Archive of Our Own ^beta

01

Shi Qingxuan can wholeheartedly appreciate what a catch her friend Xie Lian is.

For one, he’s gorgeous. Gorgeous in a way that makes heads turn and people stop in their tracks. With his sweet smile and striking looks, it doesn’t take rocket science to understand why he’s always the talk of every party, the object of every spotlight. Xie Lian also happens to be smart and kind and talented, and honestly, Shi Qingxuan could go on all day about how he’s the full beauty and brains package, because he is, truly.

It’s why Shi Qingxuan isn’t surprised by the high number of admirers Xie Lian consistently attracts. But it is also why she cannot, for the life of her, understand how he’s never dated anyone before. Like, ever. He could reasonably get anyone he likes, having even gone on “dates” he didn’t think were dates but were definitely dates—or, at least that’s how the other parties interpreted them but Xie Lian was just too oblivious to realize. It’s not due to the lack of interest, because Shi Qingxuan does remember he once said he was waiting for the right person even though he wasn’t on the search for love at the time.

So when Shi Qingxuan brings up the idea of setting him up on a date with someone who’s eyed him for a while now, she’s thoroughly floored by his response.

It happens like this:                                     

“I can’t,” Xie Lian says bashfully, taking a sip of his latte, and alright, Shi Qingxuan kind of saw this coming.

She pouts, leans forward to prop her chin on a manicured hand. Seriously. How can Xie Lian expect to find a significant other at this rate if he’s just going to shoot down all her suggestions? “But A-Lian,” she whines. “Didn’t you say you were open to looking for a relationship? And what if—what if this person is the one and you just let this chance slip away?”

At this point, Shi Qingxuan expects one of the two things: either Xie Lian re-evaluates his response by saying he’ll think about it, or he flat-out rejects the offer, which, no harm done. Shi Qingxuan’s little friend will just have to be disappointed but he’ll live. Time mends all broken hearts.

So when Xie Lian says, “Okay, I know I didn’t tell you this earlier, but I’m already dating someone,” Shi Qingxuan’s eyes threaten to pop out of their sockets and her jaw falls down to the floor. It gets her mind running all these crazy mental gymnastics—she’s talking trigonometry, abstract algebra—because is this true? Did Xie Lian really say what she thought he said? That finally, finally he’s dating someone. That’s he not single, he’s very much taken—and Shi Qingxuan is so excited now, you have no idea.

“Oh my God, really?” Shi Qingxuan squeals.

Xie Lian nods, a pale pink dusting his cheeks.

“Since when?” she demands, her voice half a screech, half a scream.

“Since a week ago,” he says.

“My baby’s all grown up!” Shi Qingxuan practically sobs, and who cares if the people in the café they’re in are looking at her weirdly, can’t they see what a big deal this is for her personally?

Of course, ten minutes of vehement interrogation ensues, in which Shi Qingxuan attempts to wheedle out as much information about Xie Lian’s new (and first ever!) boyfriend as she reasonably can before he heads off to class. These are three facts that she learns during that timeframe: one, Xie Lian met him when Xie Lian accidentally spilled coffee over his shirt four months ago. Two, he’s currently on a trip abroad. And three, his name is Hua Cheng.

That name. Well, it’s definitely familiar. Shi Qingxuan has heard of it, she thinks. Maybe she’s seen Hua Cheng at a social before? Like at a party, or another similar event?

With Xie Lian gone, headed off to class, Shi Qingxuan sets about to the task of uncovering his identity. She tries Google first but only finds a hot, sexy Thirty Under Thirty billionaire entrepreneur. She then tries Instagram next and finds the same thing. The same guy, with three cryptic photos on his account, one of which was posted a few days ago and labeled <3. Whatever that means.

That’s—not the Hua Cheng Xie Lian is talking about, Shi Qingxuan is sure. Xie Lian’s Hua Cheng must be someone from campus, or just a random person he met on the streets by fortune. Yes, Xie Lian is lovely enough to attract the attention of charming, enigmatic men who hail from high places, but Xie Lian just doesn’t strike Shi Qingxuan as the type to reciprocate their advances, deep pockets and handsome faces notwithstanding.

