Work Text:
Shen Yuan let out a sigh, stretching his arms above his head as he finished grading the last of the tests from his advanced music theory class this morning.
With the semester coming to a close, Shen Yuan plans to meet up with Shang Qinghua for their End of Semester Dinner – A tradition they’d started back during their college years and just continued on even when they both became college professors.
It was the last thing they often did before they’d part ways and meet up again after the much needed summer break ended. A routine of sorts. After that, Shen Yuan would just spend his days lazing around in his apartment, casually doom scrolling, iQiyi hopping, or more realistically, following his favorite music artists to see what they’re up to..
Specifically, Luo Binghe, China’s national treasure and pop idol extraordinaire.
Right, look. He’s not going to go unhinged and hit up EVERY Luo Binghe Concert known to man this summer like some random stan! That would be going overboard!
But at least Shen Yuan could catch the ones in Shanghai and stream the rest on the exclusive fan club website with his other fellow mods.. It was a smarter way to consume content, practically effortless and very much in line with the digital age.
Shen Yuan quickly packed up the last of his belongings and headed to the faculty parking lot, eager to get to the restaurant he’d agreed to meet Shang Qinghua at, ready to leave the red brick buildings of the college and the stuffy academia behind – at least for a while.
Plus, The sooner he gets to the restaurant, the sooner he can go back home and revert back to being a salted fish and finally check on the #BingheWatch updates on Twitter
Once he got to his car, he turned on his favorite song by Luo Binghe, and hummed along as he drove to his regular bistro to meet Shang Qinghua.
He didn’t know why, but "The Searching” ’ – that favorite song of his – seemed to tug at Shen Yuan’s heart, resonating in a way that he couldn’t really describe himself. It had been one of his top most played songs consecutively on his own music streaming service for years on end for that very same reason. “The Searching” had that much staying power in Shen Yuan’s brain.
IF Shen Yuan had to guess, it almost sounded like Binghe was singing for someone important. Of course this was all speculation, but the notes and the emotions in the songs just felt so right. The longing, the yearning. A perfect expression of love and want.
‘Whoever they are, they’re very lucky’ Shen Yuan thought as he pulled his car to the parking lot of the bistro.
As he strode in the restaurant, Shen Yuan saw the familiar face of his friend with his shaggy brown hair pulled in a half updo, freckles scattering across his nose, and his glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose as he typed away on his laptop.
“Working on another masterpiece?” Shen Yuan said sarcastically, sliding into the seat across from his friend who shot him an annoyed look.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes. After Proud Immortal Demon Way got successful, I’ve been allowed to write what I actually want”
Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.
“A slow burn danmei” Shang Qinghua announced dramatically, his arms outstretched slightly as he gestured at the sticker laden laptop, “I expect you to beta read if you have the time.”
“Sure, just send the file over. Do you have any plans for the summer?” Shen Yuan asked as he sat down across from his friend and looked over the bistro’s menu.
“Well, Mobei-Jun and I are celebrating our anniversary this year, and we thought it would be fun if we did a double date, and introduce our best friends,” Shang Qinghua said, giving a hopeful look to Shen Yuan.
“Thanks, but no thanks, I have a packed schedule this summer,” Shen Yuan said in a firm tone.
“Oh yeah, you’ll be following that pretty boy idol you have a crush on,” Shang Qinghua said, chuckling when he heard Shen Yuan let out a choked out noise akin to an old sputtering car engine, stalling at the climb of a steep hill.
“I DO NOT have a crush on him.” Shen Yuan scoffed, his tone scathing, spitting out those words as if they were poison themselves. “I follow Luo Binghe NOT because he’s marketed as a pretty boy idol, he is a musical genius! It is not the same thing!” He says looking over at Shang Qinghua.
“He writes all of his own songs,” Shen Yuan continued, “and plays most of his own instruments on recordings. He deserves more credit than he gets” Shen Yuan said as he took a big gulp of his drink. “He’s not JUST some ‘pretty idol’ ” he says.
“Right…totally not crushing” Shang Qinghua murmured, pouring himself some water as he flagged down their waiter to order, already accustomed to his friend’s ‘obsession Not obsession’ mindset. He could probably recite the extended Luo Binghe spiel from Shen Yuan word for word in his sleep .
