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SiZhui knows that "talk while eating" is forbidden. However, how can he not talk and warn JingYi that sect leader Jiang is staring at him for who knows how much time now? Besides, he was in Lotus Pier, not in Cloud Recess.
"A-Yi? Did you do something to sect leader Jiang?". The question surprises JingYi, who almost choke. SiZhui can't blame him.
"Who are you and what did you do with my best friend?!". Seeing the serious look on SiZhui's face, he added, "Not that I know. Why?".
SiZhui was about to say 'he is staring at you' when he noticed that the phrase was basically a gossip. And gossip was also forbidden. But, he should answer JingYi, shouldn't he? And, the phrase was also a fact, right? That involved JingYi. So, if he really thought about that, he should tell JingYi, right?
Right. "Sect leader Jiang was staring at you". It was not a lie. And not gossip. It was a fact. So, SiZhui didn't have any reason to feel guilty. He was just sharing information.
JingYi laughed. SiZhui looked discreetly at sect leader Jiang and noticed that now he was not staring at JingYi anymore. He was looking directly at SiZhui now with a cold expression that was, for SiZhui, more scary than Hanguang-Jun's one.
"SiZhui, are you okay? You broke two rules in less than two minutes". JingYi's voice was teasing, but there's really concern in his eyes.
"I was just worried about you". It was true. JingYi was always getting into trouble.
"I know that my history testifies against me, but as far as I know, I'm totally innocent this time. I swear".
SiZhui looked at Sandu Shengshou again and, for his relief, he was looking - staring - at JingYi again, the cold expression gone. Well, at least, it seems that A-Yi was not in danger.
***
After this occasion, SiZhui caught himself observing sect leader Jiang and noticed, for his surprise, that the man was constantly looking at JingYi. He also noticed that JingYi doesn't seem to be aware of that.
During the whole week they stayed in Lotus Pier, all the times SiZhui looked at sect leader Jiang, the older man was looking at JingYi. Now that he was sure that he was not seeing things, his curiosity was almost exploding.
He knew that that was not his business, even if it was JingYi's business and JingYi was his friend. If JingYi needed help with that he would ask. But how could JingYi ask for help if he didn't notice that sect leader Jiang was staring at him?
SiZhui sighed in defeat. He was senior Wei's son too. "A-Yi, are you sure you didn't do anything to bother sect leader Jiang?".
JingYi looked confusedly at him. "Well, now I don't," he answered, laughing. "Why do you ask?".
This time, for some reason, SiZhui didn't tell him about the staring. Maybe he was just overreacting. "Just checking".
JingYi didn't believe that, but answered, "If you say so," before going back to the archery practice.
In less than five minutes, sect leader Jiang was guiding JingYi personally, even though JingYi was going better than most of the disciples that were there.
***
However, that was not the first time sect leader Jiang approached JingYi or acted weird in that week. And, if SiZhui wasn't paying attention, it was probably that, as JingYi, he wouldn't have noticed either.
Sect leader Jiang helped JingYi train all week in all the modalities: sword, archery and even in hand-to-hand fighting. In some days - all days, to be honest -, only JingYi was being really guided by Sandu Shengshou.
Not that anyone seemed to find that weird or bad. First, because everyone was afraid of sect leader Jiang. Second, because his guidance was not particularly gentle. Not that JingYi seemed to care. SiZhui was surprised to notice that, despite all odds, JingYi and sect leader Jiang worked well together and, apparently, they got along well. Very, very well.
JingYi didn't mind Sandu Shengshou's rude manners, suggestions and comments. In some moments, he rolled his eyes and even retorted to the older man and, for SiZhui's surprise, sect leader Jiang didn't do anything to reprimand JingYi. Quite the opposite, Sandu Shengshou seemed to have fun with that. Fun!
On another occasion, while they were gathering with Senior Wei, Hanguang-Jun, sect leader Nie and, of course, Sandu Shengshou, JingYi let slip that he missed eating chicken wings. Unlike A-Yi, SiZhui was not really surprised when they found out that there's chicken wings on the dinner's menu that night. And all the others after that.
When he brought up the subject with A-Yi, not in a smooth way, JingYi only laughed and said "A-Yuan, can you, please , stop overthinking things? It's just a coincidence. And if it's not, what's the problem? It only proves that sect leader Jiang is a good host".
After that, when they gathered again, SiZhui casually commented that he wanted to eat tofu. Almost no need to say that there wasn't any tofu that night, or the others. "He probably didn't hear it," was all JingYi said when SiZhui told him that.
***
"Fuck!," JingYi exclaimed, on SiZhui's side, during the archery practice.
