Chapter Text
A month ago… that’s when it happened. Shen Yuan, who had been taking a quick nap, cheek squished against the hard wood of his desk, was rudely awakened by a harsh, red light. When he looked up from said nap, he came face to face with a man he quickly recognized. Luo Binghe.
How was this even happening?! The protagonist from his fav- least favorite web novel was currently crawling out of his computer, a terrifying expression plastered on his face. Was this the end? This overdone, lazy cliché? seriously!? It was depressing, really. He was in his 20s, which meant he was far too young to die, but far too old to die as a virgin who spent all his time reading webnovels in bed.
Haa… He was surprised he even made it this far. He would've thought he’d have died 100 times over by now from all the terrible writing he’d had to endure up until this point.
Mom? Dad? Brothers? Whatever happens, please hunt down that damned ‘Airplane shooting towards the sky’! Don't let him get away with all the atrocities he committed by writing ‘Proud immortal demon way’.
Just as he finished this rushed prayer and was accepting his fate, Luo Binghe’s face suddenly smashed into the desk. Had this ruthless, cunning, OP protagonist actually slipped while trying to get the rest of his body through the computer screen? As soon as Luo Binghe’s face hit the wooden desk, his body went completely limp. By then, though, he had already slipped the rest of his body out of that small screen, and his unconscious figure nearly fell forward and crushed Shen Yuan.
Shen Yuan, who had just barely missed being crushed, sat there in shock. What the hell was happening? Was he going insane from staying inside too long? That thought was immediately dismissed when he turned and stared down at the very real Luo Binghe. His body was lying on the ground, right beside his computer chair, and it looked quite pathetic. After he got his fill of staring, he realized it was probably best to take action: unless he wanted to die… or be tortured in twisted ways that made death seem pleasant in comparison.
And so, Shen Yuan used all the strength he had to pull the unconscious man into his walk-in closet. For Shen Yuan, pulling anyone’s dead weight would be a challenge. There wasn't time to work out when your whole life was basically online. But to pull a 6ft, stallion protagonist… It was difficult. Each step made Shen Yuan afraid that his back would give out. And when he finally reached inside the walk-in closet, he immediately let go of the arms he’d been dragging before sucking in a long breath.
He turned, ready to run out and find something to restrain Luo Binghe with. But as he reached the door, a strained voice called out to him. “Don’t move. Come back.” Shen Yuan faltered, coming to an immediate stop. He slowly turned, his eyes meeting Luo Binghe’s. The Protagonist held onto a nearby shelf with one hand, while the other rested on the big bump in the center of his forehead where he’d slammed down on the desk. Even injured and struggling to stand, Luo Binghe was imposing, and honestly, annoyingly attractive. As expected from the stallion Protagonist with 3000 wives!
Two men, one dressed in a plain green shirt and black boxers, and the other garbed in ancient Chinese robes, stared at each other in silence. Shen Yuan was unable to squeak out a single word, and Luo Binghe didn't seem to be planning to elaborate on why he’d asked Shen Yuan to return. So, they both stood there, exchanging nothing but a gaze. A minute passed, both men rendered equally mute as their eyes were locked in a vicious staring contest. It finally ended in a draw as Luo Binghe tilted his head, eyeing the closet he was in.
“Do you know what's going on?” Luo Binghe inquired, perturbed. In his heart, Shen Yuan lit a candle for himself. I mean, he somewhat understood what was going on, but if he presented that to Luo Binghe, would he be insta-killed? Plus, what if he turned out to be wrong? He wasn't willing to take that chance.
When he opened his mouth to reply, an unintelligible squeak came out. He quickly cleared his throat, feeling his face heat up. “I- I have no idea! I'm just as confused as you are!” Luo Binghe knit his brows, doubt shrouding his face. The hostility in the room dampened a sliver, but neither of them let their guards down. Luo Binghe straightened his back before stepping forward, hands clasped together. It was as if nothing had happened prior to this “conversation”. Shen Yuan tensed as he was approached. He knew there would be no escape. Nothing could protect him if Luo Binghe truly desired to kill him. Luo Binghe had reached the closet door, right in front of Shen Yuan. A hand reached towards him and- plop. Shen Yuan grunted as he was shoved to the ground, wrists aching and butt sore. Hey, why wasn't there a gaping hole in his chest?
