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1
A year ago people knew him as the merciless, blood thirsty, invincible Ghost Valley leader, Wen Kexing. Ghost Valley was on the high and people were even frightened to hear the name. People ran just hearing the surname Wen. Wen Kexing had taken the throne at a young age after killing (and skinning) the previous leader. But people knew him more because of the way he punished the leader of the Five Lakes Alliance, the corrupt organization in the area. But that was a year ago, because right now, he is in the kitchen making an omelette for his husband’s lunch box.
“Oh, dear. Fin-!” He’s expecting to see his husband yawning and rubbing his eyes as he wakes up, but instead sees his husband already in his work attire ready to run.
“Ah, Lao-Wen, sorry, I need to head out to the station right away. There’s a missing child case. Amber alert. See you tonight if I can come home,” and just like that, Zhou Zishu kisses him on his lips and bolts out of the apartment.
It takes another five seconds to recover from the kiss, but then he sees the neat lunch box he’d prepared. “A’Xu! You forgot your lunch! Again!”
It's not a surprise when Wen Kexing arrives at the police station, since it's become so routine for him to drop by here and there, before and after his retirement. So when he gets stopped at the front desk, he frowns. “What?”
‘Must be a new guy then,’ he thinks.
“I’m sorry, may I know who you are and what your business is here?”
Wen Kexing gives the new guy his usual smile. “Well, I need to deliver this to Detective Zhou,” lifting the paper bag in his hand.
“We’ll need to check that out. And you haven't answered, who are you and what is your relation to Detective Zhou?”
Wen Kexing wants to roll his eyes, ‘So troublesome.’ He just wants to deliver his husband lunch because his husband needs it, since he ditched his breakfast. Just as he’s about to answer, a voice comes from behind him.
“Han Ying, let the man go. That’s Detective Zhou’s husband. You’ll see his face around, get used to it.” Wen Kexing smiles and waves to the owner of said voice before walking into the station.
“He looks suspicious, Senior Ye. Like some kind of underground mafia boss or something.” Ye Baiyi turns to Han Ying and laughs.
“Because he was,” he says calmly as he walks inside, leaving Han Ying with his mouth agape.
2
“Chengling!” He opens his son's bedroom door. As Chengling is in the puberty zone (also called 8th grade disease) his adoptive son is spending more and more time in his room, door closed.
“Dad, you can't just open my room like that. You should knock!” His son is with his phone, lying on the carpeted floor.
“I did knock but you didn't answer. Now get up, why are you lying on the floor.” But of course Chengling didn't budge; his friends had told him he shouldn't listen to his parents all the time.
“You know what. Daddy doesnt care. But if you get sick we’re just gonna throw you at the hospital and leave you there.”
“I'm not going to get sick just because I’m laying on the floor, Dad,” said Chengling, gaze remaining on his phone screen.
“Yeah, but you can get lots of bacteria or viruses, or cockroaches or anything with the amount of trash and dirty clothes in your room!” Yes, the reason Wen Kexing was in his son's room is because Chengling hasn't put his dirty clothes in the laundry bag in a week.
Chengling gets up topush his dad out of his room, “I’ll bring it to you when I want!” and closes his door hard and fast. Wen Kexing can only shake his head, and just right on time Zhou Zishu just leaves their room.
He raises his eyebrow, “Tantrum again?”
“Yes. Please take care of your son! And if he keeps doing that I will not be dealing with his laundry. He can wash his clothes himself!” Wen Kexing deliberately raises his voice so Chengling can hear.
“Come on Lao Wen, it's just a phase, let him be. We can talk to him at dinner, which, you should start making. Let me handle the laundry.”
Wen Kexing sighs, “You mean you're gonna console him and give in, right? You can't always be the good cop while I'm the bad one. Come on, A’Xu!” But Zishu just laughs, he knows how it will end so he just starts doing laundry, letting Wen Kexing handle dinner.
Just before they call Chengling for dinner, Kexing pleads with Zishu again, “Just don’t always say yes to him. I know it’s just a phase, but we should make sure he stays on the right track! Don't let this phase become the one that shapes his life.”
