Chapter Text
It wouldn't be a stretch to say Hua Cheng has fought tooth and nail to get where he is now —sitting in his usual bar, giving off an aura of self-assurance & confidence.
He likes it; it keeps people intimidated, and that's better than the contrary. After all, he, of all people, would know.
Life had a bone to pick with him from the start, cursing him with the eye of a devil. A deadbeat father who used him for nothing other than a punching bag. He barely knew his mother's face, with all the people coming in and out of his shitty crib with bags of white powders; he's surprised he remembered her, even in the slightest. It's not like he ever got the chance to ask anyway; his father would beat any words out of his mouth. He would look into his eyes and see nothing but disgust for one of his own.
It's no surprise all that filth caught up to him in the end. Maybe god finally decided it had been far too long, or maybe he waited so long since Hua Cheng never gave a shit about him. Or maybe it wasn't him at all; Hua Cheng was sure his will itself would've killed that man soon enough.
It would be a lie to say all those deals didn't make money, though. Drugs were a hefty business, but none of that money ever went towards him, let alone to repair their crappy shack. His father would throw the money he made right back out on girls and glams that would fail to recognize him the next day.
Hua Cheng would think back to his mother, unsure if she was even alive. If he was an accidental outcome of those very same girls and glams he despised. Maybe that was some justification for why he hated himself so much. But then again, that wasn't something he needed an excuse for. If his mother would look at his mismatched eyes and see the same disfigured monster his father did, maybe he didn't want to know her at all. He wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but it's not like anyone ever did when they looked at him.
So when Hua Cheng woke up to an eerily quiet house and an inert father on the couch, it's safe to say he didn't hesitate to take that small fortune and vanish. He was 17 at the time, maybe 16— he never acknowledged his birthday anyway.
For all the things Hua Cheng was at that age, he wasn't stupid. Unlike his father, he never felt the urge to throw money at pretty things or crave their attention at all. No one batted an eye at him. Showing up to school with a new bruise/scar was a matter of when, not if. The teachers hadn't cared enough, probably one of his father's clients themselves. He had amassed quite the name in the drug community, so many probably feared his temper too much to even consider stepping in. Or maybe they thought he was too far gone to save.
If the adults never cared, the kids were quite the contrary. They cared too much about his looks, his bruises, his eye. They ridiculed him, kicked him like a stray dog, but he would never wail.
To be looked at with pity by shitbags of counselors who wouldn't intervene even if given the chance. If home was bad, then school was worse.
He left that shitty town and never looked back.
Hua Cheng took that money, that will, that wit, and turned it all around. Through smart investments and clever schemes, his brutal upbringing gave him an edge. He wasn't scared to use morally dubious tactics. It didn't matter what it took to reshape his destiny; Hua Cheng would do it.
And do it he did; that same will, wit, and funds took him on quite the journey. He built connections and his reputation for being ruthless. Even though they never knew the full extent of his past, they knew he was a man with the power to change his life in the blink of an eye. Someone you wouldn't want to cross.
There was He Xuan too, along the way. He didn't quite fit as a connection or business partner. He Xuan was a man who was never meant for the life he was given. Unlike Hua Cheng, his life started quite the opposite way. A loving family, sister, even a soon-to-be fiancé. His life was taken away, flipped upside down at the hands of some rich shitbag. Hua Cheng wouldn't call himself an empathetic person, but something about the high and mighty crushing the lives of those below them didn't sit right with him.
So if anything, He Xuan was a brother to him, his first ally, and together they made it to the top. Enrolled in a good university while already being successful young men in business. Neither of them would ever admit how much they meant to each other.
Now that he thinks about it, tooth and nail might be an understatement, but Hua Cheng didn't like to dwell on the past anyway.
With a quiet exhale, he dismissed his memories as quickly as they arrived. Adjusting his posture, his single eye scanned the perimeter of the bar with practiced vigilance. Things were quite different today. Now that he's established his identity as someone not to be messed with, the luck that was denied by everyone had finally prevailed.
