Lost_Strings

a/n: Late update because I was at school. Yes, i'm a student again in Germany. Releases are now uploaded at night. (9-10pm) so for those outside Germany, they might be receiving my releases a day later.

The commotion this morning really shook the parents and since neither of them wished to separate, in the end, Ming Yu's parents invited them in.

When Ming Yu gathered himself back to normal he finally had a clear understanding of Admin's 'This- world-dedicated-to you' statement.

"..."

"This again." Xihan kneaded the space between his brows which did not suit his younger self.

Can a child grow white hairs at such a young age? Ming Yu was wondering about this.

Their parents decided to cook together for breakfast in the Ming Family house. If an almighty being were reading their lifetimes closely, these people would be no strangers to them.

The Ming Household has 3 people.

Ming Yue as the older daddy and Ming Huang as the young Father. Ming Huang married into Yue's family register and was formerly known as 'Yu Huang.'

The Yao household has 4 people with Xihan as the youngest.

The father Yao Ren Jin and mother Wan Ke Er.

Yes, Yao Ren Jin found the jewels he lost and created a child.

Also, Wan Ke Er regained her fiery temper but became straight or even straighter than that of a bamboo not frolicking around women anymore.

Xihan's older sibling was of course, his older twin brother, formerly 'Xu' Ze Min.

The characters were reused to fill this world in which already happened before.

(a/n: Was inspired by readers who wished to see the characters again. Hope i wont forget anyone.)

Ming Yu didn't blame Admin nor the higher ups as he didn't forget that the change was sudden because of the situation.

Ah. he didn't want to think of this at the moment.

Ming Yu's sleeve was tugged and he looked at Xihan. He lowered his head as Xihan was smaller than him. Being reminded made Ming Yu smile feeling the bubbling laughter rising up from his chest.

"Ah Yu ... I might be a child but i'm a full grown man inside ..." Xihan himself disliked this child body so he didn't need to guess that hard to understand what his wife was smiling at.

"Man." hearing it from a child was such a tickle on one's insides.

"You're younger ..." he teased.

"And?"

"Small ... shorter ..."

"What else do you want to say?"

"You're cute ... really cute ..." His eyes brightened up savoring the tiny husband sitting beside him.

His eyes were locked on Xihan's dumpling cheeks and he couldn't help but poke on it. Ah~ the baby skin! this smooth surface~

It cannot beat animal fur but this type of meng was also soothing.

"I might be younger than you but that doesn't change the fact that i'm the Gong*."

"..." (￢_￢)

"What's a Gong* ...? " Yao Ze Min who slept like a drowsy sloth and didn't even woke up after carrying him to this house was now awake. He slowly rubbed his drowsy eyes and mumbled what he heard.

"When I grow up i'll push you down and- mmn?" Ming Yu hurriedly covered Xihan's mouth which rang a distinct slapping noise and the parents moved their heads to look.

"Is something wrong?" Yue asked out loud and Ming Yu shook his head to show that everything was fine. He let go of Xihan's mouth and one side of the dumpling cheek which was hit by base of his palm was now pink due to the force.

"Ah! HanHan's cheeks are pink! they look delicious!? Dad~ I want a snack~" Yao Ze Min regained his spirit at the sight of it and jumped down the sofa waddling with his short legs to the kitchen similar to a penguin to bother the adults.

"Don't say anything ... inappropriate!" Ming Yu warned. How can one tolerate a kid saying something so- bad- dirty-

"I'm a grown man. An experienced grown man-"

"..."(ಠ_ಠ) don't you dare soil that innocent mouth.

Ming Yu's glare said everything and Xihan broke into a giggle. His lively childish high pitched voice rang loudly within the room and the parents who heard him were smiling.

Oh dear parents you are all don't know the meaning behind that giggle~

Get it? BEHIND.

"We need to make rules." This was important. REALLY IMPORTANT to keep the child's innocence.

"You can't touch me till you graduate high-school."

"Ah Yu. We're 4 years apart ..." Ming Yu would be finishing school first and he really didn't like this fact. The meat was ready to eat but he was unable to eat! Morals dammit!

Ming Yu was 10 years old and Xihan, 6.

"Endure. Hold it in."

"..."(￢_￢)/ ~ ┻━┻ his mental image.

"Not even with ..." As a man in the inside, he yearned for a bit of 'skinship' at least whenever he get that ticket lunch kind off chance.

"..."(ಠ_ಠ) put that hand DOWN.

This option was also a no-no.

" I understand. I'll listen to my wife." Xihan of course understood these well and was simply teasing Ming Yu. How could he resist the teasing!

Nah, as a matter of fact his rebellious heart was telling him that if there was a chance, love in the air, pink bubbles and everything, the M O O D, then better just push him down. Of course, at a good age~ around his teens~ 16?

Inside his head, Evil Xihan got slapped by the Good Xihan so it has been decided that he would wait until he's 18.

