Chapter 63: Changing Clothes. "You make me doubt my judgment."

The kiss was somewhat unrestrained.

It felt so right that He Gu didn't even notice where Lou Dongcang had taken the blanket.

As he was pinned to the floor, he thought about how cold the floor was and how hot the other's tongue felt, followed by a sudden bite.

"Hiss... What are you doing?"

"Thinking of something else?"

Unable to retort, He Gu could only hook his arm around his neck and return the kiss.

They kissed fervently, losing breath, minds foggy, and even a gentle nip on the lips sent shivers down the spine.

As Lou Dongcang's hand slid downward, He Gu instinctively arched his back. But soon after, only two words filled his mind,

"Can't."

"Not yet..."

He Gu hastily tried to push him away, but was immediately detected. Lou Dongcang nuzzled against his neck, embracing his waist and drawing him close, teasingly asking, "What are you hiding from? Where do you plan to go?"

Of course, He Gu knew he couldn't go anywhere. After all, the floor was right behind him; he couldn't just burrow into it.

"But he had nothing..."

"Just touching you."

He Gu felt intoxicated by him, clinging tightly, drawing even closer to Lou Dongcang, whispering his name softly.

Suddenly, Lou Dongcang released his grip.

It felt to He Gu like a person trying to breach the water's surface for air but getting caught just beneath it, plunging back into the abyss.

For a moment, He Gu was gasping for breath, his face flushed, as he fell backward, lying flat on the floor.

Blocked by Lou Dongcang.

Lou Dongcang: "Stay still, didn't you say I could touch?"

After a few seconds, the only thing He Gu could register in his foggy consciousness was a faint sound.

He immediately snapped back to reality from that sound, drenched in sweat, sitting up to look at Lou Dongcang.

Lou Dongcang smoothly lifted himself, reminiscent of a snake rising from the ground.

He Gu, in shock, half-covered his face, stammering, "Did you... swallow?"

Lou Dongcang's voice lifted in affirmation, "Mhm."

He Gu touched the corner of his mouth, finding words hard to form, "Don't... don't do that again... It's not... tasty..."

Lou Dongcang licked the finger He Gu was using to point, buttoning up the shirt that He Gu had left open.

He Gu, feeling both pain and guilt, tried to kiss him, but Lou evaded his advance.

Lou Dongcang asked, "Do you feel sorry for me?"

He Gu: "I like you."

Lou Dongcang was taken aback.

He Gu reiterated, "It's not pity. I like you. I don't want you to do this. There's no need."

Lou Dongcang took a step back, smiling, "Then you really shouldn't kiss me."

He Gu: "?"

Lou Dongcang was dressed in black, hiding any evident stains or marks, which He Gu only now noticed.

Just as He Gu was about to offer his help, Lou Dongcang stood up, fastening his trench coat's belt, using its folds as camouflage.

He asked, "Where's the bathroom?"

He Gu: "I..."

Lou Dongcang: "I didn't imply anything else. It's just that if you come to help me now, we won't be able to end the day properly. Did you happen to buy it?"

He Gu, flustered and struggling to keep up with the swift developments, stammered, "Wh-what?"

Lou Dongcang: "Lubricant."

He Gu: "... The bathroom is about ten steps ahead, on your left."

Meaning he hadn't bought it.

Once Lou Dongcang entered the bathroom and turned on the shower, He Gu propped up his legs and covered his face.

How did... how did it progress... so smoothly...

Always a bit slower in processing emotions than others, only now did He Gu's face burn, as if he were a boiling kettle, quietly mumbling to himself.

The sound of water in the bathroom grew louder.

Several minutes passed before the bathroom door opened.

Before He Gu could turn around, he felt a weight above him, pressed down by a damp figure.

The side of his face felt the cold drips from the man's wet hair.

Even though the water was cold, the damp patch on his shirt felt scalding, making He Gu want to jump up.

He Gu was embraced from behind, feeling Lou's cold arm, "Why didn't you put on your shirt?"

Lou Dongcang had taken a cold shower.

Lou Dongcang: "It's too hot."

Wisely changing the subject, He Gu asked, "What would you like for dinner?"

Lou Dongcang: "What time is it now?"

He Gu: "6:34."

Lou Dongcang: "I'm feeling warm. How about some cold noodles?"

He Gu: "Alright, I'll turn on the air conditioner."

Though he agreed readily, he didn't move from his spot on the floor.

After a quiet moment, Lou Dongcang suddenly asked, "He Gu, are you blushing?"

He Gu: "...No."

As he attempted to rise, he was pushed back down and held tightly in an embrace.

