Hey everyone! Duìbùqǐ (sorry) it's taken me a little bit to update! Got busy with working again and helping clean up the house and going through stuff. Then spraining my wrist at work. It's very hard to type with one hand. *sweatdrop* But I managed to bring you another chapter! Enjoy!
-Chapter Twelve-
Sighing as he watched another programme on television, Xie Lian sat on the couch bored the next day. His mother had gone to work after making sure he was set for the day with some food that would be easy to take to the table to eat.
Closing his eyes, he thought back to last night and listening to San Lang reading to him on his bed. His warmth had been so relaxing while his voice was lulling to him. After having the long day exploring in the woods with him then getting hurt, he found he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer.
The next thing he knew, his mother was waking him up to get some food for a somewhat late dinner. He'd looked towards his closet to find it shut all the way then to his desk where the other boy had left his shoes hidden underneath. They weren't there so he knew that San Lang had obviously headed home. He'd picked up his book that was next to him, finding a piece of paper sticking up just a little out of it to mark his page. When he'd opened it, there was a note in San Lang's somewhat messy handwriting.
Gege,
Hope you have sweet dreams tonight. I'll dream of you.
San Lang
He'd tried to keep from blushing so his mother wouldn't question why he had seemed a little embarrassed. After all, this was still new to him; these feelings towards the darker haired teen. But he was happy that the other boy did feel the same in return.
Opening his eyes, he looked at the television again wishing that San Lang were here. It would be nicer to have some company anyway. They could watch more television or read together. His cheeks flushed a little as he thought about cuddling with him too.
Suddenly, something covered his eyes that was warm and soft. In reaction, he put his hands up to find another set of hands.
"S-San Lang?" he asked, feeling the soft brush of the other teen's sleeves against his arms. He could also lightly smell the earthy scent of him. There was a chuckle as he leaned his head back while pulling the hands gently away to look up at those honey eyes. "H-how did you get in here?"
"Your window like yesterday," he chuckled as he came around to the front of the couch and knelt down in front of it. He reached out, hand hovering over the other teen's foot. "How's your ankle doing? Did you put that ointment on like I told you?"
"Y-yeah. I did last night and this morning after my mom left." He furrowed his brow. "When did you leave? 'Cause when my mom came in to wake me up, you were gone."
"Not too long after you fell asleep." San Lang stood back up as Xie Lian moved his legs enough so the other boy could sit down. The darker haired teen pulled the other's legs back up to rest across his lap to keep his injured foot elevated. "You were too cute sleeping and I didn't have the heart to wake you." Xie Lian gave a small blush, which San Lang chuckled to. "Did you find my note?"
"Y-yes."
The darker haired teen smiled then leaned closer to him a little. "So did you dream of me?"
Xie Lian's cheeks flushed bright pink. He quickly turned his face away while covering it with his hands. San Lang chuckled again at the other teen's embarrassment. Reaching over, the darker haired teen gently pulled his hands down away from his face, still flushed, before bringing the lighter haired teen's palm up to his lips and kissed it softly. This made the other boy turn even more pink in embarrassment.
"You're too cute when you blush like that, Gege," San Lang chuckled as he kissed his palm again.
"W-well I….I've never….f-felt this way before…." He kept his gaze averted as his cheeks remained flushed.
San Lang gave a small chuckle at the other teen's continued frustrated embarrassment. However, he sobered as he gave a small squeeze to Xie Lian's hands while lowering them down to sit above his lap. This got the other teen to blink and turn his gaze back towards the red clad teen. Those honey coloured eyes had lowered their gaze towards their hands and his smile had faded.
"To be honest, this is the first time I've felt this way too," he spoke softly, but sincerely, as he kept his gaze on their joined hands. This made Xie Lian furrow his brow a little since he recalled the other boy telling him how he had unrequited love towards Hua Xie. "I mean, yes I admired and loved my friend before, but I was younger then. Naive too." He gave a pause. "Nothing can change how I felt about him but…." He raised his gaze to look up into the chocolate eyes looking back at him. "The feelings are different with you." A blush coloured his cheeks a little as a small smile tugged his lips upwards. "They're different when they're able to be reciprocated. And….well….it's a nice feeling."
