Work Text:
Nie Mingjue grunted when his brother suddenly tugged at his sleeve, nearly making him trip over himself.
“Da-ge! Come look!! Aren’t they pretty?” Huaisang asked excitedly, pointing at a shop with his other hand.
Putting his phone away, Nie Mingjue was only mildly surprised to find himself looking at a flower shop. He had no idea what he was supposed to look at when there were dozens of flowers and plants in front of him but he nodded along anyway. “Sure.”
Ignoring his lukewarm reaction, Huaisang let go of his hand to press himself to the window, eyes bright as they jumped from bouquets to bouquets. Letting him babble about flowers and flower meaning, Nie Mingjue patiently waited with his phone in hand until...
“Oh, no, they're just too beautiful. I have to buy a bouquet! Let’s go inside!”
... As expected.
Following Huaisang, he braced himself for the disorienting scent of flower shops, always too sweet and overwhelming, but to his relief, the shop actually smelt good. Still a little too flowery for him but it was not so pungent as to make it hard to breath.
The clear sound of the bell ring echoed as he closed the door behind himself, announcing their arrival to the empty shop, but there was no one to welcome them. Music was playing, calm and soothing, and Nie Mingjue felt himself relaxing as he followed his little brother deeper inside the shop. Seeing how excited Huaisang was, he put his phone away to listen to him as he pointed to the plants and flowers, telling him everything he knew about them. Nie Mingjue had very little interest in flowers but he had promised himself to make an effort today and Huaisang would tell him about them regardless so he might as well listen and pick up a few things.
“I just don’t know, Da-Ge," Huaisang said after a while, looking like he was facing a mighty beast in the form of two particularly harmless-looking white and purple bouquets. "Do you think mama will like these ones?”
Nie Mingjue looked at the flowers for a moment then shrugged, hiding a smile. “I really don’t know why you’re asking me. They all look the same to me.”
"How can you say that! You can clearly see- oh, you're teasing me again!"
Laughing at his brother's childish pout, he couldn't resist ruffling his hair, earning an indignant squeal as Huaisang ducked away from him. "Da-ge!!"
Nie Mingjue watched with amusement as Huaisang rushed to a little mirror hanging on a wall to see just how badly his hair was ruined. The young man looked at himself critically before undoing his braids and redoing them with clever fingers.
Nie Mingjue would not admit it but he was a little impressed with how elegant his younger brother was at the tender age of 16. At his age, the only thing on his mind had been learning the family business from their father and going to the gym to unwind. There had been little time to care about his appearance beyond putting on whatever business suit his parents had made him wear. Watching Huaisang check his reflection before smiling with satisfaction and returning to look at the flowers, Nie Mingjue allowed himself a smile but he said nothing.
"Hello," the soft voice snapped Nie Mingjue out of his thoughts, startling him so much he nearly threw a punch before freezing when he realised it was probably the owner. “Oh my goodness! I’m sorry- I didn’t mean to startle you!”
Nie Mingjue turned around, ready to snap at him, but whatever scathing retort he had died on his lips when he met the other man’s eyes. Oh wow. He was gorgeous. Not just beautiful. Gorgeous. Nie Mingjue had never believed in love at first sight but seeing that man, he was happy to reconsider his position on the matter.
“Can I help you?” The man asked him after a beat, a soft, welcoming smile on his face.
Nie Mingjue could feel his brother’s eyes on him, big and curious. Nobody had ever left him speechless before but in his defence, Nie Mingjue had never seen someone as breathtaking as this man before either. He was trying to think of something to say, anything. He considered asking him about the damn flowers and the meaning of anything in the shop if it meant listening to his warm voice a little longer, but sadly, his brain seemed to have reverted to the absolute basis of human language, only able to produce the most embarrassing grunt as a way of answering.
As soon as the sound had escaped him, his face went up in flames.
Nie Mingjue had never been good at flirting but he had never been that bad either.
“Hi!” Huaisang stepped in, placing a hand on his arm and saving him from further mortification with his sweet smile. “We saw your beautiful shop from across the street and we just had to come. We want to buy flowers for our mother. I see that you can make a personalised bouquet? How does it work?”
The man was still smiling at Nie Mingjue, his grey eyes filled with amusement, but he turned to Huaisang to answer him and Nie Mingjue was finally able to breathe again.