Shen Yuan shook out his wrists before looking up in confusion. For once, his gaze wasn't returned; Luo Binghe seemed too busy looking around his room. Shen Yuan had no idea what to do while Luo Binghe was snooping. He settled on staying still, his butt yet to lift off the floorboards.
It was only natural for Luo Binghe to be curious about everything. This weird, modern world was new to him. ‘Proud Immortal Demon Way’ was set in an over-the-top historical fantasy setting; it was safe to say that the two universes were different. Very, very different. So, he didn't blame Luo Binghe for taking his time.
After a few more minutes of looking around, Luo Binghe paused and turned back to Shen Yuan. His gaze wasn’t as intimidating as before, and it seemed like he’d calmed down. An even more awkward silence formed between them. They had returned to staring blankly at each other. “Who are you?” Luo Binghe asked, though his words came out unnatural, almost forced. Shen Yuan stared up at the towering figure in front of him. “I'm Shen Yuan,” he replied. “I swear, I have nothing to do with whatever is happening! I was asleep one second, and before I even had the time to process it, you came crawling out of my screen!” Luo Binghe lifted his hand to signal his desire for silence. Shen Yuan quickly shut up.
“Screen, you say?” Luo Binghe seemed to ponder for a moment. He suddenly looked up, as if remembering something important, before he strode over to Shen Yuan’s desk and examined the laptop lying on it. He looked back at Shen Yuan, who had quietly lifted himself from the ground while Luo Binghe’s focus was elsewhere. “Yeah, that.” Shen Yuan confirmed.
Slowly, Luo Binghe lifted his hand and hovered near the black screen. It didn't have a single blemish. If you saw it, you wouldn't have a clue that someone had somehow fit through it. Luo Binghe looked back once more at the man behind him before pulling away. He suddenly stepped closer to Shen Yuan and grabbed him by his wrist. Fuck, the protagonist was unnecessarily rough. His poor wrist had gone through so much in just a few minutes. Between being fallen on and now being tugged forward, it truly hurt. He didn’t even realize what had happened. One moment he was standing on the sidelines, eyes following Luo Binghe. And the next moment, he was being violently tugged on. His panic only lasted a moment, though, because Luo Binghe came to a halt just a few seconds later.
Shen Yuan sobbed internally. His laptop… the screen had been cracked into a thousand pieces! And the drops of blood on it indicated that it wasn't the only thing that had been hurt. Luo Binghe had thought it a good idea to try, without verifying it would work, hoisting himself and, for some reason, Shen Yuan through the laptop. Thank god Shen Yuan had been behind Luo Binghe when it happened, or else he would've toppled straight into the wall. After mourning the death of his laptop, he remembered the other problem. “Ah, Binghe, are you-” Luo Binghe snapped his head to glare at Shen Yuan, his expression growing darker. Immediately, Shen Yuan knew what he’d done wrong.
Two hands shot for Shen Yuan’s neck. One of the hands was bloodied, the other pristine. Both hands, however, had killed.
Shen Yuan bolted for the door. He slammed it open and ran towards his bathroom. “Shen Yuan, stay where you are!” Luo Binghe yelled, running after him. Fueled by pure adrenaline, Shen Yuan threw himself into his bathroom and locked the door behind him. The handle shook furiously, and Luo Binghe shouted in frustration when he realized he couldn't break in. Shen Yuan gasped for breath, trying his best to calm himself down. Even if Luo Binghe was still clearly OP, his demonic powers seemed to have vanished completely. What other explanation could there be? Luo Binghe should've been capable of not only tearing down the door, but also completely obliterating the apartment building as a whole. The fact that he hadn’t yet was reason enough for Shen Yuan to be sure of his hypothesis.
