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Shen Yuan adored his children, he really did. But being stuck with 15 children was not his idea of a good time.
Originally he wasn’t going to be alone. But then Shang Qinghua caught the flu. Mobei-jun and Binghe had an emergency to deal with at work.
And Shen Yuan couldn’t stand the look of disappointment that would be on his children’s faces if they friends couldn’t have their “Sleepover Spectacular” this weekend.
And so it was with a brave smile that he sat on his front porch sipping coffee as his friends brought over their children. The Shang children were already here, as they had been since Qinghua started feeling sick. At 15, his beloved niece Xiaoshu was growing into quite the young woman. She sat at his side on the porch, filling him in on any gossip that he might have missed with her birth parent out sick.
“Oh, look. Nie Yuming is here.” To his amusement, a blush covered her pale cheeks.
“How is that going, A’Xiao?” He teased. She shot him a glare that was more of a pout.
“Uncle.” She complained, even as she forced a smile at waved at the approaching Nies.
Lan Xichen led his two children towards the porch. At 15 and 10, his two were the oldest set of siblings in their group.
“Uncle! Oh, A’Xiao!” 10-year-old Mingxia greeted with glee as she ran towards them. She barreled into Xiaoshu’s arms, snuggling close.
“Hello, Shen Yuan. I hope you are well.” Xichen greeted him as he approached.
“I am, thank you. Yuming, I have you and the other teen boys sleeping in the last loft bedroom.” Shen Yuan explained. “Mingxia will be in Yingyue’s room, as you’d expect.”
“Got it, Uncle Shen.” Yuming nodded. He turned and hugged Xichen goodbye before picking up the bags and entering the house.
“Yuming!” Muyang’s enthusiastic greeting brought a smile to Shen Yuan’s lips.
“Oh, right!” Mingxia giggle. She pulled back from Xiaoshu and threw herself into Xichen’s arms.
“Bye Mama! Enjoy your night alone with Baba!” She said. Xichen pressed a kiss to the top of her head, nodding.
“Have fun, A’Xia.” He murmured. She nodded before running into the house.
“I agree, enjoy the night off with your husband.” Shen Yuan teased Xichen. To his amusement his cheeks with pink, and he nodded.
“I will. Call me if they give you any trouble.” He added.
He had just pulled out of the driveway when Xie Lian appeared with his children. Shen Yuan couldn’t help but tease his niece for the blush on her cheeks as Hua Lang Ying climbed out of the car next.
“How do you survive the school day?” He took a sip of his coffee to hide his glee as her cheeks darkened even more.
“Uncle!” She scolded.
“Hello Shen Yuan, Xiaoshu.” Xie Lian greeted them. 8-year-old Feihong, his youngest, gave him a brief hug before racing into the house, shouting for Mochou.
“Sorry about that.” Xie Lian winced. Shen Yuan shook his head, smiling at 13-year-old Qinyang as she settled into the chair next to Xiaoshu.
“Don’t worry about it. Muyang can get just as crazy.” Shen Yuan assured his friend.
“Be safe on the drive back, Mama.” Qinyang said to Xie Lian as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“I will, sweetheart. Please make sure that Feihong doesn’t go too crazy.” He said to his eldest son. Lang Ying nodded, wrapping his adopted parent in a one-armed hug.
“I will. He’ll fall asleep sooner rather than later.” He shrugged. “Are we up in the loft?” He asked Shen Yuan. He nodded.
“Yup. Yuming just took his items up there, so he’s probably still inside.” He explained. “Leyun could have joined us as well, Xie Lian.”
“He wanted to stay home with Ban Yue. She goes back to campus in two weeks.” Xie Lian sighed, no doubt thinking of his eldest child. 20-year-old Ban Yue was in college at a university that was about an hour away from home. Leyun had always been a bit of a homebody, even when he was younger than 10. Shen Yuan respected that about the kid, honestly.
“Well, have a good night and tell Ban Yue I said hi.” Shen Yuan said with a wave. Xie Lian returned it before returning to his car.
“So, Xiaoshu, how has high school been so far?” Qinyang asked. Before Xiaoshu could answer, the bright red SUV that belong to Wei Wuxian was pulling into the driveway. He jumped out of the car with a wave.
“Hey everyone!” He cried out. 13-year-old Xiuying climbed out of the passenger seat before turning and helping 5-year-old Liwei out of her booster seat.
“Hi Uncle!” Daiyu echoed Wei Wuxian’s cries. Jiang Xiaodan was the last person to get out of the car, and he handed the girls’ things to Xiuying as he took his and Daiyu’s bags.
Daiyu was one of Mochou’s best friends, as Xiaodan was Muyang’s. The two of them together was always chaotic, and he was sure that they would be the reason he’d be drinking after everyone was in bed.
“Bye, Mama.” Xiuying said to Wei Wuxian, giving him a hug the best she could. He kissed her forehead, smiling down at her.
