Lan Jingyi would like it to be noted that he’s always noticed attractive people. It’s hard not to, considering he grew up in Gusu Lan and being pretty is basically one of the ground rules of being a Lan. Add cultivation to the mix, and you have a whole lot of pretty people who also stay pretty for decades.
So, yes. Jingyi has eyes. That work.
But prettiness doesn’t really mean much if it doesn’t have anything to back it up, which is why most of the Jin mostly give him shivers (sorry, Jin Ling, but that’s just how it is): Jingyi might be loud but he isn’t stupid, and his tolerance for idiots is pretty low nowadays. Luckily, he’s from a branch family so with all the dozens of main Lan line cousins counted, his placement on the sect heir line is like…um…94 or something? A lot of people would need to die for Jingyi to end up as the sect heir (let alone the sect leader) and in need of a spouse.
He’s thought about it, sometimes, in a vague sort of way. How it would feel like to share his life with someone, to go night-hunting together, to cultivate together, to grow old together…So far, the idea of a spouse feels more appealing than the actual process of finding one. He doesn’t even know if he likes men or women (or both or none)!
The good thing about being a Lan also means that the elders are a bunch of sentimentalists who place a lot of weight on the myth of a Lan loving only once. They’re extremely reluctant to push regular disciples to marry unless they’re sure they’ve found their special one. (Come to think of it, it might not be that much about sentiment and more about the monastic tradition…huh.)
All that is to say that while Jingyi might have been completely prepared on a theoretical level, he’s in no way prepared to see Nie Mingjue for the first time.
”You’re drooling,” Xiao Qing mock-whispers.
”Your eyes are fucking weird, shut up,” Jingyi hisses back.
They’re at the back of the hall, talking shit about the people present. Or, well, Xiao Qing is doing most of the talking as Sizhui tries and fails to cover his exasperation and Jin Ling and Zizhen have been roped to their respective parents’ side. Jingyi was talking until Sect Leader Nie leaned forward in his chair and growled something in a low and menacing voice at Sect Leader Su, Jingyi isn’t sure what because Jingyi forgot how to breathe.
He’s been aware of Sect Leader Nie, of course. Who hasn’t heard of the tall and imposing young Sect Leader who, despite his explosive temperament, has managed to live as Qishan Wen’s neighbor for nearly two decades with only minimal border skirmishes? The Sect Leader, whose tolerance of idle gossiping and politics is so low that he’d rather dump the everyday sect business on his little brother’s lap and go hack at things with his sabre instead? A cultivation conference is something else, though, which is the reason the increasingly annoyed Nie Mingjue has been present. (At least the meetings have been short and efficient, and the next three days will be spent night-hunting, something probably everyone is relieved about.)
”Mm-hm,” Xiao Qing hums, sounding smug.
Jingyi ignores her because Sect Leader Nie just stood up, held out his hand, and his sabre flew into his hold with a loud smack, and now he makes an imposing, breathtaking, dizzying sight—
”Breathe,” Sizhui murmurs into his ear and pinches his side.
Jingyi yelps, which both draws curious looks into his way and also makes him breathe. The dizzy spell dissipates.
”I—” Jingyi tries to say, but it comes out as an embarrassing high-pitched croak because his mouth is so dry his tongue isn’t moving properly. He swallows around a dry throat and when that doesn’t help much, reaches out to pick up a cup, and downs it at one go. It’s some hideous and hideously strong Qinghe alcohol, and he sputters and wheezes, making even more people look into his way.
”What?” he asks when he gets his breathing under control again. ”Is happening?”
Xiao Qing gives him a pitying look.
”Apparently, Sect Leader Su said something unwise and Sect Leader Nie decided it was a time for a break,” Sizhui says, always the diplomat.
In the front of the room, Sect Leader Nie is still standing, glorious and grand, and why is Jingyi feeling like this?
The crowd hunt the next day is perfect or terrible, depending on the perspective.
