" Papa."
Little twits of a little fragrant bird echoed in his dreamless dream, now creating a surreal fantasy for him to drown deep into.
' A nice dream..' His lips drew a small unconscious smile gradually, metamorphosing into light giggles.
Wei Xiang kept clinging to him acting as cute as he is, calling him father.
It was going smooth and surreal until it transited to a complex scene;
He was in the warm arms of a person who was whispering incoherent words into his ears. The person's face was hidden in the dark.
' Wait a minute....'
He tried to force himself awake several times but failed. The more he tried, the more the scenes were becoming complex. His body was heavy and paralysed. He couldn't move a limb even if he tried to. Has he become a vegetable?
' Wait a minute.....!!!' He screamed but his lips only trembled not producing a sound.
" Gege?"
A distant voice which sounded, undoubtedly near as if it was said beside his ears, called him several times. Immediately, he jerked awake with his breathing heavy. It was like the voice released him from his sleep paralysis.
' What was that..' He rubbed his chest to relieve his racing heart.
" Dada."
A small being crawled onto his lap and gave him a gentle pat on his shoulders as if to comfort him. As if he felt his pain.
Shen Zhufu wasn't able to speak immediately but he at least give a smile. ' My A-Xiang~' He drew the little fragrant bird deep into his arms.
" Ahem.."
' Oh..' His smile widened at the sight of the jealous Peacock as he pulled him also for a hug so that he won't be left out.
Cao Chang, despite all his struggles to free himself, stopped all his vain efforts and calmly melted with a sigh.
' It's like I'm hugging two children..'
"Gege~"
" Mn."
" Don't ever do that again."
" Do what?" The confusion is evident on his face.
Cao Chang, "...Don't." He tightened his trembling arms around his waist as if to hold him down. As if he was scared something might happen to his gege. " I...Wei Xiang was scared...You never woke up for several hours...It's almost evening...." He was interrupted by a gasp.
"it's evening already?"
" Not yet."
He didn't know he had been asleep for such a long time. If he was trapped in his dream for a longer period before he was rescued, he might have to forget reality forever.
Cao Chang," Don't scare m...Wei Xiang like that. He didn't let me get enough sleep, you know. I won't be affected by it but Wei Xiang will...So don't ever do that."
' Really?'
Cao Chang's actions were defying his words. As he spoke, he tightened his hold around his waist.
Shen Zhufu laughed a little and pat his head before the trembling peacock released himself from his hug. He found his reaction funny.
With red face and trembling lips.
Cao Chang, " What was that?" Barely not completely his words without stammering. He touched where he was just patted and his face reddened.
Shen Zhufu chuckled, " Why are you so cute.." he pinched the red peacock cheeks," So cute."
Cao Chang, who couldn't take it anymore, got up and went out. His face was redder than rouge.
" Don't hit your head on the wall!!" He yelled after the red peacock. He laughed till his stomach churned.
" What a way to start the day... Wait?" He checked beside him but it was empty. ' Xiao MeiNan.'
" Papa."
As though his thought was aligned with Wei Xiang's struggle to free himself from his hold.
The one he was looking for stood beside the exit carrying two bleeding animals that looked like tigers on his shoulder. He looked messy and hurt.
' Is that what it looks like?'
Shen Zhufu released the struggling baby who after stumbling several times, held the messy boy by his leg
With a coo.
" Xiao MeiNan.." He went close to him and let out a gasp. Not really because it was two huge tigers he carried on his shoulders as if he carried an empty sac. He was badly injured; his neck was filled with scars that are still bleeding and his jacket from the night before was bloody.
" Shit... come here." he took Wei Xiang in his arms and pulled him inside by his hand but stopped midway after realising something, " Could you please drop those," he pointed at the terrifying games slung on his shoulders, " Outside."
Xiao MeiNan obeyed him at once without questions, unlike a particular Peacock which flaunts its feathers.
' He's such a good boy.'