“Bye my big girl. And my baby girl.” He cooed, scooping up 5-year-old Liwei. She giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Bye Mama!” She pressed a kiss to his cheek before wiggling down.
“Feiyu and Lina are in Feiyu’s bedroom. We’re all together in mine.” Xiaoshu explained, rising to her feet. Qinyang joined her, and together the four girls wandered inside.
“Daiyu will be in Mochou’s room. You’ll be in the loft with Muyang and the other older boys.” Shen Yuan explained to Xiaodan as he joined them on the porch. Daiyu ran past him to go and greet his friends, and Xiaodan wasn’t far behind. “Are you looking forward to a quiet night with your husband?” Shen Yuan asked. Wei Wuxian nodded, a dreamy look crossing his face.
“Oh yeah. A’Yuan is going out with his friends tonight, so it’s just the two of us.” He sighed. Shen Yuan nodded, finishing off his coffee. He rose to his feet, patting Wei Wuxian on the shoulder.
“Well, I shall go and order dinner for everyone. See you or Lan Wangji tomorrow.” He said. Wei Wuxian nodded.
“You’re a saint, Shen Yuan!” He called out before returning to his SUV.
Shen Yuan was right to dread tonight. His house was currently in chaos. Honestly, ordering several pizzas for dinner was the easiest part of the night.
Shang Xiaoshu, Hua Qinyang, and Lan Xiuying stayed in Xiaoshu’s room most of the night. Everyone else played outside until night came.
The three 5-year-old girls worked on making various arts and crafts. Despite his assistance in trying to avoid it, all three came away from the experience with glitter glue all over their fingers, cheeks, and in their hair.
“I feel like a princess, Mama!” Feiyu had declared when they were done. To his horror, she put her recently glitter glue covered crown on her head.
“You’re very beautiful, Feiyu.” He managed to say. “How about all of you go upstairs and get your PJs ready? All three of you can take a bath in my tub.”
“Yay!” Feiyu cheered, running back to her friends to tell them the news. The way that her crown visibly bounced with her hair had Shen Yuan crying just a little on the inside.
He really, really opened that he wasn’t going to have to cut her hair…
The five 8- and 10-year-olds were entertained by playing on the playsets that Binghe had slowly filled their backyard with over time. When the older kids brought out water guns, they joined in the fun.
Of course this brought various scrapes and bruises, and Shen Yuan divided his time between arts and crafts with the little ones and playing nurse to the middle-aged children.
“Phew, what a work out!” Yingyue yawned when it was closer to their bedtime. “Mama, next time you should play with us.” She hugged Shen Yuan as she said this, and he was trying very, very hard not to grimace as her hug left dirty imprints all over his clothing.
“I’ll try, sweetheart.” He promised, returning her hug.
The older boys spent the evening running around the front and back of the house shooting one another with nerf or water guns, or playing some kind of game. The rowdiest one was red light, green light in which several pieces of lawn furniture were overturned.
“Thanks for tonight, Mom.” Muyang had said as he hugged him goodnight. He felt some of his annoyance disappear as he returned the hug, nuzzle against the top of his head.
“Good night, sweetheart. I’m glad you had a good day.”
After getting everyone tucked in, Shen Yuan took a quick shower and climbed into bed. He let out a wide yawn, snuggling into his husband’s side of the bed. It didn’t take him long to fall into a deep sleep
The next morning he woke up to the older girls making breakfast. His heart grew warm, and he hugged all of them tightly.
He truly knew some of the best kids.
Everyone else went home around 1pm, which was close to the little ones nap times anyway. Shen Yuan put Feiyu and Liwei down before telling the remain four kids that he was taking a bath.
He didn’t remember falling asleep in the bath, but he must have. He didn’t even hear the children’s excitement when his husband returned home.
“A’Yuan?” Shen Yuan opened his eyes at the sound of his husband’s voice. He sat up in the bath, more than relieved his husband was home.
“I missed you.” He said. Binghe smiled, kneeling next to the tub.
“Beloved, I heard that you were alone with all of the children. Are you okay?” He asked. Shen Yuan nodded, smiling as Binghe took his hand and pressed kisses to the back of it.
“Yeah, I’m okay. My nerves are shot but well. What can you do? Did the merger go okay?” He asked. Binghe nodded, leaning over to kiss him.
“It did. I’m sorry I left you alone with them. I’m here the rest of the weekend, I promise.” He murmured. Shen Yuan shook his head, leaning over a bit to cup Binghe’s face.
“Don’t worry about it. It was just the one night for most of the kids. We still have Mobei-jun and Qinghua’s little ones. And besides, I know why you had to go. Let me sleep in tomorrow?” He asked. Binghe nodded, leaning forward to kiss him again.
“Of course.”
As Binghe took over washing him down, Shen Yuan felt himself getting sleepy all over again. He vaguely felt Binghe carrying him to bed, and the kiss that he pressed against his forehead. A tiny smile crossed his face as he snuggled close.
His husband was the best.