Work Text:
1.
"Lu Guang!" Cheng Xiaoshi's voice echoed through the room, disrupting the peaceful atmosphere of their shared space.
Sunlight leaked through the windows and door, casting a warm glow on the photo studio they had built together with Qiao Ling a couple of years ago.
Cheng Xiaoshi, sitting on the sofa, watched with a mix of amusement and affection as Lu Guang bustled around the room, diligently cleaning and wiping the tables.
“He looks like a kitten bustling about looking for food,” he muttered.
With a playful grin, Cheng Xiaoshi couldn't resist teasing him. "Lu Guaaangggg, come here!" he called out, stretching the words into an annoying whine that sounded through the room like a kid asking his friend to play with him.
Lu Guang let out an exasperated sigh, feeling annoyed with the way Cheng Xiaoshi called him. He tossed the used wet wipes into the bin and made his way over to the sofa where Cheng Xiaoshi was sprawled dramatically.
"What do you want, Cheng Xiaoshi?" Lu Guang asked, his tone a mixture of annoyance and exasperation. Though his eyes betrayed him, showing a hint of fondness.
“Nothing.”
“You are wasting my time,” Lu Guang said with an annoyed tone.
“Lu Guaaaaaaangggggggg,” Cheng Xiaoshi called him again, deliberately prolonging calling Lu Guang’s name. It sounds like a whiny baby, Cheng Xiaoshi thought and let out a small chuckle.
"Cheng Xiaoshi, do you know that you sounded like those kids who wanted to play with his friends?” he said with a hint of teasing while he shifted Cheng Xiaoshi’s legs to make room for him to sit down.
"I am older than you!" Cheng Xiaoshi exclaimed as he sat up, wrapping his arms around Lu Guang from the side and resting his chin on Lu Guang's shoulder. "Now that I think about it, you've never called me 'gege'." He whined into Lu Guang’s left ear, making Lu Guang shiver from his playful tone. "Call me 'gege', Lu Guang," he said while rubbing his hair on Lu Guang's neck softly.
Lu Guang wrinkled his eyebrows, slightly disgusted by Cheng Xiaoshi’s whining voice and hair, gently pushed Cheng Xiaoshi's chin away. In a flat tone, he remarked, "You act more like a child than me."
"Lu Guaaangggg, just this once!" Cheng Xiaoshi pleaded, giving his best puppy eyes. "I'll buy you all the milk teas you want." Knowing Lu Guang, Cheng Xiaoshi knows that his deal wasn’t enough, so he added, “For a week.”
Lu Guang’s eyes wavered for a bit, but he rolled his eyes and remained resolute, "No."
"Guang-Guaaaangggg…"
"I said, no. You better use your money to pay the rent to Qiao Ling jie if you can buy me milk tea for a week.”
“That is a foul, Lu Guang! I am hurt! Now you should call me 'gege’ because you hurt me!” Cheng Xiaoshi exclaimed loudly, hurting Lu Guang's ear in the process. Lu Guang ignored him for it and unlocked his phone, scrolling Weibo instead of paying attention to Cheng Xiaoshi.
Cheng Xiaoshi wasn't ready to give up just yet. Much to Lu Guang's horror, he talked again in a more whiny tone, wrapping his arms around Lu Guang again as if to annoy the shit out of Lu Guang like he used to do. "Come on, please? Say 'Xiaoshi-gege.' Just once, Lu Guang." Cheng Xiaoshi even went as far as taking Lu Guang’s phone and putting it in his pocket, making Lu Guang even more annoyed than ever.
"You're so annoying," Lu Guang muttered. He struggled to free himself from Cheng Xiaoshi's octopus-like grip and finally won in their small squabble. He said, with a hint of irritation, "It's your turn to be on duty at the reception." Lu Guang walked away from the sofa and selected a book from the shelves. "Off to the reception, Cheng Xiaoshi," he reminded.
"Ah, Lu Guang! It's just calling me 'gege.' Why are you so embarrassed?" Cheng Xiaoshi pouted as he left the sofa and pointed accusingly at Lu Guang. "You call Qiao Ling 'jie', but you won't call me 'gege'! How unfair, Lu Guang! You're treating us unfairly."
