Art by Lychee Syrup

For someone who says he is busy with important work, Xie Lian sure is holed up inside his temple for too long. The others started feeling worried since a few days ago, seeing the door tightly shut and no sign of any soul inside. If not because of the strange aura seeping out every so often, people will think he is not inside. Another reason is, that Hua Cheng doesn't seem to bother with the anomaly. If something happened to His Highness, surely the Demon Supreme will be the first one to move from his spot.

"Please, God. Fix my precious doll." A little girl no older than five years old is praying, "Mommy gave it to me before she joins you in Heaven. Please fix it."

The girl stills for a few moment, as if waiting for something.

"I will come back later."

The girl says and dashed out quickly after realizing no one will answer. Hua Cheng who has been watching, has long noticed the same little girl keep coming back and forth at the same time every day. Pretty much the reason why Xie Lian cooping up inside is to deal with her request.

It's fine to focus on his work, but doing it a few days straight without rest and food is harming. This aspect is unlike Xie Lian in a way, so he's slightly worried.

"Gege, dinner is ready."

Hua Cheng knocks the door lightly, expecting no answer as usual. The tray in his hand is fuming from the hot meal. This time, he won't just wait. The black aura surrounding the room the moment he opened the door seems threatening. More like, threateningly funny. Whatever it is Xie Lian is working seems to be took everything of him.

"Gege." Hua Cheng calls again, gently, "Gege, I brought you dinner."

Xie Lian turned his head around slowly. His eyes are red from lack of sleep.

"Oh... San Lang. Is it dinner time already?"
"Yes. Let's eat together."

Xie Lian seems to hesitate, but put down the equipment he holds and hides everything under a cloth. Obviously, Hua Cheng can see it. He just decided not to say anything. Yet.

The dinner went by fast enough. Hua Cheng casually responds in Xie Lian's story as usual. His eyes never leave Xie Lian, watching intensely, listening, answering when needed. When Xie Lian noticed that gaze, he couldn't help but feel his face heated up. Thanks to the work making him busy, he hasn't spent his time with Hua Cheng as much as usual.

"Gege?"
"Mm?"
"Is something matter?"
"Eh? No. Why?"
"You doze off."
"Eh... I'm sorry. I was just thinking."
"Do you mind sharing your trouble with me?"

Xie Lian flustered a little.

"It's not..." He sighs in defeat, "I just thought we haven't spent some time together lately."
"If Gege is busy, I don't want to trouble you."
"No, it's not like-- I mean, I am working on something. I just not sure how to patch it? But I feel like I have to deal with it myself."
"And why is that?"
"Because it feels not right to let others do the work while I sit around."
"As far as I remember, Gege never rests as the other working. You work as hard."

Xie Lian blinks. A smile plastered on his face following soon enough.

"Thank you, San Lang."
"It's nothing. So what is it you're working on?"

Xie Lian hesitantly puts down his bowl and drags out a box from behind him, picks something from inside and shows it to Hua Cheng.

"I don't recognize this demon. I'm sorry."
"It's a rabbit doll." Xie Lian clears his throat in embarrassment, "A little girl put it inside the donation box someday while praying to have it fixed."
"I see."

Hua Cheng took the doll, inspect it properly. There seems to be a lot of random patching which doesn't belong, mostly Xie Lian's attempt to fix it, only to destroy it further into something unrecognizable.

"San Lang, I'm sorry."
"Why Gege need to apologize?"
"I should've told you, but I didn't."
"It's alright. I understand Gege means well." Hua Cheng smiles, "May I continue to fix this?"
"Is it alright?"
"Of course."
"Then... Thank you."
"Anything for Gege."

Xie Lian watches in awe. Hua Cheng can easily work on the broken doll-turned-abomination, fast and precise. It reminds him of Mu Qing who had been dealing with any kind of household work-related. He should ask Mu Qing, but he couldn't because Mu Qing is no longer his subordinate. It's rather improper and shameful to ask another God to do his job.

"It's nice."
"What is?"
"Seeing your work."
"If Gege wishes to see, you can ask me anytime."
"Won't it disturb your concentration?"
"It's Gege, so I won't mind."
"That won't do."
"It's alright, Gege. I work better knowing Gege is watching me."

