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“Two minutes.” Xie Lian smiles in front of his office computer while waiting for the right time to hit the system’s video call button.
Today is one of those days when he would call his most devout regular student, “Hua Cheng” (according to his profile), or “San Lang” (as requested), at 8am for a 50 minute Free Talking class.
And “those days” pertains to every working day in his schedule. Xie Lian is grateful not only for the loyalty and patronage, but also for the little friendship he’s formed with the handsome businessman. Hua Cheng has had lessons with him for three whole years, and also has a high aptitude for learning languages, which would explain why he can speak English almost fluently now and talk comfortably with Xie Lian for practice. This makes their lessons quite enjoyable.
“Good morning, San Lang!”
"Good morning, teacher Xie."
Xie Lian beams the moment he sees his student’s warm smile on the computer screen. Seeing this fine man has always been the highlight of his days as an online English tutor. He is smart, classy, funny, and very kind. And Xie Lian just might have the tiniest crush on him.
After casually talking about their morning, Xie Lian proceeds to Hua Cheng’s lesson. But unlike their usual classes, where they would talk about anything under the sun, the tutor pulls up a file he’s prepared for his student.
“I remember that you requested to discuss a certain poem. Am I right, San Lang?” The file he opened was a copy of the poem Ache of Separation by Yuan Zhen.
“Yes, teacher. May we talk about it today?” Hua Cheng acknowledges with a bit of excitement.
Xie Lian is eager to discuss the poem, too. He's done some research on it and was captivated along the way. And right now, he’s curious as to why Hua Cheng has chosen to talk about such a romantic piece of literature.
“Ache of Separation by Yuan Zhen. It’s a very beautiful piece, San Lang,” Xie Lian starts off.
Hua Cheng simply smiles at him before they talk about the lovely poem line by line. As they do, Xie Lian learns about his student’s endearing perception of love and romance.
“If I like something, then my heart will not have room for any other, and I’ll always treasure it. A thousand times, a million times, no matter how many years, this will not change,” Hua Cheng says.
“That’s very admirable. Then this might be your favorite poem, San Lang.” Xie Lian keeps his words and tone as professional as he can.
“Yes. It has been my favorite ever since I fell in love,” Hua Cheng replies.
Oh.
Xie Lian chooses his next words carefully as his heart starts to drum in his chest. It’s not supposed to do that!
“I see. So, San Lang has a special someone he holds dear. How nice,” he replies while trying to tame the thumping.
Hua Cheng shifts in his chair and leans closer to the camera with a smile that Xie Lian notices is softer than usual. “Yes. Very special. How I wish I could meet that person face-to-face.”
Xie Lian tilts his head, wondering if he understood correctly. “You haven’t seen her face-to-face?”
Hua Cheng sadly shakes his head. “That person and I live far from each other.”
But Xie Lian, being Xie Lian, tries to cheer up his student. Classes should be fun and filled with positivity, even if it means encouraging his dear crush to chase after his own crush right in front of his poor heart.
“Don’t give up San Lang! Distance should not be a hindrance to love,” Xie Lian says with passion.
It works. Hua Cheng chuckles and nods in front of him. But that smile slowly fades, and Xie Lian doesn’t miss it.
“What’s wrong, San Lang? Was I too pushy? I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it! How unprofessional of me!”
“No, teacher.” Hua Cheng shakes his head and sighs. “I just…don’t know if that person even wants to meet me in person.”
“She will.”
Hua Cheng pauses and blinks at his tutor’s simple but confidence-filled reply.
“She will, because if I were her, I would love to meet San Lang in person. San Lang is very kind, and it would be my honor to meet him.” Xie Lian smiles.
“Teacher…would love to meet me?” Although gentle, Hua Cheng’s intent gaze never leaves Xie Lian.
Realizing how their conversation has shifted into something more intimate and personal, Xie Lian schools his expression and reverts to his professional mode.
“Y-yes. Of course. Although, unfortunately, because of company policy, it…isn’t possible.” Xie Lian’s professional smiling face is calm and composed, but his fingers are fidgeting under his office table.
“Mn. How unfortunate,” Hua Cheng replies while sporting a faint but playful smirk that makes Xie Lian’s insides flip pleasantly.
A minute passes, and the two review the lesson until the soft ping of the system’s bell gains Xie Lian’s attention.
“Ah! San Lang, time’s up. Thank you for having a class with me today! I hope you had a fun time talking about the poem.”
Hua Cheng straightens in his seat looking quite satisfied. “Thank you, teacher. Today was wonderful.”
Mission accomplished.
“I’m glad, San Lang! Well then, please remember the new phrases and idioms we discussed in class,” Xie Lian encourages.
“I will, teacher.”
Xie Lian says goodbye and is about to end the call, but he pauses when Hua Cheng speaks to him again.
“Teacher Xie.”
“Yes, San Lang?”
“I will see you, soon. I promise.”
Xie Lian doesn’t reply immediately. When he does, he beams while saying, “I’ll see you too in our next class, San Lang!”
Hua Cheng waves back before the call ends.
Xie Lian leans back and looks at the ceiling. How nice would it be to actually meet Hua Cheng in person? That attractive man, always clad in red and wearing an interesting leather eye patch. The thought is fascinating and also ridiculous, considering how interactions with students outside classes are prohibited.
