Chapter Text
Wei Ying didn’t answer the polite knocking at his door. Namely, because he was busy wrangling the three-year-old in his tub, but also because he knew it would be one of his neighbors.
There was no one he wanted to see, least of all someone who’d come with another noise complaint. Wei Ying tried to keep A-Yuan busy. Right now A-Yuan was learning his alphabet, his colors, and very importantly - all of Wei Ying’s favorite Pokemon. A-Yuan was smart for his age. Or well, Wei Ying thought he was. He didn’t have a ton of experience with three-year-olds, since the ones he used to teach to swim had been a bit older. Four years didn’t make the most difference in maturity when you were twenty-six, but they made a hell of a lot more difference for young children. The seven-year-olds he taught were reasonable enough.
“Relax,” He’d tell them. And they knew what that meant. They understood rigidity and calm and they knew what trust was and they decided to give it to him or to withhold it. A-Yuan distinctly lacked grasp on any such concept.
“Hold your head back, or the shampoo will get in your eyes.” He’d told A-Yuan. And A-Yuan had smiled and nodded and then tipped his head down to look at his rubber duckies and screamed and screamed.
The knocking on the door was getting firmer. Wei Ying’s phone was buzzing on the counter. The woes of being the most popular man in the room at all times. He watched it fall from the counter, winced, and hoped it hadn’t cracked.
Wei Ying sat perched on the edge of the tub, holding his small boy in his arms. A-Yuan was wrapped in a thick towel, and he squirmed as Wei Ying tried to soothe him. “Shhh, shhhh,” He whispered.
The bathroom was splattered with water, heavy puddles and soaked towels on the tile floor. He’d have to do laundry. Soon. There used to be people to help him with this kind of thing, family.
In his arms, A-Yuan wasn’t crying anymore, but he sniffled pitifully, holding tight to Wei Ying’s neck. His eyes were near black in their darkness, and so big they swallowed up his face. “Can I sit you down and go answer the door?” Wei Ying asked.
A-Yuan shook his head ardently - no.
Wei Ying shrugged. He was past the point of denying the fact that he had a kid stashed in his dorm anyway. There was no one stupid enough to continue to believe he was watching some television show with a screaming child on it. For the third night in a row.
He hiked A-Yuan up in his arms, carrying the boy like a sack of potatoes as he kicked boxes out of his way and moved towards the front door. The dorm was small, but since it was just him - Wei Ying had told his counselor he was ‘a danger to himself and others’ and that had gotten him out of moving in with some teenage kid- he didn’t mind the limited space. He even had an extra bed in case a friend wanted to sleep over, not that that ever happened.
“Fuck,” he cursed as he nearly fell over a stack of Amazon packages.
“Fuck.” A-Yuan agreed, evidently in a good mood now.
“No, you don’t say that,” Wei Ying chided casually. His heart wasn’t in it though. Wei Ying put on his brightest, tightest, most thousand-watt smile, which was promptly replaced with a scowl when he saw who was at the door.
Lan Zhan stood in the doorway, as handsome as ever even under the harsh lights of the dormitory. He looked as pleased to see Wei Ying as Wei Ying was to see him. They’d never been friends, but their mutual animosity had spawned and grown sharper over time.
“What.” Wei Ying asked. He did not say ‘hello’ or ‘hi’ or any other kind word to Lan Zhan, and he never intended to again. Lan Zhan gave him the same treatment in equal measure. “Children are not allowed in the dormitory.”
Wei Ying’s indifference became a scowl, and then a sneer. “I’m babysitting. It was an emergency.”
Lan Zhan’s nostrils flared. Wei Ying had never seen so much emotion on his face. “Irrelevant. It is not allowed, and it is late. Your neighbors have complained. Repeatedly.”
“We’re about to go to bed now. No more noise.”
“No noise.” A-Yuan promised. He did not look especially convincing with his mouth puckered up the way it was. He looked like he might burst into tears.
Lan Zhan set his stone eyes on him and A-Yuan began to cry again, quiet tears this time, tucking himself into Wei Ying’s neck.
“Look, you’ve made him cry.”
