Thread by @swampw1tch_

Late birthday gift for both jiujiu and aling 💛🫶🏻💜
~~~

"jiujiu is sO0o good with fighting monsters"
JL proceed to imitated his Jiujiu fighting moves 'He-he keep aling safe" he started to count in his chubby hand,

"from monsters under bed
the one in the closet
the one hiding in the basement
from my cousins-"
*his lips start to wobble*
"from mama when she is not happy with a ling"
*his shiny eyes glisten with tears*

"and from popó and wàigōng when aling not good enough"
*fat tears started rolling on his cheeks"

The child protection agent hummed in acknowledgment...

~~~

How did this end up that way?

it started with a regular family dinner...

~~~

As always JFM sit at the head of the table, YZY at his left and WXX at his right, JYL sit beside him with another chair beside her for her husband JZX.

on the other side, JC used to sit beside his mother, but now a chair put between them, for the newest addition, Jin Ling.

~~~

JZX existence created two things in their house:

First, as the Jiang family prided themselves in their social image, they diverted from discussing personal matters, keeping it on shallow topics, and maintaining the perfect family image 'that only existed in their heads’

Second, due to the safe topic, the conversations rarely directed toward JC, and if it did his sister was fast to track it back to a safe topic again, which left him to take car of his nephew without anyone interrupting.

Since the death of JGS, JZX had to take more of his time to salvage the company his dad was ruining, so he could not always make it to the weekly visits.

and all did go downhill from there...

~~~

JL looked forward to their gathering, he got to sit and tell jiujiu all the amazing things he did in his week.

when they all gathered for dinner, JYL informed them that JZX will not be able to make it as his presence was needed in the company,

and JFM informed them in return that JC also will not be able to make it due to soma last papers need to be done.

JL sulked, but WXX swooped in and started to entertain him.

JL did not mind, so now he sit beside WXX while his mother sit with his popo, it was awkward and relatively quiet 'only because his popo is ignoring his waigong and WXX'

in an attempt to defuse the tension, WXX directed a loud question to him, in a second he was the center of the family attention, he did not like that...

"a-ling, I heard that you are participating in the swimming team at your school, tell me how are you doing in it?"

JL forgot his awkwardness for a minute, this is actually what he wanted to tell his jiujiu, "oh shushu, i ended up second in the last race" JL proclaimed proudly,

telling them in details how much he trained, the last time he was 5th, but he got a lot better

"ayaa JL, you still need to get better, this is not enough, you know when I was this young I always came first" WXX shuffled JL's hair with a light-hearted laughter..

that.. for a reason, hurt..

JL brushed it off and kept going about his new training now that the trainer decided to get him to a higher level for his improvement...

"Yanli, maybe you need to change the trainer if the training does not help that much with JL's progress" JFM looked genuinely worried...

"tsk, maybe your son needs a new hoppy if this one will only end as a waste of time" YZY advised...

with each word, JL felt closer to tears, they sounded like they cared.. but- but

"I do not want to leave the team, I enjoy it there"

it is the only place where he has friends that actually want to be his friends.

"hush now JL, you should listen to their advices, they want to see you do better" JL schooled him gently "say thank you now"

"t-thank you.." JL stared at his dish the rest of the evening

His jiujiu told him that he was doing great, was jiujiu lying?

~~~

the next week JC realized that JL was not his talkative self, even JZX was a little worried, it took them a while to coax him back, eventually, JL warmed up, but he was quieter about his day than usual.

JC thought that maybe one of the Bullies there annoyed his nephew, he will have to return to the school in that case, but he kept that thought for later.

since JZX started to take care of his family company, JC had to stay with him late to finalize and secure all the joint contracts with him

he will try to find more time for aLing.

~~~

since JZX started to take care of his family company, JC had to stay with him late to finalize and secure all the joint contracts with him

he will try to find more time for aLing.

~~~

JL started to dreed the days he would sit without his father and uncle, the focus always end on him.

and whatever he did, it was never good enough.

and if he complained or throw a tantrum because he is hurt.

His Mama get disappointed on him and call him ungrateful.

~~~

His sunshine mood got dampened.

he became quieter

his mood became nastier and harder to deal with.

which always earned him an earful.

And the last time he was grounded.

His Baba and jiujiu was not home to know about what is happening.

JL cried himself every day, he tried harder every day, he showed them his progress every gathering.

It was never enough.

