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Jiang Cheng’s birthday is a week and a half away, and for once, he’s not worried about it. He’s not even thinking about it. He’s not gotten annoyed with the ever-earlier encroachment of Christmas in the stores, overtaking even Halloween items. In fact, he’s standing by in the middle of an aisle at Target, holding a package of glittery snowflake window clings, trying not to cry.
“Hey, A-Cheng, there’s a sale on towels. Do we need any… oh. Shit.” Mingjue grabs a slightly dirty napkin from the paper bag with their Starbucks muffins and hands it over. “Do you want to go wait in the car? I can finish the list, and we can talk about towels later.”
“‘M fine,” Jiang Cheng says, sniffling. “I’m just—“ He waves the window clings helplessly.
“I know.” Mingjue takes the package and puts it in the cart. He then puts an arm around Jiang Cheng’s waist and plants a chaste kiss on his cheek. “Does Jingyi even celebrate Christmas?”
Jiang Cheng sighs and leans against Mingjue. “Probably not. I think he usually spends it with Lan Qiren. None of us really do, so I don’t know why I’m upset.”
“Do you want to start celebrating Christmas?”
“I mean, it’s inescapable. And these are kind of pretty. And maybe some twinkling lights would be nice. And I want to get Jingyi a stocking and buy him all the presents, but then it will be so obvious that I’m trying to make him feel better, which will make everything really weird, like maybe we’re pitying him, and —“
“Okay, okay, okay.” Mingjue puts his hand over Jiang Cheng’s mouth and leaves it there until Jiang Cheng glares at him and licks his palm. “Seriously? You are gross.” Mingjue wipes his hand on Jiang Cheng’s shirt, but at least Jiang Cheng is calmer. And he’s almost smiling, so win-win. “Okay, first of all, I like these snowflake things. They’re festive without being overtly Christmas-y. Let’s get the purple and blue and silver ones. And chuck in a box or two of the white lights. I am all for making our place cozier. Secondly, we can just ask Jingyi what he wants to do about holidays.”
“I don’t want to wait too long,” Jiang Cheng says. “I know A-Yao said he was close to helping Lan Qiren broker the guardianship contract, but it’s just, it’s been so long. What if they change their minds? What if Jingyi changes his mind?”
“A-Cheng.” Mingjue rests his hands on Jiang Cheng’s shoulders. “A-Cheng, my heart, I know that waiting is not your strong point, and it sucks. I get it. But I’m confident that we only have to wait a little bit longer.” He leans in and kisses Jiang Cheng properly. “I waited for you, and look where we are.”
“We are in Target, Nie Mingjue. Literally the most boring place on earth.”
“Wrong.” Mingjue kisses Jiang Cheng again. “We are in Target together, buying things for our home, a home that will soon—“
“Not soon enough,” Jiang Cheng mutters.
“Soon have a vibrant, funny, smart, weird kid, a kid who’s gonna rely on us to take care of him. And we do that by taking care of each other. Starting with glittery snowflake window clings and possibly new towels. And we’ve just gotta wait a little bit more. But it’s better, because this time, we’re waiting together.”
Jiang Cheng sniffs and wipes his eyes with the heels of his hand. “You’re a sappy dork, Nie Mingjue.”
“I know, A-Cheng,” Mingjue says, folding Jiang Cheng into an embrace. “It is my blessing and my curse. Just like you!” He smothers Jiang Cheng’s squawk of protest with another kiss. “You were worth the wait. This will be, too.”
Jiang Cheng huffs, but he squeezes Mingjue tightly. “Fine. I will be patient. And I will buy these decorations. And the towels. Oh, and maybe we can get some special mugs for hot cocoa?”
“Now you’re talking. Come on. Let’s finish our shopping before we end up spending our next paycheck.”
“I was thinking we could go to that hotpot place you like,” Jiang Cheng says as he follows Mingjue to the linen aisle.
“That is the best idea you’ve had all day.”
“Second best,” Jiang Cheng says. He leans in and kisses Mingjue once more. “This is the best. And so are you.”