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Chapter Text

"Are you sure you want to-"

"Yes, Liu-juju," Shen Yuan teased, nudging his friend's arm. "I'll be fine, I promise."

"Do you want me to go with you?" Liu Qingge pressed, his eyes serious despite Shen Yuan's lighthearted demeanor.

"No!" Shen Yuan exclaimed. He sighed, patting Liu Qingge's shoulder. "I've got it, no undercooked or raw foods! And Shang Qinghua's going with me already. There's no need to be so overprotective."

Liu Qingge gave him a dubious look to Shen Yuan's chagrin.

Man! One bad steak tartare and suddenly all of Shen Yuan's life decisions are crazy!

Although Shen Yuan can't really blame Liu Qingge since he had seen him through the worst of his food poisoning. Shen Yuan landed in the hospital after getting such a severe case of it, which was exacerbated by his bad immune system. Liu Qingge took care of Shen Yuan after that, being the good friend that he was.

He had tried to thank Liu Qingge for nursing him back to excellent health by taking him out to dinner, but Liu Qingge had refused, the tips of his ears a little red.

Liu-juju was so nice! He was embarrassed that Shen Yuan wanted to do something so extravagant for him. Lucky for him, Shen Yuan noticed his discomfort and rescinded his offer, instead tugging Liu Qingge down to the couch and watching a drama that Liu Qingge always pretended he hated, but actually loved.

Shen Yuan was also grateful to Liu Qingge ever since Binghe had gone during the time that Shen Yuan was sick. Shen Yuan missed his former student dearly, but he had no idea where he could be. The tinny voice message that Luo Binghe left a few weeks prior didn't  help quell the pain, especially because it felt that he had never gotten a true goodbye from his - to hell with it - closest friend.

"Ready?" Shang Qinghua, his roommate, asked, interrupting the rest of his conversation with Liu Qingge. Shen Yuan picked up his leather wallet, placing into his pants before nodding. He waved goodbye to Liu Qingge who just stared at him as they exited.

They caught the train as Shang Qinghua didn't have a car and Shen Yuan didn't feel like driving. The train station wasn't far from the restaurant, so they walked, enjoying the nice breeze in the air.

Shen Yuan had to admit, it was an elegant place, somewhere the rich would love dallying about, spending their money choosing the most expensive items just to take home and shove in a refrigerator before ordering a pizza. Shen Yuan would know. He came from one of those types of wealthy families.

The hostess got them into their seats -  a private, cozy booth - in record time, settling them in with drinks and bread while they waited for their food.

Shang Qinghua and Shen Yuan didn't talk much. They could end up causing a huge scene in this upscale restaurant and that's the last thing that Shen Yuan wants.

Still, when Shang Qinghua wasn't blabbering a mile-a-minute or going about one of his idiotic webnovels, he was pretty decent to be around. He could bring up great points that seasoned eyes like Shen Yuan would not think of.

Shen Yuan was a major food critic, knowing all the hot spots around Beijing. The last stunt joint he hit landed him in the hospital for two months and out of commission for three and a half more. No more steak tartare for him, he's got it! But now he's back, and better than ever!

The food arrived and he picked up his chopsticks, mentally noting the plate's good presentation. Visually, it was pleasing to the eye, with colors that matched the main dish's.

Of course, the visuals meant nothing if the food was crap. Shen Yuan had learned that from the tartare.

He dove in, noting the soft texture of the rice and lifted it to his lips, savoring the first bite.

His eyes widened.

This was the best goddamned food he'd ever tasted. It tasted like...

Like Binghe's cooking.

He finished his food, thoughts swirling in his head.

Finally, he bit his lip and came to a conclusion. When the hostess came by to check on them, he halted her with his hand. "Would you mind if I spoke to the chef?" Shen Yuan asked.

The hostess - Sha Hualing - shook her head.

"Apologies, but he doesn't like speaking to others," she sniffed. "And he's very busy right now."

Shen Yuan smiled politely, his teeth glinting with a little danger. "I think he'll have time for me." He pulled out his business card, to the woman's astonishment.

"Oh," she muttered, before forcibly perking up to save face. "Well, I'm sure he'd love to speak to you, then. I'll go get him."

Shang Qinghua blinked. "Dude, really? You had supervillain vibes with the card pull." Shen Yuan snorted, sipping his water.

"Why do you even want to talk to him anyway?" The hamster-faced man asked, shoveling more roasted duck down his throat. "You don't usually want to interview people."

Shen Yuan shrugged, not acknowledging the sudden blush that crept across his face. He couldn't admit that he still held on to one of his past students memory so much that he thought about his cooking every day. But this was the first time he actually tasted something similar to his student's cooking!

He wanted to see the person who imitated his former student's cooking so perfectly with his own eyes, so as to not get his hopes up.

A man walked out, dressed impeccably in an expensive coat and slacks befitting of the head chef. His black voloptous curls were pulled back into a loose bun although a few tendrils escaped, framing his well-defined face and the biggest grin that Shen Yuan had ever seen on anyone.

Shen Yuan's jaw dropped as he met those familiar warm brown eyes. "Binghe?"

"Shizun!" Luo Binghe exclaimed, to the bewilderment of the hostess. "I've missed you!"

"You know him?" Shang Qinghua hissed. "Bro, why didn't you tell me?" He was ignored as the chef raced over to their table, Shen Yuan standing up slowly.

"Binghe...what?" Shen Yuan said dumbly as Luo Binghe flung his arms around Shen Yuan's neck in a tight embrace.

"You just - you just disappeared!" Shen Yuan spluttered. "I was so worried!"

"I know, Shizun," Luo Binghe said, squeezing his arms tight around Shen Yuan. "I'm sorry. I can explain."

Shen Yuan took a deep, shuddery breath. He wasn't crying! He was just a little irritated by the...dust on Luo Binghe's jacket. Yup, that was it!

Luo Binghe was apparently affected too, as Shen Yuan felt something wet hit his neck. Shen Yuan hesitantly brought his hands up to Luo Binghe's shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent that had almost escaped his memory.

Shen Yuan stumbled back when he realized he still had an audience. Luo Binghe followed his line of thought, and tugged on Shen Yuan's hand.

He smiled fondly, thumbing his finger over Shen Yuan's wrist.

"Come, Shizun," Luo Binghe said. "We have much to talk about."

Shen Yuan allowed himself to be pulled to the restaurant's terrace, where there were a few empty tables and chairs set up.

"H-how?" Shen Yuan stuttered.

"I saw you come into the restaurant," Luo Binghe admitted with a sneaky smile. "I wanted to be the one to cook for you again."

Shen Yuan gently flicked Luo Binghe's ear. This brat!

"You ran away for six months without telling me and you act like this?" Shen Yuan blurted out, immediately wishing that he had a better brain-to-mouth filter.

Luo Binghe gave him a sad smile. "I know, Shizun. I'm so sorry."

Shen Yuan huffed. "You should be." He crossed his arms, looking away until he felt a soft touch on his arm. He deflated. "I'm not really mad at you, Binghe. I just want to know why."

"I..." Luo Binghe hesitated, drawing his hand back. "I can tell you, but not right now."

Shen Yuan looked at him curiously.

"I...I have to get back," Luo Binghe said regrettedly. He scowled. "Those idiots can't do anything right without me in there." His face softened, his mind back to Shen Yuan. "And the explanation is a bit long."

Shen Yuan nodded. "Here, give me your new number."

Luo Binghe bobbed his head happily and recited his phone number as Shen Yuan typed the digits into his phone.

They headed back into the restaurant, where Shen Yuan's friend was waiting for them.

"Food's on the house," Luo Binghe smiled at Shen Yuan, who gave him a soft smile back.

"Alright!" Shang Qinghua pumped his fist. He pushed his hand out for a fist bump. Luo Binghe just stared at him impassively. Shang Qinghua shrunk back. "Okay, then. Maybe not."

Luo Binghe left to get their desserts from the kitchen while the other two waited.

"Whoa, bravo," Shang Qinghua said when the terrifying man was gone, earning a glare and a punch on the shoulder from Shen Yuan. He continued petulantly. "10/10, would definitely watch again." He paused, sobering. "What was that all about?"

Shen Yuan sighed. "We'll talk on the train."

He and Shang Qinghua took their on-the-house dessert to-go, with Shen Yuan gripping Luo Binghe's arm one last time to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating or anything.

"Bye, Shizun," Luo Binghe said sincerely. "I promise I won't leave like I did again."

Shen Yuan nodded, a lump in his throat. He waved Luo Binghe goodbye.

"So that's the Luo Binghe everyone has been trying not to talk to you about?" Shang Qinghua asked as they walked to the train station with their dessert boxes.

"Yeah," Shen Yuan said. "He kind of lived with me before he disappeared and you showed up."

Shang Qinghua gave him an understanding hum. "How'd you know him? It looks like you two had a complicated history?"

"He was my student a little while ago," Shen Yuan admitted. "We met at university because we were in the same school."

"Wow, really robbing the cradle then, huh?" Shang Qinghua asked petulantly.

"No," Shen Yuan scowled. "He's only three years younger than me. And, okay, technically it wasn't my class - I was just the T.A. - but I have a habit of calling everyone who I helped my student."

"He kind of sucks for just leaving while you were dating," Shang Qinghua said. Something in Shen Yuan's chest flared up.

"What are you talking about?" Shen Yuan frowned. "We're just friends."

Shang Qinghua shook his head somberly. "Denial isn't just a river in Egypt." Shen Yuan rolled his eyes, letting his strange friend slide with that one.

"It's the Nile. And we're not dating," Shen Yuan said as Shang Qinghua hurriedly followed the critic's quick pace. "I don't even know where you got that idea."

Shang Qinghua stared at Shen Yuan incredulously for a few seconds before shaking his head. "Whatever, bro. Tell me more about him."

"Well, he's twenty-six now. He's always excelled at everything he's put his mind to, including his flourishing new business, I suppose," Shen Yuan listed. "He's super affectionate as well."

Shang Qinghua remembered the terrifying, indifferent stare that Luo Binghe gave him. Somehow, he greatly doubted that.

"Shouldn't you be, you know, a little more upset about him just coming back, though?" Shang Qinghua asked, a little puzzled.

Shen Yuan shrugged. "I don't know. I thought that if he ever came back, I'd be a lot more upset, but mostly I'm just glad he's okay. He scared me half to death when I woke up from my coma and just left this ominous voicemail talking about how he's sorry to leave, but he had to deal with something. I thought it was fine, but then he was gone for three months, then four, then five."

Shang Qinghua didn't say anything, just listened.

"And, I don't know," Shen Yuan rambled. "I just don't have the heart to yell at him after everything he's been through. I would've preferred him to be here this whole time - or let me know the exact situation at the very least - but I know he does things with good intentions, so I just want to listen to his reasons, even if I don't like how he executed his decision."

Shang Qinghua nodded, understanding a bit more. Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe were apparently much closer than anyone else had let on. No wonder they caused that huge scene in the restaurant.

He decided to lighten the mood a bit, recalling the name that Luo Binghe had addressed Shen Yuan with. "He calls you 'Shizun'?" Shang Qinghua grinned, teasing the other man.

"Shut up," Shen Yuan said flippantly. "It's cute."

They both froze. Shang Qinghua doubled over, guffawing.

"Damn, you have it bad, bro!" He exclaimed in between puffs of laughter. Shen Yuan glared at him again.

"No!" Shen Yuan sighed. "I meant that platonically."

Shang Qinghua bit his lip, before cracking up again, holding his sides much to the bemused stares of the other passengers. "Platonically?"

"Yes," Shen Yuan said, a bit irritated.

Shang Qinghua shook his head mock-dejectedly. Shen Yuan was very smart, but his Emotional Quotient was below zero.

--

He and Luo Binghe had texted quite a bit ("Quite a bit?" Shang Qinghua repeated, raising his eyebrows. "Your eyes haven't left the screen for three days!" Liu Qingge had grunted in annoyance while Yue Qingyuan gazed at him curiously.), catching up on life events that had happened in the past year, although Luo Binghe still hadn't explained his disappearance.

It turned out that the restaurant belonged to Luo Binghe. As Shen Yuan saw, business was doing extremely well, which is why Shen Yuan was assigned to go there - to review it and see if the food was really as good as word said on the street.

But today, they wouldn't be meeting at Binghe's restaurant, they would be meeting at another, lower-scale restaurant.

Shen Yuan straightened his button-up out, adjusting the collar. He appraised himself, deeming himself fit for the outing.

Liu Qingge drove them there. Shen Yuan could tell that he really didn't want to, but

"Thank you for dropping me off," Shen Yuan said, nudging Liu Qingge's shoulder with his nose. "I appreciate it, Liu-juju."

"Why do you insist on calling me that?" Liu Qingge asked, stone-faced.

"Because you're Liu-juju." Shen Yuan stressed the nickname, giggling. He shook his head. "Seriously, thank you, though. You're a literal life-saver."

Liu Qingge looked conflicted but finally, he bit his lip, apparently shaking himself out of something. "...Be careful," he warned.

Shen Yuan widened his eyes. So ominous. But he nodded his head assuringly anyway.

He climbed out and closed the car door, taking a deep breath as he entered the restaurant.

"Do you have a reservation?" The hostess asked.

"Yes, I should be under-"

"Luo Binghe," a new voice interrupted. Shen Yuan turned to find his former student. "He's with me."

Shen Yuan followed Luo Binghe to the comfortable booth that he had chosen and sat down from across where Binghe was obviously already set up.

Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe both ordered their meals, and then talked idly as they waited for their food to arrive.

When the food arrived, Luo Binghe didn't pick up his utensils but instead watched Shen Yuan eat his meal, making Shen Yuan squirm. After a few moments, Luo Binghe decided to pick up his utensils, but still continued to stare at Shen Yuan unflinchingly. Just when Shen Yuan was about to snap and tell him to eat his food, Luo Binghe opened his mouth.

"Shizun, are you enjoying your meal?" Luo Binghe asked politely, his eyes tracing Shen Yuan's every move.

"It's nowhere near as good as your food," Shen Yuan admitted. It wasn't. At all. "But it's okay."

Luo Binghe preened, beaming. "I thought so too! Thank you, A-Yuan."

