Sequel: Jiujiu
The #jinling sequel, with #jiangcheng and #xicheng
The #jinling sequel, with #jiangcheng and #xicheng
https://twitter.com/lianziyun/status/1382599662750691329
Jin Ling has always known there was supposed to be someone else in his family, but his waigong and jiujiu get angry whenever this person is mentioned, so they’re not talked about at all.
He’s about 10yo when he realises who this person is, going through his mother’s old family
He’s about 10yo when he realises who this person is, going through his mother’s old family
photos for a school project on genealogy. He pulls the photo from the album to ask about later.
When he shows it to his mom, her usual smile goes blank. “This used to be my younger brother.”
“So jiujiu is my da-jiu and this is my xiao-jiu?”
When he shows it to his mom, her usual smile goes blank. “This used to be my younger brother.”
“So jiujiu is my da-jiu and this is my xiao-jiu?”
“Your jiujiu is your only jiujiu,” jyl says dismissively. “This person left us. He’s no one to us now.”
That answers nothing, so when jl sees wwx for a family dinner, he asks about this person. “Did you and mom have a younger brother?”
That answers nothing, so when jl sees wwx for a family dinner, he asks about this person. “Did you and mom have a younger brother?”
wwx’s easygoing smile disappears and his face darkens. “He’s no brother of ours. That person is a blood traitor that betrayed our family.”
His waigong overhears. “Why are you talking about that scum? He’s a piece of trash, just like his mother.
His waigong overhears. “Why are you talking about that scum? He’s a piece of trash, just like his mother.
I will never forgive him for what he did to A-Xian.”
“Father, we do /not/ talk about that around children.” jyl tosses jl a look.
jl is a little offended. He’s not a child! He knows something bad happened to his jiujiu, something that happened just before he was born.
“Father, we do /not/ talk about that around children.” jyl tosses jl a look.
jl is a little offended. He’s not a child! He knows something bad happened to his jiujiu, something that happened just before he was born.
They don’t talk about it, but his waigong and jiujiu bring it up sometimes when they drink too much and get angry at this faceless person who jl now knows is his xiao-jiu.
jl does his school project without asking any more about this supposed-to-be-but-isn’t jiujiu.
jl does his school project without asking any more about this supposed-to-be-but-isn’t jiujiu.
But his existence remains in the back of jl’s mind.
——
A year after that, jl doesn’t get into Gusu Academy, and it’s one of the rare times his mother gets mad.
“I bet you anything lxc pulled strings, just like he did when he put his son in cr instead of our jl!”
——
A year after that, jl doesn’t get into Gusu Academy, and it’s one of the rare times his mother gets mad.
“I bet you anything lxc pulled strings, just like he did when he put his son in cr instead of our jl!”
They’re having dinner together, and jl had wanted to tell them how he won an archery tournament - he got a gold medal and everything! - but his mother is too upset over his school placement to care about anything else.
“Jinlingtai is just as good,” his dad says dismissively.
“Jinlingtai is just as good,” his dad says dismissively.
“And jl will get into any university he wants to as long as we pay for it.” He’s scrolling through his phone with one hand, the other twirling a glass of champagne.
“He won’t be getting into Gusu if lxc has anything to say about it! I can’t believe he would stoop so low as
“He won’t be getting into Gusu if lxc has anything to say about it! I can’t believe he would stoop so low as
to deny our A-Ling entrance. Whatever petty grudges he holds has nothing to do with our son!”
Who is lxc, jl wonders. Why does he hate them so much that he would stop jl from getting into a school?
But jl knows how his mother will react if he asks her about it,
Who is lxc, jl wonders. Why does he hate them so much that he would stop jl from getting into a school?
But jl knows how his mother will react if he asks her about it,
so he waits until after dinner, when he knows jzx will be having a solitary drink in his study.
jzx can only sigh. “A-Ling, your mom has a very complicated family. That xiao-jiu of yours has always hated them, and he left the family after high school.”
jzx can only sigh. “A-Ling, your mom has a very complicated family. That xiao-jiu of yours has always hated them, and he left the family after high school.”
“I remember jiujiu saying he was a blood traitor,” jl says. “Why?”
“He and your waipo cheated the family company from your waigong and jiujiu,” jzx says. “They took it all and left your waigong and jiujiu with nothing. It’s why I have to take care of them now,
“He and your waipo cheated the family company from your waigong and jiujiu,” jzx says. “They took it all and left your waigong and jiujiu with nothing. It’s why I have to take care of them now,
because your xiao-jiu and waipo ruined them.”
“Family company?”
“Kind of like ours,” jzx explains. “But for electronics instead of real estate and construction. LP Technologies.”
Everyone knows LP. They make the newest, coolest electronics, from phones and laptops to TVs and
“Family company?”
“Kind of like ours,” jzx explains. “But for electronics instead of real estate and construction. LP Technologies.”
Everyone knows LP. They make the newest, coolest electronics, from phones and laptops to TVs and
fridges. jl has their products too, so he never made the connection.
“But everyone has at least 1 trust fund,” jl says. “Where did theirs go?”
“Well,” jzx says, “The trusts should have been enough to live on, but your waigong and jiujiu lost most of it in failed businesses.
“But everyone has at least 1 trust fund,” jl says. “Where did theirs go?”
“Well,” jzx says, “The trusts should have been enough to live on, but your waigong and jiujiu lost most of it in failed businesses.
What they have left isn’t enough.”
jl still doesn’t really understand. Trusts should last for several generations at least. But his dad says failed businesses so jl supposes that must be it. His jiujiu always has great and grand ideas that never work out, and his dad had laughed
jl still doesn’t really understand. Trusts should last for several generations at least. But his dad says failed businesses so jl supposes that must be it. His jiujiu always has great and grand ideas that never work out, and his dad had laughed
that after the first few failures it would be a miracle to find any investors - except for jl’s waigong. The only way to lose such huge amounts of money is through business and speculation.
But back to the main point, jl can’t imagine how someone can hate so much that they would
But back to the main point, jl can’t imagine how someone can hate so much that they would
destroy other peoples’ lives. So later that night he searches his mother’s name along with LP, and after nearly an hour of sifting through society and tabloid articles that refer to her as a previous heiress of the company, sees an old article from a million years ago.
‘Jiang family crisis’ the headline reads. ‘LP Technologies goes public; jfm and jyl are left with nothing.’
There’s a picture of xiao-jiu trying to push his way through a crown of reporters. Pointing at him is da-jiu, with a furious look on his face.
There’s a picture of xiao-jiu trying to push his way through a crown of reporters. Pointing at him is da-jiu, with a furious look on his face.
jl skims through the article. It basically confirms what his dad said, but jl wonders still. He knows first hand that tabloids can’t be trusted. They report on the perfect, golden Jin family, with a loving father, doting mother, obedient son. They’re the last thing like it.
jl’s daily needs are met by a driver, a secretary, an assistant, a team of bodyguards, and a horde of maids. He sees his parents once every couple weeks for scheduled dinners, and trying to meet with them without planning at least a month or two beforehand is near impossible.
Just trying to get in touch with jzx is an entire process involving their assistants and secretaries because he’s busy managing the family conglomerate. His mother isn’t much better, too caught up in fulfilling the image of a perfect wife and mother and keeping in touch with her
other socialite friends to be hands-on in jl’s life.
jl goes over the article again. From what he understands, the company had been in waipo’s hold for almost 20yrs before it went public. xiao-jiu had never been involved in the company as he had been pursuing a career in law.
jl goes over the article again. From what he understands, the company had been in waipo’s hold for almost 20yrs before it went public. xiao-jiu had never been involved in the company as he had been pursuing a career in law.
jyl often calls her mother a cold, cruel woman with an unreasonable temper. jfm calls her all sorts of names, and wwx likes to bring up all the punishments she used to dole out and how jfm would protect him. They blame her for all the bad things that happened to the Jiang family.
The article has the full names of his waipo and xiao-jiu, so jl searches them too. First is waipo, who retired from the company a decade ago and is now well known in the social scene, on the board of many charities and being featured often in magazines, the news, and tv shows.
jl looks at a magazine cover of his waipo. She’s smiling, and jl can immediately see the similarity with his xiao-jiu. She looks elegant, a streak of white in her black hair, skin still smooth and full. So different from jl’s waigong, with his white hair and wrinkled skin.
It’s difficult to find older articles about his waipo because of how prominent she is now, but jl manages to find one that called her one of the most powerful business persons in the country.
He searches his xiao-jiu’s name next. This time it’s the opposite -
He searches his xiao-jiu’s name next. This time it’s the opposite -
all the available information are super old that focus on the time period that LP went public. Other than those, the name jc has no online presence at all - no sns accounts, no company websites, no photos beyond those accompanying news articles.
Then jl clears his search history, just in case.
jl spends the next few days wondering about his xiao-jiu. He’s not stupid; he sees how his waigong favours his jiujiu above his mom, even though now jzx has to support them financially. He knows his jiujiu is a Wei and not a Jiang
jl spends the next few days wondering about his xiao-jiu. He’s not stupid; he sees how his waigong favours his jiujiu above his mom, even though now jzx has to support them financially. He knows his jiujiu is a Wei and not a Jiang
- but jl also knows of secret bastard children (there are certainly enough in the wealthy Jinlingtai school, and he also knows of his Meng shushu and Mo shushu even though his father doesn’t talk about it).
His waigong probably just brought his home which caused a bunch of problems with jl’s waipo and xiao-jiu. (jl can’t even imagine the disrespect of bringing home a mistress’ child. They’re supposed to be never seen and never heard. Given money and a good education, of course.
Maybe even pulling strings to get them a good job. But always with a distance from the main family, the only proper family and the only children that can be recognised by society.)
A few days later jl gets a flash of inspiration and searches for lxc.
A few days later jl gets a flash of inspiration and searches for lxc.
A ton of business and society articles come up, showcasing a handsome man with a gentle smile.
Then jl sees a photo and caption that shocks him enough he just stares at his tablet for a solid minute without blinking.
Then jl sees a photo and caption that shocks him enough he just stares at his tablet for a solid minute without blinking.
‘Philanthropist businessman lxc with his husband, well-known attorney lwy.’
It’s his xiao-jiu. Older than the news articles calling him jc, but unmistakably him.
He’d changed his name then? Why?
So jl looks up lwy, finding a ton of news articles about cases that lwy was
It’s his xiao-jiu. Older than the news articles calling him jc, but unmistakably him.
He’d changed his name then? Why?
So jl looks up lwy, finding a ton of news articles about cases that lwy was
involved in. He finally hits jackpot - there’s a law firm website, and jl clicks into it to see lwy’s profile. Graduate of Gusu Uni with 1st class honours, experience in all sorts of litigation, lists of notable cases.
jl mulls over it for the next couple weeks.
jl mulls over it for the next couple weeks.
He finally makes a decision on the night of parent teacher conferences. jyl shows up and feigns interest until she has to leave quickly in her own car because she’s late for a dinner. jzx has never attended a single ptc before
(jyl’s assistant reports to his assistant who reports to his secretary who reports to him).
jl goes home by himself, and when he’s being served in the informal dining room he scrolls through the search results for lwy again and makes up his mind.
jl goes home by himself, and when he’s being served in the informal dining room he scrolls through the search results for lwy again and makes up his mind.
The next day, jl tells his driver to go somewhere else after school.
The driver is uneasy. His bodyguards protest but to no avail. jl’s secretary almost has a conniption at this unplanned stop because he’s supposed to have a piano lesson instead, and his assistant is busy making
The driver is uneasy. His bodyguards protest but to no avail. jl’s secretary almost has a conniption at this unplanned stop because he’s supposed to have a piano lesson instead, and his assistant is busy making
phone calls to rearrange his schedule.
jl is only 11 but he knows how to command his staff easily. So they bend to his will as they always do in order to keep their jobs, and jl soon finds himself in front of a giant commercial building. He allows a couple bodyguards to go up
jl is only 11 but he knows how to command his staff easily. So they bend to his will as they always do in order to keep their jobs, and jl soon finds himself in front of a giant commercial building. He allows a couple bodyguards to go up
with him but make them wait at the entrance to the firm.
