Chapter Text
Binghe had moved into the Bamboo House – earning him a delightful 50 protagonist satisfaction points – and swiftly taken over managing his meals, laundry, house cleaning, and anything else Shen Qingqiu needed help with. In exchange, the young protagonist got a safe place to stay, help with his studies, and the chance to listen to his Shizun playing the guqin every evening, interspersed with a little extra painting and calligraphy when he needed a change of pace. When it was rainy or too hot outside, he often lazily picked Shen Qingqiu as the subject of his paintings, since he needed to improve his skills in depicting human figures. He could combine listening to his teacher’s guqin playing with doing a painting of him, for a double dose of culture! It all felt very elegant, and System seemed to approve.
Binghe’s calligraphy quote from Your Name was now proudly displayed on a wall for all to see, and Shen Qingqiu’s painted fan decorated with an ‘lightning mouse’ to replace his merch lost a world away was almost done. He’d also recently completed a new piece of calligraphy which he’d had hung in the Music Hall which read, ‘We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams.’ It was perfect! Vague, inspirational, and unrecognizable as coming from a modern movie.
Ah, Willy Wonka was so damn insane in that movie, it was almost admirable how unhinged he became in pursuit of the perfect heir to pass his legacy to.
As sunset fell Luo Binghe scurried home from classes and a spot of tutoring with Ning Yingying, greeting him cheerily before rushing off to the kitchen to get dinner started. Shen Yuan read a bestiary for a little while, before setting it aside to finish off his fan, since it was almost done and the paint on the wooden beads should be dry now. He sang quietly under his breath as he threaded a trio of red, black, and white beads onto a silk cord to be attached to the bottom of his new fan and carefully tied an intricate knot at the bottom of it, an ‘osmanthus’ style knot which was auspicious for good fortune, with associations of elegance and nobility. There were dozens of different knot styles to decorate things with, he felt their shapes drifting in the back of his mind, ready to be recalled. It was an eerie kind of sensation, so he decided to ignore it utterly and try not to think too much about it in the future.
“All finished!” he called out. “My fan is done.” He waved it gently through the air, admiring his own craftsmanship. Was it his own? Or was it Shen Qingqiu’s craftsmanship? No, he was claiming this! Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t paint a Pokémon-themed fan.
“So is dinner, Shizun!” Binghe called back cheerfully. He bustled out with a tray full of delicious temptations for dinner.
Shen Yuan put on his fake air of ‘I am an immortal master who doesn’t need to eat thanks to inedia and thus isn’t at all tempted by the scrumptious aroma of roast duck’. Binghe wasn’t fooled, of course, the protagonist as expected was too smart for that! But he was willing to pretend he was fooled, insisting that Shen Qingqiu try a little of his dishes as a personal favour to him, picking out the choicest morsels to place in his Shizun’s bowl.
So with their usual social dance complete, Shen Yuan got to stuff himself silly, and afterwards just lazed around like a pampered young emperor rereading a favourite romance book while Binghe tidied everything away before slipping back into the main room with him to do some quiet studying.
“Is Shizun going to sing the new composition he has been working on?” Binghe asked.
“Hmm, I wasn’t sure I would have time. To be honest I thought Liu Qingge would have arrived already to clear my meridians,” he tutted. “He’s late today.”
Binghe glanced over at him briefly from where he was completing some homework, before looking away as he casually explained. “This one understands he was advised by someone not to disturb Shizun’s dinner.”
Shen Yuan nodded. That’s thoughtful.
“Well, I suppose I might have time for a song, then.”
Binghe abandoned his studies instantly as his Shizun settled down at his guqin. Sweet little bun, he always made the most eager and attentive audience.
“This song isn’t my own, it’s one I mentioned to you a while ago, by Hatsune Miku.”
Head tilted, Binghe didn’t look quite as keen for a song as he had a moment ago, more curious rather than eager, now. “The one by the siren, Shizun? Whose portrait you have in your bedroom?”
Hey, I need my merch! I’m rebuilding it one bit at a time, he thought defensively. He had plans to claim a whole bookshelf as a display shelf once he had more items to fill it with.
“The very same,” he said, before hesitating uncertainly. Would such a song really be of interest to such a manly protagonist? Wasn’t it just a little bit embarrassing? “That is… if Binghe won’t mind listening to me sing a woman’s love song?”
Binghe’s eyes widened. “Not at all, Shizun! Please, this one would be honoured to hear it.”
He ducked his head and smiled. How open-minded! “Well then, here’s my adaptation of a legendary song of hers that enraptured a whole country, called ‘Melt’.”
“When I woke up this morning
The first thing I thought of was you”
He sang in a higher register than usual, maybe not the vocaloid’s chirpy soprano, but an acceptably high tenor. He loved this song; he used to sing it all the time back in his old life, and his mei-mei used to sing along with him. It was nice to get to share it with Binghe now, who was sitting there wide-eyed and soaking in every word of the cutesy lyrics like they were manna raining down from heaven and he was starving.
