Work Text:
The interminable work dinner finally drew to a close. After bidding colleagues farewell, Jiang Heng and Li Pei'en slid into the car one after another, the weariness of the long day etched on their faces.
"Finally, we can breathe." Jiang Heng sighed, leaning back against the headrest and massaging his temples. He picked up his phone, bypassing the flood of likes and comments on his own account to habitually open Li Pei'en's Little Red Note page. Scrolling through the effusive comments, his lips twitched wryly. With deft fingers, he navigated to his photo gallery, pausing at two backstage snapshots taken last Sunday in Putian.
The company had just loosened its "risk control restrictions" for their second collaboration's publicity. A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes as he swiftly slipped the photo—where he cradled his chin possessively beside Li Pei'en—into the ninth slot of his nine-grid post and hit publish.
"There," he muttered, a note of triumph in his voice.
Within minutes, Li Pei'en beside him scrolled upon the new update. Fans, eagle-eyed as ever, screens-hotted it instantly. The comments erupted into a chorus of "Brother-in-law's at it again!"—though a few dissonant notes lingered.
Li Pei'en turned, ears flushed, and whispered sharply, "Xu Weijian." His voice held three parts exasperation, seven parts helpless indulgence.
Jiang Heng arched a brow, a roguish "What are you going to do about it?" grin playing on his lips.
We'll discuss this... at home. He mouthed silently.
The car pulled up to their residence. As the door shut behind them, sealing off the outside world, the echo of "Xu Weijian" hung in the air—only to be swallowed by Jiang Heng's kiss. It carried an edge, lacking its usual tenderness, instead burning with a frantic urgency that bordered on punishment, his teeth grazing Li Pei'en's lower lip.
Pinned against the door, Li Pei'en yielded until they broke apart, breathless. Studying the tension in Jiang Heng's jawline, he sighed inwardly. His hand rose not to push away, but to cradle the nape of Jiang Heng's neck, fingers soothing the stiff bristles of his undercut.
"Angry?" Jiang Heng's voice was rough, feigning lightness but laced with intent. "Because I posted without asking?"
He didn't wait for an answer, injecting a carefully crafted note of resignation. "Fine. I get it. Li laoshi has an image to uphold, can't have fans seeing him play along with this whole brother-in-law charade."
His eyes, however, remained locked on Pei'en, screaming: Deny it. Tell me I'm wrong.
The cruel comments no longer stung him, nor did he truly expect Pei'en to indulge his near-"official announcement" antics. Yet a sliver of stubborn longing remained—a need for unequivocal validation that now fuelled this bruising embrace and relentless demand.
"Let's go inside first," Li Pei'en murmured, breath still uneven. He tugged the sulking Jiang Heng away from the foyer.
In the living room, the colossal bouquet of irises and sage Jiang Heng had brought home after Monday's live stream still bloomed, their heady scent—a token of their ABO drama's serendipity—permeating the night air.
When Li Pei'en tried guiding him to the sofa, Jiang Heng averted his gaze, fixating momentarily on the flowers before snapping away, every line of his body screaming silent discontent.
Watching him, Li Pei'en recalled a scene from their drama. He stepped closer, playfully swatting Jiang Heng's rigid arm, mimicking his character's teasing tone:
"Eh, Jiang laoshi? Didn't you always say you're not Shen Wenlang—that you're better at expressing yourself?" His voice softened, laced with tenderness. "If you're upset, say it. Don't bottle it up."
The words shattered Jiang Heng's restraint. He whirled around, eyes blazing. "I don’t like it! I hate them calling you husband!"
Li Pei'en blinked, startled. "Now you're just being unfair, Xu Weijian. Don't your own comments overflow with ‘husbands'?"
"It's different!" Jiang Heng shot back, recalling male bloggers' flirtatious remarks under Pei'en's posts. Vinegar soured his tone. "I've seen those blokes eyeing you. Li laoshi quite the catch, eh?"
The bitterness thickened the air. Seeing Jiang Heng's flushed, agitated eyes, Li Pei'en's frustration melted into overwhelming tenderness. This wasn't petulance—it was raw vulnerability.
As he opened his mouth to soothe, Jiang Heng reclaimed his lips. This kiss was pure possession, a branding iron of insecurity. His mouth trailed down Li Pei'en's neck, sucking marks into the skin like territorial claims.
