Thread by @spearcolor

#zhancheng a/b/o cw: implied cheating, angsty

He sees the lips moving and the hands going up and down making the argument more serious. He feels his own lips opening letting his voice out as he points with his index finger at the person in front of him.

But he can't hear anything, not what he is saying nor the other person. The gazes are not there but he can still feel them. There's no whispers but he hears them.

A lover’s quarrel. It's what everyone says.

It’s what everyone had been saying since they started fighting at the office. His subordinates, they don't care anymore, he knows it. And yet he feels ashamed as he can't stop the screaming match between him and his alpha.

Everybody told them that it’d be difficult if they decided to be together. Afterall, they weren’t supposed to be mates. But Jiang Cheng didn’t expect this either. They fought over minimal things and they didn’t even wait to be at home to start arguing;

they'd do it in work hours at the office, in the middle of the street or even in public places like restaurants or stores. He can’t grasp the fact that their love has come to this.

There's a tight grip on his wrist and then he's dragged out of the office and into the hallway. Suddenly Lan Wangji hugs him and asks him to stop fighting. He can’t go against him when the scent of sandalwood is calming him down.

He doesn’t even remember why they were fighting a minute ago. The both of them stay right there letting the scent of each other comfort them. That stops the track of his thought even before they start going south. He chose this.

The half mark is annoying.

Mostly at times like this when his heat came without notice and he is in pain in one stall of the restroom at his work. It’s not that he is uncareful. And yet somehow it always catches him with his guard down.

He takes an inhibitor from a subordinate and tries to go on with his day. He stopped the train of thoughts before they went that way. He chose this.

As incredible as it might be, he’s happy. Even if he was disowned by his parents for not choosing his fated mate.

Even when the only paternal figure that he had was disappointed in him. He was happy. Lan Wangji made him happy. At night when they hug each other, every struggle doesn’t matter anymore. The judging gazes and the whispers are irrelevant. They both chose this.

The feeling of being incomplete with a half mark bothers him most of the time. He’s not a marked omega yet not a single one. Lan Wangji could never be truly his. The alpha has assured him that he doesn’t belong to anyone but him, and that would never change.

He can’t help but feel anxious. There’s a reason why he can’t be fully marked. They both know that. And maybe it’s a punishment for what they chose.

They are fighting—again. In the middle of the street. People are watching and he wants to leave.

It’s embarrassing how they can’t stop. Jiang Cheng is tired yet his mouth keeps screaming and cursing. Lan Wangji is the first one to leave, ignoring Jiang Cheng’s voice calling him to come back and solve whatever problem they have. He doesn’t turn back.

It’s not the first time he does that, nor the first time Jiang Cheng feels hurt by it. In the end he decided to get back home—Lan Wangji’s apartment.

He didn't come back that night. Nor for the entire weekend. It’s not common between them. Not in a small fight.

But it has happened once or twice. This time, however, Jiang Cheng feels something’s not right. He can shake the feeling of it. Lan Wangji didn’t respond to his texts nor his calls. His mark, as usual, it’s fading and by this time Lan Wangji had already redo it.

But he’s not home and Jiang Cheng doesn’t know where he is.

On monday, Lan Wangji is ready to go to work together. He made breakfast, he was dressed in his suit, and even ironed Jiang Cheng’s. Something feels off. He apologizes for disappearing.

He kissed Jiang Cheng and hugged him for a solid 20 minutes while murmuring how it was bad for him to go away like that. Jiang Cheng tries to not think of anything.

He lets himself be embraced by the scent he knows better than himself and listens to the sweet nothings Lan Wangji is telling him. He chose this.

Lan Wangji told him they should eat lunch together at work and by night he’d get his mark redid.

It annoyed him how easily he said yes but he couldn’t help it. He missed him.

Lan Wangji’s secretary told him that he had gone to the break room for a coffee when he went to look after him on his lunch break. He was not spying nor eavesdropping.

“Director Lan! It seems that you had fun with manager Jiang this weekend.” He recognizes Xue Yang’s playful voice. That’s what stopped him from entering the room. He froze on the spot.

He heard Lan Wangji’s nervous laughter.

He couldn’t take it anymore. It all happened in the blink of an eye. He pulled down Lan Wangji’s shirt collar to see the hickeys and the room suddenly going quiet. The alpha’s face was pale.

