Work Text:
Jiang Cheng started working at her father's company as a supervisor for one of the subsidiaries after meeting all of his set criteria and possibly going a little beyond his expectations.
There was no way he could deny her after that. It wasn't just competence, but actually achieving what should have been impossible.
She has her own office on the third floor where she's the boss of the department settled there, and behind her is the floor to ceiling windows that give her the view of the city below, the traffic jam and the street vendors that are always busy. Her chair faces the entrance of her office, the tall double doors as she frowns over the documents she's reading, the physical files she has to sort through before transferring the data to the computer.
Then her intercom starts ringing so she taps on that. "Yes?" She asks, half distracted.
"Sorry Miss Jiang...there's a man that's insistent to meet you. He won't leave."
Jiang Cheng blinks.
She's never had many spontaneous visitors besides Wei Wuxian and usually her PA didn't sound so distressed about it, after all everyone knew Wei Wuxian was her brother. And Wei Wuxian was too charming for his own good. He'd carelessly flirt around to wrap people around his little finger.
"Do you have a name?" She asks, straightening in her leather seat. Her father hasn't called her ahead either to let her know of any important guests. And if he bypassed the front receptionist then he must have some pedigree.
"He says he's your husband!" Wang Lingjiao practically wails, like she's afraid she's met some delusional man that won't be reasoned with.
Jiang Cheng blinks again. "Oh. I forgot. I'm married."
"You forgot?" The male voice is irritable, rudely disturbing a private call.
"No," Jiang Cheng says carefully. "I mean, I forgot to let others know."
"Hmph." There's a lot of discontent packed in that one sound.
"Miss Jiang?"
"It's okay, let him in," she says and hangs up. She looks over herself and tries to smooth over the wrinkles on her dress shirt and even her slacks hidden underneath her desk she dusts off. Nothing about her appearance is that untidy but she anxiously tries to appear presentable.
Then she realizes she's being ridiculous. There's no reason for self-consciousness at all.
And a few seconds later the door opens and her husband, six feet tall with how he looms, walks over to her desk, his physique on display with wide, broad shoulders that tapers into a slim waist that's covered by a belt, as he's dressed in a three piece hanfu.
His clan colors, white yet not a glossy white, looking more like a bandage soaked through by blood which is-
She tries not to think about that often but the man doesn't care for the gazes whenever he deigns to leave the house, but if he had it his way he would also carry his favored sword though it is more of a saber than anything.
An elongated butcher knife.
Even if he's involved in the underworld, he doesn't have to blatantly show that he's a criminal.
"You forgot your lunch," he says moodily and drops a wrapped lunchbox onto the corner of her desk with a huff.
"Thank you," she says.
Usually she ate whatever her PA ordered for her from the nearby restaurants in the plaza, but Wen Ruohan had been uh, packing homemade meals recently. In the beginning, he didn't seem to care, then out of nowhere, probably two months after they've been married, he started handing her this special lunchbox in the morning before she left to work. Not even nicely. He'd shove it into her hands and stomp off in his boots like he'd wasted his time completing this small gesture.
He spent his time in his own courtyard, sitting there contemplating life perhaps and she didn't disturb him, because the family's gardener had told her it was how his master was, he liked to bask in the sun like a cat and spend his leisure enjoying nature in the comfort of his own home. There's nothing more for him to achieve so he doesn't feel like he's wasting away either.
Officially retiring from the triad as the leader and handing the mantle off to his older son (who was even older than Jiang Cheng) had seemed to make him more of a shut in though, and he had the tendency to be annoyed over miniscule matters. He had even yelled at a delivery boy one time when Jiang Cheng had gone to collect the package from him, not knowing that her suspicious husband had followed her out. Maybe he expected to see one of his sons but was disappointed that it was only the delivery boy.
"Get out!" He had roared, looking murderous, startling Jiang Cheng and he angrily snatched the bag of her takeout dinner as the delivery boy actually booked it. "What is this? I have chefs, you don't need to eat food from outside."
