He watched as Zuo Shihuan, terrified, tried to run to the bathroom.
He almost went to the wrong room.
How could Gu Heng not burst into laughter at his adorable, embarrassed escape? He laughed so hard his heart was pounding, clearly laughing too openly and arrogantly.
Even though Gu Heng kindly reminded Zuo Shihuan that the bathroom was actually the third room, he still couldn’t avoid being glared at when Zuo Shihuan turned back in embarrassment and anger.
That glare, however, still couldn’t stop Gu Heng’s index finger from pressing against the corner of his lips as they curved upward.
Not until a loud bang sounded.
The bathroom door slammed shut.
Only then did Gu Heng barely rein himself in. He lowered his head and glanced at the tent pitched high below, stirring restlessly and growing even harder, then lifted his head to look again toward the bathroom, whose door was definitely shut tight. In the end, he could only let out a heavy, restrained, and resentful sigh.
Shy Zuo Shihuan was utterly delicious but being abandoned halfway through the meal only made it even more maddening, scratching at his heart and lungs until it hurt.
He had eaten a closed door.
There was nothing Gu Heng could do about him either; corner a shy rabbit too much and it would bite.
With a worried expression, he propped his cheek on his hand and sighed heavily again. After sitting for only a few seconds, he switched to sitting cross-legged, very obediently waiting for Zuo Shihuan to come out.
But…
The living room, once it fell silent, suddenly became something Gu Heng could no longer adapt to. He frowned in loneliness, his dark eyes deeply hooded as he stared fixedly at the bathroom, irritably and unsatisfied as he gnawed at his fingernails, trying hard to calm himself down just a little.
But how could that be so easy?
Zuo Shihuan wasn’t there, yet his presence was everywhere.
Relentlessly tugging at Gu Heng’s heart, never letting it rest.
The quiet environment.
The overly sharp hearing he once found unbearably annoying.
Now he was using it to its absolute limit.
Listening to the person hiding in the bathroom breathe, each breath seeming to coil around his ears.
Clearly just normal, hurried breathing, yet in Gu Heng’s eyes it was unbearably intimate and clinging, like pouring oil on a fire, tempting him to break down the door, drag those slightly calmed breaths back into another peak, and make him cry out even more sweetly beneath him.
But he couldn’t.
Gu Heng couldn’t calm down at all. Growing more agitated, he bit his nails harder, his expression dark and frightening. One hand dropped limply to his side. Sitting cross-legged had originally been meant to cool the fire.
Now there was no need to look.
The fire only burned bigger.
Gu Heng was afraid he’d go mad from holding it in. Yet he still forced himself to sit there and listen endlessly, unwilling to divert even a shred of attention, torturing himself as if by choice.
How could he possibly restrain his desire for Zuo Shihuan?
From the very day he met Zuo Shihuan, it had been impossible and how could he ever bear to stop?
Just thinking of how Zuo Shihuan had pretended to be angry and glared at him earlier—
Those sharp, shimmering light-brown eyes felt as though they’d glared straight into his heart, breathtakingly beautiful, instantly sending his emotions surging, his heart pounding wildly and uncontrollably.
Perhaps Zuo Shihuan didn’t even know.
The more he glared at him in anger, the more excited and shaken Gu Heng became.
Every time he was glared at, Gu Heng felt like every gap between his bones itched with shameless need, his mind wandering wildly, desperate to be glared at a few more times. The restless heat had nowhere to go, churning low in his abdomen, on the verge of misfiring and exploding at any moment.
Even if he appeared quiet and obedient on the surface for a while, his mind was already filled with unchecked fantasies.
Imagining Zuo Shihuan’s slightly cold expression, lips pressed together, those glossy, alluring red lips and those glass-like light-brown eyes glaring at him in anger; his waist narrow and long, dressed in an elegant, immaculate white suit, every inch of him exuding solemn restraint and abstinence.
Like a lofty, aloof crescent moon, pure and noble, unattainable by ordinary mortals.
Only Gu Heng himself knew—
That lofty, aloof crescent moon would bloom with shy, bashful redness after just a few more kisses, allowing itself to be drawn into his arms with one hand.
Even when truly provoked, all he could do was glare at him once.
In truth, there was no threat at all, only silent indulgence, allowing Gu Heng’s reckless behavior, layer by layer peeling back that hazy, cool moonlight to reveal a fair, soft core, dyed with shy pink.
Even that place.
How could someone even have that part look so beautiful and well-shaped, clean and neat, upright and proper, like a jade ruyi tinged with pink beneath its white surface?
…This was deadly.
