The next day Yichen woke up first. He slipped out of bed and prepared a fire. Mochou had made some buns the night before so Yichen only needed to warm them up in the bamboo steamer. While the water boiled he looked over at Mochou who was still sound asleep in bed.
"I need to wake him." He thought as he quietly stared at Mochou.
"Five more minutes."
He decided to let Mochou sleep a little longer. There were a few things he needed to get ready and do before they left. It wouldn't be a problem if Mochou slept a little longer.
He started by feeding the birds and rabbits they kept in the yard. He also packed a basket with some of the wood Mochou needed for his carving, his tools, and some dried fruit to snack on.
Once done he checked on the buns and they were fluffy and warm. Using the extra water he made some tea. Everything was fine all that was left to do was wake up the sleeping Mochou.
"Mochou, wake up." He said as he gently shook his shoulder. Mochou grumbled and seemed reluctant to open his eyes.
"I know it's early but you need to wake up. Wake up and eat some breakfast so we can leave." Yichen urged. Mochou glared at Yichen through half open eyes.
"You can go back to sleep at my parent's place. Right now though, you need to wake up." Yichen said with a light chuckle.
He peeled away the quilt and handed Mochou a change of clothes. With no other choice Mochou climbed out of bed and started to change his clothes.
"How late will you be working?" Mochou asked.
"I'll come by the house to pick you up around noon."
Mochou looked like he had something else to say but remained silent. Seeing him hesitate to speak Yichen felt terrible. He could only hope that in time Mochou would feel comfortable when speaking with him again.
"Is there anything else you want to ask me?" Yichen asked hoping to convince Mochou to talk. It seemed to work and Mochou asked him another question.
"Will we be eating lunch at home or with your family?"
"We don't have to eat with my family everyday but I think we should today. In case I run late I don't want to worry about you being able to eat at a decent time." Yichen said.
Mochou could understand his concern so he didn't complain. He did however want to bring something with them for lunch.
"Should we bring a rabbit for lunch? I should have made extra buns or maybe noodles last night." Mochou said regretful he hadn't thought of it last night.
"Don't worry about it. Today is a bit of a last minute decision. We can talk to my mom about it more later." Yichen said.
Honestly he didn't think it was something to worry about. However Mochou had proven once again that he had difficulty excepting help from his family.
"Someday I hope he won't feel awkward when it comes to doing things with my family." Yichen mused.
Mochou went to the bathroom before sitting down at the table to eat. Yichen was prepared and handed him some tea and a couple buns when he returned.
"I'll make egg porridge for breakfast tomorrow." Mochou said as he bit into the buns.
"Do you feel nauseous?" Yichen asked with concern.
"I'm fine. I was just thinking porridge is a healthier choice for breakfast." Mochou said so as not to worry Yichen. He usually liked buns but for some reason they weren't the most appetizing this morning. However he didn't want worry Yichen so he thought if a more suitable reason for his suggestion.
"Whatever you think is best." Yichen said.
They quickly finished breakfast and headed out.
"I need to bring some wood and my tools." Mochou said.
"I already packed them for you. I also added some dried fruit for you to snack on. If you need anything else you can ask my brother or someone to get it for you." Yichen said.
"Okay."
With everything ready they left the yard and locked the gate behind them. While they walked Yichen talked about their day.
"If you are still tired you can sleep in my old room. I won't tell my mom about the pregnancy but they know your health isn't great. They won't question it if I tell them you need more rest. Don't feel obligated to help around the house. Find somewhere comfortable and do your woodcarving." Yichen explained.
"So sleepy." Mochou thought while half listening to Yichen talk. He was nervous but more than anything he was tired. As they walked he found himself leaning more and more towards Yichen until finally...
Poof*
Half asleep he softly bumped into Yichen's arm.
"Mochou, are you okay?"
Hearing his name Mochou opened his heavy eyes and looked up at Yichen.
"Sorry." Mochou said while fighting to keep his eyes open. Feeling sorry for forcing Mochou out of bed so early when he was clearly tired Yichen bent down and picked Mochou up into his strong arms.
"Yichen?"
"I'll carry you the rest of the way." He said.