The law firm occupies several floors and the front lobby is huge and fancy, sleek and modern in dark neutral colours. One of the receptionists out front gives jl a pleasant, if confused, smile.
The law firm occupies several floors and the front lobby is huge and fancy, sleek and modern in dark neutral colours. One of the receptionists out front gives jl a pleasant, if confused, smile.
“How can I help you?” she asks.
“I’m here to see lwy. Attorney Lan.”
“Is he expecting you?”
“Ah, no,” jl admits. “But I’m his nephew.”
The receptionist looks even more puzzled, but asks him to leave his name and to take a seat. jl watches her phone lwy’s secretary but
“I’m here to see lwy. Attorney Lan.”
“Is he expecting you?”
“Ah, no,” jl admits. “But I’m his nephew.”
The receptionist looks even more puzzled, but asks him to leave his name and to take a seat. jl watches her phone lwy’s secretary but
he can’t hear what she’s saying.
He keeps waiting until a lady comes out. “Hello. You must be jl. I’m Attorney Lan’s secretary. I’ll take you in to see him now.”
jl is led through winding corridors. He gets a few curious looks on the way, but he tips his chin up and
He keeps waiting until a lady comes out. “Hello. You must be jl. I’m Attorney Lan’s secretary. I’ll take you in to see him now.”
jl is led through winding corridors. He gets a few curious looks on the way, but he tips his chin up and
ignores them. He’s still in his school uniform, and he knows he must make a strange sight in the office.
They stop before a door with a simple plate on it reading “Lan Wanyin”.
The secretary knocks and jl can hear a smooth baritone call out “Come in.”
They stop before a door with a simple plate on it reading “Lan Wanyin”.
The secretary knocks and jl can hear a smooth baritone call out “Come in.”
jl’s heart is beating heavy with anticipation. He wipes off his sweaty hands on his uniform shorts and steps into the room. It’s large and bright, with windows along one wall. There’s a sitting area with 6 armchairs arranged around a rectangular coffee table.
The walls are lined with bookshelves. At the end, there’s a huge desk with 2 screens and a bookstand. There are a stack of files on one side, and behind it is the man himself.
Jiang Cheng. Lan Wanyin. He’s dressed in a grey suit and plain white shirt with a patterned blue tie.
Jiang Cheng. Lan Wanyin. He’s dressed in a grey suit and plain white shirt with a patterned blue tie.
A small crest is pinned under the knot. He stands, and jl notices how tall he is. His features are sharp, delicate but masculine, and he has an aura of easy confidence about him.
“Jin Ling,” he greets. “Come, have a seat.” He directs jl to the armchairs and sits across from him.
“Jin Ling,” he greets. “Come, have a seat.” He directs jl to the armchairs and sits across from him.
“Would you like anything to drink?” lwy asks.
jl shakes his head and lwy gives a nod before turning to his secretary, who’s been hovering around the entrance. “That’ll be all, thanks.”
When the door clicks shut, lwy focuses on jl.
jl shakes his head and lwy gives a nod before turning to his secretary, who’s been hovering around the entrance. “That’ll be all, thanks.”
When the door clicks shut, lwy focuses on jl.
His eyes are dark and piercing, and jl feels timid under that penetrating gaze.
“What can I do for you, jl?”
jl doesn’t know what to say. He wants to know - to know what happened for lwy to leave, to know why he changed his name, to know why and how his relationship with the
“What can I do for you, jl?”
jl doesn’t know what to say. He wants to know - to know what happened for lwy to leave, to know why he changed his name, to know why and how his relationship with the
Jiangs deteriorated into this. “I wanted to meet you,” he says instead.
When nothing else comes, lwy raises an eyebrow. “Well,” he says drily, “here I am.”
They sit in silence for a moment. jl feels awkward but when he looks at lwy, the man just looks patient, like he’s ready
When nothing else comes, lwy raises an eyebrow. “Well,” he says drily, “here I am.”
They sit in silence for a moment. jl feels awkward but when he looks at lwy, the man just looks patient, like he’s ready
to sit for hours to wait for jl’s next words.
“My mom got mad that I couldn’t get into Gusu Academy,” jl says.
That’s when lwy’s expression changes. It cools considerably, and it’s enough to make jl feel a little nervous. “I can’t help you get a placement,
“My mom got mad that I couldn’t get into Gusu Academy,” jl says.
That’s when lwy’s expression changes. It cools considerably, and it’s enough to make jl feel a little nervous. “I can’t help you get a placement,
if that’s what you’re thinking. Neither can my husband.”
“I know. She said that lxc hates us enough that he would deliberately stop me from getting a placement.”
lwy’s face doesn’t change. “My husband would never do something so repulsive to a child.”
“I know. She said that lxc hates us enough that he would deliberately stop me from getting a placement.”
lwy’s face doesn’t change. “My husband would never do something so repulsive to a child.”
jl shrugs. “I just wanna know why they’re so mad at you.”
lwy sighs. “jl, those are matters too complicated for you to understand.”
“I’m not a child!”
“You’re 11,” lwy says, and jl is a little taken aback.
“How do you know how old I am?”
lwy sighs. “jl, those are matters too complicated for you to understand.”
“I’m not a child!”
“You’re 11,” lwy says, and jl is a little taken aback.
“How do you know how old I am?”
“I saw you a few times, during the Cloud Recesses admissions process. You’re the same age as my son.”
“Oh.”
More silence.
lwy frowns. “jl, what is this really about? Do your parents know you’re here?”
jl shakes his head. “They won’t find out, unless my team snitches on me.”
“Oh.”
More silence.
lwy frowns. “jl, what is this really about? Do your parents know you’re here?”
jl shakes his head. “They won’t find out, unless my team snitches on me.”
“Your team?” Another eyebrow raise, though this time it’s more questioning.
“Yeah.” jl counts off his fingers. “My driver, my bodyguards, my secretary, and my assistant. And my personal maids at home, I guess.”
“Yeah.” jl counts off his fingers. “My driver, my bodyguards, my secretary, and my assistant. And my personal maids at home, I guess.”
“I thought you might have been talking about a sports team,” lwy murmurs with a frown. “What about your mother?”
jl shrugs. “I think she’s in Paris? Or Milan? There’s a fashion thing somewhere, I think.”
“You don’t know where she is?”
jl shrugs again.
jl shrugs. “I think she’s in Paris? Or Milan? There’s a fashion thing somewhere, I think.”
“You don’t know where she is?”
jl shrugs again.
“She never tells me, and my team never knows.”
“And your father?”
“Well, he’s here, but I don’t think he cares,” jl says blithely. His parents have always been like this. jl doesn’t particularly care, but lwy seems upset to hear it.
“And your father?”
“Well, he’s here, but I don’t think he cares,” jl says blithely. His parents have always been like this. jl doesn’t particularly care, but lwy seems upset to hear it.
“jl, did your mother ever talk to you about me?”
“Not really. She said you left that family so you’re no one.”
“And what do you think?”
“I don’t know what to think. Waigong and jiujiu say you’re a blood traitor and you’re the reason why my dad has to take care of them now.”
“Not really. She said you left that family so you’re no one.”
“And what do you think?”
“I don’t know what to think. Waigong and jiujiu say you’re a blood traitor and you’re the reason why my dad has to take care of them now.”
lwy sighs. “jl, I honestly don’t care enough about them to do anything to them. I can also tell you that I don’t care enough to betray them because I literally could not care less.”
“They say you were the reason why jiujiu had something bad happen to him.”
lwy rolls his eyes.
“They say you were the reason why jiujiu had something bad happen to him.”
lwy rolls his eyes.
“jl, you’re a smart boy. You found me, so obviously you know how to look things up. Have you ever tried to search for wwx?”
“Well, no.” It’s kinda weird, isn’t it, to look up your own family? yzy and lwy don’t count, because they’ve never been family to jl.
“I’ll just say this-
“Well, no.” It’s kinda weird, isn’t it, to look up your own family? yzy and lwy don’t count, because they’ve never been family to jl.
“I’ll just say this-
wwx and your waigong thought I could help them with something because I’m a lawyer. I did what I thought - and still think - was my best, but there were consequences for wwx that were unavoidable.”
“What about LP?” jl asks. “They say you and waipo stole it from them.”
“What about LP?” jl asks. “They say you and waipo stole it from them.”
lwy looks exasperated. “Of course they would say that. Neither of them worked at the company. Your waigong gave up all his shares during the divorce in order to speed it up, and during it your mother sold her shares to your waipo to cut ties.”
jl doesn’t completely understand things like shares and stocks, but he’s picked up a few things here and there from his dad and yeye. His waipo having control of the company for decades is a clear sign that it was already beyond the reach of the Jiangs, and if his waigong
willingly gave up his shares in the divorce, then he can only sit and regret it. “Then why would they say you guys cheated it from them?”
“Probably because they didn’t know what your waipo was doing until after it happened.”
There’s another moment of silence.
“Probably because they didn’t know what your waipo was doing until after it happened.”
There’s another moment of silence.
“Any more questions?”
“Why did you change your name?” jl asks finally.
“Because I was not a part of the family anymore,” lwy says, simply and honestly. “My family had become the Lans.”
“Why did you leave the family?”
lwy shakes his head.
“Why did you change your name?” jl asks finally.
“Because I was not a part of the family anymore,” lwy says, simply and honestly. “My family had become the Lans.”
“Why did you leave the family?”
lwy shakes his head.
“jl, there’s just too much history and backstory for you to ever understand.”
“My dad says you always hated them.”
lwy laughs at that. “Hated? I never hated them. I wanted so badly to be a part of them, to be included.” He shrugs. “Leaving was natural.”
“Oh.”
“My dad says you always hated them.”
lwy laughs at that. “Hated? I never hated them. I wanted so badly to be a part of them, to be included.” He shrugs. “Leaving was natural.”
“Oh.”
jl ponders over this. He doesn’t really understand, but he thinks he might. “Can I see you again?” he asks instead.
“Why?”
jl shrugs. “I just want to.” He wants to know more about this uncle of his, so at ease and obviously successful, unpretentious and straightforward even
“Why?”
jl shrugs. “I just want to.” He wants to know more about this uncle of his, so at ease and obviously successful, unpretentious and straightforward even
when talking to jl who, let’s be honest here, is still a child. It’s such a huge contrast to the picture painted by his waigong and jiujiu, and jl thinks something must have gone very wrong somewhere for this to happen.
lwy inspects him for a moment with those dark eyes of his.
lwy inspects him for a moment with those dark eyes of his.
“Alright,” he says simply. “But let me give you my number. I’m not always free, and I wouldn’t want you to make a trip for nothing.”
So they exchange numbers and lwy personally escorts him all the way downstairs to where his car is waiting. He waves when jl leaves.
So they exchange numbers and lwy personally escorts him all the way downstairs to where his car is waiting. He waves when jl leaves.
During the ride home, jl is lost in thought.
That night, after another dinner by himself, jl looks up wwx and jfm and spends the rest of the night reading.
——
There’s to be a family dinner tonight. jl is feeling jittery, nervous, like everyone would be able to know with just
That night, after another dinner by himself, jl looks up wwx and jfm and spends the rest of the night reading.
——
There’s to be a family dinner tonight. jl is feeling jittery, nervous, like everyone would be able to know with just
one look at him that he sought out lwy and even met him for a chat.
He also doesn’t know how he’s supposed to face his jiujiu, because wwx killed a man before. How is jl supposed to act in front of someone like that? He knows it wasn’t on purpose but his jiujiu does drink a lot,
He also doesn’t know how he’s supposed to face his jiujiu, because wwx killed a man before. How is jl supposed to act in front of someone like that? He knows it wasn’t on purpose but his jiujiu does drink a lot,
and depending on what they’re talking about, can get kinda scary. jl is young, but he’s not stupid. If lwy had done any worse, his jiujiu might still be in prison. How could waigong blame lwy for the result?