Shen Yuan jolted, thoughts coming to a stop as Luo Binghe began to bang on the door. “I won't kill you. So, let me in.” He emphasised the last part. His attempts to get inside became less violent, and he even seemed a little desperate. “Come on. I just want you to answer me.”
Shen Yuan was having a dilemma. He understood he couldn't trust Luo Binghe; The protagonist knew how to use his charm to his advantage, and manipulating people came as second nature to him. This was obvious to Shen Yuan after reading so many chapters of PIDW. Shen Yuan still couldn’t help but feel bad, though, despite himself. He may have cussed out the “Novel” Luo Binghe stared in plenty of times, but never Luo Binghe himself. Shen Yuan had a soft spot for this male lead. A soft spot that he felt might be the death of him. And so, as he listened to Luo Binghe clawing and begging on the other side of the door, he found his resolve slipping, slowly but surely.
“Luo Binghe,” he paused, mulling over what he wanted to say, “just tell me what you want to know. I swear I’ll answer honestly! But I promise, I really didn't do this!” He didn't truly believe he would stop Luo Binghe with just a few words. But to his surprise, Luo Binghe seemed to hesitate. While Binghe was weak, he struck again. “I have some idea of what might have happened, but you need to trust me!” He tried to make himself seem more sure than he really was. If he could convince Luo Binghe to listen to his theories, which were all backed by his hours and hours' worth of reading web novels, Luo Binghe might give him a chance; He just had to prove himself useful.
Luo Binghe was silent on the other end. Good. That meant he was considering it. Shen Yuan let out a breath he didn't know he’d been holding. After a while, the door handle began to turn again. When it still didn't open, Luo Binghe tapped the wood lightly. “Ok. I understand. Can I come in now?” His voice sounded so sweet. Shen Yuan felt like a pirate being cajoled into the ocean by a siren. “Do you promise you won't attack me?” Shen Yuan’s voice contained a hint of nervousness despite his attempt at hiding it. “Mhm.” With this confirmation, Shen Yuan finally clicked the lock back. The door lay unmoving for a few seconds before it slowly creaked open. Luo Binghe stepped a foot inside. He stared at Shen Yuan, his expression complicated. He leaned forward, as if to grab Shen Yuan. Immediately on guard, Shen Yuan shrank back.
Luo Binghe looked abashed. He knew Shen Yuan feared him, but for his touch to be rejected so outright… It almost hurt. “You said you would tell me what was happening, right?” Luo Binghe asked as he tilted his head slightly. Shen Yuan relaxed a bit, standing straight again. “I’ll tell you all I know. But first, let's get out of the bathroom.” Luo Binghe nodded and turned back to the door, only to pause and hold it open for Shen Yuan. He wouldn’t risk being tricked and locked out once more.
Shen Yuan slipped past the door and gave a quiet ‘thanks’. Truthfully, he hadn’t planned past this point. He didn’t even know where it would be best to chat in his small apartment. The kitchen has too many sharp things lying around. My bedroom is filled with delicate merch and limited collectibles. We just came out of the cramped bathroom. Really, the only place left now was the front room. It wasn't a bad idea. The front room had a nice couch in it, one made to fit many people. It might raise Shen Yuan’s chance of survival if he could have a nice, relaxing talk with Luo Binghe instead of running from him. “Ah, come with me.” Shen Yuan said while making his way to the front room; Luo Binghe followed closely behind.
After sitting down, they talked for quite a long while. Luo Binghe listened intently the entire time, his eyes never straying from Shen Yuan’s face.
Shen Yuan tried his best to explain the process of transmigration and other such things. Though he conveniently made sure to leave out any details that would hint to Luo Binghe that he was a fictional character from some shitty Web Novel. If he accidently triggered an existential crisis within the main character, who knew what would happen.
