The duality of man is thinking “children cannot help themselves and we all need to be patient with them as they explore what it means to be human in public” and also “damn, I wish this crying baby was not on the plane rn :/“
the book one and two (pre flashback) interactions between the xianle quartet are actually ten times funnier once you have the context to realize it's literally just a continuation of mu qing and feng xin being annoyed with this child that keeps following them around and xie lian still not being able to understand why they can't all just get along.
The thing I think some people miss about Hua Cheng because he has this whole need to be the strongest to protect Xie Lian thing is that he is perfectly content to let Xie Lian fight his own battles and beat people up. Hell he gets a little kick out if. Like I think some people think he’s got this step behind me kitten booktok boyfriend behaviour and he doesn’t. He is more than happy to let Xie Lian go full martial god and cheer from the sidelines because he thinks it’s hot (see the entire Ban Yue arc) like as long as the whatever the threat is won’t actually hurt Xie Lian or Xie Lian won’t hurt himself he will canonically just be in the back trying on pretty outfits for his geges entertainment offering him advice and support and watching him kick ass with heart eyes because that’s the guy he fell in love with. He adores Xie Lian martial side and thinks it’s very cool and sexy of him.
My child Shi Qingxuan being, yet again, clueless:"Is Crimson Rain Sought Flower not taking good care of you??" Oh, don't worry, he absolutely is
And Feng Xin and Mu Qing just...staring at Xie Lian once they get it. They don't even wear "complicated expressions" like they often do. They just stare.
And then a bit later :
Shi Qingxuan asked very seriously : "Crimson Rain Sought Flower, have you checked out his Highness' body lately? "