Lan Wangji sleeps in an hour past his usual time. But it’s okay, because he has the day off, and it’s his birthday.
It’s nice, to open his eyes to see that the sun has already risen. He stretches languidly, before he even sits up. The sheets are still warm with Wei Wuxian’s scent, although his lover is curiously absent.
It’s especially curious, since Wei Wuxian also has the day off.
But Lan Wangji doesn’t have to wait long to figure out where Wei Wuxian could have gone. Just as he’s stifling a yawn, the door slides open, and Wei Wuxian and A-Yuan charge at him as one.
“Fuqin!” A-Yuan cries, at the same time Wei Wuxian says, “Lan Zhan!”
They both tackle him back to the bed, undoing his half-hearted attempt to sit up. But Lan Wangji can’t complain, when both his son and boyfriend are pressing kisses to his face.
They pull back, eerily in sync with one another. This effect is heightened by the fact that they are wearing the matching bunny rabbit footie pajamas Wen Ning recently bought them. They have the hoods pulled up, with the posable ears folded identically at the tips.
“Happy birthday!” They chorus at the same time.
“Happy birthday,” echos a quieter voice. Lan Wangji doesn’t have to look to know that Wen Ning is hovering awkwardly in the doorway.
Lan Wangji sits back up, and pulls A-Yuan and Wei Wuxian into a softer, less frenzied embrace. He plants kisses on both of their brows, and whispers against their skin, “Thank you. Thank you.”
“What are you thanking us for?” Wei Wuxian laughs, “We haven’t even given you your presents yet!”
“No presents until after cake,” A-Yuan reminds Wei Wuxian sternly. It was A-Yuan’s fifth birthday just last week, and he very clearly remembers them telling him the same thing.
That makes Lan Wangji laugh. “Right,” he says, and gives A-Yuan an affectionate pat on the head, “No presents until after cake.”
A-Yuan grins wide enough to showcase his very first missing tooth.
“Fine, fine,” Wei Wuxian says, “We’ll wait to open gifts. For now, let’s head to the dining table. I made my Lan Zhan a very special breakfast.”
“I helped!” A-Yuan chimes in.
At the threshold to the room, Wen Ning coughs into his fist. “I have to head into work,” he says, “but I’ll be back for dinner. I hope you have a nice birthday.”
Lan Wangji finally looks at Wen Ning.
The two of them share an odd dynamic. They live in the same apartment, and they’re dating the same man. They’re also connected through Wen Yuan, Wen Ning’s second cousin and Lan Wangji’s recently adopted son. Despite all the threads linking them together, they’re still getting to know one another.
“Thank you,” Lan Wangji says, sincerely.
“Ah, you’re already leaving?” Wei Wuxian scrambles off the bed and rushes to Wen Ning.
Lan Wangji almost wants to look away, but he doesn’t. He agreed to this unconventional arrangement. He won’t allow his jealousy to ruin Wei Wuxian’s happiness.
Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning hug. “Have a good day, A-Ning,” Wei Wuxian sing-songs.
“You, too,” Wen Ning replies. “Goodbye, A-Yuan. Be good.”
“Okay!” A-Yuan chirps merrily.
Wen Ning leaves, and Lan Wangji becomes the center of attention once more. A-Yuan pulls on the fabric of Lan Wangji’s shirt. “C’mon, Fuqin,” he says, “Get up! It’s breakfast time.”
“Okay,” Lan Wangji agrees. To be honest, he’s not entirely excited about breakfast. He’s always willing to eat whatever Wei Wuxian cooks, but that doesn’t mean that it’ll taste any good. Most of the time, if it’s not too spicy, it’s just plain overcooked. There’s a reason Wei Wuxian didn’t go into the culinary field like his siblings.
The three of them head to the table as a family. To Lan Wangji’s surprise, the food on the table is neither blood red nor burnt. In fact, it looks reassuringly bland.
“Tell me what you think,” Wei Wuxian says.
Lan Wangji sits down at his usual spot. There is a warm bowl of tofu pudding in front of him — one of his secret pleasure treats from childhood. It’s been paired with a mug of soybean milk and a plate of mixed greens. He takes an experimental taste of the pudding, and is shocked to find that it has been flavored with a light ginger syrup.
It tastes just like how his Muqin used to make it. Lan Wangji tears up involuntarily. But he never told Wei Wuxian about this.
“Did my Xiongzhang give you the recipe?” Lan Wangji guesses.
Wei Wuxian smiles sheepishly. “He did more than just give it to me,” he admits, “Lan Xichen gave me lessons. Multiple lessons. I told him not to give up until I made it perfectly.”
Lan Wangji can see the scene in his mind: Lan Xichen coaching an overexcited Wei Wuxian in the kitchen. Affection warms his heart. He loves this man so, so much.
A-Yuan is now digging into his own bowl with vigor.
“Thank you,” Lan Wangji says. He gets the sense that he will be repeating that phrase a lot today.
Wei Wuxian melts. “I’m so glad you like it. Now, eat up! I have many more surprises in store for you. You’re going to be the most spoiled man alive by the time I’m done with you.” His eyes twinkle with a dangerous level of mirth.
Lan Wangji sighs. But he knows he will love every last one of them. And then he says, “For now.”
“Yes, for now.” Lan Wangji meets Wei Wuxian’s shimmering silver eyes. “Until your next birthday. Then you will become the most spoiled.”
Wei Wuxian blinks. And then he laughs, delighted. “You’re on!”
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