Chapter Text
“Get out.”
Shen Yuan blinks. His eyes open up to a scene so confusing that he momentarily places a hand against the — box? Tiny room? — and steadies himself as he stares at the source of the blistering voice.
Across from him in the other seat, a man scowls, twisting his beautiful features into something so poisonous Shen Yuan can feel it leaching into the air. His green eyes are dangerously furrowed, words hidden underneath the fan he has brought up to his face.
“Am I not allowed to see my former teacher?” A low voice drawls. “Truly, I'm wounded at your lack of hospitality,” The voice continues, a trace of amusement flicking within.
Shen Yuan’s gaze drifts to the other voice. The door to their dark, wooden carriage — Shen Yuan can deduce that much from peeking outside — is swung open, visibility blocked by the tall figure of a man somewhere Shen Yuan’s age. The similarities between the two stop there; his long hair curls gently around his soft, handsome face, worn clothes dusty but of high-quality, and a black cowboy hat remains perched on the crown of his head.
“Your mental wounds will be the least of your worries for daring to take Yue Qingyuan’s property, beast,” Shen Qingqiu seethes — oh, this is Shen Qingqiu, the scum villain of that terrible western novel he was reading! This was the former gang leader of the protagonist before abandoning him to the wilderness to pursue a life of faux-nobility with their stolen funds. Wow, his brain sure is creating a vivid scenario for him; Shen Yuan can't help but feel impressed at this level of detail.
So, the protagonist must be…
“I’m not here for Yue Qingyuan’s property, teacher,” Luo Binghe replies, a dangerous smile splayed across his face. “I'm here for what's yours.”
A hand suddenly grasps his bicep, and Shen Yuan can't help but let out a small eep! of surprise at the contact before he's forcefully ejected from the seat — thank fuck for that, because the wooden seating was making his ass go numb.
He subtly shakes out the numbness in his legs as he's dragged out into the dirt, ostentatious clothes becoming filthy as Luo Binghe forces him to follow at a punishing pace. Shen Yuan only has a split second to see the panic and wrathful anger on Shen Qingqui’s face before the door is closed by another, more nervous-looking person next to the carriage, the door locked and the key slipped into his pocket.
“You bastard, give him back! You waste of space, you brute, I should have killed you when I first found your ungrateful body in that town, open this door before I—!”
Shen Yuan doesn't hear the rest of Shen Qingqiu’s screeching threats and loud pounding as he's placed next to a black horse, its wild eyes and ear twitching as Shen Yuan is dragged closer. He only has enough time to widen his own eyes at the sight of the beautiful, dangerous horse before his hands are being tied to its saddle by a harsh rope. Figures in black hats surround both Luo Binghe and Shen Yuan, not daring to speak as their young leader expertly crafts a tight knot around Shen Yuan’s wrists.
“Nice to finally meet my teacher's mysterious twin. Shen Yuan, I presume,” Luo Binghe quietly says, a trace of amusement still found in his voice — he must be pleased by the success of his plan.
How cute, Shen Yuan doesn't croon about the most feared murderer and thief in wherever they were, because that would be super weird. Also, fuck, he's the scum villian’s brother! The canon fodder that gets killed off-screen, without even a note of what happened!
“You presume correctly. It is nice to make your acquaintance, Luo Binghe,” Shen Yuan answers through the anxious yelling in his mind, trying to speak a little more formally due to his station. He winces at a particularly rough twist to his wrists. The movement pauses, just for a second, before resuming with tenacity.
Luo Binghe finishes the final knot with a harshness that makes Shen Yuan flinch, and then he leans forward, hot breath ghosting over Shen Yuan's lips.
“Don't mock me. It will not improve your fate,” He barely whispers, warning clear in his voice. Shen Yuan barely breathes, trying not to accidentally provoke Luo Binghe’s anger, and then the protagonist climbs on the horse before Shen Yuan can blink. Shen Yuan can't help but stare at him as he holds the reins to his horse, posture straight and gaze assured as the sun sets behind his back. Truly, what a protagonist moment!
