Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The early morning sunlight streams through the curtains and illuminates the small area by the window in Xie Lian’s office. As soon as he enters the compact space, he sets his laptop bag down on the desk before moving to stand by the window, rubbing his hands together and attempting to absorb the heat. The winter’s seem to be getting colder each year. Since it’s a Saturday, the central heating system of the building is switched off but Xie Lian thinks he might need to speak to the building manager to have it running on the weekends as well. After all, he does spend most of his time in the office. 

The bite of the cold air is replaced by a comforting warmth and he finally feels snug enough to remove his scarf and gloves. Xie Lian can almost make out the dark circles beneath his eyes, as he stares into the window's reflection, straightening his white collar and smoothening out his blazer. It’s been too many nights since he’s had any proper rest — but such is the nature of his work. He sits back at his desk, opens his laptop and begins his day catching up on emails. He receives almost five hundred emails a day. It’s got to the point that he has reconciled with the fact that he will likely die first before ever reading all of his emails, even with Feng Xin and Mu Qing helping him. 

As he scans through the endless list, he notices an email from Mu Qing sent in the early hours of the morning. It is the finalised court documents for a building code violation case he has been working on in the last couple of weeks. A small smile graces his face. The orphanage, at a minimum, will now have heaters installed and double glazed windows. But he is also hoping that the monthly donations his law firm is set to make will help alleviate some of the financial burden the orphanage might have moving forward. 

Although Xie Lian is a highly sought-after criminal attorney with the best win-rate in the city, he moved away from bigger high-paying jobs several years ago to focus solely on pro-bono work. Since then, he has been headhunted on numerous occasions for his criminal expertise but he feels fully content with spending his time providing legal aid for the less fortunate instead.

Mu Qing would have already checked that the documentation was complete and accurate before filing it but nonetheless Xie Lian opens the files and does a quick scan before trolling back through the unread emails.

When his vision starts to blur a little from staring into his computer screen for too long, Xie Lian decides that it’s time for another coffee. He glances at his watch and realises his favourite cafe downstairs will be opening in the next twenty minutes. Deciding that he still needs to give his eyes some respite, he turns on the news as he rests his head back onto the chair and shuts his eyes. The monotone ramblings scratch his ears as he tries to focus on the audio.

The reigning world snooker champion was arrested after assaulting a fellow competitor at a bar on Paradise Avenue, late last night. 

Witnesses say that the snooker player was seen in a heated argument with the victim just before a brawl broke out between the two. 

Footage has been released by patrons who observed the assault taking place. In this image, you can see the offender being escorted out of the bar by  police in handcuffs. 

The victim has been taken to the hospital to be treated for a broken nose and mild bruising.

A statement has been released by the Ethics Committee taking a firm stance that this violent behaviour is not welcomed in the sport and are currently in deliberation on whether the title should be revoked.  

Authorities have reported that Hua Cheng will likely be facing criminal charges.

A knock at the door steals Xie Lian’s attention away.

“Come in,” he calls out. 

Mu Qing peeks his head through the ajar door, “Banyue is here to see you.”

“Let her in,” Xie Lian says as he switches the TV off again. 

A small statured woman wearing a denim overall dress over a white sweater, scurries in holding a basket. “Mr. Xie, I’m so sorry for disturbing you on a Saturday,” she mumbles as she pads her oversized scarf down to reveal more of her face. 

“Banyue, it’s lovely to see you — and don’t be silly, your visits are always welcome,” Xie Lian says as he rises from his seat and gives Banyue a warm hug. He pulls out a chair and helps her in. “I take it Mu Qing has already informed you regarding the outcome of the proceedings?”

“Yes, I missed his call last night but when I heard the voicemail this morning, I just had to come see you and give you this,” she says with excitement, a bright smile adorning her soft features as she hands Xie Lian the woven basket she arrived with. “A thank-you gift. Although, you should probably know this was my first time trying this recipe.”

Xie Lian takes the basket and opens the lid. The lovely aroma of freshly baked goods wafts into the air first before he sees the interior lined with blueberry muffins. “You really shouldn’t have, but thank you — they smell lovely,” he says as he leans on the desk next to where Banyue is sitting. 

“I had to. If not for you, I would’ve been a scapegoat for money laundering that the company I worked for was committing. When I received that summons I truly felt so hopeless,” she says, her eyes glassy with tears threatening to fall. “There is nothing I can do to show you how grateful I am.”

This. This is exactly why Xie Lian does what he does. Despite the strenuous hours and the never ending workload, being able to help people who otherwise wouldn’t have had access to the help they needed fills him with heartwarming contentment.

He places a hand on her back, soothing her through her soft sniffles as she tries her best to remain composed. When she regains herself, they continue chatting about more casual topics.

Xie Lian is usually incredibly strict about maintaining a professional relationship with all his clients but Banyue has a tendency to unknowingly cross those boundaries — and he doesn’t have the heart to tell her to stop either. She is simply open and caring by nature, and he can’t fault her for that. In any case, her vibrant personality always puts Xie Lian in a good mood and today is no different. While she typically overshares, Xie Lian is careful not to divulge too many details on his own personal life, satisfied with just listening. After all, the burden of responsibility to make sure that border still exists is on Xie Lian himself.

Banyue shares that finding a job is difficult in the current market but the fact that she is getting interviews keeps her in good spirits. Xie Lian, in turn, tells her that the lasagna she made for him, the last time they saw each other, was absolutely divine. Intentionally not mentioning that he suspects it was that lasagna that gave him food poisoning the next day. 

A half hour passes by the time the conversation naturally comes to an end, after which Xie Lian accompanies her to the lobby. 

“If you ever need our firm’s help again, please don’t hesitate to call me,” he says. 

“I will, thank you so much, again,” she replies and wraps her arms around him once more.

He opens the glass door and bids Banyue farewell with a warm smile. He keeps his eye on her as she weaves through the busy street, watching her disappear around a corner before turning back to the lifts. 

Xie Lian is greeted with a familiar face as the elevator doors open. 

“I was looking for you. You weren’t in your office,” Feng Xin says as he steps out of the elevator. 

“I was walking a client out. What can I help you with?”

“It’s that time of the year again.” 

“Budgets?” Xie Lian asks, somewhat displeased.

“Budgets,” Feng Xin confirms.

Xie Lian lets out a deep sigh and grumbles, “Fine…but I want to grab a coffee first.”

A few moments later, Xie Lian and Feng Xin are both seated at Rainfall, a cafe just a short walk away from the office building. It is a quaint, little spot with limited seating which often fills up with customers fairly quickly. It is worth the wait though as the coffee is heavenly.

“I just signed off on another recurring donation,” Xie Lian mentions, his hands wrapping around the mug of his cinnamon latte to keep his fingers warm.

“I know. Mu Qing put the paperwork on my desk. We still have the funds to cover our outgoings for the next 24 months but the cash reserves have been dwindling the last couple of years,” Feng Xin says, taking a pause to sip his cold brew americano. “You should go back to working on billable engagements for the time being and I will continue with the pro-bono work.”

“I suppose it can’t be helped. At least, I won’t have any issues finding some work.”

“That brings me to the next thing I need to discuss with you. I already have a case you can work on,” he shares, handing Xie Lian a piece of paper. 

Xie Lian glances over the page, absorbing the details written on the sheet. The name listed as the defendant does sound familiar to him but he can’t seem to recall where he heard it. “This looks like a simple assault and battery charge. Why can’t you do it?” he questions, looking back up at Feng Xin.

“I did offer but they requested you, specifically. Besides, it works out since you have a higher chargeable rate anyway.”

“Very well, I'll take it on. Is there anything else I should know about?”

“I’ll send through the details once I get back to my desk but it’s a celebrity case so it's garnering a lot of public scrutiny. I’ve set up a meeting for you with their PR manager after lunch. Mu Qing should be available to drive you to the location,” Feng Xin states, finishing his drink and tossing the plastic cup in the bin. “I’m going to head back now.”

“You go first. I’ll be up soon, just need a couple of minutes.”

Feng Xin returns a small nod before heading out.

As soon as Feng Xin is out of view, the corners of Xie Lian’s lips begin to fall.

He did enjoy growing his career when he first stepped into the profession. It was an environment that was fresh, dynamic and challenging. The courtroom felt like a thrilling battle and Xie Lian seemed to only thrive in the chaos of it all. He loved the praise that came with each successful win and soon he was unofficially named the best criminal attorney in the city by the public and his colleagues. It was only at his peak did he realise that he had climbed so high, that the people that he actually wanted to help could no longer reach him. He had lost sight of the reason he joined the field in the first place. 

───── ⋅⋆⋅ ─────

Xie Lian finds himself standing in front of an exquisite high rise apartment building. Feng Xin did say this is a celebrity case so he shouldn’t be surprised that he has ended up in one of the most lavish parts of town. 

Once Xie Lian got back to his office and read the email from Feng Xin, outlining the details of the case including a background summary on both the plaintiff and the defendant, it clicked to him that the name was familiar because he had heard it on the news earlier in the day. Seeing as that brief segment covered most of the crucial details of the incident, Xie Lian didn’t feel the need to dig deeper into who his client was. The charge said enough. 

Despite having enough notice, Xie Lian still managed to work through his lunch break and as such arrived to his meeting on an empty stomach. He realises he probably should’ve taken one of the blueberry muffins to eat in the car on the way here. He is not expecting the meeting to take long so he should be fine to wait until after his meeting to grab a bite to eat. As he told Feng Xin, the charge is simple enough and the defendant is pretty well known in the sports industry so it is unlikely he will receive a harsh sentence anyway.

Eager to escape the cold, he steps through the revolving doors and his eyes immediately study his surroundings. The lobby has a sleek, dark contemporary ambiance, with grey stone and concrete panelling along the wall. Not really Xie Lian’s taste but it does look expensive. He can only assume that the people who choose to live here share the same affinity for this aesthetic.

As he makes his way along the granite floor, he is approached by a taller man. 

“Are you Xie Lian?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

“I’m Yin Yu, Hua Cheng’s PR consultant. Thanks for coming out all the way here. I just thought it might be good for Hua Cheng to stay out of the public eye for now,” he says, offering his hand. 

Xie Lian moves his laptop bag to his left hand before firmly shaking Yin Yu’s. “No problem and that was a wise decision.”  

“Please, follow me.” Yin Yu gestures toward the hallway on the other side of the lobby. Xie Lian trails closely behind him and takes note of the direction they are walking in. It would be good to remember his way around in case he would need to make another visit, although he hopes the case will conclude swiftly so that he can get back to work he will actually enjoy.

The number of security guards increases as they stroll further down the hallway. At the end of it is a room with a single elevator and guards posted in all corners. After stepping onto the lift, Yin Yu waves his access card against the scanner and the lift begins to move. They both ascend in silence to the top floor.  

He hears the chime of the elevator as the doors slide open. Yin Yu steps off first and Xie Lian follows in suit.  

The place is dark. Despite the full length, floor to ceiling windows pouring in an abundance of natural light, the space still feels…dark. There is a theme of black and dark wood furnishings with a few red accented fixtures littered around the place. 

“Please, take a seat,” Yin Yu says as they reach the living area. “Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?”

“No, that’s quite alright,” Xie Lian replies as he lowers himself onto the black leather sofa. He takes a moment to glance around. The apartment is quite large with an open space concept. From where he is sitting, he can see the kitchen and dining area. The other side of the room has a pool table near the balcony. Xie Lian has grown up with bright, vibrant colours and if he has to choose, that would still be his preference but he can’t deny that the ruby and onyx combination in the apartment has a striking allure to it. 

Yin Yu takes a seat on the couch directly opposite while Xie Lian removes some papers from his laptop bag, setting them neatly on the coffee table.

“Will Hua Cheng not be joining us?” Xie Lian asks. 

“He’s still asleep after being released on bail. It might be for the best, I don’t think he’s in the best mood for this conversation.”

“Very well.” Xie Lian nods and takes out his tablet to start making notes. “We’ll just start by recounting the events of the incident. You were present, correct?”

“Yes, I was there when it happened. Hua Cheng took the team out for a couple of drinks last night. He takes us out often so that is nothing new to us. The bar we went to is our usual go-to spot and we know the owner quite well. We got to the bar at around 10pm, had some drinks, played some pool and darts — everything was fine. It wasn’t until Qi Rong showed up,” Yin Yu shares. 

The slight twitch in Yin Yu’s brow gives away his annoyance. “Was Hua Cheng and the victim, Qi Rong, acquainted before the incident?” Xie Lian asks. He poses the question not because he doesn’t know the answer but as a test to see how honest Yin Yu will be. He has had clients lie to him before and in this line of work, it’s really hard to provide the best service to someone who doesn’t trust him. 

“I guess. He’s a snooker player that we often run into during local and regional competitions. He has a natural talent for getting on people’s nerves. Usually, Hua Cheng lets it roll off his back but something made him snap last night.” 

He’s honest, Xie Lian deduces. “Do you know what was said that triggered him?”

“I was at the bar picking up more shots so I have no idea what he said. Hua Cheng has also not volunteered that information to me and I've left it at that.”

Xie Lian contemplates on that for a moment. From the summary Feng Xin had put together, he knows Hua Cheng has had one misdemeanour charge in highschool but other than that, there were no other priors or any criminal charges. For the most part, his record is pretty clean. Although Hua Cheng is known to be arrogant and rude, he doesn’t seem to have a history of violent tendencies. Therefore, it must’ve been something deeply offensive to warrant such a public outburst.

They continue discussing the incident in detail, Xie Lian meticulously scribbling on his tablet as Yin Yu speaks. He knows he will need to get Hua Cheng’s point of view of the events at some point but for now he can work through the information Yin Yu has provided.

The sound of footsteps instigates Xie Lian to lift his head from his tablet. His eyes follow the shuffling noise until he sees a pair of slippers make their way into the kitchen. He isn’t sure what compels him to track his eyes up the silhouette but it throws him back a little to see a very half-naked man stroll into the room. 

Yin Yu’s attention is also stolen by the rustling in the kitchen and throws a glance over his shoulder. “Nice of you to finally join us. You couldn’t at least put on a shirt?” he says with a tinge of irritation. 

“This is my house and I didn’t authorise any of you to be here. You’re lucky you got pants,” Hua Cheng gruffs, with his back still facing the lounge.

Yin Yu doesn't try to hide his exasperation and rolls his eyes. “This is Xie Lian. The lawyer I hired. For you.”

There is no response from the kitchen, only the sounds of glasses clinking and cupboards rattling. A moment later, Hua Cheng enters the lounge, one hand in his grey sweatpant pocket and the other holding a tumbler filled with ice and dark amber liquid.

“Xie Lian, this is Hua Cheng,” Yin Yu introduces. 

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Xie Lian says, rising from his seat and extending his hand toward Hua Cheng. 

“The pleasure is all mine,” Hua Cheng responds in a deep tone. There is a sparkle of mischief in Hua Cheng’s scarlet eye that Xie Lian almost misses. The other eye is covered behind a black eyepatch. Removing his hand from his pocket, Hua Cheng wraps his fingers around Xie Lian’s palm and gives it a small squeeze. “So, this is the city’s big-shot lawyer. I have heard so much about you.”

An ability to interpret and analyse body language is a skill that is required within any legal profession. It is one of the defining traits between a novice and a veteran. For someone who has been practising in the field as long as Xie Lian has, it has become second nature. And at this very moment, Xie Lian gets the feeling that Hua Cheng is…mocking him? 

“I apologise but I can’t say I’ve heard of you before today.”

Yin Yu stifles a laugh at that comment. Hua Cheng flashes him a warning gaze before turning his attention back to Xie Lian. “Ouch,” Hua Cheng utters as he takes a seat on the sofa next to Yin Yu.

Xie Lian returns to his seat once again, taking notice of the way Hua Cheng crosses one leg over the other. Perhaps his comment was too defensive. “It’s not you. I simply do not watch the sport.”

“Don’t worry. It just means I need to find a way to make it interesting,” Hua Cheng says, bringing the glass to his lips and taking a sip.

“Hua Cheng, please stay focused,” Yin Yu interrupts, steering the conversation back to more pressing matters. “Xie Lian, do you mind sharing again what the next steps will be?”

“Certainly. As I was saying to Yin Yu, there is already video evidence that shows you throwing the first punch. In my professional opinion, the best course of action would be to plead guilty and cut a deal. I also suggest you release a public statement stating how apologetic you are and that you regret your actions. This will help me negotiate a lighter sentence. The quicker this wraps up, the less damage to your public image,” Xie Lian explains, mindful of keeping his field of vision above Hua Cheng’s neck.

A deep rumbling laugh vibrates through the room. “I’m not apologising to that trash and I, sure as hell, do not regret beating the shit out of him either,” Hua Cheng states. 

“That is your choice. But I can only help as much as you’re willing to cooperate. If you don’t agree with me, then I suggest you seek legal counsel from another firm.” 

It’s not the first time a client has disagreed with Xie Lian’s methods and his response in those previous situations have been the same. He doesn’t try to force a working relationship between a client and himself when it’s clear from the beginning that they have opposing views. Of course, it is normal for a client to be apprehensive and question certain things but too much resistance simply creates a hostile environment for everyone involved and Xie Lian tries to avoid that as best as he can. 

He needs this job right now, though. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so quick to dismiss Hua Cheng’s concerns. Judging by Hua Cheng’s expression, Xie Lian thinks he’s probably about to get fired. Feng Xin will not be happy. 

Hua Cheng clicks his tongue — his eyes narrowing to slits as if to call out Xie Lian’s bluff. “Not necessary. Please, continue.” 

The response surprises Xie Lian. His lips part open slightly revealing his shock but he’s quick to steel his features once more and continues. “You should also keep a low profile while the negotiations are underway and avoid any places that could draw unwanted attention. This includes any bars, clubs, casinos. Also try to postpone any illustrious expenditure.”

“Sounds like I might as well be dead,” Hua Cheng grumbles, downing the rest of his drink and placing the empty glass on the coffee table.  

“Oh, and strip clubs,” Xie Lian says. 

In the corner of Xie Lian’s eyes, he sees Yin Yu raise his hand over his mouth to silence a cough which sounds suspiciously like the beginning of a laugh. 

There is a couple of seconds of complete silence and as his eyes meet Hua Cheng’s again, he’s surprised to find Hua Cheng staring back at him. “Is that really what you think I do in my spare time?” he asks, sounding offended.

Xie Lian suppresses the urge to smile. “I’m just trying to be thorough,” he says calmly, amused by Hua Cheng’s defensiveness. “It is unlikely you will go to jail but even so, I would refrain from doing anything that could be misconstrued and used against you.”

“That makes sense,” Yin Yu comments. “I’ll start working on a statement and send you a draft before I submit it to the press. Is there anything else you need from us?”

“There are a couple of forms that will need to be signed, so I will leave these papers with you to read through. They are just standard administrative clauses but feel free to reach out to my assistant, Mu Qing, if you have any questions,” Xie Lian replies. 

Next to Yin Yu, Hua Cheng sits silently with his arms crossed over his bare chest, not making eye contact with Xie Lian. He appears to still be pouting a little. 

“Other than that, I believe I have enough to work on. Thanks for your time, the both of you. I will take my leave,” Xie Lian says, as he stores his tablet back into his bag and heads towards the exit. 

Hua Cheng walks him to the elevator doors which open instantly when Hua Cheng presses the button. Xie Lian steps on and turns around to face the front.

As the doors begin to close, their eyes latch onto each other once more. 

“Hua Cheng,” he says, tilting his head slightly forward.

“Xie Lian,” Hua Cheng returns with a small grin. 

The doors shut and the elevator starts to move. He can’t tell if the churning feeling in the pit of his stomach is due to the weightless descent of the lift or if he is actually nervous about the case. As he closes his eyes, soft black strands splayed across toned, rippling flesh colours his vision. 

He forces them open again and stares at the ceiling within the metal box, not wanting to think about why that image crosses his mind. The knot in his lower belly tightens again. 

It’s his body demanding sustenance. Yes, that must be it. His mind is conjuring strange images due to his current lack of nutrients. He exits the elevator and strides towards the front of the building where Mu Qing will be waiting, resolved to never miss another meal again.

Chapter Text

“Have we received the security footage from the bar?” Xie Lian asks. 

Mu Qing shuffles through the pages on his notepad and responds, “I’ve already tried contacting the owner several times but no luck.”

It’s always such tricky business gathering evidence material. It’s either a hit or a miss, some people can be really helpful and others go to extreme lengths to avoid getting involved. No doubt the owner is dodging their calls.

The bar is on the other side of where Xie Lian resides but it might just be easier to extract the information they need in person. “I guess I’ll have to make a trip there myself. I’ll stop by tonight.”

“I haven’t got any plans this evening, I can accompany you,” Feng Xin offers. Xie Lian nods and makes a note in his calendar.

Every Sunday evening, the three of them gather in the conference room to discuss any matters relating to the firm as a group. The content often ranges from workload management to recent changes in the legal rulings — they share what projects they are currently working on and any future work they have planned. All the fun stuff. Such is the mundane life of businessmen. 

It’s one of those things that no one really looks forward to but is necessary to function effectively. Xie Lian has his reasons for dreading these weekly meetings but again, understands it’s fundamental to running a successful company. 

Methodically, Xie Lian ticks through the agenda, noting that he is about eighty percent of the way through all the items he needed to discuss today. It’s a marvel that he’s even got this far, usually these catch ups somehow get derailed but not today, things seem to be tracking smoothly. Feeling optimistic that he’ll get through his list, Xie Lian continues with the next item of discussion. “Can we also request an expedited hearing? There seems to be more activity on the assault case today and new slanderous articles are popping up. ”

“Just threaten them with a defamation lawsuit,” Mu Qing suggests.

It is just like him to jump to an aggressive approach as the first step. “The client has not indicated we act on his behalf in this matter. So, for now, just request the expedited hearing,” Xie Lian repeats. 

“Fine, I’ll get that lodged first thing tomorrow.” Mu Qing makes a note in his growing list of to-do’s. 

“By the way, Feng Xin, good job on securing that contract with the construction firm—”

“You told him you did that?” Mu Qing interrupts, his features shifting from indifference to hostility.  

Oh no. 

Feng Xin rolls his eyes and crosses his arms, ready to defend himself. “I didn’t tell him anything. I simply forwarded the signed agreements for him to read over.”

“Right, yeah, because outlook doesn’t automatically include the original sender in the email when you forward it.”

Mu Qing’s sarcastic tone seems to grate Feng Xin more than the actual accusation itself. “Is this really what’s important right now?” he bites back. 

Xie Lian tries to intervene but is swiftly interrupted. “Guys, I think we’re getting sidetracked—”

“Was my signature in the email Feng Xin sent?” Mu Qing demands, turning to face Xie Lian, his eyes fueled with anger.

To no one’s surprise, Xie Lian’s first attempt at de-escalating the situation fails so he tries a second time.

“Can we just discuss this one last—”

“Yes or no?” Mu Qing insists, talking over him.

It’s hopeless. 

Xie Lian just stares down at his tablet. He should just say yes to avoid a whole fiasco but that would just be a lie. So, he opts to stay silent instead.

However, as expected, his silence only seems to aggravate Mu Qing further. 

“I knew it! You lying, thieving—”

“Watch it!”

His loud sigh goes unnoticed by the other two men in the room, too absorbed in their own squabble.

While Mu Qing and Feng Xin engage in a verbal sparring match, Xie Lian hastily sneaks out of the room. So close , he thinks. He has the fleeting thought that the argument is his fault, jinxing himself by being too optimistic during the meeting. 

Another heavy sigh. His agenda remains unfinished and he realises he will need to reach out to them separately sometime tomorrow. Assuming their bickering doesn’t survive the night. 

It’s been a recurring incident since the three of them established the firm together. Initially, Xie Lian would try his best to mitigate any tension but it’s been going on for so long, he has simply learnt to handle the situation by removing himself from the line of fire. Even when they agree, they are fighting — Xie Lian just doesn’t understand it. However, they do work well enough together when it counts so he chooses not to interfere into their already complicated relationship. 

Once he is back at his desk, he opens up his laptop, noticing he left a browser tab open from the previous night.

He had never watched a snooker game before but in present circumstances, it seemed like an appropriate time to acquaint himself with the sport. The first thing he did the night he got home after his meeting with Hua Cheng was stream the previous season of the world snooker championship. 

It was for research purposes only, he told himself which is not entirely a lie. He did search for a video recording of Hua Cheng’s games out of morbid curiosity and the results of his review had been fruitful, both professionally and personally. 

Professionally speaking, there was an abundance of material he could submit as evidence using snippets from the games. Hua Cheng was calm and respectful throughout the entire series. Even when his shots were not the best quality, he’d walked back to his seat without so much as an eyebrow twitch. Placid, unfazed and unreadable. He was humble when he won and gracious when he faced a loss. All of which demonstrated behaviours of a gentleman yet the press continue to write about him as an arrogant, violent and tempered individual. 

On the other hand, Qi Rong was exactly the menace Yin Yu described him to be. The swearing, vulgar gestures and even indecent exposure were only some of the crude acts in a very long list that he committed on screen. He even attempted to snap his cue in half after losing at a regional game, but it was too sturdy and ended up injuring his wrist instead. And despite all this, he is reported as the ‘ unfortunate victim of Hua Cheng’s wrath ’. 

The absurdity of it. 

As he watched the games, Xie Lian was diligently making records of which scenes he will use as evidence to highlight both Hua Cheng and Qi Rong’s true nature. However, as the night progressed, the task he concentrated his thoughts on seemed to have slipped into different territory. His hand ceased its movement, no longer scribbling down his plan and approach for the upcoming hearing. Instead, his mind drifted its focus onto other things. 

Eyes glued to the screen, it was bewitching to see Hua Cheng so in his element — every shot so precise, so elegant, Xie Lian found himself completely entranced by the man on his laptop. The tailored trousers and matching black vest against the white button-down shirt looked so ordinary on everyone else, but on Hua Cheng, it looked ethereal. When he would step up to take his shot, he commanded the floor with ease, wrapping the audience's attention around his fingers with a regal air about him. Breaths held in anticipation as he drew his cue back. A chorus of applause when the ball was struck. 

It was mesmerising. 

Riveting.

Captivating.

Xie Lian had spent all night watching him play and arrived at the office this morning sleep deprived, as he had been the day before. 

Except this time, his unrest is due to completely different reasons. 

“You ready to go?” Feng Xin asks, leaning against the door frame. 

He is thrusted out of his thoughts so fast, it startles him as he spares a look in Feng Xin’s direction. How long has he been standing there? 

Glancing at his watch, he notices that almost an hour has passed since he left the conference room. 

Has he really spent a whole hour thinking about Hua Cheng? 

“Yes, just let me grab my coat,” he responds to Feng Xin.

“I’ll head down first and grab a cab.”

“Sounds good.”

───── ⋅⋆⋅ ─────

The rumblings of the bar pierce Xie Lian’s ears the moment he steps through the door. It’s a scratching noise made up of indistinguishable mumbling, mainstream pop music and horrendous laughter. He certainly expected it to be quieter given it is a Sunday night but the place appears to be livelier than ever. He can’t imagine how busy this place could get on a Friday. This is definitely not his idea of a relaxing time after a full day's worth of work so he’s relieved to be here strictly for business.  

They both stroll across the room, careful to avoid bumping into the drunken patrons stumbling about the place. 

“Ooooh new faces, I haven’t you boys around here before,” the bartender gleams as they reach the counter. “What can I get you handsome fellas?”

“Hi, I’m Xie Lian, an attorney representing a client who had an altercation here two nights ago and this is my colleague, Feng Xin,” he introduces as he pulls out a business card from his shirt pocket, presenting it to the bartender.

“Mhmm. Heard of that. What a bummer, right?”

“We’re here to recover security footage from that night, between the hours of nine p.m and six a.m. Are you able to help us with that?”

“Oh, umm…” the bartender trails off, evading his gaze from the men in front of him. “I just work here casually. Sometimes. I don’t really know how to do that.”

Wearing a pleasing smile, Xie Lian says, “That’s alright. Can we please speak to the owner of the establishment instead?”

“I-uh don’t think he’s in today but I can check for you.”

“That’ll be great, thank you.”

The bartender disappears from behind the counter, scurrying to the back of the bar. There were plenty of blurry videos taken by phone cameras of the night in question but all of them only captured what took place after the fight had already started. Xie Lian is hoping the security tapes will help him piece together the sequence of events as soon as Qi Rong made an appearance.

Feng Xin puts a hand on Xie Lian’s shoulder, a silent request for his attention. “By the way, I noticed an extra surveillance camera on the way in. It was in the alleyway on the left side of the building. I don’t remember seeing one placed there in the original plans.”

Xie Lian ponders for a moment before responding, “Hmm…I didn’t see one there either. I wonder if it was recently installed after the incident.”

“Perhaps,” Feng Xin replies as he surveys the bar, a suspicion brewing behind his eyes. “I’m just going to take a look around the place, just in case.”

“Sure, I’ll wait here to speak with the owner.”

Seconds later, Feng Xin also disappears into the sea of people, leaving Xie Lian on his own at the counter. 

Not really knowing what to do with himself, Xie Lian leans against a bar stool awkwardly, twiddling on his phone and scrolling through his emails mindlessly to appear busy. His eyes are reading the words but his brain is not processing any of it. But once again, his unread emails struggle to keep his attention.  

Despite trying his best to keep Hua Cheng out of his thoughts, his consciousness seems to slither its way back to the memory of meeting Hua Cheng for the first time. He didn’t allow himself to really reflect on what he was feeling at the time but now that a day has passed, he can confess within the safety of his own mind that a bare chested Hua Cheng remains etched in the crevices of his imagination — and it shames him . 

He pinches the bridge of his nose, attempting to chase away the image once more but it never strays too far away from him.

Even if he wants to put a name to this feeling, it’s not really important how he feels. Nothing can happen anyway. 

Hua Cheng is his client. 

He is Hua Cheng’s attorney. 

It would be gross misconduct on his part. He could never be so self-indulgent as to cross that line — breaking his own moral code. It won’t happen. Whatever this feeling is, it will surely pass.

Underneath all the loud chatter, a faint, familiar laugh is heard by Xie Lian. Immediately, he peeks his head up, straightening his posture and darts his eyes around the place, eagerly searching. He knows who this laugh belongs to. Xie Lian focuses his listening on the direction the laugh comes from but he can no longer catch it, drowned out by the noise in the bar. He makes a calculated guess to walk a couple of spaces towards the area with two pool tables arranged side by side in a line. His eyes go wide as he finds the man he is looking for. When he notices Hua Cheng, his heart thumps in excitement and anxiousness of equal measure. 

Hua Cheng can be seen idly leaning on the pool table, cue in hand next to two other guys. He must’ve sensed someone watching him as it doesn’t take him long to notice Xie Lian in return, almost as if their gazes are drawn to each. He flashes a dazzling smile which sends Xie Lian reeling.

He isn’t prepared to see Hua Cheng here today — especially not as he is trying to process all this internal turmoil. 

“Um, excuse me, sir.” A soft tap on Xie Lian’s shoulder steals his attention. He turns around to find the bartender has returned. “I’m sorry but the boss isn’t in today. This is his number though, you can try giving him a call,” he says, apologetically as he hands Xie Lian a napkin with the phone number. 

Xie Lian looks at the number and immediately recognises it as the one listed on the website which Mu Qing has already tried. Not ideal but tasks like these are never straightforward. He did have an inkling that he still might not get the footage even if he did come in person but it was worth a try. 

He pretends to be pleased with the outcome. “Thanks,” Xie Lian says, his executive smile back on his face. “Do you know which days he’ll be in?”

“It’s hard to say. He usually just comes and goes whenever he feels like it.”

“I understand. Could I just get your name?” Xie Lian asks, holding up the napkin in his hand. “In case they ask where I got the number from?”

“Oh sure, it’s Shi Qingxuan.”

“Thanks for all your help, Shi Qingxuan.”

Shi Qingxuan bows his head before returning to his position behind the counter. A large crowd immediately flocks to him, shouting their drink order and shoving past others to get to the front. It’s probably a good time to leave. This place will only get busier.  

With the main objective here concluded, Xie Lian extracts his phone and starts typing a message to Feng Xin, letting him know he is ready to leave — but before he can hit send, Hua Cheng calls out to him. 

He looks up from his phone to see Hua Cheng signaling for him to come over. This is probably not a good idea, but he can’t leave now. It would be rude to do so. Against his better judgement, Xie Lian glides over him. He is thankful that it is much less crowded and quieter where Hua Cheng is settled. 

As he reaches the table, he sees a man he doesn’t recognise, hand Hua Cheng a wad of cash before scurrying away.

Hua Cheng pockets the cash into his jacket before turning his attention to Xie Lian. “I’m surprised to see you here. Care for a game?”

“I must politely decline. I didn’t expect to see you here either, Hua Cheng.”

“You need not address me so formally. Please, call me San Lang.” Hua Cheng rounds to the head of the pool table and begins collecting the object balls from the holder beneath. 

The pet name Hua Cheng offers makes it seem that they have known each other a long time despite only meeting each other the day before. Nonetheless, Xie Lian accommodates his request and tries it out. “Alright… San Lang.” 

Hua Cheng grins from ear to ear, clearly satisfied with how it sounds coming from Xie Lian’s lips. He sets the rack at the foot of the table and begins arranging the objects within it. “You're older than me, aren't you? So I will call you Gege.” 

