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Modern HuaLian: Love is your Silver Lining
The door unlocks. Hua Cheng, in a sudden panic, scrambles to put away the ring designs he is looking over and replaces them with whatever pieces of paper is closest. Xie Lian shouldn't be home, it is way too early for his shift to end.
The door unlocks. Hua Cheng, in a sudden panic, scrambles to put away the ring designs he is looking over and replaces them with whatever pieces of paper is closest. Xie Lian shouldn't be home, it is way too early for his shift to end.
He hears the subtle pitter patter of Xie Lian's slippers move across the floor in the living room. In a hurry, Hua Cheng puts up his hair so quickly is barely makes a ponytail and starts smudging pastel colours across the apron he also throws on. -
Just as he is about to grab all his pencils and spread across the table, he notices that he cannot hear the slippers anymore. It's just very very quiet.
Pencils forgotten, he steps back from his table and opens the door. In the middle of the living room stands Xie Lian.
Pencils forgotten, he steps back from his table and opens the door. In the middle of the living room stands Xie Lian.
He is looking at the floor, all quiet. too quiet.
"Gege?"
he lifts his gaze almost surprised to see Hua Cheng is home. "Oh, hi San Lang" he says. Then he puts on an uneasy smile, and Hua Cheng's heart starts to clench.
"You're-"
"Home early!" Xie Lian cuts in, his hands fidgeting
"Gege?"
he lifts his gaze almost surprised to see Hua Cheng is home. "Oh, hi San Lang" he says. Then he puts on an uneasy smile, and Hua Cheng's heart starts to clench.
"You're-"
"Home early!" Xie Lian cuts in, his hands fidgeting
Hua Cheng lifts an eyebrow in question. "Gege, what's wrong?" he takes off the apron he had just put on, throws it back into his atelier and closes the door.
Xie Lian looks around as if not wanting to meet his eye.
"I.. " he takes a deep breath. "I was fired."
Xie Lian looks around as if not wanting to meet his eye.
"I.. " he takes a deep breath. "I was fired."
"What?!" Hua Cheng is shocked. "But you havn't missed any deadlines...Wasn't your project accepted?"
"It was.. they just decided.." Xie Lian crosses his arms, almost as if to hug himself. "-I don't know."
"Gege.." He says softy and rubs his arms.
"It was.. they just decided.." Xie Lian crosses his arms, almost as if to hug himself. "-I don't know."
"Gege.." He says softy and rubs his arms.
"I-it's okay" Xie Lian says and starts blappering about how it was easier working at the recycle station anyway and doing rounds with the garbage truck and how everything is going to be okay, and that "San Lang doesn't need to worry", and that maybe it was for the best.
"Gege, look at me." He says and take a gentle hold on his shoulders.
"I can't" Xie Lian says.
"Why can't you?"
"Because if I look at you, I will start to cry."
"It's alright to cry, Gege"
"No. No I can't cry. They win if I cry, San Lang."
"I can't" Xie Lian says.
"Why can't you?"
"Because if I look at you, I will start to cry."
"It's alright to cry, Gege"
"No. No I can't cry. They win if I cry, San Lang."
His voice is shaking, and Hua Cheng can see the shimmer of tears forming. His body is tense.
"They already lost letting go of you"
Xie Lian is quiet.
"Gege."
"Crying won't help me get a job.."
"No.. but it might bring you comfort. Maybe a loving hug from someone who loves you"
"They already lost letting go of you"
Xie Lian is quiet.
"Gege."
"Crying won't help me get a job.."
"No.. but it might bring you comfort. Maybe a loving hug from someone who loves you"
"What if I can't stop" his voice is a whisper and strained by how hard he tries to hold back.
"Gege" He tries again and lifts his chin
When Xie Lian looks at him, his face starts twisting into a tragic expression on the verge of breaking down.
"Gege" He tries again and lifts his chin
When Xie Lian looks at him, his face starts twisting into a tragic expression on the verge of breaking down.
Hua Cheng can feel heat swelling into his face as his own eye start to wet. "It's okay. I am here. I got you."
Xie Lian lets go, and starts crying with an almost strangled wail. Hua Cheng tucks him tight in his embrace.
Xie Lian lets go, and starts crying with an almost strangled wail. Hua Cheng tucks him tight in his embrace.
Xie Lian hugs him back and holds on tighter and tighter. He has lost much in this world and in his life, and as he cries his heart and disapointment out, he holds onto his silver lining.
His love.
His San lang.
His love.
His San lang.
