Work Text:
Every day for the past week Shen Yuan has tried not to pay attention to how this cute guy at his favourite cafe keeps not noticing that he hasn’t finished his drink.
Not like, cute in a weird way or anything. More, cute in the type of way that Shen Yuan can’t stop looking at him. Because he’s like a little hamster sort of way.
Or, in the sort of way that he’s super concentrated on his furious typing and it makes Shen Yuan think that maybe they have common interests.
In short, cute in a fellow writing appreciator way. In a bro way.
And it’s precisely his laser-focus on his writing that makes Shen Yuan keep looking at him, because he’s been there for ages and he doesn’t even seem to register that the cup he keeps picking up is empty as he sucks on the straw in his mouth.
It keeps bothering Shen Yuan so much that by now he even knows the guy’s order.
Which is why today, Shen Yuan can’t take it any more and he orders an extra drink. Then walks over to where the cute guy is typing away as usual, not looking up as he approaches. Even though Shen Yuan sees him so often, the guy has never noticed him. Not even when he sits at a table close by or brings his own laptop to read.
“Hey,” he says, laptop under his arm. Maybe he could just ask… “I always see you writing here, can I sit with you?” Then, embarrassed when the guy looks at him, he adds: “It just looks like a peaceful space.”
Shen Yuan is totally oblivious to how Xiang Fei is suddenly trying to process the gay panic that, omg omg the pretty guy I always see is talking to me what did I do help!!!
“Y-yeah of course!” He replies. “I’m Xiang Fei.”
“Shen Yuan,” Shen Yuan says, sitting down. He pushes the plastic cup towards Xiang Fei. “I saw your drink ran out, so…”
“I hadn’t noticed, thanks bro!” Xiang Fei says, not comprehending how this is happening. “Wow, this is my favourite.”
“That’s good,” Shen Yuan coughs, like he didn’t totally know that information. “So, you like writing?”
“Yep, that I do,” Xiang Fei says, scratching his neck. “It’s mostly for fun but I do have a webnovel of sorts…”
The admission gets Shen Yuan excited. “That’s pretty cool. I prefer to read, mostly the stuff on Zhongdian.”
“Yep, that’s where I’m published, haha.” Xiang Fei leans forward, face bright. “I normally work on it at home but I thought it would be good to have a change of scene so I’ve started coming here recently.”
It’s surprisingly easy to talk to Xiang Fei, and Shen Yuan finds himself thoroughly enjoying his conversation with, as he discovers, his fellow webnovel and anime enthusiast. They have really similar tastes and Shen Yuan can’t remember the last time he got to rant with someone or analyse characters like this that wasn’t online.
It doesn’t even get uncomfortable when their chatting eventually dies down — Xiang Fei just gets back to his writing, and Shen Yuan makes the most of the peace to catch up on the latest chapters of the stories he follows.
It’s fun. It’s nice.
And the next day, he doesn’t hesitate to sit down again at Xiang Fei’s table with a small wave. Or the day after that. Or the day after that.
Soon it becomes routine, and it’s an ordinary day when Shen Yuan buys Xiang Fei his usual drink and sits down with him happily. He has to admit, he’s grown to look forward to his hangouts with his new friend, to the point they’ve become the highlight of his day. He’s just so great to talk to, and so hardworking it’s sweet — and it’s so funny to see when he scrunches his nose when he writes a particular line, or starts typing even faster when he gets into it.
Shen Yuan is enjoying the peace as usual, when Xiang Fei finally stops typing, clicks a few keys and sighs in relief, stretching. Shen Yuan smiles at him, but his attention is captured again when he gets a PIDW notification!
Time to see what that hack has came up with this time.
Shen Yuan clicks open the new chapter and starts reading it quickly. He can feel his expression getting more disgusted with each line. He skims it in a few minutes to get the general idea and then slaps his hand on the table.
“Uhh… you okay bro?” Xiang Fei asks awkwardly.
“No!” Shen Yuan exclaims. “It’s that stupid hack author Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky!”
Too absorbed in his anger, Shen Yuan doesn’t register how Xiang Fei freezes. He certainly isn’t aware of his thought process: oh shit, pretty guy I’ve somehow befriended knows my work he’s going to hate me.
“Oh haha, him,” Xiang Fei trails awkwardly.
“You know him?!” Shen Yuan asks. “Oh, good, so I don’t need to explain the backstory of the trash that Proud Immortal Demon Way is. It’s this stupid chapter!” Shen Yuan turns his laptop around and gestures furiously. “Did he forget this was meant to be the climax of the Hundred Years Moonlight-Orchid Feud arc?? Why was the tension between the two warring clans just not resolved, and instead the focus is on Binghe getting a wife from each of them and having a threesome??! Plot holes so deep no one could dream of filling them, plot bunnies running wild everywhere just so Binghe can have some brainless papapa! He deserves better! That rage-baiting hack!”
Oh shit, the pretty guy I’m crushing on is totally Peerless Cucumber. Xiang Fei stares at him in horror.
Realising he isn’t answering, Shen Yuan calms down a bit and tilts his head at Xiang Fei. “What?” He asks.
“Ahaha, nothing! Nothing at all why do you sound so accusative surely it can’t be that bad?” Xiang Fei sweats.
Shen Yuan scrutinises his reaction confusedly, and suddenly his eyes seem to widen in anger.
Oh no oh no oh no. Xiang Fei has never had a good poker face. He’s totally been seen through.
“No fucking way, it’s you!!” Shen Yuan shouts. “How are you the sex-obsessed stallion writer who pumps out thousands of words of trash porn everyday?”
Uh, and why am I still finding your stupid guilty face kind of cute???
Xiang Fei flinches back and he manages to find himself. “Stop dissing my life’s work bro, you’re hurting my feelings. Give me some dignity.”
“Dignity! What dignity! What’s a shut-in virgin like you even doing writing porn!”
Damn bro! Heart getting broken here, give a guy some slack!! Your hater side has too much rage!
Shen Yuan stares at him, trying to reconcile the image of nerdy cutie with horny pervert writer. It’s a lot to process. Shen Yuan can’t imagine him wanting to do it with a woman, even. Anger mostly calming down, he sighs. What does he do with this guy.
“I think I know your problem,” he says, aloof. “You don’t have enough experience. You should get some.”
Xiang Fei scratches his neck awkwardly. “Uhh from where,” he laughs.
“Ahem.”
Xiang Fei tilts his head in confusion.
“I’m saying I’m offering!” Shen Yuan spits angrily. Does he actually have to say it!!!
Xiang Fei gasps. “L-like in a we can kiss way?!”
“Yes.”
“Like in a practice doing stuff way??”
“Yes.”
“Like— like in a dating way—”
“Shut the-! YES THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I’M SAYING SO IS IT A YES OR WHAT???”
“Oh my god 100% yes bro!!” Xiang Fei exclaims, reaching to grab Shen Yuan’s hands in excitement which he grudgingly allows. “I can’t believe this. Yes!”
Shen Yuan rolls his eyes. He isn’t smiling. “Good,” he says.
Silly author is lucky he’s cute and Shen Yuan can’t stop looking at him. Wouldn’t catch Shen Yuan doing that boy-kissing stuff otherwise.