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Summer was the best time of year to be out and about in Mount Xuandu. Yan Wushi was carrying little Shengyan as Yanmei was holding a big basket of herbs and produce. He made sure to keep his eldest close by holding his hand as they were making their way back home from their shopping trip. Shen Qiao wanted to go but had to stay for meeting affairs so his husband preferred to get to any needs now so he wouldn’t stress about it later. In which he was right as the daoist typically overworked himself on many tasks at the same time and it worried Yan Wushi himself.
“Honestly if he wanted, this venerable one should’ve taken over! My husband’s standing is most important to me!”
The statement running through Yan Wushi’s head made Yanmei shiver as he let go of his hand and held the basket of goods with both. It confused the demonic sect leader for a brief moment but Yan Wushi shrugged it off as his Yanmei was quite independent for his age. At least he was happy to get home to his husband as the meeting was estimated to be finished by late noon. By the time they arrived at their estate, Shen Qiao was sitting outside at the front with a tray of finished tea in hand. His outer robe was neatly folded on the side and both boys ran over to give one of their fathers a big hug. Yan Wushi quickly took hold of the basket dropped by Yanmei and smiled at the sight.
“Welcome home all of you, I assume the trip went well? With how happy you all are.”
“Look at all the fruits we picked out! Gege and baba said the shiny ones are the best!”
“But baba has a better eye than me!”
Yan Wushi pranced over and sat next to his husband, leaning in on his side and wrapping an arm around everybody. Both of their sons giggled and squealed at the fact they weren’t able to struggle out of their father’s hold.
“Yan-zongzhu, I must ask you to release all of us immediately for we must make plans for a quick snack.”
“You’ve wounded me! First you address me as ‘Yan-Zongzhu’ and now you want me to release such a warming embrace? How pitiful…”
Once he freed Yanmei and Shengyan, an idea flew into his head as he began to lean into his husband like a damsel in distress, hand over his head and limbs gracefully flopping to the side. He gently fell into Shen Qiao’s lap and looked up at him as if he was hurt. Shengyan gagged and Yanmei threw a hand over both of their eyes, pretending they didn’t see a thing. They knew it was a trick their father had up his sleeve and knew he loved using it to his advantage.
“A-Qiao, A-Qiao…can you figure out a way to help this poor sect leader get back into shape? Hm? I don’t have much time, you know!”
Shen Qiao shook his head as he was flustered from his husband’s shameless actions. He simply poured a bit of tea into a cup and drank a bit, then leaned down to his demonic husband like the good old days where they were doing lip-cups. Yan Wushi’s grin widened as he quickly took a drink and leaned in for a gentle kiss for his beautiful husband.
“My dear Shen-lang don’t feel ashamed, I can assure you I feel much better now…”
“Shameless!”
“After all, I believe I deserve a snack after this!”
Yan Wushi laughed as he carried his husband gently into the house, where Shengyan was struggling to carry the produce into the house with Yanmei not trying to laugh at him.
“Wait…the tea set…”
“You can worry more about it later.”
Well at least the teapot was empty but that didn’t matter as Yan Wushi gently placed Shen Qiao by the sink and he took off his cloak to tie up his sleeves. Yanmei followed suit with the basket of produce and Shengyan with the tea tray.
“Now let’s get to work, shall we?”
“Please tie your hair if you’re handling food, Yan-lang.”
The daoist handed him a mint ribbon and Yan Wushi slightly frowned but he had to follow what was on the agenda. Both boys gathered at the table and Shen Qiao made sure to clean their hands with a wet cloth as his husband was a man who loved his cleanliness in place. Yanmei stood with Shen Qiao to wash the fruits and made sure every single one was clean while Shengyan observed the way his father was peeling the skin off a yellow oval shaped fruit and Yan Wushi took note of his younger son staring over. The man quickly peeled off one big piece and handed it to him, with an ‘innocent’ smile until Shengyan took a big bite.
…that resulted in Shengyan quickly throwing the piece to the ground and crying at how sour it was for it was a ripe lemon.
“A-Sheng!”
Shen Qiao quickly ran over and picked him up, holding him in his arms as he quickly looked to see if they had any leftover honey in the storage. Yan Wushi chuckled and immediately went quiet the moment his husband glared down at him, which resulted in Yanmei chuckling in too. Once the honey was found, he lined it in a cup and added water, giving it to Shengyan the moment he sat back down and his crying hushed a little more. Shen Qiao patted his back and gave him a hug before going back to Yanmei at the sink, he made sure to eye down his husband while on the way over. Yan Wushi shivered slightly as he was going back to perfect his art in fruit cutting and just keeping an eye on Shengyan at the table with honey water.
“A-die, do you remember when baba fed me a lemon too?”
“Of course I do, I never thought he would try to do this again, but here we are.”
“Didi wasn’t bad or anything today, maybe baba wanted to play a little joke on him for taking a bite of the tangren he got at the town. A-Sheng said he didn’t want one, but he took a bite when baba said no and-”
“It’s ready, you can pause on the wash as your father and I can do it later for dinner. Come eat.”
Yan Wushi slid the knife into the sink as Yanmei quickly got off the stool to join his brother for the fruits. Shen Qiao made sure to wash his hands one last time before making his way over with his husband. The table had so many fruits that were plated to look like animals or something you’d find at big festivals like flowers. It was beautiful and the boys began to take their share. Shen Qiao smiled at the fact Shengyan forgot about the lemon and had a tiny bit of his share, with Yan Wushi proud of his work.
“Allow me to feed you, A-Qiao, as an apology.”
Yan Wushi had a slice of apple in his fingers but Shen Qiao shook his head and motioned that he should worry about his own share. But the older man couldn’t help but tease his husband’s lips with the fruit and Shen Qiao couldn’t help but bite into it, leaving Yan Wushi satisfied. Both of their sons looked away once more, pretending they didn’t see anything.
“Not again…”
Yan Wushi laughed as he began to kiss Shen Qiao and gently held him close. The daoist couldn’t resist it when his husband gets all sappy with him, after all, it was a sight only he is allowed to see when he’s around. Shengyan tugged at Yanmei’s sleeve as he was chewing, in which the elder one nodded and grabbed a bowl of fruits.
“We’re going to go feed A-Qiao now, to give you two alone time!”
Both boys stood up and ran out into the back to feed their pet deer, with their parents alone as Yan Wushi leaned onto Shen Qiao. It was an enjoyable and peaceful sight as they couldn’t help but fill the silence with their presence.
“So, how exactly did the meeting go over there?”
“They did approve a few shops to move up here for travelers, which I am excited to see. I love hearing the stories from merchants that pass by and I’m sure you’d like some information on any political affairs, correct?”
“My A-Qiao is so smart to ask about political affairs for this venerable one! Perhaps you should allow me to accompany you much more in Xuandu, hm?”
“Anywhere we are is enough for me, Yan-lang.”
A gentle kiss to his forehead resulted and Yan Wushi couldn’t help but embrace his husband so much more. Shen Qiao stayed in place and began to close his eyes from how warm the older man was. It could’ve been how that muscular chest of his was warm cushioning his side but the world may never know.