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Mo Xi was frowning at the pot in which he was cooking plums, and then warily eyed the goose slowly roasting over the fire, which he had previously stuffed with the berries he had plucked by hand when he had gotten up. He had been working in the kitchen since before the sun’s first rays had even shown themselves. The smells wafting through the air didn’t seem as offensive as they once might have when Mo Xi had still been an utter novice at cooking. They were quite alluring in fact—so much so that as soon as the sun had fully risen and its rays flickered through the kitchen window to warm Mo Xi’s face, he suddenly felt a warm body pressed against his back, arms coiling around his waist.
“Ah, I see my shidi has been quite busy and the day hasn’t even started. I didn’t even hear you get up.”
Mo Xi hummed in acknowledgement, but tried his best not to give Gu Mang any further attention.
But Gu Mang wasn’t having it, he started pressing gentle kisses to the exposed skin of Mo Xi’s neck. And even though they had been together for a long time, sharing numerous moments ravaged by a carnal hunger, Mo Xi still tensed at those intimate touches. Knowing that Gu Mang was doing this on purpose to derail him, Mo Xi nevertheless tried to remain firm and did not give into the sweet temptation Gu Mang was promising with each kiss.
Eventually, Mo Xi’s by now practiced resolve bore fruit and Gu Mang finally let go of him again, “Oh princess, you’re no fun. Also, your plums are burning.”
Mo Xi jumped to lower the heat with a flick of his wrist, hearing Gu Mang’s cheerful laughter in the back.
“Why don’t you let me take over. Mo-shidi has been working so hard all morning, let your gege take care of the rest, hm? You do seem a little distracted,” the smugness was clear in the tone of Gu Mang’s voice, knowing full well just who was the cause of such distractions.
Knowing it was futile to protest and being aware of Gu Mang’s superior skill in the kitchen, Mo Xi made space in front of the stovetop.
After a comfortable silence had spread between them as Mo Xi watched Gu Mang skillfully immerse himself in the task, he suddenly heard another set of feet shuffle into the kitchen.
“What is all this fuss in the early morning? I could barely get a wink of sleep with all the ruckus you two were making.”
Murong Lian strode inside and languidly sat down on a chair next to Mo Xi.
“Why, after we had worked you all night long, didi?”
Murong Lian decided to ignore Gu Mang’s crude comment as Mo Xi’s ears turned red.
Gu Mang, who was utterly undeterred by the piercing glare Murong Lian shot at him, strode over to him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before swiftly dancing out of the way of any potential attack his brother might try to land on him.
They spent the rest of the morning like this: Gu Mang relentlessly teasing whilst helping out with the cooking where Mo Xi needed it, and Murong Lian languidly taking it all in, enjoying one of the few drags of ephemera from his pipe that he was allowed to have.
“Whose idea was it to invite that whelp anyway?” Murong Lian wondered out loud, pointedly looking at Gu Mang who grinned lazily in response.
“Actually, our dear princess had this wonderful idea.”
A look of surprise flashed in Murong Lian’s eyes as he stared at Mo Xi’s back for a longer moment before letting out an unimpressed grunt.
Murong Lian nevertheless eventually got up and started ordering people around to clean up the manor, adding new flower and butterfly illusions that illuminated the corridors in bright colours—eliciting an atmosphere of a beautiful spring day.
And sure enough, once their preparations had been done, Yue Chenqing arrived.
Stepping out of the carriage was no longer the carefree youth, but a refined young man. He bowed at the three of them gathered outside the manor to welcome Yue Chenqing.
“Thank you for the invitation.”
Where before there was always a lilt of playfulness, there now hung a heavy cloud around Yue Chenqing. While his bearing was more dignified, there was something perceivably heavy weighing on his shoulders at all times.
“Come in, come in, Little White Bird!” Gu Mang broke the awkward silence that had threatened to engulf them, and Gu Mang thought he even saw the smallest twitch on Yue Chenqing’s rather impassive face at the use of this teasing moniker that Gu Mang gave him a long time ago when his mind was still addled. Yue Chenqing nodded at Gu Mang, ever keeping up that polite facade. Gu Mang led Yue Chenqing towards the dining area, gesturing for Mo Xi to prepare the wine—which was easy enough to heat up for Mo Xi. Murong Lian busied himself by ordering staff around to bring in the first dishes as the others got settled.
