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Love Story (and Other Tales of Suspense and Horror) Chapter 2 [MDZS; XiCheng]
Title: Love Story (and Other Tales of Suspense and Horror)
Fandom: Modaozushi | The Untamed
Characters/Ship: Lan Huan | Xichen / Jiang Cheng | Wanyin; background WangXian and XuanLi, Shi Qingxuan, background beefleaf
Additional Tags: Modern day AU, meet cute, wedding planners, crack
Word count: ~3k; Chapter 2 / 3
Summary: Jiang Cheng has read enough romance novels to know that he'll never be the star in one of them, not like his dramatically and happily married siblings. With this in mind, he tries to find completely tropeless employment for the summer.
Mr Shi drags Jiang Cheng along when he tours venues with Lan Huan. “It’s only fair,” he points out, “given that you did all the research for these venues.”
I do all of the research for all the venues, thinks Jiang Cheng grouchily. But the truth is, he put in much more work than usual, searching through nearby locations to find venues that might appeal to his impression of Lan Huan’s aesthetics.
“You do seem to be getting into the swing of this business very well,” says Mr Shi, smirking at Jiang Cheng. “Perhaps a career of event planning may be in your future?”
Jiang Cheng only sighs, projecting a beleaguered air, but the truth is that he has enjoyed the summer job more than any he’s ever had before. Some of that, no doubt, is due to Mr Shi’s kindness, but Jiang Cheng finds the work itself both engrossing and rewarding. He thinks he might like this career after all. There’s the occupational hazard to consider, but surely he’ll be free of that if he can only survive his current unrequited-love story without casting himself as a dramatic villain.
“It’s something to consider, anyway. Oh, Mr Lan!” calls Mr Shi, and yes, there comes Lan Huan, looking as perfect as a dream. He came alone; perhaps his spouse is working, or perhaps Mr Shi’s ominous warning that they might soon be local meant that their family is moving and the spouse is still out of town.
“Hello, Mr Shi,” replies Lan Huan, his lovely smile in place. “Mr Jiang. It’s wonderful to see you again.”
Jiang Cheng looks to Mr Shi, waiting for his reply, before he realises that Mr Shi and Mr Lan are both looking at him. “You as well,” says Jiang Cheng, clearing his throat. It seems to be a bad sign that he’s already turning red this early into their meeting. “Thank you for coming to meet us, Mr Lan. Did you have a chance to go through the venue ideas we compiled for you? Some of them are somewhat far away, and it’s perfectly understandable if you’re not interested in viewing them.”
“I’d love to see all of them,” says Lan Huan, his brown eyes wide and earnest. “I hope you don’t mind me taking up so much of your time.”
Jiang Cheng glances at Mr Shi, but he’s staring up at the ceiling, biting his bottom lip as though to keep from laughing. Mr Shi is very much the sort of person to laugh with people rather than at them, but Jiang Cheng doesn’t understand the joke, and he hopes he isn’t embarrassing Mr Shi.
“Not at all,” Jiang Cheng demurs, and finally, Mr Shi rises to the occasion and directs the three of them into his car.
They visit the nearest locations first, and Lan Huan seems politely interested as he looks around, seeming neither inspired nor dismissive. Then, they turn out of town, heading into the countryside.
Despite his perfectly pressed suit, something about Lan Huan makes Jiang Cheng think of nature, about icy mountain streams steaming in the heat of the early morning, and sunlight filtered down through towering branches stretching toward the sky.
So Jiang Cheng found some new venues to include in their three-ring binders: a charming, rustic farmstead backed by a colourful autumn orchard; a large, fully furnished cabin by a short hiking trail that leads to some very pretty waterfalls; and an old stone-and-wood ruin being eaten by the forest that holds a peaceful, solemn air.
It’s a long drive to the remaining venues, and it’s not a trip that Mr Shi would normally make with clients, with the amount of time it takes to get there. But when Jiang Cheng had nervously proposed to add these new locations to their list of potential venues, Mr Shi had only given Jiang Cheng a thoughtful look and agreed.