"Get a girlfriend if you want to be called that," Lu Guang retorted, finally claiming the entire sofa for himself and opening the book to read. The contrast between his composed demeanor and Cheng Xiaoshi's playful persistence was always a thing between them. He paid no attention to Cheng Xiaoshi's fuming protests. "I said it's your turn for reception duty." He focused solely on the book, effectively tuning out Cheng Xiaoshi's grumbling.
"We hardly ever get any customers. Why do we even need reception duty?" Cheng Xiaoshi muttered under his breath as he begrudgingly made his way to the reception area. “And why do I need a girlfriend? I only want to hear you call me ‘gege’, it isn’t that hard!” Cheng Xiaoshi grumbled again, irritated with the way Lu Guang ignored his requests.
Cheng Xiaoshi sat there, sulking and manning the empty reception desk.
2.
"Lu Guang, Cheng Xiaoshi!” Qiao Ling entered the photo studio with an infectious energy that seemed to radiate from her very being. Her footsteps bounced playfully on the studio's floor, and her voice brimmed with enthusiasm as she raised her hand and waved a box of pizza in the air. The tantalizing aroma of the freshly baked pizza wafted through the air, instantly tempting their taste buds and igniting a craving for it. "Wanna eat? You don’t have any customers right now, right?”
“Qiao Ling jie,” Lu Guang welcomed her from behind the reception desk with a warm smile, his voice carrying the same warmth he used to Qiao Ling every day. "We don’t have any customers right now. What is the occasion, jie? You rarely want to eat junk food."
Cheng Xiaoshi, still the lively one out of the three, appeared from the living room with a mischievous glint in his eye. "There you go again, Lu Guang! You called her ‘jie’, but you won’t call me ‘gege’! How unfair, Lu Guang." He furrowed his brows and pouted his lips, wearing an expression of an aggrieved kid, much to Lu Guang’s annoyance.
“It’s been days and you are still hoping me to call you that? Dream on, Cheng Xiaoshi.” Lu Guang's tone held another touch of annoyance as he once again ignored Cheng Xiaoshi’s playful yet persistent whining. With practiced ease, he accepted the box of pizza from Qiao Ling, placing and arranging it on the table.
Curious about the ongoing one-sided banter between Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang, Qiao Ling decided to inquire, “What is this ‘gege’ thing you are talking about?”
Cheng Xiaoshi, being as dramatic as he could be, started a monologue. “I am older than Lu Guang, but he never called me ‘gege’. It's so unfair! He kept calling you ‘Qiao Ling jie’ this, ‘Qiao Ling jie’ that! I am his first friend, but he never calls me ‘gege’. It’s so unfair, Qiao Ling jie! Even more unfair because he is younger than me, but refused to call me 'gege’! I even tempted him with milk teas and he stil refused it! And he also kept calling me annoying and like a kid and–ughhh! Jie, tell him to call me ‘gege’!” His tone was playful with a blend of genuine affection, and his passion to hear the title 'gege' coming out of Lu Guang’s mouth shows in his eyes.
“Jie, don’t you think he sounds like a kid when he whines like that?” Lu Guang chimed in, tone full of indignant with a hint of amusement. “He also sounds annoying,” as he saw Cheng Xiaoshi’s more betrayed face, Lu Guang added while mocking Cheng Xiaoshi’s playful tone, “right?” A raised eyebrow and a grin rarely seen from the younger man showed up, making Cheng Xiaoshi stunned for a second.
Qiao Ling let out a small laugh and nodded. “That’s right, Cheng Xiaoshi! You know that you are older than him, but do you realize that Lu Guang is way more mature than you!” Qiao Ling teased Cheng Xiaoshi, she stuck her tongue out to mock him.
“Jie, I am hurt!” Cheng Xiaoshi exclaimed, though his exaggerated antics were met with lighthearted chuckles from both Lu Guang and Qiao Ling. "How can you laugh to me! This is a serious matter!" He dramatically put a hand over his chest and sprawled on the sofa once more, playing up his role as the aggrieved party, adding another dramatic touch to their playful banter.
