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Mu Qing was aware that many of the students in his classes probably considered him intimidating and mysterious. If it wasn’t due to his unimpressed facial expressions, then his sharp tongue and curt manner of speaking did well to keep people at bay. There were those, of course, who looked past his blunt demeanor to discover his true personality hidden beneath it all. Some people decided they didn’t like Mu Qing, and thus left him alone. And there were others who found interest.
Pei Ming was an example of one of those who stuck around despite Mu Qing’s harsh attitude. In fact, he stayed because of it. He was the flirt of the university and got along with just about everyone, so Mu Qing shouldn’t have been surprised when he first approached him after one of their shared classes. They were both junior psychology majors, and Mu Qing had only warily eyed him up until that point. He was aware of Pei Ming’s reputation, and he’d steered clear of interacting with him.
But then Pei Ming struck up an engaging conversation, and Mu Qing had the misfortune of having to acknowledge his enjoyment of their time together. It wasn’t long after when Pei Ming asked him out on a date, which turned into a few more. But Mu Qing ended up breaking things off. Although he enjoyed the physical aspects of holding hands and kissing, he never felt any romantic spark between them. Pei Ming accepted it graciously, but not without first offering a friends-with-benefits arrangement that Mu Qing ultimately rejected.
Mu Qing didn’t want anything casual or serious with Pei Ming. It had been a year since they tried being a ‘thing,’ and they still had a solid friendship. So, Mu Qing supposed it worked out for the best.
It was what he told himself, at least—that he and Pei Ming simply didn’t work out romantically. He was almost an expert at ignoring the true cause at this point. It was rather cliche to consider that his feelings for someone else were affecting his dating life. But he couldn’t deny the way his eyes kept wandering while he was dating Pei Ming, and it was no better when he was with anyone else.
It didn’t help that the person whom his eyes never strayed from happened to be the most obnoxious individual on the planet. Feng Xin was only a year older and had attended the same high school as Mu Qing. When they ended up going to the same university, Mu Qing wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or relieved by the prospect of seeing him all the time. It was possible to experience both, he supposed ruefully; and he truly did.
They’d been arguing over every little thing since their high school days to the point that they could probably co-found a business over it. Since bickering was in their blood, it wouldn’t be a shock if they avoided each other on campus over it. They had the space now. It wasn’t like high school with its shared classrooms and forced proximity. He and Feng Xin didn’t have to spend time together.
But they met up often between classes to eat at the cafeteria together, browse the library for essay materials, and even hung out at each other’s dorms. Mu Qing never admitted it to the man himself, but he actually enjoyed their time spent together. It wasn’t always about having shouting matches or roughly shoving their elbows into the other’s sides. Sometimes it was genuinely checking in on how the other was doing, or staying over while a roommate was out to watch movies late into the night, sharing hushed conversations about everything and nothing.
Mu Qing didn’t know when he’d begun feeling more toward Feng Xin. Perhaps it had always been there, lingering in the back of his mind. Or maybe it had slowly built over time upon every new detail he learned about Feng Xin. It didn’t matter all that much. These were feelings that would never see the light of day if Mu Qing could help it. There was no way Feng Xin felt the same, so Mu Qing stowed his affection away where it couldn’t be found.
He didn’t have time for distractions. He could fight with Feng Xin every so often, hang out with him when they decided to push the theatrics aside, and whatever deeper feelings remaining would eventually dissipate.
At least, that was how he’d been hoping to go about his college life. But then Pei Ming happened.
It wasn’t unusual for Mu Qing to wander around campus with Pei Ming. He decided to go along with it when Pei Ming stopped by to drag him from his dorm room one lazy afternoon when Mu Qing was done with classes for the day. They were strolling through the arboretum rather than finding an area to study in, like Mu Qing suggested. Pei Ming insisted that it was a radiant day that would be better spent outdoors, and Mu Qing didn’t feel like dampening his mood by turning him down.
He should have known Pei Ming was up to something when he folded his hands behind his back and let out a thoughtful hum. But the energy truly shifted when he finally spoke.
“We should go on a date.”
Mu Qing stopped walking once he registered his words. For a moment, he thought he’d surely heard wrong. But Pei Ming’s languid steps came to a halt as well, and he turned to regard Mu Qing with a playful glint in his eye. That was about all the answer he needed.
“You’re joking, aren’t you?” Mu Qing said with a snort.
“No. I’m serious.”
The corners of Mu Qing’s gentle smile dipped downward. “Why the hell would we do that?”
“You don’t think it’d be fun? I can assure you that I am a fun time.”
“Yeah, I know that. Unfortunately. But that’s not what I meant. You know it didn’t work between us before. So why are you suggesting—”
“Hold on. Hold on,” Pei Ming said, waving his hands around to silence him. He was still smiling. “I meant that we should go on a date with the intention of grabbing someone else’s attention.”
“Go on,” Mu Qing said. He felt skeptical of what was about to come out of Pei Ming’s mouth.
“I was thinking about taking you to this place called Lion’s Den. It’s in a snazzy little district just off campus. Seems like it might have a lovely crowd where we can mingle.”
Mu Qing’s eyes became narrower the more Pei Ming spoke. His brain was putting the pieces together, his suspicions channeling in a certain direction once he heard the name of the bar Pei Ming mentioned. It was a nice place, sure. But it was also the bar that Feng Xin happened to work at. And Mu Qing knew better than to consider that a mere coincidence.
“I don’t know what kind of game you’re trying to play here,” Mu Qing said.
“Game? Why would you think that’s what this is, Mu Qing?”
“Because I know you. And somehow, you’ve found out that Feng Xin works at that bar. And now you’re trying to make something happen, or whatever.”
Mu Qing had a feeling he hit the nail on the head because the grin on Pei Ming’s face only curled higher. It made him want to groan. Ideas like this never led to anywhere good.
Pei Ming and Feng Xin weren’t exactly friends. And for a while, Pei Ming didn’t have any clue about Mu Qing’s hopeless crush on Feng Xin. But it only took a few times of Pei Ming noticing the two together for him to gather an idea from their interactions. Once Mu Qing noticed a mischievous flash in Pei Ming’s eyes, he knew nothing good would come from it.
It had led to Pei Ming’s subsequent interest in Feng Xin, and Mu Qing’s mysterious history with him. Mu Qing never admitted outright to his crush on his old high school classmate, but Pei Ming was perceptive and came to his own conclusion. He was very experienced with recognizing the telltale signs of attraction, so he had no difficulty figuring Mu Qing out.
Being perceived with such skillful accuracy frustrated Mu Qing. He didn’t like being read like a book, intensely studied under the interest of another’s curious eye. His feelings for Feng Xin were personal. It wasn’t anyone else’s business to pry into them.
“Maybe Feng Xin has something to do with it,” Pei Ming said. “So, how about it?”
“No way. I’m not entertaining this,” Mu Qing said. He turned on his heel to walk further along the path and away from Pei Ming. Hasty footsteps thudded behind him, and Mu Qing knew the other man was following.
“Come on, Mu Qing. Just consider it,” Pei Ming said, catching up to speak on his right. “Fine, I’ll admit there’s a purpose to this whole thing. But my intentions are good. I’m only doing this to help you out.”
“Help me out?”
“I just don’t understand why you bother going out with all these terrible guys when your heart is clearly set on Feng Xin.”
“Terrible guys? Like you?”
“Ouch,” Pei Ming said, dramatically clutching the fabric of his shirt over his chest.