Lan Huan doesn’t protest, either, when Jiang Cheng tells him the distance they’ll need to go. Instead, he almost seems pleased at the news. Lan Huan fills the trip asking questions—not questions about the town, or the locations, or other details of the event, but questions about Jiang Cheng and Mr Shi.
“What made you choose this profession?” Lan Huan asks.
Mr Shi seems too focused on navigating the narrow road to answer, so Jiang Cheng says, “Mr Shi was kind enough to offer me a job for the summer. I’ve really been enjoying the work, though.”
“That’s lovely.” Jiang Cheng is sure that statement would be sardonic from anyone else, but from Lan Huan, it sounds sincere. “Are you a student, then?”
“Yes. I study business management.” Jiang Cheng is vaguely aware that he isn’t keeping up his end of the conversation, so he asks tentatively, “And what do you do, Mr Lan?”
It’s not that Lan Huan’s smile ever really seems to fade, but it brightens to a beam when Jiang Cheng enters the conversation properly. “I teach music,” he says. “It’s something of a passion career, I admit.”
It seems like a strange thing to say. Jiang Cheng wonders if Lan Huan’s career is a source of discord in his marriage—but no, Jiang Cheng isn’t going to think about that, Jiang Cheng is going to be supportive of the relationship between this perfect man and his unknown husband, because Jiang Cheng refuses to be the villain in this story.
“That’s lovely,” Jiang Cheng parrots, shooting a grin over at Lan Huan, who turns a little red. “What kinds of instruments?”
Jiang Cheng learns about Lan Huan’s career, his hobbies, his shopping follies, and his favourite colours over the course of the drive, and he shares pieces of himself as well, with little, teasing interjections from Mr Shi. Unfortunately, none of Lan Huan’s shyly self-depreciating stories succeed in making him any less attractive, and the trip fills Jiang Cheng with a mixture of joy and dread.
Lan Huan’s pleasant smalltalk stutters when they come to the farmstead and tapers off entirely at the sight of the waterfalls, which he insists on hiking to even in his suit. When they drive on to the site with the ruins, he goes quiet and awed, and he doesn’t quite seem to want to leave.
When Mr Shi usually shows off venues, he rattles off ideas for how they could use and decorate each space to suit the purposes of the event—streamers here, candles there, bouquets over there. But he makes no move to do so here, and so Jiang Cheng nervously speaks up. “This location is not typically used to host events like this, but the owner of the land was willing to lease the space for a small anniversary party. Of course, we’d be a little weather dependent here, but we could set out tables on the flat area over here,” he gestures to the grassy field in front of the picturesque ruin, “and we have some very elegant table umbrellas that can withstand a decent amount of bad weather. And—”
“It’s gorgeous,” says Lan Huan softly. Jiang Cheng’s breath catches in his throat at the smile on Lan Huan’s face, feeling a little guilty at the sight, like he’s spying on something private. “I love it. I’ll have to discuss it with—but—”
“Of course, of course,” says Mr Shi brightly. “Well, let’s head back into town, then.”
Lan Huan is quieter on the trip back, and Jiang Cheng often feels those warm, dark eyes lingering on him. It’s distracting, and it makes it harder for him to keep up his side of the conversation. Fortunately, Mr Shi is now in full form, sharing silly little pieces of local history in his bright tone.
The venue tours have taken most of the day, so Lan Huan leaves shortly after they return to Mr Shi’s storefront. “I’ll get back to you soon,” he promises Mr Shi, but his eyes are on Jiang Cheng as he leaves.
“What a nice young man,” says Mr Shi mildly, heading over to his desk to check his messages.
“Yeah,” agrees Jiang Cheng. He collects a binder and hunches over it, facing away from Mr Shi so that he can close his eyes and remind himself that this love story isn’t for him.
That becomes even more apparent a few days later, when they hear back from Lan Huan about the venue.
“Of course!” says Mr Shi over the phone, scribbling on a legal pad as he nods along. “We’ll get that reserved right away. And we’ll be in touch with you about potential decoration themes and colours by the end of the week. Have a good day!”
Jiang Cheng hopes his curiosity comes off as professional rather than personal when he hovers over Mr Shi’s desk, trying to read Mr Shi’s messy notes. “Which one did he choose?” he asks.
