Wanning takes a breath. Then he steps back.
Again he lets out a breath.
He doesn't know if he's been so nervous before. He's never been nervous before, more than he is right now. He wasn't this nervous during their first time having sex.
This is very different.
Wanning can't help but bite his lips and twist his hands together nervously. Standing away from the table. Staring at the two bowls. Both have toppers to keep the food warm. Wanning knows what's inside the bowls. He cooked them.
Mo Ran favorite wontons.
A few days ago Wanning and Mo Ran were talking (more like Mo Ran was talking while Wanning listen), the wontons came up. One thing lead to another and Wanning agreed to make them one night. What time is better to do that than now?
Mo Ran has been busy these days. Helping some elders with their disciples. To many students to do one on one tutoring. Plus with him busy it gave the perfect chance to go into town to purchase the ingredients. He thinks it'll be a nice surprise. His heart has been going crazy the whole day. Still is. Even his stomach is full of butterflies.
He knows Mo Ran knows the truth. They haven't talked about how he found out, but most importantly they never talk about Mo Ran reaction to it. He must not have believed it at first. What came after? Did he feel more angry? Will Mo Ran feel disgusted when he sees them? For so long in his head someone else made those.
Maybe this was a bad idea?
As soon as Wanning gets the thought he hears the door opening. Mo Ran has long ago forgone knocking. Treating this place like his own. "I'm back Wanning!" Mo Ran shouts happily. Wanning freezes. It's too late to hide the food. He can also hear Mo Ran walking closer. "Wanning?" Mo Ran calls worried. He walks into the area taking a look around, eyes stopping once they land on his lover. Mo Ran eyes soften and his shoulder relaxes. His baobei is safe. "Is the-" Mo Ran starts taking a few steps forward into the dining area, pausing when he catches the familiar smell. His eyes grow wide.
"Welcome... I know you've been working hard so I wanted to do this for you." Wanning looks away hands now at his side, fingers clenching into his robes. What if this hurts Mo Ran more than helps him? He's tired of hurting the man he loves.
"This is..." Mo Ran knows that smell. He often dreamt of it during his travels. He had asked Wanning to make it for him. Especially since he would be busy helping and wouldn't get the chance to see him. He had to go to his own room and sleep there.
Mo Ran steps up to the table. He reaches over with trembling fingers to the bowl topper. Gently he lifts the topper up, steam escaping in a thick cloud, then away getting a good look at the contents of the bowl. The overly familiar deep red. And this time wontons and not noodles. "It's been a long time but they should be the same." Wanning explains lowly. Unsure of Mo Ran reaction.
"They're..." Mo Ran continue to stare at the bowl. Violet eyes becoming glassy. Mo Ran takes a deep breath. He looks up at his lover. He gives the smaller man a large smile. Eyes glowing with warmth. "Perfect. Absolutely perfect baobei." Mo Ran once again looks down at the bowl.
The sight of those puffy wontons fill Mo Ran with unbelievable happiness. There was a point in time where he thought he'd never see these again. Thought he'd never taste them again.
Eagerly, Mo Ran sits down. He pulls a bowl, the one without the topper, towards him. He looks ready to dig in. He takes a glance up to find Wanning unmoving. Still in place. But also looking uncertain.
"What's wrong?" Mo Ran asks standing up, smiling disappearing.
"A-are you not... upset with me?" Wanning asks tentatively.
"Why would I?" Mo Ran raises an eyebrow.
"The... wontons..." Wanning takes a glance at the open bowl.
Mo Ran takes a look at the bowl then back at his lover. "Wanning." Mo Ran calls him, he moves around the table to stand in front of his lover. "I'm only upset that it took me so long to realize that you were the one to make them." Mo Ran says, voice thick as he remembers the horrible thing he did in their last life. Or now about how obvious it is that Shi Mei was not the one to make them. He's always told Shi Mei how much he loves those wontons, he's never hidden his feelings for those spicy dumplings. Yet Shi Mei never brought them every single time. Those wontons only show after a particularly hard day. Looking back he can see its odd the way Shi Mei acted when those wonton were mentioned. He always seems awkward about it and upset. He always thank the other man but he never looked comfortable. "Thank you." Mo Ran grabs a hold of his lovers hands. "I love your wontons." he confesses bringing his lovers hands up to lay a kiss on those knuckles. Kissing those hands that carefully wrap those wontons. The hands that thoughtfully cook him. The man who thought about him.
"It didn't... disillusion your memories?" Wanning asks looking at Mo Ran in the eye. His eyes glossy.
"No. It made everything clearer." Mo Ran pulls Wanning flush against him. One hand is place on his lower back. "Thank you for making them for me." Mo Ran leans forward, placing his lips onto Wanning. Kissing the man passionately, Wanning kissing back. Wrapping one of his arms around Mo Ran. Holding each other close. Flush against each other.
They break away before it gets too hot. They can do some more adult things after dinner.
"Let's eat." Mo Ran breaths out with a smirk. Wanning nods, equally as breathless.
They sit across from each other. Silently eating. Mo Ran focus on tasting the spiciness and soft center. It's so good! Just like he remembers. His heart is so full. Trying to memorize everything about it. The flavor. Texture. The way it goes down his throat. The way it settles in his stomach.
Wanning turning his head with a frown catches Mo Ran attention. He pauses in stuffing his face to ask "what's wrong?" worry and on alert. Though it can't be dangerous.
"Someone entered the barrier." Wanning says seriously