Chapter Text
Hua Cheng isn’t the kind of person to see the world through rose colored spectacles. His life was never easy, never comfortable, never cushy. He fought his way through it, with his teeth bared and nails sharp. He is so used to everyone and everything being against him that it’s not a surprise that it takes a ridiculously out of place situation for him to notice anything other than hostility.
It is the most uneventful wednesday, when his worldview unexpectedly turns upside down. Or is changed, to be precise.
He just left his studio, exhausted but sated, having finished this month’s project. The early evening is kind of perfect, soft breeze and dimmed sunset. He looks up. The clouds are moving fast, he notices.
It looks funny.
Then, a memory suddenly pops up in his head:
It’s alright, Hong-er, look up. See how fast the clouds are going? It means the heavens are welcoming her. Clouds only move fast when good people leave us.
Hua Cheng was only four when his mother died, and he doesn’t remember a thing about her except for this absolutely ridiculous piece of information about clouds. He doesn’t even remember the person who told it to him. They couldn’t have been someone important, anyway — otherwise they would’ve stayed, and they didn’t.
Hua Cheng sighs, suddenly exhausted, and walks into the first coffee shop he sees on his way home. It’s small, with heavy wooden door and big windows decorated with fairy lights. It looks positively out of place in the neighborhood of businesses centers and modern apartment buildings, and for some reason Hua Cheng feels almost vindictive about choosing this place over some modern, steel-and-plastic coffee shops that are littered all over the neighborhood.
It’s almost empty, too. A couple sitting by the window, murmuring at each other, and a child performing what looks like a dance routine to her dad next to the bar counter.
“Large cappuccino, one pump of raspberry, one pump of mint.” He grunts, handing his card to the girl behind the bar. She looks almost as tired as he feels, but her hair is a lively ginger bob, and her eyes are warm as she smiles at him.
“Coming right up.” She smiles, taking his card and returning it after a short beep.
As Hua Cheng waits for his coffee, he lets his eyes wander.
Couple by the window now seem to be engaged in an disgustingly inappropriate make out session, and the little girl has switched to a dramatic poem reading about some kind of homeless animal.
..and his fur is dirty brown,
and his teeth are falling out,
and when people stroll around,
he doesn’t make a single sound…
Hua Cheng shakes his head slightly.
That’s quite morbid, he thinks.
“Here you go!” The redhead behind the bar hands him his order, and a brown paper bag.
Hua Cheng raises his eyebrow at her.
“Raspberry cupcake. Gluten-free.” She smiles. “On the house.”
“Why.” Hua Cheng frowns.
“It’s almost closing time.” She shrugs. “Either you eat it or I throw it out.”
Still frowning, Hua Cheng accepts the cup and the brown bag, and turns around.
Little girl, having finished with her poem, stares up at him with huge brown eyes. Her ponytail swings as she bounces softly on her tiptoes.
“You have paint on your cheek.” She says. And then, “I like your eye mask thing.”
Hua Cheng freezes.
“Okay?” He mumbles. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome!” She smiles. “Do you want a cookie? Daddy got me four!”
Hua Cheng throws a glance at the man who must be her father and freezes.
The guy is attractive. With hair even longer than Hua Cheng’s and slightly rumpled beige trench coat, and a small frown on his perfect face. He seems to be busy grading some kind of papers, but perks up under Hua Cheng’s stare.
“Ban Yue!” He exclaims. “What are you doing there? Come, come. Don’t bother this kind man.”
“It’s no bother.” Hua Cheng hurries to reassure the man. And wow, he’s got the sweetest eyes, hasn’t he? Perfect brown, deep and kind.
“I just offered him a cookie, daddy!” Ban Yue smiles sweetly, and the man seems to melt at her words.
“That’s very nice of you.” Gorgeous, gorgeous man says. He casts a look at Hua Cheng, making his heart flutter for a moment. “Why don’t you wrap it in a napkin?”
Ban Yue hurries to comply, rushing to the table, and Hua Cheng feels lost.
He looks around the coffee shop, trying to compose himself. Couple by the window are sharing a dessert. Barista is smiling at him. Hua Cheng feels like bolting.
“Please take the cookie.” The most beautiful stranger says. “I don’t like sweets and she’s definitely had enough.”
“I definitely had enough!” Ban Yue nods.
Hua Cheng breaks into a smile, completely involuntarily.
“Alright.” He agrees.
Ban Yue hands him a messily wrapped cookie. Hua Cheng offers her a deep bow.
She squeal, delighted.
“Oh!” Her father laughs. “I’m Xie Lian. Thank you for indulging us.”
“Xie Lian.” Hua Cheng repeats quietly. “The pleasure is all mine.”
They look at each other for a second or two, and then:
“I’m Ban Yue!” Ban Yue chirps. “What is your name?”
Hua Cheng chuckles and lowers himself, crutching on Ban Yue’s eye level.
“I’m Hua Cheng.” He says. “Thank you for the cookie. That was very kind of you.”
“I can give you one tomorrow, too!” Ban Yue whispers, quite loudly. “Daddy gets me some every time I’m being good at preschool.”
Hua Cheng can’t help but smile at her.
That night, as he returns home, with a free cupcake and a crumbling cookie, he finds himself reluctant to eat them. He can’t recall the last time someone was this kind to him just because.
He falls asleep with a smile on his face and unfamiliar lightness in his chest.