Work Text:
The thing about being the author-god of this world is that Shang Qinghua had intrinsic knowledge about things that even his characters didn't know about themselves. For example, he knew of everyone's presentations even before he had joined Cang Qiong. He knew who liked whose pheromones best, and which scent made each of them turn their noses in disgust. He wrote it, after all.
This brought him to a pickle, however, when he realized he couldn't smell Shen Qingqiu at all.
The man presented as an omega early, contrary to what his readers likes to believe, and he had a distinct scent of bamboo, something citrusy and wet grass. (He knows it's cliché, but it became just a stallion novel damn it! There was no space for development!)
Shang Qinghua had smelled his scent before, both from the man himself and from his house, but he noticed that now he couldn't, at all . He thought at first that the problem was with his nose, but he quadruple checked other scents AND took one of his self made cure-all drinks just to be sure that his nose wasn't failing him (it could've ended in quite a conundrum in this world of his!).
But no. It wasn't him, and now it had been over a week since he smelled any faint traces of Shen Qingqiu's scent.
He thought he was being sneaky about it, quietly sniffling when near the man, but apparently not, seeing as how Shen Qingqiu called for him after the latest Peak Lord meeting and cornered him in an empty hallway.
And listen. Shang Qinghua is a very gay man being basically kabedoned by an incredibly attractive man. He can't be judged if his breath hitches a little or if he blushes, alright?!
“What is wrong with you?!” Shen Qingqiu demands.
Shang Qinghua blinks, “What?”
Sharp green eyes gleam at him, “ Stop sniffing at me like a bloodhound.” He pulls back and opens a fan in a single motion, scoffing, he adds, “I should've known a man like you would lurk around like a dog .”
He was so sure he was being careful though! And besides! He has reasons to be worried! Lack of scent is never a good sign, especially on omegas. He remembers from his classes that it's something that occurs due to extreme stress, and often, fear. It could go as far as causing a qi deviation on a cultivator, and is, in fact, a sign someone is in danger of such a thing.
He must decide between butting in on Shen Qingqiu, his ultimate antagonist’s business, or sneakily try and fix it. One look at the angry man in front of him answered it.
“Shixiong, I'm not sure what you mean-” He tried, but was immediately interrupted by a hand slapping the wall beside his head once again.
“ Don't lie to me, Shang Qinghua. What do you want.” He demanded, and just like that, Shang Qinghua folded.
“It's just… Shixiong, are you alright?” By the widening of his eyes, the question seems to catch Shen Qingqiu by surprise, “This shidi can't smell any hint of your scent, even from this close, and we both know lack of scent is a precursor for a qi deviation-”
“Stop.” He says, and pulls back, hiding his hands in his sleeves, he continues, “This shixiong is fine, my lack of scent is merely due to the new suppressors.”
Shang Qinghua frowns, “Suppressors don't block scents, shixiong.”
Haughtily, Shen Qingqiu answers, “This one is new.”
Before he can hold it in, he blurts out, “So you're using extremely dangerous experimental suppressors?! Shixiong! It can't be that bad!”
“ Yes, it can .” Shen Qingqiu seethes, “ You don't have to worry about the disgusting smell that follows you around. You, with your smell of fresh fruit, paper and ground ink. It isn't bitter or rotten . It isn't gag inducing, so do not mock me by saying it’s ‘not that bad’.”
“Surely not!” In his haggled state, he lets out the rest of his thoughts, “Shixiong has always smelled good! Like… Jasmine, eucalyptus, bamboo! Good things! For a very refreshing scent.” He pauses briefly, before deciding to barge ahead with some of his suspicions, “Shixiong is very stressed, yes? Of course your scent will sour, we're meant to live in community , shixiong. This shidi understands you value your privacy, but believes you should find someone trustworthy to scent you and help you relax.”
“ Scent me- ”
“Of course! That is only if shixiong wants to avoid further damage to his health, especially his meridians. This shidi doesn't want to have to call Mu Qingfang due to a deviation.” He frowns, and his next thought escapes his mouth too fast for his brain to stop him, “It might be more efficient if you nest with someone on your next heat, actually.”
