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Pregnancy thus far has not been easy for Wei Ying.

Jiang Yanli’s experience had been much milder. Wei Ying knows this because he spent a great deal of time visiting with Jiang Yanli during her pregnancy over summer break last year. He would bring over her favorite snacks and treats and whatever unusual things she was craving, and they would curl up on the sofa watching movies together. He would let her cry on his shoulder when her hormones were running wild and she was feeling insecure. When he wasn’t visiting with her, he was often calling her to check in and make sure Jin Zixuan, the peacock, was taking care of her properly.

Aside from the cravings and the occasional emotional rollercoaster, Jiang Yanli’s pregnancy had been free from any major complications, and after nine months, she had delivered a beautiful, healthy baby boy. When Jiang Yanli had passed Jin Ling to Wei Ying, a warm smile in her eyes, and he had held her baby in his arms, he had burst into tears in the middle of the hospital room. 

“He’s so beautiful, jiejie,” he had sniffled, smiling through happy tears as baby Jin Ling gurgled in his arms. “Just like his mama.”

But for Wei Ying, pregnancy had come on with a bout of terrible sickness. He had been exhausted for days, barely able to stay awake or focus on his schoolwork, and his stomach had been incredibly sensitive. His appetite was virtually nonexistent, and even the thought of food was enough to turn his stomach. 

Wei Ying has a habit of fighting back any sicknesses he experiences through sheer force of will, so he endured the nausea for several days, curled up miserably by the toilet each morning, clammy and heaving. 

Lan Zhan noticed the change almost immediately. 

“You are tired,” he gently observed, as they sat together in the university courtyard, Wei Ying curled up beside him in his oversized jacket, fighting to keep his eyes open.

Wei Ying knows that Lan Zhan can feel his exhaustion through their bond. As tired and worn out as he feels, he certainly can’t hide something like this from his alpha. Lan Zhan has been gazing at him with concern for days now, patiently offering him food during lunch and looking after him when he becomes distracted or begins to doze off in class.

“I think I have food poisoning,” he whimpered, miserably tucking Lan Zhan’s jacket even closer around himself.

For a moment, Lan Zhan was quiet, as though something was on his mind. 

“Have you been sick?” he asked, carefully. 

Wei Ying silently nodded, tucking himself closer to Lan Zhan’s side. 

Lan Zhan was very still for a moment. And then he set aside his notebook and turned to face Wei Ying. 

For whatever reason, Wei Ying suddenly felt quite shy under his attention. He shifted his gaze to the ground, unable to look Lan Zhan in the eye. 

“How many days?” Lan Zhan gently asked him.

Wei Ying swallowed, anxiously fidgeting with the collar of his jacket. 

“Five days,” he quietly confessed.

Wei Ying knew what it meant to be sick like this. 

He knew what it meant, and he also knew exactly how long it had been since he and Lan Zhan had claimed each other as mates. 

The timeline and symptoms all carried one implication. 

“When have you been sick?” Lan Zhan asked him, his voice incredibly soft. “In the mornings, or during the day?”

Lan Zhan is always so attentive, so gentle and patient. He’s been this way as long as Wei Ying has known him, even before they bonded just a month ago. 

Wei Ying loves him so much. 

“The mornings,” Wei Ying whispered, curling the jacket closer around himself, and flicking his gaze up to meet Lan Zhan’s. 

Lan Zhan’s lips part at Wei Ying’s words. His eyes are soft with emotion.

Wei Ying can feel a curl of warmth in his heart, Lan Zhan’s presence with him, always, soothing the bubbling excitement and nerves he’s been fighting to contain.

Their mating had been impulsive. After a whirlwind of misunderstandings throughout the school year, they had finally come to understand each other’s feelings, and in a rush of excitement, had promptly sworn themselves to each other under a willow tree on the school grounds. 

They had talked about this, about having a baby, about the very real possibility of it. They had both wanted it. Wei Ying can feel in his heart, in their bond, that they both still do. And while university isn’t the ideal time to start a family, they will be graduating and taking the next steps to begin their life together in little over a month. 

It’s still so early, and he has only been sick for a week. Wei Ying knows it’s too early to tell for sure. He knows these things can be sensitive, that anything can happen and that pregnancies for male omegas often carry a high risk. 

But there is an image in his mind, a sun-drenched and comforting vision of him and Lan Zhan, and their future life together, the home they will share. It fills him with warmth, just like the hazy memories he has of his own parents.

It’s only missing a little one. 

He bites his lip to hold back a smile, and Lan Zhan reaches out and wraps his arms around him, tugging him into his lap and holding him close. 

“My Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan whispers softly, and kisses his forehead. 

Wei Ying closes his eyes and winds his arms around Lan Zhan’s waist, falling forward and nuzzling into his alpha’s chest. 

Curled up under his alpha’s jacket with his steady heartbeat under his ear, a warm hand stroking his hair, and a little seed of life blooming inside him, he has never felt more loved and safe.

—

After their conversation, Lan Zhan discreetly purchases three different types of at-home pregnancy tests for Wei Ying.

The results come back positive, positive, positive. 

Huddled together in an alcove on campus, Wei Ying tells Lan Zhan the news.

“Positive…?” Lan Zhan whispers. His light colored eyes are shining with emotion, and his hand, which has settled itself on Wei Ying’s bare thigh, squeezes ever so slightly. “All three tests?”

“All three,” Wei Ying confirms with a giddy smile, squirming closer as he feels the warmth of his alpha’s joy through their bond. “Lan Zhan, you’re going to be a father.”

Lan Zhan squeezes his thigh harder at that.

Encouraged, Wei Ying continues on with his train of thought. “We still need confirmation from a doctor, of course. It will be a few more weeks until we can get a sonogram. But Lan Zhan, all three tests were positive! That has to mean something!”

“I will take you,” Lan Zhan declares. “As soon as we can.”

Wei Ying beams at him. 

Lan Zhan parts his lips, watching him as though he’s entranced. His hand flexes on Wei Ying’s thigh. 

Giddy warmth bubbles up inside Wei Ying.

“What is it, gege?” he whispers. “What’s on your mind?”

Lan Zhan swallows. His long eyelashes are lowered demurely, where his gaze has dropped to his hand on Wei Ying’s thigh, and his ears are flushed pink. 

“On the first try…” he murmurs, softly under his breath, like he can’t quite believe what has happened. “Wei Ying, you are so sensitive.”

Wei Ying bursts into laughter.

“Lan Zhaaan, it’s not all my fault!” he whines, feeling his cheeks heat up and lowering his voice to a more discrete, excited whisper. “After what happened that day, I wouldn’t be surprised if we had twins!!”

—

As promised, Lan Zhan brings Wei Ying to the hospital for an ultrasound. He drives him there using his uncle’s fancy car, and insists on paying for everything.

The ultrasound technician is a kindly older woman who is very gentle with Wei Ying.

“Take a look here on the monitor. Do you see this part?” she asks, pointing to a corner of the screen.  

Wei Ying squints at the screen. “What is that?”

“Do you see this one here? And another one here?”

Wei Ying goes still. 

“Another one…?”

She smiles at him gently. 

“You are having two babies, sweetheart.”

Wei Ying stares at her, and then back at the monitor. The two little heartbeats that he is carrying inside. 

“Twins…?” he asks, weakly.

“Identical twins, from the look of it,” she informs him. “We will bring in a doctor to confirm.”

Wei Ying turns to Lan Zhan, with wide eyes.

Lan Zhan looks absolutely dumbstruck, his lips parted and his gaze drifting between Wei Ying and the monitor. 

“Wei Ying…”

“Lan Zhan, it’s actually twins,” Wei Ying whispers, and squeezes Lan Zhan’s hand.

Lan Zhan squeezes back, hard, his gaze settling on Wei Ying like he’s looking at something from a dream.  

Lan Zhan has many questions for the doctor when they arrive. 

“How certain are you?”

“Are there any complications?”

“What are the risks?”

He interrogates the doctor, while maintaining a white-knuckled grip on the folder full of medical information he had printed out and brought along. 

The doctor assures them that there are no complications at this stage, and that from everything they can tell, it seems to be a healthy pregnancy. The risk of pregnancy complications is often higher for male omegas, and the presence of twins increases the risk, as well, so Wei Ying will need to have additional checkups throughout the pregnancy to make sure everything is progressing well. He will also need to start taking prenatal supplements, abstain from alcohol and caffeine, get lots of rest, and refrain from physically strenuous activities. Carrying twins will put additional strain on him, and he will be more prone to intense nausea and extreme fatigue, but his alpha’s presence and scent may help settle some of the symptoms. 

Lan Zhan diligently makes note of all of the doctor’s instructions, as Wei Ying asks any other questions that come to mind (Can I still eat spicy food? How long will it be until I feel the babies kick? Is swimming a physically strenuous activity? What about climbing trees? There’s this nice big tree on campus I like to climb sometimes…). By the time the appointment is over, Lan Zhan has organized several pages of handwritten notes, and a small stack of medical records and referrals from the doctor.

At the top of the stack is a little envelope containing a picture of their sonogram. Lan Zhan gazes at it softly for a moment before carefully tucking it into the folder.

When they leave the office, Lan Zhan helps Wei Ying into the car extremely gently, and even buckles him in! He doesn’t say a word of warning about it, he simply helps Wei Ying into the seat and reaches for the seatbelt, carefully fastening it around Wei Ying like he’s securing a priceless treasure. His light colored eyes are serious and attentive, extremely focused like he’s on a mission. 

Wei Ying can feel his cheeks flushing from the attention. His heart is fluttering in his chest as Lan Zhan finishes arranging him in the car.

“Lan Zhan!! You’re being so delicate! What’s gotten into you?” he muses, as Lan Zhan closes the passenger side door, before ducking into the driver’s seat. 

“Are you worried about the twins?” Wei Ying continues, turning to face him earnestly. “The doctor said it’s a totally healthy pregnancy-! Mhhpf!”

The rest of Wei Ying’s words are silenced by Lan Zhan leaning over the center console and pulling him into a deep, open-mouthed kiss. 

Wei Ying makes a little startled sound in the back of his throat, caught off guard at the suddenness of it. Lan Zhan has never kissed him in a car like this before, and the shock of it sends hot tingles through his body. 

Wei Ying kisses him back, urgently. 

His alpha, the father of his children, who had claimed him, who takes care of him so well, like a treasure- 

Lan Zhan is shuddering slightly, sinking his hands into Wei Ying’s hair to cradle the back of his head and pull him close, like he cannot contain the emotion that has overtaken him.

Wei Ying can feel it in their bond. The depth of Lan Zhan’s love, his devotion. It’s almost frightening in intensity, a hot and desperate surge. Lan Zhan cares for him like Wei Ying is truly his own, his to tend to, to provide for, to protect and bring into his home. 

Wei Ying has never felt so loved before. He has never felt so wanted. 

He whimpers into Lan Zhan’s mouth, and curls his fingers into Lan Zhan’s shirt, tugging him close. 

Lan Zhan lets himself be pulled. He kisses Wei Ying tenderly, leaning over the console to where Wei Ying is restrained by his seatbelt.

When they part, his breath is soft and warm against Wei Ying’s lips. His eyes, light and radiant like an angel, are intently searching Wei Ying’s expression, like he’s gazing into some profound well of knowledge, some fantastic universal truth that has shaken him. 

Wei Ying gazes back at him, panting softly, enraptured in the intensity of his alpha’s gaze, the magnitude of their bond.

