Did you never consider that you were too charming?

Mu Ze explained, "It's easier in the bathroom."

The bathroom was spacious, with separate wet and dry areas, so there was plenty of room for two people.

Xie Yuan did not question it further. He spread his arms and let Mu Ze help him undress.

His palms sweating, Mu Ze paused, then reached out to grip the sides of Xie Yuan's shirt. His hand accidentally brushed the skin at Xie Yuan's waist, and instantly, he felt as though lightning had struck him. His palms were drenched in sweat.

He took the shirt off in one swift, clean motion and stepped back half a pace.

Pale skin came into view. Mu Ze's breathing instantly quickened, and his gaze drifted involuntarily toward Xie Yuan's waist.

"Do you want to help take my pants off too?"

The voice snapped Mu Ze out of his daze. His gaze wandered. "If it's difficult for you to do it yourself, I can help."

Xie Yuan stared at Mu Ze. "You're not lusting after my body, are you?"

"I'm not, I don't, don't talk nonsense." After that reflexive denial, Mu Ze felt annoyed with himself.

If I'd said yes, could I have helped take them off...

Mu Ze's gaze involuntarily drifted toward Xie Yuan's waistband.

Xie Yuan rested his left hand on his waist. "Such a big reaction. Looks like you really aren't interested."

Mu Ze hurried to explain, "No, that's not what I meant..."

"So you are interested?"

Faced with that question, Mu Ze knitted his brows in conflict. "I just think we might be moving too fast."

"I'm afraid you won't be comfortable with it."

Xie Yuan sighed in relief. "I almost thought I wasn't charming enough."

"Aren't you going out?"

Only then did Mu Ze come to his senses. He hastily turned and left the bathroom.

Outside the bathroom door, Mu Ze's ears and neck were completely red. His gaze was unfocused, and that pale skin kept flashing before his eyes.

Only when the patter of water came from inside did he walk over to sit on the bed.

Seeing how distracted Mu Ze was, the live comments filled with speculation.

[Judging by that look, something incredible happened. I'm so curious.]

[It wasn't long, but that doesn't mean nothing happened.]

[Mu Ze, get a grip. Why do you look like you finally got some?]

[Hehehe, I wouldn't believe nothing happened even if you killed me.]

[Did they kiss? Sleep together? Or feel each other up?]

[The commenter above is way too dirty.]

[Sleeping together isn't likely, but kissing and touching could very well be true.]

[Wow, Mu Ze, are Young Master Xie's lips sweet and soft? Does his skin feel nice?]

The comments were already unfit to read. If they kept going, they would reach restricted territory.

Xie Yuan finished showering and came out drying his hair. Mu Ze was still sitting distractedly on the bed.

Even when Xie Yuan held the towel out in front of him, he did not react.

"Mu Ze?" Xie Yuan called his name.

"Huh?" Mu Ze came back to himself and took the towel. "You're done showering."

He looked a little foolish, asking something so obvious.

"Mm."

Once his hair was mostly dry, Mu Ze put down the towel and took his clothes into the bathroom.

He did not dare look at Xie Yuan once the entire time.

Xie Yuan stared at the bathroom door and frowned slightly.

Could it be that I'm not charming enough?

When Mu Ze finished showering and came out, Xie Yuan asked directly, "Mu Ze, don't you like my body?"

Startled, Mu Ze choked on his own saliva. "Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough..."

His eyes watered with involuntary tears.

Xie Yuan pressed his lips together. "You don't have to react that strongly."

He patted Mu Ze's back for a while before Mu Ze recovered somewhat.

Mu Ze caught Xie Yuan's hand and lowered his voice considerably, so only the two of them could hear.

"Young Master Xie, did you never consider that you're too charming?"

There was laughter in Xie Yuan's voice. "So, Mu Ze, you lost your composure because you couldn't resist my charm."

Mu Ze's ears grew even redder, and heat washed over his face. "Mm."

Xie Yuan turned his hand to hold Mu Ze's and scratched his palm lightly. "So honest."

That little tickle seemed to scratch right at his heart. Mu Ze screamed inwardly.

He's holding my hand!

Xie Yuan withdrew his hand. "Hurry up. Teacher Tan and the others are waiting."

Xie Yuan got up and left the bedroom, leaving Mu Ze alone.

