Lan Zhan was really looking forward to Wei Ying getting back. He had cleaned up the kitchen after breakfast and then something caught his eye on his laptop screen.

He began reading an article written by F4keSt0ries, an anonymous writer who, right at the beginning, said his stories were the result of his caffeine fermented brain, and to not take anything he said seriously.

Ordinarily, Lan Zhan would have scrolled past, were it not for the link to an encrypted account where questions were encouraged.

Why would someone writing about things from their imagination need this? Why would it need to have such security measures?

This piqued his interest and Lan Zhan went back to reading his articles. This persuaded him to send the link and a question of his own to Nie Huaisang, asking him what he thought about this. Was this person legit?

Then he went back to reading.

And then, his eyes fell on the time displayed so innocently in the corner of his screen, and a shiver went up his spine.

11.15 am.

Wei Ying was supposed to have come back a couple of hours ago….

Where was he? He had promised to return straight back home after the school run.

Lan Zhan whipped out his phone and called, standing up to pace.

It went to voicemail.

Lan Zhan called again.

No answer.

He didn't even know why his finger kept pressing the dial button, hoping against hope that this time, Wei Ying was going to pick up.

Then he switched numbers and called Wen Qing.

When she said she hadn't heard from Wei Ying either, that's when the panic hit the hardest.

His fingers were shaking as he sent text after text to Wei Ying’s phone, all of them going unseen.

If Wei Ying didn't answer his phone, or see the messages…how was Lan Zhan going to contact him?

And worse, what if he had collapsed somewhere? What if he was hurt? Where was A-Yuan? Did Wei Ying manage to get him to school?

So many questions flooded his mind, and yet because he had no answers, Lan Zhan’s anxiety skyrocketed.

He rang his brother.

"Didi -"

"Ge, can you still activate the GPS on a phone from the Cloud, remotely?" He doesn't mean to sound so curt, but his instincts are screaming at him.

"What's wrong?" XiChen's tone changes immediately, from warm and welcoming, to alert and on edge.

Lan Zhan explains the situation to him.

"Send the info to Huaisang, I'll message him too." XiChen says quickly.

"I'm doing it now. Thanks, Ge." Lan Zhan hangs up fast, his fingers faster than ever.

It's just past midday, and Lan Zhan knows he can't stay in the apartment, just waiting. He wants to do something, anything…and his brain provides a solution: he can get on the bus and find A-Yuan's school. If he retraces Wei Ying’s steps, he might be able to find him.

He's not going to think about anything else…in his head, Wei Ying must be safe…

Anything less than that, and Lan Zhan knows he won't be able to take it. So he doesn't let those negative thoughts win, focusing on A-Yuan instead.

And then, his phone lights up with an incoming call.

It's Wei Ying.

Lan Zhan is so relieved, his legs give way and suddenly he's sitting on the floor.

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

Wei Ying wipes his clammy palms on his trousers and mentally prepares himself to call Lan Zhan. His hand is shaking so much, he nearly drops his phone when Lan Zhan answers.

"It's me! I'm safe!" Wei Ying quickly blurts out. His tongue is tripping up over itself to form the words needed to explain.

"Mn."

"I…um…so, er…" Now that it comes down to it, Wei Ying can't find the right words. He knows Lan Zhan is going to be upset with him…and it's partly his own fault. For refusing to see an actual doctor. Lan Zhan is going to roast him alive…

"Where are you?" Lan Zhan asks him. There is absolutely no tone, no inflection to indicate how he's feeling.

"At school. In the nurse's station. Um…I blacked out."

There is a sharp intake of breath, and then silence on the other side.

Wei Ying wishes Lan Zhan would say something…anything.

"Is Wei Ying hurt?" Lan Zhan says, a while later.

"No. At least…not on the outside."

"Meaning?" Lan Zhan can feel his rage growing.

"Um…so this time, it started off as a headache. And we made it to the playground. The teacher was coming with me to the nurse's, to get some painkillers…and that's the last thing I remember."

"Give me the address of the school." Lan Zhan demands.

This was one of the things he had been lamenting about; he had no idea where A-Yuan's school was, just a general idea.

