#punch jfm in the face agenda

[bloody-bee-tea]

24 Days of Mingcheng 2022 Day 17 - Lunch

This story is courtesy of a prompt from indiw which was as follows: add to the punching JFM tag -  only this time it is JC punching him, YZY giving immediate alibi and shaming JYL and WWX (and LWJ?) into agreement, over NMJ’s honor.   NHS has recordings and receipts for future blackmail purposes and is waiting, when JFM wakes up.  Maybe YZY, JYL, and WWX (and LWJ? ) are also present.

It's not exactly like that but I hope you still enjoy it!

Jiang Cheng doesn’t want to be doing this. He can imagine a thousand different things he would rather be doing that bring Nie Mingjue to lunch with his family and going to the dentist to have a root canal treatment still ranks pretty high up there compared to this.

“It will be fine,” Nie Mingjue tries to reassure him as they are getting ready and Jiang Cheng shakes his head.

“I will not be fine. Nothing about this will be fine. Mom has been strange for a while now, Wei Wuxian will be as annoying as ever, Yanli will only try to keep the peace when it’s for Wei Wuxian’s sake and my father—” He trails off here because there are not actually words for how badly his father is going to behave.

“You know nothing he says about you is right, correct, my heart?” Nie Mingjue carefully ventures and Jiang Cheng lets out a sharp breath.

“I know. I’m not worried about what he’ll say to me,” he then admits because he has long made his peace with the fact that his father is a neglectful, abusive asshole and that it’s not actually his fault. That also means that there is nothing he can do to change his father’s opinion of him, though, and it had taken Jiang Cheng quite a few therapy sessions to not only accept but also come to terms with that.

“Then what?” Nie Mingjue wants to know, taking Jiang Cheng’s hand in his own.

“I’m worried what he’ll say to you,” Jiang Cheng tells him. “I doubt he’ll be on his best behaviour today, it’s only family after all, and he’s not going to hold back. He’ll casually insult me but also you, if only by proxy and I might just be fed up enough with him that I am not going to let that stand.”

“You’re worried you’ll start a fight?”

“Well, it’s not really like you can start a fight with my father, he’s way too infuriatingly calm for that somehow. But I will want to and it’s not going to end pretty.”

“Did you talk today through with your therapist?” Nie Mingjue asks him with a smile because he knows Jiang Cheng way too well already.

“Of course I did,” he huffs out in reply. “She told me to simply do and say what feels best for me, with no regard for him since he doesn’t have any regard for me, either. It seems like sound advice but it could also backfire horribly.”

“You will be fine,” Nie Mingjue reassures him, leaning in for a quick kiss. “If things do escalate, I am still there as well after all. And I have your back, no matter what.”

It’s nice to know that Jiang Cheng has someone on his side who is there unconditionally but it might not be helpful for this evening. There are still so many ways today could mean he breaks with his family and despite all the therapy and all of Nie Mingjue’s love, he’s not sure if he’s ready for that.

“Let’s just get it over with. I’m glad it’s only lunch, though, because that means no matter what happens, we get to end the day on a nice note.”

“Yeah, I wondered about that. You usually have dinners right?”

“My mother planned this. I don’t know what’s up with her lately, she’s been a bit strange. Last week she told me to take care when we said goodbye on the phone and that never happened. I wonder if she’s sick.”

“Or maybe she just realized how awesome you are,” Nie Mingjue gives back and even though Jiang Cheng’s doubts it was meant to make him laugh, he can’t help it.

“Yeah, right,” he mutters but follows Nie Mingjue outside when he leaves for their car.

The car ride is over way too quickly and Jiang Cheng stares at the house, dread pooling in his gut. It’s going to be awful, he can already tell.

“Stop frowning, we haven’t even gone in yet,” Nie Mingjue chides him and Jiang Cheng heaves out a deep breath.

“Fine, fine,” he sighs out and makes a conscious effort to relax his face.

“Better,” Nie Mingjue decides and then kisses Jiang Cheng between the eyes because of course there must still be a furrow.

Jiang Cheng doesn’t even know if his face can do completely relaxed but he’s not about to ask Nie Mingjue that, at least not right now.

He braces himself before he goes to knock on the door and he’s not surprised when his mother practically yanks the door open.

“You’re—” she starts but then cuts herself off and that alone makes Jiang Cheng frown again. “I’m happy you’re here,” she then says instead and Jiang Cheng fights the urge to reach out and take her temperature.

“Hello, mom,” he says and then tugs on Nie Mingjue’s sleeve. “This is Nie Mingjue, my boyfriend.”

“It’s nice to meet you in this capacity now,” Nie Mingjue says with a slight bow and Jiang Cheng watches his mother open her mouth, close it again, visibly re-arrange whatever she wanted to say and then try again with: “It’s nice to finally meet you, Wanyin has been talking quite a lot about you, recently.”

It’s almost nice coming from his mother and Jiang Cheng tries his best to keep the confusion off his face.

Something must surely be going on here; maybe it will be a big family announcement that will leave Jiang Cheng devastated and Yu Ziyuan is just trying to soften the blow or something. Jiang Cheng wouldn’t put it past his family, after all.

“Do come in, lunch is almost ready,” Yu Ziyuan tells them and ushers them into the house with the same impatient gestures she always uses and now this Jiang Cheng can recognise.

“Don’t be fooled, she’s not normally this nice,” Jiang Cheng whispers as Nie Mingjue and he take their shoes off and Nie Mingjue shrugs.

“But it’s nice for now, isn’t it?” he asks and Jiang Cheng has to admit that it kind of is.

If only he wouldn’t be waiting for the other shoe to drop. But he can’t trust this yet and so he keeps his guard up at all times.

“Let’s just see how the rest of the day goes,” Jiang Cheng whispers and leads Nie Mingjue into the dining room.

His family is already there, milling around the room and Jiang Cheng briefly presses his lips together when he realizes that neither Jiang Yanli nor Wei Wuxian have brought their respective partners.

It seems as if his family wanted to make sure that all the scrutiny is on Nie Mingjue today.

“Just great,” Jiang Cheng bitterly mutters under his breath and Nie Mingjue briefly squeezes his hand.

“I can deal with that. I have dealt with worse,” he reassures him, clearly coming to the same conclusion Jiang Cheng has and while Jiang Cheng knows that Nie Mingjue is more than capable of dealing with a bit of scrutiny, he simply wishes he didn’t have to in this setting.

“I know,” Jiang Cheng sighs out and then forces a smile on his face when Jiang Yanli notices them.

“A-Cheng, how nice to see you,” she says and flutters her hands around Jiang Cheng’s from as if she wanted to fix something. “And Mingjue as well, how nice, how nice,” she babbles and Jiang Cheng’s worry instantly doubles.

His sister is never one for babbling and she’s also not someone who refuses to make eye-contact but she’s doing it today.

Something must be up.