“Ignore him, Qiao Ling jie. He has been like this for a week. He will forget it after a while,” Lu Guang said, a hint of amusement still lingering in his eyes as he continued to savor the pizza. “Eat more, jie.” He pushed the box of pizza toward Qiao Ling, deliberately ignoring Cheng Xiaoshi once again, just as he had done in the days prior.
“See that, Cheng Xiaoshi?” Qiao Ling raised her chin and pointed to Lu Guang’s act of pushing the pizza box. “You are the one who should have called him ‘gege’ instead of you pestering him to call you ‘gege’, Cheng Xiaoshi!”
“Qiao Ling… how can you betray me like this!” Cheng Xiaoshi once again put on his aggrieved and betrayed face, got up from his seat, and walked to Qiao Ling. “Qiao Ling jie … receive this tickling attack!” Cheng Xiaoshi playfully tickled Qiao Ling, making the whole room full of hearty laughter.
Well. Cheng Xiaoshi didn't get to be called 'gege' today either, but he doesn't mind since he got a free Lu Guang's smile and a pizza from Qiao Ling.
3.
Guang-guang
Lu Guang
Guangguaaaangg
What?
You still won’t call me gege?
Tell me 5 reasons why I need to.
One, I am older than you
Two, I am handsome
Being handsome is irrelevant.
You didn’t deny that I am handsome!
(read 12.19)
Hey, don’t leave me on reaadddd
Go back on your reception duty, Cheng Xiaoshi.
No!
Three, if you call me gege, i will buy you
a lifetime's worth of milk tea.
No, use your money to pay rent.
Four!!!!
You love me, you WILL call me gege
Who spread lies?
What lies?
I don’t love you.
LU GUAAAAANGGGG
T_____T
I hate you!
Hate you too.
You are so cruel, Lu Guang!
Fifth reason!
You are still going?
Yes!
Fifth reason, I love you!
So you need to call me ‘gege’!
Lu Guang?
HEEEEEEEEEEEY
Why do you left me on rEEAAAAaaaAd
LU GUAAAANg
I hate you!!!!!!!
I hope your milk tea bursts!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!
(read 12.26)
“He is insufferable!” Cheng Xiaoshi put his phone down and pouted, “That hurts a bit, Lu Guang.”
4.
It was an ordinary weekend at the photo studio when a sudden burst of excitement entered through the door. The door opened dramatically and Qiao Ling, the one who opened it, with all of her energy and a mischievous glint in her eye, pushed her way in and greeted, "Cheng Xiaoshi, Lu Guang! Do you want to watch a horror movie?"
Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. It’s not that they are afraid of horror movies, it’s just that horror movies weren't typically their first choice for entertainment. But Qiao Ling's enthusiasm was infectious and they found themselves intrigued by the idea. They are not open on the weekends anyway, it doesn't hurt to watch something. It's just that, a horror movie...
After a brief moment of contemplation, Cheng Xiaoshi decided to add an extra layer of excitement to the proposal.
"Let's make a bet!" Cheng Xiaoshi exclaimed, a playful grin spreading across his face.
Lu Guang, who is silently always up for a challenge (but never admits that he is into challenges), raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What bet?"
Cheng Xiaoshi's eyes sparkled with mischief as he proposed, "Here's the deal. If I don't scream at all until the end of the movie, Lu Guang needs to call me 'gege' and Qiao Ling needs to buy me milk teas for a week!"
“And if you scream, Cheng Xiaoshi?” Lu Guang asked, voice full of looking down on him in a playful tone as if knowing that Cheng Xiaoshi would lose the bet.
"That..." Cheng Xiaoshi stammered a bit before relenting and said, "you guys decide on it, then."
Qiao Ling grinned widely after hearing his words and Cheng Xiaoshi swore that he could feel a shiver down his spine. “If Cheng Xiaoshi screamed first, he needs to call Lu Guang with ‘gege’ and buy me milk teas instead!”
