Chapter Text
With his face buried in Hua Cheng’s chest, hair sprawled everywhere, Xie Lian woke up when a beam of light found his eyes through their red curtains. With a yawn he looked up at the fierce beauty he’s longed to see since he closed his eyes for the night. He smiled as he caressed Hua Cheng’s face, tracing his fingers over his eyebrows, cheeks, then lips. Once satisfied, Xie Lian gently untangled himself from the clingy arms he found himself in before hopping out of their humongous bed and making himself decent.
“Gege?” A voice came marred with sleep behind Xie Lian, where he was putting his hair up in his signature half up half down.
“San Lang? Good morning,” Xie Lian turned to face his husband with a smile gracing his delicate face.
“Gege, why are you getting ready? Come back to bed, San Lang wants you.” Hua Cheng spoke in the most pitiful voice with an infamous pout on his face. Looking as though he were an abandoned puppy kicked to the curb by it’s owner.
Giggling Xie Lian sat back on the bed, “I told you yesterday didn’t I? I was thinking of scrap collecting or maybe helping the villagers at Puqi today.”
“Oh Gege, I’m so cold I don’t think Gege will be able to do that today. San Lang needs him here to warm him or else he may freeze to death,” Hua Cheng pretended to shiver, still pouting.
“San lang will be fine.” Xie Lian said, giving Hua Cheng a quick parting peck on the cheek before retracting immediately, in fear of being pulled back into bed, and left for the village.
‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. 𐦍༘⋆
After leaving Ghost City, Xie Lian arrived at Puqi Village. He visited the little shops in the village, asking for any scraps the owners had no use for anymore. He then played with the village children and showed them fun tricks, something he does whenever he stoppes by as they are usually bored and Xie Lian loves children. After eating an old steamed bun he found on the floor, he wandered to the rice fields, where he saw old women working in the summer heat. Of course, he had to help. Though, that also meant he had to listen to all of the gossip the old women had to spill.
“Thank you Daozhang. I’m not sure how we would have been able to finish the rice fields without your help,” One of the villagers, an old lady with wrinkles and a hunched over back said.
“It was no problem, I’m happy to help where I can.” Xie Lian said cheerfully, whiping the sweat off his forehead.
“Truly! in fact, just seeing Daozhang’s beautiful face has rejuvenated me for the next month!” Another old female villager commented.
“Careful Meng, I heard Daozhangs got a wife at home.”
Wife? Where in the world did they hear this crap? What gossip have the villagers been spreading around?
“Oh? Really, is that so Daozhang?”
“Ah, well…-“ Xie Lian started, face flushed, wondering wether to lie or not before he got cut off.
“Wow how red your face is! So it’s true! What is her name? Does she live here in Puqi village, or maybe in the capital?” The old woman, Meng, started to bombarder Xie Lian with questions.
“Well…”
“I’m sure she’s a beauty! After all she married Daozhang. How about children? Are you thinking about having any little ones?” The other old women joined in the torture.
“What! Children!” Xie Lian was sure his face was as red as a tomato by now.
“Aw how cute! He’s all flustered!”
Truly, where did all of this come from?!
‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. 𐦍༘⋆
After an accomplishing and pleasant day
(despite having one conversation he’d rather forget) of hard work and scrap collecting, Xie Lian returned back home to Ghost City. Everything was as usual, bright red lanterns strung everywhere, large buildings with stalls in front of them, and of course, the hollering and screaming. As unpleasant as Xie Lian’s heavenly co-workers may find it, Ghost City is truly Xie Lian’s home. The only thing he needs now to complete his home is the beautiful ghost king he’s been longing to see all day.
“It’s Granduncle! He’s returned!” One of the ghosts hollered as soon as they noticed him in the large crowd scattered across the streets.
“Ay! Granduncle! I’ve just added something new to me menu! Pickled toes! I’ll give you some, free of charge!”
“Granduncle! My, you sure are a treat to look at today! Hehehe”
“Granduncle! Chengzhu has been in a bad mood since you left the city!”
The usual, It’s nice to be back. Though, Xie Lian just politely waves to everyone trying to quicken his pace to arrive at Paradise Manor faster, after all he’s looking for someone.
Finally when Xie Lian arrives at the manor, Hua Cheng is no where to be found. Of course. After wandering the halls some more, Xie Lian spots Yin Yu.
“Yin Yu! Good Evening, do you by chance know where Chengzhu is?” Xie Lian said hopefully.
“Good Evening. Lord Chengzhu is working in the gamblers den, I believe he’ll return soon.” Yin yu replied with a bow.
Xie Lian, “I see, thank you…”
It wasn’t too surprising, Hua Cheng tends to go to the gamblers den often when Xie Lian isn’t around. But for some reason, Xie Lian was particularly missing him today…It’s fine, he’ll just work on making calligraphy copy books until his husband returns.
Which turned out to be…quite boring.
As his mind wandered from the elegant bedroom he was in, he thought of the conversation he had earlier with the old women.
