lastjinstanding | Brothel meme continued

Jin Ling draws back and clears his throat. No that isn't the faintest damp spot on Yuan's robe where he might have cried. That's entirely someone's imagination!

"I uh.. I have to go. I'll.." He pauses and gives Yuan's forehead a kiss. He knows he's being confusing, but he's also freaking the hell out. He might as well spread the irrational crazy sense around. "I'll be back in just a little while. Everything is fine, Yuan."

He gets up and hurries out of the room. He needs to find his uncle, the stupid romantic obsessed one!

"A-Ling..." He's already rushing off before Yuan even manages to find his voice and he is so confused what's going on. His robe is slightly damp, Ling was clearly upset about something, but the kiss on the forehead suggested he certainly isn't mad at him. He sighs, resigning himself to confusion at least until Jin Ling returns.

He wonders if maybe he should go and find Liling and check she wasn't delayed by anything important, or if he ought to wait here.

The uncle Jin Ling is looking for is currently lounging in his own guest quarters (which are actually his old rooms. Jiang Cheng had claimed he'd had them cleaned out, but they were actually just as he left them. Wei Wuxian would have teased him about that if it hadn't left a lump in his own throat upon realising it) - his husband, luckily, is still dealing with other matters, so he's not doing anything untoward except drinking.

Whatever you do, Wuxian, don't mention it or the whole thing will be burned to the ground!

Ling stands outside his uncle's room pacing back and forth for several minutes debating whether he should ask or if this was a horrible idea and he should go back to his room and just have sex with A-Yuan. He also realized he called Yuan 'Yuan' and not 'A-Yuan' and feels guilty about it. He was definitely too precious to him not to get that courtesy. He'd just been flustered. He should go back and apologize. No!

He lifts a hand and knocks, wincing at the sound. This could easily be the dumbest thing he's ever done but if anyone could look past station it was the man who protected a bunch of nobodies in the Burial Mound. "Wei-shimu?" Smirk. "We need to talk!"

~~~

"Shh! A-Geming! I have to go!" Liling's voice chirped in a little extra sweet tone outside of Yuan's door. She cleared her throat and straightened her collar before tapping on the door. "Zheng-gongzi? My apologies I'm late, sir!" In addition to water, she now has a tray of food and tea. And um.. a requested small bottle of .. well.. oil. *Ahem*. There's a discreet cloth over it though.

Wei Wuxian looks up in confusion at the knock, then sighs at the voice on the other side of it - his nephew is such a brat (he's so proud). Still, there's a note of something in that voice that suggests this might be something serious.

"Talk? Come in, come in, what do we need to talk about?"

~~~

Yuan raises an eyebrow at that tone, a tiny smile playing on his lips despite everything going on with himself. He could have seen that coming, but it's still an interesting development. He calls for Liling to come in, smiling gratefully when he sees she's brought him food - now that the nausea is gone, he's realised how long it is since he last ate.

"Don't worry about it, Liling," he reassures with a smile, neatly sweeping the oil from the tray and tucking it safely in his sleeve for later. He doesn't know if it's been requested or Liling is thinking ahead, but he hopes the former.

"Thank you."

He puts his hand on the door and almost chickens out again. It takes everything in him to push it open and step inside. As he does, he tilts his chin up trying to convey a confidence he didn't feel. He quickly shuts the door behind him and folds his arms behind him. He steps closer and realizes he has no idea how to start this.

".. Uh.. H-how've you been?" That was totally a normal question to ask of someone he just had dinner with not an hour ago, right? He wasn't looking at his uncle. He knew that was a stupid start. "Um.. before you were with Lan-xiandu.. you had a reputation, didn't you?"

His gaze snaps back to his uncle. "Not as the Yiling Patriarch but in.. uh.. another sense." Oh god, how do people talk about these things? It's not like he's had parents to teach him such things! He was so not blushing either!

~~~

She tries not to notice just how skillfully he hides away the oil. That was like a true magician!

"Did Lan-gongzi help you feel better?" She asks, fussing with fluffing his pillow and changing out some incense sticks for him. "I would've thought Jin-zongzhu would've been back by now. You're rather lucky. There are a few of the guests who are choosing to stay on their boats this evening because of how overcrowded it is for the wedding. A few of our men are having to stay there are well."

"Fine," Wuxian answers the how are you question with a shrug, since he can tell very clearly that Jin Ling isn't really looking for an answer so much as wanted a way to start the conversation. He waits for the point.

Jin Ling seems to be having trouble with it.

It takes Wei Wuxian a minute to reach a (wrong) conclusion and his eyes widen a little.

"Rulan! Did you come to ask me about sex? Aiya, didn't Jiang Cheng tell you about this stuff already? Come on, sit down, I'll tell you everything."

