Current late afternoon...

Yanli's hands were curled around the remains of her now cold cup of coffee. Zixuan sat across from her and stared through a wall.

What she had told him was hard to believe as well as horrifying to contemplate.

"How do we even begin to tell A'Ying about this?" she whispered. "And how will he handle it when it comes out that he was the one sold? He's going to be mobbed by reporters and crazy people."

"I don't know why we haven't already been mobbed by reporters and crazy people. I figured as soon as it was known she had been arrested, we'd be up to our eyeballs in people shoving cameras in our faces and saying awful things. I will take the blessing of time given us." Zixuan was quiet for a moment as he rubbed his face.

He took his wife's hand in his. Gently rubbing her fingers.

"I had time while we waited for Meng Yao to be cleared to be in the room with Wei Ying so I started texting with the security teams. They are already working on improving the security at our building and our apartment."

Looking in her eyes, he smiled. "If we need them, I only have to call. We can do this, my heart. I won't let that woman's insanity hurt you or our family. Your brothers, my brothers... my brother... Meng Yao... he told me your mother's connection to the traffickers was most likely our father."

He cringed. There just wasn't a softway to break it to her.

"Oh my god..." her voice was no more than a strangled whisper.

"This is going to be bad for probably longer than we hope but we can do it. Together we can do anything, my heart." His voice was strong. He had slogged his way through this news earlier. He held her hand firmly. A silent reassurance that he was there as she now worked her way through the implications.

"W-who else did he tell? Is he safe?" Yanli was overwhelmed. The world was turning upside down and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

"He gave copies of the information to two news agencies and the Taxation Administration. Anonymously. I haven't heard anything on the news about it but I honestly haven't paid attention to it today. Too much information to want anymore." He sighed.

"I do know several things. We can't change what is coming. Both our parents are either going to prison or worse. I know I love you and that will never change. I know we can make it through this as long as we take it one step at a time." He caressed the shaking hand he held. "My heart?"

"So much has happened so fast. Wei Ying. My mother. Your father. It feels like we're drowning in totally unbelievable events. How is this even possible in this day and age? People selling people?" Yanli's hands were shaking but her voice was firmer.

"I'm not letting that bitch hurt my brothers ever again. I'm not letting that bastard hurt you or Meng Yao. This ends with them gone and all of us safe. Safe and happy." Her voice was firm and a bit lower than usual. She was dead serious.

She looked at Xixuan who was completely flummoxed.

In all the years they had been together, he had never seen her this... this... openly forceful. If it was any other circumstances, he would say it was damn sexy.

Never mind the circumstances.

Yanli was roaring her defiance in the face of everything and it was hot.

"Damn, my wife is amazing!" he couldn't keep the grin off his face.

Yanli blushed an adorable shade of scarlet in Zixuan's opinion.

"Together we can do anything, my love. This is going to be awful but, as long as we have each other, we can do it." She smiled. A bit tremulous but it was a smile.

"Now what? I still haven't seen Meng Yao and we need to get dinner ordered." Zixuan paused and absent mindedly took a swallow of his cold coffee. He grimaced. "Gross."

"We divide and conquer. Go see Meng Yao and I'll order dinner. A'Cheng should be there as well as Dr. Yu. Please ask if Meng Yao and Dr. Lan are up to joining us as well. We're all in this mess together so we might as well get to know each other. Plus, I'm hoping Meng Yao can develop a friend or two. I think he and Yu Bin might get along well."

"Order and I'll go down and pick it up. Deal?"

"Deal." She sobered again. "For now, we have to set this all aside. A'Yuan can't handle anymore upset adults around him. Can we do that?"

She suddenly wasn't sure she could.

"We can do this. One step at a time."

They shared a small smile and walked out of the hospital coffee shop hand-in-hand.

Behind them, a news announcement was being made on the television.

Neither heard it.
-----

Jin Zixuan kissed his wife's forehead and smiled reassuringly at her as he got off on the appropriate floor.

When the door closed, the smile fell away.

He was worried. He'd be a fool if he wasn't. This was going to be a shit show. No two ways about it.

