#liusang

I know I’m overdue for wzl/nhs so I went ahead and used all three :D hope this satisfies you a bit XD

Nie Huaisang taps his fingers on the desk as he inspects the invitation from Jin Guangyao. The last thing he needs in his life is to go to a Night Hunt, but he's starting to run out of excuses to avoid those. Wen Zhuliu doesn't say anything, but he is a man of expressive silences and Nie Huaisang can still hear the comment.

“I'm not nervous,” he claims, tapping a little harder on the wood. “That bastard hasn't made me nervous in years.”

You are the image of calm and serenity, Wen Zhuliu doesn't say, the corner of his lips rising ever so slightly.

“Shut up. I just don't want to go. It's boring, everyone is condescending and tries to tell me that next time I'll manage to land a blow, and then there's always someone trying to introduce me to their daughter or cousin or thrice removed niece. Jin Guangyao's Night Hunts aren't hunts, they're just a social outing.”

“Jin Guangyao wants you to marry,” Wen Zhuliu states.

It's odd that he feels that's important enough to actually bother saying out loud, when the entire cultivation world is pushing Nie Huaisang to find a wife already. The tone, also, is not quite as flat as usual, and that's enough to make Nie Huaisang look up from the letter.

Wen Zhuliu is, at first glance, as impassible as ever. But Nie Huaisang has years of experience in reading this man's features, so he notices the tension his eyebrows, the slightly defensive posture. Most importantly, it doesn't escape him that Wen Zhuliu refuses to meet his eyes.

“Wait a minute. Are you jealous?” Nie Huaisang asks, half wanting to laugh.

The only answer he gets is an eyeroll, but the tension in Wen Zhuliu's body increases ever so slightly. Nie Huaisang can't help smirking.

“Master Wen, I can't believe it!” Nie Huaisang gasps theatrically. “Why, could it be that one of the young ladies thrown my way has caught your interest and you wish she would look your way rather than mine? Please tell me which one it is, and as your sect leader I will do my best to ensure you get proper consideration from her parents!”

At this, Wen Zhuliu finally looks at him, his eyes narrowing in either amusement or warning. There's often little difference, and Nie Huaisang tends to react to both the same way.

“Or could it be you have your eyes set on a different direction entirely?” Nie Huaisang wonders, his tone teasing. “Master Wen, I must say you're not nearly as subtle as you think you are. I've seen the way you look at me when you think I don't notice.”

“I'd be foolish to do that. Sect Leader Nie notices everything.”

“But you do look,” Nie Huaisang insists, before laughing. “Oh. So you're looking at me to be noticed, uh? How very shameless. And have you looked at all your masters this way?”

The memory of Wen Chao, the idea of staring at him with any heat, is enough to make Wen Zhuliu actually grimace, which of course means Nie Huaisang only laughs harder. It's always a little victory when he can make this ever stoic man react so strongly.

“I do not look at Sect Leader Nie because he employs me,” Wen Zhuliu states. “I look at him because he is handsome, clever, and enjoys being looked at.”

Nie Huaisang's laughter dies in his throat.

The problem with teasing Wen Zhuliu, of course, is that it can go both ways, and Nie Huaisang's self control always cracks when his right hand man compliments him.

“Ridiculous,” he huffs, his cheeks heating up. “Baseless accusations. I do not enjoy being looked at. If anything, I try to avoid it, unless necessary!”

Wen Zhuliu gives that statement some consideration.

“You enjoy being looked at by me,” he corrects, a hint of smugness to his voice.

Nie Huaisang reaches to his fan and hurriedly opens it, the only way he can hide how red his face must be. Sometimes, he misses the days when Wen Zhuliu still felt awkward around him, because his heart just can't take that sort of flirting. How dare this man says such things, in such an earnest manner?

“Absolutely ridiculous,” Nie Huaisang mutters. “I've never... I'm just... you are offending my honour, Master Wen!”

Wen Zhuliu raises an eyebrow, but says nothing.

“You have! And... and I demand retributions for this!”

Wen Zhuliu huffs, a half smile on his lips, and steps closer to his sect leader's seat.

“Apologies. What retribution does Sect Leader Nie demand?”

With affected carelessness, Nie Huaisang closes his fan and taps it lightly against his lips, as if trying to think about it.

“What to request... money is irrelevant of course, since I'm paying you anyway. I cannot ask for a duel, we've been there before and know how that would go. You have served me well in the past, so I cannot dismiss you over this terrible affront, especially not when you know too many of my secrets. Ah, what to ask for? Hm... Master Wen, what do you have to offer?”

Wen Zhuliu's eyes dart to where his fan presses against his lips. Nie Huaisang grins.

“Ah, yes, a fantastic idea. Kiss me, Master Wen. That will be the price to pay for your insolence!”

Again Wen Zhuliu rolls his eyes but he leans forward to give what is asked from him. Before their lips can even touch, Nie Huaisang has thrown his arms around the other man's neck, to make it very clear that his honour won't be satisfied with a quick peck.

last day of sept which means ive finished drawing gege everyday for a month!! next month i will return to regularly scheduled weilan and other danmei boy bdays (w liuchang sprinkled in as well ofc)

ok i think ive made up for the day that i missed!