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Chapter Text

“Shen Qingqiu. Come to Bai Zhan. We… We should spar.”

He just barely manages to get the words out, thick and heavy with intent.

It is bold and straightforward, but the Liu courting traditions have always been that way. It is simple— one that makes Liu Qingge immensely grateful. He doesn’t have to stumble through the odd and confusing courting traditions that many others do. 

His mother had lectured him many times on the topic, and Liu Qingge is suddenly grateful that she had done so. 

Invite them to spar, and prove your strength to them to show that you are capable of protecting them. Afterwards, provide them with food and drink to show that you care. Then, you will hunt for beasts and bring them gifts to show that you can provide for your family. 

Shen Qingqiu looks up at him, confused. 

“Are you sure, Liu-shidi?”

Of course he’s sure. Liu Qingge has wanted this, wanted him for long enough to know that he is making the right choice. 

He is transfixed when Shen Qingqiu leans forward into his space and teases him with a smirk, when his sleeves slip down to expose smooth wrists. Shen Qingqiu’s demure glances enthrall Liu Qingge, and he feels the distinct urge to see more. He wants nothing more than for Shen Qingqiu to run his gentle hands through his hair, have his warm breath ghost his ear teasingly. Shen Qingqiu is endlessly fascinating, always exciting. He can’t imagine exposing his heart and sharing his life with anyone else. 

Shen Qingqiu makes him feel alive.

“Yes.” He swallows around the lump in his throat. “I am sure.”

“Alright.” Shen Qingqiu flutters his fan. “Shall we go now?”

Liu Qingge almost chokes in disbelief. Not only did Shen Qingqiu accept, but he seems eager to begin their sparring match too.

“Not yet,” he says dazedly. He hadn’t prepared yet, wasn’t expecting Shen Qingqiu to be so willing. If he’s honest, he expected Shen Qingqiu to give him that sad little smile and reject him gently. “In a week.”

A week will give him enough time to find the tea that Shen Qingqiu favors, delicate snacks that will suit his taste. Osmanthus jelly, egg tart, snow cake. Flaky and sweet, cool and refreshing. No tanghulu though— Liu Qingge flushes. That incident had made him meditate under the stone cold waterfalls of Bai Zhan for a week.

It wouldn’t do for Shen Qingqiu to spar on the public fields on Bai Zhan. The ground is rough and uneven, not to mention the fact that his disciples would try and watch them. Rather, he will invite Shen Qingqiu to his private courtyard. He’ll grab a disciple or two to clear and clean it to an immaculate polish. The plum blossom trees are in bloom as well— the grounds must be swept of any fallen flowers, any rotting leaves and petals. The pavilion, never used, must shine too. 

He will, he must do right by Shen Qingqiu. Liu Qingge will prove to Cang Qiong, to his family, to the world that Shen Qingqiu has chosen a man more than worthy of his affections.

Shen Qingqiu is grace personified, and Liu Qingge is reminded of it when Xiu Ya slices past his head, swift and precise.

Still, Shen Qingqiu looks unfazed. His elegant brow slightly furrows in concentration, and he commands Xiu Ya with a stunning clarity. Liu Qingge dodges another slice with a huff.

As expected of the Qing Jing Peak Lord.

However beautiful he may be, however sharp and deadly Xiu Ya is, this is a fight that Liu Qingge cannot lose. Should he be bested by Shen Qingqiu, then he would have failed the first step in their courtship. How could he bear to think himself worthy of Shen Qingqiu if he is defeated immediately? 

When Liu Qingge finally concentrates again, Cheng Luan gleams against the smooth fabric of Shen Qingqiu’s robes. Shen Qingqiu looks unsurprised, and perhaps he had always known that Liu Qingge would beat him. 

“I yield.” Shen Qingqiu sheathes Xiu Ya and instead flicks his fan open, huffing at his messy hair. Liu Qingge obligingly moves Cheng Luan away, and he is suddenly aware of just how disheveled Shen Qingqiu looks. He swallows and looks away as the Qing Jing Peak Lord tidies his appearance, once again becoming the picture of a calm and collected scholar.

“Go rest.” Liu Qingge nervously gestures to the pavilion. “I will bring refreshments.”

“Thank you, Liu-shidi. You treat this shixiong so well.” Shen Qingqiu gives him a grateful smile, and he can feel blood rush to his face. He turns away and stiffly begins the march to his house, firmly ignoring Shen Qingqiu’s amused chuckle behind him. 

Shen Qingqiu smiles delightedly when Liu Qingge returns laden with tea and snacks, cheeks pink with gratitude.

“Oh! These are my favorites,” Shen Qingqiu says, clearly pleased. “So observant— as expected of my Liu-shidi!” 

He grunts in embarrassment, and pours tea for them both. Shen Qingqiu sighs contentedly around a piece of snow cake, and Liu Qingge feels waves of affection pour over him. They sit in a comfortable silence, and Liu Qingge tries not to stare at the beautiful man eating in front of him. 

“Thank you.” He looks down at his tea cup, gripping the brittle porcelain tight. He still is in shock, trying to wrap his mind around the fact that Shen Qingqiu said yes, had granted him the honor of courting and wooing him. “For coming today.”

Shen Qingqiu had a week to think about it in depth, and yet he still came. Liu Qingge would have been disappointed, yes, but it was still his choice. He knows that Shen Qingqiu can have anyone he so desires. And yet, Shen Qingqiu had chosen him.

Shen Qingqiu hums lightly, and he puts down his teacup on the table. Liu Qingge looks up to Shen Qingqiu’s smile, one that is reserved for him. His breath catches, and for a moment, he is stunned.

“Not at all, Liu-shidi. Rather, I should be thanking you.” 

Shen Qingqiu opens his fan, waving cool air towards himself. Liu Qingge feels like he has been tipped over, his world view tilted ever so slightly. With that simple sentence, Shen Qingqiu has brought his dreams, unspoken fantasies to life.

Of course Shen Qingqiu was at least interested in him, otherwise he would have said no. But his words suggest something different. Something more.

I should be thanking you.

Shen Qingqiu had waited for him to make the first move? The thought spirals in his mind. Perhaps Shen Qingqiu was too afraid of his reaction, not wanting to lose him if he said no. If Liu Qingge hadn’t asked him first, how long would they have continued to circle around each other, afraid to let their worlds collide? Would Shen Qingqiu eventually let go of that warmth, mistakenly believing that it was never meant to be? 

He looks at Shen Qingqiu and wonders.

Does Shen Qingqiu also feel the heat licking beneath his skin like Liu Qingge? Does it spread like wildfire, raging red and all consuming? Or maybe Shen Qingqiu is as nervous as him, unsure of how to conduct himself just like he is. His fingers twitch, the urge to reach out ringing in his ears.

He picks up the teapot instead.

Chapter Text

He is dealing with a village chief that vaguely reminds him of the An Ding Peak Lord when he spots it displayed in a nearby stall.