"It's from my sister's restaurant," Jiang Cheng said quietly and while her sister didn't personally cook this, it was her recipe and she missed the soup.
Wen Ruohan clicked his tongue, passing the bag back to her. "You were smiling at him like you knew him, did you have to look at him like that? Stupid boy probably thought you were flirting with him; request a delivery woman next time."
He then walked off and horribly confused, Jiang Cheng simply decided she would never order food again. She'd just eat outside if she had to. And what smile? She was being polite! Her husband was so odd and rude, so he wouldn't recognize basic manners if it hit him in the face.
Being afraid of Wen Ruohan though should have been an instinct, but why did she feel bad instead? Not even for herself.
What a lonely man, she thinks. Since his sons only visited when they needed something from him.
She also had no idea what to do with him.
Though she had been the one to approach him and propose a marriage alliance- well to show her father that she wasn't playing around at all when he said she needed to be married first so she doesn't end up forgetting personable relationships when she started working. Which could have been an excuse or valid concern though Jiang Cheng has a hard time discerning her father's intentions most of the time, but she decided to find a husband anyway.
Motivated by spite.
She went searching for a man that out qualified her own father, and it's not like Wen Ruohan has ever stepped into the limelight if necessary, he had started to become a recluse five years ago but honestly she had done everything to set up a meeting with him.
Wen Ruohan is an extremely handsome man and has good genetics too, because he's about two decades her elder, but appears younger than her father. Maybe it's the attitude. He sulks a lot and is petulant but old men do that, too.
There are light laughter lines around his mouth and eyes though, and he does laugh but it's of the villainous variety.
"Do you want to eat with me?" Jiang Cheng asks, since he came all the way here to feed her. Her work gets set aside as she clears for space on her desk and unwraps her layered lunch box to open.
There's about three courses for her lunch, organized in thermal containers, first there are cut fruits, this time persimmon since it's in season, snacks which are walnuts and dried plums and then actual food, a container of egg drop soup that stays hot and fresh, then pork dumplings. And there's still more she hasn't opened yet. A lot she won't be able to finish in one sitting and definitely leftovers for dinner if she doesn't return home right away. On the side there is even a thermal cup of chamomile tea.
Wen Ruohan had plopped down in the chair opposite her, arms crossed over his chest and looking off to the side. Jiang Cheng hesitates before sliding one of the stacked boxes his way. He slams his hand on top of the box though to stop and glares.
"This is for you."
"Oh okay," she takes it back, heart skipping a beat from shock. Yeah definitely. As she opens the box she is aware of Wen Ruohan attentively watching her.
"Uh."
She blinks in shock.
There are dog shaped mini sandwiches packed neatly in the container all adorable with their profile angles so its one eye, two legs and a tail.
"Wow," she says.
"Hmph. I'm the one who cut them up with my knife skills so don't go thinking I lazed my way with a plastic cutter."
"There's nothing wrong with convenience," she says automatically but her chest feels too tight. The man actually took the time out of his day to do this for her.
It's not the first instance but she realizes he might be paying more attention to her than she originally thought. The role of husband was supposed to be in law and name only but he takes it extremely seriously. He didn't even have anything to gain in their marriage besides companionship but had she...?
"Thank you, langong," she says, and peers up from underneath her eyelashes, a little shy and sees Wen Ruohan shudder. Probably disgusted at her attempt to be sweet. "Um, sorry-"
"If you know I'm your husband that's fine," Wen Ruohan cut in, voice hoarse. And he leans forward, elbows on the table. "Does my wife want me to complete my other husbandly duties?"
"You've done enough," Jiang Cheng says firmly. Her fortune in being brave paid off so she was able to find a gem in this very dependable man. "What can I do for you?"
Wen Ruohan stares, for a very long time then he smirks. "Should I lock the door?"
At first she doesn't understand. Mind blanked out then the way he's staring at her causes her to blush as she becomes flustered.
"What?" She asks in a slightly raised voice.
