’til next weekend

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Nie Huaisang may give people the impression that he isn’t a morning person, but he has lived and worked on a farm for years. If he really wanted to, he can get himself to be up, awake and alert before sunrise.

That’s what he does today, on the big day. Nie Huaisang gets up early, makes his preparations, eats his breakfast, packs his things, and then calls home.

“Goooooood morning, da-ge!” he greets, all cheer and energy while he waters the plants on his windowsill.

Nie Mingjue had picked up quick. Of course he’s also already awake and working at this time.

“Hey. Opening show today?”

“Yep!”

There’s a pause.

“Hm… and we’re starting with this energy?”

Nie Huaisang laughs. “I don’t know what I will do if I don’t go with this energy, da-ge. I will start to think about stuff and maybe throw up.”

“Yikes.”

He can just see his big brother’s scrunched up face now.

“Okay, keep it up. But also chill a little. It’s like, 7 AM. I know you gotta start early today but that’s many many hours to go, Huaisang. Remember to breathe.”

“Yes, da-ge. I’ll be fine! I survived Hell Week!”

“You sure did. How’d your new boyfriend deal with you then? You get crazy around that time.”

Nie Huaisang can’t help but let out a sigh, thinking about his very busy and harrowing week before.

“Ah… he was really sweet and supportive… He picked me up from rehearsals and called me lots to make sure I was eating and stuff… and he confiscated my Tamagotchi! Well it’s his Tamagotchi, or like, his nephew’s-… Whatever. I think it’s good he took it back… What was I thinking, starting that thing up while on Hell Week? That was on me. So A-Cheng has been great!”

There’s another pause, as Nie Mingjue processes all that.

“Good.”

Then after another moment-

”So now you go to Actual Hell Day, yeah? I know how your nerves get on these. Just take deep breaths.”

“Yeah, yeah, you said that already…” Nie Huaisang says airily. He’s done watering the plants, so he sets the watering can aside and sits down. He is quiet for a second. “Hey, da-ge?”

“What?”

“Thank you.” Nie Huaisang says, his voice and his smile both soft as he looks out the window and into the early morning sky. “For pushing me to get back out here and… do this again. It’s been really fun.”

The other line falls quiet – and through that quiet, some sounds bleeds through. Nie Huaisang can almost hear the rustling of wind and the chirping of birds back in Qinghe.

Nie Mingjue asks, cutting through the white noise –

“So you’re having fun, then?”

“Yeah…”

“Well, so don’t talk like it’s your last? You sound like you’re only doing this the one time and then going back home forever. Stay there and make your costumes as long you want. You don’t have to go back here. Just attend my funeral maybe.”

“Da-ge! That’s not funny!” Nie Huaisang frowns. “Of course I’m going back after this! I miss you!”

“Well, I don’t miss you. You keep whining at me even from far away.”

Nie Mingjue then he lets out a sigh, the one Nie Huaisang is familiar with – the one sigh he does when he wants Nie Huaisang to just… listen.

”But I mean it. Don’t worry about me. You’ve done that enough already. Just do the fun things.”

Nie Huaisang bites back the urge to argue with the same tone. No, they are not doing this anymore, specially not today.

He takes a deep breath, like his brother told him to, and makes sure he sounds firm and sure when he says, “I will worry about you forever because that’s what you do for me.” He waits a moment, just in case his brother says anything. When he is met with silence, he smiles and continues, “And I will go home after the show run. Because I want to. Until they call me back again for another show! Or maybe sooner, ‘cause I’ve got a really cool boyfriend here. Then I’ll be off your hair again, okay?”

He knows his da-ge has more things to say, but all he hears is a carefully neutral reply.

“Sure.”

Then a grunt, because of course da-ge is working again.

“Break a leg, A-Sang.”

“I will! Love you, da-ge.”

“I love you. Seriously though, which one of the chickens should I cook for when you come back-”

“Bye, da-ge!”

Nie Huaisang hangs up, because he will not be rage-baited on his big day. Nope!

He gets up, picks up his bag, pockets his phone and checks his keys before he closes the door behind him.

12 hours to showtime.

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The opening night show always starts earlier than what would be the show’s regular schedule. That’s because they have have scheduled interviews with press and publications before the show, and the cast need to have their photos taken and to record some videos for social media promotion. Then after the show, there will be some speeches and an encore performance of one of the musical numbers for more promo, the cast meet-and-greet with the audience, and of course an after-party.

It will be a packed night of performance after a packed day of preparations. Even though it really is the cast, the writers and directors who would be the stars of the event, Nie Huaisang and the rest of the backstage staff are the ones who have their hands full making sure everything runs smoothly for them.

Nie Huaisang manages to squeeze in a call with Jiang Cheng throughout all of this, just an hour before curtain-up.

“So you’re on your way, then?”

“Yeah, I’m about to leave the apartment. I should make it there with time to spare.”

“Great! Things are really busy here now.”

“Mm. Am I the only one coming tonight? Jiejie and the kids are going on another date, you said?”

“Oh, there’s Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen. I gave them opening night tickets too. But yeah, for Yanli-jie, A-Yu gave them tickets for the student special date.”

“Student special?”

“Oh, it’s really just a regular show, just that we expect the audience to be mostly students for that, ‘cause they get a discount. The actors and some of us staff will have a Q&A afterwards, with the kids as the priority. The company’s also giving like, free merch and promo stuff. Y’know, for kids looking to get into those summer programs and such…”

“Ah. Yeah, that’s a better fit for them, then.”