Lan Zhan stepped back abruptly. If Wei Ying didn’t know any better he’d think Lan Zhan’s feelings were hurt. But he did know better.
“No noise.” Lan Zhan said. His eyes were steel. “And he cannot stay here. It’s against the rules.”
“No noise.” Wei Ying promised. He left the rest - that A-Yuan would stay here with him for the remainder of the semester- unspoken and unacknowledged.
Lan Zhan stood there a moment longer, seemingly wanting to say something more. His eyes drifted over to A-Yuan again with interest, but the little boy flinched, and Lan Zhan turned without a word, disappearing down the hall.
True to his word, Wei Ying settled A-Yuan into his pajamas and fell into bed. He was exhausted and he stared blearily up at the water-stained ceiling as his body seemed to collapse in on itself.
A-Yuan was tucked against his side. “Who was that gege?”
“Nobody important.” Wei Ying replied.
He rolled over to tuck his blanket up under A-Yuans chin, surprised by the sudden wash of sadness that fell over him. Granny Wen had made this blanket. He thought of her old worn hands and her penchant for cursing and was more tired than ever.
“Which one tonight?” Wei Ying asked, holding out two small story books. He needed to go to the store and grab a few more, but he hadn’t had a chance to go back. He couldn’t take A-Yuan to crowded spaces. And he was alone now, painfully so.
A-Yuan pointed to the left story, as expected. Wei Ying had read ‘Let it Snow’ so many times he had it memorized by now, but he sat on the side of the bed and began reading. The book might have gotten stale to Wei Ying, but A-Yuan’s contentment was fresh and sweet each time.
By the time he finished A-Yuan was asleep, his fingers shoved in his mouth, soft brown hair still damp on his head.
Then, without pausing, Wei Ying sat up in bed to go to his desk. Lack of sleep was certainly nothing new for Wei Ying, and he easily brushed off his tiredness with his third- yeah whatever, fuck you- fourth Monster of the day.
He had a few emails from Marinox, his soon-to-be employers, which he scheduled replies to since he didn’t need them to know he was replying so late at night thank you. Yes, he was excited to begin his career. No, he wouldn't need movers to help him. Why yes, yes he was having a hard time finding an apartment in this hellishly expensive city, how did you know?
Then there were the responses to his professors, equally boring but necessary to send out. He needed to find cash for his cap and gown if he wanted to walk the stage, and really, he wasn’t sure he did. There was the final payment of his tuition, which Wei Ying was very pleased to know resided in the hands of Marinox now, and finally, there was the small matter of his passing geography.
Wei Ying was a pretty smart guy - and that wasn’t bragging. He’d made honors all through high school, and programmed robotics that had won him competitions across the nation. He could dance his way around a lab if needed though he’d really lost interest in biology after his second semester led him to the realization that it was all just about money for hospitals at the end of the day. If he was going to bother with getting a degree that made someone else rich and wouldn’t make him of some help to society, he might as well do it sitting down.
At Marinox they did a lot of sitting. Wei Ying had toured the headquarters two months ago, and he’d taken the high paying job with the shithole coworkers and the okay coffee, and the commute that was truly beautifully short.
He’d thought it was a pretty good amount of money to be paid right out of college, up until he realized he was expected to pay a minimum of three thousand dollars a month for more than a single bedroom. He glanced over at A-Yuan tucked into his covers, his overworn donkey plush held tight in his grip. Wei Ying would need at least two bedrooms.
In truth there was nothing to complain about. He was getting hired by a good company, with good benefits, and he was suddenly a father to the sweetest kid in the world. He glanced over at his phone, remembered he couldn’t call his sister, and sighed.
Focus. The geography class.
Wei Ying was not exactly known for his stoicism. He’d managed to get away with a lot by sheer charm, the trauma card of having two dead parents, and another set of parents to whom he was dead. And then there was Granny Wen, who’d recently passed away. Could he be blamed for missing, say, half of the total number of classes?
But someone always had to be a hardass.
Dr. Broner had had it out for him the minute he set foot in the class. Wei Ying had never exactly, er, finished his basics. If there were electives, he could just save them for the end, and have fun with them right?
