Thread by @felidae_somni

#mingcheng #wangxian #xuanli

Jiang Cheng pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed deeply. Wei Wuxian's wheedling voice was like silverware against ceramic. He desperately wanted chopsticks to stab his brother with.

"Come on, A-Cheng! Don't be like this. Give us a chance."

"A-Cheng, please, we just want an opportunity to apologize," Jiang Yanli murmured, eyes wide with unshed tears. "Can't you spare a minute to hear us out?"

"I don't know how many times I have to say this," Jiang Cheng said. "I am at work. This is my job. I don't have the time."

Wei Wuxian pulled his best pout but dropped it immediately, when he saw Jiang Cheng wasn't budging.

"A-Cheng -"

"Jiang Cheng to you, Wei Wuxian," Jiang Cheng retorted. He glared at them both. "You need to leave."

"A-Cheng," Jiang Yanli said, putting a hand on Wei Wuxian's arm.

"What do you mean this is your job? This is a hospital. You work with the Nies, right? Please, if there's something wrong you don't want to tell us about, we'll respect your privacy. But you don't need to lie." She gave him a look of gently wounded reproach. "Just talk to us."

Wei Wuxian, barely restrained by Jiang Yanli's hand, opened his mouth to say something else. He stopped, however, when the click-click of nails on tile and a soft 'woof' caught his attention.

He turned, paled, and screamed. The German Shepard walking beside Nie Mingjue stopped.

"He said he was busy," Nie Mingjue remarked, casually. With his hands in his pockets.

The German Shepherd wore a green vest with the Nie Kennels logo prominently placed over the words 'trainee support dog'. The dog had a sturdy collar with a pink heart shaped tag. But no leash.

Wei Wuxian hid behind Jiang Yanli and whimpered. Jiang Cheng sighed in frustration. He wondered if Lan Wangji, his brother's statuesque husband, was going to materialize out of thin air to save his precious Wei Ying. Jiang Cheng gave it even odds.

"We do outreach once a week."

He didn't know why he was bothering to explain. His siblings weren't actually going to listen to a word he said. But Jiang Cheng continued.

"Tulip is learning to be a support animal for kids with cancer. That's what we're doing here today. That's why I said you should leave."

"Oh A-Cheng," Jiang Yanli said, smiling at him even as she patted Wei Wuxian's trembling arms wrapped around her waist. She beamed at the tall Nie. "That's so good of you to help out Nie Mingjue."

Nie Mingjue gave her a blank face. "This was all Jiang Cheng's idea and effort."

When he saw her surprise, he hammered the fact home.

"I am helping Jiang Cheng. Not the other way around. Tulip is his trainee. I breed and train dogs to fight and defend. He trains them to help and provide support. Two different areas of focus."

Jiang Yanli appeared shocked.

"A-Cheng, is this true?" She looked at him as if seeing her baby brother for the first time. "You're a dog trainer now?"

"What the fuck," Jiang Cheng exclaimed. "You were at the gallery opening last year. Why did you think there were dogs in every painting? Huaisang's fetish?"

Nie Mingjue chuckled. "To be fair ..."

Jiang Cheng glared at him. "Shut it."

Tulip put her foot on Nie Mingjue's foot and looked up at him, giving a stern 'woof'. Which made him laugh again and scratch behind her ears. She decided to allowed this after a moment's consideration.

Wei Wuxian, though, whimpered and cringed, nearly tugging Jiang Yanli off her feet.

"For fuck's sake." Jiang Cheng pinched the bridge of his nose again. "We're going to be late. If I had wanted to talk to either of you, I would have called. I don't think I owe you anything."

"But if it will keep you from fucking up my job and traumatizing yourselves, I'll send you a time we can meet up and talk. But I don't promise to hang around if it's going to be more of the same. Do we have an agreement?"

"Of course, A-Cheng. Thank you so much," his sister said.

Then Wei Wuxian nearly picked her up and rushed off with her, without another word. Jiang Cheng watched them go.

"Never a dull moment?" Nie Mingjue smiled very gently at Jiang Cheng. "Are you okay?"

Jiang Cheng straightened his shoulders. "I'm always okay," he replied. "Right?"

Nie Mingjue reached out and tugged Jiang Cheng close enough to hug, planting a kiss on his forehead. "Right. But it's okay to not be okay, my heart. If you need me, I'm here."

"Well, right now there's a little boy that needs Tulip. We'll have to reschedule my mental breakdown."

Nie Mingjue laughed again, stealing a quick kiss. "All right then. I'll pencil you in. Jacuzzi tub and trashy movies after dinner tonight?"

"I'm in," Jiang Cheng agreed. "Tulip and I will take it from here. Thank you, my soul."

"Any time," Nie Mingjue made the words a promise.

Jiang Cheng nodded and snapped his fingers. Tulip fell in step beside him, off to their appointment. Nie Mingjue watched with a smile until the elevator doors closed behind them.

Then he pulled out his phone and left a message in the 'Three Nieskateers' group chat. Time to plan.

// Break time.

// It's the end of fucking November and I need to turn the AC on.

Wei Wuxian snuck a hand into the bowl of hawthorns Jiang Yanli was turning into tanghulu and popped one into his mouth. He ignored Jin Zixuan's mildly reproving look and leaned on Lan Zhan's shoulder.

"I don't even understand it," he complained, not for the first time. "A dog!"

He ignored the glance that Jin Zixuan sent Lan Zhan's way and stole another hawthorn, chomping glumly. Jiang Yanli slid the final candy-coated piece on the skewer Jin Zixuan held for her and turned to smacki his hand gently as he went for another hawthorn.

