Shen Qingqiu may not have done much in his first life, but he did learn, and observe. His older brothers were deeply entrenched in the corporate world, and he had watched them chase success and conquer hurdles.
He had also watched them burnout. He had watched as the fatigue began to linger around their eyes, as their proud shoulders began to bow. He knew how hard it was to recover from chronic fatigue.
Once, his unshakeable Da-ge had broken down in tears, unable to continue.
Shen Qingqiu wasn't heartless.
He didn't want to see someone else he cared about loved go through that. Once was worse enough.
So when he watched fatigue weigh down Shang Qinghua's immortal cultivator's strength, when burnout caused the quick man to crumple, and when instead of crocodile wailing there were dry eyes and wooden smiles, and quietly reserved replies?
Shen Qingqiu would call Shang Qinghua over to the peaceful groves of Qing Jing, to the secluded bamboo house. Often under the guise of discussing their 'gardening' project, Shang Qinghua and Shen Yuan would lounge, snacks and tea abundant, and Shang Qinghua would take to the afternoons like an under-watered plant to rain.
And if Shen Qingqiu purposefully made big huffs about unimportant things so that Shang Qinghua would come over? He was the only one who would know. And Shang Qinghua's work somehow never made it past Shen Yuan's threshold.
And if Shen Qingqiu 'arbitrarily' decided to demand Shang Qinghua allow him to braid his hair, so he didn't 'forget how to', and maybe that Shang Qinghua fell asleep with gentle hands in his hair? And if the An Ding Peak Lord woke with warm arms around him?
It was important only to them, and no one else needed to know.
No one understood how the An Ding Peak Lord kept up his breakneck pace all those years. Many great men had tried before him, and there were even protocols in place on An Ding for the Peak Lord's eventual burnout. Somehow, Shang Qinghua never succumbed.
Shen Qingqiu thought the proof spoke for itself. Melon seeds had a dedicated place in the Bamboo House's pantry. One not even Luo Binghe disturbed.
And years later, when Shen Qingqiu is juggling his duties as Peak Lord and Emperor-Consort, perhaps Shang Qinghua drags him away, needing him 'urgently' for important matters, and taking him someplace where work nor worries could find them.
Contains: sexual innuendos, bros being bros, sqq hits sqh multiple times, smoking,
Dividers: strangergraphics, olenvasynyt
The students of Qing Jing peak had noticed how their Shizun had become so depressed after the death of Luo Binghe. He even called out his disciples name several times! They tried to ease his pain, but it was obvious he didn’t wish to burden them. They felt restless, and did what they were told to not cause more trouble for their dear teacher. However, after their teacher asked to have a meeting with his fellow peak lord, Shang Qinghua, his attitude changed. They don’t know what happened in their meeting but whatever makes their Shizun happy!!
Shen Qingqiu shuffled his feet as he made his way towards An Ding peak. He’s never been here before but he’s concerned. All the notes he wrote to that hack of an author were never replied to. “Fucking asshole, making me come out here…” Shen Qingqiu mumbled to himself. He stopped when a disciple from An Ding bowed to him. “What does Immortal master Shen need?” Shen Qingqiu fans himself before replying, “I would appreciate if you could grant me an audience with your Shizun.” God this is kinda embarrassing. It’s not like he wants to hang out—it’s just. It’s just that he hopes his transmigrated bro hasn’t keeled over again. “Ah— Shizun is in the middle of writing documents. But I shall take you to a waiting room while he responds.” The disciple replies. “Much appreciated.” Shen Qingqiu said as he followed said student.
After he was sat, he waited patiently for a response. Before he could even fully relax, he heard the waiting room door open again. “Shizun said you could enter when you’re ready!” The student bowed before excusing themselves. Tch. Typical Qinghua, too busy to even greet or reply. Shen Qingqiu opens the door as he angrily huffs towards Shang Qinghua. “Hey asshole how come you haven’t replied to m—“ Shen Qingqiu stops in his tracks. He sees Shang Qinghua slouched on his desk chair, a pipe in hand, and smoke filling the room. “Huh? Oh— hey bro!” Qinghua takes one last puff before setting the pipe down.
