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"Binghe..." Shen Qingqiu started, fan reflexively rising to cover his face. "Why do you have a child with you?"
Luo Binghe stared at him helplessly, as if he didn't know either. The little boy in his arms was small, about four or five, covered by a large fur coat that almost manage to hide the ragged clothing he wore underneath. He was looking curiously around the main room of the Bamboo House, but his nerves were betrayed by his tight grip on Luo Binghe's robes and eyes that carefully avoiding Shen Qingqiu.
"... Mobei left him with me at the foot of the mountain." His words were restrained - polite even, considering the respect Luo Binghe tended to spare for his demon companions. His eyes trailed to the boy on his arms, making it clear the gentleness in his tone was only for his benefit.
Shen Qingqiu couldn't help but smile at him, feeling soft in spite of his growing confusion. "And did he not explain why?"
"No," Luo Binghe shook his head, visibly frustrated. The boy curled in on himself in response, but didn't utter a word.
What the fuck? Shen Qingqiu thought. What was that guy even doing with a child? And why leave them with Binghe of all people? Isn't this kind of situation what he keeps Shang Qinghua around for?
With a sigh, Shen Qingqiu snapped his fan closed and took it upon himself to approach the boy and Luo Binghe.
"What's your name, little one?" he asked, measured and gentle. It had been years since he'd dealt personally with such small a disciple, but the teacherly tone was easy to embody. It wasn't the tall children of his peak would ever let him forget it. When the child didn't answer, he continued coaxing, "Here, why don't I go first? This master is Shen Qingqiu."
"T-This one is Xiao Shu..."
Shen Qingqiu blinked, glancing up at Luo Binghe. Who in their right mind named this child Little Mouse? he wanted to ask.
Luo Binghe stared blankly back at him. Clearly he didn't know either.
"Right," he coughed. "Do you... Were you told why you were brought to us, Xiao Shu?"
He looked from Luo Binghe to Shen Qingqiu and shook his head. "This one thinks the icy mister was busy...?"
"I bet he was," Shen Qingqiu mumbled.
Luo Binghe frowned. "He didn't tell you anything at all?"
Xiao Shu shook his head. "No... There were people yelling, s-so we left."
"I see..." Had Luo Binghe still possessed Xin Mo, he could have easily gone to check on the situation himself. As it was, Shen Qingqiu thought it would be too much trouble, especially after he'd just gotten home. Switching tracks, he decided he might as well work with the situation at hand. "Binghe, did anyone see you bring him in?"
"No, Shizun. This one thought it'd be better to be discreet given previous experiences."
Wincing at the memory of when the sect had convinced themselves a de-aged Luo Binghe was their son, Shen Qingqiu nodded in agreement.
"Well done," he said; Luo Binghe preened at the compliment. "In that case, we should wait here."
"Shouldn't I go after Mobei?" Luo Binghe asked.
"Not yet. There's no need when we don't know how long this will take." For all they knew, Mobei-jun might return before they had time to get anywhere. "Besides-"
Before he could continue, a low rumbling demanded the attention of both Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe. Xiao Shu's hands snapped toward his face in embarrassment and Shen Qingqiu had to bite back a laugh.
"Besides," Shen Qingqiu continued, "It seems we're due for lunch."
"S-Sorry!" Eyes wild, Xiao Shu flailed in Luo Binghe's arms. If it weren't for his husband's quick reflexes, the boy might have startled himself into a fall. "There's no need."
"Aren't you hungry?" Luo Binghe asked, placing a steady hand on Xiao Shu's back. "Or maybe is it that you're sick?"
Xiao Shu shook his head again, slowly this time. In a small whisper, he said, "… Don't want to make trouble."
For a brief moment, a dark shadow hovered over Luo Binghe's expression. He hid it quickly for Xiao Shu's sake, but it did not slip Shen Qingqiu's notice. It was easy to guess why the words bothered him, given his past. There was no way he'd missed how thin this child was.
"Nonsense," Shen Qingqiu said. "Children should eat plenty to grow up strong."
"Shizun is right," Luo Binghe nodded in agreement, eyes still far away. "This disciple will prepare some congee."
Looking as though he'd forgotten the small weight in his arms, Luo Binghe seemed about to leave with Xiao Shu still in his charge. Shen Qingqiu surmised it was probably in order not to bother him, knowing this silly child.
He waved him closer with his fan. "Give him here. This master will take care of him."
Luo Binghe didn't make a move. "Xiao Shu is this disciple's responsibility."
This stubborn child… Shen Qingqiu sighed. "Aren't your responsibilities mine as well? Since we're…" He trailed off, face too thin to continue, but the satisfied glint in Luo Binghe's eyes said he understood. "Either way, just give me the boy. There's no sense in taking him with you to the kitchens."
