Growing Pains from Growing Family (Xicheng)

Chapter 39: The Late Bloomer And The Hussy

"What about you? What titles have you had for me?" Jiang Cheng asked curiously. Happy to put the attention on Lan Xichen instead of himself for a little while.

"I suppose you went from Young master Jiang to potential friend of Wangji's to ally to sect leader Jiang to friend to..." Lan Xichen's face went bright red, signaling that there was a story to tell.

"Oh... what's the next title A-Huan? It doesn't sound like it's fiancé. What happened Zewu-jun, what changed?" He teased his blushing lover.

"Well I was going about business as usual when I accidentally found my brother's... ahem... 'informational guides'. We already knew at this point that he liked men so it wasn't that surprising that he had them, but..." Lan Xichen's face once more bloomed with color as he trailed off.

"So...? What happened next? Tell me Huan, I've already told you so much about me, what about you? What did you do?" Jiang Wanyin urged him on.

"Later that night I had some not so appropriate dreams for the first time. And since many of the positions required a partner..." Lan Xichen yet again trailed off into nothing, perhaps equally as embarrassed about his past as Jiang Cheng.

"Oohh? I am honored that you would pick me to teach you. To think you'd consider me knowledgeable enough to do so is truly an honor. But I'm a little curious, does reality live up to little Lan Huan's expectations...?" Jiang Cheng was mid tease when he realized 'little' might not be accurate. "Wait... I became sect leader Jiang before your first time!?" Lan Xichen was almost in his twenties by the time Jiang Cheng inherited his sect.

Lan Xichen hid his embarrassed face behind his face as he hummed in acknowledgement. "Mn, I was a very late bloomer. Is that not good enough for the hussy?" Lan Xichen asked, perhaps still a little insecure about finding out that Jiang Cheng wasn't as new to all this as he had expected.

And so Jiang Cheng settled for reassuring him. "No. I like the idea of being the first person you ever thought of. But you still haven't answered my question, dream vs reality. Which is better? Or is it that you're in need a reminder already?" Jiang Cheng smirked as he got up to straddle his partner.

"Wanyin..." Lan Xichen warned. He had already not been happy with how last night had gone, so for the Jiang to yet again try and push it wasn't something he was fond of. An unusual dark emotion flashed in his eyes as Jiang Cheng positioned himself on top.

"Oh come on A-Huan. I'm not made of glass. Besides look at what our brothers get up to each day, are you also trying to say I'm not as good as my brother? I'll be fine" Jiang Cheng spoke, and judging by Lan Xichen's still calm face the attempted guilt tripping had backfired. The only one feeling guilty for using his inferiority complex was himself.

"Doesn't matter. This is supposed to be your rest day." Lan Xichen pointed out.

"But I don't need rest. I need you" Jiang Cheng whined, and he wasn't lying.

"Need me? Wanyin, what is going on?" Lan Xichen said concerned, and for good reason. Because the thing Jiang Cheng needed was comfort, not physical affection, though that was the easiest way of obtaining what he desperately craved.

"He's not coming" Jiang Cheng mumbled, after having been caught.

"Who?" Lan Huan inquired.

Shouting at the top of his lungs Jiang Cheng let everything out. "Jin Ling. He's not coming! He's not fucking coming. What he said to you was not a fucking agreement. He might as well have spit in your face. He's not coming. There, I said it. Now sleep with me! If he's not coming, then I sure as hell am going to." Pressing his lips against the Lan who was still processing what he'd heard Jiang Cheng tried to get as close to his lover as he possibly could. But his frantic ripping at the white robes beneath him was ineffective and left him just as far away as before. Not only was he in too much of a hurry to get the Lan's robes off but he also couldn't see for shit. Everything was just a blurry mess.

Two caring but strong hands shot up and captured his wrists. He'd failed. "Xichen...please..." he begged. It was the final resort he had. But even that failed as the Lan simply pulled him down into a still clothed embrace.

"There. There. It's going to be fine." He cooed as he held the Jiang close.

"It's not fine. It's not going to be fine. He's not coming A-Huan. He's not going to be there" Jiang Cheng repeated. His tears swiftly wet the Lan's soft robes as he let out all of the grief he felt from losing this moment with his nephew. Even if he knew the Jin would eventually come around, this wedding would only happen once.

"Would you like me to write my nephew a message?" Lan Xichen asked.

"Hmpf. And what is he going to do!? He could be the love of Jin Ling's life and there still would be no way of convincing that boy. He is more stubborn than Wei Ying's donkey." Jiang Cheng growled. His voice was hoarse and difficult to make out when muffled into the Lan's chest, but enough of the message went through for Lan Xichen to decode it.

"Well, I'm sure Jin Ling wouldn't want to miss it either. So what if I ask Lan Sizhui to convince him to sneak into the wedding and watch it from afar? If we set up the ceremony outside near the woods he could watch it without being noticed. That way he can pretend to not participate whilst still being there. How does that sound?" Lan Xichen explained his plan, and it was a good plan too. It really might work.

Burrowing his head further into the Lan's neck to show his appreciation Jiang Cheng couldn't help but let out an appreciative "I love you Lan Huan."

"I love you too Jiang Cheng" Lan Xichen replied, pulling him into a close embrace from which he would never let go. It was an eternal hug in which Jiang Cheng could stay for as long as he wanted. Enveloped in love, warmth, and everything else that made up the man known as Lan Huan. But as he eventually calmed down and realized just how embarrassing it was he pushed away, just a little. Not enough for their bodies to completely separate, but enough that he could admire the speckled golden globes and the sweet smile on the Lan's lips.

"To answer your question. I have always preferred the real you. Do you want to know why?" Lan Xichen said.

Jiang Cheng nodded his head.

"Because the real you aren't perfect. I didn't know it back then, but the parts of you that I have come to love the most are the sides you won't show to just anyone. There is so much you hide away, so many feelings you refuse to show. Fear, embarrassment, love. It's as though sect leader Jiang is an impenetrable box which rarely opens and so when you do and let me see the beautiful Jiang Cheng inside it makes me so happy. Even now, I'm so happy you trust me this much Wanyin. I wish you could be happy all the time, but we both know you won't be. No one is. And so I'm grateful you trust me to let me see you like this. That you're willing to rely on me."

Glancing down Lan Xichen kept speaking with a slight blush on his face. "Same thing goes for your body. Did you know that my favorite part of you is your scar? I'm sure you have some terrible memories associated with it and wish it didn't exist. But each time you remove your robes and let me see it I am filled with so much joy, because you trust me enough to be that vulnerable with me." As he spoke Lan Xichen let his hand gently move across the violet fabric covering the Jiang's chest. Lan Huan was trailing the indentation in his chest which had only ever been a reminder of his regret, an imperfection which couldn't heal. And yet Lan Xichen looked at his chest with pure admiration.

"Lan Huan I'm tired. Let me fly with you?" Looking up at the sky, Lan Huan found that it was already past noon. They had spent more than half a day outside in a field doing nothing and it was time to head home.

Placing a loving peck on the Jiang's forehead he replied "Of course. I'll even carry you if you want"