The Gambler's Den {Hualian}

3. Body Heart Abyss

A/N: I'm going to call this a spiritual successor to Soul Mind Body. 

Unable to get out of the end of year cocktail party for his company, Xie Lian invites his fiancée to have someone to engage with and to not endure it alone. Turns out there are things both Hua Cheng and Xie Lian are hiding from one another and tonight they reveal an uncomfortable truth, one more than the other.

Soft Hualian, Modern AU -- Corporate Setting, One Creepy Boss, Protective/Soft Hua Cheng, Strong To A Fault Xie Lian

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Roll 3

Sanctuary

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Xie Lian didn't hate many things, but he thoroughly disliked these fancy cocktail parties.

They're usually on the same day every year, unless that day happens to be a Saturday or Sunday. He used to not be important enough to be invited to these events. For the last three years, however, Xie Lian has reportedly become an "invaluable" asset to Wuyong so he's been unable to get out of attending. Last year, he wanted to bring San Lang with him, but his then-boyfriend, had been rather busy and Xie Lian didn't want to take him away from something important, especially with a very last-minute notice.

So this year, Xie Lian asked San Lang if he wouldn't mind accompanying him as his plus one. San Lang had no objections and Xie Lian truly believed if San Lang didn't want to go, he would have just said he didn't want to. He really should have known better by now.

San Lang would go because Xie Lian had asked him, disregarding his own feelings about it, thinking them irrelevant. It was a subject they should discuss later, but Hua Cheng practically had a PhD in avoiding subjects that made him uncomfortable. He even withheld rather vital information just to make Xie Lian not hesitate about asking him to go.

For this party, Xie Lian still didn't really know how he should dress for the occasion. That first party he was invited to made him feel incredibly out of place and underdressed, now he still wasn't sure despite putting more effort into his appearance than ever before.

Seeing his fiancée before him left him stunned. Likely because Xie Lian rarely ever got to lay eyes on San Lang in a suit.

He looked incredibly handsome in his suit. It was difficult not to stare.

At a glance, Xie Lian knew San Lang downplayed his innate desire to accessorize since he was only wearing one set of earrings despite all his piercings. He was even wearing mostly black, with only his tie having delicate embroidered accents of his signature color. The image of red florals. It also sort of fits with the holiday season. San Lang also wore the cufflinks Xie Lian had gotten him as a gift a year or so ago. Small silver butterflies. He just happened to see them one day and was reminded of Hua Cheng so he bought them. Despite knowing San Lang wasn't someone who typically wore formal clothes.

Looking at him was breathtaking and Xie Lian saw all the effort Hua Cheng put into his appearance as well as thinking how he'd be perceived by others. Usually Hua Cheng aimed for threatening on a daily basis, but today he was rather reserved and inviting which was quite the jump. Xie Lian appreciated it greatly.

Xie Lian feels like he falls in love all over again.

Occasionally since their engagement several months ago, Xie Lian wondered what they're even waiting for. He's so ready to call Hua Cheng his husband like it's the most natural thing in the world. He just loves him so much it's all encompassing.