"Lan Zhan…it's okay, you don't have to come. I'll just wait until it's time to pick A-Yuan up…we'll come home together." Wei Ying protested.

"Address." This time Lan Zhan growled into the phone, not willing to compromise.

Something in his tone had Wei Ying quickly typing it out.

"Stay there. I'm coming to get you." Lan Zhan said, hanging up immediately.

He put the phone down carefully, otherwise the urge to fling it at the wall was way too strong.

Lan Zhan isn't even sure who his rage is directed at.

He knows it's not Wei Ying’s fault. The dizzy spells are getting worse, and if anything, it's Wei Ying’s reluctance to do anything about them and his almost careless attitude about his own health…this is what makes Lan Zhan the most angry.

And then he's angry at himself.

He should have gone to school with his family.

Why did he stay here?

If he had gone with them, then all of this could have been avoided.

He calls his brother again, when he thinks he's calm enough to be civil.

"Ge…I found him." He says, straight away.

"Oh…that's great news, Didi. I was worried." XiChen also sounds relieved.

"I need my car back, Ge." Lan Zhan tells him.

"On it. I called them a couple of days ago, and it should be ready to pick up tomorrow afternoon."

Lan Zhan is so grateful to have such a capable brother. This feeling makes him ask, "Ge, what else do I need to catch a bus?"

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

Wei Ying phones Wen Qing next.

She's upset.

So Wei Ying has to hear a twenty minute diatribe in hushed whispers, because Wen Qing is at work, and she's still pissy about this whole mess.

He endures, because he knows this is serious.

She's only not-yelling at him because she cares so much. If anything, he should feel grateful.

She tells him she's coming to see him as soon as she can, and it's looking like Friday night, now. And then just before she hangs up, she tells him that it was Lan Zhan who called her first.

Wei Ying calls MianMian next.

He's already exhausted…but he missed that shift at work and after she was so kind to give him that job in the first place, it's the least he can do.

MianMian is sharp to begin with, but out of the three, she's the kindest by the end.

Wei Ying finishes the call and then is surprised by the nurse, who is holding out a glass and a couple of painkillers to him.

"You never got to have these." She says, kindly.

"Thank you." Wei Ying tells her. "I don't think they're enough to save me, though." He tries to make light of this, passing out at school.

She quirks a brow in his direction.

"All of them are pretty pissed at me, right now." He explains, ruefully.

"It's my experience that the loudest ones are those that care the most." She replies with a gentle smile. "And if this kind of thing happens regularly, you should think seriously about getting yourself to a doctor. It's better to know what exactly you're fighting, rather than burying your head in the sand and hoping it'll go away."

Her straightforward tone and the way her words hit the crux of the matter, make Wei Ying blink with surprise in her direction.

She pats his hand warmly.

"I've been in this job for the last thirty years. This ain't my first rodeo, son."

Wei Ying doesn't even get why he tears up at that.

She puts a tissue box near him, and leaves with a warning: "rest up. I'll wake you when the bell rings for end of day."

Wei Ying lies back down and closes his eyes.

He doesn't know where this bone deep exhaustion has come from, but it drags him into the sweet oblivion of darkness in seconds.

***********

When Wei Ying wakes up, there's a weight on his hand.

His eyes open to find brilliant golden ones staring back, straight at him. Lan Zhan is holding his hand.

"Lan Zhan…"

And then he sees A-Yuan sitting in Lan Zhan’s lap.

He rises quickly, and it's too fast for him. His head pounds and Wei Ying moans, clutching it and closing his eyes.

He doesn't hear what Lan Zhan asks the nurse, or what she replies with, but when Wei Ying opens his eyes, he sees Lan Zhan nodding at her.

When he tries to stand, things are better, if a little slow.

"I'm okay…" he tries to reassure Lan Zhan, and now A-Yuan too, who is simply staring at him worriedly.

Lan Zhan makes him sit down first, so his legs are dangling off the cot he just vacated. Wei Ying watches as Lan Zhan pulls out his phone and rings someone clearly on the speed dial.

