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It was chilly outside, the wind blowing cool air through their hair, yet neither of the two men seemed to mind very much.
The taller man held out a bouquet of red roses.
“Gege, will you be my valentine?”
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“San Lang ah, you keep paying for it every valentines day! Let me pay this time, please?”
“... alright.”
“Thank you, San Lang.”
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“Gege… maybe we should move in together? We can look for a nice house together.”
“Ah. Yes. Yes we should look for something together. Ah maybe we could adopt a cat or two?”
“That would be perfect.”
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“Where should we put the cat tree?”
“hmm… maybe over there next to the window?”
“Ah you’re right. They’ll have a sunny patch there.”
“Alright what about the couch?”
“Hmm… Maybe over here?”
“That would be perfect, Gege.”
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“San Lang, have you seen my white shirt?”
“which one?”
“The one I with the grey cuffs.”
“At the back of the closet, to your right.”
“Ah! You’re right there it is!”
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“San Lang. Tomorrow is our 3 year anniversary, how about we go out for dinner to that restaurant you liked?”
“Hmmm didn’t we just go there last year? How about that one you liked on the other side of town?”
“Ah hmmm… well if you don’t mind?”
“Anything for you, Gege.”
“San Lang ah…”
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“Gege… It’s raining... Let’s go back inside?”
“... five more minutes…. I… I want to say goodbye.”
“Alright…”
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“Gege. Let’s go out for dinner tomorrow.”
“Hmm? Where do you want to go, San Lang?”
“Do you remember the one we drove past last month? The one you said you haven’t been to yet.”
“Ah! Yes, I’ve always wanted to try their food.”
“Then it’s settled.”
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“Gege, I’m sorry. I’ll be a little late. I have to finish this report before I leave.” there was hurried typing from the other end of the line.
“Ah, don’t worry San Lang. Take your time. I’ll be waiting at the restaurant then?” the older man smiled.
“Yes. I promise I will be there as fast as I can!” the hurried tapping got louder and Xie Lian heard a quiet ‘fucking hell why do I have to do this on our anniversary?’ whispered under his boyfriend’s breath.
He chuckled quietly. “Don’t worry San Lang. This just gives me more time to decide on what to wear.”
“Gege~ please wear that button down shirt you bought last week? The grey one. You looked really good in that one.” Hua Cheng whined.
That forced a laugh out of Xie Lian, “alright I’ll wear that shirt. San Lang?”
The furious typing stopped for a second. “Yes, Gege?”
“I love you.”
“Gege... you really will be the death of me…”
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Xie Lian was patiently waiting at the restaurant. He arrived on time, telling the waiter that his date would be running late, and ordered a water for the two of them already. He looked over the menu for a while, sipping his water while he contemplated on what to order later.
Half an hour later, his phone dinged, signaling a text message from Hua Cheng.
‘I’m on my way, Gege. Be there soon. I love you’
The message made him smile, cheeks warming up slightly. Really, they’ve been in a relationship for a few years now, they bought a house together got two very lovely cats and share a bed every single night. Why does a simple message like that still make his heart flutter like that?
Barely 10 minutes later he spots his boyfriend walking into the restaurant. He sees him talking to one of the waiters, who then leads him over to their table.
The moment he spots his lover, Hua Cheng’s eye lights up and he speeds up his steps ever so slightly. He immediately walked over to Xie Lian’s side of the table, kissing him chastely before he goes to sit down.
Soon the two of them ordered their meals, a bottle of wine and some more water. They fell into conversations easily. However, Xie Lian noticed that his boyfriend seemed to be a little nervous.
“San Lang? Is everything ok?” he finally asked.
The younger man looked up and smiled at him. “Of course. Why wouldn’t everything be ok? I’m here with the person I love most, having dinner and talking.” Xie Lian could see that his smile was strained.
“San Lang ah… I can see that something is bothering you. Did something happen at work?” the other man put his glas back down and sighed.
“No, nothing happened at work.”
“Then why are you so fidgety?” Xie Lian smiled soothingly at his boyfriend but there was a slight pang in his chest. Is this date not how Hua Cheng expected it to be? Did he wear the wrong shirt? He only owns one grey button down shirt though…
“It’s nothing Gege. I promise everything is alright. I’m… It’s just because I was rushing to finish my work so I could see Gege as soon as possible.” the grin on the younger man’s face seemed more genuine this time, and Xie Lian was glad.
Soon their main course arrived and the two of them fell into a comfortable silence. They shared their meal together, holding out a piece of food and asking the other to try it.
All too soon their plates were empty and the waiter was back to clear their table and ask if they’d like to have a little break before deciding on a dessert.
Once the waiter walked away, Hua Cheng reached his hand over and grasped Xie Lian’s hand gently on top of the table. Their fingers interlocked, the two of them fell into a comfortable conversation again.
Barely ten minutes later the waiter came back to ask for dessert and coffee, Xie Lian ordering a fruit tart and a tea, Hua Cheng ordering a lemon berry cheesecake and a coffee, before he disappeared in the kitchen again.
Once their desserts arrived, Hua Cheng seemed to fidget again. He’d stir his coffee, look up, look at his dessert, look at Xie Lian and then back down to his plate.
The older man was just about to ask him what was wrong, when his lover looked up at him again and finally spoke, “Gege.”
Xie Lian smiled reassuringly, “What is it San Lang?”
Hua Cheng breathed in deeply before announcing, “Gege, for as long as I’ve known you, I have always loved you. In the beginning it was more of an innocent crush, more of a very strong admiration. Over the years I realized that this simple admiration slowly shifted into something more. Before I realized I was head over heels in love with you. It feels amazing having you in my life, with you I feel so much more alive, so much more happy. With you in my life I feel like I have everything I could ever wish for and more. I love you, Xie Lian, more than I can ever hope to convey with simple words.” the longer Hua Cheng spoke, the redder Xie Lian’s face got. He felt like his face was burning, his heart was hammering in his chest at a rate that had him slightly worried.
Yet before Xie Lian had a chance to reply, his boyfriend continued. “That’s why… Gege,” suddenly Hua Cheng got up and knelt in front of Xie Lian, pulling out a small black box from a pocket in his jacket, “Would you please allow me the honour of calling you my husband?”
The older man’s breath hitched. He felt a sting in his eyes, tears threatening to fall. A choked sob left his lips as he nodded slowly. He covered his mouth as he nodded more frantically, whispering “yes. yes of course” over and over again. Hua Cheng smiled and kissed his cheek, then his nose, his forehead, all the while pulling his hand away so he could kiss the palm of it. He slipped the ring on his finger before enveloping his fiancée in a firm embrace. “Gege. Gege I’m so happy.” he whispered.
Xie Lian sniffled, hugging his lover tighter and answering, “I love you San Lang, I love you so much, I love you. I love you.”
Hua Cheng pulled back and kissed him chastely on the lips, cupping his cheeks and caressing the tears away.
When they pulled back the waiter had cleared their table and congratulated them with a big smile. The couple thanked him shyly and Hua Cheng requested the bill.
That was when Xie Lian noticed something. “Ah! San Lang your hand! I didn’t put the ring on you yet....”
Hua Cheng chuckled and held out his hand, pushing the box with the ring over to his lover.
Xie Lian grasped his fingers gently, slipping the ring on and kissing the top of it.
When he looked at his fiancée, his face was redder than ever.
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“Gege. How about we adopt a child?”