Dr. Broner thought that ‘Geography is more of a way of thinking than it is an elective.’ and that ‘we all need to view the world as our home, because it is, and being familiar with our home is essential to life.’ Wei Ying had snorted when she’d said that, and sealed his fate.
He'd have to come up with a really good one to get out of this. Should he mention he’d recently taken in a homeless child? No, that would draw too much attention to the fact that he was illegally housing A-Yuan in his dorm. Maybe mention he’d just had so much shit going on as he packed up Granny Wen’s house? No, he’d make it clear that the crippling weight of grief might just kill him. This would crush him, leave him vulnerable for to a harsh wind that blow his battered body off into the breeze like a Victorian era woman, - what the fuck?
Wei Ying I regret to inform you that due to your lack of attendance, your current grade stands at an F, due to this you will be unable to pass my class. I fear you may need to stay another semester to complete your degree. I recommend reaching out to your advisor.
Oh no, no, no, no, you don’t, bitch!
Wei Ying was very, very opposed to calling women bitches. But this was no woman, this was a monster. What the fuck did she mean he had an F? Wei Ying opened up his student portfolio. Every assignment was done correctly, B’s here and there when he was feeling lazy sure but, oh.
He fell back in his seat, slapping a hand over his face. Oh of course. Of Course!
In-class assignment, partner project.
Wei Ying did not schedule his message for the morning, he opened a new draft and immediately emailed Dr. Broner. He’d had no idea there was some in-class assignment he was supposed to be doing, and really why was it such a big deal if all of his other grades were perfect?
Dr. Broner was apparently not only awake, but rearing for a fight. Her message contained a lot of ‘as you will see stated on the syllabus,’ and ‘as seen in my previous message,’ or ‘please feel free to reach out again.’
Well. Fuck.
Wei Ying stood up from his chair, pacing around the tiny room. Finally he sat back down and asked if it was possible to get an extension on his project, and to do it outside of class.
No. Was all Dr.Broner replied with for a full five minutes, during which time Wei Ying seriously contemplated throwing his shitty old laptop out of a window.
Finally, and to his surprise, another email rolled in.
‘I do have a student who needs some help with something. I am aware of your prowess with technology.’ Here, Wei Ying’s stomach dropped. Why did he have to go running his big mouth? ‘This student is working on a presentation for some of the children he teaches at practicum. He is in need of a robotics coordinator. If you could spare some of your time for them, despite having missed ninety percent of my lectures, and complete your project by an agreed-upon date, I may be able to overlook your absences.’
What a cunning old lady. Wei Ying had to admit he was almost impressed.
He agreed, chugged a bottle of water, and did not think to ask who the student he would be helping was. It didn’t seem like something that would matter very much.
There were still a few projects to be turned in. I’s to be dotted and T’s to be crossed and by the time Wei Ying shut his laptop it was nearing three in the morning. He glanced between the empty bed and the one A-Yuan occupied, ultimately climbing in to share with A-Yuan. He was a sucker for cuddles.
As he fell into bed his body turned as heavy as lead.
A-Yuan woke him up in the morning with some light, playful, and not at all mean or painful tapping on Wei Yings face. “What?” Wei Ying asked, rolling over and away from the tiny hand berating him.
“I’m hungry.”
“Oh.”
Wei Ying lay there a while longer. Maybe if he pretended to sleep longer A-Yuan would realize that the sensible thing to do would be to grab the pre-packed snacks Wei Ying had specifically made for him on the little space that passed for a counter in the room.
A-Yuan smacked Wei Ying on the ear this time. “Okay, okay, I’m up, no need to hit.”
Wei Ying groaned as he pulled himself up out of bed. A-Yuan’s breakfast was mostly junk, he had to admit. There was apple sauce, packaged pancakes, dried bananas, and a little juice box.
Wei Ying settled for a wrinkly apple.
Just as he sat down to eat it, with A-Yuan perched on the end of his desk and Wei Ying hunched over in his chair, sleep-worn and bedraggled, someone knocked on his door.
