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On the evening of their reunification on Mount Taicang, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng wanted nothing more than to be as close to each other as possible. The moment they finished embracing under lantern light, Hua Cheng swept Xie Lian up into his arms and carried him into the cottage atop the mountain.
For the remainder of the night, neither of them could stand to be more than a few feet away from each other at any given time. They found any excuse they could to touch each other: a massage to ease tense shoulders, an errant strand of hair needing fixing, holding hands just because they could.
Worried about Hua Cheng having just reformed, Xie Lian insisted that he cook a huge meal for his San Lang. Their constant close proximity made it quite difficult for Xie Lian to cook; Hua Cheng wouldn’t stop holding him from behind and making an irresistible nuisance of himself.
Xie Lian loved it.
When the food was finally ready, Xie Lian prepared the table with Hua Cheng’s help. He got out the best tableware he had—a set of finely painted red bowls, cups, and chopsticks with barely any noticeable chips or scratches. As they arranged everything, they kept bumping hands and shoulders, hovering together, grinning and apologizing each time they collided.
Xie Lian made a point to always act with propriety, but he let it go by the wayside tonight. After all, it’s not like there was anyone else there to see them! When they sat down to eat, Xie Lian sat right next to Hua Cheng, squished up against his side like a flowering vine coiling up a tall, sturdy trellis. They ate together happily, discussing some of the more interesting prayers Xie Lian had answered over the past year.
It seems Hua Cheng had anticipated their meal because he had had light wine and a large basketful of festive sweets and snacks delivered to the cottage from who knows where. By the time they got around to nibbling these treats, they were taking turns feeding each other. Somehow, at some point, this exchange of sweet treats turned into an exchange of sweet, soft kisses, their chatter turning into the sound of low, contented sighs.
“Gege, you taste so good.” Hua Cheng moved in to kiss him again, eager for more. “Just one taste and I could never have enough.”
Temporarily immobilized by another kiss, Xie Lian finally slipped out from his grasp and chided, “Don’t exaggerate. It’s not me you taste; it’s the jujubes we just ate.”
Hua Cheng tilted his head, as if thinking hard, and then looked back toward Xie Lian, smiling. “No. It’s definitely you,” he replied. “Nothing could ever taste as sweet as your lips on mine. Nothing could even come close.”
As if electrified, both Xie Lian’s heart and his grip on Hua Cheng’s shoulders tightened. Hua Cheng had only just returned this evening and he was already well on his way to seducing him, achieving victory before the battle cry had even sounded. No, the truth was Xie Lian had been under his spell for a long time now. He couldn’t help but give in to him.
“Oh, come on now, San Lang,” he placated. “And besides… You know…y-you taste the same as well.”
Hua Cheng raised his brow. “Do I now? How do I taste, gege? Please enlighten me,” he crooned. “Is the taste of this believer pleasing to His Highness?”
Xie Lian was thoroughly pinned by those brazen words. Rather than run and hide from his embarrassment, he responded with frank earnestness. “Yes. It’s very pleasing indeed. I like it very much.” He smiled at Hua Cheng.
It was Hua Cheng’s turn to be dazed. They shared a look of mutual adoration. The urge inescapable, the gap between them closed and they entered into a deep kiss.
One hand holding his waist, the fingers of Hua Cheng’s other hand were woven through Xie Lian’s hair, caressing his head. As their kissing became more heated, Hua Cheng’s hand traced down the nape of his neck. His hand caught on something. Stuck on a thought, he paused their kiss and slowly drew back.
“Gege, you still cover your neck?” Hua Cheng was looking at the silk bandage wrapped around the skin right above Xie Lian’s collar.
“Oh.” Xie Lian reached up to touch the bandage. “Well— Yes, but not all the time.”
Suddenly, as if struck by a distressing thought, Hua Cheng had a fierce but worried look in his eye, and he pressed, “You’re not injured, are you?”
“No, no! It’s nothing like that,” Xie Lian replied. “I— I just wear it sometimes still... I guess I wear it because I’m used to having something around my neck… I-I guess I was really used to having that shackle. Sometimes not having anything there anymore makes me feel too bare.” Xie Lian laughed lightly, trying to hide his discomfort.
“I see.” Hua Cheng smiled at him, but the slant of his mouth quickly dropped back down to a look of quiet concern. A moment passed and he asked, “Would you mind if I removed it?”
“Oh… Sure.”
Hua Cheng removed the bandage and set it aside. He tenderly stroked Xie Lian’s soft, bare skin with his thumb, being careful not to scratch or rub too hard. After a few rounds of that, he began tracing the tips of his fingers over his skin in a much faster, but lighter, manner. Xie Lian jerked at the feeling.
“San Lang! That tickles!” he exclaimed. “You’re doing that on purpose!” Xie Lian couldn’t help but laugh. His eyes crinkled as he smiled brightly, and he playfully shoved Hua Cheng’s hand away.
