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modern au where jc is a popular youtuber who uploads content like liziqi, showcasing life in china’s rural countryside where he tends to lotus ponds, cook traditional foods made of ingredients he’s planted, and sews his own clothing.
lxc is an overworked businessman who finds
lxc is an overworked businessman who finds
comfort in jc’s videos, watching them whenever he has time to unwind and relax and they help stabilize him and prevent him from burning out. soon he even grows attached to the youtuber, always looking forward to the rare snippets of when jc speaks and refreshing for new videos.
lxc plays with the idea of living a life like that, calm and peaceful although he knows how much work jc must put in to keep with his lifestyle.
it isn’t until after he gets betrayed in a business venture by someone thought of close enough to be his brother that he realizes
it isn’t until after he gets betrayed in a business venture by someone thought of close enough to be his brother that he realizes
he can’t keep living this life in the city, working himself to an early grave and being surrounded by people who only want to take advantage of his kindness.
he resigns from his job, letting wangji take over the business as he knows his younger brother’s cold temperament makes
he resigns from his job, letting wangji take over the business as he knows his younger brother’s cold temperament makes
difficult for others to deceive him and is just as talented as lxc.
lxc ends up discovering an old, family estate of the lans far away from the city and into the countryside and on a whim decides to move there. it’s far, with little to no internet connection and surrounded by
lxc ends up discovering an old, family estate of the lans far away from the city and into the countryside and on a whim decides to move there. it’s far, with little to no internet connection and surrounded by
lotus ponds that strangely resembles the one from the youtuber’s videos. lxc has no idea on how to live this sort of rural life but he feels better already. his uncle reprimands him from running away from his mistakes, but lxc feels as though this is just a new beginning.
lxc is in his new home after a long train ride and examining the place that's actually still holding together well and clean. he picks up his phone and smiles on reflex when he sees the familiar contact name calling him,
"brother,"
lwj was always short on words, but lxc knew
"brother,"
lwj was always short on words, but lxc knew
his younger brother well enough to always know what he means to ask.
"I've arrived safely, wangji. please tell uncle this as well."
"mn."
"i'll be fine," lxc feels the need to assure, even though it's ridiculous. he's the older brother, the heir to the lan corporation,
"I've arrived safely, wangji. please tell uncle this as well."
"mn."
"i'll be fine," lxc feels the need to assure, even though it's ridiculous. he's the older brother, the heir to the lan corporation,
he should be the perfect ceo and yet he's abandoned his position for his younger brother and escaped somewhere else. he knows lwj didn't want him to leave, but it was too suffocating to stay.
"mn. stay well, brother,"
just before the line is about to cut, there's a crackling
"mn. stay well, brother,"
just before the line is about to cut, there's a crackling
shuffling sound on the other side, and it's then wwx's voice he hears, "brother in law! don't worry, lwj told me the village you went to! my didi lives there also, so i'll give him a call to come over and take care of a city boy like you, byee!"
before lxc has time to respond,
before lxc has time to respond,
the call ends and he's alone with his thoughts again.
it's nice of wwx to offer that, especially considering how lxc only has books to learn off of, he used to grow a few bell peppers and tomatoes each summer when he had time but this location was famous for lotuses and he'll
it's nice of wwx to offer that, especially considering how lxc only has books to learn off of, he used to grow a few bell peppers and tomatoes each summer when he had time but this location was famous for lotuses and he'll
be glad to have a local offer to help him out.
lxc steps outside, breathing in the fresh air and feeling all his nerves melt away. he walks around aimlessly, looking at his new surroundings and he's only a little bit lost, there's something about seeing all the towering trees,
lxc steps outside, breathing in the fresh air and feeling all his nerves melt away. he walks around aimlessly, looking at his new surroundings and he's only a little bit lost, there's something about seeing all the towering trees,
different plants and vines, and the endless lakes covered in the greens of lotuses. there's the sound of footsteps coming up behind him and when lxc turns around, his mouth goes dry and eyes widen in shock.
