Chapter Text
Mu Qing ignored him all morning. Mu Qing hasn't called him even once since yesterday. They haven't spoken to each other in the past twenty four hours except the brief necessary exchanges over text. Mu Qing has been acting weird, he finally notes.
Last time after he read the messages from Xie Lian and sent his own to Mu Qing, Feng Xin calmed down as he read Mu Qing's replies which were ever his voice of reason, anchoring him to the ground. Mu Qing had sounded fine then. Even the next morning he was fine at the office. Mu Qing had a brilliant mind and it wasn't normal for him to be troubled so by something to the extent he would avoid Feng Xin.
Yet somehow for the past day Mu Qing has not even been making eye contact with him, let alone remain in the same area as only him. Mu Qing has been avoiding Feng Xin for over 24 hours and it was frustrating Feng Xin. What could possibly be occupying his time so much that he didn't have even that much time for him? They were already at the Ghost City but Mu Qing still remained silent and indifferent. Feng Xin had a strange unpleasant feeling of cold heat simmering in his skin ever since the moment he realised Mu Qing was purposely ignoring him because of him.
What’s wrong with him? I get that he doesn't like me very much but he doesn’t have to be such an ass about it. I haven't seen him properly all day. Did he find something he can't talk to me about? What if he's plainly only ignoring me because he thinks I did something wrong again? Is he being dramatic again or is someone bothering him? I'll beat the pulp out of anyone that bothers Mu Qing but what the hell you stupid smart ass!
Nxkznxkzm.
This f**king man. My God!
Fuck!
He was mentally cursing all the possible scenarios that could have stolen the attention he craved from Mu Qing when his eyes met Mu Qing's but Mu Qing quickly diverted his gaze.
FUCKKK, he screamed mentally.
It was going to be a long, long vacation for Feng Xin.
They were just checking-in at a hotel in Ghost city.
After a quick word with the receptionist, Xie Lian turned to them and with his sweet, innocent smile spoke softly but clearly, "We have booked two rooms with two beds each so we'll be sharing rooms. As much as I would like to stay with my dearest San Lang, on Mu Qing's request we'll switch things up. I'll take a room with Mu Qing while Feng Xin will stay with San Lang." He winked at Mu Qing as he turned to soothe a disgruntled Hua Cheng.
Mu Qing has a look of betrayal on his face and never had anyone ever carried that look of being betrayed so well. Maybe Feng Xin wouldn't even mind being on the receiving end of that look. For a while Mu Qing caught Xie Lian's gaze and argued silently with his eyes, and seemingly defeated, walked away, keys in hand and a scowl on his androgynously handsome face. Feng Xin thought Mu Qing looked cute even when he was angry. But why would Mu Qing care what Feng Xin thought and why was he damning himself with what Mu Qing thought? Not like Mu Qing was giving any fucks about what he thought. Anyway, Feng Xin had to marry a girl and settle down like his relatives expected him to do. He's had to listen to an earful to just have two blind dates canceled for the surprise vacation Xie Lian announced so suddenly. Jun Wu knows I hate those blind dates they fix for me.
It was even more frustrating than ever before at that moment to Feng Xin, as since that half assed text, Xie Lian and Hua Cheng seemed to consider themselves free of the bounds of decency, spilling PDA in front of an unfortunate Feng Xin’s eyes like dog food on Christmas sale. He couldn't decide if it was traumatizing or infuriating or both. He would have his patience severely tested here, Mu Qing too. Poor Mu Qing had been single all the time he had known him. Even when he got a girlfriend in highschool, Mu Qing only glared at him out of jealousy that he didn't have one. That guy really doesn't have his luck with the ladies. He remembers the school play from third grade when Mu Qing played Juliet to his Romeo because Mu Qing had had long hair back then.
Would Mu Qing and Feng Xin be like Xie Lian and Hua Cheng if they were ever to be together now? Yeah, it's not possible and Feng Xin knows.
Hua Cheng and Xie Lian embraced for five minutes straight and more as Hua Cheng kissed Xie Lian on the head followed by a hug which was followed by another kiss, this time on the left cheek and yet another hug and then a kiss more….
Then after a "brief" parting exchange that felt like years due to the two extremely cheesy love birds that were Hualian, Hua Cheng also walked away. Feng Xin and Xie Lian were left.
