Chapter Text
All it took was a shout from Shen Qingqiu to get the man to leave. Or to at least wait outside while they became more presentable. Shen Yuan had forgotten their state of dress in the moment, but was happy to have more layers on. He was surprised Shen Qingqiu had even offered him anything, even if the clothes he was given were clearly of a lower quality than those Shen Qingqiu wore on a regular basis.
The two got dressed, and as Shen Yuan was pulling his hair up into a ponytail, the man came in again. He noted that this man was quite handsome, less on the pretty side than Shen Qingqiu but still undeniably a pretty boy. He had not remembered everyone in this world being attractive. In fact, he had assumed that beyond Luo Binghe and a few of his short lived rivals, every other man was doomed to be unattractive. Had women gotten to see these men, he was sure PIDW would have gotten even more Green JJ sisters than just the Danmei shippers.
The man stared at Shen Qingqiu for a few moments before speaking. "Qingqiu-Shidi, it is good to see that you have recovered well," he spoke in a deep, gentle voice.
Shidi!? Speaking of the Danmei shippers, he has already met their favourite character! Now that he thinks about it, this kind and naive man could only be Yue Qingyuan. Who else would dare to barge in like he did? Shen Yuan wasn't sure how to interact with the man, and stood their silently.
Shen Qingqiu glared. "So you've just been watching me sleep while I could do nothing about it?" he accused. He certainly wouldn't follow suit.
Yue Qingyuan quickly tried to defend himself. "Of course not. I know you would not want that, so I only checked up on you a few times throughout each day."
Shen Qingqiu stuck up his nose at the man. "And why should I believe you?" Did this man believe anyone? They would have to work on his trust issues first if they were to make any progress.
Yue Qingyuan opened his mouth to speak, but looked at Shen Yuan. It must be quite a shock, to see a random man who looks just like your shidi in his house. "I'm sorry, but can I just ask who this is?" Well, that was expected.
Shen Qingqiu only got angrier. "'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry', is that all you ever know how to say?" Huh, their relationship was worse than Shen Yuan had expected. It had not been difficult at all to see there was a one-sided hatred between them, but if even a relatively normal phrase set him off like this, it must have rivaled even his relationships with Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge. Shen Yuan, having not answered for himself, was forced to listen to Shen Qingqiu's answer. "This is my brother, Shen Yuan. After hearing of how horrible my qi deviations have been as of late, he has decided to come and live with me to make sure I am well. If no one else is going to be there for me, he has had to take time out of his busy schedule and help me."
Shen Yuan couldn't help the way he whipped his head around to stare at him. Brother!? He just met him! He told him the family name was a complete coincidence! Oh, but explaining away their identical looks would be near impossible otherwise. Even with the different way he dressed and did his hair, they still looked 9/10s the same. Ah, fuck it. The lies been said, time to bullshit his way through this next conversation.
"Nice to meet you, Sect Leader Yue. Sh-Qingqiu here has told me a lot about you," he greeted. That was an idea on how to make Shen Qingqiu more likeable. He would be the charming brother who spoke constantly of his dear brother. That had to invoke some likeability. Now he just had to get into the habit of only speaking his given name to others. There was no way he would be able to get away with calling him 'Ge'. Shen Qingqiu glared at him, and he quickly added, "Most negative, but I am sure you know my brother's quirks at this point."
Yue Qingyuan gave a smile, quite forced from Shen Yuan's guess. "Ah, I am glad he has spoken of me, it truly is an honour. And do not worry, I do know his quirks." He looked over at Shen Qingqiu with a difficult expression. "I had no idea you had a brother."
Shen Qingqiu frowned deeply. "Of course you don't. You don't know anything about me and you should stop trying." Shen Yuan felt as though he had stumbled into one of his parents' arguments again, trapped between words he didn't understand the depth of and unable to do anything about it. He had expected to first have to face this kind of situation with Liu Qingge, but he had forgotten the nature of the few moments Proud Immortal Demon Way had given them of Yue Qingyuan's adamancy towards Shen Qingqiu.
