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Xie Lian was stressed. Shi Qingxuan had brought her along to see her girlfriend, He Xuan’s competition. Xie Lian knew she was a dancer, and often did more unconventional styles, compared to Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan, who did ballet and modern dance. But Xie Lian had not anticipated or prepared to come to a pole dancing competition. She stuttered when Shi Qingxuan finally showed her the poster at their arrival, gloating about seeing He Xuan so close to the center. Xie Lian had been ready to object and to leave, but all that died on her tongue when she saw the woman at the forefront of the poster, supposedly the reigning champion. The woman had sweeping black hair, being blown back by a fan, showing off her gorgeous features but obscuring her right eye. Xie Lian could barely continue to look at her, she was easily the most stunningly beautiful woman she had ever seen. She had an air of mystery and held herself casually, but her build was powerful and commanding. Xie Lian fought very hard to keep her mind from wandering. Hua Cheng was wearing a black leather bralette, and her midriff was bare, but the poster cut off before anything else could be seen. Dragging her eyes back up, Xie Lian was enraptured by the glint in her eye. Xie Lian couldn’t hold back her excitement to see Hua Cheng in real life, to get the full impact of her gaze, and not the half-life version in the poster.
Shi Qingxuan tugged her away from the poster and into the auditorium. It was luxurious, and professional. The stage was an elegant dark wood, with two striking, gleaming poles in the center. As they stood among the crowd waiting to get to their seats, Shi Qingxuan was quickly filling Xie Lian in on what was about to happen. This was of course a professional competition, not some show you would see at a strip club, not that Xie Lian knew what that kind of show would entail, never having set foot in a strip club or anything like it. Some performers still enjoyed the sexualized moves and outfits, choosing to work them into the performance, but the intent is still different.
The performances consisted of a floor routine, a stationary pole routine, and a rotating pole routine. A solid performance moves in between these three stages fluidly, and have equal effort and difficulty across each. Shi Qingxuan had obviously studied extensively on this, talking about how contestants are broken down by the technique difficulty, execution, style, and adherence to the other smaller guidelines of this specific competition.
Xie Lian’s eyes grew wider and wider and Shi Qingxuan led them closer and closer to the stage until they were nearly at the very front, set right in front of the stage. “Shi Qingxuan, how did you manage to get these seats?” Xie Lian felt a blush rising on her cheeks.
“He Xuan listed me as her family so I got us the family tickets! Isn’t she just the best!” Shi Qingxuan quipped, smiling brightly. She didn’t seem even a bit uncomfortable here. Although Xie Lian guessed she had probably spent a lot of time with her girlfriend while she was training, this was all still very new to Xie Lian. New, but still exciting!
They sat in their seats, they really were the best seats in the house, giving a perfect view of the stage, and the poles. They chatted idly while they waited for it to begin, and Xie Lian felt herself finally begin to relax, it really had been too long since she had taken time to get out and not have her head buried in her own work and training.
The first few performances were amazing! Xie Lian was captivated by their flexibility and contortions around the pole. They were defying gravity and physics right in front of everyone’s eyes, spinning magic around their fingers and thighs. Xie Lian could see what Shi Qingxuan was saying, it looked like each of the dancers so far had technical training in floor dancing like ballet, or modern styles, and to see it adapted to be in the air opened Xie Lian’s mind to a whole range of possibilities she had never considered in her own trade. But she also saw the aspects of more raw sensuality. To see it paired with techniques she recognized from her own training was so freeing. To see dance outside of the strict, fundamentalist and sometimes elitist setting she was used to was invigorating!
She felt herself quickly being sucked into the atmosphere along with everyone else, drawn in by the stellar performances. So far there hadn’t been any major incidents, no falls or forgotten moves, and Xie Lian was so grateful. But, according to the judges, neither had there been any truly outstanding performances either. Shi Qingxuan made a quip about waiting for the real professionals to come out, and Xie Lian felt a bit of a pang with that, but also couldn’t hold back her anticipation for one striking, gorgeous woman to arrive. She assumed the rest of the crowd felt the same way, and she could feel the spikes in excitement as they continued through the roster.
