Chapter 73 – Hot springs

“Why aren’t you coming over, A-Bei?” Tang Qing spoke and, through the misty steam, turned his head and looked over.

Tang Qing, known as the school beauty, had a delicate and beautiful profile, with a straight nose, long and dark lashes casting shadows under his eyes, giving him a somewhat aloof and exquisite appearance, with a hint of detachment.

His voice naturally carried a hint of coolness, but his tone was soft.

It was like encountering a seemingly aloof and unfriendly wildcat on the roadside. One might think it wouldn’t respond to human affection, but upon getting closer, one would realize the little wildcat could also gently tug at your pant leg for attention.

Lu Bei untied his bathrobe, unreservedly revealing the well-trained physique of an athlete. Water droplets glistened on his chest, and his hair was damp.

Bending over, his abdominal muscles flexed like a sculpted piece of art, exuding hormones without him even realizing.

In the misty ambiance, Lu Bei stepped out of the hot spring and sat down closely next to Tang Qing.

Whether it was Tang Qing’s perception or not, he always felt Lu Bei’s muscles were tense, and his body temperature slightly elevated.

“Is the hot spring too hot?” Tang Qing said, shifting slightly.

Unlike before, Lu Bei didn’t cling to him but instead raised a hand, resting it on the small stone path behind Tang Qing.

Feeling Tang Qing sitting beside him, Lu Bei felt a sense of contentment.

Suddenly, Lu Bei began to ponder, what did that slightly abnormal boy he had just encountered mean?

The boy had said he could give him something Tang Qing couldn’t?

Was there something Tang Qing hadn’t given him yet?

Weren’t they already in the most intimate relationship?

Lu Bei turned his head, gazing thoughtfully at Tang Qing.

Droplets of sweat appeared on Tang Qing’s fair neck, looking crystal clear and cute. There was also a bite mark he had just left on his neck.

Lowering his head, Lu Bei leaned in closer to Tang Qing, sniffing his fragrant and soft hair, “Tangtang, what shampoo do you use? It smells so nice.”

After carefully identifying it, he added, “It’s like orchids.”

Confused, Tang Qing grabbed a handful of his hair, “Just regular shampoo.”

Lu Bei, staying close to Tang Qing, then took a whiff near his ear, “You smell so good all over.”

Lu Bei’s physique was extremely solid. While his skin was fair as well, it wasn’t the soft milky white like Tang Qing’s. With water droplets on him, his muscles appeared even more smooth and firm.

Tang Qing reached out and pushed Lu Bei slightly, looking a bit displeased. “A-Bei, you’re so hard and hot all over, don’t come too close.”

However, Lu Bei leaned in even closer, his tight muscles pressing against Tang Qing. “What’s wrong? Tangtang, don’t you like me being hard and hot?”

Tang Qing felt something was off about that statement but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. “The hot spring pool is so big, can’t you keep some distance? You’re pressing against me.”

Lu Bei loosened his hold on Tang Qing slightly, his voice low and hoarse. “Little soft candy, you’re so easy to crush.”

Tang Qing found Lu Bei’s behavior strange and asked, “A-Bei, what’s wrong with you tonight? You seem a bit off.”

In the light, Lu Bei’s expression was dark and uncertain, his handsome features slightly furrowed. “Tangtang, I’m not feeling well.”

Approaching Lu Bei anxiously, Tang Qing examined him, asking, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Then he noticed a hard and hot object beneath the water’s surface, pressing against his tender thigh.

Feeling uncomfortable, Tang Qing moved his leg away.

“You…” Tang Qing realized that this person was actually acting inappropriately.

“Tangtang, I heard from others in the dorm that many good friends would watch movies together and help each other out.”

Lu Bei’s hot breath brushed against Tang Qing’s neck as he took a step back, thinking he hadn’t left a trace. “Help each other out…?”

“Yeah, since we both don’t have girlfriends, we can help each other out, solve each other’s problems.”

Finally understanding, Tang Qing widened his eyes in confusion. “So… what are you trying to say?”

Lu Bei placed Tang Qing’s hand on his abdomen and said, “Tangtang, you said you liked abs before, do you want to feel mine?”

Back in junior high, Tang Qing had casually mentioned liking abs when discussing what made a guy manly.

After hearing this, Lu Bei started doing various ab workouts every day, developing a hint of abs and an Adonis belt in high school. Now, with basketball training, he had well-defined and sexy six-pack abs.

Placing Tang Qing’s delicate hand on his firm abs, Tang Qing casually felt them a few times before wanting to pull his hand back. “I’ve touched them a few times before.”

“Tangtang, have you grown tired of it so soon?” Lu Bei asked, puzzled.

Lu Bei grabbed Tang Qing’s hand forcefully and moved it downward.

Soon enough, he felt some hair.

Tang Qing froze in place, unsure of what to do.

“Uh, A-Bei, I think I’ve touched enough…” Tang Qing wanted to retract his hand but was held firmly.

“Tangtang, please help me, I’m feeling really uncomfortable.” Lu Bei slowly guided Tang Qing’s soft hand to that area.

The object felt a bit elastic, hot to the touch, making Tang Qing’s face blush.

And it was quite large.

Was this an illusion? Why did it feel like it was a size larger than his…

“No, A-Bei, shouldn’t you take care of this yourself? Or should I go back first, and you can…”

“Tangtang, please help me, okay? I heard friends help each other out, and you’ve never helped me before.” Lu Bei’s voice was low, tinged with a hint of grievance. Despite his tone, his actions were forceful, pressing Tang Qing’s hand against that area and repeatedly rubbing it.

