#12DoMC
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An Unexpected Resolution
Quick Note: This does contain graphic depticions of violence (+implications) as well as a brief mention to human traffi**ing and organized crime. While I don't think I'm skilled enough for these to be too triggering, you never know! Do with that what you will.
Overall, I'm not too sure about this one since it's my first time trying something of this nature! But I hope you enjoy it anyway lol
This is day four of Twelve Days of Mingcheng, filled for the prompt revenge.
Read on Ao3.
~~~
“It is with regret that we inform you all that the remains found the other day have been confirmed as Special Agent Nie Mingjue’s…”
As soon as the words echo through the room, Jiang Cheng’s field of vision narrows and his breath catches – everything fades to the background. Because it doesn’t matter. How the rest of the debriefing is of no interest to Jiang Cheng; his boss could be talking about the literal end of the world and it would make absolutely no difference. It does not matter.
He vaguely registers the looks of shock and concern ripple amongst his colleagues, Nie Mingjue was the best of them all. If he was killed, who could have done it? And where does that leave everyone else? It's surely a topic best saved for later in the break room, they all seem to collectively decide as they go back to listening to the words flowing from the podium. Because despite the news, none of their lives have changed all that much. To them, Nie Mingjue was just someone they saw in the halls or in the training room. They didn't speak with him; they didn't know him.
So, Jiang Cheng sits as one among many, listening as their boss moves from one topic to the next after dropping what is arguably the worst news he has ever received in his life.
He sits, staring as he pretends to listen to whatever their organization has decided is "pressing news," while the droning of his own heartbeat drowns out the chatter around him; as he pretends that Nie Mingjue was just a mere colleague to him.
The feeling of dread that has sat high in Jiang Cheng’s chest since his lover left last Monday morning has reached a resolution in the worst way possible.
If he moves on autopilot after that, some may be confused, but he can't be blamed, and they definitely can't complain if he works as usual. Jiang Cheng has a job after all, and the nature of their profession- of their relationship- is one that allows for no room to grieve.
---
“You don’t look well.”
No, he supposes he doesn’t. How is one supposed to look when they receive news that the love of their life is more likely than not dead, with nothing left to mourn than a fucking arm that was found floating in a river, several days decomposed?
How is one supposed to feel when his lover was killed and then disposed of in pieces like a fucking animal?
Because right now, Jiang Cheng feels nothing. He needs to.
If he even takes a moment, a singular second, to think about how Nie Mingjue is dead and his life has barely changed because he can’t allow it to, he will break down and there will be no coming back from it.
The only way he’s even managing to function right now is because he’s been throwing himself into work, picking up as many jobs as possible so as to think as little as possible; so as to sleep as little as possible. If he focuses on work, and work alone, he will not be forced to sit with his own thoughts, festering as he contemplates the what ifs and what could have beens.
So, no. Sleeping a minimum of five hours a week probably doesn’t make his skin glow; eating infrequently and sparsely doesn’t help his weight; working only the most dangerous jobs doesn’t ease his injuries. And despite all that, he still looks better than he feels.
But that’s not information 'Whoever the Fuck Just Made a Statement on His Appearance' needs to know.
Nor is it information that Jiang Cheng wants to divulge.
“I’ve had a bit of a rough week,” is all he decides to say. Stopping any chance of further conversation by getting up and walking away.
He has a job to get back to.
---
“If we don’t make a move, Jin Guangshan will only continue to pose an issue.”
Jiang Cheng pauses outside his superior's door, fist still posed to knock, files still neatly tucked underneath his arm.
“After what happened with Agent Nie-”
“An unfortunate accident, but it gave us what we needed.”
So that’s how it is, Jiang Cheng thinks, willing his eyes to see through the reinforced steel door in front of him and look into the faces of the men that so readily gave up on their number one agent.
Just to give them what they needed.
The murmurs continue behind the door, but that is of no concern to Jiang Cheng. He has already made his decision, footsteps echoing as he walks down the hall.
---
“I’ll tell you everything!”
The first squeals like a pig before Jiang Cheng even gets the opportunity to threaten him.
Is this the kind of man that Jin Guangshan has been hiring? Someone who can’t even take a light beating? Ridiculous.
Jiang Cheng lets the man run his mouth, listening intently to see if there is anything of use.
Turns out, “everything” doesn't amount to much.
In the end, he gives the poor bastard a quick death for his troubles.
---
“You fucking son of-”
The second doesn’t even make it out of his car.
“Have you heard about all the killings lately? There’s been at least six.”
Jiang Cheng stirs sugar into his coffee, paying little attention to the whispers that fly around the break room. He’d think that spies would be more used to this kind of news, but maybe they can only work comfortably when they know who the one doing the killing is. When they know why.
“They say the last one had his guts pulled out completely.”
Ah, that’s not entirely true, Jiang Cheng thinks. Remembering back to that particular night.
The man had been useful enough, giving him information on Jin Guangshan’s inner circle and the hit that was placed out on Nie Mingjue. Apparently, The fact that an arm remained was a bit of an issue, his explicit orders being, “make sure there’s nothing left to even prove he existed.”
Jiang Cheng would have let him off with a painless death if he had stopped there, but then he kept talking. And talking.
So, he cut his tongue out once he got all the information he needed to shut him up.
Jiang Cheng had actually let the sixth one go, and as far as he knows, the seventh is still considered a missing case. A ding goes off from one of his colleague’s phones and Jiang Cheng suddenly remembers, sipping on his coffee to get rid of the bitter taste that flooded his mouth.
They must have found the eighth then.
That one had been more trouble than he was worth, rude and useless until the very end. Jiang Cheng will admit that it was his least precise work to date, but what can you do when someone admits to human trafficking?
He had cut the man’s stomach open and then left him to fend for himself out in a field.
---
“Jiang Cheng, are you doing okay?”
If anyone else were to ask that question, they’d get a generic response. A standard “I’m fine” before moving on to more pressing topics. But Jiang Cheng isn’t sitting across from just anyone else, he’s sitting across from Nie Huaisang, one of the only people in the world that can understand what Jiang Cheng is going through.
He’s probably going through much worse, Jiang Cheng amends. After all, Nie Huaisang lost the last of his family, and under such dubious circumstances too.
“It’s been rough,” Jiang Cheng answers honestly because Nie Huaisang was also one of the only people aware of the nature of Nie Mingjue and his relationship. “But I’ve been better lately.”
His lover’s younger brother studies him carefully. Jiang Cheng is sure the other knows he’s being intentionally vague, leaving out details that could either make or break him. Nie Huaisang has always been sharper than anyone has given him credit for.
And in usual Nie Huaisang fashion, he doesn’t push. He merely steers the conversation in another direction. One that causes less pain, one that doesn’t create more questions than answers.
Their time together isn’t often, but Jiang Cheng does enjoy it. A small respite from his day-to-day life; Nie Huaisang still treats him as a brother, and this is one relationship Jiang Cheng doesn’t want to give up on.
He heads towards the exit of the Mulberry Cafe, and throws a casual "take care" over his shoulders.
“You too,” he hears from behind him. “Just, be careful.”
He pauses briefly at the door, the words so familiar yet so different, carrying a weight to them he’s never really felt before.
“I will.”
---
"So you're the fucker that's been going around picking off our men?"
Jiang Cheng doesn't deign to give him a response; it's not necessary when this was the man directly responsible for Nie Mingjue's capture and subsequent death. He just continues to sharpen the knives he has laid out, going one by one until he knows they're sharp enough to slice skin with ease. They'll be here for a while, and he doesn't want to have to pause to resharpen in the middle of things.
"What? You're not gonna fucking answer me?"
He chooses the smallest of the bunch and examines it, there's a chip that he wants to fix there.
"Hey!" The man calls again and Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes, so impatient to die the last bunch has been. He doesn't get if it's an overcompensation thing, or if they're all just that stupid, but it's been getting on his nerves.
Doing a final once over on the knife, he decides the chip has finally evened out and places it to the side, grabbing the pliers instead.
He walks over to the man and grabs his left hand - his dominant - and moves his pinky. "Tell me everything you know about Jin Guangshan."
"Are you seriou- fuck!" Jiang Cheng pulls out his nail with practiced ease, he moves on to the next finger.
"Let me make it easier: tell me everything that happened the night you killed Nie Mingjue."
The man pants for a moment, trying to mitigate the pain coming from his hand through steady breaths. Jiang Cheng pulls out another nail before his breathing can fully even out.
"The longer you stay silent, the more nails I pull out."
Funnily enough, the man smirks before spitting in his direction. "Fuck you."
"Moving on then."
Another nail.
This continues: Jiang Cheng asks a question, the man refuses to talk, Jiang Cheng pulls a nail, the man curses him.
Twenty minutes of this goes by and Jiang Cheng stops on the seventh nail, the man's hands already covered and dripping blood as nothing be the flesh underneath his nails remains, red, broken, inflamed. Jiang Cheng usually stops around here with this method, its effectiveness decreasing significantly after the fifth nail. People can usually expect the pain, their systems are already used to the shock as their hands begin to numb.
So he moves on to teeth.
There's always a moment of confusion when Jiang Cheng shifts gears, but this man is recognized as one of the underground's best interrogators, so he must know what's about to come. And sure enough. when the pliers leave his hands and Jiang Cheng grips his face to better angle his mouth, there comes the muffled-
"You son of a-"
-cut off by a loud piercing scream. Jiang Cheng had made sure to pull out one of his lower molars, so he's sure it hurt quite a bit. Stepping back, he narrowly avoids the blood spit in his direction.
"Are you ready to talk now?"
And of course, the answer is no.
Jiang Cheng will admit he's silently impressed by the resilience of this man. They've been at this for three hours and still, he hasn't divulged much information of use. He sighs, checking his watch as he contemplates how much he can feasibly get out of this guy before looking back up. The man is doubled over, a steady stream of blood coming from both of his hands and his mouth. Jiang Cheng didn't want to pull too many teeth, afraid that it would affect the man's ability to talk, so he switched to burning for a while before the stench started making him uncomfortable. He never was a fan of that method.
Flaying it is then.
Grabbing the smallest knife from earlier, he walks over to the man and cleanly slices off a portion of his forearm, and tosses it to the side. The man's screams reach a new pitch and the begging begins.
Now we're getting somewhere.
---
"New victims have been found; they are believed to be victims of a turf war..."
"Jin Corp. is gearing up for a major merger..."
"Government officials have proposed legislation to crack down on illegal practices involving..."
"Lan Holdings backs out of a partnership with Jins..."
"Executive Director of Jin Corp. denies claims of involvement...is acquitted..."
---
Shit, I fucked up. That’s the last thing Jiang Cheng thinks before he fully loses consciousness, the image of Jin Guangyao’s shocked face burned into the back of his retinas.
---
Jiang Cheng wakes up in a room he does not recognize, on a bed that is clearly not the floor he remembers feeling after getting smashed in the skull with a pipe. His head is throbbing and there are still spots dancing across his vision, which tells him that he is very clearly not dead. Probably. He stays in place, staring at mold stains on the ceiling as the banging in his head slowly subsides. His body feels like absolute shit too.
Whoever brought his ass here didn’t think to tie him up, and maybe that’s because that practically dragged his limp body the entire way, banking on him being so sore from the poor treatment that he wouldn't even be able to move.
They were right too, he thinks, slowly trying to lift himself into a proper sitting position.
“Oh, you’re up.”
Jiang Cheng’s blood instantly runs cold and his hand slips out from underneath him, forcing his body back down onto plush pillows. He groans, the impact sending shocks of pain through his already battered body.
There’s a squeaking of a chair coming from somewhere in the room right before a face enters his field of vision– a face that he has wanted to see for the past two years, but has only greeted him in nightmares, distraught, and deformed.
Maybe he did die.
Maybe hell is a dingy motel room where his lost love taunts him from places just out of reach.
Jiang Cheng’s eyes flicker about, trying to catch any detail that might tell him this isn’t real, or that the face in front of him is wrong.
It would be a fitting punishment, he thinks, after all he’s done. To be taunted by the very love that lead him down a path of no return, but then a hand touches his face and Nie Mingjue’s eyes soften in the same way they would whenever he had returned from a long mission– like every second without Jiang Cheng felt like an eternity, the same way it did for him – and he knows that this is reality.
“Explain.” The words leave his mouth faster than he can process, with vitriol he hadn’t been aware he possessed, at least not towards this person. The hand that was so gently caressing his hair flinches before removing itself; the eyes that had been staring at him so lovingly, so warm, go cold with guilt.
As they fucking should. This is a man that, for all intents and purposes, was dead; Jiang Cheng had thought- had to go on living thinking Nie Mingjue was dead.
For him to be hovering over him right now, alive and fully well, there better be a damn good reason because he is absolutely livid. So much so that when Nie Mingjue’s hands go back to support him as he tries to get up, he brushes them off.
It takes a minute, especially with Nie Mingjue hovering so close by, but Jiang Cheng eventually manages to settle himself down. He definitely has some broken ribs that he’ll have to get checked out, but that’s for another day.
“Now explain.”
Nie Mingjue pulls a chair to the side of the bed, favoring his left hand as he pulls it across the carpet. Sitting down, his demeanor shifts; his back straightens and he lifts his shoulders, broadening them. from their slouch. His face falls blank and it reminds Jiang Cheng of countless mission reports and debriefings spent together.
“I’m sure you know by now about the hit Jin Guangshan placed on me.”
Jiang Cheng scoffs. Considering how the past years have gone, that would be an understatement.
Nie Mingjue nods to himself, merely confirming that they’re both on the same page before continuing on.
“The last mission I took was at the request of the government, supposedly. To look into Jin Guangshan and all of his shadow organizations, to be exact.”
Jiang Cheng hums, he had come across some of that in the files back at headquarters when he was snooping around the classified section.
“And I guess I hit a little too close to home,” Nie Mingjue says, raising his right hand to remove the glove Jiang Cheng just noticed. What lies beneath is quite obviously a prosthetic; state-of-the-art with the newest technology, of course, but definitely not the familiar skin he’d gotten so accustomed to.
“It’s from the elbow down,” Nie Mingjue clarifies even further. “They’d had me locked up pretty good.”
That explains the arm with matching DNA, Jiang Cheng thinks (although he explicitly avoids the how of Nie Mignjue’s escape, not quite ready to face that mental image; he never quite got the details of Nie Mingjue's "final hours"), it doesn’t explain why Nie Mingjue had to play dead for over two years. From the sound of it, he had gathered enough intel to be considered a threat, so why the delay to act on it?
As if he knew what Jiang Cheng was thinking (because he always did), Nie Mingjue speaks to fill in the gaps. “It took several weeks for me to fully wake up after I somehow managed to drag my half-dead ass to Huaisang’s-”
Jiang Cheng raises his eyebrow at that and notes it down for a later date.
“-and while what I had collected was good, and definitely the attack on my life only proved to corroborate its legitimacy, we couldn’t be careless. The organization doesn’t know I’m alive, neither do the people who took out the request. The only other person who knows is Meng Yao.”
A tense, pale face pops up in Jiang Cheng’s memory and he clenches his jaw to keep quiet, urging Nie Mingjue to continue with his eyes.
“Meng Yao – Jin Guangyao – is with us. You’re lucky he was there, otherwise, you wouldn’t have made it out alive. You see,” Nie Mingjue hesitates for a moment. “Before we started to initiate our final plan, you were already on the move. Jin Guangyao and Nie Huaisang insisted it was better to just let you go about your business because it would detract attention from whatever we were working on.”
“Jin Guangyao just wasn’t expecting you to connect the pieces that soon,” Nie Mingjue says, raising his left hand to rub the back of his head. “I told him he was underestimating you too much, but he insisted that wasn’t the case. And now we’re here. You got too close, and it interfered with our plans so we had to – remove you from the situation,” he finishes, flinching at his own wording.
Jiang Cheng stays silent for several moments after Nie Mingjue stops talking. Taking in all of the new information and studying the man in front of him.
“I’m sorry,” Nie Mingjue says, finally, and Jiang Cheng knows that he’s already forgiven. He was forgiven the minute Jiang Cheng laid eyes on him; that doesn’t mean he isn’t angry, but he understands why he wasn’t kept in the loop. Jiang Cheng would not have taken it well if he had seen the state Nie Mingjue must have arrived in at Nie Huaisang’s house.
“What of Jin Guangshan?”
Nie Mingjue hesitates once again, before looking glancing at the clock. “Well, right about now, Jin Guangshan should be dead in his own home, burning with the rest of his belongings. Meng Yao had wanted to personally handle that part since he’s been waiting for the better part of a decade.”
Well then, Jiang Cheng thinks. That’s one way to handle it; he’ll have to remind himself never to get on that guy's bad side.
“So, what next? What do you have planned?” Jiang Cheng asks earnestly. For the past two years, he has worked towards one goal, towards one end. And now not only is that goal obsolete, the reason for it even existing in the first place is sitting right in front of him, alive.
“Well,” Nie Mingjue begins, shifting on his chair, “first I think I’ll be letting the organization know I’m alive – and then I’ll be retiring. They owe me my savings, which is the least they can do considering they withheld information from me that could have led to my death had I been anyone else. Huaisang and I will be moving with that, preferably to the other side of the country-”
“Alright,” Jiang Cheng interrupts. He’s heard enough to know what he wants to do. “When are we moving?”
Nie Mingjue blinks, “We?”
“Yes, we.”
Jiang Cheng has gone two years without Nie Mingjue and has been blessed enough for him to still be alive. He’s not letting him go again, not after everything.
“Are you sure?”
“Is it a problem?”
“Of course not!” Nie Mingjue rushes out, waving his hands in front of him as if that’ll prove his point. “I just didn’t think you’d get over it so quickly, let alone want to be with me again.”
Jiang Cheng forces out a laugh, despite the pain it causes to shock through his body, “Oh, I’m definitely not over it. We’ve got two years of grief to work through.” He reaches out his hand for Nie Mingjue and the other joins him on the bed willingly, leaning over into his space. “So, you better spend the rest of your life making it up to me.”
~~~
~~~
~~~
Nie Huaisang also used to be in intelligence but he gave up on working in a legitimate organization because there were too many restrictions. He runs an intel ring out the basement of his cafe. It doubles as a safe house.
With Jiang Cheng & Nie Mingjue’s savings, plus their severance pay, moving down south near Jiang Cheng’s hometown and opening up a bakery/cafe is no issue for them. Despite the high quality of Nie Mingjue’s prosthetic, it’s not dexterous enough for some of the finer details of pastry making, so he mainly mans the counter + inventory and general management. Jiang Cheng is an excellent patisserie chef and is constantly coming up with new recipes; he’s also in charge of coffee. At his old cafe, Nie Huaisang essentially left all his duties up to the part-time staff so he could just do whatever he wanted. Despite this, he makes the best tea. He also continues to run his intel ring, which is why the cafe becomes a regular spot for students. They have the best wifi-speed in the city.
On another note: Jiang Cheng is, by all means, a mass murderer, and Nie Mingjue thinks that's sexy of him. Like, they were already bad people so is it really that big of a deal?...so they say.
Nie Mingjue: Aw babe, you went on a violent rampage of vengnece for me? That's hot.
Jiang Cheng: You'd better do the fucking same for me.
(He would)
~~~
Sings into the mic: this wasn’t supposed to be this long~~ I’m sorry it’s late~~
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you thought.
#mingcheng#12domc#jiang cheng#nie mingjue#tried to write#that last tag is extremely relevant#this was an attempt
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Hi, I don't know if you still have time to do prompts, but if you do: How about Jc becoming sworn brothers with one of the other three and instead of leaving him separated from the rest they go 2 and 2?? I don't know how nmj and jc fall in love and it's pretty vague but I hope you can work with this!
Hello and thank you for your prompt! I don’t have much to say lol This one is pretty long, so if you would prefer to read it on ao3 the link is below! I hope you like it!
AO3 link
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Twelve Days of Minghceng - Day Eleven
This may be an issue.
“Why should I?”
A blink. Nie Mingjue wasn’t expecting that response.
Although to be fair, he doesn’t know what he was expecting. His relationship with Jiang Wanyin has always been cordial and professional, but they couldn’t exactly be called close- at least not like he and Nie Huaisang seem to be.
Which is exactly why he’s here, to begin with.
Nie Mingjue had confided in his brother that he could no longer trust Jin Guangyao. He couldn’t bring himself to form a sworn brotherhood- to be that close to the other. Not after what he saw.
Not after what he went through.
Nie Huaisang had responded with immense doubt but still helped him brainstorm his options on ways to avoid the brotherhood after seeing how serious he was.
Nie Mingjue knew Lan Xichen wouldn’t believe him if he didn’t have a reasonable excuse- his desire for his friends to reconcile outweighing the discomfort of said friends- so he needed something strong.
Nie Huaisang, the genius that he is, had ultimately come up with the idea to form the bond with Jiang Wanyin instead. That way, power would be distributed evenly among the remaining sects, rather than being consolidated between the three.
A viable excuse.
Despite not knowing the other leader that well, Nie Mingjue trusted his brother and if Nie Huaisang said Jiang Wanyin was the right man to ask, then he would believe him. Even if it meant pleading his case.
Which is how he ended up in Lotus Pier in the first place.
“I think this would benefit both of our sects immensely,” Nie Mingjue answers. “I have nothing to hide and you have everything to gain.”
Nie Mingjue watches as Jiang Wanyin examines him closely, one of his hands tapping leisurely on the desk. From an outside perspective, he may seem the epitome of calm. His face is passive if a bit hostile, shoulders relaxed as he leans against his desk.
If it weren’t for the fact that Nie Mingjue can see him compulsively twisting zidian, a tic he’s had since the campaign, he’d almost feel like he’s the youngest sect leader and not vice versa.
It’s impressive, he thinks, for someone so young to have such a presence. But then again, Nie Mingjue has been in his exact seat. One learns quickly when surrounded by the politics of the older generations.
