Mad Ramblings

On AO3, last updated July 31, 2023

Actor AU: first part, second part (first posted), third part, sequel 1, sequel 2

AU where SY is canon and SJ transmigrates: main fic, notes

Bodyguard AU: fic, extra 1, extra 2

Crime AU: main series, Shencest AU, actual prostitute SY AU

Dead LBH AU: main fic, first sequel, second sequel, comment fic AU

Demon king/peak lord AU

Free use world AU: first fic, BingQiu sequel, MoShang fic

LBH/SY/GGX fic: main fic, porn sequel

LBH/SY/OLBH canon divergence AU: notes, first fic, second fic

LiuShen Week drunk fic: main fic, sequel

Love potion AU: main series, OLBH/SY porn

Modern OLBH/SY AU

NTR AU: main fic, porn prequel (posted first)

OLBH/SY, where OLBH is the prostitute

OLBH/SY, where SY is the prostitute

Omega demon LBH: fic, notes

Online friends AU: main fic, TLJ pov

Prostitution AU: main fic 1, 2, YQY/SY/SJ route, LBH/SY route, LBH/SY vignette, LQG/SY fic

Poly AU: main fic, porn ficlet, fics set in this setting but not in the main continuity : 1, 2, 3

Royalty AU: main series

Slave GGX fic: main fic, GGX pov, sequel

SQH/SY ABO soulmates, BingQiu alternate ending

SY/SJ fic: first part, second part, third part, fourth part

Transmigration into BingJiu

TLJ/SY + LBH/SY prostitution AU, sequel

TLJ/SY modern AU : notes, fic

TLJ/SY/OLBH sex pollen, sequels

Vampire harem AU: first fic, second fic

Voyeurism fic: main fic, sequel

YQY/SY fic: main fic, prequel

“This is not happening.”

“You lost the bet fair and square, didn’t you?”

“Nothing you do is fair and square!”

“Did anyone, any single person, notice the subterfuge?”

“Yes! Me!”

Tianlang-Jun gives him the disapproving look that response apparently demanded.

It is not Shen Yuan’s fault that people are idiots! They should have noticed that Shen Yuan would never ever have thought about wasting his time on an annoyingly long article proclaiming Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai’s influence on modern harem novel heroines. He would never shame himself in that way! The ladies deserved so much better!

But no, apparently, not even Binghe noticed that the travesty that was published under his name was written not by Shen Yuan but by his coworker, eternal enemy and possibly-maybe-sort-of partner, Tianlang-Jun. Shen Yuan’s heart is broken, shattered into pieces. His genius, his beautiful prose, his witty turns of phrase, all of that amateurishly imitated by Tianlang-Jun just to ruin Shen Yuan’s bibliography, and no one questioned it. To hear all of them, this was just something Shen Yuan would write.

Shen Yuan hates all his colleagues and students. They are 100% to blame for his current predicament. “We’re at work! We could both get fired!”

“Office hours are long over. No one is going to come knocking this late.”

“That doesn’t mean there is no one right next door!”

“You’ll just have to stay quiet then, won’t you?”

“Right, put this all on m-“

Of course Tianlang-Jun is going to shut him up with his tongue. He doesn’t have what it takes to debate Shen Yuan on an even playing field! If he would just let him talk, Shen Yuan would skin him alive.

Sadly, Tianlang-Jun does not know what playing fair even mean. It probably never crossed his mind to let Shen Yuan talk himself out of this ridiculous situation he’s trapped in, and out of the man’s hold, when he can just not let him speak and do whatever he wants on the egregious basis that Shen Yuan did kinda agree to let him do it if he managed to fool anyone with his attempt at mimicking him. Which he did, because again, people are idiots.

Also Tianlang-Jun is a supervillain and has no shame nor morals.

At least he thoughtfully cleared his desk before bending Shen Yuan over it. The last thing they need is students’ papers hopelessly stained.

He is not anywhere near as careful with Shen Yuan’s clothes. Goodbye nice shirt, you will be missed. “Hey! I need to be decent after!”

“I bought you a chance of clothes.”

Shen Yuan snarls. Like he has not noticed Tianlang-Jun’s tendency to repopulate his wardrobe as he wishes. Shen Yuan will not be wearing those slutty waistcoats to work.

But the shirts are nice. Damned old money.

His pants and underwear also follow the way of his shirt, until Shen Yuan is naked, spread over a desk and utterly embarrassed.

Tianlang-Jun, of course, feels not one sliver of embarrassment. “I don’t suppose I could convince you to relocate to my desk permanently? My own office hours would be so much more delightful.”

Shen Yuan glares. “You could also work elsewhere. Maybe you’d enjoy that more.”

“And be separated from you? How could I?”

The thing is, even if Shen Yuan cannot see him, he knows Tianlang-Jun means it. He knows his expression has turned soft. Even if he couldn’t feel it in the way the hands caressing his back turned tender, he would still know his smile did the same.

And because he knows, he doesn’t say anything more and lets Tianlang-Jun live his fantasy of fucking Shen Yuan over his desk, right here at the university they both work at, because “if we get caught you are obligated to bankroll me for the rest of my life.”

A gentle kiss over his nape even as less gentle fingers find their way inside him. “It would be my honor and privilege.”

Shen Yuan blushes. That asshole, again with saying things like that and meaning it! What is he supposed to do with that! He doesn’t know which is worst : being unable to respond out of embarrassment or because of the rising pleasure of the fingers teasing him open stealing his breath.

Tianlang-Jun’s other hand forces itself under Shen Yuan’s, finds Shen Yuan’s somewhat interested cock and decides to make sure it is completely on board.

Shen Yuan shivers and bites his lips. Quiet. The main goal here is to remain quiet. For all he knows, Shang Qinghua is right next door with an ear against the wall, eager for any inspiration for his next chapter. Shen Yuan knows he needs it. He can’t be making a sound, can’t be heard, can’t pant too loudly or let out one of those moans Tianlang-Jun always delights in tearing out of him.

Teeth pressing gently against the lobe of his ear. “Ready, darling?”

Is he? Is anyone ever ready to take that? Shen Yuan knows he’s never been. It always feels like too much, like this will be the time he won’t be able to handle it, and yet, he gets through it each time with tears in his eyelashes, throat raw and mind wiped by bliss.

Low laugh in his ear. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

That having been Shen Yuan instinctively spreading his thighs and pushing back against Tianlang-Jun, hips raised.

He will deny having done any of this on his deathbed.

Shen Yuan tastes blood on his tongue when Tianlang-Jun pulls out his fingers. He knows what comes next, and he must be silent for it.

He tries to focus instead on the push of the side of the desk in his belly, on the feel of expensive wood against his strained erection.

Please let the wood be unstained. He’ll never be able to exist in this room again if he enters and he’s faced by an unexplained spot.

He’s proud of himself for letting out nothing more than a gasp when Tianlang-Jun enters him, slowly, slowly, pushing Shen Yuan harder against the desk in a way that might be uncomfortable if Shen Yuan could spare the neurons to think about anything, anything at all. Alas, it’s too much to ask of him right now.

“Hush, we don’t want anyone to get curious and come looking, don’t we? You’re a spectacle only meant for my eyes.”

Shen Yuan bites down on his tongue harder, but not even the sting can keep him focused. He challenges anyone in his position to do so.

His sweaty hands slide over the polished wood, trying futilely to find purchase, to hold steady despite how his whole body is thrown forward with each overwhelming thrust.

Shen Yuan’s vision is blurry with tears and his mouth hurts with all the sounds he’s holding back by the time he comes, Tianlang-Jun’s cock inside him and the hand cruelly wrapped around him. But by the time Tianlang-Jun himself is done, Shen Yuan is a mindless mess over the desk, aches and pains far away sensations he’s almost blind to.

Shen Yuan trembles as Tianlang-Jun pulls out and the world slowly but surely reasserts itself. “Oh dear, I’m afraid I pushed you a bit too far. Oh well, I’m sure there is no one left at the university. I could probably carry you to the car like this and no one would be the wiser.”

That wakes Shen Yuan up. Carrying Shen Yuan’s naked and spoiled body all over campus seems like something Tianlang-Jun would love to do. “Absolutely not” is what he tries to say, but he ends up sounding more like “Absolty noth.”

Tianlang-Jun pulls out a towel and… a thermos? out of nowhere. “Let’s clean you up first. Can you sit up?”

Shen Yuan seriously does not want to sit up. That does not seem like it will be a pleasant experience.

“Roll over then. I’ll take care of you.”

It is still ridiculous that Shen Yuan trusts a supervillain, well, former supervillain, anywhere near him, and yet, here they both are, despoiling the ancient institution that is the university they are supposed to promote and respect.

Whatever. He’s tired. Tianlang-Jun won’t hurt him. This whole thing is his fault, he can deal with it. Shen Yuan can’t be bothered to do anything. He’s just going to close his eyes tightly shut and erase from his consciousness his current emplacement until they’re back into Tianlang-Jun’s nice house. That shouldn’t take too long.

“You were lovely. Thank you, darling.”

Wen Qiyu has no idea why she fought against this this hard.

Well, she does. The answer to this query is currently snuggling against her, his breasts pushing against her back in a way that might have distracted her thoroughly hadn’t that hunger been utterly sated, courtesy of both Ling Huilang and the person gazing over them both with possessive satisfaction, i.e., their husband.

Luo Binghe’s presence cannot be forgotten, but for once Shang Qinghua isn’t worried about it. Their lord and master has had everything he desires: the one he cares for once not placidly compliant but an eager participant, spurred on by the presence of his, let’s be honest here, one friend to support him. Wen Qiyu not as an obstacle between him and Ling Huilang but as an ally to take down his favorite’s wall, one brick at a time. Both of them still in his bed the morning after, at least for now, because Wen Qiyu is pretty sure it’s about time for her to make herself scarce. That way Luo Binghe gets to have Ling Huilang all to himself when she wakes up. If he’s very, very lucky, maybe he’ll manage to make Cucumber-bro talk about his ❀ ⋆˚ feelings ₊˚❀༉.

Except that her attempts at disentangling herself from Ling Huilang are stopped by said Ling Huilang sleepily holding onto her and their husband’s lips on hers, which, why? Surely she’s unneeded at that point. “My king? Wouldn’t you appreciate time by yourself with Ling Huilang? I wouldn’t want to interfere.”

“Why would you? Are you not also my wife, as lovely as any of them and twice as clever as most? Why would I not want you by my side?”

Where did that came from?

Her bafflement might be visible because Luo Binghe laughs and kisses her again, tenderly, the way Shang Qinghua imagines he kisses Ling Huilang. She is so, so confused.

“Can’t you believe your presence and contribution could be recognised and duly appreciated? Last night proved we work better on the same side. I neglected you. I won’t make that mistake again.”

“Huh… Whatever my king wants.” What else can she say?

Apparently, what Luo Binghe wants is for her to settle back into bed and against his flawless protagonist’s chest to wait until the one binding them together deigns to open his eyes. He wants to pet Wen Qiyu’s hair and to rub her side gently, until Wen Qiyu wonders if she’ll fall asleep again before his bro wakes up. Luo Binghe is delightfully warm, and the night was… demanding. She can think of worst things than remaining here between the centers of her universe.

She feels eyelashes tease her nape as Ling Huilang wakes. “What… Who… Oh.”

Shang Qinghua can almost hear the blush spreading like wildfire on Ling Huilang’s skin. He can certainly feel the heat of it on his own skin.

Much less expected are the “fuck it” Ling Huilang spits out under his breath and the much more insistent press of his quite womanly shape against her back, legs entangled in hers. “Huilang?”

Ling Huilang hides his face into her neck. “Still sleeping.”

Over her hips, Luo Binghe’s fingers find Ling Huilang's and trap them into his palm.

The weight of their joined hands is overpowering.

Shang Qinghua is not sure he can stand this. Sex is sex, he could handle it, but whatever this is? What is he supposed to do with that? “No you’re not, come on, let me up. You can have Bingge all to yourself, wouldn’t that be great?”

Linh Huilang twitches against him but does not let go of him one bit. “You’re staying.”

Deep but kind laughter from his other side. “It seems your objections have been heard but overruled.”

It does seem like it.

Ling Huilang is smiling against her neck. Wen Qiyu can feel the shape of it, soft on her skin.

Well, that battle sure is lost. There is no way he’s getting out of there if Cucumber-bro and Luo Binghe are collaborating. Shang Qinghua knows his odds in those circumstances: they are null.

The bed is sinfully warm, though not as sinful as the people occupying it. Also like the people occupying it, it is very, very comfortable.

If Bingge and Cucumber-bro want to cuddle for a bit, why not? He’s not going to lose anything.

Luo Bingge still thinks surrendering his twin brother to Shizun might be the worst choice he has ever made, if only because Shen Qingqiu deserves better. If anyone would benefit getting laid properly regularly, it would be him. Alas, Shen Qingqiu is now bonded by marriage to Luo Bingmei and is thus doomed to an existence of vanilla sex.

(Some would argue that a single mediocre lover always available is preferable to a very skilled lover you spend a night with maybe once a year, but those people haven’t slept with Luo Bingge. They would change their mind if they had.

Also, Shen Qingqiu isn’t just anyone. If he were his, Luo Bingge would not neglect him.)

