’til next weekend

.

“I don’t think I’ll be going out for my break today, Miss Liu.”

Miss Liu looks up from her desk. She’s been doing some filing and paperwork with one earphone on, humming the pop song she’s listening to to stay focused.

“What was that, doc?”

Dr. Jiang has been hanging out in the clinic waiting area for the past hour. He is a holding a very large and fluffy cat. For the better part of that hour, he’s just been trying to get the cat to be okay with being let down – but nope, this large and fluffy cat is just… holding on to him.

The cat is from the shelter across the street, a new resident. Apparently she just started yowling and crying earlier in the day and even after the shelter staff examined her for any injuries and found none, she kept showing signs of distress. They had brought her to the clinic then. After the routine check-up, Dr. Jiang had suggested that the poor thing may simply be anxious and stressed in her new environment. This is further supported by the fact that the cat has notably calmed down while in the clinic, surrounded by less humans and no other animals.

The problem is, when Dr. Jiang lifted the cat in his arms, she had just… refused to let go. Totally calm, even emotionless in Dr. Jiang’s arms – until he tries to pass her to another person, or put her down anywhere. Then she starts crying and screaming again. With this, the shelter staff who brought her in asked if she could stay in the clinic for bit – just while they move things around in the shelter to make a safe, private space for this one cat.

Cats are fucking weird, Miss Liu thinks. She would know this. She lives with one. No, she doesn’t own Lulu. Lulu is a housemate.

“I said I think I won’t need to go to the bakery today.” Dr. Jiang says, before pocketing his phone, which he just checked.

Miss Liu feels bad – okay, the cat thing is weird and funny for a bit – but she knows her boss likes his routine. “I can… hold the big kitty if you wanna step out for a bit?”

Dr. Jiang tries to pass the cat to her. The cat screams.

“Okay. So we’re not doing that.” Dr. Jiang says, taking the cat in his arms again. He strokes her fur to comfort her. “There, there. It’ll be fine, Margarita.”

Who the hell names a cat ‘Margarita’, Miss Liu thinks. Also, now she’s getting a bit concerned. According to their schedule today, there will be some puppies coming in for a checkup in an hour. Dr. Jiang can’t just… hold Margarita while he works on another pet. The clinic will close by the end of the day too… They really need to figure out what to do with Margarita.

Miss Liu is seriously thinking of suggesting to knock the cat out at this point when the clinic door opens.

“Hello, is- Oh! You’re here! Ahhh- What is that- What a big baby!”

Margarita shrieks.

Dr. Jiang shushes their guest. “Shush! She’s got anxiety!”

“O-Oh? Sorry…” The person that Miss Liu recognizes as Dr. Jiang’s friend, Mr. Nie, blinks.

Miss Liu has only met Mr. Nie once before. That other time, he was also carrying takeout from the bakery. Dr. Jiang had been out on a meeting, so Mr. Nie just left the cake and coffee to Miss Liu, saying that it’s from Dr. Jiang’s sister.

Miss Liu’s impression then was that Mr. Nie is quite nice, charming, definitely close to the family, and really fashionable. Probably an artist, with how he had been dressed, plus the big bag of artsy stuff he was carrying.

This time, he still looks nice and charming, is again obviously sent by Dr. Jiang’s sister, but he looks more casual – cute knitted jacket, plain shirt and shorts and sneakers. He has a big market bag with what looks like vegetables and other grocery items. No fancy hair, just a ponytail – oh. Glasses. That’s a new look.

“What’s up?” Dr. Jiang asks, as he pats the cat who has now latched around his neck. “Nevermind the cat, she’s from the shelter, we’re pet-sitting her for the afternoon.”

“I see…” Mr. Nie nods, then lifts the little paper bag with the Lotus Pier Bakery logo and a carrier with two drinks. “Snacks from Yanli-jie?”

“Great. Thanks. Perfect timing, I don’t think I can go down there today with this… situation.” Dr. Jiang sighs. “Miss Liu can take those.”

“I’ve met Miss Liu!” Mr. Nie says, as he directs his smile at Miss Liu, and walks over to hand her the food and drinks.

“It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Nie.” she says, accepting the items with her perfect secretary smile. Ah, another perk of working for Dr. Jiang. Sponsored snacks. She loves it here. “Doc, I’ll leave your drink at your table?”

“Yes, thank you, Miss Liu.” Dr. Jiang says.

She goes to take the drink and snacks to her boss’ office – which in this small clinic, really just means the next room over, so she catches snippets of conversation from the waiting area without even trying.

“So what are you doing out? It’s your day-off.”

“I had to do groceries. I was out of everything!” Mr. Nie laughs. “Say, do you already have plans for dinner?”

“Tonight? No, I was just planning on going home…”

“Wanna come over? Da-ge sent me some meat last week and I gotta cook them soon. What do you say? Korean barbeque?”

That is quite direct, Miss Liu thinks. But it sounds casual enough, like asking a friend to hang out…

“You know how to cook?”

“Ah, how rude! Of course I can cook, A-Cheng! I’m sure I’m not as good as your sister though, sorry for that-”

A chuckle from Dr. Jiang – “I’m kidding. Okay, sure, I’ll come over.”

Miss Liu stops. Dr. Jiang is kidding? He’s being funny?!

“You need me to get anything on the way?”

“Hm, no, I can get them myself while I’m out… Oh, and you left your jacket with me last night.”

Wait. Last night? Dr. Jiang was out on a Sunday night? With a human?!

“You were gonna ask me to come get it, were you? If the dinner option didn’t work?”

Is Dr. Jiang… flirting?!

“You don’t know that~”

Oh. Oh, so it is like that. Hm. This is very much not Asking-A-Friend-to-Hang-Out energy. Miss Liu tries not to look like she just received world-changing news as she returns to her desk.

“Okay, so, what, this giant cat has anxiety?” Mr. Nie says.

Dr. Jiang shrugs. “Yeah, she cries when we try to put her down.”

“Can I-… Can I touch her though?”

“You can try.”

Miss Liu watches as Mr. Nie raises a hand to gently, slowly, pat the big furry cat. Margarita makes a distressed sound at first, then is quiet again as the man just continues to gently stroke her fur. Probably figuring out that he’s not trying to take her away and back to the Bad Place.

“Oh, there we are… It’s nice to meet you, big baby-”

“Margarita.”

“That’s too many syllables for a cat, isn’t it?” Mr. Nie asks, chuckling. Miss Liu nods. Her partner and Lulu would also agree.

“You won’t believe the names we get here.” Dr. Jiang rolls his eyes. Miss Liu also nods at that, thinking back to some of the pet names she’d had to file.

“Is Margarita going with you to dinner tonight then?”

Dr. Jiang groans. “No, she isn’t.”

Miss Liu stifles her giggle. Right. Her boss has a date. Now they really have to do something about this clingy cat.

Mr. Nie just laughs, and then says that he better get going now so Dr. Jiang can go back to work. He waves goodbye at Miss Liu, who waves happily back.

As Dr. Jiang walks their guest out the door, Miss Liu looks into the paper bag from the bakery and grins. White chocolate macadamia cookies. Yummy.