Gu Heng suddenly clapped a hand over his nose, teeth clenched so hard they ground together, yet he still couldn’t stop blood from dripping through his fingers in scattered drops. A dark, obscure hoarseness flashed through his heavy eyes. The metallic scent seeped into his lips, teeth, and throat, yet it still couldn’t suppress the relentless, surging desire.
He casually lifted his arm and wiped his nose several times.
But the bleeding wouldn’t stop.
It dripped onto his pant leg, the sofa, the floor.
Bleeding on one side, engorged on the other.
He didn’t even need to lower his head to look, he was burning so hot he was about to suffocate himself.
Gu Heng wasn’t afraid of bleeding himself into anemia. What he feared was Zuo Shihuan coming out and seeing him like this. Even without a mirror, he knew exactly how terrifyingly perverse and unsatisfied his expression must look right now.
With no other choice,
Gu Heng narrowed his dark eyes and shot a deep glance at the metal sofa.
The icy material, something he’d grown used to from piloting mechs, helped him stay clear-headed and calm when sitting on similar surfaces.
Right now, he really did need to calm down properly.
***
Bathroom.
After calming himself slightly, Zuo Shihuan stood up and walked to the sink, turning on the faucet to rinse his hands, hoping to wash away some of his overheated body temperature as well.
But the heat in his face still wouldn’t go down, as if he had a fever: his head dizzy, his heartbeat still trembling faintly.
Zuo Shihuan didn’t even need to listen carefully; he could hear that thumping heartbeat inside his eardrums, as if Gu Heng’s infuriating laughter still lingered there, making his heart restless and unsettled.
Even as icy water flowed over his arms, the excessive heat within only made the contrast sharper, hot and cold colliding, his heartbeat racing.
So much so that he began to fear he might suffocate from the rapid beating, unable to catch his breath.
He lowered his head, letting the cold water stream over his cheeks. He lifted his hand to wet his forehead, neck, arms, and more. His black hair, soaked through, drooped weakly, soft and dripping as it clung to both sides of his face. His lips had even faded slightly pale.
After quite a while, Zuo Shihuan finally came back to his senses and turned off the faucet.
Although he still felt his ears burning, it was definitely much better than before.
However…
When he looked up at himself in the mirror, his wet, messy black hair was falling across his face, droplets sliding down his neck, collarbones, and white shirt, failing to cover the scattered, intimate kiss marks. On the contrary, the wet fabric had become semi-transparent, and even the more hidden, deeper marks were faintly visible, a subtle reddish trace of the earlier kisses.
Even though Zuo Shihuan quickly tried to pull his shirt together, thinking that fixing his hair and tidying his clothes would help him calm down, it was completely useless.
The reflection in the mirror, even with his shirt tidily fastened and collar pulled high to cover the marks, could not hide the flush on his face.
A few strands of hair falling across his forehead revealed a pair of light brown eyes trembling in surprise, eyelashes beaded with water, lips slightly swollen and red, still full of embarrassed allure. His skin, chilled by the water, appeared pale yet tinged with a seductive pink, as if someone had heavily applied blush.
Anyone looking would know exactly what had happened.
Zuo Shihuan’s face immediately went red. He turned away from the mirror, resting his hands on the sink, embarrassed and flustered, unsure what to do.
Ah… what to do?
At this rate, he probably couldn’t leave this bathroom all night, or else Gu Heng would find another chance to tease him.
He couldn’t hide forever.
How could he, an Alpha, be scared enough of Gu Heng to not even leave a room? He couldn’t let this continue…
Zuo Shihuan clenched his fists, trying to build up courage. He finally looked toward the bathroom door, reaching out to twist the handle.
About to open it…
Just about…
He…
Zuo Shihuan froze, staring straight at his outstretched hand. He couldn’t understand why it wouldn’t move, it felt stiff, almost paralyzed.
He tried several times, but nothing worked.
Finally, he lifted his head, closing his eyes in frustration and embarrassment.
It wasn’t entirely his fault.
Just thinking about encountering Gu Heng as soon as he left was enough to give him immense psychological pressure.
He could already picture that b*stard Gu Heng: leaning on the sofa with one leg crossed, teasingly raising an eyebrow, those dark, mischievous eyes lighting up with wicked intent the moment he appeared, ready to pounce at any second.
Even imagining it made Zuo Shihuan’s heart tremble.
He had truly never encountered someone as unpredictable as Gu Heng, completely unprepared, constantly surprised or startled by him.
Always delighted, always shocked.
And he was always the one caught off guard.
For someone like Zuo Shihuan, who liked everything orderly and well-planned, it was impossible to think of a way to deal with Gu Heng, leaving him frustrated and overthinking, paralyzed in place.
