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"Sect Leader Jiang. Jiang Wanyin. Your hand in marriage please," said Lan Xichen while holding his forehead ribbon
Jiang Wanyin stared at Lan Xichen's bare forehead, baffled. His almond eyes round, surprised
"Sect Leader Lan, this is the FIRST time that we ever met, in person."
Jiang Wanyin stared at Lan Xichen's bare forehead, baffled. His almond eyes round, surprised
"Sect Leader Lan, this is the FIRST time that we ever met, in person."
"I only knew who you are when the disciples greeted you so. Plus, I won't just marry a person I just met, for the first time in my life, right after I stepped my foot in the Cloud Recesses." Jiang Wanyin huffed, indifferent, but his eyes fixated on the ribbon with curiosity.
Lan Xichen looked at him like he hung the moon and stars in that round eyes.
"Of course." Lan Xichen smiled. The sweetest one he could offer. Ever. Maybe in his entire /single/ life.
He watched Jiang Wanyin exhaled in relief.
Lan Xichen took a step forward.
"Of course." Lan Xichen smiled. The sweetest one he could offer. Ever. Maybe in his entire /single/ life.
He watched Jiang Wanyin exhaled in relief.
Lan Xichen took a step forward.
"So, your hand in marriage?" Lan Xichen asked, his hands brushing the ribbon on Jiang Wanyin's arms
The next few minutes was spent with Lan Xichen fondly soothing over Jiang Wanyin's back as he choked on air.
Lan Xichen was ecstatic, though. It was their first physical contact.
The next few minutes was spent with Lan Xichen fondly soothing over Jiang Wanyin's back as he choked on air.
Lan Xichen was ecstatic, though. It was their first physical contact.
...in this lifetime, that is.
But Lan Xichen won't say anything about that. At least not... yet.
He'll spend the rest of his time, to get Jiang Wanyin to marry him. And he will.
In this lifetime, he will make sure Jiang Wanyin marries Lan Xichen.
For sure. Certainly.
But Lan Xichen won't say anything about that. At least not... yet.
He'll spend the rest of his time, to get Jiang Wanyin to marry him. And he will.
In this lifetime, he will make sure Jiang Wanyin marries Lan Xichen.
For sure. Certainly.
Jiang Wanyin walked with pride, chins up. As soon as he touched Cloud Recesses's ground, he was fully aware this is no longer his territory.
'Impeccable manners, Jiang Cheng. Remember to keep your temper to yourself.' He muttered to no one in particular as he sheathed Sandu.
'Impeccable manners, Jiang Cheng. Remember to keep your temper to yourself.' He muttered to no one in particular as he sheathed Sandu.
A row of disciples walked past him, curtly bowing their heads as a sign of respect. At the entrance that leads to the inner part of the main family's compound, where he was invited to, a couple of disciples stopped to request for his invitation.
What he didn't expect to see is..
What he didn't expect to see is..
An angel— no wait. A person. 'What the fuck Jiang Cheng. Human. And no cursing!' His mind churned.
With his regal aura, forehead ribbon glittering brightly under the morning sun, intricate topknot, and an equally stabby crown that would hurt like a bitch if he butt head with.
With his regal aura, forehead ribbon glittering brightly under the morning sun, intricate topknot, and an equally stabby crown that would hurt like a bitch if he butt head with.
But the sunshine smile, gracing that face was in no way as intimidating as his attire.
'Oh wow. That sure could light up entire Lotus Pier. We could save on oil— THE FUCK JIANG CHENG SHUT UP'
'Why am I in this mess out of nowhere just calm the fuck down Jiang Cheng'
He mumbled.
'Oh wow. That sure could light up entire Lotus Pier. We could save on oil— THE FUCK JIANG CHENG SHUT UP'
'Why am I in this mess out of nowhere just calm the fuck down Jiang Cheng'
He mumbled.
As he retrieved the invitation and was ushered to walk the steps, he noticed the ethereal, otherworldly being kept staring at him with that same smile.
'Is he waiting for me? Who the f—'
"Zewu-Jun," Jiang Cheng heard the Lan disciples greeted the man with a deep bow.
'Is he waiting for me? Who the f—'
"Zewu-Jun," Jiang Cheng heard the Lan disciples greeted the man with a deep bow.
'Z-zewu what now?!' Jiang Cheng spluttered, and it must've been reflected on his face, as he saw the man broke out into a soft chuckle. His eyes never left Jiang Cheng's figure.
His treacherous heart picked up a beat.
His treacherous heart picked up a beat.
'What is a sect leader doing out here at this time? Is greeting another sect leader a must?' Jiang Cheng scrunched his face, slightly annoyed now that he figured the man must be waiting for his arrival out of courtesy.
For inviting him to the Cloud Recesses.
For inviting him to the Cloud Recesses.
'He has no right looking so angelic like tha—' Jiang Wanyin cleared his throat, effectively cutting off his wandering thoughts, as he took a step closer to the man, before they exchanged pleasantries.
"Sect Leader Lan." Jiang Wanyin greeted.
And he was stunned the next minute.
"Sect Leader Lan." Jiang Wanyin greeted.
And he was stunned the next minute.
