A week before 23rd January (Before Wedding in April)

Wei Ying was nervous, but Lan Zhan seemed even more agitated than him, clasping Wei Ying’s hand so tightly, as if he held it any looser, either one of them would drift away.

"It's gonna be alright," Wei Ying soothed, but his words sound hollow to himself, too.

Uncle Qiren is holding Mr. Marshmallow for comfort, and Wei Ying just wants this nervous tension to go away, and leave his family alone.

The door opens and for a second, they all collectively hold their breaths, hoping it is their lawyers.

XiChen bursts into the room, hauling Nie MingJue in behind him.

"I hope we're not too late?" He inquires, sitting down on the love seat next to his man.

Then he takes a better look all around the room and realises his blunder. He smiles at his brother and Uncle rather bashfully.

"We're just waiting for Xiao XingChen and Song Lan to return. Apparently, there were a few loose ends to be tied up, that's why there's a delay," Wei Ying informs them.

XiChen nods his thanks, listening to the grandfather clock ticking ominously in the corner of the study, sounding louder and louder in this uncomfortable and deep silence.

A-Yuan has started nursery school, and Wei Ying misses him like a lost limb, needing more than anything, his soft warmth, a cuddly weight in his lap that was grounding as much as comforting.

A soft knock on the door, and everyone sits up straighter, tension returning a hundredfold to hang in the air, like bats in a cave.

The maid announces the lawyers, and they enter.

Luckily, they're not fans of drama, nor of practical jokes.

"It's done!" Xiao XingChen declares, too happy for this young family and their more mature family members.

He pulls out a manila envelope, one that looks far too ordinary considering its contents.

"Congratulations." Song Lan tells them, smiling genuinely. "Just a few more papers to sign, and it's mostly for our records. We have copied and filed these, but these are the original certificates."

Lan Zhan stands up and pulls Wei Ying up with him, still shaking. His trembling fingers reach across the empty space to take hold of what Xiao XingChen releases from its confines.

It's here, at last.

He can hardly believe it.

Adoption certificates for both A-Yuan and A-Yu.

Both are new.

New because both of them have two names on the dotted lines at the bottom.

Wei Ying had A-Yuan's certificates and important papers stored in his caravan, a lifetime ago. But when it was torched by a drunk and out-of-his-mind Jiang Cheng, everything had gone up in flames, and Lan Zhan had spent the better half of his free time since Christmas helping Wei Ying retrieve everything that he had lost.

It had been Uncle Qiren who suggested they might as well put both parents' names on both the certificates, if they were going to get new documents, anyway.

It had been an emotional night for everyone.

"What are you going to do with them?" Xiao XingChen asks, smiling in that enigmatic way of his, the one that only strangers thought was superficial and polite, but those that knew him, understood how easily he could assess any given situation, and premeditate what was needed.

It was a skill that rocketed him up to being number one in his field, after all.

"We're framing these, both of them." Wei Ying says proudly, blinking back his tears. "After we show the kids, though."

"Mn. We will be hanging them above the fireplace in the living room of the new house." Lan Zhan adds, so happy that a part of him still can't believe this is real, that he's really a dad now, to two extraordinary kids.

Ones that love him back with an innocence that only children are allowed to have, so wholesome and guilelessly.

Much like Wei Ying himself.

Lan Zhan had learned so much from this man by his side.

Love could be as easy as they wanted it to be, only feeling it everyday was necessary, as Wei Ying showed him every moment they spent together.

His silver eyes were shimmering with diamond dewdrops, tears leaking from the crinkling laughter lines at the corners of them. So much love, so much hope shone out like a beacon from his face, and Lan Zhan felt in awe of him.

"We can take them out for dinner tonight." Wei Ying says, "after they get back from school."

"Where does Wei Ying think they will choose to go?"

Lan Zhan had an idea, but he wanted confirmation.

"Burgers and fries." Wei Ying giggles at that.

No matter how much money they had, and Mo XuanYu knew both of his parents were well off now, his preferred meal of choice hadn't changed at all. It didn't matter how many times Lan Zhan tried suggesting swankier places, in the hopes of nurturing better taste, A-Yu seemed to relish seeing his A-Die in the most greasiest of spoons, the cheaper, the better.

