Chapter Text
Luo Binghe thrived on his Shizun's happiness. If Shen Qingqiu wasn't happy, then Luo Binghe wasn't happy. It was quite simple, really. It had taken him years to gain his master's affections, and he wouldn't let this happy little life of his be ruined due to his own negligence.
Luo Binghe was currently adapting to life in the "modern" world. It was a strange feeling- being in a place that you hardly knew how to navigate. However, it was incredibly intriguing to see how easily Shen Qingqiu- no, Shen Yuan- slotted back into his day to day lifestyle. When he wasn't fussing over his darling husband, he was arguing with someone on the internet. (He did argue quite a lot. All that rage couldn't be good for his heart.)
Recently, though, he began to notice something rather distressing. His husband was sad. Very sad. But every time Luo Binghe tried to bring it up, Shen Yuan simply brushed him off. It was something that had been nagging at him for days now.
Thankfully, there was one person that Shen Yuan told anything and everything to. One person that Luo Binghe could go to to find answers. Xiang Fei (or, as he knew him, Shang Qinghua.)
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Luo Binghe shifted awkwardly on Xiang Fei's couch, sinking into it with every movement. He looked around the apartment, unable to stop his nose from wrinkling at the sight. It was small, cluttered, and halfway packed up in boxes. A computer was haphazardly set up on a sketchy looking desk in the far corner of the room (no wonder he got electrocuted), and Mobei-Jun sat cross-armed in the gaming chair that was pushed up against the wall near it. Xiang Fei sat on top of the coffee table across from Luo Binghe with his legs crossed and his hands in his lap.
"Soooooooo..." the author said, dragging out the word a bit too long. "What exactly did you need?"
Luo Binghe cleared his throat and sat up a bit straighter. "What's wrong with my husband?"
Xiang Fei snickered, a grin forming on his face. "You're going to have to be a bit more specific. Cucumber's got a lot of issues."
Luo Binghe brushed off the other's remark, biting back a defensive rebuttal. "I mean.. he's been upset lately, and I don't know why. He won't tell me what's wrong no matter how many times I ask. I'm beginning to worry."
Xiang Fei nodded, leaning forward so he could rest his forearms on his legs.
"Has he said anything to indicate what's upsetting him? Dropped any hints?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.
"No," Luo Binghe said with a sigh, his shoulders drooping slightly. "That's why I came to you. I was hoping that he had told you something." He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his recently cut hair (He was still trying to get used to that). "I hate seeing him upset, but I don't know how to help him."
Xiang Fei leaned back, letting out a thoughtful hum. "Maybe he misses someone."
Luo Binghe's brows furrowed as he looked at the other man, a small frown forming on his face. "Like who? You and me are here."
Xiang Fei shrugged. "Yeah, but he had other friends. I'm not afraid to admit that I missed gossiping with- ahem. I mean writing with Mingyan. Perhaps He's mourning the presence of a companion."
Luo Binghe shook his head. "The only people that he hung out with was you, me, and.." He trailed off, his frown deepening. "No."
"Maybe! Listen, he and Qingge were close! It's not that big of a stretch! There's no harm in asking," Xiang Fei said quickly, holding his hands up defensively.
Luo Binghe scoffs and rolls his eyes as he stands up. "Fine. I'll ask," he grumbles. He's probably just having a bad week that has absolutely nothing to do with that stubborn asshole...