“Ah, Chengcheng, you brought your mountain of a man,” Wei Wuxian also calls out at that moment and Jiang Cheng takes a deep breath at that.

It’s not technically an insult—yet—because Nie Mingjue is huge but to say it to his face? That’s more than tactless in Jiang Cheng’s opinion.

“Wei Wuxian,” Yu Ziyuan chides him almost immediately and even though her voice isn’t as cutting as they are all used to from her Wei Wuxian still shrinks back.

“My lady,” Jiang Fengmian reprimands Yu Ziyuan almost instantly and Jiang Cheng isn’t sure if he wants to sit down for lunch first before they start with the fighting or if he’d rather get it over with.

It’s not like it’s in his hands anyway, but it’s nice to think about the different possibilities if only to tune everything out.

“Well, are you simply going to let him speak like that to our guest?” Yu Ziyuan wants to know and Nie Mingjue darts a quick look at Jiang Cheng.

He only shrugs in answer though, because it’s not as if he has any control over this. And it is along the lines of what he told Nie Mingjue to expect from this lunch.

“It wasn’t meant like that, and besides. He’s right, isn’t he? Mingjue is rather—huge,” Jiang Fengmian says, eying Nie Mingjue up and down and his gaze is so judging, Jiang Cheng immediately feels like apologizing to Nie Mingjue.

He seems to simply shrug it off though, because he extends his hand towards Jiang Fengmian.

“Thank you for inviting me,” he says and he almost sounds sincere, which is quite the feat, in Jiang Cheng’s opinion.

“Yeah, we’re required to meet any new partners at least once, right?” Jiang Fengmian gives back as he takes Nie Mingjue’s hand and Jiang Cheng narrows his eyes at him.

“You’re going to meet him a lot more often, though, because I’m planning on keeping him,” Jiang Cheng says and he fights the urge to take a step back when his mother honest to god smiles at him.

“That is nice to hear, that you’re intending to make this work out,” she says and again, it’s just this shy of a compliment that it leaves Jiang Cheng a little bit floundering.

“Is it, though?” Jiang Fengmian muses, critically eying Nie Mingjue up again. “We all know about the temper problems of the Nie. I’m not sure we need any more of that in our family.”

It’s a clear side blow at Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Cheng, and honestly, Jiang Cheng couldn’t care less because he damn well knows he’s never going to change his father’s perspective of him, but for him to insult Nie Mingjue like that? Jiang Cheng can’t let that stand.

He’s just about to open his mouth when Nie Mingjue puts a steadying hand to the small of his back, slightly shaking his head at him. Jiang Cheng would love nothing more than to argue with him about that, but he presses his lips together instead.

Fine, if Nie Mingjue doesn’t want him defending his honour, then so be it.

“I think I have my temper just as well under control as Wanyin does,” Nie Mingjue gives back with a smile but of course Jiang Fengmian only huffs at him.

“So not at all, of course,” he says as if that is to be expected.

“Father,” Jiang Cheng says, his voice carrying a warning that is clearly lost on Jiang Fengmian. “He is a guest here, today,” he reminds him and Jiang Fengmian gives him his blandest smile.

“Of course he is. Thankfully only today, though, because you won’t be seeing him again after this,” he then declares and silence falls over the room.

“Fengmian,” Yu Ziyuan snaps out, her voice now carrying the bite Jiang Cheng was almost missing. “How dare you dictate who your son is seeing?”

“When it’s someone so wholly unsuitable as him, I exercise that right, of course.”

“Of course,” Yu Ziyuan huffs out mockingly. “But when Zixuan made your daughter cry several times and in public even, that was fine. And when Wangji almost molests Wei Wuxian at the dinner table, with no regards to social propriety, that’s also fine, am I right? No need to interfere there, but here you think you can tell your son what to do?”

“I can and I will,” Jiang Fengmian says. “Nie Mingjue has a reputation as a brutish and violent man and I will not stand for that in my household.”

“What you mean to say is that he pulverized the cooperation proposal you sent to him because it was entirely bullshit and you can’t deal with that,” Yu Ziyuan sums up and if Jiang Cheng wasn’t so angry on Nie Mingjue’s behalf he would laugh at the fact that his mother basically just called his father childish.

“Father, please think about what you’re going to say next because I will not allow you to speak like that about my boyfriend,” Jiang Cheng now chimes in as well even though Nie Mingjue is still motioning for him to stay quiet.

But Jiang Cheng will not stand for this; what kind of boyfriend would he even be if he allowed this?

“Wanyin, you will not be seeing him again,” Jiang Fengmian says again and Jiang Cheng clenches his hands to fists.

“You do not get to decide that,” he presses out. “You haven’t cared about my life before this, and you certainly don’t get to care about it now. So either you shut up right now, or you won’t like the consequences.”

“A-Cheng, please, don’t be rash,” Jiang Yanli soothingly says and steps in between Jiang Cheng and Jiang Fengmian. “There is no need to fight.”

“Oh, there absolutely is, if he thinks he can just say these things about Mingjue. You wouldn’t stand for it if he said those things about Zixuan.” He looks over at Wei Wuxian. “Or Lan Wangji, for that matter.”

“Ah, but Chengcheng, it’s all just in good faith, right? Aren’t you happy that Uncle Fengmian is worried about you?”

“Why would I be happy about that if he tries to paint my perfectly nice boyfriend as a violent man?” Jiang Cheng wants to know because he logic escapes him here.

“But he is exactly that,” Jiang Fengmian says, a small, confused frown on his face as if he couldn’t possibly understand how Jiang Cheng can’t see the truth. “We have all seen him with his brother after all.”

At that Nie Mingjue flinches slightly and Jiang Cheng immediately steps closer to press their arms together. Nie Huaisang is a bit of a sore topic for Nie Mingjue; even though they are mending their relationship as best as they can, there have been some things said between them that will need time to heal.

“That is enough,” Yu Ziyuan almost yells but of course Jiang Fengmian is completely unimpressed.

“She is right. One more word about this and you won’t like the consequences,” Jiang Cheng says as well and he is fully prepared to punch his father in the face should he say one more word on this topic.

“He’s probably abusing you just as he is abusing his brother,” Jiang Fengmian says despite the clear warnings and that’s it.

Jiang Cheng darts forward, his fist connecting with the side of Jiang Fengmian’s face and when he crumbles to the floor Jiang Cheng doesn’t even feel bad about it.

“A-Cheng!” Jiang Yanli yells out, rushing forward to Jiang Fengmian’s side and Wei Wuxian steps between them as if he needs to shield Jiang Fengmian from Jiang Cheng.

“How could you?” Jiang Yanli asks, her voice shaky and her eyes glistening with tears but before Jiang Cheng can find his voice, Yu Ziyuan steps in.