Luckily for them all, Luo Bingge sometimes manages to convince his brother that a change of pace keeps life interesting. Surely Luo Bingmei can appreciate Shen Qingqiu being the one to cry for once? He’s so pretty like that, with teary eyes full of desperation.  

“It has to be enough!”

Luo Bingge takes a second look. If Bingge hadn’t gagged him, Shen Qingqiu would certainly be begging for mercy, so there’s that in Bingmei’s favor, but Bingge hasn’t tired of the sight in front of him. Shen Qingqiu can wait a little longer.

He trails a finger along Shen Qingqiu’s length, a nail gently rubbing the slit. “I’m not sure.”

Shen Qingqiu trashes under his touch. The tear tracks and the muffled pleas make for a lovely spectacle.

“Brother!”

Luo Bingge sighs. Really, no patience. Fine goods like their shizun are wasted on him. “Fine. I’ll ask Shizun then.” He removes the gag to allow for a response. “Is Shizun ready for more?”

Shen Qingqiu’s voice is broken, shaken by sobs and tremors. “Please.”

He shrugs and turns to his brother. “Shizun seems to agree with you.” He returns his attention to the one who deserves it. “What do you want?”

“Anything.”

Luo Bingge smirks. “How generous.” The possibilities are endless, but he can’t be too harsh on his brother’s husband. Bingmei won’t allow It. Worse, he might refuse to let him visit again, and wouldn’t that be a shame?

He pushes the toy vibrating inside of Shen Qingqiu deeper harshly to tear a scream out of him, now that he can finally hear him properly. “Shall I leave you with this then? I’m sure that once you’re free, you could come from it.” He’s so close, no matter what Bingge does to him, he’ll come as soon as he unties the rope keeping him from his orgasm. Bingmei would never let him do it, but the idea of spanking Shen Qingqiu raw and still make him come, pain and pleasure so intertwined his shizun can’t separate one from the other, is very tempting.

He pinches his shizun’s nipples as he pretends to ponder his options, just to hear Shen Qingqiu beg for a little longer.

He will be kind, or as kind as he ever gets. “Shizun was good, taking all that he was given without complaint. He earned himself what he heeds, a real cock. Toys like this aren’t enough for him.” He pulls it out, surely leaving his shizun feeling so, so empty. “I trust that when I unbound Shizun, he will know what to do?” Because Bingmei or not, he will be punished if he goes for his own cock.

Shen Qingqiu nods furiously, too confused to even consider telling Bingge no.

Luo Bingge takes his time with the immortal binding cable, playing with the knots until Shen Qingqiu is trembling with need, pleading for him to hurry.

As soon as his last limb has been freed, Shen Qingqiu settles right where he should be and rides him with abandon, seeking the orgasm he hasn’t been allowed yet.

Luo Bingge wishes he could hold Shen Qingqiu’s wrists behind his back to make sure he can do absolutely nothing but taking his cock, but his shizun needs to be able to support himself. A pity.

The spectacle he makes is still wonderful. Luo Bingge once again curses his generous heart, who gave his younger brother this man instead of letting Bingge adding him to his harem. He would have lacked for nothing, Luo Bingge himself least of all.

At least Bingmei likes looking. He might as well not be here right now, for all the presence he has. Luo Bingge isn’t sure Shen Qingqiu remembers he’s in the room.

He’s not going to remind his shizun, that’s for sure. Shen Qingqiu shouldn’t think about anything but what he is doing right now.

Luo Bingge lets his shizun work, refusing to give him any stimulation other than what he can get by impaling himself. He remains motionless, taking in his shizun growing even more desperate in his desire to convince his captor that he deserves release, in all significations of the word.

Shen Qingqiu’s voice breaks, sore from crying. He’s about to crumble.

He’s probably earned his reward by now.

As predicted, Shen Qingqiu breaks as soon as Luo Bingge removes the tie.

Luo Binghe holds him until the world starts making sense for him again. It takes a while.

“Shizun did so well. After all this waiting, surely a round wasn’t enough? I’m sure my brother will be more than eager to help you with that.”

He’s not sure which of the two is more shocked by the proposition.

He’s also unsure of which of them is most willing to go through with it.

Shen Yuan should have pulled a “Not tonight, I have a headache.” He’s in no shape to handle anyone tonight, not with Binghe having taken advantage, taken all of the advantages, of his father’s business trip so thoroughly, probably to stop Shen Yuan from doing exactly what he’s doing right now. What Shen Yuan needs is a week of uninterrupted sleep by himself to restore his strength, his health and his sanity. It’s what he told Binghe when he left his boyfriend’s apartment. 

But Tianlang-Jun had called the next day, fresh off the plane, not even bothering to hide how much he’d missed Shen Yuan, and he had found himself unable to say no to Tianlang-Jun’s very suggestive tone. Acquiescing to whatever Tianlang-Jun demanded of him was second nature by now.

So Shen Yuan had said yes, he’d be right there, and so here he is, with Tianlang-Jun’s tongue in his mouth and his hands down the back of his pants. It shouldn’t be possible for Shen Yuan to light up like this, to burn like, like he was Tianlang-Jun, eager to put behind him three weeks of abstinence. Shen Yuan hasn’t even enjoyed a full twenty-four hours of it yet! Still, he twists under Tianlang-Jun’s touch like his sore body wasn’t protesting, like it wasn’t dreading the path those hands seemed intent on following.

Shen Yuan desperately curses biology. Did both of them need to be that well endowed? They didn’t even have the decency to have something they needed to compensate for! He has no idea how to tell Tianlang-Jun that he’s too sore for a proper welcome. It’s not like he can build a proper argument when he’s like this. Tianlang-Jun will laugh out any attempt at resistance, will talk circles around him until he’s begging to be fucked, having forgotten everything but the need he was being fed. After all, he said yes.

He’s doomed. He has to accept he won’t be able to leave the bed tomorrow.

Might as well enjoy it as best he can.

So Shen Yuan doesn’t protest when Tianlang-Jun removes their clothes with a bit too much haste, a lack of control uncharacteristic of him. Any other time, Shen Yuan might be amused. He might dare to tease, knowing it would result in him being put in his place and relishing every moment of it.

Tonight, he knows better. He can’t afford the extra workout. It’ll take all he has to come out of the tamest version of their usual encounters in one piece. He prefers to remain pliant, to be as good as Tianlang-Jun wants him to be, so that he’ll be rewarded and, hopefully, taken cared of properly.

His breathing is ragged by the time Tianlang-Jun’s finger finds his opening, but all the desire in the world can’t stop him from wincing.

Tianlang-Jun stops at once.

Shen Yuan also freezes.

When Tianlang-Jun tries again, Shen Yuan manages to hold back the exclamation of pain.

He cannot, however, stop himself from tensing.

Gone are Tianlang-Jun’s dulcet tones. “I see my son has kept you busy.”

It is utterly ridiculous that Shen Yuan still isn’t immune, but it is what it is; he can’t help blushing bright red at Tianlang-Jun acknowledging Shen Yuan and his own son’s sex life. He’s not the one related to either of them, how come he’s the most embarrassed by it! If he had the power to impose anything on them, he would forbid both his lovers from even thinking about the other during sex.

He tries to get himself back together long enough to answer. “Did you expect anything else?”

Tianlang-Jun sighs, his voice softening. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have. You, however, should not have let me get away with it. I have no desire to hurt you.”

He knows that. He’s more than aware that for all of Tianlang-Jun’s pushing, he has his wellbeing at heart. He would never inflict pain when it could be avoided.

But. “I said yes.”

“You should not have felt obligated to.”

Did he? Is that why he said yes?

No. He said yes because Tianlang-Jun had the power to make him lose all reason. A power he and his son share.

Shen Yuan had been doomed from the start. “I didn’t.”

“Then why did you come in this shape, without even informing me?”

His cheeks are still burning. He wants to answer, instinctively want to respond to Tianlang-Jun’s kind but firm request in a way that would please him, but words die on his tongue before he can make it move. How could he explain what he can’t admit to himself?

Lips press against his, cutting off any potential response.

Shen Yuan leans into the excuse gratefully.

Tianlang-Jun’s eyes meet his, and Shen Yuan knows he doesn’t have to speak to be understood. The hands still resting on his ass change their trajectory to cup his cock, still hard despite the light pain of the intrusion.

This time, the sound Shen Yuan lets out is of another nature entirely.

He hides his face in the crook of Tianlang-Jun’s neck, hoping the sounds he’s making so close to his ear aren’t deafening.

He’d want to do better than this, to be more than a trembling mess barely able to hold himself together, only good for taking what he’s being given gratefully, but at the moment it takes all he has not to shatter in pieces under Tianlang-Jun’s hands. Not to falter from the mere brush of the man’s untouched erection against him, threatening and yet calling to him even in this state.

Tianlang-Jun pulls at him just so, and he’s the one breaking like a dam, like he had been waiting for an eternity for exactly this.

It takes him a few minutes to piece himself back together.

Tianlang-Jun holds him through it, his soiled hands a comforting weight on his back.

He wouldn’t call the weight of the cock straining against his thighs comforting, but it certainly is familiar.

Once he’s certain he has regained enough muscle coordination for it, he slides off Tianlang-Jun’s lap until he’s kneeling on the floor by the bed, his intent clear enough even before he licks his drying lips. He might be too sore to enjoy a proper fuck, but he can still offer his throat.

It is all it is; an offer. He has never been, nor would he want to be, the one making the choices here.

Nails brush lightly against his scalp before fingers curl around the back of his head, soft but unrelenting. Shen Yuan closes his eyes and opens up as wide as he can, welcoming the heavy weight on his tongue until the cock lodges itself all the way down the back of his throat.

At first, the mere idea he could manage this would have seemed laughable to him, but he was taught that with patience and the right guidance, very few things are impossible. He can now handle to the girth and length of his partners if he so wishes.

This, too, can be demanding, but Luo Binghe has spared him this, so it is easier to handle at the moment.

He breathes when he can, unmindful of the tears pearling in his eyes, and remains open and docile for his partner to use as he sees fit, mindlessly responding to each caress or soft-spoken word to please his partner just as he wants to be pleasured. He was trained to be good, and this is what he will be. Surely Tianlang-Jun deserves nothing less.

The grip on the back of his head tightens.

Hopefully, it will leave marks Shen Yuan will still be able to feel tomorrow.

He’s pushed deeper onto Tianlang-Jun’s cock, his taste turning saltier as more precome spills inside him. Shen Yuan readies himself for what he knows is coming, tightening his lips as much as he can to keep his master’s essence from escaping. He feels the warm skin pulse in his mouth before come fills him, leaving him with the deep satisfaction of knowing that even when tried and used, Shen Yuan can still be good, as he always should be.

Shen Yuan stays where he is, his lips still loosely wrapped around the head of Tianlang-Jun’s cock. For all that his body is tired, not ready for another round yet, his partner’s situation is very different. He knows the night is far from over. If Tianlang-Jun so wishes, in a few minutes Shen Yuan will once again take in as much of his partner’s cock as he is able to, until he feeds Shen Yuan his come once more. He doesn’t mind. He never has. Tianlang-Jun likes finding his limits and pushing past them until they’re completely obliterated. All Shen Yuan has to do is let him.

In another life, he might have complained. In this one, he sees no reason to. There is nothing as peaceful as these moments, where the world is simple and the path forward, clear. How could he say no to it?

So I was thinking about old series and how fandom changed and guys. Guys. MoB omegaverse. No seriously, think about it. Because if you asked Naoe and Kagetora, of course both of those toxic assholes would choose to be alphas because those inferiority complexes man, but that wouldn't always work out so you'd have incarnations where they're the same thing and that doesn't change much, but you can bet any incarnation where Naoe is an alpha and Kagetora is an omega gets to be Extra Toxic, what's with Kagetora overcompensating and Naoe being even more possessive, if that's possible, but also I can't imagine that even if he doesn't like it, if Naoe gets to be an omega when Kagetora is an alpha he uses all the cards he can and like sneaks into Kagetora's bed when he's going into heat and Kagetora hates those incarnations the most because it's the closest he gets to seeing Naoe as an option, someone he is responsible for and could see himself caring for.

He’s being ridiculous and he knows it.

This is nothing new. Shen Jiu has never pretended Yue Qingyuan was his one and only. He had left in the middle of the night more often than Yue Qingyuan can remember, to visit some anonymous conquest or another.

Or his brother. If that was the way Shen Jiu decided to manage his relationship with his twin, and it worked for him, it wasn’t his place to intervene. Their bond had always been… complicated. Yue Qingyuan had no desire to come between them.

If only the same could be said of Luo Binghe.

The man couldn’t be content with the kiss marks he usually bruised on his own fiancé’s neck. No, he also had to brand Shen Jiu in a way he had never allowed before, bite marks so deep they have to have drawn blood, deep imprints of fingernails that took days to fade.

Yue Qingyuan grits his teeth when Luo Binghe shows up with similar marks one day, gingerly hanging on Shen Yuan’s arm like everything was fine, when there was no way the one he called his shizun would treat him this roughly. Is Luo Binghe so talented a lover than he can convince him these were his doings, too lost in the throes of passion to remember acting in such a way?

