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Jin Ling is special and he knows it!
He can read people’s minds. It is his biggest secret.
(Shh, don’t tell!)
No one knows, which makes his life easy in some ways and very difficult in others. Grown ups are especially difficult because they’re always thinking about boring or weird stuff, except jiujiu because jiujiu has a super big secret like Jin Ling.
But today, jiujiu’s thoughts are weird. He isn’t sure how to respond.
“I’m telling you, A-Cheng, just marry rich and problem solved!” Nie Huaisang, a friend of his jiujiu, exclaims loudly.
Jiujiu just looks angry. Or constipated. He remembers someone saying that before.
“Who would I even marry? Opportunities like that don’t just fall in one’s lap, Huaisang!” jiujiu responds.
“Much less likely to fall into my lap,” he thinks, and Jin Ling watches their argument in confusion.
He is five years old, almost six, so he’s big now! But adults are weird. Does his jiujiu want to marry someone rich or not? His words at Huaisang say one thing but his thoughts say another.
In jiujiu’s head, he sounds tired…like he needs a nap. He daydreams of meeting someone who will solve all their problems, but in real life he is stubborn. He never goes on dates! Nie Huaisang complains about it when he watches Jin Ling while jiujiu is at work.
So Jin Ling makes a promise to himself. He will help jiujiu marry a rich person!
Jiang Cheng sighs, pushing himself to get up and out of bed. He has a lot of errands to run and he has a child to bring along with him. He blinks in the early morning light, making a mental checklist of all that needs to be done.
First, he needs to drop off the rent cheque. He only just barely made enough to pay it and he’d be damned if it isn’t paid on time after he worked so hard for it.
Second, he needs to feed Jin Ling. With the state of their fridge, they’ll need to pick something up. He himself usually skips breakfast, but a growing five year old needs the calories.
Third, the one he dreaded the most, is getting Jin Ling’s uniform for Gusu Lan Academy ordered. He knows the price tag will be high, and since he barely made rent he wonders how much overtime he'll have to work just to get one item paid for.
He has a small allowance in his savings from his sister’s life insurance, but it is dwindling fast. With none of the wealth he used to rely on when the Jiang family business was at its peak, he is really starting to worry how he’s going to make ends meet…and with a child no less.
He looks at the photo of him and his sister on his nightstand. If only she hadn't been killed by a Wen spy, he wouldn't be in this mess.
Or he would, but he wouldn't have a child depending on him.
The state of the country is a sore subject. They just got out of the war with Qishan, leaving Yunmeng in a recession. There are spies on both sides either fanning the flames for more conflict or risking their lives to stop their aforementioned counterparts.
Jiang Cheng was no stranger to that life, being an assassin himself.
Before he can dwell on that any longer, the pitter patter of small feet coming down the hall reaches his ears, announcing Jin Ling’s arrival.
“Jiujiu! I dressed myself!”
And dressed himself he did…in pink shorts and a bright yellow t-shirt with his favorite spy cartoon character on it. Jiang Cheng inwardly groans, but maintains a neutral expression to not upset his nephew.
“Do you need help putting your shoes on?”
Jin Ling looks hesitant for a bit before shaking his head and taking off back down the hallway. Jiang Cheng moves to get out of bed and dresses himself before he inevitably needs to help Jin Ling with his shoes.
It is going to be a long day.
Jin Ling is upset that he needs help. He can hear jiujiu laughing at him in his mind! Shoelaces are hard, okay?
But once they’re ready, they head out. He hopes that while they’re out, he can get started on his master plan!
The day is busy, with other people also running errands. Jin Ling hates crowds because everyone’s thoughts are so loud, but thankfully jiujiu brought his headphones to help drown out the noise. But still, he pays attention to the thoughts of others. He needs to find someone rich. Someone good enough for his jiujiu. How hard could it be?
(As it turns out, very.)
The lady that jiujiu referred to by a naughty word was out of the question. Jin Ling thought she could be a contender at first, but when Jin Ling read her mind she thought jiujiu was an irresponsible nobody!
Jiujiu handed her money every month and he always complained about it, so in Jin Ling’s mind she is an evil lady!
Jin Ling made sure to stick his tongue at her when they left.
When they grabbed breakfast, no one stood out.
By the time they’re waiting for the ferry, Jin Ling is sulking. Yunmeng is full of water so they have to travel to parts of the city by boat. He sighs, feeling his tummy roll.
