Chapter Text
Airplane ✈️ [18:43]: my job sucks, bro.
Cucumber 🥒 [18:44]: Sucks to suck.
Airplane ✈️ [18:44]: sucking is my specialty 😘
Cucumber 🥒 [18:44]: Stfu!
Airplane ✈️ [18:45]: want me to teach you?
Airplane ✈️ [18:48]: don't ignore me
Airplane ✈️ [18:49]: 😭😭😭😭
Airplane ✈️ [18:50]: 😭😭😭😭
Airplane ✈️ [18:51]: 😭😭😭😭
Airplane ✈️ [18:53]: Cuumberrrrrrrrrrrr
Cucumber 🥒 [18:54]: I'm going to murder you.
Airplane ✈️ [18:53]: please do
Shang Qinghua grinned down at his phone. He had just gotten off of the train and was headed towards his favorite noodle shop to pick up dinner. His job did suck. He was overworked, underpaid, unappreciated, and teetering on the edge of burnout. His phone vibrated with an incoming message.
My Son 🐾 [18:59]: Hua-ge, you know this is the only time Shizun and I get together.
Shang Qinghua snorted. Luo Binghe was his little (though much bigger) cousin. And even though Binghe was terrifying 80% of the time, Shang Qinghua wasn't scared of someone whose diapers he used to change.
Airplane ✈️ [19:03]: you're in high school, stop deluding yourself. A-Yuan isn't going to let you get it in.
My Son 🐾 [19:07]: where are you?
Ha! As if he'd tell Luo Binghe. Knowing that punk, he'd go out of his way to find Shang Qinghua to beat him up.
Airplane ✈️ [19:08]: somewhere you're not
My Son 🐾 [19:08]: I know where you sleep!
He cackled when Shen Yuan sent him a message asking him to stop distracting Binghe from his studies. As if that kid needed a tutor! Cucumber-bro just couldn't see the heart eyes Luo Binghe always gave him whenever they had their little one-on-one study sessions.
He put his phone on silent and slid it into his back pocket as he entered the noodle shop. The warm, savory aroma of broth and spices enveloped him, and his stomach grumbled in anticipation.
"Shang-xiansheng, the usual?" the shop owner greeted him with a friendly smile.
"You know it, Lao Wang," Shang Qinghua grinned back. "Extra chili oil tonight. It's been a long day."
As he waited for his order, his mind drifted back to work. The never-ending deadlines, the demanding clients, the office politics... He sighed heavily. It may be time for a change.
His musings were interrupted by Lao Wang handing him a steaming bag of noodles. "Here you go, extra spicy, just like you asked. Enjoy!"
"Thanks, Lao Wang. You're a lifesaver." Shang Qinghua handed over the money and headed out into the bustling street.
The walk back to his tiny apartment was short. He climbed the three flights of stairs, fumbling with his keys at the door. He froze at the sight of boots in the foyer, ones that were at least three sizes too big. Fuck, he'd almost forgotten.
"I'm home and brought dinner," he announced as he slid off his shoes.
The apartment was cold, which made sense given that an ice demon had taken up residence there. The demon had been unintentionally summoned three days ago when Shang Qinghua was conducting research for his latest web novel. The experience was far from pleasant and included a lot of ice, threats from the demon, and plenty of tears and screams from Shang Qinghua. The commotion had the neighbors call the police, forcing Shang Qinghua to lie out his ass about it being a minor argument rather than a domestic disturbance. He apologized profusely until the officers left. Leaving him alone with his unwelcome guest.
Mobei Jun looked up from where he was sitting on the couch, a book in his hands—wait, was that one of Shang Qinghua's romance novels?— His piercing blue eyes met Shang Qinghua's, sending a shiver down his spine that had nothing to do with the cold.
"You're late," the ice demon stated, his deep voice as frigid as the aura surrounding him.
Shang Qinghua gulped, setting the bag of noodles on the kitchen counter. "Sorry, got caught up at work and then stopped for dinner. I brought beef noodle soup."
Mobei Jun set the book aside and gracefully stood, his tall frame unfolding as he approached Shang Qinghua. The human couldn't help but admire the way his dark hair fell around his shoulders, contrasting with his pale skin.
"I do not require human sustenance," Mobei Jun reminded him, now standing just a foot away. He was massive and incredibly intimidating.
"R-right, of course. Demon lord and all that," Shang Qinghua stammered, his heart racing at the proximity. "But you seemed to enjoy it last time, so I thought..."
A cool hand cupped his cheek, silencing him. Mobei Jun's thumb brushed over his lower lip, sending sparks of electricity through his body. "I am a King."
"Ah, yes, right," Shang Qinghua tried to take a step back, but his demon wasn't having it.
