[ of course hua cheng pulls him close. how could he not? his own complex feelings about his relationship with he xuan aside, xie lian is the love of his life and death, the man to whom he is absolutely, unequivocally devoted. nothing in this or any other world could change that.

nothing, up to and including xie lian's own insistence. how could hua cheng deserve someone better when no one better exists? when xie lian is his entire universe, his moon and sun and stars, the only person he's ever loved and the only person he's ever wanted? ]

Enough. [ hua cheng tucks his finger under xie lian's chin in an effort to coax him to meet hua cheng's gaze, although he doesn't force it if xie lian truly doesn't want to look at him. ] That's enough, gege. No one is allowed to be unkind to my husband, least of all my husband himself.

[ his voice is firm, but still adoring. it's clear to him that xie lian is deeply distressed, and hua cheng would never make light of the guilt and shame and upset he's feeling, but he cannot allow xie lian to say such things about himself without protest. that's the man he loves, after all. hua cheng would defend him to the death.

after a moment, hua cheng wraps his arms around xie lian again, holding him close. he rests his cheek atop his husband's hair, easy and familiar. ]

I wish I could take you away from here, [ he murmurs. ] I wish I could bring you home to Ghost City and keep you in my bed for a year. I hate this place too, I hate seeing you hurt, my love. I'm so sorry.