Why did everyone need his attention all of the time? Without making a sound Wei Ying lumbered over, peering through the peephole to make sure it wasn’t Lan Zhan again.
Wei Ying yanked the door open, pulling Wen Qing in by her arm as she stood idly in the doorway. “What are you doing here?” He stage whispered.
He peeked out behind her to make sure there was no one looking, but it was early, and this was a dormitory, there would be no one to notice. “I didn’t exactly come because I wanted to I-” Wen Qing was cut off by a smiling A-Yuan, who hopped gracelessly from his perch to run to her. “Jiejie!”
He jumped at her, arms raised waiting to be scooped up.
“A-Yuan!” She chirped back, in the high-pitched voice she spoke to A-Yuan in. Wei Ying didn’t usually baby A-Yuan at all which was probably why A-Yuan was so happy to be scooped up and spun around.
“How are you? Did Wei Ying take good care of you? Did you eat?”
Wei Ying leaned against the wall, one brow raised.
‘Obviously.’ He thought.
But A-Yuan was frowning. “He was mean to his friend Jiejie.”
“Oh wow, he was mean? Did he scare you?” A-Yuan had the nerve to look over at Wei Ying skeptically, and then nod. “Yes.” He said.
“A-Yuan what are you talking about, I’m not scary.”
A-Yuan hid himself against Wen Qing, which was a smart move, but one that stung. “Sometimes,” A-Yuan said, in the tiny tiny voice Wei Ying had not heard him use in weeks.
“Alright well, I’ll show you. Your gege is always nice. The next time that old fuddy duddy comes around I’ll be so nice you won’t be able to stand it.”
A-Yuan lifted his head from Wen Qing’s chest to blink at him. “Really?”
“Yes, really.”
A-Yuan smiled big. “Okay.”
They set him up with one of the little games Wei Ying had gotten for him and Wei Ying sat on top of his desk, hovering over Wen Qing who’d taken the chair. “Who are you two talking about?” She asked.
Wei Ying didn’t want to say Lan Zhan, in case it summoned the guy over somehow. “The damn hall monitor’s been on my ass about A-Yuan crying.”
Wen Qing sat up, startled, but Wei Ying held up his hands to calm her. “Nothing crazy, just normal kid crying, but the walls are thin and A-Yuan has some impressively strong lungs. We’ll be out of here soon. But what’s so important that you had to come all the way here?”
Wen Qing glanced over at A-Yuan. Before Granny Wen’s passing, when his time babysitting A-Yuan had been more surface level and he’d never dreamed he would be the one bathing and tucking A-Yuan in Wei Ying would have said it was unnecessary to lower their voices around him. But A-Yuan was smart, and he was more attentive than people gave him credit for. Maybe the same was true for all children.
“There was an, ah,...it’s Wen Ning.”
Something rolled in Wei Ying’s belly.
It was Wen Qing’s turn to calm him. She put her hand over Wei Ying’s. “Don’t worry, he’s fine. He’s heading out of town actually, and I’m about to go with him. There was this guy,” She stared off into space, rolling her hands as if to bring the words to her. “This really creepy guy, sort of tall and lanky, greasy hair. He’s been following Wen Ning around for days.”
Wei Ying took a deliberately slow breath. “Xue Yang.”
Wein Qing nodded. “I didn’t think it could be, not at first. Sure Wen-” She glanced at A-Yuan again, and Wei Ying shook his head. They didn’t need to risk saying his name and scaring A-Yuan.
“He’s taking this a lot more seriously than I thought. I mean he hardly had him for a month. And he’s acting like that somehow makes him father of the fucking year,” She sighed. “Doesn't matter. Whatever. I didn’t want to risk calling. At this point, there’s no telling if our phones are being tracked or something, so I left mine with Wen Ning. We won’t be back until the court case is settled. I just came to ask…I know you have a lot going on but you could come with us. Both of you.”
Wei Ying didn’t ask where they were going. After selling their grandmother’s house and inheriting her portion of the Wen family wealth on top of the money their parents had left them, the siblings had enough to go wherever it was they wanted to go.