Nie Huaisang can hear the now familiar sound of a motorcycle engine.

“So tonight, I’m not gonna see you until after, then?”

Nie Huaisang sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah… Sorry, your boyfriend is not a fancy actor.

Jiang Cheng chuckles.

“That’s fine. I don’t do well with cameras anyway.”

“Nonsense! You do too well with cameras, you mean.” Someone is waving Nie Huaisang over, and Nie Huaisang raises a hand to acknowledge them. “Ah, I have to go now, A-Cheng!”

“Sure. Break a leg. Did I do that right? Mingjue-ge threatened me that that’s what I should say.”

Nie Huaisang laughs. Of course da-ge did that – “It’s perfect. Take care on our way, okay?”

“Yep.”

He hangs up, and rushes back to work. There is still much to do. Get every actor, singer and dancer in their costume. Last minute checks, prepping for the quick changes, checking that everyone and everything are in their place.

Nie Huaisang couldn’t get back to his phone, but he knows from a quick check earlier that he’s got a bunch of sweet and lovely good luck messages from friends and family to go through later. Maybe one of them is Jiang Cheng telling him he’s arrived and is getting into his seat, waiting for the show to start.

Mo Xuanyu appears out of nowhere and clings to him, saying that he’s nervous and excited and happy and scared and a lot of other things. Nie Huaisang laughs and pats the kid’s back.

“C’mon, A-Yu. Breathe, and chin up. You don’t wanna miss your first curtain-up.”

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The next two hours is a rush that Nie Huaisang hasn’t felt in a while, but he savors it. It’s a whirlwind of musical numbers, a revolving door of actors needing costume, wig and make-up changes, and rushing backstage for props and cues. It’s harrowing and stressful, and several people have indeed snapped a few times during the run. Nie Huaisang is quite proud to say he kept his composure though, and managed to do everything that needed to be done and then some.

Then before he knew it, their cast is doing their bows and then performing an encore musical number. Then their lead actor is giving a speech and calling for everyone – from their directors, production and backstage staff – on the stage, so they can all take their first curtain call for the show together.

Nie Huaisang holds his fellow company members’ hands, as they bow to audience applause, cheers and whistles.

He is so tired. He is so happy. The backstage is filled with cheers, hugs, so many hugs, and maybe some tears.

Afterwards, he helps the actors back into their “main costumes”, the ones they will wear to meet and greet the audience and take photos with them in the main hall of the theater.

When all that is done, he finally gets the time to go out there as well, and… mingle.

Their director introduces him as their costume designer to several important people that Nie Huaisang couldn’t possibly memorize the names of, but they all congratulate him on a successful show and compliment his work. Nie Huaisang is elated to be recognized, and makes sure he thanks them properly for their support of the show.

After that, he comes across Madame Gong, who gives him her congratulations too. He knew that she was sent an invite and complementary tickets by the company itself, because they were big fans of her theater. She looks resplendent in her dress and her fur-lined coat. If Nie Huaisang didn’t know better, he’d think she’s one of the actors.

Among the chaos and lively atmosphere of people interviewing, taking pictures and just happily talking about the show, Nie Huaisang tries and fails to spot Jiang Cheng in the crowd. He wonders if his boyfriend might have chosen to sit this part out and wait outside, like he always did-

“Nie-xiong, congratulations!”

Nie Huaisang turns and grins when he sees Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen, who both congratulate him. Song Lan hands him a small bouquet of flowers.

“Aw, you guys, you didn’t have to…” Nie Huaisang says, accepting the bouquet with an appreciative smile.

Song Lan shakes his head. “When you placed the bouquet orders for the actors and the directors, I noticed you didn’t have one-”

“-and you deserve one! The costumes were amazing, Nie-xiong!” Xiao Xingchen says, finishing his partner’s sentence.

“Thank you…” Nie Huaisang sighs, and pulls Xiao Xingchen into a friendly hug, which the man happily returns. He’s the affectionate one of the duo. Song Lan, on his turn, only nods and smiles lightly.

Then, he remembers – “Um, by any chance, have you guys seen Jiang-xiong tonight? He was on his way when he last called…”

“Oh.” Xiao Xingchen blinks, and he exchanges a look with his partner before they both shake their heads. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we have. I’m sure he came to see you, though!”

“He could be waiting somewhere else.” Song Lan adds, now also looking around, being the tallest among their little crowd.

“Yeah, maybe…” Nie Huaisang nods, and finally takes his phone out to check there – maybe Jiang Cheng sent him a message-

Oh.

Among the tons of congratulatory messages from friends and family, he has a missed call.

Three missed calls. From Jiang Cheng.

That’s… That shouldn’t be weird, Nie Huaisang thinks. He has been busy. Of course he would miss calls.

But he can’t help but have a bad feeling about these ones.

And just as he thinks about calling back, his phone rings, and it’s another call from Jiang Cheng, waiting for him to pick up-

“Oh, there, he must be calling to tell you where he’s at.” Xiao Xingchen says, all positivity, when he notices what Nie Huaisang is looking at on his phone screen.

“Y-Yeah…” Nie Huaisang says, smiling at his friend. “I… I’m gonna go and answer this! Thank you guys again, glad you enjoyed the show!”

The pair is happy to wave him off, as Nie Huaisang rushes to a quieter spot in the hall to answer the call.

“H-Hello?”

He notes how quiet it is, on Jiang Cheng’s end.

“Ah. You picked up. You-… You’re done? I mean, with the show?”

Nie Huaisang frowns. Jiang Cheng should know that the show is over, right?

