Work Text:
Fuyao School is set amidst the lush greenery, babbling brooks, and scenic waterfalls of Fuyao Mountain, and serves students from elementary age to high school. During the school year, students and staff live right on the mountain, and the tranquil setting is very much a home away from home for all of them.
The school is run by Tong Ru, or Tong-xiaozhang, as staff and students call him. For him, Fuyao is home, as he lives on the mountain year-round along with his partner and Fuyao teacher, Han Muchun, or Han-laoshi. Tong Ru is a kind and quiet man with a generous heart, and Han Muchun is an eccentric and outgoing man with a mischievous smile. Both are driven by a desire to help others. Tong Ru and Han Muchun have a family of four adopted sons, all of whom attend Fuyao School: Yan Zhengming, Li Yun, Han Yuan, and Cheng Qian, aged 18, 17, 15, and 13 respectively.
Today is the day before the Mid-Autumn festival, and Fuyao School is dismissing early so that preparations can be made for the school’s traditional feast. Students are packing up their things excitedly when, all of a sudden, Yan Zhengming, Li Yun, Han Yuan, and Cheng Qian are each called from their respective classrooms to report to Tong-xiaozhang’s office immediately.
All of the students stop what they are doing and look up. For Cheng Qian, an especially good student whose only shortcoming is his occasional acerbic wit, it would be fair to assume that he is being called to the office simply because Tong-xiaozhong is his adoptive father.
As for the other three boys, it’s a different story altogether.
The only thing that Yan Zhengming, Li Yun, and Han Yuan are especially good at is getting into trouble. Even when they don’t necessarily go looking for trouble, it seems to find them nonetheless. And so, as they are called to the office, their classmates exchange knowing glances, the same thought rippling through each of their heads: What did they do now?
Take Yan Zhengming, for example, who is not only notorious for napping in class, but who is also well-known for having started various school-wide petitions demanding things such as plush recliner seating in all classes, a full-service spa, 5-star Michelin chefs, and mandatory daily siestas. He was even dubbed the “Money-Hustling Young Master” last year when he raised a rather sizable amount from a "GoFundMe" account in an effort to get his spa project off the ground. Unfortunately, when school administrators, including his adoptive parents, caught wind of his illicit fundraising activities, they put a stop to it right away and forced him to return all of the money immediately.
After that, he was strictly forbidden from any future petitions or money-hustling.
In addition to his school improvement endeavors, Yan Zhengming also got into a bit of trouble last year when he bribed his younger brother, Cheng Qian, to do his homework for him. Yan Zhengming, however, will be the first to tell you that it’s really not as bad as it sounds.
It all started after school one day last fall. Yan Zhengming had come across Cheng Qian while he was carrying a stack of absolutely too many books all at once. Cheng Qian could barely see where he was going, and it looked as if everything was going to go sprawling at any moment. The sight of Cheng Qian struggling with a mountain of books had plucked some sort of nerve in Yan Zhengming's heart, so he had rushed over to help him.
“Hey, Cheng Qian, hold on, that’s a lot of books you have there.”
Cheng Qian hadn’t been expecting his name to be called out, and he had startled at the noise. His eyes had gone wide as his tower of books wobbled precariously. Cheng Qian tried to use his chin to steady them before they fell, but it was too late. The entire stack of books tumbled from his arms and onto the ground. Yan Zhengming had bent down immediately to help him pick up the books. As he was doing so, he glanced at the front cover of one of the books. “Calligraphy? I didn’t know you were taking a calligraphy class this semester.”
Cheng Qian looked a little embarrassed as he took the book from Yan Zhengming, the tips of his ears a bit red as he explained, “I’m not, it’s just–I just need the practice, that’s all.”
Yan Zhengming had watched the tips of Cheng Qian's ears turn red as he fumbled through his answer. It wasn't often that Cheng Qian became flustered. How adorable, Yan Zhengming had thought to himself.
They walked home together that day, with Yan Zhengming carrying half of Cheng Qian’s books for him. He glanced over at Cheng Qian, hesitating for just a moment before saying, “You know, I’m taking a calligraphy class this semester. I could use some help with my homework. It could be a way for you to practice.” He left out that getting Cheng Qian to do his calligraphy homework for him was a great deal for himself.
Cheng Qian’s eyes had narrowed in suspicion. “Help you with your homework? As in, I do your homework for you? Why in the world would I want to do that?”
Yan Zhengming had answered quickly, “I’d let you use my student ID if you did.” His student ID came with library and research perks, which was a very attractive thing to an outstanding student like Cheng Qian.
And so, as a result, Cheng Qian had agreed to the deal, and the two of them had started spending a lot of time after school at the library. While Cheng Qian quietly and meticulously copied calligraphy for Yan Zhengming, Yan Zhengming sat and pretended to focus on reading. In reality, what he really ended up focusing on was Cheng Qian.
Although Yan Zhengming did not like to work, he found that he liked to watch Cheng Qian work. He admired how his hair fell down across his forehead as he concentrated, how his eyes never left the paper, how his teeth bit his bottom lip when he was writing the most intricate characters, and how he gripped the calligraphy pen with confidence. Cheng Qian hadn’t been lying about his skill, he really did need practice, but every day, Yan Zhengming watched his strokes become stronger and more sure. Surprisingly, some of Cheng Qian’s work-ethic even seemed to rub off on him. Yan Zhengming actually started to focus on his own studies as they sat together at the library each day. Perhaps he hoped that Cheng Qian would notice how he looked when he worked and would think well of him too.
