Sunday 25 days for the Full Moon Festival

Lan Zhan's brilliant idea after breakfast was to go to the movies.

"A film?" Wei Ying had asked, doubtfully.

"Yes. It will be fun." Lan Zhan insisted, hoisting A-Yuan into his arms.

Only he and A-Yu seemed enthusiastic about it, because Wei Ying couldn't remember the last time he had watched one...in a movie theater.

"Let's go anyway, and if you don't like it, we can do something else. I think there's a crazy golf place too we can try out, but A-Yuan might be too short." He added, amicably.

Wei Ying realised that last part might have been because of the look on his face, and he quickly transformed it into a smile, mustering up enthusiasm.

"Yes, let's go see what's on. Maybe we can pick a movie everyone will enjoy." He was glad he said that because the relief on Lan Zhan's face was palpable.

It was really generous of Lan Zhan to bring them here in the first place, and Wei Ying knew that. So he put away all doubts and thoughts of the past, vowing to remain in the present. Plus, he had not considered that Lan Zhan too, must have been feeling nervous about bringing everyone here. He was a kind and considerate man, and he had evidently done his research.

Wei Ying resolved to show his gratitude in another way...later.

As it was early in the day, the movie place had a special children's matinee show of The Lion King.

It sounded good too, and Wei Ying built up the kids' excitement as they waited in line for popcorn. Wei Ying had dismissed it as unnecessary, but Lan Zhan had insisted on it and soda for the kids and themselves.

"It is part of the ultimate film experience." And he smiled in that special way of his, winking at Wei Ying.

By this point, Wei Ying was a puddle.

They sat down in the middle, the best seats not too far away and not too close to the screen. Wei Ying was fighting wave after wave of memories.

He was trying his best to watch A-Yuan and A-Yu and not be distracted. He and Lan Zhan were the bookends to the children sitting in the middle, and suddenly, A-Yuan began fidgeting more than normal.

"Hey Sweetheart...what is it?" Wei Ying asked him as the lights dimmed.

A-Yuan looked around, a little frightened.

"Need to go pee!" He whispered urgently, scrunching up his eyes.

"Let me take him." Lan Zhan said, whispering to them both. "I can carry him and we'll be back before it starts." He smiled at both of them.

Wei Ying looked at A-Yuan who simply did not care who took him as long as someone did, now. He jumped off his seat.

"Pwetty Gege!" He crossed his legs.

"Fine, fine!" Wei Ying said, trying not to laugh.

They left quickly.

Adverts came on, and Wei Ying was surprised to see Mo XuanYu lean towards him.

"Are you okay?" The boy asked, clear worry on his face.

"I just keep remembering going to watch films with my siblings. My adopted sister, and Jiang Cheng." Wei Ying decided to be honest.

Mo XuanYu's eyes widened.

"That guy? The one that tried to shoot you?"

Wei Ying nodded sadly.

"That's the thing. He wasn't always bad...I guess...people change."

"My mom used to bring me to watch movies. When we needed to leave the house." Mo XuanYu said, after a while.

Wei Ying reached over to hold his hand.

He understood what 'needing to leave the house' meant.

"She was a good person...just fell in love with the wrong person." He sounded so sad.

"A-Yu...we can't pick our family...or who is going to be important in our lives...sometimes all of that is a surprise. But me and Lan Zhan...we're here for you. It doesn't matter if it's not official yet...to me, you're the same as A-Yuan. No question about it. You have us, heart and soul." Wei Ying reached across to kiss his forehead. "You can remember your mom here. We can come and see movies whenever you miss her, alright?"

Mo XuanYu smiled, blinking away the wetness in his eyes.

Lan Zhan came back then and raised a brow in the glow from the light on the screen. Wei Ying gave him a thumbs up instead, making a mental note in his head to explain to Lan Zhan later.

"Are you okay now, Sweetie?" Wei Ying asked A-Yuan.

A-Yuan nodded enthusiastically. He put a chubby finger against his lips and shushed him.

"Pwetty Gege thaid we have to be qwiet."

"He's absolutely right." Wei Ying switched to whispering and mouthed a 'thank you' to Lan Zhan.

He was watching their interaction fondly, loving the way Wei Ying was so seamless in his mannerisms, making even children feel loved and wanted. From the moment he had mentioned the movie going, he'd felt that something was off with Wei Ying and he wanted to know what it was.

But the children were here and most important right now; asking him about it could wait until they were alone. Also, he had seen them just now, A-Yu and Wei Ying...and he knew Wei Ying would fill him in on it afterwards.

