Work Text:
Keeping a Promise | XiCheng | Mo Dao Zu Shi | 16+ | 2020/12/23-28
--
- Jiang WanYin age 6, Lan XiChen age 8 -
Jiang WanYin and Lan XiChen were sitting side by side in the sandpit. It was warm, the sun was shining brightly and they had fun. They were building a castle together. Their Moms were sitting beside them on a bench keeping an eye on the children, doing some needlework and chatting.
WanYin shoveled sand then patted it with the back of his shovel.
“XiChen-ge, you’re pretty and kind,” he said not even looking up. “When I will be an adult, can I marry someone like you?” He looked up, then at his friend. “Can I marry you?”
XiChen gently took one of WanYin’s tiny hands into his own hands and smiled at the other boy.
“Of course! I’d love to marry WanYin.”
“Aren’t they adorable?” Madam Lan asked Madam Yu. Madam Yu smiled very softly.
“Indeed, they are cute. A-Huan has a very good taste,” she noted. Madam Lan chuckled.
“Sweeties, do you want to have a snack?” she asked, ready to give sliced apples to the children. She offered them to Madam Yu too, who took one with pleasure.
--
- Jiang WanYin age 19, Lan XiChen age 21 -
They were students at the same university with different majors. They had 3 classes in common and when they could they eat lunch together.
WanYin entered the roof. The wind immediately started to play with his hair. He headed to the spot where he and XiChen used to chill, eat and talk hoping he would find the other there.
“XiChen!” he called for him, then when he found him, dropped himself down next to his friend.
“What is it? You look excited,” XiChen said. WanYin proudly straightened his back.
“I’ll have a date.”
“That’s exciting indeed,” XiChen agreed. “Mind telling me the details?”
“We will meet after school and have a coffee, nothing special. So I’m here to tell you I’m sorry, but I can’t go home with you today.”
XiChen smiled. “That’s okay, thanks for letting me know.” He watched WanYin reach out for his chopsticks and take a bite from his lunch. “But you’re still coming over Saturday, right?”
“Of course. I can’t wait. The tea you make is the best.”
“Thanks.”
WanYin nodded, his mouth was full with the meal XiChen left. WanYin didn’t know, but XiChen brought extra pieces with his lunch since he noticed WanYin was stealing bites. He was munching on the left baozi, and XiChen found him cute.
“And what if the date goes well? Will you meet again?”
WanYin nodded again. Finally he swallowed the bite.
“And if even better? Will you kiss her?” XiChen glanced at the other. “Have you… have you kissed before?”
“Sure!” WanYin answered immediately. XiChen tilted his head. WanYin looked away. “No,” he mumbled and blushed.
“Do you want to practice it?”
WanYin turned to XiChen. “Yes!”
XiChen leaned to WanYin and breathed a soft kiss on his lips. WanYin hummed, he slowly opened his eyes and he licked his lips. XiChen was watching him, eager for his reaction.
“One more time,” he asked already leaning in. XiChen’s lips were soft. It felt nice to kiss him. Then XiChen’s lips moved. They opened slightly and he licked the seal of WanYin’s lips. His tongue was wet and hot. WanYin was surprised, he pulled away. He blinked.
“You didn’t like it?” XiChen asked. WanYin tilted his head thinking and he licked his lips again.
“One more time,” he asked. XiChen leaned in and he placed a kiss on WanYin’s lips as a start, then licked them. This time they didn’t part. XiChen lifted a hand and gently cupped WanYin’s face while he slid his tongue into WanYin’s welcoming mouth. WanYin copied his movements. He kissed back. Their tongues met and danced around each other slowly, tasting each other. Kissing was more wet, soft and hot than he ever imagined. Actually it felt nice. He hummed. They parted when they were out of air. WanYin felt a little dizzy and enchanted.
“Did you like it?” XiChen asked softly, curiously.
“Very much,” WanYin smiled at him.
On that day’s evening Jiang Cheng was lying on his stomach on his bed. He was listening to music on a low tone while he was doing research for a study.
His phone’s screen lit up. He glanced at the screen. A new message. At this time? Eleven passed a few minutes. He checked it. He was expecting his brother, Wei WuXian, wanting something urgent and stupid, but he was wrong.