Everything felt like it was reaching its peak as the room went dark for the next performance. The whole auditorium was primed and ready for this moment. The lights shot back on, illuminating the stage in a sea of silver and blue. Standing in center stage was a woman, Xie Lian gasped when she saw her. She was wearing red leather platform boots; the heels were some of the tallest Xie Lian had ever seen. They wrapped up her legs, ending just over her knees. Even without the help of the heels, she was tall; her legs just kept going! Xie Lian could barely contain herself when her eyes met the soft paleness of her thighs, glowing under the light. Xie Lian felt a flush of arousal and embarrassment flood over her as she skipped her eyes up to take in the woman’s stomach, watching with blown out pupils as it flexed while she breathed. She was wearing a red cropped cloak, its hood pulled down to conceal her face, but Xie Lian knew without a doubt in her mind who had taken the stage.
The performance started with her taking in a stuttering breath, her whole body shaking with it before she dropped to the floor, perfectly in time with the resounding bass that pounded through the speakers at a slow, rumbling pace. Xie Lian felt her stomach drop as she watched the woman move flawlessly through a series of rolls and kicks on the floor, slowly making her way towards the stationary pole. Xie Lian was afraid to blink, scared she would miss any part of this…. This ART. There was no other way to describe it other than art incarnate. Every move razor sharp, cutting the line of raw power and ethereal sexuality. Xie Lian couldn’t help but follow every sweep of her legs as she stretched herself into splits and straddles. Every swath of skin smooth as porcelain, but covering countless hours of hard training and work to build muscle like that. Xie Lian couldn’t make up her mind on whether or not, if she held Hua Cheng’s leg’s in her hands, if it would feel like freshly kneaded dough, or solid rock. She didn’t think she could decide which she would prefer.
Xie Lian’s thoughts were immediately ripped back to the present by Hua Cheng mounting the pole, with more grace and ease that Xie Lian had seen from anyone else yet. Not that she was surprised by that. All of Hua Cheng’s moves were calculated and in control. But Xie Lian knew it was the kind of expertise that came from being a master of the craft to make something that was so hard to look so easy and casual. She climbed for a moment, before wrapping her legs around the pole, and freeing her hands. She sat back, as if the air was a chair, held up by nothing other than her legs, and more core strength than Xie Lian could imagine, as she ripped the cloak off, freeing a cascade of hair.
There was a collective gasp across the entire auditorium as she turned to smile wickedly at the crowd. Under the hood, she wore a silver blindfold, with intricate butterfly detailing across the silk. Xie Lian felt like a blade of grass that was being exposed to the sun through a magnifying glass; she was going to burst into flames. Hua Cheng took in another deep breath, just in time with a lull in the music before she relaxed, falling backwards until she was upside-down, her spine parallel to the pole, with her legs fully extended above her. The crowd erupts in cheers. Xie Lian briefly worried she was going to break her fingers from how tightly she was squeezing them in her lap. It was only in the blanked out, awe-inspired state her brain was in that she really began to appreciate the details and intricacy of Hua Cheng’s dance. Her timing was always on beat, and the musicality of her moves was impeccable, her lines were crisp and angles were always clean. Her transitions were seamless, and her ability to gain momentum into the more difficult movements was flawless. Where other women had slipped slightly when getting into or maintaining a pose, Hua Cheng was steady: holding positions and contorting around as if staying on the pole through sheer magnetism.
After she had moved through her series of lifts, fan kicks, and swings, as if gravity finally got a hold of her again, she flipped around on the pole, landing on the ground in a perfect split. She sent another knowing smirk into the crowd before bouncing her ass. Xie Lian’s mouth went dry; she was going to be thinking about this exact moment for a long time. Hua Cheng stretched her arms high above her, shaking out her hair. By means that made no sense to Xie Lian, somehow, she was in a handstand now, her legs still extended out in a split. She bent back until one foot was on the ground. With only the ball of her shoe planted, she flung herself toward it in a fierce kick until she was on her hands and knees in center stage once again. It was a move that shouldn’t have looked as good as it did! The resounding thunk of the knee of her boots should not have sent such an exciting shock up Xie Lian’s spine.
But it did.
Hua Cheng moved in an animalistic, crawl, grinding her hips down against the stage until she was at the edge of it. Directly in front of Xie Lian. She held her breath as Hua Cheng tossed herself back until she was sitting back on her legs, the heavy rise and fall of her chest the only sign of exertion, but even then, it still looked like part of the act. She ran a hand up her stomach and chest, her thumb catching on the blindfold, pulling it off as she swung her hair around. The crowd was explosive at this point. Hua Cheng eased herself back into the crouch, with her hips up high, legs extended at an angle behind her. She moved her hips in a slow motion as she finally swept the hair out of her face.
She looked right at Xie Lian with a burning fire in her eyes.