“Xin Mo, walk,” Luo Binghe commands, lightly kicking his feet into the rambunctious horse. Shen Yuan only has a moment to remember the legendary horse’s legendary personality before they're off, forcing Shen Yuan to follow or be dragged by the rope. The pace is done just fast enough that he can't quite walk, and can't quite run; Shen Yuan mourns the future of his legs. Truly, the worst kind of torture was the treadmill his physical therapist made him use after his most recent bout of illness; he wasn't aware it would make another debut in this dream!
The rest of Luo Binghe’s gang follows behind them, and Shen Yuan can spot the key-holding one clambering up the carriage he was just in, taking the reins and forcing the horses in front to follow Luo Binghe’s pace. After a few moments, Shen Yuan notices that he's being kept in pace with the hand-sized window of the carriage, and he dares to peek to the right, hoping to spot Shen Qingqiu again.
Shen Qingqiu is staring back at him with his vivid green eyes, face wild and desperate in a way that makes Shen Yuan uncomfortable with its exposure.
Shen Yuan quickly looks back to Xin Mo and Luo Binghe, barely spotting the slight curve to Luo Binghe’s lips.
Scum villain, you are not acting like the scum villain right now! Save your face in front of the protagonist! It's not like you're the one forced to walk in the desert!
Shen Yuan huffs out a sigh, finally feeling the adrenaline wear off as they move forward. Walking in the desert, it turns out, is boring, but at least he has enough pain tolerance that he can easily ignore the strain slowly circulating around his wrists and legs. More importantly, he tries not to think about the sunburn that is studiously forming on his neck and face, despite his long hair attempting to shield the worst. The stupid author of this novel should have had the decency to invent sunscreen!
The rambling for this novel is familiar, and he lets himself pass the time by nitpicking every single detail of this dream, including the stupid mesh of Qihuan and Western clothing — Shen Yuan spots himself wearing a weird mix of silk loose pants and top that almost seem like a cross between Hanfu and frontier attire, much less practical than Luo Binghe’s leather pieces and thick boots — and the lack of geographic specifications.
Shen Yuan peers to the left, out into the vast distance of sand. At least he has a chance of seeing some of the supernatural beasts that patrol the area; those were always his favorite aspect of the story, apart from Luo Binghe.
The horse abruptly stops, and Shen Yuan unthinkingly presses forward, stumbling into Xin Mo’s hind leg. The horse jerks, and Shen Yuan barely dodges the sudden leg attack, not wanting to finish this dream by getting kicked in the head.
“We'll stop here for the night,” Luo Binghe proclaims, watching from his perch as the rest of his members prepare for the cold night. Shen Yuan knows he has bases — and wives — all around different towns at this point of the story, so they must be very far away from civilization; aka, soft beds and warm baths.
Shen Yuan lightly sighs at the loss of human comforts, and Luo Binghe’s gaze directly drills into his face at the noise, making Shen Yuan take an instinctive step back.
“And you, Shen Yuan,” He proclaims loud enough for Shen Qingqiu to hear, tongue savoring the name. His smile grows, and Shen Yuan shivers in what is probably fear. “You can keep Xin Mo company for the night.”
A few of the gang members chuckle in the background, and Shen Yuan feels himself grow pale. Xin Mo was a famously unstable horse, only barely controlled by Luo Binghe’s forceful hand. It had killed many others who tried to tame it, including those who simply happened to be near the walking personification of mental health issues.
Damn, no wonder Shen Yuan was killed off-screen. It would be too shameful to note how the villain’s brother was killed by a horse, of all things!
Luo Binghe hops off of Xin Mo and heads to where they're setting up camp, helping the others start up a fire and shelter for the night. Shen Yuan stares at him for a bit before gazing at his new babysitter.
“You're a very beautiful horse,” Shen Yuan whispers to Xin Mo. The horse's ear flickers, eyes suspiciously pulling down to stare at him.
“It's true!” Shen Yuan pushes, daring to get closer. “You have such a shiny, lovely coat, and your hooves are perfectly trimmed, and your tail and mane are incredibly well-kept. I've never seen a finer horse in my life.”
