40 days left for the Full Moon Festival

Wei WuXian was despondently throwing things into the skip. He was all alone now, because Wen Qing had arrived and taken A-Yuan with Wen Ning to watch a movie and Lan WangJi had gone to the library with his brother.

He had spent all that time trying to show off to Lan WangJi by lifting the heaviest of things, but somehow Wen Ning always beat him to it, looking after him in the smallest of ways.

But nothing he did seemed to work.

Even when he had accidentally bared his abs to Lan WangJi, the man had looked angry, and even more tense...and Wei WuXian did not know what to do with all these mixed signals he was getting.

He knew he shouldn't flirt, he knew he had to behave because the other side of the coin was getting fired and he really couldn't afford that...not when it meant losing A-Yuan.

But Lan Zhan was so tempting...the flirting just kind of happened...

Those beautiful golden eyes drew him in like nothing else, his gorgeous face so handsome, Wei WuXian couldn't quite believe he was real. There were times when he thought he detected the most basic type of hunger on his face, but then like just a few hours ago, he could not explain away the anger. And then there was that magnificent sandalwood scent.

Wei WuXian liked it so much, he had gone online and ordered a bunch of air freshners and candles just so he could spray his home and feel closer. No one else had to know, it could just be his little secret.

He didn't even know why Lan Zhan smelt so good...he just did!

Even when he had reached over to hold Wei WuXian’s hand that day - was it only yesterday? - he had felt a calmness washing over him.

What was it about Lan Zhan that made Wei Ying so weak? Every time he had seen Lan WangJi, he felt his knees wobbling and tongue wrapping itself into knots...it just wasn't normal!

Wei WuXian was so immersed in his thoughts, that he did not see the purple car drive up as he returned into the house.

He was picking up a vase, his thoughts elsewhere, when the shout jolted him enough to drop the damn thing. It crashed to the floor, exploding into tiny fragments as Wei WuXian turned to face the intruder.

Jiang Cheng.

Red-faced and angry as ever.

"How did you get this job?" He said in that mean way of his.

Wei WuXian turned to face him fully, terribly alert and grateful at the same time that his little boy wasn't here to see this.

"It's none of your business and you're trespassing. Go away." Wei WuXian said, in as level headed way as possible.

"I bet you got it through other means. How else would you have gotten the second Lan to let you work on his house?" Jiang Cheng continued, letting his hatred colour his words. His face had contorted into a snarl.

Wei WuXian couldn't stop his eyes from widening. How was it that the Jiangs knew everything about him? Why couldn't they leave him alone?

"That's right." Jiang Cheng said, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "We know everything. You probably opened your legs for him, isn't that right? Like mother like son, you-"

The noise of flesh meeting flesh, a solid thwack right between his eyes as he howled in pain.

Wei WuXian wasn't even aware of moving. Pain exploded in his knuckles and he looked down in surprise. What had just happened?

The noise repeated itself and he looked up in a daze to see Lan WangJi, all furious and mighty, towering above Jiang Cheng having hit him too. And all the while, Jiang Cheng's cries were getting louder and louder as he clutched at his bleeding nose, his hands red with blood.

And then Lan WangJi said, "you're on private property. You're illegally here."

He picked him up and threw him out, not caring where he landed. Luckily for Jiang Cheng, it was the soft grasses of Lan WangJi's lawn.

Then Lan WangJi pulled out his phone and took pictures.

Lots of pictures.

And then he rang the police.

"Trespassing, on my property..."

That was all Jiang Cheng had to hear for him to scramble up and crawl into his car, haphazardly reverse out of Lan WangJi's drive and screech away.

Lan WangJi used those precious few seconds to try and calm down.

He was livid.

Just as he had entered his own home, he had heard those terrible words Jiang Cheng had said to Wei WuXian, and if Wei WuXian had not beaten him to it, Lan WangJi would have continued to punch Jiang Cheng, if not for anything more than the satisfaction of watching him bleed. Luckily he had recorded the whole thing before adding his opinion of Jiang Cheng's words.

When he was sufficiently calmer, he sent the pictures to his brother.

Then he went back inside.

Wei WuXian was still staring at his fist.

Lan WangJi went up to him and gently turned it over. There was a little swelling in between his knuckles and probably was hurting him, but he looked too dazed to notice it.