Xie Lian let out a harsh breath she barely realized she had been holding in. She shuddered a bit as a devastating smile from Hua Cheng wrecked her. It was too bright, Xie Lian felt the need to look away, but she couldn’t break the eye contact. Thankfully Hua Cheng solved that problem for her, rolling back over her shoulder and kicking her legs out before spinning up to her feet. Xie Lian has never been so aroused in her life, just completely rocked by it as she watched Hua Cheng spin around the rotating pole with a single hand grip.
Over the course of Hua Cheng’s routine on the rotating pole, Xie Lian felt like every time she looked out into the crowd, her eyes would always land on Xie Lian. Was it just a trick of the lights? Of the stage? There was no way that Xie Lian had really grabbed her attention. But regardless of all her doubts, Xie Lian couldn’t help but be pulled further in, to feel like this performance was just for her. Xie Lian lost all ability to critically appreciate the performance at this point, her blood was pounding in her ears and she felt like a live wire, aching and arching to touch Hua Cheng.
Xie Lian knew the end of the performance must be coming on soon, the whole thing felt like it had been going on for hours already, but she wasn’t prepared for Hua Cheng to move back to the stationary pole for her final routine. Hua Cheng approached slower this time, sizing up the pole, still perfectly in time with the music. She took a skip at the pole before flipping herself around to land in a split. She pulled herself up, grinding against the pole briefly before hoisting herself into the air. The music was slowing down now, and Xie Lian was nearly out of her seat in anticipation for how Hua Cheng would end it, she had to know, she couldn’t miss a second of it. Hua Cheng’s movements have lost the smallest touch of its casualness, the exhaustion and build up to this final moment, forcing her to be precise, to execute to the fullest. She had made her way to the top of the pole now; she sets her feet in a new way Xie Lian hasn’t seen before. And then she lets go. Her body perfectly perpendicular to the pole, held there solely by her feet, her arms swinging in rhythm to the final blown out beats of the song. Her eyes are locked on to Xie Lian.
The stage goes black.
Xie Lian worries she has passed out before she hears the roar of the crowd, nearly deafening in its volume and appreciation for the once in a lifetime performance they have just witnessed. She glanced over at Shi Qingxuan; she had completely forgotten about her for the entirety of the performance. She is clapping and cheering along too.
She notices Xie Lian, and the smile drops off her face, “Xie Lian? Xie Lian what’s wrong?? Why are you crying, love?” Her words startle Xie Lian, Shi Qingxuan’s hands stop clapping and come up to wipe the tears from her cheeks. Xie Lian stuttered… When had she started crying? She waved her friend off, saying there was nothing wrong. She hoped that Shi Qingxuan would turn back to the stage, hopefully He Xuan would be coming up soon. Instead of doing that, Shi Qingxuan leveled her with a wily, knowing smile.
Xie Lian wishes she could say anything about the following two performances, including He Xuan’s, but it would all be a lie. Her head felt like it had been stuffed full of cotton and then lit on fire, burning anything and everything in its path, leaving her empty, but a fire still burning among the ashes. She only snapped out of it when people started standing and applauding. The judges would need time to talk amongst themselves and tally the scores then the winners would be announced.
Shi Qingxuan pulled Xie Lian around by the hand, saying she simply couldn’t wait until it was over to go see He Xuan! They slipped through the crowd, She Qingxuan flashing their “family” ticket before tugging her into a dressing room.
He Xuan stood in the center of the room, still dressed in her performance outfit, with a towel wrapped around her neck. She didn’t look over enthusiastic to see Shi Qingxuan, but Xie Lian caught the small twitch of her lips into a smile. Xie Lian turned away to give them their privacy as her friend threw herself into the arms of her girlfriend.
“He Xuan where did you put my bag?” A velvet voice rang out from the other end of the room, and Xie Lian’s stomach jumped into her throat. Hua Cheng had changed into a simple sports bra and spandex shorts, the towel in her hands wiping off the last of the remaining sweat from her neck, leaving her with little more than a faint flush after how hard she had worked. Xie Lian’s knees could have turned to jelly as her eyes widened when she saw Xie Lian standing in the room. At first Xie Lian was worried she had offended the dancer by being a stranger in her dressing room, but a smile slid smoothly onto her face, “Well hello there, darling.” Xie Lian shut down. Only to be resuscitated by Hua Cheng’s beyond gorgeous laughter a second later. She was definitely blushing. At a complete loss for words, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Thankfully, Shi Qingxuan had her back, quickly stepping in to officially introduce her to He Xuan and Hua Cheng before quickly stating that the four of them should go out to dinner together after the awards were announced!
