Warmth [Hualian]

The little things you do

(If anyone knows the cover's artist please tell me so I can add proper credits)

Xie Lian had invited Hua Cheng over to his house to do calligraphy. It was something the two of them had done for a while now and it had become a thing for them to come over to each other's houses to practice it and afterwards present it.

Calligraphy had been Xie Lian's hobby since he was small and one could say he could be considered a seasoned calligrapher even though it was nothing more than a hobby. Hua Cheng had seen Xie Lian do calligraphy and approached him in school. The two had ended up chatting for a while and quickly became friends. Hua Cheng had asked Xie Lian for calligraphy lessons as a joke one day but the other took it quite seriously and you know the rest.

Xie Lian was preparing tea and put some store-bought cookies on a plate. Tea was pretty much the only thing he could do himself when it came to food. He wasn't complaining though, Hua Cheng would sometimes give him some "leftover" food that he seemed to always have a lot of for some reason.

A knock came from Xie Lian's front door which cut his thoughts. He quickly dusted his clothes as he quickly walked towards it. "San Lang!" He greeted Hua Cheng and the other smiled back.

"I seemed to have interrupted something?" Hua Cheng asked. He had noticed how hurried Xie Lian looked.

"Oh, I was just preparing some tea and snacks, it's fine." Xie Lian shrugged and let the other in. The two walked into the kitchen and Xie Lian brought the snack to the table while Hua Cheng sat down.

Xie Lian's house wasn't all that big but it was what one could imagine when they think of the word home. It was warm and cozy with plenty of plants decorating it. Xie Lian took good care of his plants and not a single dead leaf was on them.

Hua Cheng preferred to spend time over as Xie Lian's a lot. His apartment wasn't much and only after meeting the other did he consider making it feel more like home. He had a bunch of valuable items and furniture there but they were only bought because he thought that was what gave people the feeling of home. It didn't. Money and wealth might get you a house, but not a home.

In truth, Hua Cheng wasn't all that interested in making calligraphy himself. He enjoyed seeing Xie Lian's though and thought they were beyond masterclass, honestly. 

Hua Cheng was a person consisting of small little lies. It was not like he wanted to lie, more like he didn't know how to change. He felt like a monster next to Xie Lian, but Xie Lian had always accepted him.

Xie Lian on the other hand seemed to have a comfortable and stable enough life, but it cost him a bunch to get to that point. He saw some kind of struggling version of himself in Hua Cheng back then and even now, that gave him the want to protect him. Small gestures were enough, and he knew this better than anyone else.

"San Lang, I'll go get the supplies so eat as many cookies as you want," Xie Lian said and disappeared to a different room. A bunch of shuffling and a few things dropping could be heard. Hua Cheng couldn't help but smile a little at that and poured himself a cup of tea.

Xie Lian came back shortly carrying papers and brushed along with ink. His brushes were probably the most valuable and expensive thing he owned. He had won them from a competition once and they were irreplaceable.

Hua Cheng sipped his tea and put it aside when Xie Lian spread the supplies on the table. To be honest, Xie Lian had been trying to get Hua Cheng's handwriting better first and foremost, and even after a year, they had not properly got past step one. Thank god, Xie Lian was a patient person when it came to Hua Cheng.

"Gege, which letters are we learning today?" Hua Cheng asked and Xie Lian chuckled. 

"Maybe if you read after what you wrote you'll know," Xie Lian responded and sat down next to Hua Cheng. He grabbed a brush and dipped it in ink. He then gave it to Hua Cheng and assisted his movements with his own hand.

They had done it this way ever since day 1, but the feeling in Hua Cheng's chest only grew stronger. Focusing on doing the actual work was always impossible and the reason for him not improving.

Xie Lian looked like nothing was wrong and it made Hua Cheng's heart ache a little, but it was never his intention to start ruining their relationship with his feelings. He was more than happy to just be at Xie Lian's side.

"San Lang?" Xie Lian asked Hua Cheng as he noticed him spacing off. "Is something wrong?" He continued. It was time for another one of Hua Cheng's silly excuses.

"It's nothing, I just couldn't remember if I left the stove on," Hua Cheng said and Xie Lian chuckled. 

"You would never leave the stove on," Xie Lian said which made Hua Cheng a bit confused. What did he mean by that?

"What do you mean?" He asked and Xie Lian stopped writing as he finished the last letter. He looked at Hua Cheng and smiled.

"It's fascinating to me how careful you always are. Like for example, when you offered to make some food here, you were making sure that nothing went wrong and no casualties would be made," Xie Lian said. It was almost scary how much attention to detail Xie Lian really paid attention to. A small smile crept on Hua Cheng's face. He looked slightly down at his hands and back at Xie Lian. He didn't know what to say but Xie Lian's warm smile assured him that there was no need for words.

He couldn't help but feel the need to say something regardless. 

"Gege, you're too kind for your own good," Hua Cheng decided to say and turned back to the calligraphy paper. The letters were easily readable thanks to Xie Lian. It was the word "feel". It was calling out to Hua Cheng, which unsettled him. It was as if this moment was built up for him against his will. He was 100% planning on escaping this setup made by his own mind and just be quiet.

What he did not expect is that this moment was actually set up for the other.

"San Lang, what do you think of me?" Xie Lian asked. His warm and soft smile was still plastered on his face but there was now a hint of hesitation as he was looking not at Hua Cheng.

Hua Cheng opened his mouth and closed it. How could he ever put it in words? Maybe that was not necessary. Actions existed after all.

Hua Cheng reached his hand on Xie Lian's face and cupped his face. He caressed Xie Lian's face with his thumb softly and smiled at him. Xie Lian leaned against his hand and smiled wider, the hesitation on his face now gone.

"I'm not understanding wrong am I?" Xie Lian asked as if confirming. He did know the answer already but still wanted to hear it from Hua Cheng.

"No, you're not," Hua Cheng responded. He could feel his heart beating all the way up on his throat. His heart knew what this meant regarding Xie Lian's feelings but it never really registered in his brain. He was now here, at Xie Lian's kitchen table, in his house, the warm house covered in plants, made of warm brown wood, and big windows that let the shine of the sun in. He was home.

His heartbeat was no more suffocatingly anticipating and uncomfortable, but happy and warm.

"San Lang?" Xie Lian asked and looked the other in his eyes. Xie Lian loved the different shades Hua Cheng's eyes had. Hua Cheng was a person he felt so close to on a spiritual level if that makes sense. He wanted him to know he was sincere. Just as sincere as Hua Cheng was always with him.

Hua Cheng nodded to signal he was listening and Xie Lian said, "I want to share everything with you, not that I haven't already, but even more than before."

Hua Cheng was a bit taken aback but his smile before never really left his face. He closed his eyes and responded, "So do I."

Calligraphy was forgotten for the time being as the two focused solely on each other. They weren't just in love with each other, they were close, they understood each other, trusted each other, respected each other, and found comfort in each other. It was as if a firm string forever unbroken was tying their souls together, not forcing, but willingly accepted by the two souls.

They were enough for each other as they were.