“Um, yeah, the cast is just here entertaining the guests-… A-Cheng, where are you?”

“Hey. I-… Okay. So… um. I need you to stay calm.”

“I-… What do you mean-”

“Sorry, I wasn’t able to make it. I’m… in the hospital.”

“What?!”

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Nie Huaisang rushes through the hospital halls, as quick as he can without outright running.

It’s fine. It’s okay. Jiang Cheng is not in the hospital. Okay, Jiang Cheng is in the hospital, but he’s fine. He’s not sick or injured or any of the horrible things that went through Nie Huaisang’s head during that call.

Jiang Cheng is okay – physically, at least. But he sounded tired and off over the phone, bad enough for Nie Huaisang to tell his team that there’s an emergency and he has to leave immediately. They understood, and thanked him for his work. He’s also very grateful that he ran into Song Lan and Xiao Xingchen again on his way out, and they didn’t hesitate to offer him a ride.

Jiang Cheng is sitting alone on a bench across a private hospital room. He sees Nie Huaisang coming, and stands up to meet him.

“I told you, you didn’t have to come.” Jiang Cheng says, even as he pulls Nie Huaisang into a tight hug.

“Of course I have to!” Nie Huaisang says, hugging him back just as tight. He feels Jiang Cheng kiss the top of his head. He lets go slightly so he can look at his boyfriend. “How’s Uncle Yang doing?”

“He’s… stable now.” Jiang Cheng answers. He looks relieved to say this, closing his eyes and sighing. “He’s up again, actually. He’s in there, being scolded by Auntie.”

Nie Huaisang blinks. “That’s good, right? He’s safe now. What happened again?”

“It’s so stupid.” Jiang Cheng says, leaning forward to rest his head on Nie Huaisang’s shoulder. Nie Huaisang has never heard someone sound so distraught and exasperated at the same time. “A-Sang… he almost died eating mochi.”

“He-… W-What?” Nie Huaisang asks, feeling terrible that he almost laughed.

“He was eating mochi. He choked on one. Fell over.”

Jiang Cheng sounds wrecked – like he wants to cry and laugh and scream. So maybe Nie Huaisang is valid.

“I know. I want to laugh now. But it scared the shit out of me earlier.”

“Okay.” Nie Huaisang says, voice faint. “Yeah, that sounds-… But he’s okay now, right?”

Jiang Cheng shrugs, but it’s more a tired shrug than anything. “Well, he sprained his ankle, so there’s that. We’re observing for signs of concussion, since he fell. And then there’s his age too, so they had to do a lot of other tests, and we’re waiting on the results of those now.”

Nie Huaisang processes this, and then looks up at Jiang Cheng again, reaching up to cup his face. “And are you okay?”

“I…” Jiang Cheng pauses, for a second. “I still have it together, so far.”

That looks like an honest statement, Nie Huaisang thinks – but he knows what Jiang Cheng really means. He still has it together now, but doesn’t know how long until the events catch up to him and he… doesn’t have it together anymore. Uncle Yang is basically family to him, no wonder he looks rattled.

“One of us had to be calm.” Jiang Cheng continues. “Auntie was… in a state.”

Nie Huaisang looks towards the closed hospital door. He didn’t notice earlier, but now he can see through the little window, Uncle Yang sitting up on the bed, leaning on a stack of pillows, and an elderly woman sitting by him.

Jiang Cheng notes him looking, and he slides a hand to Nie Huaisang’s back, nudging gently. “C’mon, he’ll be glad to see you.”

Nie Huaisang lets Jiang Cheng lead him inside the room, and they walk in on Auntie Yang in the middle of scolding her husband.

“-and the label said to cut it in smaller pieces if you’re an elderly! We are never getting those wretched things again, do you hear me- O-Oh?”

The woman stops abruptly, blinking still-teary eyes at their new guest. She covers her flustered face with her handkerchief.

“Oh… Look, dear, it’s Mr. Nie…” Uncle Yang says – and he sounds terrible, voice very rough and faint. He coughs after that sentence. He still smiles very kindly at Nie Huaisang. “I hope the show went well? Sorry for being the reason A-Cheng couldn’t make it-”

“Uncle, they said not to talk too much.” Jiang Cheng shakes his head.

“Don’t worry about that, Uncle.” Nie Huaisang says, smiling back. “I’m just glad to see you’re okay…”

Auntie Yang turns to her husband to scold him again – “See, you even troubled this very lovely young man!” Then she sends a warm, lovely smile to Nie Huaisang. “It’s very nice to meet our young Dr. Jiang’s fiance. So kind of you to check up on my stupid husband.”

Huh. Fiance. Both Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang turn to Uncle Yang with narrowed eyes, because there really can be only one source of this misinformation. The man blinks awkwardly at them before going into a coughing fit. They can’t quite tell if it’s real or not, but he does ask for water afterwards, and Jiang Cheng is quick to go over the side table and fetch him a glass.

Jiang Cheng fusses over Uncle Yang as he does so, checking on the old man’s IV, asking if his back hurts, or if he’s feeling any other symptoms, or even side effects of medications. All in a very methodical and practiced manner. A reminder to Nie Huaisang that his boyfriend is a medical professional.

As this is happening, Nie Huaisang notices that Auntie Yang is sniffling into her handkerchief again. He has never met Auntie Yang, but she is probably his Granny’s age. He doesn’t hesitate to go over to the woman’s side, sit beside her and rub her back.