“That’s not necessa—,” Xie Lian protests but is quickly cut off.

“I want to,” Hua Cheng insists. 

“Oh…okay.”

Within minutes of interacting with Hua Cheng, he can already feel his barriers falling. Perhaps he needs to think of an excuse to step away as soon as possible. 

“Gege, can I get you a drink?” Hua Cheng asks as he hails a waiter.

“Thank you but I don’t drink.” Remaining alert and sound of mind seems pertinent for the conversation. 

“Very well,” he says, as he faces the waiter again and orders a whiskey for himself. He pulls some bills out of his pocket and hands it over. Xie Lian then realises it was from the same stack of cash he received just moments ago. Maybe he’s prying too much into Hua Cheng’s life, but what if he is engaging in something illegal? This will affect his trial, especially if the opposition would come to learn of it. As his attorney, Xie Lian would simply be acting in his clients best interest. 

Once the waiter leaves, Xie Lian asks the question, “By the way, who was the man you were just playing with?”

“A patron who frequents this bar,” Hua Cheng replies as he hunches over the green cloth, lining up his cue to the white ball to make his first strike. On impact, the balls scatter chaotically across the velvety surface. It takes half a minute for the clacking to die down and the sharp movements to slow to a complete stop. 

“Why did they give you money?”

“Is this an interrogation?”

His instincts tell him that the exchange seemed suspicious, after all, shady dealings at a bar is not exactly uncommon. But from the few details he knew of Hua Cheng, it doesn’t seem like him. Perhaps there is a reason or maybe he’s misunderstood the situation entirely. “No…and you are not under oath either. So you are not obligated to answer any of my questions truthfully,” Xie Lian states, trailing after Hua Cheng around the table as the younger man repositions himself to make another shot.

“Gege, let’s get one thing straight,” Hua Cheng says, taking a pause to strike before straightening up again and looking intently into Xie Lian’s eyes. “I will always be honest with you. And to answer your question, they gave me money because they made a bet that they could win a game of pool against me.” 

Xie Lian’s first thought is relief that Hua Cheng is not involved in anything sketchy. His second, is who in their right mind would make such a bet against Hua Cheng? “Is it fair for you to be gambling on such things?” he questions. 

Hua Cheng continues to play a game of pool with himself between their exchanges. “What’s not fair about it?” 

As Xie Lian speaks, he sees three balls being pocketed in a single shot, “You’re a professional. Isn’t it just basically scamming people out of their hard-earned money?”

“I'm not sure why you see it that way. It’s not like I coerced them into an impossible wager. I just wanted to play a bit of pool.”

“But if you simply wanted to play, then wouldn’t it have been better to reject the money?”

“It’s a matter of principle,” Hua Cheng responds, his tone soft as he defends his case. “If they couldn't afford to gamble then they really shouldn’t be making bets they cannot win. Besides, people are not obligated to show you kindness just because you were kind to them.”

Xie Lian watches the white ball glide across, sinking the last striped ball on the table — leaving only solids left on the field as he ruminates on Hua Cheng’s comment. It’s not that Xie Lian is naive to the ways of the world. He recognises the truth in Hua Cheng’s words. But even so, he can’t help but feel a tinge of sorrow. “Well, I choose to believe that people are inherently good and the kindness you express will be returned to you in one way or another.”

A snicker dances along Hua Cheng’s lips. “That’s odd to hear coming from a criminal lawyer. Aren’t you surrounded by the scum of the earth in your line of work?”

“You are not wrong,” Xie Lian agrees, his eyes softening. “I have seen all manner of horrific acts people have committed over the years. It is hard to remain optimistic in this job, I won’t lie about that. But, it’s because I’ve seen so much darkness that it’s all the more reason to be the light. You never know how a simple act of kindness can change someone’s life.”

Hua Cheng goes silent. His face wearing the same blank expression he usually does during his professional games. In that moment, Xie Lian really wishes he could read Hua Cheng’s mind to know what he is thinking. Does he think Xie Lian is being too self-righteous? It is not the first time Xie Lian has been mocked or ignored for his sanctimonious preaching. He starts to feel incredibly self-conscious, worried he may hurt Hua Cheng’s feelings or make him feel bad for his actions. His intention is not to undermine him but simply share his perspective on such matters.

Averting his gaze from Hua Cheng, Xie Lian instead, keeps his eyes on the last remaining ball on the table — the eight ball. From where Xie Lian is standing, it looks like an incredibly difficult shot. The solid black ball is nowhere near any pockets and the white ball is hugging the cushion at the edge of the table. Hua Cheng props a knee onto the table and leans forward, adjusting his angle slightly before hitting the white ball with a sharp, swift stroke. Xie Lian traces the movement, the white ball bouncing off the long edges twice before making contact with the eight ball. His eyes widen in astonishment as the black ball begins to roll slowly and finally sinks into the side pocket.

He stares in awe at the now empty field, marveling at how effortless Hua Cheng made it look. 

The sound of the cue being dropped onto the table catches Xie Lian’s attention and he finds his gaze settling back on Hua Cheng's face once more. After straightening up again, Hua Cheng adjusts his shirt from where it has come loose as a result of his posture. 

For a moment, Xie Lian has forgotten that he has offended Hua Cheng. When he recalls it, he is hit with a pang of guilt so he opens his mouth to apologise however Hua Cheng speaks first. 

“That’s very admirable of you, Gege,” he says solemnly. “I can’t say I understand it all too well but I respect it — respect you for it.”

His words surprise Xie Lian. The self-consciousness he was feeling just moments ago vanished instantly, replaced by a curling feeling in the pit of his stomach. 

The waiter finally returns with Hua Cheng’s drink in hand, apologising profusely for the delay. He waves her off and takes a seat on the benches nearby. Xie Lian also plops himself down next to Hua Cheng. His initial thoughts of leaving, long forgotten and abandoned.  

Bringing the glass to his lips, Hua Cheng downs the drink in one go before uttering, “It’s a shame really… you won’t have a game or drink. Are you sure you should be in a place like this?”

“I’m here to obtain security footage actually but the owner seems to be incredibly elusive,” Xie Lian replies as he recalls his reason for visiting the bar in the first place. Despite not receiving what he came for, he feels as though he has gained something far more valuable. “Besides, I could say the same thing about you. I believe I advised you to keep a low profile and yet you're at the very bar where you assaulted someone. Which also reminds me, I still haven't received a draft of the press release.”

“I should probably tell you, you're not going to receive one.”

His brows furrows in shock. “But I thought we agreed—”

“The press will write whatever trifling garbage that will get them the most viewership. I don't care too much about what they say about me. And, it’s not like I’m getting a prison sentence so whatever nonsense they write won't make a difference to my case,” Hua Cheng expresses. 

Contrary to Hua Cheng’s blasé attitude, Xie Lian’s face scrunches in concern, shifting in his seat uncomfortably. Anyone else would be up to their eyeballs in stress yet Hua Cheng seems like he doesn’t even care what the outcome is. Why hire such an expensive lawyer then? “But it's not just about your sentencing. It’s about public perception. This could affect your career. What if they revoke your title? What if you're barred from competing next year?”

“And so what if they do?”

Xie Lian opens his mouth to protest further but is interrupted when his phone begins to vibrate in his pocket. He glances at Hua Cheng sympathetically before pulling out his phone. 

A missed call from Feng Xin. Oh right, Feng Xin. 

He quickly types a message to Feng Xin, letting him know he’s by the pool tables. “I’m sorry, I have to leave now,” Xie Lian says, standing up and moving a couple of steps away towards the direction of the bar entrance. He feels terrible about the conversation ending so abruptly. His steps halt and he throws a glance over his shoulder. “I actually still need to get your recount of events. For completeness sake,” he continues. 

Hua Cheng’s also rises from his seat, a small smile gracing his features. “Of course, how about my place? Tomorrow. Seven — I’ll even make dinner.”

“I don’t think making me dinner is appropriate given the nature of the meeting,” Xie Lian comments, trying his best to sound serious but chuckles instead at the sweet offer. He moves his hands to settle in his coat pockets, anticipating the cold bite once he steps outside. 

“Who said it was for you? I’m cooking dinner for myself — but if you get hungry, I suppose I can share,” Hua Cheng retorts with a mischievous smirk. 

“I will see you at seven tomorrow then,” he says as his eyes find Feng Xin waiting by the door. 

He shifts to leave but as he takes a few steps forward, he feels Hua Cheng come up from behind him and slip his own hand into Xie Lian’s coat pocket. Xie Lian has been trying all night to keep his face clear of any colour however for the first time tonight, a crimson hue crawls up his neck and paints his cheeks. Hua Cheng’s calluses trace along his fingers, slowly inserting a flat item into Xie Lian’s palm within the confines of the wool material. Each hot breath on his neck sends a chill down Xie Lian’s spine. 

“You can let yourself in,” Hua Cheng purrs into Xie Lian’s ear. “See you tomorrow, Gege,” he says, removing his hand. 

The sound of footsteps behind him grows distant and when Xie Lian turns around Hua Cheng is nowhere to be seen. He remains frozen in his spot for a moment, half from shock and half from arousal but he quickly shakes off the feeling before heading in Feng Xin’s direction. As he makes eye contact with Feng Xin, he wonders how much of that Feng Xin had noticed. Hopefully, nothing.

When they exit the bar, they decide to stroll a couple blocks down before catching a cab. There is just too much activity directly outside the bar for them to be able to hail a cab from there. 

The pair walk in silence, Xie Lian’s mind still preoccupied with what Hua Cheng had shared with him just a short while ago. Does Hua Cheng truly not care if he can’t compete professionally? He is still so young with so much talent. It will be such a waste to throw it all away over a simple dispute. Xie Lian racks a hand through his hair trying to think of ways to help him. In addition to an expedited hearing, he can also sue the news outlets for defamation and harassment, as Mu Qing suggested — and although the assault charge will be on record for the time being, in a couple of years he can have the records expunged. But, he can’t do any of this without Hua Cheng’s approval. 

His mind continues to race through different methods and arguments he can present to Hua Cheng to plead his case. 

“What did he give you?” Feng Xin blurts out of the blue. 

“Huh? What?”

“I saw him slip something into your coat.”

So he did see . 

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Xie Lian answers in a cavalier tone.

“Didn’t look like nothing.”

“Feng Xin,” Xie Lian warns. His steps pick up the pace and he begins to walk ahead of Feng Xin, trying to escape the discomfort he feels with how the conversation is progressing. 

“Why are you being cagey? Did you take a bribe?” Feng Xin presses further. 

“God! No! Of course not,” Xie Lian exclaims in disbelief.

“Then why can’t you tell me what it is?” 

As much as he wishes that Feng Xin takes the hint and drops it, he knows his childhood friend all too well. Feng Xin will likely pester him the whole way home, so he concedes and decides to come clean. “It’s his apartment key. I’m having a meeting with him tomorrow at his place to go over some details about the case.” 

“What time?”

 Xie Lian is power walking at this stage with Feng Xin stumbling after him trying to keep up.

“At seven.”

He is forced to a halt when Feng Xin catches up and grabs onto his wrist. “He’s invited you over for dinner?!”

“No!” Xie Lian reacts almost instantly. “He just happens to be making dinner for himself while I’m there and if I’m hungry, I’ll eat it.”

“How the hell is that any different to him inviting you over for dinner?” 

“Well, it sounded different when he said it.”

Feng Xin’s face changes from confusion to concern, clearly wondering if Xie Lian is aware of how ludicrous he sounds right now. This is why Xie Lian didn’t want to tell him. “I think you’re getting too involved in the case. Let me take over. The hearing is next month right?”

“I appreciate your concern. I really do — but I have a handle on this.” 

“I don’t think—”

“I’m telling you…I’m fine,” Xie Lian counters, interrupting Feng Xin before he can say another word. 

He sees Feng Xin part his lips to protest further but seems to have a change of heart as forces it shut again. In his peripheral vision, he notices a cab about to drive by and waves his hand to draw the cab’s attention. A few seconds later the cab pulls up and Xie Lian gives the driver Feng Xin’s address. 

“I’ll see you in the office tomorrow,” Xie Lian says. 

Worry fills Feng Xin’s eyes and Xie Lian is upset to be the one who put it there. “Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

After the cab disappears into the busy street, Xie Lian exhales a heavy sigh, a misty cloud forming from his warm breath in the frosty air. They have had squabbles before but he has never seen Feng Xin look so disappointed. He regrets the tone he used, after all Feng Xin was simply trying to look out for him. His concerns were valid and Xie Lian does understand that, which is probably what makes him more upset and defensive about the whole thing.

There are boundaries — there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed, and Xie Lian is dancing so close to it. 

He pulls out his hand and stares at his palm. The comforting heat still lingers from when Hua Cheng touched him. 

Ping! 

A chime from his phone pulls him from his thoughts. 

He checks his phone to see a text message from Hua Cheng. You’re welcome.

His brows furrows in confusion but then a second later another notification comes through. An email from someone named He Xuan, with the security footage he had asked for.

The corners of his lips involuntarily curl up into a bashful smile.

It’s fine. 

This is fine. 

Everything is under control. 

Chapter Text

As soon as Xie Lian enters his office, he finds Mu Qing already seated in his swivel chair behind the desk while Feng Xin is leaning against a filing cabinet by the door. He throws a glance in Feng Xin’s direction who continues to keep his eyes downcast. Somehow, he is not surprised to find them both perched in his office first thing in the morning. With Mu Qing staring at him menacingly and Feng Xin avoiding eye contact all together, Xie Lian can guess what this ambush relates to. 

Mu Qing rises out of the chair. “Take a seat,” he says, holding onto the back rest. 

The quicker this poorly planned intervention concludes, the quicker Xie Lian can go about his day, so he immediately complies. Mu Qing spins the chair around so that Xie Lian is facing him.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Mu Qing grits out. 

“You’ll need to elaborate,” Xie Lian responds calmly. 

“Don’t play dumb. Feng Xin told me everything.” Xie Lian is still not sure how much of that exchange Feng Xin saw but it is enough to get Mu Qing riled up as well. It is clear they have some issues with this meeting but he isn’t sure if the problem is the meeting itself or Hua Cheng specifically — likely a combination of both.

“What is the problem exactly?”

Mu Qing looks dismayed by the question, his jaw hanging slack. “He’s a criminal for God’s sake! You shouldn’t be seeing him outside of work, it’s too dangerous.”

Perhaps in any other circumstances, Xie Lian would heed Mu Qing’s warning but he knows Hua Cheng, and his safety in this situation is not something that warrants this level of concern. Mu Qing is just starting to sound like those gossip columns. “You haven’t even met him,” Xie Lian counters bitterly. 

“I don’t need to. I know the type and they’re all the same,” Mu Qing retorts, folding his arms across one another. 

“Listen to him, we’re just trying to look out for you,” Feng Xin finally chimes in.

Xie Lian finds himself growing tired of the conversation rather quickly. “It’s really not as big a deal as the two of you are making it out to be. Whether I choose to go tonight or not is frankly not your business,” he says, squeezing the bridge of his nose. 

“You can’t be serious!?” Feng Xin exclaims. 

“Don’t be so naive, he clearly has other intentions for tonight!” Mu Qing huffs. 

The pair proceed to ramble on despite Xie Lian making his stance on the matter clear. Most of what they say falls on deaf ears, Xie Lian zoning out the same way he does when they argue with each other, except this time their discontent is directed at him. He does find the predicament he’s landed himself in mildly amusing. These two almost never see eye to eye on anything and are now suddenly rallying together to his defence. Perhaps there is a small silver lining in all this. 

When Xie Lian’s phone buzzes, he is beyond elated. “I have to take this,” he says, interrupting their rant. 

“Is it Hua Cheng?” Mu Qing asks wryly.

He holds his phone up to Mu Qing, showing him the ‘private number ’ text displayed on the screen. “It’s work and if you don’t mind, I’d like to get started on it.”

The other men share a look between them, not appearing convinced.  

It’s one of those times that Xie Lian wants to roll his eyes, but suppresses the urge to do so. Since they don’t seem to be making a move to leave, Xie Lian answers the phone anyway. “Hello, Xie Lian speaking.” 

“Uhm, hello.” A timid voice calls out from the other side of the line. “It’s Shi Qingxuan. You gave me your card last night at the bar.”

“Shi Qingxuan! Thanks for reaching out,” Xie Lian responds, loud enough for Feng Xin and Mu Qing to hear. Seemingly placated by confirming Hua Cheng is not the caller, both men proceed to exit his office. Xie Lian releases a quiet sigh. Those two can be so aggravating at times. “I appreciate your call but I have managed to obtain the records I requested yesterday so you need not trouble your employer any longer,” he continues into the phone. 

“Oh, right. That’s good but umm,” Shi Qingxuan mumbles shakily. “That’s not why I called. I–I need your help. I need a lawyer.”

“I see,” Xie Lian responds in a serious tone, parking his personal dilemma aside for the time being and focusing his attention solely on the matter at hand. “Would you like to drop by the office today so we can chat in person?”

There is a lengthy silence that fills the space. If not for the heavy breathing that Xie Lian can faintly make out, he would think Shi Qingxuan hung up on him. When there is no response for half a minute, Xie Lian offers another option,“Or I can meet you somewhere of your choosing if that is your preference? The bar perhaps?”

“No! No, I…,” Shi Qingxuan blurts out, sounding panicked. “Sorry, this is just hard to talk about even over the phone so I’m not sure if I can meet you in person.”

“That’s alright, take your time. Why don’t you just start explaining your situation so I can get a better understanding of how to help you,” Xie Lian says, hoping his words offer a bit of comfort. 

The line goes quiet again but Xie Lian remains patient. Although he has dealt with many distraught clients over the years, it is the one thing about this job that hasn't become easier with time. After a few moments Xie Lian starts to hear some sniffling. “I’m sorry,” Shi Qingxuan cries. “Please, forget I called.”

“Wait–” Xie Lian tries to interrupt but the line gets disconnected. He stares at his phone, a sense of unease creeping into his bones. 

He didn’t expect to receive such a distressed call from Shi Qingxuan, especially since he appeared so bright and lively just the night before. Xie Lian makes a mental note to stop by the bar when he gets a chance but other than attempting to reach out one last time, there isn’t much else he can do. He will just need to wait for Shi Qingxuan to be ready to contact him again. 

───── ⋅⋆⋅ ─────

Xie Lian arrives at Hua Cheng’s apartment full of nerves. He remembers waking up delighted at the prospect of seeing Hua Cheng again but that joy was short-lived with the way his morning started. 

The rest of Xie Lian’s work day was uneventful, thankfully. He half expected Feng Xin and Mu Qing to barge into his office again but they became preoccupied with their own work which meant that Xie Lian could enjoy some respite from their lecturing. However, there was an air of awkwardness when their paths crossed in the office. It was uncomfortable to say the least and Xie Lian was glad when it was over.  

If their intention is to plant a seed of self-doubt into Xie Lian’s mind, then they are successful. One comment in particular uttered by Mu Qing has Xie Lian second-guessing himself. What intentions is he referring to?

Not knowing what to expect or how the night would unfold, has Xie Lian feeling tense and wary.

As the elevator doors open, the aroma of roast duck accompanied by sizzling echoes attack his senses. He walks through to the kitchen to find Hua Cheng chopping some potatoes.

“It smells delicious,” Xie Lian calls out, announcing his arrival.

Hua Cheng lifts his head from the chopping board and gleams. “Gege, you’re here. Please, take a seat,” he says gesturing to the bar stool by the kitchen island. 

“Would you like some help?” Xie Lian asks. 

“No need, I’m almost done,” Hua Cheng replies as he transfers the cubed potatoes and other assorted vegetables into the foiled tin, tossing the mixture with olive oil and seasonings before placing it in the oven. He washes his hands before rounding the island to take a seat next to Xie Lian. 

Suddenly, Xie Lian is hyper aware of Hua Cheng’s movements and how close he will be sitting next to him. When Hua Cheng lowers himself onto the stool, their knees brush against each other lightly and the unexpected touch has Xie Lian recoiling, bringing his legs closer to himself. 

He hates to admit it but Mu Qing got into his head. He wears his executive smile hoping Hua Cheng does not notice as he attempts to regain his composure. The last thing he wants to do is offend Hua Cheng.

The younger man returns the smile in kind, appearing unbothered. “Aren’t you going to ask me some questions?” he inquires.

“Oh, yes. One moment.” Xie Lian almost forgets why he is here. Instead of his usual tablet, he extracts his phone and hits the red button to begin recording their conversation.  

It doesn't take long for the both of them to work through the set of questions Xie Lian has since Hua Cheng offers swift and succinct answers. When Xie Lian reviewed the security footage from the bar this morning, he noted it didn’t really provide any new information as he expected, however it’s primary purpose is to only substantiate what is recounted by Hua Cheng and it does exactly that. 

At some point, the conversation shifts to the dining table as Hua Cheng begins to serve the food he prepared. Not only does it look good but it tastes divine as well. Although Xie Lian loves cooking, his culinary skills remain adequate at best. He thinks of asking for the recipe but decides against it. Even if he follows the instructions methodically, he will still somehow find a way to ruin it. 

Over the course of their dinner, they move on to matters concerning the hearing that is scheduled four weeks from now. Xie Lian explains the procedures and how the hearing will be structured, including the court documentation he will be submitting. He also coaches Hua Cheng on how he should appear in court from the recommended attire to his demeanour. It will not drastically sway the results but it could assist in a lighter sentence. 

He does not bring up Hua Cheng’s decision to not issue a public apology. As his attorney, he has already advised Hua Cheng of the repercussions, and that is enough. He is reminded of the call with Shi Qingxuan earlier today. It’s never obvious what someone can be going through behind the scenes. Hua Cheng must have his reasons and if he hasn’t brought it up himself, it must mean he did not want to discuss it. Xie Lian would respect that. 

After their dinner, Xie Lian is chased out of the kitchen, Hua Cheng insisting on cleaning up himself. Xie Lian takes the opportunity to browse around the place. The apartment is mostly bare as he remembers it, consisting mainly of the necessities. Outside of this, there is a pool table, of course, and a single display shelf which houses a couple of books.  

The pseudo crackling of wood and dim orange glow radiates from the electric fireplace. Xie Lian finds himself standing by the full length windows in the corner of the penthouse apartment, admiring the view that only being this high in the sky can afford. There is a tranquillity that settles in his bones, a soft stream washing away the tension that had coiled in his joints. 

He suspects that Hua Cheng could sense his trepidation and made a conscious effort to create a serene atmosphere, one free of expectation and premonition. He can only assume the reason their topics of conversation did not veer from matters surrounding his case is a deliberate attempt to make Xie Lian feel less anxious about being here. Hua Cheng has also been mindful of Xie Lian’s personal space, keeping a careful distance — there were no other light touches or accidental brushes after that incident. 

The thoughtful gestures did not go unnoticed by Xie Lian. He appreciated the lengths Hua Cheng went to for him to feel comfortable in this space. To feel at home . 

He stares into the expanse letting the faint street noise and vivid artificial light consume his senses. For once, his mind is not littered with thoughts of the future, simply just relishing in the presence of the now. It can’t be a coincidence. Perhaps, he has a certain someone to thank for that. 

The sound of shuffling footsteps pulls Xie Lian’s attention. He sees Hua Cheng sauntering over with a glass of wine in each hand. 

Before Hua Cheng reaches him, Xie Lian is already stifling a laugh, “I seem to recall telling you yesterday I didn’t drink.”

“Not wanting to drink at a bar surrounded by complete strangers is understandable,” he remarks, holding out one of the glasses. “A small glass of pinot in private with someone you… trust is another matter entirely.” A wordless question sparkling behind his scarlet eye.

Xie Lian regards Hua Cheng for a moment before tracking his eyes down to the drink. The words ‘do you trust me ?’ echo in his mind as he studies the glass. He has been pondering this very question himself after the so-called intervention this morning, however Xie Lian knows in his heart that he wouldn't even be here if he truly harboured any reservations. 

He reaches for the wine, fingers curling gently around the stem. The earthy aroma hits his nose first as he places the rim onto his lips before taking a sip. It is the first time Xie Lian has tried wine and he finds the taste agreeable on his palate.

As he lowers the glass, Xie Lian catches a fleeting glimpse of something raw and feral in Hua Cheng’s expression but it disappears as quickly as it comes. 

Hua Cheng swirls the wine around before taking a sip of his own and turning to face the view that Xie Lian has grown rather fond of. 

“Who was that man you left the bar with yesterday? A lover?” Hua Cheng blurts, seemingly out of nowhere. 

Xie Lian chokes on the red liquid, surprised by the question. “Feng Xin? Absolutely not! We are friends and colleagues.”

“I couldn’t tell — not with the way he was staring daggers at me.” 

“It wasn’t directed at you. He was upset with me.” Although it isn’t entirely a lie, it also isn’t the full truth either but Xie Lian does not really want to get into why Feng Xin was glaring in their direction in the first place. 

“Hmm,” Hua Cheng ponders for a moment. “So, no lover then?” 

Hearing that word repeated causes Xie Lian to sputter once more. “No,” he says, clearing his throat. “I’m not seeing anyone.” He turns away shyly, holding his hand over his mouth to stop him from returning the question. He tells himself that he shouldn’t ask and he doesn’t need to know but the words bubble up his throat and escape from him in a whisper. “Are you?”

His eyes stay fixed on the window but in the reflection he can see Hua Cheng looking pointedly at him. “No,” Hua Cheng purrs, licking the wet remains of wine from his lips. 

Xie Lian awkwardly taps on his wine glass. Why did he ask? What will he do with this information now? He takes a bigger gulp this time, letting the liquid linger in his mouth before swallowing, pretending he can’t hear the way his heart is hammering against his rib cage. 

“Could I interest you in a game?” Hua Cheng asks. “You’ve denied me the pleasure once before, surely you wouldn’t deny me a second time.” A wicked grin playing across his lips. 

Tucking a piece of loose hair behind his ear, Xie Lian stutters, “I-I don't even know how to play so I can't imagine I'll be much fun to play against.”

“Then play with me, not against me.” 

Perhaps it is only in Xie Lian’s head but he gets a sense that Hua Cheng is not only talking about a game of pool. 

Hua Cheng extracts two cues hanging on the wall before walking over to the pool table. “Come, I will teach you,” he gestures. “Have you ever played before?”

“Never,” Xie Lian utters as he glides across. As he gets closer, he notices the table is different from the one he saw at the bar. The table looks more of an antique with intricate butterfly designs carved into the dark oak along the blinds and legs. And instead of the common green material, a striking crimson felt lines the surface of the pool table. Xie Lian runs his fingers along the scarlet fabric, feeling the fuzzy strands of the wool. 

A deep hum vibrates from Hua Cheng's chest. “I’m glad to be your first,” he says, rolling up his sleeves. Xie Lian mimics the action with his own sleeves, trying his best to school the blush threatening to colour his face.

He picks up his cue noting the length is slightly shorter than Hua Cheng’s. He is suddenly glad to have watched all those professional games. Of course, he still did not have any practical experience but at least he has a basic understanding of the fundamentals. “A private lesson from the world champion himself. I should count myself lucky,” Xie Lian gleams. “I almost feel bad to be receiving your tutorship for free.”

“It’s definitely not free,” Hua Cheng remarks as he sets up the field. “However, for you, I will accept non-monetary forms of payment as well.”

“Such as?” Xie Lian queries, his interest piqued.

“Surprise me.”

Hua Cheng does not give Xie Lian time to ponder the meaning of that response and immediately dives straight into the lesson.

Xie Lian does not know what a tutorial from Hua Cheng would entail but he definitely didn’t expect all the instructions to be strictly verbal. Hua Cheng is standing a respectable distance away guiding Xie Lian’s position and stance with words alone and like an obedient student, Xie Lian follows his lead. When Xie Lian is bowed onto the table, his arms positioned the way Hua Cheng describes, he pulls the cue back ready to make his shot. 

It can’t be that hard. The white ball is stationary after all and there are no obstructions. It's not possible to miss this.

Steadying himself, he finally attempts to strike but at the last second the cue loses balance and instead of connecting with the ball, the chalked edge grazes against the red felt. Instantly, he feels humbled. 

“Good. You’re ready to play.”

“San Lang, don’t tease me. How is that good?”

“I would never tease Gege. Nobody is an expert on their first try. You’re good because you made the shot. And now you can only get better with practice,” Hua Cheng smiles sweetly. 

They begin to have a game with the rules slightly altered. Both players can only make one shot per round, regardless of whether a ball is pocketed and the game only ends when there are no balls left on the field. It’s no surprise that in the first two turns, Xie Lian misses hitting the cue ball entirely and Hua Cheng sinks two solids.

On the third turn, Xie Lian is feeling slightly discouraged. He didn’t expect even simply hitting the white ball to be so difficult. 

“Your elbow needs to be slightly higher,” Hua Cheng advises as he observes Xie Lian. “And keep your back straight.” 

Although Xie Lian tries to adjust his position according to Hua Cheng's guidance, he loses balance once again and ends up missing the cue ball. This time, Hua Cheng walks over to him. 

“Can I… touch you? Just to help with your posture,” Hua Cheng adds quickly. “I don't have to, if you're not comfortable.”

Xie Lian eyes him curiously. He must be airing on the side of caution because of how Xie Lian acted earlier when he first arrived. A tinge of guilt snakes along Xie Lian’s spine for making Hua Cheng worry over things that were truly not a concern to him. 

“Show me, please.” He is happy to see the apprehension melt away from Hua Cheng’s face, his features softening at Xie Lian’s request.  

Hua Cheng comes up to stand behind Xie Lian, using his arms on either side to manoeuvre Xie Lian into a proper stance. Everywhere he touches, lit a path of heat kindling beneath Xie Lian’s skin — a hovering warmth that he would like to grow accustomed to. Hua Cheng’s hands first land on either side of Xie Lian’s hips before moving up to his shoulders, stretching and bending his arms to rest firmly on the table, fingers intertwining around the tip and base of the cue. Hua Cheng is arched over him, ensuring Xie Lian’s back remains straight as he is bent onto the table.

“Which one are you aiming for?” Hua Cheng asks, his words caressing against Xie Lian’s ear. 

“Eleven,” Xie Lian whispers, trying to keep his breathing steady. 

Adjusting the angle of the cue, Hua Cheng lines it up perfectly for Xie Lian to make the shot. “Good. Now, relax and…,” Hua Cheng trails off as he guides Xie Lian’s shot. The strike is soft and slow, the ball rolling languidly across the smooth surface before sinking into a side pocket.  

“Gege is a natural,” Hua Cheng says as he pulls back and steps away from Xie Lian once more, restoring the distance between them. 

“I have an excellent teacher,” Xie Lian chuckles. 

They resume the game with Hua Cheng sinking another solid ball on his turn, keeping true to his word to play fair. Xie Lian continues to sip on his wine between turns until it finishes. 

In the seventh round, Xie Lian independently pockets his first striped ball. Albeit, it was unintentional as he was aiming for a completely different ball on the opposite end of the table but he won’t complain. The main objective is that the cue ball was struck, which is satisfactory enough for him. It is at this moment that he first notices his cheeks were starting to hurt. He must’ve been smiling ear to ear this whole time. 

Xie Lian has the passing thought that watching Hua Cheng play in person is far more entertaining than through any screen. He wants to say his poor performance is entirely due to his lack of expertise but even if he did know how to play, he can’t help but get distracted by Hua Cheng’s form. 

It is likely that Hua Cheng notices Xie Lian watching him intently during his turn as he starts to show off a little, performing a trick shot. Xie Lian marvels at how the cue ball jumps over a striped ball, proceeding to hit and sink another solid. 

“San Lang is truly remarkable,” Xie Lian comments. “How would you even learn you could do that?”

Hua Cheng's grin widens as he chalks the tip of his cue. “Lots of patience.”

The thoughts that plagued Xie Lian when he entered Hua Cheng’s apartment has truly dissipated and vanished. He can’t remember for the life of him why he was agitated to begin with. As seamless as it was the first time, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng fell into a familiar rhythm with each other, the conversation flowing smoothly as if they have known one another for quite some time. 

When there is only one ball left on the field, it is Hua Cheng’s turn but he offers Xie Lian to make the final shot instead. 

Xie Lian politely declines, “That won’t be fair, it’s your turn after all.”  

“Fine, but Gege must help me with the last shot.”

“How so?”

“Well,” Hua Cheng beams as he rounds the table to where Xie Lian is standing. He grabs the cue ball from the table and holds it up between their faces. “Maybe try resting this on your mouth.”

Xie Lian’s pupils blow open trying to comprehend how such a shot would even be possible. His heart rate instantly spikes and the devilish smirk sitting atop Hua Cheng’s lips seems to only entice Xie Lian more. “What do you need me to do?” Xie Lian offers subserviently against his better judgement. 

A sharp exhale escapes from Hua Cheng. Perhaps he did not expect Xie Lian to play along so easily, but the satisfied glint in his eye reveals his excitement. “First, I need you to sit on the edge of the table for me.” 

Obediently, Xie Lian lifts himself onto the pool table, keeping his eyes fixed on Hua Cheng. 

