Hualian AU Xtraz ~ Hua Cheng's Birthday

Part 5

On the following Monday, an appointment was made for Xie Lian at the allergy clinic, so he went there with Mu Qing first thing; he handed over the referral papers from the hospital, and was asked to wait at the sitting area near the reception.

"So, where's Crimson Rain Sought Flower?", Mu Qing asked, as if to make conversation.

"Why you're calling him like that?"

"Hum, it sounds more like a baddie", he replied.

Xie Lian got up, "You know this isn't funny".

"Whoa, I'm joking, just trying to lighten up the mood here", Mu Qing said defensively.

Xie Lian started to pace up and down, "I haven't seen him since that Saturday evening. He's been avoiding me, giving all kinds of excuses. I bet he heard what you said that day".

"Well, did you have any allergy reaction again?", he asked, but before Xie Lian could snap back at him, Feng Xin walked in the clinic, breathing hard as if he had been running.

"Hey guys", he said, "Sorry I'm late. The traffic around here is so fucking – "

Just then, Hua Cheng arrived too. He looked as if he hasn't had any sleep at all. Seeing him, Xie Lian's face lit up, and he run to him, hugging and kissing him nonstop, burying his face against Hua Cheng's neck. "Ah San Lang! I missed you so much..."

Hua Cheng hesitated, but hugged him back, pursing his lips, and Xie Lian saw it.

"You don't really think it's you, do you?", he asked, "Don't listen to Mu Qing, he – "

●

To his credit, Mu Qing didn't have a "told you so" face when Xie Lian developed another reaction soon after being with Hua Cheng, and was taken to a little room inside, where he was laying in a hospital bed. Together with Feng Xin, he just looked worried, standing by Xie Lian.

A nurse was with them, "Hi luv, you're here for a patch test, right? Only we cannot do it while you're currently showing these symptoms", she looked down to her notes, "We'll give you some anti-histamines then wait, is that alright?"

Xie Lian nodded; she gave him some tablets and he took them, then the nurse left the room. He looked at Feng Xin and Mu Qing as if he was about to cry. His red, swollen face didn't help, and he looked truly depressing. Feng Xin sighed, and put a hand on his shoulder,

"Don't be like that. Everything will be alright", he said, without cursing for once.

Mu Qing added, "Listen, I'm not a doctor, what do I know?" He was feeling super guilty for suggesting the cause of Xie Lian's allergy was Hua Cheng, and when he realised he might be, in fact, right, he didn't like it. That was a totally new experience for Mu Qing.

Xie Lian sighed, "Can I see San Lang?"

"NO", Feng Xin and Mu Qing replied together.

"I just wanna talk to him, don't worry I just had anti-histamines didn't I?", he replied calmly.

"Alright, I'll call him in", Mu Qing replied, sighing.

After a minute, Hua Cheng walked in the room, clearly feeling miserable but putting on a brave face. He then closed the curtains behind him, to give him and Xie Lian some privacy. He stood by the bed, and held Xie Lian's hand.

"San Lang, I – ", he started, but Hua Cheng interrupted, "It's alright Gege, just relax, get these symptoms down".

"San Lang", Xie Lian continued, "I don't want to know. San Lang, what if it's you, what am I gonna do?", he looked away, suddenly self-conscious of his looks. "Just, let's just forget it. I can get anti-histamines can't I? No big deal".

"You know these allergies can get worse...", Hua Cheng said, helplessly.

"I know", he replied, "So what? Being away from you is much worse..." he trailed off.

"Gege, you're perfect in every way", Hua Cheng said, squeezing his hand, "But sometimes you're not very sensible". He forced a smile, "The important thing is that you're alright, so let's have this patch test first".

"But I won't be alright if – ", he paused, and added, biting his lower lip, "I can't be away from you San Lang. If it IS you, I'd rather stick with the allergy, and be with you no matter what".

Hua Cheng made a complicated face, at the same time happy, and sad.

Xie Lian continued, his voice almost a whisper, "Without you, I can't, I can't – ", he couldn't finish.

They both fell silent, looking at each other while holding hands. Then Hua Cheng seemed to sense something, and tilted his head to the side slightly, as if pricking his ears; he turned, and suddenly opened the curtains.

Feng Xin, Mu Qing and Lang Qianqiu were behind them, and almost fell over him.

●

"The Fuck?!", Hua Cheng exclaimed, "Why you're there listening to our private conversation?! Nosy pricks! I'm gonna fucking – ", he clenched his fists.

"I can explain", Mu Qing stepped in, "We don't trust you guys. Xie Lian and you are so... in love", here, he made a disgusted face! Feng Xin completed,

"We thought Xie Lian would say fuck it to the allergy test, and you'd agree with him".

Well, they got at least half of it right, and they were worried about Xie Lian, so Hua Cheng kept looking at them with a dark face, but calmed down. Then noticed Lang Qianqiu behind them.

"What are you doing here?", Hua Cheng asked.

"Oh?", he said, blinking his eyes in confusion, looking more boyish than ever, "I, hum, I work here".

"You work here?", Xie Lian asked, puzzled.

"Yes. Doing social media management", he replied. "I come here twice a week to get some content", he smiled, as if glad to actually have a good excuse to be there.

"Alright", Hua Cheng said, impatiently, "Now if you guys don't mind – "

But Lang Qianqiu continued, "You'd think twice a week is a lot, but actually there's so much going on in an allergy clinic!"

Xie Lian, Hua Cheng, Feng Xin and Mu Qing just looked at one another; Lang Qianqiu was young, naïve, and clueless.

"Tricky thing, an allergy. They do long questionnaire to find out about a person's routine... you must have done one", he added to Xie Lian, and continued, "But sometimes the allergy-inducing product isn't on the person, but on somebody close to them..."

Xie Lian and Hua Cheng shot looks at each other in shock.

"Fuck!", they both shouted at the same time.

Thanks for reading, I hope you liked! 😁

If you did, please vote, comment, follow me.