Work Text:
Witch Landlady
Received 8:49 AM
Cheng Xiaoshi, remember I’m coming back this afternoon
Should arrive at 10
You and Lu Guang are at the studio right?
If not I’ll keep the souvenirs for myself :p
Are you even up?
Xiaoshi!
“Your phone’s buzzing.”
Cheng Xiaoshi stirred, mumbling something incomprehensible. From somewhere above his pillow, there was a buzz again.
“Cheng Xiaoshi.”
“Mm…” Instead of reaching for his phone, Cheng Xiaoshi turned on his side, facing the source of the voice.
His lips slowly pulled into a smile. He could do without the annoying text messages, but that deep, soothing voice so close to his ear being the first thing he heard when he woke up… Yeah, he could get used to this.
Cheng Xiaoshi opened his eyes. Even when his eyelids were still heavy with sleep, it was clear how beautiful Lu Guang looked. That white hair was fluffier than usual after lying on a pillow (and at some point, Cheng Xiaoshi’s arm, if the numbness was any indication). His long nose and thick eyebrows were more captivating up close. And, wow, Cheng Xiaoshi never would’ve thought Lu Guang’s waist was the perfect size to be hugged.
This drop-dead gorgeous, devastatingly handsome, delightfully adorable man sleeping next to him was his boyfriend! Cheng Xiaoshi felt like squealing at the thought.
“G’morning, Guang Guang,” said Cheng Xiaoshi with a honey-sweet voice. To be fair, it was still nasally and heavy with sleep, but he was sure the affection went through.
“Morning,” said Lu Guang, reaching out to play with the loose strands of Cheng Xiaoshi’s hair. Cheng Xiaoshi giggled. “Check your texts, they might be important. I’m gonna make breakfast.”
“Aww,” Cheng Xiaoshi pursed his lips, “no morning kisses for me?” He elongated the last syllable on purpose.
Lu Guang gave an amused huff. “Brush your teeth first, then I might consider.”
Then, since he took the outer side of the bed, Lu Guang swung his legs off the lower bunk and walked away, presumably to actually make breakfast.
Cheng Xiaoshi’s jaw dropped open. All remaining traces of exhaustion dissipated. “Lu Guang! Not fair!”
Next time, Cheng Xiaosh would make him sleep on the inner side so he couldn’t escape easily.
“Qiao Ling-jie texted me,” Lu Guang told him once Cheng Xiaoshi joined him in the sunroom. He handed Cheng Xiaoshi a black bowl full of steaming rice. On the low coffee table, two fluffy sunny side ups were stacked on a plate. Cheng Xiaoshi’s mouth watered. Between the two of them, Cheng Xiaoshi was the better cook, but still, anything Lu Guang made for him was delicious.
Cheng Xiaoshi grabbed a chopstick. “Oh?”
“She said she messaged you, but you didn’t read it.”
“Oooh… so that’s what it was.” Cheng Xiaoshi had completely forgotten about the barrage of text messages he got that morning. He began to eat without remorse. “Guang Guang, these are the best eggs yet.”
Lu Guang dug into his own breakfast much more calmly. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”
“Hey, I’m serious!” Cheng Xiaoshi swallowed and flashed Lu Guang a grin. “You’re getting better.”
Yup, Lu Guang was positively pink now. Cheng Xiaoshi wanted to reach out and cradle his cheeks. Aaah, Lu Guang didn’t understand how cute he could be. It was dangerous for Cheng Xiaoshi’s heart.
It gave him the urge to press further. “I can teach you more recipes! Cooking date, how about that?”
First day as boyfriends—Cheng Xiaoshi’s stomach fluttered at the word—and he had already suggested a date. Well, if Lu Guang thought Cheng Xiaoshi was rushing, he didn’t show it. Besides, he couldn’t be blamed for being too eager. Lu Guang was literally perfect, but that was just his opinion.
Lu Guang bit his lip, but Cheng Xiaoshi caught the smile forming across his sophisticated features. “We don’t even have a proper kitchen.”
Cheng Xiaoshi waved his chopsticks around. “That can be arranged.” Even if Lu Guang asked for the moon, Cheng Xiaoshi would find a way to give it to him.
They continued eating in comfortable silence for a few more minutes until their bowls were clean. Cheng Xiaoshi licked the points of his chopstick in satisfaction. “You know, Guang Guang…”
Lu Guang shifted at the cheeky tone. “What?”
Cheng Xiaoshi decided to be direct. “You haven’t given me my morning kiss.”
Lu Guang clicked his tongue, though there was no ire in his voice when he said, “You’re so clingy…” He placed his bowl and chopsticks on the coffee table and leaned in.
“Yeah? Only for you, though,” said Cheng Xiaoshi, leaning in too to meet Lu Guang halfway.
Their lips were mere centimeters apart. Either one of them could suddenly lurch forward and crash their mouths together. Neither had the mind to do that, too occupied with staring at the other’s open and inviting lips. Cheng Xiaoshi swallowed, his throat feeling dry.
Just then, a mechanical voice rang out from the front counter. “Welcome, boss!”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake…”
Qiao Ling strode in, pulling a pink suitcase behind her. The rattle of the wheels pissed off Cheng Xiaoshi more than it should.
