Chapter Text
To say Xie Lian was nervous is a gross understatement. In fact, he’s very sure that he’s atleast dented the concrete platform floor with his restless pacing, his fingertips are almost sore from the constant biting of his nails, and his heart most definitely feels as if it might jump out of his chest any time now. So yes, nervous. But more than that, the omega very acutely feels the unrestrained joy at just the thought of seeing his best friend, in the flesh. His San Lang.
Xie Lian almost has to bite down on his finger to stop his smile from showing, lest he look like a fool grinning at nothing.
Gege, your San Lang can’t wait to see you.
Xie Lian bites on his finger once more. San Lang, Hua Cheng, Hong-er, his best friend. A bond incomparable to any other, a chance encounter that had bloomed into the closest and the most cherished friendship he has now.
They’d reunited a little over a year ago when the omega had visited his hometown for one last time after years of travelling the country. One last time, he’d told himself, so he doesn’t linger on memories that are meant to be surrendered to the wind. To be carried far, far away. Didn’t want to allow himself to think too much of the inevitability of change.
And that night…
A breezy night, the smell of wet mud and a withdrawing monsoon. A creaking swing, and him on it alone.
Then, footsteps, a youth much younger than him. A crooked smile and a confident gait, and a scent so refreshing Xie Lian could drown in it. The spiciness of whiskey, the warmth of autumn, and something more woody that, in some far-away sense, reminded him of home. Calling the scent alluring would almost sound like an insult. An alpha, he’d guessed, and he’d guessed right.
And then, a deep voice, “Isn’t it a bit late for a pretty gege to be sitting alone?”, accompanied by a cheeky smile. It would have sounded rather improper had Xie Lian not noticed the underlying apprehension in the voice. And of course, the eyepatch.
His memory might not always be the best, but there’s only one person in his life who would always have his right eye covered, and who would call him gege. After all, it’d only been more or less seven years since he’d last seen Hong-er, and though their acquaintance was short, the twenty-three-year-old Xie Lian had enjoyed having the sixteen-year-old boy around for his part-time martial arts class. Quick, intelligent, easy to teach, dedicated, determined. Of course, Xie Lian would remember his model student.
“Come to give this old gege some company, Hong’er?” He’d asked with a teasing smile.
The widening grin on Hong’er’s face could have lit up the entire night. “Gege remembers”.
And that’s where it had started. They’d talked and laughed until dawn shone upon their smiling faces. Catching up with Hong’er felt a bit like finding a part of himself that he had forgotten, he’d probably laughed more in that single night than he did that entire year.
.
“Hua Cheng….nice name. Suits you.”
“Chose it myself. But I prefer that you call me San Lang.”
“San Lang?”
“Yes, gege?”
.
“How old are you now, San Lang?”
“Twenty-three. Gege, did you forget we’re seven years apart?”
“God, you make it sound like I’m some ancient.”
.
“What is gege doing now?”
“Ah, I’m still…figuring things out. I’ve been on the wheels enough to now want to settle down. I’m headed to the capital, let’s see if anything good comes my way.”
“Gege’s had an interesting journey. I’m sure whatever you try, you’ll succeed in it.”
“Thank you, San Lang”
.
“You’re doing Masters in Business now? San Lang. San Lang, look at me. Run before it consumes your soul.”
“Too late for that now. Hahahaha…”
.
“Gege, gege, won’t you do what I ask?”
“No. No I’m not standing up to compare heights with you.”
“But gege…”
“This…”
“Gege.”
“…..alright”
.
“Hahaha…”
“This is why I said I wouldn’t stand.”
“Gege’s head only reaches my nose!”
“Who asked you to have such a large growth spurt!”
“Comes with being an alpha, I guess.”
.
“Ah, San Lang has grown into such a handsome and mature alpha.”
“Oh? Gege thinks I’m handsome?”
“Of course you’re handsome? San Lang, anybody can see it!”
“Oh? And what else?”
“Ayi, you’re fishing for compliments…”
.
They’d talked about this and that, about everything and nothing. They had hours and yet it felt like minutes. The more the time passed by, the more Xie Lian had found himself never wanting the night to end, grasping at and unraveling every thread in their conversation.