Lan Zhan can see him entirely, his hope, his fears, his melancholy and joy and desperation. There is nothing to hide. There is only the unfathomable depth of their bond, and the boundless warmth in Lan Zhan’s heart. 

“I promise I will take care of you, Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan swears to him, his voice so incredibly gentle and sincere as he strokes Wei Ying’s cheek. “You and our children. I will be there for you. Every step. Every day.”

Wei Ying cannot help the warmth swelling in his heart. 

—

With the pregnancy confirmed, telling the family is the next challenge.

The news of their mating had been rather chaotic, and Lan Qiren has been particularly stern with Lan Zhan ever since. His reaction at the time of their mating, along with that of the Jiang family, had been rather strong.

On that day, Lan Zhan had carried Wei Ying home, freshly claimed, after their passionate rendezvous on the school grounds. 

They had helped to tidy each other’s appearance before entering the Jiang family home, but it was impossible to hide the evidence of what they had done. Their disheveled clothing, their intermingled scents, and the fresh mating bites on their necks had been enough to stop Yu Ziyuan in her tracks.

“Yu-ayi… this is Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying had anxiously introduced, clinging to Lan Zhan’s arm in the foyer. “We… we, uhhh…”

“Yu-nushi,” Lan Zhan had calmly addressed, dropping forward in a low bow. “Please accept my proposal. I am committed to Wei Ying, and I will take responsibility.”

For a moment, there had been utter silence. And then, the shock had worn off.

“What???!!!” she had shrieked, eyes wide with disbelief as her gaze flitted between the two of them, taking in every detail. “Responsibility???!!! What have you done???!!! Fengmian!!!! Come see what Wei Ying has done!!!”

The phone call Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan had made to Lan Qiren had only made matters worse.

“That is not possible,” Lan Qiren’s voice had assured over the speaker, seeming affronted and faintly perplexed at the very idea.

“It is,” Yu Ziyuan had gravely informed him, as she glared at Lan Zhan from across the room. “And I suggest you come over to collect your nephew immediately.” 

The time spent waiting for Lan Qiren to arrive had been very tense.

Wei Ying had tugged Lan Zhan over to come sit beside him on a sofa, and Jiang Fengmian had been watching Lan Zhan intensely from across the sitting room while Yu Ziyuan paced back and forth, muttering under her breath.

Lan Qiren arrived in record time, and no one said anything about the reckless driving it must have required.

When he laid eyes on the two of them, he froze in place, seeming utterly appalled. 

“Wangji, what have you done?” 

“Uncle, I-“

“Enough!” he had harshly scolded, turning his attention to Wei Ying, his eyes softening with pity. “I cannot apologize enough on behalf of my nephew. He has always been strong-willed, but I never imagined he would commit such an act.”

At this, Wei Ying could not help himself from interjecting. 

“It wasn’t Lan Zhan’s fault!!!” he had rushed to clarify, clinging to Lan Zhan’s arm for emphasis. “We decided together!! I love him, and I want to be with him!!!”

“Wei Ying, you be quiet!” Yu Ziyuan had hissed. “That’s enough from you.”

Lan Qiren had given Yu Ziyuan a long, hard stare. And then, he had shifted his focus to Wei Ying, making his voice much softer than before.

“Wei Ying, my nephew has harmed you. It is understandable that you feel some attachment, given the… situation. But this isn’t a simple matter, a bond is a lifelong partnership. There is still time to reverse this. If we leave for a hospital immediately, the damage may not be permanent.”

Wei Ying had been filled with an immediate sense of panic at Lan Qiren’s words. The endorphins from their bonding had begun to wear off, and all he wanted was to be close to Lan Zhan and relax in his alpha’s presence. But everyone was trying to separate them!

“No!!!” he had all but wailed. “Lan-shufu, please!! Lan Zhan didn’t hurt me, I wanted it! I asked him for it!!”

Wei Ying’s cheeks were flushed at the admission, as he clung fiercely to Lan Zhan’s arm.

Jiang Fengmian had looked startled, Yu Ziyuan had been red in the face, and Lan Qiren had closed his eyes for a long, long moment, gathering himself.

“Wei Ying…” Lan Zhan had whispered, his voice soft with adoration. 

Jiang Fengmian had cleared his throat, and gently trying to reason with him. 

“A-Ying, you are both still in school. It’s understandable if you want to date and get to know each other. But this is a big decision, and it’s important not to act impulsively in these matters.”

“But I love him,” Wei Ying had whispered, an ache in his chest and his eyes stinging with tears. “I only want to be with him... I don’t want anyone else.”

Lan Zhan, taking a shaky breath to gather himself, had finally interjected, squeezing Wei Ying’s hand for approval.

“Shufu. Jiang-xiansheng. Yu-nushi.” 

He had addressed each of them seriously, holding Wei Ying’s hand in his all the while. 

“We have acted without your blessing,” he admitted. “We have broken tradition. I claimed Wei Ying without your approval, outside of marriage.”

Lan Zhan has paused, and taken a deep breath.

“But this was not an impulsive decision, and I will not apologize.”

“Wangji-!” Lan Qiren had scolded, aghast, but Lan Zhan had continued on adamantly, 

“I love Wei Ying. There is no one else for me,” he had declared, looking each of them in the eye fiercely and squeezing Wei Ying’s hand. “I will take responsibility, and provide for him to the best of my ability. I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit. But I will not be separated from Wei Ying.”

“Lan Zhan!!!” Wei Ying had whispered in delight, his cheeks hot and his stomach full of butterflies as he bit back a smile and wiped the tears from his eyes. After the sudden emotional onslaught, he had felt incredibly small and safe, protected by his alpha, his intended one. The wave of love and safety he felt from Lan Zhan through their bond made him feel like he was swimming with giddiness. Lan Zhan would not let them be separated. He loved Wei Ying just as much, and he would shoulder any burden to protect and defend their love. 

The rest of the room had fallen into a deep silence.

Yu Ziyuan had looked very strained, Jiang Fengmian had dropped his jaw, and Lan Qiren had closed his eyes and was sighing deeply, muttering “reckless” and “just like his father” under his breath.

As a beta, Lan Qiren often struggles to understand the impulses of alphas and omegas. But Jiang Fengmian has always possessed a romantic heart, and as an alpha, he was touched by Lan Zhan’s declaration.

“Lan-xiansheng,” he began cautiously, after some reflection. “Your nephew seems to be a sincere young man. I cannot stress enough how important it is to me that Wei Ying is treated with respect and matched with someone who will support him, cherish him, and provide well for him.”

After a serious, assessing glance at Lan Zhan, he returned his focus to the others in the room. 

“This situation is unconventional, but perhaps Wei Ying has found that person. Matters of the heart cannot be forced, after all.”

Lan Qiren had stroked his goatee in thought, and Yu Ziyuan had fluttered her eyes closed in defeat. 

After further discussion, they had agreed to prepare a wedding ceremony as soon as possible, on the next agreeable, auspicious date, and Lan Qiren had taken the steps to purchase a townhouse for them to move into after graduation.

The entire ordeal had been quite a shock to Lan Qiren, who seemingly had been operating under the impression that Lan Zhan was dedicated entirely to his studies with ascetic-like focus, without any interest in romantic partnership or the pleasures of the flesh. 

Over the years, Lan Zhan had politely but firmly turned down all of the attempts Lan Qiren made to introduce him to the omega children of his acquaintances. Consequently, Lan Qiren had resigned himself to the belief that Lan Zhan, while stubborn and independent-minded at times, tended to behave more like a beta than one would expect of his alpha presentation. 

He had confessed it to Wei Ying, once the news of their mating had settled.

“In truth, this was my fault,” he had told Wei Ying, eyeing the bite mark on his neck with apologetic eyes, as they shared a pot of tea after dinner. Lan Zhan was upstairs, changing out the bedsheets, since Wei Ying would be spending the night. 

Freshly bonded couples rarely slept well without each other’s presence, and it was healthiest for the bond to develop with lots of proximity, so it was agreed that they would alternate staying at each other’s family houses for the time being.

“Wangji has always been strong-willed,” Lan Qiren had continued, “And I was concerned about him after his presentation. With A-Huan, it had been easier. Betas are sensible and rational. But I had worried about Wangji finding a good match, and being a responsible partner. I did my best to teach him discipline and restraint, and I introduced him to several omegas, but he never took any interest. He always kept to himself. So I began not to worry about him. I became negligent. And in my negligence, Wangji took it upon himself to claim you.”

Lan Qiren had looked at Wei Ying with such gentle, regretful eyes, it almost seemed like he was seeing a ghost from the past. 

“Shushu,” Wei Ying had gently prompted him from his reverie. “Lan Zhan and I love each other. He didn’t force me into anything. Lan Zhan has always treated me kindly, and been so considerate. I never would have fallen for him, if he wasn’t so kind. If anyone is the shameless one, I can assure you, it’s me. You shouldn’t feel any responsibility for this.”

Lan Qiren had huffed in exasperation at that, but the melancholy seemed to have lifted from his expression.

“Wei Ying, just because you have feelings for my nephew, that doesn’t mean he was in the right claiming you like that. I should have raised him better.” 

“Shushu-” Wei Ying had tried to interject, but Lan Qiren had continued on, with a new fire in his eyes. 

“I assure you I will make this right. Wangji will take responsibility for his actions, and treat you properly! Wei Ying, you will be a member of our family, and I will personally make sure you are taken care of.”

“Shushu!! There is really no need-”

“Nonsense. Now what is Wangji taking so long with the bedsheets for. Wangji!! Get down here! Wei Ying is tired and needs to rest.”

Suffice it to say, Lan Qiren has been keeping a close eye on Lan Zhan’s behavior, and his treatment of Wei Ying, in the aftermath. 

Lan Zhan is, predictably, rather nervous breaking the news to him.

The conversation happens over dinner. 

Lan Qiren has insisted on cooking for them in the evenings when they are staying with him. Wei Ying is rather sour about it since Lan Qiren’s food is always bland and overly healthy, but Lan Qiren simply ignores his whining and tells him it’s important to eat well. To his credit, he has started making more meat dishes, which Wei Ying is grateful for, but the flavor still leaves something to be desired. 

Wei Ying knows Lan Qiren will be a menace in the kitchen, once he finds out about the babies. 

Near the end of the meal, Lan Zhan glances at Wei Ying for confirmation, and then clears his throat. 

“Shufu.”

Lan Qiren glances at him expectantly.

Lan Zhan stares back at him, silently, gathering his courage.

Lan Qiren is clearly perplexed by his hesitancy.

“Yes Wangji? What is it?”

Lan Zhan takes a slow, deep breath.

“Earlier this week, I took Wei Ying to the hospital.”

Lan Qiren’s eyes go wide.

“What??!!!”

“Shufu-” Lan Zhan tries backpedaling, quickly realizing his mistake. 

“The hospital??!!!” 

“It was-”

“What happened??!! Is he unwell?! Wangji, you should have told me, I would have been there-”

“Shufu, it wasn’t-”

“Wangji,” Lan Qiren sternly interrupts. “There are no excuses-”

“I’m pregnant!!!” Wei Ying cries, raising his voice above the panic.

Lan Qiren freezes. 

His eyes go wide, and his mouth opens helplessly.

“… pregnant?”

Wei Ying nods emphatically. “Pregnant!”

Lan Qiren is stunned.

His gaze drifts helplessly to Lan Zhan. 