The whole calligraphy deal had been a win-win, at least until his calligraphy teacher had noticed that the handwriting on his homework and tests never matched. That had brought an end to his library sessions with Cheng Qian, as he had to stay after school for a whole month to make up his work.
As for Li Yun, he is most famous at Fuyao School for his “nine linked rings of power” stunt. Over the course of one weekend, Li Yun binge-watched the entire “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. When he came into school that Monday, he had fashioned an aluminum foil ring of power for himself and had brought with him what he called his "nine (aluminum-foil) linked rings of power." He gave the rings out to nine students, and told them that they had to do his bidding for the day. Li Yun was quite popular at Fuyao school, so it was no problem for him to find devotees to wear the nine linked rings of power and assist him with playing pranks around the mountain. In fact, Han Yuan had been one of them.
On that day, Li Yun and his nine linked rings of power had broken into all of the science labs at Fuyao school and had set hundreds of frogs, who had been slated for dissection that week, free on the mountain. To the delight of the students and to the chagrin of the science teachers, the little green amphibians had hopped all around campus. Thunderous chants of “free the frogs” had rung out across Fuyao Mountain from the student body. The science teachers had watched helplessly as the frogs had hopped right on out of campus, happily taking up residence in various mountain streams.
One stray frog did end up in Yan Zhengming’s locker that day. When he opened his locker door, the frog leapt out and plopped itself right on top of his head as if he were a lily pad. After receiving such a fright, he demonstrated a vocal range that rivaled a prima donna and a running speed that would probably qualify him for the Olympics. Later, he had chased Li Yun all around campus, but never got him to admit to having had anything to do with planting that frog.
After the frog incident, Li Yun was given detention for a month and the school moved to virtual frog dissections.
And finally, there is Han Yuan. On Han Yuan’s very first day at Fuyao School, right after having been adopted by Han Muchun and Tong Ru, Han Muchun had caught him sneaking food in the school kitchen. The students had already been dismissed, and Han Muchun had just happened to be passing by the kitchen when he heard some strange noises inside. As he walked in, he came upon Han Yuan sitting on the floor, stuffing his mouth full of cookies, cakes, and candies.
Han Muchun had stood back and watched this little food thief, but hadn’t gotten upset, nor had he said anything right away.
Prior to coming to Fuyao, Han Yuan had been living on the streets as a beggar. When Han Muchun and Tong Ru had taken him in, this child was stick-thin and didn’t have a penny to his name. In fact, he didn't even have a name. Han Muchun had given him his own surname, “Han” which was all well and good, but when paired with the name that he had chosen, “Yuan,” it meant “suffering an injustice.” Not an auspicious name to say the least, but fitting when one considered Han Yuan’s life up to that point. He was a child who was used to having to fight for everything, including every last bit of food he could get his hands on.
So that day, when Han Muchun came across Han Yuan on the school’s cold kitchen floor, all he had felt was heartache for that poor boy. Han Muchun knew that when a person, especially a child, has known true hunger, has had to beg on the streets and fight over scraps like a dog, they become driven by a primal instinct to survive. Having just started at Fuyao, Han Yuan was not used to a life where he did not have to worry about where his next morsel of food would come from. When someone like Han Yuan, who had never been able to hold onto anything good for very long in his young life, was presented with a seemingly unlimited supply of food, his knee-jerk reaction was to gulp it all down as quickly as he could before it was inevitably taken away. After all, he had lost every other good thing in his life up to that point, so why would he expect anything different here?
Not wanting to startle him, Han Muchun had approached him carefully and quietly that day in the school kitchen, clearing his throat before softly saying, “Well now, what do we have here?”
At the sound, Han Yuan had frozen stiffly as his fight or flight response had kicked in. His cheeks were so stuffed with food that he resembled a chipmunk gathering nuts for winter. Of course he couldn’t speak with such a mouthful, but his dark eyes had been wide with fear as he looked up at Han Muchun.
Han Yuan had just found a home and a family, and his heart trembled terribly as he realized that he had probably just ruined it all. Of course he was about to get kicked out before he even got a chance to enjoy it. Why should he be surprised? He should have expected it.
However, to Han Yuan’s shock, Han Muchun had sat cross-legged on the kitchen floor across from him, examined the pile of food with a discerning eye, and picked up a pine-nut candy, popping it in his mouth and savoring the sweet and meaty taste.
He said nothing about what he had just caught Han Yuan doing.
Han Muchun’s eyes had been calm, not a trace of anger or disappointment in them, as he said, “You know, your Yan-ge likes these candies too. How about this? Let’s put all of this into a bag and take it home. Then, once we’re settled in, we can have a real dinner.”
Han Yuan’s cheeks had still been stuffed with food, and his eyes were still as wide as saucers, but he had nodded dumbly in response.
Han Muchun had smiled softly at him. “We’re still getting to know each other, so why don't you tell me what you like to eat best?”
Han Yuan had just stared at Han Muchun, taking his time to finish chewing before answering. After swallowing down his enormous mouthful, he had stammered out, very timidly and very slowly, “H-han-laoshi, I-I like roast chicken best.”
Han Muchun had grinned widely. “What do you know about that? Roast chicken is my favorite too.” He had leaned in, his mouth almost watering as he said, “At Fuyao, we always have it stuffed with bamboo shoots and wild mushrooms. Do you like that too?”