The movie began.

The children were simultaneously in awe and delighted with the show, laughing with Timon and Pumbaa, growling at Scar and going through a rainbow of emotions in general.

They were disappointed when the film finished.

"Baba...why we don't go watching movies before?" A-Yuan asked Wei Ying out of the blue.

The lights had come on and Wei Ying felt awfully embarrassed because they were all looking at him. He couldn't even think of a suitable response and he felt every second as it ticked by.

"You need to be five!" Mo XuanYu suddenly said. "Otherwise they don't let you in."

"I'm five!" A-Yuan giggled and the crisis was averted.

Wei Ying quickly turned away, using the pretext of gathering their rubbish and picking up the fallen pieces of popcorn from the floor.

But he was mortified.

Money had gotten tighter and tighter until he was trying to pick up odd jobs that paid no where near as much as contractual work, just to make ends meet. Even then, he knew he was spiralling into debt.

And none of it was his fault.

All the time, he had to pretend everything was fine and okay, and that A-Yuan wouldn't want for anything...but it was a daily struggle.

Now that he had a stable job, it was different.

But every time A-Yuan asked for something they couldn't afford, he felt like a shitty parent, not at all good enough to be his dad.

Once he had calmed down, he pasted a smile on his face and joined the rest of them, waiting at the foot of the stairs.

Lan Zhan knew immediately that something was wrong.

That smile...it didn't look real until he figured out that it didn't reach Wei Ying's beautifully expressive eyes...

He reached over and grabbed Wei Ying's hand, giving it a squeeze and hoping that it was enough for now, just to give him some support. Anything else would have to wait until later, because Wei Ying didn't look like he wanted to discuss anything in front of the kids.

"Who's hungry?" He asked cheerily instead.

All three of the others groaned.

"Please...no!" A-Yu replied, clutching his stomach in mock despair.

"Alright, alright...then we're going back to the beach."

There were cheers and Wei Ying felt his mood lifting from their happy delight.

He thought Lan Zhan was taking them to the same part of the beach that they visited yesterday...but already he saw the giant Ferris wheel and knew what Lan Zhan had planned.

When Lan Zhan put the car in park, Wei Ying reached across and shyly kissed his cheek.

"What was that for?" Lan Zhan asked in surprise. He was smiling though.

"For being the best boyfriend." Wei Ying told him, his good spirits returned.

"In that case, I want one here." Lan Zhan tapped his own lips.

"You have to earn those ones!" Wei didn't know what possessed him to say that, but he giggled and quickly got out of the car, scared that Lan Zhan was going to climb over the gearbox and grab him instead.

There was always a certain thrill at provoking the beast...

Lan Zhan was just glad that this teasing had restored Wei Ying to his normal happy self. And if that's what his Wei Ying needed, then that's what Lan Zhan was going to give him.

*********

The number of rides A-Yuan could go on was limited because of his height, but his excitement grew and grew and grew, especially when they reached the Merry-go-round. He saw the horses, the stallions and mares...and he wanted.

Not even the teacup ride brought this much astonished anticipation.

Wei Ying had offered to take A-Yuan on the baby rides while A-Yu and Lan Zhan went on the grown-up rides, but they were having none of it. They too joined in the queue for the starship ride, cheered the most on the teacups, and screamed convincingly on the banana boat ride.

They had sticky hands from candy floss and more hot dogs were consumed along with pizza and cola.

They all had a go in the straw filled lucky dip, and when A-Yuan wanted his face painted like a bunny, Mo XuanYu joined him too.

Nothing could beat the aroma of sweet candy with frying meat, the pungent smell of tobacco and the oil from lubricating all that machinery. This, coupled with the brilliantly coloured attractions, the lights and the shouting vendors, the electricity in the air...everything was sensory overload.

Memories were made and prizes won in 'throw the hoop' while Wei Ying turned out to be an excellent shooter. They won a black and white penguin for A-Yuan and a real goldfish for Mo XuanYu. Of course, they had to buy a goldfish bowl and food and all the other stuff a goldfish needed, before tired out and exhausted, they piled into the car to return to the hotel.

The children for once, didn't need to be told more than once; they were on their best behaviour though Wei Ying suspected they brushed their teeth and changed their clothes in record time only because they were actually tired...

Kisses were exchanged for stories and before they knew it, both kids were asleep.

Wei Ying was ready to sleep too, but Lan Zhan pushed pyjamas into his arms and playfully smacked his bottom, making Wei Ying retreat into the bathroom for a much needed shower.