It’s terrible because Jingyi trips over his own feet and gets nearly skewered by a boar yao, a mistake he knows he’ll need to write an exhaustive report on, which is okay because the worst punishment is the slightly disappointed look in Hanguang-jun’s eyes.
It’s perfect because the moment Jingyi is about to close his eyes and resign to his fate, Sect Leader Nie appears next to him and ends the boar in one powerful sweep of his sabre. And then he turns his scowl on Jingyi and asks, ”Are you alright, Lan Jingyi?”
Jingyi might or might not let out a small whimper.
”It’s the arms, isn’t it?”
Jingyi is nursing his mortification in the quiet corner of the hall and yelps at the sudden question behind him.
”I’ve seen that look on so many faces before,” Nie Huaisang says, waving his fan lazily in front of him. ”Usually it happens during or after da-ge’s morning drills. He does them in his pants only.”
Jingyi stares at him. ”Why—what—I—”
Nie Huaisang lifts a brow.
”Just kill me now,” Jingyi pleads.
”Nonsense,” Nie Huaisang says cheerily. ”So, tell me, is my da-ge the first man who makes you feel like that? I’m asking because you wouldn’t be the first one. I’m sure it’s the arms.”
”What is happening?” Jingyi whispers.
Nie Huaisang makes a small movement with his fan and a split moment later, a servant appears with two bottles of wine. ”You, my young friend, are clearly in the throes of an awakening,” Nie Huaisang says, adding a dramatic emphasis on the last word as he hands the other bottle to Jingyi. ”Sadly, I can’t help with the so-called consequences, but I can give you something to ease your…mind.”
”What?” Jingyi asks again. He feels wildly out of his depth, which, in Nie Huaisang’s credit, isn’t something he often feels.
Nie Huaisang inspects his nails, polishes them on the lapels of his robe and then gives him an innocent look. ”Texts, my young friend. Would you like to lend some?”
Jingyi returns from the Qinghe cultivation conference with several experiences richer, including but not limited to getting raging drunk on some obscure Qinghe baijiu, having a brush with death-by-an-enraged-boar-yao, and the realization that he’d very much like to be ravished by an intimidating, strong male cultivator.
Well.
The Lan disciples do say that learning comes first, right?
The next cultivation conference is in Yunmeng. Senior Wei gets ridiculously into it even though Sect Leader Jiang has been managing the Jiang sect with great success for over 15 years now and very much does not need his former shixiong planning anything. Even so, there’s apparently going to be a special crowd hunt spectacle for a select group of cultivators. Senior Wei seems very excited about it. Jingyi both wants to participate and stay the hell away. (A common occurrence when dealing with Senior Wei.)
With time, Jingyi feels like he’s getting a hold of his unreasonably strong attraction to Sect Leader Nie. He’s taken advantage of the, um, more comprehensive material Nie Huaisang has sent him, and it has been enlightening. On various levels. In so many, delightful and disturbing ways. Jingyi really hadn’t thought about being a cutsleeve, but if that’s what’s in store for him, he’s all in! (Sizhui has been side-eyeing him a lot lately but wisely hasn’t asked. He’s probably been desensitized by his parents, but there are things Jingyi isn’t ready to share even with his best friend.)
He’s slightly apprehensive of meeting Sect Leader Nie again. What if he embarrasses himself again? What if he gets trapped by a water ghoul or sentient kelp and needs Sect Leader Nie to save him again? He’d probably drown of embarrassment.
Lotus Pier is just as beautiful as Jingyi remembers: clear waters and airy walkways and bright skies, with music and laughter and wonderful (if overbearing) smells wafting over the lake.
”Oh, nice, old Madam Peng is here!” Senior Wei exclaims, peering around, clearly searching for her.
”How do you know if you don’t see her?” Jingyi asks.
Senior Wei taps his nose. ”I can smell the spice mix only she uses. It’s a secret recipe of her family, and no matter how many times I’ve asked, she’s refused to reveal it to me.”
