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The Effect of Jeuyun Chilis

Xingqiu adds Jeuyun Chilis to Chongyun's food as a prank. It doesn't go quite as expected.

Alternate summary: Jeuyun Chili powder can sometimes have strange effects on the pale-haired exorcist, as Xingqiu is about to find out.

Read on AO3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38099944

I laugh to myself as Chongyun takes a bite of his cold noodles. The dish has Jeuyun Chili powder, another one of my many pranks on the light-haired boy. As soon as the spicy taste hits his tongue, a flush appears on his pale cheeks.

"Oh no! Xingqiu, did you..." he begins to exclaim, but his eyes lose focus as they often do when he sees spirits, and he trails off.

Concerned that he will go on another one of his episodes where he tries to exorcise demons that only he can see, I wave my hand in front of his face to get his attention. "Yun Yun," I say, "are you alright?".

His eyes regain their focus, and his intense stare focuses on my face. He is silent for a moment, long enough that I become self-conscious that there might be something on my face.

"Qiu, you look so beautiful." he finally says with a strange look. His tone is so confident, unlike his usually shy and reserved nature. This change in demeanour is not a surprise to me. Expected even, since that is his usual reaction to spicy foods. But he has never complimented me before, even in this state. A blush rises on my cheeks, mirroring him.

He notices, and a concerned look crosses his face. "Qiu, did you catch a cold from the rain yesterday?" As he says this, he uses the back of his hand to check if I have a fever. His hands, which are usually cold, are warm on my forehead. The change seems to be from the chilis since he usually uses his cryo vision to keep his temperature down.

The warmth of his touch has an unexpected effect on me. I lean my head slightly into his hand. I hadn't realized what I was missing - that I needed the warmth of human touch until this moment. I allow myself to indulge in his touch before coming back to myself and realizing that we are in public.

"N-No, I'm fine." I stutter out in response. I internally berate myself at how shaky my voice sounds.

He looks unconvinced, but he doesn't press the issue. "I'll take your word for it, Qiu. Do you want to finish our meals, then we can go for a walk around the harbour if you like?"

I don't trust my voice after my last words, so I nod my assent instead. The exorcist smiles at me and moves his chair closer to me. He probably doesn't want to be too far from me if I am ill like he suspects. But instead of just moving slightly closer as I expected, he moves so his thigh is pressing against mine.

After the realization that I had earlier, the touch burns. I take a few moments to remember to breathe before turning back to my food. I look up and see Xiangling giggling behind her hand. No doubt she is laughing at how flustered I am. Much to my embarrassment, I feel my face get even hotter. I immediately turn my face down towards my food, hoping that my hair will cover my face. I keep my face tilted downwards the entire time I eat, even as Chongyun begins chatting with Xiangling and the other patrons of the Wanmin Restaurant. Surprisingly, the chilis do not seem to have much of an effect on him otherwise.

After I finish my food, I pull out my pouch of Mora to pay Xiangling. Chongyun is distracted in a chat with Ying'er. They seem to be talking about the potential uses of perfume in exorcisms. Since I sabotaged Chogyun's food, it is only fair that I pay the bill.

As I stand up to give Xiangling the Mora, I feel a presence behind me. I correctly assume that it is Chongyun, as I catch sight of his hair in the corner of my eye. Surprisingly, I feel the solid chest of the claymore wielder against my back. His arms wrap around my waist, and his chin rests on my shoulder. It takes all my focus to stay standing and not melt in his arms. Hoping that my weakness is not visible on my face, I quickly hand Xiangling the Mora, which she takes with a smile.

"Are we ready to leave yet?" he whispers to me. His voice, which I have always found soothing, makes me want to curl up in his arms and forget everything else.

"Yun Yun," I gasp in response. At the moment, the only thing I can think about is him. His warmth seeps through my clothes and sinks into my skin. The faint scent of Qingxin flowers, ice, and what can only be described as uniquely Chongyun hangs in the air around him. I can feel his chest vibrate with his speech, but the sound of his voice doesn't reach my ears. After a couple moments, he releases me from his embrace.

I almost let out a needy whine, wanting him to hold me again. My body feels freezing cold, and a shiver runs down my spine. Luckily, I am saved from embarrassing myself when he grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers. "Let me take you home, Qiu. You must be tired." He says in a gentle tone.

