Chapter Text
There was no one who didn’t know who he was.
Whether it be the son of a billionaire; the prodigal child that would carry on a great legacy, the student council president of Liyue Academy, or great fanfiction writer Planet, his name was heard through halls and newspapers, spread through discord servers and twitter feeds.
No matter who you were, you had heard of him.
Xingqiu’s life was perfect.
He knew as much as that; he had a great family, whose wealth was never ending and allowed him to pursue his frivolous dreams while still maintaining a good position in a major company, he was academically challenged, with grades higher than thought possible and every major university clambering to get their hands on him, and his gorgeous, successful girlfriend who he was very happy to be with, thank you very much.
But he wasn’t happy, not even a little bit.
The only time he felt even the smallest spoonful of joy, the lightest sprinkle, the powder atop a doughnut that some asshole had brushed off, was when he was online, removed from his name, his family, his status. When the only name people called him was Planet, when the red hearts underneath his ao7 page would stack.
Even then, he could never say he was happy.
“Xingqiu?” Xiangling asked, drawing him out of his thoughts, though even away from the depths of his mind he constantly felt as if he was a snake basking in the sunlight of misery. “You look a little spaced out.”
He leaned down to kiss her cheek, to which she looked extremely happy. “Its nothing, Xiangling dear. I’m just lost in my thoughts, as always. But I do so regret to have drifted away from you, though I must have been mesmerised by your beauty—”
“Oh, can it.” His best friend, Chongyun said, from where he was sat beside them. He was drinking a bottle of iced lemon tea and looking positively irritated. “You don’t have to act lovey all the time, Xiangling knows how you are, you over dramatic idiot.”
Truth be told, Chongyun didn’t seem to enjoy the prospect of Xingqiu and Xiangling dating, which mystified Xingqiu to no bounds as they were all such good friends. Chongyun, rather OOC-ly, Xingqiu privately thought, opposed their relationship. He almost made a point about doing it, often glaring at Xiangling and him if they so much as touched.
Xingqiu, who had always fancied himself a rather clever person, hated that he couldn’t understand why.
Xiangling glowered back at him and pulled Xingqiu down for a kiss. In all fairness, it was a rather nice kiss. Sweet, he noted. Xiangling always tasted sweet. Sweet like the nectar he and Chongyun sucked from flowers come summer, or the chocolate that they would make come valentines. In fact, Halloween was approaching rather soon…
Oh right. He was kissing someone.
He wrapped a hand around Xiangling’s waist and brought her closer, letting their mouths slide together as she moved onto his lap to straddle her. He noticed, with faint interest, that her skirt had slid up. If he was another man, perhaps he would be as daring as to grab her, though Xingqiu felt no urge to do anything than pull it down.
It was Xiangling who pulled away first, with a sheepish look and glancing at Chongyun before she returned to her seat, picking up her lunch which consisted of grilled flowers he was sure weren’t supposed to be eaten and pure pig fat wrapped in little bunches of lettuce, along with some rice.
Chongyun looked rather put out as he poked at his cold noodles, and Xingqiu felt a spike of concern for his old friend. “Chongyun, is something bothering you? If it’s me and Xiangling, we can stop. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” Like that time he stuffed a poor snake in Chongyun’s schoolbag, aware he was terrified of such a creature.
Chongyun shook his head. “No, I’m just feeling a bit lonely.” He gestured between them. “My best friends got together and I’m just here.” He glared at Xiangling, who shrugged. “Alone.”
He and Xiangling often seemed to do this, to glare or smirk at each other, as if there was something going on between them, as if there was a secret between them not meant for his eyes, nor his understanding of. Perhaps, he mused, they were having an affair.
He was suddenly caught up in the notion that not only could they be having an affair, but that he didn’t actually care if they were. No surge of jealousy passed through him, no trickle of anger, and he mindlessly filed away that piece of information for future use.
“Well, Chongyun.” Xingqiu replied with a grin, cutting off whatever silent exchange they were having. “If its that you want, perhaps me and Xiangling could find a girlfriend for you?”
Mentally, he thought that Chongyun would be just as fine with a boyfriend, though he dare not say such a thing aloud, lest Chongyun think he believed that he was a homosexual. Of course, he would end up taking it as an insult, though having no intention to be one.
Chongyun buried his face in his hands and let out a small, pitiful whine. “There is no way I’m putting my love life in the hands of you, or Xiangling.” He said stubbornly. “You would tease me to death and set me up with some poor girl, like Keqing, or Ningguang, or that weird girl that transferred here from Mondstadt—”
“Lumine.” Xingqiu supplied.
“—Lunime. Point is, you’re not getting anywhere near my love life. You’d have her take me to a… a reptile enclosure!”
Actually, that wasn’t a bad idea.
Xiangling grinned. “Oh, you’re a dick. You’re supposed to take the girl out, Chongyun, not the other way around.” She wrapped her arms around Xingqiu’s neck. “Xingqiu took me out to Inazumian, it was the most beautiful place too! He was dressed like a posh bastard, and... “
Xingqiu, was, as always, exhausted after a day at school, despite the actual schoolwork being nothing more than a distraction to his thoughts, nothing more than a backup singer at the concert that was the academy, unwanted and ignored.
