Work Text:
Shen Qingqiu sat by the window feeling the slight breeze hitting his face and swaying his hair, it has become increasingly chilly lately, in late autumn. He couldn’t help but feel slightly lonely without his husband by his side. These days Luo Binghe was constantly home from work late in the afternoon, dealing with some conflict between two demonic tribes in his palace. Shen Qingqiu couldn´t be bothered with what the tribes were fighting over though, probably some random region or travel route.
Still, he refrained from complaining, because then he wouldn’t be better than any of those 3000 wives’ he was complaining about on internet forums in his past life. And to hell if he was going to be sit here and be a hypocrite.
And it´s not as if he had any doubts that his husband would choose him over work any day. It was the exact opposite. In reality it was he who often had to drag his crybaby of a husband out of bed in the morning. If his husband was slacking off at work, it would reflect badly on his teachings!
When he imagined his husband crying, he felt a slight blush arrive on his face. He would never let his Binghe know, but he was secretly weak to those ghibli tears of his.
As Shen Qingqiu was deep in thought, he did not notice when someone entered the bedroom, even with his cultivator senses.
Only when the intruder put his hands around his shoulders from behind, did he finally notice the warm presence of another person. Shen Qingqiu let out a less than elegant, muted shout. If the system was still here it would in no doubt shout a deserved OOC warning at him.
The warm weight at his back asked “Did Shizun miss this husband?”
The Shizun had indeed missed his husband ever since he left their bed in the morning. But even if they have been married for five years, it was hard to get accustomed to displaying affection at the same level as his shameless husband.
Shen Qingqiu choose to only let out a “Mhm” to please his husband. For now at least. Luo Binghe was indeed pleased with his answer. Earlier in their marriage, his Shizun was to shy even for that. Luo Binghe smirked at the thought of his usually shy husband displaying more affection and taking the lead one day. Still, he was happy with anything and everything he received from the love of his life.
Luo Binghe sneakily took a quiet but deep breath of the long, luscious hair Infront of him before he moved to sit down next to his husband. He missed the warmth of his husbands body, but had longed too much to see his face during the annoyingly long day at work.
Staring into each other’s eyes, both with a slight blush, Luo Binghe asked “Is Shizun hungry for some dinner yet?”
Shen Qingqiu had been waiting the entire day for this, of course he was excited to taste the protagonist cooking. But he still had to keep up his poser act as always. “Mhm, this master would love to have some of Binghe’s delicious cuisine.”
Luo Binghe took out his Qiankun pouch from his sleeves. “Actually, this husband was thinking of making today's dinner together this evening. Shizun asked for me to teach him how to make congee the last time I made some.
Ah, Shen Qingqiu had totally forgot about that, even if it was just last week. He had initially been embarrassed that he, a respectable peak lord, can’t make food as simple as congee. So, on a careless whim, he asked his husband to teach him. He himself forgot about it as soon as he asked, but of course his husband remembered every little detail, as usual. He felt quite endeared; honesty his husband still knew how to pull his heartstrings after years of marriage.
Luo Binghe on the other hand had two reasoning’s for wanting to teach him. The first being that he felt somewhat sorry for his husband the last time he tried to cook for him. Back then Luo Binghe had gotten a cold. He didn’t get regular colds anymore due to his heavenly demon blood, but that day he had stumbled upon a double headed cold tigress lily flower (Wife plot), that caused a sickness with the symptoms of a cold, and went about after only a week of rest, no dual cultivation needed (surprisingly).
Back then, his wonderful husband did his best to take care of him. He even tried to make his patient some chicken broth. Even delirious with heat, Luo Binghe gobbled up all of the broth his husband had made back then, not wanting to waste a single drop.
He would never in his life complain of his husband, but he admitted that his cooking skills could be… improved. He never spoke that thought out loud though, in respect for his dear Shizun.
His other reasoning was of a more selfish origin. The thought of the roles of student and master being swapped was something he had long dreamt of. Even if he would never let go of his Shizun kink, he was still interested in roleplay, like the incurable pervert he was.
Getting his mind out of the gutter, he paid attention to his Shizuns response. “This master wouldn’t be opposed to cooking with Binghe”.
After he got an answer Luo Binghe took Shizuns hand and lead them to the kitchen, not wasting any time, knowing his Shizun was hungry. They both practice inedia, but Shizun has always enjoyed the pleasure of food.
Once they arrived at the kitchen, Luo Binghe took his Qiankun pouch back out of his sleeves. This time, he opened it and pulled out a few ingredients. Congee was a fairly simple meal to make usually what one had at home was needed, but apparently his big, white lotus had brought fresh ingredients just for today.
Before Luo Binghe came home, he had hurried to a human village nearby that had a marked filled with fresh ingredients. He bought all that was needed for the Congee. Rice, salt, chicken and some vegetables.
Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help but be endeared. He chuckled lightly “I see you came prepared”.
Oh, how his husband loved it when he was looked upon like that. He couldn’t help but notice that he even dropped the formal speech. Did the domestics of making food together drop his guard. If so, he had to keep going.
Luo Binghe tried to smoothly answer “Of course I did. I’m always prepared for my husband”
Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help but notice how his husband changed the form of address from Shizun, to husband. He would much prefer to keep the conversation going like this, since he hated thinking about perving on his sweet, innocent, white lotus disciple.
He kept the act up with a gentle smile “Let’s get started on the Congee, shall we?”
