Archive of Our Own

Some things in life are in a constant circle of change. Death and rebirth. Loss and renewal. The ever-constant changing of the seasons.

Lan Wangji used to be scared of change. Change stole his mother away from him. Change made him shy away from people for a while, although he grew out of that relatively quickly.

Change also brought him a husband and a son, two things he would not miss for anything in the world. For that, he has to be grateful, and he thanks the stars every day for the luck that has been bestowed upon him.

On the day things change again for Lan Wangji, he stretches, blinks the sleep out of his eyes, and notices that it’s far too quiet, even for the early hour at which he usually wakes up.

As if the sounds of nature just outside his bedroom window have been muffled by a soft blanket.

It must have snowed during the night, Lan Wangji realises, and smiles.

He’s always loved the snow, even as a small child. He recalls the times on which he and his brother built tiny snowmen, sticking branches and dead leaves into the misshaped heads until they vaguely resembled their uncle’s signature beard and stern eyebrows. How his mother had caught snowflakes on the dark blue sleeve of her coat and beckoned them close to show them the different shapes snowflakes can have with a magnifying glass.

Sometimes he longs for the easy careless days of his early childhood when everything seemed possible and nothing troubled him. Sometimes, he wishes he could go back.

He can’t, Lan Wangji knows, but now he can experience it all over again, from a different perspective. Another child, playing in the snow, trying to form a snowman in their parent’s likeness, a red ribbon now stuck to the branches forming the hair.

He’s taken back to reality by a soft sigh. Wei Wuxian is still asleep, a warm weight in his arms, his face snuggled up in the crook of Lan Wangji’s neck.  Lan Wangji looks at the mess of unruly hair spilling over his shoulder and knows there’s a small patch of drool on his sleep shirt, even though he can neither feel nor see it right now.

He should get up. He should at least check if the heating works properly, maybe get a fire started so it’s warm and snuggly for when they all get downstairs to have breakfast, but…

He looks at Wei Wuxian in his arms and closes his eyes again. Just a few more minutes, he tells himself. He’s allowed those small indulgences. They don’t hurt, and they make him happy.

Soon enough, the silence is disturbed by tiny pitter-patter noises outside of their bedroom door. There’s a moment of quiet before the doorknob is turned, and the door is opened with the smallest of creaks.

Wei Wuxian cracks one eye open, smiles, and pretends to sleep on, while Lan Wangji turns to look at the small dishevelled head peeking inside their room.

A-Yuan stands there, his favourite rabbit plush clutched to his chest, a question in his eyes.

Lan Wangji wordlessly lifts the blanket, and A-Yuan scampers over and climbs in with them, snuggling close into Lan Wangji’s unoccupied shoulder. He reaches out and takes two of Wei Wuxian’s fingers into his small hand. It doesn’t take long for him to doze off again.

So much for getting up, Lan Wangji thinks but doesn’t regret it one bit.

Well, maybe he regrets it just the tiniest bit after he gets up and realises just how freezing cold the farmhouse can get. He should be used to it; it’s not his first winter in this house, but it takes him by surprise every year.

A-Yuan and Wei Wuxian waddle around the house wrapped in blankets until the heating roars to life and a fire crackles in the fireplace. It’s a lazy morning; Lan Wangji doesn’t have to teach today. The official signing tour for his book is almost done, and he’s looking forward to things calming down a bit. It’s late October; this first snow will probably be gone as quickly as it came, but there’s the promise of a bright white winter hanging in the air, and Lan Wangji cannot wait to visit his family and spend nice cosy evenings by the fire with his beloved and their child.

Wei Wuxian takes A-Yuan outside to tend to the rabbits and help get the last of the fields ready for winter while Lan Wangji goes through his mail. There’s one letter in particular that makes him frown, and he sets it aside for later, next to his yarn and knitting needles.

Luo Qingyang has taken the sorry excuse for a garden Lan Wangji had started while he was still living at the cottage, and turned it into a pasture for a small flock of sheep. She has an old but still perfectly functioning spinning wheel and spins her own yarn, and Lan Wangji has found himself entranced by the process of creating a garment out of a simple string. The repetition of knitting is almost meditative to him, and while his projects still aren’t as perfect as he would like them to be, he’s proud of the progress he made so far.

Luo Qingyang is happy to have someone she can teach knitting and crochet to. Her husband has shown him how he shears the sheep, and how he cleans the wool. It’s fascinating. Maybe he and Wei Wuxian could get a few sheep of their own if time and finances allow for it.

Right now, most of the sheep are in their shed; only two of them are outside, nosing curiously at the white stuff that is covering the ground. Lan Wangji smiles at the sight of them.

He’s doing an awful lot of smiling lately. He finds that he doesn’t mind it.

He’s just getting lunch started when his husband and his son reappear, their cheeks rosy from the cold and their eyes full of stars.

“Anything interesting in the mail?” Wei Wuxian asks while helping A-Yuan out of his coat and boots.

“I’ve already taken care of the bills,” Lan Wangji replies.

“Thank you,” Wei Wuxian says, walks over to him, and places a kiss to his cheek, “but that doesn’t answer my question, and you know it.”

Lan Wangji averts his eyes. “After lunch,” he says, and he can pinpoint the moment at which Wei Wuxian’s curiosity is piqued.

“Oh?” he goes but doesn’t pry, only helps Lan Wangji to set the table, and does the dishes with him after lunch.

A-Yuan is settled on the living room carpet with his toys when Wei Wuxian saunters over to the couch, plops down next to Lan Wangji, and folds his legs into Lan Wangji’s lap.

“So,” he begins. “About that piece of mail.”

“It’s from my publisher,” Lan Wangji informs him, and Wei Wuxian groans.

“Do they want you to do more book signings? Lan Zhan, I am so happy that your book is as popular as it is, I really am, but I know how much you hate those signings.”

Lan Wangji nods. “At least I have an estimate of how many people will show up when I’m lecturing,” he says, absentmindedly massaging Wei Wuxian’s feet. “With signings, it’s not as predictable. Most people are very courteous and polite, but…it drains me.”

Wei Wuxian taps his nose. “I wonder how many people only go to those signings because they want to see for themselves if the author is really as handsome as his picture on the dust jacket makes him out to be.”

“Wei Ying!”

Wei Wuxian chuckles. “If I didn’t know for sure that you’re an amazing teacher, I’d say this was the reason why so many students flock to your lectures.”

Lan Wangji rolls his eyes at him, then turns his focus back on the letter.

“They don’t want me to do more signings,” he says, “but it’s serious enough that they’re sending me a letter instead of an email.”

Wei Wuxian frowns. “Is everything alright?“

Lan Wangji wordlessly hands the letter over for Wei Wuxian to read. It takes him several minutes to get through its contents. He then lifts his head, blinks at Lan Wangji, and rereads it.

“Am I getting this right, Lan Zhan?” Wei Wuxian asks, incredulous. “Negotiations for…a movie deal? They wanna turn your story into a movie??”

A-Yuan perks up at the mention of the word ‘movie.’ “Are we going to watch one?” he asks, waddling over to the couch.

Wei Wuxian lifts him onto his lap. “No, radish,” he says, “but you know how A-Die wrote a story? And it’s now in a real book that people can read?”

A-Yuan nods.

“Well, your A-Die just got a letter asking him if he would be okay if people would take his story and make a movie out of it.”

A-Yuan’s eyes grow wide. “Just like with Cinderella?”

It’s been a revelation to A-Yuan that Cinderella is not only a movie, but started out as a written story in a book. Since then, he’s been asking to watch book adaptations or to be read stories that he only knew in cartoon or movie form up until then.

Lan Wangji chuckles at the mention of Cinderella. “A bit like that, yes,” he confirms, “but with significantly less glitter.”

“And more swords!” Wei Wuxian laughs.

“But,” A-Yuan says, pensive, “will it still be A-Die’s story if people take it and make a movie out of it?”

“At the base of it? Yes,” Lan Wangji says. “I will always be the one who came up with it and wrote it down, but I know that some things will have to be changed if they turn it into a movie. It might have to become shorter, or some things might have to be switched around for them to make sense on screen, so…”

Wei Wuxian nods. “You’re worried it won’t be your story anymore when the movie comes out, right?”

“Yes,” Lan Wangji agrees. “I would fight tooth and nail to be involved as much as possible in the process, but…I don’t know how often I would have to be away from here, or for how long.”

A-Yuan squirms to be let down again and hops back to his toys as soon as his feet hit the ground. Wei Wuxian rearranges himself on the couch, leaning into Lan Wangji’s side.

“You’ll probably need some time to think this all through and ask for more details,” Wei Wuxian says and laces his fingers with Lan Wangji’s, “but – Lan Zhan, if you find in your heart that this is something that you’d want to see happen, that you would really enjoy being part of, then…please, don’t say no just because of us.”

“Wei Ying…”

“I mean it,” Wei Wuxian goes on. “A-Yuan and I would be so proud of you, no matter what you decide to do.”

