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By nature, Shen Qiao was an early riser. He was almost always up with the sunrise, spreading his arms wide to welcome in the new day and almost always jostling his boyfriend, Yan Wushi into resentful consciousness beside him in their king sized bed.
Being a father of three adopted boys, he was used to early hours.
Yan Wushi, father of one very grown and very moved out adult, was not an early riser. He preferred to bask in his beauty sleep until the last possible moment, and then leisurely go through his day. He usually succeeded on the days like today, where the couple were staying in Yan Wushi’s home rather than Shen Qiao’s apartment, in dragging his bright eyed sweetheart back into the covers for a few more hours of cuddling.
Today, though, Yan Wushi made a point to open his eyes before his sleeping boyfriend.
He blinked, once, twice at the pale crack of light he could see through the window, and then turned his gaze on the angel curled around his chest.
Shen Qiao resembled more an immortal than any man he had ever met, with soft eyes and delicate features, long brown hair that was currently tangled up in Yan Wushi's outstretched arm that A-Qiao was using for a pillow, which had long since fallen asleep.
Immortal or not, when he slept, A-Qiao slept like a smol gremlin; his mouth open and drool down his chin, curled up into the most unnatural sleeping positions Yan Wushi had ever seen, usually tucked against his broad chest for warmth, which was ironic since A-Qiao was the one who kicked and tossed enough in his sleep that the blankets usually ended up on the floor.
It was the most endearing thing, and Yan Wushi gently traced his free hand down his boyfriend's smooth cheek, smiling to himself as he glimpsed the hickey on A-Qiao's pale neck, half hidden under the tangled hair.
Last night's activities had been extra vigorous. Yan Wushi had planned this.
Shen Qiao tended to sleep later when Yan Wushi kept him busy at night. So much the better for today.
He leaned down to place a gentle kiss on his slumbering boyfriend's forehead, then started to extract himself from A-Qiao's clutches.
Easier said than done, since A-Qiao could also be very clingy, and his hand must have been more tangled in the soft locks then he thought, but a few minutes later Yan Wushi finally rolled out of bed and stood for a moment, smiling down at his sleeping lover.
Shen Qiao was pouting, another thing he only did when he slept, and Yan Wushi's heart felt like it would melt out of his chest for the warmth that pooled there because of this man.
He'd never understood love until he met A-Qiao. He used to scoff at the idea of romance and adoration. Now he couldn't bear to think of a single day going by without being at Shen Qiao's side.
Which led him to today.
Gently, he picked up the blankets from the mess on the floor and spread them back over his boyfriend, tucking him in before he left the bedroom quietly.
He moved straight to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, taking out the ingredients he needed quickly and setting them on the counter.
He moved easily. Collecting the bowls and spatulas, the bed tray he needed.
He did not prefer to cook, but he was efficient at it, like most things.
He hummed quietly to himself as he set to work, glancing out the window near the sink to watch the sunrise as he cooked the breakfast.
It was beautiful. He could admire the way the golden light spread across the purples and faded blues of the world, pushing them away to pinks and then oranges before finally giving way to the full golden light of day.
Not as beautiful as Shen Qiao, but still a sight to behold.
Yan Wushi turned the stove off and started arranging things on the tray, still humming. He grabbed for the white and bamboo green set of plates that he knew A-Qiao favored, spreading the meal out on those, and setting two helping out on a tray.
Shen Qiao did not drink, or he might have considered champagne, but instead he poured the freshly squeezed orange juice he had made into a glass and set it aside, delicately arranging the tray just right.
He knew Shen Qiao thought he was a little excessive. He was probably right.
He knew Shen Qiao thought he couldn't do anything big or important without an audience: not by necessity - just because liked the attention.
He knew A-Qiao knew he liked flashy, bold, dramatic entrances; he liked being the center of attention, hearing his own voice. He liked show and pomp and spectacle.
He knew Shen Qiao did not like these things, but endured them gladly enough for his sake.
He knew Shen Qiao liked small moments. Liked intimate things that were soft and warm between them. He knew the other man did not share his love for the stage of life but lived there with him because of his love for Yan Wushi.
So for this thing, this one thing, he could do something small.
The thing, this one thing, he could do for his A-Qiao.
There would be time for flash and ceremony later.
He gathered the tray in his arms and headed toward the bedroom, gently nudging the door open with his foot and setting the tray down on the dresser near the door before approaching the bed.
Shen Qiao had managed to thrash out of half the covers already. Yan Wushi was charmed.
He leaned down, gently brushing his A-Qiao's tangled hair out of his face, and placed a kiss on those soft lips.
