Baoshan Sanren hands them a single sheet with rows of numbers and figures.

Wei Ying stares at it, hoping that something about his intense look will transform the data into actual, comprehensive information that they can understand. He glances at Lan Zhan, who is glaring at the paper like it stole his money.

And is denying it.

"Want me to explain?" Baoshan Sanren offers, with a smirk.

Wei Ying nods eagerly.

"So this here is platelet count, white cells, red...." Baoshan Sanren starts talking and in less than twenty seconds, Wei Ying's eyes have glazed over and he's stopped listening.

He turns to see if Lan Zhan is having the same problem, but he's avidly interested, even asking important sounding questions and nodding along like this is all making sense to him.

What is going on?

Wei Ying is gaping at both of them, thinking how crazy this feels. They're his results and yet he's not getting it.

Lan Zhan notices his expression, and takes his hand.

"I'll explain in a moment," he says.

It makes Wei Ying feel so much better.

Lan Zhan has a lovely way of speaking to him, an ability to decipher phrases and convey their meaning so Wei Ying understands him immediately. All without making Wei Ying feel like he's less somehow, that he's stupid for not understanding; it's also without the superior bullshit that previously others have used on him.

Lan Zhan is patient and makes sure Wei Ying keeps up.

So far when they've been writing Wei Ying's chapters daily, it's Wei Ying who has to explain to Lan Zhan why he would have chosen one course of action over another, and by working together, they each have been able to show their strengths and have been supported in their weaknesses.

For example, Lan Zhan has learned that Wei Ying is a whizz at editing videos and finding easy editing solutions. He's wonderful at picking catchy music to go with their videos and soon, they'll have more time to devote to this extra career.

He's seen the way Wei Ying's eyes light up when it's time to post things on social media about their upcoming channel. Wei Ying constantly finds new angles of filming, or taking pictures, ones that Lan Zhan would never even have thought of, and with each other, they have discovered that they slot together like a cardboard animal, pieces designed to fit perfectly.

Wei Ying is a tech wizard.

Together, they make a great team.

When Baoshan Sanren finishes telling Lan Zhan what she thinks the results mean, he nods thoughtfully, thinking about the best way to tell him.

"Those test samples were old," Lan Zhan says, pointing at the ones from the doctor's office. "In just one week, there have been significant changes in Wei Ying's blood."

"Significant changes?" Wei Ying echoes, looking back at him with wide eyes.

Lan Zhan is helpless from letting hope colour his next words.

"These test results show the cancer receding. Further checks should be done, but for now, it looks like Wei Ying is fighting back." Lan Zhan can't stay away any more, and his lips land on Wei Ying's forehead in relief.

"Just by myself?" Wei Ying doesn't want to doubt it, but it's hard to believe.

Just last week, he was passing out, and the headaches, all of it...he couldn't simply accept that this was all of his own doing.

And why does Lan Zhan look so guilty?

Those golden eyes, usually so intense and powerful, are refusing to meet his own, staring down even while Lan Zhan takes his hands.

"Lan Zhan?"

Just a flicker of acknowledgement, a fleeting glance before Lan Zhan looks away.

"Sweetheart, what is it?"

They barely register the room clearing out; now they are alone.

Lan Zhan does feel guilty.

He's been doing something that he probably should have discussed with Wei Ying before trying it out, and now he's going to have to come clean, so to speak.

"Please listen to me. I have been doing something to Wei Ying without him knowing, based on a theory without proof. It is alright if Wei Ying feels angry about that. If you...feel angry with me."

"What have you done?" Wei Ying feels breathless, and no amount of encouraging the air to go back into his lungs is working.

There's a ringing in his ears as Lan Zhan begins to speak, and panic claws all the way up Wei Ying's throat as he struggles to breathe.

"Wei Ying!"

Suddenly, Wei Ying feels strong hands pushing him down, pushing his head between his knees, bending him down. Air floods into his chest, relieving the stress of losing his oxygen. Lan Zhan is rubbing his back, applying just enough pressure to make it count. It feels good.

It's a good ten minutes before Wei Ying can look up, and when he does, he seeks comfort in Lan Zhan's arms, climbing into his lap and burying his face in Lan Zhan's neck.

"What happened?"

Lan Zhan's deep voice rumbled down from the depths of his chest, up and into Wei Ying's ear as he spoke.

"I think I panicked."

There's a huff of laughter.

"Why?"

"Everything together. I think I only now was processing what the doctor said, and then here, with the test results, because I didn't understand them. And then you said...you said I could hate you-"

Wei Ying makes a choked noise, like a sob caught in his throat.

Lan Zhan feels moisture trickling down his neck.

None of this is fair, none of it is right. And he is also at fault, because he hadn't given Wei Ying time to grieve, to come to terms with his diagnosis.

"I am sorry. What can I do to help?" He asks, feeling bad.

"Just please, hold me?" Wei Ying presses himself closer, feeling cold all of a sudden. "And keep doing that, while you tell me why I'm supposed to hate you..."

Lan Zhan smiled, kissing the top of his head, even as his big palm continued to rub circles on his back.

"I started thinking about F4keSt0ries, what they said about venom obliterating anything that wasn't useful to its survival. And I hoped that by injecting a small amount into Wei Ying's body, that it would find its way to whatever the problem was and start fighting it on your behalf, like your own soldier. I wasn't sure it would work, and I should have asked you. But whenever I bite you, there's no evidence of it, no scars, and certainly, strangely, nothing to indicate harm."

"Okay, with you so far. I thought you were feeding from me, and you know how okay I am with that, right?" Wei Ying kissed his neck, loving the way Lan Zhan's whole body seemed to absorb his touch, truly accepting his love.

"Mn. Wei Ying threatened to kick me out if I did not."

Wei Ying smiles at the memory.

"So you think your venom is fighting the cancer?"

"Mn. It is the only thing we've added in the past week, and yet Wei Ying is right. No fainting, no headaches?"

"Yeah, nothing. Maybe it's really helping. Can we ask Grandmother?" He slides off Lan Zhan and is about to get up to go and find her, when she comes back by herself.

Wei Ying launches into his questions and he's suddenly so excited by this possibility, that he doesn't even leave gaps for her to speak.

She holds up her hands and suddenly, both she and Lan Zhan are smiling at him.

"What?" He's shy now.

"Nothing, it's just good to see you back to yourself. That's all," she replies, still smiling.

"Mn. Wei Ying should always be happy." Lan Zhan adds.

"So, to address your first question." Baoshan Sanren sits opposite them, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting.

Not at all like the stressful one from yesterday, when they didn't know her any better and she could not trust them yet.

"From what I can tell, your blood isn't normal, but in this case, that's a good thing. Great, in fact. I've never seen anything like it. It seems to welcome his venom, and they're working in tandem to protect you. In fact, I bet if I tried to cut you, you would heal instantly."

Lan Zhan growls unintentionally.

"Down, boy! I'm not suggesting we do that." Baoshan Sanren cackles again.

She's loud and boisterous, but at the same time, she's sweet and caring. And invested in this.

"Well, actually, you're right." Wei Ying goes on to tell her about when the knife slipped and cut him, and Lan Zhan stopped the bleeding, and just the innocent parts of their nightly adventures. "Before, I used to wake up with bite marks, nothing serious though. But now, nothing." He shrugs, unable to explain it away.

"Mn."

