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„Hmmmhmmhmmm“, Jiang Cheng hummed a melody he had come up with himself, his pudgy hands covering his ears. An effective way to drown out the world outside - more precisely, his parents. They had been fighting a lot lately, more than before. Jiang Cheng did not know the reason why, he only knew that he did not like it.
He pulled his blanket over his head, was jiejie able to sleep? She was all alone in her room. Jiang Cheng did at least have Little Love, Princess and Jasmin by his side. His beloved plushies watched over him, making sure he did not feel too lonely. He lifted his hand, not like he could see it in the dark of his room underneath his blanket, but he didn‘t need to see in order to know it was there, his pinky. Back when he still was waaay smaller, jiejie told him that every person‘s soul was bound to another‘s by fate. Every person had a soulmate, someone that would fit them perfectly. When soulmates held each other‘s hands, a red ribbon would appear on their pinkies.
Jiang Cheng was already five years old now, a big boy. He loved his sister, his plushies, his mother and his father the most. However, sometimes he asked himself whether his mother and his father loved each other as well, loved him as well.
He would soon also be an adult and marry his soulmate. Jiang Cheng liked to imagine them, they were probably really really pretty and at least as kind as a-Li.
A-Cheng would love his soulmate a whole lot and they would love him just as much. He wouldn‘t fight with them, they would always be happy, always know how much a-Cheng loved them.
-
Lan Huan was ten years old when his mother died. She had been sick for years, suffering a lot. Uncle told Lan Huan that she would be free of pain now. Of course Lan Huan would never ever have wanted his mother to suffer, but his chest was still hurting so bad, he missed her very much. Father too, he had been completely devastated ever since she passed. It was probably because they were soulmates.
Lan Huan tightened his hold on a-Zhan smaller hand. He had a soulmate as well, someone who would love him just as unconditionally as his father had loved his mother. His didi had such a person as well. It was a very comforting thought. They might feel lonely now, but in the future they wouldn’t. Until then it was Lan Huan’s job to be there for his little brother.
-
„Soulmates are overrated.“ Wei Wuxian looked at Jiang Cheng in the most unimpressed way he could.
„There you go spouting bullsh!t again. Even though all of us know that the first thing you do whenever you meet someone new is checking whether there’s a ribbon on one their pinkies.“
Jiang Cheng let his math book sink. Tired of Wei Wuxian gushing about Lan Zhan, tired of hearing about soulmates. „I don‘t know what‘s the big deal about them. How is a soulmate something so awesome. Look at my parents, they were forced to marry because of their soulmate bond, they are fighting every day. I‘m just so tired of it. And I‘m even more tired of you annoying me with that stupid stone-faced Lan Zhan of yours.“
Wei Wuxian let out a long sigh. „You should not use your parent’s relationship as an example for all soulmate bonds, most of them aren‘t miserable, you know? Also, Lan Zhan is not stone-faced, he‘s perfect. I don‘t know what it is, but I just feel such a pull towards him, he must be the one!!“
The other youth rolled his eyes. At fifteen he was aware that having a soulmate did not guarantee happiness. Still, deep down he hoped so much to find his soulmate soon. Jiang Cheng had a hard time connecting with people, he was hyper-aware of his many many flaws, he was too angry, too blunt, too proud. A person loving him just the way he was, FOR the way he was, sounded like a dream. A dream that had kept him going.
-
Lan Huan was on his way to the student council’s meeting. Damn it, he was running late, but the teacher just wouldn‘t stop talking. Now he had to hurry. Out of the corner of his eye he saw another student making her way towards him, a pretty girl with big eyes. A moment later she ran into him, falling on her behind dramatically. Lan Huan sighed, he really had no time for this sh!t.
„Are you alright?“ He offered his hand to help her up. She took it without hesitation, making sure their pinkies brushed against each other. Nothing happened, as always. Lan Huan watched the disappointment in her eyes, used to it already. So he excused himself to hurry on. Situations like that happened on the regular to him. It was probably due to his good looks (yes, he knew that sounded very arrogant, but that’s how it was), but there were constantly people trying to touch his hands in order to check whether they were soulmates. Other students kept on running into him on purpose was only one way to check. Lan Huan did not appreciate those methods at all. He hated it. Hoping, that his actual soulmate had the decency to get to know him first, not simply relying on their connection, but also seeing the person behind it.
The thought of his soulmate was as comforting as ever to him. However, at seventeen he had long learned that putting too much value on their connection was not the right way either. Truth to be told, his father‘s obsession with his late mother was scary to Lan Huan. Would he become the same? And was it really that bad to love someone if they weren‘t connected by fate?