Yue Qingyuan wouldn’t be surprised. Shen Jiu wouldn’t let him touch him if he weren’t. Not to mention he was raised by Shen Yuan, and thus surrounded by prostitutes. Who knows how many years of experience he had under his belt.

It’s none of his business. He told himself he would stay away from this future tragedy.

He can’t anymore. Sooner or later, Shen Yuan is bound to find out, and this will be the end for the brothers. Shen Yuan is too besotted to forgive such a betrayal by the two persons most important to him. The family will burn down, and the only one who will benefit will be Luo Binghe, all set to take everything over.

It still looks unlikely to him. Luo Binghe has to be a talented actor, but can the borderline obsessive way he trails after Shen Yuan can really be faked? Had the child Yue Qingyuan had grown to know really been playing such a long game?

He remembers Luo Binghe’s eyes glinting with adoration, and he can’t think so.

He also remembers the trail of bodies Luo Binghe left behind as tribute to Shen Yuan.

It’s hard to find a moment where Luo Binghe is both accessible and away from Shen Yuan, but Yue Qingyuan lies in wait until said moment is found. “Luo Binghe, if you would?”

Luo Binghe favors him with a polite smile he learned from his shizun, perfectly charming and utterly false. “Yes?”

What’s the point. “Let’s spare the niceties. If you wanted to take us down, why bother with this convoluted charade? Just murder Shen Yuan in his sleep and be done with it. He’s infatuated enough to let you do it.”

Luo Binghe’s eyes widen in shock. “What? I would never!”

It doesn’t seem faked, but does Yue Qingyuan really know this man? “Why betray him with his own brother then?”

Luo Binghe still looks confused. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Please. Shen Yuan might be blinded by love, but anyone else can see the marks you’ve never bothered hiding. You’re sleeping with Shen Jiu.”

Something appears to click in Luo Binghe’s mind, because the confusion fades, to be replaced by open amusement. “You don’t know. I thought you did, but I appear to have overestimated you. I won’t make that mistake again.”

That’s not comforting. “Enlighten me then.”

“I will. Your misunderstanding will only cause trouble for Shizun. Shen Yuan knows. It was his idea, after all.”

Yue Qingyuan freezes. “You want me to believe Shen Yuan whored you out to buy peace?” Luo Binghe might agree if Yuan did ask, but would Shen Jiu even want that?

If he was allowed to handle Luo Binghe as he wished, maybe…

But that is not the story his body tells.

“Of course not. My husband’s bed is just always open to me, no matter who else is in it.”

Yue Qingyuan’s breath locks in his chest. This was Shen Yuan’s plan…?

Yue Qingyuan is an idiot. It’s so easy to underestimate Shen Yuan. His demeanor is kinder, more patient, gentler than Shen Jiu’s ever was. It had always pushed Shen Jiu to take on the harder jobs, to walk the darker roads, to protect his presumed innocence. In response to this treatment, Yue Qingyuan himself always considered him something close to Shen Jiu’s younger sibling, who needed protection and guidance sometimes.

Shen Yuan is Shen Jiu’s twin, his equal in age and skills. Why would he be above using his partners in this way? How could someone so tainted by their world, in a position to survey everyone’s movement in the casino he rules as a king would, be unaware of his fiancé straying? “I suppose I owe Shen Yuan an apology.” He can’t believe he underestimated a Shen in this way. How mortifying. He should have known better.

“You do, but I suggest you don’t bother making one. It will be easier on everyone were you to continue turning your eyes away.”

Yue Qingyuan remembers bringing his theory to Shen Jiu, and only receiving ‘I have nothing to be ashamed of’ as an answer.

So Shen Jiu hadn’t been lying. How novel.

Still, quite rude of Shen Yuan to arrange another lover for his brother and not even involve Yue Qingyuan in the matter.  Words will have to be had.

Yue Qingyuan knows.

Shen Yuan will have to accept that when it comes to his… private affairs, he is terrible at keeping secrets. Both Luo Binghe and Yue Qingyuan managed to find out about the one aspect of his life no one should have been made aware of, despite all his efforts to the contrary, and both have tried to use it against him.

So when he decided to complicate his life further on the off chance that maybe, someday, his future husband and his brother might be able to exist in the same building without plotting the other’s death, he had only thought it prudent to keep Shen Jiu’s right-hand man away from an already too tense situation.

Then again, maybe this is Shen Jiu’s fault. Keeping Yue Qingyuan from discovering his proclivities should have been his responsibility. If Shen Yuan was the one who… spent time with his brother and his brother’s fiancé, he would do everything in his power to keep Binghe from finding out.

Not that he would ever do that.

Not only because Luo Binghe would find out anyway, and Shen Yuan would have neither brother nor old family employee.

At least Yue Qingyuan probably won’t eliminate them.

…So Shen Jiu should be the last person to use to make sure Luo Binghe survive, but if he plays his cards right, maybe he can convince him to intervene. “I know you said you would have some of your own people working here, but isn’t Yue Qingyuan overkill? Why is your shadow wasting his time lurking in the casino?”

Shen Jiu shrugs. “I don’t have time to micromanage him. He can do whatever he wishes as long as he does what he has to and he comes when I call.”

“May I remind you I’m the manager here?”

Shen Jiu glares at him. “If you think that gives you the right to stop mine from going wherever they want, you’re delusional.”

It does, in fact, give him that right. Shen Yuan has full veto power over who works here. His parents would fully back him up if he decided not to let Shen Jiu plant his little spies in his domain.

Would that extend to the man bred to be Shen Jiu’s? Very few things are forbidden to Yue Qingyuan.

Shen Yuan sighs. He is not going to risk the very fragile truce he’s just started building by alienating both Shen Jiu and Yue Qingyuan. If Shen Jiu is fine with his right-hand man wasting his time by the wrong brother’s side, that’s his prerogative.

If that’s a plan, for one reason or another, Shen Yuan will foil it. He did not come where he is by being helpless.

If he’s being very foolish and is planning some form of counterattack, Shen Yuan will cede the right to retaliate to Luo Binghe. That should be more than enough to teach them their place.

Yue Qingyuan knows.

Luo Binghe supposes it isn’t surprising. He suspects that just like Shen Yuan, Shen Jiu doesn’t realise that all their precautions don’t actually manage to keep much from their right-hand men. Luo Binghe was allowed access to pretty much whatever he wanted when he was younger, and he can’t imagine Yue Qingyuan, who has been by Shen Jiu’s side almost from birth, isn’t granted at least as much leniency. Luo Binghe can’t remember how many times he was sent away on one errand or another because Shen Jiu wanted to see Shen Yuan. He hadn’t thought much of it at first, because their hatred was reciprocal, but as time passed, he noticed marks Shen Yuan hadn’t been sporting before those visits. He had tried to ignore them, but, as someone allowed to wander in Shen Yuan’s bedroom whenever he wanted, he could only blind himself to the evidence for so long. Though he was tempted, he didn’t dare, nor did he need to, hide a camera in Shen Yuan’s quarters to prove it. He knew.

As much as he hated the idea of Shen Jiu forcing himself on Shen Yuan, because surely this wasn’t something his shizun wanted, it hadn’t been a priority at the time. Luo Binghe was in no position to take Shen Jiu out, and as much as it pained him to admit it, Shen Yuan had some level of attachment to his sibling, not to mention that handling the whole family by himself would be too much of a burden on Shen Yuan. When Luo Binghe was older, maybe…

Then Luo Binghe’s fate changed, and here they are. He now is an equal to Shen Yuan, able to offer him status and help in a way he could have never imagined as a child. He could, in theory, eliminate Shen Jiu without hurting Shen Yuan’s position.

But no matter how clever he was, Shen Yuan would know he was behind it. Luo Binghe can’t risk losing him for Shen Jiu of all people. So he has to live with it, with him, for now.

At least he has Shen Yuan, unlike Yue Qingyuan.

He understands only too well Yue Qingyuan’s feelings. His whole world might turn around Shen Jiu, but he will never be able to call him his. Like Luo Binghe as a child, he has neither the status nor the power necessary to claim one of the brothers as his spouse. Loyalty would not get him that much.

That doesn’t mean Luo Binghe feels guilty for being one of those who have had Shen Jiu. Shen Yuan is the one who put his brother on the table. Who is he to refuse his beloved? Plus, he has to admit that there is a part of him that thrilled at putting Shen Jiu in his place in that way, the man’s overbearing airs destroyed as he twisted under his him, eyes wet and nails digging in Luo Binghe’s back. Shen Jiu can deny it all he wants, but he now knows intimately that he’ll never be able to give Shen Yuan what Luo Binghe gives him.

He can’t say he wouldn’t prefer to have Shen Yuan all to himself, but if he has to share, being able to witness the incomparable spectacle that the two of them make is quite the improvement. Shen Yuan is always stunning, but entwined with someone who is his mirror image… the memory still takes his breath away.

Of course Yue Qingyuan is jealous. How could he not be? Luo Binghe can’t blame him for his increased presence around him, for the very occasional glare he couldn’t manage to hide. He would certainly be seriously planning Yue Qingyuan’s death in his place. The fallout would be much less dramatic than if his master was killed instead.

He’s almost certain Yue Qingyuan isn’t willing to go this far. Killing him would mean war with Luo Binghe’s now rebuild family. Even if Shen Jiu wants to blind himself to this fact, Yue Qingyuan is too cautious not to realise the chaos this would cause.

It’s a shame, really. Luo Binghe has nothing against Yue Qingyuan, beside the fact that he has terrible tastes. But if he steps a foot out of line, well, taking him out would drive Shen Jiu mad.

____________________________________________

Shen Qingqiu will be kind. He will not mock Liu Qingge to his face. He, after all, understands how delicate the situation they were thrust in can be. It’s not his fault Shen Qingqiu finds the idea that Liu Qingge of all people is being courted by not one, but multiple demons hilarious.

Shen Qingqiu sets his poker face before making his presence known. “Shidi, hello. You haven’t stopped by in a while, so I thought I would check on you for once. How are you doing?”

Liu Qingge pokes out of another room, a frazzled look on his face. “Shen Qingqiu.”

“Indeed.”

He frowns. “Is there something wrong? Do you need help”

“No, I’m fine. Your disciples are doing a fine job of keeping demons away from my peak. Send them my regards.” They’re not doing a perfect job, Shen Qingqiu has had to send enterprising demons away, more or less violently, himself to protect his own disciples from their overeager pursuits a few times, but he can manage this much. It’s harder to explain to some people why they should not be encouraging members of another race with varying levels of comprehension regarding human morals to court them. “I’m not here about myself. I was wondering if Shidi needed support? You’ve been so busy fighting intruders, have you had any time for your own problems?” He’s not stupid enough not to recognise the deflection technique. Liu Qingge has to be busying himself with his preferred activity, fighting, not to think about the sect master writing appropriately diplomatic refusals to offers of bloody, bloody marriages.

Liu Qingge’s expression instantly darkens. “I’m fine.”

That was the least enthusiastic “I’m fine” Shen Qingqiu has ever heard. “I’m sure you are. Why wouldn’t you be? It’s nice, being popular.”

…Ah, damn it. He told himself he wouldn’t poke the wound. “I’m sorry. I spoke too much. I just wanted Liu-shidi to know he could count on me if he needed someone.”

He can see the storm clouds gathering around Liu Qingge. “I don’t need help. I’m busy. Leave.”

It would be nice if there was a way of telling Liu Qingge that Shen Qingqiu was one of the few people that actually were not there to witness his shame, but then he would have to explain to him why he wasn’t. Liu Qingge seems like he’s one of the few peak lords who have not figured it out. He would rather keep it that way, thanks. The chances of Liu Qingge attempting to distract himself by trying, and quite possibly failing, to slaughter the current dynasty of the demon realm are much too close to a hundred percent for Shen Qingqiu’s liking. “Fine. I see I’m disturbing Shidi. I’ll take my leave. Shidi can just remember he can visit whenever he wishes.” Shen Qingqiu might miss their sparring sessions just a little bit, okay? He gets that in his current mood, Liu Qingge might be too angry for him to handle, but still.

Well, he’ll leave for now. Liu Qingge will end up beating enough demons to soothe his bruised ego someday.

Hopefully soon, because there is a demon in his bamboo house when he returns.

Shen Qingqiu inwardly sighs. This isn’t even the first time this happens. Demons who manage to enter Cang Qiong often have little idea of who they want to reach, or which peak hosts them. Some spots the bamboo house and figure it’s as good a starting point as any. “I understand that we are currently negotiating peace, but by human standards, showing up uninvited in someone’s home is quite rude. Please return to your realm and wait until the negotiations are over with. We will be in a better position to receive a delegation properly once the terms are settled.”

The demon looks strangely nervous, lost in a somewhat endearing way? He’s obviously high-ranking enough to have been at the banquet, though Shen Qingqiu does not remember him. “Junshang shouldn’t have to wait that long.”

…Nothing about this comment is good. “I haven’t introduced myself. I am Shen Qingqiu, peak lord of Qing Jing. You are?”

“My name is Zhuzhi-Lang.”

…Yep, he’s in trouble. That’s Tianlang-Jun’s beloved nephew. Rumor has it they are closer than Tianlang-Jun and his own son.