“I’m sure it’ll all be fine, Auntie…” he says, in the same fond tone he uses to talk to his own aunties back at home.

“Thank you… Oh, dear… You are very sweet…” the woman says, leaning into him. “Ah, I almost lost this foolish man-… And to what? What will I tell our friends, our daughter? What do I write in his gravestone? He ate too much dessert? So embarrassing…”

“I think at least it will make people laugh.” Uncle Yang says.

Jiang Cheng shakes his head at the old man, resigned.

Auntie Yang glares at her husband. “And there are more tests, and what if those aren’t as good?”

“They’re routine tests, Auntie.” Jiang Cheng says, in the calm and careful tone he uses for talking to his own patients’ fur parents. “Just to check his overall health. And I bet it’s just so they have a reference for what medication and recovery plans to recommend for Uncle.”

“Oh, I hope so.” Auntie Yang nods. She turns to the young man beside her then. “We’re so sorry to keep A-Cheng from your show tonight, dear… But I don’t know what I would have done without him. He got here so fast, and he looked after me and helped me understand what the doctors were saying! Our daughter is a plane ride away, you see… So I’m glad to have A-Cheng to call on…”

“It’s really no trouble, Auntie.” Jiang Cheng reassures her, as he takes a free seat on the other side of the bed.

Nie Huaisang nods. “Yeah, there’ll be many other shows for A-Cheng to go to. It’s just opening night.”

“Ah.” Jiang Cheng coughs. “I got you flowers, by the way.” He gestures awkwardly at the bouquet now on Uncle Yang’s bedside table. “But… yeah.”

Nie Huaisang blinks at him, looks at the lovely bouquet, and then laughs lightly. “That’s okay, I think Uncle can have them.”

Uncle Yang wheezes – in what they can tell is an attempt to laugh with him. “I can give you new flowers to make up for taking these ones, Mr. Nie.”

That does make Auntie Yang laugh as well. Finally. She really has been crying for hours at this point.

Then the door opens, and Miss Liu steps inside, cheeks and nose red, eyes teary, looking very very worried. “S-Sorry. Doc told me-… Uncle? Are you okay? What happened?”

Uncle Yang coughs, and drinks first before nodding. “Ah… Miss Liu… I’m okay now, sorry for worrying you.”

Miss Liu closes the door behind her. She looks different from her usual prim and proper clinic secretary self, wearing only a big hoodie, baggy jeans, and a backpack. “You scared me! I bought those mochi! You asked me to buy them from that one store! Didn’t you see the choking hazard warning in the label?”

“I told him that.” Auntie Yang says. “And don’t blame yourself, my girl. It’s my husband’s fault, entirely.”

“Oh, Auntie-”

“Meilin,” Jiang Cheng calls. “I think you’re missing your passenger.”

“Huh?” Miss Liu blinks, then takes her backpack- no, her pet carrier, from her back, and finds it empty. “Fuck, Lulu is still in the car! I’ll be back!”

Then she’s out the door again, probably to rescue her poor cat from her car.

“Miss Liu is really different outside working hours.” Nie Huaisang says, sending a bemused look towards Jiang Cheng across the room, who just shrugs at him.

“She’s a very nice girl.” Auntie Yang says. “I will tell her to never listen to my husband anymore when he asks her to buy him desserts.”

Uncle Yang then asks Nie Huaisang about his show and until when it will run, remarking that he does want to go see it. Auntie Yang sighs and takes this moment to scold him again and tell him that he better hope he gets well again before that, because she actually had been looking to buy tickets.

Nie Huaisang kinda wants to cry upon learning that, but he puts himself together because what use is he in here if he cries too?

A few minutes later, a nurse comes in.

“Good evening, sir, madam… The test results are almost in, but the doctor has some clarifications about the patient’s medical history.” She scans the room’s occupants, and then her gaze lands on Jiang Cheng. “Maybe your son can help us with them?”

Nie Huaisang has only been here less than an hour, but from what Jiang Cheng had told him about the events earlier, he wouldn’t blame the nurse for assuming that the younger man who helped bring in the patient and was supporting the old man’s wife through the crisis is their son.

He sees Jiang Cheng blink, about to say something, perhaps to correct the nurse-

“Yes, A-Cheng would know enough, I think.” Uncle Yang says.

Auntie Yang nods. “Can you do it, dear? I’m afraid I’m still feeling pretty faint. It seems my legs have really given out on me… But if you miss some things, I’ll go…”

Jiang Cheng looks at them both, and slowly, he nods. “Of course. Don’t worry about it.” He stands up, and follows the nurse out the room.

As they wait, Nie Huaisang feels Auntie Yang pat his hand. “He is, you know.” she says, softly. “Our son. In a way. He was very young when he started helping out my husband, and even now he puts up with this old fool.”

Nie Huaisang looks at the old woman, and then at her husband on the hospital bed, who is looking back at them with a small smile.

“He’s got a good heart, that one.” Auntie Yang continues, looking at Nie Huaisang. “Take care of him, will you, dear?”

Nie Huaisang takes a breath, feeling choked up by this sudden earnest, heartfelt request by this woman he just met barely an hour ago. Ah, why is about to cry again?

He only nods, and smiles back. “I’ll try my best, Auntie.”

Miss Liu comes back, now with Lulu on her back. Uncle Yang instantly asks to hold the cat.

Jiang Cheng returns as well, with the doctor in tow. They all listen to the doctor’s assessment of Uncle Yang’s condition, and what they should do next. Uncle Yang has no trouble keeping up with the instructions, while Jiang Cheng helps explain the doctor’s words to a tired Auntie Yang.

