Thinking about Xie Lian never getting his first kiss in high school—mainly because the kid he babysat, Hong-er, kept interrupting Xie Lian and his boyfriend at the WORST moments, almost like it was on PURPOSE.
(Xie Lian gets his first kiss when he’s 25, from…well…)
AND It’s not like Xie Lian NEEDED to babysit anyone, but Hong-er was a foster kid always getting into trouble in the neighborhood that took a liking to XL when he saved him from a group of bullies, and he stopped trying to run away when XL started watching him after school 🤧
They first met when Xie Lian was 14 and Hong-er was 8, and XL didn’t understand what anyone else was talking about when they called the kid a ‘menace.’ He was SUPER sweet, never raised his voice, always did anything XL asked!
His foster mother: he’s kicked THREE HOLES in my wall!!
Hong-er, expecting Xie Lian to scold him: but I—!
Xie Lian: he’s a kid 🥺 kids get upset sometimes 🥺
Hong-er: …🥺
And Xie Lian is pretty busy when he gets to high school, but he still makes the time for Hong-er to come over in the afternoons and study, or just to hang around while Xie Lian does HIS work and stay out of trouble.
It’s not as boring as it sounds, actually—it’s fun! And he gets to hang out with the older kids. Feng Xin and Mu Qing complain A LOT in the beginning, but they got used to him. And for three whole years, it was perfect!
And then, for Hong-er…things got confusing.
They’re confusing for Xie Lian too. But for VERY different reasons. He already gets why Mu Qing and Feng Xin don’t like Pei Ming. He’s not exactly perfect, but he’s nice!
(And pretty much every other guy in their school was too intimidated to ask him out, so…)
What Xie Lian DOESN’T get is Hong-er’s reaction when he bounds in the door after school one day, backpack in hand—
Hong-er: Gege, I got my test back today, I—
*sees Pei Ming instead of Feng Xin and Mu Qing*
Hong-er: …who are you?
Xie Lian: Oh! This is my boyfriend!
Hong-er:
Pei Ming: oh, you never mentioned you had a little brother!
(Xie Lian misses how much that assumption seems to bother the kid)
Xie Lian: oh, no! He lives in the neighborhood, I watch him after school most days.
And Hong-er’s tone is ODDLY STERN for a little kid—
“Everyday.”
Hong-er: I’m here pretty much every day.
Xie Lian, thinking it over: Well, he pretty much is, actually.
Pei Ming: that’s—
Hong-er, talking over him: How could gege have a boyfriend, anyway? He’s a boy.
Xie Lian, laughing awkwardly: Well…I like boys.
Hong-er:
He QUICKLY changes tacts—
Hong-er: is gege even old enough for that?
Xie Lian: I’m 17…?
Pei Ming, raising an eyebrow: how old are you?
Hong-er: 11.
But that glare is PRETTY INTENSE for a pre-teen.
Pei Ming: well then you wouldn’t know, would you?
XL: …who wants snacks??
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