Archive of Our Own ^beta

Xie Lian hummed as he stirred the pot, the kitchen of Paradise Manor filled with an increasingly chaotic mix of smells—some delightful, others… less so.

Cooking was something he approached with the same determination and optimism he applied to everything, even if the results were often unpredictable.

Tonight, Hua Cheng and He Xuan were in a meeting, discussing matters that Xie Lian preferred not to delve into too deeply.

Instead, he focused on preparing a meal that would surprise and delight them—or at least, that was the goal.

His enthusiasm in the kitchen was often met with… varied results. But this time would be different, he was sure of it.

He glanced over at a half-baked creation on the counter: something he had lovingly named “Heavenly Clouds Delight,” which, unfortunately, resembled a lumpy gray mess with the consistency of soggy bread.

That one had been an experiment gone awry—too much flour, not enough whatever-else-it-needed.

“Better luck next time,” he murmured to himself with a smile.

As he continued to stir, his eyes fell on a small, mysterious vial,It was still sitting on the shelf, almost daring him to use it. Xie Lian was pretty sure he hadn't seen it around before so he figured Hua Cheng or a new member of staff had gotten it.

Xie Lian, in his eternal optimism, decided that maybe this vial could be the secret ingredient that turned this meal from “Heavenly Clouds Delight” into something truly delightful.

He picked up the vial, shrugged, and poured the shimmering liquid into the pot. Immediately, the broth changed color—from a pale golden hue to an alarming shade of neon green. Xie Lian stared at it, tilting his head in mild confusion.

“Interesting…” he muttered. “I think I’ll call this one ‘Celestial Jade Soup.’ Yes, that sounds elegant.”

The liquid bubbled and frothed, growing thicker by the second until it resembled something more like gelatin than soup.

Undeterred, Xie Lian gave it a tentative taste. It was… surprisingly salty, and had a weird, indescribable texture that he could only liken to chewing on a cloud made of rubber and after a moment had made his face tingle slightly.

“Well, it’s unique” he concluded with a satisfied nod, proceeding to ladle the concoction into bowls.

Just as he finished setting the table, the door to the dining area slid open, and He Xuan entered.

Xie Lian had his back to him for the moment as he was tidying

He Xuan stood in place watching Xie Lian, likely wanting to ask something or inquire where Hua Cheng was, though his eyes flicked quickly to the table where the bowls of “Celestial Jade Soup” sat steaming ominously.

He Xuan, ever composed, raised an eyebrow as he approached the table, the unsettling green glow of the soup catching his attention.

Xie Lian, still facing away, continued to hum a light tune as he busied himself with arranging the utensils. The moment was serene, but He Xuan couldn’t help but feel a slight unease as he took in the sight of the gelatinous concoction before him.

Despite the foreboding appearance of the dish, He Xuan was nothing if not hungry. He knew Hua Cheng would probably make him eat it anyway and out of spite, he decided to at least sample the meal.

He lifted a spoon near the thing, hesitated only slightly, then dipped it into the thick, green substance. With an internal sigh, he brought the spoon to his lips and took a small bite.

The taste was… indescribable. It was somehow both overly salty and unbearably bland at the same time, with a texture that stuck to his teeth in a way that no food should. He Xuan’s expression remained stoic, though a slight twitch of his eyebrow betrayed the struggle he faced to swallow the concoction.

But as soon as he did, something strange happened. A warmth spread through his chest, not unlike the sensation of alcohol on an empty stomach, but it was quickly followed by a peculiar tingling that shot through his veins. His heart began to race, though he attributed it to the intense taste he had just endured.

Meanwhile, Xie Lian finally turned around, his tidying complete. A bright smile spread across his face at the sight of He Xuan.

“Oh! He Xuan, I didn’t realize you were here already! How does the soup taste?” Xie Lian asked, face paling slightly.

But something shifted in the atmosphere the moment Xie Lian laid eyes on He Xuan.

The room seemed to blur around the edges, the colors softening and brightening at the same time. Xie Lian blinked, his vision suddenly sharp as he focused entirely on He Xuan.