He couldn't just stand there. "Sect leader Yue-" he began.
Yue Qingyuan gave him a kind smile. "If you are Qingqiu-Shidi's brother, just call me by name, or Qi-Ge if you wish." No way in hell was he doing that latter option! He had Shen Qingqiu's agreement for now, but he couldn't piss him off too much right off the bat.
"Yue Qingyuan, may I ask why you have decided to visit the bamboo house?" he asked. That would at least stop the argument for a few moments.
Yue Qingyuan looked surprised at the question, but gathered himself quickly. "I came to see how Qingqiu-Shidi was doing with his latest qi-deviation. I hadn't expected him to have recovered quite yet, so not only was it a surprise to see you, it was also a surprise to see him awake," Yue Qingyuan explained.
A qi deviation? While there had been a qi deviation from Shen Qingqiu in the original story, a reason to get Ning Yingying away from Luo Binghe as she cared for him so the story could focus a bit more on Luo Binghe's other sect sisters who would one day become his wives, Shen Yuan had seen Shen Qingqiu as the type of cultivator to be above them for the most part. Lots of qi deviations were for the types who pushed themselves day in and day out, not someone who sat comfortably at the top and didn't care for improvement other than to not be the worst peak lord. But he had mentioned that he had a lot in the lie… What was causing all of these? Airplane should have mentioned it somewhere if it was important, it would have created contrast between him and Luo Binghe, who did not suffer a qi deviation until 100 years into the plot.
"I told you, it's usually fine," Shen Qingqiu stated. "I suffer from enough of them that you should know I always make it out of them fine. Or are you just looking for a reason to creep inside of my home?" Don't you dare start! He just got him out of that argument!
"Well, thank you for checking in on him," Shen Yuan intruded. "If you want updates during future qi deviations, I will make sure to keep everyone updated, but besides Mu Qingfang, there won't be much need to visit unless he expressedly invites you." He could deal with a sad Yue Qingyuan, he could not deal with a onesided argument between the two.
Shen Qingqiu did not stop glaring at him. Come on, he made the brother lie! At least pretend to love him! "Yuan," he warned, similar to how Shen Yuan's own brothers did whenever he started to push the limits. Not only was it creepy to hear Shen Qingqiu address him only by given name, but it was strange to hear him say it in the tone his family had been too frightened to speak it in for roughly half a decade, scared that if they spoke his name in any way but softly, they would regret it when he was no longer around. He supposed that time had finally come, but now he had to learn to deal that that tone again. He had to learn how to deal with a lot of things again, but it wasn't time to focus on himself.
"He's the sect leader. Even if you don't like him, he reserves the right to know your health condition," Shen Yuan argued back. If Shen Qingqiu was going to be more likeable to the readers, he ought to be more likeable in the sect. Besides, even if he can't gain the love of the main readers of PIDW, there was always the Green JJ sisters who had been wishing he was kinder to Yue Qingyuan so they felt less guilty shipping them. The System never claimed what kind of readers he had to be more likeable to, and with the pitiful male friendships in the novel they deserved something.
Shen Qingqiu glared at him further. He wasn't doing a very good job at selling the brothers lie. He glanced at Yue Qingyuan, who was rather pleased at the permission, but was still staring at Shen Qingqiu. What, was the permission not enough from his brother? (Caretaker? He never outright said that was the lie, but his family had been his caretakers to various extents when he had been sick, and qi deviations were essentially sickness, right?). Come on Sect Leader, everyone is aware of your quirks of obsession with the man, but this is too much.
"If it stops him from barging in, fine. But you only tell him what I say you can, alright?" Shen Qingqiu demands. He then turned to stare at Yue Qingyuan once more, his glare not once leaving his face. Thank the gods for the need for pretty boys and cultivation, otherwise Shen Qingqiu's face would be covered in wrinkles, and he'd be even more hated. "Now that you have done what you must, you may leave."