He nudged his glass, nodding towards the direction of the bartender, signaling another round. Alcohol wasn't something he wanted to make a habit of when he was younger, but now that he had the means, he'd loosened up quite a bit. It took a lot to make him drunk—not that that was the intention anyway. The bar was one frequently visited by regulars; tonight, there were a couple of fresh faces, nothing that caught Hua Cheng's eye. Not like anyone ever had before, but he wasn't very picky when it came to relief. Something quick, no strings attached.
He wasn't proud of this habit; in a way, it reminded him of his father. Hua Cheng didn't like to think in that way; he'd never stoop that low, so he kept those instances occasional.
The bartender returned his glass full, perspiration freshly wiped. He pressed a hand to his temple, feeling the eyes on him as he took a swig.
Being desired wasn't a foreign concept to him anymore; while he'd never felt it for anyone else, the former was something he didn't favor. Those who only looked at him with a sense of lust weren't worth his time. Besides, being constantly perceived with fear was much more comfortable.
Tonight wasn't one of those nights anyway; it was only meant to be a quiet break before returning to the studio. After his big break in business, he took the opportunity to take up art. He'd never had much of an opportunity to explore his interest when he was younger. The only "paint" he had access to was his own blood. His father barely allocated funds to keep him fed— let alone entertained. His art teacher, fearing he'd steal the supplies, never let him touch more than a pencil. He made do with what was given, but pursuing art wasn't even a distant dream back then.
The reality of being an art major was quite the surreal escape. No matter how late he stayed up working on paintings or crafting sculptures, it was always a reminder of how far he'd come. To be able to pursue his passion without having to worry was a luxury even his silver-spooned classmates didn't experience. He even took commissions on the side as he pleased, but it was never about the money.
Gathering his coat, he returned the glass with a tip; he'd only come for a reset tonight after submitting a taxing midterm portfolio. He never meant to dawdle.
A cold breeze cut through the air along with a drizzle as he exited the bar. The streets were relatively empty for a Friday night, but it was late; most were either out partying to relieve their midterm stress or resting at home.
He crossed the stale concrete, traffic lights reflecting off the small puddles formed by the light rain.
The quiet of the night didn't last long; from around the corner came the frantic slapping of sneakers against wet pavement, breaking the silence.
"Yes, I understand— I'm so, so sorry. I understand. I wasn't aware of the deadline; I'm on my way to your office at the moment with the physical application. I'm forwarding the digital at the moment—ah, it's alright if the chance of availability has decreased…" A breathless, soft voice echoed across the street. A small, softer figure clad in a hefty, oversized coat— clearly not of his own size, Hua Cheng thought. Long, deep brown hair was tied loosely into a low knot, teetering on the edge of slipping out at a moment's notice.
The figure came sprinting through the mist, one hand clutching onto a smartphone— if it would even be considered one with how old the model was. The other, a bag of loosely packed files. The man was completely unaware of his surroundings; at this time of night, he should be more concerned, no? If not that, at least at the risk of crossing the street blindly.
Hua Cheng scoffed mentally, sliding his eyes shut momentarily as he neared the intersection. Abruptly, the sound of a tire rushing through water crossed his ears. Before he could even begin to process the situation, a force clashed against the expanse of his chest.
The harsh glare of headlights cut through the rain as his eyes shot open.
The same figure Hua Cheng had just been scrutinizing collided directly into his broad chest, not unlike hitting a brick wall, effectively knocking himself off balance. The impact launched the phone right out of the stranger's hand, sending it skittering across the wet asphalt.
A car sped past the intersection, drenching the curb Hua Cheng had just stood a millisecond prior. But he had barely registered the near-miss; his world narrowing down to the figure in his arms.
Hua Cheng was significantly larger than the man; while the collision only managed to nudge him back a couple of steps, the momentum was enough to shove them both successfully onto the sidewalk. He instinctively shot his hand out, elbow secured in his iron-clad grip, steadying his fall before he joined his phone on the puddle-soaked ground.