But their parting was inevitable. Xie Lian had a vague feeling that had it not been for Hua Cheng’s final year in his degree, he would’ve gladly followed Xie Lian anywhere.
It shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did when the sun rose to its peak and Xie Lian had to catch his train to the capital. They’d exchanged phone numbers, promising fervently to keep in touch, and Xie Lian never once doubted that either of them would break it.
It hurt even more when Hua Cheng had wrapped him in the warmest of hugs before he boarded his ride. Really….when was the last time someone hugged him? Xie Lian had deeply inhaled his friend’s comforting scent, felt it wash over his senses and flow through his veins until he was sure his soul and skin would never forget it.
The scent stuck with him throughout the train ride, and some primal part of him felt sated. Maybe it was because no one had scented him in years, his inner omega certainly was thrilled.
And as promised, they’d kept in touch. No, that’s putting it too lightly. They’d called and texted every. single. day. Over the past year, they’d shared all their good days and bad days, all their good morning’s and good night’s. It was exhilarating to say the least, that even after everything, even when he thought himself incapable of forming close relations again, a friend so dazzling as Hua Cheng would barrel into his life and choose to stay.
And Xie Lian still vividly remembers the joy bursting in his chest when Hua Cheng phoned him up in the middle of a warm afternoon to excitedly say he’d gotten the job he’d applied for. In the capital. So he’d be moving. Closer to Xie Lian.
“Will you receive me at the station, gege? Your San Lang can’t wait to see you.”
A chill breeze caught Xie Lian out of his reminiscing before he could start grinning to himself again. Your San Lang….gods why did that make him feel so giddy. It was so new and sudden that the omega had gone completely blank for a second until Hua Cheng had called his name again.
The announcer’s voice signaling the train’s arrival immediately snapped him back to his previous state of anxiousness as a river of people flowed from the opening doors, annoyingly clogging his nose with a multitude of unsuppressed scents. The crowd moved with a life of its own, chaotic yet purposeful.
But out stepped a man distinctly taller than the moving mass, clad in deep red, his beauty so commanding, his scent so conspicuous and domineering, wild hair framing his shapely face, accentuated by the red bead on the thin braid swaying along with the multitude of silver earrings, his single onyx eye landing squarely on Xie Lian and….and the omega can swear he almost stopped breathing. The man’s face broke out in a smile that could only be described as no less than radiant, his high cheek-bones stretching to fill his sculpture-like face, and oh…he’s walking towards Xie Lian….his long legs taking each step with surety, with the same confident gait, but…more hurried, and oh…. he’s coming closer.
“San Lang” Xie Lian breaths out with wonder in his eyes.
“Gege, I missed you…” A warm hand wraps around his, and intertwines their fingers together, and Xie Lian has half a mind to cry. Or laugh. Or both.
“I missed you too. So much”
Xie Lian couldn’t tear his eyes away from the man in front of him. All long legs and graceful limbs, broad shoulders tapering down to a slender waist. Defined collarbones showing from the wide neck of his red sweater. A striking face, and a radiant, toothy smile on it, accentuated by the sleek leather eyepatch. The long silver earrings dangled, and the red bead on his single braid swayed as the alpha tilted his head. So cute. Hua Cheng was practically glowing.
Xie Lian was quite tall himself, and yet he had to slightly tip his chin up in their close proximity. Though packing his own set of broad shoulders, narrow waist and toned muscles, the omega was considerably leaner and shorter than the other, and a voice at the back of his head urged him to reach out and touch.
Before he could think, Xie Lian flung himself onto Hua Cheng for a hug, hands interlocked behind his neck. Unsurprisingly, the taller man didn’t move an inch even with the impact of the jump, only tightly wrapping his arms around Xie Lian’s waist.
And Xie Lian would repeat this a thousand times over just to hear the melodious laugh he received in response. He buried his widening smile into the alpha’s shoulder and felt himself drown once again in Hua Cheng’s comforting scent. His arms around the other’s neck tightened.
Gods, it feels wonderful to physically touch the man he’s been giving his everything to over the past year, but only over a screen.