Once everyone was seated, Gu Mang tried to keep a conversation going, asking Yue Chenqing how he had been and what he had been up to, but it was practically impossible to get Yue Chenqing to elaborate on anything. Instead of the usually loud and impulsive remarks, Yue Chenqing was utterly reticent. Gu Mang tried not to frown visibly. Truthfully, it seemed as though Yue Chenqing was trying to make himself small. Barely graspable so that nobody would look too closely. But unlike Gu Mang who then liked to revert to overly friendly mannerism, quipping his way through a conversation with a flirtatious air, Yue Chenqing just kept everything to a bare minimum.
But just as Gu Mang got lost in his own musings, a staff member cried in surprise as a black furball of a creature suddenly burst inside of the room, bounding straight to where Yue Chenqing was seated.
“Fandou, no!”
It was far too late to intervene, however. Fandou was already all over Yue Chenqing, who didn’t seem to be too annoyed about this, and gave the dog a few pats on his head.
Murong Lian was about to get angry at the dog, but Gu Mang caught his eye and let him silently know not to intervene. Murong Lian glared at him in turn, but relented with a scoff. Gu Mang smiled brightly at him and walked over to where Mo Xi was sitting, watching this curious display with a light frown between his brows.
Gu Mang slid onto a chair next to him and leaned in to whisper, “I think this could actually be good for him.”
Mo Xi only hummed in response before continuing to focus on his food once more.
Fandou eventually let up from Yue Chenqing as they finished their meal, and while the staff cleaned up the table, Gu Mang turned to look at Yue Chenqing, “Do you want to come take a look around the grounds?”
Yue Chenqing held Gu Mang’s gaze for a bit as though he was contemplating his reply before he finally spoke, his tone almost bashful, “Can we…take the dog with us?”
Gu Mang’s face first struck with surprise softened, and he cut in before Murong Lian could complain again, “Of course we can.”
For the first time that night there was the hint of a smile on Yue Chenqing’s lips. The astonishment was clear on Mo Xi’s face, but he quickly collected himself and even got a grumpy Murong Lian to get up and follow along.
“Ah yes, the whelp and the mutt. Of course they would take a liking to each other,” Murong Lian snarked, only to get cuffed in the arm by Gu Mang.
“Ow!”
“Don’t be a brat. I know you think it’s cute, too.”
“You don’t know what I’m thinking. If you did, you wouldn’t dare to provoke me like that.”
Gu Mang let out a hearty laugh at that, and then replied in a deeper voice, alluring voice, “Oh, you have to tell me all about that later.”
Hiding behind Mo Xi for fear of Murong Lian’s wrath, Gu Mang wailed in feigned fear, “Save me, princess! Lian-di has it out for me!”
Mo Xi only sighed fondly, a smile playing about his lips, “He won’t get past me.”
Murong Lian snapped back angrily, “You’re lucky we still have a guest to entertain or I swear I’d—”
“Why, that’s right. Where are our manners? Tsk tsk,” Gu Mang clicked his tongue, and promptly turned to make sure to keep an eye on Yue Chenqing, leaving Murong Lian seething on his own.
Everything went reasonably well, they showed Yue Chenqing around, but he seemed to be far more interested in where Fandou would lead him to, chasing the dog around with an air of his almost childish glee whilst Murong Lian kept glowering at him, and Gu Mang continued to keep the prickly beauty at bay.
Yue Chenqing did not forget himself entirely, though, as there were still moments of him acknowledging the progress of the Academy.
At some point, however, Yue Chenqing suddenly stilled. The others looked at him expectantly, wondering if he had another question or a request, but Yue Chenqing remained quiet. Yue Chenqing was seemingly enraptured by some of the butterfly illusions that fluttered around them, and he watched them silently. The look on his face was difficult to read. There seemed to be contemplation, but even more so something more akin to wistfulness.
“These are beautiful, dage,” Yue Chenqing commented without looking at Murong Lian who in turn was briefly caught by surprise, but quickly hid it away again by composing himself.