~~~

JC pulled all nighter just to finish the last papers so he can finally start to join the dinners again.

JZX is still handling some issues with the contracts, so it will take him a while to join.

JC was a little nervous to be honest, JZX existence always defused the attention, so he dose not know how the next gathering will go, he just hope that he can shield JL from the burnt

~~~

"how did your day go?" WXX cheerfully voice came from the other side from the table.

JC stiffened in his place, he knows how this question always end.

"come on JL tell us, how your swimming training is doing ?"

JC took a minute to realize that the conversation is directed actually to his little nephew not him,

he turned his gaze to JL who was looking at him instead of answering his family, his eyes looked like he was pleading,

but JC was confused, so with a smile, JC encouraged him to answer.

~~~

What happened next made JC freeze..

The words may have less malice than the ones he is used to..

But.. Dose that makes it any better...

It just makes it harder to see, and for a kid, he will end up hating himself more than the source..

He knows that well enough..

But what was worse, is that his sister, berated aling when spoke up...

He knows she hates when they argue, but- but-

He felt like he was out of his body, now that aLing behavior makes so much sense, he didn’t know what to do..

He just blurted about his day and work, and that took his parent's attention from his nephew and returned to him, Which by default his sippling too...

~~~

Since then, JC made it a point to never leave JL alone with them, he will divert the conversation to himself..

The comments wash over him, now he only feels relief.

And sadness.

Sadness that JL has to go through this, to have this as his first memory of his family..

But he can take it..

For aLing he will take it..

~~~

It all comes to a halt one dinner..

It was the same as every week, JZX tried to join but he had again to do some late work, JC managed to direct the attention to him again..

And all it took was one comment..

“It's no surprise the a-Ling thinks being second is enough seeing he is spending more time with you than WXX”
His father said with that ever plastering smile..

It was meant as a comment for JC to aspire to be better

JC does not know what came over him..

For a first that smile grit on his every nerve...

He was called angry since he was a kid but he never showed anger at his family..

But at that moment, the second JL flinched and got smaller on his seat, Jiang Cheng saw red..

He stood so fast knocking a couple of glasses from the heavy table..

From everyone’s silence, you can tell how any reaction from JC aside from acceptance was unexpected..

And wasn’t that laughable, JC didn't even realize that he natured that kind of hate, he dragged his gaze over his family all gawking,

He met his sister's gaze, his voice barely composed
‘but that was only for JL who was now holding tightly to his trousers, trembling’

“I always understood that you want to keep the peace in this family, But keeping it by silencing the receiving end of such cruelty, that is not keeping the peace, that's you being delusional and wanting to keep an image that doesn't exist”

JYL gasped at that, WXX was outraged, he stood and slammed his hands on the table, causing JL to shrink and hide his face in JC’s trousers, but before WXX could speak a word, JC shut him-

“Do not even think about directing another word in JL’s direction WXX, I deal with your nonsense every day, but this is a red line, I will cut you in a heartbeat for this, if you know better just shut up”

WXX looked equally mad and confused “we are trying to help and advise him JC, why are you acting like we are some kind of monsters ganging on him”

JC's eyes gleamed dangerously, a first time seen and WXX was taken aback

JC seethed “you can live in your denial bubble, ignoring the fact that you would never accept treating another child like that, never wanting to face the issue, and acting like it doesn't exist anymore,

But I swear, another stupid word to JL, and you will have nowhere to run for from the consequences of that”

JFM of course wanted to jump immediately to defend WXX but YZY too started to scream at him because ‘WXX is not a family to interfere, and why he is not defending yanli instead’ not for the sake of her son and grandchild,

But when JL's name is brought up again in the fight, JC had enough “funny that the only thing you two ever agreed upon is hurting your blood, what face you are trying to save, everyone and their dog know exactly what happen here,

You two are the laughingstock from the big heads to the office workers”

“YOU DARE-”

“What is happening here..?”

JC had more to say, but the new voice cut through the chaos..

All eyes turned to the newcomer, and seeing from his dark face, he probably heard the last part where his parents were dragging JL into their fight..