“The empty shop on mainstreet,” says Mr Shi. A barbershop had recently closed, and the space was available for long term leasing. Jiang Cheng had called the owner, who was willing to lease it on a short-term basis for events like this as well.
It is still something of a professional win for Jiang Cheng—he had been the one to create the connection and secure a new potential venue, after all. But it’s embarrassing to have read Lan Huan so poorly. Until only moments before, Jiang Cheng had been certain that Lan Huan would choose his own favourite of the locations they’d toured the day before.
Mr Shi looks up at Jiang Cheng’s silence, and something about the expression on Jiang Cheng’s face makes his lips twitch in amusement. “No doubt he would have made a different choice if he had full control over the decisions,” he acknowledges, then quirks his eyebrow and assumes a philosophical air, “but we all must make allowances for others’ taste when planning others’ parties.”
Of course, Lan Huan is arranging this party for his spouse, and he must take their preferences into account.
Jiang Cheng hates the knowledge that, in this one area, Jiang Cheng’s preferences align with Lan Huan’s more closely than his spouse’s do.
Not my love story he reminds himself firmly, and buries himself miserably back into his binders.
On his next day off, Jiang Cheng visits his sister, hoping that her calming aura will give him the boost he needs to survive the next week.
Though it’s his day off, it isn’t hers, so he heads down to her Lotus Pier Sweets and, on seeing the building bursting with customers and Jiang Yanli bustling around with exhaustion hiding behind her smile, he doesn’t stop to think before he slips into the backroom. He has helped his sister in the kitchen for most of his life, and his food handling licence is still active, so he washes up and yanks on a clean apron and hairnet. There are three people on duty in the kitchen, and they’re familiar enough with Jiang Cheng that when he joins them, still pulling on a pair of disposable gloves, one of them breaks away to join Jiang Yanli in helping the customers.
“It’s not usually this busy anymore,” sighs one of the bakers. “We’d usually be using the lull to bake for the afternoon.”
Jiang Cheng nods sympathetically and falls into place with the ease of long practice, measuring and mixing and rolling.
They’re nearing lunchtime when Jiang Cheng carries some still-warm pastries to the front of the shop to refill the display case and finds that, though the crowds have disappeared, his sister still isn’t quite alone. The other employee is wiping down the counter, but Jiang Yanli is seated at one of the few, small tables that line the walls of the bakery, bent over something and nodding thoughtfully.
And seated across from her is Lan Huan.
The two of them make a pretty picture together, with their matching warm eyes and soft smiles, and Jiang Cheng reflects that Lan Huan would be a much more suitable husband for his perfect sister than the ever irritating, ever pompous Jin Zixuan.
They look up when he starts to transfer the pastries to the case, and Lan Huan’s eyes widen.
“Mr Jiang!” he exclaims, and then for some reason he looks a little embarrassed. “I didn’t know you worked here as well as for Mr Shi.”
“I don’t,” replies Jiang Cheng awkwardly. “I just stopped by to visit my sister.”
“A-Cheng is always so helpful,” says Jiang Yanli, smiling at him fondly. “It’s hard to get him to rest.”
There’s something brewing in Lan Huan’s dark eyes, but Jiang Cheng doesn’t know how to read it. He finishes reloading the display case and steps around the counter and over the short distance to their table. “Ah, you’re working on plans for the anniversary party,” Jiang Cheng notes, though he had assumed as much already. “It looks good.” He mentally winces at himself, hoping he isn’t overstepping, but Lan Huan only looks down at the table with a small smile.
“Yes, I think so, too,” says Jiang Yanli. “It’s so wonderful that you got a job with Mr Shi this summer, a-Cheng, and that we can all work together on making this a special occasion. I know it means a lot to a-Ying that you’re planning the party, too, a-Cheng.”
Jiang Cheng frowns, honestly bewildered. “Why would he care?”
Jiang Yanli’s expression is a little chastising. “A-Ying knows how upset you still are that he didn’t bring you in on his plans to elope last year. He’ll be so happy that you’re working on his… well, not his wedding, exactly, but his celebration of marriage.”
