Lan Xichen Presents

Chapter 6: Which Has a Weakness, Alpha or Omega?

After a few minutes of focus, Jiang Cheng was able to calm himself down enough to look Lan Xichen quickly in his eyes and say,

"I wanted to come and let you know that I think you are a wonderful leader and no matter what others say about your designation I still support you. Omega or not, you'll always be Zewu Jun."

He said this with great sincerity, yet Lan Xichen did not seem particularly moved by this statement,

"Ah so you've come because you feel badly about the results then have you? That's funny, Meng Yao didn't like the verdict much either. What did he say again? Ah yes he whined about how Mingjue is now his only option." Xichen said with a grin seemingly attempting to lighten the tense atmosphere.

Unlike the intention though this only served to cause Jiang Cheng to look at him with more pity as he said,

"I'm sorry to hear that, I know you and Guangyao have been close for a while. I've always been alone so I'm not sure how it feels to lose someone simply for presenting differently than expected. Still you shouldn't be punished for a biological fluke. Is Jin Guangyao so traditional that he's not willing to try? Although it's rare I don't see anything wrong with two omegas being together," Jiang Cheng started out passionately, but then considered something and blushed a little as he admitted, "then again my clan's kind of known for the 'do what you want' motto. I take it that it might be harder to justify in sects like the Lans or the Jins huh?"

Lan Xichen smiled gently at the Jiang as he explained

"I'm afraid that you've gotten the wrong idea. Meng Yao and I are just friends, he's just sore because now he can't use me as an excuse to make Mingjue jealous anymore... well he'll probably still try, but it will be a lot less effective for him."

"Oh," Jiang Cheng said surprised, and a bit embarrassed about jumping to conclusions, but relieved that Xichen was not hurting in that way at least, "well good. But in the future whoever you fall for you should go for it. Becoming an omega doesn't have to limit your whole life or anything. If you stay true to who you are I'm sure you could have anyone or anything you want."

Xichen nodded, raising his tea cup which Jiang Cheng reciprocated before stating,

"You seem rather passionate about the subject. It's good to see someone with such power is so enlightened."

Jiang Cheng did not often feel very powerful so this phrasing confused him a little bit, but he supposed to someone who was recently claimed as an omega being an alpha would seem like that. He wasn't sure how to respond to such a statement however, but it seemed that Xichen was not quite done anyway,

"That being said I can't help but get the distinct impression that you feel sorry for me somehow. Excuse me if I'm wrong, but if so may I ask why?"

Feeling that the answer was fairly obvious yet seeing Xichen's inquisitive face on the subject JC knew he had to say something, but he didn't quite know how to put it. He wracked his brain for a few seconds before deciding just to say whatever came to mind,

"It's just that you presented as an omega, so... I figure that would be a lot to take in."

Lan Xichen leaned back for a second, taking in as much of Jiang Cheng as he could for a moment, before leaning forward again and quite sincerely saying,

"Why should you feel sorry for me? Is an omega such a bad thing to you?"

Surprised by the statement Jiang Cheng suddenly met the others eyes, shaking his head wildly,

"N-n-no, it's natural and important of course, but it does create a lot of barriers, particularly when it comes to leadership, and it must be difficult to adjust to the thought that one day you could have a human being inside of you. If you didn't suspect you could be one than I'd guess... well it could be overwhelming... is all. People find all kinds of reasons to hate on and exclude others, I just feel bad thinking that could be happening to you."

"I can't say I haven't had to deal with some small minded people's attitudes towards my continued leadership recently, as well as marriage proposals, and letters from men and women who are dying to dominate the great Zewu Jun now that they know, but the problem is not with me being an omega, but with other people's attitudes about it."

Jiang Cheng nodded in agreement, having said something similar in the presence of his father just before he'd come.

"I agree." He said quietly as Xichen continued, standing up as he said,

"But people will always judge based on lack of knowledge. They'll be happy trying to put others into neat boxes and call it 'their place.' But when it comes to alpha and omega designations I don't understand why there are such harsh beliefs and gender roles. How does the ability to create a life cause anyone to be viewed as weak?!"

Jiang Cheng had no answer for that himself and put his hands up in the air as surrender to prove he was not one of those kinds of people as Xichen pushed the table out of the way with his leg. Jiang Cheng was very aware that by doing so he now looked a bit funny sitting there on his knees with Xichen towering over him, but considering the subject he didn't want to move as of yet,

"To me the ability to grow a human being inside of a person is not a burden but a super power! Imagine waking up one day and finding out that you have the power to protect and form a human being or a future cultivator! Why is this considered a weakness? Shouldn't it be seen as a strength?"

Jiang Cheng nodded emphatically not wanting to rile up the Lan any more than he already inadvertently had. It was pretty clear that although he had come to help his words may have back fired. Xichen had not originally been upset by the designation from what he was gathering, but he seemed a bit pissed now, and considering that JC had only ever seen the other smiling politely or genuinely it was a bit intimidating to see him like this. A part of Jiang Cheng wished that he could somehow capture this moment and show all of the people who'd come to talk about Xichen's fitness to be leader after being designated how powerful he actually was. He wondered would they change their tunes then?

"How about you? You're an alpha right? People say they respect alphas, but the reputations don't reflect that do they? People always act like alpha's are overpowered monsters. Like they have no control over themselves and simply can't help but act out, dominate, and put those underneath them in their place. Are you like that Wanyin?" he asked pulling Jiang Cheng's hand against his stomach forcefully, "does this make you feel some primal instinct that you just can't help? Are you getting ideas, alpha?"