"A-Xian," she chided.

"There's supposed to be enough for all four of us. Be a good boy, now."

"Xianxian is three," Wei Wuxian protested, giving her his most pleading expression.

"Wei Ying can have my share," Lan Zhan announced calmly.

Jiang Yanli smiled at him. "You're very good to A-Xian, A-Zhan."

Wei Wuxian was instantly distracted by his precious Lan Zhan's reddening ears and forgot the hawthorns. Jin Zixuan took the opportunity to move the bowl, basking in his wife's adoring smile. Drunk on her approval, he kissed her cheek.

"Jiang Cheng is a professional dog breeder."

He announced. "I thought we all knew that? He left the fam - er, the company and switched professions. He's studying to be a veterinarian, right?"

"What?" Wei Wuxian's voice canted into a falsetto. "He what?"

Jin Zixuan frowned, glancing at Lan Wangji. The Lan shrugged, barely.

"A-Xuan," his wife said, placing a hawthorn on the new skeweer. "Do you mean to say that you knew about this?"

"Well, I mean. After the gallery opening there have been several news pieces. And Nie Mingjue is on my board of directors as a major shareholder. After A-Yao ran off.."

"Board of directors?" Wei Wuxian wailed. "Do you see Chengcheng all the time?"

Jin Zixuan blinked. "I, uh. No? Just Nie Mingjue. We chat." He turned to his wife. "A-Li, I tell you every time I talk to him, to let you know how Jiang Cheng is doing."

"Yes," she said reluctantly.

Then turned to Wei Wuxian. "I should have told you. But you were so upset about A-Cheng leaving. And honestly, I wasn't sure I believed it myself. After all, how could A-Cheng do something like this? Especially knowing about your cynophobia? I really thought A-Xuan was mistaken."

Jin Zixuan nearly dropped the tanghulu out of pure shock. "A-Li, what do you mean? Why would I be mistaken?"

"It's just, A-Cheng promised to always protect A-Xian from dogs," she said, twisting her fingers together like a child caught being naughty. Her eyes filled with tears.

"Why would he ever do something to betray A-Xian like this? Dogs, of all things? His puppies were lost so long ago. Why isn't he over that?"

"A-Jie," Wei Wuxian surged out of Lan Wangji's hug to wrap his arms around her. He glared at Jin Zixuan for making her cry. "It's okay."

Bewildered, Jin Zixuan watched them. "But he left the family. He said he was done. Why would he hold himself to that after he felt he'd been betrayed? A-Yao went Japan just because Lan Xichen referred to their bond as a 'side relationship'. Jiang Cheng has more cause than that."

"What the hell are you trying to say, you stupid peacock?" Wei Wuxian demanded. "Why are you bringing Xichen-ge into this?"

Jin Zixuan set the skewer down, backing away, hands raised. "I'm just saying. Jiang Cheng wasn't getting the support he needed. He had no one to turn to."

"Are you saying we were bad siblings to him?" Wei Wuxian demanded. "How dare you? Jiejie is perfect!"

"That isn't what I'm saying. I'm sure you didn't mean to let him down. But even your mother said as much, didn't she?" Jin Zixuan looked at his silently crying wife. "A-Li."

"You stupid peacock!" Wei Wuxian glared at him. "Why don't you just take a hike, huh? Haven't you done enough?"

"A-Xuan." Jiang Yanli wiped her cheeks. "A-Xuan didn't say anything wrong, A-Xian."

It was Wei Wuxian's turn to recoil in shock. Jiang Yanli hugged her husband.

"My life flashed before my eyes," he admitted, folding himself around her in a tight hug. "I didn't mean to upset you, love. But the truth is the truth, as Mama says."

Jiang Yanli made a little choked laughing sound. "Mama Jin is never wrong."

"Just her taste in men," he said.

That made Jiang Yanli giggle. "Her one flaw," she agreed.

"Brilliant women have horrible taste in men," Wei Wuxian announced in a sulk. "Look at you, Jiejie."

She turned, leaning back against Jin Zixuan's chest. He breathed in the scent of her hair, murmuring prayers of thanks.

"We are never going to have any kind of relationship with A-Cheng if we don't admit where we went wrong, A-Xian," she said firmly. "I should have believed A-Xuan. We shouldn't have bothered him at the hospital."

"We saw him by chance. We had to say something," Wei Wuxian argued.

"It was the first time we'd had any contact in nearly a year! Jiejie, you can' be serious!"

"A-Xian," she chided gently. "We should have listened to him. That would have been the respectful thing to do. If we can't treat him with respect then we can't call him our brother."

"Well yeah, but what does that mean? We've always respected him!" Wei Wuxian crossed his arms and glared at the peacock because he couldn't glare at his jiejie. "He's A-Cheng! Why do things have to change now?"

"Because they've been wrong for a long time," she replied sadly.

"Come on, A-Xian. How Dad is? How mad Mom used to get? We assumed Lan Xichen was in the right, last year. That wasn't the first time."

She sat down, tugging A-Xuan to sit beside her. The kitchen smelled like candy syrup and hawthorns. Almost everyone she loved was here.

Still.

"Why couldn't he just talk to us? He didn't have to be so dramatic," Wei Wuxian sulked. "If he'd have explained instead of getting all angry, it wouldn't have bene so bad."

"I think he tried," Jiang Yanli replied gently. "I think he was trying for a long time. So now we try."

"Just going to butt in and point out that we would have gone bankrupt when A-Yao cleaned out the company's payroll before running off if Nie Mingjue hadn't talked to the other shareholders," Jin Zixuan chimed in. "He told me later that he only bothered because Jiang Cheng asked."

