Growing Pains from Growing Family (Xicheng)

Chapter 32: Travel To Yunmeng

Rushing towards Hanshi, Lan Xichen was excited to share the great news with Jiang Cheng. He'd expected to find his husband sulking at home, but instead he encountered him much sooner. Walking outside, his lover had met him halfway.

"...see I told you everything would work out." Lan Xichen said with a bright smile. Their feud finally being over brought such an overwhelming relief that he couldn't keep the corners of his mouth from turning upwards even if he tried.

"Sounds like we're finally off to Yunmeng then" Jiang Cheng said. But unlike his fiancé, the Jiang's smile could only be described as weak. It wasn't nearly as great of a reaction as Lan Xichen would have expected considering the news but seeing the man's swollen eyes and large frown it was most likely the best he could muster at this current time. Wei Wuxian's teasing was still in effect. Well... it wasn't all Wei Wuxian's fault.

Lan Xichen was no longer able to smile as the realization stabbed him in the heart. The Jiang's current frown was his fault, not Wei Wuxian's.

"You know what. I'll head over to grandmaster Qiren and apologize so that we can set off before sunset, do you think you could have my bags packed when I get back to Hanshi?" Jiang Cheng asked. It was an innocent question. Of course his future spouse would help out with preparing for their departure... right?

But with the white-clad disciples walking around them, returning home after their afternoon lectures, Lan Xichen couldn't help but get scared. Even if this was something perfectly normal, what if they interpreted it as him pampering the Jiang? Wouldn't that hurt Jiang Cheng even more?

"Do you really need my help packing? I have some things I need to get done too. Meet me at the gates when you're done with everything." Lan Xichen said, refusing his fiancé's request, leaving the Jiang somewhat stunned. Having been used to Lan Huan showering him with helpfulness and support, even when he didn't want it, it seemed so out of character for him to refuse.

"Oh... Alright. I'll see you in an hour then. Bye" was all he said before turning around and heading off to speak with Lan Qiren.

It wasn't like Lan Xichen to decline requests from the people he loved, and he certainly never did so without good reason. Jiang Cheng wouldn't think much of it. But not even this reassurance managed to clear Lan Huan's guilt for not helping out. So to not waste the time he should be spending on helping out his fiancé he'd get to work doing something else.

But after strolling around the Cloud Recesses for fifteen minutes Lan Xichen had come up with nothing. Everything he could think of doing in the allotted time was for the sake of his lover. Even if it was just a minor thing, bringing a gift for Jiang Cheng for when they depart would not be considered a regular thing. He would not be able to get away with it without his disciples thinking something was off.

He couldn't even go back to Hanshi and pack up the Jiang's stuff. Someone finding out that he'd gone out of his way to help Jiang Cheng out even after saying he was too busy to do so was even worse than just accepting the request in the first place. And so Lan Xichen spent the rest of the time pacing in an attempt to keep his feet as busy as his mind.

Another half an hour passed before he made his way towards the gate of the Cloud Recesses where he found the purple-clad cultivator already prepared to leave. Thankfully Lan Huan had been right about the packing not taking long. "Sect leader Jiang" Lan Xichen called out to catch his attention. "How did your talk with uncle Qiren go?"

"A lot better than I had thought it would. Not only did he accept my apology but he also said that I'm his favorite nephew-in-law." The Jiang replied.

"But..." Jiang Cheng wasn't his nephew-in-law yet. Sure it wouldn't be long until he was, but he didn't yet possess that title.