Work Text:
Shen Qingqiu sat alone at his table.
This wasn’t unusual, per se, but Shen Qingqiu would much rather have some company, or maybe even a comfier seat. Yes, that sounded nice. Really, couldn’t Xianxia China try a little harder?? His back was aching, and his legs had long lost feeling…
Or maybe this had nothing to do with the seat?
A cold cup of tea sat snugly in his hand, long untouched and Shen Qingqiu silently longed for its taste. Of course, he could get up like any sane person to make a new pot, but he wasn’t feeling like moving- for some odd reason his back and neck were both incredibly stiff- something he was intent on blaming on sitting still for so long.
There was no other reason!!
In fact, the drowsiness that had accompanied him during the span of the day was probably also nothing, a result of sleeping late to finish reports! Oh! And the ache in his neck was from having to look down on those reports! And the shakiness in his body was no doubt from the intense, thrilling workout he did yesterday. The... non-existent workout… but that was completey besides the point!
This was ridiculous. He was fine, there was nothing to worry about. When his disciples delivered him breakfast and witnessed his mortifying stumble, they were overreacting, because… it was a result of… the sun in his eyes, which blinded him, and set his whole vision off centre…
Shut up.
They’d hovered incessantly, before Shen Qingqiu had to kick them out- they looked strangely determined, he wondered where they went after?- to get some work done and settle down with a nice hot cup of tea.
Which was now cold.
Anyway, that was what he was meant to be doing right now; working on his reports and drinking his sad beverage.
BANG!
Shen Qingqiu startled violently, knocking the table with his elbow while nearly spilling the cup of tea resting in his hand. He steadied the table and cup, looking up to find the perpetrator, and cursing them for interrupting his quiet sulking.
A smile broke out on his face. That’s strange.
“Liu-shidi!”
“Hm.”
Shen Qingqiu set his cup aside, the grin unceasing even as he tried to will his stiff legs into order, Really, you’d think he was truly an old man as he told his disciples, what with his stiff back and stiff legs and the concerning, reoccurring urge to take a nice nap…
Shen Qingqiu finally managed to his feet, hoping his shidi didn’t notice his struggling, and triumphantly congratulated himself at his astounding feat.
Now, was it just him or was his vision getting suspiciously spotty?
Shen Qingqiu stood still for a moment, waiting for the black in his vision to clear. Or maybe he was sitting again, his legs were not feeling how they should if he were supporting his whole weight. He frowned but pushed that suspicion away for the time being.
Eventually, after what felt like much too long, he could see! Aha, he was fine!!
He was still standing, which originally he found strange since he was certainly not putting any weight onto his legs when he noticed the arm wrapped around his waist.
Hahahahahahah, System?
“Are you okay?” his shidi asked behind him, holding him tighter to his chest before slowly easing him back down onto the seat. The seat that started this all- no, he was not just blaming his struggles on an inanimate object, thank you very much!
“Yes, of course, Liu-shidi, fine! Thank you for your incredible save, the War God truly knows no defeat!”
Liu Qingge frowns. And doesn’t respond.
He laughs weakly, unsure what to say.
The silence stretches on, and he whips out his fan to cover his face… Until he can’t take it and hastily forms a reply: “really, I’ve just felt slightly faint, nothing too serious!”
Liu Qingge looks unconvinced but takes his wrist in his hand.
“Oh, shidi, would you like some tea? I-” He paused, realising his tea isn’t fit for anyone to drink anymore, let alone his beloved- trusted shidi!
Liu Qingge, embarrassingly, seems to understand his predicament and shakes his hand. “No need.”
The Qing Jing Peak Lord nods stiffly, “as shidi likes.”
Silence reigned once more, but this time Shen Qingqiu settled comfortably into it. The soothing stream of qi flowing into his veins was quite nice, very nice actually. it made him want to lean over onto the shoulder beside him and take a nap-! His old man-tendencies were really getting out of hand!?!
After about a shichen, the qi slowed, and Liu Qingge looked down at his sternly. “Have you eaten yet?”
Shen Qingqiu frowned back at him. “My disciples brought me breakfast?”
“It is late afternoon, have you eaten anything else?”
Receiving a shake of the head in response, Liu Qingge’s frown deepened as if he was offended by the statement.
The man squeezed his wrist before letting go, standing up and wandering to the side kitchen of the bamboo hut. it wasn’t unusual for him to leave without a goodbye, or any word at all, but surely he knew where the door was by now??
“Uh, shidi? Where are you going?”
“Stay there.”
No answer. Typical.
Shen Qingqiu’s hand found its way back to his tea, and he took a sip as he stared at the doorway Liu Qingge disappeared through. He grimaced, having forgotten its state and set it down again.
A series of clanging and clashing later and Liu Qingge was finally re-emerging, with a.. tray?- in his grasp.
He resumed his previous seat beside him and set the tray down.
Shen Qingqiu looked on curiosly, before his mind short-circuited. Shidi???? A chef????
Liu Qingge began unloading the tray, first taking the warm teapot off and then a bowl of congee, setting them down in front of Shen Qingqiu.
He looked expectantly down at him, and Shen Qingqiu tried not to gape. Tried.
His shidi huffed a breath through his nose. “For you,” he said. “You need to eat more.”
Shen Qingqiu blinked in shock.
Who knew his shidi was so caring for his sect siblings!!