Lan Wangji takes Wei Wuxian’s hand in his own and kisses his fingers.

“I don’t have anything to decide as of yet,” he says. “Or rather, I won’t make any decisions before I haven’t talked to more people and acquired more information, but t’s good to know you’ll be on my side no matter what.”

Wei Wuxian winks at him. “Of course. It’s what I signed up for when I agreed to marry you.”

“Oh, so you’re just doing it because we are married, not because you love me? I am wounded.”

Wei Wuxian splutters. “Lan Zhan!“

Lan Wangji only chuckles and takes his husband into his arms.

“I just don’t like the idea of being away from you for too long,” he admits. “I feel like I’ve spent more days in hotel rooms than at home during this whole book signing tour. I didn’t particularly enjoy it.”

“I know,” Wei Wuxian replies. “Talk to your publisher and all the other people involved and see how much they’d actually need you to be physically present. Maybe you could do many things from home too?”

Lan Wangji nods. “I will talk to them. I just need some time to think.”

“There’s another thing I want you to talk about.”

“Hm?”

Wei Wuxian grins. “Christmas trees.”

Lan Wangji blinks at him. “Christmas trees…?”

“Yeah! Or at least, Christmas lights,” Wei Wuxian says. “I mean, we both don’t celebrate Christmas, but I’ve always loved the look of a well-decorated Christmas tree. I know you don’t like them that much, but just this morning I was looking at the trees and hedges around our property, and…remember how pretty the trees looked with the fairy lights in them during our wedding?”

Lan Wangji nods.

“Well, Lan Zhan…what would you say if we hung up some in the bushes during winter too? Not for the Christmas thing, but – from a practical standpoint, it would provide a bit more light outside, but it would also look really pretty, with the snow and all. And I said Christmas lights because I thought we could include one or two of the colourful ones? For A-Yuan? You know how he looks at those, every time we go into town.”

Lan Wangji hums and turns to look out of the window. He’s trying to picture Wei Wuxian’s vision, and he likes what his mind comes up it. They’ve been toying with the idea of installing more lighting outside for the darker months, but he’s willing to postpone that and explore the string lights idea. It would give the whole area a soft glow.

Lan Wangji can’t deny that it ties right into his kind of aesthetics.

“Only if we use the colourful ones sparingly,” he says, and Wei Wuxian goes “Yessss!”, eliciting another chuckle from his husband.

---

Lan Wangji does think about the movie adaptation deal. He writes a few emails and gets on quite a lot of important phone calls and video calls about the whole thing. He suspects that he’s crafting himself the reputation of a diva, or a snob, who doesn’t want to share his projects with other people.

As if he would ever have published his story as a book for other people to read in the first place if that was the case.

The thing is: Lan Wangji likes the idea of his book as a movie. He’s seen what modern cinema can do, and he’s excited to see what it can do with his story, how it can be transformed from a written text into a visual medium.

He’s also very protective of his story. It means much to him. It’s not any old romance novel – it might be to some critics, or even to some readers, but…to him, it’s far more than that. It’s imbued with his own love story unfolding, inspired by the sunshine smile that lured him in, made him grow roots and extend his own branches towards the sky until he had grown himself a new life, with a family of his own. He doesn’t want his story to get twisted into something that it isn’t.

Despite what it might look like, Lan Wangji is realistic about it. Still, he has his demands and principles, says ‘no’ to a lot of things, and sets up his own terms for negotiations.

It seems that this film studio is really keen on getting the rights to making this movie, since after weeks of back and forth with an author who isn’t even that well-known in the field of common literature – this was his first novel, after all – they are still interested.

So, Lan Wangji says yes. He’s nervous about it, but also weirdly excited.

Wei Wuxian almost vibrates out of his skin when he hears the news, rambling on about how fun the whole process is going to be, and how proud he is of Lan Wangji for being so successful.

“A movie! Lan Zhan, the most successful thing I’ve ever produced was last summer’s bunch of lettuce heads.”

“At least yours were alive,” Lan Wangji replies, “do you remember what my own used to look like when we first met? They were beyond saving.”

Wei Wuxian laughs. “It’s a miracle the bunnies even wanted to eat them. You’re better with fruit, anyway.”

That is true, Lan Wangji muses. The strawberries he planted last spring were spectacular.

December is fast approaching when the snow settles in for good. Now that the movie deal is signed, it will take a bit of time until production can begin. Lan Wangji knows that he’s going to get a call as soon as casting begins. He’s a bit particular about the main leads and would like to be present for the first table readings to see if the chemistry is what he imagined. So far everything is calm on that front.

Since he doesn’t need to take a phone call every five minutes and also holds fewer lectures during the winter months, Lan Wangji introduces a few new things to his daily routine: shovelling snow in the morning, helping his husband to tend to the plants and animals and, most importantly, teaching A-Yuan how to build a proper, Lan-approved snowman. Wei Wuxian seems to be content if his creation looks like something that could be mistaken for a snowman, but Lan Wangji is having none of it. It has to be recognisable, or else it’s not worth building one.

Wei Wuxian only smiles about his enthusiasm and goes about collecting things with which they could decorate their snowpeople: old scarves and hats, buttons, the odd twig, or misshaped carrot. Soon enough, there’s a whole snow family standing in the front yard leading up to the farmhouse – two large snowmen; one with a red hat and the other one with a blue scarf, and a smaller one with a set of colourful mittens draped over its skinny stick arms. There are even three snow rabbits to be found if one looks closely enough.

They look more like lumps, really, and are only vaguely bunny-shaped, but they make A-Yuan happy, so they’re staying. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are very proud of their son’s artistic abilities.

---

The bunnies themselves only rarely leave their large indoor enclosure on winter days. The door to their hutch is left open, and they like to hop out into the living room and spend their days free-roaming. Most of the wiring and cables have been put off-limits because of A-Yuan anyway, and while they enjoy the heat of the fireplace, they never dare go near it.

They do still have access to the outdoors, and Chenqing fancies a good hop into a heap of snow now and then.

“Silly goose, now we’ll have to brush the whole mess out of your fur again!” Wei Wuxian laughs while he lifts her up.

“Baba, she’s a bunny, not a goose,” A-Yuan corrects him.

“Ah, you’re absolutely right!” Wei Wuxian looks at the bunny in his hands who just stares back, twitching her nose at him. “Maybe we should blow-dry you, hm?”

At the mention of the blow-dryer, Chenqing’s ears perk up. Lan Wangji shakes his head in fondness.

“It’s still so amusing to me how much she loves to be blow-dried,” he says.

“Yeah! Suibian just growls at it, and Bichen hides as soon as she spots the thing.”

“She doesn’t like loud noises,” Lan Wangji says.

Wei Wuxian winks at him. “Like father like daughter, eh? You don’t like loud noises either.”

He carries Chenqing inside, where they proceed to brush the biggest clumps of snow out of her fur before they do indeed blow-dry her. She flops on her side and enjoys the spa treatment with only so much disturbance as the occasional twitch of her nose.

Suibian prefers to stay indoors that day, and Wei Wuxian only sees Bichen when he’s out in the evening, looking after the animals for the last time before turning in for the night. The snow is falling quite densely, and he only spots her because of her eyes. She’s almost invisible in the snowy outside enclosure, her white fur blending in seamlessly with her surroundings.

Bichen sticks her head up, sniffing curiously at the cold air. A snowflake lands on her nose, making her sneeze. Wei Wuxian laughs upon hearing the tiny squeak. As if offended by the cold weather itself, Bichen retreats back into the warm hutch.

Wei Wuxian lets out a chuckle and turns to walk back into the farmhouse when a noise catches his attention. He strains his ears. The falling snow muffles every sound, and yet he can hear shuffling coming from his shed. He briefly wonders if it’s an animal, roused from hibernation and now looking for a warm place to sleep on. He walks over to the farmhouse and grabs the shovel they leave there to clear their property from snow in the mornings, just in case whatever he encounters in the shed would be ready to attack him.

Lan Wangji, who is preparing tea for them, looks up at him through the half-open kitchen door. Wei Wuxian raises a finger to his lips to signal him to be quiet and gestures towards the shed. Intrigued, Lan Wangji grabs his coat, retrieves a flashlight, and follows him out, as quietly as he possibly can.

Wei Wuxian knocks on the shed door, just to make his presence known to whatever might be inside.

“Hello? I’m going to open the door, okay?” he calls, nodding towards Lan Wangji, who turns on the flashlight and points it at the shed.

With a swift motion, Wei Wuxian yanks the shed door open and brandishes his shovel like a weapon – not to strike, but to defend himself, if need be, as the beam of Lan Wangji’s flashlight falls onto…a person.

They’re huddled in the far-right corner of the shed; a ratty piece of tarp Wei Wuxian had kept there for storage covering their lower half as a makeshift blanket. They are crossing their arms over their head as if they’re awaiting a blow at any second and want to protect their face from getting hit.

