Chapter Text
Ghosts didn’t need sleep. Yet ever since Hua Cheng came back to Xie Lian, every night he would lie down on the bed and close his eye with his husband in his arms, just so he could wake up to the love of his mortal and immortal life the morning after. There was seldom a day where he didn’t wake before Xie Lian did, so when he opened his eye today to find a pair of unblinking golden-brown eyes gazing at him, it took him a moment to conjure up a greeting.
“Morning, gege. You’re up early.”
Xie Lian blinked twice, his trance broken. “M-morning, San Lang,” he stuttered out, then promptly burrowed his face into Hua Cheng’s collarbones.
“I see gege is still his clingy, cuddly self,” Hua Cheng chuckled, carving his hand through his beloved’s silky hair.
“Mhmm.” It seemed the mind-reverse effect had yet to wear off. Wouldn’t be a concern though – Hua Cheng could barely sense any vile qi lingering on his husband that it should be cleared within a day.
“What would gege like to do today? More piggy rides? Or some gardening? We could spar too if gege’s in the mood.”
“…They all sound good, as long as San Lang’s doing them with me.” The arms around his torso tightened, prompting a fond sign leaving the ghost king’s lips at the attachment his beloved unreservedly showered him with. He plastered a kiss on his forehead to return the affection.
“Then we’ll do all of the above, and I won’t leave dianxia’s side even for a minute, I promise.”
The couple spent more time cuddling before taking their time leaving the comfort of their bed for breakfast and after that, working on their little garden on the outskirt of Ghost City. Just like the day before, Xie Lian smiled and laughed a lot and frequently sought closeness and physical touch from Hua Cheng, to which the ghost king gladly offered and claimed for more. The only difference being when Hua Cheng peered at him longer, the latter would look away and his cheeks would grow faintly rosy as if he was embarrassed.
Huh, how peculiar.
Hua Cheng kept a close eye on Xie Lian for the rest of the day. He didn’t miss the few times his husband’s adorably innocent expression morphed into a blissful, yet more mature one when he thought Hua Cheng wasn’t looking, like those he wore while being his normal sage self without the ailing mind. Hua Cheng didn’t speak out his musing though, focused on fulfilling his beloved's needs.
That was until he did the bridal carry, the piggy rides (both on the back and shoulders), and the pick-up-and-spin hug at Xie Lian’s request in their courtyard and then found his supposedly dead heart fit to burst with this warmth at hearing that musical mirth coming from his beloved. He would do anything to hear that again and again, preferably every single day if it was possible. So when he finally put Xie Lian down, he cupped the latter’s still smiling face in the gentlest manner.
“Gege, gege. There is nothing wrong with wanting be a child and romp around every now and then—you know that right?” He told him with all the love in his heart. “This San Lang will always be happy to indulge gege.”
For a moment Xie Lian froze in his hold, his face went through a number of emotions. “I—San Lang, I’m—”
“You what, gege?”
A flustered expression graced his elegant features at last. Eyes averted, face blushing profusely to the tips of his ears, he smiled wryly, “Ah haha…San Lang, w-when did you figure out I was faking it?”
“Hmm, right after breakfast.”
“That soon? Why didn’t you say so then?”
“Gege wants to play pretend, San Lang is more than glad to oblige.”
At his words, Xie Lian ducked his head in embarrassment, the beautiful rosy hue grew into a darker shade which only made him more beautiful. Hua Cheng could feel heat radiating off his husband’s face through his cold hands. “Thank you San Lang, for indulging me on my…silliness…and I’m sorry for lying. It was really out of my control yesterday, but I remember how sticky and bothersome I was being once I came back to my sense this morning...I, I shouldn’t have pretended after--”
Hua Cheng cut him off with a passionate open-mouthed kiss that left his husband panting when they parted.
“S-San Lang!?”
“As I’ve said yesterday, no thanks are necessary. Neither do apologies. As long as gege’s happy, San Lang is happy,” he crooned, stroking his beloved's cheek with a thumb while placing the other hand on the small of his back to keep him close. “Although next time If Gege wants this one to pamper him, he can just say so.”
“But I…don't want to act like a petulant, spoiled child.” Despite of what he said, the look on his face reminded Hua Cheng of a sulky little kid. Only the cutest one, for certain. He didn’t say that out loud of course, not unless he wanted to make his dianxia more comically pouty. Hmm, actually that might not be so bad. Not at all.
Just how preciously lovable could his dianxia be?
“Gege, listen to this San Lang, alright? Gege deserves the nicest things, the whole world. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to get spoiled by your husband. Even if gege doesn’t ask, San Lang will still pamper him day and night for eternity with everything he has. It would be my pleasure, truly.” Planting a kiss on his forehead, he continued. “To be honest, I like it a lot when gege gets whiny and clingy to me. Makes San Lang feels gege really treasures his company.”
“I do treasure San Lang's company, so very much.”
“And you're my treasure, gege.”
Xie Lian smiled fondly at him in return, caressing the hand that was still cradling his face. Hua Cheng could see there was still a slight hint of wavering in his expression.
“If I could choose, I would stick to gege’s side every single day and night, not letting him out of my sight for even for a second. Would gege find me childish and annoying if I do that?”
“Never. Not if it is San Lang,” Xie Lian answered without any dubiety.
“That is how San Lang feels about gege as well. Does gege understand now?”
His words had the desired effect, as Xie Lian was now gazing at him with such pure adoration and fondness like he was the most precious being in all three realms when the crown prince himself was. “San Lang ah…you’re too good to this old gege.” Regardless, Hua Cheng soaked the affection all up and took even more by leaning in to press their lips together again (greedy, he chided himself inwardly), to which Xie Lian met with fever, practically melting into his arms as a content moan left his mouth.
“Now, there is a peck of gege’s mental state returning to that of an adult. Does gege know what it is?” At the other’s curious tilt of head, Hua Cheng’s eye twinkled mischievously. “I don’t have to worry about decency when kissing him on the lips anymore. Neither does this.” His hand roamed downwards to grope Xie Lian's backside and gave it a playful squeeze.
“San Lang!” Xie Liam chided without heat, followed by a joyful cackle as his eyes lit up brighter than a pair of stars.
There he was, being sweetly murdered by that precious smile, only to be revived back to life and ascended to the heaven. Again and again. And he wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world.