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Xie Lian pulled his suit jacket on and checked his appearance in the mirror. It was Hua Cheng’s favorite, white with silver accents and a red shirt he knew would match what Hua Cheng would wear. His hands shook a little as he pulled his hair up and into a knot. His face was wrinkled, his hair even grayer than it had been a few years ago.
A knock on the door pulled him out of his thoughts. Perfectly on time, just like when they’d first started dating. Xie Lian grinned as he made his way to the door. Hua Cheng had left a couple hours ago, insisting that he wanted to pick Xie Lian up like a proper date. He knew it was silly, but he’d missed him while he was gone.
He pulled the door open and his breath caught and his heart started pounding. Hua Cheng stood in front of him in his red suit and a black shirt. His salt and pepper hair was down and a bit unruly. He somehow managed to be more handsome every time Xie Lian saw him.
“Hello, Gege.” Hua Cheng extended his hand, a white flower in it. Xie Lian grinned and tucked it into his suit pocket.
“Hello, San Lang.” He felt like a teenager with a crush all over again, excitement filled him as Hua Cheng held his hand out for Xie Lian.
Hua Cheng raked his eye slowly down Xie Lian’s body and back up to his face. “You look positvely gorgeous.”
Xie Lian blushed at his husbands words and stepped out the door. “So does San Lang.”
Hua Cheng brushed a kiss against Xie Lian’s temple and locked the door. “Is Gege ready?”
Xie Lian nodded and the two made their way to the car, talking about everything and nothing. The spices they were out of that they needed to pick up at the store tomorrow, the dinner Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan had next week, the art gallery that was opening in a few months.
Hua Cheng parked in front of the diner where they’d had their first ever date, they’d gone there late at night after their wedding, and had continued going there every year after to celebrate, dressing up in their finest clothes every time.
They tucked themselves into the corner booth they sat in every time it was free. Hua Cheng hooked his ankle around Xie Lian’s under the table, a soft press of their ankles as they talked.
“Good evening,” their waitress introduced herself and placed menus in front of them. “Are you two celebrating something?”
Hua Cheng took Xie Lian’s hand in his, running his thumb over the back of it. “Our anniversary.” He smiled at their waitress.
“How long have you been together?”
“We’ve been married for fifty-five years and together for sixty,” Xie Lian said.
“Congratulations!” She left to put their order in.
“I am a very lucky man,” Hua Cheng agreed.
Xie Lian flushed at his words. “So am I.”
The two ate their dinner and continued talking, reminiscing about places they’d traveled together, where they still wanted to travel, the book that Hua Cheng had picked up from the library the other day, the ducks that had seemed to take up residence in their backyard.
As the two stepped out of the diner, Hua Cheng offered his arm. “Would you care to walk around the park with me?”
Xie Lian grinned and looped his arm in Hua Cheng’s and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I would love to.”
The park was relatively empty, just a few people walking around. The leaves had started to turn orange and red, and the rays from the setting sun lit them up even brighter. Birds chirped and hopped from tree to tree as they settled in for the night. Xie Lian pressed himself closer to Hua Cheng, completely relaxed.
“This is nice,” he said quietly. Hua Cheng hummed in agreement.
“You know, I wasn’t kidding back there,” Hua Cheng said. “I am an incredibly lucky man to have found you in this life, and for you to have fallen for me.” He stopped and turned so the two of them were facing each other. “I never in my life thought that I would ever end up with the life I have, with someone as wonderful and smart and kind as you are and I am thankful every day that I have spent my life loving you and being with you.”
Xie Lian felt tears prick his eyes as Hua Cheng spoke. He wiped his eyes quickly. “It’s me who’s lucky, San Lang. I never thought that I would end up with someone at all, let alone someone who makes me so happy and makes me feel so special and loved every single day of my life. There are many choices I’ve made that I regret, but you have never, and will never be one. No matter what has happened I have always been sure of you. And I am honored that I have gotten to spend my life loving you and by your side.”
Xie Lian was no longer the only one crying, Hua Cheng had tears running down his face as he pulled him closer. The two held each other, crying tears full of love and peace at being fully accepted and loved for every part of themselves. Eventually, the parted enough to be able to see the others faces. Hua Cheng gently wiped the tears from Xie Lian’s cheeks. “I love you so much, Xie Lian.”
Xie Lian smiled and grasped Hua Cheng’s hand and pressed a kiss to it. “I love you, too, my dear San Lang.”
The two continued to walk around the park, hand in hand, just as they knew they would for the rest of their lives and in every universe, together.