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Finally, the day Jiang Cheng waited for so impatiently - Lotus Blooming Festival, the day where first lotuses bloom. Why was this event particularly exciting? First, it meant that summer finally arrived in Yunmeng. Second, his family would gather at the celebration, which filled his heart with great happiness.
Eager and excited, Jiang Cheng stood at the pier and greeted guests. There were a lot more of them than last year. No wonder actually, the lakes were full of beautifully blooming flowers, Lotus Pier was decorated with thousands of colorful lanterns, ribbons and sparkling crystals hanging from trees and buildings. Pride bubbled inside of him - his people did that, people he chose and loved, who poured all their hearts into preparations.
First to arrive was A-Ling. Right upon seeing Jiang Cheng he jumped off of his sword and threw himself in his arms.
“Jiujiu! I’ve missed you.” Feeling his heart bursting with love, Jiang Cheng hugged his boy tightly and whispered back.
“I’ve missed you as well, A-Ling, thank you for coming, I know you are busy-” Before he could finish the sentence, Jin Ling cut him off.
“I am never too busy to visit you, jiujiu, and it should be crystal clear by now.” That boy. Jiang Cheng’s heart is too weak for that. “Oh come on, jiujiu, are you getting all old and sentimental? You can’t cry here just because I said I love you.”
“You brat! Watch your language and respect your elders! I will break your legs, come here!” But Jin Ling was already running away, his Sect Leader Jin persona disappearing the moment his feet touched the piers, and Jiang Cheng couldn’t say that he didn’t like it. After all, it will always be A-Ling’s home, no matter how old he is. “Little rascal.” He mumbled under his breath fondly, not noticing the presence of another person.
“Greetings, Sect Leader Jiang.” The sudden greetings startled him, but he didn’t even have to turn back to know who it was. With a big smile stretching his lips Jiang Cheng faced the newcomer and joined the little scene Xichen started.
“Welcome, Sect Leader Lan. It is the greatest honor to host you. Thank you for accepting the invitation.” He bowed with respect, a smile still ghosting on his lips.
“How could I not when it was an invitation from Sandu Shengshou himself, the most gorgeous man in our world.” Jiang Cheng felt himself blushing at the words. Tsk, that sap, spurting nonsense where everyone can hear him. It was fine tho, everyone was used to their shenanigans by now.
“Sect Leader Lan is far too kind.”
“I assure you I am not.” Then, leaning in, Xichen whispers right into his ear, hopefully quiet enough to not be heard by anyone else. “And I fully intend to show you thoroughly just how beautiful you are, my love.” A pleasant shiver went down Jiang Cheng’s spine and a needy whine ripped itself out of his mouth. So what? He missed his husband, sue him.
They are so engrossed in their own world, that only the sound of Grandmaster clearing his throat snapped them out.
“Xichen, behave.” It was hilarious when Xichen whipped his head with a betrayed expression.
“But shufu-” One stern look from the other man was enough for Xichen to lose all his bravado and Jiang Cheng couldn’t contain a quiet chuckle. It was always so endearing to see those two. “Yes, shufu.” Oh heavens, the First Jade of Gusu was pouting like a child. This day was already so precious!
“You will have your alone time later, as you've just informed your husband, we shall attend the celebration now.” And without much fanfare with eyes shining with amusement, Grandmaster Lan, Jiang Cheng’s in law who just heard Xichen promising him a night full of passion, left to enjoy the festival.
“You are embarrassing me in front of shufu!” Jiang Cheng whispered-yelled with red cheeks, letting Xichen take a hold of his hand so they could move to the huge pavilion raised just for the occasion where they would celebrate.
“Wanyin, my love, shufu will never think any less of you. As you just saw, even if you seduced me on a broad day, he would still make it my fault for giving in to the temptation.” Mumbling under his breath that he would never do that, Jiang Cheng let himself be led to the heart of the festival where most of the guests already indulged in delicious foods and a variety of liquors.
