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He Xuan groaned. He buried his face into his lavish pillows. His sheets were a deep blue-grey, and seated upon them was Shi Qingxuan.
“A-hei, don’t worry,” Shi Qingxuan said, trying to hide her laugh. She placed a hand on the back of his head, patting calmly.
“But he’s just so- ugh!” He Xuan whined.
“I’m sure it's not that bad.”
He Xuan didn’t give an audible reply. Shi Qingxuan sighed. He Xuan could never be upfront about his feelings. Shi Qingxuan didn’t even know who he was talking about even if she had some guesses.
“Yknow, if you told me, I could help-” Shi Qingxuan was interrupted by a pillow in her face.
“Absolutely not. You’ll just make fun of me.”
Shi Qingxuan shrugged. She knew He Xuan wouldn’t give, but she could try to push. It had taken centuries for He Xuan to formally confess to Shi Qingxuan, even if she’d made her advances clear. She had no doubt his new crush would be any different.
“Well, I have to go now. Xie Lian, Hua Cheng, and I are going on a date tonight, so I gotta get ready. Do you wanna help?” He Xuan shook his head at the invitation, instead burying himself further into his bed. Shi Qingxuan stood up and patted He Xuan’s head with a quiet chuckle. “Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
✦✦✦
Shi Qingxuan arrived at paradise manor right as the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. But where the sun lay in the sky didn't matter in the ghost city. The city was eternally bathed in a crimson haze. It was always just dark enough a normal human would strain to see. But this was no trouble for gods and ghosts. There was a faintly sweet tint to the air. If it was the city itself, or one of the many shops, Shi Qingxuan didn’t know.
“Qingxuan!” She whirled around to find a familiar face.
“Ah, Xie Lian, there you are!” A grin spread across Shi Qingxuan’s face. She threw her arms around him, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. “And hello to you too, Crimson Rain.”
The title wasn’t spoken the way other ghosts or even gods might say it. No, Shi Qingxuan said it with a teasing tone, one reserved for only those close to Hua Cheng.
Hua Cheng gave a rare, slight, smile back. “Hello, Qingxuan. Shall we go now?”
Both Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan nodden enthusiastically.
The trio walked through the city, chattering away. Shi Qingxuan clung to Xie Lian, and Hua Cheng stood by his side.
“Oh! Look!” Shi Qingxuan pointed to a small trinket shop.
“We can go if you want,” Xie Lian suggested.
Shi Qingxuan didn’t reply, instead grabbing Hua Cheng and Xie Lian’s hands and dragging them inside.
There were a vast array of items, mostly carved statues from shiny rock. Shi Qingxuan inspected each one, until she found a bird made from jade. It glinted in the light.
“What’s that?” Xie Lian asked.
Shi Qingxuan held it up, her smile nearly as bright as the sun itself. “It’s so cute! Sure, its a little round and it’s eyes are too far apart, but that adds to its charm.”
Xie Lian chuckled. “Yes, it is very cute.”
Shi Qingxuan turned to Hua Cheng. “What have you got?”
“Nothing…,” he mumbled. Hua Cheng hid it within his hands, but Shi Qingxuan saw a flash of a skeletal creature.
Shi Qingxuan pouted, but seeing he wouldn’t budge, simply shrugged and went to buy the jade bird. She heard Xie Lian prod a bit more, but he relented as well,
The trio continued to wander, until Shi Wudu’s voice rang through Shi Qingxuan’s head. She sighed as he asked her what time she’d be home. He was not subtle in the slightest.
“I’ll come home within the next 30 minutes, ok?”
Shi Wudu huffed, “Fine.”
✦✦✦
The next day, Shi Qingxuan awoke to Xie Lian’s voice ringing through her head.
“Qingxuan, Qingxuan, guess what!” His voice was filled with an unusual amount of excitement.
“What?” She said groggily, still half under the waves of sleep.
“I know what San Lang had bought!”
Shi Qingxuan shot awake, eyes wide. “Oh! What was it?” Her voice shook with anticipation.
“It’s a butterfly skeleton!”
Shi Qingxuan deflated. “Oh.”
“…”
“No, no,” Shi Qingxuan mentally waved her hands around, “I’m not disappointed! I just…was expecting something more shocking.”
“Yeah, with the way he was acting, it’s surprisingly on brand…”
Shi Qingxuan shrugged, even though Xie Lian couldn’t see her. “I’m gonna see He Xuan, see ya!”
Xie Lian paused. “I think I saw him earlier.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, San Lang was talking with him in his office.”
“Oh, alright.”
Shi Qingxuan was about to cut the communication array, when Xie Lian spoke once again.
“I think San Lang is in love with He Xuan.”
“What?!”
“Yeah, he’s been talking about him a lot. But I think he’s afraid He Xuan won’t like him.”
“Hm. I think he made a false assumption.”
“...Qingxuan.”
“Yes, dear?”
“Whatever you’re about to do…I wish you luck.”
The slight static in Shi Qingxuan’s head disappeared as the communication array was cut. She smiled, staring at the mirror. Now, what should she wear…
✦✦✦
“A-Hei!” Shi Qingxuan called. She walked into his room, steps light.
His hands flew behind him, stuffing something into a drawer and slamming it shut.
“Oh?” Shi Qingxuan said, a coy smile on her face. “What’s that?”
He Xuan shook his head furiously. “Nothing! It’s nothing!” His face was starting to flush red.
“That wouldn’t happen to be from Hua Cheng, would it?”
He Xuan stilled.
“Aha!” Shi Qingxuan exclaimed. He Xuan simply gaped at her.
“I-”
Shi Qingxuan moved to sit on his bed, and motioned for him to sit beside her.
“So! Is this who you have a crush on?” She teased.
He Xuan paused for a moment before slowly nodding.
“Well, why haven’t you asked him out?”
He turned away. “Ugh, I don’t know…”
“Are you afraid he doesn’t like you?”
“...yeah…”
“He Xuan. The man gave you a butterfly skeleton!”
He Xuan was taken aback. “One, what does that have to do with this? Two, how did you know?”
Shi Qingxuan waved her hand dismissively, “The second part doesn’t matter. But do you know how hard it is to find a fully intact one like that?”
“I-...” He Xuan’s voice turned solemn. “I guess, he always seems so happy with you two. He seems like that’s all he needs, all he wants. Apart from you, no one would love me. I mean, why would they?”
“He Xuan.” Shi Qingxuan placed her hand on his cheek, turning him towards her. “He Xuan, believe me. Plenty of other people love you. And how will you know if you don't ask him?”
He Xuan gritted his teeth. “Just- Just let me sleep on this, ok?”
Shi Qingxuan nodded, pressing her forehead against his.
✦✦✦
Weeks later, the ghost city erupted in celebration and gossip. It was now a common sight to find the Ghost Kings walking the streets together, laughing and talking. And if you were lucky, you just might spot a chaste kiss or two.