"So I have another question: what will happen if I drink his blood?" Wei Ying swallows hard when Lan Zhan's hum of approval is way too innocent, compared to the darkening of his liquid golden eyes, like the evening sky on fire.

"Like an injection of pure adrenaline. It will enhance your vision, hearing, stamina, everything. You'll think faster, your responses to outward stimuli will be spontaneous and correct. You guys should try it out, sometime," she replies.

"But Grandmother, do you think I'll be a vampire too? I don't understand why I'm not. Especially if Lan Zhan has been biting me all week."

"That part needs more investigation, but lucky for you, we have specialised equipment modified just for our needs. I'll just need more samples from both of you this time."

When they nod, she leads them back to the lab they visited last night.

Baoshan Sanren expertly takes samples from each, ignoring the whimper from her grandson, and sharing an indulgent smile with his boyfriend, when she hands him a piece of candy.

"A-Qing loves candy," she explains, "so I keep some as a motivational tool."

"Is everyone here a vampire?" Wei Ying whispers, missing the way about ten heads shoot up to look at him, because they're passing by several labs with people working inside them.

Lan Zhan pretends not to notice, because he heard that question so clearly, he's pretty sure the others did, as well. His own skills are much improving, since he can sense so many vampires here, not just on this level where they are, but in this building. This is something else he has questions about, and hopes to address soon.

They return to the office styled living room with the open fire.

"So, what would you like to know first?" Baoshan Sanren is smiling openly at Wei Ying now. "You cannot know what I'm feeling right now. I've been looking for you for so long...I still can't believe you're here, with me." She audibly swallows past the lump in her throat.

"I...I guess I want to know more about my parents. What were they like?" It's Wei Ying who has trouble speaking now.

Baoshan Sanren takes a moment to compose herself before she says anything.

"Tell me, what do you remember about them?"

Wei Ying closes his eyes, smiling when his hand is squeezed with feeling.

He thinks back to so many years ago, to memories worn away by time.

"It's not much, and if I didn't have my locket, I probably wouldn't remember what they looked like now. But I remember the sound of their laughter. My dad's was quieter, and deeper. My mother, she laughed with the whole of herself. It was nice. And I remember, she used to kiss my forehead and cheeks at bedtime. It made me feel safe," he says.

There were other nuances, just feelings he associated with his parents rather than tangible things that he could say definitely were a part of them.

His mother always wore a floral scent, something light and happy, and his father smelled of spice and varnish, both of which flung him into the past whenever those fragrances crossed his path.

"What happened to them?" Wei Ying asks, as Lan Zhan wipes his face for him.

He hadn't even realised he was crying.

"To be honest, we're not sure. Song Lan was working on it, and he said he was close to a breakthrough when he also vanished. We still don't know where he is, or what happened to him."

His grandmother looks pensive.

"Who's Song Lan?" Wei Ying discreetly glances at Lan Zhan, who shakes his head subtly.

So he doesn't know this Song Lan, either.

"Him and Xiao XingChen, they were partners. Professionally, though I think both of them were drifting towards something more personal, but by then Song Lan had disappeared. It's probably better not to mention that part to him." Baoshan Sanren stands up and fetches the infamous decanter of Emperor's Smile, with three glasses, filling two after Lan Zhan's shake of his head, declining it.

Thankfully, Wei Ying is a little more cautious about chugging it down, and sticks to small sips.

"If we're gonna talk about that, then it's best to indulge in some liquid courage," she says, throwing back her head and tossing the drink down her throat with gusto. "Your parents moved to the U.S. quite a while back, about ten years before you were born. They were following a lead, a notorious troublemaker called Xue Yang was on the run, after slaughtering the Chang family. They were tasked with bringing him back dead or alive."

"Were they some kind of bounty hunters?" Wei Ying asked.

"Sort of. But free. In the good old days, each Sect had villages under its banner that paid them a fee for protection. Since Xue Yang had killed off an entire branch of a family that belonged to the Nie Sect, they hired my children to seek out and capture him."

"Where's Xue Yang now?" Lan Zhan asks, brow furrowed in thought.

"Rumours are he's dead, but nothing is confirmed so far." Baoshan Sanren takes another swig of her drink. "We were back home when the news reached us, that your parents had died. At first, I thought that was impossible! My daughter is...was, a pure blood. If she was dead, then that meant someone had to have cut off her head. And since those types of crimes rarely took place here, it also meant her death wasn't an accident. Of course, I came here immediately. But by then, it was too late. You were already in the system. I even contacted the Jiangs but they didn't seem to know anything either, at least at that time. I didn't know that Jiang Femnian didn't stop looking. But then that begs the question, why didn't they contact me?"

Lan Zhan turns to Wei Ying and says, "what do you know about your childhood? How did you end up with the Jiangs?"

"I don't remember much. Madam Yu said I was in a Foster home, when they found me." Wei Ying shrugs.

"It might be worth asking them some questions, too." Baoshan Sanren says thoughtfully.

"Um...I'd rather not." Wei Ying says suddenly. "We don't keep in touch anymore."

"Why not? What happened?" His grandmother asks sharply.

Wei Ying thinks she must have some wicked sixth sense about him. To know that he was hoping not to get into this.

"When I said I wanted to adopt A-Yuan, Madam Yu forbade me to get involved. But it was too late by that time. His parents had already died, and he spent his time between members of their family. I had met Wen Ning at school, way before all this, and he was picking up an order for A-Qing from MianMian, her girlfriend. We reconnected and I went home with him, met with Wen PoPo and A-Yuan. Wen Qing got me a job later at the Coffee Carousel, and the rest is history."

He thought he got away with it too, but Baoshan Sanren narrowed her eyes at him, looking rather foreboding.

"What Did Madam Yu do to you? Why are you living in an apartment on the poverty line, housing drug addicts and criminals? Didn't she give you any money?"

Wei Ying could feel his face getting hotter. This was an uncomfortable topic for him.

Lan Zhan squeezed his hand and then the pad of his thumb traced over the ridges of Wei Ying's knuckles, the movement soft and soothing.

Wei Ying decided to be brave.

"At the time, she used to tell me constantly that my being in her home was incurring a debt. I owed her for every morsel of food, every thread making up my clothes and every sip of water. I did everything I could not to provoke her wrath, but somehow, I always got in trouble. And when the subject of A-Yuan came up, she went batshit crazy. Told me to stay away from the Wens, and that if I went anywhere near them, I should consider myself exiled from the Jiangs. She said they were evil, and by associating with them, I was bringing shame onto her family, and there was no way she would allow that to happen. But A-Yuan...he was only three. There was nothing evil about him, not then and not now!" Wei Ying dashed away angry tears.

He remembered how A-Yuan had stolen his heart so easily, running to hug his leg from the first ever time they met, how he continued to do that, and Wei Ying saw no reason why he should stop that habit. Why, when his baby always looked up at him with a smiling face, so much trust in his eyes with round pudgy cheeks?

A-Yuan was such a delight, and an unexpected anchor in that sea of trouble.

Wei Ying remembered one particular night, when neither of them slept because A-Yuan was teething and had a fever. It didn't matter that Wei Ying didn't know what to do; A-Yuan simply understood, and they got through that night together.

Aching and crying, he had finally fallen asleep in Wei Ying's arms, and in that split second, Wei Ying knew that they were a team. It was A-Yuan and himself against the world.

So what if no one wanted them? They had each other, and that would never change.