So fast food places were not wholly rejected, only not encouraged to frequent simply because of nutritional points rather than anything else.

Lan Zhan lets out a long-suffering sigh.

Wei Ying cannot hold back his laughter now, and it gushes forth like a dam bursting open after heavy rains.

He wipes under his own eyes, patting Lan Zhan on his arm.

"We will go," Lan Zhan promises, "but showing them these documents at home, not the eatery."

"Whatever you want, my love." Wei Ying smiles up at him indulgently, knowing he would do anything to make his man happy.

A phone call later in the afternoon calls Lan Zhan away for a few minutes, and Wei Ying seizes his chance.

"XiChen-Ge, not much time!" Wei Ying drags him over to a portrait of a Lan elder, an ancestor who had long passed, on the pretext of asking him questions about it. He artfully turned their bodies away from those in the room, but he kept an eye on his husband. "I wanna do something for Lan Zhan, you know, for his birthday next week. But he doesn't like parties." Wei Ying whispered urgently. "What do you think he'll like the best?" And then he pushed a piece of paper into his hand. "And please can you get this to the fellow who made our rings? I'll pay him extra for prioritising this order."

"This is beautiful, A-Xian!" XiChen says quietly, mindful of the secrecy they were keeping.

He studied the drawing and smiled with wonder.

It had taken Wei Ying ages to come up with a design that was definitely manly to look at, and yet reflected the softer sides of Lan Zhan’s personality, how he seemed to care with all of his being. That's why he was only certain today that his design was "the one", and hopefully there would be enough time for the goldsmith to complete the order.

"I'll text you with suggestions." XiChen promised, just as Lan Zhan came towards them.

Wei Ying beamed at his husband and took his arm.

"Let's go fetch the kids from school."

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

The dinner was a success and everyone was trying hard not to cry, except for A-Yuan, who wasn't quite sure what was going on, but his Baba assured him that everything was okay, and Baba never lied.

Something definitely changed between all of them after that night.

It wasn't something concrete, or tangible that they could put their fingers on and say, "this is it. This is what is making us feel so much closer".

The only example that came to mind for Wei Ying was comparing this to a basket weaver. The base was solid, as was the foundations of their family unit, perfectly shaped and prepped to weave reeds along the outer edges to form the outside vertical support for the final form, but somehow the arrival of the adoption certificates served as the horizontal reeds woven even tighter all around them to become even stronger.

Something settled around each of them, a combination of warmth and concentrated love, that only bloomed ever brighter with each passing day.

*********

23rd January (Lan Zhan’s birthday)

Lan Zhan refused to open his eyes this morning.

He knew Wei Ying was planning something and he disliked being kept in the dark, and yet, all it took was a wink, or a fluttering of those beautiful lashes framing diamond-bright silver eyes that knew exactly what the minx was doing.

Wei Ying might not be a master of deception, but he was the king of distractions for Lan Zhan.

Whenever Lan Zhan attempted to ask him about his birthday, Wei Ying avoided, cajoled, distracted, and even flashed him multiple times in order to get him to stop asking. Lan Zhan wasn't even embarrassed about how effective these ploys were, because this was Wei Ying he was talking about.

Temptation on two legs.

So he took a day off just to be able to spend it with his family.

It was a Wednesday and so the children still had to go to school, but that was hours away yet, and Lan Zhan rather enjoyed having Wei Ying lying in his arms, fast asleep and peaceful.

Except when he wasn't.

"Lan Zhaaaan! Come on! Please? Pretty please, with milk and sugar?" Wei Ying whined.

Lan Zhan smirked, and still refused to obey. The soft scent of lotus flowers floated around his nose, and made his mouth water as he wondered whether he could ever get tired of it. Not if it belonged to this gorgeous man.

"Only if you tell me what's going on today," he demands, with those perfect lips.

Wei Ying raises himself up ever so slightly, close enough to kiss him, but he doesn't do it yet.

"It's a surprise. And it wouldn't be one, if I told you." He sounds quite determined.

Lan Zhan must earn this first birthday kiss, if he's going to be difficult.

