Saturday 5 days for the Full Moon Festival

Outside the movie theatre, Wei Ying crouched down and talked to the children. Mo XuanYu liked that about him, he always tried to speak to them on their level and not just the physical one.

Out of the two of his new fathers, this one was far more livelier, outgoing and friendly but he knew the other one was just as loving but in different ways.

A-Die, for that was how he had started thinking of him, was caring in every action he did, not needing to say the actual words. For example, in the way he had bought clothes for all of them.

Anyone with endless money would have just bought random items of clothing, but A-Die paid attention. He bought selected items such as hoodies and jeans which his peers were wearing and it allowed him to blend in at his new school.

There were some nights when Lan Zhan would sit by Mo XuanYu and ask him his opinion on a range of things, from presents for others to gifts for himself and Mo XuanYu tried to be conscious about how much money his father was spending on him. He knew both his fathers had money now, but there was a worry in the back of his mind.

He listened to what Baba was going to say now.

"So kiddies!" Wei Ying looked up at the sixteen year old, a sparkly challenge in his silver eyes to refute that.

Mo XuanYu merely rolled his eyes but he was smiling down at him.

"We still need to buy some things for the new house, but it's mostly for you guys. What do you say to going shopping now? Then we can eat at one of the restaurants in the mall and then come home."

A-Yuan looked up at Mo XuanYu's face and the older one realised that the younger one would do whatever he said. He had never had a sibling before and approached this new relationship like walking on glass: very carefully.

He was conscious of wanting to set a good example, not wanting to disappoint his new parents and wanting to look after little A-Yuan too, because he wasn't going to lie to himself either; being the big brother was actually fun, but at the same time, a huge responsibility.

"Let's go shopping!" He said out loud, high fiving the little one and their Baba.

A-Die smiled at him as if he knew exactly what Mo XuanYu was thinking.

In high spirits, they drove to the mall.

Wei Ying loved coming here; this one allowed small businesses to thrive by allowing them to set up stalls in the empty spaces between shops, giving it a market feel.

These independent businesses were what Wei Ying drifted towards and the children picked out towels and sheets and other necessary items. A-Yuan chose a towel with bunnies on it and bunny sheets as Lan Zhan looked on approvingly, while Mo XuanYu decided for plain black with a red underside for everything.

Wei Ying and Lan Zhan looked on as the children talked about their choices with each other, as Mo XuanYu explained to the little one that bunnies were really nice and now whenever he felt like hugging one, he could come to A-Yuan's room and lie down on his bed.

They were just walking past an software shop when Wei Ying realised something.

"A-Yu? Don't you need a computer for school? I remembered it last week, but it completely skipped my mind and you've already been at school for a week! How did you manage?" Wei Ying fussed about him.

Mo XuanYu went completely still, not really looking at either of them.

Wei Ying glanced at Lan Zhan worriedly, before stepping towards him.

"A-Yu? Are you alright?"

For a few moments, Mo XuanYu didn't say anything. But Wei Ying gasped when he saw the telltale drops of tears falling on the ground. He quickly gathered the boy into  his arms while walking them towards the public bathroom.

Luckily it was empty.

All four of them filed in and Wei Ying grabbed a towel to wipe the teenager's face with. He caught Lan Zhan’s eyes and raised a brow but Lan Zhan only shook his head, feeling as mystified as Wei Ying looked.

"A-Yu...please...talk to me." Wei Ying whispered, still hugging him.

"I'm sorry...I didn’t mean to cry." Mo XuanYu mumbled quietly, trying to stop his tears. "It's just that both of you have done so much for me that I...that I didn't want to add anything more to it. I did not want to become a burden."

Wei Ying gasped at that again, shocked because until now, he had thought Mo XuanYu was settling in nicely, to the change of having two different parents.

And shocked also because he knew exactly what Mo XuanYu meant...because he too had felt that way when he was growing up.

"When I was little...I was adopted by the Jiang family. But my step mother hated me and she never failed to remind me every single day, how I was a burden to her and her family, how I should be grateful to her and them for taking me in. She could be especially cruel when it was just us two in a room. Even if she hadn't said those things to me, I was conscious about eating too much, having too many clothes, and believe me when I say I wore those clothes down to threadbare. I never asked for anything...from them. I know how you feel.