SiZhui was about to reprimand his friend when he noticed that JingYi was scared. One second later, he heard the sound of shattering glass. Five second laters, a very angry Sandu Shengshou was outside, screaming, Zidian sparkling in his hands, "WHO THE HELL DID THAT?!".
At his side, JingYi took a deep breath, before speaking an embarrassed and shy "It was me". When sect leader Jiang saw it was JingYi, Zidian coincidently stopped sparkling and his expression softened immediately. A-Yi, who was looking down, didn't notice and kept going, "I'm really, really sorry, sect leader Jiang. I swear I'll pay you back as soon as I can".
As SiZhui expected, sect leader Jiang was very nice and understandable. He only said "There's no need. Just be more careful," with a tone that could be described as gentle, before going back to the conference room he was in.
When JingYi looked at him, surprise written all over his face, SiZhui suppressed a frustrated growl. "Well, that was so much better than I expected. Remember that time you accidentally broke one of his bowls?".
This time, SiZhui couldn't suppress a tired sigh. "Yes, I do". SiZhui would never forget that. It was the first time he was really punished. He never had broken anything after he grew up and when he did it went to be one of sect leader Jiang's things.
"I thought he would be even madder than that time. I was sure that he would use Zidian this time". He was and he would, until he saw it was you the one who broke the window, SiZhui thought to himself. There is no point in saying that out loud, though. JingYi wouldn't believe him anyway.
***
A few days later, when Senior Wei, Hanguang-Jun and Zewu-Jun arrived at Lotus Pier, sect leader Jiang invited them for a private dinner and, by extension, SiZhui, JingYi, Jin Ling and ZiZhen.
Things between Senior Wei and Sandu Shengshou were getting better, although the same couldn't be said about the relationship between the latter and Hanguang-Jun. It was obvious that they didn't like each other.
During dinner, somehow, instead of Jin Ling, it was JingYi who was sitting close to sect leader Jiang, which didn't please Jin Ling. JingYi offered to switch places (scaring SiZhui) and when Jin Ling agreed, he only laughed and said "I was kidding! You really think I'd switch places with you? I won't miss this awesome opportunity to sit close to the one and only Sandu Shengshou".
JingYi received a reprimand from Zewu-Jun and a disapproval look from Hanguang-Jun. From sect leader Jiang, on the other hand, he received a huff, a satisfied look and a lot of chicken wings. No need to say which one JingYi cared about more.
Following the rules, SiZhui, Hanguang-Jun and Zewu-Jun didn't speak while eating, so the talk was under the responsibility of sect leader Jiang and Senior Wei.
"So, my dear brother. Did you already make peace with the matchmakers?". The panicked look on Sandu Shengshou's eyes made SiZhui feel sorry for him and Senior Wei smiled devilishly.
JingYi looked curiously at Sandu Shengshou a few moments after the older man had regained his composure.
"What the hell are you talking about?," snapped sect leader Jiang.
"Oh, c'mon, you know what I'm talking about! It's time for you to find a wife… or husband. You don't want to spend the rest of your life alone, do you? Tell me, JingYi, don't you think my shidi should find someone?".
The murderous look sect leader Jiang sent Senior Wei, made SiZhui shiver. However, SiZhui could swear that there's a blush on his cheeks and ears.
JingYi looked surprised at Senior Wei, dropping one of his chicken wings.
"I didn't think anything," JingYi answered, his expression amused, although his eyes seemed a little colder than before. "Thank you," he added, when sect leader Jiang gathered his chicken wings.
Senior Wei's eyes sparkled hard when he saw the gesture and his smile widened. It was a terrifying view. "Oh, c'mon my dear duckling. Don't you think my shidi here is a good suitor?".
JingYi blushed. "I do," he answered and SiZhui noticed the way sect leader Jiang breath catched. "However, don't you think he has the right to choose? If he didn't want to get married or didn't want the help from the matchmakers that's his problem".
"Really? But don't you think he is too lonely?" Senior Wei insisted.
"Wei WuXian! Can you please stop bothering him?," he hissed, angrily. Then, softly, to JingYi, "Just ignore him. How are the chicken wings?".
"Amazing. I wish I could eat them every day," JingYi said, pouting and SiZhui could swear the eye roll sect leader Jiang gave was fond and there's a hint of a smile on his face.
"Maybe someday you will," the older man said, amused, but there's something in his eyes and in his soft expression that made SiZhui wonder if that wasn't actually a prayer or a promise. Both, perhaps.
The sparkles on JingYi's eyes listening to that and the way he smiled made SiZhui's chest tightened in a weird way. The feeling only got worse when he saw that sect leader Jiang actually smiled at JingYi and added more chicken wings to JingYi's bowl.
