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Xiang Fei was down on his luck having to live in his rundown, moldy apartment building from hell after finally moving out of his family home. That is until one day, when he met a kind stranger who helped him pay for groceries after his card got declined. Xiang Fei is truly forever grateful for running into Shen Yuan on one fateful day. At first it was utterly terrifying when the man found out he was the author of Proud Immortal Demon Way, but if not for that, Shen Yuan would have never taken him in.
Suddenly Xiang Fei was blessed with new clothes, warm meals, and a safe and quiet place to write the story he had always wanted to write. His loyal readers were rightfully pissed off at first, but when his viewership and paycheck went into free-fall mode, Shen Yuan was always there to support him. Who knew he would live to see the day where those harsh words were pointed at someone other than himself?
It wasn't until a year later that his story unexpectedly blew up in popularity, amassing him a large volume of love, hate, and money for his hard work! Even more so than when he was writing thousands of words of porn everyday!
There is more than enough money in his bank account for Xiang Fei to live independently, and never work again so long as he uses his money wisely! He is both sad and relived that there is no need for him to stay at Shen Yuan’s place anymore, but he plans to make the most of time left with his best bro.
A few weeks have passed since the arrival of the good news.
Xiang Fei excitedly opens the door to Shen Yuan’s room. It’s pitch black, so he tip-toes into the room before shutting the door stealthily behind him. “Bro?” he whispers as he scurries over to the bed that has way too many pillows. “Are you awake—”
“Ughh…” Shen Yuan rolls over to the middle of the bed with a groan. “Another nightmare?" He lifts up the blanket, inviting the author into his bed. “Hurry up, it's cold!” Shen Yuan hisses.
“Ah, no nightmares tonight!” Xiang Fei dives under the covers before Shen Yuan changes his mind. “Phew! It’s so chilly tonight I’m surprised you’re letting me take the warm spot. Thanks bro! I knew you cared about m—”
Shen Yuan slaps his hand onto Xiang Fei’s mouth. “Airplane, you’re being too loud.” He releases Xiang Fei’s mouth before that dirty hack author can think about licking his palm. “Alright, just get to the point before I fall back to sleep,” he mutters groggily.
“Look,” Xiang Fei says as he turns on his phone, allowing the blinding white light of the screen to pierce through the darkness. “I found an apartment—”
“Airplane!” Shen Yuan scowls before turning away from Xiang Fei and hiding his head under the covers. “That’s too fucking bright! Turn it off!!”
Xiang shuts off his phone, and only then does Shen Yuan emerge from the covers. “Sorry bro.” He smiles sheepishly, even though Shen Yuan definitely can’t see it in the dark and without his glasses on. Xiang Fei gets himself all cozied up in Shen Yuan’s bed. Curling on his side, nuzzling his face into a fluffy pillow and pulling the blanket up to his chin. “I found an apartment that’s like… two cities away? The rates there are nice and cheap—”
Shen Yuan waves him off. “That’s too far away.”
“Too far from you?” Xiang Fei scoots a little closer. “Why would that matter?”
Shen Yuan scoffs. “I’m your emergency contact now. What’s going to happen if you get yourself electrocuted again? You obviously need me close by to check up on you and keep you alive.”
Sheesh! You electrocute yourself just ONE TIME, and all of the sudden Airplane doesn't know how to take care of himself…
Xiang Fei grumbles. He isn’t used to people expressing their care towards him like this. It feels nice, but also too good to be true. “And if I’m dead there won’t be anymore chapter updates for you, right? That's what you’re really worried about.”
Shen Yuan seemingly senses the dumb smile creeping onto Xiang Fei’s face and decidedly hurls a pillow in the author’s direction. The pillow narrowly misses its target, landing on the cold floor instead. “Find a place that’s closer,” Shen Yuan orders, then grabs a new pillow to lay his head on. “And go back to sleep!”
Xiang Fei chuckles. “I’ve been living on my own for way longer than you have but sure, bro.”
“Sleep. Now.”
“Love you too—mph…!!” Xiang Fei struggles and squirms as Shen Yuan attempts to smother him with another pillow.
Over the several months Xiang Fei manages to find many apartments that are much closer to Shen Yuan, and yet the critic still manages to find something wrong with each one. And apparently each problem is a deal breaker. Just as Xiang Fei is about to give up he manages to strike gold! There is a new vacancy in the apartment complex across the street. Surely Shen Yuan can’t complain about this one!
Xiang Fei decides to see how it looks in person, with Shen Yuan tagging along behind him.
Shen Yuan does what he does best and criticizes everything and anything he can. He compares the apartment to his own, saying that his is more spacious and has better amenities, but Xiang Fei is more than content living here! This new apartment is a far cry from his old one; it’s practically paradise compared to the run-down shoebox Xiang Fei used to live in.
Shen Yuan merely huffs, stating that Xiang Fei’s past experiences have made his standards too low.
“Bro this is too good to pass up! It’s right next door and we could hang out whenever we want!”
Shen Yuan crinkles his nose. “This place doesn’t allow pets.”
“Uhm.” Xiang Fei blinks a few times in utter bewilderment. “None of us have pets though??”
Shen Yuan huffs, then elbows Xiang Fei in the ribcage, his expression only souring further. “That doesn’t mean we won't have any in the future!”
“Oh?” Xiang Fei grins. “Are we gonna get a cat?!”
“No. Dogs are far superior.” Shen Yuan scoffs, and forcefully tugs Xiang Fei back home.
Another month of apartment hunting goes by with miraculous luck. Xiang Fei manages to get the lease for an apartment just a block away. It looks nice, has all the necessary amenities that Shen Yuan demands, and even allows dogs and cats.