Delicate brushstrokes form playful rabbits, ruby red eyes stark against snow white fur. The silk is carefully tinted green, so as not to bleed into the white of the rabbits. The dark lacquer of the fan is lovingly carved, inlaid mother-of-pearl orchids blooming down the fan guards.

It is a masterpiece. 

The fan is surrounded by a rainbow of brightly colored silks, gaudy flowers and painted birds. He can tell that all of the fans are crafted well, but the rabbit fan shines like a pearl surrounded by mud. Ordinary people would overlook it in favor of the flashier fans— but Liu Qingge is not ordinary. He can tell that the rabbit-adorned fan was crafted with care, unlike the uninspired and boring fans around it. 

He drops the slain Five Tailed Leopard in front of the squawking village chief— at least it wasn’t a boring fight this time— and walks right into the fan shop.

The shopkeeper, an elderly woman, looks delighted as he steps in. She immediately stands from her seat, and Liu Qingge waves her to take her seat again. Still, she refuses and coos at him while he awkwardly stands.

“My, what a handsome young cultivator! I’m honored you’ve chosen my shop.” There’s a glint in her eye. “Can I interest you in my wares?”

She brushes past him and pulls a garish yellow fan adorned with studded gemstones. It is beautiful— he knows people would pay hefty sums for fans like it— but it pales in comparison to the fan that he had seen.

“How about this one, sir?” She holds the fan out for him to appraise, but he shakes his head. He knows exactly which one he wants. He starts to speak, but she quickly cuts him off.

“Not to your taste? How about this one?” This time, she snaps open a pink fan decorated with roses. Again, it is beautiful, but not as beautiful as the one he wants. He shakes his head again, but the woman starts pulling down even more fans of every color and material— paper and silk, cherry wood and oak, purples and blues, reds and blacks— all of them except for the one he wants.

Liu Qingge is frustrated at this point. It’s almost as if she is testing his patience— and “patient” is the one of the last words that anyone would use to describe him. He crosses his arms. There must be dozens of fans surrounding him at this point, the extravagant decorations giving him even more of a headache. He would’ve left earlier, but he wants that fan. It’s for Shen Qingqiu — and that alone is enough to make him begrudgingly put up with the situation.

The woman stops her movements, and she turns to meet his stoic expression. The plastic smile on her face drops, and this time she gives him a real smile. It seems as if he’s passed her test.

Stepping past him, she reaches for the rabbit fan. She is gentle with it, as if it is one of the Great Heavenly Treasures, rather than a fan. The other fans clatter to the ground, but she ignores them as if they are worthless. 

“This fan— it’s beautiful isn’t it?” She carefully runs a finger over the illustration. “You’re the first to recognize it. It’s yours.” She smiles.

“But you’re not the type to carry a fan, hmm?” She laughs at Liu Qingge, and he is oddly reminded of Shen Qingqiu’s gentle teasing.

My, Liu-shidi, is that a fan in your hands?… You’re not the kind to carry one.

He snaps out of it when the woman gently presses the fan into his hands.

“Your partner— he is a lucky man. I don’t need payment. It’s more than enough that someone else will finally get to appreciate it.”

Still, he leaves the woman a hefty pouch of gold where she will find it long after he leaves. It is enough to feed a mortal family of five for six months. Liu Qingge knows that it seems excessive, but it really isn’t. He can’t simply take such a lovingly crafted item and not leave payment. Besides, it is a courting gift for Shen Qingqiu, and the fact that it is so perfect is more than enough justification to give her that much. 

It is only much later when he realizes that he never told her it was for his partner— much less a man.

It is two weeks after he buys the fan that he is able to return to Cang Qiong. The village chief had kept coming up with problems that only Liu Qingge could solve, a flimsy excuse to try and push his many daughters his way. Eventually, he had been so fed up that he simply left. 

Liu Qingge frowns at the thought— he already had a partner, and none of those village girls could ever compare. He speeds through the air before stopping to hunt a troublesome Garnet Bone Tiger on the way back. It is a challenging, but welcome, fight. The beast swipes at him as he carefully wrangles it into a headlock. As the tiger struggles in his grip, he squeezes a bit harder, exhaling as it finally falls limp.

A Garnet Bone Tiger is a high level beast, and Liu Qingge knows of many cultivators who had died to them. It’s a monster that should be presented later in the courtship, but Liu Qingge is not one for rules. 

Shen Qingqiu deserves only the best, and something like a Garnet Bone Tiger will be appreciated by the man (after all, the Qing Jing Peak Lord is a scholar. Liu Qingge had seen his beloved bestiaries before. Even if he brought back a Copper Skin Wolf, Shen Qingqiu would have turned pleased eyes to him and thanked him). He can see it in his mind now— Shen Qingqiu’s gasp of excitement at the beast. He would poke and prod at the body, delightedly rambling about it to Liu Qingge. He would ask for help disassembling it into parts, and then he would appraise the materials with a discerning eye.

He hums in approval, shifting the beast higher onto his shoulders. The bones of the monster are prized for its brilliant red hue and sparkle, suited for finely sculpted jewelry. The fur is sleek and tough to pierce. The meat is also a delicacy, sweet and tender when cooked right. Shen Qingqiu would find use in it all. Liu Qingge imagines Shen Qingqiu in the winter, a stunning fur coat keeping him warm in the biting cold. A tease of blood red garnet on the Qing Jing Peak Lord that prefers his peak colors of green and white. Carefully cooked meat, an invitation to dinner extended with those alluring eyes directed at him… 

It has been many decades, no, centuries, since someone in the Liu family had chosen such a difficult (and valuable) beast to present as the first hunt. It didn’t matter. Liu Qingge would prove to everyone that Shen Qingqiu had a partner more than worthy of his hand.

Shen Qingqiu is wandering in his bamboo groves when Liu Qingge flies back to Cang Qiong. He is beautiful like always, and Liu Qingge feels a sense of excitement knowing that he is the one that the Qing Jing Peak Lord has chosen.

As Cheng Luan descends, Shen Qingqiu looks up quizzically— and then breaks out into a dazzling smile. Liu Qingge is blindsided— Shen Qingqiu’s smile is for him, and he feels Cheng Luan shake under his feet. He quickly rights himself, feeling a pinch of regret and loss as Shen Qingqiu schools his expression into one more neutral and appropriate for a dignified peak lord. 

“Liu-shidi, welcome back.” Shen Qingqiu greets him. “Indulge this shixiong and tell me— oh!” Shen Qingqiu cuts himself off as he catches sight of the beast’s corpse behind him. His eyes light up in unrestrained delight. Liu Qingge dumps the creature in front of him and feels completely and irrevocably fond as Shen Qingqiu starts rambling about the creature, just as he predicted.

