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Xiao Zhan ducked his head low, relieved he’d taken the time to put on his well-used bucket hat as he escorted his parents to the nearest elevator. They’d parked in the underground parking zone for this very reason; he’d hoped to avoid any overzealous fans with large cameras that they toted around as they squatted near the hotel. Xiao Zhan hoped they hadn’t caught sight of another familiar family entering through here. He bit his lip under his mask in frustration; nothing good would come from venting verbally at them so he practically frog-marched his parents to the elevator and didn’t breathe easily until he reached his floor.
“Sorry,” he murmured to his parents quietly. His parents didn’t say anything in return but his father nodded understandably as his mother patted his cheek.
He was so grateful for them he could cry.
As they walked down the carpeted hallway to his room at the end, he felt excitement grow in his chest. He hoped they were home too, by now.
Reaching the door first, he entered the code and ushered his parents through the open door before following them.
As soon as he entered, he was hit with the aroma of food, something simmering on the pot, maybe.
“We’re here!” He called out generally to the living room area as it was empty, and instantly heard footsteps padding down the corridor. Xiao Zhan took his mask and various items of disguise and camouflage off, as he saw Yibo walking towards them.
He grinned as his mother lovingly pulled Yibo into an embrace, the latter murmuring, “Ma, you’re here,” quietly into her ear.
Yibo then turned to his father-in-law with a chipper, “Ba!” and laughed as he was pulled into a rough but comforting hug by the man. He noticed Xiao Zhan loitering near the door so he moved back, allowing the couple to settle on the sofa.
Xiao Zhan stayed near the door, even as his parents moved away, hat clutched in his small hands, that definitely belonged to Yibo once upon a time.
Yibo smirked at his expression that looked to be a put-upon pout. “Yes?” He asked Xiao Zhan teasingly.
Xiao Zhan’s pout deepened, making Yibo grin, as he mumbled something under his breath.
“Ah? What did you say?” Yibo leaned in, presenting one ear to him.
That’s when he heard it.
“You didn’t greet me.” Xiao Zhan whined in a low voice.
Yibo’s expression grew incredulous as he held back the laugh that was bubbling up his gut. “You literally left the hotel room just two hours ago, baobao.”
One shoulder lifted in a careless shrug, but the pout remained. His eyes flickered over to Yibo as if gauging his expression, and Yibo finally understood what he had to do.
“Ah,” he hummed and nodded, “you’re right, you’re right. Then come here and give me a hug.”
Yibo excitedly held his arms up but dropped them when Xiao Zhan didn’t move. The man was smiling like he was trying to hold it back but remained ‘serious’ as he stood with his arms crossed over his chest.
Yibo leaned in, tracking Xiao Zhan’s expression carefully as he muttered under his breath, “ Laopo , please?” He added a few flutters of his eyelashes, though that was probably really comical since Xiao Zhan burst into laughter.
Yibo took the moment of distraction to snag his husband round the waist and pulled him in. He was aware his in-laws were behind them but didn’t care enough to press a kiss against Xiao Zhan’s neck, folding him tighter into his arms.
“Okay now?”
Xiao Zhan hummed in reply, as the two stayed in the embrace for longer than usual, swaying to a soundless beat.
“Okay okay that’s enough now. Yibo, unhand my son-in-law, I want to check him.”
The two sprang apart at the interruption and Xiao Zhan pulled back to see who it was.
It was Yibo’s mother, with her arms on her hips in a threatening stance but Xiao Zhan could see the smile on her face. The smile that was so familiar to him.
“Mama!” He exclaimed and pulled her into a hug as she laughed and patted his back lovingly. Behind her, Yibo’s father was talking with his own so he crashed their conversation by interrupting with a loud “Baba!” and jumping in for a hug.
In the meantime, Xiao Zhan’s mother approached Yibo with a light frown. She pinched his cheeks and then pinched his arms, “Look at how thin you are, baobei . Why aren’t you eating?”
Yibo smiled down at her, “Ma should make me more of her delicious food then.”
There was a huff from across the room and Yibo looked over to see their fathers settled on the sofa as well as Yibo’s mother while Xiao Zhan hovered behind them.
Xiao Zhan crossed his arms, “Don’t give him anymore, Ma, he won’t stop talking about your cooking. He even finds faults with my food now! So much so, he talks about your food in his sleep .”
He finished with a triumphant cackle but jumped to squat behind Yibo’s mother as he advanced on him threateningly.
Xiao Zhan screeched loudly as Yibo reached down to pinch him in the stomach.
Yibo pointed a finger at him, “Just you wait,” he warned him.
They all finally sat down for a light late-night dinner that Yibo’s mother had set up in the small kitchenette.
As everything was winding down for the night, Yibo who was sitting on the floor in between Xiao Zhan’s legs, who was on the sofa, leaned his head back to look at the man.
“You ready for tomorrow, baobao ?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he murmured back, feeling the nerves swirling in his gut. Their parents were busy alternating between talking and watching the TV so they kept their voices low.
Yibo saw the nervousness alight in Xiao Zhan’s eyes so he jumped up from the floor and swiped the man’s phone.
“I’m borrowing this for a moment, baobao .” Yibo leaned down to press a kiss to his cheek and walked to the kitchenette where a box was waiting for him.
Behind him, he could hear Xiao Zhan sputtering at the sudden change of topic but he made quick work of the box and phone and went back.
Xiao Zhan looked at him curiously, while their parents were happy to leave them both to their own devices and turn in for the night.
Yibo handed over the phone first, “Here, it’s open on your Oasis, just post it.” Then handed him the box.
It took Xiao Zhan a minute to understand and once he did he burst into surprised giggles.
“Aiyah, darling, you’re relentless on our poor fans.” Yibo grinned unapologetically at him as Xiao Zhan giggled some more.
“You’re not gonna force me to eat these, are you?” He asked Yibo with a raised eyebrow.
Yibo cocked his head at him, “If you eat one, I’ll eat one.”
Xiao Zhan scrunched his nose at him, “I don’t care if you eat. Then I won’t have to eat as well.”
Yibo rolled his eyes and started tickling the man, who made really silly noises for a grown man who was being tickled. It made Yibo’s gut hurt from holding back so much laughter.
By the end of it, Xiao Zhan was red-faced and still twitching from the force of his laughs. He silently reached for his phone, typed something and finally locked it.
Yibo raised an eyebrow at him then slowly reached for his own phone, opening his Oasis app.
He looked up at Xiao Zhan, who affected a neutral expression, “Little bread ? Was harming you? Really, baobao ? You wanna call me little now?”
He thought Xiao Zhan might start on another long session of giggling but he just smiled and shook his head.
Without speaking another word, the man slowly edged towards Yibo and leaned his head against his chest.
Yibo paused and smiled. He bent his head and pressed his lips against Xiao Zhan’s head, taking in the scent of his shampoo. He felt more than heard Xiao Zhan sigh and melt into the touch. The two stayed there for a long time.