FUCK! Shang Qinghua! Control your mouth!!!
“And who , pray tell, would this shixiong nest with, Shang Qinghua?” It's posed as a question, but the threatening aura and the way Shen Qingqiu grinds his teeth as he speaks makes it sound more like a statement.
“Another omega would be best. An alpha would just make your instincts go haywire, and a beta wouldn't be able to completely fix it.” Maybe today is the day his mouth gets him killed, because it runs from him once again, “That being said, there's not many available omegas, huh? Considering Shen-shixiong’s Peak Lord status, it would be uncouth to nest with a disciple… Maybe a friend in or outside the sect?” He knows Shen Qingqiu’s only friends outside the sect are the ladies in the Warm Red Pavilion, and they all take very strong suppressants to avoid unwanted mishaps.
Shen Qingqiu sneers, “Shang-shidi surely thought this through. He couldn't possibly be offering himself? Who would share a nest with you ?”
Ouch. This… was a really bad idea huh? He shouldn't have meddled. He's not in the Scooby-Doo gang, why did he meddle! Shen Qingqiu is a grown ass man, he doesn't need Shang Qinghua's interference in his personal business. His words are a bucket of cold water in the middle of a snowstorm. It burns his lungs and has him fighting back tremors.
Hiding the hurt in his expression, Shang Qinghua does a short bow, but is unable to make his voice as unfazed as he'd like, “Thanking Shen-shixiong for assuaging this one's worries. This shidi will take his leave now.”
Maybe it's a coward's move to run away, but their encounter was clearly only escalating into something worse by the second. Turning his back and flying off as fast as he could was the best course of action, for certain.
He doesn't catch the tightness in Shen Qingqiu’s jaw, or the way he grips his fan so strongly that the wood threatens to break. He certainly is not privy to the marring of his features in a half concealed scowl, caused by his own careless and unfeeling words. He's already far away to not be a speck in the sky by the time Shen Qingqiu himself departs.
—
Unfortunately for Shang Qinghua, the problem with being the Peak Lord of the Logistics Peak is that he has to deal with everyone , even if that includes Peak Lords he's currently not speaking to. Mainly, one Shen Qingqiu.
He wishes he had more forms from Bai Zhan to complete so he didn't have to deal with Qing Jing, but alas, he has to go over the few documents sent to him and make note of all requests, denying or accepting them, add the numbers to the books, and urgh. Work.
It's a thankless job. No one cares for who's really keeping the Sect running, but if it wasn't for him, Cang Qiong would go up in flames in under a week . Honestly! The state of things before he became Peak Lord was deplorable, he had to replace nearly every system they had in place. At least now An Ding Peak runs like a supercomputer, with all its core components well taken care of and updated.
But that supercomputer sometimes is forced to deal with faulty fax machines.
At least Qing Jing is more similar to a printer. Straightforward and simple, even though sometimes it runs out of colorful ink and doesn't print in black and white without CMY for some dumb reason, and then refuses to communicate with the PC, but it's fine! He can deal with it!
He stares at the requisition forms for what are clearly nesting materials, sealed with the Qing Jing Peak Lord's seal, and wonders who the man chose. A few of the other Peak Lords are omegas, but Shen Qingqiu seldom interacted with any of them so it begs the question, who could it be?
He approves of the request without much more pondering, making the adjustments to Qing Jing’s Peak Lord ledger and continues his attempt to decrease the amount of paperwork (it's futile, it festers like mold, breeds like rabbits and haunts him like comments on Zhongdian).
He's halfway done, reaching for the next paper when he realizes it's a personal mail addressed to him. It's short, threatening and to the point.
Shang-shidi,
This master requests your presence to the bamboo house at your earliest convenience for a personal, private, matter.
Shen Qingqiu, Peak Lord of Qing Jing.
Below it, the unforgeable seal of Qing Jing.
“Fuck,” he mumbles under his breath, “What did I do?”
The next half shichen is a blur of forms and requests, denials and acceptances. It's gone far too fast for his taste, because in no time, he's hopping on his sword and heading to Qing Jing.