A high-ranking demon indeed. “Can I ask why you are visiting? Maybe you are looking for the sect master? I will escort you to Qiong Ding right away.” As much as he hates having to do this, Yue Qingyuan is better positioned to handle this than he is.

“I’m not. I’m here for Peak Lord Shen.”

Sweat rolls down his back. “And why is that? I cannot conceive of a reason for us to meet like this.” If only Liu Qingge had followed him home, he would not be in this mess. Liu Qingge would have taken one look at this one and pulled out his sword. He would have taken all the fallout, and no one would have blamed him for it because what else is Liu Qingge supposed to do when he’s faced with a demon? One intruding on a peak lord no less?

Shen Qingqiu is not Liu Qingge. He has no idea whether he can take on Zhuzhi-Lang, but he doubts it. He’s not a defeating-heavenly-demon type of cultivator.

“Junshang wants to see you. He’s been waiting, but since you won’t come, I’ll take you to him.”

Nope. Not happening. “I’m afraid I can’t come with you. As I’ve said before, the negotiations aren’t over. We are still enemy factions. I will not be visiting the demon realm on its ruler’s whims, especially not by myself. If my presence is absolutely needed, then it should be requested via formal channels.” It won’t be a marriage proposal, right? There’s no way, right? Sure, the ruler of the demon realm is a known widower and thus available, but he has options. Many, many options. Hell, Shen Qingqiu is certain some sects have offered some of their own to get an advantage.

Shen Qingqiu freezes when something cool and… scaly? slides up his ankle.

He looks down. “What is that?”

Zhuzhi-Lang seems genuinely remorseful when he replies. “One of the many snakes that follow me around. This one is poisonous. Please don’t try to remove it.”

“Could you please get it off?”

“I can’t.”

“Allow me to doubt that.”

Zhuzhi-Lang does not address this. “If Peak Lord Shen follows me back to the realm, it should get bored and leave without issue. If he doesn’t, it will get lonely. Friends will surely join it.”

For fuck’s sake why is this his life. “If Tianlang-Jun wanted to see me so badly, why send someone to… invite me in this way? I still don’t understand why a formal request wasn’t made. My disappearance will cause issues between our realms.”

“I’m sure Junshang will explain everything.”

That does not fill Shen Qingqiu with confidence, but nothing about this exchange does, especially not what he believes to be a second snake settling around his other ankle. He has no trust in his ability to resist poison just because he’s a cultivator, because he is a cultivator in Proud Immortal Demon Way.

“Let’s say I do not want to follow you. What then?”

Zhuzhi-Lang looks even more remorseful. “I can’t disappoint Junshang.”

Shen Qingqiu supposes that’s answer enough. “I will be sure to explain your role in this situation when the sect demands reparations.”

Zhuzhi-Lang shrugs. “Junshang will smooth things over.”

Of course he will.

Maybe he should let the snakes bite him. It would be less painful for everyone than whatever Yue Qingyuan will decide to do when he learns that Shen Qingqiu was kidnapped from his own home.

___________________

Zhuzhi-Lang probably did not lie regarding his identity. If Shen Qingqiu gets more than a few second glances while they wander the palace, no one dares ask questions of Zhuzhi-Lang.

Maybe the snake curled around his neck also makes his situation clear enough that they figure he’s not a threat. It’s a shame, really, because if his life did not hang on not pissing off the seven snakes he’s now carrying, he might try to pet them. Some of them look friendly.

Not friendly enough to calm his rising anxiety at returning so close to the scene of the crime. Treading familiar grounds is a clear reminder that this isn’t just about surviving kidnapping via misguided snake handlers; it’s a return to one of the worst moments of his life, and to the side of at least one of the most dangerous individuals he has had the displeasure of meeting.

Their journey ends in what looks like a study. A very fancy study, with shelves of books Shen Qingqiu really wants to take a second look at, except there is an individual sat at the desk and that stops him from wandering around.

Tianlang-Jun looks politely surprised. “Peak Lord Shen. What an unexpected pleasure.”

Shen Qingqiu steels himself. He had guessed that this was an independent action from Zhuzhi-Lang, because he got the idea that the young man might be a bit strong-headed. “The feeling is reciprocated. You have a very… insistent nephew. Who might wish to take his snakes back now that he has me where he wanted me.”

He’s sure even Tianlang-Jun could feel his complete lack of bafflement when snakes start sliding out of his clothes to instead curl all over Zhuzhi-Lang.

Shen Qingqiu grits his teeth when Tianlang-Jun’s response is only amusement. “You’ll have to forgive him. My dear nephew is very loyal. He does whatever he thinks best for me at all times, no matter the consequences.” He turns toward Zhuzhi-Lang, gracing him with a fond smile almost out of place on him. Not enough manipulative charm. “As always, I appreciate the lengths you go through for my sake, though I sometimes do wish you’d think things through before you act. Let’s talk more about this later? I apparently have a guest to entertain.”

Yeah, no. “Please don’t bother yourself on my account. I want nothing more than to return to Cang Qiong. Let me go, and I’ll be gone before you know it. This way, no one has to learn about this incident, and negotiations can continue as planned. Surely you agree this is the best plan?”

The door closes behind him to announce Zhuzhi-Lang’s departure. “Nonsense. Why would I waste my nephew’s kind attention in this way? You’re here. This,” as he gestures to whatever paperwork he was working on, “is unimportant. I can certainly afford to welcome a guest from Cang Qiong Sect properly.”

Shen Qingqiu has no desire to be around him, or his son and his control over Shen Qingqiu’s body by way of a terrible plot device. “I still don’t understand why you would bother with me. I might be a peak lord, but I’m not anyone particularly important to the current talks. Why would your nephew take the time to… accompany me here?”

“My nephew does not concern himself with the talks. He trusts I will lead them to fruition, as I will. He is, however, very concerned with my wellbeing, and does like to go out of his way to please me. I might have mentioned you a few times, and it was all it took.”

In what terms, pray tell? Is Zhuzhi-Lang even old enough to learn of the details of their acquaintance? Probably, since Luo Binghe certainly is, but he does feel younger than his cousin. “Please don’t mention me anymore then. Many would enjoy the attention; how about you turn yours toward them?” Seriously, beside radiating evil-mastermind energy, the man has it all: the looks, the wealth, the power. Shen Qingqiu still has no idea why he’s bothering with him.

This also means Shen Qingqiu can’t afford to anger him, because he would not survive it.

“Your insistence on evading me is starting to be hurtful. I do believe I did right by you in your time of need. You certainly showed all signs of enjoyment, and I do mean all of them. Why are you so reluctant to be in my presence?”

And he tried so hard to keep his composure, but it is now a lost cause. He knows he’s blushing, but he can’t help it. “I can’t believe you don’t understand why the situation is embarrassing to me, or why I would prefer to keep it quiet.”

“I don’t, actually. You were not the target of the event. Everyone from your delegation was also affected. If anything, considering you felt the symptoms quickly enough to leave the feast, you were probably more sensitive to whatever was used than most; all your actions can easily be forgiven in such circumstances. Not that I would spread tales of your deeds. I would much prefer to keep them to myself.”

Shen Qingqiu does not choke on dark laughter, but it’s a close one. Keeping it to himself was doomed from the start considering Luo Binghe’s role in all this. Now, many at Cang Qiong are also aware. Secrecy is impossible.

Not that he wants to share that fact. His cheeks are already red enough without revealing that their… indiscretion is somewhat public knowledge.

Shen Qingqiu pulls the fan he brought with him to fight the rising heat away, “You are not just another member of the demonic delegation, and neither is your son. I could be considered compromised. I just want to put this behind me and move on.”

Tianlang-Jun reaches for his cheek, and for some reason Shen Qingqiu lets him. It’s as if he’s rooted to the spot. “As I said, I don’t plan on making our relationship public, but I don’t see why that stops the two of us from getting better acquainted. I remembered you reveling in every minute. I’m sure it would be just as delightful the second time around, especially since there would be no interloper coming between us.”

Shen Qingqiu is outraged he even dared voice that option out loud, but for some reason his tongue is like lead in his mouth. Punching the man might be possible, but it seems like that would take so much effort, not to mention there are parts of him that don’t disagree as much as…

The. Complete. And. Utter. Asshole.

The shock of the discovery allows him to step on Tianlang-Jun’s foot as hard as he can manage. “You! The blood! That was you!” Because he is certain that is what is happening to him right now. This insufferable viper has been playing him for so long and still dares to try and seduce him like this! Unbelievable!

“Ah, so you knew.”

“How could I not! You weren’t exactly subtle about it! It’s not like I could sleep through it! I thought it was Luo Binghe because of that reputation of his, but it was you all along! Seriously, if you’re that against the talks, end them and let’s go back to war. Why waste your time on playing me like this!”

“Oh dear, you’re misunderstanding me. This has nothing to do with the negotiations. I was honest when I said I have no intention of making this public, and I knew that neither would you. If I wanted the negotiations over with, I would just murder one of your envoys and that would be that. No, no, I do like the company of humans. I am doing what needs to be done to facilitate that. I just also enjoyed your own, personal, company, and, as much as you might wish to deny it, the feeling was very much reciprocated. I was trying to get you to accept yourself. Despite our short acquaintance, I could already tell there is much I could teach you about yourself. I could also tell you would not be open to discussing the matter, so I forced it. My darling nephew pushed the deadline forward a bit, but maybe it could be to your advantage. If you were to let me in, I would guarantee you you would not regret it.”

Shen Qingqiu cannot possibly be held responsible for murder in those circumstances. No judge would ever find him guilty.

Tianlang-Jun would kill him first, but Shen Qingqiu would inflict as much pain as he can before he goes. “That’s it. You’re apparently too dense to get it, so here it is: I have zero interest in a repeat performance. I do not want to spend any time, in any form, with you or your son. Your whole realm, not to mention a significant part of the human realm, I’m sure, wants nothing more than to sit on your dick. Go spend time with them and leave. me. the. fuck. alone.”

Shen Qingqiu’s heart sinks into his stomach when Tianlang-Jun only looks thrilled. “Darling, I do love a challenge.”

It takes all the winds off his sails. “Just kill me now and be done with it.” How is this his fate? Why is this happening? How long before Luo Binghe shows up, because Zhuzhi-Lang did not have him walk through secret corridors. He was seen, Luo Binghe will know about it, and he’ll come here. Because this is Shen Qingqiu’s life now.

“It would be so easy to remind you how pleasurable life can be. All you need to do is say yes.”

“Why bother with my consent? Your blood flows into my veins. You already demonstrated a willingness to use it for your own amusement against my will.”

The moue Tianlang-Jun graces him with is incitation to murder. “That would be no fun.”

Shen Qingqiu can’t with this man. At all. “Please send me back to my home. Please. You’re not going to get what you want from me, not if I have any say about it.”

Tianlang-Jun lets out a long, drawn-out sigh. “Your life could be so much more interesting if you gave it a chance, but fine. I will let you sleep on it for a while.”

Shen Qingqiu perks up. “Actual, uninterrupted sleep?” It’s been so long.

“I thought cultivators did not need sleep?”

“Lies. I need it. Lots of it.”

“My bad then. I will be more careful next time.”

“No next time.”

Tianlang-Jun’s answering smile is blinding in his lack of assertion.

Maybe Shen Qingqiu will ask Liu Qingge to marry him. Two birds, one stone. He’ll get it.

“I know you have people who can open portals. Send me home already.”

“Your wish is my command.”

Before he had Shen Yuan as a teacher, Luo Binghe had never had any problem being professional. His body, his fellow students’ bodies, his teachers’ bodies, they all were only the tools of their trade to him, nothing more. Having been blessed with natural strength, he had supported all of his partners’ weight with only his thighs more often than he could count. The feelings of powerful legs sliding between his to find a hold, of unmovable grips around his biceps, are as familiar as breathing.

He had known this wasn’t the case for everyone. That much physical contact inconvenienced many of his colleagues, and so he had quickly learned to knock. Everywhere. At all times. He had pitied them, really, for having so little self-control. He never had to handle such reactions, no matter how intimate he ended up being, which could be a lot. No one could be prudish while sharing a trapeze.

Then he started working on the aerial hoop with Shen Yuan.

Never had Luo Binghe appreciated his teacher’s natural reserve as he did each time Shen Yuan gracefully ignored the reactions he caused. He must be used to it, after all. Not that Luo Binghe likes thinking about that much, because the only person that should be this close to Shen Yuan is him and Shen Yuan will never be exclusively his. Even when Luo Binghe is finally able to claim his teacher, Shen Yuan will still be demonstrating the right way to move to students, and he will occasionally, very occasionally if Luo Binghe has any say in it, perform with colleagues. Luo Binghe might be able to convince him to focus on solo work. It’s not like he has a designated partner. Luo Binghe knows that he is lucky in that since Shen Yuan teaches instead of being part of a troupe, he does not spend day after day practising with his said partner. Instead, he passes on his knowledge to the few chosen.

In Luo Binghe’s dreams, Shen Yuan leaves this school behind and they start their career as a duo. Together, they could get hired anywhere if they tried. They’re both trained in contemporary styles, but he is certain they could manage traditional acts if needed. He has only seen it once, but he still remembers Shen Yuan entangled in aerial silks, only the strands hugging his body keeping him afloat, like it was yesterday.