He stayed under the hot spray for a little bit longer than necessary, washing away the stress of the day and accumulated grime and unwanted onslaught of heavy emotions.

Much lighter, he returned to their bedroom and flopped onto their bed, smelling of lotus flowers and sandalwood because Lan Zhan had packed his bodywash and how could Wei Ying say no to smelling like him?

"Don't go to sleep!" Lan Zhan warned him, before going to shower himself.

Wei Ying was alert after that, but now he was also nervous.

Why had Lan Zhan said that?

Was something wrong?

His eyes drooped and he fought to stay awake.

Lan Zhan was back in record time because he could see Wei Ying was tired.

He lay down on top of the covers right next to him. And then, because resistance was futile, he began kissing Wei Ying, peppering his beautiful face with tiny unsatisfactory kisses until Wei Ying was giggling and all traces of sleep had left him.

"My mother used to say...never go to bed unhappy..." Lan Zhan said softly, when he had all of Wei Ying's attention.

"I'm not unhappy..." Wei Ying told him.

"But you were, and what happened at the movies? Something wasn't right even before we got there...and when I came back with A-Yuan?"

Wei Ying looked at him, knowing he should explain himself. Lan Zhan would be hurt if he didn't tell him the truth. So he started with the easiest: what Mo XuanYu had confided about his mother and going to the movies.

"Maybe we could do something about that...I told him it was good to remember the good times with his mom." Wei Ying yawned.

He rested his head against Lan Zhan's shoulder.

"And what about you?" Lan Zhan verbally prodded. "Wei Ying looked upset at the mentioning of going..."

"Sort of the same thing except mine were probably something I'd rather forget. A-Yu asked me about that. You know...he's far more astute than we think." Wei Ying was dozing now, sinking readily into the warmth of the body heat available and right there.

"More of the same...what?" Lan Zhan asked him.

"Just...I used to go with Shijie...miss her...that's all. A-Yu was shocked when I told him Jiang Cheng used to tag along too...we all had people we needed to avoid back then..." Wei Ying mumbled, succumbing to sleep.

Lan Zhan filed it away for now.

He hadn't gotten everything out of Wei Ying yet...but he was nothing if not persistent and they weren't leaving until early tomorrow morning.

There was still time...plus he had to tell Wei Ying something too, something he should be mentally prepared for.

Lan Zhan hadn't said anything before because he didn't want to worry anyone. Hopefully the children wouldn't be affected, but Mo XuanYu could easily find out by accidental exposure to the Internet.

Such was the nature of the media.

He sighed and reached across Wei Ying's body to turn off the light. Then he lifted Wei Ying up and dragged the sheet over both them.

The soft soothing fragrance of lotus flowers washed over him, relaxing his tired muscles and mind.

He would deal with the rest of everything tomorrow...

*********

Monday 24 days for the Full Moon Festival.

Coffee, rich and aromatic, drifted into his nose and Wei Ying woke up in increments.

Lan Zhan smiled indulgently and buttered a warm croissant, waving that under his nose too. His stomach responded but Wei Ying was still catatonic.

Lan Zhan marvelled at his sleeping ability.

Maybe kisses would work better...

Wei Ying felt something soft first at his eyes, and then his nose. He whined because obviously Lan Zhan was missing on purpose. He heard a soft chuckle before hot lips claimed his.

This kiss wasn't meant to do anything more than wake him up, but suddenly Wei Ying was kissing him back and clinging to Lan Zhan like an orangutan.

All four limbs.

Naturally, Lan Zhan tried to hold him back but it wasn't his fault that his hands slipped and met the softest skin, and then before he knew what he was doing, Lan Zhan squeezed, eliciting the most sinful moan from Wei Ying's lips, hot breath in his ear...

Lan Zhan threw him onto their bed and climbed all over him, pinning him to the mattress. His large hand captured both of Wei Ying's naughty hands and held them up, out of mischief while his own mouth had discovered that exposed glimmer of pale skin just begging to be tasted.

The knock on their door was the only thing to cut through the haze of raw desire fogging their minds where nothing else existed.

Lan Zhan paused his ministrations, cocking his head to listen, when the knocking came again.

Reluctantly, he got up off a wide awake Wei Ying who suddenly had an attack of unrestrained giggles.

"The look on your face!" He gasped, still spluttering with laughter.

Lan Zhan went and threw open their door in a fit of frustration...which evaporated upon seeing A-Yuan there, clutching his penguin.

"We finished bweakfast..." He was told.