Where once he saw Hua Cheng’s best friend, now he saw… perfection. Every detail of He Xuan’s face, his calm demeanor, his dark eyes—they all seemed impossibly captivating, drawing Xie Lian in like never before.

His heart skipped a beat, and a warm blush crept up his neck. It was as if the world itself had dimmed in comparison to the brilliance of He Xuan.

It was as if he could only focus on He Xuan, only think of the other man.

He Xuan, still recovering from the unexpected effects of the soup, noticed the sudden shift in Xie Lian’s expression. The way Xie Lian was looking at him now—there was a softness, an adoration that hadn’t been there just moments ago.

Xie Lian felt a rush of emotions so intense that it left him momentarily speechless. He had always had mixed feelings for He Xuan, but this—this was different.

It was as if his heart was now singing in harmony with the universe, all of it centered on the man before him.

And the only thing he could think about was how handsome, how wonderful, how utterly perfect He Xuan was.

He Xuan, meanwhile, felt the warmth in his own chest intensify. Suddenly, the terrible taste of the soup was forgotten, replaced by a peculiar fondness for Xie Lian that hadn’t been there before.

He noticed the curve of Xie Lian’s lips, the gentle way he held himself, the light in his eyes that seemed to brighten the entire room.

He wanted to know what they felt like.

“He Xuan…” Xie Lian started, his voice uncharacteristically shy, “Have I ever told you how incredible you are?”

He Xuan blinked, caught off guard by the sudden compliment, but the warmth in his chest flared up at Xie Lian’s words. He found himself smiling slightly, a rare expression for him.

“I… don’t believe you have,” He Xuan replied, his voice tinged with a warmth that matched the feeling blooming in his chest.

“Well, you are,” Xie Lian said, taking a step closer, his gaze never leaving He Xuan’s. “I’m so glad you’re here… with me.”

He Xuan’s heart skipped a beat, his mind suddenly overwhelmed with thoughts of Xie Lian, of how kind and wonderful he was, how anyone would be lucky to have him by their side.

How he wanted him by his side.

Xie Lian walked close to He Xuan with a smile, He Xuan was only a little taller than him, so when he reached up to put his hands around his neck playfully, there wasn't much difference.

Their faces, now inches apart, breathed heavily, only able to focus on one another.

He Xuan’s breath hitched slightly as Xie Lian’s hands rested gently around his neck.

The warmth that had been spreading through him intensified, making his heart race uncontrollably. Xie Lian’s proximity, the softness in his eyes, and the way his lips parted just slightly—it was all too much, yet not enough.

Xie Lian’s eyes flickered down to He Xuan’s lips, and before he could second-guess himself, he leaned in.

The moment their lips met, a spark ignited between them, a soft and tender feeling that sent waves of warmth and desire through both their bodies.

He Xuan responded immediately, his arms instinctively wrapping around Xie Lian’s waist, pulling him closer as they deepened the kiss.

The world around them faded away, leaving only the sensation of their lips moving together, the shared breath between them, and the electric current that coursed through their veins.

The taste of the soup was long forgotten, replaced by the sweetness of the moment.

When Xie Lian pulled his lips away yet still unable to move his eyes he whispered “I love you”

He Xuan gaped and repeated those words to Xie Lian with more fever, then pulled back into a more urgent and passionate kiss.

As the kisses once again grew deeper and more intense, Xie Lian found himself being lifted slightly, his legs wrapping instinctively around He Xian's waist as he was hoisted up onto the table.

The bowles of Celestial Jade Soup rattled precariously, but neither noticed nor cared.

Xie Lian's back pressed against the cool surface of the table as He Xuan leaned over him, their lips never parting for more than a breath.

Xie Lian allowed his hands to finally roam across He Xuans back, fingers curling into the fabric of his robes as he pulled him closer, wanting to feel every inch of him against his own. There was no hesitation, just the need to be as close as possible.‘too many clothes’ he thought briefly.

He Xuan, normally so composed and controlled, found himself coming undone by Xie Lian’s touch. The way Xie Lian responded to him, the softness of his skin, the way his breath hitched when their lips met again - it was driving him insane, making him crave more.