“Wei Ying is… with child?”

Lan Zhan clears his throat once more.

“Two children,” he calmly clarifies.

“What?” 

“We are expecting twins.”

Lan Qiren stares at the two of them, holding himself very, very still.

And then, he blinks several times and turns to the side, wiping the tears that are welling up in his eyes.

“Shufu!” Lan Zhan cries in concern, rising from his seat to check on him.

Lan Qiren waves him away.

“No need, Wangji. No need.”

After he has taken a moment to compose himself, he turns his attention back to them. Wei Ying has never seen his expression so soft, his eyes so misty.

“You will be parents,” he says, seemingly to the universe itself. “Wei Ying, how is your health? Did the doctors find anything concerning?”

“Everything is good!” Wei Ying assures him. “The doctor said it’s a healthy pregnancy, and there’s nothing to be concerned about right now. Lan Zhan did a really good job of taking notes from the appointment.”

Lan Qiren blinks several times as he watches the two of them, and swallows roughly. 

“Wangji, you need to take care of him- he is so young, and expecting twins…”

“Would you like to see the sonogram?” Wei Ying gently asks him, squeezing Lan Zhan’s hand under the table.

Lan Qiren takes a shaky breath, and the tiniest hint of a smile lights up his expression. 

“Yes, I would like to see it.”

—

Telling the Jiangs' is another matter.

They share the news with Jiang Yanli first. 

The next time she invites them over for lunch, Wei Ying pulls her away to sit together on the couch, takes her hands in his, and gazes at her, biting his lip.

“A-Ying…” she asks, watching him gently. “What’s going on?”

Wei Ying doesn’t say anything, but he gazes at her intently, biting his lip and watching her expression. She has always been able to understand him, even without words, and right now is no exception.

“Is it the wedding planning?” she gently asks.

Wei Ying shakes his head no, and she smiles at him fondly.

“Hmm… is it your graduation?” 

Wei Ying shakes his head no again, fighting to hold back a smile as he plays along with her. 

“Your new house?”

Another no, and Jiang Yanli falls silent, watching him closely. 

They used to play this game together as children sometimes, silently trying to read each other’s minds. Jiang Cheng had been terrible at it, but Jiang Yanli and Wei Ying had always understood each other. 

Even now, it takes so little for her to see through him. She watches him for a few moments, gazing curiously into his eyes and studying his expression. There is a small, giddy smile he’s fighting to hold back, and the instant she sees it, her eyes go wide.

“A-Ying!” she whispers. “Really???”

“Really!” Wei Ying confirms, smiling excitedly. 

Jiang Yanli makes a tiny squealing sound, squeezing his hands in excitement. 

“How far along are you?? Have you been to the doctor yet?” Her gaze darts over towards the kitchen, where Lan Zhan is helping Jin Zixuan prepare lunch. “Does Lan Zhan-?”

“He knows!” Wei Ying beams excitedly. “He took me to the doctor, Jiejie, and everything is healthy! Two healthy little babies!”

“Two?!” Jiang Yanli gasps. “A-Ying, you’re having twins?!”

Wei Ying nods enthusiastically, and Jiang Yanli seizes him by the shoulders and pulls him into a deep, sincere hug.

“My A-Ying,” she whispers, her voice coming out soft and choked up. “You’re all grown up now. Two babies… are you excited?”

Wei Ying nods against her shoulder, feeling happy tears well up in his eyes as she strokes his hair.

“Yeah, I’m really happy Jiejie,” he whispers, unable to fight back the smile that has overtaken him as he curls his fingers into her sweater. “Really happy.”

—

Jin Zixuan’s reaction is unexpectedly sweet. When it’s time to settle in for lunch and he sees the happy expressions on Jiang Yanli and Wei Ying’s flushed, teary faces, he immediately knows something is up. 

“What’s going on?” he asks, eyeing the way Lan Zhan watches the two omegas with soft eyes, and goes out of his way to help Wei Ying with his chair at the table. 

Jiang Yanli puts her hand over her mouth, hiding her smile as she glances at Wei Ying and Lan Zhan.

“Go ahead, Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying tells him, smiling and giving him a little nod.

Jin Zixuan turns his attention to Lan Zhan expectantly. The two of them have become unexpectedly close friends over the past few months. 

Lan Zhan takes a deep breath. He has been preparing himself for this, after his fumble with Lan Qiren. 

“We are expecting twins,” he calmly shares. 

Jin Zixuan’s expression lights up at once. 

“No way!! That’s fantastic man, I’m so happy for you!”

He pulls Lan Zhan into a rough hug, squeezing his shoulder, alpha to alpha. “You’re going to be such a good father.”

After they part, Jin Zixuan turns to Wei Ying, who is sitting at the table beside Jiang Yanli. Wei Ying hasn’t been Jin Zixuan’s biggest fan over the years, but their relationship has become much more amicable after Jin Zixuan got his priorities in order with Jiang Yanli, and especially after the birth of Jin Ling.

“Come here, Wei Ying,” he says, like he’s summoning a reluctant cat. And then, as soon as Wei Ying has risen from his seat, Jin Zixuan pulls him into a gentle hug. 

“Congratulations, Wei Ying,” Jin Zixuan tells him, softly. “You will be a wonderful mother. And Yanli and I will always be here for you.”

Wei Ying hadn’t expected to hear such kind words from Jin Zixuan, and it made something vulnerable in his heart flutter. 

Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan have been incredibly supportive of his relationship with Lan Zhan, and have been a huge source of stability for him over the past few months. Jin Zixuan’s kindness and patience, after the rockiness of his relationship with Wei Ying over the years, has been an unexpected and disarming source of warmth.

“Thanks, peacock,” Wei Ying whispers, fighting to hold back a smile. 

—

Jiang Cheng’s reaction is exactly what Wei Ying expected. 

The topic comes up when he invites Wei Ying to play basketball in the afternoon. 

“Your alpha can come too,” he adds, thoughtful as always. 

“Hmm… I won’t be able to make it today,” Wei Ying tells him, lightly. “I need to study with Lan Zhan.”

Jiang Cheng huffs in frustration.

“What do you mean?? You’ve been studying with Lan Zhan every day for weeks now! You never have time to play basketball anymore.”

“It’s almost finals week!” Wei Ying bites back. “I can’t slack off now!”

Jiang Cheng laughs bitterly at that. “Finals week? You never used to care about stuff like that before. Ever since that guy put his mark on you, you’ve been different, Wei Ying!”

“I have not!” Wei Ying argues back, feeling his temper start to rise. 

“You have!! You never want to do anything together, and it’s like I don’t exist anymore! I guess me and my family don’t matter to you, now that you’ve found something better!!”

Wei Ying grits his teeth, boiling hot rage surging inside him at Jiang Cheng’s tone. 

“I’m pregnant!” he announces, slamming his textbook shut as hot tears well up in his eyes. “That’s why I can’t play basketball with you!”

Jiang Cheng goes still.

“What?”

Wei Ying ignores him, standing up and throwing everything haphazardly into his bag as his vision goes blurry from tears.

“You’re pregnant?” Jiang Cheng asks, seemingly in disbelief.

“Yes!! I’m pregnant!!” Wei Ying seethes, wiping roughly at the tears running down his face. “I was going to find a nice way to tell you, but I guess this is it. I’m pregnant! So I guess you’re right, I have changed!!”

Wei Ying slings his bag over his shoulder, preparing to leave, and Jiang Cheng stares at him for a long moment, eyes wide. And then, he surges forward and pulls Wei Ying into a fierce hug.

Wei Ying’s bag falls from his shoulder and hits the floor. 

Jiang Cheng digs his fingers into Wei Ying’s jacket, pulling him close.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I’m so sorry. Fuck. What the fuck is wrong with me.”

Wei Ying doesn’t say anything. There’s still a hot current of anger coursing inside of him, even though he knows deep down that Jiang Cheng cares. 

Jiang Cheng has always had a bad habit of being harsh and impulsive with his words, and saying things he doesn’t mean. Wei Ying knows this. But the pregnancy hormones have made him more sensitive than usual, and it’s not as easy as it usually is to let go of the hurt he’s feeling. 

Jiang Cheng is clearly apologetic, though, and now that he’s aware of the situation, he’s determined to fix things, holding onto Wei Ying tightly like he doesn’t want to let him go. 

“Wei Ying, I’m really, really sorry. Holy shit. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I wouldn’t have been bothering you so much about basketball! We could have done something else instead. Or if you need to be around Lan Zhan, I totally get it. He’s a loser, but I get it. Jiejie was so attached to peacock during her pregnancy. It was disgusting.”

Wei Ying cannot help but giggle at that, even despite his tears. Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan were certainly overly attached when she was expecting Jin Ling - Jin Zixuan was constantly hovering around her and checking in on her, and she was very clingy towards him, as well. 

Wei Ying can understand that feeling better, now that he’s starting to go through it himself. If he doesn’t have something with him that has Lan Zhan’s scent, he’s sick to his stomach and anxious, and sometimes he even gets headaches. There’s nothing he wants more than to curl up in the comforting scent of his alpha, and feel Lan Zhan’s big hands touching him and holding him. 

“It’s okay if you act disgusting with Lan Zhan, I swear I won’t give you a hard time about it,” Jiang Cheng continues, holding Wei Ying close to him like he’s a cherished jewel. “Have you told my mom and dad yet? Or jiejie? She’s going to be so excited that there’s another baby on the way.”

Wei Ying sniffles, blinking away the last of the tears.

“Babies,” he clarifies, his voice a little rough from crying. “It’s twins.”

Jiang Cheng goes still.

“You’re pregnant with twins?!”

Wei Ying nods weakly. “Yeah, it’s twins.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

Wei Ying winces. 

“The doctor said it’s a healthy pregnancy.”

Jiang Cheng curses under his breath. 

“Doctors don’t know everything. We better make sure you have a good doctor, and lots of checkups. This isn’t something to mess around about.”

Wei Ying sighs. Jiang Cheng really cannot help being like this. It’s in his nature as an alpha, and it’s also just the way his personality is.

He has always been overprotective of their family, and even though Wei Ying isn’t a relative by blood, he’s been pack bonded with Jiang Cheng since a young age. As the only alpha sibling in their family, it’s natural that Jiang Cheng has become protective like this. He was the same way during Jiang Yanli’s pregnancy, and he was just as standoffish towards Jin Zixuan at first as he has been towards Lan Zhan. 

For some reason, the thought makes Wei Ying smile. 

With Jiang Cheng hugging him so securely, and fussing over his pregnancy, his heart feels much lighter. 

“Jiang Cheng!” he whines, finally wrapping his arms around him and returning the hug. “I knew you cared.”

Jiang Cheng huffs under his breath, but Wei Ying can feel how much he cares, and how much Wei Ying reciprocating the hug has relieved him. 

Jiang Cheng may be temperamental, but it’s really not entirely his fault. He’s been under a lot of pressure from his parents from an early age, and it’s hard for him to let go of the stress he feels. 

“Have you told my mom and dad yet?” 

Wei Ying shakes his head. “Not yet.”

Jiang Cheng pauses in thought for a moment.

“My dad will be thrilled.”

The reaction of Yu Ziyuan goes unsaid.

—

Jiang Cheng’s prediction is accurate. 

When they tell Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan over dinner, Jiang Fengmian’s eyes light up immediately.

“A-Ying! That’s wonderful news!”