”It’s because then you wouldn’t visit her stall, Baba,” Sizhui says mildly.
”Of course I would!” Senior Wei says, looking affronted. ”Just because I have a recipe for something doesn’t mean I can replicate it! Just think about shijie’s soup!”
”Ah, that’s true,” Sizhui agrees. ”A-die’s version comes close but it’s not as good as Aunt Yanli’s.”
”Mn,” Hanguang-jun says.
”What’s so special about this Madam Peng? Is it the level of spice?” Jingyi asks. ”It’s the level of spice, right?”
Senior Wei smiles and sighs wistfully. ”I don’t know where she gets her chilies, but they’re the strongest I’ve ever eaten. She grinds them into a paste and lathers it on mean skewers, and they’re so spicy I can’t feel my mouth for days. It’s amazing.”
Jingyi shares a look of horror with Sizhui and Hanguang-jun and shudders. ”I bet.”
Senior Wei huffs. ”Aiyah, you just don’t appreciate fine culinary experiences!”
”I appreciate not feeling like my teeth are on fire,” Jingyi retorts.
The conversation devolves into familiar bickering, and before they know it, their boat bumps gently against the family pier on the back of the Lotus Pier compound.
”For fuck’s sake, Wei Wuxian, I could hear you ages ago,” Sect Leader Jiang snaps, holding out a hand. Senior Wei takes it and Sect Leader Jiang yanks him up and—oh, no—
”And it’s wonderful to see you, too, shidi!” Senior Wei crows, throwing his arms around Sect Leader Jiang.
”Who’s your shidi!” he barks but returns the hug for a split moment before pushing Senior Wei away.
Senior Wei laughs and holds out a hand to Hanguang-jun to help him out of the boat.
”Lan Wangji,” Sect Leader Jiang says gruffly with a nod, and then ”Lan Sizhui,” as he helps Sizhui out of the boat.
”Shushu,” Sizhui greets him.
And then Sect Leader Jiang directs his scowl at Jingyi, holds out his hand, and says, ”Lan Jingyi,” and—
Oh, no, he’s hot, Jingyi has the presence to think before he lands right into Sect Leader Jiang’s arms.
Jingyi is never getting out of this room.
”I’m never getting out of this room,” he moans into his pillow.
”Of course you are,” Sizhui says sensibly. ”If nothing else, you need to come and congratulate Zizhen and A-Qing.”
”They’ve been betrothed for ages already, what’s there to congratulate?” he grumbles half-heartedly.
Sizhui is a good friend and doesn’t call him out on his bad manners. ”I don’t understand why you are so upset,” he says instead, because he’s a cruel, cruel friend. ”It’s not the first time Shushu has caught you when you’ve had a fall.”
”I know,” Jingyi says.
”And you didn’t even fall, he caught you in his arms—”
”I know!”
”—now, if you were a maiden—”
Jingyi lifts his head to glare at Sizhui. ”You’re doing this on purpose.”
Sizhui blinks. ”I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says beatifically.
With a groan, Jingyi drags himself to sit up and lean against the wall.
”Does this have anything to do with your crush on Sect Leader Nie?” Sizhui asks.
Jingyi buries his face in his hands. ”How do you know about that?” he wails.
”Jingyi, everybody knows about your crush on Sect Leader Nie,” he says sensibly. ”But in your defence, everyone’s had a crush on Sect Leader Nie. I think it’s a rite of passage.”
”Right, like you,” Jingyi snorts.
”Mn,” Sizhui hums. ”He has very attractive arms.”
”I know!” Jingyi exclaims, then backs up. ”Wait, what?”
Sizhui ignores him. ”Now, what are you going to do about Shushu?” When Jingyi doesn’t comment, merely stares at him, he asks, ”What?”
”You—Why—” Jingyi opens and closes his mouth a couple of times and then yelps, ”Sizhui, what?”
With a sigh, Sizhui pats his head. ”Maybe you should sleep on it. We can talk about it tomorrow. Now, let’s go to dinner. I want to see if a-die is going to get into that passive-aggressive eating competition with Shushu again.”
