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Xie Lian smiled as he caught sight of his husband reinforcing the garden to try to protect it from frost.
“San Lang is so good at gardening. I probably would’ve lost this crop,” Xie Lian admitted from the doorway. Though honestly that had more to do with the fact he’d forgotten the little garden than it did any actual skill.
Hua Cheng looked up, smiling fondly to see his husband again. “Gege doesn’t have to worry. This one will protect the garden.”
Moving forward, Xie Lian reached out to hold him.
“Wait, gege—” Hua Cheng protested, but didn’t back away from his touch, so Xie Lian didn’t process the warning fast enough.
“Your hands are ice!”
Hua Cheng smiled apologetically. “Let me warm up for you, it'll only take a moment."
Xie Lian didn't listen, cupping Hua Cheng's hands in his own. "I learned a neat trick a few years back." Of course, 'a few years back' for Xie Lian could've meant anywhere from three to three hundred years. "On cold days like this, especially if you have soft dirt like our garden, the ground can be very warm." Xie Lian led them down to kneel, burying their hands together in the dirt.
Hua Cheng let him, always perfectly content to let Xie Lian move him around however he wished.
"It's warmer, isn't it?" Xie Lian smiled up at his husband, taking in the amused quirk of Hua Cheng's lips. It was only upon seeing that smile that he realized how ridiculous this was. They had a house just ten steps away. They had a working stove and dry wood to start a fire. They had plenty of blankets and even a separate house in Ghost City free from the effects of the weather. And yet here Xie Lian was, burying their hands in the dirt.
Things like this were why no one wanted to hear his suggestions in Heaven's communication array. He was about to apologize and remove his hands when he felt Hua Cheng tighten their hold, keeping them both buried in the warmth of their garden.
"Gege's very clever, it is much warmer."
"Ah San Lang, you don't have to humor me."
"No, no, I mean it. Did gege come up with such a thing himself?"
Xie Lian shook his head, leaning in to reward his husband with a kiss. "I've gotten you dirty," He said instead of going along with the question.
"I was already dirty from working outside," Hua Cheng pointed out, nuzzling him.
That was true, he supposed. It seemed that the elegant outfits his husband owned always seemed to get dirty when they did housework together. Xie Lian had been a bit mournful of that fact at first, but he quickly got over it. After all, if the owner of the clothes didn't mind, there was really no reason to bother. Besides, Hua Cheng did own less expensive looking clothes he could've worked in. It was clear that elegant clothing, like the many priceless artifacts he owned, meant nothing to him beyond the practical use they could offer. And it wasn't as if Xie Lian was precious about his own clothes. In spite of wearing all white he frequently laid down in the dirt or dug around in the mud.
"Do you think the garden will last the winter?" Xie Lian asked, giving up on being bothered by his own odd habits. If his husband didn't mind it didn't matter.
"It should. I'll make sure to keep reinforcing it."
"So reliable," Xie Lian smiled, feeling truly cared for. That feeling only became warmer at the way he could see Hua Cheng brighten with the praise. "My San Lang is always so good to me."
"Gege's the one who's good to me," Hua Cheng leaned in to steal a few kisses, then a few more, and soon their hands were unburied again and smearing dirt across each other's cheeks.
Xie Lian laughed at the sight as he pulled back. Wiping his hands on his robes, he gathered up his sleeve to wipe off Hua Cheng's face, smiling at the way his husband closed his eyes and sat still for the cleaning.
"Does gege want to take a bath? I can have Yin Yu start warming the water."
Winter used to mean frostbite or temporary shelter with kind strangers. Now they seemed to mean cozy nights indulging in warmth with his husband. He hadn't thought he had it too bad before, but he couldn't imagine going back to it now. His husband had him truly spoiled.
"That sounds nice. We should repair that draft in the cottage tomorrow. It would be a shame if we couldn't sleep here all winter."
"First thing tomorrow." Hua Cheng promised, pulling Xie Lian in for another kiss as he tossed the dice.
The chill of outside faded as the warmth of Paradise Manor shielded them. Perfect temperature Summer or Winter and never any leaks. One day soon Xie Lian thought he might go soft with all this luxury.
