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Hua Cheng could wish for nothing more in this life. After 800 ruthlessly long years, he was finally with his beloved, standing side by side with him no longer as a helpless child but as the strongest ghost king capable of protecting his dear husband from anything that dared to stand in their way. Finally, Hua Cheng could bask in the endless bliss this new life brought him now that he was reunited with his dearest Dianxia.
Xie Lian was the definition of perfection. A mere smile from his God was enough to put the heavens to shame. No one in both heaven and on earth was as beautifully glorious as his beloved. He was the sole reason that Hua Cheng refused to leave this world and continued to fight against all the cruelty and pain. Every second of suffering was worth it now that he was finally by Xie Lian's side.
Although his days were now filled with joy, Hua Cheng couldn’t help but have moments where his insecurities got the best of him. Days where he felt undeserving of his Dianxia’s loving gaze, kind praises, and sweet kisses. Most of all, he felt unworthy of the title of husband to a God who deserved so much more than Hua Cheng could ever hope to give him.
His God deserves someone strong, much stronger than him. Someone handsome instead of hideously wounded like him. Someone who wouldn’t have taken 800 years to finally see his God again due to their own helplessness. Someone who could make Xie Lian happy every single day like the God deserved. Someone who-
“What’s wrong, San Lang?” Xie Lian asked, cutting Hua Cheng off abruptly from his overwhelming anxieties. He couldn’t help but notice Hua Cheng was more quiet than usual today. Upon further inspection, he could see there was a darkness swirling within his husband’s eye. A darkness Xie Lian was far too familiar with. “You seem sad. Are you feeling okay, my love?”
Hua Cheng was horrified. Now look at what he’s done! He’s gone and made his beloved Dianxia worry about someone as useless as himself! His worthless concerns were not worth even a second of his husband’s precious time. It would be truly blasphemous of him to worry his dear Dianxia any further with his outlandish insecurities. Only a true bastard would take advantage of Xie Lian's kindness in such a way.
Hua Cheng faked a smile. “It’s nothing, Gege,” he answered, hoping to move on from the matter without any additional questioning. “I apologize for making Dianxia worry. Please do not concern yourself over such trivial affairs.”
“San Lang…” Xie Lian frowned, crossing his arms scoldingly. “We talked about this. We promised that when we’re feeling down, we would confide in one another. Isn’t that what husbands do?”
“But Gege-”
“But nothing!” Xie Lian snapped. He hated to be harsh to his husband, but this was the only way to get Hua Cheng to open up. After all, his dear San Lang was always weak to his Dianxia’s commands. “You will tell me what is wrong because I am your husband, and what concerns you also concerns me! Now tell me, my love, why are you so sad?”
Hua Cheng sighed, turning his gaze away from his God in shame. “I apologize, Gege. The reason is so absurd that it’s hardly worth Gege’s time. I was just feeling a bit insecure, is all. I can’t help but wonder how someone as extraordinary as Dianxia would ever settle for a hideous ghost like me…”
“Oh, San Lang,” Xie Lian cried as he ran forward to embrace his husband with open arms. Hua Cheng immediately nuzzled his face deep into Xie Lian's neck, desperately seeking the warmth of his beloved’s embrace as his God began to softly stroke his hair in comfort. “Do not apologize. You must never apologize for your feelings, San Lang. If anything, it is this one who should apologize for not noticing your anguish much sooner.”
Xie Lian pulled back from their embrace just enough to place an encouraging kiss upon Hua Cheng’s forehead before continuing. “However, you are right, San Lang. This truly is an absurd matter, for how could my precious husband ever even begin to think I would desire to be with anyone other than him?”
“Gege!” Hua Cheng cried, “This lowly one does not deserve such sweet words from Dianxia.”
Xie Lian sighed. How could his San Lang not see just how desirable he truly was? The God contemplated how he could get Hua Cheng to understand his endless love and appreciation for the ghost king when it suddenly hit him, “San Lang, you always tell me that no other person can go against my word, for my word is the truth. Am I correct?”
