The Jingshi was quiet.
Only the soft melody of a guqin drifted through the dimly lit room, blending with the gentle rustling of bamboo leaves outside.
Lan Wangji sat near the window, his long fingers moving gracefully across the strings. The warm glow of candlelight illuminated his handsome features, casting soft shadows across the room.
He was waiting.
Earlier that evening, Wei Wuxian had left with the juniors for a night hunt. According to him, it was an educational trip.
According to Lan Wangji, it was Wei Wuxian teaching the younger generation how to turn a simple night hunt into an adventure.
Before leaving, Wei Wuxian had kissed both his husband and his son, laughing as he reminded them not to wait up for him.
"Lan Zhan, sleep early."
Then he had turned to Lan Bing.
"And you too, little one. Don't stay awake waiting for me."
Naturally, neither of them listened.
Lan Bing had stubbornly insisted he would wait for his father to return.
The determination lasted less than half an hour.
Now the little boy was fast asleep beside Lan Wangji, one small hand clutching a corner of his father's sleeve.
Lan Wangji lowered his gaze toward his son.
The child slept peacefully.
Just like Wei Wuxian had when he was truly exhausted.
A faint warmth appeared in Lan Wangji's eyes.
The night deepened.
One hour passed.
Then another.
Then a third.
The moon had already climbed high into the sky.
Lan Wangji finally assumed Wei Wuxian would not return until dawn, as he occasionally did after particularly troublesome hunts.
He rose from his seat and walked toward the door.
Opening it, he stood quietly beneath the moonlight.
The mountain paths were empty.
Only the distant sound of wind answered him.
After a moment, he closed the door once more.
The candles were extinguished one by one until darkness settled over the room.
Lan Wangji returned to the bed and lay beside his son.
Soon, silence filled the Jingshi.
Then—
Crack.
The sound of the door opening echoed softly.
A familiar presence entered.
Light footsteps approached the bed.
Lan Wangji remained still.
A moment later, a freezing hand slipped beneath his robe.
"Lan Zhan!"
The cheerful whisper was accompanied by a shiver.
Lan Wangji immediately recognized the culprit.
"Get inside the blanket."
Wei Wuxian practically dove beneath the covers.
"Hanguang-jun, I'm freezing."
Lan Wangji pulled the quilt around him securely.
"Warm me up."
Without a word, Lan Wangji wrapped an arm around him.
Only then did Wei Wuxian finally stop shivering.
"Hm. Much better."
A few moments later, he noticed the small figure sleeping beside Lan Wangji.
His expression softened instantly.
"Our little young master is here?"
Lan Wangji nodded.
"He fell asleep waiting for you."
Wei Wuxian's heart melted.
He carefully brushed a strand of hair from Lan Bing's forehead.
The little boy stirred slightly but remained asleep.
"He was supposed to sleep in his own room."
Lan Wangji remained silent.
Wei Wuxian immediately narrowed his eyes.
"You spoiled him again, didn't you?"
No answer.
Which was answer enough.
Lan Wangji gently smoothed Wei Wuxian's hair.
The familiar gesture instantly eased the exhaustion lingering in Wei Wuxian's body.
"You must be tired," Lan Wangji said quietly.
"Sleep."
Wei Wuxian rested his head against his husband's shoulder.
For once, he obeyed.
But only for a few breaths.
Then his mischievous nature returned.
"Hanguang-jun."
"Hm."
"Were you waiting for me?"
"No."
Wei Wuxian immediately grinned.
"Oh?"
"I was about to sleep."
Wei Wuxian laughed softly.
Even after all these years, Lan Wangji remained terrible at lying to him.
"Is that so?" Wei Wuxian drawled. "What about our everyday activi...."
His words were cut short.
Lan Wangji swiftly closed the distance between them, leaving Wei Wuxian momentarily speechless.
For a heartbeat, the room fell silent.
One moment Wei Wuxian was teasing; the next, he was lying beneath his husband, blinking in surprise before breaking into an excited soft grin.
"Lan Zhan, you're bullying me again."
Despite his complaint, he looked far too pleased about it.
Lan Wangji's expression remained as calm as ever, his features as flawless as carved jade.
Only the faint pink tint creeping across his ears betrayed him.
He did not offer a single word of defense.
Nor did he attempt to deny Wei Wuxian's teasing accusations.
Instead, he simply looked at him.
Then, before Wei Wuxian could continue laughing, Lan Wangji wrapped an arm firmly around his waist.
The next moment, the world tilted.
"Lan Zhan—!"
Wei Wuxian's surprised laughter echoed through the room as both of them tumbled from the bed.
