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Even when the two of them had still been in the midst of talking about adopting A-Yue, Chu Wanning had been insistent that she would favor Mo Ran’s company over his own. It had been a frequent point of discussion, actually - Mo Ran would bring up the possibility of A-Yue eventually studying at the same university where Chu Wanning teaches, only to be shot down by Chu Wanning insisting she would likely much rather follow in Mo Ran’s footsteps; Mo Ran would mention how cute it was that A-Yue seemed to have the same sweet tooth as Chu Wanning, and Chu Wanning would turn around to point out her clear favor for the spicy soups Mo Ran enjoyed; and so on, and so on.
At the time, Mo Ran had shaken his head but bowed to Chu Wanning’s assertions that he’d clearly be the favored parent. Now, though? All of that seems rather silly, in Mo Ran’s opinion.
Mo Ran only has to take a peek into their living room, where A-Yue is sitting next to Chu Wanning at the low worktable in the center of the room. Her back is as straight as an arrow, clearly mimicking her father’s posture as she steals little glances to the side, her tiny hands mirroring every gesture Chu Wanning makes as he grades the stack of midterms in front of him.
A-Yue has her own stack of papers, of course. Ones Mo Ran had made up for her earlier, when Chu Wanning had mentioned needing to finish up his grading before dinner. He’d written all sorts of nonsense on them for A-Yue to mark up with her little red brush. She’s not old enough to read yet, so she can’t actually understand what she’s grading - all that seems to matter to her is that her marks match Chu Wanning’s own.
A sigh falls from Chu Wanning’s lips as he reads over the exam in front of him, and Mo Ran watches as A-Yue puffs up her chest to let out a big sigh too, as though she also has come across a difficult answer on her own stack of papers. This seems to catch Chu Wanning’s attention, and warmth fills Mo Ran’s chest as he watches his husband’s lips tick up into a small, fond smile.
He pulls her into his lap and points at one of the questions on the exam, “A-Yue, what do you think of this one?”
Their daughter leans forward, her face scrunching up in serious concentration as she stares at the question. Mo Ran can’t help but laugh to himself at how adorable she is - at how adorable both of them are, even if it earns him a glare from his husband.
With a decisive huff, A-Yue leans back once more and folds her hands in her lap, just like she’s seen Chu Wanning do probably thousands of times by now, “Wrong,” she says.
Chu Wanning hums, his brush marking the question off, “Wrong indeed.” He agrees.
Mo Ran really can’t help himself, they’re so cute.
Chu Wanning shoots him another glare, and Mo Ran feels his heart die of adorable overload when A-Yue turns to glare at him over Chu Wanning’s shoulder with him.
Truly, I am blessed, he thinks, as he returns to finishing up dinner.
Well after dinner, when they’re tucking A-Yue into bed, she insists on Chu Wanning reading her a bedtime story, and then another, and then another, her lip wobbling with discontent when Chu Wanning says he has to finish up his work and leaves Mo Ran to read the last one.
“I see,” Mo Ran says, as he sits on the edge of her bed. She’s clearly pouting, and really, Mo Ran can’t blame her. He also pouts when Chu Wanning leaves him. Still, he wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her into a big hug, “I’m not good enough, huh? No love for your Baba? A-Yue is so mean!”
He hears her huff indignantly against his chest, but she hugs him back all the same, her voice reluctant as she mutters, “No, Baba. I love you too.”
Mo Ran hums, grinning down at her as he moves back, “Good! Because you know, your A-Die also loves me very much.”
He can practically see the gears turning in her head as she takes in this information. Then, as though the idea of her fathers loving each other is an entirely new revelation to her, Mo Ran sees her eyes light up, and she throws her arms around him again, squeezing tight enough to make Mo Ran chuckle. "I love Baba too!" she says, much more enthusiastically this time.
From the living room, he hears a faint, “What nonsense are you saying to her, huh?”
Mo Ran laughs, pulling A-Yue closer as she giggles into his side. "Only the truth!" he calls back, and hears a soft scoff in response. The sound of papers being shuffled and a brush being set down reaches their ears, signaling Chu Wanning's approach.
Chu Wanning walks into the room, his expression feigning annoyance which doesn't quite reach his eyes. “It sounds like too much mischief for bedtime,” he says.
A-Yue looks up at him with wide, innocent eyes, her arms still wrapped tightly around Mo Ran.
“A-Die, is it true that you love Baba very much?” she asks, her voice earnest, as though she’s expecting a straightforward confirmation. Mo Ran wonders what she’d do if Chu Wanning says no - he imagines he’d be disgraced in her eyes for a few months, at least.
Chu Wanning’s mouth tightens ever so slightly at the corners, and Mo Ran knows how much he’s probably fighting himself not to just scoff and leave.
“Yes, I love your Baba very much.” Chu Wanning says, and even if he looks like he’s just been stabbed at having to admit it, Mo Ran’s heart still flutters in his chest in just the same way it had all those years ago when they’d first confessed.
A-Yue nods, her little face so serious it makes Mo Ran want to pinch her cheeks.
“Good,” she says, and she reaches out for Chu Wanning. He huffs but takes her hand and lets himself be drawn into their embrace, pressing a soft kiss to their daughter’s forehead.
“Now,” Chu Wanning says, and he pulls Mo Ran up with him, “it’s time for you to sleep, A-Yue.”
“Yes, A-Die,” she says, and she tucks her own covers under her chin, shutting her eyes immediately.
Chu Wanning levels her with an unimpressed look when she peeks up at them only a few seconds later, “I mean it.” He says, and she shuts her eyes even tighter.
Mo Ran stifles a laugh as Chu Wanning pulls him out of her bedroom, shutting the door behind them. He catches Chu Wanning by the waist, “And you thought I’d be her favorite!” he says, grinning as Chu Wanning pushes him down the hall to their own bedroom.