“Liu-shidi is truly too impressive,” he praises. “The Garnet Bone Tiger is as strong as ten men, and the pelt is completely undamaged.” Examining the body, he nods and hums in approval. Liu Qingge’s heart catches in his throat, because Shen Qingqiu approves of his courting gift, and he is impressed.

“It’s for you,” he blurts out, and instantly regrets it. Of course Shen Qingqiu knows it’s for him. It’s his courting gift. Liu Qingge flew straight to Qing Jing with the beast on his back, and presented it to him.

“Really?” Still, Shen Qingqiu turns a delicious shade of red and snaps his fan open to hide behind it. He peers at Liu Qingge behind his fan. “Thank you, Liu-shidi.” 

He nods to the path and starts leading them to his bamboo house, before stopping and turning back to look at Liu Qingge.

“Ah… Would shidi be so kind as to help me bring it back and disassemble it? I’m afraid that’s not exactly my strong suit.” Liu Qingge can only agree, because he could never deny Shen Qingqiu, especially for a simple task like this. 

He nods.

Shen Qingqiu laughs, unrestrained and hearty.

They are seated for dinner, and Shen Qingqiu had asked him for the story of what had happened on his hunt. He is not a storyteller, not like Shen Qingqiu, but his lover laughs and nods where it would be appropriate. It feels good to hear that pleasant and familiar cadence from him after weeks of not hearing it. He sips at his tea.

“Liu-shidi, I am not surprised in the slightest.” Shen Qingqiu wields his chopsticks precisely, pausing to take a bite of his food. “A strong and handsome cultivator coming to save the town from ruin? I wouldn’t be surprised if you broke their poor hearts when you ran off like that!”

Liu Qingge feels his ears heat. Shen Qingqiu is shameless in his compliments and says them like it is matter-of-fact, but he finds that he doesn’t mind at all. 

Shen Qingqiu pats at his sleeves and frowns, once then twice.

“Er, Liu-shidi.” He notices that Shen Qingqiu’s cheeks are rather red. It’s unfairly attractive on him. “My fan… It seems I’ve dropped it. You wouldn’t happen to have picked it up?”

Liu Qingge does in fact have his fan. He had swiped it from Shen Qingqiu when he wasn’t looking— it was justified just this once, he tells himself. But he’s not going to give it back just yet. In his robes, he carries the rabbit fan, close to his heart.

He takes it out of his robes and places it in Shen Qingqiu’s expectant hands. Shen Qingqiu snaps it open without a second thought.

“Thank you— Oh?” Liu Qingge feels ridiculously proud as Shen Qingqiu studies his new fan. 

It was a very good choice, he thinks. The dark lacquer makes the ivory skin of his lover glow, and the verdant silk pairs well with the greens and whites of his robe. The mother-of-pearl shines in the low candle light.

“You spoil me,” Shen Qingqiu says, clearly pleased. “Thank you. I will take very good care of it.”

Shen Qingqiu keeps to his word. 

He carries it with him wherever he goes, and rarely drops it. His other fans, however, still get dropped regularly. Shen Qingqiu thanks him every time, and looks completely distraught when he loses the rabbit fan, his perfectly sculpted face ever so slightly marred by his worry. And when Liu Qingge returns it, just as he’s always done, Shen Qingqiu blinds him with a dazzling smile. 

The wood shines, and he smells jasmine and sandalwood when Shen Qingqiu flicks it open. He imagines that Shen Qingqiu had carefully anointed the wood with oil, deft fingers working it in to a polish. It sends a pulse of warmth through his body.

Everything considered, he’s not fazed when he hears rumors about Shen Qingqiu’s special treatment of his newest fan.

But it concerns him when rather than dying off, he starts hearing even more frenzied rumors about Shen Qingqiu and his mysterious fan. He feels eyes on his back everywhere he goes. Disciples nervously stop their whispers when they notice him, and he’s gotten more than a few pointed comments from other peak lords. Despite him prying into it more, he can’t seem to get any answers. 

“That tassel,” he chokes out. “It…”

He knows the reason behind all of those rumors, all of the comments now.

His sly little lover has attached a tassel to the fan, and he can tell it is made with care. But that isn’t what causes his speechlessness. 

The tassel is not the standard white, nor is it the green of Qing Jing Peak. The tassel sways gently, and his eyes track the movement of pale blue strands. It is the color that he sees everyday on the robes of his disciples, in his closet. 

It is the color of Bai Zhan. Of Liu Qingge. He swallows. 

Not only does Shen Qingqiu pay special attention to that fan, but the tassel all but screams that it is a courting gift from a very specific peak lord. Shen Qingqiu might as well declare their courtship publicly.

“It looks nice, doesn't it?” Shen Qingqiu hides his mouth behind his fan. “I spent quite a while trying to get the dye just right.”

His heart beats hard in his chest. He had thought Shen Qingqiu had bought it from a stall as an afterthought, but instead he had gone through the trouble of hand-dying the threads to the perfect shade of blue.

“Yes.” He looks away. “It is good.”

It is more than good. The icy blue of Bai Zhan is stunning on Shen Qingqiu. He wonders if Shen Qingqiu would ever allow him to lovingly wrap him in his colors, and if Shen Qingqiu would do the same for him.

“Ah, one moment Liu-shidi.” Shen Qingqiu rummages in his pockets and pulls out another tassel— this one a soft green. “Cheng Luan looks a little bare, no?”

Oh, he thinks. A matching pair. Blue for Bai Zhan and green for Qing Jing. A blue tassel for the Qing Jing Peak Lord, and a green tassel for the Bai Zhan Peak Lord. With deceivingly steady hands, he attaches it to his trusty sword.

“It looks good.” 

Liu Qingge can’t help but agree.

Chapter Text

The next beast is the object of Shen Qingqiu’s most recent studies.

“Liu-shidi, are you aware of the Jade Tailed Koi?”

The name sounds vaguely familiar, and he frowns as he tries to remember it. Thankfully, Shen Qingqiu begins his explanation, the cadence familiar and relaxing.

“The Jade Tailed Koi is an elusive fish, known for its brilliant shine. It spawns in pools rich with spiritual qi, and its very existence inspires many high level beasts to protect it. Many cultivators have tried to find it, to no avail. Some believe it to be nothing more than fiction due to how hard it is to catch. Even I have little information on the beast. I have always wanted to study it more.” Shen Qingqiu pauses to pour them both tea. “There is a rather infamous legend about it, but I don’t believe shidi would be interested.”

Liu Qingge likes to hear Shen Qingqiu speak of his seemingly endless information, even if the other man tends to speak in long-winded tangents about anything and everything. He had been treated once to Shen Qingqiu’s opinions on rather trashy novels— his lover had begged him to never speak of it, clutching his arm with pleading eyes. Of course he had said nothing, but that was mostly because he didn’t want anyone to know about that strangely intimate moment. 