Xin Mo seems to stand taller at the praise, ears and body relaxing. Shen Yuan cheers as his odds of getting a kick to the head visibly decrease. It was also all facts — Xin Mo truly was the most beautiful horse Shen Yuan had ever seen.
He hears muttering and clambering in the background as people walk back and forth, and then Luo Binghe steps forward from the encroaching darkness, hand holding a single torch that flickers along his dark eyes. He isn't smiling, the intense gaze seemingly default on his expression as he peers at Shen Yuan, as if examining him under a microscope. Shen Yuan tries not to shiver or turn away from the black eyes, feeling like an insect under a pin.
“As I've said, you'll stay with Xin Mo for tonight,” Luo Binghe suddenly states. “Anyone who tries to offer you food will have their hands cut off. If you talk to your brother, your life is forfeit. If you survive the night, you will keep walking until we reach our base. There, I will decide what to do to you.”
The statements are spoken factually, not a hint of Luo Binghe’s feelings in the threats. Still, Shen Yuan knows they ring true, and he inclines his head, muscles already tiring from the promise.
“It is as Luo Binghe says, then,” Shen Yuan demurely answers, voice raspy from a lack of water. Hey, it's not like villains had anything good happen to them when they back-talked the protagonist! Shen Yuan knows better than to tempt fate.
However, the ends of Luo Binghe’s lips twist downwards, discontentment filling in his face. Before Shen Yuan can fully panic at whatever mistake he just made, he turns away, boots thudding onto the sand as he heads towards the main camp. The light from his torch briefly illuminates the carriage on the far opposite side of Shen Yuan, and he watches Luo Binghe slowly make his way towards it.
He spots the window opening again, a scowling eye peeking out. Luo Binghe says something and then a hand (!) reaches past the small window’s opening, swiping at Luo Binghe’s face. Luo Binghe only laughs in response — Shen Yuan can't hear or see anything else as the torch moves away.
Luo Binghe’s members softly talk to each other in the background, waiting until their leader comes back to take the first taste of communal soup before digging in. Shen Yuan ignores his aching stomach at the smell of food, settling down next to Xin Mo as the horse goes quiet and still — hopefully sleeping. Someone had taken off the traveling bags attached to Xin Mo, so Shen Yuan can't even pass his boredom by rifling through them. Which was a good thing, as he didn't want to tempt Luo Binghe’s temper. Some digging on his person reveals a lace fan made of bone, which was supremely useless for his current situation. Couldn’t the original Shen Yuan take something more practical? A protein bar, for instance? Maybe a yoyo?
“Xin Mo,” He whispers as a terrible time-killing idea settles into his head, stashing the fan. The horse huffs in response, and Shen Yuan quickly supplies, “Since you've been such a good horse, and have such perfect hair, would you let me do the honor of taking care of it for you? This lowly one is not in possession of a comb, but this one can make do with his hands.”
A pause settles, not unlike when Luo Binghe came by, and Shen Yuan dares to come closer on shaky legs. Finally, with enough courage in his heart, Shen Yuan places a hand on the rib of the horse.
Xin Mo does nothing.
Shen Yuan hurriedly sneaks in a few pets, trying not to squeal in joy at being able to pet the Xin Mo! Now he knows this is his own dream construct — this would never happen to canon fodder in Proud Immortal Cowboy Way !
He works quickly, detangling as best he can through the rough mane before separating the sections out, getting ready for a braid. He looks around, noticing the lack of things to tie them off with, and decides to reach into his shirt’s under robe to delicately pull off small strips of fabric. Shen Yuan was forced to learn how to braid from his sister's begging, so he looks upon his work with pride.
The killer of hundreds, the slayer of leaders, the untameable beast of the night, stands in front of Shen Yuan with cute braids parted under multiple white bows.
Ah. He may have gone a little overboard… His hands only instinctively tied off the ends of the fabric like that!