Slightly panting, the stranger gasped a frantic flurry of apologies, "Ah! I'm so sorry, I'm sure there would've been a more effective way to go about that— but the car and all, I panicked and…" He continued murmuring words of regret and worry before finally tilting his head to meet Hua Cheng's eye.
It seemed as if time around them came to a pause.
The largest, breathtaking peach-blossom-shaped brown eyes, framed with rows thick with lashes, met his. Gorgeous was an understatement for the beauty of the man—no, the god— looking up at him. His cheeks were flushed a beautiful rosy pink, hair disheveled, finally falling from the haphazardly tied bun. Plump, soft lips fell open a little wider, and god Hua Cheng was gone. In a state where most people would look rather tousled, the stranger's condition did nothing to dim his undeniable beauty. What was a man possessing such striking yet gentle beauty doing in a place like this?
The stranger's eyes darted across Hua Cheng's face, his flush deepening before stepping back at the realization of their proximity. He lowered his eyes quickly, in what seemed to be a practiced, defensive habit. A man like that shouldn't have to lower his eyes for anyone, and for once, Hua Cheng cursed the same menacing aura he worked so hard to achieve.
What was wrong with him today?
The man fidgeted awkwardly, smoothing the wrinkles in his clothes as if awaiting some kind of outburst from Hua Cheng. He followed the motion guiltily, indulging himself in the outline of the stranger's narrow waist, drifting lower towards his hips before his eyes shot back up.
The man let out a squeak, seemingly remembering just why he was in such a rush before the incident. He double-checked his canvas bag, eyes trailing quickly before craining his neck back up. He gave Hua Cheng a cute, cheeky smile in what seemed to be a plea for mercy, preparing to depart again.
Hua Cheng, still in a bit of a daze, nodded towards the phone still lying motionless on the floor, covered in a light layer of droplets— there was no chance that crappy model could've survived a fall like that. The man followed his gaze, widening slightly. He chuckled self-deprecatingly, seemingly reading his mind. "Ah, there's no need to worry; it might be old, but it's quite sturdy. I apologize again! I'll be on my way now, thank you!"
He bent over towards the phone, and Hua Cheng's eye widened, a flush growing, before averting quickly. What a blessed man indeed.
The stranger wiped his phone attentively, tongue peeking out in concentration, and it was adorable. With another small smile, the man left just as quickly as he came, leaving Hua Cheng in a trance.
For a man indifferent to religion throughout his life, Hua Cheng felt the urge to carve 10,000 statues of the god that he had encountered today.
Truly, what was up with him today? He prided himself on his indifference to any kind of romantic affairs/attraction, but had shattered his vows entirely. For God's sake, he'd practically objectified him within seconds of meeting.
Even then, he let the one man who'd caught his eye— his attention— waltz in and out of his life without even getting a name. He must've drunk more than he'd noted— yeah, that was it.
Breaking out of his stupor, Hua Cheng turned back toward the intersection the car had just sped through. While he wouldn't thank the driver for the attempt on his life (though he doubted they would've been successful even without the little angel's help), he silently credited them for blessing him with the meeting of such a man.
What had crossed that stranger's mind? Putting himself in the way of such danger for another… someone he'd never seen before. Maybe he'd recognized Hua Cheng? Even then he'd made no signal, verbal or non-verbal, of wanting some kind of reciprocation for his efforts. As a matter of fact, it seemed to be quite the opposite; the man looked as though he'd expected a repercussion for his actions.
Hua Cheng huffed; a beauty like that probably hadn't thought twice about their little interaction— if it could even be called that. He'd been too entranced to speak a word, even one of gratitude, yet here he was, dissecting every moment of it.
Pushing back his now damp hair, he trotted the rest of the way back to his studio. How ridiculous, he exhaled.
"Dude, focus before you fuck up our presentation; I'm not re-doing this again." He Xuan grumbled, nudging Hua Cheng's sprawled-out leg as he crunched through another handful of chips. They were slouched in one of the campus's many study chambers. Research papers were scattered messily across the table, but Hua Cheng paid them no mind.
