Chapter 76 Bathing
Lou Jin didn't speak again, but leaned on him dependently, silently enduring the excruciating pain inside his body.
Ye Xunyang could clearly feel his body trembling and his suppressed breathing, but he was powerless to do anything but hold him and offer silent companionship.
After an unknown amount of time, Lou Jin's tense body finally gradually relaxed, and his rapid breathing became calmer. However, his whole body was soaked in cold sweat, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.
He shifted slightly, lifting his head from Ye Xunyang's shoulder. His face was still pale, but the pain in his eyes had faded. He looked at Ye Xunyang, whose eyes were full of worry, and forced a weak smile: "...It's alright now."
Ye Xunyang breathed a long sigh of relief, only then realizing that he was also covered in a cold sweat.
Lou Jin looked at his soaked clothes, frowned, and said to Ye Xunyang, "Help me to the bathtub... to wash up."
Ye Xunyang then noticed a bathtub emitting wisps of steam in the corner of the room, which had obviously been prepared in advance.
He nodded quickly and carefully helped Lou Jin up.
Lou Jin seemed extremely exhausted at this moment, leaning almost half of his body weight on Ye Xunyang.
Their bodies were pressed tightly together, and through their soaked clothes, they could clearly feel each other's body temperature and heartbeat.
Ye Xunyang supported Lou Jin's waist, helping him slowly move towards the bathtub step by step.
Lou Jin seemed to have truly exhausted his strength, leaning almost entirely on Ye Xunyang, his warm but weak breath brushing against Ye Xunyang's neck.
"Your Highness, please slow down." Ye Xunyang helped him lean against the tub, while he reached out to help him untie the sash of his soaked inner robe.
Lou Jin looked down at his focused and nervous expression, at his tightly pursed lips due to worry, and at his slightly reddened ears. A faint smile and a deeper longing flashed in the depths of his eyes.
As he removed his inner garment, Lou Jin's muscular upper body was revealed. Although he appeared somewhat pale due to the pain and cold sweat from before, his muscle lines remained smooth and distinct.
Ye Xunyang didn't dare to look any longer, hurriedly looked away, and reached out to help him into the bathtub.
However, Lou Jin seemed to have lost his footing and his body swayed. Ye Xunyang subconsciously grabbed his waist to steady him, but his foot slipped on the water and he staggered forward, half of his body crashing into the bathtub, splashing a lot of water!
"Ah!" Ye Xunyang exclaimed softly, instantly getting soaked from head to toe.
After he scrambled to his feet and wiped the water droplets from his face, he realized how disheveled he looked.
His thin summer shirt was completely soaked by the hot water, clinging tightly to his body and clearly outlining the contours of his chest and abdominal muscles; you could even see...
Lou Jin's gaze darkened instantly. His eyes slowly swept over Ye Xunyang, his Adam's apple bobbing uncontrollably as he swallowed his suddenly dry saliva.
The heat that had just subsided within his body seemed to be stirring again.
Ye Xunyang felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet. He stammered, "Your Highness, I...I'll go out and change my clothes..." and started to back out.
"Don't move." Lou Jin's voice was hoarse from the pain he had just experienced, but it also had a magnetic and seductive quality.
He reached out and grabbed Ye Xunyang's wet wrist, stopping him from escaping.
His gaze remained fixed on Ye Xunyang, a cryptic smile playing on his lips, his voice low and slow.
"Your clothes are soaked; you'll easily catch a cold if you go out." He paused, looking at Ye Xunyang's suddenly widened eyes.
"Anyway, this bathtub is big enough...why don't you come in and bathe with me?"
Lou Jin's words were like a thunderclap in Ye Xunyang's ears. He froze, his cheeks instantly turning bright red.
"Wash together?!" He could hardly believe his ears.
"how?"
Lou Jin raised an eyebrow and pulled Ye Xunyang, who was trying to back away, a little closer. Their soaked bodies were almost pressed together, and they could feel each other's burning body temperature through the thin fabric.
"Weren't you just worried about me, staying by my side every step of the way? Now, it's just a bath together, and you're already unwilling?"
"It's not that I'm unwilling..." Ye Xunyang felt weak all over under his gaze, and his mind went blank.
He was almost dizzy as Lou Jin half-pushed and half-led him into the large bathtub.
The warm water instantly enveloped my body, dispelling the cold sweat and tension from before.
The bathtub was indeed spacious enough to comfortably accommodate two people.
At first, the two simply sat facing each other, the atmosphere subtly awkward and tense.
