Work Text:
Xie Lian felt his heart stutter in his chest as soon as he saw the handsome regular come in. He was so so fucked.
Hua Cheng was hot enough on a normal day, with long black hair cascading down his back, always wearing a black leather jacket.
The coffee shop Xie Lian worked at opened in January, meaning it was fairly cold for the past few months, meaning he’s never seen Hua Cheng with his arms bare, even though he saw him everyday for two months. Until now.
As soon as Hua Cheng came into the door and his face lit up at the sight of his favourite barista, and Xie Lian knew he was in trouble. San Lang, as he insisted on being called, had his hair in a high ponytail and he was wearing a muscle shirt. Sleeveless, muscle shirt. And Xie Lian was praising and cursing whatever higher power there was, that he has never seen his muscles before. Because how could he act like a normal person and not a blushing, stuttering mess when he was faced with all of that.
“Gege, it’s good to see you!” San Lang smiled brightly and oh my gods, his smile .
Xie Lian got weak in the knees every time he saw it. Every time he saw San Lang, if he was being entirely honest.
“S-San Lang! It’s so nice to see you as well,” Xie Lian smiled, praying that the other won’t notice how hot his face was getting.
Come on, Xie Lian, keep it together ! He scolded himself internally. He couldn't ruin their friendship. Especially now that he had visible proof that the other had a soulmate. That wasn’t him, he thought bitterly, looking at the unrecognisable name on the other’s forearm. Not that he doubted it when he heard San Lang speak so highly of his ‘special precious someone’, who was so perfect that Xie Lian had no chance of competing against them.
Despite the existence of soulmates, romantic relationships weren’t confined to only one’s soulmate. Very often soulmates were platonic, sometimes born with a huge age difference, sometimes simply because they worked better as best friends or found family, sometimes because they were of a different orientation - be it sexual or romantic.
For example, Xie Lian’s best friends Mu Qing and Feng Xin were in a queer platonic relationship as platonic soulmates. Mu Qing was aromantic and Feng Xin was demiromantic, and they couldn't imagine life with anyone else.
On the other hand, Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan, despite being soulmates, could not see eye to eye due to certain… Circumstances.
Now, Hua Cheng wasn’t Xie Lian’s soulmate either. A boy he saved when he was younger, Hong Hong’er was. But he hasn’t seen him in years. He wasn’t even sure he was alive.
Xie Lian had hoped that he’d be able to ask Hua Cheng out, until the other started talking about his soulmate. The love of his life. All hope was snuffed out. But it didn’t stop the feelings.
Which is how Xie Lian found himself in his own personal hell. He couldn’t deny that the torture was nearly sweet though. He sighed internally, when Hua Cheng’s abs flexed when he reached across the counter for his coffee - an oat caramel frappuccino with lots of coconut whipped cream.
"Gege, are you okay? You've been really quiet," San Lang - always so considerate! - asked with concern on his beautiful face.
Ah, shit.
"Of course, I'm fine! Don't worry your pretty head!" he assured and then went even more red in the face when he realized what he said.
San Lang seemed to be matching him in colour. Oh no, he fucked up.
"Oh um… if you say so," San Lang smiled and seemed like he wanted to be swallowed by the ground.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that, I was out of line," Xie Lian stammered, cursing himself internally.
Surely he ruined their friendship.
"Ah, it's okay, gege!" San Lang reassured him.
"No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't say things like that when you," he took a breath to calm himself down, "when you have your special someone."
San Lang stood there in silence, seemingly stunned by the indirect confession before looking down at the name on his forearm and looking back up at Xie Lian's face. Then he laughed.
Oh, gods above, can't the ground just swallow him whole? Xie Lian cursed, tears appearing in his eyes.
"I know my handwriting isn't great," San Lang continued laughing much to Xie Lian's confusion, "But I didn't expect you not to recognise your own name."
His own name. His name? On his San Lang's arm? He was… San Lang's soulmate? But Hua Cheng always described his soulmate as someone incredibly precious. He was… Xie Lian was that person?
"But then…I— You're in love with me?" he stuttered out, needing a confirmation.
Someone scoffed behind them and they heard a whispered fucking finally , from none other than Mu Qing. Neither paid him any mind though.
"I think that should be pretty obvious."
It was Hua Cheng's turn to look embarrassed, red staining his perfect cheeks and the tips of his ears. Xie Lian wanted to plant kisses all over his perfect face.
"But then… my soulmate is someone named Hong Hong'er," he frowned.
It happened sometimes that soulmate names didn't match. It was an incredibly rare event and usually meant that one person didn't necessarily feel anything for the other. Which surely wasn't true with how Xie Lian was scared he'd explode with the force of all the feelings that were rushing through him.
Hua Cheng frowned and looked away.
"That's my birth name," San Lang mumbled, clearly displeased that he had to admit it.
Xie Lian blanched. They were soulmates. Truly, soulmates.
And as soon as he realised, he noticed the red string of fate connecting them as though appearing in confirmation.
Oh.
Oh .
When soulmates realized who they were for each other, they started to see a coloured string. Green for familial relations, yellow for friendship, blue for otherwise platonic, red for romantic.
Xie Lian smiled and tugged Hua Cheng over the counter to kiss him soundly on the mouth. Both Hua Cheng and Mu Qing, who was still observing the whole scene, gasped in surprise at the uncharacteristical display of boldness.
Well, what could Xie Lian say? He was pining for a very long time, he won't let this chance get away from him. He had a lot of kissing to catch up on.