"Fix it yourself, and I'll take 2% off your debt." Hua Cheng mumbled, deflated, kicking him back with no real force behind it.
"Like that'll make much of a difference," He Xuan puffed mirthlessly as he gathered the necessary papers to complete it either way. It was rare for Hua Cheng to be in a mood like this— other than being perpetually pissed off, of course— he had no means to push him any further.
"Double it by 20% then," He huffed.
"I apologize, oh dear Hua Cheng, please have mercy." He clapped his hands together insincerely. Hua Cheng grimaced, watching the chips' oily residue from one smear against the other.
With another light kick, Hua Cheng rose from his laze, grunting as he gazed at the library's antique clock. He didn't have to be present at his studio slot for another 30 minutes, but the distance made quite a bit of a walk; he figured he should get a move on it.
"…I'll probably reserve one of the private rooms, and we'll meet you there. Are you even listening? Hua Cheng!" He Xuan groaned. Hua Cheng shifted his gaze lazily towards him, barely grasping the last couple of words.=
"I thought you went out to the club the other day; shouldn't you be more relaxed? What's up with this pent-up, distracted mood of yours?" He sighed. Hua Cheng kicked him again, this time with more fervor.
"Won't you drop it?" Hua Cheng grumbled in reply, unable to comprehend why He Xuan's implication bothered him so much. It wasn't like it was some taboo he kept hidden from him; that bar was an open secret among locals for being a good place to pick up men, although it was never explicitly stated. Such was a reason Hua Cheng tended to frequent it. He Xuan had, too, but he had recently picked up a partner, leaving the occasional habit in the past.
As if he read his mind, He Xuan continued, "Whatever, sorry for giving a shit about your well-being. I ask if you're down to join A-Xuan and me at the bar this weekend. They've been curious about you, and it has been a while. I figured it'd be a good time to introduce you two— though I wouldn't want them getting tainted with your sullenness."
Hua Cheng rolled his eyes, gathering his papers and laptop into his bag. "So I'm being invited out to a session of third-wheeling? How considerate. I'll see you there," he chuckled.
"About that…" He Xuan started, "We'll most likely be inviting another close friend along."
At that, Hua Cheng raised a brow, peering at He Xuan intently. Although their reasoning for it differed, he and He Xuan were alike in a way in which they never kept many close. While he couldn't speak for He Xuan's partner, there weren't many— if any— that he referred to as a "close friend," let alone a friend at all. If there was, Hua Cheng would know.
"Oh? So you considered me after all? Or are you trying to rid my presence now that you've got no imminent use for me? I should double your debt for that, or maybe it's that you see my aromanticism as something to pity? It's not like I don't have the means to acquire a partner, if I were inclined to." Hua Cheng joked, crossing his arms.
He Xuan rolled his eyes. "Pick whichever satisfies your ego, but seriously, he's a good guy. You guys don't need to hit it off in that way, but he's just trying to settle in here; don't treat him like shit, he's been through a lot recently." He stuck his hand into the Double-Jumbo-sized chip bag, face falling, and he watched it return empty. Hua Cheng smirked.
He considered his words; like him, He Xuan was no sappy person. To get to where they were today, any "sappy" emotion was taken as a weakness and practically discarded in its entirety.
So, for He Xuan of all people to refer to someone, aside from his partner, in such a way, Hua Cheng knew they meant a lot to him. He reined in his crappy attitude and made a mental note to be somewhat more accommodating— or less bitchy, as He Xuan would say— towards this mysterious "close friend."
Hua Cheng gave a light nod, tossed the comically large chip bag in the trash, and raised a hand towards the study chamber's glass door. "Whatever, fish-face, see you then."
The gust of the library's main AC brushed against his face, tousling his hair the slightest bit. Adjusting the cascade of his hair back, he once again lingered in his thoughts. What good would some forced romantic connection be now that Hua Cheng has gotten a glance at beauty like the stranger from the street? As the "Ache of Separation" goes, "After seeing the vast sea, no water can compare."
