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Now, Shang Qinghua has never been one to complain (that's a lie). Yeah, sure he cowers and acts pathetic to get his way but, can you really blame him? I mean, its worked a charm so far for him considering how he hasn't died yet. Acting all basically, pathetic, and weak was his entire thing alright so, Mobei Jun and Luo Binghe getting their hands on a translation and concealment talisman, (yes those exist), and deciding to use it specifically to listen in on him and Shen Yuan's weekly meetup while crouching by a window and looking in wasn't a part of his plans.
"Bro, there's no fucking way your rich bitch ass is complaining right now.", Shen Yuan waves his fan precariously in the air before snapping it shut with a sharp motion. "I'm the rich bitch who payed your bills so shut your fucking trap you manwhore.", rolling his iridescent green eyes as he snickers behind his fan that was no doubt one of Luo Binghe' s many gifts to him. "I hate that you're right so eat my ass but, Mobei Jun is one man that I'd- ".
Shen Yuan interrupts with a careless wave of his fan as he sips elegantly from his cup of tea, lounging on his seat. "Yes, yes, I've heard this song and dance a million times you insatiable slut. You'd get on your knees and do sexually despicable things for and to Mobei Jun.".
Luo Binghe' s eyes widen as Shen Yuan's normally eloquent way of speaking is traded in exchange for this obviously more carefree manner of speaking; Mobei Jun's surprise is similar as he sees the difference in Shang Qinghua's level of comfort with Shen Yuan in comparison to him. Binghe had never heard his Shizun curse, let alone call someone such colourful insults, and Mobei had never heard Shang Qinghua cuss or reciprocate to him being insulted. After the conversation registered, mostly Shang Qinghua' s part in it, Mobei Jun was, flattered, horny, and confused. Luo Binghe had plans for Shen Yuan and him concerning the bedroom after hearing the lofty immortal degrade Shang Qinghua.
"With consent!", the mousey man chirps in addition to what Shen Yuan had said through his mouthful of strawberry tanghulu that had managed to stain a corner of his mouth red. Shen Yuan again, rolls his eyes, although fondly this time as he dips his thumb into his mouth and leans over the table to rid of the smear of red on Shang Qinghua's face while said man continues to speak animatedly.
Luo Binghe's eyes narrow at Shen Yuan's automatic display of affection of using his own saliva to erase a trace of the candied fruits they had been snacking on as they spoke. Shang Qinghua didn't seem to react negatively to it so, that must mean it's within the norm of their friendship for Shen Yuan to do such a thing. A frown creased the skin between his angular brows.
"Guess what bro!", Shang Qinghua jumps up from his seat and skips over to practically sit on Shen Yuan's lap; Shen Yuan wriggling with elegance, somehow, in order to accommodate to Shang Qinghua making himself at home on his lap. He threads his fingers through Shang Qinghua's hair with a pleased smile and amused eyes.
Luo Binghe' s demon mark flares a blinding crimson red in a display of his annoyance at the sight of Shang Qinghua sitting in his husband's lap before Mobei Jun's hand on his shoulder pushes him back down. "Junshang, it would be rude to disturb our mates. We are already spying on them; intervening would expose our presence here and break their trust.". Unfortunately, Luo Binghe cannot deny the logic in his trusted companion's words, so he backs down, for now, that is.
"I had this weird ass interaction with the demons in the Ice Palace the other day.", marinating in thought for a few short seconds while Shen Yuan undoes Shang Qinghua's hair and starts to braid it thoughtlessly as he waits for the shorter male to continue. "I was walking around the Ice Palace, you know, doing my job, and every time I walked past a demon, they gave me this weird wide-eyed look.".
By this point Shang Qinghua has already twisted around to make eye contact with Shen Yuan as he recounts the event before getting smacked on the head with a fan that had materialised in Shen Yuan's hand. "Don't move your head Qinghua! You're going to ruin the braid I'm doing! ", Shen Yuan scoffs as Shang Qinghua snaps back into his original position. "Now, continue your story and don't, move.". Shen Yuan quips again at Qinghua with a soft tug of the unfinished braid to emphasise his point again to him.
Luo Binghe snickers in satisfaction; inwardly praising his husband for his actions of hitting Shang Qinghua with his fan while Mobei Jun seems unbothered. Perhaps even smiling at the sight of his and Junshang's mates friendly behaviour.
"Anyways, they were all wide-eyed but, they didn't look scared at all. They looked kinda happy for some weird reason and I don't know how to feel about it.". An arch of Shen Yuan's eyebrow indicates his interest in Qinghua's story as his fingers continue to braid the almost waist-length oak-coloured hair with gentle and intricate fingers.
