Archive of Our Own ^beta

Dating Nie Huaisang wasn’t much different than usual. Well, he didn’t expect it to be much different since they’d known each other practically their whole lives. There was no talking stage or getting-to-know-you stage. It wasn’t necessary. Perhaps that’s why Jiang Cheng found it so easy. The only difference is that now, he always felt nervous around Nie Huaisang.

He didn’t know why he was nervous. There really wasn’t anything to worry about. Like he said before, they knew each other inside and out. They’d seen each other at their worst and they’d also seen each other at their best. They’d fought each other and knew exactly what to say to hurt each other deeply and being who they were, well, they were a bit vindictive (okay maybe very vindictive, but they would always make up in the end). They knew what to do or to give to make the other truly happy. But just holding hands sent jitters up his spine and the way Nie Huaisang looked at him sometimes…It was enough to make him into a blushing mess.

Long story short, it was amazing dating Nie Huaisang, but why was some of the other stuff that came with dating so hard? Yes, they held hands. Yes, they cuddled. But come to think of it, that was stuff they were doing before they got together.

He was reminded of the day Jiang Cheng confessed, where Nie Huaisang had screamed out, “Finally!” once he managed to express his feelings towards him. He remembered how Nie Huaisang had ranted and raved about how dense he was of his own feelings and how frustrating it was to be in a limbo where they were clearly more than friends, but not official and how he had wanted to pull his hair waiting for Jiang Cheng to catch up. All Jiang Cheng could hear through his ranting was that Nie Huaisang had waited for him. Jiang Cheng had then pulled him into his lap at that realization and hugged him close. It was the only way he got him to shut up.

Jiang Cheng inadvertently chuckled thinking back on it.

“What?” Nie Huaisang asked, looking at Jiang Cheng’s large smile with suspicion. He put down the manga he had been reading. Jiang Cheng was supposed to be reading too, but had clearly gotten distracted.

“Nothing.” Jiang Cheng said, his face turning pink in a blush. Nie Huaisang turned towards him and then a teasing expression came over his face. However there was something else there that Jiang Cheng couldn’t quite place.

“It’s not nothing.” Nie Huaisang said. He took no time in maneuvering onto his lap. Jiang Cheng blushed and turned away from him, but still placed his hands on his hips. “Tell me.”

“It’s nothing!” Jiang Cheng insisted. Nie Huaisang hummed. When Jiang Cheng turned back. Nie Huaisang’s face was very close to his. Jiang Cheng had to turn away again and his blush deepened.

“Suspicious.” Nie Huaisang said and Jiang Cheng groaned.

“You never leave me alone.” Jiang Cheng lamented.

“You already know this about me.” Nie Huaisang said dismissively. “Now spill.”

“No.” Jiang Cheng said petulantly.

“No?” Nie Huaisang said incredulously. Jiang Cheng scowled, but still refused to look at Nie Huaisang so he grabbed his chin and turned his head towards him. Jiang Cheng refused to look at his face. “Look at me.” Reluctantly, Jiang Cheng looked at him. “What were you thinking about?”

“Nothing.” Jiang Cheng said stubbornly, knowing it would infuriate Nie Huaisang. Sure enough, he pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes at him. He absolutely hated not knowing. Despite how clueless he acted, he had dirt on almost everyone who even breathed in his brother’s company’s direction. Everyone always let their guard down around him so he often heard things he wasn’t supposed to. He was good at what he did due to his natural propensity to “gossip.” Jiang Cheng had long since decided to never become enemies with Nie Huaisang. But little things like this? He could get away with.

“Okay…” Nie Huaisang drawled. Jiang Cheng could tell the wheels in his head were turning and going over every scenario it could be.

“How long are you going to sit on my lap for?” Jiang Cheng asked. Nie Huaisang squirmed and Jiang Cheng sucked in a breath.

“However long it takes you to tell me what you were thinking about.” Nie Huaisang said.

“Why do you even want to know so bad?” Jiang Cheng asked.

“Because you had such a stupid, dopey grin on your face!” Nie Huaisang finally snapped. “And I want to know who you were thinking about to make you look like that!” Jiang Cheng’s eyes widened.

Was he jealous? Well, it’s not like he hadn’t seen him jealous before (it had taken a lot of hindsight to realize the moments Nie Huaisang had been jealous, especially when Jiang Cheng had developed that crush on Lan Huan back when he was a teenager. Honestly, what teenager hadn’t fallen a little in love with their tutor? Nie Huaisang shouldn’t have blamed him especially since Jiang Cheng had been his peer tutor in middle school and that was when Nie Huaisang first developed a crush with him before turning into full blown love in high school and into college).

“Is that it?” Jiang Cheng chuckled.

“It’s not funny.” Nie Huaisang pouted. It was such an adorable expression, Jiang Cheng had to kiss it. He pulled away and had to hold back his laughter at Nie Huaisang’s expression. He was clearly not amused.

“I was thinking about you.” Jiang Cheng assured. “I can only smile like this when it’s about you.” Nie Huaisang blushed a beet red as he stared at Jiang Cheng in shock and then he groaned, hiding his face in his hands and then burrowing into his shoulder. Jiang Cheng was shocked at the display and then laughed as he rubbed Nie Huaisang’s back. He was the one who was shy for once. Jiang Cheng hadn’t even seen that coming. It was devastatingly adorable and he had to kiss him once more. Nie Huaisang squeaked, but happily returned it.

“Go back to the time you were reticent with your feelings.” Nie Huaisang said, his cheeks still red. “I beg you.”

“Hm. No. I like seeing you being the blushing mess for once.” Jiang Cheng said. Nie Huaisang slapped his shoulder, but didn’t pull away. Instead, he cuddled closer and Jiang Cheng hugged him back in triumph.

Jiang Cheng thought about telling Wei Ying about it because he'd definitely get a laugh, but he immediately scrapped that idea. He was going to keep this Nie Huaisang close to his heart. No one else could see it.