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Xie Lian wakes up first. Under the light blanket covering him, he can feel a cold hand holding his, loose, but he knows that if he tried to pull away, it wouldn’t let go so easily. Not that Xie Lian would want that anyway. Never. Still, he’s tempted to use that trick to wake up the sleeping ghost king next to him, impatient for the day to start, knowing his husband planned amazing things.
With a content smile, Xie Lian remembers his lover already wished him a happy birthday in the dead of night, making sure he’d start this new year celebrating, forgetting they weren’t the two last persons in this world, almost forgetting they weren’t just one, that knowledge only reminded by the sweet nicknames whispered with eagerness, with need into each other’s ears.
A light moan escapes Xie Lian’s lips, and he immediately forces them shut, rolling onto his side closer to Hua Cheng’s resting body, hiding his face in his beloved’s chest, taking advantage of his coolness to lower his own body temperature. It’s summer, after all.
Closing his eyes, something heavy falls in his stomach as Xie Lian remembers it’s only his first birthday with the love of his life. As he remembers his last one. When all he had to reassure himself that his love was real was a diamond ring and a red string. He never doubted Hua Cheng. Always believed he’d come back. Still. Having something to touch and look at was nice.
He knows his friends did their best, last year. He also knows they notice the hope he was unable to hide every time someone arrived. How it disappeared just as quickly, as he saw it wasn’t who he was waiting for. He tried so hard to pretend, and they pretended alongside him. He wasn’t sad. But he’d be lying if he said he was happy.
Glad. That’s the word. He was glad to have Feng Xin and Mu Qing back in his life. He was glad to have a lot of new people he came to care about and who cared about him too. But nothing could compete with the sheer bliss his whole being experienced by the simple presence of his lover, best friend, soulmate, protector and one true believer.
With a sigh, he drops off a kiss on Hua Cheng’s chest. He wishes he would just wake up already. He would wraps his arms around his waist, guiding him on top of him until they’re one, holding him tight. Then again, if that’s what he’d do, what’s stopping Xie Lian to just make it happen? So slowly, carefully, he climbs on top of Hua Cheng, never letting go of the hand he was holding in his sleep only a few minutes earlier.
Once he’s in position, he smiles as the loose arm he placed on his lower back naturally tightens on its own around him. Knew it, he mentally cheers himself. He lets his free hand rest on Hua Cheng’s arm, almost on his shoulder, gently caressing the soft skin. He draws characters on it, words of love and adoration his beloved probably wouldn’t be able to read even if he was conscious, but that’s okay. Xie Lian knows, and somehow, Hua Cheng would too.
In the silence of the early morning, Xie Lian wonders how many of his friends will show up today. He hopes he’ll have at least a few hours with just his husband, but also that he’ll get to see everyone later. He’s almost certain he will. With a fond smile, he imagines the annoyed messages Hua Cheng had to exchange with his friends. Maybe he just asked Yin Yu do to it, but Xie Lian likes to think he did it himself. He knows they’re all trying hard not to kill each other for his sake.
It might get awkward at some point, but to Xie Lian, that’s part of the fun. One of his favorite memories from last year was when He Xuan showed up, hidden behind one of the biggest bouquets he had ever seen. All of the flowers were white, tied by a red ribbon, and for a moment, Xie Lian’s heart stopped before he recognized He Xuan behind the flowers.
And of course, this wasn’t Hua Cheng’s style. He always gave Xie Lian one flower at a time. But still, the kind thought touched him. Then, He Xuan shoved the huge bouquet into his arms, mumbling: "From Crimson Rain Sought Flower. Tell him to deduct it from my debt when he comes back." Before going inside, taking as much food as he possibly could fill into his arms, exchanging an awkward look with Shi Qingxuan, and leaving as suddenly as he came.
To this day, Xie Lian still has no idea of how He Xuan knew it was his birthday, but he did end up telling Hua Cheng about it, who laughed but didn't elaborate or offer any answer. Xie Lian knows, though, that the debt owed by He Xuan got significantly reduced that day.
Seeing the sun rising in the sky, Xie Lian starts getting really impatient. His movements against Hua Cheng's arm are quicker now, less gentle, wishing it'd wake the sleeping ghost under him. But as usual, his husband is totally relaxed in his hold, completely trusting him, and Xie Lian would never regret or complain about that. He normally could stay hours like this, just enjoying the proximity, their shared luck to have each other.