How foolish, what Hua Cheng has gotten himself into.
Leaving the heavy glass doors of the library behind, Hua Cheng made his way down the quad towards the fine arts department. The afternoon sun finally began to break through the lingering clouds— culprits of the constant drizzles throughout the week.
It was a rather busy day, cliques of friends gathered across the decorative seating sprawled across the corridor. As he rounded the corner of a particularly popular hangout spot, the hum of the campus gossip only got louder.
A group of shitty design majors were huddled near the communal bulletin board, their voices carrying over the echo of footsteps.
"I saw him waiting around Dean Ling Wen's office earlier. He's seriously gorgeous, like ethereal. Apparently he just transferred or something." One whispered.
"Such a loss for whatever school he left. He looks like a prince!" A second giggled.
One of the snobs rolled their eyes in annoyance. "Who cares? He's probably got some huge ego with everyone gushing about him like this. Didn't you hear? Even Pei Ming was all over him earlier; I'm sure his pride is riding high."
"I mean, with the face of a model and a body like that, can you blame him? He looks too innocent to be so vain." The first defended.
"I'm sure he'll get corrupted soon enough, haha!" They all sniggered, the snarky one cracking a small smile.
Hua Cheng didn't bother to slow his pace, scoffing. He sent a sharp glance their way, the girls dispersing almost immediately, eyes widened.
A prince? How tedious. Students at the campus were so easily impressed. All it took was one fresh face for the majority to lose their minds; empty praises meant nothing in the end.
All of it was static noise to Hua Cheng anyways; he knew with absolute certainty that their so-called gorgeous and ethereal "prince" couldn't hold a candle to the god of a man from the street.
It felt ridiculous, swooning over a man he'd run into for less than a minute; after all, it had practically been a whole week since then. But god, those big eyes, that cheeky little smile; compared to him, everyone else was no more than a distant figure.
Hua Cheng couldn't care less about nearly getting flattened by a hit-and-run— it had barely registered to him in the first place. He didn't mean to disregard the man's heroic effort, but his heart had been struck either way.
It was embarrassing to admit he was still dwelling on it. While others wouldn't be able to contrast his usual indifference against his lovesick mood, He Xuan knew him too well, almost instantly picking up on it.
Reaching the heavy wooden door of his assigned studio, Hua Cheng swiped his keycard, the lock clicking open with a satisfying thud.
He released a heavy sigh, draping his bag across the desk with disinterest. Maybe it was foolish to admit, but things had become quite repetitive. With his assistant, Yin Yu, managing the majority of his business affairs, Hua Cheng had focused more time on his art, yet lately he'd begun feeling more and more detached from the very escape he once loved.
Sparing no more than a half glance towards the bland prompt his professor provided, He gathered his supplies.
The scent of turpentine and oil paints began to fill the room as he dragged his brush back and forth along the canvas in an unsuccessful attempt to clear his thoughts.
But those very same thoughts took control as he moved with precision, almost mindlessly. It was as if his body had already conjured a vision, his hands moving to create the image without waiting for his mind's permission
Slowly but surely, the image came to life; eyes the shape of a doe came into view along with rosy cheeks and a bashful smile. Soon enough, Hua Cheng had depicted a beauty worthy of a xianxia novel. A god with a sword in one hand and a flower in the other, topped with a face that appeared in his dreams more than he'd like to admit.
Hua Cheng raked a hand through his long, inky black locks, staring intently at the image he created. Not even at his level would he be able to fully capture the man's beauty.
With a heavy sigh, he stepped closer towards the painting in an attempt to adjust it even further before he caught a glimpse of the professor's assignment once again. It had already been 2 hours, his studio slot waning to a close, and he had yet to fulfill the prompt's wishes.
Hua Cheng gently placed his portrait of the god in his assigned locker before returning with a fresh blank canvas. He had wasted enough time wallowing, and he had no intention of making it a habit.
However, he could only force his hand to rush through the painting requirements in a plea to paint anything but the man who had captured his mind.
