Take One Step, Count Two

by apollocat

Summary:

Former child actor Xie Lian only recently got his life back into some semblance of order, working whatever gig jobs he can find to pay rent on the crumbling apartment he calls home. His bad luck strikes, putting him deep into debt - the only way out is to appear on a variety show. Despite deep misgivings and a dark history with show business, Xie Lian agrees. On the show, he's soon partnered with a stranger in red, who seems to be on the show despite the director's protests. Can the two of them face the show's challenges and win?

Chapter 1: A Good Dog gets a Bone

Xie Lian set down the last box with a triumphant huff. He wiped his damp brow, glancing around at the boxes that filled the small living room, stacked two high in places, confirming that everything was stable and unlikely to collapse. 

 

"Xiao Xie, you're finished already?" An elderly lady threaded her way along the narrow path between boxes, carrying a steaming mug. "Moving all those boxes, in this heat! Drink some cooling tea before you pass out."

 

Without waiting for an answer, she pressed the mug into Xie Lian's hands. He thanked her with a grateful smile, then sipped the tea. The light, herbal taste brought him back to summers as a child, the kitchen auntie bringing him tea after an afternoon in the sun. Flavoured by memories, the tea was bittersweet.He drank it quickly, quenching the thirst he'd built up hauling boxes in the humid early summer heat.

 

"Delicious and refreshing - many thanks." 

 

"No, no. I'm the one who's troubled Xiao Xie, asking you to move all this by yourself, with that leg of yours."

 

"It was no trouble, it's my job, after all."

 

She smiled fondly at him. "If only my grandson were more like you, instead of running around with those no-good friends of his."

 

Xie Lian hid his shock. Did he really look young enough to be her grandson? She didn't look older than 60, and he would turn 28 later that year. He decided she was probably nearsighted. 

 

"Won't you stay for dinner? You're so thin, nothing but bones!" 

 

"Thank you for the invitation, but I can't stay. I have to get home to feed my puppy."

 

She sighed. "A pity. You should get yourself a wife - you need feeding up! Stay right there, I'll be back with your money." She took his mug, retracing her path back through the boxes into the rooms beyond. 

 

Xie Lian wasn't sure if he should laugh or cry. First he was young enough to be her grandson, now she was trying to matchmake? He wondered if she'd be so friendly if she knew he was gay. Society was becoming more accepting, and marriage was legal now, but there were still many people opposed to such relationships. Not that it was a problem for Xie Lian - he was unlikely to ever be in a relationship, after all. 

 

As he mused, she bustled back in, holding a packet and a couple large bags. "Here's your money, along with a few snacks for you and your dog."

 

A few? Xie Lian stared at the bags, questioning the meaning of the words. 

 

"That's not necessary, I-"

 

She pushed the bags into his arms, cutting off his attempted protest. "My grandson barely visits, and even when he does, he won't let me give him anything. Humor this old lady, would you?"

 

Blushing, he nodded.  "Thank you, Granny." 

 

She smiled widely at him, reaching up to pinch his cheek. "Such a good child."

 

-------

 

Xie Lian placed the bag carefully on the ground before setting to the task of unlocking the door to his apartment. The lock was so worn that the key no longer worked correctly - after weeks of fighting with it, he'd used a trick he'd learned while living on the streets; filing the key down like he'd been taught and using a large rock to knock the key into the lock, using the impact to jostle the tumblers open. At first it had taken nearly half an hour to open the door, but after two years of practice, it usually only took one or two tries. As the lock clicked open, he heard a happy bark of greeting from inside the apartment. Setting the rock back in its place by the doorframe, he picked up the bags and kicked the door open, revealing a small white dog with long fluffy hair and a slightly flat-looking face, tail wagging furiously in welcome. 

 

"Ruoye, I'm back! Today was a good day - I met a . lovely grandma who gave us lots of food. There's even some for you!" He continued talking to the dog as he took off his shoes, pulling on a set of house slippers that appeared to be held together with duct tape. "See, didn't I tell you that most people are very nice? The ones from last week were an exception." His face darkened as he recalled the events of the previous week. 

 

-------

 

Crack! The sound reverberated as the ladder rung under Xie Lian's feet snapped. His stomach lurched as he began to fall. Dropping the paintbrush he was holding, he instinctively tucked into a ball, protecting his head and rolling when he hit the floor. Another loud noise rang out, and Xie Lian glanced around frantically before spotting the remains of a decorative porcelain bowl, smashed to pieces against the marble tiles. He groaned, slumping down until his head rested against his knees.

 

The sound of shoes on marble rang out as someone approached rapidly, drawn by the commotion. Looking up, Xie Lian was met by a furious glare. Probably the owner of this mansion. The man's clothes were clearly bespoke, and a terrifyingly expensive looking watch glinted on his wrist. 

 

"Incompetent idiot! Do you know what you just broke? That bowl was from the Yongle period - it cost nearly 3.6 million yuan! Trash like you couldn't afford it even if you worked for a thousand years!"

 

Xie Lian shivered. There was a time when he could have easily repaid 3.6 million yuan, but that was long ago, so far in the past that it felt like another life. He pushed himself forward into a kneeling position, pressing his forehead to the floor.

 

"This lowly one sincerely apologises, it is true that I cannot afford such a sum. Perhaps - is there some other way this one could repay you? Other work you need-"

 

His words were cut off by a vicious kick to his side. It was slow enough that he could have dodged, but instead he just rolled with the momentum, lessening the impact. He'd learned through experience that a beating was often less painful if you didn't fight back. He felt a sharp tug, then a searing pain in his scalp as his head was dragged up to meet the man's gaze. 

 

"Hmm, you look familiar, but who…" The man stared down at him for a long moment, lost in thought."Ah! The Gilded Prince! You're Xie Lian!" 

 

Dread washed over Xie Lian like an icy waterfall, closing his throat and dragging his thoughts down into a sea of mud. For a moment he thought he heard the cries of the angry mob, calling for his blood. 

 

I've been ok for so long now, why is this happening again? 

 

He desperately tried to shake off the voices, but the grip on his hair held his head in place. 

 

Weak, Xianle. You know they're not real. Why do you insist on listening to them? 

 

Jun Wu's disappointed voice, gently chiding, cut through the other voices. Xie Lian cringed, tears of shame welling in his eyes.

 

A loud laugh brought him out of his thoughts. The grip on his hair was released, and he fell to the floor in a boneless heap. 

 

"Wow, you're not even listening, are you? What a mess you are. I can't believe the teenage film emperor was painting my hall." The man smiled, a malicious gleam in his eyes. "Get up. I have the perfect way for you to repay me. You're going to be on my variety show!"

 

--------

 

Ruoye headbutted Xie Lian's leg, dragging him out of the unpleasant memories. He gave the dog a wan smile, leaning down to rub one ear before limping into the kitchen. He unpacked the bags, revealing a couple meaty bones for Ruoye, as well as several meals worth of food for him. He stared in amazement at congee, soup, chicken feet, beef noodles, and tomato egg stir fry, plus what looked like a bag of pastries from a local bakery.  

 

Where did she find the time to cook all this while moving to a new house? I don't deserve all this.  

 

Guilt settled over him like a weighted blanket. Hugging himself, Xie Lian sank into a squat, curling in on himself and rocking back and forth. Ruoye yipped in concern, trying to climb onto his legs and lick his face. The sensation of wet tongue against his chin pulled him out of his spiralling thoughts, and he gathered Ruoye up into his arms, hugging the small dog against his chest. They stayed like that for a few minutes, as Xie Lian's breathing and heart rate settled into a normal rhythm. When he felt sufficiently calm, he put the dog back on the floor, then proceeded to wash his face and hands. 

 

"Here you go, little fluff - you earned it." 

 

Xie Lian topped a small bowl of kibble with one of the meaty bones, placing it on the floor in front of the dog. Ruoye instantly started chewing on the bone, tail wagging rapidly in excitement. He watched the dog eat for a long moment, then turned to deal with the rest of the food. He separated out two pork buns for his dinner, then carefully packed the rest of the food into his tiny fridge, rearranging it until it fit. He'd found the fridge next to a hotel dumpster, door hinge broken but otherwise perfectly functional. He'd managed to fix the hinge with a couple of pieces of bent metal and some glue, and it had served him well ever since. 

 

Looking at the tightly packed appliance, he felt a genuine smile spread across his face. With this much food, he wouldn't have to eat instant noodles anytime soon! 