This thought brought him to the present--
"Xie Lian what on earth is happening? This is the first freaking time I've got you to myself-- there was a text, you're dating Hua Cheng, and there’s a surprise trip; explain all this!" Feng Xin said with his hands waving around the lobby. And what happened to Mu Qing? Why does he seem to be avoiding me????? Do you know anything about it, dianxia?, he doesn't add.
"It's a vacation, Feng Xin. I told you, didn't I?", came the calm reply.
Feng Xin wanted to facepalm himself into the next century.
Xie Lian smiled knowingly.
"I know what you're referring to A-Xin, we'll talk about this later tonight okay?"
With that they walked to their respective rooms to rest.
Feng Xin is disappointed he won't get to share a room with Mu Qing but maybe it's good. It was weird to like his childhood friend suddenly. Mu Qing couldn't possibly like him,let alone be with him, right?
________________
Lunch was for lack of a better word awkward. Nobody spoke at the table.
Xie Lian and Hua Cheng took turns while feeding eachother and made tooth sickeningly sweet flirting eyes while Mu Qing proceeded to murder his food because murdering the happy couple seated across him, however tempting, would see him in jail. Feng Xin stayed in his room because he wanted an 'early night in' and because he did not want to deal with a cheesy couple, combined with Mu Qing's apathy on a "vacation".
And that was the last straw for Mu Qing. To see that Feng Xin apparently did not care for him at all. He was right. Obviously. Feng Xin doesn't care about him. He was stupid to believe in the words he overheard.
Feng Xin's a fitness and health freak for the sake of sweet Jesus. For him to skip a meal or do something like this? Must he make his displeasure so apparent? Couldn't he just bear with my tantrum? It's not as if Feng Xin doesn't have his bad days and I don't judge him for it but one time...one time Mu Qing is having a hard time he's giving up on me? How naive does Xie Lian have to be to believe that that Feng Xin likes me? How could he say that so easily to Hua Cheng?
Just yesterday Mu Qing had attempted eavesdropping on Hua Cheng and Xie Lian. After a sickeningly lovesick Hua Cheng was done with telling how much he missed his Lian-ge, their tone had gotten a bit more serious. Mu Qing's ears had perked up.
He was listening intently when a bomb dropped out of nowhere as if karma was purposely supporting Feng Xin's words and coming to bite him back on the ass:
"Lian-ge, I think we should have told your friends in person about us, don't you think? Your San Lang would have managed with whatever fury they unleashed on me. I love you more than enough to bear all that for your sake. You know that right?" Hua Cheng's voice had turned unbelievably soft.
"It's okay San Lang, it's already been done and we'll explain to them on the trip why we did it this way, alright? And there's also something I didn't want to face myself--"
"What is it, Lian-gege?"
"Well you know how A-Xin and A-Qing are always on the verge of arguing?"
"Yes, gege?"
"It's so apparent to me but they don't see it because of all the misunderstandings that have happened in the past but they like each other.
It's like, I know them. I see it but-- I cannot do anything about it.
Mu Qing has liked Feng Xin for so long. He's just bad at expressing himself.
I wish I could help him but I've never got a confirmation from A-Qing himself and I don't want to lose him if he reacts badly"
"I think he's just an arrogant ass gege. If it was me and I loved someone, I'd do anything for them, like how I can still do anything for you."
"I know San Lang but they're my friends and they have been my only family too, especially after A-niang and A-die died in that horrible car crash three years ago."
"It'll be alright gege. But what about Feng Xin? Does he actually like Mu Qing?"
"Of course, San Lang. Feng Xin likes Mu Qing. I've observed his behaviour bfor the last couple of years and every time A-Xin looks at A-Qing there's something I can't exactly describe with words--"
That's all Mu Qing heard before he sprinted to the terrace to have a panic attack in silence there.
It had been unbearable to be anywhere near Feng Xin since then. It was frustrating. It was maddening. All day he couldn't get the simplest of tasks done. Last night he took sleeping pills, and lord he hated them.
It's always Feng Xin causing me so much trouble and now he thinks he can hide whenever? Hah! So much for my unrequited love for an idiot.
Mu Qing looks up from his food. At the moment it almost feels like the two people in front of him are acting so shamelessly romantic to each other just to make him realize all the things he could have with Feng Xin; maybe not so blatantly, but still.