Fighting back the urge to knock himself out, he took a deep breath then stole a glance at the man. Seeing him deep in discussion with Huaisang, he allowed himself a longer look and found that he couldn't look away again.
The man was slightly shorter than him, slender and graceful, with long hair tied in a half-bun in a style his brother liked so much. His clothes made him look like he belonged to those runway events his brother forced him to watch. Even his apron was nicely cut, tied with a neat bow in the back, in a white fabric that seemed too beautiful and too precious for someone who undoubtedly spent his days in dirt and leaves. The bow was perfect too, the ribbon falling beautifully down his...
Hastily catching himself, Nie Mingjue tore his eyes away from his backside before he could get caught staring. Pretending to listen to the discussion between Huaisang and the man, he nodded to whatever his brother said and felt his heart miss a beat when the man looked at him, his eyes warm and welcoming. Nie Mingjue had suffered his brother's love poem recitals for many years but for the first time in his life, he felt like he might be able to understand and even appreciate them.
How inappropriate would it be for him to ask him out? Should he buy all the flowers in the shop? It sounded excessive but his brother certainly wouldn't protest. Their parents on the other hand...
“And can I do something for you?” The man asked him with a smile, flowers in his hands.
“Marry me.”
As soon as registered what he had said, Nie Mingjue closed his eyes and wondered if he could use one of the white ribbons on the counter to strangle himself. He had lived to the honourable age of 21. Surely his brother could take over the company and lead a good life for him.
"Well," the man said with a light laugh. "I don’t have that in store right now but it could be arranged.”
Immediately, Nie Mingjue felt his temper rise, anger and humiliation making for a dangerous cocktail, but when he looked at the man, his anger disappeared all at once, like a flame snuffed out. Contrary to what he had thought, the man was not making fun of him. If anything, he seemed pleasantly amused. He was looking up at him from under his lashes with a smile, his eyes warm and inviting. It seemed that despite his complete inability to speak and act normally today, the man was interested rather than about to run away.
“Da-ge," Huaisang piped up with an innocent smile, standing just far enough that Nie Mingjue couldn't pull him into a headlock to silence him. "Weren’t you telling me about that new coffee place that opened across your office? The one on a rooftop with a garden?"
Nie Mingjue stared at him.
"I've heard it serves great tea and cakes which are just to die for, not too sweet and light," Huaisang added helpfully because he was the kind of person to guess one's order with one look and was apparently determined to get him a date.
"Mn, I heard about that place,” the man said, offering him a smile that made him weak in the knees. "It sounds nice."
"I can take you there this weekend, if you want," Nie Mingjue blurted out, his tone rough but determined.
The man beamed and nodded. "All right. That's a date then." He looked around the counter then picked up a card and a pen, hastily scribbling something on it before handing it to him. "My number. I usually finish at seven but we close before lunch on Sundays. Oh, and I'm Lan Xichen."
Nie Mingjue felt a spark when their fingers touched as he took the card from him. He stared at the beautiful handwriting then looked back at him, feeling his lips curl up with a smile as he lost himself in Lan Xichen's grey eyes.
"Nie Mingjue," he replied. "I'll pick you up before lunch on Sunday then?"
"I look forward to it, Nie Mingjue," Lan Xichen replied with a bright smile.
By the time Nie Mingjue left the shop, he was holding an extra bouquet and Huaisang was smiling far too much for his liking.
"So, how do you like flowers now, Da-ge?"
Laughter rang in the street when Nie Mingjue chased after him with a shout but there was no denying the smile on his face. Perhaps those poems and songs he had dismissed all his life about finding one's soulmate were onto something. It certainly felt that way today.
*
“Remember that young man who keeps coming to the shop?” Xichen asked, a bright smile on his face as he put some flowers together. “The one with the red ribbon in his hair? Well, he was here this afternoon again. I think he has a crush on our Wangji.”
Humming from where he was leaning against the counter, Nie Mingjue watched his boyfriend work with soft eyes that would’ve made his younger self blush crimson red. Four years into their relationship however, he had long accepted that Xichen brought out a softer side of him.
