Monday Evening 24 days for the Full Moon Festival

Wei Ying took a deep breath, and turned the beautiful key in the lock. It slid open and the hall, as garish and gaudy as could be with its yellow walls and painted border blinded them when they switched the lights on.

"Tomorrow morning...First job is stripping that off." Wei Ying remarked under his breath.

"Mn." Lan Zhan wholeheartedly agreed.

"Are we in a rip-off-the-band-aid kind of mood, or should we gradually work our way around to it?" Wei Ying motioned towards the kitchen.

The oak door stood closed, dark and forboding.

Someone had used woodstain on the usually lighter wood, making it darker than it should be. Wei Ying made a mental note to change it, maybe something see-through  to let in more light, or at least sand it down and add clear varnish instead, letting its natural beauty  be revealed.

"Rip off the band aid." Lan Zhan replied, unhesitatingly.

He gave Wei Ying’s hand a supportive squeeze, and then they were pushing open the heavy door together.

Lan Zhan reached for the light switch.

The brilliant white light flooded the kitchen, bouncing off a gleaming tiled floor, and the sparkling countertops.

Wei Ying let out a curse word and then apologised.

"Whoever lived here wanted to wake themselves up for real, huh?" He grinned. "Imagine being half asleep and then scaring yourself silly the moment the light comes on?" He giggled in spite of himself. "I didn't think the crime scene guys clean up...oh, well...I am glad not to be cleaning bodily fluids off the surfaces...that's for sure."

"Mn." Lan Zhan went with a non-committal response.

He was just glad that Wei Ying appeared to be alright, not too affected by any residual memories of that night.

Wei Ying put the key to the front door into Lan Zhan’s hand.

Then he went further inside the kitchen, where he had turned around to see Jiang Cheng standing there...brandishing a firearm.

His eyes searched the ground, the grout in between the tiles, he examined the formica cabinets, searching for even the slightest stain, a proof of what had happened that night.

But there was nothing.

Not even a forgotten stain.

Every surface was spotlessly clean, as if erasing that entire night and what had transpired.

Wei Ying felt kind of cold all of a sudden.

"I could have died...that night....if it hadn't been for A-Yu...A-Yuan might not still have me..."

Lan Zhan silently gathered him closer, wrapping his arms securely around Wei Ying’s slim frame.

One's own mortality often brought everything else into perspective, highlighting all that was previously unimportant into a new category.

Plus Lan Zhan really didn't want to think about that night any more.

He wanted to put it all behind him...behind them now.

After a few minutes, Wei Ying reached up and kissed Lan Zhan’s cheek.

Dry eyed and infinitely calmer, Wei Ying stepped back, but he kept a hold on Lan Zhan’s hand.

"I was super productive that day." He made his voice sound bright and enthusiastic, hoping that the real emotions were going to appear soon. "Would you like to see?"

"Mn." Lan Zhan replied, thinking that come tomorrow, he was going to strip the kitchen, and choose a colour that was anything but monochromatic.

Maybe a warm cream and gold would work, with the amount of natural light that this room was prone to having during the day.

"I'll take you to Uncle Four's favourite granite guy tomorrow if we have time. We should sort out the kitchen as soon as possible. They have a good bathroom guy too, they'll make good suggestions and maybe if we play the pity card, they might give us a bigger discount." Wei Ying led him out of the kitchen now, closing the light behind them.

Lan Zhan was glad that he evidently was thinking along the same lines as himself.

Any reminders of that night should be gotten rid of...

Upstairs was exactly as Wei Ying had left it...the only thing was, he had left Lan Zhan’s sign out to dry...it was supposed to be a surprise...

Lan Zhan went straight towards it and picked it up.

There was a delighted smile on his face, when he saw the bunnies too.

He looked astonished.

"Wei Ying made this." He held it up. There was obvious awe in his voice.

It said Jingshi...and Wei Ying was rather proud of the way the characters had come out on that piece of wood. He'd even added a couple of fluffy clouds, along with the bunnies, white against the pale blue background.