Even he felt embarrassed and cowardly, cheeks flushed red, wishing he could pound the ground or smack his head to make himself braver and more lucid.
Suddenly, a “thump, thump, thump” came from outside the door.
Zuo Shihuan froze, thinking he had made the noise himself. He had been wanting to pound the ground or smack his head, but hadn’t gotten the chance yet.
The thumping continued.
He paused, realizing it sounded like something hard striking metal. Could Gu Heng be banging something with a hammer?
He had no idea that in the living room, Gu Heng was indeed doing something ridiculous and even if it was foolish, their thoughts were strangely in sync.
Zuo Shihuan called out.
“Gu Heng, what are you doing out there? Do you need help?”
The question froze Gu Heng in place. He stopped ramming the metal sofa with his head, quickly grabbed tissues to wipe his nosebleed and clean up the blood-soaked spots, trying to straighten himself while replying to Zuo Shihuan.
“I’m fine, no help needed.”
Gu Heng cleaned up everything, even tossing the bloodied tissue into the trash disposal, kicking it to the corner to make sure Zuo Shihuan wouldn’t notice, keeping the perfect, heroic image in his mind intact.
(Zuo Shihuan thought: …He’s never had a perfect heroic image.)
Gu Heng exhaled, then glanced toward the bathroom, asking with feigned curiosity, “Why haven’t I heard anything? You’ve been in there so long. Weren’t you going to take a shower? Can’t find the switch? Want me to come in and help?”
Zuo Shihuan stiffened.
He had long forgotten the excuse he used to enter the bathroom.
But the pause gave Gu Heng time to reach the bathroom door, knocking while drawing out his voice: “Shihuan, open up!”
Zuo Shihuan’s eyes widened, heart racing uncontrollably. He staggered back, trying to put distance between himself and the tall shadow against the bathroom door and the person outside.
Then he remembered the door was locked. Gu Heng couldn’t come in.
He exhaled, wiped sweat from his forehead, and said, “No need, I can open it myself.”
Gu Heng raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. “Is that so? Then why haven’t I heard the water yet?”
Zuo Shihuan immediately turned, searching for the switch to show him.
He looked around the bathroom walls but couldn’t find the typical shower switch in a normal home. Except for a corner bathtub, no ordinary showerhead in sight.
But Gu Heng wanted to be sure about the water flow.
Zuo Shihuan anxiously looked up at the ceiling, all seamless white tiles, but still couldn’t locate the showerhead outlet.
“Shihuan, are you done yet? Should I come in and help you?”
Gu Heng’s mouth curved slightly, his voice drawn out like he was teasing, eyes full of playful mischief. He leaned against the door like a cat scratching at it, knocking while coaxing Zuo Shihuan to open the door quickly.
Zuo Shihuan was so flustered he wanted to claw at his head. He wanted to just turn on the sink so Gu Heng could hear the water and leave it at that but that would definitely give him away.
Yet he wasn’t psychologically ready to face Gu Heng, especially the thought of letting him into the bathroom gave him a bad feeling.
“Do you really not want me to come in?”
“Really not!” Zuo Shihuan hurriedly refused, cheeks burning.
“Alright then.” Gu Heng seemed to agree, but the next second he said with a wicked smile, “But the bathroom switches in my house are hidden; normal people would never find them. Even the shower requires my permission to turn on, and I only had time to input your access into the house system earlier, without telling you exactly where everything is.”
Zuo Shihuan was dumbfounded.
How could one house be made so complicated? Access permissions and all these controls had him completely confused. So… now, even if he didn’t want Gu Heng in the bathroom, he couldn’t stop him?
Gu Heng’s next words seemed to confirm Zuo Shihuan’s anxious suspicion.
“So, you’d better just let me in,” Gu Heng said, lowering his husky voice, a teasing laugh lingering at the end.
“…………”
“Shihuan… Shihuan… let me in, just for a moment, I won’t do anything, really!”
Zuo Shihuan covered his flushed face with one hand, fists clenched as if he wanted to hit something. Letting Gu Heng in felt like inviting a wolf into the house.
No matter what, he had to struggle a bit. Even if he couldn’t escape, he’d drag it out as long as possible.
At worst, he wouldn’t take a shower.
He could still use the bathtub.
He vaguely remembered glimpsing the bathtub before, the power was on. Surely the bathtub’s controls weren’t hidden too.
Zuo Shihuan’s eyes snapped open. He glared fiercely at the persistent b*stard outside, still scratching at the door and calling his name endlessly.
Ah… he really wanted him to stop, it was making him anxious.
How could a grown man call out like this?
The husky, sweet voice dragged each syllable out, almost whining like a spoiled cat, calling his name, making his ears tingle.
