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Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng meet when they’re both hunting for food. In other words, as they peruse the cookies aisle on a Friday night.
When their eyes meet, they feel the air shift. None of them understands immediately what just happened, but both find themselves struggling with the need to let the words leave their mouths without any filters.
Lan Xichen looks into grey eyes, he struggles as he ogles the other man’s long legs fitted in tight black leggings and the large, deep purple hoodie that seems to act more as a shield than a garment to ensure warmth.
He just wants to speak without thinking and blurt things out.
And he does. As he stares intently at the other man – sweetheart, he calls him in his mind – he doesn’t pay much attention to what he’s saying:
“There are too many cookies to choose from… can I take you instead?” He’s looking right at the other man and sees the scowl that takes over his face.
Lan Xichen is not this type of person. And he’s aware of it. How this behavior is unfamiliar.
He enjoys being clear with others, but he’s not as straightforward as to hit on someone in the middle of the cookie aisle. But there seems to be some disconnection between his brain and mouth because he wants to say bolder, riskier things.
He finds himself using his hands to physically stop the words that want to leave his mouth.
Lan Xichen is afraid that the scowl on the other man’s face will deepen. It is not his intention to make the other uncomfortable. Well, in reality, he doesn’t know what his intentions are. He knows he’s hungry – that was the entire reason that made him come to the supermarket so late into the day. And as he looked over vegetables and fruits, he thought that he deserved some sweets. He did not expect to find this Adonis of a man who made his brain go haywire just by eye contact.
“Yes, but you have to take some Oreos too,” the other man replies. He seems to struggle with each word, not enjoying them even a bit. His fists are clenched, a lovely flush conquering his face.
And Lan Xichen wonders if he ever saw another being so beautiful. He’s so distracted by the other figure that he forgets the important role his hands had in shutting up his mouth:
“Of course, I’ll buy the Oreos. I’ll buy all of them. Do you prefer the original ones, or do you prefer the peanut butter version? I find those an aberration, but I’ll sacrifice my palate for you.”
Once again, Lan Xichen doesn’t know why he just blurted so many words. He didn’t even know he had such a strong opinion about peanut butter Oreos.
“I don’t care, they’re for my nephew,” the other man replies. “He’s the cutest toddler, the light of my eyes, the reason I started exercising so I can live longer, and dammit, I don’t know why I can’t stop speaking, but I would like you to bench-press me?”
The blush on his face is stronger now and Lan Xichen is smitten. He thinks he would kill for this man.
He knows he would and it does not scare him.
“I’ll bench-press you anytime,” Lan Xichen’s voice is faint, but he knows the other heard him. “I also don’t know what’s happening, but I do feel the same. I do. Maybe it is something in the air? A truth serum sort of thing?”
“Pfft, that sort of thing only exists in fantasy novels. It would be more likely for us to be one of those soulmate couples, and even that i-”
Jiang Cheng doesn’t finish his sentence, the reality of the situation dawning on him as Lan Xichen realizes what’s happening.
Both men tremble with the knowledge of who they’re staring at. There’s something earth-shattering in meeting the counterpart the universe created for you. The possibility that even this being that is supposed to fit you, won’t be a good fit.
He gets closer to Jiang Cheng, hesitating in his steps, not sure if the other perplexed face is a good sign. He reaches his hand out but quickly backtracks, opting for letting his mouth do the work:
“Hi, I’m Lan Xichen, and I think we’re soulmates. At least I don’t usually talk this much. I also don’t hit on people in the supermarket. But you’re not really a person, but more of a god,” he only stops talking because he – once again – uses his hand to shut his mouth.
The other man seems even more frustrated now – maybe he’s one of those persons who dislike the entire concept of soulmates?
Which Lan Xichen understands. While he does find interesting the idea of someone who’s the right fit for him, he knows that being soulmates does not guarantee a relationship, even less a successful one.
When he finally talks, Lan Xichen is not expecting it:
“You’re even more handsome up close. Are you a mean person? Is that the downside to your beauty? Great looks, horrible personality?”