“Please”, they whimper, “I will leave. I was just cold. I didn’t take anything. Please.”

Wei Wuxian takes a look at Lan Wangji, who observes the stranger for a few seconds longer, then nods. He lowers his shovel and carefully enters the shed.

The person curls themselves even more into a ball.

“Hey hey, it’s alright, we’re not angry,” Wei Wuxian says, keeping his voice calm and friendly. “If you’re really only looking for a place to stay warm…well, we do have a guest bedroom. Wouldn’t that be much better than the cold shed floor?”

The shed is insulated to keep most of the cold and moisture out, but Wei Wuxian would rather eat his own pants than spend a night in there, on the floor, in the middle of winter, with only a tarp to cover himself. The thought of it makes him shiver.

“I swear, we won’t hurt you,” he says. “Come inside. Get yourself warm. Sleep for a few hours, and we’ll go from there tomorrow morning. What do you say?”

The person slowly lowers their arms but stays tense. Their shoulder-length dark hair is tied up in a dirty ponytail. As they remove the tarp, Wei Wuxian can see that they’re wearing nothing but a hoodie and a pair of jeans, as well as trainers which all have seen better days.

They look at both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji with fearful eyes.

“I am Lan Wangji, “Lan Wangji introduces himself. “This is Wei Wuxian. We promise that we mean you no harm.”

The stranger seems to think over their situation, then swallows, nods, and gets up from the floor to let themselves be led into the farmhouse. Without much fanfare, Wei Wuxian goes to fetch a few of his old clothes and tells the stranger to go shower while Lan Wangji prepares another mug of tea and defrosts a bowl of Jiang Yanli’s soup in the microwave before reheating it.

By the time they hear the blow-dryer being switched off, dinner has been laid out at the kitchen table for their impromptu guest. Now that they are warmed up, in clean clothes, and in a well-lit environment, Wei Wuxian can see that they present as a young man, about fifteen or sixteen years of age, but Wei Wuxian decides to ask for pronouns nonetheless, just to be safe. He actually has to do a double-take; there is a bit of a resemblance between them, and for a brief moment Wei Wuxian wonders if he had fooled around as a teenager with some girl and is now going to be faced with some real retroactive child support claims. He shakes his head. Wei Wuxian might have been a wild teen, but he had never been that irresponsible.

Lan Wangji shows them where they can sit. Wei Wuxian takes his own mug of tea and observes as they eat their soup, clearly hungry but straining not to eat too fast, body still tense. Wei Wuxian waits until the bowl is empty before he sits down at the table as well.

“You don’t have to tell us anything,” he says gently. “I will ask you for your name and your preferred pronouns, simply because I would like to know how I can address you, but you don’t have to give me your real name either.”

They swallow, then nod. “My name is Mo Xuanyu,” they tell him. “My preferred pronouns are he and him.”

“How old are you?” Wei Wuxian asks.

“I just turned sixteen,” Mo Xuanyu replies.

“Did you run away from home?” Lan Wangji asks quietly.

Mo Xuanyu shakes his head. “They…kicked me out. I was looking for a place to stay, but…without a job, I can’t pay for any youth hostels, and many homeless shelters are above capacity at this time of year.”

“No relatives you could go to, I assume?” Wei Wuxian asks, and Mo Xuanyu shakes his head again.

“My half-brother and his wife, maybe…they’re nice, but I was too afraid my half-brother would send me back home again.”

Lan Wangji sits down next to Wei Wuxian. “What brings you to this place? It’s quite far from the nearest village.”

“I got lost,” Mo Xuanyu admits, “and then it got dark so quickly and I was so cold. I really just wanted to sleep in there and leave tomorrow, I promise!”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Wei Wuxian soothes. “It’s just - we do have a little kid in the house, you know? You could have frightened him if he came across you and didn’t know you were here.”

Mo Xuanyu looks down at the table. “I’m sorry,” he mumbles. “I didn’t know.”

“That’s alright,” Wei Wuxian says. “You’ll meet him in the morning. Ready for a warm and comfy bed?”

Mo Xuanyu looks at Wei Wuxian, still insecure, but then a tiny smile shows on his face, and he nods. Lan Wangji goes to prepare the guest bedroom and fixes a hot water bottle for him, too.

“Sleep as long as you want to,” Wei Wuxian tells him. “Just call if you need anything. If you’re hungry or thirsty, take whatever you want from the fridge. I will lay out a fresh towel and a toothbrush for you in the bathroom. I’ll wash your clothes for you; you can borrow some of mine in the meantime.”

Mo Xuanyu nods again.

“I will show you the guest bedroom,” Lan Wangji says and beckons Mo Xuanyu to follow him.

He’s quiet as they go upstairs and hovers in the doorway as he watches Lan Wangji make the bed.

“Are you…is it really okay that I can stay here?” Mo Xuanyu asks. “I mean…you don’t know me. I could try to rob you or anything.”

“Are you planning on robbing us?” Lan Wangji asks, one eyebrow raised.

Mo Xuanyu remains silent.

Lan Wangji stands up.

“The way my husband and I see it is that we’d rather extend our kindness towards someone who doesn’t deserve it, than not being kind to someone who might need it, just because we are unsure.”

Mo Xuanyu’s eyes snap up to Lan Wangji. “Husband. You’re…you two are married?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“No no, I…I was just surprised, that’s all.”

Lan Wangji nods. “This is our bedroom,” he says, pointing at his bedroom door. “If you need anything, feel free to come knocking. My husband said to call, but I’d prefer if you’d knock since our son is already asleep. Your room has a lock, in case you want some privacy.”

“Thank you. Good night,” Mo Xuanyu says with another nod before retreating to the guest bedroom.

Lan Wangji goes back to the living room, where Wei Wuxian has poured them both a last cup of tea for the day.

“Well, that was not the random fox or raccoon dog I was expecting,” Wei Wuxian comments as Lan Wangji sits down next to him.

“He is wary of us,” Lan Wangji says. “I do not blame him.”

“Who knows what he went through? I really feel for him, Lan Zhan, no one should be forced to sleep outside in such a weather.”

Lan Wangji hums. “I hope we can help him somehow. And if we’re making a mistake…I guess we’ll know better next time.”

Wei Wuxian begins biting his left thumbnail. “Do you…think he could mean any harm to A-Yuan?”

Lan Wangji thinks about it, then shakes his head. “No, I don’t think so. He didn’t seem to know there was a child in this house until you mentioned it, and he seems genuinely frightened. I think he’s going to stay away from A-Yuan until we introduce them to one another. If that is something you wish to do.”

“Depends on what we’ll learn about him tomorrow, I guess,” Wei Wuxian says. “Maybe he’ll stay for longer.”

Lan Wangji nods. They retire to bed soon after.

In the morning, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian get up at the same time, and while Wei Wuxian sets the table, Lan Wangji wakes up A-Yuan to inform him about the fact that they’re having a guest.

Mo Xuanyu appears at around eight. He looks like someone who got their first night of solid sleep in weeks, yet he’s still quiet and a bit shy. A-Yuan keeps stealing glances at him. Mo Xuanyu looks as if he has no idea of what to do with the kid.

“Hello,” he says.

A-Yuan looks up at both Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji puts a hand on A-Yuan’s shoulder.

“I know you technically don’t know each other,” Lan Wangji says, “and I know we always tell you not to talk to strangers unless it’s an emergency and you need urgent help, but he’s our guest. You can talk to him.”

A-Yuan turns back to Mo Xuanyu, and observes him for a few more seconds, until he finally says:

“Hello! I am A-Yuan. Welcome to our farm and household!”

Wei Wuxian bursts out laughing; even Lan Wangji can’t hold back a chuckle, all while A-Yuan looks at them, confused.

“I do give tours of the farm to school classes and other groups,” Wei Wuxian explains as soon as he catches his breath again. “It’s usually how I greet people. He must have picked it up from there.”

Mo Xuanyu only nods, as if he has to process the absurdity of the situation first, then turns his attention back to A-Yuan.

“I am Mo Xuanyu. But you can call me…”

He stops. Thinks. Seems to come up short.

Lan Wangji bends down and whispers something into A-Yuan’s ear, who promptly turns back to Mo Xuanyu and asks: “Can I call you Yu-gege, please?”

Mo Xuanyu stares at him. His eyes get glossy, yet still, he nods. “Yeah, that’s…sure. You can call me Yu-gege, that’s fine.”

“You know you don’t have to agree with this, right?” Wei Wuxian says softly.

“No, I mean yeah, I know, but it really is fine,” Mo Xuanyu says. “It’s just…no one has ever called me ‘gege’ before. As far as I know, I’m my father’s youngest kid.”

Wei Wuxian snorts. “As far as you know? Who the heck is your father, Jin Guangshan?”

