Feng Xin didn't sleep that night.
After Mu Qing had left him alone with a curt "goodnight" and disappeared into his own room, Feng Xin had tried to relax on the couch, pulling the blanket up and closing his eyes, determined to let exhaustion pull him under.
But his mind refused to cooperate.
Every time he shifted or tried to settle in, he was aware—too aware—of the quiet presence of Mu Qing just a few feet away, separated only by a thin wall.
In the silence, Feng Xin's thoughts grew louder, and each one only made it more impossible to sleep. He couldn't stop replaying the moments he'd caught himself staring at Mu Qing, his heartbeat quickening as he'd noticed details he'd somehow overlooked all these years. The way Mu Qing's laughter softened his usually sharp features, the way his eyes sparkled when he was amused, the faint hint of a smile he fought to hide during their little sparring match of words.
He sighed, turning over again. The irony of it all wasn't lost on him. After years of bickering, of declaring they couldn't stand each other, here he was, lying awake in Mu Qing's apartment, unable to chase away the strange new feelings creeping into his heart.
Feng Xin groaned softly, running a hand over his face. Just go to fucking sleep, he scolded himself.
But sleep wouldn't come, and he wasn't sure if it was because of the uncomfortable couch or because of the man sleeping just beyond that door.
The door creaked open, and Feng Xin froze.
He wasn't sure why his heart started to race; it wasn't like Mu Qing would do anything drastic, certainly not something like kill him for not sleeping. It wasn't like he was obligated to follow any rules—he could sleep on his own fucking time.
Yet, as the footsteps grew louder, echoing softly across the apartment floor, Feng Xin's instincts kicked in, and he immediately shut his eyes tight, hoping to appear as though he was deep in sleep.
He heard Mu Qing yawn as he walk by the couch heading to the kitchen. Feng xin heard him rustle around before opening the fridge, with the way the apartment was set up Feng xin knew that Mu Qing's back would be turned towards him.
His breath hitched as he cracked open his eye, unable to stop himself from stealing a glance.
In the low light of the kitchen, Mu Qing looked different—softer, so at peace and unguarded. His usually neat hair was free now, falling in gentle waves down his back, and it looked far more relaxed, less the meticulously controlled style Feng Xin was used to seeing.
He wore a long-sleeved shirt that was clearly a few sizes too big, hanging off one shoulder and exposing the smooth line of his collarbone. The shirt draped down to his thighs, leaving Feng Xin wondering for a second, heart racing—was he even wearing anything underneath that?
Feng Xin immediately scolded himself for the thought, but he couldn't help it. He had never seen Mu Qing like this, so...relaxed .
There was something about the way the shirt moved with him, the soft fall of his hair, and the way his body seemed to disappear and reappear in the dim lighting that made Feng Xin's chest feel tight. It was a vision of Mu Qing he'd never imagined—someone a little more vulnerable, a little less guarded.
YOU ARE READING
Fake it till you Make it
Fanfiction"You really should've seen this coming, Feng Xin," Pei Ming said, his voice smooth with a trace of that irritating smugness. "Four years down the drain, and now you're moping about it. What did you expect?" Feng Xin stared at his cup of coffee, tryi...