But Xin Mo looks as pleased as a horse could be, eventually settling in as Shen Yuan sits down next to him in the dirt, hands aching from straining against the harsh rope. He gazes up at the sky out of boredom, and then of wonder.
A canopy of stars greet him, blinking in and out of focus in the thousands. His hunger and thirst fade away as he remains mesmerized by the sight, lulled into a sense of security by the beauty of nature.
It's why he's half a second off when something clamps sharp teeth into his leg.
“What—!” Shen Yuan instinctively yells as he's being dragged, Xin Mo hurriedly following him from behind. A flicker of shadows greets the edges of Shen Yuan’s vision, and his eyes narrow as he spots wings.
The Saber-toothed Wolf-Geese!
Shen Yuan scowls at the pain, inwardly freaking out at having one of the infamously terrible species right in front of him. It was infamous because its weakness was just… grabbing it by the neck and throwing them far away.
The WeChat tirade that Peerless Cucumber had unleashed against Airplane Shooting Towards The Sky the day of the reveal had been legendary.
Without further wait, Shen Yuan grabs its neck, razor sharp teeth unleashed from his leg as its body goes limp. Shen Yuan hobbles on one limb as he readies his weapon, holding the rib of Xin Mo for support before violently spinning the Saber-toothed Wolf-Geese around, leashing it into the distance where it falls, befuddled.
Shen Yuan spots the rest of the Saber-toothed Wolf-Geese pack in the distance, gaining speed towards Luo Binghe’s camp.
Shit!
Without allowing himself to think, Shen Yuan digs his good foot into Xin Mo’s stirrup and launches onto his back.
“Xin Mo, run!” Shen Yuan commands, pushing his uninjured foot into her flank. The horse obeys, braids hurling in the wind as they push towards the campsite.
Shen Yuan might know the beast’s weakness, but not Luo Binghe! In fact, wounds like this were precisely what got him in trouble in chapter 375, part IX, 2.0 reedited version of Proud Immortal Cowboy Way .
Sure enough, as Shen Yuan comes closer, the rest of the pack has already gotten to the base — tools and tents are knocked down as people are dragged or run out. Loud cursing and the smoke of expensive bullets sound through the air, chaos unfurling before his eyes.
“Xin Mo!” Shen Yuan yells, spotting a tussle in the distance, faces muffled by dust. “Go!”
Xin Mo races towards them, almost giving Shen Yuan whiplash as he tears through the crowd, stamping several Saber-toothed Wolf-Geese to death under his powerful hooves. They reach the squabble, and Xin Mo takes over the reins, subduing the beasts in a few moments, leaving the rest to scatter.
“Xin Mo?” Luo Binghe confusingly exclaims. Shen Yuan can understand his confusion — Xin Mo was always purposefully tied up far away from the campsite, as he had a tendency to try and attack anything that moved, friend or foe.
Luo Binghe turns his gaze slightly upward, eyes widening. “Shen Yuan?”
He cheekily grins down at Luo Binghe, appreciating being taller for once. “Aren't you going to get on?” He can't help but smugly ask. Sue him, he feels heroic!
Luo Binghe doesn't say a word in response, flinging himself over Xin Mo, body wrapping around Shen Yuan's back
“Well,” Luo Binghe says, amusement vibrating across Shen Yuan's neck, “You take the reins, cowboy.”
Shen Yuan shivers, shaking off the sudden goosebumps with a tug at Xin Mo; but the horse is losing his patience under Shen Yuan’s treatment. Shen Yuan frowns at the view; looks like they needed to finish this quickly.
They take a fast tour of the campsite, driving out and breaking the skulls of the beasts as Luo Binghe’s arm clenches around Shen Yuan’s waist, the other arm holding a silver pistol ready for any animal that gets too close to their ankles.
“You can also swing their neck — they go limp!” Shen Yuan shouts.
“I'll take my chances with the pistol!” Luo Binghe yells out over the hisses and yelps of pain. One of the beasts takes the distraction to attack from above, diving and widening its jaws around Luo Binghe’s head.