“Yeah?” He pressed with a smile when Xichen seemed to have lost track of their discussion, too focused on his composition. Nie Mingjue had been hearing about the not-so-mysterious customer for weeks now, to the point that he thought he might be able to recognise him in the street if he were to walk past him. He had considered telling Xichen to not get his hopes up but his boyfriend was a hopeless romantic, as their heavy bookshelves demonstrated.
“Oh, yes, definitely!” Xichen said decidedly, tying a ribbon around the bouquet before meeting his eyes with a smile that still stole his breath away to this day. “He looks at our Wangji the way you look at me,” he added, his smile turning playful as he leant across the counter briefly to peck him on the lips.
Nie Mingjue placed a hand on the back of his neck to hold him and deepen the kiss before pulling away. “Are we ready to go home now?”
“Oh! Crap! I forgot about the time! Yes, yes! I'm sorry, Da-ge,” he replied after glancing at the clock with a wince. Hastily untying his apron, he placed an apologetic kiss on his cheek before slipping away with the bouquet towards the front of the shop. “I really wanted to make that before I closed the shop. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Isn’t it pretty though? I’ve been quite inspired for romantic bouquets. Wangji is a little annoyed with me but I can’t help it! It’s because of what is happening between him and that young man. They really are adorable!”
Nie Mingjue hummed noncommittally, retrieving Xichen's coat from the backroom. Glancing at the flowers now on display, he thought he could recognise a few meanings and smiled because he knew exactly who this bouquet was for. Young love, timidity and hope. He couldn't recognise the rest but he was learning, slowly, with some help from Huaisang who knew far too much about flowers, though he was in no position to judge when he was dating a florist.
"I'm not sure your brother will like your teasing," he said with a chuckle.
"Oh hush," Xichen laughed as he put his coat on and closed the shop. "That's only fair, he did the same when we started dating."
"I thought your family forbade holding grudges?" Nie Mingjue asked as he took his hand. A warm feeling spread in his chest when the other man naturally laced their fingers together.
"All is fair in war and love!" Xichen countered easily, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Also, I'm his older brother, I'm allowed to tease him. Should we stop for dinner on the way?” he asked with a yawn, the fatigue of the day finally catching up with him. “Sorry again for working overtime today.”
“Is that you asking me to stop by the noodle place downtown on the way home?” Nie Mingjue asked as they stopped by the car, tugging him close to press a kiss to his temple when Xichen gave him a sheepish nod. "Alright. Noodles it is then."
An hour later, the mouth-watering smell of noodles had filled their car when he parked outside their building. After talking about their respective day, their conversation had naturally circled back to Lan Wangji's budding love life. Nie Mingjue didn't mind much. It was endearing to listen to his boyfriend babbling on about his little brother's love life for once. Xichen had listened to him talk about Huaisang enough for him to complain and he had to admit that he was curious to see how it would end.
“I don’t want to interfere," Xichen insisted as they stepped out of the lift. "It’s Wangji’s life after all so I don't have- well, I don't have anything to say really, but do you think I should perhaps say something?”
“I think your little brother would not like you meddling with his love life."
Nie Mingjue let Xichen inside their flat then locked the door behind them, removing his coat and leaving his shoes next to his boyfriend's before heading for the living room with their dinner while Xichen disappeared in the kitchen with the flowers he had brought back from the shop.
"I don't know, Da-ge," Xichen sighed as he walked back in the room with a vase and placed it on the table, rearranging the flowers delicately. "You know Wangji isn't exactly the best at... talking."
"Well, how about you give them time to figure it out and if nothing's happened after, I don’t know, six months, you try to say something?" Nie Mingjue suggested, smiling at the flowers before continuing, playfulness colouring his voice. "Or don’t. He’s a good customer, isn’t he? Take advantage of it while it lasts."
Xichen looked so affronted that Nie Mingjue couldn’t help but laugh, the sound booming in the room.
“Da-ge! I wouldn’t- that would be- oh no, I can’t believe you said that!”
“What!" Nie Mingjue continued laughing, swiftly avoiding a slap aimed at his arm. "Come on, he comes in every week and barely listens to whatever price Wangji tells him. I'm pretty sure you told me he paid twice more than one because he couldn't stop looking at Wangji long enough to check his wallet. He probably makes up half of your revenue at this point, you don’t want to lose such a good client!”