“I’m back!” Qiao Ling announced, leaning against the doorway of the sunroom. “Did you guys miss me?”
“Landlady,” said Cheng Xiaoshi lazily, as he silently cursed Qiao Ling’s timing. “Welcome back. Sorry we didn’t roll out a red carpet for you.”
“Welcome back, jie,” said Lu Guang calmly, as if he hadn’t been thirsting over Cheng Xiaoshi’s lips a few seconds earlier. “How was the vacation? The photos you sent looked great.”
“I know, right?” Qiao Ling said excitedly. She laid the suitcase on the floor and began opening it. “I wanna have them developed later, ‘kay? Oh yeah, look, I got these for you guys. Aren’t I the best?” Qiao Ling began taking out armfuls of snacks and memorabilia, piling them on the coffee table while chatting animatedly. Cheng Xiaoshi had to give it to her—she didn’t seem jet lagged at all.
When all the souvenirs were neatly placed on the table, Cheng Xiaoshi had officially forgiven her for interrupting him and Lu Guang. “Whoa, Qiao Ling! This… this is crazy!”
“This is too much, jie,” said Lu Guang. “Thank you.”
“Ah, don’t mention it!” Qiao Ling waved a hand, already taking a box of biscuits and tearing the package open. “This is only a small portion of all the fun I had. You guys missed out on a lot, really. Here, try this. Drives Xu Shanshan and me crazy. Didn’t know butter cookies could be so addicting.”
Cheng Xiaoshi dove straight into the cookies. Never mind the fact that he had just finished breakfast and the bowls hadn’t even been washed, just set aside to house all of Qiao Ling’s stuff. They ate while Qiao Ling talked about her trip. She and Xu Shanshan started in Spain before traveling by train to other countries in Europe. Qiao Ling gushed about the scenery (just like the magazines), the people (very busy this time of year, but she’d definitely go again if given the chance), and the food (could probably use more spice. Three days in, she and Xu Shanshan missed rice so much that they impulsively went to a Chinese restaurant that was still open at 10 pm in Italy).
“On the last day, we saw the clock tower and—Cheng Xiaoshi, I could smell your jealousy from here.”
Cheng Xiaoshi stuck his tongue at Qiao Ling’s grin. The butter cookies were sweet and soft, but he couldn’t deny the acidic taste of vinegar in his mouth when he heard of Qiao Ling and Xu Shanshan traveling from France to the UK via an undersea tunnel. An undersea tunnel!
“Well, yeah, sounds like you were living the dream.” Cheng Xiaoshi’s words were slightly muffled through a mouthful of biscuits. “To the point that you left the two of us.” He didn’t mention how he and Lu Guang practically flew to Yingdu without telling Qiao Ling just months prior.
Qiao Ling graciously didn’t say anything either, though the eyeroll told Cheng Xiaoshi that she was itching to.
“How was your holiday, anyway?” asked Qiao Ling, taking another bite of a biscuit. “It can’t be that boring. You guys seem happy.”
“Oh?” Cheng Xiaoshi grinned widely. Next to him, Lu Guang ducked his head. “You noticed, landlady?”
Qiao Ling scoffed. “Please. When I walked in, Lu Guang was red.”
Cheng Xiaoshi burst out laughing. “Was he?! Oh, Guang Guang, were you?”
“Cheng Xiaoshi, shut up.”
“Oh, you’re so cute.”
Qiao Ling raised an eyebrow. “What happened while I was gone?”
Cheng Xiaoshi’s giddy expression and Lu Guang’s flustered one must have been a dead giveaway. Qiao Ling’s eyes narrowed. “Did you guys get together? Oh, please tell me you got together.”
Lu Guang was appalled. “Jie, you…”
“Knew? Of course I knew.” Qiao Ling rolled her eyes. She was now opening another tin of cookies, as if the first variant wasn’t enough to help her cope with the two oblivious idiots in front of her. “Like, I’d love to say I’m perceptive and good at reading people, but that’s not even the case here. You two are so obvious, always making eyes at each other.”
Lu Guang turned red, but Cheng Xiaoshi only snickered. “Guilty…”
“So, how did it go?” Qiao Ling didn’t even need their verbal confirmation anymore. She leaned in eagerly. “When did it happen? Who confessed? Tell. Me. Everything.”
“Oooh, buckle up, then!”
“Are you serious?” Lu Guang’s desperate voice was barely audible. He leaned his back against the couch and sank lower and lower down, as if hoping the cushion would swallow him up. But neither Cheng Xiaoshi nor Qiao Ling paid him any mind.
Later, Cheng Xiaoshi might have to give up some of his portion of the cookies as a peace treaty. Later, he would reluctantly agree to doing the dishes for the rest of the day—or week, depending on how charitable his boyfriend (ahhh!) was feeling. Later, he would have to apologize with all the kisses in the world.
But for now, Cheng Xiaoshi indulged himself with one more piece of cookie and downed his glass of water. He would be talking for a while.
“Okay, so. We went to an ice-skating rink…”