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Liu Qingge spies the bright red candy from across the market, and thinks. Shen Qingqiu's fondness for sweets is well known— honeyed cakes, perfect fruits, sugary treats always presented at tea time. His curly-haired disciple often cooks and bakes sweet pastries to Shen Qingqiu’s obvious delight.

He visits Qing Jing Peak often for tea (and in truth, more so for Shen Qingqiu’s company). There’s no reason to spend so much time there— after all, meridian cleansing happens every two weeks. Regardless, he’s spent countless afternoons and evenings there, watching fondly as Shen Qingqiu enjoys the snacks he initially set out for his guest. As he talks on various subjects, Shen Qingqiu’s slender hands wander to the plate of snacks, taking a piece for himself every now and then. It only stops when the sweets completely disappear; Shen Qingqiu’s hand ghosting over the emptied plate quizzically. 

(Of course, Shen Qingqiu is always embarrassed to realize his rude and unseemly behavior, peachy pink coloring his cheeks and apologizing but Liu Qingge would rather watch Shen Qingqiu's face light up in pleasure than to indulge in the overly sweet treats himself).

Today, he has to return to Qing Jing Peak to cleanse Shen Qingqiu's meridians. It would only be polite to bring a gift, Liu Qingge thinks. Something about respect, about proper etiquette as a guest— ever since he decided to properly court Shen Qingqiu, the half-forgotten memories of etiquette lessons have been on his mind. And though he could bring any number of things, the tanghulu from that street stall would certainly be appreciated.

It doesn't take much to convince Liu Qingge; he buys several sticks and imagines Shen Qingqiu's surprised face, his pleased blush. He buys a stick of cherry tanghulu, and then decides that Shen Qingqiu might want more. The shopkeeper has a large variety of options, and Liu Qingge briefly imagines Shen Qingqiu’s pleased expression, the surprise on his face as Liu Qingge gifts him those perfect fruits, skewered and dripping in that achingly-sweet coating. Strawberry, hawthorn, orange tanghulu. Though not the precious jewels that Shen Qingqiu deserves, he has a feeling that these will be just as appreciated. The shopkeeper carefully wraps the different sticks in waxed paper, and Liu Qingge thanks him before setting off.

"Welcome, shidi. This master was expecting you."

Shen Qingqiu's eyes crinkle, a warm smile lights across his face, and Liu Qingge instantly forgets what he was about to say. It's strange how much the Qing Jing Peak Lord can affect him with just the gentle curve of his lips. He nearly stares at them, mentally cataloguing the exact curve, how Shen Qingqiu’s face seems to split open to reveal that tender sweetness that he so often hides behind his neutral expression.

"Come, come!"

 Liu Qingge mindlessly follows Shen Qingqiu in, and takes his usual seat at the table. The tea set, decorated with pale blue and spring green swirls of glaze, is Liu Qingge’s favorite. Perhaps it was an intentional choice, but Shen Qingqiu doesn’t mention it. Instead, Shen Qingqiu gently teases him, speaking of inanities and dithering about this and that. 

As he pours their tea, Liu Qingge notices that the plate of sweets that Shen Qingqiu normally sets out is conspicuously missing.

“The snacks,” Liu Qingge bluntly states. He’s only ever taken one or two, but he can’t resist teasing Shen Qingqiu back.

"Ah, this master…" Shen Qingqiu flushes hopelessly, and Liu Qingge already knows exactly what happened. He can already imagine Shen Qingqiu’s clever fingers, absentmindedly picking up an osmanthus cake off the plate, savoring the delicate taste and then picking up another— one more wouldn’t hurt… "This master is ashamed to say that he overindulged…"

 Liu Qingge smirks. The Qing Jing Peak Lord's love of sweets is really too… adorable. An immortal that seemed to reject most earthly pleasures. And yet, for his weakness to be sweets of all things is something precious. 

Liu Qingge can't help it. While Shen Qingqiu tries to give him an explanation for his "shameful" indulgence, Liu Qingge takes the tanghulu sticks out of his pouch and sets them on the platter. The tanghulu peeks out of the waxed paper wrapping, bright and enticing against the simple and elegant platter.

Shen Qingqiu takes in a sharp breath, and Liu Qingge's stern expression breaks into a small smile. He can nearly see the stars in Shen Qingqiu’s eyes.