"You promised to find a way to send me back to my world, yet you are never here and spend all your days gallivanting about." There was a dangerous glint in those blue eyes.
Shang Qinghua's mouth went dry. "I-I'm not gallivanting! I have a job, you know. Bills to pay. A cousin to keep out of trouble. And I'm working on finding a way to get you home, I swear!"
Mobei Jun's eyes narrowed. "Do not lie to me, human."
"I'm not lying! It's just... complicated. Interdimensional travel isn't exactly a common topic of research." Shang Qinghua's mind raced, trying to come up with a way to appease the ice demon.
The hand on his cheek slid down to grip his throat, not tight enough to hurt, but a clear warning. And shit, that did things for him. "You will find a way, and soon. My patience grows thin."
Shang Qinghua nodded frantically, his hands coming up to grasp Mobei Jun's wrist. "I will, I promise. Just... give me a little more time."
Mobei Jun stared at him for a long moment before releasing his throat and stepping back. "Very well. But do not test me further."
"Of course, my king," Shang Qinghua said, the words slipping out before he could stop them.
A flash of something passed through Mobei Jun's eyes before he turned away. "I will retire for the evening."
Shang Qinghua watched him disappear into the bedroom (he missed his bed so much), his heart still pounding. Living with an ice demon, was proving to be far more complicated than he'd ever imagined.
He sighed and grabbed the bag of noodles, suddenly feeling ravenous. As he slurped the spicy broth, he couldn't help but wonder what twist of fate had brought Mobei Jun to life. And, more importantly, how was he going to send him back where he belonged?
His phone buzzed with more messages, but he ignored them. Luo Binghe's teenage drama could wait. Right now, he had a demon king to deal with and a mystery to solve.
Shang Qinghua finished his noodles and tossed the empty containers, his mind already spinning with possible theories and solutions. He'd figure this out one way or another.
With renewed determination, he grabbed his laptop and settled onto the couch. It was going to be a long night of research and brainstorming, but he was up for the challenge.
Mobei Jun wanted to go home? Well, Shang Qinghua would make it happen. Even if it meant unraveling the very fabric of reality itself.
He woke up to the sound of his phone's alarm going off somewhere on the floor. His laptop was dead beside it. Shang Qinghua slowly sat up, wincing at the crick in his neck. He fell asleep fully dressed and on his shitty couch. Groaning, he fumbled for his phone to shut off the incessant beeping. 6:00 AM. Time to start another soul-crushing day at the office.
He stumbled to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face in an attempt to wake up. His reflection looked haggard, with dark circles under his eyes and stubble dotting his jaw. He really needed to get his shit together.
After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Shang Qinghua shuffled into the kitchen to start the coffee maker. It wasn't until the rich aroma filled the small space that he realized the bedroom door was open.
And Mobei Jun was nowhere to be seen.
"My King?"
No response. Fuck, fuck, fuck. This was bad! The last thing Shang Qinghua wanted was to watch the news later that night, which included stories of mysterious deaths caused by ice around the city. Oh, God, he really didn't want to be responsible for possible murders!
He rushed to the bedroom, hoping to find some clue as to where the ice demon might have gone. The bed was neatly made, and there was not a single wrinkle in the sheets. Mobei Jun's clothes were neatly folded on the desk. Did that mean he was somewhere naked?!.
Shang Qinghua ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. He couldn't just go to work like everything was normal, not when there was a potentially homicidal demon on the loose in the city.
He grabbed his phone and shot off a quick text to his boss, citing a family emergency. It wasn't entirely a lie—Mobei Jun was kind of like family at this point, right? Well, he was more like a pet tiger. Beautiful but incredibly deadly, and you never knew what he was thinking. Would he maul you to death? Would he want pets? Shang Qinghua sure as fuck didn't know!
His boss texted back that he hoped everything was okay. Even though the job was shit, Shang Qinghua appreciated having a supervisor like Yue Qingyuan. The man was perpetually kind and understanding, and he always had a serene smile on his face, even when he was pissed.
With that taken care of, Shang Qinghua threw on his coat and shoes, determined to track down his wayward demon. He had no idea where to start looking, but he couldn't just sit around and do nothing.
The morning air was brisk as Shang Qinghua rushed along the street, his eyes darting around for any indication of his out-of-this-world visitor. He looked in the nearby park and the convenience store. It was still too early for most establishments to be open. Besides, Mobei Jun wasn't exactly inconspicuous! He loomed over Shang Qinghua—who was by no means short. He was broad-shouldered, with sharp features. Far too handsome. He was noticeable!
The sun was beginning to rise, which meant foot traffic was increasing. Fuck. As Shang Qinghua was about to give up and head back home, a familiar figure caught his eye across the street. Tall, dark-haired, and impossibly regal—it was Mobei Jun, standing in front of a bakery and staring intently through the window.