Jiang Cheng feels his expression freeze, which is probably better than any other possible face he could be making. Jiang Yanli shakes her head at him in disappointment and gently redirects the conversation back to the catering.
Jiang Cheng doesn’t manage to follow along.
He feels incredibly dense. In fact, he has been incredibly dense, ignoring the evidence as it has piled up before him in favour of moping. And yet, he’s still struggling to process the idea that the wedding anniversary he’s helping to plan is not Lan Huan’s, but Lan Zhan and Wei Ying’s.
Lan Huan is not holding a wedding anniversary. Lan Huan may not be married or even in a relationship.
And yet, he’s still too far out of Jiang Cheng’s league to ever be an option. It’s as important as ever that Jiang Cheng control his temper and maintain his dignity and make sure that he doesn’t stumble into the role of a homewrecking villain, or a villainous ‘friend’ who won’t take no for an answer.
“A-Cheng? What do you think?”
Jiang Cheng shakes himself free of his reverie and blinks at Jiang Yanli. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”
She frowns at him in concern. “You’ve been working too hard,” she says. “Sit down, and I’ll get you something to drink.”
Before Jiang Cheng can stop her, Jiang Yanli has levered herself out of her chair and nudged Jiang Cheng into it, then bustled off toward the counter.
Across the table from him, Lan Huan is biting back a smile, and Jiang Cheng feels himself flush. He feels like a child in front of Lan Huan right now, not only because of his pregnant sister’s coddling, but also because this is the first time he’s ever faced Lan Huan in anything other than professional clothing. Under his apron, Jiang Cheng is wearing a band t-shirt and board shorts, but Lan Huan is still dressed in one of his impeccable suits.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to get back to you about the venue,” says Lan Huan softly, when the silence has begun to turn awkward. “I had intended to let you know the very next day, but I’m afraid I argued with the grooms over it. Which is so silly, really—it’s not my anniversary, after all.”
Jiang Cheng has to suppress a hysterical giggle.
“But I really thought they weren’t considering their options appropriately. I couldn’t believe they chose—well.”
“The empty shop venue is just down the street from the tattoo parlour and flower shop they worked at,” Jiang Cheng says, the new context of who the anniversary is actually celebrating allowing a few clues to slot themselves together into explanations. “It makes sense that they would choose it.”
Lan Huan sighs. “Yes, but compared to the ruins, I just don’t understand.”
Jiang Cheng can’t help but laugh at Lan Huan’s desolate air. “Yes, it’s no surprise that you have much better taste than they do,” he teases. “You’ll just have to choose the ruins as the venue for your own anniversary party.”
Lan Huan looks up at Jiang Cheng through his eyelashes. “I’m not married,” he says. “I’m afraid that I’m tragically single.”
Jiang Cheng’s heart does a victory lap. He’ll need to give himself a really stern talking to at this point. “Your wedding, then, if it’s a small one.”
“I suppose it will have to be,” Lan Huan muses, his eyes crinkling at the corners, “just to make sure I can use that venue.”
“It’s a great venue,” Jiang Cheng agrees. “I had so many ideas for it. I’m so disappointed that I won’t be able to use them. I expect to be a part of the planning process when you get married there,” he says, suddenly reckless.
Something in the quality of Lan Huan’s smile changes at that, but Jiang Cheng can’t see any anger or offence in that warmth. “Certainly,” Lan Huan promises. “You’ll be the first to know, after me.”
Jiang Cheng snorts a laugh, completely forgetting that he’s speaking to a client. “And your future fiance,” he points out dryly.
Lan Huan hums noncommittally, and then Jiang Yanli is returning with a tray of tea and pastries, and she pulls over a third chair to join them in finalising the catering.
When Lan Huan leaves and the two siblings return to the kitchen, Jiang Yanli gives Jiang Cheng a very long look.
“What?” he asks, feeling defensive and not knowing why.
“You can tell me whenever you’re ready, a-Cheng,” Jiang Yanli soothes. “There’s no rush.”
