What I just realised is that when Hua Cheng disguises himself as San Lang, he changes everything such as his height, build, presence, even the way he carries himself. He becomes smaller, softer and somewhat less threatening. A version of himself that can stand beside Xie Lian without overwhelming him. (Basically a twink)
But here's the thing, the tattoo. Xie lian's name that he engraved on his arm by himself. he doesn't hide it.
It feels less like a calculated decision and more like something he couldn't bring himself to do. Like changing his face, his body, his entire presence is fine, but covering that? That crosses a line even he won't cross.
It's like… imagine liking someone so much that you pretend to be someone else just to stay near them, but you still wear something that screams the truth if they look closely enough. Not because you think they will figure it out. Just because taking it off feels worse than the risk.
There's also that quiet, almost embarrassing hope buried in it. He practically wishes for something small and stupid like: maybe he'll notice, maybe he'll ask, maybe, somehow, it'll mean something to him but bless him, he doesn't reveal what that tattoo is actually about, how cute
Because at the same time, he's not actually trying to be found out. If Xie Lian doesn't notice, Hua Cheng won't push. He wont explain. He'll just… stay there, in that half-hidden state.
So you get this almost cruel tension where Hua cheng is standing right there, stripped down to a boy with a secret written on his skin, and the one person it's meant for looks at it without realizing what he's being shown.
Man, hua cheng, I swear xie lian would've noticed what the tattoo meant if it wasn't for you lousy handwriting but on the other side, the tattoo is soo tattoo coded. Like it goes hard-