#hejian

“Could you see a situation where zhang and mo would be together romantically?”

I think seeing a romantic connection between ZZX and MGS was definitely more difficult than between HT and JY. ZZX doesn’t really interact with MGS that much, and what little he does, it’s usually very neutral in tone. We know he cares about MGS as a friend, but it seems that’s just how ZZX is outside his relationship with JY.

To be honest, even if Zhanyi wasn’t a thing, I couldn’t see MGS and ZZX being romantically involved in canon. In a way that felt natural and fluent, at least. I feel like the story (and even the characters) would have to be quite different for these two to be romantically interested in each other.

Putting ZZX and MGS in a romantic context raises a laundry list of all kinds of questions. Would JY still be ZZX’s best friend? Or would ZZX have some kind of childhood history with MGS? If not, how did they cross paths? Would MGS still be in gangs? Did ZZX develop romantic feelings first? Are they unrequited or would MGS eventually feel the same? How would ZZX’s love and affection guide MGS?

I feel like canon-wise MGS and ZZX are too “far” from each other to really have a romantic connection. Sure, they have their little bonding moments, but I can’t really see those carrying them all the way to romance. They are also quite similar characters in the sense that when left alone, they are both rather quiet and keep to themselves. For a romantic relationship, I think ZZX would have to become the one who takes the initiative and perhaps even chases after MGS in his own way.

I also struggle to see MGS’s character development in that relationship. If he was still a delinquent and involved in gangs, what would push and pull him to change the direction of his life? I’m not saying ZZX couldn’t have that influence but I kind of have to squint to imagine it. Rather I could see it be an angsty love story where ZZX watches MGS get in fights from the sidelines and MGS refusing his help but also feeling guilty about disappointing and troubling ZZX yet again.

And that is what I took as the basis for my little edits for ZZX/MGS. The canon panels offered at least some interesting moments that could build a story when tweaked a little.

In this scenario, ZZX and JY are still best friends but MGS is his childhood friend from kindergarten. ZZX remembers MGS as an adventurous boy always eager to follow a random path. He never backed down when the older boys bullied him which often landed him in the principle’s office. To the grownups, he might have come across as a wild kid but ZZX knew he was also kind and caring.

When ZZX reunited with MGS in the last year of middle school, he recognized MGS immediately from his red hair (ch. 177):

But compared to their childhood, he seemed more hostile. He glared at people and spat curses and threats. None of his child-like curiosity and caring heart seemed to be left. It didn’t take long for him to get involved with the school gangs where he was known as a bit of a mad dog.

When ZZX heard MGS had gotten mixed up in assaulting some girl, he knew immediately it was a lie. MGS would never do something like that. Seeing him in the principle’s office was so hard for ZZX (ch. 184):

When MGS was released from the office, ZZX followed him. That’s when he found him getting in the face of one of the biggest delinquent leaders. ZZX could hear him screaming about something not being the way they had agreed. When one of the gang members attacked MGS from behind, ZZX’s legs moved on their own. He ran over and threw himself in the fight not really thinking about what he was doing. All he was aware of was that he needed to keep swinging for both of them.

The faculty eventually broke up the fight. MGS had gotten quite badly hurt and was taken to a hospital. ZZX spend a few nights there, too. After the fight, JY was relieved beyond words. (ch. 150):

But ZZX knew he had to do something. Things couldn’t keep going like this with MGS. So, he went to see MGS at the hospital (ch. 248): 

MGS said he had recognized ZZX at school almost right away but hadn’t approached him. They were from different worlds now. ZZX fell silent at that but he couldn’t accept it. He wanted things to go back to how they had used to be and get his friend back.

After MGS got out of the hospital, ZZX refused to back down even though MGS resisted his efforts. ZZX waited for MGS in the morning at the school gates and he and JY would stick to him as much as possible throughout the day. ZZX didn’t want to let MGS out of his sight, but MGS’s reluctance weighed on him. (ch. 196):

And that pretty much wraps up what I could come up for ZZX/MGS. As I said, I had to change the canon somewhat. I felt like I needed a premise of some kind for them to have a (romantic) connection.

“And he tian and jian yi?”

Now, HT/JY on the other hand was easier. As I said, I don’t ship them personally but I can see where people who do are coming from. I didn’t interpret HT’s interest in JY in the beginning as romantic feelings but I do think the opposite readings are also valid. So, I will utilize those vibes for them.

Canon-wise, I think HT and JY have enough contact where you could continue to build a romantic interest quite naturally. HT has a naturally flirty disposition that would spark butterflies in JY’s stomach easily. He also feels protective of JY, especially given the fact that HT doesn’t want JY to get involved in the mafia world.

JY would be a good counter for HT’s darkness and inner angst. His airheaded, oblivious energy could end up comforting and reassuring HT without JY even knowing about it. JY also trusts HT judging by the way he often consults him about relationships. I think those heart-to-hearts have opened a special bond between them in canon which could be easily continued as a romantic pull. Kind of like JY being the only one to whom HT has revealed his true thoughts about relationships and the world. JY had seen those glimpses.

The scenario I came up for HT/JY didn’t stray as far from canon as did ZZX/MGS, so it was easier to manage. The comic also had more material for them to work with.

In this scenario, JY and ZZX are still best friends but JY has unrequited feelings for HT instead. Even ZZX doesn’t know about them or that he likes men. They are similar to the secret “light on the outside, heavy on the inside” kind of love JY had for ZZX before kissing him and confessing to him. When ZZX found out about all this, it was similarly dramatic as in the Zhanyi canon (ch. 144):

The unrequited feelings JY has are quite painful for him. He’s afraid of confessing them. What if HT will be disgusted? What if he just plays around without actually meaning the things he says? What if he rejects JY and he loses their friendship? ZZX becomes the only person who knows about JY loving HT.

What makes JY’s position even more difficult is the way HT likes to naturally flirt with people, JY included. (ch. 104, 108, 115, 122, 323):

He touches JY nonchalantly and JY’s stomach and heart make little flips. He says things that make JY blush like an idiot. Being around HT makes JY both nervous and excited.

But it still hurts. HT is quite popular among girls which hasn’t escaped JY either (ch. 186, 102):

Sometimes a careless question or choice of topic can deliver a blow of heartache. Sometimes JY hates HT for a reason he can’t even name himself. He hates him for being so smooth and handsome and cruelly playing with JY’s heart.

But there are also times when JY can have HT just for himself (ch. 132,133):

Those times when it’s just the two of them, JY feels special in HT’s eyes. It feels like every touch, joke, and tease is just for him and only he knows about them. JY finds himself laughing a bit easier, leaning into the touch, and enjoying the butterflies.

But the truth is HT is actually aware of JY’s feelings for him. He knows. And they’re not as unrequited as JY believes. HT cares about him a lot, and those moments they share are also precious to him. He wants to protect and cherish JY which is why he’s reluctant to acknowledge the pink blushing elephant in the room. He’s a part of something that he never wants to reach JY. The last thing he wishes is for JY to know about all the messed up darkness HT carries and is involved in. So, he teases and flirts to get some kind of “in-between” satisfaction.

However, there are times when he can’t help but lean into the comfort JY unknowingly offers (ch. 260, 227, 228):

Those are the times when HT wishes he could just tell JY that he knows and that he wants it too. Fuck the rest of the world, let’s just be us. That he will never let anything happen to JY. That he sometimes wants to hear his voice at 2am, so is it okay if he calls.

And that concludes the little story for HT/JY. If compared to ZZX/MGS, I don’t think it changes the canon as much and it flows more naturally to me. But I did enjoy writing both scenarios, don’t get me wrong.