“I should hope that both of you would have done the same if anyone accused your spouses of abuse,” she sternly tells them. “If not, I would urge you to think about the consequences even such a rumour could have on your lives. Now, call him an ambulance if he needs one, or let him lay there for all that I care but I will see my son and his partner out now. You better have excuses ready for why you didn’t step up for your brother when I come back,” she says and then turns around to Nie Mingjue and Jiang Cheng.

“Come on, this was entirely unpleasant and you shouldn’t have to stay here,” she says, herding them towards the entrance.

Nie Mingjue looks a bit pale around the nose, so Jiang Cheng follows along without much complaint but once they are at the door he can’t help but to ask: “Mom, are you alright?”

Her behaviour is still strange and in all honesty it makes Jiang Cheng worry that something might be wrong with her.

“Everything is fine, my child,” she says and Jiang Cheng thinks he’s never heard her voice this soft. “I—have been attending therapy for a while now. I know there is a lot I have to make up for, but I would like to try. If you are amenable to that.”

“You’re going to therapy?” Jiang Cheng blurts out because he expected a lot but not that.

“Yes. When you moved out it was so clear that you didn’t expect anything from us—no help, no money, nothing—and it rubbed me the wrong way,” Yu Ziyuan admits. “After that I started to notice all the little things that have been going wrong in your life thanks to us so I talked to a good friend of mine and she advised me to talk to someone professional about this. It helps, at least I like to think that it does.”

“Wow,” Jiang Cheng breathes out.

“I would like to—well, make it up to you sounds as if this can be fixed, but I at least would like to try to build a proper relationship with you,” she says and it sounds so awkward that Jiang Cheng shudders.

Plus, he’s not completely convinced he can believe her.

“Lunch, once a month. You can prove how sincere you are then,” he decides even as he guides Nie Mingjue to put on his shoes.

He does so, but his moves are mechanical and Jiang Cheng worries.

“Sure. Now get your man home, he doesn’t seem so well.”

“He’s not. But thank you. And father—”

“Would do well to keep his mouth shut in the future,” Yu Ziyuan immediately says, much to Jiang Cheng’s amusement.

“Alright. Bye, mom,” he calls over his shoulder as he ushers Nie Mingjue towards the car.

“Bye, my son,” she calls after him and Jiang Cheng hates to admit it, but it makes him happy to hear her like that.

“My heart, are you alright?” he asks Nie Mingjue once they are in the car and Nie Mingjue slowly breathes out.

“I am not abusing you or my brother,” he then says and Jiang Cheng is quick to agree.

“You are not. Do you want me to call Huaisang?”

“I—yes, please,” Nie Mingjue slowly says and Jiang Cheng gets his phone out immediately, dialling the number and putting him on speaker before he even picks up.

“A-Cheng, hello,” Nie Huaisang cheerfully greets him but Jiang Cheng is not about to beat around the bush here.

“We just had a bit of a situation at lunch with my parents,” he explains and Nie Huaisang’s soft “Oh, oh,” is barely audible over the speaker. “My father accused Mingjue of abusing both of us.”

“Oh dear,” Nie Huaisang sighs out. “Is he there?” he then asks and Jiang Cheng hands the phone over to Nie Mingjue.

“Didi,” he breathes out. “I’m sorry.”

“There is nothing you have to apologize for. You never abused me. We both said some pretty hurtful shit when we had our fight but you never abused me, do you hear me?”

“I hear you,” Nie Mingjue whispers out and Jiang Cheng reaches over to take his hand.

“But do you believe me?” Nie Huaisang wants to know and then curses when Nie Mingjue stays silent. “Alright, change of plans, you two come here. Did you eat lunch? Doesn’t matter, you’ll do it again. I expect you in twenty,” he tells them and then hangs up on them.

“See, he doesn’t sound upset and he wouldn’t invite you over if he felt unsafe in your presence,” Jiang Cheng soothingly tells Nie Mingjue who seems to finally start to believe him.

“Alright,” he says with a nod and Jiang Cheng leans over to press a kiss to his brow.

“Good. Now let’s have an actual nice lunch and not whatever the hell this was.”

“Did you—punch your father for me?” Nie Mingjue suddenly asks. “And did your mother say she’s been going to therapy?”

Jiang Cheng allows himself a small laugh at that.

“Yes, to both. The former, especially, was very cathartic.”

“I can imagine,” Nie Mingjue wryly says and Jiang Cheng knows he will be okay when he smiles slightly at that.

Jiang Fengmian’s remark hit a very sore spot for Nie Mingjue but Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang will make sure to show him exactly how much they love him, no matter how much Nie Mingjue sometimes worries.

Nie Mingjue’s and Nie Huaisang’s relationship might have been bad once upon a time, for various reasons, but they both want to change that and are working so hard on it.

Jiang Cheng is just happy to support them both through that and if that includes punching his idiot father—well, he’s happy to do it again any time.

Tip me

#bt writes #mingcheng #24daysofmingcheng22 #the untamed #mdzs #modern au #established relationship #punch jfm in the face agenda #hurt/comfort #fluff #therapy

[theuntamednarrator]

Thank you @mika--82​ for the question! I’m sorry it took so long but since I really enjoyed plotting out my Cangse Sanren lives au, and I think a lot about the women in The Untamed who didn't get to see their children grow up, strap in for round two of TB Revives the Mothers of the Untamed. This week's episode: Save Mama Lan by killing Lan Qiren \^.^/

(Many thanks to @drwcn​ for letting me borrow her hc names for Mama Lan (Qui Baiti) and Papa Lan (Lan Cenrong). You can read more about them on her blog here and here.)

(Warning for an unsuccessful suicide attempt)

QBT has been isolated in the Jingshi for a decade. She only sees her sons once a month, she isn’t allowed her sword, and her spiritual power is kept sealed

But LWJ inherited his stubbornness from his mum and she's determined to escape, one way or another

LQR is walking by the Jingshi when he feels a massive surge of energy and breaks his first ever Discipline (no running in Cloud Recesses)

He wrenches the Jingshi door open and sees an array that wouldn't look out of place two decades in the future in an alternate universe in a dingy shed behind Mo Manor

LQR breaks his second Discipline in as many minutes (do not make excessive noise) when he screams for his brother before he grabs QBT and drags her out of the array

LQR didn't have time to think, let alone study what the effects of that might be, all he knew was that it was killing her, and that her death would kill the brother he loves more than anything else

The backlash strikes him and he keels over

QBT gathers him up, sobbing and asking why he did it, she wanted to die, why did you do it Lan-er-gongzi? what were you thinking? Your brother loves you

LQR meets his brother’s eyes as he appears over her shoulder, the terrified disciples flanking him a white blur

He smiles and says I know

Curtains on LQR

(alternatively, we can just kill JGS again because ngl that was real satisfying the first time around)

Now the Elders are in a pickle because this may have been an accident but QBT has now been responsible for the deaths of an Elder and Second Young Master Lan

It's decided that the only option is exile

QBT is forbidden from setting foot in Cloud Recesses and the territories of Gusu Lan for ten year and forbidden from speaking to any Lan disciple during that time

She bows, accepts back the plain sword she had yielded when she came through the gates to be married, and is gone before the dawn. LCR watches her leave and then goes to wake their sons

Now, QBT was a wandering cultivator long before she was Lan-furen and actually really enjoys returning to life on the road

I wandered once! I can do it again!