Like a naughty cat locked outside, scratching at the door, mewling pitifully to be let in.
The more he wasn’t let in, the louder and more pathetic the cries became, tugging at Zuo Shihuan’s conscience. It almost felt like letting Gu Heng in was his responsibility.
Even though it was clearly Gu Heng’s fault for deliberately not telling him the secret switch locations, trying to make him obediently open the door.
The more Zuo Shihuan thought about it, the more infuriating it became, yet he was being toyed with again. He hoped one day he could get back at Gu Heng, at least make him repent properly.
But at this moment, Gu Heng outside calling wasn’t trying to tease him. He simply hadn’t had time to explain all the special features of this house.
Gu Heng had never expected a day like this, bringing Zuo Shihuan into his secret safe house. He had thought their relationship was over.
Yet Zuo Shihuan not only followed him out of the engagement banquet, but had come to his safe house.
Though Gu Heng couldn’t explain his own excitement, ever since Zuo Shihuan stepped into his house, he had been in a state of abnormal excitement, riding every little movement of Zuo Shihuan like a wave.
Anyone who knew Gu Heng before would never have imagined the Empire’s Crown Prince, normally admired by everyone, could act like such a lively, mischievous, even bratty human being.
But Zuo Shihuan didn’t care about Gu Heng’s past. Right now, this was enough to torment him.
Angrily, he decided not to let this b*stard feel too pleased. No matter how much Gu Heng scratched at the door, he wouldn’t let him in.
The more he ignored him, the louder Gu Heng’s calls became.
“Shihuan—Shihuan—let me in!”
“Ah… stop calling! You’re annoying me! I’ve already decided to use the bathtub!”
Zuo Shihuan checked the bathtub controls, confirmed they were like any ordinary bathtub, and immediately pressed the switch. Hearing the water flow, he finally exhaled and then yelled toward Gu Heng outside the bathroom.
Gu Heng was stunned for a few seconds, hand to his chin, dark eyes deep in thought, realizing he couldn’t get his way, lips pressed together in reluctant frustration.
—D*mn, forgot about that. If I’d known… maybe take out the bathtub… wait, never mind, I’ll still get Shihuan out.
Inside the bathroom, Zuo Shihuan thought Gu Heng had given up. Watching the steaming water fill the bathtub, he felt victorious, humming a little tune happily.
But after a moment, Zuo Shihuan sensed something was off.
There was no scratching or calling at the door. No mischievous shadow leaning against it.
It was unusually quiet.
Could he have given up so easily? Not like Gu Heng at all.
Immediately alert, Zuo Shihuan stopped humming, uneasy, feeling that some trouble was brewing.
Soon, Gu Heng returned, knocking on the door again.
Startled, Zuo Shihuan shivered, narrowing his eyes warily. “What is it?”
“Nothing much, just suddenly remembered something.”
Gu Heng’s tone was calm, ordinary, as if he were just casually concerned about Zuo Shihuan. He spoke again: “Shihuan, you came into the bathroom in such a hurry, you didn’t bring any towels or clothes. I’m bringing them over for you now.”
The subtext was clear: open the door.
Zuo Shihuan’s eyes widened, and he choked a few times, unable to speak.
Gu Heng’s voice remained gentle and measured, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. “I’ve got fresh towels and bath towels for you. You can open the door now to grab them, so you won’t have to come out soaking wet later and risk catching a cold.”
Every sentence was reasonable, every word concerned for him.
It was as if Zuo Shihuan was pinned to a high platform, unable to get down. If he didn’t open the door, it would seem like he was rejecting Gu Heng’s good intentions.
But Zuo Shihuan’s temper flared. He glared viciously at the shadow outside, grinding his teeth as if he wanted to bite that b*stard through the door.
He could sense, even without seeing it, that Gu Heng was surely smirking.
Gritting his teeth, eyes reddened with anger, Zuo Shihuan shouted, “No! I’ll just grab them naked if I have to!”
Gu Heng paused, touched his nose, thinking it might bleed again, cleared his throat a couple of times and said, “No need for that. I’ll put them at the door; you can just reach out and take them later.”
Zuo Shihuan still fumed. “You’re really being nice? You’re not plotting some trick on me again?”
“I’m not that bad!” Gu Heng protested, feeling wronged. “Even if I have a past, you wouldn’t believe me anyway. I’m just worried you might catch a cold, so I reminded you about towels. You just forgot in your hurry.”
Zuo Shihuan’s expression softened. He remembered that Gu Heng had reminded him, but he had been too hasty to escape, not his fault.
He pressed his lips together, turning his head slightly in a proud, silent pout.