Since then, Liu Qingge lets Shen Qingqiu ramble for as long as he likes, if only to see if Shen Qingqiu would slip again, to let him see the man behind the cool facade.

“Well, I suppose it may be of interest to you someday,” he chuckles. Liu Qingge's interest is piqued by that. “Legend goes that presenting it to the one you love will bring heaven's blessings, and that your love will be eternal.”

Shen Qingqiu has a far off look on his face. Liu Qingge shoots up from his seat.

He knows what to hunt next. 

“Romantic, isn’t it?... Liu-shidi? Liu-shidi?”

Liu Qingge is long gone. There’s a fish he needs to catch.

“No.” 

The girl pouts, pressing uncomfortably closer.

“But sir, you saved my life back there.” She flutters her lashes. “I am in your debt. Please, allow me to repay you.”

He knows exactly what she wants. It is a common trap, one that Liu Qingge has seen play out many times before. She will proclaim to be indebted, and ask for him to help her reunite with her family. Once there, she declares that he is her savior, and the whole family clamors about how the debt must be repaid. 

If he foolishly accepts to be repaid with “their greatest treasure,” then he will immediately be engaged to the girl. If not, they’ll pester him and the girl will try to trap him— by falling into water, wearing scandalous clothing, even going so far as to take off her socks and shoes and position herself in areas where he will see.

He winces. He had fallen into that trap many times as a disciple, much to his chagrin and his shizun’s amusement.

Liu Qingge has never been interested in the girl, and still isn’t. It’s been less than a week away from Cang Qiong, from Shen Qingqiu, and he already feels the itch to go back. Still, when he thinks of the delight on Shen Qingqiu’s face when he triumphantly returns laden with fine courting gifts, his resolve hardens.

“I already know what you want. I said no.” He pushes the girl off of him, walking away and putting distance between them. They are close enough to the town that she can get back safely, and his mission here is done. “I already have a partner.”

It does nothing to dissuade the girl. She immediately turns coy, her once innocent demeanor gone. 

“Does it matter if you have a partner?” He can feel her eyes rack up and down his body, and Liu Qingge wonders if her family would be mad if she mysteriously returned blind. He grasps at Cheng Luan’s hilt, trying to reign in his anger. “You deserve a good partner. I can offer you much more...”

That does it. This stupid little girl thinks she could ever compare to Shen Qingqiu, the Xiu Ya Sword? And she insulted him too, as if she is so confident that she could easily win against Shen Qingqiu. He sees nothing but a spoiled brat— a clump of excrement foolish enough to insult the beauty of lustrous pearl. He spins on his heel. Cheng Luan appears at his side, its deadly point aimed right where the girl’s heart lies.

She cowers as he approaches, his killing intent thick and heavy in the air.

“You dare to insult him?” Liu Qingge wants to punish her for speaking ill of Shen Qingqiu. It’s a tempting thought. But Shen Qingqiu’s tassel swings in the air, and his eye catches the movement… Shen Qingqiu is soft. He would ask Liu Qingge to put down his sword, to show mercy to the girl that had so brazenly insulted him. 

He grits his teeth. That brat doesn’t deserve to walk away unscathed, but Shen Qingqiu’s disappointed voice reverberates in his mind. He wants Shen Qingqiu to be proud of him. And if Shen Qingqiu were here… He would gently squeeze his tense arm, and gently comfort him— it’s alright, Liu-shidi. Let your shixiong take care of it…

He commands Cheng Luan to return to his side, and his killing intent lessens just barely. “Be grateful to him. He has saved your worthless life.”

The girl shakily looks up, and it’s clear that she understands his words. He glares at her like the War God that he is, steel hard.

“Leave. Don’t ever show up in front of me.”

The girl scrambles from his sight, and it takes Liu Qingge several meditation techniques until his anger finally dissipates. By the time he finally leaves the forest, the moon is high in the sky. He can’t stop to eat or rest. He’s on a mission, and the faster he finds his target, the faster he can see Shen Qingqiu again.

After about two weeks of saving people and dodging a truly unholy amount of proposals, Liu Qingge finally stumbles across a large pool brimming with spiritual qi. Exactly how Shen Qingqiu described it.

Peering down into the water, he can see straight down to the bottom. There are multitudes of shining creatures lazily gliding, but his eyes zero in on what must be the Jade Tailed Koi. It is just as beautiful as Shen Qingqiu described, and he can see why the thing is so prized, even if it’s just a fish. 

He was planning on killing it, but the thought of Shen Qingqiu raising it with care is much more tempting. Its calming patterns and leisurely glide would compliment the elegance and beauty of his partner. He imagines his lover would tenderly care for it, a constant reminder of Liu Qingge. What better way to prove his love than to present the fish that supposedly brings heaven’s blessings and eternal love? Yes, he decides. He’ll present it to Shen Qingqiu live. 

Before he can reach down to grab it, a large fish shoots straight up, intent on ripping his arm off. He pierces its core with Cheng Luan, and the creatures in the pond unfortunately scatter. His brow furrows in disapproval.

At least Shen Qingqiu had warned him about the monsters, he muses. He detects several more qi signatures around him, and he gets ready for battle. 

He wonders just how many of them are worthy beasts to give Shen Qingqiu.

They attack.

He returns to Cang Qiong just a couple of days after he catches the Jade Tailed Koi. It had been an issue trying to keep the damn thing alive, but eventually he had found a suitable container for it to go in. Paired with his duty to go help mortals in need and dodging even more proposals thrown his way, it takes longer than what he had anticipated to finally return.

He should go and explain to Sect Leader Yue why exactly he had left so abruptly, but there’s a certain scholar that he wants to see first.

“Liu-shidi.” Shen Qingqiu looks worried, and he feels a pang of guilt. “Is everything alright?  You left so abruptly, and when I went to go look for you they said you had just left Cang Qiong…”

Shen Qingqiu approaches, but draws back slightly. “Perhaps, when you visited… Did I offend Liu-shidi?”

“No,” he rushes out. “You have done nothing wrong.”

He feels even worse now, because of course his actions would be taken that way. Who runs off in the middle of a conversation? He had been so focused on trying to find the damn fish that he had inadvertently made Shen Qingqiu worry. His lover looks thin, the sharp cheekbones pronounced in a sickly way. Violet smears his under eyes, and it hits him that he is the cause of it.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…” Shen Qingqiu’s weary eyes soften, and Liu Qingge looks away before turning to open the transportation container. “I wanted to get you something.”

He carefully lifts the bowl out and gestures for Shen Qingqiu to take it.

“For you.” There’s a multitude of other gifts, but this is the one that he wants to present first and foremost. “It took longer than I expected to find it.”

“Shidi, this is…!” Shen Qingqiu looks up to him, shock and surprise plain on his wan face. “For me?”

He grunts in affirmation, hoping that his face doesn’t betray the heat flooding beneath his skin. Shen Qingqiu purses his lips and looks around where they stand before putting down the bowl.