Shen Yuan flushed at the nickname. "Who told you that you could call me that?" He said, scowling. His eyes shone bright with affection despite the harsh words, and Luo Binghe laughed, placing his hand on top of Shen Yuan's.

Shen Yuan looked at it, bewildered, but didn't remove his hand. Luo Binghe hid a smile at that.

"I need to tell you something, Shizun," Luo Binghe said. Shen Yuan straightened up. Finally! He abandoned his food and plate, putting it to the side to give Binghe his full attention.

"I suppose I should start off with the fact that this one...was an orphan," Luo Binghe started.

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow at the tense. "Was?" He already knew that Luo Binghe's adopted mother had died when he was younger, making him an orphan twice over. But something was telling him that Binghe's language choice was important.

Luo Binghe nodded, taking Shen Yuan's other hand. This time, it was Shen Yuan's turn to hide a smile. His Binghe was as touchy-feely as ever.

My Binghe? He thought. He snapped out of it, continuing to listen to Binghe's story instead of thinking about...that. Shang Qinghua must've been getting to him.

"I found my father," Luo Binghe stated simply, staring deep into Shen Yuan's soul with his inquisitive eyes.

Shen Yuan widened his eyes in shock at the news. "Binghe!"

"Well, it was more like he found me," Luo Binghe corrected himself. "He found me and sent me messages that he was dying, and that he wanted me to visit him. That's why I left."

"I could've helped you! You were alone!" Shen Yuan exclaimed, flicking the back of Luo Binghe's hand gently.

Luo Binghe shook his head. "Shizun was recovering from severe sickness. I didn't want to be a burden."

Shen Yuan let out a huge exhale, closing his eyes before blinking them back open again. "Do you trust me?"

Luo Binghe's reply was instant. "Of course."

"Well, then believe me when I tell you this," Shen Yuan looked Luo Binghe straight in the eyes. "When you have a problem, come straight to me, please." Luo Binghe's watery eyes made him avert his own. He couldn't help letting the red seep back into his cheeks.

Ugh! Luo Binghe always made him feel this way! It was so strange!

Despite the embarrassment that warmed the food critic's cheeks, he lifted his hand to the other's cheek, cradling it softly. Luo Binghe leaned into it, smiling at him through the beginning of his tears. Damn, Luo Binghe's touchy-feely habit must've been rubbing off on him.

"You're such a brat, you know?" Shen Yuan said, softly, so that Luo Binghe knew it wasn't malicious. Luo Binghe let out a watery laugh. Shen Yuan tapped the other man's cheek before pulling his hand back and setting it back on the table. "Did he...?"

"Yes, Shizun. He passed three months ago," Luo Binghe confirmed.

What could Shen Yuan say? "I'm sorry, Binghe."

"I didn't know him," Luo Binghe shrugged. "He may have been my father, but he wasn't my family." The intense gaze was back, but somehow it wasn't startling to Shen Yuan. Instead it was soft and warm and fond. So fond. "You...have been my only family, Shizun."

What?

Was Shen Yuan not supposed to start crying at this heartfelt declaration?

Luo Binghe wiped the wetness off of Shen Yuan's cheek gently.

"Shizun?"

"I'm okay, I just..." Shen Yuan shook his head, not in the brainspace to sort out the complicated emotions he was feeling. "Why were you gone for so long then? Why didn't you come back right afterward?"

"I just wanted to make sure I had everything in order before I came back to you, Shizun," Luo Binghe said, sniffling. His voice became watery. "I left you when you were sick and I tried hard to have the surprise ready for you when you were recovered. I wasn't sure if you..." Binghe bit his lip, but it was obvious that his next words were going to be if you were going to make it. "I swear, it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but I was going to fulfill that promise before you...you would be gone, if it was the last thing I ever did."

The promise Luo Binghe referred to was the one that Shen Yuan had said off-handedly one day when they were sitting inside Binghe's dorm one day. Shen Yuan vaguely remembered it. Shen Yuan had just graduated and it was hot as hell since Luo Binghe's air conditioning unit was broken.

"Binghe," he stirred half-deliriously on the couch. The heat was definitely getting to him. "You have to make something out of yourself in the future. Promise me that you'll do that."

Luo Binghe had been kneeling near the couch and looked at him a bit too solemnly than the situation called for. "Of course, Shizun. I promise that I'll work hard and I'll build you a food empire." Shen Yuan smiled at the eagerness and patted his head.

"Maybe a restaurant," Shen Yuan murmured. "Anyway, you need to excel, Binghe. I don't ever want to go without air conditioning again."

That goddamn broken air conditioning unit was the whole cause of this mess. He probably should've known that Luo Binghe would have taken that to heart way more than other people would.

Still, Shen Yuan couldn't help but feel a pang in his chest at Luo Binghe's devotion. It made him feel something that he didn't want to examine further.

Instead, Shen Yuan flipped their hands over so that his hand lay in Luo Binghe's. Luo Binghe let out a surprised gasp and then a raspy chuckle.

"Shizun always surprises me," he murmured, looking at their hands in shock. Shen Yuan shook his head fondly. Binghe had always wanted someone's approval, and Shen Yuan was glad that he had shown Luo Binghe the power of self-validation, although friendship helps too.

Shen Yuan squeezed his hand.

"I just wanted to make you proud of me," Luo Binghe admitted. "I finished everything, took his money and ran off to start a restaurant.  I heard that you had fully recovered a few weeks ago, but I was going to go looking for you next week to show you how well things were going."

At first, Shen Yuan couldn't wrap his head around why Luo Binghe would leave him with so little warning, and then leave and not contact him again until Shen Yuan himself had to show up in his restaurant. But then, Shen Yuan remembered what kind of life his former student had led. Most days, when he was in primary school, he had no caregiver after his mother died, and often had to depend on himself for everything.

If Luo Binghe really was desperate, then it was definitely possible for him to regress back into the state of independence, not letting anyone know where he's going or what he's doing.

Shen Yuan understood, but it didn't automatically make the pain of being ignored for six months (okay, sure, only two of those months was he coherent, but still) go away.

"You better not ever disappear on me again," Shen Yuan warned, though the threat was delivered with a slightly choked voice, so it lost most of its effect.

"I swear on my life," Binghe said solemnly, placing Shen Yuan's hand against his own heart, making the other man feel the strong badum badum of his heart.

Shen Yuan choked on his spit. Bingge, why so serious? He steadfastly ignored the other man's firm chest and instead patted the chef's other hand on the table.

"Shizun, will you stay with me?" Luo Binghe asked after taking a deep breath. "Will you be with me?"

Shen Yuan nodded. "Of course, Binghe."

Luo Binghe looked as if someone told him it was holiday, he was so animated.

Shen Yuan didn't know why the other one seemed so ecstatic, of course he would stay by Luo Binghe's side. That's what a mentor does, although it really looked like Luo Binghe was doing successful on his own. Maybe Binghe just wanted someone to moralize him. Shen Yuan could do that! He's great at moralizing!

And staying with someone and being with someone were the same thing, Binghe! No need to be redundant and ask the same question twice!

For some reason, he couldn't stop giving Luo Binghe these small soft smiles that Luo Binghe returned with wild grins.

They finished their meals after Shen Yuan finally snapped and told Luo Binghe to finish his own meal, of which Luo Binghe wolfed down as fast as he could.

They walked out of the restaurant, both of them not quite full, but Luo Binghe beamed, swinging their hands as they walked. Shen Yuan shrugged. Whatever made him happy. They walked into a nearby alley. It wasn't dark or anything, it just offered them a bit of privacy from the rest of the world.

Luo Binghe placed his hand on Shen Yuan's cheek, and Shen Yuan's eyes followed the chef's movements curiously.

"It's our first one, Shizun," Luo Binghe said delightedly. "Or maybe I should say A-Yuan."

Shen Yuan flushed at the nickname. "Our first wha-"

He was cut off by lips covering his own, the hand aiding to deepen the kiss. Shen Yuan responded hesitantly before realizing what exactly was happening and pulled away quickly.

He was just kissing Binghe!

Oh my god, I just kissed...No, he kissed me! But...I kissed back?

"Binghe, you..." Shen Yuan trailed off, his brain crashing. All he could think of was error, error and bells going off in his head. "Like...me? Like that?"

"Like you?" Luo Binghe questioned, confused. He looked at him worriedly. "Did...I read it wrong? Do you not like me, Shizun?"

Shen Yuan thought about it, making his choice. Did he like Binghe? Sure, he had mourned Luo Binghe greatly when he disappeared, let Binghe call him a cute nickname, and sometimes held hands with him. Not to mention the thumping heart and the just right way he felt with Luo Binghe. He could definitely imagine Luo Binghe cooking for him on an anniversary or himself dressing Luo Binghe in the morning...

Okay, on second thought, was he an idiot?

How could he possibly not notice all these symptoms as a crush?

Shen Yuan wanted to slap himself in the face. Even Shang Qinghua figured it out before him. Shit, that thought made him feel like crap, too.

All this time...

But he still had the issue of his thin face to deal with. It wouldn't allow him to confess like they did in the movies. He wanted to get the words out in return, but he couldn't on his own. Luckily, Binghe noticed his hesitance and wasn't offended.

"Shizun?"

Shen Yuan steadfastly focused on the wall behind Luo Binghe, hoping it would cease his nerves. He crossed his arms as Luo Binghe stared at him unbashfully.

"Itwouldn'tbetheworstthingintheworld," he rushed out.

Luo Binghe lit up, but still maintained enough composure to raise an eyebrow, teasing. "What was that, Shizun?"

"It...wouldn't be the worst thing in the world," Shen Yuan repeated at a slower pace.

"So I can kiss you again?" Luo Binghe asked excitedly, reminding Shen Yuan of a boundless puppy. The critic nodded slowly. He was sure that his face resembled a tomato right then, but Luo Binghe didn't care as he pushed Shen Yuan against the wall and ravished his mouth with his own.

Nope. This was not going to work.

Shen Yuan pushed Luo Binghe back gently. "Slowly," he admonished. Luo Binghe sank back like a scolded puppy and Shen Yuan couldn't help but laugh at the sight. He reached up to pat the taller man's head, shedding his thin face for a moment.

He cradled Luo Binghe's cheek like he had done earlier in the restaurant and leaned in to kiss him softly. Luo Binghe perked back up and followed Shen Yuan's gentle lead. Finally, they leaned away from each other.

Luo Binghe beamed, and Shen Yuan didn't realize how much he had missed the sight.

--

Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan walked, hand-in-hand at the organic grocery store, Luo Binghe swinging their hands cheerily. Shen Yuan's face was more placid, although he couldn't contain the redness that was spread on his cheeks, full of happiness and slight embarrassment from being so bold with his boyfriend.

Yes, his boyfriend. Secretly, late at night, sometimes he would whisper it over and over again until he accidentally woke Luo Binghe from his slumber.

Shen Yuan couldn't believe it was the fourth month since they had reconnected, and the third month of actually dating.

They moved pretty fast, and although they had technically been at the flirting stage for a couple years now (unbeknowst to past-Shen Yuan), Shen Yuan felt that three days to dating was pushing it after not seeing each other for six whole months. Luo Binghe had pouted for exactly a second before resolutely declaring that Shen Yuan was going to be wooed.

And wooed, he was. Shen Yuan was given a different gift each morning, taken out on outings and to fancy restaurants and...

Hey! Shen Yuan realized in his head as Luo Binghe examined some bell peppers for their meal later that night. That fucker tricked me! Those were all dates!

When he told his boyfriend as such, the taller man just shrugged. "A-Yuan wouldn't let me take him out on dates, so I had to find a way around it."

Shen Yuan huffed, sidling up to his boyfriend and looking at the options. "Ah, pick those," he pointed at another section, a bit farther away from the one that they're at. "Those will last a bit longer since they're not ripe yet."

Luo Binghe gave Shen Yuan an affectionate grin, pecking him on the cheek. "Shizun is brilliant, as always. This one didn't even see them."

Shen Yuan flushed, his heart beating hard against his chest at the fond compliment. He had only found some good vegetables, Binghe! No need to act like he had figured rocket science out!

By the end of their trip to the store, Shen Yuan leaned against the counter, scrolling through his phone while Luo Binghe finished checking out their items.

"Come on, A-Yuan," Luo Binghe called sweetly, picking up their bags. "Let's go home."

Shen Yuan technically was living with Luo Binghe at the moment. He still paid rent at his apartment, but he spent all of his time at Luo Binghe's condo.

But as Shen Yuan examined his boyfriend's soft smile and twinkling eyes, he re-adjusted his thoughts. His heartstrings were tugged at even the thought of being away from this man for six months again. Luo Binghe was his home, and anywhere he went, Shen Yuan would follow.

Shen Yuan trailed behind Luo Binghe, heading back to the parking lot.

Home.

That sounded nice.

Chapter Text

"Shizun! Shizun!" Luo Binghe raced into their bamboo house excitedly. Shen Qingqiu blinked, lifting his head from his calligraphy. "This disciple heard that there was to be a contest on Qing Jing Peak!"

Oh, so even Luo Binghe had heard about the silly little thing that he'd made up on the fly. He ran with it since it seemed like a little competition could motivate his students.

"Mm, yes," Shen Qingqiu waved his brush around dismissively. "It's just a little something to keep you disciples motivated."

It was true. He'd noticed that although participation and morale at the Peak was most likely at an all-time high, there was still more work to be done, like engagement with the disciples. That's why the day before he had proposed a poetry and singing contest, since after all, it was a scholarly peak.

"This Binghe will do his best in the contest!" Luo Binghe promised. "This one will make Shizun proud!"

Shen Qingqiu smiled at him before going back to his calligraphy.

Luo Binghe gazed at Shen Qingqiu's back adoringly. I will be the one to win the contest and marry Shizun!

--

To understand why exactly Luo Binghe thought he would be vying for his Shizun's hand, one has to go back the day before, where three nosy NPC disciples gossipped behind a bush while their Shizun spoke to Xian Shu's Peak Lord.

"...And if they win, they receive my hand." Shen Qingqiu explained to a visiting Qi Qingqi.

"Did you hear that?" The first disciple asked, eyes blown open wide.

"Shizun is marrying whoever wins the contest that he announced," the second one responded excitedly.

"We should go tell the others," the third disciple suggested.

"No, let's keep it to ourselves for now," the second one insisted. "If we keep it to ourselves for now, then we have more time to prepare extra hard for the contest!"