"Ge…I need you. Are you able to finish for the day? Mn." Pause. "Please bring your car. Mn."

During all this, A-Yuan climbs into Wei Ying's lap and hugs him tightly.

"Alright…let's go." Lan Zhan says, not looking at him.

But when he goes to take A-Yuan, the boy cries out. His chubby arms wrap around Wei Ying’s neck, refusing to let go.

Lan Zhan is clearly at the end of his patience, because he says, "very well." And proceeds to lift them both up.

Wei Ying squeaks out a protest, but one hot glare from the man exhibiting extraordinary strength, silences him immediately. A-Yuan is similarly shocked, and beams at Lan Zhan, whose gaze warms immeasurably when it lands on the child.

Wei Ying thinks he's been forgiven but just as he's about to speak, to ask Lan Zhan if he could please put them down, because this is extremely embarrassing, the glare comes back with the force of ten suns.

Wei Ying wisely keeps his mouth closed after that.

It's late, and as they reach the gates which are normally open, they see a security guard waiting to let them out. And JingYi is there, still waiting for someone to pick him up.

Now, both of his charges want to be let down.

Lan Zhan reluctantly puts Wei Ying back on his feet, with one last warning glare not to overdo it.

"JingYi!" A-Yuan shouts and runs towards him.

Wei Ying follows a little slower. He bends at the waist, so he can talk to JingYi at eye level.

"She's late again, huh, buddy?" Wei Ying says softly. "How about you come home with us?"

JingYi is definitely subdued, and he nods but he doesn't meet their eyes.

A-Yuan goes to take his hand and JingYi lets out a gasp of pain, cradling his arm.

Wei Ying shoots Lan Zhan an alarmed glance, before purposefully not making a big deal about it.

The child is most definitely hurt…but this is not the time or the place.

Lan Zhan had been planning something else before, but one look at JingYi has him mentally changing his plans. He is upset, and the worst thing is, neither of the ones causing it are to be blamed, at least, not directly.

The bus ride home is quiet.

A-Yuan keeps staring at his Baba quietly, thinking about things that no child should have to think about. When he looks at his normally cheerful friend, because JingYi is in obvious pain, still holding his arm close to his chest, the worrying only gets worse.

It's this unfortunately, which bonds him even more firmly with Lan Zhan, who is in the same boat.

XiChen is waiting outside the apartment building with his white Mercedes.

"Get in." Lan Zhan almost barks at all of them.

They're too stunned to argue, and everyone meekly sits inside the car. Wei Ying and both kids in the back, while XiChen slides in behind the steering wheel.

"I'm just going to fetch something from up there." Lan Zhan says, to no one in particular. He disappears inside the apartment complex.

XiChen turns in his seat, so he can smile at his scared passengers.

"Don't worry, he gets like that when he's most scared. Or annoyed." He says brightly, his cheerfulness a direct mockery of Lan Zhan’s completely opposite mood. "He'll be fine in a couple of hours."

Wei Ying throws him a disbelieving look.

"Where exactly are we going?" Wei Ying asks him.

"I'll let him explain." XiChen says, pleasantly.

XiChen carries on making small talk and trying to put them at ease, but Wei Ying just wants Lan Zhan right now.

Even if they could talk in private…he desperately wants to explain, anything just so Lan Zhan will be normal and not … keep glaring at him.

He doesn't even have any idea how to go about doing this, but he sure as heck knows he can't talk about himself in front of the children. And he's now worried about JingYi, because he's so quiet.

Lan Zhan comes back just then and hands Wei Ying a plastic bag of plastic containers filled with snacks. He even cut up the apple slices to look like tiny bunnies.

It proves to be the best distraction because the children are excited to eat the healthy snacks, mostly because they are fashioned into interesting shapes. A-Yuan has decided to be the leader and forcibly stuffs a piece into both JingYi's and Wei Ying’s mouth, periodically.

The car pulls out smoothly and they're driving along.

The kids begin to whisper to each other, far too aware of the current mood in the car.

When they park outside a gated private building, that's when Wei Ying remembers to ask where they are.

No one answers him.

