Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Hehe, Romantic Bathing Together
The foothills in the night resemble a lurking beast. The entire estate is built along the mountainside, surrounded by tall eucalyptus and cypress trees. The light golden limestone facade of the buildings shines even more brilliantly against the backdrop of the urban landscape of the city center in the distance.
The bathhouse on the second floor of the manor has a matte black natural stone wall, and one side is a full-length glass wall. Outside the window, the dense primeval forest appears as dark green silhouettes under the moonlight, deep and quiet.
A mixed-race man with broad shoulders and long arms leaned against the edge of the bathtub, the rising steam blurring his deep features.
The man had an excellent physique; his shoulders, exposed to the air, were broad and straight, and his arm muscles were full, smooth, and well-defined. Water droplets meandered down his clearly defined collarbone, flowed over his muscular chest, and disappeared into the bathtub filled with flower petals.
The warm water enveloped his body as Li Xinian leaned against the cold obsidian pool wall, his eyes closed, letting the oppressive meeting with his father during the day replay in his mind.
-
The study in the Li family's old mansion was isolated from the outside noise by a heavy rosewood door. The air was filled with the rich aroma of aged cigars, which made Li Xinian frown with some impatience.
“I’ve already had someone take over the European routes,” Li Xinian said calmly, as if stating a given fact. “Auntie’s brother is getting old; it’s time for him to enjoy his retirement.”
The young man sat relaxed and arrogantly in an armchair, his long legs crossed, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on his knees, as if he were just having an ordinary afternoon chat.
Opposite him, his father, Li Chengjun, sat upright behind a large desk. Although the fine lines at the corners of his eyes betrayed his fatigue, his gaze remained sharp, carrying the imposing aura of someone who had long held a high position.
"Isn't this a bit too fast?" Li Chengjun said in a deep voice, his gaze fixed on his son like a hawk. "With some foundation, moving too hastily could hurt yourself."
“The foundation is unstable, so it needs to be cleaned up sooner rather than later.” Li Xinian met his gaze, his gray-blue eyes showing no sign of yielding, but rather a calm that saw through everything. “Is Father worried about him, or is he worried that…the few hidden lines he has cultivated for many years will also be cut off?”
These words were spoken bluntly and without any attempt to conceal anything, suggesting that the two were not even basic friends, but rather sworn enemies who would crush each other.
Li Chengjun's cheek muscles twitched almost imperceptibly.
He realized that this son was no longer the boy he could easily manipulate, the one who would cry and beg him not to take his mother away in the dead of night after her death. Instead, he was a fully-fledged, sharp-fanged beast that was eyeing him menacingly and ready to take his life at any moment.
However, his strength gradually diminished as his opponent grew stronger, until the two were evenly matched... no, it was already the stage where Li Xinian had the upper hand.
A brief silence fell between the two.
After a long silence, Li Chengjun seemed to sigh, his tone softening, yet carrying a deeper, more probing undertone, as if trying to find a weakness: "Xi Nian, we are, after all, father and son. Some things don't need to be done so drastically. If your mother were alive, she probably wouldn't want to see us, father and son, fighting to this point..."
The word "mother" is like a spark that ignites a fuse.
Li Xinian's aura suddenly plummeted to freezing point, and anger surged in his gray-blue eyes. However, his strong self-control allowed him to maintain his seated posture, though his jawline was taut as iron.
“You,” his voice was so cold it could freeze the air, each word as if pulled from an ice cellar, “have no right to mention her.”
He didn't roar or slam his fist on the table, but his words, suppressed to the extreme and chilling, were more impactful than any outburst of rage.
The last shred of feigned warmth in the study was utterly shattered.
Li Chengjun was speechless, his face turning extremely ugly. Looking at the undisguised hatred and coldness in his son's eyes, he knew that his last attempt to test his son had not only been futile but had also completely escalated the conflict.
Li Xinian slowly stood up, looked down at his father, and his eyes no longer held anger, but only a kind of indifference and estrangement with pity.