She takes one of the cookies just as her boss steps back inside the clinic. “Hey, doc?”

“Yes?”

“Mr. Nie is really cute.”

Dr. Jiang looks at her with a small frown – one of those Not-Mad-Just-Disappointed looks – but it’s difficult to take him seriously, not when there’s an oversized cat wrapped around him like a scarf.

“Your thoughts are noted, Miss Liu.” is all he says. Then, a sigh – “Alright, can you get some of the cat treats?”

.

.

---

.

.

Nie Huaisang is a decent cook, it turns out. He does confess that he doesn’t know many fancy dishes, only super simple ones. He also tells Jiang Cheng that there had been plenty of shouting at da-ge and his cousin Zonghui over video call about how to make the side dishes.

They move the portable grill from the dining table and into Nie Huaisang’s living room coffee table so they can sit on the floor and let some drama series play in the background as they ate.

Jiang Cheng takes over grilling, because Nie Huaisang complained that he is terrified of the oil.

“You can’t grill and you invited me over for barbeque?” Jiang Cheng shakes his head, even as he starts dutifully putting the meat on the grill.

“I knew you can do it…” Nie Huaisang pouts. “And hey, I cut the meat okay, right?”

Jiang Cheng looks down at the meat, and easily concedes. “Yeah, these cuts are really good.”

“Hah. I may look like this, but I was trained by da-ge!”

“I assume grilling wasn’t part of the training?”

“That’s my cousin’s job. I make the sauces and the side dishes.” Nie Huaisang says, before taking a pair of chopsticks and picking up from one of the bowls of side dishes. “Here, try some sweet potatoes.”

Jiang Cheng is busy grilling, so he just leans over and lets Nie Huaisang feed him. “Hey, that is good.”

“Thank you! They’re my favorite to make.” Nie Huaisang says, smiling proudly. “What else do you wanna try?”

“Is that cucumber salad?”

“Yep. Do you want me add more chili?”

“Always.”

Nie Huaisang alternates between taking small bites of side dishes and feeding them to his busy companion. Jiang Cheng tells him about how they finally got Margarita off him earlier. Apparently it had been a combination of coaxing, cat treats and many, many cat toys. And after that, he had to change clothes as he just had fur everywhere.

“The poor thing… Did she look really stressed when you gave her back?”

“Yeah, but she probably thought they’re taking her back to where the other animals are. They’ve cleared out a space in the shelter for her. They’ve done that for a few other rescues before. She will acclimate eventually. They just have to pace it.”

Finally, he picks up the extra plate and starts piling the cooked meat in it. As they start eating, they shift to sit next to each other so they can now pay attention to the series playing in the TV.

“What’s this one about again?”

“Y’know what, I actually don’t know…”

“So why are we watching it?”

“Xuanyu said it’s really good…” Nie Huaisang says, although he is starting to sound doubtful. “Should I just switch to something else?”

“Nah.” Jiang Cheng says, and just proceeds to eat his grilled pork with some rice. “Okay, that is so many things she dropped. Why?”

Nie Huaisang hums. “Because he’s so handsome? And so they can slow-mo on him catching her?”

“…Well, that’s stupid.”

“I mean. I guess.” Nie Huaisang says, then he offers up the last of the spicy cucumber from his chopsticks. “Hey, here. Then I’ll go refill.”

Jiang Cheng eats it, then Nie Huaisang stands up with the empty bowl and goes to the kitchen to refill.

This is…. nice, Jiang Cheng thinks. It’s fun, and chill, and… it is a date. He’s not going to do all sorts of mental gymnastics to insist that it isn’t, not anymore. It’s just that… it’s different, from the other dates he’d been in. All those others that had blurred together over the years because he can’t really remember any detail about them, except the fact that they generally weren’t the best time for him.

He’d been on dates that had felt stilted or forced. Dates that were okay, comfortable enough, but were… boring. Dates that were more like formality or felt like a negotiation than something… fun.

This is new. It’s intimate in a way that doesn’t surprise him, because for the most part, he feels like he’s just hanging out with a friend. In many ways, it is. Nie Huaisang is still his friend. But it’s also domestic in a way that slightly scares him, because while he’s aware that they’re in Nie Huaisang’s place, Jiang Cheng somehow also feels like he is home. And that idea is… something he didn’t expect to confront, at least not this soon.

Jiang Cheng continues to watch, and it’s probably because he’s distracted by his thoughts and by the show that he picks up from the wrong bowl – ah. The candied sweet potatoes.

Nie Huaisang returns with a fresh bowl of spicy cucumber salad that he puts down on the table, and then sits down beside Jiang Cheng again.

Jiang Cheng looks blankly at the sweet potato on his chopsticks. He has never really done it with anyone before, but he figures if Nie Huaisang had been doing it, then it should be fine the other way around. As casually as he can, he offers Nie Huaisang the food he’s holding, and Nie Huaisang only blinks once before eating it.

“Not into the sweet potatoes anymore?” Nie Huaisang asks, like this is just a thing they do. Maybe it is, now.

“No, I just meant to get the tofu.”

“Oh! How’s the tofu? What do you think?”

“They’re good.” Jiang Cheng says. “Share your recipe.”

“Nope. Nie family secret!”

“Is it from the internet?”

“Totally from the internet, yeah.”

They continue watching the show.

Jiang Cheng starts grilling a new batch of meat, because they still have some.

“How many times is she gonna drop her stuff?” Nie Huaisang remarks, now actually sounding concerned. “No, wait, this is a different guy!”

Jiang Cheng glances at the TV screen before going back to grilling duty. “That’s it. If I knew that girl, I’ll be worried that she’s dropping stuff for every attractive guy in campus. Isn’t there a laptop in that box too?”

“Oh my God, there is.” Nie Huaisang giggles.

“You know what she should do?”

“What?”

“Hit that first guy in the face with a big roll of cloth. Damage his brain enough for him to hang out with her. Worked for you, that one.”

“A-Cheng!” Nie Huaisang gasps and shoves Jiang Cheng’s arm, laughing.

Jiang Cheng grins. “Hey, stop that. I’m grilling!”

See, all this isn’t something Jiang Cheng could think of doing with anyone else.

And he’s had time to think. He had thought that he was done thinking, actually. After all the other lukewarm attempts and incompatible dates. These more recent years, he had just quietly, internally decided that maybe this whole thing just isn’t for him. And that’s okay.

But this is new. Unexpected. Like he said – a little scary. And he thinks he wants to see where it goes.

.

.

.

They’ve finished eating and somehow have continued watching (roasting, really) the next episode of the drama. They’ve moved to the couch. Nie Huaisang is warm and comfy in Jiang Cheng’s arms, and Jiang Cheng is leaning back on the couch, lazy and relaxed.

They are both complaining about the girl dropping yet another bunch of stuff when they hear the sound of distant thunder, and then the sudden, loud, downpour of rain outside.