He peppers Wei Ying with questions, and pins Lan Zhan with a serious look, telling him that he needs to be ready to take on the responsibilities of a father, and to care for Wei Ying during this difficult time. 

Yu Ziyuan, meanwhile, looks like she’s experiencing a tension migraine. 

“And you’re sure he’s the father?” she asks, as soon as she finds an opening. 

The room goes quiet, and Wei Ying swallows the lump in his throat, fixing his gaze solidly on his bowl of rice. 

“Ziyuan!” Jiang Fengmian scolds, as Lan Zhan reaches under the table to hold Wei Ying’s limp, tingling hand. 

“Well I’d like to hear it from him! I wouldn’t put it past him to surprise us, after what he’s done.”

Wei Ying takes a shaky breath, feeling vaguely out of his body. Jiang Fengmian looks quite upset with Yu Ziyuan, and Lan Zhan is looking at Wei Ying like he’s about to do something drastic.

“It’s okay!” he quickly deflects. “Yu-ayi, Lan Zhan is the father. There’s no possibility it could be anyone else. I swear it.”

Yu Ziyuan raises her eyebrow about that, and then turns her attention to Lan Zhan.

“You may want a paternity test, when the time comes. It’s the only way to be sure.”

Lan Zhan’s eyes harden with such blatant anger, that even Yu Ziyuan seems startled.

“There is no need,” he says, harshly. “Wei Ying is precious to me. I have sworn myself to him. I would raise any child with him.”

Yu Ziyuan is staring at Lan Zhan in shock, but Lan Zhan doesn’t stop there. 

“If you are so concerned about this matter,” he continues, his tone edging on vicious. “I can tell you personally that it was clear no one else had ever touched him, before me.”

The room goes utterly silent at that. Yu Ziyuan’s mouth is hanging open, and Jiang Fengmian’s face is slightly flushed. Wei Ying is once again tethered to his body, and he squeezes Lan Zhan’s hand weakly under the table. 

“Well, that settles that,” Jiang Fengmian says, clearing his throat. “Ziyuan, why don’t we have some of that cake A-Li made for dessert?”

They make it through dinner without any yelling or tears, so all-in-all, Wei Ying considers it a victory. 

Lan Zhan is extremely gentle with him, after. He holds him close as they lay in bed, and presses gentle kisses to his hair, his cheeks, his hands. He whispers little reassurances to Wei Ying, and tells him again and again that he loves him.

“I’m sorry,” Wei Ying mumbles, feeling his cheeks heat up with embarrassment. 

“There are no thank you’s or sorry’s between us,” Lan Zhan gently reminds him. “I love you, Wei Ying.”

He is so patient, and so kind.

Wei Ying loves him so much. 

—

With so much happening, the remainder of the semester seems to pass in a whirlwind. It feels like no time at all before graduation, and then their wedding. 

The ceremony is beautiful. Jiang Yanli really outdid herself, helping to prepare everything in such a short time frame. 

“My A-Ying deserves the most beautiful wedding,” she had told him, when he whined to her that it was all too much. Lan Zhan had been no help, either, calmly smiling and letting Jiang Yanli shower Wei Ying with the most indulgent ceremony she could conceive. 

At the wedding reception, they make sure to have ample non-alcoholic options. 

Lan Zhan typically doesn’t drink, since he has a low tolerance for alcohol. When he was growing up, Lan Qiren never indulged in alcohol, so it’s not something Lan Zhan is accustomed to. 

Wei Ying, on the other hand, loves alcohol. But because of the pregnancy, he has resigned himself to discreetly drinking plum juice. 

He’s been able to manage it for most of the evening, but he does run into a hurdle when Nie Huaisang brings him a shot of baijiu.

“What have you been drinking plum juice all night for!! Take a shot with me, A-Ying!!” he declares, jubilantly.

Nie Huaisang is annoyingly perceptive at times. Wei Ying fixes a smile on his face and laughs lightly.

“Ahh, A-Sang, I’m really not feeling up to it!” 

Nie Huaisang fawns over him in concern. “A-Ying! What do you mean? It’s your wedding!! We need to celebrate!!”

Lan Zhan, who has been sitting at Wei Ying’s side, carefully watching the entire interaction, calmly plucks the cup of baijiu from Nie Huaisang.

“I will drink for him.”

Lan Zhan’s voice is utterly calm, and invites no disagreement. He raises the cup to Nei Huaisang, prompting him to do the same.

“Ganbei.”

Lan Zhan’s voice is deep and calm, and he swallows the entire pour of baijiu in a single, deep swig, his face utterly impassive. 

Surely he must be feeling some reaction from the strength of the wine, but he doesn’t let it show on his face at all. The only indication it has affected him is the way he settles his hand on Wei Ying’s thigh and squeezes slightly, under the table.

Nie Huaisang’s eyes are wide, darting between the two of them with a dawning understanding. 

Wei Ying quickly presses a finger to his lips in a discreet gesture, shooting Nie Huaisang a vaguely threatening look. 

“A-sang, I’m so happy you could be here today to celebrate with all of our friends and family!” he says, with a pointed look around the room. “Especially since our wedding was planned with such short notice!!”

Nei Huaisang’s eyes go even wider in understanding.

“The short notice! Of course! A-Ying, you know I would be here no matter what!” he assures, with a bright smile and a gleeful sparkle in his eyes. “I love a party! In fact, I love planning parties, and I would love to help plan any future parties you might need! Housewarming, birthday party, anniversary… baby shower…” 

Lan Zhan loudly clears his throat, effectively cutting him off.

Nie Huaisang inches back, laughing nervously. The look on Lan Zhan’s face could melt ice. 

“Anyways! Keep me in mind!” he sings. “Congratulations to both of you!! I’m very excited for your… future happiness!”

— 

The second trimester brings about some changes.

Once they settle into their new house, Wei Ying is hit with a sudden burst of energy. It’s a bit unexpected, given how fatigued he has been feeling, but the doctor assures him it’s completely normal for this stage of the pregnancy.

He quickly becomes obsessed with decorating their new house and making it feel more like a home, adding plants and art and framed pictures, and planning what their babies’ bedroom will be like.

Lan Zhan helps him with everything. He barely lets Wei Ying lift a finger. Whenever Wei Ying tries to do something on his own, Lan Zhan is there helping him hang new curtains or move around furniture or repot plants. 

“Lan Zhan!! I can do it myself!” Wei Ying whines, feeling his face heat up each time Lan Zhan treats him this way.

“I know you can,” Lan Zhan tells him gently. “But I want to help you. You are doing the most important job right now, Wei Ying.”

He rests his hand gently on Wei Ying’s growing stomach, his light-colored eyes soft with emotion. “Look what you are doing for us. I don’t want you to carry everything alone, Wei Ying. Please let me help take care of you.”

Lan Zhan is so sincere. And it’s true that Wei Ying is beginning to feel the strain of carrying two babies. Although the morning sickness and exhaustion has mostly subsided, he’s still feeling incredibly sensitive, and his belly is growing bigger and bigger every day. A lot of his clothes are tight now, and Lan Zhan and Jiang Yanli have both already ordered him an assortment of maternity clothes. 

Lan Zhan and Jiang Yanli have become incredibly close, united in their mission of making sure Wei Ying has the most comfortable pregnancy imaginable. Lan Zhan has learned all of Wei Ying’s favorite recipes from Jiang Yanli, when she comes over to visit throughout the week. She usually brings Jin Ling along, as well, and Wei Ying gets to spend time napping and playing with his nephew while the two of them cook and Jiang Yanli educates Lan Zhan about everything he will possibly need to know regarding an omega’s pregnancy. 

Lan Zhan has been incredibly proactive, and has taken all of Jiang Yanli’s suggestions to heart. 

He gives Wei Ying foot massages every day, and prepares lots of warm foods and fruits for him. He takes care of virtually all the chores around the house, and draws warm baths for Wei Ying in the evenings. He whispers reassurances to him, and is endlessly patient with his mood swings. He makes Wei Ying whatever foods he is craving, and indulges him with whatever movies and shows he wants to watch. 

“You are so special to me,” he tells Wei Ying, as he holds him close at night, like Wei Ying is his greatest treasure. 

“My sweet Wei Ying,” he whispers, as Wei Ying flushes from the attention. “You are so strong. I love you so much. My baobei.”

Lan Zhan never spoke so sweetly, before this. It was usually Wei Ying who was doing the talking and teasing, and Lan Zhan who was getting flustered. But Lan Zhan has become incredibly affectionate and reassuring, especially when they are alone together. 

It makes Wei Ying feel slightly shy, and it makes a vulnerable part of his heart flutter, especially since Lan Zhan is entirely sincere in his words. 

It’s so easy, to let go and let Lan Zhan support him and care for him. Lan Zhan has made it easy, being there for him in every way, their bond a warm current singing between them, like a secret in their hearts. 

Wei Ying has never trusted someone so completely like this, before.

Lan Zhan seems to sense this. And he takes his responsibility of Wei Ying’s heart and wellbeing very, very seriously.

He has become incredibly protective of Wei Ying when they are out in public. If they encounter any dogs, he quickly diverts Wei Ying’s attention and puts himself between Wei Ying and the dog, talking to him sweetly and guiding him away. If any other alphas make wayward glances at Wei Ying or get too close, Lan Zhan pulls Wei Ying close to him and glares them down. In some cases, he has even growled in warning! 

Lan Zhan is normally so polite and eloquent, and Wei Ying has never heard him growl at someone before, so he was extremely caught off guard the first time it happened. But he’s read about it since, and apparently it’s not uncommon for alphas to act this way during their omega’s pregnancy. 

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying gently scolds him, each time it happens. “Be nice!”

But he cannot deny that hearing the low, threatening rumble while Lan Zhan holds him close makes his heart race. Lan Zhan is so protective of him when it comes to other alphas, like he is determined to make it clear that Wei Ying is his omega, and that he would do anything to keep him. 

It makes Wei Ying feel incredibly wanted. It makes his cheeks flush, and it makes something warm rise up in his heart.

That said, there have been a few occasions where it has been an issue. 

When Jiang Cheng slings an arm around Wei Ying’s shoulders, or grabs Wei Ying by the bicep to pull him along somewhere, Lan Zhan goes rigid and tense, and on one occasion, even started to growl at Jiang Cheng!

“Lan Zhan!!” Wei Ying had scolded him. “What are you growling at Jiang Cheng for??”

Jiang Cheng had been pissed, growling back at Lan Zhan through his gritted teeth. 

“Wei Ying doesn’t belong to you!!” he had snapped, his eyes fierce. “He’s my family too!”

Lan Zhan had settled down at the word “family,” seeming to come back to his senses.

“I apologize,” he admitted, stiffly. He seemed rather embarrassed about the whole thing, and Jiang Cheng ultimately let it go, muttering under his breath, “I thought we were past this!”

Lan Zhan has, on one occasion, growled at Yi Ziyuan, as well. 

She has always made offhand comments towards Wei Ying, ever since he was adopted as a child. Wei Ying has gotten used to it, and it doesn’t phase him much, anymore. 

But Lan Zhan is another story. 

“Wei Ying is always full of surprises,” she’ll remark, a backhanded edge to her tone. 

“It’s good to see that you’re a responsible young man,” she’ll say as she sizes up Lan Zhan coolly. “Wei Ying was fortunate.” 

“I never know what condition you’re going to be in when I see you, Wei Ying.”

