Chapter 20#

On the bamboo screen a few strokes of ink wash had been painted; the warm steam of the bath rose upward, as if blurring the ink wash. Feng Bing opened his eyes; the youth was already completely naked.#

His slender body was covered with a thin layer of muscle, hung with clear water droplets. He slowly walked into the water in the tub, leaving Feng Bing his back—and on that back was a scar of split skin and exposed flesh, savagely piercing near his shoulder blade.

Before Feng Bing could even figure out what that scar was about, Pei Dan tripped over the small stool in the tub.

—The wine had gone to his head, and the hot water made his whole body flush light red. Muttering something, he scratched his head, while Feng Bing, behind him, was so startled that he cried out.

Pei Dan barely steadied himself, turned his head, and saw Feng Bing. Surprised, he said: “You were waiting for me?”

That question was truly baffling. Feng Bing did not know how to answer. He walked over and said hesitantly: “Did you hurt yourself anywhere?”

Pei Dan laughed. Perhaps he too felt a little shy and surprised, but this smile concealed it. “I’m fine, you go…”

Was he trying to make him wait outside? Feng Bing only felt like a fool who had made a joke of himself. Just as he was about to go out, he heard Pei Dan say: “Go help me get the bath beans, okay?”

Actually, the bath beans and towel were not far from the edge of the tub; Pei Dan could reach them by stretching out his hand.

He was saving Feng Bing from embarrassment.

Feng Bing brought them over. When passing them, he deliberately dodged, but still brushed Pei Dan’s fingertips. His hand slipped at once, and the bath-bean box fell into the water.

Feng Bing: ……

Pei Dan: ……

Pei Dan looked at him and said softly: “Are you afraid of me?”

Feng Bing shook his head. Afraid? Naturally he was not afraid. But in this warm bath room on a spring night, every breath seemed to be imprinted on the damp walls, leaving lingering water marks. Pei Dan pressed his lips together and squatted down himself to fish the bath-bean box out of the water. Feng Bing hurriedly apologized and also rolled up his sleeves to fish. Their hands touched once in the warm water, and suddenly they were holding each other.

Water gurgled through their fingers. Apart from the wet moon in each other’s palms, they caught nothing. Feng Bing gazed at the rippling water, as if the fingers tangled beneath it were not his own. He knew Pei Dan was watching him, slowly moving toward him. His heart suddenly pounded like a drum; without being taught, he closed his eyes.

The youth’s kiss was unexpectedly childishly sweet. How strange—was it because he had drunk too? Pei Dan first lightly touched his lips. Seeing no resistance, he quietly slipped out his tongue to lick at his teeth, as if cautiously greeting him.

Pei Dan kissed with delicate care. After only a moment, Feng Bing was suffocating. His other hand grabbed Pei Dan’s bare shoulder and pushed him in hint. Pei Dan had no choice but to let go. As if he had been bullied, Feng Bing glared at Pei Dan with watery eyes, but his arm stealthily stretched out and wrapped around Pei Dan’s neck.

Pei Dan’s eyes widened. Laughing, he wrapped his arms around Feng Bing’s waist. With a burst of strength, he actually lifted him off the ground like a child. Before Feng Bing could even make two muffled sounds, he had fallen into the water.

His soaked-through clothes dragged Feng Bing downward, and involuntarily his limbs clung to the other. Pei Dan gave a muffled “mm,” and only then did Feng Bing realize that the youth’s hardness below had nothing in the way, and was hotly pressing against the space between his legs.

They were both men; in an instant he understood. He abruptly retreated. Pei Dan could not hold him, and the two of them fell together against the wall of the tub. Feng Bing dropped down onto his seat—“Splash—” another huge flurry of water.

“Does it hurt?” Pei Dan reached out in panic to feel the back of his head. More than half the water in the tub had splashed out; in an instant it was so cold that Feng Bing shivered. Pei Dan seemed somewhat vexed and said in a low voice: “Sorry, let’s get out.”

But Feng Bing suddenly found courage from who knew where. He stretched out his leg and hooked it lightly against Pei Dan’s calf—

The thin fabric floated on the water’s surface, separating yet not separating; the fine texture of skin and flesh was distinctly perceptible, making one tingle. The youth’s leg was straight and firm, muscles taut, as if enduring, yet he lifted his eyes to look at him in astonishment.

Feng Bing flushed red all over with shame at his own action. Only moments ago they had still been two strangers; his gaze had been avoiding Pei Dan, yet his lower body was already pressed against his. It must all be because of the wine. Pei Dan’s palm was warm; he was only holding his waist, yet it was as if he were stroking his heart.

His heart quietly trembled. —Heart-stirrings, it turns out, are such shallow things after all.

He wanted to secretly draw his legs back a little, but Pei Dan had already pushed in between his legs.

In that instant, Feng Bing held his breath.

Pei Dan bent down.

Tomorrow is Friday, so a rest day, okay? Come get on the car the day after tomorrow~ I didn’t intentionally stop here……