“This might be more comfortable with your blazer off,” Hua Cheng says, sliding his fingers beneath the collar and pushing the fabric off at his shoulders. Once the blazer is out of the way, Hua Cheng wraps an arm around Xie Lian’s waist, carefully lowering him onto the table as he shifts to stand between Xie Lian’s legs. 

Despite wearing all his other layers of clothing, Xie Lian still feels incredibly exposed in this position. It is slightly uncomfortable with his hips raised at the edge and his spine arched so that his shoulders are resting flat on the crimson surface, but he refrains from expressing his discomfort. He wants to see how this plays out, curiosity getting the better of him. 

“Stay still,” Hua Cheng whispers as he places the ball onto Xie Lian’s parted lips. Hua Cheng leans his forearm onto Xie Lian’s stomach with his fingers splayed across Xie Lian’s chest as he balances the cue. Arching over him, Hua Cheng fixes his position and prepares for his shot. 

Xie Lian’s eyes flutter close, suddenly feeling a rush of adrenaline overtaking his senses. All he can hear is his heart beating out of his chest. He does not even dare to breathe, trying his absolute best to remain motionless. 

He’s thrust out of his own thoughts as he hears a snickering laughter. He opens his eyes and peers at Hua Cheng, who has a hand over his mouth trying to stifle a laugh. 

“Gege, did you really think I was going to hit the cue ball with you like this?” Hua Cheng says as he reaches for the ball resting on Xie Lian’s lips, his signature playful smirk gracing his face. He picks up the ball into his palm, and lets his thumb swipe across Xie Lian’s lips, tracing the delicate edges as he removes the chalk debris. “I wouldn’t dare do anything that could hurt you.”

Xie Lian’s breath hitches, the thumb still grazing against his lips. With heavy lidded eyes, Xie Lian’s tongue pokes out slightly and licks the thumb. 

Hua Cheng’s eye widens in intrigue, the ruby iris glowing bright in the dim lighting. The action surprises Xie Lian himself, but the crisp tension looming in the air has him feeling uncharacteristically confident. Must be the wine. 

The ball runs down his cheek and rolls away, then he senses a finger slip between his lips. In the distance, Xie Lian hears a peculiar sound ever so faintly, like alarm bells ringing in warning but he is too far gone and lost in the moment to pay it any mind. He opens his mouth a little more, letting the finger glide in further. He tries to picture what he looks like right now, spread across the pool table with Hua Cheng towering over him. At this point, his body is acting on its own accord as his tongue swirls around the finger in his mouth, coating it in his saliva. 

He notices Hua Cheng’s gaze isn’t on his own but intently staring at his lips. It sends a shiver down Xie Lian’s spine. To be looked at so fiercely feels — intimidating, yet powerful . 

Hua Cheng's brows pinch together in concentration, the sinful expression only serving to heighten Xie Lian's excitement. Xie Lian closes his mouth around the finger once more and begins to suck as his mind conjures a filthy image. Instead of fingers …

“Ngh,” Xie Lian chokes as it grazes against his throat. 

In the next second, Xie Lian’s mouth is empty, saliva coating his lips. 

“Gege,” Hua Cheng gruffs.

“What?” Xie Lian breathes as he struggles to bring the air into his lungs, still shrouded in a haze of arousal.

Using the end of his sleeves to wipe Xie Lian’s mouth, Hua Cheng helps him sit back up and cups Xie Lian’s face into his palm as he speaks quietly. “We should stop,” Hua Cheng murmurs. 

Xie Lian can’t hide the distress creeping into his features, his lips instantly turning down into a frown. Is Hua Cheng rejecting him? 

Sensing Xie Lian’s panic, Hua Cheng quickly clarifies. “Gege, don’t misunderstand me. I want this to go further,” he says as he adjusts his length in his pants. Xie Lian’s eyes immediately follow the movement, silencing his inner commentary and focusing his attention on the obvious bulge visible below Hua Cheng’s hips. “But isn’t this against your moral code?” Hua Cheng questions. 

As soon as he processes the words, his eyes track back to Hua Cheng’s face, “I don’t understand.”

“Sleeping with a client, I mean.”

A flush of embarrassment washes over Xie Lian, colouring his cheeks in a red hue. Was it not just yesterday he lectured Hua Cheng on ethics? How could he lose his inhibitions like this? The words instantly sober him up as if a bucket of cold water has been poured over him. He pushes himself off the pool table, keeping his eyes downcast as he begins to straighten his vest and smooth out the cuffs of his shirt. Hua Cheng seems to notice Xie Lian's drastic change in behaviour and takes a step back, allowing him some space to tidy his appearance. 

When Xie Lian doesn’t respond, Hua Cheng continues speaking and Xie Lian is grateful for it — finding the silence too deafening but also not knowing what to say himself. “It wasn't my intention to embarrass you,” Hua Cheng says softly, an air of melancholy surrounding him. Either Xie Lian's face seems to betray every emotion he’s feeling today or Hua Cheng is just incredibly good at reading him. “I just didn’t want you to do anything you will regret. You spoke about how important your job is to you and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardise that.”

Xie Lian feels both enamoured and alarmed by Hua Cheng’s words. Even in this state, Hua Cheng continues to prioritise Xie Lian’s wellbeing, putting his boundaries and comfort above all else. He has been like this all night, it really shouldn’t surprise Xie Lian anymore but it tugs at his heart strings all the same. 

Regardless, Xie Lian is the professional here and he shouldn’t have to rely on Hua Cheng to remind him of the boundaries that exist. Boundaries that he almost crossed — boundaries that he wants to cross.  

“San Lang, I’m sorry for putting you in this position,” Xie Lian apologises. He needs to think about Hua Cheng’s case and how it could be negatively impacted with a scandal such as this. Although nothing has happened yet, something could happen and for that reason alone, he needs to leave first. “I should go,” he utters, feeling too ashamed to make eye contact as he quickly gathers his coat and heads straight to the lifts. 

“Don't leave like this, please,” Hua Cheng pleads. The strain in his voice has Xie Lian stop in his tracks. 

Xie Lian needs some time to cool off, reorganise his thoughts but he can’t just leave after hearing Hua Cheng call out to him like that. He still doesn’t have the courage to turn around so he continues to face the empty elevator in front of him. 

Soft footsteps shuffle toward him and soon he feels Hua Cheng’s warmth against his back. 

Hua Cheng is so close that he could just wrap his arms around Xie Lian and hold him here. If he does, Xie Lian thinks he won't have the strength to fight it, which is why he needs to leave. 

“San Lang,” Xie Lian utters under his breath. He exhales deeply before reaching back to hold Hua Cheng’s hand, giving it a light squeeze. “We’re okay. I’ll call you tomorrow, I promise.”

Stepping onto the elevator, Xie Lian has a sense of déjà vu when their eyes meet again once more — their intertwined fingers falling away as the doors begin to close.

Chapter Text

Xie Lian stares up at the ceiling of his bedroom, unable to sleep while the events of the last few hours replay in his head. Although he felt a wave of exhaustion hit him on the ride home, the minute he crawled into bed, sleep eluded him once more. 

He wants Hua Cheng. There is no denying it. 

In the wake of this realisation, another worry springs to mind. What should he do about the upcoming hearing? He needs to approach the situation cautiously. 

Xie Lian does not want this to be detrimental to Hua Cheng’s case. His circumstances are delicate enough as it is and any misstep would vilify him further in the public eye. Not to mention Hua Cheng is also being reviewed by the ethics committee, any suspicions of underhanded and improper behaviour will have a negative impact on the outcome of their decision. Even if Hua Cheng doesn't care about whether he can continue to compete, Xie Lian does not want to be the reason he can't. And it’s not only a matter of public opinion or Hua Cheng’s career, Xie Lian’s own conscience will not allow him to continue representing Hua Cheng. The right thing to do is to remove himself from the case. 

There is also the matter of his own profession’s code of conduct. Xie Lian has stood in front of the legal disciplinary board before. Twice even. A third strike and he will definitely lose his practising licence. 

It was a few short years into Xie Lian’s career when he took on his most arduous case he has ever worked on, but it was a case that allowed him to make a name for himself.

A case of wrongful dismissal against his previous employer.

After his third year of law school, Xie Lian was offered an internship at one of the most prestigious law firms in the city, hand picked by the managing partner himself. Xie Lian was mentored directly under him which most found rather bizarre for a partner of all people to be so involved in an intern's training. Xie Lian never really questioned it, simply grateful for the chance to work with such a renowned lawyer. 

After graduation, as most of his colleagues anticipated, Xie Lian started working as a full time criminal lawyer at Jun Wu Law. 

It really was an opportunity of a lifetime, a privilege of the highest honour to be receiving such public support and favour from a well respected veteran of the legal field like Jun Wu. 

Xie Lian had been working late in the office one night on a medical malpractice case. He was approached by a patient who claimed that a doctor prescribed unsanctioned medication which left him with an array of skin problems, including a face severely damaged and scarred beyond recognition. Xie Lian trolled through so many boxes worth of documents, communication transcripts, patient records, but found no evidence of the doctor involved in any sort of misconduct. The trial was in the next few hours, and Xie Lian was feeling discouraged. 

“Late night?” Jun Wu asked, leaning on the door frame to Xie Lian’s office.

Shrouded in darkness and only illuminated by the light beaming from the monitor, Xie Lian stretched back into his chair exasperated. “It would seem so,” Xie Lian replied despondently, lifting his head from his screen. He rubs eyes to ward off some of the strain he was experiencing from the constant exposure to the bright blue light. 

“The Lang Ying case?”

Xie Lian nodded, sitting up straight again. “What is keeping you here?” he returned the question.

“It would look bad for the boss to leave before his employees,” Jun Wu responded, a small smirk playing across his face.

“I will leave soon, I promise,” Xie Lian stated, returning his eyes to the work at hand. 

“Perhaps I can be of some assistance,” Jun Wu offered, stepping into the office and taking a seat opposite Xie Lian. 

“I appreciate it but I think I've exhausted all options. The only plausible scenario that I can think of is that the client obtained the drugs illegally and is trying to frame the doctor for the settlement money,” Xie Lian explained. He exhaled deeply, feeling frustrated that he was lied to. If he knew the facts from the beginning, he definitely wouldn't have taken the case. It was the first time he had been completely blindsided by his own client.

Court the next day would be taxing, but at least it would be the last time before the case was concluded and a verdict issued. 

“It’s a good thing then, that I found some information which could prove useful,” Jun Wu said, handing Xie Lian a thumb drive.

“What is this?” Xie Lian asked, eyeing the drive. 

“It's the application the doctor filed with the FDA, requesting to have his drug approved for human clinical trials. This will help your case won't it?”. Jun Wu had offered his guidance on several of Xie Lian’s cases before but he had never outright provided specific information pertaining to a case.

“Yes, of course, but…,” Xie Lian trailed off, his brows pinched together as he hesitated for a moment. Something about this didn't add up. “I examined his personal laptop and obtained FDA records two days ago and there was no such application. How did you get this?”

“You must’ve missed it. Don't worry, it happens to the best of us. I'm certain if you check the records again you’ll be able to find it.”

Xie Lian plugged the thumb drive into his computer and opened the files within it, only to find it's exactly as Jun Wu said. His eyes widened in disbelief. How could he have missed such a crucial piece of evidence? No, it cannot be. He was certain he had combed through the evidence meticulously, this was simply not something he would've just glanced over. 

If Xie Lian was certain he did not see this document then how did Jun Wu come in possession of it?

He glanced at Jun Wu, who wore a gentle, unreadable expression. Xie Lian always thought Jun Wu’s placid demeanour meant that he was calm but in that moment he found it rather unsettling. 

Was Jun Wu lying to him?

“How did you get this?” he repeated. 

“The how is not important.”

“Yes it is,” Xie Lian countered, his anxiety growing with every second that passed. “If you obtained this illegally then it’s not admissible and I can't use it. Tell me.” He told himself he didn't want to jump to conclusions, after all, he had known Jun Wu for most of his adult life. There had to be a reasonable explanation, but Jun Wu was behaving oddly suspicious to him. 

Jun Wu glared at Xie Lian, a flash of annoyance spreading across his features. “I thought I taught you to only ask important questions,” he sighed. “No matter. I'll tell you. There is no application. I had it forged.”

“What?” Xie Lian startled, not able to digest what he just heard. “Why would you do that?” 

“So that you could win your case, of course.”

Xie Lian just stared at Jun Wu, too stunned to speak. He remained silent hoping Jun Wu would perhaps clarify or confess his words were nothing but a harmless jest. A silly joke he could laugh and cry about in the future. But Jun Wu did not appear to be in a playful mood, so Xie Lian broke the silence. “Is winning really so important that you would put an innocent man in jail?” he argued. 

“Come now Xian Le, the man is far from innocent. You've read his personnel file yourself. His wife was admitted into the hospital eight times in the last six months with broken bones and bruising that never seems to heal. Why do you think that is?” Jun Wu said, narrowing his eyes menacingly. 

Xie Lian's heart squeezed with guilt. He did notice that detail as he was perusing through the personal records he obtained of the defendant however the wife's medical records would not be admissible evidence in the current trial. They would need to bring forth an entirely different charge and they were not prosecutors themselves, so unless the wife files a lawsuit, legally speaking his hands were tied.

“We have the power to help people like her,” Jun Wu continued. 

“I planned on approaching the wife privately or alerting the police.” 

“But why go through the hassle?” Jun Wu stated, removing the drive from the computer and placing it in Xie Lian's open palm once more. “I’ve put a loaded gun in your hands. All you need to do is pull the trigger.”

“Th–This isn't right,” Xie Lian stuttered. 

Jun Wu’s grip on Xie Lian’s wrist tightened, as he stood up, towering over Xie Lian. “My patience is wearing thin, Xian Le,” he said. “That man belongs in jail and you can put him there as early as tomorrow. The end result is the same. Why does it matter how he gets there?”

“It’s not our job to be the judge, jury and executioner,” Xie Lian spat, trying to twist his wrist out of Jun Wu’s grasp; however Jun Wu yanked him to his feet instead. Jun Wu was still a head taller and looked down at Xie Lian with a threatening gaze, an expression he had only ever seen Jun Wu wear in the courtroom. 

“When you’ve been in the industry as long as I have, you will learn that sometimes, the end justifies the means.” 

An eerie feeling settled in Xie Lian’s bones. If this is truly what Jun Wu believes, how many countless other cases had been tampered with? The lives affected by his deceit?

“What you're doing is trying to play God. I agree that he should be imprisoned but this isn't the way to do it,” Xie Lian seethed. 

“I'm disappointed in you, Xian Le,” he rasped, finally letting go of Xie Lian’s wrist. Xie Lian took a concerned step back, rubbing his wrist to soothe the bruise that was no doubt going to blossom the next day. “I thought you, of all people, would understand. What a waste of time you turned out to be,” Jun Wu continued as he turned his back to Xie Lian and headed towards the door, hands clasped behind his back. “When you leave tonight, don’t bother coming back tomorrow.”

Although Xie Lian was shaken after that exchange, he still showed up to the trial the next day regardless, only to find another lawyer had replaced him. It took him a few weeks but he finally found the courage to file a wrongful termination lawsuit. He never outright accused Jun Wu of fabricating evidence but the truth was uncovered during his trial all the same. 

The entire organisation seemed to have collapsed overnight. Everyone who had been associated with Jun Wu had to be investigated and vetted, including Xie Lian himself who worked closest with him in the years leading up to his demise. 

After that whole ordeal, Xie Lian recognises how important it is to maintain his own boundaries, since once the line is crossed, it’s hard to find a way back to it.  

Which is why he needs to do things by the book. He does not want to lose his licence and he does not want Hua Cheng to be securitized in the same way. 

As such, he needs to hold himself accountable for his actions which means — strictly no dating clients. 

Only when his phone alarm begins to ring, does Xie Lian realise he has not slept for the whole night again. Since he is awake he may as well clean up and start getting ready for work. 

He opts to walk, not living too far away from the office. The sun colours the sky in a rosy hue, bright orange and reds melting together while the frosty breeze combs through Xie Lian’s hair. 

When he arrives at the office building, his nose and the tips of his ears are a rosy pink, coloured by the cold of the outdoors. The fluorescent bulbs light up the floor which is a surprise to Xie Lian — very rarely is he not the first one to arrive at the office. He scouts around the room, first stopping by Mu Qing’s office. He tries the handle but the door doesn’t budge. Mu Qing usually keeps his office locked overnight so he must not be here yet.

Wandering to Feng Xin’s office, he notices the door is ajar so Xie Lian knocks lightly before pushing it open. He peeks in and realises Feng Xin is not at his desk. Distantly, he hears the coffee machine buzzing from the break room and trails after the noise. 

Feng Xin is leaning against the bench waiting for the coffee machine to finish mixing his drink.  Their gazes lock onto each other, clearly the awkwardness from yesterday has not passed as the two assess each other in silence.

However, Xie Lian is the first to cave. “Busy morning?”

“Every morning is a busy morning,” Feng Xin replies with a straight face. 

“Right. Of course,” Xie Lian mumbles, darting his eyes around. “I thought you didn’t like coffee from the machine?”

“I don’t, but the cafe was closed,” Feng Xin grimaces. “This is disgusting. We should’ve just thrown it out when we moved offices.”

Xie Lian chuckles as he grabs a mug for himself. “It can’t be that bad,” he says, pushing on the button for the mocha option. The machine hums to life once more, but the rigorous rattling tells Xie Lian that this coffee machine is reaching the end of its term. 

A plume of steam dances above the mug as Xie Lian lifts it to his lips, blowing on it a couple of times before taking a sip. The taste is as he remembers — unpleasant. 

“We used to be able to stomach this once upon a time. That’s all we could afford,” Xie Lian says, a familiar nostalgic feeling twisting through him.

The comment earns a huffed laugh from Feng Xin as he takes a seat at the table, continuing to consume the drink he just complained about. 

“Are you still upset?” Xie Lian asks. 

Feng Xin looks up at Xie Lian, holding his stare for a second — appearing as though he wants to say ‘yes’ but the displeasure on his face falls away. “No,” he sighs, turning to gaze out the window. “As long as you’re fine, it doesn’t really matter.” 

Xie Lian regards Feng Xin, the corners of his lips curling up. “I am fine, truly,” Xie Lian answers. Although Feng Xin can be incredibly stubborn at times, he knows his friend's seemingly cold attitude comes from a place of care so he’s grateful when Feng Xin doesn’t berate him further. “There is something I need to talk to you about though.”

“Did he do something? Are you hurt?” Feng Xin rises from his chair alarmingly fast, almost sprinting to Xie Lian’s side and grasping at his shoulders. It almost causes Xie Lian to spill his cup of coffee. 

“No, that's not it,” Xie Lian explains, patting Feng Xin’s hands away. “I need a favour but I don’t want you to ask me any follow up questions.” It’s not that Xie Lian is uncomfortable being honest with Feng Xin. When it counts, Feng Xin has always been there to support Xie Lian with his decisions but it feels a bit presumptuous to be sharing anything about what happened between him and Hua Cheng the night before. It feels wrong to broach the topic without speaking to Hua Cheng first. 

“You’re being suspicious again…,” Feng Xin quavers, his eyes narrowing as though he’s trying to read Xie Lian’s mind. 

“It's nothing bad, I promise,” Xie Lian responds, trying to appease him. 

Feng Xin does not look convinced but he begins to nod apprehensively. 

“I need you to take over the assault case for me,” Xie Lian utters, averting his gaze. “You were right, I’m too close to it.” 

It’s almost as if Xie Lian can see the cogs turning in Feng Xin’s head, clearly wanting to question Xie Lian on this further. He knows that Feng Xin would try to pry every single detail from him so he’s pleased to have added a caveat beforehand. Feng Xin keeps his word and respects Xie Lian’s wishes. “Leave it with me,” he states. 

“Thank you,” Xie Lian says, smiling in earnest.

“I’ll notify them of the change—”

“Don’t worry about that, I’ll call Yin Yu myself,” Xie Lian interrupts. 

“Alright.” Feng Xin grabs both the empty mugs and places them in the dishwasher. “While I have you, there are a few documents that require your signature.”

“Sure,” Xie Lian gleams and follows after him.  

They sit together in Feng Xin’s office for a while and continue discussing other matters of business. Now that Feng Xin has taken this case off him, they deliberate on which pro-bono cases Xie Lian will pick up in return. 

With the conflict somewhat resolved, the office air doesn’t feel so thick anymore and Xie Lian finds he can breathe easier. He should probably also find Mu Qing at some point today but he can’t imagine the conversation with Mu Qing to be as easy as it was with Feng Xin. 

When Xie Lian enters his office, he plops down on his chair, feeling lighter than he did this morning. He wants to call Hua Cheng and explain everything right away but he glances at the clock and wonders if it might be too early; recalling that when he first went to Hua Cheng's apartment, Hua Cheng seemed to have sauntered into the lounge with bedhead well into the afternoon. Not wanting to disrupt Hua Cheng’s rest, Xie Lian decides to wait until after lunch before giving him a call. 

It's probably better this way. This will give Xie Lian more time to think — he still isn't sure what to say or how much he wants to share. There is an obvious attraction but it feels presumptuous to assume Hua Cheng wants something more than just a physical relationship. He doesn’t want to overthink things but he can’t help feeling a little disheartened at the thought.

He folds his arms on the desk, resting his head down as his eyelids begin to feel heavy. The effects of the coffee seem to be fading quickly or his body has reached its limit with all those sleepless nights finally catching up to him. He tells himself he will only close his eyes for a moment but the exhaustion swiftly washes over him, drifting him off to sleep.  

───── ⋅⋆⋅ ─────

A roaring rumble stirs Xie Lian back into consciousness as he blinks his eyes open, confused by the loud noises scratching against his ear. In his groggy state, he focuses on the sounds — able to faintly place Feng Xin and Mu Qing’s voices in the distance. He wonders if they're arguing again.

Stretching his back as he sits up, Xie Lian decides to go check on the commotion. Internally, he thinks he shouldn’t interfere if their disagreement has reached this level of contention, but he should make an attempt at reconciliation regardless. 

The voices become clearer as he approaches the floor entrance by the elevators. 

“You can't see him without an appointment!”

“Don’t make us call security!”

“What's going on?” Xie Lian asks as he turns the corner. “San Lang!” he gasps, as he notices Hua Cheng fenced off by Mu Qing and Feng Xin. It takes him a moment to register what is happening, still somewhat disoriented from his nap. Hua Cheng glowers down at them but his features instantly soften when he hears Xie Lian call out to him. “What on earth do you two think you're doing?” Xie Lian snaps at his colleagues.

Mu Qing, glances over his shoulder, confusion and disgust written all over his face. “Who the fuck is San Lang?”

“Xie Lian, go back to your office, we can handle this,” Feng Xin says, holding out his arm to block Xie Lian’s path.

“Enough!” Xie Lian exclaims, pushing Feng Xin’s arm out of the way. He feels thoroughly embarrassed to have Hua Cheng witness them like this. “The both of you are being ridiculous, right now!” He shoves past both of them and grabs Hua Cheng by his wrist, leading him back into his office. 

“Isn’t he being a bit obsessive? Why is he showing up here unannounced?” Mu Qing yells out. 

“Maybe because this is an office! And he’s a client!” Xie Lian grumbles back. 

The pair continue their nonsensical babbling and Xie Lian is grateful when the sound drowns to indistinguishable mumbles once he shuts the door behind him, mindful to lock the door. 

“San Lang, I'm so sorry about that,” Xie Lian frets. 

Hua Cheng shrugs indifferently. “Don’t be. It’s not your fault they’re idiots.” 

Xie Lian tells himself not to laugh at that comment since those are his friends but internally he can’t help but agree. They are behaving like idiots. 

It’s only when they're alone does Xie Lian recall how they left things. It was less than twenty-four hours ago that Xie Lian was sprawled out on Hua Cheng’s pool table. Suddenly, he feels self-conscious to be in such a compact space. 

“H-how come you’re here?” Xie Lian asks with a shaky voice, betraying his attempt to act clueless. 

“I came to return your blazer,” Hua Cheng responds, handing Xie Lian a black paper bag. 

Xie Lian takes the bag and peeks in, a hint of disappointment flashing across his expression. “Oh, thank you. I completely forgot I left it.” He waits a beat for Hua Cheng to say something but only silence greets him in return. He really can’t tell what Hua Cheng is thinking so he sets the bag down before speaking up again. “Is this the only reason you’re here?”

“If you want this to be the only reason, it can be.”

Not knowing what to make of that vague response, Xie Lian brows scrunch together. He’s tired of talking in riddles. If he wants to sate his curiosity, he should just ask the question plainly.

“I need to ask you something,” Xie Lian says with trepidation. He remains by the door while Hua Cheng meanders around with his hands behind his back, appearing to assess the state of Xie Lian’s office.

“What is it?”

The words dance along Xie Lian’s tongue as he finds the courage to speak them. His eyes are glued onto the younger man and a part of him is pleased that he is facing Hua Cheng’s back. This might be a lot harder if he could see Hua Cheng’s face. 

“Do you have feelings for me?” Xie Lian asks, the strenuous question finally stumbling out of him. 

Hua Cheng freezes. 

A stillness settles around the room with Xie Lian holding his breath. Hua Cheng exhales deeply before responding, “Isn’t it obvious?”

The breath Xie Lian held flows out in a sigh of relief. “I see, I wasn't mistaken,” he says, nervously twiddling his fingers. “You should know that I've resigned as your lawyer.  Feng Xin will be taking over your case from today. It's just that—"

“You don't have to explain yourself,” Hua Cheng interrupts. 

Confusion clouds Xie Lian’s train of thought. “I…dont?”

“I understand why you want to keep your distance,” Hua Cheng says as he turns around to face Xie Lian with a somber expression. 

No . That’s not what he meant. “San Lang, it's not what you're thinking.”

“It’s my fault for pushing you.”

“You didn't push me into anything, I was there on my own accord,” Xie Lian protests. 

“Even so, I’m sorry. I let my feelings get the better of me,” Hua Cheng mutters, keeping his eyes downcast to the floor. 

“San Lang, you're misunderstanding me,” Xie Lian says with a bit more authority. He walks over to Hua Cheng and reaches out to hold his hand. “It's because I like you that I can’t continue to represent you. It wouldn't be right,” his voice slowly reducing into a whisper. He can feel the blood crawling up his neck and painting his face, threatening to self combust from how vulnerable he is feeling but he doesn’t stop there. “I don't know what this is…but I want to find out,” he adds, thoughtfully. 

Hua Cheng finally looks at him, eyes glassy with a thin sheen of moisture. He appears shocked to hear Xie Lian’s confession, his eye seemingly searching Xie Lian’s face for any hint of hesitation. But, of course, there is none. He tightens his grip around Xie Lian’s hand. “Me too,” Hua Cheng murmurs. 

Xie Lian beams, a rush of warmth swirling through him. Hua Cheng returns the smile in kind, the dread and worry on his features melting away. 

San Lang has such a beautiful smile , he thinks as he gazes at the younger man infront of him. 

A glint sparkles in Hua Cheng’s eye, an expression Xie Lian has grown familiar with. “Gege, you're not my lawyer anymore. Does that mean we can date?” Hua Cheng asks, curiously. 

“Technically, that is correct, but the firm is still employed by you so we should still—,” Xie Lian trails off as Hua Cheng stands to his full height. He takes a few cautious steps back but the door behind him halts his retreat as Hua Cheng draws towards him. 

“What are the rules?” Hua Cheng whispers, staring down at him. This is a dangerous game. One they have played before.

“I-I suppose light touches are fine,” Xie Lian stutters under his breath, finding Hua Cheng's presence quickly overwhelming his senses as he is pressed flush against the door.

Hua Cheng places a thumb onto Xie Lian’s chin, lifting his face higher. Xie Lian peers at Hua Cheng through his lashes, his laboured breathing hanging heavy.

“What about a kiss?” Hua Cheng purrs, his voice an octave lower than usual. His lips are so close, Xie Lian can feel the warmth of their breaths mingling together, trapped between Hua Cheng and the sturdy surface behind him. 

The heady spell consumes his voice of reason and Xie Lian has the fleeting thought that if Hua Cheng tries to kiss him, he just might let it happen.

Hua Cheng inches closer and Xie Lian squeezes his eyes shut in anticipation. He braces himself mentally for the kiss that is about to happen. It should be fine, right? Xie Lian is no longer his lawyer so just a small peck should be okay. He feels himself starting to tremble as his heart threatens to burst out of his chest with each passing thought. 

When he feels a hand cover his mouth, his eyes dart open once again. Hua Cheng closes the gap and places a kiss onto his own knuckles instead. Xie Lian’s eyes widen at the sight before him.

“I’ll wait,” Hua Cheng breathes, so quiet and gentle that even if there is someone else in the room, they won’t be able to hear it. As if the declaration is made for Xie Lian alone. “I can wait for however long you need me to.”

Chapter Text

Hua Cheng can’t recall how long he’d been staring at the closed elevator doors after Xie Lian had left. No, ran away , would probably be the more appropriate term to describe Xie Lian’s speedy escape. 

We’re okay , he said as he slipped out of Hua Cheng’s grasp and although Hua Cheng would likely hail anything Xie Lian declares to be the gospel truth, those two words uttered in that particular moment sit uncomfortably within him. 

It could’ve been anywhere between five and twenty minutes, yet he continues to stand there and wait. 

Wait for what? Perhaps for the elevator to chime, announcing its arrival and Xie Lian to appear before him once more, with spit slicked lips and a crimson blush colouring his soft pale cheeks. He would look up at Hua Cheng with the same sultry expression he had done so just moments ago, his eyes laced with lust, and his tongue poking out in a tantalising invitation. 

Hua Cheng grunts just thinking about it. 

That face—

No. Stop it , Hua Cheng interrupts his thoughts. It was these obscene imaginings that got him into this situation in the first place. Except… it isn’t just in his imagination anymore . 

He made a mistake. A terrible one — which led to Xie Lian fleeing from his presence. He rakes his fingers through his hair, frustrated with himself for losing his composure. It was a momentary lapse of judgement and the cost was steep, granting only a few short minutes inside his twisted fantasies. It wasn’t worth it, he thinks. 

Not only did he unintentionally embarrass Xie Lian but he also undid all the rapport he built in the last few days. Xie Lian must be thinking poorly of him, and rightfully so. Xie Lian is an intelligent man likely surrounded by other people befitting his stature so of course Hua Cheng’s improper behaviour would appear unseemly to him.

In Hua Cheng’s defence, he truly did not intend for anything untoward to happen. He simply wanted to be near him. To hear him talk. To get to know him. A dinner seemed like the appropriate setting to do so. Hua Cheng could no longer disregard his ever growing curiosity, his interest was piqued when they first met in his apartment but his attraction was solidified when they spoke at the bar. Although in hindsight, he should’ve been more considerate of their current working relationship. 

He finds himself enjoying listening to Xie Lian speak of his passion, seeing the way his eyes light up and his wondrous smile connecting from ear to ear. It was mesmerising. He knew without a doubt he could listen to Xie Lian talk all day and his attention would not waver. 

Though, as much as he has come to adore Xie Lian’s cheerful expression, he has also developed an affinity for Xie Lian’s more bashful side. The way Xie Lian darts his eyes about the place avoiding Hua Cheng’s gaze while either tucking a piece of hair behind his ear or scratching his cheek as to appear in thought has Hua Cheng in a chokehold. 

He lets out a deep sigh as he regards the metal doors again, which are still slotted shut. Xie Lian is not coming back. 

Venturing back to his lounge, Hua Cheng tries to recall how the night seemed to have spiralled out of his control. He lets himself fall onto the sofa, the cool leather material is a welcomed respite for his overheated body. 

There were a couple of ‘ incidents ’ that had Hua Cheng’s resolve faltering.

He eyes the empty wine glasses on the kitchen island. The first ‘incident’ in question. Hua Cheng was prepared to have Xie Lian reject the drink as he had done the night before. But not only did he accept it, he kept his eyes on Hua Cheng the whole time. The sight of the scarlet liquid gracing Xie Lian’s lips and then disappearing down his throat captured Hua Cheng’s gaze and held it hostage. His Adam’s apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed printed a vulgar image into Hua Cheng's memory. He wondered if Xie Lian’s actions were deliberate but even so Hua Cheng was quick to cast the image aside.

The second ‘incident’ in question — his eyes narrowing onto the pool table. The object entirely responsible for his misdeeds. 

Hua Cheng did notice the way Xie Lian shifted uncomfortably in his seat when their knees touched briefly so he certainly was not expecting Xie Lian to allow Hua Cheng to coach him in a physical manner. 

It did thrill him, the proposition allowed him to steal some touches in the guise of a lesson however Hua Cheng was careful to keep the contact to a minimum and retain some sense of professionalism. He was also quick to return Xie Lian’s personal space back to him once he was done helping. 

Up until this point, despite having fleeting desires caress his mind, Hua Cheng had been in control over the situation, precisely to avoid these current circumstances. 

He rises from the sofa, dragging his feet along the floor to where the pool table resides. He glances over the field which has both cues laid haphazardly on top of each other, the last remaining eight ball and…Xie Lian’s blazer?

In the chaotic aftermath, Hua Cheng had forgotten that Xie Lian removed his blazer. He grabs the navy fabric and examines it.

The third and probably the most incriminating ‘incident’ of the night. 