~~~

"Yes, Jingyi was very helpful, I'm feeling much better," he smiles softly and nods.

"Oh, I feel sorry for them," he wrinkles his nose at the idea of being stuck sleeping on a boat "I'm very glad Jin-zongzhu was able to get me a room! He was here, but he.. said he had to go and do something and he left..."

Abruptly and clearly flustered. Yuan still doesn't know what to make of it.

"What?!" Could the floor just open up and eat him? The absolutely worst part of this was, he could easily see where Wuxian would come to that very stupid conclusion based on how he was acting. "N- no! No! No! I know.. plenty about that. I.. dammit."

He put his face in his hands for a moment. At least he'd somehow gone from the demeanor of 'I'm pretending to be a haughty sect leader' to finally a 'I'm an eighteen year old coming to my uncle'. He flops down on a chair near Wuxian. "I need to know how prostitution works. Like.. the system. And you can make fun of me for it in here, but don't.. you can't tell anyone I'm asking about this. Ever!"

~~~

Liling snickers. "Do you know people around here actually like boats? They would sleep in their boats willingly! A couple of the Jiang disciples and servants willingly gave up their beds for us. I suppose it comes from growing up on a riverbank." She shakes her head. "Don't ask me, I don't understand it. I don't get sick like you, but they scare me. You never know what's going on underneath the surface.." She shudders.

She glances toward the hall hearing Jin Ling had been here but left. That didn't make any sense. "Do you want me to go look for him? He has the room next door, but these walls are thin, so we'd be able to tell if he was there or not. You know, if you're feeling better you don't have to stay in your room. You're a gongzi. You're welcome to go about however you please or if you prefer, I can help you get ready for bed."

Honestly, Wei Wuxian is kind of glad that isn't what his nephew wants to know, for a start he's more than old enough now to know it already, and truthfully he'd get way more embarrassed trying to explain it than he was letting on.

When Jin Ling explains what he does want to know, though, it's very much not what he was expecting at all.

"I can probably tell you what you need to know," he concedes "but you're going to have to tell me more, first. Why would you ask such a question when you are here with someone? You can't tell me you're planning on hiring a prostitute....?" He refuses to believe Jin Ling is taking after his grandfather, there must be a reason for this

~~~

Yuan looks aghast at the very idea of enjoying boats, shaking his head in disbelief.

"I suppose that makes sense," he concedes "but the thought of it almost makes me ill again, let alone actually doing it."

He considers her offer and then shakes his head.

"He said he'd be back and I'm sure he will. If he's not back when I'm done eating I might go for a small walk, just to stretch my legs a little, but then I'll return to wait for him. Will you be around to let him know where I've gone if he does return?"

He shakes his head. "I can't. If you won't tell me, would you at least agree not to tell anyone I asked you and forget this ever happened?" He gets up from his chair immediately regretting coming. He feels sick.

What if he somehow puts Yuan in an awful position because of this? He is almost sure he can trust his uncle but there's a voice in the back of his mind saying this whole thing had been a really stupid risk.

"I'm sorry, I'll leave," He bows and starts for the door.

~~~

She laughs and waves her hands in defense. "We won't talk about it anymore! I promise!"

"If you wish, I'd be happy to stay and let him know for you," she smiles. "I really don't mind doing things for you. You're so pleasant to be around."

Wei Wuxian frowns - there's clearly something big going on here, this isn't just Jin Ling wanting to engage in some youthful indiscretion, there's something serious behind it. When he gets up, Wuxian is immediately on his feet and reaching for his arm.

"Ah ah ah, no, Rulan, A-Ling, sit down sit down, I promise I won't say anything. If you can't tell me that's alright, I'll try and tell you what you need to know, come on."

Clearly his nephew needs him, he's not going to let him down after spending so many years not being there for him.

~~~

"Thank you, Liling, that's very kind of you, and sweet of you to say" he smiles fondly "I enjoy your company as well."