—
Unlike An Ding's sprawling hills and plentiful waterfalls surrounded by the incessant buzzing of disciples and the multitude of buildings, Qing Jing is a bastion of peace, with its gentle breeze and swaying bamboo shoots. The disciples don't run, always in a hurry like on An Ding, and speak in soft, sophisticated tones instead of the harried, out of breath and fast pace he's used to in his own peak. It's so jarring that he doesn't notice he's arrived at Shen Qingqiu's personal residence until the door is being opened and he's ushered inside.
There's a tea service ready for them, and a plethora of small cakes under a stasis talisman. He's guided to sit and drink, under the unwavering gaze of Shen Qingqiu and the slow and methodical waving of his fan.
“This master has considered Shang-shidi’s words carefully and has come to a decision.”
Shang Qinghua swallows the osmanthus cake he had bit and readies himself for the blow.
“Shang-shidi shall join this master on this one's next heat.”
“Oh, is that what the forms were for? Okay.” He says, and then, “Wait what. Me?!”
Like the aloof immortal cultivator he is, Shen Qingqiu merely blinks and nods, “Is there an issue?”
He's most definitely gaping like a fish, but he needs the clarification, “But, the other day you said– I thought that– I just– Me? Is shixiong certain? Certainly you have, uh, options you'd prefer?”
“No one else has enough social standing. And shidi already knows what's at stake, there's no need to involve anyone else.”
“But shixiong-” He tries, futilely.
“Is shidi unwilling to help his shixiong? This was shidi’s idea, after all.” Shen Qingqiu interrupts, “Certainly shidi would extend his help to aid this shixiong? You said so yourself how dire it could be.”
Wailing inside his head, Shang Qinghua looks up to the ceiling and sighs. There's very little he can do. Even though only a week and a half before this he was being humiliated by the very same man that now demands his help.
Rubbing his temples, he considers his options. Help Shen Qingqiu and suffer for upwards to a week OR not help Shen Qingqiu and deal with the weight of his inherent demise.
…He may have been a scum villain, but damn it! Airplane had so many good plans and ideas for him originally! He knows his backstory! He can't allow him to die when he knows it's undeserving! Shen Qingqiu would've had a redeeming arc if things hadn't gone to absolute shit in his own personal life. He had to sell out in order to scrap by, and now he deals with the consequences by transmigrating to his masterpiece-turned-crap novel. Plus! Shen Qingqiu is extremely pretty, and Shang Qinghua is nothing but a small, gay man!
He looks at Shen Qingqiu. His eyes gleam, confident that he already knows what Shang Qinghua will decide. Out of pettiness, he wants to say no, but it's quickly squashed by his love of PIDW and of the character of Shen Qingqiu.
“Fine,” he caves, and sees the corners of Shen Qingqiu's eyes turn up into crescents, “When is your next heat?”
“This one is glad shidi made the right choice. We'll meet for my heat in two months.” He proposes.
“No.” Shang Qinghua stops him before he can get up from his cushion, “Shixiong has to steadily grow used to my scent,” He unties the ribbon of his hair, letting chestnut waves roll down past his waist, and extends it to him, “Start with this for now, I'll send a few scented items over, but shixiong and I should meet a few times a week, preferably on An Ding, so that you're not overwhelmed.” He pauses, considering, “It's probably better to have your heat be on my nest as well, since things are already in place and well established, but I'll need your scented clothes to add to it.”
With every sentence, the frown in Shen Qingqiu's forehead grows more prominent, before smoothing out in begrudgingly acceptance.
“Very well. Three days from now we'll meet again.” He ends their conversation by snapping his fan shut and smoothly getting up from his seat, prompting Shang Qinghua to do the same.
(Un?)Pleasantries over with, Shang Qinghua climbs onto his sword and flies away. He has much work to delegate and prepare for. He predicts at least ten more Bai Zhan reform requests in the time he'll be assisting Shen Qingqiu.
He sighs. There's much to be done.
—
The following meeting is stilted and tense, with Shen Qingqiu taking the offered inner robes without much fuss, and giving his own to add to Shang Qinghua's nest.
“Is it even big enough?” He had asked, amidst the silence of their tea service.
“I'm sorry?” Shang Qinghua blinks.
“Your nest. Is it big enough for us?”