Zishu laughs, “Alright, alright. We can both talk to him about it and I swear I will not play the good cop tonight.” But as Zishu walks from the dining room to Chengling’s room he gets one last quip in.
“Anyway, come on Lao-Wen, you used to be a mafia gang leader, this was something you encountered daily! Don't let this teenager going through puberty defeat you!” He ducks the scallion Wen Kexing throws at him in response.
3
Wen Kexing, despite now being a full time househusband, is actually still very rich. His previous fortune bought their family a comfortable life. They can put Chengling in a prestigious middle school since the boy is actually quite smart. They also can send their oldest daughter A’Xiang to a boarding school so she can focus on getting into university. But Zishu is sometimes clueless, or more like just helpless.
One day, Zishu comes home bone tired. Kexing greets him right at the door, giving his husband a dazzling smile. He opens his arm wide.
“Welcome home, my love,” and Zishu goes right to hug him. Kexing pats him and talks with a soothing voice.“Come on, Let's get you cleaned up. I prepared a warm bath. You should relax.”
He pulls Zishu to the bathroom, already warm with a perfect minty scent, Zishu’s favorite. “You even lit the candles,” he says.
“You deserve a nice bath after a long day at work,” Wen Kexing says, smiling.
Zishu turns and places a simple peck onto his husband's lips, “Thank you. What would I do without you.”
“Well, for starters, you wouldn’t eat and eventually you’d die.” Zishu laughs as he gives Kexing another peck before shoving him out of the bathroom.
Thirty minutes later, Zishu emerges from the steamy bathroom. After changing into more comfortable clothes, he goes to the dining room since it's almost time for dinner. He expects his whole family to be at the table but he finds his husband sitting alone.
“Where are Chengling and A’Siang?” He sits in his chair and waits to start dinner.
“A’Xiang decided to postpone coming home, her school has an annual event with boy band as guest star or something. Chengling is at Beiyuan’s house playing, and is sleeping over there.”
Zishu hums and takes a look at the food. It's cute how Kexing divides meals into two types of cuisine, since Zishu loves spicy food and he himself cannot eat it. Also, since their children are away, Kexing has specially made Zishu’s favorite food. It's been a long time since it was only the two of them. And Zishu knows it’s Wen Kexing’s way to entertain him.
“What do you want to do after this? Sleep?” Kexing asks as he puts the used plates in the sink. Zishu always does the dishes, they established that long ago.
“What do you want to do? Netflix and chill?” Zishu says casually.
Wen Kexing smiles,“Sure, let me put our movie list.”
Instead of watching in the family room, Kexing makes their bed, lights some aromatic candles that Zishu had bought previously, and sets the temperature low before turning on the TV and opening Netflix. In times like this, after a hard day at work, Kexing knows what his husband needs the most. So here they are, Zishu curled up as the small spoon because it makes the older man feel safe.
“Thank you,” Zishu says in a whisper.
“Hey, I'm your husband, it's nothing,” Kexing says softly as he kisses his husband's temple.
4
A’Xiang will be back from her dorm this afternoon, so Kexing is determined to clean their house until it’s spotless and even make sure to cook A’Xiang favorite foods.
Zishu, on the other hand, is enjoying his free day on his phone, playing games. Chengling? Don't bother, he is in his own room.
“A’Xiang is coming home and you’re doing nothing for your daughter,” Kexing says easily as he vacuums in front of Zishu.
“It’s her home, why bother? Even if it's dirty or doesn't have her favorite foods she will always be back, Lao-Wen.”
Kexing stops, “Doesn't matter. She’s only back once every few months. We should be welcoming her!”
Zishu rolls his eyes, “What if A’Xiang is back and bringing boys, I don't even know what will happen to you,” and Kexing stops again.
“You know what. Your negative energy is too much here. You better go to Chengling's room. Just go hibernate or something there.”
Kexing skips to the door as he hears the doorbell ring. He knows A’Xiang has her own keys but still insists on using the bell because Kexing likes to open the door for his daughter. He opens it quickly
“Welcome home my…,” he trails off seeing that A’Xiang is not alone.