“Nie Mingjue!” Despite his admonishing tone, there was laughter in his boyfriend's eyes and Nie Mingjue wrapped his arm around his waist to tug him closer for a kiss that was immediately denied. "Nope, you don't get a kiss for that. I'm not rewarding your bad behaviour."
"I didn't hear you complain about it last night," Nie Mingjue teased, grinning when Xichen blushed, hiding his face in his neck. Smiling, he nuzzled his cheek and kissed his face until he was finally rewarded with a pouty kiss.
“Alright, alright," Nie Mingjue reletented with a laugh. "We’re not taking advantage of your brother’s sweetheart. Your uncle would probably disapprove if you did anyway. I'm sure it goes against one of your company's guidelines.”
“It does. But I’m more concerned about Wangji eviscerating me,” Xichen admitted, lifting his head to look at him.
“Your brother would never hurt anyone, much less you,” Nie Mingjue replied confidently.
That had Xichen laughing in his arms, which had not been his intended effect but a welcome outcome anyway. "You have no idea how terrifying my brother can be. But fine, you're right. Let's give them time."
Nie Mingjue nodded then bent down to kiss him. "Now that your brother's love life has been settled, can we have dinner? Or perhaps," he picked his boyfriend up, grinning up at him. "We can take care of our love life."
Xichen gasped then hummed, legs wrapped around his waist and arms draped over his shoulders. "I think that sounds like an excellent plan."
The sound of kisses and laughter filled the flat as Nie Mingjue carried his boyfriend to the couch, foregoing dinner for a much sweeter course.
Much later, they laid intertwined on the couch, a thick, fluffy blanket draped over them while TV played softly in the background.
Xichen was dozing off on his chest, eyes fluttering as he tried to stay awake.
When they had started dating, Nie Mingjue had been baffled by his boyfriend's strict bedtime and the fact that he would get drowsy at ten every night without a fail. Now, after three years sharing a flat, he had grown to appreciate their evening routine. He still stayed up later than Xichen more often than not but he liked how reliable and comforting having his sleepy boyfriend was. It was soothing, especially after a long day at the office.
"Oh no!" Xichen whispered sadly at the TV, interrupting his thoughts. "Oh, that was a poor choice, it was a good idea but those flowers rarely go well together."
Nie Mingjue only smiled, brushing his fingers through his silky hair and making him sigh happily into his neck. He was barely paying attention to the show, far more interested in admiring the man in his arms. The harsh light coming from the TV should not illuminate his face so delicately and yet, Nie Mingjue was lost in his lover's beauty, in the way the blues and reds danced on his skin.
As if feeling his gaze on him, Xichen looked up at him, eyes heavy with sleep but filled with so much warmth and love, Nie Mingjue felt his heart miss a beat.
Just like all those years ago, Xichen stole his breath away.
Moving his hand to his cheek, Nie Mingjue caressed his skin, tracing over the curve of his cheek and the softness of his lips with his thumb, smiling when Xichen kissed his finger and settled more comfortably on top of him.
I'm going to marry him.
The thought came to him unprompted and overwhelming but not surprising, as if it had been lying dormant in a corner of his mind, waiting for the right moment to rise. Perhaps it had always been there, Nie Mingjue mused as he remembered his (embarrassing) first words to Xichen.
This time, he held the words back but silently, he started planning.
*
Nie Mingjue looked at the clock on the wall once again, his fingers drilling on the dark fabric of his suit pants.
He had managed to push their reservation back an hour but if Xichen didn't arrive soon, he might have to cancel the restaurant and the rest of his plans altogether. Although, right now, that was the last of his concerns.
It was unlike Xichen to come home so late from work and it was even more unlike him to ignore his calls and texts. Frowning at his phone, Nie Mingjue was seriously considering calling the police when he finally heard the sound of the keys jiggling and turning in the lock.
"Da-ge, I'm home."
Nie Mingjue shot up from the couch, a smile on his face, but it slipped away at the exhausted lines he found on Xichen's face.
"Xichen?" He called as he walked up to him, helping him out of his coat. "What happened? Is everything okay?"
Without a word, Xichen shuffled forward until he had his face burrowed in his neck. Despite his surprise, Nie Mingjue's arms immediately came to wrap around him and he kissed his forehead tenderly.
"What's wrong, my love? Did something happen to your uncle? Your brother?"