Shen Yuan spots it coming a second before Luo Binghe does. Before he has time to think, he grasps the neck of it as it gets an inch away from Luo Binghe’s skull, and throws it into the distance, where it stands there, stunned.
Luo Binghe swivels around, staring at him for a split second before he turns back to the dwindling beasts. After minutes that feel like hours, they both realize that all is quiet, and Luo Binghe lowers his gun. Shen Yuan relaxes.
“Whoever isn't injured, take those who are to the main cart for treatment!” Luo Binghe barks out to those shuffling around, startling Shen Yuan. Luo Binghe holds him tighter, grip almost uncomfortable. He takes the slack reins from Shen Yuan's hands, pulling Xin Mo towards one of the unscarred tents in the corner of the campsite.
“Get off,” Luo Binghe states. Shen Yuan, pausing before he realizes the address, scrambles down. Luo Binghe frowns as he sees Shen Yuan accidently slip, hissing from landing on his leg injury. Shen Yuan tries to distract himself by petting Xin Mo with a bound hand, quietly thanking him for the assist.
Lou Binghe’s eyes drift down to his fingers entangled in the horse's mane.
“Did you put braids on Xin Mo?” Luo Binghe asks, a hint of incredulity in his voice as he stares at Shen Yuan, a questioning gaze splayed across his face. Xin Mo straightens up again, white bows spattered with hints of beast blood.
Shen Yuan flushes, the lace fan instinctively rising to hide his entire face, despite the fact that the flickering campfire must not be able to reveal much of his embarrassment.
“...Maybe…” He mumbles out, hands tightly gripping the polished bone. Shen Yuan gains the courage to lower the fan a little, bracing himself for a thunderous expression.
Instead, Luo Binghe’s expression is something Shen Yuan is not expecting to see. The soft parting of his lips, the surprise and mirth in his eyes, and the softness of his lidded gaze roots Shen Yuan in place, not daring to lower the fan past the bridge of his nose.
“Well,” Luo Binghe begins, then pauses, as if lacking words. “I. I have medicine in my bag.”
“Hm?” Shen Yuan questions, unsure of what the statement was referring to.
“In my tent,” Luo Binghe starts, voice now a familiar cadence, “I have a medical bag. Inside is an ointment for your leg injury.”
“Oh. Alright,” Shen Yuan easily answers. There's an awkward moment where they both look at his bound hands, and then the tent, and Luo Binghe draws the rope taunt with one hand while the other substitutes his gun with a knife.
“You won't run from me?” He gruffly asks, accent deepening as he stares at Shen Yuan. He frantically nods. Luo Binghe severes the cord, dropping down from Xin Mo to undo the ones next to his wrists.
“I also have medicine for these,” He continues, hands lightly touching Shen Yuan’s raw wrists, not pulling away as they flinch.
Shen Yuan tugs at Luo Binghe’s touch, ignoring the feeling of what was probably a post-adrenaline trembling in his stomach. “Great! That's good to know,” He lamely answers, shuffling inside the propped tent. It's larger than it looks on the outside, wide enough for two grown men to stretch out their arms and back.
The filter of the moon and campfire illuminate the space just enough for Shen Yuan to spot a large bed roll to the side and a few bags thrown into the corner. Luo Binghe moves past him, kneeling down to open his bag.
“Shen Yuan, please take a seat,” He gestures to the bed roll next to the bag. Shen Yuan follows his suggestion, carefully taking off his dirty outer robe and lowering himself down until only his injured leg is propped up to Luo Binghe’s line of sight.
Luo Binghe turns around, staring at Shen Yuan lying on his bed, hands white-knuckled around the vial of medicine. Shen Yuan looks at the vial with trepidation, worried at the unjust beating that medication is taking.
“Can I remove your shoes? I need to clean out the wounds,” Luo Binghe states, kneeling down next to Shen Yuan, startling him away from his thoughts.
“Oh! Sure, that's probably wise.”
Luo Binghe’s gaze doesn't break from Shen Yuan as he slowly takes off his socks, carefully pulling away the pant’s silk fabric around the bloody injury.
