Growing Pains from Growing Family (Xicheng)

Chapter 22: Staying in Gusu

"The numbers don't number! Fuck them all" he screamed. But throwing the papers on the floor and seeing them swirl around like leaves in early fall didn't help. Nothing did. Not getting angry, not practicing with his sword until he fell over exhausted, not even Lan Huan's arms which were swiftly wrapped around him after his sudden outburst helped.

"If the numbers won't behave, how about I teach them a lesson and you look them over once they're behaving properly again?" the sweet and calming voice whispered in his ear. Lan Xichen was offering to take on all of the calculations to allow his fiancé a much needed break.

But Jiang Cheng had already taken plenty of breaks, pretending he needed to exorcise the two had spent hours each day outside, practicing. So much so that his fiancé would be an expert on the Jiang sect's sword techniques before they even got to Yunmeng for their wedding. "No, I can't not work. We really need to get this done."

He was talking as if their constant breaks had put them behind schedule and that the budgeting for their sects was an important matter which needed to be solved this very second. It wasn't like their sects' monetary situation would become worse as a result of their union, it was actually quite the opposite. However, the amount of work needing to be done regarding trade agreements before then was not to be underestimated. There was a lot of paperwork which needed to me written and signed in order for their people to see the maximum positive benefits from their union.

But in truth, none of this needed to get done right now. These were all things which could be done after their wedding. Yes, the faster it got done the better for their people. But that didn't change the fact that it could wait another couple of months. The current state of things, though not optimal, was more than good enough. Their sects were already prospering as is.

The only thing they needed to do, was travel to Yunmeng so that they could help arrange the wedding. Most could be done by Yao Guo, Jiang Cheng knew he could be trusted to do a good job, but then there were things such as robe fittings which simply required the sect leaders' presence. And yet they couldn't leave quite yet. Lan Xichen was being very understanding about the whole thing, he had even taken the lead in pretending that these papers were necessary to get done before their wedding.

"If you can't take a break, then how about you run an errand for me? I need to have this document delivered to Lan Wangji" Lan Xichen said, holding out what Jiang Cheng soon determined was a permission slip containing sect leader Lan's official stamp. It would allow the younger Lan to fully take over the Cloud Recesses archery range for a duration totaling three days.

"The archery range?" Jiang Wanyin asked with a raised eyebrow, his brother-in-law had never struck him as a bow and arrow type of person. He always relied on either his cold personality or icy sword to scare away monsters as well as people.

"I'm as clueless as you. He wouldn't tell me what they were going to do with it and so I felt like it was better not to ask." Lan Huan replied. Hearing this extinguished any and all curiosity Jiang Wanyin had on the matter. Despite being the master of swords his interest in archery was not far behind. A skill he had been sure to pass down to his nephew and so when the topic was brought up it caught his interest. But from the way his fiancé spoke made it sound like there would be no weapons involved in whatever Lan Wangji and his husband was getting up to.

"Whatever, doesn't matter. I'll head over to Jingshi and deliver it. I could really use moving my legs" Jiang Cheng said as he stood up and stretched, Lan Huan's paper in hand.

"Sounds great, and I'll let you know if anything happens while you're gone" Lan Xichen reassured him. Previously he had refused to leave his fiancé's side at all costs. After all, his nephew should be more than capable of apologizing to the both of them. But perhaps his lover had been right in that they should separate to give the Jin a chance to talk to him in private.

"I love you" Lan Huan called out from his seat at the desk before the Jiang made it outside. The words flowed from his mouth as easily as the polite 'greetings to sect leader Jiang' had in the past. Despite only being together for a little over a week the Lan had quickly gotten used to saying the sweet words. Similarly, Jiang Wanyin had gotten used to hearing them. He no longer feared the affectionate three letter sentence. It was a nice improvement.

"I love you too" Jiang Cheng lovingly replied before exiting Hanshi. Moments like this were the ones when he realized just how thankful he was for sect leader Lan. He always took care of him and had been for years. Jiang Wanyin had always thought that it was simply a part of how the Lan operated, always being kind and caring to everyone. But looking back it was clear to see that the Lan had always gone over and beyond for him.

Though Lan Xichen had a pesky habit of giving people the benefit of the doubt, always willing to hear people out, he didn't do unconditional charity. The way he treated Jiang Cheng wasn't just him being nice to an acquaintance or fellow sect leader. It was special. He was special. The thought allowed a comforting warmth to spread throughout Jiang Wanyin's body. Having gone most of his life being nothing but 'good enough' it felt nice to be appreciated, and for the attention to come from none other than Lan Huan himself. It felt like he was living in a dream.

Honestly if it wasn't for Lan Xichen's kindness over the past week he wouldn't know how he would have managed with everything. The stress of planning a wedding was overwhelming, and to do so without Jin Ling by his side giving him pointers on what he liked or didn't like was tough.

Even if his nephew did apologize, what if the wedding wasn't to his taste? The food might be off, the napkins might look horrible, or perhaps he was allergic to the flowers. Jiang Cheng thought he had removed all the bad ones from the list but what if he had forgotten some, or worse Jin Ling might have developed new allergies which they had yet to speak about? The boy had always been sensitive so it was very possible for something like that to occur. Biting his lower lip, the Jiang continued to worry all the way over to Jingshi.