Growing Pains from Growing Family (Xicheng)

Chapter 26: Aftercare is Important

Lan Xichen woke up to his beloved Wanyin sleeping soundly in his arms. His soft and beautiful locks lightly tickling the Lan's bare skin as it framed the most handsome of faces. Compared to the furious expression he wore when he came home last night, Jiang Cheng was now as calm as could be. His features no longer scrunched up in a scowl but rather was relaxed and smooth making him look almost a decade younger. Yet again the Jiang had managed to calm down by having a fun but exhaustive night. A coping mechanism which he had very quickly formed once the option became available.

After Jin Ling had made a scene after his uncle's return to the Cloud Recesses Lan Xichen had instantly gone to check up on his fiancé the moment the unwelcomed guests had left his house. Wanyin had been laying on the floor, crying his heart out. An image which broke his fiancé's heart to the point that he had attempted to console the man by giving him a hug. He'd expected Jiang Wanyin to fight against it since sect leader Jiang was always trying his best to appear strong. But to his surprise, he didn't.

Instead of pushing the Lan away, Jiang Cheng had done the complete opposite clinging on to Lan Xichen for dear life. Pulling the two of them closer, and closer, wanting more than just a hug. It had started with a kiss, but that hadn't been enough either and so Jiang Wanyin fervently deepened their kiss in an attempt to drown out all feelings which didn't relate to the here and now. A tactic which seemed to have worked considering the Jiang had calmed down significantly by the time he woke up the next morning. Hopefully this would be the case today as well, Lan Xichen thought as he admired the Jiang's handsome features.

Letting his hand brush along the side of the Jiang's face he soon found a piece of hair to play with. It was so nice to the touch. Everything of Wanyin's felt nice to the touch, but especially his hair. Lan Xichen wasn't sure if it was simply good genetics or if he treated it in a special way, but he loved the Jiang's beautiful hair.

"You're so handsome" Lan Xichen mumbled, not expecting his words to reach the snoozing Jiang. But if it somehow did, he didn't mind. Jiang Cheng should be reminded of how stunning he was, how precious he was. And most importantly how loved he was. "I love you so much Wanyin"

"Mm, I love you too" the barely awake man mumbled back at him. The Jiang still felt heavy against his chest, in a way only a sleeping person could. Jiang Cheng might be about to wake up, but he had certainly not done so yet. Meaning he had responded in his sleep. The thought that his future husband loved him so much even his half-awake self was able to tell him sent waves of heat though Lan Huan's stomach and he suddenly became very well-aware of Wanyin's soft skin.

The cheek that rested on his shoulder. The arm which rested on his bare chest. The leg which was slung across his own, keeping him in place. It was all becoming a lot to handle. Being this close to the sexiest man in the world was both a blessing and a curse. And just as it was about to become too much to handle the voice of an angel spoke.

"Good morning" Jiang Cheng yawned as he woke up. "Are we not having breakfast at home today?" he wondered. Lan Xichen was usually gone in the mornings after they had slept together. Insistent on not having Jiang Wanyin walk all over to the dining hall he would bring back food before the Jiang had any chance to wake up and assert that he was perfectly fine in walking there on his own.

"I could get you some if you want. I just didn't want to risk not being here when you woke up" Lan Xichen explained as they exchanged a good morning kiss.

With the way Jiang Cheng had set up the 'no fun in bed before marriage'-rule Lan Xichen was certain that it must have meant something special to the Jiang. Why else would he be fine with them going at it on the couch but not the bed? After doing something the Jiang must have considered monumental he couldn't just leave him to potentially wake up alone.

"D-Do you regret last night?" Lan Huan hesitantly asked, wanting to know just how bad of a mood the Jiang might be in as a result of last night's actions. Even if Jiang Cheng had been the one to suggest it, and practically dragged him into the bedroom, perhaps he should have resisted and brought him back to the couch? But he had failed his fiancé and given into the urge. Jiang Cheng had looked so fine when he laid down on the bed, giving him those lustful eyes.

"Of course not. I would never regret doing anything with you." The Jiang replied, showing none of the regret or sadness Lan Xichen had expected after breaking the rule. It was the same calm morning-Wanyin as always. Gorgeous and without a care in the world, or perhaps there was one. "Why...? Did you regret it?"

The Lan's question had put him on guard, worried something might be up "No. I suppose I just worried for nothing." The Lan explained, giving his man a reassuring smile. If Jiang Wanyin was happy then so was he.

Jiang Cheng shook his head. "Such a worrywart. I'm not made of glass you know"

"But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be treated as such. When I was young my father only ever taught me one thing..."

"?" The Jiang raised a single eyebrow, urging the Lan to continue his story. He wasn't one to usually speak of his father. Mostly because there wasn't much to tell. Lan Xichen had barely known the man, having been mostly raised by his uncle. But this particular memory had always stuck in his mind. He had truly treasured it because it was the one time he had actually had a pleasant interaction with his father.

"He told me that the most important thing a person can do is to show the person you love how much you care." Those were the words the young little Lan, visiting his father had heard, and he had really taken them to heart. Each day he would make an effort to show the people he cared about how loved they were. He'd take time to check in on his brother and uncle even when he didn't think it was necessary. He'd help out his sworn brothers whenever they seemed to be struggling. And when he realized he liked Wanyin he'd make sure to always treat him special, to go out of his way to make sure the Jiang left their interactions feeling happier than when he had entered them.

Those words had shaped him as a person.

"That's sweet" Jiang Cheng said, having the same reaction Lan Xichen had.

"Yeah, I thought so too. And then I was made aware that what he had actually told me was that the most important part of lovemaking was aftercare." Lan Huan said with a snort. The one good interaction he had with his dad was completely fake. The content of their interaction scrambled beyond recognition in the mind of an innocent child.

"..." Giant worried eyes peered up at him from below.

"Don't worry. It's kind of funny isn't it?" Lan Xichen said with a genuine laugh. He wasn't saddened by it at all, because the words he had originally heard were still important to him, even if his father hadn't said them. "Besides, the thing he actually said isn't false either." Lan Xichen said before placing yet another kiss on his lover's forehead, to which he received a frown.

"So that's why you've been so over the top... Could you please not? You're already sweet enough as it is. Overdoing it just makes me feel suffocated" The Jiang said hesitantly. He didn't want to hurt his lover's feelings by asking him to stop, but he also didn't want it to continue. Luckily Lan Xichen didn't take any offence, after all he wasn't doing those things for himself. They were done with Jiang Cheng in mind, and if he didn't like it there was no reason to continue.

"Alright, but on one condition. You have to let me know if you need of any additional assistance. Promise not to suffer through any discomfort or pain by yourself." Lan Xichen said seriously, cementing the fact that if there ever was a need for additional support he would want to supply it.

"Mn" his lover replied with a genuine smile and a nod. They had solved their first problem as a couple. Suddenly out of nowhere a low growling sound could be heard. And was it not for the Jiang's cute cheeks turning a light peachy color, Lan Huan might have thought there was a wild animal or fierce corpse nearby. "I know I said no special treatment... but breakfast in Hanshi is pretty nice." He admitted.

"Ask and you shall receive. I'll be right back" Lan Xichen promised before heading out to fetch the Jiang some breakfast.