Shen Yuan turns away from the sight, trying not to think about how this was an exact scenario for Wife #18, chapter 55 of part IV, and how much Luo Binghe was into it. Good thing Luo Binghe isn't attracted to men, or this fact would have increased the awkward butterflies in Shen Yuan's stomach.
He feels fingers pause at the edge of his ankle, making Shen Yuan itch with a tingling sensation. "Your leg's underrobe is torn...?" Luo Binghe questions, voice low.
Shen Yuan moves his eyes away, embarrassed more at how his flushes are betraying him than the answer to the question. "I didn't have fabric for Xin Mo's bows, so I used—"
"Your silk underrobe? You ripped a two hundred dollar piece of clothing for Xin Mo?"
A short pause ensues as Shen Yuan tries to curl up into a ball and float off into space. Then, Shen Yuan hears the most beautiful laughter of his entire life.
"Don't laugh at me!" Shen Yuan suddenly cries, feeling indigent as he reaches over, trying to smack Luo Binghe with his fan.
"I yeild, I yield!" Luo Binghe mockingly pleads, letting out a final chuckle as Shen Yuan retracts his hand. "Am I allowed to go back to treating you, now?" He asks, gesturing with his hand to the wound.
Shen Yuan huffs. "I will grant it to you."
Luo Binghe gives him a mocking bow, returning to his work. “Since you're here, you should stay the night,” Luo Binghe says, dabbing the wounds with an ointment that gimmers like pearls. The suddenness of a cooling sensation hits, pulling a hiss from his mouth.
Shen Yuan turns to face Luo Binghe, surprise fluttering his insides. “What? I get to sleep in a tent?” He answers, slowly growing excited over the prospect of sleeping in a bed! Okay, it's more of a camping roll with an attached roommate, but it's a hell of a lot better than dirt with a murderous horse!
Luo Binghe slowly nods, turning to put away the medication. “If you wish.”
Shen Yuan immediately makes himself comfortable, snuggling into the fabric as much as he can. “Goodnight!” He cheerfully announces into the darkness. A pause follows, then the sound of shifting, before Shen Yuan feels warmth emanating in the space behind him.
“You do not wish to do more than sleep?” Luo Binghe purrs, coming close enough that Shen Yuan can barely feel a hot breath against his neck.
Do more? Shen Yuan frowns. Like a midnight adventure? No way, he's absolutely ready to fall asleep right now.
“No more than sleep,” Shen Yuan affirms, putting his metaphorical foot down. His actual foot accidentally knocks up against Luo Binghe’s shin at the statement, making them both freeze.
Luo Binghe relaxes first. “Alright,” He answers, moving a bit further away. “Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself, to pass the time.”
And just with those few words, wariness replaces his need for sleep. “I—”
“What were you and your brother traveling to?” Luo Binghe asks. Sheesh, give a guy a break! Can’t an interrogation wait until tomorrow?
Shen Yuan lightly clears his throat, turning to face him. “I believe we were to attend a gathering of nobility for Shen Qingqiu’s reception into the Yue clan,” He answers, mentally tracking and guessing the plot point in the novel.
“And you, by extension.”
“I believe that is how weddings work when you’re related to the groom, yes,” Shen Yuan snipes back. Luo Binghe huffs out a small laugh, thankfully not taking it personally.
“You're so different from your twin. Why would he be accepted into a marriage proposition… unless he didn't want you to ever be someone's match?” Luo Binghe murmurs, as if to himself. A lock of Shen Yuan's hair is suddenly trapped beneath Luo Binghe’s fingers, twirled around playfully. “Tell me, Shen Yuan, have you always had such lovely hair?”
Shen Yuan feels himself flush all the way to his toes. What was with this sudden flattery! Only horses and future wives received such compliments! Is he also a horse to Luo Binghe?!
“I… think so,” He murmurs, fiercely wishing for the comfort of his fan. “I. Like your hair too,” He fumbles out, instantly flinching at the awkward compliment. Abort! Abort it!