He snorts, unbidden. Shen Qingqiu must not be used to nesting at all. His nest is an ever growing sprawling monstrosity, with tall walls, plentiful soft pillows and blankets, with heating talismans keeping it cozy at all times. He already had plans on where to put Shen Qingqiu's robes.
He lets out a small, short laugh, “Would shixiong like to see? I assure you, it's more than big enough.”
Shen Qingqiu purses his lips, “No, that won't be necessary.”
Their meeting quickly ends, and Shang Qinghua sighs. At this rhythm, Shen Qingqiu won't feel at ease when his heat hits him. Shang Qinghua is going to need to smooth their relationship, and fast, before time runs out for them.
—
The next time they meet, Shang Qinghua talks. And talks and talks. About everything and nothing. He shares sect gossip and talks about his disciple days. He complains about paperwork and praises Shen Qingqiu for doing his work well and easing his burden, which gets him a proud little smirk.
He talks about his current gaggle of disciples, from the youngest sweet child to the oldest hallmasters, mentioning how try as they might, they're never able to hide from their shizun. He asks after Shen Qingqiu and his disciples, but only gets vague answers, so he drops it.
He makes sure to have sweets at disposal, including Shen Qingqiu's favorite, tanghulu, which gets him a side eye, but whatever! He'll take it!
He makes a mental note to arrange for more tanghulu when Shen Qingqiu's heat comes. He's confident the man will crave it.
He badmouths Bai Zhan, and gets to watch as something akin to satisfaction shimmers in Shen Qingqiu's eyes as he listens to someone agree with his views on them, even if only slightly so.
He also avoids any mention of Yue Qingyuan and Qiong Ding, and watches as Shen Qingqiu's shoulders ease with the longer he spends not talking about him at all.
By the time he's out of subjects to talk about, their tea and snacks are all gone and he's gotten more of Shen Qingqiu's things to add to his nest. This time, he offers an inner robe of his own. Shen Qingqiu's hand flexes while holding to it, before he quickly stores it inside one of his sleeves.
With a nod, he gives his goodbyes and leaves An Ding, leaving Shang Qinghua once more alone with his work.
—
The more they meet, the more relaxed and casual their chats become. Shen Qingqiu himself now adds tidbits to their conversations, and shares his own views and anecdotes, all with sharp commentary and bitchy judgment.
Shang Qinghua loves it.
It feels like talking to a millennial once again. It's a breath of fresh air from all the pompous and polite talk he's often forced into. It reminds him of haggling with some of the merchants that have dealings with Cang Qiong.
By the month and a half mark, he's started picking up on a scent from Shen Qingqiu as well.
“Shixiong, that scent…” He starts, but doesn't finish his sentence.
Shen Qingqiu snaps his fan open, but he's not quick enough to hide the reddening of his face, “Yes. This shixiong is entering pre-heat.”
He's possibly too excited at the news, because Shang Qinghua perks up and babbles nonstop about how well the nest has turned out, and that he's certain this heat will go by soothingly.
“Shixiong should spend the night!” He exclaims, and immediately notices the shock in Shen Qingqiu’s eyes, “It'll help make you feel more comfortable in this shidi's nest! Especially now that your scent is, ah, more noticeable.”
Shen Qingqiu raised an eyebrow, “Does shidi suggest we share, then?”
“Well, we could?” He responds, tapping on the table they sit at, “My nest is big enough, but if shixiong is uncomfortable, I could sleep somewhere else this time?”
“This time?”
He nods, “We'll share the nest at least once before your heat shixiong, it'll help, you'll see!”
Shen Qingqiu goes silent but acquiesces shortly, “Very well, shidi can lead the way then.”
“Ah, already?”
Shen Qingqiu merely blinks, and motions to a window, “It is already past sundown, shidi.”
This time, Shang Qinghua is the one to show confusion, “Yes? What about it? There's still much work to be done and I have enough night pearls and candles to last me a few more hours.”
Shen Qingqiu frowns, “Shidi, at what time do you stop working?”
