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Xie Lian had always had a hard time saying no when people asked him for things. Paired with Shi Qingxuan's unyielding enthusiasm for getting him to 'get out once in a while, for fuck's sake', it was inevitable that he'd get dragged along on whatever outing his younger friend had in mind most of the time. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy spending time with him. Shi Qingxuan was a dear, irreplaceable friend. He was just vastly more outgoing and social, and he loved to party. That often didn't mesh with Xie Lian's whole homebody aesthetic.
Still, when Shi Qingxuan announced that he wanted to visit the famed Paradise Casino in the next city over, Xie Lian knew he'd require a responsible friend to make sure he could drink and play without having to worry about getting home safely. So when his friend had asked him if he wanted to come, ignoring his inner voice screaming, "of course not," Xie Lian had simply smiled and said, "You need a designated driver, right? I'll help you out."
It was laughable, really, that he was going to a casino of all places. He didn't have two coins to rub together half the time (especially when the rent on his tiny apartment was due), so it wasn't as if he could gamble even if he'd wanted to. Besides, he was convinced he wasn't very lucky at those things. It would've been more productive to just hand his money to the dealers directly and save everyone some time.
The Paradise Hotel and Casino was a grandiose building; vermillion walls standing tall, it proudly announced itself with a neon sign of the same color, its flowing script punctuated with elegant, silvery butterflies. As the two men were let through by the doorman to go inside, they spied an establishment plaque by the entrance.
"'Hua Cheng, owner and CEO,'" Shi Qingxuan read aloud as they passed. "I've heard about him. He's really rich."
Clearly, if he runs a place like this, Xie Lian thought as they stepped into the foyer. The floors were polished black marble, shining softly under crystalline chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings. The walls here were as red as the outside, lavishly decorated with sconces of burnished silver that were shaped like butterflies at the top.
"Hua Cheng must really like red," Xie Lian mused aloud.
Shi Qingxuan laughed brightly.
"Yeah, I've heard he's kind of eccentric. Always wears red in some part of his outfit, too. They say he also likes to sit in on the games and directly challenge other players sometimes, offering absurd rewards. Supposedly no one's ever beaten him."
"What kind of rewards?"
"Like his vacation home, or a huge sum of cash, or ownership of his casino!" Shi Qingxuan shrugged. "People say all kinds of stuff about him. He's very private. No one even seems to really know what he looks like, not even his employees! Some say he's good-looking, and others have said he's horribly disfigured. So who knows what's real?"
Xie Lian hummed in acknowledgement, not really knowing how to respond to all the hearsay. There were other noteworthy casinos they could've visited, but it didn't surprise Xie Lian that Shi Qingxuan would have chosen the one with a mystery attached. He would find it more fun that way. Truth be told, Xie Lian was also a little curious about the kind of man that might be attached to such stories.
I like the butterflies, though.
The gambling rooms comprised the larger part of the first two floors of the fifteen story building. Shi Qingxuan had started to go off to purchase chips before he paused, turning to Xie Lian with a questioning tilt of his head.
"Did you want to play? I can spot you some cash."
"No, no." Xie Lian immediately waved him off good-naturedly. "I don't want to owe you anything. It isn't like I'll win. You go and have fun."
Shi Qingxuan was reluctant at first, but eventually he grinned and shoved a few 100 yuan notes into Xie Lian's hands.
"You don't owe me for this," he said before Xie Lian could protest. "Get yourself something to eat or drink. There's a bar at the other end of the main floor. We can meet up there later."
Worrying his lower lip between his teeth, Xie Lian watched Shi Qingxuan take off in the direction of the exchange counter. His friend was like a force of nature sometimes, and Xie Lian found himself helpless but to go along with his flow. He was left standing there holding the money awkwardly for a moment before he caught himself and carefully put it into his wallet, which was chained to his belt so he wouldn't lose it. That had once been a hard-learned lesson that he didn't wish to repeat.
He began to meander in the general direction of the bar, taking his time to observe his surroundings. Xie Lian got the distinct impression as he glanced at the other patrons, wearing expensive-looking suits and shimmering cocktail dresses, that he was woefully underdressed. In his plain white button-up shirt and charcoal slacks, he had managed to squeak by the semiformal dress code. Even though the doorman—a severe-faced man with a long, black ponytail—had seemed to appraise him for longer than he felt was necessary.
"Maybe he was checking you out," a voice inside his head that had sounded suspiciously like Shi Qingxuan said teasingly. No. He shook his head. No, definitely not. Maybe he should have done up his top two buttons. But he'd been allowed in, and that was all that mattered. Still, he hurried on his way so as not to inflict his shabbiness on anyone else.
The bar area was less flashy than the rest of the gambling floor; the brightly lit game tables and slot machines were traded for dimmer lighting that gleamed softly against neatly arranged liquor bottles in the back. There may have been a lot of people in the casino, but virtually no one was seated there. They must have taken their drinks in hand as they played, Xie Lian supposed. He stepped up to the mahogany counter and slipped onto one of the cushioned stools at the far left end, tucking himself away as unobtrusively as possible from the few others that tarried there.
"What can I get for you, sir?"
Xie Lian jumped slightly at the bartender's presence suddenly appearing before him. He scratched his cheek, trying to wrap his head around how he had missed the man's approach. He hadn't thought he'd been zoning out, at least not that much. Xie Lian smiled at the man—Yin Yu, according to his nametag—to cover for his awkward reaction.
"What can I get that's non-alcoholic?"
❀ ❀ ❀
Xie Lian stared down into the glass before him, mentally ticking off other things he could've been doing that evening. They were as numerous as the carbonated bubbles in his seltzer. He could've tended to his plants. The red and white anthuriums he had recently acquired had just begun to bloom. He could've practiced his meditative yoga, even. Or lounged on his sofa in front of one of the many neglected shows on his Netflix queue. Wearing comfy pajamas well before bedtime because no one would be there to tell him he couldn't.
He idly stirred his drink with his straw, mixing up the cherry syrup that had settled at the bottom. The ice had entirely melted, an indicator that he'd been sitting there for a while. With a soft sigh, he plucked the lime wedge off the edge of his glass and examined it curiously before giving it an experimental lick. The tartness was abrupt and invasive, causing him to shudder a little with his face screwed up. Shaking his head to ward off the unpleasant feeling, he put the wedge down on the napkin next to his glass. That was enough of that.
A quiet rumble of laughter could be heard a short distance away. Xie Lian turned towards the sound, and found a young man had taken up a seat a few places down. Elbow on the bar and chin propped in his hand, he was not facing Xie Lian, but he could see the corner of the man's eye was focused in his direction from beneath his tousled black hair. When he saw Xie Lian had noticed him, his full lips curled into a little smirk of amusement.
"I don't know what you expected," he said quietly, but Xie Lian could easily pick out the words as if they were spoken directly into his ear.
It was the kind of voice that effortlessly grabbed him. Though his words could have been seen as a taunt, Xie Lian detected no ill-will in his remark, and he found himself smiling sheepishly as his face warmed.
"You're right," Xie Lian said. "I guess I'm just looking for something to do."
"Hm? Not playing?" the stranger asked, his brow raising. "Just drinking?"
"If by 'drinking' you mean seltzer water and syrup, then yes."
"No gambling, and no alcohol either? Are you sure you're old enough to be here?" the man gently teased.
"I'm just the driver tonight." Xie Lian laughed, tilting his head as he observed the young man's profile. His straight nose and long eyelashes made him appear quite handsome from where he sat. "Anyway, I'm probably older than you are."
The other man turned towards him then, and Xie Lian's breath caught in surprise. He was wholly unprepared for how attractive this man was when viewed straight on. Even the black eyepatch on the previously unseen half of his face detracted nothing from his pale, smooth-looking skin and dark, beautifully arched brows. Those mischievously smirking lips parted and he spoke again.
"My apologies, gege."
Xie Lian gave a start, less because of the oddity of a familiar nickname given by someone he'd just met, and more because he'd caught himself staring at his mouth. That was weird. His gaze snapped back up to the other's eye, dark, but still warm as he looked back at him.
He tamped down the curiously tingly feeling having this man's attention on him brought on. Strangely, he didn't feel patronized at all, even though almost everything the young man had said was teasing. It just seemed as though he had a playful nature, and Xie Lian felt like their conversation would dissolve if he discouraged it. He wanted to keep talking to this man.
"My name is Xie Lian. Does didi have a name I should call him?"
Hearing Xie Lian reciprocate with a nickname of his own, the other laughed without restraint, his eye crinkling in delight. The sound was pleasant. The man slid smoothly off his barstool and began to come closer. His black suit fit him well—broad shoulders and filled out upper arms indicating there was muscle beneath. A crimson waistcoat hugged a trim midsection, and his slacks clung to him in all the right places. This man clearly must have been in excellent shape. He wore no tie with his black dress shirt. The buttons were carelessly left open at the top, revealing a tantalizing strip of skin that drew Xie Lian's eyes without his realizing. He took a seat on the stool next to his, and his proximity startled Xie Lian out of his inadvertent staring. He politely met the stranger's eye again, hoping he hadn't noticed.
The keen look he gave back told Xie Lian that he had most definitely noticed.
"You can call me San Lang."
The other man's smile widened to show a flash of white teeth with prominent canines. It gave him an air of danger that only made him seem even more alluring. He couldn't help but wonder how many hearts this San Lang had broken, with a face like that.
"San Lang," Xie Lian repeated, as though testing how the name felt on his tongue. "So how come you're over here? Not gambling either?"
"I'm just taking a break," San Lang said, waving down the bartender, who put down a glass of some amber-colored liquor before him without verbally confirming his order.
Huh. He must be a regular.
"Not having much luck?" Xie Lian ventured, sipping on his own drink.
"Mm, I wouldn't say that." San Lang's hand wrapped around his glass, his long, elegant fingers tapping idly on the side. It was a bit distracting. "I've got gege to keep me company, don't I? I think that's very lucky."
"I suppose you do." Xie Lian's face heated despite his best efforts, and a smile came easily to his lips. "I was all alone here, so I guess we're both lucky."
San Lang smiled back, but quickly brought his glass to his lips almost as if he was nervous. Xie Lian brushed it off. He had seemed so confident, so Xie Lian surely must have been mistaken. The bobbing of San Lang's Adam's apple was curiously mesmerizing as he swallowed his drink down. Xie Lian caught himself staring again, and mentally chastised himself for it.
"So…" San Lang set his glass down, casually licking the remnants of his drink from his lips. "Who are you here with tonight? Friends? A spouse, perhaps?"
The mere suggestion that he might be married caused Xie Lian to snort softly, at which San Lang arched a curious brow. He was convinced marriage and relationships were for people that didn't spend almost every night happily alone at home.
"There's definitely no spouse. I'm here for my friend. He's wanted to visit this place for a while. I felt better knowing he had a way home tonight."
"Gege is so reliable," San Lan declared, pillowing his chin in his hand again. "Your friend is very fortunate to have you in his life."
It would have been easy to assume San Lang's flattery was superficial. In a setting like this, it would be more likely that he was just trying to flirt—an idea that didn't bother him as much as it probably should have. Completely ignoring the possibility that San Lan was indeed flirting, Xie Lian could tell there was sincerity there.
"Friendship is a two-way street, though. Shi Qingxuan is also there for me when I need him." Xie Lian felt compelled to deflect some of San Lang's praise because he didn't believe he was all that special. "He was one of the ones who helped me a lot when I lost my parents, and when I was struggling to get by on my own."
He hadn't intended to dampen the mood by throwing the deaths of his parents into the conversation, but it was too late to take it back.
"But of course. You deserve people in your life that care about you." San Lang didn't seem put off by the unexpected baggage he'd dropped. If anything, he seemed sympathetic. Sitting up straight he reached out slowly, pausing as he studied Xie Lian's face for a moment before he took his hand in his. San Lang's hand was large and warm, and there was obvious strength there even though he squeezed Xie Lian's fingers with utmost delicacy. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"It's all right, San Lang. It was a long time ago." Xie Lian reassured, patting their clasped hands.
San Lang's comforting gesture had been unexpected, but it was appreciated nonetheless. This man had chosen to sit with him and now he was consoling him when he didn't have to. He was listening to him talk and was actually paying attention, like his words mattered. It made him feel good. It also made him blush, he realized, as he pressed a hand to his warming cheek. Xie Lian wondered nervously if it was obvious.