“Are you thinking about having any little ones?”
Children. Xie Lian really does love them, but they are a big responsibility…wait, Hua Cheng doesn’t even like children, does he? Then it’s out of the question. But the ghosts did gift them child-bearing pills for Hua Cheng’s birthday…Maybe they know Hua Cheng doesn’t like children, but he would a child of his and Xie Lian’s…wait, who would bear the child? I suppose, Xie Lian wouldn’t mind….
Xie Lian’s mind was racing, his face flushed. Why of all things did that come to his mind?! But, It’s not like it’s the first time in the past few months it’s crossed his mind.
“Gege? Are you in here? Yin Yu said you returned already.” Hua Cheng’s voice startled Xie Lian back into reality. He turned blushing from where he was sitting at their calligraphy table to see Hua Cheng entering their bedroom with the brightest smile on his face.
“Ah, San Lang! Welcome home.” Xie Lian tried to compose himself.
“Gege, how red your face is. Whatever could you have been thinking of while this San Lang was away?” Hua Cheng said suggestively, walking closer to where Xie Lian was sitting before plopping down right next to him and wrapping his arms around him, smirking. Enjoying teasing his wife too much.
“Nothing!…I just missed San Lang” Xie Lian admitted shyly, turning his face away into his hands. “Ugh, please stop teasing me San Lang.”
Then came Hua Cheng’s bolstering laugh, not helping Xie Lian’s red face in the slightest. “Forgive me. I just can’t seem to help it when I see how lovely Gege looks spaced off.” Hua Cheng’s face showing just how unapologetic he truly is. “Though, maybe you aren’t feeling well?”
“No! I feel fine San Lang!” Xie Lian immediately faced Hua Cheng, waving his hands, so his husband doesn’t worry about him. “It’s just...”
Hua Cheng, “…?”
Xie Lian just knows he’ll explode if he tries to talk to Hua Cheng about what he was thinking. But…He really does like the idea of maybe, maybe having a child with his San Lang and he’s been thinking of it for quite some time now.
“H-How do you feel about…children?” Wow. He truly does feel like exploding just seeing Hua Cheng’s shocked face. “I mean! Don’t answer that! Never mind!”
After a moment Hua Cheng gently grabbed Xie Lian’s hand where they were flailing around to interlace their fingers.
“I don’t like children.”
Oh. Xie Lian felt his heart sinking.
“I don’t, but it depends…What brought this on, Gege? Be honest with me” Hua Cheng said seriously, potentially sensing the meaning behind Xie Lian’s words.
Be honest with me. Despite how embarrassing the situation Xie Lian was in, he really wants to figure out if he actually wants this. Maybe sharing the truth with Hua Cheng will help…
“I just…I had a conversation with some of the village ladies today…It made me think about maybe the possibility of me taking the…ch-childbearingpill…” He can’t believe he actually said it. if Xie Lian exploded before, then now even his remains have combusted and seeing Hua Cheng’s unreadable expression was not helping. He lifted his hands to hide his face again, but before he could achieve his goal his hands were grabbed. Then his head was tilted by the soft, yet firm hands of his husband, forcing Xie Lian to look him in his beautiful eye.
“Do you really mean that?” Came Hua Cheng’s deep voice. Xie Lian averted his gaze but nodded, unable to escape the conversation he started.
Surprisingly, The next thing Xie Lian Knew, his lips were sealed in a passionate kiss from his husband. As Hua Cheng tilted Xie Lian’s head back, deepening the kiss, Xie Lian melted in his arms. a quiet moan escaping his lips, before Hua Cheng pulled back.
“I don’t like other people’s kids, but raising a child that’s both gege and me…that would be a dream come true on top of all the other dreams Gege has already granted me.” Hua Cheng gazed into the amber eyes he loved so much, but sighed, “I could never ask Gege to bear a child though. There’s too much risk involved along with the physical pain.”
Xie Lian’s eyes widened at the first part of Hua Cheng’s answer, then deflated at the second. “San Lang, I know how much you care for me…but if it’s something both of us want, then I’m willing to go through it. After all, I’m the only one that can, your job requires you to fight too often…plus I know for sure you won’t let anything bad happen to me…so, would you reconsider? I believe…this is something I would really like, if San Lang does too.” Xie Lian gazed at his husband hopefully.
This time Hua Cheng’s eyes widened at Xie Lian’s words. “I…Gege-“ Hua Cheng forwent words and instead lifted Xie Lian into his lap and embraced him. Xie Lian happily accepted.
“San Lang,”
“Gege, why don’t you think on it some more. I want you to be absolutely sure you want this.”
“I think I am…Truthfully, I’ve been thinking of using the pills since I got them, but…I wasn’t sure how you felt.” Xie Lian said burying his head in Hua Cheng’s chest with his arms wrapped lovingly around him.
Hua Cheng smiled before capturing the prince’s lips and carrying him back to their bed, “Now you do.”