It's creepily silent. It's been a long time since Kexing has sat at the head of the table; he usually just sits beside Zishu across from their kids, but this time, he needs to show his ownership of the house. On his left Zishu smiles happily at A’Xiang. Chengling is in the back taking care of the drinks, while A’Xiang and her guest sit calmly, or is it nervously?
“So, Xiang-jiejie. Who is this good-looking man with you?” Chengling seems to not notice the sour aura of his other dad.
“What ‘good-looking’, stupid-looking suits him better,” Kexing mutters not so silently, making Zishu dig his fingers into Kexing’s thigh while A’Xiang kicks him under the table.
“Dad, Papa, this here is Cao Weining, my boyfriend,” says A-Xiang.
Cao Weining stands up and even bows twice, to Kexing and Zishu both, “Hello, I’m Weining, it’s nice to meet you.”
“I think I clearly remember sending you to school to study, not to get a boyfriend,” Kexing says.
“Yeah, and I clearly remember you were undercover to destroy that corrupt old man, not to find me a new stepdad,” A’Xiang retorts back.
Chengling laughs: his home is lively once more with the banter between his stepdad and his stepsister. He looks at Weining who looks a little bit lost,
“You should get used to it. It's normal here,” he says to Weining.
Weining just nods “I'm scared of A’Xiang’s dad,” he says truthfully. Chengling keeps laughing, until he turns to give Weining a deep glare.
“Well you should be, they are both capable of killing you and getting away with it if you even scratch Xiang-jiejie,” he says with a smile.
5
When Kexing first decided to become a househusband, it was not easy: That time he decided to retire for good, that day he promised to Zishu that Kexing would only be there to support him, and he wouldn’t go back. But years later, he is enjoying life leisurely on the sofa, watching afternoon soap operas on TV.
A’Xiang is taking her boyfriend on a stroll (Kexing still won’t accept they’re on a date), Chengling, obviously, is at school, and his very dear husband is at work. The afternoon time is quite pleasant for him. Kexing turns to look at the digital clock on the wall: A’Xiang should be picking up Chengling from school and they will head home soon. If Zishu can get home on time, they’ve plannedto eat out If not, well, Kexing has time to make a quick dinner. But when another show comes on the TV, Kexing feels weird because neither of his children have returned. And they didn't even call. Those kids!
Kexing is about to call his daughter when a call from an unknown number arrives.” He accepts it anyway.
“Who is this? he asks.
“Uncle Wen!” Ah, it’s that stupid boy.
“What?”
“Uncle Wen! A’Xiang and Chengling have been taken. I don't know by whom but they were wearing purple and black uniforms or something. It was so fast. They drove a big van. We are.. I’m near the ice cream shop,” Weining speaks in a rush.
“You stupid boy. You should have called A’Xu, not me. He’s the one that’s police,” Kexing says, while lazily changing into attire more suited to outdoor activity.
“But they shouted at me to tell you?” Kexing wants to slap Weining’s face.
“You come home and wait here. I'll take care of it,” and Kexing left driving his favorite car, the one that he rarely took out.
“Hey husband of mine, are you busy?” Kexing calls Zishu easily.
Zishu sighs, “What again? And why are you in the car? You're going somewhere with a car?”
“Oh yeah, those two children of ours got kidnapped again, and by that dirty scorpion. So, want a ride or will you meet us there?”
Another sigh comes again from Zishu, “You take care of it? I'll meet you there for clean up.”
“If it's that bodhisattva girl again, damn, why doesn't she just sell herself somewhere.”
“Yeah, I guess A’Xiang was just too kind to her,”
When Kexing arrived at the warehouse, he releases a deep sigh. Well, even though he is a househusband, he is still very much in shape. Kexing glances at the glovebox in his car; it’s been a long time since he opened that box. In the end he leaves it be, after all, it shouldn't take much to deal with the situation
When Kexing opened the warehouse door, he found Xie standing closeby, watching the battle between Gu Xiang and that evil bodhisattva.