The rest of the dinner was uneventful. They caught up over their plates of food, stole bits from each other’s dishes, lamented about the quality of the current student’s papers, and caught up on each other’s lives.
All that changed when Shen Yuan’s phone chimed.
When he opened the text message, he gasped in surprise, and did his best to keep his calm
‘Dear Loyal Fan,
Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!
Important things must be said three times!
You are the winner of the Luo Binghe fan club's first concert Meet and Greet! – NorthEast Asia Edition!
Your ticket and backstage pass will be available for pick up at your local box office!’
“Yo, You good?” Shang Qinghua’s voice snapped Shen Yuan out of his thoughts. The latter was giving Shen Yuan and the phone in his hands a quizzical look. “Looks like you’re going to vibrate out of your own skin any moment now, the heck was that? ”
“Airplane! I won a lucky draw” Shen Yuan exclaimed excitedly, his cheeks flushed red, his eyes wide almost as if in disbelief.
“! I got a ticket and backstage pass to see Binghe” Shen Yuan breathlessly,“I know we’re supposed to hang out longer, but I have to pick out an outfit!”
“Wait, Binghe, Bro! –” But Shang Qinghua’s protests were unheard by the music professor as he slapped cash on the table and left, his motions as fast as a whirlwind.
Shen Yuan needed to get ready.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shen Yuan looked at himself in the mirror one more time before heading out to the concert hall. He wore one of the exclusive Luo Binghe concert shirts he got at the idol’s last tour, a pair of black jeans, and wire rimmed glasses. His hair while getting a bit long was brushed back and styled neatly. Grabbing the pair of light sticks, his keys and wallet, he headed out to meet the Didi he ordered.
His knee began to bounce the closer he got to the venue and each moment spent during the car ride was tenser than the next. Once Shen Yuan’s ride arrived at the stadium it was already crowded with people.
Shen Yuan managed to get himself to the box office somehow through the hubbub of fans and managed to pick up his badge and ticket. He was then ushered into a special reserved section where he had arguably the best seat in the house.
‘I guess entering all those lotteries in the fan club finally paid off’ he thought, his heart beginning to race as the lights dimmed and the crowd began to cheer.
Suddenly bright light fills the stadium as the spotlight shines down on a single figure on the dark stage.
Luo Binghe.
Dressed in one of his elaborate costumes of his signature black and red – a new style for this new era of his career. Dashing as always with his handsome looks and his unending charisma. The man, the myth, the legend.
Right on stage in full view for Shen Yuan to see.
Still, Shen Yuan can’t help but find this new costume design oddly familiar – even if he knew that Binghe had never worn a costume like this before. Weeks editing and trawling through the obscure fandom wikis had never resulted in Binghe wearing this costume…
So where –
“Hello everyone, I'm happy you can join me tonight! Let’s kick things off with the debut of my newest song, Shooting Star!” Binghe’s velvet voice said through his microphone.
Screams of delight rang through the concert crowd at the announcement. Shen Yuan turned on his lightsticks.
They glowed a brilliant red as the music began, the sea of those light sticks moving in time with the melody of Binghe’s newest song.
Shen Yuan was transfixed at Binghe’s figure on the stage. He could’ve sworn he he felt those warm dark eyes looking at his own, meeting with him for a short eternity.
And then Binghe began to sing:
Search for Your LOVE...
Search for Your LOVE...
You'd always shine so bright just like a little star
I felt my heart ignite every time you smile
Memories I'll cherish forever (like an eternal Starlight)
I wasn't strong enough to be your shining star, and when the days were tough, I hid myself from the world
All that's left in my heart is pain (you'll always be my Sweetheart)
Search for Your LOVE I call up to the heavens
Search for Your LOVE to take away your sadness
Search for Your LOVE hurry back to me so I can keep you safe in my arms
Your scent remains, oh, still it lingers (I will find you)
Hear my voice, the words I sing to you (I still love you)
Tell me, where are you right now? (Moonlight Princess)
My beloved princess
Just answer me (Answer for me)
I need you to (Answer for me)
Please answer me (Answer for me)
I need you to (Answer for me)
As each day turns to night, I search for a shooting star
And when I catch the light, my heart knows what to do
And so I make a wish to be with you (You're my eternal Starlight)
As each day passes by without you by my side
Don't know if you realize but we are always true
The piece that I've been missing is you (You'll always be my Sweetheart)
Search for Your LOVE I call up to the heavens
Search for Your LOVE to take away your sadness
Search for Your LOVE hurry back to me so I can keep you safe in my arms
Your scent remains, oh, still it lingers (I will find you)
Hear my voice, the words I sing to you (I still love you)
Tell me, where are you right now? (Moonlight Princess)
My beloved princess
Just answer me (Answer for me)
I need you to (Answer for me)
Please answer me (Answer for me)
I need you to (Answer for me)
Just answer me (Answer for me)
I need you to (Answer for me)
Please answer me (Answer for me)
I need you to (Answer for me)
Shen Yuan felt his heart flip in his chest as Binghe sang.