"Will gege let me join him?" Hua Cheng asked, just a smidge away from begging.
"Only if you let E'ming stay. It was very sad when you kicked it out last time."
"Gege, it bathes with you all the time," Hua Cheng pouted.
"San Lang gets much more of my attention. E'ming deserves a bit too."
Hua Cheng sighed as if terribly put out, but Xie Lian knew his husband had already resigned himself to it as soon as the words were said.
Dropping by their room, Xie Lian picked up E'ming where he had been left for the day, cradling the scimitar sweetly as they headed towards the bath.
The Paradise Manor bath was big enough for four people comfortably, so two people and a sword found the space to be more than enough.
“Go ahead and get in E’ming,” Xie Lian encouraged, letting go of the weapon to start undressing.
“I can help gege,” Hua Cheng happily bounced closer to untie Xie Lian’s robes for him.
Xie Lian leveled his husband with a suspicious look. “You aren’t going to seduce me into kicking E’ming out.”
“Gege, I’m wounded. This humble follower only had pure intentions.”
Perfectly proper, Hua Cheng undressed him and neatly set his robes to the side to be laundered. Xie Lian did feel a bit bad for doubting him as Hua Cheng finished up, every bit the content and devoted servant.
Seeing Xie Lian still staring, Hua Cheng smiled. “Did gege want to be seduced?”
Rolling his eyes fondly, Xie Lian moved to help undress his husband in return.
Hua Cheng gave a fake gasp. “Gege, so bold.”
“Hush,” Xie Lian gave him a quick kiss, adding Hua Cheng’s clothes to the pile.
Hua Cheng reached to undo Xie Lian’s hair as Xie Lian did the same for him and soon they found themselves sinking into the pleasantly warm and fragrant bath water.
E’ming zipped over to snuggle up to Xie Lian.
“See gege, it’s trying to steal you away.”
“San Lang knows no one can steal me away.” Xie Lian stroked E’ming’s hilt soothingly before nudging the sword away to start washing up.
“Does gege want any help?” Hua Cheng asked, lounging lazily in the water.
“Not today.” Xie Lian made quick work of washing, wanting to be able to just enjoy the warm water after a quick scrub. “Does San Lang?”
“Only if it’s not a bother.”
Xie Lian shifted closer. “San Lang is never a bother. Come here.”
Hua Cheng acquiesced, settling in like a content cat under Xie Lian’s efficient cleaning. Xie Lian didn’t have the same gentle slowness that his husband had when washing him, but he never seemed to mind. Xie Lian finished the cleaning off with a kiss.
“Gege’s so good to me.” Hua Cheng praised, tugging Xie Lian into his lap.
“San Lang deserves good things,” Xie Lian smiled down at him lovingly, happy to go with him.
They were interrupted by a little nudge to Xie Lian’s side.
Hua Cheng groaned, resting his head in the crook of Xie Lian’s shoulder as Xie Lian laughed.
“Is it your turn now, E’ming?”
The little sword’s red eye spun wildly.
“Gege, it doesn’t even need to be cleaned like this.”
Xie Lian kissed his head. “It just wants a bit of attention. I think it’s cute.”
“Gege…”
“San Lang can have me all to himself after the bath, but we’ve been neglecting E’ming lately.”
With an exaggerated sigh, Hua Cheng relented as if completely exhausted by it all. Still, Xie Lian didn’t miss the fond smile his husband wore as he watched Xie Lian pretend to wash the scimitar. As much as he tried to tell Xie Lian not to bother with E’ming, it clearly meant something to him to see Xie Lian take care of the brutally forged weapon so lovingly.
“All clean, E’ming,” Xie Lian announced, watching fondly as E’ming’s eye turned to a crescent moon with happiness. Letting out a content sigh, Xie Lian settled in next to his husband.
“Is gege finished?” Hua Cheng asked, putting an arm around him to pull him close.
“Can’t we rest in here a bit longer? The water feels so nice.”
Hua Cheng kissed the side of his head before resting his own on top. “We can rest here as long as gege wants.”