Lan Xichen feels his ear redden, “I don’t think so. People usually say I have a pleasing demeanor even if I’m a bit bland to their taste.”
Maybe that’ll turn the other off? Knowing that others have found him too tame, a too-goody-shoes not worth their attention. Not daring enough.
“I bet whoever said that was a moron,” the other man replies without hesitation, the scowl on his face deepening. “I’m Jiang Cheng and I’m pretty sure that the universe made a mistake soulmating someone like me with what seems to be a great guy but fuck it. I guess my therapist is right and I do deserve some good things in my life?”
Lan Xichen breathes deeply, trying to parse the thoughts swimming in his head, even if he knows that doesn’t matter how much he tries to think of the words to say, whatever is on his mind will come out:
“You think I’m a great guy? I think you have great legs. And you seem pretty cute – I thought you were angry with me, so I was not expecting you to be outraged on my behalf. Do you want to drink a coffee with me? I know it’s late -”
“Yes, fuck yes. I want to have coffee with you and your babies,” Jiang Cheng replies without letting him finish.
“- and we don’t know each other, but maybe we could spend some time together? Not the entire 24 hours, I think both of us would like to regain control over our mouths, but just a quick coffee?”
They both stare at each other, embarrassed by their situation. But effervescently happy.
“I would never guess that a guy that looks as calm as you has so many chaotic thoughts running through his head,” Jiang Cheng comments. “But I’m loving it. It makes me feel less weird.”
Lan Xichen smiles at that feeling of warmth spreading through him at hearing Jiang Cheng’s words.
After a few more comments in which both men show how infatuated they already are with each other, they both agree to head for the check-out.
Being a gentleman, Lan Xichen lets Jiang Cheng go first. His instinct is to pay for the other groceries, but he knows that may be out of line and he doesn’t want to imply that Jiang Cheng isn’t able to afford his groceries.
Lan Xichen takes the opportunity to observe Jiang Cheng abashedly. He lingers on the slope of his sharp nose, the cut of his jaw. Self-control is a great skill and the only thing preventing him from running his hands through the other hair.
He’s thinking about how cute Jiang Cheng looks in his large hoodie when he realizes that he forgot his wallet – there’s no sign of it in his pockets.
When Jiang Cheng looks at him, a soft smile on his face, Lan Xichen finds himself blabbering:
“I am pretty sure I'm in love with you. And I forgot my wallet – would you mind paying for my groceries? I’ll pay you back. I’ll give you the moon if you ask for it.”
“Is this your way of telling me you want to be a kept man?” Jiang Cheng’s cheeks immediately start to redden. “Because if you do, I'll support you, but I'll want cuddles in return.”
“That would be the bare minimum. I’ll worship you every day and it won’t ever feel like a chore. Your happiness will always be my priority. Well, second, because my happiness should be the first but that’s not as romantic. But you get the idea.”
Jiang Cheng seems pleased with Lan Xichen’s confession, eyes shining.
“You’re a shameless gentleman and I love every second of it”
Meanwhile, the cashier is thinking that she doesn’t earn enough money to witness this level of cheesiness and dumbassery.
“Sirs,” she interrupts “you’re holding the line. I take that you’ll be the one paying for his groceries?” she asks directing her attention to Jiang Cheng.
“Of course, I’m sorry, we didn’t mean to inconvenience you.”
Feeling chastised, both keep their mouths shut as they leave the supermarket and walk in the direction of the parking lot.
It’s Lan Xichen that breaks the silence:
“I know we agreed to go for a coffee, but would you consider it stalky of me if I kidnap you instead and take you home?”
Jiang Cheng stops walking and gawks at Lan Xichen:
“You can’t say things like that. Didn’t anyone tell you that you’ll scare people off with those types of questions? You can't use the kidnap word like that! You'll be arrested and then what? Do you think I'll visit you in jail?”
Lan Xichen finds funny the look of outrage on Jiang Cheng’s face. He finds it even funnier when the other adds:
“Because I will!” And as if too ashamed of his admission he starts walking again.