Fortunately, the thick quilt had become tangled around them during their playful struggle. It followed them to the floor, cushioning their fall and turning what could have been a disaster into nothing more than harmless chaos.
Even in the middle of the fall, Lan Wangji's first instinct remained the same.
Protect Wei Wuxian.
One hand tightened around his waist.
The other carefully cradled the back of Wei Wuxian's head, shielding him from the floor entirely.
As a result, Wei Wuxian landed comfortably against his husband without suffering so much as a bump.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then Wei Wuxian burst into laughter.
"Lan Zhan!"
His eyes sparkled with amusement.
"You've become even more unreasonable."
Lan Wangji said nothing.
The pink on his ears deepened slightly.
Wei Wuxian immediately laughed harder.
The two of them remained wrapped together inside the quilt, looking far less like the revered Hanguang-jun and the feared Yiling Patriarch and far more like two people completely at ease with one another.
Eventually, they returned to bed.
Wei Wuxian naturally claimed the space between his husband and their sleeping son.
Lan Wangji pulled the blanket over all three of them.
The warmth of the blanket surrounded them.
Between them slept the little boy they both cherished more than life itself.
Outside, the moon watched over the peaceful Cloud Recesses.
And inside the Jingshi, husband, wife, and son finally settled into a quiet and comfortable sleep beneath the same blanket.
Home.
Held safely within Hanguang-jun's embrace and surrounded by the people he loved most, Wei Wuxian could think of no better word for it.
There was no better word for it.
---
The next morning.
As always, the Cloud Recesses awakened before sunrise.
At exactly five o'clock, Lan Wangji opened his eyes.
Beside him, another pair of eyes blinked open.
Lan Bing.
Father and son exchanged glances.
Neither appeared surprised.
This happened often.
Meanwhile, the third member of their family remained completely motionless.
Wei Wuxian slept peacefully beneath the blanket, showing absolutely no intention of waking up.
Lan Bing carefully sat up.
His gaze landed on his sleeping father.
A smile immediately appeared on the little boy's face.
Leaning down, he placed a soft kiss upon Wei Wuxian's forehead.
"Good morning, Dad."
There was no response.
Only a sleepy mumble.
Lan Bing giggled quietly.
Then he climbed off the bed and followed after Lan Wangji with his short legs.
The scene was strangely adorable.
A tall, elegant Hanguang-jun walking calmly through the Jingshi.
Behind him waddled a miniature version.
Both dressed in white.
Both wearing forehead ribbons.
Both carrying the exact same expression.
If Wei Wuxian had been awake, he would have immediately declared the sight unfairly cute.
As Lan Wangji helped his son prepare for the day, Lan Bing suddenly tilted his head.
"Daddy?"
"Hm."
"Why does Dad always sleep and never wake up on time?"
Lan Wangji paused.
For a brief moment.
Then he continued adjusting his son's robes.
"Because Dad is tired."
Lan Bing accepted the answer.
At first.
A few moments later, however, his small brows furrowed.
The little boy entered deep contemplation.
Lan Wangji immediately recognized the expression.
It was the same look Wei Wuxian wore whenever he was about to create trouble.
After several moments of serious thinking, Lan Bing finally spoke again.
"Daddy..."
"Hm."
"Is night hunting very tiring?"
Lan Wangji remained silent.
The child continued thoughtfully.
"Because Dad always comes back from night hunts and then sleeps for a very long time."
"..."
"Is that why he's always tired?"
For once, Hanguang-jun found himself without an answer.
Lan Wangji calmly stood up.
"Lan Bing."
"Yes, Daddy?"
"No more questions."
The little boy blinked.
"Why?"
"Go wash up."
"...Okay."
"And bring your book."
"Okay."
Lan Bing obediently nodded.
Then, standing on the tips of his toes, he planted a quick kiss on Lan Wangji's cheek.
"Thank you, Daddy."
Before Lan Wangji could respond, the little boy happily trotted out of the room.
His forehead ribbon bounced behind him.
Lan Wangji watched his son's retreating figure.
A faint smile appeared upon his lips.
At that moment, a sleepy voice drifted from the bed.
"Lan Zhan..."
Lan Wangji turned.
Wei Wuxian remained buried beneath the blanket.
Only a messy head of black hair was visible.
"...five more hours..."
Lan Wangji's smile deepened almost imperceptibly.
Outside, the Cloud Recesses welcomed another peaceful morning.
Inside the Jingshi, however, one father was already studying.
One father was still sleeping.
And one little Lan was unknowingly trying to solve the greatest mystery of his young life.
Why exactly was his Dad always so tired?
----