"Gege, are you unwell? Your face is flushed."
"Fine," Xie Lian blurted almost instantly, which probably did absolutely nothing to hide how flustered he felt.
He couldn't blame it on alcohol. He hadn't been drinking, and San Lang knew it.
San Lang, to his credit, didn't make a big deal out of it. Instead, he gently extracted his hand and stood from his seat. He smiled at Xie Lian.
"I need to stretch my legs a bit. Would you care to go for a walk with me?"
Why San Lang would even want to be seen with someone like him was anyone's guess. But Xie Lian had been enjoying their conversation, and wasn't about to let it end so soon. He stood up, stunned when he realized that San Lang stood a full head taller. Xie Lian blinked up at him, once again struck by how attractive he was.
"Oh!" Xie Lian exclaimed, thankful for the thought that distracted him. "I need to pay for my drink first."
He began to fish his wallet out of his pocket, but San Lang lightly touched his arm to stop him.
"I've already paid for it," he said. "We can go."
"Huh?" Xie Lian's face was a mask of confusion. He hadn't seen him exchange any money with the bartender. He turned to the man behind the counter for clarification.
Yin Yu, who was focused on San Lang for a long moment, met Xie Lian's gaze placidly.
"He's paid for it," he confirmed, and that was that. San Lang must have had a running tab, Xie Lian supposed.
"Okay then." He smiled up at San Lang. "Where shall we go?"
"That depends. Have you been here before?"
"No," came his immediate, laughing reply. "This place is too expensive for me."
"A pity," San Lang murmured, leaning down to speak quietly into his ear, like he was sharing a secret he didn't want the other patrons to overhear. The gesture was unexpectedly intimate. His breath tingled pleasantly and Xie Lian resisted the urge to shiver. "Will you allow me to be your guide?"
"Of course," Xie Lian said brightly, invigorated by the prospect of getting to do something other than sitting around idly for the rest of the evening. That was only fun in the comfort of his own home. Shi Qingxuan was bound to take several more hours before he was ready to leave, so he had plenty of time. If not, he could always text. "You've been here before, so you lead the way."
"Mm. Perhaps I have." The lightly teasing note in his voice brought back the smirk he'd worn at the very start of their interaction. Devilishly handsome was the only way Xie Lian could think of to describe it. "This way, gege."
San Lang's hand gently rested on the small of Xie Lian's back as he began to steer him towards a side door that led out of the gambling hall. The touch was so natural, as if it belonged there. It was so light, but its presence could not be ignored. Xie Lian swallowed, allowing San Lang to escort him outside. The halls beyond were significantly less noisy than the gambling floors, only noticeable now that they'd left.
"It's nice and quiet out here," Xie Lian commented, pausing next to San Lang.
San Lang hummed in agreement. His hand left his back, and Xie Lian didn't let himself acknowledge that he missed it. He peered up at him, feeling an odd sense of relief that he was still right there. Close, but not hovering.
A perfect gentleman, Xie Lian thought.
"Where would you like to go?"
"Did San Lang have somewhere in mind?"
"There are options. There are shops in the hotel lobby—" San Lang tried to disguise his amusement when Xie Lian made a face at the thought of spending money. "—or we could walk poolside. It's lit up nicely at night, and there's a view of the city. Then there are some paths leading through the gardens outside—"
San Lang cut himself off immediately and stared curiously down at Xie Lian. Hearing the word 'gardens' had made Xie Lian's face instantly light up.
"So you like plants," San Lang said, his mouth curling upwards.
"Yes!" Xie Lian nodded enthusiastically. "I would love to see them."
"Of course, gege," San Lang said kindly, gesturing down the hall. "This way."
Xie Lian had unconsciously taken his place on San Lang's left so he could see him more easily as they began to walk. Knowing that dark eye's attention was on him—seeing it staring back at him—brought forth an unidentified feeling that tickled his insides.
San Lang easily fell into step with him, his long legs unhurried in their stride. As if he didn't have anywhere to be but by Xie Lian's side. He listened closely while Xie Lian talked animatedly about his plants at home; the flowers he'd raised from seeds and bulbs with his own hands were his pride and joy.
"Do you work with plants for a living? A gardener? Or a florist, perhaps?"
"No, no…it's just a hobby." Xie Lian waved dismissively in front of himself. "I'm just a novice, anyway. I work in a used bookstore."
"But it makes you happy. That's good."
"Mm, it does." Xie Lian was joyful when he thought about it. "There's something fulfilling about nurturing something from the very beginning, taking care of it, and seeing the result of your efforts. Thinking, 'I did that. I brought this to life.'"
"That does sound rewarding," San Lang agreed, like he genuinely believed what he was saying instead of merely indulging him. "So, a bookstore? Do you like to read as much as you like to raise plants, I hope?"
"I do, actually," Xie Lian said breezily. "I spend a lot of time by myself so my interests kind of naturally evolved into those kinds of things."
"I see." San Lang's tone was contemplative. "I hope gege spends time alone by choice."
The reaction seemed odd, and Xie Lian faltered slightly. Sure, Xie Lian didn't have a thriving social life, but he never really put much thought into it. He certainly enjoyed his hobbies, and though he had few friends, they were good ones. It couldn't be helped that they had their own lives to attend to apart from him. He liked his cozy little apartment, full of the plants he'd raised. There was nothing to complain about. He wasn't lonely or anything.
Was he lonely?
"What about you?" Xie Lian said quickly, feeling desperate to dispel the odd tension. "What does San Lang do for a living?"
San Lang glanced down at him. They regarded one another silently for a few steps, and he eventually smiled softly as though to put Xie Lian's mind at ease. It worked. Xie Lian felt lighter when San Lang was smiling.
"I work here." San Lang's arm gave a broad, sweeping gesture at the building around them.
"Really?" Xie Lian's interest was piqued. This information explained some of what he had observed about San Lang earlier, and having understanding click into place was gratifying. However, a somber thought drew his brows together as he asked, "I hope I'm not interrupting San Lang from his work?"
"Of course not, gege," San Lang assured him. "It's my night off."
"Oh." Xie Lian felt relief, but also puzzlement about why San Lang would still be hanging around the place if he wasn't on the clock. "So what is your work here?"
San Lang's mouth curved enigmatically, and Xie Lian got the distinct impression his question was being challenged. In the end, it kind of was.
"I wonder if you can guess."
Xie Lian didn't think twice about playing along.
"Security?"
Xie Lian's first guess seemed the most reasonable. If San Lang was here when he was off, perhaps he was on call? He wasn't sure about the specifics of that line of work, but it made sense in his head.
"Nope."
"No?" That was the only job he could easily associate with his tall, fit escort, but he wasn't going to give up that easily. San Lang watched him intently as Xie Lian nibbled on his lower lip in thought. "Then…a croupier? Is that the right word?"
"It is the right word," San Lang said with an easy grin, "but not the right answer."
"Hotel staff then?" Xie Lian was admittedly grasping a bit now. "Concierge? …Housekeeping?"
"No, and no," San Lang laughed.
Xie Lian laughed too, picturing the absurd imagery of San Lang holding a feather duster and toilet brush. It seemed too surreal. What, then, was San Lang's actual job?
Their route had taken them across the hotel lobby, the guessing game forgotten as Xie Lian's mouth dropped open in awe. It was decorated in a similar fashion to the foyer inside the casino entrance, but much grander; columns of the same black marble as the tiles below them stretched majestically from floor to ceiling, with more of the intricate butterfly sconces adorning the walls. In the center stood the pièce de résistance—an enormous fountain, its sparkling waters dancing and arcing around a large statue of a butterfly perched on the finger of an outstretched hand. Xie Lian had stopped walking as they came up to it, and San Lang stopped too, watching his reaction with mirth.
"Wow," Xie Lian breathed, for lack of a better term to describe the sight. He beamed at San Lang, finding the taller man already watching him. "Hua Cheng must really like butterflies."
San Lang hummed thoughtfully.
"Maybe he does. Do you like butterflies?"
"Yes!" Xie Lian said brightly. "Not only are they beautiful, they're nice to have around when you raise a garden. They help pollinate."
"Oh yeah?" San Lang said. "They sound useful. Gege is very knowledgeable."
"I don't know that much. I just read it in one of the books at the store when we weren't busy." Xie Lian ducked his head in diffidence as they eventually turned and began to head towards their original destination.
"Everyone learned what they know from somewhere," San Lang said. "It doesn't matter where it came from. Now I've learned something new from you."
"I suppose…" Xie Lian felt himself fighting off a blush for what felt like the millionth time that evening. Even the mildest of San Lang's praise made something diminutive but insistent bloom in his chest. It was too easy to want to bask in San Lang's attention when charm seemed to come as easily to him as breathing.
San Lang had seemed perfectly content to learn about Xie Lian but had offered virtually nothing about himself apart from his name. This behavior was what Shi Qingxuan might have called a 'red flag,' especially now that Xie Lian was willingly going off alone with him somewhere without anyone knowing he'd gone. Maybe he was dangerous, after all.
Still, Xie Lian couldn't deny that the nervous energy he felt was born from a place of curiosity as opposed to fear. San Lang had given no reason for him to feel ill at ease, having been respectful, pleasant company. He hadn't seemed like he was trying to force him into any specific situation, always letting Xie Lian decide what he wanted to do.
Right now, Xie Lian's decision had brought them here, to the double doors that led out the back of the building. He could only feel unadulterated joy when San Lang pushed them open, allowing him his first glimpse of the garden path that lay beyond. Xie Lian followed San Lang's wordless prompting to exit ahead of him, and his eyes darted all around to take in the sight.
They currently stood under a curved, tunnel-shaped trellis, heavy with curling vines and gorgeous flowers of various colors. It went on for several meters before opening up into an open area beyond that Xie Lian couldn't quite see yet. The back of the building behind them bore safety lights, but the inside of the tunnel itself was unlit. Thin shafts of moonlight were just visible through the spaces between the leaves overhead.
"Here, gege." San Lang's quiet words announced him before he stepped close to his side and offered his hand. The outlines of his long fingers were just barely visible. "Just until we get to where it's brighter. I don't want you to stumble."
The pavement was perfectly smooth under their feet, and he could no longer tell if San Lang was merely indulging him, or himself. It didn't matter. Xie Lian didn't hesitate to take the proffered hand and allow his companion to lead him through the passage.
The end of the tunnel indeed opened to a larger area where the path split in two; flowering shrubs and decorative wisteria and magnolia trees could be seen in the subtle lighting provided by stone lanterns around the edges of the garden.
"Too bad it's going to get cold soon, those pretty trees are going to be naked." The early September evening was still a comfortable enough temperature to venture outside without a jacket, but that would soon change in the coming days. "I wish I could see their blooms in the spring."
"You're welcome to come and see them anytime," San Lang said, and Xie Lian was happy. He was humoring him, surely, but the thought was nice.
They chose a direction at random and moved along the path at Xie Lian's pace, San Lang's steps following the speed of his meandering study of the greenery all around them. Xie Lian's left hand lifted to caress a hydrangea blossom that was admirably hanging on past its peak. Its soft, purple petals were cool beneath his fingertips. It contrasted the warmth surrounding his right hand, which was still in San Lang's grasp. Neither of them mentioned it, and Xie Lian couldn't help but feel that saying anything would create something awkward. He didn't want the comfortable atmosphere between them to disappear. No one else was around, either, which made the situation feel more delicate, somehow.
"Hey, San Lang…" he murmured thoughtfully after a while. "Is it true that the employees here don't know what Hua Cheng looks like?"
Did San Lang know? Xie Lian thought back to all the strange rumors he'd heard about the owner of the establishment from Shi Qingxuan. He wasn't particularly interested in gossip, but he was curious. He wanted to know more about San Lang to be sure, but he also wished to learn about the man who employed him, who seemed to hold a fondness for delicate flora and fauna.
"Most of them don't," San Lang answered. "Why do you ask?"
"I just heard some things about him, is all. It's no big deal."
"Hm? What kinds of things?"
"That he likes to offer unbelievable things in side bets with the casino's patrons. That he has never lost in those wagers, but still…that's worrisome."
"Oh?" They had stopped walking. San Lang's keen interest was evident as he leaned closer. "Why is that?"
