THE GAME

Chapter 21

It was time to leave. Jiang Cheng had to make up an excuse for Madam Lan. Only an omega would understand another omega's needs, hence, convincing her was not hard. Before getting in the car, he walked up to the Second Jade's room and knocked on the door. Lan Xichen was right behind him. "It's ok Wanyin, you can enter.", he held his shoulders.

Inside, the Second Jade was sitting behind the Zither. His hands rested on the strings but the was no sound. He had a stack of books to play from but nothing mattered, Wangji could not find his tune. Every time he plucked a chord, his heart ached and his mind was not in the right place.

"Lan Wangji.", Jiang Cheng walked in with Xichen. Wangji sat in the same spot, refusing to look at them. "I'm leaving.", The lotus had to start somewhere. 

"Hanguanjun, will you call off your engagement to Wei Wuxian?", Wangji's fingers circled the strings on his spiritual instrument, pulling them so hard Xichen thought they would snap; hearing that name was pure torture.

Lan Wangji, "..."

Jiang Cheng, "Hanguanjun..."

Lan Wangji, " Future Sect Leader Jiang, goodbye."

Jiang Cheng froze for a second. Looking at his alpha with a weary expression, Xichen wanted to take him away. It was still a bad time, yet Jiang Wanyin took his hand off and advanced towards Lan Wangji.

 "Shouldn't you be ashamed of yourself for failing to protect your mate?... My brother may be a powerful idiot capable of defending himself but it doesn't mean he's immune to pheromones!!", Jiang Cheng trying to calm things turned into something else. Lan Wangji raised his head.

"Wanyin, that's a bit...", Xichen was given a frightening glare when he dared to get close. "Wei Wuxian became your responsibility the day you arranged with my family. He left Gusu with you... You should have kept an eye on him the entire time or given him something bearing your smell to ward off his pheromones but you didnt!", Jiang Cheng did not sugarcoat it. " I know Wei Ying is a nut case, that's why I never leave his side... Hanguanjun, my brother played a major role in this story but you also had a part in it." 

  "Jiang Wanyin, that's enough!", Zewujun could not bear the crumbling look in his brother's eyes. But Jiang Cheng had said what he wanted to and had no regrets. "Stop sweating, I'm already on my way...", the Lotus frowned and stomped out of the room. Lan Xichen caught up to him downstairs and hugged him from behind.

"Sorry Lan Huan, I know it was harsh but I must support my own, no matter what.", Jiang Cheng sighed. "I understand, Wangji did let his guard down. Aside from Xue Chengmei, the place would be teeming with dominant alphas that could harm your brother. But..."

"But my brother was at fault for being careless. Lan Huan, I'm positive Wei Ying likes Wangji... His obsession with another man has him confused.",  The lotus turned.

"Dont worry, Wangji is not one to give up so easily. Just give it some time. Right now, let's focus on something else. How about dinner next Tuesday?", Xichen stuck his face in the other's neck, sniffing the fusion of their pheromones. 

"Let me get home first and think about it.", Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes when the other pouted. He shook his head. "Alright, see me off?".

"Yeah.", Lan Xichen smiled.

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School resumed once more and students began pouring into campus. Just a few months into the new year was enough to make some lazy but that would soon vanish when lectures became more demanding. Incomplete rumors began to circulate when some alphas noticed that the Wild Lotus everyone was drooling over from afar had a change of smell. Soon it was established that Wei Wuxian was off the market temporarily or maybe even permanently.