Chapter Three: “Wrapped Intentions”

Xie Lian stood in the guest room of the crimson mansion, staring down at something sinful spread across the bed: a thin, near-transparent robe made of black silk, delicately embroidered with red lotus flowers. It shimmered faintly in the light like it had a mind of its own. There was barely enough fabric to cover anything. He wasn't even sure where it had come from. A gift from a Ghost City vendor, maybe. Or—worse—from Hua Cheng himself.

He couldn't believe he was even considering it.

Xie Lian pressed both palms to his burning face, groaning quietly. "What am I doing…"

He wanted this. He wanted him. For real. And he'd promised. But every time he thought he was ready, a wave of nerves swept through him all over again. And now, there was this added idea—offering himself not just emotionally, but wrapped like a gift, like something Hua Cheng could unwrap with his own hands.

He bit his lip. He wanted to ask. He just didn't know how.

So that evening, as they sat together in the courtyard, Xie Lian tried to be casual. The moon hung low, soft light spilling across the tiles as Hua Cheng refilled his teacup with graceful ease.

"San Lang," Xie Lian said suddenly.

Hua Cheng raised an eyebrow. "Yes, gege?"

"Let's say," Xie Lian began carefully, "hypothetically… that someone were to… give a present."

"I see," Hua Cheng said, instantly amused. "A hypothetical someone. Giving a hypothetical present."

"Yes," Xie Lian said too quickly. "Now… would it matter if the present was… something they wore?"

There was a pause.

Hua Cheng set down the teapot slowly. "Something they wore?"

"Or didn't," Xie Lian added, immediately regretting it.

A smirk curled at Hua Cheng's lips. "So this present… is it meant to be removed?"

Xie Lian choked on his tea. "It's not like that!"

"It sounds like that."

Xie Lian turned completely away, ears flaming. "Forget I said anything."

But Hua Cheng wasn't so merciful. He stood slowly and crossed the short distance between them. His movements were smooth, calculated, and far too confident. He knelt beside Xie Lian, voice dropping just enough to make the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end.

"Gege, if you showed up on my birthday wearing nothing but a ribbon, I wouldn't complain."

Xie Lian's breath hitched. "S-San Lang…"

Hua Cheng leaned in, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear, his fingers lingering just long enough to make Xie Lian shiver.

"But if what you wear is for me, then yes," he whispered, lips near the shell of Xie Lian's ear, "I'd love it. Especially if I get to take it off."

Xie Lian covered his face again. "You're impossible."

"And you," Hua Cheng said, pressing a kiss to his temple, "are adorable when you try to be sneaky."

Xie Lian peeked out from between his fingers. "So… it's not too much?"

"Gege," Hua Cheng said, his voice like molten silver, "you are never too much."

when Xie Lian glanced down at his lap, heart pounding, he swore he felt Hua Cheng's gaze linger, like the birthday had come early—and he was already imagining the wrapping coming undone.