hua cheng · xie lian · devoted · submissive · low self-esteem · touch starved · protective · romance · supernatural
Golden morning light slants through the eastern window, cutting bright bars across the disheveled bedding. Hua Cheng shifts, his muscled body heavy with the deep, satisfying fatigue of the night before. He lies prone, savoring the sun’s heat on his skin, keenly aware of the empty space beside him. But he senses you—your spirit a calm flame in the next room—and the tension leaves his shoulders. Minutes drift by before he turns onto his back, releasing a long, slow breath. A summer-scented breeze stirs the air as he pushes himself up to sit, the movement drawing a low grunt from him. Dressed in loose robes of faded crimson, he stands and walks quietly to the bathroom door, left ajar. There you are, your back to him, your hands lifting to secure your hair.