 

"Maybe it can last us until we leave for that show." 

 

Mentioning the variety show caused his gut to twist, but he ignored it. Focus on the good things, ignore the bad. He took a bite of the pork bun, savouring the burst of flavour on his tongue. He'd get through the show the same way he'd gotten through the rest of the past decade - one day at a time. 

Notes:

New fic!! Trying my hand at a modern AU, no idea if it'll be any good. I'm attempting to set it in modern China, but I'm not at all Chinese - I apologise for any mistakes or inaccuracies! Feel free to point them out if you find them. In fact, please let me know what you think in general - I really struggled writing parts of this first chapter, and I've been somewhat hesitant to post it (I keep worrying it's crap).

Chapter 2: Ruoye: MVP

Notes:

Content Warning: ableism, emotional abuse.

NotASaltedFishJustSalty: Just overheard something regarding your long lost lover boy. 

 

Flower'sMostDevoted: If you call him that again, I'll gut you. What did you find out? 

 

NotASaltedFishJustSalty: White and King were talking in the break room. I had to make coffee for 5 people just to have a reason to stay in there long enough! 

 

Flower'sMostDevoted : +5%

 

NotASaltedFishJustSalty : Fuck off! 

 

Flower'sMostDevoted : +10%

 

NotASaltedFishJustSalty : Ugh, fine. The person you're stalking  is going to be on a variety show called Southern Winds. Apparently, it's a partner show - he's paired up with White. Guy sounded creepily happy about it, too. Creepy laugh. FishPuking.jpg

 

Flower'sMostDevoted : Get me White's schedule. Now. 

 

NotASaltedFishJustSalty : This better pay well, that's not gonna be easy.

 

Flower'sMostDevoted : -15%

 

Hua Cheng dropped the phone on his desk and sighed, holding his head in both hands. His emotions were in chaos. Joy at finding Xie Lian at last fought with a bone-deep desire to go to the mainland to kill Bai Wuxiang personally. It wasn't a new desire; he'd wanted to do so ever since discovering that trash was likely the reason for Xie Lian's disappearance six years ago. Extensive searching had turned up security footage of Xie Lian entering the private club, and a combination of threats and bribery had convinced the club manager to disclose who he'd been there to meet. 

 

Unfortunately, the manager didn't know much; he'd seen Xie Lian enter the private room, then witnessed Bai Wuxiang storming out in a rage about an hour later. The manager had complained about the room being trashed, but wasn't sure if it was from a fight or from Bai Wuxiang throwing a tantrum. Ever since then, Xie Lian was untraceable, as if he'd gone into one of those witness protection programs shown on western TV shows. 

 

Hua Cheng took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the rage that threatened to overwhelm him. A murder charge might make it more difficult to see Xie Lian - there were better ways to handle this. A couple taps on his phone brought up a different WeChat conversation and began recording a voice message. 

 

"Yin Yu, drop everything and come here immediately. We've got work to do."

 

----------

"The production crew will arrive on Monday morning to pick you up. The show duration is two weeks, but you're only allowed one piece of luggage, so please pack accordingly."

 

Xie Lian's hands shook, and he clutched his phone to keep from dropping it. Monday was only five days away, and he wasn't ready. Would he ever be ready? 

 

"I do have one question." Amazingly, he managed to keep the anxiety out of his voice, which remained steady. "I have a therapy - a service dog, which I need to bring with me. It's small and well-behaved, and I'll bring food for it… I promise, it won't be in the way." 

 

"A service dog? Are you blind or something?"

 

Xie Lian flinched at the mocking words. When he answered, his voice resembled an AI, flat and emotionless. 

 

"Not blind. Am I allowed to bring the dog?"

 

The production assistant sighed, muttering to himself. 

 

"Kicking those people off for a crippled nobody. What was Director Zhao thinking?" In a louder tone, he added, "I'll inform the director of your request."

 

Xie Lian didn't remember the rest of the phone call, operating on autopilot through the social pleasantries for ending the call. Hanging up the call, he collapsed in a heap on the floor like a puppet whose strings had been cut. The world around him grew fuzzy and distant, his world narrowing to a single voice echoing in his head. 

 

"I'm disappointed, Xianle. You're still limping, after all this time? No director will give good roles to a cripple. Are you even trying to get better?"

 

"Change career? I thought it was your parents' wish that you be an actor. I suppose that doesn't matter now that they're gone. If they could see you now, I wonder what they'd think." 

 

"Xianle, you shouldn't try to manipulate people's feelings by crying. I'm just trying to help you - I'm doing what's best for you. Why are you fighting me?"

 

A cold, wet nose poking his face pulled Xie Lian back to the present. He gasped, his eyes flying open as he flinched away from the touch. His gaze was met by a pair of warm, brown eyes surrounded by fluffy white fur. 

 

"Thanks, Ruoye." 

 

The dog wagged its tail happily at the acknowledgement, and tried to climb into his lap. Xie Lian shifted so he was lying on his back on the floor and pulled the little dog up onto his chest. The weight and warmth was comforting, anchoring him in his body. He tried to slow his breathing, taking deep breaths from deep in his belly. Gradually, the drum beat of his heart softened, no longer a deafening throbbing in his ears. 

 

When he finally felt calm enough to move, Xie Lian opened his small fridge, retrieving the last bone and placing it in Ruoye's dish and scratching the eager dog behind the ears. 

 

"Eat up, you earned it."

 

Xie Lian watched Ruoye chew happily on the bone for several long moments, letting the dog's simple joy soothe the raw ache left by the flashback. Finally, he shook his head and took out his phone, scrolling through the odd jobs website he used to find work, messaging any that looked promising. If he was lucky, he'd manage to make enough money to pay rent in advance, since it would be due during the variety show filming. There might not be a lot of people willing to rent an apartment in a building that was technically condemned, but with his luck, it wasn't something he could rely on. 

 

I need to buy two weeks of food for Ruoye, too. I still have a couple of ramen packets, so that should do for my food, at least. At least when I'm on the variety show, they'll probably provide at least two meals a day, right? 

 

He smiled slightly, enjoying the thought of not having to worry about food. Maybe the show wouldn't be so bad after all. 

 

-------

 

The sound of knocking pulled Xie Lian out of his half-asleep state, sending a spike of adrenaline shooting through his body. Ruoye stood in front of the door, glaring intensely at the source of the noise. 

 

"Ruoye." 

 

When the dog looked over, he gave the command gestures for 'sit' and 'act friendly.' The dog came over and sat in front of him, wagging his tail softly and letting his tongue loll out the side of his mouth. Xie Lian gave him a pat, then moved over to the door. He unlatched the chain, then with a practiced motion, threw his body weight backwards while turning the handle, forcing the stuck door to open. 

 

On the other side, he found a film crew huddled together in front of his door, eyes darting nervously in all directions as if they expected to be mugged at any moment. The camera person trained the camera on him, and the light winking off the lens momentarily reminded Xie Lian of being mobbed by the press.

 

"Is it true that Xianle Corp added subliminal messages to their films?"

 

"There's been so many instances of violence! What is Xianle doing to fix this?"

 

"Did you cover up your cousin assaulting someone?"

 

With an effort, he shook off the memories, forcing a smile for the camera.

 

"Please, come in. This is Ruoye, he's friendly. It's been a long time since I watched a variety show, so I don't know - is there much filming to do here? If not, I already packed my bag so I'm ready to go." 

 

He winced inwardly at his rudeness - he should at least offer them some hot water, but only two cups had survived the last shelf collapse, and he didn't think they'd want to share. The crew looked around in horror, taking in the crumbling plaster walls and the clumsily repaired chairs and dining table - the only furniture in the small, one-room apartment. Finally, one stepped forward, holding out her hand to shake.

 

"I'm Lan Tianyi, one of the production assistants for Southern Winds. Everyone calls me Xiao Yi. I've been assigned to you and your partner for the duration, so please let me know if you need anything."

 

Xie Lian blinked in surprise. "Partner?"

 

"Er - wasn't this explained when you signed up? I suppose you were a last minute addition." She rubbed the back of her neck worriedly, then continued in a deliberately upbeat tone. "For this show you'll be paired with a random partner, and you have to complete the tasks together! True spirit of cooperation is essential to complete the tasks and do well. If you're lucky, you may find yourself a lifelong friend!"