Wei Ying leans forward, and with the tip of his hot, hot tongue, he touches Lan Zhan’s mouth. Tracing the shape with precision and the gentlest of pressure, he's fascinated by the gasp that Lan Zhan cannot hold inside, before clamping them shut and refusing to kiss Wei Ying back.

Lan Zhan’s lips are so tender, so silky-soft and incredible to taste, so delicious that with each lick, Wei Ying’s resolve begins to crumble. Why is he resisting, again? He snaps out of it immediately, this spell that his husband can cast upon him at any time, night or day.

"Alright," Wei Ying whispers against his pale throat, nosing under his jaw where the soft fragrance of Sandalwood is the strongest. "I don't have to kiss your lips if you won't look at me. There are plenty of places here, just as enjoyable for me to taste until you're ready."

That's all the warning Lan Zhan gets before his pyjama top is pulled apart in a rare show of Wei Ying's hidden strength. And then his wet, hot mouth lands on delectable muscles already tense and taut with sudden tension as Wei Ying goes to town on his perfect, warm skin.

He remembers licking vanilla ice cream off this body in one of the most memorable nights of his life, and already, he's wondering when he can make it happen again.

It is a task that Wei Ying throws all of his concentration into, each groove, every dip given the necessary devotion that this beautiful man deserves, a worshipping that should be most thorough today, of all days.

Wei Ying smiles as he continues to listen to the smallest of sounds that escape Lan Zhan’s mouth in spite of his efforts to remain unaffected…but it's a lost cause. Barely repressed moans tear from his lips as Wei Ying moves south, with a clear destination in mind.

Lan Zhan’s eyes fly open when he realises where Wei Ying is going, and his triumphant smile, that cheeky grin is reflected in his gorgeous silver eyes.

This little gremlin knows exactly what he's doing.

And then it's all over with a rush of cool air before all of Lan Zhan’s body erupts into a grand fire, blazing with an unquenchable flame.

"Happy birthday, Husband," Wei Ying tells him, as soon as he's able to sit up. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, and then he yelps when Lan Zhan grabs his forearms and hoists him into his lap, to engulf him in the most bruising, savage kiss yet.

Stealing Wei Ying’s breath, Lan Zhan flips them over and takes control, noting that Wei Ying still has a 'situation' that needs to be taken care of.

As soon as possible.

But first, today is his birthday, and Lan Zhan is going to make Wei Ying know it fully.

His husband must know by now; Lan Zhan would never settle for being happy or satisfied unless Wei Ying was similarly satiated as well.

He loved him too damn much to allow an imbalance like that.

Wei Ying is still blinking like a dazed cat, when Lan Zhan finally lets go of him, smiling because Wei Ying looks wonderful, as if he has no capacity for silly thoughts.

"This is the last time I'm going to ask you," Lan Zhan says, his hands hovering dangerously over the elastic band holding Wei Ying’s pants in place.

Wei Ying snaps back into himself as if Lan Zhan had flung a bucket of cold water over him.

He crosses his arms over his chest with renewed determination, pursing his lips into a thin line of stubborn strength.

"Do your best. I'm not telling you diddly!" He replies with his nose stuck in the air and pretending not to watch Lan Zhan like a hawk.

"Very well. Your choice." Lan Zhan hums, just as determined. "But remember, I once promised to make you scream."

Wei Ying has only enough time for a widening of his eyes, before Lan Zhan does exactly that.

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

Of course, that woke the children up.

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

At breakfast, sitting in the now white-with-glitter marble kitchen with silver accessories and pale blue walls, around a matching round table, the little family is nearly done with breakfast, when Wei Ying makes an announcement.

"Tonight, I'm cooking."

The pin-drop silence is damning.

"Um…" A-Yu tries for a diplomatic reason to curb this plummet into lava territory, any excuse to stop his Baba from making anything.

But nothing comes to mind and his A-Die is way too nice to stop his husband from doing anything he wants to, so it's up to him.

"I'll help you!" A-Yu says instead, and earning himself the brightest smile from the person who most resembles golden sunshine in a walking form, and the quietest, happy smile from his other father.

"I wanna help, too?" A-Yuan says, chortling in that lovely way of his.