"I will handle the group's affairs in my own way." He said this, then turned and left without saying another word, showing no sign of lingering.
The heavy study door slammed shut behind him with a dull thud.
-
Li Chengjun is certainly not qualified to mention his mother, because he and that woman are the murderers who killed his mother!
If Li Chengjun hadn't wanted to divorce his mother because of her family's decline, and hadn't brought that woman into the Li family as his mistress without his mother's consent, and hadn't been blocked at the door by the mistress and her maid every day and cursed at her, how could his mother have fallen so quickly and passed away?
His mother's smiling, grey-blue eyes had appeared in his dreams countless times, kissing his forehead and asking him, "Xi Nian, will you forget your mother? If so, your mother will truly disappear from this world."
"Kill them all."
Li Xinian suddenly opened his eyes. His gray-blue eyes were sharp as a hawk's in the misty steam, piercing through the rising white fog as if to pierce through time and space and go back to that tragic moment many years ago when it was also shrouded in mist.
His murderous intent could not be quelled, and the pain of his mother's departure seemed to imprison his soul forever in that rainy night, the dampness and cold seeping into his very bones.
In this vast and cold mansion, he seemed to have everything, yet also seemed to have nothing at all.
Just then, something invisible gently pinched his left cheek.
The texture feels very realistic, with a familiar, playful force.
Following closely behind is the faint scent of moss, pine needles, and cedar, which wafts down your cheeks to the tip of your nose.
Li Xinian's thick eyelashes trembled slightly, but he didn't open his eyes or make any other significant movement. However, his thin lips, which had been pressed into a straight line, softened almost imperceptibly for a moment: "...You've arrived?"
[Yes, I'll come keep you company. Don't worry, I can't see what's underwater.]
Then, the water beside him naturally dipped, the warm pool water was pushed aside, forming a clear mark where someone had sat. Ripples spread, gently brushing against his arms and side, bringing a slight tickle.
"Well, thank you for being so considerate." Li Xinian smiled. His heavy mood was like a frozen lake, but now a warm pebble had been thrown into the "ghost's" appearance, and the ripples spread slowly, dispelling some of the chill.
As soon as he finished speaking, the once calm water surface suddenly seemed to be scooped up by someone and splashed directly onto his face!
Caught off guard, Li Xinian was splashed with water on his chin and neck, and was both annoyed and amused: "...Are you taking advantage of the fact that I can't splash it back, so you're being so reckless?"
[You caught me, hehe]
Lin Suxing got really into tapping around on the interface and discovered that the special interactive storyline had a corresponding gift-giving function.
He clicked on the "Yellow Duck Toy," and a little yellow duck toy immediately appeared in the bathtub made up of multiple blue pixel blocks of varying shades.
The bright yellow rubber duck floated gently on the water to Li Xinian's side, its round belly brushing against his strong forearm.
He lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on that little gadget that seemed out of place in this cold, luxurious bathroom. A barely perceptible daze flickered deep in his grey-blue eyes.
In my memory, long ago, in the bathroom of that equally spacious mansion, a row of rubber ducks would always appear out of nowhere. Colorful and varied in shape, they stubbornly occupied the smooth edge of the ceramic bathtub.
He couldn't quite remember, but he seemed to be under ten years old at the time. He had been injured while riding a horse and was unable to bathe himself. However, he felt ashamed and thought, "I am already an adult," so he did not want the servants to help him.
Back then, his mother would prepare a bathtub filled with hot water for him, and gently wipe his back with a soft, fragrant towel while telling him the story of Fenrir, the giant wolf from Norse mythology, or patiently explaining which capital cities the Danube River flowed through.
Her voice was gentle, as if it could dispel all children's fear of darkness and loneliness.
As for those ducks... At that time, the boy, who longed to grow up quickly and become incredibly powerful, always felt that these childish things were some kind of obstacle, a symbol that confined him to the identity of "child".
