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Xie Lian glanced up. "San Lang, I've been meaning to ask. Where did you get this umbrella?"
"Hm?" San Lang glanced up as well at the neatly fitted bamboo structure, the crimson paper giving a warm glow as he held it over them both. It was a bright day, and San Lang had insisted on using it to keep the sun off Xie Lian as they strolled. "I'm surprised you don't recognize it, gege."
Xie Lian hoped the tint from the red paper was enough to hide his blush as he looked aside. "Well of course I do - you had this umbrella when we first met, on the mountain. But there just seems to be something familiar about it as well…"
However the light was not enough to hide from San Lang's keen notice. His smile widened as he twirled the umbrella a little in his hand. "It's very handy to have an umbrella, gege. I like keeping it around. You've likely seen it with me a lot." It was hardly an answer, but Xie Lian could tell when San Lang was feeling playful.
"Yes, that must be it then," he conceded. He smiled peacefully as they walked in silence for a while, until they came to a small forested path at the edge of the fields. Despite the trees providing more than enough shade, San Lang kept his umbrella open and Xie Lian felt it rude to step away, so they continued to walk closely, their shoulders almost brushing. Neither objected, but San Lang seemed ready to break the silence.
"In fact I've had this umbrella for a very long time. It was given to me by someone very special - I would never part with it, even if it were shredded and useless," he mused. Xie Lian felt a pang in his chest though he couldn't explain why.
"Oh," he replied, though his tone was not as cheerful as he wanted it to be. He cleared his throat and tried again. "That is good, San Lang, to be gifted such a useful item and to cherish it so well. This person is very lucky that you keep their gift so cherished."
San Lang's smile grew, impish and amused as he leaned closer to Xie Lian. His eye practically twinkled with mirth. "More that I am very lucky to have been given such a treasured gift. But you mustn't worry, gege. You have nothing to be jealous of."
"Jealous!" He squeaked more than he meant to, and now even the tint from the umbrella could do nothing to hide his flushed cheeks. "I am not jealous! San Lang is permitted to have special people give him special things!"San Lang did nothing to hide his laughter at this, and despite himself Xie Lian started to walk faster. "W,we shouldn't take too long on this walk! We still need to go home and make dinner. I'll cook your favorite stew tonight!"
San Lang's long legs were able to keep pace with Xie Lian, but he didn't yet break into a run. "Gege is too kind - but I truly mean it. If the umbrella offends you, I will throw it away and never think of it again."
This caused Xie Lian to slow down again, and he looked up aghast at his companion. "Oh, no San Lang, you mustn't! It truly doesn't bother me - and you mentioned you've had it a very long time. Don't throw away good quality items."
San Lang shrugged in response, truly seeming unbothered by any answer. "I'll keep it then - it's better now anyways. It gives me a chance to help keep my gege cool and dry, and that makes it all the more precious to me."
Xie Lian was still blushing, but the words made him smile and look aside again. "San Lang is too kind. Come on then - I promised you stew, and I intend to deliver."
The tall man's smile grew, sincere and carefree as he twirled the umbrella again. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."