And now they had two more people to join their family island. Lan Zhan and JingYi were the latest ones, but in a flash, Wei Ying saw everyone he knew together, a celebration of unity.

Baoshan Sanren was right there, his grandmother and the people she knew.

His island had space for as many people who wanted to join them.

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

Lan Zhan had been watching the changing emotions on Wei Ying's face, and feeling the different, subtle changes as his blood changed in smell. His own mind was becoming stronger daily, able to multitask and concentrate on many things at the same time.

He supposed it was a predatory thing: even the wildest animals had to avoid getting eaten while feeding, and vampires had taken that basic skill and refined it to become the Apex predator. Top of the food chain.

Right now, he had questions of his own.

"No offence intended, but how do you know so much about Wei Ying? About us?"

Baoshan Sanren picked up Wei Ying's locket and opened it, mulling over his question. She stared at the faces of her beloved children looking back at her, and made the choice to be as candid as possible.

She handed it back to Wei Ying, who was watching her now.

Lan Zhan carefully plucks the locket out of his hands and brushes aside his hair to fasten the black threaded catch around Wei Ying's neck.

"It was quite by chance that Xiao XingChen saw you that day. He doesn't even like coffee. That's Song Lan. Maybe he missed that connection and wanted to remember his friend? Who knows...but he ended up standing right in front of you." She takes another long draught from her glass and pours herself another.

Wei Ying remembered that day, only a couple of weeks ago, if that. The man who wore all white. That day, he didn't have his sword with him. Xiao XingChen had vanished just as suddenly...

"Information is power, never forget that." Baoshan Sanren continues. "When he came back to tell me about your locket, I wanted to believe it so badly, that we had finally found you! But I made myself wait," she paused, a calculating look in her silver eyes. She nods to herself, as if she's made up her mind about something. "Whatever we discuss, I trust that it's not going to go further? A lot of lives are at stake, and we have a plan in place. It shouldn't be that words reach the ears of the wrong person and all of this gets fucked up." She spreads her hands out to encompass the room, meaning her whole operation.

"We won't tell anyone." Wei Ying promises.

"Mn."

"His name is Warm Sky. He's a genius with anything that involves computers and data collection. He's our inside man at the moment. And he spent a day getting to know you, inside out." Baoshan Sanren stares at them, her gaze assessing. "Of course, that meant compiling files on all the people who you know, or you think you know."

"What do you mean by that?" Wei Ying says, feeling a little attacked. "Everyone around me, I trust them implicitly."

"Even Wen Qing? Wen Ning?" She demands, standing up and pacing. "I think you should start at the beginning, with everything you know about vampires."

Her suggestion that Wei Ying might not be able to trust the Wen Siblings was the equivalent of throwing a bucket of cold water at him. He didn't want to believe that his friends might be bad, and it was easier not to think about that part right now.

"I found Lan Zhan in an alley at night, on my way home from work." Wei Ying goes on to tell her everything that had happened that night. "Wen Qing was at home when I brought him back. We chatted about those emo kids who pretend to be vampires and go around trying to bite people with fake teeth."

Lan Zhan hides his amusement at that.

"Looking back, I didn't think about why she wasn't surprised about it. She must have known! And later, when she took our blood samples, she didn't ask any questions, or look surprised when his blood came out not red. Like just now." Wei Ying glances at Lan Zhan, who looks thoughtful.

"How long was the transition period?" Baoshan Sanren asks.

Wei Ying counted on his fingers, earning himself a smile from the other two.

"Thirty-three hours."

Baoshan Sanren looked shocked.

"Isn't that normal?" Wei Ying asks her.

"No. Not at all. The average incubation time is easily forty-eight hours. But like I said, it's all about the blood. Do you have any ideas about who could have attacked you?" Her brow is creased in worry.

"We don't have the proof, but we suspect either Wen Chao or Wen Xu. They were scheduled for a meeting between XiChen-Ge and Lan Zhan on the night he was attacked. But, we've seen a red Ferrari often enough, and then Wen Chao came and visited Love Bites, the bar where I used to work. Apparently, he and his brother use it. We saw it in the underground parking lot at Wen Laboratories."

"Why did you go there?" She asks sharply, coming to sit down in front of them again, and leaning forward.

"Wen Qing told us that she had something to show us, about my blood and how it was affected by Lan Zhan's venom. We had to get through really tight security and in the end, there wasn't enough time because Wen Rouhan came to see her. We had to leave really quickly, and that's when we found the medication. SUP10 AND SUP11. Grandmother? We've been talking to someone online who seems to know way more about Vampires than we do."

"Who?"

"Someone called F4keSt0ries. They told us about the Moon Glyphs." Wei Ying describes the first one they saw, and she's nodding along. But then, when he tells her about the second one, she goes to her desk to fetch a plain piece of paper and a pencil.

She asks him once again to describe the second one, and she begins to draw it out. When she finishes, her fingers are trembling enough for her to let go of the pencil. Her stricken face is haunting when she looks up.

"Where did they see this glyph?" She asks in a shaky voice.

Wei Ying looks at Lan Zhan for help.

"I can't remember. I'm not sure if they said where exactly. A protected place, maybe? But why? Grandmother," Wei Ying sits up straight as another possibility hits him. "Do you know what that says?

She nods at both of them.

"This part, it's the same as the sign for blood, right?" She continues after they nod. "But this line, and this extra dot? Separately, it could be something harmless, but together? It means sacrifice."

"Sacrifice?" Wei Ying shivers unintentionally.

He didn't want to feel scared, but it was definitely creepy.

"Sacrifice what?" Lan Zhan at least, sounds more level-headed.

"Vampires have always been overly dramatic, and who doesn't like a show? Amongst any group of people, someone has to be a leader, and the best way to portray power is by an elaborate display. In days of old, like the Covens of witches, there were Covens of Vampires. Sure they could feed anytime, but they chose to make it fancy, adding mystery and showmanship.

"They picked the night of the full moon, being Wild Creatures of the night, and when the Goddess Chang'e was at her highest peak, then blood would be spilled. Blood is and always has been powerful. A Life-force, a conduit for magic.

"A long time ago, Wen Mao began conducting these circus shows, and he claimed he had made an Elixir Of Life."

"Elixir Of Life? What's that?" Wei Ying asks, also leaning forward.

"It goes way back, to the time of Myths and Legends. A long, long time ago, when I was back in Yiling, we heard talk of the Necromancer. A person who could control the dead. Wen Mao said he found the Elixir of Life, and only using that, could the Necromancer be defeated." Baoshan Sanren finished off the decanter of wine and got up to get herself another.

"What does it look like? And what does it do?" Wei Ying asks her, feeling both fascinated and frustrated, because instead of receiving their answers, they were getting more questions.

"To be absolutely honest, who knows? No idea," she shrugs. "I thought at first, it might be some vile concoction made with ingredients derived from the Demon-Quelling cave. But Wen Rouhan has inherited the same tight-lipped attitude to questions. He tries to be as mysterious as his ancestor, in that department."

"F4keSt0ries said they're looking for someone, with the letter 'N'. You don't think they mean the Necromancer, do you?" Wei Ying takes a sip of his drink. "It makes sense, right? If the only vulnerability or danger to the vampires was an unknown person possessing unknown skill, specifically intended to wipe you out, obviously you would try to do damage control. Like finding a way around it, to nip it in the bud, so to speak."

"Mn."

"Maybe keep checking in with your F4keSt0ries person and ask them for updates." Baoshan Sanren tells them.