Could they really not keep their hands to themselves? Granted they were in their ‘honeymoon’ phase --or whatever -- of their relationship but nobody could possibly not-cringe when faced with two people acting inseparable?!
Hua Cheng is the clingiest ass on the planet that Mu Qing has ever had the misfortune of meeting. Not to mention that Xie Lian pretty much rivals Hua Cheng by the blushes on their cheeks and by the pettiest of petty compliments they exchange.
All this while Feng Xin isn't even acknowledging my presence, that prickly ass who's so full of himself. And he has the audacity to call me the arrogant one. He's never going to look at me that way is he? How could he like me?
Xie Lian fed Hua Cheng one more sushi. The red on Hua Cheng's neck somehow becomes redder.
Dianxia Xie Lian, why would you think Feng Xin liked me? Why? Tell me whyyyyy????
Mu Qing felt like dying but he then promptly excused himself and stole Xie Lian from Hua Cheng to go to the bar. He'd face his problems head on and he'd face it drunk if that's what it would take to tackle them all by tonight.
Mu Qing had been running out of imagination for ways to torture Feng Xin these days anyway.
Mu Qing does not usually get drunk. It is not because he does not have a good alcohol tolerance. It is because he is usually careful enough to not drink more than he can handle as a responsible adult.
This time around, he's not even trying to be a responsible adult.
He's done.
He's drunk.
He's drunk drunk to the point he doesn't remember what he spoke with Xie Lian for the past two hours.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ah...yes.
How dare he abandon Mu Qing just because he had a mood swing all of a sudden?
As much as Mu Qing might deserve to be hated by Feng Xin, his apathy was neither justified not reasonable.
What wrong have I done, what 'crime' does he think I committed? Why does he have to be so critical of me? If he got to know of the sources for the background check I ran on Hua Cheng then that's just petty. It was just gossip. I don't think I overdid it with the private investigator so what the hell is he angry about this time? He definitely hates me for existing.
Today was the day all of his questions would be answered. He thought as the haze of alcohol and bad decisions clouded his mind.
_____________________
That evening:
Feng Xin quickly stumbles out of the shower to the sound of his room door banging.
Who the hell is tryna break my door when I'm taking a shower of all things goddamnit! Feng Xin mentally curses.
He takes a deep breath to turn away whatever drunk vacationer was mistaken about their room number, otherwise he'd probably lose control and beat that guy up. Feng Xin really didn't want any more trouble during the vacation than what he already had.
Feng Xin is held by the collars or his hotel bathrobe as soon as he opens the door. This realisation makes anger flare in him which dies as soon as he realises to whom the handsome hands which fist his thin robes belong to. He is surprised to meet face to face with an unbearably attractive and completely blitzed Mu Qing.
"Mu Qing?",he asks in a whisper with a cloud of confusion taking over his head and a slight blush dusting his cheeks at his proximity to Mu Qing's red flushed drunk-face.
He looks even cuter when he's drunk.OhmyGodwhatamitodowiththisman?!
Mu Qing seemed to be on the verge of passing out, yet he stutteringly got out- "Y- y- y- you… Feng Xin….idiot….y- y- y- you--".
"What the hell Mu Qing?", Feng Xin cut him off.
Mu Qing drunkenly mumbles about "facing something finally to get things straight" and leans his head on Feng Xin's muscular shoulder.
He looks cute when he's angry but he always hides away. But why is he so drunk so early in the evening?
Feng Xin is confused. But before he can question the other any further, Mu Qing's legs give in and he falls into Feng Xin as he passes out cold.
This man and his tantrums, Feng Xin thought, how would Mu Qing survive if it wasn't for me? He's always so worried sick about Xie Lian and tries not to show it. It's not like it costs him money to show that he cares. It's a good thing I left those secret lunch and nap reminders and snacks on his desk all these years or he'd be dead by overwork, huh. And he still behaves as if he's allergic to me. What a sensitive idiot!
Despite being of the same height, Mu Qing had a leaner body frame than that of Feng Xin. Mu Qing was also surprisingly light is what Feng Xin discovered when he hauled Mu Qing into his bed for the time being. His arms wrapped perfectly around Mu Qing's trim and firm waist. When he opened Mu Qing's shoes and hauled his lower body on the bed he could feel the musculature of Mu Qing's thighs and remembered Mu Qing's love for athletics. After ensuring the Mu Qing is comfortably tucked in bed, he thought of the current situation. First, he'd have to talk to Xie Lian about switching rooms or figure out a way to shift Mu Qing to his room with Hua Cheng.