"Wei Ying." Lan Zhan sounded so serious now.

Wei Ying looked up at him, so much closer now. He'd been caught up in thinking about the sign and remembering how he felt making it. It had to be just right...

"It was supposed to be a surprise..." He let out a watery laugh.

Lan Zhan took his hands.

"I want to ask you a question." There was an urgent tone now.

"You can ask me anything, silly. And why are you trembling?" Wei Ying scoffed, squeezing his hands. "I told you before, I'm an open book."

Lan Zhan ignored all that, and the fact that he had absolutely no idea what Lan Zhan was going to ask him.

But inside him, Lan Zhan felt a clawing need to get these words out, to at least show them like the treasure they were, even if Wei Ying wasn't ready to hear them yet.

"I need to ask you. I love Wei Ying....and A-Yuan and A-Yu. I want to be our family together with Wei Ying. I love you..." He repeated, his eyes blazing with a golden fire now.

Wanting to scorch away all of his doubts.

"Will Wei Ying marry me? Can we be married?"

He sounded desperate, as if he really needed it.

Wei Ying could not think.

He just stared at Lan Zhan, silver eyes becoming wetter and wetter.

Not even blinking them away.

Lan Zhan waited...but he had no idea what Wei Ying was thinking. For once, his face was unreadable and Lan Zhan...was scared.

Had his impatience spoiled everything?

He had known Wei Ying wasn't ready...he had known this...but he suddenly couldn't wait.

It was the sign that did it.

Made from expert craftsmanship, Wei Ying had carved out each stroke with his beautiful hands, decided the colours with his beautiful mind and painted it with his beautiful heart...and Lan Zhan was wooed by that alone.

Completely gone for him, body, heart and soul.

This need had bubbled up inside of him like a mentos mint thrown inside a bottle of Pepsi...the explosion was real.

But...as he watched the silvery tears spill out from those gorgeous eyes, and felt the hands in his start shaking...Lan Zhan wondered if his desirous and impromptu proposal was a mistake?

The longer Wei Ying stayed silent, the more Lan Zhan was convinced that he had made a terrible miscalculation...and he was convinced that Wei Ying was overwhelmed. And who wouldn't be? He berated himself...him and his big mouth...

The squeeze on his hands, hard enough to shake him out of his thoughts had Lan Zhan looking up.

What he saw...gave him hope.

There was a trace of amusement in those bewitching starlight eyes...as if Wei Ying knew what he had been thinking.

"Lan Zhan...are you...are you sure?" Wei Ying breathed out...Once he was sure he could speak.

Lan Zhan nodded emphatically.

"I...I can’t lie to you...I never thought that far ahead." He confessed, feeling sheepish. "I mean...it's the logical next step...right?" He felt as if the air in his lungs wasn't going deep enough. "And...and I...can't breathe!" He suddenly wheezed out, feeling extremely lightheaded.

He swayed and Lan Zhan caught him. He grabbed a chair, the only victim left in the room in terms of furniture and made Wei Ying sit down, forcing his head down between his knees, all the while rubbing his back.

"Breathe with me." He instructed.

If there was anything Lan Zhan knew well, it was meditation and learning how to control his breathing.

"In....out.....in....out..." He paused, calming his racing heart.

He knew he had to be calm first in order to pass that emotion on to Wei Ying who was only now beginning to look a little bit better...not so pale.

Minutes passed until Wei Ying felt good enough to look up finally. Lan Zhan was crouched at his side, anxiously watching him for any sign that he was unwell.

Wei Ying started giggling.

"I bet you didn't expect that!" He clutched his sides, laughing out loud now.

The way he looked...and now that he seemed fine made Lan Zhan smile too. But he couldn’t resist putting the back of his hand against Wei Ying’s forehead to check.

Wei Ying took his hands again, sobering.

"Is that what you wanted to ask me before?" He said, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Lan Zhan nodded, waiting.

"But you have to know...it's kind of too early...right?"