Xichen rarely, if ever, let himself show signs of sadness or weakness. To see him so upset, Nie Mingjue immediately worried for his family.
Silence stretched until Xichen let out a shaky sigh, shaking his head. "No, it's just- it's not that bad, no one is dead or sick, but Wei Wuxian still hasn't come back and Wangji... I had to send him home this morning because he seemed pale and he kept dropping things and messing up orders, which you know never happens to him. I was worried so I stopped by his place on the way home but when I went in, the flat was in the dark and he was laying on the ground."
Coldness seeped in Nie Mingjue's heart but Xichen was still talking so he listened without a word.
"He was black out drunk, Mingjue. I don't know where or when he got that alcohol but there were three empty bottles of wine around him. He didn't hurt himself, thank goodness, but I haven't seen him so upset since our mother passed away and even then, it was not... it was different. I helped him get clean up and put him to bed but... I have no idea how to fix this."
Nie Mingjue was quiet a moment, gently rubbing his back and swaying them. Thankfully, it was not what he had feared but it was sufficiently out of character of Wangji for Nie Mingjue to understand his boyfriend's worry. "I'm afraid there isn't much you can do this time, A-Huan." He knew that was not the answer his boyfriend had hoped for but he had never been anything other than blunt and honest with him.
As he had expected, his boyfriend deflated in his arms, hiding his face deeper in his shoulder before he sighed. "I know, you're right I just..."
"You just want to shield him from pain," Nie Mingjue finished softly, lifting a hand to carefully run his fingers through his hair.
Xichen nodded and Nie Mingjue tightened his arms around him, pressing gentle kisses to the top of his head until he felt him relax a little. The little blue velvet box felt heavy in his pocket but it would have to wait. Nie Mingjue took a moment to mourn his carefully planned proposal before taking a deep breath and straightening up.
"Alright, give me a moment to change and we'll go get your brother. He's spending the rest of the week with us."
"Mingjue? What- oh, no," Xichen finally looked up, only to freeze upon seeing him dressed up. "Oh, darling, tonight was date night! I'm sorry."
"Never mind that. Your brother is more important, we can have our date night another day."
Xichen's eyes filled with tears of relief as he nodded, leaning up to give him a long kiss. "I love you. Thank you," he whispered against his lips, smiling faintly.
"Of course, my love. Wangji's family," Nie Mingjue replied naturally, wiping away his tears. "I think the guest room should be clean since Huaisang's last visit but can you check while I change quickly?"
Xichen nodded, taking a deep breath to steel himself before he went to the guest room while Nie Mingjue slipped into their bedroom. Disappointment weighed down on him, heavy and cold, but he forced himself to push it to the back of his mind. He had been planning his proposal for months, it could wait a little longer.
He stepped out of the bedroom a few minutes later dressed in comfortable jeans and a loose shirt. Xichen was already waiting for him, wrapped up in his coat, looking calm and collected to anyone who wasn't Nie Mingjue.
"For the record," Nie Mingjue asked as he wrapped his arm around him, "just how bad would it be if I hunted down that Wei Wuxian guy to kill him?"
"Da-ge!"
"He hurt your brother!"
There was a pause then Xichen muttered, snuggling into his side, "You'd have to get to him first."
*
For a while, it felt inappropriate to propose to Xichen when his little brother looked like he was mourning the loss of the love of his life. Wangji worked as hard as ever and still attended their weekly family dinner but there was a deep sadness in his eyes, wearing him down and making him even quieter than usual. Xichen worried, as did Nie Mingjue, but life slowly returned to what it had been, with the distinct lack of weekly updates from Wangji's love life. Nie Mingjue hadn't realised just how much the man had been part of their lives already until then.
By the time it felt safe to propose, the end of the year rush had caught up with them. Nie Mingjue was swamped up in endless meetings, late nights and working from home until ungodly hours while Xichen had to manage the flower shop to keep up with the orders brought by the end of the year celebrations.
It wasn't until winter slowly melted into spring that Nie Mingjue had a chance to think about his proposal again.
And, as if confirming that spring was meant for new beginnings, Wangji's crush had returned too.
"Wei Wuxian came back this morning while I was alone in the shop! And I gave him a shovel talk," Xichen added proudly as he switched radio stations until he found one he liked and hummed along to the song playing.