”Yeah, sure,” Jingyi says, because why not. It’s not like anything makes sense anyway.
He tries to behave himself and act like a responsible adult who did not just land on Sect Leader Jiang’s arms like a fainting maiden. It’s mostly okay because Sect Leader Jiang keeps a tight leash on the proceedings and doesn’t tolerate any unnecessary waffling. He has a schedule and a plan for how the meetings should go, and he doesn’t bother playing nice with those who try to make themselves more important than they actually are. (It’s Sect Leader Yao. Because it’s always Sect Leader Yao.) He rolls his eyes and swears like the sailors Jingyi met when he led night-hunts near the coast, and he doesn’t give a fuck how other people feel about it.
It’s unbearably attractive.
”Have you considered just propositioning to him?” Sizhui asks on the third evening after dinner where Jingyi stared at Sect Leader Jiang like a lovesick fool and then nearly made a fool of himself by toppling his rice bowl onto his lap.
”Sizhui, are you drunk?”
Sizhui gives him an unimpressed look. ”I’m not actually a Lan, so the Lan hereditary allergy to alcohol doesn’t apply to me,” he says dryly. ”But also, no, I’m not drunk.”
”Well, you should be if we’re having this conversation!”
A sly smile draws on Sizhui’s face. ”Oh, are we having this conversation?”
”I really really really don’t like you right now,” Jingyi grumbles.
Sizhui pats him on the shoulder and rises to open the door when someone slaps their hand on it. Someone as in Jin Ling, because other people they know actually know how to knock properly.
”What’s wrong with you?” Jin Ling asks. ”You acted like an idiot at dinner. Jiujiu asked if you’re alright.”
Jingyi perks up. ”Sect Leader Jiang asked about me?”
”Yes,” Jin Ling says slowly. ”Why?”
Jingyi yanks his forehead ribbon off and frowns at the cloud pattern. ”Maybe I should just proposition to him,” he mutters.
”What are you mumbling about?” Jin Ling asks. ”And why did you take your ribbon off? It’s like you’re naked without it.”
”He isn’t naked,” Sizhui says. ”And it’s not us he wants to be naked with.”
”What? Who then?” Jin Ling looks from Sizhui to Jingyi and back, brows drawn into a frown. ”Wait, no—jiujiu? You want to—why?” he exclaims.
”What do you mean, why?” Jingyi snaps. ”Isn’t it obvious?”
”He’s MY JIUJIU, IT’S NOT OBVIOUS TO ME!”
Behind Jin Ling, Sizhui activates several privacy talismans because he’s a good friend like that.
Jingyi has a feeling it’s going to be a long night.
”Gather round, good folks, and get your instructions!”
Senior Wei stands in the middle of the Lotus Pier training ground, hands spread wide like a traveling storyteller. Next to him, Sect Leader Jiang sighs.
The formalities of the cultivation conference have been concluded, and the crowd hunt and the last night’s banquet are the only activities left. Obviously, the crowd hunt has drawn mostly everyone in; Senior Wei has a reputation as an extremely skilled cultivator and a mad inventor, and the chance to participate in a crowd hunt of his planning is a rare treat. (The Lan doesn’t allow them, something about too many explosions, Jingyi isn’t sure.) Even now, Teacher Lan has an all-suffering expression on his face, usual when he’s forced to deal with Senior Wei.
Jingyi stands with Sizhui, Jin Ling, Zizhen, and Xiao Qing, and lets his eyes roam around the training ground, calculating the odds in his head. The Nie are a strong contestant but they don’t do well with water-based monsters. The Lan know Senior Wei pretty well, but as Hanguang-jun isn’t competing, they probably won’t stand a chance. The Jin…well, as Jin Ling isn’t going to be with the Jin group, they’ll suck. The Jiang will probably win this, but it’s okay.
