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Nie Huaisang sighed, his face resting on his hand. He lazily fanned himself as the image of Jiang Cheng sitting in front of him with that soft smile he usually has in Nie Huaisang’s presence. Gods, he loves when he does. He’s one of the few that gets to see his smiles which brings a warm feeling inside of him.
“A-Sang..”
“Hmm?”
He was so deep in his thoughts that he missed the next words said to him. Still he nodded.
CRUNCH
A drop of something landed on Nie Huaisang’s face. He jumped back startled into his chair as he blinked. Unfortunately, unlike his daydream, Jiang Cheng was not his date nor sitting in front of him.
“Great! I can’t wait to show you around afterwards! There’s this grove where we found a-”
Nie Huaisang’s fan fluttered in front of his face, his grimace hidden behind the folds of the fabric. In front of him, Wen Xu sat with one hand waving around flourishing some night hunt and the other digging into the meal in front of him.
‘ Oh gods, what did I agree to?! ’ He thought frantically, trying to remember part of the conversation he zoned out on.
Nie Huaisang winced as the older cultivator grabbed a bun and bit into it, the juices shooting out and dribbling through his fingers and chin. Oh gods, did it get on his fan?! He quickly turned it to check and internally whimpered at the oily stains all over it. He whimpered softly.
“Oh, did I dirty your fan?” Wen Xu waved it off, “Let me get you a new one.”
The young Nie looked in disbelief as he snapped his fingers (juices still dripping down them) and a maid appeared out of a corner holding a tray with a fan laying on it. He squinted at the corner wondering where she came from.
“I hope it’s to your liking. The guards are made of antler of this monster I took down in….”
Nie Huaisang tuned him out again as he looked at the gaudy fan. For the first time in his life, he thinks that the antler would have made a killer handle for a blade rather than a fan but maybe he’s just having violent thoughts due to wanting to end this date as fast as possible.
He looked around wondering if he had people waiting all around them. Hmm…
Miserable date aside, at least he could get some things out of it. Does it make him a bad person? No, he deserves it after staying so patient and polite for so long.
“Ah..excuse me A-Xu..” he fluttered his lashes, holding the ugly fan to his chest as if it was something precious. Gag.
Ignoring a noise that sounded like an angry cat he continued, “Where did you get this silk? It’s so strong…like you.”
Oh he almost threw up a bit.
The Wen preened as he sat up, completely missing his date’s internal crisis, “Oh! We sourced it from a city past the mountains to the North, it was a long trek but I continued on despite many disciples falling behind. In fact...”
Nie Huaisang’s eye twitched as he struggled to keep a smile on his face, ‘ I regret..I regret being greedy. I regret going on this date to escape the archery competition. I regret even coming to Qishan. I regret being born..This is the worst day ever. ’
“Anyways, here we have several meters left. It cost more than these minor sect’s put together but a beauty like yourself deserves all the treasure.” He made a gesture with his hand and Nie Huaisang sat up intrigued, ‘Finally, he speaks some truth. Gimmie gimmie!’
For the first time that night, his eyes sparkled and a true smile came across his face as he was handed a bundle of silk. He giggled pleased.
Wen Xu smirked, running a hand through his hair.
As he examined the weaving of the silk, a scuffle was overheard nearby. The two looked towards the direction of the rooftops.
‘Ah, there must be some cats mating. It is breeding season, you know,” Wen Xu raising his eyebrows towards the Nie. Another loud scoff echoed through the courtyard.
‘ Okay. Abort mission .’ Nie Huaisang laughed nervously before looking around for a reason to leave.
Fortunately Wen Xu’s attention went back to devouring his meal, chicken bones being cleaned and piled high in front of Nie Huaisang.
“You should eat,” Wen Xu pointed at Huisang’s plate which was still full of food.
“Oh..no I can’t…I’m already full” He lied pushing his plate away.
‘ I literally can’t, I’ll throw up all over this table… ’ Nie Huaisang cried inside, going green as rib bones fell to the floor near his feet. He tucked his slippers a bit closer to his chair, internally whimpering from disgust.
“You know if you eat more meat, you’d gain more muscle,” Wen Xu drawled, “Plates full of chicken and egg and some heavy lifting, you’ll be as thick as your brother. Results like this don’t lie!”
Nie Huaisang’s eyes peeped over his fan, watching as the Wen heir pulled his sleeve up and flexed.
