Chapter Text
New York was a big place. Lots of people go to New York, it was filled with all kinds of cultures and individuality! People went there to make their dreams come true. It had the hustle and bustle with a culture that only a truly big city could develop. There were dancers, chefs, celebrities, or someone as plain as a librarian. They came to New York for a reason, for a purpose, or a dream. You can find almost anybody in New York.
You can also find people like Ning Yingying, who is just a college student. She was quickly walking down the street, going to her dance studio. Today, she had dance practice with her Shizun! And she was late! Don’t get Ning Yingying wrong, she loved her Shizun! But, she also loved her cooking show. She only wanted to watch it for 5 more minutes, but then those 5 minutes turned into 10, which turned into 20, and before she knew it, she was late for her dance rehearsal! Shizun is going to be so disappointed…
But she loved Demonic Chefs ! 3 chefs from New York, (where she lived! She hoped to someday run into any of them) Wei Wuxian, Hua Cheng, and Luo Binghe hosted a cooking show together. That in of itself was really boring. It was one of those classic shows that were mainly just for showing recipes and teaching people how to cook. She didn’t care about the cooking part, she watched it because of the hilarity that would always come about whenever you put Luo Binghe, Wei Wuxian, and Hua Cheng in the same room.
What she wouldn’t give to meet any of them.
Wei Wuxian was so funny. He was able to lighten the tense mood of anyone who was either a guest star or someone like Ning Yingying who wanted something cheerful to put on the TV. She always turned to Wei Wuxian’s episodes when she wanted something to laugh along with or just to put in the background. Ning Yingying thinks Wei Wuxian might be her favorite chef.
No, her favorite was definitely Luo Binghe. He was known for being the best cook with the worst motivation. She’s seen bloopers, Luo Binghe would drop everything, no matter what he was cooking or doing at that moment. If his boyfriend called, he would stop everything to answer the call. Even if he was making something as delicate as macarons, they’d forever be last on his priority list. Fans speculate that’s what happens when, halfway through, a different person would appear and finish Luo Binghe’s episode.
Ning Yingying heard rumors that new phone restrictions were put in place on Demonic Chefs and lots of other cooking shows, purely because of Luo Binghe and his tendency to always answer his phone. He was the catalyst of Demonic Chefs’ no phone policy.
While Wei Wuxian was able to lighten the mood and Luo Binghe was funny, her favorite has to be Hua Cheng. He made snarky comments the entire duration of prepping a meal. He’d forever judge other people when making things, and he held himself to an impossibly high standard. He could find the smallest little detail to critique and could make fun of anything. Ning Yingying would literally die for any and all of the chefs. That’s how much she liked the show.
It really was a surprise when she glanced up from her phone to see a familiar red shirt, black boots, and silver tassels right in front of her. Who was right next to another, shorter, man wearing all white. He turned his head and Ning Yingying could see his mouth moving as he spoke to the man in red.
The man in white was gesturing a little, with shining eyes and a pure smile on his face. The man in red right beside him was more reserved. At least, his body language was more reserved, he wasn’t able to hide the unconditional love that was flowed from his eyes.
It took her a second to realize which chef was walking in front of her. All three demonic chefs wore red. (Ning Yingying always wondered if that was on purpose or accident.) It didn’t help that this particular man in red never had this expression when on TV.
But, anyways, Ning Yingying could hardly believe her eyes! Hua Cheng, her idol, the man who she would die for if he asked, was right in front of her! Right in front of her! Her! She could’ve fallen down onto her knees and wept with joy right then and there.
Unfortunately, he was walking in the same direction as her.
Ning Yingying could’ve sprinted ahead and tried to get their attention from behind, but she really didn’t like running. Ah, the dilemma she was in. Get an autograph of her idol, or do her most hated activity. Decisions, decisions.
Hm, this will be her plan: if Hua Cheng and the man in white turn into a restaurant or store, Ning Yingying will follow them in and hopefully catch them for an autograph. If they don’t, well, Ning Yingying hopes they will because she’s already late for her dance rehearsal and she doesn’t have the time to creepily stalk them until they stop.
The man in white finished his story, with a sentence that made Hua Cheng laugh out loud. Ning Yingying gaped with renewed interest in the man in white. How was he able to get Hua Cheng, famous for not liking anyone, to laugh?
Ooh, now she really wants to meet him.
Hua Cheng and his mystery man turned right. Damn it! She needs to turn left! Disappointedly, she sighed, resigned to the fate that she won’t get her autograph. At least maybe she could get a photo? She pulled out her phone at the intersection (on the sidewalk, not the road. Ning Yingying is not endorsing kids becoming roadkill by any means) and tried to see if she could at least get the back of Hua Cheng in the photo. By the time she got out her phone and turned on the camera, both of them were already specks in the background. Ning Yingying was pretty sure the basics of photography was to make sure you could see the object of the picture.
So with a huge sigh of disappointment, Ning Yingying put her phone back into her bag and continued on her way to the Green Leaf Dance Studio. At least, she’s close to it now.
She walked there in a slump of disappointment.
She barely paid attention to the things right in front of her when she entered. Wait, she needs to tell her mutuals so they can bemoan the lost autograph together. Quickly, she pulled out her phone but before they could start screaming in frustration with her, her Shizun called out to her.
“Ning Yingying! You are in a dance studio! You are supposed to be warming up right now, not texting!” Shen Qingqiu yelled. “You’re even late! You better put that phone down right now and come over to the barre!”
“Sorry, Shizun!” she yelped.
Oh, well.
Guess she’ll have to do it after practice.
Simp for chefs @Ning Yingying
omg u guys. im literally so frustrated rn. our lord and savior hua cheng (with someone else idk who it was) and he was RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. and then they were walking too fast and I couldn’t get an auto graphhhhhhh :((((((((((((((((((((
Crimson Rain @Hua_Cheng_official
Hm.
Simp for chefs @Ning Yingying
Oh. ah.
Could u perhaps make like an NFT that’s definitely not of your signature. Asking for a friend.
Direct Messages between Sweetest Angel Ever and Scared of sunlight
Sweetest Angel Ever: (attached 1 screenshot)
Sweetest Angel Ever: LIU MINGYAN!!!!!
Sweetest Angel Ever: OH MY GOD
Sweetest Angel Ever: THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE TURNED INTO THE BEST DAY. AHHHHHH
Scared of sunlight: :0
Scared of sunlight: damn