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The winter wind is still strong but the New Years is here and so Xingchen and Zichen decided to stay in a small town south of Lotus Pier. They were buying some food to feast on that night when an old man asked for their help. It wasn’t to exorcise evil. It was brought upon by an accident an hour ago where the lion dancers for today were in a small accident. Xingchen was hesitant because he actually doesn’t have experience in doing it. “Zichen, have you tried this one before? We never did this in my shizun’s mountain.” He saw as his cultivation partner swallowed hard. “I do this every year with my martial brothers. I can teach you how to do it and we only need to practice for a while.”
“Really?!?! Let’s go do it!” Xingchen is the type who likes happy fun things and so they started to practice. He asked Zichen to show him a sample and he was surprised that he can really do it. His partner is the stiff type of man, the less movement the better. However, this is different. He is moving like a pro and Xingchen is amazed. He has renewed his respect for this man but then he remembered that Zichen hates it to be dirty and sweaty so how come he does this. Xingchen is like a confused kid while practicing. He was surprised when Zichen said he would be lifted by grabbing onto his waist. This type of touching, they haven’t done it before and so he tried his best not to panic. Another person’s hand on his torso was truly foreign for Xingchen and he was embarrassed to death. He thanks the heavens that Zichen is focused on teaching and didn’t see how much of a mess he is right now.
They changed into the clothes and these red pants do look a bit out of place with the taller man’s demeanor. However, he does look like a lion but more of a wolf actually. “These clothes look weird when we don’t have the lion silhouette but don’t be shy and perform like you are a lion.” Zichen commented and they went on to the performance.
The towns folk are all excited and are cheering for them. 7.
7.
7.
It was 7 times. Zichen lifted him up many times and never did the other man make a mistake. He was expecting that his partner’s face would hit his back or his butt. It’s not that he wants to, okay! He is just saying the possibilities. Precision is really this man’s strength is what he has in mind, but the truth is far from that.
Zichen is just trying to act cool right now. His brain is on overdrive. In front of him is his cultivation partner’s butt. Xingchen. Xiao Xingchen’s butt. He has sworn his life for this man for a long time now but this kind of closeness is different. Everytime he had to lift Xingchen his hands started to shake but still did his best not to panic. He actually noticed that Xingchen’s stomach is a bit squishy which means behind those robes are a little bit of tummy fat. He didn’t know how to process that new data but he would keep it in my mind, for future purpose.
The two of them got a lot of food as a payment. They went back to their hotel room and prepared dinner. The taller man noticed the weird aura Xingchen emits and so he made the first move. “Xingchen, is there a problem?”
The other man’s chopsticks almost flew to the other side of the room from shock. “Oh it is nothing. I am just thinking…”
“Is this about the lifts? Sorry, I think I was so into it and forgot that you are new to that.”
“That, and also about why do you know how to do it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t like touching other people, right?” He said shyly.
“Oh that? It is part of our New Year tradition in the temple. All men in the temple know how to do it. I also trained to do the drum beats. I would let you hear a sample if we have a chance.” he explained.
“Is that so? That became useful today. Good job!”
“You did well too.”
“Hope I wasn’t that heavy though! You lifted me with such high precision.”
“You are rather thin even though we only have a little bit of height difference. Your weight wasn’t that hard to lift.” his voice slowly became softer. “Your stomach is squishy though.” he said as small as he can.
“My stomach is what, Zichen?!” Xingchen tried to squeeze where Zichen touched that afternoon and he did have a little fat there. He started tearing up from one eye.
“I don’t mind it being like that, Xingchen. You are perfect whatever type of body you have. As long as you are healthy.” Both of them are now embarrassed because of those words.
“I would exercise and train harder so I can eliminate this fat. Even if you think it is okay. I would let you squeeze again to check if it is still there.” Xingchen declared.
Months have passed since that time and every 14 days, Xingchen would tell Zichen to squeeze it to check. He even once went to Zichen right after a bath to ask if he can squish it because he is sure that it has disappeared, with only a towel covering his private parts. It can be said that his fats weren't the only thing touched that night.