Tang Qing had heard about guys helping each other out, knowing that once they found girlfriends, they wouldn’t do such things anymore. Moreover, System 99 had mentioned that Lu Bei was a textbook straight guy, showing no desire towards any girl until meeting the female lead. Perhaps due to this “straight guy setting”, he rarely took care of himself and needed friends to help?

Still, Tang Qing found this behavior odd.

“A-Bei, I can’t do it, please take care of it yourself.” Tang Qing bit his lip, refusing.

Tang Qing barely had any leg hair, his body all soft and fair. Compared to him, Lu Bei was different, exuding male charm with hair in all the right places.

At that moment, Tang Qing felt a bunch of hair under his hand, tangled in his palm.

“Tangtang, don’t you know how to do this? Don’t you even do it yourself normally?”

Indeed, Tang Qing had never done this before… He was always busy studying, and with Lu Bei’s clinginess, he barely had time for himself at night.

“Then I’ll teach you, let you practice.” Lu Bei began guiding Tang Qing’s hand with certainty.

Unable to break free, Tang Qing reluctantly followed Lu Bei’s instructions, feeling the heat beneath his hand.

Having never really done chores since childhood, even things like washing personal garments were typically taken care of by Lu Bei. Tang Qing’s hands, pampered meticulously for seventeen years, were indeed delicate and soft.

“No, why should I learn this…” Tang Qing still felt something was off.

Lu Bei held Tang Qing’s hand, admiring his beautiful fair face and inhaling his pleasant scent. He felt that Tang Qing was soft and lovable all over, irresistibly cute.

They were both guys, so why did this guy in front of him seem so fragrant and soft?

“Little soft candy, your hands are so smooth and soft.”

After what seemed like a long time, Tang Qing suddenly felt a warmth in his hand as Lu Bei finally finished.

Tang Qing withdrew his hand, looking at the clear hot spring water, his face flushed and hot. “A-Bei, you did that, this…”

Lu Bei shrugged nonchalantly. “I’ll have them change the water later.” Money wasn’t an issue for him, being a rich kid from City A.

Well, being a rich kid from City A meant he could be willful.

“Um, let’s not soak anymore, let’s go back.” The thought of what Lu Bei did in the water made Tang Qing feel too hot to stay in there for another second.

“What’s wrong? Tangtang, are you disgusted with me?” Lu Bei’s tall and almost naked body approached Tang Qing again, their chests almost touching.

The now liberated young man spoke in a lazy and seductive tone, his voice falling on Tang Qing’s ears, making him blush.

“No, it’s just, well, um, let’s go back first, okay?” Tang Qing stubbornly stood up, wanting to leave the pool.

But he was stopped by a firm grip.

“Tangtang, I haven’t helped you yet.” Lu Bei said, reaching for Tang Qing’s swim trunks.

…

Back at the hotel, Tang Qing buried his face into the pillow, not wanting to say a word.

Using the excuse of “not dirtying the hot spring”, Lu Bei swallowed everything, even remarking, “So sweet, so sweet.”

That was bad enough.

The key question was, why did it end so quickly for him compared to Lu Bei’s prolonged session?!

Was it because he never did it himself normally, or was it because Lu Bei’s tongue was too agile and forceful?

He suddenly remembered how he would turn into a cat and wondered if he was influenced by feline genes, as cats were known to be quick…

Could it be true, as Lu Bei said, that one must practice diligently for this?

Tang Qing buried his face in the pillow, his face so red it seemed like it could emit steam.

Who would want to practice such a thing…

“99, is Lu Bei really a straight guy?” Tang Qing called out to the system, feeling that Lu Bei’s reactions today were a bit strange.

System 99 replied firmly, [Yes, that’s right. He was carefully selected by me and your brother…] The system swallowed back this statement vaguely, [Ahem, anyway, in this world, Lu Bei is set as a textbook straight guy. If he weren’t straight, your brother would be cursed to never find a girlfriend!]

The system’s response remained as steadfast as ever. This world was specially selected by him and Tang Bo, and even Tang Qing’s memories were cleansed to ensure that the villain of this world wouldn’t harm his beloved host.

“99, after completing the mission, can I leave this world?” Thinking about how Lu Bei would abandon their long-standing friendship for a girl he had only met once, Tang Qing felt a bit uneasy.

As he thought about the predetermined outcome, the better Lu Bei treated him, the more Tang Qing felt a bitter sweetness he couldn’t control.

“Yes, host, rest assured. Your brother and I have arranged it. As soon as the relationship stabilizes, we will take you away immediately.”

“Okay.”

Tang Qing glanced at the figure lying on the bed next to him, turning his body towards the young man lying beside him.

After a lengthy discussion and convincing, he finally managed to dissuade Lu Bei from the idea of combining the two beds, making sure he slept on his own bed obediently.

Even when resting, this person had to face towards him, as if he would wake up at the slightest movement.

The truth was, Tang Qing was no longer sure of his feelings towards Lu Bei.

After spending so many years growing up with someone who not only was extremely handsome but also took care of him more meticulously than his own parents, with his childhood friend always by his side, it was inevitable that even the coldest person would warm up.

But no matter how good Lu Bei was to him, there was never any romantic interest. Tang Qing was well aware that Lu Bei was not only a textbook straight guy but also extremely homophobic.

In a few months, when he met someone he truly liked, he would discard himself like a stone.

Closing his eyes, he once again reinforced his determination to leave Lu Bei sooner or later.