"You're beyond rich," Wei Wuxian snapped. "The company was never in danger."

"I can't buy back everyone's stocks at once. If they all sell at once, the price crashes. The company loses billions. Bad publicity? Loss of faith in the Jin brand? Not even I have that much money."

"I had no idea," Jiang Yanli whispered, taking his hand. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged. "You already had a full plate. I didn't want you to worry. The house is paid off, don't worry. I would have found a job sooner or later."

"Jiang Cheng did that?" Wei Wuxian asked.

Jin Zixuan nodded. "I'm a terrible liar."

Wei Wuxian's face screwed up into a grimace. "That's true. You shouldn't even try."

"I don't."

"Jiang Cheng talks to Shufu," Lan Wangji announced into the quiet. "I do not know when or why. But Shufu has said as much."

"Lan Zhan!"

Wei Wuxian plastered himself against his husband's side. "Why didn't you say?"

Lan Wangji looked at him, perplexed. "Jiang Cheng is rude and cruel."

"What?"

"A-Zhan, why would you say that?" Jiang Yanli asked. "Did he do something to you?"

"Rude to Wei Ying. Shoves Wei Ying."

Jin Zixuan frowned. "Isn't Wei Wuxian usually doing the pushing first? Or goading Jiang Cheng into pushing first? I mean, isn't that their whole dynamic? Jiang Cheng never starts anything first. Not that I've seen."

"What?" Wei Wuxian glared indignantly.

"A-Xian."

"Fine!"

Wei Wuxian threw his hands up. "Fine. You're right, Peacock. I goad Jiang Cheng a lot! He gets so angry! Who could resist poking at such a grumpy gremlin?"

"Almost everyone," Jin Zixuan muttered.

"Maybe we should ask Lan Shufu for help." Jiang Yanli mused. "He likes A-Cheng."

"But he hates me," Wei Wuxian pouted. "I don't know why."

"Does not," Lan Wangji refuted, tugging Wei Wuxian closer. "Does not understand Wei Ying."

"That's two of us," Jin Zixuan muttered.

Jiang Yanli smiled up at him. "A-Xian is just energetic."

"As my beautiful wife says."

"That sound suspiciously like you don't agree, Peacock." Wei Wuxian squinted at him.

Jin Zixuan smiled blandly, saying nothing.

"A-Zhan, would you ask Lan Shufu to call me at his convenience? He may have advice on how to approach A-Cheng. He invited us to that gallery event."

Lan Wangji hesitated but only for an instant. "Mn. Will ask."

"Excellent," Jiang Yanli smiled. "We have the start of a plan. Now we can finish our treat. A-Xian, we must both be better to A-Cheng if we want him back. We can't be the same as before. He's grown up."

"Yes A-Jie."

// Stopping here. It's my bed time. Hope you enjoyed the sheer obliviousness. *evil cackles*

Lan Qiren wondered how he'd gotten himself into the current predicament. Somehow, both sides of this debacle had come to him for help. So now, here was. Seated in the private dining room of an expensive restaurant, sipping seltzer water and waiting for his day to be ruined.

He had earned the right to sit at the head of the table, at least. To his right, Jiang Cheng, Nie Mingjue, Nie Huaisang, and Nie Zonghui sat in a tidy row. They were dressed in matching hand-tailored suits of a green so dark it was nearly black. Shirts and ties differed, though.

Nie Huaisang wore a silk blouse beneath his suit jacket, seemingly printed all over with a reproduction of Ren Yu's folding fan art from the Qing dynasty. The youngest Nie had skipped a tie altogether. Nie Zonghui wore a modern white dress shirt and a tie of matching dark green.

The disparity between them was not lost on Lan Qiren, though he could only guess as to their motives. Jiang Cheng and Nie Mingjue wore matching ties of silver, purple, and pine green in a subtle brocade of phoenixes and dragons. Their dress shirts were dark violet, almost black.

Lan Qiren had no doubt there was a message to Jiang Cheng's family in how he and the Nies had dressed. He could parse some of it. Dragons and phoenixes certainly sent a message. But as his headache loomed closer, he could only wonder how the Jiangs would perceive things.

The four chatted among themselves, including Lan Qiren in their conversation to ask for advice or an opinion. If not for the impending chaos, it would have been a delightful time. The Nies were intelligent and considerate young men. Jiang Cheng had long been his favorite student.

Discussing the merits of various product concepts in relation to the modern market was stimulating, especially young Nie Huaisang's art, as the young man was so keen on paying homage to famous Chinese artists of history's long past.

Clearly the feckless young man had grown up.

"We want to do more than just reproduce modern knock-offs of painted fans," Nie Huaisang explained, animation in his quick, fluttering hands and bright eyes. "We want to bring fan painting back as a prominent hobby. So we're funding classes at libraries and community centers."

"Not schools?" Lan Qiren raised an eyebrow. "Would that not be a more suitable avenue?"

Nie Huaisang blanched. "With respect, Lan Shufu, we want this to be accessible to everyone."

"We want this project associated with fun and exploration," Jiang Cheng agreed. "For all ages."

"Think about it, Lan Shufu," Nie Mingjue chimed in. "When's the last time you sat down to do something artistic? I remember you always enjoyed calligraphy. Wouldn't fan painting be a nice way to unwind after a long day of quarterly reports and reviewing meeting notes?"

"I see."

It was true, he realized. Lan Qiren hadn't so much as looked at his calligraphy in months. Not since Xichen's unfortunate blunder.

"We want everyone to try. Kids learning about this art form early is great. But everyone could benefit with a bit of art and joy in their lives."

