#it does end up bingliushen

[tk-duveraun]

I forgor AO3 was having maintenance

Mushroom body shenanigans

SQQ!Yuan self-destructs and next thing he knows he's digging himself out and... This isn't where they planted the bodies. But there's a stash of money and clothes and while the trappings are anonymous they're definitely his vibe. There's even a fan!

When he sees his reflection, he's jumpscared by looking 80% like his original body and 20% like sqq. Which is nice but definitely weird.

Wearing a weimao he goes to a village near cqms (and wow SQH really moved their bodies CLOSE that was not the plan!) to hear news only to find it's been only a few days since his detonation and apparently LQG is fighting LBH to get his body back! Lbh wasn't his death enough?!

After a few weeks, SY really, really can't take watching his shidi tear himself apart for nothing, so he reveals himself to the peak lords only...

YQY, big bro, why are you so hostile?! YQY refuses to accept SY's explanations but 'graciously' lets SY leave unmolested though as far as the sect is concerned he's an imposter and not welcome.

SY is extremely confused because certainly YQY would have sussed him out years ago? Why now?

LQG tells SY that YQY was beside himself over the death and nearly had a severe qi deviation and had to seclude himself so he's just not in his right mind and he'll come around

LQG however still thinks they need to get his body back.

Thankfully he fights more conservatively now and not every day. SY eventually watches one of the fights and tells LQG that while LBH is clearly not killing LQG on purpose (and he definitely could) the sword is corrupting LBH and that was the whole reason for the self detonation.

LQG considers this and tells LBH to stop wasting SQQ's sacrifice by giving himself over to that sword. After a few days of this, LBH fights LQG with a new spiritual sword and they end for the day when it shatters under his demonic Qi and he's back to using Xin Mo next time

SY leaves LQG to it and goes out to find the legendary smith from the novel whose eventually daughter LBH would eventually marry and then his ability to make mix race swords would be completely forgotten.

It takes some effort, but sy's wife beam is powerful (though the smith is very happy with his new wife ofc, just, he'll make one sword and come back you know how it is?) he lowkey thinks sy is a fairy and this is a divine quest from the heavens

When lbh initially refuses the smith, he's told about the fairy and the divine quest and Shizun had always told Binghe it was important to fulfill divine quests whenever they appeared (after discussing with other disciples and asking seeing the sect he didn't think divine quests really happened more than once a generation but Shizun was so insistent and now it's come to pass. Several times)

However given the previous divine quests resulted in the fairy trying to sleep with him, he is uninterested in meeting them

Fights with LQG continue but LBH becomes slightly more stable.

Sy meets up with SQH and gives him shit about moving the bodies

"I didn't move them bro"

So they go out to see and yeah... He didn't move them. But his body that they planted, uhhhhh, it responds to gentle probing like his soul is in there. So to avoid having an existential crisis, SY uses his special cultivation to speed up the growth and

Oh shit

Oh fuck

That's the original goods. Run bro, fucking run

[asha-mage]

BingLiuShen au where Shen Qingqiu's fevered heteronormativity poisoned brain decides that the best way to avoid dying for the crime of being a heterosexual male in a stallion novel is to pretend not to be heterosexual and thus not a threat to the protagonist's harem. He figures if he can hit that sweet spot where his (supposed! Not real at all!) sexuality is just a quirk of the beloved mentor then the narrative will have no choice but to keep him alive. Airplane might be a hack, but he's exactly the sort of hack who would put in a token gay character, then shunt them off to the background, only to be trotted out again when he's getting flack in the comments for sexist, homophobic, and/or generally shitty writing decisions.

And for Shen Yuan, whose stated life goal is to idle away the hours in luxury and occasionally bask in Binghe's protagonisty coolness (in a very heterosexual way of course!) that would be the perfect out. There's just one problem- how does he demonstrate his (definitely fake!) homosexuality without playing into homophobic tropes and getting himself killed for offending the genre's aggressively het sensibilities?

The answer? Pretend to be pinning away silently in unrequited love for another man. It's perfect! All he has to do is drop a few extremely subtle hints in Binghe's hearing implying having feelings he would never act on for say, Liu Qingge, and he'll be golden. After all, what person attracted to men (which he isn't!) wouldn't fall immediately in love with the Bai Zhan War God? It has the added benefit of proving what a good Token Gay he is by the fact that he saved Liu Qingge's life without any expectations or hopes and without ever even revealing his (supposed!) feelings.

Shen Qingqiu gets about a week of feeling like a genius after putting this plot into motion before Liu Qingge starts showing up at Qing Jing with small gifts and pastries and asking to spar, and well. In between melting down (because how on earth did he put it together from the grand total of three entirely ambiguous hints he dropped!) and trying to stay composed (because even the straightest guy- which he is!- would get flustered by having Liu Qingge smiling at him Like That) he figures the only rational thing to do is just Commit To the Bit, resign himself to one day becoming cultivation partners with Liu Qingge and retiring together into the background of future plot shenanigans. Their are clearly no other possible ways of dealing with this situation, and hey being with Liu Qingge of all people isn't bad. That's a fan favorite character and he's stupidly handsome and brave and kind! Shen Qingqiu could do a lot worse, especially in a world like PIDW. In fact given the alternatives, Shen Qingqiu's could probably consider himself incredibly lucky. Objectively that is. From a purely 'guy trying to survive this dumb novel' point of view. It would be an honor to have Liu Qingge's arms wrapped around him. If he where into men of course.

Meanwhile you have Luo Binghe in the background of every scene the two are in with a forced smile, internally speed running the '*fork in garbage disposal noises*' to 'I just want my Shizun to be happy! I swear!' to 'actually Liu-shishu is really nice I can see what Shizun sees in him' to 'oh no I think I want to be in the Middle Of Whatever That Is' arc.

(And of course, Binghe at the end of the day IS the protagonist, and after much trial and tribulation, is supposed to get exactly what he wants...)

And all the while you have Liu Qingge, utterly oblivious to the mental anguish and gymnastics of his shidi and shizi, who just keeps turning up at Qing Jing, because he really does like Shen Qingqiu and even if that first date was his sister's idea he's found he really does enjoy spending time with Shen Qingqiu, and also Shen Qingqiu's sticky first disciple who despite the crocodile tears is actually clearly pretty strong. He has no idea that Shen Qingqiu is silently picking out drapery for the future house while Luo Binghe tries to rationalize his out of control heartbeat as a completely normal side effect of the sparring match they just fought (Which he only keeps challenging Liu-shishu to make sure he's strong enough to protect Shizun! He swears!).

WIll the three of them ever figure it out and get their act together? Sure. Will they do it before the Conference/Abyss arc upends everything? Absolutely not.

[the-switch-conspiracy]

The thrilling third act to whatever the fuck is happening in my sims 4 game. I wish this was scripted, I really wish it was, but no, my sims apparently just have 1 braincell and Binghe's the only one using it.

First things first, Liu Qingge decided to take up boxing for his new career of military man.

Shen Jiu has given birth, welcome Yingying to the world! And oh GUESS WHO THE FATHER IS.

It's this asshole. Again.

Congratulations x3. Shen Yuan is now the father of two and only one of them is from (one of) his husband(s). Whatever, what's done is done, Yixuan has had his birthday and is now an infant. Liu Qingge has actually been stepping up now that Shen Yuan has to deal with 2 kids.

Binghe is progressing with his culinary career! He's a very studious boy! However he does tend to leave food hanging around in mass piles everywhere.

Despite the, ahem, suprise parenting of another man's child, Bingliushen is still going strong!

A couple weeks have past, and it's wintermas/christmas time in the sims and... wtf. Apparently everyone in this household has the hots for Santa Clement Frost. Single braincell.

With the new year, new income, and new family member, the gang has decided to move up in the world. They are still very broke, BUT they now have a new house. Don't ask how they got it.

Liu Qingge and Shen Yuan spent their first night in the house together <3 Liu Qingge is loving the new work out area as well!

Things are starting to look up for them! Well let's just leave them on auto for a couple of days while I play with my Wangxian and Hulian sims, so long as nothing else happens while I'm away we should be lickity spli-

...

... You're kidding me right. Again? You were ON birth control! You had rubbers! Qingge is this what you want?? To be barefoot and pregnant for the rest of your days?? Once more he's so proud and smug about it! Drastic measures must be taken. I said there would be consequences if this happened again!

The cats have been spayed. Shen Yuan's prolific reign of terror will end! Oh god it has to. I can't take care of three toddlers. They certainly can't take care of three toddlers! What have I done to deserve this? The only "person" currently happy in the household is Bingpup!

[Prev] [Masterpost] [Next]

[ineffectualdemon]

Okay I was thinking more about bingliushen taking my kids idea that there is a fourth secondary gender called Gamma which protects their partners while they are in heat and rut and provides comfort. They are aided in protecting their partners as during their partners heats/ruts they produce a toxin in their fangs that incapacitates people. I like to imagine it knocks them unconscious for several hours

The teenagers idea is that they tend to be asexual but not exclusively so

And I was working originally with Liu Qingge and Shen Qingqiu's Gamma but what if it's the other way around?

So Liu Qingge gets hit with aphrodisiac at the succubus den and goes into heat while the succubus' flee. Shen Qingqiu is u affected by the pollen but not the heat and goes into protection mood

He scents Liu Qingge to calm him down during his heat away from his nest and bites a few people who try to get to the omega

Afterwards they do have a bond as a Gamma and Omega which means regular scenting, cuddling in a shared nest, and even when Shen Qingqiu is wandering he is always home when Liu Qingge is in preheat and through his heat protecting his space and taking care of him

Am omega without an alpha but with gamma mostly sleeps through their heat in my mind but it's like they have a high fever for it

It's similar for an alpha who has a gamma but not an omega

Also I'm going to say their bond bites go on the wrists

So when Binghe shows up Shen Qingqiu smells like Liu Qingge which just makes things worse

While Shen Qingqiu is dead Liu Qingge shows up to fight at the beginning of his preheat once and the fight gets...charged. they never speak of it again and fights don't happen when they are in rut or heat. Which works out because their cycles sync for some reason

They don't think about why

Post canon Shen Qingqiu goes back to Cang Qiong to be with Liu Qingge during his heat if he'll still have him. Liu Qingge of course does want him there.

Which is fine except it's not because Luo Binghe is also in pre rut while Liu Qingge is in pre heat.

Binghe reluctantly offers to delay his rut using his heavenly demon blood but that doesn't work because being near Liu Qingge is overwriting his attempts to delay it

Mu Qingfang is like "usually if a Gamma has and Alpha and Omega they bond with but they aren't bonded with each other the Alpha and Omega usually end up bonded. But what do I know? Anyway figure it out"

So they go home and spend a week getting ready for ruts and heats in separate rooms with Shen Qingqiu attending them both

Only Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge keeping being drawn together and find to their disgust they don't hate each other and Shen Qingqiu is grooming and scenting them both and filling the house with happy pheromones whenever they are getting close which even drives them closer together

[allpiesforourown]

What do u think of bingliushen? no judgement i like seeing ur brain thoughts

People who like bingliushen are super valid but I can't really imagine it. I could never imagine sharing someone as lovely as shen yuan with anyone and I think the same goes for binghe and qingge. Binghe is too possessive and Liu qingge is too protective. The polycule would last 3 hours max before binghe and qingge try to kill each other, and somehow shen qingqiu is the one that ends up dying because that's what he always does

[coolshadowtwins]

LiuShen Fanficion Round Up! Lets Go!

This took way too long! These are hard to do on mobile. Thank you to everyone who gave recs! If anyone recommends any other LiuShen/BingLiuShen fics, I’ll add them to this later!

I might have missed some that people have recommended, so tell me if I did!

The clueless fairy and his knight by sailorstar165

Summary:

Yet another filler quest from the pesky System in his head leads Shen Qingqiu to a heavily damaged heavenly raiment that inconceivably now belongs to him.

This was impossible for two reasons.

One, Lunar Fairies are female only. So sayeth the "Great Master" Airplane Shooting Toward the Sky when he wrote the abomination that was PIDW, and last he'd checked, Shen Qingqiu was very much male.

Two, Shen Qingqiu is just some one-dimensional scum villain! He was a garbage person for the sake of villainy! He shouldn't have a tragic backstory and missing family and some fated role to play in this universe!

When the System lured him in with the promise of hidden lore, Shen Yuan wasn't signing up for this!

Cultivate: slow life on a monster infested mountain by NeonGhostCat

Summary:

When trying to transfer Shen Yuan from the real world to Proud Immortal Demon Way, the System runs into an error. The transfer is not complete.

Shen Yuan is dropped off at the foot of a mountain aware of two things: he's in the story, and the Shen Qingqiu of this world is not only aware but thinks he tried to possess his body — and he's PISSED. Shen Yuan tries to opt out and live a simple life on what locals tell him is a monster-infested mountain no one in their right mind would bother with.

Sounds like a great hiding spot!

(TL;DR: Stardew Scum Villain Valley Mountain.)

Reincarnation not desired, transmigration not required by Pegunicent

Summary:

Shen Yuan dies. Then he decides to finally get a life.

Star crossed wires by silversinnbees

Summary:

Shen Yuan’s family has been pestering him to get an android for months now. His health had recently taken a dip that landed him in the hospital for a bit and an ultimatum had been issued: either Shen Yuan goes into some kind of assisted living facility (which, no), or he purchases an android fitted out with caretaking programming to live with him. He had griped about it for the longest time, not liking either option given to him but he ultimately decided that an android in his living space was a better option than essentially living in a hospital.

 

Shen Yuan brings an android named Liu Qingge into his life to take care of him. He never could have expected that the android was capable of so much more than just caring.

Metagaming by esama

Summary:

[Self-Saving System Activated! You will be now returned to your original starting position.]