A subtle awareness urged him to pull away before he did something so embarrassingly horrifying. Like outright sniffing the alpha. Xie Lian felt the warm palm on his back start to stroke up and down and now that just made everything worse.
“Seems gege really missed me, hm?”
As he reluctantly stepped back, a playful punch landed on the other’s shoulder. Their smiles hadn’t dimmed even a little, except Hua Cheng’s had pulled itself into a sly smirk, one eyebrow raised. A fleeting yet familiar thought echoed in his head, how handsome.
“Of course, San Lang. Come, we have so much to do! Do you not have any other bags with you?”
Since Hua Cheng had only been living in the college dorm in their home city, moving out was much easier without all the big bad furniture and whatnot. He’d already sent up most of his belongings, a modest 3 boxes, to Xie Lian days prior so that he could start relocating as soon as the graduation ceremony and all the formalities ended.
Xie Lian had laughingly asked, “What’s the hurry? Can’t wait to see me that much?” It was bold of him, but given how clingy he and Hua Cheng were, there was no harm in a little fun.
“Don’t tease gege, you know how excited I am.”
The alpha shook his head, "I don't, I really was serious about moving out as soon as possible, you know? But I have to admit, it was a miracle to also be able to move in as soon as possible."
"Yes, the timing was perfect. Your luck never fails you, as usual." The alpha only smiled amusedly.
Hua Cheng was set to move into the apartment that Xie Lian’s friend, He Xuan, was to move out of. The timing had aligned perfectly, He Xuan phoning him up to say that he’d finally dropped the question to his girlfriend, that he’d be moving in with Miao-er in two weeks, and Hua Cheng calling him a week later saying, “Ah gege, now the biggest headache is finding a place for myself.”
“So gege, shall we go? Where are we headed?”
“Hm? Oh yes! So I was thinking we could go to my apartment so you can freshen up, and then I’ll show you around the city?”
“Sounds perfect. I might need to take a shower though, I feel nasty.” Hua Cheng scowled down at his clothes and Xie Lian giggled.
“Anything you want.”
Hua Cheng stared at Xie Lian with a contemplative smile on his face.
“What?” Xie Lian asked, countering Hua Cheng’s smile with a confused one.
“Nothing, I just can’t believe I’m finally seeing you in person.” A hand wrapped around his once again.
Xie Lian felt warmth bloom in his chest at the sincerity that dripped from the alpha’s expression.
He looked away and blushed slightly. “Yeah, me too, l-lets go” Hua Cheng once again graced his ears with a spirited laugh.
———————
“Ooh, sweet ride.” Hua Cheng commented on Xie Lian’s sleek, white car. It was Xie Lian’s first ever vehicle purchased with his own money, when he had started toiling away in his father’s company. It had accompanied him through all the ups and downs of his life, quite literally. When things had gotten rough, Xie Lian didn’t have the heart to part with it. In some way, not being able to sell the car was the root of his decision to travel the country.
The omega laughed. “San Lang this thing is almost a decade old!”
“So? It still looks well-maintained and reliable. You’ve taken good care of it.”
“Ah, thank you, San Lang.”
The distance from the train station to Xie Lian’s place was quite long. The late afternoon meant slower traffic, and so Xie Lian could drive slowly while showing Hua Cheng the sights.
The omega was so enthused the whole ride, pointing out the buildings and landmarks that he barely noticed just how much he kept leaning into Hua Cheng’s space while not driving. Or how every time he was detailedly explaining something, Hua Cheng would fully turn his attention on him, his dark eye never straying from Xie Lian’s face, coupled with an ever-present soft smile. Or how his palm rested on the alpha’s thigh for support every time he leaned over the console to point out the window.
Hard and solid, muscly and curvaceous. Thighs that one wouldn’t want to be held down by on the mat.
The words on Xie Lian’s lips faded as his focus shifted inwards, and had it not been for Hua Cheng prompting him, Xie Lian would’ve almost squeezed the thigh under his palm. He was only… appreciating…his friend's musculature. A silent admiration for the evident strength and form. Yet inexplicably, he found himself swallowing hard. If just his thighs were like this, then Xie Lian didn’t need to guess too hard about whatever was underneath the crimson sweater.