“The two of you gave us quite a fright. I hope you will be less reckless in the future. You will soon be a mother, after all.”

After enduring several of these comments, Lan Zhan finally snapped, narrowing his eyes and growling at her.

Yu Ziyuan had startled at the sound, her eyes wide. 

“Lan Zhan…” Wei Ying had whispered, from where Lan Zhan had crushed him against his chest, holding him like he was protecting him from something serious. 

“Wei Ying will be a wonderful mother,” Lan Zhan had informed her, his tone cold as ice. “He is not to blame for what I did to him that day.”

Yu Ziyuan has toned back her remarks since that day, and she’s much more cautious around Lan Zhan, now. 

“You didn’t have to do that, Lan Zhan,” Wei Ying had confided in him after the incident. “Yu-ayi has always been like this. It doesn’t bother me much.”

Lan Zhan had watched him gently, his light colored eyes shining with emotion, like he was looking at something so, so precious.

“I wanted to,” Lan Zhan had told him, his voice soft as he stroked Wei Ying’s cheek. “You shouldn’t be spoken to like that, Wei Ying.”

Lan Zhan has become incredibly skilled at using his words to disarm Wei Ying. And he’s become incredibly indulgent to Wei Ying’s whims. 

When Wei Ying is anxious or struggles to sleep, Lan Zhan will hold him close and kiss his hair. 

“Rest, Wei Ying,” he will whisper, with just a hint of an alpha command in his tone. 

It’s just enough to settle Wei Ying’s nerves. 

Lan Zhan is so gentle with him. Wei Ying knows that some alphas can be controlling with their omegas. But Lan Zhan never commands him to do anything he doesn’t want to do. He only ever uses his influence to help comfort Wei Ying, and to reassure him. 

Wei Ying has become exceptionally emotional in the second trimester, and often finds himself in tears over anything that warms his heart or irritates him. It could be something careless Jiang Cheng said, or the sight of Jiang Yanli and Lan Zhan making soup. 

Cute things even make him cry. He’s cried over tiny baby clothes, and most recently he even cried over a pair of rabbits in a window display at a pet store. They were cuddled up together in a cage, and Wei Ying had burst into tears at the sight.

“Wei Ying!! What is it??” Lan Zhan had been incredibly alarmed, his gaze searching frantically for the source of Wei Ying’s distress.

Wei Ying had shaken his head, crying unstoppably with a hand over his mouth.

“They’re so cute,” he had whimpered, and Lan Zhan’s eyes had gone wide.

“The rabbits?” he asked, his voice gentle.

Wei Ying had nodded weakly, wiping at his cheeks as the tears continued to fall. “They’re stuck in that little cage, b-but at least they have each other,” he had forced out, his breath shaky through his tears. “It’s good they’re not alone.”

“Wei Ying…” Lan Zhan had looked at him with such unbearably gentle eyes, it made his heart ache.

“I hope they get adopted together,” Wei Ying had continued, his voice breaking miserably with another wave of tears. “They like each other so much…”

Lan Zhan had stared at him with wide eyes for several moments. And then, he had taken him by the hand and pulled him into the pet store.

The employee at the counter had been visibly alarmed at the state of Wei Ying, pregnant with tears running down his face, but Lan Zhan had paid their reaction no mind.

“I’d like to purchase the two rabbits in the window,” he had calmly informed them, as he gently squeezed Wei Ying’s hand, and gazed at him with soft eyes. “I’d like to bring them home today.”

The employee had been more than eager to help, and they had left the store with a tremendous amount of rabbit supplies, which Lan Zhan calmly hoisted in his arms and carried outside after calling a rideshare.

Wei Ying cried the whole way home, with a huge smile on his face as he gazed at the two little rabbits nestled in the box on his lap.

“You’re too nice, Lan Zhan,” he had whispered, as Lan Zhan insisted on unloading everything and carrying it into their house on his own, while Wei Ying sat inside and watched after the rabbits. “Aren’t you worried I’m going to get too used to this?”

Lan Zhan froze at that, and then crouched down in front of him, cradling his cheek in his palm and looking him in the eye incredibly seriously. 

“Wei Ying. I will never deny you anything. I mean it.”

And Lan Zhan does mean it. He’s shown time and time again how much he genuinely enjoys spoiling Wei Ying. He spent hours setting up an enclosure for the rabbits that night, and he’s been doting on Chenqing and Bichen ever since bringing them home, almost as much as he dotes on Wei Ying.

He’s also been unusually complicit with the vast quantities of gifts that both of their families have been showering upon them in the lead up to Wei Ying’s delivery. 

Lan Zhan isn’t the type to ask for much, or to indulge in unnecessary things for himself. But he’s extremely supportive of Wei Ying and their future children having the best possible life.

After Lan Qiren purchased a townhouse for the two of them, the Jiangs’ began fiercely showering them with an endless stream of baby supplies. Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan surprised them with a pair of high-end car seats, and a fancy stroller designed for twins. Jiang Yanli, meanwhile, has made it her personal mission to ensure that their kitchen is stocked with every specialty appliance known to man. Every time the Jiangs’ visit, they bring over a huge assortment of fruits and bulk food. 

“Jiejie, how many babies do you think we’re having?” Wei Ying laughs nervously, as Jiang Yanli directs Jin Zixuan to unload yet another delivery of specialty groceries.

“It’s twins, A-Ying!” Jiang Yanli assures him, “You need to eat well and take care of your health! And besides, it doesn’t hurt to have a well-stocked kitchen when the babies arrive.” 

“But jiejie, do we really need all this food…?”

Jiang Yanli gives him a knowing smile, and lowers her voice conspiriatorally. “I can assure you, Lan Zhan will be extremely eager to cook for you as it gets closer to your delivery. A-Xuan was like this too, when I was expecting A-Ling. It’s instinctual for them, just like how you’ve been worried about the babies’ bedroom. And I’m personally invested, as well! My A-Ying deserves to have the healthiest pregnancy.”

Wei Ying cannot resist her, when she treats him like this. And Lan Zhan can’t seem to resist her, either! He obediently accepts all the groceries she brings, and follows her instructions and recipes with incredible focus. 

Although he whines about it occasionally, Wei Ying ultimately lets the two of them manage the kitchen. They’ve developed a strong partnership while cooking, and there is no stopping the two of them when they get that sharp gleam in their eyes, focused in on whatever heal-conscious recipe they’re trying out.

Besides, Wei Ying is plenty content to spend time with Jin Ling, or to try out the new video game console Jiang Cheng gifted them!

“So you can entertain yourself while you’re… resting,” Jiang Cheng had explained, gesturing vaguely with his hand around his stomach as if to indicate a pregnancy.

Jiang Cheng’s gifts have all been unexpectedly thoughtful, but Lan Qiren doesn’t seem to agree. He nearly trips over the robot vacuum during one of his visits, and sputters in disbelief.

“What is this?” he asks, seemingly to the heavens. Wei Ying watches from across the hall as he gingerly relocates it, with the air of someone picking up a live and potentially dangerous turtle.

“Excessive,” he mutters under his breath, once he has returned it to its charging dock. He seems thoughtful after that, like he’s examining the state of things and making a mental list. 

The next time he visits, Lan Qiren brings a delivery of gifts that he clearly thinks are more practical. He brings more cleaning supplies, and sagely tells Lan Zhan that there is no substitute for cleaning things yourself. He also offers to hire a professional cleaner, which Lan Zhan quickly and firmly tells him is not necessary. He also brings an assortment of warm socks, sweaters, supplements, and books about pregnancy and child development. 

A few weeks after his visit, Wei Ying is surprised by a knock at the door while Lan Zhan is away. Outside, there are a team of delivery specialists and a woman in a suit, along with several huge packages on a trolley.

As it turns out, they are here to deliver and set up an entire baby grand piano that Lan Qiren ordered. Wei Ying asks the woman several times to confirm that this is the right apartment, and then watches with wide eyes as the delivery team unpack and assemble what seems to be a very fancy piano in their sitting room.

When Lan Zhan arrives home, he’s just as baffled as Wei Ying.

“Shufu, this is too generous. There’s really no need!” he protests over the phone.

“Nonsense!” Lan Qiren assures from the speaker. “It’s so you can play piano for Wei Ying. Did you know classical music has a positive effect on prenatal development? I read a study, and it’s especially impactful in the third trimester. I’ll send you the link, so you can read it, as well.”

Once he understands the intent of the gift, Lan Zhan is fully on board.

“I see,” he assents. “Thank you, shufu. This is very thoughtful. I will make good use of it.”

And he certainly does. He plays piano for Wei Ying everyday, and Wei Ying even starts to play, as well. He’s not as classically trained as Lan Zhan, but he did take piano lessons as a child, alongside Jiang Cheng and Jiang Yanli, and he had enough of a knack for it that he still remembers the basics.

Jiang Yanli doesn’t play piano much anymore, but she loves to hear Lan Zhan play for Wei Ying when she and Jin Zixuan come to visit. 

On one such occasion, as they’re sitting together on the couch listening to Lan Zhan play a sonata by Chopin, Jin Zixuan remarks that it would be nice to have everyone together to celebrate their housewarming and upcoming delivery.

“We never really had a chance to officially celebrate, like we did for me and Yanli. It would be nice to do something with everyone.”

“That’s a wonderful idea!” Jiang Yanli is quick to chime in, her eyes lit up eagerly. “A-Ying, what do you think? We could plan for a dinner here, to make it more comfortable for you. You won’t need to cook a thing, Lan Zhan and I will take care of everything!”

Wei Ying really can’t resist, especially in his current state. His stomach has become incredibly swollen with two babies inside, and the thought of going out somewhere for dinner is much less appealing than having everyone come over to visit.

Despite how chaotic everyone can be, Wei Ying really appreciates all the love and support they’ve been showered with. It would be nice to have everyone over and celebrate together. 

Wei Ying’s parents passed away when he was very young, in a tragic car accident. He was fortunate enough to have been adopted by Jiang Fengmian, and given the chance to have siblings and be raised in a family. He’s never taken it for granted. 

And yet, sometimes he cannot help but wonder what things would have been like, if he had grown up with parents of his own.

In just a few months, he’ll be a parent, with Lan Zhan.

The warm vision that flutters in his heart dances before him. Him, and Lan Zhan, and their two babies, with all of their family gathered around.

“A-Ying, why are you crying?! Are you okay??”

Lan Zhan has stopped playing now, and he’s watching in concern as Jiang Yanli looks over Wei Ying anxiously.

“It’s nothing!” Wei Ying laughs, dabbing the tears from his eyes. “I was just happy, that’s all. It’s a good idea, jiejie!! Can you make spicy water-boiled fish? I want to see the expression on Lan-shushu’s face when he tries it!!”

—

Jiang Yanli makes the dish, as requested, but there ends up being no guarantee that Lan Qiren will make it far enough through the spread of food to try it. Everyone brings so much food to share, it’s practically spilling from the table. 

Jiang Fengmian brings over an expensive bottle of baijiu, and presents it to Lan Zhan heartily, with a twinkle in his eye. 

“Lan Zhan, I had my concerns when you came home with Wei Ying that day. But you’ve truly committed yourself to him, and now our family is growing! We will drink tonight to celebrate!”

Lan Qiren clears his throat from the side. “A-Zhan doesn’t drink. He is intolerant of alcohol.”

Lan Huan, who has recently returned from overseas travel, calmly interjects to pacify the situation. “Don’t worry, shufu. I’m sure plenty of us will be happy to partake tonight. It’s a celebration, after all!”