 

She leaned close, speaking in a whisper to avoid being caught by the camera. "Actually, that last part is true, I've heard a number of celebrity friendships were formed on our show. Even a few couples!"

 

Xie Lian couldn't help but smile at the assistant's enthusiasm. Was he ever that young? She didn't even look old enough to have graduated from college. 

 

"Thank you, Xiao Yi. Oh - does my partner know who they're going to be paired with? Is it possible to complete tasks alone?"

 

Xie Lian worried that a random partner would be upset at being paired with a complete nobody. Even worse, if his true identity was revealed, his partner might be harmed by the scandal that was sure to result. 

 

Lan Tianyi laughed. "The whole point of the show is the cooperation between partners - there's no way you can do it alone! The partner selection is random, but don't worry - we screen the participants in advance to make sure that there won't be any issues no matter who you're paired with."

 

Given how he'd ended up on this variety show, Xie Lian was pretty sure no such checks had been done for him, but he kept quiet. No point in making trouble for the crew. 

The camera crew signaled that they had enough footage, and Lan Tianyi clapped her hands.

 

"If you're ready, let's head out!"

 

Xie Lian took a worn nylon leash from where it hung on the wall, fastening it to Ruoye's collar. He slung his already-packed duffle bag over his shoulder, then followed the film crew out the door and into the uncertain future.

Chapter 3: Not Quite a Skeleton Palanquin

Notes:

TW: brief mention of suicide.

Xie Lian could hear shouting, even through the closed car door, and a spike of anxiety ran through him. 

 

Could it be…? 

 

His bad luck held true - when he opened the car door, he recognized the raised voices. Clutching Ruoye tightly, he briefly considered grabbing the car keys from the assistant and driving far, far away. Sadly, he shook his head, dispelling the notion. Even if he didn't owe the director money, he didn't even know how to drive!

 

Reluctantly, he got out of the car, setting Ruoye on the ground. Sensing his mood, the dog stuck close to his legs, sniffing the air curiously. 

 

"Er, it seems that some of the other guests have already arrived." Lan Tianyi glanced worriedly in the direction of the shouting, then moved closer, lowering her voice. "Once you're inside, you're on camera. There's cameras all over the house, except in the bathrooms. There's even one in each bedroom, though those don't have audio, to give you a little privacy."

 

"Thank you, Xiao Yi." He smiled at the helpful assistant, then glanced over at the house. "Do I just go inside? Are there any… tasks, or anything like that?"

 

"Oh, the tasks won't be given until everyone arrives. Crews were sent out to pick everyone up, they should be arriving in the next hour or so. Well… everyone except one, I suppose. He's, er, responsible for his own transport?"

 

"Special guest? How mysterious. Would it be alright if I take Ruoye for a little walk around the village, then? I won't go far."

 

Lan Tianyi winced as a crash sounded from inside the house, then nodded sympathetically. "I understand completely. Feel free to take a walk, just come back within half an hour or so." 

 

Xie Lian nodded in thanks and set off, choosing a direction that would take him to the outskirts of the village. Normally, he enjoyed meeting new people, but the day's events had brought up too many old memories, and all he wanted was to be alone to sort out his thoughts. His path soon lead him to wide open fields, neat rows of crops swaying gently in the breeze. Noticing a field in the distance that appeared to be left fallow, he smiled and set off in that direction. Once he reached it, he unclipped Ruoye's leash and patted the dog on the head. 

 

"Go ahead, run around and play. You probably won't get to do too much of that for a while." 

 

He settled down near the edge of the field, watching the small white body dashing to and fro, chasing bugs. He'd just enjoy this for a while, and try to forget about what was waiting for him back at the house. 

 

His enjoyment was cut short by a rhythmic noise that grew louder and louder. Glancing around, he saw what looked like a helicopter in the distance, though that distance was shrinking rapidly. 

 

What is a helicopter doing all the way out here? The village was quite rural, a nearly three-hour drive from his home in the city. Could it be part of the show crew? Why would they need a helicopter? As it grew closer, he realised it was a dazzlingly bright shade of red - not a normal colour for a helicopter. The noise became deafeningly loud as the helicopter drew overhead, and Xie Lian felt a sudden pang of fear. Is it landing here? 

 

He whistled loudly, calling for Ruoye, anxiously searching for the spot of white among a sea of green. Apparently scared by the loud noise, he spotted the dog already charging towards him. Catching the startled canine in his arms, he clipped the leash to its collar and stood, watching the helicopter descend towards the ground in the middle of the field. Wind whipped wildly, blowing his hair into his face where it had escaped the messy bun he'd tied that morning. 

 

"You're too curious for your own good, Xianle. It'll get you into trouble."

 

This curiosity has a point. He was pretty sure this helicopter belonged to the mysterious guest the assistant had mentioned. How had the show managed to attract a guest wealthy enough to own their own helicopter? A shiver ran down his spine as his mind conjured images of the few people he knew who had that sort of wealth.

 

Jun Wu would never own anything that flashy. But what about-

 

He squeezed Ruoye tight, burying his face in the fluff covered head. That possibility was why he was waiting there - to find out whether he needed to run once more. The dog whined, squirming around until it could lick his face comfortingly. 

 

Thankfully, it wasn't long before the helicopter landed gently in the center of the field. Before the rotors could slow down, the side door slid open, revealing a man in a long red coat. He paused, seemingly speaking to someone inside, then hopped down to the ground and began striding towards Xie Lian. Wind whipped his shoulder-length black hair, giving him a tousled look. He's almost too good-looking. 

 

Xie Lian glanced down at his ripped jeans and baggy sweater, feeling suddenly inadequate. Before he could decide whether to act on a sudden urge to flee, the man appeared in front of him. He was grinning happily, but his body language betrayed hints of anxiety, reminding Xie Lian of long ago meetings with fans. A chill ran down his spine at the thought. 

 

He can't have been one of my fans - he wouldn't be smiling like that if he had been.

 

Ignoring the sudden anxiety, Xie Lian smiled up at the taller man. "You must be here for the show? I'm Xie Lian, another guest on the show." 

 

The man's grin widened, dazzling Xie Lian with its brilliance. "Gege can call me San Lang. I hope gege will take care of me." 

 

His grin fading, Xie Lian answered, "I'm told the show involves working in pairs of two - with my luck, there's no way we'll be paired together." 

 

He was sure that his luck would lead to being paired with one of the two who'd been arguing when he arrived. He wasn't sure which one would be worse - he hadn't parted on good terms from either of them. 

 

"Does that mean gege would like to be my partner?" Somehow, his smile got even brighter, leaving Xie Lian feeling somewhat dazed. "Don't worry, I'm very lucky. I'll share with gege." 

 

The tips of Xie Lian's ears flushed pink. Before he could formulate a reply, a nanny van pulled to a stop nearby, discharging several crew members, including Lan Tianyi. They rushed over, bowing respectfully to San Lang. 

 

"Hua-zong, welcome. Many apologies for not being here to welcome you, we were misinformed as to your arrival time. We've brought the car to bring you and your luggage to the house where we'll be filming." Lan Tianyi gestured to the car behind her, then glanced around as if looking for the luggage in question. 

 

San Lang acknowledged the welcome with a bored nod before turning back to Xie Lian. "Would gege prefer to walk or ride?"

 

"Walk. Ruoye needs the exercise." 

 

"I'll walk back with gege, then. It'll let me stretch my legs after the long trip." Turning his attention to Lan Tianyi, he gestured back at a nondescript man waiting near the helicopter, adding, "Coordinate luggage and anything else with Yin Yu."

 

Xie Lian's smile, which had disappeared with the arrival of the crew, slowly crept back onto his face. Even though they'd only just met, San Lang's presence was a comforting warmth. He found himself leading the way back into town at a casual pace, Ruoye trotting back and forth to sniff at things and chasing the occasional bug. The red-clad man watched with interest as the dog leapt into the air to snap up a jumping cricket.

 

"Ruoye is quite the hunter. Did you train him that way?" 

 

"No, Ruoye learned those skills before we met. about five years ago, there was a group of stray dogs near where I was sleeping at the time. I shared my food with them, but Ruoye was the only one who was friendly. He was even smaller then, just a half-grown puppy. Over time, we got to be friends, and once winter came he decided to start sleeping next to me for warmth. When I had to leave town he followed me, and we've been living together ever since."