Why did he agree? Hua Cheng wonders. Xie Lian’s intentions could not be clearer. Sliding over onto the pool table, letting Hua Cheng strip off a layer of clothing and reclining into such a provocative position. 

Did he even know how erotic he looked?

He, himself, in all his years of playing the sport, never considered it to be sexy but seeing Xie Lian lie on the table…well, he can certainly see the appeal now.

Hua Cheng continued on the assumption Xie Lian would eventually resist, and shyly reject his advances. But he didn’t — in fact Hua Cheng was starting to get the impression that Xie Lian was enjoying the attention.

Something in his resolve snapped when Xie Lian licked his finger. Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming impulse overriding his sensibility. Those lips have been provoking him all night. He wanted to know what they felt like. Perhaps, also, how it would feel to be inside them. 

His mind conjures the image of Xie Lian being splayed across the pool table once more with him standing between Xie Lian legs. The picture he sees is so clear and vivid. As though, he has been transported back into that moment. 

Fuck . He’s hard again. 

Even in the privacy of his dimly lit home, he still feels guilty for enjoying it as much as he did. Evident, by the wriggling and stretching of the material at his crotch, attempting to make room for his growing erection. His cock rubs uncomfortably against the fabric of his slacks. 

The fort holding up his reasoning and logic start to crumble as he attempts to resist the urge to touch himself. But the effort is futile, his desire and desperation coiling tightly in the pit of his stomach making his aching cock strain in its confinement, demanding attention.

His hand snakes down his body and begins to undo his buckle. 

Just this once, he bargains with himself. 

Only once. 

He struggles to find a reason to deny him the pleasure, especially since there is a face swimming in his head of the man responsible for his current predicament, so instead he chooses to use it to fuel his sick fantasy. 

After removing his fingers, Xie Lian yanks on Hua Cheng’s tie, pulling him down onto the table. The tie tightens around Hua Cheng’s neck, constricting his air flow as he lets out a sudden gasp. He braces his hands on either side of Xie Lian's head, shocked by the sudden turn of events however Xie Lian has a mischievous smirk playing along his lips before pulling at the tie once more, finally connecting their lips. 

Hua Cheng’s lips crash onto Xie Lian’s with a force that knocks the wind right out of him. Xie Lian does not need much coaxing and opens his mouth almost instantly, granting Hua Cheng entry, and he lasciviously accepts, sliding his tongue in. The kiss is messy, urgent, aggressive with teeth clanking awkwardly and tongues entangling chaotically. Hua Cheng is bypassing any civility and decorum with that kiss, he’s feeling far too ravenous, spurred by Xie Lian’s rough treatment.

Xie Lian matches his ferocity, kissing him back in earnest as Xie Lian’s hands wander over him, pulling and gripping onto the fabric of Hua Cheng’s shirt impatiently. Hua Cheng also wants to touch, to explore but he’s not yet done with Xie Lian’s mouth, so he props a knee onto the pool table allowing him to better stabilise his weight and deepens the kiss further. 

Hua Cheng makes an audible grunt as Xie Lian hooks his legs around Hua Cheng’s waist, holding him in place. In this position, Xie Lian lifts his hips up slightly and their clothed erections press against each other. The kiss is broken as Hua Cheng detaches for air, moaning at the delicious friction.

“Please, ah…do that again,” Hua Cheng pleads. 

Xie Lian’s hips roll a second time and Hua Cheng is sent reeling, overwhelmed by how much he feels even through the layers of clothing. He buries his face into Xie Lian’s neck, kissing and suckling at the soft skin as they grind into each other. His eyes are squeezed shut, simply relishing in the ecstasy coursing through his veins. He thinks he could come from this alone.

The coil in his lower belly tightens, almost painfully so, his cock demanding to be released from its confines. At that moment, Xie Lian ceases the motions of his hips and slithers a hand down Hua Cheng’s chest to palm his cock, pressing down on it lightly. Hua Cheng yelps at the sudden pressure but he welcomes the pain. He will welcome anything his Gege generously provides. Xie Lian’s hand moves further down, cupping Hua Cheng’s balls and squeezing it gently before kneading softly at the delicate flesh. 

Hua Cheng writhes. His mind already turning into an incoherent mess. 

“Oh, ugh..Gege…please.”

Although Hua Cheng doesn’t elaborate on what exactly he’s begging for, Xie Lian deftly slides his hand back up, undoes the zipper and dips his fingers beneath the band. His cock twitches in excitement. Anticipation causes Hua Cheng’s pleasure to wound tighter, struggling to keep his breathing steady as he feels silk fingers wrap themselves delicately around his cock. 

“Ahh fuck, Gege,” Hua Cheng sighs. 

It’s been so long since he’s touched himself that at the first contact, any remaining voice of reason escapes him, and he’s only left with an aching desire.

He lifts up the blazer to his face and inhales deeply. This damned scent. It's almost like Xie Lian never left. Like he’s still here. Like it’s his fingers stroking Hua Cheng.

Hua Cheng’s cock finally springs free, and Xie Lian gives it a few lazy strokes to appease it, his cock hanging heavy, angry and red with need. The heat from Xie Lian’s palm sends a shiver down Hua Cheng’s spine. To be enveloped in such warmth would no doubt send Hua Cheng to an early grave. 

Xie Lian gathers the wetness pooling at the tip and smears it over the rest of Hua Cheng’s length. Hua Cheng still has his head in the crook between Xie Lian’s neck and shoulder, nuzzling into it in an attempt to ground his fleeting sanity. Xie Lian wipes over the tip a couple more times, which feels like an assault on such a sensitive area, causing Hua Cheng to twitch uncontrollably and groan. 

When Xie Lian wraps his fingers around Hua Cheng’s length once more, he ensures the tips of his fingers are able to connect with his thumb.The grip is sinfully tight but when Xie Lian begins stroking, the up and down motion is smoother, gliding easier with a thin sheen of moisture. 

He can feel his pleasure soaring to new heights, as Xie Lian pumps him with rigour, causing him to fill the room with his salacious gasps and panting. He’s so, so close, his abdomen tensing and his thoughts solely focused on racing towards the climax threatening to break him.   

“San Lang,” Xie Lian purrs into Hua Cheng’s ear, in a tone dripping with seduction. “Will you come for me?”

A wrecked moan cuts through him.  

“Oh God, fuck!…ngh..Gege!”

Burying his nose into Xie Lian’s blazer, Hua Cheng groans out as he reaches his peak, body shuddering in euphoria as he continues to stroke himself through his climax. 

The height of pleasure he falls from feels like a plunge into the abyss, the ecstasy fizzling out instantly and is replaced with a sullen clarity as he opens his eyes and takes in his surroundings. Standing in the middle of his apartment, alone — his softening cock in hand and come staining the crimson felt. 

Shit, he grumbles. The table will need to be reclothed. 

However, the state of his pool table is not his immediate concern. As he lowers the blazer from his face, the end of the sleeves accidentally brush over his spend, picking up the sticky fluid. 

His eyes cast over the scene before him once more and his face contorts into a grimace, completely and utterly repulsed by what has transpired.

He rushes over to the bathroom sink, briefly washing his hands, before placing the dirtied sleeve under running water. He rubs on the cloth with soap praying it doesn't leave a mark. He scrubs incessantly for minutes, growing anxious and frustrated at the stain that refuses to come off. No matter how many times he looks at it, the blazer looks tarnished and ruined.

In truth, there is no stain and the opaque remnants have long washed away but Hua Cheng is spiralling. All he can see is something tainted and damaged — by him . He continues rubbing the sleeve, the guilt and shame weighing heavily on him, a feeling that simply won’t wash away as easily. 

Hua Cheng switches off the tap and leans over the sink, feeling dejected. He looks up to regard himself in the mirror and he hates the face staring back at him. 

Holding up the blazer, he inspects the sleeve once more and frowns. 

This won't do. 

After entering his bedroom, Hua Cheng walks over to his nightstand where he left his phone for the evening to ensure there weren't any unwanted disruptions while he was with Xie Lian. The phone lights up, thirteen missed calls from Yin Yu and an unread email. 

He clicks into his inbox and sees that the email is from the World Snooker Association, likely an update from the Ethics Committee regarding his review and no doubt the calls from Yin Yu are in relation to that. He rubs his temples, his head throbbing like the beginnings of a migraine. 

One thing at a time.

He’ll need to rectify the stained sleeve situation before he can think of anything else. 

The phone beeps a couple times before connecting to the other end. A groggy Yin Yu greets him, the annoyance evident in his tone from being disturbed from his sleep. “Hello..?”

“I need something taken to the drycleaners urgently,” Hua Cheng says, jumping straight to the point.

“You do realise it’s three in the morning?” Yin Yu yawns. “And why didn’t you pick up any of my calls?” 

“I was having dinner with Xie Lian.”

“The lawyer? Why?”

“Drycleaners,” Hua Cheng reiterates, ignoring Yin Yu’s question. “I need it back by ten at the latest.”

“The dry cleaners near you are closed and the closest twenty-four hour service is a twenty minute drive away.”

“Your point?”

“It’s three in the morning…,” Yin Yu repeats. It’s not the first time Hua Cheng has made an unreasonable request and it likely will not be the last. 

“I’ll leave it by the entrance for you to pick up.” 

Hua Cheng can hear shuffling and a string of profanities being uttered from the other end of the line. “I’m on my way,” Yin Yu speaks into the phone. It’s not easy working for such a stubborn man but he can only blame himself for not realising sooner why the job had been vacant for so long in the first place. “By the way, have you read the email?”

“Not yet.”

“A date is set for your hearing with the committee. It's one week after your court date. I believe they are trying to stall to see the verdict first before making a decision themselves,” Yin Yu explains, sounding distant, as though he is talking to Hua Cheng on speaker phone. “It’s a good thing, though. It means they likely don’t want to issue a penalty unless public sentiment forces their hand.”

“Figures,” Hua Cheng sighs. 

“So, as long as the court outcome isn’t too severe, you’ll still be able to keep your title and compete next year.”

The business with the snooker’s association is another headache persistently scratching at his brain. But at least it’s a problem he doesn’t have to concern himself with for much longer. “It doesn’t matter what the outcome is. I’m retiring.”

“What?! When were you going to tell me?” Yin Yu questions, frantically. “That was only your first season! It’s too soon to retire!”

Hua Cheng always intended to leave the sport after winning the world championship title. Of course, this is not the way he intended his departure to play out, in the midst of a scandal but he can’t change the past.  

“I’ll be busy, so let yourself in to collect the item.” 

The line disconnects and Hua Cheng falls onto the bed with an audible thump, not willing to wait and listen to what Yin Yu had to say. It may take too long to explain and he can’t be occupied on a call right now. He needs his phone free to receive other communications — at least for the next couple of hours. Lifting the phone to his face, he stares at the screen, regarding himself in the reflection. He desperately wants to sleep, to have a moment of reprieve from the voices in his head barraging him.

He won’t call. 

Why would he? After what you did?

He couldn’t wait to get away from you. 

Although it's irrational, expecting to hear from Xie Lian at this hour, Hua Cheng can’t help but feel disappointed. It’s only been two, maybe three hours since he left and it’s the middle of the night, he is probably sleeping. There is no reason to worry, he tells himself but the thought brings him no comfort, his anxiousness still sprouting in different places of his mind and spreading like wildfire. 

“He’ll call. He said he will,” Hua Cheng whispers to himself, settling his phone to his chest and closing his eye.

Chapter Text

Xie Lian leaves the office early with a permanent blush and grin plastered on his face. For the first time in a long time, he has found something to look forward to. 

He already has the date of Hua Cheng’s hearing marked in his calendar but the significance of it is different now. It is no longer a reminder of a work obligation, but rather the date that would be the official start of their relationship — exactly three weeks away. 

They had a brief chat about what they can and can’t do in the interim. Phone calls and texts are permitted but they agree to wait until after the hearing to meet again in person. While it isn’t necessary to go to that extent, it just seemed like the sensible thing to do considering Xie Lian finds his resolve crumbling within minutes when he’s alone with Hua Cheng. 

Hua Cheng was initially opposed to the idea, arguing that he could restrain himself, evident by the phantom kiss he placed on Xie Lian lips. However, Xie Lian isn’t worried about Hua Cheng’s control — he is worried about his own. 

A part of him wishes the hand wasn’t there. His fingers instinctively come up to trace his lips trying to recall how the younger man’s calloused lfingers grazed against him. Hua Cheng's lips will be softer , he thinks. 

The thought alone has his core rattling with anticipation. He would have liked to speak to Hua Cheng longer but the conversation was cut short when Feng Xin and Mu Qing were threatening to break the door down. That was only two hours ago but Xie Lian finds himself wanting to hear his voice again. 

He glides through the revolving doors and starts his journey home. However, after only a few paces, he comes to a halt, his thoughts of calling Hua Cheng disrupted. 

Shi Qingxuan.

It slipped his mind with everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours. Checking the time, he decides he can probably stop by the bar before heading home.   

Stepping out of the taxi onto the familiar sidewalk, which has a less pungent smell of sweat and alcohol on a not so busy day, he approaches the entrance. The sign clearly reads that it's closed but Xie Lian can hear some clattering coming from the other side of the door so he tries to peek through the frosted window. There is definitely someone inside as he spies a shadow. 

He pushes on a door which surprisingly isn't locked, and enters.

“We’re not open yet. Come back later,” a voice calls out to him. Although it's the same bar he visited previously, seeing it again with the chairs still stacked on top of the tables and the absence of loud, grating music makes it feel like a different place entirely.

The only sounds he can hear are the echoes of glasses clinking against each other which were coming from the man behind the counter. Xie Lian strides towards him and even from the back, he can tell that the man is not the person he is looking for.

“I apologise for intruding, I'm looking for Shi Qingxuan.” The man turns around when he hears Xie Lian speak. He has sleek black hair with a fringe that covers half his face but even then his cold, distant expression is discernible. He rakes his eyes over Xie Lian, seeming displeased.

“It's his day off,” he states plainly, before turning his attention back to arranging the liquor bottles in the cabinet behind him. 

It is apparent that he is not interested in the conversation, however Xie Lian is not deterred by the man’s indifference and continues, “Would you mind letting him know I stopped by? My name is—”

“I know who you are,” he interrupts, with his back still facing Xie Lian. “If I see him, I’ll mention it.” The man moves on to the next level of shelving and starts removing the bottles before wiping the surface down with the rag. 

Not all people who are this reluctant to speak are hiding something. In fact, his apprehension and dismissive behaviour could very well be due to Xie Lian interrupting him during his preparation of opening the bar. Or this could simply be how he converses with everyone. It would be unfair to judge his character based on this one encounter alone. After all, as the saying goes, ‘innocent until proven guilty ’. 

However, as Xie Lian studies the man longer, the more he feels a sense of unease. He knows it’s not his place to pry any further, however when he remembers the distressed call he received from Shi Qingxuan only two days ago, he can’t help but consider the possibilities. Perhaps, it is work-related, seeing how this man is doing his utmost to get rid of Xie Lian at the earliest possible moment. Against his better judgement, Xie Lian decides to investigate. 

“Are you an employee here?” Xie Lian blurts the question.

He finally spins around, glaring down at Xie Lian as he sets a rack of glasses down onto the bench. “I own the place.” One by one, he lifts the glass from the rack, wipes them down with a piece of cloth before organising them into a separate tray.

“I see.” It’s only then Xie Lian makes the connection that it was this man who sent through the security footage for Hua Cheng's case, He Xuan. “And how do you think your employees would describe the working conditions here?” Xie Lian turns his back to He Xuan and starts to pace around the room, scanning his eyes over the panelled ceiling — focusing his attention particularly on the corners where the security cameras are noticeable.

“It’s a bar.”

“That doesn’t answer the question though,” Xie Lian responds immediately, throwing a glance over his shoulder. 

He Xuan narrows his eyes, clearly agitated by Xie Lian’s line of questioning. “Adequate,” he grits out.  

“And is there a reason you had a security camera installed at the east entrance?” It’s a complete shot in the dark. When he visited the bar with Feng Xin, it was the only thing they both had found odd but since it had nothing to do with Hua Cheng’s case, Xie Lian chose not to look into it further.

“Does it come as a surprise to you when these sorts of establishments upgrade their security?” 

Interesting.

“What’s surprising is you wanted to upgrade your security and yet, all the other camera’s in the vicinity have not been replaced. But, you did choose to add one in a spot that I would assume wouldn’t have much foot traffic.” The way He Xuan’s eyes darken as Xie Lian talks through his observation makes him certain that his inference is right on the mark. 

Something happened in that alleyway.  

“Do these questions have anything to do with the assault?”

Xie Lian stops his wandering and faces He Xuan once more, who embodies a type of calmness that can only be described as chilling. The storm behind his eyes, however, tells a different story. “No,” Xie Lian confesses.

“Then, you need to leave.”

He Xuan is definitely hiding something and it is related to the recently installed security camera. Could Shi Qingxuan be involved in this as well? Or are they two entirely different matters? “Alright, but if you could just tell me where I can find Shi—”

“I think you're overstepping your bounds, lawyer . Do not interfere in matters that do not concern you,” He Xuan bites. “I've already given you the information you've asked for. Leave.”

Xie Lian contemplates pushing further but He Xuan is right. This does not concern him. At least until Shi Qingxuan reaches out to him again. “I will leave. I apologise for distracting you from your work,” he says, lowering his head as he retreats to the door. He decides he will wait a little longer before involving the police. He doesn’t know how serious the situation is but it’s better to be safe than sorry. “Have a good evening,” he chimes as he makes his exit. 

He rounds to the eastern side of the building unable to shake off his suspicions of He Xuan and why he felt the need to lie about upgrading their security. The alleyway is closed off, with thick chains wrapping around the wired fence and a padlock on the other side securing it's entrance. It is sufficient to deter passerby's from entering but anyone with motivation to cross the threshold can easily climb over the fence if they wished. Otherwise, the only other point of entry is through the side door only accessible from within the bar, however Xie Lian did not see any side exits in the areas open to the public, meaning — the patrons are not able to easily access this space either. 

It is not uncommon to have security cameras installed around the perimeters however the timing of the installation seems rather suspicious. It’s hard to say what had transpired in that alleyway, he can only guess from the strain and panic in Shi Qingxuan’s voice, that it wasn't good. 

───── ⋅⋆⋅ ─────

It’s Saturday again. 

It is strange to think that it's only been a week since he met Hua Cheng.

Xie Lian's days haven't changed much as he is still preoccupied with work but now there are texts from Hua Cheng sprinkled throughout his day which brighten his skies even in this dull winter. Rarely does he receive communications that are not work related so having his phone buzzing for other reasons is a welcomed delight. A smile graces his face every time he reads the name of the man responsible for his good mood on his phone screen. 

Unlike the previous Saturday, where the sun was at the very least in attendance, this late morning appears to be grim and dark. 

He opts to work from home instead of heading into the office like he usually does, reluctant to leave his warm, cosy apartment when he can see the trees lining the sidewalk, shaking in agony as strong winds barrel through the streets. The clouds appear to be gathering in the sky, all sinister and grey, threatening a downpour at any moment. As he continues assessing the weather from the safety of his abode, his eye catches on a woman trying to walk her dog, although it seems like the wind is walking the both of them as she struggles to keep her footing. 

Definitely a good day to stay in. 

Heading into the kitchen, he stands over the kettle as he waits for the water to boil. He has his tablet in his hand, reading the case file for the new engagement he’s signed onto, which is in addition to the other three cases he is already working on. Feng Xin wasted no time in allocating Xie Lian a number of pro-bono cases which has kept him incredibly busy the last few days. He can’t complain though. It’s been a good distraction from the fact that he’s not able to see Hua Cheng again for another two and half weeks. 

He felt so determined when he first declared that three weeks isn’t that significant but even only after a couple of days, he’s starting to feel the weight of his decision. He wonders how Hua Cheng is doing? Is he riddled with the same restlessness as Xie Lian or is he capable of functioning like a well-adjusted adult?

While they have been exchanging messages over the last couple of days, it really isn’t the same as spending time together in person. Should he just call Hua Cheng and ask to meet up? 

The weather is terrible, though. Should he just invite Hua Cheng over?

After pouring the hot water into his mug of dried chrysanthemum buds, he sets his tablet down onto the bench and holds the mug in both hands, bringing it closer to his mouth and blowing on the steam. The buds begin to bloom and float to the surface, filling the air with a light, floral aroma. He lets himself stew in his thoughts for a moment. 

Is the distance really necessary? Especially since he has taken precautionary measures such as removing himself from the case. Morally, it could be questionable should the public find out about their relationship but legally speaking they have not broken any rules.

He does have a lot of work to get through, it might not be wise to take the day off. But…getting proper rest is also a necessity for productivity. 

Taking a sip, he doubles down on that line of thinking, which sounds rather convincing in his head. So, in essence, a day spent with Hua Cheng will clear his mind and allow him to better focus on his work. 

The argument feels like a loose stack of pebbles but he doesn’t ponder on the decision any longer. He grabs his phone and searches for Hua Cheng’s number. As he is about to hit the call button, his phone begins to ring in his hands. His eyes light up when he reads the name on the screen. 

He doesn’t think for another second and swipes on the green button. 

“San Lang, I was just about to call you,” Xie Lian answers with glee.

“Is that so? I must have a sixth sense for these things,” Hua Cheng responds. Xie Lian relishes in the warmth curling through his veins as the smooth buttery tone of Hua Cheng's voice washes over him.

“Not a very useful sixth sense, unfortunately. Being able to predict lottery numbers might be more beneficial.” 

“You don't need foresight to be a good gambler, so I much prefer having the ability to know when you're thinking of me.”

Xie Lian can't stop the colour rushing to his cheeks — and since Hua Cheng can't see him, he doesn't try to hide it.

When Xie Lian doesn't respond right away, Hua Cheng asks, “Did Gege want to discuss something with me?”

“Nothing in particular…” Xie Lian sets down his mug and starts to play with the flowers floating in his drink, prodding them with his finger and watching them swim from one edge to the other. He ruminates on how he can word his desires without being too direct. He hasn't had any real dating experience but he imagines the beginnings of a newfound relationship would be a delicate matter so he reigns in his enthusiasm. “Just wanted to make sure you weren’t travelling out in such horrible weather.”

“Hmm, that’s interesting,” Hua Cheng hums. “How did you know I was planning on leaving the house?”

Xie Lian's heart sinks. He feels silly for assuming Hua Cheng would be available and not even considering the possibility that he might be busy. After all, it is a Saturday — any reasonable person would have prior engagements. Not Xie Lian though, whose life seems to only revolve around his work. “Oh, I actually didn’t. So…San Lang has plans today?” he says with an air of indifference, not wanting to taint his words with the disappointment he feels.

“I do, yes.”

“Alright. Well…don't let me keep you…” Xie Lian nudges on one of the petals with too much force and it ends up sinking to the bottom of the mug.

“Wait, Gege, I actually called to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“I was hoping you would join me on my outing today.”

Xie Lian perks up, his body straightening and his heart skipping a beat at the sudden invitation. “Oh, I thought we agreed….”

“I know. But—” Hua Cheng pauses for a moment before continuing. “I still wanted to ask.”

“Where is San Lang going?”

“An art exhibition.”

“That sounds an awful lot like a date.”

“It’s not, I assure you. When I take you on a date, you’ll know it’s a date. Today is simply the last day the exhibit is open and I would really like to see it.” Hua Cheng's tone is still calm, as if he's resigned to accept Xie Lian’s answer, no matter what it is. 

“I suppose since it's the last day and you really want to see it….” Xie Lian's smile spreads across his face. He's glad Hua Cheng can't see him right now, grinning to himself like a lunatic. “I just need to get dressed but tell me where I should meet you.” Xie Lian has already glided over to his closet, shuffling through the hung clothing as he assesses what would be the most appropriate outfit for an art exhibition. 

“I’ll come to pick you up, just text me your address.”

It really doesn't make sense for Hua Cheng to be coming out all this way when they can just meet at the venue. “You live on the other side of town though? I can just—” 

“Gege, just text me your address,” Hua Cheng insists. “And stay inside until I get there.” 

“Oh…okay. I’ll wait for your message then.”

“See you soon, Gege.”

It doesn’t take long for Xie Lian to get ready but contrary to what he agreed with Hua Cheng, Xie Lian decides to wait outside. He knows that parking around his building can be difficult and not always available. He didn't want to inconvenience Hua Cheng more than he already has, so he stands under the small shelter just outside the entrance of his building, ready to sprint to the car as soon as it pulls up to avoid the strong gusts of wind bellowing through. 

After a few minutes, he sees a fancy car roll to a stop in front of him. It stands out, compared to the other cars parked on the road. It shouldn't come as a surprise to him considering the type of apartment Hua Cheng lives in but Xie Lian is reminded again of the other man's expensive tastes. The windows are tinted, so he can't say for certain if it is indeed Hua Cheng inside. He checks his phone again for a message but his gaze is drawn up when he hears the car door open and Hua Cheng steps out. 

Xie Lian gleams and makes a move towards the younger man but as Hua Cheng approaches him, he places both hands on Xie Lian’s shoulders and guides him back to stand under the shade.

“I thought I told you to wait inside,” Hua Cheng says with a frown. 

“It's okay, I wasn't out here for very long.”

“Still. It's cold. You could get sick.” Hua Cheng looks down at him with displeasure but Xie Lian is more preoccupied with how handsome Hua Cheng is in his maroon dress shirt — with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and black trousers. Xie Lian is dressed up by his standards but standing next to Hua Cheng, he looks plain and ordinary. 

“You look amazing,” Xie Lian utters, the words tumbling out of him before his brain catches up to what he's saying. The change in Hua Cheng’s expression is instant and drastic. The crinkles between his eyebrows and frown melt away, replaced with his jaw hanging slack and his eye opening wider than usual. 

Xie Lian walks past Hua Cheng to the car, so that the other man doesn't see his face redden, however a small smile plays along Xie Lians’s lips. That expression is rather…cute . 

As Xie Lian slips into the passenger side, heat radiates from the seat and spreads across his thighs and back, instantly warming him up. Hua Cheng also joins him in the car shortly after. “I remember your place being quite far. I'm surprised you got here as quickly as you did.”

“I was already nearby. You mentioned you lived close to the office so I’ve just been circling the area for the last thirty minutes.”

“But you only called me ten minutes ago?”

Hua Cheng doesn't answer and averts his gaze.

Xie Lian looks at him, perplexed. Did Hua Cheng get here before deciding to call him? Hua Cheng must've thought Xie Lian would reject him since Xie Lian did say they shouldn't meet until after the case had concluded. But despite that, Hua Cheng came out anyway, and in this disastrous weather no less — all to see Xie Lian. He sounded so calm on the phone but perhaps he is as nervous about this as Xie Lian. 

Somehow Xie Lian finds the thought comforting.

After a moment, Hua Cheng leans over to the passenger side and the movement catches Xie Lian's attention.

For a second, Xie Lian thinks Hua Cheng might try to kiss him again but instead the younger man reaches past him and pulls the seatbelt across before clicking it in place. 

“Is everything okay, Gege?” Hua Cheng purrs with his face still only a breath away from Xie Lian's. “You look tense.”

When Hua Cheng withdraws back to his seat, Xie Lian clears his throat and his hands come up to his chest, gripping tightly around the seatbelt. “I’m fine.”

Hua Cheng throws Xie Lian a playful grin before pushing down on the accelerator. 

Xie Lian doesn't speak on the drive to the exhibition but neither does Hua Cheng. The silence isn’t awkward though, in fact it feels rather pleasant. Xie Lian is just enjoying being in Hua Cheng’s company after so many days.

On the way there, Xie Lian does notice that they pass by the street where Hua Cheng lives. So, Hua Cheng really did go out of his way to pick Xie Lian up. But he doesn't complain, not with the way the wind is thrashing against the car window. He simply thinks he should take Hua Cheng out for dinner sometime, to thank him for the ride. 

When they pull up to the venue, the parking lot is empty which Xie Lian finds surprising. He breaks the silence as they step out of the car and make their way to the entrance. “How are we the only ones here? Do people not know they are open today?” 

The building looks unassuming from the outside and he expects the art inside to be as subtle and delicate, representative of where it is housed. However, Xie Lian also has zero expertise in art and has never been to an art exhibition either, so his knowledge is rather limited. 

“The last day to view the exhibition was actually yesterday and tickets were already sold out so I asked them if we could view it privately today.” Hua Cheng holds the door open at the entrance for Xie Lian to enter first. 

“You got them to stay for another day?”

“Maybe…” Hua Cheng replies quietly once they are both inside.

Xie Lian also lowers his voice to a hush, as he sputters, “San Lang! That must’ve cost a lot.”

“It really wasn’t that expensive, plus — you did say I needed to keep a low profile.”

“I also said not to make any illustrious purchases,” Xie Lian scolds, however his tune changes fairly quickly when they reach the reception area which is completely silent and only disrupted by their soft chatter. “But I suppose it might be a nicer viewing experience without the general public.”

As they make their way up to the counter, they are greeted by two female staff members, one of whom provides a brief explanation of the exhibition. The exhibition is divided into three rooms and there is no time limit on how long visitors can stay in each room. Xie Lian learns it is also supposed to be an interactive experience and to facilitate an immersive environment, socks and shoes are to be removed prior to entering the first room.  

The instruction surprises Xie Lian but stokes his excitement further.  It will be an entirely new experience for him and he's especially excited to be able to share this with Hua Cheng.

One of the staff members gestures to follow her,  escorting the both of them to the locker area.

“I didn’t realise snooker player’s earnt so much,” Xie Lian whispers playfully as they walk side by side.

Hua Cheng leans closer to Xie Lian’s ear before responding, “You probably earn more as a lawyer.”

“Other lawyers maybe, but my salary is capped at the minimum wage.”

“How did that happen?” Hua Cheng regards him with concern.

Xie Lian scratches his cheek in contemplation. “I guess you could say it was self-imposed. In the first few years of starting the business, we ran into some financial trouble — doing legal work for free is not a profitable business model, as you can imagine. I took a pay-cut to keep the business afloat. Of course, we’re fine now but I've grown so accustomed to a minimal lifestyle that I just never thought about reinstating it.”

As they reach the locker room, the staff member allocates them a locker each before advising them to head through the door on the left once they are ready. 

When they are alone, Xie Lian takes a seat on the bench to begin untying his white canvas sneakers.

“You had to give up so much,” Hua Cheng says as he joins Xie Lian on the seat, bending over to remove his dress shoes.

Xie Lian tucks his socks into his shoes and brings them to the locker. He huffs a laugh at Hua Cheng's statement and responds, “It really wasn't anything special. Any business owner would do the same.”

“Did your employees take a pay-cut too?”

“You mean Feng Xin and Mu Qing?”

Hua Cheng nods.

“They actually have equal shares in the venture so we are all business partners. And they did initially, but it wasn't for very long.” 

“Gege sounds like the only competent worker in that office,” Hua Cheng remarks, leaning back onto the bench. “Who will be working on my case again?”

Xie Lian closes the door but doesn’t turn the lock. “Feng Xin.”

“I might really end up in jail then.” Hua Cheng stands up and places his own shoes in the locker next to Xie Lian’s. 

Xie Lian would not have given Feng Xin the case if he thought Feng Xin would let personal grudges affect his judgement. As such, Xie Lian tries to ease some of Hua Cheng's worries. “Don’t be silly. Feng Xin is a professional, first and foremost. He won't let personal matters dictate his decisions.”

As he notices Hua Cheng turn the lock, Xie Lian starts to feel his nervousness bubble up. All of a sudden, a burning memory floats to the forefront of his mind — the kiss that never quite made it onto his lips. He doubts Hua Cheng will try to kiss him again unless Xie Lian makes it explicitly clear so he has no reason to be anxious. However, despite that, a prickling heat spreads across his skin. 

He nibbles on his bottom lip, before re-opening his locker.

“One second, San Lang. It's just a little warm in here,” he says as he removes the sleeveless knit he has over his white baggy, button down shirt. As he pulls the sweater over his head, he realises he accidentally gathered both garments in his hands before dragging it up which exposes his midriff for a brief moment in the process. A furious blush creeps up his neck as he hastily pats his shirt back down into place. 

Without even looking at Hua Cheng, he can feel the other man's gaze burning a hole through him. 

He folds the sweater neatly and places it in his locker — attempting to hide his face as he locks it and removes the key. 

“Ready?” Hua Cheng asks.

Xie Lian just nods in response, not confident that his voice will not betray his inner thoughts.

They make their way to the specified entry, but before Xie Lian can push on the mental handle,  Hua Cheng crouches down by Xie Lian's feet and begins folding the ends of his beige pants.

“What are you doing?” Xie Lian questions.

“The first exhibit will be in water,” Hua Cheng responds, his head gesturing towards the sign next to the door. “Your pants will get wet if you don’t roll them up.”

“I could’ve done it.”

Hua Cheng straightens, the corners of his lips slightly upturned. “It’s okay. It’s done now.” 

Xie Lian can't tell if this is supposed to be the probationary period of their relationship or if they are already in one. Hua Cheng is certainly acting as if it is already official. 

After pushing through the door, they follow the signs leading them to the first exhibit down a dark corridor. Small pockets of light illuminate the floor, guiding them up the narrow elevated path. Water streams along the ramp and Xie Lian holds onto the railing as he makes his ascent. The water feels cool and refreshing as it washes past his feet, only deep enough to submerge his ankles. 