He Xuan agreed quietly, but Hua Cheng didn’t. “Why wait? We should just go now.” She was standing closer to Xie Lian now, and Xie Lian had been using all of her self-control not to ogle her, but her words shocked her into looking up at Hua Cheng. Fuck, she was as tall as she looked on stage, and she had taken her heels off already.
“Go now? But you would miss out on the announcement of the winner! Wouldn’t that get you disqualified?” She carefully held herself back from saying that Hua Cheng was guaranteed the first place while He Xuan stood right next to them.
“I already won the most important thing.” Hua Cheng said coolly. Xie Lian wanted to lose herself in that voice the same way she lost herself in the performance, with its smooth cadence and mischievous tilt.
“What? What’s that?” Xie Lian couldn’t stop herself from asking, feeling herself being pulled too far into Hua Cheng’s gaze; her eyes really were too beautiful – her everything was too beautiful, it was still hard for Xie Lian to look at her head on.
The magnified glass moved closer to her, burning her with the intensity of the sun as Hua Cheng leaned in to whisper in her ear, “I have already been rewarded with jiejie’s presence; what flimsy trophy could top that?” Xie Lian’s face was burning, what did she mean by that? At a loss for words, her eyes shifted back to Shi Qingxuan, who was already looking at them, a wicked smile on her lips.
“Hua Cheng! You should have seen Xie Lian during your performance! She could barely contain herself,” Xie Lian wanted to melt into the floor, sure everything Shi Qingxuan said was true but it was embarrassing. Xie Lian peaked over at Hua Cheng, trying to see her reaction, but she had to do a double take when she saw Hua Cheng already looking at her with, Xie Lian’s eyes had to be broken, there was no way there was a blush on Hua Cheng’s face.
But there was. And, this time Hua Cheng broke eye contact with her, wiping her dry face with the towel. She cleared her throat, “Jiejie should definitely come, my treat.” Xie Lian wanted to laugh, how could she say such a flirty, coy thing like that when she could barely look Xie Lian in the eye after receiving praise!
“Hua Cheng is the last person who should be paying! It should be me treating you!” Xie Lian blurted out.
“We can deal with the paying later! Lianlian, we could get back to our seats!” Shi Qingxuan swept her out of the room before she said anything more embarrassing, she tossed an excited, “It’s a date,” over her shoulder before the door closed.
“Date??”
“Yes! A double date!! Isn’t it perfect!” Shi Qingxuan happily chirped as she led the way back to their seats.
Xie Lian couldn’t help but agree with Hua Cheng about wanting to skip the award ceremony and just go out to eat. There really was no tension or excitement for her when she already knew the obvious outcome. Still, she couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she kept replaying Hua Cheng’s words in her head, and how the blush had dusted over her high cheekbones. The announcements went quickly, the crowd clapping and cheering appropriately. Shi Qingxuan had jumped out of her seat clapping when He Xuan placed second. Would it be wrong for her to do the same thing for Hua Cheng? She really was too conflicted and, in the end, just clapped harder and even gave a little whoop when Hua Cheng was announced as the first-place winner!
Hua Cheng really looked too good, too impossibly good. She had tossed on a loose red t-shirt, her legs still completely bare. She walked casually, but with her height and build she really towered powerfully over everyone else. The lighting was intense now, shining down on her as if from heaven to illuminate her solely for Xie Lian’s viewing from the long spill of black hair over her collar bones that peeked out of the collar of her shirt, to the graceful roll of her shoulders down strong arms. Ah Xie Lian really couldn’t look away from how the muscles in her legs shifted and relaxed as she stood there. There was too much to look at. Upon receiving her trophy, she blew a kiss into the crowd… aimed directly at Xie Lian. Ah, Xie Lian really had never blushed so much in one night, she worried she might die.
It really blew Xie Lian’s mind that someone like Hua Cheng wanted to spend time with her. Excitement bubbled up in her as she and Shi Qingxuan waited for the two dancers to meet them outside the venue. Xie Lian squirmed around a bit, her light sweater and skirt not doing much to keep out the quickly cooling wind or early winter.
“Lianlian, I told you to bring a coat with you!” Shi Qingxuan whined from within her warm coat.
“I didn’t think it would get this chilly yet… I didn’t want to have to bother Feng Xin to borrow hers.” Xie Lian mourned, trying to wrap her arms a bit tighter around herself.