"Xu Weijian... stop—" Li Pei'en's protest was weak, his pushing hands more invitation than refusal. Disoriented, he found himself guided to the dining table, his back meeting the cold edge.
Jiang Heng's hands slid under his shirt, fingers urgent at his waistband, fumbling with buttons. Cool air hit exposed skin, jolting a sliver of sense into Li Pei'en.
"Not... not on the table," he gasped, shame colouring his voice.
The words ignited Jiang Heng's frayed control. Pausing, he ripped off his own crumpled shirt, baring his torso. Bathed in the intoxicating, almost pheromonal fragrance of iris and sage, he loomed over Li Pei'en, voice wrecked:
"Then let's settle this ’husband' title debate properly."
Before Li Pei'en could react, Jiang Heng hoisted him over his shoulder, ignoring the yelp, and dumped him onto the sprawling living room sofa. His body followed, pinning Li Pei'en as his hands resumed their fevered exploration.
The room filled with ragged breaths, the rustle of fabric, and the floral scent—now a heady catalyst—transforming jealousy and love into a thick, uncontrollable desire.
Sinking into the sofa's embrace, Li Pei'en had no time to recover before Jiang Heng's scorching weight covered him, lips recapturing his. This kiss held no punishment—only deep, consuming certainty, as if fusing their souls.
"Xu—Jiang Heng..." Li Pei'en gasped against his mouth, hands slackening on Jiang Heng's shoulders, fingers whitening as they clutched for anchor.
Jiang Heng's palm burned a path down Li Pei'en's sensitive flank, drawing shivers, then lower, past loosened waistbands, to the tense curve of his thigh. The haste, the slight clumsiness, betrayed his own unraveling control.
"Don't—" Li Pei'en's plea dissolved into a whimper as his body arched into the touch. A foreign, overwhelming pleasure shot up his spine, obliterating thought.
Seeing Li Pei'en's surrender, Jiang Heng lifted his head. In the dimness, Li Pei'en's eyes—usually clear—were clouded with trust, dousing some of Jiang Heng's frantic fire. He slowed, his hand abandoning its mission to circle Li Pei'en's waist, pulling him closer. The other cradled his head, fingers threading through damp hair in a tender caress.
"Pei'en..." Jiang Heng's voice was gravelly with restrained need. "Look at me."
Li Pei'en opened his eyes, meeting a gaze stormy with love.
"Give yourself to me," Jiang Heng breathed, nose brushing his.
Li Pei'en studied the sweat beading Jiang Heng's brow, the jaw clenched with effort, the reflection of himself in those dark eyes. Hesitation and shame crumbled. He nodded, lifting his head to brush a kiss against Jiang Heng's lips.
The gesture shattered Jiang Heng's resolve. With a groan, he kissed him deeply, pouring every promise into it. Now patient, he mapped Li Pei'en's trembling form, relearning every sensitive point, drawing out gasps and sighs until Li Pei'en's legs instinctively wrapped around his waist in total surrender.
"Jiang Heng..." The name became a chant, a plea.
When their final barriers fell, Li Pei'en cried out, fingers digging into Jiang Heng's back. Pain flashed, replaced by profound fullness.
Jiang Heng stilled, holding him close, murmuring against his skin: "I'm here... Pei'en, feel me..."
His voice soothed. Li Pei'en relaxed, shifting tentatively—a movement that ignited Jiang Heng. He began to move, each thrust a controlled storm, each withdrawal lingering.
The sofa creaked rhythmically beneath them, harmonizing with ragged breaths and stifled moans. The floral scent intensified, wrapping around their entwined bodies as they climbed toward the precipice together.
At the edge of oblivion, Jiang Heng's voice broke, raw and desperate:
"You're mine... Pei'en... only mine..."
Li Pei'en's arms tightened around him—a silent, absolute answer.
Under the shower's warm stream, fatigue seeped into their bones. Jiang Heng washed Li Pei'en's back with languid care, his fingers skirting the tender, swollen evidence of their passion.
"Need to clean properly," he murmured, lips grazing Li Pei'en's ear, a thread of teasing in his husky voice. "Wouldn't want you uncomfortable tomorrow."
Li Pei'en's ears burned. "Shut up," he retorted, elbowing back lightly. Jiang Heng's laughter vibrated through their connected skin.