“Well,” Jiang Wanyin begins, “I guess it would be Chifeng-zun coming to see me because of perceived injustice. I’d be in a rather unfortunate place if you three had gone ahead with the sworn brotherhood.”
’Unfortunate’ is putting it lightly.
If Nie Mingjue had gone through with it- and Qinghe Nie, Lanling Jin, and Gusu Lan had formed an alliance- Yunmeng Jiang would have been left completely isolated. Jiang Wanyin’s sect is already the smallest among them. With no leverage politically, too many concessions will have to be made just to survive.
At least with this, Yunmeng has the support of Qinghe behind them and the guidance of elders- something the Jiang Sect has been severely lacking since the massacre.
“Okay, fine.” Jiang Wanyin says, getting up from his desk to stand in front of Nie Mingjue. “As you said, I have everything to gain from this arrangement, and I’ll believe you when you say you have nothing to hide.”
Nie Mingjue releases a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. It wasn't like he thought Jiang Wanyin would reject him; the man is far from stupid and this opportunity is too good to let go of because of pride. But it does release the ball of tension sitting high in his chest since the moment he realized he wouldn’t be able to grant Lan Xichen’s request.
He stands up as well and bows, “I look forward to being your sworn brother.”
A snort sounds in front of him that says, ‘shouldn’t I be the one saying that?’ But Jiang Wanyin meets him all the same.
---
“You’ve been meeting with Jiang Wanyin quite frequently lately.”
Nie Mingjue looks at Lan Xichen, sat in front of him as they take their meal.
“Frequently” is a severe overestimation of how often the pair see each other. It’s maybe once a month, usually every other, but he guesses it is frequent in comparison to how often he meets with Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao nowadays.
He doesn’t particularly like staying away from Lan Xichen, years of friendship between them that make severing that bond impossible. But the other would usually suggest Jin Guangyao be there as well, and Nie Mingjue had meant it when he said he wanted to keep his distance. At least until he could come to terms with what the other did, and what he wanted to do about it.
“We are sworn brothers now,” he says, bringing up his cup to take a sip of tea, “we discuss sect matters usually.”
He had told the other that he would offer him support where he could, and it seems like Jiang Wanyin took that to heart. The majority of their visits have been professional in nature, one sect leader giving advice to another. Only recently have they started to act more like friends than colleagues.
“And Nie Huaisang is fond of him.” Nie Mingjue adds as an afterthought because that might be the real reason he sees Jiang Wanyin as much as he does.
“That is true,” Lan Xichen responds, smiling to cover the fact that he still feels disappointed about the arrangement, but Nie Mingjue has always been able to read him. “They were schoolmates right?”
Nie Mingjue snorts. ‘Schoolmates’ is one way to put it.
“I would be unsurprised if Nie Huaisang started waxing poetic about the man, from how he speaks of him.” Nie Mingjue responds. “He calls him his ‘muse’ or something.”
He suspects that there may be more to it than that, at least from Nie Huaisang’s side, if the way he gushes about the Jiang Sect leader is anything to go by. Nie Mingjue knows more about Jiang Wanyin than some of his disciples at this point.
He also suspects reciprocation is not out of the question. Very rarely does Jiang Wanyin seems so relaxed than when he is with Nie Huaisang.
The first time Nie Mingjue had seen the other smile in any other way than self-deprecating or smug was in response to something his brother had said. Nie Mingjue had been shocked, to say the least; unaware that Jiang Wanyin could even have such a soft expression on his face.
(He has heard rumors of a much different Jiang Wanyin when he’s with his nephew. Nie Mingjue has just never had the privilege- nor courage- of seeing it).
It had taken Nie Mingjue months just for Jiang Wanyin to smile at him. And yet he does it so frequently in the presence of Nie Huaisang, is what he had thought, but it’s been a while now and it appears that the other is finally starting to warm up to him.
“A muse, you say?” Lan Xichen repeats, dragging Nie Mingjue from his thoughts. His smile is reaching his eyes, displaying the amusement he feels, and Nie Mingjue is glad they changed the topic to something less sore.
“That’s what he told me.” Although, he has no idea what that actually means beyond Nie Huaisang bragging about all the other’s good points to him. Cheekbones being one of the key aspects, for some reason.
Lan Xichen hums for a moment, sipping his tea as he considers the words. When he puts the cup down, his face is knowing, and Nie Mingjue feels like he missed something.
“Jiang Wanyin is quite beautiful,” Lan Xichen says to his growing confusion. “From an artist’s perspective that is.”
…Okay? Nie Mingjue feels lost, unable to follow his friend’s line of thinking.
“What about you?” Lan Xichen asks suddenly, “What do you think of Jiang Wanyin?”
He takes a moment to consider the question. Ultimately, it comes down to-
“He fights well.”
---
“Da-ge, what do you think about Jiang-xiong?”
Nie Mingjue stops what he’s doing and looks at his brother sitting leisurely in one of the guest pavilions of Lotus Pier. He’s fanning himself like he’s the one out in the afternoon sun training, rather than sitting in the shade with some pastries and poetry.
“What was that?”
Nie Huaisang puts on a performance of sighing, heaving with his entire body as he complains about how his da-ge never listens to him.
“I said,” he repeats with emphasis, “what do you think about Jiang-xiong?”
Nie Mingjue feels a strange sense of deja-vu when he registers the question, but he puts it aside.
“Why are you asking? Looking for approval?
Nie Huaisang actually lowers his fan, face contorted in confusion. “Approval for what?”
“To court him? For him to court you?” Nie Mingjue had thought that was where that opener was heading. Now he’s not so sure, looking at the dawning horror and disgust on his didi’s face.
“Da-ge, don’t be gross!” Nie Huaisang practically shrieks, the sound echoing around the pavilion. “Jiang-xiong is literally the last person I would date, he’s basically my brother.”
“And he feels the same!” He adds quickly, like he wanted to make sure it was clear.
That’s not what it seemed like to Nie Mingjue, but if he says so. Nie Huaisang is generally pretty open with things like this (he has the horror stories), so he must have gotten it wrong about them.
But wait.
Isn’t that a bit rude? Is Jiang Wanyin that undateable? Nie Mingjue never had that impression…
“Anway!” Nie Huaisang says, breaking his train of thought. “This is about you. What do you think about Jiang-xiong?”
What does he think?
Well, there’s a lot. He’s known Jiang Wanyin for maybe four years now and he’s been his sworn brother for around half of it. Nie Mingjue likes to think that he’s learned a lot about the other.
For example, he’s learned that, just like himself, there is more to Jiang Wanyin than his anger and the gossip haunting his name.
The rumors floating around describe Jiang Wanyin like he’s an exact copy of his mother- rude, cold, nasty, controlling, etc.
(Nie Mingjue has issues with those comparisons because Madame Yu was far from the nastiest person in the cultivation world- looking at you Sect Leader Yao,- she was just the only woman that dared act so. And for those insults to be passed down to her son, who bears a striking resemblance to her… well. Nie Mingjue won’t get into that).
Rather, he thinks about the fact that there are few times in which Nie Mingjue has seen Jiang Wanyin well and truly angry. Annoyed? Yes. Frustrated? Of course. Tired? Hungry? Overworked and cranky? Most definitely.
Jiang Wanyin is all of those things, but he isn’t someone that’s just naturally angry like the rumors suggest.
And even when he is actually angry, it doesn’t particularly bother Nie Mingjue. In fact, anger is one of the emotions Nie Mingjue is most familiar with, so he understands.
There are a small number of people that Nie Mingjue has been comfortable around when it comes to his own anger- something that he tries to control, but has had such difficulty with- and Jiang Wanyin is someone that has never shied away from him.
Actually, Jiang Wanyin simply gives back as good as he gets. He’s not afraid of calling Nie Mingjue out when he says something unreasonable, and he definitely doesn’t let himself get pushed around on the training grounds.
So when Jiang Wanyin gets angry or needs to express his anger- his genuine, cold fury- Nie Mingjue understands exactly where it’s coming from and he doesn’t mind it too much. (Or he holds him accountable as he relies on the other to do for him).
It wasn’t until they’d gotten close that Nie Mingjue realized just how relieving it was to have someone like that. It’s comforting. Nie Mingjue hums a bit in consideration. Recently, aside from his brother, there is no one else he feels as comfortable around as he does Jiang Wanyin.
He used to feel that way about Lan Xichen, and for a short period of time, Jin Guangyao. But that changed when Jin Guangyao broke his trust- and Lan Xichen took his side.
He still cares for both of them (although, he tries not to in some cases), but he will never be able to have that same level of openness with them again.
It’s unfortunate, and it’s hard work distancing himself from people he was once so enmeshed with, but he’s coming to terms with it.
Speaking of hard work…
Another thing Nie Mingjue has come to realize and appreciate is just how much effort Jiang Wanyin puts into his own work.
He’s seen it with his own eyes- is standing in the center of the largest testament to his hard work. He looks around at the dozens of pavilions, the large training grounds, beautiful structures, all born from Jiang Wanyin’s sheer determination.
Nie Mingjue had tried to support the other with resources when they became sworn brothers (at least), but by then, most of the work was already done. And Nie Mingjue knows for a fact that Jiang Wanyin was out there helping build and buy materials.
Chuckling, he remembers how often they would meet while sitting on a half-finished dock, discussing until some disciple would come and call “Sect Leader Jiang” for some other thing they needed his help with.
And not to forget his fighting capabilities, Nie Mingjue adds on in his mind, refusing to miss anything for this ongoing list.
One of the things Nie Mingjue likes most about Jiang Wanyin is the fact that he doesn’t hold back, using all the tricks in the book and playing dirty when necessary. He fights like he’s in battle, and nothing gets Nie Mingjue’s blood hotter than fighting with everything he has and knowing his opponent is doing the same.
It’s become a standard part of their visits, to make time for a few spars.
There’s also the fact that Jiang Wanyin is, surprisingly, really fucking funny.
Nie Mingjue wouldn’t describe himself as someone with excessive humor. But Jiang Wanyin’s own brand of storytelling mixed with dry humor and wit have him clutching his stomach more often than not.
Nie Huaisang says he’s just “blinded by infatuation,” whatever that means, but it doesn’t change the fact that he laughs more around Jiang Wanyin than anyone else- it doesn’t change his desire to reciprocate that happiness when he can.
Oh, and of course, one of the most important things: Jiang Wanyin cooks really well.
Nie Mingjue will never be able to forget those noodles he had that one time he walked in on the other man making food in the middle of the night. He’s almost drooling just thinking about them.
Jiang Wanyin had been embarrassed to be caught in the kitchens of another sect. Nie Mingjue couldn’t care less if it meant he got some good food out of it, so he told the other not to mind, he was practically like family at that point anyway.
And he hadn’t realized it at first, but Lan Xichen was right. Jiang Wanyin is quite beautiful.
Nie Mingjue has only ever seen the other with his hair down once, but it is an image that he’ll never forget. It still haunts him some nights.
Thinking about it seriously, when did Jiang Wanyin become so prevalent in his life? When did he become the person he wants to see most? When did he become so important?
It’s gotten to a point where-
“Da-ge, don’t hurt yourself!”
Snapping his head up, he sees his brother looking at him with entertained eyes peeking over his fan.
He feels his ears begin to burn.
Had he really been thinking that long? It hadn’t felt like it. He’s about to finally answer Nie Huaisang’s question when his brother shoots up from his seat, fan dropping to the side as he runs to meet-
“Jiang-xiong! We were just talking about you.”
Jiang Wanyin is walking onto the training ground when Nie Huaisang crashes into him, hanging off of his shoulders like a child.
“Oh?”
Jiang Wanyin’s voice is calm, but there’s red tingeing his ears. Nie Mingjue feels something tighten in the pit of his stomach when Nie Huaisang gets closer to whisper something and the color only spreads.
Huh. That’s new.
Nie Mingjue can’t say he’s too fond of the feeling that’s beginning to settle the longer the two of them stay in their own little world.
Jiang Wanyin glances back at him, quick and unassuming, an unknown emotion reflecting in his eyes before he continues talking with Nie Huaisang.
And oh.
This might be an issue.
---
Yeah, it’s definitely an issue, Nie Mingjue thinks as he stares down at the dark blue hairpin he just purchased; a moon carved gently into stone.
It’s just one of the numerous items he has secretly piling up in his room, all bought on impulse. All bought with Jiang Wanyin in mind.
Nie Huaisang did a terrible thing making Nie Mingjue actually think about his feelings for once. If it weren’t for him, he never would have realized just how much he’s come to care about his sworn brother in the past years.
And it’s frustrating now that Nie Mingjue knows about his feelings because that’s all he’ll ever be to the other. A sworn brother.
Because Jiang Wanyin has never once indicated otherwise.
He’s about to place the pin in the rest of the collection when he hesitates for a moment. It really is a gorgeous piece, and it would be a shame for it to just sit there gathering dust.
The only time Nie Mingjue has ever allowed himself to gift something to Jiang Wanyin was on the other’s birthday, and that was already three months ago.
(He had also said some highly embarrassing things according to Nie Huaisang, which he blames entirely on the alcohol. Jiang Wanyin had told him everything was fine the next day, but it took him a while to make eye-contact, so Nie Mingjue had questioned how fine everything really was).
What good is a pin in the middle of winter anyway? He reminds himself, looking at it forlornly.
But the blue of the stone really would match Jiang Wanyin’s eyes perfectly…
And with that thought, Nie Mingjue decides to say fuck it and give the other the hairpin. It’s not unusual for sworn brothers to exchange gifts; Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao exchange gifts all the time. If anything he can just say he happened upon it...and thought...of the other?
Okay, maybe he won’t say that, but he’ll say something.
Probably.
---
He doesn’t say anything.
He sneaks into Jiang Wanyin’s office during his next visit and leaves the pin on his desk.
Nie Mingjue never thought of himself as a coward before, but it seems having feelings for someone makes him do crazy things.
After much consideration, he’d rather not ruin the relationship between them and their sects by making things awkward, so a secret it shall be.
---
At the next conference, Nie Mingjue had seen Jiang Wanyin wearing the pin he gave him and felt a wave of something fierce fill his gut.
Jiang Wanyin looked good.
Maybe it’s fine to keep giving gifts anonymously- were his famous last words because it’s starting to become a hobby now, thinking about all the things he’d love to give the other.
He has to take a step back when he almost buys Qinghe style robes. Little things here and there are fine because it’s hard to tell who they’re from, but if Nie Mingjue were to send over those robes, it would be like announcing to the world:
“Hello, yes! I am in love with Jiang Wanyin and would like very much to wed him.”
He’s not about to do that. No.
Nope.
Not a chance.
---
“Why do you keep sneaking away to give me gifts?”
Nie Mingjue freezes, noodle’s halfway to his mouth as Jiang Wanyin stares at him across the table. “What?”
“The gifts, you keep sneaking away when you could just give them to me directly. I mean, you have one in your robe, right?” Jiang Wanyin leans to the side, looking directly at the location Nie Mingjue placed the inkstone in his sleeves.
Well, shit. Guess he wasn’t as conspicuous as he thought he was. He takes a moment to gather his thoughts but the thing that keeps circling back is-
“You knew?”
Jiang Wanyin stares at him blankly. “Obviously. It’s not like anyone else is courting me.”
A pause.
Nie Mingjue stares.
Jiang Wanyin blinks.
Nie Mingjue blinks back.
The sound of the steam rings in the background and Jiang Wanyin stands to go get the water.
Nie Mingjue continues to stare unthinkingly at the space the man previously took up. He doesn’t know if he’s ascended or descended because there’s no way he’s currently alive right now.
He’s dead, right? He has to be dead.
There’s no way Jiang Wanyin just insinuated that he’s been courting him because obviously, he’d know. He’d know if he started courting Jiang Wanyin. He had a small scene deciding exactly why he wouldn’t do that.
So what the fuck?
Jiang Wanyin comes back with the water and slowly pours it into the pot for the tea leaves to steep. Nie Mingjue watches as the leaves float around, the water disturbing their movements and changing the course of their lives. In this moment, as he watches them sink one by one, he feels a strong sense of camaraderie with those leaves.
It’s not like Jiang Wanyin to lie, especially not about something important so just- really? Nie Mingjue has an idea that’s beginning to form, one that he can’t say he likes too much.
“How long?” Is all he’s able to muster as he watches Jiang Wanyin sit back down in front of him.
“Since my birthday.”
That’s...what he thought. He silently curses Nie Huaisang in the back of his mind for leaving out very important details in his retelling of that night’s events. It’s not like he can take it back, nor does he want to. He just wishes he remembered how it happened. He chews his lip in consideration.
“So, I’m courting you.” Nie Mingjue states after a moment.
“That is correct,” Jiang Wanyin says, pouring them each a cup of tea. He lifts his cup and blows on it slightly before taking a sip.
“And you accepted…”
“That I did.”
Nie Mingjue doesn’t know how to feel about all of this- mainly the fact that he’s been courting his crush for the past six-plus months unknowingly- but there is an overwhelming urge to cry.
“I’d like you to keep courting me,” Jiang Wanyin adds, “if that means anything.”
A beat of silence passes between them before Jiang Wanyin adds, “On purpose this time.” He seems surprisingly calm about this whole thing until Nie Mingjue notices him tapping his finger lightly, compulsively twisting zidian.
“Okay,” Nie Mingjue says a bit choked up, looking down into his cup to hide the crack in his voice. “Okay.” He repeats.
He’s still not quite able to believe that he’s courting Jiang Wanyin- that Jiang Wanyin accepted to be courted by him, but he’s not going to take it for granted if he’s already been doing it (albeit unknowingly) for so long. “Do you want your gift now?”
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Nie Mingjue may be big, but his tolerance is not. There’s a reason he doesn’t drink.
And the reason JC wasn’t freaking out was because NHS told him this might happen, but not to worry about it. (NMJ’s confession was very...passionate, so it’s not like he didn’t know how the other felt).
JC just went with it in the hopes the NMJ would approach him on his own one day if what NHS said was true (although there was always the fear that NMJ would take it back if he realized). NMJ also isn’t as subtle as he thinks he is so pretty much everyone knows they’re together.
Thank you for reading! This was day eleven! We’re almost done lol
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Twelve Days of Mingcheng - Day Seven
Hello! This one is going off the prompt sweater, although originally it was cozy sweater haha... Anyway, thanks to @death-day-59 for sending this one in ~even though I can’t link them~
AO3 link
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Idiots
Jiang Cheng isn’t an idiot.
He just makes extremely stupid decisions on a regular basis.
Like that one time in summer camp when he agreed to sneak out with Wei Ying, only to end up falling off the gates and breaking his arm.
Or that other time when he thought it would be a good idea to let Nie Huaisang make their midterm powerpoint, and then forgot to double-check it when he went to present.
And that other other time when he invited his parents to his final exhibition, a showcase of all the work he achieved and was proudest of, in hopes they’d actually show up.
Small, stupid decisions.
Despite that, Jiang Cheng thinks that this may have to be the dumbest decision he’s made in his entire life.
What, one may ask, made Jiang Cheng agree to pretend to be Nie Mingjue’s date to his stupid holiday business dinner thing? Well, it’s funny, really.
Nie Mingjue had asked.
And Jiang Cheng had said ‘yes’.
Because Jiang Cheng isn’t an idiot, he just makes really stupid decisions.
Like agreeing to be his longtime crush’s fake date to a stupid holiday business dinner thing.
He groans to himself, listens to the sound echo around the bathroom he’s in as he splashes water on his face.
It’s only nine, which means he has to be here for another two hours at least, and Jiang Cheng just doesn’t know if he’s physically or mentally capable of that.
He’s already been paraded around the room as Nie Mingjue’s significant other. The gods know he’s taken enough psychic damage to last him a lifetime from just listening to the other call him ‘his partner’, but according to his boyfriend (derogatory- because it’s fake) he has to do this again? And again?
Nie Mingjue is just lucky this place has an open bar, Jiang Cheng thinks as he dries his hands, throwing the paper towel into the trash can with as much vitriol as he can manage. Otherwise, he would have left not even an hour in. Promises be damned.
He takes a deep breath and smooths out the front of his suit, because of course he needed to wear a fucking suit to this thing, and then walks out to find his partner.
It doesn’t take long; Nie Mingjue towers above a crowd even on a good day. So when he’s here, surrounded by a bunch of legal partners, businessmen, and socialites, it couldn’t be easier to spot the man.
Plastering on a passable smile, Jiang Cheng sidles up to Nie Mingjue, inconspicuously linking their hands together (because if he has to do this, then he’s making it worth it, goddamnit), and then grabs a chute of something entirely too expensive from one of the passing waiters.
Luckily, he hasn’t had to speak much, his main role being ‘eye-candy’ as Nie Huaisang had put it. To that, he had asked if it wouldn’t be a better idea to ask Lan Xichen or Jin Guangyao, but the Nie brothers had just looked at each other, and then at him like he had grown a second head.
He stopped asking questions after that.
He listens briefly to Nie Mingjue’s current conversation, something about lawsuits and eminent domain and a bunch of other legal jargon he has only the barest of grasps on. Tuning back out, he grabs another chute of something that’s different from the last something but Jiang Cheng doesn’t know how, he just knows that it’s fizzy. And too expensive.
He’s about to head off and find some food- because this is supposed to be a dinner party- but a gentle squeeze on his hand glues him to the spot. He looks down, and then back up questioningly.
“This next partner is important, I think you should listen in,” Nie Mingjue leans in to say, close enough that Jiang Cheng can count his eyelashes, close enough that he can see the small scar above his eyebrow the Nie Huaisang gave him when they were both kids, and then he’s pulling back all too soon. Dragging him somewhere across the room, Jiang Cheng can do nothing but follow.
