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Lan Huan strides down the dark hallway with purpose – it’s partly because he needs to keep up his imposing image as a gang leader, like how this hallway is dark specifically because it’s leading to their interrogation room, he does not live in a pigsty, thank you very much - but more importantly, he has a date he can’t miss.
It’s been years since he’s last seen Jiang Cheng.
He’s heard rumors, of course, meticulously kept track of the other, but he never reached out.
Yet.
No, that was supposed to be for another few months, when Lan Huan had everything ready.
Who knew Jiang Cheng would come to him like this?
Lan Huan feels giddy, it’s been too long since Jiang Cheng and him parted, though, he supposes, it was partly his fault. He was the one who cut contact, had to cut contact, after his graduation. He can’t be involving civilians in the underworld business after all.
His graduation was a troubling time for the Gusu Triad – his father passed away and his uncle, the acting head for many years, was injured in the same accident. Internal conflict rose with no one to succeed since Lan Huan and Lan Zhan had grown up with little to no contact with the underworld. Not completely, of course, Lan Huan had inklings of what his family actually did, but they were never instructed as a successor.
Perhaps you could call it perfect, troubled timing – Lan Huan graduated high school which allowed him to be immediately appointed as the next successor based on bloodline. Both Lan brothers left town to a safehouse, and Lan Huan was lucky his uncle woke up at the hospital, well enough to be the seventh head of the Triad.
Though it was hard, Lan Huan accepted his fate then, deciding to continue supporting his family. As a result, for training and also partly to keep them safe, he had to cut contact with civilians, including his then boyfriend, Jiang Cheng.
They parted on amicable terms, Lan Huan saying he was moving countries and both deciding long distance wasn’t ideal.
Two years later, Jiang Cheng followed Lan Huan into the underworld.
Well, not exactly followed Lan Huan – it’s a bit more complicated with Jiang Cheng’s family, one could say Jiang Cheng fell instead – but, semantics.
Lan Huan chooses to believe it’s fate, his beloved Jiang Cheng coming back to him.
They reach the end of the hall. Lan Huan nods to the two guards standing in front of the room. One of them offers up keys - Jiang Cheng must be cuffed in the room - but Lan Huan shakes his head.
It will be too tempting to free Jiang Cheng, to simply take him – no, Lan Huan will resist, he will not lose control. Jiang Cheng has already come a step closer - he just needs to make sure Jiang Cheng comes to him, voluntarily, pliantly.
Dependently.
He pauses to straighten his shirt collar, smooth out the Lan pendant, and checks his slicked hair against the polished silver of the metal door.
Then Lan Huan reaches for the handle.
Jiang Cheng is beautiful as always, even through bruises that are starting to show - courtesy of ground-level subordinates who don’t know any better, Lan Huan will have to teach them later that Jiang Cheng is his.
Jiang Cheng is a bit thinner than Lan Huan last saw him, sharper cheekbones making his lips look full, more plump. He’s kneeling in the middle of the room, shirt off and hands cuffed behind his back. The position twists his posture – he’s leaning forward to compensate from the awkward weight at the back.
Jiang Cheng’s eyes – his beautiful, grey, almond eyes – snap up to meet Lan Huan’s. His mouth parts but no sounds appear. His tongue darts out swipe across his lips.
Lan Huan watches, painfully aware of the difference in their position and in their current loyalties, struggles to hold his demeanor. He heads towards the chair in the front of the kneeling man, draping his white suit jacket on the back and settling quietly.
“Jiang Cheng, or I should say, Jiang Wanyin, leader of the Lian Hua Zu,” he greets. Jiang Wanyin is a new name, picked up as a cover, just like his Lan Xichen was. It is inevitable that their real names will be leaked, but at least this way, acquaintances and civilians are less likely to find out.
An indiscernible expression flits across Jiang Cheng’s face, but it’s gone in the next second he breathes out, “Lan Xichen.”