"Don't you think so? If he ever lost, he would be in trouble."
San Lang chuckled.
"He's probably just confident that he'll win," he said playfully, leaning in before he conspiratorially continued, "Maybe he's cheating."
"Mm, probably not," Xie Lian mused, causing San Lang to arch a questioning brow. "I mean—if that were true, or even if people just thought it, it would be just as prevalent a rumor as the gambling itself, I would think."
His explanation might have been founded on logic that was too simplistic, but it was reasonable enough. San Lang appeared mildly surprised by his conclusion, but stood up straight and slowly nodded in deference.
"You're probably right, of course."
"You shouldn't think things like that about your employer, either," Xie Lian lightly chastised, pouting a bit when San Lang cracked up at his words. "Hey, I'm serious. Thinking ill of others doesn't bring anything good."
"I'm sorry, gege," San Lang said, trying to subdue his laughter and seeming completely unrepentant in the process. Taking a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and lightly coughed before doing his best to seem more serious. "You're right. It's just been a long time since I've been scolded. It was refreshing."
Refreshing? Xie Lian was skeptical. It was all too easy to imagine San Lang's pretty face having a multitude of sins being forgiven with virtually no effort on his part.
"As long as you understand," he mumbled. He wasn't irritated with San Lang. Not really. Not when he lightly squeezed San Lang's hand in signal before they resumed their stroll. He couldn't help smiling, either, when those strong fingers curled just a bit more around his in return. "So why don't people seem to know what Hua Cheng looks like?"
San Lang gave that same, secretive smile that told Xie Lian before he spoke that he wasn't going to get a direct answer.
"What do you think?"
"Well, in the case of the employees it makes sense. A place this big probably has many levels of management that handle hiring and such. A man all the way at the top probably hasn't met many of the people at the bottom. They wouldn't know what he looked like."
"That's fair."
"But what of others? If he's so rich, it would be assumed that Hua Cheng would've been interviewed, or photographed for financial publications."
"An excellent question," San Lang said amicably. "I'm curious to hear another one of gege's intriguing hypotheses."
It was yet another turn of the conversation that walked the line between patronizing and flirtatious teasing. They had spent enough time together that evening that Xie Lian didn't believe San Lang was truly being disrespectful.
But if that's the case, then…
Xie Lian nibbled on his lower lip. It was almost equally as unthinkable that San Lang's interest went beyond killing time, but the fact remained that he was still holding Xie Lian's hand.
"I think," Xie Lian said hesitantly, trying to keep his mind on the topic at hand, "being known by the public would destroy any privacy he has. Having a lot of money would invite people to attempt to take advantage. Since I've heard both that he's handsome and that he's disfigured, I think those rumors may have been intentionally spread to divert people from the truth."
Xie Lian might have imagined it, but he thought he felt a small tremor in San Lang's grip. Instinctively, he held on a bit more tightly. He saw an expression on San Lang's face that he hadn't expected. Uncertainty.
"So?" San Lang's voice was slightly raspy with some unknown feeling beneath. "Do you think he'd be handsome, or disfigured?"
"It doesn't matter." The tiniest seed of an idea had begun to take root in his mind. Perhaps it had been planted a while ago. Xie Lian's attention flitted to the patch hiding San Lang's right eye before looking into his left. "The two aren't mutually exclusive."
"Gege…" There was an audible exhalation from San Lang, as though he'd been holding his breath. His shoulders visibly relaxed like he'd been relieved of a heavy burden.
"San Lang," Xie Lian gently pressed. "What is it that you do here?"
Xie Lian patiently waited for San Lang to speak. There was a long silence between them as they walked, and only their unhurried footsteps and the distant sounds of the city could be heard in the moonlit garden. Like they were removed from the rest of the world.
"I'm sorry, gege." San Lang seemed sincerely apologetic. "I'll tell you later."
San Lang—no, Hua Cheng—was not ready to go back to the real world yet. He would not give words to what they both knew was the truth. Xie Lian didn't mind. It was enough to be next to him, walking hand-in-hand. After the truth had become apparent to him about the identity of his escort, Xie Lian's suppositions about privacy seemed especially important.
This was a man whose status surely kept him at a distance from others. Probably for all the reasons he'd guessed, and more. Xie Lian couldn't imagine what that must be like, but he did know a little something about being alone. Perhaps that was why, despite knowing how drastically different their stations in life were, Xie Lian still felt comfortable standing next to him. Hua Cheng had never made him feel like he was a lesser person when he had made it clear that he was broke. Nor did he seem arrogant. If anything, Xie Lian thought he seemed lonely, and sought some sort of validation. Why he wanted it from him, however, was a complete mystery.
They didn't speak for the rest of their walk, but that wasn't a problem. It was just them, putting one foot in front of the other, with no expectations or standards to uphold. It was a cozy quiet that surrounded them, warmed by their joined hands. Once they had traversed the entire path and circled around to their starting point, however, it was time to let go. Back through the trellis tunnel, they stood before the double doors that would take them back into the hotel. They turned as one to face each other.
"This was lovely." Xie Lian was beaming with genuine happiness. "I had fun. Thank you."
"It was my pleasure, gege." Hua Cheng returned his smile, giving his hand one last squeeze before releasing it. "I'm glad you liked it."
"I did. The plants are beautiful," he enthused as he was ushered back into the building.
"I meant what I said, by the way," Hua Cheng said quietly. "You can come back to see them when they bloom. Even if they aren't blooming. Anytime."
"I'd like that." Xie Lian knew that he would surely come back, if Hua Cheng's company was part of the deal. Something told Xie Lian that it was.
"Come, I'll take you back to the bar. Your friend might be waiting for you."
Giving mention to the inevitability that he'd have to drive Shi Qingxuan home made Xie Lian feel as reluctant as Hua Cheng sounded.
❀ ❀ ❀
The quietude of their stroll was far away once they returned to the bright and bustling gambling floor. Hua Cheng had not touched him since they had come back inside, most likely to afford them both some composure in the time before their parting for the night. Long farewells were messy, and it would be unprofessional for Hua Cheng to be seen by anyone—who actually knew who he was, anyway—getting cozy with a patron. Though he was largely grateful for that, Xie Lian couldn't silence the small part of him that cried out in rejection.
Don't be absurd, he immediately rebuked himself. This is his place of work.
Hua Cheng led the way through the room this time, parting the crowd with his body to make way for Xie Lian to follow. The people around them had become noticeably noiser than before they left. They had been playing longer, drinking more, and gaining and losing money more rapidly as the night had gone on. Emotions were running high, for good or ill.
It was perhaps for that reason the next events unfolded like they did.
One particular man they came across was bellowing more loudly than most. He had just suffered a major loss, and was dramatically bemoaning his luck while waving around his wine glass in exaggerated gestures. It was clearly not his first drink of the evening.
Hua Cheng had already passed the man by and was too late to prevent him from suddenly whirling around and stumbling directly into Xie Lian. He had been trying to stay close behind Hua Cheng, and wasn't really focused on his peripheral vision and the flailing hand that lost its hold on the wine glass. It spilled—right on the front of Xie Lian's white shirt. He froze in place, mortified, as the maroon liquid saturated the fabric and made it quite see-through.
It had been the nicest piece of clothing he owned, and now it was probably ruined. Not that it had seemed like much, especially now, with all the finely-dressed men and women gossiping around him. Xie Lian crossed his arms in front of his chest to hide his nipples, which were protruding beneath his sopping wet shirt. He'd also gotten discombobulated just preventing himself from going down after the impact, and had lost sight of his companion. Where was Hua Cheng?
"Get him out of here, he's fucking drunk," he heard a clearly angered voice behind him mutter quietly to someone.
Xie Lian was suddenly pulled backwards, against a solid chest. A black sleeve circled around the front of his crossed arms as though to shield him from the crowd.
"Gege." That voice had had a sharp edge to it when it had spoken to whoever that other person was, but now it was gentle against his ear in concern. "Are you hurt?"
Xie Lian shook his head, not trusting his words for the moment while he attempted to process what was going on. A sigh of relief whispered over the nape of his neck. He shivered, and Hua Cheng turned him around to face him.
"You must be cold," Hua Cheng said, so apologetic that one might think it was him who had spilled the wine.
Xie Lian felt pathetic. So much, that he couldn't even enjoy being so close to Hua Cheng again. Still, whether he was actually cold or experiencing another, baser feeling wasn't even certain.
He didn't argue when Hua Cheng once again steered him out of the room. Being away from everyone once they were in the hall outside made Xie Lian feel like he could breathe again. Hua Cheng stood close to his side, seeming as though he was deliberating something important. He glanced from the hallway, to Xie Lian, to the floor, then back at Xie Lian. Whatever it was he had been considering, he seemed to arrive at a conclusion. He wrapped an arm around Xie Lian and began to walk.
"Where are we going?" Xie Lian asked.
"Somewhere you can get cleaned up," Hua Cheng soothed him, pausing for a moment before adding, "I hope gege will trust me to take care of him."
"Okay." He'd been immensely kind to him so far. There was no reason to doubt him.
Though their route was the same, the pace was more hurried as Hua Cheng brought him back to the hotel lobby, blocking the stares of those they passed with his body. Xie Lian was grateful. They turned down a short hall off the main lobby where rows of elevators waited to carry guests to their rooms on the upper floors. Hua Cheng passed most of these, only stopping at the very last one. Where the elevators for the hotel's guests had decorative panels in black and white on their doors, this one was very plain and nondescript. It had no buttons like the others, only a flat black panel. Hua Cheng quickly produced a plastic card and held it up to the panel, causing the elevator doors to open.
"This way," he said, slipping the card back into his inner jacket pocket. They boarded the elevator and Xie Lian noticed that there wasn't a column of numbered floors on the panel inside and only one was listed: 'PH.'
"Penthouse?" Xie Lian guessed.
Hua Cheng coughed lightly and awkwardly averted his gaze.
"I'm sorry, gege. Please don't get the wrong idea. I truly just want to help."
Xie Lian stared dumbly up at Hua Cheng's face and felt something inside him break. The entire evening he'd been pushing away ideas that ventured out of the realm of propriety, even though there were moments he'd entertained the thought that Hua Cheng was seriously flirting with him. It was entirely possible that what they had shared was simply Hua Cheng's kindness, and Xie Lian was being stupid and seeing it as something more.
He works in the hospitality industry, you fool.
Xie Lian had spent most of their time together trying to convince himself he only thought Hua Cheng to be objectively appealing. It wasn't as if he himself found him attractive—anyone would notice his fit body, luscious lips, and devastatingly beautiful face—
—but that was a lie. He was attracted to Hua Cheng. It was a fact his mind had only caught up with now that he'd been placed firmly in the friendzone. Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. There had been no point in him struggling to maintain decorum when that was all they ever had. To try to deny what was never there in the first place.
He didn't have any experiences to draw from, and had gone with Hua Cheng initially harboring no hopes or expectations. It would be silly to hang onto any now. But he didn't know what to do with these feelings, now that he saw them for what they were. Hua Cheng had been a perfect gentleman, which had been wonderful, but Xie Lian realized he wouldn't have minded if he was being taken upstairs to have unspeakable things done to him behind closed doors.
The thought startled him. It aroused him—but it also shamed him.
What was wrong with him? He had never been like this, had thoughts like this. He didn't even know what kinds of 'unspeakable things' he wanted Hua Cheng to do to him, he only knew that he wanted.
Xie Lian knew that Hua Cheng didn't deserve to bear the burden of his raging hormones. He'd offered him companionship, and now he was offering him a solution to his current issue. That was all. Xie Lian knew he needed to respect that.
"Thank you," Xie Lian said, staring at the floor and blinking rapidly to ward off tears of frustration he absolutely refused to shed. "Thank you, Hua Cheng."
Xie Lian barely registered Hua Cheng turning towards him when he addressed him by his real name for the first time. He hadn't thought much of it, as it only seemed natural. 'San Lang' had been a pseudonym for their pretend garden date, or whatever Xie Lian had deluded himself into thinking it was.
He hadn't expected the hand that rested warmly on his shoulder, nor did he expect the response that followed as he looked up at him.
"I still prefer the name 'San Lang.'"