When he came inside, he patted his head as a reward, " Good boy." Xiao MeiNan nestled deeper into that gentle pat on his head, wanting more of the pat on his head, which made Shen Zhufu smile staring at those beautiful orbs that makes his heart flutter for no apparent reason," Ok, let's get you cleaned up." retrieving his hand making a particular person sad. It was just a glint.
Shen Zhufu, " Sit over there." he pointed to a stool in a corner. He gently sat Wei Xiang on the floor and went to fetch what he needed.
' I thought I left Wei Xiang over here?'
His little troublemaker was already clinging to the shy-looking beauty.
Instead of going over, he watched from where he was.
Wei Xiang clinging to Xiao MeiNan's leg cooing, his intention clear. He wants him to carry him in his arms.
Xiao MeiNan's eyes were gentle as he ran his hand through his hair before taking him into his arms.
Wei Xiang proud of his achievement, nestled deeper into the warmth of the one holding him.
Whilst the one watching them almost melts to the floor. Shen Zhufu felt as if he was stung by a needle with sugary sweetness at the tip. ' So cute.' But he would need to interrupt their sweetness.
" Ahem." He startled both of them," Sorry, am I interrupting?"He pretended he hasn't been watching them, " It's like A-Xiang is already so fond of you." He carefully dropped the bowl in his hands on the floor wanting to take a stubborn child into his arms, " A-Xiang, come here." What Wei Xiang quite surprised him. He ignored him and snuggled deeper into his new fondness.
' Eh!'
" A-Xiang, I need to clean him up...you are adding more to his pain." He was ignored. Wei Xiang didn't even give him face. He felt sad but oddly, not angry. He didn't show it. He kept it to himself. A pair of multicoloured orbs stared at him as if the owner was reading a book as if he knew what was going on inside him, he offered the stubborn pouting child to him.
Shen Zhufu was speechless for a while before he could let out a chuckle, " Let's get you cleaned up." he released the little troublemaker who went to hug his new friend's leg.
' He is becoming quite naughty.'
Shen Zhufu gently took off the bloody rag of clothes sticking to his skin, " Does it hurt?"
Xiao MeiNan didn't show a once of pain. His face was as blank as paper gave him his answer. He knew already but he had to satisfy himself.
He soaked a towel inside the bowl of warm water and squeezed it.
Shen Zhufu felt a lot of pain while cleaning his perfect example of a perfect male body. It was scarred in several places on the chest. Bite marks on his shoulders, scratch marks by some wild animal everywhere.
Well, Shen Zhufu knows which wild animal it was that scarred his model which made him upset.
He gently cleaned the blood trying hard to avoid those beautiful eyes staring at him, until he couldn't take it anymore, " Erm...would you look anywhere else rather than staring at me." he said pleadingly as he wasn't able to concentrate with those eyes boring hole into him.
"...." Xiao MeiNan stared at him for a while before looking away like a good boy.
Shen Zhufu gave him a light pat on his head, " Good boy..would you please turn around." And his good boy did just that.
' Eh?'
On the broad back were several scars and a tattoo.
A bright red fire. It filled his whole back. It looked real inside the warm house. It was burning with fury.
Shen Zhufu unconsciously traced its edges with a finger. It looked like it could burn his finger. He retrieved his finger after realising what he was doing.
' Why didn't I see it last time? So cool.'
He squeezed the soaked towel and gently cleaned his back. As water touched the burning fire, it flickered but kept on burning not with fury anymore. It burned gently.
He stopped whatever he was doing and admired it. It was fascinating that he couldn't help but voice out. Shen Zhufu, " Xiao MeiNan, your tattoo is so cool."Shen Zhufu couldn't see what expression he had since his back was facing him but he guessed it was expressionless with his ears visibly red. He chuckled and returned to tracing its edges with admiration.
"..."
' Ok, Shen Zhufu, you have to concentrate or he would think you're a pervert.'
After mentally scolding himself, he returned to what he was doing but still admired the broad back.
" Ok, let me get you some clothes to wear."
"..."