Lan Huan is a bit disappointed, but that’s okay, Jiang Cheng will be calling “Lan Huan” soon enough.
“It’s a surprise to see you,” Lan Huan continues.
“I’d say the same, but,” Jiang Cheng bites his split lip. “Not really. I heard about your Gusu Triad ever since I – ever since Lian Hua Zu was made.”
“An impressive feat,” Lan Huan commends.
Lian Hua Zu’s base of operation is on the pier side of the city. At first that side was neutral territory, overrun with petty criminals and crooks that didn’t like bigger groups coming into their area for sure, but not a lot of organization. Getting control of the pier meant trouble – if Gusu Triad laid hands on it, the Qishan Group and the Nie Triad would’ve immediately grouped together to take Gusu down, not to mention Gusu would have to deal with the pier criminals.
An attack on three sides. Even the longstanding Gusu Triad cannot withstand it.
Lian Hua Zu rallied all the pier criminals to stand together and claim territory as a group. It’s small, but organized and growing – soon it might be able to stand as one of the bigger groups. Lan Huan heard rumors about its start, from 2 boys running delivery jobs into something that could loosely be called a gang then shooting up over the smaller groups with it’s efficient organization and increasing monopoly of jobs in the area.
Jiang Cheng and his brother, Wei Ying, now Wei Wuxian, at the heart of it all.
Lan Huan suspects the alliances that made up the group – he’d call them alliances, Lian Hua Zu was based on the idea that the enemy of my enemy is my friend and lots of promised revenge – were contacted through Wei Wuxian, but the organization? That was all Jiang Cheng.
Lan Huan almost wants to tell the world how cute his Jiang Cheng had been in the high school student council.
Jiang Cheng swallows thickly and questions, “So? What do you want?”
Lan Huan shrugs lightly. “There’s lots of things I want.”
Some time off. Jiang Cheng. Su She to stop being a dick after defecting to the Qishan Group. Lian Hua Zu to join the Gusu Triad. Jiang Cheng.
“Well, one thing I want right now is to get out of these cuffs. It’s cold,” Jiang Cheng grits out. Lan Huan is pleased to hear there isn’t much heat to the words.
The Triad successor leans down, bringing his eyes down to the younger’s level. “I can’t just let you go like that.” Not after I just got you again, he thinks, but instead says. “I’ll let you go after you hear my proposal. I’m sure you know the rules, now that you’re a head of a group.”
He pauses, watching those grey eyes flicker to the floor then to the side.
“It was a member of Lian Hua Zu that was caught doing business in Gusu Triad’s territory. We can’t let that go unpunished.”
“So?” Jiang Cheng licks his lips and speaks again. “So why did you capture me and Wei Yi – Wuxian?”
“We were just lucky to catch the heads of Lian Hua Zu,” Lan Huan answers truthfully.
Usually, with trouble like this, Lan Huan will expect a formal meeting or apology gifts. Instead, Uncle inexplicably told him Gusu Triad caught Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng.
It’s unnecessary, of course, and capturing heads isn't orthodox – but Lian Hua Zu is small and Gusu Triad can afford to throw its weight around a little.
It’s been three days now with both of Lian Hua Zu’s heads in captivity. Tensions are high, especially on their groups’ shared border. There’s been a few fights, he heard.
“We were going to deal with the guy who did the deal. Don’t worry about it, I would’ve made sure he learned his lesson and given you – Gusu Triad something in apology,” Jiang Cheng explains, frowning. He sounds tired.
“Maybe. But your group’s also started a couple of fights, and some of our men have gotten hurt,” Lan Huan says softly, straightening up.
Jiang Cheng jerks his head up and says in almost a snarl. He looks wonderful distraught. “That’s – if – That’s only because Gusu captured us! If you had – if you released us, Lian Hua Zu wouldn’t be doing this. Wei Wuxian and I will fix this.”
Lan Huan doesn’t like the sound of that - Wei Wuxian and I. It should be Lan Huan.