 

Xie Lian remembered the half-starved puppy he'd met, white fur so covered in dirt that he'd appeared grey. He'd never regretted keeping Ruoye, not even when it meant he couldn't stay in shelters, since they mostly didn't allow pets. He was pretty sure that, without Ruoye's company, he'd have been dead years ago. 

 

San Lang was silent for a long moment, brow creased in a frown. When he finally spoke, his voice was eerily calm, as if he was restraining some overwhelming emotion. 

 

"Gege was homeless, then?"

 

Xie Lian's heart sank. Talking about being homeless was always difficult - generally people responded with either pity or disgust. Oddly, the taller man didn't seem to be feeling either of those - instead he mostly seemed angry, and possibly… sad? Xie Lian gave a mental shrug. 

 

What will be, will be - no point in worrying. 

 

"At the time, yes. I've got an apartment now, though!" He smiled brightly up at the other man. "It's all in the past. I much prefer to remember good times, like a good meal, or meeting a new friend." 

 

San Lang let out a long breath, as if releasing tension, then laughed ruefully. "Gege is very wise."

 

Xie Lian waved his hands in negation. "Hardly wise - just a silly optimist, really." 

 

"How long will you hold on to your naive ideals, Xianle? Haven't you already seen the twisted depths to which people will sink?"

 

Xie Lian clapped his hands, driving away the memory. "Enough about me - what about San Lang? Or should I call you Hua-zong?"

 

The taller man winced. "My name is Hua Cheng, but I would prefer if gege continues to call me San Lang."

 

"San Lang, then. It sounds like you're some sort of company president. What brings you to a variety show?" 

 

"I've been… looking for someone for a long time, and this seemed to be the best way to find them." Hua Cheng darted a glance at him before looking away, seeming embarrassed. 

 

"That person must be very special to you." The words felt sour in his mouth, though Xie Lian wasn't certain why.

 

"Very special indeed." Hua Cheng gave another dazzlingly bright smile.

 

Xie Lian felt his heart lurch, and quickly directed the conversation to safer topics, asking about hobbies. The conversation quickly turned to Hua Cheng telling stories from his various art exhibitions, and Xie Lian found himself laughing for most of the remaining walk back to the house.

Notes:

Sorry this took so long to post! Family visited, then I had a week-long work trip. Also, I may have rewritten the first meeting dialogue at least 10 times... It just wasn't coming together. Hopefully this is worth the wait!

Chapter 4: Strings of Fate

Xie Lian listened for shouting as they approached the house, relaxing only slightly at the relative silence. With his luck, it was too much to hope that they were gone. 

 

Might as well get it over with.   He squared his shoulders, taking a deep breath then letting it out slowly. Sensing his anxiety, Ruoye leaned against his leg in wordless comfort. Hua Cheng frowned at them, worry creasing his face. 

 

"Are you alright, gege?"

 

Xie Lian smiled up at him. "I'm fine - just getting myself ready. Shall we?"

 

Without waiting for a reply, he strode towards the door, Hua Cheng and Ruoye following close behind. As he was exchanging his shoes for slippers on the veranda, Xie Lian examined the provided slippers, idly wondering if he could ask to take them back with him after filming. Filing the thought to bring up with the crew later, he opened the door, revealing a large, open living area. At the noise, several pairs of eyes turned to meet the new arrivals. Feng Xin and Mu Qing sat stiffly at opposite ends of a long couch, seemingly having been attempting to ignore each other's existence. Across from them, an unfamiliar man and woman were seated in two armchairs. Two crew members stood at cameras in opposite corners of the room, one of which turned to focus on the door. Despite his preparations, Xie Lian felt the gazes of the room's occupants felt like a physical force, causing him to freeze in the doorway.

 

A moment later, Feng Xin and Mu Qing shouted his name in unison, causing Xie Lian to flinch. He hadn't seen either of them in over 6 years, and as for how they parted… He fought against the memories trying to pull him under. 

 

"What, I should stay here and be dragged down by a madman? I haven't gotten a role in months! Some of us have people depending on us. Anyway, you probably won't even remember this happened!" 

 

"Mu Qing was right, you're insane! Claiming you didn't do it - how did you get those injuries, then? If I stay here, you'll kill me for sure!" 

 

A warm hand landed on his shoulder, while a cold nose nudged his ankle, an oddly comforting pair of sensations which drew him back to the present. He felt Hua Cheng lean over his shoulder, glaring at the occupants of the room.

 

"I was unaware it was custom to greet people by angrily shouting their name. Unfortunately, I'm unable to return the gesture, since I have no idea who any of you are." Turning to the crew, he drawled, "What sorry backwater did you find this lot in, then?"

 

Feng Xin was on his feet in an instant. "Who the hell are you? You think you can stroll in here and talk to everyone like that?"

 

Xie Lian moved forward, trying to position himself between Feng Xin and San Lang in case the fight got physical. Hua Cheng strode up next to him, placing a restraining arm around his shoulders. 

 

"Actually, yes, I do." Hua Cheng glanced over at the crew. "Go ahead, tell him why I can speak however I like."

 

The crew member gulped audibly at being singled out, then stammered, "Hua-zong is - is one of the show's main investors."

 

"Hoho. The lord of Ghost City as an investor!" The man in the armchair chuckled, turning to his companion. "You really should listen to me more, I told you I had a good feeling about this variety show!"

 

The woman gave him a disgusted look. "Like you had a 'good feeling' about that girl last week?"

 

The man groaned. "Do you have to keep bringing that up? She was different at the beginning, I swear!"

 

Feng Xin slowly slumped back into his seat, no longer willing to risk starting a fight. Mu Qing rolled his eyes at him, adding "Idiot."

 

"Don't roll your eyes at me just because you're too cowardly to say anything."

 

"I'll show you cowardly!" 

Xie Lian sighed. If he didn't intervene, this was likely to escalate into a physical fight, which wouldn't be good for either of their reputations. He'd have to word things carefully, though, since they were being filmed. He gave a quick hand gesture to Ruoye, who barked once, loudly. The room fell silent, most occupants only then realising the presence of a dog among them. 

 

Xie Lian spoke quickly into the silence. "Mu Qing, Feng Xin… I apologise, for everything. I was only recently added to this show as a guest, and I was unaware that you two would also be here. I promise I won't make trouble for you, and I'll stay out of your way." 

 

He bowed, then retreated towards a corner as far from the couch as possible, missing the twin looks of shock and consternation. As his gaze swung across Hua Cheng's face, he winced - the man looked angry, dark brows drawn low over his eye. He gave the taller man a smile that hopefully conveyed 'I'm fine,' but his acting skills must have been rusty, because the look he got in reply was filled with a deep sadness. Frowning, Hua Cheng strode over to him, leaning down to speak in his ear. Xie Lian shivered as hot breath tickled his earlobe, turning both ears pink. 

 

"Please gege, don't feel the need to pretend with me. You're allowed to be not ok."

 

Xie Lian's pupils dilated in shock; he felt like a thunderclap went off in his head. He mutely stared up at the taller man, letting him gently take his hand and guide him to sit together on a small couch. 

 

"Hoho, I smell romance brewing!" Pei Ming chuckled, then let out a pained noise when Ling Wen flicked him in the forehead. 

 

Xie Lian blushed further, staring fixedly down at his hands in his lap. He inwardly sighed with relief when the door creaked open, admitting a well-dressed young man. Xie Lian glanced up, eyes widening in surprise. 

 

Is that… it's got to be that kid I saved from those kidnappers! What was his name again… Something about autographs?

 

He shook his head, disappointed. It was no use, more than four years of time had pushed the name clear out of his head. The young man stopped on the doorstep, shooting an annoyed glance back over his shoulder. 

 

"Quan Yizhen, stop sleeping and get out of the car - we're here!"

Eventually, a fluffy-haired young man stumbled up to the door, where the first man exasperatedly forced him to remove his shoes and don slippers before entering. The fluffy-haired man then stumbled over to an armchair and flopped bonelessly into it, falling asleep near-instantly. 

 

Xie Lian leaned towards his seatmate, whispering, "does he know he's on camera?"

 

Hua Cheng laughed and shrugged, giving a low reply. "Hard to tell with that one. He'd be like that either way."

 

Xie Lian nervously turned his attention back to the kid he'd once saved from a band of child traffickers. He'd grown a lot in the intervening years, but his sunny smile was exactly the same. 

 

I think he might be taller than I am now, though. 