As for his waigong, there’s something dark and angry building up in jl.
As for his waigong, there’s something dark and angry building up in jl.
He’d seen a lot of articles speculating on jc missing from events that jfm would attend with wwx. There were even paparazzi photos of jfm and wwx on holiday with no jc in sight. There was one about a luxury car show that jfm took wwx to and where he bought him the latest models.
There was one where someone leaked the news that jfm took wwx to alumni events while ignoring his own son. There were many that speculated on whether jc had some sort of illness or disability and that was why he was missing all the time.
Now, jl thinks he might understand why lwy left the family. He’s accepted his lot in life when it comes to his parents and sometimes enjoys the extra freedom it gives, but he knows what it feels like, to watch other children have all these things.
Every day jl sees how other parents still make an effort to pick their kids up from school, how they make beautifully decorated lunchboxes even though their school has a couple restaurants and a few cafes within its campus, how they show up to sports tournaments or
music performances or theatre productions. But jl has it easier, because those aren’t his parents and he’s the only child. There’s no one to share attention with, no one to fight against for favour.
He ends up being quiet at dinner, not bothering to brag about how well he’s
He ends up being quiet at dinner, not bothering to brag about how well he’s
doing at school or his extracurriculars. It’s unusual of him - /very/ unusual, because these are the rare chances he gets to see his family and spend an extended amount of time with them.
jzx taps away at his phone, unconcerned with the conversation between jyl, jfm, and wwx.
jzx taps away at his phone, unconcerned with the conversation between jyl, jfm, and wwx.
jl lifts his head from his bowl when he hears that wwx has gotten into a minor car accident - no one was hurt, no police were called, but he’s got to fix up his car.
“Zixuan, you won’t mind taking care of it, right?” jyl asks.
“Hm?” jzx looks up.
“Zixuan, you won’t mind taking care of it, right?” jyl asks.
“Hm?” jzx looks up.
When jyl explains the situation again, he laughs. “wwx, you’re really good at spending other ppl’s money.”
jfm’s face turns black, and wwx’s smug grin turns sharp.
“We don’t need charity,” he snipes, but jzx laughs again.
jfm’s face turns black, and wwx’s smug grin turns sharp.
“We don’t need charity,” he snipes, but jzx laughs again.
“Clearly you do. You’re living in one of my properties, driving my cars, and Yanli gives you money each month so you don’t starve.”
jl shrinks in his seat. He knows there’s been similar arguments before, but they were always after dinner, when the adults would have a drink and
jl shrinks in his seat. He knows there’s been similar arguments before, but they were always after dinner, when the adults would have a drink and
he would be sent up to his rooms. His silence tonight just gave an opportunity for it to happen earlier.
jfm stands, furious. “I should’ve never let my daughter marry you, you arrogant bastard! Take back your things then, if you want to see us on the street! Wouldn’t it be
jfm stands, furious. “I should’ve never let my daughter marry you, you arrogant bastard! Take back your things then, if you want to see us on the street! Wouldn’t it be
wonderful, the father in law of the great and powerful jzx, having to beg on the streets for food!”
jzx stands as well. “You’re in /my/ home and living on /my/ money. Watch yourself, old man. I have more than enough face to lose if you really want to end up on the streets!”
jzx stands as well. “You’re in /my/ home and living on /my/ money. Watch yourself, old man. I have more than enough face to lose if you really want to end up on the streets!”
wwx looks ready to punch jzx, but jyl is holding one of his hands, pleading with him to calm down.
“We’re all family,” jyl says. “Can you imagine what would happen if one of the maids sells this story? We would all become laughingstocks! How are we supposed to face anyone then?”
“We’re all family,” jyl says. “Can you imagine what would happen if one of the maids sells this story? We would all become laughingstocks! How are we supposed to face anyone then?”
wwx flicks his hair out of his face. “jzx, the only reason why I’m not kicking your ass today is because of A-Jie.” But really, jl thinks it’s because wwx is trying to start another business and he can’t afford a scandal right now.
jzx scoffs. “I’d like to see you try.
jzx scoffs. “I’d like to see you try.
You’re all talk and no show, wwx.” He picks up his phone. “I have work to do. Yanli, give your father and brother what they ask. It’s nothing to me anyway.”
jl watches his father leave. He wants to leave too, but he’s not sure what he’s supposed to do now.
jl watches his father leave. He wants to leave too, but he’s not sure what he’s supposed to do now.
They haven’t even served dessert yet. Maybe he could fake being sick? But then their family doctor would be called over and he’d be totally found out.
“A-Xian, father, don’t listen to Zixuan. You know how he is, he’s just so stressed from work all the time.
“A-Xian, father, don’t listen to Zixuan. You know how he is, he’s just so stressed from work all the time.
Hasn’t he taken good care of you both all these years? Don’t fight anymore. For me, please?”
jfm and wwx spout a few more weak insults before jyl smooths it over with some lotus paste buns. She says she handmade them, but jl was home when she was directing the staff.
jfm and wwx spout a few more weak insults before jyl smooths it over with some lotus paste buns. She says she handmade them, but jl was home when she was directing the staff.
No part of jyl’s hands were involved in the process.
jyl seems content to sit by as jfm and wwx continue their conversation. She’s lost in her own thoughts, discreetly scrolling through her phone, and only comes back to it when dessert is finally served.
jyl seems content to sit by as jfm and wwx continue their conversation. She’s lost in her own thoughts, discreetly scrolling through her phone, and only comes back to it when dessert is finally served.
“May I be excused,” jl asks, after taking only one spoonful of the dessert soup.
“Of course,” jyl says, and waves him off.
jl stands, unable to look anyone in the face. “Good night.”
He will never admit to anyone how grateful he is that he could run off and leave them all.
“Of course,” jyl says, and waves him off.
jl stands, unable to look anyone in the face. “Good night.”
He will never admit to anyone how grateful he is that he could run off and leave them all.
Once he reaches his rooms, he pulls out his phone.
After a moment’s hesitation, he texts lwy.
——
It’s a Saturday afternoon, and jl would normally be with one of his (many) tutors, but he’s here instead, at a cafe with lwy.
After a moment’s hesitation, he texts lwy.
——
It’s a Saturday afternoon, and jl would normally be with one of his (many) tutors, but he’s here instead, at a cafe with lwy.
“Do your parents know where you are?” lwy asks him again right after saying hi.
jl shrugs. He hadn’t seen them when preparing to leave today, but honestly their estate is so large it would be surprising if he did.
lwy sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.
jl shrugs. He hadn’t seen them when preparing to leave today, but honestly their estate is so large it would be surprising if he did.
lwy sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose.
“This will /not/ go well when they find out.”
“/If/ they find out,” jl corrects, and misses the flash of sadness in lwj’s eyes.
“Hm.” lwy leans back in his seat. “So what did you call me out for?”
jl bides time by slurping his milkshake. “They had a fight at home.”
“/If/ they find out,” jl corrects, and misses the flash of sadness in lwj’s eyes.
“Hm.” lwy leans back in his seat. “So what did you call me out for?”
jl bides time by slurping his milkshake. “They had a fight at home.”
lwy’s face shifts, but jl can’t read it. “Oh?”
“Yeah. My dad’s paying for them now, you know. My waigong and…and Wei-shushu.”
lwy obviously notices the different title, but kindly says nothing on it, giving instead a simple “I see.” After a pause he asks “Do they fight often?”
“Yeah. My dad’s paying for them now, you know. My waigong and…and Wei-shushu.”
lwy obviously notices the different title, but kindly says nothing on it, giving instead a simple “I see.” After a pause he asks “Do they fight often?”
jl hums. “Kinda, yeah. I mean, normally they wait until I’m gone before they start shouting.”
“It was different that day?”
“Yeah.” jl fidgets with his straw, stirring his milkshake. “I dunno, they mentioned that Wei-shu got into a car accident.”
lwy sighs.
“It was different that day?”
“Yeah.” jl fidgets with his straw, stirring his milkshake. “I dunno, they mentioned that Wei-shu got into a car accident.”
lwy sighs.
“Please don’t tell me he got into trouble.”
jl shakes his head. “Not this time, at least. But it was my dad’s car and they wanted my dad to fix it so they started fighting over money. It was just a small fight though,” he says, when lwy frowns and looks like he’s about to speak.
jl shakes his head. “Not this time, at least. But it was my dad’s car and they wanted my dad to fix it so they started fighting over money. It was just a small fight though,” he says, when lwy frowns and looks like he’s about to speak.
“They didn’t even break anything.”
“Do they get into actual fistfights?”
“I mean, not like serious fighting,” jl says, much too blasé. “Just mostly, you know. Throwing and breaking a lotta things.”
lwy’s frown deepens. “jl, I know I’m not your relation, but as an adult and as
“Do they get into actual fistfights?”
“I mean, not like serious fighting,” jl says, much too blasé. “Just mostly, you know. Throwing and breaking a lotta things.”
lwy’s frown deepens. “jl, I know I’m not your relation, but as an adult and as
someone who has experience with your family, I hope you will listen very carefully to what I’m saying.”
jl nods and straightens in his seat.
lwy leans in slightly, and jl mirrors him. “If their shouting makes you uncomfortable, you leave. And if things get physical - violent or
jl nods and straightens in his seat.
lwy leans in slightly, and jl mirrors him. “If their shouting makes you uncomfortable, you leave. And if things get physical - violent or
not - I want you to get the hell out, no matter what.”
jl squirms. “What if we’re not at home?”
“You get your bodyguard and get the hell out.” lwy doesn’t blink as he focuses his deep, sharp eyes at jl. “My phone is always on. I will always pick up your call.”
jl squirms. “What if we’re not at home?”
“You get your bodyguard and get the hell out.” lwy doesn’t blink as he focuses his deep, sharp eyes at jl. “My phone is always on. I will always pick up your call.”
“You won’t be able to pick up at work,” jl retorts.
“Alright then. Unless I’m in court or visiting a client in jail. If I don’t answer, you call my husband.” lwy takes his phone and taps at it.
jl’s phone buzzes, and he picks it up to see that lwy sent him a new contact.
“Alright then. Unless I’m in court or visiting a client in jail. If I don’t answer, you call my husband.” lwy takes his phone and taps at it.
jl’s phone buzzes, and he picks it up to see that lwy sent him a new contact.
“I’ll give you my father’s details as well,” lwy says, still frowning. “His name is lqr. I told him about you, so he knows who you are.”
“You have a father?” jl asks, shocked. “Did he adopt you?”
lwy sets his phone down again. “Well I was never formally disowned so I was never
“You have a father?” jl asks, shocked. “Did he adopt you?”
lwy sets his phone down again. “Well I was never formally disowned so I was never
formally adopted. And anyway it would be a hell of a headache trying to get married once I was put into their family register so we left it until I married Xichen.”
“So when did you change your name?”
“As soon as I graduated from uni.”
“Why?”
“So when did you change your name?”
“As soon as I graduated from uni.”
“Why?”
“Your waigong said I was no longer a Jiang that day.”
jl’s eyes are huge and round. “That /day/? The day you /graduated/?” jl always knew his waigong could be nasty, but never that cruel.
“Yeah.” lwy looks lost in thought as he takes a sip of his iced coffee.
jl’s eyes are huge and round. “That /day/? The day you /graduated/?” jl always knew his waigong could be nasty, but never that cruel.
“Yeah.” lwy looks lost in thought as he takes a sip of his iced coffee.
“I don’t even know why they wanted to come. Your mother and wwx were there also.”
“Really?” jl has never seen a photo of this event. And he’s gone through all the family albums, both hard and soft copies, and he’s never seen a picture of lwy’s graduation.
“Really?” jl has never seen a photo of this event. And he’s gone through all the family albums, both hard and soft copies, and he’s never seen a picture of lwy’s graduation.
Wait. He’s never seen a picture of lwy’s school graduations ever. At all. Did no one attend those? jl’s parents may be absent, but his graduation has been marked in their schedules for the entire year now, and his mom will also be attending his commencement at Jinlingtai Academy.