"But A-Yu...me and your A-Die...we aren't like that. Please believe us. For me, spending money is a new kind of joy I never thought of doing before. But I remember my real mother used to tell me a story about money. Would you like to hear it?"

Mo XuanYu grabbed more paper towels and wiped Wei Ying’s face too, while Wei Ying did the same for him.

He nodded shyly, going back to Wei Ying for a hug.

Wei Ying continued to hold him while he spoke, kissing the top of his head fondly before starting.

"My mom told me, money and wealth, all types of it, was a goddess. She looks down on us and watches how we use her gift, and if we spend it on things we need or if we waste it. If we hang onto it or not, for no good reason. There are four ways money can go: through fire it is destroyed, if it is stolen, if it is spent and if it is given away. My mom said I should think about money like a circle because it's always moving around. And she always said, you cannot stop a circle from turning. I think the money I have been given is a gift from my parents, but how do you think they'll feel if I hang onto it and don't spend it?"

"They'll be upset with you." Mo XuanYu whispered.

"Correct!" Wei Ying was smiling, his silver eyes so bright with unshed tears. "That's why there is nothing wrong with you telling us what you need, do you understand?"

Mo XuanYu nodded, feeling so much better.

"I used to do what you were doing, A-Yu. I tried to make myself so small, that no one would notice me. But they noticed anyway."

Lan Zhan could not take it any more. He went forward and wrapped his arms around them both, holding them tight. His heart was breaking for both boys, treated so awfully that they had to question their existence.

A-Yuan joined in too, grabbing their thighs with his chubby arms, not at all sure what was going on, but since his Baba was smiling, everything was alright, and a hug always made everything better.

Lan Zhan picked him up, and that's when Wei Ying saw that he too, was crying quietly. More paper towels were used and discarded as faces were washed and wiped.

"See, A-Yu? If you don't want your A-Die to cry, you better start asking for things as soon as possible."

Mo XuanYu nodded, unable to speak.

"And if anything like this is bothering you, please...please come and talk to us. We're both new at being parents but we want to do our best. If we make mistakes...maybe it's to be expected...okay? But that doesn't mean we don't love you or A-Yuan...that's two separate things and the loving part isn't going to change, no matter what you believe." Wei Ying promised.

"Mn." Lan Zhan managed to add, but he felt in awe of Wei Ying's eloquence.

He knew only too well that he never would have managed to say all that and in such a good way.

"Then come on, everybody. There's a computer out there with Mo XuanYu's name on it. Let's go find it." Wei Ying grinned and took Mo XuanYu's hand.

They walked back to the software shop and this time it was Lan Zhan who showed his expertise.

He grilled the salesperson until the poor man went to find his manager because he had no idea what Lan Zhan was talking about.

Mo XuanYu stood next to Lan Zhan, listening to everything and then Lan Zhan was encouraging him to ask his own questions.

Wei Ying stepped back, carrying A-Yuan and pointing out things the little boy might be interested in. They had computer mice in funny shapes and Wei Ying asked A-Yuan to choose. He picked a donkey shaped one with a little red apple in its mouth and a bunny.

In the end, Lan Zhan bought a laptop for Mo XuanYu, deeming it more practical for taking it to school and such.

Then the children opted for pizza as lunch and they found a family run cozy place to go.

They had fun choosing different toppings and then sharing slices amongst each other, though that was more A-Yu and Wei Ying. Both A-Yuan and Lan Zhan shared a plain cheese and tomato margarita with appreciation and smiling at each other.

A-Yuan had carrots on the side while the others opted for garlic bread.

Before they knew it, lunch was over and it was time to go home.

"I feel like taking a walk." Wei Ying said, as they entered the mansion.

"Mn. We can do that." Lan Zhan said, pulling him close for a kiss.

Mo XuanYu smiled and waved as he hugged his computer to his chest, going to his room to set it up, while A-Yuan grabbed Mr. Marshmallow's tail and chortled his way to Uncle Qiren.

"I guess it's just you and me, then." Wei Ying giggled.

It was quite a warm day, unseasonably so and Wei Ying smiled because they would not need to add any more layers to what they were already wearing.

"Where are we going?" Wei Ying wondered as Lan Zhan took his hand and led him towards the back door.

XiChen was baking in the kitchen when they entered.

"Didi, A-Xian..." He smiled brightly at them.