Lan WangJi tugged his wrist, making Wei WuXian follow him into the kitchen. He made Wei WuXian sit down at the table and then he went to the old freezer. He took out some ice into a dish towel and pressed it against those bruised knuckles.

This startled Wei WuXian into looking up.

"Lan Zhan...what have I done? I...I can’t believe I'm so stupid...I shouldn't have punched him..." Tears of frustration fell from his eyes. "I'm so sorry, I-"

"I am not." Lan WangJi interrupted him, his eyes blazing with a golden fire. He disagreed with everything Wei WuXian had said just now. "Not sorry. At all."

"W-what...what do you mean?" Wei WuXian blinked away his tears, wiping his face on his shoulder.

"He is a bad man. He got what he deserved." Lan WangJi turned his attention to Wei WuXian’s hand again.

Now that Wei WuXian was safe, and he could see it for himself with his own eyes, that unreasonable, blinding anger had disappeared and Lan WangJi was feeling pleasantly happy again.

If Wei WuXian wasn't hurt, that would have been so much better, but all in all, it had been quite a productive day.

Wei WuXian winced as gentle, pale long fingers probed his soft skin in between the hard bones of his knuckles.

Lan WangJi frowned.

"Does it hurt?" He asked, his voice gentler than his hands.

"No...it's okay. I'll be fine." He stood up.

"Sit down." There was so much authority in that deep voice, that Wei WuXian sank back down suppressing an involuntary shiver.

"But I should get back to work...that is...if you'll still have me." He looked utterly heartbroken.

Lan WangJi kept the cold compress on his injury and thought about what to say. Rather how to say it.

"I have been told that I can be blunt when tact is necessary. However...in this case, please listen to me." Lan WangJi waited for Wei WuXian to actually look up.

When he was staring into brilliant silver eyes, still too wet for his liking, he continued.

"This is my house, agreed?"

Wei WuXian nodded.

"So who I employ, who gets to enter, it is my choice. The Jiang heir was trespassing and in this country, one is encouraged to protect their own home. Am I correct?"

"But...I punched him first...I've always told A-Yuan that violence is the last resort." Wei WuXian felt so guilty. But the tiniest part of him was glad that he had defended not only himself, but Lan Zhan’s reputation.

"I also punched him. If it is any consolation. And I do not feel in the least bit guilty." Lan WangJi smiled kindly at him.

It was the smallest twitching of his lips, but Wei WuXian was transfixed.

"Are you really smiling?"

"Mn. It is because I am happy. Wei WuXian should be happy too."

"Actually...I just feel anxious....I feel like...something is going to happen, do you know what I mean?" He looked up into concerned golden eyes. "Mostly because this is the second time I've seen Jiang Cheng in just as many days...and I can't help feeling that something worse is about to happen. I just wish they would leave us alone."

Lan WangJi thought Wei WuXian looked so sad...and it didn't sit well with him.

"My mother used to say, if there was a boo boo...she would kiss it better." His deep voice should have made those words sound silly, but suddenly Wei WuXian was as alert as a bomb disposal expert.

He watched as Lan WangJi brought his hand all the way up to his mouth and then those beautiful lips sank down to plant the softest kiss on the cut that was mostly healed already.

The act caused a shiver that ran all the way down his spine.

"I think Wei WuXian and his little Radish should spend tomorrow recuperating. No working until Monday. Rest will fix your hand. Uncle will agree." Lan WangJi told him.

"But I have a deadline, Lan Zhan...there's so much still to do. I promised you a survey of the house too, and we still have to empty everything out before the real work begins." It was a genuine concern.

"But Wei Ying said he can do it in forty days, right?" Lan Zhan looked too confident.

Wei Ying wondered why he thought he was being played, even as he nodded.

"Then one more day won't make any difference. You are not allowed to use that hand until Monday." He finished triumphantly.

"I still need to eat, Pwetty Gege..." Wei Ying giggled. "I need my right hand for that." He wiggled his fingers.

"I can feed Wei WuXian." Those golden eyes darkened at the thought.

Before he could answer, there was a commotion at the door and Wen Ning, Wen Qing and A-Yuan came inside the house. They naturally made their way to the kitchen and loud greetings were exchanged, but Wen Qing's eyes landed on the ice in the towel, and she narrowed her gaze at Wei WuXian.

"What happened?" She snapped, kind of pushing Lan WangJi out of the way and taking Wei WuXian’s hand in her own.

