Work Text:
"Zhan-gege, can bunnies swim?"
Jiang Cheng’s simple question made Lan Wangji pause. Can bunnies swim? He didn’t know the answer. He had never seen bunnies swimming, especially not in Gusu. Jiang Cheng, sitting on his lap, looked up at him with wide, curious eyes.
"I don’t know," Lan Wangji admitted softly.
Jiang Cheng kept staring at him for a moment before turning his attention to Meng Yao, who was seated beside them. "Pretty-ge, can bunnies swim?"
Meng Yao shook his head with a small smile. "I don’t know, A-Cheng. Why do you ask?"
"I want to swim. With bunnies," Jiang Cheng said matter-of-factly.
"Who wants to swim?" a cheerful voice called out from behind them. Wei Wuxian, Wen Xu, and Nie Huaisang appeared, carrying a basket filled with carrots and other fruits.
"Who wants to swim?" Wen Xu asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I want to swim," Jiang Cheng repeated happily.
"I do too!" Wei Wuxian chimed in with excitement.
"But there’s no lake or river here," Nie Huaisang pointed out, tilting his head.
"There’s a cold spring," Wei Wuxian said nonchalantly, his tone teasing.
Lan Wangji stared at him silently, his gaze unreadable.
"Is it possible to swim in the cold spring?" Wen Xu asked Lan Wangji.
Before Lan Wangji could respond, Wei Wuxian answered enthusiastically, "Of course we can!"
Lan Wangji shot Wei Wuxian a glare, but the other only giggled in response.
"Really?" Wen Xu pressed, looking unconvinced.
"Yes! There are no rules saying we can’t swim there, right, Meng Yao?" Wei Wuxian said confidently.
Meng Yao paused, thinking. If he remembered correctly, there weren’t any rules against it—but maybe he was forgetting something. He glanced at Lan Wangji for confirmation.
Lan Wangji opened his mouth to answer, but before he could, Jiang Cheng tapped his cheeks with his small hands. "Can we swim in the cold spring, please, Zhan-gege?"
Lan Wangji froze for a moment, gulping as he saw how adorable Jiang Cheng looked—big, teary eyes and a small pout on his lips.
"Pleaseee," Jiang Cheng begged again, his voice soft and pleading.
Lan Wangji sighed in defeat, knowing he couldn’t refuse. He gave a small nod. "Mn."
Jiang Cheng let out a delighted cheer and hugged Lan Wangji around the neck. Wei Wuxian, equally excited, let out a cheer of his own.
°°°°°°
"I’ll get some spare clothes for A-Cheng," Wen Xu said quickly.
"I’ll grab some for myself and Nie Huaisang," Meng Yao added. "I know Huaisang hates the cold."
Wen Xu turned to Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. "Do you two need me to grab spare clothes as well?"
Both shook their heads. "No need," Wei Wuxian replied casually.
With that, Wen Xu and Meng Yao headed off to the sleeping quarters, telling the others to go to the cold spring first.
Lan Wangji lifted Jiang Cheng into his arms, ready to leave, but Jiang Cheng suddenly asked, "Can we take the bunnies to swim with us too?"
They stopped in their tracks, staring at Jiang Cheng in surprise.
"You want to swim with the bunnies, A-Cheng?" Nie Huaisang asked.
"Mn," Jiang Cheng nodded eagerly.
"Then we should bring the bunnies!" Wei Wuxian said with enthusiasm.
Lan Wangji sighed but lowered Jiang Cheng so he could help carry the bunnies. Wei Wuxian tugged Nie Huaisang along to gather more of them, and together, they managed to bring eight bunnies to the cold spring.
°°°°°°
At the cold spring, Nie Huaisang hesitated near the edge, shivering. "It’s cold, Wei-gongzi," he complained.
"Oh, come on, Huaisang, it’s not that cold!" Wei Wuxian tried to persuade him, splashing around to prove his point.
"Look at A-Cheng!" Wei Wuxian gestured.