He will try, but he is aware this is unlikely. Shen Yuan loves teaching. Luo Binghe would not tear his beloved away from what he desires to do. No, Luo Binghe will be the one teaching instead. It’s not his idea career path, but being by Shen Yuan’s side will make it worth it.

Maybe he’ll guide another abandoned child toward the path of greatness.

As much as he hates admitting it, it won’t happen anytime soon. The school is very strict regarding relationships between students and teachers, probably because his fellow students would never leave their fit, still young and yet more experienced teachers alone otherwise. So for now, he waits, but when the time comes, Shen Yuan won’t know what hits him.

That means having to enjoy Shen Yuan’s skills from afar, mostly, and, like now, with someone else. The Chinese State Circus is back in town, and, as usual, this means visits from some of the alumni for scouting and formation purposes. It’s perfectly normal for some of them to demonstrate their skills.

It’s less normal for those skills to involve Shen Yuan, considering the skill sets of everyone involved, but they will apparently be treated to a hoop performance, so Luo Binghe will do his best to ignore the existence of whoever will have the privilege of holding him so close a sheet of paper wouldn’t pass between them.

The man shows up and Luo Binghe hates him on sight.

It’s not a completely novel experience, because Luo Binghe hates everyone that gets to be with Shen Yuan. He especially hates it when they are his fellow teachers and professional acrobats instead of students Shen Yuan would never give a second glance to, but there is someone about this man that demands Luo Binghe punches him in the face and breaks a few of his bones so that he’ll never work again.

Maybe it’s those eyes, bright with a level of irreverent mirth Luo Binghe feels deep in his soul he can’t trust. Maybe it’s the smile when he turns toward Shen Yuan, too falsely charming to be proper. Maybe it’s his frame, more than solid enough to handle supporting thin but deceptively powerful Shen Yuan. Whatever it is, Luo Binghe hates it, and him by extension.

The music starts, and all of Luo Binghe’s fears are confirmed. He can’t imagine this isn’t intended to be a couple’s number. Shen Yuan is playing the woman’s role, which isn’t exactly unusual in their profession. Classes aren’t gender-segregated, so he has to handle both positions, while no one with sense would consider whoever his partner is as a woman.

He can handle Shen Yuan on the hoop by himself, stretching his long legs obscenely open to show off his flexibility.

He doesn’t do as well when the man hooks one of his own legs to the hoop, pulls Shen Yuan off of it before pulling him in again, their bodies entangling to form perfect shapes the more professional side of Luo Binghe can only admire. They appear flawlessly synchronised, the way only experienced artists can manage.

He’s sure he’ll do even better someday, but, as much as he detests having to admit it, he’s not at that level yet. He can only gaze in envy and hope for the day where he’ll be the one best suited to assist Shen Yuan.

That doesn’t stop him from wishing he could rip Shen Yuan off the man’s lap right now.

He’s sure the show only lasted a few minutes, but it seemed like an eternity to Luo Binghe. Shen Yuan was magnificent, as he always is, so that made the display bearable.

He freezes for a few seconds when Shen Yuan walks in his direction, the first man Luo Binghe will murder following him with a hand! still! on! Shen! Yuan’s! back!

Shen Yuan seems oblivious both to Luo Binghe’s indignation and to the utter disrespect he’s being subjected to. “Binghe, a moment please. This is my protégé, Luo Binghe. Your styles are very similar, so do you think you could give him some of your time? Your help would certainly be beneficial.”

“Anything for my own favorite student. Let’s see, what do we have here…”

Luo Binghe is ready to meet the man heads-on, and to demonstrate how it’s only a matter of time before he stands unmatched, even the man himself unable to equal his skills, but instead of that insufferable cockiness, he’s met with a level of confoundment he doesn’t understand. “This might be a bit rude, but how old are you?”

Who does this man think he is, not even introducing himself and demanding answers out of Luo Binghe? While still touching Shen Yuan! “I don’t want to learn from anyone that’s not Shen Yuan. Laoshi, why is this man bothering me with meaningless questions?”

Shen Yuan looks outraged. “Binghe!” He turns toward the man. “I’m so sorry, he’s usually much better behaved. He’s nineteen.”

The man sighs. And sighs again. “Your mother was a wicked woman. No one was lovelier, but she was remorseless.”

So this man not only dares to act improperly around Shen Yuan, he also insults his mother! “Excuse me!?”

Shen Yuan frowns. “You knew Luo Binghe’s mother? Binghe never told me about you.”

“To answer your first question, yes I did. Intimately. However, we did not part in the best of terms, I’m afraid. I had no idea she had decided to give birth, but this young man here has to be our child. While our cosmetic resemblance is superficial, he is the spitting image of hers. Not to mention I have a feeling we have certain interests in common.”

Luo Binghe snorts. “What a ridiculous lie.”

Still, his stomach drops when the man hands him his phone, a picture of a woman Luo Binghe cannot deny has to be related to him staring back at him, unamused.

Shen Yuan seems as befuddled as Luo Binghe himself, if not struck silent. “But that’s… He can’t be… You think he’s both your child?”

The man nods, all traces of his earlier mirth gone.

“You never told me about this.”

“How could I have? I was certain she wouldn’t carry to terms. Xiyan has never been the type to risk her career.”

“You didn’t verify? He’s your son!”

Luo Binghe can’t deal with this anymore.  He can’t handle Shen Yuan’s righteous fury, or this man whose name he still doesn’t know talking so matter-of-factly about Luo Binghe’s parentage like Luo Binghe himself wasn’t right here, like he didn’t already have a mother.

He has to leave. Now.

“Binghe!”

This is hell. The hell Shen Yuan deserves for having ignored Shang Qinghua the one time in his life he said something sound and decided to explore the borderline-incestuous polyamorous lifestyle instead.

He doesn’t question Tianlang-Jun’s presence, because someone of Tianlang-Jun’s status understands the need to schmooze, or, in his case, to be available for schmoozing.

He does question his own presence here, because he has spent years away from any formal event his childhood was plagued with. As an adult living away from home, he couldn’t be forced to show up. Sadly, he needed the good will after he admitted to his mother that a) he wasn’t single anymore, and b) no, his partner was not going to give her grandchildren anytime soon, or ever. Not biological children anyway. And they aren’t anywhere near that point! Also Shen Yuan would kind of be step-grandfather to Binghe’s children and he can’t even begin to consider that. So he’s here instead.

Why is Luo Binghe there, that’s the biggest question. He didn’t need a debut. He’s a college student. Let him enjoy his life a little longer before ruining it with the obligations of adult life.

Yet, he’s here anyway. In a very public room, with his father introducing him left and right. While Shen Yuan is also in this room, and he has no reason to know either of them because he didn’t tell his mother that much, and it’s not like any of the three people involved should make it known here and now. At least give Luo Binghe some time to integrate himself before ruining his prospects that way.

The thing is, Shen Yuan knows creepy and weird intimately, and there is nothing, and he means nothing, creepier than what looks like Luo Binghe having almost warm, normal father-son interactions with Tianlang-Jun. He’s aware it can only be acting, that the only type of warmth Tianlang-Jun brings out of Binghe is the type that accompanies murdering rage, but no one else could ever tell. The women flocking to the newly unveiled most eligible bachelor certainly can’t, and neither can their freshly divorced mothers looking for husband number three and finding Tianlang-Jun a very acceptable replacement. Considering his position, it’s not like Shen Yuan can blame them.

He just wants nothing to do with any of this. Like, at all. He would bet Shang Qinghua’s life that the moment he is anywhere in Tianlang-Jun’s vicinity, Tianlang-Jun will start hitting on him in that barely subtle way that is going to embarrass Shen Yuan to death and will get Tianlang-Jun a butter knife in the back, courtesy of his dear son. He is also almost certain that Luo Binghe will rush toward him the moment he spots him, appearances be damned, and ruin this whole careful travesty he’s been building up with his father.

He needs to escape now, before his mother notices the new addition and decides he needs to introduce himself. Shen Yuan does not want to have to pretend to introduce himself to people he knows intimately.

Very intimately.

Anyway, he can barely tolerate the existence of one when he’s with the other; he can’t possibly manage them both at the same time in public.

“This guy has no right to be this hot.”

Oh no. “Don’t.”

His sister looks at him. “Why not? Everyone else is. He’s right there. Why shouldn’t I go introduce myself?”

Shen Yuan seriously considers telling her that’s his boyfriend she’s salivating over, kind of, but he doesn’t trust her ability to keep it to herself.

They look, well, like siblings, and Tianlang-Jun knows Shen Yuan occasionally frequents those circles. Once she introduces himself, even Luo Binghe will-

Wait, where is Tianlang-Jun now?

“I’m going. Have fun wasting your time by yourself.”

Shen Yuan doesn’t care anymore. He’s leaving before this blows up in his face. It won’t be the first time he ditches one of those parties, and it won’t be the last.

Closest door, closest door… Victory! There is this. Sweet, sweet freedom away from potential scandal has been obtained.

Except Tianlang-Jun is, apparently, waiting for him behind that door, resting against the wall with a nonchalance Shen Yuan knows better than to believe in. “Hello, darling. Lovely night, isn’t it?”

No, no it isn’t. These things are never lovely. “Your admirers are going to miss you. Maybe you should get back to them.”

“Oh dear, they’re nothing to me. I assure you you have no reason to be jealous.”

That was literally the last thing on Shen Yuan’s mind, but it’s not like he has the capacity of convincing Tianlang-Jun of that. “I genuinely don’t care what you do. I’m leaving before Binghe realises I’m here. Did he have any idea it could be a possibility?” Maybe they talked about it beforehand?

“He might if he thought about it. I wouldn’t know.”

Of course he doesn’t. “Okay. Leaving. Do whatever you want.”

Tianlang-Jun’s hand settles way too low on his back for propriety. Good thing there’s no one else in the hall. “How generous. How about we both go home then?”

Shen Yuan does not shiver, but it’s only because he’s starting to develop a tolerance. “You’re abandoning Binghe?”

“My son is an adult. He came here by himself; he can also return home without issue. If there were any, I am certain he could find someone eager to help him.”

His sister first of them. “Point.” Sorry, Binghe, but you’ve made your bed, now lie in it. While dealing with polite society, everyone is on their own as far as Shen Yuan is concerned. “Let’s go before someone notices.” Whether he’s talking about their respective absence, his own existence or the positioning of Tianlang-Jun’s hand, he’s not sure, but none of these would be good. He’ll deal with Luo Binghe’s sulking another day.

_____________

 Shen Yuan’s phone is full of missed notifications.

Tianlang-Jun plasters himself to his back. “What are you looking at this early?”

“It’s from your son. He talked to my sister, guessed I was there and where I am now, and isn’t pleased.”

“And you’re surprised because?”

Shen Yuan sighs. “I’m not.”

Tianlang-Jun’s hand decides it feels like wandering. “Allow me to take your mind off him.”

Weeeell, it’s not like he’s going to say no.

_____________

 “I can’t believe Shen Yuan ditched me.”

“We didn’t come together, so I did not ditch you.”

“You were right here and you didn’t come see me!”

“You were surrounded by flesh-eating beasts. I was not going to endanger myself.”

“Do you talk about your sister that way? Shen Yuan is that mean?”

“I love my sister, but it’s just a fact that she’s carnivorous. She would eat you alive if you gave her half a chance.”

“Maybe I will. She seems more interested in me than Shen Yuan was.”

“Is this about Tianlang-Jun again?”

“You left me for him!”

“Again, we did not come together. He was available, you weren’t. He offered, I accepted.”

“I would have left with you if you had asked!”

“Binghe, I enjoy being unknown. I can’t do that while you’re courting.”

“How was that courting!”

“It was courting and you know it. I might not have been romantic, but it was courting all the same.”

“Was Shen Yuan jealous?”

“What’s with the both of you asking me that? I wasn’t! Like I have any reason to be!”

“If Shen Yuan knows that, he should be more mindful!”

Shen Yuan sighs. Enough is enough. This is stupid and, quite frankly, easily handled. “Shall I make amends then? What does Binghe want as compensation?” Like he doesn’t know.

As expected, Binghe’s mood immediately changes.

Shen Yuan had always known that running away the way he had was a terrible idea, but he’d never thought it would come back to haunt him in this way.

“Oh, I know Professor Shen. He taught me a few undergraduate classes.”

“Wonderful! Professor Shen, you must be proud of your former student, raising so high so quickly!”

“Luo Binghe was always very talented. My teachings have very little to do with his presence here.” He hopes, sincerely, that he has nothing to do with Luo Binghe showing up all the way across the country.

He probably doesn’t. Even if Luo Binghe is a master of his chosen field of study, few universities would have given a chair to such a recent graduate. He probably found the offer too good to resist, and decided that it deserved moving all the way from Hong Kong to Beijin.

“Professor Shen has always been too modest. I wouldn’t be where I am today without his help.”

Fuck. Shen Yuan can feel Luo Binghe’s gaze on him, falsely proper but much too intense. The dean might not notice, but Shen Yuan does.

Time to kiss his job goodbye, probably. All Luo Binghe would have to do is admit Shen Yuan took advantage of him when he was still a student and here goes any chance at a career in academia.