“Yeah.” lwy shrugs. “It was a shock. I was hurt. But only for a little while.” When he sees jl’s disbelieving look he smiles. “I was already a Lan in all but name. My Baba and I had a talk after lunch and that was it. I had the time of my life that night at my graduation party.”
“Sounds fake,” jl mumbles.
lwy’s smile grows, turning soft and fond. “Really. I already had a family. I had already left the Jiangs years before that. It’s like when you get unexpectedly pricked by a needle. Shocking at the moment. You might even bleed a single, tiny drop of
lwy’s smile grows, turning soft and fond. “Really. I already had a family. I had already left the Jiangs years before that. It’s like when you get unexpectedly pricked by a needle. Shocking at the moment. You might even bleed a single, tiny drop of
blood. But then you wipe it off and forget about it - utterly and completely.”
“Oh.” When put that way, jl sort of understands where lwy was coming from.
lwj laughs. “jl, have you ever even held a needle before?“
jl shrugs. “No. But I get it. When I first started archery I
“Oh.” When put that way, jl sort of understands where lwy was coming from.
lwj laughs. “jl, have you ever even held a needle before?“
jl shrugs. “No. But I get it. When I first started archery I
poked myself a few times accidentally with the arrows. I don’t remember when or how but I know it happened.”
“Like that then.” lwy takes a sip of his drink. He looks relaxed as he crosses his legs and asks casually, “Will you be joining the team at JA?”
jl shrugs. “Yeah.
“Like that then.” lwy takes a sip of his drink. He looks relaxed as he crosses his legs and asks casually, “Will you be joining the team at JA?”
jl shrugs. “Yeah.
It’s a good way to get competition experience. I have a private coach also.”
lwy laughs, looking beautiful in the afternoon sun. He really looks so much like jl’s waipo. “Of course you do. Now, tell me. Why archery?”
——
lwy laughs, looking beautiful in the afternoon sun. He really looks so much like jl’s waipo. “Of course you do. Now, tell me. Why archery?”
——
There’s a soirée to celebrate jl’s primary school graduation.
Children of the city’s elites - professionally and socially - all gather at the Jin estate, where even jl’s paternal grandparents are in attendance. The adults make their rounds around the large ballroom,
Children of the city’s elites - professionally and socially - all gather at the Jin estate, where even jl’s paternal grandparents are in attendance. The adults make their rounds around the large ballroom,
their laughter and chatter getting louder and louder as the night goes on and as they drink more and more alcohol.
Some of jl’s classmates have been invited as well, but jl isn’t close with them. He hangs out with them for appearance’s sake but then escapes to the gardens when
Some of jl’s classmates have been invited as well, but jl isn’t close with them. He hangs out with them for appearance’s sake but then escapes to the gardens when
it starts to get late and the younger children start going home.
Around midnight jl sends a selfie of himself by the lotus pond to lwy. ‘Look, my dad had it made as one of the wedding presents to my mom.’
The reply comes immediately. ‘You should be in bed.’
Around midnight jl sends a selfie of himself by the lotus pond to lwy. ‘Look, my dad had it made as one of the wedding presents to my mom.’
The reply comes immediately. ‘You should be in bed.’
While jl is tapping an answer, lwy calls him.
“Hello?”
“Why are you still up?” is the curt greeting.
“There’s a party.”
“You’re only 11 and it’s nearly midnight.”
jl shrugs even though lwy can’t see it. “It was my graduation today. My dad and yeye decided to throw a party.”
“Hello?”
“Why are you still up?” is the curt greeting.
“There’s a party.”
“You’re only 11 and it’s nearly midnight.”
jl shrugs even though lwy can’t see it. “It was my graduation today. My dad and yeye decided to throw a party.”
lwy sighs and jl can almost imagine him folding his arms and rolling his eyes. “I’m assuming it’s an adult party. Nice tux, by the way.”
“Thanks, I guess.”
“You’re welcome. Now, why haven’t you left and gone to bed yet?”
“Thanks, I guess.”
“You’re welcome. Now, why haven’t you left and gone to bed yet?”
“I dunno. Sometimes they make me wait until the end so I can say goodbye to the guests.”
lwy sighs again. “Of course they do.”
jl can hear rustling on the other end, and he wonders if his message roused lwy from his sleep. “Sorry for texting you so late,” he mumbles.
lwy sighs again. “Of course they do.”
jl can hear rustling on the other end, and he wonders if his message roused lwy from his sleep. “Sorry for texting you so late,” he mumbles.
“It’s fine; I couldn’t sleep anyway.”
“Are you sure?”
“If I wasn’t I wouldn’t have called you. What are your plans for tomorrow?”
“Dunno. I have archery practice in the morning but then I’m free after that. Most of my tutors won’t be coming until school starts up again.”
“Are you sure?”
“If I wasn’t I wouldn’t have called you. What are your plans for tomorrow?”
“Dunno. I have archery practice in the morning but then I’m free after that. Most of my tutors won’t be coming until school starts up again.”
“If you feel comfortable enough for it, would you want to have brunch with me and my family tomorrow? It’s kind of a tradition for us to treat ourselves every first Saturday of the month.”
jl pauses. He had been planning to nap the day away since tonight is gonna be a late night
jl pauses. He had been planning to nap the day away since tonight is gonna be a late night
and tomorrow an early morning. But it sounds kinda nice, having a family brunch. “Are they gonna be ok with me there?”
“They know who you are,” lwy says. “They want to meet you too.”
“Well…yeah. Ok then.”
“I’ll send you the details. And for heaven’s sake, go to bed as soon
“They know who you are,” lwy says. “They want to meet you too.”
“Well…yeah. Ok then.”
“I’ll send you the details. And for heaven’s sake, go to bed as soon
as you can. A child needs sleep to grow.”
“Ok, bye,” jl mumbles. He sits on a stone bench by the lotus pond, staring at the chat with lwy and the details he sent over. He scrolls back up, reading their conversation from the beginning. Then he spends the next hour or so watching
“Ok, bye,” jl mumbles. He sits on a stone bench by the lotus pond, staring at the chat with lwy and the details he sent over. He scrolls back up, reading their conversation from the beginning. Then he spends the next hour or so watching
videos online until his mother calls him. “Where are you?” She’s obviously trying to keep her voice down, probably in a corner of the ballroom. “You need to get back right now. The guests are starting to leave.”
jl sighs. “Alright, I’m on my way.”
——
jl sighs. “Alright, I’m on my way.”
——
jl is really tired. He ended up sleeping only a few hours, so he’s off during practice and his coach ends it early to stop him from injuring himself. He naps until a maid wakes him, and he falls asleep in his car on the way to the restaurant.
lwy and his family are already there, and jl stops by their table awkwardly.
“Jin Ling,” lwy greets, and pats the chair next to him. “Come, have a seat.”
So jl sits, trying to appear nonchalant to the smile from lxc and the blatant staring from lwy’s son.
“Jin Ling,” lwy greets, and pats the chair next to him. “Come, have a seat.”
So jl sits, trying to appear nonchalant to the smile from lxc and the blatant staring from lwy’s son.
At the head of the table is an older man, and jl knows this must be lwy’s father. He looks distinguished and austere, and jl is a little intimidated when their eyes meet.
“Baba, this is jl, the one I was telling you about.”
“Baba, this is jl, the one I was telling you about.”
jl hurriedly gives a bow from his seat. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
lwy gestures to the man across from himself. “This is lxc, my husband. And this is Jingyi, our son.”
“Jin Ling,” lxc says in his deep, warm voice. His smile is wide and comforting.
“You too.”
lwy gestures to the man across from himself. “This is lxc, my husband. And this is Jingyi, our son.”
“Jin Ling,” lxc says in his deep, warm voice. His smile is wide and comforting.
“It’s so good to finally meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.” jl gives another bow.
“Hi!” ljy chirps. “Dad says we’re the same age. Do you play mdzs?”
“I mean, I’ve heard of it.” jl just doesn’t have anyone to play with, even if he has all the newest consoles.
“It’s nice to meet you too.” jl gives another bow.
“Hi!” ljy chirps. “Dad says we’re the same age. Do you play mdzs?”
“I mean, I’ve heard of it.” jl just doesn’t have anyone to play with, even if he has all the newest consoles.
“Awesome. You have to come over and play with me then. My friend Wen Yuan keeps complaining I’m terrible at it but I’m really not! You’ll see. And then you can meet him too!”
lqr clears his throat. “Jingyi, you two can talk about games later. Time to eat.”
“Yes, Yeye!”
lqr clears his throat. “Jingyi, you two can talk about games later. Time to eat.”
“Yes, Yeye!”
It’s really weird, how the Lans don’t speak while they eat. They share warm smiles and warm looks, and jl feels weird watching them. It’s a private moment, and he’s an outsider. He even looks like an outsider, covered in flashy luxury brands while the Lans are all wearing white
and pale creams. They look like the sort of family you would see in commercials, all happy and pristine in white.
But then lwy turns to him with a smile, giving him a few more pieces of fried chicken. Across from them Jingyi’s eyes widen and he looks utterly betrayed.
But then lwy turns to him with a smile, giving him a few more pieces of fried chicken. Across from them Jingyi’s eyes widen and he looks utterly betrayed.
“It’s Jingyi’s favourite,” lwy whispers. “One of the restaurant’s specialties.”
“Thank you.”
jl is on his best behaviour. He’s not sure why he feels like he needs to impress. He’s already met lwy a few times and they’ve always chatted like equals.
“Thank you.”
jl is on his best behaviour. He’s not sure why he feels like he needs to impress. He’s already met lwy a few times and they’ve always chatted like equals.
But there’s just something about meeting lwy’s family, and he wants them to like him.
lqr calls over a waitress and orders more fried chicken. ljy gasps in happiness. “Thank you, Yeye!”
“It’s for me,” lqr says with a straight face.
“Yeye!”
lqr calls over a waitress and orders more fried chicken. ljy gasps in happiness. “Thank you, Yeye!”
“It’s for me,” lqr says with a straight face.
“Yeye!”
“Alright, it’s for you. Here, have more tofu salad.” lqr passes the plate over and they all lapse back into silence as they continue their meal.
When the meal ends they chat over drinks. jl tries to order coffee but gets shut down by lwy.
“You’re too young for coffee.”
When the meal ends they chat over drinks. jl tries to order coffee but gets shut down by lwy.
“You’re too young for coffee.”
“I only slept for 3 hours last night!” jl complains. “I had to be up at the crack of dawn for archery practice.”
“Oh, jl.” lwy looks disappointed. “You know you could cancel, right? I wouldn’t be mad. I know you had a late night but I didn’t realise how late.”
“Oh, jl.” lwy looks disappointed. “You know you could cancel, right? I wouldn’t be mad. I know you had a late night but I didn’t realise how late.”
“I wanted to come,” jl pouts. His head is lowered and he’s staring down at the table. He doesn’t want to see whatever look there is on lwy’s face.
“We could always reschedule.” lwy pats his knee. “Your health should always come first.” He sighs. “It’s my fault too.
“We could always reschedule.” lwy pats his knee. “Your health should always come first.” He sighs. “It’s my fault too.
I shouldn’t have asked you to come after such a late night.”
“I wanted to come,” jl repeats. Does this mean lwy won’t ask him to join family brunches anymore?
“Next time let me know if you have a late night or early morning. You could always come over for dinner instead.”
“I wanted to come,” jl repeats. Does this mean lwy won’t ask him to join family brunches anymore?
“Next time let me know if you have a late night or early morning. You could always come over for dinner instead.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Brunch ends on a good note, with jl and ljy exchanging numbers. jl bows to them again as they leave, and lwy waits with him for his driver even though jl’s bodyguards had been waiting for him outside the restaurant.
“Of course.”
Brunch ends on a good note, with jl and ljy exchanging numbers. jl bows to them again as they leave, and lwy waits with him for his driver even though jl’s bodyguards had been waiting for him outside the restaurant.
lwy waves him off again, and jl falls asleep on the way back with a smile.
