DASB Ch42

After lunch, Huo Rulan had a meeting to attend, so Ye Xi took the yawning little ones back to the bedroom for a nap.

The small, soft little “gas tanks” were obviously exhausted, but still forced their eyes open to keep watching Ye Xi, as if afraid their little daddy would leave.

Leaning over the crib rail, Ye Xi gently patted their chubby little chests and softly hummed a lullaby.

Their eyelids grew heavy, blinking slowly before finally closing as they drifted into sleep.

After tucking in their blankets, Ye Xi rested his chin on the crib for a while, only heading back to his own bed when drowsiness began to take over.

Meanwhile, after a string of back-to-back meetings, Huo Rulan wearily removed his glasses and rubbed his temples. His gaze swept over the pile of untouched documents on the side, then to the darkening sky outside the window — the next couple of days didn’t look like they’d bring good weather.

He left the study quietly and carefully pushed open the bedroom door.

Inside, the babies slept with tiny hands curled near their heads, rosy cheeks soft and relaxed. Huo Rulan tucked their blankets more securely.

He then stepped over to the big bed, gently pulling down the blanket covering Ye Xi’s face to reveal his flushed cheeks and lashes casting faint shadows — looking utterly serene and well-behaved.

Leaning down, he brushed a light kiss across Ye Xi’s face, then rested his head against his neck with his eyes closed.

Half-asleep, Ye Xi instinctively reached out to cradle the back of his head, fingers running through his hair. Huo Rulan’s lips curved faintly upward.

After ten minutes, he carefully put Ye Xi’s hand back under the blanket, kissed his forehead, and returned to the study to work.

By 3:30 p.m., rain had begun to fall. Ye Xi stirred awake, the room dim. In the crib beside him, the babies still slept soundly with their little hands in the air.

He sat up, head bowed, messy hair falling over his eyes. He seemed frozen like that when Huo Rulan entered and found him bundled in the quilt.

Sitting down beside him, Huo Rulan wrapped him in his arms. “Awake? Want to sleep a little longer?”

Ye Xi shook his head, leaning into him silently.

Neither spoke for a while, simply holding each other.

Eventually, more awake, Ye Xi nuzzled into him and murmured in a soft, just-woken voice, “It’s raining.”

“Mhm. A light rain,” Huo Rulan replied, stroking his nape. “It’s a bit chilly. Make sure you dress warmly, even at home.”

Ye Xi nodded against him, clinging for a little longer before getting up to dress.

Huo Rulan helped him into a thick sweater and shoes. “Heading to the study?”

“I’ll go when the babies wake,” Ye Xi said, pressing his cheek to his chest.

“They cried themselves tired earlier, so they’ll probably sleep for a while. Go ahead, I’ll watch them.”

Ye Xi looked up for confirmation, and Huo Rulan kissed the corner of his lips with a nod.

After a bit more lingering, Ye Xi went off to his online class.

Once he was gone, Huo Rulan checked on the babies, then lay down where Ye Xi had been. The blanket smelled like his body wash, though somehow sweeter — always making him want to pull him close.

He wrapped himself in the scent, intending just to rest briefly before feeding time…

But when he woke, the room was dark.

Alarmed, he sat up, switched on the small lamp, and found the crib empty. No Ye Xi in the study either. Heart tightening, he hurried downstairs.

The living room was bright, the babies’ babbles filling the air. Ye Xi was there, speaking to them softly.

Huo Rulan, hair mussed and shirt rumpled, stood there looking dazed.

Seeing him, Ye Xi paused. “What’s wrong?”

Crossing over slowly, Huo Rulan wrapped his arms around Ye Xi’s waist and buried his face in his neck. His voice was low and muffled. “I had a dream… and when I woke up, you and the babies weren’t there.”

Ye Xi stilled, then cupped his face, pulling him back to look at him. “You thought… I ran off with the babies?”

Avoiding his gaze, Huo Rulan tried to nuzzle back into his neck, but Ye Xi held him in place, half exasperated, half amused. “I gave birth to your children — and you’re still afraid I’ll run?”

Flushing at the ears, Huo Rulan pressed his cheek into Ye Xi’s palm. “I just… had a bad dream.”

“You and the babies are my home,” Ye Xi said, kissing him softly. “Where else would I go?”