Maybe I am just tired, I think to myself. But when Chongyun begins to lead me away from the restaurant, I grip his hand and dig in my heels. "Yun Yun." I whimper. I don't know what I am asking for. Maybe I am asking him to hold me again.

He seems to understand what I am asking for. He steps close to me again, and his free hand reaches up to cup my cheek. I can't help but let my eyes fall shut and lean into his touch. I can feel his breaths on my lips. My heart hammers in my chest, and I can't believe this is happening. I almost want to check if this is a dream again, but it would ruin the mood.

The gentle touch of slightly chapped lips against mine brings me back to reality. It feels different than in my dreams. There are no fireworks like the romance novels describe. In fact, it doesn't even feel all that special. At the same time, it is magical and better than I ever imagined. This is Chongyun, my best friend for as long as I can remember, and the boy who I have had a crush on since I learned what romance is.

After far too short of a time, he pulls away. I slowly open my eyes and see him smiling at me. I blush from the tenderness in his gaze. He gently tugs my hand, silently asking if I feel ready to go yet. I give him a dazed nod, lost in the memory of the short kiss.

He leads me toward my family's mansion, and I blindly follow. Trusting him to guide me in the right direction. My mind goes over the evening, replaying Chongyun's bold actions. His compliment, the thought of which makes me blush again. The warmth of his body when he held me, the slight taste of the spicy noodles on his lips. I could float up to the Jade Chamber, and Chongyun's hold is the only thing keeping me grounded.

I am only brought back to the present when Chongyun's hand lets go of mine. My support is gone, and I look around for him, scared that something terrible happened to him. I recognize the entryway of the Commerce Guild's mansion. To my relief, Chongyun is still close to me. He is simply helping me take off my shoes before we enter the house. Once he is done with his task, he looks up at me. Realizing that I am looking at him, he offers me a smile and helps me stand. I take his hand. He pulls me up with more strength than expected, and I fall onto his chest. Laughing slightly at his own mistake, he decides to pick me up in a bridal carry. I give a yelp of surprise, not expecting his move. Instinctively, I reach up and grip his shoulders for some leverage.

When I realize the position we are in, my face heats up. The cryo vision holder giggles at the deep blush on my face, prompting me to hide my face against him. He continues to laugh for a few moments before he begins to walk. Having been in the mansion enough times that he knows the layout, I trust him to know how to get to my room. I'm glad that it is late enough that the maids have gone home for the day. After some walking, allowing my face to cool down significantly, Chongyun shifts his hold on me to free up his hand. Once we enter my room, we are greeted with the scent of silk flowers.

The exorcist lowers himself onto my bed and adjusts me in his arms. I end up sitting on his lap, with my legs over one of his thighs. In the safety of my room, I finally feel comfortable enough to look up at him. He has a caring smile, and his eyes hold so much tenderness that I almost tear up. The gaze leaves me feeling vulnerable, and I am tempted to hide again.

"Are you back with me, Qiu?" His gentle voice reaches me, soothing away my worries. My voice cracks as I give a positive reply, and my face heats up again. Why does the icy-haired boy make me blush so much? I can see the relief on his face as he smiles reassuringly at me. A calloused hand gently rubs across my back. The warmth of his touch surrounds me. As greedy as it may sound, I want more. Trusting his strength, I slump against him and allow him to hold me up.

Sleep pulls at me, beckoning me with its welcoming darkness. I resist, wanting to bask in the warmth of the touch. I'm scared that Chongyun will leave me in the morning when he realizes that I am too needy. My eyelids flutter as I struggle to lift them.

"Qiu, it's ok, you can sleep. I'm here," Chongyun whispers as if he knows what is bothering me. A gentle kiss is pressed to the crown of my head.

"No, Yun Yun. Want you to cuddle me." I whine, too tired to care about how needy I sound. His arms tighten around me for a moment.

"I'll stay Qiu,"

Gentle hands rearrange my limp body, and Chongyun spoons up against my back. His arm wraps around me, surrounding me in warmth once again. He presses gentle kisses against my neck. "Sleep Qiu. I'll be here when you wake up." The reassurance is whispered, muffled slightly by my skin. The combined comfort of his contact and the scent of safety lull me into a peaceful slumber.

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