Nie Zonghui smiled at Lan Qiren from his place at towards the end of the table. "So this is the route we picked. Huaisang is working on a coloring book. The website for his art has free pages to download, A-Cheng wrote the history and statement content, explaining the project. So

with Huaisang's coloring book and the workshops, we've got real momentum. And of course, we're providing supplies for the workshops. Everyone can take their fan home at the end of the session."

"Interesting," Lan Qiren stroked his beard. There were real possibilities here.

"Nie Huaisang, Nie Zonghui, I would be open to such a workshop being presented at Gusu University and Lan Preparatory Academy, if you are amenable."

Nie Huaisang's eyes widened. "Shufu! I swear we weren't trying to sell you on our little project! You don't have to go that far!"

Lan Qiren waved his hand. "Of course you weren't. But I see the merits of your endeavor and would like to participate. Once this, ah, this matter has been laid to rest, we'll discuss details."

Nie Huaisang was still sputtering when a knock announced the rest of their party.

The pretty hostess slid the door open and bowed as Jiang Yanli, Wei Wuxian, Jin Zixuan, and Lan Wangji filed in. They sat across from the Nies and Jiang Cheng as a tense silence fell over the table.

"We well take the tea and appetizers now, please," Lan Qiren told the hostess.

She bowed again and fled gracefully, obviously picking up on the strained atmosphere.

"Thank you for ordering for us," Jiang Yanli said graciously, giving Lan Qiren a polite smile. "Are we late?"

"Not at all," Lan Qiren replied. "I dine here often. I arranged things prior."

"You chose this place?" Wei Wuxian looked around the tastefully appointed private dining room, with calligraphy on the walls and understated lighting. "This kinda looks like some stuffy boardroom, so that tracks."

"A-Xian," Jiang Yanli chided.

"I didn't mean that as an insult!"

Wei Wuxian waved his hands back and forth, as if to wipe his earlier words away. "I just meant I could see how it suits your tastes."

"Indeed," Lan Qiren sipped his seltzer water, grateful he'd taken medicine for indigestion before leaving his home.

"Shufu," Lan Wangji said.

"Thank you for helping Wei Ying and Yanli-jie." He bowed in his seat. "Wangji is grateful."

"Of course, my boy," Lan Qiren replied.

Servers came, then, with several pots of tea and glasses of water. Plates of food from spicy bits of squid to plain steamed veggies were laid out.

Lan Qiren took a moment to be pleased with Wangji's manners as everyone served themselves. Wangji and Jiang Cheng both put tidbits in his bowl, which seemed to surprise Wangji. Jiang Cheng was oblivious to his glare. He was making sure each Nie had the morsels they liked best.

Wangji set aside his obvious confusion swapped tidbits with Wei Wuxian. But his shoulders remained tense. Lan Qiren could only sigh.

They ate and drank in silence for several minutes, giving Lan Qiren time to study the Jin-Jiang-Wei side of the table. Jin Xizuan was lowest.

Sitting across from Nie Zonghui and exchanging choice bits with Jiang Yanli, who sat across from Nie Huaisang. Wei Wuxian sat across from Nie Mingjue. Lan Wangji sat at Lan Qiren's left hand, across from Jiang Cheng. It was an odd line-up; clearly mismatched to Lan Qiren's eye.

Jin Zixuan wore one of his gaudy cloth-of-gold suits with lilac shirt, tie, and a real amethyst tie tack. Jiang Yanli didn't wear any jewelry but her designer lilac dress matched exactly with her husband's shirt and tie. Wei Wuxian wore scruffy black jeans, a t-shirt.

He'd clearly borrowed the too big charcoal grey blazer from Wangji. Wangji, of course, wore a white suit and white leather shoes. Pastel blue shirt and a tie subtly printed with the Lan family crest.

Were this a war, the Nies had come armed and armored. Their opposition had not.

Still, it was not his place to judge, Lan Qiren reminded himself. He was here to mediate. Not assess and grade these young people on their performance.

When bellies were full enough to stave off hunger-based emotion and the calming tea had soothed jangled nerves, Lan Qiren set

his chopsticks down across the top of his bowl and cleared his throat. Eight sets of chopsticks were lowered, nearly in unison.

"If we are prepared to start?"

A server, who had been waiting, deftly cleared the table. There would be no more until Lan Qiren summoned him again.

"Now. The issue is simple. Young Jiang Cheng feels he has made his position clear and wants nothing to do with his family of birth. That family disagrees, wanting a chance to mend the broken bridge. Does that sum things up?"

Lan Qiren expected immediate disagreement. He got it.

"We want Jiang Cheng to stop being so stubborn!" Wei Wuxian burst out, heedless of Jiang Yanli's nod of agreement to Lan Qiren's summary. "This has gone on long enough! Come on, didi, how could you do this to use, huh? Haven't you missed us at all this last year? Even a bit?"

Jiang Cheng did not match Wei Wuxian's tirade. He watched impassively, though Lan Qiren could see that he held hands with Nie Mingjue under the table. Lan Qiren pretended not to notice.

"No, actually," Jiang Cheng said. "It's been a very peaceful and constructive year for me."

"Oh come on!" Wei Wuxian threw his hands up in the air and then crossed his arms over his chest. "You expect us to believe that?"

"Are you going to call me a liar?" Jiang Cheng asked calmly. "I was able to do work I love. I was not subjected to any verbal abuse."

He paused.

"I actually got to celebrate -my- birthday. I got presents meant for -me-. Not more gifts for you or for the 'family'. I got things -I- like. I got to do what -I- wanted to do that day. I got -my- favorite foods at mid-Autumn and New Year's. I got help for -my- projects at home."