Feeling his cheeks warm again at the other boy's words, Xie Lian couldn't help but look away. The other boy was right about one thing. These feelings were nice when they were reciprocated. He couldn't ever reciprocate the feelings to the few girls that had asked him out in the past.
"Maybe you just haven't found the right person yet."
San Lang's words from back when he'd asked if he'd ever had anyone he liked flitted across his thoughts. Was that the reason why he never felt that way towards anyone else?
"Both of your fates are interconnected. It's a very long lasting fate spread across many centuries and many lifetimes."
If what the fortune teller said was true, then just like he'd been thinking ever since the morning of the festival, he was bound by fate to San Lang. He was his friend's reincarnation, Hua Xie. That was the only explanation.
Feeling San Lang let go of his hands, he turned to look at him as the other boy put his right hand on the outer part of his left thigh. His left hand went around the right side of his waist to wrap around a bit. In a gentle but firm movement, he slid Xie Lian closer to him and onto his lap sideways while making sure his foot didn't get hurt.
"S-San Lang…" If his cheeks could get any warmer, they did. The other teen merely smiled before reaching his hand up, cupped his cheek, and pulled him into a kiss.
Feeling his lips move in time with the other teen's, Xie Lian couldn't help but feel like butterflies fluttered in his stomach. It was like how all those silver butterflies of Hua Cheng's had fluttered away the other night in the woods. The kisses still felt a little awkward from only just confessing their feelings yesterday morning. But they also felt right and wonderful.
Breaking the kiss to catch their breath, San Lang leaned his forehead against Xie Lian's as he threaded his fingers up into the shorter, lighter hair at the back of his head. He smiled softly at the other teen on his lap. While he wanted more, he also was willing to wait. Xie Lian was all new to this, but so was he. The other boy was also naive in a lot of things, just like he was back then when he was just a youth and his Taizi Dianxia had been several years older. He'd waited this long already. He could handle waiting longer. Rushing didn't do any good.
"San Lang?" Xie Lian's voice was soft and quiet as they continued to sit there; the other boy continued to gently play with his hair. It felt nice, nonetheless.
"Yes Gege?"
"Since you know a lot about history and all, could you tell me what the Kingdom of Xianle was like?" He slowly pulled his head back from San Lang's as the other boy gave a blink to his question. "I was just curious about Taizi Dianxia I guess." He gave a smile. "I know the Ghost Festival is over but I still feel like I wanted to make sure he was honoured right. And I suppose the best way would be to know more about him. He seemed like a very regal prince from the picture you showed me in your book."
Blinking, San Lang gave a small smile while pulling his hand away from the other boy's head to rest around Xie Lian's waist where his other one was. "Well, it's a very old kingdom. It was a very prosperous and rich one too. It sat within the Central Plains and had a very vast territory. Many were very happy." He gave a small pause, his own unhappy childhood flickering across his memory. "They had a few treasures including a thriving culture of art and literature and the strange but popular Taizi Dianxia.
"But there was unrest from the people in Yong'an, who had been under a severe drought. Many travelled to the royal capital city of Xianle but it became overwhelming and even the king had to shut the gates to the city to keep them out."
"Why?" This made Xie Lian curious. If he was also a reincarnation of the crowned prince, why did his father back then do what he did?
"There were too many as hundreds came from the drought stricken Yong'an. It became a standstill, which from what I've read, was broken when a young child that was sick and the father fell to their death after the father tried to climb the wall with a rope just to see a doctor. The wife was so distraught, she went to the wall and banged her head against it until she died. This caused unrest and an uprising amongst the refugees, which led to a civil war." He recalled reading about it a bit, but it had been different living it. Even though he hadn't been part of the fighting itself, it had affected him and the entire kingdom.
"What about the prince? What happened to him and his parents?"
