person. But a kind, caring and patient person?” Jiang Wanyin blinked hard. The image of Jin Guangyao entered his mind to which he furiously pushed out of his mind. He was going to be second again. The alternative. The silence settled around them again, this time stifling. He could hardly breathe now, thinking that Lan Xichen’s silence was affirmation. Lan Xichen looked at him, re-evaluating him, maybe even regretting ever saying he fell in love with him, Jiang Wanyin thought. By the time he noticed, tears had already left a trail on his cheeks, falling silently to the ground, just as silently as his heart broke. He never wanted to realise, never wanted to acknowledge. Because he couldn’t bear another slipping out of his hands. Slipping through his fingers as though they were just sand and them being beside him was just an illusion. That all he could do was chase around after their backs, hoping something would change. But it never did. Because—

“—Because they never had the chance to look at you.”

Jiang Wanyin blinked. It finally clicked that it was Lan Xichen who said that. “They ran out of time, A-Cheng. It wasn’t because they didn’t bother to look at you properly but because they never realised how much time they had to do so.” Jiang Wanyin found himself leaning away from Lan Xichen’s hands, trying to slip away, but failed when Lan Xichen’s hands moved from his cheeks to his back, pulling him close to his chest.

“Then, what about you? Are you going to run out of time too?” Jiang Wanyin muffled from his chest.

“I won’t,” Lan Xichen replied and chuckled when Jiang Wanyin looked up with incredulity. “Not until I hear you saying that you are glad I fell in love with you and believe that I love you.”

Jiang Wanyin immediately buried his head further into his chest, feeling the now familiar feeling of warmth spread through his face. Lan Xichen laughed softly at his act of shyness and could only think of how adorable his Jiang Wanyin was. When it was obvious that Jiang Wanyin had no intentions of moving from his chest, Lan Xichen made a sound something of a sigh and a hum. Jiang Wanyin looked up puzzled before feeling himself being lifted off the ground. Lan Xichen effortless carried him in his arms and sat him on his lap as he took a seat on the chair behind the desk. Jiang Wanyin turned to Lan Xichen, bewildered, while the other merely gave him a large smile.

“What are you doing?” he asked, still shocked at his bewitching manoeuvre. Only Lan Xichen could make such a movement so beautiful, he thought as he sighed to himself. “Showering you with love, of course!” Lan Xichen replied, delighted at his reaction. Jiang Wanyin choked at that unexpected comment. As expected, only Lan Xichen could find his reactions entertaining, he continued thinking.

“Is there anything else you would like to entertain me with?” Jiang Wanyin snorted. Lan Xichen smiled even brighter. Really, if he was going to smile any wider or brighter, Jiang Wanyin felt he might really go blind, and not only because of love. “There are a million things, of course,” Lan Xichen said, holding Jiang Wanyin closer. “But I know if I don’t follow your pace, we’d go backwards instead of forwards. So, what would you like me to do?”

Jiang Wanyin looked up at him, marvelling at how this Jade of Lan shone under the cover of moonlight. He rested his chin on his chest and pondered for a moment. Every single thought that went through his mind made him blush more. “U—Uh, what are my options?” he coughed. Lan Xichen struggled to keep his laughter from bubbling but that didn’t stop his shoulders from shaking. His eyes filled with adoration at the young man in his arms before him as Jiang Wanyin’s face formed a pout. His eyes twinkled. “Well, we could start off easy. Pick a number from one to ten,” he grinned mischievously. Jiang Wanyin racked his brains. There was definitely a catch here. But maybe there wasn’t. Lan Xichen wouldn’t do anything he wouldn’t like, would he? Maybe the numbers represent the comfort level? Maybe his confidence level? Maybe speed? Jiang Wanyin felt his temples throbbed and thought, Screw it!

“Then, eight!” he said confidently. The higher the better, right? I won’t regret it, surely!

Lan Xichen grinned widely and proceeded to pick him up.

“W-w-w-w-wait, where are we going?!” Jiang Wanyin flailed as he was adjusted comfortably again in the bridal carry.

Lan Xichen opened the door to Jiang Wanyin’s room adjacent to the study and proceeded to lay him on the bed. Was he going to tuck him to bed, Jiang Wanyin wondered. But his relief would slowly turn into dread and, although Jiang Wanyin strongly and stubbornly denied the idea, pleasure. For the number eight was the number of hours Lan Xichen proceeded to whisper words of love and affection whilst pampering the uncomfortable man with kisses.

The next day when Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had come with the preparations of the New Year, uninvited of course, they found Jiang Wanyin with swollen and full lips and a Lan Xichen whose smile seemed to put the sun to shame. The couple dreaded to think what had happened and instead kept their mouth shut when the two sect leaders greeted them at the gate.

Well, Wei Wuxian thought, at least now he isn’t second anymore. He watched as his younger brother busied himself with cleaning the hallways while being spoiled rotten by the older Lan. And that was the start of Jiang Wanyin’s fall from being alone and scarred to being helpless, in love and helplessly in love.

End.

#xicheng #mdzs #the untamed #grandmaster of demonic cultivation #lan xichen #jiang wanyin #lan huan #jiang cheng #ff #lan xichen x jiang wanyin #lan huan x jiang cheng #how did an originally 3 pages of writing become 13 pages #finally satisfied with the ending be like TnT #mo dao zu shi

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