The date for Mianmian’s c-section was coming closer and closer. Sun Fang was always vaguely aware of it somewhere in the back of his head, the knowledge quietly brewing, but for the most part he was able to ignore it. There wasn’t anything he could do about it, after all. Mianmian already had the best doctor, the best hospital, the best support system. Everything was the best money could buy, and Sun Fang was simply being irrational.

Irrational, in this case, was just another word for scared. Mianmian was his oldest friend, his best friend, and he would never be able to think of Mianmian and surgery in the same context and not be  flooded with more worry than he knew what to do with. 

The pottery class was a godsend. He grew more in love with it every time he visited and all his thoughts to try other hobbies had long since ceased. The things he made in the class were lopsided, clumsy and uneven, but he loved them. He dutifully presented each and every one to his butler. 

It made his head clear. It allowed him to have complete control over something; to make all the decisions. It gave his mind peace. 

And his butler reacted to every gift like it was top-quality. it made something in him tingle pleasantly every time. His butler always handled his creations with the utmost gentleness, carefully taking them from him and carrying them over to its room. Sun Fang never went in there and didn’t know what it did with them, but he hoped… well, he hoped it liked them.

Deng Xi regularly texted him updates on Mianmian’s situation. Things weren’t getting better so there was no escaping the c-section, but they weren’t getting worse either. Which was a good thing, Sun Fang supposed. Still, that worry never quite managed to abate, no matter how much he threw himself into pottery, or dating, or watching mind-numbing idol dramas. It was ever-present—there was no escape.

Mianmian was no help, of course. The omega was completely unflappable and had taken everything in stride. He never seemed surprised about any of this and he never really expressed worry. 

If anything, that just worried Sun Fang more. Mianmian was strong, yes, but he was worried. Sun Fang knew him too well, had known him through some tough times. The fact that he could still read Mianmian so well, even though there had been a solid decade where he hadn’t had any contact with him at all, told him that that ability would probably never leave him. And it wasn’t like he wanted it to. Mianmian was too important—to not notice his worry seemed cruel.

”Yes, yes, I’m listening,” Sun Fang said when there was a pause in Deng Xi’s tirade. They were on a video call, and he could clearly see the frazzled expression on Deng Xi’s handsome face. Sun Fang could understand why Mianmian would go for a guy like Deng Xi, at least based on looks. His cousin was handsome, there was no doubt about that. 

Deng Xi gave him a sharp look. ”You haven’t a word I’ve said, don’t lie to me.”

”I wanted to spare your feelings,” Sun Fang said. He stretched out his legs on the beach chair and put his arm behind his head, gazing at Deng Xi over the edge of his round sunglasses. ”You’ve such a delicate heart, you know.”

”Oh, haha,” Deng Xi dragged a hand through his dark hair and rolled his eyes. 

”Don’t worry,” Sun Fang said and smiled at him cousin, ”I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

”Good, because Mianmian really wants you there, despite the mess it’ll cause with out family’s.”

Sun Fang smirked, ”You mean because of the mess it’ll cause with our families.”

Deng Xi sighed. ”Yes, he’s… looking forwards to that as well. But you’ll be there? No cancelling at the last second? Your brother will be there, and Marcus will probably come as well. Are you sure you’re fine with that?”

”Yes, I absolutely won’t cancel,” Sun Fang drawled. He contained the urge to roll his eyes, knowing it wouldn’t help. Deng Xi was simply worrying; there was no need to take it personally.

Besides, he was looking forward to seeing his cheating fiancé and Sun Yi. He wondered if they knew he’d be coming; they probably weren’t aware of his relationship with Mianmian, so it would be a surprise. A delightful one, he was sure. 

Sun Fang was always a delight.

”Good, good,” Deng Xi muttered again. He truly looked tired. The other man said, ”I’ve booked your transport and sent the tickets to you. Did you get them?”

”I did, yes.”

”Good, good.”

Sun Fang kept his laughter from escaping. ”Maybe you should get some rest?”

”En?” Deng Xi refocused on him. He shook his head, ”No, I’m getting plenty of rest. Mother makes certain of it. She’s worried I’ll make myself sick, you know.”

”Sounds like her,” Sun Fang noted. Deng Xi nodded.

The conversation didn’t continue for long after that. When they’d hung up, Sun Fang glanced at the calendar; it was only a handful of weeks left until the surgery. He clicked his tongue and readjusted his hair tail, pulling a little on the strands as he worked. 

He pushed the sunglasses properly back up his nose and laid back on the beach chair. With the press of a button, it evened out until it was straight. The sun was right above him, angrily glaring down at him. His fingers tapped by his side on the chair, the sound mimicking the quick beating of his heart. He swallowed, annoyed at the emotion pulling at him.

Sun Fang closed his eyes. He sighed and placed a wide-brimmed hat over his head, the shade from the large beach umbrella protecting him somewhat.

He shouldn’t worry so much. It did no-one any good. But the emotion was like a lake filling up with more and more water; eventually, it would break down the dam he had built around it. 

He really wanted to see Mianmian.