"I always thought about it, wife. Fucking you here so you'd always remember me when you sit down and work." He rests his chin on his palm as he turns his head to peer at her with dark, dark eyes and a smirk with clear intent.
All of her goodwill disappears even if her stomach tightens with heat.
"Ridiculous!" Jiang Cheng crosses her arms as she tries to create distance, rolling her chair slightly back without making it seem as if she's running from him. It's her office. She can kick him out if she wants.
(She won't though because she'll feel guilty. When has the man even grown on her anyway?)
"After you eat, I'm going to fuck you," Wen Ruohan says like it's offically set. He even reaches out for her table calendar and the pen she'd been using to write it down on today's date.
Langong time
"I'm not eating," Jiang Cheng says, trying to be stubborn but her voice sounds weak and frail. Like she doesn't truly believe she will defy him.
"You'll be tired," he says rather reasonably but there's a glint in his eye.
"You- you said when we married that you didn't want me to bother you or share your bed," she brings up. It's why she barely initiates anything and since he brought more benefits, she let him do as he likes though she honestly hadn't expected him to act this way.
They had stipulations, too.
She lived with him because he wanted no one talking about their living situations since she was his wife as a recluse he still heard gossip whenever he went out, so he'd wanted to nip that in the bud, but he'd told her to stay out of his business and to not demand much. He'll play husband when he wants to annoy her father but he's not going to be part of anything fancy since he hates noisy places. He might end up killing someone who offends his senses.
He'd told her that clear as day when she proposed an agreement for marriage. It had taken courage to even talk to him when he stared at her.
But Jiang Cheng never does anything by half measures.
"Am I not allowed to change my mind?" Wen Ruohan asks, sulking. "My wife only wanted me to piss off her father and we didn't even have a wedding ceremony, only a certificate to sign at the city hall, hah! How romantic! You wanted my body so I refused to give you my dignity at first. Is that so wrong?"
Are you not an old man who's been married before? Jiang Cheng thinks but she feels her heart expanding in her chest.
(Why is my husband so cute?)
An apparition of dog ears appears on Wen Ruohan's head, like one of those pampered dogs that crave attention and she wants to pet his head and coddle him but he'll be offended as he is older than her and he's more of a wolf hound than a dog.
Even if he seems domesticated, she knows there lurks viciousness and survival instincts pertaining to the animal kingdom. After all, he's led the triad for decades even before she was born.
"Will you be happy doing that with me?" She asks even though he had brought it up first and rather bluntly adds as he opens his mouth, "I don't know how to please a man. My past lovers, hm, they weren't really loving. I'm too- domineering? They only wanted to tame me but I wasn't into any of their kinks or fetishes."
And there hadn't been enough established trust for her to experiment and be in those situations.
Wen Ruohan abruptly stands up, the chair actually topples back and crashes to the ground as he leans further in, and his face is close to hers as he stares with his dark eyes and flaring nostrils. "Give me their names."
"Ah. No," she says, because the furnace in his furious gaze promises one thing. Retribution.
And she knows by what means.
Execution.
She can ignore his background, but she can't ignore it happening because of her.
His chest heaves with an exhale. "I don't want or need to tame you, Jiang Cheng, and you're already tied to me through marriage so bondage is unnecessary but you're cute as you are now, if only you were working so hard to be happy instead of gaining approval from another man."
He sneers the last part, deeply hateful and Jiang Cheng's breath shortens.
"I am happy," she says.
She's married. (While she had thought it was an inevitability growing up she didn't realize she'd have her own choice.)
She has a job of her liking. (And yeah she needs to prove herself for promotion but don't most people?)
And the man she goes home to is Wen Ruohan who honestly is confusing but takes care of her in his own way so she's not lonely and she thinks she might even like him.
(Why else does she stare at him for a long time whenever she catches him sitting there? He's achingly good looking, but she's never been one to waste time looking for so long at an attractive person after a moment of appreciation.)