By that point, Han Yuan had just started to believe that, not only was he actually not in trouble, nor was he about to be tossed out of his new family and back onto the streets, but rather he was being offered a warm meal. At this realization, he had chanced a timid smile as he replied, “I do.”
Han Muchun had smiled brightly. “Seems like we have similar tastes, and now I’m hungry. How does roast chicken with bamboo shoots and wild mushrooms sound for dinner tonight?”
Han Yuan had nodded his head up and down. He had watched a bit dumbfoundedly as Han Muchun had gathered all the food that Han Yuan had strewn all over the kitchen floor and put it in a bag to take home. A lump had formed in his throat as he realized that Han Muchun wasn’t going to throw anything out. Han Yuan sat there quietly, just watching, and before getting up, with a slight tremor in his voice, he had said, “Han-laoshi, I’m sorry.”
Han Muchun’s kind eyes had gazed down softly at Han Yuan. When Han Muchun spoke, his voice was gentle and reassuring. “Han Yuan, in time you’ll come to trust that you have a family now. We will take care of you. You don’t have to worry so much anymore.”
As he had listened, Han Yuan had turned Han Muchun’s words over and over in his mind: …you have a family…we will take care of you…you don’t have to worry, and his eyes had filled with tears. All his life, he had never known what it meant to have a family. He was used to relying on himself for everything, but now it seemed that he had people who would help to take care of him.
– A family of his own.
That day, Han Yuan and Han Muchun had left the kitchen together and headed home. With each step toward home that Han Yuan took, he felt as if a bit of the weight of his past had been lifted off his young shoulders.
Later that evening, Han Muchun had given Han Yuan a wink and a smile as the family ate roast chicken with bamboo shoots and wild mushrooms together. Han Yuan had winked and smiled back. As he watched his new family eating together, he repeated the word “family” over and over in his head. Each time he repeated the word, a bit of the fear that had lived in his heart for so long had melted away like ice receding on a frozen pond as winter turns to spring. He felt a warmth and fullness inside that came from more than just the food. It was a warmth that came from a feeling of belonging that he had never known before. He finally had a place where he belonged and a family that he belonged to.
However, as time passed and Han Yuan settled in with his new family, his mischievous nature was slowly revealed. When Han Yuan wasn’t climbing up trees to swing from branches or disturb the birds, he could be found climbing rocks, fishing in the streams, or eavesdropping on others just for fun. It’s fair to say that Han Yuan’s favorite pastime is frolicking all over Fuyao mountain like a little demon dragon boy.
Despite all their mischief, one thing is certain about each of Han Muchun and Tong Ru's boys. They all love each other very much. None of them would hesitate for even one second if any one of them ever needed anything.
And so, when Yan Zhengming, Li Yun, Han Yuan, and Cheng Qian are all called to Tong-xiaozhang’s office, they can’t help but wonder what they have all been called there for. As they arrive, secretary Zipeng doesn’t take notice of them right away, as she is completely engrossed in playing with a baby girl who looks to be just over one year old. Each boy wonders what in the world a baby is doing in Tong-xiaozhang’s office. The girl is round and pudgy and is wearing a headband with white feathers protruding all about, making her look a bit like a baby bird. She’s wearing a red dress with white tights, and a white bib is fastened securely around her neck. Yan Zhengming grimaces as he notices that she is sucking her fingers and drooling uncontrollably. Well that explains the bib.
Currently, the little girl is very amused by a large, bejeweled Faberge egg that secretary Zipeng likes to keep on her desk. Apparently, they are playing a game where different items are hidden inside the egg and then revealed to the little girl. She squeals in delight each time secretary Zipeng cracks the egg open. Since it’s a school office, the treasures that have delighted the young child thus far have been a paperclip, a stack of post-it notes, and a roll of tape.
The boys suffer through two more rounds of this unbearably loud and annoying egg game - a binder clip and eraser having been miraculously uncovered. As Yan Zhengming watches with disdain, he can't help but think that, in addition to producing a concerning amount of drool, this kid seems super gullible and exceedingly easy to please. Just when he thinks he can’t take one more second of the drool or stupid game, secretary Zipeng finally looks up and notices them standing there.
“Oh! Hello! Sorry boys, I didn’t see you there. Tong-xiaozhang said that you can all go right in.” When she finishes speaking, she goes right back to playing with the drooling child as she makes nonsensical faces and cooing sounds. Yan Zhengming cocks an eyebrow in disdain as he thinks to himself that kids really bring out the dummy in some people.
As they step into Tong Ru’s office, they find Han Muchun inside with him. Both of their adoptive parents have big smiles on their faces.
“Ah, boys, you’re here, sit down, sit down, we have very exciting news!” Han Muchun says as he ushers them into seats hurriedly.
Once all of the boys are sitting, Tong Ru begins. “Let’s get right to it. As you all know, we’ve both been trying for a long time.” He gives Han Muchun a knowing smile and reaches out to grasp his hands in his own.
“...” The boys all look over at each other warily as they exchange bewildered looks. Trying? Trying to…what?
As if reading their minds, Han Muchun clarifies: “To adopt.”
“Ah,” the boys all think to themselves in relief. That’s right, their dads had spoken with them a few months ago, asking each of them how they would feel if they were to adopt another child.
As Yan Zhengming recalls the child they had just seen with secretary Zipeng, he thinks to himself, Wait, are they about to tell us that the human drool factory out there is coming home to live with us?