The papers have been sitting on top of the living room table for about a week now, and yet the two men continue about their day as if it doesn’t exist.
Xiang Fei lounges on the couch, shoulder-to-shoulder with Shen Yuan with their two new pets curled up against to their respective owners— Xiang Fei with his new kitten, and Shen Yuan with his new puppy. The living room is dim and quiet as the two wind down before bed.
Xiang Fei idly skritches below the chin of his beautiful, black-furred, blue-eyed kitten. He creatively named him Mobei-Jun: his perfect little prince.
The small kitten lies stretched across Xiang Fei’s lap in utter bliss, and of course Shen Yuan has Luo Binghe curled up in his lap too, the anxious little ball of fur has been attached to Shen Yuan since the day he came home.
Huh. Home.
Xiang Fei leans into Shen Yuan, and Shen Yuan leans into him in return.
“You know, when I think back about these couple of years living together, it almost seems like you never wanted me to leave in the first place.” Xiang Fei laughs quietly so as not to ruin their little moment of peace and quiet. “This place almost feels like home to me now.”
“Almost?” Shen Yuan questions, tactically ignoring Xiang Fei’s first statement.
“Well…” Xiang Fei stares up at the ceiling. “I didn’t bring many of my belongings from my old place— not that I even had much to begin with. I also haven’t really bought much since, so…” Sensing Shen Yuan boring holes into the side of his head with an intense stare, Xiang Fei pauses. He returns Shen Yuan’s gaze with a sheepish grin. “When I look around at this place, none of this is really mine. You know?” Xiang Fei gestures generally to their surroundings. “This whole place doesn’t exactly say ‘Welcome to Shen Yuan and Xiang Fei’s home!’ it’s more like, ah, just Shen Yuan’s home? I guess? N-not that I expect you to change anything for me! I know that this is only temporary…”
Little Bingpup stirs in his sleep, seemingly picking up on the growing tension in the room.
“Ah.” Xiang Fei leans away. “Sorry, bro. Of course, I’m grateful for everything you’ve done! I’m just—”
“We’re going furniture shopping tomorrow.” The tone in Shen Yuan’s voice supposedly leaves no room for argument, but Xiang Fei can’t help asking.
“So you want me to think of this place as home?” Xiang Fei glances at the papers on the table. “Then why didn’t you say so before I got the lease?! Do you have any idea how stressful and tiring it is to—”
Shen Yuan shoots him a warning glare. “Airplane, keep your voice down or you’ll wake up Binghe,” he hisses.
“Ahaha… sorry, sorry.”
Shen Yuan sinks his fingers into the soft, fluffy curls of Binghe’s fur; it appears to have a calming effect on the critic. “I know you didn’t sign the lease yet.”
Xiang Fei’s nerves have been slowly eating away at him, and without realizing it, he starts petting Mobei-Jun a bit too fervently for the little prince’s liking. “Did you ever even want me to move out—ouch!” Xiang Fei’s hand is now being swatted at by an annoyed kitten. “Damn, those claws need a trim. Mobei…” Xiang Fei coos. “Don't abuse your loyal servant like this, you’re hurting his poor heart!”
“Xiang Fei.”
Feeling like he’s in trouble, Xiang Fei straightens up his posture. Shen Yuan never calls him by his actual name!
“I don’t…” Shen Yuan huffs, face turning red. He glances at the lease on the table, then back to Xiang Fei. “I don’t want you to move out.”
Xiang Fei blinks a few times before a devious smile emerges on his face. “So what you’re saying is… you love me,” he says jokingly.
To his surprise, Shen Yuan doesn’t try to throw a pillow at him or try to push Xiang Fei away. Instead he looks rather pensive, as if genuinely taking Xiang Fei’s words into consideration.
“Do you…?” Xiang Fei’s voice cracks. “D-do you actually…?!”
Shen Yuan groans. “Just get up and properly throw away that lease for me.”
Come on, bro! Don't just change the subject on me!!
Xiang Fei takes notice of Shen Yuan's vulnerable state and decides to give the man some leniency for today. He will simply have to bring it up tomorrow, with an extra helping of teasing to make up for making him wait. “I would like to, but…” Xiang Fei gestures to Mobei-Jun still curled up in his lap. “I can’t move while the cat is in my lap, sorry bro. It’s against the law; you do it.”
Shen Yuan huffs. “I’m not waking up Binghe for this. He needs his rest.”
“Well, then we’ll just have to do it later. Right, bro? Permanent roommate? Boyfriend…?” Xiang Fei scoots closer, pressing up against Shen Yuan’s side. He relishes the sight of Shen Yuan's heated face for a moment longer before casually holding his hand out for Shen Yuan to hold.
Shen Yuan's lips twitches, staring intensely at Xiang Fei's hand as he contemplates.
Sensing Shen Yuan's nerves, Xiang Fei smiles to reassure him— a stark contrast from the author's usual crass and perverted demeanor. "We don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with, bro." He shrugs, slowly pulling his hand back. "No pressure—“
A warm, clammy hand gingerly interlocks with Xiang Fei’s. "If we're going to be in a relationship, you absolutely cannot call me 'bro' anymore," Shen Yuan says with a huff.
Xiang Fei rests his head against Shen Yuan’s shoulder to hide the devious grin plastered on his face. "How about I call you A-Yuan?"
Shen Yuan sighs. "It'll do for now, but you have to come up with something better by tomorrow."
“That’s not a lot of time— ouch!”
Shen Yuan pinches the author again for good measure.
"Ah! Okay, okay!” Xiang Fei says with a big grin on his face. “You got it, A-Yuan."
The two of them lounge on the couch for a little while longer, simply enjoying each other's company until they decide to retire to their bedroom.
Never before has Xiang Fei felt such bliss.