Shi Qingxuan's Dragrace

10. Hua Cheng takes proper care of Gege

Hua Cheng fulfilled his promise of taking proper care of his Gege, preparing him a hot bath with special salts to soothe sprained muscles. So Xie Lian soaked inside Hua Cheng's fancy black jaded bath tub, his skin rosy with the heat and hair tied up messily in a bun, while Hua Cheng himself sat behind, giving him a neck and shoulders massage.

Xie Lian twisted his head left and right, feeling Hua Cheng's hands pressing firmly, while the tension was slowly leaving his body, and he sighed, feeling relaxed. Hua Cheng kept chatting happily, glad to be of service to His Highness.

"Gege I can't believe how The Heavens don't keep up with the times as never having heard of drag shows before. We've been having them in Ghost City for centuries. With my blessing of course." He chuckled at his own joke; he loved mocking The Heavens and its officials, and Xie Lian was too good natured and too aware of how the officials truly were, so he didn't get offended.

Hua Cheng continued confidently, "Drag queens exists to remind The Three Realms not to take themselves too seriously. All of this is illusion."

Xie Lian felt his aching feet and calves from wearing heels all day long and this pain certainly wasn't an illusion. He stretched his legs, moving his feet back and forth as to feel the damage on his muscles. He felt dancing on heels was indeed something to be dreaded, worse than a hundred swords. He sighed, exhausted.

Hua Cheng said, "Gege, I could have pushed Shi Qingxuan to make you the winner already, but I know you wouldn't want it, and even get pissed off at me."

Xie Lian smiled, and said, shaking his head, "Well not pissed off, but you know me too well, I wouldn't want it. What's the fun, winning something unfairly?"

"Hmm, for me it'd be a lot of fun seeing the other official's faces at losing to you." Hua Cheng smiled mischievously, just imagining particularly Feng Xin and Mu Qing.

After massaging him some more, he hugged Xie Lian around the shoulders and said, "Never mind, I know you enjoy a good challenge. And you can win anyway."

Xie Lian's face lit up, "Do you really think so, San Lang?"

Of course he knew Hua Cheng was highly biased, but even so, he knew about drag, he could provide some insightful and comprehensive feedback.

"Yeah. Gege's a person of extraordinary talent and a master of strange things." Then he laughed, and added, "And he will look damn good in a pair of heels and a wig."

Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry; he realised he felt a lot like this these past days.

"San Lang...", he said woefully.

Hua Cheng chuckled, holding him tighter, "I mean it. Remember that night at Mount Yu Jun? You looked so good, if I hadn't gone there specially to meet you, I would have fallen in love with you on the spot."

Xie Lian smiled, and just leaned back letting himself be taken care of by his San Lang.

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