"There are rumours that they all met their demise when fighting got great enough to break into the city. But there's other rumours that they managed to escape." While he hadn't known the whole details of what had happened to the former Xie Lian's parents, he knew that they'd died before he'd met up with the former prince. "At least, from what I've heard, there was the possibility that Taizi Dianxia managed to make it out alive. But he had to go into hiding, using an alias to keep others from Yong'an from finding out he was the former prince, lest any enemies might try to kill him."
"Do you know what he was like? Before this civil war happened?"
Golden hazel eyes blinked at the other boy. That would be hard to actually know since he hadn't actually known Xie Lian before the fall of the kingdom. He'd met him afterwards when the other had been in hiding with his personal attendant, Mu Qing, his Imperial Bodyguard, Feng Xin, and his cousin, Xiao Jing. But this reincarnation of Xie Lian wouldn't know this.
"Well, they say he was kind and caring," he started, recalling what he'd been like after coming to stay with him at the shrine. "He wanted to help the common people."
That was something he'd heard he had wanted to do but given the 'common people' had risen up and caused his kingdom's downfall, it had also made the prince a bit hesitant to help, wondering if they'd also revolt against what little help he tried to give.
"He was also good in the arts," San Lang continued. "Music, dancing, calligraphy. He was good at those." He couldn't help but give a small smile at how the former prince had tried his best to help him write and read since his family never bothered to teach him. What little he'd tried, his handwriting had been horrible. It still was to this day not really great compared to Xie Lian's.
"He sounds like a good person." Xie Lian could see the flicker of sadness and his gaze somewhat distant as he spoke all of this. Were San Lang's own memories of his former life knowing him back then sad?
"He was." The darker haired boy gave a small nod. "It was just sad to see him lose his life well before he should have. I think he would have made a good king." Well, from his own opinion on the former prince, he felt like he would have.
Suddenly, San Lang felt Xie Lian's hand against his chest over his heart. He raised his gaze up just as the other teen leaned forward and kissed him softly. This got him to blink in surprise as the other pulled back and looked at him with a softened look to his features.
"W-what was that for?"
"You looked really sad talking about the prince just now."
"Duìbùqǐ. I guess I was just thinking how hard it would be to lose everything like he did," San Lang spoke softly.
"If he managed to get away?"
"Y-yeah."
"I suppose it would be hard." Golden hazel eyes looked at chocolate ones. "If I were in his shoes, I suppose I would be pretty depressed if I managed to get away. Especially if he lost his parents and any other family and friends he had." Xie Lian gave a pause. "While I can't relate on the level of having responsibilities as great as him with being a prince and suddenly thrust into being a commoner, losing something or someone precious is hard."
"Like your father?"
"Partly, yes." He brought his hand up to touch the lock of hair that sat in front of San Lang's right ear. "But also my friend, Xiao Hua. He really did bring me a lot of happiness." Sadness crossed his features. "I still wish I knew what happened to him and why he suddenly disappeared."
San Lang averted his gaze as he pulled his lips into a thin line. He remembered back to that time. There had been a disturbance going on in the Ghost Realm that he'd had to take care of. Part of it also had to deal with the Kiln so that way another Devastation ranked ghost wasn't created. It had taken him away from Xie Lian for a few years. By the time he'd returned, the young boy had already hit his early teenage years. He'd seen him hanging out with Fu Yao and Nan Feng. Figuring at least maybe he'd be okay on his own, he watched from a distance. But he hadn't guessed how deep down Xie Lian really had missed him or how the younger teen's life had crumbled after his father had left. Had he been there for him, he'd have been able to comfort his friend in whatever means he needed him to do.
"Duìbùqǐ, Gege…." Sorry. His voice was quiet as he kept his gaze averted.
Xie Lian gave a blink at the saddened and somewhat guilty look on his friend's face. He realised that given San Lang was Xiao Hua, this was his way of apologising. Though he still wished to know why he'd left. But since San Lang hadn't revealed he actually was Xiao Hua, getting an answer out of him wouldn't be so easy.
