Chapter Text
"Please stop worrying so much. I'm fine." Jiang Cheng smiled at his sister through video chat. Honestly why did his siblings worry so much about his well being? He was perfectly fine. He had a stable job where he rented upstairs…and that's about it really. But he never needed much.
Jiang Yanli did not look convinced in the slightest. "A-Cheng. You're always working. Even on your days off you work and use the excuse that your job is right downstairs." She sighed. "You need to get out more. Don't you get a little lonely?"
Yes. "No." His sister's frown let him know she could see right through him. "I talk with you guys don't I?" It wasn't exactly a lie. He did miss his family. A lot.
"I knew you’d missed me!" Another body appeared beside his sister making her laugh.
"Who said anything about missing you!?" He didn't realize his brother was there! Jiang Yanli didn't tell him!
"Now, now." She giggled when Wei Wuxian stuck his tongue out in response. "No fighting. I know both of you miss each other very much."
"How can I not miss my grumpy little brother?" Wei Wuxian smirked when Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes.
"What are you doing there anyway? I'm surprised you're not with Lan Wangji." Ever since his brother began to date that guy they've been inseparable. Especially now that they were engaged.
"Jealous?" Wei Wuxian teased before Jiang Yanli pinched his cheek lightly.
"Behave A-Xian." She released him turning her attention back to Jiang Cheng. "I'm accompanying him to pick up and mail the wedding invitations."
"You should join us!" Wei Wuxian smiled. "It'll be fun! Afterwards we're meeting Lan Zhan and that peacock for lunch!" Jiang Yanli sighed at the nicknames. Of course he would use that adorable nickname for Lan Wangji. But Wei Wuxian still refused to call her husband by his name, which annoys him.
"A-Xuan," Jiang Yanli corrected her brother. "Reserved a nice restaurant for us. I'm sure it'll be no trouble to add one more chair to our table." She smiled. "I can even show you pictures of our latest trip. Jin Ling looks so cute. He wore that shirt you got him got his birthday."
"I'm busy today. I'm meeting up with a client in a few minutes about restoring a painting." Jiang Cheng explained. It did sound like fun to hang out with his siblings. But as soon as they brought up their significant other, well he just didn't want to feel like a third wheel….fifth wheel.
Both siblings frowned at the response. "You know for someone who makes up his own hours you do work a lot." Wei Wuxian crossed his arms.
"Unlike you. I don't mind working." Jiang Cheng shrugged.
Wei Wuxian groaned. "Look, my wedding is in a month! And I'd be damn if you come alone! You better bring a damn date! Or at least a friend!" He didn't even let Jiang Cheng respond before he stormed off adding something about being a damn workaholic.
"What's his problem?" Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes.
Jiang Yanli sighed, "A-Cheng, I do agree with A-Xian. You work too much. I don't even know the last time you've actually gone out yourself." Jiang Cheng went quiet since he wasn't sure when either. "Please try to go out. Maybe meet some people? I would love to see you bring someone to the wedding myself."
"I'll try." He couldn't deny his sister. But he still doubt he'd meet anyone. "I should get going. The client will be here soon. Say hi to A-Ling for me."
"Alright." Jiang Yanli nodded, "I love you, A-Cheng."
"Love you too." With that he ended the call. After a few seconds to make sure the call really did end, he laid his head into his arms. He really did miss them. But they both had lives now. Lives that didn't really need him. And they expect him to find someone too? With his personality? The only ones who have ever accepted him were his siblings.
"Get a date… yeah right." He sighed finally getting up. It was time to open up the shop.
~~~
Jiang Cheng loved antiques, especially restoring them to their former glory. And if anyone even dared point out how this was connected to his psychological mind, he'd punch them. He just liked fixing broken and sometimes unwanted things. How could he see himself in this…it was pretty good money too. Not that he really spent his money on anything but antiques. But if he ever did, he'd be ready!
The bell to the shop dinged snapping him out of his thoughts. "Welcome to Lotus Antiques I'll be right with you." He called out putting some things down. When he finally got to the front he couldn't help but freeze for a second. This was not the kind of customer he was expecting. Big buff guy who didn't seem to have a clue what he was doing here. Though he did seem to be carrying something in the box he was holding. "How can I help you?"
The man finally looked over at him and Jiang Cheng hoped he didn't look intimidated. "Yeah, my brother called about restoring this painting? He usually comes down himself but something came up for him so I was asked to bring it."
That explains the look of confusion. "Yes I remember his call. Mind if I take a look?"
The other nodded handing over the box. Jiang Cheng carefully unboxed it seeing the scroll inside, he couldn't help but gasp as he unraveled it carefully. It was old, very old, but kept in great shape. And the portrait of this person was breathtaking. They were beautiful, and they must've been very important to have been painted like this.
"Who is this?"
"They are an ancestor of the family. But their name is lost in time. All we know is that he was very important to us and even led our clan way back then." He shrugged. "My brother knows a lot more about it than I do. You can ask him more about it when he’s here to pick it up."
Jiang Cheng nodded as he continued to examine the painting. It made sense that he was a leader, he was dressed far too elegant to be anything less. That fan he's holding must be a prized possession too. It could symbolize something… maybe? "I'll do everything I can to restore the color. Could take me maybe two to three days?"
The other looked skeptical, "Two to three days? Others have taken weeks for less." He sighed. "But my brother said you have the best results so I trust your judgment."
"Thank you. I'll ring you up for half the cost and the rest can be paid when it's picked up."
The man nodded handing him his credit card. Jiang Cheng accepted it going behind the counter to ring him up. Nie Mingjue. He didn't even ask his name now that he thought about it.
"Thank you for your business. I'll call the number I was provided as soon as I'm finished." He handed the other his card back.
"Thanks." The man nodded before walking out of the shop.
Jiang Cheng walked back to the scroll picking it up again. "Now to find a safe place to place you to get started."
~~~
After clearing more than enough space, Jiang Cheng grabbed all the materials needed to start restoring this art. With some operation, and a few very delicate test, he chose the best way to restore the painting was with a wax paste. Used in most painting to remove the grime and show its original color.
"Okay just a little off the face." He began mumbling to himself. "Then I'll hang it to dry a bit to make sure it works." He was feeling proud of himself as he cleaned off the face is this mysterious person. He really wished to know more about this person.
This was the reason why he loved antiques. They all told some kind of story. Even if he doesn't know how or why something was made, seeing what it has gone through tells a whole other story.
He smiled to himself as he hung the scroll to dry. "You are definitely loved with how well you were cared for." He turned around removing his gloves so he could clean up a bit. This will probably take a lot less time than he thought.
Jiang Cheng froze when he noticed his shadow was a lot bigger than it should be. When did it get brighter? He turned around and saw that the scroll was… glowing?
"What the hell…?" He took a step back as something began to morph out of it. "What the hell!?"
The shape took form of a person. A person that was about to fall flat on their face! Jiang Cheng didn't realize that he moved closer to catch it until they were now safely pressed against their chest.
"What…. What happened?" This elegantly dressed figure groaned before looking up at Jiang Cheng. "... husband?"