JZX didn't fully understand what was going on, but he was under no false illusion about the family and its affairs, so it was never a good sign that they are bringing his child into their fight,

JL was on his chair, fully hugging his jiujiu leg and burying his face in it, crying as silently as he could..

JC's heart broke, he creased his hair and tried to move him to his arms, but JL didn't budge..

When JZX noticed his son distress he immediately rushed to his side, but when he tried to move him, JL screaamed

JZX turned confused eyes to his wife hoping for an explanation, she looked lost and on verge of tears, he wanted to go to her side too, but when she opened her mouth he was in shock,

Her voice shaking “Do not worry dear, it was only a misunderstanding, JC misunderstood our attempt to guide JL, you know JC and JL can be a little sensitive-...” the rest of her words didn’t go through his ears,

What she said was meant as humor, that they are both alike in everything, it was a light-hearted joke,

But dreed kept creeping into JZX's heart, because if they treat JL as close to anything as they do to JC
‘which he tried to deflect the conversation to himself a lot away from him’

He will lose it..

The noise was cut by JL’s scream “NOOOOO” he only then left his jiujiu’s leg to look at his father..

“Jiujiu was defending aling, Jiujiu let them say mean things about him so they do not say it to aLing” sniffling, JL was begging his father to believe his jiujiu was good, not the bad one...

“A-Ling, i am so disappointed, this is totally ungrateful-”
JFM did not get to finish the sentence..

JZX didn't know what came over him, the moment JFM’s words got out he was at the man's side grabbing him by the collar...

JC was speechless, he knew JZX as a brat at school and then a responsible businessman, and a kind husband and father..

He might get into a couple of fights with WXX, but he was never a violent one, especially after growing from that phase,

He was a family man, kind and indulgent..

Maybe that's why his anger looked forbidden..

JZX is taller than JFM, he grabbed the man closer “another work and I will not only make sure you never meet your grandkid, I will destroy you..”

He dropped him and cleaned his hand like they were dirtied
“We are going home”

Yanli stood away to follow, tragically beautiful..

But JL didn't leave his jiujiu side “jiujiu come..?”

JC felt like he will intrude if he does but he didn't get to choose

“Yes he will” JZX answered instead..

~~~

<i need to sleep, so I will complete this when I wake up>
💜✨💛

some kind of protectiveness sparked inside JZX, he is not leaving JC behind to deal with the after fall of this, and it appear that JL share the same thought.

maybe it was along their companionship, the man was a steady help amid the mess his father left,

Along the way, he comes to know the man behind the scowls, someone who loves both his wife and son as much as he does.

~~~

the ride back was tense to say non the least.

JZX looked composed and stayed silent, but JC knew better.

from the back seat, JC still held JL close, and with each sniffle or whimper, he can see JZX's hands tighten on the wheel, he can tell that JZX is trying to not snap,

on the other seat, Yanli kept quiet but her constant fidgeting was a giveaway of how nervous she is, her house was a peaceful heaven, this is probably the first time she witness her husband like that,

JC busied himself with aLing who still quietly sniffling and rubbing his cheeks on his sweater, JC creased his back and kissed his head, tightening his hold on him, it always broke his heart seeing JL crying.

~~~

entering the household , the first one JZX turned to was not JYL but JC..

"do you mind taking aLing to his room" his voice was tight but still soft to not scare JL, JZX looked exhausted.

"of course" JC simply stated and turned to JL's room.

Something ugly curled inside Yanli, she felt like her brother is stealing the peace she was trying hard to achieve.

JZX turned to her for the first time, but before he could speak she had to clear this, “ZX it was a misunderstanding, there was no need to what you did with father, he cares so much for aLing, he just wanted the best-”

“Is that what you believe yanli or what you want to” JZX looked somewhat resigned and there was petty in his voice

💘”What..!”

🧡”You sat there, not only letting them put everything our son did under the dirt, but even encouraged it, you didn't notand for JL, you didn't even let him stand for himself”

💘”I was just trying to make everyone happy ZX, can we not just have a peaceful dinner”

🧡 “by encouraging the bully and shutting the victim !.. And yet still they keep hurting your brother and son”

💘 “I-”

🧡 “no YL, you were trying to shut the easiest target, JL and JC will not fight you, they will just take it, they love you that much..”

JYL does not know why her brother became a part of this, and she hates it so much, she tried so hard to pacify her family, she tried to be the peacemaker..

JZX runs a hand over his face, he knows that the jiangs fucked their kids, yanli was put in pacifying role since she was a kid, but at one point that can be an excuse..

Not when it starts the circle of hate again and WITH HIS SON ON THE CENTER

He sighed deeply “I know you think you are doing the right thing, but it is hurting our son YL, and this can not pass, we will start therapy as a family, this was overdue” it was said as a final decision

YL looked uncomfortable but nodded “And for your parent's case, I am still at my word, another hateful word directed to aLing and I will destroy them,-

-if they wish to still be in their grandchild's life they will need to start therapy too, you can inform them of that or I can do it myself”

JZX did not leave any place for negotiation, this was final, he turned to aLing room to check on his son leaving Yanli in a dilemma...

How she will be able to break that to her family?