Shen Qingqiu dies and gets a second chance and decides to try a different approach. (Note: this does a many pairings, not just LiuShen!)

Meet Cute (these dorks) by Mayvn

Summary:

The instant he turned to dash into the fight, Liu Qingge froze as he saw Not Shen Qingqiu standing coolly over one unconscious thug, guqin in both hands and still in a pose that clearly showed he had, in fact, just bludgeoned someone with the end of his guqin. Not Shen Qingqiu smirked and tilted his head back cockily.
---
LQG finds SY running away from a sticky situation and brings him back to Cang Qiong in hopes that he can keep the man from getting himself mugged. SY is just relieved he doesn’t have to pretend to be a girl anymore.

Blanket Forts and Rainy Days by NeonGhostCat

Summary:

Mere weeks after the Demon Invasion incident, Liu Qingge visits Qing Jing Peak to discover the disciples hard at work building a monstrosity of blankets and bamboo. Like the students, he becomes inexplicably drawn into Shen Qingqiu's orbit in spite of himself.

Or: How Shen Yuan causes chaos under the flimsy guise of education and Liu Qingge heroically tries to keep himself oblivious to the state of his own squishy heart.

the stages of [...] by tennssi

Summary:

Despite all efforts, Luo Binghe died before the abyss event, and the only thing that saved Shen Qingqiu from being transported back to his world were the points he painstakingly accumulated to prevent Binghe’s blackening.

Stuck in a state of mourning that he himself is unaware of, he finds an unexpected comfort from a certain Peak Lord, who despite everything, never left his side since.

Sharing is Caring by celardor

Summary:

“Liu Qingge! I told you not to drink the water!” Shen Qingqiu shouts. His thoughts are a panicked whirl- is it going to have the same effect that it did in the original story?

 

Liu Qingge just stares at him in shock.

 

Shen Qingqiu’s question is answered when he suddenly hears Liu Qingge’s voice. Liu Qingge isn’t speaking, though- his mouth never moves. No, Shen Qingiu is hearing Liu Qingge’s voice inside his head.

Liu Qingge’s voice says, “Holy shit. I can see his nipples.”

 

They both stare at each other in horror. At that moment, there’s a happy little ding and a System notification pops up in front of him.

 

[Congratulations! Bonus mission activated: Sharing is Caring!]

 

“Fuck,” Shen Qingqiu says, with feeling.

 

*************

Shen Qingqiu and Liu Qingge accidentally trigger a wife plot that leads to them forming a telepathic connection.

(This one is a favorite of mine! I’ve re-read it multiple times, and it has an inprogress sequel.)

The Guardian Ghost and the Bookish Fairy by NeonGhostCat

Summary:

Liu Qingge survives his qi deviation… in the form of a ghost. Having nothing better to do and no desire to be exorcised, he follows after Shen Qingqiu and decides to haunt him for the hell of it.

It doesn't take him long to realize that not only is this not the Shen Qingqiu he knew, but there is more going on. And apparently Shang Qinghua is involved too? Ah! He understands now — they're immortal fairies given the mission to thwart a dark prophecy of the sect's collapse. Well. He can help with that. And how better than to protect the bookish fairy that's taken his old foe's place?

There are no ulterior motives. Why think such foolish things???

TL;DR: What happens if SY transmigrates just a little too late?

Story marked "Chooses Not To Warn" purely because LQG becomes a ghost in the first scene and I didn't want to agonize over whether that required a MCD warning or not. If it does to you, this is your heads up! No other archive warnings are necessary.

Moments by hummingbirdhum

Summary:

Liu Qingge never paid Shen Qingqiu attention unless he had to, before. But things are different now, and in a million little ways, this new Shen Qingqiu keeps managing to make him...feel things. Things he's not used to.

Basically SQQ keeps being attractive and adorable without realizing it and eventually it's going to build up to the point LQG has to do something about it.

Updates will be sporadic in length and in upload date. Starts pre-abyss.

every memory of you by beta_babelfish

Summary:

Before Shen Qingqiu can voice his agreement and his opinion that they are doing an excellent job of getting things done, a knock sounds at the door. The other Shen Qingqiu sighs heavily, and stands. “You ought to hide, I suppose,” he says. “That’ll be Yue Qingyuan.”


“Oh? Is there some business with the sect?” Shen Qingqiu asks, immediately curious.


“Oh, he’s here to clear my meridians, as usual,” Other-Him says nonchalantly.


Shen Qingqiu blinks. He blinks again. “As usual?” he says after what feels like an eternity, voice sounding strange and an unsettled feeling churning in his gut. “What about Liu-shidi?”


Other-Him looks at him blankly for a moment. “Who?”

Or, Shen Qingqiu is wifeplotted into an alternate timeline in which he did not save Liu Qingge.

Fowl Weather Friends by Koiichaser_lucorinth

Summary:

Shen Qingqiu had always felt a small disconnect from his wings, coming from a world that didn’t have them. Like the opposite of phantom-limb syndrome. Things that were a part of him, yet felt separate.

They were cool in concept, yet gave him no end of trouble.

Like old wounds, they ached and cramped in bad weather or exhaustion. As if the Original Goods had gotten them broken in places multiple times before healing away the physical signs as he cultivated.

Also, they were just annoying!

They required so much upkeep! Feathers constantly shed and had to grow in, which was itchy as hell. When they grew in, they did so with sheaths you had to scratch off as they emerged, but you couldn’t scratch too hard because OOPS, was that a blood feather? If it was, congrats on just breaking open what was basically a straw directly to a vein. Better pluck it all out from the root if you ever want it to stop bleeding! And then you had to heal the gaping hole the correct way, or the next pinfeather might not grow back correctly.

…Shen Qingqiu might not have devoted his patience.

If he were to be honest, he might have slipped up a little in regards to the care of his wings as of late.

I Wish You Were My Husband by Feynite

Summary:

AU based on The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir (familiarity with that story's not required).

Wherein Shen Yuan transmigrates into a harem intrigues romance novel (gay edition), Yue Qingyuan really fucks up, Liu Qingge is not suitable for his job, and no one even remotely sees Luo Binghe coming. (Note: this is maybe a stretch of LiuShen? But I think it counts lol)

You Take Me By the Heart When You Take Me By the Hand by UnhookedStar

Summary:

Liu Qingge knows that as smart as he is, Shen Yuan is often startlingly oblivious to the implications of his actions. Liu Qingge has learned this the hard way after years of obsessing over countless overly familiar casual gestures. However, while Shen Yuan's sense of personal space has always been practically nonexistent, he's been even more sticky than usual lately. He keeps casually touching Liu Qingge; brushing his hair out of his face, randomly reaching out and patting his head, leaning in close to say something and never leaning away again. The other day, Shen Yuan had held his hand. In public.

 

Or, Liu Qingge has no idea why Shen Yuan has been acting so much more familiar with him lately, but all of this casual touching is starting to push at the limits of his self control.

Meanwhile, Shen Yuan just wants to know when his boyfriend is finally going to kiss him.

The Journey Home, The Hollow Victory by MonroeKnox

The journey back to Cang Qiong Mountain seemed longer than it’s ever been.

 

Unlike so many times before, peak lord Liu Qingge was returning victorious.

But, in his heart, there was nothing to celebrate.

 

Liu Qingge could not outrun his grief forever. Especially not when he has finally brought Shen Qingqiu home.

Misery by Calamity Butterfly

Summary:

"With shaking fingers, he traces the planes of what will be Shen Qingqiu’s face. He brushes dirt from the body’s hair, rearranges its arms so it looks more peaceful, wipes a smear of mud from its chest. The body doesn’t exactly look dead but isn’t currently breathing and doesn’t have the… seeming of life. Shang Qinghua insisted that Shen Qingqiu’s soul was not yet fully inside the body, but Liu Qingge is sure he can sense Shen Qingqiu’s presence in the clearing, if not in the body. He hopes Shen Qingqiu is able to be aware of and comforted by, at some level, the knowledge that his body is safe and being cared for by one who cares for him very deeply."

A very Not Ok Liu Qingge finds Shen Qingqiu's plant body before Shen Qingqiu wakes up. He tends and cares for it and keeps it safe.

Another Time, Another Place by Mayvn

Summary:

Another Luo Binghe suddenly appeared and Liu Qingge died trying to save Shen Qingqiu, only to find himself waking up in a strange room full of strange things.


Losing his ‘apartment’? Cheating girlfriend kicking him to the curb for a rich ‘fuerdai’ after stealing all his money? What’s a ‘dogblood drama’? He doesn’t care about any of that! What happened to Shen Qingqiu?!


---


Basically, LQG gets transmigrated into a dogblood drama, but just wants to cultivate and live happily with SY. If only these damn characters would get a hint and stop trying to drag him back into the plot!
Meanwhile, after being forcefully repatriated, SY uses all his superpowers as an avid trashy web-novel reader to try to predict what will happen and protect LQG from all the shitty tropes while also dealing with the realization that there’s been cultivation in the modern world this whole time!

Not to mention the familiar-but-different faces popping up here and there…

rsvp me to world's end by beta_babelfish

Summary:

FUTURE Shen Qingqiu [FSQQ] 4130 HOURS FROM NOW opened a memo on board WELCOME TO HELL

FSQQ: OKAY. First things first if the term “peerless cucumber” means anything to you you’re in the right place. If it doesn’t then you’re gonna be banned immediately. thanks
PAST Shen Qingqiu [PSQQ] 45 HOURS AGO responded to the memo
PSQQ: what the hell is a peerless cucumber
FSQQ banned PSQQ from responding to the memo
FSQQ: what did i just FUCKING say!!!!
FSQQ: anyway
FSQQ: you know that shitty webcomic. Proud Immortal Demon's Game? about that game called SBURB that causes the end of the world and the creation of a new one with frogs or whatever. luo binghe is there, he rips apart paradox space and uses his fuckin insane powers to take over like three different universes and all that?
FSQQ: you’re in it now
FSQQ: have fun
CURRENT Shen Qingqiu [CSQQ] RIGHT NOW responded to the memo
CSQQ: WHAT THE FUCK

Or, the Scum Villain/Homestuck crossover that absolutely nobody asked for, but you're getting anyway

A Night on Cang Qiong Mountain by NeonGhostCat

Summary:

Shen Qingqiu frets over the upcoming Endless Abyss event. Wanting to figure out a way to give his little white sheep fond memories of his time at the sect to hold onto in the Abyss, he remembers Halloween, something he looked forward to each year in his previous life (even if it was only through game events). System steps in to offer him a Limited Time Event of his own.

These are stories based off of the same premise that can be read stand-alone if preferred. Technically you could read them in any order.

NSFW

We'll survive, you and I by rinsled05

Summary:

On the bed, back against Liu Qingge’s chest, Shen Yuan is grinding his ass against him, soft, breathless sounds slipping out of his mouth.

Liu Qingge's skin buzzes with need, and he wants to put his hands on Shen Yuan’s hips, feel them shift under his palms. Wants to hear Shen Yuan whimper as he matches Shen Yuan’s pace and rocks back. To suck and nip at Shen Yuan’s skin, leaving bruises in the shape of his mouth.

But he's too aware of Luo Binghe's presence on the other side of the bed, the curl of his arm around Shen Yuan’s waist. Liu Qingge can’t tell if Shen Yuan is awake, either, if he even realizes that the body spooned against him belongs to Liu Qingge. It’s entirely possible that he thinks it’s—

“Qingge,” Shen Yuan whines.

Oh.


In which Liu Qingge fights to keep himself and Shen Yuan alive in a zombie apocalypse, knowing that Shen Yuan would have married Luo Binghe if not for, well, zombies. Liushen main, with hints of Bingqiu, Bingliu, and eventual Bingliushen.

the horns of a dilemma by lavenderandrue

Summary:

Shen Qingqiu doses himself with truth mushrooms on purpose and gets more than he bargained for.

returned tenfold by lavenderandrue

Summary:

“We were thinking perhaps a little game of sorts? An exchange of winnings and gifts?”
Bristling immediately, Liu Qingge draws himself up ramrod straight. “I have no wish to play your games, demon,” he spits. Shen Qingqiu makes some kind of small noise behind his fan, perhaps a laugh or a sound of dismay, and Liu Qingge tries to ignore the way the tips of his ears heat up.
“Actually, Shidi, it was this shixiong’s idea.” Shen Qingqiu uncrosses his legs and sits a little straighter on his throne, which is far more ornate than Luo Binghe’s. The solemn dignity is marred a little by the pile of cushions spilling out from underneath his robes and the bag of melon seeds resting on the arm.
Liu Qingge’s chest aches faintly. This is fairly normal when he’s around Shen Qingqiu, so he ignores it.

Dual Cultivation by Acernor

Summary:

“Shizun said I made you feel so good,” Luo Binghe says, “that I could fuck you any time I wanted.”

Liu Qingge stops breathing for a second.

“What,” he blurts out.

Shen Qingqiu could tell he’d been into it?!

[moonwaif]

Poll: Choose a Jane Austen inspired AU.

*Poll at the bottom.

Sense & Sensibility: Shen brothers navigate their complicated love lives. Shen Jiu is shocked to reencounter Yue Qingyuan, an old paramour, and determined to resist lingering feelings on the basis of sense. In the meantime, Shen Yuan is captivated by the oldest Luo brother (aka, Luo Bing-ge), who's super cool and seductive--even though the younger, less experienced Luo brother (aka, Luo Bing-mei) is clearly in love with him.

Northanger Abbey: The spoiled youngest son of a nobleman, Shen Yuan is forced by his parents to finally start looking for a wife. Along the way, he meets the mysterious Lord Luo. Although they get along well, Shen Yuan is pretty sure that Luo Binghe might kinda, maybe be a demon, based on the adventure stories Shen Yuan has read. This supposition deepens when Shen Yuan is invited to stay at Luo Binghe's manor. Whether Luo Binghe is actually a demon is up to you. He's definitely gay, though.