Jiang Cheng was happily splashing in the water, holding onto Lan Wangji’s hand. The bunnies, as it turned out, could swim, and they floated and paddled around Jiang Cheng. The child giggled in delight when one of the bunnies swam close to him.
Lan Wangji stood nearby, his expression calm but focused as he held onto Jiang Cheng. He knew that the Jiangs often learned to swim before they could even walk, but he wasn’t willing to take any chances.
°°°°°°
Wen Xu and Meng Yao arrived at the cold spring just in time to witness the chaos. Wei Wuxian was trying to drag Nie Huaisang into the water while Nie Huaisang frantically pushed him away with his fan.
Meanwhile, Lan Wangji stood calmly in the cold spring, watching Jiang Cheng proudly demonstrate how he could float like the bunnies.
Wait—bunnies?
Wen Xu squinted, sharpening his focus. Sure enough, a small blob bobbing near Jiang Cheng was indeed a bunny.
"Do you see what I see, Meng-gongzi?" Wen Xu asked in disbelief.
Meng Yao nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yes, it’s a rabbit floating near A-Cheng."
Wen Xu shook his head. Who even thought of swimming with bunnies? But he couldn’t help but smile when he saw how happy his little cousin looked, giggling as the bunnies swam around him.
"Xu-ge, Meng Yao—help me!" Wei Wuxian called, grinning as he wrestled with Nie Huaisang.
Meng Yao sighed, and Wen Xu reluctantly stepped forward to assist. Together, they tried to haul Nie Huaisang into the cold spring. Nie Huaisang panicked, clutching his fan tightly as he struggled to resist, but Wei Wuxian just laughed at his friend’s futile attempts.
°°°°°°
Thankfully, it was summer, and the cold spring wasn’t unbearably freezing—just cool and refreshing.
Wei Wuxian, already in the water, turned his attention to Lan Wangji. "Lan Zhan, let’s see who can hold their breath longer! Whoever wins gets a kiss from Jiang Cheng!"
Lan Wangji raised an eyebrow at the challenge but said nothing, simply staring at Wei Wuxian with his usual unreadable expression.
Nie Huaisang finally gave in, clinging to Wen Xu’s shoulders for support. Being the tallest, Wen Xu stood firmly in the water while Nie Huaisang tried to keep as little of himself submerged as possible.
Nearby, Jiang Cheng was enthusiastically teaching Meng Yao how to float like the bunnies. "See, pretty gege, it’s easy! Just like this!"
Meng Yao nodded, doing his best to follow Jiang Cheng’s cheerful instructions as a bunny swam lazily by.
°°°°°°
Lan Xichen finished his work earlier than usual today. Stretching his body, he decided he had enough time to visit the rabbit field and play with Jiang Cheng. Humming softly, he made his way there, only to find the field completely empty.
Confused, Lan Xichen glanced around. Where are they?
He wandered across the field, searching for any sign of the others, when a faint sound of laughter caught his attention. Perking up, he followed the cheerful sound, letting it guide him. The closer he got, the louder the laughter grew, until he realized it was coming from the direction of the cold spring.
Curious, Lan Xichen quickened his pace. When he finally arrived, he was greeted by an unexpected scene.
Wei Wuxian was laughing uncontrollably at Lan Wangji, who stood waist-deep in the spring, sulking with a rare pout on his face. Nie Huaisang, perched on Wen Xu’s shoulders, was also laughing, his fan shaking as he tried to steady himself. Wen Xu, looking mildly exasperated, was doing his best to keep Nie Huaisang balanced, though a soft chuckle escaped him too.
Meng Yao, standing near the edge of the spring, was laughing politely, a hand covering his mouth. And in the water, Jiang Cheng was giggling delightedly as he floated around with several rabbits paddling near him.
Lan Xichen blinked. Wait—rabbits?
For a moment, he simply stared, trying to process the sight of bunnies casually swimming in the cold spring alongside his little brother and their friends.