"Of course, you can! My beautiful little Radish, I love all of you so much!" And now Wei Ying is all blubbery again and A-Yu…

A-Yu wouldn't have it any other way.

He's just going to have to get more creative tonight, and take preventative measures against certain diarrhoea tomorrow.

But that's a problem to solve after school.

A-Yu finishes eating, rinses his dishes out in the sink and loads the dishwasher.

Three kisses later and a fourth, extra special one on his little cute, adorable baby brother, and A-Yu is running out of the house towards his bodyguard, who is going to drive him to school.

Life simply couldn't be better.

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

The first guest to arrive is XiChen.

Luckily, Lan Zhan was preoccupied in the bathroom at the time, so in the few minutes they have alone, XiChen hands over a plain white box to the person he sees as his little brother as well, and he smiles.

"I haven't had a chance to look at it, yet," he says, suggestively and wiggling his eyebrows.

Wei Ying grins and he's about to open it to show him, when the telltale sound of a toilet flushing upstairs halts his fingers.

"Sorry, XiChen-Ge," he grimaces apologetically, and quickly tucks away the box as a conspicuous lump in his skintight trousers.

XiChen beams back, because there's no way his brother isn't spotting that!

But both his Didi and A-Xian are so cute together that he doesn't mind their silliness one bit.

Meanwhile, Lan Zhan’s laser vision zeroes in on the latest addition to Wei Ying, and suspiciously close to his favourite part of his husband, and a predatory gleam rises in those golden orbs, flashing with need.

He wants to know what that is.

And it's not exactly hard to figure out that it wasn't there before his Xiongzhang came, so the immediate proof must be that his older brother brought it here.

Lan Zhan decides to relax for now, just to throw them off their game. He can take either one, and the softest target here is most definitely his older brother.

They'll be confused because he's going to ignore it, and then when he pounces, they'll never know what hit them.

The only thing he does not do, is rub his hands in gleeful anticipation, like a criminal mastermind.

But it's close.

***********

Lan Zhan doesn't get his chance to interrogate XiChen.

Today, XiChen is surprisingly astute, and knows what would happen were he to stay, so he hugs Lan Zhan warmly and gives him the other box he has brought, and picks up a toddling A-Yuan from the kitchen, explaining as he goes and comes back.

"This is from that bakery you like so much, downtown. I went there this morning for their first batch of the day, in case it sells out. Happy birthday, Didi!" He looks so happy about this, that Lan Zhan mistakenly assumes he's going to stay, and therefore, Lan Zhan will be able to ask him questions later.

But it was a ruse.

"This is from Uncle." XiChen quickly adds, handing him a box of chocofruits by Lindt. "And we have to go now, but I'll be back tonight, after your dinner." He looks way too relieved about that, and Lan Zhan knows he knows about tonight, that tomorrow is going to be a tummy burner.

"Why is Xiongzhang coming back, if it's not for dinner?" His voice has a sharper edge, suddenly.

"Ah, I think I'll let A-Xian disclose that, Didi! See you later," he shouts, with both feet out of the door, making his escape. A-Yuan shouts out a rapid goodbye and then, they're gone.

Wei Ying’s only buffer in between himself and Lan Zhan.

Wei Ying watches Lan Zhan, who is watching him back.

The air crackles between them, like humidity before a tense storm, anticipation hanging  thick like a gloopy syrup.

It's like being in the midst of a pride of lions, Wei Ying muses, but he is most assuredly, a bunny.

Lan Zhan’s golden eyes are studying him as if he's the most fascinating thing on the planet, made more interesting just because of his great and in-working-condition heart, currently wheezing through a marathon.

His tongue peeks out to lick his lips, his mouth drier than a martini, and those golden eyes turn dark, like aged whiskey.

Any movement is picked up on, the liquid gold almost lazily taking note of every minute change.

And just when Wei Ying thinks things could not get any more intense, Lan Zhan calmly walks to their front door and locks it, sliding the double bolts for good measure.

"We're completely alone, now," Lan Zhan says, in the deepest, gravelly voice he can muster. "Just you and I." He takes his time over each syllable, enunciating like only he can.

It's really too much for Wei Ying.