He still can’t believe he did that. Yes, Binghe had been his favorite student. Yes, the term had been over when Luo Binghe had invited him to a restaurant. He still held a position of authority over him! He should have known better than to drink around a student.

He’d just been a bit maudlin, is all. He had accepted a job in a city hours away. He knew he would never see Binghe again. What could be wrong with spending an evening with him over good food? It would be a good chance to tell him the news and send him off with his blessings.

He hadn’t planned on getting drunk. He hadn’t planned on taking Binghe on his offer to take him home. He has no idea how “taking him home” ended up with the both of them kissing, and more, in what must have been Binghe’s apartment. But even then, he had known it had been a mistake that could ruin both his career and Binghe’s life. Leaving before Binghe woke up and speeding up his move to Beijin had seemed like his only option at the time.

This was about to bite him in the ass, right? Luo Binghe can’t possibly not be bitter about his own teacher sleeping with him.

"I haven't seen Professor Shen in years. It would be nice to catch up. Would you mind if I stopped by your office after I'm done touring the university?"

Like Shen Yuan is going to run to his doom like this. "Actually, I have class soon and an appointment off campus after, so maybe another day?"

The dark look that comes over his former student's face announces nothing good, even if it faded so fast he's probably the only one who noticed. "I see. Later, then."

Shen Yuan nods noncommittally and makes his escape to his office, his mind firing at all cylinders. How can he free himself of this mess blamelessly? Too much is on the line. Maybe look for another job before this all comes to light? No, he'll never get one before Luo Binghe finds him. Talk to him, see if they can agree to something? Of course not. Luo Binghe probably wants to beat him bloody, he won't want to listen. Pay him off? Gross, he can't do that-

He's thrown out of his spiralling thoughts by the knock on his door. Probably one of his students here with a question. "Enter."

His heart falls into his stomach when Luo Binghe lets himself in. "I hope Professor Shen will forgive the intrusion, but I had a glimpse at his schedule and knew he didn't teach at this hour. Since he believed he had other plans, he must have some time for his student now, shouldn't he?"

He's been played. "Ah, of course. I really do have an appointment after though, so it might be better to keep this short." Bullshit, but he'll take what he can get.

"Professor Shen should still have a few hours for me. Plenty of time to catch up, reminisce," Luo Binghe locks the door behind him, "talk about what happened and what might have been."

Oh god he's so pissed. Shen Yuan's life is in danger. "Binghe, I-"

Luo Binghe kisses him.

Shen Yuan freezes on the spot.

For about one second. Luo Binghe did not become less attractive with time, and this is a much better outcome than any he'd foreseen. If Luo Binghe wants to take his revenge by bending him over his desk and fucking him senseless, well, there are worse things.

His brain catches up to the situation a few minutes later. This makes no sense! And they're at work! At Luo Binghe's new place of employment! What if they're caught? Luo Binghe can't want revenge so bad as to ruin his own life in the process! "Binghe, wait, this isn't a good idea."

“Professor Shen has given up his right to say no to this when he seduced his own student and left him before dawn to run all the way across the country. It took me so much time to catch up to him, I won’t let him escape me again.”

“I can only apologise for what happened. I shouldn’t have gotten drunk and I shouldn’t have taken advantage of Binghe, but whatever revenge he wants to take, surely it’s not worth risking his own career by acting on it here?”

Luo Binghe pushes back, confused. “Revenge? What Professor Shen did was cruel beyond reason, but I don’t want revenge for it. I spent years wishing Professor Shen would be mine. More years working on becoming someone he could be proud of calling his partner. How could I hate him for giving himself to me? I do resent the years we spent apart, but they couldn’t be helped. Professor Shen had taken another position before our night together. He wasn’t running from me.”

Shen Yuan 100% was running away from Luo Binghe, but he’s not going to say that. “What Binghe is saying is that he’s fine with my actions?”

“I would have preferred he remained. He knows I am an excellent cook. I would have prepared him the best breakfast he has ever eaten, and we could have talked about the future. But I can forgive him since he’ll be mine now.”

Luo Binghe isn’t exactly asking, is he? “Shouldn’t we talk about this before? It’s been years. I have changed.”

“It doesn’t matter. I will have him anyway. Now. I have waited long enough.” Luo Binghe grabs the lapels of his jacket. “Professor Shen didn’t exactly seem uninterested earlier. I’m sure I can convince him to act.”

Shen Yuan almost lets himself be distracted by Luo Binghe’s plush lips. Almost. “Binghe, not here! What if we’re found out?”

“I locked the door. We can always say we were busy catching up and didn’t hear the knock.”

“I didn’t bring a change of clothes! I can’t get around smelling of sex and looking like I just rolled in the hay!”

“No one would complain about such an attractive sight.”

“I would!”

Luo Binghe sighs. “Professor Shen always cared about his reputation. I don’t want to start off our new relationship on the wrong foot. If he’s this worried, I can compromise. He’ll just have to make it up to me.”

Make it up to him? Why-

Luo Binghe falls to his knees.

Shen Yuan becomes very aware that Luo Binghe is irresistibly attractive, and that him being on his knees, pulling open Shen Yuan’s pants, is just fundamentally unfair. How can he say no to that, even with his job on the line?

His hand finds its way to Luo Binghe’s head. His fingers dig into Binghe’s thick tresses.

Luo Binghe leans into his touch in a way that tugs at his heartstrings, and for one moment Shen Yuan wonders where they’d be now if he’d confronted what he’d done years ago instead of fleeing into the night.

Then Luo Binghe licks the side of his cock and all thoughts are wiped clear from his mind. He can’t think of anything but how obscene Binghe looks, tonguing at his cock like he’s loving every second of it, like he can’t wait to swallow it whole. “Binghe…”

Luo Binghe moans against his skin.

Shen Yuan closes his eyes, but the sight of Luo Binghe’s mouth on him remains behind his eyelids.

Then Binghe does take him into his mouth, and Shen Yuan’s eyes shoot open against his will.

Binghe is looking at him, moving very deliberately, very slowly up and down in a rhythm that has to be designed to drive Shen Yuan mad.

Shen Yuan bites his palm. He can’t make a sound that could attract unwanted attention. It’s Binghe’s first day, never mind his own job.

Of course Binghe takes his silence as a challenge. Of course he starts sucking harder, making noises that Shen Yuan cannot imagine aren’t audible from outside his office door, but he can’t care. Binghe, his dear Binghe, his favorite student, the person he missed the most after he moved, is loving every second of fucking his mouth on Shen Yuan’s cock. How can he care about anything else? How can he do anything other than bite deeper into his palm and pull at Luo Binghe’s hair, except thrust his hips up and hope he doesn’t choke Binghe?

He does, but Binghe doesn’t seem to care. He just gets back at it with even more vigour, lips tight around his cock and tongue hot on it, and doesn’t stop moving until Shen Yuan cannot stand it any longer and spills deep into his mouth.

He’s trying to catch his breath, but Binghe isn’t making it easy. He’s cleaning Shen Yuan up with his mouth, catching all of the mess before zipping Shen Yuan back into his pants.

His voice is hoarse when he finally speaks. “There. Professor Shen is just as presentable as he was before I made him come.”

He has no business sounding this smug.

Luo Binghe stands up, and wipes his pants clean of what dust dirtied his clothes, apparently unmindful of his rather terrifying erection.

Shen Yuan has a distinct flashback to taking the train after having let Luo Binghe put that thing inside him. It had not been fun.

The night itself had been more than worth it though.

He should do something about it.

If he doesn’t want to mess Binghe too much, he should return the favor.

But when he tries to kneel for Luo Binghe, he’s stopped. “While I would love nothing more than having Professor Shen please me in his office, I can wait. Instead, he’ll come to dinner with me tonight. I’d prefer he doesn’t drink as much this time, but either way, I’ll take him home. He can pay me back then. I’ll make sure he’ll enjoy our time together so he won’t want to run, this time.”

…There are worst things. “Can I ask Binghe a question?”

“Professor Shen can ask me anything.”

“Why me? Binghe is so attractive. He could have anyone.”

“Professor Shen is the one I love. I couldn’t care less about anyone else.”

Ah. Well. This explains that.

Shen Yuan is too lucky. Something is bound to go wrong soon.

Might as well enjoy it while it lasts. “Binghe has always been my favorite too. I’m sure we can figure something out.”

Luo Binghe’s smile is blinding. “We will.” His hand is warm when it catches his.

Shen Yuan squeezes back. “Take me out, then.”

“Didn’t you have an appointment before that?”

…Shit.

Might as well be honest. “No.”

Luo Binghe laughs. “I thought as much. Shall we go, then?”

Shen Yuan unlocks the door. “After you.”

“Never.”

Shen Yuan can’t believe that when he’ll come back here tomorrow, he’ll a) probably be suffering from at least some degree of pain, and b) a few doors away from Luo Binghe.

Shen Qingqiu wakes up in a rush, almost jumping out of the bed, and shoves away his unexpected visitor.

Mu Qingfan retreats, contrite. "Shixiong, I apologise."

Yeah, right. If he really was sorry, he and his brethren would wake him up properly instead of pulling at his robes and trying to bite him as soon as they enter the room.

Shen Qingqiu sighs, sits up properly and loosens the collar of his robes.

Mu Qingfan recognises the invitation for what it is, instantly scooting closer and piercing Shen Qingqiu's neck.

Mu Qingfan's hold on him is relentless, leaving him no escape. Not that Shen Qingqiu would fight him off. His fellow peak lord needs to feed. Better him than one of his disciples, who wouldn't know what to do with themselves if a peak lord showed up in their room in the middle of the night.

So he focuses on his breathing until Mu Qingfan's suction slows down and stops, until he's done licking the wounds closed and releases Shen Qingqiu.

His voice is a bit shaky and his eyes, dilated, still glued to Shen Qingqiu's exposed neck when he thanks him for his continued support.

Shen Qingqiu waves him away, the lethargy caused by the bite and the late hour making anything more than lying on his bed, eyes already half closed and unbound hair flowing freely around him, unthinkable.

He falls back asleep still feeling Mu Qingfan's stare.

__________

Peak lord meetings suck. Sometimes literally.

It is perfectly logical that they are held in the dead of the night. It's not like the vampires could face the sun without repercussions, or at least, not easily.

Shen Qingqiu just like his sleep okay? And he's human; he needs sun to live. He's so grateful his peak is human-only and can function on a normal schedule. Not everyone can thrive like Liu Qingge, who loves being able to beat up his human students during the day and his vampire disciples during the night. Always a fight to be had! He never sleeps anyway, so what does it matter?

Then he tries to visit Qing Jing and bitches because everyone there sleeps at night.

Shen Qingqiu tries to smother his yawn, but he suspects he failed from the way Yue Qingyuan winces and looks guilty.

Shen Qingqiu doesn't get it. It's not Yue Qingyuan's fault he's a vampire. Shen Qingqiu doesn't blame him for the hours he has to keep or for the blood he needs to live.

Okay, he can be a little bit annoyed when he wakes up with fangs sunk in his neck and a whole lot of hungry, grabby vampire plastered against him, but anyone would. How hard is it to ask before you take? They can't be that mindless with need. They can feed whenever they want. There are plenty of volunteers who enjoy the process, or those like Shen Qingqiu who think that refusing them food would be cruel.

Shen Qingqiu spends the meeting half-aware, lazily fanning himself to keep sleep at bay. He wants his bed, and the prospect of getting back to it is both inviting and dreadful. It's far, far away, and the sect at night is eerie. Vampires have perfect night vision and make little to no sound, so it's not rare to believe oneself alone only to stumble on a bunch of disciples busy training in utter darkness.

So creepy.

Yue Qingyuan approaches, and Shen Yuan sighs. He doesn’t even know why the sect master bothers with this charade, but here we go. “It’s late. Shidi is tired, and his peak is far. Would he prefer to remain here for the night? Qiong Ding would gladly welcome him.”

He’s too tired for this bullshit. “Yes, Zhangmen-shixiong can feed on me if he’s hungry.” It’s not like everyone present doesn’t know that was what Yue Qingyuan was angling for.

Yue Qingyuan stumbles, obviously surprised by his bluntness. “Ah, I see. Well, if Shidi is sure… He can follow me.”

Qi Qingqi is probably the one laughing in the distance. Fucking vampire senses. She’s not getting his blood, that’s for sure.

Shen Qingqiu finds himself in the bedroom that might as well be his, considering how often he ends up spending the night here.

The familiarity does not help him staying awake. The bed is very comfy, and the sheets, soft. All he wants is to nest into it and sleep until noon.

Sadly, he can’t do that right now. “Shixiong was hungry, wasn’t he?” Shen Qingqiu shrugs his robes off his shoulders to give Yue Qingyuan access. “Here.”

Shen Qingqiu ignores the staring. Hungry vampires always stare.

Yue Qingyuan approaches, his steps so light they are inaudible, and takes Shen Qingqiu into his arms, which is a good thing because Shen Qingqiu is already half asleep; he will lose consciousness before Yue Qingyuan is done drinking from him. If the sect master doesn’t support him, Shen Qingqiu will crash and possibly hurt himself on Yue Qingyuan’s very sharp fangs.  