He would always purse his lips and silently fish them out of the water one by one, stuffing them into the deepest part of the bathroom cabinet without any hesitation, as if this would free him from the dependence that he considered too soft.
But the next day, a new one would always appear silently by the bathtub.
At the time, it seemed like nothing special.
Later, as he grew up, he seized power from those old men with ruthless and bloody methods, and he built his own business empire, but he would never feel that way again.
Lin Suxing saw that multiple debuffs such as "depression", "pain", and "regret" appeared above the pixelated figure's head, and for a moment he couldn't understand why the little yellow duck could evoke so many emotions in Nian Nian.
Don't you like the little yellow duck?
[Sorry, my adoptive mother thought the little yellow duck was cute, so I released it.]
At that moment, Li Xinian unconsciously stirred the water with his long, slender fingers, causing the little duck to clumsily turn around.
His hard jawline seemed to soften for a moment before quickly returning to normal, but the lingering melancholy in his eyes, like moisture, quietly spread.
"It's nothing, I was just thinking about some things from the past." He wasn't used to revealing too much of his inner emotions to others, and even with Wang Shunduo, he rarely talked about his mother.
Are you unhappy? Are you okay? If something's bothering you, you can tell me.
“When I was little,” Li Xinian began, his voice lower and hoarser than usual, devoid of emotion, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself, “I always felt that these things were in the way.”
Sitting next to him, Lin Suxing keenly noticed the barely perceptible hesitation in his words.
Lin Suxing didn't speak, but quietly reached out her hand underwater, her warm fingers gently covering Li Xinian's slightly tense hand resting on the edge of the pool.
His movements were gentle, carrying a silent comfort.
"Now look at it," Lin Suxing said softly, as if afraid of disturbing something, "it's actually quite good."
He didn't point out the nostalgia, but simply continued along with what he said: "At least... back then there was someone who always remembered to put things in your way that you found annoying."
Li Xinian neither pulled his hand away nor responded. He simply remained silent, letting the small, warm light gradually dispel the sudden surge of coldness in his heart regarding time and lost warmth.
The water rippled slightly, reflecting the tranquil forest and distant city lights outside the window, blurring the two figures silently embracing in the misty steam.
Should we offer him further comfort? Yes.
Lin Suxing quietly moved closer, and the warm water rippled with his movements, gently patting Li Xinian's side.
Seeing that the other party did not reject him, the young man hesitated for a moment, then finally reached out and gently wrapped his arms around Li Xinian's waist from behind, pressing his cheek against Li's broad, slightly damp back.
With his cheek pressed against Nian Nian's slightly damp and smooth skin, he could clearly feel the firm and smooth lines of the muscles underwater, and hear the strong and powerful heartbeat coming from his chest, each beat seeming to pound on his eardrums.
So close... It's just a game... Why does it feel so real?
A surge of heat uncontrollably crept up Lin Suxing's ears. Even though she knew it was just a game interface, an interaction between two pixelated characters, the feel of their skin, their temperature, and even the subtle rise and fall of their backs as they breathed were all too real.
Why make this game so realistic? It's so realistic it's almost eerie!
And I always feel like if he keeps playing like this, he'll never be able to like anyone in the real world again!
He could smell the scent of shower gel mixed with a faint cedar fragrance emanating from Li Xinian, which made his heart race and his arms around the other person feel slightly weak.
The moment their skin touched, Li Xinian's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a second.
He was used to being in control of everything, including the distance between himself and others. Few people could, and even fewer dared, to intrude so directly into his private sphere, let alone in such an intimate moment when he was completely unprepared.
He could clearly feel the warmth of Lin Suxing's cheek against his back, and the strength of those arms that were both tentative yet exceptionally firm.
The other person's clumsy attempts to comfort him and their affectionate gestures transformed into a soothing warmth, quietly melting the ice that had frozen in his heart due to his confrontation with his father.
He could tell I was in a bad mood, and he awkwardly tried to comfort me.
This thought slowly relaxed Li Xinian's tense muscles.