°°°°°°
Lan Wangji was the first to notice Lan Xichen standing nearby. "Xiongzhang," he greeted his brother with a small nod.
Hearing this, everyone turned their attention to Lan Xichen.
Lan Xichen smiled warmly. "Is it alright if I join you?" he asked.
Wei Wuxian cheered loudly. "Of course! Come, come, Xichen-ge!"
Jiang Cheng waved enthusiastically at him, while Wen Xu and Meng Yao bowed politely. Nie Huaisang, meanwhile, nearly screamed as he almost toppled off Wen Xu’s shoulders, flailing to regain his balance.
Lan Xichen chuckled softly and neatly folded his clothes on a nearby rock before stepping into the cold spring to join them.
"Wangji, are you sulking?" he asked, noticing the faint pout still lingering on his younger brother’s face.
Lan Wangji stared back at him blankly, but Lan Xichen, ever perceptive, could tell something was bothering him.
"What happened?" he asked gently.
Lan Wangji’s gaze shifted to Wei Wuxian, his glare sharp and full of meaning. "Wei Ying. Cheat."
"I didn’t cheat!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed with a laugh. "I just held my breath longer than you, fair and square!"
Ah, now Lan Xichen understood. His little brother had lost to Wei Wuxian, and he clearly wasn’t happy about it. Smiling faintly, Lan Xichen patted Lan Wangji on the shoulder in a comforting gesture.
°°°°°°
"Look, Xichen-ge! A-Cheng can dive!" Jiang Cheng called out, beaming with pride as he demonstrated his diving skills in the water.
Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang were engaged in a lively game, trying to snatch each other’s ribbons while perched on someone’s shoulders—Nie Huaisang on Wen Xu, and Wei Wuxian on Lan Wangji. Meng Yao stood nearby, acting as their referee with an amused smile.
The bunnies, floating lazily nearby, tumbled in the water, and Jiang Cheng giggled as he imitated them. "Look, Xichen-ge! I can roll like the bunnies!" he said, showing off his playful antics.
Lan Xichen watched it all with a soft, content smile. It was a rare, lighthearted moment, and he was glad to be a part of it.
"Can you swim too, Xichen-ge?" Jiang Cheng asked, a bunny hopping onto his head and settling there comfortably.
Lan Xichen shook his head. "No, Gusu Lan doesn’t have many water territories, so swimming isn’t a necessity."
"It’s okay! A-Cheng will teach you!" Jiang Cheng declared confidently, swimming over to Lan Xichen and taking his hand.
It was a bit awkward for Lan Xichen—swimming in the cold spring as a tall teenager wasn’t exactly easy. But for Jiang Cheng, only four years old, the water posed no such problem. He swam freely, his small body gliding through the cool water with ease.
"Just stay close and hold A-Cheng’s hand," Jiang Cheng instructed, his tone serious as if he were the teacher.
Lan Xichen smiled warmly, kneeling in the cold spring so his shoulders dipped into the water. "Alright, A-Cheng, I’m counting on you."
Jiang Cheng grinned and began to lead the way, paddling ahead while the bunnies followed them, bobbing lazily in the water.
Behind them, chaos unfolded. Wei Wuxian had lost the latest round of the game and tumbled into the water, giggling uncontrollably. The game quickly shifted, with Meng Yao now perched on Lan Wangji’s shoulders while Wei Wuxian sat on Wen Xu’s. Nie Huaisang had taken up the role of referee, fanning himself dramatically as he judged the competition.
Lan Xichen, however, paid them no mind. His full attention was on Jiang Cheng, who was doing his best to teach him how to swim. Jiang Cheng’s earnestness and joy brought a soft smile to Lan Xichen’s face, making the moment feel all the more special.
°°°°°°
They swam for a long time, enjoying the cool spring. Wen Xu had now joined Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng, helping the little boy float and swim around, while Wei Wuxian was busy challenging Lan Wangji to yet another game. Meng Yao and Nie Huaisang sat on a rock nearby, chatting and laughing as they dried off.