But he shook his head. “I’ve set this all up for years. You know how many packs of ramen noodles I’ve eaten, how I budgeted to the penny- “
“Not that you had to,” Wen Qing argued, but Wei Ying glared at her. “I didn’t always know you Wen Qing. And I’m not going to depend on you or anyone else for my life. I’m this close. Three more weeks. I just have to pass this class and by then A-Yuan will be, he’ll be-”
A-Yuan chose that moment to come over and tap on his leg. “Gege, can we go outside?”
Wen Qing sighed. “Three weeks is a long time for a kid.”
Again Wei Ying shook his head. “He won’t remember when he’s older. A-Yuan, maybe later, right now we’ve got um, Cocomelon and Masha and the Bear.”
Wei Ying thought his brain would rot inside his skull if he kept having to listen to the show's play in the background but it was the only thing that kept A-Yuan occupied. He set up A-Yuan’s baby iPad, and yeah, not the best to give kids screen time but when they got out of this - if and when they got out of this- Wei Ying would be better.
He had it all planned in his mind, A-Yuan’s bedroom with glowing stars on the ceiling. Their breakfasts would be prepared in a clean, neat kitchen early in the morning. Wei Ying would use the time to bond with A-Yuan before he went to work and A-Yuan went to daycare. They’d go to parks on weekends and Wen Ning would surprise them with sweets. Wen Qing would pretend to be put upon by Wei Ying’s invitations but would visit often. Life would be good, as long as he held on a bit longer.
Wen Qing left, with a long hug and promises to take care of Wen Ning, and Wei Ying missed her before he’d shut the door behind her.
Before this, when life was good and Wei Ying had a family, one he thought would last forever, he’d never thought there was room in his heart for anyone else.
But after Jiang Fengmian’s passing, Wei Ying had made a fool of himself by flunking out of school. And had promptly been kicked out of Madame Yu’s home. She had no reason to continue supporting a lowlife like him.
He spent a long time working bullshit jobs trying to get back on his feet, and had finally lucked out in Granny Wen’s teashop. She was, he was certain, the nicest person he’d ever, and would ever meet. She let him sleep in the empty upstairs loft, and the Wens, at least that side of the family, had become as familiar to him as the one he’d left behind.
He’d started school again, worked his ass off to graduate with no debt, and somehow, along the way, practically moved into Granny Wen’s place. Though he always refused to fully do so. He hated not being able to pay her back for her kindness. That had been five years ago now, and some time after that a deadbeat Wen Chao had appeared with a baby he didn’t want. Wen Qing was in medical school, and Wen Ning was preparing to take over the shop, and so, like some kind of a sitcom, they all became his caretakers.
Wei Ying had never held a baby before. And then there was A-Yuan, small and sweet and warm. His heart beat fast in his tiny chest, he blinked slow and drank fast. He babbled in the first few months of his life and began talking early. His favorite color was blue and he liked to play soccer. He ate almost anything but hated spicy food. And he was Wei Ying’s little brother, and his son, and his friend, and - then he was gone.
Granny Wen got sick one day, with something she should have recovered from. But she didn’t. The doctors said she must have been too old to fight the infection off. A little while after that it was ruled that since A-Yuan had been left in the guardianship of Granny Wen- and not either of the three adults left who knew and loved him- that Wen Chao could have him back if he wanted him.
Wen Qing and Wen Ning alone had been granted visitation.
Just three more weeks. Wei Ying thought. Three weeks and we can get the hell out of here. He’d planned his stay in the dorm to a T. He’d used his savings to stay here, in the shitty little room, for a month, outwardly pretending it was out of some act of pride.
Wei Ying needed to be away from the Wens for any of this to work. He was paying for his own stay - he wasn’t publicly speaking to either subling right now. It would have made no sense for anyone to suspect Wei Ying of having A-Yuan. Which was exactly what they needed.
When Wei Ying got A-Yuan back, he was sullen and thin. He had very little reaction to seeing Wei Ying at all, only the stare of someone far older.
They went to dinner on the corner, chased in by the snow.
A-Yuan ate three pancakes and a bowl of strawberries. He drank a cup of water and he spilled syrup across the table. He asked Wei Ying to taste his drink, bitter coffee, and then spat it out when it touched his lips.