“Liu-shidi, you must tell me to stop if this isn’t okay.” 

Before Liu Qingge can even open his mouth to question him, Shen Qingqiu quickly steps to him and wraps his arms around his shoulders in an embrace. His muscles freeze, and he feels like if Shen Qingqiu taps him, he’ll fall over. His arms jerk with the want to return the embrace, but he can’t move them at all.

Shen Qingqiu’s words ghost over his ear, and he just barely holds back his shiver.

“Thank you, Liu-shidi.” Shen Qingqiu moves away, embarrassed. He picks up the bowl and rushes off, leaving Liu Qingge standing alone.

There is a package left on his doorstep. It is carefully wrapped and he frowns, because Liu Qingge does not receive packages. Still, he picks it up and brings it into his study. 

He cautiously unravels it, and his attention is immediately caught by the smooth paper neatly folded in half. The note is short— five words, and that is all.  but he can feel the fondness that has leaked through in those familiar brush strokes.

For my most reliable shidi.

Inside the package is a hair stick of pure white jade. The tasteful decorations are delicately carved, and he imagines that it must have cost quite a bit. 

He carefully holds it, fingers smoothing over the surface. 

It is the most precious thing he owns. His first courting gift from Shen Qingqiu. The thought sends a shiver through his system, and he cradles it in his hands. Should he put it in a place of honor? He could display it next to his bed, a constant reminder of his lover. Or perhaps he will keep it in a box, white jade carefully nestled on dark green silk. 

But Shen Qingqiu would not buy him something merely as decoration. No— Shen Qingqiu has bought this for him to wear. It is an exclamation. To gift it to him and know that he will wear it often. A silent, possessive statement— he is mine. 

He sits at his vanity. The combs are already sitting out, and he uncorks his hair oil. Today, his normal ribbon lays to the side, neglected. He parts his hair, his steady hands a stark difference to his rabbit-fast heart. 

It would be a shame not to use it.

The gifts increase in frequency.  Always wrapped perfectly, always mysteriously left on his doorstep. Each one different from the last, but always picked with care.

He didn’t realize at first, but now that he sees the pattern it’s painfully obvious. Each gift that he receives is a reference, a sweet reply to the courting gifts he sends to Shen Qingqiu. 

A simple chain necklace is the first. As time goes on, Shen Qingqiu sends a new pendant to add to it. Pearl and garnet, jade and amber. Each one a testament to their love, a memory embedded into the sparkle of the gems. He carries it close to his heart— the pendants brush against his skin and it feels like his lover’s caress. 

The stones are warm— from his body heat or from his burning devotion, he’s not sure.

He rubs a soothing circle into the carved quartz of his newest gift. Shen Qingqiu had sent it soon after he had presented a Quartz Antler Deer, and he had attached it to his necklace as soon as the package arrived at his doorstep.

“I’m glad you like my gift,” Shen Qingqiu says approvingly. 

Like always, he is on Qing Jing Peak for the evening. The sunset bathes Shen Qingqiu with rich hues of gold and his elegant profile makes his heart flip. 

Shen Qingqiu is beautiful. He thinks it everyday, he knows it to be true, and is constantly surrounded by the proof of it. And yet, Shen Qingqiu always manages to catch him off guard with the overwhelming nature of it. It only serves to remind him just how much Shen Qingqiu has woven his being into his heart.

He loves Shen Qingqiu with a ferocity, with an intensity he has never known. It leaves him breathless from fear, yet he is still drawn to it nevertheless.

“For you.” Liu Qingge holds out his gift, and Shen Qingqiu still looks surprised. It’s been several months since they first started courting, yet Shen Qingqiu acts as he did from the very beginning. It’s a forceful reminder that even though Liu Qingge was the first to initiate their courtship, Shen Qingqiu carried a silent torch for him long before that point.

“Liu-shidi shouldn’t have.” Shen Qingqiu carefully picks up the jade hairpin in the box. Carefully sculpted, no flaws or blemishes. It is a companion to the one he wears in his hair now. “I’m afraid its beauty would be wasted on me.”

“No.”

“No?” Shen Qingqiu blushes at the compliment. “Saying such a shameless thing with that face… Too dangerous!”

Liu Qingge lets out a scoff of a laugh. His lover, so unaware of his beauty, becomes even more peerless in the wake of his admission. The hairpin in his hand is nothing compared to Shen Qingqiu.

Chapter Text

Liu Qingge feels waves of dread ripple through his chest.

Sitting in his seat, chatting politely with his lover, is a very familiar woman. 

“Mother?” 

Shen Qingqiu turns to face him, a warm smile on his face. His mother turns to him too, although her expression is considerably more stoic.

“Ah, Liu-shidi, welcome! Come, sit.” Shen Qingqiu gestures for him to take a seat next to him. “Your mother is a truly wonderful woman— as expected.”

Liu Qingge does not run, but he eyes the door critically. It isn’t too late to leave, he can back away now—

“Come. It’s been a while.” His mother pins him in place with a look that brings back dreaded memories. “It seems we have much to discuss.”

Liu Qingge stiffly marches to Shen Qingqiu’s side and sits, a death toll ringing loud in his ears. His lover huffs slightly at his tense form, but pours him a cup of tea and presses it into his hands. The weight is comforting, grounding. As soon as it leaves, he wants it back.

“Really,” Shen Qingqiu scolds. “You should be more respectful to your mother. Where are your manners, shidi?”

“It’s good to see that my son has found someone who understands that parents must be respected. Your parents must be proud of you, Peak Lord Shen.”

Shen Qingqiu’s smile falters.

“Yes, I suppose they would be.” Shen Qingqiu clears his throat slightly. “My family passed away a long time ago. Before I was a disciple.”

Liu Qingge winces, and he can see that his mother does too. He hadn’t known that about Shen Qingqiu. His mother’s expression smooths out, placid.

“I apologize. I did not mean to bring up painful memories.”

Shen Qingqiu waves off her apology.

“It’s quite alright. You could not have known.” Shen Qingqiu looks at him, and Liu Qingge wants to comfort him— but his mother sits across from them, hawk-like eyes analyzing his every action. “But enough of that— I simply must praise your son.”

Liu Qingge flushes, and his mother’s eyes narrow.

“Do explain, Peak Lord Shen.” Shen Qingqiu’s eyes light up, and he can tell that his mother is caught off guard by the change. The steady drumbeat of her fingers catches in a momentary slip.

“I had mentioned before that he had given me beasts before, yes?” His mother nods, her eyes sliding over to him. Liu Qingge shudders— he hadn’t exactly told her about the fact that he was courting someone, much less what he had hunted so far.

“Ah, he is truly too impressive!” Shen Qingqiu praises. “Liu-shidi first brought a Garnet Bone Tiger— completely undamaged too.”

“Impressive,” his mother states neutrally. Her intense gaze and raised brow says much different.