"When you say you gave him a shovel talk, did you actually give him a shovel talk or did you just faintly frown at him, silently hoping he'd take a hint?" Nie Mingjue teased, glancing at him with a smile before focusing on the road to curse at a particularly bad driver.
Xichen started to protest but stopped and laughed in defeat. "Alright, it wasn't quite what I had in mind but I did give a small shovel talk. But then he looked so genuinely upset and hopeful that I didn't have the heart to say more... Anyway, he left the shop but guess what happened then?"
"What?" He asked obediently, already smiling because of the excitement he could hear in Xichen's voice.
"He came back!" Xichen said with a bright smile. "He told me he couldn't wait for Wangji in the morning because he had to get to work but he promised he would come back later and he did. Of course, I went to the backroom to give them some privacy to talk things out but when I returned, it was obvious they had been kissing and Wangji was smiling! And holding him like he was the most precious person in the world and- oh, Mingjue, you should've seen the look on Wei Wuxian's face while he was looking at Wangji. He was in awe."
Nie Mingjue smiled, impossibly relieved. "So, we're good? He's not gonna break our Wangji's heart again?"
Xichen shook his head, grinning. "No, I think we're good this time, I heard him - before you say anything I was not snooping," he said quickly when Nie Mingjue gave him a look, rebutting his teasing comment without even needing to hear it. "He just... well, he speaks very loudly! I couldn't not hear him. Anyway, he said he's in love with Wangji and wasn't going anywhere ever again. So... yeah, we're good."
"Right. I'm still gonna punch him when I meet him."
Xichen laughed, a light and happy melody that filled Nie Mingjue with overwhelming love and happiness. His lack of rebuttal wasn't a 'no' so Nie Mingjue took it as a silent authorisation to give Wei Wuxian a good talk when he would finally meet him. Wangji wasn't his little brother officially yet but hopefully, that would change very soon. The rest of the drive was filled with their usual chatter, Xichen's happiness like a soothing balm to the nerves Nie Mingjue could feel rising as they finally arrived at the park.
"Come on, let's go," he said as he got out of the car and picked up the picnic basket he had prepared with some help from Huaisang.
Taking Xichen's hand, he laced their fingers together and tugged him along the path he had walked a few days ago to prepare this day. It was a short walk along a small river until they reached the spot Nie Mingjue had had in mind for the past days. He paused, looking around with satisfaction before taking a deep breath and gently tugging on Xichen's hand to get his attention since the man was busy looking at a wild flower he had picked up on the way.
"We're here," he said. “What do you think?”
Xichen stopped halfway through his sentence to look around and gasped, a beautiful smile appearing on his face as he looked at the scenery. As far as the eyes could see, the hills were covered in flowers, hues of blues, pinks and violets that parted around the river and small ponds of water. The flowers were softly swaying in the wind, creating a mesmerising picture with the sun and white clouds over their heads.
“Oh, Mingjue," Xichen whispered in wonder. "It’s beautiful! How did you think of this place? Look at all those flowers!”
Letting go of Xichen's hand to let him have a look around, Nie Mingjue spread the blanket under a tall tree. His boyfriend's delicate skin wouldn't survive long in the sun, regardless of how gentle it was in the spring. Keeping an eye on the other man, he got everything out of the basket to set it on the blanket but he paused upon catching a glimpse of a bright green card at the bottom of the basket. Frowning faintly in confusion, Nie Mingjue reached in and pulled out the little note.
Good luck Xiongzhang!!!
There was a little beaming face drawn next to his brother’s elegant signature.
A fond smile tugged at his lips before he shoved the note in his pocket. Huaisang would never become the ruthless lawyer their family had hoped and he shied away from any stressful work but perhaps they should consider his desire to work in their marketing department more seriously.
Sitting comfortably on the blanket, Nie Mingjue watched Xichen push his hair over his shoulder and bend down to smell a flower. He looked unfairly attractive, standing in the middle of the flower field and touching the flowers with graceful fingers, admiring each and every blossom with a soft smile, the ribbon tying his hair fluttering in the wind. He looked like a deity.
