Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan met 3 years ago at an anime convention, where Luo Binghe had a temp security job. Shen Yuan entranced him immediately, and he was more than eager to let this man put him in cosplay and draw him. Their lives have been deeply entwined ever since, but they only started officially dating (according to Shen Yuan) a few months ago. Luo Binghe has met all of Shen Yuan’s immediate family members at least once, even forming an independent friendship with his sister. However, working with Shen Yuan’s mom, one on one, cooking together for their darling A-Yuan’s birthday, feels far more intimidating than any previous interaction. Both Shen Yuan’s parents were okay with their relationship. They are open minded, somewhat odd, but thoroughly kind people. Even so, Luo Binghe is terrified of messing up. Shen Yuan is the most important person in the world to him, and he cares deeply for his family. If his mother doesn’t like Luo Binghe, what hope does their relationship even have!?!
Liang Mingyue is a very sweet woman, and it reflects in her culinary skills. She bakes as a hobby, but having started an extremely successful medical tech company very young, she has had private chefs cooking for her for almost 3 decades. Her husband, Shen Lei, is even more hopeless, eating out exclusively when not on catered movie sets. While he isn’t currently filming anything, he has been set with the task of keeping Shen Yuan out of the house and entertained until festivities are ready. Two of the three remaining Shen siblings are in the living room, taping up decorations like fanatics, the fourth currently delayed on the road with his toddler pitching a fit. Liang Mingyue is making the cake while Luo Binghe handles everything else. He would have taken over cake duties too, but he didn’t want to be impolite. Liang Mingyue is a competent baker. He can let go of this one little thing.
“Xiao-he,” Liang Mingyue calls him that because he rather comedically dwarfs her in height, “do you think I should use a Russian piping tip for the flowers or no?”
Luo Binghe’s gut curls in on itself. He drops the garlic confit he was processing immediately. Russian piping tips are notoriously hard for beginners, and he’s never seen Liang Mingyue use one before. But, they do make truly beautiful flowers— he knows because he’s frosted many a cupcake for Shen Yuan with one. “I— that is if I could— has auntie used a Russian tip before?”
Liang Mingyue stares at him a minute before she breaks down into a cackle. “Oh, this is killing you, isn’t it?”
Luo Binghe wants to die. He wants to crawl into a hole and rot away. Was he being that obvious? Was he making her uncomfortable? Did she hate him now?
Liang Mingyue has to get on her toes to reach his head, smoothing his bangs back. “Oh don’t look so dire, I’m not mad. It’s actually been very entertaining for me to watch you try and share.”
Liang Mingyue stops petting his head, instead going to clasp his hand. “You have every day of the year to bake Yuan’er all the elaborate cakes you want. While it puts this old woman’s heart at ease to know her son is so well cared for, this is my day to bake for him. It will be okay.”
Then, without warning, she reaches up and pipes a dollop of frosting onto Luo Binghe’s nose. He stares at her, frozen as she laughs and playfully slaps his arm. “Go finish up the garlic bread already, we don’t have all day!”
The frosting does come out a little messy, but the cake itself is still delicious. Luo Binghe holds his tongue through dinner, and Liang Mingyue gives him a knowing wink across the table. On the ride back to their apartment, Luo Binghe confesses, “Yuan-ge, I think your mother is trying to kill me.”
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