And then he paused.

"A-Xian...might you know anything about your sister's brownies? I thought they were delicious and wanted to try them out." He asked hopefully.

"Sorry to disappoint but I can count the number of minutes I was allowed in the kitchen when Shijie was cooking, on my hand." He held his hand up, smiling.

Lan Zhan wanted to kiss him then, and by rights, he could if he wanted to. So he manoeuvred Wei Ying towards the door while both his brother and Wei Ying waved at each other.

Outside was another matter indeed.

Here, they were completely alone and Wei Ying was taken by surprise as Lan Zhan pushed him up against the old brick walls of the mansion and never giving him a chance to recover, instead fitting his lips over Wei Ying’s in a dominant gesture the other had come to love.

Soft but insistent, sure and gentle at first, Lan Zhan’s kiss was hungry, stealing his breath and making him dizzy. Wei Ying had no space to move but he wanted to be closer and pressed up against his chest, moaning with abandon.

There was no one here to hear them and with this freedom, Lan Zhan’s mouth drifted lower, nipping on tantalising lips and lingering at the base of Wei Ying's neck. His teeth missed the succulent sensitive skin of Wei Ying's collarbone, his tongue dipping in the hollows as Wei Ying panted in his ear, hot little puffs of air as he struggled to catch his breath.

Lan Zhan stepped back, satisfied that he had reduced Wei Ying to this state, something of the desperation he was always feeling whenever Wei Ying was close by.

This insatiable hunger absolutely wasn't his fault...because Wei Ying looked good enough to eat.

"Walk?" Lan Zhan enquired, holding out his arm.

Wei Ying gazed at him in disbelief, his legs still wobbling from the backlash of that amazing kiss.

"How are you not affected by that...that...kiss?" He demanded, stepping towards Lan Zhan cautiously.

Lan Zhan took his hand and placed it on his chest, under his jacket.

They both shivered at the warmth of the other, and Lan Zhan kept his hand in his.

"When in doubt, listen to the heart beat." It beats only for you...he wanted to add, and cheesy though it may have been, it didn't make it any the less true.

Wei Ying felt it, the thumpety-thump like horses galloping on a beach. Faster than normal and yet Lan Zhan was smiling.

"Is it always like that?" He wondered.

"Only when Wei Ying is close by." He admitted.

"I never knew I had that effect on you. You know, it's the same for me...I can't keep my hands to myself if you're around. It's like you're the sun and I'm some random planet caught in your gravitational pull."

"Good." Lan Zhan tucked his hand around his arm linking them, and they began walking.

Autumn had spread her rich blanket everywhere they looked, a patchwork quilt of golds and fiery reds, orange and ochre, a unique beauty reserved only for this season.

The further away they walked, the more natural sounds they could hear: the soft sighing breezes through what leaves remained on the trees, the call of birds yet to migrate to warmer climates. They saw a couple of hedgehogs, a few squirrels still readying for the winter hibernation and then of course, Lan Zhan’s rabbits.

They were quite a distance away from the main house now and a calmness spread through their minds as they followed a trail hidden by fallen leaves. Now and again, Wei Ying would bend down and pick up some of the more unusual ones, enthusiastically showing Lan Zhan what he'd found.

"Does all of this land belong to the Lan mansion?" He asked.

"Mn. There is a point where the boundary crosses into a national park but we are too far out from the usual trails for anyone to trespass." Lan Zhan explained.

"When I was little, I used to fantasise about carving mine and my sweetheart's name in a heart on a tree trunk." Wei Ying mused. "But now that I've grown up, I think that would hurt the tree...but it's nice to think there would be something permanently somewhere...isn't it?"

"Mn. The new house. It is a living monument, no?"

"You're right, my love. And the previous owner was right, there is something magical about it. We met and fell in love there too." Wei Ying smiled, cuddling closer.

But then in the next second, all colour drained from his face as they heard the barking of a dog. One moment, Wei Ying was right there, arms linked together and the next, in the seconds it took for Lan Zhan to blink, Wei Ying had climbed up the nearest tree and was clinging to it with all four of his limbs, trembling violently.

"WEI YING!" Lan Zhan was also distressed, not knowing the reason why Wei Ying had vanished so high up, but he could put two and two together.