~~~

💛 “j-jiujiu..”

💜 “what is it aLing”

💛 “you still love aLong right- eve-even if aLing not good- right!”

💜 “...”

💛 “jiu-”

💜 “there is no world where i will not love you aLing”

💛 “re-really”

💜 “really..”

💛 “even if aLing not good..?”

💜 “aLing is more than good.., aLing is enough and everything more..”

💛 *fat tears start to roll over his cheeks*

💜 “did jiujiu ever lied to you before or broke a promise?” *wipe away JL tears when he also has tears on his own face*

💛 *shaking his head* “jiujiu never lies or breaks promises”

💜 “then listen..”

💛 *JL gave all his attention to his jiujiu like he always does clinging to his every word*

💜 “you don't love someone for what they are good at, love is- Love is- is like when you want to see them happy, never harmed, it is like- when you hate that they are not here so much even if they can be annoying or you had a fight-”

💛 “like when aLing visits jiujiu and leaves after?, aLing hates leaving jiujiu..”

💜 *chuckles* “yes aLing, just like that”

💛 *He snuggled closer to JC’s chest”

💜 “I loved you since the second I met you aLing, and I will always do...
I don't think I am capable of not loving you..”

💛 “I love jiujiu too, always love jiujiu..”

~~~

JZX opened JL's room door to see the pair soundly sleeping and holding each other tightly, he is really thankful that JC was there for JL, he closed the lights and the door softly”

~~~

<i will update tomorrow, happy to see all of you all with in this story> 🥹💜🫶🏻💛

breaking the news to the Jiang family went as well as anyone would expect really...

JFM shook his head like he was dealing with a childish tantrum that if he ignored long enough, they will exhaust themselves and drop it...

YZY was outright ferocious and would fully take that to court if JZX dared to go through with his promise...

WXX wanted to march immediately to JYL’s house and punch JZX, to even dare think it is her fault instead of being a spoiled kid he managed to soil...

Worst of all, that led JYL to believe that she was in the right, she was even warned to give in to her husband's demands, because she needs to be stern or the issue will not be fixed...

And that eventually created a daily argument in what was always a peaceful house, what was deemed as a perfect house is crumbling against the first wall...

JZX tried hard, so hard every day to solve this without screaming or getting harsh, but it became harder every day,

Because there is no middle ground here, and the pacifist rule stopped working long ago..

He knew it will be hard.

For them to accept his terms is for them to accept they were in the wrong...

And the Jiang family is a family that was built and lived in denial their whole life..

He even tried to shield the issue from his mother, because for all that she loves her best friend Madam Yu, and adores Yanli, she will destroy them in a heartbeat for JL...

With each hard day, with each fight, JZX’s heart breaks..

There are no outs, he will have to lose someone..

And it can’t be his son..

And it breaks him further that yanli can’t see that.

~~~

Since that disastrous family dinner, JC didn't leave JL and the Jin household, mostly for JL's sake, but he guesses that JZX may have used his son to make sure he stays,

JC won’t lie, he was truly thankful for that..

and then the fights started..

JC made sure that JL never hear or witness his parent's fights, but every time he see his brother-in-law with hollow eyes it hurts him,

The man for all his faults loved his family the most, always tried to be better, tried to be a better version of what his family had done to him...

All for yanli to refuse to do the same just once..

Each day the man looked more heartbroken than the day before..

~~~

Today is the day of the appointment with the therapist, JC was helping JL to dress as he himself finished..