The two disciples nodded, agreeing. They did practice extra hard with their singing that day, finally ready to tell their fellow disciples what they heard.

About half of the disciples of Qing Jing Peak crowded into one of the disciple dorms to hear the new announcement of Shizun's contest.

Although Luo Binghe was much more welcome there now, he still lived with Shen Qingqiu in the bamboo house to the other disciples' envy.

"Shizun wants to marry the one who wins the contest," a disciple, who Luo Binghe vaguely recognized, said. The group immediately erupted into murmurs.

"Are you sure you heard this right?" Ming Fan asked, crossing his arms. "He didn't say anything about it."

"Yes, yes, we're all sure we heard it," the same disciple insisted. "He said to Qi-shishu" - a deep breath to build up the tension - "'And if they win, they receive my hand.' Right?" The other two disciples by the first disciple's side nodded emphatically.

Luo Binghe furrowed his eyebrows. This didn't sound like something Shizun would do. "Why wouldn't Shizun tell anyone then?" He questioned.

Ning Yingying perked up. "Maybe he didn't want anyone to know yet?"

"Why not, shijie?" Luo Binghe pressed.

Ning Yingying shrugged, tossing her two braids over her shoulder. "Perhaps he wanted to wait and see who would perform best without an incentive, A-Luo!"

"I wouldn't mind marrying Shizun," someone admitted shyly. "He's very beautiful and powerful too. He used to be really mean and strict, but now, he's nice."

The rest of the disciples agreed emphatically.

"Luo Binghe has a better chance of winning then all of us," a disciple accused. "He lives with Shizun!"

Luo Binghe blinked at the sudden spotlight on him, but then hid a smile. He did have the best chance of getting to marry his Shizun, didn't he? After all, he lived with Shen Qingqiu, did his hair, and cooked his meals, so that was kind of like being his husband anyway, right?

"No! Shizun is fair," Ning Yingying disagreed. "He would never cheat us out of a competition!"

"Well, of course he is," the disciple who accused Luo Binghe muttered. "This one would never imply otherwise. Just that Luo-shidi might skew the results."

Of course, some of the animosity toward the young cultivator was still there. For what reason, Luo Binghe couldn't figure out.

But he would work hard and prove everyone wrong! He had apparently already won Shizun's heart! Now all he had to do was win his hand!

--

Shen Qingqiu was happily surprised to see Liu Qingge and Yue Qingyuan outside of the door of his bamboo hut. Mostly because they hadn't barged in like they had in the past, instead knocking on the smooth wooden door. Maybe this world can be changed after all!

"Zhangmen-shixiong, Liu-shidi," Shen Qingqiu greeted curiously. "What brings you to Qing Jing Peak?"

"We came to join the contest," Liu Qingge stated simply. Yue Qingyuan nodded in agreement.

Shen Qingqiu blinked, but then shrugged. The more, the merrier, right? "If it is what you both wish. My disciples are outside practicing. Feel free to join them."

He gestured to outside the bamboo house where the rest of his disciples wandered around, practicing their notes. Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge nodded and headed toward the field, looking hilariously out of place with the sixteen and seventeen year old disciples.

--

The time of the contest, about a half a shichen later, was total chaos. Disciples raced around getting ready, going over their poems and songs.

Shen Qingqiu would honestly kill for some Beyonce, but if these teenagers were the best he had at the moment, then so be it.

Luo Binghe, being ever the thoughtful and sweet disciple, brought a table and a cushion outside for Shen Qingqiu to sit on while he judged. Wow! He felt like he was a celebrity judge on a talent show competition.

Take that, Simon Cowell!

Unfortunately for Shen Qingqiu, he got the full judging experience. The acts seemed to go on forever. Shen Qingqiu marked down each performer and the feedback for about one hundred people.

The worst part was that it was hot. Although his body technically didn't react to the heat affecting him because he was a cultivator, he still could feel it. He was lucky that Luo Binghe kept bringing him pitchers because the heat was almost unbearable, beaming down on him like that.

Most of the disciples were decent singers and poem reciters, of course, being members of Qing Jing, but Luo Binghe blew it out of the park! The protagonist Midas - everything he touches turns to absolute gold!

Shen Qingqiu wanted to hit the nonexistent golden buzzer, he was that good.

Yue Qingyuan and Liu Qingge, on the other hand, were like the joke contestants on the TV show. Yue Qingyuan didn't do horribly, but Liu Qingge mumbled his way through, a bright flush on his face. Really, Liu-juju! You're competing against literal children!

As Shen Qingqiu was ready to wrap up and go soak in his bath, he gathered everyone around into a huge crowd. "This master has evaluated each performace and given it a rating. The person with the highest rating is-"

He was rudely interrupted when a disciple was shoved, presumably by another, forward. Shen Qingqiu stopped talking, scrutinizing the disciple. Everyone else did as well, wondering who would be so rude as to interrupt their Shizun when he was about to reveal the winner of this so very important contest!

"S-Shizun," the disciple bowed. "This disciple means no disrespect."

Shen Qingqiu stared for a moment. "You may proceed."

"W-we would like to k-know if L-Luo Binghe will be favored in this contest's results," the second disciple stammered, eyes darting everywhere except Shen Qingqiu's face.

Oops.

Was his affection for Luo Binghe that obvious?

One hundred pairs of focused eyes blinked at him, expectant. Even Ning Yingying stared at him seriously. Wow, she had really grown into her own self, hadn't she?

Really, Ning Yingying? He thought. Isn't anyone on my side here?

"No, there's no favorability here, this master promises," Shen Qingqiu said, a little panicked to Luo Binghe's visible disappointment. Um, yes, there had been a bit of favorability, but that was only because Luo Binghe was the protagonist! Shen Qingqiu's sorry, but there's no way you can live up to him!

Unfortunately, he couldn't say that, so instead he chose a different disciple to win. It wasn't that big of a deal. "See, the one who wins the contest is not Binghe, but..."

He searched around placidly, although thanks to the original goods's placid mask, it just seemed like he was building up suspension. He caught the eye of a lone disciple standing near a bamboo stalk.

"The winner is Wei Yuxiang!" Shen Qingqiu said, to the shock of everyone else.

"But Shen Qingqiu, he didn't even participate!" Yue Qingyuan told him. Shen Qingqiu cringed at his mistake, although not outwardly.

Ah, damn it, Shen Yuan thought. I chose the one person who didn't participate. Oh well, time for some more bullshitting.

He'd already done alright this far! Just pull out the fan to seem all-knowing and enigmatic!

"Yes, that is the genius of Wei Yuxiang!" Shen Yuan announced, to listening and attentive ears. "You see, he has...stage fright! So he came to me earlier today and sang for me privately. He has quite a lovely voice, like a bird." Alright! He kills it at the bullshitting game, just like always.

Poor little Wei Yuxiang had one hundred pair of eyes glaring toward him, Shen Qingqiu's normally sweet and adorable disciple being one of them.

Shen Qingqiu smiled gratefully to get the attention off of poor Wei Yuxiang. "Thank you all for coming to the contest! Wei Yuxiang, you will recieve your prize soon."

Everyone else grumbled but couldn't disagree with Shen Qingqiu's assessment and most of the chunk of crowd dissipated into small little groups.

"If Shizun ever wants another one, I will win his favor!" One of his disciples shouted to a bunch of loud agreements from the other disciples. Shen Qingqiu blinked. Another what? Another contest?

Luo Binghe deflated next to Shen Qingqiu, staring sullenly at the ground looking simultaneously like he wanted it either to swallow him whole or for himself to destroy it.

Shen Qingqiu nudged him with a placid smile on his face. "Binghe, what are you upset about? It's just a contest. I'm sure you'll have many other chances to win."

Not. This contest had gotten way too out-of-control. The only way he'd ever do anything like this again is if he planned out the exact process that it was going through.

Binghe still sulked, but he looked up with heartbreak in his eyes. "Shizun, this disciple wanted to win your hand in marriage. I don't want to share the house with anyone else."

Shen Qingqiu stumbled back uncharacteristically, bewildered at the talk of marriage. Who, when, where, what? Certainly not this master.

"Binghe, where ever did you get that idea?"  Shen Qingqiu fanned himself uneasily at the way that Luo Binghe suddenly perked himself up. "This master had no intention of marrying anyone anytime soon." He blinked, the pieces falling into place. "Hold on, did Binghe think that the prize of the contest was..." Shen Qingqiu flushed, embarrassed. "Did everyone think...that?"

Luo Binghe nodded his head, looking relieved that his Shizun wasn't marrying some NPC disciple. Shen Qingqiu didn't know why, and he didn't even want to think about Liu Qingge and Yue Qingyuan at the moment.

Instead of addressing the crowd this, he waved to Luo Binghe with one hand, the other coming up to rest on the bridge of his nose. "This master is not marrying anyone, much less one of his disciples. Go tell everyone else, Binghe. This master...does not feel well. This one is heading back to the bamboo house and does not want disturbances from anyone else."

Shen Qingqiu stalked away - leaving behind an eternally happy Luo Binghe - mourning the contest he just started for his disciples to have fun!

--

"Shizun had no plans of marrying anyone," Luo Binghe said cheerily. He darkened, realizing that his plans to woo his Shizun were temporarily derailed, but lifted wheb he realized that no little pests named Wei Yuxiang was going to beat him either. Although he still had to worry about the Sect Leader and the Bai Zhan Peak Leader, who obviously also were infatuated with his Shizun.

Ning Yingying clapped her hands happily. "Oh, that's great news, A-Luo!" She looked at him sincerely. "But now, since he knows, you have to take it slowly. A-Luo knows Shizun is a good person, he'd never marry anyone underage! So you have to take it slow, endear yourself to him and then, when you're older, you two can get married!"

Ming Fan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, if you can convince him." Ning Yingying shoved his elbow into his gut, still smiling at Luo Binghe.

"I'm sure you can!" She exclaimed brightly in return.

Luo Binghe laughed at his peers' antics. He knows he can win Shen Qingqiu's heart.

He knows it.

--

Shen Qingqiu returned to the bamboo house from town, a bag of items from the village below the peaks.

"Shizun!" Luo Binghe bowed happily. "Welcome home! I made dinner!"

Shen Qingqiu laughed. This boy was like a boundlessly energized puppy. "Thank you, Binghe. Let us go eat, then."

Luo Binghe nodded, and went to go set out the utensils.

Wow, Binghe has gotten so tall already, Shen Qingqiu thought as he floated gracefully over to the table. The perfect protagonist is in fit shape to attract members of his harem already!

They sat down, and began to eat. "Mm, Binghe, it's delicious, as always," Shen Qingqiu praised, to Luo Binghe's delight.

"This one thanks Shizun," Luo Binghe said, a little shyly still. This was their routine, Shen Qingqiu constantly praising him and Luo Binghe bashfully accepting. Shen Qingqiu knew that it was important to get close to the protagonist now so the punishment later wouldn't be as harsh. But he also knew deep down that he really did favor the puppy-like boy. Who wouldn't?

They sat, eating in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Shen Qingqiu had to ask. "Binghe, why did you participate in the contest if you thought the prize was getting married to this master?"

Luo Binghe reddened and averted his eyes. He still answered. "Shizun..." he trailed off, starting again. "I just want to protect Shizun. He's done so much for me, even risking his life with Without-A-Cure for this worthless disciple. I want to become strong for him, and I can do that as his husband."

Shen Qingqiu furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head. He reached over and gently bumped the fan over Luo Binghe's head. "You silly disciple. This master has no worthless disciples, only strong ones who can be a bit silly sometimes. Or is this master wrong?"

"No!" Luo Binghe shook his head emphatically. "Shizun is correct, as always."

Shen Qingqiu patted his disciple's hand assuringly before going back to the matter at hand. "So you wanted to protect me, that's why?" Luo Binghe nodded and Shen Qingqiu breathed out a sigh of relief. Good! He hadn't bent the protagonist or anything!

"Tell me, Binghe, do you believe that's everyone else's reasoning for joining the contest as well?"

An unreadable look flashed across Luo Binghe's face before he nodded again, a little more hesitantly this time.

That must've been the reason why everyone else participated too. Although they didn't know about the Without-A-Cure, many had seen their Shizun in some...less-than-graceful situations.

[Host-dada...] The System tried to warn, but Shen Qingqiu shook it off. He did not have the time or the energy for its nonsense right now.

Luo Binghe nodded, his ears still giving away the sign of his embarrassment, and Shen Qingqiu couldn't help but pat his head one more time.

Shen Qingqiu finished his meal and went back to retrieve the items he had picked up from town. He sat back down at the table, where Luo Binghe was picking up their dirty utensils and bowls. The disciple stopped when he realized his Shizun wanted his attention.

"Binghe, I picked this up for you in town," Shen Qingqiu said, handing Luo Binghe a hair ribbon. "I thought it would look nice on you."

Luo Binghe examined the ribbon. It was a beautiful, silky red that had the tiniest gold bars on the end.

"It's beautiful, Shizun," he murmured. He took his hair out from his usual green ribbon, letting his model-like curls free before tying it back up with his new ribbon. "Thank you."

"Ah, red is your color, this master believes," Shen Qingqiu said appreciatingly.

He patted himself on the back. When this whole thing ended, maybe he could become the demon lord's official ribbon picker!

Luo Binghe leapt at Shen Qingqiu, throwing his arms around his teacher. "Shizun!" Luo Binghe was a lot bigger than the first time this happened, when he was fifteen. Luo Binghe was now able to burrow his face into the crook of Shen Qingqiu's neck by reaching his own neck down instead of reaching up, like he used to.

"Ah, who spoils you this much for you to decide just to hug this master?" Shen Qingqiu asked rhetorically. He knew it was himself, of course. Luo Binghe deserved to be spoiled.

Just a little bit.

--

Many, many years later, Luo Binghe hummed as he cleaned up their little bamboo house. They were visiting Cang Qiong Peak for a little while before going back to the demon realm since Shen Yuan hadn't been back for a good while and his paperwork was stacking up.

Currently, Luo Binghe's husband was at a meeting with the rest of the Peak Lords, and although Luo Binghe didn't like it very much, he sucked it up. He vowed to get the house clean before Shen Yuan got home. Their house wasn't very messy, per se, but Shen Yuan had a habit of forgetting to put items back where he got them from, leaving the room a little cluttered and disorganized.

