#it would mean yingxing would be younger than him but blade DOES say that jing yuan used to be pretty arrogant himself

[hoonietual]

hcq lore doesnt compute. why does yanqing recognize dan heng and why isnt dan heng like a couple centuries old and why does jingliu recognize yanqing . ????????

[lightning-etc-lord]

If there was something Jing Yuan did not lack was audacity and the ability to press the right buttons to annoy Yingxing to the point the man contemplates murder more than he cares to admit. Maybe he would kick him down a flight of stairs and call it an accident, he may not die from it but Yingxing would feel satisfied about that smug grin wiped off that face!

Then again… given its Jing Yuan, he might grin and say something sassy as he gets back up and dust his clothes off any signs of dirty. They’re closer but definitely not any short of bickering. It defines their friendship, probably.

The flush that fills Yingxing’s cheeks can only have one effect in Jing Yuan: make him aroused. The older man was caught, both off guard and in Yuan’s trap, unable to either deny or comfirm. He’s so pretty and Yuan can’t look away, savoring every little second of this perfect victory. Yingxing gathers his bearings though, yet he’s unable to undo the damage Yuan’s bold words brought upon them. This, by itself, made Jing Yuan’s night. And then it shatters, because of course there would be a comeback. Rising from the ashes Yingxing ascends, ego somewhat squished, and so beautiful at that that Jing Yuan almost lets him win.

“I don’t need praise from you. I was being nice enough to seek your feedback as a form of amicability since I already know there won’t be a blade as formidable as this one— not unless I myself make one.”

Yingxing doesn’t make any comments about his personality though, he doesn’t deny what he is seen as nor does he behave differently than it. He does gulp his glass, trying not to let the annoyance brew further and let Jing Yuan get the better of him but it is quite a challenge to clap back at someone who always has a comeback at the ready for everything. Besides, all that chat about wanting feedback can only be one thing in Jing Yuan’s filter: bullshit, and this means Yingxing is in deep waters.

“Also, I don’t need a ‘good job’, or anything, and now I no longer want any feedback from you, go home or pester some youngling elsewhere.” Yingxing huffs and crosses his arms after setting his cup down. “Besides, it is rude to talk about the intimate lives of your elders. Ans if we are going to talk about my… situation… wouldn’t you be finding yourself in the same boat? You’re not getting any younger and yet you seem to dismiss any attempts from the fair ladies that approach. Is it perhaps you…” Yingxing turns to him again, eyebrow raised, eyes staring down for a second before meeting his eyes. “Are not well endowed or it doesn’t perform? Or for all I know the one with kinks and impossible demands is you.”

Yingxing has never though that Jing Yuan lacked anything physically speaking. He was strong, nice muscles, tall, charming, charismatic, and his cheeks felt nice to squish. Though squishing them is a punishment the white haired gets from teasing Yingxing too much. “Or… perhaps the ladies aren’t to your liking?” The tone wasn’t accusatory because one cannot judge someone for something if they themselves have their preferences.

“Curious much, are we?” Jing Yuan says as he bits off the words ‘I can show you’, at least for now. This question wasn’t anything worthy of a reply for Yingxing, so it’s almost a mumble instead. Yuan sips on his drink to try to wear off how dry his mouth feel. The last question did get Yuan off guard, though. Golden eyes stared at Yingxing instantly, seizing him and attempting to find the bait. Is he being serious, for once? Jing Yuan searched into his friend’s tone and didn’t find anything that could sound judgmental, even a tiny bit, and Yingxing seemed honest enough.

Anxiety cursed through Jing Yuan’s veins, but he kept a smile on his face. Keeping appearances is a skill he has honed as lieutenant, and now uses in between his arsenal whenever. People like Yingxing, that are too close to him, however, can easily see through it. Lacks finesse, to those that know him. “Well,” Yuan licks his lips, stretching the word and the moment to gain more time, “the time a soldier like me has is extremely short. With all the training Master puts over my shoulders and the battlefields the Quintet walk into, I’m a man very busy. Seeking someone out of… these same circumstances— would consume too much of my time.” And yet here he is, sharing a drink with Yingxing as if there is nowhere to go tomorrow. Jing Yuan spoke a lot but didn’t reply to Yingxing’s question at all.

“But since you brought up this possibility, would it be alright of me to assume that this applies to you?” There is no way Jing Yuan can conceal the hope in his gilded gaze when he asks this question.