secureserver | [ TFLN 4.0

Huaisang and her small Nie retinue are traveling on horseback - she could have taken a chariot, but she actually enjoys horse riding and she is a more than competent rider.

She tumbles from her horse quickly when she sees him and kind of forgets all of her manners, bypassing the bowing and usually greeting to just grab him in a hug.

"A-Cheng! That was fast!"

Jiang Cheng is more than happy to ignore formalities and he just wraps his arms around her to return the hug, squeezing. Despite their conversation he is just happy to see her for the sake of seeing one of his only friends.

"I had good reason to hurry."

It's nice to see him be genuinely enthusiastic too. He hasn't much silliness to smile about lately, and it's just good to try and distract him from all those serious things that he gets absorbed in all the time.

But also, to say that in front of her own people...

"A-Cheng, control yourself a little!"

Now there's just one problem.

"If you're taking me back, they'll have to keep going with the horses, so they won't wake it there until tomorrow at the earliest."

"I am perfectly controlled," he says quietly and he believes he has said nothing that could not be seen in the guise of innocent friendship -- even though her people would probably know better. All the same he takes a few steps away from her after that, hands going behind his back.

"Is that a problem?"

"Not for me. I have everything I need here," she taps her qiankun pouch lightly. "Just warn people in advance that they'll be passing through and it'll be fine."

And then she seems to remember another thing and looks a little concerned.

"And also don't fly too high or too fast? I'm always a bit scared..."

Since, well, she can't do it herself, so she never really got used to it.

Jiang Cheng nods. It's not a particularly difficult thing to do and well worth it to get her alone quicker. Maybe he really is a bit too eager but he doesn't think he can be blamed for that.

"You scared?" he teases a brief smile again before his face draws more serious. "You'll be safe. Come along then."

"A-Cheng, I never fly on swords! It's scary!"

And you and Wei Wuxian are daredevils about it too. But she'll still step closer so she can warp an arm around his waist - and get a deathgrip on his robes, just in case.

Jiang Cheng just hides a smile, more from her people than from her. Still, he's quick to make sure that she's steady before he starts, He resists the urge to curl his hand over hers, just wanting to touch her. It's ridiculous really that he's so easy. He shouldn't have come and yet here he is.

"Ready?"

Well, what does it say about her that she set up this whole thing in less than a day, then. Her brother would have a stroke if he knew, probably.

But the death grip is going to intensify as they fly, Huaisang hiding her face against his chest and giving little gasps of fright and pressing closer when there are small bumps.

She's simply resourceful and clever, clearly.

Jiang Cheng can't help but enjoy the death grip, actually, and the way her face is pressed into his chest but he doesn't like that she's afraid and so he does try and make the flight as smooth as possible while still making as good of time as possible.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you, A-Sang."

"I know... I'm just not used to it..."

She is glad to find her feet on solid ground again as they land at the pier, her legs a little wobbly still, and she still holds onto his arm as she looks around to take in the sights.

She's been here before, and she loves it. Everyone here is so much more relaxed than back in Unclean Realm, and the food is delicious. The only thing she has a bit of trouble with is the heat, so much more overbearing than in the mountains where she was born.

"I've missed coming here... How long has it even been?"

Jiang Cheng makes sure to keep her safe and steady. He takes in a deep breath and as always he is happy to return home. He starts to lead her along the pier.

The question she had posed requires some thought. "It's been at least a year hasn't it? You are welcome to visit more often."

A moment later, "Are you hungry?"

"I would come more often if I could. Da Ge doesn't think it's the done thing for a young lady to travel on her own. Just letting me go to town alone is a fight on some days."

At least Huaisang is not going to act like your typical young lady when asked about food.

"I'm ravenous! And the food is always so good here! Oh do you still have that lotus wine you had last time I came? And can we have some watermelon too? It's so hot here, I think I need to change first."

"What if I were able to devise a way to convince him to let you stay here for a longer period of time?" Jiang Cheng questions, it would give Huaisang some freedom from the restrictive nature of her brother -- and Jiang Cheng would enjoy having her around more even if he tries not to make that blatantly clear. This is just a favor between friends, of course!

Jiang Cheng nearly laughs but not quite, instead, there's a hint of a smile as he watches her from the corner of his eye as they walk. "Of course, I can show you where you'll be staying and then you can join me for a meal." It wouldn't take long to get everything she requests and more.

"Really? How? do you really think you can convince him?"

She loves her brother to death and while she often grumbles about him, she would be the first to defend against anyone... but she has been chafing a bit about all the rules for 'ladies' that he suddenly seems to have become aware of. She usually revels in the fact that she's been raised quite differently from other ladies in her age group, and she's not going to start behaving like them now.

She follows him to a beautiful guest room with a view on the lake, and as she comes in and goes to push the door close, she gives him a wink.

"No peeking. That's for later, alright?"

"I don't know for sure yet but I can figure something out," or if she wanted she could help him figure something out. She is by far more clever and intelligent than he is and he knows it despite how she sometimes didn't always act like it. One of his vague ideas was to say he needed her help on some things he is working on -- which didn't have to be a lie.

Jiang Cheng nearly pouts when she closing the door, letting out a soft huff.

"I hope it is more than a peek, later."

Well, she's already figured out what type of question he could ask to make her stay forever, but it seems like it's not gotten into his brain yet. Now she just has to see whether she can nudge him in the right direction during her stay here.

"I'll let you unwrap your present later. After you feed me!"

