Chapter Text
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The flight from Beijing has been delayed yet again, and Hua Cheng can't find it in himself to care anymore. The storm hit the country a few days ago and his plan to be back home by the end of the week is far from successful. His mother has called countless times, worried about the weather and warning him not to fight against mother nature.
'Don't be reckless, Ah Cheng. Home will always be here when you get back.' His mother's shrill voice has scolded him through the phone.
Home. He's not worried about home. For some unknown reason, he's restless about something else.
About someone.
There's this unsettling feeling in his stomach and he can't quite put his finger on it. He's a Gemini after all and his intuition is never wrong.
He just knows that Xie Lian isn't happy at home.
"I'm not fighting mother nature, mom. Stop making this a big deal. I'm just trying to get home faster." Hua Cheng has argued back. "Can you at least check on gege for me? He's not answering my calls."
There's a pause from his mother's side, then a burst of soft laughter.
'Ah Lian is probably busy. Don't worry.'
"Mom."
'Alright, sure. I'll tell him to call you back. It's not like he has a life of his own or anything.'
"Mom."
'Bye bye, dear. See you in a few days."
"Bye, mom. I love you,"
'Ew.' His mother ended the call at that.
-
Hua Cheng manages to get a flight back home on Saturday evening, and once he's landed, he just wants to sleep for the next few days. His driver might sense that because other than offering a brief welcome, he's quiet the whole ride. Once home, on the other hand, his little nephew can't stop pestering him on why he's back so late.
As if Hua Cheng has to be here on time for anything.
"Welcome home!" His aunt appears with a drink. She ushers her youngest son to go play, and Hua Cheng frowns at her a bit. Isn't she supposed to be in the US? No one tells him she's visiting. "Get some rest. I'll bring dinner straight to your room."
"I'm not that tired, auntie." He tries to smile. It's been a while since he last saw his aunt and cousin and he doesn't want to miss this dinner. "I'll come down for dinner later."
"Sure, sure!" She smiles but the smile doesn't reach her eyes. "See you at dinner, Ah Cheng."
He smiles, "Good to see you again."
-
The table feels empty.
No. The table is empty.
Hua Cheng expects to see his cousins' bickering despite one being 27 and another 9 years old. Instead, he only finds himself, his parents, and his aunt. No cousins in sight, nor his own nosy sister.
He steals a glance at his parents.
They seem restless.
"The Beijing team will finalize the agreement and get back to us by Wednesday next week," Hua Cheng figures he can lift the mood up a little. He steals another glance at his dad and the elder man nods, more to himself, his mind somewhere else. "There's nothing to worry about, dad." Hua Cheng adds, "Everything is basically set."
His father nods again, "That's good. You have time for tomorrow, then."
"Tomorrow?"
"Maybe wait until dessert," his mom chuckles but Hua Cheng can tell she's nervous. What would she be nervous for?
Hua Cheng sits up straighter.
"What's happening tomorrow?" He looks around the dining table and the three elders refuse to meet his eyes. Only then that he realizes the heavy knot in his stomach returns, his Gemini senses tingling. Whatever it is that they're not telling him—or not yet, he feels like he's not ready for it.
"What's happening tomorrow, mom?" He pushes one more time and the lady acts like she's in pain.
"It's-"
"-Xie Lian's engagement tomorrow," his father ends the sentence.
Hua Cheng pauses, his breathing slows. He's letting the words sink in because he might have heard wrong.
He wants to hear wrong.
"Gege's what ?"
The father looks to his eldest son, eyes sympathetic. "He Xuan doesn't tell you?"
"Why would He Xuan tell me about- about that?"
His mother sighs and places down her glass of water. She looks Hua Cheng in the eyes as she tells him, "Ah Lian is getting engaged tomorrow, dear. With Ah Xuan." She pauses, "Your cousin."
As if Hua Cheng doesn't know the name of his own fucking cousin.
-
Hua Cheng didn't manage to finish dinner before he stormed out of his house. As he's sprinting to Xie Lian's house, giving himself some time to let the information sink in. Xie Lian lives in the same neighborhood as he does. Matter of fact, they've been the best of friends first and foremostly thanks to how close they live to each other despite the other male being older. Xie Lian doesn't like to admit it growing up but their block is one of the richest households in the area.