‘ Well…he’s not wrong…what else is he hiding under those robes.. ’ Nie Huaisang rolled his eyes at himself and pinched his thigh, ‘ Okay, we have to quit being thirsty and figure out how to get out of this mess !’
His (ugly) fan fluttered in distress as he eyed the courtyard they were sitting in. Of course, not wanting to be with the common folk, Wen Xu brought them to a private restaurant so there weren't any distractions he could take advantage of.
He watched as his date flagged down another maid who brought him a bowl of water and a rag to wash up. ‘You could try not eating like a pig instead of bringing a washing basin everywhere you go…’
Wen Xu stood up and walked towards the young man and held up a hand for Nie Huaisang to take. He hesitated, not wanting to dirty his own hands, before reaching out to take it.
Suddenly, an arrow flew through the air, grazing Wen Xu’s hand. He gasped in pain pulling it towards him. Huisang sprang to his feet, worried he’d be shot next. The older man cursed as he turned to see the intruder who jumped in the yard.
“Wei-xiong?” Nie Huaisang gaped. He had told his friend where he was going to go as a safety precaution but he never thought he would follow him. Or shoot his date. But damn it, he was so grateful that he did.
“You-” Wen Xu growled.
Wei Wuxian just laughed holding his hand up, “Ahh! Wen-gonzi! I’m sorry, you see, my brother was practicing since he didn’t place high enough for his own standards. Apparently one of his arrows somehow made their way over here!”
“JIANG CHENG, I FOUND YOUR ARROW! IT’S IN WEN XU’S HAND!”
Nie Huaisang hid a grin behind the (ugly) fan.
“It’s not in his hand! It’s clearly in the table!” Jiang Cheng scoffed as he also jumped into the courtyard, waving a hand at said arrow.
“It hit his hand tho! Look, the poor guy got a scratch!” Wei Wuxian sighed on Wen Xu’s behalf, shaking his head, “His hand looks angry!”
“Well, if you didn’t distract me, it wouldn’t have flown off course!”
“Flown?! It’s not a bird Jiang Cheng, you aimed it!”
“You disrupted my concentration!”
“Ahh, what if we were hunting! If you were distracted like this, imagine what Madame Yu would have said!”
Nie Huaisang laughed softly as the two bantered. Wen Xu was watching, both confused and irritated. At the sound of his date’s laugh, he came back to himself.
“Enough!” He growled pointing at the Jiang heir, “I can see why you placed so low, Jiang Wanyin. How do you even miss so horribly?!”
“Ah, it was an accident!” Nie Huaisang pouted coming in between the two before his friend’s temper was triggered by more insults, “Don’t be upset, here let’s just call it a night and you can get your hand all fixed up. No need to take me back to Da Ge. I’ll go back with these two!”
“But..A-Sang,”
Jiang Cheng twitched angrily as Wei Wuxian slapped his arm, hushing him. Interesting.
“No, no go get your hand taken care of. You won’t be able to work out all that..food,” his stomach lurched a bit, “if you don’t get back and get your hand all nice and healed.”
Wen Xu sighed, “Very well. I’ll see you another time then.”
Nie Huaisang sighed in relief as the man bowed and left with his entourage ignoring the other two.
He turned to his friends, Wei Wuxian watching with mirth and Jiang Cheng glaring at the Wen’s back.
“Wei-xiong?”
“Mm?”
“HOW DARE YOU LEAVE ME ALONE WITH THAT MAN FOR SO LONG” He smacked his friend with his fan, cracking the ugly thing until it fell apart. Wei Wuxian cried out in pain, “Aiyah! We were going to free you earlier but then you got all sparkly eyed with your gifts and we weren’t sure if you even wanted to be rescued!”
“No silk is worth that hell! I knew that it was you two making those weird noises! You could have saved me so much grief and nausea!”
“Nie-Xiong, you were the one that wanted to go out on this date. With your..”A-Xu”..” Wei Wuxian laughed out as the three set off to where their respective sects were staying. He received a glare from both sides.
“As an excuse to miss this conference garbage!” Nie Huaisang cried, “Do you know how much torture I’ve been put through? The man ate like a starving demon, I swear I saw his jaw unhinge. Oh I’m going to be sick…”
“Ah..Nie-xiong. This is not the first time that I’ve saved you from a date. In Guzu, I had to rescue you from so many guys who all had some fault that you couldn’t agree with. Maybe..” Wei Wuxian got closer, “Maybe…they all don’t add up to someone you do want.”