Mo Xuanyu drops his chopsticks and just stares at Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian stares back, then his eyes widen. “No way,” he blurts out. “You’re one of Jin Guangshan’s kids? For real?”

Mo Xuanyu swallows hard. “You know him?” he asks, voice trembling. “You – you’re not going to send me back, are you?”

“I – no! I hate that prick!” Wei Wuxian exclaims.

“Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji scolds, gesturing towards A-Yuan.

“Sorry,” Wei Wuxian goes.

“Prick!” A-Yuan agrees.

Lan Wangji just sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose while Wei Wuxian tries to do some damage control.

“That’s not a nice word. Baba shouldn’t have used it, and I am sorry. So please don’t use it either, okay, baobao?”

A-Yuan nods solemnly and says: “Okay, Baba. Sorry!”

Mo Xuanyu still looks at all of them with wariness in his gaze. Wei Wuxian pulls his chair closer to him.

“Look, I’ve met Jin Guangshan only on a few occasions, and I ended up despising the man more each time we crossed paths. I know Lan Zhan has seen him once or twice too.”

“I am not particularly fond of him, either,” Lan Zhan confirms.

“But – if you’re one of his kids, that means Jin Zixuan is one of your half-siblings, right?”

Mo Xuanyu nods. “Do you know him, too?”

Wei Wuxian nods. “He’s married to my older sister.”

Mo Xuanyu pauses with a facial expression that looks like his brain is buffering. Then it clicks.

“You’re Yanli-jiejie’s younger brother? The dipshit?”

Wei Wuxian erupts into laughter again, while Lan Wangji fixes Mo Xuanyu with an offended gaze and goes: “Excuse me?”

“I see you’ve met Jiang Cheng,” Wei Wuxian wheezes. “He’s always as charming when it comes to me, but I promise, he has a good heart.”

“I’ve met him once, when Xuan-ge and Yanli-jiejie visited and I was there, too,” Mo Xuanyu says. “I didn’t really like him, he seemed so –“

“Emotionally constipated?” Lan Wangji deadpans.

Wei Wuxian shuts his mouth with a click and whips around to stare at his husband.

“Lan Wangji!”

Lan Wangji only sips his tea and wordlessly raises an eyebrow over the rim of his cup.

Wei Wuxian shakes his head and turns back to Mo Xuanyu, who is only barely able to hide a chuckle.

“Those two will never become best friends, I’m afraid,” he sighs. “It was worse before we got married, but still.”

Mo Xuanyu fidgets with the handle of his cup. “How…how did you two meet?” he asks shyly.

Wei Wuxian beams at him. “See that house over there?” He points out of the window towards the cottage across the fields. “Lan Zhan used to live there. I moved in, and Suibian escaped and got Bichen pregnant, and one day Lan Zhan showed up at my door and asked for child support, and…the rest is history.”

Mo Xuanyu blinks. “Bichen and…Suibian?”

“Our rabbits,” Lan Wangji explains. “Would you like to see them?”

Mo Xuanyu nods. They take him to the hutch where Suibian and Bichen sit nestled against each other, snoozing in the warmth of the farmhouse. Chenqing, ever-curious as she is, hops up to them and gets on her hind legs begging for treats and pets.

“The white one is Bichen, she is A-Die’s bunny,” A-Yuan explains, pointing at the lionhead, “and the black one is Baba’s bunny. Chenqing is mine. She’s very friendly. You can pet her if you want to.”

Mo Xuanyu hesitates. “I’ve never petted a bunny before…what if I hurt her?”

A-Yuan takes his hand to guide him. “I can show you how.”

Chenqing, for her part, basks in the attention, headbutting Mo Xuanyu’s hand for even more pets before binkying through the hutch.

“Yu-gege, she really likes you!” A-Yuan exclaims and claps his hands in delight.

Mo Xuanyu smiles.

He smiles while he helps with lunch, while he reads to A-Yuan in the afternoon, and while he helps with clean-up after dinner.

He smiles when A-Yuan asks if he can have a hug for bedtime. Still, he looks up to Wei Wuxian for permission before leaning in.

Later, when A-Yuan is asleep and the house gets quiet, Lan Wangji sits at the piano and plays for them. They leave it up to Mo Xuanyu if he wants to sit with them or if he’d rather prefer to retreat to his room for the night.

He sits down on the couch next to Wei Wuxian.

“I’ve never had this,” he confesses. “My mum would sometimes sit with me, but she was tired during the day and got ready for work in the evening, so I didn’t see her all that much. She worked as a waitress at a nightclub, you know? But then she got sick, Like, really sick, and…well. Then I was alone.”

Neither Lan Wangji nor Wei Wuxian say a word, but make it clear that they are listening to him.

“One day, Jin Guangshan appeared at my doorstep,” Mo Xuanyu says, “only a day or two after mum’s funeral. I knew who he was, mum had told me about him, but I had never met him before. I just knew that he was rich, and had assumed that he wasn’t interested in me. So when he showed up, I was happy, because I thought there was still someone out there who cared about me, and…for a while, it was okay. I had a very nice place to stay, and, as it turned out, a metric ton of half-siblings.”

Wei Wuxian nods. “I’ve heard that he has children pop up like mushrooms at the end of summer. That man is just…something else.”

Mo Xuanyu shrugs. “I didn’t really mind. Some of them were…well. Distant, I guess? But others were really nice. Zixuan and I needed a bit to warm up to each other, but he was always decent to me. And so was Jin Guangshan, until I made a mistake.”

“What mistake?” Wei Wuxian wants to know. “You don’t have to tell us, though. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

Mo Xuanyu worries at the hem of his hoodie. It’s actually Wei Wuxian’s hoodie; his own is in the laundry still. Once again, he swallows. When he next speaks, he’s very quiet.

“I made the mistake of telling him that I am gay. That I was never interested in girls, and that I had a crush on one of my classmates.”

Lan Wangji stops playing and turns on the piano bench to look at Mo Xuanyu.

“He didn’t take it well, I assume?” he asks softly.

Mo Xuanyu shakes his head. “He lost it, quite frankly. Said something along the lines of ‘no son of his was like that. Called me a disease and yelled at me that I was never going to make it in life. That I should get out of his sight and rot in the sewers. Got some of his other sons to beat the crap out of me before he threw me out of his house. I wasn’t even allowed to get back in to grab my things, and frankly? I didn’t want to.”

Mo Xuanyu sits there, his head low, his hands fisted into the hem of his hoodie. His voice is unwavering, yet the spots of wetness that have started to appear on the soft fabric show just how hurt he is.

Lan Wangji rises from the bench, walks over to Mo Xuanyu, and kneels down in front of him. Carefully, he untangles Mo Xuanyu’s fingers from the fabric of the garment and takes them in his own hands.

“We are so sorry,” he says, and means it. “Both Wei Ying and I. We will not send you back if you don’t wish to go.”

Lan Wangji looks up at Wei Wuxian, who nods with tears in his eyes. He then runs a thumb over Mo Xuanyu’s knuckles in a soothing motion.

“You can stay with us, if you want to. For as long as you wish to. We will make sure that you’re safe here, and that you can be yourself.”

Mo Xuanyu removes one hand from Lan Wangji’s fingers to wipe his eyes.

“Really?” he hiccups.

“Of course, sweetheart,” Wei Wuxian confirms, wrapping a tentative arm around Mo Xuanyu’s shoulder. When Mo Xuanyu leans in, he holds him closer.

“Listen,” Wei Wuxian says, “you said you don’t want to go back to Jin Guangshan, and we respect that, but you also said you got on well with Jin Zixuan and my sister. You don’t need to meet them, but…I would imagine that they worry for you. Would it be alright if we tell them that you’re with us and that you’re okay? I know Jiejie won’t say anything to her in-laws if I ask her not to, and the peacock follows her every word, so…”

Mo Xuanyu lets out a wet chuckle. “Peacock.”

“Yeah? A fat gaudy peacock. Not as fat and gaudy and disgusting as his father, but still. Thank the heavens he’s nice to Jiejie, or else I wouldn’t tolerate him near her.”

Lan Wangji gets up to fetch a glass of water. “He is actually a decent man,” he says upon returning to the living room and handing the glass of water to Mo Xuanyu.

“Can confirm,” Mo Xuanyu agrees. “He’s really not that bad. He told me he used to be, because he was so influenced by his father, but once he was out in the world and saw what real decent behaviour actually looks like, he changed for the better. You can tell them where I am.”

Wei Wuxian taps his nose. “You know what would make this whole situation better? If we went into town tomorrow.”

Mo Xuanyu looks up. “Why?”

“Well, for one you cannot keep wearing my clothes, you need your own,” Wei Wuxian explains, “and I’m sure you’ll need other things too. If you don’t have a phone, you can use my old one, and we need to get you a few other necessities if you are to stay here. I also want to take you to a doctor in case you’re still injured. I want you to be healthy and comfortable, okay?”