He loved that his friend was happy and being well treated, even pampered. However, if JingYi and sect leader Jiang stay together for real JingYi would move to Lotus Pier. Which meant SiZhui would be left behind.
Senior Wei was looking at sect leader Jiang and JingYi with a confused and then a stunned face. For some miracle he didn't say anything. Just stay there, looking at them and smiling as a proud older brother.
***
The next time they all were together again was in a night hunt, two months later. The Jiang and Lan clan, plus Jin Ling, were hunting the same beast on the border of the two domains.
Enjoying the situation, they decided to make pairs between the Jiang and Lan disciples. SiZhui and JingYi were the only exceptions. The first was paired up with Jin Ling, and the second, left out because the group was in odd numbers, was paired with sect leader Jiang. SiZhui and Jin Ling tried to suggest that JingYi could join them, but they were completely ignored.
When they gathered around after exploring the area after a while, SiZhui noticed that JingYi and sect leader Jiang were standing closer to each other. Weirdly close. Like almost Senior Wei and Hanguang-Jun close.
This time he was not the one that noticed that. Senior Wei was also looking suspiciously at them. And at his side, Jin Ling was staring at JingYi with killer intention. Like uncle, like nephew , thought SiZhui.
"So, has anyone found out something?" asked Senior Wei, finally. SiZhui and Jin Ling didn't. Nor the other disciples, apparently.
Still looking at JingYi and sect leader Jiang, SiZhui saw more than heard the "Go ahead" Sandu Shengshou whispered in JingYi's left ear, his eyes full of only could be described as affection. He also noticed the way JingYi blushed and smiled shyly at the older man.
The vision made SiZhui's own cheeks and ears blush. He was used to the shameless intimacy between his dads, not between his best friend and sect leader Jiang. It was something different that SiZhui never thought he would see, but now that he was used to the idea, not bad at all.
"We discovered a few weird marks on some trees. They seemed to form a path towards the interior of the forest".
SiZhui couldn't help but notice the 'we' and his all body tightened in a weird sensation. JingYi had never used 'we' with other people he paired up with. Except with him, of course.
Senior Wei also seemed to have noticed the 'we', judging by the glint in his eyes and the way he was looking at JingYi and his shidi. However, he didn't say anything about that. Only nodded at JingYi words and said, "Very well, then. Can you show us the way?".
The question was definitely made to Sandu Shengshou, but at the end, who led the way was JingYi. Sect leader Jiang was two steps behind JingYi in an undeniable protective way. Only when a demonic aura started to fill up the air, Sandu Shengshou assumed the leadership.
However, it was JingYi who first protected sect leader Jiang. He noticed that something was off and he looked up when the beast was getting ready to jump at the older man. The impact was so strong that JingYi was thrown ten feets away.
SiZhui was ready to go help his best friend, but a huge flash that almost blinded him made him stop. When he opened his eyes, sect leader Jiang was already taking care of JingYi, even though A-Yi didn't seem injured, and there were any more signs of the best.
When SiZhui approached them, all he could see was the concern in sect leader Jiang's eyes and the way Sandu Shengshou's hands were gently checking JingYi's pulse and core.
"I'm fine, I swear. It was just a little fall," A-Yi was saying, pouting. He had a lazy smile on his face, but it didn't hide the blush in his cheeks and ears.
"You were thrown ten feets away. You're going to see a healer wanting or not". JingYi was about to protest, when sect leader Jiang added, "No discussion. And the next time you jump in front of a beast like that I'll make sure you stay without chicken wings for a year".
SiZhui smiled and walked away, silently. If sect leader Jiang already knew about the power that chicken wings had over JingYi and how to use that, he didn't need to be worried anymore. His best friend was in good hands.
***
After that night hunt, it took less than six months for JingYi and sect leader Jiang to start courting officially. The cultivation world was shocked, but SiZhui couldn't be less surprised.
SiZhui smiled, remembering that night at Lotus Pier, the first time he noticed that sect leader Jiang was staring at JingYi. At that time he had no idea that Sandu Shengshou liked JingYi. Now, the murderous look he had received from the older man made all sense.
At his side, JingYi laughed, and asked, "SiZhui, you want to say it, don't you? Go ahead".
"It's against the rules," answered SiZhui, feeling guilty.
"It didn't stop you before, did it?" JingYi retorted, laughing even harder seeing the blush in SiZhui's ears.
JingYi was right. SiZhui had, in fact, talked while eating and gossiped. And it was worth it. "I knew it! I always knew it! I was right the whole time". Bragging was forbidden, but he deserved it, didn’t he?
***
At the end of the wedding banquet, during the goodbyes, JingYi smiled wickedly at him. "A-Yuan, my dear best friend, did you do something to
Young mistress
? I mean,
sect leader Jin
? He is staring at you all night".