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“Shh,” Xie Lian whispers, gently rocking the boy in his arms from side to side. “Go to sleep, Hong-er.”
Hong-er stares up at him with one big, dark eye.
“Would you like a lullaby?” Xie Lian tries.
Hong-er nods solemnly.
Xie Lian closes his eyes, remembering his childhood. His mother sang lullabies to him, sometimes. He still remembers some of them.
He takes a breath and begins to sing in a low voice.
Slowly, Hong-er begins to relax into his hold, head drooping against his chest.
“Aww,” Xie Lian whispers, moving to set him down. “Here, I’ll tuck you in.”
But the tiny boy in his arms clings to him, stubborn.
Xie Lian sighs, but it’s affectionate. “Okay, Hong-er, you can sleep in my bed tonight,” he allows.
Hong-er gives him a sleepy smile.