“I have a phone,” Mo Xuanyu says, fishing it out of his pocket. The screen is cracked. “I just don’t have a charger.”

“Then we will take it to a place where they can repair the screen and get a new charger for it,” Lan Wangji says. “Is that alright with you?”

Mo Xuanyu looks like he’s about to protest, but then he nods.

“I know you’re already doing so much for me, but…can I ask you for a favour?” he says, looking at Lan Wangji, who nods.

“Can you play another song or two? That was beautiful.”

Lan Wangji smiles, gets back to the piano, and plays.

Mo Xuanyu ends up falling asleep nestled against Wei Wuxian’s shoulder. After quietly closing the lid of the piano, Lan Wangji retrieves a blanket from one of the baskets sitting next to the sofa, draping it over Mo Xuanyu’s sleeping form.

Wei Wuxian looks at him, gaze distant, his fingers carefully carding through the boy’s hair.

“Lan Zhan,” he asks. “Do you…do you ever feel like we got lucky? With our families and their reactions to – well. Us? I remember being super nervous when I told the Jiangs that I was developing crushes on girls as well as boys. Turns out that the majority of the Jiang household is anything but straight. I think even Jiejie told me that she likes boys and girls. So yeah, their reaction was pretty much like ‘Cool. Now go do the dishes.’”

Lan Wangji hums. “The first one I came out to was my brother,” he says. “I noticed during my high school years that I never had any romantic or sexual interest in girls, and…young and inexperienced as I was, I began to wonder if that was – normal. So, I talked to Brother and learned that he, too, was only interested in men. That gave me a lot of confidence. I never hid it; there were just a few people who I deemed not qualified to know.”

Wei Wuxian huffs a laugh. “What did your uncle say when he told him?”

Lan Wangji raises an eyebrow. “In an almost perfect imitation of Julius Caesar, he went: ‘You too, Wangji?’”

Wei Wuxian snorts. Lan Wangji smiles at the memory.

“Brother had come out to him first, so he was a bit taken aback by both of us being gay. I do not know whether my uncle ever had romantic or sexual interest in someone; I never asked, so…even if he didn’t understand the fact that we have no interest in women, he accepted and respected it. He also really wanted grand-nephews and seemed a bit disappointed, until he remembered that adopting a child is something one can do.”

Wei Wuxian smiles. “He can be intimidating, but he’s a good guy. I really like him.”

“I am glad you do,” Lan Wangji replies. “And while I am happy that we both had good experiences while coming out to our families, it pains me that we still label them as ‘getting lucky’. It shouldn’t have to do anything with luck. It should be normal.”

“I know,” Wei Wuxian replies, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of Mo Xuanyu’s head. “Do you think we should ask Jiejie and Jin Zixuan if they want to take him in when he’s better? After all, he says they get on well, and Jin Zixuan is his older brother…”

There’s a hint of uncertainty in Wei Wuxian’s voice. Lan Wangji tilts his head.

“I am not sure,” he says. “We should talk to him about it one of these days, see what he says. Let us first make sure that he has everything he needs and is well.”

Wei Wuxian nods and yawns. “Bed?” he asks. Lan Wangji nods.

Carefully, they move Mo Xuanyu until he’s placed comfortably on the yellow sofa, his head cushioned on a few pillows, the blanket securely tucked around him. As they climb the stairs to their bedroom, they do not see Mo Xuanyu open his eyes to look after them.

---

Mo Xuanyu is also the first one to be awake the following morning. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian wake up to him making breakfast in the kitchen, a babbling A-Yuan sitting on his hip.

“What kind of luxury service is this?” Wei Wuxian jokes. “Lan Zhan, we should have gotten ourselves a teenager long ago, especially if they come with built-in cooking services!”

Lan Wangji shakes his head fondly, leaning down to give A-Yuan his good morning kiss, then puts a gentle hand onto Mo Xuanyu’s shoulder. He helps them set the table while Wei Wuxian disappears to the living room to call his sister.

“Yeah Jiejie, he really is fine…with Zixuan? Hang on, I’ll ask him.”

He pops his head back into the kitchen.

“A-Yu, your brother asks if he could talk to you for a second. I think he doesn’t believe me that you’re okay. Is that alright with you?”

Mo Xuanyu’s eyes widen at the mention of “A-Yu”, but he hands the ladle he was holding over to Lan Wangji and takes the phone.

“Xuan-ge? Yeah, I’m okay. No, I mean it, I really am...for the doctor? Oh yeah, okay, I’ll tell them. No, I don’t know how long…yeah. I will let them know. Give A-Ling and Yanli-jiejie a kiss for me, will you?”

He then hands the phone back to Wei Wuxian, who disappears back into the living room, and returns to the stove, A-Yuan still on his arm.

“Xuan-ge says he’ll email you a signed copy of a document stating that, as my next of kin besides my father, he will allow you to take care of me for the time being, and to take me to a doctor and all of that stuff. Just so you won’t run into any legal trouble. He says you should call him later so you can discuss finances. He also says he will need to set a date…so he’ll note down three weeks as a duration period. For now.”

Mo Xuanyu doesn’t look at Lan Wangji while he speaks.

“Understood,” Lan Wangji replies. “Do you think you could compile a list of all the things you need? For later, when we are in town. You can add whatever you wish; please don’t be shy about it.”

Mo Xuanyu only nods. He does reappear with a list, later, when the family is ready to drop A-Yuan off at Luo Qingyang’s.

“He adores the mall but gets fussy real quick,” Wei Wuxian explains, “so we agreed that he’ll stay with our neighbour. He loves playing with her daughter anyway, so he’ll have fun.”

The car ride is a bit awkward at first, with them driving in silence. Then Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian exchange a look, and Wei Wuxian puts on one of his playlists. They let the first two songs pass before Lan Wangji starts singing along and Wei Wuxian joining in soon after.

Mo Xuanyu gawks at them from his spot in the backseat, then huffs a laugh, shakes his head, and starts singing as well.

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian exchange another look, followed by a smile.

---

The mall they are headed to is not one of the largest ones, but it has everything one needs, and more. They start by getting all of the necessities: toothbrushes and toiletries for Mo Xuanyu to keep instead of borrowing them, a few towels that are his own, a new charger, and a glass screen for his phone. Then, things like underwear and socks, and a proper winter coat so that he has one that fits, instead of Wei Wuxian’s spare one that looks like an oversized sleeping bag on him.

Mo Xuanyu’s clothing style is edgy, as it turns out, even edgier than the clothes Wei Wuxian used to wear as a teen. Still, he is able to help Mo Xuanyu pick out pieces that suit his style while still being practical and warm for the season, as well as a few less warm pieces that he can layer if he wants to, or wear separately as the weather gets warmer.

It doesn’t escape Wei Wuxian how Mo Xuanyu keeps stealing glances at the women’s aisle where the skater skirts and dresses are on display.

“They’d look good on you,” Wei Wuxian comments, seemingly off-hand.

Mo Xuanyu startles, then blushes. “You…think so?”

“Yeah! I used to have one in black that was red on the inside. A really cool thing, but to be fair, I preferred mini skirts whenever I was in a no trousers mood. Would you like to try one on?”

Mo Xuanyu looks back at the skirts, then at Wei Wuxian, then over to Lan Wangji, who is busy looking at the shoes a bit further away from them.

“Do you think he’d mind?”

Wei Wuxian laughs. “A-Yu, Lan Zhan won’t mind at all! And even if he did, those are your clothes. You can wear whatever you wish! Go, pick one out if you want to.”

In the end, they add three skirts to their cart; a dark blue checkerboard one, a black one with skull-shaped cherries, and a green one.

While Wei Wuxian might be Mo Xuanyu’s shopping assistant when it comes to clothes, it’s Lan Wangji who notices how longingly he stares at the colourful make-up displays as they pass them. With purpose, he walks over to where the eyeliners are stored, then makes a displeased sound.

Wei Wuxian looks at him in question.

“They don’t seem to have the one in stock that I usually favour, and I am running low,” Lan Wangji explains. “A-Yu, do you happen to have any experience with make-up? If so, do you think you could give me any advice? I feel as if you would be more honest than any of the vendors in giving me your opinion.”

Mo Xuanyu blinks at him. “I - um. Sure. I mean, I can try?”

Lan Wangji nods and tells him what brand he usually uses, while Wei Wuxian observes them from a distance, a smile on his face.

“Hmm, the brand you use is pretty good,” Mo Xuanyu says. “You could use this one to tie you over until you can get a fresh one,” he explains, pointing at one container. “It has a similar texture and pigmentation than the one you use but doesn’t last as long. Or maybe this one? It wears longer but is a bit less saturated. Certainly not this one; it tends to smudge and doesn’t last as long. Totally not worth the money.”

“Or maybe, if you would like to experiment a bit more – there’s this one.”

He picks out a container from the coloured eyeliners. The shade on the cap is a powdery blue.