“If you don’t believe me, you can come out and hit me a few times or, if you feel like it, you can hit me a few times. My skin is thick; I don’t feel it.”
“You do this every time, but I’m not that bored to actually hit you. You’d do better if you teased me less,” Zuo Shihuan said, raising his head slightly with a cold snort.
“This isn’t me apologizing, it’s just that sometimes I go too far and make you angry…”
Gu Heng scratched his head, leaning against the door, brow furrowed, sighing heavily. “I don’t want to, I just can’t control myself…”
Zuo Shihuan’s face was full of confusion. What was so uncontrollable?
“When I’m with you, Shihuan, I just can’t control myself. I’ve reflected and realized I’m too bad, too childish. So even if you hit or scold me, it’s fine… I’d never act this way with anyone else. Only with you, Zuo Shihuan, can I not control myself and I can’t change it.”
By the end, Gu Heng’s tone even sounded self-righteous.
Zuo Shihuan: “…???”
So… what exactly did you reflect on?
The apology sounded sincere at first, but ended up sounding like he had no intention of changing at all.
Yet listening to Gu Heng’s “reflection,” Zuo Shihuan couldn’t help but smile wryly, covering his forehead. Somehow he felt a little happy and didn’t know how to stay mad at him.
Gu Heng really was a shameless b*stard, capable of any trick to coax him.
Zuo Shihuan also felt a little ridiculous for being so easily placated.
Sighing helplessly, he leaned against the door and whispered, “Gu Heng, you said you wanted me to hit you? I really want to now, come over here.”
Gu Heng walked over.
With his sharp eyesight, he could clearly see the thin figure leaning against the bathroom door. The frosted glass had fogged slightly, the delicate silhouette faintly visible, though it didn’t provoke much imagination.
Through the door.
That slim figure seemed so light that Gu Heng could effortlessly scoop him up in one hand.
Clearly an alpha from the prestigious Zuo family, yet Shihuan still lived such a restrained, exhausting life. Lean like this, he probably hadn’t been eating or resting well just like when Gu Heng had secretly watched him over the communicator, never stopping his work.
Zuo Shihuan was stubborn and hardworking, not indulging like his siblings, always self-disciplined to the point of self-abuse.
Gu Heng felt nothing but concern.
Leaning against the bathroom door, watching the overlapping shadows, his gaze unconsciously softened, lips curling into a faint smile. “Alright then, I welcome you to come out and hit me.”
Just as Gu Heng thought Zuo Shihuan was really going to open the door…
The next second, Zuo Shihuan tapped Gu Heng’s shadow through the glass, causing the innocent door to thump with a sharp “bang.”
Then he withdrew his hand. “Fine. Put those things at the door, Gu Heng. You can leave now.”
Gu Heng froze, pupils dilating. For a moment, he was too stunned to react. Staring at the thin figure through the glass, his fingers curled involuntarily.
For a moment, he couldn’t even articulate what surged in his chest, he just wanted to rush in and hold Zuo Shihuan tightly, never letting go. To merge into him, heart, blood, and bone, so no one could separate them!
But he couldn’t. He had to endure, not scare timid Zuo Shihuan.
“Why aren’t you reacting at all?”
Zuo Shihuan carefully observed Gu Heng’s response outside the door. Seeing no movement, he felt a little disappointed and annoyed at himself for being so impulsive, as if he’d been dragged into Gu Heng’s childishness.
“Forget it, I’m not playing with you anymore,” Zuo Shihuan said through gritted teeth.
It was only then that Gu Heng sluggishly realized what had happened. He clutched his chest, his black eyes wide with alarm, and quickly stumbled back a few steps, shouting: “Ah—my heart! I’ve been hit, right in the center, I can’t take it!”
He sank to the ground as he backed up.
Gu Heng didn’t mind sitting on the floor at all. His black eyes sparkled brightly, hands resting on his knees, a large, mischievous grin spreading across his face. He shouted toward the person inside the bathroom: “I’m injured! I need urgent medical attention! Especially the one called Zuo Shihuan who knocked me down, he must take full responsibility!”
Zuo Shihuan’s ears burned red in a mix of shame and anger. He bit his lip and growled: “Stop pretending! With a door this thick between us, how could you possibly be hurt?”
“Ah—so painful! I don’t care, Shihuan was so strong he injured me!” Gu Heng clutched his chest, calling out in mock misery, each cry sounding pitiful and agonized.
Zuo Shihuan was momentarily bewildered. The cries were so convincingly pitiful that he was almost swayed, and he couldn’t help asking with concern: “Re…really?”