“You— you smoke?!” Shen Qingqiu sputters as he fans himself faster. “Yea oh— sorry. Is it the smell? I didn’t think I’d have any visitors today. I can put it out for you.” Shang Qinghua spoke as he opened the window, and reached to shake out the embers. “Wait— I didn’t say you couldn’t smoke…” Shen Qingqiu muttered off at the end. Fuck- why does his heart feel caught in his throat. And like his face was on fire?? Is he getting sick? He couldn’t be, right? “What? For real? Usually you’d ridicule me for doing something ‘dumb’. Saying ‘Qinghua! You write bad novels and now you have bad lungs too!’ Or something like that.” Qinghua smirks as he mocks Shen Qingqiu. He sits back down on his chair and reaches for the pipe, holding it out to his bro. “Wanna try?” He asks. “No thanks.” Shen Qingqiu says flatly. Shang Qinghua shrugs as he continues to work on the documents. “So whatchu need?” Right. He forgot he was supposed to demand what held up this stupid author up and not replying to his notes! “Dude I sent you a note like last week. We need to find that stupid ass pollen so we can stop that disease from spreading!” Shen Qingqiu sneers at Qinghua. “Fuckkk. I forgot to write back, sorry bro. These ambassadors are not getting off my ass. Like- how many times do I need to politely remind them we don’t have to fund their campaign.” Qinghua runs a hand through his hair, frustrated and takes another hit of his pipe.
Fuck.
Why does that make Shen Qingqiu feel a chill run down his spine? It’s his fellow bro, why is this somehow weird? It’s not like he hates smokers? Unless he does now…? Shang Qinghua notices his friends silence. “You okay? Why don’t you sit down.” He motions to the chair in front of his desk, the one his students sit in usually. “I’m not your fucking disciple!” Qingqiu hissed. “It’s that or in my bedroom dude. I don’t have any other chairs.” Shen Qingqiu feels heat rise to his face and he eventually sits down on the chair. “Sorry if you wanted to talk more dude, i literally cannot sleep until this is done.” Qinghua gives Shen Qingqiu a awkward smile. Shen Qingqiu just hums and snacks on some nuts while he waits. After some time passes Shen Qingqiu breaks the silence, “Since when did you smoke?” “Oh, actually in my past life. If I had enough, I’d buy a pack and smoke. Not healthy and whatever, but it calmed me down.” Shang Qinghua replies, not looking up from his work. “Really? You don’t seem like the type to smoke.” Shen Qingqiu takes another handful of nuts and chews. “Whaddya mean?” Qinghua pauses to glance up at Shen Qingqiu. “Well, you’re so meek and cowardly dude.” Shen Qingqiu shoots out. “First of all, rude. Second of all, fuck you. I can smoke whenever I want!” Shang Qinghua retaliates by blowing smoke into Shen Qingqius face. He expects to be immediately smacked, but once the smoke clears. All he can see is his bro giving him… bedroom eyes?! “Dude?! Do you-“ “Shut up!!”
…
…
Shang Qinghua smirks. “Ohhh~ I get it now. You think me smoking is sexy, right?”
“Shut the fuck up! Nothing about you is sexy!!” Shen Qingqiu felt his fan cracking in his hand. “Yeah yeah, didn’t know you had a thing for smoking. Is that even a thing??” Qinghua held his chin in thought. “It’s not a fucking thing!” Qingqiu hissed. “Says the guy who gave me fuck me eyes.” All the disciples on An Ding peak heard was a loud wail coming from their Shizuns room. Eh, same old same old.