Gods, why was he reacting like this?? It’s not like he wasn’t well aware of Hua Cheng’s unwavering dedication to visiting the gym every single day?? Hell, they had even exchanged workout routines and tips on numerous occasions, so of course he knew Hua Cheng had an impressive physique!
Xie Lian subtly squirmed in his seat as he slowly slid his hand off the other’s thigh and gripped the steering wheel, resolutely looking ahead. “Hm?”
“Are you alright? You seem a little peeved.” Hua Cheng asked with a curious expression. Something must’ve shown in the omega’s scent then.
“No, no,” Xie Lian faced him and hurriedly reassured, “I was just mentally noting all the places we should visit first.”
The next second, his eyes widened as Hua Cheng nonchalantly reached out, sweeping Xie Lian’s hair away from his face and tucking it behind his ears. Goosebumps erupted on the back of his neck.
“Hm. Okay then.” The hand withdrew and the alpha turned to gaze out the window, leaving Xie Lian to grapple with his flustered thoughts.
What the fuck was that. The shiver that went down Xie Lian’s spine upon their contact was undeniable… no one had ever done something like that to him, and his hand was so near the omega’s scent glands too…
Was this how it’s going to be from now? Teasing remarks and bantering over a screen was one thing, but each touch seemed to send a thrill up his nerves, and Xie Lian felt as if he was being dragged into a whole new world with those elegant hands.
But for god's sake, the irrationality was baffling! Xie Lian was a damn martial arts teacher, he was constantly touching people! There really was no reason to be so sensitive?? Even worse was the fond expression the alpha wore during that moment.
No…no, perhaps he misunderstood. It must be because Hua Cheng is his closest friend and reuniting with him in person, after so long, was sure to have him feeling a bit emotional. Yeah, that was probably it.
“Oh gege, look, what is that white building?” Xie Lian, shaking off his very unnecessary thoughts, refocused to answer him.
———————
They arrived at Xie Lian’s apartment rather quickly, or maybe it felt that way due to his engaging conversation with Hua Cheng that he barely felt time pass.
Hua Cheng surveyed his house with a discerning eye. “Gege’s home looks quite cozy.”
Despite being a modest apartment, just enough for one person, Xie Lian went all out to make it as much of a “home” as possible, and most of that was primarily achieved by Hua Cheng's gifts that he'd mailed to the Xie Lian. A throw blanket, a stuffed fox, a wooden flower, all handmade. And most especially the exquisite artwork gracing his walls, each piece bearing Hua Cheng’s signature.
Xie Lian would grin widely while opening the packages, anticipating the contents inside. And often he would find himself feeling rather helpless when sending back gifts that can only be described as tacky. It couldn't be helped, the omega was ill-suited for the delicate art of crafts, and with each attempt, the situation would just spiral out of control.
He was much better at repairing houses and building things like furniture; the realm of carpentry was his forte. It seemed that since birth, he had never been very good at traditional household chores earmarked for omegas, even though such conventions were barely followed anymore. So in his defence, of course he couldn't dispatch something like a whole table to Hua Cheng!
But that didn't stop him from trying his best, often ending up with his fingers injured one way or the other. Yet the alpha would respond with unwavering enthusiasm, reacting as if he received some rare treasure every time, video-calling Xie Lian with a face full of smiles.
With a knowing smile, Xie Lian commented, “And San Lang’s well aware of who’s responsible for that.”
Hua Cheng leaned in slightly, arching both eyebrows. "Oh? Is gege saying you need bits of me around to feel cozy?"
Xie Lian sputtered and averted his gaze with a blush. "Well, you’re not wrong, isn’t it normal to keep more of the things that bring you joy?” The admission lingered in the air, and Xie Lian acknowledged that it was a bit too bold, yet something in him wanted Hua Cheng to know.
Glancing back, he found Hua Cheng beaming. “Gege is right, as always.”
“Okay, okay, come now. Here, you can keep your suitcase by the couch. Let me get you something to drink”, Xie Lian wandered into the kitchen.
“Gege, let me just change quickly, I wouldn’t want to spread filth all over your apartment.”