"So...we had a visit from Jiang Cheng." Wei WuXian started to say. He looked anxiously at A-Yuan who had climbed into Lan Zhan’s lap.

"We bwought pizza." A-Yuan announced, proudly.

"For dinner." Wen Qing added. To Wei WuXian, she said, "tell me later? And does it hurt?"

He flexed his fingers and was relieved to find that the pain was much less.

"No...it's much better. Lan Zhan made me a cold compress." Wei WuXian supplied happily.

"At least you got him good," she remarked, letting his hand go.

Wei WuXian didn't know whether to be proud or ashamed. It didn’t look like A-Yuan was listening to this conversation, instead he and Lan WangJi were discussing the importance of washing one's hands when one returned from outside, and especially when one was going to eat with their hands.

Then he watched as Lan WangJi carried A-Yuan to the sink and made him sit up there so he could reach the sink and the tap, and then exuding a heavenly amount of patience, he wet the little pudgy hands and then poured out a splash of soap. Lan WangJi demonstrated what to do, and A-Yuan paid attention.

When his hands were carefully dried, he wrapped his arms around Lan WangJi’s neck and gave him a lovely kiss on his cheek.

"Fank you, Pwetty Gege, for helping me."

"No need, I had to wash my hands as well." Lan WangJi replied, but Wei WuXian could see his ears were a pleasant shade of red.

"Then, what do we need for dinner?" Lan WangJi asked him.

"Pwates. And glasses. And does Pwetty Gege use hands to eat pizza?"

"Mn. I believe it will be easier." Lan WangJi agreed.

They both set the table and Lan WangJi poured out the Pepsi into everyone's glasses with encouraging noises from his little assistant.

Wei Ying watched the pure domesticity of their coming and going from the table and thought it was so adorable. And he felt a pang of wanting something that wasn't his.

This scene was too much like what their family life would be like...if it ever came true. Wei WuXian realised that he really liked it, and what it represented. It was safety, unity and dependable.

It felt like home.

Pizza was dished out into plates and they sat down to eat. Wen Qing had ordered plain margarita and one loaded with vegetables, which A-Yuan picked, and another one with a meat feast, which Wei WuXian picked. Lan WangJi went for the plain one. The Wens also had the meat feast.

Once they'd finished, the leftover pizza was put in the refrigerator and dishes washed and dried. Before too long, A-Yuan was yawning, ready for bed.

"Tomowow...what are we going to do? It's Thunday." He was saying, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

"Resting." Lan WangJi said pointedly, looking at Wei WuXian’s hand.

"You could go for a picnic." Wen Qing suggested. "It's a lovely day tomorrow, may as well spend it outside while you can."

"That's a great idea." Wei WuXian said, thinking about where they could go.

"Then it is settled. We shall have a picnic with the bunnies tomorrow." Lan WangJi said, as if it was the end of the matter. "Will you come?" The question was directed at Wen Qing, but grudgingly included Wen Ning.

Lan WangJi hoped he'd say no.

"I alas...have a shift, and I'm on call after that." Wen Qing said.

"I have chores around the house. And laundry." Wen Ning said, also sounding disappointed.

A picnic with bunnies sounded good, too.

"Well, then it shall just be the three of us." Lan WangJi looked incredibly happy all of a sudden.

"Um...okay." Wei WuXian said as A-Yuan let out a squeal of happiness, deciding Lan WangJi’s shoulder was the best place for his tired head.

"Ah...here, maybe I should take him?" He offered, reaching out for his son. "I can go and put him to bed."

"Wei Ying is injured. I can bring him. Lead the way." Lan WangJi replied sternly.

Wen Qing hid her smile, giving Wei Ying finger guns as he walked past.

"We've got to go too." She said out loud. "Stupid work tomorrow."

She and Wen Ning walked out with them. Wen Ning got on his bike and drove off with Wen Qing getting in her car and following him.

Wei Ying led the way up the stairs to his caravan and told Lan WangJi where to put A-Yuan on his bed. Then he prepared the baby for sleeping, while Lan WangJi...lurked.

He couldn’t stop watching...the way Wei Ying clearly loved his son, the way it was apparent in every stroke of his fingers, smoothing soft baby hairs away from his little face, and lastly, three kisses. One on both his squidgy cheeks and one on his forehead. That last one lingered, as if Wei Ying was casting a protective spell on his child, to save him from bad dreams and spectres of the night.

Wei WuXian tucked his son into bed and then came outside. He sat on his steps. Lan WangJi joined him.