He poured the water away through the window and went to get him a new set of clothes. The sacs were nowhere to be seen, instead, every item of them was neatly arranged on newly constructed shelves. His jaws dropped to the floor. ' Who has been doing this?' he had planned to arrange everything this morning...no this evening not including the shelves but his mysterious helper beat him to it adding the shelves.
This person helps and goes into hiding. Who does that? Not allowing him to thank this mysterious person who loves playing hide and seek.
The shelves were smooth to touch and gave off an aromatic scent. They were exquisitely constructed with a complex design. No rough work. This person took his time.
After thanking the person several times in his heart, he fished out a set of clothes.
Xiao MeiNan was still sitting like a good boy with his back facing him and his little troublemaker clinging to him as if his life depended on it.
' Cute.'
Shen Zhufu, " Hey, you can turn around." he gave him the clothes he had in his arms, " you can put this on."
Xiao MeiNan looked shy with both ears red which made him realise he doesn't want to dress while he was there watching like a big pervert.
" Oh! Oh...Sorry...Excuse me...no..us." He took the clinging child into his arms and excused himself with his eyes closed.
' Shit...I embarrassed myself
...but what is there to hide? I am his gongzi.'
" My Lord."
He heard the silent whisper of a familiar voice close to his ears. ' Qing Hua.'
Immediately he set up the communication link. Shen Zhufu, " What's up?"
Qing Hua's serious face appeared in the mirror. She looked so fierce that made him a bit scared. Qing Hua, " What you asked me to do is complete. It is safe."
" Oh...So can I take off tomorrow?"
Qing Hua nods her head as an answer. Qing Hua, " I have to go my lord. I wish you a safe journey." With that, she broke off the communication link.
" Thank you."
" Shen Zhufu."
A voice yelled his name. The voice was that of a little girl with authority.
" I am here."
The owner of the voice sat in front of him without the host asking her to sit.
Shen Zhufu," Miss Qing, it is nice to have you here. What brought you over?" He tried not to sound afraid. To sound like a matured gongzi he is.
Qing Ling snorted with scorn. Her hands folded on her chest, staring down at him as if she could see through his facade. Qing Ling, " I heard you brought two other people into your house without my permission." Stressing the last few words, " It's like you are yet to learn the rules around here, right?"
Shen Zhufu, "...." He didn't know what to say that might not enrage her the more.
" That man outside, who is he?"
" Man?" That was the first word he could speak since he nagging. He laughed out loud not minding the weird he was getting." Wait! Wait! You are mistaken, " he saw the confused look on her pretty face which was an encouragement for him to keep on spouting nonsense, " He is a boy. A good boy at that."
' Are you kidding me?' was written all over the weird contorted face of the little girl in front of him.
' Has he lost it?'
Poor Qing Hua came to scold him but ended up scolding herself for wanting to scold a mentally deranged man. What a turn.
" Ok, " Putting aside her scolding, she scanned around, " It's like you are fixing things up here?"
"Mn."
Qing Hua got up to leave because she has no other words for this man. " If you need anything make sure to tell me." she turned around to leave but was stopped by a hand holding her back.
" Wait a minute."
Qing Hua gave him a questioning look staring at the hand holding her.
He brought out two boxes of dumplings from a bag. Shen Zhufu, " I want to give this to you as a thank you."
Qing Hua released her hand from his grip, " for?" she eyes both the boxes and the giver suspiciously.
Shen Zhufu, " for giving me a house."
Qing Ling hummed in reply, " Because you are a homeless monk."
Those words stabbed him right in the heart. He was boiling with anger but never showed it. His voice slightly trembling with anger, " Thank you for housing this homeless monk." he smiled a forceful smile.
Qing Hua scoffed at it, " It is my job. Housing homeless monks like you." She turned to leave but stopped mid-step, " And oh, keep that, I don't need it." She walked out on him leaving him beet red with anger.
" At least I was trying my best to be a nice matured gongzi," He furiously threw the boxes in his hand across the room which was smoothly caught by Xiao MeiNan, " If you want to play this game, I will gladly play." Purple veins are already visible on his forehead.