He was originally a chubby little dumpling, but suddenly he turned into a golden baby dragon. He was small, only about the size of a palm. Because he was still young, there was no imposing majesty of a dragon. The eyes were round, the body was rather short and fat, and his four small claws were not sharp. Everything was still very tender. His back had two scaled wings that fluttered when he moved, and his entire body was covered with small dragon scales.
Rather than a domineering dragon, he was more like a chibi version doll, so cute that one would want to scoop it up and secretly bring it home.
Wen Mingyu was a little surprised and even forgot to eat his soft mountain. He subconsciously looked at Mu Zhan. “Were you like this when you were little?”
Mu Zhan shook his head. “I don’t know.”
He had not seen himself fully transformed into a dragon when he was young. Perhaps he looked the same as Little Rice Cake, or perhaps not.
Wen Mingyu gazed at Mu Zhan’s face, his tone laced with regret. “If only I could have known you earlier. I bet you were really cute as a kid.”
But Mu Zhan replied, “I wasn’t cute.”
However, Wen Mingyu insisted he must have been. If this continued, it might turn into an elementary chicken repeater-style quarrel, so Mu Zhan wisely shut his mouth and didn’t argue anymore.
While they were talking, Little Chilli’s eyes rounded in shock at her brother’s sudden change, and she couldn’t help but reach out to grab him. However, she was originally at the edge of the table, so when she leaned forward, she naturally tumbled off.
Mu Zhan reached out in time to support her, but the snow-white furball rabbit was not scared at all, as if she were playing a game. In order to touch the little dragon baby, she rolled right out of Mu Zhan’s palm and onto the carpet, tumbling under the table.
Soon, she rolled out from under the table again, like she was hooked on this labor-saving and fun way of moving.
Just like how Little Rice Cake treated her, she also stretched out her paw and dragged the baby dragon off Mu Zhan’s leg and into her arms, hugging it like a plush doll. Her fluffy paws hugged so tightly it was like she was trying to squeeze the life out of the dragon.
The little dragon baby couldn’t use his wings yet, and when he couldn’t break free, he resorted to using his tail to smack this rabbit-dragon.
Maybe it was some kind of mysterious twin telepathy between the dragon and phoenix babies. Even though the children couldn’t speak yet, Little Chilli looked like she understood her brother’s meaning and decidedly relaxed her grip but still refused to let go.
The little dragon baby was no longer in discomfort. The one holding him was his sister, whom he spent every day and night with. She was so familiar to him. Thus, he loosened up, and his tail wagged leisurely. He even curled up very hard to coil it around the fur ball, trying to hug her back. But his body was too chubby and short, and his sister had a firm hold on him, so he couldn’t manage to wrap around the round ball of fluff.
He dropped the tip of his tail in defeat, and even his little wings sagged.
But he had no idea that the worst part wasn’t that he couldn’t snuggle the fluff. There was something much worse waiting for him.
Before the storm, it was always so quiet and calm that one would never imagine that behind the calm was a shocking wave.
Little Chilli suddenly roared with an “aowu!” at him, as if the wordREVENGEwas written large on her face.
In the next second, the snow-white furball hugged the little dragon baby and opened her mouth to bite her brother’s head.
Little Rice Cake was like a fish on the chopping board, flailing his tail twice in protest but unable to break free, wearing a look of utter despair.
In the end, it was Mu Zhan and Wen Mingyu, both amused and surprised, who rescued the little dragon baby from the rabbit-dragon’s mouth and educated the two of them that this was the brother, and this was the sister, neither toys nor food, and that they both need to memorize it well.
Although at their current age they probably wouldn’t understand, the adults still said it. They set a tone and would continue to teach them in the future.
Smiling, Wen Mingyu held the baby dragon in his palm and took a brocade handkerchief to help him wipe the drool on the little dragon’s horns carefully. Then, a little curious, he touched the soft small dragon scales and lightly pinched the little wings.
The little dragon baby immediately curled up like a baby seahorse that had been poked at an itchy spot.
