Chapter Text
Xie Lian’s parents early marriage was approved due to the fact Xie Lian’s mother is pregnant. They had discussed throughout as to what will be the name of their baby will be once born. Throughout her pregnancy she mainly had cravings for meat buns. Throughout the entire labor she tightly held the hand of her husband.
Xie Lian’s mother was eighteen years when she gave birth to her son and it was during the year of the dragon.
Their son was born with hair and it was dark brown in color the same color as his father. His golden eyes the exact same color as his mother along with having her eye shape. He had cried a little after he was born, but not as loud and lively as most babies. He was born slightly earlier than what was estimated by the doctor.
“Come on and hold our little A-Lian.” Xie Lian’s mother said while holding him and looking at her husband.
“He looks so fragile.” Xie Lian’s father whispered and he has now fully realized that he is actually a father now.
“Darling hold him. I’m a bit tired after giving birth to our son.” Xie Lian’s mother stated to her husband and then he very carefully held their son.
-
It was on Xie Lian’s first birthday in which his parents placed various items on the floor. He crawled as fast as could to the object that seemed to be calling to him the most out of everything. It was a very pretty looking scimitar and Xie Lian hugged it along with petting it as if it was a cute little puppy.
Xie Lian mother assumed her husband had put the slightly odd looking toy sword on the floor while XIe Lian father assumed his wife had put that slightly odd looking toy sword on the floor. In reality the scimitar appeared out of thin air and to ordinary people it’s appearance looks like a slightly odd looking harmless toy sword.
Xie Lian was giggling while petting the scimitar, but then briefly stopped for his pure white silk bandages smacked the poor scimitar. He picked up a paint brush and held it up towards his parents while using his other arm to hold onto the scimitar. His parents smiled at him and then accepted the paint brush while leaving the toy sword their son was holding alone.
-
At the age of two years old Xie Lian was happily stirring the pancake batter for his mama and he was wearing a little black apron with a red fox holding a spatula.
“Honey are you sure you want to try cooking again?” Xie Lian’s father asked his wife and he received a nod from her.
“Look how happy our LianLian looks stirring.” Xie Lian’s mother commented while taking a photo with her cell phone. Xie Lian did a wonderful job stirring the pancake batter. In the end some of the pancakes were underdone while the rest were burnt to a crisp. Xie Lian’s mother had named the pancakes…The Pancakes Of Happiness.
Xie Lian’s mother enjoys dressing up Xie Lian in all kinds of outfits. Sometimes saying ‘Little Princess’ while other times saying ‘Little Prince’. Xie Lian's father was in charge of taking photos along with videos and from time to time he chuckled in amusement.
Xie Lian's parents notice how their son makes certain that some types of food do not touch or get mixed together. When certain kinds of food touch or get mixed together his lower lip trembles along with eyes getting watery, but he still eats the food although at a much slower pace.
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At the age of three years old Xie Lian was moved into his own bedroom. His mother feeling a bit worried for what if LianLian cries for he will be sleeping all alone while Xie Lian’s father reassures his wife that their son will be fine sleeping alone. Xie Lian’s parents turns on the star-shaped lamp on so the bedroom isn’t completely dark. They hugged their son along with giving him a kiss on the cheek, telling him ‘Love you, A-Lian’, and tucking him in before leaving.
Xie Lian felt like E-Ming is the correct name for the scimitar while feeling like Ruoye is the correct name for the pure white silk bandages. He moves the blanket away, sits up, and looks down at his ankles. A thin crimson red string wrapped around each of his ankles and he tries tugging at it for part of the strings goes out his bedroom window. What is at the end of the string?
After several minutes Xie Lian gives up and his cheeks slightly puffed up. Ruoye pats him gently on the top of his head while E-Ming’s crimson eye is opened along with rubbing against Xie Lian’s left cheek. His cheeks no longer puffy and lets out a little giggle. Soon he lays down, hugging E-Ming within his arms, and the blanket was pulled up to Xie Lian’s shoulders by Ruoye.
-
At the age of four years old Xie Lian still does not speak. He looks around, listens a lot, and his walking very stable along with being able to run without falling down. He loves painting well all of his paintings so far are butterflies. His parents are starting to get worried about their beloved son still not talking.
