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The atmosphere in the room was quite peaceful, something that would’ve been surprising for most people that knew how Yin Yu’s closest shidis tended to behave when they were in each other’s proximity. But Yin Yu had discovered that there existed a way to get them to coexist peacefully! He wasn’t sure of exactly why it worked, but he knew it did, and that was all he needed.
All he had to do was… allow them to study or do their written assignments in his personal quarters, while he was working on his own obligations as head disciple, studying, or having some quiet time reading poetry.
Well, of course at the start his shidis kept bickering for a bit, but as soon as they started concentrating on their own thing, suddenly the atmosphere changed and they all focused much better than when they were on their own. Even Yin Yu himself found it easier to work on his own stuff —which at times could be a damn slog to go through— when he had the company of Jian Shi and Quan Yizhen.
It also had the added bonus of fun it was to watch them when they were that focused.
Jian Shi’s expression changed from his signature scowl into a softer one, and sometimes Yin Yu could almost see how hard his brain was working while he wrote, doing his best to keep his calligraphy neat and elegant —or rather, as elegant as he could— instead of giving in to the impulse of writing fast and carelessly to get it done quickly and calling it a day. Apparently, having company helped him take his time. Sometimes, he mumbled a bit to himself, or mouthed the words he was writing, and Yin Yu felt his own heart fill with fondness at the sight.
Quan Yizhen, on his part, looked absolutely adorable when concentrated, brows furrowed and sometimes even biting his bottom lip, while he pondered on the meanings of the contents of a cultivation manual, tried to remember how to write a specific character, or practiced a set of hand seals. He couldn’t stay still, though, and was always moving his body in some way while he completed his other tasks: it could be by moving a leg, rocking slightly from side to side, or just constantly changing his position. But he never did it in a way that was disruptive!
Sometimes, Yin Yu and Jian Shi mirrored the repetitive movements of Quan Yizhen, even, with the three of them rocking their bodies in sync without realizing they were doing it. It was soothing, for some reason! (Their Shizun would have probably scolded them, but he wasn’t there to lecture them about propriety, and the right countenance of a respectable cultivator and all that, anyway. And Yin Yu didn’t want to turn those sessions into a lecture, either. It was relaxing time! Not a class!)
Yin Yu, on his part, had no trouble reaching a very high level of focus, and completely lost sight of his surroundings when his brain finally entered that zone, allowing him to deal with his paperwork with great efficiency. it was good to have company, because that way he didn’t get completely lost in his work, and his shidis made him take a break when he was getting frustrated without realizing (usually they noticed he was grunting, and that was their sign to make a pause).
The fact that Yin Yu had tea and snacks ready for those breaks was also a nice bonus and motivation for them all, of course. A benefit of being the Head Disciple! But the best motivation for Jian Shi and Quan Yizhen was getting to share some time with their shixiong.
It was one of the few moments where they got to feel like friends first and foremost, where Yin Yu relaxed around them instead of focusing so much on being their shixiong.
During those shared moments, they were just three teenagers focusing on their studies, or joking around while dreaming of their future over tea and snacks. It was their safe bubble, and one of Yin Yu’s favorite things in life.
Especially when he decided to use that time to meditate for a bit, and his shidis followed suit.
It always ended with them napping together in a pile on the floor instead, though.
None of them would admit it happened, of course, —each of them had their own reasons for it— but they all loved those little naps the most.
It was yet another thing that no one else who knew them would have imagined could be true.
A precious little secret that Yin Yu held deep inside his heart.
♒︎☽☀︎☾♒︎
Yin Yu opened his eyes, realizing he had been tearing up.
Ah, how he missed them, how he wished he could go back to those simpler times, hug them again, do things differently. How he wished they were there for him, to accompany him through his endless paperwork, and bicker about stupid shit, and share some tea and some snacks while their overconfident teenage selves discussed all the ways in which they would fix all the world’s problems as soon as they ascended.
But those days would never come back.
And he had work to do.
So he got up, washed his face, donned his mask, and left those feelings behind.
He wasn’t even worthy of remembering them.