The younger’s chest heaves with the deep breaths he’s taking to calm himself down. The Gusu Triad member is suddenly reminded of high school, waiting for the other to finish his swim practice and the way the water droplets strokes down tan skin.
“Still, it’s bad manners to immediately attack someone,” Lan Huan hums. He rises to walk slowly around the bound figure. “We might have to take action against your group for our injured men.”
“I – “ Jiang Cheng grinds his jaw in silence, head slowly turning to keep track of the older’s movements. He knows Lian Hua Zu, no matter how fast it’s growing, will not be able to withstand a full attack from Gusu Triad. “I can make sure something like this doesn’t happen again. And – and what do you want, Lan Huan?”
He stops trying to keep the other in sight – instead he looks straight ahead, to the chair and the white jacket hanging on it.
Lan Huan hums, now standing directly at the back of Jiang Cheng. It is a bit extreme, to simply wage war based on a few fights and a territory dispute.
But it’s all just a threat. The plan is to get Lian Hua Zu to join Gusu Triad, as allies or a sub-faction, in return for partial control of the pier. It’s a better move than demolishing the smaller gang since that would revert the pier situation to be as before – Qishan and the Nies will not hesitate to turn the pier into a warzone.
Allying with Lian Hua Zu will give Gusu Triad power, and a buffer against pier attacks.
Lan Huan stays silent for a long moment, keeping Jiang Cheng in suspense. He observes the large tattoo at the younger’s back instead, the bunched up lines of his bound position distorting the picture.
Where before was unblemished tan skin, a large purple lotus settles in full bloom, the purple tinged tips fading down into a soft lavender-pink to meet the gold bursting from the middle. Fitting for a head of Lian Hua Zu indeed.
The mix of colors is beautiful, fading seamlessly into each other and shining in their own right. Lan Huan wonders where Jiang Cheng had the tattoo done, the artist must definitely be sought after.
There are two dark green lotus pads peeking out from the bloom, placed on each side asymmetrically. Every part of a tattoo for their kind often symbolized something important and Lan Huan can feel the rise of jealousy at the sight – who did those leaves symbolize? Who was important enough to be inked onto Jiang Cheng’s skin, to compare even with Jiang Cheng’s responsibility as head of Lian Hua Zu?
Lan Huan wants to overwrite it all, wants to sear his claim onto, into Jiang Cheng’s skin.
He can already imagine it. A white dragon with light blue plume, identical to the one he has on his own back. The tail would start somewhere near the hip, winding up the spread of tan back through the purple and gold petals, before emerging up above the flower.
No, Lan Huan is possessive.
The dragon will not stop at Jiang Cheng’s back – he wants it draping itself over Jiang Cheng’s shoulder, sinking it’s claws right on the curve of it. The great muzzle will settle itself roaring over Jiang Cheng’s chest – no, not roaring, he changes his mind, if Jiang Cheng is agrees to the deal now, there will be no going back – he’ll have the head pillowed softly on skin, eye and mouth smugly gazing onto onlookers from above Jiang Cheng’s heart, as Lan Huan should have always, always have.
The tail, he decides, will unwind down to cover half of Jiang Cheng’s thigh, another sign of ownership – private ownership.
White ink will look good on Jiang Cheng, Lan Huan decides, to have the tan and purple peek through the scales. The dragon will weave through the flower, entwined so thoroughly that no one will be able to get rid of it without damaging the flower itself.
Satisfied with the picture, Lan Huan decides he will immediately ask the usual tattoo parlour to have a sketch ready.
Now, to drive the nail home.
“Jiang Cheng,” Lan Huan begins gently, fingertips pressing into the golden center of the lotus. “You don’t want to start a fight, do you? Not with your nephew – Jin Ling, was it - you wouldn't want him to get caught in... all this, would you?
There's a sharp intake of air, Lan Huan can see it in the way Jiang Cheng's shoulders shift up. He brushes the new lines with his fingertips.
The younger's voice is high and tense when he speaks, shaky, "Lan Huan, you wouldn't."