“Jiejie can borrow my coat, no problem.” Xie Lian heard Hua Cheng say from behind her right as a rich warmth was draped around her shoulders. Xie Lian gasped. She really wasn’t small by any means, but this jacket was BIG. It nearly touched the ground, and her shoulders couldn’t begin to fill in the space.
She looked up at Hua Cheng with wide eyes, “But, won’t you be cold!”
Hua Cheng smiled brightly at her, “My hands are the only thing that really gets cold in weather like this, so don’t worry too much, jiejie.” If her hands were the only thing that got cold then why did she bring this whole jacket and not just some gloves?? Xie Lian watched the way Hua Cheng’s eye traveled down her body slowly, sensually. That wicked smile from Hua Cheng’s performance flashed across her mind’s eye, heating her up from the inside out.
“Wah! He Xuan never shares her coats with me,” Shi Qingxuan whined, from where she was draped on her girlfriend’s arm. Xie Lian felt a small pang of jealousy at their closeness.
A strong breeze pushed the coat open and sent a shock through Xie Lian’s chest. She pulled the red coat tighter around herself, basking in the luxury of it. The smell of maple, pine and fresh moss washed over her. It soothed something deep in her, and she nestled deep into the gorgeously made jacket.
The group started walking to the café they had chosen, but Xie Lian felt a bit silly walking around holding the jacket closed from the inside, so she slipped her arms into the long sleeves and buttoned up the jacket. She was not used to feeling so small: walking next to Hua Cheng, wearing a jacket where her fingers barely poked out the sleeves, and she had to be careful not to trip on the hem of it. She didn’t think she would be able to afford replacing it if something happened to it.
The walk was relaxing with Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan leading the way on the sidewalk in front of her while Hua Cheng walked comfortably next to her, her hands shoved deep in her black ripped jeans. The sidewalk wasn’t very wide, bringing them shoulder to shoulder, their arms brushing against each other occasionally. Within the warmth of the coat, the weather was perfect, the air crisp and clean around them. It had been far too long since Xie Lian had last gotten out anywhere, too busy training in the studio. Xie Lian wondered how often Hua Cheng trained, how she did it, what it would be like to watch. Not just a finished piece, but to watch her mull through the process of choreographing and bringing parts and routines together, honing new skills. Xie Lian shocked herself with how much she really wanted to know everything about this gorgeous stranger.
Completely lost in thought, Xie Lian missed her step onto the curb, tripping over it. Already expecting the worst, her breath was taken away by strong arms wrapping around her waist.
She was placed effortlessly back on to her feet, feeling like a dainty flower, “be careful, jiejie.” Hua Cheng’s warm breath fanned over her ear, sending a shiver down her back, she turned to face the other woman.
“Thank you, Hua Cheng, I don’t know where my head was,” Hua Cheng gave her a soft smile, reaching out to tuck a wild piece of hair back behind her ear. Her hands were so cold! It felt like ice running over her flushed skin.
“You can call me San Niang, if you’d like, jiejie.” Hua Cheng straightened up, taking a small step away from Xie Lian, even though she was still smiling and had a deep look in her eye. Worried that Hua Cheng would move further away from her and keep walking away, Xie Lian thrust her hand out toward Hua Cheng without any word. Hua Cheng looked shocked for a second looking at the hand in question.
“Alright, San Niang. Did you know people say my hands are always really warm?” Xie Lian couldn’t bring herself to say much more than that, silently praying Hua Cheng caught her meaning. Hua Cheng’s eye widened before a smile so bright Xie Lian thought the sun had leapt back into the sky stretched across her features. Cool fingers slipped in between her own, fitting together perfectly. Goosebumps spread across her skin and she worried she might pass out her blood pressure was so high. But she gently pulled their linked hands into the pocket of the coat for extra warmth, but also to have Hua Cheng pressed against her side.
Xie Lian was giddy. Her steps felt light as air, and like she was completely unstoppable, something she hadn’t felt in a very long time. She filled the rest of the walk with light chatter with Hua Cheng, absolutely glowing with how pleasant it was to relax and talk to someone like this again.
San Niang really was the perfect conversation partner, a welcoming ear, but also active in talking back and having quick jokes that made her stomach hurt with laughter. The warmth of her side against Xie Lian’s arm was warming her even through the coat, leading her to believe she would be fine without the coat as long as Hua Cheng wrapped her arm around Xie Lian.
The café came into view, a new take on an old temple aesthetic. Intricate lattice work stretched across the walls with pillars of rich red wood framing them. The inside was lit with warm “fires” on braziers, the seating set back on small daisies. Xie Lian would have never chosen such a place. She briefly worried she wouldn’t be able to afford such a place. Maybe she could just order some tea and then scrounge something together back at her apartment. Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan sat together on one side of the table with Xie Lian and Hua Cheng on the other.