A chilled fear passed through his body and Lan Zhan shivered.

"But I'm sure." He replied, petulantly.

And then he pouted.

Wei Ying laughed, delightedly. He swooped down to kiss those beautiful lips.

"How can I resist when you look so cute?" He asked, smiling broadly.

"That wasn't a yes." Lan Zhan felt silly now and he stood up, feeling an increasing need to break something. He eyed the chair...but Wei Ying was still sitting on it.

Wei Ying stood up, all traces of mirth gone from his face.

He took Lan Zhan’s hands in his, squeezing them supportively.

"It wasn't a no, either." He reminded him. "But..."

Lan Zhan glared at the floor.

This was the first time when what he wanted seemed just out of reach.

"You're right, my love. It is an important question. And I'm going to think about it...because it's so important...because it involves other people too...okay?" Wei Ying bent his head so that he could see into those brilliant bright golden eyes filled with uncertainty. "What I'm saying is, give me some time. I promise you, when you next ask me...I shall be able to answer you properly."

Lan Zhan didn't like that.

But he also realised that he didn't have to...it was what it was...and Wei Ying was right, he admitted it reluctantly in his head, that it was too early...

"When can I ask again?" The stubborn petulance hadn't gone away...

Wei Ying giggled again, making him smile. Lan Zhan loved that sound.

It cleared away any remaining cobwebs inside his heart, making him feel brighter, happier.

"Sorry for nearly passing out on you..." Wei Ying grinned. "And...you'll know when the time is right..." But in his head, the competitive part of his brain was demanding why he couldn't ask Lan Zhan? Alright...this time Lan Zhan had beaten him...but who was to say that Wei Ying couldn’t ask him?

They were both men...right? And he'd seen women propose online on YouTube too...there was actually nothing holding him back from doing this...

Except...except this wasn't just about him any longer.

Wei Ying wanted to wait for more reasons than just that it was too soon...he wanted to know what A-Yuan thought about Pwetty Gege...

He suddenly felt really tired.

Lan Zhan looked at his watch. It was past ten...late for himself but not for Wei Ying, who looked as exhausted as he felt.

So Lan Zhan made a decision.

"Let's go home. We can come back tomorrow and begin." He pulled out his camera and took a picture of the sign.

For once, Wei Ying agreed.

They went around the house closing the lights and making sure the doors were locked; Lan Zhan locked the front door behind them and then they left.

When they got back, they were met by a tired looking Uncle Qiren who informed them that both children were fast asleep now.

Still, Wei Ying and Lan Zhan went into their room and kissed them goodnight.

"They look soo cute!" Wei Ying had whispered, unable to contain his delight.

A-Yuan had curled into Mo XuanYu's chest, and he had thrown a skinny arm protectively around the younger child. Both were sleeping peacefully.

"Good night and sweet dreams, my babies." Wei Ying bent down to kiss their flushed cheeks, feeling emotional.

It had been a roller coaster of an evening.

They returned to the room next door and changed into their pyjamas, too tired to do anything much except kiss each other goodnight.

But Wei Ying remembered something.

"Hey...are you asleep, my love?" He whispered into Lan Zhan’s neck.

Lan Zhan was tired, but sleep was elusive tonight.

"Mn?" He was immediately alert. "Does Wei Ying want anything? Water?"

"No..." Wei Ying said, sleepily. "But my mind won't rest until you tell me about Uncle Qiren. When did he have an affair? And who was the lucky lady?"

Lan Zhan snorted at that.

There was a time when he doubted if anyone involved with his uncle could  be called that...

"Xiongzhang and I were in high school. Uncle met a man...his name was Sebastian Grover. A tourist..." his voice was soft, disarming.

Wei Ying closed his eyes, eager to hear more but so tired. He snuggled closer, letting Lan Zhan’s unique sandalwood scent wash over him.

"Tourist?" He whispered too.

"Mn. We didn't know anything about it at first. I don't think Uncle knew what he was feeling either." He smothered a laugh.