Reflexively, Hua Cheng smiled right back at him, heart light and much freer from worry than a few minutes earlier. He was glad to see a smile on Xie Lian’s face once again. It had been so long. He had missed that beautiful smile so dearly.
Chuckling, his hand retreated and he raised both hands in front of him in surrender. Xie Lian gave him a look, quite skeptical at this gesture of capitulation, but Hua Cheng assured him, “Yes, I’m guilty. You caught me.” However, Xie Lian was right to be skeptical. Given an inch, the mischievous ghost king took a mile.
“Gege, you know there are other places I could kiss you, right?”
Hua Cheng’s devilish aura intensified. He gave a light peck to Xie Lian’s lips and continued.
“Places other than the mouth.”
Xie Lian startled at that. “Oh, is that so, haha,” he said, nervous energy apparent. Just what was San Lang planning now?
“It is. I’ll show you.”
Xie Lian squirmed up against him, hands clutching at the front of Hua Cheng’s robes, bracing himself. Hua Cheng didn’t know this, but Xie Lian had already been touched all over by Hua Cheng during the reopening of Mount Tonglu—at times poked and prodded in unimaginable places. Xie Lian’s face burned hot as he imagined what Hua Cheng might do. Regardless, he was still curious and susceptible to Hua Cheng’s maneuvering, so he willingly took the bait.
“Ah, yes…” he said. “If San Lang insists, then I dare not refuse.”
Hua Cheng was urged on by Xie Lian’s assent and his own immeasurable confidence. He leaned down and whispered into his ear, “I do insist.”
Although Hua Cheng had worked him up so much, the first kiss he placed upon Xie Lian’s neck was delicate, pressed down with utmost care. It was a kiss that only someone wholly devoted to love could give. His lips lingered there as he spoke.
“You are beautiful. Every part of you.” Like a man on a pilgrimage, he left a trail of kisses down Xie Lian’s neck. “No matter what happens I could never tire of this.” This time he kissed harder, more insistently.
“Ah!” Xie Lian let out a gasp, eyelids fluttering shut. Driven by instinct, he tilted his head to give Hua Cheng more room to work across his chosen canvas. The rest of his body followed suit; he leaned back against the table and his back arched over it like a bow pulled taut, ready to snap.
As he continued to add layer upon layer of impassioned kisses upon Xie Lian’s neck, his lips and tongue painting a landscape of fervent invocation, Hua Cheng held Xie Lian securely in his arms. Lifting his head, he paused for a moment only to ask, “Gege, how do you feel?”
“I-I…”
Caught in a blaze, Xie Lian struggled for words. He could barely hold himself back from crying out in pleasure. If he were to speak while he was in this state, who knows what nonsense might come out.
Speaking of how he was feeling, with dismay, Xie Lian realized just how affected his body had become by Hua Cheng’s ministrations. He quickly closed his legs, pressing his knees together for dear life.
“No.” Hua Cheng’s voice was low, beseeching. He had noticed the shift in Xie Lian’s posture. He wedged his own knee in between Xie Lian’s knees, pushing them apart with stubborn determination, but not forcefully. Resolute, he added, “Every part of you is beautiful.”
Xie Lian’s mind fell blank and a heavy, warm sensation overtook him, filling his heart to the brim. When Hua Cheng had left him a year ago, Xie Lian’s heart had left with him. Tonight his heart had returned to him bathed in the light of 3,000 lanterns, and Xie Lian wanted nothing more than to let Hua Cheng keep it. He wanted to give him everything.
Breathing heavily, he finally managed, “So good, San Lang. I feel so good. I really…never knew kisses could feel so good…even when not on the lips.”
Hua Cheng sighed out in pleasure. “Good. Gege, I want you to tell me how you feel.” He sat back so that they were face to face and stroked Xie Lian’s hair gently. While up until this point much of his behavior had been quite playful and provocative, his tone now sounded serious, almost pained. “If you ever feel uncomfortable, don’t hide it. Not from me. Your pain, your hardships, your worries—don’t suffer them alone. Let me share that burden.”
He kissed Xie Lian’s forehead. “And when you feel pleasure, don’t be afraid to let yourself embrace it. You deserve to be happ—“
Before Hua Cheng could speak further, Xie Lian threw himself into his arms, hugging him tight.
“San Lang—“ His voice was strained and, just like earlier, tears were threatening to fall. “It was so hard— I missed you so much! And…I’m so glad you’re home!”
Hua Cheng held him just as tight and whispered, “Me too.”
They held each other for a long time, whispering words meant only for the two of them. After a while, Xie Lian let out a big yawn.
“It’s late, San Lang.” He inched closer and placed a shy kiss on Hua Cheng’s cheek. “Would you like to get ready for bed?” He flushed red. “…With me?”
Hua Cheng hummed in contentment when Xie Lian kissed him, a wild grin across his face.
“Yes. Let’s.”