“Wanyin…”

He left.

Those hickeys weren’t his.

Lan Wangji didn’t even go home for the whole weekend. He knew Lan Wangji would never be his. Not without being fully marked. But he wanted to believe it. He trusted him.

He got to his office when his subordinates were leaving for their lunch break.

Lan Wangji kept following him, asking him to listen to him. When he felt a hand on his shoulders stopping him from going anywhere he couldn’t hold it anymore. He punched the alpha on his face. He didn't care about getting attention from his coworkers.

“HOW COULD YOU?!”

The alpha was shocked. He didn’t expect his partner to hit him. “Wanyin-”

Another slap across his face. “You promised me! You said you were MINE!”

“My rut hit. You weren’t there!”

“Because you left!”

Maybe it was the mark fading. But Lan Wangji’s pheromones weren’t working, they only made Jiang Cheng more angry.

It was Wei Wuxian—a beta—who could pull them away. He was the only one who wasn’t affected by their pheromones.

Jiang Cheng hadn’t noticed when everyone had left the office.

“Manager Jiang, please calm down.”

Suddenly, the embarrassment made its presence. Wei Wuxian was always the one that stopped when their fights started to get physical.

He even had troubles once when he reported Lan Wangji for harassment not knowing he and Jiang Cheng were married. No one even told him that Lan Wangji’s was the CEO’s brother. He always seemed worried about Jiang Cheng and his relationship.

More people from Lan Wangji’s department were there already. Calming the alpha down too.

“Director Lan, I think it’s best if you go.” Wei Wuxian spoke again.

He tried to argue but he desisted and eventually left. Not without telling Jiang Cheng that they’ll talk at home.

The beta seemed tired once they were the only ones left in the office.

“I’m sorry,” Jiang Cheng murmured. It felt like it was always Wei Wuxian being dragged to his marital problems. “It got out of hand.”

“This might be out of line, but manager Jiang, haven’t you thought of a divorce?” He sighed. “I know it can be scary since he’s an alpha and the CEO’s brother. My mother has a foundation for omegas so she can protect you. She has done it with more people, she can help you.”

Jiang Cheng has never thought of divorcing Lan Wangji. Not because he’s afraid because he loves him so much. And he chose this. He knew how hard it’d be. He knew there would be more difficult days than happy ones.

He was aware of that and still married him, and stayed with him for years.

Wei Wuxian had always thought of him as a weak omega. No one in the office views him that way. Maybe it was because he was a beta and he couldn’t really understand.

But he’s sure Lan Wangji had people that would stop him the moment he starts treating Jiang Cheng badly.

“It’s fine. Sorry for always dragging you in all of this,” he responded. “Go and take your hour break.”

The beta just nodded. He didn’t say anything else.

…

He left work early. And he didn’t return home that day. It was good that his brother-in-law convinced him of keeping his apartment. He had a place to go. Lan Wangji’s apartment never really felt like home. He always always attributed it to the fact that they weren’t fated mates.

Nothing that was Lan Wangji’s could ever feel like his.
His apartment didn’t have power. Probably there was only cold water in the shower. And still he felt good there. He could finally breathe. He had felt something off since the morning.

He had some clothes there that he could use to sleep. He lit candles and went to his old bedroom. He in fact didn’t have warm water running in his bathroom, but he still took a shower—a cold one.

The room felt dusty and strange at some point. Not considering Lan Wangji’s apartment his home didn’t mean he wasn’t used to it. But this is what he had.
When he finally hit his bed he allowed himself to cry. He allowed himself to finally think what he had been feeling for years.

He regretted it. All of it. He regretted it.

...

Working to some extent stopped him from thinking about anything else. He had a client that wanted a reimbursement. A reimbursement from a project that was halfway done.

He had begged her to reconsider and they even have a meeting for the next day. He was busy. He and his coworkers. It was a nightmare.

That Thursday evening when everyone was working hard he could feel how the entire mood in the office went sour.

He didn’t understand why until someone talked to him.

“Wanyin, what are you going to do about Wen Qinq’s project?” Lan Wangji was next to him. “Do you want me to take care of it?”

He didn’t raise his gaze from his computer. “Why would you do that?”

“It’s too much for you to handle. I know her and she’s ruthless.”

“It’s fine, director Lan, I have an appointment with her tomorrow.” He answered. The mark was fading every second it passed and they both knew it.