As he reaches the top, he turns around to face Hua Cheng who is not far behind him. When Hua Cheng makes his last step, he slips a little and Xie Lian’s arm immediately extends out to hold him steady, helping him onto the flat platform at the end of the ramp. 

“Are you okay?” Xie Lian asks, still holding Hua Cheng’s hand. 

“I am. But… I think we should keep holding hands. I might slip again.” Xie Lian struggles to see the face Hua Cheng is making in the darkness but he is certain Hua Cheng has a teasing smirk.  

Xie Lian narrows his eyes, not at all fooled by Hua Cheng’s poor excuse but plays along anyway. “Of course. We wouldn’t want you to injure yourself.”

They continue following the path, hand in hand however they are unable to walk side by side with how narrow the track is. As such, Xie Lian walks ahead, leading Hua Cheng into the first room. 

It's almost as if they've stepped into a small pond, with the water level reaching halfway up their knees. The surface is also covered in projections of koi fish swimming languidly and autumn coloured leaves floating by. The music playing in the background mimics that of a rainforest with echoes of rushing water and birds tweeting in the distance.

The ambiance is serene, washing a calmness over Xie Lian. He has never been to an art exhibition before, let alone an interactive one so he truly didn't know what to expect but he is pleasantly surprised. 

He drags one foot in front of the other slowly, so as to not disturb the water too much. 

“Gege, look.” Hua Cheng points towards Xie Lian’s shirt where the projections are reflected vividly. Xie Lian looks down at himself and sees a rogue koi fish swimming up his body and over his shirt before disappearing past his shoulder. He smiles and turns to face Hua Cheng, eager to see if Hua Cheng also has a fish swimming over him.

The projections are slightly obscured on Hua Cheng, likely due to his darker clothing but the shapes are still visible and Xie Lian chuckles in delight at seeing rose petals float across his face. 

When Xie Lian notices a closed rose bud gliding past his feet, he bends down — careful to not get his clothes wet, and curiously touches it. The bud instantly blooms, the deep cherry petals stretching open as if awoken from a deep slumber.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Hua Cheng asks. 

“Is that not obvious?” Xie Lian gleams. “I can't wait to see what the other rooms are like. This is already so magical.” 

“That’s a relief. I wasn't sure what your interests would be…” 

Xie Lian playfully flicks a bit of water onto Hua Cheng’s face. “I think any experience with you would be interesting.” He tries to wipe away the droplets that landed on Hua Cheng’s face but because his fingers were already wet, the dampness spreads over the younger man's cheeks. “Sorry, I think I'm making it worse.” 

“You’re not,” Hua Cheng says, placing his own hand over Xie Lian's. “We don't need to rush. We can take our time in each room but if you're ready to move on, we can.” 

“Let's just stay a few more minutes. The water feels nice.”

They relax in the makeshift pond a little while longer before exiting the water onto a smooth concrete floor. There are towels displayed on a rack to the right of them, presumably to wipe their feet before making their way into the next exhibit. The space is brighter than the one before but the lighting is still quite dim. 

The next room they enter is just as astonishing as the first one, however, it is also wildly different. There are, what appears to be, hundreds and hundreds of LED strips hanging from the ceiling and stretching all the way to the floor. It’s like standing in the middle of a fogless night sky with millions of brilliant stars blanketing the black canvas. The sparks travel from one end of the room to the other, changing colours and patterns and sometimes flashing intermittently. They weave through the dancing lights until they are standing in the centre of the room. 

Hua Cheng reaches out and gently taps one of the strips. The light reacts to the touch, causing red ripples to spread across the room.

“Wow, that's amazing!” Xie Lian chimes.

“You should try it, too.”

Xie Lian runs his fingers across multiple strips and the bright ruby hue swirls into a shimmering waterfall effect of sapphire blues, as if there is magic at his fingertips.  

They take turns, observing the different patterns and shapes the light would create. After a while they decide to move on to the last room.

They make their way into a darkened space once more, however, a bright white light shines from the end of the corridor. The scent strikes Xie Lian first, a rich floral aroma wafting out the room. When Xie Lian turns the corner, he is in awe at the sight before him, his jaw hanging slack. The third room has a gorgeous arrangement of floating flowers attached to the ceiling. 

Xie Lian rushes forward eager to get a closer look. There are rows and rows of orchids, suspended along a string, in a variety of colours — vicious reds, tranquil blues, muted yellows and sultry pinks — which all stand out vibrantly against the white backdrop and greenery of the stem and leaves. 

The room appears endless with mirrors covering every surface and when Xie Lian steps into the middle of it, he's surrounded by a plethora of flowers, creating the illusion of the hanging garden stretching for miles.

It's truly mesmerising. Breathtaking. Without a doubt this is by far his favourite of the three rooms. 

He turns around to share his excitement with Hua Cheng however when he sees the other man standing a short distance away he realises they are no longer within arms reach. Xie Lian doesn't remember letting go of him — but even then, his despair doesn't plague him for long when he takes in how ethereal Hua Cheng looks, encompassed by an array of cascading flowers.

Immediately, Xie Lian feels drawn to him and he glides across, letting the soft petals caress his face and brush against him as he weaves through them. “San Lang,” he calls out. “This is so beautiful.”

Hua Cheng smiles knowingly. “I agree.”

As he approaches Hua Cheng, Xie Lian’s gaze settles on the younger man's lips. At first, Hua Cheng’s scarlet iris is bright and cheerful, however in a split second of noticing Xie Lian's expression, his pupils dilate and the colour darkens into a blood crimson.

“You shouldn't look at me like that,” Hua Cheng snickers, a devilish grin playing across his lips as he rakes a hand through his hair. Although his mouth is smirking, his eye appears pleading as though in the midst of an internal struggle. “I made a lot of promises which I feel I'm on the brink of breaking. Gege, tell me. What should I do?” 

From what Xie Lian can tell, Hua Cheng is not lying. He truly appears to be at the end of his rope. Xie Lian moves closer to him until he is standing directly in front of him. Xie Lian expects his heart to jump out of his chest at Hua Cheng’s question. But instead, the clarity of his mind keeps his beating heart calm and steady. “San Lang, you should do what feels right to you. I trust you.”

Hua Cheng raises his eyebrows, not expecting that sort of response from Xie Lian — very vague but also very suggestive. It's clear Hua Cheng does not want to make the wrong choice but that's why Xie Lian worded it the way he did. There is no wrong choice.  

Hua Cheng exhales deeply and allows a hand to cradle Xie Lian's face. His thumb strokes Xie Lian's cheek as if deep in thought. They both study each other’s features, eager to understand what the other man is thinking. 

Xie Lian thinks he can pinpoint the exact moment Hua Cheng chooses to let go of his self-control when the light in his eye flickers. After several drawn out seconds, Hua Cheng swiftly closes the gap between them with a hungry kiss. 

As soon as their lips make contact Xie Lian hums in satisfaction and melts, feeling his body going limp as he leans forward into it. The kiss is demanding and passionate. It's everything Xie Lian expects it to be and more. Hua Cheng fingers graze along his chin, following the line of his jaw before making their way up into his hair, holding him in place by the back of his head. 

Hua Cheng’s other arm snakes around Xie Lian’s waist, pressing their bodies closer together and discarding any remaining space between them. Xie Lian loses himself in the feeling of the soft skin sliding over him.

When he feels Hua Cheng's tongue sneakily lick at his top lip, Xie Lian blushes a deep red and squeezes his eyes together.

This is all so new to him and his instincts are to retreat and take a step back, his body torn between desire and fear of the unknown. But his mind is the furthest thing from being scared. This is what he's been waiting for and dreaming about since that day in his office. His lips part open cautiously and it's all the leverage Hua Cheng needs to slip his tongue inside. Xie Lian swears he hears Hua Cheng groan as their tongues collide and entangle with each other. Or maybe it is Xie Lian who groaned? It's hard to tell, with each of them greedily seeking more from the other.

Just as Xie Lian imagined, Hua Cheng tastes bitter. He wonders just how much whiskey the other man had consumed prior to them meeting this morning. Xie Lian does not care for the taste of alcohol — even the glass of wine Hua Cheng served had only been mildly satisfactory, nothing thrilling to write home about. But on Hua Cheng’s lips? The flavour is decadent. 

Hua Cheng uses his grip in Xie Lian hair to angle his face in the opposite direction, allowing the younger man to glide more smoothly against Xie Lian’s mouth, deepening the kiss. Xie Lian starts to feel light headed, perhaps due to the fact he hasn't had the chance to draw in any breaths with his mouth occupied on other more important matters. Despite that, he doesn't want it to end, his hands scrunching the material of Hua Cheng’s shirt to hold himself steady.

It is Hua Cheng who pulls away first and as he does, he tugs on Xie Lian's bottom lip softly. Xie Lian's doe eyes blink open to look up at the younger man. Hua Cheng’s chest can be seen rising and falling heavily as if he's just run a marathon. Xie Lian imagines he must look the same as he finally sucks in the oxygen he had been deprived off for the last few minutes. “ This is a date ,” Xie Lian mutters under his breath.

Hua Cheng chuckles and kisses the top of Xie Lian’s forehead. “It really wasn’t supposed to be but you put all these thoughts in my head. I’m sure this was Gege’s plan all along, you wanted me to kiss you.” 

“Are you saying I planned for this to happen?” While Xie Lian is thrilled that things worked out this way, he certainly did not agree to this outing with such an objective in mind. He simply wanted to spend his time with Hua Cheng. 

The younger man slowly untangles his fingers from within Xie Lian's hair, and begins smoothing the strands back in place. “The evidence would suggest so.”

“What is this evidence you speak of?” Xie Lian asks defensively, feeling like he is being wrongly accused of crimes he did not commit. “Please, do share,” Xie Lian insists.

“Gladly,” Hua Cheng beams, responding with a wide smile. The arm still around Xie Lian’s waist, holds him in place, keeping them flushed against each other. “Firstly, you have been staring at my lips all day.”

Guilty.

“I didn’t realise San Lang was so observant but regardless, you can't prove that. It's simply your word against mine,” Xie Lian counters, peering up at Hua Cheng through his lashes.

“Hmm..moving on, then.” Hua Cheng starts to play with Xie Lian's hair, twirling the silky strands around his fingers. “Secondly, when I leaned over to buckle in your seat belt, you closed your eyes. Incredibly suspicious behaviour, wouldn’t you agree? Perhaps you were hoping I would kiss you then?”

Guilty.

Xie Lian’s smile widens in amusement, matching Hua Cheng's overjoyed expression. “Speculation.” 

“Lastly,” Hua Cheng declares, licking his lips and the movement draws Xie Lian’s eyes back to his mouth. “You were clearly trying to seduce me when you were removing your sweater.”

Guilty.

Guilty. 

A thousand times guilty. 

A part of Xie Lian is shocked himself. Did he really subconsciously go through all this effort to entice Hua Cheng?

“Hmm…that does seem rather incriminating,” Xie Lian says coyly. 

“Is that a confession?”

“No. All your evidence is circumstantial at best.”

“What should I do then?” 

Xie Lian lifts himself ever so slightly by the balls of his feet and tugs on Hua Cheng's collar, a playful grin sweeping across his face. “You should re-examine the crime scene,” Xie Lian whispers into Hua Cheng’s lips. 

Hua Cheng doesn't need further encouragement and seals their lips together once more.

The way they flow into each other is softer and more tender. If the objective of the first kiss was to sate their vicious appetite — then the purpose of this kiss is to savour the taste and memorise the shape and contours of the soft flesh.

Chapter Text

Xie Lian and Hua Cheng make their way back to the lockers after exiting the final room, their fingers interlaced in a firm hold. Xie Lian looks down at where they are joined and smiles to himself. He thought about this back then too, when he first held Hua Cheng’s hand but their palms seem to slot together perfectly. His eyes follow the veins and tendons from Hua Cheng’s slender fingers up his forearm which disappear beneath the folded sleeve at his elbow. He continues to sweep his gaze upwards until his eyes finally settle on the other man’s face. Just moments ago, he was connected to those lips. It almost feels like a fever dream.

His heart rate is surprisingly steady, all things considered but what does this mean for them now? All this preaching about professionalism yet Xie Lian has kissed the man who currently employs his firm. It should feel wrong and unethical but, truthfully, it doesn’t. Nothing about that kiss felt wrong and he harbours no feelings of regret either. But, just because he has tiptoed over the line, does that justify in disregarding it altogether?

When they reach the locker room, Xie Lian’s hand falls away — deliberately this time. The moments they shared within the dimly lit walls of the exhibition itself felt like a private, intimate affair but now that they are back out where others could see them, Xie Lian worries about how this might affect Hua Cheng.

He feels terrible for letting go but he reminds himself that he is doing this for Hua Cheng’s sake and that these circumstances are only temporary. His face scrunches in disappointment and while Xie Lian struggles to keep his inner thoughts from leaking into his features, Hua Cheng wears a neutral expression which gives away nothing. If he is disappointed about Xie Lian retracting his hand, he’s certainly doing an excellent job at hiding it.

“Thanks for joining me today,” Hua Cheng says as he opens the door to his locker.

After seeing the corners of Hua Cheng’s lips curl into a small smile, the worries that troubled Xie Lian instantly melt away and he’s glad his actions do not upset the younger man. For today, at the very least, he simply wants to drown in the presence of the man he is so enamoured with. He doesn’t want to worry about the status of their relationship and what it would mean should people find out.

“Thanks for inviting me,” Xie Lian delights. “It was incredible! I wish I could experience it again for the first time.”

“Oh? It was that good?” Hua Cheng raises his eyebrows.

For a moment, Hua Cheng’s reaction confuses Xie Lian. Does the other man still think Xie Lian is feigning his enjoyment? However, when Xie Lian spots the mischievous glint in Hua Cheng’s eye, he flushes — finally understanding what Hua Cheng is trying to imply. “I-I mean the exhibition!” he clarifies quickly.

Hua Cheng laughs and shakes his head, clearly amused by how easily Xie Lian gets flustered.

They retrieve their shoes, slipping them on fairly quickly, and as Xie Lian extracts the ivory sweater from his locker, he pauses his movement. Looking at it now, he suddenly doesn't feel like putting it back on again. Instead, he drapes the fabric around his neck, pulling the sleeves over his shoulders and twisting it into a knot to rest at his chest.

“Does Gege have anything planned for the rest of the evening?” Hua Cheng asks.

“Hmm, probably just work.” When Xie Lian looks over at Hua Cheng, the other man appears to be deep in thought. “Why do you ask?”

“No reason,” Hua Cheng says, then taking a pause before continuing. “Come, let me take you home.”

Although he is grateful that Hua Cheng has spent so much time with him already, the fact that they are parting ways again so soon makes him feel a little disappointed. However he chooses not to voice his thoughts and instead, all he does is nod and trail after the younger man quietly.

As they pass the reception area, the two female employees behind the counter smile brightly and bow their heads.

“We hope you had an enjoyable experience!” one of them chimes, while the other appears to be hiding a giggle.

It could've only been in Xie Lian's head, but that smile seems awfully peculiar. There were likely surveillance cameras in all the rooms so the employees would've seen what they were up to. Perhaps their meeting is not so secret after all.

Once outside, they are greeted by thunderous black clouds and heavy rain. The time spent indoors made him forget about this disastrous weather.

Hua Cheng starts to unbutton his shirt which startles Xie Lian. His lips part to question why the other man is undressing in the middle of a very public area but his mind scrambles as Hua Cheng pulls the material off him, leaving his upper body in nothing but a black ribbed tank top. Xie Lian blushes when he sees Hua Cheng’s thick arms and although he doesn’t mean to ogle, he can’t seem to tear his gaze away. He has seen Hua Cheng shirtless before so seeing him like this should be nothing new however he only had a short glimpse the first time around since he was with Hua Cheng for work. Today, on the other hand, he is not here in his capacity as a lawyer so he allows his eyes to roam over the lean muscle.

“Take this,” Hua Cheng says before covering Xie Lian’s head with it.

“I don't need—”

“Wait here. I'll bring the car closer.” Before Xie Lian can stop him, Hua Cheng dashes out into the rain. It's quite a walk to the carpark from here and the whole area is unshaded. Xie Lian thinks of running after him as well but decides against it. Hua Cheng did look really upset when he didn't wait inside this morning so it's best to stay put.

When the car pulls up, he sprints his way inside. With the wind blasting through the only thing Hua Cheng's shirt really protected is his hair. He looks over to Hua Cheng, who is drenched from top to bottom and he immediately feels guilty for using Hua Cheng's shirt to shield him from the rain — even though it was Hua Cheng that insisted.

“San Lang, you must be freezing in those clothes.”

“It’s alright. I’ll just change out of them once I get home.”

“But that will take awhile if you’re dropping me home first. I can just catch a cab from here,” Xie Lian offers. The car starts moving despite Xie Lian’s protest, clearly Hua Cheng’s way of dismissing the idea altogether.

“It’s really not a problem. I’ll be fine,” Hua Cheng insists.

Xie Lian pinches his eyebrows together, slightly irked by Hua Cheng’s stubbornness. He won’t lie, he has enjoyed being doted on by the younger man today but he can’t continue to accept these gestures at Hua Cheng’s expense. When they exit the parking lot, Xie Lian remembers that they are actually in Hua Cheng’s neighbourhood and thinks of an idea. “Isn’t your place closer? Why don’t we stop there first. I’ll head home once the weather gets better.”

Hua Cheng’s jaw clenches as he considers the suggestion, keeping his eye fixed on the road the entire time. “If that’s what Gege wants, then…we can go back to my place.”

Once they pull up into the underground garage, Hua Cheng parks the car and helps Xie Lian out. The driver's seat is very obviously soaked and Xie Lian is glad they came here first. At least now, Hua Cheng will be able to shower and change out of his saturated clothing.

It is not until they enter the elevator up to Hua Cheng's apartment does Xie Lian speak, “Oh, that reminds me, I should probably return this.” Xie Lian feels around in his pocket before retrieving the key card and handing it to Hua Cheng.

The elevator opens and Hua Cheng eyes the key card for a moment before turning away and entering his apartment. “Keep it. Feel free to stop by or use the facilities.” He doesn’t stop to look back and continues down the hallway on the right.

“Is that allowed? I’m not even a resident of the building.” Xie Lian follows after him, noting that this is a section of the apartment he has yet to see. He sees Hua Cheng disappear into a room which he suspects to be Hua Cheng’s bedroom. As much as his curiosity is eating away at him to sneak a glance he pauses and waits outside, letting his eyes roam anywhere else except to the silk red sheets he can see out of the corner of his eye.

When Hua Cheng emerges from the room, he's holding a folded towel and clothing. “Don't worry about that, just do as you like.” Handing Xie Lian the items in his hands, he says, “Gege, you should go shower too.”

Xie Lian shakes his head. “That’s okay, San Lang. I think I’ll just shower at my place. Besides, I didn't really get that wet,” he says, gesturing to himself. It isn’t a lie but Hua Cheng’s shirt only really shielded his face and hair, his clothes are still damp from the short distance to the car.

Hua Cheng frowns, appearing as though he might argue. “At least change into some dry clothes, please.” It’s almost comical how Hua Cheng is currently tracking water all over the house and yet, he worries about Xie Lian getting sick — who was maybe caught in the rain for all of ten seconds.

This is probably the most Hua Cheng will concede so Xie Lian graciously meets him halfway and accepts the clothes. “Alright.”

“You can use this guest bedroom. There is a bathroom in here, too — if you change your mind,” Hua Cheng offers as he guides Xie Lian into a room on the opposite side of the hallway. “I’m just going to take a quick shower, if that’s okay. I won’t be long.”

“Of course, I’ll be fine. Thanks for the clothes.” Hua Cheng nods and turns to leave so Xie Lian sets the clothes down onto the bed with the intention to undress. He moves his hair to the side exposing the nape of his neck and starts to undo the buttons to his shirt which has become partially see-through from the rain. He suddenly has a peculiar feeling like he's being watched and then it dawns on him — he didn’t actually hear the door close.

As he shuffles his feet to look behind, a hand lands over his eyes, robbing him of his sight.

“Don't turn around. I…shouldn't see you like this.” Hua Cheng’s voice is low and dark, raising goosebumps on Xie Lian's skin. His buttoned down shirt hangs open, leaving his front exposed to the cool air.

Hua Cheng lowers his head onto Xie Lian's shoulder, nuzzling into his neck. Droplets of water fall from Hua Cheng’s hair down the column of Xie Lian's neck, sending a shiver through him, however, despite the water being chilled, it sets Xie Lian’s skin ablaze as it crawls down past his collarbone and onto his chest. It's strange how his skin feels ice cold and burning hot at the same time.

“San Lang…” Xie Lian can't help how breathy his voice comes out.

A deep exhale settles on Xie Lian’s skin and the heat of it spreads to his core. “Don't worry, nothing else will happen today. I just got a bit…excited looking at you. Forgive me.”

“I'm not worried,” Xie Lian says firmly without an ounce of doubt in his tone, despite how vulnerable he feels in this precarious position.“And there is nothing to forgive. I said ‘I trust you’. Remember?”

A deep rumbling snicker sounds next to Xie Lian's ear, rippling through him all the way down his spine. “You wouldn’t say that if you knew what I was thinking.”

Xie Lian tries to steel himself and prevent his body from trembling like the leaves in the storm outside. There is a very simple solution which will prevent this situation from escalating any further — he could just remove Hua Cheng's hand from his face and ask him to leave — but he can't bring himself to move or say the words. In fact, he doesn't want to. He finds himself wanting to hear more about what Hua Cheng is thinking. His heart races as he asks the question he desperately wants to hear the answer to,“Wh-what are you thinking?”

“Terrible things, Gege.” The words sound so deliciously wicked rolling off Hua Cheng’s tongue. His breath catches in his throat as he feels something hard pressing into his lower back. With his vision temporarily impaired, Xie Lian can feel the prickling sensations along his skin vividly. He shudders thinking about Hua Cheng’s state and it feeds into his own arousal.

“Do you still trust me?” Hua Cheng whispers like a challenge.

Xie Lian can feel his blood travelling south, filling him in other places as Hua Cheng's sinful voice clouds his senses. “Why does it sound like you want me to say ‘no’?”

“That’s the last thing I want. But…—” the fingers over his eyes start to quiver ever so slightly “— it might make it easier for me to take my hand off you and leave this room.”

Selfishly, Xie Lian doesn't want to make it easy. “Well, I can't say that…it would be a lie.”

There is a moment of silence and Xie Lian begins to wonder what exactly Hua Cheng is thinking, however just as he ponders the notion, Xie Lian suddenly feels a hand moving along his leg, starting from the middle of his thigh and trailing upward. He gulps and tips his head back as the fingers slide over his hip bone, so dangerously close to his centre.

“S-San Lang…” His body instinctively pushes back but Hua Cheng, built as sturdy as a wall behind him, keeps him in place.

Xie Lian doesn’t know why he calls out Hua Cheng’s name in that soft, raspy tone. He can’t really think past the fingers dancing along his bare skin and Hua Cheng’s hips digging deeper into his back.

Hua Cheng breathes in deeply, burying his nose into Xie Lian's neck. “Gege, will you trust me even if I take this shirt off you?” Hua Cheng's velvet caresses crawl their way to Xie Lian's shoulder, toying with fabric as if to slide it off in a single motion.

“Yes,” Xie Lian answers without hesitation. Almost suspiciously fast…as if another organ has taken control over his rational thought. But it doesn’t matter — the answer would be the same.

One side of his shirt slips off his shoulder while calloused fingers continue to skate along the muscle connecting to Xie Lian's neck, threatening to do the same on the other end. Xie Lian's own arms hang limp at his sides, his mind entirely absorbed by Hua Cheng's methodical touches. Once Hua Cheng's hand gets to the top of Xie Lian's spine, he lets the weight of his hand pull the fabric down and within seconds, the material gives way, falling off Xie Lian's back with the sleeves bunching around his wrists. The younger man presses his palm flat against Xie Lian's spine and rakes his hand down, adding a bit of pressure as he speaks. “What if I bend you over right here…right now?”

Xie Lian's breath hitches. Each word pulsating through his veins and echoing through him. His body tenses and even without Hua Cheng holding him in place, he’s frozen, unable to move even an inch. When Xie Lian speaks, it comes out as a moan.

“…Yess.”

“Fuck,” Hua Cheng grunts, bringing a sharp intake of breath into his lungs. Hua Cheng's hand slithers to the Xie Lian's front and creeps down along his naval. Xie Lian can't control his breathing and he feels the other man's touches inching closer and closer to his length straining in his pants. Just as the thumb is about to breach the band of his pants, the movements halt. Hua Cheng's breathing is so loud in his ear that when he speaks, his speech is ragged and slow. “As much as I would like to, our first time will be after my hearing — when I'm certain you won't have any other reservations.”

Every single syllable that spilled from Hua Cheng’s lips has Xie Lian's bones vibrating with anticipation.

When Hua Cheng's hands withdraw, he takes with him the scorching heat that threatens to burn through Xie Lian's skin.

It's only when he hears the door click shut behind him does his eyes spring open and he spins around. With a hand over his mouth, he drops down onto the bed, squeezing his thighs together.

He might just need to shower after all.

───── ⋅⋆⋅ ─────

When Xie Lian peeks out of the room after his shower, he can still hear a stream of running water coming from Hua Cheng's bedroom so he decides it's safe to meander out. Of course, he's not trying to hide from Hua Cheng but seeing him again might stir up whatever emotions lingered from their previous encounter. He has only just managed to cool down his heated skin but every time he catches a glimpse of the bed, he's reminded of Hua Cheng's wicked promise. He needs to leave the room if he wants to think about anything else.

Xie Lian’s soft steps pat towards the kitchen as he rubs his hair dry with the towel resting around his neck. The simple t-shirt and lounge pants Hua Cheng provided are definitely one size too big but otherwise they sit comfortably, and the material is probably the softest fabric Xie Lian has ever worn.

He hunts for a mug or a glass, feeling parched, which is somehow a more difficult task than he expected after trying five different cabinets with no success.

“Looking for something?” Hua Cheng's voice sounds from behind him. Xie Lian throws a glance over his shoulder as the younger man saunters into the kitchen with a black t-shirt and grey sweatpants. The same sweatpants he wore the first time they met.

Xie Lian immediately averts his gaze back to the cabinet in front of him. “Oh sorry, I wasn't trying to snoop. I was just feeling thirsty,” Xie Lian responds sheepishly as if he’s caught doing something he shouldn't have been.

“What can I get you?”

“Just some water. Or tea, if you have some,” he adds quickly.

“I do.” The younger man extracts a tin of loose jasmine leaves from the cabinet above him and a mug from the drawer below. Xie Lian immediately steps aside, awkwardly leaning on the kitchen bench as he provides Hua Cheng the space to prepare the drink.

This is certainly not how he expected his Saturday to go — back in Hua Cheng's apartment and in his clothes. But he likes it. He finds himself hoping that many Saturdays in the future can be like this too.

All that's left is for Hua Cheng's hearing to go smoothly.

As much as he wants to ask Hua Cheng how the case is progressing, the more distance he can put between Hua Cheng’s case and himself — the better. By now, Feng Xin would be in negotiations with the plaintiff’s legal team with the goal of reaching a settlement agreement prior to the hearing. But from what little Xie Lian knows of Qi Rong, he suspects that the snooker player will try to drag this out simply out of spite.

Realistically, he knows that Hua Cheng will not be receiving any jail time but when he spoke with such conviction it was in his capacity as Hua Cheng's lawyer. But he isn't Hua Cheng's lawyer anymore and suddenly he is riddled with irrational worry. He bites back the words to ask Hua Cheng for an update and instead queries him on a topic he can discuss. He remembers that it was Hua Cheng that helped him obtain the security footage from the bar which suggests he must know the owner.

“You are acquainted with He Xuan correct?” Xie Lian asks.

After steeping the tea, Hua Cheng brings it over to Xie Lian, placing the cup into Xie Lian’s hands.

“In a manner of speaking,” Hua Cheng replies, hooking his hands under Xie Lian's thighs and lifting him onto the countertop. The action surprises Xie Lian, especially when Hua Cheng slots himself to stand between his legs. Hua Cheng's arms then move to rest on either side of him, while he is perched on the edge of the countertop. Hua Cheng leans close to him but Xie Lian keeps the mug near his face as some sort of shield. “I'm his creditor.”

They are not really touching but the proximity has Xie Lian distracted so it takes him a moment to process Hua Cheng's words. However, when he does, his focus shifts to the conversation and his tone becomes serious. “He owes you money?”

Hua Cheng nods as he continues, “He needed a large sum to buy the bar a few years ago and I lent it to him.”

“Wow, San Lang is so generous,” Xie Lian says in a teasing manner.

“I can assure you, I was not trying to be generous. I've been going to that place for years, it would've been such a pain to find a new bar to take the crew to. Why do you ask?”

If Hua Cheng has been visiting the bar frequently then he must also know Shi Qingxuan. Xie Lian takes a long swig of his tea and considers asking Hua Cheng about the bartender since it's possible the younger man would've seen or heard something that could be useful to Xie Lian. However, he decides against it. Shi Qingxuan was already struggling to share his problems with Xie Lian as is and although they don't have a formal agreement between them to warrant Xie Lian's silence, he still doesn’t want to overstep and share too much.

“I can't really go into detail but I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of person he is.”

Hua Cheng tilts his head to the side as if trying to understand why Xie Lian is suddenly so interested in He Xuan. However, he doesn't question it and simply answers. “I don't know much. He usually keeps to himself. His father owned the bar previously but he passed away earlier in the year. There wasn't a sizable mortgage left on the place but because He Xuan was still studying at the time he didn't have the funds to take over the repayments so I assisted him with buying the bar outright.”

“Hmm,” Xie Lian hums. He still has his doubts about the man however this information alone is not enough to draw a conclusion on his character. Other than his dismissive temperament there really isn’t any reason for Xie Lian to remain suspicious. “Even if it wasn't your intention to be generous, it's still nice of you to make sure he didn't lose his father's business.”

“I suppose that's one way to see it,” Hua Cheng says, with his eye travelling up to the top of Xie Lian's head. Xie Lian starts to wonder if there's something there when Hua Cheng doesn't shift his gaze for a few moments. “Gege, you haven’t dried your hair properly.”

Xie Lian's hand instinctively moves to touch his hair. “Oh, don't worry. It’ll dry on its own.”

Hua Cheng takes the empty mug from Xie Lian's hand and places it on the bench. “Let me,” he says before leading Xie Lian to the lounge. He sits down on one end of the couch first and pats the spot in between him. Xie Lian feels a little strange to be sitting between Hua Cheng's legs but he realises it isn't that different to how they were in the kitchen — or when Xie Lian was horizontal on the pool table.

Regardless, Xie Lian plops onto the floor instead, sitting cross-legged in front of Hua Cheng. The other man doesn’t make a comment on Xie Lian’s choice, silently lifting the towel off Xie Lian’s neck as he begins rubbing the strands between the smooth cotton cloth. The motions are soft and gentle, and he lets his head loll from side to side as Hua Cheng works on the roots. At some point, Hua Cheng also uses the pads of his thumb to massage the scalp. Xie Lian can’t stop his eyes from falling shut as he relaxes into it. He could probably fall asleep like this — with dexterous fingers kneading into him carefully and meticulously.

It must’ve been all that training in such a disciplined sport which has allowed Hua Cheng to obtain delicate control in his hands. Xie Lian recalls that during his pool game with Hua Cheng, it was truly his own fingers that failed him more than anything, with its inability to hold the cue steady while he made his shots.

When Xie Lian’s eyes peek open, he sets his gaze on the pool table. “San Lang, can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

Yin Yu did mention that Hua Cheng prefers unwinding with a game of pool which is why he has a pool table out here and a snooker table in his training room. However, as the reigning world snooker champion, isn’t there something else still missing in this area? “I noticed this last time too but where is your trophy? You should definitely display it where people can see it.”

Hua Cheng’s hands pause their movements before he says flatly, “It’s nothing great.”

Xie Lian frowns. Why would Hua Cheng think that? “Of course it is.” Xie Lian turns around to face Hua Cheng, sitting down on his heels as he adjusts his posture. “I’ve seen your matches. An achievement like that is something you should be proud of.”

A small smile graces Hua Cheng’s face but his expression is still an indescribable mix of glee and sorrow. “Gege watched me play?”

“Yes. When I was still working on your case, I watched some of your games from your championship season.”

“Oh, so, is that the only reason you watched it? As research for my case?”

“It started that way…” Xie Lian admits.

“And? What did you think?”

“You’re amazing!” Xie Lian exclaims, abruptly propping himself up onto his knees and almost accidentally headbutting Hua Cheng in the process. “I-I mean, I’m certainly no expert and even I could tell how talented you are. Especially to win the title on your debut season!”

The praise doesn’t stop there with Xie Lian continuing to shower Hua Cheng in compliments, even calling out specific shots that Hua Cheng made in the finals which he thought were exceptional plays. Truthfully, Xie Lian has learnt quite a bit about snooker, studying it in depth over the past week purely for his own curiosity.

Hua Cheng’s grin seems to grow with each flattering word, a lively colour returning back to his cheek. “Your research was thorough.”