“Hello Mr. Patel, we were speaking earlier,” Nie Mingjue says, greeting an older man that looks far too kind to be here. He tugs him forward. “This is my partner, Jiang Cheng. I think you two will have a lot to talk about.”
Mind slowed down from the alcohol he’s consumed, it takes him a moment to react.
“Ah, hello, yes, my name is Jiang Cheng,” he bows slightly, then tries to take out a business card, only to realize Nie Mingjue is still holding onto his hand. He shakes it off, to the chuckles of both his (supposed) partner and Mr. Patel, and finally pulls out one of his cards.
Bowing once more. “I apologize. My name is Jiang Cheng and I work as a landscape architect, specializing in environmental reclamation and restoration. I focus mainly on the integration of public green spaces in urban environments.”
Mr. Patel's eyes start to shine, brows shooting up in interest.
From there- Jiang Cheng doesn’t know how it kind of seems like a blur- he manages to secure a consultation with him regarding several of his newly acquired properties.
Nie Mingjue had wandered off around the time they started talking about converting landfills into public parks, and how that’s a benefit both ecologically and economically, but he makes his way back with food and drinks, so to Jiang Cheng, he looks like a god.
Although it’s not like that’s any different from how he normally looks, it’s just- something about that grey three-piece suit is really doing it for Jiang Cheng.
Regardless.
Nie Mingjue arrives with food and a gentle smile and Jiang Cheng is so excited to tell him about the conversation he just had and all of the plans he can’t wait to draw up.
And then Nie Mingjue slides an arm around his waist, weighing heavy and warm where it lays, and Jiang Cheng remembers it’s fake.
It’s all fake.
He downs another glass of that fizzy shit.
---
Nie Mingjue must be a masochist.
There’s no other explanation, because on what planet does someone ask their crush to be their fake date to an end of the year business party?
He honestly doesn’t even know what he was thinking when he asked. Nie Huaisang had brought it up and in the moment, it seemed like a great idea. Getting to spend an entire evening with Jiang Cheng in a semi-public setting that ensured he kept his wits about him? Beautiful.
Gods, Nie MIngjue must hate himself.
He had thought it was bad when he picked up Jiang Cheng and the man came out wearing his colors instead of his own standard purple, and when asked, he had offhandedly replied, “We’re supposed to match, right?”
He thought he had it bad when the words, ‘my partner Jiang Cheng’ seemed to roll so smoothly off his tongue every time he had to introduce the other man. Only to stop and remind himself it was all for show.
Nie Mingjue thought it was really bad when he introduced Jiang Cheng to Mr. Patel, and then watched him enthusiastically talk about his work. Eyes lighting up as he made cute little hand gestures to describe his vision, smiling like a kid.
Nie Mingjue had needed to excuse himself at that moment, otherwise, he would have done something stupid, like propose on spot (when they’re not even dating, he remembered hysterically).
But all of that was just kid’s play, apparently.
Because it can’t get any worse than right now, with Jiang Cheng in his apartment- in his shower.
Nie Mingjue really should have kept a closer eye on how much Jiang Cheng was drinking. He should have noticed when the other started getting more touchy, leaning into his space and keeping their hands intertwined.
He should have noticed when he caught himself staring at Jiang Cheng’s lightly flushed cheeks as he giggled, listening to Nie Mingjue’s stupid stories about his colleagues.
But he hadn’t.
And now Jiang Cheng is taking a shower in his bathroom to sober up because of course he can’t go home; because of course Wei Wuxian chose tonight to have Lan Wangji over, and from what Nie Mingjue has heard, he wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Even if they’re drunk off their ass and testing the very limits of his self-control.
He sighs to himself.
Then picks up his phone to find the nearest delivery place because if he has to spend the night with Jiang Cheng, unsupervised, then he’d at least like to stress eat about it in peace.
He’s scrolling through his options, looking for that one specific place that makes the really good pizza with the cheddar and jalapeños, when he hears the bathroom door click open behind him.
Light footsteps pad across the floor in his direction and he takes a breath. He’s just about to ask if Jiang Cheng would like anything when he makes the mistake of, you know, looking at the man.
And Nie Mingjue must really be a masochist to have thought it was a good idea to lend Jiang Cheng his favorite sweater. He wants to cry.
Out of joy?
Desperation?
Frustration?
All of the above probably, because he’s feeling a lot of emotions right now and he really should order their food and then go take a cold shower.
Who would have thought Jiang Cheng would look so small in his clothes? Not Nie MIngjue, that’s for sure. And it’s a double hit too because he’s fresh out of the shower. Lovely.
No, seriously.
Jiang Cheng is so lovely- has always been lovely- with the way his hair hangs low, framing his face; the way his eyelashes brush against his cheekbones, accentuating his already piercing eyes; the way his skin is soft and almost unblemished, but there’s a smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose that, during summer, gets darker, making him look boyishly charming; how his voice is deep, smooth, precise, but when he gets excited, his home dialect starts peeking through and coloring his words.
Jiang Cheng is lovely and Nie Mingjue really does want to cry.
He takes another deep breath, an attempt to calm down and get a hold of his thoughts. It doesn’t work because Jiang Cheng is now leaning over his shoulder, loose hair gently brushing the sides of Nie Mingjue’s face and shoulder as he pushes it behind his ear to read the menu on his phone.
The revelation that Jiang Cheng has a small beauty mark right in the corner of his ear doesn’t help either.
Nie Mingjue glances down to avoid staring at the other’s profile, but up close, he gets an even better look at his sweater and it’s so much worse than he imagined.
His sweater, which fits comfortably on his frame and is worn from years of use, is so big it’s covering Jiang Cheng's hands, his fingers just barely peeking out. The collar is slipping off his shoulders, revealing lightly tanned skin and delicate collarbones and more freckles- and this is just too much.
“I’m gonna go wash up,” Nie Mingjue says abruptly, getting up from the couch and handing his phone over. “I’ve already put in what I want so just- pick whatever and I’ll buy.”
He hears some form of confirmation behind him and then he’s rushing into his bathroom to silently berate himself.
And also to take a cold shower.
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Side note: NHS told WWX to invite LWJ over that night. He knows what's up and is causing problems on purpose. He expects to be both of their best mans.
@PyrriaWrites made a thread on twitter about landscape architect JC and it’s super cute please read it if you can!
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Twelve Days of Mingcheng - Day 10
I’d like to thank @shakespearean-ginger for sending in the prompt “family dinners” and @asixth for sending in you know what. There was a lot of catharsis.
AO3 link
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I will not be held liable
There are very few things that Jiang Cheng looks forward to less than the Christmas family dinners his parents have every year.
It’s the one time his mother and father can tolerate each other for more than an hour, so it’s been allowed to continue. But it’s always too long, and always way too fucking suffocating.
All Jiang kids are required to attend and this, of course, applies to those attached to said Jiang kids as well.
So, for the past five years Jin Zixuan has attended, and for the past three Lan Wangji has been welcomed with (mostly) open arms. The addition of Jin Ling a year ago was one that brought joy (even though everything else was shit), and now that the youngest Jiang has finally managed to get himself a partner, Nie Mingjue will be joining the table.
“You know I hate your parents, right?”
Jiang Cheng sighs, glancing over his shoulder to his boyfriend before going back to fix his tie.
“You haven’t even met them.”
“Would that change anything?” Nie Mingjue responds, looking around the room for his phone that he swears he left on the nightstand. “Meeting them, that is.”
A scoff. “No, probably not.”
And it’s not a lie either. There is a very little chance that Nie Mingjue will actually like his parents. Jiang Cheng barely even likes them (although that’s taken several years of therapy to admit).
The point is, Jiang Cheng is still expected to go- he hasn’t built the courage to decline yet, that’ll take some more therapy but that’s beside the point.
Anyway.
Jiang Cheng is still expected to go. So really, Nie Mingjue has no option but to attend with him if he wants his boyfriend to come home in one piece.
Tying his hair up quickly, he turns to see Nie Mingjue staring at his apparently found phone, mumbling to himself about something.
Jiang Cheng walks closer and has to hold back a smile when he hears a quiet, “They’re not even Christians,” leave his lover’s lips. That’s true, Jiang Cheng stopped questioning why they celebrated Christmas years ago, so he forgets that some people find it odd.
Grabbing the lapels of his Nie Mingjue’s suit, he catches his attention. “Behave yourself,” he says, placing a light kiss on the other’s lips. “It’s just for tonight.”
“Fine,” Nie Mingjue says begrudgingly, pouting in a way that causes Jiang Cheng to kiss him once more. He’s about to step away when Nie Mingjue loops his arms around his waist, pulling him back in.
And well, Jiang Cheng won’t argue with that.
It’s several minutes before they finally break apart, Nie Mingjue letting him go with a nip before smirking playfully.
“I will not be held liable for my actions if someone says something outta hand.”
---
So far, the dinner hasn’t been a complete and total disaster.
His parents haven’t been overly critical of him (yet), still coming off the realization that the person Jiang Cheng is seeing is someone as respectable as Nie Mingjue.
They hadn’t said that but he could see it in their surprised faces, and unfortunately, so could Nie Mingjue if the way his hand tightened in his grasp was anything to go by.
His sister is as lovely as always, glowing with happiness, and Jin Zixuan has gotten significantly less insufferable since Jin Ling’s birth.
Lan Wangji is the same amount of insufferable, and Wei Wuxian is the same. Loud.
Now, Jin Ling.
Jin Ling, on the other hand, is even more adorable than the last time Jiang Cheng saw him. It’s only been around two weeks (Jiang Cheng can’t bear to be apart from his nephew for longer), but he coos and hugs and kisses him all the same.
He’s in the middle of blowing raspberries into Jin Ling’s neck when his boyfriend walks over and sits next to him, laying his head on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder in exhaustion.
“Does your father talk about anything besides business and Wei Wuxian?”
Jiang Cheng tenses, removing his face from Jin Ling’s neck momentarily to look down. “Sorry,” he says, instinctively.
“Not your fault,” Nie Mingue mumbles, pressing a kiss onto Jiang Cheng’s shoulder.
They sit like that for a while. Peaceful in their own world, but food is served soon after, and that’s when things start to go downhill.
Gathered around the table, his parents start arguing as per usual when they're within six feet of one another. Unlike usual, it’s his father that’s starting most of the squabbles, his mother still subdued by the spirit of the season (and spiked eggnog).
Everyone is uncomfortable, and everyone is trying to ignore it.
Jiang Cheng and his siblings are used to it, their spouses are learning to be, so dinner carries on. The only one not pretending that his parents are just some sad soap opera left to play in the background is Nie Mingjue.
Jiang Cheng can tell that he is starting to get annoyed by the whole thing, but he did warn him that it would be bad.
He grabs his hand and places an apologetic kiss on it as he passes Nie Mingjue another roll. When in doubt, eat, is what he always says in times like this.
It’s once the voices start raising that Jiang Cheng notices something is wrong. His father is drunk. It rarely happens, but when it does it’s bad.
His sister gets up and takes Jin Ling with her, Jin Zixuan goes to follow.
Wei Wuxian excuses himself, and Lan Wangi goes to follow.
It’s only Jiang Cheng and Nie Mingjue left at the table when his parents move to stand and shouting turns to yelling, turns to screaming.
He’s about to get up and leave as well, take Nie Mingjue’s hand and just drag him out of the house when he hears his name and just. Blanks.
He sits back down and listens, so used to getting told off that his body impulsively freezes.
Jiang Cheng doesn’t even know what they’re arguing about anymore, the words passing through his ears. But he does catch onto the few key phrases he was hoping wouldn’t be uttered in front of his boyfriend tonight.
“Failure.”
“Disappointment.”
“Ungrateful.”
“Useless.”
His mother is arguing in his favor- he thinks- but ultimately, it just ends up pushing the words in deeper, twisting them as he remembers exactly how he’s seen in their eyes.
He feels tears begin to prick in the corner of his eyes and- fuck he was working on this but they’re still going and he has no energy to move. No energy to run.
The sound of wood sliding against wood pulls him out of his mind briefly as he looks to the side and sees Nie Mingjue getting up.
His eyes widen in horror.
Logically, he knows Nie Mingjue doesn’t think any less of him- doesn’t want to break up with him and end their year-long relationship because his parents are shitty people. But emotionally, he doesn’t think he can handle him walking away right now.
He watches as Nie Mingjue rounds the table and he feels a tear fall.
Jiang Cheng is about to call out for him in hopes that he won’t leave when he sees Nie Mingjue gain speed.
Despite that, it’s as if he’s watching in slow motion as Nie Mingjue raises his arm.
Pulls it back.
Uses his momentum and just-
Fucking decks his father in the face.
A loud crack can be heard, and Jiang Fengmian is falling to the floor with a thud.
Silence spreads through the room and Jiang Cheng must have stood up because he’s leaning over the table to see his father.
His unconscious father.
His unconscious father that his boyfriend just punched.
There’s blood leaking from his father’s nose and Jiang Cheng looks to Nie Mingjue who’s simply shaking off his hand as if something dirty got on it.
Footsteps hury in their direction. Getting closer, getting louder, until Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are standing in the doorway, staring at the scene with mixed looks of horror and confusion.
Wei Wuxian opens his mouth. “What the fuc-”
Loud cackling breaks the silence and everyone jumps, looking at his mother in shock.
She’s laughing so hard she’s bent over, clutching her stomach as she leans on the table for support.
“Oh gods,” she wheezes. Jiang Cheng is terrified. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen his mother laugh before. “Oh, gods. A-cheng.”
He stands up straight, somehow expecting this to be his fault.
“You need to keep this one.”
Once again, his mind goes blank. A metaphorical blue screen.
Jiang Cheng is so shocked he doesn’t notice Nie Mingjue gathering their things. He doesn’t notice him guiding him to the foyer and putting on his coat and leading him outside.
It isn’t until they’re in the car driving home that Jiang Cheng comes to himself. “You just punched my father.” He says it in disbelief, despite having witnessed the act from start to finish.
“I did.”
“You just punched my father,” he repeats, hysteria beginning to take the reins as he remembers the hilarity of the evening.
“He was acting outta hand.”
And that’s it. Jiang Cheng loses it in the passenger seat of his boyfriend’s car, mimicking almost exactly his mother’s reaction to the scene.
Jiang Cheng is laughing so hard he’s crying; he doesn’t notice Nie Mingjue’s satisfied smile.
Doesn’t hear the “worth it,” that leaves his boyfriend’s mouth.
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YZY gets the not as shitty as you could've been award this time. NMJ gets the MVP award.
HMU if you want more JFM getting knocked out.
Thank you for reading and sorry for the late update haha...
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Twelve Days of Mingcheng - Day Eight
Hello! Today I bring you a combo request from @immacaria and @death-day-59 with the prompts hugs/cuddle time!
AO3 link
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Jiujiu and the Beast
Deer Adventere Log,
Mama and papa have a anversry thing. So I get to see jiujiu! Jiujiu is my favrite. He makes the best snacks! Also! He fites monsters and reeds me storys and plays with Fairy too! Last time I had to share with Ayuan. I love Ayuan so thats ok. But this time I dont have to share!
The Strongist Hero
A Ling
Nie Mingjue is facing one of the biggest crises of his life.
(Which is saying a lot considering the fact that he fights fires on almost a daily basis but that’s beside the point).
Nie Mingjue is facing a crisis.
There’s a mini-Jiang Cheng, clutching a plush dog as he glares at him from the doorway.
Nie Mingjue knows who this kid is- how can he not when his boyfriend has an entire file dedicated to him with at least a thousand pictures and videos saved onto his laptop? There’s also the fact that Jiang Yanli brought him, and he’s decked out almost entirely in gold.
Anyway.
Nie Mingjue knows that this kid is Jin Ling.
He also knows how important Jin Ling is to Jiang Cheng, and from the looks of it, he hasn’t made a very good impression- something he is very much not used to.
It’s not like all children love him immediately. He’s big and imposing, has a lot of muscles, and a pretty mean glare, but generally, that fades after some time.
And he is good with them. He helped raise his younger brother after all, and he interacts with children quite frequently when the schools come for tours. Hell, he’s even helped Lan Xichen with that Jingyi kid he picked up not too long ago.
So for Jin Ling to hate him this instantaneously, this intensely, it’s a bit disconcerting.
Nie Mingjue feels out of his depth right now, but Jiang Cheng is talking gently with his sister in the kitchen, something about food restrictions that he knows will be ignored. He can’t bother him (tried that before, it didn’t end well).
So while the Jiang siblings are having what sounds like a very pleasant conversation, here Nie Mingjue stands. In the middle of the hallway. Getting stared down by a six-year-old.
---
Jin Ling is very upset right now.
He was in the middle of giving his jiujiu one of his very best hugs, telling him about all the things he did throughout the week while he was in school, when a very tall man- that Jin Ling suspects may not be fully human, he’s watched a lot of shows about it- walked out to greet him.
His jiujiu then let go of his hug and introduced the man.
Jin Ling bowed and introduced himself like he was taught (even though he’s still suspicious), his dad would be very proud of him- but that’s not important!
What’s important is the fact that jiujiu said this man will be staying with them during his weekend.
A-ling’s weekend.
Unacceptable.
“You can’t have jiujiu,” he says confidently. He places his hands on his hips and puffs his chest out, just like how his mama does when his dad does something stupid (no one is scarier than his mama...except maybe gramma Yu).
The man, who will from this point be called jiujiu-stealer, stunned by his courage and deadly stare, only blinks at him in fear. A-ling can see his jaw clench and his body shiver, so he guesses that’s a good enough warning for now.
He nods to himself in approval.
“Jiujiu!” He calls, running into the kitchen to latch onto his leg, “when can we play?”
---
Nie Mingjue places a hand over his mouth, tries to breath calmly through his nose.
He deserves a fucking Oscar for not laughing at the little brat’s declaration.
You can’t have jiujiu, he says, voice high and haughty…
Another round of giggles shakes through his body and he has to place his hand on the wall to stop himself from sliding to the ground.
Oh if only you knew, kid, he thinks.
Nie Mingjue remembers the days when Huaisang was that possessive over him. He would follow him wherever he went, clutching onto his pant leg or hanging off of his back like a koala.
It got to a point where all of his friends just expected him to bring Huaisang along whenever they hung out (because of course he couldn’t say no when he was hit with the puppy-dog eyes). Lan Xichen still makes fun of him for it.
He remembers those days fondly now, but when he was a teenager it pissed him off to no end.
And then Huaisang became a teenager not too long after, and then suddenly being seen with Da-ge wasn’t cool and Nie Mingjue was the one left clinging.
Good times, good times.
But this situation is a bit different since it’s not his affection on the line. There is a child wholeheartedly claiming his boyfriend, and Nie Mingjue is pretty sure if Jin Ling said the word, Jiang Cheng would throw him out in a minute.
Okay, maybe not, he amends, amused. He has more faith in his relationship than that.
Walking into the kitchen, he watches as Jiang Cheng bids his sister goodbye while he bounces a giggling Jin Ling on his hip. Then he turns and motions for Nie Mingjue to walk Jiang Yanli to the door, shooing him away while he walks into the living room with the kid.
…wait, but actually, does he?
---
Jin Ling is locked in battle between him and the jiujiu-stealer.
He pulls out his sword, standing in front of his jiujiu to prevent him from getting attacked by the beast before them.
It’s life or death now.
The jiujiu-stealer is watching him closely, he can’t take any risks otherwise he’ll lose the battle.
One.
Two.
THREE.
He lunges forward but he’s blocked easily. Stumbling back a moment, he regains his footing and shoots forward again. Jiujiu-stealer may be big, but Jin Ling has always been fast. He won first place in his class race, after all.
He swerves in and out, to and fro, until finally, he sees an opening. Pushing forward, he slashes the beast across the chest and then stabs him in the belly, before pulling his sword away to give the final blow.
Jiujiu-stealer cries out in pain, falling to his knees as he clutches the wounds he received. He tries to get up once more (and Jin Ling prepares himself) only to fall back onto the floor.
Jin Ling points his sword at jiujiu-stealer’s throat and waits.
“Do it. Finish me, I won’t surrender!” Jiujiu-stealer coughs.
Pausing for a moment, Jin Ling suddenly thinks of something. “Mama says you can’t hit people when they’re…” he takes a moment, trying to remember what she had said. “When they’re down! So get up... Please.”
He hears a snort come from behind him, so he glances back, but jiujiu is still sitting on the couch, safe and sound, so it must have been the wind.
“How about this, your highness,” jiujiu-stealer says, getting up on his knees, looking a lot less dead (suspicious!), “if I let you ride on my shoulders, will you let me live?”
...
That... is a very reasonable offer, Jin Ling thinks. But he can’t give in too easily, otherwise, he’ll look weak. “A-ling will let you live...” he glances back at his jiujiu.
So far, jiujiu-stealer hasn’t done anything bad. He hasn’t tried to take jiujiu away or get rid of Jin Ling either. If anything, he’s been paying more attention to Jin Ling than anything else.
Jin Ling knows this because he’s been testing him all day! So, maybe he can be trusted...(even if he isn’t human). But still, he has to make sure.
“A-ling will let you live.” He says again. “If you promise not to hurt jiujiu!”
Jiujiu-stealer bows before him, “Of course, your highness.”
“Promise,” Jin Ling repeats, lowering his sword slightly, but keeping his glare up.
“You have my word,” he says, holding out a pinky.
With a temporary truce called, Jin Ling and the jiujiu-stealer nod to one another and stand to put their weapons away.
---
Jiang Cheng sits on the couch, his hair braided with ribbons and wearing a paper crown.
He watches as his boyfriend and his nephew communicate, seemingly telepathically, and he gets a distinct feeling that he’s missing something.
---
Nie Mingjue is at a loss.
He had thought that after playing a few games, allowing himself to get beat up by foam swords, and pretty much following all of the brat's whims, Jin Ling would warm up to him a bit.