Shang Qinghua rushed over, dodging traffic and earning a few angry honks. "Mobei! What are you doing here?"
The ice demon turned to him, his expression unreadable. "This world is... interesting."
"You can't just wander off like that! What if someone saw you using your powers?" Shang Qinghua hissed, grabbing Mobei Jun's (so very muscular) arm and trying to pull him away from the curious glances of passersby.
Mobei Jun's gaze was still fixed on the bakery. "I want one of those."
"What?" Shang Qinghua followed his line of sight to the display of colorful pastries and cakes. "You want... a pastry?"
"The round one with the red filling."
"I thought you didn't need sustenance."
The scowl Shang Qinghua received from that comment made him almost laugh. He didn't because he valued his life, but still.
The all-powerful ice demon wanted a jelly donut. It was funny!
"Fine," Shang Qinghua sighed, "I'll buy a box of donuts. Different varieties."
He examined Mobei Jun, noting that the demon had swapped his usual traditional robes for something more modern. He wore a simple black t-shirt that stretched tightly over his shoulders, dark sweatpants, and black boots. These were Luo Binghe's clothes, pajamas he had forgotten at Shang Qinghua's place a few months back. They fit Mobei Jun a little snugly, accentuating his form in all the right ways. Shang Qinghua almost wanted to ask the demon if he was cold, because the early spring air held a chill. But then he internally slapped himself for such a stupid question.
Mobei Jun was an ice demon, for fuck's sake. The cold was his element.
"Come on, let's go inside," Shang Qinghua said, tugging Mobei Jun towards the bakery entrance. The bell above the door jingled as they stepped in, the warm aroma of freshly baked bread and sugar enveloping them.
The woman behind the counter looked up with a friendly smile that faltered slightly at the sight of Mobei Jun looming behind him.
"Good morning! What can I get for you?" she asked, her customer service persona quickly sliding back into place.
"A dozen assorted donuts, please. And please include a few of those jelly ones," Shang Qinghua requested, pointing to the pastry that had caught Mobei Jun's eye.
As the woman boxed up their order, Shang Qinghua turned to his companion.
"You can't just wander off like that, especially not dressed like... well, like that." He gestured to Mobei Jun's borrowed attire.
“Are these not correct? You wear similar clothing.” The demon king raised an eyebrow. "These garments are strange, but they allow me to blend in with the humans of this realm."
"Yeah, but you're still... you know, you." Shang Qinghua handed over the money for the donuts and grabbed the box, ushering Mobei Jun out of the bakery. "We need to be careful. If anyone finds out what you really are..."
He didn't want to think about the consequences. Government experiments, media frenzy, his life turned upside down even more than it already was.
They walked back to the apartment in silence, Shang Qinghua's mind whirling with the events of the morning. He'd barely had time to process the fact that he'd essentially played hooky from work to chase after a supernatural being with a sweet tooth.
Once inside, he set the box of donuts on the kitchen counter and turned to face Mobei Jun.
"Look, I know this situation is far from ideal for both of us. But we need to set some ground rules if we're going to figure this out without causing a scene."
Mobei Jun picked up a jelly donut and examined it with a critical eye before taking a bite. A small hum of approval escaped him as he chewed. Shang Qinghua tried not to stare at the way his lips glistened with the red filling.
"Your rules are unnecessary," the ice demon stated after swallowing. "I am capable of conducting myself in a manner befitting a king, even in this strange world."
Shang Qinghua ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. "That's not the point! You can't just go wandering around the city without me. What if something happens? What if you get lost or someone sees you using your powers?"
Mobei Jun fixed him with a cool stare. "I am not a child in need of constant supervision." The temperature around them dropped.
"I know that," Shang Qinghua said, trying to keep his voice level. "But this world is different from yours. There are rules and consequences here that you might not be used to."
Mobei Jun finished the donut and licked a smear of jelly from his thumb. Shang Qinghua had to force himself to look away.
"Then educate me on these rules," the demon said, his tone making it clear that it was not a request.
Shang Qinghua sighed. "Okay, first of all, no using your powers in public. No ice, no frost, no freezing things or people. It'll draw too much attention."
Mobei Jun inclined his head slightly, indicating his understanding.
"Second, if you do go out, try to blend in. Wear normal clothes, don't stare at people, and for the love of God, don't threaten anyone."
A slight frown creased the demon's brow. "And if I am threatened?"
"Then you come find me or come back to the apartment. You can't just start a fight in the middle of the city." Shang Qinghua rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
Mobei Jun considered this for a moment before nodding. "Very well. I will abide by these...rules, for now."
It was the best Shang Qinghua could hope for. He grabbed a donut for himself and took a large bite, the sugar helping to clear some of the fog from his mind.
"Great. Now that that's settled, I need to get back to researching how to send you home."