Mu Qing regarded him with an unimpressed quirk of his eyebrow. Then he rolled his eyes and shook his head, lowering himself down onto a wooden bench surrounded by spiraling tendrils of lush shrubbery and flowers. Pei Ming sat beside him, and Mu Qing noticed the way he kept a foot of space between them, opting not to nudge his knee into Mu Qing’s this time. He must be serious about trying to persuade him if he was being respectful of his space. After all, Pei Ming was not shy about using physical touch to his advantage.
“What’s in it for you?” Mu Qing said.
Pei Ming looked over at him, but Mu Qing kept his gaze straight ahead.
“Can’t I simply want my darling friend to find happiness?”
“No. You’re a bit too problematic for that kind of bullshit.”
Pei Ming let out a loud laugh at that, then shrugged. “Maybe I’m just bored. Or maybe I just don’t want you to go your whole life wondering what could have happened with him.”
“Nothing’s going to happen with him,” Mu Qing said through gritted teeth. “He doesn’t feel the same.”
“And how do you know that? Have you ever asked him?”
“Fuck, no. Of course I haven’t—”
“Then go on a harmless date with me. See if he reacts. If he doesn’t, there’s no confrontation to worry about. And if he does...”
Mu Qing glanced over to see a sly grin forming on Pei Ming’s lips. No more words needed to be said for Mu Qing to get the memo, for him to grasp the complete confidence that Pei Ming had toward the situation. He didn’t understand how Pei Ming could be so sure.
Mu Qing internally quipped that ‘Feng Xin won’t.’ Still, he didn’t say it out loud, settling on a heavy sigh instead.
He gave himself a moment to think. Pei Ming and Feng Xin didn’t really know each other all that well. Mu Qing had never let it slip to Feng Xin the nature of how he met Pei Ming. He merely introduced him as a friend and classmate from his psychology courses. Technically, Feng Xin remained blissfully unaware of their past dating life.
This plan could work. For all Feng Xin knew, they really could be on a date for the first time. There would be no reason for him to doubt it. And that annoyed Mu Qing even more.
“Let’s make a bet,” Mu Qing finally said, folding his arms across his chest.
“Oh? A bet? What are the conditions?” Pei Ming said, clearly intrigued as he leaned in closer.
“Let’s say we go on this little date. I’m determining that Feng Xin won’t say anything unsavory about it to me. In other words, he won’t interfere with... us. In that case, I would win the bet.”
Insinuating that there would ever be something going on between him and Pei Ming caused him to frown. He wasn’t appalled by Pei Ming’s personality or anything, but it was just the idea of them masquerading as a couple in front of Feng Xin that slightly bothered him. He didn’t want Feng Xin to think he liked someone else. He never did enjoy having to reject plans with him over having a date already set up with some other guy.
Feng Xin never said anything rude about the men he dated. He'd regard them warily and with a painstaking curiosity that anyone would clock, but it never turned into a lecture. Even though Mu Qing was sure he deserved at least one in response to a few of his terrible choices.
Still, Mu Qing was aware that Feng Xin had never directly witnessed him on a date. There was a chance, albeit a small one, that his reaction might change upon seeing it for himself. Pei Ming was sweet and considerate, but he was also covertly domineering in a way that usually got him what he wanted in the end. Mu Qing had a feeling that Feng Xin wouldn’t like that trait in a potential dating partner, and he especially wouldn’t like it directed toward Mu Qing, his friend.
“Sounds like a fair condition,” Pei Ming said. “As for me, I bet that Feng Xin will absolutely confront you about our date. Let’s give it three days’ time.”
Pei Ming reached an outstretched hand toward Mu Qing, who looked him up and down before placing his own within it and giving a firm shake.
◇ ◇ ◇
Lion’s Den wasn’t very crowded when the night of their date finally arrived. That could be attributed to it being a weeknight, so less people were out and about due to having work or classes the next day. Still, there were enough people present to provide them some cover to blend in.
Mu Qing knew Feng Xin’s schedule, making sure to let Pei Ming know he would be working the bar on a Wednesday night. Both of their own evenings were free of obligations, and so they agreed to put their plan into action.
Just because it wasn’t a real date didn’t mean Mu Qing couldn’t put in any effort. If he was going to go along with this ridiculous scheme, then he would ensure that his appearance was up to his standards. He'd opted for a black sleeveless shirt that showed off his shoulders and lean muscles, jeans that clung to his legs, and his favorite pair of lace-up boots. His dark hair was pulled up into a long ponytail that flowed behind him as he walked. Silver hoops and studs adorned his ears, and he’d even applied a touch of sharp liner to the corners of his eyes.
Pei Ming had already checked him out upon picking him up in his car earlier, but now he made an even bigger show of looking him up and down as they stood just inside the entrance. Mu Qing rolled his eyes in hopes it would distract Pei Ming from his likely rosy face. Even if he wasn’t doing this for Pei Ming’s attention, he couldn’t help growing shy under his roaming eyes.
The music was booming around them, and Pei Ming leaned in to speak against Mu Qing’s ear. “So, is he here?”
“He should be.”
Mu Qing looked past the patrons standing around to get a view of the bar, where a few people were sitting on the row of stools. It didn’t take long for him to spot Feng Xin in his black-and-white attire. His short chestnut hair shone under the colorful flurry of lights. He was currently shaking two cups together, presumably for a cocktail. His long bangs fell down over his eyes, and it was only once he’d poured a drink for a customer that he finally reached up to tuck the strands behind his ear. The bright smile on his face made Mu Qing’s cheeks burn even hotter, and he had to tear his gaze away to gain control of himself.
When he turned to Pei Ming with the intention of confirming his friend’s presence, he was already looking back at him with a glorified smirk on his face.
“Looks like you’ve spotted someone you’re interested in,” Pei Ming said in a tone laced with sarcasm. “Such a shame that my date’s attention is drawn elsewhere. I guess I’ll have to put in the work to get it back.”
“Don’t be absurd. You know this isn’t a real date.”
“Yes. Yes. I’m aware. But as long as you keep that information between us, everyone else will be none the wiser.”
Mu Qing rolled his eyes for the second time that night, despite not even having sat down yet. He reached for Pei Ming’s hand and started hauling him toward the bar. But then Pei Ming tugged on his hand, and he slowed down before their direction shifted toward one of the scattered tables. Mu Qing waited until they were seated to offer a questioning tilt of his head toward Pei Ming.
“Shouldn’t we sit at the bar?” Mu Qing said. “I thought we were trying to get Feng Xin’s attention.”
“Oh, we’ll get his attention. You don’t have to worry about that. But, no, we can’t sit at the bar. That would be too direct. Too obvious.” Pei Ming lifted their still-joined hands onto the table, lacing their fingers together and giving a squeeze. “We’re on a date, so we should sit properly at a table.”
Mu Qing didn’t really understand these strange dating tactics—or rather, ‘fake dating’ tactics—but if he trusted Pei Ming with anything, it was convincing others to believe in him. The man was an expert on maintaining an image, so he would certainly have no problem with altering it in the eyes of others.
“Well, he doesn’t seem to have noticed us yet,” Mu Qing said, and he started to get up. “I’ll go and order—”
Pei Ming tightened his grasp on his hand, shaking his head as he pulled Mu Qing back down into his chair. Then he let go of Mu Qing’s hand and got to his own feet.
“Let me handle the drinks. He has to see that we’re together, and I’ll make sure to casually mention we’re on a date.”
“And why can’t I go tell him that?”
“Because that would ruin the experiment. You two will just end up talking like usual. He needs a chance to gain an opinion about the situation without directly interacting with you. This way, I can play things up. Because we’re clearly having such a good time.”
