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The darkness was kind to him that night. As Xie Lian removed his crying-smiling mask and knelt down to wash his face in the lake, it was so dark that he could not see his own reflection. The moon and stars were hidden behind looming clouds that covered all of the Heavens, swallowing the light.The water was silent. Its surface reminded Xie Lian of a black hole, which could suck him in at any moment and trap him into the depths of Hell, never to see a glimpse of sunlight again – and he would deserve it.
He washed his face with cold water, letting it drip to his long hair. While he was staring down into the abyss, the clouds parted a little, giving way to the moon. Seeing that white beauty suddenly reflected on the surface, illuminating the darkness so that he could also see his own reflection, Xie Lian trembled. Staring at his own pale, tired face, he felt anger bubbling inside him.
— Fuck! he shouted, splashing the water with his hands, breaking his own reflection.
He wasn't worthy being reflected on the same surface with the moon. He didn't want to see his own face.
— Get lost, he hissed to the moon, — and leave those who only deserve darkness alone. Don't shine on me!
Suddenly he heard a rustle behind him, and in an instant he covered his face with the crying-smiling mask again. Someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
— Your Highness.
It was Wu Ming.
— Don't touch me, Xie Lian muttered, turning his head to face the smiling mask of the young man's ghost.
The hand was gently removed, but Xie Lian felt like there was a hint of reluctance in that movement, as though the hand would have rather just gripped him tighter, to not let go.
— Your Highness, I know you're upset, but you're wrong.
— Wrong about what?
— Don't be angry at the moon. Why not find solace in its beauty instead? You're definitely worthy of it, Your Highness. Worthy of the moon.
Xie Lian was struck speechless by those words.
**
There were thousands of lanterns floating around, illuminating the night, and the moon graced the lake's surface with its reflection. Xie Lian was all smiles, his fingers entangled with Hua Cheng's, and joined with a red string. His eyes sparkled in the night, and to Hua Cheng it seems that he was shining.
— Gege, he said softly, brushing his cheek with his hand.
Hundreds of years had passed since that dark night they both had been reminiscing. Hua Cheng was glad that instead of paleness, Xie Lian's face was now glowing with beautiful shade of jade, and there were no traces of bottled up anger and self-hatred in his eyes. Instead, he looked like someone who had been born anew.
— If I had known it was you..., Xie Lian began absentmindedly, pressing his face against Hua Cheng's chest.
— Gege would have been angry and depressed nevertheless, Hua Cheng murmured softly. — It was a time gege let no one into his heart, and saw only darkness. Though I am glad it did not continue for long.
Xie Lian sighed and inhaled Hua Cheng's soothing scent, closing his eyes.
— San Lang... I really don't know what I would have done without you. How would I have coped?
The thought of Hua Cheng waiting for him through all these hundreds of years made Xie Lian feel so warm and special that all he wanted was to embrace Hua Cheng, melt together with him and never let go.
— Gege always coped, in one way or another, Hua Cheng said softly. — Otherwise gege wouldn't be here right now. And if gege wasn't, San Lang wouldn't either.
Xie Lian opened his eyes and raised his head. A cool night wind caught their hair, and he moved his hand to put a strand of Hua Cheng's hair behind his ear. He smiled. The moon shone down upon his white figure, making him appear absolutely divine.
— San Lang...
— I said it back then, and I say it now: gege is worthy of the moon, said the Ghost King, sealing their lips together, — In fact gege is more beautiful than the moon itself.
Xie Lian blushed.
— San Lang, you're impossible, he chuckled. — But you've made me so happy.
— I'm only being honest.
He wrapped his arms gently around Xie Lian.
— To me, gege is everything.