Hua Cheng halts when he spots the festive decoration on Xie Lian's front gate.
Xie Lian is getting engaged.
His gege.
With his fucking cousin who is suddenly back from the US for some fucking reason.
Xie Lian is getting engaged to fucking He Xuan and it all happened while Hua Cheng was away for a week.
One week!
Once taken in a few deep breaths, Hua Cheng burst into the house without even knocking. There's a small crowd inside, bustling left and right with duties and things in their hands. It takes Hua Cheng a moment before he spots the chestnut boy sitting in the corner, a thick book in his hands.
Hua Cheng steadies his breathing before he approaches.
Xie Lian looks up with his big eyes, a smile soon creeps over his features as he takes in the sight of the elder male.
"San Lang!" He calls, dropping his book as he stands up and wraps his arms around Hua Cheng. "You've made it! Your mom said you might not be here on time, but look at you now!"
"What's going on here?" Hua Cheng asks without returning the hug.
It takes Xie Lian a few seconds before he lets go and looks at Hua Cheng.
"I'm getting engaged," He answers so simply that it angers Hua Cheng a little.
"Since when?"
Xie Lian tilts his head, "Since... tomorrow?"
Hua Cheng hisses to himself as he reaches out and grabs Xie Lian by his shoulders. Xie Lian tenses at first, but soon he relaxes to the touch.
"Gege, did my aunt pressure you?"
"What? No!"
"So He Xuan?"
"He's a baby, please."
Hell no.
"Then, what is going on? Why are you getting engaged? Why didn't I know about this?"
"Your mom said you were signing an important deal so I didn't want to disturb that with this simple news. Besides, now you know."
"Xie Lian-" Hua Cheng takes a deep breath. Simple news? Simple ?? "You're getting engaged to my cousin and I have no idea. How is that simple? I-"
He pauses to calm himself down. Xie Lian seems confused and that only fuels Hua Cheng's anger even more.
How could someone be so clueless?
For the 25 years that Hua Cheng has known the older, he admits Xie Lian is a bit naive but surely he can't just not understand his intentions. Not after years of showing it. Hua Cheng isn't a man of too much talking so he tries his best to show through his actions. How can Xie Lian not get anything? Back then when Hua Cheng started high school, Xie Lian had already graduated and moved to college, but Hua Cheng would always use his sister as an excuse to ask the older to drop by their school every chance he got. It helped because Xie Lian is awfully fond of his sister and they get along well, but his sister was so sick of his antics that she almost exposed him countless times.
To say Xie Lian never caught on is ridiculous and Hua Cheng would laugh if the situation is any less dire.
"Gege, I want to know about your life." Hua Cheng breathes, feeling small. "I care about what's going on in your life and I care about y-"
"Ah Cheng?"
He hisses for being interrupted. He knows that voice all too well. If it was any other time, he would turn around and give the owner the biggest hug.
But not today. The sight of his cousin only adds to his anger.
"He Xuan." Hua Cheng says firmly as if greeting a business partner. Someone distant.
A stranger.
He Xuan's big smile is present on his face and he skips over and gives his big brother a hug, Xie Lian left forgotten for a moment.
"You're back just in time! I miss you!"
Hua Cheng grits his teeth, "Yeah. Lucky me."
"Ruoye just left. She said auntie called her for dinner. Did you see her?"
"No."
"Aww, too bad. She seemed eager to see you."
"She can wait," Hua Cheng murmurs before turning back to Xie Lian. "Gege, I need to talk to you."
When Xie Lian doesn't budge, Hua Cheng adds, "Now."
"Oh."
"Yes. Oh."
"Can it wait?" Xie Lian asks but his eyes are on his phone, reading something that has him frowning a bit. When he looks up again, his frown disappears, replaced by a smile Hua Cheng has gotten so used to. "'Cause mom needs me to go and try on the tuxedo with her. The tailor just called. Maybe you can come with us."
"No. I need to talk to you alone. Now." Not just saying it but Hua Cheng also grabs Xie Lian by his wrist and pulls him to a quieter place. He Xuan waves them goodbye, not fully understanding the situation.