Pei Ming ended his explanation with a wink before walking across the room to the bar. Mu Qing could see the psychology major coming out of Pei Ming the more he conveyed his thinking process.
He had to admit it was interesting to see Pei Ming naturally approaching Feng Xin, as if he’d never expected to see him there at all. They seemed to strike up a bit of conversation as Feng Xin started making their drinks. It was when Pei Ming pointed a thumb over his shoulder that Feng Xin’s gaze drifted over to Mu Qing. His eyes widened slightly upon seeing him, and Mu Qing only offered a raised eyebrow in response. Feng Xin redirected his focus to the cups on the counter, and he seemed to be saying something to Pei Ming.
Feng Xin didn’t look at him for the rest of the time that Pei Ming was over there. Then Pei Ming returned with their drinks, setting them onto the table before sitting down. Mu Qing couldn’t contain his curiosity.
“Well? What were you two talking about?”
Pei Ming grinned, reaching for one of the glasses and bringing it to his lips to take a long drink. He set it down before speaking.
“Just as I said. I made sure he knows why we’re here.” Pei Ming snaked an arm around Mu Qing’s shoulders, pressing in close to whisper in his ear. “He should know that we’re having a good time.”
Mu Qing felt like he should pull away, and he couldn’t help the subtle twitch of his upper body in response to Pei Ming’s clingy gesture. But Pei Ming just rubbed his thumb against his shoulder in clear reassurance.
“Relax. Make sure to play your part,” Pei Ming said. “We need to convince him that this is real, after all.”
Mu Qing nodded imperceptibly. He couldn’t help glancing over toward the bar, and his eyes only met Feng Xin’s probing ones for a few seconds before Feng Xin turned around and started fiddling with the bottles on the shelves. It was an interesting reaction. Mu Qing couldn’t help wanting to see his other responses.
It didn’t matter what Mu Qing and Pei Ming talked about. Feng Xin wasn’t within earshot, and the place was too noisy to overhear conversations anyway. They only needed their physical interactions to come off as playful and romantic.
Pei Ming absolutely knew how to treat a date, and he had no problem doing as much for Mu Qing. Coupled with the way he provided a few more drinks between them, their conversation was actually rather fun. He was sweet and charming and respectful as always, but he was also a relentless flirt.
Mu Qing prided himself on not being so easily flustered, but even he couldn’t stifle the heat of a blush when Pei Ming’s hand crawled up his thigh or threaded within his own. It was difficult to resist an amused roll of his eyes in response to Pei Ming’s jokes, or the shiver that racked his body when Pei Ming leaned in close to whisper in his ear, brushing his lips against his cheek as he offered an honest compliment.
“You seem strangely into this,” Pei Ming murmured against the shell of his ear.
“You wish,” Mu Qing said. Still, he acknowledged within his own mind that he was initially attracted to Pei Ming for a reason. He was objectively irresistible, and his charisma was infectious. It was hard not to let himself be pulled in.
But Feng Xin’s eyes were on them, burning and sharp, looking away only when Mu Qing happened to glance toward him. While Mu Qing felt a tinge of guilt knowing that the whole thing was an elaborate lie, he also reveled in the attention it was gaining him. If he was reading the skewed expression on Feng Xin’s face correctly, then he’d interpret it as something along the lines of jealousy.
Then again, he’d never seen such a look directed toward him from Feng Xin of all people. Maybe he was making assumptions; thinking too far into it. He couldn’t be jealous of Pei Ming’s place beside him, could he? It had to be some trivial reason like wanting to hang out with Mu Qing, wishing he didn’t have to hang back and watch him having fun with someone else, disliking... Pei Ming. That had to be it. Maybe he just didn’t like Pei Ming.
He could understand the sentiment if that was truly the case. While Pei Ming displayed courteous behavior to just about everyone he encountered, he could still be rather intense. Mu Qing didn’t think Pei Ming would have said anything rude to him at the bar earlier, but Feng Xin could have taken his words the wrong way, nevertheless. That was one of Feng Xin’s biggest flaws—his ability to take even the most well-intentioned words or actions and assume they were done in bad faith.
“You’re thinking too much,” Pei Ming said, his voice bringing Mu Qing back to the present.
Mu Qing smoothed his hand over his ponytail, fluffing it out behind him. “What makes you say that?”
“It’s written all over your face. You’re glaring, kitten.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Then what should I call you?”
“My name hasn’t gone out of fashion, as far as I’m aware.”
Pei Ming laughed, his shoulders shaking from the force of it. Then he downed the last of his drink and stood up, offering a hand to Mu Qing. When Mu Qing only stared at his outstretched palm, Pei Ming cocked his head.
“Feel like dancing?” he said.
Mu Qing never particularly felt like dancing. But the enticing glint in Pei Ming’s eyes was promising, and a quick glance to the side confirmed that Feng Xin was watching them from the corner of his eye while he dragged a towel around the rim of a glass. Mu Qing redirected his attention to Pei Ming, placing his hand in his and allowing himself to be pulled to his feet.
Just as Pei Ming had the ability to enamor people with his compliments and favors, he had no trouble easing Mu Qing into things with the sway of his hips and calculated placement of his fingers. It was easy for Mu Qing to lose himself in the thrumming music as he was pushed and pulled, his back bumping into Pei Ming’s chest only for the arms around him to keep him there. Sweet praises were whispered into his hair, and his eyes fluttered shut.
“He can’t stop looking at us, you know,” Pei Ming said.
Mu Qing couldn’t stop himself from opening his eyes to drag his gaze to the bar. Feng Xin was placing a glass of fizzy liquid in front of one of the patrons, but his eyes remained glued to where they were dancing. His shoulders were visibly stiff in his frozen position. The towel in his hand was crumpled where it was being forcibly pressed against the sleek counter. And his eyes were ablaze with something that Mu Qing’s alcohol-laden brain could not comprehend.
Before he could consider questioning Pei Ming about it, he felt a brush of fingers against his cheek, and then his hair was curled around his ear and out of the way. He looked back at Pei Ming to find his face closer than it had been all night.
“Am I allowed to kiss you, Mu Qing?”
Mu Qing knew he could decline. Pei Ming could be bold and assertive, but he wasn’t one to push unwanted actions. A rejection wasn’t going to ruin his mood, and there was no reason for Mu Qing to believe it was his responsibility to preserve it anyway. He recalled that kissing Pei Ming was an enjoyable experience back when they were dating, however. So it wasn’t as if the activity would be unbearable.
That, and Mu Qing could practically feel the burn of Feng Xin’s gaze against the side of his face. It was unwavering, expectant, and daring. And it fueled Mu Qing’s reckless side. He didn’t have a tendency for impulsive behavior, but Feng Xin’s attention was intoxicating along with the flow of alcohol in his veins, so he didn’t hesitate to voice his approval to Pei Ming.
Pei Ming kept his fingers along the line of his jaw as he dipped down and pressed their lips together. Mu Qing’s eyes fluttered shut, and he hummed in response to the familiar warmth encasing his bottom lip. A firm curl of a hand on his waist tugged him just a bit closer, and Mu Qing’s gasp transitioned into a low moan. The warm wetness of a tongue ran along his lip, and Mu Qing could taste the tangy flavor still lingering from their earlier cocktails.
Mu Qing considered somewhere in the back of his hazy mind that he was getting way too into this fake date thing. But Pei Ming was an expert with his lips and tongue, and Mu Qing just so happened to be the receiver of such frenzied treatment. The heat on his skin burned hotter every time the graze of Pei Ming’s teeth forced another rough sound from his throat.