Wei Ying takes another sip.

It's good, strong stuff and exactly what he needs to cope with all of this.

"The only people we know whose name begins with 'N' are the Nies." Wei Ying muses. "Huaisang is a computer whizz, and probably not the one they want. Nie MingJue, though?"

Lan Zhan shakes his head.

"He's a strong man, but so far Xiongzhang hasn't felt anything unusual. He would say if that was the case."

"Hm. I mean, raising the dead is kind of noticeable. A dead giveaway, huh?" He snickers at his own pun.

Baoshan Sanren rolls her eyes.

"Hang on!" Wei Ying suddenly sits up in alarm.

"Mn?" Lan Zhan is looking at him with a worried expression.

"Just connecting the dots!" Wei Ying answers him, excitedly. "You said Wen Mao was the one in your time, the one who experimented and became a vampire, right?"

Baoshan Sanren nods.

"Well, Wen Rouhan is his descendant, right? Grandchild?"

"Try great, great Grandchild. Why?"

"Their family connection is like ours. You became pregnant and a vampire in one night, and omg, my mother was a vampire!" Wei Ying clutches his head as the chaotic order of his thoughts becomes even more unstable. "But you said my dad wasn't one, that could explain why I'm not a vampire, but my blood accepts Lan Zhan's venom! Mind blown!" Wei Ying brings his fingers of one hand in together, suddenly separating them like an imaginary bomb, next to his head.

"That's an excellent theory!" Baoshan Sanren exclaims, grinning back at them.

"And, and! Wen Mao, Wen Rouhan, Wen Chao and Wen Xu, what if all of them are connected? I mean, we know they're all vampires, but if they're Pure Bloods too? What if Wen Mao is still alive? What if the Jiangs knew about this? I mean, why did Madam Yu specifically say no, when she heard A-Yuan's family name?"

There was so much to think about!

"Are you saying that because the Wens are Pure Bloods, that's a contributing factor in his condition?" Baoshan Sanren gestures towards Lan Zhan.

"Yes! You said it yourself, grandmother. Wen Mao, messing around at the Blood Pool in Burial Mounds, turns into a vampire! His descendants Wen Rouhan and his sons have to be vampires too! And you said there was a lot of Resentment energy to be found in that place. What if they combined that with whatever they did with the Blood Pool, that's what led them to be in their present condition?"

His stomach grumbled loudly enough for the other two to stare at him. Wei Ying laughs awkwardly.

"I am forgetting my manners." Baoshan Sanren says, standing up. "I'll go get you something to eat." She walks past them, and there's a swirling perfume left in her wake.

"What do you think, Sweetheart?" Wei Ying rests his head on Lan Zhan's shoulder.

Lan Zhan swaps out his hand so his right arm comes around Wei Ying's shoulders, pulling him closer, while his left hand holds Wei Ying's right hand.

"They are all good theories." Lan Zhan tells him. "I like the one about Wei Ying the best."

"The one about my mother being a vampire? Yeah, I like that one too." Wei Ying smiles softly. "It makes me feel closer to you, and to my grandmother. And it makes the most sense, right?"

"Mn."

"I've always felt a little bit lost." Wei Ying murmurs, closing his eyes.

"Mn?"

"Like I was forgotten. As if there wasn't a space for me. Everything was borrowed, or a hand-me-down, you know? I'm not talking about wealth. I don't mean the amount of things at all. But I rarely if ever, got something new, something that was solely mine from the start. Madam Yu kind of convinced me that I wasn't worthy of having anything to call my own, especially because everything I had already belonged to her."

"She's horrible." Lan Zhan pulls him closer.

He thinks she's the cruellest person for making Wei Ying feel lesser, as if he wasn't good enough. Wei Ying was the brightest star in his Universe, and Lan Zhan was going to show him how important Wei Ying was, not just to each other, or their family, but to the entire world.

It was part of his plan, that by making Wei Ying share his experiences on being a first time father, others would also benefit from his knowledge and come to appreciate him. To make Wei Ying be seen. To make him understand that he was important, an essential part of his world.

Wei Ying continues to speak his mind.

"So when I got A-Yuan, I felt like...like, it was okay if we didn't have a space where either of us fit. It was going to be okay, because I was going to make space for both of us. In this huge world, there was going to be a place just for us.

"When I was a teenager, there was a time I got really angry at my parents. I didn't understand why they had to die, why they left me all alone. It wasn't fair. Why did other kids have loving parents? These kids had someone waiting for them at the end of every day, after school. I wondered why I didn't have anyone. That was the day I decided not to let it get to me. I thought to myself, so what? So what if I didn't have them, I had myself.

"But it was A-Yuan who taught me how to love. How to love properly. How to be a good parent. How to be a good person. Even if I wasn't always so, if I thought about doing something questionable, like tasting a grape before buying the bunch, I thought, what if A-Yuan found out? What would he say?" Wei Ying giggled suddenly. "We kept each other on the straight and narrow." He sat up suddenly. "Lan Zhan! What time is it?"

"Just after one. We still have time."

Baoshan Sanren comes in then, with a covered tray. She places it in front of Wei Ying and sits back.

Wei Ying uncovers the steel dome to smell the best aroma ever.

"Lotus root and pork rib soup!" Wei Ying is delighted, eating so fast that he nearly burns his tongue.

Baoshan Sanren and Lan Zhan share a look.

"Warm Sky is diligent and efficient," she replies to the question in his eyes.

"Mn. Since I have never made this before, for Wei Ying. Something I hope to remedy soon."

Wei Ying holds the spoon up to his mouth, so he can taste it for reference.

"Which means your Warm Sky went digging deep, if they found out that Wei Ying likes this food, as it was from his time staying at the Jiangs."

"As you say." Baoshan Sanren tips her glass of suddenly full Emperor's Smile at him in a silent salute.

But she doesn't elaborate, watching them over the rim of her drink.

"How is it you can drink?" Lan Zhan asks her, genuinely curious.

"I don't know. Perhaps I've been alive too long? Who knows?" She shrugs.

"He's saying that because straight after he woke up, he was hungry and wanted a rare steak. He was a vegetarian before that." Wei Ying tells her, putting the spoon in the bowl and covering the tray after finishing his meal.

"That's to be expected. You were newly turned. Your body was still changing. Fluids are way easier to process than solid food. But we get everything we need from blood, there's no other recourse," she explains.

"So Lan Zhan can drink stuff?" Wei Ying gazed at him, with a mischievous grin.

"If he wants to." She shrugs again, unbothered.

"It certainly explains how, if Wen Chao is a vampire, he's still able to drink. And didn't F4keSt0ries say alcohol numbs the senses? Is that why you couldn't sense what he is?"

"Maybe." Lan Zhan isn't convinced.

"Or do you think he's using the suppressants, that medication we found at the Wen Laboratories? And in apartment 613?" Wei Ying thought about it. "It makes sense. And of course they would try any medication they've tested. But do you think there are long term effects? F4keSt0ries said you couldn't jump numbers, which suggests that the higher the number, the higher the dosage. And they've made at least eleven versions of whatever it is."

"They also said there was an incident when the vampires didn't listen to their doctor," Lan Zhan thinks back, "rabid, they said."

Baoshan Sanren looks interested in that.

"Failed experiments? Perhaps it's to be expected. They're wild creatures, at the end of the day. And when you start tampering with Mother Nature, there's bound to be consequences," she says, pensively.