"Oh! These, these are…" Shen Qingqiu coughs, before he shifts in his seat and tries to act more becoming of a peak lord. The excited look on his face gets replaced by a carefully crafted mask of neutrality, and he forces the smile on his lips to fade away before he primly replies. "This shixiong appreciates such a thoughtful gift."

"Mn." Even though Shen Qingqiu’s tried to hide it, Liu Qingge can still see the excitement on Shen Qingqiu's face, the way he eyes the candy with longing. His little veil of neutrality is easy to see through for Liu Qingge. "As thanks for tea."

"If Liu-shidi is offering, then this shixiong will gladly oblige." Shen Qingqiu gingerly takes a stick of ruby red cherry tanghulu, and lifts it to his mouth.

There is no proper, no respectful way to describe the sin that Liu Qingge sees. 

Shen Qingqiu licks the top piece, his tongue smoothly gliding and licking away the sugar coating. Long, long strokes of a delicate pink tongue. Over and over, focused and precise. He hums in obvious pleasure, and Liu Qingge nearly chokes.

Too lost in the tanghulu, Shen Qingqiu merely continues. He polishes off more of the sugary coating with relish, his lips glisten with the sweet coating. Liu Qingge fists his hands in his robes, and tries to meditate the fire in his veins away. 

He can't, he can't have such disrespectful thoughts about his maddening shixiong. Shen Qingqiu is only enjoying the gift that he brought, as a respectful host would do. Shen Qingqiu is being polite. And as a guest, Liu Qingge should be looking away, averting his eyes.

He can't tear his eyes away.

A voice in him screams and howls— shameless, perverted, shameless!

But the roaring of that voice is still not enough. It’s loud in his head, but not as loud as the sounds of Shen Qingqiu enjoying his tanghulu, the little sounds louder than anything else. Liu Qingge keeps watching, transfixed as the blaze of desire and want builds higher higher higher.

Shen Qingqiu's reddened lips stretch around the cherry, and Liu Qingge forgets how to breathe. Shen Qingqiu lets out a little sound, pleasured by the taste on his tongue. The stick gets removed for a second— the cherry glistens with saliva— before Shen Qingqiu puts it back in his mouth, perfect lips closing around the spherical fruit.

Liu Qingge's head suddenly spins, his thoughts race and he suddenly imagines sinking his hands in Shen Qingqiu's hair, rumpling fine silken clothes. Shen Qingqiu kneeling, looking up at him with that same pleased expression, a flicker of surprise on that handsome face backlit by the sunbeam that casts across the room as the sun sets. He imagines Shen Qingqiu's face, hazy in pleasure and the cherry tanghulu replaced with—

Liu Qingge slaps himself. He can’t be having such lewd thoughts, especially not in front of the man himself! They’re not even courting yet, and Liu Qingge is already disrespecting him in such a way! The loud slap startles Shen Qingqiu out of his reverie and in his surprise, Shen Qingqiu accidentally withdraws the skewer from his mouth.

 Liu Qingge gets a glimpse of Shen Qingqiu's opened mouth, his tongue, and the string of saliva that connects his mouth to the skewer. The string of saliva suddenly snaps, and Liu Qingge’s hand spasms.

He can't stay. If he stays, Shen Qingqiu will know, will see the evidence of his attraction. Shamefaced, Liu Qingge adjusts his robes to hide his desire. It has to be enough. Shen Qingqqiu can’t know. He can’t.

"I have to go," he grits out. Before Shen Qingqiu can reach out or even ask, Liu Qingge makes a strategic retreat. The blood in his body is pumping to a place where it absolutely cannot go. He uses the frantic energy building within his body to run all the way from Qing Jing Peak, from Shen Qingqiu, to Bai Zhan Peak.

Once he arrives, he barks out a command to leave him alone and continues on to the icy waterfalls of Bai Zhan Peak. Without hesitation, he steps in. Instantly, he is drenched with ice cold water. His desire, for a moment, is doused. He leans his head against the slick stone, and reflects.

This can't continue. He can't just keep wanting and waiting. Shen Qingqiu should at least be aware of the desire that resides in Liu Qingge's soul. As he soaks in the iciness of the Bai Zhan Peak waterfalls, Liu Qingge swears to himself that he'll finally gather the courage.

Shen Qingqiu deserves to be asked, to be courted properly. For Shen Qingqiu, Liu Qingge will do right.

He must.