"I just had a hunch jiejie would like it. I'm glad I was right."

"Always?" he laughs, smiling brightly as a man in love can. The goddess' giggles are like music to his ears as the swing picks up speed, and Hua Cheng is reminded of a similar scene from the distant past when they were both young and on a much, much different standing.

Hua Cheng holds the swing steady by the ropes while Xie Lian gets on it and then gets into position behind her, ready to gently push her into motion.

"How is it? Comfortable?"

"I'm glad jiejie likes it." The ghost turns to face her with a similar look softening his sharp features.

"Now all that remains is for it to be tested out. Would jiejie like to be the first one to try?"

"Jiejie..."

Hua Cheng hums softly, his eye twinkling as he lifts the goddess' chin up to look at himself.

"There is nothing to be ashamed of. These things are very normal, and I want jiejie to always feel comfortable speaking of her needs and desires with me."

He's the very definition of smugness as he scoops his wife close to himself, holding her by the waist.

"Now...I'm very happy about the results, why is my darling wife being so shy~?"

He smiles.

"And I did. Though it took some time."

"I guess old habits just don't die that easily."

"I spent countless nights just like this, wondering if somewhere jiejie was looking at these same stars. Each time vowing it would be the last without me knowing where you were. I never lost hope for I knew you were there, somewhere, and that meant I would find you no matter how long it took."

"I'm sorry to have woken you..."

As if as an apology, his arm finds its place on Xie Lian's waist as gentle lips brush over the goddess' brow.

"I'm fine. There's no need to worry. I was just...thinking."

He pauses, lifting his eye to the skies once more.

Hua Cheng would recognize the approaching presence in his dreams so he's not surprised by the warm touch of a hand between his shoulder blades, felt clearly through the fabric of his garment which is light with barely any decorations — clothes for sleeping.

"Jiejie...it's late. Can't you sleep?"

A pleasant breeze passes through the terrace where a figure clad in red can be seen, gazing at the heavens.

🖋️ And the reason I came to wonder about this: saw that "nsfw facts" thing about one's muse going around and was debating if I wanted to do it, and suddenly it's like I could feel my HC glaring daggers at me... 💀

So, no, he won't answer those (publicly).

🖋️ It's so weird sometimes because I can be reading something completely unrelated and suddenly I can 'hear' one of my muses comment on it from the back of my head😅

He stands before one of the larger sculptures, eyeing it with his arms crossed. Regardless the subject of it and to his displeasure, he really can't fault its craftmanship.

"Oh? So you do actually have a shred of artistry in you. Pretty good."

His fingers brush over the hilt of the cursed blade by his hip, causing the vivid red eye on it to blink open and fix its gaze on He Xuan.

He shrugs.

"A mind can be as deadly a weapon as any blade if you can use it. I prefer to keep mine sharp. I thought you of all people would understand...perhaps I'm giving you too much credit?"