"Do you guys think when F4keSt0ries mentioned the doctor, they were speaking about Wen Qing?" Wei Ying asks them.

"No idea." Baoshan Sanren says, still lost in thought. "But the real question is, how much do you trust her?"

"Million dollar question." Wei Ying laughs humourlessly. "I wish I knew. I don't want her to be bad! I've known her for over four years, I consider her to be like my A-Jie. My child calls her JieJie, for God's sake!"

"Then prepare yourself to get hurt, because it looks as if she's as deeply involved as Wen Rouhan, her uncle." Baoshan Sanren says, knowingly. "I want to know, why did she make you both go inside Wen Laboratories, past such tight security, when the information she had to depart could have been discussed over the phone?"

"But she was interrupted. Maybe she wanted to conduct more tests?" Wei Ying tries to defend her.

"Plausible but unlikely. I think there must be another reason. Especially since her uncle and her cousins must have been able to detect your vampire boyfriend, no?" Baoshan Sanren taps the side of her nose as she thinks.

"That's right! I didn't think about that!" Wei Ying exclaims. "And what about that video Huaisang sent? The one that looked like a gang fight, but with a hundred percent more blood?"

"What video?" His grandmother asks.

Lan Zhan found the link and showed her. Before they watched it again, she suggested swapping phone numbers so that if they needed to get in touch with each other, they could. Then she watched it.

Wei Ying tried to decipher the different emotions he saw reflected on her face, but it was still a new canvas for him, and she seemed to be purposefully stoic now. Her expression remained impassive.

"I didn't think Wen Rouhan would stoop to harvesting off the streets," she remarked, looking annoyed. "That's our proof, right there. People are being taken inside their facility, and I would bet good money that they don't come out the same, if at all."

"We found an advertisement for people to join paid medical trials. F4keSt0ries said it was a scam, and they were being experimented upon. We really need to get inside Wen Laboratories again, but this time we need to go deeper. I can only imagine what's hiding beneath the surface of white clinical labs and the official story telling the public what they're really doing." Wei Ying urges them.

"We'll see. By observing the enemy first, much can be learned before we take steps that cannot be retracted. It has to be timed right."

"Also, I don't know that we can rely on the authorities to help us. Grandmother, F4keSt0ries said the police and others were in on it, that Wen Rouhan has them in his pockets. Plus, what if the police are no match for Wen Rouhan? In the end, they're still only human. And F4keSt0ries told us that he owns companies which are directly connected to the media, and that's how he can control what information is released to the public. I think that's the scary part. There could be a massacre, and no one would ever find out about it. That gang fight was just an example on a smaller scale."

Lan Zhan is shocked by how much Wei Ying has been thinking about this. And his conclusions make sense, every single point he's made so far.

"But I do think you're right, about Wen Laboratories. That place must hold the key, answers to many of our questions, even ones we haven't thought of, yet." Baoshan Sanren muses. "The worst case scenario is us having to deal with Wen Rouhan and his vampires ourselves. He's getting out of hand, and the last thing any vampire wants is exposure. Can you imagine the chaos it would cause? Humans would be panicking out of their skins, if they knew we actually existed."

"Can I please ask you a question, grandmother?" Wei Ying says now, a little more quietly.

"Sure," she says easily. "As long as it doesn't involve my age, we're good." She grins at him.

Wei Ying smiled back softly. "Well, how do you feed? What do you feed upon?"

"Over the years, we've been working on finding a solution which doesn't involve feeding directly from the humans. At first, we relied on blood banks, and that was great but limiting, especially after our numbers began to increase. If we didn't look for a solution soon, our depletion of blood reserves was going to be out in the open. So we created a synthetic version, which does the same as real blood. Testing is a continuous process, though. And we don't force anyone to take it, it has to be their own choice."

"That's really good, grandmother. I'm impressed. Everything you've built up, this place, it's amazing. I bet my parents would be proud of you, too." Wei Ying says, just as Lan Zhan's alarm goes off.

Wei Ying reaches over to gently turn his wrist, so he can read the time.

"We have to go and pick up the kids." Wei Ying says, apologetically.

"That's okay." Baoshan Sanren stands up with them. "I've really enjoyed today. It's been lovely, finding out about you. Both of you." She glances at Lan Zhan, too.

"Thank you for having us." Wei Ying smiles shyly, as she brings him into her arms.

"Silly boy." Her lips land on his forehead, a sweet kiss of maternal love.

When she looks like she wants to say something else, Wei Ying pauses, watching her.

"What is it, grandmother?"

"I have another place I want to show you, but we've run out of time now. Any chance you would like to come again tomorrow?" She looks so hopefully back at them, they both nod.

"See you tomorrow!" Wei Ying waves at her and then they're being escorted out of the foyer with Little A-Qing.

She's shy and looks straight ahead in the elevator as they ascend to the ground floor, sneaking glances at both of them.

Wei Ying decides not to push his luck and talk to her just yet.

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

A-Yuan and A-Yi are excited to complete their homework tonight, and to tide them over until it's time to cook together, Lan Zhan has prepared apple slices that look like little bunnies, and the kids are delighted.

They even ask for seconds.

Lan Zhan complies and helps them out with a few of their maths questions when they ask for guidance. He's left Wei Ying sifting flour in the kitchen, and when he returns, it still isn't done.

Wei Ying is staring into space, obviously distracted.

Lan Zhan waves a hand in front of his face, making him blink back to the present.

"What is Wei Ying thinking about?"

"Everything. My God, Lan Zhan, we learned so much today! My head's buzzing with all that stuff hitting against the walls of my brain." Wei Ying leans into his chest.

"Wei Ying needs to give himself a break from that." Lan Zhan wraps his arms around him and pulls him into a hug. "Someone said hugs help."

"They do! And boy, do I need one right now."

They stand together for a few minutes, just absorbing each other's strength.

"Try not to think about all that." Lan Zhan tells him.

"But Sweetheart, it's so hard! I feel antsy with too much going on up here." Wei Ying looks up anxiously into his beautiful golden eyes. They reminded him of bright sunsets and golden stars just beginning to twinkle up above them.

Lan Zhan was so remarkably beautiful.

Wei Ying lifts his hand up to caress the smooth cheek of his beloved, marvelling at the hidden strength he could feel in Lan Zhan's jaw. And yet, his skin was soft and delightful to kiss.

"Maybe Wei Ying needs a distraction?"

"A distraction from the distraction?" Wei Ying laughs, curiously.

"Mn. If that's what it takes."

He gets no warning as firm lips take his in a possessive yet sweet kiss. It's as if Lan Zhan was holding back all this time, and now he simply couldn't wait any longer. It's demanding, and simultaneously giving.

Wei Ying finds himself falling into this sweetness, surrendering into the relief of not having to think anymore. It's nice not to have to do that anymore. His mind feels like an athlete forced to complete a decathlon in an hour, the mental gymnastics required throughout today have finally caught up with him.

So he gives himself up to this excitement, the wonder that thrills him from the inside as he kisses Lan Zhan back. His fingers tangle in Lan Zhan's hair and he has the fleeting thought that it's definitely longer in the back, and he tugs at it unconsciously, when Lan Zhan bites down on his bottom lip.

There's a growl.

He loves that Lan Zhan has stopped treating him like he was breakable, like something fragile that could crack under pressure. Now Lan Zhan kisses and bites him with abandon, and it's as exciting as the first time.