Persuasion: Just as Shen Yuan is getting ready to cast Luo Binghe into the abyss, his disciple makes a startling confession: "I love you!" Uh, system? This was not in the script! Shen Yuan pushes him in without a response, then tries to bury the confession deep, deep in his psyche. Three years later, Cang Qiong mountain sect has fallen on hard times, with the original Shen Qingqiu's scandals coming home to roost. In the meantime, Luo Binghe has reappeared in the jianghu as a wealthy cultivator, searching for a wife . . .

Emma: In an attempt to improve on the original story, Shen Yuan/Shen Qingqiu takes it upon himself to find his disciple a wife (or a husband, once Luo Binghe starts making allusions to the fact that he's gay). This will definitely not have any regrettable consequences. However, MoShang does end up getting together after Shen Qingqiu decides to try shipping Mobei-Jun and Luo Binghe. (Shang Qinghua is not having it!)

Pride & Prejudice: BingLiuShen. This is all about Liu Qingge and Luo Binghe meeting each other, having massive misunderstandings, and then falling in love. A lot of those misunderstandings involve Shen Qingqiu, and what (re: who) they think is right for him. As time passes and events occur, they start to realize they have more in common than they originally suspected . . .

[nyoomerr]

You’re genuinely one of if not my favourite scum villain writer! Thank you for the service you do to the fandom

🫡🫡🫡🫡 i'm always happy to report in for binghe-loving-and-bullying hours !! thank you so much for reading my stuff and letting me know you like it so much!

here, special gift for you - an excerpt of a WIP i have not worked on since 2022 (oops) about sqq accidentally asking lbh and lqg to please consider a bingliushen ending:

---

“Liu-Shidi,” Shen Qingqiu says, his expression softening. “It’s been some time since you’ve visited.”

Liu Qingge, who had clearly been about to turn and leave the second he’d dropped off the package, hesitates. He glances at Shen Qingqiu, then towards Luo Binghe. After a long moment, he squares his shoulders and meets Shen Qingqiu’s eyes.

“I’m not so shameless to pretend I haven’t lost.”

Shen Qingqiu’s brow furrows. Lost? This… with the way that Liu Qingge had glanced at Luo Binghe there, is this about the way that Liu Qingge and Luo Binghe had fought over Shen Qingqiu’s body during his extended dirt nap?

Shen Qingqiu feels his gut twist with something like pity. He’d been so caught up in trying to make Luo Binghe happy after everything that happened between them that he’d forgotten just how devastated his friends had been by it all, too.

For someone as proud and as loyal as Liu Qingge, it makes sense that he’d feel shame for having failed to beat Luo Binghe and recover Shen Qingqiu’s body. Still, for it to be such an intense feeling that it keeps Liu Qingge away from Shen Qingqiu, even now, after everything has been made right…

“Shidi, that’s - does it weigh so heavily on you, still?”

Liu Qingge goes tense, face flushed at having his pride during those past five years questioned. “I have never thought of it lightly, before. That won’t change now.”

Behind Shen Qingqiu, Luo Binghe shifts his weight. Shen Qingqiu blindly reaches out behind him for Luo Binghe’s hand, squeezing it reassuringly. There will be no fighting in his home, no matter how seriously Liu Qingge took his prior defeats!!

Still, though, he won’t always be around to give placating little gestures like this, and he wants Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge to learn to get along for reasons outside of trying to mitigate household damages, too. Luo Binghe may be the person that Shen Qingqiu is closest to in this world, but Liu Qingge remains special as one of the only friends Shen Qingqiu made as himself and not as Shen Jiu. And in the end, isn’t it natural to want your friends to get along?

Resolved, Shen Qingqiu nods to himself, gives Luo Binghe’s hand another reassuring squeeze, and says:

“Then, forgive this shixiong’s selfishness: even if it’s difficult for you two at first, I still wish for Liu-shidi to visit me like he did before.”

“Shizun -!” 

“Binghe,” Shen Qingqiu cuts Luo Binghe off, already knowing by the sticky, whiny tone of voice that if he lets Luo Binghe start he won’t stop until Liu Qingge has somehow been banished off the peak. “At least give it a try. If it’s truly too hard on you - or on you, Liu-shidi - this master will be forced to accept it.”

“...Shizun really missed Liu-shishu, these past weeks?”

Shen Qingqiu looks away, embarrassed at the frank question. Ah, Binghe, can’t you be a bit more subtle! Isn’t it mortifying to put it so bluntly like that, making this master seem like an abandoned pet just because one of his friends hasn’t visited in a bit!

Still, Shen Qingqiu manages to pull together the face to nod once, curtly. 

Luo Binghe looks pained. Liu Qingge is wearing an expression that Shen Qingqiu hasn’t seen on him since they’d gone on that mission to the succubus’s den together.

“I won’t share,” Luo Binghe swears. “Even if Liu-shishu is allowed to pick up where he left off before this disciple won Shizun’s heart, I won’t let him reach any sort of satisfying conclusion.”

Shen Qingqiu sighs, weary. Ever since their elopement, Luo Binghe has been even more aggressive about chasing Shen Qingqiu’s friends and visitors off than he’d been as a disciple. Shen Qingqiu has allowed it, for the most part; he has wanted to be left alone after the stress of the past year.

Still, when it’s about one of Shen Qingqiu’s few close friends, and when it’s Luo Binghe putting his intentions to chase that friend off into such blunt words, Shen Qingqiu can’t allow it to stand.

“At least pretend like you’ll try to get along, Binghe,” he says, just shy of pleading.

Luo Binghe blinks. His expression, previously of stubborn defiance, twists into shock. 

“Shizun wants Liu-shishu to - with this disciple, as well - not just - not just Shizun??”

“Of course. Binghe is this master’s -” Shen Qingqiu paused, clearing his throat awkwardly. “Binghe is this master’s important person. To get along with me should naturally mean to get along with you.”

This, finally, seems to be Liu Qingge’s breaking point. “I’m not interested,” he says flatly, and Shen Qingqiu does a poor job of hiding his disappointment at such a firm and immediate shut-down. 

Please, can’t his friends just try to get along!!

“Liu-shidi won’t even try?”

“There’s no point; I wouldn’t want to share, either.” Liu Qingge pauses, taking  a moment to force some of the tension from his shoulders. “Shen Qingqiu, you - you made your choice. I don’t need your pity.” 

With that, he turns on his heel and leaves as swiftly as he’d clearly intended to do from the start.

Shen Qingqiu frowns, absently patting one of the arms Luo Binghe has wrapped around him. 

“That’s a shame,” he say quietly, not sure if he’s talking to Luo Binghe or to himself. 

Luo Binghe noses into Shen Qingqiu’s neck, still clinging tight to him. “Does Shizun really think so?”

“Mm. I suppose it isn’t surprising that you have a history between you two that makes getting along so difficult,” Shen Qingqiu murmurs, “But it’s a shame nonetheless.”

[enbycupcake]

THE FACEFUCKING MANIFESTO FROM TWITTER!!! THIS IS FOR FUN. NOT FOR SERIOUS. HEADCANONS DRIVEN BY HORNY, BUT HERE IS 700 WORDS OF OPINION. FRIENDLY DISCUSSION/ARGUING IS ENCOURAGED!!!!

[ID, copied from ALT: a screenshot of a document title that reads "THE FACEFUCKING MANIFESTO" end ID]

Shen “I think I like you tonight” Qingqiu WOULD know what facefucking is+he WOULD be into it. He’d never bring it up but WOULD agree to being facefucked and he’d be a reluctant to admit slut about it. This man agreed to wine in his ass and is obsessed with his husband’s dick–

Anyways for HIM doing the facefucking. He would be one of those guys that thinks about it offhandedly. Maybe has jerked off to porn of it before but didn’t seek it out. Thinks it’s degrading without considering himself or people he knows doing it. But after getting married, and when HE is feeling too good during a blowjob he can’t help but thrust his hips up and if his partner doesn’t stop him, well!! He’s feeling good!!!! They’re fine!!!

In the case of Bingliushen, he is forced to confront the fact that his husband enjoys it and WILL ask to be facefucked. Throatfucked, if you will. He will gently Dom Binghe through it after much blistering and fumbling. There is not much technique involved; he is just rutting and fucking in there. It’s a blessing Binghe is a bit of a masochist and also doesn’t need to breath. Did Shen Qingqiu think of that as he held Binghe down? He will said he did. But he didn’t really, since Binghe wasn’t pushing him off once he started going into it. For Liu Qingge as the facefuckee, it’s much the same but Liu Qingge enjoys the lack of air.

Shen Qingqiu gives lots of praise and gently washes both his husband and boyfriend’s face afterwards. It took work to make it a habit, but he gives them lots of water.

Luo “Call me husband” Binghe did not get sex education RIP to him. But when he discovered the world of blowjobs, the world grew three sizes larger. He knew what his purpose in life was for his husband– this man was made to get facefucked. Loves it. Is the biggest slut for it and would drink nothing but both Shizun’s cum and–

Him as the facefucker, though, would depend on his mood +who he’s fucking. The first time he’d been close to being the facefucker, Shizun had tried fucking his own throat on Binghe’s dick + Binghe had cried as soon as Shizun gagged a little *too* much and looked like he’d puke. Shizun doesn’t have to do things just because Binghe does them for him. They eventually work him up to shallowly rutting in Shizun’s mouth, slow and sweet strokes as he pets Shizun’s hair and falls apart in his mouth.

He doesn’t go into Shizun’s throat very often in fear of hurting his husband. But when he *does*, it’s deep and he holds himself there for a while. Facefucking is a slow, tiring event when Binghe does it; by the end Shizun’s jaw is sore and he’s full of tears and head empty. It’s about the closeness and worship.

When Binghe is fucking Liu Qingge’s face, it’s faster. Liu Qingge enjoys pain, and thrusting continuously down a throat with his size and little recovery time definitely hurts. His hips hit Liu Qingge’s face plenty, and and he’s only teasingly lingering down his throat. It’s more about the fucking and using than being inside him when it’s the two of them. Scratching the need and the trust to be allowed to fall apart. Only when Binghe is close to coming will he stay down, rutting down Liu Qingge’s throat to feel him struggle to breathe and see his eyes absolutely cloud over as he takes it.

Liu Qingge, bless him. Sex IS just a physical activity, baby! What do you mean that most people aren’t doing breath acrobatics in bed? He enjoys getting throatfucked and would not believe anyone if they said most people don’t engage in this activity. It would never come up and he’d blister about if it did, but alas. Hair was made to be held. Liu Qingge grabbed Shen Qingqiu’s hair and held him down the first time Shen Qingqiu went down on him and locked his legs and that was it. Shen Qingqiu has to tell him when he doesn’t want to be held down to eat him out; Luo Binghe holds him down when it isn’t welcome.

Unless his hips are restrained, Liu Qingge *is* fucking and thrusting so his dick can get the most stimulation. Prefers to sit his partners’ faces so he can control the fucking pace, but he is most often found squished between the husbands on the bed not in control.

[bloopitynoot]

What I read this Week: 01/12/25

I am a librarian, and unrelated to stereotypes about my profession, I do read a metric shit-ton in a week. Most of it is fanfiction but hey, I thought maybe it's time I share my reads?

This is what I read this week:

1. Tongfang by The Feels Whale (miscellea) (24,669)

Summary: Shen Yuan is reincarnated as a cannon fodder character and eventual murder victim in one of the whodunnit arcs in Proud Immortal Demon Way. Things escalate quickly.

Or: that one where young Luo Binghe’s career goal is ‘Bride’.

---

Shen Yuan shut his eyes as a young man waiting to die in a hospital and opened them again as a wrinkly infant covered in substances best left unimagined.

[Welcome to the System! The System is based on the concept ‘YOU CAN YOU UP. NO CAN NO BB.’ We hope to provide you with a rewarding experience. It is our sincere hope that during the course of your adventure, you can achieve your desire to transform a ‘Stupid Novel’ into a high-end and impressive classic. We pray for your happiness,] a mechanical and inflectionless voice announced over the general hubbub of the group of women handling him. Then it added, somewhat more worryingly, [Error.]

Shen Yuan transmigrated but it doesnt go as planned!

I do love when Shen Yuan meets binghe as himself and this fic is such a solid version of that

Super fluffy easy read, low angst cute love story

2. Heaven Official's Blessing by MXTX Chapter 14-18

Summary: Born the crown prince of a prosperous kingdom, Xie Lian was renowned for his beauty, strength, and purity. His years of dedication and noble deeds allowed him to ascend to godhood. But those who rise, can also fall…and fall he does, cast from the Heavens again and again and banished to the mortal realm.

Eight hundred years after his mortal life, Xie Lian has ascended to godhood for the third time. Now only a lowly scrap collector, he is dispatched to wander the earthly realm to take on tasks appointed by the heavens to pay back debts and maintain his divinity. Aided by old friends and foes alike, and graced with the company of a mysterious young man with whom he feels an instant connection, Xie Lian must confront the horrors of his past in order to dispel the curse of his present.

I've finished book 1 and am almost halfway into book 2. I'm reading about a chapter a day and live blogging the experience. you can follow along on the Bloopitynoot reads TGCF tag

NO SPOILERS PLS.

So far I am loving it!

3. Sharing is Caring by celardor (90, 852)

Summary: “Liu Qingge! I told you not to drink the water!” Shen Qingqiu shouts. His thoughts are a panicked whirl- is it going to have the same effect that it did in the original story?

Liu Qingge just stares at him in shock.

Shen Qingqiu’s question is answered when he suddenly hears Liu Qingge’s voice. Liu Qingge isn’t speaking, though- his mouth never moves. No, Shen Qingqiu is hearing Liu Qingge’s voice inside his head.