Before he could formulate any sort of response, the elevator came smoothly to a stop and the doors opened. Outside it was a hallway; low pile carpeting whispered beneath their feet as they walked past familiar butterfly sconces. Its layout was typical for a hotel hallway, except there were only two doors on this floor: one led to the emergency stairwell, and the other was where Hua Cheng led him. There was another card reader here, and Hua Cheng wasted no time opening the door.
Hua Cheng hastened inside and Xie Lian could hear the sound of a nearby door opening. Xie Lian slowly stepped into the room, awestruck as he took it in. The place was big. It likely took up the rest of the top floor. It had an open design, with only two doors that he could see—most likely the bedroom and bathroom. Its adjacent wall, as well as the one adjacent to that, were nothing more than floor-to-ceiling windows, through which the clear, moonlit night illuminated a living area where he could make out a large sofa and some plush armchairs. There was a kitchen visible past what seemed to be a breakfast bar. He could see surprisingly well, considering Hua Cheng had neglected to turn on a light. Curiously, he approached one of the large windows and took in the view. This was the tallest building in the area, and all the lights below were small and far away.
"San Lang, is that the garden down there?"
"Hm?" Hua Cheng reappeared, holding a towel. Only then did he seem to realize he had literally left his guest in the dark. "Sorry, gege. Take this, I'll turn a lamp on."
Xie Lian murmured his thanks as he accepted the towel but gave pause, paling when the room became illuminated and he saw that the towel was white.
"San Lang, I can't use this," he said haltingly. "I'll ruin it."
"Gege, that isn't important," Hua Cheng insisted emphatically. "You've been in air conditioning with a wet shirt for far too long already."
"But—" He broke off, brows raising as he noticed details in the room he hadn't seen when the light was off. The wall between the bedroom and bathroom doors was lined with bookshelves, and the kitchen was fully stocked with pots, pans, and cooking utensils displayed on hooks. A spice rack sat at one end of the breakfast bar next to a small, half-empty bottle of soy sauce. Beside them was what appeared to be a used tea cup and a small pile of mail. "Wait. San Lang, do you live here?"
"Is it that surprising?"
"Well, not exactly, but—" They stood at the top of a posh hotel and casino, yet it seemed like an ordinary apartment. An ordinary, ridiculously expensive apartment. The lived-in feel handily offset the perfunctory sort of welcome a mere hotel suite might give. It was cozy, he thought.
"Gege." Hua Cheng's voice was gentle but still commanded his attention back to the topic at hand. "You're stalling."
Xie Lian made a small, distressed sound at the back of his throat. Hua Cheng huffed in mild exasperation, but his expression was soft.
"Look…why don't you just take a shower, then? The bathroom is over there." Xie Lian's eyes followed Hua Cheng's pointed finger. "You won't get anything on the towel if you get cleaned up first. Please. I don't want you to get sick."
Xie Lian wanted to protest. He'd just met Hua Cheng a few hours ago and was having licentious thoughts about him. Using his shower was probably a terrible idea, from a moral standpoint. Still, Xie Lian had to grudgingly agree that he needed to get out of the soiled shirt. His chest was cold, and if he didn't do anything about it he really might become ill.
It was with this in mind that he bowed his head in acquiesence, shuffling in the direction of the bathroom. He glanced back at Hua Cheng, unsure. The taller man was watching him, his face drawn with concern, and something else Xie Lian couldn't identify.
"I'll be right here waiting for you," he said. "Go on. Shout if you need help with anything."
Nodding mutely, Xie Lian headed inside and closed the door behind him with a soft click. Casting around the bathroom, he admittedly was a little intimidated. It was almost as big as his entire apartment. With a nervous laugh of disbelief, he gaped at the enormous tub and the entirely separate shower in the opposite corner. He didn't even know that was a thing people did when designing bathrooms. In his experience, baths and showers occupied the same space. Space, however, was something this room had in abundance.
Spying an empty rack on the wall, Xie Lian hung his towel for the time being so he could undress. He slipped out of his loafers, setting them out of the way next to the wall before removing and tucking his socks inside them. He fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, wincing as the damp fabric clung unpleasantly to his chest as it was peeled back. Once it was off, he held it up and surveyed the damage. It was almost certainly a lost cause, but his thrifty side hated to simply throw something away without attempting to salvage it. He had never had red wine before—let alone worn it—so the steps to remove a stain like this eluded him. Still, he figured he couldn't go wrong with rinsing out the worst of it.
Xie Lian approached the sink, which was set into a sizeable vanity with a large mirror behind it. He turned on the cold water and vigorously began to rub at the fabric beneath it. The stain lightened somewhat, but was still very obviously there. Perhaps it had been too long since it happened. With a whimper of dismay, he renewed his efforts, scrubbing until his fingers became numb from the chill of the water. After a point, he knew it was fruitless to keep trying. He unhappily held it up and stared judgementally at the pink splotch staring back at him.
"What a waste." Dejected, he wrung out the ruined garment and hung it on a nearby hook. It felt wrong to simply pitch it in the trash.
Only then did Xie Lian happen to catch his reflection in the mirror. He grimaced at what he saw. His face had taken on a certain blotchiness, no doubt from being humiliated in front of a bunch of people a short time ago. It almost paired well with the wine that had been staining his front, he thought humorlessly. His dark brown hair that normally reached his shoulderblades had been pulled up into a loose bun for the evening, but it was starting to come apart. Stray pieces were falling out of it, and with resignation he reached up and let the whole thing down. Raking his fingers through it, he clicked his tongue at himself. He looked like hell. He had been naive to think that Hua Cheng might have been interested for even a second.
Turning from the mirror in disgust, he took off the rest of his clothes in a detached manner. He quickly folded them and set them aside. There was no point wasting time feeling sorry for himself. He would shower, and then get dressed, and then he would drive Shi Qingxuan home. The thing he had actually come there for.
He stepped over to the shower, idly flexing his toes into the fluffy mat in front despite himself, and studied the knobs before him. Even a shower as luxurious as this one had the same basic functions as any other, and it didn't take Xie Lian long to turn it on and find a comfortable temperature. The showerhead was three, maybe even four times as wide as any he'd ever used. The spray fell in a larger area that way, yet the water pressure wasn't sacrificed. When he ducked under it, his first impression was one of relief. The water felt nice, and there was nothing quite like a hot shower to soothe one's nerves.
Xie Lian enjoyed a couple of minutes simply existing under the cascading water, but he knew he would feel guilty if he lingered too long in Hua Cheng's shower. Investigating around him, he located some labeled pump bottles for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
That works.
He took a little of the shampoo into his hand, bringing it up to his nose and sniffing curiously. The scent of sandalwood tickled his nostrils. It was warm and inviting, not unlike Hua Cheng himself.
Does San Lang's hair smell like this, too?
It was a dangerous train of thought, one that Xie Lian immediately tore himself from by focusing on working the shampoo through his hair. Even with that bewitching smell surrounding him, he managed to wash and condition his hair without incident. It wasn't until he turned to the body wash that he ran into a snag. It was liquid soap, so applying it with his bare hands wasn't viable. He would waste too much. Further investigation of the shower stall revealed a meshed bath pouf hanging from a small hook.
He reached for it, but stopped short—this was Hua Cheng's. One he had surely used before. On his own body. His own naked, dripping wet body. Xie Lian made a strangled sound of vexation before calling out.
"San Lang? Do you have—" His mouth snapped shut as he realized he had neglected to lock the bathroom door behind him. Hua Cheng might come into the room now that he'd called, and nothing would be stopping him.
You'd like it if he came in here, wouldn't you? Joined you in this shower and—
No, no, he wasn't going there. If Hua Cheng actually came in, he would die of embarrassment. Horny embarrassment. Perhaps he might be lucky enough that he hadn't been heard.
"Gege?" Hua Cheng's muffled call came from the other side of the door. "Are you all right? Should I come in there?"
Who was he kidding? He wasn't that lucky.
"No!" Xie Lian's panicked voice had risen to an undignified squeak. "Don't come in! I'm fine!"
There was a pause.
"All right. I'm here if you need me."
Hua Cheng didn't say more, and he didn't come in. Crisis averted, Xie Lian sagged in relief. The only choice now was to resign himself to using the only available sponge. It wasn't certain if Hua Cheng even had another one, and Xie Lian didn't want to slop water all over his bathroom floor to search. He resolutely put its origin and ownership out of his mind as he lathered up the pouf with the soap—eucalyptus, he thought, along with something sweet he couldn't identify.
This scent was relaxing, and once he wasn't thinking about his hang-ups and frustrations anymore, the rest of his shower was quite pleasant. Though he'd gone through a broad range of emotions since entering this bathroom, Xie Lian still admittedly felt much better for it when he stepped out onto the bath mat and toweled off. At least he knew the towel had been unused. He supposed he should pay Hua Cheng for a new sponge for his shower. It was only fair, and he still had the money Shi Qingxuan gave him.
He folded the towel and neatly hung it back on the rack, turning back to his folded clothes. Now Xie Lian faced a dilemma. He hadn't thought to procure something else to wear now that he was clean. Glancing at the closed door, he knew he couldn't call for Hua Cheng. Scanning the room, he spied a robe innocuously hanging on the wall. Worrying his lower lip between his teeth, he deliberated. Would Hua Cheng be mad if he put it on?
Xie Lian didn't want to make assumptions but he certainly hoped he wouldn't, as he reached for the garment. It was red, which made him smile, and made of silk, which felt positively decadent against his skin as he pulled it on. Standing in front of the mirror again, he ran his fingers through his damp hair to make it more presentable. Then, making sure the sash was tied snugly, he (environmentally responsibly) switched off the light and reached for the doorknob.
The room outside was dark again, too, which Xie Lian hadn't expected. He stood hesitantly in the doorway. Hua Cheng sat across the room in one of the overstuffed armchairs, which was turned in the direction of the bathroom door. The lit screen of the phone in his hand threw his elegant features into sharp relief. Brow slightly furrowed in concentration, his finger was moving across the screen swiftly and with intent. Texting someone, perhaps.
He was exquisite. With his suit jacket and waistcoat gone, he sat there in just his black slacks and dress shirt. His sleeves were partially rolled up, revealing lean cords of muscle on his forearms. The alabaster skin contrasted starkly with the fabric, making it all the more stunning. His lips were mumbling silently as he typed, mesmerizing in their unconscious movement. Xie Lian was reluctant to interrupt this vision, but it had to be done.
"San Lang?"
"Oh, gege. I didn't know how long you would be, so I got someone to arrange a complimentary room for your friend. It's gotten pretty late. I hope that's all right."
"Thank you, San Lang," Xie Lian said quietly. "That's very kind of you."
Hua Cheng glanced up from his phone, and promptly froze in place. Eye wide as he met Xie Lian's gaze, he slowly moved the phone over to the table beside him, screen side down. There was a pregnant pause.
"Gege," Hua Cheng rasped. He seemed as though he wanted to say more, but added nothing else.
Xie Lian felt the urge to squirm under the intensity of his stare. Was he angry with him for using his robe?
"I-I'm sorry, San Lang. I didn't have anything else to change into." Xie Lian looked down at himself. The red silk came nearly down to his knees, but below that his legs and feet were still bare. Clearly, this wasn't appropriate. Definitely not to parade around in front of someone he barely knew.
"No," Hua Cheng said quickly, making Xie Lian's head snap back up at the edge suddenly present in his tone. He cleared his throat, his next words much gentler, "No, gege. It's perfectly fine. You aren't cold anymore, I hope?"
Xie Lian shook his head. It was quite the opposite, really. Being in a private setting with Hua Cheng sitting there looking so good seemed to have that effect. He shifted nervously from one foot to the other. Hua Cheng made him want, and he didn't know what to do about it.
"I'm glad." Hua Cheng continued to watch him with an unreadable expression. His line of sight slowly wandered down Xie Lian's person, and his fingers slightly twitched, restless, on the arm of the chair.
A trick of the light? It was so subtle that Xie Lian might have imagined it. A tension just beneath the surface of a calm lake. It felt familiar. He pursed his lips, tilting his head curiously while he observed Hua Cheng. The movement brought the other's eye back to his face, and in it Xie Lian saw himself. He saw craving.
Oh.
The teasing gestures, the lingering looks, and the effortless flirting had not been imagined, had they? He had been so thoroughly convinced that he was the only one who had felt anything that he hadn't paid enough attention. While Xie Lian had been surreptitiously admiring Hua Cheng all night, Hua Cheng must have been doing the same to him.
