Ships and Love

Meet Again in Autumn

Jiang Cheng x Lan Jingyi

Fluff, Lime, Angst

Happy Ending

Past

~*~

Autumn breeze. Probably the one thing Jingyi loved in Autumn. Not too hot, and not too cold, the perfect temperature for him. He clutched his winter robes as he did his duties, sweeping the wooden floors of the library. The library was quiet, not a single soul came to visit. It was normal though, during the summer autumn transition, disciples would try their best not to go out unless necessary.

With the exception of Jingyi.

The autumn breeze was like an old friend, greeting him every year, reminding him of that one day, one fateful day that changed his life.

It was a cold autumn morning. Jingyi got the job to sweep the floors of the library. It was a troublesome task that probably everyone but Sizhui would try so hard to avoid, including him.

They had to make the straw broom, and slowly sweep through every corner. If the broom broke, they had to collect straws to make another broom. The only way to clean the whole library using just one broom was to sweep slowly.

"No one had enough patience for this," Jingyi grumbled, irritated.

Sweeping the floors, he noticed the little bits and dirt stuck in between the floorboards. Angry he swept harshly and broke the broom. Seeing the broken broom, he became even more angry and destroyed the broom, creating even more work for him.

He calmed himself down, before walking to the straw shed to collect more straws. As he was collecting the straws, a hand touched his shoulder harshly. Jingyi tried to get it off his shoulder, but even with his Qi, he couldn't get it off his shoulder.

'It must be a powerful cultivator!' Jingyi realized. He turned around and saw...

"Sect Leader Jiang?" He was surprised. The other's face was flushed red as he grip became tighter. Jingyi had a delicate, boyish face. Although not as beautiful as the other Lan Sect disciples, it was still beautiful.

"Youuuu~?" Jiang Cheng asked gruffly, his voice a bit slurred, as if drunk. However, Jingyi did not smell any liquor on him. Jingyi then looked around and found the culprit.

A bush of aphrodisiac like flowers.

They were not supposed to be there, but the patrol or the gardening disciples probably missed them on their job. Jingyi took note to tell Teacher Qiren about this after he took care of the guest.

He dropped the straws and gently tried to take the hand away from his shoulder, "Sect Leader Jiang, let me bring you to your room."

Jiang Cheng looked a bit dazed before he nodded clumsily.

Jingyi wanted to laugh, but that would be insensitive and disrespectful of him. Holding his laugh, he patiently guided Jiang Cheng, who was acting like a child, to his room in the guest wing.

"Here is your room," Jingyi smiled, "do take a moment to realize where the things are located, I will get you some cold water to sober up."

(A/n : he is using the respectful 'you')

But before he could go out to get cold water, the warm hand from before grabbed onto his colder ones. Before he knew it, he was thrown into the room, and Sect Leader Jiang....

Did unspeakable things to him.

"Is it good?"

"Can you hear yourself?"

"Do you know how many rules you've broken?"

Jingyi wanted to cry, but he didn't. He held his voice in, he did not want others to know, especially his idol, Han-Guang Jun. He did not know what Sect Leader Jiang was thinking but he knew it wasn't targeted at him, and it hurts even more.

He woke up as usual, close to the time the disciples were supposed to gather. Shizui asked him where he had been but he decided not to say anything.

'Sorry, but I also have to hide this from you,' Jingyi smiled brightly as he changed the topic. His whole body was sore, and his performance somewhat dwindled. It made Lan Qiren a bit disappointed but he just stroked his beard without saying anything.

Perhaps, Jiang Cheng did not remember what he had did anymore, pounding into him without mercy, making him like this. Breaking his heart as he left without a word.

He definitely did not remember that it was him.

Jingyi did not have an actual attachment towards Jiang Cheng, just... He was just expecting something. What he was expecting he himself did not understand.

Suddenly, his broom broke.

He laughed in his heart, remembering what brought them together. Smiling sadly, he threw away the broken broom and went to the straw shed to gather up more straws. Ever since that event, he always went to sweep the library floors, and the job finally became his.

Day by day, year by year, he swept the library floors, every autumn.

"Lan Jingyi?" A rough and gruff voice called from behind him. Jingyi froze, almost dropping all the straws in his clutches.

He was afraid, afraid that when he turned around, the person he wanted to see was not there, and instead was another person. But he could never mistake that voice.

"Lan Jingyi?"

"Yes?" He looked down. The event from two years ago still fresh in his memories. He was unable to forget.

"I am sorry for my action two years ago, I will take full responsibility," Jiang Cheng spoke slowly, "but that is, if I manage to come to terms and remember that event as you with me, not...Someone else."

Perhaps he was here to tell him that he couldn't see that event as the both of them, and still remembered that 'someone else'. It was funny, really. Senior Wei would probably laugh at him for his taste.

"Jingyi, look at me."

Slowly he looked at the person. There were a few wrinkles forming on his face, as a result of stress. However, that expression...

"Jingyi, six years ago, you dropped your straws and guided me back to my room," Jiang Cheng started, walking towards the boy, "six years ago, I did something, that probably ruined your future."

"Four years ago, I claimed that I will take responsibility," Jiang Cheng spoke, "I know it's probably late but..."

"Jingyi, do you want to drop your straws and follow me home?" Jiang Cheng gave his hand for Jingyi to take. Jingyi looked at the hand, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Yes!"

~*~

1064 words