Shen Qiao sighed and snuggled deeper into the bed, and Yan Wushi leaned down farther, chasing his lips.
He had this down to an art now. Kissing A-Qiao awake. Smothering him in love and affection as he woke.
Shen Qiao's soft eyes blinked open and Yan Wushi smiled, dropping a kiss on the tip of his nose and watching his boyfriend's face tinge pink.
"Good morning, A-Qiao." He murmured through another kiss.
"G..good morning Yan Lang." Shen Qiao stammered lightly, his pretty eyes flickering away as he greeted his lover. After all this time together, he was still so shy.
Yan Wushi was so smitten.
"Hey." He teased a finger gently along A-Qiao's cheek. "I woke up early to make you breakfast in bed, so you better wake up now and eat it."
Shen Qiao snorted, shaking his head. "Says the man who used my ass like it was going out of style last night." He grumbled, and Yan Wushi laughed.
Maybe A-Qiao wasn't quite awake yet after all. He could never say such things when he was fully awake.
Still, he turned and moved to grab the tray from the dresser, coming back to find Shen Qiao settling himself upright in their bed.
Yan Wushi grinned, setting the tray down lightly over his pretty legs, and perched at the edge of the bed, staring at Shen Qiao.
He was so pretty like this, ruffled from sleep with half of his nightshirt falling off one shoulder. Pillow marks still pressed into his cheeks...
Shen Qiao blinked at him once or twice, then glanced down at the tray in his lap, flustered. "Did you uh...make something special or something??"
Yan Wushi hummed inquisitively.
Shen Qiao laughed softly to himself, his slender fingers closing over the lid of the dish. "Ah...you just... have a way of looking at me when you're waiting to see how I react to something."
"Ah." Yan Wushi felt his grin widen. "You'll see."
Shen Qiao gave him another flustered glance, then seemed to square his shoulders and lifted the lid of the dish. It fell from his frozen fingers into the bed a moment later.
Yan Wushi's eyes twinkled as he leaned in, savoring the stunned look in Shen Qiao's face. "Does A-Qiao approve of my tastes?"
Shen Qiao looked up at him, his mouth hanging open slightly, and then back at the plate, a noiseless sound escaping his lips.
Nestled in the center of the plate was a soft silver ring set with a single carved jade stone in the shape of a deer's head.
"It's not my preference." Yan Wushi confessed, one finger trailing over Shen Qiao's bare arm, "But I thought it was yours."
Shen Qiao finally let out a sharp breath and then lunged forward, crashing face first into Yan Wushi's pecs and falling into his boyfriend's arms.
"Careful, A-Qiao...you don't want to spill the orange juice." Yan Wushi chided him playfully as his boyfriend clung to him and made the softest happy sounds he'd ever heard. It made his heart melt all over again.
Shen Qiao finally pulled his face out of Yan Wushi's ample bosom and looked up at him, "Are you really proposing to me??" He asked, his voice strangely timid.
Yan Wushi frowned, cupping Shen Qiao's chin in his hand. "A-Qiao. Do you not want to marry me??"
Shen Qiao shook his head violently, "No!! That's not it!! I just... I always thought you'd ... propose in front of the press or as loudly as possible or... not at all..."
Yan Wushi reached over and picked up the tray, setting it on the floor and scooping up the ring as he shifted into the bed next to Shen Qiao.
"A-Qiao." He took a deep breath, presenting the ring in the palm of his hand as he caught Shen Qiao's gaze. "I love you. I know you bear a lot of flamboyance for my sake. I do see what you do for me. I know what your preferences are.
"I can do this one thing quitely, for you. I can show you how much I care, how much I love you, with this one thing."
He held up the ring again between them, dimples flashing as he smiled. "So. Shen Qiao, the most beautiful, most patient, more loving and kind man I have ever met. Will you do me the honor of being my husband?"
Shen Qiao's face nearly split with the smile that stretched across his lips, more radiant than the morning sun sending rays across the bedroom around them. His soft eyes watered slightly before a single tear dropped down his cheek.
Yan Wushi reached out to catch it with the pad of his thumb. "Baby?" He chuckled, "You gotta answer."
Shen Qiao gave a happy huff and reached one slim hand out, taking the ring from Yan Wushi and sliding it onto his finger. It fit perfectly, the silver and jade a beautiful complement to his flawless skin.
Shen Qiao twisted his hand, watching the silver catch the early morning light, and glanced up at his boyfriend, his face joyfully content.
"Yes." He agreed softly. "I'd like that very very much."