But right now, he mostly wants a nice breakfast and.. Is it his imagination or can he actually smell something? He wants to go check. He hoped Hua Cheng might cook for him directly but he probably hired the best cook he could find. That works too, but he wants to eat while it's warm.
Unable to wait longer, Xie Lian tries to escape his husband's arms discreetly, but the hold he created himself is strong, showing no intention of ever letting go. He whines, frustrated, then chuckles. This is getting ridiculous. "San Lang, are you pretending to be asleep?" He groans, staring at Hua Cheng's face, waiting for the tiniest sign of consciousness. Nothing comes.
He tries rolling on his side again, but the hand on his lower back grips him, forcing him to stay there. "A-ha, knew it. San Lang. I'm hungry." He lets him know with a victorious smile, looking down at Hua Cheng's face, waiting to see his eye open to look back. Nothing happens.
Maybe he's really asleep and holding him like that unconsciously? The sweetness of it makes Xie Lian weak, letting himself fall back completely on the other one. "Alright. I guess I'll starve." He still complains, then decides to try another way and recites Hua Cheng's communication array password. "San Lang, wake up, pleeeaaase." He's pretty sure his lover's lips moved in a small, almost imperceptible smile, but it could be wishful thinking.
Then, finally, Hua Cheng's arms tighten around him, holding him as close as possible without hurting him, and Xie Lian can't stop smiling, enjoying simply being in Hua Cheng's space. "Morning, gege. Happy birthday." The ghost king says in a low voice before kissing Xie Lian's hair.
"Morning." He says back, suddenly way less inclined to get up now that Hua Cheng is fully with him. He wants to be lazy, he wants Hua Cheng to bring him his breakfast, but also, he absolutely doesn't want him to leave to get said breakfast. That could be a problem.
"Does his highness want to eat? Should this San Lang bring him his breakfast to bed?" Hua Cheng offers, and truly, it shouldn't be a surprise anymore, how he can just know what he needs without him asking for anything. It's not something out of the ordinary either. But still, Xie Lian wants to cherish this.
"Yes." He answers, nestling his face against Hua Cheng's neck, placing small kisses there, taking in his hair's scent. He puts his body a bit more on Hua Cheng's, making it clear he has no intention of letting him leave him alone.
"Alright." Hua Cheng says, not making any move to go, nothing in his voice sounding like annoyance. Alright indeed, as the bedroom's door opens slowly. Xie Lian knows he's safe with Hua Cheng, but he can't stop himself from jumping a bit, shifting his body to look at.. Hua Cheng?!
He sits up brutally, barely feeling any resistance from his husband's arm this time, quickly looking from one Hua Cheng to another. "What the—" He stops himself, too confused to even finish his sentence. Imperturbable, the new Hua Cheng puts a huge tray at the end of the bed.
Then, he comes to Xie Lian's side of the bed, gently holding out a hand, waiting. Behind of back, Xie Lian can feel his husband arms around his waist, kissing the back of his shoulder as if this was perfectly normal. Deciding to trust him, Xie Lian gives the other Hua Cheng his hand, warm fingers pulling his hand up as he bends to kiss it. "Happy birthday, your highness." He says with a smirk, winking at Xie Lian before letting go of his hand altogether.
As the second Hua Cheng leaves the room with a light step, Xie Lian can hear and feel his beloved laughing on his back. He turns his head towards him. "Are you done?" He asks, amused, and Hua Cheng hurries to nod. "Good. Was that a clone? Or did I sleep with a clone?" He teases, knowing the answer already. But it's worth it to see Hua Cheng choke on air he doesn't even need.
"Gege!" Hua Cheng whines, wrapping himself closer to Xie Lian, who pats his head to comfort him.
"Come on, let's eat before it's cold!" Xie Lian says, and Hua Cheng immediately lets go to pull the tray to them.
As he waits to be fed, Xie Lian's eyes fall on a single white flower in a thin vase. He smiles, extending his hand to take it, bringing it close to his nose to smell it as he makes himself comfortable in the bed.
Yes, it's already better than last year.