Luo Binghe seemed satisfied with the explanation Shen Yuan had given. It wasn’t overly complicated despite it being such a foreign concept. And most importantly, it made decent sense. Maybe there were a few plot holes here and there, but Luo Binghe figured he’d fill them in as he learned more. “So, you’re saying you suspect I transmigrated into this new… Universe?” He inquired. Shen Yuan swiftly replied. “It’s the most likely conclusion. I don’t know how exactly you ended up here, but I’m willing to gamble it had something to do with transmigration.” Luo Binghe’s expression grew a smidge darker. Paired with a sexy smile, he was quite scary. Shen Yuan hadn’t the slightest idea what he’d done to earn this horrifying look. His soul nearly left his body when he heard Luo Binghe speak again. “If Shen Yuan wants to know how I got here, this one will tell him.” Each word sounded like a threat, and Shen Yuan couldn't help but sweat. His brain was in overdrive as he struggled to find a way to get out of this conversation. “How about another time? It’s almost midnight, and I haven't eaten anything past breakfast.” Shen Yuan felt his face heat up. Why was the first thing he thought to talk about food? Whatever, it seemed to do the trick. Luo Binghe had backed up again, his expression more curious and less murderous. “I’m checking the fridge. Do you want something?” Luo Binghe stood up from the couch before even Shen Yuan did. “I’ll see for myself.”
・・・۶ৎ・・・
And so, that was how the two very different men, from very different universes, ended up staring at a depressingly empty fridge together. Shen Yuan was a second-gen rich kid. He never had to make his own meals and mostly got food delivered. Luo Binghe didn’t seem to care about the lack of food, however. His attention seemed to be on the fridge itself. Shen Yuan promptly thought up a good way to explain it to him. “It keeps things cold so they don't go bad. It’s hard to explain how… just think of it like an ice spell.” Luo Binghe made a small ‘oh’ in acknowledgment.
It didn’t look like anything appetising could be made, so as per usual, Shen Yuan got out his phone to order something online. He scrolled through the app, trying his best to find something Luo Binghe would like. He ended up settling on getting a box of Xiaolongbao and Lo mein from a highly rated restaurant. He turned to tell Luo Binghe that the food would arrive shortly, but when he turned, he found Luo Binghe directly behind him. Their faces nearly smacked together, and Shen Yuan had to hold back a yelp. “I was simply observing what you were doing. There's no need to get so worked up.” Shen Yuan let out a shaky breath. “Don’t stand so close behind me. If you wanted to look, just ask!” Shen Yuan’s scolding came so naturally that he hadn’t even realized he was doing it. He quickly shut his mouth as soon as he saw the dark expression beginning to cloud Luo Binghe’s face. “The food will be here soon. How about we go back to the couch and wait?” He exclaimed.
As they sat, Shen Yuan browsed through FlixyNet. What would a stallion protagonist like Luo Binghe want to watch? All action or horror films were out of the question. If Luo Binghe got any ideas from them… He shivered at the thought. Shen Yuan flipped to the romance section. The most widely known fact about Luo Binghe was his 3000 wives; wouldn’t a guy like him be able to appreciate a good old-fashioned romance?
‘Blossoming Jade Petals’ was a new release and was creating waves within the C-drama community. Supposedly, it was a heartwarming story between a passionate male cultivator and an oblivious beauty. Perfect. Shen Yuan thought as he clicked on it. Luo Binghe perked up at the familiar sound of a Guqin being strummed. His eyes locked onto the big TV screen, staring with intensity. Shen Yuan thought about explaining again and turned to look at Luo Binghe. “This is basically a moving picture with sound. It’s almost like watching a play.” Luo Binghe nodded and went back to staring at the screen. After the intro had passed, Shen Yuan could tell why this show had such a big fanbase already. He found it embarrassingly hard trying to hide his interest in it. Luo Binghe, however, seemed completely uninterested. Shen Yuan caught him staring at him on multiple occasions. It got so bad that Shen Yuan was about to ask him to look back at the TV when the doorbell suddenly rang. Another perfect excuse! Food really was the best way to get out of unwanted situations. “It’s here. Stay put while I get it.”
