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Yin Yu sat down at the large table in Paradise Manor’s dining room. Hua Cheng was sitting at the other end, watching the ghosts that were bringing food out to the table. There were lots of different options set out, Hua Cheng always had the kitchen prepare too much whenever he did choose to eat. If only for the fact that he never ate alone and had the tendency to invite others.
This had become a weekly event where Hua Cheng would have Yin Yu sit and eat with him and talk about things related to the city. At some point it had strayed from a work related thing to something more just for the two of them to be friends- almost. Hua Cheng wasn’t very talkative unless something had specifically happened that put him in a good mood. More often than not that good thing was Xie Lian, his husband always put the ghost in a good mood.
Today something definitely had him in a good mood. Yin Yu knew he was out all day long but couldn’t remember specifically what he was doing, he figure it had something to do with His Highness. Hah Cheng had a glass of wine set in front of him and turned to look at Yin Yu, there was a small barely noticeable smile on his face.
Yin Yu removed his mask and went to greet him, “Hua Chengzhu.”
Hua Cheng waved at him to stop, “I told you to stop addressing me like that at dinner, this isn’t work.”
“Uh yes, sorry.” Yin Yu stared back down at the table, he usually forgot that was an unspoken rule at dinner.
“How was your day Yin Yu?” Hua Cheng had moved to pick what he wanted off the plates looking for Yin Yu to do the same.
Yin Yu shrugged, filling his plate with food, “The same, I’m sure your day was more exciting. You went somewhere with His Highness?”
Yin Yu knew he’d been correct by the way Hua Cheng seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. He had paused eating and was just looking at the table smiling in a soft sort of way reserved only for His Highness. Yin Yu looked away, taking a bite of his food while he waited for Hua Cheng to say something.
“We went to answer some of Gege’s prayers.” Hua Cheng seemed to be back in the present and started to eat again.
Yin Yu nodded, he vaguely remembered Hua Cheng telling him that sometime the previous day. He also pretty vividly remembered the rant of sorts Hua Cheng had gone on about his highness that day as well. He had most certainly just set himself up for another one by accident.
“Gege did most of the work even when I offered to do it. He said it was his job so he should do it, he is always very loyal to his believers.” Hua Cheng was looking at the table as he spoke.
Yin Yu continued eating knowing this would likely go on for a while and that he shouldn’t interrupt. Typically when Hua Cheng spoke of His Highness, Yin Yu would simply nod and listen, he didn’t like to interrupt.
“He fought very gracefully and managed to take down most of the ghosts we fought alone, even when I was helping he would beat me to it.” Yin Yu was pretty sure he was letting His Highness get to the ghosts first, but as long as pleasing His Highness made Hua Cheng happy that didn’t matter. “When we got to the main source of the problem Gege found and dispelled the array alone and ended up solving it.”
Hua Cheng paused, taking a sip of the wine and Yin Yu spoke up. “Why don’t you invite his highness to dinner at the manor?”
“I tried, Gege feels he would be imposing, he couldn’t though. Everything I have is his.” Hua Cheng set the glass down again frowning at it. “Gege is very polite but I wish he would allow me to spoil him, even if only a little. It’s fine though.”
Yin Yu made a mental note to avoid the subject of inviting His Highness to dinner in the future. Since he could hear the dejection in Hua Cheng’s voice.
“After we got rid of the ghosts Gege went into the village to help out around the place. All the villagers love him and he helps them out even when they don’t ask him too. Gege really is the greatest.” Yin Yu was beginning to wonder if ghosts could get drunk with how much wine Hua Cheng was drinking while talking to him. “He really looks so perfect with everything he does, I’m glad he allows me to accompany him.”
Yin Yu grimaced, Hua Cheng might be drunk this is a bit much compared to his other gushing about His Highness sessions. He still didn’t even know if ghosts could get drunk though, maybe he was just in a good mood? Hua Cheng’s demeanor changed though and he looked up at Yin Yu from across the table.
“If you tell him any of this I will fire you.” Hua Cheng had his eye narrowed at Yin Yu.
“I would never, Hua Chengzhu.” Yin Yu met his gaze slightly nervous, he would never tell anyone what Hua Cheng confided in him ever but that didn’t stop the threat from making him a bit nervous.
“Good.” Hua Cheng went back to eating and talking about Xie Lian while Yin Yu listened. “Gege is continuing to renovate the shrine, he allows me to help sometimes but does a lot of the heavy lifting alone. I wish he’d allow me to help but he looks good carrying the materials anyways, I guess it’s alright.”
Yin Yu slowly nodded, not really knowing what to do with that information and let himself go back to eating. “He allowed me to create a statue for it though, I’ll have to start soon so it’s good enough. It should be perfect for Gege.”
Yin Yu finished his food, setting the plate a bit further from him, he figured this was a good chance to escape the rest of this rant. “Hua Chengzhu, I should return to my duties for the night.”
“Alright, remember what I said though. Do not tell anyone.” Yin Yu nodded and stood to bow before leaving, he didn’t think he could handle any more of that.
Once out the door Yin Yu paused seeing someone in the hallway, none of the mansion's staff had told him someone was here. There were very few people the staff would let in unannounced. The figure turned around and smiled at him, Xie Lian was standing in the hallway not far from the dining room’s door.
“Ah I’m sorry for just barging in, and I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, I was just looking for San Lang, but you two seemed busy.” That meant Xie Lian had certainly heard a good portion of their conversation.
“Hua Chengzhu is still inside Your Highness, I’m sure he’d be happy to see you.” Hua Cheng did not need to know that everything they had just talked about had been heard.
Xie Lian thanked him and made his way inside, and as soon as he was gone Yin Yu practically sprinted from the mansion to get back to his duties. He’d like to keep his job if possible even if His Highness had ended up hearing too much of that, it wasn’t really his fault right?