 

The young man flashed said smile at the group, bowing in greeting.

 

"I'm Lang Qianqiu. This is my first variety show, so please take care of me!" Glancing over at the fluffy-haired young man, he added, "That's Quan Yizhen, please excuse him - he's…I'm sure he'll be alright after sleeping for a bit."

 

His gaze turned to Xie Lian, his eyes widening. "Fang-ge!"

 

Xie Lian winced. More bad luck - he'd given the kid a fake name, and now it was coming back to bite him. He braced for impact as the kid rushed across the room, eyes lighting up with what was hopefully excitement. Before he could reach the couch, Hua Cheng was on his feet, blocking his way. He leaned down, saying something in a low voice. Startled, Lang Qianqiu drew back slightly, the smile fading from his face. 

 

Hua Cheng straightened, then added in a louder voice, "you can catch up later. I'm sure, now that everyone is here, the director has tasks we should be doing?" 

 

There was a rustle of movement from the adjoining room, then the man who'd dragged Xie Lian into this mess emerged, looking annoyed. He exchanged glares with Hua Cheng for a long moment before coughing and looking away. 

 

"Yes, yes. Please sit, everyone. Now that all the guests are here, we can begin."

 

Mu Qing rolled his eyes, muttering, "as if you haven't been filming for hours already."

 

Ignoring him, the director continued, "I'm the director of Southern Wind, Chen Rujin. I do indeed have some tasks for you all, but before we get to that, there's one very important thing we need to do. First, I'd like everyone to quickly introduce themselves."

 

The introductions were thankfully short, and allowed Xie Lian to finally learn the name of the other two guests: Pei Ming and Ling Wen. Pei Ming was one of the judges on a comedy competition show, while Ling Wen was the narrator and star of several documentaries. Feng Xin and Mu Qing were still acting in films, while Lang Qianqiu and Quan Yizhen were two members of an idol band. Hua Cheng's introduction was the most brief, he lazily stated his name, as if daring anyone would challenge him on it. Xie Lian followed suit, breathing a sigh of relief when there were no comments (other than another eye roll from Mu Qing). 

 

When they were done, the director clapped his hands, then gestured to the crew. Two men carried in what appeared to be a tall, round table with hand shaped outlines at regular intervals around the outside. 

 

"Everyone, please step up to the Table of Fate, and place your hand in one of the marked spots. When everyone has done so, you shall find out what your fates have in store! These partnerships are up to luck, the process is entirely random." 

 

Xie Lian sighed; luck was never on his side. He walked over to the table, finding a spot in between Hua Cheng and Lang Qianqiu. The young man kept darting glances over at him, but he thankfully kept quiet. Once everyone had placed their hands in the indicated areas, rays of white light shot out across the tabletop, into the center, which lit up in a swirl of colours, spinning for a few seconds before exploding like a firework. Coloured lines of light shot out, connecting each hand to the tangled ball of glowing string in the center. 

 

"These are the strands of fate. As you can see, each coloured strand connects two people - those are your partners for this show."

 

Xie Lian bit his lip, barely daring to look down at his hand. A glowing red line darted off to the center, then… A smile formed on his face, and he turned to the tall man next to him, worry falling away.

 

"San Lang, we're partners!"

Notes:

Hopefully you all like this! Don't know if I got everyone right, so many different people and it's hard to get the voices right in my head. Hopefully this doesn't drag on, either, I rewrote several parts cause they seemed to get bogged down.

As a side note, I did way, way too much searching for typical floorplans of houses in rural Chinese villages. On the plus side, I found a neat paper about people movement throughout the house and the relation to uses of space in traditional houses in one area of China, which was very interesting. None of this matters, I'm sure - I could have just made up a floor plan. Instead, you get a made up floor plan that is slightly better informed! (lol)

Chapter 5: Cooking with Gege

"You have to do it over! I can't be partnered with him !" 

 

Xie Lian flinched at the sudden shout, taking an involuntary step back before catching himself. He glanced over at the source, breathing a silent sigh of relief when he saw Feng Xin glaring across the table at Mu Qing. 

 

"Oh, as if you're the one who's getting the short end of the stick. At least I have a brain and am capable of being a competent partner!"  Mu Qing returned the glare with an eye roll. "Don't forget, you're the one who lost on our last variety show."

 

"You clearly cheated! As if you could read French. This is probably just more of the same!"

 

"Seniors, please - there's no point in fighting about this. The director already said that partner selection is completely random - this is just bad luck." Lang Qianqiu looked back and forth between the two, a hopeful smile on his face.

 

"The kid's right. I'm paired with this meathead and you don't see me complaining." Ling Wen gestured to Pei Ming, who grinned lazily in response. 

 

"You have a good eye, to appreciate my impressive physique. Since this show is sadly lacking in little flowers, I don't mind helping you instead."

 

Ling Wen rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed, not dignifying him with a reply. 

 

Xie Lian hadn't actually thought the partners would be randomly assigned, but he couldn't think of any other reason he'd be paired with a handsome stranger. If the show just wanted publicity based on his history, pairing him with Feng Xin or Mu Qing would have done a better job of that. Probably still would have started an argument though…

 

"As young master Lang said, there's no point in arguing about the partner arrangements. Anyway, I'm sure you can both agree that there were worse options, right?" Xie Lian smiled apologetically, then quickly continued, "Now that partner selection is handled, perhaps the show has some tasks for us? I've been far too idle so far today."

 

He directed a bright smile at the director, internally grateful that his crazy life had kept his acting skills from getting rusty. While he generally preferred to be genuine with people, sometimes it was safer to hide behind a smile. The director seemed taken aback, pausing for a long moment before answering. 

 

"Yes, of course, tasks. This lovely house you'll be staying in needs a bit of work before it's completely ready for guests. The colours of the lines connecting you and your partner indicate what task you must undertake, and your performance at that task will determine which room you are assigned. The quality of the rooms varies widely, so be sure to excel at your tasks if you want to sleep in comfort!"

 

The assistants assigned to each pair brought over gold envelopes. Xie Lian took the envelope from Lan Tianyi, thanking her quietly. He opened the envelope, pulling out a plain white card with a few words printed on it, his smile turning genuine as he read it. 

 

"San Lang, we get to cook dinner for everyone!"

 

"Does gege enjoy cooking?" Hua Cheng grinned at his enthusiastic nod, giving Xie Lian an odd, bubbly feeling in his chest. "Oh good, I'm excited to taste your creations."

 

Xie Lian filed away the odd feeling for later consideration, his attention already caught by the prospect of cooking a meal for more than just himself and Ruoye. His luck seemed to have turned for the better - maybe there would even be some meat? 

 

As he fantasised about the possibilities (maybe the kitchen has more than one pot, or a variety of vegetables to choose from), the other pairs' tasks were announced.  Mu Qing and Feng Xin were tasked with feeding the neighbour's chickens and ducks and collecting their eggs, in exchange for a share in the egg harvest. Lang Qianqiu and Quan Yizhen were assigned to clear out the weeds in the small garden, which was rather overgrown, while Ling Wen and Pei Ming were given the daunting task of fixing the shared shower. 

 

"Helping other teams is permitted, but work done by others will not count towards task completion. The house and garden are fully equipped with cameras, so we'll know if you try to cheat!" Director Chen's smile, full of anticipation, somewhat belied his words. "Good luck to all of you!"

 

As soon as he was done speaking, Xie Lian eagerly set off for the kitchen. Once there, he gazed happily around the large room for a long moment. The kitchen was a mix of modern and traditional elements, from an ancient wood-fired stove to a shiny chrome refrigerator. Xie Lian gasped as he opened the refrigerator, then turned to Hua Cheng, eyes shining. Grasping his hand, he pulled the taller man over, showing him the contents of the fridge.

 

"It's amazing! There's got to be at least ten types of vegetables in here! There's even a whole chicken!" Bouncing on his toes in excitement, he added "We should be able to make several dishes with all this!" 

 

He started pulling ingredients out and setting them on the counter, vague plans for a soup, a chicken dish, and some steamed buns percolating in his head. 

 

"This is great - I never get to work with this many different ingredients. And they're so fresh! There's no bad spots to cut off or mold, or anything like that."

 

"...Is that unusual for gege?" Hua Cheng sounded upset.