After a few minutes, Pei Ming pulled away to trail his lips down the length of his neck. Mu Qing opened his eyes to stare up at the blinking lights overhead, then they drifted down toward the bar. Feng Xin was now unabashedly glaring at them, and Mu Qing couldn’t decipher the look as anything less than pure frustration. When he noticed Mu Qing’s gaze, he turned around and started wiping the counter with a bit too much fervor.
“He’s mad, isn’t he?” Pei Ming said, moving back up toward his ear. “Good. That’s what we want.”
Mu Qing knew he meant well. After all, he’d been the one to propose this whole plan. But Mu Qing had agreed to it, and as much as he enjoyed pissing Feng Xin off at every opportunity, this was starting to feel very wrong. It was true that he wanted to get a reaction from Feng Xin, but now he’d gotten it, and it felt like it was time to end the charade.
“Okay, I think that’s enough,” Mu Qing said. “Can we... stop?”
Pei Ming pulled away to look at him, an expression of realization quickly taking over. The cheeky smile dipped from his face back into something more neutral.
“Sure. I’ll go close the tab, and then we can leave.” Pei Ming started to take a step before he drifted back toward Mu Qing. He placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Are you feeling alright?”
“Yeah,” Mu Qing said quickly. “Yeah. I’ll be fine. Really, Pei Ming. Don’t worry about me.”
Pei Ming looked like he wanted to question him further, but then he just sighed and gave him a quick pat on the arm before walking toward the bar.
Feng Xin seemed to process whatever transaction without any issues, but his eyes refused to trail over to Mu Qing again.
It left a revolting feeling in the pit of Mu Qing’s stomach for the rest of the night.
◇ ◇ ◇
Mu Qing didn’t want to be dramatic, but not hearing from Feng Xin for even a single day was weird. It wasn’t like he needed to talk to his friend or see him in order to function. But it just felt so out of the ordinary. One day already felt like a long time following his fake date night with Pei Ming. It was now nearing the end of day two, and he still hadn’t received a text or bumped into him at the library or cafeteria.
It was starting to feel like Feng Xin was avoiding him. While he could, in theory, message him to suggest meeting up, he didn’t allow himself to reach out first. Although Pei Ming hadn’t exactly forbidden him from contacting Feng Xin first within the allotted three days, he felt like he should wait for Feng Xin to initiate. They needed to see which side their silly bet would lean toward, and Mu Qing coming forward could skew the results.
As if this was really about the results... as if his nerves toward the whole situation wasn't the reason for his voluntary silence.
He tried to push down his persistent worries. All he had to do was wait for Feng Xin to reach out—that was, if he did at all. If these three days passed by with nothing, then Mu Qing would be free to resume talking and messaging with Feng Xin as normal. If Feng Xin didn’t want to address his very obvious display of discomfort from that night to Mu Qing’s face, then they could pretend it never happened. Mu Qing was used to avoiding awkward situations. This would be no different.
He would win their bet, and it would finally be clear that Feng Xin didn’t hold any level of deeper feelings for him. Mu Qing was overly competitive most of the time, and this was such a ridiculous bet to begin with. But why did the mere idea of proving Feng Xin’s lack of interest disappoint him so much?
He decided to ignore those unpleasant feelings and concentrated on his schoolwork. There were more important things to worry about.
The third day rolled around, and Mu Qing had already accepted that the bet was going in his favor. It was strange that Mu Qing almost wished he would lose.
He was taking notes in his morning lecture when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Not usually one to take his phone out during class, he simply continued listening to the professor speaking. But as the minutes ticked by, he grew more curious, and he eventually slipped his phone out of his pocket and tapped the screen under his desk.
It was a text from Feng Xin.
His eyes widened slightly, and he didn’t hesitate to click on the notification to view his message. He wasn’t quite sure what he expected to see, but it wasn’t an explanation about Feng Xin having his dorm room to himself all weekend, and a suggestion for Mu Qing to come over for a movie night. Apparently, his roommate was going out of town to visit family. And, for some reason, that translated to inviting Mu Qing over.
Perhaps it was too early in the day for Mu Qing’s brain to comprehend the reality of the situation. But he’d spent the last two days mulling over everything he could have possibly done wrong that caused Feng Xin to not want to talk to him. Some part of him had been convinced that Feng Xin was so angry with him that he decided to push him away for good. To see a message on his screen that wasn’t laced with irritation or the implication of an impending fight was a positive outcome in Mu Qing’s book.
He sent back a quick ‘sure, what time?’ before locking his phone and returning to taking notes. His phone vibrated a minute later, and he checked it to see ‘tonight at 7?’ on the screen. There was a little more back and forth about what movie they would watch and if Mu Qing could bring some drinks while Feng Xin had popcorn and snacks. Then the night was finalized, and Mu Qing was finally able to let his mind wander to the possibilities.
They would be alone. Holy fuck, they were going to watch a movie alone in Feng Xin’s dorm room. Why would he agree to such a thing? Why would Feng Xin even suggest it?
He needed to calm down his racing thoughts. Clearly, if Feng Xin was asking Mu Qing to come over, then he must not be that upset with him. There was a predetermined activity laid out; this wasn’t meant to be a lecture or argument. They were just two friends who were going to watch a movie. It wasn’t a guarantee that Feng Xin was planning on addressing Mu Qing’s date.
For some reason, that also annoyed him. Did he want Feng Xin to bring it up? He supposed that he did go along with Pei Ming’s plan for a reason. The nature of Feng Xin’s feelings for him did matter.
Mu Qing wouldn’t be the one to raise the topic either way. Feng Xin might ask about it, or he might not. But tonight was an opportunity. It was... something. He wasn’t going to get his hopes up, but he would keep the possibilities in mind. Mu Qing reveled in the chance to hang out with Feng Xin one-on-one anyway.
The rest of the day seemed to fly by, and Mu Qing made sure to take a full shower and change into a clean outfit before heading over to Feng Xin’s dorm. It didn’t really matter what he wore around Feng Xin, but for some reason, he found himself choosing a shirt that probably revealed more collarbone than necessary. His hair was in its usual ponytail, soft and smelling like his herbal shampoo. He applied a bit of eyeliner and pulled his boots on before looking himself over in the mirror.
There was a fleeting thought of hoping Feng Xin liked what he saw before he witnessed a rosy blush spreading over his own cheeks. He huffed at his reflection, turning away to grab his bag with the drinks inside along with his keys and phone.
The campus wasn’t too vast, and Mu Qing only had to travel along a few roads before reaching the building that Feng Xin lived in. He went up to the third floor, and muscle memory took him down the various hallways until he was standing in front of Feng Xin’s door. It suddenly looked very intimidating, and he had to take a minute to push his nerves aside and knock. There was some fumbling around on the other side of the door before it opened.
“Hey, you’re here,” Feng Xin said.
“Well, yeah. You told me seven. I’m not too early, am I?”
“No. No. You’re perfectly on time. I was just moving some things around...”
Feng Xin trailed off, and Mu Qing could see the way his eyes dipped down the length of his body. There was something slow and careful about it, like Feng Xin wasn’t even aware that he was doing it. He looked back up only for his gaze to trail along his exposed collarbone.
“...for the movie,” Feng Xin mumbled, finally finishing his sentence. He suddenly tore his eyes away, bringing a hand to the back of his head to scratch at the hair there. Then he was moving to the side and gesturing to Mu Qing. “You’re free to come in. I have almost everything set up.”
