At six the next morning, Huo Rulan woke intending to pull the covers over Ye Xi, only to find he was already awake — just still drowsily lingering in bed.
Glancing at the crib, he saw the babies were still asleep, so he didn’t rush to get up. Instead, he lay there propped on one hand, smiling faintly as he watched Ye Xi’s little “I-don’t-want-to-get-up” movements.
Ye Xi stretched both hands out from under the blanket, opening and closing them on the covers. His eyes were barely open as he sluggishly tried to sit up… but failed and collapsed back down in defeat.
Watching from the side, Huo Rulan nearly couldn’t hold back a laugh. How could someone be such a little fool — even the way he lazed in bed was cute.
Just as he thought Ye Xi had drifted off again, Ye Xi rolled onto his stomach, rump sticking up, face turned toward Huo Rulan, eyes still shut.
Finding it amusing, Huo Rulan reached over and brushed his long lashes twice.
Ye Xi felt the tickle, frowned slightly, and caught his hand, his voice soft, sticky, and a little husky. “Huo Rulan…”
“Mhm, I’m here.”
Ye Xi wriggled over into his arms, resting on his chest, listening to his heartbeat and feeling his breath, lying quietly against him.
Huo Rulan held him, closing his eyes and savoring the warmth of the moment.
It wasn’t until the crib rustled and the babies began cooing in milky little voices, waving their tiny hands in the air as if to announce they were awake, that Ye Xi stirred.
He crawled toward the bed’s edge to get up, but Huo Rulan held his waist, shifted him over, dressed him, put on his shoes, and patted his back. “Go wash up. I’ll make their formula.”
“If you’re feeding them, I’ll make breakfast,” Ye Xi said, returning the embrace and patting his back.
“I’ll make the formula and breakfast. You just sit and wait.” Huo Rulan ruffled his hair with a chuckle.
Nodding, Ye Xi brushed his cheek against Huo Rulan’s neck, then went to wash up — greeting the babies on the way past their crib.
Watching him interact with them, Huo Rulan smiled, then came over with two bottles and sat on the sofa, feeding them himself.
The soft, tiny babies leaned against him, sipping their bottles while staring up at their big daddy.
He smoothed a plump cheek. “And what’s this look for?”
“Mmm~” The babies couldn’t speak, only coo and kick their chubby legs adorably.
“Alright, drink up so you grow tall and strong.” After telling Ye Xi, he carried them downstairs, placed them in the crib outside the kitchen, and began breakfast — first making milk for the warmer, then starting Ye Xi’s favorite lean-meat congee.
When Ye Xi came down, he kissed the babies, went into the kitchen to hug Huo Rulan, and took over cooking.
“I’ll do it. Go wash up and change — you have work after breakfast.”
With no room to argue, Huo Rulan was pushed aside and had his ladle taken.
Standing there amused, he stepped up to hug Ye Xi from behind, resting his chin on his head. “You’re bossy.”
Ye Xi laughed, sprinkling a little salt into the pot. “Oh? I’m bossy now? Forget last night already?”
Admittedly in the wrong, Huo Rulan only rubbed his head against Ye Xi’s hair and buried his face in his neck, silent.
Only after lingering a while longer did he go upstairs.
When he returned, Ye Xi was already at the table with a bowl of congee, the babies playing nearby after finishing their bottles.
Bending over, Huo Rulan kissed his lips. “Good morning kiss.”
Flushing, Ye Xi pushed lightly at him. “The babies are watching.”
Glancing at the two wide-eyed “light bulbs” beside them, Huo Rulan seemed to want to say something but held it in, quietly taking the seat next to Ye Xi.
As they ate, he spoke in a plaintive tone. “It’s fine if I don’t get a morning kiss today…”
Ye Xi froze mid-bite, slowly raised his head, and turned toward him. “…Did I just kiss the air, then?”
Huo Rulan stayed silent, lowering his head to eat, exuding disappointment.
“…Fine, fine,” Ye Xi said at last, tugging his sleeve. “I’ll kiss you later. Eat first.”
Huo Rulan held up two fingers.
“Alright, alright, two kisses.”
He shook his head, eyes locked on Ye Xi. “Two minutes.”
Ye Xi’s face went crimson. Seeing Huo Rulan turn away again, looking downcast, he gave in, ears burning. “Fine. Eat your breakfast.”
In an instant, Huo Rulan’s gloom vanished, his face lighting up. “Okay~”
Ye Xi looked at him for a long moment before muttering, “You should cut back on tea.”