Five years later she meets XXC battling a ferocious demon snake and together they defeat it

QBT definitely doesn’t feel her heart beat a little faster at the youthful face, white robes, and elegant jade-and-silver sword

She answers XXC's graceful bow with one of her own and the two spend a week clearing out the fierce nests of demons on the mountain

The next time their wandering brings them together she is introduced to my good friend Song Lan and hides her smile in her sleeve

Meanwhile in Cloud Recesses without LQR to pick up the slack LCR is forced to step out of seclusion and actually run his sect and parent his children

He does a very good job

QBT has to fight back proud tears every time she hears Twin Jades of Lan spoken of with awe

Ten years to the day of her exile QBT is grinning as she climbs the long flights of stairs towards the gates of Cloud Recesses

Part of that might be the entertaining company she walks with

A young man clutching two bottles of Emperor's Smile and talking so fast she’s only half listening while she tries to figure out if he’s actually taken a breath since introducing himself

Talking at breakneck speed of the young master who had been so strict with him at the gates, aiya Auntie! He was so cold! you should have seen his stony face

QBT only grins harder as WWX climbs the wall, is challenged, and blades flash over tiles (it might bring back fond memories of her own youth)

She slips over the wall while they are distracted and once WWX is silenced she reaches out her hand

You handle your sword beautifully, may I?

LWJ can't even say why - it's too dark to see her face and the voice is roughened after 10 years on the road - but he hands Bichen over without a second thought

She sighs as she runs a finger over the blade and the steel glows, lighting up her face (solely because I think glowy Bichen is very sexy and we should have had more of it in the drama honestly)

Bichen suits you better than it ever suited me, ZhanZhan 

LWJ is emoting all over the place (so embarrassing)

(luckily his back is to WWX because if baby disaster bi WWX saw that smile he would've died on the spot)

WWX of course is still a troublemaking rule breaker and LWJ is still charged with overseeing his punishment

QBT and LXC are united in their LWJ should make friends agenda and LXC inherited his sense of humour and delight for teasing LWJ from QBT

Between the two of them LWJ soon has more friends than he knows what to do with

QBT and LXC co-captain the good ship Wangxian

Of course plot stuff still happens including accidental-marriage-before-a-Quest-Ghost

XXC and SL meet them in Yueyang and when LWJ introduces himself they're thrilled because hey we know your mum! she’s real cool!

They don't trust the clans and they might've heard of NMJ but they know Qui-jiejie and they trust her and so they decide XY will go to Cloud Recesses for judgement

N-wow the twin jades are really deserving of their reputations-HS insists on a Qinghe representative going too

oh me? no no Wei-xiong this has been quite enough adventure for me. Meng Yao you'll go won't you? Dage trusts you and Lan-gongzi admired your *delicate cough* capability *innocent smile*

my.blush.com/embarrassed/yearning agrees

QBT is delighted to see XXC and SL again and happily introduces them to her elder son

SL and LXC almost immediately get into a heated debate over ahistorical fantasy chinese philosophy and/or politics and are instantly bonded

QBT may or may not have instigated said debate with a well-timed quote from a well-known (re: divisive) text

Basically QBT shares my get LXC more friends agenda

SL is, again, the first person (apart from LXC and his parents) to laugh at LWJ's jokes

WWX still refuses to believe this actually happened (the joke and SL laughing) (XXC swears it’s true)

XY is locked in the back hills and eventually a) dies trying to use his hidden piece of the yin iron to break the seals OR b) is rehabilitated by the power of bunnies and become an outer disciple (reader's choice!)

XXC and SL accompany WWX and JC part of the way to Lotus Pier

Cloud Recesses is attacked, QBT and LCR send LXC and MY away with the sacred texts, MY promising he knows somewhere safe to hide

LWJ refuses to leave his parents. The losses are not as bad as in canon, the Wen are beaten back, but LCR and LWJ are both injured

No Good Very Bad Summer Camp with World's Worst Head Counselor WC

No Good Very Bad Turtle Cave of Love

WWX wakes post-rescue with LWJ still there

(Because his parents are holding Cloud Recesses and he knows LXC is safe so he doesn't need to rush off)

JZX, JC, LWJ, and WWX spend a day planning before they split up

(this is hilarious and JC says "fuck" not less than 219 times)

(WWX only almost punches JZX and it only happens twice honestly people should be grateful! he was so restrained!!)

They all return home, LWJ promising to bring reinforcements from Cloud Recesses to Lotus Pier (because it's the most obvious next target. no other reason. just. strategically it makes sense)

WQ sends WN to Lotus Pier to warn WWX when WZL's forces are on their way

When the Wen attack, they're met with a prepared force of 1) YZY and the Jiang Disciples 2) QBT, LWJ, and a contingent of Lan Disciples AND 3) JC and WWX and a gaggle of archers (seriously why tf show the Jiang being so good and then only give us two archery fight scene moments and it’s heart breaking sixth young master jiang dying and some rando ouyang disciple shooting WWX?)

Things get a little hairy but between YZY and QBT they defeat WZL and the rest of the Wen quickly surrender

JFM and JYL arrive just as the battle is ending, escorted by Madam Jin, JZX, LQY, and all the Jin Disciples who were at Cloud Recesses

(WWX: MianMian you came you must have been so worried about me! LQY, ignoring him: Lan-er-gongzi are you okay? WWX: ah Lan Zhan you MianMian really likes you! that’s lucky! LWJ, screaming internally: mn)

(JGS was furious when JZX announced he was joining the campaign but what could he possibly say in front of his battle ready wife without looking like the utter coward of a wet biscuit he is)

Once again WWX is left with a screaming sword, too much curiosity, and too much time on his hands (due to his adopted family being not-dead)

But worse he has now also access to a woman who created an array powerful enough to kill even with her spiritual power sealed

Poor WRH doesn't stand a chance, even without MY spying for the Sunshot Campaign

After the battle QBT&LCR and YZY&JFM shut JGS's bullshit power grab down real quick and JGS sulks like the baby he is (probably in a brothel) while Madam Jin and JZX take over Lanling Jin

JZX hears about MY and the way he helped LXC and NMJ sends a letter of support and JZX is already quite jealous of all these sibling bonds and welcomes Ziyao with open arms

(All of which goes slightly to waste when JZY marries out to the Lan clan slightly less than a year later but hey, at least it's a good alliance.)