ZeWuJun: WanYin. Are you awake?
WanYin frowned. He pulled his phone closer.
purplelightning: yeah
purplelightning: you’re usually asleep at this time, why are you awake?
ZeWuJun: I can’t sleep.
ZewuJun: How was your date?
purplelightning: we wont meet again
ZeWuJun: Oh, I’m sorry.
purplelightning: I’m not
He didn’t tell XiChen - and didn’t plan to ever tell him - he was thinking about him and their kiss during the whole date, so he decided not to meet the girl again. It wouldn’t be fair. Once he glanced at her lips and he compared the view with XiChen’s lips. It wouldn’t be a hard choice, he’d rather kiss XiChen again. (And again.)
ZeWuJun: What happened?
purplelightning: I dont want to talk about it
purplelightning: we just dont match
purplelightning: not a big deal
purplelightning: forget it, I do the same
ZeWuJun: If WanYin says.
ZeWuJun: I am not bothering you any longer, I go to sleep
purplelightning: youre not bothering me and I cant imagine a situation when you do
purplelightning: but if you got sleepy, then good night, XiChen
ZeWuJun: :)
ZeWuJun: Thank you. Good night. See you tomorrow.
purplelightning: yeah
purplelightning is typing…
WanYin deleted the 3 words he typed, he didn’t know why he wrote them anyway. ( I miss you ) They would meet on the next day after all.
On that night XiChen had a weird, realistic dream. He was on the rooftop with WanYin and they were making out. He tasted sweet and XiChen couldn’t get enough. Then WanYin pulled away, panting slightly, lips swollen from the previous kissing-sessions and climbed onto his lap. XiChen pulled him closer and they continued kissing.
Jiang Cheng continued doing his research for the project the next evening as well, but he couldn’t focus. He pushed the notebook away and started scrolling through his phone. He sighed and checked the time. Seven passed a few minutes. He opened the chat.
purplelightning: XiChen, are you here?
ZeWuJun: Yes. What is it?
purplelightning: Im bored, gege
XiChen didn’t reply immediately.
ZeWuJun: Okay, then I will try my best.
WanYin frowned. He was about to ask what XiChen had in mind when he received the next message.
ZeWuJun: So, what are you wearing, ChengCheng? ;)
Holy crow. WanYin literally giggled. Seriously? This?
purplelightning: hmm, something I know you’d like… a comfy hanfu, slightly opened
ZeWuJun: Sounds sexy, what colour?
purplelightning: purple, of course
ZeWuJun: Your hair?
purplelightning: in a bun
purplelightning: but
purplelightning: I let it down for you
XiChen imagined. He grabs WanYin’s nape, his soft, ebony hair covers his hand as he pulls the other closer. He leans in, opens his mouth and kiss down the column of WanYin’s pale, slender neck to his collarbone. The hanfu is loose, he can go lower and taste the skin on his chest with curious, small kisses.
ZeWuJun: How about I come over?
XiChen was so glad they were texting and not talking on the phone. His voice would have betrayed him.
purplelightning: you can come through the door, wwx is not home yet
It was hard to tell if WanYin was still playing his role or not. But XiChen was glad the play broke.
ZeWuJun: It’s late, I should go to sleep
purplelightning: you can sleep here
WanYin cannot read his own messages? What’s with him?
ZeWuJun: Good night, WanYin
purplelightning: good night, XiChen
purplelightning is typing…
purplelightning: sleep here tomorrow
ZeWuJun: No.
ZeWuJun: Sleep here on Saturday.
purplelightning: OK :)
- Saturday -
They planned to study together and play videogames and spend some quality time with each other. They were sitting by the table in the garden during the early afternoon. XiChen served tea. The tea XiChen made was the best. The sun was shining, the weather was getting warmer. A few cotton-like cloud sat on the bright blue sky. The grass was green, hinted by early blooming flowers. The magnolia trees sheltered them from the intensifying sunshine.
“Hey, XiChen.”
“Hm?”
“Let’s make a promise. If we’re still single when you turn 30, marry each other.”