Finally, he stared up at Wei Ying and asked, “Is Granny coming back too?”
He did not cry when Wei Ying told him no, which was almost sadder.
They’d been together ever since. Wei Ying had the shitty little dorm for now, and a kid who no one was supposed to know was here. Wen Yuan had not asked once for his father, though once or twice he’d mentioned his Yeye.
Wei Ying had never had the displeasure of meeting Wen Rouhan thanks to a falling out that Granny Wen had had with him some years ago. Wen Rouhan came to pick A-Yuan up once a month in his sleek black car and pump him full of sugar before dropping him off again. A-Yuan adored him.
Instead of the fancy dinners Wen Rouhan might have been giving him, Wei Ying made ramen on his portable stove, promising A-Yuan that it would not be spicy this time.
He did homework while A-Yuan colored, and he checked his email for updates about just who this person he needed to be helping with his big, big brain was. He had hardly gone anywhere in the past month, locked inside waiting to hear tell of the legal proceedings by word of mouth. Wei Ying had never realized before how loud A-Yuan could be.
It felt unfair to tell him he needed to be silent all of the time but it was temporary.
A-Yuan, had only seen his father at one of his three birthday parties, and received one huge sum of money in the form of gift cards on New Year’s, his birthday, and Christmas.
A-Yuan hadn’t even recognized him when the lawyers came to take him away. Wen Chao hadn’t bothered to come and get him personally. But A-Yuan had gone willingly, happily, until he realized Wen Ning wasn’t going with him. Wen Ning had been the only one of them strong enough to send A-Yuan away. Wei Ying had outright refused to hand Wen Yuan over and excused himself from any and all court proceedings.
It worked out for the best - he doubted Wen Chao knew who he was, or what he looked like. Wei Ying waited until seven to get dinner, when the sun had mostly set in the horizon, and stepped out into the night with his hat tucked low, and A-Yuan’s hand in his own.
He couldn’t just never let A-Yuan outside. But he tried to keep it low profile, if and when he could. Which was why he practically snarled when he opened the outer gate and found Lan Zhan standing there, key card in hand, entering the dormitory. This close to the end of the winter semester there was almost no one left in the dormitory, which was half of the reason Wei Ying had chosen it. But here was this old fuddy-duddy, in his way as usual.
Wei Ying almost swore but held it back. He’d been kidding when he told A-Yuan that he’d be ‘oh so extra nice’ to Lan Zhan, but it had occurred to him that his outright anger towards Lan Zhan had truly scared A-Yuan just as much as a stranger’s presence had, if not more.
So he said only “Excuse me.” And tried to move around Lan Zhan who instead stepped inside, and shut the door behind him.
“Might I ask what this child is still doing on the premises?”
Wei Ying’s tongue itched to tell Lan Zhan off, but he held it back. A-Yuan wanted him to be nice. He’d be nice. “I told you. I’m watching him. As a matter of fact, I’m taking him home right now.” Wei Ying lied.
A-Yuan tilted his head, and the rabbit ears on his hat flopped to the side. Lan Zhan looked at him and Wei Ying swore the tips of his ears flushed pink. “He is a lovely child. He takes after you?”
Wei Ying blinked. Then he blinked again. He looked between A-Yuan and Lan Zhan. He wasn’t often left speechless, but he wasn’t sure how to come back from the realization that Lan Zhan thought A-Yuan was his biological child.
“I-”
“Gege, are you going to eat with us?”
It was Lan Zhan’s turn to blink those honey eyes of his. “Am I? No. I do not often eat food others prepare.”
A-Yuan tilted his little bunny ears again, and this time they flopped heavily across his face. “Prepare?”
“To cook.” Lan Zhan replied easily.
Wei Ying finally returned to his senses, shaking his head free of his surprise. “A-Yuan takes after me..?” He murmured to himself. It was stupid he hadn’t thought to just start telling people A-Yuan was his to begin with. But what were the odds that in one city a man was missing a child, and Wei Ying would suddenly appear with one? Wei Ying had had his bisexual awakening the year A-Yuan was born. Meaning he’d spent the entire year pinning after and occasionally having an ugly breakup with men, and men alone. There wasn’t anyone he could pass off as Wen Yuan’s mother.
