Chapter Text
Just a step away from crossing the threshold of the small shrine door to chase after the yam stealer, Xie Lian called for Hua Cheng.
“Lang Ying, are you free? Come help me chop some vegetables.”
Without even needing to think, Hua Cheng turned obediently and approached where Xie Lian was cooking. Picking up a butcher’s knife, he began to slice the cabbage into even strips, being careful to make them neat to not disappoint Xie Lian with his sloppy chopping technique. He felt that His Highness had paused in his actions for a moment before turning to wash the rice.
Absently, he spoke up. “Lang Ying, you’ve seen a variety of gods and demons come to Puji Shrine, right?”
Hua Cheng’s expression was neutral but internally, his eyebrows raised in interest. “En.” He replied simply.
“Then, I have a question for you. If you had to choose, who would you say is the most handsome?”
Nearly stuttering in his chopping, Hua Cheng took a moment to compose himself. He wasn’t expecting that question and perhaps it was because he had sealed away a large amount of his powers that it felt harder for him to control his emotions.
“Come on,” Xie Lian encouraged. “Just say whatever comes to mind.”
Only then did Hua Cheng realise that he probably remained silent for a little too long. Opening his mouth by just a fraction, the reply he wanted to say was caught in his thought. He had to close his mouth, swallow down the lump before trying again.
“You.”
Continuing to chop the cabbage with focus, Hua Cheng quietly worried that his response was inappropriate and he prayed that His Highness wasn’t weirded out by it.
But what he received was a light laugh. “Besides me.” Xie Lian replied.
Although that meant that Xie Lian wasn’t bothered by what Hua Cheng said, it made him feel a little disappointed that he wasn’t taken seriously. But then he remembered that he wasn’t currently in his regular form so the feeling subsided quickly. In fact, that gave him another idea for answering the question.
“The one in red.” He answered instead.
With a serious tone, Xie Lian nodded in agreement. “I think so too.”
Hua Cheng’s lips twitched in the corner. Warmth bloomed in his chest and he couldn’t help but feel incredibly happy.
“Then, who do you think is the strongest?”
Easy. Hua Cheng thought and answered without missing a beat.
“The one in red.”
“Who’s the richest?”
Again, that was easy.
“The one in red.”
“Who do you admire most?”
“The one in red.”
“Who’s the dumbest?”
“The one in green.”
Out of all the questions asked, the last one had the most obvious answer. There was no one in the world who was dumber than that piece of trash.
A light hum left Xie Lian. “You seem to quite like the ge ge in red. His name is Hua Cheng.”
Hua Cheng nodded.
“So, does this mean you think he’s a good person?”
“Very good.” Hua Cheng nodded more enthusiastically, his chopping increased in speed without him realising.
“Then, once we have some free time, do you think we should invite him over again?”
“Of course,” Hua Cheng felt his chest flutter at the idea that Xie Lian wanted to invite him again. “It’s a must.”
“I think so too,” Xie Lian replied, causing Hua Cheng’s chest to swell with so much happiness he might actually explode. “But, his subordinate said he’s very busy. So, maybe we shouldn’t disturb him.”
That swelling happiness from a moment ago shrank instantly. Hua Cheng felt his entire being deflate. Him being busy was only to make Xie Lian not suspect he was by his side. He didn’t mean for it to affect when he could next see His Highness. He began to panic. He wanted to clear up the misunderstanding so that Xie Lian wouldn’t worry about disturbing his ‘busy work’. He didn’t want to lose any future opportunity of being with him. But he held his words and gritted his teeth because if he said anything in that moment, his cover would be blown. Still, he was frustrated. He wanted to say something, anything.
Hua Cheng didn’t realise how his chopping became less refined and more violent as he desperately tried to slide in a comment.
“You’ve chopped it to shreds,” came a voice from the window. “It won’t taste good anymore.”
Having his thoughts interrupted, Hua Cheng turned to Quan Yi Zhen with barely hidden threat dripping off his words. “What did you just say?”
Beside him, Xie Lian softly cleared his throat. “Oh dear, your knife work is really bad.”
Hua Cheng was surprised by that comment and turned back to the cabbage he had been chopping and it really did look nothing like the neatly sliced strips he started with. Feeling disheartened by the outcome and having no doubt disappointed Xie Lian, Hua Cheng kept his head down and stayed quiet.
Still, Xie Lian swiped up the cabbage shreds and threw it all into the pot with all sorts of other seasonings.
Following that, His Highness left the kitchen and began doing some chores around the shrine. Hua Cheng followed him like a duckling, helping him here and there. It was only when Xie Lian was in front of the door, a plank in one hand and a brush in another, did he pause for a moment. He looked like he was deep in thought so Hua Cheng only walked quietly over.
It seemed Xie Lian came up with something and asked. “Lang Ying, can you read? Do you know how to write?”
“I do,” Hua Cheng replied with a careful nod.
“Then how is your writing?” Xie Lian asked.
“Mediocre,” he answered, wanting to shrug and act nonchalant about it but he knew he was internally sweating at what he knew His Highness was about to ask.
“That’s alright,” Xie Lian smiled reassuringly. “As long as it’s legible then you can help me with this.”
Hua Cheng was just about to ask about what exactly he had to do when the plank and brush were given to him.
Xie Lin smiled again and said, “Our shrine doesn’t have an establishment plaque so why don’t you write one for me?”
All of a sudden, the plank in hand felt several times heavier than it should be. Hua Cheng could blame it on the fact that he was in a younger form so he wasn’t as strong, or maybe it was because he had sealed his powers away. But, really, he knew exactly why he didn’t want to do it.
Sitting down with a brush in hand, Hua Cheng stared blankly at the plank. Even though Xie Lian was encouraging him, he couldn’t lift the little brush that felt like it weighed more than bricks.
This was the establishment plaque for His Highness the Crown Prince’s shrine. The god he worshipped so much had personally asked him to write it. How could he not internally sweat over it?! Xie Lian made it sound like it was just a simple task not to be taken too seriously but for Hua Cheng, this was exceedingly important and with his handwriting, how could he dare to write something that bore so much meaning. He didn’t trust himself with such a heavy responsibility.
With his lips pursed tightly together, Hua Cheng conceded. He couldn’t do it. There was no way he could do it.
“Ge ge... I’m wrong.”
He didn’t bother to mask his voice. Even though the voice that came out was that of his younger self, he didn’t have any space to care. He felt overwhelmingly disappointed in himself and he didn’t have the courage to face Xie Lian. Keeping his head down, he could hear some slight shuffling before a heavy thud against the floor.
Hua Cheng snapped his head up to see Xie Lian kneeling down on the ground with his arms wrapped tightly over his stomach. A wave of worry and fear crashed into him as he didn’t know what happened when His Highness burst out in laughter.
“San Lang really is so busy!”