After the doctor leaves, Jiang Cheng and Miss Liu start to make arrangements. Miss Liu will take Auntie Yang home and help her pack whatever they need while Uncle Yang is in the hospital. She volunteers to stay over to assist Auntie Yang at least until the Yangs’ daughter arrives the next day. Jiang Cheng will take care of everything else in the clinic, and will also look in on Uncle Yang when he can.

Nie Huaisang notes that they have stopped using formal honorifics and titles by now – they’re just Uncle, Auntie, A-Cheng and Meilin.

He realizes then that just as he got reacquainted and introduced to Jiang Cheng’s big family back in Jiang Yanli’s party a month ago… He has now met another family of Jiang Cheng’s. This time, it’s a family that he found… or perhaps they found him. A paternal mentor who looked after him and is proud of him, a mother figure who relies on and appreciates him, and the spunky but caring younger sibling that he never had.

He already had this impression of them, from weeks ago, when they had that lunch together. He thought he might have been reading into things too soon. Tonight just confirmed it, though.

And the thing is, he doesn’t feel like a stranger, intruding. He feels like he’s new, of course. But it surprises him how he already feels like he’s part of all this, somehow.

Soon they’re saying goodbye for the night. Uncle Yang is stable and feeling better, ready to sleep now that he’s also been cleared of any signs of concussion.

Nie Huaisang is surprised but touched to get a warm hug from Auntie Yang, before she goes and lets Jiang Cheng escort her to Miss Liu’s car.

When Jiang Cheng gets back to him, he’s already in his motorcycle.

“Hey.” Jiang Cheng says, as he hands Nie Huaisang the spare helmet. “You okay?”

Nie Huaisang nods, smiling softly. “I’m good. I just… I hate being in hospitals, you know. After… after da-ge’s whole thing.”

Jiang Cheng nods. “I get it.” he sighs, reaching a hand out to Nie Huaisang’s face, thumb caressing his cheek. “Sorry, I know you expected your night to end up different.”

“Yeah, this whole day’s pretty crazy.”

Jiang Cheng nods, fully agreeing while looking like he is also still processing it all. “It is that. To think I talked to my mother earlier and it wasn’t even the craziest shit to happen today.”

“You-… What?”

“I’ll tell you on another time.” Jiang Cheng sighs. “It wasn’t bad. It was… fine. I’m fine. We’re fine.” he says like he is also trying to convince himself of it.

“Okay.” Nie Huaisang says, letting it slide this time. “I’m glad everything turned out fine.”

“Yeah. Thank God it did.” Jiang Cheng takes a breath. “So… where am I taking you? Isn’t there an after-party thing…?”

“Oh. That. I-… Yeah, I had an outfit ready and everything… I can probably make it, too.” Nie Huaisang lets out a sheepish laugh that fades into a sigh. “I think… I think I’ll skip, though. I think the adrenaline has worn off? They’ll understand. I said it was a family emergency.”

“It was.” Jiang Cheng says.

Nie Huaisang looks at him, taking that in. Then he nods, and smiles. “It was.”

“So where do you wanna go?”

“Home.” Nie Huaisang says.

A nod. Then Jiang Cheng asks, “Which one?”

“Which one’s closer?”

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Nie Huaisang steals the top half of Jiang Cheng’s pajamas, claiming that Jiang Cheng doesn’t wear it anyway. He’s right, but Jiang Cheng has a reputation to maintain so he acts annoyed for a full minute, and Nie Huaisang pouts right back at him.

All that just leads to Nie Huaisang being kissed breathless on Jiang Cheng’s bed, gasping as Jiang Cheng’s hands tease him under the borrowed button-up. He kisses Jiang Cheng back, just open and sweet, savoring the feeling of both the warmth of the other’s bare torso and the softness of the sheets and pillows beneath him.

But it is late, and they’ve both had a long day that is both physically and mentally exhausting, so soon they just find themselves lying on the bed, facing each other.

“So how was the show?” Jiang Cheng asks, after a moment of extended silence.

And it’s almost too abrupt, too random at this point of their night – that Nie Huaisang laughs, a light laugh.

“It was great. Like, really great. The audience liked it… I’m just… proud of it. And happy. I’m happy.”

“That’s good.” Jiang Cheng says, reaching out to rest his hand on the other’s waist. “I really feel terrible I didn’t make it.”

“I told you, there are more shows.” Nie Huaisang reassures him, stroking his hair. “Your people needed you tonight, like mine needed me. That’s fine.”

“Maybe I’ll go with jiejie and the kids, then. To see it. For real this time.”

“Okay.” Nie Huaisang smiles. “Tell Uncle Yang not to eat mochi on that day, okay?”

“I doubt Auntie will ever let any mochi within five feet of him, to be honest.”

They laugh again, low and quiet, in the dark of the room.

“You mentioned a thing with your mother?” Nie Huaisang asks, voice soft, tentative.

“Ah. Yeah. It really isn’t a big deal, I mean it.” Jiang Cheng sighs. “I ran into her earlier today, at the bakery. She was there for jiejie. It was… okay. Wasn’t as bad as it used to be.”

“Hm. That’s good?”

“It’s good.” A deep breath. “She does know I’m seeing someone, though. I bet she’ll start hinting about meeting you soon, but.” Jiang Cheng then takes Nie Huaisang’s hand playing with his hair, and presses a kiss to his fingers. “For now, that’s not important.”

This kind of easy, soft affection never fails to make Nie Huaisang smile. “Sure.”

