SDVPP Chapter 50

When they returned to the room, that flower had already been thrown to the back of Chi Han’s mind.

The sparse sound of running water came from the bathroom—that was Chi Han adjusting the temperature.

This place was rather damp, and the only downside was how easily one could start feeling sticky and uncomfortable.

Rong Xu had a cold constitution and didn’t sweat easily, but Chi Han was different. Every time he went out and came back, he had to take a shower.

Rong Xu tucked the flower by his ear into a book, carefully pressing it flat.

Page 192.

He memorized the number firmly.

The sound of water from the bathroom gradually grew louder. Rong Xu frowned slightly and waited a moment before picking up the landline on the desk.

“Hello, this is the customer service center of the hot spring town. How may I assist you?”

Rong Xu described what had just happened in a calm, detached tone, lightly laying out several charges.

Harassing guests at will, unlawfully picking flowers from the flower pavilion, and even showing off newly arrived flower seedlings…

Each item alone was enough to get someone fired ten times over.

The customer service agent carefully noted the location and rushed to find someone to pull up the surveillance footage. The last thing they wanted was to offend any guests who came to stay here.

Rong Xu hung up the phone and slowly peeled an orange. The sweet-tart flavor burst instantly on his tongue.

This was a rule Chi Han had set for him a few days ago. He had to eat at least three oranges a day.

It all started when the doctor made a casual remark during a house call: “Young Master Rong is a bit low on vitamin C.”

Rong Xu finished the entire orange and pulled a tissue over to wipe his fingers.

There were countless ways to make that person disappear, but he just had to choose the most troublesome one.

He pressed his lips together and lifted his gaze toward the frosted glass door of the bathroom, staring at the blurred figure behind it. A faint bitterness welled up in his chest.

He was afraid that if Chi Han ever found out about the things he’d done, he would leave out of fear and disgust.

Rong Xu carefully maintained his harmless exterior, locking away all the unclean things deep inside.

He didn’t dare let Chi Han see even a trace.

***

Chi Han came out of the shower feeling like he’d come back to life.

He was drying his hair while walking out in his slippers, the sound of them slapping softly against the floor. The scent of shampoo clung to him.

The same kind that Rong Xu used.

When the two sat together, their scents mixed in the air, carrying an inexplicable sense of intimacy.

Rong Xu set down his book and looked up at Chi Han. The other was roughly towel-drying his hair, looking like a little dog that had just had a bath and was shaking off water everywhere.

All messy and tousled.

Yet somehow, it curled right into one’s heart.

“Come here.”

Rong Xu reached out a hand.

Chi Han naturally handed the towel over and at the same time picked up the book Rong Xu had just been reading.

“You even bring books with you when you go out to have fun—terrifying. Look at me, I only brought my brain.”

He flipped through a few pages with a rustle. The dizzying array of numbers on the paper made his head ache.

Rong Xu’s slender fingers gently threaded through the soft black hair, carefully drying the droplets of water clinging to it.

Chi Han squinted comfortably, leaning against the armrest of the sofa, turning a page only after a long while.

The towel quickly became damp from soaking up water.

Rong Xu went to the bathroom to get a fresh one. Chi Han, propping his head on one hand, slipped slightly and accidentally knocked the book off.

The book landed face-down on the floor, and the item tucked inside flew out.

Chi Han quickly reached for it. Only when his fingers brushed against it did he realize—it was the flower he had just tucked behind Rong Xu’s ear.

Chi Han had long noticed Rong Xu’s hamster-like tendency to hoard things.

The notes they passed in class, a pen Chi Han had lent him, and various other bits and pieces.

Rong Xu always looked so proper and restrained, like someone serious and ascetic, but his little habits in private were absolutely adorable.

Especially that Totoro plush still sitting on the edge of the big black bed.

Chi Han thought for a moment, then scribbled a few crooked words onto the petals. After that, he carefully placed the flower back into the book, unable to hold back a smile curling at the corner of his lips.

When Rong Xu came back, Chi Han was squinting as he inspected the oranges in the fruit tray.

“Not bad. You ate two.”

He let out a satisfied little hum and curled back up into the sofa like a lazy sprawl.

Rong Xu, patient as ever, resumed drying his hair, his fingertips gentle.

“Since I ate the oranges, do I get a reward?”

Rong Xu’s chest trembled slightly, letting out a muffled laugh.

It was rare to hear this man joke. Chi Han’s eyes curved at the corners as he followed up playfully, “A reward might not be guaranteed, but if you don’t finish them—hmph—the punishment will definitely be huge!”

“Punishment?”

Rong Xu gave a soft, unreadable chuckle, then suddenly raised his hand and braced it beside Chi Han’s ear. At that moment, Chi Han was lying on the sofa, his head resting against the armrest. When he looked up, his gaze crashed straight into Rong Xu’s ink-dark eyes.

Rong Xu’s lashes lowered slightly as he slowly leaned in. Chi Han could almost feel the other’s warm breath brushing lightly across his face.

“Speak. How are you going to punish me?”

Chi Han’s throat moved instinctively in a swallow. He could feel Rong Xu’s fingertips gently brushing the corner of his forehead, wiping away a lingering droplet of water.

His heart thumped violently twice without warning.

All along, he’d always looked at Rong Xu from above or at eye level. Very rarely had he looked up at him.

This posture made him feel a strange sense of pressure.

Chi Han opened his mouth, his tongue a little stiff. After stammering twice, he gave a low, sheepish laugh. “Punishment, uh… punishment would be… is…”

Rong Xu’s gaze slowly swept over that delicate face, finally landing on those pale pink lips.

His eyes darkened.

What now?

As long as he was alone with this person, he would end up doing things he couldn’t control.

Just like now.

Rationality screamed at him to leave immediately, but his body chased after instinct, trying to touch certain forbidden places.

Rong Xu barely managed to stop himself and casually tossed the towel over.

The towel was large. It landed over Chi Han’s face, too.

Chi Han only felt his vision go black, and then it seemed like something brushed the corner of his lips.

Very lightly.

Just as he was frozen in a daze, Rong Xu’s cool voice sounded:

“Can’t even say it, and you still want to punish someone?”

Chi Han yanked off the towel and sat up cross-legged, puffing out his cheeks as he shouted, “Who—who told you to suddenly get so close! You scared me!”

Rong Xu caught the towel that had been thrown at him, folded it slowly and neatly, his voice carrying a hint of teasing: “How close?”

Chi Han: “…………”

He belatedly started wondering. Had he accidentally raised the future villain in the wrong direction?

Why did he suddenly feel like he was the one being flirted with?!

Rong Xu turned his face slightly, lightly licking the corner of his lips, his eyes dark and heavy.

All he could feel was a deep, aching thirst somewhere within.

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