Still… Wouldn’t it be nice? Xie Lian thinks as he blushes hard and stands to head out of the office building to grab something to eat for his first break.
Two weeks later, Xie Lian isn’t as lively as he used to be. Although he could still manage to act chirpy and happy in class, as soon as it ends, his smile turns upside down.
It’s been fourteen days and Hua Cheng hasn’t booked any of his classes. That shouldn’t be a problem because Xie Lian knows Hua Cheng is a busy businessman. But, Xie Lian misses him. He misses his smile. His chuckle. His deep sexy voice. His broad shoulders…
And Xie Lian is mentally kicking himself for it.
“He’s a student for crying out loud. Act like a professional,” he mumbles as his fingers madly slap the keys of his keyboard as he updates his after-class notes.
After finishing all of the notes, Xie Lian decides to punish himself for thinking about his student in such a way. Maybe some diarrhea-inducing extra spicy noodles will be an effective penalty for his shamelessness.
“Forgive my sins…” he sighs.
Xie Lian huffs and walks out of his cubicle. He greets the other tutors along the hallway and even some of the staff until one of them approaches him and hands him a letter. He reads something on the envelope and cringes after seeing what seems to be...a handwritten chicken-scratch attempt at writing his name.
He opens the envelope. The moment he reads the printed letter inside, his heart begins to pound.
Xie Lian brisk walks out of the office and jabs the elevator button over and over again. When he gets to the lobby of the building, he rushes out and looks left and right, not knowing what exactly to expect.
“Teacher Xie?”
Xie Lian whips around and looks up and sees the most striking man he’s ever seen in his entire life. That alone knocks the wind out of him for quite a while. Long raven hair, crimson button-up shirt, black jeans, silver accessories, and a leather eye patch.
“San Lang,” Xie Lian breathes.
Hua Cheng nods with a smile that could melt a glacier.
And for some unknown reason, Xie Lian walks up to him, reaches out, and pokes Hua Cheng’s cheek with a finger.
The tutor jolts back in shock after realizing what he’s done, and Hua Cheng couldn’t help but laugh softly but also heartily at the whole thing.
“I’m sorry, San Lang! I-I was just surprised and wasn’t sure if this is real!” Xie Lian panics.
“It’s ok.” Hua Cheng says after settling down from the laughter. “Teacher is not imagining things.”
Xie Lian takes some time to let it all sink in. “You’re here.” He smiles. “But…how? How did you find me? Students don’t have access to the company’s address and contact details.”
Hua Cheng grins and shrugs. “Finding someone is not a problem for someone like me. San Lang has very good connections.” Yet again, just like last time, Hua Cheng’s smile slowly fades. “But, if this is wrong, I will not do it again. I will not bother teacher.”
“No!” Xie Lian says almost too loudly before looking around in embarrassment. “I’m glad to see you.”
Hua Cheng is here. In front of him. For real. It’s thrilling, scary, surprising, and he tries to stay calm before asking, “Why though? For business? Leisure?”
Hua Cheng’s confident smile turns shy and he looks down before looking back at Xie Lian. “Teacher said he would love to see me. I wanted to see him too.”
No. That isn’t a blush Xie Lian is seeing on Hua Cheng’s cheeks, is it? And surely Xie Lian isn’t blushing either, is he?
“That’s it?” Xie Lian swallows hard.
Hua Cheng simply nods again. “That’s it.”
“Is this what you meant when you promised to see me soon?”
Hua Cheng nods again.
Professionalism be damned but Xie Lian isn’t about to let the opportunity to spend time with Hua Cheng pass. “Have you eaten, San Lang?”
Hua Cheng’s smirk is back with a vengeance. “Is gege asking me out to have lunch with him?”
This time, Xie Lian noticeably goes beet red. Calling him “gege” while saying he “asked him out”. Is this guy trying to give him a heart attack? Is he even aware of it?
“I hope teacher doesn’t mind if I call him ‘gege’.” Hua Cheng quickly says with a tone dripping with remorse.
“N-no. I don’t mind.” The tutor shakes his head and looks to the side before adding, “It…has a nice ring to it.”
When Xie Lian looks back at Hua Cheng, the man is smiling once again.
“But I need to punish you, San Lang. You have to pay for our meal.” Xie Lian smiles, not letting the man off.
Hua Cheng perks up. “Alright. I will pay for our…Is this what you call a lunch date, gege?”
Gods! This guy is actually mischievous!
And even though Xie Lian turns into a blushing mess from the unabashed flirting, he’s having fun as well!
“Spell ‘cheeky’, San Lang,” Xie Lian orders after remembering they’ve discussed the word’s definition in class once.
Sure enough, it makes Hua Cheng laugh out loud.
That day, they go out for lunch. One week later, XL becomes Hua Cheng’s private English tutor and his very close friend. Six months later, Hua Cheng takes Xie Lian out to dinner and confesses his love for him. Eight months down the line, Xie Lian cries in happiness when Hua Cheng proposes to him. And a year later, Xie Lian becomes Hua Cheng’s beloved husband, and they live happily ever after.