Still, Shen Qingqiu doesn’t notice.

“And the other day, he brought a Jade Tailed Koi! He worried me, you know— imagine! Running off in the middle of our conversation, disappearing off Cang Qiong without a single word to anyone!” Shen Qingqiu tsks. “I thought I had offended him somehow. And then, a month later, he returns with barely a scratch and gives me the very beast we were discussing.”

His mother’s brow raises even further. It’s the most shock he’s ever seen her show on her normally stone like face.

“The Jade Tailed Koi… Presenting it to the one you love will guarantee eternal love, yes?” 

He shifts uncomfortably in his seat.

“Indeed— Madam Liu is very knowledgeable.” Shen Qingqiu nods in approval. “A very romantic tale. I am quite fond of it.”

Shen Qingqiu snaps open his fan, hiding a pleased smile behind it. The blue tassel sways, and his mother looks back and forth at his robes and the tassel, no doubt comparing the color. She studies his lover with narrowed eyes. 

“You’re lucky I like him.” She takes a sip of her tea. “Fine. I approve.”

Liu Qingge sags in relief. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if she didn’t. But then again, Liu Qingge had more than proven his devotion to Shen Qingqiu. His mother knows it too— The Garnet Bone Tiger, the Jade Tailed Koi. The more difficult the creature, the more serious he is. Liu Qingge didn’t ever show interest in others and never thought he would. So for him to go and hunt such difficult creatures in the beginnings of his courtship…

“Thank you, mother.” His tongue feels heavy in his mouth. She scoffs, and crosses her arms.

“You are still in trouble, boy. Don’t think I forgot.” She snaps. He tenses at her words but gets distracted with how he’s close enough to feel Shen Qingqiu shake with repressed laughter. “Did you ever intend to inform me? Or was I supposed to simply find out from Mingyan’s occasional letters?”

“Please excuse me, Madam Liu.” Shen Qingqiu stands, and he feels betrayal stop his heart. He looks up at Shen Qingqiu in alarm, because surely he doesn’t plan on leaving Liu Qingge to face her alone? “It seems you have much to discuss with Liu-shidi.”

He was wrong. His lover is a cruel man. His lover is leaving him to face this battle alone, and he’s not looking forward to it. Surely not. It must be that Shen Qingqiu will take pity on him, will excuse them both to the kitchen so he can escape his mother’s building wrath?

Shen Qingqiu must see the stricken look on his face because he leans over and whispers in his ear. Liu Qingge’s robes protest under the strength of his grip.

“Good luck, shidi. Your shixiong will wait for you.” He squeezes his shoulder comfortingly, and then he is gone.

Liu Qingge has faced many battles against impossibly strong creatures. He has fought off armies single-handedly, with nothing but pure grit and determination.

His mother stares him down and he barely represses a flinch. He wonders if he’ll make it out of this battle alive.

After a truly harrowing conversation and a promise to visit the Liu family home with Shen Qingqiu extracted from him, his mother stands. Shen Qingqiu, having sensed the end of the conversation, elegantly glides out of wherever he was hiding to bid her farewell. 

The door softly clicks behind her, and for a moment there is silence. Shen Qingqiu turns to him with that spark of mischief in his eyes, but before he can say anything, Liu Qingge tackles him in an embrace.

“Liu Qingge! You!” Shen Qingqiu struggles in surprise. “What in the world—”

He petulantly headbutts his lover, not wanting Shen Qingqiu to see his face. He can feel embarrassed later, but he needs this comfort right now.

“Don’t do that again,” he mumbles. He knows how dramatic and childish he must look, but it doesn’t matter because Shen Qingqiu would never see him as lesser for it. “...I thought you would help me.”

Shen Qingqiu freezes, and then he bursts out into laughter. Liu Qingge does not pout, but his arms do tighten around Shen Qingqiu’s shaking form. His bad mood lightens just a bit, and Shen Qingqiu’s joyful laughter eventually slows. His brain short circuits when Shen Qingqiu tenderly smooths his hands over the expanse of his back.

“My poor Liu-shidi.” Shen Qingqiu speaks comfortingly, and he feels some of the tension bleed out of his body. Still, his grip is iron tight around Shen Qingqiu— not that he seems to mind. “Your shixiong is sorry. I’ll help you escape next time.”

Next time. He feels a smile grow on his face. Next time.

“Make it up to me,” he finds himself saying. Shen Qingqiu playfully hums.

“If that is what shidi wishes, then I will. Let me think… Why don’t you stay for dinner?”

“Fine,” he grumbles. 

Dinner is wonderful. Before he leaves for Bai Zhan, he hesitantly asks for another embrace.

“Don’t be so afraid to ask,” Shen Qingqiu says, fondness soaking every word. “I won’t reject you.”

They part ways, and the sensation of Shen Qingqiu’s firm body against his keeps him warm on the trek back to Bai Zhan.

Shen Qingqiu begins to greet him with an embrace. 

His long arms reach up to encircle his shoulders, and Liu Qingge returns it with an affectionate squeeze of his waist. Shen Qingqiu sighs at the contact, leaning into his chest. Nothing more, nothing less. They always part after a few seconds, and Shen Qingqiu consistently smiles afterwards at the red on his face. It is brief and familiar, and it leaves him wanting for more. 

They have done it so often that Liu Qingge almost forgets how improper it is.

It is all fine, until he accidentally walks in to Shen Qingqiu’s discussion with Yue Qingyuan. It is all fine until Shen Qingqiu embraces him in the doorway, completely disregarding the fact that their sect leader is right there.

“Shen Qingqiu,” he hisses, embarrassed. “You! How shameless—!” 

Instinctively his arms squeeze Shen Qingqiu’s waist and Shen Qingqiu huffs. Yue Qingyuan stares at him, his killing intent palpable.

“Shameless? Me?” Shen Qingqiu asks, acting innocent. “I am only greeting Liu-shidi as I always have.”

Yue Qingyuan’s killing intent intensifies. He doesn’t know if he’ll make it out of Shen Qingqiu’s house intact.

“Liu Qingge.”

“Sect Leader.”

It was a bad idea to come. It was a very bad idea to come. He should have just waited until the next day. Shen Qingqiu reluctantly lets go, and he steps back to at least try and maintain the façade of propriety.

“Liu-shidi, what brings you here?” Shen Qingqiu smiles warmly, completely disregarding Yue Qingyuan’s intense gaze on them. “Searching for pleasant company?”

“No,” Liu Qingge mutters, more than aware of the hardened eyes on him. “It was something else— It can wait until tomorrow. I apologize for interrupting.”

“Speak.” Yue Qingyuan commands. Shen Qingqiu gives him a questioning look.

“It’s alright Liu-shidi. We were just finishing our conversation. What is it?”

He steels himself and looks directly at Shen Qingqiu.

