Truthfully, Xie Lian hadn’t given much thought about ghosts being able to experience chronic pain. But now, he finds himself thinking of it often.

He noticed it all about a month ago.

His San Lang had been helping him clean; sweeping, dusting, moving things around spontaneously and out of restless boredom. He was always so helpful to Xie Lian, always trying to be the best use to him. Xie Lian knew this was partially because his husband loved him very much and also because his husband had such poor self-worth and love issues. Although, his beloved has gotten better about that sort of stuffs.

The thing is, when San Lang was helping him clean, he made grimacing expressions when he thought Xie Lian wasn’t looking. Grimaces of pain and apparent discomfort. It had made Xie Lian’s heart squeeze with every twist of his husband’s tense mouth. Clearly, bending and turning and crouching continuously hurt his poor husband’s body.

Later, Xie Lian had called his sweet San Lang over and voiced his concerns. Naturally, San Lang denied experiencing any pain, insisting Xie Lian that he was fine and that ’Gēgē mustn’t burden himself for this one’s sake.’

Which was, pardon Xie Lian’s profanity, absolute bullshit. Of course, he didn’t say this to his husband, but instead begun to gently and patiently explain once again to San Lang that Xie Lian very much wanted to quote-un-quote ‘burden’ himself for his sake. San Lang reluctantly allowed it.

So here they were, Xie Lian straddling the hips of his resting husband. San Lang was flat on his stomach, his long black hair braided and out of the way. San Lang’s body was bare. Beside Xie Lian was an opaque bottle of oil, perfect for the activity ahead. A massage for his dearest, most devoted believer.