Without even thinking, almost instinctively, he raised his hand and covered Lin Suxing's hand. The delicate touch and warmth from his fingertips strangely soothed the surging violence and murderous intent within him.
He really does... like me.
This conclusion, imbued with an undeniable certainty and a sense of satisfaction that even he himself was unaware of, settled in his heart.
Li Xinian's lips curled slightly, and his bad mood that had lasted all day finally improved at this moment.
Lin Suxing could clearly feel the tension in the muscles beneath his palms, the warmth emanating from his skin, and the strong heartbeat. He didn't speak, simply maintaining the quiet embrace, as if trying to dispel the chill in the other's heart with his own body heat.
Every year he needs me... He needs me more than anyone else in the real world.
To other people, I am dispensable; even if I were replaced at any time, no one would care. But it's different for Nian Nian.
He only has him, and I... only have him.
He felt a little flustered and embarrassed by his increasingly uncontrollable feelings. But when Nian turned around and held his hand, even resting her head on his neck, a huge, bittersweet warmth instantly washed away that shyness.
Year after year, her palms, still damp with moisture, were warm yet strong, silently responding to the embrace.
Lin Suxing felt a warmth in her heart, and taking advantage of the situation, she rested her chin on his shoulder and asked softly, "Are you feeling better?"
His feelings for "Niannian" have long surpassed his initial curiosity and companionship with the game character. They have grown deeper and deeper, to the point that he has begun to blur the boundaries between virtual and reality, and to the point that he is willing to immerse himself in this warm water made of data.
Li Xinian gave an almost inaudible "hmm," his eyes still closed, but his head tilted back slightly, resting against Lin Suxing's neck, offering some of his weight. This subtle gesture of dependence spoke volumes more than any of his explicit words.
Rippling water, rising steam, the two nestled close together. Some had already "cleverly" confirmed the other's feelings, while others, oblivious, seemed to be sinking deeper and deeper into this relationship that was not yet fully open.
*
The night was deep, and Lin Ke paced anxiously in his room. His expensive custom-made leather shoes made no sound on the soft carpet, but this only highlighted his panic.
Today marks the third day he has been confined to his room.
All they had was their cell phone and food delivered to their door; they couldn't go out, couldn't ask for what they wanted, and couldn't find out if their parents' attitude had softened.
Lin Ke is being driven crazy.
He couldn't understand why his parents, who hadn't suspected anything before, suddenly started investigating Lucy's son's whereabouts and happened to discover the truth that the son had stolen Lin's secrets, causing the Lin family to lose hundreds of millions!
He was also confined to his home by his parents, who were furious, for allegedly covering up for Lucy's son.
Ever since Lin Suxing returned to the Lin family, it seems like nothing is going right for him. It's all because Lin Suxing ruined his luck!
Lin Ke inexplicably blamed Lin Suxing for the incident.
[Brother, can you come pick me up here?]
[I don't want to be grounded, I still have to catch up on my schedule, otherwise I'll be forgotten, sob sob]
[Brother, please save me, I'll do anything for you]
The three messages he sent are still at the bottom of the chat box, with no reply from the other party, and it's unclear whether they've read them but won't respond.
It's over...it's all over...
Cold sweat soaked Lin Ke's back, and his anxious emotions made his thoughts a jumbled mess.
That magazine photoshoot and interview was something I begged Mr. Wang countless times to get! If I don't get some exposure during this time, it will be even harder to get these kinds of opportunities to continue in the entertainment industry...
He recalled the miserable state of being labeled "washed-up" and "bully," as well as his manager's increasingly impatient expression.
He was put on the edge of his seat after being blacklisted due to the bullying incident, so he absolutely couldn't afford to miss this opportunity!
We have to go!
He rushed to the window, staring intently at the bodyguards patrolling below, a sense of despair almost overwhelming him. On his own? He couldn't even get out of this door.
Only my brother can help me...
This thought became his only hope. He dialed the number with trembling hands, his heart pounding.
The call connected, and I could hear steady breathing on the other end.