Luo Binghe opened a drawer to put away some paper, but paused when something red caught his eye. He placed the papers down on the desk near him and dug the corner of the red item, tugging it out from underneath stacks of paper in the drawer.

He held it up, examining it, and his intense eyes grew incredibly soft. He gathered his curly hair up and tied it with the red ribbon that his Shizun had given him so many years ago. That same Shizun was his husband now. Luo Binghe was lucky. Only few people get to spend so many years of their life with their spouses before they're married.

Luo Binghe continued to tidy up their house, feeling a lot lighter on his feet. He even had half a mind to go change into his old white disciple clothes. A-Yuan wouldn't admit it, but he loved seeing Binghe dress in his old clothes, even though Luo Binghe knew that his Shizun definitely didn't mind Luo Binghe's current outfit.

Hm. Has it been three days yet?

Before Luo Binghe could ponder that thought any longer, Shen Yuan popped in through the door. "Binghe," he called. "This husband is home."

When he saw Luo Binghe in the corner, he startled. "Jesus-"

Luo Binghe cocked his head, blinking at the name. "Who's Jesus?"

Shen Yuan waved his hand dismissively. "Something from my old world," he explained. Luo Binghe grinned. Ever since Shen Yuan told him the truth about who he was, all the strange little sayings and actions fell into place. When Shen Yuan easily brushed the questions off in the moment, he would always later answer any questions that Luo Binghe had stored into his vast memory. Shen Yuan then raised one of his eyebrows. "Why is Binghe just standing in the corner like-" he paused, noticing Binghe's new hairstyle. "Husband, your hair."

Luo Binghe grinned and pointed to the ribbon in his hair. "Do you remember?"

Shen Yuan squinted at the ribbon, fanning himself with the large white fan that he carried. "It looks familiar, but this master is afraid that the memory from where has been lost."

Luo Binghe pouted. "The contest on Qing Jing Peak, remember?"

Shen Yuan's eyes lit up in recognition. "Oh, yes!" He examined his husband and offered a gentle smile. "This master was right. Red is your color after all." He flushed at the double entendre, but didn't hide his face.

Now that's what Luo Binghe called improvement.

"As expected," Luo Binghe agreed with Shen Yuan's assessment of himself. He leaned in, and Shen Yuan - his thin face having momentarily disappeared - met him halfway for a quick 'good evening' kiss.

Pulling back, Shen Yuan peered at the ribbon, remembering the memory fondly.

"I suppose you did win this Shizun after all, didn't you?" Shen Yuan smiled softly.

His husband nodded, ducking his head and letting Shen Yuan lovingly pat his hair. The demon straightened up, tilting his head toward the kitchen.

"Dinner's on the table, Shizun," Luo Binghe said. They discussed their days, and although that particular day, Luo Binghe hadn't much to do, he still listened to Shen Yuan rant about the other Peak Lords.

Luo Binghe was mainly ecstatic since they had gotten so comfortable with each other that Shen Yuan could talk to him like he did with Shang Qinghua.

After dinner and cleanup, Luo Binghe combed through Shen Yuan's silky hair. When he was finished, he braided it into a fishtail and knelt near the bed like he used to when he was a disciple. Shen Yuan patted his head affectionately.

"Binghe," he laughed. "What's wrong?"

Luo Binghe shook his head, flashing a smile at his husband. "Nothing, this one promises."

Luo Binghe clasped Shen Yuan's hands and kissed them gently.

"I love you, A-Yuan," he murmured into Shen Yuan's slender fingers.

"I love you too, Binghe."

Luo Binghe lowered his head down to A-Yuan's lap, who softly and soothingly stroked his hair inside of the ponytail.

Yes, Binghe knew that he had gotten the best prize after all.

Chapter Text

Luo Binghe was always surviving.

He was an orphan, thought to have been left for dead in an icy river. He survived, thanks to the kind woman he came to call his mother.

They were happy together, but poor. This was exacerbated by the illness that had overtaken his adoptive mother, and Luo Binghe was forced to try to fight for scraps of food just to feed his mother at night.

"...Binghe?"

Luo Binghe was startled out of his thoughts by his husband, who was looking at him expectantly.

"This one apologizes, husband," Luo Binghe straightened up from his spot on the cushion. "Did you say something, A-Yuan?"

"Yes, Binghe," Shen Yuan replied, making his way over to the desk where Luo Binghe sat. "Is Binghe ready to go to the festival?"

Luo Binghe blinked, visibly confused. Shen Yuan sighed fondly and patted his head. "Binghe was the one who wanted to go, but now he forgets? The Festival of Flowers, husband."

Luo Binghe nodded, remembering. The Festival of Flowers was a pretty new festival celebrating the new springtime, this being the second ever to occur.  "Apologies, A-Yuan. This one was lost in his thoughts."

Shen Yuan frowned. "Binghe has been working very hard lately. Are you sure you don't want to stay home and rest?"

Luo Binghe shook his head, his dark curls flipping over his shoulders. He wasn't really all that tired. He was mostly just thinking, like he said. "No, Shizun. This one is fine."

Shen Yuan peered at him calculatingly, but shrugged. "Alright, then. Let's head off."

Luo Binghe offered his arm and Shen Yuan took it, following him out to the carriage. On the way there, Shen Yuan looked in awe at all of the flora and fauna outside of the carriage, as if he was seeing it for the first time. He wasn't, but it was still so cool to look at!

They arrived at the festival. True to its name, there were flowers absolutely everywhere, and everlasting petals seemed to fall from the sky. A few blood red rose petals landed on Luo Binghe's hair.

"Oh, you've got something in your hair," Shen Yuan said, pulling his husband to face him. A sudden flush crept across his face as he realized how beautiful his husband looked with flower petals scattered throughout his hair.

Luo Binghe took notice of Shen Yuan's lack of movement and cocked his head, taking his hand. "Husband? Is something wrong?"

"No," Shen Yuan said quickly, turning away, the blush still high on his cheeks.

"Are you sure?" Luo Binghe fretted. "Is there something that's distressing A-Yuan?"

Shen Yuan whipped out his fan, hiding his burning face. "No," he whispered. "It's just, um, Binghe looks very pretty with flowers in his hair." He cleared his throat, speeding ahead.

Luo Binghe laughed, accidentally shaking off the flower petals, and followed his husband. Shen Yuan was pretty much the only one who gave him compliments besides how strong and powerful he was, and he preciously treasured each and every one of them.

"Oh, I want to stop at this food one," Shen Yuan jerked his husband to a stop, rerouting their journey. Shen Yuan stepped up to the cart and ordered two sticks of sesame seed balls, tipping the man extra generously with Luo Binghe's money and getting a cup in return.

He bit down on his treat. "Oh, wow! That's really good!"

"A-Yuan, aren't you worried about ruining your appetite?"

"Nope!" Shen Yuan popped the 'p' as he chewed. "Binghe will take care of me!"

Luo Binghe preened before remembering what exactly his husband was holding. His face turned cloudy.

"I can cook food better than this," Luo Binghe sulked. Shen Yuan laughed behind his fan, pressing a quick kiss to Luo Binghe's temple reassuringly. It seemed as if for that second, his bold side had taken over.

"I'm absolutely positive you can," Shen Yuan agreed. "But being in the spirit of the festival is fun! Binghe should try it," he prompted, handing Luo Binghe a stick of his own.

Luo Binghe stared at it, sensing if it had any poisons or sedatives in it. When he was younger, he remembered that he had no food to eat and no strength to fight back against people who threatened to beat him up for taking some food from the kitchen. He had to survive then, too, oftentimes going hungry for days just so his mother could eat.

Shen Yuan had just given him food. Although Luo Binghe preferred to cook for Shen Yuan and himself, he could probably just count on one hand who directly gave him food that he had not taken for himself.

Shen Yuan cleared his throat, realizing that Luo Binghe was still just staring at the dessert, and took a bite of his own encouragingly. Luo Binghe imitated him.

It was okay, he supposed. Of course, his own food was superior, but the grin on Shen Yuan's face when he bit the treat was the best prize of all.

They wandered around for a bit, a little overwhelmed with all of the activities the festival had to offer. Shen Yuan just had to taste everything that was offered, just to sample.

"I don't think that you should eat a lot," Luo Binghe advised. "We've already had dinner and your stomach may hurt later."

Shen Yuan waved him off, biting a piece of his tanghulu dismissively. "I'll be fine."

They stopped at a music booth, where a musician was taking requests for songs. Luo Binghe stepped forward and whispered in the musician's ear, offering a large sum of money to the player. The musician's eyes widened and he nodded ecstatically, and took the money appreciatively.

Luo Binghe stepped back to watch his husband's reaction when the musician began playing The Resentment of Chunshan . The demon smirked when his husband's face became agitated and just smiled innocently when those expressive eyes landed on himself.

He was gently smacked on the arm with the fan. "Binghe!" He huffed, walking away, "See if Binghe ever gets to try anything from that damned novel again!"

Luo Binghe's eyes widened in alarm and quickly raced after his husband. "Wait! Shizun! This one apologizes!"

As they walked, they saw many families enjoying themselves at the festival as well.

Luo Binghe could want kids one day. At first, after the disastrous qi deviation that he had, Luo Binghe thought that children were pointless and unnecessary. Especially considering that children were time-consuming and attention-hogging, which would definitely take his husband's eyes off of him. But now, as Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe passed by that cheery family, a mother and a father swinging hands with their toddler, he felt something in his heart pang.

In the past, he wasn't aware that he could ever have that. A family with children.

After all, he was destined to be the bad guy, be the one who destroyed everything but gained nothing, the one who gave love but received no real love in return.

But when Luo Binghe glanced at his husband, who was smiling softly at the children, maybe - just maybe - it would be possible. Little likenesses of both Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe running around the palace or the bamboo hut, begging for Luo Binghe to read them one more bedtime story while Shen Yuan smiled his affectionate little smile at them.

He would make sure they never had to survive like he did, spoiling them to the end of their days, just how Shen Yuan did with him.

Maybe...

"Binghe!" Shen Yuan called, a bit farther away from where Luo Binghe stood. "Come here!"

Obediently, Luo Binghe trotted over to his husband.

He was a little unnerved by the huge grin on his husband's usually placid face. Shen Yuan shoved a flower into the demon's hand and averted his eyes. "That's for you," he mumbled.

Luo Binghe blinked. He looked down at the flower and examined it. "A white lotus?" He questioned.

Shen Yuan nodded. "It's you." His eyes were still averted, and he wringed his hands. "You know, affectionate, loving..."

A pretty smile spread over Luo Binghe's face. "Thank you, A-Yuan."

Shen Yuan snatched it back and instead put it in Luo Binghe's uninhibited curls, right next to his ear. "Beautiful," he murmured, before flushing. Luo Binghe was pleased and he also made a request to the flower seller.

"That one, please," Luo Binghe pointed to a sunny daffodil. The merchant nodded and retrieved one for him. Luo Binghe thanked him and put the flower in Shen Yuan's hair.

It kind of clashed with his outfit, but his husband looked as majestic beautiful as ever.

"Now we match!" Luo Binghe grinned.

Shen Yuan smiled and boldly took his husband's hand as they finished the end of their journey, getting ready to go home.

The carriage waited for them as the festivities came to an end and the sky turned a deep indigo.

"My stomach," Shen Yuan groaned when they arrived back to their room, collapsing on their bed. "It hurts."

"This husband told you, A-Yuan," Luo Binghe reminded him cheekily.

Shen Yuan grumbled. Who knew that even immortal cultivators could get stomachaches?

Luo Binghe rested a palm on Shen Yuan's stomach. "Can I?"

Shen Yuan nodded gratefully and Luo Binghe allowed for his blood parasites to seek the place where his Shizun's stomach hurt most and soothe it instead.

"Thank you, Binghe," Shen Yuan said. "Have I ever told you how great you are?"

Luo Binghe beamed, shaking his head. "Because of my Heavenly Demon abilities?"

Shen Yuan smiled, but replied in the negative, propping himself up on the bed. "No," he said. "Because you're you. You've gone through so much, and you're still so caring and loving. We have had our...ups and downs, but you've found a way to live, not survive, despite the odds. I don't know if this husband has ever told you how proud he is."

Luo Binghe's eyes filled up with tears. "A-Yuan!" The demon lord cried, jumping into Shen Yuan's lap. He was a bit big, but somehow made it work.

"I love you," Shen Yuan said, his thin face totally dropping after all the years he's spent with Luo Binghe by his side. "A lot, Binghe."

"I love you too, A-Yuan," Binghe replied, still buried in his husband's shoulder. "You're the most precious thing in my life."

Later that night, the two of them went to bed, Luo Binghe's face tucked into the crook of his husband's neck.

Surviving was the hardest thing he's ever done. From when he was a baby, to when he first entered Qing Jing Peak, to the Endless Abyss to the unspeakable years when Shen Yuan had disappeared. Survival was crucial, survival was key, and Luo Binghe learned that no one would want to take care of him except for himself.

But A-Yuan, his dear, sweet husband had broken the chain for him.

Now, that he had Shizun as his husband, he no longer needed to survive.

Instead, he lived.

Chapter Text

The worst thing about living in the demon realm was that Shen Yuan couldn't see anything from inside the demon palace.

Shen Yuan knew that his husband tried his hardest to make such a place welcoming for a human cultivator like himself, but he missed looking up into the sky and seeing the sparkling stars or just being outside in Earth's refreshing air instead of inhaling and immediately choking on the thick demon realm air.

The mock bamboo house was nice - if not a bit creepy how identical it was to the one on Qing Ding Peak - but Shen Yuan longed for the green fields of grass (as long as none of it contained that weird sex-pollen Airplane-Bro created) and the vast sky that stretched beyond both human and demon's eye.

"Let's go camping, husband," Shen Yuan suggested later that night in the mock bamboo house. Luo Binghe blinked.

"Camping?" He asked, a bit confused.

"Like, going into the middle of nowhere outside and stay there overnight," Shen Yuan explained.

"Oh," Luo Binghe said, thinking. "Is everything alright? Does Shizun need some space from everything?"

Shen Yuan nodded, then pouted. "I'm just tired of being inside all the time.

Luo Binghe chuckled, before reaching over and kissing his husband's forehead sweetly. "If that's what husband wants, then husband shall receive."