He Xuan and Hua Cheng got into some banter while Xie Lian was scouring the menu for something that wouldn’t hurt her wallet too much… Maybe she shouldn’t have come and just went home. Ah but this time with Hua Cheng made it all worth it, didn’t it?
“Jiejie, your face is flushed, maybe you should take the coat off so you don’t get too hot?” San Naing’s voice was in her ear, and she nearly jumped. She looked up, wide eyed, as if a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Of course, Hua Cheng couldn’t read her mind, but for her body to betray her like that was too cruel.
“Ah! Yes, you’re right, San Niang, it is just a bit warm now that we are inside, nothing else!” Xie Lian laughed, trying to hide her true reasoning from Hua Cheng’s sharp eyes as she pulled the jacket off and tucked it around her chair. When she scooted back in towards the table, no one mentioned how she was sitting closer to Hua Cheng than she previously had been.
Placing the order was not as easy as she had hoped when Hua Cheng pouted at her when she said she would just have tea. Xie Lian briefly considered lying and saying she already ate, but she knew Shi Qingxuan would call her out on it, so she gave in and asked for the dumplings she had seen. She thought Hua Cheng may have been glowing with pleasure at that. She would just try to pick up a few extra shifts next week.
A warm hand placed itself carefully on her knee. It was a safe place, nowhere too close to anything, and it was light, Xie Lian looked up to see Hua Cheng looking at her with gentle concern. Xie Lian about melted through the floor. She nodded that she was ok and placed her hand on top of Hua Cheng’s keeping it in place. She slipped back into the conversation rumbling around the table, genuinely enjoying herself.
When the food for the table came, Hua Cheng removed her hand, and Xie Lian hated how cold her leg felt, but she mourned the loss quietly. Things were going so well; she couldn’t bare it if she messed up now and Hua Cheng wouldn’t want anything more to do with her. But instead of pulling her hand back for herself, Hua Cheng placed a full bowl bank in front of Xie Lian and put her hand back on Xie Lian’s thigh.
Completely shocked by the large amount of food in front of her, and the large hand that covered a large amount of her thigh in the gentle warmth, Xie Lian squeaked out, “San Niang?”
Hua Cheng looked over at her quickly, a flash of worry in her eye. Did she think she had taken it too far? But when Xie Lian just smiled and thanked her, San Niang just rubbed her thumb back and forth and said, “Jiejie was sitting at the competition for a long time, I need to make sure she eats enough to recharge after that.”
Xie Lian couldn’t keep in her huff of laughter at Hua Cheng’s ridiculous words, “But San Niang was the one doing all the hard work. Are you really hungry? Is that why you wanted to skip in the announcements? But He Xuan has a bigger bowl than you do…”
“That’s just because He Xuan never stops eating,” Hua Cheng teased, “But jiejie, I already told you, I wanted to leave because I had already won the highest prize. I could live solely off jiejie’s praise.”
He Xuan coughed on the other side of the table. Xie Lian, not knowing how to respond simply turned away and began eating the meal in front of her. There was a soft rumble of laughter next to her followed by a small squeeze to her thigh.
The rest of dinner rolled by smoothly, aided by He Xuan getting a bottle of alcohol for the table. Xie Lian only had a small amount, but she had always been a lightweight. She laughed at all of Hua Cheng’s jokes, and told fun stories of when Shi Qingxuan and her had been roommates for a year in university.
Xie Lian hadn’t realized how long they had been sitting and talking until Shi Qingxuan declared that it was time to get home with He Xuan, and Xie Lian’s head popped up from where she had been resting it on Hua Cheng’s shoulder, when had she done that? No one had mentioned it, and it wasn’t like Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan weren’t in a similar position, but they were in a relationship! Xie Lian had only just met Hua Cheng! Surely, she must have felt uncomfortable about supporting some tipsy girl she had only just met! Shame flushed through Xie Lian; she would be sure to apologize for it when they got outside. But wait! What happened with the bill?
“I covered it jiejie, I said it would be my treat,” San Niang’s voice was low and smooth in her ear. Had she said that out loud?
“It better have been your treat after that bullshit you pulled during your performance,” He Xuan grumbled.
“What shit did you pull during your performance?” Xie Lian asked, but Hua Cheng just laughed.