Of course, he had to log onto Original Gods Online, a rpg style game that he often played, more commonly known as OGO, because the truth of the matter was that Xingqiu was a fanboy.
Undeniably, unexplainably a fanboy.
It was simultaneously his greatest joy yet his most shameful venture, for sons of billionaires and business tycoons, in all respects, should not enjoy such a thing, should not seek out comfort from anything other than the useless ramblings of economics, should not find joy in any action other than planning hostile takeovers of companies who were too small to lift a finger in defence.
Of course, he enjoyed it nonetheless.
The side of the fandom he frequented, however, was nothing more than a mere fraction of the playerbase, a ship so obscure that he often had to dig through thousands of posts before catching a glimpse of the blue haired couple.
More importantly, he frequented a server known as Ajade Time. They were a small, loving community of readers, writers and artists, run by three mods; Noticulous, Red and Boba, boasting just over two hundred members.
He was one of many ao7 writers, hidden behind beautifully drawn icons, works drawing more and more to the crowd as they struggled to maintain their reputation and quality of work, as people became more enamoured with their online personas.
In comparison, real life seemed to pale in comparison, with its expectations, its tragedy, and its unromantic nature as a whole.
Planet Today at 3:48 PM
back from schh
what u all up to
Condicktion Today at 3:48 PM
Homework!
Geodude Today at 3:48 PM
writing more :)
Nocticulous Today at 3:49 PM
Writing too!
Condicktion Today at 3:49 PM
I can’t wait to read everyone’s!
Fish Today at 3:49
youve been simping over planet’s work all day dont lie
Condicktion Today at 3:49 PM
Fish!!
Planet Today at 3:50 PM
:blurryeyes:
Condicktion, as far as he knew, was both his biggest fan and his closest online friend. He knew only basic facts about him; they were the same age, they lived in the same country, and that he had the biggest gay crush on his best friend.
It was sweet, Xingqiu thought, mildly envious, to see someone so obviously infatuated with their partner, so devastatingly in love, as it was an emotion he didn’t quite feel in himself, no matter what he and Xiangling partook in.
I’m in love with her. He told himself, yet again, bringing himself back to the real world. I love doing things with her. I love being around her, I would throw myself under a blade if it meant she would remain unhurt.
(Sometimes, a little traitorous voice would whisper in his ear that there were different kinds of love. Sometimes, he would ask himself whether it was enough.)
There was a knock on his door.
“Brother.” He said, without much surprise, when he pulled it over to see Qiudong standing on the other side, perfectly tailored suit, tie done neat and severe. Despite the fact that he too dressed with almost military style formality, he found his brothers tendency towards complete professionalism ridiculous. “What are you doing here? It can’t possibly be dinnertime already. Even mother would not stand for us dining at this hour.”
“Oh for fucks sake, Xingqiu,” Qiudong replied, crossing his arms. The older boy, despite his demeanour, was far laxer with his language than any heir ought to be. “Let me in. The old man is throwing a fit and my girlfriend is on her fifth affair.”
Truthfully, Qiudong did come here to hide often, to get away from his own responsibilities. The maids and his father all knew that knocking upon his door would result in nothing but sharp words and a not so polite gesture as he turned them away.
Xingqiu sighed, and let him in.
“Have you considered… I don’t know… breaking up with her?” Xingqiu asked, grabbing a ceramic teacup from his shelf, beautiful and delicate blue lines swirling over the sides, drawing the shape of a peacock. “She’s only after your mora. You know that better than anyone.”
His brother sat on his bed, glancing at his open laptop. “Let her lust. I will simply use her for her genetics, and then dispose of her when she has had my son.” Xingqiu internally grimaced at the harsh tone; he never did have a fondness for that way of thinking. “Oh, and Condicktion wants to know if Jade and AJ go at it in the bushes or if that was a misunderstanding, but the word ‘embrace’ means many thi—”
“Brother!” Xingqiu turned, scandalised, and slammed close the laptop with one hand as his cheeks burned fierce and red. Qiudong laughed, deep and full, before reaching out to grab his cup of tea. “You can’t just— you can’t just look through my laptop!”
“Dear Xingqiu.” Qiudong replied, grinning from behind the cup. “You’re always so perfectly polite, our family is enamoured by the facade. Its always cute to see you slip up. Now tell me, did Jade and AJ really go at—”
“There is no way I’m answering that question.” Xingqiu grabbed one of his empty cans of soda, one of many he had snuck in through his bag, crushed it between his palms and tossed it at his brothers head, narrowly avoiding the older man. “And you don’t even know who they are.”
“I know enough.” Qiudong disagreed, kicking the crumpled can into the nearby trash can as a notification lit up on his phone: Fish: They definitely did. Goddamnit, calling him out much. “You’ve always had an obsession with those drawn boys, now, dear Xingqiu, tell me the truth, are you possibly—”
“I’m not gay.” Xingqiu replied immediately, grabbing his phone to reply ‘;)’
Qiudong shook his head. “I was going to say an Inzeeb, not gay. That one’s kinda a given.” He sipped his tea, grimacing slightly. Xingqiu knew he brewed it lighter than Qiudong usually took it. “Imagine!” He chucked. “Son of Feiyun, gay.”
“Yeah.” Xingqiu laughed along with him, though privately he didn’t feel as if it was humorous at all. “ Imagine.”