A tiny little puppy came running up to him, all furry cuteness and wagging tail, eagerly jumping up and down and sniffing around Lan Zhan’s feet. His sharp ears caught the heightened whimpers of his man and Lan Zhan thought, not on my watch.

He turned to face the owner, who was running, panting and out of breath holding a leash.

"I'm....so...sorry..." He said, heaving between words, trying to return his breathing to normal.

"You are on private property." Lan Zhan told him, affronted on Wei Ying’s behalf. "Kindly put your dog on the leash and please leave."

"Of course, of course! Like I said, I'm sorry. She got away from me." The man apologised and quickly picked his dog up.

Lan Zhan waited until there was not even the sounds of yapping before he called up to Wei Ying.

"Wei Ying? They're gone now. You can come down."

"They're gone?" Wei Ying whispered. "Really?"

"Really! Please...come down."

But when Wei Ying opened his eyes, the ground seemed much too far away.

How had he climbed this smooth as silk tree? Even he wasn't sure. And how was he going to get down?

"Can you jump?" Lan Zhan asked him.

The practical side of him answered yes, of course he could. But the scared part of his brain balked at sheer drop involved and he clung to the branch again.

"What if I catch you?" Lan Zhan offered.

"You'll catch me?" Wei Ying's voice wavered.

If he swung down to a lower branch, maybe it was possible. Since he couldn’t stay here all night.

He closed his eyes for a few deep breaths. When he opened them, there was a deep determination within and he easily found purchase on the lower branch.

Now was the part where he had to let go.

Lan Zhan was waiting for him.

"Yes, I'll catch you." Lan Zhan promised, matching his determination.

Wei Ying let go.

Not even two seconds later, he was back in Lan Zhan’s arms, holding on tightly.

Sunset cast a golden glow around the forest and Lan Zhan kept a tight hold on Wei Ying’s shaking form as he looked for somewhere to sit down. He found a bench not far away and at least the last of the sun's rays were upon them.

Wei Ying was still shaking and Lan Zhan’s heart broke at every shuddering tremble. Softly, he began to hum quietly, rubbing Wei Ying’s back gently.

There was the trace of wet tears now dry tracks across his face. Lan Zhan took out a packet of wet wipes and wiped his face properly.

Only then Wei Ying opened his eyes.

"I should have...should have told you."

"Cynophobia?"

Wei Ying nodded, taking deep breaths.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Lan Zhan stroked his hair gently.

"I...I suppose so."

"You don't have to. But I shall inform Dan and his team so they can protect you better."

They were quiet for a while.

Wei Ying loved moments like this, when there was no pressure to talk. Lan Zhan never forced him to do anything he didn't want to and more importantly, he did not mind the silence. They could exist peacefully as themselves in a relaxed manner.

It calmed his agitation.

"Jiang Cheng had dogs. The orphanage had dogs." Wei Ying shivered at the bad memories. "It was not...a good time for me."

"Wei Ying does not have to share if he cannot right now. It is enough." Lan Zhan reassured him.

"Okay, Lan Zhan. Thank you." Wei Ying closed his eyes.

When he next opened them, they were back at home.

He blinked in surprise, feeling warmer for the first time that afternoon. Lan Zhan was wrapped around him and they were both tucked under the covers.

"How do you feel now?" Lan Zhan opened his eyes too, as always attuned to him.

"Much better. I'm sorry if I scared you."

"No need." Lan Zhan smiled softly at him.

Wei Ying stretched in his arms and unconsciously moved closer. He really did feel much better now and he wrapped his arms around Lan Zhan and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you, my love." He whispered.

"No need for that either. Thank you and sorry should be reserved for others where propriety must be observed. We two are far closer than that..."

Wei Ying’s lips found the small patch of bare skin at Lan Zhan’s open collar and he kissed there, finally happy.

Yes there were going to be challenging situations all the time, but as long as they had each other, nothing was insurmountable.

***********

A/N

Dear Beautiful Readers,

This is probably the last of the regular updates until late November. I fly out tomorrow and there's still much to do.

If we get time to write, then that's fine but our time together is so precious that I'd rather spend it with my Bestie.

Thank you for your lovely support and for understanding! You guys are the best!

Every time you eat a piece of chocolate, think of me and we'll be together. These three weeks are going to pass so quickly, you won't even know I'm gone.

Sincerely,

Charlie.