It had seemed like it. After he promised not to hurt Jiang Cheng, Jin Ling had found him tolerable at least. And Nie Mingjue was ecstatic because it meant there was hope, he could just keep worming his way into his little heart and viola, no more worries with Jiang Cheng!
Unfortunately, dinner came and went and all progress has been lost. Jin Ling barely looked in his direction and ignored him the entire meal.
Even Jiang Cheng had noticed it, which isn’t saying much since he’s been watching Jin Ling like a hawk, but still. Up until this point, Jin Ling hadn’t just outright ignored him.
It kind of hurts, if Nie MIngjue thinks about it.
He’d started liking the kid, and was beginning to understand why everyone fawns over him.
Jin Ling may look like a typical Jin kid, and there’s some brattiness that just comes with the genetics (it’s unavoidable, unfortunately), but his heart? That’s all his mother.
Jin Ling is a mama’s boy through and through and it’s adorable. Nie Mingjue doesn’t think he’s ever seen a kid talk to flowers ‘because they might be lonely’ before. One hundred percent Jiang Yanli’s influence.
There’s also the fact that Jin Ling thinks Jiang Cheng is the best thing since sliced bread and Nie Mingjue thought they’d be able to bond over that correct opinion.
Despite the unfortunate setback, Nie Mingjue has no plans on giving up.
---
Jin Ling thinks jiujiu-stealer is a liar and a fraud and he doesn’t understand why his jiujiu keeps him around.
Jiujiu stealer had promised, he had pinky-swore to Jin Ling that he wouldn’t hurt his jiujiu! And what does he do the minute Jin Ling turns his back?
He sinks his beastly fangs into his jiujiu’s skin.
At first, Jin Ling had suspected if jiujiu-stealer was really human or not. His height alone made him question if he wasn’t a werewolf (plus he’s also kind of hairy), but it turns out he was wrong.
Jiujiu-stealer had been a vampire all along!
Jin Ling can’t believe he let himself be fooled. He really needs to study more.
“A-ling, what are you doing?”
Jin Ling looks up from where he’s bent over, looking under the couch, and sees his jiujiu standing next to him.
“A-ling is looking for his bow!” It’s not a crossbow, but it should still work against a vampire.
His jiujiu hums for a moment, checking his watch, and oh no. Jin Ling had completely forgotten about bedtime.
“I thought I told you to start getting ready for bed?”
“I was but-”
“A-ling.”
His jiujiu is looking at him the same way his mama does when he tries to steal a treat, and Jin Ling deflates instantly, looking down at his hands before sighing. “Okay, jiujiu.”
His jiujiu stands up, holding out his hand, and Jin Ling readily latches onto it.
“The sooner you get ready, the sooner you can hear a story,” his jiujiu says, smiling while ruffling his hair.
Jin Ling’s mood instantly improves and he pulls his jiujiu along with him as he rushes to the bathroom to wash up, completely forgetting about his mission.
---
“You can do it,” Jiang Cheng says, pumping his fist in support as Nie Mingjue stares down at him in disbelief. “Just read him a story, it’ll be fine.”
Nie Mingjue does not think it will be fine.
He doesn’t even think he’ll be allowed within the room if Jin Ling finds out his jiujiu won’t be the one telling him a bedtime story, but Jiang Cheng is already walking away to clean up, leaving him to the task.
It seems he doesn’t have a choice.
Walking towards the designated Nephew Room, Nie Mingjue pushes the door open and is faced with Jin Ling sitting in bed, clutching his stuffed dog as he chooses from a variety of storybooks.
He clears his throat lightly, “Jin Ling.”
The kid’s head snaps up in excitement, only to fall when he sees who is standing in the doorway. “Where’s jiujiu?”
Nie Mingjue sighs, walking into the room as Jin Ling watches him warily. He crouches down to look at the books available. He doesn’t think he’s heard of any of them, but there seems to be a fantasy theme happening.
That explains the games they played earlier, he thinks.
“Your jiujiu has to do something real quick, so he asked if I could re-”
“No.” The kid says firmly, looking away from Nie Mingjue. “Mama says not to speak with liars.”
Nie Mingjue blinks.
...Huh? He tries to think back, did he lie to Jin Ling? He doesn’t remember doing so. “What are you talking about, kid?”
“You promised not to hurt jiujiu. And then you did.”
When did he ever…? “I don’t think I did, kid.”
“You did! Don’t lie!” Jin Ling says, crossing his arms as he huffs in an achingly familiar way.
Nie Mingjue sighs. It’s been a while since he’s had to deal with something like this. “Can you tell me why you think that?”
“I saw it in the kitchen. You’re a vampire.”
A vampire?
He saw it… in the kitchen?
…
…
Wait.
Wait a minute. Oh no. Ohhh no.
Nie Mingjue feels a laugh bubble up from his chest, trying to break free, but he knows that will only make things worse. He takes a deep breath, trying to flatten out his smile to a reasonable width.
Okay. It’s okay. He can work with this.
“A-ling,” he begins. “What you saw in the kitchen, I promise you I wasn’t trying to suck your jiuijiu’s blood.”
“Liar!”
“I swear,” Nie Mingjue says, raising his hand to promise. “In fact, you can even say it’s the opposite.” He adds cryptically, to pique the kid’s interest.
Obviously, it works.
He’s caught Jin Ling’s attention. The kid drops his arms slightly from where they’re crossed against his chest, his little eyebrow raised just a bit. “Explain.” He really does have so many of Jiang Cheng’s mannerisms. It’s ridiculously adorable. “Please.” Jin Ling adds, almost like an afterthought.
Nie Mingjue smiles softly. “When you or your dad go somewhere, does your mom give you kisses?”
Jin Ling nods his head in recognition. “She says it’s for good luck.”
“Exactly!” Nie Mingjue says. “It’s the same for your jiujiu! I give him a kiss here-” he points to his neck- “and it protects him from bad things. I just like to be careful and give him extra protection. You can even ask him.”
He watches as Jin Ling’s eyes widen and his mouth drops. Great. That problem solved, he can finally-
“So you can use magic?”
Maybe not. “That’s not exactly-”
“Then what?” A beat. “Please.” And Nie Mingjue needs to smother another smile. It seems Jiang Yanli is quite strict about that.
He looks at Jin Ling, looks at his big eyes, shining with curiosity, just begging to hear more, and what can he do? He’s always been weak to puppy-dog eyes.
“Well, you see...”
---
Jiang Cheng hangs up after saying goodnight to his sister, reassuring her that yes, Jin Ling is in bed, no, he was wonderful all day, and yes, he ate his vegetables.
Rubbing his hands down his face, he looks towards the door to the guest room.
Jiang Cheng had thought they were getting along, and then dinner came and Jin Ling just clammed up.
He figured sending Nie Mingjue in there to read a story might fix things. He’s seen him at the fire station when giving tours; he knows Jin Ling would absolutely love the way he tells stories and well. Nie Mingjue still hasn’t come out yet, and Jin Ling isn’t screaming so it can’t have gone too bad.
Picking up the remaining toys scattered about and putting them away (he’ll have to remind Jin Ling about clean-up rules in the morning), he walks over to check on the two of them and peeks into the room.
Freezing at what he sees, Jiang Cheng sends out his thanks to Philippe Kahn for inventing the camera phone so he can memorialize the scene in front of him forever.
Because lying on the twin mattress are two of the people he loves most in the world, cuddled together and breathing softly in their sleep.
Jin Ling is curled towards Nie Mingjue’s stomach, laying half on his lap, where he clutches Fairy. And Nie Mingjue is leaning against the headboard, his legs hanging off the bed while his head is lolled onto his shoulder.
Jiang Cheng takes at least twenty pictures from different angles and tosses his phone to the side.
Turning off the lights, he slides next to Nie Mingjue, just behind Jin Ling, to join the cuddle pile.
He and Nie MIngjue are going to be sore as hell in the morning, but whatever.
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To be clear! Mingcheng weren’t doing anything naughty in the kitchen. Nie Mingjue just likes to give back hugs and nuzzle.
Jin Ling is going through a fantasy adventure phase rn and everyone just enables it because it’s cute lol
This was day eight, thank you for reading!
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a prompt for 12 days of mingcheng for your consideration, out of a legends star wars novel (labyrinth of evil by james luceno):
"(...) What does your heart tell you you’re meant for?”
“Infinite sadness”
i imagine it is the holiday season so a break of this character's expectations (i think it would work with either of them) would be in order, but who knows?
It’s like 9k. I don’t know whether or not to apologize lmao. Thank you for sending this in!
I highly recommend reading it in ao3 if long posts bother you, as it’s separated into chapters there.
AO3 link
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Twelve Days of Mingcheng - Day Twelve
What are you meant for?
Every year when the final month rolls around, Jiang Cheng finds himself losing time.
He likes to think of it as an emotional stress response to absolutely hating December and everything that comes with it.
It’s the first month of winter, and everything is freezing. As a child, he’d never been able to tolerate the cold weather. Always getting sick faster and longer than his peers, and having an intense sensitivity to the cold meant he couldn’t play in the snow.
Growing up didn’t change that one bit. He still has to have on a minimum of four layers at all times in order to be comfortable.
He also hates that it's the busiest month for him and his staff.
Tension running high, everyone has to work double-time to get out their final reports and contracts and to ensure that the business is stable to continue into the new year. It’s unfortunate that all his employees need to wear so many hats and take on extra tasks, but he tries to reward them handsomely with bonuses- even if it means taking on more work himself.
It wouldn’t be a lie to say that Jiang Cheng spends the majority of December sleep deprived and running on fumes- yelling and snapping at those that dare to waste his time.
There’s also the fact that thirteen years ago, his entire family minus his nephew and brother were killed in a fatal accident in December, making him extra sensitive to the time of year.
And then a year later, his brother went missing in, of course, December.
It took him so long to come to terms with everything that happened- to get to a point where he could say he’s okay. Not great or good, just okay. But like clockwork, every winter leaves him feeling empty and alone, but Jiang Cheng doesn’t focus so much on that fact as he does the cold and busy part.
So really, December brings with it very few things to look forward to, as far as Jiang Cheng is concerned.
The first two weeks of the month pass like this, and the only things that keep Jiang Cheng cognizant of the time are his meetings and Luo Qingyang.
Rubbing his eyes, he tries one more time to find the mistake in the document his client had so viscously rejected, thinking maybe he just needs to blink a little bit harder and clear his eyes, but no.
He still can’t find the so-called exclusion clause and by now everything looks the same.
A knock sounds through the room, breaking him from his trance as Luo Qingyang enters to bring him some documents to sign.
Glancing over them wordlessly, he presses his stamp and hands them over, raising an eyebrow when she doesn’t leave.
She sighs like she's that one that’s just lost two hours to a word document and not him.
“Do you have anything else?” He prompts.
“Go home, please,” Luo Qingyang says, walking to the door and he scoffs, shooing her out of his office.
He looks at the clock reflecting midnight; maybe he should head out.
---
Jiang Cheng wakes to the sound of clanking and clattering.
The tinny sound of metal against metal grating on his ears enough for him to get out of bed and go see what the fuck Jin Ling is doing.
He glances at the clock, throwing his legs over the side of the bed and shivering. It’s only three am. So much for getting some sleep.
His feet touch the cold floor and he curses the brat in his mind. He’s supposed to be with the Jins. Well, at least that’s what he said when he stormed out the other day, but obviously, he came back to haunt Jiang Cheng in the middle of the night if the incessant clanging is anything to go by.
Sometimes he regrets letting the kid have free reign at his home.
Grabbing a sweater off the chair as he passes, he tugs it on. It shouldn’t be this cold he thinks, his breath is practically visible as he walks through the halls and down to the kitchen. Jiang Cheng will have to call maintenance in the morning if this persists.
Rounding the corner, he comes to the entryway to the kitchen, his movements halting as a bell rings loudly.
Taking in the image before him, he stares in shock.
It’s not Jin Ling, is the first thought to pass his mind. Staring at the figure of a female looking through his pantries.
She’s wearing a familiar dress, colored lilac and gold. Layers upon layers create a delicate silhouette that almost appears transparent in the streaming moonlight, softening the image to one of haze. The trim flows behind her as she floats about the room, undisturbed by his presence.
Dread sits in the center of his being when he realizes what kind of night this will be.
“It’s been a while,” he says, calling out to the woman in front of him. His voice booming in the silence.
She turns to him, unsurprised for him to be there; unsurprised for him to have called out to her.
Jiang Cheng takes in her visage, smiling calm and happy like she’s pleased to see him. She was always so pleased to see him. An ancient ache sounds deep in her soul as he greets- “A-jie.”
Jiang Cheng's sister glides towards him, silent in her movement as she comes to place her hands on his cheeks.
“A-cheng,” she says. Her voice sounds the same, and yet it echoes without depth- without substance- passing by his ears like mere breaths of wind.
He closes his eyes and he can feel tears begin to rise in their corners, an action he had long thought himself incapable of. But this is his A-jie, his A-li, the one who understood him best while growing up in their dysfunctional family. This is his sister.
His sister, who passed all those years ago, leaving him behind to mourn her and the rest of their family while raising an unknowing Jin Ling.
It’s been many years since he’s had a night like this, and Jiang Cheng is almost thrown back to days of uncertainty, of never-ending nights that forced him to stay awake in fear of being visited by the ghosts of his past.
It’s been so long, that Jiang Cheng had forgotten how comforting it was in those moments to see familiar faces not contorted in rage, disappointment, sadness- fear.
He takes in a shuddering breath, raising his hands to place them over his sister’s. This was always the part he hated most- touching. Everything always felt so real, so vivid, that the hurt would only crush him harder, push him down deeper when he woke and realized everything was a dream.
But it's been many years, and Jiang Cheng has missed his sister something fierce- even if she isn’t really here. It’s better than the cold nothingness he’s felt for so long when he turns to his side and sees no one.
The loneliness can be staved off ever so slightly when he’s with Jin Ling, but he’s gotten older, their time together shorter. And Jiang Cheng knows that it’s only a matter of time before he leaves him as well.
He opens his eyes to see her face, still smiling in that kind way of hers. The love she feels reflecting deep in her eyes. And he misses it. He misses her, but he has to know.
Nights like these never happen just to please him.
“A-jie, why are you here?” He whispers into the night. Afraid that speaking any louder will shatter the illusion in front of him.
The pads of her fingers run underneath his eyes, caressing gently as she wipes away tears not yet fallen. A sadness overtakes her face, morphing her smile and down turning her eyes.
“I wanted to show you something, A-cheng. You’ve gone so far.” She says wistfully, “You’ve gotten so lost. I don’t want this for you.”
Jiang Cheng feels a laugh rise from the depths of his chest, coming out sharp and bitter. Even his dead sister is here to remind him of how much a failure he is, it seems.
What? What could she possibly show him that he doesn’t already know about his miserable life?
But he doesn’t want their time to end just yet. His guilt from arguing with Jin Ling earlier rearing its ugly head as he remembers watching him turn his back and leave, watching the eyes so like his mother’s dim in displeasure.
He doesn’t want to see that again.
Jiang Yanli’s hands squeeze his face once more before sliding off to grip his hands. She tugs him along and he follows reluctantly, shuffling behind like he used to when he was a child.
She leads him through the condo, humming a song he’s heard before but has forgotten over time. It tickles the insides of his ears, drudging up a nostalgic feeling within him.
The humming continues. It gets louder.
Louder still as they approach the front door. Voices aside from his sister's begin to meld with the song, ringing in his ears as the door is pushed open and he is thrown back to a time when everything was lighter, happier.
To a time when he was happier.
---
Yu Ziyuan is humming as she moves about the kitchen. Going from place to place as she collects ingredients from the cabinets.
A young Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng sit at the counter. Giggling between themselves and trying their best to follow along to their mother’s beat.
Jiang Cheng stands off to the side, removed from the scene as his grip tightens on his sister’s hand.
He has vague memories of this day.
It was the first December after Wei Ying had come to them. He had still been going through bouts of depression due to the sudden deaths of his parents, often refusing to eat or speak.
And despite being the young age of seven, already so empathetic to the pains of others, Jiang Yanli had wanted to bake him some cookies to make him happier.
Jiang Cheng, at four years old, had padded along behind her in equal parts desire to help and equal parts fear of being left out when they had approached their mother.
His mother wasn’t pleased about Wei Ying’s arrival, but her hatred for him had not yet metastasized to the point it would in the coming years. The spirit of the season and the faces of her pleading children allowed her to show him some kindness, still holding onto the faith that her family could survive with this new member.
The kitchen had been warm, heated by the afternoon sun as light billowed in through the curtain.
Jiang Cheng remembers his mother’s voice was always so cold, so sharp when speaking to others. But on rare occasions her demeanor would soften, she would sing and hum and it would be the most beautiful thing.
He watches as his mother measures out the ingredients for shortbread cookies for him and Jiang Yanli to add to their bowls. Even though both were quite adept in the kitchen for their ages, his mother wasn’t ready to let them handle bulk items yet in the fear they’d create a mess.
There were few things Yu Ziyuan hated more than a messy environment when cooking.
Setting everything out neatly, Yu Ziyuan moved to stand in between her children, softly detailing instructions as she helped Jiang Cheng with his bowl, allowing him to pour in the pre-measured ingredients, while Jiang Yanli worked on her own.
“Mama, do you think he’ll like them?” Jiang Yanli had asked, struggling a bit to cream the butter until smooth.
Yu Ziyuan had scoffed, moving Jiang Yanli’s arm up for her to get better leverage. “He better, my children are working so hard, after all.”
Young Jiang Yanli and Jiang Cheng giggled at their mother’s response, happy that she was there to join them as they made their cookies.
From his position off to the side, Jiang Cheng could see a soft smile overtake his mother’s face.
It’s an expression he has little memory of seeing beyond the age of six, so it takes him by surprise.
His mother has always been a beautiful woman, but years of anger and hatred had turned that beauty into a thing of pain. Jiang Cheng had forgotten what his mother had looked like when she wasn’t screaming.
He feels his heart ache, mourning the loss of a family he couldn’t have.
And then the scene before him shifts. The image gets blurry and the sounds distorting.
Jiang Cheng has to close his eyes and cover his ears. The bright lights and changing colors and loud sounds overstimulating his senses, causing him pain.
It is several long moments before he feels comfortable opening his eyes again, lights still sparking underneath his lids, ears still popping. When he finally does, he’s staring at the ceiling of his room.
Laying in bed, Jiang Cheng raises a hand to his face to wipe the tears that fell from his eyes.
xxx
A week passes and the dream from that night slowly fades away from Jiang Cheng’s memory, the feeling of nostalgia and comfort lasting only as long as his lunch break the next day.
Jiang Cheng sits in his office, typing out some documents that need to be finalized by the end of the week when his assistant knocks on the door.
“Enter.”
Luo Qingyang opens the door, carrying in a tray with what Jiang Cheng hopes is coffee. She looks him up and down, and from anyone else, he’d snap at her to mind her own business and fuck off. She’s already completed her duty.
But she’s known him for over a decade at this point; she’s immune to his- everything already.
“You look horrible, boss.”
Jiang Cheng scoffs, picking up his cup to take a sip before he has to go back and look at more spreadsheets. His nose scrunches. It’s not coffee. “Is that all?”
Luo Qingyang raises an unamused eyebrow at him, crossing her arms over her chest as she stares him down. “Don’t you think you should head home soon?”
Jiang Cheng glances out at the dark sky. It’s well past normal working hours. Stores are beginning to close and public transportation has already stopped running, but it doesn’t matter. He needs to finish these documents.
“I said you could leave hours ago.” He reminds her, taking a sip of his definitely not coffee beverage. Far be it from him to keep people here if they don’t want to be. Productivity decreases when that happens.
“That’s not what I’m asking-”
“But that’s what I’m saying.” He says, cutting her off. “Your concern is unnecessary; leave if you want, stay if you want. I don’t care.”
He can see her hands grip her arms tightly, her jaw clenching down as she tries not to grind her teeth. He had told her she’d have dental issues if she kept that up, so he’s glad she’s trying to break the habit.
“You’re an ass,” she says, dropping her arms and turning to leave.
“Thanks,” he drawls, far too tired to yell about it. The door slams and he turns back to his work.
---
Jiang Cheng is getting into his car when he finally turns on his phone.
It immediately pings with several messages and voicemails and he has half a mind to just turn it back off and leave it until tomorrow. That is until he notices four messages, three of them from Jin Ling.
He sighs.
Checking Jin Ling’s message- he’s over at the house and will be there for a few days- Jiang Cheng lets himself relax for a moment.
He and Jin Ling have been getting into more and more arguments lately. Over the littlest of things, even. Jiang Cheng can’t keep track of how often the brat has left the house in a huff, only to sneak back in after a few days while he’s still at work.
But still. This is his sister’s kid, the kid he half-raised, he loves him no matter how cheeky he is.
He shoots off a quick, “Ok A-ling,” before briefly hovering over the only other message to catch his attention.
It’s Nie Mingjue.
Jiang Cheng had completely forgotten about that issue while he was preparing the company's year-end contracts.
He and Nie Mingjue have a- complicated relationship to say the least.
The first time Jiang Cheng had met Nie Mingjue, he was visiting NIe Huaisang to finish a project in college. He had been instantly intimidated by the other; his size and presence looming over Jiang Cheng during their introductions.
But then he saw him get tackled by a small, fluffy dog and all intimidation pretty much faded.
Their friendship grew from there, and out of the people that Jiang Cheng knows from before his family's accident, the Nies are the only one’s he remained in contact with. Nie Huaisang had provided a bright distraction from dark days of depression, and Nie Mingjue represented a stable pillar of strength for him when he needed someone to lean on.
Eventually, Nie Huaisang had traveled abroad to pursue his dream, so it was just Nie Mingjue and Jiang Cheng. They became...close.
