Work Text:
Mu Qing was panicking. Not “oh shit I fucked up” panicking. No, this was flat out, curled up under a table, knees to chest, tears streaming down his face, lips tingling from hyperventilating panicking.
And it was all fucking Xie Lian’s fault. This would be the last damned time he took his advice. Not everyone got a happy ending like he did with his boyfriend.
No. Some people instead got their hearts ripped out of their chests and lose a friend they didn’t realize was a friend until they were gone.
See, this all started six months ago. He doesn’t really remember how he got there, something about alcohol, something about truth or dare, something, something, something.
But the important part is the morning after.
He woke up asleep on Xie Lian’s kitchen table to the sounds of “Gege, you look divine with your lips wrapped around my cock” and it immediately turned his stomach. So he stomped over to the only bathroom in the one bedroom apartment (because why would Xie Lian, the Crowned Prince of the Xianle Corporation, use his parent’s money for anything other than a shithole place just like the rest of the world rents while in college), and vomited very loudly.
If he shot a vomit-smeared smirk at an enraged and horny Hua fucking Cheng as Xie Lian immediately came to his aid, sex the furthest thing from his mind, he did it because he considered them even.
So after he was cleaned up and fed a hearty breakfast, and Xie Lian had kissed Hua Cheng goodbye, the two of them were watching some gaudy soap opera that Xie Lian enjoyed because of his mother, and Mu Qing definitely didn’t enjoy (unless he and Xie Lian were alone).
“Mu Qing?” Xie Lian asked during a commercial. “Is it really true? What you said last night?”
That question brought back his previously forgotten nausea real fucking quick.
“Depends on what I said last night.” He grunted, snatching one of the fluffier pillows and cuddling wrapping his arms around it to rest his spinning head.
“You like Feng Xin back?” Mu Qing froze, the color draining from his face as his mind attempted to make sense of that sentence.
Xie Lian began to then explain the night. Apparently Hua Cheng had mentioned a recent conversation that he and Feng Xin had. During that conversation, Feng Xin admitted that he thought he and Mu Qing were friends.
After “becoming very upset and agitated” (in the immortal words of Xie Lian) he had tossed back three shots and admitted that he liked Feng Xin too.
“I think you should tell him. You know he has a fourth date with Jian Lan tonight. And I think-”
“Xie Lian.” Mu Qing cut him off. “Leave this alone. Please.” He added, hoping the plea would stop what was sure to be Xie Lian’s next goodness campaign. His friend shot him a sympathetic look, and then moved over to wrap an arm around his shoulders.
“I will for now, Mu Qing.” He promised. Mu Qing nodded, and then leaned his head over to rest against Xie Lian’s.
He thought that had been the end of it. Until today. Apparently Hua Cheng decided to be a gigantic fucking douche and tattle on him to Feng Xin.
So they had a screaming match in one of the conference rooms on Xie Lian’s floor. Thankfully these weren’t uncommon, and more people knew to leave them well enough alone.
But then Feng Xin, the absolute bastard, caught his face between his hands and kissed him. So after jerking back and slapping him across the face, Mu Qing grabbed the back of his head and slammed their mouths back together.
Everything was going all well and good until Jian Lan walked in on them.
“Oh.” She said, eyes wide with surprise. Mu Qing tensed, about to run out of the room when Feng Xin stopped him with a subtle press of his hand on Mu Qing’s lower back.
“Yes?” He asked, probably pulling out every bit of professionalism Xie Lian had drilled into them over the years.
“Well. I know that this is a bad time but since we’re all going to be in this together.” Jian Lan shuffled her feet before sighing and holding out a white stick. When the two men shot her blank looks she rolled her eyes, shoved it into her pocket, and glared. “It means you got me pregnant, jackass.” She snapped at Feng Xin. Mu Qing’s eyes widened and he shoved him back.
“You slept with her?!” He growled. Feng Xin opened his mouth but it was too fucking late. Shaking his head, Mu Qing stormed out of the conference room. Ignoring Feng Xin’s attempt to stop him, he slammed open the door to Xie Lian’s office before slamming it shut and locking it.
So here he was. Once again the world’s biggest fuckup. He didn’t even ask if Feng Xin was still with Jian Lan or not before kissing him. Now she probably thinks he’s a home wrecker.