————————————
Qing Jing peak welcomes Shang Qinghua like its second nature. Both An Ding and Qing Jing peak disciples know about their teachers odd friendship. And today it was Qinghuas turn to visit Shen Qingqiu. “Okay bro, but like why do Bai Zhan peak disciples break so much shit? This is like, my third time having to ship more test dummies.” Qinghua complained. “Also it’s so fucking hot…”
“Oh you can make sex pollen, but not air conditioning?” Qingqiu sneered. “Listen, adding AC was too far, even for me.” Airplane whined. “Ugh, finally something we can agree on.” Shen Qingqiu fanned himself, feeling hot. “Dude I’m taking my outer robes off, fuck this shit.” Qinghua angrily pulled his robes off. “Hey— hey! Don’t get naked!” Shen Qingqiu hissed and threw his fan at the other. “Cucumber bro, I don’t fucking care. Plus it’s just us and it’s hot as hell today.” Just as Shen Qingqiu was about to shed his outer robes aswell, a knock on the door could be heard. “Fuck—“ Qingqiu muttered. “Wait— wait a minute! Get your fucking clothes back on!” He muttered the last part and they both shuffled to look presentable. Shen Qingqiu called out, firm, “Please enter…”
“Shizun,” Ming Fan bowed, “I’m here to inform you that— oh…” he paused as he stared at the disheveled clothes of both masters. “It— it’s not of importance, I shall return later!” Ming fan quickly runs out. “Wait—“ Shen Qingqiu reaches a hand out to try and call his disciple back. For gods sake, he can’t have these kids thinking he was doing something indecent! Especially not with this bumbling fool of an author!!! “This! is all your fault!” Shen Qingqiu turned around and pointed an accusing finger at his stupid friend. “Are you fucking serious?!” Shen Qingqiu all but screeches as he sees Shang Qinghua already undressing, AGAIN. “What? Dude I’m fucking sweating my ass off, besides you’re the peak lord here. You can tell people to fuck off.” Shang Qinghua already made himself at home near the little floor desk. “Besides…” He smirks, pulling out a bottle of wine from god knows where. “I brought something to quench our thirst!” “You’re insufferable…” Shen Qingqiu huffs before taking a seat across from the other peak lord. “Hehe, knew you’d come around, now let loose bro!” Qinghua giggled and tugged at his friend’s robes. Shen Qingqiu wanted to protest, but at the same time the heat was unbearable. With another huff Shen Qingqiu strips down to his inner robes and fully relaxes. The drinks they take are also helping him finally let loose, letting the mask of Shen Qingqiu fall was great. It felt like he was back in the modern world, at least for a moment.
Shen Qingqiu doesn’t know when he fell asleep. But he does wake with a pounding hangover. Feeling like shit, he reaches out to feel for his clothes to get dressed. What he touches though feels like another person. What the fuck?! Gasping, Shen Qingqiu shoots up and glances at the person in his bed. “Shang Qinghua….” He growls out, shaking him aggressively. “Mmmm… fuck— five more minutes…” Shang Qinghua groans out. “Fuck your five minutes! Get your ass up! I forgot I have a meeting with—“
The door to his bedroom slams open, the Bai Zhan peak lord, Liu Qingge, enters. To Shen Qingqius horror Liu Qingge gives them a once over and walks out promptly. “Wait, Liu Shidi, I can explain!” He rushes to get dressed to chase the man down. Meanwhile, his hack of an author bro just goes back to sleep.
————————————
Of course the next day they have a peak lord meeting… Shen Qingqiu wants to end it all.
[ System: Please stay alert! Many important people will be talking! ]
Literally fuck off system.
[ :,( ]
The tactic is to cover the lower half of his face with his fan, to literally save face. Shang Qinghua is late and stumbles into the tension filled room hastily. “Sorry— I had to rewrite some things. You don’t mind if I double check our taxes right?” The mousy peak lord asks, rummaging through his papers. And— is that? Did he really bring his fucking pipe into the room?! Yue Qingyuan, sensing his Shidi’s discomfort, speaks up. “Qinghua, can you please put out that smoking pipe? Your Shixiong is having a hard time.”
“I’m quite fine with it actually..” Shen Qingqiu spoke up, causing Yue Qingyuan to deflate. “Never mind then…” As the boring meeting goes on, Shen Qingqiu can help but be antsy. He never got to clear up the misunderstanding with Liu Qingge. I mean, him gay? Hahaha! No way, especially not for the author of this damn novel. He loathed him. How could he even find smoking hot? Like… it’s just the suave and self assured way the author smokes. The bags under his eyes as he languidly takes hit after hit of the pipe looks… aesthetically pleasing. It especially doesn’t help when he blew smoke in his face with that confident smirk of his. It’s— it’s the gapmoe he swears!!! Speaking of Liu Qingge, he was glaring daggers at Airplane bro. Damn, guess smoking during meetings isn’t cool with him. Meanwhile, the smoke from Shang Qinghuas pipe keeps on filling the room, it became so much that Mu Qingfang opened a window. Shen Qingqiu coughed as he accidentally inhaled the smoke.
“You should put it out.” Liu Qingge stated to the An Ding peak lord. “I’m not bothering anybody.” Qinghua says, still flipping back and forth between papers and jotting down god knows what. “Shen Qingqiu is who you’re bothering..” Liu Qingge scolded. Shang Qinghua glanced up at Shen Qingqiu. Watching how he fans himself and his leg keeps shaking. And he can’t make eye contact with him. Oh he knows what’s wrong with him alright.
