Two people who knew perfectly well what was going on teased each other, secretly competing, neither willing to concede first.
"The water's freezing me to death. Why don't we go ashore before we talk business?"
Xie Huizhou gave Zhang Lanhe a long look and stepped out of the cold spring. No longer bothering to cover himself, he leisurely changed into the clothes set beside it.
His movements were unhurried, revealing a stretch of waist so white it seemed to glow. The Snake Pattern above his hip was heating up and spreading, its eerie beauty lending a distinctive allure to the handsome youth.
Zhang Lanhe's throat went dry, and he wanted something to quench his thirst.
I want so badly to kiss his waist and deepen the mark I left on Xie Huizhou.
To make Xie Huizhou understand exactly who he belongs to.
In an instant, Xie Huizhou had deftly slipped on his clothes and was once again a graceful young gentleman. Zhang Lanhe was a little disappointed.
It was like a renowned chef preparing a wonderfully fragrant dish, only to let you smell it without taking a bite, leaving you desperate for a taste.
After they changed, the servants brought over a table so they could warm themselves with tea. The earlier intimate atmosphere vanished entirely amid the landscaped gardens.
"Let's talk business first, about the Pingzhou Plague."
Xie Huizhou returned to the emperor's decree ordering them to go to Pingzhou together to deal with the plague.
"Imperial Preceptor, your student may have to leave the Capital City for a while."
Although he could not bear to part with his beautiful Imperial Preceptor, an imperial command was hard to defy.
Someone simply could not stand seeing him spend all day being affectionate with a beauty and insisted on making life