He pressed down Kisses along Xie Lian's jawline and down his neck, each one sending shivers down Xie Lian's body

Xie Lian tilted his head back, eyes closed, lost in the sensation of He Xuans lips on his skin, his hands gripping the table corners, the only thing keeping his mind from fully floating off.

It was a moment before Xie Lian brought He Xuans face back to his lips before panting “Clothes…too many…get rid”

He Xuan obeyed and moved to remove Xie Lians robe, exposing his torso. Xie Lian was beautiful, and he was all his.

The air was warm, almost hot, and their bare skin tingled as it brushed together, sending waves of pleasure through them both.

They lost themselves in each other, the world outside of the dining room no longer existing.
Xie Lian wrapped his arms around He Xuans neck and pulled him down into a fierce kiss, their bodies pressed together, the heat between them intensifying with each movement.

He Xuan groaned softly against Xie Lian's lips, his hands roaming down his body, exploring every inch of him.

When he reached the edge of Xie Lian's pants, he hooked a finger under the waistband, teasing him slightly.

Neither noticed when the door slid open and a red figure emerged from it.
Hua Cheng, upon noticing the two, his beloved and ...business partner, on the table, was quick to act.

"What the fuck are you doing!?" he yelled as he marched over, grabbing He Xuan's arm and pulling him away from Xie Lian, who had begun to whine at the loss of contact.

"Gege, what's wrong?"

"He Xuan...don't hurt him!"

Hua Cheng's gaze sharpened, and he tightened his grip on He Xuan's arm, causing the other ghost king to wince slightly.

"What do you think you're doing to gege? Think you can steal him just like that huh" Hua Cheng snarled.

But He Xuan wasn't looking at him, only Xie Lian and reaching out to him as the other was.

It didn't take long for Hua Cheng growl and start looking around the room, still refusing to release the other calamity and blocking his beloved from getting to him.

Eventually he spotted the meal Xie Lian seemingly made and marched towards it before bringing some to his nose and sniffing it.

"Stupid fish" he continued to mutter angrily, letting He Xuan go and pulling Xie Lian to his front.

Xie Lian desperately tried to wriggle out of Hua Cheng's grasp and get to He Xuan who was now on the floor dazed, but Hua Cheng only held him tighter.

"Let go, Let me go!" Xie Lian whimpered.

"Gege, you're mine" Hua Cheng whispered to his ear, holding him as tight as he could without hurting him.

Then swiftly brought his highnesses face to his and kissed, this caused Xie Lian to struggle more and start pushing the other's chest.

"Mnph..mph" Xie Lian continued to groan, tears forming at the corner of his eyes.

"Gege" Hua Cheng hummed into the kiss
Xie Lian pushed harder against him, trying to push him off, but it only succeeded in tighter entrapment.

After a few more moments of struggling, Xie Lian began to calm down, his eyes clearing as he embraced his husband's hold.

"San Lang..." he breathed, leaning into Hua Cheng's touch.

"There you are beloved" Hua Cheng murmured, placing a kiss on the crown of his head.

"What happened?" Xie Lian groaned as he clutched his head.

"I found gege enthralled with another man, in our own kitchen" Hua Cheng pouted.

"W..what?!" Xie Lian sputtered. “San Láng..I..”
“Yes Gege?” Hua Cheng whispered, resting his head on his beloved's shoulder.

“I..I'm so sorry…I don't know how I could make this up to you” Xie Lian frowned.

“It's fine gege, even if you willingly found another, I could never fault you”

“But…”

“If gege really wants to make it up to me, I suppose he could show me how much he loved me later” Hua Cheng pondered with a small pout.

Xie Lian gave a tired laugh at this, realising what his husband was implying “I'm afraid I love my husband too much, he might not be able to handle it” he finally smiled.

“Then this husband will simply do his best to appreciate every part of it” Hua Cheng laughed.

"And Gege needn't worry about this anymore, the issue is resolved" Hua Cheng continued calmly as he walked over and grabbed He Xuan by his hair.

"I'll be back in a moment" Hua Cheng smirked, eyes searing into the back of a now unconscious calamity.