It had been so easy, so natural, to be close and touch one another when they were walking together before. It was innocent and fun, with nothing important looming ahead. There was restraint in Hua Cheng's posture now that they were confronted with what it all might actually mean.
"San Lang," he began haltingly. "I—"
"Gege, are you hungry?"
The abrupt question caused Xie Lian to drop the rest of his sentence. That had most likely been Hua Cheng's goal, he realized. Xie Lian swallowed, taking a tentative step forward as if he was approaching a wild animal.
He was hungry, actually, but Xie Lian would much rather get a taste of the man sitting across the room. This much he knew solely on instinct, because he had never had feelings like these before. He was emboldened by the thought that he might not be alone in them.
"A little," he said quietly, playing along for the moment to placate him. One foot in front of the other, steadily closing the gap between them. The closer he got to Hua Cheng, the harder his heart pounded. Hua Cheng's chest was visibly rising and falling faster than before, and it gave Xie Lian confidence that the feeling was mutual.
Hua Cheng's tongue darted out to wet his lips. Xie Lian stopped in front of him.
"What about you, San Lang? Are you hungry?"
"Starving," was all he said before they moved as one; Hua Cheng opened his arms and Xie Lian fell into them.
They fit together perfectly. A large palm cradled the back of his head and Xie Lian followed its lead all the way to Hua Cheng's lips. They paused there, a breath apart. Their eyes locked. Hua Cheng's silent question and Xie Lian's answer. Apparently satisfied with what he saw, Hua Cheng captured his mouth.
Xie Lian had never kissed anyone before—never wanted to kiss anyone—but it was the only thing he could think about right now. It was hot, wet, and felt so very good. He didn't even know if he was doing it right, but it didn't matter because Hua Cheng's lips were very easy to follow. Xie Lian was willing to go wherever they led. Gently suckling his lower lip, scraping the soft skin with a dangerous edge of teeth that made him shiver. Whenever Xie Lian tried to replicate what Hua Cheng did, he was rewarded with a throaty groan that vibrated straight into Xie Lian's mouth. He could've sworn he felt it keep going all the way through him and directly to his groin.
He'd never felt anything like it before. As he settled in Hua Cheng's lap, he instinctively sought friction against the man below him. He experimentally rolled his hips, and he was met with a bulge between Hua Cheng's parted legs. The unexpected jolt of pleasure that arced through him was startling. He gasped against Hua Cheng's lips, the other swallowing it with zeal.
"Fuck, gege." His mouth trailed a heated path to Xie Lian's jaw, then to his ear. "You're so fucking sexy."
"San Lang," Xie moaned as those amorous lips bestowed open-mouthed kisses across his neck. His eyes fluttered closed as Hua Cheng's hands rested on his hips. "San Lang is the most handsome man I've ever seen."
Hua Cheng's thumbs traced tiny circles against the crease of his thighs, accompanied by a low, lustful hum against his throat. "You're not wearing anything under the robe?"
"No," Xie Lian panted lightly, indulgently running his fingers through Hua Cheng's short black hair. He liked his hair. It was thick, soft, and smelled as good as the shampoo he'd borrowed.
"Fuck," Hua Cheng said again, the monosyllabic expletive wrapped in awe like a prayer of praise. He nipped against the juncture of Xie Lian's neck and shoulder. "Gege is unfair. You were naked and dripping wet in my bathroom and I couldn't do anything."
Heat rushed through Xie Lian when Hua Cheng admitted he'd been thinking about the same things he had been tormenting himself over.
"San Lang could have," Xie Lian mumbled shyly. "I had forgotten to lock the door."
"I know," Hua Cheng moaned, lifting his head. "I didn't hear you press the lock when you went in there. It drove me crazy."
The desperation on Hua Cheng's face, along with the confession that he'd been holding himself back was simultaneously adorable and arousing. Xie Lian smiled even as he flushed.
"I'm here now, San Lang." Xie Lian was drawn to Hua Cheng's enticing lips and he leaned in to kiss them. Then he kissed his nose, and his brow. "I want to be here."
Hua Cheng's near-whine was felt as much as heard, followed by an impatient nibble on Xie Lian's conveniently placed neck. Xie Lian's fingers tightened in his hair in response.
"Gege, you'll be the death of me."
Xie Lian squirmed uncontrollably in Hua Cheng's lap. His thoughts were a mess. He'd never been this hard before. There was too much friction and also not enough—Hua Cheng's touch felt so good but he wanted so much more. He didn't know how to articulate any of these things. He was so nervous and overwhelmed he thought he might cry.
He abandoned trying to convey anything with words as Hua Cheng kissed him again and again. His devious tongue sensually traced his lower lip until Xie Lian gasped, then it took full advantage of his open mouth to lick inside. Xie Lian didn't know kisses could be so deep, so consuming. Like they were melting into each other, irrevocably becoming a part of one another.
Xie Lian couldn't help the needy sounds he made, just like he couldn't hold back the urge to grind down on Hua Cheng's lap. His knees spread, wedging between Hua Cheng's waist and the sides of the armchair in an unconscious effort to get closer. He was so hard it almost hurt, and he sought to relieve that ache against Hua Cheng's crotch with aimless, sporadic jerks of his hips. It wasn't enough, he quickly realized, and he huffed in frustration.
"Mm…Gege, let me help you." Hua Cheng's words caressed his lips, and his hands dragged softly down his back, taking time to feel every bump in his vertebrae through the robe on the way. At the bottom of his spine his fingers went lower, beneath the edge of the silk. He grasped Xie Lian's cheeks, using them as a handhold to begin guiding his movements in a slow, undulating rhythm.
Xie Lian's body obediently followed Hua Cheng's grip without conscious thought. Forward and back, they worked together to move Xie Lian's hips with intent. Those large hands squeezed encouragingly with each push, and while they were grounding, they were also making Xie Lian's arousal spike.
"Gege's ass is so soft and round," Hua Cheng marveled, digging his fingers into the flesh more firmly. "Like a juicy peach. I want to take a bite."
His mouth drifted across Xie Lian's neck and scraped his teeth against the sensitive skin, as though illustrating a promise in his words.
"San La-ah!" Xie Lian quivered, limbs scrabbling to hold Hua Cheng tighter, to hang onto something—anything. His thighs clamped around him, riding harder against Hua Cheng's clothed erection. They both hissed in pleasure.
"Do you like this?" It was a loaded question. Utterly shameless. "I'm not being too eager, am I?"
The playful tone of that velvety voice made Xie Lian whimper, and he instinctively pushed against him faster. Hua Cheng was not the only one who was eager. He could feel his dripping cock making the robe damp where their bodies met, but he didn't have any presence of mind to care. Having friction exactly where he needed it was everything.
"That's it, gege," Hua Cheng's voice was rough with lust. "Keep going."
Xie Lian felt Hua Cheng sucking hard against the side of his neck. The spot continued to sting from his attentions even after his lips released and he did the same to another place, and another. It felt like Hua Cheng was devouring him. It felt dangerous, exciting. He loved it.
"Just like that," Hua Cheng whispered hotly against the shell of his ear. His touch drifted towards the cleft of Xie Lian's ass, and two of his fingers began to stroke him just behind his balls.
Xie Lian buried his face against Hua Cheng's shoulder with a whine. He'd never had an orgasm before, but he knew instinctively that it was close. It had to be. He wanted it so, so badly.
Then those clever fingers pressed in on the strip of skin beneath his hole, massaging firmly, and that was all it took. Xie Lian's ass flexed as he surged forward, coming with a sob of relief.
"Yes, gege." Hua Cheng wrapped his arms around him, holding him through it. He kissed Xie Lian's hair. "You did so well."
Xie Lian felt like he was floating, as if Hua Cheng's embrace was the only thing keeping him tethered to the Earth. He weakly rutted himself against Hua Cheng's lap a few more times until the tremors subsided, then collapsed against his chest. Hua Cheng held him tightly, and they remained like that for a long time, even after their breathing had slowed.
He shifted with a soft grunt when the hot ejaculate eventually cooled, making the robe stick uncomfortably to his front. He lifted his head, mind clearing just enough to realize that he'd probably ruined the garment. Xie Lian blanched as he turned to the other man.
"San Lang, the robe! I—"
"It's fine," his reply cut cleanly through Xie Lian's distress, low and gravelly. Xie Lian's shoulders relaxed.
"Um," Xie Lian tried again, glancing down between them. It was embarrassing, but he wanted to know. "San Lang, did you also…um…?"
Xie Lian couldn't get the word out. Hua Cheng had said such dirty things to him earlier with a voice that dripped honey—just thinking about it made him thrill—but he was not so confident.
"Did I come?" Hua Cheng's chest vibrated with silent mirth. "Yes, gege. Before you, actually."
Xie Lian's face must have resembled a tomato, and Hua Cheng, with his piercing stare, still looked as if he wanted to eat him up.
"Then, I should get up," he said, slightly abashed.
Xie Lian didn't know what one was supposed to do in the aftermath of things like this. It only seemed logical that he should go and clean up.
Again, he thought, smiling ruefully.
Hua Cheng would surely want to do the same. He shifted in an attempt to get on his feet, drawing his knees back. The motion caused his cock, still sensitive from their activities, to drag against Hua Cheng's groin. Xie Lian resolutely ignored its tentatively renewing interest.
But Hua Cheng wasn't about to overlook it. His breath hitched, his arm swiftly wrapping around Xie Lian's waist, keeping him there.
"Please don't go."
Then Hua Cheng was kissing him again, and Xie Lian readily opened his mouth for his hot tongue. He was getting hard again—they both were—and Xie Lian wondered if it was unusual to be excited again so quickly, or if Hua Cheng just turned him on that much.
"Gege." Hua Cheng cupped his cheek as he looked at him with heated intent. "Let me take you to bed."
"To sleep?" he asked glibly.
Xie Lian was certain Hua Cheng did not mean to sleep. It was just the first thing he could think of to say while he tried to process what was going on. A short time ago, he had never even kissed anyone, and now things were progressing so rapidly he could barely keep up.
"Gege, don't tease me," Hua Cheng chastised, pressing a soft peck to his cheek. Xie Lian could feel his lips curving against his skin. "So?"
Hua Cheng's touch, his mouth, his words—everything about him made Xie Lian want to go along with whatever he had in mind. There was a nervous anticipation for what that might entail, and Xie Lian found he liked the idea. As they sat there, pressed together and wanting, there was only one answer he could give.
"Yes, San Lang," he said. "I want to get out of this dirty robe."
Blood rushed to his face at how simple it was to agree to something so life-altering. Xie Lian had never considered the circumstances under which he might lose his virginity, or with whom. Yet this man was the only one he could readily say he wanted to take it.
"I would be happy to help you take it off, gege," Hua Cheng said, the Cheshire grin clear in his words. "Hold on tight."
That was the only warning Xie Lian received before Hua Cheng began to scoot out of the chair with him still on his lap. He hefted him up, strong hands resting warmly beneath the backs of his thighs. With an undignified squeal of surprise, Xie Lian tightened his arms around him, wrapping his legs around him, too, for good measure.
"San Lang, I can walk. You don't have to," Xie Lian muttered against his neck as he clung to him.
"Perhaps, but you're already here and we're not going far. Might as well stay put," Hua Cheng said cheerfully, briefly letting go of him with one hand to give his ass a playful little smack.
"San Lang!"
Hua Cheng laughed at the scandalized noise he made, and it only became louder when Xie Lian thumped him soundly on the back in retaliation. He didn't want to give Hua Cheng the impression that he liked that sort of thing, even though he was smiling all the way into the bedroom.
Dammit.
"I'm going to set you down for a moment, gege. Here." Hua Cheng gingerly placed him on the edge of the bed, before smooching the tip of his nose. "Be right back."
Xie Lian watched Hua Cheng go, curious about what he was up to (and maybe admiring his backside a little), but he figured he'd find out soon enough. Left to his own devices, he examined the room around him. It was the only one he hadn't really gotten a look at in Hua Cheng's apartment.
It was large, as expected. Everything in here was, including the bed he was sitting on. The silk sheets felt even nicer than the robe he wore, as he traced idle patterns over them with his fingertip. The walls were unadorned, but there was a lovely potted plant with broad, oval leaves—a rubber tree, he thought—in the corner next to yet another floor-to-ceiling window.