Yue Qingyuan is always so careful with him. Shen Qingqiu has no fear of anything like this happening. Yue Qingyuan will drink his fill and tuck Shen Qingqiu in. Shen Qingqiu will wake up the next morning and return to Qing Jing Peak. Life goes on. Nothing to worry about.

The last thing he remembers is Yue Qingyuan’s hand petting his hair.

__________

“Shizun…”

Shen Qingqiu responds to Luo Binghe’s distressed tone instantly. “Binghe? Is there something wrong?”

Luo Binghe closes, obviously hesitant. “I’m sorry to bother Shizun, but I don’t know who else to turn to. I went to Qian Cao Peak and they said everything is fine, but I’m always, always hungry. Shizun lets me make as much food as I want, and it works for a while, but then hungers comes right back and I can’t soothe it. Shizun, what is happening to me?”

Oh. Right. In Proud Immortal Demon Way, Luo Binghe had turned to Ning Yingying at first, but his white lotus trusts him.

Binghe’s parentage being what it is, Binghe himself is a strange mix of his mother’s vampiric heritage and his father’s demonic blood, which makes him able to eat normal food and stand the sun, but crave blood. The cravings showed up alongside his demonic traits.

Shen Qingqiu doesn’t usually let disciples drink from him, but Binghe’s situation is different. He couldn’t exactly explain to others why he wasn’t born a vampire but needs blood now. “I believe Binghe doesn’t know who his parents are?”

“It’s always been my mother and me.”

“Are Binghe’s canines sharper than they used to?”

“What?” Luo Binghe passes his tongue over his teeth. “Maybe? I’m not certain. Why?”

Shen Qingqiu exposes his inner arm, pulls out Xiu Ya and makes a small incision on his arm. “Does this appeal to Binghe?”

He gets his answer from the way Luo Binghe’s eyes immediately go for the incision. “Hum, what is Shizun talking about?”

“The blood. Does Binghe want it?”

“Oh! Why would I… Oh. I… Maybe?”

“Sometimes, people born out of a human and a vampire don’t favor one or the other. It’s rare, but they can have characteristics of both. If Binghe has a vampiric parent, maybe he just developed a hunger for blood. Does he want to see if it helps?”

“Shizun wants me to… put my mouth on him!?”

Shen Qingqiu is confused. “How else are you going to try? Well, I suppose you could scoop out the blood.”

“No, if Shizun is fine with it, I have no issue! I just thought it would be disrespectful!”

“Binghe is never disrespectful. And I might be wrong about his condition.” He’s not.

Luo Binghe closes on him, obviously nervous. Who wouldn’t be? He was raised as a human. The idea of drinking blood must make him a bit queasy.

Luo Binghe takes Shen Qingqiu’s arm and lifts it to his mouth. “If Shizun would allow me.”

Shen Qingqiu nods and stays still when Luo Binghe’s presses his mouth to his arm and laps at his skin like a newborn kitten.

When Luo Binghe frees him, his eyes are dilated and he’s flushed from the blood he just ingested. “How is Binghe feeling?”

“Shizun was right. The strange hunger has calmed down.”

“I see. Well, since Binghe is a hybrid, he shouldn’t need much blood. He should probably keep this quiet, considering Qing Jing Peak does not allow vampires. When he’s hungry, he can come to me.”

Luo Binghe’s eyes widen. “Shizun will keep me and feed me himself?”

“Of course. Binghe is my disciple. Sending him away now makes no sense, and I would never let him starve.”

Tears fill his little sheep’s eyes. “This disciple will forever be grateful for his shizun’s support.”

“Think nothing of it. This is normal.”

__________

Shang Qinghua pushes back and wipes the blood off his mouth. “Never going to complain, but I don’t understand how you manage to be both so prudish and such a ho.”

That wakes Shen Qingqiu right up. “Excuse me? What did you just call me?”

“What else do I call the guy that offers himself to everyone, lets them into his bedroom, undresses for them and then acts like he has no idea what a tease he’s being?”

“What the fuck are you talking about. I’ve never teased anyone.”

“You’re so willing to “help out” Yue Qingyuan you have your own bedroom on his peak. You’re totally fine with people sneaking into your bed at night and pulling off your clothes. You leave them with your unconscious body without a single care. And yet, everyone knows you’d raise hell if they dared plant a chaste kiss on your lips. Talk about mixed messages!”

Are they living in the same world right now? “I am not the person who made blood a mandatory food source! You are! Everyone acts the same way here! Don’t make me sound like I’m easy.”

“Bro, you totally are. Sure, vampires need blood to live, but they’re usually way more lowkey about it. Feeding is kind of a taboo. You flaunting your availability the way you do is… let’s say provocative.”

“No it’s not! Everyone was begging Binghe to feed on them in the book! It wasn’t taboo at all!”

“Because Binghe was the main character of a stallion novel! Of course they act horny around him! They don’t around normal vampires!”

Shen Qingqiu’s stomach is starting to sink. “But how do vampires feed then?”

“It’s usually a private affair. You’d arrange for a meeting, where the human would probably be sitting in a chair, and offer his wrist to the vampire sitting beside him. None of your whole “slipping into the victim’s bed at night to bite their throat” Dracula schtick you’ve got going on. Not to mention most people stick to one vampire for health reasons. You’ve got half the peak lords drinking from you on the regular, not to mention Binghe. I’m surprised you haven’t been drained dry yet.”

“They don’t need that much blood. I’m perfectly fine. And why are you here if I’m the bargain bin? Get yourself your own blood bank then.” Oh god Shen Qingqiu is grocery store wine: always available because it’s cheap, but no one’s first choice.

“Well, feeding from you isn’t complicated. We appreciate the ease of access, okay? No weird conversations, just a few minutes where the price to pay for sweet, sweet blood is to ignore all the signals you’re sending. It’s fine. Also, congratulations. All those vampires that drink from you? Would kill for you in a heartbeat. We’re all aware that you’re not into it, that you’re just really willing to help, so you’ve captured everyone’s hearts. You’ve basically gathered a harem of devoted vampires.”

“I…” Shen Qingqiu is going to die. All this time where he thought he was just following the rules of this world, he was destroying Shen Qingqiu’s image by turning him into a floozy. “Kill me now. Please.”

“Nope. Not happening. I would be signing my death warrant, plus why would I? It’s fine. Everyone has accepted you’re strange, but no one will take advantage of it. You could be a bit more guarded, but honestly, at this point it would be meaningless. Keep doing what you’re doing. Everything is better for it.”

“I can’t. How can I face the sect master or my fellow peak lords now? They think I’m making moves on them!”

“No they don’t. They know you’re not. They don’t understand why you act the way you act, but they respect it. Changing now, that would attract attention you don’t want.”

Fuck. “I wish you hadn’t told me.”

“Maybe I should have done so earlier, but I was freaked out too before, and by the time we were close enough that I felt comfortable bringing up the subject, the damage was done.”

“Okay. Okay. I’m going to go on a mission for a couple weeks to recenter myself, and by the time I’m done, I will have integrated this. Don’t tell anyone why I’m leaving.”

“As if I would. As I said, I would be thrown into the sun if they found out I disturbed you. They treasure you and what you offer way more than they care about me.”

At least that’s a good thing? He apparently managed to gather an army to protect him from Luo Binghe when the time comes, so, success?

Shen Qingqiu blanches. “Oh no. Binghe. Are you telling me I’ve been putting the moves on Luo Binghe!?!”

“Believe me, that’s not a problem. He seems to be perfectly fine with it.”

“I’m a shame of a teacher!”

“Nah, you just wanted to help him. Bing-ge isn’t dumb. I’m sure he understood that.”

“I should arrange for someone else for him to feed on.”

“How are you going to explain it without Bing-ge feeling like he’s being rejected? The status quo is your best path here.”

He’s right. Binghe is very susceptible to rejection. He won’t take well to Shen Qingqiu refusing to feed him. “Shit.”

“You dug your own grave, now lie in it. Pun intended.”

Shen Qingqiu hates Shang Qinghua so, so much.

__________

“Shizun.”

Shen Qingqiu is instantly on his guard. His lover’s unease is palpable. “What is it?”

“Shizun is mine now, right?”

“Just as Binghe is mine.”

“Then, there is something I must discuss with Shizun. I’ve known for a long time that Shizun is very generous and companionate. He considers it his duty to offer his blood to vampires.”

Oh. Oh no. This is where this is going. “Binghe, this isn’t something we need to-“

“I must apologise to Shizun, but we must discuss this. I would never blame Shizun for being so kind, but as his future husband, I insist he stops accepting visits from men during the night.”

Shen Qingqiu chokes. “Binghe! That’s not how it is and you know it! You lived with me for years!”

Luo Binghe nods. “I did. I am aware that nothing untoward was happening. Still, the appearances are damning. Now that Shizun is attached to me, those who want to feed from him can choose someone else, or make a proper appointment so that I can chaperone.”

“I’m sorry? Did Binghe just imply I need a chaperone?”

“Shizun doesn’t need one, but he should have one so that no one can doubt his honor.”

“Binghe, I did not intend on allowing others in our shared bedroom at night. Arrangements will be made to protect our privacy. Your presence is unnecessary.” He can’t imagine letting someone bite him while Luo Binghe glowers and urges them to hurry.

“But Shizun is mine to protect!”

“None of my fellow peak lords are a danger to me. They will all respect my will and my promise to you. Calm down.”

“Shizun is certain he doesn’t need his Binghe by his side?”

“I am certain. All propriety will be respected.” No matter what Shen Qingqiu says, Binghe will be sulking for days, he’s sure, but that’s life with an overprotective stallion protagonist as a partner.

“Fine. I trust Shizun. But I will slaughter anyone who dares to be untoward toward him.”

Honestly, Shen Qingqiu expected nothing less. “If anyone dares, I’ll cheer you on.”

__________

Bonus

“Mu-shidi, if you would?”

“What is it, Zhangmen-shixiong?”

“It’s about Qingqiu-shidi. Have you noticed anything… different since he woke up?”

“What does he mean?”

“He’s been… more willing to help than usual.”

“Ah. You mean around vampires. I did notice, and I wasn’t the only one.”

“So you know! Is he all right? Being this forward is… very unusual for him.”

“Lack of inhibitions can result of a qi deviation. I did examine him, and haven’t found anything wrong. He seems to function perfectly well in society beside this, maybe even better than before, so I do not believe it’s a major issue.”

“But what if someone were to take advantage of his condition?”

“Shen-shixiong is still quite able to defend himself, and while he’s being a bit too vulnerable, I haven’t noticed any concrete hint of him making advances at anyone. The sect is a safe environment. We’ll be careful around him.”

“I can trust Mu-shidi to keep an eye on Qingqiu-shidi?”

“Of course.”

“A professional eye.”

“…Obviously.”

Luo Binghe loves imagining his double’s expressions as he discovers how fickle his husband is.

The weakling shouldn’t be surprised, really. He decided to marry Shen Qingqiu. Even if his Shen Qingqiu appears kinder, he must still be rotten at the core. Why else would he break so easily? Luo Binghe barely had to blackmail him for Shen Qingqiu to spread his legs and keep them spread.

These days, Shen Qingqiu’s façade of reluctance is only that, a façade. It lasts for a few minutes, maybe, before fading under his touch.

This, too, amuses Luo Binghe to no ends. Is Shen Qingqiu a slut, eager to open up for anyone that would have him? Or is his husband that terrible a lover? Surely any version of Luo Binghe is decent enough to please a partner, even the failure who lives in this world.

He asked, once, which one was the truth, but Shen Qingqiu had been too busy to answer, and Luo Binghe, more interested in his actions than a potential response. Still, the question remains, and Luo Binghe wants to know.

Soon. At the very moment, he’s rather enjoying melting Shen Qingqiu’s faked resistance into unwilling eagerness, teasing him with what will be coming until this parody of his master is flushed and panting but still biting his lips shut. It’s oddly endearing.

“Endearment” is something Luo Binghe rarely felt before deciding he would claim this Shen Qingqiu. Many of his wives could be quite charming, and some of his children had inherited their shared charm, but none of them made Luo Binghe feel like some distant, cold part of him was chipping away.

He’d questioned it at first, but had ultimately decided to ignore it. It felt good. Why not accept it? Luo Binghe deserves every shred of happiness he could steal from Shen Qingqiu, no matter how he did it.

He'll look for some more once he's done using him. He had prepared a fun game for his evasive shizun.

__________

"Drink this."

The amount of suspicion Shen Qingqiu demonstrates is justified. "What is it?"

"Nothing that will hurt Shizun if he does what he's told. If he doesn't, I won't be able to say the same."

Shen Qingqiu's hand trembles when he takes the vial, but he drinks it as requested.

Luo Binghe would reward his obedience with a kiss, but he doesn't want to risk absorbing a drop.

He settles for a condescending patting of Shen Qingqiu's naked thigh. "Good boy."

Shen Qingqiu flushes and turns away.

"We're going to play a game: I’m going to ask you questions, and you're going to answer them. Truthfully, because the potion I arranged for you won't let my liar of a shizun obfuscate."

As expected, Shen Qingqiu blanches, but he doesn't fight back

Not that he could. One of the first things he did when he decided to make Shen Qingqiu into one of his women was forcing some of his blood into him. He's taking a snake to bed; one can never be too careful.