WQ takes over the Wen Clan but tears down Nightless City and relocates the capital to Dafan

(WQ: have you been to Nightless City? It’s built on an active volcano. Do you know how bad sulfur ash is for open wounds? Do you know what medical herbs grow in lava slurry? None is the answer. My family are all fucking morons)

(WQ: Not you a-Ning you’re a delight and we’re thrilled you’re here)

Rumour has it a certain immortal was so impressed with the stories of the medical techniques of Dafan Wen that she paid WQ a visit

(Disciples are so reckless after all! One never knows when one might need to be capable of transplanting vital organs!)

Each year WWX and LWJ spend 3 months at Gusu, 3 months at Lotus Pier, and 6 months wandering with XXC and SL

They get "fake married" no less than four times in three years (for the investigation xiongzhang! absolutely no other reason shishu! no other reason at all!) before LXC, MY, XXC, and SL get fed up and barricade them in their room until they talk to each other dammit

(LXC is very grateful MY has gotten so handy with the silencing talismans because the 'conversation' gets uncomfortably loud real quick)

Side note to say Clarity works very well to avert a qi deviation when it's not being actively corrupted, thanks very much, and NMJ lives many, many, many years which would be entirely happy if only NHS would pick up his saber once in a while

He would tell NHS this if he could ever find him

Happy ending!³

#³unless you are a hardcore lqr fan #in which case i invite you to ignore the first few paragraphs #assume that qbt got banished for unrelated reasons #and hc that jgs died instead #also i nearly included a few paragraphs #where qbt finds and buries cssr & wcz #and an alt paragraph where she saves them both #but cut them because it was getting too long #AND i was super tempted by an lxc-dies-to-save-nmj which i've 75% plotted #which I have affectionately titled 'lan whumpji' #but then i decided it was nicer to save another mother #because they really get shafted in canon #theuntamednarrative #mika--82 #madam lan #lan qiren #wangxian #xiyao #tw suicide attempt

[bloody-bee-tea]

Beetober 2022 Day 26 - Stick

This fic is inspired by Remember, Don’t You Hide and @felinesomnambulist‘s wonderful agenda of getting JFM punched in his smarmy face.

The Yunmeng Jiang Corporation building has never looked this tall or daunting to Jiang Cheng than it does right now.

“Are you sure you’re okay going in there?” Nie Mingjue asks him, putting a comforting hand to Jiang Cheng’s back. “You don’t have to. You don’t owe your father anything.”

“I just–” Jiang Cheng lets out a harsh breath. “I just want to hear what he has to say.”

A small part of himself hopes that his father realized his mistake and is calling Jiang Cheng here to ask him to come back but in truth Jiang Cheng knows that it’s unlikely.

His father probably found another fault with him and his work even though he hasn’t been working for Yunmeng Jiang for almost four months now.

“Alright,” Nie Mingjue gives back, even though Jiang Cheng knows he hates this.

He’s even more grateful that Nie Mingjue is supporting him through this despite his own feelings on the matter. And he made his feelings regarding Jiang Fengmian and his treatment of Jiang Cheng abundantly clear when Jiang Cheng showed up on his doorstep with nothing but a bag and proceeded to have a complete break-down.

Jiang Cheng will forever be grateful for the way Nie Mingjue took him in without question and then proceeded to more or less quietly fume about Jiang Fengmian’s treatment of him.

So yes, Jiang Cheng knows exactly just how much Nie Mingjue would like to keep his father away from him and so it means even more to him that Nie Mingjue is by his side, offering a safe space and comfort.

They finally make their way in; Jiang Cheng is trying to keep his head down and doesn’t make eye contact with anyone. The shame of being yelled at by his father in front of everyone and then being thrown out of the company that should be his birth right is still sitting too deep. He’s aware that Nie Mingjue is making this more difficult for him though, even inadvertently, because of course he draws eyes as the CEO of a rivalling company.

A company that recently has ceased all their cooperation with Yunmeng Jiang, creating more than a bit of chaos.

Jiang Cheng had tried to stop him from doing so, but Nie Mingjue had been adamant once he learned how Jiang Fengmian treated him–and most of the other employees to boot, especially when they had to work with Wei Wuxian.

Apparently Nie Mingjue makes it a point to not work with companies who mistreat their employees; it’s the main reason he doesn’t work with Wen Corp. and once he learned about Yunmeng Jiang it was an easy step for him. 

Jiang Cheng had been on the fence about that for a while, right until he learned that Nie Mingjue offered a job to everyone who quit at Yunmeng Jiang or was thrown out along with or right after Jiang Cheng.

At heart, Nie Mingjue is a huge softie Jiang Cheng has discovered.

Jiang Fengmian’s secretary is giving him a rueful look when Jiang Cheng steps out of the elevator and he manages a smile for her in return.

She has always been nice to him and Jiang Cheng finds it hard to blame other people for his father’s misgivings.

“It’s good to see you, A-Cheng,” she says despite how she shakes her head at Nie Mingjue. “I’m afraid he won’t be allowed to go in as well.”

“I know,” Jiang Cheng reassures her and briefly leans into Nie Mingjue’s side. “He’s just here for moral support. Can he wait here?”

“Sure, sweetie,” she gives back and then points at the door. “Your father is waiting for you.”

“Great,” Jiang Cheng mutters even as he straightens up. “Time to face the music then.”

“I’m right here and if you want me in there I don’t care what your father wants. Just say my name and I’ll be there,” Nie Mingjue quietly tells him and Jiang Cheng manages a small smile for him.

Just knowing that Nie Mingjue will be there no matter what is giving Jiang Cheng enough strength to face his father.

He takes one last deep breath before he enters his father’s office.

Jiang Fengmian is standing with his back to Jiang Cheng, his hands clasped behind his back as he looks out of the window and Jiang Cheng can’t shake the thought that he looks like every generic movie villain.

It makes him almost laugh out loud and he tries to hold on to that thought. Maybe it will make this conversation easier.

“You’re late,” Jiang Fengmian says, even though Jiang Cheng damn well knows that he’s not.

He made sure to arrive on the dot but he doesn’t have the energy to argue with his father over something as inconsequential as this.

But he’s not going to apologize either.

“You wanted to see me?” Jiang Cheng asks and flinches when his father turns around to glare at him.

“Yes. I’m sure you can imagine why.”

“I can’t actually,” Jiang Cheng says, even though he wants to cower like he always used to when his father narrows his eyes at him in that particular way.

“That’s very disappointing,” Jiang Fengmian tells him and Jiang Cheng tries his best to hold back a huff.

He has always been a disappointment to his father so this really shouldn’t come as a surprise to Jiang Fengmian.

“Clearly,” Jiang Cheng can’t help but to say, his voice a little more cutting than usual and Jiang Fengmian slams his hand on the desk.

“Do not take that tone with me,” he says, his voice raised and Jiang Cheng fights the instinct to take a step back.

He shouldn’t have to be afraid of his dad, and he’s not going to be anymore.

“Why am I here?” Jiang Cheng wants to know and his father sneers at him.