He glances at Sect Leader Jiang and swallows when he sees him looking back with narrowed eyes. Oh, to hell with it, he then thinks, raises a brow, and offers him a small wave.
He gets an eyeroll back and feels unreasonably giddy for it.
Next to him, Jin Ling sighs and mutters something under his breath.
On hindsight, he probably should’ve paid more attention to what Senior Wei was talking about because now he’s drenched, separated from his group, and battling a tentacled fish monster, what the FUCK Senior Wei?? Not that he’s in any true danger (yet), as he still has his emergency flare that works in every possible condition (for sure because it’s been extensively tested). He just doesn’t want to give up! Not yet!
But still, a tentacled fish monster??
”If this is what Senior Wei has in store, I’m glad the Elders have banned him,” he pants as he dodges yet another tentacle and sends out a talisman to deflect several more. ”Fucking shit fuck, I hate tentacles!”
As if spurred by his outburst, a mass of tentacles lunges toward him, and in a fit of desperation, he executes a move that’ll send his sword out in an expanding loop, hoping to hit as many tentacles as possible. The downside of the move is that without his sword, he’ll plummet down. With luck, he’ll hit land. Hopefully.
He’s trying to peer down to see if he’s going to go down in a splash or splat when something crashes into him with enough force to punch the air from his lungs. A split moment later, a purple lightning flashes around them with a crack of thunder, filling the air with the smell of burning fish.
”Are you out of your fucking mind?” Sect Leader Jiang snaps, holding him against his chest in a vice grip. ”What the fuck were you thinking, sending your sword out like that?”
”I was mainly thinking about not dying,” Jingyi says, calling back his sword. Apparently, it got pretty far.
”And your plan when you were falling like a bag of turnips?”
”I hadn’t gotten that far.”
Sect Leader Jiang snorts and amputates another tentacle with a beautiful move of his hand, making Zidian dance around them. Jingyi follows the whip’s movement and catches sight of his sword returning to him. It’s coming in on a weird angle, and to avoid needless bloodshed, Jingyi pivots in Sect Leader Jiang’s hold and reaches behind his back to catch his sword in his right hand.
…and then he realizes he and Sect Leader Jiang are chest to chest, embracing like lovers.
”Um,” he says, and then his attention snaps to the tentacles trying to grab Sect Leader Jiang from behind.
He doesn’t think but reacts on instinct, and somehow they end up battling the tentacled fish monster like that. Sect Leader Jiang operates his sword with impeccable control, and Jingyi can feel the way he uses Zidian makes the muscles in his chest and back through his robes. Not that he’s trying to feel up Sect Leader Jiang—it’s just that they are chest to chest and as they share the sword, they need to hold on to each other.
The yao finally dies with a mighty splash, spraying blue-blackish blood around. Sect Leader Jiang lowers his sword and carefully scans the river for any lingering tentacles, but when he deems that they got rid of the monster for good, he lands them on the (clean) riverbank.
Feeling suddenly exhausted, Jingyi drops his head on Sect Leader Jiang’s shoulder and closes his eyes for a moment.
”Are you okay?” Sect Leader Jiang asks.
”We defeated the tentacled fish monster, yay!” Jingyi giggles, feeling a bit (a lot) hysterical. He lifts his head and grins widely. ”We’re not dead!” he exclaims and kisses Sect Leader Jiang.
His brain catches up with him a split moment later, and he rears back, eyes wide. He’s suddenly very aware of how closely pressed together their bodies are and how neither of them has actually let go of the other. Would it be better or worse to let go now? Should he apologize? Or—
”Before you freak out completely, might I point out one small thing?” Sect Leader Jiang says. ”I could’ve flown up anytime.”
Jingyi blinks. ”Um, what?”
Sect Leader Jiang rolls his eyes. ”When I caught you? I could’ve flown up. Those things are waterbound and can’t fly. We can.”
”Oh.” Jingyi swallows. ”So…that means…?”