He hums, “Well, once every few days, I think? An Ding never stops, and neither can I.” He huffs a laugh, “Just look at my office, there's parchment everywhere, and it all must be finished. I can't afford to stop working, shixiong. Oh! But I've been taking breaks! With you! I even get to eat!”
Shen Qingqiu pales, “Is this… Due to the other peaks’ lack of work? Shidi seemed very glad when this shixiong delivered his completed work personally today, but if the other peaks don't do the same…”
He winces, “Ah, well… Not everyone is as good as Shen-shixiong at doing their own share of paperwork…”
Shen Qingqiu’s eyes turn cold as they appraise the office around them. It's always been somewhat messy, with paper and scrolls on nearly every available surface, and dozens more around and on top of Shang Qinghua's desk.
His eyes cut to Shang Qinghua's hands and he itches to hide the ink that stains his fingers from the calculating gaze cast upon them.
“This one will deal with it, shidi. Come, it's time for sleep.”
Shen Qingqiu lets out a small “Oh!” when he finally sees the nest. His fingers hover over the closest edge of it and he looks back with a question in his eyes.
“Go ahead, shixiong.”
Shen Qingqiu does. The fur is a pelt from one of the northern beasts his King slayed before, and it's one of the softest things Shang Qinghua owns. Shen Qingqiu lets out a small chirrup of surprise at the touch.
“See, shixiong? It's big enough for us and then some. Not that anyone is joining us, but you know what I mean.”
They get ready for bed in a comfortable silence. Privately, Shang Qinghua thinks Shen Qingqiu looks lovely with his hair in a braid. The lack of layers softens him somehow, even if now his lean and sharp form is more easily visible.
He'd like to say that sleep doesn't come to him easily, but that'd be a lie. He's overworked, underpaid and intrinsically bone deep tired. He's asleep before Shen Qingqiu even turns off the lights with a flick of his wrist.
He misses the fondness in Shen Qingqiu's eyes, and the softly whispered, “Good night, Shang-shidi.”
—
He wakes up, which by itself is already a rare occurrence, tucked in against warmth. Awareness comes immediately to him, and he realizes that it's none else but the scum villain himself cuddling him.
He's curled in a small form, another rare occurrence, against Shen Qingqiu's front, arms tucked into his own chest. One of Shen Qingqiu's arms is thrown over his waist and his nose rests in Shang Qinghua's hair.
It's the coziest he's ever been, and he's grown to build the damn coziest nest he could possibly build. He allocated funds, haggled and bartered for furs, pelts, fabrics and pillows that all felt soft as clouds.
From this close, he can finally smell Shen Qingqiu's scent. Jasmine, bamboo, eucalyptus. It reminds him of the color green. He knows it's uncreative, but quite frankly, he doesn't care. Even if initially he thought it was too on the nose, now he finds that the scent fits Shen Qingqiu.
He inhales a mouthful and relaxes further in his shixiong’s arms. He feels… safe. At ease. Right in a way he hasn't felt ever since before he transmigrated. When he was still a child and his parents still loved each other, and him by extension. Not later on, when he was an afterthought weeks after holidays, and forgotten on birthdays.
“Shidi is awake?” Shen Qingqiu asks, voice rough with sleep.
“Ah, shixiong,” He yawns, and stretches with a satisfied groan, “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Shang-shidi.”
“Shixiong smells nice.” He mumbles, and without missing a beat, continues, “Let's get ready for the day, yeah?” And in moments he's up, tying his hair and changing into his robes, before Shen Qingqiu is even done sitting up in bed.
“Shixiong is welcome to stay! But this shidi has much work to do, but ah, I feel so rested! I should sleep more often!” He beams, watching Shen Qingqiu's sleepy confusion slowly turn into awareness.
He's slow to wake up, so cute!
“Mn.” He hums, and promptly falls back into the nest.
Shang Qinghua smiles, and goes on with his day.
It's almost mid morning when Shen Qingqiu emerges from his bedroom, in full Peak Lord regalia, impeccable as usual.
“Shidi,” He greets.
“Shixiong!” Shang Qinghua clambers up, “Come, I've had breakfast ordered to us! It's on our usual spot!” He speaks, and hurries to the table where their food awaits under a stasis talisman.