Of course Huo Rulan understood the double meaning, but he only smiled faintly and feigned ignorance. “Sure, I’ll drink less tea.”
It wasn’t long before the “lying old man” had him pinned against the wall beside the closed door, kissing him deeply for several minutes.
When he finally let go, he said apologetically, “Sorry, baby. Your lips are too soft, I couldn’t help it…”
“Enough! You’ll be late for work. Go!” Ye Xi, ignoring his swollen lips, hurried to cut him off before he could say something even more shameless.
Laughing, Huo Rulan stole one last peck before picking up his files and heading for the door, where the driver was waiting. “I’m off.”
Ye Xi stood in the doorway, waving. “Go on, and remember, less tea at work too.”
Huo Rulan’s smile widened. “Got it. I’ll drink less tea at work.”
After seeing him off, Ye Xi closed the door, scooped up the babies, and planted two kisses on them, prompting giggles and an enthusiastic “kiss attack” of drooly baby mouths on his face.
“This sticky love…” Ye Xi said helplessly.
Carrying the two little “gas tanks” upstairs, Ye Xi set them on the big bed to lie on their tummies and placed their favorite dancing bunny toy in front of them.
The two babies lifted their heads, big eyes tracking the bunny’s movement, cooing in soft baby voices.
Ye Xi sat beside them, glasses on, attending class while keeping an eye on the little ones, the curve of his smile never fading.
***
Close to noon, he heard a noise downstairs. He perked up, listening closely, and his eyes lit up instantly.
It was his Huo Rulan!!
Moving quietly, he got up to tuck the blankets over the sleeping babies in the crib, then tiptoed out of the room and downstairs.
In just a few quick steps, he dashed over and threw himself into the arms of the just-returned Huo Rulan, tilting his head up, bright eyes looking at him as he naturally, sweetly whined, “Why are you back? I thought you wouldn’t be home until tonight.”
Huo Rulan still had a cake and a bouquet in hand, unable to hug him properly.
Letting Ye Xi cling to him, he walked, “tail” trailing behind, into the living room to set the items down before wrapping him in his arms.
He kissed Ye Xi’s forehead. “From now on, I’ll be home for lunch every day, and I’ll get off work earlier in the afternoons too.”
Ye Xi was overjoyed, circling around him. “Really?”
Infected by his smile, Huo Rulan pulled him into his arms. “Really. Three meals a day, all with you.”
Leaning in his embrace, Ye Xi giggled, rubbing his cheek against Huo Rulan’s chest.
Huo Rulan squeezed his hand. “Chen’an and Jing Xing are asleep?”
“They’ve been asleep for quite a while, they should wake up soon.” Ye Xi tightened his fingers with his, their rings clinking softly together.
“It’s fine, I’ll check on them later.” He handed Ye Xi the bouquet. “I bought flowers, do you like them?”
Hugging the large bunch of roses, Ye Xi tilted his head up to kiss the corner of his lips. “I love them. Thank you, darling.”
When he tried to lower his head to admire the roses, Huo Rulan caught his chin and tilted it up.
His gaze deepened, a hint of something else in his eyes. “I didn’t quite catch that, what did you say?”
“I love them,” Ye Xi repeated.
“And the part after that? Why didn’t you say it again?”
Avoiding his eyes, Ye Xi fidgeted, but the hand on his chin slid up to cup his cheek.
Lowering his head, Huo Rulan looked straight into his eyes from close range. “Why so quiet?”
Ye Xi’s lashes trembled. He lowered them, voice soft. “…Darling.”
“Mhm.”
The rest of his words were swallowed between their lips as Huo Rulan pressed him down onto the sofa, his breath and scent surrounding Ye Xi completely.
The hem of his shirt was lifted, and a warm, broad hand slid along his waist, squeezing here and there until Ye Xi grabbed it. “Don’t pinch me…”
“Call me that again, and I’ll stop,” Huo Rulan murmured into his neck, his nose brushing against Ye Xi’s skin, a hidden smile in his voice.
Helpless against the teasing, Ye Xi gave in. “…Darling.”
“Little fool, I lied to you…” Huo Rulan’s amused voice came as his grip only tightened.
“Mmn… Huo Rulan…”
That soft, sweet voice pitched into a different tone by the end.
I’ll try to update again next week, for now I’ll be vanishing again for work. Please vote on NU or comment if you like the story, I really like reading comments about the story.
Ahhhh my heart. This is so cute I just love all this