“No, no, stop. I didn’t mean to anger you”.
“I’m not angry, I’m embarrassed,” Jiang Cheng confesses indignantly. “I’m not like this. I don’t say this type of thing. I think of them, but I don’t say them. And here you are, saying things equally embarrassing back and… I didn’t think I would have this,” he whispers in a low tone.
Lan Xichen approaches him, wanting to be close, but still mindful that they’re mostly strangers. It doesn’t matter how infatuated with the other he feels already, there are still boundaries between them. “I never thought I would have this either,” Lan Xichen confesses. “But right now, I’m happy. And I do know that being soulmates doesn’t mean that we’ll be together, that we’re good to each other. I’m not that innocent to believe in fairytales, but I’m glad this is happening. I don’t remember having this much fun.”
There’s a feeling of peace emerging inside of Jiang Cheng as he hears Lan Xichen speaking. The calmness of realizing that the man in front of him is not one of those people who thinks that people have to be together for life just because the universe said so.
However, because Lan Xichen has a side of him that is mischievous, he quickly starts teasing his soulmate:
“But let’s return to what really matters – you don’t find it weird that I want to kidnap you?”
There’s a teasing smile on his face, that only increases with the look of embarrassment on Jiang Cheng’s face.
“I'm pretty sure I should but at least it means you want to keep me around. And I know how this sounds, but you’ll have to get used to this if you do stick around.” A forlorn look makes place on his face.
Silence fills the distance between them, and Lan Xichen understands the other. Not fully, but he’s able to understand the feeling of unworthiness that would lead someone to say that statement.
So, he takes a leap by holding his hand out. It’s an offer of companionship; a silent I’m here if you need me if you want me.
And Jiang Cheng takes it.
Lan Xichen interlaces their fingers when he says:
“Since the first moment I saw you in the cookies aisle, even before all of this soulmate stuff when my eyes found you, I knew that I wanted you”.
And it’s the truth. Perhaps, without the soulmate bond between them, Lan Xichen would not have said a word to Jiang Cheng. He’s not the type of person to approach someone like that. But he knows he would keep thinking about this man.
Jiang Cheng seems enthralled by their hands, the way they don’t fit at all, the further thing from a puzzle.
“I was also mesmerized by how handsome you are,” the tint on Jiang Cheng’s cheeks shows how these were not the words he meant to say. “I’m afraid you’re a hallucination,” he confesses.
He breathes deeply and continues:
“I'm afraid that my mind is making you up to deal with the loneliness I feel. What if the universe is playing a joke on me? I wake up tomorrow and you don’t exist – this was nothing more than a dream.”
Lan Xichen wants to hug this man. Pour into him all the affection he’s feeling right now, the euphoria of discovering that not only you have a soulmate, but that your soulmate is someone like Jiang Cheng.
But it’s too soon. It’s even too soon for the words he says because he cannot control his mouth.
“Sweetheart, I'm all yours,” he promises while squeezing Jiang Cheng’s fingers. “I'll be like one of those dogs that don't want their owner to leave the home in the morning.” The blinding smile that appears on Jiang Cheng’s face with the mention of dogs pushes Lan Xichen to continue.
“I'll worship you as if you were a lost deity, forgotten to all but me, my most beloved secret. I'll be like a goblin hoarding riches and treasures, and you'll be my most prized possession. Humanity praises the moon, the stars, and the magnificent sun because they're fools. They should be chanting for you, beseeching you for only one second of your tim-”
He’s interrupted by Jiang Cheng:
“You like dogs?” he asks in a glee tone.
“Sweetheart, that was the only thing you took from all that I’ve said?”
“Yes... Dogs are always the most important thing. And my nephew. Heaven is having a day off and spending it with my nephew and his dog. Or watching true crime documentaries. But mostly dogs and my nephew”.
“You’re lovely and I just want to eat you up,” and as the words leave this mouth, Lan Xichen feels his ears redden.
He thinks about what his uncle would say if he were to witness his behavior right now. And he realizes that he was immensely lucky that he met Jiang Cheng while alone.