Luo Binghe and Mobei Jun who were still camped outside by a window of Shen Yuan's bamboo hut also seemed to be invested in Shang Qinghua's story as they leaned in closer to peer through the window simultaneously remaining crouched on the floor.
"Oh yeah! It started happening when I went to the Ice Palace's servant quarters and dumped my bloodied robes for cleaning there, after the mission I went on recently. You know, the one I complained about to you?". A huffed laugh escapes the strawberry tanghulu-tinted lips of Shen Yuan as he grins at the memory of Shang Qinghua's complaints. "The one where you complained to me about how you ripped a man's throat out with your teeth and spent 30 minutes staring into the reflection of a river trying to get bits of flesh out of your teeth before Mobei Jun would see? Yes Qinghua, it'd be hard to forget that mission.". Shang Qinghua groans out loud as he remembers the struggle. "Bro, it took so fucking long to clean my teeth that were basically dyed pink because of all the blood! Ugh, I don't recommend ripping out somebody's throat with your mouth. Anyways where was I?"
Both of the demon's seemed to be impressed at Shang Qinghua's rather savage killing method. Mobei Jun even preening in delight at seeing how capable his mate is. Luo Binghe was admittedly impressed, he'll give the little rat that. He still wasn't happy about how he was sitting in his Shizun's lap.
Shen Yuan pauses his braiding as he starts to connect the dots. "Wait, Qinghua when you dropped off the clothes to those servants did you mention why they were bloodied?". Shang Qinghua stills as he hums aloud in thought. "Uh, probably? I mean I was complaining about how ripping out someone's throat with your mouth is an inefficient killing method because it's hard to clean up so, yeah, I guess so.".
"Dude.", Shen Yuan says in a deadpab tone. "No wonder why all those demons are acting weird around you. They must be acting funny because they respect you. A lot of demon culture is based on your fighting capability and physical prowess you hack-author". Shang Qinghua turns around to face Shen Yuan again, disregarding the previous instruction of not moving completely. "And?", Qinghua says as if Shen Yuan's observation was of no relevance to his recount of the demon's in the Ice Palace behaving strangely.
Shen Yuan deadpans, clearly annoyed by Shang Qinghua's lack of intellectual initiative. "So, when you complained about ripping someone's throat out to the servants, they must've approved of that pretty hard because of how demon culture works, idiot.". Shang Qinghua pauses for a few long seconds before his lips form into a perfect oval of realisation. "Oh.". Shen Yuan chuckles and continues his braiding like before, "Yeah, oh, dumbass.". Shen Yuan says as he focuses on the braid again.
Clearly not appreciating the friendly insult Shang Qinghua spins back around intending to retort an insult back at Shen Yuan only to come face-to-face with his fan instead. "I said stop moving!", Qinghua rubs the area of his forehead that was targeted by Shen Yuan's fan as he sulks privately to himself before whining out loud to Shen Yuan. "Ouch bro, that really hurt.". The taller male sighs with every hint of his affection evident on his face. "You'll thank me for this braid when you see how good it looks on you.". Shang Qinghua's cheeks flush a bit at the unexpected compliment from Shen Yuan before settling down and remaining still obediently, unlike before.
'Who knew all it took was some flattery to get the An Ding Peak lord to sit still?', Shen Yuan thought to himself as he finished the braid with a soft "Done.".
Shang Qinghua springs up from Shen Yuan's lap and runs to the full-length mirror he knows to be located in Shen Yuan's room with Shen Yuan following closely behind him.
While both Peak lords moved locations in the bamboo house, they unknowingly leave behind their two demon husband's. "Junshang, the talisman won't be in effect for much longer. This Mobei Jun thinks it would be a wise choice for us to leave now before we risk getting caught by our mates.". Luo Binghe pauses in thought as he ponders the ice demon's words. "A wise choice indeed. We will leave now then; it wouldn't do us any good getting caught by my Shizun and your mate.". With that, the two demon spouses skilfully bound away into the lush bamboo forest behind the house.
The full-length mirror reflects the perfectly plaited braid done by Shen Yuan's skilled hands as Shang Qinghua twirls around while looking back at his reflection in the mirror. "Hey, I look pretty good with a braid!", the smaller Peak lord remarks as he prances around on the spot in front of the mirror. "You're pretty no matter what you do with your hair, although, I'll have to admit that the braid does suit you.". Shen Yuan says honestly as he admires, his handy work, completely ignoring Shang Qinghua's eyes of tearful happiness.
"Bro!", Shang Qinghua launches into Shen Yuan and smothers him in an escapable hug. Thankfully, Shen Yuan fights through his thin face and returns the hug back with a warm smile and fond eyes. The two spending the rest of their afternoon blissfully unaware of their husband's eavesdropping.