MDZS, But if Lan Qiren Were Chill

Chapter 5: Lan Qiren Gets Complaints from Other Parents, But He Doesn't Care

It was nearing the end of the summer lectures in Gusu when a discussion conference was called to be held in the Cloud Recesses, and Lan Qiren was irritable because of it.

He didn't dislike discussion conferences, per se, but he didn't like having to listen to Jin Guangshan speak about, well, anything. He didn't trust Wen Ruohan or his unreasonably pretty face. He didn't mind Jiang Fengmian, but his opinion of the man had soured after getting to know Jiang Wanyin's and Wei Wuxian's troubles.

Granted, he was always happy to see Nie Mingjue leading his sect as a capable young man filled with compassion and radiance; but, he disliked the way the other sects treated the young man, as if he were a musclehead who had no mind to lead a sect. Pah, Nie Mingjue was more thoughtful than the lot of them.

Nie Mingjue was the only one outside of Lan Qiren and Xichen who could read Wangji's minute microexpressions after all (though Wei Wuxian was getting quite good at it). He doubted any single one of those haughty cultivators could understand his precious nephew. Heavens, he doubted they could even start a conversation with Wangji, much less understand him.

"You look stressed, Uncle," Xichen's soothing voice took him out of his thoughts.

"I do not look forward to the Discussion Conference," Lan Qiren stated frankly, and Xichen chuckled softly.

"Would you like me to attend in your stead, Uncle?" Xichen asked, tilting his head, concerned in that mother hen way of his.

"I will not have you stressed in my place, Xichen," Lan Qiren smiled at his nephew. "You are still young, I shall have you stay that way."

"You are too kind, Uncle," Xichen bowed his head with a smile.

"Uncle," the aloof voice of Wangji spoke up from the doorway, and they both looked up to see him, both with a look of complete fondness. "Sect Leader Nie has arrived," he reported with a nod, and neither he nor Lan Qiren missed the look of excitement that lit up Xichen's face.

"Would you like to welcome him in, Xichen?" Lan Qiren offered, and his nephew beamed, leaving forthwith, like he was floating on a cloud. "Wangji, Wei Wuxian tells me that he, Jiang Wanyin, Nie Huaisang, and Jin Zixuan will all be going to Caiyi Town this afternoon."

"Mn," Wangji hummed, waiting for his uncle to elaborate.

"Did you wish to go with them?" Lan Qiren asked, and he noticed the slight shift of Wangji's shoulders, a sign of excitement, but he regained his calm immediately.

"Should stay with Uncle," he shook his head minutely, once.

"You should enjoy your youth, Wangji," Lan Qiren waved his hand. "Go have fun in Caiyi. If you refuse," he spoke up when he saw that his nephew was about to argue back, "I will call Wei Wuxian in here to drag you off anyway."

Wangji pursed his lips slightly, a show of stubbornness, but his eyes softened, and he bowed in response.

"Wangji thanks you, Uncle," he said quietly, his pale eyes losing the sheen of frost they normally had, and he left.

Lan Qiren smiled after him, that soft paternal fondness filling his chest yet again. He had never thought he would be something akin to a father in this lifetime, and he had somehow become a father to his nephews, not to mention five other young men who needed and sought a decent paternal role model in their lives.

"Master Lan," Nie Mingjue's deep, booming voice filled the air as he walked into his office, Xichen at his side, and they were quite a cute picture, if Lan Qiren had something to say about it.

"Mingjue," Lan Qiren nodded his head. "Have you finally come to ask to be my nephew-in-law?" he inquired, as playfully as someone like him could be.