“Jiejie should stick to saying pretty words, but anything that comes out of your mouth is pretty, so I guess say whatever you want and make it pretty. He Xuan is just mad because I changed my routine a bit while I was in the middle of it.” San Niang’s laugh was better than anything Xie Lian had ever heard, and she was willing to do about anything to be allowed to continue hearing it. She whined as Hua Cheng removed her hand from Xie Lian’s leg, but was quickly placated by the hand helping her get to her feet and wrapping her back up in the coat.
“What made you change it?” Xie Lian asked, teetering on her feet ever so slightly.
“Oh, just a random whim, I suppose,” Hua Cheng’s smile was wicked again. Xie Lian only caught He Xuan’s grumbling as Shi Qingxuan laughed and they were walking back on to the street. Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan split off to go back to He Xuan’s apartment, leaving Xie Lian and Hua Cheng standing in front of the restaurant.
“Which way is home for you, San Niang?” Xie Lian asked.
“He Xuan rents a room from me, so technically back with them. But I really don’t want to be around for their nightly activities. It is a bit unsettling to hear Shi Qingxuan’s loud laughter at four o’clock in the morning. So, it seems I have been kicked out for the night.”
“Well, San Niang, is welcome to come over if you have nowhere else to go.” Xie Lian said quietly, was she reading things correctly. The chill of the night air was pulling her out of her haze a bit more and more. “O-of course if you didn’t want to come to the home of a stranger I also completely understand.” Xie Lian scratched her nose.
“Jiejie, I feel like I have known you forever. I can’t remember the last time I have had this much fun with someone. If you would have me, I would love nothing more than to come with you.” Xie Lian sucked in a breath, turning to face Hua Cheng, only to be shocked once again by her beauty.
“O-oh. Th-that’s… Yea! Yes, good! I feel the same way. And I want you to come over.” Xie Lian gained the confidence as she spoke, nodding her head. With that, she reached out her hand and intertwined their fingers before making her way back to her apartment. Only after Hua Cheng adjusted her hand in Xie Lian’s grasp did she realize what she had done. She relaxed her grip, allowing Hua Cheng to remove her hand if she wanted to, “Ah! Sorry San Niang, I didn’t even think about what I was doing.”
Hua Cheng bumped their shoulders together lightly before squeezing Xie Lian’s hand, “It’s ok, jiejie. I like it.” It had been such a long time since someone had enjoyed spending time with Xie Lian in such a way.
She couldn’t figure out how to react so she just blurted out, “And I’m sorry about in the café, it must have been uncomfortable to have me leaning on you for so long!”
“I could hold jiejie up forever and never tire of it.” Hua Cheng spoke with so much surety and finality that it shut off any further attempts Xie Lian’s brain could make. Of course, if Hua Cheng could hold herself onto the pole as she did, then of course she could hold Xie Lian up too.
They talked more as they walked. Hua Cheng was the third child, hence her nickname, but she didn’t get along with her family too well. She had been classically trained at the same dance school Xie Lian was before she was in an accident and expelled from the school. She got into bodybuilding for a brief time, wanting to be stronger to support those she loved, but missed dancing. She figured pole was the best of both worlds for her, and she liked working within the stigma, felt like it gave her more room for creative freedom that had been suppressed at the school.
Xie Lian had expected there was some other dance training just by how Hua Cheng carried herself, but she hadn’t expected Hua Cheng had to fight so much to get where she was. It softened up her image. Xie Lian told her about how she was once the star of the ballet world, but fell from fame after an accident and now was only performing in small venues, and working other part time jobs to make ends meet. Tonight, had truly been the most special thing she had ever experienced. Hua Cheng listened to her quietly, taking it all in. Maybe if things had been different, they could have met during that small time they were at the school together, and maybe things would have turned out differently for both of them.
But they were together now, and not only that, but they were standing in front of Xie Lian’s apartment building. Sobered up after their walk, the nerves were starting to hit her. What would Hua Cheng think of her apartment? It was obvious after their talk that not only was Hua Cheng famous, and Xie Lian was infamous, but Hua Cheng was rich, like rich rich.
Seemingly sensing her worries, Hua Cheng rubbed her thumb across Xie Lian’s, “I don’t care about the state of you, or the state of where you are, I only care about you.” Xie Lian sucked in a shaky breath. That sounded a lot like a confession, and while she completely reciprocated the feeling, she didn’t want to assume too much. Push too far. Take more than was offered. So, she simply nodded and pushed through the door and led the most stunning and kind and perfect woman she had ever met through the building and into her apartment.
