Chapter Text
Lan Xichen knows. How could he not? After all, Sandu Shengshou has an immense and overpowering presence, somehow even more so as this huge black cat. Granted, the copious amounts of fur and fat take away from his grace, but it only adds to his imposing appearance.
Lan Xichen is shocked that no one else can tell who this cat is. The wild, stormy black fur? The sharp blue eyes? The permanent sneer fit for a panther rather than an overgrown house cat? And above all, what of the familiar qi signature emanating from him?
Maybe Lan Xichen has developed a weird sixth sense from his two years in seclusion. He barely talked to his family members, and never saw other signs of life that weren’t plants or animals. Perhaps that’s why this cat seems to so obviously be Jiang Wanyin to him.
Maybe Lan Xichen can recognize the cat because out of all of the people in the Cloud Recesses, Lan Xichen surmises that he knows the current Jiang Wanyin the best. They’ve been exchanging letters nearly weekly for the past year, and as Jiang Wanyin would rather swallow a nail than exchange letters with Wei Wuxian (his own words), Lan Xichen is sure he might be the only one familiar enough with the man to recognize him in another form. Although, Lan Xichen is a little miffed that Jiang Wanyin told him about a cat, but not that he was the cat.
Jiang Wanyin, Lan Xichen thinks. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice it’s you? From the head raised too high to the purple ribbon for a collar, this cat can be no one but you!
But, for Jiang Wanyin’s own sake. Lan Xichen decides to play clueless about this “cat” who had entered the Hanshi right behind Wei Wuxian.
If he were a better liar, Lan Xichen would inquire where Jiang Cheng is, why he hasn’t come to visit Lan Xichen yet. He figures this is the reason.
“Aiya,” Wei Wuxian laughs when they are seated with tea and a little bowl of water beside the table for the cat. “Jiang Cheng’s fat cat followed me all the way here! Jiang Cheng might not like me, but this little one certainly does.”
Wei Wuxian goes to pet Jiang Wanyin, who immediately hisses and bats at his hand.
Lan Xichen hides his incredulous look, remembering that no one else knows this cat’s identity.
“He’s a little guarded,” Lan Xichen smiles at Jiang Wanyin. Big, vibrant eyes merely blink at him, and the cat goes back to looking outside the window with a little sniff. Jiang Wanyin is…unexpectedly acting cute!
Wei Wuxian laughs again, “If you think that’s bad, you should see him with Lan Zhan! He won’t even sit in the same room as him. I bet the only one he allows to pet is Jiang Cheng, but he’s never around when the cat comes out!”
Lan Xichen nods along dutifully, sneaking glances at Jiang Wanyin over his cup. Lan Xichen takes note of the excess fuzz lining the tips of his ears, and the length of the whiskers framing his little snout. There is a large tuft of fluff attached to his chest, and his paws seem a little too small for his body. Lan Xichen wonders what color is on the underside.
Lan Xichen comes to the conclusion that this cat is exceptionally cute, and voices as such, taking no small amount of pleasure in the minute twitch of Jiang Wanyin’s tail. Wei Wuxian agrees enthusiastically and boasts that this cat is better than any old dog Jiang Wanyin could have. Lan Xichen winces internally. He knows that dogs are still a little bit of a sore spot for Jiang Wanyin. He spares a quick glance at Jiang Wanyin, whose ears are…flattened!? Jiang Wanyin, don’t pounce on Wei Wuxian, or Wangji will kill you!
“Ah, Wei Wuxian, could you do me a favor?” Lan Xichen flashes him a pleading smile. “Could you fetch me some more Magnolia seeds from the nursery? I seem to have already planted all of mine, and there is a patch of free space in my yard.”
Wei Wuxian agrees, quickly finishes off his tea, and gestures to the cat.
“Come, Little Stinky!”
Lan Xichen almost spits blood.
“Little…Stinky?”
Wei Wuxian nods, and reaches for Jiang Wanyin, who hides behind Lan Xichen.
“Yup! Jiang Cheng didn’t tell me his name, so I picked one for him!”
Wei Wuxian reaches for the cat again, who yowls in annoyance. Lan Xichen finds it funny that it’s the first time he’s hearing Jiang Wanyin’s voice in two years.
“I can watch the cat for you, Wei Wuxian,” Lan Xichen turns to Jiang Wanyin. “Is that alright?”
Jiang Wanyin swishes his tail, and settles back into his previous spot at the table.
Wei Wuxian sighs before leaving the Hanshi, “Aiya, Little Stinky! You’ll be fat forever if you sit around like this all day!”
Lan Xichen breathes a sigh of relief when Wei Wuxian’s cheerful whistling is out of earshot. If Wei Wuxian said half of those things to Jiang Wanyin’s human form, Jiang Wanyin would really beat him up! Lan Xichen is surprised at Jiang Wanyin’s self control at being called Little Stinky.
