Chapter Text
[03 - Just one stalker is enough, thank you]
"Look, look," Qi Qingqi tweets, "I knew it, their bond is something only them could read."
Currently, Qi Qingqi, Mu Qingfan, Shang Qinghua, and Liu Qingge are [stalking] watching from the shadows of their two shixiongs, who are rumored to be childhood sweethearts, partners, rivals turned to lovers, and other more speculations from the society [disciples, common people, and even the peak lords].
Naturally, Mu Qingfan wouldn't associate himself with such childlike matters. But Qi Qingqi used a rare herbal ingredient as a bribe. As a healer, he can't miss that chance, can't he?
'I am innocent, I am innocent, I am innocen-' Mu Qingfan consoles himself.
Hiding by the bamboo trees is a childish play, but that's the best option they could come up to. Certainly, Shen Qingqiu would laugh at them if he were to know of his shidis' action, [which he does].
Just a few meters away from them, Shen Qingqiu and Yue Qingyuan coolly walk side by side. Shen Qingqiu tilts his head and Yue Qingyuan pats the younger's head. After some time, Shen Qingqiu takes out some candies from his sleeves and hands some to Yue Qingyuan who then smiles brightly as he happily eats them.
"... Shidi, you look troubled..." Qi Qingqi taps Liu Qingge's tense shoulder, "Could it be that you're jealous?"
Liu Qingge's face redden in fury [as what he presumed to be] and shouts, "As if!"
Qi Qingqi hits her forehead, "Stupid!"
Shang Qinghua was ready to flee when Mu Qingfan caught him on time, "The bamboo forest is vast, what if Shang-shixiong get lost? Let us stay together, alright?"
"Mu-shidi...!" Shang Qinghua shed an ugly tear.
"Shidi-men." a cold voice interrupts the peak lord's quarrel.
"Shi- Shixiong!" the three peak lords tensed.
"Mu-shidi, Liu-shidi, Qingqi-shimei, Shang-shidi," Yue Qingyuan smiles, "What a coincidence to meet you here."
Qi Qingqi smiles but as she was about to explain fluidly, Liu Qingge laughs [for the first time in many years] awkwardly, "A coincidence! Truly a coincidence! Hahaha! ... haha... ha.....................................haha...ha......"
"..." Shang Qinghua tries hard not to blacklist the man in his next mischievous-prey record.
"..." Qi Qingqi is surely going to hit that empty brain of her shidi later on.
"..." Mu Qingfan still with his ever-calm-smile, closes his eyes. He noted mentally to make sure that Liu Qingge gets an extremely bitter medicine soon.
***
"So, the rumors aren't true?" Qi Qingqi drinks her tea.
"No," Shen Qingqiu answers blatantly, "Zhangmen-shixiong and I are only childhood friends."
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"Stupid Qi-ge," Shen Jiu snuggles between Yue Qi's arms, "My loyalty to you won't waver no matter what!"
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Tears fall from Yue Qi's shaky eyes, "Qi-ge promise to come back!"
"Don't be hasty Qi-ge!" Shen Jiu reaches his small hands to the older boy, "Xiao Jiu will wait for Qi-ge. Now go!"
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"Xiao Jiu..." Yue Qingyuan looks at the aloof student of Qing Jing peak, Shen Jiu, his Xiao Jiu.
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Yue Qingyuan's eyes sparkle. Never did he dream [well, maybe once or twice a month...] of Xiao Jiu openly speak out even the tiniest bit of their yesterday. Even if it was just the two of them drinking tea, or Shen Qingqiu breaking a teacup.
But a part inside Yue Qingyuan somehow dims at the answer, happy that he is now accepted again, but not... satisfied...? Yue Qingyuan shakes the thoughts away as he sips his tea.
Qi Qingqi's predator eyes scan her Shixiongs, and with a huff, she rolls her eyes, "Whatever you say."
***
Only after reassuring his martial brothers and sister that the rumors aren't true, which takes Shen Qingqiu's free time, everyone finally leaves him.
Shen Qingqiu opens his fan, "Now..."
The soft morning light welcomes Shen Qingqiu's delicate face. The birds sing their melody and the bamboo leaves dance along with the wind. What a delightful morning.
Shen Qingqiu softly laughs as his fingers play with his ice frost necklace, "Luo Binghe..."
A delightful morning indeed.