Teacher Huo, Are You Scrubbing My Back or Starting a Fire?

Inside the studio, steam swirled.

For this major scene, the production team had specially built a luxurious white marble bath, filled with real hot water. Several bright red rose petals floated on the surface. It was a little tacky, perhaps, but the visual effect was maxed out.

The staff had all been cleared out to the outer set, leaving only Director Li, the cameraman, and the lighting technician.

Jian Ning sat by the pool in a thin white undershirt, his toes curling nervously.

The water was a little too hot, making his cheeks burn. But what made him burn even more was the almost tangible gaze behind him.

Huo Si had already changed into costume.

The Regent Prince's everyday attire was a black silk robe, wide open at the collar to reveal a broad expanse of solid chest and the faint lines of his abs. His wet hair was slicked back, exposing sharp brows and eyes. His entire presence carried a contradictory beauty—abstinent yet decadent.

"Ready?" Director Li sounded excited. "This scene is important! We need that tension! That intertwining of political intrigue and desire! Got it?"

Jian Ning swallowed and nodded.

Got it, got it! Isn't it just taking a bath? We're both men. What am I scared of?

Jian Ning, you're a professional! You're going to win Best Actor! Don't chicken out!

"Action!"

As the clapperboard came down, Jian Ning took a deep breath and slowly slipped into the water.

The warm water instantly enveloped him. Once soaked through, his white undershirt clung tightly to his body, outlining the young man's slender yet powerful waist.

Huo Si held a cloth towel in his hand. Barefoot, he stepped into the bath one step at a time.

Water splashed softly.

He stopped behind Jian Ning without immediately doing anything. Instead, he first lifted a strand of Jian Ning's wet hair with his fingertips, winding it around his finger as he played with it.

"Jade Gentleman." Huo Si's voice was low, carrying a trace of casual laziness. "Have you grown accustomed to staying at my residence these past few days?"

That was a line.

Jian Ning turned his head slightly, his cool gaze carrying a hint of stubbornness. "Your Highness is most considerate. But how can a bird in a cage speak of becoming accustomed?"

Huo Si gave a soft laugh. His fingers slid down Jian Ning's wet hair and settled at the back of his neck.

Jian Ning shuddered all over at that instant.

Huo Si's fingers were hot—hotter than the water.

Holding the towel, he began to scrub Jian Ning's back.

His movements were slow and meticulous, from the back of Jian Ning's neck to his shoulder blades, then down the groove of his spine.

Holy shit...

How is this old bastard's technique... so professional?

No, scrub if you want to scrub, but why are you pressing down? That's the hollow of my waist! Don't press there!

The script had called for "a simple wash," but Huo Si had clearly added to the scene.

His palm was broad and strong. Through that thin layer of wet fabric, every pass felt like he was lighting a fire.

"Your Highness..." Jian Ning's voice was unsteady. This time, it was genuinely unsteady. "I wouldn't dare trouble Your Highness with such menial work."

Huo Si did not stop. Instead, he leaned closer, his chest nearly pressed against Jian Ning's back.

He whispered by Jian Ning's ear—something that was not in the script.

"It's no trouble. I... enjoy it."

Steam billowed.

Jian Ning felt as though he could not breathe.

Huo Si's breath, the temperature of the water, and that large hand lingering at his waist made his whole body go soft.

System! Save me! I'm about to be cooked!

That old pervert! Where is he touching?!

Why hasn't the director called cut yet? We've been washing for five whole minutes! He's going to scrub a layer of skin off me!

Director Li was staring at the monitor without blinking, utterly unwilling to call cut.

The shot was too beautiful!

The dominance of black robes and the fragility of white! Power and submission!

Especially the way Huo Si looked at Jian Ning—that possessiveness, as though he wanted to swallow him whole—was simply perfect!

Just then, Huo Si's hand suddenly slid along Jian Ning's waistline to the front.

Even through the water and clothing, that spot...

Jian Ning abruptly grabbed Huo Si's wrist and turned back in alarm.

That was not in the script!

Huo Si looked into those glistening eyes, filled with panic, and the darkness in his own gaze grew so thick it could not be dissolved.

He did not pull his hand away. Instead, he took the opportunity to clasp Jian Ning's fingers, interlocking them.

"Jade Gentleman, your heart... is beating very fast." Huo Si lowered his voice until only the two of them could hear him. "Or should I say... Jian Ning, are you already reacting?"

Boom—!

Jian Ning's face instantly turned scarlet.

Because he could feel it... he seemed to, perhaps, really... be having a bit of a problem.

In an environment like this, being teased so much by someone he liked—any normal man would react, right?!

"Cut! Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"

Director Li finally called cut, clapping excitedly. "That look back just now, those frightened little eyes! That was a stroke of genius! Jian Ning, your acting has exploded!"

Jian Ning: "..."

Exploded my ass! I was genuinely terrified!

"Quick! Bring towels for the two teachers!" The stagehand hurried over.

At that moment, Jian Ning did not dare stand up at all.

Because under the water... that situation... was far too obvious. If he stood up now, even wrapped in a towel, it would be easy for people to notice.

"Um... Director, can I soak a little longer?" Jian Ning stammered. "I... I want to get a feel for it."

Seeing him act like an ostrich, Huo Si gave a soft laugh.

He took the enormous bath towel the stagehand offered him. Rather than drying himself, he unfolded it and wrapped Jian Ning up tightly, head and all.