Gu Heng opened his mischievous black eyes, lips curling upward. “Otherwise, why would my heart be beating like this? Zuo Shihuan, you must take full responsibility. If you don’t believe me, come open the door and see for yourself—”
Zuo Shihuan’s expression instantly darkened. He ground his teeth: “You’re not trying to trick me into coming out, are you?”
“Ah, caught!” Gu Heng covered his face with his hand, pretending to be exasperated at being discovered. But through his fingers, his black eyes peeked out, full of affection for the person inside.
“Really…” Zuo Shihuan squinted, taking several deep breaths as he paced back and forth in the bathroom. He spun his head to glare viciously at Gu Heng outside, gritting his teeth: “I’m telling you, this is a dream! Don’t even think about faking an injury to get me to come out!”
Gu Heng, sitting on the floor, touched his nose but eventually couldn’t contain a small snicker, which grew into a full laugh: “Hahahahahaha—”
“What’s so funny?” Zuo Shihuan frowned, confused. That irritating laughter circled in his ears relentlessly, making them tingle and flush.
Finally, Zuo Shihuan could no longer stand the laughter or the fact that he had no idea why Gu Heng was laughing. He bit his lip and scolded: “You really laugh like a pervert!”
“I’m happy, aren’t I?” Gu Heng slightly tempered his wild laughter, sat on the floor, and looked up at Zuo Shihuan’s figure. With a meaningful smile, he pressed his lips together and said, “Even if I have to be, I only want to be your pervert.”
“U-urgh…ridiculous.”
Zuo Shihuan’s face instantly heated, the flush spreading quickly. He turned his gaze away in embarrassment, gritting his teeth: “I’m not messing around with you anymore. Stop with all this nonsense, I’m going to shower.”
He turned his back, determined to ignore Gu Heng.
The steam from the bath filled the entire bathroom, fogging the mirror. The sound of water flowed nearby.
The bathtub had overflowed.
The smooth, elegant bathtub, like white jade, had water spilling over the edges like a white waterfall.
Zuo Shihuan felt a pang of guilt and quickly moved to turn off the water.
He shouldn’t have been chatting with Gu Heng, wasting so much clean water.
He looked on regretfully, running his fingers through his black hair as he began unbuttoning his shirt, preparing to shower before the water cooled.
But halfway through, he suddenly became alert, glancing at the faint shadow outside the bathroom door. Occasionally, it emitted strange giggles… truly like a pervert.
Zuo Shihuan had originally intended to ignore it.
But each time he was about to undo the remaining buttons, the b*stard outside would laugh strangely, making him imagine all sorts of things, feeling as though he was being watched.
…Could Gu Heng actually see something?
He stopped and circled the bathroom carefully, paying close attention to the door. It wasn’t transparent, and there were no strange objects or anomalies.
Suddenly, another fit of nervous laughter came from outside.
Zuo Shihuan finally bit his teeth and demanded: “Gu Heng, what are you laughing at?!”
Gu Heng, covering his mouth and laughing, paused. “Nothing.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Well then…” Zuo Shihuan hesitated, then couldn’t help but say, “Just keep your distance when you laugh.”
“Oh, okay.” Gu Heng stood, patted his pants, and stepped a little farther away.
“Not far enough, I said far away.”
“Alright—alright—”
As Gu Heng’s footsteps gradually receded, Zuo Shihuan finally relaxed, no longer worried about any tricks from him.
He continued unbuttoning his shirt.
In fact, it required little effort.
The decorative buttons had long since been bitten and damaged by Gu Heng. The shirt was effectively ruined, Zuo Shihuan’s perfectionist tendencies couldn’t bear to look at it.
He avoided looking directly at it, removed all clothing, folded it neatly on the nearby rack, and stepped into the water.
Immediately, the bathtub overflowed again like a white waterfall. Steam rose from the warm water, rippling across the surface.
The heat made his pale skin a faint blush of pink.
Yet Zuo Shihuan felt entirely relaxed, wrapping one leg and resting his head against his knee. His black hair, damp from the warm water, draped around him. The other leg stretched comfortably.
He had expected to continue obsessing over plans, work, and life like he always did.
But now…
Watching the water ripple around his knees, the light scattering and converging on the surface,
Listening to the distant sounds outside the door,
The rising steam made it almost impossible to open his eyes. His face flushed warmly, and his soft brown eyes fixed on the water, feeling an unprecedented sense of ease and calm, his mind empty of thought.
He just stared blankly at the rippling lights on the water,
Listening to the faint sounds of movement outside the door.
Gradually, he grew drowsy.
Sleepiness deepened until even the tiny, flickering circles of light on the water blurred, as if everything before his eyes had softened into a dream. Yet faintly, he could still hear the other person moving outside the door.
