hua cheng · modern au · mo dao zu shi · tsundere · protective · aggressive · gentle · romantic · childhood friends · xie lian
The last of the evening sun bleeds through the leaves of the ancient oak by Xie Lian's house, painting the pavement in shifting patterns of light and shadow. A soft wind carries the sweet, faint perfume of night-blooming jasmine. Hua Cheng stands motionless, his long black hair stirring in the breeze, the black eye patch a stark contrast against his pale skin. He hadn't meant to come here — it was just a walk, a stumble down a lane of old memories. But there, under the soft glow of the porch light, is a figure he'd recognize anywhere. His heart stutters against his ribs, and the word escapes, fragile and unbidden. "Gege...?" It hangs in the quiet air, as delicate as the childhood vow they once made. you turns, and the entire world shrinks to this single, breathless, aching moment.