Seeing the moonlight filtering into the room, Xie Lian realized then that Hua Cheng had once again neglected to turn on a lamp. He'd forgotten it when he was fetching a towel for him, too. The single-minded focus on whatever Hua Cheng was doing was kind of endearing, he had to admit.
Deciding to help him out, he located a lamp on a nearby table and switched it on. He could now clearly see things, including a chest of drawers with a mirror behind it tucked against the wall. There were a few objects of interest on it that he hastened to investigate.
The first thing he laid eyes on was a scribble on a pad of paper. Was it writing? It was hard to tell. He couldn't make heads or tails of it, so he moved on.
A clear plastic case contained what seemed to be Hua Cheng's prostheses. Two of them matched his good eye, a grey so dark it was almost black.
A beautiful color, Xie Lian thought.
Another one, curiously, had a scarlet iris. Xie Lian couldn't help but wonder what occasion would make Hua Cheng want to wear it. He tried to picture what he'd look like, but in the end, Xie Lian decided he'd be impossibly handsome whether he wore any of them or not, and left it at that.
A nearby pair of bottles turned out to be cologne and lotion. Xie Lian was unable to resist the temptation of opening each one and smelling them. Both of them had the same sensual aroma of sandalwood he'd experienced in the shower—and on Hua Cheng. Xie Lian didn't think he'd ever be able to experience it again in his lifetime without thinking of him.
The scent made him want to be close to Hua Cheng, and he began to feel restless. They were going to have sex, if things went as planned. He wanted Hua Cheng—as his half-hard state told him—and Hua Cheng wanted him. Was it really that simple, though?
His eyes wandered to his reflection in the mirror and he paused. On his neck were several reddened spots, stark against his pale skin. He touched one. It was slightly raised and sensitive, but he didn't dislike the sensation. Of course he knew how they got there. He just was unprepared to actually see the evidence of Hua Cheng's mouth all over him, tasting him. Like he had claimed him.
The thought of belonging to Hua Cheng was intoxicating. Xie Lian bit his lip, suppressing a shiver. He grabbed the edge of the dresser, trying to ground himself as he helplessly became harder.
"Gege."
The suddenly broken silence gave Xie Lian a start, but he still turned to greet Hua Cheng with a smile. He was standing in the doorway wearing nothing but a pair of pajama pants. Xie Lian gaped, all but salivating at the view. Hua Cheng's body was much better than his well-fitting suit had advertised. He swallowed thickly.
"Hi." Xie Lian couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Hi." Hua Cheng's lips curved as he approached.
His attention drifted to his neck, where Xie Lian was still touching the pink blooms there, and something predatory flitted over his expression. It had only been for a moment, but he'd seen it, and it made Xie Lian's heart race.
"I'm sorry I've marked gege without asking," Hua Cheng said guiltily, leaning down to bury his face in Xie Lian's hair. "I got carried away."
Xie Lian didn't know if he was apologizing for leaving marks at all, or for neglecting to ask first. He sincerely hoped it was just the latter.
"I didn't mind," Xie Lian said, finding it easier to be candid when he wasn't getting lost in Hua Cheng's gaze. "I…liked it."
"Yeah?" Hua Cheng's remorse seemed to be instantly forgotten. He set something down on the dresser behind Xie Lian before wrapping his arms around his waist. "I aim to please."
"Then please me more."
Xie Lian's face blazed at his own audacity, but Hua Cheng's laugh made the embarrassment worth it. He liked his laugh, and he found himself relaxing against him.
Hua Cheng leaned back, which prompted Xie Lian to look up at him. He was grinning.
"It would be my greatest honor."
Hua Cheng took a step back but didn't go far, taking his hand and leading him to the bed. Xie Lian's breath quickened. His movements were slow and deliberate as he leaned in to kiss Xie Lian. He toyed with the robe's sash experimentally, making sure his intentions were clear. Xie Lian did not stop him, and Hua Cheng smiled against his lips whilst tugging the loose knot free. The red silk sagged without its tie, and began to slip down Xie Lian's shoulders even before Hua Cheng assisted in its descent.
Hua Cheng's fingertips ghosted reverently over his skin, leaving tingles in their wake. Xie Lian had never known a lover's touch before, but feeling his caress now felt like finding a piece of himself that had been missing. Basic human contact was something he sorely lacked in much of his day-to-day life, but he was quickly learning what all the fuss was about.
The silk slipped down, followed by the prickle of gooseflesh. The robe was abandoned on the floor, and nervous anticipation charged the air around them. Xie Lian might have felt more self-conscious about being bared like this, but Hua Cheng appeared as overwhelmed as he felt—pupil wide and dark, throat bobbing as his eye swept over him. If anything, it made Xie Lian feel sexy, which was entirely foreign, but decidedly empowering.
Hua Cheng lowered him to the bed. The mattress and pillows were luxuriously soft beneath him, but the man above him was solid—tight abs and firm pectorals gift-wrapped in warm skin that Xie Lian delighted in running his palms over. His splayed fingers mapped the textured muscle, tweaking hardened nipples and reveling in the sounds that it brought out of Hua Cheng. Their mouths clashed hungrily. Hua Cheng's thin pants did little to hide his erection, eagerly straining against his.
They broke apart for air, and Hua Cheng's expression was awed as he stroked Xie Lian's cheek.
"I can't believe I'm lucky enough to have you here," he whispered adoringly. "Gege is amazing."
Xie Lian didn't know how Hua Cheng could shower him with compliments so easily, so earnestly, but he thought that maybe he was the lucky one. Hua Cheng seemed to think highly of him, and it felt good, but he didn't understand why.
"You know, I spent all evening trying to ignore how much I liked you. Because you're so…" Xie Lian gestured vaguely in Hua Cheng's direction—earning him a raised brow—as though that explained everything. "I thought…you were just being nice to me and didn't want me that way."
Said out loud when they were like this, it sounded pretty ridiculous.
"Gege…"
"I'm sorry, San Lang." Xie Lian closed his eyes with a sigh. "I'm ruining the mood, aren't I?"
"Are you kidding me, gege?" Hua Cheng's clothed erection pressed down firmly against him. "Do you really think that I don't want you?"
Xie Lian's eyes snapped open wide and he moaned.
"I didn't know," he whimpered, as strong fingers gripped his hip to keep their bodies tightly together. "I'm sorry, San Lang. I'm not great at reading the room."
"It's all right," Hua Cheng soothed in a sweet tone that didn't match the debauchery happening below. "I'll just have to make sure that you understand."
Hua Cheng gave him a little smirk that made Xie Lian want to kiss him breathless. He seemed to have other plans, though, and he pulled away.
"Where are you going?" Xie Lian asked, rising up onto his elbows.
"Nowhere. Just getting something I forgot on the dresser."
Xie Lian hadn't seen what Hua Cheng had brought with him when he had come back into the bedroom, but it turned out to be a plastic bottle. He brought it to the bed, setting it down near Xie Lian's feet. Curious, he opened his mouth to ask about it—
—but then Hua Cheng was taking off his pants and Xie Lian lost the ability to talk.
Seeing the entirety of Hua Cheng's body was like appreciating a work of art—he wanted to stare at it for a long time to study all the details. He had long, beautiful lines of muscle on his limbs, and broad shoulders. Xie Lian's eyes followed the length of his torso to a faint treasure trail—that he was absolutely not thinking about tracing with his tongue, that would be obscene—down to a well-proportioned cock framed by neatly groomed hair. It was bigger than his, he was certain. Hard, flushed, and glistening at the tip, it curved slightly upward. Xie Lian felt his own cock twitch.
He hadn't even noticed that he had spread his legs, but Hua Cheng did.
"Do you want something?" Hua Cheng sounded amused, but looked wolfish.
Xie Lian heard a strangled, needy sound that he barely recognized as his own voice.
"Touch me," was all Xie Lian could manage. "Please, San Lang."
"Nothing would give me greater pleasure." The words were filled with sinful promise. He placed a knee on the bed. "Gege, get on all fours and turn around."
Xie Lian's body was obeying before he even thought about what he was doing. Completely exposed, his skin became gooseflesh. He could nearly feel Hua Cheng's eye roaming over him as he moved closer.
"I always thought my place had a nice view," Hua Cheng murmured, running a hand appreciatively down Xie Lian's back, from nape to tailbone. He placed a kiss at the bottom.
Xie Lian shivered, clutching the sheets beneath him. It was both wonderful and maddening; even the lightest brush of Hua Cheng's fingers was making him into a complete mess. It was too much. It was not enough.
The tenderness of Hua Cheng's caresses was juxtaposed by the possessive way he suddenly gripped Xie Lian's ass, spreading him. Xie Lian's startled gasp was met with a throaty chuckle.
He could feel Hua Cheng's breath tickling him there, and Xie Lian's eyes bulged when a hot stripe was licked from his balls, all the way up his cleft.
"Relax, gege."
Xie Lian hadn't realized he'd tensed until Hua Cheng had pointed it out. His arms were shaking. He instinctively lowered his front down, leaving only his hips in the air. It was much easier to deal with the onslaught of new sensations when he felt more grounded.
"So sexy." Hua Cheng kneaded the pliant flesh. He placed a biting kiss on one cheek, then the other, his tongue soothing afterwards.
Something about receiving marks in places he couldn't even see was thrilling. Like Hua Cheng was laying claim to parts of him that no one else had ever set eyes on. Hua Cheng hadn't even touched his cock, but he could feel it hanging heavily between his thighs, needing attention.
"San Laaang…"
"Hm?" Hua Cheng casually dragged a fingertip along the underside of his engorged shaft.
"Ah!"
Hua Cheng seemed to take pity on him then, when that hand moved to wrap around him. Xie Lian inhaled sharply, his hips squirming. He tried to thrust into his hold, but the position didn't allow it. He was completely dependent on Hua Cheng for his pleasure. That wasn't a bad thing, he quickly learned, as Hua Cheng began dragging firm strokes down his cock, and leaning in to tongue his hole.
Xie Lian was babbling incoherently, burying his face in the pillow—not that he would have known how to articulate anything he was feeling at the moment. Even as his logical mind balked at the obscenity of what Hua Cheng was doing to him, white-hot arousal lanced through him and he couldn't deny how amazing it was.
Hua Cheng's mouth was good for a lot more than kissing, as it turned out. He tirelessly lapped at his rim, occasionally pressing ever-so-slightly inside, until Xie Lian could feel it fluttering. He flushed in shame at his own reaction, but Hua Cheng encouraged it, humming in approval with a soft vibration that carried over to the sensitive, puckered flesh. His hole twitched.
"That's it, gege. You taste so good." Hua Cheng's praise tingled down his spine. He gave Xie Lian's cock a little squeeze.
Then he pulled away, and Xie Lian's hazy mind tried to make sense of why he had stopped. There was rustling behind him as the mattress shifted beneath Hua Cheng's weight. He returned to his place behind him, and the next time he laid a hand on Xie Lian's ass, the fingers of the other were coated with something cool and slick. The wetness of Hua Cheng's mouth had been good, but it had evaporated quickly. This had more substance, slippery between his cheeks as Hua Cheng teased his rim. Then one of those long fingers began to sink inside him.
Xie Lian knew, fundamentally, how sex was supposed to work. He'd simply never considered the specifics, least of all between men. There was no reproductive purpose. It was meant solely for pleasure, wasn't it? Even when Hua Cheng added another finger, it just felt strange. Was he doing something wrong? How was it supposed to feel?
Then Hua Cheng's digits crooked inside him just so, and the exploring fingers began to feel very, very good the longer they were inside him.
Oh. That's how.
His thighs trembled.
"Gege likes this," he observed, and Xie Lian could practically hear his self-congratulatory grin.
He huffed at him—the closest thing to scolding Xie Lian had in him at the moment.
"I like it too," Hua Cheng continued. "Your body is opening up for me so well."
Xie Lian's muffled whine earned him a hearty bite on his asscheek, which drew out the sound and raised its volume.
"It's okay." Hua Cheng placed a kiss on the abused spot, working a third finger into him.
The stretch was oddly satisfying. Hua Cheng's hand slowly moved in and out of him, the pads of his fingers brushing against the spot that made his insides twist and curl in delight. He was almost painfully erect.
