Chapter Text
Ink and paper is always ready and set out on the table whenever Lan Huan arrives. By now, it is customary for him to practice writing whenever he is there, as Mother tells him stories and does her embroidery, now that she is mostly confined to a chair because of the pregnancy.
There is nothing else to do, confined within the hut as she is, and if he didn’t know any better, Lan Huan would say that he is the only highlight of her month. It should not be possible, for he knows his father visits her every now and then- how else would he have been conceived?
Still, his visits are like clockwork, the last day of every month without fail, and he can see the way she gazes fondly at him whenever he comes.
“A-Huan?” His mother is already by the gate, anticipating his arrival, and Lan Huan speeds up his pace- just a little, not enough to break out into a jog or a run- and comes to a halt in front of her. He has just recently learnt about the various greetings from Lan Qiren, and he wants to show them to her.
He has the mind of an adult, and he should not be desiring praise, but this is his mother and he wants to make her proud.
“Mother!” Lan Huan greets, falling into a bow. It is not as straight as he would have liked, not as textbook perfect as the ones Uncle has demonstrated, but it is close enough.
Mother is amused, by the curl of her lips and the shine in her eyes, but returns the greetings with a small bow. “Why so formal, A-Huan?” Still, she guides him into her hut, where the ink and paper waits on the table, and takes her usual seat by the windows to do her embroidery.
As usual, the day passes peacefully.