“Since gege is here, why not come in? We haven’t been apart for that long, so don’t be a stranger to San Lang.”
At this beckoning, Xie Lian let down the beaded curtain. “Earlier in the Gambler’s Den, it was San Lang who pretended not to recognize me.”
Hua Cheng approached and stopped at Xie Lian’s side. “Lang Qianqiu was there too, so if I didn’t put on an act, I’d be giving gege trouble.”
That was a really sloppy act… Xie Lian thought.
Hua Cheng probably knew that Shi Qingxuan was in the crowd too, so Xie Lian stopped worrying about hiding anything.
“San Lang is knowledgeable as always.”
Hua Cheng laughed. “Of course. So, is gege here only to visit me?”
“…”
If Xie Lian had to be honest with himself, had he known Hua Cheng was here, he would’ve asked for leave so he could pay him a visit. Alas, that was not what happened. Hua Cheng, however, wasn’t waiting for a response from Xie Lian at all, and smiled.
“Whether you’re here to see me or not, I’m happy either way.”
Xie Lian was startled by those words. He hadn’t had a chance to respond before the women standing on the sides started giggling. Hua Cheng inclined his head, and they all stopped at once, their heads bowed low. They soon filed out of the hall, leaving only the two of them in this massive chamber.
“Come have a seat here, gege,” Hua Cheng said.
Xie Lian examined him as he followed, smiling. “So, this is your real appearance.”
Hua Cheng paused slightly in his step.
Maybe it was his imagination, but Hua Cheng’s shoulders seemed to stiffen for a flash of a second. The moment didn’t last, and Hua Cheng responded naturally.
“I did say that the next time we met, I would greet you with my real appearance.”
Xie Lian grinned and said earnestly, “Not bad.”
Xie Lian’s tone wasn’t teasing or consoling, the words very simply said. Hua Cheng gave a small smile back, and this time, it was genuinely relaxed. They took a few more steps when Xie Lian suddenly remembered something important he’d wanted to confirm with Hua Cheng. He removed the silver chain from around his neck.
“By the way,” Xie Lian said, “did you leave this?”
Hua Cheng glanced at the ring and smiled. “It’s for you.”
“What is it?” Xie Lian asked.
“Nothing important,” Hua Cheng replied. “Just keep it for fun.”
Although that was what he said, Xie Lian knew that this object must be truly valuable, not something so insignificant.
“Then, thank you, San Lang.”
Seeing Xie Lian put the chain with the ring back around his neck, Hua Cheng’s eye shimmered brightly. Xie Lian looked around him.
“Back at the Gambler’s Den, you said you were going to Paradise Manor. I’d thought it was something like a brothel or the red-light district, but this looks more like an entertainment hall?”
Hua Cheng arched his brows. “Gege, what are you saying? I never go to the red-light district.”
Xie Lian was amazed. “Really?”
“Of course,” Hua Cheng replied. The two approached the black jaded divan and sat down next to each other. Hua Cheng continued, “This is nothing but a place I remodel now and then, a residence of sorts. I hang around here when I’m free. If I’m busy, I leave it be.”
“So it’s your home,” Xie Lian commented.
“Residence,” Hua Cheng corrected. “Not a home.”
“Is there a difference?” Xie Lian asked.
“Of course,” Hua Cheng replied. “A home has family. A place where someone lives alone is not a home.”
Xie Lian felt his heart stirred by this. By that definition, it had been over eight hundred years since he had anything that could be called a “home.” Although Hua Cheng had no trace of loneliness on his face, Xie Lian thought they were perhaps alike.
Hua Cheng continued, “If it’s home, then even a small place like Puqi Shrine is a million times better than my Paradise Manor.”
Xie Lian agreed sincerely with the sentiment and smiled. “I didn’t realize that San Lang was this sentimental. But to compare this to my Puqi Shrine, you’re really pulling my leg here.”
Hua Cheng laughed. “What’s there to be embarrassed about? Truth be told, gege’s Puqi Shrine is small, but it’s so much more comfortable than my Paradise Manor. It’s more like a home.”
“Is that so?” Xie Lian said warmly. “Then if you like it, in the future, come over whenever you want. The doors of Puqi Shrine will always open for you.”