Stunned silence on Wei Wuxian's side of the table. Lan Qiren let it linger a minute before he cleared his throat.

"Jiang Cheng, you mean to say these things were not common in your father's household?"

"We did a combined birthday," Jiang Cheng said. "On Wei Wuxian's birthday."

Jiang Cheng nodded. "He always got dozens of gifts and the pick of party and cake. The dinner, any activities. My birthday was just another day. Any gifts for me were things like new good china to use with guests, a new entertainment system for the household."

"That's not true!"

Wei Wuxian was staring in open shock, mouth hanging slack and eyes wide. "That isn't true at all!"

"Name the last thing I got for just me," Jiang Cheng countered, unruffled as he sipped his tea. "When did I get to pick the dinner? When did I even get a cake I like, on my day?"

"You got a car for your sixteenth!" Wei Wuxian protested.

"It was in your name. You had the keys. You picked the make and model."

"What about the game console that you got your eighteenth?"

"The year Dad paid your entire tuition for college and bought your apartment in Gusu?"

Jiang Cheng smiled bitterly. "You took that game console with you. And sold it for alcohol."

Wei Wuxian sat back, brow furrowed in frustration. Jiang Yanli leaned forward.

"Why didn't you say something if it bothered you so much, A-Cheng?" She gazed at him with sorrowful eyes.

"If we had known you felt this way, we would have celebrated you properly."

That made Jiang Cheng scoff outright. Lan Qiren noticed he was clutching Nie Mingjue's hand beneath the table, for all the boy was worth. Lan Qiren could almost hear the grinding of Jiang Cheng's teeth.

"Don't be so selfish, A-Cheng. Poor A-Xian has been through so much! Orphaned and abandoned. How could you be greedy and want more than what you got already?" Jiang Cheng quoted sarcastically. "Why are you so angry over cake? A-Xian picked that flavor for both of you. Be nicer!"

"Be grateful, A-Cheng! It's a blessing to share everything with such a good big brother. Be quiet, A-Cheng, it's rude to try and overshadow A-Xian's special moments with something silly. Be happy, A-Cheng. Why can't you be obedient like A-Li? Why can't you smile like A-Xian?"

"It's your own fault for being disagreeable, just like your mother. It's your own fault for being unhappy, A-Cheng. Try to look at the positive side of things. Oh I forgot! 'll make your favorites next time." The sing-song recitation went on.

It was easy enough to follow, sadly.

Lan Qiren's own heart hurt for everything that Jiang Cheng's words revealed. He'd known, in an abstract way, that Jiang Cheng had a reputation for being taciturn and abrupt. Hearing everything, Lan Qiren had to wonder how Jiang Cheng had turned out as good-hearted as he had.

"Oh come on. You're just going to blame everything on a lousy childhood?" Wei Wuxian scoffed, though he was clearly rattled. "You still have both your parents! You grew up with all the money and stuff you could ever want! Come on, A-Cheng. This petty stuff isn't why you left us."

"It would have been enough for me," Nie Huaisang interrupted, glaring at Wei Wuxian. "How could you call yourself a gege, Wei-xiong? Didn't you see your didi was hurting? All you did was torment him more."

"This has nothing to do with you," Wei Wuxian retorted, glaring. "So-"

"Enough," Lan Qiren interrupted. "Both you and Jiang Yanli have voiced your thoughts. Anyone at this table is free to speak. That was the agreement, was it not? I did not agree to moderate this discussion to watch four of you gang up against Jiang Cheng. That is clearly unfair."

"Nie Huaisang isn't even family!" Wei Wuxian protested. "We are all family." He pointed from Jin Zixuan to Lan Wangji, then stabbed a finger in Jiang Cheng's direction. "Only family should have a voice here."

"Zonghui and Huaisang are family," Jiang Cheng shot back. "My family!"

Wei Wuxian scoffed. "The Peacock is married to A-Jie. Lan Zhan and I are married. That is family."

"Oh so we're playing by your rules and only your rules again, Wei Wuxian? If it doesn't revolve around you, it doesn't matter?" Jiang Cheng smiled bitterly. "Well I have news."

// Pizza break. Hahahahaaha!!

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath, then met his siblings' eyes squarely. "Mingjue-ge and I are married. That means Huaisang and Zonghui-ge are my brothers."

As if to prove a point, Nie Mingjue laid a soft kiss on Jiang Cheng's forehead. And Jiang Cheng didn't clobber him or scold.

Nie Zonghui and Nie Huaisang laid their right hands on the table, Nie Mingjue and Jiang Cheng following suit a moment later. All four wore matching bracelets. Four flat beads of tungsten steel on a tungsten band. Each bead had a different symbol. One for each, Lan Qiren supposed

"It's legal and binding," Jiang Cheng said, taking Nie Mingjue's hand in his. "I am now Nie by marriage. Zonghui-ge was already legally Mingjue-ge and Huaisang's brother. It was nothing to put everything on paper. Legally, this is my family and they have rights. Not any of you."

"Congratulations," Lan Qiren offered, into the brittle silence. "I hope you'll have a long and happy marriage."

"Thank you, Lan Shufu," Jiang Cheng replied, giving him a radiant smile. "I'm happy."

"Don't worry, Wei-xiong," Nie Huaisang said. "Da-ge got a proper shovel talk."

Wei Wuxian startled, tearing his gaze away from Jiang Cheng's wrist. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? Huaisang?"

The young Nie's eyes went wide. "You don't know?" He glanced at Lan Wangji, who squirmed. "How interesting."

"Know what?" Wei Wuxian glanced at Lan Wangji.

