The King's Dancer

Chapter 28

It took quite a while before Hua Cheng returned, so Xie Lian had passed the time by skimming through his alpha's bookshelves, and eventually decided on a book to read. It still wasn't about WuYong customs, but it was about its territory, which was as good a start as any to get to know the kingdom better.

When Hua Cheng did come back, he looked rather tired. Thus, Xie Lian put the book away, rose from the divan, and went to greet his alpha with a big hug.

"I hate dealing with people", Hua Cheng muttered, and pulled Xie Lian against himself rather tightly.

"Oh? Should I leave then?", Xie Lian asked teasingly, in an effort to lighten Hua Cheng's mood a bit.

"Absolutely not", Hua Cheng growled, causing Xie Lian to laugh.

He also gave his alpha what was supposed to be a quick kiss, but Hua Cheng wouldn't have it, and quickly deepened it, before Xie Lian could pull away. Therefore, they were just kissing in the middle of the room, when the door suddenly opened, and someone walked in.

"Your Majesty. I'm here to serve dinner", a voice that sounded somewhat familiar said.

Hua Cheng pulled away from Xie Lian with a sigh.

"Thanks, Yin Yu."

Xie Lian belatedly realised who it was now, and felt bad for not having recognised him, but really, he was still a bit distracted from his alpha's kiss, he tried to justify his inattention to himself.

While Yin Yu laid out dinner for them, Xie Lian took a step back from Hua Cheng, and it seemed like his alpha only then noticed the state of Xie Lian's robes. His eyes widened almost comically, before he quickly grabbed the lapels, and attempted to cover Xie Lian's chest properly again.

Xie Lian felt somewhat amused and somewhat insecure by his alpha's actions, however as soon as Yin Yu had bid them good night with a bow and left, Hua Cheng let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry, San Lang. It was too inappropriate after all, wasn't it?", Xie Lian asked, feeling somewhat stunted.

"Don't get me wrong, gege. You can look as dishevelled as you like around me, but Yin Yu is also an alpha, and he has no business seeing you like this", Hua Cheng explained, and gave Xie Lian a kiss on his forehead. Hearing that it was an act of unfounded jealousy, Xie Lian immediately felt his self confidence returning, and he smiled, before he gave Hua Cheng a peck on the lips in return.

Hua Cheng refused to talk about official business during dinner, but he told him afterwards that he had been right, and the boys had indeed attacked Guzi on behalf of Qi Rong, and that a guard was going to visit that baker early tomorrow morning, as well as the fact that the boys would be spending a night in the cell, in order to intimidate them sufficiently, and to give them a glimpse of their future if they didn't cut ties with Qi Rong soon.

However, since Hua Cheng had revealed to him that he had also been a street rat before he'd somehow usurped the throne, Xie Lian had really become incredibly curious about the king's life story.

"San Lang... when you said earlier that you also used to be a street rat, it reminded me that you still haven't told me the story of how you came to be the king", Xie Lian started.

"Right. I promise I will tell you tomorrow, gege", Hua Cheng said, and looked very earnest.

"You've been postponing it for so long, I feel like I should collect interest as well", Xie Lian siad only half jokingly.

"Oh? And what would that interest be?"

"The rest of your story. I want to know all about my San Lang", Xie Lian smiled, fully aware he was using slightly dirty tactics.