So apparently, he’s more obvious about his feelings for Lan Huan than he’d thought, which really doesn’t bode well for the rest of the summer.
Chapter 3
Fandom: Modaozushi | The Untamed
Characters/Ship: Lan Huan | Xichen / Jiang Cheng | Wanyin; background WangXian and XuanLi, Shi Qingxuan, background beefleaf
Additional Tags: Modern day AU, meet cute, wedding planners, crack
Word count: ~3k; Chapter 2 / 3
Summary: Jiang Cheng has read enough romance novels to know that he'll never be the star in one of them, not like his dramatically and happily married siblings. With this in mind, he tries to find completely tropeless employment for the summer.
Mr Shi drags Jiang Cheng along when he tours venues with Lan Huan. “It’s only fair,” he points out, “given that you did all the research for these venues.”
I do all of the research for all the venues, thinks Jiang Cheng grouchily. But the truth is, he put in much more work than usual, searching through nearby locations to find venues that might appeal to his impression of Lan Huan’s aesthetics.
“You do seem to be getting into the swing of this business very well,” says Mr Shi, smirking at Jiang Cheng. “Perhaps a career of event planning may be in your future?”
Jiang Cheng only sighs, projecting a beleaguered air, but the truth is that he has enjoyed the summer job more than any he’s ever had before. Some of that, no doubt, is due to Mr Shi’s kindness, but Jiang Cheng finds the work itself both engrossing and rewarding. He thinks he might like this career after all. There’s the occupational hazard to consider, but surely he’ll be free of that if he can only survive his current unrequited-love story without casting himself as a dramatic villain.
“It’s something to consider, anyway. Oh, Mr Lan!” calls Mr Shi, and yes, there comes Lan Huan, looking as perfect as a dream. He came alone; perhaps his spouse is working, or perhaps Mr Shi’s ominous warning that they might soon be local meant that their family is moving and the spouse is still out of town.
“Hello, Mr Shi,” replies Lan Huan, his lovely smile in place. “Mr Jiang. It’s wonderful to see you again.”
Jiang Cheng looks to Mr Shi, waiting for his reply, before he realises that Mr Shi and Mr Lan are both looking at him. “You as well,” says Jiang Cheng, clearing his throat. It seems to be a bad sign that he’s already turning red this early into their meeting. “Thank you for coming to meet us, Mr Lan. Did you have a chance to go through the venue ideas we compiled for you? Some of them are somewhat far away, and it’s perfectly understandable if you’re not interested in viewing them.”
“I’d love to see all of them,” says Lan Huan, his brown eyes wide and earnest. “I hope you don’t mind me taking up so much of your time.”
Jiang Cheng glances at Mr Shi, but he’s staring up at the ceiling, biting his bottom lip as though to keep from laughing. Mr Shi is very much the sort of person to laugh with people rather than at them, but Jiang Cheng doesn’t understand the joke, and he hopes he isn’t embarrassing Mr Shi.
“Not at all,” Jiang Cheng demurs, and finally, Mr Shi rises to the occasion and directs the three of them into his car.
They visit the nearest locations first, and Lan Huan seems politely interested as he looks around, seeming neither inspired nor dismissive. Then, they turn out of town, heading into the countryside.
Despite his perfectly pressed suit, something about Lan Huan makes Jiang Cheng think of nature, about icy mountain streams steaming in the heat of the early morning, and sunlight filtered down through towering branches stretching toward the sky.
So Jiang Cheng found some new venues to include in their three-ring binders: a charming, rustic farmstead backed by a colourful autumn orchard; a large, fully furnished cabin by a short hiking trail that leads to some very pretty waterfalls; and an old stone-and-wood ruin being eaten by the forest that holds a peaceful, solemn air.
It’s a long drive to the remaining venues, and it’s not a trip that Mr Shi would normally make with clients, with the amount of time it takes to get there. But when Jiang Cheng had nervously proposed to add these new locations to their list of potential venues, Mr Shi had only given Jiang Cheng a thoughtful look and agreed.
Lan Huan doesn’t protest, either, when Jiang Cheng tells him the distance they’ll need to go. Instead, he almost seems pleased at the news. Lan Huan fills the trip asking questions—not questions about the town, or the locations, or other details of the event, but questions about Jiang Cheng and Mr Shi.