"Lan Zhan? Should I know something?"

Lan Qiren felt the headache blooming into life behind his eye and took a calming sip of tea. Jiang Cheng had, remorsefully, warned him he might learn things about his nephew he didn't like. The youngest Jiang had apologized profusely.

Wangji gave Lan Qiren a quick, guilty glance and hunched his shoulders. Only for a moment. Before Lan Qiren could scold him, he sat up straight and met Wei Wuxian's eyes. "Wangji did not understand at first. Wangji made a mistake."

"Mistake?" Wei Wuxian blinked in confusion.

"It's okay, A-Zhan. You can tell us," Jiang Yanli smiled gently.

Lan Wangji wilted, just a little bit. "Jiang Cheng gave a shovel talk when Wei Ying agreed to date."

Nie Huaisang had clearly gotten tired of waiting. He jumped in. "Wangji-xiong punched him in the face for it."

"All Jiang Cheng did was tell Wangji-xiong to treat you right, Wei Wuxian. Jiang Cheng warned him about the spicy food and your dog phobia. Wangji-xiong punched him. Several times. And he never apologized, even when I explained what he'd done."

"A-Cheng, why didn't you tell us?"

It was Jiang Cheng's turn to scoff. "You both decided I'd gotten into a fight by being angry and mean. Lan Wangji never spoke up. I knew you wouldn't listen to me. Just like you wouldn't listen about Xichen. Too bad the lesson didn't stick back then. I should have remembered."

"Lan Zhan, it was just a mistake, right?" Wei Wuxian took Lan Wangji's hands in both of his. "You wouldn't have hit him if you'd realized, right?"

Lan Wangji nodded quickly. "Would not. Not then."

"Didn't stop him from really enjoying himself, at the time," Nie Huaisang stated.

"And the truth didn't make him apologize or make amends either. So much for upholding the traditions and rules of the Lan," he sneered.

Then gave Lan Qiren a guilty look. "Sorry, Lan Shufu."

Lan Qiren massaged his temples. "No apologies needed. We may as well lay this to rest."

He gave Lan Wangji a sharp glance. "Did you atone at all for your mistake?"

Lan Wangji froze, brow furrowed. Then bowed his head. "Wrote rules only ten times."

"Yet you didn't apologize to Jiang Cheng in person? Or take any action to make things right?" Lan Qiren asked. "Fine."

"It isn't Lan Zhan's fault, Shufu," Wei Wuxian protested. "He didn't know!"

"He was then corrected, was he not?" Lan Qiren asked wearily. "Do you not believe that Jiang Cheng is owed common courtesy?"

"No! Yes! That isn't it! I just don't want you to be mad at Lan Zhan."

"This Wangji will make amends," Lan Wangji announced, bowing to Jiang Cheng from his seat.

Nie Huaisang huffed. "You two began dating when you were fifteen! You're both in your thirties. Half a lifetime of this behavior. Just since Wangji-xiong asked Wei Ying out. Poor A-Cheng."

Lan Qiren winced, feeling that in his bones. He added it to the ache of Xichen's fall from grace and his own guilt at being a failure of a parent.

"Is that why you chose DOGS of all things?" Wei Wuxian asked, nearly accused, Jiang Cheng. "Because Lan Zhan was mean to you once?"

Nie Zonghui jumped in before Lan Qiren could.

"That is an unfair thing to say. Deliberately hurtful. It deflects from the point. Statements like that do nothing reach for an understanding. Why would you say something like that?" He regarded Wei Wuxian calmly. "Why are you mad?"

"Why would you assume Wangji-xiong was only mean to A-Cheng once?" Nie Huaisang added. "As if it hasn't been a constant thing since middle school."

"A-Cheng," Jiang Yanli looked ready to cry. "Is that true?"

Jiang Cheng just stared at her. "Are you seriously asking me that?"

"I'm mad because Jiang Cheng chose DOGS over me!" Wei Wuxian shouted, slapping the table. He, too, looked near tears. "He threw away our brotherhood for a bunch of filthy mutts! He'd rather play house than come home with A-Jie and I. Mom and Dad haven't been home in months!"

"Wrong," Nie Mingjue said, his deep voice bored. He sat relaxed and at ease. "You feel guilty for treating A-Cheng so bad all this time. For not noticing. You feel like absolute trash about it. But he's let you off the hook all this time. He's taken your abuse all this time."

He rolled his shoulders, rotating his neck to pop something with an audible snap. "You feel bad but you can't admit it. You think if you just keep pushing a little more, being a jerk for a little longer, that A-Cheng will give in and take the blame for something he didn't do."

"You think he'll do what he always did. Let you get away with whatever you want and let himself be worked to death to keep you and Yanli happy. Just like he's always done. You'll say anything to keep from admitting how wrong you are. Tell me, Wei Wuxian. When will you grow up?"

"At this point, I think we need to pause," Lan Qiren interjected. "Bathroom break. Walk around. There is a small courtyard attached to this room," he motioned to two screen panels on the wall. "Take time to breathe. We resume in ten minutes."

Jiang Yanli fled table instantly.

// Y'all have some strong feel, huh? :P

Jiang Yanli pressed a cold paper towel to the back of her neck and stared at her reflection. She'd prided herself on being an excellent jiejie. It was hard to remember when she'd gotten off track but she couldn't lie to her own reflection. She'd known it was all a lie for awhile.

Which meant she had no right to try and make A-Cheng come home. Not when he finally felt free. She'd seen the pride and happiness on his face when they'd all shown off those bracelets.

He wasn't her didi anymore. He didn't *want* to be her didi anymore. She had to respect that.