'Why can't I just come out and say that I know who he is?' Xie Lian thought to himself as he looked at his saddened friend. It shouldn't be this hard to just say the words that he knew he was Xiao Hua and Hua Cheng. But he also realised he was afraid. Afraid that if he said anything, he might lose San Lang again. This time, forever. Even if their lives were interconnected.
Reaching his hands up, he placed them on either side of the red clad teen's cheeks and turned his head to look back at him. Those golden hazel eyes gazed at him with sadness in them.
"It's okay." He gave the other teen a small smile. "It's not your fault. I'm sure he had his reasons. I just hope one day I'll know why."
Blinking at seeing the forgiveness in those brown orbs, San Lang went to open his mouth. But what could he say? Did he dare admit to the other teen he really was his friend Xiao Hua and Hua Cheng? He still didn't know what Xie Lian would think about it. Maybe after they returned from Gui Shi he'd confess everything.
Closing his mouth, he pulled his lips into a thin line again. Xie Lian gave a small shake of his head as he gave him a quick kiss then pulled his hands away from his cheeks and laid his head down against his shoulder. They sat there like that for a short time before the younger teen's stomach gave a small growl.
"Sounds like someone is hungry," San Lang spoke up with a small chuckle. He looked over to see Xie Lian give an embarrassed look as he sat his head up away from his shoulder.
"Maybe a little bit." His stomach growled again and he gave an embarrassed laugh. "Okay maybe more than a little."
"Well then, I suppose lunch is in order." He gently slid Xie Lian's legs down and stood after the teen moved off his lap before turning back to him. Then reaching down, he slid his arms around his back and under his knees, lifting him up into his arms like yesterday.
"S-San Lang!" The lighter haired teen felt his cheeks flush in embarrassment. "W-what are you doing?"
"Taking you to the table," he grinned before turning and heading to the dining area. He set him down in a chair gently before pulling another chair over so he could keep his foot elevated. Grabbing a bag of ice and towel, he brought it over to put on his foot. "Alright. You just wait there Gege. I'll get lunch made."
Realising it was futile to argue with the red clad teen, Xie Lian sat and watched the other move around the kitchen as if it was his own. Watching him prepare the ingredients and get it started cooking was interesting to watch. But it made him happy as the scent of food filled the air while it cooked.
"There you go, Gege," San Lang said as he brought food over to the table after setting it with chopsticks, glasses with tea inside, and plates. He removed the bag of ice that was mostly melted by now before sitting across from him.
"Xié xie." Thank you. Xie Lian gave a smile as he took a bite. "It's delicious as always."
"Búkèqi, Gege." You're welcome. He couldn't help but give a smile. The other teen always had something to make him feel better, whether it be words, a gesture, or just his smile.
Continuing to eat, they finished up before Xie Lian spoke up as the other teen started clearing the table and putting the dirty dishes in the sink.
"Hey San Lang?"
"Yes Gege?" Honey eyes glanced back at him before returning back to the table to clear more stuff off.
"Do you think if I asked Hua Cheng to send one of those butterflies of his to heal my ankle, he would? Like the other time with the scrape on my hand from those one guys?"
Golden hazel eyes blinked at the question. "Maybe." He gave a pause as he grabbed a dish of food to put away. "Though, if he did, your mother might get curious how you healed practically immediately when she knows how badly injured it is. She didn't know about you scraping your hand."
Blinking, Xie Lian gave a small laugh. "Oh yeah. I didn't think of that. And I can't exactly fake a sprained ankle."
"Exactly." He gave a small smile. "Just keep that ointment on it I gave you and it should get better quickly."
"I will." He smiled at the red clad teen as the other started the water for dishes. "You don't really have to do that."
"I don't mind." He waved his hand nonchalantly before sliding the outer part of his red jacket off so his white undershirt showed. He then pushed up his sleeves above his elbows.
"W-what's that?" Xie Lian noticed writing on the other boy's right arm in bright red. He hadn't noticed it before in all the times they'd hung out together. Mostly because he always had long sleeves on whether in his school uniform or in his red outfit. Even his pyjamas he'd worn the nights he'd stayed had been long sleeved.