Liu Qingge’s voice says, “Holy shit. I can see his nipples.”

They both stare at each other in horror. At that moment, there’s a happy little ding and a System notification pops up in front of him.

[Congratulations! Bonus mission activated: Sharing is Caring!]

“Fuck,” Shen Qingqiu says, with feeling.

*************

Shen Qingqiu and Liu Qingge accidentally trigger a wife plot that leads to them forming a telepathic connection.

Part one of Love in another shape

a liushen fic but pre bingliushen (this is all pre abyss)!

So listen, I came into this fic for the trope- not going to lie! I also have a soft spot for liushen. HOWEVER, I did not expect it to absolutely ruin me in the end. Who's cutting onions????

This is such a good au, I love system loophole shenanigans and it is set up really well for part two (which I will absolutely be reading next).

4. Love in Another Shape by celardor (149,710)

Summary: After the events of the Immortal Alliance Conference, Luo Binghe and Liu Qingge find themselves suddenly dependent on one another for survival. In order to return to their beloved Shen Qingqiu, they’ll have to face down innumerable monsters, Luo Binghe’s unstable demonic powers, and their own tangled feelings.

Meanwhile, all Shen Qingqiu wants is to be left alone. Unfortunately, even with the System in hibernation he can’t seem to escape the demands of the plot. He finds himself tasked with sorting out the aftermath of the Conference, investigating a missing person case, and taking a trip to visit Liu Qingge’s family. Through it all, the narrative continues to deviate further and further from the original story Shen Qingqiu had read, ultimately leading to a discovery that could shed light on the past and bring long-buried secrets to the surface.

part two of Love in another shape this is a WIP 14/20 chapters posted/completed.

These boys all definitely go through trauma but the comfort is coming!

this is bingliushen and I am so soft for them in this.

I honestly will need to check out more of celardor's work because the writing and story telling is so good

5. Down To The River Bend by sami (3,848)

Summary: Yu Ziyuan was invited to Lotus Pier for a banquet to celebrate the Third Lady Yu.

Absolutely no-one was prepared for Yu Ziyuan to turn up.

Another part to both the same moon shines and ridiculous future bullshit. Sami has been on a roll recently- so many new parts have been posted the last three weeks!

I am obsessed with this series. This part was so funny- I don't even want to share what happens in case I spoil it but; modern day madam yu.

Anyways if you want a solid (and very long) series to read, I recommend starting with the same moon shines!

6. Medical Diplomacy by x_los (12,637)

Summary: Fresh out of the Abyss, Luo Binghe learns that he alone can cure Shen Qingqiu's chronic ailment. With this information in hand, he pursues an alternative strategy involving interspecies diplomacy and a royal alliance. After all, Cang Qiong can't expect a gentleman to dual-cultivate outside of marriage.

When a fic has a tag "crack treated excruciatingly seriously" I am automatically in it. I live for this classification of fic.

This fic was short (for me, not actually that short) but it was so solid.

I will CW a scene with dubious consent. It was almost enough to give me the ick, but then it is resolved basically immediately. It is to do with a major miscommunication between our boys.

7. A Transmigrator and a Time Traveler Walk Into the Bamboo House by VeryCharismaticDragon (97,779)

Summary: Over a year after Shen Qingqiu's death, Luo Binghe consults his servant's servant, concurrently his disgraced martial uncle, for a way to bring the love of his life back. Shang Qinghua sends him in the direction of a certain time-traveling artifact, which supposedly brings one to the day they first met their soulmate.

Odd, though, that the artifact ends up missing the destination by just a few years…

A story in which post-Abyss Luo Binghe relives his disciple days, while juggling his secrets, traumas, and some unexpected revelations about the man he loves on top of that.

I was recommended this fic by three separate people! and it was totally worth the recommendation; absolutely solid fic.

I love a time travel fix-it, but a time travel fix-it with an OP demon lord is incredible.

This was surprisingly very sweet; also I don't want to spoil but a friendship that I truly did not expect happened, and kind of love it ahaha.

8. No Me Without You (One Flesh, One End) by wraithcaterpillar (28,167)

Summary: Wei Wuxian is a servant of Lotus Hold, in the Ninth House, the smallest and most backwater planet of the Nine Houses. His life is pretty bleak (largely due to the Reverend Mother Lady Yu), although he usually keeps up his cheerful disposition. Then he meets Lan Wangji, and eventually, his life gets a lot better. But before it gets better, there will be an unimpressed Lan Qiren, homoerotic dueling, mutual pining, a really gross monster, clandestine vows, and skeletons — so many skeletons, both the kind made out of bones and the kind made out of secrets.

Lan Wangji took a deep breath. "Wei Ying. I have come to pledge myself to you as your cavalier, if you will have me." His gaze bored into Wei Wuxian's soul (metaphorically, but it felt surprisingly similar to the one time he had accidentally undergone soul siphoning), and then Lan Wangji clenched his right hand into a fist and pressed it to his chest. "One flesh, one end."

"Oh, fuck," whispered Wei Wuxian.

Or; It’s a Locked Tomb AU

This has been on my mfl since it was still a WIP and I only just got to it! I really loved Gideon the ninth but was super pleased to see the happy ending tag in this fic.

I totally expected this to have angst, but surprisingly it was minimal to none and actually kind of funny.

Wangxian are totally freaks and we love them for it in this; adorable weirdos.

9. If I Could Go Back in Time by Runningbarefoot (122, 131)

Summary: Lan Wangji made a quick decision. With all his spiritual power, he gave a mighty leap and in an impossible act of defiance and love, crossed over to where Jiang Yanli was about to be run through by the sword. He shoved her away just as the corpse brought it down, cleanly splitting down his neck, heart, and lung.

OR

The role reversal fic no one ever wants to read where Lan Wangji is the one who takes the blow for Jiang Yanli.

Novel canon with a select few elements from CQL thrown in. Wangxian relationship is novel canon. No yin iron plot to bring them together.

yall this fic ruined my life but I have 0 regrets. So many tissues sacrificed themselves for me to complete this.

my heart.

I swear it is worth it for the end; yes so much pain, but so beautifully written.

10/10 recommend. And if you need someone to cry with while reading it, you can totally DM me LOL I get it. I read it with a pal and we were both a mess. We hold space for our feelings here.

10. The Reluctant Suitor by raitala (45,754)

Summary: Liu Qingge, War God of Bai Zhan Peak and slayer (or at least regular beater-upper) of demons. But what if the demons just thought he was flirting with them? What if they *all* thought that? It's a diplomatic disaster, bringing chaos to the three realms. But don't worry, Shen Qingqiu has a plan. Only it isn't one that Liu Qingge is going to like.

Or, five times Liu Qingge beat Tianlang-Jun and the one time he didn’t.

Chapter 1: In which LQG is an absolute menace, has no idea, and really never did anything wrong.

I started this fic for the crack energy but then it actually ended up giving me feels(tm).

Part one of the reluctant suitor series

I absolutely love the character growth that Liu Qingge has in this. We go from oblivious war lord to someone who actually starts thinking about how their actions impact others and how others make them feel.

I did not think I would like this pairing but we all know TIanlang-jun is a dilf, so here I am.

11. If It Makes You Happy by raitala (36,503)

Summary: Sequel to End Racism on the OTW - The Reluctant Suitor

Liu Qingge's marriage to Tianlang-Jun is days away. Can he find a way to bollocks things up before then? Of surely course! For one thing, he is still in love with his shixiong.

Part two of the reluctant suitor series; Tianlang-jun and Liu Qingge get married!

This was such a sweet wedding, defo explicit, but the emotional growth in this fic was solid

Sweet read :'3

12. Winter Sun by brojorlas (38,019)

Summary: “The only people in this place who aren’t already dating or needlessly pining after someone are people I’m basically family with,” Wei Wuxian whined instead, draping himself dramatically over the table. “The only way I shall ever find love is if some dashing stranger from the city were to come and sweep me off my feet!”

Wei Wuxian is a farming youtuber. Lan Wangji is infatuated.

I have definitely read this fic and it's series before, it is very sweet :'3 a big comfort read

If you like sustainable living, micro farms, and DIY projects this is definitely for you.

Very cute, very domestic.

13. the genius of our minds by canterburyorbit (50,641)

Summary: Wei Wuxian turned towards the other man, and smiled, “and your usual today as well?”

The second man smiled serenely and nodded. “Yes, matcha latte-“

“Matcha latte, soy milk, unsweetened, I got you!” Wei WuXian threw the man a wink, and started prepping his drink. Unfortunately, while Wei Wuxian was an incredible barista, his memory was absolutely abysmal. He had forgotten both of their names months ago, but knew their coffee orders and by this point he felt it was just too rude to try to ask them again. So he called them Big Chief and Hot Himbo in his head, which, wasn’t exactly professional, but neither was Wei Wuxian.

or

gym/coffee shop/bookstore au where Wei Wuxian is a barista/photographer, Lan Wangji owns a bookstore/breeds rabbits, Nie Mingjue & Lan Xichen own a gym, Jiang Cheng owns a pet store, all the Jin siblings live together, NHS & MY thirsty bottoms & are constantly causing chaos, everyone is getting laid, and wwx is overall a big dumb fuck

(or an extremely detailed but pure crack fic of my time as a barista/photographer/bookseller/gymaholic)

this fic was so stupid in the best ways ahaha

In typical wangxian fashion they are disasters and refuse to communicate like normal people

I loved the fusion of coffee shop au with workplace au- the vibes were absolutely messy but still cozy.

Perfect read for a palate cleansing fic

14. Sanctuary by Alineko (61,154)

Summary: The stories changed from person to person, some said he was a monster, others that he was a heavenly officer who had come down from the heavens, and there were others who said that it was not a single being, but multiple ghosts in one body; the myths grew with the years, the only thing that remained the same was this: Anyone with a wish could go to the little shrine on the outskirts of Yiling, just above the mountain, before the Burial Mounds and pray, and if they left the right price, their wish would become true

Wei Ying was 6 years old when he entered the Burial Mounds

12 years later the Yiling Laozu, the legend, the monster, the wishing-granting demon that created his own sect deep in the mountains, joins the Sunshot campaign

This was a very sweet minimal angst speed run of a sun shot campaign type fic

I LOVE a yilling-wei sect fic

This one reminded me of a few other fics I had read before, which wildly confused me but it was in fact it's own fic aha

I wish it had more ending!

[the-music-maniac]

I was thinking about Bingliushen today, y'know, as you do, because of this awesome (and true) post here and was abruptly reminded of the complaints I've heard about Bingliushen on this basis, mostly that they can't see it happening between Binghe and Qingge and that it's unrealistic.

First of all, valid! People absolutely don't need to ship it, or think it's plausible tbh, fandom is fun because there are differing opinions.

But I still did want to talk about why I find the ship so compelling, since part of the reason I love it so much is BECAUSE it's so unlikely.

I want to preface this by saying first that I don't actually think LBH and LQG falling for each other is impossible, as some people do, since I think that's the biggest protest with this ship. People don't seem to have as much of an issue believing LiuShen. Anyways, I just think that LBH and LQG ending up as a thing is only merely difficult. That's kind of an important distinction.

And the reason is because I really don't think Luo Binghe is only capable of truly loving (in a general sense) one person as an adult (specified adult because we do see that he loved his mother as a kid. He's also fond of Ning Ying Ying as a child but we see that they're not as close when he comes back cause of the murdery demon thing). That does appear to be the case in the story because the man is VERY intense when it comes to Shen Qingqiu, but I think that's more of a result of all the trauma he experienced as a kid, and the abandonment issues. He fell for Shen Qingqiu as an impressionable child - through no fault of Shen Qingqiu obviously because he fully viewed Luo Binghe as a disciple and wasn't grooming him or anything (also they're cultivators so they're technically immortal? How does age differences work in that case?). Shen Qingqiu in that instance was the one person in his world as a teen, the first person outside immediate family to ever tell him he's not a monster for being a demon - and also someone who's considered more valuable than Binghe - a lauded, accomplished authority figure I suppose. Someone important who sees value in Binghe when he's been told he's worth nothing. The instances of being left behind by his mother (cause she died obvi) and then by one of the only other people who cared for him - pushing him off a cliff to die because he's a demon (or so he believes) has to fuck with your head. And if you love the person the amount Luo Binghe appears to, well I understand being intense once you finally get them back. To an unhealthy level tbh, but then again this man needs so much therapy in general 😅. Get you some healthy coping mechanisms and healing, good sir! Also it's just occuring me as I'm saying all of it that it sounds like I'm calling Luo Binghe out for having daddy issues (parental issues?) but like. I'm sorry but he kinda does.

So, I don't think anyone is only capable of loving a singular person, but, as I mentioned before, because this is their (LBH and SQQ's) love story, we only focus on them. LBH does have the capacity to rebuild a support system, to make friends, expand the amount of people who care about him and who he cares about. Basically my point is that I believe even though he doesn't have other close emotional relationships with people by the end of the book, that he potentially COULD. I also want to mention that the concept of polyamory for Binghe to me, in terms of only as sexual relationship in the beginning at least, is also not outside the realm of possibility, just cause of the existence of Bingge. We know he doesn't love anyone in that version of him, and it could be argued that matters change because he does love SQQ, but regardless, the fact is there that a version of Binghe does engage in polygamy. He is okay with multiple partners, that's not some huge hang-up or random morality issue for him. So the idea of LBH agreeing to a threesome with LQG and SQQ because he thinks SQQ would like it, isn't remotely impossible in my books.