For a moment, Sect Leader Jiang doesn’t move. Then he squeezes Jingyi closer, once, very deliberately, before letting go. ”That means whatever you want it to mean, Lan Jingyi.”
”Oh. Wow,” Jingyi breathes. ”So, if I wanted to kiss you again, I could?”
Sect Leader Jiang nods.
”And if I wanted to climb you like a tree?”
Sect Leader Jiang snorts. ”I’m not completely convinced of your agility at the moment, but sure. Preferably not here, though.” He inclines his head at the tentacle bits lying around and, yeah, he has a point.
”But…a kiss?” Jingyi says, adding a bit of whine to his voice.
Sect Leader Jiang gives him a narrow-eyed look before he grips Jingyi’s neck and claims his mouth in a hard kiss.
It’s late when they make it back to Lotus Pier. They are the last to return, and if the weird facial expressions Senior Wei sends Sect Leader Jiang are anything to go by, there’s a reason for that. Jingyi makes a mental note to ask about it later. But first, he wants to bathe for a week in hot and fragrant water and then eat his fill and then—
He feels Sect Leader Jiang’s gaze heavy on his back as he darts toward his rooms, and the knowledge makes him hot and slightly dizzy with things that have absolutely nothing to do with his empty stomach. He reassures Sizhui that he’s unharmed but Sizhui still wants to check himself, and he subjects to his friend’s gentle fussing.
”So, I’ll be out tonight,” he says, going for nonchalance and probably failing.
Sizhui gives him a knowing look but luckily, doesn’t comment.
Jingyi takes a bath and makes sure to scrub himself properly, flushing when he thinks why it might be necessary. He combs out his hair and then dries it with a talisman (yet another of Senior Wei’s inventions), and dons a clean set of robes, ready to be on his way. He steps around the privacy screen and nearly collides with Sizhui.
”Wha—”
”Eat,” Sizhui says, holding out a small bowl of soup and a bun.
”I don’t—”
”Eat,” Sizhui says, raising a brow. ”Not to claim that I know what you’re going to be doing, but if you are going to be doing what I think you’re going to be doing, you need to eat.”
Jingyi stares at him for a moment with his face so red he’s surprised it doesn’t reflect on Sizhui’s robes, and then he sits down to eat.
”Happy now?” he asks when he’s polished off the soup and bun, holding out the empty bowl.
”Mn,” Sizhui says. ”Have fun.”
Jingyi lets out a sound like a boiling kettle and flees.
The walkway leading to Sect Leader Jiang’s rooms is dim in the twilight, with a lone lantern set outside the door. Jingyi walks up to the door, bites his lip in a moment of uncertainty, then takes a breath and knocks on the door.
It slides open immediately which means that…wait, Sect Leader Jiang was standing right there, waiting for him? Really?
”Jingyi,” Sect Leader Jiang says.
”I was promised a chance of climbing something like a tree?” he says cheekily. It makes Sect Leader Jiang snort and shake his head, and Jingyi darts inside with a grin.
”So,” Sect Leader Jiang says.
Feeling very brave all of a sudden, Jingyi steps closer and kisses him. It’s a good kiss, and it turns even better when Sect Leader Jiang crowds him against the door and presses very close indeed.
”Sect Lea—”
”No.” When Jingyi frowns, confused, Sect Leader Jiang shakes his head. ”If we’re doing this, you call me Wanyin,” he says quietly.
Oh.
Jingyi swallows. Slowly, he reaches up and undoes his forehead ribbon. ”Well, Wanyin,” he murmurs. ”Take me to bed.”
It’s very early in the morning when Jingyi tiptoes out of Wanyin’s rooms. The conditioned Lan wake-up time comes in handy because Lotus Pier is still deeply asleep and Jingyi is the only one awake.
…or so he thought.
Someone clears their throat way too close to him. Jingyi lets out a muted yelp and swirls around, and sees Senior Wei leaning on the wall on the walkway leading to Wanyin’s room with a raised brow.