Oh well. There’ll be time later and then some for Xie Lian to spill all the details on who his boyfriend really is.

02

Feng Xin has known Xie Lian practically his whole life. He’s known him since they were four, has known him long before he made friends with anyone else—excluding Mu Qing, of course—so yes, Feng Xin likes to think he’s pretty damn aware of what Xie Lian is like as a person.

He knows that Xie Lian is someone people easily get infatuated with. He also knows that Xie Lian is someone who has never fallen in love in his life, someone who can never really tell when people like him romantically even when the signs are all there in neon red. So when Feng Xin learns from Shi Qingxuan that Xie Lian has been dating someone he’s known for a grand total of four months, it’s understandable he goes into a bit of a shock.

“What are you looking all surprised for? It’s not like I said Xie Lian got hitched and is planning to elope to Vegas with his secret lover,” Shi Qingxuan snorts, and yeah, maybe his initial reaction was a little extreme.

But still: the point stands. Xie Lian has been dating someone he’s only known for four months. Someone Feng Xin doesn’t know. Someone he didn’t even think to reveal to Feng Xin first.

“It’s probably because he knew you and Mu Qing would act like this. Like overly protective mother hens. And four months? Please. I once dated someone after four days,” Shi Qingxuan snorts, and again, she may be onto something, but what the hell does she know. Xie Lian isn’t her.

When Feng Xin asks for a name, he reasons with himself that it’s definitely for scientific purposes. Definitely not for sinister intent.

“Okay, fine. So, apparently his name is Hua Cheng, and I looked him up on the Internet but I think the person Xie Lian’s talking about might not have a social media account—or maybe he’s just really lowkey,” Shi Qingxuan says with a wave of her hand.

It’s solid enough information for the time being; a lead is a lead. Feng Xin has to start somewhere. But like Shi Qingxuan, he only comes across information of some rich, smug, asshole-looking prick, so he decides on another course of action, and it’s to ask Xie Lian himself. Unfortunately, it doesn’t yield the results he craves. Like, at all.

He got the “Hua Cheng is so perfect and handsome” part the first time. He really didn’t need it repeated a billion times after that. Feng Xin doesn’t care about that one rainy day when Xie Lian was cold and Hua Cheng so graciously gave him his jacket as if it wasn’t an action any normal person would do. He wants to know who Hua Cheng is and maybe lay down a few threats.

Unfortunately, Xie Lian must get the hint Feng Xin’s intentions are less than friendly, because when Feng Xin asks for a picture, he receives an image of that CEO guy he kept seeing everywhere on the Google search results. And, in the fashion of a preteen girl parading her favourite celebrity idol as her boyfriend, Xie Lian specifically shows him a picture of that Hua Cheng in sweatpants and a T-shirt. As if under the assumption Feng Xin is stupid enough to fall for the deception. From what obscure corner of the Internet did Xie Lian even get that image, anyway?

“Oh…okay,” Feng Xin manages stiffly, because how the hell is he going to respond to that?

Accuse Xie Lian of lying, and then have Xie Lian get all defensive and hurt his friends are so overbearing even if it’s for his own good?

Whoever this Hua Cheng fellow is, Feng Xin is going to figure out his real identity. One way or another.

03

Mu Qing first hears the news from Feng Xin, and much like Feng Xin, his initial reaction is this: less than enthusiastic.

“Xie Lian is dating who now?” Mu Qing exclaims, so stricken he doesn’t realize he’s cut the vegetables all wrong until Feng Xin is pointing it out.

“Yeah, you heard me. Some guy called Hua Cheng,” says Feng Xin, and wait—isn’t that the name of that hotshot billionaire who’s always on the news?

It is, Feng Xin informs him, but obviously, they’re not the same person, and Xie Lian wouldn’t tell Feng Xin what his boyfriend really looks like. So he could only speculate, make assumptions based on the clues Xie Lian gave him. At the very least, Xie Lian’s Hua Cheng doesn’t seem to be an asshole.