Even if the man hadn't pushed him from the car's trajectory, Hua Cheng was sure he would've evaded harm's way on his own. He had no need for a savior. And even then, he was certain he would've fallen for the man anyway.
By the time the weekend rolled around, that certainty hadn't faded one bit.
Hua Cheng glanced down at his watch for what had to have been the fourth time that evening. His leg shook impatiently against the chrome rung of the bar stool, emitting an agonizing tapping noise, yet he couldn't get himself to stop.
It wasn't unusual for He Xuan to be running late; it wasn't something that had particularly bothered Hua Cheng either, but tonight he felt his patience running paper-thin.
The bar was packed, which wasn't uncommon at all for a Saturday night; it was part of the reason why He Xuan had insisted on booking a private lounge. They had both frequented the establishment long enough to know. And while Hua Cheng could just ask the attendants to lead him to He Xuan's booked room, something kept him seated.
Hua Cheng straightened his jacket as it approached almost twenty minutes after the designated meeting time; He Xuan and the rest would most likely be arriving soon. Tonight, he had chosen a simple black button-down paired with a less-than-simple crimson, velveteen embroidered waistcoat, along with some well-fitting black slacks.
Part of him thought it might've been a bit much. It was not like he'd tried earnestly for the simple get-together; but a foolish part of him indulged in the chance he'd see that beauty again. But it was stupid, a fluke that the man had been present there in the first place. Maybe following a shortcut to wherever he rushed to.
The music drummed against Hua Cheng's skull as the atmosphere only got rowdier every minute. The particular bar wasn't one to always be so boisterous, but on the weekends, they went all out, probably something about that study of louder music being adjacent to more sales. It was working nonetheless.
Another 10 minutes; ridiculous, it was a stretch even for He Xuan. Seconds from losing his patience, Hua Cheng felt a vibration in his pocket, but before he could react, he caught a glimpse of the bar's doors widening.
The text was instantly forgotten.
Walking through that very door was the same man who'd tortured his mind from first glance, and somehow Hua Cheng knew it was no coincidence.
He was dressed in a cream-colored, satin off-the-shoulder top along with smooth matching slacks that fit well; if anything, they were a bit tight—as opposed to his outfit on the night they met. His long, deep chestnut hair was pulled into a flowy ponytail updo, adorned with a white silk ribbon. His face seemed to be dusted with a hint of glimmer, lashes fanning across his cheeks, complementing his already innocent, wide-eyed look.
The man walked in timidly, seemingly unused to an environment of the sort. He glanced around, those giant eyes taking in the atmosphere as he unconsciously wrapped his arms around himself. He started towards the bar counter, silently summoning an attendant, and Hua Cheng felt his worst suspicions being proven.
Hua Cheng watched the man mouth the words "He Xuan" and felt his heart plummet. The beauty from the street was He Xuan's partner.
Hua Cheng's mind slipped into a daze. Seriously? The one man he'd been practically enamored with was the partner of his brother in all but blood! It was ridiculously ironic.
What was Hua Cheng to do?
Still lost to the stupor of his discovery, Hua Cheng scanned the room. He'd been seated towards the corner of the bar counter, enough to be somewhat hidden from the looks he despised, but present to make an impression.
To untrained eyes, it might've seemed as if nothing had changed by the addition of the nameless beauty to the atmosphere, but Hua Cheng wasn't blind. After all, he wasn't the only regular scout here.
Every motion the man made was being observed, dissected. And while Hua Cheng kept his observations respectful, the same couldn't be said about the others. He glared towards a pair that whistled, nodding in the man's direction with lustful glints in their eyes.
Hua Cheng grunted in disapproval; he drew his phone from his pocket, finally acknowledging the notification from earlier.
fishface: my fault running a bit late
fishface: just go 2 the room they know ur face
hurry up idiot
keeping your boyfriend waiting, regulars r devouring him
fishface: ???
fishface is typing…
Hua Cheng huffed, disdain coursed through his system as the screen of his phone fell black. He Xuan dared to act confused—maybe that's why he kept his partner hidden from Hua Cheng for so long. While his awful tastes in only black clothing and affinity for fish didn't align with Hua Cheng, it seemed like their taste in men did. But still, something felt off.
