[ ...it's familiar, if just a tiny, tiny bit melancholy. it's been a while since xie lian's time in those strange new worlds ended, now, and he has had no time to reach out - or, hasn't wanted to. sometimes, he still wears the shame like a cloak, curled up around his shoulders.

so this is the first time he's felt it. it's a reminder that the baraqiel he knew was not - was not his hua cheng, maybe, but... this one is. it's still him.

(he finds himself missing tanhua, just for a moment. a little nostalgia, a little bittersweet.)

still, xie lian's smile is gentle. ]

Mm. I think you'll find that he likes you very much, San Lang. [ ruoye chitters happily, content with showing off his voice, and squirms across san lang's lap, pretty much demanding that he continues to pet him. his little wiggle worm. ] He is independent of me in a sense - he very much has his own personality, and has been through quite a bit.

... He's been looking forward to [ i've been looking forward to ] meeting you.