"I'll tell your mom you need a few minutes, Xie Lian."
"Thank you!" Xie Lian calls back and returns He Xuan a wave, like a friend waving as they part.
Hua Cheng pushes through the crowd and heads to Xie Lian's bedroom. He locks the door once they're inside and Xie Lian rushes to prepare his messy clothes. Hua Cheng watches him throwing his jeans into a basket, then his shirts back into the closet. He is about to grab his remaining clothes on his bed when Hua Cheng approaches and back-hugs him. Xie Lian stays still.
"Sang Lang? Are you okay?"
Hua Cheng doesn't answer.
"San Lang, I'm getting worried. Are you- are you crying ?"
Hua Cheng takes a deep breath.
"Did the deal not go well?"
He slowly shakes his head.
"Then, what's wrong? Talk to me please."
"Why are you getting engaged to- to my cousin?" He asks almost in a whisper.
Xie Lian's tensed body relaxes after he hears that.
He chuckles, "Are you worried about that?" He grabs Hua Cheng's arms that are on his stomach and pulls them apart. He turns to look at the younger instead, "I promise this won't change anything between us. You are still my best friend in this whole world. I'm just going to be engaged to your cousin, that's all. He won't replace you, I promise."
But that's the part Hua Cheng knows isn't true. He Xuan has already replaced him.
He Xuan has already taken his place.
Stolen it.
And everything is not okay.
But he can't say that, not when Xie Lian is caressing his cheeks with his soft and small hands.
"Aww, Sang Lang is so happy for me, he cries. No one's gonna believe this."
"Don't," Don't get engaged to him, he wants to say. But instead, "Don't tell people I cried."
Xie Lian laughs. Always a happy one and Hua Cheng wants to keep it that way.
"Then this shall be our little secret," Xie Lian says, his hand still on Hua Cheng's cheek. "I won't tell anyone, I promise."
And Hua Cheng believes him.
-
The morning can't come any faster than this. Hua Cheng is dragged out of bed since dawn, his mom babbling excitedly about how handsome He Xuan looks in his tuxedo and everyone has to see it. Hua Cheng still has his pajamas on when his mom pushes him together with his cousin and snaps a polaroid. He Xuan has such a big smile on but Hua Cheng can't even open his eyes.
"Gosh, go get dressed." His mom scolds him once she has taken all the pictures she needs. "You look gross."
"It's not like I'm the one getting engaged." Hua Cheng murmurs, eyes shooting daggers at his whole family even though they did nothing wrong.
"Maybe you could've been the one if you weren't always so slow."
He thinks he's delusional, so clearly his own sister didn't just say that in front of everyone. Hua Cheng pauses on the steps, turning to give her a look.
"What?"
She shrugs. "I said what I said,"
"Ruo-"
"It was supposed to be you, you know." Ruoye bites. Her words wake Hua Cheng up completely. He stumbles his way back to the living room where his sister remains standing, arms crossed over her chest. She raises her brows as if enjoying her brother's misery.
Hua Cheng takes deep breaths. His senses are in jumble ever since he's back and it's barely been a whole day.
"Say that again? Please?"
His sister considers for a long moment, so long that for a split second, Hua Cheng has thought he has made up the whole conversation.
But then she says, "Lian-ge's parents are moving abroad and he refuses to go with them, so they want him to settle down with his own family, since, you know, he’s in his thirty now. You were the first one they thought of."
Hua Cheng loses his balance for a moment, his sister continues without a warning, "But ge said you wouldn't want it, that you were young and had a life of your own. So they turned to Xuan ge, 'cause he just happened to be there, you know. And his parents know us so they just asked mom to ask auntie and auntie said yes right away. I tried to stop it but it all happened too fast and Lian ge didn't say no again. Now here we are,"
Lian ge said you wouldn't want it.
Hua Cheng takes a deep breath.
Xie Lian really doesn't know a thing and Hua Cheng hates this.
"Ah Cheng- Oh my!" His mom comes back and starts hitting him. "It's been 15 minutes, why are you still in your pajamas? Do I need to dress my 25-year-old son myself because I will!"
