Monday 10 days to go for the Full Moon Festival

Wei Ying was up early, even before Lan Zhan was awake. He showered and then snuck into Mo XuanYu's room. He had packed A-Yu's bag with him, making sure he had pens, pencils, rulers, erasers and extra note paper. All the books he would need, and now Wei Ying was just putting it all back in just as it was, when he felt two skinny arms come around his waist.

For a few seconds, Wei Ying just absorbed the warmth.

This little boy was his too and he felt so afraid for him, so worried that something was going to happen at school.

But he made himself be brave. He had to be.

When Wei Ying turned around, he was expecting the teenager to look as scared if not more, of the coming day. But he just smiled and Wei Ying immediately felt better.

"It's going to be okay, you know." Mo XuanYu told him, hugging him tightly.

"I feel like I should be the one telling you that!" Wei Ying laughed, sniffing too.

"You are. You and Gege..both of you by how much you care. My dad...the one I lived with, he would be passed out on the couch still. My mother used to tell me...actions speak louder than words." A-Yu smiled too, his eyes wet. "It matters."

Wei Ying did cry then.

He didn't mean to, but this boy in his arms was so, so brave. He had gone through too much, all of it nowhere near what a child should have to. And he was more courageous day by day, just living his life.

Today was a big day for all of them.

Stronger arms wrapped around them both as Lan Zhan came to hold them.

They stood together for a few moments, simply gathering strength. When they stepped apart, even Lan Zhan’s eyes were moist.

"I should go and shower." Mo XuanYu said, grabbing his uniform and disappearing into the adjoining bathroom.

Lan Zhan walked back to their bedroom with Wei Ying.

"I'm going to go and make his lunch." Wei Ying was saying, but Lan Zhan pulled him back.

"Isn't Wei Ying forgetting something?" Lan Zhan asked him.

There was a fire brewing in those golden depths...and Wei Ying could not for the life of him, think why.

Or, what it could be that he had forgotten?

"Er...how about a clue?" He asked with his most winning smile.

"When I woke up, there was no Wei Ying." Lan Zhan sounded as if that was unforgivable.

Wei Ying instantly looked contrite.

"I'm sorry! I couldn't sleep afterwards and I was absolutely sure we had forgotten to pack something, that's why I- mpfh"

Lan Zhan fused their lips together, effectively stopping Wei Ying from apologising for the wrong thing. Hot lips stole any breath Wei Ying might have used for silly words, because wasn't kissing better than talking?

And he had to hand it to Wei Ying because his recovery time was no more than a few seconds before he was kissing Lan Zhan back with ardour. Feverish kisses that seemed to go on forever...Lan Zhan tasted so good, even better than his Shijie's brownies, something else to stay away from.

Lan Zhan was backing him up and suddenly Wei Ying was falling backwards with a cry, swallowed by the even hotter mouth stealing his every thought. He was followed by a hot, hard body still in bunny pyjamas pressing Wei Ying into their bed, and nothing...nothing was more important than kissing him back.

Sweet curling tingles erupted in Wei Ying's stomach as he thought, yes...Lan Zhan was right: he had forgotten something.

This morning greeting of theirs was so normal that Wei Ying had forgotten what it was like to wake up alone. And this was the first time that he had woken and gotten out of bed without kissing Lan Zhan good morning.

So he had a lot to make up for.

But try as he might, there was no shifting two hundred pounds of pure muscle.

Better to just enjoy whatever Lan Zhan wanted to do him.

Lan Zhan was filled with a sudden desperation; when he had woken up and there was no familiar soft weight next to him, he had panicked. Half asleep and worried already, he had jumped out of bed and ran towards the muffled sounds of crying. And it was his big hearted man in tears that had shifted something inside him.

How could he just stand by while both of them hugging and crying like that? Correction: only Wei Ying was crying, because Mo XuanYu seemed totally fine.

And the best distraction was definitely what he had missed first thing in the morning.

Kissing Wei Ying should be right up there with chocolate cookies, better than banana ice cream, and richer than a black forest gateaux. Addictive and dreamy, safer than any drug, Wei Ying kisses were the best.

When they parted, Wei Ying smiled at him.

This smile was different.

Deeper and more radiant, it was as if he was glowing with an inner light. Lan Zhan was looking down at his beautiful face, full of awe and wonder.

"I sometimes cannot believe that you love me." He admitted.

"Why?" Wei Ying asked him, truly not understanding.

"Wei Ying is smart, Wei Ying is the most beautiful man I have ever seen, Wei Ying is the most kindest, the best partner, a fantastic father...and I am just me." Lan Zhan couldn't really look at him then.

It was just in his mind and he understood that, but there were times he felt overwhelming love for his Wei Ying and somehow the scales were tipped in his favour. Lan Zhan wondered what exactly Wei Ying saw in him.