 

Xie Lian froze, fidgeting with the carrot he was holding. I forgot… most people throw things away when they get moldy. He found himself unusually concerned about the opinion of his new partner, worried that the other would disdain him if he knew the truth of his living conditions. Reminding himself that Hua Cheng hadn't disliked him for having been homeless, he took a deep breath and answered honestly.

 

"There's a vegetable market near where I live, and several sellers are willing to give me whatever they would otherwise have thrown away at the end of the day. Not everything is in the best condition, but it's free, and it keeps all that food from going to waste!" He smiled, adding "Sometimes they even give me stuff that could still be sold! They're very good people."

 

"Gege, you never fail to amaze. Staying so optimistic; most people would be bitter in your circumstances." 

 

Hua Cheng's voice was soft and warm. When Xie Lian looked up, he was smiling gently down at him, his eye curving into a crescent. The shorter man blushed, quickly grabbing some ginger and stuffing it into the other's hands.

 

"Peel and chop that, please."

 

The two men chopped vegetables in silence for a while. Eventually, Xie Lian remembered something he'd heard earlier, and glanced up curiously. 

"San Lang, what's Ghost City?"

 

There was a loud thud as Hua Cheng brought the knife down hard in surprise. Xie Lian instantly backpedaled, worried he'd overstepped. 

 

"If you don't want to say, that's fine! Pei Ming mentioned it and I was curious, but you're entitled to your privacy - I definitely understand."

 

The red-clad man sighed, then resumed chopping as he answered. "Ghost City is… well, it's like a very small private island. It's an old oil rig that I bought and renovated into a floating 'city.' It's not really much of a city - it's mostly a floating trash heap filled with misfits. It's in international waters, so the law is pretty much whatever I say it is. Naturally, lots of rich idiots like to visit for all the reasons you'd expect - gambling, prostitution, that sort of thing."

 

Xie Lian tried to imagine what Ghost City would look like, but was eventually forced to give up. Hesitantly, he asked, "Is everything legal there?"

 

Hua Cheng shook his head. "Things like murder, rape, or theft are not allowed. Gambling is only allowed in the Gambler's Den, which is run by me, so there's some oversight on what's allowed as a bet. The brothel is actually run as a cooperative, I mostly don't have anything to do with that side of things." He grinned evilly, adding, "I imagine the brothel was why Pei Ming was there."

 

"What does Ghost City look like? Do you have pictures?"

 

Hua Cheng pulled out his phone, tapping out a quick message. "Yin Yu should have some good ones." 

 

After a moment, his phone beeped, signalling an incoming message. After a few more taps, he handed the phone over to Xie Lian, who looked at it with interest. An album of pictures was open on the phone, and he scrolled through slowly. Most of the pictures were taken at night, and the city was a riot of glowing signs. Red was everywhere - red streamers hanging in loops from criss-crossing electric wires, red doors, red railings along walkways and stairs. Hanging paper lanterns lit the walkways, somehow not out of place among the neon and metal. Many of the people wore intricate masks - animals, demons, ghosts; even western superheroes could be seen here and there. Xie Lian was entranced, scrolling through several dozen photos before handing the phone back.

 

"It looks amazing! San Lang is truly impressive, to have created such a place."

 

The tips of Hua Cheng's ears turned pink, and he shook his head. "It's nothing special, really. If gege likes it, you should come visit."

 

For a moment, Xie Lian wanted to agree, but then his shoulders slumped as reality set in.

 

"Thank you for the offer, truly. Unfortunately, I don't think I'd ever be able to afford a boat ticket, much less accommodation once I got there."

 

"That's easily solved! Hitch a ride with me back on the helicopter, then stay at my place when you get there. Gege wouldn't need to pay for a thing." His grin took on a mischievous air. 

It was Xie Lian's turn to blush. "I couldn't possibly trouble you like that! I'd be taking advantage of you!"

 

"Gege would be doing the entire place a favour just by being there."

 

"San Lang! You're so insincere." Xie Lian could feel the blush spread to his neck, and his cheeks felt like they were on fire. 

 

San Lang laughed happily. "You will find no one in the world more sincere than I."

 

Xie Lian threw a bunch of green onions at him, laughing. Hua Cheng caught them, his smile undimmed. 

 

"Thanking gege for the gift. How should I chop these?"

 

They continued bantering as they chopped and cooked. Xie Lian showed Hua Cheng how to light the woodstove, though he had a sneaking suspicion the other already knew and was humouring him. He was surprised to find that they worked well together, falling into a rhythm that usually resulted from years of familiarity. Xie Lian couldn't help grinning happily the entire time, his heart feeling lighter than it had in many years.

Chapter 6: Birds are Just Tiny Dinosaurs

"What sort of monster would want to keep ducks anyways?! They're completely evil!" 

 

Xie Lian looked up from the couch he shared with Hua Cheng as a dripping wet Mu Qing pushed the door open, complaining over his shoulder. He was followed by a dishevelled Feng Xin, who was clutching his right forearm with a hand covered in tiny wounds. 

 

"At least the ducks didn't do much damage to you - just chased you into the pond. That chicken was some sort of demon - why else would it have knives on its legs?" Feng Xin hissed as he examined his arm, revealing a nasty puncture wound. 

 

"You provoked it by picking it up to look for eggs!"

 

Xie Lian wasn't sure if he should laugh or cry. He knew from experience how painful spur wounds could be, but the image of Feng Xin picking up a rooster to look for eggs was pretty funny. Next to him, Hua Cheng laughed mockingly. 

 

"Did you really try to get eggs from a rooster? Even an elementary school child wouldn't make that mistake."

 

Feng Xin flushed red, glaring at the taller man. "It looked the same as all the other chickens, how was I supposed to know that one was male?!  You just-"

 

He cut off as a worried looking crew member handed him a first aid kit. Gritting his teeth, he turned his back on Hua Cheng and began awkwardly rummaging through the kit one-handed.

 

"Give me that." 

 

Mu Qing commandeered the first aid kit, quickly sorting through and setting out necessary supplies. He ducked into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with a bowl of water and a clean towel, which he used to clean the wound before sprinkling it with yunnan baiyao powder. He covered the treated wound with a gauze pad, then taped the edges in neat lines. Xie Lian inwardly marvelled at Mu Qing's skill - his own experiences with medical tape were far less neat and tidy. 

 

"There. Don't go getting it wet this time and wasting all my work." Mu Qing accompanied his words with a sarcastic eye roll.

 

"That was one time, and there were extenuating circumstances!"

 

"Oh, is that what you call getting drunk?" Mu Qing retorted as he moved towards the rear of the house, clothes leaving a wet trail on the floor.  "I'm going to go see if they're done with the shower."

 

Xie Lian frowned at the puddles, getting up  from his seat on the couch. Before he could begin his search for cleaning supplies, a long-fingered hand rested gently on his arm. 

 

"I think I saw a mop in the kitchen, gege - I'll get that and clean it up. You did most of the work on dinner, after all." Hua Cheng didn't give him a chance to disagree, flashing a quick smile before disappearing into the next room. 

 

Feng Xin moved over to stand next to Xie Lian,  speaking quietly. "You should be more careful. What do you really know about your 'San Lang'? You only just met - you shouldn't trust people so easily."

 

Xie Lian let out a short, bitter laugh. "I should be careful of trusting others? Shouldn't that be the other way around? That's what you said before."

 

They both paled at the words. Xie Lian regretted them instantly - what right did he have to be angry? He felt phantom hands lifting him by the collar, making it hard to breathe. 

 

"You tried to kill me! How could you possibly think I'd- that I'd do something like that?! I knew you were crazy, but this is too much!"

 

The same voice called him out of his memories. "Look, I… it wasn't really you, I know that now. I shouldn't have blamed you like that." He reached out for Xie Lian's arm, breaking off in horror as the shorter man flinched away from his touch. 

 

"Look - Feng Xin, I'm sorry for- for everything. You had every right to leave - I was acting unreasonably." He edged backwards, willing his legs to remain straight despite their sudden weakness. "Just pretend I'm not here, alright? I won't make things difficult for you." 

 

"Why are you apologising?! That's not what I-" 

 

He was cut off by a loud growl from their feet. Ruoye stood protectively in front of Xie Lian, lips raised in a toothy snarl. Feng Xin jumped back, face going pale once more. 

 

"Ruoye, no! Sit ." 

