Work Text:
As the stars glitter in the night sky, Zhou Zekai looks through his window, staring at the skyline gleaming with the lights of the bustling city down below. He wonders about the news he received from the guild leaders. About the ongoing chaos in the Heavenly Domain with a certain ‘Lord Grim’ at the epicentre.
“Senior…?”
— •ˆ• —
When comparing sponsorship ventures, he’d admit that modeling is by far the best option. And maybe he’d choose to do it more were it not for the fact that it’s rather difficult to play Glory or even find a computer during these sessions. So here he is, sitting in a chair, makeup being applied to his face as he scrolls through Weibo, bored, eagerly anticipating his return to his forlorn computer. Jiang Botao is keeping him updated on the team’s training, but that’s not the news he’s waiting for. He wonders, instead, if there is any update on the situation with Ye Qiu in the Heavenly Domain. He sinks down into the plush chair, mindlessly scrolling, while pondering whether there’s anything he could do to assist. Upon hearing a sharp beep, he jolts and focuses once more upon his phone screen, scanning the topmost post.
The autumn leaves have fallen,
Branches bare
A skirt of fire enveloping the soil
Seeping…
The trunk, the shadows providing protection
To the shoots underneath
As it too,
Grows
Develops
As time moves on.
Liked by Su Mucheng (V), Ye Qiu (V) & 108252 others
It was an ordinary fan who posted the message, so why is it that it became so popular? The fan didn’t have a big following, positive or negative, before posting and their account is only days old. The post was liked by Su Mucheng and by Senior Ye. Maybe Senior Su borrowed Senior Ye’s Weibo account because the post was about him? …Botao would have been able to explain this to him.
He continues thinking about the post, as the photoshoot starts—maybe Senior Ye’s Weibo page will have some clues…no, all the retired seniors from the club complain about how Ye Qiu is barely active on social media: he’s hardly online on QQ, and were it not for Su Mucheng, they think he’d not know that Weibo exists.
In his inattention, he mistakenly taps his phone screen, and when he next looks at it, he sees Senior Ye Qiu’s profile. Except, it isn’t.
@therealyeqiu | Ye Qiu (V)
“gege give me my name back, do you know how much trouble I went through to get verified”
Ye Qiu: businessman, violinist, annoyed younger brother and the actually competent twin
Who…is this? That’s Senior Ye’s face. That’s his name. But Senior Ye isn’t based in Beijing (but he has a Beijing accent). He’s not a businessman, most definitely not a CFO (but rumours flew about for years about how Ye Qiu was the one who decided on Excellent Era’s company structure in the early years, while spearheading their collection of sponsors). And he isn’t a violinist (but doesn’t he sometimes drum his fingers on the table like he’s playing a song on a piano).
Maybe, just maybe…they’re the same person. It makes no sense, but does it need to? God Ye is amazing and awesome. He can do anything.
Zhou Zekai wants to see him in this new environment.
— •ˆ• —
He smiles, swirling his cup of huangjiu as he lifts it to his lips. The golden liquid pops up towards the rims of the cup, before settling. Taking a small sip, he closes his eyes, letting the sweet wine run over his tongue. As he continues to drink, appreciating the flavors anew with each fresh mouthful, he looks around the room full of models and sponsors. Where is he, where is Ye Qiu, he wonders. Ye Company sent a representative, he checked the invite list, and Jiang Botao heard, Zekai doesn’t know from whom he found out, but the representative is directly related to the company chairman. It must be Senior. Maybe Senior could speak with him, is Senior doing alright? Eating well, sleeping well?
He feels a tap on his shoulder and hears a crisp voice say, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Zhou Zekai. I’m Ye Qiu of Ye Company.”
His eyes widen in shock and he spins around, offering his hand to the man all while plastering a picture-perfect smile on his face. “Senior, you’re…not Senior,” he mutters almost too quietly to be heard, before raising his voice to a normal volume. “Senior…Ye Qiu, hello.”
The other man flinches slightly, before laughing. “You've met my elder brother, haven’t you. I wasn’t sure, since most younger alliance players don’t recognize me, and by extension him. Would you happen to know how he’s doing? Su Mucheng used to give me updates, but she’s understandably had less to provide recently.” When he sees Zhou Zekai shake his head, he smiles and moves closer. “You too, then? I figured as much. Brother is very capable at whatever he does, but he has always felt the need to keep his emotions and personal business to himself, even when we lived together. I know he wants to protect me, but we’re twins—I could have helped him too.”
Ye Qiu looks into Zhou Zekai’s eyes. “I must say, you’re quite pretty. Xiu-ge is too busy with his career to pay attention to anything not directly related, but I’m not. Would you like to come with me tonight? The event is winding down and neither of us will be missed. I have a suite booked in this hotel and I can have you back at your club tomorrow morning. Are you interested, Zhou Zekai?"
Zhou Zekai, mostly quiet up until this point, looks at Ye Qiu with his eyes glittering. He reaches out towards him and shyly says, “Yes. Coming?” before starting to walk in the direction of the elevator.
As Ye Qiu catches up, with his other hand Zhou Zekai sends a message to Jiang Botao.
Tomorrow, Botao.
— •ˆ• —
The next morning, Zhou Zekai wakes up to the sun rising in the clear sky, his new friend leaning against the headboard of the bed, typing on his phone. He looks out at the morning light, thinking about the past night. He looks at Ye Qiu, the actual Ye Qiu, not the God Ye he’s known for the past years but a Ye Qiu who feels far closer to him. “Again?” he asks.
“And forever more, I hope,” he hears in response.