Jiang Cheng groans against Nie Huaisang’s hair. “Ah, fuck…”

Nie Huaisang draws away slightly so he can look out the window. “Oh, no. Wait. A-Cheng-” he turns to look at his companion, brows furrowed in concern. “Where’d you park your motorcycle? Is it out the gates?”

“No, I-… I walked.” Jiang Cheng sighs. “I don’t bring it to work, remember?”

“Oh. Well you can’t go out there now…” Nie Huaisang frowns. “Sorry, A-Cheng… I wouldn’t have kept you this long if I knew it was gonna rain…”

“It’s fine.” Jiang Cheng says, absently raising a hand to play with Nie Huaisang’s hair.

It’s messy again, what with all the cuddling. Paired with the glasses that Nie Huaisang says he’s wearing because he’s taking a break from his contacts today, it’s a cute look. Jiang Cheng is waiting for a good time to say it and make Nie Huaisang blush.

For now, though – “I have an umbrella. I can still go, later when it lets up a bit.”

“Oh…”

Jiang Cheng doesn’t miss the hint of disappointment, even as Nie Huaisang had tried to channel relief. He’d be lying if he says he’s not a bit pleased to catch that.

“Or I can stay over. If you want me to. If you’re comfortable with that.”

Nie Huaisang looks at him, then away, cheeks pink. “I was… gonna ask, but I was thinking you might not be comfortable. Or it might be too fast, I mean, we haven’t really-… talked about it-… About this, or-”

“A-Sang, do you want me to stay?”

Nie Huaisang takes a moment, before going back to his arms.

“Yes.” He says, muffled by Jiang Cheng’s shirt. “Because I didn’t see you for so long. And last night was so short. And tonight has been so nice. And you kinda have to, because you might get sick if you go in that rain.”

“Well, that’s a lot of reasons. Okay, then.” Jiang Cheng chuckles, wrapping his arms around the other and leaning back on the couch again. “But we gotta do something else other than watch this show because I swear if that girl trips one more time, I will walk out into the rain.”

Nie Huaisang laughs. “We can wash the dishes.”

“Sure.”

“We can… um, make out? Do you still like that?”

“With you, yeah, I think.”

Nie Huaisang tries not to show how ‘with you’ and its implications made his brain short-circuit for a second. His voice is softer as he continues, “And maybe we can talk?”

“That, definitely.”

.

.

.

Washing the dishes didn’t take much time, between the two of them. But somehow it still ended up with both of them splashing water and soap suds at each other, so they both had to wash up afterwards.

Jiang Cheng is grateful for Nie Huaisang’s love for oversized clothes because that meant many of his shirts actually fit Jiang Cheng just fine.

Nie Huaisang, however, had to take a quick shower because he lost that soap battle quite badly. When he finishes, he finds Jiang Cheng on the couch, cozy, lazily paging through Nie Huaisang’s annotated copy of the production script.

“Ah… That’s confidential~” Nie Huaisang chimes in, but he doesn’t make any move to take the item from his companion as he goes and sits beside him on the couch.

“I wasn’t reading the dialogue.” Jiang Cheng closes the copy shut and sets it aside. “Just the notes on the margins.”

“Still confidential.” Nie Huaisang says as he takes Jiang Cheng’s arm to wrap it around his shoulders and snuggles close to his side. Jiang Cheng takes that as a cue, and pulls him close before leaning down to kiss him on the lips. Nie Huaisang lets out a pleased hum as he kisses back, hands reaching up to cup Jiang Cheng’s cheeks, fingers tracing the man’s jawline.

This is their first time doing this, Nie Huaisang realizes. Kissing just because, not to say goodbye to end the night.

These kisses are short and playful, almost teasing. Somehow, Nie Huaisang can feel that this is some sort of question. Are we doing this? he feels Jiang Cheng ask. He hopes his enthusiasm is enough to answer him – Yes.

Pretty soon, Nie Huaisang feels Jiang Cheng’s hand on his back slide just a bit lower and to the side, until it’s on his waist, nudging gently.

“A-Sang.” Jiang Cheng says, in between kisses.

“Mm?”

“Come here.”

“Okay- oh.”

Nie Huaisang is not quite ready for the hands on either side of his waist to tug him up, but Jiang Cheng is nothing but careful and steady as he coaxes him into his lap.

Nie Huaisang goes easily, plants his hands on the other’s shoulders, settles into his new position and closes his eyes again as Jiang Cheng goes in for a slower kiss.

Nie Huaisang feels the hands on his waist squeeze comfortingly as Jiang Cheng pulls away, just slightly, only enough to ask, “Where can I touch?”

Nie Huaisang swallows, grip tightening on Jiang Cheng’s shoulders. So this is why Jiang Cheng wants him on his lap. Nie Huaisang doesn’t have a problem with that.

He hopes he’s not blushing too hard as he says, “Um. Anywhere you want?”

He feels the grin in Jiang Cheng’s lips before he’s kissed again, and Nie Huaisang is quick to relax and return the kisses eagerly. He finds his fingers on Jiang Cheng’s hair, finds himself shivering as he feels Jiang Cheng’s hands travel down his hips and back up his sides, warm even over the shirt Nie Huaisang is wearing.

He can’t help but think of the difference, again, from the other times. And it should be different, Nie Huaisang realizes. These are not stolen kisses with fumbling hands on some back room. These are not goodbye kisses. After these kisses, Jiang Cheng will still be here. He is staying the night. They don’t have to be too cautious or to hurry this time.

Jiang Cheng does take his time – he is more relaxed but also more eager, his hands roaming slow but steady, his lips travelling from Nie Huaisang’s lips to drop shorter kisses down his neck and shoulder and back again. Nie Huaisang can’t help the soft gasp that escapes him as he is pulled even closer, and he goes again, willingly, letting Jiang Cheng kiss and touch as much as he wanted.

And it may be different, but this also feels distantly familiar. Nie Huaisang, then and now, had always been the one to make suggestions, to ask, to tease. Jiang Cheng is always the one who responds, who goes in first, who gives… and gives. Nie Huaisang is more than happy to receive, always inviting and willing to let him in, waiting and ready-

Ah. Wait. Oh, no, his thoughts are going there now. Oh, that’s a bit farther than what he anticipated, when he suggested this tonight. Nie Huaisang’s breath hitches – he knows he gave Jiang Cheng permission to touch anywhere he wanted, but he is now realizing that he actually hadn’t expected Jiang Cheng to be this… physical… and the hands now on his bare thighs may be pushing his current limits just slightly…

“A-Cheng,” he whispers, voice shaky. “Um, timeout?”

Jiang Cheng is quick to stop, his hands that are starting to caress Nie Huaisang’s thighs returning to his back to support him.

His eyes search Nie Huaisang’s face, concerned. “You okay? Did I-”

“I’m good, I swear. You’re amazing.” Nie Huaisang chuckles, sheepish. He gives Jiang Cheng a quick kiss on the lips to reassure him. “Can we-… I’m kinda-… This position… A bit much for me? For right now?”

“Oh.” Jiang Cheng blinks, looks down at where – at how – Nie Huaisang is sitting on – straddling – his lap, and… yeah, he kinda sees what Nie Huaisang might be feeling hesitant about, in their current arrangement. “Sure. Whatever you want.”

