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fandomweekly2021-10-11 05:19 am
curiosity) wrote in fandomweekly2021-10-11 05:19 am
Entry tags:
[#044]
Theme Prompt: #044 - Day Off
Title: Day Off
Fandom: MDZS
Rating/Warnings: G / Mild family angst.
Word Count: 1,000
Summary: Jiang Cheng is fired for taking a day off. That's cool. He has other options.
Jiang Cheng was fifteen minutes into his first day off in over two months when Wei Wuxian began texting. He’d just settled into bed, pleased to be going to bed at midnight instead of still being in the office at one am, a slave to his brother’s genius. He sent a quick text saying it was his day off and shut his phone off.
His dreams were sweet, a boat on a lake. Fishing with his nephew. Kissing a handsome man.
Jiang Cheng woke up feeling truly rested for the first time in months. He had over forty missed calls and a hundred texts. They were all from Wei Wuxian.
He ignored them and spent the morning at the gym. Lunch was a meet-up with friends he hadn’t seen since new year. Huaisang's art was slowly taking off. Luo Qingyang's restaurant was a hit. Jiang Cheng had missed so much. In the afternoon he saw a movie. After that he went for a long run in the park. It was glorious. One more night of actual sleep and he was ready to face the family business once again.
Jiang Fengmian was waiting in his office.
“Dad.” Jiang Cheng was surprised. He hadn’t been aware his dad even knew where his office was. “Do we have family dinner tonight?”
Jiang Fengmian frowned. “Where were you yesterday?”
Jiang Cheng blinked. “It was my day off.”
“Even so, when the head of Research and Development calls, you answer your phone. I taught you better, A-Cheng. The company comes first.”
His father's disappointment was a tangible weight.
“It was my first day off in ten weeks, Dad.”
A disapproving frown. “We all make sacrifices.”
“The whole family, except for me, went to Mexico for two weeks. I took one day.”
“So you ignore your brother because you felt left out?” Jiang Fengmian stood up. “I’m afraid I can’t have that sort of disloyalty and selfishness in the company, A-Cheng. We’re a family business. We have an image to uphold.”
“What are you saying?”
“Consider this me accepting your resignation.” Jiang Fengmian walked out, done with him. “Honestly, A-Cheng. Answering your phone is such a simple thing. It’s a shame you couldn’t even manage that much.”
Jiang Cheng watched his father's back, mind spinning.
Three months later, he was waiting outside a restaurant for his date when his family emerged.
“I can’t believe they didn’t hold our table,” Jiang Fengmian blustered. “We were only thirty minutes late!”
“Enough, Fengmian. You’ve ruined the night again.” Madam Yu's tone was dismissive. “We’ll eat at the Jins’ new restaurant. A-Li can get us a table.”
“Oh,” Jiang Yanli said, looking alarmed. “A-Xuan says they’re booked solid for the next several months.”
“A-Cheng!” Wei Wuxian spotted him. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you returning my calls?”
Jiang Cheng sighed and pulled himself up to his full height. “Father. Mother. A-Li. Wei Wuxian.”
“I won’t give you your job back,” Jiang Fengmian gave his son a dismissive glance.
“What does that mean?” Madam Yu demanded. “Give back?”
“He was let go for incompetence,” Jiang Fengmian replied. “Our company has standards. This unseemly display changes nothing.”
Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. “I’m here because I have a reservation,” then grinned, spotting his party. “I was just waiting for my date.”
“Fengmian, do you mean to tell me you removed your heir from the company without consulting the board of directors?”
“My heart,” Nie Mingjue slid his hand around Jiang Cheng’s waist and kissed his cheek. “Were you waiting long?”
Jiang Cheng returned the kiss. “Not long. Have you met my family?” He conducted the introductions, taking glee in his siblings’ surprise and his parents pure shock.
“Nie Mingjue!” Jiang Fengmian glared. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Fengmian,” Nie Mingjue’s smile was all dimples and teeth. Jiang Cheng found it very attractive. “I have to thank you for firing your son. The Jiang family’s loss is the Nie family’s gain.”