——
School’s been in session for a while now, and although jl likes Jinlingtai, he hasn’t been able to make many friends. The school culture breeds snobbishness and classism, which jl finds exasperating
——
School’s been in session for a while now, and although jl likes Jinlingtai, he hasn’t been able to make many friends. The school culture breeds snobbishness and classism, which jl finds exasperating
even though he sits at the very top of the food chain. It’s so different from the easygoing friendship he’s made with ljy, wy, and oyzz over the break. The only time jl enjoys himself at school is when he’s out on the fields, practicing his archery.
Over the break, jl became a frequent visitor to the Lan household. At first it was for lunches, then hanging out until it was late enough for dinner, and then jl was taking overnight bags to spend entire weekends with them. They’ve also started going to his archery competitions,
always bringing signs and whistles and taking him to celebrate afterwards, no matter jl’s results.
jl’s easily adjusted to their schedule. He already wakes up at the crack of dawn for archery practice before school, and on the weekends he goes over to the Lans’ for breakfast.
jl’s easily adjusted to their schedule. He already wakes up at the crack of dawn for archery practice before school, and on the weekends he goes over to the Lans’ for breakfast.
He sleeps around 9, but it’s fine because no one cares as long as he’s home. It makes for difficult family dinners that tend to run very late into the night, but after the first few times that jl flat out slept at the table, he was allowed to excuse himself early.
When school started up again the weekend visits lessened, but he still goes almost every day after school to do homework with ljy and then staying for dinner. His grades have improved even though he keeps skipping tutorial sessions, and neither of his parents have realised.
jl comforts himself with the thought that, if he gets into trouble for skipping, at least his grades are at the top of his class so his parents don’t really have any basis for complaints.
Other than, you know. Cavorting with blood traitors.
Other than, you know. Cavorting with blood traitors.
“Man, I wish I went to your school,” jl says wistfully to ljy one evening. They’re helping set the table for dinner as lxc finishes cooking. It’s a late night for lwy, so he won’t be able to eat with them. “It’d be so cool to go on that school trip with you guys.”
GA has optional school trips doing their midterm breaks. ljy, wy, and oyzz are planning to go to an island, supposedly to appreciate local culture but really to have seaside fun. They’re already talking about sneaking in sparklers for the beach at night.
JA has trips too, but jl doesn’t want to go when he doesn’t have friends to go with.
“You know you could reapply to Gusu Academy if you want to,” lxc tells jl as he comes over with a giant pot in both hands. The oven mitts he has on are light blue with cartoon dogs printed all
“You know you could reapply to Gusu Academy if you want to,” lxc tells jl as he comes over with a giant pot in both hands. The oven mitts he has on are light blue with cartoon dogs printed all
over it, matching his frilly lace apron.
jl lights up. “Really? They take transfers?”
“Of course.” jl follows lxc back to the kitchen to help bring out the food. “They’re flexible to talent. I know you just tried last year but you’ve grown a lot since, wouldn’t you think so?”
jl lights up. “Really? They take transfers?”
“Of course.” jl follows lxc back to the kitchen to help bring out the food. “They’re flexible to talent. I know you just tried last year but you’ve grown a lot since, wouldn’t you think so?”
“I guess.” jl doesn’t feel much more grown up, but if lxc thinks so then maybe he is.
“I’d be more than happy to write you a letter of recommendation,” lxc says.
“Nah, it’s ok. I kinda wanna try on my own. And if I don’t get it I can try again next year.”
“I’d be more than happy to write you a letter of recommendation,” lxc says.
“Nah, it’s ok. I kinda wanna try on my own. And if I don’t get it I can try again next year.”
lxc hides his smile behind a bite of rice.
——
The application process is tough. When jl applied before, his assistant had arranged everything. Even the personal statement had been prepared by one of his tutors. The only thing jl had done himself was the written exam.
——
The application process is tough. When jl applied before, his assistant had arranged everything. Even the personal statement had been prepared by one of his tutors. The only thing jl had done himself was the written exam.
This time he has lwy and lxc to read over his application, giving him suggestions on improvements. They help him take a video of his archery, and he also gets a recommendation letter from the animal shelter where the Lans (and now he) volunteer.
When his application is cleared for the first round, he has to take a series of written exams. If he passes then he’ll be interviewed in person.
On the Saturday morning of the exams, jl expects to be part of the crowd, but when he gets out of his car he sees the Lans waiting
On the Saturday morning of the exams, jl expects to be part of the crowd, but when he gets out of his car he sees the Lans waiting
by the school entrance. ljy has a glittery sign saying “Good Luck!” and lwy hands him a lunchbox and a bag of healthy snacks.
“There’s only a 30 min break between each paper, so I prepared a few things. Do you have your water bottle?”
“There’s only a 30 min break between each paper, so I prepared a few things. Do you have your water bottle?”
jl nods, raising his flask and holder that cost a month of normal people’s rent.
“If you get overwhelmed, remember the breathing exercises we went though,” lxc says.
ljy holds jl’s hand. “Here. I’m lending you my good luck charm.” It’s a white bunny keychain, with a pale blue
“If you get overwhelmed, remember the breathing exercises we went though,” lxc says.
ljy holds jl’s hand. “Here. I’m lending you my good luck charm.” It’s a white bunny keychain, with a pale blue
ribbon tied around the neck.
“Thanks,” jl’s fist closes around the charm. He has to swallow hard to fight back the sudden sting in the backs of his eyes.
lwy sets his hands on jl’s shoulders. “Do your best. We’re proud of you either way.”
jl sniffs. “Thanks, Jiujiu.”
Uh.
“Thanks,” jl’s fist closes around the charm. He has to swallow hard to fight back the sudden sting in the backs of his eyes.
lwy sets his hands on jl’s shoulders. “Do your best. We’re proud of you either way.”
jl sniffs. “Thanks, Jiujiu.”
Uh.
Ok, wow, that’s awkward. jl can feel himself blush as he hastily backtracks. “I mean, uh. Lan shushu.”
“It’s ok,” lwy says. “I am your jiujiu.”
jl’s lower lip wobbles, and lwy wraps him in a tight hug.
“Family hug!” ljy shouts, and jl can feel ljy pouncing on his back and
“It’s ok,” lwy says. “I am your jiujiu.”
jl’s lower lip wobbles, and lwy wraps him in a tight hug.
“Family hug!” ljy shouts, and jl can feel ljy pouncing on his back and
lxc’s strong arms wrapping around all of them.
“You’ll do great,” lwy says, with a soft brush to jl’s chin. “And we’ll be here when you finish.”
Six hours later, jl is part of the crowd streaming out of the school auditorium and out of the building.
“You’ll do great,” lwy says, with a soft brush to jl’s chin. “And we’ll be here when you finish.”
Six hours later, jl is part of the crowd streaming out of the school auditorium and out of the building.
Some kids leave by themselves, some are with their friends, and some have family waiting.
From afar, jl sees the Lans. lxc is piggybacking ljy so he could see above the crowd, and he waves with a shout when he sees jl. (It’s sort of hard not to see jl.
From afar, jl sees the Lans. lxc is piggybacking ljy so he could see above the crowd, and he waves with a shout when he sees jl. (It’s sort of hard not to see jl.
He’s only 12 so he’s short, but he’s impossible to miss, flashy as he is.)
“How was it?” lwy asks, taking his bag from him.
jl sighs. “I dunno. Guess we’ll see.”
lwy pats him on the shoulder and leads him towards the parking lot. “You did well. I’m proud of you.”
“How was it?” lwy asks, taking his bag from him.
jl sighs. “I dunno. Guess we’ll see.”
lwy pats him on the shoulder and leads him towards the parking lot. “You did well. I’m proud of you.”
After they have celebration ice cream, they drive jl home to rest.
However, once jl makes the trek from the gates to the main building, the first person he sees is his mother’s secretary.
Uh oh.
——
However, once jl makes the trek from the gates to the main building, the first person he sees is his mother’s secretary.
Uh oh.
——
jl is grounded. Indefinitely. His electronics haven’t been taken but the parental controls on them are maxed out. His private accounts are locked and his school email is being monitored. Even his team have all been fired and switched out with people handpicked by his mother.
He spends the first week annoyed and isolated. Lonely. More lonely than anything.
He could have borrowed something from a schoolmate to contact the Lans, but he’s not close with them and it would be embarrassing to explain why.
He could have borrowed something from a schoolmate to contact the Lans, but he’s not close with them and it would be embarrassing to explain why.
Then he realises the maids haven’t taken his video games, so he logs onto one and sends a message to ljy before hiding it away. He knows ljy is only to allowed to play at certain times, but he can’t help constantly checking his messages.
And a few days later, there it is.
And a few days later, there it is.
A reply with a time, and he wakes up the next morning at 5 to go online.
“A-Ling! Where have you been?! We’ve all been so worried! Dad has been calling his police contacts and Yeye has been calling his contacts at the hospitals! We thought something happened to you!”
“A-Ling! Where have you been?! We’ve all been so worried! Dad has been calling his police contacts and Yeye has been calling his contacts at the hospitals! We thought something happened to you!”
jl sighs into his headset. “My mom caught me. I’m grounded forever.”
“Oh no.” ljy sounds hesitant. “Are they gonna stop us from meeting?”
“Yeah. My team’s been switched out and I’m only allowed to go to school and archery practice.”
“That sucks so bad. Oh hey, wait a minute.”
“Oh no.” ljy sounds hesitant. “Are they gonna stop us from meeting?”
“Yeah. My team’s been switched out and I’m only allowed to go to school and archery practice.”
“That sucks so bad. Oh hey, wait a minute.”
jl hears shuffling on ljy’s side. “Dad! A-Ling’s online!”
There more shuffling before jl hears a frantic lwy. “Hello? A-Ling? Are you alright? Are you safe?”
“Yeah,” jl mumbles. “Sorry for making you worry.”
“Jingyi said your mother found out?”
“Yeah.”
There more shuffling before jl hears a frantic lwy. “Hello? A-Ling? Are you alright? Are you safe?”
“Yeah,” jl mumbles. “Sorry for making you worry.”
“Jingyi said your mother found out?”
“Yeah.”
After so many days without hearing lwy’s voice, jl feels tears spring to his eyes. He sniffs and rubs his eyes roughly, but he can’t hide the choke in his words. “She - she’s really mad.”
“It’s ok, A-Ling. I know it’s tough but we’re here for you.
“It’s ok, A-Ling. I know it’s tough but we’re here for you.
Even if we can’t talk, even if we can’t see each other. We are your family.“
“Uh huh.” jl nods, wiping his tears with his sleeve.
“Are you eating properly?”
jl gives a teary laugh. “That’s what you want to know?”
“The Jiangs would sometimes discipline with food.”
“Uh huh.” jl nods, wiping his tears with his sleeve.
“Are you eating properly?”
jl gives a teary laugh. “That’s what you want to know?”
“The Jiangs would sometimes discipline with food.”
jl shakes his head. “No. My mom would die if other people found out I was going hungry. Shameful, you know.”
“Good. No corporal punishment I hope?”
“No. She worries about leaving marks.”
lwy sighs. “Does your father know?”
“Good. No corporal punishment I hope?”
“No. She worries about leaving marks.”
lwy sighs. “Does your father know?”
“Yeah. He kinda laughed it off but cuz my mom is so mad he’s just letting her do whatever.”
“Oh, A-Ling.”
jl can’t hide his sob then. “I dunno when I can see you guys again.”
“It’s ok, A-Ling. Stay strong.“
jl sniffs. “I gotta go to school.”
“Oh, A-Ling.”
jl can’t hide his sob then. “I dunno when I can see you guys again.”
“It’s ok, A-Ling. Stay strong.“
jl sniffs. “I gotta go to school.”
“Alright. Now go wash your face and have some breakfast. You need to remember to take care of yourself, ok?”
“Yes, Jiujiu.”
jl can hear lwy still breathing through the headset as he disconnects, and he allows himself one more sob before he goes to clean up.
