"The ribbons were Huan-gege's idea because Huan-gege is smart. The colors were A-Zhan's idea. A-Zhan says I am like the sun because my smile is big." 

"You do have an adorable smile," she says sagely, and pats A-Zhan on the head. "Good boy A-Zhan, A-Ying does have a great smile, doesn't he."  

"Mm," he says into Mommy's shoulder.

She laughs. "He says yes."

"You are also adorable," she tells him seriously. "There's more than one way to be awesome, and if everyone was like A-Ying and me, the world would be a duller place." 

A-Zhan doesn't think a world filled with Wei Yings could possibly be dull. It would probably be too loud, but not dull.

Gentle rocking of the baby. "How was your trip?"

"It was good! The monster I set out to deal with will never hurt anyone ever again." 

"Did you kill it with your sword!?"

"I did!" 

"Good."

Yes it is. They're still going to have to deal with Wen Ruohan, but that's going to be significantly more complicated. Still, Jin Guangshan was absolutely horrible and now he is never going to hurt anyone ever again. He decides to hug A-Zhan about this. 

Okay.

(This is so much hugging, and A-Zhan is happy about it. He hadn't known it was possible to have so many hugs in just one day!)

There are footsteps on the stairs, and Meng Shi appears carrying A-Yao in her arms. "We thought we heard -- ah, Cangse-sanren! It gladdens me that you have returned to us safely."

She smiles, though her lips are rather tight and her face is rather pale.

"Well, I could wish I hadn't had to leave in the first place." She squeezes her Wei Ying, then puts him down on Lihua's lap again where he resumes hugging A-Zhan, and then Cangse hugs Meng Shi. 

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." To Meng Yao: "How are you, kiddo?"

"A-Yao is well," he chirps. "Did you have fun on your trip?"

"Well, not really," she admits. "Sometimes night-hunts aren't fun, but they need to happen anyway."

"Thank you for your eff-forts," says A-Yao. "How many monsters did you find?"

"Just one. But it was a big monster." She shifts to more actively include A-Yao in hug. 

Yay, hug! "Congratulations."

"Thanks." Gentle hugsqueeze. "Do you want a bunny?"