It's hard to say if LQG is open to a relationship with multiple partners, we don't see much of his relationship preferences beyond the fact that he likes SQQ, but I can regardless see him being the type of person that grits his teeth and hangs around just to see SQQ and tries his best to get along with LBH cause it makes SQQ unhappy that they hate each other. I can see him noticing despite himself, LBH who, now that the situation is no longer so dire, challenges him and is on par, can defeat him over and over, merely because it's been so long since he's had a real challenge, has hit an immovable wall. Tbh LQG doesn't really give the time of day to people who haven't either helped him in some way (SQQ) or people who can match him in a fight. What is it like to find someone who actually gives him a run for his money? And what is it like seeing the downtime of LBH while he's there for SQQ's company, enough to realize that this man on top of being a demon that everyone in the sects laud as evil, partakes in those ordinary domestic things that every person does? What is it like to slowly be able to see that SQQ really isn't in any danger from LBH, and ending up on random errands with him in the name of peacekeeping, realizing they might actually work together well as a team? The hilarious thing is I'm pretty sure one of LQG's love languages is literally just. Violence. Fighting for SQQ's body back. Protecting those he cares about with force. Hunting for rare monsters to bring back. Shit like that. And y'know what? That's a language both LBH and LQG speak fluently. Very fluently. They can understand each other so easily. And I think that's something that LQG would be taken aback by in a good way.

Also if I'm going to be honest, as weird as it sounds, I'm pretty sure LBH is going to be the hold up in the getting along thing. Because at where canon ended: he had already won. He's with the person he loves. There isn't much incentive for him to be nice to LQG beyond not wanting SQQ to be disappointed. SQQ married him, chose him, regardless of what happens, SQQ is probably not going to leave LBH out of the two. Harsh, but solid logic. And his dislike of the other man is entirely connected to the fact that LQG likes SQQ and LBH has abandonment issues for days (for good reason tho I will say).

LQG on the other hand has acknowledged that LBH has won, and so he likely is also thinking along the same lines - I have more at stake here because if SQQ were forced to choose, no way would he choose me over the man he married. He really does have more incentive to get along with LBH. Not only that, a large part of his animosity also appeared to stem from worry about SQQ. Like he seemed to have fought LBH for SQQ's body back cause he thought LBH was doing some fucked up shit, being selfish etc. LQG doesn't seem the type to hold grudges. He dislikes LBH because it repeatedly and actively hurts to see him with SQQ - it's an anger and hatred that stems from softer emotions like the knowledge that he lost the man he loves, that he wasn't good enough (and here is where I cry btw). It's to protect himself from the emotional hurt. One that could potentially be alleviated by growing closer to both SQQ and LBH. Meanwhile at the beginning LBH is a kind of cold, smug dislike. So he really is the hold out. But again, the previous things I have said about how LBH doesn't only have the capacity to care about one person, coupled with his previous chill attitude towards sexual relations and polyamory and his rather obsessive need to please SQQ - I can very much see LBH agreeing to a threesome to make SQQ happy, and to taunt LQG, and then being slowly surprised at how much he doesn't actually?? Hate this??? SQQ doesn't love him any less or appear to have any thoughts of leaving him, and meanwhile he has this hot dude in his bed sounds like a win for everyone lmao

So anyways, that's kinda point one: I think it's very improbable, not impossible. It takes a very specific sequence of events. But it can happen.

Two:

I fully believe LQG and LBS are not soulmates or anything of the sort, since it does tend to be the general assumption within stories like this (xianxia and even wuxia), that there is the existence of soulmates, the red string of fate, a predetermination that these people will eventually care for each other, something more set in stone, or even of 缘分 (Yuán fen) where it's not fated in the sense that it's set in stone, but fated in that there is a high probability or an affinity for a relationship, or a meeting and event.

The point is that, certainty in a lot of stories, the concept of falling for each other no matter what, over and over, is a theme and viewed as romantic. And it absolutely is! I love stories where people end up together - in any capacity, doesn't have to be platonic - in every conceivable scenario. Hell, that's why I love reading AU's. And while it's not canonical that Binghe and Qingqiu are fated, while if anything their relationship is also a one in a million chance, people in the fandom still seem view BingQiu as soulmates. Or at least probable in the story. Valid. I mean it's hard to argue with the fact that they did indeed canonically fall in love against all odds - that is in character for them because this story is their love story.

But here's what drives me absolutely crazy in the best way about Liu Qingge and Luo Binghe's relationship: within the premises of canon (where LBH is damn possessive about SQQ and doesn't like LQG for that reason, and meanwhile LQG doesn't like LBH cause he thinks he's immoral and also cause he loves SQQ) they are the most unlikely, out of the left field, came out of absolutely nowhere to blindside you with the sheer depth of your emotions, type of love. They are the relationship that peak lords gossip about - "SQQ made sense, he was always fond of LBH, but LQG???? He was always the most vocal about his hatred. Well I never-" etc. Etc. They would be the relationship that shakes LQG and LBH's understanding of themselves and how the world around them functions to the core: because neither of them could've imagine in a million years that they had the capacity to view their greatest enemy with the tenderness of love. The sheer audacity of it, of suggesting these bitter romantic rivals could grow to love each other to match what they feel for SQQ - that's the good shit.

After all, while SQQ and LBH were also unlikely, they were only that because LBH was a fictional character up until Shen Yuan died. Even as a disciple LBH knew he liked SQQ, this man fully saw that one coming. And SQQ may be oblivious as fuck romantically, but even so he did acknowledge that he was already fond of LBH. They most certainly did go through hardships and obstacles to get where they are - but always with the acknowledgement that loving each other was never the hard part. It was always everything else.

So there's point two of why I like the unlikeliness of BingLiuShen - because loving each other is the difficult path for LBH and LQG. With the bitterness of everything that had passed, falling is not the part that is easy. And it shakes the laws of this universe. It makes LBH and LQG question everything. It makes them wonder what they know about the world, the rigid lines of black and white they've lived in, and their stubborn ideas that love can only ever be a finite source that will run out if you spread too widely. And not only that, it may help with LBH's abandonment issues - to have two people willingly choose him against all odds - one who actually started off hating him. And in the process, his level of attachment to SQQ might become a little healthier. Like I get that it is a story so no judgement here, but it can't be good for LBH to place his entire value of the world all in one singular person. That's hard on both SQQ and LBH. In making LBH question his worldview and viewpoints on love and relationships, it may be the thing that kickstarts him letting other people in in a platonic capacity as well. And as for LQG's worldview, it would be nice to show him that there can incandescent happiness in this life, not merely just contentment with his usual rigid routine. To give him a happy ending, truly. This is just a fancy way of saying he makes my heart hurt so I want to give him two boyfriends the end.

The enemies to friends to lovers trope also ties into this and is so compelling because it also requires so much character growth to occur for it to work. Like not only is their worldview shaken, but both LQG and LBH need to change as people (for the better) for them to even consider making a relationship with all three of them work out in the long run. People don't hate each other for no reason, there is almost always some Bad Thing™ that occurs to make them dislike each other, be it rivalry (love rivalry in this case) an outside force (their respective groups are enemies) or because they hate some aspect of the other person. It involves acting on their worst instincts - pushing someone away from jealousy, hurting each other because they let anger take over. For that to become love, requires WORK. It requires each character to actively notice their own biases, choose of their own volition to correct themselves, to change and possibly become better as they get to come to understand their "enemy". They have to choose to lay down their arms, every single step of the way. That is so difficult to do. So unlikely. So improbable. As I said before, it's the harder path. And yet they walk it, and if they succeed, I think that's something so precious because it was so quietly and fiercely fought for.

Anyways this is getting long as fuck so while I have some more to say about BingLiuShen as a whole, I think I'll end this here. Thank you so much for reading!

[soursoppi]

Btw, if you ever have more mxtx or bnha recs you’d like to share just know,,, you reccomend such nice stuff and I would not complain 💕👀

Most of the BNHA fics I’ve been following haven’t updated in some time ;_; but I don’t think I’ve done a general MXTX rec so I’ll do that haha!

Talking to myself by velithya

(MDZS: XiCheng hints) Short but HITS HARD ;_; Basically a young Jiang Cheng gets a visit from his future self, and he gets to hear the words he so badly needs but never hears from his own family.

Status: Short one! Seems to be a series? Either way velithya always writes such good stuff ;_;

A Bit of Ruthlessness by jirluvien

(MDZS: XiCheng) Similar in premise to The Beginner’s Guide to Moving On (which has been deleted ;_;) but paced better and with punchier dialogue imo! I love the character voices in the letter writing, there’s a nice balance between the humor and the drama which is what I like best.

Status: Finished! At 110111 words it actually feels like a surprisingly fast read!

Ah, it all makes scents now~! by theWanderingHeart

(MDZS: Xicheng) If you like the soft fluffy parts of ABO but could do with less of the spicy stuff or angst- this is the ABO!AU for you! I’ve also done some art haha for Jo’s adorable ABO series! Very cute and funny hehe

Status: A series! A fluffy ABO series!

Poison in Your Veins by 2501987

(MDZS: Xicheng) An AU where Jiang Cheng is raised by his mom as the heir of Meishan Yu instead! Features mildly spicy JC and besotted LXC! Pretty interesting premise, and the first act of the series seems to be done, with hints for more!

Status: A Series, with the first act wrapped up! Probably with more to come!

tsundere sect leader gets papapa (times five)! by oh_fudgecakes

(MDZS: AllCheng) An all out glorious PWP that features JC getting the d every which way possible by WangXian and the 3zun. The only non-Xicheng spicy that tempted me enough to continue reading. Features some tender Xicheng moments if you’re a sucker like me hahaha.

Status: WIP! But goddamn is it juicy.

the blackest of rooms by cwnran (manatsuko)

(SVSSS: BingLiu) Basically a retelling of the original SVSSS where Liu Qingge becomes Luo Binghe’s Teacher instead. My FAVOURITE SVSSS fic tbh. Because of the perfection of the pacing and the writing. It is not a very light story though it does have a happy end!

Status: Finished! Pretty short, but it made me cry ;_;

Dual Cultivation series by acernor

(SVSSS: BingLiuShen) EXTREMELY SPICY. But also very cute follows LQG’s slow acceptance of the “feelings”. I am completely unable to read BingQiu now because of the glorious tsundere sexiness that is Acernor’s Liu Qingge, I keep waiting for them to woo LQG instead.

Status: FINISHED! Acernor writes a lot of tasty spicy stuff, my favs are her BingLiu(s) hehe

A War God From Another World by 月氣 (TheUmbraphage)

(SVSSS: Eventual BingLiuShen, currently LiuShen-ish) Liu Qingge is the one transmigrated this time, I LOVE THIS. The character voices feel really IC, and the world-building is really good (i.e authentic). It feels like something MXTX could have written! It’s fairly early in the story but still an extremely entertaining read!

Status: WIP, early in the first act and I’m crying a little because it’s been some time since the last update. But still a good read.

Same Deep Water As You by krypkaktus (Regndoft)

(TGCF: HXxSQX) Post-canon Beauty and the Beast-esque slowburn!!!! Beautifully written, slow, tender and full of healing ;_; I love the catfishes so much.

Status: 14/90..... it says haha... recently updated at least! Just take it a chapter at a time!

Returning Earth《天地緩緩 》 by iskendaris

(TGCF: HXxSQX) Exploration of He Xuan’s and Shi Qingxuan’s relationship from how they might’ve met, to what they might’ve felt for each other. An in-depth character piece, also very spoilery. No healing, mildly spicy, very nice world building and lots of pain.

Status: WIP! But the world setting does feel very authentically Ancient China-ish! I love that!

making a home to come back to by macdotexe

(TGCF: LQQxQR) Post-canon! Lang Qianqiu and Qi Rong figure out how to parent Guzi together! Slightly spicy, and very cute! I love the domestic-ness in this, and the slowly building UST between LQQ and QR haha.

Status: WIP, been a while since the last update but it’s still a satisfying morsel

So Says the Shapeshifter by foxflowering

(TGCF: LQQxQR) Post-canon spicy! Lang Qianqiu has Qi Rong in his hands at last, but before the spicy must come the character dissection (kinda literally lol)! This fic fleshes out Qi Rong’s character and motivations beyond the scraps we get in canon, really like the dialogue in this!

Status: Fairly short but fulfilling read!

[unforth]

Today I'm thinking about...

...I skipped yesterday cause I was still thinking about the same 4 seconds of Hualian A/B/O on infinite loop but I had some insomnia last night and had a new nugget.

Rating: Mature

Modern AU. Liushen. Mentions of Bingliushen. Warnings for misgendering, mildly dubious consent due to alcohol, internalized homophobia, and "Liu Qingge is too tsundere for his own good."

WAIT I JUST REALIZED: Call this one May Trope Mayhem day 8: In Vino Veritas!

*

Liu Qingge is straight. Very, very straight. Absolutely the straightest. And if occasionally he thinks of a dude when he's...doing stuff...let's just normal. Lots of dudes do that. Think about other dudes, right? Still the straightest. After all, he has never dated a man...he never would date a man...

You get the idea.

Anyway!

A friend from the office invites him to a Halloween party and he thinks - why not? It's something to do, and someone else is paying for the booze, and maybe he can find a one-to-five-night stand. (Okay, if he's honest with himself, he thinks he'll hate it, but he knows he's supposed to like to do things like go to parties and get smashed, and again, at least this time someone else will be paying.) He dresses up as a lacrosse player, because...he actually is a lacrosse player...so everything is already in his closet...and heads over at a fashionably late hour entirely on purpose even though it grates on him not to be punctual.

The night instantly gets infinitely better, though, when he meets a nice girl not long after arriving. She's...she's pretty great? Funny, with the sleekest long black hair, and Liu Qingge didn't know they made "sexy cucumber" Halloween costumes but he supposes he shouldn't be surprised. She laughs at his jokes, too, and he knows he can be pretty dense but even he can't miss the eyes she makes at him.