Shen Yuan crimsoned. Binghe was treating him like he was some spoiled queen!

...Although, as Shen Yuan remembered who exactly cooked and cleaned for him, doted on him, and even fed him little fruits while he was fanned, that probably wasn't far from the truth.

Luo Binghe left Sha Hualing in charge while he was gone. There had been no recent uprisings or anything in the demon realm, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

The hike took a couple of days until Shen Yuan gave up and rode with Luo Binghe on Shen Yuan to get back near Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. They didn't go near the mountain range, of course, but they did trek through the grounds near the Sect.

"Should we set up here?" Luo Binghe asked his husband, swinging his qiankun pouch. "Near the pretty flowers?"

The flowers were pretty, but they also appeared vaguely familiar. Shen Yuan blanched, stumbling back and pulling his husband back by the arm as well.

"Definitely not," he scowled, glaring at the lavender-colored flowers.

Not today, weird sex flowers! Binghe's stamina was really too much sometimes! He admittedly did really like having sex with his husband, sometimes even liking going at it a little rougher than usual, but he drew the line at Luo Binghe being horny from forty-eight hour sex pollen. His hands and mouth couldn't satisfy Binghe forever, and Shen Yuan did not want to stick around long enough to find out whether or not this was the same one.

They finally found an area clear of pollen, and Luo Binghe sent his demon aura to scare away and wanderers who might come wandering their merry little way near Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe's nice little set up.

Luo Binghe pulled a tent and some sleeping mattresses out of the qiankun pouch as Shen Yuan tried to remember how to make a fire from sticks.

"Shizun?" Luo Binghe questioned. He'd finished setting their sleeping areas and had wandered over to Shen Yuan to see how starting the fire was going.

Shen Yuan sighed and plopped on a nearby, conveniently-placed log, handing the sticks over. "Nope. I'm done."

Luo Binghe blinked and shrugged, used to his admittedly lazy husband. With his cultivation, he lit the campfire, sending the pile of sticks laying under a bright blaze.

"Ah," Shen Yuan scratched his head bashfully. "Apologies husband, I suppose that this master forgot about the technique."

Yes, it still happened even though he used this act for a 'Career Day' of sorts at Qing Jing Peak and taught his disciples how to do it for a living.

Luo Binghe grinned as the sky darkened to a deep indigo and set up a place to put a pot to cook in over the flickering fire. Shen Yuan relaxed in the tent, fanning himself slowly as his husband cooked. He read, having found himself a rough xianxia equivalent of an awful webnovel story. It was absolutely terrible, almost as bad as the original PIDW, but Shen Yuan loved to hate on it.

"Dinner's ready, A-Yuan!" Luo Binghe called.

The two sat and completed their dinner, a simple yet delicious soup that Binghe had prepared.

As the night grew darker, Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe both changed into their sleeping robes before sitting outside to take advantage of the cool breeze while it lasted. Shen Yuan sat in Luo Binghe's lap, his back flush against the demon's chest. Luo Binghe's chin was tucked into his husband's neck and their hands were clasped together as they silently watched the dark sky.

"I never was able to see any stars like this back in my old world," Shen Yuan murmured softly. Luo Binghe held his breath, waiting for his husband to go on. Shen Yuan would make references from time to time, but he rarely ever spoke brazenly about his old world. Shen Yuan smiled upward. "There was too much air pollution to see them clearly in Beijing. My big brother taught me constellations from a book instead whenever I was sick."

Luo Binghe tilted his head, surprised. "You had a brother, Shizun?"

Shen Yuan nodded fondly. "I had two. And a little sister," he added.

"This one bets that A-Yuan misses them a lot," Luo Binghe said. Shen Yuan smiled sadly and confirmed with a slight nod of his head.

"But I wouldn't leave Binghe," he added quickly. "I love you."

"And I love you as well, A-Yuan," Luo Binghe responded, kissing his husband's neck. "But A-Yuan is allowed to miss his family. This disciple knows I've had unacceptable behavior in the past but I do understand. This Binghe..." he swallowed before catching his thought. "This Binghe misses his mother as well."

"Can you tell me about her?" Shen Yuan offered, feeling dampness on his neck. For once, his husband crying was justified. After a moment of silence, he realized that no one had ever probably asked about Luo Binghe's adoptive mother before.

Luo Binghe sniffled and nodded. "She was amazing," he remembered, smiling into Shen Yuan's neck fondly. "She was such a kind person, always giving more than she could receive."

Luo Binghe glanced up at the sky, and Shen Yuan looked back at his face. "When she was really sick, she said that when she..." Luo Binghe sniffled again, and Shen Yuan patted his hand soothingly. "When she passed, I could always look up into the sky and she would be there, smiling upon this one with the rest of the stars."

"Is A-Yuan sure that he doesn't want to go back?" Luo Binghe asked abruptly. Shen Yuan would usually snap at him for being so possessive, but he had a feeling that this was a different situation. As usual, he was right. "This husband knows what it's like to be without family, so maybe we could work something out? This one can reforge Xin Mo and-"

Shen Yuan shook his head, thumbing the back of his demon husband's hands for a bit, dropping the proper speech. "No, Binghe. This is my home now. Besides, life has most likely gone on in the old world as well. If I've been living here for almost twenty years now, then everyone back there has known me dead for those years. It would be selfish to go back and uproot them again." A small breeze made Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe's hair fly back a little. "And I like it here. I like Cang Qiong Peak, I like adventuring with you, I like all my friends..." He trailed off, snuggling closer to his husband's broad chest instead of finishing.

Luo Binghe flipped his hand over and squeezed it to show that he understood.

Luo Binghe's whisper softly blew onto Shen Yuan's ear. "Then can you teach me about constellations, Shizun?"

Shen Yuan blinked. "Sure. But Binghe should forgive this one. This master is afraid that not everything can be recalled."

Luo Binghe kissed his cheek. "It's okay, A-Yuan. Just do your best."

"Okay," Shen Yuan looked up at the sky, twinkling with countless shining stars. He tilted his head, doing his best to recall the stories. He pointed up. "Does Binghe see that one that looks somewhat like a pot with a handle?" Shen Yuan asked, tracing the outline so that Luo Binghe could visualize it clearly. "That one's name is Beidou Qixing, but many call it the Big Dipper." Luo Binghe nodded from his spot on Shen Yuan's shoulder.

"And that one is called...Cassiopeia," Shen Yuan explained, pointing another pattern out. "When Cassiopeia was combined with the Alpha and Beta Cassiopeiae, they form the great chariot Wang-Liang!" Luo Binghe chuckled and Shen Yuan frowned. "What?"

"Ah, nothing," Luo Binghe said, smirking still. "It's just that A-Yuan is very adorable when talking about education and learning. I believe Shang Qinghua-"

"Shang-shishu," Shen Yuan interrupted. Sure, Luo Binghe technically wasn't a disciple anymore, but be respectful!

"I believe Shang-shishu," Luo Binghe amended. "told me the term for you when you behave like this was 'nerding out'?"

Shen Yuan snorted, slightly indignated. "I'm the nerd? As if!"

Luo Binghe tilted Shen Yuan's head up toward him. "As this one said, adorable." They gently kissed, Luo Binghe's hand softly cradling his husband's cheek.

Wow, Luo Binghe had most definitely improved from their first! Luo Binghe pulled back and instinctively, Shen Yuan followed before catching his mistake and leaning back as well.

But no, it was already too late. Binghe's eyes were already darkening, full of pure adoration and lust. He was already sliding Shen Yuan's oversized robe off of his shoulder and pressing heated kisses to the skin underneath. Shen Yuan sighed, but immediately acquiesed, hoping that his husband packed enough supplies.

They made love under the twinkling stars and constellations that night.

Chapter Text

"Binghe!" Shen Qingqiu called for him. "Congratulations on winning the Immortal Alliance Conference!" Shen Qingqiu smiled and patted his head. "This master knew that Binghe could do it."

"Thank you, Shizun!" Luo Binghe beamed. "This disciple only got as far as he did because of Shizun's guidance!"

Shen Qingqiu let out a rare chuckle and patted his favorite disciple's head. "No, Binghe achieved his wins by himself. The highest count out of everyone, that's really amazing!"

Luo Binghe beamed again. "Would you like some more, Shizun? I made plenty for you."

Shen Qingqiu nodded pleasantly, adding some more vegetables and chicken to his bowl. He looked over at Luo Binghe's bowl and placed some more food in there as well. "Eat up," Shen Qingqiu chided. "Binghe is a growing boy. He needs all the food he can get."

Luo Binghe laughed, but shoveled down his food so that he could go run his Shizun's water for a bath.

"Binghe, you really don't have to do that," Shen Qingqiu tried to stop him, like he always did. "This master can do it himself."

Luo Binghe shook his vigorously, sticking to the script they brought out again every few weeks. "No, Shizun shouldn't debase himself doing a servant's job."

His Shizun sighed, although not without fondness. "Binghe, taking care of yourself isn't a servant's job," he chuckled, a little exasperated.

Luo Binghe ignored him and prepared the bath and the laundry anyway. Shen Qingqiu took his bath and came back into his room, dressed in his sleeping robes and drying off his hair.

"Can this Binghe comb Shizun's hair?" Luo Binghe held his breath like he always did, even though he knew that Shen Qingqiu always gave in.

Shen Qingqiu nodded, feeling much more mellow due to his bath. "Go ahead, Binghe."

"Which oil would Shizun prefer?" Luo Binghe asked.

"Hm," Shen Qingqiu considered before shrugging, uncaring. "Binghe may choose."

Luo Binghe chose the vanilla one. Luo Binghe had always loved catching a whiff of Shen Qingqiu's hair when he walked past. It reminded him of how sweet and gentle and kind his Shizun was now, compared to before when he never wore vanilla.

He finished combing and brushing his Shizun's silky hair.

When Shen Qingqiu rose from his chair, Luo Binghe wrapped his arms around Shen Qingqiu, who tensed a little.

After a few moments, Shen Qingqiu relaxed in his arms, patting his disciple on the head fondly.

"You've done a good job, Binghe. I'm proud. Now go to bed, Binghe," he said. "Early lessons are tomorrow."

--

And Luo Binghe woke up.

It wasn't real. Of course it wasn't.

His Shizun hated him. Hated his demon heritage so much that he pushed him down the Endless Abyss.

This could never be real. No matter how much he tried, this vision could never be real.

It was all an illusion. A fake. It made Luo Binghe sick to his stomach.

His Shizun had made it clear as day that he wouldn't nor ever would want to be associated with Luo Binghe.

But...

Shen Qingqiu had sacrificed himself to save Luo Binghe. Had carressed his face, speaking to him in a gentle tone to calm him down, just like he did before the Endless Abyss.

Luo Binghe was so confused.

This illusion, seemingly two different sides of his Shizun waged war against each other inside of his head.

Shen Qingqiu was kind. He was ruthless. Shen Qingqiu was gentle. He shoved you off the cliff and into the Endless Abyss.

Luo Binghe went back to sleep and dropped hinself back into the dream world and began destroying more of the creations that he created there.

There was no creature that was spared in his ruthless attack.

It would stop the war of illusions for a moment.

It would make him feel better.

--

Sometimes, Luo Binghe had to remember hard that he wasn't in that dark place anymore.

The combination of the sense of abandonment and Xin Mo damaged him a lot. He wasn't so far out of his mind that he couldn't realize that. Often, especially near the beginning of their relationship, he would wake up in a cold sweat after dreaming about Shen Yuan trying to self-destruct again.

It was a hard pill to swallow when he found out that his Shizun thought he absolutely despised him. Actions that came off normal to him were portrayed totally differently to Shen Yuan, which made both of their lives more of a living hell than Luo Binghe had ever experienced in the Endless Abyss.

After Shen Qingqiu agreed to start an offical relationship with him, Luo Binghe had quickly taken to doting upon his sweet Shizun again. But he hadn't realized how totally destructive he could've become until he traveled into who Shen Yuan called "Bing-ge's" world. He saw the merged world, the atrocities which Bing-ge called marriages.

He could never find his Shizun there.

After that, he had even more nightmares - these ones Shen Yuan found out about. They worked through it together, but every now and then Luo Binghe gets a pang in his heart that feels as if he isn't touching or near his husband right at that moment, he feels prickles on his skin and fuzziness in his head.

But he's been getting better.

Slowly.

This morning, he didn't wake up in a cold sweat or because he had a bad dream, no, but because he remembered that today was their wedding anniversary and he wanted to make a special breakfast for his A-Yuan.

Luo Binghe pecked his sleeping husband on the cheek before carefully sliding out of the bed to not awaken his precious, gently snoring A-Yuan.

He prepared breakfast in the kitchen, being mindful not to make too much noise. He was chopping up the ingredients for a basic congee when he felt a warmth around his waist and a face burrow into his shoulder.

"A-Yuan!" Luo Binghe whined. "I was supposed to bring you breakfast in bed!"

Shen Yuan chuckled, his voice a little rough from sleep. "Did you think that I would forget that it's our anniversary today?" He asked, completely dropping the formal language. "Not my birthday."

Luo Binghe remained silent, just cutting up the chicken.

"Come on, Binghe, I'm not really that bad," Shen Yuan paused for a second, considering. "Am I?"

Luo Binghe tried to keep his voice tone as neutral as possible. "Well..."

Shen Yuan dropped his head into his hands. "I totally am, aren't I?"

"It's okay," Luo Binghe said quickly, turning his head to smile brightly at his husband who was still leaning on Luo Binghe's back. "It's cute. And A-Yuan remembered this time."

Shen Yuan squeezed his husband's shoulders in thanks before rolling up his sleeves and sidling up to Luo Binghe's side properly. "What can I do?"

"Hm?" Luo Binghe hummed, asking for specification.

"It's our anniversary, so we should take care of each other," Shen Yuan explained. "So we can cook breakfast together. Binghe takes care of me, I want to take care of Binghe too."

Luo Binghe grinned, sniffing a bit to keep the tears out of his eyes.

"A-Yuan can help chop up the spices," Luo Binghe finally said. Shen Yuan nodded and boldly (now that he was more awake) kissed Luo Binghe on the cheek and grabbed a knife to do what he was told.

Luo Binghe smiled, feeling the kiss imprinted on his cheek.

Luo Binghe's dream life was no longer an illusion, waiting to be shattered when he woke up.