The robes she changes into are made of multiple layers of light gray silvery silk so sheer it's only by the superposition of them that they're not completely indecent. Even then, she knows by the time the sun starts going down, the outline of her body will be clearly visible through them, even if nothing else will show. She redoes her braids, too, and exchanges her silver circlet for a simple jade hairpin. A few silver and jade bangles on her wrists, and she's ready to throw the door open again.

"Let's go eat!"

Jiang Cheng might be slow on the uptake but he could probably get there with the right nudging -- fortunately for him, she's there to do it. He waits impatiently for her to change, he would have much rather been peeking but he respects her choice so he paces outside the door with his hands clasped behind his back. Honestly, it's a wonder not everyone in Yunmeng knows his affection for Nie Huaisang -- or maybe they do and just know enough to keep their mouths shut.

It seems to take forever for her to come back at but he has to bite back a smile when she does and he takes in the change of outfit and accessories.

"You look beautiful," he has to say and then nods as he starts to lead her to their dinner and with dinner it would be only the best for her and there would be plenty.

Let's be real, Jiang Cheng, absolutely everyone in Yunmeng knows about your affection for Nie Huaisang, and they also have a healthy respect for both your temper and Zidian.

The compliment makes a flush come to her cheeks, because it's not something she hears a lot. Her brother or Xichen-ge don't really compliment her like that, and her friendship with Wei Wuxian was on a different level, back then, and that kind of consideration never got into it. So it's nice that he notices she's making an effort for him, and he's telling her he likes it.

She grabs his arm to follow, already chattering again about the weather and then exclaiming happily about the food. Good thing she is older than you, by a few months, Jiang Cheng, and the guest, because that means she can just start eating without waiting for you to take your first bite.

And moan happily at how good this all is.

"You'll need to let me use your kitchen at some point. You have different ingredients here, I want to try some things!"

Jiang Cheng takes a moment to enjoy that flush and maybe another moment to admire how beautiful she looks and then they're on their way. As she talks he is mostly quietly, mostly looking at her -- not nearly as discreetly as he would think he is. Being around her makes him feel more alive than he has in any other situation for years. Once she's started eating he amusedly starts to eat as well, shaking his head a bit.

"You are free to use it whenever and as often as you would like as long as you let me try everything you make."

"Well, of course, A-Cheng! Do you think I'm going to hoard the food I make in your own kitchen!"

He's not being discreet indeed, but while she is conscious of his gaze on her, she doesn't really act any different than she normally does. Maybe that's part of her charm, that she's never been one to put on an act of polished manners. She was raised mostly by men, and while she knows exactly how a girl should behave, she usually doesn't do it because everyone knows sh was raised by her brother and sort of vaguely uses that as an excuse for how she acts, so why should she discourage it. She's known many girls playing at being soft and demure to score themselves a husband, and she's always figured that if a man cannot take her as she is, then they don't deserve to have her.

She'd like Jiang Cheng to deserve it, though. If he ever gets around to it.

So she eats, heartily, unconcerned with appearing gluttonous, and she drinks happily, smacking her lips after each cup.

As she finishes, she pulls out her fan, looking out at the lake.]

I really like it here, A-Cheng.

One never knows with you.

[ Jiang Cheng answers and there's a hint of teasing to it. He knows most likely she would always be willing to share as long as she had enough to sate her own appetite and there is plenty to work within the kitchen. The fact that Huaisang is always herself endears her all the more to Jiang Cheng. There aren't awkward games to play, ones that he has no patience for. And he wants a partner, someone strong in their own way, someone who can compliment him. He shakes the thoughts away, he shouldn't think of her like that.

He eats at a good pace himself, though, somehow Huaisang manages to out-eat him. This too amuses him but he says nothing of it. He's thoughtful and quiet still vaguely thinking of how exactly to get Mingjue to agree to allow Huaisang to visit more often. He really is blockheaded. Yanli would have had this moving infinitely faster were she still there. ]

I like having you here.

[ To himself he adds, you look like you belong. ]

"If you really like it... You could make me stay for good."

It really wouldn't be that complicated, except... Except he's just so slow about this, really! She has to wonder, some days, how he managed to rebuild this whole sect from the ground up on his own, and yet when it comes to her, his brain seems to fly out of the window every single time.

"A-Cheng, how much longer is it going to take you to ask Da Ge to let me marry you?"

Jiang Cheng tilts his head at her comment and it doesn't register completely at first. Make her stay for good? He'd like that ... a lot. He's always happier and more relaxed when she's around -- even if not completely, he does still have a sect to run and disciples to train and the weight of the past to carry. He's done it all alone and he'd never seriously considered not doing it alone. There's the fanciful thought, the dream that he never really focuses on or thought to make reality. A part of him couldn't accept that it's something Huaisang would really want... with him.

But now, here she is being so bold and up front about it and he nearly laughs. This is why he would do well to have her be his partner, his wife.

His ears are red and he takes a long drink before he answers. "I... you want me to ask him?"

She doesn't know whether to laugh or feel vaguely sorry for herself when she sees his ears go all red like that, and that he even needs a drink before he speaks.

Not to mention...

"Why would I not want to? A-Cheng, you do remember why I came here specifically, right? Now do you imagine my brother would be happy to learn that, and that you don't intend to make an honest woman out of me at the same time?"

She might be freer than most of the women around, but she is still one of the only people left of the Nie Clan, and also the apple of her brother's eye.

"I've been waiting for you to ask forever, but apparently you're not going to, so I guess I have to do it myself."

And embarrass everyone but herself in the process, it seems.

"So, do you want me to stay for good?"

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