"Let's see. Shizun warmed up to this disciple so quickly, he can't help but think that Shizun was unsatisfied before he came. Am I that much better than his husband? Or is Shizun always eager to receive any man, even when married?"

Shen Qingqiu doesn't answer.

Luo Binghe's nails dig into the flesh of Shen Qingqiu's thigh. "Shizun doesn't want to keep me waiting."

"I don't look for other partners."

"I see, I see, Shizun tries to be a faithful spouse. Surprising. I didn’t know Shizun had it in him to be loyal. Still, he seems to revel in my touch. I'll ask again: am I a better lover than his husband?"

"...Yes."

Luo Binghe is very tempted to reward him with more of the touch he so loves.

He restrains himself. It would be a shame to waste not to take advantage of their current situation. "Shizun is doing very well. If he continues like this, he’ll get a recompense once we’re done. One he just admitted he’ll enjoy. Now, I’ve always been curious about your marriage. How did Shizun and my weaker self become involved when Shizun was so cruel to this disciple? The Shen Qingqiu of my world would have never submitted himself to my touch. He would have rather died. And yet, here you are, married to him, happily taking cock like an eager whore. How did this happen? What was different?”

Shen Qingqiu whines in pain.

Luo Binghe looks down and deliberately loosen his hold on Shen Qingqiu’s thigh.

His handprint on Shen Qingqiu’s skin is very pleasing.

“I’m not Shen Qingqiu. I raised Binghe differently.”

Luo Binghe knows Shen Qingqiu can’t be lying to him, but that is certainly Shen Qingqiu. While he wasn’t as familiar with his body as he is now, he has seen the Shen Qingqiu of his world too many times to count. They are the same person. “Explain. Now.”

“Shen Qingqiu died. I was sent to replace him. I occupy his body. I have been him since Binghe was 12.”

… “How.”

“The System. It’s an entity with the power to move souls into others’ bodies.”

If anyone could manage to lie while under the effects of truth potion, it would be Shen Qingqiu.

But why would he? Why make up this ridiculous nonsense?

Then again, Luo Binghe is visiting another world, one where himself and Shen Qingqiu are married. Is it that impossible? “Does your Luo Binghe know?”

“No.”

Luo Binghe can’t help but grin. Now this, this is good to know. “You didn’t tell him? He’s been married to you for years, and he still thinks you’re the same man who abused him when he was a child? You arrived after his arrival to the sect, right? Shen Qingqiu had the time to hurt him?”

“I did. I haven’t told Binghe.”

“Why not? Please, Shizun, tell me how you justify to yourself keeping your own husband in the dark about such an important matter.”

“He might reject me if I tell him. He’ll be hurt I lied to him. I don’t want to risk losing him.”

“So you really love him?”

“More than anything.”

…This isn’t fair. It’s never been fair. How come he got a shizun would beat him, who ostracised him, who wouldn’t teach him, and this Luo Binghe gets a man who treated him so well he fell in love with him?

He’s still not a good man though. He tricked this world’s Luo Binghe into believing the shizun who hated him had a change of heart instead of telling him the truth, and kept the façade going even after they got married. “Why did you decide to care for him?”

“I knew that in the future, he would grow to kill Shen Qingqiu, so I tried to protect myself. Binghe was also very likeable and pitiable; it was just natural to do so.”

“How did you know?”

“This world’s story was written in a book I read back in my original world.”

…Luo Binghe’s brain hurt. “So you know the future? Anything I should be made aware of?”

“No. We’re past what I know.”

So this is still a man out to save himself. Someone not above using deception if it advantages him. Not someone who deserves Luo Binghe’s pity. “This is all very interesting. I’m glad that Shizun… no, that’s not right. You are not my shizun. You must have had a name before. What it is?”

“Shen Yuan.”

“Another Shen? Any ties?”

“None.”

“I see. I’m very glad that Shen Yuan shared his innermost secrets with me. I think that’s a secret we’ll keep between us, won’t we? Your Luo Binghe can keep thinking his shizun changed. When I visit, you’ll be Shen Yuan, the pretender who needs to repent for his many betrayals.” His own version of Shizun, one the other Luo Binghe will never get to know. “And if you think I won’t find out you’ve told him, you can take a chance. Just be prepared for the consequences if you do. My blood is flowing into your veins; I can check on you whenever I wish.” He can’t. That’s not how it works. But Shen Yuan is a coward. He won’t want to risk himself or the lives of his disciples. He won’t tell. “I have no desire to hurt Shen Yuan. In fact, since he’s been so obedient, I want him to have exactly what he wants.” Luo Binghe’s fingers leave Shen Yuan’s thigh to slip back into his open hole, still wet from their earlier encounters. “I know Shen Yuan is usually too shy to express himself, but I’ll insist on him telling me how he really feels tonight. It’ll be a good opportunity to learn how to please him best. Not that I think I need the help. Shen Yuan did say I was better than his husband.”

Shen Yuan’s breathing is already speeding up under Luo Binghe’s ministrations. Still, one can never be too certain. “I wouldn’t want to force him, so I will be magnanimous and ask: does Shen Yuan enjoys taking my fingers?”

“…”

Luo Binghe tuts. “I did ask for answers tonight. You’ve been doing so well until now. We wouldn’t want things to change, would we?”

“…Yes.”

Luo Binghe smiles. “There you go. That wasn’t so hard, was it? Here is the next one: you love how it feels when I fuck you, don’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“Is Shizun certain this is necessary?”

“Does Binghe think I'd leave him if it weren't?”

Luo Binghe frowns, displeased. “If Shizun really wanted it, I'm sure we could make it work. It's not fair that the one time my husband really craves sex, he goes to someone else for it.”

Did he really have to say it like that? It's not like Shen Qingqiu chose any of this! “Binghe! Don't be crude!”

“It's true! Even if I can't feel it the way Shang-shishu can, I'm not blind. Shizun gets tactile, he flushes, gets distracted and eager like he never is. It's a trial for me too! The least Shizun could do after being this seductive is invite his husband to bed instead of running away to offer himself to someone who doesn't deserve him.”

Shen Qingqiu sighs. They go through this every time the first symptoms of his heat start showing up. Binghe is convinced that this time will be the one where Shen Qingqiu's love for him will protect him from his need to get Shang Qinghua's knot inside of him.

The worst is, they tried. And Shen Qingqiu ended up crying out of frustration and fighting Luo Binghe off because he has no right to be touching him, he's not the one who should be there, where is his alpha?

Then Luo Binghe spent days crying, wishing he could have been born a normal human, an alpha, so that he'd be Shizun's mate. He couldn't help feeling rejected because that's what he was. And Shen Qingqiu was in no state to soothe his pain because he'd been too busy taking care of his own needs to mind him.

They made up after. They always do. Their feelings are true, no matter how their bodies react. 

It just doesn't make it easier.

It could have been so much worse though. Luo Binghe is so lucky Shen Qingqiu's alpha is such a pushover that he's fine with being cucked 99% of the year.

Well, it's not like Shang Qinghua doesn't have his own demonic husband who gets even less of human presentation dynamics than Binghe. It's just that, ironically, it makes things easier for him. Mobei-Jun doesn't understand how the alpha/omega bond works. He just knows Shang Qinghua has to fuck Shen Qingqiu sometime or he'll go crazy. He takes it as just another human quirk.

It has been an unexpected complication. Fucking mate systems. Shen Qingqiu had realised that Shang Qinghua could tell, somehow, when he was about to need him. He hadn't thought he'd feel it though. Apparently, when they tried to stay apart, Shang Qinghua had turned uncharacteristically bitter and aggressive to the point that Mobei-Jun had to physically restrain him from barging into Shen Qingqiu's room. By the time Shen Qingqiu escaped, Shang Qinghua had almost been as desperate as him. The sex had been… something else.

They hadn't tried again. Shen Qingqiu thinks they both knew this is how things would turn out. Neither of them was hoping for a second try. They did their best. It wasn't enough. That was that. Luo Binghe would have to deal.

“It can’t be helped. Binghe knows I’d choose him if I could, but I can’t. He has me all of the rest of the time.” He had been packing a few things before they became necessary. He’s not leaving quite yet, but he’s certainly been feeling… friskier than usual. At this level, he’s not averse to Binghe’s touch.

He closes on his husband and brushes their hands together. “He could have me now, if he wanted.”

Binghe grabs his hand tightly. “Shizun is unfair, offering himself like this to distract me, knowing I can’t resist him.” His mouth finds Shen Qingqiu’s neck and bites where he knows Shen Qingqiu likes it.

Shen Qingqiu whines and leans into his husband, his mind already fogging. “Binghe…”

Luo Binghe sighs. “How could I refuse my husband when he needs me? All I want is to be there for him, always.”

“Binghe doesn’t have to do more than he already is.”

Luo Binghe’s hands on his skin feel like relief. “Shizun should let me care for him as I usually do then. But he won’t. It’s too hard for him. I’ll accept it for his sake, but he can’t expect me to be happy about it.”

Shen Qingqiu doesn’t. He knows only too well how much Luo Binghe hate Shen Qingqiu’s situation. He’s aware that it’s not fair on him. Shen Qingqiu has felt guilty about this before, but he doesn’t anymore. Binghe chose this. He decided to pick a husband with a bond to someone else. Luo Binghe has more liberty in this than him. He could leave and marry someone else. For better or for worse, Shen Qingqiu is stuck with Shang Qinghua.

He doesn’t blame Shang Qinghua for it. He’s sure his fellow cultivator would also prefer to keep to his own husband, but it’s not an option for either of them, so they must accept their fate.

In the meantime, all he can do is take advantage of his current state, where his inhibitions are slowly fading away, to offer his husband a side of himself usually buried. Shen Qingqiu willing and eager is enough to clear Luo Binghe’s mind of worries, for a while.

Eventually, Shen Qingqiu will have to leave to find relief in someone’s arms, and there will be no one to soothe Binghe’s loneliness. He will have to remember that Shen Qingqiu will return, and that they will be each other’s again when it’s over.

Where SQQ planned better and had SQH burn his body after he self-exploded.

With no body to bring SQQ back, LBH fall into perpetual mourning, ruling his realm with total despondency and no attack against humans. He’s got nothing better to do and no interest in furthering his realm’s reach or taking revenge against anyone.

SQQ-but-with-better-planning has an actual name instead of a dick joke, moves as far away from Cang Qiong as he can and lives his rogue cultivator dreams for 10 years, at which point he meets SQH by chance.

Who promptly tells him all about how LBH has been too heartbroken to do much of anything since his death.

SQQ doesn’t believe him, or at least thinks he’s exaggerating. But the idea of his Binghe being this wounded hurts him, so he has SQH sneaks him into the demon realm to see for himself.

He is confronted with statues of himself and a visibly broken LBH hanging on by a thread.

SQQ feels so, so guilty and hurt for his disciple, but he can’t risk revealing himself, right? Too dangerous. Who knows how LBH will take his reappearance? Still, he can’t forget what he saw. He has to do something.

So he decides to go rare artifact gathering and gets something that will let him visit LBH’s dream. LBH should be skilled enough as a dream manipulator now to realise it’s really him, but would have no clue about his real identity. It’s perfect. So he does that, tells LBH he’s alive somewhere far, that they can’t see each other right now but that LBH needs to move on with his life and that he apologises for hurting him. Should be good enough, right?

LBH blocks everything beside SQQ being alive. It takes him a week to track the artifact SQQ used, who got it, and where they, i.e. SQQ, is right now. And once he has him, he’s never letting him go.

This LBH has been beaten down by grief. He’s not a yandere; he’s too burned out for that. He just can’t let SQQ go. So he ignores any objection SQQ has and drags him back to the palace.

Their cohabitation is tense at first because SQQ did not choose this, but he feels too guilty and is too soft on LBH to resent him for long. Before he knows it, he has slipped right into his previous role as LBH’s shizun, lets him take care of him like LBH has always wanted, anything to soothe his too-obvious pain. LBH, meanwhile, is so scared that SQQ will leave him that he doesn’t dare to try and further the relationship, even as they become closer and everyone around them figure the marriage will be announced any day now. It’s not like it’s not common knowledge that SQQ was LBH’s true love. He isn’t shy about it. If he’s not really dead, that’s bound that happen.

SQH is going crazy waiting for the other shoe to drop and tries to get SQQ to admit his feelings, which, he will never, what a stupid idea. In a moment of rare daring, he tells SQQ to hide somewhere, just trust him okay?, and asks LBH why, exactly, he’s not making a move so he can put them all out of their misery? And LBH tells him he can’t risk SQQ being scared and leaving him again, even if he has to spend the rest of his life without touching him, and of course SQQ overhears them because that was the point.

This time, he can’t deny the truth of the situation. So he thinks about it for a long while, considers his former life as a rogue cultivator without LBH compared to his current life, and decides that yes, LBH is the one for him. Since it’s this obvious that LBH will welcome him, SQQ tells him so, and LBH cries and cries and cries but he’s so happy it’s like finally getting the white lotus back. So they get together and it’s fine because canonical SQQ is fine with LBH’s super clingy and intense attachment, so he’s fine with it here too.