Shen Qingqiu watches him, and he lets the surprise show in his face, “Shidi has been waiting? Forgive this master, then, for taking so long.”
Shang Qinghua just waves him off, “Nonsense, nonsense! I usually don't eat until late in the afternoon, really. My head disciple almost cried tears of joy, haha! Come sit!”
Shen Qingqiu frowns, “Shidi must take better care of himself.”
“Ah, shixiong, if only it was that easy! Paperwork gathers like leaves during autumn, but with no end in sight. I usually snack on seeds until I can snag a meal or two. It's nothing, really!”
“Practicing that much inedia can't be good, shidi, please eat more.” His worry is so shocking that Shang Qinghua ignores how the man said please .
“I will!” He promises, with no intention of following through, “Did Shen-shixiong sleep well?”
The man blushes, but nods, “Shang-shidi’s nest is truly comfortable, this master is thankful for the invite.”
“Anytime, shixiong!” He answers, and they begin to eat.
—
It's night once more, and they're together in An Ding. Surprisingly, he’s free of work, as there’s been a lesser influx of work for him. Shen Qingqiu must’ve indeed dealt with it as he mentioned.
The scent of pre-heat permeates the bedroom. Shen Qingqiu allows himself to sit comfortably amongst plush pillows and blankets as Shang Qinghua arranges a few last minute details.
He fluffs a pillow here, tidies a pelt there, checks their water supply and emergency talismans. He makes sure the small stash of tanghulu is still in place.
“Shidi, things are great already, come sit with this one.” He orders, and Shang Qinghua is quick to follow.
He climbs onto the nest and settles beside Shen Qingqiu with ease. The man quickly arranges them so that his nose rests on Shang Qinghua's neck, where he can inhale his scent easily.
“Mm. You smell sweet,” He mumbles, “Like ripe fruit. Mangos.” He inhales, “‘s nice.”
Shang Qinghua giggles nervously, “Yeah? I'm glad you like it?”
Shen Qingqiu hums, and opens his mouth, breathing the scent directly from the glands, before lapping at the spot.
Shang Qinghua squeaks, and finds himself suddenly below Shen Qingqiu, being nuzzled within an inch of his life, “Sh-shixiong?”
Like a puppet whose strings are cut, Shen Qingqiu flops down atop him, hair falling off from his usual braid, legs tangled together. One of his pantlegs rose during the night, exposing his calf.
Scandalous! Shang Qinghua thinks, before dissolving in giggles and hugging Shen Qingqiu against him tighter, one hand tangling at the hair at the nape of his head.
“You say I smell good but… Shen-shixiong’s scent is delicious,” He says and takes a deep breath. Jasmine, bamboo, eucalyptus. He thinks he's a little addicted to it. “There's nothing rotten, or sour. Shen-shixiong is great as he is.”
He gets a squeeze out of that, and a purr. Shen Qingqiu rises up just enough to look at Shang Qinghua, and his face is surprised. He touches Shang Qinghua's chest, and then his own, his expression is shocked.
“Is that… Me?”
Puzzled, Shang Qinghua asks, “Shixiong hasn't purred before?”
“No.”
Shang Qinghua turns them so they're face to face, and lets his own purr sound in the room.
“I… didn't think I could do this.”
“It's okay, shixiong, you can. How do you feel?” He undoes the braid and runs his fingers through silky soft hair. He wonders what his own hair looks like right then, but he's more focused on Shen Qingqiu than his own image.
Shen Qingqiu takes a moment to assess himself, “A little hungry, and… fuzzy.”
Shang Qinghua detangles himself, cooing when Shen Qingqiu lets out a whine, “I'll just grab us food, I'll be right back,” he says, before snatching a few of the provisions he's prepared beforehand. He snatches a jug of water as well, and some tanghulu.
The offers are received with a chirp, and once the tanghulu is revealed, the purring intensifies from one to eleven, much to Shen Qingqiu's embarrassment. His ears and cheekbones are dusted a lovely shade of red, that only intensifies when he licks his fingers clean under Shang Qinghua's fond gaze.
“What would you like to do now?”
Shen Qingqiu fidgets and looks off to the side, uncomfortable, “Aren't we supposed to… be intimate?”
