Secret

Jiang Cheng blew out air as he removed his arm from his eyes. He could taste his tears that're now dried up on his cheeks. After that incident at Cloud Recesses, everything became awkward. The other sect leaders didn't say anymore and the meeting was ended by Lan Qiren. Everyone then went back to their sects, including him and Jin Ling. A day after and Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji came to Lotus Pier. Jin Ling called them. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji, then and there, saw Jiang Cheng who was unguarded because he didn't notice the arrival of the two, since Jin Ling called them for the surprise visit. The visit of the two that's supposed to fix the awkwardness between Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen suddenly became a confession, which the three themselves didn't expect.

Jiang Cheng was silently crying as he stared at the sky, his mind clearly somewhere else. The three was shocked speechless. But, even though Jiang Cheng saw them he just ignored them. He spoke, his voice filled with pain and is broke. "Why do I realize everything all too late?" he asked and bitterly smiled as he looked away from the bright sky – as bright as the man in white that's in his mind, yet the man looked dull and gray now.

"Jiang Cheng..." Wei Wuxian called. They walked towards him.

Jiang Cheng lowered his head. "I really am the most underserving pers-" he said, didn't manage to continue his words when he felt someone hugged him.

"Hush." Wei Wuxian said as he rubbed his back.

"Uncle..." Jin Ling called and hugged Jiang Cheng tighter. Ever since the Guanyin Temple incident, they became closer. Added to the fact that Jiang Cheng is his only remaining uncle – albeit Wei Wuxian.

"Did Zewu-jun bully you?" Wei Wuxian asked. "I'll punch him for you. How dare he bully my shidi!" he said, mad. "Lan Zhan. You'll hit your brother, too, right, since he bully Jiang Cheng – " he told his husband.

Lan Wangji wanted to grimace, but since his wife's looking at him, he nodded. He already heard what his elder brother told Jiang Cheng during the conference. He heard it from their uncle. Why did brother say those words? He thought, thinking of his always calm brother. He shouldn't have said those words to Jiang Wanyin. It's improper. He sighed.

"I'm not a kid..." Jiang Cheng said, then sighed as he let his adoptive brother and his nephew – his remaining family, hug him. "Mn." He just said. "He... really just..." he said as his tears fell again.

"Jiang Cheng. Don't cry now. You're stronger than this. A few words doesn't hurt you that much and that long, right?" Wei Wuxian asked. "Why are you still crying?" he asked. "Comparing you to that Jin Guangyao doesn't matter since we all know you're better than him – " he said.

"Yet he can't see it." Jiang Cheng said.

The three paused. What?

Jiang Cheng sighed and broke free from Wei Wuxian and Jin Ling. "... uncle?" Jin Ling called.

Wei Wuxian stared at Jiang Cheng as they watched him walk away. "Did we miss something...?" he asked. "Jiang Cheng...?" he called. "Are... we on the same page?" he asked.

Jiang Cheng stopped and turned to them, only said three words yet shocked them. "I love him." He just said and left.

The three were frozen to their place... say what? Wei Wuxian turned to Jin Ling. "Ah Ling..." he called.

"Yes?" Jin Ling said, his eyes still on Jiang Cheng. Surprisingly, his face is serious now.

"... you know?" Wei Wuxian asked.

Jin Ling finally turned to his other uncle. "I wasn't sure before... but now – " he said and looked at the direction where Jiang Cheng left.

"... Jiang Cheng's really in love with Zewu-jun...?" Wei Wuxian asked, dumbfounded. He turned to his husband. Lan Wangji's face is blank yet confusion was in his eyes, too.

"I mean..." Jin Ling said. "When uncle and I got back to Lotus Pier he suddenly cried." He said, remembering. The look he saw in his uncle's face after Lan Xichen said those words to him was an utter shock. But, it lasted only for a second and he glared at Lan Xichen. But... under the glare are eyes that're pools of emotions – pain, confusion... and sadness. His uncle held those emotions until they reach the Lotus Pier. When he saw his uncle fell on his knees and cried, like what he did today... he could only hug him so that he could somewhat relieved the pain. Ever since the Guanyin Temple incident and he sees his uncle's frail side. He doesn't know if he should thank it or what, but now seeing his uncle like this... he'd gladly wish his uncle could go back like what he was – cold and strict.

"Lan Zhan..." Wei Wuxian called to his husband after seeing Jin Ling's pained and serious face. Jiang Cheng is really in love with Lan Xichen. But... what could they do?

Lan Wangji, seeing the troubled look on his wife's face, nodded reassuringly. "I'll talk to brother if he could apologize to Jiang Wanyin." He said.

Wei Wuxian smiled. He's glad his husband is sensitive. He'd only mention to Lan Xichen the conference incident and not this surprising news. After all, this is Jiang Cheng's private matter. "Thanks." He told him.