"Oh this?" San Lang brought his arm up revealing the line of text going down his arm from his wrist to elbow. "It's just something I did when I was younger." He gave a small laugh before turning towards the sink and stuck his hands into the soapy water.
Blinking in somewhat surprise, the younger teen gave a small shake of his head at the other teen. He hadn't gotten a really good look at the writing. But from what he could see, it was hard to read, much like San Lang's usual handwriting.
'I wonder if he put that on himself?' Xie Lian thought as he picked up his cup of tea and sipped on it while watching San Lang do the dishes.
It didn't take long before the darker haired teen finished up and came back over after drying his hands, slid his sleeves down, and put his jacket back up into place. He came over and picked up Xie Lian in his arms like earlier. The younger teen didn't bother to protest as he was carried back to the couch, but his cheeks remained flushed pink.
Sitting down while still holding onto the younger boy in his arms, San Lang gave a chuckle at the other's blushing. "You keep looking like that and it'll make me want to kiss you, Gege." This only made Xie Lian blush more, which San Lang laughed at before leaning forward and kissed his cheek.
"S-San Lang…"
"What? Can't I spoil you, Gege?"
"W-well...uh…" His cheeks remained flushed. "I...I'm just not used to all this, I guess." San Lang chuckled softly. "S-seriously."
"Remember I told you once I'd do anything for the one I cared for the most?" Xie Lian blinked, recalling their conversation before about that and nodded. "So I'll shower you with all my affection and spoil you." To solidify his words, he kissed him again.
Kissing him back, Xie Lian couldn't help but feel butterflies in his stomach. It really did feel like being spoiled though. But he also wanted to return the favour to the red clad teen. He'd have to think of some way to do so.
Shifting himself a little so he didn't hurt his foot, Xie Lian slid off his lap a bit. This confused the red clad teen before the other boy put one of the decorative pillows against the arm of the couch and prodded San Lang to turn enough so he could stretch out along the couch. This got the other teen to blush a bit himself as he turned and leaned up against the arm of the couch.
Scooting a little after San Lang had his legs up, Xie Lian lowered himself down over the other teen below him. He laid his head down on his chest as San Lang blushed at their now interesting position. Definitely hadn't expected Xie Lian to be so forward about laying there on the couch like that.
"I'm not too heavy, am I?" the younger teen asked, lifting his head to look at San Lang's blushing face.
"N-no. You're just fine, Gege." The other teen blushed while smiling softly then laid his head back down against his chest.
Listening to the soft, steady throb of San Lang's heart beating, Xie Lian couldn't help but feel relaxed. Even if somehow his heartbeat was only made of magic for his disguise, he didn't mind. His warmth was comforting and his earthy scent filled his nose just like those times sleeping in the same bed together.
Bringing his hand up to the back of the lighter haired teen's head, San Lang threaded his fingers through the shorter hair. He definitely missed the former Xie Lian's longer hair that he'd braided a few times, though messily at first. The younger boy gave a small sigh while giving him a soft squeeze since his arms were wrapped around him.
Smiling softly, the darker haired teen felt content as they laid there while he gently played with his hair. The feel of the younger teen's heartbeat could be felt against his other hand that rested against his back. He couldn't help but close his eyes, happy that they could enjoy each other's company like this. This moment, he definitely wished could last forever.
Continuing to relax, he noticed the other boy's breaths had evened out. "Gege?" There was no answer and he knew that he was sound asleep. But he didn't mind. Maybe he'd get some rest himself for a little bit.
Flicking his eyes open, San Lang gave a blink as he woke up from a short nap. He looked up as one of his butterflies he'd sent to watch out for Xie Lian's mother when he first got to the house came fluttering over to him. It reported that his mother was on her way home from work.
