It starts small. Luo Binghe hides all his demonic features, which ā Shen Qingqiu didnāt even think he was hiding, until he wakes up earlier than usual one day and sees Luo Binghe enter the house all red-eyed and claw-handed. Before any excitement can build up, though, Binghe blinks, startles and the features are gone.
Shen Qingqiu didnāt ask, but he started watching his husband more closely. And he began noticing things:
ā¢ Luo Binghe is never rude to other Peak Lords, at least not in front of Shen Qingqiu.
ā¢ He never complains, at least not about whatās really bothering him.
ā¢ He gets anxious when he doesnāt have time to cook or clean for Shen Qingqiu
ā¢ He barely talks about anything related to his Emperor duties, if he attends to them at all
ā¢ With his every word and action he tries to be good for Shen Qingqiu
At this point, Shen Qingqiu stops keeping track. He knows whatās going on.
Luo Binghe thinks Shen Qingqiuās love for him is conditional and he needs to work hard every day not to lose it.
The thought of it sends cold shivers down Shen Qingqiuās spine. He misses his self-assured, impudent white lotus. He canāt let it stand.
So, he does the following:
āBinghe doesnāt need to cook today.ā He says, motioning for Ming Fang to come closer. āWeāll get the food from the kitchens.ā
āBut Shizun!ā Luo Binghe pouts. āThat food isnāt good enough. This one can do better.ā
āOf course Binghe can.ā Shen Qingqiu says, fighting the blush. āMy husband is most talented. Today, though, this master wants an extra hour with him, even if it means worse food.ā
āEmperor Luo must be missed in the Demon Realm.ā Shen Qingqiu notes, ignoring the way Luo Binghe freezes midway through the room. āMaybe we should visit?ā
Thereās a moment of silence. Then, Luo Binghe says, voice carefully neutral:
āItās not pleasant in there, shizun. This one wouldnāt want to expose his husband to such a cruel, dangerous environment.ā
āLuckily,ā Shen Qingqiu notes. āThis one married the most dangerous creature in the world. He is sure heād feel pretty safe.ā
āShizun.ā Luo Binghe whines, hunching his shoulders and trying to appear as small, as non-threatening as possible.
āDoes my Demonic Emperor of a husband so unsure in his abilities?ā
Luo Binghe stands straighter, eyes gaining a glint of determination. Shen Qingqiu hides a smug smile behind his fan.
āBinghe looks annoyed.ā Shen Qingqiu says, as they walk back home after the Peak Lords meeting.
He doesnāt, his pretty face a pleasant mask. But Shen Qingqiu knows his husband, and he knows his martial siblings arenāt his favorite people.
āThis one is fine, shizun.ā
āHmm.ā Shen Qingqiu says. āDoesnāt Binghe think other Peak Lords were acting a bitā¦ self-important?ā
āThey do try to take too much of shizunās precious time.ā Luo Binghe answers carefully.
āThank you, Binghe, yes. This one has no idea why they think this master would prefer their company to his husbandās.ā
Luo Binghe gasps softly. Shen Qingqiu smiles. If he continues just like this, heās sure soon enough heāll get his Binghe to act as spoiled as he did back in his discipline-hood, if not worse.
