Chapter Text
Jiang Cheng had long accepted the fact that he was nothing but a mere tool to both his parents. Perhaps they loved him in their strange ways but certainly not too much to let him off the hook. He was born and raised to be an heir and he was expected to act like one. From his likes to dislikes, everything was planned out for him, so there wasn't much to expect when it came to his own marriage as well.
Some would say his life was rather unfortunate, but after years and years of anger, he'd only burned out in the end. Some parts, it was therapy that calmed him down, but most of it came down with the conceding acceptance that he was fated to be the tool he was raised to be. It was easier, surprisingly, to work around the lingering resentment and squashing them down with the heavy bounds of his duties and responsibilities.
He didn't realize just how much he'd yielded to until issues after issues about the romantic aspect of his life piled and eventually became problematic on it's own. To put it simply, he was uninterested. He'd never thought about it and naturally held no opinions about it. He knew he would marry for business one day but he had also decided that if he could help it, he'd rather just not marry at all.
Of course his parents didn't understand that. For him, he had no time to pursue anything of that. For them, it was a great business opportunity.
He'd been sent then to multiple blind dates which had failed each time that he heard there was a mutual agreement between the young ladies of his social circle that he was a walking red flag. To defend his reputation, his mother had found a list of requirements written by the ten year old A-Cheng who had once sworn himself to his precious jiejie.
Where his mother had found that list, he had no idea of. His therapist suggested it might not have been necessarily “found” but had merely been a lasting memory his mother had to signify of her love for him. That she did care and was always paying attention despite not appearing it. Jiang Cheng was not inclined to agree but he didn't really care much to disagree either. Much of the family issus had long been buried behind his work which he had long since decided was going to be the center of his life. His mother could do whatever she wants. He wasn't going to ask or wonder about the intentions or history behind it anytime soon.
To her credit though, that stupid list did some magic. It held him up with some dignity and news of him being a temperamental jerk who can even rival the Jin Clan’s heir changed into something of having high standards (which wasn't really that much of a difference but mother told him otherwise so he wasn't going to comment anymore).
Now that, he didn't care about at all. It was the benefit of that list filtering the maidens thrown at him and letting him meet the more credible people that had him entertaining his mother’s scheme.
For example, his recent blind dates were more pleasant. The ladies, though were just as uninterested with pursuing any sort of romance, were able to understand what he meant when he would ask them to put aside the fantasy of the blind date being some sort of a fairytale getaway and rather see it as it is—business.
Some of them went straight to business and it gained him multiple business partners. Some of them asked to still try in case something worked and then didn't blame him when it didn't. In fact, he remained friends with most. Some fewer others were visibly dismayed but hadn't cursed him out nor attempted to claw at him. Been long since he'd been slapped now.
His parents didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but greedy as they were not for money but for their son’s use, they decided going slow on wasn't doing them any favors so they simply went to a particularly distinguished young lady and proposed on his behalf.
Fortunately, said young lady was headstrong and fought for control in her decisions. She had asked his uncle, who was her guardian and custodian for the potential marriage, to let her get to know the person she was about to be engaged with. Said uncle was less insistent as his parents and had even let her choose whether to proceed with the engagement or not after getting to know her partner.
Wen Qing.
That was her name.
That was also the first time Jiang Cheng found someone he was compatible with. Their passion for their duties stood on the same level and they had so much to talk about and learn from each other. Their dates had all turned to in-depth discussions about their respective businesses. It wasn't something that would develop into something more, he knew, because he knew himself to stay within boundaries he'd draw upon.
However, they would be able to live with and respect each other if it came down to it. Perhaps it would work in a platonic marriage sort of way. She had refused, though. She’d said she could respect Jiang Cheng all the same but didn't think she would want a marriage that had little to no warmth at all.
“No offense, Wanyin. I like you but I also believe you when you said you are unable to feel attraction towards people. Perhaps you are aromantic or perhaps it just takes you a long time, but like you, I do not have the time to pursue you until you fall for me.”
