What about that shy smile?

—Dage... —The youngest of the Song complains in a tone of suffering when, while his elder snatched him from shijie's arms to carry him himself, shixiong accidentally hit him on the forehead against a branch...

—Shh, excuse me. Sorry, sorry, keep sleeping.

Song Yewan made a small silent pout before laying his head on the chest of his elder. In truth, he was very exhausted from the long days without rest returning to his home; he had not noticed it until after feeling the familiar warmth envelop him when he was hugged by his shijies and shixiongs minutes before. He had been relieved by everyone was fine and, thanks to this worry leaving his heart, he is now very somnolent.

He sighs contentedly and drops his eyelids once more, ready to resume his catnap. But not much happens when, suddenly, he feels a few careful little sweeps on his face that make him open one eye to see what it was all about.

—Ah, sorry, didi, but a little snow fell on your face. How could you not notice it?

Song Yewan shrugs before feeling soft fingers touch his cheeks.

—Oh, it is understandable why he did not feel it. The face of shidi is as cold as snow!

Immediately, dashixiong had to stop his steps as his younger martial brothers swarmed around him to check the health of the youngest in his arms.

—Cold? It is like ice! Didi, are you okay? Do you want one more coat?

—Here. I brought some soup and rice cakes that are still hot. Shidi, eat some, you must be very exhausted wherever you come from.

—Dashixiong, put down shidi. So he can sit down and eat and regain warmth.

Song Weiyu refused to let go of him until Song Meiling retrieved him back and carried him onto a large stone, where she sat with her little brother on her lap. The minors now followed her and began to open their breakfast boxes so that shidi has a variety of options.

Distressed, Song Yewan was about to get out of the coat that had him wrapped like a caterpillar to be able to settle on his own and eat what was offered, but it was not possible. His dashijie did not allow it, telling him that the sudden change in temperatures could hurt him and that he only pointed out the foods he wanted.

He sighed, not wanting to refuse as he usually did when his elders wanted to continue treating him as a small child and nodded at two striking red boxes embossed with flowers: one contained buns still steaming and another contained fresh and hot lotus soup.

Then, he stuck both hands out of the blanket and they handed him the biggest bun. After thanking, he began to eat taking small and calm bites. Oh, God, their didi looks like an adorable cat.

Some of his companions joined the breakfast eating part of what they brought, others conversed with their didi quite curious to know where he came from. Although Song Yewan did not respond to it, they did not insist: between the reactions of the minor, they implicitly understood that the teacher was aware of the situation.

—Didi, say "ah".

As he did so, he received a spoonful of delicious soup charged with spiritual energy. Song Yewan drank the warm liquid at ease and he felt better, less lethargic. His eyes sparkle with charm, his cheeks get even rosier from the heat of the soup; nods and opens his mouth again asking for more.

It is okay to be babied a bit, not?

A discreet smile hides behind the white bun as he took another bite.

He is happy to be home again.

The closer they get to the house of shifu, the more they smell sweet cooking inside. It is tempting, heavy, and very warm, enveloping everyone and making them feel hungry despite having just eaten breakfast.

They know why this is.

Since their little brother went to "cultivate behind closed doors," shifu has started trials to create a food that will eliminate hunger for weeks. This was planned by him for years.

Before the arrival of their little brother to the sect, this was a temple in the service of whoever found it. It was far removed from society but still kept in touch with such by opening the doors to those who wanted to come to worship their main deity or ask the taoists for a favor. Despite being very very few who showed up and even had nothing to pay with, the altruistic monks would help no matter what.

Everything was a healthy and peaceful coexistence that never led to problems.

However, one day it was all over.

Literally, overnight, Shifu returned from the mortal world and decided to cut off any relationship with it. He took his disciples and together they moved to another mountain.

No one else from the mortal world stepped on his temple.

Shifu got to shut himself up once a year in his office, always trying to create the miraculous remedy against hunger. Other than dashixiong and dashijie who accompanied him that time, not one else knows what happened. However, even so, they support him as much as possible so that their teacher achieves the object.

Oh, and there he was ...

In the middle of his front garden, taking care of the smallest vanilla flower that surrendered to the inclement cold. That is the great immortal of this mountain: Song Baihua.

A heavy, blood-red cloak surrounds him. The warm color contrasts too much with the cold winter sky and the garden, thus enhancing his presence in the place. His appearance is majestic, from another world. Among the mortal beauties, a god with a distant and mysterious aura. The long inky hair covers his back and focuses all attention on his beautiful face of cool white jade, manly, and serene. His gentle gaze wanders concentrated around the place full of medicinal plants and spiritual flowers; it is not until it reaches where his disciples are that he notices them.

Between his long fingers undulated a spell that reached the white flower and strengthened it; when just seeing them, it stops. He looks delighted to see them.

—Zhen'er...

Deep and pleasant voice. A smile is drawn on his thin lips. At a brisk pace, he catches up with the group that was also advancing towards him with Song Yewan in front walking on his own.

Shixiongs and shijies solemnly greet the teacher with folded hands. Song Yewan still held the large coat around his body so his bow was somewhat awkward when he performed it.

—Shifu, this disciple has returned. —He announces quietly—. This disciple comes to pay his respects to-

The hug of his shifu turned out to be warmer than the coat itself. The leather overcoat falls when the immortal carries him like a small child. Shy, Song Zhen fondly returns the hug and hides his happy expression from the gazes of others.