“I’ve been asking myself the same question for twenty-two years already,” he mutters under his breath but Jiang Cheng hears him loud and clear. 

He hates that his father can still hurt him like this.

“You’re here,” he then says, louder this time, “to explain your poor conduct.”

“My poor conduct,” Jiang Cheng repeats, at a loss. “Regarding what?”

“This.” Jiang Fengmian throws a stack of papers onto the desk in front of Jiang Cheng, who bends down to read them over, flipping through the sheets.

They are all reports about Wei Wuxian’s work in the past four months and honestly, the results are what Jiang Cheng would expect.

Every idea and project Wei Wuxian worked on since Jiang Cheng was forced to leave the company crashed and burned, costing the company thousands of dollars.

“This seems to be something you should discuss with Wei Wuxian,” Jiang Cheng says, turning his attention back to his father. “I don’t see how I am involved with this.”

“Of course you don’t,” Jiang Fengmian sneers. “This is all your fault!”

“How can this be my fault if I haven’t even been working here?” Jiang Cheng demands to know and the last piece of hope he had for this conversation shrivels in his chest.

It’s clear his father is only going to find more fault with Jiang Cheng.

“You must have said something to the team Wei Wuxian is working with. Clearly they are sabotaging him to make you look better.”

At that Jiang Cheng scoffs.

He worked his ass off to make Wei Wuxian’s ideas work; he handled everything starting from wrangling Wei Wuxian into his lab so he would actually come up with ideas all the way to advertising Wei Wuxian’s products to the board and then the entire production.

He doesn’t need anyone to make him look better; he was already looking damn good on his own, as the many job offers he got once news hit the streets that he was available prove. Jiang Fengmian might not have noticed it but Jiang Cheng’s name is listed under almost every contract, on every product that ever left this building.

“I have no need for that,” Jiang Cheng says, meeting his father’s glare head on. “Maybe you should look elsewhere for the fault here. I have nothing to do with Wei Wuxian’s inability to make his projects work.”

He only had to do with making them work but he’s not going to explain that to Jiang Fengmian. All the records are there. If his father really wanted to find a solution to this problem then he should have just checked those.

But of course his father only sees Wei Wuxian fail and he comes running to accuse Jiang Cheng.

It’s almost pathetic now that Jiang Cheng thinks about it, the constant need to undermine Jiang Cheng to make sure that Wei Wuxian can shine.

“Don’t you dare slander the work your brother does. He has always been the most hard-working out of the two of you.”

“Oh, really? Where is he then? Maybe you should call him up so he can explain the problems he ran into to us.”

Jiang Cheng allows himself a vindictive smile when his father freezes at his words.

“He’s not here yet, right? Has he even been here once this week?”

“What would you know about the work of a genius? Your brother needs his rest, he probably stayed up all night.”

“Drinking, yeah,” Jiang Cheng gives back, picking up one of the reports and shaking it at Jiang Fengmian. “This one right here, that idea comes from a drunk night,” Jiang Cheng says. “He pitched it to me several times in the past but it simply doesn’t work and there is no way to make it work either.”

“You pathetic, jealous bastard,” Jiang Fengmian hisses at him and Jiang Cheng rears back as if he has been hit. “Just because of your inability to make even the easiest things work you have no right to slander your brother like that.”

“I made all of these work in the past,” Jiang Cheng gives back once he found his footing again. “I am the only reason anything Wei Wuxian ever came up with works. And you have the proof right there,” he says as he shakes the damned papers at his father.

Jiang Fengmian’s face darkens with anger and then it’s as if time itself slows down. Jiang Cheng sees how his father’s hand moves, he sees the arch it’s making and then it hits his own hand. Jiang Cheng lets go of the papers as the sound of a stick breaking fills the room.

Jiang Cheng has a second to wonder where that came from before searing pain from his hand hits him.

“Fuck,” Jiang Cheng hisses, cradling his hand to his chest. He’s reasonably sure it’s broken, throbbing in time with his pulse right now and Jiang Cheng turns huge eyes on his father.

“You broke my hand,” he whispers, voice tight with pain and Jiang Fengmian scoffs.

“I always knew you were weak if something like that can break you,” he says and Jiang Cheng blinks at him.

He feels as if he’s having an out of body experience and he can’t stand the look of his father one moment longer.

“Mingjue,” he calls out, his voice a tad louder than normally and with a desperate edge to it and just like Nie Mingjue promised, he’s there in a second.

“What happened here?” he immediately asks when he sees Jiang Cheng cradling his hand and Jiang Cheng can’t help himself, he moves closer towards Nie Mingjue who gently takes Jiang Cheng’s hand in his.

“I think it’s broken,” Jiang Cheng whispers and sees Nie Mingjue glaring at Jiang Fengmian who makes the most innocent face he can muster.

“An accident,” Jiang Fengmian smoothly says and Nie Mingjue’s jaw works.

“Surely,” he sarcastically gives back and turns back to Jiang Cheng.

“What do you want to do?”

“I want to press charges, I think,” Jiang Cheng says, not allowing his guilty conscience to stop him.

This is not his father; this is just some CEO who physically assaulted Jiang Cheng.

“We will do that then,” Nie Mingjue promises him and it seems as if only now does Jiang Fengmian realize who stepped into his office.

“Mingjue, my dear boy, what are you doing here?” he asks, his voice sugary sweet and Jiang Cheng feels sick to his stomach.

“That’s Nie Mingjue to you,” Nie Mingjue coldly says. “And I’m here for Wanyin.”

“Wanyin, huh,” Jiang Fengmian repeats, his face darkening again. “Is this why you stopped all business between our companies? Because my son is whoring himself out to you? Tainting your mind with his outlandish talk, just like he did with the employees here?”

Jiang Cheng sucks in a surprised breath because this is not what is happening at all. He is not sleeping with Nie Mingjue and he is not actually enough of a bitch to ask Nie Mingjue to cease all work relationships with his family.

“You will take that back,” Nie Mingjue growls out, clenching his teeth together and Jiang Cheng is afraid of what will happen if he should lose his temper, so he steps between them.

“Mingjue, don’t,” he implores him.

He only belatedly realizes that he should have talked to his father.

“You are clearly your mother’s son. Getting into bed with the first good guy you meet and then thoroughly ruining him,” Jiang Fengmian sneers and it’s so outlandish that Jiang Cheng freezes before he slowly turns around.

“Did you just call yourself a good guy? Did you just compare yourself to Mingjue? You’re not even half the man he is!” Jiang Cheng shouts out.

He sees his father’s hand coming this time as well but he’s too slow to move out of the way so Jiang Fengmian’s hand meets him squarely in the face.

Jiang Cheng’s head snaps to the side, pain blooming up in his cheek but before Jiang Cheng even raises his own–still throbbing–hand to his face, Nie Mingjue steps past him.

There’s a meaty thud and then Jiang Fengmian crumbles to the floor.