That surprises Shang Qinghua, “No. Not necessarily.” He starts, “Some omegas do have the urge during their heats, but I personally mostly like laying around, reading, eating and sleeping.”
Shen Qingqiu relaxes further into the nest with a thankful sigh, “Okay. Okay, good. What books do you have?”
Shang Qinghua smiles widely and hops around the room, chatting happily and collecting whatever he thinks Shen Qingqiu will enjoy, (and ignoring his own works and the yellow books he owns).
The rest of Shen Qingqiu's heat is much the same. A lot of cuddling and nuzzling, reading (and subsequently discussing the books read), meaningless chatting and plenty of food. His scent peaks and lowers, varying in its different smells, unstable, through the first few days, but with the steady ease of Shang Qinghua's scent, nest and his giving behavior, it stabilizes into a happy, content scent by the time the week is done.
Much to his chagrin, Shen Qingqiu does find his writing and yellow books. He's ruthless on the porn, but the rest gets a surprising amount of praise. The high opinion from the scholarly Peak Lord to his writing makes Shang Qinghua blush all day long.
When Shang Qinghua wakes up on the last day, it's to sharp green eyes watching him, taking him in.
“Good morning, Shen-shixiong, how do you feel today?”
Shen Qingqiu squeezes Shang Qinghua in the hold he has him in, much similar to the first time they did this, “Good morning, shidi. I… think it's over.”
He hums, stretches and sighs contently, “That's good,” He says, before snuggling closer to reach Shen Qingqiu's neck, where his scent glands lay, “Your scent seems to be stable now, that's great shixiong! It worked!” He lets his own happy smell rise and mix with Shen Qingqiu's.
“What now?” He asks, uncertain.
But Shang Qinghua merely smiles, “Now, we have breakfast!”
Shen Qingqiu rolls his eyes, “And then what?”
“Then we can do whatever we want?” He offers, a little confused. He was under the impression Shen Qingqiu would want to leave as soon as possible, but maybe… that wasn't the case?
“Can't we just do that now?”
“I… I guess?”
“Good.” Shen Qingqiu says, and proceeds to kiss him.
Their lips fit perfectly against one another. The kiss is sweet and chaste, but long, as if Shen Qingqiu is loath to part. He shouldn't worry though, because as soon as they do, Shang Qinghua is already pulling him in for another, deeper kiss.
That one then is intense. He maps Shen Qingqiu's mouth with his tongue, sucks on his bottom lip and nibbles on it. He hears Shen Qingqiu whine, and pulls him closer.
Aware of the man's past, he lets the rhythm be guided by him. It's slow, sensual yet tentative, like he's not used to this amount of care and consideration put into a kiss. He probably isn't, and Shang Qinghua makes a mental note to feel bad about writing his past later, when he's not so busy being kissed.
Shen Qingqiu climbs over him, and continues kissing him. He pants against his mouth amidst kisses and his scent blooms into arousal and happiness. Shang Qinghua is more than happy to be brought along in the ride, following wherever Shen Qingqiu goes.
That turned out to be his neck and collarbones. Shen Qingqiu sucks on his scent glands, and Shang Qinghua can't help but moan, loudly.
Shen Qingqiu pulls back, with a mischievous look in his eyes, smirks, and does it again and again, letting his teeth graze the skin, causing Shang Qinghua to jump in place and whimper.
He can feel himself chub up, and when Shen Qingqiu grinds down, he's rewarded with the knowledge that the man is hard too.
His hands fumble for the ties holding his sleep shirt closed, much to Shen Qingqiu's amusement. Chilly hands still his frantic ones, and successfully untie his shirt, exposing Shang Qinghua's chest, where he quickly diverts his mouth and hands to.
When Shen Qingqiu's tongue finds his nipple, he finds that he wasn't, in fact, as loud as he could be.
“Sh-shixiong…” He whines, as Shen Qingqiu hums with his breast in mouth, and his hands traveling further down until they teach the pouch of his stomach. He's a bit embarrassed by it, but by the groan Shen Qingqiu lets out, he's fairly certain the man doesn't mind in the least.