"My father isn't the reason I'm married to you anymore," Jiang Cheng confesses. After she had brought Wen Ruohan to a family dinner to formally introduce as her husband and not only did she shock everyone there, her father had looked incensed, and talked to her afterward, bringing up points as to where this marriage will fail and marks against Wen Ruohan, about how he's a terrible human being and she shouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing what he does and the kind of things he's hidden.
A criminal, A-Cheng, is this how you're choosing to live? Her father might have seemed concerned and protective but hadn't he been lukewarm about her breakups, when her sister wanted to say how horrible her boyfriends were and even Wei Wuxian commented that they were bad matches for her and he'd go beat them up, her father sat there silently, musing over whatever else as he listened.
He didn't care, did he?
He just couldn't ignore Wen Ruohan.
She hadn't wanted his approval.
After all, she wanted to gain control of her life. And wanted to show him how capable she was.
"I think you're handsome," she goes on, rambling when she feels like her chest is too tight. "You act like a cat but sometimes you're a dog so it's hard to tell which animal you are, even domesticated, you're still a beast, but I want to coddle you anyway. As a wife maybe I can, do you think hugs are okay if that is? Should we hug first?"
There's silence, and she doesn't look at him because her face burns. Blushing even hotter than when he said he wanted to fuck her.
Obviously she doesn't expect Wen Ruohan to crawl over her desk.
She makes a noise of worry for her office supplies and paperwork, especially the lunch containers but he pushes those aside to make room for himself, and climbs over the edge before he lowers himself into her lap. Like some cat.
He's heavy, so fucking heavy that she's breathless, or maybe it's because he smells like jasmine and pine and he hugs her as he settles his weight over her thighs, but he's hovering slightly, not laying fully as to not crush her.
For a moment they remain like that, not quite comfortable but grounding, and all she knows is Wen Ruohan with his body pressed tightly to hers and his scent taking over her senses, and his warmth and breathing pattern, shallow but a pleasant hum against her ear.
Then, Wen Ruohan has the audacity to complain, "Hmph. Where's the coddling? Why are you being neglectful towards your husband?"
Jiang Cheng is flushed all over.
Every bit of contact has her feeling like she wants to claw out of her clothes and touch him skin to skin.
"Jiang Cheng! Your gege has-"
Fucking Wei Wuxian!! He just comes and goes as he pleases.
She slowly looks up from where her face was hidden in her husband's shoulder to see Wei Wuxian standing open-mouthed and speechless for once in her office.
He points at them. "What?! What?! What?!"
Wen Ruohan grumbles and dislodges himself to turn to Wei Wuxian on his feet, but he walks behind Jiang Cheng's chair to settle behind.
"Is that all you know how to say? Stupid useless brother in law. Always disturbing crucial moments."
"Who's your brother in law, old man?! Your marriage has not been recognized and you're no brother of mine!" Wei Wuxian shouts, looking ready to roll down his sleeves and give the man a beating.
Jiang Cheng massages her temple to ease an oncoming headache.
Wei Wuxian and Wen Ruohan fight like petty children. She doesn't understand what it is about Wei Wuxian that earns this side of Wen Ruohan's where he pushes but he'd stick close to Jiang Cheng expecting her to take his side.
"Husband is more important," he said in that cutesy voice. The one Wei Wuxian would use when he was coaxing Jiang Cheng, and Yanli, and Wei Wuxian had been so gravely offended like he was robbed.
And he held a resentful grudge.
"Jiang Cheng, your husband is being inappropriate at your workplace!"
"It was a hug," Jiang Cheng snaps.
Wei Wuxian looks put out, but eyes Wen Ruohan up and down judgmentally with his arms crossed.
"So...you're the little spoon? Aren't you too big to be crushing my meimei like that, huh? You giant!"
"What?" Wen Ruohan says irritably. "I'm cuter than you, so it doesn't matter what you think. Isn't that right, wife?" He leans down to whisper in her ear as he massages her shoulders.
She hums agreeably. He is cuter.
"Jiang Cheng!" Wei Wuxian shrieks in betrayal.
Her husband chuckles warmly and Jiang Cheng is already long gone to his whims.