They end up going to a hotel together (she's clearly reticent to go to his place, doesn't want to go to hers cause - Liu Qingge guesses - that'd mean getting her address - and fuck it, Liu Qingge is on the far side of tipsy and she's hot as fuck and he can absolutely afford a splurge to get his rocks off with the gorgeous party chick who actually seems interested in him - not that it's rare for him to meet women who are dtf, but it IS rare for him to meet women who seem maybe interested in MORE than that? But she does appear to be.

It's not until they've been making out for at least ten minutes in the swank room he's gotten them that he makes the discovery that "sexy cucumber" has aptly chosen her...his???...their...costume, when his burgeoning erection bonks into...Cucumber's burgeoning erection.

And, if he were a smidge less drunk, or the night had been a smidge shittier, or Cucumber was a smidge less enticing, or, or, or...well, he MIGHT have called it right then. Had a huge freak out. Probably made an ass of himself.

But instead, he thinks - oh, fuck it...he's fantasized about being with a dude how many times?? And he's found a dude he wants, and who appears to want him, and it's a one night stand, and they're both drunk enough that the consent is probably dubious except that it's so obviously not (anyway, they were definitely flirting long before either was even slightly gone) and she's...he's...(would it be weird to ask pronouns right now? it'd be weird, right???)...Cucumber's got their hands on Liu Qingge's cock and the body beneath that ridiculous costume is absolute perfection and Liu Qingge is, in fact, extremely dtf.

Even more amazingly, when he wakes up the next morning, a buck-ass naked dude sharing a bed with another buck-ass naked dude, he doesn't freak the fuck out.

(At least not immediately).

It helps that said dude - Shen Yuan, he says his name is, surprisingly shyly? - is easily the embodiment of every wet dream Liu Qingge has (DEFINITELY NEVER) ever had. He's a little short - well, at least compared to Liu Qingge - and he's slim, just muscled enough to look toned, just soft enough that Liu Qingge is positive he could man-handle him (literally, figuratively, in whatever way Shen Yuan will allow, though only by consent!). No, so far from panicking, Liu Qingge instead is extremely glad that Halloween was on a Friday night.

"So, um, do you want me to go?" asks Shen Yuan, as if he (yes, it's he/him, Liu Qingge has checked now) expects the answer to be "yes," as if he's so used to the answer being "yes" that he's already tensing to roll out of bed and pull back on his cucumber costume and do a walk of shame back to wherever he lives.

The urge to answer by rolling over and atop Shen Yuan, shimmying between his legs, slipping a tongue between his lovely lips and a cock between his lovely ass cheeks, is intense, but Liu Qingge is sober now, and sober!Liu Qingge is boring as fuck and also keenly aware that while he wants to assume that Shen Yuan's tone is plaintive and hopeful, it might actually be "desperate for escape," so instead he answers,

"If that's your preference, absolutely," he says with all the sincerity he can muster. Shen Yuan's expression falls and he starts to rise. Liu Qingge resists the urge to grab his hand, but does add, "but I'd far prefer you stay. The room is ours until 11..."

With a dazzling smile that has Liu Qingge even more smitten than he already was, Shen Yuan flops back onto the bed, and Liu Qingge has the perfect opportunity to enact his first "answer." Shen Yuan is hot, eager, opening his arms and legs and mouth and hole like he can't imagine anything he wants more.

But, self, I'm fucking a dude!

Yeah, dumbass, and it's fucking amazing. Amazing fucking? Fucking fucking. Whatever. It's good, isn't it?

He can't disagree with himself there.

They spend the whole morning fucking.

At noon, the hotel concierge calls up to demand they vacate.

Instead, after a quick "conversation" with Shen Yuan communicated entirely with facial expressions, Liu Qingge re-books the room for the next night, even paying the premium for doing so at such a late point.

They spend the whole afternoon fucking, too, with only a brief break to get food.

The whole evening, too, aside from dinner and a shared shower that ends in blow jobs.

Liu Qingge has never come this many times in a 24 hour period.

Shen Yuan admits, voice blurry with exhaustion, lips swollen from kisses, ass dripping with Liu Qingge's come, that he never has, either, but he's definitely interested in seeing if maybe they can break this record the next day.

Liu Qingge is about 80% sure he falls asleep with Shen Yuan still riding him, though they're both so exhausted he can't even say for sure. Maybe he just dozes off and segues immediately into a wet dream that still features Shen Yuan?

Maybe this has all been a dream...

...but no, he wakes up the next morning, and Shen Yuan is still there, still asleep, still beautiful, still very much a dude...

...and now Liu Qingge freaks out.

He at least has the grace to do so quietly?

And he pays for the room, leaves the tip for housekeeping, even makes sure that breakfast is waiting, hot and delicious looking, for Shen Yuan, but he can't bring himself to stay. His entire chest is tight, his mind repeating an endless litany of I fucked a dude - I'm straight - maybe I'm not straight? - no, I'm straight, I have to be straight - fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck--

He hates feeling like he's running away.

He's absolutely running away.

And that would have been that, if not for three things:

He cannot, cannot, stop thinking about Shen Yuan. He's got eyes for no one else. He masturbates remembering how it felt to thrust into that spectacular body while stroking that hard cock and kissing those rough lips. He compares literally every potential sexual partner to Shen Yuan and finds them wanting. Even worse...he misses Shen Yuan - which is fucking insane, they hardly knew each other! Yet somehow, anyway, he misses talking with him (then fucking him), laughing with him (while fucking him), eating a meal with him (after fucking him)...okay, yeah, he's got it kinda bad. And it's a shock, because he's never felt this way with a woman. No-strings-attached sex has always been easier - the only kind of sex he found appealing. But apparently, that's not what he wants now. He wants Shen Yuan. But that's impossible, because Liu Qingge has fucked everything up.

Somehow his sister finds out? And she gives him one hell of a talking to, "as if anyone who has ever met you think's you're straight!" and it's enough to leave him deeply ashamed, questioning everything he thought he knew about himself. As if he wasn't already questioning everything he thought he knew about himself.

And somehow some rando finds out? And shows up at Liu Qingge's apartment? And says his name is Luo Binghe?? And that he's there to kick Liu Qingge's ass??? Because Liu Qingge made Shen Yuan cry???? And it's not like Liu Qingge will back down from a challenge. He's a badass and he knows it. Which makes it all the more shocking when Luo Binghe does, in fact, kick Liu Qingge's ass.

Ow.

And Shen Yuan cried over Liu Qingge?

Double ow.

And Liu Qingge has cried over Shen Yuan?

No, he hasn't, he definitely hasn't, he never would, he'd never...

...anyway, getting his teeth kicked in actually ends up vaguely weirdly helping, because Liu Qingge ends up laid up in bed for two days after he loses to Luo Binghe, and during those two days he has nothing to do but watch shitty daytime TV and think.

And no matter how hard he tries not to, he thinks about Shen Yuan.

And by the time he can move without wanting to cry again (because of the pain, for no other reason, okay?) he's ready to eat humble pie enough to go ask his sister how the fuck she found out about any of this.

Liu Mingyan, for her part, looks at him like he's spontaneously become a moron.

(As if she hasn't known he was a moron all along.)

"The party...was at Shang Qinghua's house?"

Yes, Liu Qingge was well aware, Shang Qinghua was the branch manager at his office, and yeah it was weird for the manager to invite him to a Halloween party more appropriate to a fraternity, but whatever. "And...?"

"And Shen Yuan is like...his best frenemy?"

"What the fuck is a 'frenemy'?"

"Don't pretend you don't know," she scoffs. "I know you watch chick flicks when you think no one is looking."

"I do not!" He so does.

"And Shen Yuan is Shang Qinghua's drag daughter?"

"What does that mean?" This time, he actually doesn't know.

She doesn't tell him anyway.

But she does roll her eyes, heave a long-suffering sigh, pull out her phone, frantically type something, and stare him down for the few endless-feeling seconds between when she puts the phone back in her pocket and Liu Qingge's phone pings in his own.

He takes it out, answering her eye roll with one of his his own, and reads her text.

3142 Halloway Ave., 8 PM Friday night.

Liu Qingge has no idea what that's supposed to mean or what it has to do with anything.

(Maybe it's Shen Yuan's address?)

Nevertheless, he will be there come hell or high water.

(He hopes it's Shen Yuan's address.)

It's not Shen Yuan's address.

It is, in fact, a bar...a very, very gay bar/gastropub called "The Bear & Stag" flying a trans-and-rainbow pride flag out front. A flier outside when Liu Qingge shows up at 5-of (punctual, damn it!) promises a drag show to start at 8, tickets $20.

Drag show.

Drag daughter? Has something to do with dressing in drag, maybe?

That...must mean something...though fuck if Liu Qingge knows what...but he pays the cover, orders a wheat beer (he wants to be sober for whatever the fuck is going on), hunkers down by the bar, and waits the few minutes for the show to start.

Shock 1: the person who opens the show, clearly acting as Emcee and naming themself "Airplane Shooting Toward the Sky" is definitely Shang Qinghua in really fucking impressive Pan-am-flight-attendant-circa-1985 drag.

Shock 2: Luo Binghe is the bouncer, and is glaring murder at Liu Qingge from the other end of the bar.

Shock 3: that cucumber costume wasn't just a Halloween costume; Shen Yuan comes out as the announcer, about a half-hour into the show, shouts, "Next up - Peerless Cucumberrrrrrrr!" and the crowd goes nuts and Shen Yuan gives them all a saucy wink and goes into a pole dance that has Liu Qingge on the verge of coming in his pants.

Oh.

Oh fuck.

Liu Qingge is definitely, definitely not straight.

(Spoilers, Liu Qingge is actually bisexual/homoromantic, though it's gonna take him a long time to work that out.)

It's a small blessing, he supposes, that Shen Yuan doesn't spot him.

Shock 4: during intermission, Shang Qinghua approaches him, mutters, "make this right or I'm firing you," and slinks off shooting winning smiles to all the fans in the audience who ask for autographs, utterly innocent and irreproachable like he hasn't just engaged in flagrant blackmail.

Shock 5: when Liu Qingge tries to get backstage to offer some fucking apologies like a fucking grown up, Luo Binghe blocks him with a wordless growl, arms as thick as Liu Qingge's thighs crossed over his chest.

Stuck between a goddamn rock and a fucking hard place.

The image that conjures in Liu Qingge's mind has absolutely nothing to do with geology and absolutely everything to do with "Luo Binghe = rock," "Shen Yuan = hard place," "Liu Qingge = sandwich filling," and that sounds like about the hottest fucking thing he's ever imagined and wait how did he ever think he was straight?

(He always knew he wasn't straight but fuck did he desperately want to be.)

(Looking back on it now, he can't remember why he wanted to be.)

Regardless...he's so fired.

At least, so he thinks, but he's determined to drink his sorrows away, and proceeds to try to do so as quickly as he can. Maybe if he downs enough gin-and-tonics he can drown? No, probably not, but he can probably fuck his liver up something fierce and that's a nice option two given how much of a masochistic fuck up he is.

All of which is to say, he's three sheets to the wind and feeling extremely sorry for himself when, sometime after midnight, Peerless Cucumber his/herself comes out and takes the stool beside him at the bar.

"You're a real asshole," announces Shen Yuan, with all the cocky attitude he showed during the party, all the confidence that vanished once he was naked and exposed and lying at Liu Qingge's side and a tear definitely does not fall down Liu Qingge's face as he remembers vividly how nicely it felt to wake up with Shen Yuan beside him.

"Yup," Liu Qingge agrees with a forlorn hiccup.

"What are you doing here?"

My sister made me, he almost says. My boss threatened me, he almost says. I just felt like it, didn't even know you'd be here, he almost says. But, no, he's too drunk and lonely and sad for those lies - even the true lies. Yeah, maybe his sister made him, maybe Shang Qinghua blackmailed him, but really they needn't have bothered. Liu Qingge had only needed one piece of information to induce him to come to The Bear & Stag, and that is...

"I came to see you," mumbles Liu Qingge, and it's a good thing Shen Yuan isn't smashed, because otherwise given the intensity with which Liu Qingge makes that confession to...the surface of the ice cubes in his current tumbler...Shen Yuan might have been confused.

"Well, I'm here." Fortunately, Shen Yuan is not confused.

"Shouldn't be," grumbles Luo Binghe, walking by with apparently casually timing far too perfect to actually be an accident.

"Fuck you," counters Shen Yuan without any heat.

"Why?" Liu Qingge forces himself to look at Shen Yuan; he's changed out of the cucumber dress and is instead wearing a sun dress, the curvy lines of it presumably the result of padding beneath the clothing, and he's so gorgeous Liu Qingge wants to kiss him senseless then drag him to bed.

"Why am I here?" Shen Yuan shrugs. "Where else would I be?" Liu Qingge stares at him incredulously. Shen Yuan shrugs again.

"Literally...anywhere?" mutters Liu Qingge. "Luo Binghe seems interested."

"Naw, he's just a big ol' bear," says Shen Yuan breezily. "In several senses of the word."

"I don't know what that means." Liu Qingge wishes he didn't sound so miserable. But, he sounds utterly miserable. (He is utterly miserable.) And he realizes - it doesn't matter what it means. He doesn't even care anymore. All he cares about is...is...is...look, he knows, but he can't even bring himself to think it, much less say it, and fuck his life. Anger spikes suddenly through his melancholy, incinerating it, and suddenly sitting up straight, he snaps, "Look, I'm sorry, I'm a fuck up, I get it, but do you want to fuck again?"

There.

THAT he can say.

Good.

Except maybe not so good, because Shen Yuan just blinks at him once, twice, three times, then says slowly, "So you can have a Big Gay Panic and ditch me again?"

Oh.

Okay, yeah, that's fair.