"Did you know what you wanted to do when you left school, Lan Zhan?" Wei Ying mused.

"I knew what I was going to do." Lan WangJi replied. "But I wasn't given a choice. And I became good at what I do."

"Yeah...but do you enjoy it? Do you wake up in the morning thinking about your job and everything you're going to do with excitement to start the day? That's what I'm talking about." Wei WuXian glanced at him then.

His ears were red for a reason.

These past few days, Lan WangJi had gone to bed thinking about Wei Ying and woken up thinking of Wei Ying. And of course, he did not want to admit it.

"Does Wei Ying think about his job like that?" He deflected, hoping Wei Ying wouldn't notice.

"You know what? Yes, actually. I do think about what I'm going to do, ages before I start. And I make a mental list before I go to sleep. And somehow I remember it the next day. There's something so satisfying about gutting a property, Lan Zhan. Especially when someone is going to live there. Then every plate, every spoon becomes important because you have to choose it with care...do you know what I mean?" Wei Ying lay back, hands supporting his head.

"Mn. To finish a job with satisfaction...that you have done your best." Lan WangJi did his best not to notice the way Wei Ying’s vest rode up to reveal his belly button.

The skin was a lighter gold than his arms which were tanned. His skin was smooth over barely hidden muscles. Lan WangJi wanted to touch him there, see if that smoothness was real. His fingers were itching to do it.

He sat on his hands instead.

"I never thought I was going to be a dad." His voice was quieter than normal.

"Wei Ying...did not want to be?" Lan WangJi asked cautiously.

This was dangerous territory...but Lan WangJi really wanted to know. Everything he was learning about this delightful man was appealing in ways that constantly surprised himself. It was like he was carrying around in his head, a full database with everything to do with Wei WuXian...and he really liked this.

It was...refreshing from the business brain he had developed in that world, where statistics and rates, currencies and timelines took precedence.

Wei WuXian’s trousers had ridden up, revealing his lean calves. The muscles were there but hidden and waiting. That skin looked smooth too.

Lan WangJi wanted to bite down on his knee, kiss that soft skin and mark it as his with his own lips...Wei WuXian was too tempting for his own good.

He forced himself to look away, concentrating on the trees that lined his property. There was someone coming towards them now.

"It was kind of a surprise to me...because Wen Qing could not commit to it, not in her last year of studying to be a doctor. Too much going on and her ridiculous hours...Wen Ning wasn't confident enough to take on that responsibility and I was the only one left. A-Yuan was such a sweet boy, so lovely to look after and I knew he would be no trouble at all. It was easy to step up and say yes."

Lan WangJi was concentrating on his words but he didn't trust himself not to just grab Wei Ying and kiss him, then and there. So he was fully aware of the person walking closer and closer towards them.

"A-Yuan...is like a bunny." He suddenly said.

"Omg...you're right!" Wei WuXian giggled, a full bellied sound that rose up from his diaphragm.

He sat up, still laughing.

And then he noticed the woman coming towards them.

He straightened up and hid his stomach, much to Lan WangJi's disappointment, pulling his white vest back down to cover that dewy skin.

The woman was dressed in a tight red dress, hair cascading down like a waterfall. She was wearing red heels that made her hips sway as she walked towards them, shades holding her hair back. In her hands, she was carrying a dish.

"Good evening, gentlemen." She said, confidence oozing from every pore.

They murmured back the greeting, glancing at each other first, uncertainly.

She laughed, a tinkling melody dancing upon the breeze that ruffled her hair.

"I'm your neighbour on that side." She explained with a jerk of her thumb. "I've just brought you this cherry pie as a house warming gift and to welcome you to this neighbourhood."

Wei WuXian watched as Lan WangJi stood up and went towards her.

The image...it hurt him and he didn't know why. And he did not like the way her gaze roamed over them both, but it lingered on Lan WangJi’s body before it travelled up to his beautiful face.

Beautiful face???

Wei WuXian wanted to slap the idiot out of himself.

Where had that thought come from?

But he knew he was unreasonably irritated with this neighbour.

"My name is Luo Qingyang but my friends call me Mianmian." She was saying.

Wei WuXian was repeating those same words in his head but in a higher pitch and definitely more snarkily. In his head, she had put more emphasis on friends. He watched with growing unease as they chatted...well, Mianmian chatted while Lan WangJi listened, adding an occasional "mn".