"San Lang," Xie Lian cried, turning his face so he could speak more clearly. "More."
Hua Cheng grunted in acknowledgement; a warm palm wrapped around him again, jerking him in time with the fingers inside him. Xie Lian groaned, not even caring anymore how his hole was lewdly gripping onto those long fingers, clenching desperately. He was going to come soon.
As though Hua Cheng seemed to sense it, he stopped. Xie Lian wailed shamelessly in his distress, but a calming hand rested on his hip.
"Gege." Hua Cheng's voice was rough. "How do you want me?"
Xie Lian's eyes widened. It was time. They were really going to do this. Hua Cheng was letting him choose, but he didn't even know what the options were. All he knew was—
"I want to see San Lang."
The hand on his hip tightened almost imperceptibly.
"Me too. I want to see gege's face when he comes this time."
Having reached an agreement, they worked together to situate Xie Lian comfortably on his back, with a pillow under him at Hua Cheng's request. Xie Lian looked up at him, feeling more connected to what they were doing now that he could visually attach it to the man in front of him.
Hua Cheng gazed at him with a mixture of warmth and yearning, and Xie Lian's heart soared. He looked exactly how he felt.
Hua Cheng's attention redirected between their bodies; he had the bottle in his hand again, liberally slicking his cock. It was rock-hard and glistened all over, and Xie Lian licked his lips in anticipation.
He was almost disappointed when he lost sight of it, but that was only because Hua Cheng moved closer, rubbing himself suggestively between Xie Lian's cheeks. Xie Lian bit his lip, spreading his thighs without prompting—a silent invitation.
"Gege," Hua Cheng breathed, his dark eye wide.
Then he was nudging into him, and Xie Lian's lips parted in a shuddering gasp. Their eyes locked, drinking in each other's expressions as Hua Cheng sank inside slowly—oh so slowly. Hua Cheng's cock was much bigger than his fingers, and and Xie Lian felt himself stretching wide—more than he thought he could. Whenever Xie Lian had any discomfort, Hua Cheng seemed to see it on his face, stopping his progression until he relaxed again.
Hua Cheng was being incredibly patient with him, even though Xie Lian could tell he was holding back. It made him happy. He would look back fondly on this, even if they never saw one another again after tonight.
The passing thought was startling.
"Gege?" Hua Cheng paused, having just pushed all the way inside. "Did I hurt you?"
Xie Lian shook his head, saying nothing, only reaching out for him. Hua Cheng's expression softened, going into his arms without hesitation. The weight on top of him was comforting. He was real; he wouldn't vanish in the morning light.
Embracing Hua Cheng tightly, he pressed his face into his neck, breathing him in to help stop the trembling—when had that started?
"Gege," Hua Cheng whispered against his hair. "I'm here, gege."
How had Hua Cheng known exactly what he needed to hear? His warmth was all around him—inside and outside—along with the reassuring scent of sandalwood. Hua Cheng's scent. Xie Lian's body relaxed. He felt so full.
"San Lang, you're big," he observed, and he felt Hua Cheng huff softly in amusement.
"Too big?"
Xie Lian raised his head and they regarded each other.
"What would you do if I said 'yes'?" He coyly bit his lip to hide the small, teasing smile that tried to emerge.
"Then…" Hua Cheng's eye drifted down to Xie Lian's neck. "I'd have to distract you from any pain."
Xie Lian instinctively tilted his head to give him access, stilling in anticipation. Hua Cheng leaned in, his lips pressed against the tender spot just below his ear and—
—blew an obnoxious, wet raspberry.
"San Lang!"
Xie Lian wheezed, his head tipping back against the pillows in helpless laughter.
"Is my distraction sufficient? Or do you need another one?"
"No!" Xie Lian squealed, pushing away Hua Cheng's stupidly grinning face.
"No? To which one?"
"San Laaaang…" Xie Lian facepalmed in exasperation.
"All right, all right," Hua Cheng laughed, maneuvering Xie Lian's hand out of the way to kiss him properly. "I just want to make gege feel good."
"I feel good being here with San Lang," Xie Lian answered earnestly. He brushed some hair back from Hua Cheng's brow.
"Is it okay if I move a little?"
"Yeah."
The minor diversion from their activities had given Xie Lian's body time to adjust somewhat to the intrusion. When Hua Cheng shifted his hips, pulling out slightly then pushing back in, Xie Lian's shaky exhalation was not one of pain.
With Hua Cheng in his arms like he was, his movement was limited; there was less thrusting and more rocking. Xie Lian didn't mind it. He wanted to keep Hua Cheng close. The angle had him nudging against whatever that spot was that Hua Cheng had found inside him before. It felt like gently lapping waves, rolling pleasure over him then receding, until the next. It felt wonderful.
"It feels so good inside you, gege." Hua Cheng's voice shook slightly. "It's hard to hold back."
It was true that Xie Lian could feel Hua Cheng's body brimming with something restrained and primal beneath the easy pace he moved with. What would it be like if he let all that energy out? The thought excited him.
"Then don't hold back, San Lang."
"Gege."
Hua Cheng's gaze turned sharp, and the next time he pushed into Xie Lian, it was harder, fiercer. Xie Lian arched up against him with wide eyes. The feeling was incredible—only the prelude for what was coming.
With Xie Lian's encouragement, Hua Cheng didn't hesitate to set a fast pace, hips pistoning against Xie Lian's ass roughly enough that the bed began creaking rhythmically beneath them. Xie Lian's legs wrapped around Hua Cheng's waist, nails clutching at his back—if only for a modicum of grounding sanity.
But it was impossible when a large hand slid down his quivering side, finding purchase on his hip, and strong fingers curled around and dug into his asscheek. It held Xie Lian so tightly to him, stimulating his cock between their sweaty bodies, and it felt like he went even deeper. Hua Cheng was reaching into him, forcibly evoking the pleasure from his body with every push. So, so deep.
"San Lang!" The name easily rolled off his tongue, over and over like he was chanting a mantra.
Hua Cheng rutted briskly against him, growling, almost feral at the sound of Xie Lian's cries. His hot mouth sucked and bit more marks into him wherever it could reach. Every part of Hua Cheng was claiming him. Xie Lian loved every second of it, and his hole greedily gripped Hua Cheng's cock to prove it. He wanted to belong to Hua Cheng.
A selfish wish visited Xie Lian, and he impulsively gripped onto Hua Cheng's dark locks. Sucking hard against Hua Cheng's throat, he desperately wanted to see the result—to feel as if the man above him belonged to him, too. He hoped the reddened traces would remain on him for days—on both of them. Hua Cheng did not complain, and as his groan of appreciation caressed Xie Lian's ear, he felt validated.
Panting and writhing together, Hua Cheng was sending him hurtling towards climax, ready or not. He wanted it so badly, for Hua Cheng to carry him over that edge. Hua Cheng seemed to know it, too, because the next thing he said was—
"Come for me, gege."
It was like he had finally been given permission to succumb to everything Hua Cheng was making him feel. Those waves had coalesced into a tsunami, and as it crashed into him, wrecking him, he was left only with a feeling of drifting. He cried out, and Hua Cheng's frenetic pace slowed, rocking him gently through it with his hips as he came inside of him. Hua Cheng kissed him, whispering sweet nothings until the world made sense again.
"You did so well," Hua Cheng murmured, stroking Xie Lian's cheek.
He was completely spent. Dazed, he looked into Hua Cheng's eye and weakly returned the smile that was shining down on him. His fingers slowly unwound from Hua Cheng's hair, that he'd probably pulled too much when he came.
Hua Cheng had still not pulled out, and Xie Lian felt warm, full. He knew that a part of Hua Cheng had been left inside of him, and he felt a strange sense of accomplishment. It had been him that had helped bring Hua Cheng so much pleasure. Xie Lian wondered if Hua Cheng had a similar thought. He had every right to, he thought, as he continued to drift, wrapped tightly in Hua Cheng's arms.
❀ ❀ ❀
After their sweat had dried and their breathing returned to normal, Hua Cheng carefully cleaned them up with a damp cloth. Xie Lian felt as though he should contribute to his efforts, but was silenced by a kiss. In the end, however, Hua Cheng conceded that two pairs of hands made changing the bedsheets far easier. Xie Lian was happy to help.
They lay together in the enormous bed. Xie Lian was sprawled across Hua Cheng's chest, feeling it rise and fall in a soothing rhythm as he drowsily watched the other reclining against the pillows, looking satisfied. The eyepatch on the right side of his face was askew, and a shadowed indentation was barely visible beneath. Xie Lian sheepishly realized he was the reason for it when he saw Hua Cheng's hair wildly sticking out in a chaotic black halo.
"San Lang?"
"Hm?"
"Can I see you without your eyepatch?"
Xie Lian's innocent question caused Hua Cheng to tense beneath him. He reached up, touching the elastic band, but not quite fixing its placement just yet. He looked confused, his brow furrowed.
"Gege shouldn't have to see this. I can get my prosthetic, if you like."
Xie Lian could have perceived it as a rejection, but he'd already made a mistake like that once that evening and he didn't want to assume anything. He shook his head.
"I don't care about that. I wanted to see you."
Uncertainty clouded Hua Cheng's features, but he didn't stop Xie Lian from reaching for him. He tenderly swept the inky hair back from Hua Cheng's forehead before gently grasping the edge of the patch and slipping it off. There was no doubt the eye was completely absent; darker skin surrounded sagging, closed lids. As Xie Lian studied his face, Hua Cheng stared at him searchingly, looking for—what? Horror? Disgust? Mockery?
Xie Lian didn't think any of those things. He leaned forward, placing the most delicate of butterfly kisses on the sunken eyelid.
"Thank you for showing me." Xie Lian smiled shyly. "San Lang really is the most handsome man I've ever seen."
"Gege," Hua Cheng uttered in awe, his voice thick with emotion. He brought Xie Lian's hand reverently to his lips. "You really will be the death of me."
❀ ❀ ❀
Morning light glowed red through the inside of Xie Lian's eyelids. He scrunched up his face and turned it into the pillow, flinging an arm out as if it would ward off the oncoming day. When that arm came to rest on a conspicuously empty place on the bed beside him, he gave pause.
His chest was seized by momentary panic and he shot upwards, looking wildly around the room. His mind raced, trying to piece together why he was alone. Then he noticed the door was open, and from somewhere beyond it, he heard sounds.
The relief was immediate. He let out a breath, unaware until that moment that he'd been holding it. He moved to get out of bed, but as he pulled the sheet back, he realized he was still naked.
Being caught in the heat of the moment was one thing, but strolling around Hua Cheng's apartment like this in broad daylight was just indecent.
He doesn't seem like the type to mind, though.
Ordering his brain to shut up, before he thought of any other pointless things, he remembered the red silk robe. It was gone from the floor, but that only made sense, he supposed. He'd gotten it dirty. That was a little embarrassing.
Should he rifle through Hua Cheng's dresser to find something to wear? Just as he considered it, his eyes settled on a small bundle placed on the corner of the bed. It turned out to be a simple black t-shirt and matching boxers, neatly folded. Clearly left there for him.
Xie Lian's heart warmed. Hua Cheng really was a kind man. Even if he was a little rough during certain activities—a reminder that was brought forth by a bit of tenderness as he scooted off the bed. It wasn't bad, though, and he had to admit the benefits had been more than worth a little discomfort. He kind of understood now why people made such a big deal about getting laid.
He pulled on the clothes, struck by how hilariously ill-fitting they were on him. The elastic on the shorts was barely enough to keep them up, and the shirt was at least one size too large. Xie Lian shuffled over to the dresser to examine himself.
Even though he'd put something on, his eyes widened at the scattered, rosy marks all over his neck. Each one had been a place where Hua Cheng's mouth had spent some time. He knew he had them in a lot of places he couldn't see right now, too. There were…a lot of them. Seeing them made him feel like he was taking a bit of Hua Cheng with him when he left this place. He liked that feeling. Even if he'd have to wear turtlenecks at work for a few days.
Xie Lian scrutinized his own reflection. Apart from Hua Cheng's ardently visible affections, he didn't really look any different after losing his virginity. He didn't really feel all that differently, either. Xie Lian didn't know what he expected. Would other people be able to tell just by looking at him? He didn't know.