Cheng Xiaoshi, knowing he is jumping into the pit he wasn’t supposed to, can’t help but accept the bet. He extended his hand to seal the bet, "Deal!" He can't let himself lose his face again!!! He thought full of aggrievance in his heart.
With the terms of their not-so-friendly bet settled, they gathered around the TV, and the room was made dimly lit on purpose, setting the perfect eerie ambiance for the upcoming horror film. Popcorn (burnt!!!) and snacks were prepared, and the movie began.
As the tension built and the creepy scenes unfolded, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang remained surprisingly calm, their determination to win the bet keeping their fears at bay. Qiao Ling, on the other hand, found herself jumping at every jumpscare, eliciting amusement from her friends. Though it seems like she is trying her best not to scream out loud.
The minutes turned into hours, and the movie grew increasingly suspenseful. Cheng Xiaoshi's confidence wavered as the plot twisted and the horror intensified. He desperately tried to stifle any impending screams, but the relentless terror of the film finally broke through his resolve.
In a moment of sheer fright, Cheng Xiaoshi let out an involuntary scream that reverberated through the studio, startling both Qiao Ling and Lu Guang. It was a scream that signaled his defeat and without looking at his friends, he already felt their victory grin from the back of his head.
With a sigh of resignation, Cheng Xiaoshi buried his face in his hands with a loud groan. "Alright," he admitted, "you guys win. I screamed."
Lu Guang couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's antics. "Looks like we do, Cheng Xiaoshi."
Qiao Ling, who had been watching the bet unfold with amusement, finally burst into laughter at Cheng Xiaoshi's expense. "Cheng Xiaoshi, you really thought you could make it through a horror movie without screaming? That's bold of you!”
“Don’t forget your bet, Cheng Xiaoshi.” Lu Guang said with a hint of smugness that can be slightly heard from his flat tone.
Cheng Xiaoshi groaned again and muttered, “...ge.”
“What is it that you said?” Lu Guang put a hand on his left ear and moved his head closer to Cheng Xiaoshi’s lips. Qiao Ling, amused with Lu Guang's sudden burst of childishness, pulled out her phone and recorded the whole event.
“I said, ‘Okay, Lu Guang-gege’!” Cheng Xiaoshi screamed and endured the flame rising on his cheek. He prayed he didn’t hear the loud laughter from both Lu Guang and Qiao Ling.
No, Cheng Xiaoshi hoped to be buried forever!
Qiao Ling won't ever stop talking about this until their deathbeds!!
Cheng Xiaoshi had to endure days of calling Lu Guang ‘gege’ and even more so, he needed to buy Qiao Ling’s demand for milk teas!!!
For Cheng Xiaoshi, it was one week of hell. For his other friends, it was a week full of bliss.
5.
One night in the dimly lit room, Cheng Xiaoshi, nestled in the lower bunk, attempted to engage Lu Guang in a small talk. With mischief in his voice, Cheng Xiaoshi called out, "Lu Guang, are you asleep?" Cheng Xiaoshi is filled with anticipation as he waits for a response from Lu Guang, hoping the other will answer him.
A moment of silence followed, as if Lu Guang were genuinely trying to maintain his pretense of slumber. Thinking that Lu Guang is asleep and afraid of bothering his sleep, Cheng Xiaoshi (with his little conscience left) tries to close his eyes and sleep. But then, a sleepy voice finally broke the stillness, "Yes."
Cheng Xiaoshi couldn't help but chuckle softly at the response, his voice sounded light, but anyone who heard him will be able to know that he is happy based on his tone. "Liar! If you are asleep, you won’t be able to reply to me."
"Exactly. You are stupid, Cheng Xiaoshi," came Lu Guang's amused retort, punctuated by the sound of shuffling from the upper bunk, where he lay. The rustling of sheets and a pillow being adjusted reverberate, making Cheng Xiaoshi wonder what position is Lu Guang sleeping in. Cheng Xiaoshi heard the sleepy voice in Lu Guang, yet he couldn’t help but talk to him more.