She flicked on the lights and studied Hua Cheng for any sign that she might want to leave, but instead she was met with a wide, warm smile. “Would you like some tea? I have some books, or puzzles and board games, if you wanted to do something before going to sleep? Oh! You must be so tired, what am I thinking! Wait right here while I go put fresh sheets on the bed!” Xie Lian was buzzing around aimlessly until Hua Cheng caught her hand, putting another on her waist.
“Jiejie~ board games and tea sound perfect,” Hua Cheng’s voice soothes over her like rain on a lazy morning.
“Ok…” Xie Lian mutters, entranced by Hua Cheng’s hands on her. There is bang from one of her neighbors in the hallway, reminding her of where they are. “You can go sit on the couch right over there! And I’ll fix the tea and be right there!” Hua Cheng nodded, a heartwarming smile on her lips, obediently following directions.
Xie Lian fussed around in her kitchen, boiling the water and grabbing her cheap, instant tea bags. She absently asked how Hua Cheng took her tea, only to flush at the, “however jiejie takes hers is fine!” It was too early for Xie Lian to be falling in love, but that certainly didn’t stop her heart from doing summersaults at the intimacy of it.
She poured the two cups and carried them over to the couch, sitting next to Hua Cheng. Handing over the cup, she blew on hers for a moment, but Hua Cheng just took a big sip. She hummed her approval.
“Really? Is it good?” Xie Lian was excited, taking a sip of her own. It wasn’t. There was no way Hua Cheng could like this. Xie Lian would check the pack later to see if the tea was expired, or if she was simply that bad at preparing it. She wasn’t sure which would be worse. She turned to face Hua Cheng fully, sitting with a leg tucked up under her. Hua Cheng really was too beautiful to be real. Her hair was tousled and wild in all the perfect ways, framing her face and standing as contrast to her pale skin. Her lips were full and red where they were pushed against Xie Lian’s old mug. Xie Lian swallowed. Hua Cheng was casually watching her too, not demanding or uninterested, but lightly, like a butterfly landing on her cheek.
Xie Lian couldn’t help but laugh. Here was a woman, who had just won a prestigious competition like water rolling off a duck’s back, blown a kiss to Xie Lian from the stage, given her a coat to keep her warm, paid for her dinner and was now sitting on her lumpy couch in her ancient apartment drinking the world’s worst cup of tea.
“What is so funny, jiejie?” Hua Cheng asked, resting the cup on her thigh, pulling Xie Lian’s eyes with it. The jeans she wore were pulled tight across the muscle of her legs, and Xie Lian mourned the loss of her access to them.
But she pulled herself up, saying as nonchalantly as she could, “Ah, San Niang, I don’t want to play board games anymore.”
Hua Cheng quirked an eyebrow up at that, but simply replied, “Alright, jiejie, what do you want to do instead?” Hua Cheng leaned up to set the empty mug on a coaster on the side table. Xie Lian looked at her now empty lap and moved to place herself there, straddling Hua Cheng’s hips. Hua Cheng made a shocked noise, but looked extremely appreciative, her hands hovering above Xie Lian’s thighs, asking if it was alright. Before she could chicken out, she grabbed Hua Cheng’s hands and guided them to her waist. When she looked up to make eye contact, Hua Cheng’s gaze was deep and warm, completely open and excitedly waiting for what Xie Lian would do next.
Xie Lian took a deep breath, before bringing her own hands up to cup Hua Cheng’s jaw, her skin was smooth and supple, but nothing could compare to the way her lips felt against Xie Lian’s. Hua Cheng hummed her appreciation, the sound rumbling deep in Xie Lian’s chest and Xie Lian gasped as she nipped her lower lip before kissing it better. Ah, there really couldn’t be anything better than this, Hua Cheng’s hands were slowly traveling around her back, holding her steady, while their lips moved against each other’s.
They broke apart for a second for Hua Cheng to whisper against her lips, “You’re so stunning. How are you in my arms right now?”
Xie Lian kissed her again. And again. And again. “I am the one who should be saying that.” They explored each other slowly, reverently, wondrously. Xie Lian basked in the feeling of being wanted, but being wanted by Hua Cheng was truly something else. Something unspeakable in its intimacy and its power.
With her eyes closed, the darkness reminded her of something she had been meaning to ask, “Was the blindfold you wore during your performance real?” Xie Lian asked with awe in her voice, barely moving back to break the kiss.
“Does jiejie want to find out for herself?” Hua Cheng hummed back, as if she were asking a different sort of question. Xie Lian’s breath caught in her throat, but she couldn't resist from nodding.