He feels a glow of warmth at her kindness, but just like so many things it's bittersweet - he wishes he could spend more time with her, that this blossoming friendship didn't have to end either.

He wants to flee as a part of him feels overwhelmed. This situation on top of the strain of all the rest he has been dealing with lately is just about one too many and yet this one is so important. Yuan has brought him more joy in the last day and a half than he's felt in as long as he could remember. The very idea that someone else would be with his A-Yuan- holding him, kissing him, fucking his A-Yuan- was too much to bear. The other man deserved to be a young master, just as he was pretending to be today and nothing less. He didn't truly have a way to give that to him, but he could at least free him.

So when Wuxian gives in, he stops and looks back at the older man in dark robes and red hair ribbon. He stands rooted where he is staring at the man's familiar face for several long moments unable to decide if he can trust him enough with this. He wants to. If it was something involving just himself he would've much easier, much quicker but it doesn't.

Finally, he gives in too. He crosses his arms over his chest in a protectively and glances down at Wuxian's feet. He chews on his bottom lip for a moment before he can muster up the courage to speak, but fortunately he does. "Do you remember at Guanyin Temple, the reason my uncle, Jin Guangyao, did what he did was because Grandfather had the chance to free his mother but chose not to? How could he have done that? What.. what would that have meant for her?"

~~~

Jingyi's face brightens when Zizhen joins him out on the gazebo over the water. He waves and quickly sets out two teacups for them to enjoy. "I wasn't sure you'd have time to talk tonight with all your relatives arriving but I promise this is going to be worth your while!"

When the question comes, it really isn't what Wei Wuxian was expecting, and he has to admit it makes him wildly curious - it doesn't take a genius to put some of the pieces together, to suspect that there is a prostitute somewhere that Jin Ling would like to see freed from her (or maybe his) situation. He doesn't have the whole picture, but he's got the edges.

"Well," he says, foregoing any teasing in the face of Jin Ling's obvious distress over it all "it would depend. Some prostitutes can just leave that life, if they choose, but it's far more likely there's something keeping them in it. Usually, it's money. Money they need for something, or money they owe to the Madame of their house. That would have to be paid off before anything else."

The other question is a little more difficult and he hesitates before answering.

"What it would mean for her would depend very much on who knows what. Anybody who knew her previous occupation has the ability to make things difficult for her, she would likely have to deal with rumour and innuendo not dissimilar to what your uncle dealt with himself. The person who freed her, as well, may have some of this fall on them, too. It's not a decision to be taken lightly, but with enough power from the right corners, those rumours could arguably be buried."

Meaning; Jin Ling if you want to do this, you're probably going to need back up.

~~~

"I was already happy to make time for you," Zizhen tells him cheerfully "but now I'm particularly interested."

Honestly he's glad of the break, and he drops into the seat across from Jingyi with a smile.

"You seem like you have gossip."

Translation heard- If you are strong enough, you can fight these rumors for Yuan.

So Yuan was most likely in debt and needed help paying that off to be free. That was easy enough. He could pay that debt. It was the second part clearly that was going to be the tricky one. How does someone combat a rumor that strong? His uncle was tortured with that his whole life till it basically drove him mad.

Could he handle one more scandal or would it ruin him? People were already trying to kill him and his guard questioned him. Would this be one disgrace too many? It doesn't matter. It's Yuan. He needs Yuan to be free and safe.

"Okay," he says simply. "Thank you." That was what he really needed, he thinks. He finally offers his uncle a bit of a smile. He still felt completely outmatched but at least he knew what step to take next.

~~~

Jingyi smiles adoringly at the compliment. It was very, very mutual. "I do! That guy Jin Ling brought, Zheng Yuan? They're both completely smitten with each other and get this, they've known each other for only three days." He takes a sip of his tea. "Yuan is really sweet too. You're going to love him!"

"You're very welcome," Wei Wuxian tells him cheerfully. He pauses, thinking he should probably just leave it at that, not pry, this was a nice moment between uncle and nephew and he really shouldn't ruin it.

Unfortunately, he also realises that he has to ruin it, and not even the fun way. He turns more serious again.

"Rulan... anybody wanting to do something like this should also make sure they're certain. Prostitutes can be very good at what they do, there's... there's always a risk yo- somebody who wants to do this might be... imagining things are more than they are."

He is capable of being the voice of reason sometimes.

"But if this person was totally sure," he adds, a little more brightly "I'm sure their uncle would definitely have their back no matter what."

