Letting go of self-restraint 5 - Great happiness in a small package

Chapter 26

Wen Ning was sitting in the middle of a grassy field surrounded by hopping white rabbits and two loudly laughing toddlers. He was amazed and did not know what to think. He had never known that there was a place like this in the Cloud Recesses. He would have never imagined that the sect with so many rules, including several against keeping pets and other animals for human entertainment, would allow to have a rabbit farm.

Then again, it was not so surprising in the end. Lan Xichen joined them today for the current trial of Nie Huisang's talisman and he had explained that those were actually wild rabbits who had only gotten used to human company. Wen Ning was not so sure they could still be called not domesticated when they did not run away frantically even from loud toddlers and their grabby hands. But he remained silent, this was not his place to question the ways of the Gusu Lan sect.

Despite the idyllic and peaceful moment, he was on high alert: "I should not be worrying about the rabbits but more so about the people. A-Cheng looks like he could snap any second and storm away, probably to look for Young Master Wei and his husband. Nie Huisang, Sect leader Lan and Miss Jin are also only pretending to be fine for the sake of the children. They are just as nervous as me.

I am not so sure we should have gone this quickly. Young Master Wei insisted that he was ready to try being away from A-Yuan's side for a longer time, even without activating the talisman when we were still in the Jingshi. I wonder how he is doing. He must be extremely anxious and worried for his son. And what Omega would not be? It is the natural instinct to look after the young ones. Even I fell like I have to protect A-Yuan and A-Ling and always keep an eye on them. And they are not even my ow children..."

Just as he finished thinking this, it was proven that he was not the only one who had Wei Wuxian on their mind. Jiang Cheng, who had been until then sitting by his side as if he was on pins and needles, suddenly stood up so quickly he scared away all the rabbits in their vicinity. He did not even seem to notice though, his head was turned towards the entrance to the grass field, in the direction of the residential areas of the Cloud Recesses.

"Where is that idiot brother of mine? He should have already been here!" Then, he turned to glare at Nie Huisang. "I swear, if that talisman of your stopped working and Wei Wuxian is panicking somewhere because he cannot find us, I will..."

Wen Ning quickly stood up as well and put a soothing hand on his husband's shoulder. He understood how Jiang Cheng was feeling, there were similar thoughts on his mind as well. But it was no way going around and causing even more nervousness among them. Everyone – aside for the toddlers of course, those were happy playing with each other and the rabbits without a care in the world – was expecting Wei Wuxian to appear in the field any minute now.

It was not that they thought about him as a weak person who could not let go of his son for even 15 minutes, the opposite really. This was the first time they were trying the talisman on this distance. It must be hard for the Omega to be separated from his child for this long, Wen Ning could not even start to imagine how Wei Wuxian was feeling right now.

"It is true that we have prepared and that Young Master Wei consented to this. He also has the talisman and can listen to everything that is happening here. Hopefully hearing A-Yuan laugh and happily talk with Jin Ling can calm him down a little. We have even told Second Young Master Lan where we will be beforehand, so if anything goes wrong, he can bring Young Master Wei to us immediately. Despite all the preparations though, it does not mean that both parents will not be extremely anxious and worried for their son."

Nie Huisang turned towards them from where he had been sitting side by side with Lan Xichen, perhaps a little closer than it would normally be acceptable between two strangers, but Wen Ning was completely fine with it. They looked happy to be resting there, their hands so close that if they stretched out a single finger, they would be able to touch. And Wen Ning was glad for them; he had Jiang Cheng, and he wished for everyone in the world to be able to find that special one for them.

"Sect Leader Jiang, please calm down," Lan Xichen stepped in, as if to protect his friend. Or his lover already? They never announced anything officially, but Wen Ning had a hunch they were more than just friends. "There is no point in scaring the rabbits and the children like this. I am sure that Wuxian will be here any minute now. Please sit down and enjoy the scenery until then."

Wen Ning's eyebrows mirrored Nie Huisang's as they shot up sky high. Lan Xichen seemed like an epitome of calm and peace. Was he not worried about his brother-in-law at all?

"No, that is not right," Wen Ning realized the next moment, "he is just as nervous as the rest of us. Perhaps even more so." He noticed that Nie Huisang's hand was now actually touching the other's. "And how could he not? After all, Second Young Master Lan is his brother, they share a close bond as far as I have seen. But he is right, if we start panicking and being nervous now, we will only scare the children and not accomplish anything at all. As much as I hate it, all we have left is waiting and watching after A-Yuan and A-Ling."

Wen Ning also took his husband by his hand and tugged at it to get him to sit back down. It was just as Lan Xichen had said. They should wait here for Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. Otherwise, even if they were too nervous to wait here themselves, leaving would only result in failing to meet each other along the way and causing Wei Wuxian even greater anguish.

When Jiang Cheng did not seem like he was about to calm down and sit on the ground again, Wen Ning leaned closer to him and let himself be engulfed in the strong arms of his husband. Even when Jiang Cheng was not in his right mind, he still never forgot to provide all the comfort his Omega partner could ask for. Wen Ning loved him for this.

He stood up on his toes, acutely aware of their height difference and chastely kissed his fated soulmate on the chin: "A-Cheng, calm down please. Young Master Wei will be here right away. Everything will be fine. And look," he pointed at the paying duo of toddlers who were being watched by Jiang Yanli, "A-Yuan seems perfectly alright with all of this. He is not crying any missing his parents or anything. There is nothing to worry about."

Then he tugged at Jiang Cheng's hand again, this time to prompt him to come with him instead of sitting down: "A-Cheng, come, let us go play with the children, it looks to be so much fun."

That was not completely true and no one could be more aware of this fact than Wen Ning himself. They did not know how Wei Wuxian was faring at all; and if he could trust his hunch, the situation was definitely not optimal. However, he still chose to distract his husband from worrying too much. He could only hope that it would do the trick. When Wei Wuxian would come, he would for sure be scared enough with just not seeing his son for this long, they did not have to add to his worries by waiting for him anxiously and letting him see or hear that even they were not comfortable with this.

"It is not A-Yuan I am worried about," mumbled Jiang Cheng but obediently followed when Wen Ning led him towards the paying children.