This was reality.

This was his reality.

Chapter Text

There was someone else living in Luo Binghe's house.

He didn't know who or what it was, but he could never shake off that palpitating fear that someone - something was following him.

It was more than just a feeling at this point, unlike what Luo Binghe had thought a few weeks ago.

It's just your imagination. You haven't been getting enough sleep lately, talking with A-Yuan so late at night, he had told himself.

But when he first saw those glowing red eyes, everything had changed.

Oh, those red eyes.

Luo Binghe couldn't remember if the creature was human-shaped or not, but those eyes imprinted on him like fingerprints on clay. The image was impossible to get out of his head, haunting his every footstep, every move he made.

He entered his room one day to find someone sitting on his bed. One blink and it was gone, but the memory was seared into Luo Binghe's brain.

And after that, he began to see the...thing with the red eyes everywhere. In the corner of his bedroom, behind himself in the mirror, downstairs when he went to go get a sip to drink.

He could never remember the figure or body of the owner of the eyes. But it didn't matter since he could always see the pure hatred and anger that rested in them.

The voices started not too far after, mumbling things and whispering phrases.

Despite his lovely mother being warm as always, his home began to feel more and more like a prison, a certain sense of darkness and doom stuffed in his room and leaking out to the other parts of his house.

So he began to stay away.

At first, he could escape to his boyfriend's house, who - despite his thin face - would welcome him at his luxurious house any time.

But even as he teased his A-Yuan, the sinking feeling and the mumbling and whispering would always come back to haunt him.

After hearing the mumbling for a bit too long, Luo Binghe finally had to ask. "A-Yuan, do you hear that?" Luo Binghe asked his boyfriend, who was sitting next to him doing homework. Shen Yuan narrowed his eyes and strained his ears, listening for the phantom noise that Luo Binghe apparently heard. Shen Yuan shook his head, blinking at Luo Binghe.

"It's nothing," Luo Binghe assured him, lying through his teeth. "I think it stopped."

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow, but shrugged, going back to his work.

Luo Binghe lifted his boyfriend's left hand, laying a small kiss upon the knuckles. Shen Yuan didn't look back at him, but he did squeeze Luo Binghe's hand gently.

Luo Binghe smiled, kissing the back of Shen Yuan's hand once more.

Later that night, he flopped in bed, momentarily forgetting about his dilemma and problem. He fell asleep not soon afterward, although he knew he should've taken a shower or something before he got into his bed.

"Your life isn't real," a voice whispered next to him, scarily imitating his own. He sat up in a cold sweat, frantically jolting up and whipping his head to the side.

Nothing.

There was nothing in that room except for him and the small night light he had recently bought to accompany him.

The voice had never gotten a sentence as strong as that one before. It mumbled and whispered things from time to time, but it never said anything so clearly to him, both enunciation-wise and volume-wise.

It freaked him out even more.

He squeezed the stuffed dog that Shen Yuan had won for him at their school fair. Its name was Bingpup, apparently it resembled its namesake, according to Shen Yuan.

He exhaled through his nose, running his fingers through his hair.

There was nothing. Absolutely nothing.

--

"Binghe, are you okay?" Shen Yuan asked the next morning at their high school, taking note of the dark bags underneath his boyfriend's eyes.

Luo Binghe smiled weakly and nodded. "Yes, A-Yuan. I'm fine."

What could he say? Oh, no, actually there's something haunting me - keeping me awake at night and scaring the crap out of me?

Luo Binghe wasn't upset at Shen Yuan of course - and he usually didn't speak so crudely either - but it was a bit hard being sleep-deprived and walking around.

--

That night, although the way he left his backpack at the door was the same, someone else was waiting for him near his vanity made him stop in his tracks.

There, a copy of him stood, grinning maniacally at him. This copy was a bit different, a bit older than Binghe himself was.

Those red eyes burned onto his skin like a brand, the heat crawling up from his ankles to his shoulders like spiders.

"W-who are you?" Luo Binghe stuttered, slamming his back against the door, searching for a sharp object to defend himself with.

"I know you," the double didn't answer the question, instead puffing his chest out. He slowly sauntered toward Luo Binghe with a manic gleam to his eye. "I know who you are."

Luo Binghe didn't answer, still searching for something suitable he could use as a weapon. The nightlight that automatically turned on when the room was dark shone brightly against the doppelganger's face, making him appear more psychotic than Luo Binghe had thought possible.

The doppelganger laughed at Luo Binghe's actions. "Your mere mortal weapons cannot hurt me." He sniffed, straightening up. "Every other incarnation of myself is weak, pales next to me. First, the one who got Shizun and you..." The doppelganger tilted his head curiously. "You're a mortal. Disappointing. At least the other Binghe could properly show up for a fight."

Of course, Luo Binghe couldn't decipher all of this man's babbling. This man was talking complete and utter nonsense, what Shizun and mortals?

He jumped back when the man was suddenly beside him, tapping his temple curiously. "Let's see what we can find in here," the doppelganger murmured.

Luo Binghe couldn't even get the word "wait" out before he was recalling so many of his own memories. Fuzzily, he could see when he first met Shen Yuan in fifth grade, and then when he received news that his father had left a giant fortune for him - enough for him to go to an American or European university and live debt-free. His happiest memories included a lot of Shen Yuan, though, as his best friend, and more recently, boyfriend.

An unfiltered smile spread across Luo Binghe's face as he took in the joyful smiles upon Shen Yuan and his faces at Disneyland. Shen Yuan had surprised him with tickets not long after it was revealed that Luo Binghe was the son of a dying businessman, and with it, received a huge inheritance.

They abruptly stopped, bringing Luo Binghe back into the room.

The fury was back in those scarlet red eyes.

"You suffered even less than he did," the man stumbled back, looking pained for a second before snarling. "I'm always the one who has to suffer the most! Why don't I get the good things?"

The man hurled Luo Binghe's glass and it shattered against the door, along with Luo Binghe's sanity.

"I'll show you!" The doppelganger seethed. Before Luo Binghe could even blink-

Pain.

All he could feel was the excruciating pain that the other overwhelmed him with.

Images of him torturing someone who looked like his A-Yuan's older brother, the strong, sudden onslaught stench of blood and urine causing him to gag and keel over.

But suddenly, he was being pierced through his chest, the stinging pain of humiliation and fury wracking his body as he fell, down down down...

And when he blinked again, his skin was blanketed with grime and sweat, several creatures skittering beneath his feet. A huge fly - about twenty times larger than he heard existed - buzzed around his ear before revealing its rows of gleaming teeth.

He clutched his head in pain, hearing the slight echo of manic laughter.

Luo Binghe screamed as the visions began to clash into one, feeling all of the pent-up rage, hot embarrassment, disappointment that he had never experienced in his lifetime.

Luo Binghe screamed until he couldn't, sure that he was crazy and dying. When he couldn't scream anymore....

He shot up, panting. His pajamas were absolutely drenched in sweat. The room was empty, like it usually was.

But this time, Luo Binghe could feel it. It was truly empty - nothing lurking in the shadows or tucked behind the door. He could relax now.

But he didn't. Instead, he picked up his phone - not bothering to check how late it was - and called his rock. The one who could keep him stable.

"Hello?" A voice rough with sleep answered. "Binghe, are you okay? Do I need to come over?"

Luo Binghe shook his head before realizing that Shen Yuan couldn't see him. "No, I just..."

"Oh, you want me to stay on the phone with you?" Shen Yuan asked, referring to an earlier request that Luo Binghe had made. At the time, Shen Yuan refused, saying it was unnecessary, but now he was probably to sleep-oriented to think it through. "I'll just put my phone on FaceTime. Give me a sec."

Luo Binghe swallowed, but hummed in agreement. If it was any other situation, Luo Binghe would be ecstatic. But now, he just felt empty. Numb.

He set up his phone so it angled toward himself on the camera as he watched Shen Yuan sleepily do the same.

"G'night, Binghe," Shen Yuan slurred, kicking th cover off of his legs and toward the opposite direction.

"Sleep well, A-Yuan," Luo Binghe replied fondly, his worries forgotten for a mere second. "I apologize for interrupting your sleep."

Shen Yuan grunted and Luo Binghe chuckled.

Luo Binghe himself stared at the ceiling.

He just needed to sleep it off. It wasn't a big deal, right?

Bingpup lay right beside him on the bed, staring up at him warmly.

It seemed like it was a whole dream after all.

Binghe sighed and clutched his precious item to his chest. He shouldn't think about it. He focused instead on his boyfriend's soft, adorable snores and tried to dream of sheep.

But no matter what else Luo Binghe tried to dream of, he could still feel those scarlet eyes burning a hole through his soul. So he tossed and turned in a restless sleep, lulled by Shen Yuan's level breathing.

When he woke up, the glass still lay in pieces on the floor.

Chapter Text

"Ming-shixiong!" Ning Yingying exclaimed excitedly, running to the "head disciple." Although Ming Fan was officially was head disciple, everyone knew who really whipped Qing Jing Peak into shape.

"What, shimei?" Ming Fan asked, glaring at the younger disciple he had decided to punish.

"Look, it finally happened!" Ning Yingying said, shoving a scroll into Ming Fan's hand. "I've got one and you have one too!"

Ming Fan squinted as he read the fanciful calligraphy that he recognized as his Shizun's. He raised an eyebrow and met his shimei's sparkling eyes.

"Huh," he said, staring back at the invitation with disbelief. "He finally wore him down enough."

Ning Yingying pushed his arm. "Ah, this one thinks it's romantic! They're finally getting married!"

Ming Fan frowned. "I thought they were already married," he pointed out. "Luo-shidi calls Shizun 'husband' all the time."

Ning Yingying exhaled loudly to Ming Fan's amusement.

"Okay, shimei," he relented, biting his lip to hide his teasing smile. "I get it."

-

Liu Qingge's eye twitched, glaring at the sheet in front of him.

"Ah, Shen-shidi is...getting married," Yue Qingyuan said, breaking the tense silence that had formed over the Peak Lords ever since a disciple had run up to deliver a scroll for each one of them.

No one said anything, the shock dissipating all of their previous volume.

Qi Qingqi huffed. "Well, I suppose I'll attend. I have nothing better to do."

Yue Qingyuan was already bobbing his head. "Of course," he said stiffly. "Anything to support our fellow Peak Lord Shen-shidi."

Qi Qingqi cocked her head. "Aren't they already married, though?"

Liu Qingge's brush cracked in his hand.

-

"For you, Qinghua," Mobei-jun said, presenting the absent Peak Lord an envelope.

"Thank you, my king," Shang Qinghua chirped, slipping the envelope gently from Mobei-jun's hands.

The ice demon crossed his arms, looming over the Peak Lord. Shang Qinghua wasn't bothered by it anymore, after all these years, he was pretty used to it.

"They're getting married, my king," Shang Qinghua exclaimed giddily, examining the card. Mobei-jun stood there, closely observing the human. "We can go, right?"

"Lord Luo's wedding?" Mobei-jun asked quietly, the deep bass in his voice shaking Shang Qinghua to his proverbial knees.

Shang Qinghua bobbed his head. "Uh-huh! So can we go?"

Mobei-jun peered at Shang Qinghua closely, making the other man shiver slightly under his watchful eye. "Alright," the ice king gave a quick, short nod. "We will attend."

--

A line of plates of cakes sat in front of Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan. Shen Yuan knew that Luo Binghe couldn't relate, but he definitely felt like one of the guest judges on one of those baking shows.

"Shall we try some?" Luo Binghe asked, pulling out a plate of random cake to try. He scooped out a piece for Shen Yuan and held it up to the other man's lips. Shen Yuan accepted, flicking his tongue out to catch the cake.

He chewed thoughtfully, before shaking his head. "I don't like this one as a wedding cake. It's too dry, I think."

The following comments were very similar, along with how one "didn't have enough flavor" or how a different one had "too strong of a flavor."

"They're just not right," Shen Yuan complained about halfway through the cakes, setting down his spoon.

"Are you looking for a specific type of cake, Shizun?" Luo Binghe asked. Shen Yuan nodded.

"Back before I came here, I had this really good wedding cake," Shen Yuan remembered. "It had about twelve layers-"

Luo Binghe's eyebrows shot up. "Twelve?"

Shen Yuan nodded, his lips curling up a little at how shocked his husband seemed. "Yes, twelve. But none of these even come close in terms of texture or style, really."

Luo Binghe thought for a second, taking in the image of his somewhat frustrated husband. "I could make the cake, A-Yuan," Luo Binghe suggested.

"But it's your wedding," Shen Yuan countered.

"It's okay," Luo Binghe smiled. "I want to make you happy for our wedding. It would make me happy to see A-Yuan happy. A-Yuan can let me see his memories, and I can try my best to recreate it from that. Anything to make A-Yuan happy," he repeated.

"Ah, you silly brat," Shen Yuan said fondly, softly patting his husband's arm. "You already make me happy."

"Really?"

"Mm-hm," Shen Yuan responded. "Do you think I'd be with you otherwise?"

"I promise I won't let A-Yuan down!" Luo Binghe swore excitedly.

"I know you won't," Shen Yuan encouraged. "You really never have and you most likely never will."

Binghe beamed, pecking his husband on the cheek.

--

"What about at Qing Jing Peak?" Shen Yuan offered. "It's lovely in the spring."

Luo Binghe blanched. "I...don't think so, Shizun." He really didn't want to invite demons to his Shizun's peak, even if they were now his subjects. Plus, there wasn't anywhere 'right' there for his extravagant plans. He lowered his voice, almost so low that Shen Yuan couldn't hear him. "Besides, if we were to go anywhere on Cang Qiong Mountain for our wedding, then we should get married on Bai Zhan Peak."

"Huh?" Shen Yuan asked, a bit confused at the answer.

"Nothing, Shizun," Luo Binghe said quickly and lightly, as if he had just made a joke.

Okay. "Well, how about the demon palace?" Shem Yuan suggested. "There's lot of room there so you decorate it how you want it."

"Are you sure that the lords and disciples would want to come to the Demon Realm, Shizun?" Luo Binghe bit his lip. He wasn't too fond of some of the guests that his husband had wanted to invite, but he didn't want them to get accidentally get bitten by a Horse-Legged Snake or get pricked with Without-A-Cure. There was only one person he would ever cure the illness for, and that was his husband.