“It’s really no big deal. This is good. It’s just… kind of a lot, for me, here?” Nie Huaisang says as he gets off Jiang Cheng’s lap, and moves to lie on his back on the couch, head propped up comfortably on a throw pillow.

This time, he’s the one to pull Jiang Cheng down on top of him, and Jiang Cheng follows, shifting to hover over him before leaning down to kiss Nie Huaisang again.

Nie Huaisang only sighs into these new kisses – it feels more intimate, like this, with Jiang Cheng’s weight on him, their bodies pressed together, yet he doesn’t feel as exposed as he did earlier, so it also feels safer.

This time he finally lets himself get lost, savoring each sweet kiss to his lips and touch to his skin.

They slow down after a while. Jiang Cheng props himself up on one elbow, looking down at Nie Huaisang, curious. “What are you thinking about?”

Nie Huaisang grins, reaching up, fingers tracing the other man’s cheek. “What were we thinking?”

“What d’you mean?”

“Back then. Why were we kissing in that dingy back room? I remember I hit my head on some of those shelves. Why didn’t we do it like this? This is so comfy.”

Jiang Cheng scoffs. “Because if we got caught in the back room, we’ll probably just be scolded. Grounded. Whatever. If we got caught in the couch, or anywhere really, in this position? I would’ve been murdered on the spot.”

“Ah… You have a point…” Nie Huaisang laughs. “Y’know, now I remember you always smelled like cinnamon? Or some other delicious pastry. ‘Cause you were always helping Yanli-jie bake.”

“Hmm… I remember you always smelled like cold meat-”

Nie Huaisang slaps his chest half-heartedly. “Don’t be mean! My job wasn’t as cozy as yours!”

Jiang Cheng chuckles, and takes his hand so he’ll stop hitting. “You used to put on like, flower or candy-scented cologne before sneaking out with me because you didn’t like that you smelled like the meat. There, better?”

“Better.” Nie Huaisang smiles, watching as Jiang Cheng presses a kiss to his knuckles before freeing his hand. ”I remember we were kinda bad at this too. I was clumsy.”

“At what, kissing? Of course we were bad at it.”

“But it was still nice.”

“It was.”

“This is nicer, though.” Nie Huaisang says, cuddling closer. Jiang Cheng simply shakes his head, absently brushing his knuckles up and down Nie Huaisang’s thigh. And that reminds Nie Huaisang – “Hey, A-Cheng…? I didn’t expect you to be so… touchy.”

“Really?” Jiang Cheng hums absently, squinting as he seems to think about that. “I think… I am, a bit, yeah. It’s just-… hm. This is new to me too, actually. Do you want me to stop?”

“No, I really like it. Don’t stop.” Nie Huaisang says with a shy smile. “And, hey, um. Okay, I have a question…? Tell me if it’s too much…”

Jiang Cheng stays quiet, and simply starts playing with Nie Huaisang’s idle hand.

“What-… What do you… want?” Nie Huaisang asks, sounding unsure, staring past Jiang Cheng and at the ceiling. “Sorry, maybe I’m thinking too much. Or it’s too soon. But like, earlier. I was getting… really into this? That’s why I asked to stop for a bit, ‘cause I was really, really liking what we were doing… and I wasn’t ready to go further-… because I don’t know what you… want. Like what you’re into? I guess? Like. Boundaries. Yeah. I think that’s it. I just wanna know… your boundaries… if we’re doing this.”

Jiang Cheng nods, slowly. He doesn’t look bothered or flustered, to Nie Huaisang’s relief. If anything, he looks distracted by Nie Huaisang’s hand in his. “You’re not thinking too much, or too soon. I think it’s… fair to ask that.”

Nie Huaisang lets out a relieved sigh. “Okay…”

Jiang Chengs looks like he only considers for a second, before he says, “I’m ace. Or, well, somewhere around that area. You probably figured that out.”

Nie Huaisang nods. “I… kinda gathered, yeah. That’s why-”

“I like this.” Jiang Cheng says. He leans down to give Nie Huaisang a short but tender kiss on the lips. “You know that.”

“I do now.” Nie Huaisang says with a small smile, that only grows fonder when he touches Jiang Cheng’s cheek and Jiang Cheng drops a quick kiss to his fingers.

“So…” Jiang Cheng takes a deep breath as he gathers the rest of what he wants to say. “As for the other stuff… I’m not inexperienced. Those other ones… I didn’t really have a problem getting into it at the moment, and they weren’t unpleasant for me. That’s what I know. I know I’m fine with sex. I can enjoy it. But… I don’t miss it. Never have. It’s not something I look for, at all.”

Nie Huaisang nods again, just listening.

“But,” Jiang Cheng continues – this time his hand in Nie Huaisang’s stops fiddling, and holds on properly, firmly. “Those other experiences were… casual. With people I didn’t really have… a connection to, I guess? Which I know now isn’t my thing at all. That’s why I haven’t done it in a long time. And this… with you – us – is not casual, obviously. I haven’t exactly been… here… before. So it does feel… different.”

“Different.” Nie Huaisang repeats.

“Yeah. I feel different. About this whole thing, ‘cause it’s you. So I think, if you want to… go there, it’s not completely off the table for me. I won’t be turned off or anything like that.” Jiang Cheng smiles, soft, reassuring. “So don’t worry too much about me. Let’s just see where this goes.”

“Oh… okay.” Nie Huaisang breathes out, blushing.

He didn’t expect… such a direct answer, but he really should have known. Jiang Cheng has been nothing but open and honest to him the whole time they’ve been… doing whatever this is. Hell, the man called him at midnight to confirm that they’d been flirting. Nie Huaisang should understand by now that Jiang Cheng hates skirting around things like this as much as Nie Huaisang does.

“This is different. Not casual. Stop worrying. Got it.” Nie Huaisang nods.

Jiang Cheng squints at him. “Nie Huaisang, I volunteered to stay the night. I’m touching you all over, which I never do for anyone. Right now, I can hardly stop kissing you. C’mon. Put it together.”

Nie Huaisang couldn’t help but laugh, just lightly, careful not to make Jiang Cheng think he’s making fun of his long and honest answer.

Then he stops when Jiang Cheng tugs gently at his hand.

“What about you?” Jiang Cheng asks, much more confident than Nie Huaisang had been. “What do you want?”

Nie Huaisang looks up at him for a beat, and maybe it’s something to do with how blunt Jiang Cheng is, with his answers and asking his own question, that Nie Huaisang just blurts out his answer, unfiltered-

“Honestly, I think I’d let you do anything to me.”

Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes, exasperated. ”Huaisang.”

“Wait-” Nie Huaisang starts to giggle, having realized what he just said. Then he yelps when Jiang Cheng pokes at a ticklish spot on his side. “Ahhh! No, don’t do that…!”

Jiang Cheng looks at him pointedly this time. “Be serious.”

“Okay, okay! Don’t poke me again!” he begs, swatting at Jiang Cheng’s hand. He is still laughing a bit when the man’s hand settles on a… safer spot.