“What made you choose this profession?” Lan Huan asks.
Mr Shi seems too focused on navigating the narrow road to answer, so Jiang Cheng says, “Mr Shi was kind enough to offer me a job for the summer. I’ve really been enjoying the work, though.”
“That’s lovely.” Jiang Cheng is sure that statement would be sardonic from anyone else, but from Lan Huan, it sounds sincere. “Are you a student, then?”
“Yes. I study business management.” Jiang Cheng is vaguely aware that he isn’t keeping up his end of the conversation, so he asks tentatively, “And what do you do, Mr Lan?”
It’s not that Lan Huan’s smile ever really seems to fade, but it brightens to a beam when Jiang Cheng enters the conversation properly. “I teach music,” he says. “It’s something of a passion career, I admit.”
It seems like a strange thing to say. Jiang Cheng wonders if Lan Huan’s career is a source of discord in his marriage—but no, Jiang Cheng isn’t going to think about that, Jiang Cheng is going to be supportive of the relationship between this perfect man and his unknown husband, because Jiang Cheng refuses to be the villain in this story.
“That’s lovely,” Jiang Cheng parrots, shooting a grin over at Lan Huan, who turns a little red. “What kinds of instruments?”
Jiang Cheng learns about Lan Huan’s career, his hobbies, his shopping follies, and his favourite colours over the course of the drive, and he shares pieces of himself as well, with little, teasing interjections from Mr Shi. Unfortunately, none of Lan Huan’s shyly self-depreciating stories succeed in making him any less attractive, and the trip fills Jiang Cheng with a mixture of joy and dread.
Lan Huan’s pleasant smalltalk stutters when they come to the farmstead and tapers off entirely at the sight of the waterfalls, which he insists on hiking to even in his suit. When they drive on to the site with the ruins, he goes quiet and awed, and he doesn’t quite seem to want to leave.
When Mr Shi usually shows off venues, he rattles off ideas for how they could use and decorate each space to suit the purposes of the event—streamers here, candles there, bouquets over there. But he makes no move to do so here, and so Jiang Cheng nervously speaks up. “This location is not typically used to host events like this, but the owner of the land was willing to lease the space for a small anniversary party. Of course, we’d be a little weather dependent here, but we could set out tables on the flat area over here,” he gestures to the grassy field in front of the picturesque ruin, “and we have some very elegant table umbrellas that can withstand a decent amount of bad weather. And—”
“It’s gorgeous,” says Lan Huan softly. Jiang Cheng’s breath catches in his throat at the smile on Lan Huan’s face, feeling a little guilty at the sight, like he’s spying on something private. “I love it. I’ll have to discuss it with—but—”
“Of course, of course,” says Mr Shi brightly. “Well, let’s head back into town, then.”
Lan Huan is quieter on the trip back, and Jiang Cheng often feels those warm, dark eyes lingering on him. It’s distracting, and it makes it harder for him to keep up his side of the conversation. Fortunately, Mr Shi is now in full form, sharing silly little pieces of local history in his bright tone.
The venue tours have taken most of the day, so Lan Huan leaves shortly after they return to Mr Shi’s storefront. “I’ll get back to you soon,” he promises Mr Shi, but his eyes are on Jiang Cheng as he leaves.
“What a nice young man,” says Mr Shi mildly, heading over to his desk to check his messages.
“Yeah,” agrees Jiang Cheng. He collects a binder and hunches over it, facing away from Mr Shi so that he can close his eyes and remind himself that this love story isn’t for him.
That becomes even more apparent a few days later, when they hear back from Lan Huan about the venue.
“Of course!” says Mr Shi over the phone, scribbling on a legal pad as he nods along. “We’ll get that reserved right away. And we’ll be in touch with you about potential decoration themes and colours by the end of the week. Have a good day!”
Jiang Cheng hopes his curiosity comes off as professional rather than personal when he hovers over Mr Shi’s desk, trying to read Mr Shi’s messy notes. “Which one did he choose?” he asks.