It’s difficult to say exactly what their relationship was, but it was somewhere between more than friends but less than lovers.
Jiang Cheng had been too afraid at the time to take a step forward, and Nie Mingjue had been going through his own issues, so they let things stay. They let things stagnate.
And then Jiang Cheng got busy.
He took over his family's company, overhauling it completely to bring in a new wave of prosperity. Once he was financially stable, he was able to get partial custody of Jin Ling as well, tired of leaving him alone in the Jin mansion.
It had gone on like that for years. Jiang Cheng quickly became inundated with work, losing time for himself- but not Jin Ling, never Jin Ling- and allowing whatever he might have had with Nie Mingjue to fade into the distance of his memories like everything else.
He had thought that was the end of it. And then Nie Mingjue contacted him, asked him to meet.
Nie Mingjue, being the straightforward person that he is, had made his intentions clear from the beginning. He was still interested in Jiang Cheng and wanted to be together, but he was fine if they could go back to being friends, at least.
Jiang Cheng cringes at the memory; caught off guard, had just stared at his friend, unable to answer. And he hasn’t contacted him since.
That was two weeks ago.
He looks down at his phone, reading the message over and over.
“Make sure to eat properly. I’m here if you need to talk.”
He groans, banging his head against the steering wheel of his car. Why do all of these emotions need to come rushing back? He was fine by himself as long as he had Jin Ling. He was fine.
So why does he want so much to answer positively, to reciprocate the other’s feelings?
Jiang Cheng knows the answer. He’s just scared- he always has been.
The fear that Nie Mingjue would come to hate him, that he’d leave because Jiang Cheng was just too much to handle, too much of a burden weighed heavily on his mind all those years ago, and they weigh just as much right now.
He had used the excuse that he needed to take care of Jin Ling, but that’s running its course the older his nephew gets.
He can’t.
He doesn’t think he can do this.
Typing out a short message, he sends it before he can even double guess himself.
“I’m sorry.”
---
Jiang Cheng trudges his way up to his condo, counting down each step that brings him closer to his bed and the warm embrace of unconsciousness.
He unlocks his door, listening to the melodic beeps as he punches in his passcode.
2. 1. 1. 1. 0. 5.
The handle whirs as it unlocks and he pushes the door open. Taking off his coat and shoes, he makes his way down the hall, halting when he sees Jin Ling.
“What are you doing?”
Jin Ling jumps as he turns around, placing a hand over his heart as water sloshes out from the glass he was holding. “Gods, jiujiu, you scared me.”
“Why are you up?”
Jin Ling’s nose twitches as his eyebrows pull in, scoffing as his shoulders sag. “What? No, “I’m home?”
“I’m home, why are you awake?”
Jiang Cheng watches as his nephew sighs, looking very much like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Funny, considering he’s only sixteen, but he guesses the kid’s been through a lot for someone his age, all things considered. Even if he is spoiled as hell.
“I was just getting water,” he raises the glass like it should have been obvious, and then grumbles something under his breath.
Jiang Cheng waits a moment to see if Jin Ling will actually say anything else relevant to him, but when a minute passes. And then another, he decides he’s waited long enough. “Get to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Ah! Jiujiu, wait a minute!”
Jiang Cheng pauses, looking over his shoulder from where he had turned to leave. He just did- is what he doesn’t say.
He watches as Jin Ling plays with the rim of his glass, looking very much like the child he is. Hesitant and nervous.
“Well, you see.” Jin Ling begins, voice coming out weak. “A few classmates invited me out…”
Jiang Cheng raises an eyebrow, he doesn’t see how that’s relevant to him. It’s not like he’s ever controlled who Jin Ling hung out with. Mainly because Jin Ling has had very few people to hang out with to begin with.
Recently, he’s been talking about a group of kids he’s met, and Jiang Cheng knows they’re all good kids- he wouldn’t oppose his nephew spending time with them. “And?” He prompts when it becomes apparent Jin Ling won’t finish on his own.
“They asked me out for Christmas but I told them I can’t because we usually spend it together,” Jin Ling says all in a rush.
It takes a moment for Jiang Cheng to actually register what he heard, mind slowed down from long days and short nights, but when it does he’s still confused.
“Why would you do that?”
“...huh?” Jin Ling’s eyes are wide, confused.
“Don’t be foolish. Go spend time with your friends. It’s fine if we don’t spend Christmas together.” Jiang Cheng says that, but it does hurt just a bit.
The only reason he started celebrating Christmas was because he wanted Jin Ling to have something to look forward to during this time of the year like all the other kids. They’re not Christian and his own family never celebrated it, but it’s popular enough that he knew the basics of it.
It’s almost like a tradition at this point.
If Jin Ling were to celebrate with his friends, then it would be the first time in over a decade he’d be alone on the day. But Jin Ling deserves to be with his friends, and Jiang Cheng won’t stop him from doing that.
Surprisingly, Jin Ling doesn’t look too pleased with his newfound freedom.
“What?” Jiang Cheng asks, tired of standing in the middle of the hallway.
His nephew's hands tighten around the cup he’s holding, and then suddenly he’s glaring. Emptying the cup into the sink and leaving it, Jin Ling passes by Jiang Cheng. Saying a forced, “Goodnight, jiujiu,” he slams the door.
Jiang Cheng stares in bewilderment at his nephew’s closed door. Really? He thought the brat would be happy; he doesn’t know what he was expecting but obviously Jiang Cheng’s answer wasn’t suitable.
Sighing, he makes his way to his bedroom and finally- finally- lays down on his bed.
---
The sound of ringing bells enters Jiang Cheng’s consciousness and he groans, bringing his hands up to cover his ears.
A chill goes through his body and he can feel the temperature drop.
No.
No.
He wants to sleep. He had such a shitty day and he’s tired and he barely slept and just wants to not be awake right now.
The ringing gets louder, sharp and penetrating, and Jiang Cheng thinks the sound might actually be coming from inside his head from how loud it is. He gives up.
Lower in his hand and opening his eyes, he turns his head to the window and sees the silhouette of his sister, standing near the balcony.
Of course.
Jiang Cheng gets up reluctantly, making his way over to the apparition.
Just like before, she’s wearing lilac and gold. The dress looking much too light for her to be standing so close to the window in the middle of winter. But she’s a dream, Jiang Cheng remembers, does it even matter?
Her hair is styled in her signature twin buns, the only difference this time are the bells hanging off of her hair and jingling; flowing in time with a non-existent breeze.
“A-li, why are you here?”
And just like before, she turns to him with that kind smile, her eyes squinting in happiness.
Jiang Cheng can feel his heart break. He’s failed her. He keeps failing her. He doesn’t deserve to see that smile when he can’t even make her kid happy. “I’m sorry,” he chokes out, throat closing on the words.
She floats over to him, placing her hands on his cheeks once again to wipe away tears that still have yet to fall. “You always were a crybaby,” she says.
He bows his head in shame, unable to even look at her.
“I’m not mad, A-cheng.” He tenses. “Let’s take a look and see what went wrong, okay?”
Jiang Cheng looks up at her, confused. “What do you mean?”
But all he receives is a sad smile before his vision is going blurry. The sharp pain behind his eyes and ears still persists, stars flashing in his vision, but it’s more tolerable than it was the last time.
He looks around and- wait. He’s no longer standing in his bedroom.
The place feels familiar. He can’t put his finger on it, but he thinks he’s been here before. It must be another memory then. That’s what happened last time he saw his sister, after all.
He glances to the side to ask Jiang Yanli where they are, but she’s gone.
Jiang Cheng is alone.
A door clicks open and his head shoots to the side and in walks Nie Mingjue.
He looks good, is the first thing that comes to mind. But what Nie Mingjue is wearing doesn’t look familiar, in fact, it doesn’t even look like something he would have worn back then.
Too professional for the grungier style Jiang Cheng associates Nie MIngjue with for that time period.
Nie Mingjue drops the bag he was holding onto the table and Jiang Cheng walks forward to take a peek inside. Forgoing any shame about being nosy.
Fried chicken and...beer? A lot of it. And several different brands from the looks of it.
Did Nie Mingjue always drink this much?
He moves out of the way as Nie Mingjue walks back into the room and plops onto the couch, sighing.
It’s a bit awkward to just stand there and watch him eat, so Jiang Cheng starts exploring.
It’s a new apartment, he decides. He doesn’t remember ever being in this particular room, but a lot of the furniture is the same. So, not a memory then.
Who knew Jiang Cheng’s mind was creative enough for this level of detail?
He walks along the bookshelves lining the walls and looks at the pictures set out on display. Most of them are Nie Huaisang- he can’t help but laugh. There’s a few of Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao, and a solo pic of Nie Mingjue in his gym or at a competition here and there.
Jiang Cheng is just about to look at the final set of pictures when a ringtone shatters the silence.
He looks back and Nie Huaisang’s voice sounds loud over the receiver; Nie Mingjue has to hold the phone a short distance away from his ear before he answers.
“It’s not even Christmas here yet.”
Jiang Cheng looks at the closest clock and- yeah. Proudly displayed is December 24th, 20xx.
He blinks. Wow, that’s what? Two, three days from now?
“I told you I’m- what am I doing? I’m eating. What?” A sigh. “Fried chicken and beer- yes, yes, I know.”
Jiang Cheng watches as Nie Mingjue leans back against his couch, a hand coming up to press against his temple as he continues speaking with his brother. He gets an unpleasant feeling that he’s intruding on something the more depressed the other becomes.
“I can’t force him to be with me, you know.”
Jiang Cheng freezes.
“Yeah, I know. But if he doesn’t want it, then what can I do? I missed my chance, I just have to accept that.”
A self-deprecating smile overtakes Nie Mingjue’s face and Jiang Cheng feels like he’s going to be sick. His stomach twisting and his heart clenching painfully.
Isn’t this exactly what he wanted? What does his brain think showing this to him will do? Aside from torture him.
Before he can even gather his thoughts, the scene is changing once more.
The sharp piercing noise that accompanies it causing him to cover his ears.
Blinking the pain away, he notices he’s standing in the middle of what looks like a karaoke place. Music is blasting, lights are flashing, and immediately, Jiang Cheng wants to leave.
There’s a kid that looks like one of the Ouyang boys belting out a love song on the machine and Jiang Cheng feels the urge to take the mic and show him how it’s really done. But then the Ouyang boy is screaming, “Jin Ling! It’s your turn, get your sad ass up here!”
Jiang Cheng’s head shoots to the side and there his nephew is, in all his pouty glory.
“Shut up and leave me alone!”
Well, that was rude.
The Ouyang boy seems unaffected, simply sticking out his tongue and continuing the song, and Jiang Cheng realizes two things.
One, his nephew has adopted too many of his mannerisms. A deep sense of guilt floods his being.
Two, Jin Ling doesn’t want to be there. He looks miserable, glancing at his phone every minute or so, only to shove it away when he doesn't get a new notification.
Another kid slides next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder as Jin Ling sinks further into the seat.
“He still hasn’t contacted you yet?”
His nephew shakes his head haltingly, tears beginning to fill the corners of his eyes. “Even if he didn’t want to spend the day together, I thought he’d at least wish me a Merry Christmas.”
Jiang Cheng’s heart breaks watching his nephew wipe away tears. Tears caused by him, apparently.
The new kid pats his nephew’s back, “Sorry, we thought this would cheer you up a bit.”
“It’s fine, it’s not your fault. I should have known it would turn out this way if I mentioned it. All we do is fight anyway.”
No, he shouldn’t have.
Jiang Cheng should have been able to tell, and he’s kicking himself for letting Jin Ling feel this way- for pushing him away.
Jin Ling is so much like himself that he should have known better than to take his nephew’s words at face value.
It’s his fault.
He reaches out to try and comfort the young boy but his vision goes black.
When he opens his eyes, once again, he’s staring at his ceiling, his hand reaching out towards nothingness.
xxx
It’s the day before Christmas Eve and Jiang Cheng feels like absolute shit.
Jin Ling had been gone by the time he had woken up, and he’s neither seen nor heard from the kid in days. He won’t even open his messages.
Jiang Cheng can’t get the image of his crying nephew out of his head, his dejected tone. Replaying over and over every time he closes his eyes.
And he hates the fact that he can’t fix things, even if it was a dream made up by his consciousness to shame him for his actions.
And Nie Mingjue… Nie Mingjue hasn’t contacted him either. Jiang Cheng doesn’t know what he expected. This was his decision. These are the results of his actions. He can’t keep stringing the other along when he’s not even certain what he wants. It’s better if the other finds someone else.
Jiang Cheng ignores the part of him that screams at the thought.
Not to mention, Luo Qingyang is still pissed off at him. And it seems like all of his employees are standing in solidarity with her because they aren’t talking to him either unless it’s absolutely necessary.
It’s not like he expects them to be his friends, but the silence is pretty deafening when he walks into a room.
Overall, it’s been shit. Jiang Cheng feels like utter shit and it’s beginning to piss him off.
So what if Jin Ling doesn’t answer and avoids him?
So what if he missed out on the chance to be with the only person he’s ever loved?
So what if his employees hate him?
So fucking what?
He checks his phone once more to see if Jin Ling responded.
Unread.
---
Jiang Cheng spends the rest of the day burying himself in work and avoiding anything living.
The sun crosses the sky, falling down as the moon rises and night overtakes the cityscape. Lights glistening off the pavement as snow begins to fall. One by one his employees leave; not even Luo Qingyang bothers to tell him goodbye.
He doesn’t want to go home knowing Jin Ling won’t be there and he’ll have to face the empty apartment alone.
He hates it.
He hates the situation he’s in and he hates himself.
Jiang Cheng can feel fury begin to build once more, coloring his thoughts a vivid red. He tries focusing on his work, tries to write a few more contracts, fill out a few more spreadsheets but his mind keeps wandering.
Slamming the power button down, Jiang Cheng gets up and starts gathering his stuff. He can’t concentrate like this; there’s no point in even trying.
Putting on his coats, he exits his office, shutting all the lights and locking up as he leaves. The car park isn’t that far, but it’s cold and Jiang Cheng is angry so everything is a bother.
He can’t even enjoy the season’s first snow.
Passing people on the streets, it becomes apparent just how secluded Jiang Cheng is. He doesn’t know what his face looks like, but it must be nasty; people keep moving out of his way as he stomps towards the parking lot.
It’s within sight now and he doesn’t think he’s ever been more grateful to see a car in his life.
Getting in, he blasts the heat and sinks into his seat. Checking his phone one more time- nothing.
Even with no expectations, he’s still let down.
Throwing his phone to the side, he drives home as quickly as possible without killing himself.
---
Jiang Cheng feels like the world is out to get him.
There’s that fucking jingling of bells again and he knows exactly what it means, but no matter how much he loves his sister, he can’t.
He’s angry and frustrated and he feels like shit and just- he’s fucking lonely, okay?
He’s lonely and he’s tired of feeling alone. Tired of ruining every relationship he’s ever had.
Burying himself deeper into the covers, the ringing gets louder, more persistent. Jiang Cheng scoffs, there’s a reason people hate dealing with him during business deals: he’s as stubborn an ass.
What’s a little noise gonna do? Smirking to himself, he pulls the pillows around his ears and finally, the ringing quiets down.
He feels sleep begin to overtake his mind once more, and then the covers are being pulled off his body and he’s falling onto the floor.
“What the fuck!?”
“Language, A-cheng.”
Jiang Cheng lifts himself onto his elbows to see his sister standing above him, his covers in her hands as she straightens them out on the bed again.
He falls back onto the floor and curses, covering his eyes with his hands as he feels frustration prick in the corner of his eyes.
It’s cold.
Soft fingers thread through his hair and he unintentionally leans into it.
“Come on, A-cheng, only one more.”
He shakes his head, turning on his side as he curls into himself.
“A-cheng, please. Just do it for me?”
How cruel. He was never able to deny his sister anything. Uncurling himself, he lets his sister help him up.
She’s small. He had never realized before, so used to looking up to her both metaphorically and physically, but he towers over her now.
He would have towered over her now.
“Can I ask you something, A-cheng?” She says, holding onto his hands. He nods minutely. Too tired to speak.
“What do you see in your future? What does your heart tell you you’re meant for?”
That’s easy; his response immediate. “Infinite sadness.”
Jiang Yanli looks at him, the same sad smile he’s seen the past two times she visited playing on her lips.
He hears her say the words “I hope not,” before he blinks and she disappears.
Jiang Cheng is still standing in the middle of his room; nothing has changed. No flashing lights. No loud and piercing sounds.
Just- nothing.
Rubbing his hands down his face, he walks towards the kitchen to get some water, only to be stopped by the sound of a TV playing.
Jiang Cheng looks over.
That’s odd, he thinks. He doesn’t even remember turning the TV off when he came back. There’s a brief moment when hope rises in his chest and he thinks maybe Jin Ling came home, but it’s crushed the moment he’s standing next to the couch.
Because it’s not Jin Ling lying there.
It’s him.
He looks older, angrier- if that’s even possible- deep lines marking his forehead. There’s a cup on the coffee table, and when he looks to the side, he sees a pile of bottles sitting on the floor.
It seems like the older Jiang Cheng decided to forgo the cup completely if the amount of alcohol consumed is anything to go by.
The sound of his footsteps distracts him from looking closer.
He watches as a man that must be Jin Ling walks into the living room carrying trash bags- but this Jin Ling has to be over twenty years old.
So how old does that make him, he thinks, looking down.
Jin Ling arrives next to the couch and starts picking up the bottles that litter the floor. He looks angry. He looks tired.
He looks disappointed.
Jiang Cheng feels the look Jin Ling gives his older self twist in his gut like a knife.
All but helpless to watch, he sees Jin Ling pry a wadded up piece of paper out of his hands. Tossing it to the sides as he mutters a quiet, “pathetic.”
Jiang Cheng winces, but his older version stays asleep, ignorant of the world.
He walks over to see what he was holding and almost laughs in shock. Of course.
Of course, he would still be so hung up on Nie Mingjue that something as simple as a wedding invitation would send him on a drinking spree.
Jin Ling was right. Jiang Cheng is pathetic.
The sound of bottles clinking together pulls Jiang Cheng’s attention back to his nephew.
The man is putting on his coat already, preparing to leave him alone in his misery. The words, “Merry Christmas, jiujiu,” leave his mouth as he closes the door.
And Jiang Cheng can’t help but think that this is exactly what he deserves.
The scene blurs and all that was once there disappears. His sister is standing in front of him again, and Jiang Cheng feels shame burn hot across his face.
“Why,” he asks. “Why? What was the point of showing me all this? To tell me I’m a disappointment? A mess? A failure and that’s all I’ll ever be?”
“Why?” He screams, feeling his emotions come to a crescendo, sinking to the floor as his knees hit the carpet. “Why am I like this?”
Falling forward, he sobs into his arms as a warm hand soothes his back accompanied by hushed humming.
Years and years of pain and regret flash through his mind. A bad son. A bad brother. A bad friend, uncle, employee, boss- everything.
He’s worthless.
This isn’t what he wanted to be. He doesn’t want this.
It’s minutes. It’s hours. Time passes and stops, flows and halts and Jiang Cheng lets himself cry.
It isn’t until he’s calmed down enough to breathe steadily that his sister speaks, answering his question from before.
“I told you, didn’t I? You’ve gone so far you’ve gotten lost. It’s time to come home, A-cheng.” He looks up, and for the first time, his sister is crying with him. Tears streaming down her face, glistening. “I just want my baby brother to be happy.”
A strangled noise leaves his throat as he clutches onto her. “I can’t.” He admits. “I don’t know how anymore.”
She shushes him, bringing him closer. “You can,” she presses into his hair.
“I’m scared.”
“It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re strong, A-cheng. And you have such good people to help you,” Jiang Yanli reassures.
“I don’t.” Jiang Cheng argues, ignoring the part about him being strong completely, but even he knows it’s weak- even he knows it’s not true.
“You do,” she says, firm like she would when they were kids. “You do. Don’t push them away.”
---
Jiang Cheng wakes up and is unsurprised to find that his face is covered in tears.
He sits up and stretches.
It would be a lie to say he didn’t still feel like absolute shit. His nose is clogged, his eyes are swollen, and he’s got a pounding headache. But that comes with the territory of crying like a baby.
Nonetheless, he feels like a string has snapped, releasing all of the emotions he’s pent up through the years and finally allowing them to fall.
Finally allowing them to settle.
He’s not better.
Nothing is better. He has a lot of work to do and a lot of apologies to make. There’s a large part of him that’s scared of the consequences, scared that he pushed too hard and too far and everyone is already tired of him.
But there’s a larger part that refuses to let the future he saw come to pass.
And that starts with Jin Ling.
Jiang Cheng grabs his phone. No notifications, but that’s fine. He’s been half-hearted about talking to his nephew and Jin Ling could probably tell- with them being so similar and all. He presses call and lets it ring.
The message tone starts up and he doesn’t hesitate, “A-ling come home tonight. I want to speak with you.”
With that done, Jiang Cheng gets up to get ready.
There’s still work today, but he has plans.
---
Entering the building, he can tell that he and his subordinates are still at a stalemate. Luo Qingyang won’t look at him, and for all intents and purposes, he’s being ignored.
Jiang Cheng heads straight to his office and sends out a company-wide email, then he gets to business.
The hours come and go and Jiang Cheng only realizes it’s noon when Luo Qingyang knocks on his door.
“One minute,” he calls and gathers his stuff.
All of his employees are gathered on the main floor as far as he can tell. Good.
“I’m letting everyone know that today will be a half-day, and tomorrow we will be closed. I’ve already informed our partners, and you will still be paid. Just finish what you’re doing and head out.”
He watches as his employees take in the news. Various faces of surprise and disbelief spread through the crowd and Jiang Cheng feels pleased by the reaction.
“Boss,” Luo Qingyang begins, “are you okay?”