“So?” Jiang Cheng prompts, expectant.

“Well, you know I’m into…” Nie Huaisang waves a hand vaguely, before just gesturing to the entirety of Jiang Cheng in general. “…all this. The whole thing. You. So I kinda mean it? I’m okay with most things… I’d tell you if something doesn’t feel right to me… Right now I’m really, really enjoying the… touchy-ness, though.”

Jiang Cheng nods, taking it in. “Sure…”

“But also…”

This is where Nie Huaisang lets a hint of hesitation show, but when he considers how much Jiang Cheng had shared with him, he tries his best to push through.

“I have… days when I can’t get into it? Any of it. No matter how much I like my partner. But it passes! I get over it eventually. It’s mostly just, um… bad body image days. They just… get to me like that.”

He smiles when Jiang Cheng drops a kiss to his forehead but doesn’t say anything, letting him continue. He really can be so sweet.

“And… um. I think like you, I… It’s been… a while… since I’ve had… someone. So if it’s okay with you, I want to… take this part slow-ish, I think?”

“I’m good with that.” Jiang Cheng says. “So what are we doing now, then?”

“I wanna keep kissing. You’re so good at it…” Nie Huaisang sighs, throwing his arms around Jiang Cheng’s neck, but not pulling him down yet. “But this is so comfy and I am getting sleepy… Ugh, why do I want to sleep all the time so bad…?”

Jiang Cheng smirks. “Y’know, I bet your bed is more comfy. For kissing and sleeping. Why are we on the couch anyway? We can hardly fit in here.”

“Uh. You’re the one who grabbed me and started ravishing me right here?”

“Never use that word again.”

Nie Huaisang laughs, before leaning up and meeting Jiang Cheng in a sweet kiss.

“Hey, thanks for checking in with me.” Jiang Cheng mumbles, when their lips part. “I appreciate it.”

“I had to. I want this to work.” is all Nie Huaisang says. Then he smiles up at Jiang Cheng, curious. “So… you really want to move to my bed?”

“Hm. Mostly to sleep.” Jiang Cheng admits, as he nuzzles Nie Huaisang’s cheek. “I have to get back home early tomorrow so I don’t show up to work in yesterday’s clothes and lose all my credibility.”

“I see… Well, we can’t have that, can we, Dr. Jiang?”

“Nope.” Jiang Cheng says, pushing himself up and off Nie Huaisang. “C’mon. Before we end up needing muscle patches because of this couch. We’re not teenagers anymore, A-Sang.”

“It’s not that bad???” Nie Huaisang pouts, latching on to Jiang Cheng’s hand stubbornly. “My couch is nice…”

Jiang Cheng tugs back. “Well, your choice. I can be more touchy on the bed, though. I thought you were into that.”

“Okaaaay…” Nie Huaisang sighs, and finally lets the other man pull him back up to a sitting position.

That’s when Jiang Cheng’s phone rings.

He reaches over to pick it up from the center table and immediately groans. “It’s my brother.”

“Wei-xiong?” Nie Huaisang asks, tugging his shirt back down. Ah, Jiang Cheng really had been quite touchy, wow… Nie Huaisang can get used to that.

Jiang Cheng nods. “So. If he’s calling for something unreasonable, you tell him to go away.”

Nie Huaisang blinks. “Me?”

“Yeah, it’ll shut him up.” Jiang Cheng says, with the rare mischievous grin. He taps the answer button and puts it on speaker mode. “Hello?”

“Heeeeeyyyy, A-Cheng! Listen, listen – I know it’s raining, but I have the car tonight so what do you say we go out for some drinks-”

“Wei Ying, it is a weekday night. The answer is no.” Jiang Cheng says, rolling his eyes. He feels Nie Huaisang cozy up to his side, propping his head on his shoulder to listen in.

“Eh? But you came with me last time, that was a weekday too…”

“You got lucky then, catching me going home from work. Not this time.” Jiang Cheng huffs. “And we’re already meeting up on Wednesday for lunch, aren’t we?”

“Aww, but that’s two tomorrows! I wanna hang out with my brother more… Lan Zhan hangs out with his brother all the time…”

“You can also hang out with Lan Zhan’s brother if you’re so inclined. I won’t stop you.”

Nie Huaisang has to hide his laughter in Jiang Cheng’s shoulder.

“You know what I mean! And- and-… Listen, I was thinking maybe you and me can invite Nie-xiong too since he missed out last time-”

At this point, Jiang Cheng just hands his phone to Nie Huaisang, who grins in delight as he takes it. He puts on his most sugary, sweet, cheerful voice to answer.

“Hiiiii, Wei-xiong~ A-Cheng can’t come with you tonight… So sorry! Oh, and I can’t go either… Thanks for thinking about me though, maybe next time?”

“Wh- N-Nie-xiong-?! Is that you?! What’re you doing with-”

“Okay, good niiiiight, byeeeee~!”

“What the f-”

And then Jiang Cheng taps the button to hang up.

Nie Huaisang hands him back his phone, yawning. “Bed?”

Jiang Cheng takes the phone, leans over to kiss Nie Huaisang once, and says, “Bed.”

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Jiang Cheng wakes up to his phone alarm aware that he is in an unfamiliar bed, that his limbs are tangled with another person’s, and that it’s really early.

At least Nie Huaisang’s curtains were drawn closed, so he didn’t have sun just shining right on his face as he opens his eyes. Small blessings.

Jiang Cheng finds himself as the big spoon to his still sleeping companion. Nie Huaisang’s shirt has slipped down one shoulder in his sleep, and it’s this sliver of bare skin that Jiang Cheng presses a sleepy kiss to before he scoops Nie Huaisang into his arms again and cuddles him.

He dozes off again, but pretty soon the second alarm rings, and he groans as he reaches out to turn it off. He didn’t want to wake Nie Huaisang up, who still appears to be sleeping peacefully, content with the feeling of arms around him.

For a while, he just lies there, holding Nie Huaisang, nose buried in dark brown hair. He should go, really soon. He still has to go back to his place before heading out to the clinic to start the day. He knows Nie Huaisang knows this too, and wouldn’t be surprised or upset if he woke up alone.

With a sigh, Jiang Cheng carefully withdraws from their tangle and sits up. He stretches his arms, then looks down at the sleeping man. Nie Huaisang has turned in his sleep, frowning slightly now, too quick to feel the loss of the warm body against his.

After a moment of consideration, Jiang Cheng leans down, brushing Nie Huaisang’s hair away from his face.

“A-Sang,” he calls, voice soft but hoarse from sleep. “Hey. I have to go now.”

Nie Huaisang stirs awake, very slowly. He blinks blearily and reaches a hand out. Jiang Cheng takes it, and drops a kiss to his fingers.

“But it’s so early…” Nie Huaisang says, mostly to the pillows.

“That’s kind of the point.” Jiang Cheng chuckles. “I’ll see myself out, okay? Go back to sleep.”

“Mm’kay… Take care?”

