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

[56.] My brother, Brother-in-law.

Some of the guests started arriving  –  more notably: family members and relatives from the Gusu Lan Clan and the Yunmeng Jiang Clan. It was planned to be a big event, all the Clans had been invited, and Lan Qiren really wanted to use the opportunity to discuss business not just with friends and allies, but also with the Gusu Clan Leader. 

Jiang Yanli arrived together with her husband and son, but as now she belonged to the Lanling Jin Clan rather, and no matter how much she yearned to see her brothers even sooner  –  she had to travel whenever Jin Zixuan planned to.

Lan Xichen had to tend to the guests now, and Sandu Shengshou would have some more time to rest and mentally prepare for all the unpleasantness,  and be with his nephew, as he tried his best to avoid almost everybody. 

It was on one such occasion that Lan Wangji used the opportunity to ambush him and talk to him tête-à-tête.  He wasn't too proud of himself for it, but his brother would almost never leave the annoying Yunmeng brat all alone, and he desperately needed to talk to him.


***

Jiang Cheng heard a knock on the bedroom door, and suspected it was a nanny coming to collect his sleepy nephew. He immediately frowned as he saw Hanguang-Jun enter without being given permission after the brief knock. But then he bit his lip  –  it was his home too.

- Sandu Shengshou.  –  he accentuated on the title, as always.

- Oh well, if it isn't the highly esteemed Hanguang-Jun.  In my  bedroom. It must be important.  –  he mocked, but in a second was suddenly worried.  –  Is Lan Huan alright?  –  he subconsciously pressed the child to his chest tighter.

Lan Wangji ignored him and instructed his son to go and find his nanny for his afternoon nap. Not too happy to leave, he obeyed, waving at his uncle as he did. Jiang Cheng's heart sank. It was getting harder and harder to let him go. He frowned  –  he was sure Lan Wangji did that on purpose.

- Future Clan Leader Jiang,  we must talk. Privately. I have been waiting for an opportunity for almost a week now, but it seems Zewu-Jun is...  too protective of you. Now that you have trapped him with a child no less.  –  he frowned too.

- I am going to ask you politely  to leave, but I am going to ask only once,  Hanguang-Jun.  -  Jiang Cheng growled.

- This is my house. You have no right to ask for anything,  Sandu Shengshou. –  he said coolly.

For a moment they just glared at each other. Jiang Cheng was praying in his mind that Zewu-Jun would not come back at this precise moment  –  he hated to make him choose. It was not possible to choose between a husband and a brother, he knew it too well.

- Anyway. –  Lan Wangji finally huffed. –  I did not come here to pick up a fight. I hoped to talk to you civilly. –  he spat out the last word as if it was impossible to talk in that way with this particular person. 

Jiang Wanyin was fuming.

- So talk.  –  he hissed.

Obviously, Hanguang-Jun had ordered tea before entering the Hánshì,  because now a servant entered and placed the set on the table, pouring the tea for them.

- Shall we?  –  Lan Wangji sat down, inviting his brother-in-law too.

Squinting his eyes, he got off the bed and joined him, but never touched the tea. It was all a trap; he just didn't quite understand what kind yet.

- As I said before, Jiang Cheng, it's not personal. Actually, this is harder than it should be, as you are my husband's brother, and for some reason, inexplicable to me,  he loves you very much.   –  Lan Zhan winced.

- Ha!  –  came the only reply.

- I am here because I care about my brother more than you can imagine. I would also appreciate it if this all stayed between us.  –  he sipped his tea and stared vacantly at him.

Jiang Wanyin once again wondered what Wei Wuxian saw in this idiot. He was pretty and polite, but nothing more. It was like loving a tree. He nodded.

- I wouldn't want to worry Zewu-Jun unnecessarily, trust me, he has more than enough to worry about as it is.  -  Jiang Cheng scoffed. This feud between himself and Hanguang-Jun upset his husband, and he knew it. He listened.

- My brother is a fool.  –  Lan Wangji started.  –  I have always admired him, but he is a fool. It will forever be a mystery to me how someone so strong and smart, so educated and refined, could be so foolish when it comes to relationships.  –  he looked up and stared at his brother-in-law sharply. 

– I had really hoped that things would be more or less settled for him with this arranged marriage... But I guess I should have known better. Of course it would get even more complicated. Of course he would fall for you.  –  he scoffed.

Sandu Shengshou was blushing, clenching his teeth and doing his best not to lose his temper; he fully realized that Hanguang-Jun was trying to provoke him.

- How well do you know  the story of Jin Guangyao, Sandu Shengshou?  –  Lan Wangji smirked.