 

The dog obeyed begrudgingly, tension radiating from his fluffy body. Moments later, Hua Cheng returned with a mop, his smile falling away as he took in the tense atmosphere. In a few quick strides, he was next to Xie Lian, looming threateningly towards Feng Xin.  

 

"Stay away from gege." His voice was icy, holding a promise of violence that didn't seem like a bluff. 

 

Xie Lian was struck by deja vu, and a giggle bubbled up in his throat as he wondered if he should also tell San Lang to sit. 

 

"Gege, are you alright?" Hua Cheng's demeanour softened as he turned to the shorter man, his face creasing with worry. 

 

Xie Lian nodded, rubbing his throat absently. "I'm going to go check on dinner, the others should be done soon." 

 

He turned away, not meeting Feng Xin's gaze as he left. Hua Cheng gave the man another glare, then stuffed the mop into his hands before turning to follow his gege into the kitchen. 

 

-------------------

 

"Bring out the food already, we're starving after all that work!" Despite being in another room, Pei Ming's voice was clearly audible from the kitchen.

 

"Anyone who rushes gege doesn't get to eat." Hua Cheng's voice was cold, as if promising that starvation would be the least of their worries. 

 

Xie Lian swatted lightly at his shoulder. "San Lang, be nice!"

 

He finished spooning the chunks of soup into the serving bowl, eyeing it worriedly. Soup was definitely supposed to be something you could pour - maybe he should have added more water? He glanced inquiringly at San Lang, who gave him a reassuring smile.

 

"I can't wait to try gege's cooking."

 

Well, if San Lang thinks it's ok, then it's probably fine. Confidence bolstered, Xie Lian began bringing the dishes to the table with Hua Cheng's assistance. Once all the dishes were placed, Lang Qianqiu gestured eagerly to the two empty seats next to him.

 

"Sit here, Fang-ge!" 

 

Xie Lian smiled helplessly at the youth's excited tone, but didn't refuse the offered seat. Hua Cheng sat next to him, ignoring the other occupants of the table. 

 

Xie Lian smiled brightly at the others around the table. "I call these dishes 'Bright Moon Waxes and Wanes.' I hope you enjoy them as much as I did making them!"

 

"Wow, Fang-ge, did you come up with the recipes yourself? That's amazing!" Lang Qianqiu stared in wonder at the food. "I've never seen anything like this!"

 

"Lang-shaoye overpraises my skills." Xie Lian smiled warmly at the enthusiastic youth. 

 

"I've been meaning to ask - why do you call him 'Fang-ge'?" Pei Ming asked curiously as he filled his own bowl. 

 

Xie Lian blushed. "When we met previously, I was… trying to keep a low profile, so I introduced myself as Fang Xin."

 

"We didn't just meet - Fang-ge was incredible! Some thugs tried to kidnap me while I was walking home from school, and Fang-ge jumped in to save me like a wuxia hero! He beat the thugs up like it was nothing!"

 

Xie Lian slumped in his seat, face burning with embarrassment. Maybe I should just make a run for the door. 

 

"There were only three of them, and they weren't very good…" 

 

"Gege is indeed quite heroic - no need to be modest about it." Hua Cheng smiled fondly at him, and Xie Lian had a sudden feeling that he wasn't talking about Lang Qianqiu's story. 

 

Have we met before? No, it can't be - I'd definitely remember someone this handsome!

 

"Ugh, you're still doing stuff like that? You always did have a hero complex." Mu Qing rolled his eyes. "I guess some things never change…"

 

Feng Xin looked up from his staring contest with the chicken. "Hero complex? You're just jealous because you're too scared to do that sort of thing."

 

" I'm scared?! You can't even bring yourself to eat his cooking!"

 

"It's not like you've tried it, either!"

 

The pair glared at each other for a long moment. Then, as if synchronised, they both stuffed a large bite of dinner into their mouths. Mu Qing's eyes bulged, and he barely managed to swallow. Feng Xin choked, face turning a worrying shade of green. He pushed his chair back from the table, staggering to his feet, then broke into a stumbling run in the direction of the bathroom. 

 

"Wh- what… is…" Mu Qing gasped a few words before grabbing his glass of water, desperately chugging the whole thing. 

"Is it really not good?" Curious, Lang Qianqiu turned to Quan Yizhen, who had eaten several spoonfuls of the… soup? Stir fry? 

 

Instead of an answer, Quan Yizhen swayed, then collapsed headfirst on the table with a loud thud. 

 

"Quan-xiongdi!" Lang Qianqiu leapt to his feet, grabbing one of the film crew. "We have to get him to a hospital!"

 

"It's quite good, actually. Maybe a little less salt next time, gege?" Hua Cheng spooned a generous second helping into his bowl, ignoring the crew's panicked attempts to rouse Quan Yizhen. 

 

Xie Lian opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by Pei Ming.

 

"Well, now I'm curious. Just how bad could it be?"

Notes:

Things I spent entirely too much time looking up while writing this chapter:
- chicken and duck behaviour regarding eggs
- Rooster spurs and the wounds caused by them (warning, don't google this unless you're ok with a bit of gore)
- Chinese first aid medicine
- Chinese honorifics (this happens for most chapters, tbh)
- Chinese poetry, especially poems about reunions

Regarding the last point, if anyone is curious - the inspiration for Xie Lian's food naming comes from Su Shi's "Water Melody."

Chapter 7: Room with a... Window?

Notes:

Content warning: Panic attack, vague references to past abuse.

Xie Lian sat on the couch, running his fingers dejectedly through Ruoye's fur. He knew he wasn't good at cooking - he'd even been banned from cooking for others in a few homeless camps. No one in the camps ever passed out just from eating my cooking, though… 

 

Even Ruoye preferred dog food to eating his cooking, though the dog would eat his cooking if he was hungry enough. Though he used to eat literal rubbish, so I guess that doesn't say much. 

 

Hua Cheng rubbed his shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry about those idiots, gege. They don't know how to appreciate a good thing - gege's cooking is wasted on them."

 

Xie Lian leaned into the touch, managing a wobbly smile. "San Lang is so insincere."

 

"I assure you, there's no one more sincere in this world."

 

Before he could figure out how to reply, a quiet squeal was heard from the corner. Looking over, he saw Lan Tianyi glancing between them, hugging herself in excitement. Noticing their gazes, she blushed, waving her hands nervously and backing further into the corner. 

 

"Don't mind me! Just pretend I'm not here, really!" 

 

Xie Lian hid a smile. San Lang was so handsome, even his heart couldn't help but beat faster - a young girl like her stood no chance against such charms. 

 

The hallway door slammed open as Director Chen stormed into the room. He looked around the room, taking stock of the few remaining guests. Ling Wen had once again claimed an armchair, seeming to ignore everyone as she studied something on her phone. Pei Ming was sprawled across a nearby couch, one arm draped over a face that looked unhealthily grey. The director shot a glare at Xie Lian, then paled slightly and looked away quickly as he caught the eye of the man sitting next to him. 

 

"Right, well, it's time to announce the rankings for the first task. Due to some… mishaps… two teams are currently in the hospital, so they'll be informed later." He coughed, shooting another glare in Xie Lian's direction. 

 

"There's no need for thanks, it's only right to lend the use of my helicopter, considering the lack of medical personnel on site." Hua Cheng smiled coldly. "Two hours from the closest hospital, and no doctor nearby - I shudder to think what could have happened." 

 

"Yes, we are naturally very grateful. Of course, due to the fact that the dinner caused two teams to go to the hospital, your team is ranked last in the first task. As such, you get room number four." He held up a tablet, displaying a picture of a cramped, dingy room, little more than two futons in mosquito net tents, plus a camping lantern for light. 

 

"In third place: Mu Qing and Feng Xin - while they did manage to gather some eggs, there were complaints about them being disruptive and scaring the birds." 

Xie Lian giggled, remembering their bedraggled appearances when they returned. Looking at the tablet, he was reminded of the few times he'd managed to pay for a room in a cheap motel - it had actual beds, chairs, and even a low dresser topped with an ancient TV. He smiled, glad his erstwhile friends would have decent accommodations when they returned from the hospital. 

 

"In second: Pei Ming and Ling Wen. While you did successfully manage to fix the shower, you reversed the hot and cold water controls." 

 

"I'd like to see you do better. So complicated, and I had to do it all myself!" Pei Ming grumbled, not moving from his position on the couch. 

 

Ling Wen frowned. "Do it all yourself? You couldn't even read the instructions!"