Xie Lian’s two year younger cousin Qi Rong had recently visited and they noticed their nephew is a chatterbox although nearly all of the words make no sense at all, but at least Qi Rong was talking.
Qi Rong kept clinging to his older cousin and calling out “Cousin” while Xie Lian was silent. After a while Qi Rong started crying loudly for wasn’t given any reply from his cousin. Xie Lian knows how to use the tablet and clicked on a video that teaches English. Right away Qi Rong stopped crying, he raced away, and nearly falling down.
Xie Lian’s parents called Jun Wu to ask him to baby sit their son. Jun Wu is fourteen years old and he has plenty of experience watching over his younger cousins along with being a part time babysitter. They have known Jun Wu for ten years and of course trust him.
Jun Wu was wearing a white no face mask when he walked in. A white mask having a half-laughing and half-crying face. Xie Lian’s parents never heard their son cry and scream with such a loud volume it was incredibly stunning that they were for a moment unable to react. Ruoye tried to comfort by rubbing on Xie Lian’s flushed and tear stained cheeks.
“Sorry all of the other kids I have babysat laughed and loved this mask.” Jun Wu said meekly while taking off the mask and putting it onto the table. Xie Lian slowly quietened down. Xie Lian’s parents apologized and Jun Wu shakes his head.
“It’s fine for not every child is the same. Some are more special than others.” Jun Wu said calmly while smiling and looking at Xie Lian. “He has such a strong set of lungs able to cry so loudly.”
Xie Lian’s parents hugged and gave their son a kiss on the cheek before leaving. Xie Lian waved good-bye and then Jun Wu closed the door along with making sure to lock it.
“Your parents are worried about you not talking, little Xianle. I wonder what will be your first word.” Jun Wu commented as he picked up Xie Lian and set him on the sofa. “Although it is fine if you do not ever talk. Your parents are extremely wealthy and not everything can be bought with money.”
E-Ming slowly made it’s way to Jun Wu’s mask on the table and broke it without anything making a single sound. Ruoye tense and ready to make a move.
“It is nice you are quiet, little Xianle. All of the others were such loud little brats.” Jun Wu said softly and then gently pinched Xie Lian’s cheeks. Ruoye very firmly smacked Jun Wu’s hands.
“So that’s what you look like…I had sensed something on little Xianle. You look very weak what can mere bandages do in the end?” Jun Wu asked while chuckling and letting go of Xie Lian’s cheeks. “Little Xianle can you see what is wrapped around your wrists and arms? Just nod or shake your head, okay.”
Xie Lian simply had Ruoye hold and pull the tv remote to him. He turned on the tv, turned it up a bit to block out Jun Wu’s words, and only paid attention to the animal channel. Jun Wu chuckled to himself and he wasn’t angry about his mask being broken to pieces after all he has plenty more of them.
After a while Xie Lian changes the channel to a cooking channel and silently hopes to one day cook for when his mama cooks...the food tastes rather odd and difficult to eat it. His baba is good at cooking although baba doesn't cook often. Most of the time the meals are delivered.
-
At the age of five years old Xie Lian was diagnosed with autism. Xie Lian for the first time saw his mama crying and a few tears falling from his baba’s eyes. It made his heart hurt so much seeing his parents looking so sad and he knows it is all his fault for them being so very sad.
‘Something is wrong with me.’ Xie Lian thought while gently biting down on his lower lip along with unknowingly his fingernails digging into the palm of his hands. His parents look so sad and he doesn’t know what to do at all.
In the end he was tucked into bed, door closed, and his star-shaped lamp wasn’t turned on. His bedroom for the very first time ever was completely dark. Darkness all around him and his parents didn’t turn on his star-shaped lamp.
Xie Lian eyes start hurting, tears falling from his eyes, and he hugs himself. Tonight his mama and baba didn’t say ‘I love you’. Didn’t hug him or turn on his lamp. Only tucked him in and left him all alone in darkness.
‘It’s because something is wrong with me.’ Xie Lian thought while biting a bit harder on his lip and hugging himself a bit tighter. Ruoye turned on the star-shape lamp and it is no longer complete darkness. E-Ming was floating and the hilt was underneath Xie Lian’s red fox shape backpack.
