Silent and lonely world (Dark clouds before sunny weather - Book 1)

Chapter 26

Lan Wangji finished his morning meditation just in time for him to go prepare breakfast while Wei Ying would be helping the children to get ready for school. He got up and was surprised to notice the distinct smell of fried eggs. Could it be that his husband had gotten up earlier today and decided to make breakfast himself? But why did Lan Wangji not hear anything? Why had he not been woken up from his meditation by Wei Ying's sweet kiss on his lips? How come he did not notice when someone was cooking? He usually did.

He hurried to the kitchen to help if there was still something he could do. He however stopped in between the door, looking at the set table. Wei Ying was nowhere to be seen, there was no one in the kitchen. But the table was prepared differently than his husband would have done, there was something which Lan Wangji could not quite grasp, however, something was definitely not right. There were only four places even through today there should have been five.

And then he noticed quiet breathing in one corner, the same one that Mo Xuanyu had tried to stand in before the dinner yesterday. Suddenly, everything was clear. It must have been the boy who had cooked and was now waiting for the rest of them to wake up and eat. That was thoughtful of him really. But also something he should not be doing, not when he was still injured and so young he should not be touching the stove.

He turned towards the boy, winced a little seeing his hunched posture, and greeted: "Good morning, A-Yu. Did you sleep well?"

Mo Xuanyu looked startled for a second, his muscles tense, but he quickly recovered himself and nodded. That was good, Lan Wangji had been worried that the boy would not get a good sleep on the mattress, however, he would not force him to sleep on the bed if it should make him uncomfortable, they should discuss this and come up with a better option.

"Did you cook breakfast?"

That was not really the question Lan Wangji wanted to ask, however, he supposed he would have to go slowly. He did not want to frighten the boy by asking hard questions the first thing in the morning. Another nod of head was the only response he got. Well, this was not really getting them anywhere, was it?

Before he could ask anything else, he heard steps he knew only all too well behind him. Wei Ying came into the kitchen, only glanced at the table once and then went immediately to Mo Xuanyu. Lan Wangji saw how the boy flinched away when his husband tried to touch his head to pat it. This did not discourage Wei Ying it seemed as he still finished his movement, caressing the boy's head just as he scrunched down in front of him.

"A-Yu made the breakfast? Thank you, it smells amazing. But you do not have to make it here, only if you want to. I promise we will not be mad if you do not. It is not something children should do, until you grow up, you should have adults to take care of you." Wei Ying was smiling while saying those words but Lan Wangji could tell he was actually distressed.

And rightfully so, he realized. The thought that Mo Xuanyu had prepared the breakfast just because he had been probably doing it in his own house and not because he wanted to never even crossed his mind. He remembered how Mo Xuanyu had wanted to wash the dishes last night and he wondered what else was the boy made to do. He would not really be surprised at this point if he learned that Mo Xuanyu had been assigned all the house chores by his aunt and uncle.

At least now, after the initial shock and fear, the boy seemed more relaxed as he slowly nodded his head. If he truly understood all that Wei Ying was implying remained to be seen. Lan Wangji really wanted to know how Mo Xuanyu had been living until now so they would be able to address one distorted belief and habit after another and make sure the boy would be able to live his life as any other child.

Suddenly, the fact that there were only four plates prepared hit him again and he just had to ask: "Did you already eat?"

There was no reply from the boy, it almost looked like he did not think it was him to whom the question had been addressed.

Luckily, Wei Ying understood what Lan Wangji wanted to say immediately and he urged gently: "A-Yu, have you eaten yet?"

The boy shook his head and this time, he even replied verbally, his shoulders still hunched: "No, I always eat after my aunt, uncle and cousin are done."

Hearing those words, Lan Wangji's heart started hurting for the boy again. It was now clear that what Wei Ying had been fearing yesterday was indeed true. Mo Xuanyu did not eat with his family. Hopefully, he at least got to eat at all. Although from the looks of it, from his small build and very thin body, Lan Wangji was somehow doubting even that statement. He was shaken to his core.

Wei Ying seemed to have overcome the shock faster than him and patted the boy's head one last time before getting up and announcing cheerfully, no matter how forced it was: "Alright then, it is settled. From now on, you will eat all the meals together with us."

Mo Xuanyu's head shot up, apparently in surprise, and he looked at Wei Ying with disbelieving expression. Lan Wangji could tell that his husband was feeling extremely sorry for the boy and wanted to just hug him and never let go. Nothing like that happened however. He only ruffled Mo Xuanyu's hair again and went to the kitchen unit.

Everything from preparing the breakfast had been already tidied up but his husband did not seem to mind. He gathered all the supplies again and started preparing Mo Xuanyu's portion. Lan Wangji looked at the boy who remained standing on the spot, observing Wei Ying's every move with something akin to awe.

It was really too much, for both him and surely his husband as well. He was certain that Wei Ying needed a kiss and a hug right now. He turned to the boy and suggested: "A-Yu, why do you not go tell A-Yuan and A-Yi that breakfast is ready?"

Mo Xuanyu took a second to turn his head towards Lan Wangji, then he nodded and was already on his way to the living room. Lan Wangji watched him leave and saw how the boy run one of his hands over his face, it looked like he was wiping away tears. And Lan Wangji wanted to cry too.

He shook his head a bit to compose himself and went to his husband who was still busy cooking Mo Xuanyu's breakfast. He hugged him from behind and kissed his nape. Wei Ying looked over his shoulder and kissed him back, on his lips. He leaned more into Lan Wangji's body and his husband gladly welcomed him in his arms. They kissed one more time, then Wei Ying turned back to the stove and rolled the omelette.

Lan Wangji never let go of him as his husband whispered brokenly: "Lan Zhan, it is so awful."

He knew exactly what Wei Ying was talking about. The way Mo Xuanyu behaved, how scared and nervous he was all the time, how he was surprised and grateful even for the smallest of things, how unused to kindness he seemed. Yes, all of that was truly heart-breaking to look at. And it was only the first day the boy was staying with them. He dreaded what else they would find out. It truly was awful what had happened to him.

"Mn," Lan Wangji agreed and kissed Wei Ying's nape again. He only let go of his husband when he heard small feet running down the stairs.