Jiang Cheng can only stare.

“Fucking bastard,” Nie Mingjue mutters as he shakes out his hand, turning back to Jiang Cheng with a concerned look on his face.  “Let me see,” he softly  says, reaching out for Jiang Cheng’s face to turn it around.

“You hit my father,” Jiang Cheng mutters, letting Nie Mingjue inspect his cheek.

“I did,” Nie Mingjue grimy says. “It doesn’t look too bad, but we should cool it.”

“You hit my father. For me,” Jiang Cheng says, still not believing what just happened and Nie Mingjue winces.

“I should have hit him faster, too,” he still admits and sends a scathing glance at the still unconscious heap on the floor. “It’s the least he deserves for what he said and did to you. And not just today.”

Jiang Cheng is pretty sure that his mouth drops open as he continues to stare at Nie Mingjue who seems to grow increasingly uncomfortable under the scrutiny.

“You can yell at me if you want, I know I shouldn’t have lost my temper. Well, I still maintain that he deserved it but—”

“I think I would like to kiss you actually,” Jiang Cheng gets out and effectively shuts Nie Mingjue up.

“Oh,” he breathes out. “Let’s wait with that for a less emotionally charged moment, alright,” Nie Mingjue then softly says even as he cups Jiang Cheng’s face in his hand. “But I’m not against that, just making that clear right now. I would welcome it, actually.”

Jiang Cheng can only nod at that even as he sighs. Nie Mingjue is probably right; it’s not smart to do this right now.

“Let’s call the police and an ambulance, alright?” Nie Mingjue jolts him out of his thoughts and Jiang Cheng flinches.

“We can’t! He’ll press charges against you!”

“Rightfully so,” Nie Mingjue says with a shrug. “But you get to press charges as well and that is really all that matters. Plus, I want to have that hand of yours checked-out as soon as possible,” Nie Mingjue then adds, carefully taking Jiang Cheng’s arm to inspect the hand again.

It’s swollen a bit already and the pain is still throbbing in time with Jiang Cheng’s cheek.

“I don’t want to get you into trouble,” Jiang Cheng still mutters because he doesn’t want Nie Mingjue to have to face consequences for what he did but he only smiles at him.

“I got myself into trouble, so that’s alright. And seriously. I want you to press charges against him, it’s the only thing I deserves for hurting you.”

“If you’re sure,” Jiang Cheng mutters and he only moves for the phone when Nie Mingjue nods. “Fine then.”

He can’t deny that pressing charges against Jiang Fengmian for physical assault is going to feel very good but he still worries for Nie Mingjue.

“Maybe they will let me off easy if they think I did it in defence of you. You already had your hand broken after all,” Nie Mingjue tries to reassure him, clearly picking up on Jiang Cheng’s worries.

“Hopefully,” he mutters, briefly leaning into Nie Mingjue before he finally calls the police and an ambulance.

“But even if not, I’m still right here,” Nie Mingjue promises him, pulling Jiang Cheng closer to himself again and pressing a kiss to his head. “And I’m not going to leave.”

“Thank you,” Jiang Cheng breathes out and hides his face in Nie Mingjue’s chest. It took a while but now everything is hitting him all at once and Jiang Cheng starts to shake not even a moment later.

“It’s alright, I’ve got you,” Nie Mingjue whispers, hugging him close and Jiang Cheng dares to believe him, unconscious father on the floor and broken hand be damned.

If Nie Mingjue says it will be alright then it will be. Jiang Cheng trusts him enough to believe that. And no matter what, as long as Nie Mingjue is by his side he will be able to face these upcoming things.

Link to my kofi

#bt writes #mingcheng #beetober2022 #the untamed #mdzs #punch jfm in the face #he deserves it #modern au #hurt/comfort #abuse #injury #getting together

[bloody-bee-tea]

Family

Furthering the JFM gets punched in the face agenda and I’m not regretting it one bit. It’s what he deserves.

Nie Mingjue is still shaking out his hand when they leave Jiang Cheng’s family’s manor.

Jiang Cheng is unnaturally still at his side and Nie Mingjue knows that he fucked up, big time. But it just couldn’t be helped. Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Fengmian were absolutely trash parents and Nie Mingjue would not let that stand.

“I’m not sorry,” Nie Mingjue says when they reach his car. “I mean, I’m sorry I so clearly upset you, but I’m not going to apologize for decking your father. Or yelling at your mother. They deserved it,” Nie Mingjue huffs out, but his heart sinks when Jiang Cheng can’t meet his eyes.

“Can you just drive me home?” he asks and Nie Mingjue is certain that this is it.

Jiang Cheng was always so afraid that he would be the one to fuck up their relationship but in the end it turns out to be Nie Mingjue. He thinks it’s probably not the right time to make a joke about this.

Instead, he drives Jiang Cheng home, both of them sitting in his car in silence and it’s only when Nie Mingjue stops in front of Jiang Cheng’s building that he speaks again.

“I think—I need a while,” Jiang Cheng whispers and Nie Mingjue nods.

“Of course. Just—please don’t let this affect your friendship with Huaisang, okay? It’s—you should have someone to talk and I promise you that he will take your side anyway,” Nie Mingjue says, because he wants Jiang Cheng to be able to vent to someone and he knows that he doesn’t have that many friends.

It was one of Jiang Cheng’s big concerns when they started their relationship after all.

“’kay,” Jiang Cheng mumbles and then leaves the car without looking back or saying anything else.

Nie Mingjue wonders if he’ll ever see him again, but he finds that he can’t bear to think about that yet.

He stands by what he said to Jiang Cheng; his parents more than deserved it, but he will regret it forever if he should lose Jiang Cheng over this.

But for now there is nothing much to do than to accept Jiang Cheng’s wishes and give him some time. Nie Mingjue reminds himself of that over and over again on his way home, but it doesn’t stop hurting.

Nie Mingjue still sees red when he remembers what Jiang Cheng’s parents said about him—about, not even to him—and he hopes that he broke Jiang Fengmian’s nose at least, no matter if that could mean legal consequences if they should go to the police with that.

Nie Mingjue would do it again in a heartbeat.

He gets his phone out when he’s home and dials Nie Huaisang’s number without looking, toeing his shoes off in the process.

“That seems awfully early for a dinner with Jiang Cheng’s parents,” is what Nie Huaisang greets him with and Nie Mingjue sighs.

“I fucked up,” he tells him and there’s an expectant silence on the other end of the line. “I yelled at his mother and I punched his father in the face. I think he was unconscious still when we left.”

Nie Mingjue expected a lot of reactions, but he did not expect Nie Huaisang to burst out laughing.

“That is absolutely hilarious,” he wheezes and Nie Mingjue pinches the bridge of his nose.

“It’s not,” he finally snaps when Nie Huaisang can’t seem to calm himself. “Wanyin asked for some time. He didn’t seem happy about it at all, and I think—he’s going to break up with me,” he whispers, and he can’t even blame Jiang Cheng.