And so the talk happened –

Present.

"Wei Wuxian, you idiot." Jiang Cheng muttered as he opened his eyes. He squinted his eyes when the sunlight hit them. He didn't notice he fell asleep. He turned, only to see he's in his bed and he's wearing inner robes. "Did Jin Ling – " he said. He knew Jin Ling knew since he had shown his nephew his fragile side always.

A loud voice cut him off. "Good morning, Jiang Cheng!" it's none other than Wei Wuxian. Only him and Jin Ling could go to his sleeping quarters, yet only Wei Wuxian dares to push the door loudly.

So it's him. Jiang Cheng sighed. "What?" he asked and frowned.

"Early in the morning and you're already frowning!" Wei Wuxian said as he laid down the tray with soup.

Jiang Cheng's face was covered in dark lines. "... tell me you're not the one who made that." He said.

Wei Wuxian smiled. "I didn't put spices on it." He said.

Jiang Cheng sighed, relieved. He took the bowl and started eating. The taste is just so-so. "Why are you here?" he asked. "If you forgot which I highly bet, I still hate you." He told him, referring to Wei Wuxian suggesting him and Lan Xichen should be... he didn't dare continue the thought. "You know I don't plan to tell him, even if our relationship as sect leaders is fine now." He said and looked at him in the eye. "I plan to keep this as a secret. I... don't want to ruin what's between us now. I... am satisfied with this. And – " he drew a sharp breath as he lowered his head. " – he still loves Jin Guangyao." He said.

"Jiang Cheng..." Wei Wuxian called, his eyes full of pity. "What if..." he said. "... Zewu-jun loves you, too?" he asked.

Jiang Cheng raised his head. He saw Wei Wuxian's face is serious. His heart skipped a beat as the words registered in his head. "...what?" he muttered under his breath, his eyes wide.

Wei Wuxian nodded. "Yes." He said and smiled – a true smile. "Jiang Cheng." He called. "You can now be happy." He told him.

Jiang Cheng stared at him in awe. "He..." he said, his face went red. "... I'm only just dreaming, right?" he said and his face went blank. He looked at Wei Wuxian.

"... eh?"

Jiang Cheng sighed as he put down his bowl. "Forget it." He said. "He doesn't love me."

Wei Wuxian's eyes went wide. "Jiang Cheng – !" he called.

Jiang Cheng frowned. "What?" he said. "You tell me I woke up and then he loves me? As if." He scoffed.

"Jiang Cheng!" Wei Wuxian said, mad. "It's true! What proof do you want?" he asked.

Jiang Cheng shrugged. "Maybe he'd kneel down before me and tells me he loves me?" he asked, frowning. Obviously he's sarcastic.

"Then, I'll kneel down and tell you I love you so you'll believe me." A voice said, so familiar. Jiang Cheng turned and saw Lan Xichen standing by the door. Lan Wangji is behind him.

"Lan Zhan..." Wei Wuxian called and grimaced. "Sorry. Jiang Cheng's still not dressed – " he said and looked at Lan Xichen. 

But, Lan Xichen's eyes are only on Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng's only wearing his thin inner robes that's slightly slipping on his shoulder, exposing his shoulder blade. His lapel is open in front, and his ink black hair is freely falling on his back and shoulders. His braid is on the side of his head. Truly, a breathtaking beauty is before him.

Lan Xichen didn't dare to enter the room since it's improper. Instead, he knelt outside Jiang Cheng's door. His knees on the floor made dirt on his snow white robes. "Sect leader Jiang." He called.

The disciples who were woken very early in the morning and doing their morning practice saw the Twin Jades of Lan arrived. Curious, they followed them and was shocked to see them going towards their sect leader's quarters. But, they're more shocked to see Lan Xichen kneeling outside of their sect leader's quarters!

"Jiang Wanyin." Lan Xichen called, his face serious. He lifted his three fingers and pointed the heaven, the earth and his heart. "I love you, Jiang Wanyin." He said, loud and clear as he stared at Jiang Cheng's eyes that now turned purple.

They all held their breath as they watched Jiang Cheng walked towards Lan Xichen and stopped in front of him, the threshold before his feet. Just as they blinked on that moment, they suddenly saw a white figure flying away and fell on the water. The lotus rocked for few second because of the loud splash before they settled again. "Wha – " they all said and turned to Jiang Cheng who calmly walked back inside his room and wore his purple robes. He fixed his hair and after a few moments, he went out. He's back to the usual Jiang Cheng – even his expression.

"Resume the morning practice!" he yelled and walked away, not even giving a glance to Lan Xichen who now emerged from the surface of the water and is looking at him.

... just like that?! What the hell just happened?!

(A/N: good god! I just so love you, JC! 😍😍😍 cool!!!) 

To be continued!