 

Xie Lian grinned happily. Noting Hua Cheng's curious look, he explained quietly, "There's even hot water to shower with! It's been ages since I had a proper hot shower. Ooh, do you think there's a bath?" 

 

Hua Cheng frowned down at him. "...Does gege not normally have hot water for showers?"

 

Xie Lian felt his cheeks grow hot, and he lowered his voice further. "Well, for a while the electric heater in the shower wasn't working, though I'm pretty sure I have it fixed now. I haven't been using it lately because it's summer - I save on the electricity and the cold showers can actually be quite refreshing!"

 

He thought he saw a pained look flash across the taller man's face at his words, but it vanished so quickly that he was left doubting its existence. 

 

"Ugh, we missed out on a private bathroom just by mixing up hot and cold?! We had the hardest task!" Pei Ming's voice rang through the room, pulling Xie Lian's attention away from his partner. 

 

Ling Wen ignored his shout, focussing on the director. "Since the winning pair isn't here tonight, could the second place team use the room in their absence? It seems a shame to let such a lovely room go empty." 

 

The director looked her over for a long moment, then gave a leering smile. "Those are the rules - it wouldn't be fair to change them now. However, I think we can make a bit of an exception for our show's lovely lady guest. Consider the private bathroom all yours tonight."

 

Ling Wen smiled brightly. "Why thank you Director! It will be such a relief not to have to share with the men - they can be so creepy, don't you agree?"

 

Xie Lian silently applauded, watching the director's face redden at her words.

 

"Oh, that reminds me. Everyone, to ensure a harmonious atmosphere, there are cameras in all the rooms. Don't worry - they don't record audio, so if you snore, your image won't be ruined!" 

 

Xie Lian tensed, then relaxed at hearing the lack of audio recording. Hopefully, he wouldn't get nightmares, but with his luck… it was a relief that anything he happened to say wouldn't be captured on camera. 

 

After a round of goodnights, the two men made their way to the small room at the end of the hall. Xie Lian glanced at the "4" mounted on the door, smiling ruefully.

 

"Hopefully San Lang doesn't believe in ghosts?"

 

Hua Cheng laughed. "It's important to believe in science and reject superstition, gege." 

 

I'd agree, but my luck feels too bad to not be supernatural. He nodded in response to the taller man, then pushed the door open. Placing his bag in an unoccupied corner, he opened the door flap on the tent closest to the door, inspecting the futon. 

 

"Woah, these futons are excellent! So thick and comfortable!" He turned, looking around the room. "Oh, we even have a window! San Lang, look - each tent has a lantern, and they're brand new!"

 

He pushed the button on the lantern, waving it around excitedly. If I asked very nicely, would they let me take this home afterwards? It would be so useful during power outages or when I can't afford electricity. 

 

"Does gege prefer futons?"

 

"Oh, I'm not picky. I'm happy sleeping anywhere clean and dry!" 

 

Hua Cheng frowned, and Xie Lian wondered what he'd said wrong. Did San Lang think I was calling him picky? He probably wishes we'd gotten one of the better rooms…

 

"Not that having a preference is a bad thing! It's important to know what you like." He sighed, looking down at his feet. "I'm sorry for making you sleep in these conditions. If I wasn't so bad at cooking…"

 

He cut off as a hand tilted his face up, and Xie Lian's heart skipped a beat as their gazes met. The man was really just too pretty!

 

"Don't worry, gege - this room suits my preferences quite well. Though there is one thing…" He smiled wickedly, revealing a tiger tooth. "It would be better with one big bed - I hear this place gets cold overnight."

 

Xie Lian imagined snuggling into a warm, red-clad embrace, and felt his ears burning. 

 

"I, I should go shower!" Grabbing his bag, he made a quick exit. 

 

------

 

 Hua Cheng couldn't sleep. The problem was a familiar one, though at the same time strangely novel - tonight, it was excitement that kept him awake. Barely a meter away, his male god - his saviour -  was asleep. Soft sounds came from the other bed - not quite snores, just the rhythmic breathing of deep sleep. His heart constricted at the noise - too cute! 

 

No, he couldn't possibly sleep. The whole day had been like a dream already - what if when he woke up, it really was all a dream? Better to stay awake and stave off that possibility. It would be even better if I could see his face, though. 

 

The faint light of a waning moon provided little illumination to the room, making the other man appear to be just a lump in the blanket. The mosquito net tents further obstructed his view, waving in a breeze from the open window and causing the lump to appear to move. 

 

As he watched, the movements grew larger, and he soon realised that it wasn't the netting. Xie Lian thrashed about, muttering incomprehensibly - panicked noises that got louder as he fought against the blanket's entrapment. A couple of violent movements pushed a white blob - the dog? - to the floor with a thud. Should I wake him? What if that upsets him more?

 

"No, please! I didn't hurt anyone! Please don't put me in there!" 

 

The panicked cry broke through Hua Cheng's indecision. He jumped up, pushing aside tent flaps and moving to the other's side. Cautiously, he reached out, grasping Xie Lian's shoulder. As soon as he touched the other man, his world spun on its axis, depositing him on the futon with the shorter man on top of him, forearm against his throat. 

 

Hua Cheng fought against an inconvenient wave of arousal, trying not to think about the warm legs straddling his chest. Disgusting pervert. He's in the middle of a nightmare and all you can think about is sex. 

 

He stayed still, even when a low growl sounded near his head. After a long moment, the pressure on his throat eased and the weight on his chest lifted as Xie Lian leapt back. 

 

"Sorry, sorry, sorry! I didn't mean… I thought you were… Ack!"

 

A crash and scattered thuds followed his retreat. Hua Cheng pushed himself to his knees, feeling around until he found the camping lantern next to the futon. A mellow light showed Xie Lian sprawled across the floor on top of Hua Cheng's overturned suitcase and  Ruoye standing protectively between the two men. Xie Lian pulled himself into a sitting position, righting the suitcase before calling out to the dog.

 

"Ruoye, here. Sit." 

 

The dog gave Hua Cheng a final glare before moving to sit at his master's side. Xie Lian ran a shaking hand down the dog's back, petting it for a long moment before looking up to meet Hua Cheng's gaze. 

 

"I - I'm sorry for attacking you. I shouldn't have done that, you were only trying to help." 

 

His shoulders hunched in, as if trying to make himself smaller. Hua Cheng's felt a stabbing pain in his chest, and cursed himself for making things worse. He leaned over, placing his arms on his knees. Usually he enjoyed being so tall, but right now he wished he was shorter, not wanting to seem intimidating. 

 

"Gege, it's my fault - I should have known better than to touch you while you were sleeping. I'm not hurt, but I wouldn't mind even if I was - you had every right to do that." He kept his voice soft and gentle. 

 

Xie Lian shook his head violently, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. "It's not - not allowed. Can't be a danger to others, or you have to go-" His voice broke, and he finished in a whisper, "go in the silent room."

 

Hua Cheng felt a rush of rage at everyone who'd hurt his beloved. Jun Wu - I should've tried harder to kill that bastard. He fought to push the emotion to the back of his mind - he could get angry later, right now he needed to try to help Xie Lian. 

 

"Gege, would you like a hug? They sometimes help me feel better." When you hugged me back then, it helped. 

 

Xie Lian went still, considering, then gave a small nod. Hua Cheng's heart melted at the sight. He carefully moved closer, crawling on hands and knees. He paused at the edge of the tent when both man and dog tensed at his approach, waiting until they relaxed slightly before proceeding further. Finally, he was kneeling next to Xie Lian, his heart beating faster at the proximity. He opened his arms and waited, leaving the decision in Xie Lian's hands. His beloved stared up at him for a long moment, then threw himself forward into his arms, shivering and clinging to his shirt like a limpet. Hua Cheng wrapped his arms around the smaller man, his heart singing at the long-imagined contact. He rocked back and forth, humming softly, and Xie Lian's shaking eventually eased, his breaths becoming long and slow as he drifted off to sleep. Hua Cheng watched his sleeping face, smiling softly. His legs were going numb, but it didn't matter - this was exactly where he wanted to be.

Notes:

Mosquito netting tents are a real thing! I looked at so many pictures of them while writing the latter part of this chapter, trying to make sure I wasn't describing things that weren't physically possible. I also did some searching for chokeholds to make sure that was described correctly, and whether it would leave marks - I think my google search results are all messed up now, lol!