But it hurt much more than she'd anticipated. Especially now. She pressed one hand to her abdomen, wondering how the small life growing there would feel. Could she be a better mother than she had been a sister?

A knock had her dropping her hand and whirling away from the mirror.

"A-Li? Are you okay? Do you need anything?" Jin Zixuan called through the door. "What can I do to help, love?"

Relief rolled through her. She exited the bathroom and hugged her husband. His arms went around her without hesitation. His spicy cologne was a balm.

"I'm so sorry."

"For what, A-Li?"

"For all this mess. It really is my fault we've come to this," she confessed, hot tears squeezing from her eyes, one at a time.

He rubbed her back, swaying a bit as he held her. "Your parents started this mess. Don't take all the blame. You were just kids."

She pressed her cheek to his chest, listening to his sturdy heartbeat. "Do you think I can do better in the future?"

She felt the gentle kiss on her hair. "Of course," the love of her life assured her. "It's never too late to apologize and do better. Didn't you teach me that?"

That made her giggle just a bit. He'd been such an awkward teenager, she thought fondly. Adulthood suited him. The way it suited A-Cheng. They were two men born to wealth who had only thrived when they'd broken free of toxic family dynamics and forged new families for themselves.

Maybe that was why A-Xuan understood A-Cheng so well now, she mused. They were so similar.

"Ready to go back?" He asked gently.

"I am," she decided. "If I want a better relationship with A-Cheng, it's time to make that effort."

"You can do this. I believe in you always, A-Li."

----

Wei Wuxian paced the courtyard angrily, stomping the little flagstone path around the tiny fountain. Its happy little burble only irritated him more. Lan Zhan sat on one of the small stone benches scattered about. He sat so tense and a tight, Wei Wuxian expected him to pop.

"It isn't your fault, Lan Zhan," he promised, when his path brought him back beside the seated man. "A-Cheng is just being bitchy."

"Wangji erred," Lan Zhan refuted quietly. "Amends should be made."

Wei Wuxian stomped another circuit around the fountain, grinding his teeth.

"Wei Ying fears Nie Mingjue is right," Lan Zhan said, the next time Wei Wuxian came even with the bench. Then swallowed. "Wei Ying should apologize to Jiang Cheng. Wei Ying wants Jiang Cheng back. Apologize. Make amends."

"Lan Zhan!" Wei Wuxian was stunned. "This is my fault?"

"Not only. Some. Wangji some. Yanli-jie some. Jiang Cheng some. Uncle Jiang most," Lan Wangji decided.

Wei Wuxian flopped onto the bench. "Yeah. That sounds right."

Lan Wangji hugged Wei Wuxian.

"Uncle Jiang took me in," Wei Wuxian said. "He gave me a home. Is this unfilial?"

"Was Jiang Cheng hurt?"

Wei Wuxian nodded miserably. "I didn't even notice."

"Does Wei Ying want to apologize?"

"Yes! But what about ..."

Lan Zhan squeezed him tight. "Apologize for Wei Ying. Not for Jiang Shufu. Not your place."

"Do you really think it's that easy?"

"Mn."

"Okay." Wei Wuxian looked up. "A-Cheng isn't going to give up the dogs, is he?"

His Lan Zhan considered this, then shook his head. "Gave them up once for Wei Ying. Unfair to do so twice."

Wei Wuxian winced. "I knew you were going to say that."

"Wangji will protect Wei Ying."

"Lan Zhan!"

Wei Wuxian kissed each of Lan Wangji's cheeks before kissing him properly. After several minutes of steamy make-outs, he pulled away very reluctantly.

"Okay," he decided, fixing his clothes. "I can do this."

"Wei Ying can do anything," Lan Wangji agreed, smiling.

The Nies, Jiang Cheng, and Lan Qiren were still absent when Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji, Jin Zixuan, and Jiang Yanli met up in the private dining room.

"A-Jie," Wei Wuxian began. "I'm so sorry."

She hugged him tight. "We'll fix what we can with A-Cheng. Then we'll talk with Dad."

He sagged with relief. "Okay, A-Jie. Do you think he will forgive us at all?"

She let him go and took her seat. But she smiled at him. "We were in the wrong for so long. It will take time to earn A-Cheng's trust again, if we can. We have to be okay with that."

"O-oh," he said.

"At least you'll know you both sincerely apologized to him," Jin Zixuan offered, resting one hand on Jiang Yanli's back once he sat. "If you're sincere, he'll see it. Even if he doesn't trust it right away."

Jiang Yanli gave her husband a heart-stopping smile. Wei Wuxian winced.

Advice from the Peacock. What had he come to? But if that's what it took to get A-Cheng to forgive him, he'd take it.

He and Lan Zhan took their seats just as everyone else came back in. Nie Huaisang and Jiang Cheng were laughing together, two mischief makers hatching a plan.

Wei Wuxian's heart skipped a beat. Had Jiang Cheng ever looked so happy when conspiring with him? He didn't think so. It made him feel empty and scummy inside but he gave Jiang Cheng a little smile and didn't put his foot in his mouth as Lan Qiren announced the meeting's restart.

"A-Cheng, we got off on the wrong foot," Jiang Yanli announced. "A-Xian and I came to apologize. But I'm glad we got off track earlier. I didn't realize how deep the hurt went. Or how far back. I should have. But I didn't. For that, and for not being a better jiejie, I am sorry."

She gave Jiang Cheng a soft, hopeful smile. "I know I have no right to be your jiejie or to ask you to come home. But I hope, if you can forgive me and I can be a good jiejie, you'll still be in my life."

Jiang Cheng only nodded stiffly.

"It's true," Wei Wuxian chimed in.

