Chapter Text
It was another monotonous day in Lotus Pier when it all began.
Jiang Cheng, carrying Jin Ling in his arms, was shouting at the disciples who were fixing some last minute preparations for the discussion conference they were hosting. He moved from place to place, ensuring that everyone wasn’t slacking off and that everything would be acceptable for the other sect leaders, especially for Sect Leader Yao, who loved to complain about the most minor problems.
While he ordered his disciples around, Jin Ling spotted his hair ribbon and grabbed it, causing Jiang Cheng’s head to rear back and free his hair from the tight bun he normally wore it in.
The ensuing scene looked like it was out of a story, his disciples would later claim. His hair flowed down his back, catching the morning sunlight and looking even shinier and smoother than the finest of silks.
The surrounding disciples were blinded by his beauty and gaped at him in awe.
Glaring at them for stopping their tasks, Jiang Cheng raised his voice and barked out, “What are you all looking at. Get back to what you were doing.”
They quickly turned away to complete their tasks and hide their blushes. However, they were unable to completely avoid looking at him, often sneaking in glances every once in a while. Hell, they knew their sect leader was pretty, but they didn’t know he was this pretty.
Satisfied that everyone was finally doing what they were supposed to, Jiang Cheng looked down at Jin Ling, who had yet to let go of his purple hair ribbon.
Amused and exasperated, Jiang Cheng tried to free his ribbon while fondly murmuring, “What are you doing you brat. Give that back to me.”
Jin Ling resolutely shook his head and continued staring at him.
“Jiujiu, this mine”, he said while wearing an imitation of Jiang Cheng’s scowl on his face.
“A-Ling, give it back to Jiujiu”, he repeated sternly.
However, no matter how hard he tried, Jiang Cheng was unable to get his hair ribbon back and eventually decided to just give it up.
Straightening from his position, he then surveyed his disciples’ work and finally gave a firm nod of approval.
Jiang Cheng was about to go back to his rooms to fix his hair when a disciple ran up to him in a hurry.
“Sect Leader Jiang,” she cried, “Sect Leader Lan is here already.”
Shocked that Sect Leader Lan arrived quite early, Jiang Cheng briskly made his way to the piers to accept him. Surrounded and followed by his disciples, he looked like a peerlessly beautiful immortal followed by his handmaidens.
Upon reaching the piers, Jiang Cheng respectfully greeted Lan Xichen and his entourage of disciples.
“Sect Leader Lan.”, he greeted, “Welcome to Yunmeng Jiang. I hope you have a pleasant stay.”
While he was greeting Lan Xichen, the sun glowed down on him and emphasized his beauty, making him look even more ethereal.
Unable to control himself, Lan Xichen’s mouth gaped and his ears turned red. He stared at Jiang Wanyin for an improbably long time before he managed to contain himself. Ears still red, he returned Jiang Wanyin’s greeting.
Jiang Cheng frowned at his silence and gave him a weird look before he led him and the other Lan Disciples to where they were supposed to stay. However, while he was leading them there, he noticed Lan Xichen and the other disciples sneaking furtive glances at him.
“Sect Leader Lan, are you and your disciples okay?”, Jiang Cheng asked.
Lan Xichen stuttered,“E-everything is alright, Sect Leader Jiang”
Jiang Cheng frowned but decided not to pursue the topic further.
Eventually, they made their way to the guest quarters assigned to the Lan Sect and Jiang Cheng quickly dismissed himself before walking back to the piers to greet the other arriving sect leaders.
On his way to the piers, Jiang Cheng noticed more people than usual staring at him, along with more whispers than usual. Straining his ears, he heard snippets of their conversations:
“Sect Leader...hair is so pretty.”
“Woah...I didn’t know...so gorgeous.”
“Thank...Jin Ling...ribbon.”
He eventually decided to ignore them and put them to the back of his head when he arrived to greet the other sect leaders.