“Don’t be stupid,” Mu Qing scoffs. “You’ve never even met Hua Cheng himself.”

Who knows what Hua Cheng is really like? He could secretly be a stalker! A murderer! You never truly know with people these days. Just imagine, Mu Qing coming home from class one day only to find that Xie Lian has been put in a body-bag—or kidnapped, then held for ransom at an outrageous price! The potential scenarios are endless. Mu Qing would know; he’s watched multiple documentaries on these sort of horror stories. Multiple.

Some freak develops a disturbing obsession with their partner and proceeds to do everything they can so that they can never leave, never break off the relationship. Even if it means disaster. Even if it means death.

So in the name of justice, Feng Xin and Mu Qing agree on what they must do for Xie Lian’s sake: it’s to discover everything they possibly can about Hua Cheng.

They meet up with Shi Qingxuan at a restaurant she informs Xie Lian and Hua Cheng apparently like to frequent, then work together to come up with a plan of action. The strategy is simple: ply Xie Lian with questions, catch him off-guard, ask around if anyone knows the person they’re talking about. They’re not really on the same wavelength, though: Shi Qingxuan is doing this because she’s shallow to a disgusting degree and wants to know if Xie Lian’s boyfriend is as attractive as Xie Lian says he is. Feng Xin and Mu Qing are doing this because they want to ensure Xie Lian is not dating a guy who takes panty-shots as a recreational hobby.

Either way, it’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.

“Xie Lian says his boyfriend is coming back in two weeks,” Shi Qingxuan helpfully supplies, tapping her nails on the table. “I think we could hold off doing anything drastic until then, because we could definitely get Xie Lian to introduce him to us.”

“I just don’t get why he wouldn’t tell me. I’d be perfectly calm about the situation!” Feng Xin says sullenly, and Mu Qing gets his plight. He really does. That’s saying something because there’s no one he’s more at odds with even on good days, even though Mu Qing is certain—by virtue of him being calmer, more reasonable than the absolute oaf of a man that Feng Xin is—Xie Lian would be more amenable to sharing the truth with him if he asked.

It’s not like they’d go up to Xie Lian’s boyfriend and give him an angry diatribe on what it means to be dating a person completely out of his league! That’s not the sort of people they are—or at least, Mu Qing isn’t.

Just to add fuel to the fire, Shi Qingxuan goes on to say, “Oh, I don’t know. I mean, if I were Xie Lian, I’d probably hide things from you, too,” while fluffing out the waves of her hair.

Feng Xin rears at that; Mu Qing doesn’t. Shi Qingxuan is just trying to rile them up, prove a point. It worked the first time; it’s not going to the second.

“Have you seen the ring Xie Lian wears around his neck?” Shi Qingxuan brings up a minute later, as she nibbles daintily on a piece of tofu. “Apparently it was given to him by his boooyfriend.”

Mu Qing chokes halfway through a serving of noodles. His surprise comes off as a grimace compacted into a hacking cough. Are these even noodles? Because, like. All he tastes is the sourness of his own shock and the bitterness of disbelief.

The relationship has progressed to that level where they’re giving each other those kinds of—gifts. It’s a lot more serious than either Feng Xin or Mu Qing thought. What the fuck? Next thing they know, Xie Lian will be announcing he’s fallen in love with Hua Cheng, God forbid, and plans to spend the rest of his life with him!

(They work themselves up into a rant so loud, Mu Qing never realizes that Shi Qingxuan is sighing to herself in resigned vindication while also recording their meltdown in secret.)

04

He Xuan and Xie Lian have been friends for two, going on three, years now. And within that time period, He Xuan has figured out a lot of random information about Xie Lian that he never asked for but learned all the same. It’s fine, though; He Xuan doesn’t mean it in an unkind way. He likes that Xie Lian likes the same movies that he does; likes that Xie Lian agrees with him dark chocolate is the best chocolate; likes that Xie Lian is bright and capable, and one of the scant few people on this godforsaken planet He Xuan can actually tolerate.