“Absolutely not,” Jiang Cheng responds easily and smirks to himself when he sees the shock on her face. “Which is why I’m doing this. I’m tired and I want to be with my nephew. I figured you guys wouldn’t mind some extra time off as well.”
He looks around. “Any questions?”
He’s met with a chorus of ‘no sirs’ and increasing chatter.
Walking back into his office, he leaves the door open, expecting Luo Qingyang to close it when she follows.
The click behind him sounds as he’s sitting back in his seat.
“I’d like to apologize to you,” Jiang Cheng says before she can say anything else. “You’ve been a long time friend and I didn’t mean to dismiss your concerns. Thank you.”
He watches as understanding fills her face, and she smiles at him gently.
He hadn’t realized how long it had been since the last time he saw her smile. He’s been a rather inattentive boss as of late.
“Apology accepted, boss. I was just worried,” she says, adding, “We all were.”
That, Jiang Cheng has a harder time believing, but he appreciates the sentiment anyway.
He lets her go and gets to finishing the few things left he has for the day.
---
“What did you want to talk about?”
“What no ‘welcome home,’” Jiang Cheng tries to joke, but it falls flat. He sighs, “Pick something to order and we’ll discuss over dinner.”
Jin Ling huffs, but he walks over to the drawer where they keep their menus and starts looking regardless.
They end up getting that weird pizza Jin Ling’s been talking about for months, along with a few other things. It’s awkward as they wait, but Jiang Cheng has no idea how to bring up the subject or change the mood.
It turns out he doesn’t have to because Jin Ling goes to his room and doesn’t come out until the food arrives.
Picking at a really interesting combination of toppings, Jiang Cheng goes over what he wants to say. He’s usually a speak first, think later kind of guy, but that obviously hasn’t been working out in his favor lately.
“A-ling.” He begins, looking up to see he has the other’s attention. “I would actually prefer it if you stayed home tomorrow night.”
He watches as Jin Ling’s mouth drops, the toppings on his pizza sliding off, and is unable to stop the slight cringe that goes through his body when he hears the ‘plop’ they make.
“Why?” His nephew croaks, putting the pizza down onto his plate as he stares at Jiang Cheng cautiously.
“Jiujiu would be lonely without you,” he says and it’s one of the most embarrassing things to come out of his mouth in years, but it’s how he used to speak with Jin Ling when he was younger. Before he started trying to act more grown.
He watches as Jin Ling’s face turns red, his eyes begin to water. His nephew’s mouth opens once twice, gaping like a fish and Jiang Cheng can’t help the fondness he feels for this kid.
Jin Ling doesn’t say anything, just nods his head quickly before looking back down at his plate and eating his food. Ears still burning.
Gods, he thinks. Sorry, A-jie. He’s practically a mini-version of me.
---
Jiang Cheng is getting ready for bed when he remembers that there’s one thing left he has to do in order for him to truly be at ease.
He grabs his phone and pulls up the last conversation he had with Nie Mingjue. The sorry still glaring tragically.
He stares blankly at the screen. Trying to figure out the best way possible for him to word what he wants to say. But there are too many thoughts rushing through his head, too many things that have been left unsaid.
He’s in the kitchen, drinking a glass of water as he stares at his phone when Jin Ling pads in.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to come up with a text.”
Jin Ling stares at him like he’s grown a second head before he walks over and grabs his phone. Jiang Cheng is so tired that all he can do is let out a weak, “Hey.”
He watches while Jin Ling stares at the screen, probably shocked and horrified to find out that his jiujiu is completely useless when it comes to romance.
Although, based on his record, it might not be that big of a shock. Even to Jin Ling. He’s never actually had a partner before.
“Is this Nie Da-shu?”
Jiang Cheng hums noncommittally. Nie Mingjue used to come around a lot when Jin Ling was younger, to help Jiang Cheng out. And he’s still friends with Jin Guangyao, so he’s not surprised his nephew has an idea of the other.
He’s about to tell the kid to forget about it- he’s an adult, he’ll handle it- when he sees his nephew’s fingers move quickly across his phone, pressing something at the end.
It’s his turn to stare in horror.
“What did you do?” He whispers, afraid to look when Jin Ling hands him his phone back.
“Helped. Good night jiujiu!” Jin Ling says cheerfully as he walks away.
It’s minutes before Jiang Cheng gathers the courage to look at the screen, but when he does, a laugh bubbles itself up from the bottom of his stomach.
I’m an idiot and I’m sorry. Please come spend Christmas with my nephew and I
xxx - A year later.
Jiang Cheng rubs his eyes, staring at the contract his client so viciously rejected in hopes he finds what went wrong.
A knock sounds through the room and Luo Qingyang walks in to hand him the documents he requested that require his signature.
Going over them wordlessly, he stamps his name and hands them back to her.
Looking up at her when she doesn’t leave, he sees the amused glint in her eyes as she examines the state of his desk.
“Do you have anything else?” He prompts, raising an eyebrow at her when she just seems to smile.
“Go home,” Luo Qingyang commands cheerfully, and Jiang Cheng feels like this has happened before.
He blinks down at his desk.
It really is a mess, and he’s spent too long looking for something he knows doesn’t exist.
“Yeah,” he says, bringing his fingers to the bridge of his nose and pressing. “Yeah, okay. I’ll see you next week.”
“Have a good weekend,” she chirps as she closes the door and Jiang Cheng is left to shut down his computer and gather his things.
He drives home quietly, his phone sitting in his jacket pocket with messages he refuses to think about until Sunday afternoon at the earliest.
He wants to get home soon. He and Luo Qingyang weren’t even supposed to go in today, the company having the holiday off, but a client had called hemming and hawing that had left him with no choice.
He needs to make a note to give her another raise in the new year.
Parking his car, he trudges up to his condo, counting down each step that brings him closer to his house.
Unlocking the door, he listens to the melodic beeps as he punches in his passcode.
2. 1. 1. 1. 0. 5.
Jiang Cheng opens the door and is greeted by the strong scent of spices, the warm glow of home, and a small fluffy dog, all waiting for his arrival.
“Hey, Fairy,” he says after taking off his coat and shoes. She’s gotten heavier he notes as picks her up, bouncing her in his arms and pressing kisses to her face.
There’s a light sound of humming drifting down the halls, and Jiang Cheng tries to remember where he heard it before.
It’s familiar.
Making his way down the hall, he stops at the entry to the kitchen, smiling at the scene in front of him.
Jin Ling is standing in front of the counter, trying to roll out a sheet of what looks like cookie dough, little cat and dog cutters laying by.
Nie Mingjue stands behind him, sleeves rolled up as he looks through one of Jiang Cheng’s recipe books.
“I’m home,” Jiang Cheng greets, and instantly all eyes are on him.
Jin Ling and Nie Mingjue look at each other briefly before his nephew is coming over to hug him, Nie Mingjue following closely behind as he gazes upon them fondly.
“Merry Christmas.”
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Ya girl had to edit 9k on three platforms, I’m so tired lol.
Happy Holidays to everyone and I want to thank you all for spending the past twelve days with me.
This was day twelve of Twelve Days of Mingcheng!!
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*appears on your doorstep cradling Qinghe's Beasts* Maybe some more? JC realising he's been caught and trying for dignity, but puppies. Or maybe one of the dangerous/unmanagable dogs getting out and everyone fearing an Incident(tm)?
Hello! For 12DoMC, I’ve only done the continuation to the first part, but you will definitely see more puppies in the future because I’ve literally named the dogs already. There’s no going back, I’ve named them all and given them personalities.
Anyway, thank you for sending this in and I hope you enjoy it!
If you read it on AO3, please be aware this part starts in chapter 2!
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Twelve Days of Mingcheng - Day Three
Qinghe’s Beasts Pt. 2 - aka But Dogs
“Oh shit.”
The words ring through the kennel, piercing through Jiang Cheng’s bliss as he snaps his head in the direction they came from before freezing in mortification.
Nie Mingjue is standing at the entrance, surrounded by buckets of food and brushes. One hand is covering his mouth, eyes wide as if he didn’t mean to let the words escape the bounds of his mind.
Jiang Cheng, for his part, is waiting for the ground to swallow him whole.
Neither of them move.
Neither of them speak.
Completely oblivious to the awkward tension in the room, the fluffy black dog Jiang Cheng was previously shoving his face into decides that the lack of attention it is receiving is a crime and must be amended immediately.
One moment, Jiang Cheng is staring at the shell-shocked face of a fellow sect leader.
In the next, he can see Nie Mingjue’s hand drop as he takes a step forward before Jiang Cheng’s vision is turning sideways. A heavy weight is placed upon his chest and all he can see is black.
Jiang Cheng recognizes a few frantic shouts of “Xiaohei” muffled by the sheer amount of fur covering his ears and he thinks momentarily, “That name is really misleading...”
As Jiang Cheng lies on the floor, he realizes that this isn’t a bad way to go, getting suffocated by a dog, that is. In fact, he could probably go peacefully right now if it meant he didn’t have to explain to the other what he was doing.
Nie Mingjue is a good guy, right? If Jiang Cheng died he wouldn’t like, spread rumors and ruin his image as the cold and brutal Jiang sect leader, right?
No, he’d probably say something like, ‘Sect Leader Jiang lost his life valiantly’, or some shit like that, even though it’s a lie…
Well, it’s not like he can say the truth unless he wanted to explain why one of his pets killed a fellow sect leader. They just finished a war and Jiang Cheng isn’t sure his disciples would be strong enough to take down the Nie Sect, they’d probably just fly in blindly to defend their late sect leader’s honor or something…
Actually, wait.
Maybe the Jin Sect would support them? Probably. Jin Guangshan hates Nie Mingjue. If he could get rid of him then there’s no way he wouldn’t support Jiang Sect 2.0 (would they even still be the Jiang sect) in their endeavor to protect their legacy. All he would need to do is convince Jin Zixuan which shouldn't be too hard considering they're family by marriage and technically he should avenge him.
But would he be so keen to enter another war? Jin Zixuan seems less power-hungry than his father but Jin Guangshan still has a hold on much of the happenings in the Fragrant Palace...
Regardless, if the Jin Sect got involved it would get messy because then the Lans would have to take a stance. And with the way Lan Xichen and Jin Guangyao have been lately after his formal adoption...it doesn’t seem like the Nie Sect would get much support there either.
Oh, shit. Jiang Cheng completely forgot about Wei Wuxian. That... would be an issue within an issue since he's on probation at the moment...
Damn it, how frustrating. Jiang Cheng really should have made a plan regarding the line of succession if he were to die and how to move on from it-
“- ah, wait. But if I die then I wouldn't get to see A-ling again-”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
Jiang Cheng blinks. And then he blinks again. Apparently, he doesn’t need to be worrying about death anymore.
While he was planning his own funeral procession, Nie Mingjue must have removed Xiaohei, because the only thing in Jiang Cheng’s line of sight is the other’s face and it’s a bit… too…
“-close!” He says, pushing the other away from him as he sits up and scuttles backward.
He doesn’t get very far though, the light brown dog he was petting before is right behind him, stopping all progress as it nuzzles into his undoubtedly ruined hair.
“Are you alright?” Nie Mingjue asks, eyebrows coming together as he moves closer to Jiang Cheng, who would very much appreciate it if the man remained at least a meter away so his face could cool off a bit.
He knows his entire body has to be flushed right now, which is only making the situation worse.
“I’m fine,” he squeaks, before coughing to clear his throat. “I’m fine,” he repeats, holding a hand up, hoping the other gets the message and stays away. Nie Mingjue doesn’t look like he believes him, but he doesn’t move forward either, so Jiang Cheng counts that as a small victory.
He takes a few breaths to calm himself, his heartbeat slowly returning to normal. Then he stands up, brushes off his robes, and bows in greeting to the other sect leader. “Sect Leader Nie, I hope you pardon the intrusion.”
Glancing down, because Nie Mingjue is still kneeling on the floor, Jiang Cheng notices the other is just staring blankly at him, confused. Jiang Cheng can’t even fault him for that.
He’d very much like to move on from the past five- ten?- minutes or so and the longer Nie Mingjue remains on the ground, the longer it’ll be before that happens. “Sect Leader Nie,” he says again, with just a touch of desperation coloring his voice.
That shocks Nie Mingjue into action. He stands up, and returns the bow, allowing Jiang Cheng to stand from his own before he opens his mouth as if preparing to ask a question.
The silence drags between the two of them for a moment before the other just sighs. “May I ask why Sect Leader Jiang is here? If I recall correctly, we did not have previous arrangements.”
Ah, Jiang Cheng thinks. Caught up in the euphoria of being surrounded by many dogs, and then the following embarrassment of being seen, he had completely forgotten that he was found in another sect, without permission at that.
A sect that is well known for not appreciating intruders.
Shit. How does one even explain themselves in this situation? He’s never been good at lying, but it doesn’t hurt to try, he supposes.
“A personal visit?”
“Try again,” Nie Mingjue flatly replies, and yeah, it makes sense why that one wouldn’t work. The dogs he was just playing with have now lined up behind their leader in deference (except for the light brown one still near his back, breathing happily onto his shoulder, for some reason). He needs to do better.
“Would you believe me if I said Nie Huaisang invited me?” He tries for a smile this time, but it comes out as forced as the chuckles that accompany it, and Xiaohei yips at him as if to call him out.
“I would,” Nie Mingjue answers immediately, looking entirely too calm for the situation. Jiang Cheng breaths out a sigh of relief. “Except for the fact that Huaisang isn’t here right now, and this is a restricted access area.”
Fuck.
Jiang Cheng glances from side to side, searching for any and all exits. Unfortunately, they’re all blocked, and Nie Mingjue must have seen him looking because when he glances back, the other has his arms crossed and is staring at him like he just caught something particularly amusing.
It seems he is out of options. To the wolves you go, Wei Wuxian, he thinks.
“Wei Wuxian,” he mutters reluctantly.
“Wei Wuxian?” Nie Mingjue repeats. He’s smirking and Jiang Cheng thinks it’s entirely unfair of him to look that composed while he’s trying to save his dignity.
This may violate that asshole's probation, but it's his fault for dragging Jiang Cheng into weird shit anyway. “He was working on a new talisman or something-”
“Yeah, okay, that makes sense.” Nie Mingjue interrupts, nodding to himself.
Jiang Cheng is left floundering once again, staring disbelievingly at the other. That’s it? All he had to say was ‘Wei Wuxian’ and he’s free? All suspicions removed? Well, shit he should have just started with-
“What was it for?”
Of course, it’s not that easy. Jiang Cheng tries to think back, “Something about bringing you what you want most in life… or something…”
“Hmm, but Sect Leader Jiang,” Nie Mingjue says, pausing for a moment, clearly trying to hold back a smile (Jiang Cheng is beginning to think the other man just enjoys fucking with him), “I was unaware you had such affection for our hounds.”
...And he’s flushed again. Realizing the implications of what he said, he coughs into his fist, eyes shaking as he laughs, rough and stilted. “Well, I guess I am a bit fond of dogs.”
“No need to be embarrassed,” Nie Mingjue reassures, but from the glint in his eyes, Jiang Cheng can tell that the man is absolutely enjoying how uncomfortable he’s making him. It seems there are more similarities between Nie Huaisang and Nie Mingjue than he had initially thought.
“You know,” Nie Mingjue begins, voice hinting at something Jiang Cheng can’t quite parse, “you’re welcome to visit them any time. As long as I’m there to supervise, of course.”
The smirk is back and Jiang Cheng’s face is in flames. Nie Mingjue is definitely fucking with him, one hundred percent, there’s no other explanation...but dogs.
Is Jiang Cheng willing to risk his pride just to see some puppies? He glances around the kennel once more, looking at all the dogs he could pet if he just withstood some embarrassment.
“Thank you. Yes, please,” he mumbles to the responding laughter of Nie Mingjue.
The distance between them shrinks as Nie Mingjue walks over to place a hand on his upper back, pushing him slightly forward. He leans over a bit to look at him, eyes shining and dimples displayed proudly, and Jiang Cheng can only stare dumbfounded. Who knew Nie Mingjue had dimples…
“I guess we’d better start the introductions then, hm?”
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And day three has been posted! Thank you for reading!!
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For the Twelve Days of Mingcheng, may i request jc very obsessively and kinda obviously thirsting for nmj's hot bod (and also for the rest of him but yk), and maybe wwx isnt dead here so he teases him mercilessly for it along with nhs? Maybe nmj is Aware of it and reciprocates with some thirst of his own? No pressure tho, you dont have to write it if you dont vibe with it! Thanks anyway, and i hope you have a great week!!💖
So it looks like I got around to it lol I don’t know if this is quite what you were expecting, but I had fun writing it so I hope you’ll enjoy it!
AO3 link
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Twelve Days of Mingcheng - Day Nine
Objective
Nie Mingjue enters the arena and the crowd goes silent.
It’s been years since the heir to the Nie Sect participated in events other than mounted archery or sword fighting, so for him to join the roster for hand-to-hand combat is unexpected.
Spectators watch with bated breath as he walks to his place and murmurs begin to spread as people feel anticipation grow.
The fight hasn’t begun, but already bets are being placed.
Eyes shift from Nie Mingjue to the first opponent, and it’s blatantly obvious who will win; the questions shifting from who will win, to how long will it take, and for how many rounds will he go undefeated?
Because even with the young opponent’s own heavyweight status, he pales in comparison next to the Nie Sect heir.
It doesn’t help that he’s already starstruck in the face of a walking legend- a man that had to stop competing because he won too often and needed to give others a chance.
Nie Mingjue reaches his spot, stretches briefly, before getting rid of the robes on his upper body. He gets in position, the gong tolls, and then in the blink of an eye, it’s over.
The kid is already laid out on his back, and Nie Mingjue hasn’t even broken a sweat.
How long did it last? The question spreads throughout the crowd. Who won? How much?
Those who have never seen Nie Mingjue fight are completely blindsided by the power his body possesses. Excitement begins to build, growling steadily as the call is announced.
Round One, Nie Mingjue.
---
Jiang Cheng swallows what has to be his twentieth shot, slamming it down on the table as he pronounces, “What the fuck is up with your brother?”
Conversation stops at the table, chatter from the background overpowering. He raises his gaze to make eye contact with his companions.
Wei Wuxian looks confused, and Nie Huaisang is staring at him slightly offended.
“Well?” Jiang Cheng prompts, a bit more forceful than he intended, but it’s important.
“Jiang-xiong,” Nie Huaisang begins, uncertain, “I’m not quite sure what you mean…”
“What I mean is,” Jiang Cheng says, tone rising in emphasis as he punctuates each word with a tap of his cup, “isn’t it too much? Does he really need to look like that?”
Wei Wuxian chokes on his own spit, coughing into his cup, and Nie Huaisang’s nose scrunches in disgust, eyebrows pulling in as he starts to frown.
“Jiang-xiong-”
“Like seriously! Isn’t it enough?” Jiang Cheng asks, desperation coloring his voice as he remembers the scene from earlier today. “He couldn’t stop at being a competent heir? He wasn’t happy with being top of his class and champion of all inter-sect competitions? He just had to go and have the body of a fucking martial god too?”
He pours himself another cup and downs it in an instant. “Fucking disrespectful.”
A beat of silence passes between them before Wei Wuxian busts a gut, falling out of his chair as he cackles at Jiang Cheng’s predicament.
“Jiang-xiong, that’s my brother.”
“And?” He says, raising his eyebrow, begging the other to argue.
“I’m just saying.” Nie Huaisang replies, snapping his open to cover his face while glaring at Jiang Cheng. “I’d rather not hear you lusting after my brother.”
“I’m not lusting,” Jiang Cheng retorts instantly, “I’m being objective.”
“Jiang Cheng-” Wei Wuxian squeaks from his spot on the floor, a new round of laughter starting up.
“No, listen,” Jiang Cheng starts and Nie Huaisang knows he’s going to hate absolutely every word that comes out of his friend’s mouth next. “It’s the objective truth that Nie Mingjue is fucking ripped. His biceps alone should be classified as weapons of mass destruction, and his thighs are the size of my head.”
Nie Huaisang groans, but Jiang Cheng continues anyway. “And even though this is the first time I’m seeing his abdomen, gods bless by the way, is anyone surprised he’s shredded there too?”
“Don’t forget his height!” Wei Wuxian pipes up from the floor and Nie Huaisang throws his fan at him; it hits the mark, right between the eyes, and Wei Wuxian yelps. Jiang Cheng pays that no mind.
“Thank you, Wei Wuxian.” He goes on. “Nie Mingjue is 1. 9. 3 cm! That’s ridiculous, not even Lan Xichen is that tall! Where does it come from? Did he win the entire genetics lottery or something-”
“Jiang-xiong, you’re pushing it-”
“And his face! It’s not fair, it’s against the rules! He has dimples. I hate it. I hate him and his stupid face.”
“The first time I saw his face I thought one of the temple statues came to life” Wei Wuxian nods solemnly, finally getting himself under control. He waves down a waiter, asking for another bottle.
“This is bullying.” Nie Huaisang whines, grabbing whatever alcohol there is left on the table. “You guys are bullying me.”
“It’s not our fault your brother’s hot.”
“Exactly!” Jiang Cheng says, clinking his cup with Wei Wuxian in camaraderie. “This wouldn’t have even been an issue if your brother hadn’t competed today- half-naked- and then proceeded to defeat fifteen men.”
And it’s totally not bullying, his mind adds. If it were, Jiang Cheng would have mentioned how he dreams about those thighs under his hands; fantasizes about his large hands gripping his hair; thinks about how Nie Mingjue is so strong he’d probably be able to hold Jiang Cheng up against a wall as he-
The waiter passes by, placing another three bottles on the table and Jiang Cheng coughs lightly as they each grab one. He’s lucky his face is already flushed from the booze
He and Wei Wuxian both pour their alcohol into their cups, but Nie Huaisang opts to just drink it straight from the jug. He’ll need it if he wants to keep sitting here.
