The King's Dancer

Chapter 14

When Xie Lian woke up the next morning, he was still lying in Hua Cheng's embrace; the only difference was that he must've turned around in his sleep, and was lying with his back pressed against Hua Cheng's front. And instead of clutching onto the alpha's arm himself, this time it was Hua Cheng who was actively holding him, and Xie Lian blushed with how nice it felt. It was almost a reflex to cuddle deeper into the embrace, though he stopped short when Hua Cheng started chuckling behind him.

Of course he was awake already.

"Comfy?", the king asked.

"Very", Xie Lian admitted unrepentantly.

His emotions had been all over the place yesterday, and now that his mind was clear again, and not muddled by insecurity, he vowed to better himself, and be more honest and direct when talking to Hua Cheng. After all, the alpha was also like that, and it would be rude not to reciprocate in kind.

Hua Cheng huffed out a laugh, and pulled Xie Lian even closer.

"How's this?", the king then asked mischievously.

"Slightly constraining", Xie Lian answered honestly, and made a show out of gasping for air.

It caused Hua Cheng to let go of him, laughing.

It had taken a while until Xie Lian caved, but eventually he gave up on claiming that his ankle was completely healed already. Hua Cheng was adamant that it needed at least one more day of rest, and, once he'd sensed weakness in Xie Lian's conviction, he'd promptly picked him up in his arms, and carried him back to his own quarters. Xie Lian thought this was in all honesty rather ridiculous. Still, he couldn't help but smile at the king's antics.

When Hua Cheng was carrying Xie Lian leisurely through his back garden, General NanYang came barrelling towards thm, and Hua Cheng was forced to stop before they even reached the pavilion.

"Your Majesty, there are urgent matters for you to tend to in the throne room", he said, his voice rather tense.

Hua Cheng nodded at him once.

"I'll be there shortly."

With that, General NanYang disappeared again, and Hua Cheng looked back at Xie Lian with something akin to a pout.

"Am I allowed to walk by myself now?", Xie Lian asked in amusement.

"Only when it's necessary. Don't go on walks, and don't dance. I'll have Shi QingXuan visit you if his schedule allows for it", he said, and reluctantly allowed Xie Lian to climb out of his hold.

Xie Lian still thought it rather funny how the alpha was fussing because of such a minor injury, and couldn't help but pat his cheek playfully.

"Now be a good king, and take care of your responsibilities. I'll wait here until you come back", he promised. Really, it was a little audacious of Xie Lian to presume to be allowed to stay in the king's private quarters, without the king being present, but Xie Lian knew Hua Cheng well enough by now to know that he wouldn't mind. Also, he'd just gone through the trouble of carrying him all the way here, so it would be rather redundant to send him away again.

As expected, Hua Cheng nodded at him once, still somewhat pouting, and then walked off to do his job.

Xie Lian could only shake his head fondly.

True to Hua Cheng's word, Shi QingXuan did pay him a visit in the afternoon and confirmed that his ankle was indeed completely fine within a few seconds. And then he sat down across from him with a scary glint in his eyes.