Ye Xunyang lowered his head, not daring to look at Lou Jin, and only focused on rinsing his arms with hot water, trying to hide his inner panic.
Lou Jin leaned against the barrel wall, seemingly just resting with his eyes closed to recover his strength.
However, this calm did not last long.
A hand with distinct knuckles, carrying warm water, silently reached out and lightly touched Ye Xunyang's calf, which was submerged in the water.
Ye Xunyang's body trembled violently, and he suddenly raised his head to look at Lou Jin.
Lou Jin kept his eyes closed, as if it was just an unconscious touch.
But soon, that hand began to get restless.
The water flowed slowly upwards along Ye Xunyang's firm calves, with a leisurely caress. The sensation of fingertips gliding across the skin was amplified and made exceptionally clear in the warm water.
"Your Highness..." Ye Xunyang's voice trembled uncontrollably. He wanted to dodge, but his body seemed to be nailed to the spot, making him unable to muster any strength.
Lou Jin finally opened his eyes.
He looked at Ye Xunyang's handsome face, and his Adam's apple bobbed again.
He didn't speak, but instead answered with his actions.
He leaned forward, his arm winding around the water to embrace Ye Xunyang's waist, bringing the two of them so close that they could hear each other's breaths.
"Xunyang..." he called his name softly, his voice terribly hoarse, "Is it alright?"
Ye Xunyang was held in his arms, feeling his strong heartbeat and burning body temperature, and his last bit of rationality completely collapsed.
He closed his eyes, his long eyelashes trembling, and softly murmured "Mmm".
This sound was like lighting the final fuse.
Lou Jin no longer hesitated and lowered his head to kiss his lips.
The kiss was both fierce and tender.
Ye Xunyang responded awkwardly, his hands unconsciously climbing up Lou Jin's broad back, his fingertips sinking into his firm muscles.
The hot water in the bathtub rippled as the two moved, the waves crashing against the tub walls and making intimate sounds.
The rising steam filled the entire room, blurring the entangled figures.
Their clothes had been stripped off at some point and left on the damp ground beside the bucket.
Lou Jin's hands ignited clusters of flames on his body, while his lips and tongue left delicate marks on his neck and collarbone.
Ye Xunyang tilted his head back, letting himself drift in the tide of emotions, all his thoughts in disarray.
I know nothing of heaven and earth, nor of what day it is.
The room was filled with steaming vapor, and the water in the bathtub rippled violently, accompanied by suppressed gasps and soft sobs.
At this moment of confusion and infatuation.
"Knock, knock, knock."
The knocking on the door suddenly rang out.
Immediately afterward, Lou Yan's concerned voice came through the door: "Jin'er? The Imperial Advisor said you might feel unwell after taking the medicine. How are you feeling now? Do you need any help?"
In an instant, Ye Xunyang's blood seemed to freeze!
A wave of fright washed over him, making him tense up.
"Your Highness...please let him leave..."
Lou Jin was caught off guard by Ye Xunyang's sudden action and let out a muffled groan.
"Jin'er, are you alright?" Lou Yan seemed to have heard something outside the door.
Seeing Ye Xunyang's eager reaction, Lou Jin seized the opportunity to threaten him: "Don't call me Your Highness, call me Lou Jin."
"Lou...Lou Jin...you need to hurry and make him...um..."
Lou Jin could no longer bear Ye Xunyang's compromise; he was afraid he would go insane.
He quickly covered Ye Xunyang's mouth, which was about to cry out in surprise, and wrapped his other hand around his waist even tighter, pressing his trembling body firmly into his arms.
Ye Xunyang was trapped in his arms with his mouth covered, unable to move, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of his chest.
He could clearly feel the two of their bodies, and Lou Jin's muscles trembling slightly.
Outside the door, Lou Yan received no response and, seemingly puzzled, knocked again: "Jin'er? Can you hear me? Are you alright?"
Lou Jin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his rapid breathing, and tried to make his voice sound steady, even carrying a sense of fatigue and weakness.
“Brother… I’m fine.” He paused, as if he was adjusting his breathing. “I felt a little uncomfortable when the medicine took effect, but I’m fine now. I’m taking a bath… to clean myself up.”
His voice came through the door, and apart from being slightly hoarse, there was nothing unusual about it.
Lou Yan outside the door paused for a moment, seemingly accepting the explanation: "It's good that nothing's wrong. You can clean up first, and we can talk later."
The footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Only after confirming that Lou Yan had really left did the extremely tense atmosphere in the room suddenly relax.
Lou Jin released his hand from Ye Xunyang's mouth, but he still kept his arm around Ye Xunyang's waist.
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