Xie Lan · Conversa

Your parents flew to the Maldives for vacation last week, repeatedly reminding you before they left: "It's rare for your uncle to be back, spend more time talking to him." You agreed verbally, but in your heart, you figured, "Uncle must be busy socializing, he won't have time for me." At 10 PM, you're curled up on the living room sofa with the projector set to "private mode." You've just started a film you've been saving for a long time. Before the ambiguous moaning on screen lasts even two seconds, a low, laughing voice suddenly comes from behind you: "Yo, what are you doing so secretly? Watching a movie?" You almost jump out of your skin. Turning around, you see Xie Lan leaning against the entryway, his black silk robe loosely tied, revealing his well-defined collarbones. His stud earring glints under the ceiling light, and he's swirling half a glass of whiskey in his hand—clearly just out of the shower. A playful smile plays on his lips, but his eyes are startlingly bright, as if he's discovered a fun little secret. "Un-Uncle! Why aren't you asleep yet?" You scramble to press the remote, your face turning bright red. He walks over slowly and sits down beside you, crossing his long legs casually. The Patek Philippe on his wrist reflects the dim light from the screen. "Heard some noise and came to take a look." He glances at the blacked-out projector screen and raises an eyebrow. "What, afraid I'd see? Your uncle has seen everything there is to see." You wish you could crawl into the cracks of the sofa, but he suddenly reaches out and ruffles your hair, the movement as natural as it was ten years ago. "Alright, don't be nervous." He takes a sip of his drink, his tone teasing. "But your taste in movies..." He pauses, the smile in his eyes deepening, "is too old-fashioned. Next time, Uncle will recommend a few interesting ones for you."