“I think it would look really stunning on you, especially with your eye colour. Maybe even as an ombré with a light teal and some lilac and –“

Mo Xuanyu’s eyes grow wide, as if he’s realising what he just said. He shuts his mouth.

“Sorry,” he says, putting the blue eyeliner back onto the shelf.

Lan Wangji slightly tilts his head. “Why? There is no need to be sorry. I never thought about using more colour, and I doubt it would be well-accepted in my professional setting, but…I would be willing to try it at home, or when I’m at some kind of semi-formal gathering. What you described sounds very beautiful. Do you have any experience with doing someone else’s make-up?”

Mo Xuanyu fidgets with his sleeve. “I – yes. I used to help my mother with her make-up. Since she worked as a waitress in a nightclub, we could be a bit bolder with it, and sometimes she just let me go wild and experiment. When she wasn’t at home, I really…liked doing my own make-up, too.”

He carefully eyes Lan Wangji, as if to gauge his reaction.

“You do not happen to have any pictures of your work?” Lan Wangji wants to know.

Carefully, but with a spark in his eye, Mo Xuanyu takes out his phone and opens his gallery app. There are a few pictures of his mother’s face, showing off her colourful yet always tasteful make-up, and of Mo Xuanyu himself in make-up looks that range from almost no make-up at all to very bold.

“These are stunning,” Lan Wangji says, genuinely impressed. “I only know how to do eyeliner, and that’s what I did when Wei Ying and I got married, but I would love to let you experiment on me if you would deem me a suitable model.”

“…for real now?” Mo Xuanyu croaks.

Lan Wangji only nods.

“I – well. Okay. I don’t have any make-up with me…and I don’t wanna reach for the expensive stuff with everything, because there are a ton of very good drugstore products too, but – that’s really okay?”

Lan Wangji smiles. “It is.”

The skater skirts gain new friends in the form of foundation, powder, blush, eyeliner, an eyeshadow palette, mascara, and lip products, all diligently swatched on Lan Wangji’s arm – as well as on Wei Wuxian’s, because he wants to play with colours too, thank you very much.

Mo Xuanyu’s last request is to be allowed to pick a toy.

“I want to gift something to A-Yuan,” he says. “I know technically it’s still you who will be paying for it, but I’d still like to get him something. Is that okay?”

Of course, it is okay, and the little brown bear with the striped ribbon around its neck sits proudly atop of all the other items in the shopping cart when they finally push it to checkout.

They have a quick lunch in one of the mall restaurants before Lan Wangji drives them to the hospital. Mo Xuanyu grows more nervous the closer they get. Wei Wuxian tries to reassure him.

“The doctor we’re seeing is a friend, and actually a relative of A-Yuan’s”, he says. “She’s having her residency in this hospital. She’s a bit scary at first glance, but she’s truly super nice, and really competent. I know the idea of visiting a doctor is not something that’s very appealing, but we want to make sure you’re healthy, and that whatever injuries you might have, are healing well. Okay?”

Mo Xuanyu nods.

He doesn’t talk much during the medical examination. Wen Qing works quickly and efficiently, only asking him questions if she needs to. He tells her enough for her to know exactly where these injuries come from.

Both Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji know that she will compose her file in a way that it could be used in court if ever needed. Mo Xuanyu even consents to it and signs a document to make it official, though it is clear to everyone involved that he doesn’t believe that anything will come from it.

As they head out of the hospital, Wei Wuxian claps his hands together.

“I don’t know about you, but I am really in the mood for ice cream!”

“In winter?” Lan Wangji and Mo Xuanyu say in unison before staring at each other.

“Yeah? At least it doesn’t melt when it’s cold out. You can have your…pancake or waffles or whatever you want, but I’m having chocolate ice cream.”

Lan Wangji rolls his eyes, exasperated but fond. Mo Xuanyu giggles.

“Alright,” he says, “but I want a scoop of vanilla ice cream with my pancake!”

Wei Wuxian looks at Lan Wangji and winks.

---

The following two weeks pass in a blur. They decide that it would be best to sort out Mo Xuanyu’s schooling situation after the winter break, which means he is at the farmhouse at almost all times. A-Yuan is delighted to have a new older companion and playmate and gets ecstatic when Mo Xuanyu joins him and Mianmian for games in the snow.

They settle into a domestic routine. Mo Xuanyu helps with the housework and sometimes retreats to his own room for a few hours, as teenagers often do. Wei Wuxian has dug out his old gaming console and the few games, setting it up for them to play with it. They even found some second-hand child-appropriate educational games they can play with A-Yuan.

While Lan Wangji does not participate in their gaming sessions, he likes to watch them play and laugh and fight about who gets to use the slingshot the next time a balloon with a present on it dangles across the screen.

In the evening, Mo Xuanyu often tags along when it’s time for A-Yuan to go to bed. He likes to watch when either Lan Wangji or Wei Wuxian read a story; sometimes he even reads one himself to A-Yuan. As soon as the little one’s asleep, he joins the grown-ups in the living room for a family movie, a board game, a bit of music, quiet reading, or simply to talk.

It’s as if Mo Xuanyu has always been part of the family, Lan Wangji thinks. He would fit in seamlessly if he was to stay. Lan Wangji can see in Wei Wuxian’s eyes that he feels the same.

“Maybe…” Wei Wuxian begins one morning while the kids are out feeding the chickens, but hesitates.

“I feel like Mo Xuanyu should have a say in this, Lan Zhan. He’s old enough for it, and I want him to be comfy and happy, and to feel safe. We don’t know if he sees this as only a temporary solution and whether or not he wishes to move on to somewhere else, but…”

Lan Wangji nods. “We could…get in touch with a lawyer, maybe. Just to know how we should proceed in case he wants to stay with us.”

“Be prepared for battle?” Wei Wuxian chuckles. “I mean, Jin Guangshan kicked him out in the first place; why would he suddenly want to have him back?”

“To not lose face in the public eye should it come to a trial and the media would get involved,” Lan Wangji retorts.

Wei Wuxian gulps down a big sip of his tea and worries at his lip with his teeth.

“Are we prepared for this? I mean, it could get nasty…”

Lan Wangji looks out of the window, to where Mo Xuanyu and A-Yuan are taking handfuls of snow and sprinkling it into the rabbit patio, while Suibian jumps up excitedly to catch the snowflakes. A-Yuan laughs in delight, loses his balance, and falls over; Mo Xuanyu is quick to help him up and brush the snow off of A-Yuan’s coat…who takes the opportunity to stick his snow-covered mitten down the back of Mo Xuanyu’s collar. He shrieks at the cold sensation and proceeds to chase A-Yuan through the garden.

Lan Wangji looks at Wei Wuxian, who has observed the whole scene as well, and now looks back at him. They hold their gazes, and slowly, two mirror smiles appear on their faces.

That’s all the answer that they both need.

---

Before they can talk to Mo Xuanyu about the whole situation, A-Yuan comes into his parents’ bedroom one morning, waking them both up. Lan Wangji, who had only been dozing, is the first one to be fully alert, while Wei Wuxian needs a few moments to regain full consciousness.

“Baobao, what’s up?” he asks sleepily, lifting A-Yuan onto the bed.

A-Yuan clutches his rabbit plush to his chest.

“I wanted to come cuddle with you but then I heard noise from downstairs,” he explains. “Yu-gege is crying in the kitchen. I don’t know what to do.”

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian exchange a look. It’s about eight in the morning, still dark outside – what in the world could have upset him that much at this time of day?

They wrap themselves in their dressing gowns and make their way downstairs.

True to A-Yuan’s word, Mo Xuanyu is sitting at the kitchen table, arms crossed on the wooden surface, face pillowed onto them, shoulders trembling with his sobs. He’s wearing his coat.

At his feet, they find a filled duffle bag – Wei Wuxian’s old cheap beat-up duffle bag. Sitting on the table in front of Mo Xuanyu, are two wallets.

Lan Wangji’s wallet, and Wei Wuxian’s wallet.

For the second time in the span of fifteen minutes, Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian exchange a look.

“A-Yu?” Wei Wuxian asks softly. He doesn’t mean to frighten Mo Xuanyu, but he startles nonetheless, looking at Wei Wuxian with big eyes, then to Lan Wangji, before hanging his head.

Lan Wangji wordlessly walks over to the stove, gets the kettle going, and heats up a small pot of milk. Soon enough, there are three mugs of steaming tea and a smaller mug of hot chocolate on the table.

As he sits down, Lan Wangji lifts A-Yuan onto his lap, while Wei Wuxian scoots his chair closer to Mo Xuanyu.

“A-Yu,” he calls again, as softly as he can. “Please, talk to us. We’re not mad; we just want to understand.”

Mo Xuanyu doesn’t dare look at either of them.

So, they wait, until finally, Mo Xuanyu picks up his mug, takes a sip, and wipes his face.

“I wanted to leave,” he confesses. “Well, I – no. I didn’t really want to leave. But I saw…I saw you three together, and what a happy family you are, and I – I just thought that I want that too, you know?”