"hey, you're the one who just moved in right? wwx told me to come
"hey, you're the one who just moved in right? wwx told me to come
around the lan estate here to make sure you don't starve by yourself here."
it's... jc. the youtuber jc who primarily fueled his inspiration to come all the way here, lxc is still staring in disbelief. dressed in already dirtied, muddy clothes, and hair tied back into a neat
it's... jc. the youtuber jc who primarily fueled his inspiration to come all the way here, lxc is still staring in disbelief. dressed in already dirtied, muddy clothes, and hair tied back into a neat
bun, that same (adorable) grumpy expression on sharp features, he's easily recognizable.
"jc?"
"oh good wwx did tell you about me. are you going to introduced yourself to me or are you going to just keep staring at me?"
jc looks so amused, clearly enjoying lxc's floundering.
"jc?"
"oh good wwx did tell you about me. are you going to introduced yourself to me or are you going to just keep staring at me?"
jc looks so amused, clearly enjoying lxc's floundering.
lxc has to mentally reprimand himself, youtubers are just normal humans too, so there's no reason to be acting like a fool.
lxc composes himself, and couldn't resist smiling brightly at the other, "i'm lxc, thank you for agreeing to help me get settled. i'll be in your care."
lxc composes himself, and couldn't resist smiling brightly at the other, "i'm lxc, thank you for agreeing to help me get settled. i'll be in your care."
"xichen? sunshine, i hope you're ready for everything. i'll come over again tomorrow morning and help you plant the lotuses in your ponds."
---
lxc woke up at 5am sharp the next morning as always, and not too soon after there's a knock on his door that lxc opens to see jc.
"morning, wanyin." lxc greets brightly, "have you slept well?"
jc hums, looking decidedly more tired than lxc even though he should be used to
lxc woke up at 5am sharp the next morning as always, and not too soon after there's a knock on his door that lxc opens to see jc.
"morning, wanyin." lxc greets brightly, "have you slept well?"
jc hums, looking decidedly more tired than lxc even though he should be used to
being awake so early, "it's funny you think i slept at all. can i touch you?"
the question is so jarring that lxc blinks, "yes?" and then there's a firm, but not too hard grip around his wrist and jc is leading through a rocky path, twisting around the trees and heading uphill
the question is so jarring that lxc blinks, "yes?" and then there's a firm, but not too hard grip around his wrist and jc is leading through a rocky path, twisting around the trees and heading uphill
to a small cluster of trees with small, bright orange fruits on them. "granny wen has the sweetest loquats this year, try them." jc easily picks a ripe one from the branches, peeling them before shoving the fruit into lxc's hands.
"should we be stealing them?" lxc asks, even
"should we be stealing them?" lxc asks, even
though he's already popped a piece into his mouth, it's sweet with just enough tartness to balance it out, and it's probably the best fruit he's ever tasted.
"granny wen and i share things often along with the rest of the neighbors here, it's impossible eat it all ourselves.
"granny wen and i share things often along with the rest of the neighbors here, it's impossible eat it all ourselves.
how is it?"
"it's amazing," lxc spoke, reaching up to pick another one although jc is quick to pull his hand back.
"that one isn't ripe yet. here, look for ones similar to this color and are soft like this."
In the faint light of the rising sun, lxc has to resist trying
"it's amazing," lxc spoke, reaching up to pick another one although jc is quick to pull his hand back.
"that one isn't ripe yet. here, look for ones similar to this color and are soft like this."
In the faint light of the rising sun, lxc has to resist trying
count the tiny freckles that dot across jc's face.
they spent part of the morning like that, eating enough loquats until they got sick of the taste and jc leads lxc to one of the smaller lakes outside of his house.
jc brought with him some supplies they would need to plant
they spent part of the morning like that, eating enough loquats until they got sick of the taste and jc leads lxc to one of the smaller lakes outside of his house.
jc brought with him some supplies they would need to plant
the lotuses, although they're able to find most tools in the woodshed. it's a lot harder than lxc expected, and a lot messier. he's never been covered with so much mud, his clothes are soaked, and he's tired although his stamina is enough to help him keep up with jc.
it looked a lot easier in jc's videos, but lxc supposes editing obviously made it seem that way. still, jc is definitely faring better than him. he's equally messy, but he's more fluid and efficient, and it's a little embarassing how much more work jc has done compared to lxc.
they get along well, for strangers that have just met. lxc admits that he's seen jc's videos before, and the other doesn't look all that surprised about it.