“Sure.” He simply leans down and gives Nie Huaisang a kiss on the cheek, pulls the blanket up to the man’s shoulders, and finally gets off the bed.

He leaves his borrowed shirt on the laundry basket, does a last minute check of his belongings and of Nie Huaisang’s windows and locks, and then exits the apartment, making sure the door is locked and secure behind him.

He yawns again, makes his way down the building stairs and towards the gates, so close to getting out without incident-

“Mr. Jiang?” comes a voice that is familiar to Jiang Cheng, if only because it’s a voice he hears almost everyday, greeting him whenever he steps foot inside the bakery and asking for his order-

Jiang Cheng turns back to look behind him. The girl is wearing a comfortable pair of pajamas underneath a thick, cozy sweater. She has a fluffy headband on her head. She is carrying two big bags of trash.

Huh. How could he forget? She lives in this same building. Her brother’s partner owns it.

“A-Qing.” Jiang Cheng says, doing his best to look like it’s a completely normal thing for him to… be here. “Good morning.”

“Uh-…? G-Good morning?” A-Qing blinks, looks back towards the apartment building and then back at Jiang Cheng. “Are you… here to visit someone?”

“Ah, I am heading out now, actually.” Jiang Cheng says, in his most casual tone. “Have a nice day, A-Qing.”

“A-Ah-… Okay- Have a nice day too, Mr. Jiang…?”

And then he is out the gates, and speed-walking down the sidewalk.

Dammit, and he almost got away with it.

Wait. Got away with what, exactly?

Nevermind. It’s just A-Qing. She’s a nice girl. She will probably blab about this to… well, maybe Xiao Xingchen, or Song Lan, or both. That’s fine. Those two are chill. But A-Qing’s boss is Jiang Yanli. So there’s that. The girl also works with Jin Ling. So that’s two from Jiang Cheng’s family-

Jiang Cheng shrugs. Why is he worried? It’s not like he has to hide the fact that he stayed the night at someone else’s place. Maybe his sister already knows, even. Maybe Wei Ying had already told jiejie, after what they pulled on him last night. That wouldn’t be surprising.

Jiang Cheng finds that he doesn’t really mind all that much now. Although he would be lying if he says that he didn’t wish to keep this latest development between just him and Nie Huaisang for a little bit longer. Like with their first few meetings, where it’s just the two of them, and Jiang Cheng didn’t tell anyone else in his life on purpose, because he didn’t want his siblings or anyone else making a big deal out of it.

He just… doesn’t want to make a big deal out of this, he thinks. He loves his family, and he knows they’re enthusiastic about anything new in his life only because they care, but…

Jiang Cheng knows himself. He knows that over the years, he’s done some good, effective work on himself to be calmer, more rational, and less quick to anger – mostly because those are things he needs for his job. He also knows, however, that he still has the tendency to overthink. In a not fun way. And that’s usually directly affected by the people around him. So he knows that if they make this a big deal, he might start thinking that he should also make this a big deal.

And… it isn’t. Not really, he thinks. He’s an adult. Nie Huaisang, also an adult. They were both single, they were friends, now they’re kissing. A perfectly normal development. Sure, it’s been very long since he had last gone on a date. Even longer since he’d been… intimate with someone. And yet still longer since he’d considered the possibility of having an actual romantic relationship. Sure, Nie Huaisang, after last night, might actually be the first person he could maybe call a boyfriend–

Oh. Wait. They haven’t talked about that.

Jiang Cheng stops walking.

They talked a lot last night. Jiang Cheng is glad they did, because some of those conversations were needed — to clear the air, to set some boundaries and prevent possible future misunderstandings… But he can’t remember if they talked about that part.

Huh. Were they really so busy kissing?

Jiang Cheng’s phone chimes – not a call, just another alarm. A third one he had set just in case the first two didn’t wake him up.

Oof. He really has to hurry up now, if he doesn’t want to be late opening the clinic.

So Jiang Cheng keeps walking, picking up his pace.

He can overthink again later. After work. Maybe during break. Whatever.

Or he can just text Nie Huaisang. Tell him he’s overthinking. Nie Huaisang probably would have something funny or cute to say. Maybe he will even be helpful.

Yeah, maybe that second one’s better.

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Jiang Cheng doesn’t need to overthink during his break.

His nephew is sweet enough to do it for him.

Okay, that sounds condescending. He actually means it really nicely.

He goes to the bakery for his usual mid-afternoon break, half-expecting to meet A-Qing’s curious look again, but it turns out she has the day off. He does find Jin Ling in the bakery kitchen though, busy decorating a batch of cupcakes.

“Those are looking good.” Jiang Cheng says, as he looks over at the cupcakes lined on the tray.

It’s an impressive display, the cupcakes topped with different textures and shapes of frosting, edible pearls and little heart-shaped sprinkles.

Jin Ling straightens up on his seat. “Jiujiu.” he blinks. “You’re on break?”

“Yeah. They said you’re back here, all busy. Thought I’d check.” Jiang Cheng takes a sip of his afternoon coffee. “What’re those for? Number cake?”

“Yeah. For an anniversary.” Jin Ling nods, tilting his head towards another table. Jiang Cheng looks over and sees the two big number-shaped cardboard templates. “30 years. That’s crazy, right?”

“It is.” Jiang Cheng chuckles. “So you’re doing all the decorating?”

“Mama said I can have a go at it.” Jin Ling says, as he pipes another cupcake. He looks so much like Yanli like this, taking after her particular way of biting her lip when she’s focusing on detail work. “She said she’ll give me a bonus.”

“Well, it’s looking like you deserve that bonus.” Jiang Cheng keeps his tone even and soft, so he doesn’t distract the kid. He waits until Jin Ling lifts the piping bag off the cupcake first before continuing, “Don’t pressure yourself too much, though. Go tell her if you feel unsure about anything at all, got it?”

“Yeah, gotcha.” Jin Ling nods, then tilts his head to examine a cupcake. “Hey, jiujiu?”

Jiang Cheng takes another sip of coffee. “Hm?”

Jin Ling looks at him. “Uh… I was wondering… are you and Nie-shushu… like. Seeing each other?”

Jiang Cheng pauses, looking back at his nephew with a raised eyebrow. Usually, he wouldn’t entertain questions like this – but Jin Ling looks purely curious, honest, no hint of teasing. If anything, he looked a bit confused.

“What made you ask?” he prompts, making sure he doesn’t sound like he’s outright refusing to answer.

“Err, Qing-jiejie… she mentioned that you were… leaving their building early this morning?” Jin Ling looks sheepish, and a bit guilty. “And Nie-shushu lives there, and she said she doesn’t know anyone else you could be there for… But I know you said last time that you’re friends, even though da-jiu and others keep saying you’re dating or whatever. So did that change or…?”

It figures that A-Qing would tell Jin Ling. They’re friends and close in age, after all. And she knows how close Jin Ling is to his uncle, so of course she would mention this to him.

“I see.” Jiang Cheng says. “Jin Ling, I thought I told you before that it’s not good to listen to gossip.”