Mochou felt guilty but more than that he was sleepy. Without putting up a fight he leaned his head against Yichen's shoulder and quickly found himself falling asleep.
Yichen now had a problem. With Mochou asleep in his arms he couldn't open the gate. With no other option Yichen raised his foot and kicked the gate hard.
Bang* Bang*
A few seconds later Yichen's younger brother Yi Xuan came the gate.
"Who is it?"
"It's me. Open up." Yichen said.
"Open it yourself." His brother said too lazy to do it for him."
"I can't. Let me in." Yichen demanded.
"What do you mean, you can't?" His brother asked a bit confused. The moment he opened the gate though he understood the problem.
"Is he okay?" Yi Xuan asked.
"Mochou's a little under the weather and needs more rest. Can you help me get him into my old room?"
Yi Xuan didn't complain and led Yichen to his old room. Once there Yichen tucked the sleeping Mochou into bed.
"I'm surprised he hasn't woken up. Are you sure he's just tired?" Yi Xuan whispered.
"It's nothing to worry about. He's just a little more tired than usual." Yichen tried to reassure him despite being worried himself. They weren't exactly being quiet.
Not wanting to disturb Mochou, Yi Xuan left first. Yichen placed the bamboo basket with the wood and other items by the bedroom door. He then walked over and leaned down to give Mochou a soft kiss on the forehead and quietly whispered good bye.
...
"Where is mom?" Yichen asked after closing the bedroom door.
"Meng Yao woke up feeling ill from the pregnancy so Mom's been in her room helping her all morning." Yi Xuan explained.
"I need to talk to her about Mochou." Yichen said as he headed for his eldest brother's room.
"It's not appropriate going in there." Yi Xuan warned.
Yichen knew it wouldn't be appropriate but he was a doctor. He planned to use it as an excuse to go in, help, and talk to his mom about Mochou.
Knock* knock.
"Who is it?" His mother quietly called out from inside the room.
"It's Yichen, I want to talk to you about Mochou."
"Not now, I'm taking care of your eldest sister-in-law." She said.
"I know. If you want I can take a look. I brought my acupuncture needles." Yichen said.
"She woke up nauseous and hasn't been able to eat anything all morning." His mother explained in more detail after opening the door.
"Do you have any ginger tea?" Yichen asked.
"We do. But it hasn't helped. She still can't eat anything." His mother explained.
"I'll use my needles." Yichen offered.
His mother was glad for the help and invited Yichen into the room. Before opening the door she made sure his sister-in-law Meng Yao was appropriately covered. Yichen wasn't unfamiliar with treating women or GER as a doctor. He sat at the bench after taking out his needles. When he sat down he was careful and avoided direct eye-contact with Meng Yao.
"Place your arm palm up on this pillow." Yichen instructed.
Meng Yao did as she was told. Yichen first used his two fingers to check her pulse. He then took out his needles and placed them just below the wrist.
"Mom, Mochou is sleeping in my old room right now." Yichen said.
"Why?" His mother asked a bit confused.
"He hasn't been feeling great and I don't feel comfortable leaving him home alone while I'm at work. I'll come back around noon to pick him up." Yichen carefully explained.
"Very well. Meng Yao how do you feel?" His mother asked. She was obviously more concerned about the pregnant Meng Yao than the sick Mochou.
"It's helping." Meng Yao slowly said.
"Mom, while I'm at work can you make sure Mochou rests. He has a habit of overdoing things." Yichen continued.
"That's fine. Yichen, how long before your needles help with the nausea?" She asked.
"It won't take long. Mochou brought some things to do wood carvings. He's really good. Just let him find somewhere comfortable to do it quietly." Yichen tried to talk about Mochou despite his mother's disinterest.
"Woodworking isn't an activity meant for GERs. He should be doing embroidery work." His mother said. Yichen wasn't happy with how judgemental she sounded when he mentioned it.
"Mom, he never learned how to do embroidery and he is amazing at woodcarving. Look he made me..."
"Yichen pay attention to what you are doing. You're sister-in-law needs your help right now." His mother interrupted.
Yichen's brow furrowed in annoyance. He couldn't help but think how his mother wouldn't be dismissing Mochou if she knew he was also pregnant. Despite his desire to reveal Mochou's condition he held his tongue.