“What does that mean?” Madam Yu demanded. “What secrets has the boy spilled?”
Nie Mingjue laughed. “Only the secrets of wrangling a creative genius. Jiang Cheng’s pure gift for management has brought my little brother’s art to a whole new audience, a new level. He’s actually self-supporting now. I should invite you to his next gallery opening.”
“The tickets are already sold out,” Jiang Cheng’s reply was automatic. “They’ll have to go on the waitlist.”
“How can a glorified babysitter afford this place?” Jiang Fengmian sneered, ever so slightly. “This restaurant is quality. They wouldn’t even let us in.”
Nie Mingjue’s smile reappeared. “I’ll tell my cousin you rated his humble establishment so highly. He’ll be pleased. Now, if you’ll excuse us.” He stepped past them, to hold the door for Jiang Cheng.
“It was nice seeing you,” Jiang Cheng said politely.
“A-Cheng,” Jiang Yanli called. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He regarded her soberly. “Why didn’t you notice?”
Nie Mingjue bowed, slightly, and let the door close behind them.
“Fengmian, I’ll have divorce papers on your desk at start of business,” Madam Yu walked away, heels striking sparks on the sidewalk. “I expect them signed by the end of the day.”
“My Lady!” He protested, trailing after her.
“So that’s why he hasn’t answered my calls,” Wei Wuxian shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ve been telling Lan Zhan how sulky and bitter A-Cheng’s been. He won’t even reply to work e-mails. We can’t bring the new gadget to market without him. We’re months behind schedule. But he doesn’t even work there anymore.”
“I’ve been so busy with A-Xuan and A-Ling,” Jiang Yanli dabbed tears away. “It didn’t occur to me that something was wrong, but he hasn’t been at a single family dinner since we came back from Mexico.”
"And he wasn't in Mexico with us!”
They looked at each other, shame a keen sting. Wei Wuxian looked where their parents had rounded the corner. Then looked at the restaurant. Jiang Yanli nodded.
They went back inside.
Title: Day Off
Fandom: MDZS
Rating/Warnings: G / Mild family angst.
Word Count: 1,000
Summary: Jiang Cheng is fired for taking a day off. That's cool. He has other options.
Jiang Cheng was fifteen minutes into his first day off in over two months when Wei Wuxian began texting. He’d just settled into bed, pleased to be going to bed at midnight instead of still being in the office at one am, a slave to his brother’s genius. He sent a quick text saying it was his day off and shut his phone off.
His dreams were sweet, a boat on a lake. Fishing with his nephew. Kissing a handsome man.
Jiang Cheng woke up feeling truly rested for the first time in months. He had over forty missed calls and a hundred texts. They were all from Wei Wuxian.
He ignored them and spent the morning at the gym. Lunch was a meet-up with friends he hadn’t seen since new year. Huaisang's art was slowly taking off. Luo Qingyang's restaurant was a hit. Jiang Cheng had missed so much. In the afternoon he saw a movie. After that he went for a long run in the park. It was glorious. One more night of actual sleep and he was ready to face the family business once again.
Jiang Fengmian was waiting in his office.
“Dad.” Jiang Cheng was surprised. He hadn’t been aware his dad even knew where his office was. “Do we have family dinner tonight?”
Jiang Fengmian frowned. “Where were you yesterday?”
Jiang Cheng blinked. “It was my day off.”
“Even so, when the head of Research and Development calls, you answer your phone. I taught you better, A-Cheng. The company comes first.”
His father's disappointment was a tangible weight.
“It was my first day off in ten weeks, Dad.”
A disapproving frown. “We all make sacrifices.”
“The whole family, except for me, went to Mexico for two weeks. I took one day.”
“So you ignore your brother because you felt left out?” Jiang Fengmian stood up. “I’m afraid I can’t have that sort of disloyalty and selfishness in the company, A-Cheng. We’re a family business. We have an image to uphold.”