But that’s not the trivia he never wanted to learn. It’s the fact that Xie Lian has more admirers than he has knowledge on how to deal with them, and the fact it has turned He Xuan into the subject of numerous irritating instances where they’ll go up to him and ask for Xie Lian’s personal contact information, like that would in any way, shape, or form increase their chances.

So it is why He Xuan is—well, relieved when Xie Lian mentions offhandedly that he’s dating someone. It means those simpering idiots will finally leave Xie Lian alone now, right? If Xie Lian is taken, they’ll have no further reason to aggravate He Xuan, and He Xuan will have one less thing to worry about.

“Huh. Cool,” He Xuan says, looking up from his textbook. “Good for you.”

They’re both at Xie Lian’s apartment, working on a group project He Xuan can’t trust anyone but Xie Lian to help finish; one of their teammates went MIA around the halfway mark and they haven’t heard from him since then. He Xuan hopes the guy gains a pebble in his shoe he can never ever get rid of. It’s the least karma can do.

Xie Lian blushes sheepishly in acknowledgement. “Oh, um, thanks!” he says, then excuses himself momentarily to answer a text.

As Xie Lian does so, He Xuan catches sight of something in the chat box without meaning to. It’s a picture of a man—sharp jawline, tailored suit, wide grin. He can make out some luxury car in the background: a flashy black number with crimson accents.

“That him?” He Xuan says dryly, definitely recognizing that face.

“Mhm,” Xie Lian sighs dreamily, like he’s savouring a particularly good memory. Then his expression clears, apologetic, and he’s exiting the app, putting his phone away. The screen flickers to life once when his arm hovers near, and there’s the image of the same man on his wallpaper display.

“Sorry, He Xuan! I got a little distracted over there. We can work on the project now,” he says, picking up a pen.

Because he wants to humour Xie Lian a little bit, He Xuan decides to ask a few simple questions. Like how they met and where exactly; do they talk to each other every night before going to bed; does his boyfriend buy him expensive gifts; is it true he has his own Stark tower?

Xie Lian’s answers are a lot more honest-seeming than he expects; almost carefully thought out, every sentence threaded with a modesty that tempers the whole pretense. He’s not loud about it—doesn’t even flaunt out his responses in a theatrical manner—and that’s the thing. He sounds so genuinely convincing He Xuan is tempted to believe him.

But then he thinks about it a little more, and well.

Hua Cheng and Xie Lian. Xie Lian and Hua Cheng. Hua Cheng, who seems so obviously the type to keep his temper on a short leash. Xie Lian, who is endlessly patient and sweet. Hua Cheng, whose meteoric rise to the stratosphere has seen him on billboards, news articles, and the covers of high-profile magazines.  Xie Lian, who admits he still keeps his stuffed bears in his closet. Hua Cheng, who probably thinks he’s above the common people. Xie Lian, who cuts coupons out of newspapers and is never wasteful with what he has.

He Xuan snorts. Xie Lian has to be messing with him. There’s just no way, right?

05

“Alright, guys,” Shi Qingxuan says. “I have a plan.”

“Oh joy, let’s hear it,” He Xuan says dryly. “I’m so totally stoked to be spending my afternoon playing Blue’s Clues.”

She jabs her arm into his side, and he yelps, mouth hanging open. Shi Qingxuan scratches her head with a nervous laugh; she didn’t mean to hit him that hard.

“The hell is wrong with you?” He Xuan snaps, rubbing at the afflicted area.

She pouts, crossing her arms over her chest. “Well, it wouldn’t have hurt you to at least pretend to be interested with what I had to say, He-xiong!”

“…”

“Hate to break up this little domestic abuse case, but can you just get on with it?” Mu Qing huffs.

“Look, everyone, I’ve been telling you this for ages, but Xie Lian probably doesn’t have an actual boyfriend,” Pei Ming says, clearly amused with the whole conversation. “Maybe he’s just saying that he does because he was tired of the attention and wanted people to lay off of him a little.”