“Well, of course they are. Do you think I’d let imperfections mar what I’ve built?” Murong Lian replied with contempt in his voice at the mere thought, but for those who had lived with him for a long time, and grown up with him, there was a hint of appreciation of the comment—hidden under layers of angry snark.
After another pause Yue Chenqing noted, “I’m sure Fourth Uncle would have loved to help with all this.”
Everyone unanimously, but silently, agreed to stay quiet, unsure how to respond anyway.
The quietness grew all the more heavy the more it went on, but Yue Chenqing still hadn’t moved from his position, he only reached out a hand and started playing with the butterflies—suddenly the childish naivety that had been endearing to watch had turned into something far more tragic.
Just as Gu Mang figured him and the others should just leave Yue Chenqing, and give him some space, Yue Chenqing suddenly turned to them all, tears streaking his cheeks, but he was nevertheless smiling.
“Do you think Fourth Uncle lives on as a butterfly somewhere? Being able to fly freely?”
“Little Bird…” Gu Mang was too at a loss for what to say, and Mo Xi looked as helpless as he was aggrieved.
Murong Lian had averted his eyes, and cleared his throat, muttering, “I have to take care of some student administration.”
And without another word Murong Lian left, but not without looking at Yue Chenqing for another moment.
Gu Mang was about to suggest maybe having some tea now, when Fandou barked and trotted up towards Yue Chenqing.
“Fandou, don’t—”
“No, no. It’s quite alright,” Yue Chenqing smiled warmly at Fandou, tears still quietly streaming down, and he crouched down to greet the black dog.
Fandou happily wagged his tail and started lapping at Yue Chenqing’s face, licking away those salty tears, but Yue Chenqing didn’t seem to mind at all.
Gu Mang placed his head on Mo Xi’s shoulder, letting Yue Chenqing have this moment, watching as those butterflies suddenly started fluttering all around Yue Chenqing and Fandou. Gu Mang’s lips curled into a knowing smile as Mo Xi’s brows furrowed slightly. Just then Fandou began chasing after the butterflies, causing Yue Chenqing to run after him laughing. And for the first time in a long time there was childish glee seemingly bubbling up within Yue Chenqing.
Yue Chenqing and Gu Mang spent the rest of the afternoon playing with Fandou, making it a competition to see who could attract and catch the most beautiful of butterflies. Murong Lian only joined them later on when it was time to have tea, making sure they all knew just how annoyed he was with the activities taking place around him, and yet somehow, ever new, more stunning and detailed butterflies seemed to emerge out of nowhere.
There was one particularly striking butterfly that stayed close to Yue Chenqing, almost playfully teasing him as it always flew just out of reach but never away. Even once almost all of the other butterflies had vanished, this one somehow remained. Gu Mang shot Murong Lian a quizzical look, but he was merely lounging on one of the seats, not looking their way and finally indulging his water pipe.
Eventually that butterfly took off as well, but not without fluttering close to Yue Chenqing’s face and getting Yue Chenqing to laugh at the ticklish wings.
And while Yue Chenqing did look a little dejected once his little friend had flown off, his posture was lighter, he didn’t look as though he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulder. His eyes were sparkling, but this time there were no tears forming in the corners. There was just genuine joy.
“He will come back,” Yue Chenqing said to no one in particular as he was staring into the distance, utter determination reverberating in his tone. There was no doubt at all.
***
“That lasting butterfly at the end was sweet, didi~”
Gu Mang leaned over to place a kiss on top of Murong Lian’s naked chest as they were lying in bed, Mo Xi holding Gu Mang from behind, his head nuzzled in the crook of his neck.
“Don’t talk nonsense. The illusion spell has its limits.”
“But then—”
Gu Mang cut himself off with a sound of surprise when Murong Lian flicked his fingers at Gu Mang’s head, “You never were the brightest one.”
But before Gu Mang could retort or wake Mo Xi up to have his back, Murong Lian gently kissed the top of his head, “Sleep, and try to rest those strained brain cells of yours. It’s tiring to always be the smartest person in the room.”
Gu Mang didn’t let himself be told twice, and with a content smile he let his head settle on top of Murong Lian’s chest, whilst using his hand to pull Mo Xi closer as well.