The ferry arrives with little fanfare. Jiujiu holds his hand the entire way, keeping him stable on the deck. Despite this, Jin Ling still feels sick.
“Jiujiu, my tummy hurts,” Jin Ling says once the ferry starts moving.
“What kid from Yunmeng gets seasick?” Jiujiu complains quietly, moving them closer to the edge in case Jin Ling were to lose his breakfast.
It was then that Jin Ling heard something interesting .
“Where am I going to find a spouse and a kid?”
Jin Ling perks up, just a little bit, and looks around to find the source of the thought. He isn’t sure what a “spouse” is but he was a kid! And jiujiu can totally be a spouse, whatever that is, because he can do anything!
The man in question is tall, wearing a fancy suit. Jin Ling’s eyes widened at the fancy silver watch on the man’s wrist.
He must be rich!
(He knew because of grandpa…grandpa was super rich and wore a fancy watch just like that.)
Jin Ling moves a bit closer, eyes focused on the main with the watch, trying to pay closer attention to his thoughts.
“The only way I can get into Gusu Lan Academy is if I’m a parent of a child there…The mission relies on it. Lan Jingyi is in his second year so the child needs to be around six years old. Where would I be if I was a single parent?”
Mission? Jin Ling’s eyes widen. This man must be a super spy or secret agent just like his jiujiu!
The man notices him staring and smiles.
“This kid is the right age, but his father looks difficult to talk to. Besides, they don’t look like they have enough money to go to Gusu Lan Academy.”
Jin Ling is affronted! How dare this man assume him and jiujiu are poor ?
The man approaches, thinking: “But I could get the kid into the school easily enough. I just need to check to see if the man is single.”
Jin Ling cheers and panics at the same time. What does he do? What does he say? Jiujiu isn;t exactly the nicest and–
His tummy rolls violently, and before the man could reach a hand out to introduce himself Jin Ling is puking all over his shoes.
That gets jiujiu’s attention.
“Jin Ling! I brought you to the edge for a reason!” jiujiu exclaims, suddenly noticing the man Jin Ling threw up on. His face turns pale.
“Oh no, I cannot afford to replace this man’s shoes! Jin Ling, what have you done?!”
He is in trouble, and knowing that he begins to cry.
“Whoa, there!” the man with the fancy watch says, squatting down til he was eye level with Jin Ling. “It happens! I have an extra pair of shoes with me so no harm done!”
His smile is wide and genuine, which helps Jin Ling calm down.
“I’m so sorry,” jiujiu starts, kneeling down to wipe Jin Ling’s face with a handkerchief. Jiujiu is always prepared. “A-Ling, what do we say?”
He hiccups. “I’m sorry, mister.”
The man waves them off. “Like I said, no harm done. It’s not the first time I had my shoes thrown up on, believe it or not,” the man says as he takes off his dirty socks and shoes. He opens his briefcase and inside is another suit and a pair of shoes. “I work in pediatric psychology and kids get sick all the time. My name is Wei Wuxian, by the way.”
“Jiang Cheng,” jiujiu responds. “This is my nephew, Jin Ling.”
“Nephew? So not a single father then…” Wei Wuxian thinks as he and jiujiu shake hands.
Jin Ling must do something!
“My mom and dad died so jiujiu takes care of me,” he deadpans.
Wei Wuxian looks at him sadly, reaching up to rub Jin Ling’s head. “My parents died when I was young too. You’re lucky to have your jiujiu.”
Jin Ling likes Wei Wuxian. “Will you be my yizhang?”
Jiujiu sputters. “What is this kid thinking? And why am I the wife?!”
Wei Wuxian laughs, looking jiujiu up and down the way adults sometimes do. Jin Ling doesn’t understand it. “Maybe I should get to know your jiujiu first?”
Jiujiu sputters again, his face red. Jin Ling giggles at him.
“You know what, let me buy you dinner to make up for all of this,” Wei Wuxian exclaims, standing up.
“Buy me dinner? I should be buying you dinner!” jiujiu responds angrily. “He threw up on your shoes!”
“I was trying to approach you before he did that, mind you,” Wei Wuxian counters, placing a hand on Jin Ling’s head. “He just gave me the perfect opening.”
Wei Wuxian winks down at him.
They get off the ferry in high spirits. Jin Ling pats himself on the back. He managed to get jiujiu a rich date!
Mission accomplished!