He's never lying about his poor heart not being able to take it, so he does the only thing he can; he bolts up the stairs.

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

Wei Ying hides under the bed.

He knows it's a bad idea.

Such a bad idea, simply awful, because there's no way that Lan Zhan doesn't know where he is, ignoring the fact that his toes must still be sticking out from somewhere, however, as the footsteps on the stairs come closer and closer, Wei Ying looks around himself with a balanced fear.

He knows it was not exactly thinking on his feet, the wish to run away because he felt like a soft, eager prey in that mind-numbing, singular focus of his husband, but then his hiding place of choice was worse, as if this situation could escalate any further.

The trouble was, neither worked at the moment.

Lan Zhan had taken a day off for today, otherwise he was going to help his family out until they were married, and then take the time to think about what he really wanted to do.

So he was pretty much free to continue whatever this was, until he decided not to.

Nothing is going to save him now.

The footsteps are louder now and Wei Ying tries to bring his limbs in, like a tortoise, trying not to breathe too heavily, either.

His heartbeat is ringing in his ears, tiny bursts of electricity zinging through his nerve-endings and a helpless giggle rips from his chest, albeit muffled by his hands.

The footsteps are just outside the room, and then they're muffled because his feet have landed on the soft, plush carpet.

Wei Ying is trying his best not to breathe, lest the sound be too loud, but he's so excited! Short, sharp gasps inject much needed air into his lungs, but Wei Ying cannot concentrate on anything right now. He feels as skittish as a wild stallion being stalked by a lasso-wielding cowboy creeping closer.

"Mn." Lan Zhan says, his deep voice inducing a shiver from the naughty man under their bed.

That sound means Wei Ying knows that Lan Zhan knows exactly where Wei Ying is, at the moment. And he's made some kind of decision.

This is not going to end well.

His bare feet pad softly towards their bedside cabinet, and Wei Ying watches as elegant, pale fingers draw on the catch to slide the bottom drawer out. His eyes widen as he catches a glimpse of something pale and powdery blue is taken out, and unhurried, Lan Zhan seems to be pondering what else he will need from that magical drawer.

Items being placed carefully on top of the dark furniture sound too loud in this silent room, each one jolting Wei Ying where he's lying under the cover of darkness. It adds to the stress of this situation, like petrichor in the air. It is a warning of the storm to come, a warning to prepare for the might of nature, unleashing her power on those who would recognise it.

"I hope you know," Lan Zhan begins to say, "every endeavour will be made to divest Wei Ying of the information he is currently holding." He pauses, and Wei Ying imagines him smiling wolfishly.

"Or…or, you could just waaaiiiit!" Wei Ying whispers, and then squeals the last bit as his feet are suddenly grabbed and he's yanked out from under this dark place of safety without preamble.

Lan Zhan manhandles him onto the bed, keeping him down with the full weight of his body, all two hundred plus pounds of concentrated muscles. His large hands easily accommodate both of Wei Ying's wrists in one, and when Wei Ying blinks up at him, dazed and impossibly turned on, his hunger ratcheting up through the roof, Lan Zhan’s gaze is that of an unrivalled predator staring back. His golden eyes are sharp, intense and fucking on fire.

He leans down to lick the shell of Wei Ying’s ear, feeling that cooler skin warm and then blaze alight with desire. His hot breath tickles Wei Ying until he's a mess of squirming energy that needs a release.

"I am not a patient man, when it comes to those I love." Lan Zhan’s nose lingers at the curve where his neck meets his collarbone, taking in the sweet, mouthwatering fragrance of lotus flowers in bloom.

"But Sweetheart! Isn't…isn't that the point of a surprise? If I told you what it is, it wouldn't be one, any longer!" Wei Ying desperately tries to buy himself some time.

"I see." Lan Zhan replies, thinking fast.

Technically, Wei Ying was right.

But he was enjoying this little cat-and-mouse game so much, Lan Zhan didn't want to stop this, whatever it was.

"However, as it is MY birthday, I should be allowed presents. Whenever I want them." His deft fingers have already mastered a couple of slip knots and Lan Zhan admires the beautiful silken rope, pale blue like a summer sky, a nice contrast against all that creamy skin.