Sure, his songs always elicited reactions from Shen Yuan depending on the mood of the song, but this one – perhaps because of the stage angle of where he sat in the VIP section, perhaps because of the way he looked at the crowd – it almost seemed to be directed at him specifically. Binghe had looked at his direction almost the entire entire time the song was being performed.
But it must just be how the stage direction was set. Maximum marketing, maximum pretty idol charisma, it’s probably for fanservice, and not anything really related to Shen Yuan himself. It was just the idol’s default image played up for the crowd to see,
But for some reason even with Shen Yuan’s logical rationalization of Binghe’s brilliant stage performance, that fluttery feeling remained in his heart long after Binghe moved onto the next song.
It remained fluttering for the rest of his setlist.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once everyone started to file out of the stadium, a young woman with her hair pulled into two braid loops approached him.
She was in an outfit that was stylish but impractical paired with sky high stilettos, short shorts and a red top that showed her shoulders and midriff.
“Uh…”Shen Yuan recognized her from many of the concerts and fan events he attended, but was drawing a blank on who she was exactly.
“You’re Shen Yuan right?” she asked, inspecting her nails as she waited for his answer.
Startled, he answered, “Yes that’s me. and you are?”
“Sha Hualing, I’m the head of security for Luo Binghe. If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to his dressing room” she said, turning on her heels as Shen Yuan followed her.
Shen Yuan wasn’t sure how a slight, petite woman could be head of security for Luo Binghe, but he supposed her intimidating aura was enough of a deterrent for most. They had walked in tense heavy silence down the hall.
Shen Yuan can feel his own shoulders tense up.
Of course he’s tense! He’s about to meet China’s National Treasure Luo Freaking Binghe Himself! He can feel himself count his own breath trying to steady it, trying to appear Normal. The last thing he wants is Sha Hualing – or god forbid Luo Binghe – to find him to be one of those fans and be ejected out of the show or worse, black listed out of any future shows.
Shen Yuan turned to look at the head of security beside him.
Well… Sha Hualing seemed relatively unbothered, texting on her phone as they walked down the fluorescent lit hall.
Figures. She must have been through the likes of this sort of meet and greet before.
Soon the two of them stopped in front of a door that had to have been the dressing room.
Sha Hualing knocked on the door and said, “Junshang, the lottery winner is here.” her tone was almost bored.
Shen Yuan heard shuffling behind the door, and before he knew it, he was face to face with Luo Binghe, the top C-Pop idol in the country, and objectively the most gorgeous man alive.
He was so dazzled that he barely noticed Sha Hualing leaving, only hearing the click clacking of her heels down the hall.
And then there were two.
Fuck. He’s alone with Luo Binghe. The Luo Binghe.
Luo Binghe stood in the doorway looking more handsome than Shen Yuan’s wildest dreams or any picture could do justice. He looked like a statue carved from jade with his symmetrical and delicate bone structure supporting dense muscle that had everyone swooning. He was still in his costume with traces of the faint makeup he wore and a bright smile that Shen Yuan had never seen in any of his appearances before.
Oh god it’s Luo Binghe.
“You must be Shen Yuan,” The Idol spoke, that same smile on his lips. As he shifted forwards slightly. “Congratulations on winning the lottery this time. Please come in” he said as he held the door wide open for Shen Yuan, ushering him into the dressing room.
The dressing room was lushly decorated with a comfy couch, vanity on the far wall, and other fancy things. But strangely enough unlike a usual backstage, the room was lit in dim red lighting. In the middle of the dressing room was a table with chairs right in the center, and on top of said table was a spread of delectable food.
