[jiang cheng x lan xichen coffee shop/bakery AU where everyone is alive and happy and nothing traumatizing happened. some jingyi x jin ling on the side just because.]
“Where do you wanna eat?” Jiang Cheng checks the mirror, turns on the blinker and starts to turn the wheel to the left only to let out a curse when the car behind him speeds up suddenly, trying to pass.
“There is this new coffee shop-” Jin Ling trails off.
“For dinner?” Jiang Cheng slams his hand on the horn when the idiot drives past him, but finally manages to change lanes. It’s almost eight-thirty, the traffic shouldn’t be this shitty.
“Yeah.” Jin Ling says. “I’m kind of the in mood for a sandwich.”
Jiang Cheng arches an eyebrow, but shrugs in the end. He’s kind of in the mood for a sandwich too.
The coffee shop is near Jin Ling’s school, a small store next to the book shop his sister loves so much. It is warm inside and Jiang Cheng takes off his scarf with a sigh, already eyeing the menu that is hanging on the wall. It smells like coffee and cake and Jiang Cheng’s eyes wander towards the cheesecake on display over the counter. He is supposed to be a on a diet – forced upon him by his sister – but he figures he will get Jin Ling a big slice of cake and his nephew won’t tell her.
“Oh, hi, Jingyi.” He hears Jin Ling say, turns to watch his nephew waving towards the boy working behind the counter. Huh.
“Hi, Jin Ling.” The boy says, long hair tied on a high ponytail. He looks the same age as Jin Ling, perhaps older, and when he smiles at them, the tip of Jin Ling’s ears turns pink.
“What can I get you?” Jingyi asks. Jin Ling does not answer, apparently too busy staring at the other boy and Jiang Cheng huffs out a laugh.
“The meatball sandwich for me.” Jiang Cheng answers, stepping up and nudging his nephew with his elbow. “Jin Ling?”
His nephew blinks, ears going from pink to bright red. “Ah, the same.” He coughs awkwardly. “And a coke.”
“Make that two cokes.” Jiang Cheng says, reaching out for his wallet. “Do you want something else, A-Ling?” He teases, barely managing to hide his smirk.
When Jin Ling does not answer again, too busy glaring daggers at Jiang Cheng, Jingyi huffs out a laugh. “I saved you a piece of your favorite strawberry cake.” He says, his own ears turning pink, but he keeps his eyes on Jin Ling, embarrassed but still confident.
Jin Ling manages to let out a ‘yes, thank you’ before he’s all but running towards a table near the window – and coincidentally far, far away from the counter – leaving Jiang Cheng alone with the other boy. “Anything else, sir?” The boy keeps his eyes on him, holding his ground. Jiang Cheng is known for acting intimidating – Wei Wuxian says it’s his normal face, really – and while he stares at him, Jingyi visibly squirms, despite the bravado, but Jiang Cheng is thoroughly impressed.
“A slice of that cheesecake.” He says, nodding. Jingyi nods back.
“So,” Jiang Cheng sits down, “is their sandwich any good?”
Jin Ling groans, dropping his head on the table. “Stop.” Jiang Cheng smirks, reaches out to pat Jin Ling’s head teasingly. His nephew lifts his head up immediately, hands going up to fix his hair.
“There is nothing to know.” Jin Ling whispers aggressively. “I just – I kind of like him, but – it’s not like I want them asking me questions.”
Well, understandable. The first time Jiang Cheng dated a boy, he was in high school and despite his sister being the sweetest, kindest person in the world, she is also, somehow, terrifying. When she talked to the guy, he was thoroughly scarred for life. And the worst part is that Jiang Cheng couldn’t even be mad at her afterwards, because she genuinely did not know she was scaring him.
He doesn’t know how Jin Zixuan would react, but if he finds out about this, then Jiang Yanli certainly will.
“And you’re the only normal uncle I have.” Jin Ling keeps going. “Like,” Jin Ling waves his hand around, “can you even imagine?” He shudders, looking down at his hands.
Even though the bar is pretty low on that one, Jiang Cheng will take the backhanded compliment and enjoy it. Along with his cheesecake.
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