Wei Ying has let go of the aftertaste of fear, the niggling little fear that used to reside in his head like a tapeworm, embracing his scared thoughts and feeding from them, growing larger as time went by.

His secret worry was that every time Lan Zhan bit him, he was slowly turning into a vampire.

He had never voiced this concern, but it had always been there, and it took saying it out loud to completely banish it from his mind. He was already part vampire, and there was nothing to be scared of.

Like shining a bright light into dark corners where ghosts lie, the exposure dispelling the myth, Wei Ying was now ready to accept every single part of Lan Zhan he was willing to give.

Lan Zhan felt the change.

It was hard to describe, but that didn't make it any the less potent.

Wei Ying had changed, there was something different about him, and whatever it was, it made Wei Ying more.

More beautiful, more intoxicating, more stronger.

It was like drinking a drink that should be diluted but he was chugging it down at full strength.

Lan Zhan pushed him down onto the counter so that Wei Ying was bent backwards, a complete surrender.

The moan that tore from his lips as Lan Zhan bites down again is worth it, as Lan Zhan leans back to look at his lover.

Wei Ying looks...well kissed.

His bottom lip is plump from Lan Zhan's loving attention, and in direct contrast, his gorgeous silver eyes are dazed with feeling. He's limp from letting all of his energy be released into that mind-blowing kiss, and now he's blissed out, content to only look back.

Both of their chests are heaving, with Wei Ying trying to restore some balance and not really caring about it, while Lan Zhan can stop anytime, because it's not necessary for him to breathe.

It's a strange feeling, not using his lungs. They're there, and they move up and down like normal, but the difference takes some getting used to.

"Better?" Lan Zhan asks him.

"Oh, yeah!" Wei Ying grins back at him, stupid with love.

Lan Zhan huffs out a small laugh.

"You can do that to me anytime you like." Wei Ying breathes out, still revelling in the sudden quiet inside his head.

"Later, I shall ask you." Lan Zhan promises, picking him up and depositing him on the chair next to the table.

Wei Ying doesn't particularly care about anything just yet.

Whatever is going on in his head is the sweetest relief from the constant bombardment of new information he's been subjected to all day, today. He'll take what he can get, at this point.

He rests his chin on his hands, content to watch a super-efficient Lan Zhan flit about the kitchen like a pro, gathering ingredients for the pizza dough. He rolls up his sleeves, exposing the pale lengths of pure muscle bunching under his skin, and unintentionally making Wei Ying's mouth water with a deep desire to just...lick.

The dough is ready, and Lan Zhan has just finished washing his hands.

When he looks up, feeling the weight of Wei Ying's gaze, he wants to laugh at the naked lust in the other's captivating eyes. But as their eyes lock and neither looks away, the air grows thicker with want.

All that he could ever want, or need, it's right here with Wei Ying.

Unconsciously feeling the pull, like magnets helplessly attracted to one another, they come together for another scorching, brutal kiss, this time ravaging both of them like an unexpected storm.

There's the flash of lightning as desire rolls through them like the deepest thunder. A gale force of need, a visceral requirement that has to be fulfilled right now, a necessity crucial to their existence.

It's a tornado, ripping through their bodies as teeth clash, tongues fight, and air is sucked through the vortex of their love.

This.

It is everything.

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

Wei Ying is still blissed out, and Lan Zhan laughs for real, leaving him covered up but minus clothes on their bed, as he leaves to start making dinner with the children.

As he stated before this wild ride into ecstasy, the dough needed to sit for twenty minutes and Lan Zhan used the time well, in his honest opinion.

They were both satisfied and relaxed now.

It was as if this physical act represented every tumultuous thought they'd had to endure during the day, from going to the doctor's place and receiving devastating news, to the relief they basked in at Baoshan Sanren's place, followed by revelation after revelation.

It had been taxing, to say the least, and now, all Wei Ying wanted was to sleep forever.

He must have actually fallen asleep, because two wet kisses land on his cheeks at the same time, and when Wei Ying opens his eyes, two mischievous, but extremely cute faces are right in front of him, laughing with glee because they've been successful in waking him up.

Thankfully, some time in between Lan Zhan had dressed him, because he was really a God, (and had Wei Ying truly remained asleep for that kind of manhandling??) So Wei Ying was able to counter attack by tickling both little boys until they were a heap of helpless laughter, all three of them.

The delicious enticing scent of freshly cooked basil, tomato and garlic stoked the embers of their hunger and made it blaze to life as they dragged themselves into the kitchen for some much needed nourishment.

Wen PoPo was back now, after visiting some friends who were also her neighbours.

"It's going to be another week, I'm afraid," she told them, whilst wiping dishes. "The landlord discovered a termite nest in the basement, so they're fumigating for another few days."

"PoPo, that couch is yours!" Wei Ying kisses the top of her head, leaning down at least a foot to do it.

"Thank you, my boy." She might be blinking back tears, and Wei Ying might be pretending not to notice, but that's neither here nor there.

There weren't enough chairs by the table, so Lan Zhan had excused himself to retire to the couch with his laptop.

He fired it up, hoping F4keSt0ries was going to be online.

He can hear Wei Ying's soft laughter as he teases PoPo about one of her neighbours, a spritely old man a little older than herself, who she shares tea with, and Wei Ying implies it could be something more, if PoPo wants it to be. She doesn't deny it though, smacking his arm with a wet dish towel.

The children are giggling and laughing too, and for a moment, Lan Zhan wonders where was this feeling, all of his life?

To have a house full of happy people, even if they didn't have much, they had the basic requirements either way. Wei Ying's financial situation might have changed for the better, but Lan Zhan knew it would not change the way Wei Ying lived his life.

Not really, aside from the essentials.

There would probably be a lot more chocolate in their lives from now on, but aside from that, Wei Ying would continue living his best life exactly as it was. He may splurge on the odd luxury for the kids, but if there was one thing Lan Zhan had learned up till now, it was that Wei Ying always, without fail, put himself last in all things.

So Lan Zhan was going to put him first, for once.

He was going to make sure that Wei Ying had everything he wanted and needed, and then some.

He wanted to obliterate every single negative thought, every seed of doubt that Madam Yu, vicious cow, had planted in Wei Ying's head, and replace those weeds with the flowers of love, confidence and beauty. By the time he was finished, Wei Ying would know that he was as lovely as a fragrant, wild peony, strong and sweet, inside and out.

Blooming by himself, in spite of whatever nature threw at him.

The children have grabbed PoPo's hands and are leading her into their bedroom to "play", and she's laughing along with them, saying she doesn't know how to play with Lego.

They're insisting that they'll teach her, and the three of them disappear into the children's bedroom.

Their laughter fades as Wei Ying comes to sit beside him.

Lan Zhan's not having that, not on a bight when it feels as if even a millimetre apart feels like too much distance away. He lifts Wei Ying into his lap, taking a few minutes to simply hug him.

This is the best feeling, a warmth that shouldn't be there in the pit of his stomach, yet nevertheless, its presence spreads throughout his body. Lan Zhan smiles, feeling content.

"What?" Wei Ying is looking down at him, his beautiful silver eyes filled with wonder.

"I am happy." Lan Zhan realises it, even as he says the words.

Wei Ying, delighted at that admission, swoops down to plant a warm kiss on his forehead.

"I'm so glad about that. So am I...but I have to ask: you weren't before?"

