Jin Ling's cheeks color just a little. Why do they think he was a child or a dog that needed to be walked around the courtyard?! He didn't understand why he feels nervous about the idea, but he refuses to think about it. He tries not to think about how much it hurts when he makes one wrong move with his arm and Liling has to put that excruciating salve on his burn.
What would be even worse was learning he couldn't do it for some reason. He doesn't know how he would be able to show his face again anywhere if he really truly couldn't walk again.
"Good." Jiang Cheng says, though he's now studying Jin Ling's face. He sees the worry and sighs. There's regret in his own expression for this. He doesn't want to leave and hates that even temporarily it's putting his nephew in a vulnerable position again. He's done everything he could to keep him safe. Even what he's doing is for the boy, but he refuses to say so. It reinforces his desire to never reveal what this is costing him or the Jiang clan. "Have you been eating any better?" He asks, though he glances toward Zizhen, already wanting confirmation on whatever answer he gets is the truth.
"I eat plenty!" Jin Ling grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest- or starting to before he winces and leaves one arm alone.
~~~
Jingyi waits a few more minutes before leaning over again and adding quietly, "That isn't the first time you've realized that, is it? That you're the current heir." Because, come on, Sizhui! He loves you, but that might be as adorably naïve to him as all his hang ups with Zizhen is to Sizhui. Why wouldn't he be the heir?
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ninetydegrees
no subject
2021-09-15 14:47 (UTC)What would be even worse was learning he couldn't do it for some reason. He doesn't know how he would be able to show his face again anywhere if he really truly couldn't walk again.
"Good." Jiang Cheng says, though he's now studying Jin Ling's face. He sees the worry and sighs. There's regret in his own expression for this. He doesn't want to leave and hates that even temporarily it's putting his nephew in a vulnerable position again. He's done everything he could to keep him safe. Even what he's doing is for the boy, but he refuses to say so. It reinforces his desire to never reveal what this is costing him or the Jiang clan. "Have you been eating any better?" He asks, though he glances toward Zizhen, already wanting confirmation on whatever answer he gets is the truth.
"I eat plenty!" Jin Ling grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest- or starting to before he winces and leaves one arm alone.
~~~
Jingyi waits a few more minutes before leaning over again and adding quietly, "That isn't the first time you've realized that, is it? That you're the current heir." Because, come on, Sizhui! He loves you, but that might be as adorably naïve to him as all his hang ups with Zizhen is to Sizhui. Why wouldn't he be the heir?