Looking down at the other teen still asleep on him, he wasn't sure how his mother would take to them laying like this. Knowing her, she wouldn't like it. From how she'd acted yesterday telling him to leave after bringing Xie Lian home injured, she'd seemed pretty upset. Or that every time he was over, she always seemed to watch him closely. It was to be expected, he supposed. While he could blend in flawlessly in his human disguise, there were still some that picked up that he was different somehow.
"Gege." He brought his hand to his shoulder and gave it a small shake. "Gege."
"Ngh…." A sleepy groan escaped him as he started to stir.
"Gege, you might want to wake up." Another groan emitted from the boy. "When does your mother get home from work?"
"Huh?" Brown eyes finally opened as he raised his head off the red clad boy's chest.
"Your mother. When does she get home from work today?" He decided he'd play naive even though he knew she was on her way home.
"Crap!" Xie Lian looked towards the clock on the wall nearby reading the time. He quickly sat up off San Lang and gave a small yelp in pain when he moved his injured ankle too quickly. His instant reaction was to grab onto it as it gave a throb in pain.
"Here, let me see, Gege." He gently pulled his hands away from his ankle.
"Your hands are cold again," Xie Lian gasped as the other boy placed his hands against his skin.
"Duìbùqǐ." Sorry. He had shifted them to be cold as soon as the other boy had signalled he'd been in pain.
"That feels good though." He smiled at the other boy before looking up at the clock again. "Crap. Mom's going to be home in a few."
"Do you wish for me to leave, Gege?"
Blinking as he saw the honey coloured gaze looking at him in question, he gave a shake of his head. "No, it should be fine. I mean, I can't really do much and she should be glad that you came to check on me and help me out so I stay off my foot." At least he'd hoped she'd be alright with it. Even he recalled how she'd been a little upset and told San Lang to leave yesterday.
"Alright. I'll stay." He paused before standing up. "But I might want to move my shoes to the front door so she doesn't get suspicious that I came in through your window."
"Yeah, she might not like that idea." Xie Lian gave a small, embarrassed laugh. "Knowing my luck, she'd find a way to seal my window shut. That would make trying to sneak out to go to Gui Shi hard."
San Lang gave a small chuckle and kissed him. "Then I'll be back in a moment, Gege."
Watching the other boy leave the room, Xie Lian leaned over to turn on the television again that had been turned off earlier just before San Lang had started preparing lunch. He put his foot back up and waited for the other teen to return.
"You might want this again," San Lang spoke up as he brought the bag of ice and towel with him before sitting on the end of the couch by his foot. He gently laid both across his foot.
"Xié xie." Thank you. A smile pulled his lips up as he looked at the darker haired teen. The other boy mirrored it before they both turned to look at the screen and see what was playing. Several minutes passed before the sound of the door being unlocked and opening came to their ears.
"Xie Lian?"
"In here Mom." He looked over the back of the couch as his mother came into view. Her gaze went from him over to the darker haired teen sitting on the other end.
"Hi Mrs. Xie," San Lang said as he turned his head to look back at her with a smile.
She gave a blink at him. "Hello."
"San Lang stopped by to see how I was doing," Xie Lian said as he smiled at his mother. "He made lunch so I didn't have to be on my ankle at all."
Similar brown eyes looked at the darker haired teen with a blink as that golden hazel gaze of his watched her. "I suppose I owe you a thank you."
"It was the least I could do," San Lang replied, still giving a smile.
"Hey Mom? Do you think San Lang could stay for dinner?"
Brown eyes glanced towards the honey coloured ones before looking back to her son with a questioning look at her answer. "I suppose as long as his mother is okay with it." She turned and headed for the stairs.
"Wait, is your mother still gone on that business trip?" Xie Lian asked quietly after they heard soft footsteps coming from upstairs of her going to her room. While he realised San Lang probably didn't have anyone else in the house, he figured he'd play up thinking there was someone.
"Yeah. But she doesn't have to know," the other teen replied with a small, mischievous smile before getting up to go grab the phone and bring it back over. He waited a moment before hearing her coming back down the stairs then pretended to dial. "Hey Mom? Is it alright if I stay for dinner tonight at Xie Lian's?" He turned to look at the younger teen and gave a small wink. "I can? Xié xie!"