“I will drink with him,” Lan Zhan informs Lan Qiren, putting an end to the matter. He then turns his attention back to Jiang Fengmian, accepting the bottle with a slight bow. “Thank you, shufu.”

Wei Ying knows that Lan Zhan is sensitive to alcohol. And yet, it’s clear that he wants to do his best to impress Jiang Fengmian during dinner. He drinks when prompted, taking small sips to pace himself. He toasts to Lan Qiren (who is drinking tea in lieu of baijiu) and to Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan. His ears quickly become flushed, and there is even a dusting of pink on his cheeks. But he manages it incredibly well, and even pays attention to Wei Ying the entire time, refilling his bowl with his favorite foods, and rotating the dishes he really loves closer to him on the table so they’re easier for him to reach. Jiang Yanli, who is seated at Wei Ying’s other side, does the same, making sure that Wei Ying’s bowl is constantly filled with his favorite things. 

The flow of conversation during dinner is generally smooth, although there are a few points of tension that arise, all of which are prompted by Yu Ziyuan. She starts off by assessing the food, and when she fails to find any flaws, she mentions that it’s a miracle Lan Zhan is here and has skills in the kitchen, since Wei Ying can’t cook anything.

Lan Zhan gives her a cold look, and is about to open his mouth, but Lan Qiren beats him to it.

“A-Ying shouldn’t be expected to cook,” he says stiffly, gazing at Yu Ziyuan with a condescending air. “Especially in his condition.”

Then, turning his attention to Lan Zhan, he sternly advises, “A-Zhan will do his best to provide for A-Ying.”

Yu Ziyuan narrows her eyes at the table, and takes another sip of her drink. “I should hope so,” she remarks. “After all, we all know how eager their match was.”

For a moment, there is tense silence around the table.

And then Lan Huan calmly chimes in, with an air of wistful benevolence. “My didi has always been earnest and dedicated, even from a young age. How fortunate we are, that he and Wei Ying have found each other and made such a beautiful commitment.”

“Well said!” Jiang Fengmian is quick to agree, raising his glass in another toast. “Let’s celebrate their heartfelt match, and growing family!”

Yu Ziyuan seems to realize that her criticisms of Wei Ying will find no purchase. So, over the course of dinner, her critique begins to shift to Jiang Cheng.

“Now that Wei Ying and Yanli are married and starting families, it’s about time for you to find someone and settle down,” she reminds him. Then, turning her attention to the table, she informs everyone, “None of the omegas I’ve arranged for him to meet have measured up to his standards. Can you believe it? After all the effort I’ve put in trying to find a match for him, he’s far more interested in spending money on his car than dating.”

Jiang Cheng is visibly frustrated at the attention, his jaw tense as he gazes at his bowl of food. 

But once again, Lan Huan sweeps in, benevolently smoothing things over. 

“Sometimes it’s best not to rush these things,” he remarks, sagely. “The greatest connections can come at unexpected times. What’s important is that we aspire to be the best versions of ourselves, and remain open to all of the wonderful possibilities before us.”

“Well said, well said!” Jiang Fengmian praises, clearly charmed by Lan Huan’s amiable nature, and grateful for the buffer from Yu Ziyuan’s critique. “Lan Huan, let’s hear more about your recent travels.”

Lan Huan may resemble Lan Zhan at a glance, but their lifestyles and personalities couldn’t be more different. 

Lan Qiren is an attorney, and is currently the acting president of their family law firm. Lan Zhan has followed his direction and will be attending law school starting next year, while Wei Ying will work from home part time as a software developer, after recovering from the birth of their children. Lan Zhan assured him he didn’t need to work, but Wei Ying knows he will need something to keep himself busy, so he’s arranged to work part-time for a start-up, with his friends Wen Ning and Wen Qing. He’s quite thrilled with the arrangement, to be honest, since the politics and hierarchy of a corporate job are entirely unappealing to him.

Lan Huan, meanwhile, has followed a different path. Like Lan Qiren, he is both a beta, and a perpetual bachelor. But rather than follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle, he found himself drawn to the business world, and currently holds a high-ranking position working in HR for a large global company. He’s also authored several self-help books on varying topics.

Lan Huan travels frequently, and has a suspiciously close relationship with Nie Mingjue and Meng Yao, an alpha and omega couple who are, more often than not, his travel companions. Nie Mingjue is a wealthy investor and a high-ranking martial artist, and Meng Yao is a young Pilates instructor he met at the gym several years ago. Lan Huan became acquainted with the two of them while staying at a resort in Bali a few years ago, seeking inspiration for his next book. After running into them at the resort pool, and whatever adventures transpired after, they kept in touch and became exceptionally close friends and travel companions. And in an unexpected twist, they later discovered that Nie Mingjue’s younger brother, Nie Huaisang, was one of Wei Ying’s close friends.

Lan Huan is very whimsical, and at times, out of touch. But he is incredibly sincere, and he cares deeply about his family and close friends. He’s also incredibly averse to conflict, and has a knack for floating through tense situations unscathed. 

As dinner winds down, he’s earnestly telling Jiang Cheng about the importance of “finding your why” as Jiang Fengmian begins to gauge interest in a round or two of mahjong, and perhaps some card games to follow. 

Wei Ying is feeling quite sleepy and sore towards the end of dinner. He cannot stop himself from yawning several times, and he can feel Lan Zhan and Jiang Yanli exchanging glances.

“Wei Ying, why don’t you rest on the sofa with Yanli?” Lan Zhan gently suggests. “I’ll stay here and play mahjong.”

“Are you sure?” Wei Ying asks. “I can play, too…”

“I’ll join, as well,” Lan Qiren announces, quickly rising from his seat. “Come, Wei Ying, let’s take a rest on the sofa.”

Wei Ying can do little to object at this point. And it’s true that he is exhausted, and starting to feel quite sore. The third trimester is nearly upon him, and his body is certainly feeling the strain of carrying two babies. His stomach is swollen, his back is sore, and it’s difficult to breathe sometimes. He also gets headaches if he doesn’t rest enough, or if he’s without Lan Zhan’s familiar scent. 

Fortunately, he has Lan Zhan’s big cardigan to curl up in as they retire to the sofa. Jiang Yanli brings over a bowl of fruit to share and some tea, and Wei Ying happily curls up beside her. Lan Qiren settles in on the sofa adjacent to them, fussing over Wei Ying and making sure he’s comfortable and has some fruit to eat.

They’re not far from the table, so they can still hear and see everyone gathered around for the game. Jiang Fengmian is clearly trying to bond with Lan Zhan, and Lan Zhan is doing his best to take part. From what Wei Ying has shared with him, he knows that Jiang Fegnmian has an… affinity for gambling. A game of mahjong is surely one of the best ways to connect with him. Jin Zixuan is already familiar with Jiang Fengmian, so he easily settles into the game, as well. And Lan Xichen watches from the side, airily steering the conversation with Yu Ziyuan while Jiang Cheng joins in on the game, at Jiang Fengmian’s insistence. 

Lan Qiren, meanwhile, clearly disapproves of any form of gambling. 

“Irresponsible,” he mutters under his breath, as he glances over at the mahjong table. And then, shifting his attention to Wei Ying, he asks after his health. 

“Has A-Zhan been cooking for you, Wei Ying? Has he been playing the piano?”

“Yes, shushu,” Wei Ying affirms, stifling a yawn in his hand. “Lan Zhan takes such good care of me.”

“And how have your visits with the doctor been? Are there any complications to be aware of? I’ve been reading up on the subject, and for a male omega carrying twins, it’s important to monitor the pregnancy closely.”

“The doctor said everything is going well,” Wei Ying tells him, stifling another yawn. “I’ve been going to all my appointments.”

“Here, A-Ying, why don’t you take a rest?” Jiang Yanli takes mercy on him, encouraging him to rest his head on a pillow on her lap. Wei Ying happily obliges, curling up on her lap and letting his eyes drift closed as she strokes his hair.

He can hear her talking with Lan Qiren as he dozes off, discussing all matters of things about babies and health, and early childhood education. Since she’s recently given birth to Jin Ling, she’s well-versed in the subject, and can easily converse with Lan Qiren. 

Just as he’s dozing off, he can hear Lan Qiren telling Jiang Yanli eagerly about a fascinating study he read about the positive effects of classical music on child development during pregnancy.

Does Zixuan play the piano? he asks, just as Wei Ying drifts off.

—

Wei Ying is woken later in the evening, by Lan Zhan gently rousing him and stroking his cheek. 

“Everyone is leaving now, sweetheart,” he tells Wei Ying softly. “Do you want to say goodbye?”

Wei Ying mumbles and rubs at his eyes, and forces himself awake so he can thank everyone for coming and bid them a goodnight. There seems to have been a good bit of drinking towards the end of the night, since Jiang Fengmian, Jin Zixuan, and Jiang Cheng all have flushed cheeks and gleeful smiles, and Yu Ziyuan and Jiang Yanli have taken charge of the car keys. 

Lan Zhan is no exception. His ears and cheeks are flushed, and he stumbles a bit as he helps Wei Ying to bed. 

“How much did you drink tonight, hmm?” Wei Ying teases him, as they curl up together under the bedsheets. “Your ears are so warm, Lan Zhan.”

But Lan Zhan isn’t bashful at all. He takes Wei Ying’s hand in his, and pins it to the bed, rolling to hover over him. 

Lan Zhan’s cheeks are flushed, and his eyes are hazy. Wei Ying can see the soft fan of his eyelashes, and feel the scent of alcohol on his breath. His hair falls forward ever so slightly, tickling Wei Ying’s face. 

He’s so beautiful, it makes Wei Ying’s heart ache.

“For you,” he whispers. “Wei Ying. Everything for you.”

“Lan Zhan…” 

Wei Ying breathes his name as Lan Zhan kisses his forehead, his cheek. 

“Wei Ying…”

Lan Zhan’s warm hand caresses Wei Ying’s swollen stomach adoringly. His alcohol-clouded gaze drifts down to where his hand is resting, seeming fascinated.

When he looks back up at Wei Ying, his eyes are heavy with something indecipherable. 

“I did this to you,” he whispers, his voice impossibly soft, like he is in awe. “Wei Ying…”

“Lan Zhaan…” Wei Ying whines, feeling his own cheeks heat up from the attention. He’s incredibly defenseless when Lan Zhan treats him like this!

Lan Zhan’s lips curl with the faintest hint of a smile, and he dips down to capture Wei Ying’s lips in a deep, heartfelt kiss. 

Wei Ying whimpers into his mouth, clinging to him immediately. Lan Zhan is so beautiful and so good to him. He treats him so well, and cares for him so much. Wei Ying has never felt this loved before. He has never given himself over to someone like this, and he has never felt such a hunger for someone before. Lan Zhan is so dear to him, he can hardly bear it. 

“My Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan whispers, gently against his lips. There is a hint of alcohol on his breath, sweet and sharp and intoxicating.

“You’re going to get me drunk, laogong,” Wei Ying teases him, making his voice soft like he’s letting him in on a secret.

“Impossible.” 

Lan Zhan’s voice is so gentle. He nuzzles close and reverently kisses the bite mark on Wei Ying’s neck, settling down beside him in bed and curling around him protectively. 

Wei Ying sighs contentedly, curling closer in his embrace. He can feel his eyes drifting closed once more, as the exhaustion from the day sets in. 