As the minutes passed by, Wei WuXian was getting more and more antsy, wanting to pull Lan Zhan away from her claws, though they were doing nothing scandalous except talking about the weather and how pleasant it was. He noticed that she was not wearing a ring on any of her fingers.

It was time to break up that party.

Wei WuXian gave an exaggerated yawn, loud enough to have Lan Zhan turn to look at him. He stretched up high and was secretly delighted to see the widening of those golden eyes when his white vest rode up again.

Wei WuXian really liked this vest today.

But his action caused Mianmian to look at him with a raised brow as if she knew exactly what he was doing.

She smiled politely. "And who are you? Will you be living here as well?"

"Yes." Wei WuXian was even happier at her fallen face with that piece of news. "I'm already technically living here." He motioned to the caravan, the little gremlin inside him wishing for more mischief.

He stood up with his hand extended.

"Hi, I'm Wei WuXian." But something prevented him from telling her his birth name.

He did not question why it had come so easily when introducing himself to Lan WangJi...but he just couldn't do it with her.

Lost in these thoughts, he didn't notice Lan WangJi's ever darkening face the longer his hand stayed encased in the softer, more feminine one as Mianmian looked him over.

"Well, if you ever need anything, please feel free to come over. I'm not far away." She laughed again and extracted her hand from his grasp.

Wei WuXian dropped it like it was on fire.

They watched her turn around and sashay out of there.

Now that she had gone and it was just the two of them again, the silence was deeper once more.

It only lasted a few minutes, because Lan Zhan’s white sports car pulled up in front of them.

"JingYi is here." Lan WangJi said, not moving away.

If anything, he angled his body to face Wei WuXian.

"Do you have to go home now?" Wei WuXian said, his words carried away by the light wind.

"Mn."

Maybe it was the darkening skies, the last of the light fading quickly away, and with it Wei WuXian was feeling incredibly vulnerable.

Seconds passed, yet Lan WangJi was making no move to leave.

And with every passing moment, Wei WuXian didn't want him to leave...to go... and then he would have to face the night by himself. He felt like that time A-Yuan refused to go to sleep because of the monster under his bed.

"Lan Zhan...?"

In this half light, he saw golden eyes snap to his face, eagerly waiting for his next words.

"I...can I ask for a hug?"

There was a pause, and then strong arms came around him, gently holding him close.

Wei WuXian could smell that delightful scent of sandalwood and spice, something that was inherently Lan WangJi completely. Wei Ying’s ear rested on the space just above Lan Zhan’s heart and he could hear it beating furiously.

Was Lan Zhan as affected by this as much as Wei Ying was?

He certainly didn't look it. There was no change on his face except in his golden eyes...if possible, they burned even brighter, a contrast in this dark light.

Lan WangJi thought Wei WuXian was still shaken from his earlier encounter with the Jiang heir. He could feel his body trembling ever so slightly, and it made Lan WangJi want to hold him even closer...but then Wei WuXian was pulling away.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow. A-Yuan is looking forward to it." He said, stepping away.

JingYi, the little asshole, pressed the horn.

It jolted both of them, and Lan WangJi turned towards the car, a threatening look on his face. They both saw the colour draining out of JingYi's face.

Lan WangJi turned back to Wei WuXian, who had not moved an inch so far.

"And what about Wei Ying?"

Those golden eyes pinned him to the ground, waiting impatiently for his answer. There was such an intensity living, breathing there that it was impossible for Wei Ying to look away.

"I am...I'm also looking forward to tomorrow." He said finally, absorbing his attention.

"Then I will come back at ten. Wei WuXian better be ready."

It sounded like a threat, coupled with that deep voice, and Wei WuXian couldn't resist teasing him, just to get a rise out of him.

"And if I'm not? It is a Sunday after all..." He beamed as another thought made itself known. "Will Pwetty Gege punish me?"

Lan WangJi took a step towards him, and that was all it took.

Wei WuXian giggled and ran up the stairs to his home, closing and locking the door that formed a barrier between them.

"Shameless." Lan WangJi said, without heat.

He waited for a few moments before turning around and getting into his car.

They drove off into the night.

**********

A/N

No cliffhanger lovely readers....because I caused enough of a stir in the other currently going on series and I want to be kind. But there are fireworks ahead...

Have a beautiful day and meet lovely people.

And chocolate!! Don't forget about that.

Charlie.