There were more sounds from outside of the bedroom now. Plus…singing? Curiously, Xie Lian peered out the doorway, and spied Hua Cheng's tall figure standing in the kitchen area. Xie Lian found himself smiling just at the sight of him.
As Xie Lian closed the space between them, a delicious smell wafted his way and he could hear the distinct sounds of food cooking. His stomach rumbled. He hadn't eaten anything since lunchtime the day before.
Hua Cheng hadn't noticed him. He was singing in a language Xie Lian did not know, but his voice was undeniably lovely.
He stood in front of the stove, frying what appeared to be vegetables. There was a pot on another burner simmering what might have been congee. Hua Cheng's back was turned in his direction, and when Xie Lian got within a few feet of him, he stopped and stared.
Hua Cheng was dressed only in some scarlet boxer briefs that fit him quite well in the back. Xie Lian bit his lip, feeling self-conscious about ogling Hua Cheng's ass like a common pervert. He raised his gaze to a more respectable level…but that wasn't much better. He'd never seen Hua Cheng's back before, and the musculature was as stunning as the rest of his body. Xie Lian might've appreciated it more if he hadn't noticed the scratches striped along his shoulder blades.
He paled, letting out a small sound of embarrassment that snared Hua Cheng's attention. As he turned his head, it became apparent had forgone his eyepatch. His good eye met Xie Lian's for a moment, then lingered a bit lower. Hua Cheng seemed happy to see him, but there was awkwardness there as well.
"Good morning, gege," he said, focusing his attention back onto his task.
"Good morning, San Lang."
Xie Lian was uncertain if it would be appropriate for him to ask Hua Cheng what was on his mind. Wouldn't he simply tell him if he wanted to share?
"If you want to take a seat, I'll have something for you to eat soon."
Xie Lian slipped onto a stool situated at the breakfast bar and idly propped his chin in his hand, watching Hua Cheng cook. He wouldn't have thought a man as rich as Hua Cheng would do his own cooking. Xie Lian found it charming. Pretty much everything about Hua Cheng had been unexpected.
He straightened as Hua Cheng set a steaming bowl of congee and a spoon in front of him. Xie Lian's stomach rumbled in anticipation.
"I hope cabbage and mushrooms are all right."
"Yes, of course. Thank you, San Lang. It smells really good."
Xie Lian almost couldn't wait long enough to blow on the porridge before he hungrily shoved the first spoonful into his mouth. There was ginger and garlic in the broth, and the vegetables were cooked perfectly. Not too soft and not too firm. Xie Lian looked up at Hua Cheng in wonder, to find the other man already watching him.
"San Lang, this is delicious! You're a really good cook."
Hua Cheng exhaled slowly.
"I'm glad you like it."
A sigh of relief? As though he had been worried Xie Lian wouldn't like it. Not a chance of that happening. He was sure he could easily have eaten two bowls of it, but he didn't want to be greedy.
Only after making sure Xie Lian found the food satisfactory did Hua Cheng fetch some for himself, along with some tea for both of them. They ate in a silence that wasn't exactly comfortable, but there was something they needed to address, and neither one of them had made any effort to start the discussion.
Xie Lian didn't like the tension, but he didn't know what to say. He'd never spent the night with anyone before, let alone a stranger. Was there some sort of standard protocol for dealing with these types of situations?
His eyes sidled over to Hua Cheng as he licked the last of the congee off of his spoon. He was sitting to his right—on the side where he could also glance at Xie Lian, and their eyes hesitantly met. Hua Cheng had a spoonful of congee poised, but didn't make a move to eat it.
"Gege, I'm sorry."
The apology seemingly came out of nowhere. Xie Lian turned on the stool to face him fully, puzzled.
"San Lang…"
Hua Cheng sighed heavily, dropping the spoon into his bowl with an audible plop as its contents were disturbed. He raked a hand through his hair, looking pained as he, too, turned in his seat.
"I don't…really do this." Hua Cheng gestured between the two of them. "Bring strangers here to…"
Oh. Does he regret it?
"It's all right, San Lang," came the immediate response. "I don't do this either, since it was my first time."
Xie Lian had made peace with the fact that his virginity was gone. He didn't feel any different, and life would return to normal once he went home. Hua Cheng, on the other hand, was clearly unprepared for that information and made a wheezing sound like all the air had left his lungs in an instant.
"Gege, why didn't you tell me?" he rasped, after he recovered enough to speak.
Xie Lian shrugged placidly.
"Would you not have done it if I had?"
"Yes! I mean, no!" Hua Cheng shook his head, looking frustrated. "I don't know!"
"Is it really such a big deal?"
"Don't you think it is? You didn't even know me at this time yesterday."
Xie Lian could easily see Hua Cheng was deeply troubled by this, and some damage control was in order. He reached out and rested his hand on Hua Cheng's arm. The warm skin trembled a little under his fingers.
"I never really gave it much thought before last night. I didn't think I'd even care enough to do it with anyone."
I didn't think anyone would care enough to do it with me.
"It was you, San Lang, that made me want to try," he said earnestly, even as he felt his face heating from being so up front.
"Even so, knowing would have made me aware I needed to be gentle," Hua Cheng protested. "I mean—I made an absolute mess of you. Came in you, marked you all over. Seeing you like that right now, wearing my clothes…I think I'd do it all over again. Fuck, you must think I'm an animal."
The succinct description of the previous night's events was a lot to take. Xie Lian would have been a lot more discomposed if Hua Cheng didn't seem to have him beaten in that regard. Hua Cheng had raised a hand to cover his face, but Xie Lian could clearly see the blush that had turned the tips of his ears pink. It was…positively adorable.
"San Lang—"
"I didn't use protection, either," Hua Cheng groaned. "I didn't have any. I should have asked if it was okay. I swear I'm clean, gege."
"San Lang," he repeated quietly, emphasizing calmness. "Please look at me."
Hua Cheng flinched as if Xie Lian had raised his voice. He lowered his hand slowly, looking furtively at Xie Lian.
"I was a willing participant in everything that happened," Xie Lian said. He laughed nervously and scratched his cheek. "It was…good. Better than good."
Hua Cheng's expression seemed to go through a range of emotions. The one he settled on at the end was interest.
He got up from his seat and Xie Lian watched him move slowly and deliberately behind him, like he was stalking prey. Feeling compelled to keep eyes on him, Xie Lian turned on the stool to face him. Hua Cheng leaned in and grabbed the edge of the counter on either side of Xie Lian, effectively caging him. Their faces were very close like this, and Xie Lian swallowed. Hua Cheng's eye followed the movement of his throat.
"Gege approves of my methods?" Hua Cheng asked teasingly.
Xie Lian could tell by the glint of Hua Cheng's eye and toothy grin that he was either fishing for a reaction or a compliment.
"It's not like I have anything to compare them to, so I guess they'll do," Xie Lian said dryly.
Hua Cheng's expression faltered, but only for a second. His shoulders began to shake, and he erupted in unrestrained laughter. Seeing his words have the desired effect, Xie Lian cracked a smile, sharing in his mirth. He really loved Hua Cheng's laugh.
"Gege," he wheezed, backing off and holding his stomach, "you're too precious. I'm already falling for you."
It was as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped on the moment—instantly sobering. Xie Lian's shocked expression was what made Hua Cheng realize what he'd said. He looked just as startled. They stared at each other for a long time, silently feeling each other out.
Xie Lian tentatively reached up with his left hand and cupped Hua Cheng's cheek, his thumb delicately brushing near the corner of his sunken eyelid. He could've sworn Hua Cheng leaned ever so slightly into his touch.
"San Lang, are you being serious?"
"Do you think I'm serious?" Hua Cheng asked cautiously.
Xie Lian pursed his lips. He didn't think Hua Cheng was evading the question, exactly. This wasn't the first time Hua Cheng seemed to want to discern Xie Lian's stance before revealing anything. He could kind of understand it.
"I think," Xie Lian said at length, dropping his hands into his lap, "San Lang has been kind, thoughtful, and attentive. I don't think you were trying to lure me up here or anything. It was pretty spontaneous when we…when we—"
"Fucked?" Hua Cheng supplied helpfully.
"Yes." Xie Lian made a face at Hua Cheng's innocent smile, clearing his throat. "A-Anyway. It isn't that I don't believe you. I just don't know you that well yet."
The 'yet' part seemed to please Hua Cheng.
"That's fair. I want to get to know you better, too."
That was something Xie Lian could believe wholeheartedly, when Hua Cheng looked so fondly at him.
"Besides," Hua Cheng continued, taking Xie Lian's hand, "it's only right that gege claims my heart. He's already claimed my body."
Hua Cheng touched their joined hands to a single, prominent red mark on his throat, vaguely in the shape of Xie Lian's mouth. He even had the nerve to look proud!
Xie Lian sputtered. He was sure he must have been flushed as red as a tomato.
"San Laaaang," he moaned plaintively. "Now you just sound insincere."
Hua Cheng brought Xie Lian's hand to his lips. His eye was warm and bright, captivating him. Gently tucking some hair behind Xie Lian's ear, Hua Cheng leaned in close. He whispered against his lips.
"I promise, you won't find another person more sincere than me."
As they kissed, Xie Lian's heart felt full. Maybe he was already falling for Hua Cheng, too.
❀ ❀ ❀
BONUS: Text message logs from Hualian's phones!
Me [Friday 19:00]: I'm outside your place.
Shi Qingxuan [Friday 19:01]: okkkk coming!!!
Shi Qingxuan [Friday 22:15]: who is that guy ur talking with! hes hottttt
Shi Qingxuan [Friday 22:16]: kinda looks like a pirate tho
Shi Qingxuan [Friday 22:32]: xie lian where did u go??
Shi Qingxuan [Friday 22:38]: u alive? is ur phone off?
Shi Qingxuan [Friday 22:39]: helloooo???
Shi Qingxuan [Friday 23:10]: i saw u for a sec! but there was a big crowd around u and couldnt get thru. r u ok? u looked upset :( im glad pirate guy helped u
Shi Qingxuan [00:05]: i just want u to know i love and support u since ur prolly hooking up with the pirate rn
Shi Qingxuan [00:06]: but really tho r u hooking up??? GET IT
Shi Qingxuan [00:07]: man im drunk af
Shi Qingxuan [00:23]: so a staff guy told me they were giving us free rooms since u were too traumatized from being bothered by a drunk guy. service here is amazing wtf
Shi Qingxuan [00:25]: this guy is so serious it makes me wanna mess with him plus hes kinda cute
Shi Qingxuan [00:56]: he was so nice! such a good listener. i want him to be my new best friend since ur too busy plundering booty lol
Shi Qingxuan [00:57]: jk im sorry ilu im just gonna sleep now
❀ ❀ ❀
Me [00:02]: I need you to find the guest named Shi Qingxuan and offer him a room.
Peasant (HX) [00:03]: 1. My shift is over. 2. Why should I?
Me [00:04]: I'll double your debt if you don't.
Peasant (HX) [00:04]: You can't arbitrarily decide that.
Me [00:05]: Wanna bet? Try me.
Peasant (HX) [00:05]: Ugh. No. Betting against you got me into this mess.
Peasant (HX) [00:06]: Fine. Can I at least know why I'm offering this guy a room?
Me [00:07]: Tell him that his friend Xie Lian was accosted by a drunk guest and he's shaken up about it so we've already given him a room as a courtesy.
Peasant (HX) [00:07]: Great. I'll tell him that. So what's the real reason?
Me [00:08]: That's as real of a reason as you're going to get. Now get on it.
Peasant (HX) [00:08]: Yes SIR. /s
Peasant (HX) [00:24]: I'm escorting him to the room now. He's really drunk though, and I'm concerned for how he trusted what I said way too easily. Because that 'reason' clearly sounded like bullshit.
Peasant (HX) [00:58]: He dragged me into his room with him and basically told me his life story. I know more about his family than I ever wanted to know. The brother sounds like kind of a dick, actually. He also told me how his friend is 'hooking up with a pirate'. How can anyone talk that much? I just sat there, hoping he'd wear himself out.
Peasant (HX) [00:59]: He wouldn't let me leave until we exchanged contact info. Did I just get a stalker? I feel like this is how people get stalkers.
Peasant (HX) [01:00]: Anyway it's done. You're probably fucking the guy's friend right now. You're an ass. Good night.