“Stop moving around, Lu Guang! I can hear your bed rustling.”
I don’t mind listening to it though, he thought.
“You are the one who disturbs my sleep, Cheng Xiaoshi.”
Cheng Xiaoshi was nothing if not persistent, and he continued his playful request from days before. "Will you call me 'gege’, now?" he asked, his tone a delicate blend of hope and jest. The room seemed to hold its breath as if the air in it also anticipated Lu Guang's response.
Cheng Xiaoshi waited in the quiet of the room, his heart tightened inexplicably. It wasn't just about the word itself; it was about the affection and acknowledgment he sought from the younger man lying on the top bunk. His yearning for that simple term 'gege' transcended the boundaries of mere words. He wished for Lu Guang to call him with a softness in his voice, to convey that Cheng Xiaoshi held a special place in his heart.
As silence enveloped them, Cheng Xiaoshi couldn't help but reflect on his true desire. It wasn't solely about the 'gege' title he had playfully pestered Lu Guang for weeks; it was something more that he wanted to hear from Lu Guang. The tender voice Lu Guang used for Qiao Ling, Cheng Xiaoshi also hoped he could have it. (And it will be better if he can have it all by himself, even if he knows it is impossible).
Cheng Xiaoshi knew that he lacked the words to express this sentiment to Lu Guang. Instead, he had resorted to their playful banter, hoping it would convey his longing indirectly. Yet, Lu Guang seems like he wouldn’t notice anything. (If Qiao Ling were to hear about this, she would likely offer to smack some sense into him).
With no response from Lu Guang, Cheng Xiaoshi adjusted his posture and settled into his bed, his heart now grew heavy with unspoken emotions. "Is it so hard to call me in a soft tone, Lu Guang…" he muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper. With that lingering thought, he closed his eyes and drifted into sleep, the night carrying his unspoken feelings into the realm of dreams.
+1
The next morning, light spilled through the windows of their bedroom, Cheng Xiaoshi snuggled his blanket on his bed. The gentle rise and fall of his chest shows that he is still asleep, but his peaceful sleep is short-lived, as a persistent nudging sensation interrupts him.
"Cheng Xiaoshi," came a voice, soft yet insistent on waking him up. "Wake up, Cheng Xiaoshi." Another nudge came to his shoulder.
"Mmm... five more minutes, Guang-guaaang…" Cheng Xiaoshi mumbled drowsily, his words barely coherent in his half-awake state.
"No, ge," Lu Guang urged, using a term that he knew Cheng Xiaoshi didn’t catch as his mind was still wandering through the dreamscapes. "We have a client today." Lu Guang gave another hard nudge on Cheng Xiaoshi's shoulder.
Cheng Xiaoshi's eyes fluttered open, his sleep-addled mind struggling to process the information. "Mm… what client?" He rubbed his eyes and drowsily asked.
"Qiao Ling jie told me this morning via text message," Lu Guang explained, his voice patient. "There is a client that wished to convey messages to the people in the photos."
Fully awake from his slumber, Cheng Xiaoshi's curiosity overcame his drowsiness. "When are they coming?" Getting up from his position, he inquired, still not fully registering the subtle change in Lu Guang's address before.
"Qiao Ling jie said that the client is coming in the afternoon, ge." His voice was so soft that it was barely above a whisper, making Lu Guang sounds like he was talking to his loved one.
Cheng Xiaoshi froze, his eyes widening as he replayed Lu Guang's words in his mind. Did he just hear what he thought he heard? "W-what?" he stammered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "What did you call me again?"
Lu Guang blinked in 'confusion' and said, "I called you Cheng Xiaoshi."
"No, you didn’t! You called me ge!"
Lu Guang, still wearing the facade of being confused snorted. "I didn’t. Are you still dreaming, Cheng Xiaoshi?"
Cheng Xiaoshi, however, was not one to back down easily, especially when it came to this matter. Noticing Lu Guang's reddening ear, Cheng Xiaoshi pointed an accusatory finger at Lu Guang with a triumphant grin.
"Liar! You are blushing, Guang-guang!"