He’d never known Luo Binghe was such a fan of guqin music until transmigrating here! He listened to every song he played with rapt attention and then would sing them for days afterwards, as well as badgering his teacher to help him with his fingering so he could learn to play the tunes himself. Binghe would sing while doing the dishes, and hum while sweeping the floor. Shen Yuan half expected birds to come flying through the window of the Bamboo House to sing alongside the perpetually cheerful Cinderella protagonist!
“I can't tell you I like you, but then I…
Melt! I can't even look you in the eye
I won't fall for love, not me
But… I really do like you”
Binghe got especially starry-eyed at the chorus, then went all pink cheeked.
Ah, sweet boy! Are you thinking of Ning Yingying? Do you have a little crush? Shen Yuan smiled at him at the thought of their sweet romance, earning a shy smile in return.
The door banged open noisily as Liu Qingge burst in with his usual disregard for common courtesies like knocking and waiting. “What on earth are you singing about this time?”
“Shh!” Binghe hissed, in an attempt to hush him, but it was too late.
“I’ll finish it later,” he promised, stilling the quivering strings of the guqin with flat hands. “Shidi, will you clear my meridians promptly then, since you are in such a hurry and in no mood for waiting around to listen to this one’s presumably subpar music?”
His System gave him no points, even though he was trying to be snappy and confrontational. It was picky, sometimes, about judging something sufficiently in-character to merit a point gain.
Come on System, not even one point? he wheedled.
[+2 protagonist satisfaction points.]
A begrudging belated offer, but better than nothing. That’s more like it!
His complacent happiness didn’t last long, as it hit him with another random point deduction while Liu Qingge held his arm and cleared his meridians.
[-5 protagonist satisfaction points.]
Oh, come on, Binghe is perfectly happy! he argued.
[Host is incorrect.]
He glanced over at Binghe, who was indeed scowling and glowering in their direction. I suppose he didn’t appreciate the song being interrupted, he never does like to hear only half a song, and he was really enjoying this one. Poor dear! We need to be sure you get to hear some more songs without being interrupted by Liu Qingge, or Ming Fan, or having to rush off to classes. I hope the concert will soothe his romantic musical heart. Ooh! Maybe I can get Best Wife Liu Mingyan to come too?
“This master will be holding a musical recitation evening at Qing Jing Peak later this week,” he mentioned, glancing up at Liu Qingge’s focused face through lowered eyelashes. “We will have some art on display as well. Perhaps shidi would like to come and try to learn to appreciate a little culture? Liu-shidi could bring along his sister for company?”
“Mn,” Qingge replied, looking embarrassed. “Are many people from other peaks coming?”
“I’m not sure yet, though I know Yue Qingyuan is insistent about attending all of this one’s concerts; I will be performing some songs as well this time, not just my students. Qi Qingqi was thinking of doing a little something too, I believe. Some time has been allocated for her disciples to perform.”
“Then I will come too. And Mingyan, as well. She has been wanting to meet you.”
[-5 protagonist satisfaction points.]
Oh, fuck off!
[System did not sign up for this kind of abuse!]
Neither did I, System!
He made up for it later that evening after Qingge was gone and Binghe’s homework was finished, singing the song again right to the end just for him. And for the +10 protagonist satisfaction points.
“I want you to take me in your arms
You wish!”
“Did Binghe enjoy it? Did your old Shizun enrapture you like a legendary siren?” he teased.
Binghe nodded enthusiastically. “Oh yes, Shizun!”
“I’m glad,” he replied gently, patting his head.
“Shizun?” Binghe asked tentatively, ducking his head as he nuzzled slightly into the palm of his hand, demanding more pats like a cat. “Was it… the song… does Shizun… This one felt like the song was being sung just for him…?”
“Ah! Songs can be like that sometimes,” Shen Yuan said, feeling very much like a Wise Old Master. “I even have a favourite song about that very topic! Sometimes, when we feel something very strongly, we see echoes of it everywhere in the world around us. Everything someone says, every song we hear, they remind us of that strong emotion. The very birds in the sky seem like a sign from heaven, flying around just for us. And of course as songs are the poetry of the soul expressed through music, inevitably some of them will speak to us more strongly than others. Like the softest caress or the harshest punch to the gut, they make us laugh and they make us cry.”
Binghe nodded, serious and attentive. “This disciple would like to hear that other song, if Shizun is willing to sing some more?”
With one last pat to the softest, fluffiest hair in the world, Shen Yuan set him free. “Go settle into bed and I’ll sing you a bedtime song, if you like? If you’re not too old for such a thing?”
“I’m not too old!” Luo Binghe said, then winced regretfully. “Not that I’m a child, Shizun.”
Precious lamb! “Of course not,” he agreed. “It’s nice for anyone to listen to music while you drift off to sleep. I enjoy it too.”
He’d liked having a playlist running back home in his last life when he went to sleep, drowning out the traffic noise down below outside his apartment, and helping him feel less isolated and alone.
[Intermediate-level quest issued. Quest: A good night’s sleep. Please click to accept.]
He accepted immediately, delighted by the offer of some easy points, and sang his selected bedtime song for Binghe.