“Oh, I’m bothering him alright…” Qinghua reclines back and takes a big puff, dragging out the process. His flirty tone catches the attention of all the peak lords. Yue Qingyuan stares at Qinghua in disbelief. The rumors of them being more than just friends can’t be true… Liu Qingge can feel his blood boil, how dare that rat bastard assume he could be a worthy match for Shen Qingqiu! He doesn’t even hunt the monsters that Shen Qingqiu likes! He bets that coward of a man can’t compete with his martial skills. Meanwhile Shen Qingqiu feels his face heat up. How dare that rat of a man use this against him! Shen Qingqiu quickly and quietly gets up. He snaps his fan closed and with a sweet smile, stares at Shang Qinghua, “Will this Shidi of mine please step outside with me?” “Hehe, of course…!” Shang Qinghua wrapped an arm around his bros waist and they walked out. Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge felt their hopes shatter. At least until they heard the cries of a certain An Ding peak lord as he gets beat with a folding fan.
Again, gonna add another drabble of Idol Shang Qinghua. This time with Chappell Roan
I just find it really funny if there was a scenario where Shang Qinghua is actually a noisy drunk.
Specifically, Shang Qinghua is a singing drunk who loves to belt out songs while downing a shot of vodka.
So one day he gets drunk on accident due to him being attacked by some of Mobei-Jun's plentiful array of enemies but the only thing that came to effect when they tried to poison him was by being drunk for the rest of the day.
So I can imagine Mobei-jun just stalking the halls when he finds a drunk Shang Qinghua in his office. He looks through the crack in the door way as he begins to hear him sing. Even when drunk, His confidante can easily hold a note.
You said, "Baby, no attachment," but we're
Knee deep in the passenger seat, and you're eating me out, Is it casual now?
Two weeks, and your mom invites me to her Long Beach house. Is it casual now?
I know what you tell your friends
Baby, get me off again
The news shocks Mobei-jun. Shang Qinghua has had past lovers? When? Was it before they met? How many people has Shang Qinghua courted?
Crystalline ice grow from the floor as he listens intently behind the door, desperate to know more about Qinghua's past. What he hears next shocks him as his advisor's voice suddenly got louder, cracks and a bitter feeling worn in his tone as he belted out.
I fucked you in the bathroom when we went to dinner
Your parents at the table, you wonder why I'm bitter
Bragging to your friends, I get off when you hit it
I hate to tell the truth, but I'm sorry, dude, you didn't
And whoever that person was, Mobei-jun concludes that he was an inept and immature lover, incapable of pleasing Shang Qinghua.
Mobei-jun feels a sense of resentment, angry that whoever this old lover was, he had the chance to have Shang Qinghua but ultimately was too idiotic to do so.
Mobei-jun is also silently grateful that he did fumble, for now Mobei-jun now has the chance.
I hate that I let this drag on so long, now I hate myself
Hate that I let this drag on so long, you can go to hell
And whoever this person was, Shang Qinghua clearly no longer wants to see, if any indication by the climactic finale of the song.
Mobei-jun opens the door, spooking him as he got off the desk he was sprawled on in order to look more orderly. He could care less about that.
He makes a beeline to Qinghua and bombards him with question on his love life, who has he been with, what were they like.
This goes on for hours, and somehow, by the end of it, it ends with them ending up as a couple, kissing passionately against the floor.
Summary: Shen Qingqiu finds an accurate metaphor to describe his feelings for Luo Binghe.
Shen Qingqiu woke up to the first rays of the morning sun peeking through the window. It was a rare occurrence to wake up before Luo Binghe and he was very surprised himself. There wasn’t really a reason for waking up so early, he supposed he’d just slept very comfortably during the night and his body and his mind completely recovered.
Luo Binghe was still sleeping soundly beside him, arms holding tightly onto his waist and not loosening even when he tried to adjust his position. Luo Binghe had always been an early riser, already having prepared breakfast by the time Shen Qingqiu started stirring, so Shen Qingqiu rarely had the chance to watch his peacefully sleeping expression.
The sunlight cast an orange hue on Luo Binghe’s face, making it appear even more ethereal than Shen Qingqiu knew it was. There was no frown between his eyebrows, no storm behind closed eyelids and no tears in the corner of his eyes. Just peace and serenity. His lips were slightly parted, terribly inviting for a small kiss and Shen Qingqiu had to hold back his breath in fear of disturbing whatever moment descended upon them.