"Brother..." Lin Ke's voice trembled with tears, "I'm locked up at home. Tomorrow's schedule... if I don't go, I'm completely finished! Come pick me up, please..."
After a moment of silence, a calm voice came from the other end:
"Understood. Someone will meet you at the window in half an hour."
The call ended. Lin Ke gripped his phone tightly, his palms sweating. He peered anxiously through the glass, and time seemed to crawl by in his eyes.
Just as he was about to give up, the two bodyguards downstairs suddenly seemed to receive some kind of notification and walked together toward the main building.
Immediately afterwards, a man dressed in ordinary work clothes, with his hat pulled low, emerged from the bushes and gestured to him. The man quickly set up what looked like an ordinary-looking aluminum ladder and leaned it against the wall.
Is it really that simple?
Lin Ke was somewhat disappointed, but he couldn't care less. He clumsily climbed the ladder, stumbled a bit when he jumped down, but eventually managed to climb down to the ground using both hands and feet, looking rather disheveled.
The moment he landed, he felt the long-lost freedom return to his body!
A slightly worn black sedan was parked outside the wall. The passenger window was down, and the driver, wearing a mask, impatiently urged, "Get in!"
Lin Ke hurriedly and awkwardly climbed into the car, which immediately drove away. He slumped in the back seat, panting, and looked back as the Lin family mansion gradually disappeared into the night.
"Just wait, one day I will come back and trample you all under my feet!"
The man he called "brother" came from a much wealthier family than Zhao Gan. Although he wasn't even a tenth as handsome as Zhao Gan, he was also from a branch of the Li family...
If he could develop feelings for her under the same roof and eventually consummate the relationship, and thus climb the social ladder by marrying into the Li family, his parents and elder brother would never look down on him like they do now!
They will definitely recognize their own excellence and contributions to the family, and will not hesitate to abandon Lin Suxing and return to his side!
When Lin Suxing is abandoned by everyone again, and can only watch him being so glamorous as "Madam Li," she will definitely be driven mad with jealousy!
Lin Ke, already smugly pleased with himself, clenched his fist tightly.
He was prepared to give everything just to win over that man.
*
The meeting room on the top floor of the Figaro magazine headquarters has a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the gray city skyline.
Art director Kevin Chow presented Lin Suxing with a proposal featuring a concept image of an abandoned train station shrouded in rain.
“Su Xing, your aura is very special.” Kevin tapped the proposal lightly with his fingertips. “Fragile yet resilient, like a flower that refuses to wither even after being soaked by rain. Our theme this time, ‘Damp Memories,’ needs to showcase the texture of skin clinging to rain and fabric…”
He paused for a moment, his gaze sharp: "So your upper body needs to be completely exposed, can you accept that?"
Upon hearing this description, Lin Suxing couldn't help but want to make the expression associated with "subway, elderly, and mobile phone".
But he forced himself to endure it through his upbringing.
The project proposal I was looking at showed a model with water streaks running down her bare back, her wet hair clinging to her pale cheeks.
It is beautiful, but although Lin Suxing has been in the modeling industry for many years, she has never shot such a client or portrait.
Even girls rarely take photos like this, because if you want to show the wet fabric, you probably can't wear clothes that cover your lower body very well, and many people would feel a bit embarrassed.
The system suddenly interrupted him: "Ahem, host, excuse me."
Lin Suxing: "? What's wrong?"
"We've detected something..." The system almost let slip, but quickly corrected itself, "Are you interested in the gossip about Nian Nian's mother, host?"
"What kind of gossip?" Lin Suxing exclaimed in surprise, "You can even monitor gossip in the pixelated world???"
The system brushed aside Lin Suxing's question and immediately said, "Host, you and Niannian were hugging intimately yesterday. Don't you really want to hear this gossip? Niannian's biological mother didn't actually die. The death certificate... was forged!"
-----------------------
Author's Note: I'm experiencing some writer's block. I might revise this chapter again tomorrow. I have a bad cold [poor face].
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