He picked up his phone and texted Xie Lian:
_______________
Xie Lian(dianxia):
You : Hey A-Lian, do you know what happened to Mu Qing cause he came to our room and passed out drunk?
XL: This is Hua Cheng. Your Mu Qing had taken my dianxia out for drinking straight after lunch for some reason and my dianxia is also heavily drunk rn. I took him to my room so we will have to switch the sleeping arrangements. If you have any problems, please deal with them yourself. I will be of no assistance to you as I have my dianxia to attend to.
XL: Also, I think you should consider if you like Mu Qing. I didn't want to meddle but Mu Qing likes you too. Resolve the issues you have between you two because I suspect Mu Qing overheard gege and me when we were talking about how oblivious you were with your feelings towards Mu Qing when he likes you too (yes, you like him and yes, it's very apparent to us). Because my gege cares about you and I don't want him to waste his time worrying about you two I had to take such measures. Now, do not disturb me and gege's vacation. Bye
You: ……
________________
Numbness.
The f**k just happened?
What in the name of Xian Le just happened???
F**k! F**k! F**k! F**k!
Feng Xin thinks he might pass out.
No, if I pass out, what about Mu Qing?
Mu Qing?
Wait, Mu Qing likes me??
Mu Qing likes me and he knows I like him???
He knows I like him so he ignored me.
He ignored me because?
Because he's nervous? Dumb? Tsundere?
Wait.
No.
Oh no. Oh. No.
He's here.
In my bed.
In a hotel.
With me?
Nsidnkszizj
A peek at the figure in his bed makes a chill run down his spine. Feng Xin is pretty sure that they were here on summer vacation and that the AC is definitely switched off.
Oof
Feng Xin cannot help but notice the rough way in which his love looked gorgeous with his dishevelled clothes.
Stop it. He tells his brain.
After his self acknowledgment of the fact that he liked Mu Qing two years back, Feng Xin might have always felt attracted to Mu Qing but that didn't mean that Feng Xin was wanting to lay with drunk Mu Qing.
Since Xie Lian was with his boyfriend, he would take his bed instead and sleep there. The issue Hua Cheng told him about would be dealt with the next day. He will just sleep on the bed next to the bed in which his childhood friend and now possible lover is sleeping, drunk after possibly thinking about him. Yeah. It's okay. Feng Xin will be fine.
___________
1:11 am
Mu Qing gets up in his bed, thirsty. He sees a glass of water on his bedside table and drinks it. He is not in his room at home. He is in what seems to be a hotel. Mu Qing suspect ls he is dreaming. He notices that there is one Feng Xin sleeping like a baby in the bed next to him. Ok. This is definitely a dream, Mu Qing decides. He slowly gets up out of bed and climbs into the bed with Feng Xin to cuddle him. Mu Qing cannot have Feng Xin for real but he'll make the most of what he can get in his imagination at least.
Feng Xin suddenly feels hot. Vey hot. He did not remember using a thick blanket to sleep. Then, he realises that it isn't a blanket but a person on his back.
When did Mu Qing climb on his bed???! Wasn't he drunk???
Mu Qing, " My sweet A-Xin, i wish I could tell you I love you. But you're really dumb and piss me off so much. I know you hate me. But please hate me a little less."
Shit. Fuck. Wow.
Feng Xin after his realisation of who his "blanket" is, on hearing those words whispered to his ear in the gentlest voice he's heard Mu Qing use, froze.
He remains frozen for a good ten minutes contemplating whether he should turn around and tell Mu Qing that he loves him too. His thoughts feel like they are running at a thousand miles per second. Before he could even contemplate any further, he heard Mu Qing's soft snores.
It takes a while for Feng Xin to realise that he has been smiling like a fool for a while.
He turns around and decides that he will cuddle Mu Qing more.
Tomorrow morning it will probably be a bit confusing but now he knows Mu Qing likes him too. It might take some time but now he's sure he'll convince his tsundere A-Qing of his love for him.
For now he'll just cuddle his sweet A-Qing.
Will they be fine tomorrow? Perhaps.
He's dumb.
His A-Qing will handle it.