Shen Yuan narrowed his eyes in thought. "We could always have Mobei-jun create portals so they don't have to actually walk through the realm or anything," he suggested.

Luo Binghe beamed. "Ah, A-Yuan is brilliant. As always."

Shen Yuan flushed. "Binghe, I didn't really do anything. Anybody could have come to that conclusion, really."

Luo Binghe shrugged. "Shizun is just special, this one supposes."

--

Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan had already gotten married. Technically.

Well, they eloped in their bedroom, but they completed the ceremony so it counted.

But Shen Yuan couldn't help but feel as if he was missing out on a huge life-event. Back in his old world, both of his older brothers were married and they'd had huge weddings with hundreds of people in attendance. Of course, Shen Yuan didn't want or need hundreds of people, but maybe eighty or ninety would be nice.

He could be a little shy about it, but he really wanted everyone he cared about to know how much he loved his husband.

When he approached Luo Binghe with the idea, his husband had immediately agreed and they began planning, just like that.

They both loved each other so much, they wanted to get married again.

What a dramatic couple.

--

Jars of various wines sat neatly before Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe.

"This is the wine selection?" Luo Binghe asked. Shen Yuan nodded.

"This husband will allow A-Yuan to take the lead on this one. This husband...is neutral on the matter," Luo Binghe confessed like it was some huge deal. "This Binghe will like anything that A-Yuan chooses."

Shen Yuan patted Luo Binghe on the head warmly. "Of course," he said pleasantly. Luo Binghe tossed him a bright grin, and Shen Yuan had to bite back one of his own at his silly husband's enthusiasm for something he didn't really want to do.

After sipping a few wines that weren't really to his taste, Shen Yuan was starting to feel the buzz. "Mm, Binghe is beautiful when he talks like that."

Ah, maybe he's had a little too much!

And definitely not this one! It didn't taste that great anyway, the undertones of the wine a bit too savory for his taste.

Shen Yuan pushed the glass away, gesturing for the next one.

"Um, this one is called 'Butterfly Wishes,'" Luo Binghe read, passing another jar to his husband for him to taste.

He opened one himself to taste, raising his eyebrow at the sweet taste that bubbled down his throat pleasantly.

"Give me another, Binghe. This wine is delicious," Shen Yuan commanded. Luo Binghe nodded and supplied him with another jar. It was a lot harder for Heavenly Demons to get drunk, but Luo Binghe could still enjoy the taste.

"It's really not too bad," Shen Yuan said, swallowing down the wine again. "This husband thinks that this one doesn't have too much alcohol in it, so it can't get me drunk very quickly." He nodded, final with his answer. "Now, give this husband another drink, Binghe."

Luo Binghe furrowed his eyebrows, uncertain. "Shizun has already had three of these. Are you sure?"

Shen Yuan laughed, the giggle bubbling with joy and undertones that noted that maybe he was a little bit more than tipsy. "Yes, Binghe!"

One good thing about this body is that you can't get alcohol poisoning! Not that he was a big drinker in the past, but damn, this wine was good.

An hour and five more jars later, and Shen Yuan was inches away from being white girl wasted.

"You know, I can't wait to marry Binghe again," Shen Yuan murmured drunkenly. He paused, bringing his finger to his lip and blinking at his husband. "Maybe this husband should call him Bing-er instead!"

Shen Yuan pinched Luo Binghe's cheek lovingly. "My little Bing-er."

Luo Binghe froze, then visibly swallowed. "This one...should cut Shizun off." He gently removed the bottle from Shen Yuan's grasp, it not being too difficult from the clearly inebriated man.

But Shen Yuan did uncharacteristically pout, making grabby hands toward the jar. Binghe shook his head, putting the jar further out of the Peak Lord's reach.

Shen Yuan crossed his arms, giving up and leaning on his husband's shoulder. "Bing-er, bring this husband to bed then."

"Of course, Shizun," Luo Binghe complied. He lifted his husband with one arm before deciding it would just be easier to carry him. So he did, pulling him into a bridal carry. Shen Yuan tucked himself into Luo Binghe's chest.

Luo Binghe carried his husband to bed, just as ordered, and tucked him into the blankets. He kissed his husband's (who was already drifting off) cheek fondly.

"Goodnight, A-Yuan."

--

"A-Luo looks great in those robes!" Ning Yingying grinned. "Now twirl!"

Luo Binghe glared at her but did what she said obediently.

"Hm," Sha Hualing considered. "My lord, I don't think this one's quite right." She cringed as the tacky bells on the bottom of the robes clanged.

Luo Binghe shrugged. Somehow during the battle on Maigu Ridge, Ning Yingying, Liu Mingyan, and Sha Hualing had become acquaintances/somewhat friends.

He didn't know what had happened between them, but apparently they were thick as thieves now.

Ning Yingying and himself had reconnected in the past couple of years. When he was younger, though he cared for her, he was somewhat annoyed by her naive personality but Luo Binghe could see that she had grown into a disciple that would one day definitely be fit for a Peak Lord. Sha Hualing was still his underling, so although she was friends with Ning Yingying, she was not friends with Luo Binghe.

But...he still didn't mind her opinions on this. This was too big to be petty over. He had to look perfect for their second wedding!

When Shen Yuan had first approached him with the idea of a second wedding, Luo Binghe had immediately agreed. A chance to show off Shen Yuan (or Shen Qingqiu to others) as his husband? Instant yes.

But planning this wedding was taking a lot more out of him than he thought it would. First, they were putting this wedding together a little quicker than normal, eager to get married again as soon as possible.

Then, Luo Binghe needed to figure out how exactly to make the wedding cake that Shen Yuan had wanted. Unlike cooking, where he could throw things in a pot without measuring, baking was a science. He had filtered through Shen Yuan's memory, trying to get the cake's unique feel and taste down to a T. It had taken him a couple of days and more than a few tries, but he finally accomplished it.

But the day before the wedding, he realized he hadn't picked out his own outfit. He'd planned the robes for his A-Yuan to wear - he had bought dozens from the finest, just in case - but not himself. And A-Yuan always said that he needed more friends.

This is why he recruited Ning Yingying, who in turn recruited Liu Mingyan and Sha Hualing to help him find a suitable outfit for their wedding.

He went back into the dressing room and dressed in another robe, this one with a deep v-neck, showing off his broad chest and lined with gold on the sides.

He sauntered out, turning for the women, who all nodded their heads in agreement for once.

"Ah, perfect!" Ning Yingying praised. "This one will knock Shizun's socks off."

Liu Mingyan hummed in agreement. "Yes, Shen Qingqiu will be very pleased with his husband, I think."

Luo Binghe looked down himself, internally preening at the look he imagined Shen Yuan giving him when he saw Luo Binghe during their wedding.

--

The night before the big day, the couple finally had an evening to themselves. They spent the night relaxing - taking a bath, Binghe doting on Shen Yuan like he loved to do, and then they just cuddled each other, far too tired to do anything else.

"Planning everything is so stressful," Shen Yuan sighed against his husband in their bed at Luo Binghe's demon palace.

"We don't have to go through with everything," Luo Binghe said, sitting up. "Shizun, say the word and I'll cancel everything."

Shen Yuan half-deliriously chuckled. "No, Binghe." He patted his husband's chest a few times softly. "The wedding is tomorrow, we can't possibly cancel everything. Besides, this husband is amenable to having a second wedding. It just takes out a lot of mental energy."

Luo Binghe hummed in understanding. He gently massaged his husband's muscles soothingly.

"Ah, Binghe is the best," Shen Yuan sighed fondly, cuddling in closer to his husband.

"No," Luo Binghe disagreed childishly. "Shizun is."

Shen Yuan shook his head. "No, Binghe i-"

He was cut off by lips covering his own, and he responded, kissing his husband back.

The kiss grew heated, Shen Yuan wrapping his arms around his husband's neck and Luo Binghe's strong hands rested on Shen Yuan's hips.

Luo Binghe reached down-

"No," he said, pushing himself to the other edge of the bed. "I am not going to be limping on my wedding day, Binghe."

--

When Shen Yuan woke up the next morning, his husband was nowhere to be found. Instead, when he rolled over, he found a note on the nightstand with slightly messy handwriting. He picked it up and read it.

Husband,

Shang Qinghua told this one that in your old world, it is very unlucky for the spouse to see the other before the wedding, so this husband decided to leave very early as to not invoke this bad fortune. There is breakfast for A-Yuan, of course, it's on the table.

Your husband (and soon-to-be husband),
Binghe

Shen Yuan wanted to roll his eyes. So he did. Shang Qinghua had told Luo Binghe about that weird, outdated crap? Just another reason why the man was on Shen Yuan's hit list.

Although, the man had created his husband (and soon-to-be husband, as Binghe had noted), the love of Shen Yuan's life, so Shang Qinghua had one thing going for him.

Honestly, it was kind of surprising that Luo Binghe willingly stayed away from him. Sure, he would be called for work or business trips, but any time he didn't have to be anywhere else, he stuck to Shen Yuan's side like glue. He must've been really serious about not invoking any fake bad luck.

Shen Yuan kind of missed him.

He ate the delicious, warm congee, today with ginger and strips of chicken, before deciding to get dressed in his usual attire. Their wedding wouldn't start until later, so there wasn't any reason why he couldn't relax before the wedding.

So he took the plate of frozen fruits that Luo Binghe had also left on the night stand and went to the daybed that Luo Binghe had constructed for him.

He relaxed for those few hours until a servant came to warn him that Luo Binghe was getting ready for the wedding.

Shen Yuan didn't have to do much in that regard - Luo Binghe had already picked out his outfit for him. He really didn't mind - Luo Binghe was very interested in dressing his husband up while Shen Yuan was not, and would wear whatever was out, just like he did prior to transmigrating.

He had to admit, the scarlet robes were stunning on him. If being a demon king didn't work out, Luo Binghe could always become a stylist!

A servant offered to brush his hair, but he refused. That was Luo Binghe's job, and he didn't want to face Binghe's sensitive tears if he allowed for someone else to brush his hair after only allowing his husband to do it for so long.

He brushed his hair and adorned it with the little ornaments Luo Binghe left for him.

Shen Yuan was flanked by demon guards on each side as he made it to the place where the ceremony was being held. He peeked from behind the curtain to see that there were about fifty people there already, consisting mostly of disciples and Peak Lords so far. The ballroom was decorated with 'double happiness' characters all over the place, tastefully adorned in the typical colors of red and gold.

He could hear the shuffling behind the other red curtain that split the area they were in in half. "Binghe?" He called out.

"Husband?" He heard the familiar voice come back.

"The ceremony starts in a few minutes," Shen Yuan paused. "Is Binghe ready?"

Luo Binghe chuckled. "Ready to marry Shizun again? Of course."

Shen Yuan grinned at the cheekiness of his husband.

Once it was apparent that everyone had arrived and quieted, Luo Binghe walked outside to the other side of the curtain. Shen Yuan followed his lead, a little taken aback by the beauty of his husband.

And his chest, yes, whoever had chosen Binghe's outfit, they knew what they were doing.

"Shizun looks absolutely radiant, as always," Luo Binghe said in awe, no bashfulness in his voice whatsoever.

Shen Yuan flushed. "Binghe...Binghe looks beautiful too."

Luo Binghe beamed. "Shizun!"

Shen Yuan averted his eyes. "Alright, quiet down now."

They went through the ceremony with none of the stumbling of the first one. Both Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan were atypical: both had no relatives able to attend  - Luo Binghe's family trapped away or dead, while Shen Yuan's family was back in his previous world - and they also weren't a bride and a groom, so traditional, technical things were cut out.

Weddings in Ancient China were somewhat similar to modern day weddings. Many couples modern day mixed traditional with newer traditions so Shen Yuan had taken a smiliar approach with their wedding. They did the customary bows, the wine-drinking, and the ten course meal. They cut out the family traditions, as neither of them had living relatives, and a lot of other traditions that Shen Yuan didn't bother to memorize. They also, of course, added a modernized wedding cake that Luo Binghe made.

After the ceremony, they had a short celebration period before the actual dinner, where some of the cake and refreshments were served while guests and the couple mingled.

Ning Yingying and Ming Fan were the first to greet them, bowing politely.

"Yingying just wanted to congratulate Shizun and A-Luo on their marriage! This one was always rooting for you!"

Ah, what?

Ning Yingying, you weren't supposed to turn out to be a fangirl!

No wonder Luo Binghe ended up with me and none of his original wives.

Shen Yuan wouldn't admit it, but his heart sped up giddily with the thought. Luo Binghe would never form his harem here. He had Luo Binghe all to himself.

"Yes. Congratulations, Shizun and Luo-shidi," Ming Fan bowed. "May fortune bestow itself upon your marriage."

Shen Yuan sent a warm smile and a thank you to Ming Fan while Luo Binghe nodded appreciatively.

They wandered off and the twice-wedded pair began to talk to the few other disciples and Peak Lords in idle conversation until Shen Yuan spotted his dear friend.

"Liu-shidi!"

"Shen Qingqiu," Liu Qingge greeted.

"You made it!" Shen Yuan exclaimed. "This master hopes everything was amenable on the journey over."

"I've been here since it started. And I just stepped through the portal to get here," Liu Qingge shrugged awkwardly. Shen Yuan waved him off dismissively.

"It's the principle of the thing," he smiled warmly at his fellow Peak Lord before turning toward his husband, who didn't make a sound. "Binghe?"

Luo Binghe sighed but still didn't say anything. Come on, Binghe, we practiced! "Binghe," Shen Yuan whispered, slightly exasperated.

"Hello, Liu-shishu," his husband greeted robotically. "Thank you for coming to our wedding. Please feel free to snack on any of the refreshments before we eat dinner."

Shen Yuan exhaled through his nose. Well, it was better than the first time! The three sat in an awkward silence, Liu Qingge staring intensely at Shen Yuan, Luo Binghe glaring at Liu Qingge, and Shen Yuan averting his eyes from the two. After a few moments, Shen Yuan pulled out his fan and began to fan himself slowly to hide his cringe.

"Well, Liu-shidi, thank you for coming. We hope that Liu-shidi enjoys himself."

Shen Yuan looped his arm around his husband's and quickly escaped the situation. For some reason, those two had some type of strange tension between themselves that Shen Yuan couldn't figure out why.