Wei Ying used his distraction as leverage and flipped them over.

"Silly Lan Zhan! How can you say that? I love my Lan Zhan because he is the smartest man I know and plus you're so handsome...I had a hard time keeping my hands off you that very first day." Wei Ying leaned forward and delicately kissed his cherry lips, this contact so precious and needed. "I love you because you are you. It cannot be anyone else but you. I fancy you, I like only you...I am in love with you. Only you, my love."

Now more than ever, Wei Ying wanted to buy the ring he had reserved at the goldsmith's. It would prove to Lan Zhan that he was serious about them, about their love. And he was going to go this afternoon and sort out the payment for it.

"Will you come with me to make A-Yu's lunch?" He asked.

Lan Zhan certainly looked better for that, and Wei Ying smiled as he jumped off their bed and held a hand out for Lan Zhan to take.

In the kitchen, XiChen was just getting together a tray of breakfast foods and it was definitely more than a single person's meal. He blushed when he saw them looking at his hoard, and then in what appeared to be a defensive maneuver, he said to Lan Zhan, "I need to talk to you about the Phoenix case."

Lan Zhan became all serious and glanced at Wei Ying, who was distractedly pulling out different types of bread and thinking about what kind of sandwich Mo XuanYu would prefer.

"After we drop A-Yu off to school...Will that be alright?" He asked, under his breath.

XiChen nodded and hurried off.

"Sub or traditional sandwich?" Wei Ying asked Lan Zhan when he turned around.

"What about both?" Lan Zhan replied, because he honestly did not know.

Wei Ying beamed at him and got to work.

*********

Breakfast was a hurried affair since no one wanted to be late and A-Yuan insisted on coming along too. When they were about to suggest that he stay with Uncle Qiren, his bottom lip had come out and Wei Ying caved.

Besides, he was pretty sure he was going to need one child if he couldn’t have both, for emotional support purposes.

Uncle Qiren hugged Mo XuanYu and told him to have a great day.

They went outside and there was a strange man standing next to Dan. JingYi was already in the car.

Wei Ying looked at Lan Zhan for an explanation and Dan stepped forward.

"This is Phil. He will look after Mr. Mo for the duration of his school hours. Covertly, of course." He bowed.

Phil came forward and shook everyone's hand, even little A-Yuan's.

Wei Ying couldn’t take his eyes off Lan Zhan and his dark pink ears. There was no privacy as they were all riding in the bigger SUV but he really wanted to talk about this.

Wei Ying was in two minds because for one thing, it was kind of over-the-top security for a sixteen year old...but at the same time, he was extremely glad that Lan Zhan wasn't taking any chances with A-Yu's safety. After the incident with Jiang Cheng and Mo XuanYu's stepfather, he supposed Lan Zhan was well within his rights to want extra protection for his family.

He held Mo XuanYu's hand all the way there, and when the car pulled up outside the school, Phil got out and opened the door for the teenager, but he stopped both Lan Zhan and Wei Ying from getting out too.

There were many children outside already, lots of them throwing curious glances towards their mysterious car and he said it would be detrimental to Mo XuanYu's ability to blend in if they came out and made a scene.

Wei Ying knew he was right, but now his bottom lip was trembling and he barely stifled a sob when A-Yu turned around and waved, with a massive smile on his face.

They watched as a kid marched straight up to him and began talking about something. They started chatting and walking slowly into the school building.

No one wanted to leave.

Phil tapped on the window to let JingYi know that they could drive away now.

"What time can we come back to get him?" Wei Ying wanted to know.

He knew the time but asked anyway.

"Four."

"Okay. Four o'clock it is." Wei Ying promised.

"Mn. We will return then." Lan Zhan agreed, and only then, JingYi was allowed to drive them home to drop of A-Yuan and then they went to work at the new house.

Wei Ying felt much better as the time went by. Four o'clock wasn't that far away; seven hours to go.

He had a busy schedule lined up for today; he and Lan Zhan were tackling the hallways and the stairs today and Wei Ying was excited. He still had to finish that surprise for Lan Zhan before he could strip the wallpaper in the corridor.

The time flew by and before he knew it, Lan Zhan was knocking on the door of the living room, listening to an amazing song.

I never thought I'd miss you
Half as much as I do
And I never thought I'd feel this way
The way I feel
About you

As soon as I wake up
Every night, every day
I know that it's you I need
To take the blues away

It must be love, love, love
It must be love, love, love
Nothing more, nothing less
Love is the best

How can it be that we can
Say so much without words?
Bless you and bless me
Bless the bees
And the birds

I've got to be near you
Every night, every day
I couldn't be happy
Any other way

It must be love, love, love
It must be love, love, love
Nothing more, nothing less
Love is the best

As soon as I wake up
Every night, every day
I know that it's you I need
To take the blues away

It must be love, love, love
It must be love, love, love
It must be love, love, love
It must be love, love, love
It must be love, love, love
It must be love, love, love
It must be love, love, love
It must be love, love, love

Lan Zhan wanted to throw open the door and find out who this mysterious singer on the radio was. He was so talented, and his voice was absolutely angelic...Lan Zhan was thinking about buying all his albums...but he needed to know who it was first.