Nie Mingjue touched the velvet box in his pocket for what had to be the hundredth time that day and fought back the nervousness that tried to settle in him. There was no need to fret. They were in love. They had been dating for over five years. Xichen’s uncle was favourable, had even given him his blessing, and Wangji liked him. There was no reason for anything to go wrong. Nie Mingjue knew they were both ready, he knew what he wanted and he had planned accordingly. Now, it was only a matter of remembering the proposal he had prepared and waiting for the right moment to say it.
Xichen suddenly plopping down on the blanket pulled him out of his thoughts and Nie Mingjue wrapped an arm around him with a smile when he immediately leant against him.
“No flowers?” He asked as he glanced at his empty hands curiously.
“Not yet! But I will pick some before we leave, they’re beautiful! We’ve had perfect weather for flowers this year, I don’t think we made more beautiful bouquets. Many customers have told us our flowers look beautiful in their homes.”
Nie Mingjue hummed, reaching behind him to pick up a blue flower before placing it in Xichen’s long hair. “It looks more beautiful here.”
Xichen flushed, his face turning a delicate and adorable shade of red before he laughed, hiding his face in his shoulder, kissing it through the fabric. “And people think you’re not a romantic.”
Instead of answering, Nie Mingjue kissed the top of his head then gently lifted his chin with a finger to kiss him fully. Xichen hummed happily into the kiss, wrapping his arms around him as he deepened it.
By the time they parted, they were laying half between the flowers and half on the blanket, their bodies perfectly melted together. Looking at Xichen laying over him, his hair cascading down his shoulders and framing his smile beautifully, Nie Mingjue felt his heart miss a beat or two before expanding so much he nearly worried he might pass out.
He loved this man with everything he had and everything he was.
At that moment, it took everything he had to not blurt out his proposal.
A hand was caressing his cheek, fresh but welcomed to clear his mind and calm his frantic heart.
Smiling, Nie Mingjue took the hand, gently bringing it to his lips while never taking his eyes off Xichen.
According to his plan, he would wait until dessert, wait for him to see the bunny shaped cake he had bought from the shop across town he adored. When Xichen would look up at him, Nie Mingjue would have the ring out and propose. He had a whole speech prepared. He had even practiced, something he never did, both in front of a mirror and in front of his little brother. It had been incredibly embarrassing but he had wanted everything to be perfect.
However, looking at Xichen now, so radiant and beautiful above him with his tussled hair, the flower complimenting his delicate features and his soft smile, he couldn’t wait a minute longer.
“Marry me,” he breathed out, the words tumbling out of his mouth with none of the refinery he had aimed for when he had poured hours and hours into reading poems until he felt somewhat satisfied with his proposal.
Instead, his proposal was straightforward, short and determined, much like him.
Above him, Xichen had frozen, his eyes wide with surprise as he stared at him. He gaped for a moment, lips parting and closing as if he couldn’t remember how to speak. Nie Mingjue felt slightly smug. It wasn’t often that he left his boyfriend speechless.
“D-Da-ge?”
Nie Mingjue raised his free hand to cup his cheek, no longer afraid or nervous.
Xichen had always been an open book to him and right now, there was nothing but joy, hope and a faint trace of disbelief in his eyes.
“Marry me, Xichen,” he repeated without hesitation. “I love you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to listen to you telling me about your flowers and your customers for the rest of my life. I want to wake up next to you and see your smile first thing in the morning every day, even if you hog the covers and put your freezing feet under my thighs. You make me a better man, you help me keep a level head and stay calm even in the most stressful situations. I want to grow old with you and be yours."
Xichen’s eyes had filled with tears but he laughed through them, his smile so beautiful that Nie Mingjue had to pause briefly to touch its corner with his thumb.
“Ah, you know I'm not good at speeches, so I'll just... stop here and ask: will you marry me and make me the happiest man on earth?”
“Yes!” Xichen shouted before crashing into him, pressing their lips together for a deep kiss. “Yes, yes, yes! A thousand times yes,” he whispered against his lips, grinning widely.
Nie Mingjue had never been afraid of his answer. He had felt nervous, obviously, but deep now he had known that if not now, Xichen would have accepted his proposal later. After all, he had never refused his very first proposal, all those years ago.
And yet, he couldn’t deny that a knot loosened in his chest when he pushed the white gold ring over Xichen's finger and pulled his fiancé back into his arms for a deep kiss.