“You’re not stinky, are-”
Lan Xichen freezes.
Jiang Wanyin has sprawled himself out on the cushion, head dangling off the edge, little paws curled up in the air. His eyes are closed in contentment.
Lan Xichen, for a second, imagines human Jiang Wanyin like this. How ridiculous! Lan Xichen is glad that Jiang Wanyin is able to let himself loose in this form.
Lan Xichen doesn’t want to break the peace, but he has many questions for Jiang Wanyin.
How did you turn into a cat? Did you mean to turn into a cat? Who else knows about this? Why didn’t you tell me about this?
Lan Xichen holds his tongue for a bit longer. After all, Lan Xichen is quite fond of cats, and the idea of getting Jiang Wanyin to let him pet just once is very tempting. On top of that, it would be embarrassing for the proud Jiang Wanyin, who is now playing with the tassels of the cushion.
“Little-,” a sharp look from Jiang Wanyin. “Little one. Not Stinky. Little one. Would you like to eat something?”
Jiang Wanyin blinks at him, which has become the normal response from him. Lan Xichen wonders, can Jiang Wanyin even understand him like this? Lan Xichen offers Jiang Wanyin’s favorite snack.
“I have some dried fish, would you like some?”
Not even a twitch of the ear! Jiang Wanyin really must not understand people. Maybe he was about to pounce on Wei Wuxian because he was waving his arms around so much?
Lan Xichen sighs and brings the jerky anyway.
It’s best if Jiang Wanyin doesn’t understand him. After all, it’s a bit mortifying that it looks like Lan Xichen is lonely enough to casually talk to a cat without hesitation. Lan Xichen sighs and brings the jerky anyway.
When he sets it in front of Jiang Wanyin, the cat looks up at him and cocks his head.
Lan Xichen coos on sheer reflex, then slaps a hand over his mouth. Then, he remembers that Jiang Wanyin cannot understand him. And that he is alone. He…continues to coo. Lan Xichen is just a man and this is the cutest cat he has ever seen.
“Little one,” Lan Xichen says in a soft voice. “A present for you.”
“Nya!”
Sandou Shengshou! Please have mercy! This weak man has not practiced cultivation in a very long time, and he fears that another ‘nya’ could kill him!
“Nya!!”
Lan Xichen clutches at his chest. This cat is out for his blood!
Jiang Wanyin, seemingly unaffected by Lan Xichen’s plight, turns to the dried fish in his plate and begins to eat. How many cute sounds can one cat make? The tiny chewing sounds coming from the round ball of fluff are almost as cute as his meows. Lan Xichen has to pet, or he fears he might die.
Lan Xichen waits for Jiang Wanyin to finish eating, cleans up his dishes, and sits down in front of the cat, back ramrod straight.
“Cat, I have come to you with a request.”
And for the next five minutes, Lan Xichen explains to Jiang Wanyin the reasoning behind why he should be pet by Lan Xichen.
Jiang Wanyin sits patiently through the whole ordeal, until when he does NOT and rather pads closer to Lan Xichen, who stops in his ramble. Lan Xichen gasps audibly when Jiang Wanyin nudges his knee with a paw.
‘Shut up,’ Lan Xichen imagines the human Jiang Wanyin saying.
“Okay,” Lan Xichen squeaks. Jiang Wanyin, predictably, blinks at him.
Now is the moment. If I don’t pet him now, then when!? This is the closest the cat has ever gotten to me!
Lan Xichen raises a hand slowly. According to Wangji, you should let cats sniff your hand before you pet. Jiang Wanyin bops Lan Xichen’s finger with his nose. Is that how cats sniff? Jiang Wanyin now seems to be looking at him expectantly. Lan Xichen holds his breath as he hovers his hand over Jiang Wanyin’s head.
When he feels Jiang Wanyin push his head against his palm, Lan Xichen relaxes just a little. So this isn’t the day he dies! Jiang Wanyin’s fur is soft and silky under Lan Xichen’s hand, ample and glossy.
“How pretty you are,” Lan Xichen smiles at Jiang Wanyin, whose eyes are closed.
It seems like Jiang Wanyin inherits more than just the body of a cat when he transforms. The attitude is just too fitting. Lan Xichen wonders how cat Jiang Wanyin knows to turn back to his human form.
He absentmindedly scratches the underside of Jiang Wanyin’s chin. Perhaps the transformation is timed, or maybe it’s some sort of instinct to turn back?
Lan Xichen feels the fur disappear from under his hand, and when he looks down, the cat is on his back again! Lan Xichen brings a hesitant hand to Jiang Wanyin’s stomach, but he lets him pet even there. In fact, Jiang Wanyin starts purring!
“You’re just a friendly little puffball,” Lan Xichen laughs. “Who said you’re unfriendly?”