“Sure, go into the room on the right, the bathroom’s in there. Do you have clothes in your suitcase or do you want to open the boxes?”
Hua Cheng delved into his suitcase. “Nope, I’ll use the ones in my bag for now”, and with that, he slung his clothes over his shoulders and sauntered off.
Meanwhile, Xie Lian busied himself brewing some iced tea, unable to shake the sense of how oddly domestic that exchange was, just now. A small smile played on his lips. Being around Hua Cheng in real life was a completely different experience. Though nothing of their usual interactions had changed, the added proximity evoked unexpected thoughts and emotions.
It was as if he was constantly teetering on the edge of falling into something bigger. The warmth of his hands, the deep voice that sounded much smoother in person, and his dark piercing eye that seemed to hold a universe of mysteries.
The sound of the bathroom door opening and closing interrupted Xie Lian’s musings. Hua Cheng emerged, wearing a snug crimson turtle neck, elegantly tucked into loose black pants. If the loose sweater he had been wearing previously made him look huggable, this outfit outright had Xie Lian wanting to wrap his arms around his friend and squeeze. The tight fabric was doing his pecs absolute wonders. The alpha’s hair had been artfully gathered into a casual bun, a few rogue strands escaping to delicately frame his face. And his wonderful scent—
A resonant chuckle flowed from those smirking lips. “Like what you see?”
That snapped Xie Lian out of his daze, and only then did he realize that he’d been unabashedly staring with parted lips. How embarrassing.
The omega cleared his throat and fixed his eyes on Hua Cheng. “En, San Lang looks quite handsome.”
The alpha beamed. “Then thank you, gege, for your compliment.”
Quickly shifting the topic, Xie Lian handed over the drink. “Here, have your tea. And look at this list of places we can…”
———————
Xie Lian’s boisterous laugh filled the air, punctuated by a playful “hmph” from Hua Cheng. “That’s sure to teach the idiot a lesson.”
The pair had started their outing in the late afternoon and now the pink of the sky was bleeding into a darker blue.
So far, the duo had visited various landmarks and popular residential districts with notable attractions. They’d just gotten off the boating tour along the city’s main river, where they had leisurely steered through the serene waters, with their laughter and conversation flowing as smoothly as the current.
And of course on the way to the nearby bazaar, they had to stop to bully some sly and underhanded scammers.
It started when Xie Lian had noticed two kids having their ears talked off by a crusty-looking man, and with having lived in this city for over a year, and also with having traveled extensively, the omega immediately caught on.
Seriously? Trying to scam children was just low. And so he’d directed Hua Cheng’s attention to it, and they’d huddled together concocting a plan, looking not unlike two mischievous teenagers up to no good. In the end, both of them relentlessly volleyed accusations and questions, taking turns badgering the man without missing a beat until he ran away throwing curses.
Xie Lian had erupted into giggles, which had evolved into breathless laughter when Hua Cheng joined in, their scents intertwining beautifully in an atmosphere of shared joy.
The omega playfully bumped his shoulder against Hua Cheng’s as they walked to the bazaar.
———————
By the time Xie Lian flopped onto his couch, the night had deepened, and Hua Cheng followed suit, settling beside him. Their bags were filled with an assortment of small trinkets, accessories, handicrafts and whatnot. They had to entirely skip dinner, being too full from indulging in every snack they could find.
Xie Lian doesn't remember the last time he had so much fun. They’d walked around the entire bazaar, not missing a single stall, laughing and exchanging snacks. At one point, Hua Cheng had paused at a jewellery shop, eyeing the ring section with curiosity.
Xie Lian had spotted the silver necklace first; it was quite simple except for the round pendant framed by a butterfly and a flower, and a vibrant red bead hanging through the middle of it. It was just so Hua Cheng that Xie Lian couldn’t help but buy it as a heartfelt gesture.
When Hua Cheng, with his eye twinkling and a hint of glee in his scent had requested Xie Lian with to put it on him, the omega had to awkwardly get on his tip toes, trying hard to ignore his ribbiting heart and especially the hand that had landed on his waist so casually.
They sure touched a lot for two people who were meeting in person only for the second time, didn’t they?
