Wild Creatures

Chapter 107

20.00 pm Sunday evening

An hour had passed by.

Wei Ying was sleeping in his arms, tired out and knackered, and probably would stay that way for a while, at least until tomorrow morning.

Lan Zhan had no excuse not to leave the king-sized bed.

Except…that he didn't want to.

The trauma of the past twenty four hours was still ripe in his head, and even though he could see Wei Ying was right here, could touch Wei Ying, feel his warmth here in Lan Zhan’s arms, his mind kept telling him that it was just a dream. If Lan Zhan made the mistake of taking his eyes away from this beautiful sleeping god, then Wei Ying would disappear like the morning dew in the light of the sun.

Lan Zhan breathed in the heavenly scent that seemed to follow Wei Ying wherever he went, a mouthwatering vanilla tinged floral fragrance that sent pictures to his mind of lotus flowers floating on gorgeous lakes, lily pads rippling on the surface and the blue, blue sky, of sharp, hot sunlight glittering on the currents of the waters making them seem alive.

He could do this, he told himself harshly, taking in one extra, sweet, long breath of the tantalising scent, and forced himself to rise.

Wei Ying was too deeply asleep to notice so it didn't matter, and Lan Zhan promised himself that he would be quick.

Another deep breath and then he pulled out his phone.

XiChen was with Uncle and the children so it made sense to call him first. With any luck, Lan Zhan could talk to all of them.

It was the children he was most worried about.

They, and especially A-Yuan, were more perceptive than normal children. Both of them had suffered with the disappearance of their parents, albeit at different times in their lives, and the psychological damage that must have influenced this trait was clear in each. From the way JingYi pretended to be happy most of the time, but there were moments when he would be lost in thought, and invariably be watching A-Yuan and his interactions with Wei Ying, a longing expression on his face, that Lan Zhan was most concerned about.

It would take time to make him understand that this family was real, and his, if he wanted it. There would be no violence here, physical or mental, and JingYi would learn what it was like to be loved unconditionally, as was the right of every single child born on this earth.

A-Yuan too, let his anxiety slip when he hugged for too long. He wanted to keep a hold of the ones he loved lest they be wrenched away from him, and being such a little person, he could only watch it happen, and do nothing to stop it.

Wei Ying’s steady presence in his life gave him a stability that no child should have to doubt, and it must have taken him a long time to understand that Wei Ying wasn't going to give up on him, or let him go.

Lan Zhan’s observations of A-Yuan being lonely were validated because of the change in his behaviour ever since A-Yi came to live with them. A-Yuan's smile was becoming brighter daily, and his silver eyes were that much more sparkling.

It was a lovely development to witness this adjustment in real time.

Their casual acceptance of all four beings as a family unit was gladdening to him, that they accepted Lan Zhan as one of them.

In this family, Lan Zhan belonged. He was part of a family that didn't see him as being any different to them, and together with Wei Ying, they were the core that held each other and their kids close.

As such, and while Wei Ying was in no position to do anything, it fell to Lan Zhan as the other half of them to give reassurance to their family that everything was alright now.