"No, I wouldn't," he concedes. He's not exactly above it, the years have changed him as it had Jiang Cheng, but Lan Huan knows he cannot touch Jin Ling or Wei Wuxian if he wants to have Jiang Cheng whole. "But I can't say the same for other groups. If Gusu Triad is to attack..."
He trails off.
Lian Hua Zu’s pier location meant that other groups were only waiting for an invitation to rip Lian Hua Zu apart – the three big gangs will carve the pier out for themselves.
Jiang Cheng is smart, he can connect the dots by himself.
What will happen if Lian Hua Zu is attacked. What will happen to the group. What will happen to him, as head, and his family.
"What are you saying?" Jiang Cheng says flatly after a long silence. Lan Huan can hear what are you proposing.
The older can see the goosebumps on the younger's skin, from Lan Huan's light touches, the cold air or the thought of an attack, Lan Huan cannot guess, but he enjoys it nevertheless.
"Join me, A-Cheng," Lan Huan concludes.
Another intake of air, this time Jiang Cheng bodily jerks away from his touch.
"I-I can’t. Lan Huan, it isn't like before. I've changed. We both changed," he starts, faltering.
Lan Huan hears I can’t, but he doesn't hear no or I don’t want to.
The successor presses, "Think about it. Our groups, together. I've talked to Uncle and he agreed to let Lian Hua Zu remain if we form... an alliance, of sorts. Gusu Triad will help Lian Hua Zu with more resources and offer opportunities for better jobs. Lian Hua Zu, in turn, will support Gusu and give easy passage to the pier. What do you say?"
"You're saying," Jiang Cheng's voice is thick and he talks slowly like he’s struggling to articulate his thoughts. "You're saying to have Lian Hua Zu as a sub-faction of the Triad. For us to bow to you."
Lan Huan slowly steps up into view, pauses to pluck his jacket from the chair and kneels down to bring himself to Jiang Cheng's level.
"Well, it wouldn’t be fair for us to give you so much and not have a little authority, right? We'll have you as an autonomous faction, all internal control and job picking will belong to you and Wei Wuxian. Nothing out of the usual, but with a little mandatory discussion on major decisions."
"I - " Jiang Cheng bites his bottom lip, looks tempted, looks tempting- but ultimately shakes his head. "There are some - a few in my group, they joined to get back at Gusu. It won’t be fair to them."
Lan Huan raises a brow patiently. "We will be open about the alliance. If they want to leave to, ah, try again for retribution, they’re free to do so. If they wish to join, that is their choice, and we’re open to other negotiations with them after the alliance is made. At your discretion, of course."
The thing with organized groups is, individuality tends to diminish as the group grows. Assign a leader and many will be willing to follow, despite some misgivings. Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian have been excellent leaders, close knit with their members due to the smaller size. Many will follow, Lan Huan is sure, especially if A-Zhan manages to talk through to Wei Wuxian too.
"And Jin Ling?" Jiang Cheng whispers after a contemplative expression.
This part is more of a personal revision. "Under the protection of Gusu Triad - we will ensure that he grows up well without any connection to the underworld and once he is older, if he does not want to be associated, he will not be. You can have that in writing."
He sees the doubt in Jiang Cheng's eyes, is that really possible?
Lan Huan smiles gently, bringing the jacket up and around Jiang Cheng's bare form to offer warmth. "My brother and I grew up without much connection to the Triad after all. You know that, A-Cheng."
Though Lan Huan never brought Jiang Cheng home - was forbidden to bring anyone back – Jiang Cheng’s met Uncle a few times and even Lan Huan's father once. Jiang Cheng has brought Lan Huan back to his own house a few times in turn, Lan Huan meeting the younger’s late parents politely.
Even as they spent time together, there was no indication of Lan Huan's family being in such business, or of Lan Huan being tracked as the next successor until after graduation.