“You just want to ask him out,” Mu Qing accuses, pointing a finger.

“We’re both two young and very attractive people in the prime of our lives,” Pei Ming continues, utterly dismissive of the glares Feng Xin and Mu Qing are sending his way. “Compatibility-wise, I’d say it’s a perfect match. Don’t blame me if I want to have a bit of fun. Besides, I think Xie Lian could use the experience. I’d definitely show him a good time.”

“Don’t you even dare,” Feng Xin threatens.

“We’d never allow him to get tangled up with the likes of you,” says Mu Qing.

“Why am I even here,” says He Xuan.

“Alright, guys, can we all just get along? We don’t have all day,” Shi Qingxuan speaks loudly over the commotion, and then she’s back to explaining the details of her plan.

There’s a party Shi Qingxuan is going to host at her place in a week’s time. It’s going to coincide with Xie Lian’s boyfriend’s arrival from his overseas trip, which only tells Shi Qingxuan it will be the perfect opportunity for Xie Lian to invite Hua Cheng over and introduce the love of his life in a very public setting. That way, everyone gets the confirmation they so desperately crave at the same time! It’s perfect!

“What’s with you and parties?” Mu Qing says, rolling his eyes. “You do know you don’t need to come up with an excuse as elaborate as that? It’s so—stupid. Honestly. And what if Xie Lian says no? What if his boyfriend doesn’t even want to go because he’s too tired? Plus, he doesn’t even know you! It’s highly unlikely Xie Lian would even show him off in the first place, when he’s been so cryptic about it.”

“Well, I’m still throwing the party anyway,” Shi Qingxuan says serenely, her words met with less-than-enthusiastic murmurs except for Pei Ming and his noise of approval, the only person to find the idea as awesome as she thinks it is.

Finally, the day arrives and Shi Qingxuan is disappointed to hear the news Hua Cheng won’t be able to make it.

“He’s not actually going to be back until tomorrow,” Xie Lian informs her as they’re all gathered in the living room, the party already in full swing. “He said he had an important meeting that got delayed to, well, today, so his plate is pretty full at the moment. Plus, I was kind of just thinking we’d hang out at my place, because San Lang isn’t too fond of parties. Or any setting with lots of people, really.”

San Lang. It’s so cute Xie Lian has a nickname for his boyfriend. Shi Qingxuan could die from diabetes. It’s just too bad that she’ll be stuck imagining his face a little while longer.

“Awww, I was so looking forward to seeing this dreamboat of yours,” Shi Qingxuan teases, pinching Xie Lian’s cheek.

Xie Lian blushes, just laughs her off.

“I’m telling you, he’s not real,” Shi Qingxuan catches Pei Ming saying once she’s finally pushed her way past a throng of bodies to the island counters, her ears filled with sugary pop music. “Xie Lian is just pretending he’s dating someone so that the confessions will finally stop. I’ve heard this excuse a million times. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing.”

“No, Hua Cheng is plenty real, but Xie Lian doesn’t want us to meet him,” Feng Xin argues. “Xie Lian is our best friend, not yours. I think we’d know him a lot better than you do.”

“Clearly not well enough,” Pei Ming goads with a smirk, and at this Feng Xin and Mu Qing start baring their teeth at him.

“Ugh.” He Xuan grimaces where he’s standing besides the snack basket.

A few minutes later, Shi Qingxuan and a few other friends find themselves around a low table, passing around shot glasses. They’re about to start playing a game Pei Ming made up on the spot. She has no idea what they’re supposed to be doing but the goal is simple: to get outrageously wasted by the end of it.

Just when they’re about to start, the doorbell goes off with a ring. Six pairs of waiting eyes turn towards her.

“Fine, fine, I’ll get it! Since I’m the host and all,” Shi Qingxuan huffs, standing up to answer the door very, very reluctantly. Like, couldn’t anyone else have answered it?