Wei Wuxian nods. Lan Wangji says nothing but listens, while A-Yuan keeps on chewing on the ears of his bunny plush.

“But you and I, we are basically strangers,” Mo Xuanyu continues. “I broke into your shed. You could have called the cops on me. Rightfully so. I saw your happy little family and wanted that too, but – I just felt like I couldn’t have it. We’ve known each other for what – a month? Longer? Less? I don’t even know. I felt like I had no right to insert myself into a family of people who don’t really know me. So I thought…”

He hiccups.

“It wasn’t like, paradise at Jin Guangshan’s place, but it was quite okay before he kicked me out. Jin Guangshan likes money. I thought if I go back and show him that I somehow got money, he wouldn’t question how I got it and would see that I’m not as much of a failure as he thinks I am and maybe would take me back.”

Whatever Mo Xuanyu wants to say next gets drowned out by his sobs.

A-Yuan whimpers, overwhelmed by seeing him so sad. Lan Wangji gently rocks him and caresses his hair, quietly reassuring him that everything will be alright again, Baba and A-Die will make sure of it.

Mo Xuanyu composes himself and wipes his face again. His eyes are puffy.

“I wanted to leave. I wanted to take your money and go. I couldn’t do it.”

Wei Wuxian inclines his head in question. Mo Xuanyu swallows.

“As I got dressed and packed my things, I kept on thinking that those were all things you gave to me. That you took me in, no questions asked, and took care of me as if I had always belonged to your family. I remember what you said to me about kindness,” he says, looking up at Lan Wangji, “that you’d rather give people the benefit of the doubt by being kind to them, even if they might take it for granted, than to deny someone who might need the kindness just because you’re unsure of their motives.”

Lan Wangji nods, signaling that he remembers that conversation.

“I thought about all the talks we had and the games we played and how it all made me feel, and – I couldn’t do it. So I just sat here, like a coward, waiting for you to wake up and kick me out yourselves. Because I’m sure you don’t wanna have a criminal in your house.”

Wei Wuxian raises an eyebrow. „Hmm, I don’t know about you, Lan Zhan, but I don’t see any criminal in this house.”

“Me neither,” Lan Zhan agrees.

Mo Xuanyu blinks at them. “But I –“

“Thought about running off with my old bag and our cash, but ultimately didn’t do it,” Wei Wuxian interrupts him. “Which means you didn’t commit any crime.”

Mo Xuanyu stares at them, at a loss for words. Lan Wangji clears his throat.

“A-Yu,” he says, “I will be honest. I think both Wei Ying and I would be lying if we were to claim that we aren’t at least a bit…disappointed. Maybe even hurt. However, I think it is safe to say that we both understand what you were trying to do, and why you were trying to do it, and…we’re not angry. I wish you would have talked to us about it, but as you said…we still have a long way to go when it comes to getting to know each other. It’s understandable that you are still wary of us.”

“It’s not that,” Mo Xuanyu says. “I’m not wary of you. I just thought, that – well. This.”

He makes a gesture encompassing the whole farmhouse and all of his inhabitants.

“That this was just too good to be true for me. That I shouldn’t even consider that I might be allowed to stay, because it’s only temporary, so…”

Wei Wuxian hums. “Hmmm, and what if I told you that this could very well be something that you’re allowed to have?”

Mo Xuanyu blinks again, rapidly this time. “But I thought you wanted me to go live with Xuan-gege and Yanli-jiejie, so I’d have to leave anyway.”

“When did we – oh no, you heard that?” Wei Wuxian exclaims. “A-Yu, that’s – how long ago, now? You had just arrived, and Lan Zhan and I were unsure how to proceed. Of course, we won’t send you to them if you really don’t want to!”

Lan Wangji shifts A-Yuan on his lap. “Actually, Wei Ying and I have been in contact with a lawyer. Just so we’d know what to do in case you’d wish to stay. We were planning on asking you this very week, but…you’ve had your own plans.”

Mo Xuanyu looks down at his hands, crestfallen. “No way you’d want to do that now,” he says, pushes the mug of tea away from himself, and gets up.

He reaches neither for the duffle bag nor for the wallets.

A-Yuan lets out another whimper, louder this time, slides from Lan Wangji’s lap, and runs over to Mo Xuanyu as fast as he can before attaching himself to his leg like a distressed koala.

“Yu-gege, don’t go! A-Yuan will be extra good! Please!”

Mo Xuanyu looks like he wants to shake A-Yuan off, but then his face falls, and he crouches down to take the toddler into a tight embrace.

“You don’t like us anymore, Yu-gege?” A-Yuan hiccups.

“Of course, I like you!” Mo Xuanyu says. “It’s just not that easy…”

“It can be,” Lan Wangji offers. “If it is really your wish to leave, then you may take your bag, and Wei Ying and I will drive you into town with enough money to last you at least a week. But if you find in your heart that you would rather stay with us, if you wish for this house to become your home, then we would be more than happy to keep you here.”

Mo Xuanyu looks back at them over A-Yuan’s shoulder.

“…Really?” he asks so quietly that they almost miss it.

“Really,” Wei Wuxian says. “Lan Zhan might look like the type who wishes to speak to the manager if the foam on his vegan iced latte isn’t dense enough, but he’s usually easy-going. If he suggests getting in touch with a lawyer – and I’ll have you know that it was his idea – it means that he’s serious. And so am I.  As far as I’m considered, you’re part of the family, if that’s what you want to be, too.”

Mo Xuanyu bursts into tears for good. He nods, almost frantically. He scoops up A-Yuan and walks back around the kitchen table, where Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are waiting for him with open arms.

At one point in the morning, A-Yuan spills the rest of his chocolate milk. Lan Wangji takes him to his room to get him changed, while Wei Wuxian’s phone rings and he leaves the room to take the call.

Mo Xuanyu is left alone in the kitchen. The wallets still sit in front of him.

---

They file for a guardianship transfer not long after that. They need the lawyer to get the documents ready so they can enroll Mo Xuanyu into a school. They discover that, while Jin Guangshan has taken Mo Xuanyu in after his mother passed, he never legally recognised him as his son. The man seems more than ready to sign the parental rights over to Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, as long as they don’t turn the whole ordeal into a media spectacle.

“Which also would mean that Jin Guangshan would get away with what he did to Mo Xuanyu,” Wei Wuxian huffs on a video call with his sister.

“You’ve heard the lawyer,” Lan Wangji says, “as long as A-Yu doesn’t press charges against Jin Guangshan, there’s nothing we can do. And even then, we’re not sure if it would even lead to anything.”

Yanli hums. “Do you think I should talk to Zixuan? Maybe he has heard or seen something that could help you. I personally have never seen him being violent against someone, but I believe you without a doubt that he’s capable of it.”

“Only if you don’t mind, Jieje,” Wei Wuxian says. “You know that I don’t really like the peacock, but I don’t want him getting into trouble with the nice side of his family if there is any.”

“A-Xian…A-Ling and I are his family too, you know?”

“Sorry, Jiejie. You know how I mean it.”

“I know, A-Xian, but also – talk to A-Yu first. I know you want there to be legal repercussions for Jin Guangshan’s actions, and I understand that, but…A-Yu might have to face his father in court. Testify against him. Recount what happened to him, in front of a lot of people he doesn’t even know. Ask him first if he’s up for it, and if he can handle it.”

Wei Wuxian drags a hand across his face, and promises to do so.

Mo Xuanyu seems less than thrilled about the idea of facing off against Jin Guangshan in court, so neither Lan Wangji nor Wei Wuxian do broach the topic again.

It’s Jin Zixuan who unexpectedly shows up at their cottage door one January morning, wanting to talk to Mo Xuanyu.

He tells them that he has heard his father threatening some of his siblings and cousins with bodily harm, but has never seen him go through with it. So, he reached out to a few people who used to live with his father but were either thrown out or left of their own volition.

Quite a few of them got their injuries documented by medical and legal authorities, and quite a few are ready to come forward and press charges.

“Not quite enough for a class-action lawsuit, but enough people for it to gain sufficient attention and be a serious threat for Jin Guangshan,” Jin Zixuan says.

“I would be ready to testify what I’ve heard myself,” he adds. “If you’re willing to join us, A-Yu, there would be enough people who would support and protect you. I’m sorry I didn’t speak up earlier.”

Mo Xuanyu thinks about it and, in the end, agrees.

He does still need to start school way before the first court hearing is even scheduled. Thankfully, it was agreed upon that he can stay at the farmhouse, since Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian are filing for guardianship anyway, and Mo Xuanyu seems very happy with staying with them. Jin Zixuan and he agree that, while they like each other, it’s probably for the best that they don’t live under the same roof 24/7, in case Jin Zixuan reminds him too much of their father.

