Chapter 85: Suppressed
The steam had somehow become strangely suffocating. Song Hemei's temples throbbed as she felt Yu Yeqing's gaze settle upon her as well.
Not only was this not her usual bathing tub—she didn't even know when the residence had acquired such a large one. Her hand was still clasped with Yu Yeqing's, yet she felt rooted to the spot, unsure whether she should move forward.
"Not going in? If you delay any longer, the water won't be as hot."
Yu Yeqing, for his part, didn't dwell on the matter of the tub. His tone was far too composed, as if he were completely oblivious to the awkwardness of his presence here.
Song Hemei turned back to look at him, testing the waters: "You're not going to stare at me while I bathe, are you?"
Yu Yeqing lowered his gaze. "May I not?"
Last time, he had been the one to wipe her clean. Though he had avoided looking at every part of her body, he had still touched every part. Moreover, now that she had confessed her feelings for him, in his eyes, there was nothing offensive about it.
But Song Hemei absolutely could not get past this hurdle. She immediately refused. "No. Letting you stay here is already the biggest concession I can make. Turn around right now."
As she spoke, she raised her hand to push him.
Yu Yeqing's long lashes trembled slightly. He neither refused nor resisted her action, simply turning his body around as directed.
Only then did Song Hemei relax a little. She untied the loosely wrapped sash of her robe and stepped entirely into the warm water.
The tub was large. Even though she was a Changzhou woman of relatively tall stature, when she slightly hunched her shoulders, the hot water could still reach past her chin.
Having entered the water with her back to Yu Yeqing, she slowly turned around to face him, so he wouldn't sneak a peek while she wasn't looking.
She had already bathed after returning home during the day, but the more sensitive areas had to be washed again. Perhaps it was because of the exertion earlier—though it wasn't painful—her hand still felt an indescribable sensation when she touched herself there, forcing her to remember every detail of what had just happened with perfect clarity.
Now the instigator stood right before her. She looked up and saw his tall figure standing obediently by the screen. He actually appeared somewhat... pitiful.
She couldn't help but take the initiative to speak. "Aren't you tired? Why don't you wait for me in the outer room?"
He turned his head slightly, then stopped the motion, not completely looking back at her. He was being quite proper, but only uttered two words: "I'm fine."
There was still candlelight in this side chamber. The warm, soft glow fell upon him, yet it did nothing to dispel the hint of desolation that clung to him. It was as if he wasn't waiting for her, but had been ordered to stand here as a punishment.
This made her wonder—if he had insisted on following her, it surely wasn't just to stand here idly.
She paused. In the end, her soft-heartedness overcame her shyness. "How about... you bathe with me? That way you can finish faster and go rest sooner."
With that, she shifted to make some room for him, then turned her back again.
But he said, "There's no need to rush this moment. I can bathe later."
Song Hemei was momentarily silent.
How had it come to this—him refusing her?
She had set aside all modesty to invite him, and he had turned her down?
She took a deep breath, feeling as if the world had turned upside down. She simply commanded, "Either you come here right now, or you go wait outside."
This time it worked. She heard him reply with a soft "Alright," followed by the sound of footsteps approaching, stopping right beside her.
There came the rustle of fabric against fabric, then the sound of water, and finally, the water around her rose slightly.
Song Hemei swallowed hard, her gaze fixed straight ahead. His shadow completely enveloped hers. Looking only at the shadow, one might think he was bathing alone.
The sound of water behind her wasn't loud, but the quieter it was, the more the crisp, clear noise forced its way into her ears. Even the gentle ripples against her skin seemed to tease.
Song Hemei felt her heart beat faster and faster. Her throat inexplicably went dry. The water seemed even hotter and more scalding than before. She raised a hand to touch her cheek—it was so hot that even she was surprised.
But Yu Yeqing was infuriatingly proper. Although he was immersed in the same water, he didn't touch her once. His behavior was so correct that it actually stirred a hint of annoyance in her.
Perhaps to give herself an excuse, or perhaps because she didn't want to remain so distinctly separated, she simply turned around. "What did you come here for?"
She was too embarrassed to look at the scene below the water's surface, but she could see his ink-black hair, slightly dampened by the water, his firm chest, and the confusion that surfaced in his usually distant eyes.
"What should I do?"
Song Hemei turned completely and suddenly closed the distance between them. "You're washing that carefully? If you love bathing so much, why don't you go work as a scrubber at a public bathhouse?"
Yu Yeqing's dark pupils reflected her figure. He did instinctively lean back the moment she approached, but his back was already pressed against the edge of the tub, rendering his retreat useless.
He didn't understand her awkward hints. His usual understanding of her failed him at this moment. He could only venture a guess. "Do you want me to scrub your back?"
Song Hemei's expression darkened. She found him utterly oblivious. "No."