—Zhen'er looks healthy and seems to have grown back. —He says pulling him away from his body to get a better look, keeping him off the ground yet—. This father is really pleased with your safe return and also with seeing that you do not deny our affection, hahaha. Your brothers and sisters still do not burden you? Did you miss them too much or are they just giving you your space?

«I missed them.» But he would not say it out loud.

Song Yewan is the beloved and pampered little one of this family, who is aware that if he wanted something they would give it to him whenever possible. If he had wanted them not to hug him or carry him in their arms as before, just refusing once would have been enough. Because ever since he entered the puberty stage more than a couple of years ago, this young man has cared about personal space. Their elders know this and understand it, so they would withdraw without insisting if their shidi did not want contact...

In the same way, they also know that if he does not say something about it... it is because he silently allows it.

Since his new stage began, he seldom has access to affection and never is he the one who takes the initiative; with the latter, they have already given up, so for the other reason is that today they feel really happy to be able to hug him again without being rejected. This is his way of revealing his affection!

Ah! They feel so lucky to be the only ones to see this adorable side of their shidi!

Shadows fell on the faces of everyone. The most terrifying was that of the teacher, who was still smiling, holding his teacup halfway to his mouth.

It is enough to know that their shidi allows that child to sleep next to him to save money, but even washing and brushing his hair?! Eat from the same plate?! How did it benefit them?!

How close did those two get in such a short time?!

They wanted to be the only ones... Sob sob.

Song Yewan was concentrating on peeling the seeds he brought from the mortal world for his elders, so he did not notice this depressing atmosphere. He only continued to tell his anecdote oblivious to the reactions of those who listened to it.

— ... when night caught up with us, we returned to the inn. It was too cold, but Xiao-xiong was still running around playing with the snow, taking advantage of being able to touch it longer with my gloves. As much as I insisted that this was not enough and that he should wrap up more, he did not want to say that there was no need.

A couple of shixiongs cry inside. Why is his xiao shidi more forgiving and kind with this new acquaintance? When they were not bundled up properly, he would throw a layer, scarf, or pair of gloves at their faces making a pout without saying a word. Their little brother would not put them with gentle words like "I do not want that you catch a cold again"!

—I was on the terrace making soup when I heard a sneeze. Then another, another, and another. —He says as places the bowl full of seeds in the center of the table. He gestures toward it, indicating that they can now use it. He takes a sip of his tea and continues—: Before I could even turn to look at him, Xiao-xiong was already trying to get into my cloak.

All the listeners stopped eating when they heard it. They were shocked and a little worried. Their shidi definitely did not allow this! What happens to that spoiled child?

—Didi… —A shijie called, trying to hide her concern—. You... you did not get too mad, did you? As far as you can tell, it seems like your friend is someone very sweet and most likely did not mean to bother you on purpose. Just, he was cold...

Song Yewan looks at her in confusion with his golden eyes and confidently shakes his head. Fix the coat that keeps him warm by enclosing himself more in it; his pale cheeks turn a soft pink when he hides them behind.

—I know. Xiao-xiong is not like that, just ...

He thought about it for a few seconds.

—... He is adorable.

A silence settled between them again. This time, the older ones were surprised and even curious about those last whispered words.

Song Yewan continued his story without realizing what happened:

—It made me laugh to see him like that, he looked like a small animal. I wanted to take off my cloak to give it to him, but Xiao-xiong immediately came out. As much as I told him I would come to our room for another, Xiao-xiong refused to enter the cloak again and even tucked it back on me.

Laugh quietly. The rest of the people do not know what to think about that smile of delight and his distant, but animated gaze. Nor about this long time he spent talking... Their little brother is so stingy with words! But today he seems like a different person! As-!

As if he had more liveliness...

Who... Who exactly is that boy that their little brother met?

—I sat back down to continue cooking and he kept sneezing. Pff You know? Xiao-xiong is a kid inside, he pouts very cutely even though he is older than me.

—Haa... Zhen'er went through a lot of trouble… —Shifu pretends to lament. Be on the lookout for what is next.

The answer was quick, without much thought:

—No, it was not like you think, father. I never felt like that. Although... at that moment, there came a point where I could not take it anymore to see him complain...

Some older sisters were captivated by the first part; some older brothers prayed inside for the traveling partner of their little brother because of the last sentence. Surely, Song Zhen annoyingly ordered him to go warm or dragged him inside to stop being exposed to the cold; something that their didi does not support is stubbornness (in addition to the excessive attachment).

The younger continued—: ... I had no choice but to allow him to enter my cloak as before. And he just... He jumped up and hugged me! So fast I did not even notice in time!

Everyone else—: …

—Xiao-xiong did not want to let me go; he kept repeating that I… I'm very warm. —He looks shy to say it—. And he did not even want to eat on his own.

Sighs…

—Actually, I know Xiao-xiong was very babied in his sect. So, I thought it would be best to keep it this way...

—Didi… —calls Song Meiling—. Ah, xiao didi... You should not shut up if you do not like something. It is okay to say it or just leave if you do not feel comfortable.

Song Yewan just purses his lips.

Sigh again. It has been so many times already; their elders are puzzled.

And more with what was said next to the last breath:

—I would have liked to bring Qingchen with me.

It says a lot without he realizing it.