XiChen smiled. He didn’t answer, slowly put his cup down and stood up without a word. He took a few steps, leaned down and took a flower. With a move he made it into a ring and returned to the table. He gently took WanYin’s hand and placed the flower-ring on his middle finger*.
*in Chinese tradition people wear engagement ring on their middle fingers
“I promise,” he said softly, solemn, almost whispering and smiled again. WanYin stared at the ring and he felt his cheeks warmed up. He nodded.
He wore the flower-ring all day.
- (9 years later) (this supposed to be line-through) 3 month later -
It was a slow, kind of sleepy Sunday when WanYin sent a picture. XiChen opened it and just stared at the selfie.
purplelightning: so? What do you think?
About what? XiChen opened the picture again. He tried to figure out what he should have been looking at, why was his opinion important. WanYin looked gorgeous. He gave up.
ZeWuJun: I’m terribly sorry, WanYin, but I have no idea what I should be looking for. All I can see is you being pretty as always.
purplelightning: :)))
purplelightning: You’re making me blush, XiChen-ge
ZeWuJun: I just stated the truth
purplelightning: just look at my outfit!
ZeWuJun: It is lovely
WanYin sighed. XiChen would have said that even if he was naked or wearing a cod as a hat, it wasn’t a good idea asking him. Anyway...
purplelightning: thanks
purplelightning: :)
...Anyway… WanYin’s lips parted, his eyes went wide and he gasped softly in realisation. He almost dropped the phone. How could he be this stupid? Grade A stupid.
purplelightning is typing…
purplelightning: can you come over? We need to talk
ZeWuJun: That sounds a bit… frightening. Is something wrong?
purplelightning: no, just… just come here, I want to see you
ZeWuJun: I’m on my way
When XiChen arrived, WanYin took his hand and dragged him into his room. He pushed him down on the bed, then reached out for a prettily carved wooden box. He opened it and dropped the things from the box in front of XiChen.
There were a lot of different things, movie tickets, a small stone, a notebook XiChen gave WanYin 3 years ago to write down his ideas and dreams. XiChen picked up the notebook and flipped through it. There were a few flowers dried to remember. XiChen recognised the flowers, the first was the one he gave WanYin as a ring when they made the promise, the second was he gave him on a rainy day to cheer him up, the next a joke as birthday present, the fourth from the tree they found shelter under when once they missed the bus so they decided to have a coffee and wait for the next and the fifth because XiChen couldn’t stop himself gifting WanYin.
“What’s the meaning of all this?” he asked looking up at the other.
WanYin bit down on his lower lip, then he sighed. He sat beside XiChen.
“I think these mean I have to repeal our promise. The promise to get married if we’re still single by the time you turn 30.”
XiChen gulped. He felt icy coldness in his chest and it started to grow.
“Why?” he asked with a dry throat and hoped his voice didn’t betray him.
“Because I think it’s not fair if I tie you in such way because…”
“Because?”
“I will be single forever and waiting for you because I… I’m in love with you. Oh, heavens, I love you so much, I… how did I not understand this before?” WanYin frowned then looked at XiChen desperately. “You’re my everything, XiChen…”
XiChen gently took WanYin’s hands into his hands and he leaned closer.
“I would marry you in this instant, if you wanted that, no need for any kind of promise,” he whispered. “All I want is you to be happy. You are the one and only for me, always were and always will.”
WanYin closed the distance between them and he kissed XiChen. On the mouth and he deepened the kiss. XiChen welcomed it and he kissed back just as eagerly as WanYin was kissing him. He let off WanYin’s hands and wrapped his arms around his waist to pull him closer. He leaned back on the bed, pulling WanYin with him on top. His fingers found way under WanYin’s shirt as they were kissing to touch, to feel his bare skin. It was soft, silky and hot.
XiChen broke the kiss and gently bit into WanYin’s lower lip.
“I love you.”
WanYin shivered and he straddled XiChen. His knee touched his treasures and gently placed them into safety, then he smiled at XiChen and leaned in to kiss him again.
XiChen was waiting for him on Monday morning - with a soft smile and a fresh flower-ring.
“You will give me a flower-ring every day?” WanYin asked amused.
“Maybe,” XiChen answered with a soft smile.
A week later XiChen gave WanYin a platinum ring with lotus patterns carved onto its surface.