[曦澄 | XiCheng]: The Fear Of Falling In Love [~PART 1~]

[38.] No braids.

The housekeeper came to wake Master Jiang and help him get ready for dinner. Sandu Shengshou was terribly annoyed  –  he didn't need a woman to help him get dressed, but obviously Lan Xichen had insisted.

- How are you, Master? – she asked, helping him out of the bath.  –  Zewu-Jun has been so worried in the last two days.

- I am fine.  I am not an invalid, you know! – he growled. –  Zewu-Jun... He probably told you that I get...sick... from time to time?

- Yes, Master. He was on the brink of calling a physician today. You have slept quite a while. –  she mumbled.

- You don't like me very much, do you?  –  he turned around sharply to face her. - I make trouble for your Master, don't I?

She bowed, unfazed, and said calmly:

- I only want the best for my Masters.

- And by "your Masters"  you mean Zewu-Jun and Hanguang-Jun, right?  –  he snapped at her.

She bowed again, but didn't deny it.

- I get it, you know. I am a stranger here. And for the longest time I hated  the Gusu Lan Clan with a passion. – he mumbled. –  I am not too sure I am over that yet. I still think Lan Wangji is the most annoying idiot  in all the land.

- Are the Masters going to spend Master Wangji's birthday in Yunmeng?  –  she tried to divert the topic, ignoring the last sentence.

- Knowing my husband – most probably. –  he tried to irritate her with the intimate name for Lan Xichen.  –  Wait! Gods! What date is it today?! –  he exclaimed, turning his head around sharply and undoing all the work she had already done on braiding his hair.

She told him and he cursed loudly.

- Two days until Zewu-Jun's birthday...  Goddammit, I spend the last days in bed...  I really wanted to get him something nice for his first birthday... like...uhhh now that we are.... married... -  he blushed and clenched his teeth.  –  And now Master Annoying is coming too.

- Master?  –  she raised an eyebrow, trying to do some damage control on his hairdo.

- Oh, leave it!  –  he huffed and undid his hair fully.  –  I meant my brother.  –  he growled. –  But... I do hope... those morons will bring the kids along...  -  he said dreamily.

The woman was quite surprised to see such a sudden mood change. Her Master Lan was so calm in general  –  it was really special to see him excited; he mostly worried, but hid it well. This Master was different  -  far too emotional.

- Well, Master, I don't know about that, but I can tell you that the Jìngshì  is now ready. And the little ones are planned to sleep in a separate room with their nannies. I guess the Young Master Lan will want some privacy with his husband.  –  she smiled faintly.

- Oh, I don't doubt it... They are always so... uhh...  touchy-feely.  –  he shuddered.

She smiled again and looked away.

- What?! What is it now?!  –  he yelled, catching that.

- No, it's nothing, Master.  –  she bowed, trying to hide a new smile.

- Speak!  –  he squinted his eyes.

- Well, forgive me, Master, but you and Zewu-Jun are...  you seem quite close too.  –  she tilted her head, observing his reaction. She still had not decided whether she liked her new Master or not.

- We do...?  –  he mumbled, surprised that someone –  anyone  –  was actually watching  them. –  Well... Your Master Lan is to blame... -  he said gently, melting with the memories.

Jiang Cheng was still blushing when he entered the Main Hall where the dinner was already served. Zewu-Jun gasped when he saw him enter  –  his hair was down and he looked all flushed and exceptionally beautiful after the bath. Sandu Shengshou sat on the seat next to him, but it took only seconds before Lan Xichen hugged his waist and pulled him in to sit with him.

- Huan... -  he murmured gently, turning his face and receiving a soft kiss on the cheek.

- You look so pretty tonight, Sandu Shengshou. I swear, if we weren't married already, I would have proposed to you... -  Lan Huan mumbled. –  It's not fair... not fair, beloved...

Jiang Wanyin smiled and reached out his hand to caress his face. His husband leaned in and buried his face in his neck, breathing in the scent of his skin and his loose hair  –  it made him shiver, it was so nice to be touched that way. 

His eyes darted towards the housekeeper who was waiting for them to pay attention to her, and was grinning now. He pushed Zewu-Jun away from himself again, ashamed, and cleared his throat.

- Masters. –  she bowed. –  I am guessing Hanguang-Jun and Wei Qianbei are to be expected tomorrow?

- Yes. Or the day after tomorrow. –  Lan Xichen mumbled. –  Is all ready?

- Yes, Master. I will run some final errands tomorrow, but I think we are ready for the Masters and the Young Masters. The Jìngshì  is ready too. –  she bowed.

- Excellent. You are free to go. –  Lan Huan said.