Now I Want You / A HuaLian Fanfic

Chapter one

Seeing more trash thrown at his feet by drivers who didn't even slow down their cars was already such a routine habit that Xie Lian just gathered up the mess and threw it into the trash can, mechanically, expressionlessly. As long as these people ignored his existence, everything would be fine.

On a peaceful day, the worst thing Xie Lian would have to deal with would be these obstacles, which was fine for him, but today was not one of those days. Today was one of those days where some idiot decided that he was the trash can, so they threw fruit peels and other food scraps at him and shouted some dirty things like obscene comments or other problematic things, however, all Xie Lian could do at such times was take a deep breath, snort or roll his eyes and swallow his anger. Fortunately, the village where he worked was not very busy, one of those places where everyone knew each other, but still frequented by tourists because it was on the way to the main road, and these were the most problematic.

Not only that, but the sun even seemed to have decided to pay Xie Lian a visit, because it was so hot that he felt every drop of sweat running down his skin, every muscle contracting at the slightest movement or how hard they were from years of work without knowing anything relaxing, even his breathing, which was getting heavier every second, was taking away his concentration from work, in addition to making him more irritable. Though, he was still able to ignore all of this, feeling outside of his body, as if he were a spectator, made it possible to face everything as if it were a dream, any anger did not reach his heart.

"Scrap gege." Guzi, a young child from a family Xie Lian was on good terms with, walked over with a box of food, holding it out to him. "Mama[1] said to deliver it to you."

Xie Lian smiled, put the broom against the trash can, and bent down, wanting to pat Guzi's head like he usually does, but feeling too dirty to do so, he just picked up the box.

"Tell your mother that your gege is happy and grateful for the meal, didi[2]."

Guzi nodded once, forcefully, saying "en", and ran back home.

Xie Lian sighed and got up to sit on one of the benches on the sidewalk. When he saw the food in the box, he felt a little guilty for that family donating so much to him, especially for the children they had, but refusing to donate was even worse, even more food. Thus, Xie Lian prayed in thanks to any god who would listen to him and ate.

At the end of his shift, when the sky had already darkened, Xie Lian, before going home, stopped at a teahouse and chose the most distant and isolated place possible from other people, so aware that its smell, after having food thrown at it, was not the best and could be bothersome.

It was after he had his tea in hand that Xie Lian saw a news item on the small television in the store that made him feel strange. His cousin, whom he had not seen and hoped to continue not seeing for many years, Qi Rong, was suspected of being involved in organ trafficking. Organs. Of course his cousin would choose this kind of crime, drugs were too common for someone who liked to show off. Xie Lian wouldn't doubt that Qi Rong was even a cannibal, this man's view of extravagance was warped beyond the limit.

But, Xie Lian was more curious about the title the reporters said Qi Rong was known as: Fourth Underworld Calamity King. What was this "Underworld"? Who were the other three kings? Why were they given these titles?

Giving in to his curiosity, Xie Lian pulled his cell phone, an old cell phone that he only uses to keep in touch with his daughter, out of his pocket and searched for that title, removing the "fourth" from the phrase.

The first result that appears makes his spine tingle. Chills run down his skin, his breathing gradually quickens in search of air that Xie Lian couldn't get. He turns off his phone and slams the screen against the table, rubbing his hands over his face to try to wake himself up and closing his eyes to help him focus on controlling his breathing.