Luo Binghe leans forward like a dog begging for pets, a gleam in his eyes. “You do? You do like my hair?” He asks, a teasing note in his voice. “Do you want to make me look pretty like Xin Mo-shimei?”
The mental image of Luo Binghe in crude braids with white bows forces a loud chuckle from Shen Yuan’s mouth, the suddenness of his laughter turning into an all-out guffle at the absurdity of his situation.
Luo Bing-mei! Trussed up like his horse!
Luo Binghe is now grinning wildly, the pearls of his perfect teeth reflecting off of the soft light as he worms his way into Shen Yuan’s space.
“Stop it, I'm too tired to laugh!” Shen Yuan abruptly says, stifling his giggles as he hides his eyes from Luo Binghe’s boyish gaze. Only when he feels more in control does he dare to peek out from his fingers. Suddenly, Luo Binghe reaches closer, as if to touch his face, and then pulls away.
“I forgot the medicine for your wrists,” Luo Binghe exclaims, shifting. “Here, let me—”
“It's fine,” Shen Yuan hastily answers, pulling Luo Binghe’s hand back from where it outstretched towards the bag. “I'm fine. Really.”
Luo Binghe’s black gaze settles on Shen Yuan’s shadowed visage. He notices that his hands are warmer than Shen Yuan's.
“Alright,” He readily agrees, moving back to laying under the blanket. “I'll see you in the morning, then.”
“See you in the morning,” Shen Yuan softly answers.
He closes his eyes, feeling the brush of Luo Binghe’s fingers against his own.
Shen Yuan wakes up the next morning and blinks.
Huh. He's…
He checks the space around him — hard bed roll, a cooling space beside him, and a bag tucked into a corner of fabric.
Yep. He's still dreaming… despite definitely feeling like he fell asleep last night… and everything still feels very real.
Shen Yuan frowns at the sinking feeling that maybe, just maybe, there's a chance he isn't dreaming.
He shrugs to himself, pulling on his outer robe and stepping outside. Nothing he can do about that now, so he'll pack it in his favorite mental ‘Forget This Forever!’ box and dust off his hands. It always works like a charm.
He follows his nose, haggling with a nervous-looking man tending the breakfast fire for some jerky and miso soup, electing not to tell him about the ‘If anybody feeds you, I’ll cut off their hands’ speech Luo Binghe was talking about.
“Shang Qinghua, hurry up! You forgot to feed the horses again!” A voice yells out.
With a sigh, Luo Binghe’s fidgety henchman excuses himself from Shen Yuan’s company, hurrying off into the distance. Ah, the life of canon fodder is too cruel.
“Shen Yuan.”
Shen Yuan perks up, mouth halfway to his breakfast jerky. Luo Binghe is situated on Xin Mo, staring down at him as the sun rises with a smile; Shen Yuan valiantly does not stare at his dimples. “You will ride with me as thanks for taking care of my issue last night, and due to your injury,” He loudly states.
"Oh. Uh, sure,” Shen Yuan replies, blinking. “I mean, thank you, it was no trouble,” He hurriedly adds, slightly bowing his head. If he has to lay it on thick to avoid walking again, so be it!
Instantly, a slew of curses and noises rattle from the carriage a few feet next to them. Shen Yuan jumps, guiltily forgetting all about the inhabitant that was kept in last night. Then he remembers everything that Shen Qingqiu canonically did to Luo Binghe and promptly forgets his guilt.
Shen Yuan awkwardly turns away from the noise, and Luo Binghe’s smile deepens, almost dazzling in its radiance. Quick! Someone snuff that out before it blinds him!
Luo Binghe extends a hand from atop of Xin Mo, and Shen Yuan takes it, pulling himself into Luo Binghe’s arms and forgetting the salty breakfast as Shen Qingqiu’s voice curses the protagonist in the background.
“You settled?”
Shen Yuan nods into Luo Binghe’s back, feeling strangely happy at the feel of his arms around the sturdy torso. “Yes, I'm settled,” He whispers into Luo Binghe’s ear, enjoying the way he sees goosebumps break out from the skin.
“Xin Mo, walk.”