Mu Qing raised a quizzical eyebrow before stepping through the doorway and removing his boots. He placed them along the wall and then made his way further into the room. There was heat on the back of his neck, and he was sure it had likely spread to his face. So he kept his back to Feng Xin as he put his bag on the table, unzipping it to retrieve the bottles of tea and soda. He wasn’t sure what to make of the way Feng Xin had been... checking him out? Could he call it that?
He decided to distract himself by making small talk. Feng Xin told him about a project he’d just finished for one of his classes, and Mu Qing complained about his own assignments. By the time they started the movie, the tense energy Mu Qing had been feeling seemed to have mostly dissipated. Or maybe it was wishful thinking on his part because Feng Xin offered one side of his bed for Mu Qing to sit on. It was because his roommate didn’t like other people on his bed, which was understandable, and Mu Qing already knew this, and they’d hung out on Feng Xin’s bed before, and it wasn’t weird... but he’d also never felt this nervous about being close to Feng Xin. There had never been such a massive elephant in the room during their previous hangouts.
To his relief, Feng Xin left enough space between them that Mu Qing wouldn’t have to worry about bumping arms or legs. The bed was small, but there was enough room for them to recline comfortably against the wall.
The movie was one they had both seen before, so there was no pressure for Mu Qing to fully pay attention to it. He tried to do so, however, because redirecting his focus away from Feng Xin’s muscled arms was essential to his overall sanity. As if his lack of sleeves wasn’t bad enough, he had to keep glancing over at Mu Qing with that silly little grin on his face right before he cracked some cheesy joke. Mu Qing made sure to roll his eyes every time, lest he was forced to acknowledge the heat on his own face in response to his stunning smile.
Halfway into the movie, Mu Qing had nearly forgotten why he’d been nervous in the first place. The date from a few nights ago was far from his mind. But things quieted down between them, and the anxious thoughts rolled back in. Mu Qing expected something to have been said by now.
“It seemed like you were having fun the other night,” Feng Xin said when the action onscreen calmed down.
It took several seconds for Mu Qing to realize what he’d said. Then he glanced over only to see that Feng Xin was still looking at the TV. And it hit him that the conversation was finally starting.
“Yeah, I did,” Mu Qing said, trying to play it casual.
“I was surprised to see you at my bar. And with... Pei Ming.” He said his name a bit quieter, as if he wasn’t quite sure he was allowed to say it. “So, did you recommend the bar to him? I mean, you already knew I work there.”
“Actually, he suggested Lion’s Den. He thought it seemed like a nice place to meet people.”
Feng Xin snorted. “Meet people. Sure.”
Mu Qing’s eyebrows rose at his remark. He sounded slightly... annoyed? Mu Qing couldn’t figure out what to say in response, so he stayed quiet and took a sip from his bottle of tea. The movie was becoming more and more forgotten in the background.
“Well, I wasn’t aware you were close to Pei Ming like that,” Feng Xin said. “Are you guys dating?”
“Hmm. We went on a date. But I don’t know about us being a thing or whatever.”
“Seriously? He was all over you. And it’s not like you weren’t into it. I’d be surprised if you two weren’t serious.”
This certainly wasn’t how Mu Qing wanted things to go. He didn’t want Feng Xin to view him and Pei Ming as a couple. That would mean Mu Qing was off limits; Feng Xin wouldn’t even consider him.
As much as he wanted to clear things up, the growing irritation in Feng Xin’s voice was starting to activate that familiar spark in Mu Qing. There was nobody who could incite Mu Qing’s wrath like Feng Xin. He felt the need to drive it into a full argument. That way, he could defend himself properly.
“And what do you know about how I feel?” Mu Qing snapped back. “Weren’t you supposed to be busy making drinks?”
Feng Xin turned around in his spot on the bed. He narrowed his eyes at Mu Qing in that dangerous way, and when he opened his mouth, Mu Qing knew he’d hooked him.
“I was making drinks! It’s not my fault you two were distracting as hell.”
“Oh, and amongst all the other customers, you chose to focus on us?”
“You couldn’t keep your hands and mouths off each other! It’s kind of hard to focus when your best friend is sucking face with his playboy classmate.”
“Sucking face—what the hell, Feng Xin! You don’t have to say it like that,” Mu Qing said with a pointed glare.
“Well then what else do I call it?” Feng Xin said, throwing his hands up in the air. His thick eyebrows were skewed wildly as he seemed to be grasping for words to throw out. “Why did you have to bring that to my bar? You could have gone anywhere else with him, and I would have never had to know. I would have never had to see that.”
“Why do you care, Feng Xin? Why do you care if I go out and have fun with someone for a night? I’m single and I’m in college. Sometimes, I actually like going out.”
Feng Xin let out an exasperated sigh. “But you could have gone somewhere else.”
“Why? Were you jealous or something? Is that why you didn’t want to see it?”
“Yes! Fuck, Mu Qing. Yes, I’m jealous. Are you happy now?” Feng Xin barked, his voice pitched up to nearly a yell. And Mu Qing would be worried about it bothering the neighbors and getting them a noise complaint if it wasn't for his brain registering his words. He stared at Feng Xin with wide eyes, unable to formulate a response.
Feng Xin continued in a softer voice, though it was still drenched in bitter resentment. “It drove me insane to see you like that because why the fuck does he think he deserves you? He treats everyone like a casual hook-up. But you—you’re worth more than that! What are you doing with a guy like Pei Ming?”
Mu Qing was still reeling from the realization that Feng Xin actually felt jealous about someone else being with him. He'd been under the impression that Feng Xin simply disliked Pei Ming. The question about him being ‘jealous’ had just been a quick counter within their argument. He hadn’t expected Feng Xin to confirm it. If anything, Feng Xin would be the type to deny it to no end.
Mu Qing couldn’t stand the idea of pretending any longer. This was an opportunity, and he was going to take it.
“You want to be the man beside me? Is that what this is about?” Mu Qing said, slowly and carefully.
Feng Xin looked at him for a long moment, not daring to move. Neither of them were paying any attention to the movie still playing on the TV. The audio had shifted into background noise, and Mu Qing thought the pounding of his heart in his ears was much louder at this point.
“Mu Qing...” Feng Xin said, drifting off as if he was unsure of how to continue. The anger was gone from his expression, replaced with awestruck curiosity.
“Tell me honestly, Feng Xin. How do you feel about me? And don’t lie.”
Mu Qing let his request hang heavy between them. He could only hold his breath and wait for Feng Xin’s answer, worried that it might not be what he wanted to hear, but hope for it, nonetheless. Feng Xin averted his eyes, clearly giving his question a careful amount of thought.
“You frustrate me a lot,” Feng Xin said, and Mu Qing had to bite back the retort that wanted to climb up his throat. He asked for his honesty, after all. “You say and do things that are impossible to ignore. And it gets to the point where I’m not sure why we even bother with each other. But... that’s just it. You’re impossible to ignore. I can’t really see myself without you beside me. I don’t know. I just... I guess I like having you around.”
“Oh,” Mu Qing said, and it was more of an exhale. “Really?”
“Yeah. Really. Listen, Mu Qing. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say exactly what I want to say. I know you wanted me to be honest, but... I don’t think I should. We could probably just leave it at that.”
Mu Qing should be satisfied. It wasn’t like Feng Xin hadn’t told him how he felt. But it was all bullshit if there was still more he wanted to say. They hadn’t gotten this far into revealing their feelings just for the conversation to be cut short. Mu Qing obviously needed to instigate things. He needed Feng Xin to understand that there was no reason to hold back.