Lan Zhan looks up into diamond eyes glittering with concern.

"I don't know," he answers, finally. "I am not sure, or, I wasn't as sure as I am now." He smiles, making Wei Ying gasp.

"You're so beautiful, my Lan Zhan. I can look at you all the time, and I'm not even kidding." Wei Ying tells him, with absolute seriousness.

Lan Zhan takes his hand and kisses the inside of his palm, eliciting a shiver in the smaller man.

The ping notification on his computer alerts them both to the messages flashing in the corner.

Lan Zhan turns Wei Ying slightly, tucking him into the crook of his arm so he can comfortably see what's happening on the screen.

"I'll never stop finding your arm strength mind-boggling." Wei Ying tells him, pressing a soft kiss on the side of his head, smiling.

"It is for you. All for Wei Ying." Lan Zhan says warmly, before clicking on the icon that opens the tab with F4keSt0ries.

HEY, YOU AROUND? IF YOU'RE STILL INTERESTED, THIS VIDEO WAS TAKEN DOWN SECONDS AFTER IT WENT UP. THAT'S SOME SERIOUS CLOUT. LINK BELOW.

Lan Zhan clicks on the link, and it shows the same footage as Huaisang had sent them, the same clips they had shown Baoshan Sanren earlier today.

It is just as harrowing as the first time they had to watch it.

Lan Zhan is highly aware of Wei Ying's slight whimpers, the fact that his breathing is shallow, and at one point, when they're loading the bodies into the black vans to transport them away, Wei Ying holds his breath unconsciously.

Lan Zhan doesn't play it again.

But this is an opportunity to ask more questions, and Lan Zhan takes it.

Who do you think is fighting? He types it out, and then leans back with Wei Ying, deliberately breathing long and deep so Wei Ying will mimic and do the same.

It's starting to work, when F4keSt0ries replies.

FROM SOME OF THEIR CLOTHES, THEY MUST BE PART OF A GANG. I'LL CHECK THAT LATER, BUT DEFINITELY, THE ONES ON THE LEFT ARE VAMPIRES.

"This kid doesn't miss a thing!" Wei Ying pulls the laptop closer so that it's resting on his lap.

He wants to pay more attention to their clothes, especially the ones who are on the right, against the vampires.

"Why didn't we notice that before? I must have watched these videos at least six times." Wei Ying murmurs, unblinking in his focus of picking out any details he can.

"The violence is compulsory. It's like watching an accident happening right in front of you and forgetting to jump out of the way. It's hard to look away, and even harder to not concentrate on only the action. One must possess a clinical eye."

"Oh my God!" Wei Ying suddenly clutches at Lan Zhan's arm. "I've seen that before!"

He pauses the video, timing it just right so the camera's grainy image brings the back of a jacket into focus.

Lan Zhan also studies it as Wei Ying's breath becomes choppy, perforated with his words.

"Do you remember that guy I told you about? The one that came into the coffee shop?"

"Xiao XingChen?"

"No. He was wearing all white. The other guy, with tattoos and piercings, and pink hair tips. He had a dragon tattooed on his hand, and when he took his drink, he turned around, and his jacket had the same dragon, as all of these people! I think he said his name was Mo. For the cup."

That was shocking.

Not only had Wei Ying come into contact with one of the members of a gang, but a possible victim of murder, as well.

As it sunk in, Wei Ying's hands trembled as they typed out their next question.

Can you identify any of these people?

I'D HAVE TO DOWNLOAD A FACIAL RECOGNITION PROGRAM. WHY? DO YOU KNOW ANY OF THESE PEEPS?

Possibly. Recognise the jacket.

OKAY, CAN DO. I'LL LET YOU KNOW, EITHER WAY.

Thanks. We only met once, but I still want to know.

YOU SOUND LIKE A SOFT PERSON. THAT'S DANGEROUS IN THIS TYPE OF WORK.

What do you mean?

IF YOU DON'T TOUGHEN UP, YOU'RE ONLY SETTING YOURSELF UP TO GET HURT. JUST A WORD OF ADVICE.

ANYTHING INVOLVING VAMPIRES. THE BAD ONES, THAT IS.

Are there any good ones?

Wei Ying knew the answer to that one already, but he wanted to know if F4keSt0ries did.

PROBABLY. WHO KNOWS?

Okay, that was vague.

Lan Zhan angles the laptop towards himself and awkwardly types with his left hand.

Any updates on who the vampires are looking for? Any idea on who 'N' is?

NO. MY SOURCES ARE DRYING UP, SO TO SPEAK. NO PUN INTENDED.

Drying up? Please explain.

MEANING PEOPLE I'VE BEEN TALKING TO REGULARLY ARE SUDDENLY DISAPPEARING. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE SIMPLY LEFT THE AREA, OR IF THEY'VE BEEN TAKEN. THAT'S WHY I STARTED THE ENCRYPTION CHAT.

"Uh oh...that's not good." Wei Ying mutters under his breath. He starts typing.

Please be careful. It sounds like the net around you is tightening.

OH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME. I KNOW HOW NOT TO GET CAUGHT.

But these are dangerous people. They'll do anything not to get exposed, and that's kind of your hobby. Just be extra careful.

AWWW! YOU CARE ABOUT ME! THANK YOU!!🥹🥹🤧

Lan Zhan wasn't sure what to make of those emojis, but when he happened to glance at Wei Ying, he was making the same faces.

Of course we do. Wei Ying types it out, without thinking.

'WE'?? HOW MANY OF YOU ARE THERE?

Wei Ying flashes Lan Zhan an apologetic look, and carries on typing.

Two of us. We're parents. But that's how I feel about you, protective. Please promise me that you'll take every precaution? Make sure you aren't being followed anywhere, that sort of thing. It will make us feel better.

They wait a long time for the reply, and when Wei Ying yawns, Lan Zhan is about to shut the computer, when the answer comes:

OKAY. FOR YOU.

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

They pack everything away to their bedroom soon afterwards, so PoPo can get ready to sleep when she wants to.

The children are ready to sleep by nine, already changed into their night clothes and packing away the last small pieces of Lego for tomorrow.

There are sleepy kisses and warm hugs, and the kids are asleep as soon as their heads touch their pillows.

Wei Ying leaves their door open slightly, enough so that the light from the hallway spills into their room, so they won't be scared.

PoPo is reading when they walk past, wishing her goodnight.

And then they're alone.

They shower and change into soft pyjamas, and Lan Zhan carries Wei Ying to their bed.

"You don't have to!" Wei Ying exclaims, glowing pink with embarrassment.

"What if I want to?"

Lan Zhan can't stop staring at him.

Like a blooming, perfumed flower to a drunk bee, he can't look anywhere else.

Vital, alive, and bright with life, Wei Ying looks ravishing.

He yawns loud enough to crack his jaw and then he laughs self-consciously.

"I guess I'm more tired than I thought," he says, smiling as Lan Zhan follows him under the covers.

He holds his arms out for Wei Ying to snuggle closer.

"Wei Ying has had an exciting day, it's alright to be tired." Lan Zhan murmurs, stroking his back in a soothing manner.

"You sound disappointed," he says, smiling widely, even though his eyes are closed now, too heavy to keep them open.

"I had a question for Wei Ying, but it can wait." Lan Zhan says softly.

"You can say it. I'll answer, promise." Wei Ying's words are slurring with sleep.

Lan Zhan smiles even as the soft, happy snores reach his ears.