He Gu felt the warmth of his bare chest against her back, swallowing unconsciously as her ears turned a deep shade of red.

The man whispered into his ear, "Who's this little silkworm nestled in my embrace?"

As he spoke, he gently bit down on He Gu's earlobe.

When He Gu touched his own earlobe, he often wondered if it lacked sensation, for it never felt much.

But now, with another's touch, it felt as if it had its own tiny heartbeat, burning and trembling, impossible to ignore.

He Gu defiantly responded, "I don't know, but it's not me."

His tone was edgy, almost snapping.

Lou Dongzang, seeing the mood, replied with a playful smile, "Alright, it isn't."

He let go of He Gu and, as she stood up, asked, "Need help with cooking?"

He Gu replied, "Sure, prepare a cold noodle sauce. It's convenient."

After speaking, He Gu looked at him twice, hesitating, "Could you put on a shirt?"

Lou Dongzang, wearing only pants and draping a towel over his shoulders, exposing a pale chest, lowered his head to wipe his hair with the towel around his neck. Hearing her, he looked up and chuckled.

Lou Dongzang teased, "Say something nice."

He Gu: "?"

Lou Dongzang: "If you say something nice, I'll go."

The disbelief in He Gu's eyes seemed to only amuse Lou Dongzang more. "Didn't you just call me? How did you do it?"

He Gu: "What do you mean 'just now'? I don't recall..."

Recalling the moment, it did dawn on her.

Earlier, she had leaned against Lou Dongzang's shoulder, not fully conscious, barely remembering shouting something... maybe an insult...

He Gu: "...Lou Si (Fourth Lou), just go."

Lou Dongzang stepped closer, "Did you call me Lou Si? Didn't sound like it."

He Gu: "I said it was."

Lou Dongzang didn't press, "Then dry my hair for me. Once it's dry, I'll go."

He had all the time in the world to let He Gu clarify if it was "Lou Si" or... "snake."

He Gu grabbed the towel and deliberately tousled his hair into a mess.

Lou Dongzang had a great temperament, not minding how rough she was. He Gu's mood swung as quickly as it came; after roughing up his hair, she began to massage the roots gently.

Lou Dongzang leaned down to kiss him.

The kiss made He Gu want to laugh, and he did, asking, "How come you never get angry?"

Lou Dongzang replied, "There's nothing you could do that would make me angry."

He Gu, surprised, said, "Really? So, what if I..."

Lou Dongzang interjected, "Cheating is off the table."

He Gu, bursting with laughter, took the towel away, saying, "Alright, walk around a bit and it'll dry soon."

Lou Dongzang: "Mhm."

He Gu pulled him around to head to the bedroom in search of clothes, offering him a tank top.

Lou Dongzang: "I don't want this. Give me a long-sleeved shirt."

He Gu: "Why would you want long sleeves?"

Despite his words, he still went to find the requested shirt.

After Lou Dongzang slipped on the soft long-sleeved shirt, he opened his arms and said, "Come here, give me a hug."

Confused, He Gu approached and embraced him.

Lou Dongzang: "Doesn't this feel better? Don't you like it?"

He Gu: "I do like it... How did you know?"

Lou Dongzang: "He Gu, I can't see you."

"I wish I could see you, but I can't for now."

He Gu knew what he was getting at.

Since he couldn't see, he made it his mission to excel in what he could control.

He couldn't see He Gu, but he could touch him.

So, he made the touch even better.

After some thought, He Gu said, "Actually, you don't have to wear it."

Lou Dongzang: "..."

He Gu: "You want me to feel good because you care about me, but I'm quite fond of you too, so it doesn't matter what you wear."

He genuinely enjoyed the feeling of soft cotton clothes, perhaps due to his experience in the fashion industry. But his preference was primarily because the person holding him was Lou Dongzang.

He couldn't possibly have missed that detail.

Lou Dongzang took a step closer, touching his face and remarked, "Your face feels warm."

He Guan responded, "It's a normal temperature for me; it just feels warm compared to yours."

With freshly combed hair draping smoothly down, Lou Dongzang asked, "About what I inquired earlier? You mentioned there wasn't anything. Did you blush?"

He Guan retorted, "...Tch."

Lou Dongzang prodded, "Did you or didn't you?"

He Guan sighed, "You're not easy to fool..."

Lou Dongzang smiled, cupping He Guan's jaw and leaning in for a kiss, murmuring, "He Guan, you make me question my own judgment..."

His still damp hair brushed against He Guan's forehead, creating an odd sensation.

Catching his breath in between the kisses, He Guan said,

"You haven't been wrong."