Yue Qingyuan's face twitched into a frown for a moment before moving back into his usual constant smile. It was creepy, who needs to smile that much? "I do wish you would allow others to worry about you more." His eyes once again glanced at Shen Yuan. At least let your smile drop around this stranger! "Although, with Shen Yuan here, I suppose you are doing well."
"Yes, yes. I am doing fine. Now, I have been asleep for many days and need to get my bearings again," Shen Qingqiu pushed.
Shen Yuan decided to step in before it could become another argument. "I'll see you out, I have been wanting to meet you, so it is also a chance for a small chat." Sure, the want to meet was a very recent want, but he had to build his spot here even with the lie. This was his life now.
Yue Qingyuan hesitated for a moment but nodded. "I suppose it would be best for me to take my leave now." He stared at Shen Qingqiu for an elongated moment. "It was good to see you doing well, Shidi. Have a restful recovery." Shen Qingqiu just stared at him until he left, guided by Shen Yuan.
Having left the bamboo house, they stepped a bit away, and Yue Qingyuan turned to face him, his brows furrowed, and for once his lips not smiling. "I had no idea Qingqiu-Shidi had a brother."
Ahhhh, this is not the conversation he had planned! "You mentioned that before. I suppose it makes sense. Qingqiu is not the type to tell people about his life." Shen Yuan had decided he now wanted to just go back inside and not talk to the sect leader.
"I know that part of him well, but I believed I had known many parts of him well, including how he had no family." His words were soft, despite what they were. Shen Yuan had to fight to keep his face blank. There was clearly a history between the two, but he had no idea what that history was, and as Shen Qingqiu's percieved brother, he had no right asking Yue Qingyuan what it was, and he sure as hell couldn't ask Shen Qingqiu.
"If you know Qingqiu so well, shouldn't you understand this situation? People have many reasons to hide information, Qingqiu more than most," Shen Yuan responded. Who cares what their history was, if Shen Qingqiu decided to 'hide he had a brother', Yue Qingyuan would eventually understand. Any reader could understand that Yue Qingyuan's character revolved around Shen Qingqiu after all.
Yue Qingyuan's eyes widened at the words, and Shen Yuan thought he had won this conversation quite easily. "I suppose you are right." Hah! Eat shit! Shen Yuan is inside his head, there is no winning against him! "I do not know his reason for lying and saying you are his brother, or why you look so much like him to begin with, but if this is the lie he has chosen, I will help him live this lie."
That… was not what he was expecting at all. He thought he had convinced him of the lie, but whatever past they did share, the words of even the man he gave into most were not enough for belief. Still, the agreement to continue the lie himself was enough for him. And, maybe as long as Shen Yuan kept this a secret to himself, Shen Qingqiu would have no reason to start another argument.
"Thank you," he spoke. "He will recover shortly, I am sure of that, and I will be around helping him, so there is no need to worry about him any more than necessary." Frankly he had no idea what he would be doing outside of helping Shen Qingqiu, nor how often Shen Qingqiu would actually want him around. He hadn't planned to meet someone else so quickly, and there was no way to plan on Shen Qingqiu's end. But, if anything, this did secure his place on the peak so Shen Qingqiu would have a harder time tossing him out if he disliked his methods of likeability.
Yue Qingyuan nodded. "I will be sure to check in on you when I cannot check in on Qingqiu-Shidi." he turned away slightly before stating, "I wish you well," with a nod, and leaving.
Shen Yuan watched him leave for a few moments before looking around. This bamboo covered peak was likely going to be his home for the foreseeable future. It would have been easy to get caught up in the fact he was going to live in his most hated novel, where his actions towards his least favourite character would decide if he got to live or die, but for that moment, he was thinking about the smaller things.