“Of course, husband!” Luo Binghe exclaimed with a heartwarming smile. He found a big pot from a cabinet and put it on the stove. “We first need to boil the rice in a large amount of water, then we wait for the rice grains to break down into a smooth, creamy gruel”
Shen Qingqiu thought that it probably sounds simpler than it really is, but was motivated to try his best anyway.
He tried his best to pour in the rice and water to the pot, looking for conformation from his husband when he had added enough. Then he turned on the stove for the grain to simmer on. It would apparently take some time though, so they started cutting up the vegetables and chicken in the meantime.
Shen Qingqiu got the task of cutting up some spring onions and ginger, while Luo Binghe chopped the chicken up in small cubes.
Luo Binghe has to give several pointers to how to hold the knife and what cutting techniques were best. Shen Qingqiu was dangerously close to cutting his finger off at one point. Other than that Luo Binghe felt a silent joy in teaching his Shizun something for a change.
When done with cutting up the ingredients, Shizun was allowed to add them to the Congee. They still had to wait another incense sticks time while the food was simmering. Time passed quickly when they discussed their day with each other. The demon lord summarized all of the conflict in the demon realm lately while The Qing Jing peak lord complained about his own workload. His paperwork was a lot less draining than Luo Binghes, but you can’t blame a man that was an unemployed rich kid in his past life.
The smell of the Congee filled the kitchen. Shen Qingqiu was unfamiliar with this part of the prosses, like all the other parts. It was surprisingly relaxing. During their stay in the kitchen, it also started raining. He let himself close his eyes for a brief moment to take a deep breath. The smell in the air was now savory, earthy and sharp.
While he let his eyelids fall, his husband never took his eyes away for a single second. It was in moments like these where he thought about how lucky he was to have his Husband and to have these domestic moments he could only dream about as a child.
He managed to pull himself out of his thoughts when he noticed a single rice grain in his husbands’ collar. He reached his hand out on instinct to pluck it off, when suddenly Shen Qingqiu opened his eyes again. He immediately assumed his husband was up to something, formed from earlier experiences. That’s why he slightly smacked his husband’s hand as it reached his collar.
Luo Binghe retreated his hand with a hurt expression lingering on his face. “Apologies Shizun. This lowly disciple was only trying to pluck off a grain of rice from Shizuns collar”
Shen Qingqiu felt deep regret at the moment he saw Luo Binghe lower his head. He managed to lose the relaxing and domestic tone they finally achieved. They misunderstood each other yet again, but this time they wouldn’t let the wound deepen.
He quickly tried to make up. “Ah, I see… It was this master’s fault. I reacted carelessly without meaning to and I hurt Binghe”
Luo Binghe couldn’t let that slide. “No, it’s this disciple who failed to warn you! It’s my fault alone!”
They both knew, from 5 years’ experience, that they were getting nowhere if they continued like this.
Shen Qingqiu broke the endless cycle of back-and-forth apologies. “Fine, fine. We were both at fault then. I won’t hold it against you. Let’s just continue with our meal, alright?”
Luo Binghe nodded in agreement, and they seemed to come to a mutual understanding without needing to say much more.
Earlier in their relationship Luo Binghe would be way more insecure after an incident like this. Luckily Shen Qingqiu had helped tame his overthinking tendencies. The cure was simply better communication and plenty of head pats.
They carried the fresh Congee, cutlery and bowls to their Livingroom table. Then they both sat down together, but this times on opposite sides. It not rare for them to sit apart like this, but in late autumn it felt especially cold when away from another warm body.
Shen Qingqiu was very much a tsundurere, (diagnosed by Shang Qinghua), and hence hesitated to make the first move. He was still shy in initiating any intimacy, much to his husband’s disappointment. But today, faced with his husband still sulking over a small matter like this, he couldn’t help but want to reach out. Before he could think more about it, a hand reached out to pet the long, luscious curls before him.
When they made eye contact again, both with hearts for eyes, they were filled with warmth and understanding.
With a gentle smile they said simultaneously “Let’s eat”
Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help but let out small noises of pleasure while they ate. “This is so delicious Binghe!”
Luo Binghe smirked “That’s because we made it together”
Who in their right mind wouldn’t blush a little at the protagonist delivering harem lines like that. Shen Qingqiu had to admit he was right though. If he was as shameless as the demon, he would probably respond with something like “It’s only because of my husband’s efforts”
Shen Qingqiu was pulled out of his thoughts by a spoon hitting the floor. When he looked back up his husband had moved closer, almost too close for comfort. He knew that hungry look in his eyes. It meant he wouldn’t get any peace tonight.
Shen Qingqius modern mind shrieked; Fuck, had he said that out loud?! He knew the consequences when he called his husband, husband, to his face.
At this moment he longed for his fan. He couldn’t recall where he last put it, and he didn’t have time to think about it any longer because he felt the press of a warmth meeting his lips.
The kiss started off gentle and searching. Luo Binghe knew he had to initiate intimacy with a kiss, otherwise his husband would shy away. His shy husband would rather get blue balled, than initiate anything himself.
He found that the kiss was well reciprocated by the way his husband clung onto the front of his robes. At first, he was pushing more than pulling, but the tide turned quickly, as it usually did.
He still had to ask for consent to go further, he pulled away for a second to ask “Does husband want to retreat to bed?”
Shen Qingqiu had to leave his pride to give a slight nod, but that was all Luo Binghe needed.
The delicious food they spent so long on, was long forgotten.