Wei Ying is tanned in good way, golden, tantalisingly smooth skin that practically glows with good health, and is evidence of how much he likes to be outside.

Lan Zhan wants to take his time with Wei Ying today.

Their coming together was usually the result of helpless desire and a serious lack of time, and although they were both satisfied by the end, Lan Zhan longed for more of these situations. Where the amount of time he had didn't matter. He wanted to make this stretch out, utilising every second to push their boundaries of pleasure.

Hours stretched out before him, like a cat digging her claws into carpet and fully luxuriating in the pulling taut of all her muscles and limbs.

This was going to be extremely good.

Anticipation curled in his gut as he took in the beautiful picture of his husband underneath himself.

Wei Ying was gorgeous like this.

Somewhere along the line, his ponytail had come loose and now his soft, thick hair was a puddle of black silk framing his lovely face. Silver eyes with the light of a thousand stars watched him back, already half-lidded in desire, simmering with need. If he felt even a tenth of what Lan Zhan was feeling, then they were a pressure cooker of lust, just waiting for release.

"I have decided what I want for my birthday." Lan Zhan tells him, bending down to whisper this in his ear.

They were alone, and there was no need to be quiet, and yet there was an intimacy here that Lan Zhan wanted to explore. Something dangerous about Wei Ying knowing he was at the mercy of his husband now, and no one was coming to save him.

Wei Ying was the most sensitive here, his soft lobe just begging to be bitten.

Lan Zhan let his tongue out, caressing that soft, fleshy part before taking it into his mouth and giving it a hard sucking, as Wei Ying writhed under him, taut with a carnal desire.

"W-what?" He breathed out, mind lost in pleasure.

"You." Lan Zhan bit down, making him moan wantonly.

But there was something wrong with this.

Wei Ying was wearing far too many clothes.

In a single action, Lan Zhan tied both of his hands to the headboard. When picking this bed, he remembers being given a choice on the different ones available, and Wei Ying had been going on about the many types of mattresses available. At the time, offering to be Lan Zhan’s bed tester.

The image had caused a malfunction in his brain synapses, and all Lan Zhan had been able to see was this.

Wei Ying tied to their bed like this, open like a present towards him, the best gift.

And this headboard, with its railings, provided a great opportunity for fun.

Wei Ying was already compliant and lost in a haze of mutual pleasure. He existed only on some other plane of love, one where he trusted his partner to take him to another level of bliss, to use him and be used for both of their needs. He didn't care what Lan Zhan was going to do with him, as long as this feeling never went away. And the more he saw those pupils dilate, darkening until they were almost black, the more this feeling intensified.

"Did you dress up for me?" Lan Zhan asks him, his voice drawling, hoarse from how much he wanted this man.

The physical evidence of this was making his trousers feel uncomfortable now.

But that was nothing which couldn't be fixed.

He stood up, loving the way Wei Ying stared back at him, eyes just slits of his vision as his gaze followed Lan Zhan around the room.

Lan Zhan goes to the foot of the bed. He has already undone Wei Ying’s trousers, appreciating the thought behind his wardrobe choice for today. Wei Ying wanted to look nice for him.

It makes something warm glow in his chest, as he takes his time watching him back.

Black trousers, not skintight for once, dress pants, Lan Zhan corrects himself, slide off so easily, it's like easing the plastic off a new phone.

And the more Lan Zhan stops to stare at him, the more restless Wei Ying becomes.

"ZhanZhan…come on!" He twists on the bed, writhing as a thin shimmer of sweat coats his beautiful forehead.

The fond name snaps Lan Zhan into action.

His fingers peel away the rest of Wei Ying's clothes, undoing each button with careful precision, at the same time, making sure his first knots aren't too tight, that there's no chaffing on those delicate but strong wrists.

He's itching to simply prepare Wei Ying for what is coming next, and yet there is so much to be gained from longing this out. To make them both appreciate this rarest of gifts.

They have found each other in this sea of people which is the Universe. That alone is a miracle that Lan Zhan reminds himself of daily. And that they are both willing to explore their needs like this, to want to discover new heights of passion, that is another miracle in itself.