For the deep, baritone voice from that man he was secretly falling at the first sight now. He only heard him greeting back 'Sect Leader Jiang' and none of the chatter afterwards.
His heart decided it was time to go on a fun flying adventure with Sandu over the clouds.
His heart decided it was time to go on a fun flying adventure with Sandu over the clouds.
"...in my personal quarters." Lan Xichen was looking at him so fondly now, tilting his head to face him again.
Jiang Wanyin recollects himself. 'What was that again? What we he saying? Jiang Cheng! Wake up!' He mentally slapped himself.
Jiang Wanyin recollects himself. 'What was that again? What we he saying? Jiang Cheng! Wake up!' He mentally slapped himself.
"Are you okay?" He heard the man asked with a concerned tone.
And if he squeaked while replying that he's fine, then the other man was too polite to point it out or to even laugh. He knows his Wei Ying would.
But this man wouldn't.
So he speaks.
And if he squeaked while replying that he's fine, then the other man was too polite to point it out or to even laugh. He knows his Wei Ying would.
But this man wouldn't.
So he speaks.
"I'm fine. What was it you're saying earlier?" Jiang Wanyin composed himself, bearing his mother's teaching to his brain.
"We're walking to my Hanshi, since it'll be some time until my uncle is relieved from duties so I suggest we could have some tea in my personal quarters."
"We're walking to my Hanshi, since it'll be some time until my uncle is relieved from duties so I suggest we could have some tea in my personal quarters."
Jiang Wanyin was graced by that smile again.
He will make sure that he wouldn't get carried away by his thoughts again. And to actually focus on the occurrences before him.
And if their robes brushed past each other's as they stepped inside the Hanshi, no one points it out.
He will make sure that he wouldn't get carried away by his thoughts again. And to actually focus on the occurrences before him.
And if their robes brushed past each other's as they stepped inside the Hanshi, no one points it out.
Thanks to Jiang Wanyin's impressive focus, they managed to hold a proper conversation, updating each other on the cultivation world's latest issues and changing pointers over some freshly brewed tea. He find that the older man— oh yes he found out they're about four years apart—
and mentally pats his back for a job well done. What job? He doesn't even know what he was proud of after getting that information.
Anyway, as Lan Xichen ushered him—also he get to call him by his courtesy name, the sect leader insisted and he doesn't know why was he so happy—
Anyway, as Lan Xichen ushered him—also he get to call him by his courtesy name, the sect leader insisted and he doesn't know why was he so happy—
to proceed to the larger meeting room where the actual talk would take place, he heard Lan Xichen speaks again. With his smile.
"Would it be okay if we take another detour? I'll bring you back to the meeting room personally. Uncle would be back by then."
"Would it be okay if we take another detour? I'll bring you back to the meeting room personally. Uncle would be back by then."
Jiang Wanyin is a weak man to one particular stranger that he just met merely two hours ago. He followed him along the white pebbled road, until it finally leads them to a clearing, and a garden of sort.
He noticed Lan Xichen's steps were pretty hurried.
So he trailed along.
He noticed Lan Xichen's steps were pretty hurried.
So he trailed along.
Until they arrived at the middle of the blooming gentians, right in front of the pavilion.
When Lan Xichen suddenly turned his back and looked at him straight in the eye.
His eyes fond. And a small smile that quivered slightly if you squint and focus on it.
When Lan Xichen suddenly turned his back and looked at him straight in the eye.
His eyes fond. And a small smile that quivered slightly if you squint and focus on it.
But as he choked on air and was coughing profusely at the incredulous... proposal or whatever that was, he felt a comforting hand soothing over his back, with a small chuckle, like none of this was caused by him in the first place.
Also. After everything that Jiang Cheng already said, he actually dared to repeat...the proposa— THAT?! Is this man so dense?
His head was running over the clouds again and this time, back to Lotus Pier, to his mother where he could already imagine her wrath.
His head was running over the clouds again and this time, back to Lotus Pier, to his mother where he could already imagine her wrath.
But those hands.
'Why does it feels different? And why does it feels like he is avoiding my scars? He can't possibly know anything of it, Jiang Cheng, you've never even met him before today,' His mind supplied.
'Why does it feels different? And why does it feels like he is avoiding my scars? He can't possibly know anything of it, Jiang Cheng, you've never even met him before today,' His mind supplied.
'But he's good. It feels good, right, Jiang Cheng? Calming. Like you could breathe with it foreve— Jiang Cheng what the hell were you thinking? That is Lan Xichen! Gusu Lan's Sect Leader!'
'Yeah, the same one who just proposed! Dumbass!'
Another part of his mind retorted.
'Yeah, the same one who just proposed! Dumbass!'
Another part of his mind retorted.
In between coughs and heaving breaths, he tilted his head to look at Lan Xichen's face, smiling and full of content, and if he dare say, he might have seen... love. As absurd as that might sounds. In those pair of honeyed, glazed eyes.
Of a stranger he just met today.
Of a stranger he just met today.
If he decided to stay in the moment just a minute longer, just to have the man's soft hands on his back as he pretends to cough, from his confident proposal, and if Lan Xichen even noticed..
Then they both said nothing.
Even as he was clenching the forehead ribbon in his hands.
Then they both said nothing.
Even as he was clenching the forehead ribbon in his hands.
