Work Text:
Jin Ling wouldn’t stop crying.
Jiang Cheng tried everything: he rocked him, begged, showed him the Muppets, and sang him a lullaby, but his nephew kept crying.
And Jiang Cheng was tired: it was three in the morning, the next day at eight, he should have been in the office on time if he didn't want to be fired.
"What do you want from me? Food, cuddles, bad TV shows? Please, if something can make you stop... "
There was a knock on the door, causing the baby to cry even harder at the sudden noise.
"Perfect…"
Jiang Cheng went to the door, being careful not to trip over Jin Ling's toys scattered across the floor.
"For the last time, Xue Yang, I won't put a gag on my damn brat just to get you to sleep all the way ... you're not Xue Yang."
“No, I'm not Xue Xang - answered the most beautiful boy he had ever seen, despite his messy hair, sleepy look, and pajamas that seemed to have seen better times - I'm Nie Huaisang, I live in the apartment next to yours, Mr. Jiang. "
"Call me Jiang Cheng, Mr. Jiang was my father."
"I know it's very late, but ..." “
No, no, I guess you're here to complain too. I'm sorry, I can't calm A-Ling down and... "
"Maybe I can help you."
"Really?"
"Yup. Can I come in?"
Jiang Cheng moved and let him in, "I apologize for the mess."
"Do not worry. When my nephew was born, our house was much messier. In comparison, this is the realm of order. "
"Ah ... thanks, I suppose."
"Can I pick him up?"
Jiang Cheng never let strangers take Jin Ling in the arms. Never.
But now, tired and in desperate need of at least five hours of sleep, Jiang Cheng didn't have the energy to be paranoid.
"Ok ... be careful ..."
"Don't worry."
Huaisang began to run his fingers slowly but firmly over his legs, arms, back, chest, and face. Slowly Jin Ling began to calm down. Jiang Cheng blinked in surprise.
"You're magical," Jiang Cheng said, still unable to believe what he was seeing.
"No - laughed the other - I learned it from my sister-in-law. Wen Qing always did it when A-Huo had colic."
"Kids don’t stop having colic between the fifth and sixth months?"
"Not always. Your son…"
“A-Ling is not my son. He is my sister's son. "
"Do you babysit him?"
"It's complicated. "
Jiang Cheng certainly couldn't tell a stranger My sister and her husband are dead, my brother is missing, and I am the only one able to take care of Jin Ling because the paternal family sucks . These were private matters and he didn't want to talk about it.
"You are a good uncle."
“Thanks, but if you hadn't arrived, we probably would have stayed up all night without sleeping. It would have hurt both me and him. "
Jin Ling had fallen asleep. Jiang Cheng gently took him from Nie Huaisang's arms and placed him in the crib, adjusting the blanket.
When Jin Ling slept, he looks like an angel. He turned and said, "I don't know how to thank you."
“You don't have to: I know how difficult it becomes to manage small children. Trust me, it will improve. "
"I have to offer you a coffee for the trouble."
"Maybe next time. When we are both more presentable. "
"Would you like to do it tomorrow afternoon?"
"At 6 pm okay?"
“I finish work around 7 pm,” Jiang Cheng said.
"Then, it's fine for 7 pm."
"Well, thank you… wait, is this a date?"
"Do you want it to be?"
"Well.."
Nie Huaisang smiled, and God, he had lovely dimples.
“See you tomorrow, Jiang Cheng. Good night."