Evil Xihan: How about 17?

Good Xihan: ଘ(੭ˊ u ​ˋ )੭︻┳═一

With 4 people working together in the kitchen, breakfast was quickly served. They placed the food on the table and they helped set it. When it was time to be seated, Ming Yu couldn't help but laugh when he noticed that the chair was a bit too high for Xihan.

"Dad. Pick me up! Up! On your lap!" Ze Min cutely asked to be fed but Xihan was unable to do the same as he still had his pride as a full grown man.

Xihan stared at the high chair with a serious look and when he was climbing up, Father Yao Ren Jin cupped his tiny butt up for a push, helping him on his seat.

The humiliation! (ノ-_-)ノ ~┻━┻

"cough ..." Ming Yu who sat beside him saw this and choked on what he was drinking.

It didn't end here since the table itself was also a bit high for his arms to rest.

"Wait, i'll grab a cushion." the gentle Father Ming Huang walked to the living room in an even pace and came back, gently lifting Xihan up and putting the cushion under his butt before settling him back down.

"Pfft- ... cough ..."

"..." (ノ-_-)ノ ~┻━┻

There's still 12 years to go before Xihan will become the man that swooned girls, bend guys and devote his entire self exclusively for his wifey Ming Yu. ∠( : 3」∠)＿

Breakfast was eaten in harmony and the neighboring families that never had the chance to share a meal were now acting friendly as if they were old friends.

Yue kept sneaking glances at them to make sure that the children were fine. He couldn't ignore the itchiness in his heart any longer called their names to ask about this morning again.

"XiaoYu, XiaoHan about this morning ..."

"Uncle Yue. You don't need to worry about me and Ah Yu." Xihan noticed his glancing the whole time and was waiting for him to ask.

"Ah Yu?" this close endearment startled the Ming couple and Ming Huang whipped his head to look at the smiling boy when he heard it.

"Since i'll be marrying Ah Yu in the future this is natural. " He ditched pretending and straightforwardly said his proposal. 

"..." The Ming couple was struck speechless.

"..." The Yao couple were stunned.

"..." Ming Yu widened his eyes. Well, he had an inkling of this happening but damn. His husband was quick.

The Yao family awkwardly glanced at the Ming parents and apologized but Xihan repeated to them the same words firmly, not backing down.

"The future son-in-law will be me and that's final. No one else."

The weirdest was how their heart thumped loudly as if convinced that this statement was bound to happen!

WHEN DID THE TWO BECAME SO CLOSE?!!

Hey kid! Hold your horses and don't mess with us adults or you'll give us a heart attack! Aren't you moving to fast?!

"... that's wonderful. We wouldn't need to worry about XiaoYu anymore." Ming Huang disregarded it as a boy's whimsical wishes and patted Xihan's head in praise. Good boy, good boy.

"So can I stay at Ah Yu's house tonight? I wish to sleep on his bed and spend the night together." The tone of his voice wasn't one a child would usually use but in their eyes, Xihan became a child who wished to act mature for his age imitating an adult.

Still why does this kid's words sound somehow provocative?!!!

Sleep on his bed? spend the night together?! Kids should say 'sleep-together!'

"Of course." The gentle dad Ming Huang didn't dwell too much and nodded. Isn't it just a sleepover? What's the big deal?

"Good." He thanked them and went back to eating his food.

The table didn't remain as awkward with young Yao Ze Min who was making a mess out of his food and kept talking with his mouth full. His bloated cheeks reminded them of a hamster or a chipmunk which was adorably satisfying to look at and the meal seemed twice delicious after watching his expression brilliantly change in every spoonful.

Yao Ren Jin and Wan Ke Er had work shifts on this day and was about to call up a friend to take care of the kids when Ming Yu cutely asked them a favor of letting Xihan stay with him.

He did nothing but ask like a normal person other than the fact that he needed to tilt his head to look up to meet their eyes since he's short. It's the parent's eyes that were filtered, calling this gesture cute.

 The Ming parents on the other hand were on their day off. This was convenient and they agreed not taking the son-in-law's proposal seriously at all.

Ming Yue and Ming Huang took this chance to sleep in and went to their room. Usually they wouldn't get a chance to do so and accompanied Ming Yu however their son was insisting them to rest and pointed at Xihan who was quietly sitting on the coach and watching a movie. He wasn't alone.

Seeing how behaved the children were, they told them to wake them up whenever they needed something and dragged their tired bodies back into their room to get some extra sleep. It didn't take time for them to fall unconscious within each other's arms snoring lightly under the blanket's comfort.

Now it was just the two of them.

Xihan patted the space beside him with a smile. Ming Yu sat and looked at the screen, watching the movie where some evil looking guy was getting his ass whooped. Nothing interesting.

Although the crying has stopped, the disturbance within was still there ... now he was happy that Xihan was back although shorter and smaller and less of a man but rather a cute boy ... yet despite the relief of him being right beside him, now he's fighting an internal battle for something he needed to face.

