Chapter Text
The first time they met happened during the University’s open house. Hua Cheng’s hands were full of brochures from the different faculties, and even within each faculty, there were many branches to understudy in. The place was packed with students like himself, and also seniors in their booths, trying to recruit new undergraduates. He wandered around the school, finally reaching the faculty he was most interested in, the Arts.
There were showcases of every art form available for viewing; drawings, paintings, sculptures, digital media, music, theatre and dance performances as well. He enters multiple galleries, taking his time to admire the works of his soon to be seniors, hoping he would be able to be equally inspired and creative. Hua Cheng is especially careful when he enters the gallery displaying pottery works, aware of how delicate and fragile they are. Clay was definitely not something he would be able to handle but he is in awe at how such beautiful works could come from, well, mud.
He stops at the last series of work displayed, completely enamoured by the exquisite paintings that coloured the set of teapot and cups. Though he hesitates on whether he is allowed to take a picture, he does it anyways, a quick snap using his phone. Curiously he looks at the small tag under the works to identify the artist, . Hua Cheng chuckles at the name of this art piece, hoping that in future he would be able to see more of Xie Lian’s pottery pieces.
Glancing at the art faculty’s pamphlet that had details of the performances held, he decides he has just enough time to make it for the drama performance featuring a ‘God-Pleasing Festival Parade’. As he made his way up the building’s main staircase, two students brush past him, seemingly in a hurry as yelled for their friend behind them, all of them dressed in traditional costumes. Hua Cheng misses a step at the sudden shoulder collision and he braces himself for the impact, but it didn’t come. Instead, a pair of warm hands supported his back to steady him, “Are you hurt? I apologize for their behaviour.”
The voice from beside him is gentle and soft, befitting the white long-sleeved costume that was donned on. “I’m not hurt at all, thank you for your help.” Hua Cheng manages to reply, though his heart is still beating a little fast from the encounter. Or perhaps it was because of the way this senior looked so elegant, the long hair complimenting his overall attire and that pure smile that could brightened up his surroundings. He wonders if he just met God, in human form.
“Xie Lian, hurry up! We are going to be late for the performance! I don’t want to be scolded for it.”, one of the seniors shouts from above them to get his friend’s attention. “Feng Xin, Mu Qing, you just bumped into someone and almost caused him to fall. Shouldn’t you say sorry instead?” Xie Lian asks back, hands on his hip as he waited for an apology from his friends. They looked at each other and sighed, quickly muttering a ‘sorry’ before they urge Xie Lian to pick up the speed again. Satisfied, Xie Lian turns to Hua Cheng and waves goodbye, “I’ll be going now. See you around!”
It takes a minute for Hua Cheng to regain his senses, was this what they called ‘Love at First Sight’? He shakes his head slightly but is immediately reminded that the name sounded familiar…the senior who made those pottery pieces! It must be fate that he is able to meet said person just minutes after admiring his work, and he has to admit that no one else would fit this image as much as Xie Lian does. The sight of those three seniors had disappeared and Hua Cheng hurries to follow after them, knowing they would be acting in the performance piece he wanted to watch.
It was surprising to see the first few rows filled with girls, who were clearly there for someone rather than the performance itself. He is left with no choice but to squeeze through and find himself a decent spot, in the centre of the audience. The lights slowly turn off to focus on the stage and the drums signals the start of the ‘parade’. Hua Cheng quickly identifies the leader of the drums to be one of the seniors who bumped into him, Feng Xin, from both the costume and those furrowed brows that seemed to be angry. He applauds the senior for his performance though, carried out determinedly and perfectly.
The next to appear was Mu Qing, acting as the demon, his skills and ease performing with the saber shows that he had taken martial arts lessons before. With delicate and refined features, it is no wonder he was chosen to act alongside Xie Lian, making a great pair on stage. The situation is rather confusing, seeing as Xie Lian is a ceramics major rather than theatre. In any case, Hua Cheng waits in anticipation for the protagonist, Martial God Heavenly Emperor, to appear. And he does, with a golden mask, wearing an additional garment lined with gold too, entering the scene with a clash of the weapons.
They move with practiced ease, gracefully across the stage to exchange blows a few times before Xie Lian executes the final attack to kill the demon. The victory is celebrated with a livelier tune playing in the background and several ladies dancing around the couple, scattering many flower petals that made it looked like rain. There was a moment of silence as the petals continue to fall and the performers got to their feet to stand in a row, facing their audience. Hua Cheng’s gaze doesn’t waver to anyone else as Xie Lian proceeds to remove his mask. In an instant, the room becomes bright and filled with applause when the performers take turns to bow then leaves the stage.
Hua Cheng doesn’t move yet, waiting for most of the crowd to disperse, not wanting to have to squeeze through them. With the front row mostly cleared, he catches a glimmer of something sparkling on the floor, near the stage. Curiously he goes forward to pick up the item; a pearl earring. The same pearl earrings that Xie Lian was wearing during the performance, which must have slid off during the intense battle. With all the performers gone, he decides to keep the jewelry for now and return it the next time he crosses path with Xie Lian. It would make a good excuse to start a conversation with his senior.