“I do recognize his mother’s features in his face as well though. They both have tan skin. And the dimple on the left side.”
“Takes after his mother too huh..” Wei Ying was saying when the words sank in. Wen Qing had dark skin. Wen Qing had a dimple in her left side. Wen Qing who had been here this morning and - “Oh.”
“I have tried to be lenient. It is hard to co-parent in..this environment.” Lan Zhan said. Which was the first time Wei Ying had seen him express something so close to sympathy.
Wei Ying nodded. Wen Qing would not have allowed Wei Ying’s penis within ten feet of her, and he’d sooner eat glass than wreck their relationship with sex but…Lan Zhan was as much of a social pariah as Wei Ying was. Maybe even more so.
“Yes, he does get his more attractive features from me though.” Wei Ying agreed finally.
Lan Zhan nodded. “As you say. However, there are, as I am certain you are aware, three weeks left in the semester, and I cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the situation at hand.”
Wei Ying lifted his free hand placatingly. “Look as you say there are three weeks left. A-Yuan’s …” He placed his hand over A-Yuan’s ear, though A-Yuan was rather bored of their conversation, and tugged at Wei Ying’s shirt collar begging to go out. “His mom actually left the country today, no idea when she’ll be back. She’s um… run off with her girlfriend. Her dad wanted us to be together so he’d have an heir but she’s never been interested in men you know. A-Yuan’s… presence is just so triggering for her. So I have to stay here with him. That’s the truth. “ He took his hand from A-Yuan’s ear and held up three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
Lan Zhan’s shoulders rose and fell in what must have been a heavy sign for him. “As I said. I cannot turn a blind eye. But perhaps…since you have agreed to assist me with my students, I can be of service to you as well.”
Wei Ying was never this at a loss for words. “...I agreed?”
“Dr. Broner said you were overjoyed at the prospect of creating a display for the deaf children of San Francisco. Was that not so?” And Wei Ying couldn’t very well say no he did not care about the poor children of San Francisco.
“It slipped my mind that…you…were the one doing that.” His arm began to cramp from A-Yuan’s weight, and he let A-Yuan slide down his side to stand on the floor beside him, one finger in his mouth.
“I am finishing my Master’s. It’s important to me that not only hearing children learn to appreciate music.”
“Of course.” Wei Ying said. He couldn’t very well say ‘well it’s important to me to make a shit ton of money.’ Of course Lan Zhan was becoming a children’s music teacher. And of course he found time to somehow also assist deaf children. Fucking of course he was just that perfect.
“What exactly would you be doing to help us in return for that?” Wei Ying was for once thankful to his shitty teacher for not expressing the real reason Wei Ying had agreed to do this project.
“I have an apartment off campus. It’s been paid for but I am staying here for other reasons. You may take the apartment for now, though during the day I give piano lessons there. That is my only option for you.”
Wei Ying scoffed. “So if we don’t move into your apartment you’re going to kick us out of here? Report us?” Wei Ying tried to be casual but it was the last thing he needed.
Suddenly he wished he’d gone with Wen Qing…but he was so close to the end. He rocked on his feet, glancing outside, and froze, stock still.
They’d been talking so long that the sun was a faint memory in the sky, and the fog had begun to roll in once more. And there was a man outside. Tall. Lanky. With greasy hair.
The windows only reached about waist high, and A-Yuan was on the floor. But how long had that man been there? Had he already seen A-Yuan? Did he know who Wei Ying was, or was he just following Wen Qing’s trail? A-Yuan reached up for him, with big puppy eyes and Wei Ying brushed his hands away. “Stay right there.” He said, as calmly as he could.
Lan Zhan took his tone of annoyance at his offer, and glowered in return, or as close as he ever came to it.
Before he could say anything though, Wei Ying murmured, “We’ll take it.”
And without waiting for Lan Zhan, Wei Ying began up the stairs to gather their things.