"I promised Mochou I wouldn't say anything." He reminded himself.
It didn't take long before he finished using his needles and got up to leave.
"Mom, I don't know exactly when I'll come back so I was hoping Mochou and I could have lunch here today." He mentioned before leaving the room.
"That's fine." She said.
Yichen left the room feeling uneasy about his conversation with his mother. Even so he had no time to try to talk with his mother again. He had to leave to meet with the doctor.
Walking out into the hall he ran into his other sister-in-law Ke Xin. She looked predictably annoyed and had little interest in talking with him. However Yichen was still worried about Mochou.
"Second sister-in-law. My spouse Mochou is in my old room resting. He isn't feeling great. Could you make sure he rests?" Yichen said.
"I won't ask him to help with the day's chores. I'll do them all myself as usual." She said in an annoyed tone.
Yichen didn't feel like getting involved. He dismissed her attitude and left to go to work.
...
Mochou woke up feeling terrible. He had dreamt of the past. Not the usual nightmare of zombies clawing and gnawing on his limbs. He dreamt of the night his mother found out he was gay.
She had found out about his preferences when she discovered the photos he had secretly taken of his martial arts teacher. The man was Mochou's first love. He was tall, broad chested, and muscular.
Being held by his teacher as they practiced grappling techniques and the smell of his manly musk after an intense workout had sealed his fate. He was hooked and from that point forward he was only attracted to men.
He had no intention to confess his feelings. However as a young man he had certain needs. Needs he fulfilled with his secretly taken photos. Photos his mother found. She found them and questioned him about them that night.
When she asked him about the photos she didn't seem angry or upset. Mochou had grown up loved and felt comfortable talking to his parents about anything. Feeling that maybe his parents would accept him even after knowing his sexual preferences he honestly told her about his secret crush.
In hindsight it was the worst decision he had ever made. That night ended up being the last time he ever saw his parents.
His mother cried hysterically as she accused him of being ungrateful and her greatest shame. When his father came home and found out he beat him half to death and kicked him out of the house.
Waking up from that dream all he wanted was to be held by Yichen. Instead he woke up in a strange bed, in a strange room, alone, and a deep feeling of dread pressing down on his chest.
"Yichen." He said out out habit. Several seconds passed though in silence before Mochou remembered leaving the house with Yichen.
No longer confused he sat up in bed and debated leaving the room.
"I can't stay in here all morning. I need to go out and be sociable. I should be a good son no is it daughter-in-law?"Mochou thought.
Knock... knock
Before he had the chance to decide he heard a knock at the bedroom door.
"Mochou, come out. You cannot stay in the room all day." Yichen's mother said through the door. Mochou quickly got out of bed and left the room.
"Sorry, I've been feeling tired recently." Mochou said.
"Yichen did mention you've been feeling unwell. He can certainly be overcautious. You can't spend all day in bed. Come with me. I need to prepare some ginger tea for Meng Yao. Her nausea improved after Yichen helped her with acupuncture but she still hasn't been able to eat anything.
Mochou followed along to help. It was only making tea. Something easy to do. Unfortunately, what Mochou didn't realize was that Yichen's mother planned to leave the heavy lifting to him.
She first asked him to get the firewood from the back shed and start the fire. Recalling Yichen's rules Mochou only grabbed two pieces and planned to do several trips. Unfortunately, Wwhen Yichen's mother saw him carrying so little she didn't hide her disappointment.
"It will take forever if you carry so little. Go back and bring at least six more pieces." She demanded.
"Six is a bit heavy." Mochou said but Yichen's mother thought differently.
"Don't be difficult. Go quickly." She said unimpressed by Mochou's words.
Mochou no longer hesitated and did what she asked. It wasn't that he didn't care about the rules he and Yichen had discussed. He did, but after the dream he had Mochou couldn't disappoint Yichen's mother.
He went to the shed and gathered the wood. He then started the fire and fetched a large pot of water from the well. He did everything she asked. Not without the occasional remark about the exertion needed to do the task. Followed by Yichen's mother giving him a disapproving look.
"I thought she had accepted me but I guess I was wrong." Mochou thought as he left again to get more wood. This time because he was asked to help prepare lunch.
...