Growing Pains from Growing Family (Xicheng)

Chapter 14: Talks of Marriage

"Weren't you grounded?" sect leader Jiang asked as Lan Huan stepped back inside. He couldn't hope to sneak in without his absence being noticed. Jiang Wanyin was already awake.

"Does being grounded mean I'm not allowed to use the bathroom either? I feel bad for Jin Rulan's bladder if that's the case." Lan Xichen said, even if the Jiang was aware of how long he'd been gone he couldn't very well question him. No one wanted to hear about a long bathroom story.

"Yeah? I'm sure the kid managed just fine. But I'm curious... please tell me, who was your stall-mate?" Jiang Wanyin asked gesturing towards the base of his neck. It was only then that Lan Huan realized why his brother-in-law had been so affectionate despite knowing full well that he wasn't Lan Wangji. He was trying to give Jiang Cheng a taste of his own medicine. It wasn't very fun to think that your partner cheated on you and Wei Ying wanted to make that point clear. There was only one problem with this plan, Lan Xichen wasn't sect leader Jiang's partner.

Lan Xichen sighed, he had no other choice but to reveal their nightly visitor. "Wei Wuxian found us"

"Yeah, I figured" The Jiang said with a smirk. "You look even more like Lan Wangji now than you did before. Wei Ying sure never goes easy on his man. Does it hurt? Come here and let me look at you" Jiang Wanyin patted a spot on mattress next to him after sitting up on the bed. Doing as he was told Lan Huan cautiously sat down next to him. Hoping he wasn't upset that the Lan had spoken to the Jiang's brother without involving him. Doing so had robbed the younger cultivator of the opportunity of seeing his brother upset, which was a big point of their prank.

But if Jiang Wanyin was upset he did not show it, instead he put his hand up the white sleeve to his right and began rummaging around. Not long after he pulled out a first-aid-kit. Did Lan Huan need to be worried? It seemed like Jiang Cheng was very familiar with what Lan Wangji carried around at any given time. But he was also very concerned with examining every inch of the Lan's neck.

Lan Huan could feel Jiang Wanyin's fingers lightly tracing the bite-marks his brother had left. It left a pleasant tingling feeling which Lan Xichen assumed wouldn't be there if it had been someone else looking after him. The Jiang was trembling slightly, Lan Huan assumed it was due to the low temperature but asked just to be sure.

"Is it that bad?" Lan Xichen asked as Jiang Wanyin's face scrunched up after having watched his neck. Sect leader Jiang nodded, it was really bad. Without another word he brought out a large roll of white fabric which he used for bandaging up Lan Huan's neck. Only once every inch of affected piece of skin was covered did the Jiang lean back to watch his work.

"Much better, just make sure not to get injured a third time okay? We don't have any more bandages" Jiang Cheng said as he put the remaining equipment back up the Lan's sleeve. Lan Xichen didn't think his neck needed to be bandaged up this much but perhaps Jiang Wanyin had done so to ensure no one would see it once they leave tomorrow morning. The rumors would be bad enough as is, no need to stoke the fire that was other people's curious minds. "Oh and before I forget, you left your sketchbook open and there was this one drawing..."

Lan Xichen froze, he knew exactly which painting the Jiang was talking about. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why had he chosen to draw him in such a way? But Lan Huan knew very well why, after seeing the younger man's expressions as he laid beneath him... He had needed some kind of release and drawing was the only thing available.

"I- Uh..."

"Do you think I could have this one for my proposal?" Having picked up the sketchbook the Jiang showed off the drawing of himself looking out over the waters of Yunmeng. The one which he had been working on when Wei Wuxian turned up, not the other one. But Lan Xichen had no time being relieved as the Jiang had said something very concerning just now.