In the next instant, Tong Ru confirms it. “This may seem like short notice, in fact we just found out ourselves this morning, but we’re thrilled to tell you that, this Mid-Autumn, we have all been blessed with the most precious thing - a new addition to our family! In fact, she’s right outside!”
Han Muchun is beside himself with excitement. “I’ll bring her in for you to meet!” he says as he rushes out and returns a few moments later with the small girl they had all just seen with secretary Zipeng. She is now cradled in his arms like a little treasure.
He grins as he says, “Boys, meet your new meimei. She comes to us from Wuhan, and has been living in an orphanage there, and we are going to do our very best to give her a new, loving home. She'll take my surname, ‘Han,’ but we haven’t decided on the rest of her name yet.”
With Han Yuan being forced to suffer an injustice with his name, Yan Zhengming thinks it’s rather lucky for her that she hasn’t been named yet. Before she can be made to suffer her own injustice, he suggests, “She comes from Wuhan, and since there are so many ponds there, what about Han Tan?”
Han Muchun and Tong Ru look at each other with a smile. Han Muchun looks down at the baby girl in his arms and asks, “What do you think, Han Tan? Do you like your new name?
She sucks on her fingers with a smile. Han Muchun wipes some drool off her chin.
“I think ‘Han Tan’ is perfect!” Han Yuan exclaims. “And for a nickname we can call her ‘Shuikeng,’ because she sure does drool a lot!” Han Yuan seems to share Han Muchun’s “talent” for naming.
Han Muchun and Tong Ru: “...”
Isn't such a nickname just making her suffer her own injustice? Cheng Qian, who is sitting next to Yan Zhengming, leans over and whispers in his ear, “You tried.” Cheng Qian’s hot breath fans out against Yan Zhengming’s ear.
Yan Zhengming grins at Cheng Qian’s wry observation, but internally, his heart speeds up and his body tenses because of the secret crush he has on Cheng Qian. He doesn’t know when or how his feelings for Cheng Qian even started to develop. Maybe it all started in those afternoons they spent together in the library last year. Maybe it's Cheng Qian's maturity, good looks, or his sharp tongue. Whatever it is, Yan Zhengming has got it bad.
When he first noticed that his feelings had gone beyond simple brotherly affection, Yan Zhengming told himself, You must be fucking insane. He has tried to talk himself out of his feelings multiple times by listing Cheng Qian’s bad points over and over again: he’s cold, unsociable, unapproachable, and can be downright rude at times.
But none of that works to dissuade how he feels. He simply wants to be around Cheng Qian all the time. When they’re together, he feels happy and content, and he gets a nervous butterflies-in-his stomach feeling from even the most casual touch. When they aren’t together, Yan Zhengming misses him and wants to be around him. Sometimes he wonders if Cheng Qian ever thinks about him the way he thinks about Cheng Qian, and then immediately chastises himself with the thought, Don’t be ridiculous.
And so, as Cheng Qian had whispered in his ear just now, he couldn't help but grip the armrests of his chair while doing his best to keep his expression calm and steady. Outwardly, he rolls his eyes at Cheng while inwardly, he tries to calm his racing heart.
When he looks away from Cheng Qian, he realizes that everyone is getting up to meet Shuikeng. He gets up reluctantly as well. Li Yun and Han Yuan are already crowded around Shuikeng along with their adoptive parents. They all smile and laugh while she chews on her fingers and drools shamelessly. Yan Zhengming feels rather satisfied when he notices that Cheng Qian is hanging back just as much as he is.
🥮 • 🌕 • 🥮
A short time later, the family heads home from school to settle Shuikeng in. As they step into the house, Yan Zhengming is having a mini existential crisis over the possibility that his parents may ask him to change diapers. This terrifying thought is followed by another. He pretty much tips right over the edge into a full-blown internal crisis when he realizes that there are four bedrooms in this place, and none of them are particularly large. His parents have one, Li Yun shares another with Han Yuan, and Cheng Qian, who prefers peace and quiet, has a room of his own. Yan Zhengming has his own room too, not because he prefers peace and quiet, but mostly because no one in their right mind would willingly room with him. Yan Zhengming realizes in horror that the drool factory is going to need a room too, and his parent’s room is already too small to accommodate her. Yan Zhengming’s bedroom, which is right next to his parents, is the best option. His heart clenches as he realizes that this means that he will probably have to start rooming with Cheng Qian. Well, either that, or he will simply have to do some more money-hustling and move the hell out.
This is a nightmare, he thinks to himself.
At the same time, he can’t help but think that this is also like a dream come true. If he rooms with Cheng Qian, he’ll get to be around him all the time. They’ll even be in the same room together when they sleep. As these thoughts run through Yan Zhengming’s head, he thinks to himself that this is in fact the worst possible thing but also the greatest possible thing. Yan Zhengming is torn between wanting to move in immediately and wanting to simply move out.
Meanwhile, Han Muchun puts Shuikeng down and busies himself with chasing after her as she toddles about the house on unsteady legs, scrambling about to keep her from crashing into any sharp corners.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to just put a leash on her?” Li Yun asks in all seriousness.
Han Yuan laughs and nods in agreement while Cheng Qian comments, “If it was easier, I’m pretty sure they would have tried leashing the two of you long ago.”
“No leashes.” Tong Ru chimes in. He then places a consolatory hand on Yan Zhengming’s shoulder and motions for Cheng Qian to come over. He looks at them both and says, “Boys, we need to talk about room arrangements.” Yan Zhengming would be offended by the consolatory hand on the shoulder move if his brain wasn’t absolutely freaking out right now.