“Mu Qing?” He stiffened under Xie Lian’s desk at the sound of his friend’s voice. Hell, in his hysteria he didn’t even hear him come in.
Xie Lian crawled under the desk as well, and being the angel that he was, he handed him a cold bottle of water.
“Sorry to take over your office.” He managed to rasp out as he opened up the bottle. Xie Lian shook his head, patting his knee.
“Don’t worry about that.” He soothed. “I heard a little bit about what happened, but I’d like to hear your side. If you want to talk about it.” His friend offered. Mu Qing sipped on his water for a minute before nodding.
“Okay. Yeah. So-” And thus, he told Xie Lian about one of the worst fuckups of his life. When he started crying all over again, Xie Lian simply produced a box of tissues from thin air and wrapped his arm around his shoulder, letting him cry into his shoulder.
“So yeah. I’m a home wrecker.” He finished his pathetic tale.
“Hmmm.” Xie Lian hummed in contemplation. He shook his head, gently pushing Mu Qing back so he could meet his gaze.
“I think you need to talk to him. I won’t give away his business just like I didn’t give him yours. But I believe there are misunderstandings on both sides.” Xie Lian gently said. Mu Qing frowned, mulling that over.
It took about an hour for him to convince himself that maybe Xie Lian might be right. His friend had left him alone shortly after saying that, stating that he could have the office as long as he needed.
When he crawled out from under the desk, he was annoyed to see that night had fallen.
A day of work wasted, another W in the “Mu Qing is a fuckup” column
He sighed, opening Xie Lian’s door.
And promptly caught Feng Xin with his legs.
“Ow!” They exclaimed together. Mu Qing opened his mouth to bitch at him when he caught the horrified look on Feng Xin’s face. He snapped his mouth shut and crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for the fucker to start this conversation.
It took a couple tries, but eventually when Feng Xin opened his mouth, words actually came out.
“I’m so sorry about what happened in that conference room.” He said. Mu Qing hid his disappointment at that, and did his best to pay attention to what he was saying. “Jian Lan and I are compatible sexually, but that’s about it. Our parents are pushing us to marry, so we were humoring them until I got up the courage to ask you out. I guess we got careless one night.” Feng Xin winced at that, and Mu Qing glared.
“Careless enough to now have to marry her anyway. Congrats, Dad.” He said, moving to walk away.
“Wait! We’re not going to get married.” Feng Xin blurted out. Mu Qing turned around, shooting him an annoyed frown.
“So you’re just going to abandon the mother of your child? What a douchebag.” He sneered.
“No! Just, stop for a minute, okay? She isn’t very far along so she is going to get some tests done. Of course I’ll pay for everything, but we’re just going to coparent when the time comes. I can’t be like my parents. I can’t marry out of obligation and a sense of duty.” Feng Xin would have continued rambling on if Mu Qing didn’t stop him. So he walked up and covered his mouth with his hand.
“Okay. So you are going to have a baby with your fake girlfriend. Great. But making out with me doesn’t mean you want to be with me. I can’t get knocked up, obviously, but that doesn’t mean you can be careless with me too.” The moment the words left his mouth, Mu Qing winced.
God damned soap operas putting flowery lines in his repertoire.
It must have worked, because Feng Xin’s expression softened.
“I love you, Mu Qing. I have for years now.” The bastard confessed like it was the easiest thing in the world. And god damn if Mu Qing’s fucking eyes didn’t tear up at such an open display of honesty. “You wouldn’t be a fling. We wouldn’t even have to sleep together until you’re ready. But I’d love to take you out sometime. And if after a couple dates everything is going well, I’d love to call you mine.”
“God damn you.” Mu Qing growled, tears falling from his eyes. What a smooth bastard. Feng Xin must have realized what that meant because he grinned.
“So. Could I kiss you now?” He asked.
“Any other chicks gonna walk in and announce you have a love child on the way?” Mu Qing asked, but it was without heat. Hell, he was already winding his arms around Feng Xin’s neck. Feng Xin shook his head, so Mu Qing pressed their lips together.
As he parted his lips to let Feng Xin in, he hoped that this worked out.