Walking Through Open Doors

Chapter 14 - Family life

Author's Notes:

Thank you for waiting patiently for the last chapter! I hope you all enjoy it!

━━━━━━━

Zhou Cheng Ling is chattering loudly and happily about his first day back in school, so it catches them off guard when the helicopter swoops over the forest further up, heading away from the mountain. For several seconds, the only sound in the car is the increasing humming from the engine as Zhou Zi Shu unconsciously speeds up.

"Baaaaa~! Was that Wen Shu? Is he back?" Zhou Cheng Ling asks, plastered against the window and vibrating in his seat.

"I don't know, kiddo. It didn't look like the same helicopter," he responds, his voice a bit unsteady with a sudden rush of nerves. He doesn't want to get his hopes up. He could be wrong because that really isn't the same helicopter. Not that he knows anything about helicopters, but this one isn't even black.

Whilst he had spent a wonderful weekend in Chengdu, they had parted with a promise that they would soon meet up but without any firm plans. He's got the book tour coming up in just a few week's time and he really should focus on writing when he has time and inspiration. But he would be lying if he said that he hadn't spent last night looking up flights for him and Zhou Cheng Ling to go to Chengdu. He can pull the child out of school for a long weekend after the tour is finished, and it would be nice for them to spend some time in the city with Wen Ke Xing. Maybe even meet Gu Xiang and her fiancé, and-he really is getting ahead of himself.

A squeak brings him back to reality as the kid drops the phone in his hurry to take a video of the helicopter before it's too late. The boy scrambles on the floor and Zhou Zi Shu slows down to drive like a responsible father and not a crazy, lovesick teenager.

He still makes it up the mountain faster than usual. Even before he drives under the arch, he knows that Wen Ke Xing is there. It's like he can breathe in the sheer existence of him, the air fizzing and the estate made whole again.

And he's right. As soon as the car speeds into the courtyard, he can see Wen Ke Xing sitting on the steps outside the main entrance with nothing but that red slingback next to him. Seeing Wen Ke Xing there, waiting, smiling, takes his breath away.

"Ba?" Zhou Cheng Ling giggles next to him and he realizes that he's just stopped in the middle of the courtyard to stare like the idiot that he is. But having Wen Ke Xing there waiting when they get home just does something to his insides, as if they are on fire and melting into goo.

Before he can react, Zhou Cheng Ling is out the door, not even bothering to close it, shouting "Wen Shuuuuuu! I knew it was you when I saw the helicopter!" and zooms towards their surprise guest. Wen Ke Xing stands up, opens his arms and sways as the teenager crashes into him, clinging like a baby monkey.

He watches them for a moment before he takes a deep breath and shifts the gear into R to reverse park. He spots himself in the rearview mirror and can't help but laugh. He's got a goofy smile and literal hearts in his eyes and Jing Bei Yuan is going to tease him endlessly. Then again, he did the same when his friend met the love of his life back in Uni, and he has kept it up ever since. And looking at his two boys still hugging over by the stairs, he thinks that it will definitely be worth it.

He finds himself taking another deep breath before he gets out of the car. He's still nervous for some reason but the closer he walks to Wen Ke Xing, the happier he gets. It's been twenty four hours since they saw each other, but he's missed him so much and clearly so has Wen Ke Xing-because he's here!