“He sang as if he knew me
In all my dark despair
And then he looked right through me
As if I wasn't there”
I can tell he’s still awake, he’s peeking at me, Shen Yuan thought, amused.
“Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song”
He sang right to the end, and Binghe gave up his pretence of trying to sleep, though he did look heavy-lidded and sleepy now.
“I’ve never heard a song that made me feel pain, like it was killing me,” Binghe commented. “But I still liked the song, Shizun. How the person listening felt the singer was singing to them but really they weren’t at all. It’s sad, but sweet. It’s a good lesson, and it had a lovely melody.”
Shen Qingqiu nodded. “Binghe has suffered enough, even in his young life. Songs can definitely tear at the heart; you just haven’t heard one that speaks to you in that way yet. Perhaps if Binghe heard a song that reminded him of his mother?”
“Mn. Maybe.” Binghe nodded in vague agreement. “I liked ‘Melt’ more, Shizun.”
He laughed. “It’s alright to have favourites.”
Binghe yawned and covered his mouth cutely with one hand. “Sorry, Shizun!”
“Goodnight, Binghe.” He tucked Binghe in since he was too sleepy to object to being coddled.
A little while later, settled down in his own bed, Shen Yuan remembered something as he was drifting off to sleep.
Hey System, where’s my points for a successful quest completion?
[Quest is incomplete.]
Whatever. That was a problem for tomorrow. Maybe Binghe would have to sleep solidly through the night first before it counted as completed.
-000-
Qing Jing Peak’s creative arts night was a big hit… and not just for the points it earnt him. Disciples' paintings and artful calligraphy served proudly as fresh decorations along the walls of the performance hall, and he had many bright little sheep eager to show off their musical accomplishments – even Luo Binghe took a turn. There was also his own elegant performance of one traditional song and one ‘new composition’, and his students also provided musical accompaniment for a dance troupe of shizhi from Xian Shu Peak, gracefully led in their steps by Liu Mingyan. Qi Qingqi had heard from Yue Qingyuan of his attempt to ‘bring culture’ to Cang Qiong Mountain Sect and had insisted on being involved too. Even some other random peak lords had shown up in the audience, like Shang Qinghua, the nasty little traitor.
Qinghua was staring, Shen Yuan noticed, as he played and sang, on a guzheng this time rather than a guqin, as the larger instrument was more suited to an elegant performance for a crowd. There was a saying about it, it went something like, ‘guqin for one’s self, guzheng for others’. He didn’t know where he’d learnt the saying and wasn’t even sure if he’d gotten it right. Some half-remembered scrap of poetry or wisdom from the Original Goods, perhaps?
“Look at me
You may think you see
Who I really am
But you'll never know me
Every day
It's as if I play
A part”
Look at that weaselly spy, his jaw is literally dropping open, he thought. I guess those lyrics about lying really speak to him even more than they do to me! He shrugged off the distraction and focused back on his song, avoiding eye contact in favour of smiling out at the rest of his enraptured audience.
Later, as he nodded his head elegantly as he received the applause and praise of the audience at the end of the night’s entertainment, Shang Qinghua pushed his way to the front of the circle of fans around Shen Qingqiu. He nudged his way in next to Yue Qingyuan with a discreet push to shove one of the Qing Jing disciples aside.
Hmph, how rude, he thought, flicking his fan up to cover his face and partially hide his disapproving frown.
Shang Qinghua’s face looked more dumbfounded than ever, eyes wide as a deer in headlights. “What the… is that Pikachu on your fan?!” he asked. “Where did… are you…?”
Oh. My. God!
Shen Yuan froze for a moment, his Pokémon fan hiding most of his expression but not his shocked eyes. Another transmigrator! He has to be!
“It’s a legendarily loyal lightning mouse from an old story,” Luo Binghe explained on his behalf, filling the tense, awkward silence. “Shizun painted that fan himself.”
“It’s beautiful work,” Yue Qingyuan praised unnecessarily.
“Indeed,” Shen Yuan said, fanning himself with anxious quickness. “Is ah, is shidi familiar with that story too? Of the young and proud immortal cultivator Xiao Zhi who vowed to catch a legendary lightning mouse for his menagerie, and all the other beasts and interesting demons of the world too, despite those demons’ cunning ways?”
Shang Qinghua’s head was bobbing in frantic agreement. “Yes! Yes, I love that story! I’m very familiar with it! And I enjoyed your song ‘Reflection’, too. Was it inspired by the tale of the legendary female warrior Mulan?”
I’m not alone, Shen Yuan thought, his eyes stinging with a sudden surge of emotion.
“Shidi should visit again sometime soon to discuss our shared love of literature over tea,” he suggested, his fan fluttering to hide his thin face.
“I will, I definitely will!” Qinghua swore fervently.
Binghe scowled.
Poor little lamb! He loves cooking for the two of us but he doesn’t seem to enjoy the extra work of catering for guests.
Yue Qingyuan beamed, looking around at the group of peak lords. “How nice to see this one’s martial siblings getting along! We should hold events like this more often.”
Liu Qingge didn’t look any happier about the idea than Binghe did, but Qi Qingqi seemed to find the idea amusing for some reason and chorused her agreement.