The elevator rose slowly.
Carrying on like this, going home would be troublesome—they decided to take a room upstairs.
Su Pu was practically lying on Li Jichuan, utterly exhausted.
He wasn’t a fool; he knew what had happened—the drink was spiked.
Li Jichuan pretended to be drunk rather than drink a drop.
In truth, he didn’t need to drink at all; Su Pu’s lack of experience and vigilance was to blame.
Still, half-lidded, Su Pu noticed—
It seemed Li Jichuan was in good spirits, not bothered at all by the delay in returning home.
Eyes fixed on the elevator panel as the numbers climbed, Su Pu smiled faintly.
Was Li Jichuan happy because he came?
But he hadn’t really helped, almost slowing Li Jichuan down…
When he woke again, something cool and damp brushed his face.
Opening his eyes, he found himself lying on a hotel bed, unfamiliar fragrance at his nose.
Jasmine.
The scent triggered a memory: a younger him, tear-streaked, holding a white towel to wipe his mother’s face.
His mother lay still; little Su Pu grew more distressed, sobbing helplessly.
A nurse, eyes red, stood at the bedside, placing a white cloth over his mother’s head…
No, where did this memory come from?
Was it after his mother passed? Why had he never remembered?
It seemed only he and the nurse were in the room. Where was Su Fengxian? Outside crying?
Su Pu frowned, restless from waves of heat. No position was comfortable.
The unfamiliar environment sped his heartbeat. He jumped from the bed, pacing aimlessly.
Where was he?
Why was he alone?
Where were his mother and husband? Why wasn’t anyone there?
Don’t leave me…
A surge of sadness overcame him. Standing still, he heard water trickling from the far end of the room.
He recalled the night he moved into Li Jichuan’s apartment—he had heard water then too…
Li Jichuan…
Following the sound, the bathroom was misty.
Without handrails, Li Jichuan sat on the tub edge, hastily rinsing off the faint alcohol scent.
As he neared finishing, the door was suddenly pushed open by the little mute. Li Jichuan froze, holding the showerhead.
Water dripped from his body, half onto the floor, half collecting in the tub.
“Su… Su Pu…”
He tried not to panic, though his composure wavered. He shut off the water, using the showerhead to shield himself.
“Are you okay? Feeling uncomfortable?”
After a few seconds, Su Pu finally responded with a heavy nod.
He felt terrible—his body was burning, yet his heart felt cold.
What exactly had he forgotten? What was holding his feet back, keeping him from seizing the happiness laid before him?
Even though he couldn’t speak, he had so many chances to express to Li Jichuan that he liked him, that he had liked him for a long time, hadn’t he?
Then why… why couldn’t he say it?
What was he so afraid of?!
Anger at himself only fueled the restlessness in Su Pu’s chest, making him feel like he was walking through a fire, sweat pouring down his body.
Li Jichuan, on the other hand, had already calmed down. He grabbed a bathrobe and wrapped it around himself, holding Su Pu’s wrist gently.
“You’re very hot, aren’t you?”
Su Pu nodded. His body felt unbearably heavy, as if he was shedding every bit of restraint with sheer force.
His underwear was white. Small, delicate, undeniably cute.
Li Jichuan watched silently as he stripped down, his gaze darkening.
“Su Pu, feeling uncomfortable?”
He finally felt a little relief—but it didn’t last long. Suddenly, Su Pu tensed all over.
Li Jichuan’s hand, now on the white fabric, applied gentle pressure.
Su Pu felt heat surge through him again, his breathing uneven and erratic.
Li Jichuan took his time, using his free hand to fill the bathtub with water.
“Su Pu, do you know who I am?”
After adjusting the water temperature, Li Jichuan let his damp fingers brush against the small of Su Pu’s back. The other man flinched slightly.
“Know me? Squeeze once. Don’t know me? Squeeze twice.”
Li Jichuan slid two fingers into Su Pu’s hand, the gesture intensely intimate.
Squinting, Su Pu stared at him for a long moment and squeezed once.
“Oh, I’m your husband, right?”
One squeeze.
“Good…”
“Actually, even if we weren’t married, as long as it’s consensual, I could still do the next thing…”
Li Jichuan withdrew his fingers from the white fabric and tested the water in the tub.
A drop splashed onto Su Pu’s eyelid, and he instinctively recoiled.
“Where are you running?”
Li Jichuan smirked. “Thinking about running now… a little late, isn’t it?”
“You’ve already tolerated me as your husband. What comes next… is just a husband’s duty.”
Suddenly, Su Pu’s legs lifted lightly, and he found himself set into the bathtub.
Li Jichuan’s hand followed, submerging in the water, sending waves rippling across the surface.
Plop, plop, plop.
Su Pu opened his mouth, unable to cry out, looking pitiful.
Li Jichuan brushed his dry lips with a fingertip—clever little fish—but Su Pu immediately took the bait, biting down on it.
Li Jichuan exhaled, his features growing darker.
Soon, a tiny drop of blood appeared at his fingertip.
The water churned more violently. Li Jichuan shot him a glance.
This fish didn’t just hook his soul, it drank his blood too.
But he, a fool in love, was already willing to give everything, even his life.
…
After twice, Su Pu finally succumbed to sleep.
Once he was returned to bed, Li Jichuan reluctantly went back to the bathroom, cleaning up the remaining mess on his own body.
Finally lying down, he dozed off, drowsy.
In the middle of the night, he was roused again.
Eyes still closed, he let out a long, contented sigh.
Su Pu drew near, hands clumsy but eager to please.
Li Jichuan, touched yet helpless, said, “The effects aren’t over yet…”
Su Pu’s dark eyes—jade-like in hue—looked so luminous in the dim light.
Li Jichuan was glad he hadn’t turned off the lights before sleeping.
He reached out, cupping Su Pu’s jaw in his large hand, drawing him closer.
Pressed his lips to his.
“Baby, I know your intentions are good…”
Li Jichuan bit down on Su Pu’s flushed ear.
“But could you not use the hand with the ring? It hurts…”