~~~

"I'd heard it hadn't been that long," Zizhen admits, sipping his own tea "so it was already sort of strange that he'd brought him to his uncle's wedding, but smitten, really? Our Jin Ling?"

He's fascinated.

"The Zheng clan is so small, how did they even meet?"

If he leaves this room in the next three minutes with this smile on his face, everything is going to be okay. That was the plan. He so easily could've succeeded. He was so close.

It feels like a fabric bag with a load of heavy rocks. It has been holding the weight for a time but just when you start to relax, the first few threads snap. The others quickly follow and without another bag or some other kind of support, the fabric shreds and the rocks tumble.

He can't breathe. Just when his knees hit the floor, he doesn't know, but Jin Ling can't breathe. Fear gripes his heart like boa constrictor around it's prey, squeezing so painfully he wants to scream. He gasps but it's useless as his lungs burn, crying for relief. He can't get air.

~~~

"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't just witnessed it not ten minutes ago. He was being so gentle with Yuan and he couldn't take his eyes off him. He looked.. he was happy." He snorts a laugh and shakes his head. "And the guy isn't anything what you'd think Jin Ling would be into! He's shy and soft spoken. If I didn't know better, I'd say he was a Lan!"

That question makes him laugh again. "That was a strange part. Again, I wouldn't have believed Ling's story if Yuan hadn't backed it up. Get this.. Yuan's party was traveling to Yanling for something, I didn't ask what. They get attacked by not one but two dire bears. Ling comes upon them and kills them with his night hunting party that just happened to be nearby. Those things are nasty! He didn't have any injuries that I could see either, but I guess he could be hiding it well. That sounds like something he'd do. But do you think he could've gotten that much better that he can take on two of those monsters?"

For a second, he isn't sure what's happening when Jin Ling drops to his knees, but he's already moving towards him all the same. He realises what's going on by the time he reaches the younger man, kneeling down beside him and resting a reassuring hand on his back.

"A-Ling," he says worriedly, rubbing his back soothingly "it's okay. Whatever is going on we can fix it, it's going to be okay."

He doesn't know that, can't know that, but he does know they've already been through hell and back (possibly literally, in his case), so he's sure they can handle whatever Jin Ling's struggling with. He has no idea exactly what's going on or what set him off, but he'll always have his back.

~~~

"I need to see this," Zizhen says, shaking his head in amazement "Jin Ling being gentle? Really?"

He thinks it makes a sort of sense, though, Jin Ling kind of needs a calming presence in his life (a bit like his uncle), so he can see why somebody sweet would work well for him - though with Jin Ling being such a forceful person, he really hopes this Zheng Yuan can put his foot down when he needs to.

"Two dire bears? That is..." he trails off with a frown. It does sound kind of unbelievable, and with no injuries too? And what was Jin Ling doing going on a night hunt without inviting the two of them? "I wonder what Yuan was travelling for... guess it must not have been that important if he went off with Jin Ling instead..."

There's.. kind of a lot of holes in this story.

Someone's trying to kill me. The captain of my guard is involved but I don't know how or who else is connected. A prostitute has stolen my life and my heart. I can't handle his cute face. I miss my family but don't want to risk anyone's life but my own. Things keep going wrong for no reason and I keep looking like a fool. I can't get anyone to trust me. How do you know someone else's heart?

He has so much he wants to say and can't find a way to say any of them. He'd never been taught. He didn't know anyone who'd asked for help when they needed it, so why should he be the first?

However, he leans a bit against his uncle's support and fight's to calm down and trust his words. At least in this place, for this week, he was safe. Nothing bad could happen to him here. "I'm sorry. I'm not a child, I can handle this. Just.. I need a second to catch my breathe." He looks up at the man he once hated and gives a grateful, weak smile. He appreciated Wuxian more than the guy knew.