“I should go with you.” He pointed out.

“Director Lan, I’m sure you have a lot of more urgent projects to take care of. Nie Huaisang needed help to convince Jin Guanyao to invest. You should go with him to that appointment instead,” Jiang Cheng looked at him. “We’re busy. You should leave.”

Lan Wangji seemed defeated when he left.

The meeting with Wen Qing wasn’t going as he expected. She was still demanding a reimbursement.
“We can’t do that, Miss Wen. We’re halfway done, we don't have the money to give it back to you,” he explained. “You can’t back down now.”

“We can. My uncle changed his mind, he doesn’t want to build that store anymore,” the alpha replied. “We are even given you time to get our money.”

“It’s impossible at this point!” He was getting anxious. “You already decided to do it.”

“Then sell it to someone else,” she said. “If it’s halfway done it’s not done yet. You can always change your mind if something it’s not to your liking. We’re not irresponsible, we're giving you six months to give us our money.”

“We can’t-”

“Sell it,” she interrupted him. “Just sell it to someone else. It’s already started, so it'd be easier to do so.”
She stood up. “I know you’re a capable man, Jiang Wanyin.”

Wen Qinq left after that.

...

He and his office had to look after a new client. He hadn’t gone home—his apartment—in days. They’re overworking and he didn’t even have the time to think about the situation with Lan Wangji. He also stopped using his wedding band after his conversation with Wen Qinq.

Somehow it made sense. Even if it wasn't professional she had a point. And their contract was protecting them so he could only search for a new client to sell the halfway done building.

It was during their lunch break—which he didn’t take since he was busy—when Lan Qiren arrived at the office. Jiang Cheng at first thought he was there because of the issue with Wen Rouhan’s niece. But it wasn’t even close to that.

“Jiang Wanyin, haven’t you been having this tantrum enough time?” He asked. Not caring about people hearing, since the office looked empty.

“Excuse me?”

“I know you haven't been home with your husband for almost a month.” He explained.

“Didn’t I tell you you’ll have to stick to your choices?”

“He cheated.” Jiang Cheng defended himself.

“I already punished him.”

He had never wanted to disappoint Lan Qiren, yet it was the second time he saw that look on his face. Jiang Cheng felt ashamed.

Lan Qiren had appreciated him like a son years ago. When he was supposed to marry his oldest nephew instead of the youngest.

“I can’t go back there. I’m sorry.” He couldn't even look at him.

“I warned you.” Lan Qiren remined him.

“Everyone told you that this could happen but you two were so stubborn.”

Jiang Cheng felt his eyes getting wet.

“You swore that you’ll accept everything, because you loved him.”

“Uncle, stop.” Jiang Cheng didn’t notice when Lan Xichen arrived.

He should have, afterall he was his fated mate.

“He can’t back down now, Xichen. They’re married, they need to fix it. They have broken so many rules, at least they should keep this one.” Lan Qiren didn’t spare a glance to his nephew.

“You’re being too harsh.”

Jiang Cheng regrets it. He could have had a good life if he hadn’t fallen in love with Lan Wangji. Lan Wangji of all the people, the brother of his fated one. Not only him but also Wangji broke Lan Xichen’s heart when Jiang Cheng called off the engagement.

He was the only one who had the right to be mad, to yell at them, to disown them. And yet he was the only one who supported them.

He never loved Xichen. Not in the way he loved Wangji. Not even when it was natural for him to love him. He loved him like he loves his sister.

A part of him still loves him. Lan Xichen will always be important for him even if they grew apart.

He knows Lan Xichen loves him. That’s why he keeps his distance.

Even when they work at the same place. It has been months since he saw him and he only appears to defend him from his uncle. Knowing that Jiang Cheng it’s the one in the wrong.

He regrets it.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated. The tears felt hot on his face. “But Wangji and I are going to divorce.”

“What?” A third voice that he knew too well joined them.

The mark on his finger where his wedding band used to be is fading.

He almost can’t see it anymore. And the mark on his neck is nearly gone. He made a wrong choice in the past, he had to fix it. He doesn’t want a mark that should stay forever being so easily faded. He doesn’t want to be hurt nor to hurt anyone else anymore.

-Look, dont ask me what this is lmao, i just wanted to write it, idk if i will continue it or make it longer hehe i just wanted to share this-