Xie Lian blinks his eyes, rubbed his cheeks, and then crawled down from his bed. He and Ruoye started to fill up the backpack E-Ming was holding.
Xie Lian thought his mama and papa would be happy without him for he made them so very sad. He is going to find the end of the red strings on his ankles. Then take whatever is at the end of it and somehow go to the stars. His parents had said that A-Lian is one of the children of the stars.
Xie Lian changed out of his long sleeping shirt with a white ferret on it. Ruoye helped him put on red robes and then white robes on properly. His ears still have the red pearl earrings in them. He puts on white socks and then his white shoes. Afterwards he puts on his sword belt and E-Ming happily makes it home here. Then he puts on his red fox backpack, waves good-bye at the closed door, and holds his piggy bank that is in the shape of a bunny.
Ruoye wraps itself around Xie Lian, opens the window, and gently lowers him down. Afterwards made sure to close the window and then uses itself to make Xie Lian’s long free flowing dark brown hair into a neat bun on the top of his head.
Xie Lian starts following the red string from his ankles while wondering what is at the end of it. Tonight is the Hungry Ghost Festival. E-Ming presence keeping any ghosts from trying to get close.
Xie Lian humming softly to himself and his golden eyes looking down at the red string following it. His pace isn’t slow nor fast. He was very focused and not paying any attention to his surroundings.
“Hello, My name is Yue Xia Lao Ren. However you may shorten it down to Yue Lao.” A old man with a long pure white beard and yellow imperial robes said in a friendly tone of voice. Xie Lian blinked his eyes and backed up slightly from him. “No need to be afraid little one. I would say you really shouldn’t be wandering alone during the hungry ghost festival. However I can see you have two highly powerful objects willing to protect you.”
Xie Lian looks at his right ankle and tries to tug the string.
“Are you curious what is at the end of your red string of fate?” Yue Lao asked gently and Xie Lian thought for a moment before nodding his head. His golden eyes staring up at the old man under the moonlight.
“At the end if the one with whom you are destined to be with together. This red thread may stretch or even tangle, but it will never ever break.” Yue Lao explained softly to the little boy and then he lets out a little chuckle. “Every lifetime you and the one at the end of it are always connected. No matter the difficulties you two are always together.”
Xie Lian grabbed one yuan from his bunny shaped piggy bank and tossed the one yuan up onto the old man’s right hand before resuming his walk. He has no exact idea of time, but finally made it and saw the end. The red strings on his ankles are connected to a very sad looking little boy. It broke his heart to pieces seeing the little boy looking so sad and he must be so very cold.
Xie Lian took of his red fox shaped backpack which was a bit heavy and planning to give to the boy whom his red strings are connected to…
“Gege…Are you a ghost here to take me away? I’m four years old. You can call me…San Lang.” Hua Cheng said softly. Xie Lian very slowly saying ‘San Lang’ and Hua Cheng blinked his red eyes. Xie Lian kept on repeating ‘San Lang’ until he could say it quickly and have the name firmly inside his mind. Hua Cheng didn’t find it annoying and he couldn’t stop smiling at the ghost boy.
“My name is….” Xie Lian said slowly and his nose slightly wrinkling in thought. “A-Lian, LianLian, Little Princess, Little Prince, Cousin, Little Xianle, Xie Lian, and Little Star. I’m five years old.”
Hua Cheng nods his head and he felt happy at least ghost gege hasn’t been called any mean names although Little Xianle doesn’t sound nice. Nearly all of the names Hua Cheng has been called are mean and not nice names. He doesn’t ask little ghost gege how did you die for that would be really rude and really hopes little ghost gege can take him away.
“I’m one of the children of the stars. My mama and baba are sad because of me. They will be happier without me.” Xie Lian whispered as he gave his red fox backpack and his bunny piggy bank to San Lang.
Hua Cheng realized that this gege isn’t a ghost gege for he was able to touch Xie Lian’s hands and they felt warm. So this gege is alive and running away from home. By the names gege gave could tell that gege is loved.
“They will be sad without you, gege.” Hua Cheng told him as he placed the red fox backpack and bunny piggy bank down.
