Thread by @ImaginarySnow_

#JinLing centric AU - where as a child Jin Ling has the habit of always holding Jiang Cheng's hand when they go through any Street Markets so he wouldn't get lost.

Jin Ling has been Sect Leader Jin for almost a year now, and with all his hard work he will finally be going home.

He sends a letter to his uncle, Jiang Cheng about him staying on Lotus Pier for a week. His friends, Lan Jingyi, Lan Sizhui and Ouyang Zizhen had also been invited by him.

LJY: Wouldn't your uncle get mad, we're crashing on LP?
JL: I'm still the Young Master of LP. It's okay.

And of course having heard that they're going to Yunmeng, Wei Wuxian had invited himself too, by extension Lan Wangji would also be coming.

Lan Jingyi had shyly asked Jin Ling if Lan Xichen can also come so...yeah everyone is going to Lotus Pier.

Jiang Cheng had been waiting for his nephew, sighing as he saw that golden robes with other figures following him. It seems his nephew had taken the liberty to invite more people.

"C'mon. There's some kind of festival going around." Jiang Cheng headed their group and went ahead.

Jin Ling immediately ran after his uncle, instinctively extending his hand to the man.

Jiang Cheng gently grabbed his nephew's hand and the two walked hand by hand as they see the markets.

Everyone who had watched the scene had their eyes widening as they watch the two.

"What do you want A-Ling?" Jiang Cheng asked his nephew.

"Jiujiu, can we have Lotus Buns first? I'm hungry." Jin Ling answer his uncle, his lips almost pouting.

His uncle nodded and the two walked to the stall, still holding hands tightly.

They followed the two going through stall after stall, with Jiang Cheng buying everything Jin Ling wants.

"Jiujiu, I want that tassel."
"Jiujiu, Fairy should have this collar! Look!"
"Do you want to eat tanghulu too, Jiujiu?"

Jiang Cheng indulged his nephew as always.

After a few hours, Jiang Cheng needed to buy something from a stall so the man left his nephew.

"Young Mistress, you still hold Sect Leader Jiang's hand?" Lan Jingyi couldn't handle it and teased Jin Ling who immediately frowned.

"What do you mean I hold my uncle's hand?" Jin Ling crossed his arms on his chest.

"You're not aware of it?" Lan Sizhui asked.

"You held Sect Leader Jiang's hand the entire time, as if you're a child that would get lost." Jingyi cackled.

Jin Ling looked confused.

"I think its cute." Ouyang Zizhen remarked, Lan Xichen had nodded in agreement.

"Aiyo, Jin Ling. You're not a child anymore, why are you still holding on to Jiang Cheng's hand. Are you gonna get lost here?" Wei Wuxian also added teasing the boy.

"What's wrong with holding my jiujiu's hand?" Jin Ling asked and titled his head.

"I've always been holding his hand. Jiujiu said it's so we know we're always beside each other. I've never let go of my jiujiu's hand even once." The boy said proudly.

Jin Ling shook his head.

He didn't know why they're teasing him. He had never thought of it as something to be ashamed of, he had requested to hold his uncle's hand because he was afraid his uncle would leave him.

But his uncle had always been there beside him, his calloused hand on his.

"You're all weird. Have you never held someone's hand before?" Jin Ling asked, his eyes going to Wei Wuxian and Lan Jingyi.

"I held Lan Zhan's!"

"Then you would know, My jiujiu would always be by my side. He promised we're always gonna be together. So I always hold his hand."

All of them had been shocked at Jin Ling's statements. They thought the boy would get embarrassed, but he was proud of it. A smile on his face proving it.

Jiang Cheng arrived seconds later with a bag on his hand and gave it to his nephew.

It was a customized bracelet.

Jin Ling smiled at the present and immediately put it on before extending his hand towards his uncle once again.

Jiang Cheng took his hand and held it tightly.

A similar bracelet at his wrist, a pair of his nephew's.

"Let's go jiujiu! I want to see the lanterns too!!"

-END

Happy Father's Day to our Jiujiu!! 💜💛