Courtship Rite

Another Day in the Park

Meng Yao had expected, without thinking much about it, that his brother's home would be much like their father's – disgustingly ostentatious, far too large, and designed to intimidate. The modest two-story home he'd pulled up to was a far cry from what he'd envisioned. Meng Yao had told his security team to remain behind but was certain he'd been followed by at least two guards. He could imagine their disappointment at the house: neighboring homes too close for a security man's comfort, the short picket fence that could be easily stepped over, and the balconies on the second level, too narrow to sit out on but a perfect size for someone to stand on to break in. Thoughts of his security team vanished when Zixuan stepped out of the door, grinning widely. "You made it," he said as if his house was hard to find.

"I was pleased to receive your invitation."

Zixuan stood there as if not sure what to say, but Yanli joined him and broke the ice. "Invite him in." Her words were teasing, as if amused by her husband's awkwardness.

The entrance of the house repeated the color scheme of the exterior, all yellow, white, and beige, but the room she led them too mixed lilac curtains as well as photos of lakes and waterfalls to create a relaxing atmosphere. She poured tea and stepped in every time the conversation flagged, and so it wasn't until that evening, after he'd checked in with his assistant and learned the office was fine without him, that Meng Yao had time to wonder why Xichen had not only allowed him time to visit but had insisted on it.

"It's been six months, A-Yao," Xichen had said. "We haven't had a single emergency requiring your attention in all that time. You can take a week to visit your family."

It had been that insistence that had raised Meng Yao's concerns. Ever since Lan Wangji's wedding, he'd felt as if the ground were about to give way beneath his feet. Lan Qiren glared every time they met, and Xichen had seemed distant. Looking back, Meng Yao couldn't tell if that distance had always been part of their relationship or if he was only now noticing it. Whichever the case, it had left Meng Yao feeling uncertain, no more than that, unsafe.

The days with his brother's family fell into a relaxed pattern. Zixuan had been working at the hospital long enough that he'd been able to get a few days off. Meng Yao spent the rest of his time with Yanli. She'd offered to take him to see the sights, but he wasn't particularly interested and he could see how much taking care of A-Ling drained her. It was no trouble to stay at home and relax in his family's warm embrace. Even though he knew it gave her a break, he still felt humbled and grateful when she let him hold A-Ling. During their chats, she filled him in on her and Zixuan's long-term plans. They were hoping for two more children. Above and beyond what they wanted for their family, they each had their own expectations. Zixuan planned to start his own practice. While that would, at first, leave him little time to help with the family, it would give Yanli time to improve her cooking skills. Meng Yao had goggled when she'd told him that; the meals she'd prepared were among the best he'd ever had. Once the children were old enough to be in school during the day, she planned to apply to a culinary school and then, using her business degree, open her own restaurant.

"That's quite ambitious," Meng Yao said hesitantly, "but it sounds overwhelming."

Yanli laughed. "We are planning to hire a nanny. I would have done so already, but I don't want to miss a second of my time with A-Ling while he's still so young."

Meng Yao made a mental note to vet whomever Yanli selected to watch her children.

"My mother already has four candidates in mind."

Meng Yao imagined himself bowing before Yanli's mother to thank her for protecting his nephew, but instead smiled to hide his thoughts. Yanli and Zixuan's life together seemed as beautiful as a flower but also as easily crushed. However, anyone the founder of Spider Securities selected to nanny her grandchild would also be a most excellent guard. Aside from concerns about Yanli wearing herself out and A-Ling's safety, the visit had been going so well that Meng Yao was caught by surprise when he found Yanli crying.