"He can stay," the younger teen said as he turned to look at his mother.
"Then I suppose so." She glanced at the darker haired teen as he smiled then got up to return the phone.
"If you wish, I can help with dinner," San Lang offered as he came back. "I don't mind."
Xie Lian's mother gave a blink then shook her head. "It's fine." She turned and headed towards the kitchen to get it started.
"She's like that sometimes," Xie Lian said very quietly after San Lang gave a blink then came over to sit down beside him. He gave a small sigh, pulling his lips into a thin line, as he looked back towards the television.
Looking at the younger teen, San Lang remembered the words he'd spoken before about how his mother had changed after his father left. He reached a hand out and placed it on his leg. Brown eyes turned towards him with a blink.
"I understand, Gege." He then reached out and took Xie Lian's hand in his, lacing their fingers together as they watched more television while the scent of food started to fill the air.
About the time the food was finished, San Lang helped Xie Lian hobble towards the table after taking care of the bag of ice that had been on his foot for a bit. He helped him sit down and get his foot propped up before going over to grab items to set the table with. This got Xie Lian's mother to look at him for a moment but didn't say anything as he went about helping.
Dinner was fairly quiet as his mother watched the darker haired boy across the table eat. Her son seemed happy to have him over for dinner again. Though she was happy her son had another friend besides Fu Yao and Nan Feng, this boy gave her an odd feeling. And they'd basically been joined at the hip since he'd arrived. The way that the red clad boy looked at Xie Lian also unnerved her. Like he was waiting for something from him. But she couldn't place what it might be.
"Xié xie for dinner, Mrs. Xie," San Lang said after they'd finished eating. "It was delicious." He got up to take his and the younger teen's plates to the sink before coming back over to the table. "Need help back to the couch, Gege?"
"Sure." Xie Lian stood before San Lang let him lean against him to hobble back to the couch.
Standing to start clearing the table, she went to put her plate in the sink. When she turned around, she gave a small gasp in surprise. The darker haired boy was standing there with a couple of other dishes in hand. She hadn't even heard him come into the room, let alone pick up the dishes.
"Duìbùqǐ. I didn't mean to startle you," he said, holding the dishes out to her. "I thought I'd be helpful to clear off the table."
"I-it's fine. You don't have to," she replied, taking the dishes from him.
"Alright. If you insist." He turned and left the room again, going back to the couch and lowered his voice. "I think I startled your mother."
"Oh?" Brown eyes blinked at him.
"I went to take some dishes to her at the sink, but she must not have heard me." He gave a small chuckle as he shrugged.
"Oops." Xie Lian couldn't help but give a small chuckle himself. "Oh! Do you think you could get me my sketchbook and my pencils? They should be on my desk."
"Sure Gege." He gave a smile before going to grab them and returned a moment later.
Taking them, Xie Lian opened to a blank page as the red clad boy sat back down at the end of the couch. The brown eyed boy gave a smile before starting to sketch something that San Lang couldn't see from where he sat.
"What are you drawing now?" he asked, curiously.
"Give me a moment and I'll show you." Xie Lian gave a small furrow of his brow as he tried to finish the picture up. He gave a smile before holding it up and turned it around so San Lang could see.
Blinking at the picture of himself as a younger kid, San Lang took it from the younger teen. He gave a small furrow of his brow at how he looked before raising his gaze back up to the teen before him.
"It's my friend, Xiao Hua," Xie Lian said with a soft smile. "You drew your friend so I wanted to show you mine. Despite not having seen him since I was little, I've never forgotten his face."
"You're a really good friend, you know that, Gege?" San Lang gave a smile before handing the book back to the other teen.
"Like I said before, he was my best friend," Xie Lian smiled softly. "He meant a lot to me." San Lang returned the smile.
"Xie Lian?" Both boys looked up at the sound of his mother to see her standing there in the doorway to the living room. Brown eyes glanced at the darker haired teen. "You should say goodbye to your friend for now. It's getting late and it's not good to be out after dark alone."