"This is a kind of kidnapping." Wei Ying tries to lighten the mood.

And then he sees the sign. It says 'Private Practice. Dr. Ling Feng MD.'

Lan Zhan is faster though, and picks him up before any kind of protest is made.

Wei Ying feels sulky and scared and completely out of his depth.

They are ushered into a comfortable waiting room where, in spite of the looks from the staff because they're the only ones there, Lan Zhan continues to hold Wei Ying in his arms. His grip is firm but not too tight.

And he still won't look at Wei Ying’s face.

This hurts, more than anything else.

Wei Ying is full of questions but he's too scared to ask any of them. The children have found empty colouring books and they sit on either of XiChen's sides, all three of them colouring in.

A nurse comes out to usher them in.

Only Lan Zhan gets up.

It's a white sterile room, and upon the doctor's prompting, Lan Zhan deposits Wei Ying on the cot lined with paper towels.

The doctor checks all of Wei Ying's body, and asks him questions pertaining to his health. Every time Wei Ying pauses, he gets glares from Lan Zhan, warning him not to downplay any of his symptoms.

After half an hour of prodding and poking, blood pressure taking, more samples of blood, a urine test, weight check and even more questions, the doctor opens a side door and guides Wei Ying inside. His clothes are already changed into a man's gown, and he's made to lie down again.

"This is an MRI test," the doctor explains.

Wei Ying just feels incredibly tired when it's all over.

He thinks they are going home, when they return to the waiting room, because the doctor has already explained that the results will be available next week. Lan Zhan glares at him too, and Wei Ying is glad because he's not the only recipient of those. There is comradeship in mutual suffering…

But Lan Zhan crouches in front of JingYi and helps him to stand up.

"JingYi." He says, ever so gently.

The contrast between the Lan Zhan of inside the doctor's office and this one is like night and day.

JingYi is abruptly on guard. He won't look at Lan Zhan, despite his many attempts to talk to the child.

Wei Ying goes to him too.

"A-Yuan." He says, winking at his son. "I bet you want to see all the cool stuff in that room, right? Doctor Uncle has lots of amazing things he wants to show you guys. If you come, I'm sure JingYi will want to come, too."

This is a brilliant plan, and suddenly both kids are holding hands and going inside the room.

Wei Ying nods at Lan Zhan too, and they enter behind them.

This doctor is amazing.

While he shows them what his stethoscope does, he checks out both kids surreptitiously.

They begin to ask him questions and he shows them what X-rays look like on his backlit screen, explaining everything in a way they could understand. And that's how they end up X-raying JingYi's arm.

Wei Ying is shocked when he sees the darkening bruises on that pale skin. He has to bite his lip not to gasp, but he knows they are all affected by that sight.

Wei Ying takes pictures just in case.

The boy is obviously being hurt…and while they don't know the full story, this is already suspicious, on top of his parents neglecting the child.

The doctor convinces both children to take their shirts off, and that's when Wei Ying loses control.

His tears are already dripping on the floor, and no one is saying anything while he covertly snaps pictures on his phone. JingYi is distracted enough not to notice, and the doctor should be given an award for not stopping once, just thoroughly checking him out.

It turns out that JingYi's arm is merely severely bruised, and the doctor wraps it in a firm bandage so it doesn't hurt so much.

After seeing the pale skin mottled with old and new bruises, it's Wei Ying now, who cannot look at anyone. Lan Zhan comes to stand beside him, and their fingers entwine together, neither able to stay away, and yet Wei Ying knows that one look is all it will take for him to lose his composure.

Maybe it's the same for Lan Zhan too, because they both just stare straight ahead, even when Wei Ying says, "after this, we're all going for ice cream."

JingYi overhears him and for the first time today, throws him a hopeful smile.

"What about fried chicken nuggets?"

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

It's XiChen who insists on paying for their treat, and the ice cream they all polish off, afterwards. XiChen munches on fries, while Wei Ying shares his plate with Lan Zhan so he doesn't look weird not eating anything.

The children have a great time, and it goes some way to healing the scars on Wei Ying’s heart.