His stomach is so heavy with two babies inside, and his chest is ever so slightly swollen, and starting to feel a bit tender with early signs of lactation. According to his doctor, he won’t develop full breasts like a female omega, but his chest will become a little swollen and tender with milk. 

Lan Zhan knows he has been uncomfortable, and tired. He can surely sense it even now, as he holds Wei Ying close and nuzzles adoringly against the nape of his neck. 

Wei Ying knows that Lan Zhan must be tired, too. He has been doing so much, looking after Wei Ying and preparing for the arrival of their babies. He is such a wonderful husband, and Wei Ying knows he will be a wonderful father, too. He has proven how much he cares, time and time again.  

Wei Ying has never felt more exhausted, but he has never felt more loved. 

—

In the third trimester, Wei Ying develops intense nesting urges.

More often than not, he finds himself in the babies’ bedroom or the living room, frustrated, trying to arrange everything right.

Lan Zhan is always so patient and attentive when Wei Ying is like this. He always comforts and reassures him.

“We need more pillows,” Wei Ying will whimper, with watery eyes. “These are all wrong…”

“Let’s get some more, then,” Lan Zhan gently agrees, surveying the room. “What kind would you like?”

“I don’t know!!” Wei Ying whines, as tears begin to roll down his cheeks. “But it’s all wrong… the wall color is wrong, too! We need something brighter, it’s way too dark in here…”

“Okay,” Lan Zhan assures him, carefully searching his expression. “We can change anything we want. It doesn’t have to stay this way.”

Wei Ying sniffles weakly. Lan Zhan always listens closely and takes everything he says so seriously! He’s so earnest, it makes Wei Ying’s heart ache. 

“What’s wrong?” Lan Zhan asks him, gently reaching out to wipe the tears from his cheeks. “Why are you crying, baobei?”

Wei Ying whimpers and turns his cheek into Lan Zhan’s palm. Lan Zhan knows him so well. It’s not the pillows, or the color of the walls. Not really. 

He closes his eyes and takes a shaky breath.

“It’s just… what if the babies don’t like the room?” he admits, and his voice comes out small and sad. “What if they don’t feel at home here…”

It hurts to admit it. Wei Ying knows he’s overthinking things. He knows the babies will be content here.

But he also remembers what it was like, being taken from the hospital after his parents’ accident, and brought to an orphanage full of strangers. He remembers what it was like when Jiang Fengmian found him there months later and brought him home, and when Jiang Cheng locked him out of the bedroom on the first night, so he quietly curled up in the bathtub and cried himself to sleep. He remembers Jiang Cheng’s dogs being taken away, and knowing he was the cause. He remembers Yu Ziyuan’s reaction, and how long it took for her to agree to keep him.

“Wei Ying…”

Lan Zhan is looking at him with such an earnest, heartfelt expression. His light colored eyes are shining with warmth, in the afternoon light spilling in from the window. His big hand is cradling Wei Ying’s cheek, gently wiping away his tears. 

“This is our home,” Lan Zhan tells him, his voice soft and sincere with conviction. “And our children will always be safe here. It will be their home too.”

Lan Zhan means it. He really means it. Wei Ying can feel the warmth of his assurance in their bond, like a tide swelling in his heart. 

He sniffles and sinks into Lan Zhan’s arms, embracing him as a fresh wave of tears races down his cheeks. He’s not upset anymore, he’s just exhausted, and so relieved that Lan Zhan is here with him. His breath hitches pitifully as he cries, and Lan Zhan makes soft soothing sounds as he strokes his hair, tucking him protectively against his chest as the wave of emotion he’s feeling crashes and receeds. 

“Shhh,” he whispers, so gentle and patient. “It’s okay, Wei Ying. It’s okay.”

When his crying has settled, Wei Ying hugs Lan Zhan earnestly, as best as he can with his swollen stomach.

“I love you,” he whimpers, into the soft material of Lan Zhan’s sweater. 

“I love you too, Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan breathes, pressing a gentle kiss to his hair. “I love you so much. You are so strong, sweetheart.”

Lan Zhan is always like this. He’s always there to catch Wei Ying when he falls.  

He’s also there to make sure Wei Ying doesn’t fall in the first place, especially given the strain Wei Ying is feeling as it gets closer and closer to their delivery date.

Wei Ying’s back aches so much now, and his stomach is so, so heavy. His chest is tender, his ankles are swollen, and it’s hard to breathe. He’s so, so tired all the time, and he gets dizzy so easily now. Lan Zhan is always at his side when he’s walking, overly cautious, and he springs into action whenever he sees Wei Ying is struggling with something. He massages Wei Ying’s swollen feet and ankles every night, and buys him special compression socks to help make it more bearable. He makes sure Wei Ying is eating enough and staying hydrated and getting lots of rest. 

Just as Jiang Yanli had predicted, Lan Zhan has become obsessive about cooking a lot of food and preparing things for Wei Ying. His alpha instincts are on overdrive, and he’s constantly checking on Wei Ying and trying to take care of him. Their refrigerator is overflowing with food and ingredients Lan Zhan has prepared, and there is almost always a pot of soup simmering on the stove. 

When Lan Zhan is especially stressed, Wei Ying will ask him to simply lay down with him, and keep him company. 

“It’s okay,” he’ll tell Lan Zhan, gently kissing him on the forehead and stroking his hair. “You’re taking such good care of me and the babies. Come take a rest with me now. All I need is your company. Good boy. ”

Wei Ying hates to see Lan Zhan so worried. He hates feeling so helpless, and physically limited.

But it’s all worth it, because Lan Zhan will lay his hand on his swollen stomach and hum a lullaby, and Wei Ying will feel the babies stirring, kicking their tiny little feet inside him. 

Two little baby boys.

Sizhui and Jingyi.

Wei Ying cannot wait to meet them. He cannot wait to see their little faces, their little hands and feet, and hold them in his arms. He cannot wait to see their features, and finally find out how closely they resemble Lan Zhan. 

Wei Ying has studied Lan Zhan’s baby pictures intently. He was such a cute baby, with such a serious expression. 

He’s just as cute and serious now, caressing Wei Ying’s stomach and singing softly to their babies. His touch is so soothing, and Wei Ying can feel his steady heartbeat where he’s curled up against his chest. His scent is so comforting, soft and woody, like the scent of incense in cold mountain air.

Wei Ying adores him. He couldn’t be happier to have created these two little babies with him.

He knows Lan Zhan will be the best father in the world. 

—

When it’s finally time for the delivery, Lan Zhan already has everything prepared. 

As soon as Wei Ying’s water breaks, he’s helping him clean up and change clothes, and supporting him carefully on the way to the car. He already has several bags of necessities packed and waiting by the door, and he quickly loads them into the car and takes off for the hospital.

“Tell me if it hurts, Wei Ying,” he tells him, his tone incredibly serious. “If anything feels off, let me know right away.”

Wei Ying nods weakly, curled up in the passenger seat with his head resting against the window. He’s doing his best to stay calm and control his breathing, but there’s another wave of contractions hitting him, and this one is worse than the last. It feels like his insides are seizing up, and there is a great wave of pressure building inside him. He grits his teeth through it as Lan Zhan backs out of the driveway and peels off down the street at record speed. 

Lan Zhan is a very skilled driver, and their new car is quite sporty, but he rarely drives above the speed limit like this. He’s putting on a very deliberate aura of calm as he weaves through the traffic, but Wei Ying can see how tense he is. As they’re nearing the hospital, he even runs a yellow light!

“Lan Zhan!!” Wei Ying gasps in surprise. 

“It’s an emergency,” Lan Zhan calmly explains. “Please hold on for a moment longer, Wei Ying. We are nearly there.”

Lan Zhan is very involved once they arrive at the hospital. He pays extra to make sure they are given a private room, and he is extremely attentive as they settle in, making sure Wei Ying has everything he needs and checking in with him about his contractions. He asks the doctors and nurses many questions, and when one of the doctors asks him to sit down, Lan Zhan growls at them!

He clearly needs something to keep him busy. 

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying calls, from where he’s lying on the hospital bed, having his vitals taken. “Can you tell jiejie? And everyone else?”

“Yes! Wei Ying, I’ll message them right now.”

Lan Zhan diligently messages everyone, from where he’s sitting at Wei Ying’s bedside. Wei Ying can see his fingers fumbling over the messages, with nerves and excitement. 

A moment later, Lan Zhan’s phone starts vibrating with messages and calls.

Jiang Yanli calls first, asking how everything is going and insisting on speaking with Wei Ying over the speaker. She reassures him that everything will be okay, and tells him to stay strong, and that she will be there soon and she is so excited for him! Wei Ying can hear how excited and concerned she is over the phone. 

“I love you, jiejie!” he cries from the hospital bed. 

“I love you too, A-Ying!!”

Lan Qiren calls next, and quickly informs Lan Zhan that he is on the way, and asks if they need anything.   

Lan Huan, Jiang Fengmian, and Jiang Cheng all text back with well wishes and assurances that they’ll be over as soon as they can. 

The labor progresses along quickly. Wei Ying’s contractions become increasingly intense, and frequent. He squirms in the bed and whimpers in pain, as the nurses assure him that he’s doing well, and continue to check on his vitals and dilation. Wei Ying is clearly a patient of much interest to the staff, since several doctors are overseeing his delivery. Pregnancies are much less common for male omegas than females, and it’s a twin pregnancy, as well!

Lan Zhan is clearly stressed, seeing Wei Ying like this. He’s literally on the edge of his seat, watching Wei Ying and his vitals on the screen with extreme concern. 

“How is it, baobei?”

“Wei Ying… you’re in pain…”

“What do you need?”

As the labor intensifies, the doctor gently asks Wei Ying if he wants Lan Zhan in the delivery room. There can be up to two people present, if he likes. Everyone else will need to wait in the waiting room.

“I want him here!!” Wei Ying cries, reaching out for Lan Zhan’s hand as a tear runs down his cheek. “I want him here, please!! And my jiejie!”

“Yanli should be here any minute,” Lan Zhan assures him, squeezing his hand.  “I’ll be here with you the entire time, baobei.”

Just as Lan Zhan predicted, Jiang Yanli shows up shortly after, rushing to Wei Ying’s side, her eyes lit up with excitement.

“A-Ying!! How are you feeling?! You’re so far along, so quickly! Sweetheart, oh- I know it hurts!”

Wei Ying grabs her hand, tensing up and making a strangled sound as another wave of contractions hits him.

“Oh, honey- here, I’ll be right beside you. Squeeze my hand as hard as you need.”

Wei Ying endures everything as best he can. He’s skilled at enduring discomfort. But when the labor reaches its peak, and the doctors and nurses gather around and tell him it’s time to push, his occasional whimpers become pathetic little wails as tears run down his cheeks. 

Everything is moving along so quickly. Wei Ying can feel that the babies want to come out. He can feel that he needs to push. But it hurts. It’s literally splitting him open. He throws his head back on the pillows, screaming into his hand to muffle his cries. 

“It’ll be okay, Wei Ying,” Jiang Yanli tells him. “Just keep pushing! Take a deep breath and push!”

“You are doing so well, sweetheart,” Lan Zhan assures him, sounding heartbroken at Wei Ying’s cries of pain.

Wei Ying squeezes both of their hands and pushes, and pushes, and pushes. 

When the first baby finally comes, Wei Ying wails in relief and then collapses into the pillows, panting and crying silently in the aftermath. He can feel that his hair is sweaty, sticking to his forehead, and he knows he must look incredibly disheveled. But he couldn’t care in the slightest.

