• Modern AU

Narrator:

Feng Xin always prided himself on being loyal, dependable and..above all..strong. But nothing..not even his years in the gym or his fierce temper had prepared him for the sheer endurance required to survive a shopping day with Mu Qing.

Mu Qing, with his sharp tongue and almost clinical obsession with perfection didn't just shop. He curated. Every store was a battlefield, every item scrutinized and every poor retail worker left trembling in his wake.

Today, Feng Xin found himself drafted into service as Mu Qing's unwilling pack mule. It wasn't the physical strain that got to him..though Mu Qing was remarkably efficient at filling shopping bags but the endless critiques, sarcastic comments and the occasional sideways glance that made Feng Xin wonder why he had agreed to this in the first place.

Still, he was loyal. And maybe, just maybe..he didn't mind spending a little extra time with the person who always managed to get under his skin. The sliding doors of the upscale mall parted and Feng Xin walked in behind Mu Qing..already regretting his life choices.

"Why am I here again?" Feng Xin grumbled, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets.

Mu Qing glanced back and his tone perfectly unbothered. "Because you said you'd do anything to make up for spilling coffee on my new coat. Remember that?"

"It was an accident!" Feng Xin protested. "And it barely touched you!"

"Barely? The stain was the size of your temper" Mu Qing said with a dramatic sigh, heading straight for the first store.

Feng Xin clenched his jaw and followed, determined not to let Mu Qing's jabs get to him. An hour later, Feng Xin's arms were full of shopping bags..each one heavier than the last.

"Do you really need three versions of the same shirt?" Feng Xin asked and his voice laced with frustration as Mu Qing held up another identical piece.

"They're not the same" Mu Qing replied coolly. "This one is eggshell white and the other is ivory. Do you even know the difference?"

"White is white" Feng Xin muttered under his breath. Mu Qing rolled his eyes. "You're hopeless. It's a miracle you can even dress yourself."

"Hey!" Feng Xin snapped, nearly dropping a bag. "Just because I don't take two hours deciding what to wear doesn't mean I'm clueless."

"Clearly" Mu Qing replied with a smirk, moving on to the next section of the store. By the time they reached the fifth store, Feng Xin's patience was running on fumes.

"Do we really have to go into another one? My arms are going numb!" he complained, shifting the bags around to give his biceps a break.

"If your arms are tired, you can wait outside" Mu Qing said, his tone indifferent. "But then I'll be forced to carry everything myself and if I trip, I'll just blame you for not being reliable."

"Of course you will" Feng Xin grumbled, following him inside anyway. As the day dragged on, Feng Xin finally hit his breaking point in the shoe store.

"You've tried on ten pairs already! Just pick one!" he said while throwing his hands in the air.

"Pick one?" Mu Qing raised an eyebrow. "Do you know how much effort goes into finding the perfect pair? Unlike you, I don't settle for 'good enough'.."

"Maybe you should" Feng Xin shot back. Mu Qing turned to him, his eyes narrowing. "If you can't handle it, you're free to leave."

"Fine!" Feng Xin huff, setting the bags down on a bench with a loud thud. But just as he turned to storm out, he glanced back and saw Mu Qing trying on a sleek pair of black loafers. For a moment, Mu Qing's usual sharpness faded and a satisfied..almost soft expression crossed his face.

Feng Xin sighed and running a hand through his hair. "You really like those, huh?" Mu Qing glanced at him, momentarily surprised. "They're decent."

"Decent enough to end this torture?" Feng Xin asked, a faint smirk on his lips. Mu Qing chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Not even close."
_

By the end of the day, Feng Xin was loaded down with bags but Mu Qing finally declared himself satisfied.

"You're free to complain now." Mu Qing said as they exited the mall. Feng Xin gave him a long look. "You know, for someone so picky, you're not all bad."

Mu Qing tilted his head with a hint of curiosity in his expression. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

"Take it however you want.." Feng Xin muttered and turning away to hide the faint blush creeping up his neck.

As they walked to the car, Mu Qing glanced at him out of the corner of his eye..a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Thanks for carrying the bags, by the way. I'd say you're not all bad either." Feng Xin paused, staring at him. "Was that... Did you just-"

"Don't ruin it" Mu Qing said sharply, though his tone lacked its usual bite.

Feng Xin chuckled, shaking his head as they loaded the bags into the car. For all his complaints, he had to admit..shopping days with Mu Qing weren't so bad after all..