Work Text:
Living with Shi Wudu hasn’t always been this pretty, rainbows and roses fantasy. Not that Pei Ming didn’t have his fair share of trouble in the past. Still, they have found their place here, together.
Pei Ming had to take a good look at the clock, a sigh seeming to leave his lips involuntary. His love certainly had ways to make him worried, in ways he’d never been before.
He knocked on the door of Shi Wudu’s office, not waiting to be let in and simply walking inside right away. Shi Wudu only glanced at him, turning back to his notebook moments later. Pei Ming didn’t think much of it, walking close to Shi Wudu’s chair and hugging him as well as he could have like that.
“Baobei. It’s time for dinner.” He whispered. Rubbing his hand down Shi Wudu’s arm.
“Is it that late already?” Shi Wudu paused in his writing, looking at the clock himself. It was late indeed, later than their usual dinner time, but Pei Ming had been giving him extra time before he’d had to come drag Shi Wudu out himself. “I still need to finish this though.”
“No. We’re going to eat now. And unless the deadline is tomorrow, no more work today.” Pei Ming replied to that, the tone of his voice leaving no room for protest. Shi Wudu would have tried anyway, but with the interruption, he did feel how hungry he actually was. He’d be getting tired soon enough too.
“Let me just save this.” Shi Wudu gave in, quickly saving the documents he’d been working on. It was the moment he closed the notebook that Pei Ming started pulling him up to his legs and led him towards the kitchen.
“Sit down. I’ll get the food.” Pei Ming motioned towards the set table, swiftly putting the food in front of Shi Wudu and his own seat. He turned back around after some thought, only to return with a glass of water for Shi Wudu.
“Really?” Shi Wudu eyed him, disbelieving, after the gesture.
“Don’t even try, honey, didn’t see you come out to get water in hours.” Pei Ming shut any more protest by leaning down for a kiss. Only then did he sit down in his own seat so that they could start eating.
“Maybe you have too much free time if you can track that, honey. ” Shi Wudu huffed a bit, reaching for his chopsticks.
“Or maybe I just love you too much not to notice.” Pei Ming smiled, while Shi Wudu’s hand went still for a moment, the only sign he got close to being embarrassed.
“You talk nonsense.” He eventually got out, but there was a smile on his lips proving his words otherwise.
←→
Many times Pei Ming had wished it’d be much more of a rare situation, out of concern for Shi Wudu. He’d never get tired of taking care of him when it was needed (and any other time as well), but it’d feel better if it was for better circumstances.
Nevertheless, he returned from their living room to carefully put a blanket over the sleeping Shi Wudu. He whispered to himself: “What am I going to do with you?”
At least the falling asleep at his table was far too rare for Shi Wudu. Not like other times… Pei Ming still remembered how he had to ask Ling Wen to get Shi Wudu to eat lunch before, when he’d been away on business and Shi Wudu had the brilliant idea to work through his lunch break, even when all his coworkers left for it. It cost him more than just a small favor for Ling Wen. She did help him, even if she took advantage of the situation (she’d been worried about Shi Wudu in the first place and would have done something with or without Pei Ming, it was only that he presented her with something in return far too easily), so it was only a small price to pay in the end.
Now though, he had a sleeping Shi Wudu to deal with, and he’ll probably get chewed out tomorrow for not changing his clothes. Those were things to worry about tomorrow, Pei Ming’s not waking him up now.
Ever so carefully, he moved Shi Wudu slightly to be able to take him into his arms without the blanket slipping off. One arm under his legs, the other supporting his back and Pei Ming slowly lifted Shi Wudu up, holding him against his chest.
Pei Ming started walking towards their bedroom, staying careful to not wake up Shi Wudu nor to accidentally bump into anything. It had been a bit tricky with the door, but he managed to nudge them to open wider, crossing the distance between the two rooms fairly quickly. He laid Shi Wudu down on their bed when he got to it.
He was not going to change the others' clothes, just as he decided a few minutes ago, but he at least took Shi Wudu’s watch off his wrist and put it on the night table (as if it was useful to Shi Wudu half of the time), before tugging another blanket snugly over Shu Wudu.
He then made a quick stop to the kitchen, bringing a glass of water with himself in case Shi Wudu woke up later thirsty.
He leaned down, kissing Shi Wudu’s forehead, almost leaving the room to busy himself for some more time, if it wasn’t for Shi Wudu shifting, not precisely stopping him but trying to.
“Love?” Pei Ming whispered, sitting on his side of bed, brushing Shi Wudu’s hair from his face.
Shi Wudu let out something between a groan and a hum, opening his eyes only for a moment, before closing them sleepily. “...sleep.” He muttered, voice just close enough to be counted as a whisper.
“Yes, you need to sleep.” Pei Ming couldn’t help himself, despite knowing how exactly Shi Wudu meant it. Frown spread on Shi Wudu’s face, causing Pei Ming’s to soften. “Alright baobei, I’ll lay with you.”
He did just as he said, laying down and wrapping his arms around Shi Wudu, who happily let himself be held, drifting back to sleep.