Jiang Cheng understood. She, after all, had a reputation of being straightforward and even it applies with the people she liked. He had seen her confess to some of their peers be it an attraction or a simple interest but would not pursue it if the other did not make even the least indication of being just as interested. (Over the years, he’d only heard of a Luo Qinyang who was her first and also last relationship.)
Their understanding of each other's circumstances led to the most fulfilling “break-up.” They'd agreed they were better as friends, or best friends as Nie Huaisang ranted once he found out his best friend had found another “best friend.” It allowed them to bond better without the pressure of knowing you're going to marry the other and feeling obligated to do something about it.
And because their meet-ups never stopped, the ungodly amount of marriage and blind date proposals that had been waiting for them to crack and stop “seeing each other” had been stopped for the longest it lasted—which wasn't really long until his mother found out.
“Mother is coming home. Predicted, she might be more insistent this time,” his jiejie had called him. “A-Cheng, you know you don't have to do this.”
“It’s quite alright, A-Jie,” he’d replied because it really was fine.
He knew what she thought. She knew and believed arranged marriages rarely worked and would hate for him to go through the same, but she wasn't like Wen Qing who understood his general lack of interest.
To Jiang Yanli, no one should be alone, and especially her younger brother, so she hoped—expected?—for him to marry but only with someone he loved and would treat him well.
It took him years to learn to not break her heart and reject her well-wishes by simply not saying anything else about it. (The same years it took him to comprehend and eventually accept that she could also be not understanding; she wasn't any angel or miracle gift from the heavens—just human. As human as everyone else and flawed.)
When his mother returned, she was surprisingly . . . not angry? The lines on her face were still tight but rather than rage, it was something of resignation in her eyes.
“A-Cheng,” she called.
He would have felt goosebumps if not for the bomb he knew would drop.
“Perhaps it is time we open our minds further. If ladies do not work for you, then we can only accept if it has to be a man.”
How by the gods she even came up with the idea, he wasn't going to wonder.
It didn't matter that she wouldn't get another grandson from her son, as long as he married and expanded the business then it was enough. There was a minor short-circuit in his brain in that moment but in the end, it's all the same, “Whatever you want, mother.”
At least his father seemed to hesitate and had hints of backtracking. Jiang Cheng didn't like the pity that came with it though.
It was quite impressive, nonetheless, that they were trying to be considerate with his “preference” and were willing to be open with the choices of his future spouse despite not understanding that he was simply not interested, men or women. (Insert an eye roll from him.)
If they could allow him to marry a dog then that would probably keep him happy for the rest of his life.
(Oh, what a surprise! He actually does have preferences. Gasp.)
Of course even blind dates with men had the same result as the women. He still ended up gathering more business partners rather than a potential husband.
It couldn't be helped when the first thing he'd do upon meeting his blind date was make them understand the situation. A lot of them don't get him but could understand if business was business.
Few of the men expressed interest in him even after resolutely explaining his intention and he was amicable to trying it. He was always amicable, but as always, given his personality and general boring attitude with romance, they eventually ran away on their own.
“A shame,” one had told him. “You are a fine man in all aspect but romance. I admire so much that you are duty-bound. Alas, it leaves you little to no time for anything else. It is true then that one can't be everything all at once.”
That one was the most persistent of all, he had noted, but Jiang Cheng didn't really understand the other’s creativity in his attempts to pursue.
Frustrated at the lack of better progress, Madam Yu had snapped and resorted to the one thing she was best at doing; looking for the best.
Jiang Cheng didn't know what kind of shameless proposal she did but after he'd been handed fully the position of CEO at 26, there among his paper works was a marriage of certificate with his name in it and—
Oh, wow. Mother did know to pick the best.
Lan Xichen’s signature sat prettily atop his name. Old Master Lan’s too was there as one of the custodians, and then his parents’ as his. Only a line meant for his name—the other groom aside from Lan Xichen—remained blank.
That's that so . . .
Well, he signed it.