"Tell me if it gets too much." Lan Zhan says, to a now fully naked Wei Ying.

He stares into those bottomless dark eyes, wild with the thoughts of what is going to happen, making sure that Wei Ying has understood what Lan Zhan is asking of him. They have not discussed the use of safe words yet, but Lan Zhan knows they trust each other so much that today, it is not necessary.

Wei Ying nods eagerly, his focus sure and true upon this beautiful man.

They have been together now for just over six months, and Wei Ying thanks his lucky stars every single day.

"Go for it," he whispers back.

Lan Zhan stands straighter, humbled by this gift of his trust.

He maintains eye contact as he strips down to nothing, enjoying the way Wei Ying is watching him back, not even blinking.

Then he returns to the end of the bed, smiling because this will require a little more rope.

He can make a perfect circle using his finger and thumb around Wei Ying’s ankle, first the left and then the right, as he secures Wei Ying to each corner.

Each touch illicits a shiver in both of them, their bodies highly attuned to what they both need right now.

"Are you going to ravish me now, Husband?" Wei Ying gasps, as Lan Zhan climbs back on the bed to straddle him.

"No." Lan Zhan revels in his surprise, the momentary confusion that lights up his beautiful face.

"N-no?" His voice shakes, body already shuddering as warm lips find their target.

"No." Lan Zhan tells him, in between searing, scorching wet kisses. "Today, I am going to worship you. Husband."

And he proceeds to do just that.

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

Lan Zhan leaves Wei Ying sleeping under the covers, wanting to never leave him, but food must be ordered ready for when he wakes.

Today had been an eye-opening experience for both of them as Lan Zhan had rung out every drop of hidden pleasure from Wei Ying’s body, and if they wanted a round two, then they needed their energy replenished.

Quickly and efficiently, Lan Zhan ordered online and told Dan to leave it in the kitchen.

Having security was peace of mind, after the scary beginning to their relationship, and that was one thing Lan Zhan refused to change, despite Wei Ying telling him it wasn't necessary any longer, not with the entire Jiang Family behind bars and rotting in prison, except for Wei Ying's sister, Jiang YanLi.

She was now a constant presence in their lives and Jin Ling running towards his DaiJui was the best thing, never failing to make Wei Ying blink back tears of joy. It was something that he hadn't thought he would be allowed to have, and see it coming true whenever it happened was an uplifting experience for all of them.

Now, having finished his errands, Lan Zhan took a pitcher of water and a glass back to their bedroom. He left it on the side and crawled into bed with his husband. Wei Ying snuggled closer immediately, nuzzling at his chest in the most adorable way, and Lan Zhan kissed the top of his head affectionately.

"Sleep," he encourages, closing his eyes peacefully.

Wei Ying hums in agreement, his breathing levelling out into a deeper sleep.

Yes, Lan Zhan thinks, life couldn't get better than this.

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

Later, they go down to the kitchen to eat.

Wei Ying was starving and his stomach woke them both up. Lan Zhan grabbed bath robes for both of them and then scooped Wei Ying up into his arms, huffing at his yelp of surprise. Wei Ying wrapped his arms around Lan Zhan’s neck, smiling and holding himself closer.

"Did you enjoy your birthday present?" He asks shyly now.

"Mn."

"That's good."

He is deposited at the table and in a flurry of activity, a plate and cutlery magically appear, along with cartons of dumplings and dips, fried rice and noodles.

Wei Ying is too hungry to let his mouth talk, and Lan Zhan is used to not doing that while he eats, so the meal is over fast.

"What's for dessert?" Wei Ying asks, sliding onto Lan Zhan’s lap as he pushes away from the table to give Wei Ying space to sit comfortably.

Panic in his golden eyes makes Wei Ying giggle with delight.

"Did you forget?"

Lan Zhan nods and reaches for his phone.

"No, no, I have a better idea." Wei Ying swoops down to kiss his delicious lips.

The kiss deepens naturally as Lan Zhan sinks his teeth into Wei Ying's bottom lip, shivering when a helpless moan escapes.

When they part, Wei Ying smiles down at him.

"Mn?" Lan Zhan doesn't care if he sounds impatient now.