It is just as Yan Zhengming has predicted. Tong Ru says that the two of them will have to share a room from now on. They will have to get bunk beds like Han Yuan and Li Yun have since the room is not large enough for two beds. Yan Zhengming’s brain completely short-circuits as his adoptive father utters the next words: “Until the new beds arrive, you’ll have to share one.”
What the fuck! Yan Zhengming screams internally. This is far too much turmoil for his young heart to take.
Seeming to be completely oblivious to Yan Zhengming’s misery, Cheng Qian offers to help him move some of his things over. Yan Zhengming tries his best to calm down while at the same time trying to convince himself that it’s totally fine to sleep in the same bed as the teenage boy he secretly has a huge crush on.
As they open the door to Yan Zhengming’s room, Cheng Qian is nearly bowled over by the scent of orchids, and he lets out three sneezes in rapid succession. “Ge, how do you even breathe in here?” he gasps out as he holds his nose. He opens the window to let some fresh air in, then turns around and glares at him. “Listen, I’m probably about as excited about this room arrangement as you are—”
Wanna make a bet? Yan Zhengming thinks wryly.
“—but we don’t really have a choice. One thing is certain though. We do need to lay some ground rules down.” He holds a finger up as he says, “Rule number one: no incense or perfume.”
Yan Zhengming shoots a glare his way as he scoffs, “Ironic that an aversion to scent is coming from someone who thinks a shower before bedtime is optional. In fact, if we’re making rules, then I say that rule number two is mandatory showers before bedtime.” Yan Zhengming hates himself for the way his heart flutters as he imagines Cheng Qian in a bathrobe— STOP!!! he yells at himself internally.
Cheng Qian interrupts Yan Zhengming’s mental anguish. “No way. Rule number three, baths before bed are optional. If you can handle the stench in here, you can certainly handle a little sweat.”
The thought of Cheng Qian next to him covered in a film of sweat should sound absolutely repulsive to Yan Zhengming but my god this room arrangement is going to absolutely fucking kill him.
Yan Zhengming counters that by saying, “Rule number four: we sleep with a pillow between us.”
“Fine with me.” Cheng Qian answers.
Yan Zhengming sighs. It’s been a stressful day so far. “We’ll work out all the arrangements later. Just help me move some things over for now.”
Cheng Qian nods in agreement. “What things?”
Yan Zhengming puts a hand on his chin as he thinks deeply. “Hmm, not much, I think I can get by if we move everything in the dresser, everything in the closet, both shoe racks, one box of back-up hair and skin care products, and my air purifier.”
Cheng Qian gives him a withering look. “Get real. We can move half of what’s in the closet and dresser and one shoe rack over. That’s it.”
Yan Zhengming’s mouth pops open, and he’s about to fuss about this gross injustice, but when he looks at Cheng Qian’s handsome face, he can’t bring himself to argue. Instead, he crosses his arms in front of his chest and pouts. “Since when did you become so demanding?”
And since when did I become such a pushover? he asks himself.
As they begin moving Yan Zhengming’s things over, Cheng Qian drives him absolutely nuts by asking if every single item is an absolute necessity. Yan Zhengming holds himself back from screaming that every single item in this room is an absolute necessity.
It doesn’t take Cheng Qian and Yan Zhengming long to move everything into Cheng Qian’s room. The largest wall is covered in bamboo-patterned wallpaper, and the other walls are painted a calming green. It’s sort of like being inside a bamboo forest.
Yan Zhengming thinks to himself, Even though it could definitely use some perfume and flowers to spruce it up, it’s actually not bad.
He tries to appear nonchalant as his eyes flicker over to the bed they will have to share. Cheng Qian must follow his gaze – so much for being nonchalant – because the first thing he says is, “It’s only until the bunk beds arrive.” He raises his eyebrows at Yan Zhengming. “Don’t forget rule number one. No weird perfumes, especially in bed.”
Yan Zhengming scowls at the thought of having to sleep in a bunk bed at his age, but also decides that he better beat Cheng Qian to the punch over laying claim to which bunk bed he wants.
“When the bunk beds arrive, I’m taking the bottom.” he declares, then imagines laying in bed, looking up, and knowing that Cheng Qian is sleeping right above him. Shit. Maybe the top is better.
Cheng Qian crosses his arms. “Who says you’ll get the bottom?”
Yan Zhengming huffs, then says, “Fine, if you want the bottom, then I’ll take the top.”
He eyes Cheng Qian’s bedsheets, then raises his eyebrows as he points an incriminating finger at them. “When’s the last time you washed those?”
Cheng Qian’s brow furrows as he thinks deeply. “Last month?”
Yan Zhengming’s face scrunches in utter disgust. “Rule number five, sheets will be changed a minimum of twice a week, so go wash them. Now.”
Cheng Qian grabs a book and heads out the bedroom door. “Can’t. I have some reading to do.”
Yan Zhengming seethes inwardly and stomps a foot as Cheng Qian strolls out of the room, then yells down the hallway, “Cheng Qian, get back in here and wash these sheets right now!” Cheng Qian ignores him and turns the corner as Yan Zhengming calls out, “Fine! I’ll wash them this time, but you’ll do them next time!” He doubts that Cheng Qian is even listening to him.
His peach blossom eyes narrow as he thinks to himself, Screw rule number one. Just for that Cheng Qian, I’m using my orchid scented detergent and dryer sheets.