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

Wei Ying wakes up with a jolt, in the early hours of the morning.

Lan Zhan is right next to him, his presence while not exactly warm, he's not cold either, and he's definitely comforting.

"Wei Ying?"

Wei Ying blinks awake, unsure of his surroundings.

"Nightmare?"

"No...at least, I don't think so." He yawns again, clearing the sleep from his mind. "I was definitely dreaming but I can't remember what it was about." He dismisses it so fast, instead, he leans forward to bring their lips together for the first kiss of the day.

Happy and enthusiastic, he really makes an effort, hugging Lan Zhan afterwards.

"Every day I wake up and I can't believe you're my boyfriend!" He exclaims in excitement.

"Fiance." Lan Zhan corrects him, lightly biting his nose.

"That totally doesn't count. I don't remember you asking!" Wei Ying giggles as he's being pinned down.

"Wei Ying doesn't remember?" Lan Zhan is hovering dangerously above him, golden intensity shimmering in his eyes.

"No!" Wei Ying bites his bottom lip, to keep himself from laughing out loud.

Today he feels free enough to walk this line with Lan Zhan, no longer afraid.

"Wei Ying ate the ring..."

Lan Zhan pretends to kiss his jaw, his nose delighting in the fresh scent of lotus flowers and vanilla, tantalising on his tongue.

"If I don't remember, it can't have happened, that's all I'm saying. I should get a choice, don't you think so?"

"A choice?" Lan Zhan's deep voice goes even deeper, his usually bright golden eyes so dark, only the rim of his pupils shines with colour.

Wei Ying is mesmerised with him, seeing his own reflection in those bottomless eyes. He couldn't look away if he tried.

It doesn't stop him from goading a dangerous predator, either.

"Yes. A choice. What if I don't want to marry you -"

Lan Zhan pounces.

Wei Ying is tasting colours, such is the intensity of his kisses, raining down on him. These are sparks of fire and ice, scorching heat, stoking the dormant fire in his gut until he's a writhing mess of need and want. Even breathing becomes unnecessary as he's caught up in Lan Zhan's punishing kisses, a bruising declaration of his love.

And this is it!

This is what Wei Ying wants.

To be given everything without restraint, to be plundered, ravished willingly, it is a slice of heaven.

His belly flips with exciting jolts of electricity lighting up his body, and there's a final explosion of light, carrying away his consciousness.

This time when he wakes up, there's a smug smile on Lan Zhan's face.

"Wow." Wei Ying hasn't even got energy to speak, but he makes an effort.

"Mn." Lan Zhan is pressing sweet little kisses to the side of his face. "Wei Ying is amazing."

"Lan Zhan is amazing, too." Wei Ying mumbles.

"Wei Ying is amazinger."

That produces a tired snicker.

"Sleep." Lan Zhan encourages him, mindful not to say it too forcefully.

He doesn't want to even accidentally Compel Wei Ying into doing something he wouldn't want to do.

"It's the love juju..." Wei Ying mumbles before he goes out like a light.

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

At a far more reasonable time, in Lan Zhan's opinion, Wei Ying finally wakes up properly.

"That was such a good sleep," he says, stretching within the confines of Lan Zhan's arms.

"Mn. That is good." Lan Zhan kisses his forehead, lovingly.

Moments like this were so precious to both of them.

Soon, the children would be up, and then it was time for the inevitable race against the clock to reach their school on time. At least they could have a bit more time in bed because of Lan Zhan's car now.

"I keep thinking about the dream I had last night. I think...I think it's important, but for the life of me, I can't recall what it was about." Wei Ying sighed happily, and snuggled closer. "I love waking up next to you." His breath is warm against Lan Zhan's neck.

"Mn. Likewise."

In this room, they are content.

Outside the door, all their troubles lay in wait, ready to pounce on them once they set foot over the threshold. But here, Lan Zhan could keep Wei Ying safe for that much longer.

"But...last night, didn't you say you had something to ask me?" Wei Ying remembered. "You should know, you can ask me anything. Promise." He lifted his three finger salute to the side of his head.

He was so endearing, and he didn't even know!

Lan Zhan hugged him, too overcome by his feelings to be able to speak.

Wei Ying patted his back warmly, waiting for him to be ready.

"I wanted to ask Wei Ying last night. What changed?"

"What do you mean?" Wei Ying shifted so he could look at him.

"Something was different about you last night. In the kitchen, when we kissed, it was more." Lan Zhan didn't know how to explain it better than that.

They have kissed so many times up till now, and each one has been different. With love as their canvas, their kisses have been painted with many different colours, each one more vibrant, more epic than the last.

But yesterday night, Lan Zhan had felt something change in Wei Ying's manner, like the opening of a floodgate.

Every colour was sharper, clearer, like looking outside without the glass barrier of a window to disturb the view.

"That's because there IS something different," Wei Ying says, trying to explain himself in a way that wouldn't have Lan Zhan running for the hills.

"Mn?"

Wei Ying took a deep breath.

"Do you promise not to be upset with me?"

Lan Zhan thought about it.

"Now? Or ever?"

"Just this once. Please?"

Lan Zhan nodded, cradling his head. Wei Ying was so utterly precious to him, that he would have promised anything.

"Well, to be honest, I think a part of me subconsciously was holding back. Call it what you will, whether it was some kind of built in self preservation, or whatever, but in my head, I think I was scared." There was no easy way to say this.

"Scared?" Lan Zhan asked him, carefully.

Wei Ying nodded.

"I didn't even know I was doing it. So yesterday, when my grandmother told me my mother was born a vampire, and obviously, that makes me part vampire myself, the logic made sense. I feel closer to you and her because of it. And there's no need to be scared, because that's the truth. I can't be scared of something that's already partially happened! And it made me let go of the tethers in my mind, the ones that were scared that even by mistake, you might lose control and accidentally drain me. Like, if you did that, of course that's upsetting, but I'm not frightened of it any more."

Wei Ying waited for Lan Zhan to say something.

He was a naturally quiet man anyway, but this was different.

"Is that why Wei Ying didn't smell any different? Because you weren't doing it on purpose?"

"Maybe? I don't know why, but it's like a switch has been flipped inside me. I am yours most wholly, completely and forever yours. If you'll have me." He looks up from thick lashes naturally curling against his rosy cheeks.

Lan Zhan loves him so much, he hasn't found any adequate words to define it.

He wants to cry with happiness.

Wei Ying loves him back, unconditionally.

They belong to each other.

"I want my ring." Lan Zhan replies, with a straight face, instead.

Wei Ying stares back at him in disbelief for a good twenty seconds, before he starts laughing so hard, he has tears streaming from his eyes.

He's still laughing when they have breakfast with the rest of their family, in fact, whenever he makes eye contact with beautiful golden ones, ever so serious.

Today is going to be a good day.

**********

A/N

Dear Beautiful Readers,

And here you have it! Nearly 12K of mostly fluff in between very important information. It took me three days because we're busier at work now, which is great because it makes the day go faster and I can get back to writing quicker, but it's bad because some days I'm just exhausted - that's why chapters are only around 2-3 K.

Anyway, what do you think?

I have been kind too, because I had to fight the temptation to end the chapter on mouthwatering cliffhangers quite a few times, but I stopped myself!🤣🤣

Happy Easter to those celebrating, and the rest of us can eat the chocolate! 🍫

Thank you for reading!

Charlie