"And I can ensure Jin Ling will have the best education that Gusu's resources can provide, even if he is not associated,” Lan Huan continues determinedly as he can see the idea taking root in Jiang Cheng’s mind. “This, on one condition though."
Jiang Cheng’s eyes go wide at that, and he says skeptically. "What?"
"On the condition that you be mine, A-Cheng. Just like we used to be, before my graduation."
Lan Huan can tell when Jiang Cheng becomes in favor of his idea. Before graduation was a nice time, full of warm afternoons with lazy kisses and happiness.
A stark difference to Jiang Cheng's current life, he’d imagine.
Jiang Cheng swallows. He presses his lips together, hard enough that Lan Huan can see pink turn into white from his clear view.
"Think about it okay? I'll get your cuffs off in the meantime.” Since Lan Huan’s finished his talk, he intends to keep his promise to uncuff the younger.
Lan Huan adjusts the collar of the white jacket on Jiang Cheng, then rises, his actions slow and deliberate.
He walks to the door, opening and gives the signal for the key.
Once he's obtained them, he closes the door. Walk the short distance back to the white form. Gently unlocks the cuffs from under the suit jacket, before settling back in his chair, extra still to hide his excitedness.
He watches silently as Jiang Cheng rolls feeling back into his wrists, straightens on his knees and stumbles up to his full height.
He does not, Lan Huan notes, take off the jacket, instead clutching at the lapels to keep it in place.
Jiang Cheng takes a step closer, his voice barely above the cold of the room. "I just have to agree right? To let Gusu have some control of Lian Hua Zu for our survival?"
Lan Huan makes a small noise of confirmation.
Jiang Cheng takes another step, shins touching the older's knees. Lan Huan spreads his legs wider, so that Jiang Cheng can step in, holds his heart to see if he would.
"And for my family's protection, I just have to," Jiang Cheng takes a deep breath, inching that one last step into Lan Huan's space. "Be yours."
It's not a question like the previous sentence, it's a statement, a decision made.
Lan Huan smiles and tilts his head up. "Give me a kiss, A-Cheng."
Jiang Cheng ducks down to cup his face, bringing a leg above one of Lan Huan's thighs to balance himself. Lan Huan grasps onto those thin shoulders, clutching the white of Lan Huan's jacket and gleefully thinks of the future dragon on Jiang Cheng's back, digging its claws in and hoarding.
Jiang Cheng remains oblivious to Lan Huan's thoughts, simply guides his lips to Lan Huan's smooth ones, pressing one two, then moving in slow slides.
Lan Huan, greedy for more, licks his way into Jiang Cheng's mouth, gently coats over everywhere he can reach once and is pleased when Jiang Cheng opens his mouth wider and lets him .
He pulls back before they can go further - there are still people outside and Uncle will be waiting for the report - and smiles. They will have time, just the two of them, so Lan Huan can give Jiang Cheng all the things he couldn’t before.
"I'll accept your offer," Jiang Cheng declares, still crouched over to be in Lan Huan's space. "Though, I'm not sure Wei Ying will. It will take time - to convince him and to work out all the conflicts."
"Don't worry, A-Zhan is talking to him right now," Lan Huan chuckles. "And we have time."
Jiang Cheng blinks at that relevation - A-Zhan and Wei Ying had been close, a strange friend-rival relationship perhaps but close nevertheless.
"I've missed you, A-Cheng," Lan Huan says, to bring the other's attention back to him.
Jiang Cheng drops his eyes to his lips, and Lan Huan thinks he'll kiss him again, but the younger simply smiles. "I've missed you too, Huan-ge."
**
Jiang Cheng brings his arms back down after Lan Huan helps him dress in the jacket – Huan-ge’s jacket.
His hands go to button it, but graceful fingers are already there.
It’s hot enough outside that one could go without a jacket, but the clothing conveniently covers his tattoo and front, and most importantly, it definitely screams he is Lan Huan's.
Lan Huan is possessive, Jiang Cheng knows, he wouldn't be surprised if Lan Huan somehow orchestrated the whole thing, down to planning Jin Ling's protection and education.
