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Hua Cheng's favourite part of the day was when he would go back to Puqi Shrine, seeing his beloved gege carefully preparing dinner upon entering, looking at the Ghost King with a soft smile on his face when he notices him followed by a sweet greeting, enjoying a simple dinner only to fall into his arms right after, him holding Xie Lian as close as he could.
Well, seeing Xie Lian was always Hua Cheng's favourite parts of his day, wether it was waking up next to the god who was still peacefully asleep, carefully pushing his long messy hair out of the way so he could get a better look at his sleeping face, the little trips the couple would go on around town, helping him fulfill his follower's prayers or staying at home, cuddled up on the straw mat they call a bed together. As long as Xie Lian was with him, Hua Cheng knew he'd enjoy every second of it.
But, there was something so intimate about him coming home to Xie Lian after dealing with whatever ruckus the Ghost City had caused, seeing his lover's eyes light up as soon as sees Hua Cheng walk through that door. Coming home to the most delicious meals of his life (every meal made by his gege was a delicious meal), lightly chatting about each other's day, though Hua Cheng did more listening than talking, and cleaning up the used dishes side by side.
The two stripped off their outer robes and footwear, getting ready to head to bed and energize themselves for another long day together.
The lovers would usually indulge in each other first before sleeping, tiring each other out until one of them gave into the drowsy feeling and eventually fell asleep (which was usually Xie Lian, Hua Cheng alwayd stayed up a tad bit longer after his gege had slept to admire his face) by kissing, talking until they had run out of things to talk about, whispers of sweet nothings into each other's ears and other times in rather..explicit ways.
It was often Hua Cheng who'd spoil Xie Lian with all those, though they are equals in their relationship, it was natural for Hua Cheng to show his undying love for the god by showering him with an overwhelming amount of affection.
On some nights, it would be Xie Lian who'd be dumping his affection on his San Lang.
The two were now lying down facing each other in an endearing kind of silence, as if both of them were studying each other's features. There was a small gap between the two which was soon closed as Xie Lian pulled Hua Cheng closer to him, wrapping his arms around the Ghost King as his head was buried into Xie Lian's collarbones.
Hua Cheng widened his eyes in surprise, caught off guard by the sudden gesture. It had always been like this, Hua Cheng lightly gasping or widening his eyes in surprise whenever Xie Lian showed him love, unable to believe that he is loved by Xie Lian of all people.
He eventually relaxes into the embrace, wrapping his arms around Xie Lian as well and sliding a leg in between the god's, intertwining their legs together as a result.
Hua Cheng's breathing relaxes as well, into a slow and steady pace (even though the ghost didn't need to breathe, he is dead after all, Hua Cheng figured that Xie Lian liked listening to him breathe, like it was a reminder that his San Lang is still there). He smiled against his gege's collarbone, which the latter feels and smiles as well, reaching a hand up to Hua Cheng's head and starts gently patting it.
Hua Cheng had started playing around with the ends of Xie Lian's hair with his finger as well, twisting it around his finger then letting go only to do it again.
The feeling of being in Xie Lian's arms was divine, Hua Cheng felt like at any time now he would start floating through the air like a feather caught up in the wind, if he still had a live heart, it'd probably be beating three times faster than normal, like it always does whenever he was around his gege.
Hua Cheng didn't feel like himself. In Xie Lian's arms, he wasn't Hua Cheng, he wasn't Crimson Rain Sought Flower, he wasn't the ghost that had singlehandedly defeated 33 gods. In Xie Lian's arms, he was merely Hong Hong-er; pure and innocent, ignorant of the world around him. A kid that Xie Lian had saved, and a kid that Xie Lian cared for.
Xie Lian himself could sense it too, how Hua Cheng softened up more than usual whenever he embraced him like this, how sometimes Hua Cheng's pale hands would start gripping his clothes harder than normal as if he was hanging onto his dear life.
One fall had changed the course of both their lives forever. If the clumsy child Hua Cheng once was hadn't fell, if Xie Lian wasn't there to save him, they probably wouldn't be in the position they are now.
Hua Cheng was doing it again, holding onto Xie Lian's clothes as tight as he could, still silent in deep thought. Xie Lian leans down and plants a kiss on Hua Cheng's head in an attempt to comfort him, breaking his train of thought as the ghost looks up at his lover.
"San Lang, what are you thinking about?" Xie Lian asks, running his fingers through his San Lang's hair.
Hua Cheng smiles, "You." he replies, burying his face onto Xie Lian again as he places soft kisses onto the god's collarbone.
Xie Lian laughs at the ticklish sensation, causing Hua Cheng to get on top of him only to place more kisses on his lover's face and neck.
He stops for a moment, taking his time to admire the beauty that was Xie Lian beneath him before leaning down to finally kiss his lips, soft and warm against his. Xie Lian kisses back and wraps his arms around Hua Cheng's neck in response, unable to contain his happiness.
They pull away after a while and instead pressed their foreheads together. Hua Cheng quickly steals another kiss or two, making his gege laugh again in surprise.
"Gege." Hua Cheng whispers.
"Hm?"
"I love you. So much."
Xie Lian smiles and leans up for one last kiss, "I love you too, San Lang."