For the first time since his arrival, Luo Binghe grinned brightly. "Alright, Shizun."
While Xiao Shu seemed hesitant as well, he allowed Shen Qingqiu to take him. In an attempt to soothe the child, he started chatting idly to him. "Why don't we get you tidied up before eating? I can help you tie up your hair. Would you like that? We might have some clothes your size, too..."
Having both bought and been gifted a sizeable amount of children's clothing during the time Luo Binghe had been temporarily turned into a child, it took Shen Qingqiu no time to find Xiao Shu a set of robes that would fit him and he wouldn't mind parting with.
Keeping a light stream of conversation flowing, Shen Qingqiu helped Xiao Shu clean his face and hands, then coaxed the young boy into a white and green set of robes that wouldn't be amiss in Qing Jing Peak.
He was just about done tying his hair back when Luo Binghe came back with three servings of meat congee, sneaking in a set of plaits in there much like he would have done with Luo Binghe.
Standing still at the entrance of the room, Shen Qingqiu's husband gazed up at them with something complicated, yet fond in his eyes.
"Welcome back," Shen Qingqiu greeted; Xiao Shu parroted it from where he sat on his lap, waiting politely for his hair to be done.
"T-Thank you."
What a rare sight, to see Luo Binghe stutter. Shen Qingqiu's hands were occupied, guiding Xiao Shu to sit next to him at the table, therefore his answering teasing smile was left in full view.
The meal lifted the spirits of all of them. Xiao Shu's eyes sparkled to life as soon as he tasted the first bite and Luo Binghe had to remind him to slow down, lest he choke.
"Don't hurry with your food," Luo Binghe said. "There's more if you're still hungry after this."
Xiao Shu bobbed his head up and down fervently, still transfixed by his plate. Shen Qingqiu couldn't help but laugh. He understood where the boy was coming from. There was no food like the protagonist's, and if he'd truly been without much to eat for some time now as Shen Qingqiu suspected, this had to be quite the reintroduction to it.
He reached with the back of his robe to clean a stray piece of congee that'd made it onto the boy's cheek. "And what do we say now?"
"Thank you, Luo-shushu, Shen-shushu."
Luo Binghe frowned. "Shen-qianbei. A great cultivation master like Shizun should be treated with respect," he corrected, firm but gentle.
"Nonsense, this master doesn't mind the address."
"But Shizun!"
Shen Qingqiu shook his head, laughing in his heart. When Luo Binghe whined like that, one would think he was still Shen Qingqiu's little white sheep of a disciple and not a grown, powerful man in his own regard.
Their day continued in this peaceful rhythm. Despite there being nothing all that entertaining in the bamboo house to a child that age, Xiao Shu was easily entertained by simple cultivation tricks and items like ink and paper.
With a little patience, the boy inched out of his shell in small steps, enough to even play a few children's games with Luo Binghe.
Shen Qingqiu's fan saw a lot of use then. There was no way he'd allow himself to be caught smiling as much as he was at the pair of them.
Bing-ge had quite a few children of his own, though his interactions with them had little focus or relevance for the plot. Still, for some reason, Shen Qingqiu had never imagined this Luo Binghe having children of his own - especially not after marrying him.
What with his jealous tendencies and perchance for clinging and tears, he wouldn't have guessed that when taking care of a child he would be so sweet. Perhaps he should have, given the childhood he'd had. The memories of his kind mother were much stronger in this Luo Binghe.
As he stood up to put a tired Xiao Shu down for a nap, Luo Binghe caught Shen Qingqiu's eye. Silent as not to rise the bleary eyed boy in his arms, he turned his head questioningly, like a curious cat.
"Nothing," Shen Qingqiu whispered. "You look sweet together, is all."
In another twist of this strange day, Luo Binghe actually blushed at that. He smiled, too, bright as the sunshine.
In time, as copper and indigo hues took over the sky, Mobei-jun returned for Xiao Shu. They left together soon afterwards, once the ice demon got through some pointed questions from Luo Binghe.
As it turned out, Mobei-jun had found the child all on his own, left by his caretakers in a poor condition. He'd just made the decision to take him home with the intent to raise him when he realized there were more preparations who needed to be done, and that he needed to speak about the matter with Shang Qinghua. That was when he panicked and dumped the kid on Luo Binghe.
Shen Qingqiu would never have guessed that those two disasters would become the first couple among his peers to have a child. Alas, life had a way of being surprising.
He supposed that, if needed, he wouldn't mind babysitting again. Xiao Shu was a good child after all; someone had to make sure he wasn't ruined by Shang Qinghua.
And, his treacherous mind whispered, perhaps one day far into the future… He wouldn't mind having a little one of his own, either.
His and Luo Binghe's.