"What I said was out of line. It was mean-spirited and just wrong. I've been wrong all this time. I didn't protect you from Dad - Uncle Jiang. I was a bad gege. I didn't share or listen to you at all. I'm really sorry, Jiang Cheng. Like A-Jie said. I hope you can forgive me."

Jiang Cheng was visibly startled. But he nodded again. "I'm not coming back," he ground out. "I'm not going back to the way things were before. Not ever."

Wei Wuxian nodded like a bobble head.

Jiang Yanli spoke up. "That's fine. We realized we have no right to ask for that."

"That was a fast turn around," Nie Mingjue remarked. "What happened during the break?"

Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian exchanged a glance. "We just needed some time to process. And, like I said. We'd come here intending to apologize in the first place. It was just habit."

"Wow."

Nie Huaisang stood up, leaning forward on the table. "You came to apologize to A-Cheng but it was HABIT to jump down his throat and blame him for YOUR fuck-ups? What the hell kind of apology ends with 'it was just habit to treat you like shit, sorry,lol'? Do we look stupid?"

"You did great for a whole ten seconds," he ranted. "Then you let it slip that you HAD THE HABIT of being entirely abusive! What the fuck do you even expect A-Cheng to say to that? 'It's okay! It's fine to treat me worse than what you scrape from your shoes, teehee!' Is that it?"

"What is fucking WRONG with you?" He hit the table with one hand, startling everyone when the glasses and teacups rattled. "He's your brother. He's your fucking BLOOD. And it's just 'sorry, I got used to treating you like shit, my bad'. WHAT THE FUCK!"

"A-Sang," Zonghui said.

Nie Huaisang whirled on Nie Zonghui. But the other man just stood up and threw Nie Huaisang over his shoulder. He bowed, a bit, and left the room.

"It's fucking preposterous!" Nie Huaisang shouted. "Grown fucking ADULTS! How can they SAY something that stupid and not realize!"

They listened as the shouts trailed off, eventually cut of by an outside door.

"Forgive Huaisang. He has strong opinions about how family should be treated," Nie Mingjue said mildly, sipping his tea. "Where were we?"

"Aren't you mad." Lan Qiren asked, eyebrows arched.

"Yes."

Nie Mingjue smiled at them all, putting his teeth on display. "But I'm here for my heart. My job is to support him and what he wants. I'll hit the gym and destroy a few heavy bags later."

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. "You know they're going start charging you for those."

Nie Mingjue smiled at him, something warmer and softer than the previous smile. "You're worth it, my heart."

Jiang Cheng blushed, cheeks going pink as rose buds. "Shameless," he muttered.

"Only for you," Nie Mingjue agreed. "Did you want to say anything? Or are you done here?"

Jiang Cheng gave him a shy, silly smile before looking at his former siblings. The smile changed to an unhappy scowl.

"I don't forgive you. Not yet. It's too easy for you to slip back into bad habits." He announced. "You don't really mean it, if it's so easy."

"We do mean it."

"We really do, A-Cheng. Believe me." Jiang Yanli replied earnestly. "We're going to try so hard to prove it."

He shrugged. "Well. I'm not going back. I'm not acknowledging any of you as family. But." He frowned. "I'm busy for the next six months and I don't need this stress."

"After that, if you want to start meeting once a month for brunch or lunch - not dinner. Not any kind of day outing or event - then I can spare an afternoon. But if you fuck up one time, I'm not wasting my time anymore. I have a real family. I don't need you now. It's too late."

"Oh A-Cheng, we understand!" Jiang Yanli said, smiling brightly. "Thank you so much."

"Please call me Jiang Cheng. Only Jiang Cheng. Both of you," he said. "If we're starting over, then it's ground zero. As strangers. And I want nothing to do with your parents. Ever." He glared.

"Don't tell them about me. Don't relay questions or requests. Don't bring them up casually. Same with the Jiang family business. I don't care and I will walk out on you, for good. And treat me decently! Like anyone would be treated. Not like an orphan locked up under the stairs."

"We can agree to that," Jiang Yanli said. "Can't we, boys?"

"Sure," Jin Zixuan said, smiling. "Thank you for the opportunity."

"Yeah. That's good. We can do that," Wei Wuxian agreed solemnly.

"Mn. Apologies to Jiang Cheng," Lan Wangji bowed. "Wangji will make amends."

"Okay."

Jiang Cheng took Nie Mingjue's hand and stood up. "Then we're leaving. But you should all stay and enjoy a meal." he bowed to Lan Qiren. "Shufu, thank you so much."

"Of course, my boy. I willbe in touch about Wangji and his amends."

"We'll leave first, then."

And they did.

Lan Qiren eyed the remaining four. "Now then. We will eat. And discuss how exactly things ended up here. I have a feeling you will need help to sort out the tangled up mess of your family dynamics."

Wei Wuxian startled. "You'd do that for us?"

"No." Lan Qiren replied firmly.

"But I would do it for Jiang Cheng. First we eat. Then we discuss how families should work. I expect I'll have to find therapists for all of you. Certainly therapy has helped me."

"Do you think Dad will come around?" Jiang Yanli asked.

"No, my dear," he said gently.
"Oh. Okay."

"Now then. Where is our server?" He asked, hitting the table's buzzer. "First we eat. Then we talk."

It would be a grim afternoon, but he'd taken more headache medicine during the break. He could get through this. Jiang Cheng and Nie Mingjue could consider it a wedding gift.

//

// This thread over. Yay! Now to figure out what happens to JFM. I wonder if LQR has a wood chipper.

This thing was over 7k. O.O Jiminy Crickets!