Jiang Cheng might fight and protest more but - this is Huan-ge and Jiang Cheng is tired.
The whole gang thing was Wei Ying's idea. Jiang Cheng would have been fine trying to earn an honest albeit poor living with their high school degrees. He wanted the best for Jin Ling yes, his nephew deserves the world after the tragedy of his parents and the Jins deserted them - it definitely didn’t help that Jin Zixuan and Jiang Yanli eloped .
Jiang Cheng wishes his own parents' company hadn't gone bankrupt at the worst possible time, wishes his parents were alive and he and Wei Ying weren't shouldering debt but all of that was in the past.
What he could do was try his damn hardest to give Jin Ling the best he could.
So he went along with Wei Ying's plan to get a little more cash with illegal (just a little illegal, Jiang Cheng) jobs, then to get some more with higher risk ones.
They started taking turns to watch Jin Ling at home, taking turns doing jobs until Wei Ying showed up at home one day with a little group.
A goddamn gang, right to where they lived.
Jiang Cheng had argued, voiced his disapproval of course, but what's done was done - more people meant better jobs, better pay, the gang knows where they live and even if he didn’t get involved, Wei Ying was probably going to associate with them - so he did his best to organize the group instead. It was no use trying to do bigger jobs (with more pay, so that meant more for Jin Ling) with a disorganized group and an ill reputation - he's just trying to get them – get Wei Ying - out of jail or worse.
So the brothers were named as heads of the group, now named Lian Hua Zu after the lotuses in water near the pier. And all of them started getting tattoos with the symbol.
And what was Jiang Cheng going to do? Not get a tattoo and get a riot on his hands?
No, he got the biggest one fitting of a leader.
But their group grew bigger, and more minor scuffles arose, and Jiang Cheng is tired of taking charge and cleaning up messes of grown men. The only thing holding him up was the fact that he didn't want to disappoint his nephew by bringing down his quality of life.
So when Lan Huan proposes the deal, his heart jumps at the easy chance.
There might be some disagreements - hopefully very few since there's only one or two men who wanted revenge against Gusu, the Triad was a big but rather well mannered gang compared to Qishan or the Nies– and he's going to get called some unsavory terms, especially coming out clad in Huan-ge's jacket like this, but it's nice, a relief , to secure a safety net.
And Jiang Cheng had been telling the truth - he did miss Lan Huan.
Their break up was abrupt, not because of lack of feelings but for circumstances. It was a surprise to hear the name Lan Xichen when Lian Hua Zu formed - and some snooping led to Lan Huan - but ultimately, he understood the need for secrecy, especially now that they were in the same business too.
So Jiang Cheng lets Lan Huan dress him in his clothes, lets him steal kisses and press one back to the nape of his neck, drag a hand from the curve of his thigh, up the expanse of his back to turning up over to rest a palm over his breastbone - he's imagining something, Jiang Cheng’s sure, but nothing perverse since Lan Huan didn’t stray to the more erogenous zones but something -
but as long as it would give his family, and his group, security, Jiang Cheng doesn’t mind anything.
"Let's go meet Uncle," Lan Huan says and leads him by hand out the door. They walk in silence, ignoring the stares and winding up and down the different hallways to a large open garden where Lan Qiren sits.
**
Lan Qiren watches his eldest nephew and… ex-boyfriend? Soon to be boyfriend? Head-spouse? Whatever the title is, Jiang Cheng is now wearing Lan Huan’s jacket and the successor definitely looks smug. Others may not be able to see past Lan Huan’s smiling exterior, just like how many cannot read Lan Zhan’s miniscule expressions, but Lan Qiren practically raised them – he can tell.
Watching the two leave, after a lengthy talk about their upcoming gang-union and stammers from Jiang Cheng about how good it is to see Uncle again, Lan Qiren can only hope the two will reach Lan Huan’s private rooms in the Hanshi wing, instead of scarring subordinates.