He remembers when JZX informed him about his rule, JC had half the mind to refuse, opinion himself like that, and being vulnerable is not something he is used to doing...

But of course, all it needed was to remind him that it is not only for him but for aLing too, and JC reluctantly agreed..

‘AND THE ASSHOLE HAD THE GALL TO LOOK SMUG ABOUT IT’

But he will be with a separate doctor, he is still not ready to be exposed to anyone else..

JZX assured himself that at least JYL still did not cancel on their appointment...

‘How wrong was he’

JZX and JC with JL who want to hold both of their hands thinking it is a family out day.
All waited for Yanli at the front door..

Instead, there was a knock at the door, JZX opened it to find JFM, Madam Yu, and WXX on the other side...

JL immediately cowered behind his jiujiu, JC was frozen in place..

But JZX on the other hand looked composed, like he knows it will go to hell, and be his rigid stand he probably away by one push to snap...

“Hi dear- oh thanfully you all arrived on time.. ZX they wish to talk about your decision, so we do not do anything rushed..”
JYL said sweetly from behind..

JZX turned back to JC and JL's side..
Actually mostly in the front like he is shielding them..

That ugly feeling raised tenfold in her throat...

<tbc>

<the irony while I am writing this I am getting told ‘you are disgusting and everyone actually see you as that, no one even o. The street looks like you’ from family,

because I am hungry and dared to get something (totally healthy) to eat, but I should be starving because that stupid diet said I am only allowed one meal per day>

So yeah I need a moment

<hope I did not upset anyone by sharing, I am fed now and feeling better..
Let's burn some toxic families 😈>

Madam YU stepped in immediately, with a sharp glance toward the three “good thing we were fast enough to catch you before going and ruining both the family names”

JFM followed and approached as if he is dealing with some unruly kids “you should know better, what do you think the other companies' heads will say about us if they knew about this-

-I am truly disappointed Jiang Cheng, you should not put such ideas on ZX’s heads, you are hurting your sister..
This is so low from you”

JZX turned to WXX before he open his mouth “what, don't wish to add couple of words from your own”

The other bristled at that, but before he could say anything, JZX turned his back to the annoying family and his wife, turning to JC and aLing hugging his jiujiu’s leg in a full dismiss and disrespect gesture,

“Mind taking aLing to his room aCheng?”

“No..” Yanli looked irritated “aLing please return to your room, jiujiu needs to stay here so-”

“So you could convince him that he is at fault knowing that he will not refuse you?”

JZX's glare shut her up, but her irritation is turning hateful by the second.

JC flinched at her stare, he felt like a kid waiting to be told he is not enough...

It was a first someone stood for him...
And against his own wife nonetheless...

And JZX is totally right, the courage he has to stand for aLing is nothing he can summon for himself

But JC is afraid, everyday JZX looked sad after every failed try, today JZX does not look like he is trying anything anymore, and that is filling JC with dreed

JL was crying silently, and shaking hard, and that was the only thing that snapped JC back to carry JL to his room and leave his family behind,

JL kept muttering something, it took a while to untangle it from his whimpers..
“i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry ...”

Something in JC broke that day...

