Hualian AU ~ 2. Tales of the Half-Moon Pass

Part 6

Back home, Xie Lian put water to boil for the pasta, and started to cut bacon cubes, while Hua Cheng opened the wine he bought on their way back, pouring glasses for both of them. Xie Lian had a sip, then said, "So, San Lang, you can really pack a punch huh?", and smiled.

Hua Cheng said, coolly, "It's part of my bad reputation I guess."

Xie Lian remained silent, getting the frying pan ready for the bacon.

"You don't have to be mindful about it. I wouldn't have needed to meet your friends to know they must have told you to stay away from me", Hua Cheng said, leaning on the kitchen counter and sipping his wine, smiling and looking well-pleased with himself.

"You don't care about a bad reputation then?", Xie Lian asked.

"Nah it's handy. People just leave me alone."

In the past, as soon Xie Lian started to have issues, his good reputation went all down the drain. People didn't even give him the benefit of doubt. So, listening to Hua Cheng, he couldn't help but agree that what really matters is who you really are, to yourself. Other people always get it wrong.

"But, Gege, it seems you don't care about my bad reputation either?", he asked smiling brightly.

Xie Lian leaned against the kitchen counter too, and said, looking at him intently, "I prefer to judge for myself".

Hua Cheng straightened up and asked, "And what is your take on me then? Do I deserve my bad reputation you think?"

Xie Lian turned to look at the boiling pasta, and replied, "I think, whatever you are, you'd tell me. What with us being like this..."

"Like what?"

"We're mates at this point right? We can be open and honest to each other..."

Xie Lian sieved the spaghetti, then prepared the sauce with raw eggs, bacon and parmesan cheese. As he didn't have a dinner table, they'd have to sit on the bean bag or on the mattress, so Xie Lian served the pasta in bowls. They kept drinking wine, and Xie Lian was already starting to feel dizzy.

"Buon appetito!", he said, with exaggerated gestures; if any Italian saw it they'd smack him on the face. Hua Cheng just laughed and started to eat his pasta.

"Is it ok? I know Feng Xin and Mu Qing would call it 'nasty raw egg pasta', that's why they run away."

Hua Cheng snorted, "What do those guys know?"

Xie Lian said, "Don't take it personal. I know they mean well, but I'm not the naïve 17-year-old boy they once knew, who welcomed everyone, thought everyone was good, and got hurt in return."

Hua Cheng looked serious, full of empathy, as if he himself had got hurt together with Xie Lian.

Xie Lian continued, "You know how it is with old friends. It's like everybody's always the same, no matter how long you don't see each other", and gave a small smile. He seemed thoughtful, sipping his wine and looking down, like searching for long lost memories.

"I like what you used to say to the kids on your workshops", Hua Cheng said.

"Oh?"

"Always do what you believe it's right no matter what. Don't give up your ideals", he replied.

Xie Lian just did a pfff dismissive sound, but he thought it sounded rude, so he explained himself.

"I was... well I wouldn't say spoiled, but I had a good upbringing. Loving parents, a house, went to a good school. I just took these things for granted, assuming everyone had what I had. My music sounded like I had it all sorted out, I knew everything." Then he sighed heavily, shaking his head.

Hua Cheng said, softly, "You're not wrong there. Of course you'd think everyone had what you had, you're a product of your environment".

"It's easy to say Be Good, Be Happy, Be Positive, when you have it all." Xie Lian continued, "I was contacted by this kid once. He said, 'My life is shit, every day I think of killing myself. I don't because of you, because I love your music and want to see what you do next'; you know what I said?"

"What did you say?", Hua Cheng asked, dragging himself closer and speaking very softly, as if not to stir strong emotions.

I said, "Make me and my music your reason to live on; keep rhyming, then come for me when you're ready, and we'll battle." Xie Lian sighed. "I just took that kid's suffering for granted. Now, when I think what his life was like..."

"Don't beat yourself up", Hua Cheng replied, "I bet that kid just lived on and got stronger, just to meet you one day". And he added, "You were idealistic when you were young, that's normal. But for not growing bitter or cynical, I respect that."

"You're just being nice, but thanks anyway", he said.

"I'm not. I'm dead serious", and he added, "Gege, you did your best."

Xie Lian said, "Alright, I'll stop, otherwise you'll think I'm drunk."

Hua Cheng replied, "I know you're not, but do you feel comfortable telling me all that?"

Xie Lian smiled, then seemed to remember something, and said, "Oh yeah. I thought you were calling me 'Gege' just to piss Feng Xin and Mu Qing off."

"Nah fuck them! I'm calling you Gege because I feel like it." And he winked cheekily.

"I see, just to remind me I'm older right? Even my classmates call me Grand-uncle", he said, sighing.

Hua Cheng teased, "You look good for your age though."

"Fuck you San Lang", he laughed. "Let's get some sleep."

When Xie Lian woke up the morning after, the house was silent; he even looked at the toilet and kitchen. Hua Cheng was gone. He was a bit disappointed he left, and without saying goodbye, but maybe he had morning classes and didn't want to wake Xie Lian up or something?

Back at his bedroom, he saw a paper at the windowsill, stuck between his plant and the candles. It was a sketchbook page, with a pencil drawing on it, made by Hua Cheng. It was Xie Lian sleeping, without many details, and yet so full of character. It was beautiful. 'When did he draw that?', he thought, and smiled to himself.

He opened his drawer, got a lump of blu tack andstuck the drawing on the wall right beside his mattress; it'd be the first thing he would see when waking up, to start the day feeling good.

Thanks for reading, I hope you liked hip hop Hualian and they were cute enough for you! 😄🥰😜

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