Now where was he in the game? Right.
He places a piece of Go, playing against an invisible opponent.
Everything went all according to plan, Lan Qiren is quite pleased with himself for the execution.
It wasn’t easy keeping track of Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying through the years, but he had to do it to keep his nephews happy. Lans loved once, and they loved hard – it was evident with past generations and with his brother.
Though Lan Qiren’s brother was accommodating, his wife’s heart was never fully with him before succumbing to disease. Lan Qiren can understand, some people simply loved adventure and freedom too much to truly love another.
But as a brother, he was rather unsatisfied with his sister-in-law’s actions, his brother never truly succeeding in having a loving and fulfilling partner and family.
Lan Qiren is rather lucky that he never was enamored with another like that – well, there was that brief moment with Yu Ziyuan, but that was simply a glance, nothing came out of it since she was already married, though if she had survived the accident…
Lan Qiren shakes his head to clear his thoughts and picks up another tile.
His nephews found love easily, predictably falling into it headfirst and so young at that. It was a devastating change for them to lose their loves after Lan Qiren’s brother’s death.
Lan Qiren cannot bear that – his nephews will not have a repeat of their father’s unhappiness.
So he did the reasonable thing and kept track on his nephews’ loves, following and recording meticulously. He’s thankful Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying are adopted brothers and chose to stick together throughout the years.
There was a time where the brothers dropped off the grid. That was a hard month. Lan Qiren had been livid when he heard that the two came back with a child.
A child.
He almost revealed himself to demand whose it was, find out the girl and all the relevant info. Jiang Cheng and Wei Ying belong to his nephews.
Thankfully, it was revealed that the child was the brothers’ nephew, son of Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan, who had died in an unfortunate car accident. The child had been in the accident as well, and the brothers saved up to travel cities to bring him back with them, since the Jins wanted nothing to do Jiang Yanli’s child, not after Jin Zixuan fell from their grace with the elopement.
All this, Lan Huan and Lan Zhan knew from their own resources as well. The brothers often shared news about their loves - it is good to see them getting along well.
And Lan Qiren is almost proud - it only took them a month later to figure it all out after Lan Qiren’s own informant. Lan Qiren would’ve shared, of course, all in due time; it was just his nephews could use a little lesson on informant casting and resourcing.
Though, one thing he hasn’t voiced was how crafty the Jins were… especially that one who hung around the Qishan Group and the Nies a lot…
But that was another matter to investigate further later.
What’s important is that Jiang Cheng has returned to his rightful place beside Lan Huan, both looking doe-eyed at each other as always.
Lan Qiren is pleased to see that Lan Huan’s taste is at least better than his father’s and brother’s, Jiang Cheng will stay by his side, and will not be allowed to leave. Lan Qiren is sure he wouldn’t though – Jiang Cheng always did prefer stability and Lan Huan can provide, can make it so.
Though, Lan Qiren feels a headache coming, Lan Zhan’s love might be harder to convince – it’s not that Lan Qiren doesn’t approve of Wei Ying, well, okay, he doesn’t but he also knows that he has little to no say in who his nephews choose.
Wei Ying is… similar to his nephews’ late mother.
Wei Ying is adventurous, lives freely, laughs freely and, evidently by the formation of Lian Hua Zu, made friends a little too easily.
It will be hard to bind him to Lan Zhan. Lan Qiren hopes he doesn’t have to concoct another plan like this – instructing the ground-level men to inexplicably allow one of Lian Hua Zu to make a deal in their area, to incur the loss, then convincing them not to fight back against the consequent attacks.
Another plan like that and Lan Qiren will be risking his position as a competent Head.
But, Lan Qiren places a tile with a clack, perhaps he doesn’t need Wei Ying to be here.
It’s not like his brother’s situation this time. Lan Huan will succeed as the elder as planned, and is willing to succeed as long as Jiang Cheng is next to him.
No, perhaps, it is alright if Lan Zhan follows his love this time.