“My family… They want to meet you.” He holds out the invitation that his mother had sent for Shen Qingqiu, the paper heavy as a boulder. “Here.”

Shen Qingqiu seems surprised. He wonders why.

“Liu-shidi is sure?” 

“Yes.”

“Very well.” A flush travels up Shen Qingqiu’s neck, and he snaps his beloved fan open. The blue tassel swings from the motion. “This shixiong will have to trouble you then.”

He wants to smile at Shen Qingqiu, but Yue Qingyuan glares at him with an intensity that makes his skin crawl. He turns to leave, but Shen Qingqiu stops him.

“Wait.” Shen Qingqiu looks vaguely disappointed. “Won’t my dear shidi bid me farewell?”

“Farewell.” His expression is stony, the word stiff. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Yue Qingyuan trace Xuan Su’s hilt. 

“That’s not quite what I meant.” With absolutely no forewarning, Shen Qingqiu yanks his arm and pulls him into a familiar embrace. “Unless you’ve forgotten?”

Shen Qingqiu clings onto his tense body tight until he’s satisfied, and Liu Qingge is subjected to the downright horrifying sight of Yue Qingyuan’s dangerously still expression over Shen Qingqiu’s shoulder. Eventually Shen Qingqiu pulls back, content.

“Goodbye shidi.”

Liu Qingge takes the opportunity and runs.

He can tell Shen Qingqiu is exhausted. His elegant posture slumps, barely noticeable. He struggles to sit upright in his chair. He waves his fan slowly, and Liu Qingge knows that behind that temporary mask, his mouth turns downwards. 

His relatives had all swarmed them when they arrived, clamoring to see his rumored partner. What kind of man could enrapture their stone-like Qingge, so much so that he presented a Garnet Bone Tiger for the first hunt? 

Shen Qingqiu gamely entertained them, answering their questions with a smile. His relatives left them alone after what seemed like hours, most of them pausing to congratulate him and joke about how if only I were a few decades younger… They stopped at the dirty look he shot them.

After a private walk in the Liu courtyard (not so private considering that his relatives spy on them), Shen Qingqiu takes a rest in the outdoor furniture. They had arrived before the sun rose, and the moon was high in the sky by now.

“Tired?” He speaks gently. Shen Qingqiu looks up at him blearily. 

“No.” He slurs, and Liu Qingge stifles a laugh at his lover’s stubbornness. The man is half-asleep— they both know how tired he is. “This shixiong simply wants to enjoy the view and relax for a moment.”

The seat is big enough for two, and Liu Qingge hesitantly sits next to Shen Qingqiu. Shen Qingqiu moves closer, leaning against his stiff body.

“Shidi is so kind as to let me borrow his warmth,” he mumbles. His breath evens out, and by the time Liu Qingge blinks back to reality, Shen Qingqiu is asleep.

His stoic face twists, a complicated feeling rising in his throat. He should wake up Shen Qingqiu and gently guide him to their room. But Shen Qingqiu is asleep. He ponders. It wouldn’t be so bad if he were to carry him there. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s carried an unconscious Shen Qingqiu. 

He makes up his mind and gently turns Shen Qingqiu onto his back, arms shifting to carry him securely.

Liu Qingge valiantly ignores the open stares they get on the way to their room.

Chapter Text

Liu Qingge finally finds it.

The Iridescent Scale Dragon is an elusive beast, and it takes him a couple of years to track. A singular scale from it is worth thousands of gold taels, enough to make any person’s head spin. A single drop of its blood holds immense power— a panacea, a cultivation enhancer, and apparently, an extremely potent aphrodisiac. Its eyes are glassy and jewel-like. The teeth can be carved into weapons. Its bones hold immense spiritual energy, and can produce powerful talismans. All together, the Iridescent Scale Dragon is worth millions. 

The price of it, its value is immense. Just one scale, one piece of it is more than worthy of being a proposal gift. Any person would be able to recognize the struggle in finding just one piece of it. 

But it is for Shen Qingqiu. And Shen Qingqiu does not deserve a singular scale when he could have thousands of them. Shen Qingqiu deserves to have it all. 

He is more than ready to defeat the beast. 

He wonders how Shen Qingqiu will react— will he give him that surprised look, as if to say for me? Or will he wrap his arms around his shoulders and flush as he did when he presented the Jade Tailed Koi? Although deep inside his heart, Liu Qingge guiltily hopes that Shen Qingqiu’s pupils will blow wide with want and desire, and he’ll kiss him with a scorching intensity.

There is no beast worthier of being his proposal gift. 

The dragon rushes at him and lets out a roar that shakes the heavens. Its teeth are bigger than his head, and its claws look sharp and deadly. He’s not afraid though.

Shen Qingqiu’s soothing voice echoes in his ears.

“My Liu-shidi is capable of anything.”

He smiles. Shen Qingqiu is right. As long as Shen Qingqiu smiles at him and sweetly embraces him, then he is capable of anything.

He strikes.

Shen Qingqiu accepts his proposal.

Shen Qingqiu looks at his proposal gift in awe, and he praises Liu Qingge with the fervor he had hoped for. But the compliment is nothing when he compares it to the fact that Shen Qingqiu has accepted his proposal gift, and now they are officially to be wed.

He picks up Shen Qingqiu, decorum be damned, and spins him around in a circle. He feels drunk, dizzy from the overwhelming joy flooding his brain. Shen Qingqiu looks shocked beyond all belief, and he turns that beautiful shade of red that Liu Qingge has always loved.

He puts Shen Qingqiu down and winds his arms around that perfect waist, placing his head in the tantalizing intersection of neck and shoulder.

“Thank you,” he says stupidly, smile growing against his skin. “Thank you.”

Shen Qingqiu is clearly flustered, but he doesn’t pull out his fan to smack him. Instead, he tries to regain his composure and rein in his emotion. It doesn’t work very well.

“Liu-shidi, what are you talking about?” 

He doesn’t like that. Why is Shen Qingqiu still calling him shidi, even after all this time? He doesn’t want to hear it from him, not when there’s a much more appealing option.

“Qingge,” he insists. Shen Qingqiu lets out a sharp breath. “Call me Qingge.”

“Liu-shidi!” His lover puts up a token protest.

“No.” He huffs. “Qingge.”

“Qingge.” 

There it is. He’s always felt neutral about his name, but the way it sounds in Shen Qingqiu’s voice makes him completely reconsider. He hums, pleased. Shen Qingqiu shivers at the sensation.

“Dinner,” he finds himself saying. “Let’s have dinner.”

Shen Qingqiu smiles at him, and he finds himself lost in that dazzling expression.

“I don’t know Qingge,” he teases lightly. “I’ll have to think about it.”

…

Dinner is splendid. It is a simple affair, but Liu Qingge feels like a king as he greedily feasts on the company of his fiancé. 

He is with Shen Qingqiu on an off-mountain trip. Yue Qingyuan had stared him down menacingly, but he eventually gave in to Liu Qingge’s request.