Feeling unsatisfied, she pushed at the water, sending a spray of droplets straight at him. He turned his head slightly but didn't dodge in time. The drops scattered across his handsome face, adding an unexpected allure.
Especially when he turned back, with that hint of bewilderment still in his eyes—the vulnerability that seemed to beg for ravishment became even more pronounced. She felt the urge to kiss the trail of water off the bridge of his nose.
He was truly very handsome. When they had met in their youth, she had only thought him clean-cut and refined. After all, they had been young then, and it wasn't the kind of breathtaking beauty that would make one forget to look away.
Later, as they met from time to time, even the most striking features would lose their power to cause a sudden flutter of the heart after prolonged exposure.
But now it was different. The mist seemed to veil the image of him from her memory. Wherever a water droplet landed, it was as if it wiped away the obscuring mist, like an exploration, gradually revealing every handsome detail of his face before her. She was compelled to meticulously redraw his features for herself.
Song Hemei's breath caught. She stared at him, unable to snap out of it for a long time. But Yu Yeqing took her hand. "What's wrong? Did you bump into something?"
His warm palm held hers. She watched his long, slender fingers manipulate hers, and it reminded her of how those same fingers had manipulated another place moments ago.
Song Hemei guiltily lowered her eyes. Even in the water, she could clearly feel the changes in her own body.
She wanted to pull her hand back, but she was somewhat reluctant to let go of the feeling of him holding it. She swallowed and said unnaturally, "...Nothing."
At this moment, she was truly angry at his lack of initiative, and she had discovered his flaw.
How could he be so unflappable? Was he training to become the second Liu Xiahui right here with her?
Feeling a little defiant, she moved even closer, lifting her eyes to meet his directly. "Don't you have anything to say to me?" Or do.
Yu Yeqing's gaze darkened as he looked back at her. "Your face is very red. Are you suffering from heatstroke? Maybe you should dry off and get out. The steam is too heavy here; some fresh air might help."
Song Hemei moved even closer, grinding her teeth. "That's not what I meant."
But this time, as she drew near, Yu Yeqing's brow furrowed slightly. He turned his head away, refusing to face her.
"Song Hemei."
He suddenly called her by name. Not the sarcastic "Madam," not the "Second Miss" he had called her for so many years.
It was like that day at the government office—not overly intimate, yet carrying a unique significance, laced with restraint and reluctance.
"What?"
"Can you move a little farther away from me?"
Song Hemei: "...Do you know how infuriating that sounds?"
She immediately raised her hand to hit him, but before it could land on his chest, he caught it with his other hand.
She gritted her teeth. "This is my room, my bath tub, and you insisted on coming with me. And now you're telling me to stay away? I should be the one asking what you mean by this."
"No, it's just—"
Yu Yeqing's voice was choked off. His Adam's apple bobbed, the water droplets on it rolling down, making him look exceptionally appetizing.
But he wasn't wearing a shirt, so she could clearly see the taut lines of his shoulders and chest, his fair skin flushed pink from surging blood. The restrained power seemed ready to break free at any moment.
He tightened his grip on her hand, pulling it down into the water, inch by inch.
"Forgive my impertinence."
This was true impertinence, because by the time Song Hemei realized what was happening, it was too late.
Her hand had already touched...
It wasn't that she had never touched it before. But those previous times had been for convenience, to aim properly. This time, however, it was blatant—touching for the sake of touching. It was a first.
She felt as if she had been burned. He held her hand there, making her grasp it audaciously. She didn't know what to do.
But emerging alongside her shame was anticipation. All her unjustified anger vanished completely.
Because at this moment, he was exactly like her.
Song Hemei moved her wrist, intending to pull her hand back. Yu Yeqing, as if realizing he had gone too far in frightening her, didn't stop her. Instead, he cooperatively released his grip on her wrist.
But the way she withdrew her hand was... not quite right. She dragged it from the middle to the tip, causing him to let out a stifled groan.
He took a deep breath, trying to explain. "I can't control this. I—"
Before he could finish, Song Hemei leaned in and pecked him directly on the lips, cutting off his words.
When she pulled back slightly, she looked into his startled eyes and whispered, "It's okay. It's only natural. Of course I wouldn't blame you."
She wound her arms around his neck, putting on a very noble air. "I told you, I'm in love with you. So it's no trouble to make some sacrifices for you."
She braced her knees on either side of his waist. "So... aren't you going to help yourself? I can't aim properly."
Yu Yeqing's gaze was deep. Her words made his breathing heavier and rougher.
He seemed to hesitate for just an instant, but his hands had already instinctively fastened on her waist, pressing her down into the water, pressing her toward his own waist.
The feeling of pleasure came instantly, and because of the water around them, it carried a unique, different sensation.
Song Hemei lowered her eyes. She could see the rise and fall of his chest, and the tiny mole on his chest.
Acting on a whim, she lowered her head and gently kissed it—
Get instant access to all chapters now.
Post a Comment