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A loud ‘thud’ echoed through the large open library of Paradise Manor, signifying that, at long last, Hua Cheng had finished reading the thousand-page-long book he’d become deeply immersed in.
Xie Lian looked up from his own scroll on new pickling techniques. He was tucked in with a blanket in a favourite nook of his next to a window overlooking a part of the lake surrounding the manor, and put his readings down on his lap.
“That was quite the marathon read,” he pointed out with a gleeful smile. It was the first time he’d seen his husband so immersed in something that wasn’t a mortal’s legend about them. “Did you enjoy the book?”
“Gege, if you get a harem, please let me still be your main wife.”
Xie Lian’s mouth hung open, and it took a few moments for his brain to catch up with the question. Even when it did, all he could muster out was “What?!”
Hua Cheng walked over quicker than usual, the chains on his boots tinkling in a hurried melody until he finally reached the nook and fell to his knees, grasping onto one of Xie Lian’s free hands.
“It occurs to me you’re so magnificent and have plenty of admirers, and though I find them annoying, it would be selfish of me to hold you back simply because we’re married. You’re a prince and are entitled to concubines and other spouses, so please, if you go that route, can this one make a selfish request to remain your most beloved?”
“S-San Lang!” Xie Lian flustered, tossing his half-read scroll aside and maneuvering his body to sit on the edge of the nook, encouraging his husband to rest his head on his thighs. “I don’t know where this is coming from, but how could I ever want anyone aside from you? There is no need unmet, no love unfelt. Anyone else would be… irritating, if I’m being honest.”
The ghost king looked up at him, his one eye wide and borderline watery at his words. “I don’t want to be one to hold you back-“
“You’re simply holding me, and I’m holding you return on my own free will,” he assured him, laying his hand on his husband’s head and running his fingers gently through his hair. “San Lang, what on earth did you read?!”
“… A very long story with a powerful and desirable fighting protagonist who kept gaining admirers and wives.”
“And you saw me in them?”
“Gege is also very powerful and desirable.”
Xie Lian wanted to both laugh and cry. The amount of times Hua Cheng had associated him with a protagonist based on fighting abilities… “Well, San Lang doesn’t have to worry at all. I’m more than happy with you by my side.”
Hua Cheng shifted suddenly, his expression turning thoughtful and then mischievous, making the god mentally prepare himself for whatever was going to come out of his mouth.
“What about a harem of San Lang’s? If you ever get tired of just one spouse… I can make clones that have shapeshifting abilities.”
The mental image of a bunch of different forms of his beloved surrounding him with completely unrestrained and shameless worship, overwhelming yet wonderful devotion, and maybe even more… physical expressions of love overwhelmed him, and he could feel his thick face begin to burn.
“Hmm? Does gege like the thought?” Hua Cheng began to tease, breaking into a smug grin. “It wouldn’t be as annoying if he was surrounded by his San Lang, then?”
“Not annoying at all,” he managed to reply, unable to meet his eye. Upon hearing his husband laugh, he began to pout. “Could you refrain from being upset by it, though?”
“As long as gege is enjoying himself and loves me the most, how could I be upset?”
Of course, Xie Lian still felt there was a lot to unpack there. He knew how clingy his husband really was, making the thought of him reacting well while knowing his god was in the hands of another – even himself – was difficult to believe.
Seemingly sensing that disbelief, Hua Cheng stood and slotted himself between his legs, leaning down to give him a surprisingly-chaste kiss. “If you’re so worried about me, how about we try with one tonight?"
The very thought once again sent Xie Lian’s face burning, and he felt the ghost king smirk against his lips when he kissed him again.
“Or, perhaps gege would like to go try it right now?”
As Xie Lian was pulled up and transportation dice were rolled, he couldn’t help but suspect that bringing up concubines was just a ploy to bring up and try out something new. He also couldn’t help but wonder – what in the world was that book Hua Cheng had read?