It felt like they were accompanying him into sleep.
It was comforting, no more wandering, no more loneliness, no more searching for a place to belong.
Finally, sitting in the bathtub, Zuo Shihuan fell asleep.
***
In the living room.
Half an hour later.
Gu Heng glanced at the clock, then toward the bathroom, before returning to tidying the living room.
Ten minutes passed.
Gu Heng stopped his movements, puzzled that Zuo Shihuan still hadn’t come out. After thinking for a moment, he finally approached the bathroom door.
There was no movement inside.
Not even the sound of running water.
It was as if no one had been there at all.
But Gu Heng, who had been paying close attention, knew there was someone inside. No matter how shy Zuo Shihuan was, he couldn’t make absolutely no sound.
Gu Heng suspected that Zuo Shihuan had fallen asleep.
It wasn’t surprising. After a long day, falling asleep in the bathtub was normal.
Still, even though it was normal, Gu Heng hesitated at the door. He wanted Zuo Shihuan to rest, but he also worried he might catch a chill.
Almost an hour had passed. By now, the bathwater should have cooled. Even with the house’s temperature-control system, Gu Heng worried that if Zuo Shihuan soaked too long, he might catch a cold the next morning.
If Zuo Shihuan wanted to continue sleeping, Gu Heng could carry him into the bedroom to rest more comfortably.
So.
Gu Heng lightly knocked on the door, keeping his voice as soft as possible: “Shihuan—Shihuan—”
No response.
The person inside was clearly sleeping deeply; even their breathing was slow and shallow.
Gu Heng rubbed his brow, a little troubled. He couldn’t just let Zuo Shihuan sleep in the bathtub until morning.
There was no other choice.
Even if Zuo Shihuan found out the next day and called him a pervert, it had to be done.
Two minutes later.
Gu Heng returned with a set of small tools, preparing to pick the lock. He had no choice; every door in the house looked ordinary but had hidden mechanisms.
If someone forced entry, the mechanisms would trigger.
In this case, they were a bit troublesome.
Zuo Shihuan had locked the bathroom door in advance. Even as the owner of the house, Gu Heng couldn’t simply open it without using tools.
Before picking the lock, Gu Heng knocked a little harder and coughed lightly: “Shihuan, if you don’t answer, I’ll just come in. Even if I see something I shouldn’t, I asked permission first. Don’t blame me tomorrow…”
He made a preemptive disclaimer.
Ten seconds later, still no response.
The person inside remained sound asleep. The soft, slow breaths were so gentle they seemed warm, comforting, and peaceful.
Gu Heng hesitated to wake him.
It was fine if Zuo Shihuan slept a little in the bathtub, but sleeping too long made Gu Heng worry.
Soon, the lock clicked open.
Gu Heng stepped softly into the bathroom. Through the hazy steam, he saw a white jade-like back: Zuo Shihuan, asleep, hugging his knees. His eyes were closed, lips a soft, wet pink, and black hair blending with the water.
He looked like a stranded mermaid asleep on a rocky shore.
The dreamy beauty made Gu Heng hold his breath, afraid to disturb this elegant, pale figure. Even asleep, Zuo Shihuan’s beauty was breathtaking.
Gu Heng’s pupils constricted, his heart trembling. It felt as if his body and mind were captured at first sight, unable to move, as though petrified.
Unfortunately, the mermaid was unaware; the observer, however, was moved.
Gu Heng touched his nose, turned his head slightly, his eyes briefly flushing with shyness. He stopped, afraid to move forward another step, afraid he might lose control and kiss him awake.
Even though Zuo Shihuan often called him a shameless pervert, Gu Heng wasn’t that daring.
This sudden sight, so exposed, so close, made even him embarrassed and flustered, unable to look directly at Zuo Shihuan.
Especially since the person he liked was right in front of him.
So obedient while asleep, completely unguarded, like a mermaid waiting for him to wake her with a kiss.
How could Gu Heng handle this?
If it weren’t for concern over Zuo Shihuan sleeping in the bathtub, he truly wanted to kiss him awake, so the first thing Zuo Shihuan saw when he opened his eyes would be him.
But, no matter how mischievous, Gu Heng wasn’t the type to take advantage.
He sighed deeply, suppressing the heat rising in him. Turning his head, he tried not to look at Zuo Shihuan’s bare form, picked up a large bath towel, and prepared to carry him into the bedroom to sleep.
However…
Every time his hand passed through the water and touched Zuo Shihuan’s smooth, delicate skin, it felt like gliding over warm, tender flesh.
Gu Heng’s face flushed.
Even if he tried to avoid looking, it was hard to suppress his instincts.