“I-… It’s not like that! She just told me…” Jin Ling looks guilty now. “I really didn’t mean to- People just keep telling me things, I don’t know why-”

Okay, now Jiang Cheng feels this might be too mean. He chuckles, to assure Jin Ling that he’s not really angry. “Okay, no, you’re good. Yes, I was at Huaisang’s last night.”

Jin Ling looks at him, almost dropping the piping bag. “Wait! F-For real?! So you-… You two-”

Jiang Cheng stirs his coffee, nonchalant. “If you must know, I came over to have dinner with him and it rained pretty hard so we decided it would be better for me to just stay over.”

Jin Ling nods, looking almost relieved to be ‘corrected’. “Ah… So it’s not like that…”

“Oh, we were definitely also kissing, though.”

“Jiujiu?!” Jin Ling exclaims, promptly scandalized – maybe even horrified – cheeks red. “So it is like that! You are seeing each other?”

Jiang Cheng holds back his laugh, and reaches over to nudge the boy’s elbow so he’s not holding the piping bag precariously over a perfect cupcake. He didn’t want Jin Ling to screw up, not when he’s working very hard.

“Okay, relax. You’re really easy to mess with.”

“So you’re messing with me? What is it, really? Is it-… Is it a secret thing, something like that? That’s why you’re not telling us?”

Deciding not to bully his terribly earnest, awkward nephew anymore, Jiang Cheng lets out a sigh. “Alright. Listen.”

Jin Ling puts the piping bag down, to listen, because he’s a good kid like that.

“You’re not a kid anymore, and I know you hate being patronized, so I’ll just be straight with you.” Jiang Cheng says. “Yes, we’ve been ‘seeing each other’, as you say. We haven’t really bothered with a label, just because it’s really new. It’s not a secret thing. We’re just not in any hurry to announce or anything like that. We’re both busy, it’s difficult enough to make time for each other on top of our usual stuff, so we’re just… doing this on our own pace. You got all that?”

Jin Ling is quiet for a second, and then he nods. “Okay. I think I… get most of it.”

“Good.” Jiang Cheng shrugs. “I think I’d appreciate it if you don’t just blab about this to like, Zizhen or just anyone-”

Now Jin Ling looks at him like he just told a bad joke. “Realistic expectations, jiujiu.”

“Fine.” Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes. “I’d appreciate it if, after your friend gets you to spill somehow, that you also tell him to not go around blabbing to everyone.”

“Okay, I think I can manage that.”

Jiang Cheng watches as his nephew picks the piping bag back up. “Was it bothering you that much?” he asks. “You looked like you were really thinking about it.”

“Oh. I just…” Jin Ling stops to consider. “I got… curious, I guess. It’s just… new?”

“New?”

“And it’s like, fast?”

Jin Ling looks away, which Jiang Cheng knows he does when he’s thinking of how to say things. That bit, he picked up from his father. They’re both awkward like this. Jin Ling is much cuter though.

“I dunno, I just… I can’t remember you being with… anyone? Sorry. Maybe I just never knew, or you just don’t tell us. That’s fine, I get it. But like… with Nie-shushu, you said you just met again, after a really long time… and now you’re… together, kinda? Already?”

“Hm.” Jiang Cheng processes that, doing his best to understand what the kid is trying to say. “You’re wondering why it’s taken me a very long time to be in a relationship.”

“I guess so…” Jin Ling says, now turning a cupcake in his hand, as if studying it. “Ma said you and Nie-shushu were close when you were my age. Did you already like him then? Did you like him all this time, like… were you waiting for him to come back or…?”

And see, this is where Jiang Cheng’s bias comes in – because if it had been anyone else, even his sister, he probably would have bristled against these questions, thinking they were nosy and they were teasing him. But this is Jin Ling, so Jiang Cheng just thinks it’s endearing, how earnestly the boy is just trying to… understand.

“I don’t think it’s like that, not really.” he answers, as patient as he can. “We were close because we were friends. That simple. We did fool around with each other a bit, but we were both kinda just… having fun, it wasn’t really anything serious. So… no, I wasn’t waiting for him all this time or anything like that.”

Jin Ling nods. “So then… you met again, and you really were just back to friends? And then you liked him after? It’s not ‘cause you liked him already before?”

“That’s pretty much it, yeah.” Jiang Cheng shrugs. “I do think it helped… that we already knew each other, that we were already friends. Maybe that’s why, like you said, it feels quite fast. We just had somewhere to pick up from, I guess.”

“So what about-…? So that happens, too?” Jin Ling asks, pursing his lips. “You can… like what you said, fool around, with someone and just… be like that. No, uh… feeling things. And you’re still friends?“

Jiang Cheng thinks about how to answer for a moment. He feels like this conversation might be better had between the boy and his parents, but he can at least clear some things up for now.

“Well… People are all different, Jin Ling. You already know we can have different preferences, in partners, people we’re attracted to, that kinda thing. This goes in the same lane as that. Some people value the physical side of things very much, some think it’s not as important and value the… feelings side more. I know the traditional idea is that both are equally important, but in a relationship, sometimes the people involved just choose to have one be more important over the other.

“Nothing wrong with that. What matters is that everyone involved decide together if they wanna pick just one, or have both, or… I dunno, switch back and forth, which I think seems messy, I don’t get those kinda people, but they’re out there.”

Jin Ling lets out a curious hum, like he’s trying to imagine what that’s like. Jiang Cheng feels pretty much the same.

“And it’s not a one and done thing. Think of it like, having regular check-ups. Because people change over time, like with their priorities and what they have going on in their life and many other things.” Jiang Cheng continues. He thinks about what else he needs to say, or if it’s been enough. “It can be a hassle to think about it too much, but it’s important. So.”

Jin Ling looks down at the cupcakes again. “So… you and Nie-shushu weren’t together, even though you were like… doing stuff. Then he was gone. Then he’s back. Then you’re friends again. You picked up from there and then you’re like dating now?”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much it.” Jiang Cheng nods, then he tilts his head, slightly amused. “That’s what you were concerned about? The timeline?”

“I was confused.” Jin Ling frowns. “Everyone was saying different things. Like da-jiu was talking about you guys kissing. And Mama was saying you were just good friends. And you weren’t saying anything, and I thought you just don’t… do this stuff. But turns out you do. And Nie-shushu is just… I dunno, he’s weird.”

“You think he’s weird?” Jiang Cheng asks, grinning. Oh, he can’t wait to tell Nie Huaisang that this teenager thinks he’s weird.

“I don’t mean it like, in a rude way… Yan-yan likes him. Zizhen thinks he’s cool. But Zizhen is a theater nerd, and also weird.” Jin Ling shrugs. “He’s… nice to me? When he’s around?”

“He’s nice to everyone.” Jiang Cheng says. “Part of his scheme to make everyone think he’s cute.”

Jin Ling looks at his uncle, squinting. “That sounds… not as nice.”

Jiang Cheng lets out a noncommittal shrug. “It’s fine. He’s mostly harmless. He just really likes being cute.”

“Wow. You really like this guy, jiujiu.” Jin Ling says, eyes wide, because Jiang Cheng raised him and he knows a Jiang Cheng compliment when he hears one.

