Don't be nervous, I won't eat you

Xie Yuan rubbed his ears. "I heard you."

"Is there any point in reasoning with you people?"

"If you were reasonable, you wouldn't have gone after another woman knowing full well you had a fiancée."

"Xie Yuan!" Gu Yanzhou roared. "Can you stop bringing that up?"

Xie Yuan said, "You dared to do it, but you're afraid of people talking about it?"

Gu Yanzhou clenched both fists, struggling to suppress his anger. "This is between your sister and me. It's not your place to comment."

"I'll explain things to your sister. Stop targeting Yueyue over this."

"I was the one who fell for her first, and I was the one who broke the engagement. She's innocent."

"You really are trash." Xie Yuan stared at Gu Yanzhou, his eyes devoid of emotion. "Don't worry, I've been targeting you all along, too. She just loves jumping out to get attention."

Su Wanyue was speechless for a moment before saying weakly, "Yanzhou, it's not your fault. I'll face this with you."

Gu Yanzhou looked deeply moved.

They gazed at each other, as though, at that moment, they could see no one but the person before them.

Xie Yuan covered his eyes. "My eyes are burning."

"If you want to get lovey-dovey, please do it away from other people."

Gu Yanzhou and Su Wanyue snapped out of it. The other guests in the living room, along with the production crew, were all watching them.

Su Wanyue flushed slightly, lowered her head, and moved a little closer to Gu Yanzhou.

Gu Yanzhou hesitated, then let her draw close.

Amid the somewhat strange atmosphere, a crew member came to fetch Tan Yaya and Zhang Jue.

"Ms. Tan, Mr. Zhang, it's time to leave."

Tan Yaya glanced at her phone. "It's already seven. We should get going."

After getting up, she turned to Xie Yuan and asked playfully, "Young Master Xie, want to come have some fun at the bar with us?"

Xie Yuan thought for a moment, then waved a hand. "Not today."

"Then you have to come tomorrow." With that, Tan Yaya left the villa with Zhang Jue.

Xie Yuan stood and went upstairs without so much as glancing at Su Wanyue or Gu Yanzhou.

Mu Ze went into the bedroom with him.

"Want to take a bath and relax?"

Xie Yuan shook his head. "No, I didn't do much today."

"You're the one who worked hard. You can have a nice soak."

Mu Ze asked, "Could you run the bath for me?"

Only after the words left his mouth did Mu Ze realize what he had said.

His face flushed slightly. He opened his mouth, only to hear Xie Yuan say, "Sure. Wait here."

Xie Yuan entered the bathroom. Mu Ze stood where he was, the corners of his lips lifting and his eyes curving into crescents.

When Xie Yuan came out after running the bath, he found Mu Ze still standing in the same spot and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

Mu Ze came back to his senses, his gaze darting away. "Nothing. I was thinking."

Xie Yuan didn't ask further. "The bath's ready. Check whether the temperature's right."

"Okay, thanks." Mu Ze hurried into the bathroom in a fluster.

Inside the bathroom, Mu Ze tested the water and murmured, "Even the water temperature is just right. We really are meant to be a couple."

Only after taking off his clothes and settling into the tub did Mu Ze remember something.

He had forgotten to bring his pajamas in.

After a moment's hesitation, he called, "Young Master Xie, could you get my pajamas for me?"

As he waited anxiously, Xie Yuan's voice came from outside. "Hang on."

Both delighted and flustered, Mu Ze lowered his head.

He carefully checked himself over, making sure his skin was clean and free of any dirt, then breathed a sigh of relief.

Then he frowned again. His physique seemed a little lacking. Would Xie Yuan dislike it?

The bathroom door opened, and Xie Yuan came in carrying the pajamas, his gaze landing directly on Mu Ze.

Mu Ze's body instantly tensed. He struggled to keep his expression unchanged. "What's wrong?"

Xie Yuan said, "I just didn't expect you to have such a good body."

Secretly delighted, Mu Ze didn't let it show. "It's all right. I haven't worked out properly in a while."

"Now you're just being modest." Xie Yuan studied Mu Ze's pecs. "Is it hard to build these?"

"I really want a body like that. Could you teach me when you have time?"

Mu Ze swallowed discreetly. "You're pretty good as you are."

"What?"

Mu Ze shook his head. "Nothing. I meant I'll teach you once the show ends."

Satisfied, Xie Yuan set the pajamas aside. "Your clothes are here."

Watching the bathroom door close, Mu Ze breathed a sigh of relief, though he felt a little disappointed, too.

He muttered under his breath, "Maybe I could try seducing him next time?"

Xie Yuan returned to the bedroom and flopped facedown onto the bed.

In the livestream, the comments hadn't stopped since Xie Yuan entered the bathroom.

[Something's off. Why did he come out so soon?]

[Is Young Master Xie the one who can't perform, or is it Mu Ze? So hard to guess.]

[Young Master Xie, bring that energy you have when you tear into people. How could you come out so soon?]

[Why am I a little disappointed?]

[I thought we'd get some bathroom play.]

[I'm so conflicted. I want them to stay in the bathroom, but I also don't want Young Master Xie staying in there too long, because I can't see him.]

[My daily reminder: Xie Dog, get off the show.]

[Looks like something weird slipped in.]

[That's normal. Someone's dogs are barking everywhere. Just ignore them.]

Mu Ze stayed in the bathroom for another ten minutes or so before coming out.

His gaze lingered on Xie Yuan's waist for a moment. "Go wash up. I'll wash our clothes together afterward."

"Okay."

After washing and drying all the clothes, Mu Ze returned to the bedroom and immediately spotted Xie Yuan lying on his bed.

Mu Ze's Adam's apple bobbed. "You're going to sleep with me?"

"You don't want me to?" Xie Yuan looked at Mu Ze, his brows furrowing.

"No." Mu Ze sounded nervous. "I just wondered if it might be inappropriate for us to sleep together like this."

Xie Yuan sat up, his voice different from usual. "You mean you're planning to break up with me once the show ends?"

"That's not what I meant," Mu Ze hurriedly explained. "I'm just afraid I'm getting ahead of myself."

Xie Yuan lay back down. "Don't worry. I still like you quite a bit for now."

Mu Ze felt a surge of joy, followed by a wave of disappointment. "What about later?"

Xie Yuan glanced at him. "If you keep smelling this good, I wouldn't mind keeping on liking you."

Mu Ze sniffed. Apart from the scent of body wash, there was no other fragrance on him.

Xie Yuan urged him, "Hurry up. I'm sleepy."

"Coming." Suppressing his conflicted feelings, Mu Ze climbed into bed.

He had barely lain down when Xie Yuan rolled over beside him, resting his head on Mu Ze's chest and draping a leg naturally over his waist.

Mu Ze's body instantly went rigid.

Xie Yuan raised a hand and smacked his chest. "Relax. You're so tense that you're uncomfortable to hold."

Mu Ze took a deep breath and slowly relaxed his body.

Just then, Xie Yuan sniffed at his neck, his hot breath brushing Mu Ze's skin.

"You smell so good. It really is the scent I like."

Mu Ze tensed up again.

He was met with another slap from Xie Yuan. "Don't be nervous. I won't eat you."

Mu Ze sounded unusually helpless. "Teacher Xie, Young Master Xie, aren't we moving a little too fast?"

"You don't want to?" Xie Yuan lifted his head to look at him.

Seeing the slight crease between Mu Ze's brows, he said, "Then I'll just sleep by myself."

Mu Ze's hand moved faster than his mind.

He wrapped an arm around Xie Yuan's waist. "Don't."