Xie Lian remembers how they’d held hands often during their da–...trip. He had never craved touch so viscerally, yet for the whole of today, he could barely resist the need to just reach out and touch, to hold. He would grab the alpha’s hand in excitement, only to discover their fingers had seamlessly intertwined seconds later. It couldn’t be helped….Hua Cheng was his best friend, after all…
Xie Lian lolled his head sideways to gaze at the younger man who had his head thrown back, eyes closed with a blissed-out smile etched on his face.
“Tired?”
“Mmm, no. Just thinking.”
“About what?”
“About how lucky I am to get to do this with you.”
A snort. “Sap” And then, more quietly, “Me too, San Lang.” Xie Lian and his luck were on bad terms more often than not. But meeting Hua Cheng might’ve been the luckiest thing that has happened to him so far in his life.
A hand covers his own, like it did many times during their market trip.
“I had a great time today, thank you gege.”
“I had a great time too. I can’t believe you’re actually actually here.”
“I can. Ask me why.”
“Why?”
“‘Cause I’ll always be where you are.”
…
“Oh my gooood,” Xie Lian laughed and pinched the bridge of his nose, embarrassed, as Hua Cheng snickered loudly next to him. “You’re so insincere!”
“Enough, off you go to shower!” Xie Lian said, rising from the couch and playfully pulling Hua Cheng’s arms. In a swift turn of events, Xie Lian felt the grip around his own arm tighten, and before he could register what was happening, he was yanked forward, unceremoniously falling onto Hua Cheng.
Fuck. He was almost straddling the alpha, one knee on the side of Hua Cheng’s thighs to support himself, and one hand on the couch next to Hua Cheng’s head, the other still in the alpha’s grip.
And his face, dangerously close to Hua Cheng’s own. He inadvertently took in a trembling breath, inhaling the intense smoky smell, and the effect was nearly overwhelming. Xie Lian desperately hoped his own scent wasn’t betraying any hint of his inner turmoil.
Xie Lian gazed into Hua Cheng’s deep eye as the latter whispered with a tilted smile, “I mean it gege. You won’t find someone more sincere than me in this world.”
They were so close. Their noses only inches apart. Why were they so close…
Xie Lian whispered as he pulled back, “Hahaha okay, okay, I believe you, now go shower or I’ll…”
Hua Cheng laughed softly as he gathered his clothes from his bag and sauntered off to the bathroom.
…
Attempting to reclaim any semblance of sanity in his shaken state was almost impossible. Xie Lian sat on the couch in a daze. What was that?! And why was his heart racing so fast?? Hua Cheng had often made such comments before so what’s the big deal?? Be normal for fuck’s sake!
Unable to sit still, the omega shot up and wandered around the house, cleaning aimlessly. They’d decided days prior that Hua Cheng would stay the night in Xie Lian’s house, and worry about the hassles of moving the next day.
A while later, Hua Cheng emerged with damp hair, wearing a black hoodie and red shorts, calling “gege, I’m out, you can use the shower now!”, and Xie Lian could really really get used to this.
“Alright, I’ll be done in just a minute. But San Lang,” he came face-to-face with a handsome visage, still adorning the eyepatch but not the red bead, looking relaxed yet slightly flushed due to the warmth of the water, his features sharp and subtly glowing. He smells a bit like me, Xie Lian thought distantly. “There’s only one bed. If you don’t mind, we can squeeze a bit for the night.”
Hua Cheng raised a brow and simply said, “that works”.
Once Xie Lian quickly finished his shower and dried his hair, he dressed himself similar to the alpha, a white hoodie and red shorts. When he stepped out, what greeted him was the sight of Hua Cheng laying on his bed, looking all kinds of comfortable and serene, inviting even. He was staring at the wall with a bored expression, but upon hearing Xie Lian, the handsome face broke out into a small, soft smile.
Xie Lian could really really really get used to this.
He switched the lights off and climbed into the bed. In the gentle darkness, Hua Cheng turned to him effortlessly, akin to a sunflower following the sun's path, hands under his cheeks. Xie Lian mirrored him.
“Gege, goodnight?”
“Mm, goodnight.”