He's quick to disrobe Shen Qingqiu, who's even quicker to pull down his pants and throw them to a far corner of the room.
His cock bobs in the air, and his pussy glimmers with slick. Shen Qingqiu takes his time, he slowly strokes his lips, spreading wetness all over him, teases the edge of his hole with the barest pressure, before he starts fingering him.
He's slow and methodical, trying different angles, speeds and pressure to find what Shang Qinghua prefers. He's a quick study, and no longer after he figures out the right angle, he's pulling out all three fingers he's managed to cram in Shang Qinghua and pushing his legs upwards.
“Hold these for me, shidi.” He says, before guiding Shang Qinghua's own hands to his thighs, holding them against his chest in what his brain provides as a mating press.
Shen Qingqiu is careful with penetrating him, teasing him with every inch, pulling back slow and thrusting back in fast.
Shang Qinghua is begging for more faster than Shen Qingqiu can fuck him. Luckily for him, Shen Qingqiu takes pity on the ruddy cheeks and teary eyed stare.
His legs are spread, knees up to his shoulders as Shen Qingqiu pounds him. He's distantly aware of the moans he's letting out, and the wet noise of their joining, the papapa sound of it is embarrassing, but vindicating to know he was right about the onomatopoeia. It really sounds like papapa!
His own cock bounces with the thrusts, but he's more focused on how Shen Qingqiu's feel inside him. Smoldering, and so full it's overwhelming.
“You tryin’ to break my cunt with cock?” He moans, his words a little garbled by the sound and their movements..
Shen Qingqiu chuckles, and the sound will forever be stored in Shang Qinghua's mind, “Is it working?”
Shang Qinghua whines, “ Yes, ah-! ”
The thrusts speed up, and Shen Qingqiu hits a sweet spot that makes Shang Qinghua's mind go blank with every other thrust. He's aware he's babbling, but he has to focus to listen to his words. Once he does, he realizes he's begging for more, intersped with moans of ‘shixiong’.
He's a bit embarrassed, but he's too fucked out to care.
Shen Qingqiu's hands drag Shang Qinghua's down from where he holds his thighs, and uses his fingers to spread his pussy lips open to see where he's being fucked into.
“Feel this, shidi?” He asks, guiding one of Shang Qinghua's fingers to where his cock is still pistoning inside him, “It's where I'm breeding you.”
Shang Qinghua's mind goes white, and he comes on a silent scream, clenching around the cock in him, and spurting jizz over his own chest.
Shen Qingqiu isn't too far behind. With a few more thrusts, he empties himself inside Shang Qinghua, muffling his own moan with a bite on his neck, shy of his scent glands.
They both pant asynchronously, and Shen Qingqiu arranges them so they're on their sides and out of the wet spot they left. Shen Qingqiu is still half hard inside him when they catch their breath.
Shang Qinghua breaks the silence, “Um, so that was fun.”
Shen Qingqiu laughs, and the sound makes Shang Qinghua's heart skip several beats and do a full double loop in his chest.
“That,” He responds, “Was just the start.” He pecks Shang Qinghua's lips, “And if you'll have me, I'll bite you properly next time.”
That startles Shang Qinghua, “But that's permanent.”
Shen Qingqiu's easy smile slips off, “Do you… Do you not-” He swallows, “Did shidi not want this…?”
Panicked, Shang Qinghua sits up, and immediately regrets it when the cock in him moves, “No! That's not it! I wanted it! I wanted it, I swear!” He exclaims, and lays back down, “It's just…”
All at once, Shen Qingqiu's face clears, “Shidi, do you think I don't want you?”
He opens his mouth to deny, but naked, in bed, and still connected, he can't find it in himself to lie, so he shuts his mouth and averts his gaze.
“Qinghua,” Shen Qingqiu calls softly, and guides his face with fingers on his chin to look at him, “Why wouldn't I want you? We spent weeks getting to know each other, how could I not fall for you after all of that?”
“But are you sure -” He tries, but a kiss interrupts him.
“No one else would do but you, Shang Qinghua,” Shen Qingqiu has never sounded softer. One of his hands push back Shang Qinghua's hair, and his eyes shine with affection “No one else could ever come close to you.”