What Are the Principles of Your Line of Work?

Enigma's hand soon shifted position.

Li Mao immediately arched his back, bracing both hands against the edge of the bathtub as he prepared to get up.

But their tightly locked hands were one problem, and since he was already sitting in Enigma's lap, not the slightest thought of his could escape the other man's eyes.

With one sweep of his long arm, Wan Fuqi pulled him back into his embrace.

Splash!

Their vigorous movements sent a considerable spray of water sloshing out of the bathtub, several puddles spilling onto the floor.

"What's wrong? What are you hiding from?" Wan Fuqi asked teasingly.

Li Mao held his waist stiffly, his back ramrod straight like a fish ready to leap from the water at any moment.

"Don't—don't go too far!"

Li Mao's fingers dug into the edge of the bathtub so hard that his fingertips turned white.

He had still underestimated the shame and pride of being an Alpha.

To consciously accept something like this, after being an Alpha for twenty-five years, was truly worse than death.

Even though his body had long since surrendered beneath the control of pheromones, he still gritted his teeth and warned the other man not to push his luck.

Wan Fuqi lightly licked Li Mao's nape, beaded with water droplets and still bearing teeth marks that had yet to fade. "How can this be considered too far? If you're taking a bath, you should wash thoroughly. Being all grimy isn't exactly a good habit."

The moment Wan Fuqi finished speaking, Li Mao suddenly gasped. Forgetting everything else, his face flushed red as he cursed furiously, "Is this—is this bathing?!"

"Don't, don't! You... you dog! Stop! Bastard! Sooner or later, I'll chop your—your head off and make soup with it!"

All Li Mao could do in his discomfort was hurl harmless insults to vent his frustration.

"You're welcome to try anytime," Wan Fuqi said with a smile.

Between breaths, he seemed to recall something and asked, "Darling, aren't you at all curious about your husband?"

Li Mao took several deep breaths before replying, "Stop—stop flattering yourself! At most, you're just one failed target of mine."

"Oh?" Wan Fuqi pinched Li Mao's chin, forcing him to turn and face him.

With a smile that did not reach his eyes, he asked, "Then don't you want to find out what kind of target was able to make you fail?"

Li Mao gave a cold, breathless laugh. "The principle of—of our line of work is protecting the client's privacy."

Wan Fuqi seemed to understand something upon hearing that. He smiled, then opened his mouth and captured Li Mao's lips, holding the back of his head as he kissed him fiercely.

"Mmph..."

Before Li Mao's mind could once again be overtaken by suffocation, Wan Fuqi mercifully let him go.

Staring into Li Mao's eyes, now veiled with moisture, he teased, "Then according to the principles of your line of work, are you allowed to kiss a target?"

Li Mao said nothing, only shooting the man with the vile sense of humor a vicious glare.

Wan Fuqi continued, "What about sleeping together? Can people in your line of work sleep with their targets? If you brought the assignment all the way to bed, would you be the first?"

Li Mao: ...

"Bzz—bzzz—"

Perhaps heaven had taken pity on Li Mao, the unlucky bastard. Just as he was being relentlessly teased and utterly unable to fight back, the sound of a phone vibrating suddenly came from outside the bathroom.

Because the bathroom door was not closed, Li Mao noticed it almost instantly.

Meanwhile, Enigma, whose hearing was not especially good and whose mind was full of ways to toy with him, seemed not to hear the faint vibration at all. He continued looking at Li Mao with a teasing expression, without glancing toward the bathroom door.

Seizing the rare chance to escape, Li Mao said to Wan Fuqi, "Is—is someone calling you? There's a p-phone vibrating outside."

Hearing that, Wan Fuqi subconsciously looked toward the gap in the bathroom door.

He habitually tilted his head and listened carefully to the sounds outside.

Afraid Wan Fuqi would not hear it clearly and think he was lying, Li Mao deliberately softened his breathing, trying to reduce the noise.

After listening for a moment, Wan Fuqi suddenly stood up from the bathtub.

Caught completely off guard, Li Mao's arm was abruptly yanked high into the air.

As Wan Fuqi slipped into a bathrobe and stepped out of the tub, he locked Li Mao's arm to the railing beside the bathtub.

Rescued, yet not entirely rescued, Li Mao did his best to make himself inconspicuous. His eyes darted about as he watched Wan Fuqi's every movement without blinking, silently praying that the man would fall dead in front of him the next second.

But reality was always cruel. Wan Fuqi reached the floor safely and soundly.

Before leaving, he did not forget to smile and warn Li Mao.

"Darling, I'm going to answer a call. If I don't come back in a while, it means I had to go take care of something. I'll be back soon. Don't be afraid alone in the room. You can adjust the water temperature, so take your time bathing, okay?"

If one did not see Li Mao's current predicament and only heard Enigma's concerned words, one might really think they were newlyweds.

Naturally, Li Mao was not about to provoke a mad dog when an opportunity to escape had finally come.

He obediently nodded. "I—I understand."

"Good." Seeing how obedient he was, Wan Fuqi's smile became somewhat more genuine. "Darling, be good and wait for your husband to come home. If you behave well, your husband will reward you."

"Of course..."

At that, the smile on Wan Fuqi's face deepened, but his gaze sent a chill down one's spine.

"Don't think about running away, darling. Don't forget, without me, you're an Alpha who can't even endure his susceptible period. Be good. Don't waste your strength on such things. No matter where you run, I'll find you."

"When that happens, what awaits you won't be a reward, but punishment..."

Li Mao swallowed and nodded again. "Mm. Stop—stop nagging..."

After receiving his affirmative answer, Wan Fuqi returned to his initial demeanor.

He bent down, bringing his face close to Li Mao, who was sitting in the bathtub, his tone carrying a hint of coquettishness.

"Darling, please give your husband, who is about to leave, a sweet kiss."

Enigma's remarks about being overly immersed in the role always made Li Mao's spine go cold.

Though unwilling, he mechanically and perfunctorily brushed his lips against Enigma's cheek.

Only then did Wan Fuqi leave the bathroom in satisfaction, returning the call that had already disconnected.