His phone lit up with another message, but before he had a chance to view it, a soft voice broke through his monologue.
"Ah… excuse me?"
Hua Cheng's gaze lifted from his device, eye settling on the figure below him, sporting a sweet, sweet smile.
Hua Cheng was fucked, he might as well apologize to He Xuan now. Temptation itself stood right before Hua Cheng; how could he keep himself away?
Hua Cheng's eyes softened, nodding lightly towards the man, signaling him to continue.
The man's eyes darted everywhere but Hua Cheng's before finally settling.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you, but He Xuan had mentioned a friend… and the bar attendants signaled me towards you since they've seen you guys together?" He added.
Hua Cheng shot him a boyish grin, resting his face on his hand, head tilting down towards the little angel.
"Mm. It must be me you're looking for, Gege; pray tell this poor, lonely friend your name? He Xuan has kept me in the dark."
The man blushed, scratching his nose, a nervous habit, he guessed. Had the "Gege" been too far?
"It's Xie Lian, and you?" He smiled.
"Beautiful, but I'll stick with Gege; you can call this one San Lang." Hua Cheng teased.
The man—Xie Lian—chuckled lightly.
"San Lang. Gege is fine; do I look that old, hm?"
Oh, Hua Cheng was going to have fun with this.
"The opposite, actually. Gege is quite the catch; surely he's seen himself?" Hua Cheng nodded, smirk growing.
What was he doing, flirting with He Xuan's partner? How low would he go? But for some reason, he couldn't stop. For every bit he indulged in this sweet beauty, the more bitter the aftertaste.
Xie Lian's blush grew, a shy smile crossing his face. "There's no need for someone of your stature to flatter me. You're very handsome; I'm sure I'm not the first to tell you that."
Hua Cheng had heard many empty compliments throughout his life—after success, of course—but when the words left Xie Lian's lips, he felt his face heat—just a bit.
"If Gege refuses to accept my praise of his gorgeous looks, then will he at least let me thank him for his actions a week ago?"
Xie Lian noticeably glanced away.
"Unless Gege doesn't remember at all? Is this poor San Lang so forgettable?" Hua Cheng tipped his head to the side gently, a teasing smile growing.
Xie Lian waved his hands frantically, "Not at all! I promise I didn't mean it like that! I just—I just didn't think you'd recognize me, is all..."
Hua Cheng shook his head internally, as if anyone would ever forget this pretty little doll.
"I'm sorry again," Xie Lian started, wringing his fingers nervously. "I shouldn't have given you a shock like that; I barely got you out of harm's way at all, it was practically all in vain."
"Nonsense, Gege. You saved this one's life, did you not? How could I forget my gracious savior's face? Here—let me buy you a drink in thanks, though that's not nearly enough."
Xie Lian looked ready to protest, but all the fight left him as Hua Cheng guided him into a seat. He could admit that initially, he hadn't thought too much about the whole almost-crash incident—not disregarding Xie Lian's bravery, of course—but it seemed to be the only justification Xie Lian would accept, unless…
He glanced over at Xie Lian, who seemed to be gazing blankly at the drink menu, leg tapping against the chrome rung of the bar stool, just as Hua Cheng's had a couple of minutes ago.
"Is Gege not one to drink? Or would He Xuan not be happy with me treating you like this? I apologize if I'm making you uncomfortable."
"Hm? He Xuan? Why would He Xuan be opposed to you buying me a drink?" Xie Lian tilted his head inquisitively.
"Oh, is he not the possessive type? Gege's quite the gem; He Xuan ought to guard you better, or he'll get snatched right up." Hua Cheng said, mentally scoffing at He Xuan.
"San Lang… I'm afraid I don't understand? Why would He Xuan act that way towards me? After all he's got a—"
"A-LIAN!!!"