Mu Qing took a moment to close his eyes and inhale deeply. When he finally released the breath and opened his eyes, he boldly slid himself closer to Feng Xin. While he didn’t move away, Feng Xin looked at him in clear bewilderment.
“What if I told you...” Mu Qing said, reaching out to place a trembling hand on top of Feng Xin’s that was splayed on the bed. “...I don’t think Pei Ming and I are going to work out.”
“You’re not? Are you sure?”
“Yes. We have our differences in what we want. It’s just not going to work beyond friendship.” Mu Qing rubbed his thumb tentatively along the back of Feng Xin’s hand, and the action drew a glance down from Feng Xin. “But I’m more interested in knowing what you will do with that information.”
Feng Xin was visibly affected by some combination of their proximity and Mu Qing’s hinting words. He kept drawing in breaths between his parted lips that shook a bit too much to be considered normal. His gaze was settled on Mu Qing’s hand laid over his own.
“I might be assuming something here,” Feng Xin said softly.
“Feng Xin, I don’t know how to be more clear—”
It seemed that Feng Xin hadn’t been intending to drag things out any longer, however, because he interrupted Mu Qing’s complaint with a swift press of his lips against his closed mouth. The hand on top of Mu Qing’s twisted them around until their palms were pressing together, fingers laced securely.
The sudden and very much wanted contact caused Mu Qing to gasp, and then their lips slotted properly. Mu Qing was only just starting to melt into the feeling when Feng Xin pulled away to look him in the face.
“Was that right?” Feng Xin said, sounding out of breath.
Mu Qing, no longer able to delay his desire, lifted the hand not laced in Feng Xin’s until it was threading through his hair. He yanked him forward until their faces were close enough to share air.
“Don’t stop, you idiot,” Mu Qing said just before pressing their lips together again.
Feng Xin seemed to finally get the message. His obvious uncertainty toward the situation quickly shifted, and he started nudging Mu Qing down onto the mattress. Just as Mu Qing’s back pressed into the sheets, Feng Xin’s body settled right over him.
The whole thing felt like a dream. For the longest time, Mu Qing had only been able to imagine Feng Xin’s arms bracketing his smaller form, his knee prodding into the space between his thighs, his lips and tongue working against his own and hardly allowing for a proper intake of breath. It was all so overwhelming; intensely passionate in ways that Mu Qing never envisioned becoming real.
Mu Qing very much enjoyed physical affection, though he didn’t seem like the type on the surface. He could come off as standoffish and reserved, but he truly just preferred to allow those into his space who made him feel comfortable. Feng Xin was someone he was able to be himself around, so he was naturally inclined to tolerate such treatment from him.
It was an understatement—Mu Qing craved affection from Feng Xin.
Kissing Feng Xin was fun. And it just so happened that Mu Qing was rather greedy when it came to Feng Xin.
He liked that Feng Xin was in a more dominant position. But he also enjoyed challenging it with brushes of his hands along Feng Xin’s neck, drifting further down to tease his fingertips along the sliver of skin peeking from underneath his shirt. Feng Xin let out a low groan that vibrated against Mu Qing’s lips, and Mu Qing just grinned before raising his knee higher to lightly grind his thigh into his crotch. He could feel how hard Feng Xin was, and the realization made his thoughts run wild.
“Mu Qing,” Feng Xin said against his lips. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to move things along.”
“That so? You’re rather needy tonight.”
Feng Xin accompanied his comment with a squeeze of his hand around the upper part of Mu Qing’s thigh. When it traveled further inward to cup the bulge at the front of Mu Qing’s pants, it forced a whine from his throat. The corner of Feng Xin’s lip twitched, and then he brought his hand higher to dip underneath the hem of Mu Qing’s shirt. His fingers quickly found their way to one of his nipples, starting to nudge the side of it.
As Feng Xin’s fingers continued their insistent rubbing and prodding, switching between each of his nipples with skillful ease, Mu Qing found more noises bubbling up his throat. Mu Qing turned his head and clamped a hand over his mouth in an attempt to stifle them. Of course, he evidently wasn’t going to get away with that because not long after, Feng Xin’s free hand moved to curl around Mu Qing’s, gently prying it away.
“Wanna hear you, Qing-er,” Feng Xin said, dipping his face down to press his lips to Mu Qing’s neck. “Sound so pretty.”
Mu Qing wanted to object—more for the petulant image he liked to uphold rather than any genuine displeasure—but when Feng Xin sucked harshly at the spot beneath his jaw, he couldn’t hold back a moan.
“If you fucking leave marks...” Mu Qing said.
Feng Xin’s shoulders shook with his laugh, and then his lips were drifting further down toward his exposed collarbone. Since the collar of Mu Qing's shirt was so low, he had no trouble licking and sucking along that area instead.
“It should be fine here, hm? Since you can cover them.”
“That’s n-not what I m—mmph.”
Mu Qing wasn’t quite sure what he intended to say, and it didn’t matter much because he quickly found distraction in the new, languid roll of Feng Xin’s body against his own. His blood rushed lower, his mouth falling open with each hard press of their crotches together. Mu Qing gasped at the pinching of his skin between Feng Xin’s teeth.
“Did you wear this for me?” Feng Xin said, and Mu Qing felt him tugging his shirt up his stomach.
“Would it matter if I did?”
“Not an outright denial. Should I assume I’m right?”
Feng Xin didn’t wait for him to answer before sliding down his body and pressing a line of kisses along his stomach. He didn’t stop there, however. Once he pried Mu Qing’s thighs apart to make room for himself, he reached up to let his fingertips dance along the waistband of Mu Qing’s pants. It wasn’t enough to indicate the trajectory of where his fingers would go, and the light touch without any actual follow-up didn’t fail to drive Mu Qing mad.
“Did you?” Feng Xin said. His question confused Mu Qing at first until he remembered that he’d just been asked about his shirt—the shirt that showed a bit too much collarbone.
“I might have worn it to get your attention,” Mu Qing said carefully.
Feng Xin hummed and settled his hands at the front of his pants, dipping a finger underneath the button experimentally. “Were you hoping that something would happen tonight?”
“I hoped that we would watch a movie for our alleged movie night.”
Feng Xin's finger moved under the button of Mu Qing’s pants, and then it was passing through the opening. He fiddled with the zipper at the top, not quite moving it downward.
“For someone who was set on watching a movie, you don’t seem to care about it anymore. Why aren’t we watching the movie?”
“You ask too many questions,” Mu Qing said, nudging his hand into Feng Xin’s to get him to move already. Feng Xin’s hand wouldn’t budge though.
“Oh, Mu Qing. Did you want this?”
“Shut. Up.”
“Holy shit. You did.” The zipper finally glided down. Feng Xin tugged his pants down his legs and tossed them to the floor, ignoring Mu Qing’s huffed remark about the treatment of his clothes. He curled a hand around Mu Qing’s cock through his underwear, and Mu Qing quickly fell silent. “I’ll make sure it’s everything you were hoping for.”
Mu Qing stammered out a trembling rendition of Feng Xin’s name as he was slowly stroked through the lone piece of fabric. It wasn’t long before Feng Xin was switching gears, lowering his face to press his mouth over his cock. His eyes remained glued to Mu Qing’s, and they appeared darker than usual due to his blown-out pupils. When his lips closed as far over the tip as they could through the fabric, Mu Qing couldn’t hold back a whimper.