Again, Xie Lian feels his face warmed.

"Alright, alright. Enough."

Hua Cheng smiles faintly and handed the doll back. Compared to the one Xie Lian did before, this looks like a masterpiece made by a professional. Xie Lian feels ashamed, yet excited and proud. Well, he really is hopeless when it comes to--

"I think what Gege made before was cute?"
"What?"
"When you try to fix it."
"Don't joke around, San Lang. It's nowhere near good. If I gave that to her, she will definitely cry."
"If it were me, I will be happy."
"I won't, I won't. No way."
"Why not?"
"If I want to give you something, it will be something more... Worth to see?"
"Whatever Gege made is worth to see."

Xie Lian gives him a look. There seems to be no ending in this light banter. He couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. The shame and sadness he had before for not being able to do it by himself, somewhat disappeared without a trace.

"San Lang, you always know how to make me smile."
"If that's what Gege thinks, I'm really happy."
"I am happy, thanks to you. I'm sure that little girl will be happy to." Xie Lian pokes the head of the doll, "It's really cute."
"Gege wants one?"
"Hm? Oh... Hmm..." Xie Lian thinks, "Where do I have to keep it?"
"Wherever you wish. You can even bring it around with you."
"I will feel bad if it got dirty, or lose it."
"It's fine. I'll make you another."
"Nah, nah. It's fine. I will be thankful, but the thought alone is enough."

Hua Cheng stares at him.

"If Gege says so."

As the talk stops there, Xie Lian doesn't think about it anymore. After he gives the doll to the little girl, listening to her happy rambling about God heard her wishes, he returns to his normal life. The days he spent inside the temple, he immediately apologies to Hua Cheng and make it up. Both in decent and indecent ways.

That certain morning where Xie Lian rarely has his day off, he plans to have Hua Cheng continues the writing classes which was abandoned for a while. Yet even after searching for him all the way down the hill, the village, the mountain, the lake, asking everyone he met, none saw the man.

"San Lang, can you hear me?"

Even within the communication array, there is no answer. The red string connected between them is still intact. Where could he be?

"Gege?"

Xie Lian's eyes lifted immediately hearing Hua Cheng's voice.

"San Lang! Where are you? I've been searching for you."
"I have something I need to do. Forgive me."
"Is that so? Well, you're back now. Where are you?"
"Will Gege mind coming to the bedroom?"
"Eh? Sure. Wait for me."

Even as he speaks, his legs already brought him to the building. Inside, Hua Cheng is sitting behind the desk they usually use to work. Something is currently sitting on top of the desk, Xie Lian couldn't see clearly thanks to the sunlight basking.

"What are those?"

Xie Lian comes closer. Hua Cheng doesn't answer, waits for Xie Lian to take a seat next to him, smiles when Xie Lian's eyes widened in shock and awe.

"San Lang, you made these?"
"Yes."
"That's... Really cute. Is this me?" Xie Lian picks the doll gently, "Eh? Am I this cute?"
"You are."
"Wait, yours look cute too."
"Gege is cuter."
"No, both are cute." Xie Lian couldn't contain his happy smile, "San Lang, thank you. I told you, you don't have to."
"I want to make this, so it's fine."

Hua Cheng lightly flicks his doll, made it fell on doll Xie Lian's shoulder. The cuteness makes Xie Lian crying in his heart. Something as precious, how is he going to keep it?

"Shall we leave them here? So they won't get too dirty."
"Sure."
"Thank you, San Lang."
"Anything for Gege."
"What do I have to prepare in return?"
"I don't want anything. But since Gege asks...."
"Yes?"

They exchange a glance. Xie Lian waits for the next sentence but there is none. When he noticed the gaze Hua Cheng gives him, his face heated up again.

"T-that's..."
"Can't?"
"....You can."

Xie Lian sure his face is bright red as he closes his eyes and leans forward. Hua Cheng's cold lips meeting his own, he's worried his burning out of embarrassment will be enough to warm Hua Cheng as well.

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