“Why yes, Gege,” Hua Cheng responded. “No one is as wise as you,”
“Then when I say that San Lang is the most beautiful person this one has ever laid eyes on, then that means…?”
Hua Cheng reddened, realizing where this was going. “Gege, I am not worthy of such praise-”
Xie Lian sharpened his gaze, “San Lang, I did not ask you to spew such tasteless lies about yourself any further. I asked you to finish my sentence. If I say that you above all else are beautiful, then you are?” The tone in Xie Lian’s voice leaving no room for argument.
Hua Cheng swallowed hard. Nothing in this world was more desirable than seeing that fiery gaze in Xie Lian’s golden eyes that set Hua Cheng’s cheeks ablaze. The sternness in his God’s voice left Hua Cheng’s knees shaking in utmost delight. “If Gege says so, then I am beautiful…” Hua Cheng reluctantly replied.
Xie Lian frowned, eyes narrowing harder. “That didn’t sound very sincere…”
“I apologize, Gege,” Hua Cheng bowed his head in shame for having upset his beloved further. “I told you there is no one more sincere than I. However, it is difficult for this lowly one to accept such praises from someone much more deserving of them.”
Xie Lian sighed, placing a gentle finger under Hua Cheng’s chin and raising his head so Xie Lian could stare into his dear husband’s eyes, “If you cannot find the beauty in someone as magnificent as yourself from your own eyes, then I will have to teach you the very beauty that I see in you from mine.”
Hua Cheng couldn’t help but nod blankly in astonishment as his God continued, “You say my word is final. And if that is to be true, then when I say that my lovely San Lang is kind, you are?”
“Then I am kind…” Hua Cheng said, a bit hesitant but with more effort than before in order to please his beloved.
Xie Lian smiled, hand moving to cup Hua Cheng’s cheek, who immediately nuzzled against the warmth of his God’s hands in response, “And if I say my San Lang is so very handsome, the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, then you are?”
“Then I am h-handsome,” Hua Cheng whispered, embarrassed, beginning to overcome his previous shame as his beloved continued showering him with compliments.
“And if I say that my dear San Lang is the most wonderful husband that this one could ever wish for in both the heavens and earth, then you are?”
Hua Cheng shivered in joy at the praise, “Then I am a g-good husband…”
“San Lang…” Xie Lian tsked. “That is not what I said,” he warned. “Good was not the word I had used. A word as simple as good can not even begin to describe how exquisite you truly are, San Lang. Now, what did I say my dearest husband was?”
“I’m sorry, Gege,” Hua Cheng laughed at his husband’s cute pouts. “Allow this one to rephrase, as Gege said, I am a wonderful husband,” Hua Cheng answered much more confidently.
“Good!” Xie Lian smiled, “And when I say that my greatest joy in life is to wake up every day next to you, my wonderful husband, my powerful Hua Cheng, my loyal Wu Ming, my adorable Hong-er, my one and only San Lang, you would say?”
Hua Cheng felt Xie Lian lovingly brush away the tears he didn’t even realize were streaming down his face as he answered, “Then I would say that the honor is all mine.”
“San Lang!” Xie Lian whined playfully, hitting his husband softly against the chest without any real malice. “That wasn’t supposed to be your line!”
Hua Cheng laughed, sneaking his arms around his husband's waist and peppering his face full of kisses, leaving Xie Lian a giggling mess. “Pray tell, Dianxia, what was my line supposed to be then?” he asked curiously.
Xie Lian flushed a deep red before hiding his face in his husband's chest. Before Hua Cheng could prod any further, a whisper could be heard coming from Xie Lian’s trembling lips, “You were supposed to say I love you…” he muttered, feeling a bit embarrassed by his own corniness. However, Hua Cheng loved it.
“This one deeply apologies for the mistake, Gege,” Hua Cheng smiled softly. “Allow this one to tell it to you now.” Hua Cheng titled Xie Lian’s face up, placing a tender kiss against his beloved’s lips, relishing in the sweet moans he received in return.
“Gege, I love you.”
“I love you too, my San Lang.”