“Yeah. That’s… what’s happening, I guess.” Jiang Cheng shakes his head, chuckling.

“Sure…” Jin Ling doesn’t sound as sure, but it’s obvious to Jiang Cheng that the kid just needs some time to think about it – all of it – a bit more. “I guess… that’s it… Thanks for… telling me?”

“Hey, you asked properly.” is all Jiang Cheng says. He watches as his nephew squeezes the piping bag again and starts decorating the cupcake. “That’s all it takes, sometimes.”

And before Jin Ling can reply, someone basically dances into the kitchen, voice sunny and cheerful. “Ling-ling~ How are the cupcakes going? Oh-! Shushu is here!”

Jiang Cheng narrows his eyes at Ouyang Zizhen. “So are you, Zizhen.”

“I work at the flower shop, shushu.” Zizhen says, grinning brightly, as if that answers anything. As if Jiang Cheng didn’t already know that.

“Yes, and this is a bakery.” Jiang Cheng raises an eyebrow. “Flower shop’s next door. Did you go through the wrong one?”

“I’m just visiting! I wanted to see the cupcakes.” Zizhen answers, as he scoots closer to Jin Ling to look at the cupcakes. “Ah… these look really, really cool, A-Ling…”

“Thanks. Don’t touch any of them. I will kill you.” Jin Ling says, focused on his work.

“Sure, boss. I’m just taking photos. So you can post them on your Insta later.” Ouyang Zizhen says as he takes his phone out and starts looking for a good angle to snap a photo of the cupcakes.

Jin Ling just glances at his friend for a second before turning back to piping. “Make sure the mess isn’t in the frame.”

“But the mess makes it better! Realistic! Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you look cool.”

“Don’t put me in it.” Jin Ling says, whining just a bit.

“Fine, fine. Just your hands!”

Jiang Cheng watches the two in amusement, then his alarm for the end of his break rings out. He turns it off just as quick.

“Alright, I’ll leave you kids to… work.” Jiang Cheng tells both boys. “By the way, A-Ling, I’m having lunch with your da-jiu tomorrow. He mentioned he and A-Yuan will visit the university afterwards… and you’re tagging along?”

“And me! I’m going too.” Ouyang Zizhen chimes in.

“Yeah, there’s a tour or something.” Jin Ling answers. “Yuan-ge already got his acceptance letter and he wants to see what the campus is like.”

Jiang Cheng takes that in. “Hm. And you want to check out their culinary programs.”

Jin Ling nods, this time bashful. “Yeah…”

“That’s good.” Jiang Cheng says. He reaches over to ruffle the boy’s hair. Jin Ling scrunches up his nose, but both of his hands are occupied, so he has no choice but to accept the gesture. “You kids have fun tomorrow. And if Wei Ying annoys you too much, threaten to call me, or your mother.”

“Yes, jiujiu.”

“Zizhen, go back to your shift soon.”

Zizhen grins, already back to taking photos. “Yes, shushu!”

Jiang Cheng gives the boys a last fleeting look.

Zizhen is asking Jin Ling about his “process” claiming it’s for a video, and Jin Ling refuses to answer. Zizhen asks if he can try some of the frosting and opens his mouth, expectant. Jin Ling dumps a whole heap directly on his nose.

Hah. Nice.

Jin Ling had asked Jiang Cheng, earlier, about potentially liking a friend, about how long someone can “wait”, about “fooling around” and feelings. Jiang Cheng didn’t miss how his nephew was blushing when those were brought up.

He leaves to the sound of the boys bickering.

It’s always nice, to spend time with A-Ling. That was a good talk.

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Jiang Cheng comes over with takeout, and they eat it while watching some Godzilla movie. It looks like a newer one. It’s pretty good. Jiang Cheng decides to be a fan of Mothra.

“So A-Ling knows we’re together?”

“Yeah… he had questions.”

“Hm? Like what?”

“Like if I waited for you for 20 years.”

Nie Huaisang laughs in disbelief. “That would be insane.”

“Huh.” Jiang Cheng raises an eyebrow. “I thought you’d find that thing kinda romantic though.”

“Okay. No, maybe like… 5 years or something, would be romantic.” Nie Huaisang says with an amused smile. “20 years waiting, I would be very concerned.”

“Alright. Point taken.” Jiang Cheng concedes. “So you don’t think about it at all, then? That we just had like, so many years in between.”

“Not really.” Nie Huaisang shrugs, then he looks thoughtful. “But that’s pretty romantic too, I think…?”

“You think?”

“Yeah, it was so long, so it’s like I got to meet you twice over.” Nie Huaisang smiles at him. “And I got to kiss you both times! How lucky.”

Jiang Cheng chuckles. “Yeah. Quite lucky.”

In speaking of kisses – he makes sure he gets his kisses in.

Lots of kisses, because that is why Jiang Cheng came over, anyway. He can’t seem to get enough of it, these days.

Then he says good night, both of them deciding it won’t be very practical for him to sleep over tonight, with both of them having early mornings the next day.

Nie Huaisang pretends to sulk, and makes a show of sighing miserably about how he’ll miss Jiang Cheng for the rest of the week.

So Jiang Cheng pins him down on the couch and kisses him some more, and this time he does leave a souvenir near Nie Huaisang’s collarbone.

“Ahhh, nooooo, I was planning on wearing a cute choker tomorrow…”

Jiang Cheng doesn’t fall for the obvious bait. “Well, you still have time to find an alternative.” And because he doesn’t want to be too mean, he drops another kiss to Nie Huaisang’s cheek.

Nie Huaisang accepts the totally unapologetic kiss, and pouts. ”Just because I said you can do anything to me…?”

Jiang Cheng simply chuckles, and starts to grab his jacket. “Tomorrow, this week, whatever… If you have to stay out late, tell me and I’ll see if I can pick you up.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to keep you up so late…” Nie Huaisang frowns slightly, helping him into his jacket sleeves. “I’ll be fine taking the bus, you know. I’ve been doing that since I got here. And we have a buddy system!”

“I know. I wanna do it anyway.” is all Jiang Cheng says. Then he peers at the other’s face. “Unless… you don’t want that at all?”

Nie Huaisang is quick to shake his head. “No, no. I think it’s sweet.” He pats the jacket down neatly, resting his hands on the other’s chest, and sighs. “Alright. But if you’re tired, just let me know too. I really will be fine!”

“Sure.” Jiang Cheng nods. “So this weekend you’re working again?”

“Probably. But unless something goes really really wrong, we won’t need to rush anything. So hopefully it’s less stress than last week. I might even get Sunday off! I’ll let you know, I miss our weekends.”

Jiang Cheng kisses him goodbye and heads on home.

Nie Huaisang sighs against his doorframe as he watches the man go. This break really flew by. He’s not even sure if he was able to do everything he planned to do or catch up on. He loves his job, but going back to work after such a short break sounds miserable now…

Hey, at least he got Jiang Cheng out of this little vacation.

That’s the best kind of vacation.

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to be continued!

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next time:
chapter nine – boyfriend shirt