"i had a similar past like you when i first came here," jc admitted, and lxc's interest is piqued bc he always assumed
"i had a similar past like you when i first came here," jc admitted, and lxc's interest is piqued bc he always assumed
that jc had grown here, "i was working a job i hated in my family's company even though my parents never appreciated me, and the friends i had were only with me for money. i thought i was running away from everything like a coward coming here, but its only when i did that i felt
like i was finally living."
lxc's heart clenches at the way jc looks when retelling his story, and he can't believe all the people that's taken someone like jc for granted. but it's comforting to know someone had gone through something like him, taking the wrong paths to end up
lxc's heart clenches at the way jc looks when retelling his story, and he can't believe all the people that's taken someone like jc for granted. but it's comforting to know someone had gone through something like him, taking the wrong paths to end up
at the right one, he tells jc exactly this and watches as the smallest smile grace the other's face.
"someday you'll be okay again, it's okay to think that you can deserve happiness."
"someday you'll be okay again, it's okay to think that you can deserve happiness."
they take a break for lunch where jc cooks a simple, but still better than anything lxc has had at expensive restaurant, meal that they share.
jc helps him start his garden, although he's pretty much told lxc he can help himself to anything jc has planted. it was very
jc helps him start his garden, although he's pretty much told lxc he can help himself to anything jc has planted. it was very
shortsighted of lxc to have moved in when his land was so barren, and jc didn't look very impressed when lxc told him he had been planning on buying ingredients from the markets.
"sunshine, you would've been scammed by all the vendors. i haven't even taught you how to haggle."
"sunshine, you would've been scammed by all the vendors. i haven't even taught you how to haggle."
money is the least of lxc's concerns, but still it's funny how jc is affronted when he tells him such.
after they share another evening meal together, jc ends up leaving after telling him he promised to help another villager with something.
after they share another evening meal together, jc ends up leaving after telling him he promised to help another villager with something.
lxc ends up going to bed even earlier than usual, already missing the new friend he's made.
the days continue like that, jc will take him somewhere new each morning to a different field of fruit trees or bushes of berries, work together in the lotus ponds and cooking meals
the days continue like that, jc will take him somewhere new each morning to a different field of fruit trees or bushes of berries, work together in the lotus ponds and cooking meals
their meals that lxc tries to exist on helping out with even though the first time he did so he ended up with small, tiny cuts all over his fingers after trying to chop the vegetables.
"you're so delicate," jc exclaimed, when he takes note of not only the bleeding cuts but the
"you're so delicate," jc exclaimed, when he takes note of not only the bleeding cuts but the
cracked skin and blisters from all the work. lxc wants to tell him it's fine and eventually he'll grow used to it, but his thoughts get cut short when jc takes out a medicinal cream and rubs it onto lxc's hands for him. his movements are so soft, and the feeling of jc's hands on
his is so warm.
with time lxc eventually learns how to tend to the lotuses and his garden himself, but jc never stops coming over and lxc doesn't ask him to. sometimes jc even lets him help with the lotus lakes near jc's residence.
with time lxc eventually learns how to tend to the lotuses and his garden himself, but jc never stops coming over and lxc doesn't ask him to. sometimes jc even lets him help with the lotus lakes near jc's residence.
one night just before lxc was about to get ready for bed, there's a knock at his window and lxc opens it to see jc casually perched on a tree branch just to the side of his windowsill.
"good you're still awake, follow me," jc orders, and lxc obediently climbs his way out to
"good you're still awake, follow me," jc orders, and lxc obediently climbs his way out to
where jc leads them up to the rooftop.