“The empty shop on mainstreet,” says Mr Shi. A barbershop had recently closed, and the space was available for long term leasing. Jiang Cheng had called the owner, who was willing to lease it on a short-term basis for events like this as well.
It is still something of a professional win for Jiang Cheng—he had been the one to create the connection and secure a new potential venue, after all. But it’s embarrassing to have read Lan Huan so poorly. Until only moments before, Jiang Cheng had been certain that Lan Huan would choose his own favourite of the locations they’d toured the day before.
Mr Shi looks up at Jiang Cheng’s silence, and something about the expression on Jiang Cheng’s face makes his lips twitch in amusement. “No doubt he would have made a different choice if he had full control over the decisions,” he acknowledges, then quirks his eyebrow and assumes a philosophical air, “but we all must make allowances for others’ taste when planning others’ parties.”
Of course, Lan Huan is arranging this party for his spouse, and he must take their preferences into account.
Jiang Cheng hates the knowledge that, in this one area, Jiang Cheng’s preferences align with Lan Huan’s more closely than his spouse’s do.
Not my love story he reminds himself firmly, and buries himself miserably back into his binders.
On his next day off, Jiang Cheng visits his sister, hoping that her calming aura will give him the boost he needs to survive the next week.
Though it’s his day off, it isn’t hers, so he heads down to her Lotus Pier Sweets and, on seeing the building bursting with customers and Jiang Yanli bustling around with exhaustion hiding behind her smile, he doesn’t stop to think before he slips into the backroom. He has helped his sister in the kitchen for most of his life, and his food handling licence is still active, so he washes up and yanks on a clean apron and hairnet. There are three people on duty in the kitchen, and they’re familiar enough with Jiang Cheng that when he joins them, still pulling on a pair of disposable gloves, one of them breaks away to join Jiang Yanli in helping the customers.
“It’s not usually this busy anymore,” sighs one of the bakers. “We’d usually be using the lull to bake for the afternoon.”
Jiang Cheng nods sympathetically and falls into place with the ease of long practice, measuring and mixing and rolling.
They’re nearing lunchtime when Jiang Cheng carries some still-warm pastries to the front of the shop to refill the display case and finds that, though the crowds have disappeared, his sister still isn’t quite alone. The other employee is wiping down the counter, but Jiang Yanli is seated at one of the few, small tables that line the walls of the bakery, bent over something and nodding thoughtfully.
And seated across from her is Lan Huan.
The two of them make a pretty picture together, with their matching warm eyes and soft smiles, and Jiang Cheng reflects that Lan Huan would be a much more suitable husband for his perfect sister than the ever irritating, ever pompous Jin Zixuan.
They look up when he starts to transfer the pastries to the case, and Lan Huan’s eyes widen.
“Mr Jiang!” he exclaims, and then for some reason he looks a little embarrassed. “I didn’t know you worked here as well as for Mr Shi.”
“I don’t,” replies Jiang Cheng awkwardly. “I just stopped by to visit my sister.”
“A-Cheng is always so helpful,” says Jiang Yanli, smiling at him fondly. “It’s hard to get him to rest.”
There’s something brewing in Lan Huan’s dark eyes, but Jiang Cheng doesn’t know how to read it. He finishes reloading the display case and steps around the counter and over the short distance to their table. “Ah, you’re working on plans for the anniversary party,” Jiang Cheng notes, though he had assumed as much already. “It looks good.” He mentally winces at himself, hoping he isn’t overstepping, but Lan Huan only looks down at the table with a small smile.
“Yes, I think so, too,” says Jiang Yanli. “It’s so wonderful that you got a job with Mr Shi this summer, a-Cheng, and that we can all work together on making this a special occasion. I know it means a lot to a-Ying that you’re planning the party, too, a-Cheng.”
Jiang Cheng frowns, honestly bewildered. “Why would he care?”
Jiang Yanli’s expression is a little chastising. “A-Ying knows how upset you still are that he didn’t bring you in on his plans to elope last year. He’ll be so happy that you’re working on his… well, not his wedding, exactly, but his celebration of marriage.”