🥮 • 🌕 • 🥮
Later that night, their parents, who stepped out to pick up a variety of baby essentials from teachers with children, arrive back home. Shuikeng is miraculously still in one piece, even after being watched by Li Yun and Han Yuan. Granted, they had all ended up taking a nap together, so the chaos had been kept to a minimum.
However, Yan Zhengming can’t be worried about any of them right now, because he is standing in the bathroom, getting ready for bed and trying to calm his racing heart as he finishes up his thirty-minute skincare routine. His face is currently covered in a golden orchid luxury mask. He stares fixedly at himself in the mirror and takes deep, calming breaths. As he carefully peels his mask away, he can’t help but wish that the mask he wears to hide his true feelings whenever he is around Cheng Qian could be as easy to remove as this. That mask is one that he is terrified of taking off. Who knows how Cheng Qian would react if he ever discovered Yan Zhengming's true feelings.
After he is done in the bathroom, he steps hesitantly into the bedroom. Cheng Qian is already in bed, reading quietly with his back propped up against a pillow. Yan Zhengming smiles nervously while telling himself to get a grip.
Cheng Qian puts his book down and freezes Yan Zhengming with an icy glare. “You broke rule number one. These sheets reek of orchids.”
Yan Zhengming raises an eyebrow as he sarcastically replies, “They don’t reek, they just smell clean, something you’re not used to I’m sure.”
Cheng Qian glares at him. “They smelled better before you washed them.”
Yan Zhengming scoffs, “I find that hard to believe. What’s so bad about the smell of orchids anyway?”
“I just don’t like it.”
Those words sting and Yan Zhengming has no retort for them.
He looks away quickly in an effort to hide his hurt. He knows that Cheng Qian is referring to the scent of the sheets, and not to him personally, but he can’t help but interpret his statement as rejection.
Cheng Qian is usually pretty dense when it comes to picking up on emotions, but even he registers the flicker of pain that flashes across Yan Zhengming’s eyes before he turns away. And then it’s Cheng Qian’s turn to not know what to say.
After a few moments of silence, his tone is more gentle as he says, “Ge, it’s really not that bad. I mean…I guess I can get used to it.” He sighs, “Let’s just go to bed.”
Yan Zhengming turns his head back. The expression on Cheng Qian’s face seems serious and sincere. The corners of Yan Zhengming’s lips raise ever so slightly in an almost imperceptible smile. He nods as he walks over and lifts the sheets as he steps into bed. He is careful to not accidentally brush against Cheng Qian as he gets in and lays straight on his back as if he is lying in a coffin. His body is as close to the edge as is physically possible.
Cheng Qian watches him and then places an extra pillow in between them.
“Oh. Right. Rule number four.” Yan Zhengming says out loud lacklusterly, his heart clenching in his chest. I’m sure he doesn’t want to be this close to me, Yan Zhengming thinks. Yan Zhengming doesn’t want to be this close to Cheng Qian either, but he can’t help but want to be this close to him.
Yan Zhengming can’t seem to fall asleep that night. Instead, he lays silently in the dark and listens to Cheng Qian’s soft and slow breaths as he sleeps. He turns his head and looks quietly at Cheng Qian’s sleeping face. Yan Zhengming leans his head ever so slightly to the side just to get a bit closer to him. Just like that, he gazes softly at Cheng Qian. At some point, he falls asleep.
The next morning, Yan Zhengming blinks his eyes open and finds himself cuddled up into Cheng Qian’s side. Yan Zhengming has always been slow to rise, so he doesn’t immediately come to his senses when he first wakes up. He snuggles contentedly into Cheng Qian with a smile on his face. Cheng Qian’s body has always run cold, but Yan Zhengming thinks that he feels quite warm this way. Maybe it’s the warmth from his own skin that’s warming Cheng Qian as they snuggle together.
A moment later, as Yan Zhengming fully awakens, his eyes widen in horror as he realizes just where he is and what he is doing. There should be a pillow in between himself and Cheng Qian, but it’s gone – Yan Zhengming guesses that he must have tossed it on the floor in his sleep. Right now, he is curled up against Cheng Qian like the lovesick teenager that he is. SHIT!
His heart thunders in his ears as he decides that escape is his best and only option. In a split second decision, without even bothering to sit up, he immediately does some sort of tactical dive roll off the bed, crashing noisily onto the floor. Thankfully the pillow he must have tossed there in the middle of the night breaks his fall somewhat.
The commotion awakens Cheng Qian, who sits up and calls out, “Ge?”
Yan Zhengming is still laying on the floor. He had been hoping to crawl away unnoticed, but clearly Cheng Qian is a light sleeper who is pretty alert as soon as he wakes up. Yan Zhengming sits up, his head popping up over the edge of the bed. “Oh, hi.”
Cheng Qian raises his eyebrows and says, "Did you...fall out of bed?"
Yan Zhengming tries to laugh it off. "Haha, I guess I did."
“Maybe you shouldn’t take the top bunk after all.”
Yan Zhengming: “...”
He picks himself up off the floor with as much dignity as he can muster and slips out to take a shower after they exchange polite good mornings and wish each other a happy Mid-Autumn. He feels like an idiot. In the shower, he rests his head against the cold tiles as the warm water cascades around him.