“Hey, Xie’er. Long time no see,” Kexing greeted happily as he dodges a knife.
“You!”
“I know you feel helpless and bored since I retired, but come on, let my kids go to school peacefully,” throwing a quick punch at Xie’s stomach.
A few minutes of banter between them and Xie is on his back, Kexing’s foot on his right hand; A’Xiang has already knocked the girl unconscious.
“Dad, you are so late!” She chirps happily. “Can I kill her? She’s so annoying,” she adds.
Kexing laughs, “Your other dad is on the way, don't do it. You’ll make him do more work.” Xie is still struggling to get free.
“Come on Xie’er. You should just go suck your sugar daddy’s cock. Why are you still bothering me? Look, I'm just living a peaceful life with my husband and my kids. They just need to go to school. Why do you bother us? You want my area? Just take it. You want my route of the drugs? You have it already. Back then you said you wouldn’t bother me if I spared your daddy’s life, and I did it. If he spent time in jail, I’m sorry but that’s not my fault.”
“How could you!”
Kexing crouches down, “How could I what?”
“How could you just retire and be a lame househusband. You had everything. You had the entire Jianghu in your hand. You were invincible! Why bother to settle down!”
Kexing bends down to speak in Xie’s ear, “Because there is a time when you just become tired and want to be with your soulmate, your loved ones. Look, the more I love them, the more I know, I don't need violence to protect them. As long as they are safe, then it’s enough. Afterall, their happiness is the only thing that matters.”
He gives a final push on Xie’s hand before giving his daughter a side hug and walking away from the warehouse: Now it's his husband job to clean up the mess.
+1
A’Xiang needs to be back at her school on Sunday. And Kexing already imagine it would be their family outing, only the four of them. Weining is back at his own home, he needed to see his family too. And no, he didn't bring A’Xiang because she was not ready to meet his family.
“Lao-Wen,” Zishu called, as he brought Kexing’s morning coffee.
“Hm, yes?” It's bacon and egg day.
“We should go out today. It will be another long while until A’Xiang can come back again, and next year Chengling will enter highschool, too. So, I think we should really do something today.”
“Yeah, I think sotoo, I mean we can start with grocery shopping, then head to lunch, and then we can go shopping! I’d like to buy Chengling and A’Xiang some new clothes, or bags, or shoes, and then we can go dinner!” replies Kexing.
Zishu smiles, “All right. And today, you will be having fun too. I will be the one that drives and pays.”
Kexing beams, “Really? You’re gonna take out your wallet?”
Zishu pecks his husband lips, “I'm not that much of a cheapskate you know.”
“How about we staycation? I mean, it would be fun?” Kexing adding another idea.
Zishu pauses to think, “That’s good idea too. I mean, we can go to the hotel that connects with the mall.”
They end up booking the staycation,checking into one of best, grandest hotels near their home. Although indeed it needed more money than it should’ve, it was fun. They go to lunch at their favorite place, head to the mall, and both Kexing and Zishu let their children have fun. When Kexing said they didn't have a budget for the day, A’Xiang and Chengling went nuts.
“Can I buy a new phone?” Chengling asks.
“No, anything except a phone because it’s a waste of money since we just got you a phone.”
“Fine, but I will get new basketball shoes!” And Chengling goes straight to the sports shop. They let their children wander alone as they sit down at Starbucks.
“It's kinda fun,” remarks Zishu.
Kexing slurps his frappuccino,“Yeah, it's been a long time since I saw the kids having fun.” They can see A’Xiang's purple dress walking from shop to shop.
“And I see you’re also having fun,” Zishu says easily.
Kexing smiles and looks at his husband. He takes Zishu’s hand and makes the other look in his eyes, “You did this for me?”
Zishu laughs, “I called someone to take care of our home while we’re away, so when we get home, you won't need to do anything. You deserve a day off, my dear husband.”
Kexing beamed. He looked around before gives his husband a deep kiss.
Zishu giggles, “You are the best husband ever, Lao-Wen, thank you.”
Kexing kiss him again, “You are the best husband, too, A’Xu.”