It’s not like Nie Huaisang has never heard people talk about his brother this way, it’s just that these are his friends; having to listen to this from them just isn't right. He shakes his head in disappointment. It’s not like he ever spoke about his fantasy threesome so this is just uncalled for.
“Don’t you find him intimidating though?” Wei Wuxian asks, breaking everyone’s train of thought.
Nie Mingjue isn’t the most intimidating person Wei Wuxian has ever met, he grew up with Madame Yu after all, but he definitely ranks high on the list. There are very few people that could shut him up with a single glare after all.
But Wei Wuxian knows Jiang Cheng, and he knows his didi has a type- a flashback of Wen Qing enters his mind and he shudders, that was unfortunate. Regardless, if the question is intimidation…then Jiang Cheng might be, but that's the point.
“He could choke me with his thighs and I’d say thank you.” Jiang Cheng answers, completely serious.
“Oh, really?”
The three of them freeze, cups poised to drink still hovering in the air as they look at one another in horror.
The first one to break eye-contact is Nie Huaisang, who glances up and pales immediately. “Er-ge, San-ge-” a gulp- “Da-ge.”
Wei Wuxian is the next to take the leap, peeking to the side. And then immediately looking away, laughing haltingly as he exchanges his cup for the bottle and drinks.
“And who might’ve caught Young Master Jiang’s eye,” a deep baritone voice asks and Jiang Cheng jumps at the attention, almost spilling his alcohol before he can put it down.
Jiang Cheng laughs nervously, looking at the three men standing near their table. Lan Xichen looks mildly embarrassed, his ears tinged pink; Meng Yao is hiding a smirk behind his sleeve, but you can see it in his eyes; Nie Mingjue just looks genuinely curious to hear his response, and somehow that’s worse.
Jiang Cheng thinks he’d rather face his mother’s wrath than answer that question- he’s always been such shit at lying- but it doesn’t seem like that will happen.
He looks to Nie Huaisang for help- the fan is back up and he’s checking his nails. Nothing.
He looks at Wei Wuxian for help- nevermind, that was a stupid idea. Nothing.
He sighs.
“I was just referring to someone I saw earlier,” Jiang Cheng mumbles into his cup.
It’s not exactly a lie, he tells himself, so it shouldn’t be too obvious.
Nie Mingjue hums for a moment, looking at him contemplatively, before smirking. “That’s a shame. I thought you were talking about me.”
And with that, he walks the fuck away.
Jiang Cheng is speechless.
Nie Huaisang is speechless.
Wei Wuxian, Lan Xichen, even Meng Yao- all speechless, staring at the place the man previously took up.
“Holy shit.”
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I'm taking bets on NHS's fantasy threesome :p
Also, WQ is a whole lesbian in this one so JC had no chance, really. Poor kid.
Thank you for reading!! This was day nine!
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Hey, so, i'm kinda shit at prompting, but today i was on wiki how random, and got the article 'how to make a baby laugh'. Think you can do something with that for the mingcheng thing? Thank you!
Don’t worry, the prompt is fine. I’m pretty easy lol And I sure can! I hope you like it anon cause it was fun to write!!
AO3 link~~
Trigger Warning: A brief section of implied/referenced child abuse/neglect because JFM and YZY exist.
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Twelve Days of Mingcheng - Day Five
Wanna fly?
“Husband, breathe,” Nie Mingjue says, placing his hands on Jiang Cheng’s shoulders so he can push him down onto the couch to sit. “Now, give me the maracas.”
Jiang Cheng hands them over mindlessly, staring out into the distance of their apartment as he contemplates the meaning of life. Why is he alive if he can’t even make his daughter laugh? What is the point?
He falls forward, face landing on Nie Mingjue’s stomach as he laments his failures while Nie Mingjue merely pats his head as he whines into his shirt.
They’ve been at it for days now.
A little over two weeks ago, they brought home their pride and joy, Jiang Yiran, swaddled up in a pale pink blanket just ready to be loved. And since then, Jiang Cheng has been trying absolutely everything to get her to laugh.
She’ll smile real wide at them, all toothless and gummy, but she’ll never actually laugh, and obviously, that means now Nie Mingjue and Jiang Cheng are in the midst of a competition to see who can pull giggles from their daughter first.
“You know, A-jue, I never thought I’d need to look up a wikiHow article just to make a baby laugh.” Nie Mingjue feels for him, truly.
But he also thinks it’s hilarious.
For some reason, Jiang Cheng has this uncanny ability to attract both babies and animals. He has never had to try and actively get a baby to like him. The fact that their own daughter refuses to laugh must be a big hit to her dad’s pride.
Nie Mingjue, on the other hand, is used to terrifying babies. He’s good with them once they become familiar with his overall size and presence, but it doesn’t come easy. The fact that Ran’er didn’t cry the moment she laid eyes upon him is already a win in his mind.
As he combs his fingers through Jiang Cheng’s hair in sympathy, he glances over quickly to see their kid bouncing happily in her seat.
“Maybe she just doesn’t like laughing?” He suggests. If he recalls correctly, Lan Wangji didn’t laugh much as a kid…
“Don’t. You. Dare.” Jiang Cheng removes his face from his stomach to glare up at him weakly, “She’s nothing like that woodblock.”
Holding back a smile, Nie Mingjue holds up his hands in innocence. “I didn’t say anything.”
Jiang Cheng squints his eyes at him, still suspicious, before pouting. “Yeah, but you thought it.” And what is Nie Mingjue to do but kiss that pout off of his husband’s face?
Leaning over, he places a kiss on Jiang Cheng’s forehead. Tilting the other’s head slightly, he goes in once more and feels his husband sigh against his lips.
Releasing him gently, Nie Mingjue looks at his husband, eyes still closed, mouth still parted, and places one more kiss on his nose, smiling to himself as Jiang Cheng scoffs at his silliness.
“Better?” He asks, and his smile only grows when the other nods shyly.
Nearly ten years together and Jiang Cheng is still shy about receiving affection.
“Do you want to go over what you’ve tried so far?” He asks seriously because while this might just be some little competition to him, he knows it’s more serious than that to Jiang Cheng.
“I tried doing peek-a-boo first,” Jiang Cheng begins, and Nie Mingjue nods because he remembers that. They had both tried, to no avail.
“Mhm, and then I tried ‘This Little Piggy,” Nie MIngjue continues and Jiang Cheng snorts.
“I still don’t know why a pig would go to the market to get roast beef but whatever.”
Nie Mingjue doesn’t know either, but it was something his mothers used to play with him and Nie Huaisang when they were younger. It always got them to giggle, so he figured it was worth a shot. He had been unsurprised when he found out Jiang Cheng had never heard of the song, but he’s still a bit defensive of it. Even if it doesn’t actually make sense.
“Moving on,” he says, “I tried singing and you tried weird faces-”
“And then I tried funny voices.”
“Yes,” Nie MIngjue says, nodding in agreement. “Did we try tickling?”
“Yeah, I think.” Jiang Cheng responds, “And I tried raspberries, and then the maracas. Nothing. Obviously.”
Nie Mingjue is beginning to question what he knows about babies. “Have we tried, I don’t know, tossing her?”
Jiang Cheng looks at him for a moment, and Nie Mingjue is about to ask if something is wrong when-
“I am not throwing our child in the air, Nie Mingjue.”
Well, then.
At this point, Nie Mingjue is willing to let things flow naturally. She’ll laugh when she laughs, and if she doesn’t, then at least she’s smiling and happy. But it doesn’t seem like Jiang Cheng is ready to give up yet because gets up from the couch and walks over to Ran’er, picking up a stuffed animal along the way.
Nie Mingjue sighs fondly, watching his husband and daughter interacting, and then makes his way into the kitchen. He knows Jiang Cheng will be too preoccupied to even think about eating.
As he prepares lunch, he thinks about how far he and Jiang Cheng have come in their relationship.
He thinks about how when they had first gotten serious, Jiang Cheng was adamant about not having children. The fear that he’d turn into his parents resting heavily in his mind.
Nie Mingjue had thought it ridiculous at the time. Jiang Cheng neglecting his own kid? Yeah, right. Pitting that child against their sibling, mentally abusing, and belittling them? Unthinkable.
It was obvious from the way he interacted with his nephews that Jiang Cheng absolutely adored children, but there was always that mental block preventing him from imagining it as something he could have.
After realizing how deep the fear ran, and the fact that it was one shared by all three siblings (although to varying degrees, obviously), Nie Mingjue had made up his mind.
He wasn’t willing to give up Jiang Cheng.
Absolutely not. His heart was set the minute he saw the other smile for the first time; it was too late for him to pick anyone else. So if Jiang Cheng didn’t want kids, then it was fine. As long as he had Jiang Cheng and their nephews (and his brother) to spoil, he’d be happy.
And he was happy. For the six years they spent together, just the two of them, Nie Mingjue could say that, without a doubt, he was happy.
But when Jiang Cheng had approached them on their seventh anniversary, hinting that maybe he’d want to adopt a kid with Nie Mingjue, well. No one could blame Nie Mingjue if he cried that night.
And then the morning after when he realized it wasn’t a dream.
And then the first time he saw Ran’er.
And then during every other step of the process.
Jiang Cheng likes to make fun of him for crying so frequently, but it’s not like he wasn’t there right beside him, sobbing as they finalized adoption papers.
Nie Mingjue is just about to finish up lunch, laughing to himself as he thinks about how ugly Jiang Cheng had looked when he proposed, straight-up bawling, when he hears his name.
“NIE MINGJUE GET YOUR ASS IN HERE RIGHT NOW!”
Eyes widening in shock, Nie Mingjue drops the pans back on the stove after quickly turning the burners off.
He runs into the living room, ready to...fight? Scream? Apologize? He doesn’t know but he’s ready regardless. That is until he sees what’s happening.
Jiang Cheng is holding their child up like Simba as he smiles wider than Nie Mingjue has ever seen before.
“You were right!” Jiang Cheng screams at him.
“I was?!” He responds, happy but confused because Jiang Cheng is rarely so jubilant when he’s right about something.
“Yes! Now put the spatula down and come over here.”
Nie Mingjue looks down at his hand and yep, there it is. He’s still holding the spatula. He places it on the nearest surface before rushing over to his husband.
Their child is still dangling in his arms, clueless to the commotion, but happy to be there nonetheless.
“Okay, now watch. Ran’er, you wanna fly?” He says to their kid, who babbles happily in response.
Nie Mingjue watches as Jiang Cheng lowers her slightly, before raising her back up above his head at a moderate speed. She doesn’t even leave his hands, but she’s breaking out in giggles anyway. Babbling unintelligibly as her hands sway back and forth in little clapping motions.
Nie Mingjue stands frozen, watching as his daughter and husband continue to play, giggling and shrieking all the while and oh- he needs a minute. He needs to sit.
“A-jue, are you crying again?” Jiang Cheng calls out and Nie Mingjue can hear the smile in his voice- can see the smile on his face as he holds their baby. Their laughing baby, and yeah
He might be crying.
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Nie Mingjue is a jock that cries and that’s Valid.
江毅然 (Jiāng yìrán) - 毅 yì (firm, resolute) & 然 rán (right, correct) to get "without hesitation." She is around seven months old; lifting the child should be fine at this point with them having developed the muscles to keep their head upright.
Day five of Twelve Days of Mingcheng complete! Thank you for reading
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Twelve Days of Mingcheng Day 1
This is filling the prompts “gearing up for winter,” sent in by @shakespearean-ginger (who I can’t @, love that) and “winter coats,” sent in by @death-day-59 (who I also can’t @. amazing). Cross-posted on AO3. Anyway. Let’s get this started!
It’s too cold for this s**t
“It’s cold.”
“I know.” Nie Mingjue says, scanning the street.
“I hate this.”
“I know.” He readjusts his jacket.
“This is your fault,” Jiang Cheng whines, lifting his head so he can glare at Nie Mingjue from where he’s standing, huddled against the other’s chest, before quickly burying his nose back into Nie Mingjue’s neck.
“I know, Cheng’er,” Nie Mingjue concedes, removing his right arm from around Jiang Cheng to check the time, briefly placing a kiss on the top of the other’s head when he hears a disgruntled noise leave his mouth at the lack of warmth.
Their ride is almost an hour late.
He puts his phone back in his pocket, then wraps as much of his jacket as he can around his half-frozen boyfriend, arms placed firmly around the other’s midsection.
Five minutes, he tells himself. Five more minutes and then he’s going to have to call the company because this is getting ridiculous. Used to it as he is, even he doesn’t like standing out in freezing temperatures for more than necessary.
Jiang Cheng mutters something angrily into his neck and suddenly Nie Mingjue jumps at cold hands making their way under his clothes. Before he can complain about the invasion of icicles sliding up his back, two headlights turn the corner, blinding him as a car pulls to a stop in front of them.
“Oh thank god.”
In the blink of an eye, Jiang Cheng untangles himself from Nie Mingjue and makes a dive for the door. Embraced by stale heat that couldn’t be more welcome, he only briefly considers the fact that he should have helped Nie Mingjue put the bags in the trunk.
But in his defense, his hands are pretty much frozen shut, and he really can’t bring himself to go back out into the frigid hell that is Qinghe during winter. And then Jiang Cheng reminds himself that it’s not even “technically” winter yet.
He groans as he breathes into his hands, warming them as much as possible.
Jiang Cheng had thought he was prepared for this. He had spent so much time researching and checking weather reports, he even bought a new winter coat! Thinking that this isn’t even the worst of it is seriously making him reconsider why he agreed to come- well. That’s not really true.
They hadn’t seen each other since Nie Mingjue had visited him in July, which was how it had been for the past two years of their long-distance relationship: always Nie Mingjue making the effort to visit him.
He couldn’t let that stand.
So when Nie Mingjue had brought up the idea of Jiang Cheng visiting, he jumped on the opportunity and made plans immediately.
And now he’s here, in the backseat of a taxi in the middle of the night, freezing his ass off. He tries to remember the smile Nie Mingjue had given him when he arrived and tells himself it’ll be fine. It’s worth it.
Outside, Nie Mingjue makes quick work of Jiang Cheng’s bags and sends off a text to his brother, informing him that they’re finally on their way home.
He knows Nie Huaisang has been waiting almost as impatiently as he has to see his best friend again, so the chances of him being asleep are low.
And as expected, his phone buzzes instantly.
Do we have to enter A-cheng as a piece in Harbin’s winter fest???*
Glancing through the window, he sees Jiang Cheng leaning over to talk with the driver, and chuckles to himself.
Nah. We just have to stock up on hot chocolate.
Sliding into the car, Nie Mingjue greets the driver and is unprepared for the armful of Jiang Cheng he gets once buckled in.
Normally, Jiang Cheng stays to himself when in the presence of others, still too reserved to go beyond subtle hand-holding and a quick hug here and there.
Nie Mingjue figures Jiang Cheng doesn’t mind it this time because they’ll probably never see the driver again, so he doesn’t hold back, reciprocating the gesture and wrapping his arms tightly around the other.
Jiang Cheng, on the other hand, is too tired, has missed Nie Mingjue too much, and is simply too goddamned cold to even feel embarrassed at this point.
Five months apart, delayed trains, and one-degree weather will do that to a man, he rationalizes, looking outside the window as he watches the cursed train station fade into the distance.
“Take the trains,” Nie Mingjue had said. “It’s cheaper and the scenery is gorgeous during the winter,” he had convinced him.
The scenery was not worth it.
At least not when he left at 6 pm and arrived near 1 am; he couldn’t even see anything. Jiang Cheng scoffs to himself.
Nie Mingjue hums in question but he just shakes his head. Had Jiang Cheng known it would be this difficult just to see his boyfriend, he would have readily spent the extra money to buy a plane ticket.
But like they say, hindsight is 20/20 and Jiang Cheng is just glad he agreed to let the other meet him, otherwise, he’d definitely be suffering from hypothermia at this point.
Thanking everything that's holy for the fact that Nie Mingjue has a high body temperature, Jiang Cheng burrows deeper into his boyfriend's chest as he stares out the window, allowing the passing lights to lull him to sleep.
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By the time they finally pull in front of the Nie residence, it’s past 3 am and Jiang Cheng is passed out on Nie MIngjue’s shoulder.
Nie Mingjue tries to gently wake the other but to no avail. He had almost forgotten how heavy a sleeper Jiang Cheng could be in their time apart. He tries again. Nothing.
Glancing up, he catches the driver looking at them through the rearview mirror, a single eyebrow raised, and he feels his cheeks warm.
Coughing slightly, he shifts his head to avoid eye-contact, and focuses on Jiang Cheng, “Sorry, just give us a moment.”
“No problem,” the man says, still amused, “you guys are my last.”
Hearing that, Nie Mingjue calls Jiang Cheng’s name a bit louder, shaking his shoulder lightly until the other is blearily blinking up at him.
“We’re here.”
Jiang Cheng grunts in response, sitting up slowly as he rubs the sleep from his eyes. It doesn’t work though, there’s still a fog clouding his mind, his eyes continuing to droop.
Nie Mingjue reaches around him to unbuckle his seatbelt and then helps him out of the car, leaving the other to stand as he gets their stuff from the trunk.
The wind has begun to pick up, and a quick glance at Jiang Cheng convinces Nie Mingjue to move faster because his lover, delirious as he is, might just blow away with it and he can’t have that.
Paying the driver his fee and giving him a quick thanks, he rushes over to Jiang Cheng, places a hand on his back, and gently guiding him towards the house.
Before they can even get halfway there, Nie Huaisang is throwing the door open in excitement, blinding them with the light that shines out from the house, shouting, “A-cheng!”
He’s about to go in for a hug when Nie Mingjue throws a piece of luggage at him, “Help first, hugs later.”
Nie Huaisang grumbles something that Nie MIngjue can’t quite make out, but he grabs another piece of luggage from the arm that isn’t holding onto Jiang Cheng anyway and then runs off back into the house.
It takes them a bit longer, but he and Jiang Cheng finally cross the threshold. Dropping the remaining luggage unceremoniously, Nie Mingjue shuts the door behind him, taking a moment to bask in the lack of wind and frost inside his home.
The moment is broken when Nie Huaisang comes rushing back down towards them, only to stop short. He takes a good look at the pair of them, and Nie Mingjue can only imagine how disheveled he and Jiang Cheng must look.
Nie Huaisang heaves a sigh.
“I guess I can finish putting the luggage away,” he says, smiling fondly at Jiang Cheng, who remains oblivious to everything around him, listing to the side every minute or so.
“Thanks, didi,” Nie MIngjue responds, ruffling Nie Huaisang’s hair as he passes by, all the while supporting Jiang Cheng to get to the bedroom.
Guiding Jiang Cheng to sit on the bed, Nie Mingjue starts by unraveling the scarf around his neck, folding it neatly before placing it to the side. Then he unzips a very puffy jacket.
It takes some time, trying to maneuver the thing off without causing the other to fall. When he’s finally successful, he almost laughs at the sheer amount of layers Jiang Cheng is wearing; there’s a cardigan over his sweater, and a button-down under that, all on top of what looks like a thermal undershirt. And that’s on the top alone.
Well, Nie Mingjue can’t fault him for being prepared. (It also explains all the luggage when he’s only staying for a few weeks).
Making quick work of the remaining layers, Nie Mingjue manages to get Jiang Cheng down to a reasonable amount of clothes and tries to get him settled for bed.
Jiang Cheng, for his part, doesn’t make many complaints, too far gone to actually process what’s happening beyond the feeling of slowly warming up, and quickly losing consciousness.
He blinks and he’s in the bedroom, he blinks and Nie Mingjue is kneeling in front of him, unlacing his boots.
The last time he remembers blinking, the bed is dipping beside him, and there’s a soft pressure on his forehead, followed by a whispered, “Welcome home, Cheng’er.”
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And that’s day one of Twelve Days of Mincheng! Shout out to all the people who get cold easy, that’s not me but I feel for y’all.
*Harbin is known for hosting the largest winter festival in the world, the International Snow and Ice Festival. Ice sculptures are a prominent feature during this celebration.
Thank you for reading!
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Twelve Days of Mingcheng Day 2
Brought to you at the request of @immacaria is today’s prompt: Locked In. Although I’m not quite sure this is what you had in mind, I hope you still enjoy it!!
Here it is on AO3 for those of you that prefer it.
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(Un)Fortunately, Wei Ying was right.
“A-Ying, help.”
A moment passes, the static ringing louder than even the sound of his breathing, before-
“A-Cheng where are you? Are you okay? What’s happening?”
Jiang Cheng glances around the room he sent himself for exile and sighs. “Calm down, I’m fine. I’m just...so fucking stupid.”
He can almost imagine the expression on Wei Ying’s face during the responding silence; eyebrow raised in incredulity, mouth slightly dropped to make an “o,” now he just has to wait for the incoming onslaught in three, two, one…
“Jiang Cheng, what the fuck,” Wei Ying sighs into the receiver, “you had me worried. I thought this was gonna be serious-”
“Excuse me, it is serious,” Jiang Cheng retorts.
“Excuse me,” Wei Ying says back, “but you do something stupid like, every Tuesday, so pardon me if I’m relieved it’s just that, and you’re not stuck somewhere, locked in a bathroom trying to escape an axe murderer as he walks by the stalls, lights flickering ominously while his footsteps echo against linoleum!”
Wei Ying takes a moment to breathe and Jiang Cheng takes a moment to absorb all of...that.
He’s always had a vibrant imagination, and Jiang Cheng is kind of curious to hear whether he would have survived the hell-scape that is his brother’s mind, but there are more pressing matters at hand. “Well, you got the bathroom part right.”
“Jiang Cheng, what are you doing?”