Wen Mingyu looked at Little Rice Cake, and in his heart, he thought that Mu Zhan should have been very similar to Little Rice Cake when he was young. Just imagining it, as he touched the little wings, he felt as if he had traveled through time and space, and his hand also rested on the childhood version of Mu Zhan. The feeling was deeply satisfying.
Mu Zhan just looked at him in silence, his gaze deep and unreadable. He didn’t say anything.
At eight months old, the two little dumplings had already learnt to crawl.
After gaining this new skill, they could now move around a lot more. They crawled around everywhere in excitement, their small clothes sweeping the floors clean. They almost saved the palace servant from the trouble of cleaning.
In order to avoid them getting hurt while crawling, all sharp objects in Taiji Hall were put away, and all corners and edges had been carefully protected. They were allowed to crawl as much as they liked. After all, more physical activities on their development and health were beneficial.
But during this time, Mu Zhan’s mood had become quite unhappy.
After the two dumplings learnt to crawl, the degree of clinginess had reached a whole new level.
Previously, they could only lie in their crib, not yet able to move, just waiting for Wen Mingyu to come back from work to see them.
However, now that they can crawl, everything has changed. The dumplings didn’t need to wait for their daddy to come over, they could chase all over the floor by themselves. When Wen Mingyu moved, they also followed closely behind, like two sticky little tails, clinging to him wherever he went.
Even when Wen Mingyu went to the lavatory, they wouldn’t let him off. They insisted on waiting outside the door, their chubby small hands pawing at it, looking with bated breath. Every now and then they even howled softly twice, their two babyish voices rising and falling, as if they were two little zombies singing a duet, intending to drive the old father inside to madness.
Trying to wash his hands to such background music, Wen Mingyu found it difficult to concentrate, his expression becoming rather complicated.
Finally, he opened the door and picked up the two innocent and beaming little dumplings. With a sigh, he said, “Little ancestors.”
Daddy has bowed down to you all, so let Daddy settle his bathroom problems in peace, alright?
The little dumplings didn’t know what “little ancestors” meant, knowing only that their daddy was talking, so they flailed their arms and babbled back excitedly in response.
Little Rice Cake even leaned over and planted a smooch kiss on Wen Mingyu’s face, then gave a sugary smile that could practically melt a person’s heart. So young, and he already knew how to charm people. Whatever impatience Wen Mingyu had quickly vanished without a trace.
The dumplings were extremely good at pestering people, and it was difficult for Wen Mingyu to refuse.
Mu Zhan realized this matter more and more clearly and had a hateful desire to turn back the clock and go back to the days before they had kids so that the two of them could spend more days alone without the constant interruptions of their children.
But of course, that was impossible.
Therefore, Mu Zhan had unexpectedly started to enjoy dealing with state affairs. Outside Taiji Hall, without the two clingy dumplings around, he could do things, talk with Wen Mingyu, and even find an excuse to summon him in, just so they could have some time alone without any interruptions.
Today was the same.
Mu Zhan ordered Wen Mingyu over to help him draft an imperial edict.
Mu Zhan sat behind the table while Wen Mingyu sat on the other side, head down, diligently drafting the document. He finished quickly and precisely according to the requirements. Raising his head, he was about to ask what else he wanted him to do.
But what he saw was Mu Zhan staring straight at him, his gaze intense. In a low voice, he asked, “Finished writing?”
Wen Mingyu nodded. He reached out and pulled him over without warning. Wen Mingyu lost his balance and fell into a broad embrace, the familiar scent of wine filling the tip of his nose, making him feel a little light-headed as though he were slightly drunk.
Wen Mingyu lost his focus for a moment but immediately remembered that this was a place that was obviously not suitable for this.
He tilted his head and wanted to pull away, but Mu Zhan pressed harder against the small of his back, forcing him to fall right back into his embrace, his face buried into his arms, and their chest close to close. Actually, hugging like this was very comfortable; the warm touch of skin seemed to fill the void, making the weariness of both body and mind fade away, and he suddenly felt refreshed.
There was a feeling of recharging.
Wen Mingyu’s reasoning told him that he shouldn’t linger like this, but emotionally he didn’t want to move at all. After a brief tug-of-war, emotion narrowly won.