The day passes quickly. Cheng Qian slips outside to read under the shade of a tree, Li Yun and Han Yuan noisily play video games, and Yan Zhengming, who didn’t get much sleep that night, lazes away in bed. Meanwhile, Tong Ru and Han Muchun spend most of the day caring for Shuikeng. When they insist that the boys come with them to at least learn how to change her diapers, Yan Zhengming flat out refuses and locks himself in the bathroom with some air freshener. Li Yun and Han Yuan watch the diaper changing obediently, but laugh and make potty jokes the whole time like they are in kindergarten, and Cheng Qian just stands there silently and keeps reading.
Tong Ru and Han Muchun look at each other in disbelief. Not one reliable boy in the bunch. So much for asking any of them to babysit.
Later that evening, they all get ready to head to campus to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival with the students and staff of Fuyao School. Before they leave, Han Muchun feeds and changes Shuikeng once again and packs what he refers to as her “diaper bag”. Yan Zhengming shivers when he hears the word “diaper,” and decides it’s best to keep his distance from a bag that contains what is clearly a trigger word for him.
When they arrive at Fuyao’s large, open-air pavilion, night has already fallen, but the darkness is illuminated by the light of the full moon. Many students and staff have already arrived, and everyone is already laughing and in high spirits. Colorful lanterns that students constructed and painted in class in the weeks leading up to the Mid-Autumn festival are strung up all around, each emanating a bright light as if sprinkled with a bit of stardust inside.
“Ooo…” Shuikeng coos, her eyes bright and wide as she takes in all of the sights and sounds.
Yan Zhengming notices Tong Ru explaining everything they see in a soft voice to Shuikeng as he carries her in his arms. Yan Zhengming’s heart warms at the sight and his lips pull up into a smile. For some reason, he looks over at Cheng Qian.
The smell of food being prepared at various cooking stations wafts out, the scent enticing and mouth-watering. The signature dish, which has been served on Mid-Autumn at Fuyao since the school’s inception, is beggar’s chicken. It’s a Fuyao Mid-Autumn tradition that has lasted for all these years, with whole chickens stuffed with water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and spices, then wrapped in lotus leaves and covered in clay to roast for several hours. The best part of the tradition is watching the cooks crack the clay shells open to reveal the moist and delicious chicken inside.
At the sight and smell of so much delicious food, Han Yuan immediately begins bouncing up and down in excitement.
“Can we go get something to eat?” he asks excitedly, hopping as if he has springs in his shoes.
Han Muchun smiles and gives Han Yuan a special wink, the true meaning of which only the two of them know. “Go with your brothers. We’ll take Han Tan to look at the lanterns. We’ll all meet back here to eat together.”
Who’s to even say if Han Yuan even heard that last bit, as he has already taken off. Li Yun chases after him as he calls out, “Hey! Slow down!”
“Be careful!” Tong Ru calls out.
“OK!” Li Yun tosses out over his shoulder as he rushes to catch up to Han Yuan.
Cheng Qian, who would never reduce himself to hopping over food or running about in such a foolish manner as his brothers, tells his parents that they will see them back here and promises that he and Yan Zhengming will bring enough food back for everyone. Tong Ru and Han Muchun give him an appreciative smile. Cheng Qian heads out with Yan Zhengming to grab some food, their pace much more dignified than their unruly brothers.
As they walk side by side, Yan Zhengming can’t help but look over and admire how handsome Cheng Qian looks beneath the moonlight. He still retains a soft innocence of youth, especially in his cheeks, but the line of his jaw is already well defined. His brow is sharp and his eyes are sure and steadfast.
A short time later, everyone meets back together as promised, their plates piled high with food. The entire family settles down to enjoy the Fuyao Mid-Autumn feast of beggar’s chicken served with bamboo shoots and wild mushrooms, crispy lotus root with pork, fresh fruit, and bowls of fluffy white rice. Shuikeng takes turns sitting on Tong Ru and Han Muchun’s laps as they help to feed her small bites of food. Yan Zhengming notices that Cheng Qian does not have a drumstick on his plate even though he likes them most of all. Yan Zhengming picks up the drumstick on his own plate and places it on Cheng Qian’s.
Cheng Qian looks up. “What’s this for? Don’t you want it?”
“You can have it, I’m full.” Yan Zhengming lies. Giving this to Cheng Qian makes his heart feel full, so it’s not really a lie.
As everyone, especially Han Yuan, enjoys the food, Shuikeng scrambles off of Tong Ru’s lap to chase the fireflies that have come out to add their own lights to the Mid-Autumn festivities. Li Yun, who is an avid lover of bugs, gets up to help catch fireflies with his new sister. She squeals in glee each time he catches one and it lights up from within his cupped hands.
Yan Zhengming watches all of this with an unimpressed look on his face, then lazily tosses out to Li Yun, “Aren’t you a little old for that?”
Cheng Qian watches as Li Yun winks at Shuikeng and puts a finger over his lips, motioning her to be very quiet. She mimics the motion by placing a chubby finger in front of her lips. She watches expectantly and with wide eyes as Li Yun creeps quietly behind Yan Zhengming and places a firefly carefully on his shoulder. He covers his mouth to hold in his laughter, then clears his throat and taps Yan Zhengming on the shoulder and says, “Ge, I think you have a little something there.”
Yan Zhengming looks down, sees the lightning bug, leaps up faster than a bolt of lightning, and lets out a high-pitched scream. Immediately, the firefly lights up and flies away from such a raucous reception.
Several students and teachers look over to see what all the commotion is about.
Shuikeng giggles and opens and closes her pudgy little fingers to wave goodbye as she watches the lightning bug fly away. “Bye-bye” she coos.
