Hard choice (Dark clouds before sunny weather - Book 2)

Chapter 3

After Lan Wangji and Wei Ying left A-Yi at his preschool and talked with his teachers – there would be an outing in which they had promised to take part as helpers. Well, before the whole situation with Mo Xuanyu arose. However, they had agreed that they would still go, and take also the two older of their boys with them, not only A-Yi. It could be like a nice family trip, just what Mo Xuanyu needed to forget about everything and ease up a little bit.

For a few days now, Lan Wangji could see that his husband was worried. And who would not be, this was a normal reaction he supposed. He too was horrified with discovery of Mo Xuanyu's living situation and wanted to help him. For Wei Ying though, this was something even stronger. He did not just want to help the boy overcome the abuse, he needed to do it. In the same way he needed to breathe.

He had seemed quite fine during the weekend, while they had still been waiting for news from Wen Qing about the living arrangements for Mo Xuanyu. He had even been overjoyed hearing they were accorded a temporary custody. However, from then on, it looked like Wei Ying had been on edge for some reason. He had been acting very nervous and worried during the car ride, and now was no different. He must have been thinking about what would happen to the boy once the authorities would get to pronounce their decision.

Lan Wangji could understand that. His husband was seeing himself in Mo Xuanyu. And in a way, Lan Wangji was seeing himself in Wei Ying now. He still vividly remembered how uneasy he had been when he had been told he could not do anything for his friend during those long-gone days.

That was why he was now adamant to support Wei Ying in helping Mo Xuanyu to the best of his abilities. He did not want his husband to suffer the same pain and heartbreak he had had so many years ago because of being unable to intervene and help.

As soon as the teachers from the preschool went to look after the children again, Lan Wangji stopped before stepping outside of the building. Wei Ying noticed and came back to stand by his side, Lan Wangji did not even have to say anything. His husband held his hand and looked at him with worry in his eyes.

"Lan Zhan, what is wrong?" he asked.

Leave it to Wei Ying to always know whenever Lan Wangji was not in his usual state of mind. It went both ways of course. And it was all good like this too. He needed to talk to his husband, this was as good an opportunity as any.

"Wei Ying, you are worried about A-Yu."

The statement was brief but his husband immediately understood what the topic of the conversation would be. It was only lucky that they were in an empty hallway so no one would see them. As Lan Wangji had expected, the smile he had previously maintained for the children fell and Wei Ying stepped closer to him. So close in fact that Lan Wangji could put one of his hands around his waist, a silent offer of support.

Wei Ying leaned a little into his touch and came even closer to him. This moment was just for them. Lan Wangji knew that his husband had these short periods of insecurity, he had them too, more frequently than he would like. Even if they had been parents for almost ten years now, there were still things that could surprise them. Meeting Mo Xuanyu and trying to help him was just one of them.

After all, their two sons came to them as babies. They had tragic stories behind them, but they did not remember them. The adoption had always happened because the children could not have been taken care of properly by their own parents.

A-Yuan already knew about everything, they told him when he had been nine. He took it in a stride and often went to visit his aunt Wen Qing in the school infirmary. With A-Yi, they were waiting some more, he was still a little young to fully understand that he had also other parents who could not take care of him.