When she finally opens the door, wondering which friend of a friend of a friend has found themselves here at her party this time, the sight that meets her is entirely unexpected.

It’s this:

“Hey,” a tall, devastatingly gorgeous man is saying to her, all elegant lines and fine angles, dressed casual but still effortlessly debonair. “You must be Shi Qingxuan, right? Is Xie Lian here?”

Shi Qingxuan thinks her jaw drops but knows for certain her mind crashed to a halt before he even started to talk.

That face. That voice. How does he know her name? How did he know how to find this place? Could he be—wait, no, there’s just no way—

Xie Lian’s voice reaches her ears just barely, floaty sounding as though it hails from a distance. “—and also I think we’re out of the strawberry soda, I couldn’t find any in the cooler, should I try to find it again—” The words come to a stop the same time Xie Lian’s feet do.

Xie Lian looks past her. “San Lang?” he says, squinting.

At this, the man—Hua Cheng, yes, Hua Cheng, it’s definitely him—steps forward until he’s actually inside, in clear sight of the people partying in the living room. And then his face is easing out of its expression of casual indifference, in favour of a radiant grin that renders his features hopelessly boyish. It’s a visual so odds with the suave, alluring version of him Shi Qingxuan had constructed in her head that she gawks, utterly fascinated.

“Gege!” Hua Cheng says, and then Xie Lian is running towards him to pull him into a tight hug.

One by one heads look up, turn towards the scene. Quick as the flick of a light switch, the atmosphere loses the drunken languor as stunned speechlessness sets in.

Two plastic cups clatter onto the floor. “Xie Lian?” Feng Xin and Mu Qing say in unison, watching the scene unfold with stark disbelief.

Pei Ming joins Feng Xin and Mu Qing where they stand. He arches an eyebrow and lets out a low whistle. “Nice,” he says, nodding.

“So that wasn’t a lie,” says Feng Xin in a tight voice.

Curious whispers break out like wildfire and then suddenly everybody is on their phones, followed up by the frantic sound of keypads being punched into.

“I thought you weren’t going to be back until tomorrow!” Xie Lian says to Hua Cheng, who is looking at him with such an adoring expression Shi Qingxuan seriously wants to melt from it. “Didn’t you have a meeting today? And how’d you find me?”

“I just said that because I wanted to surprise you,” says Hua Cheng. “You weren’t at your apartment, and then I remembered the text you sent me earlier, and it really wasn’t that hard at all to find this place. The music could practically be heard from a block away.”

“I’m just really glad you’re back, then.” Xie Lian proceeds to cup Hua Cheng’s cheek like no one else exists and they’re the only two people in the room. “I missed you.”

Hua Cheng leans into his touch. “I missed you a lot, too.” Just as he’s dipping his head to close the gap between their faces, Xie Lian jolts as though zapped with electricity, slapping a palm over Hua Cheng’s mouth.

“San Lang, no! You can’t—you can’t kiss me here, there’s people watching!” Xie Lian exclaims, blushing, now attempting to wriggle out of Hua Cheng’s grasp.

Is that a pout that Shi Qingxuan sees on Hua Cheng’s face? A pout. “Then let’s leave, gege,” he laughs, pressing a kiss to Xie Lian’s temple instead. “Go somewhere private, where we won’t be disturbed.”

“San Lang—”

“Please?”

“Okay, fine, let me just—hi, Qingxuan, I’m sorry but I have to go, I’ll talk to you later, say bye to the others for me—yes, you’re very cute, San Lang, and yes, we’re going now…”

Soon, they’re out the door and their voices trail off, fade. It’s around that very moment a commotion is stirring up to take centre stage and then all everyone can really talk about is who showed up and what just transpired.

“Well, I’ll be,” He Xuan says.

Shi Qingxuan can only clutch at his arm, wordless.

Feng Xin and Mu Qing continue sharing the same stricken expression. Like they’re quite possibly on the verge of experiencing a qi deviation.

(They’re rendered speechless for the rest of the week, and Xie Lian’s admirers leave him alone after that.)