“I wanted to learn more about San Lang,” Xie Lian says with a warm smile of his own. He is aware that Hua Cheng has tried to tactfully redirect the conversation away from the trophy. But, Xie Lian is a keen observer himself and this attempt at a misdirection doesn’t slip past him unnoticed. He leans forward and kisses Hua Cheng tenderly. Their lips move lazily against each other and there is an audible smack when he breaks away. “It’s alright if there are certain things you’re not comfortable sharing with me.”

“It’s not that I’m uncomfortable, I just—” Hua Cheng utters, the sparkle in his eye fading a little more and the corners of his lips falling. He regrets bringing it up again after seeing Hua Cheng’s reaction. The last thing he wants to do is force him to talk about something he doesn’t want to.

Xie Lian lifts his hand to cradle Hua Cheng’s face. “I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up.”

Hua Cheng nuzzles into Xie Lian’s palm before taking the hand and planting feathery light kisses over the knuckles and fingers. He exhales a deep sigh before rising from the couch and helping Xie Lian onto his feet. Xie Lian follows him silently as he guides him down the hallway.

When they come to a halt in front of a closed door, Xie Lian glances at Hua Cheng, a wary expression outlining his features. As Hua Cheng's hand tightens around Xie Lian's, dread snakes along his spine.

As soon as the other man pushes the door open, Xie Lian’s eyes go wide. A single table is placed at the end of the room with nothing on it but burnt out incense sticks and a single photo frame. It doesn't take him more than a second to figure out what this is. He knows exactly what he's looking at. Xie Lian’s eyes glide over to the shiny object next to the table on the floor. It’s the trophy.

They step in together and when Xie Lian gets closer, he’s able to discern who the woman in the photo frame is. It’s an unmistakable resemblance — long black hair, dark eyes and a familiar smile that he could now recognise anywhere.

“San Lang…I’m so sorry,” Xie Lian whispers solemnly.

“Don’t be. It was a long time ago.”

A knot pulls in Xie Lian's chest — he has so many questions but it doesn’t feel appropriate to ask at this moment. He catches a glimpse of Hua Cheng eyeing the picture himself, seemingly lost in his own train of thought.

After a lengthy silence, Hua Cheng says with a small smile, “You kind of sounded like her — when you were talking about my games. My mother also loved watching me play.”

Xie Lian returns the smile in earnest. “I’m sure she would've been so proud to see how far you've come.”

“You think so?” Hua Cheng asks mischievously, a smirk playing upon his lips.

Xie Lian is happy to see Hua Cheng's playfulness return but it still feels like he's trying to mask how difficult discussing this is for him. “I’m certain of it.”

Hua Cheng chuckles but the sound comes out soft and defeated. “Well…the reasons she loved watching me play are probably different to the reasons you’re thinking. She was a snooker player, too, you see — and a strict coach on top of it. Even when I was just starting out in the junior league, we would spend hours rewatching my matches and she would highlight everything I did right and everything I did wrong.”

“She must've been an excellent teacher given your skill level.”

“The best,” Hua Cheng states with a grin but Xie Lian can see the slightest tremor in his lips. This time he stays silent, allowing Hua Cheng to decide if he wants to continue this conservation. Either way, Xie Lian feels honoured that the other man has shared this much already.

Hua Cheng sighs loudly with his eye lock on the picture of his late mother. Xie Lian, on the other hand, keeps his gaze on Hua Cheng. After another beat of silence, Hua Cheng cranes his neck to face Xie Lian. “To tell you the truth, I'm planning on announcing my retirement after the hearing.”

The news saddens Xie Lian but he doesn't let it show on his face and despite wanting to question Hua Cheng on his decision, he chooses not to say anything. It doesn't come as much of a surprise to him as he had some inkling that there’s a reason behind Hua Cheng acting indifferent towards his own hearing. It wouldn't matter if he is barred from competing in future competitions when he is planning to remove himself from the sport entirely.

“I know you're probably wondering why but honestly there is no grand reason behind my decision. To put it plainly, I simply don't enjoy it anymore.”

Xie Lian suspects that there might be more to it but he doesn't want to pry more than he already has. This is what Hua Cheng feels comfortable sharing for now and he will graciously accept it. As Xie Lian regards Hua Cheng, he is drawn in by the swirls of scarlet staring back at him. “That's alright. If it's no longer snooker, then I hope you find something else that brings you the same joy.”

The features on Hua Cheng's face soften and the smile that graces his lips, this time, appears genuine.

“I think there might be one.”

Chapter Text

Throughout the rest of the evening, Xie Lian catches Hua Cheng glancing towards the window. His own gaze, too, draws there…observing the heavy rain dwindling down to a drizzle and the wind quiet to a whisper. As forecasted, the weather is beginning to clear up into the early hours of the night.

They have just finished their dinner and are currently seated on the sofa with a movie playing on the flat screen which neither one of them are paying any attention to. Hua Cheng appears to be holding his breath, as if any minute now he is expecting Xie Lian to announce his departure. Xie Lian is expecting the same. He has to head home at some point but the words do not string together on his tongue. 

Instead, he remains silent - simply watching the moon as it chases away the storm clouds and his weak excuse to stay snuggled next to Hua Cheng.

There is no excuse now. Xie Lian is here, because he wants to be. 

However, that fact alone isn't enough to quell Hua Cheng's worries. Despite Xie Lian’s head resting on Hua Cheng’s shoulder with a cushion pressed to his chest, the younger man's hand is still balled into a fist on his lap. All tense and wound tight. 

He can't see Hua Cheng's face from this angle, however Hua Cheng has been silent for quite some time, clearly preoccupied in his own thoughts.

There must be many things weighing down on the younger man, especially after the heavy conversation they had not too long ago. It must not have been an easy decision to make, after all, Hua Cheng did seem rather conflicted despite his tone carrying the weight of his conviction. There is no doubt that Hua Cheng dwelled over this intensively. He doesn’t seem like the type of man to make spur of the moment decisions. But even so, Xie Lian wonders if Hua Cheng is truly being honest with himself. Does he no longer enjoy the sport anymore or is his enjoyment now overshadowed by the grief of losing his mother? It’s hard to distinguish between the two when one is in the thick of it but no matter how subtle, there is still a difference.

Although Xie Lian feels that he is not really in a position to be questioning Hua Cheng on the matter, he still wants to help him. He just doesn’t know how to yet. His hand tentatively reaches out and unfurls Hua Cheng’s fist, cautiously extending each finger and smoothing it out to expel any tension. He hears Hua Cheng release a breath as his hand opens like a blooming flower. Even if it's just for a moment, he hopes he can act as a distraction from the thoughts causing Hua Cheng’s unrest.

A wandering forefinger traces the lines on Hua Cheng's palm. At first, Xie Lian simply glides over the soft skin absentmindedly, but then he decides to draw a pattern. A nose brushes against his cheek when the other man leans closer, clearly trying to observe Xie Lian’s imaginary line work over his shoulder. 

After a few strokes here and there, Hua Cheng whispers softly, “Butterfly…”

Xie Lian smiles. A wordless confirmation. 

“Can I try?” 

Xie Lian offers up his palm and Hua Cheng begins drawing on the smooth skin. The soft, slow caresses sprout a ticklish sensation, leaving a prickling feeling wherever Hua Cheng grazes his finger. It doesn’t take long for Xie Lian to figure out what the shape is; however, he keeps his eyes fixed on the movement as if in a trance. After a moment, Xie Lian chuckles and makes his guess. “Flower?”

“Mmm…”

Taking Hua Cheng's hand back into his, Xie Lian rubs a thumb over the middle as if to erase the previous drawing. “I was wondering…San Lang,” Xie Lian starts. He truly is torn between wanting to rekindle Hua Cheng’s interest in the sport and leaving the man to his own devices. “Is snooker more difficult than pool?”

“Some say that but the fundamentals are not the same,” Hua Cheng explains. “It will definitely be easier to transition from one sport to the other compared to someone with zero experience in either but they are still very different sports.”

“I see,” Xie Lian ponders, idly weaving his fingers through Hua Cheng's. He definitely doesn't want to push Hua Cheng into doing something he doesn't want to do but perhaps he can offer an alternative to quitting the sport entirely. “I was going to suggest teaching me snooker if it was easier but I suppose I would just end up being terrible at two sports.”

That comment earns an unexpected burst of laughter from Hua Cheng. Xie Lian doesn’t know if Hua Cheng finds the proposition of him wanting to learn snooker ridiculous or amusing but either way, he’s satisfied that it brings a smile to Hua Cheng’s face. “Not at all. If Gege wants to learn, I’ll be happy to teach. And with me as your teacher, I’m sure you’ll excel in no time. Unless… you doubt my skills?”

“It is not your skills I doubt but my own ability. But I suppose you were right in saying it's simply a matter of practice.”

“Exactly. And I have a snooker table at home as well so we wouldn't even need to go to a public billiards hall.” 

“Hmm, that is convenient. Perhaps then…I could come to your place after work? But you must let me know if it becomes too much of a burden. The last thing I want is to intrude on your life.”

“An intrusion implies something is unwelcomed. That is not the case with you.” Hearing this, Xie Lian tilts his head to face Hua Cheng, peering up at him through his lashes. The crimson iris that greets him is soft and mellow. Xie Lian catches only a glimpse of it before Hua Cheng closes his eye and brings their connected hands to his lips. He plants kisses on Xie Lian's knuckles first and continues to trail up his forearm. Xie Lian shudders when Hua Cheng gently sucks on the delicate skin under Xie Lian's elbow. When Hua Cheng’s eye opens again, there is a familiar glint of mischief, betraying his attempt at a serious expression. “There is still one more matter to discuss.”

The next words tumble out of Xie Lian shakily when Hua Cheng pokes his tongue out to lick his pale skin. “W-what is it?”

“I still haven’t received my fees from the pool lesson you had.”

Hua Cheng takes turns between sucking and licking the skin on his arm. It is a peculiar sensation but Xie Lian finds himself mesmerised by the movement of Hua Cheng’s tongue. “Is this your way of calling in the debt?”

“Perhaps. ” The smirk accompanied with a hooded gaze makes Hua Cheng look all the more sinister.

Xie Lian narrows his eyes, slightly concerned about what Hua Cheng might ask for. It is not as if he expects Hua Cheng to ask for anything outlandish but his current behaviour is awfully suspicious. “What would you like then?”

“A kiss.” The answer comes out fast, like it’s the only thing on Hua Cheng's mind. His kisses continue along Xie Lian’s arm, past the shoulder and up the column of his neck. The feather light pecks stop when Hua Cheng reaches Xie Lian's jaw. 

Hua Cheng’s silly request brings a smile to Xie Lian’s face. “Are you sure this is what you want as payment? You don't need me indebted to you in order to receive a kiss from me,” he chimes as he closes the gap between them and presses his lips onto Hua Cheng's without a second thought. He can feel Hua Cheng grinning ear to ear against him, where their lips connect. When they part, Hua Cheng peppers a few more kisses on Xie Lian's cheeks, forehead and nose as if to make a point.  

“Should I ask for something else then?” 

Xie Lian nods, eyes glimmering with intrigue. It comes as a surprise to Xie Lian when Hua Cheng hums as if deep in thought. Surely, the other man would have thought about what he might ask of Xie Lian, yet here he is taking his time to think things through. 

After a moment, Hua Cheng leans in closer and whispers into Xie Lian's ear, “Stay the night…” With his face hidden in the crook of Xie Lian's neck, Xie Lian is unable to make out Hua Cheng's expression. However, the two are so close to each other that Xie Lian can feel Hua Cheng's heartbeat hammering against his chest. Is he nervous?

When Xie Lian doesn’t respond right away, Hua Cheng quickly adds, “In the guest bedroom, of course.”

The first thought that springs to mind tumbles out of Xie Lian before he can stop himself. “Why not your bed?”

Almost instantly, Hua Cheng lifts his head to look at Xie Lian, his eye searching and a dusty pink colouring his complexion. “I-I just assumed. But— do you…do you want to sleep in my bed?”

“No, no,” Xie Lian mumbles with his eyes darting around the place. When they finally settle back on Hua Cheng’s face, he struggles to find his resolve and confesses. “Maybe. Yes… Is that a bad idea?”

He didn’t think he could see Hua Cheng turn any redder and yet, the younger man’s cheeks seem to be flushing into a deeper scarlet. Hua Cheng buries his face into Xie Lian’s neck once again, wrapping his arms around in a tight embrace. “Gege, it's late. Let’s sleep.”

───── ⋅⋆⋅ ─────

A grating, beeping sound stirs Xie Lian into consciousness. As he blinks his eyes open slowly, trying to ward off the drowsiness, he instinctively slithers closer to the warmth enveloping his whole body.

As the harsh blaring continues to disrupt his rest, Xie Lian groans and sticks his arm out — blindly patting the bed in search of his phone. He squints as he brings the phone up to his face which is still too blurry to read. However, he can faintly make out a green and red button with a telephone symbol on it.

Sliding on the green button, he cradles the phone to his ear and exhales a groggy greeting. “Hmph… hello...”

“Oh, he finally answered! Xie Lian, where are you? Is everything okay? Why haven't you been answering your phone?” 

Xie Lian registers the voice of his colleague, Mu Qing. He yawns first, confused by Mu Qing’s line of questioning. “What? I was just asleep.”

“Are you not coming in for the weekly debrief!?” The sudden increase in volume has Xie Lian wincing away from his phone but he still keeps it close enough to be able to hear what the other man is saying. “It’s two p.m. already! What are you doing in bed!?”

“Huh?!” Xie Lian sits up straight, eyes wide open staring into his phone. It is indeed two in the afternoon. Did he really sleep through the entire morning? It is only then that he feels a weight on his lap and when he glances down, he notices an arm laying over his hips. He follows the arm which is connected to a very half-naked Hua Cheng. 

He exhales a deep breath at the sight of the younger man next to him — lying on his stomach with red silk splayed across the toned flesh of his back, rising and falling rhythmically. Xie Lian rubs his eyes as if to double check Hua Cheng is indeed there and he's not just seeing things. 

That's right. He slept next to Hua Cheng last night.

A strong urge suddenly compels Xie Lian to hang up the phone and curl back into Hua Cheng's embrace. Another yawn escapes him. If his head hits the pillow, he thinks he could fall right back to sleep.  

Some of the things Mu Qing says register to Xie Lian but others do not since his mind is mostly preoccupied with his current situation. As tempted as he is, Xie Lian knows he has a pile of work waiting for him and it is already well past noon. One day off, he could justify. But two might be pushing it. 

He sighs. But, it isn’t an unhappy sigh. More like relief. The day spent with Hua Cheng was the most fun he's had in a long time. And he's comforted by the fact that he will see Hua Cheng again. Even if it's only after his hearing. 

With that, he extracts himself carefully from Hua Cheng's grasp. He hates to leave without saying anything but he doesn't want to disturb the man sleeping soundly. Once outside Hua Cheng's bedroom, he heads into the guestroom in search of the clothes he changed out of the day before. “Mu Qing, I'll be in the office in an hour.”

Mu Qing grumbles, “Did you even hear anything I said?! Okay, fine. We’ll talk once you get here.”

When Xie Lian arrives at the office, he is in a grey suit after stopping by his home to shower and change into fresh clothes. He immediately drops his things on his desk before rushing out into the direction of the conference room. Despite only being a few minutes late for the briefing, he expects to find Feng Xin and Mu Qing already seated and awaiting his arrival.

However, on his way there, Xie Lian notices Mu Qing’s office door open completely which is unusual since he only does this when he’s in his office. Otherwise the door is always kept locked. Even if it's only to attend their weekly meetings. 

Xie Lian meanders closer and sure enough, notices Mu Qing's head peeking out from behind a cabinet blocking the view through the glass window. He lightly knocks twice on the door to catch Mu Qing's attention. “Apologies for my tardiness. Was the meeting cancelled due to my absence?”

Only Mu Qing's eyes wander up from the documents on his desk, his spectacles hanging low on the bridge of his nose. “Postponed. But not because of you. Feng Xin is occupying the conference room at present.”

“Ah right, okay.” Perhaps there was no need to rush here, after all. But it does work out since he has a mountain of paperwork to get through. “Well, in that case, if there is nothing urgent we can skip today’s briefing. Please let Feng Xin know once he’s done with his appointment.”

“Sure.” It's only when Xie Lian is about to leave does Mu Qing lean back into his chair and fold his arms. “By the way, Xie Lian. Not sure if you heard me on the phone but there was a package that came in this morning which was addressed to you so I left it on your desk.”

That is rather odd since Xie Lian is not expecting any mail presently but it’s not uncommon for some clients to send through evidence via the post. However, he is usually made aware of this beforehand. He wonders who the sender might be.

“Oh, thank you. I’ll have a look at it.”

When he trails back to his office, his stomach growls and he realises he hasn't had anything to eat since last night. He turns on his heel and heads toward the kitchen hoping to find some fruit that he can nibble on for now — otherwise he might need to head downstairs and grab something from a café nearby.

As he passes the conference room on his quest for some food, through the glass walls, Xie Lian spies Feng Xin seated at the head of the table and two men occupying the seats next to him. One of them is slouched back in a black hoodie, his face concealed beneath the dark material and the other in a suit - presumably an attorney by the way he is dressed. 

At first Xie Lian observes them through the glass out of curiosity, slowing down to a leisurely pace as he ventures past. He is not privy to every single one of Feng Xin’s cases but the pair in the room seem familiar somehow. 

Out of nowhere, the man in the hoodie bursts out from his chair and grabs Feng Xin by the collar, his other arm coiled back ready to throw a punch. Immediately Xie Lian springs into action, pushing the doors to the conference room open and putting a hand on the outreached arm, squeezing tightly. 

“Please let go, Mr. Qi!” the other attorney shouts.

Wait…did the attorney just say Qi?

The grip on Feng Xin’s collar loosens and gives way, causing the crazed man to tumble back into his chair — his hood also falling away. Xie Lian's eyes narrow as he recognises the scowl of the man glaring back at him. 

Qi Rong. 

His nose is still heavily bandaged, with the skin around the area coloured in purple and yellow hues. 

“What's going on here?” Xie Lian asks, his harsh tone carrying a weight of authority that causes Qi Rong’s attorney to flinch. Feng Xin is standing to his right, clearly agitated as evidenced by the frown on his face; however, he simply focuses on readjusting his tie back into position.

The other attorney begins flailing his hands in front of him as if sensing Xie Lian's annoyance. “Nothing, nothing! Just a misunderstanding.” 

Xie Lian tilts his head. “Oh, that's a relief. From where I was standing it looked like your client was about to commit assault in an attorney's office.” There is clearly a threat in there somewhere but Xie Lian pauses and decides not to escalate things further. Perhaps they can still resolve matters peacefully. “But, you're right. It must be a misunderstanding.”

“No fucking shit,” Qi Rong scoffs.

“Mr. Qi, please behave yourself!”

Qi Rong dramatically rolls his eyes. “Behave? For these morons? They’re just wasting my time. I came all the way out here cause you said that bastard wanted to settle! Look here...” Qi Rong points to the settlement agreement on the table. “This number…it's not even enough to cover my medical bills.”

Feng Xin's lips twitch in irritation but he maintains his composure enough to speak calmly. “As I’ve said, this is the value your insurance provider quoted us with an additional ten percent cover for any other unforeseen expenditure. There is also a sum to cover your expected loss of revenue while you recover from your injuries.” 

Xie Lian casts his eyes down to the agreement, skimming through the page as quickly as he can. All things considered, the amount Feng Xin is offering is quite handsome and the terms of the settlement are reasonable. There is even a clause to say that Hua Cheng will formally apologise to Qi Rong which Xie Lian finds incredibly amusing. How does Feng Xin expect to convince Hua Cheng to do that? Even Xie Lian was struggling with that one. 

Ignoring the plausibility of executing that particular clause, it’s obvious that Feng Xin is trying to close this case without going to court by offering such an attractive compensation package. However, it is becoming apparent that Feng Xin didn’t anticipate Qi Rong’s difficult nature.

“What about my non-physical injuries, smart-ass?” Qi Rong sneers.

Feng Xin shoots him a confused glare. “Can you elaborate on these ‘non-physical’ injuries?”

“Uh. TRAUMA. OBVIOUSLY. Anyway, this…” Qi Rong points to the contract and incessantly taps on the piece of paper. “Double it. Better yet, triple it. I know for a fact that fucker is good for it. What's he hoarding all that money for anyway? Not like it will help him see any better.”

Something in Xie Lian snaps. His eyes darken and any diplomacy left in him vanishes. He takes a menacing step forward and leans down close to Qi Rong’s face.

“If you're not satisfied with the terms of this agreement then we can always take this to trial but I assure you, it won’t work out the way you are expecting. I am much nicer outside than inside the courtroom , you see. I doubt you will have any sponsors left to support your sorry excuse of a career after I’m finished. Is that really what you want?”

The colour appears to have drained from Qi Rong’s face as he simply stares back at Xie Lian with his mouth agape and eyes wide open in paralysed shock. By his reaction, it’s clear that hardly anyone speaks to him in such a way that renders him speechless.

Qi Rong swivels his chair to face his attorney behind him, signalling with his eyes for him to jump in but he is also wearing the same silenced expression. Xie Lian quickly grabs hold of the armrests and turns Qi Rong back to face him.

“Don't look at him. He can't help you,” Xie Lian utters to Qi Rong before addressing the other attorney with an apologetic glance. “I'm sure you're a fantastic attorney but” —Xie Lian trails a hardened gaze back to Qi Rong— “I’m the best criminal attorney in the city for a reason.”

“H-How dare you threaten me?!” Qi Rong grits out.

“I'm not threatening you. I'm helping you.” Xie Lian grabs the settlement contract and scribbles on it before placing it in front of Qi Rong once again. “This is our new settlement offer, a third of what Feng Xin was initially offering. Additionally, my client will not be shouldering a hundred percent of the blame therefore you will no longer be receiving a formal apology. This is the best deal you will get from us but if you want to take a gamble in the courtroom for more, you're welcome to try.”

Xie Lian straightens to his full height and Qi Rong shudders at the intimidating aura radiating from him. 

Qi Rong’s attorney appears shaken, his voice quivering as he speaks, “M-may I please discuss the new terms w-with my client privately?”

A pleasing smile grows on Xie Lian’s face at the request. “Of course!” he gleams. The sudden change in Xie Lian’s demeanour seems to distress the pair in front of him even more. “Please, take your time.”

Feng Xin follows Xie Lian’s lead as they exit the conference room, however, once the door shuts behind them, Feng Xing grabs Xie Lian’s wrist. 

“What did I just witness? Didn’t I tell you not to get involved?” Feng Xin is mindful to keep his back to the conference room to minimise how much of their interaction will be visible through the glass walls. 

“I’m sorry…it just happened. Plus, if I had waited another second before coming in, he might've really punched you.”

Feng Xin huffs a laugh. “As if I'd let him.” He throws a glance over his shoulder to check on the troublesome two. Xie Lian also follows his line of sight, watching Qi Rong and his attorney appearing to be in a heated discussion. Well, he can only imagine it’s more like Qi Rong being difficult and his attorney trying to reason with him. 

“Do you think he'll sign it?” Xie Lian asks. 

“After you basically threatened his career? Probably. He looked like he was about shit himself.”

“It wasn’t a threat!” Xie Lian insisted. “Taking this to trial doesn’t benefit him either. Given what I saw in there, he’s bound to do something stupid all on his own. I really was helping him.”

Judging by Feng Xin’s playful tone, he’s not at all upset by Xie Lian running interference. In fact, his presence may have helped speed things along. “Either way, I’ve never seen you quote tabloids before, mister ‘ best criminal attorney in the city’ .” 

“Ugh.” Xie Lian has no idea what came over him when he said that. The intention was to scare them a little with his vast experience but either way, referring to himself in such a way is exceedingly shameful. He covers his face in his hands, attempting to hide the deep shade of red on his cheeks. “Please, let's never bring that up again.” 

“Relax. It wasn’t that bad. It suited you, actually.”

Xie Lian finds that hard to believe. His friend is probably only saying that to relieve some of the embarrassment he feels. 

“Maybe it was a good thing Hua Cheng wasn't here,” Feng Xin comments. “Things could've escalated unnecessarily.”

“Oh? Did you ask him to attend the negotiations?” Xie Lian’s hands drop away from his face.

“Uh yea, don't you think the client should be present for these things?”

“I mean, yes, of course…”

“Well, I tried reaching out to him this morning but he wouldn't answer any of my calls. Even Yin Yu couldn't get a hold of him. I get that it's a Sunday but surely he can make the time for these things. What else could be more important right now?”

“Ohhh…” Xie Lian says in a daze. He usually does a better job at schooling his expression but his lips press together in a thin line and his eyes widen at the realisation that Feng Xin must've called while they were still in bed… together .

Feng Xin picks up on Xie Lian’s sudden muteness and asks bluntly, “What’s with that face? Did you know where he was?”

Yes. I was with him. In his bed. With his shirtless body wrapped around me. “Uh, what? Huh? No. Why would I know San Lang's whereabouts?” Xie Lian scratches his cheek as the lie rolls off his tongue. 

Feng Xin's eyes narrow. “Wait a minute, you were MIA this morning as well. Don't tell me you were—”

“Ahhh Feng Xin, I actually have a lot of work to do,” Xie Lian mutters as he starts to take a few steps backwards. He has no idea what Feng Xin is about to accuse him of, but he certainly does not want to stay and find out. “It looks like you have things under control here so I'll just get out of your way.” He hears a few grumbling words from Feng Xin when he flees but at least the other man does not follow him. 

The kitchen does in fact have a couple of fruits left, so Xie Lian grabs a pear and mandarin before scurrying to his office. When he gets back, he notices the package that Mu Qing was referring to. He’s not sure how he missed it when he dropped his things off earlier.

He picks it up to survey its exterior, rotating it in different directions. The box is small but wide enough to hold a stack of papers. There’s nothing else written on it except for his name. Curiously, he opens the box — cutting the tape that sealed the flaps with a pair of scissors, only to find an assortment of journals and ledgers. He thinks back to the cases he is currently working on, noting that none of them require accounting records. His brows draw together, confused by the contents. Reaching in, he extracts one of the ledgers in the pile. 

That’s when he notices, at the top of the ledger — a name. 

Shi Winery Estate.

Chapter Text

“It’s done.”

Feng Xin’s voice pulls Xie Lian’s attention away from the laptop screen on his desk. 

All the curtains in Xie Lian's office have been drawn open this morning, allowing the sun to beam through in its entirety. It warms the space and reflects the golden gleam in Xie Lian's eyes. 

When he looks up, Feng Xin is leaning against the door frame with his arms folded and a placid expression on his face. 

A questioning brow is raised at first but after a moment of deliberation, Xie Lian understands what Feng Xin is referring to — Hua Cheng's case .

A rush of energy bursts through him at the news. “Really!?” Xie Lian asks enthusiastically. 

Feng Xin pushes off the frame and strides into the room, placing a stapled stack of papers on the desk. Xie Lian is quick to run his eyes over the settlement agreement before looking up at Feng Xin with a beaming smile. He quickly flicks through to the signatory page and true enough it has been signed by both Hua Cheng and Qi Rong in black ink. “Yep. They sent it through last night.” 

“Wasn't the hearing supposed to be this morning?” 

Feng Xin shrugs. “Guess they chickened out at the last minute.”

It's strange that some ink on a piece of paper can give Xie Lian so much relief and happiness. Although it hasn’t been finalised by the court yet, he’s certain it won’t take long to process once it’s been submitted. Perhaps, even by the afternoon since it's a celebrity case. 

“Do you want to be the one to deliver the news?” Feng Xin asks which draws Xie Lian’s gaze back to him.

“No, that's alright.” Xie Lian collects the contract and hands it back to Feng Xin. “You are the attorney on the case, it's only right for it to come from you.”

Instead of accepting the contract, Feng Xin pushes the papers back to Xie Lian’s chest. “Fine. I will call Yin Yu after this, but you need to take this paperwork to Mu Qing to file. I don't particularly feel like dealing with him today.”

No doubt Feng Xin’s disdain is related to something entirely trivial however, Xie Lian poses the question anyway. “What's happened between you two now?”

“He hasn't processed any of my expense claims this month!” Feng Xin complains, throwing his hands up in frustration. “I still have over a thousand dollars that need to be reimbursed. He’s being difficult on purpose.”

“I’m sure he has his reasons. The mileage rate is set to change soon so perhaps that could be why?” Xie Lian says in defence of Mu Qing, certain that their assistant wouldn’t be acting this way without cause. However, silently, he is also aware that the cause can be purely driven by his childish pettiness.

“The change won’t be effective until next month. He’s simply terrible at his job. Can we please hire another assistant already? We will need to find a replacement once he's admitted to the bar anyway.”

“Hmmm…I suppose you're right,” Xie Lian comments, typing a reminder into his virtual calendar. “Not about him being terrible at his job but hiring a new assistant. I shall look into it. And you can leave this with me, I’ll take it to Mu Qing.”

“Thanks.” A sigh escapes from Feng Xin as he brings a hand to his temple to massage the tension away. “Well then, that's all from me.” With that, Feng Xin turns on his heel and leaves Xie Lian’s office. 

Once Feng Xin is out of view, Xie Lian leans back into his chair, not able to concentrate on the email he was in the middle of before he heard the news. Instead, he finds himself distracted by the fact that in the next twelve hours, Hua Cheng will no longer be a client of his firm. 

There are plenty of things to think about and consider. But, first things first, Xie Lian needs to process the agreement. He pushes off his chair and strides over to Mu Qing's office, knocking on the door first before entering with the contract in hand. 

───── ⋅⋆⋅ ─────

Xie Lian returns to the attorney’s table to begin collecting his things after another successful trial has concluded. 

There is a chorus of shuffling and murmurs as people begin to make their way out of the courtroom. Xie Lian takes his time arranging the paperwork back in order before packing it all away into his suitcase. It’s become a habit to hang back while everyone else takes their leave first. The crowd can get loud and disorderly very quickly and he prefers to not have to fight his way through a sea of people. It is later in the evening, however, and since this is the last trial for the day, the majority of the building should be empty for the most part — which means, he can look forward to a leisurely walk through the courtyard to the bus stand.

To say Xie Lian is excited would be an understatement. He has been thinking about this moment endlessly for the last two weeks and now, it is finally here. They haven’t seen each other since the morning after the art exhibition and even today, they haven’t had a chance for a proper conversation, however that is mainly due to Xie Lian being held up in court for most of the day. Xie Lian only received a short text message from Hua Cheng with a location and time of their meeting scheduled for later this evening.

The trial finished a lot faster than he anticipated so he has plenty of time to spare before he is expected to meet Hua Cheng at the restaurant. Perhaps, there is even enough time to head home and change seeing as his attire feels far too corporate for a dinner that isn’t business related. Or, maybe…Xie Lian could surprise Hua Cheng at his residence? He still has a key to let himself in. Grinning to himself, he starts to plan an elaborate affair in his head. 

Flowers, balloons, the whole spectacle! 

After all, there is more than one reason to celebrate tonight. 

Glancing up from his watch, Xie Lian checks to see if the aisle is cleared to make his departure —  and as he does, he finds an immaculately dressed man standing in the back row, wearing a red trench coat and black turtleneck. If not for already being acquainted with the mysterious figure, Xie Lian would’ve found their presence rather ominous. Even without the eye patch, Xie Lian would be able to recognise that sharp jawline and high cheekbones anywhere. A shimmering eye and a pleasing smile greets his gaze. Instantly, the corners of Xie Lian's lips curl up as he scurries over.

His plans of surprising Hua Cheng entirely foiled however the brief second of disappointment does not diminish his smile in the slightest. There will be other opportunities to surprise Hua Cheng. This is simply one of many meetings yet to come.

“San Lang, what are you doing here?” Xie Lian questions. He doesn’t hide his elation of seeing Hua Cheng sooner than he expected.

Hua Cheng's arms lift slightly but immediately drop back to his sides. As if he considered greeting Xie Lian with a hug but decided against it given their location. “I wanted to pick you up. I thought we could go to the restaurant together.”

“That will be wonderful!” Xie Lian gleams. “But, how did you know I'd be here?” He gestures towards the door and the pair begin to stroll out of the courtroom. 

“I called your office and they told me.”

Xie Lian’s eyebrows scrunch together in disbelief. While his colleagues are no longer making snide remarks about Hua Cheng, they are still leaps and bounds away from being civil with him so he finds it hard to believe that they would divulge his location so easily. “Mu Qing willingly shared that information with you?” 

A glint of mischief and a sly grin to match flashes across Hua Cheng’s face. “Technically, it was Yin Yu who called. I also had my doubts about whether they would tell me.”

“Ahh, I see.” Xie Lian giggles at the thought of Yin Yu making such an inquisition with little to no knowledge of their relationship. Or, perhaps Hua Cheng might’ve shared it with him. Xie Lian isn’t sure. “It's still impressive you found your way to the exact room. This building is huge.” 

“It wasn’t that difficult.”

“Well, don't feel bad even if it was hard to find. The confusing architecture and misleading signs are by design. It makes it harder for convicted criminals to flee.”

The casual conversation continues all the way to the car and as they head to the restaurant. Catching up on all the things they had missed in their mid week phone calls but it’s mostly Xie Lian sharing the news of a rather large pro-bono case he’s been signed onto. It's the biggest one he has ever worked on and that his firm is currently in the process of hiring a number of contractors to assist in the case. Of course, he’s careful not to divulge any confidential information as he speaks but it’s a case he feels personally close to.

