Happiness of eternity

28) Lost, found and...glowing?

Nie Huaisang didn't know how to process what he was seeing and his wife wasn't much different from him either as they both gaped at the man standing beside the great Lord Han Wanyue. 

It was the same man who left the world two decades ago. It was the same man Nie Xue Huang used to regard as her idol when she was just a little girl. It was the same man their queen, Banyue- the adopted daughter of Yushi Niang Niang, cherished like her own though they never were allowed to spend much time together due to both their busy schedules in the past. It was the same man Nie Huaisang used to play around with before everything went downhill almost four decades ago. It was the same man who paved the path for him to become the man he is today. It was the same man he owed everything...

"Hua Xiong..." Nie Huaisang's voice trembled as he called so carefully as if he feared that the man in front would disappear if used a slightly higher tone. 

"It's me, Nie xiong. No need to be cautious. I'm really here." Hua Ying assured with his iconic smile, offering himself for a long due hug. Though still unsure, Huaisang accepted the offer, throwing himself at his one true friend without a care of the world around him. 

He wailed loudly, sometimes scolding the man he is hugging and sometimes blaming everyone including himself for what happened decades ago and sometimes he just sniffed and sobbed like a pitiful little boy but he never once loosened the grip he kept around the other. Hua Ying didn't mind either. He just relished in the warmth of his ever-so-childish friend since they both needed that to recover the friendship that had been lost in time.

"Nie xiong... I'm sorry I wasn't able to spend some time with you when I was around last time but I promise that I will definitely find some time now so we can catch up for the time we missed altogether." Hua Ying promised, patting his still crying friend's back with care.

"I wasn't on my best be- behavior either...hic- I'm also so-sorry for all the trouble I- hic- caused you a- as well... I didn't mean- mean any of that to happen." 

"That's already the past, Nie xiong. We should move on. Besides, I think that we are already past the formalities. You can just call me A-Xian or A-Ying."

"Th- Then, you should call me A-Sang as well, A-Ying." Huaisang agreed, finally letting go of Hua Ying; much to Lan Wangji's relief. If he kept hugging his beloved any longer, Lan Wangji would have surely done something his beloved would not appreciate to see. Still, he failed to stop himself from forcefully pulling Hua Ying to his side and locking him in his embrace as he glared daggers at the poor Nie sect leader.

"So- sorry, Wangji xiong..." He apologized, nervously fanning himself as Hua Ying chuckled at his possessive husband.

"No need to get all worked up now, my lord. I'm all yours." Hua Ying promised, placing a soft kiss on his husband's cheek. Lan Wangji didn't lower his glare and even dared to bite the side of Hua Ying's neck so intimately as if to show his ownership to their onlookers.

"Ouch, Lan Zhaaan! How many times do I need to tell you not to bite me like a dog?!" Hua Ying complained as he struggled to get himself free. But who's he kidding? Lan Wangji's strength wasn't something to look down to. But before the couple could bicker much longer, the small voice of the madam Nie brought them to reality; 

"Tài Zǐ Diànxià..." Hua Ying turned his attention towards her. It seems like she just found her voice to speak to him.

"Madam Nie... In this lifetime, I haven't ascended yet. So... I don't think that that title is valid for the time being."

"But you highness...The sect leaders and the queen will be happy to see you..."

"I know. But it is not the time yet. We are here today to discuss something else and I'm sure that you will prefer to deal with that first before anything." Hua Ying smiled, not wishing to deal with another emotional reunion right now.