“It’ll be fine.”

Ah. Nie Huaisang hopes he’s right.

For a while, they just lie there, holding on to each other, quiet, sleepy.

“Hey, A-Cheng…?” Nie Huaisang starts, before he could doze off completely. When Jiang Cheng looks back at him, he continues, “I’m… going to be super busy, and maybe stressed… probably insufferable… over the next two months. We’ll only have Mondays off…”

“Sure.” Jiang Cheng nods. “Well… For me, since Uncle Yang has to recover, and he won’t really be able to walk for a while… I will be working the weekends too. So I don’t have any day off.”

“Oh.”

“I guess… I win?”

“Why is this a competition, all of a sudden?!” Nie Huaisang giggles.

Jiang Cheng chuckles, and scoots closer, so their foreheads touch. “So we’ll both be super busy and stressed and maybe go insane.”

“Yup. You in?”

“What the hell. I’m in.”

“Okay. I’m in, too.” Nie Huaisang lifts a hand lightly tracing Jiang Cheng’s cheek. He sighs. “Remember when we had weekends? That was fun.”

“It was fun.” Jiang Cheng agrees. “But we didn’t have this, then.”

“Didn’t have what?”

Jiang Cheng leans forward, and gives him a soft, sleepy kiss, before pulling him close, holding him in his arms.

“This.” he says.

“Ah.” Nie Huaisang mumbles against Jiang Cheng’s chest. This close, he can feel the other’s every breath, every heartbeat. “Yeah, this is nice too.”

Jiang Cheng sighs into the other’s hair. “We’ll have weekends again. Someday.”

“Someday.” Nie Huaisang agrees. “Let’s go to the arcade again. Maybe try to win the big Kappa.”

“Mm. And watch that movie we kept missing.”

“Yeah… and get crepes…”

“Hng.”

Nie Huaisang looks up then, and sees that Jiang Cheng has fallen asleep. It’s not like him to fall asleep first, but Nie Huaisang understands. He’s had a night. They both did.

He just smiles and leans up carefully to drop a short kiss to his boyfriend’s cheek.

“Good night, A-Cheng.”

“Mmg’night.”

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.

---

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In the morning, they both wake up early for work, in the quiet of Jiang Cheng’s apartment. Nie Huaisang borrows clothes in stage black to wear to work for the day. Jiang Cheng drives them to the bakery, where his sister is surprised but pleased to see them, so early.

Jiang Yanli serves them freshly-baked bread with honey, butter and warm tea. She sits with them as they tell her last night’s events – both the successful opening night and the hospital close call – and she says she’s happy that they’re both there to celebrate and support each other through all that.

Jiang Cheng asks his sister if he can park the motorcycle in the bakery’s side alley for the day, and then he walks Nie Huaisang to the bus stop.

They wait for the bus, hand in hand. When one arrives, they part with a light and sweet goodbye-and-good-luck kiss.

“I’ll pick you up later?”

“It might be late. Is that okay?”

“It’s fine. I can stay over again, if it gets real late.”

“Hm… Okay. I’d like that.”

So maybe this is what they do now.

Get breakfast together, see the other off to work, just… take care of each other.

They might be about to lose their weekends, but they can still have their late resting nights, and then sweet early mornings.

Any day of the week.

.

.

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---

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epilogue:
months later

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.

Jiang Cheng sets the last of the boxes down on the floor. That should do it. Now they can get to unpacking and figuring out where to squeeze in all of Nie Huaisang’s various stuff in Jiang Cheng’s apartment.

“I think,” Nie Huaisang starts, as he sits on the floor beside one of the boxes and considers its contents, which appear to be art materials. “We don’t unpack everything yet. Maybe we do it gradually?”

“Sure, if you want to do that.” Jiang Cheng says, watching him open another box to consider. Clothes, this time. “I think we can make it work though.”

His place has never been what someone would call a big apartment… but it is still quite spacious in the sense that Jiang Cheng has never had that many things in the first place, he has no hobby or work thing that takes up extra space, and his bed can easily fit more than one person.

So he’s hopeful that with some thoughtful rearrangement of his current furniture and some new well-placed storage spaces, they can manage to have a fuller, more… utilized place, that still won’t be stuffy or cramped.

Nie Huaisang still looks concerned. “You really think so?”

“Yeah, I think so.” Jiang Cheng sits down on the side of the couch close to Nie Huaisang’s spot on the floor. “Or is there something specific you’re worried about?”

“Not really, I just…” Nie Huaisang looks at him, smile sheepish. “I hope it won’t be weird? If all of a sudden my stuff are just… here, all around the place. All of them except…”

Jiang Cheng watches his thoughts trail off, and picks up for him. “Except you?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Nie Huaisang sighs – it’s not an upset sigh, Jiang Cheng thinks – more like a thoughtful one.

He stands up and goes to join the other on the couch, but then Jiang Cheng takes his hand and his waist and pulls him into his lap. Nie Huaisang smiles as he leans into him, by now used to this arrangement.

“I dunno, maybe I just feel a bit like… I’m imposing?”

Jiang Cheng hums, considering this while Nie Huaisang rests against him and fiddles with a stray thread on his shirt.

“Yeah…” he says after a while. “How dare you move in and then just leave me, huh?