But--

"No," Liu Qingge says and shakes his head, and oops, that was a mistake - the whole room swims, Shen Yuan blurring into a rainbow blob of the colors from his dress. "No, fuck it, I'm not gay, but I'm definitely something, guys are hot - you're hot - and I fucking screwed up and I get that and I already said I'm sorry what the fuck else do you want from me?"

There's another long pause.

Or maybe it's only a moment, Liu Qingge doesn't even know anymore, he's way too fucking drunk for this.

Shen Yuan half-shrugs - why a dude shrug so much, what's up with that? Maybe Liu Qingge should ask - and says, "I don't know, maybe about 8 inches? Or was it 9?"

Liu Qingge swallows hard. "I've never measured," he flat-out lies, suddenly hoarse. (It's just under 8. Not that he's going to say that. Anyway, it's the girth that counts.) "So, we doing this?"

"No," replies Shen Yuan. Confusion sweeps away other emotions. Man, being drunk and trying to have a serious conversation sucks. "Not tonight."

"But..." Now he's whining, god, doing any of this was about the worst decision Liu Qingge has ever made. (Wait, no, fuck that, if "any of this" includes Shen Yuan...doing Shen Yuan was absolutely not a bad decision. Only everything since then, yeah, Liu Qingge demands--) "Do over."

"Huh?"

"I want a do over."

"And you'll get one," says Shen Yuan brightly. Okay, no, it's not the alcohol, Shen Yuan is just that fucking confusing. "But first, you're going to sober up, and then we're going to talk - actually talk - about what you want--"

"You."

"Sweet, but unspecific, and that's my point. I thought you wanted me then--"

"I did!"

"--but then you left--"

"Because I'm an idiot."

"--and now you're here again--"

"And apologizing, don't forget the apologizing!"

"--and if you're gonna sober up and go all 'I'm straight' again...I do not want a do over of that. Once was plenty."

"I won't," Liu Qingge says with all the sincerity he can muster, which turns out not to be very much. Mostly he just sounds like a blubbery drunk, and now his eyes are not swimming with tears, it's just the booze. Just drunken blurry vision, nothing else! "Seriously, Shen Yuan. I fucking won't. I've regretted it every day since. I just...want you back..."

"In your bed?"

"In my bed, on my arm, in my shower, at my dinner table, on a date night, at a movie..."

"Just to be clear...you don't mean those are all places you'd fuck me?"

Liu Qingge almost shakes his head again, then stops short. Won't make that mistake again. Anyway, it's not true...not exactly... "I mean...I would..." he mutters consideringly. Shen Yuan laughs. Oh, that's the sound Liu Qingge has missed. "But, uh, deep-dicking optional? I just want someone to see a movie with."

"Someone? Anyone?"

Shen Yuan might be teasing him. But...well, fuck it, Liu Qingge has already said more embarrassing touchy feely shit tonight than he's said basically his entire fucking life before this and yeah he's drunk so Shen Yuan might not take him seriously but from Liu Qingge's internal point of view...he knows himself well enough to know he's only talking at all because he's smashed. Anything he doesn't say now sure isn't gonna get said once he's sober, so better to air it all out. Hopefully, afterwards, they can get to the fun part (fucking, ideally) without having to do anymore of the unfun part (wording, ugh).

"You," he says, clearly and bluntly. Shen Yuan breaks into a stunning smile. "I want you, Shen Yuan. I fucked up. I get that. But I won't again. Will you...uh..." He swallows. He can do this. He can! "...be my boyfriend?"

"Can I take anything drunk!you says seriously?"

"Here--" And idea strikes Liu Qingge like a lightning bolt. Scrambling at his jean's pocket, he tries to get his phone for a solid 8 seconds before he remembers he put it in his jacket. Finally taking it out, he passes it to Shen Yuan, who blinks uncertainly at him. "Enter your phone number for a text." Shen Yuan taps at the screen then hands the phone back. Taking it, Liu Qingge types out Shen Yuan, Peerless Cucumber, will you be my boyfriend? and hits send.

Shen Yuan takes out his cell phone, sees the text, and shoots Liu Qingge a "what the fuck?" look.

"Don't answer," Liu Qingge explains eagerly. This is an awesome idea. All the words when he can say them, all the resolution post-alcohol-haze when it's needed! "Wait 'til I sober up tomorrow--"

"With how much you've drunk, you really think tomorrow's gonna do it?"

"--wait til I sober up Sunday morning...uh...make that afternoon...then text me back. With a 'yes' I hope, but you can go with 'go fuck yourself' if you really want, it's about what I deserve. And then - see how I react then. If I'm a homophobic jackass again, you never have to see me again. But if I'm not..."

When Shen Yuan opens his mouth to (Liu Qingge assumes) complete that thought, Liu Qingge expects him to say, "...then I'll know." That's how Liu Qingge ended the sentence in his own head. Thus, he's completely unprepared for Shen Yuan to say, "Then I'll have a boyfriend!" with wonderfully enthusiasm.

Liu Qingge's throat goes dry.

Liu Qingge's dick tries, woefully, to get hard despite all the alcohol thinning his blood.

Liu Qingge's brain switches to RED ALERT - PANIC mode.

He ignores it.

Because as fucking terrifying as that is...he wants it. He wants it, wants Shen Yuan, so badly.

"Yeah," he manages to say. It feels more real, more safe, more right, once it's out, aloud, in the world. "Yeah," he repeats more confidently. "Then you'll have...me."

"Worst consolation prize ever," grumbles Luo Binghe from fuck-knows-where.

"Shut up," Shen Yuan replies brightly, then returns his focus to Liu Qingge. "I'll have exactly what I want. Just - don't fuck it up again," he adds, waggling a finger way too close to Liu Qingge's face. (Too close because all Liu Qingge wants to do his suck on it, and fuck, he is so into men, why did he never let himself do this before?)

"I won't. I really, really won't."

He definitely won't.

Finally, finally, Liu Qingge knows what - knows who - he wants, and he's never gonna fuck up again.

(Well...he's gotta call bullshit on himself...but he's never gonna fuck up this bad again...)

"Perfect," says Shen Yuan.

"Yeah, you are."

Shen Yuan lights up like the goddamn sun, without the accompanying eye-sear, which. Fuck yeah, awesome, magnificent, splendid, some other adjectives he can't think of, absolutely ideal.

Oh yeah - Liu Qingge's got this in the bag.

...oops this got so stupidly long. *sweat drop*

[touchmycoat]

qijiu bingqiu (bingliushen??) fix-it fic planning blabber

so i think i gotta keep it tight on SJ’s POV. Right before his death, he makes a deal with Xin Mo (who’s kind of a lone operator bc LBH too has to fight its power) to create this alternate timeline in exchange for his cultivation. Xin Mo can open up new dimensions no problem, and with SJ’s cultivation, it even manages to rewind the timeline. That’s not enough though—Xin Mo’s goal is only consumption, so it takes the deal but reveals there’s nothing that will actually change. The price SJ paid only opened the door.

But that’s fine, ‘cause SJ saw it coming. He also strikes another deal, this time with Death itself? Some sort of large cosmic force. The only thing he wants changed is Qi-ge’s death, and in exchange...the universe takes him. SJ will not get to exist in that second universe. SJ takes the deal.

And that’s the start of canon. SJ-as-SQQ can no longer exist. Instead, SY-as-SQQ is brought in. In order to stay cohered though, YQY’s memories and personality get a little glitched—he is physically incapable of recognizing all the ways SQQ is now not SJ. That’s why, despite SY-as-SQQ clearly being OOC, YQY never seems to see it.

Canon happens, now we’re in the post-canon world where bingqiu are married and settling down, but SQQ still kicks it with his buddies LQG and YQY every now and then. YQY still firmly believes SQQ is SJ, to SY’s increasing consternation. Is it just delusions and wishful thinking? The more YQY treats him as SJ though, the worse SY feels—he shouldn’t be stealing all this affection that doesn’t belong to him.

It all comes to head when SQQ overhears public opinion on YQY, how he’s perfect in everything but his crazy devotion to SQQ. SY thinks enough is enough. He can’t bring SJ back but he sure can tell YQY that his Xiao Jiu is dead, right? The System warns him he’ll be punished but that’s fine, it’s just not fair, SQQ can take another little mental horror trip down to BinggeLand if it means YQY can have some closure.

Except that’s not what happens. He gets YQY in private and says, “no, you don’t understand, Shen Jiu is dead.” He sees the recognition in YQY’s eyes, but he also sees the moment that recognition gets wiped. The sad smile that had fallen off of YQY’s face returns, eerily happy, as YQY says, “my apologies, Qingqiu-shidi, I must have spaced out just now, what did you say?”

Right before the System kicks him into another punishment phase, SY tries again: “Shen Jiu is dead!” He sees the recognition disappear once again from YQY’s eyes.

Inside the punishment world, Bingge has him again. “I’ve been searching for an answer to why the sniveling pathetic version of me gets you as his Shizun, and I think I figured it out.” For a moment, SY’s horrified by the possibility that Bingge has figured out his transmigrator status—if his punishment figures it out, would he be trapped inside the punishment forever? But instead, Bingge says, “Liu Qingge is still alive, meaning Shizun didn’t kill him in the spirit caves. Did his survival render such a dramatic change?” SQQ”s like “yup, yup that’s definitely it. We’re such good friends, he really changed my outlook on life, so I treated you better, mhm.”

“Shizun’s very clever then to save his own life this way. Xin Mo’s already told me about your little bargain.”

That’s how SY learns that SJ had made a deal. Holy shit, he’d thought it was just random phenomenon this whole time, but the original goods had made it all possible? He didn’t know whether to thank SJ or curse him.

But that can’t be the whole story—Xin Mo opened up a timeline, that doesn’t explain why SY is here. Bingge doesn’t know this part, but it sure feels like SJ made a second deal, paying with his life.

What would motivate the original goods to do all this? Sacrifice his hard-won cultivation and his entire existence in this last-ditch effort?

The memory of YQY’s glitching came to mind.

Holy shit. SY owns the two of them more than he’d ever thought.

After the punishment, SY goes back home. He’s with Binghe, and LBH can tell there’s something troubling him.

“Binghe, there’s something this husband wants to do, and I need your help to do it.”

“Shizun, anything.”

“...But there’s a risk it might hurt you. There’s a risk it might ruin everything. It might be straight-forward, but it also might not be. It’s safer for all of us—but especially you, Binghe—if I just let things be.”

“But it’s not something that Shizun can just let be, is it? Otherwise Shizun wouldn’t have said anything. Binghe is honored to help. Anything to ease Shizun’s mind.”

“...I promised I wouldn’t let you come to harm again, and I meant that. Whatever happens, remember that I am your husband, this is my call, and you must do whatever you need to do to protect yourself, okay? Swear to me, Binghe.”

SQQ begins figuring out how to use Xin Mo to go fetch SJ from the other timeline. He figures that if Bingge could exist in this dimension without destroying the space-time continuum, the same ought to be true for SJ. Only trouble is, he can only go get SJ after SJ’s made the deals, because otherwise it’s a paradox, and he wouldn’t exist.

So SQQ brings home limbless, post-torture!SJ. That’s where the fic starts.

By all accounts, the deals are squared: SJ no longer has cultivation and SJ died in SY’s dimension, so SY successfully exists. SJ and SY can exist in the same space totally fine, and SJ begins healing.

(Currently, the fic is completely from SJ’s POV, and very much about coming to terms with being saved and what the hell is going on in this better world.)

The trouble is, SY doesn’t know what’s going to happen when SJ meets YQY again. SJ very thoroughly declines the offer to go see YQY because part of SJ still believes this whole thing is a trick, and if he goes to see YQY he’ll ruin his end of the bargain and YQY will die again. For SY’s part, he’s afraid of SJ going to see YQY too for similar but opposite reasons—if SJ going to see YQY ruins SJ’s end of the bargain, then wouldn’t that mean SY can no longer exist? Would SY just disappear from this universe?

So we get ragtag group therapy fun times. SJ thinks this is probably all an illusion Xin Mo is tricking him with, so treats everything with scorn but also existential apathy. This actually works to his benefit because he’s not clinging to things as hard, and it’s easier for him to admit, for example, that he was definitely in the wrong for abusing LBH, and yeah he was being a spiteful bitch when he did not need to be.

SY tries to keep LBH away from SJ mostly, because c’mon, he’s not about to make his darling husband face his childhood abuser. He does explain the situation to LBH though, in the same terms that Bingge had (mis)understood it lmfao—that the act of saving LQG’s life had prompted an entire 180 on his personality so he came out of the spirit caves a better man. LBH’s jealous as fuck of course, but damn if that doesn’t explain some things. Given the opportunity to see his old and new Shizun side-by-side, LBH takes it, and really gets a moment to see how horribly he’s been treated by SQQ.

So it actually prompts some therapy between SY and LBH too. LBH used to figure that getting pushed into the Abyss was squared by SQQ sacrificing himself to save him. But ofc it turned out SQQ came back and kept on, in his perspective, trying to get away from him. Trying to leave him behind. SQQ’s tried to treat his abandonment issues by going “okay sorry about that I’ll never leave you behind again” but he’s never really explained it.

SJ’s presence gives Binghe the ability to ask the question again and gives SY an answer: shame and cowardice. They’re able to put SJ’s mistreatment of Binghe right in front of them and SY-as-SQQ gets to explain how much it hurt to look back on that bit of their past, but also how much he feared LBH's retaliation. LBH is a little hurt, but also he remembers how he’d raped SQQ under Xin Mo’s control and, looking at what’s left of SJ now, he sees his own darkest possibilities. He really did destroy the man he loves now in another timeline. That helps him contextualize SY’s fears and why SY chose to push him off the cliff.