But also something snapped back on its place..

~~~

WXX made an attempt to follow JC, but was scruffed by JZX and pushed back beside JFM who was of course upset, that lead WXX to initiate a fight but one call from JZX brought out the bodyguards in,

“Whatever image you wish to keep, I assure you it will not stay intact when the paparazzi catch you escorted out like criminals” he spoke calmly,

And turned to his wife “you will need to choose now Yanli, us or them...”

“ZX- we are all a family, we need to sol-”

“If you don't, I’m afraid I will do it myself..” he can feel his heart break with each silent second...

It was YZY who stepped to him “I would like to see how your mother will react knowing how willing you are to throw the reputation she works for”

like he is a kid and not a full grown man towering over all of them, “I guess I will be the one to break the news to her...”

“And tell me What, aYuan..”

(tbc)

Slowly and elegantly, Madam Jin descend the stairs,

“That your family was harassing my grandchild..

Or how your mediocre husband was talking about being the best..

Or how the perfect family is ruined now because you want to save an image that doesn't exist in the first place?”

YZY's eye twitched at that “you realize it will be your image too destroyed..”

Madam Jin tsked “what image ZY, both our good-for-nothing husbands left us with no face, at least I am under no illusions that there is an image to save”

JZX sighed, he knows his mother figured it out for a while, probably she didn't want to interfere so it won’t escalate, but now..

Well, it is already came to the worst here..

Each of the two women is a force to be reckoned with, no one dared to interfere...

But JFM is not known for his smartness..
“My ladies, Plea-”

“Shut Up Fengmian”
The two ladies said in unison

Madam Jin glared down at the sad excuse of a man “at least I only endured my trash of a husband to get my son his birth rights”

And then returned her glare to her friend “seriously WTF aYuan, that man is destroying your son and grandchild, and the only thing you do is take whatever he couldn't destroy and do it yourself”

YZY face was getting red, from either shame or anger “you don’t know the whole story in the first place to judge”

Madam jin smirked dangerously “my son here is the one who came res about fair ZY, I don’t..
All I care about is the fact that the four of you are hurting my grandchild”

Madam Jin draw herself to her full height and glared down at them “my son was clear about the boundaries you need to respect, and that includes you Yanli, you need to choose..”

“B-but we can still solve this”
Yanli was stuttering trying to hold tears

JFM huffed “there is nothing to choose from, we will meet at court, JL is in damger to live in such family, call JC now we are leaving”

Madam jin eyes flashed in warning “dare take one step in their direction Fengmian...”

JFM huffed “you can keep him forever, we are leaving..”

WXX hugged yanli and comforted her while guiding her, following JFM out of the house...

YZY stared at their backs then back at her friend...

Madam Jin hates what has become of her friend, but this is a line she won't cross even for her,

“if a day comes and you started to use your head again aYuan, you are welcome back..

Just hope it will not be too late..”

YZY left in silence...

Only then Madam Jin turned to her son whose eyes were fixed to where his wife disappeared...

She went close and tog him to her embrace..

He went with no objection...

Only then he started crying silently...

She sighed heavily, she was under no false illusion this will be fixed but she still wished it would just for the sake of her son...

~~~

“Jiujiu love aling when aling was so small” the kid made a size demonstration with his hands “jiujiu said that” nodding to himself, because if jiujiu said it it must be true...

I asked him “even when aling cry so loud?

He said ‘yes aling’

Even if aling said to want to taste the red sauce and scream when jiujiu said bo and go behind him to taste it and cru because so hot?

Jiujiu said ‘yes aling’

I- I even asked even when aling is not good, and not the
best-est

And you know what he said haaa?”

“He said ‘yes aLing?’”

JL beamed like the sun “yes, he said he always love aLing, and I said- aLing too will love jiujiu always”

The child protection agent sight, she always dreed the meetings with kids, it is always heartbroken how much trust and loves those kids hold for the one who should have protected them,

And JL was not a far case from that, she started slowly with the routine questions, and JL answered dutifully, even if he was a little nervous and uncomfortable being alone with her,

Till the moment she asked about the kid’s jiujiu, he opened up immediately, talking nonstop about his jiujiu like he hang the stars and the moon...

And it wasn’t a hard decision really after hearing both parent's sides...

Even when the jiangs dared to pull every trick and bribery, they hardly got any sympathy...

The court judged for JZX's side, also allowing JYL to meet her kid but only if both sides started therapy, and a monthly report will be handed to the agent...

It was a scandal, especially for the jiangs, they did not take it well, JFM lost a lot of money on the lawyers...

WXX was jailed for trying to assault JZX in front of the court...

JYL was devastated...

YZY silently took what is hers and left..

She extended the invitation to her daughter, maybe they need to get away and actually start right, but her daughter is still living in her head with the victim mindset,

And maybe in a sense she is, but does it spare her from the responsibility as all of them..