And he had promised not to enter the living room until Wei Ying said so. He would agree to any promise Wei Ying demanded so that wasn't an issue, but Lan Zhan was dying to know what it could be.

Anything Wei Ying chose to give him would be something to be treasured, he was sure.

When Wei Ying came out, carefully closing the door behind himself, he was smiling again.

"Pizza is here." Lan Zhan told him. "And I got for everyone too."

"You did?" Wei Ying side hugged him. "Good boy! And man, am I hungry!"

Lan Zhan heated up the slices in the newly acquired microwave and they ate their lunch.

"What was that song...that was playing before I knocked?" Lan Zhan asked him.

"It must be love by Madness. The lead singer is Suggs...I think but I could be wrong. It's eighties day on the radio today. Lots of golden oldies." Wei Ying beamed and walked to the sink...but there was an odd sloshing sound which had him looking down on the floor.

Lan Zhan stood up and joined him.

There was a growing puddle of water and it was coming from...under the sink.

Lan Zhan had never seen Wei Ying move so fast!

He switched off the water from the mains and grabbed his phone.

He immediately called Granite Guy and explained the problem. But when he got less than a satisfactory response from the person on the other side, Wei Ying switched from being calm and patient, to a man on a mission.

"I know I'm capable of fixing it, but do you know the chunk of time it will take? Besides, it was your guy's fault, so why should I have to pick up the slack?" He was saying in a no nonsense kind of way. "Listen! You better send someone here right now to fix it! I'll be waiting."

The second Wei Ying finished the call, Lan Zhan’s lips were on his, pushing him against the granite worktop and bruising his mouth with the force of his kisses. Wei Ying moaned and jumped up on countertop to better balance himself, wrapping his legs around Lan Zhan’s waist. Lan Zhan’s hands rested at his slim waist, his long fingers almost touching.

"What was that for?" Wei Ying asked him in a daze, when they parted.

"Wei Ying....hot..." Lan Zhan said, diving in for another urgent kiss.

Every time he thought he couldn’t love Wei Ying more, this beautiful man would end up surprising him again and again.

Their doorbell rang and Lan Zhan left him with a scorching, smouldering look before he strode off to open the door.

Wei Ying was feeling amazing. He lifted his fingers to his lips, wincing slightly and making himself shiver when it tingled. His Lan Zhan could really kiss...

Who knew a few angry words said meaningfully in front of him would turn Lan Zhan on? So fast?

Wei Ying smiled to himself, wondering if it could work without third party involvement...

As for the water leak, it had stopped for now but he knew it would have to be fixed properly and until then, they couldn't use the water.

Wei Ying jumped off the counter and went to see where Lan Zhan was.

He opened the door of the kitchen to find him closing the front door.

"Who was that?" He asked, getting ready to go back to the living room.

"Jehovah's Witnesses." Lan Zhan walked past him and went upstairs.

By a quarter to four, Wei Ying still hadn't heard from Granite Guy and now it was time to collect Mo XuanYu from school. But someone had to stay home to make sure Granite Guy did the job properly.

Wei Ying was severely disappointed that he couldn't go, but Lan Zhan promised him he would bring A-Yu home first to him, before taking him to the mansion.

Wei Ying watched him leave before returning to his surprise. It was looking much better now and more resembling his vision than the mess thst had first emerged.

Granite Guy came to fix the leak a while later and Mo XuanYu came soon after.

Wei Ying hugged him tightly.

"How was your day?"

That's all he had to say to set Mo XuanYu off on a winding tale of how much fun he had with his peers, how he made friends with almost everyone he met.

Wei Ying was so happy to hear that. He caught Lan Zhan’s eyes over the top of Mo XuanYu's head and smiled, because Mo XuanYu was just fine at school. But they would go with him tomorrow too, just to make sure.

They were a family and they were going to stick together.

*************

A/N

Dear Beautiful Readers,

I know the video might not match the beauty of the song but if you listen to it and close your eyes, it is a very sincere song and its simplicity is what is magic about it. I hope you can feel that too.

Thank you so much for your lovely comments, they really are very heartwarming and inspiring.

I don't think I'll be able to finish this book by next week, since there's going to be nine days left in the book for the Full Moon Festival and I have only six left before I fly out.

But I shall honestly do my best.

Happy thoughts and lots of chocolate, good night sweet friends!

Charlie.