Mu Ze took a deep breath, turned, and flung himself onto the bed, burying his face in it.

The live comments.

[Whispering secrets? Young Master Xie, Mu Ze, you're really treating us like outsiders.]

[What did he say to get Mu Ze this excited?]

[Young Master Xie is so bad. He teases him, then just gets up and leaves.]

[Mu Ze, look in the mirror and see what a hopeless case you are.]

[Ugh, shameless. They must have said something dirty.]

[Xie Dog, get lost.]

Seeing Xie Yuan come downstairs, Tan Yaya glanced behind him. "Where's Teacher Mu Ze? Isn't he coming too?"

Xie Yuan glanced back, an unreadable expression on his face. "He'll be right down."

Wang Zihua's eyes shifted. "Young Master Xie, you two didn't do something, did you?"

Xie Yuan glanced at Wang Zihua and sat on the sofa. "What do you think we could have done, Young Master Wang?"

Wang Zihua faltered, then deliberately kept it vague. "Who knows? There's plenty you could have done."

Xie Yuan raised an eyebrow. "You seem quite experienced, Young Master Wang."

"Why don't you tell us what else we could have done?"

Wang Zihua's expression darkened somewhat. "I was just curious. If you don't want to say, forget it."

Xie Yuan suggested, "Since you're so curious, Young Master Wang, why not check my and Mu Ze's livestream?"

Anger rose in Wang Zihua. "Young Master Xie, there's no point being so petty."

"Is this your first day knowing how petty I am, Young Master Wang?" As Xie Yuan spoke, he glanced toward Su Wanyue.

Before Su Wanyue reacted, Gu Yanzhou voiced his displeasure. "Why are you looking at Yueyue?"

Xie Yuan smiled. "You're quite self-aware, President Gu."

Gu Yanzhou's expression turned ugly. "You're impossible."

"You've said that many times already." Xie Yuan stood up. "If you're out of words, you don't have to speak."

Mu Ze came downstairs just then, his face betraying no trace of what had happened.

Having enjoyed the drama, Tan Yaya pulled Zhang Jue to his feet. "Come on, let's head to the bar and have some fun."

The four left the villa under Gu Yanzhou's furious gaze.

Once they had gone, Su Wanyue said quietly, "Isn't it a little inappropriate for Teacher Xie and Mu Ze to leave the villa so abruptly?"

"After all, Teacher Tan and Zhang Jue are going there to work. Won't Teacher Xie and Mu Ze going there for fun affect the show?"

Her words were well phrased, making it seem as though she was considering the production team's interests.

Behind the scenes, the deputy director also asked, "Director, won't there be trouble letting Teacher Xie and the others go to a bar?"

Director Ma looked relaxed. "Don't worry. The production team carefully selected this bar. The people who go there are either rich or influential. No shady people will get in."

The deputy director gave him a thumbs-up. "You've really thought of everything, Director."

Director Ma thoroughly enjoyed the flattery.

The bar was not on a busy street, but its location was not bad. It took nearly an hour's drive to get there.

The four entered through the staff entrance and did not encounter any customers.

The owner was a formidable businesswoman and was waiting in the lounge in person.

When the four arrived, she exchanged pleasantries with them, then announced that Xie Yuan and Mu Ze's drinks would be on the house that night.

Tan Yaya and Zhang Jue were having their makeup done.

"We'll be busy for a little while longer. You can head out front and have fun first."

It was Xie Yuan's first time at a bar, and he was rather curious.

"All right, we'll go have fun out front first."

A staff member led the two of them to the main room.

Lights swirled through the main room. Many people were dancing, and the seating was packed too.

The staff member asked, "Young Master Xie, would you like a private room, or would you rather stay in the main room?"

Xie Yuan waved a hand. "Go do your work. We'll entertain ourselves."

After sending the staff member away, Xie Yuan led Mu Ze over to the bar counter.

He found a seat and sat down, his gaze falling on the drinks. "Mu Ze, have you been here before? Any recommendations?"

Mu Ze saw Xie Yuan's lips move, but the music was too loud for him to make out what he had said.

Mu Ze leaned close to Xie Yuan's ear. "You're speaking too quietly. I couldn't hear you."

Xie Yuan hooked an arm back around Mu Ze's neck and brought his mouth to his ear. "I asked if you had any drink recommendations."