“Yes, Jiujiu.”
jl can hear lwy still breathing through the headset as he disconnects, and he allows himself one more sob before he goes to clean up.
He’s not alone. The Lans are still there, even if they can’t see or talk to each other for now.
——
jl isn’t allowed to go to the next family dinner. jzx can’t be bothered if jl isn’t going to be there and so it’s just the Jiangs.
——
jl isn’t allowed to go to the next family dinner. jzx can’t be bothered if jl isn’t going to be there and so it’s just the Jiangs.
jl hears them talking in one of the lounges as he sneaks to the kitchens for a late night snack (he woke up around 11 and got hungry).
“How did he even find jl?” wwx asks. He sounds spiteful. Hateful. It makes jl a little scared. “He must have stalked jl for a while -
“How did he even find jl?” wwx asks. He sounds spiteful. Hateful. It makes jl a little scared. “He must have stalked jl for a while -
how else could you explain it?”
“He’s trying to lure your son away, just like lqr did with him,” jfm says. “The next thing you know he’ll be renouncing the Jins and betraying you all.”
“Oh god, could you just think of what the news would say!
“He’s trying to lure your son away, just like lqr did with him,” jfm says. “The next thing you know he’ll be renouncing the Jins and betraying you all.”
“Oh god, could you just think of what the news would say!
Such a disgrace - the only heir to the Jin fortune. No - I have to keep them away from each other.”
“He’s still young,” jfm says. “He’ll forget about them soon.”
jl claps a hand over his mouth to hide his gasp. No! They can’t think of keeping him from the Lans forever!
“He’s still young,” jfm says. “He’ll forget about them soon.”
jl claps a hand over his mouth to hide his gasp. No! They can’t think of keeping him from the Lans forever!
Even if they wanted to it’s logistically impossible. Unless…unless jl really is locked up.
“You can’t allow them any more contact, A-Jie,” wwx says. “It’s for the best.”
“Maybe I should send him to boarding school,” jyl sighs. “A military school or something.”
“You can’t allow them any more contact, A-Jie,” wwx says. “It’s for the best.”
“Maybe I should send him to boarding school,” jyl sighs. “A military school or something.”
At that, jl stumbles out of his hiding place and into the room. “No! You can’t take me away from my jiujiu!” The adults all rise from their seats, surprised.
“A-Ling, you should be in bed,” his mother scolds.
“See? This is exactly what I said would happen,” jfm says.
“A-Ling, you should be in bed,” his mother scolds.
“See? This is exactly what I said would happen,” jfm says.
jyl points to wwx. “This is your jiujiu.”
“No! No he’s not!” jl is crying, sobbing, his tears blurring the anger on their faces. “My jiujiu is lwy!”
“I am your jiujiu! Your only jiujiu!” wwx holds him by the arms and gives him a hard shake.
“No! No he’s not!” jl is crying, sobbing, his tears blurring the anger on their faces. “My jiujiu is lwy!”
“I am your jiujiu! Your only jiujiu!” wwx holds him by the arms and gives him a hard shake.
“We are your family! Not them! We love you! They don’t!”
“You’re not my family!” jl sobs. He cries out when wwx shakes him again, harder this time. “My jiujiu loves me!”
“He’s incapable of love,” jfm says snidely.
“You’re the one that’s incapable!” jl shouts at him.
“You’re not my family!” jl sobs. He cries out when wwx shakes him again, harder this time. “My jiujiu loves me!”
“He’s incapable of love,” jfm says snidely.
“You’re the one that’s incapable!” jl shouts at him.
“Jin Ling!” jyl is furious. She pulls him from wwx’s grasp. Her nails bite into the skin of his forearm. “How dare you say something like that to your grandfather!”
jl sobs even harder. wwx leans down and grabs jl’s face with one hand. “Look at me,” he says, dark eyes glinting.
jl sobs even harder. wwx leans down and grabs jl’s face with one hand. “Look at me,” he says, dark eyes glinting.
“That man is not your family. He doesn’t love you. He will never love you.”
“No!” jl wrenches himself away. “I hate all of you!”
“I said this would happen,” jfm repeats. “I knew it.”
jyl’s eyes are hard and black. She holds very still, hands folded in front of her neatly.
“No!” jl wrenches himself away. “I hate all of you!”
“I said this would happen,” jfm repeats. “I knew it.”
jyl’s eyes are hard and black. She holds very still, hands folded in front of her neatly.
“Go to bed,” she says quietly.
jl has never heard this tone from her before. Not even when she confronted him about meeting up with lwy did she sound like this. jl starts shaking then. He’s scared, and he knows something bad is happening.
jl has never heard this tone from her before. Not even when she confronted him about meeting up with lwy did she sound like this. jl starts shaking then. He’s scared, and he knows something bad is happening.
“You will not be attending school anymore. You will keep up your lessons with tutors until I find you a suitable boarding school, and then you will stay there until I think you are ready to come back.”
jl can’t even think, he’s so shocked. “No. No, please Mama, I’m sorry! Don’t make me go, I’m sorry!”
“Bed, jl.” jyl is expressionless.
“Mama, please,” jl sobs.
“Go to bed before I make you.”
jl stands there crying for a moment as he looks to their faces.
“Bed, jl.” jyl is expressionless.
“Mama, please,” jl sobs.
“Go to bed before I make you.”
jl stands there crying for a moment as he looks to their faces.
jfm has his back turned, pouring himself a glass of whiskey. wwx is glaring at him, hands curled into fists.
His mother stares back at him dispassionately, completely unmoved.
“Mama, please,” jl tries again.
jyl doesn’t answer.
His mother stares back at him dispassionately, completely unmoved.
“Mama, please,” jl tries again.
jyl doesn’t answer.
She just stands and looks at him, and jl has to choke back his sobs as he walks slowly to his rooms. He looks back only once, but she’s already turned away, in deep discussion with wwx.
That’s when jl realises that something important has broken that could never be repaired.
——
That’s when jl realises that something important has broken that could never be repaired.
——
When jzx hears the news that jyl wants to send jl away, he finally gets mad and summons jyl to his study. “He’s my son,” jzx says tightly. “I will not have him sent away like some criminal.”
“Did you not hear what I said? He called that man his jiujiu!
“Did you not hear what I said? He called that man his jiujiu!
He said that we’re not his family! He said they love him! They’re brainwashing him, trying to take him from us!”
jzx stares at his wife. “He said that jfm and wwx are not his family. My son is a Jin, not a Jiang. Your father and brother’s poor hurt egos are of no interest to me.
jzx stares at his wife. “He said that jfm and wwx are not his family. My son is a Jin, not a Jiang. Your father and brother’s poor hurt egos are of no interest to me.
My son will stay here, in the Jin household. If you are so worried about his relationship with the Jiangs, then you go back with them and leave the two of us.”
jyl stands from her seat, disbelieving. “Are you - are you saying that you will leave me over something like this?
jyl stands from her seat, disbelieving. “Are you - are you saying that you will leave me over something like this?
Over me trying to save our son from being taken from us?”
“My son is going nowhere and being taken by no one. He needs no saving. I’ve been told his grades have improved. He’s winning archery tournaments left and right.
“My son is going nowhere and being taken by no one. He needs no saving. I’ve been told his grades have improved. He’s winning archery tournaments left and right.
He’s even been appearing in the sports segments on the evening news. They’re calling him a prodigy. My son is flourishing, and I don’t care who he spends time with as long as he remains the best.”
“Jin Zixuan.” jyl points at him. “You will regret this.”
“Jin Zixuan.” jyl points at him. “You will regret this.”
jzx watches her storm out. Then he turns on the tv and picks a show to watch. He signals a maid to refill his glass, and spends the rest of the evening relaxing on his own.
——
——
jl’s team is switched out again. This time the new staff are arranged by jzx’s secretary. The parental controls on his electronics are lifted, and jl starts to go to school again after a few days of absence.
The first day he’s back in school he ignores the curious questions from his classmates. They’re not genuinely concerned - they just want gossip. The second school ends he’s telling his driver to go to the Lan home.
ljy has school orchestra so he’s not home yet and lwy is in court, but lxc made sure to get off work early and he is waiting with lqr. They open the front door as soon as they see jl’s car in the driveway, and jl runs out to hug them.
“Jiufu, Yeye!”
“Jiufu, Yeye!”
“A-Ling.” lqr strokes his hair. “My child; you have suffered.”
jl shakes his head into lqr’s chest. Behind him lxc is enveloping them both in a tight hug. jl only allows himself a few drops of tears before he’s sniffling and turning to rub his face into lxc’s shirt.
jl shakes his head into lqr’s chest. Behind him lxc is enveloping them both in a tight hug. jl only allows himself a few drops of tears before he’s sniffling and turning to rub his face into lxc’s shirt.
“Our A-Ling,” lxc says fondly. “We’ve missed you.”
“Missed you too.”
lqr wipes jl’s damp cheek gently with his handkerchief. “Come. Yeye made your favourite mango pudding.”
“Thank you.” jl follows them to the kitchen, where lqr feeds him a variety of (healthy) snacks
“Missed you too.”
lqr wipes jl’s damp cheek gently with his handkerchief. “Come. Yeye made your favourite mango pudding.”
“Thank you.” jl follows them to the kitchen, where lqr feeds him a variety of (healthy) snacks
even though they’re not normally allowed.
lxc goes to pick up ljy soon after, and jl knows they’re home when he hears ljy hollering from the front door.
“A-Ling!” ljy flies into the kitchen and leaps onto jl, who had just enough time to stand and accept the hug.
lxc goes to pick up ljy soon after, and jl knows they’re home when he hears ljy hollering from the front door.
“A-Ling!” ljy flies into the kitchen and leaps onto jl, who had just enough time to stand and accept the hug.
“Oh man, I missed you so much!” He starts chattering away a mile a minute to catch up jl on everything that’s happened over the last few weeks.
When lwy is home, jl is the one that runs to the front door. lwy pauses at the entrance, looking at jl with wet, dark eyes.
When lwy is home, jl is the one that runs to the front door. lwy pauses at the entrance, looking at jl with wet, dark eyes.
“A-Ling.” He holds his arms out and jl runs to him for a tight, all-encompassing hug.
“Jiujiu.”
“Our A-Ling,” lwy murmurs, stroking over jl’s hair and pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “I’m so happy to see you again.”
“Jiujiu.”
“Our A-Ling,” lwy murmurs, stroking over jl’s hair and pressing a kiss to the top of his head. “I’m so happy to see you again.”
“Me too.” jl starts crying for real then. “Jiujiu, I really missed you.”
“Oh darling. I missed you too. So, so much.”
When jl finally pulls back from the hug, lwy cups his face in both hands.
“You’ve lost weight.”
jl shakes his head. “I just didn’t feel like eating.”
“Oh darling. I missed you too. So, so much.”
When jl finally pulls back from the hug, lwy cups his face in both hands.
“You’ve lost weight.”
jl shakes his head. “I just didn’t feel like eating.”
“Let’s feed you properly then.”
jl is too old to hold hands, but he holds Jiujiu’s hand as they walk to the kitchen and help with dinner. At the meal, they eat silently, but all the warm, happy smiles directed at jl say more than words ever could.
jl is too old to hold hands, but he holds Jiujiu’s hand as they walk to the kitchen and help with dinner. At the meal, they eat silently, but all the warm, happy smiles directed at jl say more than words ever could.
After dinner, lwy asks to see jl alone in his office. He asks jl to tell him exactly what happened, not just the sketchy version he told earlier. So jl does. lwy looks more and more devastated as he listens, and by the end he’s shaking his head and holding jl’s hand tight.
“It’s my fault,” he says. “I’m the adult, I should have protected you.”
“You’ve already done a lot for me, Jiujiu.”
“Those are all part of being a family.” lwy sighs. “I knew your mother wouldn’t take it well. I just never thought she would react like that.”
“You’ve already done a lot for me, Jiujiu.”
