Chapter Text
The Sandu Shengshou who arrived at Koi Tower that day was a far cry from his (in)famous intimidating form. Hair in disarray with a bawling child in his arms, Jiang Wanyin looked ready to destroy anyone who dared touch him. Dark circles under his eyes indicated the many sleepless nights he endured at the mercy of Jin Ling’s shrill cries. Even now, the child continued to wail and thrash, tugging fruitlessly at his already-ruined lapel.
Jin Guangyao’s ever-present smile twitched at the edges. It was impolite to find amusement in another’s misery. Doubly so if the other person just happened to be Jiang Wanyin.
“Difficult week, Sect Leader Jiang?”
He was answered by a growl, “A bit.”
The shorter Sect Leader’s expression softened, arms reaching out in silent sympathy. Almost immediately, Jiang Wanyin handed Jin Ling over. While he might have regretted acting so hastily, the relief was near-cathartic. It felt like a weight was literally lifted from his shoulders as the child finally quieted down in Jin Guangyao’s hold.
Only after a few moments of blissful silence did Jiang Wanyin peer suspiciously at the other. “How..?”
Jin Guangyao blinked before chuckling faintly. “Children are rather easy to predict. You only need to listen.”
A groan. “Listen? I’ve been listening to this one cry for days.”
Jin Ling gurgled contentedly - the perfect picture of a well-behaved child in his smaller uncle’s arms. Jiang Wanyin glared at him out of spite.
“Children only want one of three things,” Jin Guangyao explained patiently. “Food, a change of clothes, or attention. Put that way, they’re easy to handle unlike adults.”
“Tch. I know plenty of adults who behave the same way. And they’re more reasonable.”
Most would have risen to the bait and engaged the irritable man in verbal combat but Jin Guangyao merely chuckled once more. “So you say, Sect Leader Jiang. Can I interest you in a cup of tea?”
Refusal rested on the tip of Jiang Wanyin’s tongue yet he nods, following the other sect leader into a smaller, secluded alcove overlooking a sea of swaying peonies.
Well, what do you know? Children and adults actually behave the same way, Jin Guangyao thought, amused.