He takes a deep breath, which doesn’t help at all because the bathroom smells almost exactly like the current problem he’s hiding from, bath and body products scattered carelessly about that he definitely has not memorized for future reference. “I’m hiding in Nie Mingjue’s bathroom.”
“Oh,” Wei Ying hums, “so it’s that kinda stupid. I see.”
“Shut up.”
“Hey! You were the one who called me. And honestly, I fail to see how this is a problem beyond the fact that you’re hiding in a bathroom and not out there making out with your man.”
“He’s not my man,” Jiang Cheng snaps.
“Oh? And why is that?”
“You know why,” Jiang Cheng says, insisting. “He doesn’t see me like that.”
“‘He doesn’t see me like that,’ my ass!” Wei Ying mocks. “Jiang Cheng, that man has been in love with you for three years! At least! Please, pull your head out of your insecurity and join reality.”
“First of all, nobody cares about your ass. Second, that’s fucking ridiculous and you know it.”
A loud groan sounds over the receiver and Jiang Cheng actually has to move the phone away from his ear. Wei Ying grumbles something that he can’t quite make out, but he knows it isn’t good.
Several minutes of grumbling go by before Wei Ying finally decides to share with the rest of the class. “A-Cheng, I’m begging you, for once, just- be brave. Put yourself out there, it’ll be fine.”
“And I’m telling you that’s not gonna happen.”
“And your big brother is telling you it will!”
“It won’t.”
“Die alone then.”
Before Jiang Cheng can even call out Wei Ying’s name, the line goes dead and he’s left to suffer in the silence of his own stupidity. Why did he think calling his brother in this time of need would be a good idea?
Tossing his phone aside, he groans into his hands, regretting every decision he’s ever made that has led him to this point.
If only he had checked the weather before leaving.
If only he hadn’t stayed to talk after stopping by, losing track of time until it became too late; before he was forced to face the truth of 40 cm of snow and stopped public transportation.
If only it wasn’t Nie Mingjue, who looks like a god carved out of marble, and also happens to be the man he’s been crushing on since his first year in college.
Jiang Cheng has many regrets.
He’s about to mentally go over all of the ways he could manage to escape without dying in a blizzard when a loud knock startles him halfway off the toilet.
“Jiang Cheng, are you alright?”
No. He is very much not alright. His heart is pounding so fast that the concept of it simply beating out of his chest seems less impossible by the second.
He tries to calm down, breathing in and out steadily. Eventually, his heartbeat settles enough for him to think.
Until Nie Mingjue knocks on the door again, this time with more urgency. “Jiang Cheng?”
“Coming,” he calls out, “just- just give me a moment.”
Jiang Cheng unfolds his legs from where they were pulled close to his body and finally lifts himself off the toilet. He pats down his hair in an attempt to bring some order to it and opens the door.
He’s met by Nie Mingjue, fist raised to knock, and mouth hanging open to call out his name again.
He chuckles a bit awkwardly, his eyes looking just past Nie Mingjue’s shoulder, and he hopes that his cheeks aren’t as red as he thinks they are. “Sorry, I’m fine.”
Nie Mingjue’s mouth snaps shut and his hand falls to his side; he looks at Jiang Cheng for a moment, studying.
Jiang Cheng’s hand tightens around the doorknob, and now he knows his face is definitely red because he feels like it’s been set on fire, but Nie Mingjue doesn’t say anything. He just continues to observe.
The silence is beginning to get to him, so he finally looks up at Nie Mingjue, finally makes eye-contact. Jiang Cheng is just about to open his mouth to ask the other if anything was wrong when the corner of Nie Mignjue’s mouth lifts, and he hums, “As long as you’re okay.”
He then walks away, leaving Jiang Cheng standing in the bathroom doorway to wonder what the fuck just happened.
By the time he manages to restart his brain and make it to the living room, Nie Mingjue has already made himself comfortable. Obviously he would, it’s his house, Jiang Cheng reminds himself, but did he have to sit right in the Center. Of. The. Couch? Was it really necessary?
Jiang Cheng has two options, and both of them are dangerously close to the object of his affections, leaving him with little room to keep his distance and too much room to embarrass himself.
Looking away from the TV for a moment, Nie Mingjue glances at him, raising an amused eyebrow, a smirk just barely visible, and Jiang Cheng has a distinct feeling that he’s entered a trap somehow.
He never should have left the bathroom.
No, he never should have gone to college.
Because then he never would have had to drag Nie Huaisang’s drunk ass home during freshman orientation. And then he never would have met the most attractive human he’s ever seen in his life, who also happens to treat him as an individual and not an extension of his last name, while also sharing his enthusiasm for all things dog-related, leading to a four-year-long crush that’s gone off the tracks like a loose train and has no plan of stopping and- and-
The smirk on Nie Mingjue’s face grows just a fraction and Jiang Cheng’s eyebrow twitches.
He walks towards the couch, hovering over where Nie Mingjue is briefly before he grabs one of the pillows he knows Nie Huaisang insisted on buying for “decoration,” and sits his ass down on the floor.
He hears a strangled sound come from behind him and then Nie Mingjue bursts out into laughter. Jiang Cheng’s neck begins to burn, but he refuses to look back. He refuses to give in so easily (although the opportunity to see the other’s dimples on full display makes it difficult).
“Jiang Cheng,” Nie Mingjue wheezes, “really?”
“Yes,” he responds forcefully. He knows he’s being petulant, but he’s not sure what game Nie Mingjue is playing at here, and he’d rather not get his hopes up.
Damn Wei Ying for putting stupid shit in his mind.
The laughter dies down, but there’s still some residual chuckles that escape, and when Nie Mingjue speaks, his voice is laced with amusement. “Seriously, why are you so nervous, it’s just me.”
That’s the point, Jiang Cheng’s inner self screams. The situation wouldn’t be an issue if it were anyone else. Hell, even Wei Ying’s boyfriend would be better for his sanity, he thinks.
On the outside, he calmly lies through his teeth. “I’m not nervous.”
A snort comes from behind him and Jiang Cheng is wholly unprepared for the way Nie Mingjue slides down to sit next to him on the floor. Their bodies pressed against one another from the shoulders down, and he’s certain that the other can feel the way his body tenses- can hear the way his heart starts humming.
He pulls his legs in closer, clutching the pillow to his chest for some semblance of protection, but nothing can save him from the way Nie Mingjue leans in towards him, angling his head so he can stare directly into Jiang Cheng’s eyes. “Are you sure about that?”
Something about Nie Mingjue’s voice sends a shock through Jiang Cheng’s system, rendering him speechless as every one of his thoughts sign out for the day.
“Jiang Cheng,” Nie Mingjue prompts, gently.
“No?” He flinches at his own voice; weak and unsure.
“No?” Nie Mingjue repeats and Jiang Cheng starts to shake his head before nodding it blankly.
Nie Mingjue releases a sigh, and then he’s moving up and out of Jiang Cheng’s space, and all he can think is how much he doesn’t want that. His hand shoots out to stop the other man, and his mouth opens once- twice without his permission, the words refusing to come out.
Nie Mingjue hasn’t moved away yet, which Jiang Cheng is grateful for because the mere thought of the other man keeping his distance has left his entire being cold. Instead, he’s studying him like he’s a particularly complicated puzzle. At this point, Jiang Cheng can’t even blame him, because he also has no idea what he’s doing.
Wei Ying’s words of ‘be brave’ echo through his mind like a mantra, reminding him of all the things he’s lost, all the opportunities he’s missed out on simply because he refused to act, and Jiang Cheng makes up his mind.
His fist tightens where he’s gripping Nie Mingjue and he forces his eyes to stay there, otherwise he won’t be able to say it. “You-” he begins haltingly. “It’s because it’s you. That’s why I’m nervous.”
Jiang Cheng looks back up at Nie Mingjue and is momentarily stunned by the smile on the other man’s face.
“Me too,” Nie Mingjue says, “I’m nervous too. Because it’s you.”
Jiang Cheng’s nose scrunches because that can’t be true. Surely, he would have noticed? Surely, he’s not as bad as Wei Ying?
Obviously not. He definitely would have noticed if someone, especially Nie Mingjue, liked him. And it’s just never happened… Which means that Nie Mingjue must be fucking with him right now and actually, oof, that hurts more than he thought it would--
Nie Mingjue rolls his eyes dramatically, then pulls Jiang Cheng forward so his head lands against his chest. “I’m not lying, you idiot.”
Jiang Cheng’s first reaction is to deny that, but then Nie Mingjue’s hand comes up to keep his head in place and he hears.
He hears and he hates that Wei Ying was right but the elation overpowers it and he wraps his arms around Nie Mingjue, pressing in closer. “Nie Mingjue, I like you,” he says into the other’s chest.
He can feel the way laughter rumbles through Nie Mingjue’s body and he is giddy with the knowledge that he’s allowed to.
“I like you, too, Jiang Cheng.” Nie Mingjue says back and Jiang Cheng has no choice but to believe him, pressed close as their hearts beat in tandem.
They stay like that, for who knows how long, and Jiang Cheng would be perfectly content to spend the rest of forever cradled in Nie Mingjue's arms. But there's a voice in the back of his mind, that sounds suspiciously like Wei Ying's, urging him on. "Hey," he calls.
Nie Mingjue hums an acknowledgment into his hair where he had buried his nose not too long ago, and Jiang Cheng figures he might as well.
"Wanna make out?"
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...Siblings (derogatory)
Also Jiang Cheng said I needa shoot my shot while the guns hot. Y’all think it worked??
Anyways, that’s all for day two! Thank you for reading!!
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Twelve Days of Mingcheng - Day 4
Back at it again with @immacaria and her prompt Healing and my “Cooking is a Love Language” agenda.
This is part of a larger AU I have planned called Survivor's Guilt. I have plans for it later in 2021 since I'm still fleshing out details. This is pretty much a standalone at this point though. AO3 link.
TRIGGER WARNING: This fic describes certain symptoms of dissociation and PTSD, so if you find that triggering, please be aware.
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I’ll cook for you, so please come home
Nie Mingjue knows the instant Jiang Cheng enters through the front door, therapy didn’t go well.
Normally, if the session goes decently, Jiang Cheng will come over, ranting and raving about how nosy Wen Qing is, and is it really necessary for him to discuss every aspect of his life?
He will complain as he goes about the house, a looseness in his gait, humming while he looks whatever project he wants to start for the weekend- because at this point, he might as well just live there, but Nie Mingjue understands why he can’t. It doesn't stop him from welcoming him home every time he visits though.
(Nie Mingjue also prefers when those projects he works on involve baked goods, but he’ll never actually interfere, knowing it’s best to let Jiang Cheng go about his business).
When therapy goes well, Jiang Cheng comes to Nie Mingjue’s apartment, comfortable with himself and who he is and the progress he’s made.
But when it’s bad…
When it’s bad, Jiang Cheng enters the apartment in silence; he makes no greetings, floating through the halls aimlessly before either settling on the couch or shutting himself in the room he’s claimed as his own. (Nie Mingjue worries the most when he locks himself in the bathroom and hears water run for too long).
It could be minutes, it could be hours before Nie Mingjue hears any sign of life from his lover.
When it’s bad, Nie Mingjue’s heart breaks watching him. Because when Jiang Cheng comes home, he isn’t coming home. He’s just following muscle memory, walking towards the place he spends the most time while his mind drifts away from him.
Nie Mingjue had been furious the first time it happened. Wasn’t Wen Qing a doctor? How could she let a patient leave her facility this way? What if he gets hurt? What if he doesn’t come home? What if- what if- what if-
Then Wen Qing had not-so-kindly reminded him who the doctor was and that she wouldn’t let him go if she thought it would endanger him, and this isn’t Jiang Cheng’s first therapy session, have some faith in him.
Nie Mingjue promptly shut up.
She was right. Jiang Cheng had already been going to therapy for years before they even met. Hell, his brother met Jiang Cheng before he did, so really, it was Nie Mingjue that was the new addition to this pattern.
It’s still disconcerting though, for Jiang Cheng to be there, but not.
He had some difficulty in the beginning, trying to figure out the best way to treat Jiang Cheng on those days. Leaving him alone didn’t sit right with him, but if he tried to hold a conversation he would meet bland apathy, explosive anger, or just...nothing.
Eventually, after doing some research, discussing it with his brother, talking it through with his own therapist (because he just felt- so useless), and doing some more< research, he started figuring out a plan.
Which is why, even though he knows that Jiang Cheng had a rough go of it today, he doesn’t panic. He just gets to work.
Checking the fridge and pantries, he gathers up ingredients that he knows Jiang Cheng likes.
He’s missing a lot, but he’ll figure it out.
He starts by setting the water to boil, preparing the vegetables while he waits, and gathering any final ingredients he can find.
Once the water is rolling, he adds the mushrooms, bamboo shoots, celery, bok choy, and potatoes to parboil. It only takes a few minutes before he’s taking them back out and placing them in an ice bath, he then quickly does the same with some noodles.
The first time he tried to make this particular dish he ended up overcooking the meat, and undercooking everything else. Jiang Cheng hadn’t complained, merely sat and ate quietly even though Nie Mingjue knew it was near inedible.
Before that point, he hadn’t cared about the quality of his food because it was just something he needed to sustain himself, but now he was cooking for someone else- he was cooking for Jiang Cheng- and he wanted it to be good.
Nie Mingjue glances out into the living room, where the other had decided to situate himself today, and notes that at least he’s not biting his nails today. It doesn’t happen too often, but when it does the damage can be quite bad, requiring several days to heal.
But other than looking out the window, Jiang Cheng hasn’t moved, so Nie Mingjue continues.
He gets out the pan, adding oil over a medium heat. Into it goes onions, garlic, ginger, Szechuan peppercorns, Thai chilies, a spice blend Jiang Cheng gave him that he doesn’t question, some bay leaves, and some more chilies.
The aroma of spices bloom throughout the kitchen, filling the house with a warm scent that tingles his nose pleasantly…
Until the tingling is no longer pleasant, and his nose begins to itch in that tell-tale way it gets before he has to sneeze. Managing to hold it in, he fishes out the spices after a good fifteen minutes, putting them to the side while he strains the remaining oil for any missed ingredients.
He turns to get the fish and notices that Jiang Cheng is no longer staring out the window. He’s turned towards the kitchen, peering out in his direction from the couch. Nie Mingjue can’t help but think he looks like a cat peeking at him curiously, his head resting on the arm as he tracks his movements mindlessly. It's cute, and Nie Mingjue wants to go over and kiss him or hug him or something, but he doesn't.
After months of trial and error, Nie Mingjue has learned that there’s an order to things.
Speaking to him is no good, trying to get him to make eye-contact had been a complete failure, and touching is right out. All of those actions only serve to startle Jiang Cheng, pushing him further into the recesses of his mind or scaring him away.
But if Nie Mingjue cooks something, the scent gradually enters Jiang Cheng’s subconscious, pulling him out of whatever daze he’s entered, grounding him to reality.
It’s still too early for Nie Mingjue to speak to Jiang Cheng, so he continues what he’s doing, only mumbling to himself here and there.
Putting the oil back in the pan, he hikes up the heat to flash fry the shrimp and fish, mentally preparing himself for the way the oil will splatter. It’s been around two years now and he still can’t get the hang of it, flinching every time oil lands on his skin, but he persists.
After around three minutes, he takes the fish out and places them on some paper-towel line plates to settle.
From here, things go quickly.
He throws in the chili paste Jiang Cheng prefers, then the scallions, rice wine, salt, sugar, some more ginger and garlic, and a few extra chilies to create the sauce. Reaching to his side, he tosses in the prepared vegetables, cooking them for a minute or so, moving them in the pan to get them fully coated, before adding the noodles, and finally the fish.
It comes together in less than ten minutes.
He’s just brought it to the table when Jiang Cheng meanders in; still unsure of his place, unsure of himself, but Nie Mingjue can see that his eyes have cleared up. He releases a sigh.
Dinner is a silent affair, but Nie MIngjue can see more and more pieces of Jiang Cheng return as he chews on different parts of the dish, taking measured bites and stealing all of the bamboo shoots.
He waits for Jiang Cheng to finish and return to his spot on the couch before he starts cleaning up.
Nie Mingjue surprisingly doesn’t mind doing the dishes; there’s a methodical process to it that allows him to work on muscle memory alone. He doesn’t have to think more than necessary, and the running water calms him down.
It takes less time than he would have liked, so he stalls a bit. Opting to clean the stove as well and take out any residual frustrations he may have from the week on the grease stains that mark the burners.
When he finally makes it into the living room, Jiang Cheng is watching some animal show on the TV. He sits down on the couch, not too close, but not so far that the other can’t reach him, and he’s rewarded when Jiang Cheng slides next to him, snaking arms around his waist and placing his head on Nie Mingjue’s chest, above his heart.
Nie Mingjue doesn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around Jiang Cheng, rubbing a hand up and down the others back.
Together in silence, they watch how a zoo prepares for several of its animals to give birth. Nie Mingjue knows Jiang Cheng thinks the wolf puppies are the cutest from the way he lets out little gasps and tightens his grip on him. But in Nie Mingjue’s opinion, the baby red pandas really take the cake this episode.
By the end of the show, Jiang Cheng is sitting fully on Nie Mingjue’s lap. He plays with Nie Mingjue’s free hand, loosely intertwining their hands before releasing them to trace the lines on his palms.
“The holidays,” Jiang Cheng trails, voice rough and tired.
Nie Mingjue doesn’t prompt him for more details, just hums to acknowledge that he’s listening, that he’s there.
Five. Ten. Fifteen minutes go by before Jiang Cheng finds the courage to speak again. “It was around this time when they- when they all passed.”
He’s shuddering when he finally gets it out, and Nie Mingjue drags him closer, holds him closer, as Jiang Cheng gasps into his shoulder.
“I’m here,” he whispers into Jiang Cheng’s hair, “I’m here.”
“It’s already been five years,” Jiang Cheng says, trying to keep his voice as steady as possible, “You’d think I’d be used to it by now.”
He laughs but it’s bitter and full of self-loathing. It hurts.
“I don’t think that’s how grief works, Cheng’er.” he adds gently, fingers slipping under the other’s shirt to rub circles in the divots of his waist. He can’t see Jiang Cheng’s face, it’s buried in the space between his shoulder and his neck, but he feels the dampness when it begins to soak into his shirt.
“I’ll be fine tomorrow,” Jiang Cheng mutters so low that he almost misses it.
He’s about to say that it’s fine if he isn’t, it’s not like Jiang Cheng hasn’t helped him through worse, until he realizes that the statement is less for him, and more for Jiang Cheng himself.
“Thank you,” Jiang Cheng adds after a moment of silence, “I’ll make it up to you.”
Nie Mingjue sighs, holding himself back from telling Jiang Cheng that their relationship isn’t transactional, that he doesn’t have to make up anything. But he remembers how that conversation went the last time he brought it up, and decides against it.
That’s a conversation for another time.
Instead, he snuggles in closer- if that’s even possible at this point- and hums lightly, thinking.
“A-ling. It’s been a while since you brought him over.” There, Nie Mingjue thinks. It’s a request that meets Jiang Cheng’s requirements of “making it up to him.” If it also happens to be something Nie Mingjue knows would make Jiang Cheng happy, well, no one can call him out for it.
It really has been a while since he’s seen the brat last, and with Jiang Cheng’s new partial custody privileges, he figures he should start making his way into the kid’s heart if he wants what he has with Jiang Cheng to last. (He also, might, actually miss the squirt a little bit).
Jiang Cheng removes his head from his shoulder to look at him questioningly. There’s tear tracks on his face, and his eyes are all red and puffy; Nie Mingjue has to resist the urge to coo because it is Not the Time, but he does think it internally.
“Are you sure?”
“Well, it’s either that or we go to the dog shelter and look at puppies- actually wait. We can do both,” Nie Mingjue says, nodding. “I’d like to do both.”
Jiang Cheng stares at him for a moment in incredulity, before a soft smile rises on his face. It’s small, and still a little sad, but it’s so much better than the vacant look he came with.
“Okay,” Jiang Cheng says, “we’ll do that.”
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Nie Mingjue tries to make a dish called Dry Pot for Jiang Cheng! I’ve linked the recipes I used as reference below.
Ma La Xiang Guo // Chinese Dry Pot // Mala Dry Pot Chicken
This brings us to the end of day four! Thank you all for reading!!
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Alright everyone, here it is, the final prompt list for 12 Days of Mingcheng 2021!
I thought about it a bunch and I decided that yes, obviously I want more mingcheng content, but also, I think it would be fun for other people participate in 12domc if they want. So, I took the prompts sent in and scaled them down to a single word.
I will still be following the original prompt sent in because at the end of the day, this event is a gift to my followers-
But I think that this is a nice solution if others are interested in joining- and it means more fic/art/threads whatever lol
You may notice that there aren't specific prompts for specific days- that is because I am indecisive. I usually decide which fic goes up the day of based on how satisfied I am with it, which is not efficient but it gets the job done.
Anyway, none of this is official, it's just for fun. You can do one prompt or none or all of them- in any order. It's up to you!
I just wanted to offer the option up since we still don't have any mingcheng weeks (rip).
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WIP Wednesday is a snippet from one of my drafts for 12domc!
#i wonder if the person who submitted the prompt can figure it out#personal#wip wednesday#wip: trying to write
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*taps foot pointedly* Weekend's over. You writing again or what?
Askfjslsls I work during the week so I actually write the most on the weekend.
And I did! I sorted out some 12domc prompts and started drafting one of them. (Why do I feel like I'm reporting to my teacher lmao)
Thank you for your constant bullying, believe it or not, it helps.
#personal#this is a pro-bullying-vas zone (within limits)#because i have absolutely no sense of danger
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Since today is Oct 1, I wanna remind everyone that I'm still accepting prompts for 12domc until Oct 15!
#personal#12domc2021#mingcheng#do people need a reminder? probably not but im gonna do it anyway lmao
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