He directed his gaze outside the window, watching as the tree branches swayed gently in the wind. It was the middle of September, the beginning of autumn. The green leaves on the trees changed color, dressing up in yellow, orange and red shades before shrugging all of it down one by one. Shen Qingqiu let his thoughts drift in a similar manner and ended up wondering how he came to love the man sleeping beside him so much.
This wasn’t the first time he ironically or unironically asked himself this question. The mystery stayed unsolved even after months of living together in a relationship, though. He’d never really considered his feelings towards Luo Binghe, much less romantic ones. Before he knew it, all he’d known was that he cared for him more than a reader for a cool protagonist, more than a master for his disciple, more than he had for anyone else. Shen Yuan had never been in love before so this kind of feeling was entirely unfamiliar and in the beginning stages, it was easy to brush them off as something different, unwilling to believe the truth. It had started out as him being excited to watch Luo Binghe gathering his harem in front of his eyes but it ended with him hating the thought of Luo Binghe looking at anyone but him. What happened in-between? Shen Qingqiu had no idea.
He’d always thought that falling in love with someone happened at first sight; you just see a person so attractive in your eyes that you can’t help wanting to pursue them, get to know them better and spend more time with them. And after getting to know them more and more, you either realize that they’re no good after all, or have a moment of huge realization that the two of you were made for each other and kiss and live happily ever after. He’d never had a moment like this with Luo Binghe, however, he still knew from the bottom of his heart that there’s no one else he’d rather be with than Luo Binghe.
Shen Qingqiu cast another glance at the beautiful sleeping face in front of him, reaching a hand out to gently caress his cheek and comb through his dark locks. Sighing, he continued his motions while staring out of the window once more. An orange leaf just got caught in the wind, separating from the branch it was hanging from and swayed in the air before landing on the ground on a pile of similar leaves.
Yes, his feelings were something like that, too.
He smiled, satisfied with the answer he’d finally found and leaned over to press a soft kiss on Luo Binghe’s forehead.
Luo Binghe’s eyelashes trembled slightly as he blinked his eyes open, his gaze hazy with sleep. “Shizun, why are you awake so early?” he asked, voice slightly hoarse. “Is there something wrong?”
“No reason. Nothing wrong,” Shen Qingqiu said, giving in to the need to kiss those lips and captured them for only a moment before pulling away. “Go back to sleep.”
“Shizun too,” nodded Luo Binghe, nuzzling his face into Shen Qingqiu’s chest, feeling it reverberate from the affirmative humming.
Shen Qingqiu closed his eyes, feeling the newly acquired warmth lull him back to sleep.
Falling in love with Luo Binghe was falling like autumn leaves. One by one, little by little, the feelings piled up on the ground, covering it until nobody could see the surface anymore. The emotions and feelings were a colorful variety unlike the constant greenery he’d remembered from before meeting him. Sometimes people would kick into a pile of leaves or the wind would stir them up but it’s all nothing but a momentary disturbance. In the end, those leaves will become part of the soil, inseparable and eternal just like how Luo Binghe was now a part of his heart and soul that he would love until the end of time.
There’s no reason for that. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just the way they are.
It took a lot of time for Luo Binghe to realize it.
Even after he successfully had his shizun all to himself, he often wondered if his shizun is really happy to be with him. He would get insecure and uncertain every once in a while, his eyes filling with tears as he would imagine the retreating back of the one person he loved with all of his heart.
“Are you thinking about something stupid again?” An exasperated tone would say every time he did so and a warm hand would fall on top of his head, patting it reassuringly and ruffling his hair affectionately.
Sniffing, Luo Binghe would look up to find his shizun staring at him with a frown. Luo Binghe would feel the warmth coming from that hand on his head seep into him, warming up his whole body from head to toe every single time.
“Just thinking about how much I love Shizun,” he blinked away the tears and grinned, effectively making Shen Qingqiu’s heart stop for a moment.
Soon, Luo Binghe realized it.
It had always been like this. Even if his shizun was somewhat awkward when it came to expressing feelings, he had always showed care in his own way. Patting him on the head was also like that. A simple act to reassure Luo Binghe that he would never go anywhere and would always be there to diminish the bad thoughts, filling him with his warmth instead.