Nie Huaisang rears back, looking miserable. “Hey, don’t say it like that…”

“I mean, that’s basically what’s happening…” Jiang Cheng shrugs, grinning slightly – but not too much – he wants to keep pushing some buttons a bit more. “You’re making me into, like, your fancy storage unit-”

“Nooooo…” Nie Huaisang whines now. “It’s horrible for me too, okay? I don’t wanna leave youuuu…”

Then he goes from trying to squirm away to actually clinging to his boyfriend, who proceeds to laugh at his suffering.

“You’re being too dramatic over this.” Jiang Cheng says, as he absently runs a hand through Nie Huaisang’s hair. “It’s just a few months.”

The stage production hasn’t even fully finished its full run on their local theater yet, when Nie Huaisang’s company announced that they’ve been offered to do a limited-time run of the show on another, bigger theater, several cities away.

It’s great for the show and the company, Nie Huaisang explained, when he told Jiang Cheng. He’d never been on a touring show but this might be a bit like that. But this also meant that he has to go as part of the production staff and work away from Yunmeng.

There will be lodging provided for them there, so he didn’t have to worry about that – but then Nie Huaisang realized that he will be leaving a whole apartment behind… and it would be impractical to keep paying rent for it, not when he can just… put that money into savings or living expenses while he’s in another city…

So his first solution was to plan to pack up all the things he won’t be taking with him, and then send them home to Qinghe. And then he’ll worry about them again when he goes back to Yunmeng after their “away show”.

And of course Jiang Cheng heard that plan and instantly had something to say about it.

.

(“Why send all your stuff all the way back? If it’s just for safekeeping, you can leave them at my place, you know.”)

(“Y-You mean you’d take my things? In your apartment?”)

(“Well… I’ve got space. It’s only a few months, right?”)

(“Oh, if that’s really okay with you… I guess, yeah, we could do that. I’ll try to find a new place as soon as I get back, don’t worry!”)

(“Don’t stress yourself out. Just stay as long as you need. You’re already coming over all the time, anyway.”)

(“Do… Do you mean that like… move in with you?”)

(“Uh. Wait.” – and then Jiang Cheng mentally backtracked through everything he just said – “Huh. That is kinda what it is, yeah…”)

.

And so here they are.

Roughly a week after the final show of the run. Moving in together because, after that initial realization that that is what they’re both slowly coming to, they decided – why not? They’ve already survived three hell months of having majority of their time together just be… literally sleeping together, alternating between each other’s place, whichever happened to be more convenient at the time.

At least now they wouldn’t need to bother picking between two places. One problem solved.

The company staff have a free month before they have to move to their new location and prepare their show for their new venue. That means Jiang Cheng only has Nie Huaisang for the remainder of that month. This is also why Nie Huaisang is moving in today, because they’ve decided this way they can make the most of their rare free time before Nie Huaisang has to go.

“Three miserable months without you…” – Nie Huaisang sniffs. He really can sound so miserable. He should try acting. “That would suck, like, so much, A-Cheeeeeng…”

“I’m sure you’ll manage.” Jiang Cheng says, nonchalant. “Besides, you’re getting paid more, aren’t you?”

Nie Huaisang sits back up then, excited all of a sudden. “You’re right. I am! The producers are really dishing out for us to stage in that venue… It’s fancy shit.”

Jiang Cheng chuckles. “Sure, congratulations.”

“So I won’t be a freeloader! We can split the rent.” Nie Huaisang grins. “Even while I’m away.”

Jiang Cheng shakes his head, his hand on Nie Huaisang’s waist squeezing in reassurance. “You don’t have to worry about that.”

Nie Huaisang doesn’t look convinced. “But my things are here…”

“Yeah, I’m keeping them for insurance. So you will come back to me.” Jiang Cheng shrugs. “If you hurt my feelings, I will burn them.”

That makes Nie Huaisang laugh. “Wow. That’s very healthy.”

“I’m kidding. I’ll probably send them to Mingjue-ge.” Jiang Cheng grins, as Nie Huaisang peppers kisses on his face, as if to assure him that he wouldn’t have to do that. “But no, seriously. You’re thinking too hard. Don’t worry about your stuff, or rent, or whatever. I got it.”

“Ah, you’re too good to be true… Why is that?” Nie Huaisang says, almost complaining, but not quite. “But thank you, you’re like, the best boyfriend?”

Jiang Cheng only hums, as Nie Huaisang finally kisses him on the lips. Just a short, sweet, appreciative kiss.

“In speaking of your da-ge,” Jiang Cheng says as Nie Huaisang rests against him again, “You excited for next weekend?”

“Oh, Gods. Yes.” Nie Huaisang sighs. “I’m excited for this weekend and the whole next week. I will be in tears, like ugly cry when it’s over.”

Next weekend – now that they have weekends again – they’ll be leaving for a week-long stay in Qinghe. Nie Huaisang did promise his da-ge that he’ll come home. When Nie Mingjue heard about Nie Huaisang’s upcoming work, and that he was moving in with his boyfriend, the man said that Nie Huaisang has to bring this brand new impressive boyfriend with him, because if Nie Huaisang has met his family, it is only fair that Jiang Cheng meets Nie Huaisang’s family too.

That bit, Jiang Cheng agreed to readily. It is fair. But for the most part, it really is because as much as he loves his job… the past months have been very busy and stressful. It’s barely been two weeks ago that Uncle Yang has been cleared for light work, fully recovered from The Mochi Incident, and able to come in during weekends again. So Jiang Cheng is only just beginning to have some proper healthy rest again.