Shen Yuan got up from the couch, stretched his back, and yawned before making his way to the door. When he opened it, a familiar face greeted him. “You again?” He wasn't being rude. It was just that, almost every time he’d ordered out this week, the same guy delivered it. “Yep. I’ve been delivering all day… It’s hell!” The man sighed. “Rent went up on me out of nowhere. Now I'm working two jobs!” Shen Yuan hummed in acknowledgment. He felt bad for this new acquaintance of his. He was very handsome, and Shen Yuan thought he would look right at home playing in a shitty c-drama. The pathetic look he had really brought it all together. Shen Yuan approved! His girlfriend would be very lucky indeed.
He shook his head and focused on the mission once more. Grabbing the bag from the stranger, he made sure to hand him a great tip. The man looked like he was about to burst into tears. “Thank you, bro!” He clutched the bill close to his heart. “This is like… a whole chapter’s worth of earnings!” Suddenly, that joyful look froze, replaced with one of pure shock. Shen Yuan tilted his head and turned to see what the man was staring at.
“Why are you taking so long? Who are you talking to?” Luo Binghe asked, standing directly behind him. Shen Yuan, once again, felt his soul almost leave his body. “I told you not to do that.” It was clear that he was getting bolder and bolder. Luo Binghe didn’t bat an eye as he was told off. He simply kept his eyes on the poor delivery driver, whose expression matched that of someone seeing a dead family member suddenly crawl from their grave. “I-I-I-,” He stuttered out, “I should go. It's late! So late! Goodbye, rich bro!” And with that, he took off running to the elevator. Confused, Shen Yuan turned to face Luo Binghe again. Food now in his possession, he closed the door and walked back in. “Come on, I'm sure we’re both equally hungry.”
Shen Yuan and Luo Binghe sat there, facing each other quietly. The only sounds heard were the slurping of noodles and occasionally the xiaolongbao. “How is it?” Shen Yuan asked as he watched Luo Binghe shoveling food into his mouth. A pair of big, black eyes looked up, and for the first time, a genuine smile seemed to form on Luo Binghe’s face.
Creepy. That was the only thing in Shen Yuan’s head as he took in that grin. Even if it seemed genuine, it looked so unnatural that Shen Yuan couldn't help feeling uneasy. OOC! OOC! Binghe wouldn’t smile like this at anyone! Unless, of course, it was the beginning of a new wife plot. “It’s fine.” Luo Binghe answered. His tone was normal, which eased Shen Yuan somewhat. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get that odd expression out of his mind. “When are you leaving?” This question made Luo Binghe still. “I won't.” He sounded firm in his decision, making Shen Yuan hesitate. “Why not, though? There really isn’t anything fun to do here. And besides, my apartment is only meant to fit one person. I promise you won't enjoy staying here.” Luo Binghe sat up from his chair before leaning over the table towards Shen Yuan. “It seems that you know a lot about what I want. You even knew my name. Care to explain why?”
Each word spoken was filled with hostility and suspicion, yet the manner in which they were spoken was as sweet as sugar. Shen Yuan had prepared for this blow. “Truthfully, I happened to read a book about you. One that explained much about you. Because of your greatness, even people in this universe talk about you.” Shen Yuan let Luo Binghe soak in that knowledge before he continued. “I didn't mean to hide it from you. I just wasn't sure if you were truly who I thought you were!” Internally, Shen Yuan was clapping out of pure relief. Luo Binghe seemed to believe him, for he nodded and sat back down. The relief Shen Yuan felt was short-lived, because as soon as Luo Binghe sat back down, he proclaimed something that made Shen Yuan’s blood run cold. “I will take this as the truth for now. But if I find out you have deceived me, I won't hesitate to kill you.” What's said was said. That was a problem for future Shen Yuan.
And just like that, dinner had been eaten. The two plates were empty, cleared of every last crumb. It was obvious both men had been starving. Shen Yuan had told Luo Binghe he was heading off to sleep and had pulled the bed part of his couch out for Luo Binghe to sleep on. Surprisingly, Luo Binghe didn't complain. He had obediently taken the blankets Shen Yuan had given him and lay down shortly after. When everything seemed to be going well, Shen Yuan let out a sigh and headed to his room. Before he slept, he made sure to triple-check that his door’s lock was working. Only then did he shut his eyes and allow himself to sleep.