Maybe he did have one question, though. "How did HanGuang-Jun know he could trust you?"

~~~

"Right? He has Yuan completely fooled too. He kept saying Ling was sweet and had been taking good care of him. It was weird." He shakes his head, but then he recalls something else Yuan had said. "He said Ling's also been buying him a bunch of presents."

He had to admit when Zizhen put it that way, it did seem a lot more far fetched. Why had he believed the story? "So either they met some really lame way and Yuan is wanting to suck up and backed Ling's stupid story, which is sort of cute or Ling's really hurt and hiding it or there's something more devious going on. I mean, it is a Jin we're talking about. Although I didn't really think Jin Ling was like that."

Exaggerating a night hunt, sure, that didn't really count in Jingyi's book as 'lying'. It was just what some cultivators did, especially competitive ones like Ling. It was all good fun and even if Jingyi didn't do it (he's still a Lan after all) he didn't condemn his friend who got carried away. The bear story was getting carried away. He was worried of something more serious.

Wuxian doesn't tease or push, he just nods, letting him take his time and come around. There's clearly been some pressure building and something has made it break, all he can do is be here to help pick up the pieces if Jin Ling is willing to let him.

He's expecting his nephew to be circumspect if he says anything at all, so he's not too surprised by the slightly strange question. He gives it appropriate consideration.

"Well, he loved me, I think that helped, because sometimes loving somebody is about trusting them, even if you don't know for sure that you can. Trust is about faith just as much as knowing." He frowns, considering it "you'd have to ask him, though, really. Maybe it was because I trusted him, too..."

He wishes he could give him a better answer, but as much as he'd told him to be sure, trust was sometimes just something you felt

~~~

"I mean, I guess he would be the type to throw money at something, or someone.. " he frowns, putting together pieces into something he really didn't like.

"What if Jin Ling isn't like this... what if it's this Zheng Yuan? I mean the Zheng clan are pretty small, what if... what if it's all an act just to get Jin Ling's attention so they can advance their clan?"

Sometimes Zizhen reads too many novels.

Jin Ling struggles to his feet and scowls at his uncle. He wants to kick him in the shins like he would've if he was five. "That's not helpful!" He's just been told he can't trust his feelings and now he was being told that's how he knows. He hates everyone!

"I loved my uncle and look what happened!" Although he wasn't convinced, even at the end, all Jin Guangyao's kindness over the years had been fake. It couldn't all have been a lie, but how would he know? "Just.. forget it! Remember, you promised!"

He storms out of the room. At least he knows about the debt and that he has to find a way to be really strong to take on whatever backlash Yuan gets once they pay for his freedom.

He might also be fleeing because it was super embarrassing to have just had a panic attack in front of his uncle and also, holy crap, what just happened? He's never had a panic attack before.

~~~

"I wonder what he bought him," Jingyi says with a frown. The frown deepens as he realizes at least one thing he saw right away. "He has on some very wealthy robes. They're more expensive than a small clan should be able to afford."

Granted, Jingyi could be a little naïve here. He wasn't from the wealthiest part of the Lan Clan and Cloud Recesses was known for being simple. It might not be too hard to dazzle him with wealth.

"We should keep an eye on him, just in case."

He winces at the reaction, but he sort of understands the lashing out, under the circumstances - especially when Jin Ling brings up his other uncle.

"A-Ling-" he tries, but he's already off, storming out of the room. He really takes after Jiang Cheng sometimes. All times.

He sighs and buries his head in his hands. He clearly wasn't good at this.

~~~

"I have heard Zheng clan are a bit... opportunistic." Zizhen says slowly. He nods firmly.

"Maybe he really is just very smitten with Jin Ling, but you're right, we should keep an eye on him and see if we can figure out what's going on."

Solving a mystery with Jingyi? Sounds like fun...

~~~

Yuan himself has finished eating and decided to explore Lotus Pier a little bit - partly because he'd like to see the place, partly to get a little fresh air and partly just so he didn't go stir crazy waiting for Jin Ling to return.

"Are they really?" Jingyi asks feeling a heavy weight in his stomach. Their friend has no luck at all when it comes to trusting people. If the first person he fell in love with turns out to be using him, this really might ruin him for life. It is hard to say just how bad the spiral might go.

He looks up when he hears rapid footsteps as someone approaches the gazebo quickly. "Jin Ling?"

Their friend freezes with his foot on the step leading up to the platform. He's breathing heavily and pale, clutching a bottle of liquor. Seeing his friends, he'd normally smile and eagerly go sit with them, but he looks tempted to turn and run the opposite direction.

~~~

A quiet brush of qin strings reach Yuan's ear as he's passing by a courtyard. It's on the side away from the water, but underneath an open area where the moon was easy to see. In the center of the path, almost radiating with a peaceful light is the Chief Cultivator Lan Wangji.