His chin rested on Mu Zhan’s shoulder, lazily sprawled against him, his voice soft and slightly muffled, carrying a hint of sweetness. “I like being hugged like this.”
Mu Zhan’s hand gently stroked his back, fingers curling around a lock of pitch-black hair and idly playing with it. At those words, he paused, a smile breaking out on his face, one that he couldn’t and didn’t want to hide. “I like it too, though not just hugging you.”
After saying this, he cupped Wen Mingyu’s chin and made him turn his face toward him, leaning down and kissing him. They had kissed countless times, but Mu Zhan never got tired of it at all. Each kiss felt different, like tasting a different flavor every time.
He gently sucked Wen Mingyu’s lips, his tongue gliding along the seam before slipping inside, invading with hunger and heat, sweeping every corner as if to leave nothing untouched. Then, after the intense rush came the tender licks, slow and delicate pecks, stretching that breathless, heart-thudding feeling into something long and lingering. The whole process of kissing was very comfortable, delighting the heart, the kind that made you want it to last forever.
But Wen Mingyu’s rationality was still intact, knowing that if he lingered for too long, he would easily attract suspicions. He was already starting to dread the thought of facing his colleagues after this. If they asked what he was doing there for so long, he honestly wouldn’t know what to say.
Thus, Wen Mingyu whispered, “We’ll kiss more at home.”
Mu Zhan frowned slightly but agreed with a grudging face.
When it was time to get off work, Mu Zhan and Wen Mingyu went on separate paths within the palace and met up again, riding together in the step carriage back to Taiji Hall.
Originally, Mu Zhan had wanted to go with him directly into the main hall, but just as they reached the entrance, a palace servant hurried over, looking flustered. “Your Highness, the prince and princess are crying terribly. This servant is useless and really can’t calm them down.”
Wen Mingyu then changed directions without hesitation and went to the side hall.
He walked in and made his way around the screen.
There, inside the crib, were the two little dumplings, their chubby hands clutching the bars, and their tiny feet tiptoering as they strained to peek out. Their big, dark eyes were brimming with tears, and glistening droplets kept falling down their cheeks. Sobbing, their crying little faces flushed red, looking absolutely pitiful.
Their short and soft black hair was a bit dishelved, with a little tuft sticking up at the top of their head. Their baby clothes were rumpled and askew, with the hem curled up slightly, revealing their fair, tender belly.
At the sight of Wen Mingyu, both pairs of eyes lit up at once. The dejected small faces finally showed a hint of a smile. Reaching out, they asked for a hug, but once they let go of the bars, their little lotus legs couldn’t support them up, and they softly toppled backward, falling on the pile of clothes.
Those clothes were what the palace servants used to calm them, clothes that belonged to Wen Mingyu and Mu Zhan. However, as they grow up, they become smarter and not so easily cheated. The clothes carried the scent of their daddy and father emperor, but they weren’t real people. The clothes wouldn’t hold or embrace them at all.
Thus, the palace servants were at a loss but also worried the little masters would cry themselves hoarse. Just as soon as they saw the Empress and Emperor come back, they hastily greeted them and reported the situation.
Wen Mingyu leaned over and carried out the two crying baby dumplings. Tears still clung to their eyelashes, but they both reached and dependably wrapped their arms around Wen Mingyu’s neck, burying their faces into his chest, finally stopping their crying.
Mu Zhan stood by the screen, lips pressed into a thin line, his face expressionless as he watched.
As soon as Wen Mingyu turned his head and saw him there, he subconsciously wanted to hand one of the little dumplings over to him. Although Little Chilli was still young and didn’t weigh much, holding two at the same time and being tightly wrapped around the neck was really a bit overwhelming.
Mu Zhan held out his hands and directly said, “Give both to me.”
Wen Mingyu was stunned for a moment. “But…”
Mu Zhan interrupted him, “Haven’t you been hungry since earlier? I will watch them. You have your meal first, and then you can take over.”
Taking turns like this, it actually made sense.
Wen Mingyu then nodded, but in his heart, he felt something was off. It felt like Mu Zhan was not in a good mood.
ChiFu: thank you for reading ~ I will try to consistently update !