After all, they need to prepare for their wedding. How could Liu Qingge leave his fiancé out of their wedding preparations? They are equals, and he wants this to be a day that Shen Qingqiu will be completely satisfied with.

“What do you think, sir?”

The seamstress holds up two swatches of red fabric that practically look identical to his eyes. His brow wrinkles, and Shen Qingqiu laughs at him. The arm around Shen Qingqiu’s waist tightens (at first, Shen Qingqiu had protested it heavily, but froze and gave in completely when Liu Qingge had called him Shen-shixiong, quiet and sly. He’d have to remember that for later).

“This one.” Shen Qingqiu nods decisively, and he wonders what the difference even is. “It suits you better, Qingge.”

“Whatever you want,” he says. He genuinely means it too. The seamstress nods politely, and writes in her notepad.

“If you’re ready, sirs?” She gestures to the measurement room. “Who will go first?”

“He will.” He nudges Shen Qingqiu to the door. “Go, Qingqiu.”

“Me?” Shen Qingqiu looks away from his gaze, and he can sense just how confused he is. “I thought we were here for you.”

What an odd thought. Why would Liu Qingge only buy his wedding clothes, and not Shen Qingqiu’s? Surely, he didn’t think that he had to buy his own…? Then again, Shen Qingqiu’s family had passed a very long time ago, probably before they could teach him about courtship rituals.

“It’s a gift,” he says, swallowing thickly. He hopes that Shen Qingqiu’s family can see this now, can see that their beloved son has found a devoted partner. Maybe someday, Shen Qingqiu will take his hand and they can offer tribute to his departed family, kneeling in front of their shrine together.

Before Shen Qingqiu can say anything, he’s promptly whisked away by a pair of seamstresses.

“We will be done in the afternoon,” the seamstress says behind him. “You are welcome to leave and finish your tasks.”

She bows slightly and he nods, satisfied. He still has to buy Shen Qingqiu’s wedding jewelry, visit the shoemaker, and find the nuptial wine.

“Alright.” He turns out of the shop. 

There’s a lot that has to be done today.

“Please drink tea.”

Shen Qingqiu offers the cup to his mother, and Liu Qingge does the same for his father. They smile brightly at them and take a sip. With a jolt, he realizes that this is the first time he’s ever seen such emotion on their normally stoic faces.

He secretly looks over at his lover, dressed in flaming crimson. He is beautiful, stunning. Golden jewelry hangs from his neck, his wrists. Despite the amount of wedding jewelry he already had, Shen Qingqiu had absolutely insisted on one thing— a sparkling garnet, carved from the tiger Liu Qingge had presented all that time ago. In his hair, the jade hairpin. 

His heart beats faster and faster.

Shen Qingqiu is not alone in wearing a symbol of their courtship. He proudly wears a jade hairpin— the very same one Shen Qingqiu had sent him, the companion to the one in his lover’s hair. He also holds a secret— tucked under his wedding garments is the necklace that Shen Qingqiu had gifted him all that time ago. 

He turns to Yue Qingyuan. As Sect Leader, he was the closest person to family that Shen Qingqiu had— although he’s never quite known what to make of Yue Qingyuan’s intense attitude towards Shen Qingqiu. 

It doesn’t matter though.

Shen Qingqiu pours the tea for their Sect Leader, calm and elegant as always. His eyes are downturned, and he holds the cup towards him. Yue Qingyuan’s hard gaze softens. 

“Please drink tea.”

Shen Qingqiu is uncharacteristically silent as they cross arms and drink their wine. After Shen Qingqiu sets down his cup, Liu Qingge takes his husband’s hands in his. His husband.

“Nervous?” 

Shen Qingqiu is quiet. Liu Qingge’s face softens. They had shared countless embraces, but that was all that they had ever done. They hadn’t ever exchanged a kiss or even shared a bed (just the thought of it makes him flush). 

“Qingge, I…” Shen Qingqiu struggles with his words, and his heart melts just a little more. 

“It’s alright.” He rubs soothing circles into the pale skin. “I understand.”

Shen Qingqiu flushes, and he breaks eye contact.

“Don’t look.” His husband requests shyly. “Please?”

“Alright.” Liu Qingge turns his face away, weak to Shen Qingqiu. “Anything you want.”

“Anything?”

“Yes.” Shen Qingqiu takes in a sharp breath, and he wonders what exactly his beloved husband is thinking of doing.

“I will hold you to that.” 

He feels Shen Qingqiu move closer to him, his breath carefully even. Shen Qingqiu hesitates— and then shyly presses a chaste kiss to his cheek. It lasts for a few seconds at most, sweet and innocent. He blinks, and his head turns to Shen Qingqiu.

“You said you wouldn’t look!”

Shen Qingqiu turns away in embarrassment, trying to twist his body out of Liu Qingge’s reach. His hands fly up to cover his gorgeous face. It’s far too late though, because he’s already seen.

His husband’s face is completely red. His husband, so confident and sure, is painfully shy. As always, Shen Qingqiu manages to surprise him. He had thought that Shen Qingqiu would be more confident— but instead, he blushes like a fair maiden when he gently kisses the man he’s married to. Affection wells up, overflowing in Liu Qingge’s system. He gently pulls Shen Qingqiu back to him, settling him on his lap.

Shen Qingqiu squirms and picks at his wedding robes, elegant fingers smoothing and rubbing at the fine red silk.

“Qingge.” His husband nervously shifts in his lap. “I…”

He huffs. Shen Qingqiu looks at the corner of the ceiling, holding his head high. At this angle, Liu Qingge can see the flush of embarrassment spread up from under his red wedding robes, up his pale neck, and rest high on his cheeks. He stares and stares, transfixed.

“I love you.” Shen Qingqiu says, his voice strained. Liu Qingge smiles, because his husband is so so sweet. Only Shen Qingqiu could be so shameless with expressing his love, and then become a mess saying it outright. His husband. How did he ever become so blessed?

“I know.” Shen Qingqiu’s head snaps to his and this time, he doesn’t hold back. He tugs his husband closer, and presses a devoted kiss to that lovely cheek. 

“Qingqiu, my husband. I love you too.”

Shen Qingqiu freezes in his arms, as if unable to comprehend his words. Liu Qingge softly laughs, but leans in to kiss him again.

“Qingqiu?” Shen Qingqiu simply stares at him doe-eyed, as if Liu Qingge has shaken his world. It’s an unfairly endearing look, and he drinks it in. 

“My love,” Liu Qingge murmurs against his skin. “Speechless so soon? It’s alright. I’ll take care of you tonight.”

He shifts Shen Qingqiu in his arms and stands up. His husband wordlessly clutches at him with a vice grip, and he heads towards their bed.

He’s more than confident that he’ll be able to cure Shen Qingqiu of his speechlessness very soon.