The chords begin to flow into a loving, calming melody. For someone who also knows this instrument, there is irony in the song itself due to the calming nature and notes but also it takes remarkably challenging skill needed to play it.

Zizhen nods solemnly, he's about to say something else when he also hears the footsteps and turns to see who it is.

It's immediately obvious that something is very wrong, but Jin Ling is a little like a wild animal at times, in that he can lash out or flee if you make the wrong move, so it takes Zizhen a moment to try and decide on the best course of action.

"Jin Ling," he echoes Jingyi, cheerfully pretending like he doesn't notice the pale look on his face "come and join us?"

He doesn't think he'll refuse a direct invitation.

~~~

The familiar strains of the qin lure him and he turns his steps towards the sound, seeking our their source. He hesitates when he sees the man playing, the sight of him something ethereal that he's not sure he wants to intrude upon, but there's something familiar that draws him in, something about the song, maybe, or his appearance. Something at the back of his mind.

He drifts closer, not wanting to disturb but wanting to stay and listen.

Jingyi looks at Zizhen at first wondering if he doesn't seen the wreck that was their friend before realizing what he was doing. His gaze goes back to their friend, who definitely didn't look like this an hour ago.

Jin Ling really isn't sure he can handle any more. He's afraid to go back to his room because he knows he's going to immediately fall in bed with Yuan. He doesn't know if he can trust himself or the other man. The panic attack was so scary and.. and.. and..

Zizhen's friendly coaxing is like someone holding their hand out patiently to an upset stallion. Slowly the muscles tensed and ready for him to flee relax and Jin Ling searches his friend's face for a moment, asking the very same question he's been asking himself about everyone today. It was getting very exhausting.

He finally clears his throat and tips his head up. He comes over to the table and takes a seat. "Hurry up with your tea so you can drink with me." He plops the jar in the middle of the table and sets his cup next to it.

~~~

Wangji continues to play for a while. He lets the music affect the boy listening to him, giving him some peace as the Song of Clarity flows over him.

However, after the song wanes, he says simply. "Come join me."

Zizhen drains his tea with a grin and slides his cup over to Jin Ling - it's not so much that he is overly eager to drink, but the sooner he and Jingyi join in, the less of that jar the young sect leader will be drinking alone, and he doesn't seem like he's in a good state to be getting completely wasted. He's never going to forgive himself if he gets too drunk and acts the fool at his uncle's wedding.

At least there's plenty of time for him to sober up before the wedding itself.

He gives Jingyi a quick glance and then back to Jin Ling, trying to decide what question might get them the information they need without triggering his temper.

"Zheng-gongzi still resting?" He asks in the end, figuring it's an easy enough question to dismiss if Jin Ling doesn't want to answer it.

~~~

The lingering tension Yuan was feeling - about Jin Ling, about Xiaowen, about his situation - seems to ease as he listens, something calming about the song that makes everything seem a little easier to deal with. He feels at peace when it ends.

He bows deeply to the man at the invitation and crosses over to him to take a seat. Lan clan robes, exceptional skill on the qin, could this possibly be the chief cultivator himself?

"Thank you. You are exceedingly skilled, I couldn't help but be drawn to hear you play." He compliments softly "I am Zheng Yuan."

Ling fills his cup and Zizhen's before giving Jingyi a look. The Lan disciple glances between the two of them before also chugging his cup and passing it over. Normally he'd be the first to speak up, but he knows how easily he pushes his friend's buttons. Something was wrong and he didn't want to make anything worse.

So he gives Zizhen a brief, grateful smile for being the one to brave breaking the silence. Especially since Jin Ling's first move was to drink at least half his cup of liquor in one gulp.

"Yeah, I think so. I'm not sure," Ling answers unhelpfully. He cradles his glass, looking at it instead of his friends.

"Weren't you just in there with him?" Jingyi asks, carefully.

"No. I was talking with my uncle." Pause. "Wei Wuxian." Since, he has two here.

"Why were you talking to him?" Jingyi prods lightly. Who would go talk to Wei Wuxian (or any uncle) if they were in talking to someone they were clearly so infatuated with?

"To steal his liquor, what's it to you?" Jin Ling snaps, shooting Jingyi a glare.

~~~

Wangji bows his head in turn. "La Zhan, courtesy name Wangji. It's an honor." He quietly considers the young man for a moment. "Do you play?" He asks, gesturing to the guqin.

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