The sound clearly affected Feng Xin, who removed his mouth and finally reached up to start tugging Mu Qing’s underwear down his body. Mu Qing automatically lifted his hips to assist in the removal, and then he was settling back down into the sheets. Almost immediately, Feng Xin’s mouth was back on him, the tip of his tongue dragging a long, wet stripe along his bare length.
Mu Qing’s mind went blank as Feng Xin’s lips wrapped properly around the tip, and he soon found himself only able to focus on the sensation of them sliding down his cock. He'd propped his head up with a pillow just so he could look down at Feng Xin’s face between his thighs, and the sight slowly drove him insane.
“F-Feng Xin,” Mu Qing gasped out as he slid his fingers into Feng Xin’s hair, starting to tug on it.
Feng Xin only answered by tightening his lips around him, driving himself further down until Mu Qing’s cock was prodding the back of his throat. He inhaled harshly through his nose before taking him into his throat by an inch. Mu Qing felt the constriction of a swallow around his cock, and tears sprung into his eyes as he choked out a pleasured sob.
Every noise that left Mu Qing’s mouth seemed to spur Feng Xin on. His mouth moved faster, and he stuck his tongue out to stimulate him even more. One of his hands was wrapped around the base, stroking along with the slide of his lips. It was all so much, and Feng Xin’s attentive eyes watching Mu Qing throughout it all only pushed him closer to the edge.
Mu Qing tried to warn him of his impending orgasm, wrapping a strand of hair around his hand and tugging it with a wheeze of Feng Xin’s name. Feng Xin merely blinked up at him, keeping his hand and mouth around his cock. He slid higher and paused at the tip, massaging his tongue into the underside as he kept his eyes on Mu Qing’s face. Mu Qing cursed several times, and then his orgasm hit him hard.
Feng Xin didn’t seem to have any problem swallowing it all down. He twisted his hand around him, as if to squeeze out every drop into his waiting mouth. Mu Qing’s head fell further back into the pillow as he moaned Feng Xin’s name, his hand clenched tightly around his hair. When the sensation became too much, Mu Qing pushed at the side of his face with a whine, and Feng Xin moved away to lie beside him.
For a few minutes, Mu Qing simply lied there with his eyes closed, taking in the pleasant buzz in his brain. Then, as if a switch had flipped, he heaved himself onto his side to look at Feng Xin.
“Take off your clothes,” Mu Qing said. He dragged his gaze down the length of Feng Xin’s body, pausing on the large bulge at the front of his pants. Without a second thought, he reached out to palm at it, biting his lower lip.
“Fuck, Mu Qing. You can’t just look at me like that,” Feng Xin said. He started pulling his shirt up over his head.
“Why not?”
Feng Xin shuffled off the bed to unbutton his pants and slide them off along with his underwear. Mu Qing appreciated his speed, taking the opportunity to admire the rows of tan muscles presented to him now that Feng Xin’s clothes were dropping to the floor. Feng Xin’s cock arched up high, hard and flushed at the tip, and it made Mu Qing’s mouth water for some reason.
“Because it’s making me want to fuck you. And I’m not sure if that’s what you want.”
Mu Qing wanted to make Feng Xin feel good, since he’d been granted as much pleasure himself only a few minutes ago. The idea of Feng Xin fucking him was an enticing one, but at the same time, his size caused a swirl of worry in his mind. Feng Xin was big, and although the sight aroused him, Mu Qing wasn’t quite sure he was ready for it to go inside him. Perhaps buying a bigger dildo and practicing with it would be a smart first step to easing himself into the idea.
For now, however, Mu Qing watched the way Feng Xin’s eyes were roaming the lower half of his body. And then an idea came to him.
“You have lube, right?” Mu Qing said.
Feng Xin nodded but didn’t move to retrieve such an item. His expression contorted into one of concern.
“Hey, I know I said it’s what I want. But you don’t need to feel any pressure. We don’t have to go that far tonight.”
It warmed Mu Qing’s heart to hear the level of care in his reassuring statement. Mu Qing wasn’t a fan of rushing into things anyway. But that wasn’t what he was trying to do here. He just needed Feng Xin to get the item he asked for, and then he could figure out how to communicate the rest of his idea with minimal embarrassment.
“I-I know,” Mu Qing said, glancing away. “That’s not what I meant. I don’t want you to fuck me yet. I mean, at least not like that. Just... Feng Xin, just get the lube.”
Feng Xin looked like he wanted to question him further, but he finally moved toward the bedside table. He rifled around inside the bottom drawer and pulled out a small bottle. Mu Qing waited until Feng Xin was standing in front of him once again to let out his shaky exhale. He still wasn’t looking at Feng Xin, and he stalled for time by dragging his shirt up over his head and tossing it onto a nearby chair. His newly exposed torso seemed to distract Feng Xin for a long moment, and he preened at the feeling of Feng Xin’s gaze traveling along his body.
“What is it that you’re wanting, Mu Qing?” Feng Xin said, fiddling with the bottle in his hands.
Mu Qing suddenly felt so nervous to voice his idea, not that he felt like Feng Xin wouldn’t be into it. On the contrary, Feng Xin was guaranteed to approve of it. Mu Qing just knew how obscene it would sound once it came out of his mouth. Part of him thought Feng Xin would tease him for even suggesting such a thing.
He mustered up every bit of courage he possibly could before looking up into Feng Xin’s expectant eyes.
“You could fuck my thighs.”
He waited for the twitch of a smirk that would inevitably make its way onto Feng Xin’s face. Maybe a laugh would follow his statement, and Mu Qing was prepared to throw a pillow at Feng Xin before putting his clothes back on and leaving. But the only thing that left Feng Xin’s mouth was a shuddering exhale followed by an expletive. He opened and closed his mouth a few times as he seemed to be searching for his next words.
“Yeah. Okay. How do you want to...”
Feng Xin’s question trailed off, and Mu Qing decided that it would be easier to show him. He rolled onto his stomach, facing away from Feng Xin as he lifted himself onto his hands and knees. He brought his legs together, arching his back to raise his ass further into the air. Thinking Feng Xin might need more direction, he drifted a hand down his body to slide two fingers between his thighs, and he heard Feng Xin’s resounding groan.
“God, Mu Qing. That’s so hot,” Feng Xin said.
Mu Qing heard a cap flipping open, and he looked back to see Feng Xin slicking lube along his cock. He watched as Feng Xin poured some more into his palm before stepping closer. He felt sticky fingers prodding between his thighs, exactly where he’d demonstrated a moment ago. Feng Xin stood with his legs on either side of Mu Qing’s calves. The closed lube bottle fell onto the bed, and then large hands were grasping around Mu Qing’s waist to pull him backward. Mu Qing yelped at the rough treatment.
“You want me to fuck you like this?” Feng Xin murmured. His finger trailed up along Mu Qing’s spine, and Mu Qing shivered and nodded in response. It dragged slowly back down, and then Feng Xin settled his hands on either side of Mu Qing’s thighs to push them together. “Be a good boy and keep these together for me.”
Mu Qing could feel something warm and hard nudging at the backs of where his thighs met, and then the head of Feng Xin’s cock was pushing between them. Feng Xin let out a groan as he slid in slowly by a few inches, pulling back out before sinking all the way in. The lube made the slide fast and easy, and the insistent press of Feng Xin’s pelvis against Mu Qing’s ass caused him to tip forward.
“Holy fuck,” Mu Qing said, marveling at Feng Xin’s strength from a singular thrust. When Feng Xin started up a languid pace, their skin smacking together with each movement, Mu Qing whimpered.
