Playing with fire; Burnt

Aftermath

Hua Cheng returned after nearly an hour, blood splattered on his right cheek.

He silently moved upstairs to his previous seat, opened the curtains, and sat down.

Nobody dared to speak up.

"You may resume your bets."

Every ghost in the den was taken aback by his calm demeanor. It wasn't expected of him to keep watching the betting, let alone stay seated instead of going home.

He calmed down and stayed seated, despite the fact that he really wanted to go home and was drawing blood by driving his fingernails into his palms in frustration.

He promised Yin Yu that he deserved a break in any case.

Ghost City was deafeningly quiet.

"What happened to the lowly Ghost, Chengzhu?" asked one brave Ghost.

Hua Cheng remained silent at first, but then began to gently chuckle to himself.

"No need to worry about that scum."

Ghost City erupted once more with cheers of agreement and rage.

"How dare that trash think he could even touch Grand Uncle?!"

"Our Lord did an extremely good job!"

"Of course he did, he is Crimson Rain sought flower!"

Hua Cheng shook his head and resumed his watch.

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Hua Cheng had been irritated all day, and it only faded when he reached the chambers of Paradise Manor.

"San Lang!"

A kind familiar honey-like voice, flowing with sweetness and excitement, called out to him.

From behind, he felt two white-sleeved arms embrace him.

Déjà vu.

Hua Cheng eradicated any hint of annoyance from his face as he turned around to return the embrace, his face calm and his lips curving upward.

"Your Highness.."

He hugged Xie Lian tighter than usual.

Fortunately, Xie Lian's attentiveness to his husband made him recognize something was bothering him.

"What happened?"

Xie Lian inclined his head in inquiry, his brow rising slightly.

Hua Cheng remembered the incident, and his facial expression changed from pleased to furious.

Xie Lian knew the irritation wasn't directed at him.

"During betting, this one Ghost. Nothing to be concerned about, Gege."

Xie Lian raised an eyebrow.

"Then practice calligraphy?"

"Oh."

"What do you mean, 'Oh?'"

"I will set the materials up right away."

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Night‌ ‌time,‌ ‌within‌ ‌Paradise Manor,‌  ‌Xie‌ ‌Lian‌ ‌was‌ ‌wearing‌ ‌a‌ ‌light,‌ ‌snow‌ ‌white‌ ‌inner‌ ‌robe,‌ ‌leaning‌ ‌on the‌ ‌jaded‌ ‌table‌ ‌next‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌divan, and watching Hua Cheng reluctantly write strokes after strokes.

Hua Cheng was also wearing an inner robe, with the collar slightly open, not trying too hard on purpose so he could get out of calligraphy.
‌

"San Lang, please tell me what happened?"

How could he resist his sweet inquiry?

Hua Cheng put the brush down, thankful he didn't have to waste ink by writing trash on the piece of paper, and turned to look at Xie Lian.

"Gege, this one ghost made a foolish bet with me."

Hua Cheng began, his kind tone laced with slight displeasure as he remembered the irritating Ghost's arrogant expression.

"May this one ask what the bet was?"

Xie Lian smiled at him, calmly waiting.

Hua Cheng looked at his dimples for a little too long before responding.

"He tried to bet you."

Xie Lian raised his eyebrows in surprise as he stayed mute, taking in his words.

He began to laugh.