When Uncle Yang heard Jiang Cheng planning to close the clinic for the week he’ll be away, the old man had insisted that he can take over while Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang are in Qinghe. It’s thanks for letting him rest for so long, and looking after both him and his wife the whole time, he said. Jiang Cheng accepted his offer, but made Miss Liu post announcements that the clinic will have shorter hours during this time.

It’s Nie Huaisang who is very excited, but Jiang Cheng is also just ready for a vacation.

“Ah… I can’t wait for you to meet da-ge~”

Jiang Cheng raises an eyebrow. “I’ve… already met your da-ge.”

Nie Huaisang looks at him like he said something funny. “No, A-Cheng, you knew twenty-something da-ge from the meat shop. You haven’t met forties Nie Mingjue who owns a farm. That man is… different.”

“Ah. Right.” Jiang Cheng nods. “I think I get it. I should talk to the family attorney before we leave. Update my last will and testament.”

Nie Huaisang chuckles. “Wait. No-”

“Technically I am letting you take me to a second location, where I might die.” Jiang Cheng points out. “It’s a farm. Plenty of land to hide the body. Plenty of murder weapons too. And it’s in the mountains and Mr. Nie Mingjue can just leave my body for the wild animals to feast on. And no one will ever know…”

Nie Huaisang is shaking now, trying to stifle his laughter. “Stop. A-Cheng-”

“It’s fine. I won’t blame you. I decided to go.” Jiang Cheng says, and he presses a kiss to Nie Huaisang’s forehead, for effect. “I went for love, at least.”

“Okay, so, you’re ridiculous now.” Nie Huaisang laughs at him, cupping his face in his hands and then poking his cheeks. “And you called me dramatic. I was teasing you! Stop planning your own murder. It will all be fine.”

Jiang Cheng squints. “Do you promise that?”

“Hmm… maybe not totally. But you’ll probably still live, I guess. Maybe he’ll just traumatize you a bit.” Nie Huaisang shrugs. “Y’know what, just try to befriend Zonghui-ge, our Granny and at least one uncle. That’ll soften him up enough.”

“Cousin, granny, one uncle.” A nod. “I’ll try my best, sure.”

“Zonghui-ge is really nice. Granny and the aunties should be easy for you. You’re very handsome and you’re a doctor, they’ll already be impressed I managed to get a man with a real job, not just some… artist.”

“But… you’re an artist.” Jiang Cheng points out.

“Exactly.” Nie Huaisang nods. Jiang Cheng stares, trying to process that, but then Nie Huaisang goes on – “As for my uncles… just make sure you don’t pass out from drinking. Then you’ll be good.”

“Alright.” Jiang Cheng finally relaxes, just letting Nie Huaisang fuss over him. This is nice. And Nie Huaisang doesn’t look worried about the whole “moving in right before leaving” thing anymore. He really shouldn’t be. Jiang Cheng sure isn’t.

That’s not saying that he won’t miss Nie Huaisang during those three months, though. But Jiang Cheng will cross that bridge when he gets there. Right now, he just wants to spend this time they have together.

They have weekends again, for one. That is really nice. Jiang Cheng missed that. They’re going to see a movie at Madame Gong’s this evening. Jiang Cheng is looking forward to that.

“Um, A-Cheng…?” Nie Huaisang calls, tilting his head slightly, and smiling a nice little smile. “Did I hear you say ‘love’, earlier?”

Jiang Cheng looks back at him. “Hm… Did I?”

And Nie Huaisang knows teasing, and can match it with his own. “I heard… something like it?”

“You can’t prove anything, though.” Jiang Cheng says, leaning forward to kiss his lips, pulling him closer by the waist. Then he moves to leaving a trail of kisses down his boyfriend’s neck.

“Hm. No, I can’t. And you’re trying to distract me now. And it’s working…” Nie Huaisang laughs, running his fingers through the other’s dark hair. “It’s okay. I’ve got time. I already live with you and everything. I can do it.”

“You can do what?”

“Make you say it again.”

“Sure.”

A week ago, Nie Huaisang said ‘I love you’ for the first time when he dropped by to deliver Jiang Cheng’s and Miss Liu’s afternoon coffee and cookies. And the thing is – he didn’t even realize. It just came out. Jiang Cheng is smug about it, because he has a witness – and no matter how much Miss Liu likes Nie Huaisang, she really is loyal to her boss.

So for the past days, Nie Huaisang has been trying to get Jiang Cheng to say it back.

Oh, he knows it, of course. Jiang Cheng has not given him any reason to doubt. But he wants to hear it and be smug about it too! And Jiang Cheng knows this, so Jiang Cheng is determined to just not say it out loud.

So now it’s kind of a game. Because Nie Huaisang fell in love with a bully. He is into it, but that doesn’t mean he won’t complain.

Just as Jiang Cheng takes Nie Huaisang by the waist and lays him down on his couch so they can continue kissing more comfortably, they’re interrupted by the sound of the doorbell – followed by a beep and someone’s voice from the door speakers.

“Pizza delivery!” a familiar cheerful voice rings out. “And drinks, and jiejie’s pastries! C’mon, you lovebirds! You said if I bring you food and help you unpack, you’ll help me set up my shop too!”

Ah. They did tell him that. Wei Ying is opening up that little space above Uncle Four’s book shop. That is what they’ll be doing for next next weekend.

It’s so nice to have a schedule again.

Jiang Cheng sighs, and steals one last kiss from Nie Huaisang before going to get the door. “Really always with the absolute worst timing…”

Nie Huaisang just laughs, gets up and scans the room. Right now it’s mostly just… boxes and boxes of his stuff.

He picks one, and starts unpacking.

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fin!