Chapter Text
After dinner, Nangong Ruoxi, Lan Huan, and Lan Zhan returned to the Gentian Cottage. It had been like this for the past few days; aside from having more space to roll around on the bed at night, Wei Qing felt that life wasn’t much different from when Lan Huan and Lan Zhan had been staying at the Plum Garden before.
After taking some time to get his feel back, Wei Qing began weaving tassels. Lan Huan had given him a great many threads, so after finishing the flute tassel, he planned to give Wei Ying, there were naturally plenty left over. Seeing that there was still a lot of material remaining, Wei Qing thought for a moment and then decisively started making Chinese knot ornaments.
It wasn’t until Wei Ying pounced into Wei Qing’s arms that Wei Qing stopped what he was doing. “Back from your walk?” He set the half-finished piece in his hands aside and settled Wei Ying onto his lap. “Did you have fun?”
“I was just taking a walk.” Wei Ying looked at the finished pieces and half-finished ones on the table, then curiously picked up the bright red tassel. “Gege, what are you making?”
“A-Huan gave me quite a lot of cords today, so I used them to make tassels and tie Chinese knots,” Wei Qing said. Seeing how interested Wei Ying looked, he suggested, “Ah Ying, do you want to try? It’s not hard.” After all, Lan Huan had really given him a lot—after finishing the gifts, there would still be more than enough left over.
“All right, Gege, teach me,” Wei Ying said, picking a white cord. Using the cord, Wei Qing guided Wei Ying hand by hand. Wei Ying was quick and dexterous and soon got the hang of it.
Patting Wei Ying’s cheek in appreciation, Wei Qing, seeing that Wei Ying had no trouble, picked up his own unfinished pieces. He quickly finished a sky-blue ice-flower long-ear wing ornament and made a peach-red spring flower with six petals and five strands. After checking the time, he put away the finished pieces and tidied up the clutter on the table.
Seeing Wei Qing tidying up, Wei Ying also put away the half-finished four-leaf clover. “You did really well, Ah Ying,” Wei Qing praised, giving Wei Ying a kiss on the cheek and putting away his half-finished piece. “Go wash up; it’s time for us to get ready for bed.”
Wei Ying obediently got up from Wei Qing’s lap and held his hand as they went to wash up together. Seeing the unsettled look on Wei Ying’s face, Wei Qing realized that it was probably something involving Wei Changze and Xiao Mingyue again. “Did Father and Mother quarrel again?” When they returned to the room, Wei Qing lifted Wei Ying onto the bed and tucked the blankets around him.
Wei Ying looked a little puzzled. “No.”
“Then why is my little Ah Ying so upset? Did someone annoy you?” Wei Qing lay down beside him, gently patting Wei Ying’s little tummy. “Tell Gege, and I’ll help you chase the bad person away.”
“No one bullied me,” Wei Ying said, kissing Wei Qing’s cheek. “Ah Ying just heard some things.”
Wei Qing was about to ask, but Wei Changze and Xiao Mingyue had already entered the bedroom. “Are the two little darlings going to sleep so early?” Xiao Mingyue bent down and kissed Wei Qing and Wei Ying on the cheeks.
“We’re not going to sleep, just lying on the bed,” Wei Ying said. “If Gege and I were really going to sleep, we’d first go to the bedroom to play with Father and Mother, and only then let them tuck us back in!” He said it with great conviction. In reality, though, for the past few days they had been going straight to bed, without asking the adults for goodnight kisses at all.
Wei Qing knew that Wei Ying was going along with him. He also wanted to be like before, always, endlessly acting spoiled with Wei Changze and Xiao Mingyue. But every time he saw them, his heart felt heavy, and he couldn’t manage even a single smile.
“All right, I know you two are the most spoiled little darlings,” Xiao Mingyue said, scrubbing Wei Ying’s nose. “Come, give Mama a hug.”
Wei Qing and Wei Ying sat up, letting Xiao Mingyue hug them tightly. “Mama wishes you both sweet dreams,” she said, giving them lots and lots of goodnight kisses. She murmured something else, but Wei Qing didn’t catch it.
Wei Changze also gave them a goodnight kiss and a hug. After doing all this, the two adults chatted with them for a while before leaving the bedroom. A sandalwood incense stick was lit, and sweet red date tea, warmed by spiritual power, sat neatly in the corner of the table.
Wei Qing lay down again. He had done a lot today, and all he wanted now was to close his eyes and get a good night’s sleep.
“Gege,”
Wei Qing opened his eyes, turned over, and met Wei Ying’s bright, sparkling eyes in the night. “What’s the matter?” He brushed his lips against Wei Ying’s soft cheek. “Ah Ying?”
“Gege, tell me a story,” Wei Ying said, snuggling into Wei Qing’s arms. His soft hair brushed against Wei Qing’s nose, making it tickle a little. “Ah Ying wants to hear a story from Gege.”
Sensing Wei Ying’s restless emotions, Wei Qing patted his back. “What kind of story do you want to hear?”
Wei Ying was silent for a moment, then said, “Ah Ying changed his mind. I want to hear songs.” He added, “Gege, sing a few of your favorite songs for Ah Ying.”
Wei Qing thought for a moment and finally hummed a song called With You. He leaned close to Wei Ying’s ear, careful not to hum too loudly, afraid that Wei Changze and Xiao Mingyue in the bedroom might hear. Encouraged by Wei Ying’s coaxing, he hummed a few more tunes. Only when Wei Ying’s restless thoughts had quieted did Wei Qing stop.
“Gege, thank you.” Wei Ying’s words were soft, so soft, as his warm, moist lips brushed against Wei Qing’s cheek.
“What’s there to thank me for?” Wei Qing said, running his hand through Wei Ying’s hair. “Go to sleep. Gege will bring you some things tomorrow.”
Wei Ying nodded, clutching Wei Qing’s tunic with both hands. “I’m here,” he said. “I’ve always been here.”
“Mm, Gege believes you, Ah Ying.” Wei Qing held the small, soft body tightly in his arms. “Go to sleep.”