Jiang Cheng feels his expression freeze, which is probably better than any other possible face he could be making. Jiang Yanli shakes her head at him in disappointment and gently redirects the conversation back to the catering.
Jiang Cheng doesn’t manage to follow along.
He feels incredibly dense. In fact, he has been incredibly dense, ignoring the evidence as it has piled up before him in favour of moping. And yet, he’s still struggling to process the idea that the wedding anniversary he’s helping to plan is not Lan Huan’s, but Lan Zhan and Wei Ying’s.
Lan Huan is not holding a wedding anniversary. Lan Huan may not be married or even in a relationship.
And yet, he’s still too far out of Jiang Cheng’s league to ever be an option. It’s as important as ever that Jiang Cheng control his temper and maintain his dignity and make sure that he doesn’t stumble into the role of a homewrecking villain, or a villainous ‘friend’ who won’t take no for an answer.
“A-Cheng? What do you think?”
Jiang Cheng shakes himself free of his reverie and blinks at Jiang Yanli. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”
She frowns at him in concern. “You’ve been working too hard,” she says. “Sit down, and I’ll get you something to drink.”
Before Jiang Cheng can stop her, Jiang Yanli has levered herself out of her chair and nudged Jiang Cheng into it, then bustled off toward the counter.
Across the table from him, Lan Huan is biting back a smile, and Jiang Cheng feels himself flush. He feels like a child in front of Lan Huan right now, not only because of his pregnant sister’s coddling, but also because this is the first time he’s ever faced Lan Huan in anything other than professional clothing. Under his apron, Jiang Cheng is wearing a band t-shirt and board shorts, but Lan Huan is still dressed in one of his impeccable suits.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to get back to you about the venue,” says Lan Huan softly, when the silence has begun to turn awkward. “I had intended to let you know the very next day, but I’m afraid I argued with the grooms over it. Which is so silly, really—it’s not my anniversary, after all.”
Jiang Cheng has to suppress a hysterical giggle.
“But I really thought they weren’t considering their options appropriately. I couldn’t believe they chose—well.”
“The empty shop venue is just down the street from the tattoo parlour and flower shop they worked at,” Jiang Cheng says, the new context of who the anniversary is actually celebrating allowing a few clues to slot themselves together into explanations. “It makes sense that they would choose it.”
Lan Huan sighs. “Yes, but compared to the ruins, I just don’t understand.”
Jiang Cheng can’t help but laugh at Lan Huan’s desolate air. “Yes, it’s no surprise that you have much better taste than they do,” he teases. “You’ll just have to choose the ruins as the venue for your own anniversary party.”
Lan Huan looks up at Jiang Cheng through his eyelashes. “I’m not married,” he says. “I’m afraid that I’m tragically single.”
Jiang Cheng’s heart does a victory lap. He’ll need to give himself a really stern talking to at this point. “Your wedding, then, if it’s a small one.”
“I suppose it will have to be,” Lan Huan muses, his eyes crinkling at the corners, “just to make sure I can use that venue.”
“It’s a great venue,” Jiang Cheng agrees. “I had so many ideas for it. I’m so disappointed that I won’t be able to use them. I expect to be a part of the planning process when you get married there,” he says, suddenly reckless.
Something in the quality of Lan Huan’s smile changes at that, but Jiang Cheng can’t see any anger or offence in that warmth. “Certainly,” Lan Huan promises. “You’ll be the first to know, after me.”
Jiang Cheng snorts a laugh, completely forgetting that he’s speaking to a client. “And your future fiance,” he points out dryly.
Lan Huan hums noncommittally, and then Jiang Yanli is returning with a tray of tea and pastries, and she pulls over a third chair to join them in finalising the catering.
When Lan Huan leaves and the two siblings return to the kitchen, Jiang Yanli gives Jiang Cheng a very long look.
“What?” he asks, feeling defensive and not knowing why.
“You can tell me whenever you’re ready, a-Cheng,” Jiang Yanli soothes. “There’s no rush.”
So apparently, he’s more obvious about his feelings for Lan Huan than he’d thought, which really doesn’t bode well for the rest of the summer.
Chapter 3