The peaceful atmosphere was suddenly shattered by a sharp shout.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Everyone froze, their laughter dying instantly. Heads turned toward the source of the voice, and their faces turned pale as they realized who it was—Lan Qiren.
Lan Qiren’s face was bright red, a mixture of anger and disbelief, as he glared at the scene before him. His usually disciplined nephews and the other boys were playing in the cold spring—with rabbits. The sight of the bunnies paddling in the water almost made him faint.
"GET OUT OF THERE RIGHT NOW!" he bellowed, his voice echoing across the spring.
Panic set in as everyone scrambled to obey. Lan Xichen quickly picked up Jiang Cheng, who looked more confused than frightened, and began wading out of the water. The bunnies, ever loyal, followed close behind, hopping onto dry land.
Meanwhile, the others scrambled out of the spring in record time. Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang stumbled over each other in their haste, while Meng Yao and Wen Xu tried to look as composed as possible despite their dripping clothes.
Lan Wangji, though he moved calmly, didn’t dare look his uncle in the eye.
By the time they all stood before Lan Qiren, dripping wet and trying to catch their breath, they knew they were in for a very, very long lecture.
°°°°°°
The punishment included everyone—even little Jiang Cheng. Wen Xu, Lan Xichen, Meng Yao, Nie Huaisang, Lan Wangji, and Wei Wuxian were all made to do handstands in front of Lan Qiren while he lectured them endlessly. Beside him, Jiang Cheng sat with two arms raised as part of his punishment, looking thoroughly confused but obedient.
A table with paper and ink was set up nearby, ready for the group to rewrite Gusu Lan’s thousand rules as part of their punishment.
Nie Huaisang, struggling to hold his balance, whined and tried to lean against Lan Wangji.
"Straighten up, Nie Huaisang!" Lan Qiren barked, his stern voice brooking no argument. He knew Nie Huaisang was perfectly capable of doing the handstand—he was just too lazy to put in the effort.
Lan Qiren then turned his attention to the heirs of the two great sects. "Lan Xichen, as the future heir, you should know better—"
Lan Xichen smiled faintly, showing no resistance to his uncle’s scolding.
"And you, Young Master Wen, as the eldest sibling, it’s your duty to set a good example—"
Wen Xu let out a long sigh but said nothing, his expression a mixture of resignation and mild annoyance.
Lan Qiren moved on to Meng Yao, about to deliver a sharp reprimand, when he heard Wei Wuxian chuckle softly.
"No laughing, Young Master Wei!" Lan Qiren snapped, now focusing his ire on him. "I will inform your mother about your behavior—"
Lan Wangji, standing quietly beside Wei Wuxian, remained stoic as always, though his expression betrayed the faintest hint of disapproval toward his companion.
Lan Qiren was mid-lecture when Jiang Cheng’s small voice interrupted him.
"Shufu," Jiang Cheng said, his tone timid. "My arms hurts."
Lan Qiren paused and turned to the child, his expression softening slightly when he saw Jiang Cheng’s teary eyes.
"Come here and sit," Lan Qiren said, patting his lap.
Jiang Cheng immediately lowered his arm and walked over, settling on Lan Qiren’s lap with a relieved sigh.
"I’m sore too!" Wei Wuxian called out with a dramatic whine.
Lan Qiren’s glare snapped to him. "Write the rules. Now."
"What?!" Wei Wuxian protested.
"Write the rules now, all of you!" Lan Qiren ordered.
"But we’re doing handstands!" Wei Wuxian pointed out indignantly.
"Then write while you’re doing handstands!" Lan Qiren snapped back.
Wei Wuxian opened his mouth to argue further, but Lan Wangji clamped a hand over his mouth, silencing him immediately.
And so, for the rest of the day, the group painstakingly wrote out Gusu Lan’s thousand rules while maintaining their handstands. Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng drifted off to sleep on Lan Qiren’s lap, the bunnies curled up nearby as if they, too, were avoiding any further trouble.