“Those are all part of being a family.” lwy sighs. “I knew your mother wouldn’t take it well. I just never thought she would react like that.”
lwy shakes his head again. “I should have protected you,” he repeats.
“But…you still want to see me, right?” jl asks in a tiny voice. “My dad says it’s ok.”
“Oh, A-Ling. Of course I still want to see you. I said before, we’re family. We’re here for you.
“But…you still want to see me, right?” jl asks in a tiny voice. “My dad says it’s ok.”
“Oh, A-Ling. Of course I still want to see you. I said before, we’re family. We’re here for you.
I just wish you didn’t have to go through all this pain. I could have prevented this somehow, maybe got in touch with your father to make sure things were alright between us. But I was too arrogant not to think you could be harmed.”
“No, Jiujiu. You weren’t.”
“No, Jiujiu. You weren’t.”
“I was. I’m so sorry, A-Ling.”
jl is horrified to see lwy blinking hard to clear the shine from his eyes. “Jiujiu…”
“I won’t fail you again, A-Ling. I promise. Will you forgive me?”
“Of course.” jl falls into lwy for a hug. It’s become so familiar to him, the hug, the person.
jl is horrified to see lwy blinking hard to clear the shine from his eyes. “Jiujiu…”
“I won’t fail you again, A-Ling. I promise. Will you forgive me?”
“Of course.” jl falls into lwy for a hug. It’s become so familiar to him, the hug, the person.
It’s only been a year, but his jiujiu is such a huge part of life. jl already had a taste of life without him, without the Lans, and he cannot imagine going the rest of his life alone.
“I love you. Our A-Ling.” lwy kisses the top of his head.
“I love you. Our A-Ling.” lwy kisses the top of his head.
“I love you too, Jiujiu. I just want us to be happy together from now on.”
lwy smiles finally as he gives a gentle stroke to jl’s face, still round with baby fat. “Of course. The happiest family together.”
====
(end)
lwy smiles finally as he gives a gentle stroke to jl’s face, still round with baby fat. “Of course. The happiest family together.”
====
(end)
@threadreaderapp unroll
Extra: Goodbye/Hello
It’s the start of the new school year, and the start at a new school for jl. There’s only a couple classes in each grade, so one of his friends is guaranteed to be in his. Unless he has really bad luck and they’re all in one class while he’s in the other.
It’s the start of the new school year, and the start at a new school for jl. There’s only a couple classes in each grade, so one of his friends is guaranteed to be in his. Unless he has really bad luck and they’re all in one class while he’s in the other.
jl sighs as he stares himself in the full-length mirror. He looks odd in the GA uniform - white shirt, white trousers, and a light blue tie with the school logo on it. So different from his usual colourful, bright outfits (ljy calls them tacky. jl vehemently disagrees.
They may be eye-catching, but that’s because it’s fashion).
As he heads to the front entrance where his car is waiting, he sees his mother. At this hour, she’s probably going to their private plane to fly off somewhere, or to the salon because she has a daytime event later.
As he heads to the front entrance where his car is waiting, he sees his mother. At this hour, she’s probably going to their private plane to fly off somewhere, or to the salon because she has a daytime event later.
“Mom,” jl greets her.
jyl doesn’t even blink. “Am I still your mother, then?”
“Of course you are,” jl says awkwardly.
“You made your choice,” jyl says. “You chose a blood traitor above your own mother.”
“I didn’t mean to do it.” jl fidgets with the strap of his backpack.
jyl doesn’t even blink. “Am I still your mother, then?”
“Of course you are,” jl says awkwardly.
“You made your choice,” jyl says. “You chose a blood traitor above your own mother.”
“I didn’t mean to do it.” jl fidgets with the strap of his backpack.
He’s gotten matching ones with ljy, blue for ljy and yellow for jl. It’s the first thing he’s ever owned that isn’t a luxury brand.
“And now you even look like him.” jyl sounds disgusted as her gaze travels over him.
“It’s my school uniform.”
“And now you even look like him.” jyl sounds disgusted as her gaze travels over him.
“It’s my school uniform.”
“Well, now you have what you want. A new family with /him/.”
“I never wanted a new family. I didn’t go looking for it. It just happened.”
“You knew what you were doing,” jyl says. Her voice is so cold. “You knew what that man had done to us and you still went to look for him.”
“I never wanted a new family. I didn’t go looking for it. It just happened.”
“You knew what you were doing,” jyl says. Her voice is so cold. “You knew what that man had done to us and you still went to look for him.”
“He did nothing to /us/,” jl tries. “What happened with LP was not his fault. What happened to waigong and Wei-shu wasn’t his fault either.”
“Of course you would say that.” jyl turns to get in her car. “Don’t speak to me again unless it’s to apologise.”
“Of course you would say that.” jyl turns to get in her car. “Don’t speak to me again unless it’s to apologise.”
jl watches her drive off, tears welling in his eyes. If it’s so easy for his mother to brush him off so easily, to write him out of her life so easily, did she ever really love him? Or did she love the thought of being mother to the Jin heir?
jl wipes his face on the back of his hand and clears his throat as he gets into his car. He’s promised to meet his friends at the school gates so they can all go in together.
He can’t stop the occasional tear that comes along the way, but he hastily wipes his face again when
He can’t stop the occasional tear that comes along the way, but he hastily wipes his face again when
he recognises the street they’ve turned in to.
ljy and oyzz are there already, and they greet him enthusiastically. ljy pounces on him for a hug as soon as he’s within reach. “You’re here! A-Yuan is running late, but Zizhen checked the lists already -
ljy and oyzz are there already, and they greet him enthusiastically. ljy pounces on him for a hug as soon as he’s within reach. “You’re here! A-Yuan is running late, but Zizhen checked the lists already -
you guys are in the same class and I’m with A-Yuan!”
jl and oyzz cheer and share their own special handshake, and afterwards ljy demands they do his also.
As he watches ljy and oyzz spin around and high five each other, jl laughs.
jl and oyzz cheer and share their own special handshake, and afterwards ljy demands they do his also.
As he watches ljy and oyzz spin around and high five each other, jl laughs.
He’s got his cousin, his friends, and after school he’s going to see his jiujiu, jiufu, and yeye. He’s got his family. He knows they love him. It’s alright if his mother doesn’t.
jl is loved.
====
jl is loved.
====
Extra: Popo
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
jl rolls his eyes. “Yes, Jiujiu, you’ve asked me a million times.”
lwy rolls his eyes as well. “I know you think she’s scary.”
“I never said that!” jl folds his arms, the exact same way lwy has folded his.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
jl rolls his eyes. “Yes, Jiujiu, you’ve asked me a million times.”
lwy rolls his eyes as well. “I know you think she’s scary.”
“I never said that!” jl folds his arms, the exact same way lwy has folded his.
“You didn’t need to. I saw that look on your face when you thought she was coming over for dinner.”
jl gasps. “What look? I had no look.”
“You did.”
“Well it doesn’t matter anyway because I’m meeting her now.” jl tugs at his jacket. “Do I look ok?”
jl gasps. “What look? I had no look.”
“You did.”
“Well it doesn’t matter anyway because I’m meeting her now.” jl tugs at his jacket. “Do I look ok?”
He’s dressed in his usual style, just more formal than usual. It’s the latest season, not available yet for sale to the general public.
“You’ll fit right in, that’s for sure.” lwy turns to him with a smile when their car pulls up to the hotel. “You ready?”
“You’ll fit right in, that’s for sure.” lwy turns to him with a smile when their car pulls up to the hotel. “You ready?”
jl sighs. “As I’ll ever be, I guess.”
They’re greeted at the entrance. “Mr Lan, Young Master Jin, welcome. Madam Yu has yet to arrive.”
They’re taken up to the restaurant at the top of the hotel and into a private corner room with stunning views of the city.
They’re greeted at the entrance. “Mr Lan, Young Master Jin, welcome. Madam Yu has yet to arrive.”
They’re taken up to the restaurant at the top of the hotel and into a private corner room with stunning views of the city.
jl sits with lwy, facing the entrance to the room. It’s just them, because lwy thought it might be better to meet her in private before seeing her in a group setting.
“No need to be so nervous, A-Ling,” lwy says when he catches jl wiping his hands on his thighs.
“No need to be so nervous, A-Ling,” lwy says when he catches jl wiping his hands on his thighs.
“Your grandmother doesn’t eat people. Well. I hope not. Sometimes I wonder how she keeps her looks. Bathing in the blood of innocents, probably.”
“Not helping, Jiujiu,” jl complains.
jl is too nervous to be distracted by lwy asking him about his upcoming archery tournament,
“Not helping, Jiujiu,” jl complains.
jl is too nervous to be distracted by lwy asking him about his upcoming archery tournament,
so lwy settles for holding his hand instead.
jl tries to shake him off. “I’m 13, not a baby. I’m a proper teenager.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” lwj says, holding tighter. “You’re my nephew so you’ll always be a baby to me.”
“Well, you /are/ really old,” jl says.
jl tries to shake him off. “I’m 13, not a baby. I’m a proper teenager.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” lwj says, holding tighter. “You’re my nephew so you’ll always be a baby to me.”
“Well, you /are/ really old,” jl says.
“You’re getting wrinkles.”
lwj raises an eyebrow. “Am I now?”
jl is lying. His Jiujiu looks incredibly young, and he has a horde of admirers at their school that fixate on him every time he shows up. ljy hates it, oscillating wildly between protectiveness and embarrassment
lwj raises an eyebrow. “Am I now?”
jl is lying. His Jiujiu looks incredibly young, and he has a horde of admirers at their school that fixate on him every time he shows up. ljy hates it, oscillating wildly between protectiveness and embarrassment
whenever his dad is mentioned. jl thinks it’s hilarious, but has also nearly gotten into fights over it (he has to protect Jiujiu’s honour!). lwy is oblivious to the attention he gets, and thinks they’re joking every time they bring it up. lxc puts up a smile but jl’s caught him
crying to Jiujiu more than once, so. Varied responses across the board.
When the door opens jl looks over so quickly he gets whiplash. The manager is bowing as Madam Yu sweeps into the room. jl follows lwy to stand and round the table to greet her.
When the door opens jl looks over so quickly he gets whiplash. The manager is bowing as Madam Yu sweeps into the room. jl follows lwy to stand and round the table to greet her.
yzy’s hair is styled up and her makeup is impeccable. She has on a long cream coloured dress and is wearing her weight in huge glittering diamonds. Even jl is unused to seeing such decadence in the daytime.
She looks exactly like she does in photos, with smooth pale skin and a streak of white in her glossy black hair. So much like lwy, but with a ferocity in her eyes that he lacks.
“My son. And my grandson.” She holds her hands out with a smile.
“My son. And my grandson.” She holds her hands out with a smile.
Even in low heels she’s tall, just a couple inches shorter than lwy, and much taller than jl. It does not help with the intimidation factor.
“Mother.” lwy grasps them and leans in to kiss both cheeks with her. She pats him gently and then turns to jl.
“Mother.” lwy grasps them and leans in to kiss both cheeks with her. She pats him gently and then turns to jl.
jl startles into a deep bow when her gaze lands on him. “Madam Yu. Grandmother. Uh.”
“Jin Ling.” She holds her hands out to him as well, which he takes hesitantly. They’re soft and smooth, and she leans down so jl can kiss cheeks also.
“Jin Ling.” She holds her hands out to him as well, which he takes hesitantly. They’re soft and smooth, and she leans down so jl can kiss cheeks also.
She smells really nice, something light and floral.
When she straightens she sets a hand on top of jl’s head. “How old are you, jl?”
“13, Grandmother.”
“Of course.” She floats to her seat and jl scrambles back to his, directly across from her. “An old woman forgets so easily.”
When she straightens she sets a hand on top of jl’s head. “How old are you, jl?”
“13, Grandmother.”
“Of course.” She floats to her seat and jl scrambles back to his, directly across from her. “An old woman forgets so easily.”