"you look like you've done this before," lxc points out, easily pulling himself onto the roof before making his way over to jc's side who's already covered the bottom with a soft, wool blanket and laying on top.
"you look like you've done this before," lxc points out, easily pulling himself onto the roof before making his way over to jc's side who's already covered the bottom with a soft, wool blanket and laying on top.
jc awards him a grin, pulling lxc to take a seat besides him.
"I may or may not have in fact done this before here. it's not my fault your house here was abandoned so long with the tallest rooftop. now shut up and look at the sky."
"I may or may not have in fact done this before here. it's not my fault your house here was abandoned so long with the tallest rooftop. now shut up and look at the sky."
lxc rolls his eyes, ignoring that jc just admitted to trespassing, and takes a glance up before his breath gets caught in his throat.
millions of stars, dancing and twinkling above them in their splendor, dotted across the vast dark sky like an endless abyss.
millions of stars, dancing and twinkling above them in their splendor, dotted across the vast dark sky like an endless abyss.
he exhales, feeling so small at the such an incredible sight. like he's just realized how big the universe really is and how much it has to offer.
"oh."
"'oh' indeed," jc mocks, "i notice you go to bed early everyday, i can't believe you've been here for so long without
"oh."
"'oh' indeed," jc mocks, "i notice you go to bed early everyday, i can't believe you've been here for so long without
looking at the skies at night."
lxc tears his gaze away to look at the person besides him, finding a pair of purple eyes that reflect the galaxy before him so well that lxc doesn't need to stare at the sky anymore.
"wanyin, thank you for showing me this. i haven't said it
lxc tears his gaze away to look at the person besides him, finding a pair of purple eyes that reflect the galaxy before him so well that lxc doesn't need to stare at the sky anymore.
"wanyin, thank you for showing me this. i haven't said it
enough how glad i am to have met you,"
the other's face reddens so slightly, and jc sits up in a huff, eyes darting away to stare at the ground.
"you should be glad. without me i don't think you would've ever figured out how to even turn your stove on."
the other's face reddens so slightly, and jc sits up in a huff, eyes darting away to stare at the ground.
"you should be glad. without me i don't think you would've ever figured out how to even turn your stove on."
"mn. i'm grateful for everything."
---
the height of summer approaches, and with it the days are hotter and longer. sometimes lxc gets to see jc film his videos, helped by a cameraman named mxy and his nephew jl who appears in some of jc's videos.
it's strange seeing everything in person rather than in a video,
the height of summer approaches, and with it the days are hotter and longer. sometimes lxc gets to see jc film his videos, helped by a cameraman named mxy and his nephew jl who appears in some of jc's videos.
it's strange seeing everything in person rather than in a video,
although he's already known jc for months the weirdness hasn't shaken off. there's so many takes needed, filming some scenes over and over and he can tell jc is exhausted before the day has ended.
in between one of the shoots, lxc comes over with a glass of iced plum juice that
in between one of the shoots, lxc comes over with a glass of iced plum juice that
jc takes gratefully, drinking it all in one gulp, a drop escaping from the glass that trails down the line of jc's throat.
jc ends up noticing the red flush on lxc's face and frowns, "ah, it's really hot today isn't it?" he spoke, taking off the bamboo hat he was wearing and
jc ends up noticing the red flush on lxc's face and frowns, "ah, it's really hot today isn't it?" he spoke, taking off the bamboo hat he was wearing and
lifting it onto lxc's head instead to give the paler man some shade. "you'll get burned staying out here too long. go back inside, you don't have to stay with me for the whole shoot, we'll have to end up finishing tomorrow anyway."
lxc shakes his head, just a little mortified but still glad that someone like jc is oblivious, and reassures the other man that he is fine.
jc ends up cutting the shoot early, mostly from jl's whining that he wants to go to the market with his friends.
jc ends up cutting the shoot early, mostly from jl's whining that he wants to go to the market with his friends.
[ahh its like 4am, i promise i'll finish this when i wake up :)) this isn't supposed to be too long so we're almost there ^^]