“You feel so fucking good,” Feng Xin said.
When Mu Qing started tipping forward too much, Feng Xin moved his hands to his waist and gripped tightly, jerking him back to meet each of his thrusts. Although the whole thing didn’t directly stimulate Mu Qing, he could feel himself getting hard all over again just from hearing Feng Xin’s grunts and feeling the slide of his cock. Mu Qing curled his fingers into the sheets and let his head hang as he panted. His hair fell in inky black swirls onto the mattress.
With the control being in Feng Xin’s hands, Mu Qing could only hold himself up and allow Feng Xin to maneuver him however he wanted. It was an exhilarating experience. Mu Qing hadn't anticipated just how much he could enjoy the rough digging of fingers into his hips, or the way Feng Xin rasped out his name with each shove forward.
It was only when Feng Xin’s hips started to stutter that Mu Qing brought one hand to his own aching cock, which was fully hard once again. He stroked it in time with Feng Xin’s thrusts. The only reason he didn’t fall face forward into the mattress was because Feng Xin was holding him in place.
“Come on, Feng Xin,” Mu Qing said, his breaths quickening as he rapidly approached his second orgasm. He squeezed his thighs together, and it must have put more pressure on Feng Xin’s cock because he choked out a groan. “Feels good, doesn’t it? You gonna come in me?”
Mu Qing knew that Feng Xin wasn’t technically inside him, but his words seemed to have the intended effect. The hands on his waist tightened and hauled him backward with just a bit more force. Feng Xin's cock slid between Mu Qing’s thighs a few more times before Feng Xin stilled against him, pressing himself flush against Mu Qing’s ass and spilling onto the sheets.
“Mu Qing. Mu Qing. Fuck.”
Mu Qing closed his eyes and let the pleasured drawl of his name send another overwhelming wave of heat down to his gut. It was too much, and also just the right amount to go along with his stroking palm. He hurtled into another orgasm, his cock spurting and contributing to the existing mess on the bed.
His leg muscles automatically relaxed after the initial tensing, and Feng Xin’s softening cock slipped from between them. There was only a short moment before Mu Qing was being twisted around and pressed onto his back on the clean side of the bed. Feng Xin crawled over him and bracketed his head with his arms, dipping down to press long, languid kisses to Mu Qing’s lips.
It lasted until Feng Xin seemingly lost the last bit of his energy and subsequently broke away to lie down beside him. Mu Qing wanted to suggest that they take a shower, as the mess on the sheets as well as his skin was becoming irksome the longer they waited. But then his mind drifted to what had brought them to this point, and it made him smirk up at the ceiling.
“So, Feng Xin gets jealous, huh?” Mu Qing said with a hum, as if he were speaking thoughtfully to himself. His grin grew as he felt the bed shift from Feng Xin turning onto his side.
“And? What about it?”
“I just think it’s funny.”
Feng Xin snorted. “Glad you find my misery amusing.”
“Haven’t I always?” Mu Qing said nonchalantly. But he couldn’t help noticing Feng Xin’s choice of words, and it put a frown on his face. “Did it really upset you that much to see me with him?”
“Well, yeah. Kind of. I know you guys have classes together and hang out a lot. But I never expected... I didn’t think you two were like that. It wasn’t my favorite thing to see.”
Mu Qing nodded slowly, looking up at Feng Xin as he pondered his admission. He’d seen the blazing look in Feng Xin’s eyes from across Lion’s Den bar. Hell, he’d taken advantage of it, going so far as to enjoy Pei Ming’s attention and contact with the knowledge that Feng Xin’s eyes were on them.
He also remembered hating that revolting feeling he’d experienced when it felt like he overdid it.
Part of him debated telling Feng Xin it was all an act—that he and Pei Ming had made a bet, and Feng Xin’s reaction was at the center of it. He could reveal that none of it had been real at all. But things had finally escalated between him and Feng Xin. He didn’t want the moment to be ruined anytime soon. Maybe he could admit to the stunt one day, but that day was not here yet.
“We aren’t like that,” Mu Qing said. “Trust me. It really isn’t going to work between us. We’re just friends. But you and I can...”
Mu Qing trailed off, and he hoped Feng Xin wouldn’t notice his broken-off sentence. Of course, Feng Xin caught on quickly, and he propped his chin on his hand and offered a curious tilt of his head.
“We can what?”
Mu Qing didn’t look at him, feeling the heat of a flush starting to take over his face. “...can be something.”
“What was that? I don’t think I caught that.”
It was clear that Feng Xin was only teasing him. If it wasn’t due to the playful lilt in his voice, his cheeky smile gave him away. Mu Qing grumbled for a bit before finally getting out a proper sentence.
“You and I can be something,” Mu Qing said. “If you want. Or whatever.”
Laughter burst out of Feng Xin, and it made Mu Qing shoot him a glare.
“Is that how you ask someone out?”
“It’s how I ask you out.”
Before Feng Xin could potentially offer further commentary, Mu Qing stood up from the bed. He took a few steps toward the bathroom.
“I’m going to shower,” Mu Qing said. “Hurry up if you want to join me.”
Feng Xin’s laughter died down quickly, and then he was getting out of bed just as hurriedly. His eager haste didn’t fail to make Mu Qing smirk to himself as he moved through the doorway with Feng Xin close behind.
◇ ◇ ◇
Mu Qing held out a few bills in front of himself, waiting for them to be taken. But when the other curious set of eyes simply jumped between the bills and Mu Qing’s face, it made Mu Qing let out an exasperated sigh.
“Take it,” Mu Qing said.
“Oh? It isn’t every day that you offer me money,” Pei Ming said with a knowing grin that was anything but innocent. “Did you perhaps lose a bet or something?”
“Yeah, yeah. Rub it in, why don’t you.”
“Why would I be rubbing it in? You got what you wanted, didn’t you? Feng Xin confronted you about us, and now you two are...” Pei Ming let his gaze carefully wander down the length of Mu Qing’s body; steady, as if he were analyzing something. Then his eyes flicked back up. “Am I right?”
Mu Qing’s face felt like it was on fire. He hated being subjected to Pei Ming's frivolities. The man had a knack for reading situations, and Mu Qing had a feeling that a mere glance was all Pei Ming needed to figure out exactly what was going on. The offer of money probably wasn’t helping Mu Qing’s case either.
“You already know. Just take it,” Mu Qing said.
Pei Ming waved a hand toward him, shaking his head. “You don’t have to give me that.”
“But... we made a bet? And I lost.”
“Yeah, and since I won, I get to decide what happens to that money. Keep it. Maybe use it to take Feng Xin on a date.”
Pei Ming’s grin widened as Mu Qing’s face turned a presumably deeper shade of red. Mu Qing tried to offset the tension with a roll of his eyes, and he shoved the money back in his pocket.
“You’re way too happy about this outcome,” Mu Qing said. “This is your fault anyway. This whole thing.”
‘This whole thing’ meaning Mu Qing finally getting a chance to have Feng Xin in the way he’d always secretly wanted. But it wasn’t like Mu Qing was going to say that out loud. It was too embarrassing.
“What are friends for?” Pei Ming said with a shrug.
Mu Qing bit back a comment about how friends didn’t typically pretend to go on dates to rile up the love interest of the other. Instead, he spent the next five minutes talking about how annoying Feng Xin was, and how Pei Ming’s involvement practically ensured that Mu Qing would have to deal with it for the foreseeable future.
Pei Ming beamed the entire time, bright eyes brimming with unwavering glee and enjoyment.