Chapter 13

"How was Xin Chun?" Ke Hang asked after Owen returned. "He's okay, right?"

"He's fine. He's asleep," Owen said.

Ke Hang muttered softly, "Our Chun has such a low alcohol tolerance."

The atmosphere was lively, so Owen did not hear him.

Not long after, seeing that it was getting late and everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they began tidying up and preparing to leave.

Li Ze had driven the company van over, and Ivy had driven as well. There were more than enough seats for everyone. After resting for some time, Ke Hang's mentor had sobered up considerably and was called out of the guest room.

Ke Hang was looking for Xin Chun, intending to take his friend home.

Owen said, "He's still asleep. You should head back first. Xin Chun can stay here tonight, and I'll take him home tomorrow."

Ke Hang hesitated somewhat, but considering that Xin Chun had a fairly good relationship with his boss, there was nothing wrong with staying the night. "All right, then we'll head out first."

Ivy, Ke Hang, and the others left one after another.

After locking the door, Owen returned to the room on the second floor and switched on the dim, warm light. In an instant, the entire room brightened, though the light was not harsh.

Only then did Owen walk to the bedside and press the back of his hand against Xin Chun's cheek.

Perhaps because Owen had just washed his hands after cleaning up, the slightly cool touch made Xin Chun hum softly and wake up groggily, looking at him with a dazed expression.

Owen said softly, "Do you want some water?"

Xin Chun took a while to react, then nodded and mumbled, "Yes. Also... I want to wipe my face. My neck feels uncomfortable."

Owen reached out to check. He was sweating. "All right. Wait for me a moment."

He got up and went out. Before long, he returned with warm water and a hot towel. He placed the cup by the bed, draped the hot towel over his wrist, and helped Xin Chun sit up first.

Then Owen held the cup to Xin Chun's lips and fed him water.

After gulping down three mouthfuls, Xin Chun raised his hand and tugged Owen's arm, signaling that he did not want any more.

As Owen moved the cup away, the water sloshed unsteadily, and a few droplets splashed out. One happened to land on Xin Chun's neck, then slowly slid down to his collar and disappeared beneath it.

Owen looked away, set down the cup, and used the hot towel to wipe Xin Chun's face and neck.

Before Owen could leave, Xin Chun lowered his head and lifted the hem of his T-shirt, exposing his pale, slender abdomen. He mumbled, "Here. Wipe here too."

Owen's hand paused. For a moment, his gaze darkened, like a bottomless lake rippling with an unknown danger.

Hearing no response, Xin Chun lifted his head in confusion. His expression was still hazy with drunkenness, utterly innocent.

Owen's Adam's apple moved, his voice slightly hoarse. "Mm."

The hot towel moved down from his neck. As the lifted hem curled up and the towel touched his abdomen, Xin Chun instinctively shrank back. The abdomen was a sensitive place, and the towel's undeniable heat made the sudden contact difficult to adjust to.

But the person before him would not allow him to escape.

Owen's free hand settled against his back, keeping him within a limited range while supporting Xin Chun's warm body. His palm pressed against him through the thin layer of T-shirt fabric, unexpectedly scorching, as though its heat could seep into his heart.

The hot towel continued wiping, moving from bottom to top and gradually slipping beneath the portion of his shirt that had not been lifted.

When it touched somewhere else, perhaps a spot on his chest, Xin Chun let out two nearly inaudible hums and leaned back, like a small animal trying to flee from being rubbed.

But how could he possibly get away?

Owen's hoarse "Don't move" seemed to release some dangerous signal, and Xin Chun froze with a rabbit's wariness.

Xin Chun looked up, his lashes trembling.

Owen's chest rose and fell noticeably. His paused hand resumed, but he soon drew the hot towel back out. Taking one of Xin Chun's hands, he wiped his palm, the spaces between his fingers, and then his fingertips...

After wiping that hand, he switched to the other.

However, the hand that had just been wiped reached out, grabbed Owen by the collar of his shirt, then slid through the open neckline and into his shirt, moving downward...

There was not the slightest hesitation in the entire motion.

Owen abruptly gripped that restless wrist. The hot towel that had been wiping Xin Chun's palm fell straight onto the blanket, but neither of them paid it any attention.

A pulse beat beneath his fingertips. Owen did not pull Xin Chun's hand out of his shirt. His throat bobbed uncontrollably, as though swallowing the sudden thirst rising within him, and his voice grew lower. "What are you doing?"

Xin Chun tried to pull his hand back, but it did not budge.

He pursed his lips and said in a soft, slightly aggrieved voice, "I just wanted to... touch your abs. They're nice. I'm jealous."

Owen's fingertips rubbed lightly over Xin Chun's wrist. "Only my abs?"

"Mm." His voice was quiet, as though it held a marshmallow.

Owen said, "But that isn't fair to me."

Xin Chun blankly repeated the last three words.

Owen's voice now seemed laced with temptation. He leaned close to Xin Chun's ear, his breath brushing over his reddened earlobe before seeming to burrow into his mind and leave a brand there. "If you want to touch me, what will you use in exchange?"

"Since it should be reciprocated, can I also touch your..."

Xin Chun's cheeks flushed again. This time, it was unclear whether it was still because of the alcohol.

He murmured, "But... but I don't have abs."

Owen pulled back slightly and looked at Xin Chun. "I don't mind. Is that okay?"

As if bewitched by those dark green eyes, Xin Chun nodded blankly. His words fell as softly as feathers. "Okay."

Owen released Xin Chun's wrist, but instead reached inside as well, covering the back of Xin Chun's hand and guiding it downward until it settled where it ought to settle.

Then Owen withdrew his hand and, unhurriedly, undid the buttons of his shirt one by one so Xin Chun's arm would have no obstruction.

"Did you touch them?"

Xin Chun lowered his eyes, his lashes drooping as he stared blankly at Owen's abs. His fingertips lightly tapped and traced across the skin. Hearing the question, he answered softly, "Mm."