“Why? They are sad about me being a child of the stars.” Xie Lian said in a confused tone of voice and tears falling from his eyes. Hua Cheng gathered up the courage to give Xie Lian a hug.
“Do they hug you?” Hua Cheng asked quietly and he received a nod from Xie Lian. “Do they say…I love you.”
Xie Lian nods and then briefly shakes his head.
“They always said it, but tonight they didn’t…” Xie Lian whispered and Hua Cheng pats his upper back.
“Do they tuck you in? Do they kiss you?” Hua Cheng asked and received the reply of ‘Yes and well tonight they didn’t kiss me’.
“Do they hit you? Do they yell at you?” Hua Cheng asked quietly and Xie Lian shakes his head in reply. “You should go back home. Please don’t run from your loving home, gege.”
“Run away? I have been walking not running.” Xie Lian informed him and Hua Cheng giggled while Xie Lian blinked his eyes in confusion. Then Xie Lian’s stomach growled and he has to go back for he gave all of his supplies to San Lang.
“I’ll go back, San Lang.” Xie Lian said to him before quickly walking away for what if San Lang tries to return his supplies back to him.
“I’m lost.” Xie Lian muttered to himself while rubbing his empty belly. E-Ming undid itself from the sword belt, flew, and slowly guided Xie Lian back home.
Ruoye undid itself from Xie Lian’s hair, opened the window, and took him up. The window was closed by Ruoye. Xie Lian took off his shoes, socks, the sword belt, and the two robes. Afterwards put his long sleep shirt with a white ferret back on.
Xie Lian could hear his parents calling out ‘A-Lian’ several times and they sounded worried. Why are they worried? He opened his bedroom door and walked towards the sounds of his parent’s voices.
“Mama? Baba? I’m hungry.” Xie Lian said slowly while rubbing his growling belly that sounds like a little monster. He felt confused when his parents picked him up and bursted into tears. Xie Lian parents were glad that their little son is still for they had been looking everywhere around their home for him along with feeling such joy their beloved little LianLian finally talked.
His speech is slow yet clear and able to be easily understood. Xie Lian’s father cooked while his wife tightly hugged their son.
Hua Cheng went back inside the house for his parents should be all settled down. He closes the door and unable to lock it, but there’s nothing really anything of value to steal. The red fox backpack on his back, holding the bunny piggy bank under his left arm, and silently making his way to his bedroom which is the attic. He places the bunny piggy bank to the right side of his pillow.
Hua Cheng unzips the red fox backpack. All kinds of small bags of candy, one red sweater, one white shirt, one black sweat pants, a pair of white socks, and…a photo in a silver photo frame.
A smiling Xie Lian being hugged by a man and a woman…they must be gege’s parents. They look so happy and standing in front of a really large home.
“I hope Xie Lian’s parents will always love and care about him.” Hua Cheng whispers to himself while hugging the photo.
It hurts being called mean words and being yelled at too. It hurts even more being slapped, punched, kicked, and hit. The bruises, burn marks, and injuries hidden underneath his clothing. They always heal the next day, but is always hurts when his parents hurt him.
His parents never hug or kiss him. His parents never tuck him in. They never say ‘I love you’ to him. For all of his four years of life never felt any kind of warmth until tonight when gege showed up.
Hua Cheng silently prays that one day might see Xie Lian again. He has finally felt a bit of warmth.
“Won’t ever forget, gege.” Hua Cheng whispers to himself before laying down on the ground and having only a small worn out blanket wrapped around himself along with a small old pillow under his head. He looks up at the ceiling and wrinkled his nose at the two ghosts. “Go haunt them…not me.”
“Mother and father are unable to see us.” A fifteen year old boy with slashed wrists stated while floating and looking down at his still living four year old little brother. “Get justice for me and your eight year old brother. I didn’t commit suicide and he did not jump from the attic.”
“I was pushed by mom and dad.” A eight year old with a broken body said sadly while looking down at his still living four year old little brother.
Hua Cheng closed his eyes and ignored them. Those two ghosts are his older brothers. They are not nice at all and if only they would just go away and haunt the correct people. His parents and his two older brothers that are ghosts….a lot of times calling him a ‘Little Monster’.