After all, he was just a mundane Alpha man. The one he liked was naked right in front of him, and all the irritation he had suppressed earlier surged back.
Zuo Shihuan, meanwhile, was completely relaxed.
After teasing Gu Heng earlier, he hid in the bathroom and now, asleep, leaving Gu Heng frozen, afraid to move a muscle and wake him.
Even the most stubborn Alpha has a breaking point!
Gu Heng’s face was full of bitterness. Ignoring his wet sleeves, he turned, slid under Zuo Shihuan’s arms, and intended to wrap him entirely in a large bath towel and carry him off around the waist. If he couldn’t see him, he wouldn’t feel so frustrated and restless.
But just as Gu Heng was about to lift him, Zuo Shihuan furrowed his brows, seeming annoyed, and half-asleep muttered, “Mm-hmm… don’t move me.”
Gu Heng really felt like kneeling to this ancestor.
“All right… all right… won’t move you, won’t move you,” Gu Heng coaxed softly, lowering his strength. He suspected his earlier movements had been too big and had woken Zuo Shihuan a little.
Clearly, Zuo Shihuan wasn’t fully awake, still frowning, lips pressed together, long lashes, eyes tightly closed.
This time, Gu Heng eased his grip further, careful not to wake him.
He tried again, cautiously lifting Zuo Shihuan into his arms, cradling his waist. The bathwater soaked his arms, shoulders, and chest, but he didn’t care.
Looking at Zuo Shihuan’s furrowed-brow, sleeping face, Gu Heng’s gaze softened, full of affection. In a low voice, he soothed, “Won’t move you. We’re just going back to the bedroom to sleep, okay?”
Zuo Shihuan didn’t respond.
Gu Heng assumed he had fallen asleep again, letting out a small sigh of relief and a helpless smile. As long as he didn’t wake him, it was fine; he didn’t mind at all.
However…
Zuo Shihuan, who looked as though he were fast asleep, began struggling the moment Gu Heng moved even slightly. His eyes squeezed shut as he started throwing a sleepy tantrum, dissatisfied muffled hums sounding out again and again.
This left Gu Heng stiff and at a loss for what to do. He was afraid that if his movements were even a little too large, he would wake this tormenting little ancestor.
Letting go wasn’t an option; not letting go wasn’t either.
Truly maddening.
Gu Heng sighed helplessly and softly, lowering his voice as he asked, “Shihuan, how about we talk this over, let’s go back to the bedroom and sleep properly, okay?”
Hearing the familiar voice, Zuo Shihuan slightly lifted one light-brown eye heavy with sleep, dazedly raising his gaze to look at Gu Heng, brows knit as he pressed his moist red lips together.
It scared Gu Heng so badly his heart skipped, thinking he’d really woken him up.
But the very next second—
Zuo Shihuan quickly closed his eyes again in drowsiness, lowered his head, and leaned against Gu Heng’s arm. His sleepy voice was slow and sticky, as if leaning on him and acting spoiled as he spoke to Gu Heng.
“No… right here… here… let me sleep a little longer.”
Before he even finished speaking, a soft, faint snoring sound rose, and he fell asleep again, leaning dependently against Gu Heng’s arm.
Gu Heng stood stunned for quite a while, dumbfounded as he looked at the well-behaved, sleeping Zuo Shihuan, as though the unintentionally spoiled tone from just now were still lingering and winding around his ears.
It made Gu Heng’s face flush red all at once, as if the blood had drained from his heart, leaving his very bones tingling and numb beyond measure.
Completely helpless against this ancestor.
Gu Heng tilted his head back in resignation, taking several deep breaths before he barely managed to calm his overly excited heartbeat. Looking at Zuo Shihuan, who had so easily stirred him up and then fallen asleep completely unaware, he clenched his teeth and finally sighed.
“Sleep, sleep… even if you really take my life, I’ll give it to you.”
He turned up the bathtub’s water temperature, keeping it at a steady, warm level.
Only then did Gu Heng slowly withdraw the arm Zuo Shihuan had been leaning on, moving with extreme care for fear of waking him again. This time, though, Zuo Shihuan, fast asleep, didn’t react at all, at most, he merely pressed his lips together and slept even more soundly.
It made Gu Heng feel resentful for a moment before he could only rub his forehead helplessly.
Leaning against the edge of the tub, he bent down and gently kissed Zuo Shihuan’s forehead, saying softly, “We agreed, just sleep a little longer. Don’t get mad when I wake you later, okay?”
Before leaving the bathroom, Gu Heng adjusted the room temperature to a warm, comfortable level. Seeing Zuo Shihuan with his brows relaxed, sleeping so comfortably, he smiled helplessly and closed the door as he left.
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