Meanwhile, Li Yun’s cheeks are red from laughter. Turn around is fair game, so he looks at Yan Zhengming, arches an eyebrow, and says in a condescending tone, “Aren’t you a little old for that?”
Yan Zhengming stamps his foot. He’s so angry that all he can manage to do is spit out one word, “You!”
“Alright, alright, that’s enough.” Tong Ru says. “Sit down. Don’t cause a scene.”
Yan Zhengming plops back down and whirls around to glare at Cheng Qian. “You could have at least told me.”
“Ge, I didn’t know.” Cheng Qian lies.
After the excitement dies down, as is tradition, Tong Ru has brought a small flask of liquor, and he pours some into a cup for himself and Han Muchun, then pours a tiny trickle of liquor into a cup for each boy and fills the rest of their cups with Osmanthus-flower syrup. He calls it Osmanthus-flower wine, which always makes the boys rather feel grown up as they drink it each Mid-Autumn.
Before they drink, they first pay their respects to their ancestors, then Tong Ru’s gentle and loving gaze falls on each member of his family in turn. “To family.” he says as he raises his cup. “Wherever we go in life, we will always be together in our hearts. Happy Mid-Autumn.”
“Happy Mid-Autumn,” they all echo back as they drink their Osmanthus-flower wine. Han Muchun feeds Shuikeng a spoonful of Osmanthus-flower syrup from a spoon, which she happily swallows down with a smile.
After they finish their drinks, they each enjoy a mooncake with a cup of tea. Shuikeng’s eyes go wide as she has a small taste of one of the sweet and sticky cakes. “Mmm…” she murmurs as she licks the sweetness off of her lips.
I guess she is kind of adorable, Yan Zhengming thinks to himself, …but her drool is still an issue and I am not changing diapers.
🥮 • 🌕 • 🥮
Later that night, when everyone is back at home, Yan Zhengming finds himself sitting in bed next to Cheng Qian.
He has actually prepared a special Mid-Autumn gift just for Cheng Qian in secret, but he certainly never imagined that they would be sharing a bed together when he gave it to him. He nibbles on his lip as he wonders if he should just forget the whole thing.
Cheng Qian, ever clueless to Yan Zhengming’s inner feelings of turmoil, yawns and says, “I’m tired. Are you ready to turn out the lights?”
Steeling his nerves, Yan Zhengming takes a deep breath. “In a minute. I have something to give to you first.”
“Something for me?” Cheng Qian asks, a bit confused.
Yan Zhengming doesn’t answer him, and instead slips out of bed and picks up a box. He shoves it into Cheng Qian’s hands as he says quickly, “Here. It’s really nothing.” In truth, he’s been working on this gift for over a month. His palms are wet with perspiration and his heart is beating fast. He hopes Cheng Qian doesn’t notice.
“Thanks.” Cheng Qian says as he takes the box and carefully opens it. He pulls out a lantern with a hand-painted scene on it. The painting shows a majestic mountain with a full moon hovering in the sky above, clearly Fuyao. Waterfalls cascade down the sides, drops of water lit by the moonlight. In the forefront, two boys are sitting side by side on a rooftop as they face the mountain and look out at the full moon together.
Cheng Qian sits and stares. His fingers gently trace across the painting and end up on the two people. He pauses there and asks, “Ge, is this…you and I?”
Yan Zhengming shrugs in what he hopes is a nonchalant way. “I guess it could be…us.” He didn’t mean to add the word “us,” but Cheng Qian doesn’t seem to notice his slip-up.
As Cheng Qian looks up from the lantern, his dark eyes are deep and sincere. “Ge…thank you. It’s beautiful.”
Yan Zhengming's heart trembles. He does his best to steady his voice and reply casually, “I just painted it for fun. I thought you might like it.”
Cheng Qian looks back down at the lantern. He stares at it for a long time, and the corners of his lips pull up into a tender smile.
That smile makes every second that Yan Zhengming spent making the lantern worth it. He asks in a tone that he hopes does not sound too desperate, “…Do you?”
Cheng Qian looks up, "Do I what?"
Yan Zhengming's heart is a drum. "Do you like it?"
Cheng Qian smiles. “Of course I do.”
When Yan Zhengming sees him smile, his insides feel all lit up like the full moon on Mid-Autumn.
Yan Zhengming watches as Cheng Qian gets up and sets the lantern down gingerly on his nightstand. He turns out the light and they both settle into bed, this time without placing a pillow in between them. The sheets are suffused with the scent of orchids, but if Cheng Qian still minds, he doesn't say.
It still seems surreal to Yan Zhengming that Cheng Qian is right next to him. He knows that this sleeping arrangement will be short lived so, instead of thinking too much about it, he decides to just enjoy such closeness while it lasts.
“Goodnight, Cheng Qian.”
Cheng Qian doesn’t answer. He seems to have already fallen asleep amidst the scent of orchids.
Yan Zhengming watches Cheng Qian, notices how the contours of his face are softly lit by moonlight as it filters in through the curtains. His heart flutters at the sight, the feeling as precious and fragile as a luna moth spreading its wings in the night. He thinks to himself, As long as we’re always together in our hearts, then everything will be alright. With that thought in mind, he closes his eyes as he slowly drifts off to sleep.
The Mid-Autumn moon is bright in the sky, but even brighter is the feeling that comes from having a place where you are surrounded by love.
It really is the most precious thing.