Lan Zhan lifted him up and kissed his pudgy cheek, smiling now. A-Yuan really was a charmer without even trying.

"Look! Your Baba hasn't even showered yet!" Lan Zhan told the baby proudly.

"And who's fault is that?" Wei Ying mumbled snarkily, grinning at how cute they both looked.

"We're going to watch some cartoons." Lan Zhan said, taking him away. "Wei Ying better hurry up, or the coffee is going to get cold."

Wei Ying carried on complaining but went to shower anyway.

Lan Zhan ate with Mo XuanYu, because A-Yuan had had his cereal, and watched a children's show with them. Then he returned to their bedroom and packed their suitcases.

Wei Ying was eating when he returned, and upon checking his watch, Lan Zhan decided to make him talk now. He let Wei Ying finish first, and then he reached over and entwined their fingers together.

"What's up...you look serious..." Wei Ying asked him, wiping his mouth with the napkin.

"Yesterday...Wei Ying looked upset...I'd like to help...that's all." Lan Zhan said with complete sincerity.

"Um...you mean at the end...right? When we were leaving the movie place?" Wei Ying knew Lan Zhan wasn't going to let it go.

He nodded.

"I wish to understand..."

"It's...I'm..." Wei Ying wasn't sure how to put it into words. He tried again, glad that Lan Zhan was being patient with him. "Okay...it's kind of really embarrassing."

Lan Zhan brought their joined hands to his lips.

"Not for me. Nothing Wei Ying does is embarrassing."

Wei Ying tried to find a smile for him. But it was hard.

"There are times...and also in the past...A-Yuan would want to try stuff. But money was in short supply...and I...I felt like the world's worst parent because my choices were a whole meal or whatever toy he wanted. He's still young and mostly understanding...but I'm dreading the day he wants something way out of our budget and .... I don't think I could take it if he looked at me with any amount of disappointment."

There...the words were out now. He kept his eyes closed.

"That's only because he's young. He doesn't seem like the sort of kid who would hate just because his Baba couldn't buy him the latest gadget." Lan Zhan defended him.

"No...it's not about A-Yuan...not exactly...did you...did you see his face? When he asked about why we had never come to watch a film before? That's what I'm talking about..."

"I'm sorry." Lan Zhan squeezed their hands.

"Why are you sorry?" Wei Ying opened his eyes.

"Because I've been exposing him to all sorts of things...without asking you first... I didn't think..." Lan Zhan looked miserable.

Wei Ying threw his arms around his neck.

"No! No! Not at all, my love! You're not to blame at all!" He said, furious at himself now. "I've never met anyone as giving as you are, Lan Zhan, and I don't mean... things. What I'm talking about is my own insecurities...I'm always worrying that...that I'm not good enough....as A-Yuan's dad..."

That produced a gasp.

"How can you even say that?" Lan Zhan was even more upset at those words. "Wei Ying is the best father, no doubts!" He held onto Wei Ying tightly. "You mustn't worry about providing things...it is enough that you love him unconditionally. I've seen the way he looks at Wei Ying...you have nothing to worry about..."

"Really?" Wei Ying asked in a small voice.

Lan Zhan kissed his forehead lovingly.

"Really."

Seconds passed into minutes and Wei Ying was quiet. Which in itself was unusual. Lan Zhan wasn't sure his support of Wei Ying as A-Yuan's father was believed by the man in question but he hoped it was.

"There's something else I have to tell you." He said gently.

"What is it?" Wei Ying leaned back to look into his face.

"When we get home...this morning the Jiangs have set their lawyers to appeal to the judge about setting bail for their son." Lan Zhan began.

Wei Ying immediately tensed.

This was why Lan Zhan hadn't told him until the very last minute.

"Don't worry...Huaisang is on it. The newspapers have already published the news about their stealing of company pension funds...there's no way the judge is going to agree...and if by some miracle he does, they don't have the funds to actually do it. From now on, he's going to rot in different jails." His voice had taken on a dangerous tone.

"Okay..." Wei Ying nodded. "But...I feel like you haven't finished..."

"Yeah...Huaisang also said he wants to meet as soon as we get home. He has news."

*********

A/N

Dear Wonderful friends,

I'm sorry I haven't been able to update this book as often as I prefer, but rest assured, I haven't forgotten. The most frustrating thing for me is blurry vision, and I have to keep taking breaks.

And weirdly I'm somehow more productive when I haven't got time??? Which is just bizarre.

Anyway, onwards and upwards...

Charlie.