On most days, it’s either Lan Wangji or Wei Wuxian who drives Mo Xuanyu to school and picks him up again, but on his very first day, they both come with him to see him off, as if he was their firstborn.

Mo Xuanyu tries to act as if he’s embarrassed. He’s really not. In truth, he couldn’t imagine anything else bringing him more joy.

The court hearings bring him considerably less joy whenever a new one turns up. They leave him in an emotional mess every time.

But every time, there are arms waiting for him to bury into, soft blankets to cuddle with, and quiet piano music. Laughter.

Warm hands who wipe his tears.

A home.

In the end, Mo Xuanyu thinks that even if Jin Guangshan gets out of it unscathed, he would go through all of this again, if it meant he would end up with the most loving family he could ever have wished for.

Jin Guangshan ends up with a two-year-long prison sentence and a hefty fine, which is probably peanuts for him, considering his wealth. Not a harsh enough sentence, going by Wei Wuxian’s facial expression when the verdict is given, but the fact that the whole thing has attracted a huge media circus gives him satisfaction, nonetheless. Even if two years behind bars is not enough, it will take Jin Guangshan and his imperium years to rebuild their reputation, if they’ll ever be able to.

The most joyous outcome of all of this mess is that, once it’s established that legally handing parental rights to Jin Guangshan would put Mo Xuanyu in danger, and that Jin Zixuan is okay with Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian taking over permanent guardianship, Mo Xuanyu officially becomes a member of the Lan-Wei household very quickly.

They do celebrate with homemade muffins and the good tea that only gets taken out on special occasions.

A-Yuan barrels into Mo Xuanyu, hugging his leg tightly.

“Yu-gege, Yu-gege, are you my real gege now?”

Mo Xuanyu chuckles. “If you want to, Yuan-di,” he says and playfully pinches one of A-Yuan’s round cheeks.

A-Yuan almost shrieks in delight.

“You don’t have to call us Baba or A-Die though,” Lan Wangji says. “Unless you wish to, but there is absolutely no pressure.”

“Yeah, it’s still very much fine to call us Lan Zhan and Wei Ying. Or Xian-gege and Zhan-gege, like A-Yuan did when he first came to live with us,” Wei Wuxian agrees.

“Do I have to change my name now?” Mo Xuanyu asks, almost shyly. “It’s all that I have left of my mother.”

“Only if you want to,” Wei Wuxian says. “A-Yuan is still called Wen Yuan too, after all. If he ever wants to adopt one of our names, then he’s free to do so, but we would never force him. The same goes for you.”

“You are part of the family no matter the name,” Lan Wangji says. “And because of that…we are going on a trip tomorrow afternoon.”

---

Mo Xuanyu doesn’t question the trip. Family rituals can be intricate, he knows that much. He does however question Lan Wangji’s and Wei Wuxian’s sanity when they pull up at what looks to be a…rabbit farm?

“But…you already have three rabbits,” he says.

“Yes, and every family member gets their own bunny, so you’ll get one too. Such are the rules!” Wei Wuxian explains.

“This is a rabbit rescue farm,” Lan Wangji clarifies. “All the rabbits here have been rescued out of difficult situations and are looking for a new and loving home. You may choose one.”

Mo Xuanyu looks dumbfounded, but then he lets the farm owner take him on a tour of the facility. There are bunnies of every shape, colour, size, and breed, and Mo Xuanyu is particularly fascinated by a brown one with long floppy ears.

“That’s a French Lop, right?” Wei Wuxian asks. Lan Wangji nods.

„Are you sure he should pick a French Lop? I’ve heard they can get quite large.”

Lan Wangji gives him the side-eye.

“Our son can have whatever he wants,” he says firmly.

Wei Wuxian stares back, but then he rolls his eyes. “…Our son can have whatever he wants,” he agrees.

The French Lop in question is not the one going home with them. The bun growls at Mo Xuanyu and hops away every time he tries to approach, clearly not wanting anything to do with the human. Mo Xuanyu seems only a bit hurt, but then he spots a tiny white bundle looking directly at him.

“Oh my god,” he goes and crouches down.

The white bunny immediately hops over to him, curious about this new potential friend.

“That’s a Hotot rabbit,” Lan Wangji tells him. “They are very friendly and easily recognisable by their white fur and their black eye markings.”

“It’s wearing eyeliner,” Mo Xuanyu whispers in awe. “The bunny is wearing eyeliner, just like I do.”

The eyeliner-wearing bun turns out to be a neutered male, and he seems very eager for Mo Xuanyu to adopt him. He lets Mo Xuanyu pick him up and hold him close. The bunny instantly relaxes in his hands.

“Look at them, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian coos. “It’s as if they were made for each other!”

And since matches made in Heaven should not be separated by any mortal, the bunny comes home with them.

As is to be expected, Bichen is wary of him at first. Suibian and Chenqing, on the other hand, are very curious about their newest family member. They end up having one major fight, but after that, things settle, and even Bichen approaches him and gets to know him. He fits right in and cuddles and plays with all of them, though he’s ecstatic whenever Mo Xuanyu lets him out of the hutch to play.

He soon learns that the rabbit’s favourite treats are apple slices, and so he decides that “Little Apple” would be the perfect name for his newly acquired bunny companion.

“Look how round he can make himself,” he points out. “A perfect orb. Like an apple. It just fits!”

To welcome his new friend home, Mo Xuanyu sits down and does his make-up, giving himself a dark smoky eye similar to the likeness of his rabbit, then takes a selfie with the bunny on his arm.

Wei Wuxian barks a laugh. “If you can get Lan Zhan to do his hair so he looks like Bichen, that would be amazing!”

Lan Wangji glares at him. Wei Wuxian laughs some more.

“He can do my make-up though if he wants to,” Lan Wangji says. “Didn’t you want to try that ombré eyeliner?”

Mo Xuanyu raises an eyebrow. “You’re serious? I kind of thought you only said that to make me feel better.”

Lan Wangji shakes his head. “If there is anything you need to know about me, it’s that I never lie, and never say things lightly. I am excited to see what magic you will create on my face.”

So, Mo Xuanyu releases Little Apple back into the hutch, sits down with Lan Wangji, and does his make-up too. He ends up with a winged eyeliner – purple at the outer wing, cerulean in the centre, and baby blue at the inner corner.

“You were right,” Lan Wangji says after looking at his own reflection, “it does go really well with my eyes. Thank you, A-Yu.”

“You’re welcome,” Mo Xuanyu says. “This was really fun!”

“I know you’re only in high school, but do you feel like working with make-up could be something that you would consider doing for a living, one day?”

Mo Xuanyu hums. “I’m not sure yet. Maybe? I mean I really like the idea of going to make-up school and working for…I don’t know, fashion shows or movies or theatre. Something like that. But that’s expensive. I would have to build a portfolio first too, and…yeah.”

Lan Wangji gets up from his chair and produces a copy of his book. “I am not sure if this is your type of preferred literature, and you don’t have to read it, but  -“

Mo Xuanyu cuts him off. “You wrote that? One of my half-sisters had a copy. I borrowed it from her. I loved it! That’s so cool!”

Lan Wangji can feel his ears getting hot. He clears his throat.

“Well, yes. Thank you. What I wanted to say is…I am not sure how much has been made public about it yet, but I recently signed a movie deal for the book. Casting should begin within the next months, and I am planning on being very much involved in the whole production process, so…when the time comes around, I might be able to take you on set. Talk to the make-up artists there. Perhaps they could have some advice for you regarding portfolio building, or internships. Would that be something you would like?”

Mo Xuanyu’s mouth is hanging open.

“Would I like –“

He doesn’t finish his sentence. Instead, he flings his make-up brushes aside and throws himself at Lan Wangji, hugging him close.

Lan Wangji freezes up, surprised, but then relaxes into it, enveloping Mo Xuanyu in a soft embrace.

“I would like that very much,” Mo Xuanyu whispers, audibly holding back tears. ”Thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” Lan Wangji says, and means it. “Let’s go show off your work, shall we?”

---

Mo Xanyu ends up doing Wei Wuxian’s eye make-up too – also an ombré eyeliner to match Lan Wangji’s look, only that his goes from blood-red in the inner corner to black at the outer corner, with a hint of silver on the waterline. A-Yuan gets a star on the left cheek and a butterfly on the right cheek. Mo Xuanyu himself removes his Hotot smoky eye and opts for an ombré going from lime green to bright teal.

The picture they take of themselves with their fancy make-up looks gets a place of honour on the fireplace mantle, as the first family picture of many with Mo Xuanyu in it. It replaces a quirky old vase that used to sit there.

---

Another change. Lan Wangji used to be afraid of change, but this time around….change brought along new colour on his face. A new rabbit in his house. A new older brother for a-Yuan, and a new son for him and Wei Wuxian to love.

As he holds his family close, presses a kiss to his husband’s temple, and observes the string lights sparkle in the trees outside of their house, Lan Wangji thinks he’s looking forward to what change might still have in store for him.