"Mom-"
"Change your clothes and wash your face, for crying out loud!"
"Mom, I-" Hua Cheng stumbles with his mom's push. "I got it. I just- I need a minute."
"We don't have a minute!" His mom pushes harder. "You're always late."
Somehow, Hua Cheng understands what his mom is implying.
-
"Where's gege?" Hua Cheng asks the elders once he's at the other boy's house. He doesn't even bother greeting and he knows he's going to get an earful of that later on but he just can't care enough.
"Upstairs, in his room." One of them replies so sweetly. She grabs his wrist when he turns to leave. "You can't go! It is forbidden to see the groom before the ceremony!"
"This isn't even a wedding!" Hua Cheng whines, "And I'm not the groom!"
The words taste bitter in his mouth.
"Ah, ah!" She insists. "You cannot go."
Hua Cheng notes her face and mentally blacklists her when he gets married.
The elders keep him around to ask him pretty personal questions and judge his life choices. He wonders what he did in his previous life to end up here at this moment.
"Aren't you a busy one?" One asks. She looks familiar but he doesn't remember her name. Their neighborhood is quite close-knit - everyone knows everyone here. And that is also a downside because everyone here knows him since he was little. They know him too well that he feels exposed sometimes.
"You should find someone and settle down too," the same grandma pokes his forearm. "Look at Xie Lian. Sweet little boy has found a match even if it takes 30 years! Hahaha!"
"Aw, sweet Xie Lian!" Another chimes in. "I remember his little legs running around the street. It feels just like yesterday he was crying because he scraped his knee falling off his bike."
"Weren't you there?" the same grandma pokes his arm again. "Blowing at the wound and suddenly Xie Lian stops crying. Always his guardian angel, aren't you?"
"Aren't you proud he's getting married?"
"Aren't you ashamed you're not?" another one chimes in.
Hua Cheng has never been happier to see He Xuan. He shoots up to his feet, clearing his throat loudly.
"Ah Xuan!" He practically screams. He Xuan spots him from the other side of the room and waves. "I gotta go, my brother needs me. Nice chat!"
He bolts from the grandmas and he can feel fresh air comes back to his lung.
"He Xuan, He Xuan!" he grabs his cousin and drags him outside. "We need to talk!"
He Xuan follows him like an obedient puppy. They end up in the backyard where there aren't many people, though enough to make Hua Cheng uncomfortable he'll manage. He turns to his cousin and all of a sudden he is reminded of how kind and loving He Xuan has been while they're growing up together.
He Xuan isn't a complete stranger to Xie Lian, so to speak. While Hua Cheng and Xie Lian live just a few houses apart, He Xuan hasn't spent that much time with them whenever he's visiting. His cousin may not be that close, but he is still his cousin.
And Xie Lian is still Xie Lian, his best friend growing up, and soon to be his cousin-in-law.
Unless he does something about that.
"I-"
"Ge." Ruoye has materialized out of nowhere like the devil she is. She pulls gently at his arm, eyes pleading. "Don't."
Hua Cheng sends her a look. She keeps her gaze stern, her grip on his arm tightens as if to let him know what she can't say aloud.
Don't ruin this for them.
"What's going on?" He Xuan tries to separate the two but to no success. "Guys?"
"Ge just wants to congratulate you, He Xuan ge." Ruoye says, her shrill voice actually makes her words believable, even Hua Cheng himself thinks it's true. "Right, Cheng ge?"
He Xuan watches his cousins, eyes unsure. Hua Cheng inhales and exhales like a dragon, his chest heavy as he forces himself to nod. Yes, He Xuan deserves happiness too. And Xie Lian is perfect for that.
"Yes." The eldest male grits his teeth. "Congratulation, Ah Xuan. Gege is a good one."
When he turns, he finds Xie Lian by the swing. He's been there all along. The older male looks up from the ground, a smile soon appears on his face as he approaches the three siblings.
"What's good congratulating one groom but not the other?" He asks with a pout. "I'll say thank you anyway."
He turns to look directly at Hua Cheng, his eyes glister in the sun.
"Thanks, San Lang."