Huo Rulan’s eyes glossed over as he lowered his head. “I love you too.”

Just as their lips were about to meet, a baby’s coo interrupted — “Mmm-wu~”

Ye Xi instantly pushed Huo Rulan away and turned to smile at the two boys, who were watching them with wide eyes, gnawing their chubby hands. “What is it?”

Beside them, Huo Rulan closed his eyes briefly, suppressing his expression. Looking at the adorable little “light bulbs,” he sighed inwardly.

It was nearly 8 p.m. “Hungry? Have some fruit first — I’ll make dinner,” he offered.

“I already made it,” Ye Xi said quickly. “It’s in the warmer. You seemed tired, so I didn’t wake you.”

Given his long nights with the babies and heavy workload, it was no wonder he’d fallen asleep.

“I checked your study — everything’s done. Assistant Xu said you didn’t have anything urgent today, so I let you sleep. I hope I didn’t delay you.”

“You didn’t,” Huo Rulan assured, ruffling his hair. “Besides, work will never be more important than you. You’re always my first priority — even above myself.”

Kissing his forehead, he wheeled the crib toward the dining room. Ye Xi stayed in place.

Once the babies were settled beside the table, he made their milk and let them hold the bottles themselves. Ye Xi was still standing there when he finished setting the table.

Huo Rulan came up behind him, peering at his face. “What’s wrong?”

Ye Xi looked up, wrapped his arms around his waist, and murmured, “Huo Rulan…”

“I’m here,” he replied, holding him close and stroking his hair.

Ye Xi clung for a long moment before leading him to the table. Huo Rulan followed with a small smile.

After dinner, he bathed Chen’an and Jing Xing, fitting them with the baby swim rings he’d bought recently.

The little ones loved paddling in the warm water, necks supported by the rings, toothless mouths grinning wide. Their chubby hands and feet splashed happily, sometimes drifting together until their rings bumped and they laughed at each other, filling the bathroom with milky giggles.

Huo Rulan pulled over a small stool for himself and Ye Xi to sit side by side, watching their play. Ye Xi snapped a photo on his phone, capturing the moment.

Huo Rulan leaned in to look too, resting his head on Ye Xi’s shoulder while his eyes stayed on the phone in Ye Xi’s hand, but his lips secretly brushed against Ye Xi’s pale neck.

Ye Xi felt a ticklish sensation and turned his head to look at him. Huo Rulan met his gaze with an innocent expression.

After holding his eyes for a moment, Ye Xi turned back to continue looking at the photo. The corner of Huo Rulan’s mouth curled in a small, secret smile before he leaned against Ye Xi’s shoulder again.

After about ten minutes, Huo Rulan lifted the babies out of the water, preparing to move them to the baby bath to rinse them off.

But the little ones didn’t want to leave. The moment they were out of the tub, their mouths opened wide in protest, ready to cry.

Quickly, Huo Rulan set them into the warm bathwater, and just like that, the grumpy little faces turned into giggling ones again.

He sped up, washing them thoroughly, and by the time he lifted them from the bath, he saw their lips begin to tremble again. Hurrying, he wrapped them in towels, dried them off, and placed them in Ye Xi’s arms.

The moment they were in their little daddy’s embrace, their pouts turned into smiles, and they cooed softly, snuggling close.

Ye Xi, smiling happily, carried the babies back to the bedroom to dress them, while Huo Rulan — still in damp clothes — quickly tidied the bathroom before following.

As Ye Xi dressed the little ones, he turned to say, “Go take a shower, don’t catch a cold.”

Huo Rulan nodded in agreement, took his pajamas, and went into the bathroom.

Once he was inside, Ye Xi bent down again to finish dressing the babies. When they were done, he laid them on the bed with a dancing bunny toy in front of them.

Their little heads followed the moving bunny back and forth, toothless smiles beaming. “Mhm-hm~ mhm-hm~”

Before long, they hummed themselves to sleep. Huo Rulan chuckled, scooped them up, placed them gently in the crib, and tucked them in.

Then he turned and slid into bed, wrapping his arms around Ye Xi, who had just finished his own bath and smelled warm and fresh. Burying his face in Ye Xi’s neck, he took a deep breath. “You smell so good.”

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Hello guys, how’s everyone? Here is another chapter for the week