Refusal

Lan Xichen froze when he heard Jiang Cheng's answer. "But, you said..." he said, his face started to turn red.

Jiang Cheng wanted to laugh as he looked at him. "Sect leader Lan. You seem to misunderstand me?" He said as he stood up from his seat. "Even if I said those words, that doesn't necessarily mean I want to marry you." He said as he walked towards Lan Xichen. "First, I'm still young." He said.

Lan Xichen felt his blood rushed up his throat when he heard it.

"Two, I don't have plans to get married yet." Jiang Cheng continued. "Three - " he said as he stopped in front of Lan Xichen. He raised his head to look at the man. "I don't have any reason to marry you." He told him, his face serious.

Lan Xichen's expression changed as he lowered his head and looked at Jiang Cheng.

"Do you even understand the word marriage?" Jiang Cheng asked as he looked at Lan Xichen in the eyes.

For a long time, they didn't speak. They just stared at each other in the eyes.

"Think about it again." Jiang Cheng finally said. "We'll see if you'll tell me those words again." He told Lan Xichen as he turned and walked back to his seat.

"Sect leader Jiang." Lan Xichen called.

Jiang Cheng stopped when he heard him call him. "You still don't get it." He frowned as he slowly turned to Lan Xichen. "Let me tell you the main reason why I don't want to marry you." He told him and looked at him in the eyes. "You marry someone if you want to be with them for a lifetime." He said, his face serious. "You marry them if you see your future with them." He said as he walked towards Lan Xichen again. "You marry them if you feel your soul resonating with theirs." He told him as he took a step forward and Lan Xichen, surprised, took a step backward. "You marry them -" Jiang Cheng said as they stopped by the door. " - if you love them." He finally said. He raised his gaze and looked at Lan Xichen's face. "Sect leader Lan." He called. "I see none of them from you." He told him as he pushed him out the door. "Please don't bother me again with this." He told him and closed the door.

Lan Xichen stared at the closed door in front of him with his eyes wide. "Wha..." he said as he raised his hand and knocked on the door. "Sect leader Jiang?!" He called. "Why are you - ?" he said.

"Are you a blockhead?!" Jiang Cheng's voice can be heard from inside. "I tell you it's a 'no'!" He said.

"But - !" Lan Xichen said.

"Leave!"

Lan Xichen froze when he heard Jiang Cheng's angry voice. It was the first time he heard it after a long time. However, it was the first time he heard Jiang Cheng yelled at him. It was the first time he was yelled at. Even Lan Qiren never scolded him.

This is the first... he stared at the door before him. He digested Jiang Cheng's words in his head.

"Do you really understand the word marriage?"

"-if you love them."

"Love... marriage..." Lan Xichen muttered under his breath. An image of Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian flashed in his mind. "Do I really understand those words?" He asked himself.

Jiang Cheng, who has been standing behind the door, heard LXC's words. His face went serious as he lowered his head. That's right. Keep thinking about it. He thought. So you will see that you really don't love me. A bitter smile formed on his lips. That you really don't mean to marry me. After all, who am I really to you? I'm just a stranger, after all.

Both of us, we are strangers to each other.

The next day –

"Sect leader Jiang." Lan Xichen called when they met again. It was the night hunt.

"What?" Jiang Cheng said as he walked down the mountain.

"I still want to marry you." Lan Xichen said.

Jiang Cheng almost tripped. He sharply turned to Lan Xichen. "Why?!" He said, pissed.

Lan Xichen smiled. "Because I like sect leader Jiang." He answered.

Jiang Cheng frowned. Are we really doing this again? He thought and sighed. He looked at Lan Xichen. "Do you really know the word like?" He asked.

Lan Xichen paused. He looked at him. "Does sect leader Jiang knows?" He asked.

Jiang Cheng felt a headache. I knew it. He thought. "You're jesting me." He said then looked at the insensitive man before him. "When you like someone, you feel favorable towards them." He told Lan Xichen. "Do you understand?" he asked.

Lan Xichen nodded. "Does sect leader Jiang has someone he likes?" he asked.

"Yes." Jiang Cheng answered.

"Who?"

"You."

Lan Xichen paused and looked at Jiang Cheng, surprised. Jiang Cheng also froze when he finally registered in his mind what he just said.

Lan Xichen sweetly smiled at Jiang Cheng. "Sect leader Jiang also likes me..." he said, his voice teasing and pleased.

Jiang Cheng froze. Then, he looked at Lan Xichen. "Yes. I like you." He calmly said. Before Lan Xichen could react, he added. "I also like Wei Wuxian. Also Lan Wangji." He said.

Lan Xichen's smile faded.

Jiang Cheng continued. "Wei Wuxian is brave. He does everything that's impossible." He said. "Lan Wangji is serious. He's always dependable." He explained. "You. You are kind and is the top cultivator." He said and looked at Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen felt a bitter taste in his mouth. No need for Jiang Cheng to repeat what he just said. It's obvious that he, Lan Xichen, is the same level with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji in Jiang Cheng's heart. This shouldn't be. He thought. He needs to increase his favorability in Jiang Cheng's heart. "I understand." He said. "This is a rejection, right?" No need to ask, since he already know the answer looking at Jiang Cheng's blank face. "May I ask - " he said as he stared at him. " - what should I do for you to agree to marry me?" He asked.

"I already told you the answer." Jiang Cheng answered and resumed walking.

Lan Xichen watched him walk away. He remembered. He clearly remembered Jiang Cheng's words. And he does. He can see himself together with Jiang Cheng for a lifetime. He can see his future with him. He feels his soul trembling when he's next to Jiang Cheng. It's because he loves Jiang Cheng. So why? Why didn't he tell Jiang Cheng about it? Why is he going the roundabout way?

His eyelids lowered as his face turned serious. It's because he feels Jiang Cheng is distant towards him. And so, he's trying to get closer to him. Jiang Cheng doesn't really like him. Because who would like a stranger? Also –

He looked at the direction where Jiang Cheng left. "Why are you holding back?" he asked, but the air blown away his voice. He felt that Jiang Cheng is holding back something. That something – he thought as he clenched his fists.

That something is his key to win Jiang Cheng's heart! He thought.

(A/N: go, LXC! You can do it!) 

P.S.: last chap I wrote that's completed. Can't write for now since I'm still low in enthusiasm. I'm anxious.