"That's enough. Stop trying to find the feeling."

Huo Si bent down and scooped Jian Ning out of the water in a bridal carry.

"Go find the rest of that feeling in the dressing room."

"Huh? President Huo?" Director Li looked baffled. "The next scene still needs a close-up..."

"It can't be filmed." Without looking back, Huo Si spoke domineeringly. "The actor is unwell and requires... treatment. Half an hour's rest."

With that, Huo Si carried the massive "towel roll" into the private dressing room and kicked the door shut behind him.

Click.

Locked.

The air conditioning in the dressing room was turned up high.

Yet Jian Ning felt as though he were about to catch fire.

Huo Si set him on the sofa. Rather than immediately unwrapping him, he leisurely watched the "silkworm cocoon" still wriggling around.

"Come out." Huo Si sat beside him and slowly undid his soaked collar. "If you keep suffocating in there, you really will be cooked."

Jian Ning poked out a messy head, his face as red as a ripe tomato.

He glanced at Huo Si.

Half of the man's black robe was wet, clinging tightly to him and outlining his perfect muscular lines. His collar hung wide open, droplets of water sliding down his chest. He looked sexy as hell.

Jian Ning swallowed and hurriedly looked away, only to accidentally catch sight of...

Well, it seemed he was not the only one "on fire."

"Mr. Huo... um... thank you for helping me out just now." Jian Ning hugged his knees and spoke softly.

Huo Si leaned toward him, bracing both hands on the sofa arms and caging Jian Ning between them.

"Helping you out?"

"Jian Ning, have you forgotten that I'm a businessman? Businessmen never make deals that lose money."

Jian Ning shrank back. "Then... what do you want?"

Huo Si's fingers lightly hooked the edge of Jian Ning's towel and slowly pulled it open.

The wet clothes beneath clung tightly to Jian Ning's body, half-concealing and half-revealing him. It was even more alluring than wearing nothing.

"Since I'm the one who started the fire," Huo Si said in a hoarse voice, carrying a dangerous note, "then I have an obligation... to put it out for you."

Jian Ning's pupils shook.

Put it out?!

Here? In the dressing room? There are people all over outside!

The door is locked, but...

"System! Do you have some kind of spell to clear the mind and suppress desire? Hurry up and give me one!"

System: [Sorry, Host. This system only provides gossip-watching services. However, Target Huo Si's hormone levels have exceeded the limit. Recommendation for Host: just give in to him. You won't be losing out anyway.]

Jian Ning: "..."

Even the system had betrayed him!

Huo Si gave him no more time to think.

He lowered his head and kissed those endlessly chattering lips.

His hand slipped beneath the soaking wet fabric.

"Mm..."

Jian Ning's body tensed sharply, then softened into a puddle beneath Huo Si's expert touch.

The dressing room held nothing but ragged breathing and the sound of fabric rubbing together.

Half an hour.

A full half hour.

When Jian Ning was carried out again by Huo Si, he looked utterly drained, limply leaning against Huo Si's chest, a flush still lingering at the corners of his eyes.

They had not truly gone all the way—after all, the time and place had not allowed it—but what should have been done and what should not have been done had basically all...

Huo Si, on the other hand, looked refreshed. He had even changed into a new suit and looked perfectly respectable.

Seeing the state the two were in, Director Li revealed a meaningful smile.

"President Huo, the treatment worked well, huh? Jian Ning's complexion looks much rosier."

Jian Ning buried his face in Huo Si's chest, too embarrassed to face anyone.

Shut up, Director! Please stop talking!

Huo Si, you beast! My hand is sore!

Huo Si patted his back and said calmly, "Mm. Try to schedule fewer scenes like this in the future. He's thin-skinned."

After this "fire-extinguishing" incident, filming for Twin Emperors progressed at lightning speed.

The chemistry between Huo Si and Jian Ning practically spilled off the screen, and the crew produced countless stunning shots every day.

Two months later, the film wrapped.

Its release was scheduled for the Spring Festival.

However, the day before the premiere, someone unexpected returned to the country.

Jian Ning was trying on the suit for the premiere the next night at home when he suddenly received a call from Su Mo.

"Jian Ning, I have bad news."

"That old man from the Huo Household... has returned from recuperating abroad."

"And he brought someone back with him."

Jian Ning's heart skipped a beat. "Who?"

"Huo Si's... 'fiancé.'" Su Mo's voice was heavy. "The genuine arranged marriage partner from a wealthy family—the Qin Household's young master, Qin Yu. I heard he and Old Master Huo are very close. This time, he came back to fulfill the marriage agreement from years ago."

Jian Ning looked at himself in the mirror, dressed in an exquisite formal suit, and a cold smile curled across his lips.

Fiancé?

First there was the white moonlight substitute, and now there's a rich-family fiancé?

Old bastard Huo, your romantic debts just keep coming one after another.

Just then, the sound of a car engine came from downstairs.

It was not Huo Si's car.

It was a black Hongqi sedan with military plates.

Uncle Chen, the housekeeper, rushed upstairs with an ugly expression. "Mr. Jian, the old master is here! He wants you... downstairs immediately."

Jian Ning straightened his bow tie, his gaze turning sharp.

Fine. I'll meet him.

I've eaten so much gossip about him, but I've never seen Old Master Huo in the flesh.

System, are you ready? Activate level-one combat mode! Let me see what this so-called fiancé is really made of!