He did hit his father after all, no matter how bad their relationship is. Nie Mingjue understands that telling him that his father doesn’t like him and complaining about him and having your boyfriend hit him in the face are still two very different things.

“He what?” Nie Huaisang asks, now completely serious again. “He wouldn’t.”

“Huaisang, I hit his father! He has every right to!”

“But that’s not—oh, he’s calling me. Da-ge, don’t do anything stupid, it’ll be alright,” Nie Huaisang tells him and then promptly hangs up.

Nie Mingjue thinks it’s already too late not to do anything stupid, but he doesn’t get to say that anymore, and he just hopes that Nie Huaisang will at least be a better friend for Jiang Cheng than Nie Mingjue was as a partner.

~*~*~

It’s been two days, and Nie Mingjue hasn’t heard from Jiang Cheng at all. Two days, and Nie Mingjue wants to tear his hair out in despair.

It doesn’t even matter what Jiang Cheng is going to tell him when he does make contact again; he just wants to hear his voice and Nie Mingjue desperately wants to know if Jiang Cheng is okay.

He hopes he is okay.

Nie Mingjue’s hand has swollen up spectacularly and for now it’s a constant reminder of how he lost Jiang Cheng. That thought is even more unpleasant than the pain from it, Nie Mingjue thinks and he tries to use his hand as normally as he can.

He deserves that pain, anyway.

Nie Mingjue is just about to decide how he’s going to waste his afternoon when someone knocks at his door. He thinks it might be Nie Huaisang—who forgot his key yet again—and he stomps over to yank the door open without cheeking first.

He was not prepared to see Jiang Cheng on the other side.

“Hi,” Nie Mingjue breathes out, taking in Jiang Cheng’s appearance.

He doesn’t look like he lost any sleep over Nie Mingjue’s actions, to that’s a plus, Nie Mingjue thinks and Jiang Cheng even manages a smile for him.

Nie Mingjue has missed it very dearly.

“Hey,” Jiang Cheng gives back. “Can I come in? I think I should—can we talk?”

“Of course,” Nie Mingjue immediately agrees and tries very hard not to think about the fact that this might be the last time ever that Jiang Cheng will smile at him like this.

“You want something to drink?” Nie Mingjue asks him, but stills when Jiang Cheng shakes his head.

“Listen, can we just—I know I didn’t react well when you punched my dad, but—” he trails off and Nie Mingjue sighs.

“I’m still not going to apologize for that,” Nie Mingjue immediately declares, because he is not sorry about that. He’s sorry about all the things he caused with it, but not for the act itself.

“I heard you the first time,” Jiang Cheng says with a small huff and then wrings his hands in front of his chest. “It’s just—did you mean it? When you said they deserved it?” he asks and Nie Mingjue frowns.

“Of course I mean it! They shouldn’t—gods, the way they talked about you; not even to you, just about you, it’s—it’s fucked up. For once, no parent should ever say these things about their child, but then all of what they said isn’t even true? They clearly don’t even know you and I’m just—so mad at them because they don’t see how amazing and wonderful you are,” Nie Mingjue hotly gives back and he’s not prepared to see tears in Jiang Cheng’s eyes when he’s done.

“Oh no, Wanyin, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Nie Mingjue rushes out, but he’s not sure where they stand and if he’s allowed to gather Jiang Cheng up in a hug at all.

Luckily, he doesn’t have to wonder about that for long, because Jiang Cheng throws himself forwards, right into his arms.

Nie Mingjue immediately hugs him close, and his heart constricts when the first sob breaks free from Jiang Cheng.

“Oh, my heart, what’s wrong?” he asks, rubbing one hand up and down Jiang Cheng’s back and cupping the back of his head with the other to keep him close.

“No one ever—” Jiang Cheng starts but he’s crying too hard to get more out than that, and Nie Mingjue can feel anger bubble up in him again as he mentally finishes that sentence.

No one ever stood up for me like that.

It makes him want to hit someone all over again.

Jiang Cheng calms down relatively quickly and when he pulls away from Nie Mingjue he seems embarrassed.

“My heart,” Nie Mingjue says and reaches out to brush a stray tear away. “What’s going on?”

“You’re not the first partner I brought to my family,” Jiang Cheng admits and Nie Mingjue nods, because he knows that. “You’re just the first who took offence with the way my parents talk about me,” Jiang Cheng finishes lowly and Nie Mingjue has to take a deep breath to remain calm.

“What?”

“My last boyfriend—he agreed with what they said. The one before that kind of did as well, though he wasn’t so vocal about it. You’re the first who outright told them to shut up.”

That’s the understatement of the year. He had screamed into Yu Ziyuan’s face and then punched Jiang Fengmian into silence when he wouldn’t stop.

“I was just confused and—no one stood up for me like that before,” Jiang Cheng finishes with a shrug and Nie Mingjue can see how that might have gotten overwhelming for Jiang Cheng.

“I will always stand up for you,” Nie Mingjue promises him and presses a kiss to his forehead. “Because you deserve so much better.”

“No one ever said,” Jiang Cheng sobs out, tears falling again and Nie Mingjue gathers him up again.

“I’ll say it over and over again. And if you really want to, I’ll punch your dad again as well. He deserves it, anyway.”

“To be honest, I enjoyed it more when you yelled at my mother,” Jiang Cheng says through his tears. “No one ever yells at her, no one ever even disagrees with her, and that look on her face—” he has to laugh even though he’s still crying and Nie Mingjue presses him closer.

“I can totally yell at your mother again if she misbehaves,” Nie Mingjue promises him immediately and Jiang Cheng brushes his lips against Nie Mingjue’s throat.

“I love you,” he whispers and Nie Mingjue gives the sentiment right back.

“I think me antagonizing your family should be proof enough, but I love you, too,” he says, and just like he hoped it makes Jiang Cheng laugh.

“I’m sorry for pulling away for a few days,” Jiang Cheng whispers when they part but Nie Mingjue shakes his head.

“It was a lot, no matter how you see it, and that’s perfectly alright,” he reassures him and drags Jiang Cheng over to the couch. “Now, wanna watch a movie with me?”

“And cuddle?” Jiang Cheng hopefully asks and Nie Mingjue smiles at him.

“Of course,” he reassures him and then pulls Jiang Cheng on top of him as he sits down.

Halfway during the movie Jiang Cheng shyly asks what Nie Mingjue thinks his parents were so wrong about and it prompts a whole rant out of Nie Mingjue, that leaves him slightly agitated again but makes Jiang Cheng laugh and snuggle closer, so he guesses it’s alright.

He would punch anyone if only it would make Jiang Cheng smile after all.

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#bt writes #the untamed #mdzs #mdzsbingo #mingcheng #modern au #established relationship #hurt/comfort #self-esteem issues #jfm gets punched in the face #cuddling and snuggling