Things are still frosty between Lan Zhan and himself, and he knows that his compliance with the doctor thawed Lan Zhan a little bit. Though having said that, he's pretty sure that Lan Zhan is just as traumatised by the clear abuse visited upon JingYi.

Neither of them were prepared to see such harm coming to such a small child.

The children fall asleep in the car, on the way home.

XiChen lifts A-Yuan and Lan Zhan picks up JingYi. He's so gentle, that Wei Ying has to look away as tears threaten once more. He picks up their backpacks, firmly put in his place by the Lans when he tries to help with actually carrying the children.

Both children are placed on A-Yuan's bed, and then XiChen gets a good look at the silver pocket watch hanging from his waistcoat.

He mentions it to Wei Ying, who unclips it and hands it over without a second thought.

Both children receive goodnight kisses from Wei Ying and Lan Zhan, who leaves their door open in case either needs something in the night.

And just like that, the temperature in the living room drops several degrees.

Wei Ying comes to the slow realisation that he is not by any means, off the hook.

XiChen has grasped this fact far too quickly and has one foot out of the door, by the time Wei Ying notices.

"XiChen-Ge!" He calls out, bringing the man back inside.

"A-Xian….I trust you're feeling better, now." He says, smiling at Wei Ying, and somehow managing to throw a warning glance at his baby brother, who studiously ignores him.

"I…I just wanted…to thank you." Wei Ying knows his face is on fire, but he really wants to say this. "Today has been difficult…"

Lan Zhan snorts under his breath.

"So…I was wondering if…if I could…maybe hug you?"

XiChen wordlessly opens his arms.

The affection is open and kind, and exactly what Wei Ying needs right now.

"Don't worry about my Didi, A-Xian. If he says anything, it's because he was so worried about you." He whispers.

Lan Zhan can hear everything.

But XiChen doesn't need to know that…

Wei Ying sniffs.

Lan Zhan does not want to look at him.

He's been fighting that particular desire from the moment he got to school, racing past the teachers blocking his way until he explained where he wanted to go. And then, listening out for Wei Ying’s heartbeat, and being able to tell it apart from all the others he can hear…and feeling satisfaction that Wei Ying’s heart sounds the loudest.

But he's still upset with Wei Ying.

And looking at him will shake his resolve, and throw water all over this teaching moment.

Lan Zhan needs Wei Ying to take his health seriously.

That's the whole point behind this…this need to drive his message home.

"Bye, Didi!" There's a warning in his tone, as XiChen finally leaves.

Above all, Lan Zhan detests any kind of meddling.

Especially in this, his relationship with Wei Ying.

Whatever happens to them, they are meant to be a unit, a single, complete … thing, and they should be able to talk to each other, without any input from anyone outside of themselves.

The door closes with an ominous click.

Lan Zhan moves towards it and secures the deadbolt and activates the security system.

When he turns around, Wei Ying is sitting on the couch.

It's not his normal form of sitting.

This position is hunched, defensive too, as if Wei Ying is expecting to be hurt.

His blood smells different too, a combination of fear and him being upset.

Lan Zhan goes to sit down next to him, but he leaves a gap.

It's a sign of how he's feeling…about everything.

Wei Ying turns his whole body to the side, so he's facing Lan Zhan now. One leg is folded under him, while his left foot rests on the ground.

His usually gorgeous silver eyes are stormy with uncertainty, like midnight waves crashing onto the shore. And when he lifts them to look at Lan Zhan, a shiver travels right through his whole body. It starts at the nape of his neck and shoots down into his toes.

Wei Ying is intense, or he's being that at the moment, and he might not even know it.

Wei Ying takes a deep breath.

Lan Zhan’s gaze skitters away like a rodent in a dirty alley.

Almost as if he's afraid to look…look at Wei Ying’s face.

And suddenly, the whole day catches up with Wei Ying. He's so tired, and this…whatever it is, it's taking so long, and he really just wants to lie down. But he refuses to do that with this cloud of unrest between them.

He was already feeling emotional…and now Lan Zhan won't even look at him…it's too much.