He knew about the five-years thing, but it'd been a few years since that time. They should've sorted their differences out by now!

Shen Yuan caught his fellow transmigrator's eye and they met Shang Qinghua near the front of the ballroom, where he was just standing awkwardly.

He lit up when he saw his reluctant friend. "Cucumber-bro!" He exclaimed in a whisper. He turned to Luo Binghe, who stared at him indifferently. "Lord Luo." Shang Qinghua gave him a short bow, obviously terrified.

"Stop looming, Binghe," Shen Yuan ordered between gritted teeth. He smiled pleasantly, catering to his husband's likes. "Go get me some cake. This husband desires it."

Luo Binghe perked up at the allowance of doting on his husband. He flitted off in search of their wedding cake.

"Okay, he's gone now," Shen Yuan said, turning back to Shang Qinghua who looked at him gratefully. He looked behind the Peak Lord. "Where's Mobei-jun?"

Shang Qinghua shifted nervously. "Ah, he's never too far. I sent him to go socialize with the other demon lords."

"That's smart," Shen Yuan said, a little impressed. He loved his Binghe, but he had been clinging to him the whole wedding and celebration! Go socialize with someone else, dear husband!

"Here, Shizun," Luo Binghe presented the cake as if it was the most sacred item of all time. He also brought a spoon.

"Binghe should go mingle with the other lords and ladies," Shen Yuan suggested.

"But it's our wedding, A-Yuan," Luo Binghe pouted, clinging tightly on Shen Yuan's arm.

"Shh." Despite the chances of anyone else actually hearing that were low, he still looked around suspiciously. "Anyway, it's still an big event and Binghe is still a lord. This husband will be here after, he promises."

"I'll miss you." Luo Binghe said, kissing his cheek. He tried one last time. "But Shizun-"

"Binghe."

"Okay, Shizun," Luo Binghe glared at Shang Qinghua who cowered back, but dejectedly went to go socialize and network with the other demons in the vicinity.

"You got him to make you Western wedding cake?" Shang Qinghua asked, his eyes bulging just a little. "Wow, he really is one talented little protagonist, isn't he?"

Shen Yuan shrugged. "It's very delicious."

"So you're really living life large here, huh, Cucumber-bro?" Shang Qinghua teased.

Shen Yuan rolled his eyes and shrugged. "I guess. We're going to be going back and forth between the Peak, the palace, and the other house Binghe bought for me in the human realm." He ate a bit of his cake. "Damn, this is good."

Shang Qinghua raised an eyebrow and let out a low whistle. "That sounds like a lot."

Shen Yuan hummed. "I have a feeling it won't be." As long as Binghe's by my side, he thought privately, hiding a small smile.

"Bro, gross. Too sappy."

Shen Yuan furrowed his eyebrows. He was positive he had said that last part in his head. "What?"

"You were just thinking, 'It won't be with Binghe at my side' or something like that, right?" Shang Qinghua asked, eerily close to Shen Yuan's actual thought.

Shen Yuan huffed. "And how would you know that?"

"You have that gross look on your face whenever you think about Luo Binghe like all praisingly," Shang Qinghua remembered. He shrugged, tossing a small smile toward Shen Yuan. "It's kind of sweet, though. He deserves this, I think. He didn't really have anything for himself."

Shen Yuan sniffed, slightly put out by the apparent sappy face he makes. "You're the one who made him like that in the first place!"

"I know, but I didn't know this was going to turn into a real world!" Shang Qinghua defended himself. "I didn't know these characters were going to turn into real people!"

There was a pause. "Just...take care of him, bro. For me," Shang Qinghua said, patting Shen Yuan on the shoulder. Shen Yuan gave him a strange look.

What?

Shang Qinghua, you sound like an ex-lover of Luo Binghe's!

Shang Qinghua thought the same thing and chuckled nervously. "Okay, that didn't come out like I meant it to," he backtracked. "But you know what I mean."

Shen Yuan exhaled and gave Shang Qinghua a sharp nod, lifting his spoon with cake on it up in acknowledgement.

The two chatted a little while more, reminiscing of things in the "olden days," back in the modern world until Luo Binghe ran up to them, announcing that it was time for the evening meal.

Shen Yuan would not let Luo Binghe make all ten courses of their wedding dinner. That was way too much! And even though Luo Binghe had baked the modern rip-off wedding cake for him,

The rest of the celebration went well, the feast being pretty well-made for a bunch of demons unfamiliar with human cuisine.

Surpriaingly, there were no outbursts between the demons and the Peak Lords and disciples, the most uncivil it got when the Peak Lord in charge of the alcohol got a little too loud in praising 'Butterfly's Wishes' and had to be escorted out.

Besides that, the dinner had gone exceptionally well. Even Luo Binghe began to socialize a bit more without having to be told, making himself appear as more of an ally for demons with less power.

Shen Yuan was proud.

Clean up wasn't that fun, but there were servants for a reason, which meant Shen Yuan really only had to the bare minimum to do, which left one thing for Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan to do.

Luo Binghe was practically vibrating by the time they arrived back to the room.

"Ah, what are you so excited for?" Shen Yuan tutted. "This is far from the first time that we..." He turned his head to the side. Luo Binghe paid that no mind, immediately guiding Shen Yuan to the large bed instead.

"This Bing-er adores his A-Yuan," Luo Binghe murmured, his hands trailing up Shen Yuan's body. He kissed his neck.

Shen Yuan flushed. "Binghe!" Shen Yuan thought that they had come to a silent mutual agreement that they were going to keep silent about his tipsy nickname.

"But this husband just wants to express his love for his husband!" The words sounded pouty, but the look on Luo Binghe's face was anything but.

Shen Yuan sighed, but it was obvious that it was purely affectionate. "This A-Yuan loves his Bing-er too."

"A-Yuan!"

When Luo Binghe brought the white sheets out that night, he didn't even shake his head or sigh, just enjoyed his husband's hands on his body. The wet dog kisses from their first night now replaced with skillful kisses that made him fall apart in Luo Binghe's hands like putty, and Shen Yuan knew that there was no place he'd rather be.

Chapter Text

The System had finally shut up, thank fucking God.

There was nothing else except the [This System wishes Host a happy marriage! Until next time!] message, which had thoroughly freaked Shen Qingqiu out until he realized that there were no more points of any kind or any robotic voice talking in his head.

He was even able to mention the System out loud and had accidentally slipped some information to Liu Qingge regarding the future, something that he never had to worry about before when the System automatically shut him up.

Shang Qinghua had looked at him in surprise, and Shen Qingqiu must've mirrored the expression, because, holy shit, that was unexpected!

Shen Qingqiu tested the lift on restrictions with one final test. One day, he took his husband aside and inhaled, like, really deeply.

"Binghe, this husband is from..."

...Nothing happened.

Nothing happened.

The clench of his throat was on his own accord, tears swelling up in his eyes. Not from nervousness, nor a punishment from the thing that tormented his fucking life for so long.

He was crying because he was finally rid of that goddamned System!

Luo Binghe, of course, did not know that, and started fretting at his usually immovable husband's sudden tears. He forgot all about what Shen Qingqiu was going to say in favor of cheering his beloved husband up.

But Shen Qingqiu didn't. After a few snacks and absolutely divine tea made by his protagonist husband, he sat in silence as Luo Binghe combed his hair.

Every time he would open his mouth to let the long-awaited truth flow from his lips, it would snap back shut again and he would start twiddling his thumbs.

So it turns out that maybe he was, maybe, a teensy bit nervous to actually tell his husband the truth.

Who could blame him? Shen Qingqiu had been forced to keep his secret for thirteen whole years! Now that he finally could speak and express himself without a nagging System on his back, he was a little unsure what to do.

Yes, Binghe deserved the truth. But also, yes, Shen Qingqiu was a little scared of his reaction. His husband loved him, but would he want to leave him after finding out the secret that Shen Qingqiu had kept for long eleven years? Would he be put off by this new information and decide that a harem filled with wondrous beauties would be better instead?

Deep in his heart, he knew that Binghe would never trade him for a thousand other women. But let Shen Qingqiu drown himself in anxiety for one night! After all that he's been through, that's the least he deserved!

But he swore to himself that he was going to do it tomorrow.

--

He did not do it tomorrow.

He did not do it the next day either.

It took Shen Qingqiu, powerful cultivator and Peak Lord of Qing Jing Peak of Cang Qiong Moutain Sect a whole week to muster up the courage to confess to Binghe.

They both sat on the copycat bamboo bed in Binghe's demon palace. They were visiting for a few days while Luo Binghe handled Demon Realm business. Shen Qingqiu on the

"I've come from a different world," he breathed out. Luo Binghe stiffened, before relaxing completely.

Shen Qingqiu had no idea what his husband was thinking, but he rolled ahead with it anyway.

"It's really complicated and this master apologizes, but the gist of it is that I come from a world where this was a book. I died in that world-" Luo Binghe gasped, showing his first true emotion since Shen Qingqiu began talking. "-and transmigrated into the original's body when Binghe was maybe fourteen. This husband was forced to do some things that he didn't want to, or else he would be killed by the entity that sent him here in the first place. I'm so sorry, Binghe!"

"Forced things?" Luo Binghe echoed. Shen Yuan nodded. "I-I don't understand."

"Like, um, The Endless Abyss," Shen Qingqiu said. "Binghe had to go, but this husband didn't see that Binghe would've jumped down if asked. He...I made a mistake. A huge one."

Luo Binghe peered at Shen Yuan closely, his mask still up. "So husband didn't want to push this disciple down the Endless Abyss?"

"No, Binghe, of course not," Shen Qingqiu assured him.

Luo Binghe looked down to his feet, trembling a little.

"Is Binghe crying?" Shen Qingqiu asked, flicking the already-streaming tears off of his husband's cheeks. He moved closer to rub his hand on his husband's arm soothingly. "Whatever for?"

"We...we spent so long," Luo Binghe murmured sadly. "And you didn't even want to do it."

Shen Qingqiu nodded, although he couldn't say he felt what Luo Binghe was feeling. For Shen Qingqiu, all of these emotions had been dealt a long time ago. Honestly, he wasn't even planning to have arms and legs by this time in the story, so this was definitely the best ending for him - a hot, loving, precious husband and the freedom to explore this magical world as he pleased.

For Binghe, however, it would definitely be more to process, especially since the misunderstanding kept them cold toward each other.

Shen Qingqiu wrapped his arms around his husband in a warm embrace. Finally, Luo Binghe's cries began to cease.

"This one thanks Shizun," Luo Binghe sniffled, drying the last of his tears as Shen Qingqiu leaned back and away from his husband. Shen Qingqiu was eager to get this next part so he could get it over done quickly. This could either go really well, or really badly.

Luo Binghe gave him a watery smile. "Thank you for telling me, Shen Qingqiu."

"Are you sure you don't have questions about the other stuff?" Shen Yuan pressed. "Such as how this husband is a different Shen Qingqiu than the original?"

"No, husband," Luo Binghe responded simply. "It doesn't change anything, except maybe this one loves you a bit more."

...

What?

"But I'm not your Shizun," Shen Qingqiu insisted desperately. What was Luo Binghe not grasping about this situation? "I'm not the one you believed you were looking up to!"

"Husband, this one has known that you weren't 'the original,' as Husband puts it," Luo Binghe said, effectively dropping a bomb on Shen Qingqiu's head.

"W-wha?" Shen Qingqiu said eloquently.

Had Binghe been screwing with him this whole time (shut it stupid brain about Binghe screwing him)? Did he slip up? How did Binghe know? How did Binghe know?

Luo Binghe gave him a soft smile, clasping his husband's hands and giving them a quick kiss.

"Of course this disciple knew," Luo Binghe said, in a slightly affronted tone. "This one didn't know the specific details, but this one knows that memory loss doesn't change personalities, and it was honestly much more than a personality change. It was as if Shizun was possessed by someone completely different from a different world, which I suppose that you were." Luo Binghe squeezed his husband's hands in assurance.

"I must admit, this disciple didn't always think this. I thought...that maybe it was a test. That you did it because you cared for me. But after time I've taken to reflect, I've realized that that is not - it cannot - be true. You've never deliberately wanted to hurt me, I know, and you would never abuse me like the first Shen Qingqiu," he said, the fire in his showing that he was absolutely certain. Shen Qingqiu melted at the words, squeezing his husband's hands back at the powerful words leaving his lips.

"I'm not sure what happened to the first Shen Qingqiu. But Shizun was the one who took care of me, cared for me when no one else would," Luo Binghe said, tearing up a little. "This one has done some truly awful things, but Husband had let me into his heart, let me into his soul, and let me into his-"

Shen Qingqiu glared at Luo Binghe, his cheeky husband. "Don't you dare."

Luo Binghe pouted, like the big baby he was, but continued, fondness shining in his eyes. "I love you, Shen Qingqiu."

Before he could stop himself, Shen Qingqiu whispered, "Shen Yuan."

"Hm?" Luo Binghe said in pretend confusion, like he hadn't heard what Shen Qingqiu said.

"Binghe knows what this one said," Shen Yuan said. Binghe pouted again. Aiya, what a big baby. "This husband knows that Binghe  knows what he said." Luo Binghe perked up instantaneously at the title, preening.

Luo Binghe gave up on his failed ruse, choosing to beam down at Shen Qingqiu instead. "Shen Yuan?" Shen Qingqiu was expecting it, but the actual name that he hadn't heard someone else use in over a decade made him wobble a bit.

Fuck it, he decided. I need to show him more affection anyway.

He didn't admit that his next move was to also hide the tears that were beginning to burn in his eyes.

Shen Qingqiu swung his legs across his husband's lap, threw his arms around Luo Binghe and buried his face in the demon's shoulder. Luo Binghe tensed for a second, not expecting the grand affection before relaxing completely, his arms melting against Shen Qingqiu.

"Binghe," Shen Qingqiu said, trying to keep his voice steady. "This husband...doesn't say it much, but this husband...no, I love you. I really do. I think Binghe needs to hear this one say it more often, but..."

...And that was the extent of his ability to thicken his face. Luckily, he's got a great husband who has enough face for the both of them.

"Don't worry, A-Yuan," Shen Yuan shivered at the nickname, to Luo Binghe's delight. The demon kissed his shizun's neck, nuzzling his nose against the crook lovingly. "I know."