Nie Huaisang blushed, pushing his friend away.
“Wei Wuxian!” Jiang Cheng finally spoke up, as he stepped in between them, “Enough, leave him alone.”
Nie Huaisang turned even redder as that sharp jawline turned to him.
“Are you okay, Huaisang? He didn’t do anything untowards you, did he?” Jiang Cheng asked, his eyes looking over at his friend. Nie Huaisang shook his head, “I’m okay.”
Wei Wuxian let out a giggle as he watched the two. Jiang Cheng glared back at him, “Not a word.”
His eyes softened as he turned back to the Nie as a small hand touched his elbow.
“Jiang-xiong..did you really miss that horribly?” He asked, a small grin on his face.
His soft look turned into a glare, “Excuse me, I perfectly shot that arrow. It hit his hand without actually harming him. You have no idea how much I wished that arrow went through his head,”
“Ah..Jiang-Xiong, my hero,” Nie Huaisang purred, his arms wrapping around Jiang Cheng’s arm, the heir blushing as Wei Wuxian cackled.
“Really Nie-Xiong, you should have seen how fast he came up with a plan to get you out of there. Of course, his other ideas were much more violent. This was probably the least bloodiest.” Wei Wuxian laughed.
The trio stopped at the entrance to where the Nie sect was residing for the conference. They could hear Nie Zongzhu angrily complain about the day.
“Ah..Dage seems to have had a worst day than I did…” Nie Huaisang murmured, “I suppose I should get in there and calm him down.”
“Yeah, We have to get back too, it’s getting late. Don’t forget, you’re joining us for lunch!” Wei Wuxian smiled as he started walking off. He waved goodbye as he skipped back, leaving the two alone. But not before winking at Jiang Cheng.
Nie Huaisang looked up at Jiang Cheng who was scowling at the retreating back.
The heir cleared his throat before turning to the brunette. His voice got caught in his throat as he gazed down at the large hazel eyes shining up at him. Nie Huaisang not only looked beautiful as he always did, but he was looking at Jiang Cheng with such pride and admiration. It made him warm and a bit overwhelmed. He also did not have the best day, his father did not look at him the way he did to Wei Wuxian after the tournament. No one did. And yet here was his friend clearly looking at him as if he wasn’t a disappointment.
“Thank you..” Nie Huaisang shyly looked down, a flush on his face, “Thank you for tonight…A-Cheng. You really are incredible. I wish others could see that.”
Jiang Cheng, still unable to talk, looked away.
“What Wen Xu said..he has no idea what he was talking about.” Nie Huaisang frowned, “You did the best you could, but so did Xichen-ge and Wangi-ge and Wei-xiong. You didn’t fail at all. You did almost just as well as them and better than some of the older cultivators!”
“You weren’t even there,” he finally murmured.
“Which makes me the failure, not you!” Nie Huaisang grabbed Jiang Cheng’s hand, “You did hit the most important target today and no one else did.”
Jiang Cheng looked at him, eyebrow raised.
“Wen Xu’s hand,” he laughed softly, “And that makes you the top score on my list,”
“Which is the most important one,” Jiang Cheng smiles softly which made Nie Huaisang sigh at the sight.
He turns his hand to grab Nie Huaisang and pulls him forward, making the shorter one squeak as he hits his chest. Jiang Cheng continues to wrap his arms around Nie Huaisang, hugging him, “Thank you. Wen Xu was right about one thing, You do deserve the world.”
Nie Huaisang’s ears flushed red as he hugged back happily,
‘I take it back, this is the best day ever .’
“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? Wei Wuxian will be disappointed and will annoy me if you’re not there to join his shenanigans,” Jiang Cheng sighed, letting him go.
Nie Huaisang pouted, “Will he be the only one to miss me?”
Jiang Cheng flicked his forehead.
“Ah! How rude!” Nie Huaisang whined rubbing the spot.
“Dumbass, of course I’ll be annoyed if you don’t make it,” Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes before grabbing his hand again.
Nie Huaisang blinked as the other leaned down to brush his lips on his forehead where he had flicked him.
“Goodnight, A-Sang,” Jiang Cheng smiled as he stepped away, turning to leave.
Nie Huaisang stood there in shock before hiding his face in his hands, a smile blooming in them. He inhaled a long breath before putting his hands down. Jiang Cheng was almost out of sight at this point but he still turned and gave a small wave.
“Goodnight, A-Cheng,” Nie Huaisang said softly before turning around to go inside.