Xie Lian went to open his mouth to say something but San Lang spoke up first. "Yeah, I wouldn't want to worry my mother too much." He gave the younger teen a smile as he stood from the couch. "I suppose I'll see you later, Gege."
"Yeah. Wǎn ān San Lang." Goodnight.
Watching his friend turn and head to the front door, Xie Lian wished he could have kissed him goodbye. He wondered if San Lang had wanted to do the same. But with his mother standing there watching, obviously that wasn't going to happen. The sound of the front door shutting softly signalled that the other boy had left after a moment to get on his shoes.
"I think I'm going to go read in my room for a bit," the younger teen sighed as he set his book and pencil on the coffee table before standing. He gave a bit of a wince as he put some pressure on his ankle then grabbed his book and pencil again.
Hobbling down to his room, he turned on his light and shut the door behind him. He went over to his desk to set the sketchbook and pencil down. A moment of him looking at the picture he drew of his friend got him to bring his hand up and lightly trace the outlines of his face down to his jaw.
Suddenly, a soft breeze came from behind him. He turned to see San Lang standing outside his window that he'd opened. The red clad boy gave a grin as he snuck inside and slid his shoes off before coming over to him.
"S-San Lang!" Xie Lian spoke in a hushed whisper as the other boy brought his lips to his and kissed him.
"I didn't get my kiss goodnight, Gege." San Lang gave a chuckle as the other boy's cheeks flushed pink. He then picked him up in his arms and carried him over to the bed. "And you should stay off your ankle still."
"I-I know." He put his foot up on the bed as the red clad teen went over to grab the bottle of ointment he'd left for him.
Unwinding the wrap after handing the bottle to the brown eyed teen for a moment, San Lang applied the creamy mixture gently to his ankle. Once he was finished, he gently wrapped it back up for him then took care of the bottle.
"I suppose I'll really have to say goodnight now, Gege." San Lang gave a small sigh and a face like he didn't want to leave. He gave a glance towards the door. "That way you won't get in trouble."
"I guess so." The younger boy gave a small blush but looked up at the golden hazel eyes of his friend. "Will you come over again tomorrow?"
"If you want me to, I'll be here." Of course he had nothing better to do. Enjoying it with Xie Lian was the best thing in the world. After all, he had decided to finally show himself after that night in the cave. He was going to make up for all the lost time from when he had to leave the younger boy when he was a child.
"I'd like that. Mom leaves a little after nine in the morning."
"Alright then. I'll see you afterwards." San Lang leaned down and captured his lips in a kiss again, getting the other boy to blush softly. "Wǎn ān Gege. I'll dream of you."
Feeling his cheeks warm up even more, Xie Lian could only blush and bit his lower lip a little. The red clad teen gave a small chuckle before going back to the window, put his shoes on, and slipped out into the early night air. He blew him a soft kiss off his hand before sliding the window shut. With a last smile, brown eyes watched the other teen disappear from sight.
"I'll dream of you too," he whispered softly to himself as he pulled his pillow into his arms and hugged it.
Well that's the chapter. San Lang gave Xie Lian a good surprise visit. *grins* But it also looks like Xie Lian's mother is suspicious about him and his intentions. What will happen next? You'll just have to wait and see. *smiles*
Anyways, thanks again for reading! I'll update soon!
Also, I've added a little Mandarin into their dialogue. I'm actually learning Mandarin myself. Xié xie Duolingo and Una lǎoshi (teacher) I found on TikTok that is certified (chineseteacher_una). She is amazing!
(I will keep it simple though with only a few words so as not to get overwhelmed. Especially since it's a tonal language and getting the right tones can seem hard for some.)(I probably will go back to previous chapters as well and fill in the few words below.)
~Duìbùqǐ - Sorry. (Pronounced dweh-boo-chi)
~Xié xie - Thank you. (She-yeh sheh)
~Búkèqi - You're welcome. (Boo-kuh-chee)
~Wǎn ān - Goodnight. (Waan-ahn)