“It’s nice to meet you, I guess you were about to have dinner?” Shen Yuan asked, wanting to kick himself for asking something so ridiculous.
There was a low rumble, and Binghe was… chuckling? Shen Yuan immediately felt the initial mortification melt away in an instant.
“No, we are going to have dinner,” Binghe said, pulling out the chair for Shen Yuan who slid in trying not to look as dumbfounded as he felt.
He watched Luo Binghe move and sit in front of him.
“Please eat up, I made this myself.”
Shen Yuan’s eyes widened “You made all of this? But why? Is this a normal part of the fan experience?”
Binghe’s eyes filled with a warmth that caused Shen Yuan’s heart to skip a beat.
Shen Yuan took a bite of his food to distract from that odd feeling. His eyes widened when the flavor hit his tongue. “This is delicious,” he exclaimed. “ Of course you would be talented in cooking too,” Shen Yuan said with a smile as he took another eager bite, not noticing the pink hue that creeped up Binghe’s cheeks and ears.
“Shen Yuan is very kind, I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long” Binghe said in an uncharacteristically bashful manner reminiscent of an innocent little lamb to Shen Yuan rather than the pop god he is.
“But don’t you do this all the time? – Meeting fans I meant.” Shen Yuan asked, suddenly confused.
Binghe has met tons of fans. There were videos and pictures posted everywhere across all social media platforms of fans posing with Luo Binghe or shaking hands with the idol himself.
Binghe took a breath and reached into his pocket close to his chest. He pulled out a beat up polaroid, and handed it over to Shen Yuan.
“I know you may not remember this,” He said gently, “but seeing your band perform live changed my life.”
Shen Yuan’s eyes widened as he looked at the old polaroid. It was a faded image of him with his old band the Peak Lords.
It was something he’d started with his friends back in college. Just him and his other bandmates – Shang Qinghua, Mu Qingfang, Liu Qingge and Qi Qingqi. They had done it for their shared love of performing and dramatic visuals.
They never got big, but they did have a small but dedicated fanbase.
Though the colors in the polaroid had long started fading, it had still clearly shown Shen Yuan and his bandmates dressed in their costumes. Standing with them in the photograph with Shen Yuan’s hand on his head was a young boy – a pure little white lotus that had to have been Luo Binghe.
“When I first heard your music, I was going through a hard time. I just lost my foster mom, and I was in a group home. I felt so alone, but your music made me feel like someone really understood.” Luo Binghe spoke. “I listened to every album the Peak Lords had released… and whenever I could scrape together enough money, I’d go to your shows.”
“On my birthday, I was able to go to your final show,” Luo Binghe continued, “and I got this picture. Ever since then, I worked hard so I can get into a position to find you again – I wanted to thank you for saving me.”
Shen Yuan’s eyes widened at Binghe’s confession, and felt his cheeks warm up, noticing Binghe scooting closer to him.
Binghe placed his hand on top of Shen Yuan’s and gave it a light squeeze. “I even wrote a song in the hopes that it would reach out, and we could meet, but before I could release it, you won the lottery for a meet and greet…” He paused, looking at Shen yuan with those warm brown eyes, “So I wanted to make this night special.”
Shen Yuan couldn’t believe this. His band from his early college years not only inspired the biggest pop star in China, but that he had been looking for HIM this whole time, even wrote a song about him.
This is the type of crap that Airplane bro would write.
Shen Yuan resisted the urge to pinch himself awake right now.
“I know my song to you was intense, but those are my honest feelings. I hope you’d consider taking a chance on me” Binghe said as he took his hand with his own, the warm touch snapping him out of his stunned silence.
He brought Shen Yuan’s hand to his lips…
…and placed a kiss on the back of it, the warmth brushing the pale skin.
“I-if Binghe really wants to date me, then I would be lucky” Shen Yuan found himself saying, unable to really find it in his heart to reject Binghe especially when those misty, starry eyes were staring at him so intensely.
“I promise not to disappoint you Yuan-ge!” Binghe exclaimed, launching himself into Shen Yuan’s arms, and placed a shower of kisses on his cheeks and lips.
Shen Yuan found himself returning those kisses, a warmth flooding him with what their future could hold.