Work Text:
Caring for a human equivalent of a two year old was a lot more exhausting than he thought. Too many worries came when raising a lambtaur in secret.
For one thing, the child will throw tantrums and even if they're nothing more than huffing, silent crying, and stomping sends Shen Qingqiu's anxiety up a level.
His private garden was the only place A-Yuan had to the outside world. It was closed off by a large stone wall he personally had build during the start of his time as peak lord.
It was against the rules to approach in too close.
"Red, yellow, purple," A-Yuan was memorizing colors of flowers.
He giggles, picks up a few dandelions, and places them on Shen Qingqiu's open hand.
"Bapu!"
Shen Qingqiu smiled. "Thank you, A-Yuan."
A-Yuan smiles before picking a few more and eating them. The lambtaur has been calling his guardian "bapu" after three weeks of being with him. Shen Qingqiu doesn't really understand the meaning but if it helps the child identify him so be it.
-
A-Yuan's favorite food is yellow apples. He munches on the slices Shen Qingqiu cut up for him. It also helps him figure out how get the boy to eat anything other than that. A trick Shen Qingqiu learned was to wave a slice in front of the boy and his mouth would open, not paying attention to anything else.
The peak lord would then stuff something else in the child's mouth like rice or steamed vegetables.
Qing Jing peak's vegetarian diet suits the boy well.
"Chew, A-Yuan," Shen Qingqiu said. It was lunchtime. Currently, a month has passed and the meeting of peak lords was....oh fuck! It was today!
Whatever, it's not the first meeting he's skipped.
Shen Qingqiu scooped up some more rice and fed it to A-Yuan. He practices inedia so there's no need for him to eat. Shen Qingqiu wonders if A-Yuan could cultivate a human form. Maybe, he'll teach the boy cultivation.
His train of thought was interrupted when his door was kicked down.
"SHEN QINGQIU."
Oh gods, it's the brute.
There was no time to hide A-Yuan. Shen Qingqiu didn't think. He moved quickly.
Liu Qingge stormed in and looked at him. The man paused. "Why are you standing in the corner like that?"
Shen Qingqiu was at the corner of the dining room. Arms and legs spread out touching the walls. Grateful his long robes hid A-Yuan perfectly.
"You scared me."
The brute narrowed his eyes. "Bullshit, you've never reacted this way."
"Quite observant of you, shidi," Shen Qingqiu replied. "Would you please leave now."
"Why weren't you at the meeting today?," Liu Qingge asked.
Shen Qingqiu rolled his eyes. "I overslept."
Liu Qingge scoffed. "I bet you were at that whore house!"
The urge to punch Liu Qingge was strong but he resisted. Shen Qingqiu about to say something when another annoying person came in.
Yue Qingyuan with Mu Qingfang behind him.
"Shidi, you weren't at the meeting," Yue Qingyuan said. "I brought Mu Qingfang to see if you're alright."
Shen Qingqiu said through gritted teeth. "I just overslept."
Mu Qingfang also seemed annoyed at the sect leader's overbearingness. "Just let me check your meridians and we'll leave."
"No."
"Now, Xiao-Qingqiu-shidi there's no reason to be stubborn," Yue Qingyuan said.
"And I said "no" I don't need a check up," Shen Qingqiu said.
They were going back and forward when a loud sneeze interrupted them.
"What are you hiding?!," Liu Qingge asked. His hand went to his sword hilt.
Shen Qingqiu didn't move his eyes off of him. "None of your business."
Yue Qingyuan walked a little closer. "Shidi, show us what your hiding. I'll make sure Liu-shidi doesn't move."
"You better," Shen Qingqiu hissed. He moved slowly revealing the little lambtaur he took care of.
"Demon!," Liu Qingge said.
Yue Qingyuan was true to his word keeping the War God away from them.
"Would shidi care to explain."
-
One explanation later Yue Qingyuan seemed to be in deep thought.
He finally asked," Are you planning to raise him?"
"Yes."
Shen Qingqiu glances at the napping toddler in his arms. A-Yuan was sleeping peacefully not bothered that another person here.
Liu Qingge and Mu Qingfang were outside waiting for the sect leader.
"Then, we must hold another meeting tomorrow to make the sect more friendly for..."
"Shen Yuan. That is his name."