While they are stopped at a red light, a florist that is surprisingly still open catches Xie Lian’s attention. Suddenly, Xie Lian is struck with an idea. 

“San Lang, do you mind pulling over here?” Xie Lian asks, the excitement in his voice palpable. “I promise I won’t be long.”

Hua Cheng doesn't question it, simply pulling over to the side of the road. Xie Lian swiftly exits the car, walking hastily to the florist shop. He browses through the flowers on display, however, at this late hour of the day, there are only a few selections left since the more popular options are sold out. Despite that, a striking combination of brilliant yellows and sultry mauves catch his eye. It is a small bouquet, a simple and unsuspecting mix of dandelions and asters.

He can’t explain the feeling that washes over him as his eyes set on the bouquet in front of him but, it does feel awfully familiar to the moment he laid eyes on Hua Cheng for the first time. 

Perfect, he thinks.

As Xie Lian strolls back to the car, he doesn’t try to hide the bouquet behind his back since he suspects that Hua Cheng would've seen him leave the florist with them. Instead, he saunters over confidently — pulling open the car door and plopping himself down, eager to present his gift. The floral fragrance wafts past his nose and fills the small space of the car as he holds out the bouquet to Hua Cheng with a wide grin.

“Congratulations on winning your case!” Xie Lian cheers excitedly. 

The expression Hua Cheng wears is riddled with bewilderment and awe. After several moments of just staring at the colorful display, the younger man bursts into a fit of laughter. “Oh, this is from Xie Lian, the lawyer. Here I was thinking my boyfriend simply wanted to buy me flowers,” he teases, leaning on the steering wheel. 

A swarm of rosy hues colours Xie Lian’s cheeks. “W-well, him and I are the same person so why can't it be from both?” Xie Lian tucks a hair behind his ear nervously. “I hope San Lang likes it.”

Hua Cheng reaches out, fingers curling around the paper wrapped stem. His other hand glides up to cup Xie Lian's face. He tugs on the bouquet, pulling Xie Lian forward into a sweet kiss. “I love it. Thank you,” he whispers.

Something in the chemistry of Xie Lian’s brain shifts as soon he gets a taste of Hua Cheng.

He forgets about the flowers, forgets that they're in a car pulled over at the side of the road, forgets that they actually have somewhere to be as his heavy lidded eyes capture the way Hua Cheng licks his lips — bringing the taste of Xie Lian into his mouth. Such a sinful sight but Xie Lian can’t seem to draw his gaze away. 

That’s when it truly dawns on him — the reality of this moment. The boundaries that shackled him back before have melted away with the resolution of Hua Cheng’s case. There really isn’t anything stopping him grabbing onto Hua Cheng’s top and greedily pulling him into another kiss. 

So, he does exactly that.

Passion and heat flood his senses, fuelled by flames that Xie Lian was forced to keep subdued but no longer. It burns hot and yearns for the taste and feel of Hua Cheng's soft lips. Each lap of his tongue against the younger man has him inching forward.

Closer. 

He wants to be closer. 

A sense of urgency overtakes him, as if he just couldn’t stand another second not being in Hua Cheng’s embrace. Propping a knee onto the passenger seat, Xie Lian towers over Hua Cheng as he tries to climb over the console into the other man’s lap. His hands struggle to find purchase, wobbling a little as he attempts to balance himself on the unsteady surface. Hua Cheng snakes a hand around his waist and helps him over — all the while keeping their lips fiercely locked together.  

Xie Lian’s knees are spread wide on either side of the leather seat as his arms wrap around Hua Cheng’s neck. A pair of wandering hands roam up his thigh and circle to his rear. A jolt of excitement courses through him. 

Closer.

Hua Cheng’s hands settle on Xie Lian’s hips as he presses himself down until they are flushed against each other. The kiss breaks and both men moan, feeling hot breath tickle their face. 

A twisting heat snakes through him and he can’t help but pursue it, seeking out the delicious friction. He rolls his hips forward and more salacious noises ring from his lips that he can’t control. His gasps and moans are greedily swallowed by Hua Cheng who seals their lips together once more, hunching forward until Xie Lian can feel the steering wheel digging into his back. Frantic fingers race up to his neck, loosening his tie and ravaging the buttons of his shirt. Suddenly, a brush of frustration crosses him. Too many…there are way too many burdensome layers between them. 

His fingers immediately dive to Hua Cheng's belt, eager to touch , eager to feel — eager to trace his hands over warm skin and flesh. Immediately, he can feel Hua Cheng’s teeth sink a little into his bottom lip, abs tensing underneath the cotton material.

As Xie Lian’s spine presses harder on the wheel, nudging on some of the buttons, the radio begins to blast painfully loud — startling both men into prying their lips away from each other.

“Shit,” Hua Cheng grumbles, swiping his hand aggressively on the touch screen until the radio is switched off again. “Sorry about that.”

Xie Lian blinks. 

Once. 

Then twice. 

“No, that was my fault,” he says sheepishly, his hands withdrawing away from Hua Cheng's buckle. Now broken from the trance, he immediately flushes a deep red as he takes in his current position — mounted on Hua Cheng’s muscled physique with the windows completely fogged from their heavy breathing. Hua Cheng appears to be as alarmed and disoriented as Xie Lian, with his brows drawn together and his gaze intently fixed on Xie Lian. 

For some reason, the bouquet pops into Xie Lian’s head and he worries it might've fallen into the footwell. However, he spies the flowers now residing in the back seat, peacefully, the distance protecting them from being trampled by the commotion that could have taken place if not for the disruption. Hua Cheng must've moved them there at some point but Xie Lian was too preoccupied to notice. 

A quick glance down at his own appearance and he’s unnerved. His tie pulled loose, his pressed shirt now burdened with wrinkles and the most damning thing of all, a very thick tent pitched below his belt. A strange mix of unease, humiliation and arousal nags in his stomach. How far was he expecting to go? In a car, of all places. Surely, Hua Cheng must be thinking that Xie Lian engages in these activities often to behave so provocatively but that couldn't be further from the truth. His body appears to be acting on its own accord. Spurred by the way Hua Cheng's reacts to him. Ashamed, he slides off Hua Cheng awkwardly and slinks back into his seat in an attempt to put some distance between him and the younger man. 

“What time is the reservation?” Xie Lian asks, as a distraction. Perhaps more for himself than Hua Cheng. 

“Eight,” Hua Cheng responds firmly, trying his best to hide the breathlessness in his voice.

The remnants of their tussle cling to the humidity in the air, thick and suffocating as it weighs down heavily on Xie Lian. He’s not entirely sure what compelled him to climb on top of Hua Cheng but at this point he is so acutely aware of his erection rubbing uncomfortably against his slacks that it's almost impossible to ignore. 

He is not a teenage boy — he can wait until after dinner. After all, he has already waited this long, a couple more hours won't change anything. Having a meal is the furthest thing from his mind, however Hua Cheng went through the effort to organise this, he should at least see it through. Even if what he wants right now is to have those firm hands roaming over him once more.

“I suppose we should leave soon then,” Xie Lian half-heartedly suggests as they lock eyes. 

“Right, of course.” Hua Cheng’s tone is flat and hard to discern but he moves his hand to settle on the wheel nonetheless. 

Would it be too shameful to simply voice his desires plainly? Xie Lian opens his mouth to direct the conversation away from the fog of arousal he’s found himself in but the words on his tongue twist and tangle with his conflicting desires. “U-unless San Lang wants to come over to my place instead?”

Hua Cheng looks at him, a distinguishable softness in his gaze. “I’d like nothing more.”

───── ⋅⋆⋅ ─────

They climb up five flights of stairs at a slow pace, the stairwell silent as the carpeted floor absorbs the sound of each and every step. Xie Lian's heart rate is running a marathon and he wonders if the beating in his ear can be heard by the man next to him as well. 

When they are standing outside of the apartment door, Xie Lian fishes into his briefcase and extracts his keys. As much as he’s trying to calm his nerves, he can’t seem to will his trembling hand to remain steady, the jingle of the keys echoing noisily throughout the hallway when he places it into the knob. 

Hua Cheng places a hand over Xie Lian’s shaky fingers. “You know, we can just get some food delivered and call it a night. Nothing has to happen. I just want to spend the evening with you.” Although the words are meant to offer comfort, Xie Lian glums a little. This isn’t how he wants Hua Cheng to perceive him. He wants , he yearns but how does he explain his current predicament? Perhaps being forthcoming is the easiest thing he can do. 

“San Lang, it’s not that I don’t want to…” Xie Lian starts, pushing open the door to his apartment. He strides in, placing his briefcase onto the dining table and slipping off his blazer to wrap around the back of a wooden chair. While the open space concept in Hua Cheng’s apartment is a deliberate stylistic choice — the fact that the kitchen sink and bed can be observed directly from the entrance of Xie Lian’s apartment has more to do with making efficient use of an already compact space.

The door creaks as Hua Cheng shuts the door behind him. Frown lines among other tell tale signs of worry cradling his features. Xie Lian leans against the table with his arms crossing at his chest defensively, slightly self-conscious about what he’s about to say next. “I'm just not very experienced,” Xie Lian confesses.

Hua Cheng makes his way to Xie Lian, taking one deliberate step after another, drawn to him like an invisible thread tied between them — pulling him closer .

“You seemed plenty experienced in the car,” Hua Cheng says, as he invades Xie Lian's personal space in all the right ways but doesn't touch Xie Lian just yet — waiting with bated breath for a sign, an inkling of what lies behind honey rayed eyes. 

But Xie Lian thinks he could not be more obvious. He pulls his tie out completely and drops the silk onto the table behind him. “I think it’s because–” Xie Lian keeps his eyes on Hua Cheng as he brings the other man’s hand up to the collar of his white shirt “ –you give me the confidence to try things I haven’t done before.” When Xie Lian’s hand falls away, Hua Cheng’s remains perched at his throat, thumbing over the button, appearing to be contemplating on how to proceed.

Slowly, Hua Cheng slides the buttons out from their hold with one hand — popping them open one by one as he works his way down. At first, Hua Cheng’s burning gaze is fixed on Xie Lian’s eyes, lust and affection swirling around in a mesmerising pool of crimson. However, as more and more pale skin reveals itself, Hua Cheng’s weak resolve immediately compels him to sweep his eye down Xie Lian’s body. He leans closer, resting his forehead on Xie Lian’s as the last button is undone. 

A soft gasp floats in the air straight from Hua Cheng's lips.

Compared to the way Hua Cheng was touching him in the car, his hands now move with practiced patience as he gently slips the fabric off Xie Lian's shoulders. 

Hua Cheng’s lips hover tantalisingly close but do not make contact. It can barely be called a kiss with the way Hua Cheng is dragging his lips along Xie Lian's jaw line and down his neck. Xie Lian can already feel an ache that needs attending, a thirst to quench rippling up his throat as the coarse material of his slacks stretches. But despite the hunger in the younger man’s eye, he doesn’t rush  — letting his long, calloused fingers leisurely explore Xie Lian’s torso and brushing over his pink nipples.

Contrary to Hua Cheng’s calm disposition, Xie Lian is all too consumed by his restlessness and craving more of Hua Cheng’s touch. His fingers skate their way to the place where the turtleneck sweater disappears beneath Hua Cheng’s pants. Eager to get his own hands on Hua Cheng, he pulls the tucked fabric up and slides a curious hand in. He can feel the way the muscles tense as his fingers dance along the skin. The material gathers on his wrist, sliding his hands up until he’s blocked by Hua Cheng’s arms. Hua Cheng's roaming hands take a pause, allowing Xie Lian to pull the sweater over his head before dropping it onto the table. 

Xie Lian can’t decide what to look at, Hua Cheng’s gorgeous face or his perfectly sculpted body.

Hua Cheng’s hand comes up to cradle Xie Lian’s face, a devious smirk playing on his lips. “Gege, I’m trying to be gentle with you since it’s your first time but it seems your wandering hands are really testing my patience.”

“I can’t help it,” Xie Lian whines. Surely, Hua Cheng is aware of how attractive he is. Any normal person would find it difficult to keep their hands to themselves in a situation like this. 

The pad of Hua Cheng’s thumb presses down on Xie Lian’s bottom lip while his other hand smooths Xie Lian’s palm flat against his chest. “I like it. Keep touching me,” Hua Cheng gruffs in a low husky voice which raises goosebumps all over Xie Lian’s skin. He wants Hua Cheng to feel good too so he does as he’s instructed and continues his own exploration of Hua Cheng’s body. He lets his own curiosity dictate where his hands move next, first over Hua Cheng’s pecs — feeling each heartbeat vibrating through him, then brushing over his ribs to the contours of his abs.

Hua Cheng lowers his head into Xie Lian’s neck and sucks on the delicate skin aggressively. Almost sinking his teeth in like his life depended on it, like it’s the only thing that could stop him from ravaging Xie Lian on this very table.

Slipping a knee between Xie Lian’s legs, Hua Cheng nudges them apart before slotting himself in between. His hands wrap around the back of Xie Lian’s thighs, pulling him up so that he’s fully seated on the table before trailing his kisses further down. He doesn’t think twice when he reaches Xie Lian’s chest, greedily taking a nipple into his mouth. A sudden gasp escapes Xie Lian as Hua Cheng licks and sucks on the sensitive bud.

The table creaks when Xie Lian shifts onto his elbows. Hua Cheng pauses his movements, pulling away and looking at Xie Lian with a startled expression.

Xie Lian laughs a little. “I don’t think the table is strong enough for this.”

“Hmm. We can test its durability another time,” Hua Cheng says, licking his lips. Xie Lian shudders at the prospect of this being a regular occurrence. 

Hua Cheng lifts Xie Lian off the table effortlessly, legs wrapping around Hua Cheng’s waist as he strides towards the bed. After lowering Xie Lian gently onto the mattress, Hua Cheng positions himself to kneel between him once more. His attention returns to Xie Lian’s nipples, using both his tongue and fingers until Xie Lian’s body trembles and squirms underneath Hua Cheng’s assault.

Once he’s satisfied, Hua Cheng makes quick work of Xie Lian's pants and briefs, sliding them off and discarding them onto the floor. Hua Cheng does the same with himself, freeing his own throbbing cock and giving it a gentle tug. Xie Lian’s eyes blow wide at the sight of it, hard and thick with a slight curve.

“It's rude to stare,” Hua Cheng teases, pulling Xie Lian’s gaze to his face. 

“You’ve been staring at me as well,” Xie Lian counters.

“Ah, but, that’s because you look absolutely angelic,” Hua Cheng cooes, covering every inch of Xie Lian’s body in feather light kisses. Xie Lian head tips back into the pillow, soft gasps dripping from his lips each time Hua Cheng graces his skin with a tender kiss. “Every part of you is just divine .” Xie Lian has never really thought of himself in such a manner but coming from Hua Cheng’s lips, it sounds like an unwavering truth. 

Cradling Hua Cheng’s face, Xie Lian guides the younger man back up his body to face him. “San Lang is also beautiful,” he whispers. It’s a peculiar expression Hua Cheng wears as if it’s something he’s never heard before and the news is a revelation to him.

“ Gege -” Hua Cheng whines as a blush crawls up his neck. In the next moment, Hua Cheng flips Xie Lian over so that he is lying on his stomach. A sudden yelp escapes from Xie Lian's throat as a strong forearm pins him down, planting scorching kisses all over his back. From the top of his spine, to the small of his back, it feels like his skin is being set ablaze. Teeth and tongue, both, grazing and sucking the skin until violets and indigos start to flourish beautifully against the pristine milky skin. And Xie Lian absolutely relishes in it, his mind lost to warmth only Hua Cheng can provide.

While he is enjoying every single second of Hua Cheng's thorough attention, Xie Lian can't stop his cock from silently seeking friction, canting his hips into the mattress. Hua Cheng notices this and immediately grapples his hips, pulling his ass up so that his back is arched off the bed and biting his left butt cheek as a form of reprimand.

“Ow!” Xie Lian squeals. 

Soothing over the teeth marks with gentle kisses, Hua Cheng returns to his slow descent over Xie Lian’s body. “Be patient.”

Xie Lian exhales sharply in frustration before burying his face into the pillow which muffles his audible grumbling. “San Lang, this position is embarrassing .” 

“Not in the slightest,” Hua Cheng breathes onto delicate skin. “Lube?” 

Xie Lian pulls the nightstand drawer open and extracts an unopened bottle of lube, throwing his arm back to hand it to Hua Cheng. He's never had any use for it before but, of course, he purchased some after spending the night at Hua Cheng's place as a precautionary measure.

After retrieving the bottle, Hua Cheng’s fingers drift along the back of Xie Lian’s thighs. His legs tremble, both from being held in an awkward position he's not used to and the fact that Hua Cheng is deliberately avoiding pleasuring him the area he needs it the most.

Another strangled moan unfurls into the pillow as Hua Cheng lightly nibbles on the inside of Xie Lian's now violently shaking thighs. Something brushes against his cock and he could’ve sworn it was Hua Cheng's nose or cheek but the sensation disappears just as fast. 

“It's throbbing… ” Hua Cheng’s voice floats to him in a whisper. Lifting his head from the pillow, Xie Lian tries to peer over his shoulder.

The sensation of a gentle caress in an area entirely foreign to Xie Lian spikes through him, shooting up to the nerves in his brain then rushing back down to swell his already hard cock even further. Despite how light and tender the touches are, the pleasure snakes through him like electricity.

“Mmmh,” Hua Cheng grunts, spilling cool liquid down Xie Lian’s opening. “ So beautiful , even here.” Hua Cheng takes his time brushing over it softly, ensuring the area and his finger are thoroughly coated before teasing and tempting the tight ring. Unable to hold back any longer, his index slips in and Xie Lian surprises himself with the most vulgar moan he has ever heard himself make. “ So fucking tight. Are you okay?”

“Ngh, San Lang . It feels like a lot already.”

Hua Cheng plants a reassuring kiss to the base of Xie Lian’s spine. “Don't worry, I'll make sure to stretch you out properly. But, you should turn over so I can see your face. I don't want to hurt you.” Removing the finger, he scoots a little back to help Xie Lian rotate onto his back, knees falling open on their own once he’s lying flat on the bed.

“Good boy ,” Hua Cheng praises and Xie Lian’s complexion colours all sorts of red. If Xie Lian wasn’t already hard, that comment alone could have him spring up in an instant.

With Hua Cheng now kneeling between his legs, he returns the finger back into Xie Lian’s entrance, and pushes in deeper this time. He watches Xie Lian's intently, gauging how he reacts to each movement. Adding more lube, he twists and slides in another finger without too much resistance. The stretch of the first was more painful than the second so Xie Lian finally releases a breath of relief as some of the tension from his muscles relax. As the third finger is added, perhaps his muscles start relaxing too much as his sense of self begins to melt away, caught up by the pleasure starting to blossom.

Xie Lian is both embarrassed and aroused by the sound of the lube slipping and sliding against his inner walls, so obscene yet it feeds straight to his aching length. He finally squeezes his eyes shut and lets his arms fly up to shield his face, which is no doubt expressing every beat of pleasure that Hua Cheng coaxes from him.

Instantly, Hua Cheng reaches over, grabbing both his wrists with one hand and moving them to settle above Xie Lian's head. “Gege, I said I needed to see your face.”

“I know …but this is soo….revealing, exposing . I don't know.”

A deep chuckle vibrates from Hua Cheng’s chest. “I'm enjoying the view though. In fact, it's almost reminiscent of the time I had you on my pool table.” Xie Lian dares to let his gaze wander down his body. It truly is a similar display with Hua Cheng hovering over Xie Lian like this, however there is also much else that is different. Notably, the lack of clothing and the hand that seems to disappear between his legs.

“Did you also think about doing this to me then?” Xie Lian asks curiously. 

“No.” Hua Cheng's response is quick. “I didn't dare let myself think that far ahead.”

“Oh? So what exactly did you allow yourself to imagine?”

Hua Cheng grins like he's unashamed, but his cheeks flushing a deep red tell another story. “After you left that day, I helped myself while imagining it was your hands wrapped around me.”

Xie Lian sucks in a quick breath, as if it's the most shocking thing he's ever heard despite the reality being far milder than he anticipated. But even so, the thought that Hua Cheng was thinking of him in such a manner even back then lights a flame behind Xie Lian's eyes that could threaten a forest fire. 

‘Terrible things, Gege,’ Hua Cheng once said.

Today, Xie Lian will finally get to experience it. 

“Show me,” Xie Lian says, peering up at the younger man through his lashes.

Confusion combs through Hua Cheng's features. “What?”

Xie Lian extends his hand. “Show me how I touched you in your fantasy.” 

He sees Hua Cheng's throat bob, a low gasp escaping from his parted lips and his cock noticeably twitching in response to the offer. After a beat, Hua Cheng's fingers slide out of Xie Lian and Xie Lian whines at the loss. However, with his rational thought returning back to him, he takes the opportunity to curl his fingers around Hua Cheng’s hard length. Hua Cheng’s hand also joins him, using the leftover lube on his fingers to slick his cock.

Xie Lian lets his hands be guided by Hua Cheng’s as the younger man attempts to recreate the scene he had envisioned in his head all those nights ago. 

“ You first stroked it gently. Like this… then…ngh-” 

His hand moves up and down at a languid pace before trailing further down to Hua Cheng’s balls.

“You touched me here …”

Hua Cheng helps him cup his hands around it and gives it a little squeeze. Despite only watching Hua Cheng, Xie Lian’s own breathing becomes laboured as his eyes remain glued to the man in front of him. His thumb is shepherd to the head of Hua Cheng’s cock, grazing over the tip as veins protrude from the skin on the underside of the shaft. 

“Th-then you started stroking me again. Tighter…fuck yes, like that.”

The sight of Hua Cheng swimming in pleasure grappled Xie Lian’s attention like a vice, his thoughts only filled with the need to see what Hua Cheng looks like toppled over the edge. Hua Cheng is the one gazing down at him but even in this position, Xie Lian feels like he’s the one in control as the younger man heaves and stares back blankly with a dazed expression. 

“Fuck! Wait, stop! ngh… ahh…Gege, I'm gonna come. ”

Xie Lian releases his grip, when Hua Cheng captures his wrist. He pouts a little when Hua Cheng tugs his hand away — feeling like the TV remote has been confiscated while he was in the middle of his favourite show. “Why'd you stop me? You could’ve finished.”

“I want fuck you first, ” Hua Cheng grits out with difficulty. 

“But… I want to see you come.”

Hua Cheng’s brows knit together, torn between his own desires and the need to please Xie Lian. Defeatedly, Hua Cheng brings Xie Lian’s hand back to his throbbing cock and Xie Lian wastes no time in wrapping his fingers around the thick girth, stroking it once again. Hua Cheng falls onto his palms, the only thing preventing him from collapsing on Xie Lian entirely. His face is now only a short distance away from Xie Lian’s.

Xie Lian’s eyes are sparkling — captured and enamoured by the most amazing sight he's ever laid eyes on. The way Hua Cheng’s eyebrows twitch, nose scrunch and lips tremble. And the sounds. Oh lord , the sounds. Hua Cheng does not try to hide the pleasure coursing through him, vocalising in earnest how each stroke of Xie Lian's delicate fingers affect him. Each gasp and moan has Xie Lian's centre wriggling in agony but he can't tear his gaze away or pay his own aching cock any mind — the sight of Hua Cheng’s pleasure warped face a much more spectacular view that he doesn’t want to miss even a second off. Xie Lian bites down on his own lip to silence a moan that he could sense crawling up his throat. 

Not right now.  

Especially not right now. He only wants to hear Hua Cheng’s sinful verses. 

“Gege…ah, Gege,” Hua Cheng repeats. “ Say it again .”

“Huh?”

“What you- ngh …said before ahhh … say it again. Please. ”

Xie Lian tries to piece together any shred of rationality left in him to recall the words that Hua Cheng is referring to. Then, it dawns on him. His hand picks up the pace and Hua Cheng's delicious moans increase in volume at the new speed. 

“I want to see you come, San Lang. Please, come for me. ” 

Hua Cheng eye squeeze shut as a half moan, half cry cuts through him. His release splatters across Xie Lian's abdomen, head falling in the crevice of Xie Lian's shoulder as his arms give way. In Xie Lian’s hand, he can feel Hua Cheng’s cock starting to soften but he continues stroking him gently through his orgasm. 

When Hua Cheng’s breathing finally settles, he turns his head to face Xie Lian. “I'm sorry, Gege. Just…just give me a couple of minutes.”

“What a silly thing to be sorry about.” Xie Lian plants kisses to whichever parts of Hua Cheng’s face he can reach. 

Hua Cheng glances down at Xie Lian's length, pulsing with need. “You should finish, too. I'm guessing you haven't had an orgasm from the back before?” 

“N-no…” Xie Lian says cautiously.

The fatigue from Hua Cheng’s orgasm seems to melt away in an instant, replaced with renewed interest as forces himself to sit back up on his knees. The devilish grin playing upon his lips has Xie Lian quaking in his skin.

“Wa-wait, San Lang!” 

Hua Cheng's fingers slide back into him in a single, smooth motion, but this time, their goal is not to stretch or loosen. They probe deeper, applying all sorts of delicious pressure to his inner walls. His cock weeps at the lack of attention, beads of precum sliding down his painful erection. He can feel each and every pulse coursing through him as he nears his peak. Xie Lian struggles to ignore it and reaches to grab his cock but Hua Cheng intercepts his hand. “San Lang, let go! I need to come!” he cries loudly.

“Gege, you said you trusted me. Do you think you can trust me now?”

Xie Lian whole body wriggles against Hua Cheng’s hold in an attempt to pry his wrist free. “I-I do trust you but…I just really- huh…really need to come!”

“It will be worth it. I promise. But if you can't hold it then I won’t stop you.” Hua Cheng peppers a few placating kisses onto his thigh. The wriggling stops. When Hua Cheng lets go as he promises, Xie Lian forces his arms to remain at his sides but the tears stream down his face involuntarily, the few remnants of his composure crumbling. 

Hua Cheng deftly resumes the movements of his expert fingers. Xie Lian can't deny how amazing it feels, but he’s been on the edge of coming for so long, his thoughts are scrambled and turning into mush. 

The fingers inside him start to curl and unfurl until suddenly…

“Oh! Nghh!”

A filthy moan echoes in his ear as his back arches off the bed. “There it is,” Hua Cheng utters before abusing that spot with continuous rubbing. Obscene sounds of squelching and moans fill the room, spurring Hua Cheng on to continue fingering him with vigour. 

Xie Lian's eyes roll to the back of his eyes as more cries tumble out of him, scrunching the sheets under his fists, his body experiencing unbridled pleasure. Hot white streaks color his vision before his mind goes blank. 

Hua Cheng’s voice sounds so distant despite being right next to his ear. “You did so well,” he cooes, stroking Xie Lian’s hair and kissing away the tears that trickled down his cheeks. His eyelids flutter shut as the aftermath of his orgasm ring through him, his muscles still twitching unprovoked. “Did you enjoy that?” 

Xie Lian simply nods since that’s all the strength he could muster at that moment. 

He feels the mattress dip and shift at his side and when he opens his eyes, Hua Cheng is nowhere to be seen. 

“San Lang?”

“I’m here, I’m here,” Hua Cheng calls out as he emerges from the bathroom with some tissues in his hand. He perches himself on the edge of the bed and starts to wipe Xie Lian down.

“Should we stop here?” Hua Cheng asks. 

Xie Lian scrunches his face. “Why?”

“It's your first time. I don't want to overwhelm you.” 

“I can handle it, San Lang. Please .” Xie Lian tugs on Hua Cheng’s arm, pulling him back onto the bed to lay on top of him after discarding the used tissues. 

Hua Cheng moves a few sweat slicked pieces of hair away from Xie Lian’s face before kissing his forehead, the skin slippery and salty. “Alright, then.”

Reaching for the lube again, Hua Cheng lathers his cock and Xie Lian’s hole once more. As he lines his cock to Xie Lian’s entrance, Xie Lian shudders in anticipation. He has no experience to draw from but he is knowledgeable on how it works so he tries to relax his muscles as best as he can.

When the head penetrates through, Xie Lian sucks in a quick breath, head tilting to the side and digging into the pillow as the burning sensation of the stretch spreads through him. A cock is so much bigger than fingers but thankfully Hua Cheng doesn't try to move in any further, giving Xie Lian time to accommodate his size. 

“Breathe,” Hua Cheng says when he notices Xie Lian holding his breath. “Does it hurt too much? Should I pull out?”

Xie Lian shakes his head vehemently. That is the last thing he wants. “No, it's fine. Ke-keep going.” 

Hua Cheng inches in, slowly and deliberately, keeping his movements short and unhurried as he attentively watches Xie Lian for any signs of distress.  

When Hua Cheng is fully seated, he lets out a raspy groan, his head tipping back slightly. He lowers himself onto Xie Lian so that their bodies are flushed against each other. The position allows Xie Lian to hear Hua Cheng panting against him. “It's all in.” Intertwining their fingers together, Hua Cheng brings their joined hands to his lips, kissing Xie Lian's knuckles. “How do you feel?”

“Full,” Xie Lian manages between breaths. His brain is already scrambled from his earlier orgasm that it's the only thing that comes to mind to describe how he's feeling.

“Let me know when I can move.”

After a few concentrated deep breaths, Xie Lian nods to him. Hua Cheng slides out carefully and rocks his hips forward. The slow motion has Xie Lian feeling everything intensely, grazing against all his most sensitive spots as soft noises float from his lips. 

Their eyes are locked on each other, the tips of their noses brushing against each other as Hua Cheng continues his shallow movements — so delicate, so intimate, Xie Lian can't help the way his eyes glaze with tears once more when Hua Cheng seals their lips together in a deep kiss. Xie Lian wraps his arms around Hua Cheng's neck, holding him close.

After enjoying the leisurely pace for a little while longer, Xie Lian finds himself craving something… more . He doesn’t feel like himself, drunk on the prospect of experiencing the same pleasure that washed over him during his first orgasm. 

“San Lang,” Xie Lian whispers, beckoning the other man to look at him. Hua Cheng’s crimson eye glistens with the same need reflected in Xie Lian’s expression. It’s that feral gaze that gives Xie Lian the confidence to hook his ankles at the base of Hua Cheng’s back and utter the next words in his ear. “I know you're trying to be considerate for my sake but...you don't need to be so gentle. Please, fuck me like you want to."

Hua Cheng chokes on a moan, a strangled huff of laughter bubbling up his throat. “ Fuck, Gege. You’ll be the death of me. ”

The next thrust that rolls into Xie Lian is harder, deeper — knocking some of the air out of his lungs but beneath the force of the sudden impact, a blinding wave of pleasure surges through him. And now that Hua Cheng’s started, he doesn’t hold back — fucking into Xie Lian at an unrelenting pace. Xie Lian's nails dig into his back, threatening to break the skin in half moon crescents as more moans and whines spill from him. His inner walls tighten as his cock swells to the hilt once again.

“Gege - Gege- ” Hua Cheng chants as his hips move with more vigour. “You feel so fucking good.” Each thrust has Xie Lian moving up the bed, inch after inch until his head knocks against the headboard. It only takes one time before Hua Cheng moves a hand to cradle Xie Lian’s head, rhythm not faltering for even a moment. “So good, and all mine .” Hua Cheng’s voice is almost as low as a growl as the possessive tone drips from his lips. 

“Yours, yes! Only yours,” Xie Lian cries out.

Hua Cheng adjusts his position, sitting up and wrapping one of Xie Lian's legs over his shoulder, using it as leverage as he pulls him down, impaling him on his cock. Xie Lian cries out, hands flying up to the headboard to somehow keep himself grounded but his coordination is a mess and he grabs onto nothing as each stroke against his prostate has him writhing in pleasure.

It's too much. It's far too much but Xie Lian is so lost in the feeling of everything Hua Cheng — his skin, his smell, his warmth.

Hua Cheng bites down on his calf and wraps his fingers around the base of Xie Lian's throbbing cock. The sound he makes when Hua Cheng starts stroking him in time with his thrusts can only be described as pathetic, something between a scream or a wail as his body is pushed to the absolute brink. He can feel his orgasm clawing towards him as stars begin to dance behind his eyes. 

“S-San Lang…co-coming…ngh,” Xie Lian spouts incoherently, unable to form a complete sentence as his front and back is stimulated beyond his limits. Xie Lian lets out a sharp cry when his orgasm finally knocks into him, his full body shuddering from head to toe, spilling white liquid into Hua Cheng’s hand. 

The tempo of Hua Cheng’s thrusts start to waver, slowing down but still pumping hard into him and Xie Lian knows that Hua Cheng is close too. 

“In-inside,” Xie Lian croaks with the last remaining strength he could muster, his voice hoarse and beaten. 

It doesn’t take long for Hua Cheng to follow Xie Lian over the edge. He drops the leg he was holding onto and lets his body collapse onto Xie Lian as he fills Xie Lian from the inside. The feeling is peculiar but Xie Lian hums in satisfaction, wrapping his arms around Hua Cheng in a tight embrace.  

After a few long minutes of trying to catch their breaths, Hua Cheng finally pulls himself out and lays down on his back next to Xie Lian. Xie Lian clenches on instinct to avoid Hua Cheng’s come spilling out of him. 