-
Jiang Cheng yawned, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes … at least he tried to. He had studied for his upcoming exams until the early morning hours, would continue to study as soon as he was caffeinated. Going to his favourite café was not necessary at all, he had a coffeemaker at home - but he needed to get out of his apartment for a bit in order not to go insane. Now he stood there, waiting to place his order.
„I am so incredibly sorry“, the person in front of him in line apologised to the cashier. Jiang Cheng had not paid attention to his surroundings at all, what was going on? He really needed his coffee.
The man went through his pockets, his briefcase, obviously searching for something. „I thought I had packed my wallet in, I must have left it at home.“
Ah, it was too early for stuff like this. Jiang Cheng had no patience for such situations, so he meddled in, „I‘ll take an extra large cappuccino. Take the guy’s beverage on my tab as well.“
The other turned towards him. Oh, the guy was actually gorgeous, but honestly? Jiang Cheng was too tired to care.
„Thank you so much!“
Jiang Cheng just nodded. „You’re welcome.“ Once he received his beverage he left the café, sole attention on going back home as quickly as possible - when someone grabbed him by the arm.
„I‘m so sorry for reaching out for you like that, but I was calling for you, you didn‘t seem to hear me.“
„Oh, the guy without the wallet.“ The other man cringed at that, effectively putting a smile on Jiang Cheng‘s very very tired features.
„Yes, exactly that one. I am seriously grateful you helped me out just now. I was wondering if you would let me take you out for dinner so that I could return the favour.“
„… because of the tea? You know, it wasn‘t even five bucks, you do not need to feel indebted for it.“
The other man’s face went completely red, he shuffled from one feet to another. „Actually, I thought you were very really cute, so I hoped it would be a good excuse to ask you out…“
Jiang Cheng looked at him for a long time, before speaking up again. „Alright, give me your phone, I‘ll save my number inside. Text me regarding the date.“
A beaming smile appeared on the others handsome features, Jiang Cheng had to squint in order to not be blinded by it. He went back home afterwards, sipping his coffee. It was several hours later when the realisation finally kicked in. The most gorgeous man Jiang Cheng had ever seen in the twenty years he had been walking this earth asked him out for a date. Just like that - and Jiang Cheng had barely reacted to it! As if it was a no-brainer to go out with the other.
-
Lan Huan laid in bed, Jiang Cheng in his arms, enjoying the first beams of daylight sneaking past their blinds. They had been dating for three years now. Three years of pure bliss. He could still remember the first time he saw his younger lover. Overworked, barely keeping himself on his feet - but still so beautiful. Lan Huan had never felt such a pull towards another person before.
Jiang Cheng was not like any other person Lan Huan had encountered, he was direct, dry sense of humour, a bit gruff, but undeniably caring. Talking to him was surprisingly easy. Lan Huan never had to put on an act, could simply be himself. He loved Jiang Cheng wholeheartedly and felt just as loved in return.
They had kicked it off right from the start, knew that this was more than just a fling. However, they had not checked whether they were soulmates or not. Back on their first date Lan Huan offered Jiang Cheng his pinky - the latter declined. „Soulmate bonds are nice, but I‘d wish to get to know you without any pressure first.“
Lan Huan felt so weirdly relieved about it, he knew that very moment that Jiang Wanyin was the one for him.
At twenty-six years old, Lan Huan had told his boyfriend just as much over and over again.
Soulmates were still fascinating to him, a person clicking with him just like a puzzle sounded beautiful and he could say with confidence that he found that very person in Jiang Cheng.
He lifted his hand up, looking at his pinky. They promised to stay together, wether they were tied together by fate or not. At some point they would still have to check, Lan Huan wanted to properly hold hands!
„…whatcha doin‘?“, Jiang Cheng stirred awake, squinting at his boyfriend‘s hand.
„Thinking how nice it would be to hold my beloved‘s hand properly.“
Jiang Cheng grunted at that and reached unceremoniously for Lan Huan‘s hand, brushing their pinkies together.
Everything went incredibly slow and way too quick at the same time. A small thread appeared on both of their finger‘s wrapping around a few times before ending in a beautiful ribbon.
Lan Huan‘s eyes widened, tears pricked the corners of his eyes. „Holy cow … we are actually soulmates! And you checked just like that.“
Jiang Cheng sniffed. „I would not have been brave enough to do it otherwise … a-Huan, we really are soulmates!!“
The older man smiled, rivalling the sun. „Right from the start, it could only have been you for me.“