He couldn't remember the last time he had been outside when it wasn't when his life was in danger. When was the last time he had been able to do any of this, standing, surrounded by nature, being confident in being able to count his time left in years rather than months? Since before his diagnosis, he was sure. In a way, his life was still better than before he died. He didn't imagine he'd have so much time left, or be able to talk to so many people face to face, and even with the ache around his meridians, he was certainly in less pain than he had been in years.
[You have accepted this rather fast]
The robotic words broke him out of his thoughts. He glared at the screen. 'I either accept this or I suffer. I know how to take opportunities.'
[Most at least allow themselves a few hours. How small a life were you leaving behind?]
He did not like the questioning, so he turned away and walked inside. Can't even enjoy the nature without the System ruining it. When he stepped inside, Shen Qingqiu was sitting at a table, waiting for him, likely.
"Shen Yuan," he started. He had no wishes to continue playing family in private. "There is a spare room here. You will sleep there while you stay here, and once you are done with your task, you will find somewhere else to live. I have no desire to host a man for longer than necessary." But when it's a young girl, you offer the room up like it is nothing. He cannot believe he has to help this man. He will also need to find a way to make his attraction to older women stick, so his eyes never again wander to the young.
"Don't worry," he spoke as he sat down. "I have no plans to stay once I am done. This world offers so much, and I have no interest in being part of the plot. Once I am done, I will be leaving and studying the beasts of this world, whatever happens here is none of my business as long as the protagonist stays safe and cared for." Who needed an endless number of beauties when there was an endless number of beasts to be seen? Maybe he'd find a wife who enjoyed beasts as much as he did, and they'd spend their days like this, but unless he was certain she was not Luo Binghe's woman, he would rather just be a loner.
Shen Qingqiu scrunched his face up. "Must you remind me my life has been at the hands of an author?" he complained.
"You were fine with it when I was telling you I'd help you, what changed?" This man was infuriating. On his side one moment and then against him the next.
"Just because I accepted doesn't mean I need to be fine with this," Shen Qingqiu argued. "As much as I am glad to have someone who I can blame for even the slightest of my problems, the idea of being at someone's whims, even if she-."
"-He. The book is a stallion novel, women don't write those," Shen Yuan corrected.
Shen Qingqiu's expression became more twisted, as if to say 'even worse' with just his face. "Even if he no longer controls my actions now that they are affected by the System. Up until now, hasn't every bad thing that has happened to me been because someone derived enjoyment from my suffering?"
What suffering have you been through! Your life hasn't gone to shit yet, getting your karma's worth from rivalry isn't suffering! He couldn't say that, nor say that he had personally gained joy from his suffering, so he moved on. "Not everyone gets to have the joy of choosing their own fate, and now you get to be in complete control of it, as long as we can raise your likeability scores. Whatever happened by Airplane's demands is no point of worry, so let's focus on the future, where you can hopefully live with all your limbs intact."
Shen Qingqiu's expression didn't change. A smile would help him, but he was starting to think Shen Qingqiu didn't know how to smile. "I hardly understand how I could be likeable. It is in my nature to be cruel, and anyone would be a fool to think I can change. Nature doesn't change, but I may as well try. I am known to fight, but I suppose you already know that about me."
Someone get this man therapy, he thought before realising that would be his job, as therapy didn't exist in ancient china or whatever time period this world existed in. Shen Yuan had no idea what he meant by 'fight', as it hardly fit what he was talking about. He started fights, but he was no idiot when it came to the Chinese language, he knew that wasn't what he was talking about. How ridiculous.
"Trying is the first step to likeability." Maybe. It was probably 'Don't be a perverted child abusing scum' but he had already failed that step, so onto the second it was. "Now, I will soon start helping you to be likeable, but I understand how this world works, and helping me can be your first lesson."
Shen Qingqiu raised a cautious brow. "Go on."
Shen Yuan leaned forward. "I need a sword, and I want one from Wan Jian Peak. So you're going to go take me to get one."