Yan Wushi tackled him back down into the covers and smothered him in kisses until they were both a laughing, half crying mess.
Yan Wushi sat up then, pulling Shen Qiao into his lap, and gently finger combed his long hair out of his beautiful fiancé's face, smiling to himself.
"Mine." He repeated. "Mine, mine mine."
Shen Qiao was laughing again, his face bright, "Yours." He agreed. "Yours, yours yours."
He settled back against Yan Wushi, resting his head against the bare chest, and sighed happily, raising his hand to look at the ring shining there again.
"Papa had a ring like this once. I told him I wanted it when I got married." He mused softly, his face gentle and warm in the early light.
"Mn." Yan Wushi tucked his arms around his sweet, soft fiancé and smiled into the dark head of hair. "I know, he told me when I asked him."
Shen Qiao tipped his head up, surprised, to look at Yan Wushi peeping over his hair above him. "You asked Papa for permission to marry me??"
"Eh." Yan Wushi shrugged. "Less asked - more told, but yes he knows and he gave me his blessing, so you better not whine about 'Qi Fengge would never' because he said it was fine." He finished teasingly, and Shen Qiao laughed a little in his lap.
"I...I say that a lot, don't I?" The younger man reflected.
Yan Wushi nodded, squeezing his fiancé tight. "I am going to want a very dramatic wedding." He warned.
Shen Qiao snorted, shaking his head, "I expect nothing less than Tujue showing up to try and kidnap me and for some reason you and Yu Shengyan and Bian Yanmei have to fight them off with sabers while I am escorted down the aisle by a deer and Yu Ai recites some dramatic monolog about duty and honor and Shiwu bawls his eyes out."
"Oh. I forgot I'm marrying into a family with children." Yan Wushi rolled his eyes and Shen Qiao slapped his bicep lightly.
"They adore you, and besides you already have Shengyan, what's three more?" He teased, knowing his fiancé wasn't as grumpy about Shen Qiao's adopted kids as he let on.
"Well Shengyan has a wonderfully reliable boyfriend named Yanmei who keeps him in hand. And he's grown and moved out anyway," Yan Wushi rolled his eyes again but buried his face in Shen Qiao's hair and squeezed his fiance tightly in his arms again, and Shen Qiao knew he didn't mind the boys as much as he pretended to.
"We should tell them." He smiled, admiring the ring again.
"Bold of you to assume they didn't know when they dropped you off last night." Yan Wushi mumbled into his hair.
Shen Qiao started, twisting to face his fiance. "You asked my boys too??"
Yan Wushi shrugged. "And Shengyan. And I guess Yanmei because he was there." He looked so smugly pleased with himself, Shen Qiao couldn't help but pull him down into a passionate kiss.
Yan Wushi chuckled into his lips, smirking. "A-Qiao, stop it or I'll really make sure you can't walk today. Then what would our kids say when they come over for dinner later, hmm?"
Shen Qiao pulled back with a fond smile, too overwhelmed with happiness to complain about Yan Wushi's insatiable sex drive.
"You invited the kids over for dinner?" He asked instead, delighted. Usually on their weekends together, Yan Wushi preferred to stay kid-free so he could keep Shen Qiao's pants off.
"Mn." Yan Wushi nodded, and picked Shen Qiao up cleanly out of his lap, shifting him into place beside him on the bed before he stood and walked to the dresser, picking up the other tray there. "I know those little brats mean the world to you so... I figured you'd want to share this with them. And I also did make breakfast, which you should eat."
He carried the tray back to the bed and sat down, settling their breakfast between them.
Shen Qiao laughed and picked up one of the thin sliced crepes and fed it to his fiance, who opened his mouth willingly. "You really did all this for me?" He blushed a little.
Yan Wushi roll his eyes, amused. "Do you see anyone else in here that I would be proposing to, A-Qiao?"
Shen Qiao laughed a little and sipped his orange juice, smiling to himself as he admired the ring again.
"This...this is perfect." He finally spoke aloud, turning his soft eyes back toward Yan Wushi. "I just can't believe this is real."
"I can pinch you." Yan Wushi offered, and Shen Qiao snorted,
"Pass." He replied, and then smiled at his fiancé, leaning over the tray in his lap to connect their lips again. "Your prefect."
"Mn." Yan Wushi agreed, humble as always, and smiled back at him, his dimples growing deeper as his smile broadened. "But you're devine."
He reached over, taking Shen Qiao's hand in his own and turning it so the ring caught the sunlight again and glittered softly. "And you're mine,"
"Yeah." Shen Qiao agreed, cupping his fiancé's chin in his hand. "I'm yours."