Well, YZY has one merit really, which is that she doesn't run when she is faced head-on, and she is now faced with what she helped destroy for years...

~~~

(4 years later)

JC woke up slowly, warm and rested, he can hear a hushed argument just out of the door..

When he noticed the door getting opened he pretended to stay asleep, waiting for the daily wake-up alarm,

Which is the body that slammed on top of him “WAKE UP JIUJIU✨”

JL is not as small as he used to be, but JC loves it all the same.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIUJIU”

Only then JC did also take notice of JZX smiling bashfully from the door with a cake that JC can already guess half of its weight from the sugary cover cream and dazzling sprinkles,

He chuckled shaking his head, today is not his birthday, he talked about that before, with his therapist, and after with his family years ago, he is not comfortable celebrating his birthday,

When his worst memories happened that day, and JL was quick to want to share birthdays...

JC was scared to do what happened to him to aLing day, but soon enough he was enjoying the best birthday ever,

“Happy Birthday aLing”
And he is rewarded with the most beautiful loud laughter..

“BABA TRIED TO MAKE ALONG AND JIUJIU CAKE, IT IS UGLY” they both laughed hard at that

“HAY..” JZX pouted and reached both with the cake, it is ugly, surgery and half of it is frosting..

It was delicious

JC took some of the creams and put them on JZX's nose and that started a fight...

JL was squealing with a face full of cream

He took a dish with what crumbles were left and ran to his Nainai, both stared at his back laughing..

JZX turned to JC cleaning some of the cream from his cheek “aLing kept criticizing every stem of my backing, he is almost worse than you”

JC giggled at that, and was immediately silenced with a kiss..

That was another new addition..

The first time they realized their feelings, it was a daily argument, it was a fight with themselves more than the other,

After the first kiss, JC locked himself..

But they tried, they kept trying till they found where they fit,

Somedays it feels like stealing for JC..

Somedays it feels like cheating for JZX..

In those days, therapy may help untangle the ugly from the pure feeling..

Somedays they need someone to sit their asses straight and that is Madam Jin role..

Her support was a surprise, but a pleasant one, she is steady as his mother but more flexible to change than her..

He remembers his mother now, after two years of the divorce, Madam Jin informed him that she started therapy too for a while now (one year after the scandal),

he knew madam Jin kept in contact with her even when he didn't want to, but he didn't begrudge her, support is what kept him going...

It is only a year later that they started any form of communication, they are still taking it slow, but it is working...

His sister on the other hand took her longer, JZX didn't have the heart to stop her from seeing JL, but it had to be supervised mostly by his Mother, it was still hard for him,

It was mostly the influence of WXX and JFM that kept her from starting to heal, telling her that they can hire more lawyers,

only when she felt like she might lose whatever time she is spending with her son (JC knows it was Madam Jin doing),

Yanli started therapy too, when she didn't get the support needed, she fled to the Yus...

And if it was his old mother she may turned her at the doors, but as Madam Jin was the support she needed, YZY was the support JYL needed to start to heal..

“Where did you go..?”

“Just was thinking about the bast 4 years..”

JZX only acknowledged that with a humm, they know exactly what the other has been through..

“BABA, JIUJIU COME ON WE NEED TO BE THE FIRST IN LINE FOR THE GAMES”

That got them out of their memories laughing, they started to clean and change immediately..

JL was already dressed with the help of his Nainai, jumping and yelling for them to be faster...

~~~

They walk hand in hand while JL is walking in front of them, staring at everything with big eyes like his grandmothers don't take him here whenever he deemed he wants to,

🧡”The agency deemed yanli to be a suitable parent” JZX stated nonchalantly

JC only nodded at that

🧡”JL custody will be shared now between us”

JC stared at his ice cream cone that is melting now

🧡”we talked about this aCheng” with a tender smile he took their joined hands and kissed his hand

That was enough to fluster Jiang cheng “I know I know- but- sometimes I can't help it..”

🧡” I know- it is ok, I guess I will have to convince you tonight” ending it with a smirk

💜”shameless”

That gained him a hearty laugh from JZX ‘he indeed can’t wait for tonight, especially with the ring he picked waiting in their room

~~~

Yanli thought she had time..

She still has that thought that she can still fix this..

But it appears it was too late, realizing that now holding the invitation for her hus- ex-husband and brother..

She thinks that this maybe is her call to wake up, she was given the choice to skip..

But she won’t..

She will go and support them, it will keep the public from lashing at the pair..

It was the last thing she can do now..

(and maybe fate will get her another chance (NMJ 👀))

~~~

💛 “Happy Birthday jiujiu..”

💜 “Happy Birthday aLing..”

_

SINEBSUDJDJJKW THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SHORT THREAD

But all for Jin Ling and Jiang Cheng

#JiangCheng
#jinling