A Goodbye.

Farewell.

After this time ... there was no i'll-follow-after-you scenario.

 Ming Yu easily lifted Xihan up to sit on his lap while he rested his face behind his back. His husband patted his arm to somehow ease his nerves. The hug was tight and was probably uncomfortable but Xihan didn't mind.

Ming Yu needed this right now.

The movie continued to play and it was nearing it's end however no one was paying attention to it right now. No one even wondered why the bad guy was shoved into a dumpster while flailing his legs in the air.

"Ah Yu ... are you crying again?"

"No." he really wasn't.

Xihan attempted to pry those arms away but the little him only had the meager strength of a 6 years old and couldn't.

"Let me hug you."

"Arms too short ... just stay still."

His husband could only rest his weight backwards for Ming Yu to feel more of him. 

"The thing I hate right now is when I can't kiss you like i used to to comfort you ..." 

"..."

"I'm here for you."

Xihan realized how ironic his words were and mockingly smiled only glad at the fact that from their position, Ming Yu was unable to see it. Anything that sounded positive was helpful.

Did that ... count as  lie?

These spoken words pricked Ming Yu's chest. He needed to tell him, it wasn't just him who needed to prepare his heart for their parting yet the words were stuck on his throat for he did not wish to hear it.

He hated it. Hated to be apart so much ...

He repeatedly opened his mouth, words gathering at base of his throat ready to shoot up yet still, he swallows it back and could only tighten his grip. This bitter pill was too bitter even for him.

Two sorrowful hearts resonated with each other and no words were said. Ming Yu lost the strength in his arms and Xihan took this chance to stand up and pull on that arm.

"Let's go to your room." the living was too wide that it felt cold.

Their sorrows may last for a while. A few days ... weeks or months, but they at some point, they needed to stop. Xihan wished for their days to be happy and this wasn't helping them achieve it. Yes they can never find peace after knowing that it was time to part however, wasn't life supposed to be that way?

They were being too greedy.

Parting was natural.

It was natural yet even so, even knowing so ...

The two lied down on the soft bed as they faced each other. Xihan's eyes were locked on Ming Yu's face, every detail he took it in and his heart started guessing how he'll look in the future. 

Beautiful? of course in his eyes he'll always be beautiful. Ming Yu's skin was white but it wasn't pale. The color was close to wheat, the shade healthy. Ming Yu's eyes were always different, either in color or shape. Yet no matter which, the look of love in his eyes remained the same. Intoxicating.

"Don't be too thin ..." Ming Yu always had a thinner build than him which was the perfect fit for his arms. The young him looked scrawny and Xihan didn't like it.

"Then grow up quick and cook for me ..." 

"Accompany me to my morning runs from now on." His wifey was always an adult so it was too late to train up his foundation but now as a child, he could start from the ground up.

"..." Ming Yu didn't like it though.

"I know you don't like to sweat other than in bed but grant me this tiny request. I want to spend every minute with you."

"... ok." He was weak to the words every-minute.

"I'm good at making money so I wanted to establish a company to pamper my sweetheart but this time, I want to spend more time with you."

"You can still spend time with me as a CEO ..."

"Too many meetings, I don't like it." 

"Then what do you want to do?"

"I haven't decided yet." Xihan crawled up and kissed Ming Yu's forehead.

"I can't be too rich like before so don't kick your husband out just because of this okay?"

"Stupid."

"haha."

Ming Yu pulled Xihan by the waist and embraced him, his small body curling perfectly on his stomach. His hands stroked Xihan's hair as he yawned, his brain was fried from thinking too much and his heart was exhausted. He felt a bit lethargic.

"Tired?"

"A bit ..."

"Then sleep."

"Mmn."

He patted Ming Yu's back ever so tender. The rhythm was slow enough to lull his wife to sleep. His head was resting against Ming Yu's chest and he inhaled the morning scent that was on Ming Yu's shirt. Ming Yu shifted, his nose buried on Xihan's hair. 

The window was now opened letting the fresh breeze enter the room. 

thump... thump... thump...

He could hear Ming Yu's steady heartbeat.

"When you wake up ... help me think which job to take." he mumbled to himself.

In his embrace, Xihan couldn't see his sleeping face so ever so slowly he moved away. He propped a hand on his head and stared. Maybe it was a bit chilly that Ming Yu subconsciously reached his arm out and snuggled on Xihan's stomach. Their positions switched making him smile.

His lips silently moved.

I'll miss you.

He reached his hand to tuck the hair on Ming Yu's face away.

I'll miss you.

The wind was being naughty and the tucked hair flew back to the sleeping face.

I'll miss you.

Tucking it back futile. He lied back down and stroked his hand through Ming Yu's hair to keep them away. Xihan closed his eyes hoping he could follow Ming Yu in his dreams.

I love you. Ah Yu.