"Vanilla ice cream… and Lan Zhan." The naughty man says, excitedly.

Lan Zhan glances at his watch.

"Do we have time?"

"Mn. Two hours before we go to pick up A-Yuan."

They didn't need to pick up Mo XuanYu these days. He had awkwardly told them that no other teenagers had their parents come to pick them up at the gates, and that's when they realised that their child was growing up now. That he had been building up to telling them this but he hadn't wanted to hurt their feelings, since it was bad enough that his bodyguard hung around too.

Wei Ying had laughed about it too, to his face, and then cried tears of nostalgia and babies leaving the nest hiccups while Lan Zhan comforted him.

But it made up to them that the now seventeen year old was growing healthily, both in height and confidence and charm. It was a joy to be around him. He was patient with his baby brother too, and the two of them were often found reading books together, with A-Yuan perched in his lap, giggling at the funny stories in unison.

Right now, Wei Ying was trying to wriggle out of a warm lap, and steady fingers were still holding him tightly there.

"Dessert?" Uncertainty clashed, the lightning in those stormy eyes.

"Mn. In a moment. I would like to discuss something with Wei Ying first." Lan Zhan says, outwardly calm, but internally a little panicky.

He needed Wei Ying to say yes, the antidote to his anxiety.

"Okay, Sweetheart." Wei Ying immediately relaxed, and pecked his lips, only succeeding in making Lan Zhan pout. "My love! I can't resist that beautiful face!" He leans in for a lengthier kiss, appeasing the neglected god.

They're both breathlessly grinning at each other when their lips finally part, because of course, one kiss turned into many.

Lan Zhan glances at his watch again, frowning because now he only has ninety minutes left.

He'd better make this quick.

"Wei Ying, I would like to be in charge of our honeymoon," he says, quickly.

"Huh?"

Maybe Wei Ying hasn't recovered yet from their making out.

"Honeymoon." Lan Zhan repeats himself.

"Are we really going to have one?" Wei Ying asks him, surprised.

"Mn. Why?" Now Lan Zhan wants to know why Wei Ying thought they weren't going to.

"Well, it's just that… I haven't been away from A-Yuan for more than a couple of days… I'm not sure how either of us will handle it." Wei Ying says, not making eye contact with him, fiddling with a loose thread on his robe.

"Mn. I also do not like the idea of leaving the children for longer." But the more Lan Zhan thinks about this, another idea grows and becomes a real possibility. "I can do something about that," he finally says.

"Really?" Wei Ying hugs him, once more. Falling in love with him again and again was just so easy.

"Mn, in fact, it will be a surprise. Wei Ying is not allowed to ask any questions, though." Lan Zhan places a warm, loving kiss on his forehead.

Mischief glimmers in his naughty husband as Wei Ying thinks about the line and how to cross it, looking for loopholes.

"So… I can't ask you about where we're going?" He tests the water.

"Mn."

"And I can't ask you about how long?"

"Mn."

"Or how you're going to make me not miss my children?"

"Mn." Lan Zhan doesn't miss how he said 'my' children.

Not 'ours'.

He smirks.

It is a dangerous smile.

Wei Ying swallows audibly, only now thinking he's in trouble.

In one easy move, Lan Zhan hoists him up into a fireman's carry and grabs a tub of vanilla ice cream, righting Wei Ying before he can feel nauseous.

"Hold this, and leave everything to me." There's a promise in his eyes.

Wei Ying nods slowly.

Whatever Lan Zhan is going to do, it will be okay.

He's sure of it.

When Lan Zhan sees that, he strides towards the stairs quickly.

One perfunctory glance at his watch revealed he has just over seventy-five minutes left to do this.

Vanilla ice cream flavoured Wei Ying, coming right up…

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

A/N

Dear Wonderful Readers,

I've been wanting to write some more for this book for a long time, and since I hate odd numbers, there will be one more after this. Do you want to know where they're going, on their honeymoon? And what will be Lan Zhan’s solution for Wei Ying not to miss their children?

Any guesses are welcome!

I'm back from my holiday with a dose of domestic, happy WangXian, and I hope you like it.

Lots of chocolate 🍫 🍫🍫🍫 to celebrate!

Charlie.