“Are you okay?” Hua Cheng asks, concern knitting his brows together as his hand comes up to stroke Xie Lian’s cheek.

Xie Lian shifts to lay on his side so that he can face Hua Cheng without craning his neck. “I feel amazing, San Lang. Thank you.” Snuggling closer, Xie Lian kisses Hua Cheng on the lips. A bright smile graces his face despite the fatigue washing over him. He’s glad to see Hua Cheng worry melt away, replaced with a warm smile of his own.

“We should wash up,” Hua Cheng says but his limbs don’t move. 

“Mmm. In a minute. Let’s just stay here a little longer.” Entangled in each other, their skin is sticky with sweat but it's a peaceful comfort Xie Lian doesn’t want to pry himself from. His arms wrap around Hua Cheng when the younger man scoots forward to nuzzle into his chest. 

As his eyes flutter shut, Xie Lian is reminded of something he’s been meaning to ask Hua Cheng, now that his case has concluded. “San Lang, if you don’t mind me asking. When is the date for your hearing with the ethics committee?”

“Next week,” Hua Cheng mumbles into Xie Lian’s skin. 

“Are you nervous?”

“Not at all. I've been wanting to quit for a while now so the outcome makes no difference to me.”

Xie Lian feels a little sad to hear this, his fingers moving up to stroke through Hua Cheng’s hair. “I liked watching you play. I'd love to be able to see you live. But if it doesn't make you happy anymore then it’s fine to retire. It's your decision. I will support whatever you decide.”

“I guess…” Hua Cheng starts hesitantly. “I just felt like I wasn't really working towards anything. Like there was no reason to keep competing. But if you're there at my games, I don’t know…maybe I might feel differently .”

There’s a tremble in Hua Cheng's voice that Xie Lian can't quite place so he shifts back a little, allowing him to hold Hua Cheng’s chin to tilt his head up. “I’d love to be the reason you keep playing. I promise I will be at all your games! How often does a rookie step into the field and come out the winner? You are gifted and I’d really love the opportunity to be able to witness all of your accomplishments.”  

A thin layer of moisture glazes Hua Cheng’s eye, a tear threatening to spill out of the corner. Xie Lian immediately kisses it away as Hua Cheng hides his face back into Xie Lian’s chest, arms tightening around Xie Lian.

To think they could’ve done this sooner had they met under different circumstances. Or perhaps, maybe it was only under these specific circumstances that they could meet. Either way, as he holds Hua Cheng in his embrace, Xie Lian is grateful for everything that has led him to this moment.

Chapter Text

“Come on, just a small wager,” Hua Cheng insists as he caresses Xie Lian’s thigh. 

It is the middle of spring and the iridescent glow of the morning sun filters through the curtains into Hua Cheng’s bedroom. Xie Lian is sitting upright against the headboard with sheets snaking around his naked body haphazardly, trying to concentrate on an article on his tablet screen regarding tax law changes while Hua Cheng is wrapped around his leg, languidly drawing shapes with his fingers into the lean muscle. 

“I don’t trust you to play fair,” Xie Lian replies as he scrolls further down the article, his other hand stroking through Hua Cheng’s hair. 

Xie Lian has grown to enjoy these simple, leisurely mornings with Hua Cheng the most. Of course, he still loves being able to go out on dates but time at home, in the privacy of their bedroom is a type of serenity Xie Lian can’t experience with anywhere else.

Hua Cheng frowns and scoots further up the bed, slotting his head underneath the tablet and between Xie Lian’s arms to grab his attention. “When have I ever not been sincere with you?” he says, sounding somewhat offended.

Giggling, Xie Lian sets the tablet on the night stand and holds Hua Cheng’s face in his hands, letting his thumbs stroke soft cheeks. Hua Cheng is shameless, he thinks. Always pouting in a way he knows Xie Lian will have no heart to deny him. “It’s not about your past actions. You simply seem awfully suspicious right now,” Xie Lian says, as he moves loose pieces of hair behind Hua Cheng’s ear.

“Gege has seen right through me, I’m afraid,” Hua Cheng confesses, dropping his head into Xie Lian’s firm chest. “We’ve been playing a lot together and your skills have improved drastically. We should raise the stakes to keep it interesting,” he mumbles. 

The skinship is Xie Lian’s favourite part and now that he’s tried it, he doesn’t think he would be able to live his life without it. “Such as?” Xie Lian asks.

“Such as — removing an item of clothing each time you successfully sink a ball,” Hua Cheng says mischievously.

Xie Lian's brows knit together in response to Hua Cheng's proposal. Sure, Xie Lian has improved his billiards skills after the many lessons he's had with Hua Cheng but that still doesn't mean he's at the level to compete with Hua Cheng. Frankly, he's not even certain anyone really has the skill to beat Hua Cheng. He's simply in a league of his own. “How is that fair? I will be the only one naked the whole time,” Xie Lian complains.

“If Gege is worried, then you can wear extra layers of clothing.”

Xie Lian cuts him an unimpressed stare. As if the extra layers will help. He has seen Hua Cheng play long enough to know that if he really wanted to, he could pocket three balls in a single shot. The terms are certainly not in his favour so he does what any good attorney would do. Negotiate. 

“How about this, San Lang — if I sink a ball then you remove an item of clothing. If you sink a ball, then you get to give me a kiss…” Xie Lian says, a faint blush creeping up his neck, “... anywhere of your choosing. ”

Hua Cheng lifts his head to look Xie Lian in the eye, a terrifying smile crossing his lips makes Xie Lian instantly regret what he just offered. 

“Deal .” 

───── ⋅⋆⋅ ─────

After Xie Lian’s shower later that evening, he throws on navy plaid pants and one of Hua Cheng’s old t-shirts. He figured that since he’s not going to be stripping today, it shouldn’t matter too much what he wears so he opts for comfort. 

Strolling out of their bedroom into the dimly lit area, he spies Hua Cheng in his silk red robe by the pool table — arranging the field to prepare for their game. He can hear the balls clattering against each other as they are placed in the rack and lined up at the foot of the table.

When Xie Lian pads closer, he gets a better look at Hua Cheng’s attire and frowns. “You say my skills have improved yet you insult me by only wearing a robe and underwear.” He crosses his arms and glares at the younger man. 

Hua Cheng covers the remaining distance between them, a dazzling smile gracing his face as an amused laugh rumbles from his chest. “Gege, instead of taking it as an insult, you should take it as a compliment. The faster these clothes comes off, the faster I get to be buried deep insi—”

A hand flies over Hua Cheng's mouth, silencing him mid sentence. “Yes, yes, I am aware of the terms.” Xie Lian closes his eyes and exhales a deep sigh, chasing away the blush threatening to paint his cheeks. He has far too much clarity to be able to listen to Hua Cheng speak so brazenly regarding his salacious intentions. Tracking his gaze down and back up the younger man's silhouette, Xie Lian narrows his eyes into a slit. He really can’t take this any other way other than a slight to his skill. “You will wear pants,” Xie Lian demands. 

“As Gege wishes.” Hua Cheng tugs Xie Lian’s hand away from his mouth, twisting his fingers around it before bringing the knuckles back to his lips. But before he could plant a kiss, Xie Lian immediately retracts his hand away. Hua Cheng immediately looks up with concern only to find Xie Lian wearing a playful grin. 

“You’ll have to sink a ball if you want to kiss me.” 

The smile that returns to Hua Cheng’s face is dangerous but full of sinful promise. “This might be the most important game I've ever played,” he says as he walks past Xie Lian.  

While Hua Cheng trails back to the bedroom, Xie Lian retrieves his cue from the wall and inspects it, feeling the weight of it as he swipes the pad of his thumb over his initials engraved at the base. 

It was a gift Hua Cheng presented when Xie Lian arrived for his first snooker lesson, two personalised cue sticks, one for pool and one for snooker. Several months ago, Xie Lian wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference between two, however now he can feel how the wood hangs heavier in his hands and the length shorter than he’s used to.  

The corners of his lips curl up ever so slightly. He certainly has come a long way since then. 

As he chalks the tip, Hua Cheng strolls back into the room and Xie Lian is pleased to see a pair of sweatpants on him this time. Xie Lian is quick to extract Hua Cheng’s cue off the wall, tossing it over to the younger man as he approaches the red table. 

“Who’s going to break?” Hua Cheng asks. 

“I will,” Xie Lian announces, pseudo confidence dripping in his words as he makes his way to the head of the table before gracefully bending over and lining up his cue with the white ball. He doesn’t have much of a strategy in mind but he thinks that being the first to strike can be advantageous for him. All he needs to do is hit the apex with a precise, swift shot to cause enough of a disturbance on the field that at least one ball would be pocketed. It sounds simple enough but execution may prove to be a bit more difficult. Sucking in a deep breath, Xie Lian eyes the target in front him, trying to recall everything he’s learnt. He pulls his cue back and strikes, the white ball shooting forward. 

The field is in chaos, as he intended — the object balls clattering loudly, knocking into each other and bouncing off the railings. However, despite the calculation behind his shot, all the balls remained on the field. 

Xie Lian's shoulders slump a little and Hua Cheng doesn’t comment. He stands in silence, appearing to survey the field in front of him but Xie Lian knows it’s a ruse. Hua Cheng would know exactly which play to make as soon as the balls settled into a stationary position.

On Hua Cheng’s turn, he hits the ball gently, opting for precision rather than force. It doesn't come as a surprise when he effortlessly pockets a solid on his first try. His gaze turns onto Xie Lian’s lips as he stalks over, like a predator to a prey, eager to collect his prize. Xie Lian recognises that ravenous look, the deep crimson in his eye darkening with each step. Xie Lian’s breathing starts to slow to short heavy breaths, while his pulse quickens — preparing himself for an impassioned, all-consuming kiss. Hua Cheng lets his face hover close and Xie Lian struggles to keep still, desperately wanting to close the distance. Xie Lian instinctively closes his eyes and puckers his lips slightly, happy to provide Hua Cheng’s reward. After all, this will be a reward for him as well. Xie Lian’s lips part when he feels Hua Cheng’s warm breath mingling with his own. Suddenly, a brush of cool air floats past his lips as a chaste kiss is planted onto his forehead instead. 

His eyes blink open, dazed and confused.

“You look disappointed. Were you expecting something else?” Hua Cheng smirks, clearly pleased with the reaction he has pulled from Xie Lian. 

A tinge of irritation grazes at Xie Lian as he sees Hua Cheng saunter back to his side of the table with a triumphant grin. “No,” he lies, lips pursing into a thin line. 

Perhaps he did think this would be a friendly game between them however now he feels a strange sense of competitiveness brewing inside him. Motivated by a newfound determination, Xie Lian lines his cue back onto the table. 

Three. He only needs to pocket three balls. 

His second shot is more powerful than the first, flying across the scarlet field as it knocks a striped ball into a side pocket. Xie Lian straightens to his full height, mimicking the same air of victory Hua Cheng possessed just moments ago. This time, Hua Cheng pushes away from the table to give Xie Lian a head to toe view of his person. 

“What would you like?” Hua Cheng cooes, even doing a little twirl to add to the theatrics. 

Xie Lian hasn’t yet considered the order in which he will remove the clothing, so he eyes the garments sitting on Hua Cheng's muscled frame carefully. It only makes sense for the black boxer briefs to be last so immediately he moves on to the other items in question. The silk red robe and the sweatpants. Xie Lian adores the way the smooth crimson material delicately drapes over Hua Cheng’s body, so regal and refined like a piece of art he could never get tired of looking at. It splits down the middle exposing the ridges and crevices of Hua Cheng’s chest and abdomen in all its captivating glory. Xie Lian bites his bottom lip, realising he might be staring too intently at the younger man. The robe will need to stay, he decides; so after careful consideration he politely requests, “Your pants, please.”

A snicker dances on Hua Cheng’s lips. “There was no reason for me to put this on then if it was going to be the first thing to come off,” he comments as he hooks his thumb beneath the band. However, Xie Lian is quick to pull his hands away. 

“There is a reason,” Xie Lian responds, before sinking to his knees until he is eye level with Hua Cheng’s crotch. He smiles when he notices the material shifting and stretching, pleased that even this much has such an effect on Hua Cheng.

“Naughty… ” Hua Cheng breathes with that same sinister smile promising all sorts of debauchery still plastered on his face. The gleam behind Hua Cheng’s eye as he stares at Xie Lian is bold and vibrant — clearly enamoured with the way Xie Lian is rubbing his face on Hua Cheng’s thigh, deliberately letting the tip of his nose graze against the growing erection. Then, Xie Lian carefully grips the band between his teeth before pulling the material to about halfway down Hua Cheng's thigh before it falls off completely. 

Once Hua Cheng’s pants are bunched around his feet, Xie Lian comes up to stand face to face with the younger man once more. “Two can play at this game,” Xie Lian boasts, trying a sly smirk of his own however he instantly feels sheepish and averts his gaze.

All Xie Lian hears next is a loud smack of the ball knocking against the railing. Xie Lian looks to the table then back to Hua Cheng, lips slightly parted in both shock and awe. The ball disappears so fast that Xie Lian doesn't even see it go in, only the clattering noise it made on its way down the pocket. Hua Cheng’s scorching gaze returns to Xie Lian once more. 

Xie Lian takes a shaky step back, one after the other until his back is pressed against the wall and Hua Cheng cages him between his arms. “My reward, please.” Despite his gentle words, his tone is vicious, feeding straight into Xie Lian’s arousal. He has the fleeting thought that provoking Hua Cheng might've been a mistake. 

“G-go ahead,” Xie Lian stutters.

“Gege is indeed so wise,” Hua Cheng purrs. “Two can play at this game.”

Hua Cheng falls to his knees with a thud, gazing up at Xie Lian with a wicked expression. Long fingers curl around Xie Lian's calves before riding their way up past his thighs — and once they reach the hem of his t-shirt, Hua Cheng slots his hands beneath the material and pushes the fabric up. 

The sweet kiss on his navel causes Xie Lian to shudder, a soft gasp escaping him as his cock stirs in its confines. Thinking the younger man is now done claiming his prize, he tries to move away but Hua Cheng holds him still and doesn't pull away. 

Instead, Hua Cheng keeps his lips on Xie Lian and drags them down. It is only at this point Xie Lian realises that they didn’t actually discuss what constituted a kiss which meant that the duration and intensity is entirely up to Hua Cheng’s discretion. Such an oversight wouldn’t have made it past him under any other circumstance but this, perhaps might be the best and worst mistake he’s ever made. 

“San Lang…” Xie Lian breathes, chest rising and falling at uneven intervals as Hua Cheng continues his descent. Xie Lian’s restless hands find their way into Hua Cheng's hair, letting his fingers comb through the silky black strands. He's losing his inhibitions fast but he can't give in to temptation this easily so he tries to shake away the tight feeling coiling at his core. “You’re only allowed one kiss…”

“I haven’t taken my lips off you yet,” Hua Cheng mumbles into soft flesh as his hands work the band residing at Xie Lian's hips. Hua Cheng pulls the material down, just enough to release Xie Lian’s erection. 

Without removing his lips from Xie Lian’s skin, Hua Cheng lets his tongue drag over the shaft of Xie Lian’s cock, agonizingly slow from the base. When he reaches the tip, Hua Cheng’s sinful gaze beckons Xie Lian’s focus as his lips plant a delicate kiss at the sensitive slit. Xie Lian sucks in a quick breath. Vivid reds bleed into his cheeks, filling them with candescent colour. His skin heats, goosebumps rising as a shiver runs through him, all the way down till his cock twitches in response. Hua Cheng smiles against the head, smearing the moisture pooled at the tip against his lips.

“You taste so good, Gege,” Hua Cheng murmurs before parting his lips and taking Xie Lian’s cock into his mouth. A hum of satisfaction vibrates from Hua Cheng’s chest. 

“Ngh,” Xie Lian whines, a familiar warmth enveloping him and interfering with his voice of reason. "San Lang… this…this is not a kiss."  It’s a terribly weak attempt at a protest since he truly has no intention of really pushing Hua Cheng away. His fingers scrunch together in Hua Cheng’s hair, pulling on the strands as he lets out a moan.

Xie Lian’s eyes peer down at Hua Cheng adoringly, cheeks all plush and full, his scarlet eye burning with lust and yet there's an unmistakable tenderness. Xie Lian's heart quickens at the sight of it.

Pushing his head forward, Hua Cheng takes more of Xie Lian in, sliding his tongue along the underside to about halfway and letting his saliva coat Xie Lian’s cock while keeping his hands rested on the back of Xie Lian’s thighs. Wet and slippery, his head bobs back and forth with ease. The sounds that ring through the air do not only come from Xie Lian, Hua Cheng’s muffled moans also fill the room as he inches more and more of Xie Lian into his mouth. 

It feels like Xie Lian is losing his mind, the way keen lips and an expert tongue licks and sucks on his sensitive flesh, pulling all sorts of needy noises from him. His core and ground shake as he struggles to maintain his stability. 

When Xie Lian’s legs begin to tremble, he starts to slide down the wall, knees failing to keep him grounded but Hua Cheng instantly tightens his grip. 

Xie Lian can see enough of himself disappearing into Hua Cheng’s mouth each time his head slides forward, and it’s usually at this point Xie Lian knows Hua Cheng has reached his limit. However, the younger man doesn’t stop. A strangled whimper crawls up from his chest as he pushes Xie Lian deeper into his throat. 

“San Lang! D-don't, you'll hurt yourself.”

Hua Cheng’s eye is glassy, a tear pooling at the corner before it finally spills and rolls down his cheek — however it doesn’t deter him in the slightest. Xie Lian’s insides tighten and twist as he feels his orgasm approaching, a deranged gasp floating past his lips. All Xie Lian can feel is the warmth and wetness engulfing him completely, his strength dissipating as more and more of him succumbs to the pleasure Hua Cheng is keenly providing. 

Xie Lian’s breathing grows erratic as he tries his best to hold back, waiting for Hua Cheng to pull away. “San Lang…enough…I’m so close.”

More tears run down Hua Cheng’s face as he continues to suck in earnest, brows pinched together in concentration and not allowing any chance for Xie Lian to delay the inevitable. Without a voice, his eye pleads on his behalf — pleading for Xie Lian to give him what he can’t beg for in words and hands giving a reassuring squeeze for added measure. 

A full body shudder cascades through Xie Lian as he reaches his peak, hunching over and spilling down Hua Cheng’s throat. A groan drips from Xie Lian’s lips when Hua Cheng swallows around him once more, his throat tightening and squeezing, drinking every last drop down greedily. 

It’s only when Xie Lian loosens the grip in Hua Cheng's hair does the younger man start pulling back, slowly sliding Xie Lian’s cock out of his mouth and taking deep heavy breaths when he’s finally graced with oxygen he’d been deprived off. 

Xie Lian leans back into the wall, also trying to catch his breath as his muscles continue to twitch while his heart hammers in his chest. His bones feel weak, mind muddled but beneath it all, ecstasy. When Hua Cheng rises to his feet, Xie Lian regards him through a starry eyed lens, his gaze drawing to the opaque liquid dripping down the corner of Hua Cheng’s lips. He watches intently as Hua Cheng swipes his thumb across it, collecting the remains before lapping it up with his tongue. 

“Your turn,” Hua Cheng gruffs, his tone low and husky as he restores Xie Lian’s pants back into place. He smiles victoriously in spite of the streak of dried tears on his face.

How can Xie Lian play after that? He can barely stand upright without the support of the wall behind him. After giving himself a long minute to regain his bearings, Xie Lian pushes himself off the wall and picks up the cue which had somehow ended up on the floor next to him. 

Heading over to the table, he bends over lining up to the cue ball on his third turn. His hands are shaky and the shot is incredibly weak but thankfully it makes contact with a striped ball which rolls slowly until it disappears down a corner pocket.

Immediately, he turns to face Hua Cheng and removes the robe, sliding it off broad shoulders before hanging it on the cue rack behind him. That’s when Xie Lian notices a wet patch in Hua Cheng’s briefs. His eyes glimmer at the realisation of what caused it. “Did you…?” Xie Lian tilts his head to the side in question.

“Hmm.” The younger man rounds the table to where the cue ball is located and prepares for his shot. “Does that surprise you?” Hua Cheng asks, knocking the ball lightly and watching it glide across closer to where Xie Lian is standing. A solid that was already close to the edge also falls in without much resistance.

“No…well…Maybe a little.” 

Hua Cheng returns to Xie Lian, a soft hoarse laugh floating past his lips. “Gege, don't you know just how much you affect me?” He lifts Xie Lian’s hand to his lips, planting a soft kiss onto the knuckles. With his other hand, he cradles Xie Lian's face, thumb stroking along his cheek before pinching his chin and directing Xie Lian's gaze to the pool table. Hua Cheng leans forward, whispering delicately into Xie Lian's ear, “Last one…please do your best. I’m dying to get inside you.”  

Xie Lian's focus shifts to the field, staring hazily at the stationary objects still remaining. He then realises that Hua Cheng purposefully landed the cue ball in such a way that it would be easy for Xie Lian to make the next shot. Muscle memory takes over as he cues up, fairly confident in his ability despite his mind being in a daze.

As soon as the final ball sinks, Hua Cheng takes the cue from Xie Lian's hand before dropping them both on the table impatiently. 

Xie Lian’s eyes track down to the outline of Hua Cheng's cock. He knows what he needs to do but he finds himself distracted by the thick length hidden beneath. His hand moves on its own accord to rub Hua Cheng’s erection through the material. A delicious groan rumbles from Hua Cheng’s chest, and the sound sends a thrilling shiver down Xie Lian’s spine. 

“Gege-” Hua Cheng whines. “Aren’t you going to take it off?” 

“I will,” Xie Lian promises but his hands don’t stop — instead, he adds a bit more pressure as he strokes Hua Cheng’s cock. Hua Cheng drops his head on Xie Lian’s shoulder, grunting loudly while his hands scramble to grab the edge of the table on either side of Xie Lian.

“Please- ahh, ngh- Gege, you really might make me come in my pants a second time. ”

Some reprieve is granted when Xie Lian’s hand falls away; however instead of removing Hua Cheng’s briefs, he pulls his own shirt over his head and drops it onto the floor before slinking out of his pants. Once naked, Xie Lian props himself up and perches at the edge of the pool table. When Hua Cheng tries to remove his briefs himself, Xie Lian scrunches his brows together disapprovingly. The half-hearted glare alone has Hua Cheng’s hand retreating back to his side. 

“Gege, let me touch you at least,” Hua Cheng bargains but it is clear that Xie Lian has other ideas on how he wants to proceed. 

“Not yet.” Xie Lian smooths his finger over Hua Cheng’s pouted lips, slightly puffed and red from their earlier activity. As he drags his finger down, pulling at the bottom lip, Hua Cheng obediently opens his mouth and Xie Lian slides two fingers in. Soft velvet skin closes around the base of his fingers instantly, tongue swirling enthusiastically as Hua Cheng coats them in his saliva. When Xie Lian slides them out, there is a string of saliva connecting to Hua Cheng's lips for a second before breaking off. 

Hua Cheng looks at him like a starved beast eyeing his favourite meal. “Are you trying to punish me?”

“Hmm? Do you think there’s something you need to be punished for?” Xie Lian feigns confusion, deliberately leaning back and lifting his leg up to rest on the rail while his other leg continues to dangle off the edge — an attempt to provide a better view for the man in front of him. His fingers skate downwards until he reaches his entrance, brushing over it a couple of times with a wet finger, before slipping one in. Hua Cheng is quiet for a long minute, seemingly distracted by the finger sliding in and out of Xie Lian’s hole at a slow pace. “Is it punishment to watch me like this?”

A ragged breath, so deep it almost sounds like a growl, vibrates from Hua Cheng's chest. “No… ” his tone, strained and full of uncertainty. “I will do nothing but spectate if… that is what you want.” Xie Lian eyes him curiously — an unexpected proposition piquing his interest. Hua Cheng doesn't seem like he believes the words coming out of his mouth and yet he has made no attempt to lay a finger on Xie Lian. 

Would he truly be satisfied with just watching?

Xie Lian keeps his gaze fixed on the flame lit behind the scarlet eye as his fingers move the way Hua Cheng taught him, scissoring inside himself. Prodding around, he searches for that spot — Xie Lian curling his fingers ever so slightly and then…

“Ngh!” Xie Lian moans, head tipping back as his fingers add a little more pressure. Hua Cheng has indeed taught him well — tension building in all the right places. 

“Fuck, Gege. I-I want to be inside you though…please. Please.” It’s clear from the expression on Hua Cheng’s face that his self-control is reaching its final tethers, the tendons and veins on the back of his hand straining as he grips the railing, threatening to splinter the wood. 

Perhaps another time he could try holding out a little longer, but at this very moment, Xie Lian also does not have any patience left, desperately wanting to be filled by Hua Cheng. Satisfied that he’s been stretched out enough, his fingers slide out with strangled whine. “Now, San Lang.”

In the next second, Xie Lian is yanked off the table by his elbow — a gasp leaving his throat as he’s spun around and bent over the pool table. 

“San Lang!” Xie Lian screams, as Hua Cheng plunges so deep into him in a single thrust. His muscles quake as an orgasm barrels through him, the intensity of it making Xie Lian's vision become a blur, colours blending together as his sight runs away from him. And Hua Cheng doesn't simply stop at one powerful thrust, despite feeling Xie Lian gripping viciously around his length and smears of release spilling onto the floor — he fucks into him harder, faster, not even allowing a second of reprieve to recover from his climax.  Calloused hands remain latched at his hip bones while Hua Cheng uses the grip to pull Xie Lian back to meet each thrust. Xie Lian’s body goes limp, accepting the waves of pleasure and overstimulation torrenting through him. 

With his eyelids fluttering and struggling to stay open, he tries to focus on the cues hung on the rack but his senses are overrun with all the places Hua Cheng is touching him — piercing him deep before withdrawing fully, then slamming back into him. His cheek brushes against the crimson felt, an uncomfortable friction but he’s too far lost in the fog of desire to pay it any mind. The only coherent thing that slips past his lips is Hua Cheng’s name that he repeats like a prayer. He knows he's being loud, yet all he can hear is the slippery sound of skin slapping against skin. 

Xie Lian feels a weight on his back as Hua Cheng bends over, teeth grazing against his shoulder blade. 

Suddenly, a strong arm hooks around Xie Lian’s chest and pulls him upright, the new angle causing him to cry out at how deep he can feel Hua Cheng inside him. His hands brace themselves as the edge of the pool table as Hua Cheng's hips start to slow, moving in and out of him leisurely. It allows Xie Lian to catch his breath for a moment but even after a couple of seconds, each deliberate and measured thrust is almost just as torturous as the merciless pounding. 

Hua Cheng’s harsh panting consumes Xie Lian’s thoughts. “I love the sounds you make.”  A wet tongue glides along the shell of Xie Lian’s ear. “I love how you taste ,” Hua Cheng groans, licking the thin slick of perspiration on Xie Lian's neck as if he was drinking nectar straight from the source. “I love how fucking tight you wrap around me.” 

Xie Lian’s ears burn with each delectable praise that drips from Hua Cheng's lips. 

“Gege- Gege- I’m not gonna last.” The sheer desperation and unwavering honesty in Hua Cheng’s voice pulls Xie Lian’s consciousness back to forefront. He didn't think he could come again so soon but despite himself, his cock begins to harden and a twisting coil of arousal pushes him to the precipice once more.

Don’t hold back, Xie Lian wants to say but the words don’t string together on his tongue — just more senseless moans and cries feeding the already obscene noises echoing in the room. 

Hua Cheng grabs Xie Lian's chin with his other hand and tilts his head back. Xie Lian cranes his neck as much as he can and wills whatever strength he could muster to force his eyes open. The shimmering scarlet sea that greets him as he does sears right through him, capturing his gaze and holding him hostage.

Something in his hooded eyes must’ve shared his inner thoughts as Hua Cheng greedily presses an open mouth kiss to his lips. As soon as their tongues latch onto each other, Hua Cheng picks up the pace once more — snapping his hips back and forth with vigour, one hand lightly encompassing Xie Lian’s throat and the other snaking around Xie Lian’s waist. It isn’t long before Xie Lian feels Hua Cheng pour into him, spurts of come filling him as he greedily swallows the groans and whimpers escaping Hua Cheng’s lips.

The sensation he feels inside him sends Xie Lian over the edge, his body convulsing under the weight of this third orgasm. His cock weeps pathetically, barely any liquid shooting out but the effects rakes through his bones all the same. Their lips stay connected as Hua Cheng’s works through their shared peak, the last few gentle thrusts easing Xie Lian’s muscles into a relaxed state. 

An audible smack sounds when the kiss is broken. 

Exhaustion finally catches up to Xie Lian as he lets the full weight of himself lean against the firm body behind him. His heart thumps louder than usual but after clarity begins to seep back into him he realises it is Hua Cheng's heartbeat and his own beating in tandem with one another. 

Hua Cheng reaches out and retrieves his robe from the wall, mindful to keep his other arm firmly grasping Xie Lian’s waist. He drapes the material over Xie Lian’s shoulders and ties the sash into a loose knot at the front. Then, he hoists Xie Lian back onto the table.

“San Lang,” Xie Lian manages, his voice clearly hoarse from its earlier misuse. “The table will get dirty.”

“It can always be cleaned.”

Despite Hua Cheng’s indifference, Xie Lian knows he should probably move but the slope between Hua Cheng’s neck and shoulder feels like the perfect spot to rest his head and he can’t bring himself to pull away — his mind still swimming in dizzying tranquility. “I’m so sleepy,” Xie Lian hums with a yawn. A satisfied, thoroughly fucked-out kind of yawn. 

A soothing chuckle rumbles from the younger man’s chest, settling a calmness in Xie Lian's bones. As he kisses Xie Lian's hairline, Hua Cheng utters softly, “I can just wipe you down if you're not up for a bath.” 

“I just think I might end up falling asleep in the tub.”

“You will wake up in bed either way, so don't worry about that.” 

Xie Lian’s eyelids finally peel open to peer up at Hua Cheng, his golden irises brimming with affection. Of course Hua Cheng will carry him to bed. He’s already done it a few times before when Xie Lian had fallen asleep on the couch with his laptop so he shouldn't be surprised but the offer has the corners of his lips lifting up into a shy smile. “Fine, a bath then.”

When Xie Lian shifts onto his feet, he accidently nudges a ball still remaining on the field. The movement catches his attention and then, an idea springs to mind. He studies Hua Cheng’s face — admiring sharp, delicate features one by one until his gaze settles on Hua Cheng eye. Or rather, the one covered behind the eyepatch.

Despite spending a lot of time together these last couple of months, Xie Lian has never actually seen Hua Cheng without it. Could Hua Cheng perhaps be hiding it from him? Now that Xie Lian really thinks about it — it is rather strange considering how he practically lives here.

Xie Lian grazes the ball again, deliberately pushing it into the pocket. “I think… San Lang has one more thing to remove,” Xie Lian says hesitantly.

Hua Cheng's brows knit together, confused for a moment, until Xie Lian’s thumb lightly trace the edge of the eyepatch. Hua Cheng's eye widens, suddenly his sharp intake of breath seems like it has nothing to do with the aftermath of their lovemaking but rather the incredulity of what Xie Lian has indirectly requested. “That's an illegal shot,” Hua Cheng whispers, resting his forehead onto Xie Lian’s.

“It is.” Xie Lian's voice is airy and gentle. The soft pads of his fingers run through Hua Cheng’s hair, rearing towards the strings knotted tightly at the back of his head. Hua Cheng’s lips part, quivering as if he has something more to say but nothing comes out. It makes Xie Lian pause his movements, searching for any lingering protest behind the scarlet eye. “May I?”

Hua Cheng gives a slow nod.

Cautiously, Xie Lian gives the string a small tug and the knot comes undone. With how still Hua Cheng is standing, Xie Lian wonders if the younger man is even breathing at all. The eyepatch shifts, falling away from Hua Cheng’s face and landing in Xie Lian's palm.

He's not sure what he was expecting. Perhaps after hearing Hua Cheng talk about his injury with such disdain, Xie Lian also began to believe that there was some truth to his words — but now he can see that the reality is far from it.

Hua Cheng appears to grow restless the longer Xie Lian remains silent. Averting his gaze, the younger man rakes a hand through his scalp before guiding some hair to fall over half his face. “It’s…unpleasant to look at.” 

“No,” Xie Lian quickly responds. His fingers slide up Hua Cheng’s jaw before tucking the strands back behind Hua Cheng’s ear. “It’s not unpleasant at all.” Xie Lian leans closer, planting a kiss onto the sunken lid. Then, Xie Lian kisses his forehead, the tip of his nose, his cheek bone — each kiss becoming more aggressive than the last as he showers Hua Cheng's face with love.

A smile spreads across Hua Cheng’s face and he can't help but start laughing, his initial worry all but diminished. When Xie Lian finally ceases his affectionate onslaught, Hua Cheng hauls Xie Lian over his shoulder and heads towards the ensuite in their bedroom. 

Xie Lian grins to himself, too giddy and flustered by how handsome Hua Cheng is to protest about how he’s being lugged into the room like a sack of potatoes. He buries his face into his hands, wondering what on earth he must’ve done in a past life to find a man like Hua Cheng.