The nurses have his baby. They are caring for him and cleaning him. Wei Ying can hear his first warbling little cry.

“I want to see him…” Wei Ying tries weakly, and his voice comes out rough from screaming. “I want- ahhh!!”

“Wei Ying!”

Wei Ying squeezes his eyes shut as his body seizes with pressure, panting as another wave of contractions hits him, coming on fast and hard. 

“One more! You are doing so well, Wei Ying, just one more!”

Wei Ying can’t tell who’s talking to him anymore. He cries hard through the second one, digging his fingers into the bedsheets and clinging to whoever is grabbing his hands and wishing desperately for it to be over. He wants the pain to stop. But more importantly, he really, really wants to hold his babies!

The second one comes much more quickly than the first, and the relief that follows is exquisite. He sinks back into the pillows, panting as relieved tears run down his face. 

“You did it,” Lan Zhan’s voice is full of raw emotion as he leans over the side of the bed, gently stroking Wei Ying’s cheek. “You did it, Wei Ying.”

“Lan Zhan…” Wei Ying whispers, leaning into his comforting touch. Lan Zhan strokes his hair, and presses a gentle kiss to his forehead. As Wei Ying’s vision clears, he can see that there are tears in Lan Zhan’s eyes.

“Laogong, why are you crying?” Wei Ying asks, his voice weak.

Lan Zhan takes a shaky breath, blinking away the tears.

“Because I love you,” he gently tells Wei Ying. “I love you so very much.”

“Lan Zhan…”

“Are you ready for the babies?” A doctor asks. “Since you’ve delivered both, it’s safe for you to hold them, now.”

“Please… I want to hold them…”

Wei Ying’s voice sounds so small and rough. Even the doctors seem to take pity on him. They quickly bring over one of the babies, wrapped in a towel, and settle it carefully in Wei Ying’s arms.

“This is the firstborn,” the doctor tells him. “We will cut the umbilical cord in a few moments.”

“Sizhui,” Wei Ying whispers.

Sizhui is so small in his arms. He is so little, and warm, and helpless. His little fingers are so cute, and he has such a tiny little face. He came from Wei Ying, and he seems to know it, because he calms down immediately in his mother’s arms. Such a polite and sweet boy. 

Jingyi is just as small and cute, but he’s much more fussy! He won’t stop crying until he’s placed in Wei Ying’s arms, and even then, rather than settling down, he looks around with an alert expression. 

Wei Ying loves them both so much, more than he could have ever imagined possible.

“Our babies,” he whispers, his voice soft with awe, as he gazes at the two of them, and then over at Lan Zhan. 

“Yes, our babies,” Lan Zhan agrees, warm and fond, with an adoring smile.

“They are so beautiful, A-Ying!” Jiang Yanli praises, her eyes shining with happiness. “Here, let me take your picture together.”

For the next hour, Wei Ying holds the babies while the doctors and nurses work on treating him. They need to give him stitches, and afterwards they keep monitoring his bleeding and checking his vitals. Sizhui and Jingyi stir in his arms, and the doctor guides him to help them breastfeed for the first time. 

Lan Zhan watches over him and the babies with such soft eyes, like they are his whole world and he cannot bear to look away.

Eventually the doctors need to take the babies for more postnatal care and tests.

“Please take good care of them,” Wei Ying begs, feeling an ache in his heart as the nurses lift the babies from his arms. 

“We will bring them back as soon as possible,” the doctor gently tells him. “Now, let’s get you a shower so you’re all cleaned up and feeling better. The two of you have some more visitors in the waiting room.”

Wei Ying allows himself to be helped from the bed, and guided to the shower. The doctor is right - he does feel much better after taking a shower. Lan Zhan is even able to accompany him and help him wash up, which helps a lot since Wei Ying is feeling quite exhausted, sore, and unsteady on his feet. 

When he’s done with the shower, Lan Zhan helps him change into the comfortable clothes they packed from home, and leads him back to the hospital bed, which has been changed to have fresh, clean sheets. 

After the ordeal he just went through, being tucked into a bed with clean sheets, wearing his own clothes, feels like heaven. The doctors bring Sizhui and Jingyi back, too, and Wei Ying is so happy to see them again he could cry. 

Once they’re all settled in, Jiang Yanli goes with the doctor to let everyone in the waiting room know it’s okay to visit now. There’s a limit to the number of visitors, so Jiang Cheng, Jiang Fengmian, and Yu Ziyuan come to see them first.

Jiang Cheng is surprisingly emotional when he sees Wei Ying and the babies. He gets watery-eyed when Lan Zhan helps him hold Jingyi, and he asks Wei Ying many questions about how the delivery went, and if he’s doing okay. Jiang Fengmian is similarly emotional.

“They’re beautiful, A-Ying, A-Zhan” he tells them. “What a wonderful blessing.”

Even Yu Ziyuan’s eyes go soft when she sees the babies. 

“You’ve done well,” she tells Wei Ying, when she sees how tired he is, trying to sit up on his own. Lan Zhan is quick to help him, and she nods in approval. 

“Let him take care of you, now,” she instructs Wei Ying, her tone surprisingly neutral, with a hint of concern. “The body needs to heal after delivery.”

Lan Qiren, Lan Huan, and Jin Zixuan visit next. 

Jin Zixuan is all smiles. He pulls Lan Zhan into a half hug and congratulates him, and leans over the bed to give Wei Ying a gentle hug, too, and tell him how beautiful the babies are. Lan Qiren immediately fusses over Wei Ying, asking how he’s feeling and how everything went during the delivery.

“Everything went well, shushu,” Wei Ying tells him. “Do you want to hold Sizhui?”

Lan Qiren’s eyes go so soft, as Lan Zhan helps to pass little Sizhui to him.

“My, my. Aren’t you a sweet boy,” he murmurs, seeming utterly enraptured with him. 

Lan Huan is also quite taken with the babies, although he’s unsure how to hold them. He gazes at them almost wistfully, and pulls Lan Zhan into a hug.

“Congratulations, didi. You’ll be a wonderful father. And to you, Wei Ying! I can already see you’ll be a wonderful mother. What an exciting new chapter!”

It is an exciting new chapter, Wei Ying thinks, as he watches their family all gather around, and feels the warmth of their babies, nestled in his and Lan Zhan’s arms. 

They will plan a 100 days party later to celebrate with all of their friends and extended family. But for now, being together with their closest family, with their two babies healthy and safe, Wei Ying couldn’t be happier. 

—

After returning home from the hospital, Wei Ying is quite exhausted, and sore. Lan Zhan helps him into bed, and helps to settle the babies in their bedside bassinets. They’ll sleep in the nursery when they’re older, but for now, it’s best if they sleep as close as possible to their mother, both for their own comfort and development, and for Wei Ying’s recovery.

Lan Zhan has read extensively about postpartum care, and he is fully prepared to make sure Wei Ying and the babies have the best possible experience. He scents them every morning and night, and makes sure Wei Ying has his clothes to curl up in, and lots of blankets and pillows to nest with. He checks on Wei Ying’s stitches, and changes his bandages, and makes sure Wei Ying is resting as much as possible in between nursing the babies. Sizhui and Jingyi need to drink every 2-3 hours, so it’s a constant cycle of short naps and feeding.  If the babies are awake when Wei Ying is due for a nap, Lan Zhan will bring one or two of them with him to another room and look after them so Wei Ying can rest. He’s also taken charge of changing the babies’ diapers, since Wei Ying is nursing them all day. 

Of course, Lan Zhan needs to sleep, too. Wei Ying encourages him to sleep as much as possible, and asks him to curl up in bed with him and the babies whenever possible. 

Lan Zhan is more than happy to do so. There is nothing he enjoys more than being with his sweet, beautiful omega, and their two little babies. Wei Ying’s feisty lavender scent has become slightly soft and milky, like the scent of their babies, and it settles some deep and primal instinct in Lan Zhan to be close to them in their postpartum nest. Poor Wei Ying is still healing, and Lan Zhan wants nothing more than to look after him and bask in his presence. Every day when he checks on his stitches, his heart aches when he sees how painful this has been for Wei Ying. 

Wei Ying is incredibly strong-willed and selfless, but like any omega, his body is delicate and craves the attention and care of his alpha. And Lan Zhan is determined to give him the best care and attention possible. He makes sure Wei Ying is warm and has lots of nutrient-rich, healing foods. He has purchased a specialized cookbook with recipes for postpartum recovery, and he consults it frequently. 

Jiang Yanli also comes to visit often, and helps out in the kitchen. She also helps to entertain the babies so Lan Zhan and Wei Ying can sleep, and keeps Wei Ying company in between his naps, or while he’s nursing. 

Sometimes Jin Zixuan or Jiang Cheng come along, as well, and Lan Zhan has to remind himself that it’s okay for other alphas to be in his home, so close to Wei Ying while he’s in this delicate state. They may not smell like blood relatives, but they are family, and they are here to help. As long as they do not intrude in his and Wei Ying’s bedroom, and stay in the living room, he can manage it. 

Lan Qiren and Lan Huan also come to visit, as well as Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan. Lan Qiren is a particularly frequent visitor, and he has quite a fondness for Sizhui and Jingyi. 

It’s very helpful to have so many family members willing to help out and spend time with the babies. But at the end of the day, the babies are still very attached to Wei Ying. They can tolerate visits with other family members, but after a while, they become fussy. Lan Zhan can soothe them for a time, but they always quiet down when Wei Ying holds them, drawn to the comforting scent of their mother. 

Wei Ying so clearly adores them, but sometimes he gets overwhelmed with two of them crying for him at the same time.

“How am I supposed to hold two of you?” he’ll laugh, almost hysterically at times. “Don’t you want anyone else, hmm? Aiyah, you both know that milk comes from the mother, after all.”

Lan Zhan is always ready to support him and help him with the babies, whenever he is overwhelmed. He will hold one of them while Wei Ying situates the other, and then help to settle the second one in Wei Ying’s arms. There is nothing better than the sight of his beautiful omega, curled up in their bed, sleepy and safe, with their two babies suckling from his chest. 

Lan Zhan has read numerous child development books, through the course of the pregnancy. He knows that babies at this young age view themselves as an extension of their mother, and don’t yet have an independent sense of self. They rely on their mother for everything, food and comfort and safety, just as they did in the womb. They crave their mother’s heartbeat and warmth. 

To Sizhui and Jingyi, Wei Ying is their entire world. 

“I need to take care of you and your mother, don’t I?” Lan Zhan whispers to Jingyi, as he holds him in the living room, rocking him back to sleep to avoid waking Wei Ying and Sizhui. 

The truth is, Wei Ying is Lan Zhan’s entire world, too. Ever since Wei Ying returned his bite, their bond has been a constant warmth in Lan Zhan’s heart. Wei Ying’s natural magnetism and boundless affection has brought light and levity to Lan Zhan’s life. He is too beautiful, too special, and too kind, and he has given himself to Lan Zhan, and created this little family with him. Lan Zhan loves him. He would do anything for him, and anything for the little babies they have created together.

Jingyi and Sizhui are still so young, but they will grow up and develop unique personalities. Lan Zhan cannot wait to see how they take after Wei Ying.

“You are truly an extension of him,” he whispers, as he cradles Jingyi close to his heart. “You are my beloved, my most cherished, the ones I must shelter and protect.”