His eyes blur, and there's too much moisture there, too much to hold inside and the tears start slipping off his cheeks. He tries to wipe them away with his sleeve and just then, kinder hands bat his away, replacing his sleeves with a white handkerchief. It's incredibly soft and gentle on his face.

And then, because Lan Zhan hates the distance between them too, he lifts Wei Ying into his lap. He tucks Wei Ying’s head under his chin, holding the trembling man securely and wanting him to feel safe.

Wei Ying burrows closer. This feeling, of being with Lan Zhan, has been missing from him all day, and it has left him feeling bereft. The feeling of something so important, so essential and so needed…it is here now.

Lan Zhan can feel the wet tears travelling down his neck and under his collar.

He hates it when Wei Ying is upset, like this.

"Please…don't cry any more." He says, softly.

"I'm sorry." Wei Ying says quickly.

"For what?" Lan Zhan is definitely confused.

"About what happened…it -"

"No….no, my Wei Ying. How could you know it was going to happen like that? That's not why I am upset."

It helps that Lan Zhan is rubbing his back. It is soothing, melting away his fears.

"Then…why? You wouldn't even look at me…"

Lan Zhan feels bad now.

And so he hurries to clear things up.

"I was upset because Wei Ying wasn't taking his health seriously. I had to bully him into seeing a doctor today. That…is upsetting to me. And I was terrified." He finally admits.

It seems to be the key to unlocking everything he's been feeling today.

Wei Ying kisses him under his jaw.

"Tell me." He whispers.

This feels right, to do this now without any interruptions, to be able to untangle any misunderstandings in their own time.

"I had no idea where Wei Ying was. You could have been anywhere…and then I thought, I don't even know where A-Yuan's school is. Did you even get to school? Every single thought was paralysing. You wouldn't pick up…the messages went unread…" Lan Zhan sounds broken. "The pictures in my mind…I was so scared."

Wei Ying hugs him tighter.

"I promise you, I'll try to do better. I got him into school and then the teacher…she was taking me to the nurse and I think I passed out then. But I'm here now. And tomorrow is the last day of term…the kids have a week-long holiday now."

But Lan Zhan couldn't seem to let it go.

"I'm still worried. Wei Ying could have been anywhere…"

"Then…the only way to stop this…you'll just have to come with me everywhere, until we find out what this is." Wei Ying smiles. "You'll never be able to get rid of me now."

Lan Zhan kisses his forehead, his lips lingering and unwilling to stop the contact.

"I do not wish to get rid of Wei Ying. Ever." He can't help glaring at Wei Ying for suggesting such a thing.

"That's alright, then."

Lan Zhan realises that Wei Ying has a confidence problem.

He seems to think that he is unworthy of being loved….which is actually very sad. He's not sure what happened to Wei Ying in the past to make him feel like this, and perhaps this is not the time to delve deeper into his life…but Lan Zhan wants to know.

So for now, he places a finger under his chin, and lifts that gorgeous face up.

"Wei Ying is beautiful. Wei Ying is loved. I love Wei Ying." He presses his lips to Wei Ying, at the end of each sentence. "I will keep telling Wei Ying until he believes himself."

This last kiss is much longer.

They sigh into the contact as if it is even more precious than breathing. This touching, something so sensitive and pure, it means everything.

Wei Ying pushes him down, his added height lending him a strength he hadn't taken advantage of previously, and he deepens this sweetest of kisses. Electric pulses resonate through his body when their tongues meet, a blast of power.

Wei Ying moans into his mouth and Lan Zhan groans, his fingers digging into Wei Ying's hips and holding him closer.

It quickly escalates into a frenzy of wanting each other.

Wei Ying is transfixed by the feelings Lan Zhan is creating in him, so he doesn't notice when Lan Zhan lifts him up and takes him into their bedroom.

They come together in a hurry and it's a fusion of their love.

"I love you." Wei Ying says, his tired eyes finally closing.

Lan Zhan holds this precious man even closer.

Wei Ying’s hair is so soft, so delicate but so strong. Lan Zhan lets his fingers tangle in the luxurious thickness of it, feeling the most calm he's been since the morning.