LQG crashlands into the middle of this whole party as is his wont. He gets a little fix-it too maybe. SY very staunchly repeats the reason for his personality swap—saving LQG in that cave made him a Better Person™. Meeting the original goods again, LQG is forced to believe it. Or like, it doesn’t really matter to him either way, but now he really does see pre-cave SQQ and post-cave SQQ as two completely different people.

SJ though, has to swallow this really weird pill. He remembers trying to save LQG inside the cave but failing, and then getting blamed for LQG’s death. If he’d succeeded, he and LQG would’ve become...this close?? A life debt between them would’ve changed his outlook on life so much???

Well whatever. Now that he’s put down all his old posturing, he more readily gives his reasons for why LQG gets on his nerves so much: the insufferable confidence (arrogant prick), the skills to back it up (privileged bastard), and a flawless cultivator family with all the money and the training and the pedigree. (Meanwhile SY’s like “oh shit that’s me too hahahahah awkward, good thing he still thinks i’m him so he doesn’t just murder me immediately.)

LQG’s a little weirded out too. SY-as-SQQ is his favorite person in the world, so it’s hard to get angry at SJ-as-SQQ since they’re “the same person.” He’s more willing to talk all this out with SJ and brings up all their old beef on his side too: high-handed snootiness coupled with underhanded dick moves, also the whole sleeping-with-prostitutes thing hurting Cang Qiong’s reputation. Ofc they’re snapping at each other this whole time. “There’s no reason for you to do all that!”

SY intervenes if needed. “Actually there is.” Considering the fact that SJ gets indicted for so many things that actually turn out to be not his fault, SY figures he’ll just get it out there. “Remember Qiu Haitang’s accusations against me? I grew up a slave in that household. I grew up believing it was kill or be killed—it doesn’t make sabotaging others right, but...that’s why the Spirit Caves made such an impression on me. I learned it wasn’t just kill or be killed, I can also save people. It opened my eyes to everything I already had, and everything I should be grateful for.”

This is for both LQG and SJ. And it works, to some degree. SJ knows he managed to claw to the top of privilege, but he still felt horribly insecure there. That’s because, he realizes, he never got the thing that would actually grant him security. It's not power or money or reputation—it’s Qi-ge. Holy hell he misses Qi-ge. In anger and betrayal, he’d pushed YQY continuously out of his life, but when faced with certain death the only regret he actually had was bringing Qi-ge down with him. YQY was meant to have survived, and in this world, he did.

So now, after all that, SJ really, really wants to go see his Qi-ge. It’s nice to have survived (and gotten part of his power back—at the very beginning, SY gives one of SQQ’s eyes to SJ as a bit of his golden core in order to save SJ’s life), but it’s so damn hard to live on in this world knowing YQY is only so far away, still very deeply attached to Xiao Jiu.

They try to Cyrano it at first. SY-as-SQQ goes to YQY with SJ’s voice in his ear, telling SY how to treat YQY as him. YQY is so fucking touched and hopeful, and SY is damn uncomfortable. He goes running back to SJ and says it’s not going to work—it’s not going to work because he’s no longer Qi-ge’s Xiao Jiu. He’s Luo Binghe’s husband, okay? He can’t go back to YQY as SJ.

SJ’s fucking furious at first (what kind of shitty variation of himself saves LQG’s life and then falls out of love with Qi-ge???? bitch?????) but what can he do? LQG tells them YQY’s on his way here and SJ hides for now. They still don’t know what will happen if SJ meets YQY, so SY continues to front as SJ for now.

But during this conversation, something changes. Maybe YQY says something, but SJ realizes he’s actually a little willing to take this chance. If Qi-ge does disappear—easy, he’d just kill himself right after. He’d already experienced Qi-ge’s death twice before, and at least this time, he can follow, knowing he’s at least reconciled with Qi-ge through SY.

And if he disappears on his own, then at least he knows there’s a world in which Qi-ge does not die horribly. That’s enough for him.

That, however, leaves the very last possibility—that SY will disappear. At this point both LQG and LBH have figured this out, and are very, very reluctant to let this be the scenario. They don’t see it as two people, they see it as their version of SQQ vs. YQY’s version of SQQ.

So there’s a little tension, but in the end, SY gets the final choice. As soon as he learns SJ is willing to go see YQY, he chooses that path. He simply owes qijiu too much to deny them the possibility of reconciliation. So despite knowing he might disappear from Binghe and LQG’s life, he makes it happen.

(They should get a very painful goodbye scene.)

SY goes out to explain things. “Zhangmen-shixiong may have noticed my change since my qi deviation and the spirit caves.” “I’m happy Xiao Jiu has a brighter outlook on life.” “Yes, but I think Qi-ge, of all people, might actually prefer how I was before, right?” “If Xiao Jiu’s happy, I’m happy.” “Yes, but Shen Jiu wants you. Is that alright?” “—of course. I want Xiao Jiu too—”

SJ comes out. Everyone holds their breath.

Scene cut.

It’s said that Cang Qiong’s Sect Leader Yue Qingyuan disappeared suddenly one afternoon...

But jk, YQY just ran away with SJ, they’re recuperating in the mountains and everybody’s fine and it’s a happy ending.

[it-goes-on]

There’s an elaborate bingliushen AU knocking around my head that I won’t write where

Shen Yuan and Shen Qingqiu are pop idol twins

SQQ has … just, so many issues (they were child stars! Bad things happened. As they are wont to do when your manager is an asshole and you firmly believe you’re the older sister who’s solely responsible for looking out for your younger (by ten minutes) sister

(She isn’t older, but they’re twins, who tf actually knows other than your humble author)

Anyway SQQ has unhealthy coping mechanisms galore and the weirdest relationship with the manager they picked up after their old manager … mysteriously disappeared ;) when they were in their late teens: YQY

YQY is wildly, unyieldingly in love with SQQ. He is also very quiet about it, on account of being an awkward nerd under his competent exterior and also because he is the weird horse girl to SQQ’s skittish, mean bastard horse of a personality

SY is literally just off doing her own thing most of the time when they’re not touring or getting ready to tour or recording or practicing

(She makes SQQ pretend to be her sometimes. Luo Binghe can always tell and she’s the only one)

Luo Binghe, through a series of comedic errors, becomes SY’s trainer after she gains five pounds between tours and realizes she Does Not Care enough to lose it again on her own

LBH is not a people person! She is usually a bodyguard. But when your celebrity crush of a decade asks you if you can help her diet and exercise, exercise alone together … in gyms and dance studios … her hair messy, sweaty, in her old rumpled workout sweats that no one else gets to see …

Luo Binghe is having the time of her little gay life

They don’t hook up

And then SY misses her terribly when she goes on tour again, and LBH convinces her to give a date a chance

They move in together before a month is up

Liu Qingge is a phenomenal stunt double and ends up at a lot of the awards ceremonies and mandatory parties that SY also has to attend

They’d been friendly for years (LQG has been pining for years) but they’re both introverts. They’d rather die than make an actual friendship at one of these things.

But Binghe loves to be the center of attention, threaten people who get too close to SY, and clear out a little bubble for SY to drink lazily and snark at the other attendees and chat with one or two people at a time

LQG becomes part of this bubble, for the above reasons

She and SY hit it off. She and LBH … don’t hate each other? SY doesn’t really Get their whole Deal, but they spend a lot of time together

LQG has a buzzcut and is So Fucking Butch and doesn’t wear a shirt or a bra around her house/casually. LBH and SY are Suffering. Someone help them, they’re so thirsty.

SY goes on tour again. LBH and LQG get closer, and closer, and LBH is The Way She Is, so she’s constantly insinuating that SY is into LQG, because it’s true and also because she tends to project her desires onto SY. It’s not a great life strategy but it’s a baby step toward her becoming more emotionally stable and expressive. Her therapist has a lot to say about it. Whatever.

SY comes back and oh no, LBH and LQG are so close! They don’t have dumb work schedules that keep them away for months, and a too-defensive, slavering hellhound of a sister, and they’re both So Hot, surely they’re better off together? 🥺

There are tears involved (binghe’s), and yelling (shen qingqiu), and a lot of morose staring (qingge) until someone realizes that maybe they should actually just explain big emotional concepts to the woman, formerly a child star, currently an adult idol, full-time public commodity and no-time person-in-therapy, who is missing The Potential Point

Shizun, you’ve heard of threesomes, now get ready for: a healthy, loving, mutually adoring polyamorous relationship

[spockandawe]

I think I want.... to talk about Luo Binghe.

Because I never ever get tired of talking about Luo Binghe, honestly. And I’m trying to mentally prod at my bingliushen au, so talking about any of those three dorks (or about 79) counts as being productive, right? XD

Anyways, I think one of my favorite things with Luo Binghe is how insecure he is, but not in the more common ways I see insecurity done in fiction. He’s skilled as SHIT, and he’s confident in his skills. He’s smart as hell too, and a dedicated learner. Shen Qingqiu even has a spot in the book where Binghe is like ‘oh, where did shizun learn this?’ and it’s from reading the novel, but Shen Qingqiu bullshits like ‘uhhh it’s from a secret book back at the sect’, and immediately is like SHIT and Binghe is like ‘hmm it must be a very, very secret book if this disciple never read it.’

And in the canon-verse, he’s got a magnetic, charming personality. He collects this MASSIVE harem of pretty ladies, he manages to charm political figures, etc., etc. He’s plenty strong as a fighter, but it sounds like he doesn’t often have to bring that to bear, because he naturally manages people well. He winds up comfortably ensconced in a position of power and with no serious threats facing him.

However, comma, he’s still massively insecure on the level of like... basic interpersonal relationships. Which sounds silly, considering the size of the canonverse harem. But even in the novel extras where canonverse bing-ge hops over to the svsss universe and talks to sy!sqq, he still craves shizun’s approval. Even though he, uh, dismembered his own shizun, and had some dream-ish encounters with this version of shizun where he popped off a couple limbs (though it didn’t stick). He finds out shizun and this luo binghe are happy together and shizun takes care of binghe, and he’s like what the FUCK, WHY DOES HE GET THIS, WHY DON’T I GET IT, I WANT IT I WANT IT THIS ISN’T FAIR--

I love that, that he has literally hundreds of women ready to dote on him in all kinds of ways, but it sincerely throws him that his old shizun, who rejected him, is willing to treat another version of him so well.

And like, in the actual novel itself, Binghe being insecure is a straight-up plot point, which is delicious. It’s such a nice build of the pieces of his backstory, starting with the way his mom gave birth to him and immediately tossed him into an icy river (it was more complicated than that, but that is the sequence of events he is aware of). And in the canonverse and novelverse, it’s a hugely formative moment when his shizun is like ‘oh, you’re half-demon? lemme just yeet you off into the abyss and tell everybody you died’

Plus in the novel, that feeling of rejection only builds and builds once he comes back, which is SO EXTRA TASTY because the rejection is actually shen qingqiu being terrified of binghe, not because he hates him. But from luo binghe’s perspective, shizun is his most important person, and shizun loathes him THIS. MUCH. it was one of my FAVORITE moments, even experienced indirectly, where luo binghe is like ‘wow, shizun would literally rather die than stay with me’ (and refuses to accept that dafghsgdj)

And!!! It’s not resolved by shizun visibly softening up to binghe either!! Even after he softens, even though it’s already a MASSIVE concession in terms of his typical reserve, that isn’t enough. He holds Binghe a little too far at arm’s length, and Binghe melts down because he concludes that it’s been made clear to him now, nobody will ever choose to stay by his side, nobody ever has chosen to stay by his side, and if anyone he cares about is offered a choice, they will choose to leave him.

Which, honestly, is also probably one of the things that draws me SUPER hard to svsss fic. Even though the story has a pretty emphatic romantic conclusion, and the extras go hard on the romance too (the marriage extra was PRECIOUS), that is some fertile-ass ground for fic to prod at in more depth. That’s the kind of emotional chasm that a novel has to bridge and move past, but maybe i want to go wallow at the bottom for a year or ten. 

It’s a relationship that carries the codependency to slightly worrying extremes, but has the story behind it to OWN that codependency. In the 100 questions extra, binghe’s most precious wish it to stay by shizun’s side for three whole days. Shen qingqiu is like ‘what, only three days?’ and binghe is like ‘but after three days, surely shizun will be tired of this disciple’ and sqq is like ‘Nope.’ It’s not as much of like... a lazy, relaxed codependency as cygate, it’s a coiled spring filled with potential energy. Which means, of course, that i also love the fics where their relationship has lasted long enough that binghe is able to relax his grip a little without feeling like he’s going to lose everything. And oh my goddddd, i love bingliushen, and seeing binghe able to relax his grip enough to let someone else in? GOD!!!! DELICIOUS! 

(and, if we’re talking about my personal fanfic ventures, having a triad introduces all kinds of new and delicious tension to the mix. as well as silly, silly things like ‘leave room for jesus’ memes, except it’s ‘leave room for binghe’)

But this kind of emotionally-driven insecurity is EXACTLY my favorite kind of flavor for a character. Like... tbh, binghe is probably the premier mxtx example of insecurity, but it’s a LOT of what draws me to jin guangyao as well, and to xue yang once he realizes Oh No, These Are Emotions. My favorite angle on hua cheng deals with this a lot too. And with jin guangyao and hua cheng especially, they are INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL in their personal lives, and have a good measure of their own skills, but if you ask them to evaluate themselves on an emotional level, things get much more Complicated.

I don’t really have an end point to this essay, but it’s really interesting to me just how STRONGLY svsss and luo binghe especially grabbed ahold of my heart. I hadn’t really been expecting it, and I finished the story pleased and ready to move on. But then... I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I read tgcf and erha and am working on dreamer in the spring boudoir, and still can’t stop thinking about svsss. I love fannish navel-gazing, so here we are, yet again, haha :P