#WAFFLES WITH ICE CREAM AJSHAJNABAHA

[randomingoftherandomness]

A/N: what have I done \(-ㅂ-)/ ♥ ♥ ♥

@xinxiaojie

I’m thinking this follows the Mob AU.

—

Madam Ling is dying and she knows it, even if her loyal and beautiful son won’t acknowledge that.

“Mother, here.”

She thanks him, patting the back of his hand as he helps her fluff up the pillow and sits her up against it. There’s a breeze wafting in through the open windows, carrying in the scent of waffles from the street stall across the street. Oh, wouldn’t it be nice to have some?

“Mother, I brought someone to come see you.”

Ah, this again.

Madam Ling glances briefly at her son. The censure clear in her eyes and it is enough to have him flinching. Good to know that for all her Shangjue has taken on the mantle of the head of the household and is carrying the prestige of being the Boss of the Jue gang, he is still her son.

Her gaze flickers to his left shoulder and the man who stands there. This one’s a little too young to be anywhere near the level of expertise the kinds of doctors her son drags to her bedside with the singular purpose of curing her.

What does catch her eye is the epiphyllum pattern on the left shoulder of the young man’s tailored shirt. Gold thread against black, it’s as if the shirt was made for someone with a broader build.

“His name Yuanzhi, Mother.” Shangjue steps aside and this jolts the young man enough for him to shuffle forward. His brown eyes turn to Shangjue for a beat before looking back to her.

Madam Ling has to stop herself from chuckling at the almost puppy dog way Yuanzhi seeks Shangjue out.

“Hello Yuanzhi,” She eventually says, beckoning him close. “And where did my beast of a son kidnap you from?”

Without missing a beat, Yuanzhi grumbles. “He dragged me from my bed without so much as a hello and didn’t even let me have any breakfast.”

The laugh that escapes her is followed quickly by a series of body shaking coughs. But the amusement lingers and she reaches over to pat at Yuanzhi’s hand, tugging him down to sit on the side of her bed.

“Don’t worry. You’re with me now and he won’t dare bully you,” She assures him, gratefully taking sips of the cup of water Shangjue gently hands to her.

“Mother…”

Madam Ling clicks her tongue, blinking at Shangjue. “You bring me a new doctor and won’t let me even talk to him. What’s this then?”

Shangjue sighs helplessly. Before he can speak, Madam Ling gestures to her purse. “Take some money and go buy some waffles from the store across the street. I never taught you to have bad manners with your guests.”

“Yuanzhi isn’t a—“

“Go,” Madam Ling shoos. Shangjue blinks a little lost and she spies the way Yuanzhi seems to panic when Shangjue takes some coins and heads out but not without one last look back at him. “Oh good, I thought he would never leave.”

“Madam Ling…?”

“None of that,” She laughs. “Call me Auntie.”

Yuanzhi flushes adorably at that. “A-auntie.”

Clasping his hands between her own, she casually says, “You’re not really a doctor, are you?”

Yuanzhi stiffens.

“It’s alright. You’re not in any trouble,” She assures him softly. “Shangjue never brings anyone to see me unless they’re very important. And I think you’re that to him, hm?”

Eyeing the flower pattern on his shoulder, she smiles pleasantly at Yuanzhi. The young man worries his lips, looking shyly up at Madam Ling. “He said you would know.”

“His father was like that too. Showing more than telling. I think it’s in the genes, so you’ll need to be very understanding of that if you want to stand by his side.”

Yuanzhi doesn’t speak, turning her left hand with her palm skyward, he slides his fingers over her pulse point.

Madam Ling stops him.

“Despite my son’s best efforts, I’m dying and I am at peace with that. If nothing else, I’m quite looking forward to it.”

“Shangjue gege told me about that,” Yuanzhi says. “He’ll be heartbroken.”

“He’ll have you,” She corrects.

Yuanzhi wrestles with his thoughts before he quietly asks, “Why are you alright with this?”

“Because all I ever wanted was for my son to be not alone.” Madam Ling lifts her hand to run a thumb over the threads of the embroidery. It’s bay flower twin is in Shangjue’s closet. She would know. She embroidered them herself after all.

Mentally, she calculates how much she needs to take it for the shirt to fit better. Not by much, she reckons. She’ll need to work on feeding Yuanzhi up a little. God knows she can’t rely on her son to feed his little wife properly.