[Beautiful, strong, and tragic male lead + mutual secret crush]
Wen Heting has a very obedient junior brother.
When he teaches him swordplay, the boy practices diligently until nightfall. When he takes him out, he can always look back and see him following close behind. A few casual teasing remarks are enough to make the boy blush from his neck to his ears.
Wen Heting likes him more and more.
The only problem is that the boy calls him Senior Brother with such heartfelt sincerity.
When he practices swordplay with him, it's "Senior Brother, you must be tired." When Wen Heting brings him food, it's "Senior Brother is so good to me." Even when Wen Heting takes a sword strike for him and frightens him until his eyes turn red, all he hears is another "Senior Brother."
Wen Heting thinks that if this goes on, sooner or later he'll be laid to rest with the words "Senior Brother" still ringing in his ears.
But whenever someone else comes looking for Wen Heting, his junior brother gets upset.
He says he doesn't want to interrupt, then leaves faster than anyone. Wen Heting reaches out and stops him. His junior brother answers considerately, "They need to talk to you. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to stay."
Then he takes the packet of pastries from the table with him.
Watching him walk away, Wen Heting feels somewhat comforted. He'd gone out of his way to buy those pastries when he came down the mountain. At least he hadn't left them for someone else.
*
Later, Wen Heting is punished with the sect's discipline whip. His spiritual power is sealed, and he is sent to spend three days in a freezing pool.
He has an old ailment and can't withstand such cold. At first, he can still lean against the rock wall and joke about how his junior brother ended up there. After one night, his voice is no longer steady enough for him to speak.
Wen Heting can't bear to let his junior brother see him like this, so he makes an excuse to send him away.
His junior brother agrees.
Listening to the footsteps fade, Wen Heting finally unclenches his fist and bends over, pressing a hand against his stomach. Cold sweat runs down the side of his neck. After a long while, he manages to draw a single breath.
Then footsteps sound again.
The junior brother who had obediently agreed to leave now stands before him, eyes red.
Well, there it is.
His junior brother won't obey him anymore.
*
Lu Zhiyao has been in love with his Senior Brother for years, but has never dared to confess.
So many people in the sect are in love with Senior Brother. Being one of them and receiving his care whenever he calls him "Senior Brother" is already enough to make him happy.
Yet Wen Heting loves to tease him. He stands close when teaching him swordplay, and smiles at him when listening to him speak. Often, before Lu Zhiyao has finished a sentence, he has already forgotten what he was going to say next.
He can think about these moments for a long time after he gets back, only to remind himself that Senior Brother treats everyone this way.
Until, in the freezing pool, Wen Heting is in so much pain that he has no strength left. His head rests against Lu Zhiyao's shoulder, and his hand gently hooks into Lu Zhiyao's clothes.
Lu Zhiyao looks down at him, body stiff, unable to bring himself to move.
[Teasing, beautiful, strong, and tragic senior brother gong x cheerful, lively junior brother shou who blushes easily whenever he sees his senior brother]
Content warnings:
1. The gong is beautiful, strong, and tragic, with a chronic stomach ailment and scenes of battle injuries.
2. Haven't thought of anything else yet.
Theme: Be kind, sincere, and good.