But cleansing soon strayed. Water sluiced down Li Pei'en's spine, over love bites Jiang Heng had painted. Steam fogged the glass, reflecting their blurred, entangled forms—a watercolour of desire.
Heat flared anew, fiercer than before.
Jiang Heng spun him, pressing him against cool tiles. Before Li Pei'en could protest, Jiang Heng lifted him, leveraging water and lingering slickness to reclaim his body.
"Wish you could see yourself..." Jiang Heng rasped against his throat, the words fractured by water. "Driving me mad..."
The shower's roar mingled with the slap of skin, Li Pei'en's choked moans echoing off tiles. Overwhelmed, he bit Jiang Heng's shoulder—a sting that only spurred Jiang Heng deeper.
"Pei'en..." The name became an incantation, weaving through steam and sensation.
Li Pei'en met his gaze—a conflagration of need—and surrendered. Arms locking around Jiang Heng's neck, he buried his face against him, swept away in the current.
Dried and dressed in soft pyjamas, Li Pei'en waited in bed as Jiang Heng tidied the bathroom. Returning, Jiang Heng gathered him close, chin resting on damp hair.
Silence settled, broken only by their breathing.
After a moment, Li Pei'en set his phone aside and turned in the dim light.
"Xu Weijian."
"Hmm?" Jiang Heng tightened his hold.
"Earlier... you asked if I was angry. If we were something to hide." Li Pei'en's tone was calm.
Jiang Heng stiffened slightly. He'd thought this resolved.
"I didn't answer then," Li Pei'en continued, tracing Jiang Heng's collar. "I'm not angry. Never was." He met Jiang Heng's wary eyes. "I was finding a way. To answer you... without recklessness."
Jiang Heng's heart clenched.
"And ‘hidden'?" Li Pei'en's mouth twisted. "Jiang Heng. Xu Weijian. If I thought that, I'd never have started this. Never let you—" He flushed, the rest lost in a huff.
Jiang Heng softened, nuzzling his nose. "I know. My fault for speaking nonsense."
Seeing the smugness beneath the apology, Li Pei'en's annoyance flared—the midnight anniversary post, ruined by their "distractions."
He pinched Jiang Heng's cheek, regal and scolding:
"Know what? You rushed home and—distracted me! Made me almost forget the photos! Meant to post by midnight..." He jabbed at his phone's glaring "00:59" timestamp. "An hour late! You great daft wolf!"
The complaint was feather-light. Jiang Heng chuckled, catching his wrist to kiss his fingers.
"You remembered," he breathed, eyes alight.
"Fine, I'm a daft wolf." His smile widened. "But Pei'en—" He drew close, foreheads touching. "This has been the best anniversary I could have asked for."
Because of you. Your patience. Your fierce, quiet love. Your ‘late' but perfect reply.
Li Pei'en's mock-anger faded. A small, sweet smile escaped as he leaned up, sealing Jiang Heng's lips with his own.
The night was long. Their anniversary, in this love-soaked room, had only just begun.
"Xu Weijian, are you part dog? Look at these bites! If I can't work this weekend, I'm going to kill you."
"Yep. Your personal guard dog—"
"Be serious! Fetch the ointment!"
"Kiss first?"
"Go away! Now the fans are joking I vanished for three hours—‘convinced' by you in bed!"
"Our girls know their Papa's persuasive talents."
"Piss! Off!"
"Still early, maybe...?"
"One more word, and you're sleeping with Lele!"
"Last time, please...?"
"Hey—mmph—!"
—Social Media Frenzy—
Lele Fan Forum Screencaps:
"HOLY SHIT! Hidden in the last slot! They're geniuses!"
"Different photos! Same moment! Are they PUZZLE-PIECING A COUPLE ANNOUNCEMENT?!"
"PEEN EDITED HIS POST! 00:59! HE REMEMBERED! HE LOVES HIM!"
"DON'T SLEEP! THEY'RE ARE FEEDING US!"
Later:
Li Pei'en nudged Jiang Heng post-Instagram upload: "Your account's gathering cobwebs. The Lele's demand you recover your password."
Jiang Heng, eyes closed, arm draped over him, smirked: "Patience. Posting tomorrow. Nine photos. Your peace-sign shot first. Happy?"
Next Day:
Jiang Heng uploaded a screenshot of Li Pei'en's Instagram. Caption:
【Password recovered, and, Mine.】
THE END.