Silently, he cursed his father when a new thought hit him.

'Wait, did Zixun know about it too? Was he involved? Innocent? Profiting from it?'

The thoughts circled like vultures. Zixuan knew his brother. He was a deeply unpleasant man and Zixuan avoided him when possible. There were no illusions. Sad to say about his own brother. but true.

He rubbed his face again.

'Gods, what a mess...' crossed his mind before he went back to cursing his father as he walked to Meng Yao's room.

A few minutes later, he was standing in front of his brother's door. Dr. Lan had put Meng Yao in a private room. No questions or fuss. He had swept past the nurses's desk, asked for the closest private room all the while cradling his brother's limp form.

Zixuan had been impressed with the doctor's strength.

It had taken a surprisingly short amount of time for Meng Yao to be examined, put into a hospital gown and tucked into bed with an IV.

Now, he looked at the door and knocked softly before opening it.

Meng Yao was back in bed, curled on his side and holding Dr. Lan's hand. Fingers entwined.

He made a mental note to tell Yanli that tidbit.

"Hi. How are you feeling, di-di?" Zixuan asked quietly and nodded at Dr. Lan.

"Tired but lighter. I told the detective everything. All we can do is wait." Meng Yao replied. His eyes were red and puffy. The end of his nose was rosy. His small smile was genuine though.

Zixuan stepped closer. "I'm sorry, di-di. For a lot of things but I should have stopped the detective. I did nothing except stand there with my mouth open. It is inexcusable. It won't happen again. Promise."

Zixuan didn't know what to do after apologizing. His brother was just staring at him with wide eyes.

A sudden upward lunge and Meng Yao was hugging him.

"Thank you, ge-ge." He managed to choke out. He was crying again but he didn't care.

Zixuan just hugged him back.

"I'll be back in a few moments." Xichen said softly. He ran a gentle hand over the back of Meng Yao's head and quietly left.

"I'm so sorry, Yao-di. I should have done more. Taken you with me when I moved out."

Meng Yao shook his head as he pulled back to look at his brother. He sat back down in his hospital bed and shifted the covers.

"Do you think Jin Guangshan would allow that? I was under age and he was grooming me to be a useful tool. A permanently loyal accountant." His tone carried a self-mocking twist. "Your mother, however, would have been thrilled to have me leave."

"Do you think she knew?" Zixuan's voice was low.

"I don't know. For your sake, ge-ge, I hope not."

"I don't know if you're up for it but Yanli would like you and Dr. Lan to join everyone again. Dinner will be soon and Yanli won't let her brother eat hospital food when she can order more nutritious meals." Zixuan had to smile. Only his Heart.

"I do not think there will be a repeat of earlier events." he added cautiously.

Meng Yao nodded. "I don't think so either but we will have to ask my doctor."

As soon as he said the words, he flushed.

Zixuan pretended not to notice.

"We should definitely ask him." Zixuan nodded grinning like a mad man on the inside. His little brother could do with a little romance in his life. He had a sneaking suspicion Lan Xichen could to.

They chatted for a bit. Inconsequential things on the whole until Zixuan told Meng Yao he had checked with the building manager and his door had been repaired.

Meng Yao was quiet at the news. "Would it be cowardly of me to sell the condo? Find another one? I don't want to go back there."

"If you aren't comfortable, little brother, it's okay. I'd say it's very understandable. We could pack you up in a day or hell, better yet, hire movers to do it. Then you don't have to go back at all if you don't want to." Zixuan answered kindly. "You can stay with me and Yanli until you find a new place. Easy."

"I can't do that! It might take some time to find a place and - "

Zixuan cut him off. "One, you're my brother. Two, it's not forever. Just until you find a new place. And three, you're a good cook so yeah, I don't mind at all."

He grinned rather smugly at his logic.

"Are you sure? You better ask Yanli!"

"I will but I know she'll be thrilled. She's quite fond of you." Zixuan said matter-of-factly.

Meng Yao could only stare at him. How had he gone from being punched in the head hard enough to give him a concussion to being part of a family? For a moment, his head spun. Was this all real?

