After Mu Qing confessed how he always wanted to be friends, things got a little bit awkward. But not bad awkward, just weird awkward.
He can see how they're both trying hard to put up with Mu QIng. Xie Lian would chose his words carefully and state the obvious so he wouldn't be misunderstood while Feng Xin would try to not always be offended by what Mu Qing says (it doesn't always work, after all Mu Qing is really used to having a vicious tongue).
Mu Qing makes an effort too, take this: a few days ago, while they were doing their "weekly friendly tea" (a new habit they started), he calmly asked Feng Xin to stop shaking his leg instead of punching him right away. He even explained nicely how he finds the vibrations and noises annoying!
But there is something even weirder.
Xie Lian's surprising silk band. It was rather... affectionate toward Mu Qing.
It started right after he sewed it back together. He brought it back to its rightful owner and everything was as normal as you'd expect them.
But about a week later, as Feng Xin and Mu Qing went back to Puqi Shrine (Xie Lian had begged them "Please come and visit, i'll prepare a nice meal!", and they both ran out of excuses), it changed. As soon as the door opened, Mu Qing felt a force grip his waist. He's pretty sure the less dignified sound ever escaped his mouth at that moment and he's glad his new friend never brought it up. For a second, he truly thought a monster had attacked him, it was so quick he didn't even have time to react.
Upon reaching his side, Xie Lian has profusely apologised and told Ruoye how impolite it was to treat guests that way. Thankfully, Mu Qing was more surprised than hurt.
But ever since that day, it never stopped.
Whether they were in the Mortal Realm or the Heavenly Capital, if Xie Lian and Mu Qing were in the same room, you can be sure Ruoye was flying around him. Nuzzling his hair, slipping between his ankles, nestled in his neck, once he even found it under his outer robe! Even when they were just walking around, Ruoye would try to attract his attention.
Mu Qing explained how Ruoye had no need to thank him this much but it changed nothing.
In the end, weeks passed and Mu Qing grew quite used to it. Expecting the new touches when he spotted Xie Lian nearby and petting kindly on its head (does it even have a head? When asked, Xie Lian just shrugged and gave one of his awkward smiles) when it was disturbing Mu Qing's work too much.
Without realising it, he even grew used to more new touches. It got easier to not freeze when Xie Lian hugged him goodbye. He even started reciprocating (much to Hua Cheng's irritation, but Mu Qing always has a crude gesture to show him in Xie Lian's back). And the same thing happened with Feng Xin, he no longer backs away when his friend (!!!) nudges him to show him something funny.
So yeah, Mu Qing enjoys his three friends' company (that includes Ruoye, not the Ghost King, thank you very much).