"How did they meet?" Wei Ying wanted to know.

"Sebastian was lost. And he couldn't call a cab... in the middle of New York. Uncle felt sorry for him."

"Then?"

"Then they ended up sharing the cab. And then numbers. Uncle used to wait until we went to sleep...and then he would go and meet him."

"Wow...a whirlwind romance..." Wei Ying yawned.

"Not so much whirlwind as gentle breeze." Lan Zhan smiled.

"So what happened?" Wei Ying was losing the fight to stay awake...but he was so invested in learning about this secret side of Uncle Qiren. He wanted to know everything.

"Uncle became...softer. Especially towards Xiongzhang and I. Noticeably. He was much kinder to us and there were times when I thought he might be thinking of our parents...how they had been treated."

"So what happened to Sebastian?"

"Uncle said they were aware of how each other felt...but Sebastian had to go back to France. He had other commitments...and Uncle had us...he never said as much, but it doesn't take a genius to figure that out." Lan Zhan continued. "I wish he would take steps towards his own happiness now...now that we have grown up."

"Maybe he will...when the time is right for him." Wei Ying said, just before he fell asleep properly.

Lan Zhan waited to do the same.

Hours passed by and still, sleep remained elusive.

Water sounded good so he got up, replacing his body with his warm pillow so that Wei Ying wouldn't miss him too much and then he went downstairs.

That's when he caught XiChen sneaking in.

The immediate eye contact was like a Mexican stand-off.

XiChen didn't dare to move...Lan Zhan had paused mid-step...

Neither said a word.

Lan Zhan was too tired to deal with him, so he motioned towards the kitchen where XiChen followed him in.

Silently, Lan Zhan heated two cups of milk and pulled out some of XiChen's own chocolate cookies.

He had to hide these from everyone otherwise he'd never get a taste.

XiChen smiled at him. He accepted the milk but declined the cookie.

Lan Zhan bit into his, chewing slowly.

The chocolate was smooth on his tongue, its richness spreading throughout his mouth. And as endorphins burst into life, he spoke.

"I proposed to Wei Ying today."

XiChen spewed out the mouthful of hot milk ... all over him.

"Sorry!" XiChen didn't sound sorry, as he grabbed a teatowel and handed it to Lan Zhan, who was unamused. "Um...so what did he say, Didi?"

"He wants to think about it." Lan Zhan couldn't help the disappointment leaking into his words, as he mopped himself and then the table with an undisguised murderous look towards the culprit.

XiChen nodded after a while.

"Anyone who isn't a Lan...they won't understand it. But he didn’t say no, Didi." He reassured his baby brother kindly. "And it's a little early too, no?"

"No, it's not." Lan Zhan replied, mournfully. "I know."

"But Didi...he might not. Wouldn't you rather he said yes because he was sure, rather than because he wanted to keep you happy?" XiChen patted his hand sympathetically.

When he put it that way...Lan Zhan felt a little better. He wondered if this feeling would go away...probably not until Wei Ying actually said yes...he wondered too, what kind of ring Wei Ying would wear, what his preference was. Would he even wear one?

Wei Ying used his hands most of all and he might not want to wear something on his fingers...that thought saddened him though.

"I'm going to get some sleep. See you in the morning, Didi." XiChen gave him a half hug as he was standing and Lan Zhan was still sitting down. "Don't worry too much. A-Xian loves you as much as you love him. You can see it on his face. Now you just have to let him figure that out...in his own time."

"Speaking of which, where were you at dinner?" Lan Zhan stood up, smelling blood metaphorically.

"Gosh, is that the time?!" XiChen scuttled away like a cockroach.

Lan Zhan glanced at the cookies and decided that maybe XiChen had spiked them with a truth drug...he too, had 'sung like a canary'...

But the important thing was, he felt much better after lightening his mind.

As he went upstairs feeling the weight of the day bleed out of his muscles, he sighed.

When he curled around Wei Ying’s body finally, that's when he knew he was home.