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“You should sleep,” Hua Cheng said softly.
“I can’t sleep, you’ve been gone too long.”
It was late into the night. Near dawn, maybe. But sleeping was out of the question when Xie Lian could finally hold Hua Cheng and tell him to never die for him again. They were buried into each other’s arms in the cottage’s small bed, where they had collapsed earlier after reuniting after a year and a half.
Xie Lian was overcome with all sorts of emotions. Joy, anticipation, shyness, frustration, hope, and above all, incurable love. Sleeping was not an option. He could feel Hua Cheng’s skin under his fingers. The delicate fabric of his clothes. The softness of his hair. He could feel him. Touch him. Talk to him. Hug him. Kiss him. He never wanted to sleep again. There was so much to do, so much to say.
“Are you alright?” Hua Cheng asked, and his words were accompanied by a hand placed on Xie Lian’s ribs. Even through the clothes, Xie Lian felt it, heavy and real, tangible.
“I’m alright. It’s only…” He looked up and trailed off.
Hua Cheng was so handsome. He could never get used to it. He never wanted to get used to it. Or he wanted to, the same way he wanted to get used to falling asleep next to him and waking up next to him up, cooking for him, talking to him, living with him.
He wanted to get used to life with Hua Cheng until he couldn’t imagine it without him. Thinking about it, that was already the case—but he needed more. He wanted, he wanted, he wanted so much. He tightened his arms around Hua Cheng and hid his face in his chest.
“San Lang, I’m so happy.”
He smiled and felt Hua Cheng mirror his smile as his arms wrapped around him again.
“Gege, I’m very happy too.”