Work Text:
Shen Qingqiu had just finished his paperwork when he heard a loud cry of pain. His first thought was the Shen Yuan was hurt, but the cry came from someone with a deeper voice.
A disciple came in. "Shizun, A-Yuan hit Shang-shishu!"
Walking outside he found Shang Qinghua crouching down while a proud Shen Yuan was looking at him. Shen Qingqiu forced himself not to laugh. He's been teaching the child stranger danger.
"Bapu, I fight stwanger!," he announced happily.
"At least I know you understand that much, but that's your Shishu," Shen Qingqiu said.
Shen Yuan looked even more confused. "Shishu?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
Shang Qinghua croaked," Shixiong, I came to discuss finances when your kid just kicked me in the shin."
"Oh, really?," Shen Qingqiu asked. "A-Yuan?"
The lambtaur looked away pouting. Shen Qingqiu chuckled.
/
[Name: Shen Yuan.
Species: Lambtaur.
Age: 2 1/2 years.
Occupation: Shen Qingqiu's adopted son.]
Shang Qinghua looked at the toddler playing with his stuffed toys. He was forcing them to headbutt each other.
"I wonder what'll happen when he starts having questions," Shang Qinghua thought only to realize too late that he said them out loud.
Shen Qingqiu glared at him. "I'd rather not think about it right now."
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say it out loud!"
Sighing the older peak lord poured some tea and took out some refreshments. That got Shen Yuan's attention. He tried to take a cookie but Shen Qingqiu used his arm as a barrier.
"No, A-Yuan," Shen Qingqiu said. "You've had sweets today, this is for our guest."
Shang Qinghua witnessed the boy's tantrum. Shen Yuan eyes watered, chest puffed up, and a frown on his face followed. He proceeded to stomp around.
"I'm surprised he didn't start screaming," Shang Qinghua said.
Shen Qingqiu replied," Give it a minute."
"BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA."
An unholy screech came out of the boy's mouth. The lambtaur kept doing it while looking at them.
"Pretend you don't see or hear him. It'll make him stop faster."
Doing as he was advised Shang Qinghua pretended Shen Yuan didn't exist. The toddler stopped after a few minutes. He seemed to understand they weren't giving in.
"You passed the test."
Shang Qinghua looked up. "Huh?"
"You are one of the peak lords that don't give in to Shen Yuan's tantrums," Shen Qingqiu explained. "Li Qingli and Yue Qingyuan give into him immediately."
Shang Qinghua asked,"What about Liu Qingge?"
"Surprisingly, he has a sister around the same age as A-Yuan so he's used to dealing with a tantrum child," Shen Qingqiu said.
"So you were testing me?!"
Shen Qingqiu shook his head. "No, Shen Yuan was. He does it to see if you'll let him get away with being naughty which is why those two are no longer allowed to be alone with him."
-
Shen Yuan is like many other children Shang Qinghua has come across over the years. Playful, naive, and curious. Very curious. Shang Qinghua somehow ended up watching this kid while his father worked.
"Why you hair bwown and Bapu hair black?," Shen Yuan asked.
"Because he and I are born different," Shang Qinghua answered.
"Okay."
....
A few seconds later,
"Why do sun go down?"
Shang Qinghua answered," because the sun needs to sleep."
"Why moon come out?"
"Because she wants us to see in the dark."
This kid just kept asking questions for the next twenty minutes. Later, he and Shang Qinghua are playing a game. No. More like the peak lord is being bossed around by a cranky child.
"No! You do wrong!," Shen Yuan cried.
Shang Qinghua wanted to cry. "I don't even know how this game works!"
The lambtaur began crying. It was not a loud cry but he was sniffling. Shang Qinghua began panicking.
"Apologies, Shang-shidi."
Shen Qingqiu had finally came out of his office.
"Shen-Shixiong," Shang Qinghua said tiredly.
The older peak lord picked up the crying toddler. "I've neglected to take notice it was passed A-Yuan's nap time."
Oh, so that's what it was. The child struggled a bit before succumbing to sleep. Shang Qinghua took to opportunity to get out.
-
He made is back to his stone cottage home only to find an irritated ice demon.