“Fishing for compliments will get you nowhere, Mother.”
jl looks between yzy and lwy. They look so alike, and both look extraordinarily young for their age. It’s definitely hereditary. Unless…it really is bathing in the blood of innocents?
jl looks between yzy and lwy. They look so alike, and both look extraordinarily young for their age. It’s definitely hereditary. Unless…it really is bathing in the blood of innocents?
“Wrong crowd,” yzy murmurs. She looks over and a waiter hurries to her side. “Longjing tea for me. Boys?”
“I’ll go with a biluochun.”
jl straightens when yzy looks at him. “Uh. Jiujiu says I’m too young for caffeine.”
“I’ll go with a biluochun.”
jl straightens when yzy looks at him. “Uh. Jiujiu says I’m too young for caffeine.”
yzy smirks. “Of course he does. Well, Grandmother thinks 13 is old enough.”
“Mother.” lwy sighs. “No. Stop trying to undermine my authority.”
yzy winks at jl. “Yes, yes, you Lans and your rules.”
jl can feel his heart stop. Even yzy calls Jiujiu a Lan.
“Mother.” lwy sighs. “No. Stop trying to undermine my authority.”
yzy winks at jl. “Yes, yes, you Lans and your rules.”
jl can feel his heart stop. Even yzy calls Jiujiu a Lan.
He looks over to lwy. “Uh…”
“You may have sweets as a treat,” lwy says to him.
That certainly brightens jl. “Hot chocolate please,” he chirps happily.
“And whatever else you have for afternoon tea,” yzy says dismissively as the waiter bows. “Now.”
“You may have sweets as a treat,” lwy says to him.
That certainly brightens jl. “Hot chocolate please,” he chirps happily.
“And whatever else you have for afternoon tea,” yzy says dismissively as the waiter bows. “Now.”
She turns to jl with a gleam in her eyes. “Let Grandmother take a good look at you.”
jl sits very still, watching yzy’s small smile as she inspects his features. jl’s just started losing his baby fat, and he wonders what she sees.
jl sits very still, watching yzy’s small smile as she inspects his features. jl’s just started losing his baby fat, and he wonders what she sees.
“Hm. You’re looking more and more like your jiujiu.” Her smile widens. “Well, there’s that old saying that children often look like their mother’s brothers.”
“Jiujiu says I look like my dad.”
“jzx?” yzy’s lip curls. “It’s difficult to tell, with his nose always in the air.”
“Jiujiu says I look like my dad.”
“jzx?” yzy’s lip curls. “It’s difficult to tell, with his nose always in the air.”
lwy sighs again. “Please don’t insult my nephew’s father to his face.”
yzy blithely ignores him. “Jin Ling, I’ve been told you’re quite the archer.”
“I try my best.”
“Your best is starting to place internationally.”
jl nods bashfully.
yzy blithely ignores him. “Jin Ling, I’ve been told you’re quite the archer.”
“I try my best.”
“Your best is starting to place internationally.”
jl nods bashfully.
“Well done. I hope we can expect great things from you.”
“Yes, Grandmother.”
She changes the topic to school, asking about ljy as well. They chat easily as a huge array of food arrives with their drinks, and jl finds himself stuffing his face with absolutely no manners
“Yes, Grandmother.”
She changes the topic to school, asking about ljy as well. They chat easily as a huge array of food arrives with their drinks, and jl finds himself stuffing his face with absolutely no manners
while yzy sips her tea delicately and takes the occasional bite of food.
Jiujiu is saying something about ljy’s birthday party when jl makes the mistake of looking up from his plate just as he’s shoving an entire custard puff into his mouth, locking eyes with yzy.
Jiujiu is saying something about ljy’s birthday party when jl makes the mistake of looking up from his plate just as he’s shoving an entire custard puff into his mouth, locking eyes with yzy.
She has on a small, amused smile, and jl chews hastily with a hot blush on his face, hurriedly swallowing and wiping his mouth.
“Sorry.”
“Quite alright. This is family, no need to be so uptight.”
“Yes, Grandmother.”
“Sorry.”
“Quite alright. This is family, no need to be so uptight.”
“Yes, Grandmother.”
yzy passes him a basket of warm scones from the other side of the table. “Saw you eyeing them earlier.”
“Thank you, Grandmother,” jl says as he takes one.
“Hm.” She looks over him again. “No need to be so formal, A-Ling. Popo is fine.”
jl’s eyes widen. “Really?”
“Thank you, Grandmother,” jl says as he takes one.
“Hm.” She looks over him again. “No need to be so formal, A-Ling. Popo is fine.”
jl’s eyes widen. “Really?”
“If you can call that stuffy old coot your yeye then you can certainly call me your popo.”
lwy sighs. Again. “Mother.“
“I know, I know.”
lwy leans towards jl. “She’s mad because he won a ton of money off her last week at poker.”
lwy sighs. Again. “Mother.“
“I know, I know.”
lwy leans towards jl. “She’s mad because he won a ton of money off her last week at poker.”
jl’s eyes turn huge and round. “Poker?” he squeaks. “Yeye did?!”
“And mahjong before that,” yzy huffs. “He’s cheating. I just know it.”
“He’s just better than you at those sort of games. You always beat him at weiqi and you never see him complain.”
“And mahjong before that,” yzy huffs. “He’s cheating. I just know it.”
“He’s just better than you at those sort of games. You always beat him at weiqi and you never see him complain.”
“He doesn’t say it but you can see it on his stupid face.”
“Mother.”
yzy sighs. “A-Ling, your jiujiu might not let us meet anymore because I am a bad influence.”
jl’s heard about her from ljy, and to be honest he thought ljy was either exaggerating or that his experience would
“Mother.”
yzy sighs. “A-Ling, your jiujiu might not let us meet anymore because I am a bad influence.”
jl’s heard about her from ljy, and to be honest he thought ljy was either exaggerating or that his experience would
be different because ljy grew up with her.
“I’ll bring everyone along next time, and you can tell Baba to his face.”
yzy gives a light laugh. “A-Ling, did you know your yeye and I went to school together?”
“No?!” jl squeaks some more.
“I’ll bring everyone along next time, and you can tell Baba to his face.”
yzy gives a light laugh. “A-Ling, did you know your yeye and I went to school together?”
“No?!” jl squeaks some more.
“We did. At CR and then GA. But then I chose Yunmeng for uni.” yzy stops smiling for the first time, and jl can immediately understand why she is so feared. Then she smiles again and her entire face changes. Intimidating, but not frightening.
“Anyway. A-Ling, your jiujiu has been telling me about some of the extra lessons you take.”
jl nods. “Yes.“
yzy speaks to him in fluent French: “My dear, I hope you’re at least halfway competent in half of them, or you’re just wasting time at your age.”
jl nods. “Yes.“
yzy speaks to him in fluent French: “My dear, I hope you’re at least halfway competent in half of them, or you’re just wasting time at your age.”
So jl replies in the same: “I hope so, Grandmother. I try, but I think I might have to stop some to focus more on archery.”
“Good,” yzy says. “You’re much better than some people I know.” She raises an eyebrow at jl as if he should know who she’s talking about.
“Good,” yzy says. “You’re much better than some people I know.” She raises an eyebrow at jl as if he should know who she’s talking about.
lwy pinches the bridge of his nose. “Mother.”
“Did I say something?” yzy takes a delicate sip of tea. “A-Ling, what a lovely shirt you’re wearing. Did you go to the show in Paris?”
“Uh. No, I didn’t.” jl scratches the back of his ear.
“Did I say something?” yzy takes a delicate sip of tea. “A-Ling, what a lovely shirt you’re wearing. Did you go to the show in Paris?”
“Uh. No, I didn’t.” jl scratches the back of his ear.
“Mother, he’s 13. Of course he didn’t; he was at school.”
“It’s a valid question,” yzy says. “He could have flown there for it.”
lwy sighs. He’s been doing that a lot today.
yzy ignores him. “A-Ling, next time come to Popo’s house. Looks like you’re the only one with any
“It’s a valid question,” yzy says. “He could have flown there for it.”
lwy sighs. He’s been doing that a lot today.
yzy ignores him. “A-Ling, next time come to Popo’s house. Looks like you’re the only one with any
fashion sense in your family. I’ll have the latest brought in and we’ll have a nice fun shopping day. I’ll fly in my jeweller from Paris also. We can get you some lovely pieces to go with your outfits.”
“Mother. He’s 13,” lwy repeats.
“Mother. He’s 13,” lwy repeats.
“He wears a school uniform most of the time. He doesn’t need jewels.”
jl likes jewels though. He likes the ones yzy are wearing right now, and she must know, because she ignores lwy again and speaks to jl.
jl likes jewels though. He likes the ones yzy are wearing right now, and she must know, because she ignores lwy again and speaks to jl.
“Popo will get you something nice as a good luck charm for your next tournament. How’s that?” Her smile widens.
jl nods. “Thank you, Popo!”
lwy sighs. “Nothing too crazy, please.”
“It will be small and tasteful.” yzy winks at jl. “Something for everyday wear.”
jl nods. “Thank you, Popo!”
lwy sighs. “Nothing too crazy, please.”
“It will be small and tasteful.” yzy winks at jl. “Something for everyday wear.”
They chat some more about jl’s training for his next tournament until the afternoon sun begins to wane.
“My darlings, I’m afraid I have to leave you now. There’s a charity gala I’m hosting tonight. I’m not sure when I’ll be in town again, but we’ll keep in touch.
“My darlings, I’m afraid I have to leave you now. There’s a charity gala I’m hosting tonight. I’m not sure when I’ll be in town again, but we’ll keep in touch.
Next time we can have a larger gathering.” She stands, and jl and lwj follow.
“Goodbye, son.”
“Goodbye, Mother.” lwy kisses her cheeks.
yzy’s smile widens as she turns to jl. “A-Ling. How lovely it was to meet you today.”
“Goodbye, son.”
“Goodbye, Mother.” lwy kisses her cheeks.
yzy’s smile widens as she turns to jl. “A-Ling. How lovely it was to meet you today.”
“It was lovely meeting you too, Popo.” jl genuinely means it. He kisses her cheeks as well, and she gives a light tap to the tip of his nose when she straightens.
“Good luck with the tournament.”
“Thank you!”
“Good luck with the tournament.”
“Thank you!”
The staff all bow as she sweeps out the door, and when it closes behind her, lwy lets out a huge sigh.
“That wasn’t too much for you, I hope.”
“I like her,” jl says. “She’s weird.”
lwy laughs. “She is.”
“She wasn’t always like this, was she?”
“That wasn’t too much for you, I hope.”
“I like her,” jl says. “She’s weird.”
lwy laughs. “She is.”
“She wasn’t always like this, was she?”
If she were, maybe lwy wouldn’t be lwy.
“No,” lwj admits quietly. “She was very different. She’s happy now. She was never happy then. But that was a very, very long time ago.”
jl doesn’t answer.
“Well,” lwy claps his hands together. “Let’s head back then, shall we?”
“No,” lwj admits quietly. “She was very different. She’s happy now. She was never happy then. But that was a very, very long time ago.”
jl doesn’t answer.
“Well,” lwy claps his hands together. “Let’s head back then, shall we?”
jl nods eagerly. He wants to go home to gossip with ljy about their weird Popo.
A week later, a package arrives for jl at lwy’s house, delivered by private car and 2 bodyguards.
It’s a pair of diamond drop earrings for jl, each chain of diamonds with carats totalling more than
A week later, a package arrives for jl at lwy’s house, delivered by private car and 2 bodyguards.
It’s a pair of diamond drop earrings for jl, each chain of diamonds with carats totalling more than
jl’s age. ‘Best of luck’ is written on a card in beautiful calligraphy.
lwy sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, but jl falls in love with them and starts wearing them everyday, to school as well. ljy calls him ridiculous, but jl loves them and flaunts them instead.
lwy sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, but jl falls in love with them and starts wearing them everyday, to school as well. ljy calls him ridiculous, but jl loves them and flaunts them instead.
He can’t wear them during his actual competition but after he wins and is doing press afterwards he puts them back in. yzy watches from her family home in Meishan, smiling at this new addition to her life.
====
====
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