“I’m sorry, I'm not into cannibalism. Not even your arms can convince me,” Jiang Cheng teases and they both laugh. “But you didn’t reply to my earlier question,” he reminds Lan Xichen.
“What question?”
“Do you like dogs?” and he sees in how Jiang Cheng holds himself that it’s an important question for him.
He’s quick to reply:
“If you love them, then I do,” but contrary to the smile he expects, a scowl appears on Jiang Cheng’s face.
“No, no. That's not a reply,” Jiang Cheng fusses. “Do you like dogs? Want to pet them, have some to keep you company? Do you get excited when you see a dog on the street? Think about kidnapping it and then decide not to because you may be separating a dog from the human he loves?”
“It seems that kidnaps are a recurring theme in our conversations”, Lan Xichen comments, and then adds, trying to sound the most honest as possible, “I never thought about having one. But it’s not that I am against them – it simply never crossed my mind. Do you have any dogs? Or want to?”
Jiang Cheng let go of his hand as if needing to have both his hands free to answer the question. And it makes sense, as he replies and gestures wildly as if allowing himself to express his feelings when this is the matter at hand:
“I don’t have any, but I want to. I want to adopt, have two, maybe three – so that they don't feel alone when I'm at work. I live close to a park where they could play. But eventually, I want to have my small backyard.”
“It sounds like a lovely plan.”
“I hope so. Avocado and Sprinkles will be happy there. And protected. And will protect my children too. I would like to have at least two kids, once again, so that they can play together. But I won't compare them,” it’s clear from Jiang Cheng’s shocked face that he didn’t mean to share that. It’s even clearer that he also didn’t mean to keep talking,
“I’ll love them for who they are, and not who I want them to be. They won’t question how I feel towards them, and even when I disagree with their actions, I’ll still reassure them that they’re loved.”
“You seem to have a pretty nice life already planned out,” Lan Xichen comments without any type of malice, marveling at the man in front of him.
However, it seems to startle Jiang Cheng if the way his eyes widen is any indication.
“Don't you find it overwhelming? The need to plan, control, and then plan again,” Jiang Cheng’s voice wobbles, hands now stuck in his pockets, as if to control his reaction.
Lan Xichen wonders who made this beautiful human being so afraid, so insecure about his own person.
“Sweetheart,” he starts soothingly, “it has not been even an hour since I confessed my obsession for you.”
“That's the soulmate thing working,” the other defends Lan Xichen’s actions.
But Lan Xichen perseveres:
“I assure you; it isn't. Regardless, I have only one question – is there any space for me in your plans?”
It’s fascinating how after everything Lan Xichen has said, this question still catches Jiang Cheng by surprise.
“Maybe... If you want. I would like to have you in my pictures at least. The ones I’ll have around the house. Can you imagine? Everyone would be crazy with envy! And I would be happy because it would mean that I spend more time with you. But only if you promise,” and at that he closes his eyes “that you won't make me leave my dogs behind. Because it's set in stone that I'll adopt them.”
It’s clear from Jiang Cheng’s body that the words are not said easily, but he does mean them.
Relief washes over Lan Xichen as noticing that even if the other male finds himself so unworthy that being kidnapped could be something positive, that mindset is not always present and he’s able to set his boundaries.
“Avocado and Sprinkles will be safe with me. And if they have a third companion, they’ll be safe too.”
But Jiang Cheng is not appeased with his reply:
“I'm serious. I don't care if you're my soulmate, if you're handsome as hell and awfully nice, even if with some stalkerish vibes, I won't stand for anyone making me choose between the things I like and a life with a "partner".
His eyes are defiant and Lan Xichen hopes that he’ll have the chance to understand why.
To figure out the reason behind it.
“I wouldn't do such a thing. I promise. And as you'll learn, Lan do not lie.”
“Good.”
Lan Xichen stares at Jiang Cheng’s eyes, how the happiness shines on them, and he takes the bullet:
“What if instead of a coffee, we were to go to a dog shelter instead?”