“What are you saying?”
“Consider this me accepting your resignation.” Jiang Fengmian walked out, done with him. “Honestly, A-Cheng. Answering your phone is such a simple thing. It’s a shame you couldn’t even manage that much.”
Jiang Cheng watched his father's back, mind spinning.
Three months later, he was waiting outside a restaurant for his date when his family emerged.
“I can’t believe they didn’t hold our table,” Jiang Fengmian blustered. “We were only thirty minutes late!”
“Enough, Fengmian. You’ve ruined the night again.” Madam Yu's tone was dismissive. “We’ll eat at the Jins’ new restaurant. A-Li can get us a table.”
“Oh,” Jiang Yanli said, looking alarmed. “A-Xuan says they’re booked solid for the next several months.”
“A-Cheng!” Wei Wuxian spotted him. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you returning my calls?”
Jiang Cheng sighed and pulled himself up to his full height. “Father. Mother. A-Li. Wei Wuxian.”
“I won’t give you your job back,” Jiang Fengmian gave his son a dismissive glance.
“What does that mean?” Madam Yu demanded. “Give back?”
“He was let go for incompetence,” Jiang Fengmian replied. “Our company has standards. This unseemly display changes nothing.”
Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. “I’m here because I have a reservation,” then grinned, spotting his party. “I was just waiting for my date.”
“Fengmian, do you mean to tell me you removed your heir from the company without consulting the board of directors?”
“My heart,” Nie Mingjue slid his hand around Jiang Cheng’s waist and kissed his cheek. “Were you waiting long?”
Jiang Cheng returned the kiss. “Not long. Have you met my family?” He conducted the introductions, taking glee in his siblings’ surprise and his parents pure shock.
“Nie Mingjue!” Jiang Fengmian glared. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Fengmian,” Nie Mingjue’s smile was all dimples and teeth. Jiang Cheng found it very attractive. “I have to thank you for firing your son. The Jiang family’s loss is the Nie family’s gain.”
“What does that mean?” Madam Yu demanded. “What secrets has the boy spilled?”
Nie Mingjue laughed. “Only the secrets of wrangling a creative genius. Jiang Cheng’s pure gift for management has brought my little brother’s art to a whole new audience, a new level. He’s actually self-supporting now. I should invite you to his next gallery opening.”
“The tickets are already sold out,” Jiang Cheng’s reply was automatic. “They’ll have to go on the waitlist.”
“How can a glorified babysitter afford this place?” Jiang Fengmian sneered, ever so slightly. “This restaurant is quality. They wouldn’t even let us in.”
Nie Mingjue’s smile reappeared. “I’ll tell my cousin you rated his humble establishment so highly. He’ll be pleased. Now, if you’ll excuse us.” He stepped past them, to hold the door for Jiang Cheng.
“It was nice seeing you,” Jiang Cheng said politely.
“A-Cheng,” Jiang Yanli called. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He regarded her soberly. “Why didn’t you notice?”
Nie Mingjue bowed, slightly, and let the door close behind them.
“Fengmian, I’ll have divorce papers on your desk at start of business,” Madam Yu walked away, heels striking sparks on the sidewalk. “I expect them signed by the end of the day.”
“My Lady!” He protested, trailing after her.
“So that’s why he hasn’t answered my calls,” Wei Wuxian shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ve been telling Lan Zhan how sulky and bitter A-Cheng’s been. He won’t even reply to work e-mails. We can’t bring the new gadget to market without him. We’re months behind schedule. But he doesn’t even work there anymore.”
“I’ve been so busy with A-Xuan and A-Ling,” Jiang Yanli dabbed tears away. “It didn’t occur to me that something was wrong, but he hasn’t been at a single family dinner since we came back from Mexico.”
"And he wasn't in Mexico with us!”
They looked at each other, shame a keen sting. Wei Wuxian looked where their parents had rounded the corner. Then looked at the restaurant. Jiang Yanli nodded.
They went back inside.