The banquet was a great success, no inconveniences happened so far, food was delicious, music was cheerful, and the night was so warm and beautiful with the night sky adorned with stars.
Jiang Cheng had to step aside for one moment to deal with one of his youngest disciples getting a tummy ache due to eating way too much. And just when he told them all this morning that greed wouldn’t take them anywhere. Poor child. Fortunately other kids decided to accompany him.
Unhurriedly making his way towards the pavilion, Jiang Cheng allows himself to simply feel and enjoy everything that surrounds him - the beautiful views, cheerful atmosphere, he indulges in the sounds of laughter and amusing conversations. How did his life reach this point? Honestly, he has no idea, but he is grateful.
Just when he is nearing his destination he sees a scene that particularly warms his heart. A-Ling, A-Huan, and shufu are sitting close together, and from the crumples of words he hears, they are talking about Lotus Pier. It seems that it’s quite a debate.
“Grandmaster, with all due respect, I do agree that the landscape, especially at this time of a year, is striking, but nothing beats a good swim. Why would you want to waste your time painting it, when you can just jump right into the water!” Grandmaster chuckles as he shakes his head fondly.
“You are too young to properly appreciate the beauty of this world yet, child. Let yourself live, time for reverie will come.” Jin Ling clearly doesn’t agree with those words.
“Alright, Grandmaster Lan, you are practically my yé ye since you’ve adopted jiujiu, so you have to indulge me and go swimming with me tomorrow morning, I won’t take no for an answer.” Ah, the nerve that kid has, probably too much time with Wei Wuxian, no other explanation. He better act quickly or shufu will have a heart attack.
“I accept.” Now, those words have Jiang Cheng stop in his tracks. Shufu agreed just like that? Well, that’s certainly surprising.
“You admit that you’ve adopted Wanyin then, shufu?” Asks Xichen with a broad smile on his face that makes Jiang Cheng’s heart beat faster.
“I did long before you finally saw how good he is for you. Impeccable behavior and manners, hard working student, and even more hard working sect leader, he is also very modest and shy, your opposite Xichen. Since we are on this topic, don’t you dare to rub your shamelessness on him.” Now, for the second time this evening Xichen looks outraged.
“My shamelessness?! Shufu, I have no idea what you are talking about.” Aww he is pouting again, how utterly adorable, Jiang Cheng coos internally.
“You know perfectly well. You and that brother of yours, so shameless, both of you! I don't know who is worse.” To add to the mess, Jin Ling decides to speak up.
“Right! Jiujiu is innocent, so you have to be gentle with him. He is like a flower, and you must treat him like one, do you understand?” Jiang Cheng feels both embarrassed and unbelievably fond when he hears his boy standing up for him against a man twice if not thrice stronger than him, but what almost makes him tear up, is when shufu agrees with A-Ling’s words.
“I am treating him like a flower! He is the love of my life, and I wouldn’t dare to treat him otherwise. Could you stop actually being so know-it-alls? As far as I know I am the one with the spouse. You, shufu, have been dancing around each other with Wen Ruohan for years, and neither of you made a move. You, A-Ling, if I may point it out, are so awkward with your flirting that Sizhui doesn’t know sometimes if you like him or hate him. I, on the other hand, have skillfully courted my beloved and wedded him, and ever since then we are together with our love blooming, so you two have no right to lecture me on the matters of love!”
Panting heavily and not realizing what embarrassing speech he just gave, Xichen takes a gulp of liquor from his cup emptying it in one go. Unfortunately, judging by Xichen’s terrified reaction, it wasn’t in fact his cup. Throwing his head back in a fit of laughter after Xichen’s hopeless eyes found his own, Jiang Cheng looks at his little family fondly and thanks the heavens for the way his life looks now. He has been spoiled, and he loves it.
Finally closing the distance between them, Jiang Cheng sits down next to Xichen, who, already intoxicated, sings him words of love and praise till the end of the night, while shufu and A-Ling make fun of them.
If that's what his life will look like from now on, then he will be the luckiest, happiest man in the world.