Dr. Lan returned at that moment. Peering into the room to make sure he was welcome.

The first thing he noticed was Meng Yao smiling while his bottom lip quivered.

"Are you okay, A'Yao?"

'A'Yao. This amazing man is calling me A'Yao..." he was stunned. He closed his eyes and nodded still smiling.

He opened his eyes to the concerned face of Xichen. Wiping his face, he huffed a laugh.

"I'm really good, A'Chen." he said with a blush, stunned at his own brazeness. "But I'm not going to dinner in a hospital gown."

"We're going to dinner?" Xichen asked in confusion.

It didn't take long to explain everything to Xichen who was still smiling from being called A'Chen.

He was quite insistent though. "Not long. It has been an exhausting day. Say hello, eat and back to bed. Agreed?"

It was definitely his doctor voice.

"Agreed." Meng Yao grinned.

'Whatever happens, I got to have today. It's enough.'

----
Jin Zixuan left before Meng Yao was ready to be wheeled back to Wei Ying's room.

He detoured downstairs to pick up the three large full bags of food.

"Is Yanli throwing a party?" he grumbled as he tried to push the elevator button and juggle all the bags.

A tall muscled man next to him pushed the button and, after watching him for a moment, asked, "Do you need help?"

The man had a large 'Get Well Soon' balloon in tow.

"If you'll push buttons, I've got this. Just can't do both without dumping something." Zixuan answered.

"Not a problem." was the response.

A ding and the elevator door opened.

"Which floor?" the tall man asked politely.

Zixuan gave him the floor and suddenly realized it was the only button pushed.

"Your floor too?" he asked nervously.

"Yes."

"Oh."

No one had said anything about anyone new coming to the room.

He looked at the man from the side of his eye. He wasn't just tall. He was huge and built like a brick wall. The hand holding the balloon string was ridiculously big.

'I'm not gonna panic. I'm sure he'll get off and head toward the regular wards. No problem. Not. A. Problem."

The pep talk worked until the elevator door opened.

'Can I go to the room? Am I leading a mob hitman to it? Oh shit.' Zixuan froze just outside the door.

"Excuse me." The tall man muttered as he shifted around Zixuan. He headed to the right.

'He turned the wrong way! Okay. All good.' He breathed a sigh of relief.

He turned left and headed to the room. He was walking down the hallway when he realized he could hear another set of footsteps. He glanced back.

'Oh shit. It's him. He's a hitman! I fucking knew it!' Zixuan picked up his pace. Trying to get to the police officers to warn them.

Within steps, he was running. Bags bouncing around him like they contained wild animals.

The two officers watched his approach in obvious concern.

"Mr. Jin? Are you okay?"

"Mob hitman. Behind me. Big. Really big! " he gasped out.

Both men were instantly on high alert. One stuck his head in the room.

"Detective Lan? A moment?" The serious tone brought Lan Wangji out of the room in seconds.

"Where is this man?" The remaining officer asked.

"Down the hall. He's huge. Dangerous."

The man peered down the hallway again and looked surprised.

"Is the man behind the Inspector?"

"The who? That man with the balloon. That's him! The hitman!" Jin Zixuan whisper shouted.

All three men suddenly looked quite odd. Lan Wangji found the ceiling of immense interest as the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. The two officers looked at each other, bit their lips and studied their shoes.

After clearing his throat, Lan Wangji put a comforting hand briefly on the upset and completely confused Jin Zixuan's shoulder.

"You did an excellent job in warning us and I thank you for it. In this case, however, it was luckily unwarranted." His voice was calm.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Now Zixuan was getting pissed.

The man was walking up to them looking slightly confused himself.

"Is everything okay, gentlemen?" he asked.

Lan Wangji nodded. "Yes, sir. Jin Zixuan, may I introduce Inspector Nie Mingjue, Head of Detectives?"
~♡~♡~♡~

A smile to start your week off!

Thanks to borrego431 , ChristinaMoldenhauer, edith343redwoodand ManuAndhale for test reading. Much love to all four of you!! ❤️

World Peace and Chocolate for All!

❤️🍫🫖❤️