”And what do you think you are doing, Lan Jingyi?” he asks slowly. ”The last time I checked, that was my brother’s room, not yours.”
”I—you see—” Jingyi starts and then blurts, ”What are you doing up already? You never wake up before noon if you can help it!”
Senior Wei’s other brow joins the raised one. ”This isn’t about me, but now that you asked, I haven’t slept at all yet. I was on my way to my old room where my husband is. My old room that is in the family area. You know, close to my brother, the sect leader’s rooms. From where you just slunk out of.”
Jingyi blinks and huffs a semi-indignant, ”I didn’t slink—”
”I really have to commend you on your composure and repeated attempts to deflect,” Senior Wei says. He leans closer. ”Did you sleep with my brother?” He looks a bit (a lot) menacing.
Jingyi lets out a small whimper. ”Yes?” he manages.
Senior Wei’s scowl becomes more prominent and his voice turns into a silky, dark purr. ”And what are your intentions toward my brother?”
”None! No intentions!”
”None?” Senior Wei echoes. ”Really? You defiled my brother, and now you won’t take responsibility?”
Jingyi isn’t sure whether to be scared or outraged because on the one hand, Senior Wei can be terrifying when he wants to; on the other hand, Senior Wei accusing anyone of defiling someone is staggeringly hypocritical of him. However, before he has the chance to make any kind of decision, Senior Wei stands back, shaking his head with visible glee.
”I never thought I’d get to menace anyone on Jiang Cheng’s behalf! That was so much fun!”
”Um—”
”I can’t believe Chengcheng is finally getting some action! Good for you, Jingyi!” He pauses. ”I mean, I’m assuming it was good? Was it good? Did you make sweet love throughout the night, or was it over embarrassingly soon? Are you walking normally—wait, is my didi walking normally today?” He sounds delighted and completely oblivious to the furious blush on Jingyi’s cheeks. It’s a wonder Teacher Lan doesn’t see it from the Cloud Recesses.
Oh, fuck. He’s probably going to need to tell Teacher Lan about this, isn’t he?
And Jin Ling.
Fuck.
”Are you freaking out?” Senior Wei asks, suddenly right next to Jingyi. ”You’re freaking out. Look, kid, you’re alright. You’re both adults, and I’m pretty sure no one can make you do anything you don’t want to.” He pauses and jabs Jingyi on the chest. It hurts. ”Hey, you really should breathe now.”
”Imbreathing,” Jingyi gasps and then repeats, slower, ”I’m breathing.”
”Awesome,” Senior Wei says. He tilts his head. ”You do realize that I was threatening you a bit?”
Jingyi nods. ”Yes. Absolutely.”
”Good. It’s important to me that you understand that I was serious. My brother is dear to me, and while what you do with him is none of my business—”
The door behind Jingyi slams open.
”You’re damn right it’s none of your business,” Wanyin says. ”Now, Wei Wuxian, kindly fuck off.”
Senior Wei’s grin is wide and happy and promises a lot of merciless teasing later. ”Sure, sure, I know when I’m not wanted.” He bows and then walks backward with his hands behind his back. ”Ah, young love, so wonderful and precious—”
Jingyi doesn’t really think about it. He sends out the Lan silencing spell and watches with great satisfaction as Senior Wei’s eyes go wide with mock outrage.
Wanyin snorts.
Jingyi turns to eye him. His hair is down and it seems he’s merely drawn an underrobe on without bothering with pants. There’s a lovebite under his chin and scratches on his chest.
”Do you want to come back in?” Wanyin’s tone is light but his eyes are serious.
”Do you want me to come back in?” Jingyi asks back, just as serious.
”I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.”
Jingyi can feel a small smile tugging at the side of his mouth. ”In that case, Sect Leader Jiang,” he says demurely and walks in close enough to brush against Wanyin.
”I told you to call me by my name,” he says in a low voice after closing the door and crowding Jingyi against it.
”Of course, Wanyin,” Jingyi says, and leans in for a kiss.