“Nya.”
“Yes, I agree, you’re very polite.”
Ten minutes pass by like that, Lan Xichen carding his hand through Jiang Wanyin’s fur and massaging his little…toe…beans? (They’re black!! How cute!!)
“When will Wei Wuxian get back,” Lan Xichen mutters, taking a quick glance out the window. There seems to be no one in sight. Lan Xichen feels a little pang of unease, wondering if Wei Wuxian will ever come back for poor Jiang Wanyin. Lan Xichen shakes his head to get rid of the ridiculous notion. He’s probably gotten himself caught up in something and will be back soon.
Lan Xichen turns his attention back to Jiang Wanyin, who has a tail wrapped around his arm. The cat is slowly blinking at him, as if he’s sleepy. Lan Xichen can’t help but remember his usual weariness when Jiang Wanyin yawns.
“Little one, are you in the mood for a nap?”
If Jiang Wanyin just turns out to be a good actor, Lan Xichen will be humiliated, but for now, Lan Xichen just puts those thoughts away and tucks Jiang Wanyin into his lap, leaning against a wall.
Lan Xichen slowly and rhythmically roves his hand over Jiang Wanyin’s back, and as time passes, Jiang Wanyin’s breathing deepens, and his increasingly quiet purrs are the last sound Lan Xichen hears before he nods off as well.
When Lan Xichen comes to, there are the voices of two men in his home. One voice is mischievous and giggly, and the other one is deep and smooth, though admonishing.
“I wish I had paint,” Wei Wuxian whispers. “I would want to hang up a painting of this scene in my room!”
“You clown,” the other voice hisses. Judging from the peculiar endearment, it belongs to Jiang Wanyin. “You’ll wake Zewu-jun up. Let’s go!”
Lan Xichen wishes Wei Wuxian and Jiang Wanyin would speak softer, so as to not wake up Jiang Wanyin, who was still purring softly under his hand.
Lan Xichen opens his eyes abruptly. They land on a very human Jiang Wanyin, who is distinctly not the cat. The Jiang Sect Leader is dressed in warm but soft-looking lavender robes, and his hair is down, wispy bangs framing his cheekbones. His apricot eyes stare down at Lan Xichen with mild concern.
“Okay,” Wei Wuxian interjects. “I’m going back to the Jingshi. You guys can argue over whoever gets to keep Little Stinky by yourselves!”
Jiang Wanyin squints at Lan Xichen in mock challenge after Wei Wuxian leaves.
“It’s- You’re,” Lan Xichen rubs at his temple, manners be damned. “You are not a cat.”
Jiang Wanyin smirks that devastating little smirk of his. Was he always so handsome?
“That I am not,” Jiang Wanyin shakes his head, glossy hair moving in tandem.
“Jiang Wanyin," Lan Xichen blinks confusedly. "I swear that cat was you.”
“How did we arrive at this conclusion?”
“I thought he had your qi signature. I haven’t been around you for a long time but I was so sure that was you.”
Lan Xichen looks back at Jiang Wanyin to see him blushing and avoiding eye contact.
“It. I. He likes to be close to me,” Jiang Wanyin clears his throat. “He likes to be close to me a lot.”
Lan Xichen can deduce as much, the cat now wrapping himself firmly around Jiang Wanyin’s leg.
“He’s quite the character,” Lan Xichen smiles sheepishly. “He was acting a lot like you.”
Jiang Wanyin sits down to pet the cat, right in front of Lan Xichen. From here, he can see Jiang Wanyin’s thick eyelashes and charming baby hairs.
“They say animals tend to mimic their owners. Little Tiger is no exception.”
Xiǎohǔ, Lan Xichen repeats in his mind. It is a name fit for a cat like this one.
“I’m sorry,” Lan Xichen says after a beat. “I don’t know why I assumed-”
“Hey, no,” Jiang Wanyin cuts him off, frowning. “Little Tiger is a lot like me, after all. And animal transformations are not unheard of.”
He’s speaking the truth, but Lan Xichen is still a bit embarrassed.
“Mm,” Jiang Cheng hesitates, and Lan Xichen looks up. He’s holding Little Tiger by one of his paws, right next to his face.
“Nya,” Jiang Wanyin says, moving his free hand and Little Tiger’s paw in a curling motion.
“That was so cute,” Lan Xichen blurts, spurred on by how absolutely adorable the display in front of him was. He will be replaying that in his mind every day for a few months.
Jiang Wanyin furrows his brows.
“That was not the intention, but,” Jiang Wanyin shrugs. “Okay.”
Lan Xichen smiles at Jiang Wanyin fondly. His friend is too considerate towards his feelings, trying to cheer him up.
“Now, let’s catch up with each other,” Lan Xichen claps his hands together. “How on earth did you get Jin Ling to return those hideous gold-plated robes?”