“Ah???”
“No! It’s not like that!” Tao Zhi hurriedly waved his hands!
His already flushed cheeks grew even redder and more flustered because of Fu Si Heng’s words. With the waving motion, the swimsuit he held in his arms dropped to the ground with a “plop.”
Tao Zhi reached out to pick it up, but Fu Si Heng beat him to it.
The tall man bent down, picked up the transparent storage bag containing the swimsuit with his fingers, and glanced inside.
A brand-new, unopened pink swimsuit.
Fu Si Heng looked up, his gaze falling once more on Tao Zhi’s snow-white, flushed little face.
He hadn’t noticed before, but Tao Zhi’s left cheek seemed slightly puffed.
It wasn’t very obvious—just a tiny bulge, a bit chubby. It looked pokeable.
Tao Zhi had the storage bag snatched away, leaving his arms empty, which made him feel a bit awkward. He didn’t know where to put his hands and feet; his toes desperately curled inside his little leather boots. “I already refused them. I’m not going to the hot springs.”
So there was no need to wear a swimsuit.
Tao Zhi added silently in his heart.
The word “swimsuit” felt shameful even to think, let alone say out loud.
The toes in his little boots worked overtime again.
“Oh.” Fu Si Heng stared at his cheek.
That bit of flesh on his cheek grew cuter the more he looked at it.
Besides wanting to poke it, he also wanted to nip it between his teeth and suck on it, bullying that soft flesh until it turned red and covered in teeth marks.
What would Tao Zhi’s reaction be then?
Fu Si Heng had always considered himself a decent person—at least compared to those in the business world. He kept himself clean, never messing around with men or women.
Of course, that included no messing around with other men either.
Any wicked little thoughts stayed firmly in his mind, fantasizing about Tao Zhi.
Fu Si Heng himself didn’t realize how blatant his gaze was.
The predatory stare made Tao Zhi uncomfortable all over.
What was going on? He really wanted to scratch his ear.
His ears felt scorching hot, and so did his back. Tao Zhi’s heart raced under that look; he felt an urge to flee.
But he couldn’t run away.
“Why not go to the hot springs?” After a long moment, Fu Si Heng finally spoke.
He asked knowingly, mischievously refusing to let Tao Zhi off the hook.
Tao Zhi opened his mouth.
Hadn’t he already explained the reason?
He had something later, and besides, Fu Si Heng had even helped him make an excuse to Shen Xinyuan, saying the car ride had been too tiring—
Tao Zhi suddenly froze.
Only now did he belatedly realize that although Fu Si Heng had helped him, they weren’t on the same side.
The only one who knew his secret was Fu Zheng.
So how should he answer?
The “tired” excuse had already been used by Fu Si Heng; he couldn’t repeat it.
Tao Zhi pursed his lips.
“I’m not used to being around too many people.” Tao Zhi came up with an excuse and answered Fu Si Heng softly. “Brother Fu, I’m really introverted.”
“Oh.” Fu Si Heng’s gaze shifted slightly, finally no longer staring at Tao Zhi.
He handed the swimsuit bag back to him. “Got it.”
Introverted personality.
Tao Zhi reached out to take it, hugging it back to his chest.
A bit of his sense of security returned.
The next second—
“There are two hot spring pools at the villa.” Fu Si Heng suddenly said.
“Hm?” Tao Zhi didn’t understand what he meant and tilted his face up, staring at him blankly.
Those innocent, clear eyes.
They really made it hard to bully him.
But.
“The other one is the men’s pool. No one’s using it right now, and no one will disturb you. It’s perfect for a shy little girl like you.” Fu Si Heng asked, “Want to go?”
Tao Zhi: “…Ah?”
–
No.
How did it turn into this?
Tao Zhi was a bit dazed.
Because now, he was following Fu Si Heng toward the unoccupied hot spring pool.
Half an hour earlier, when Fu Si Heng had asked if he wanted to go to the empty hot spring pool, Tao Zhi had of course refused.
He hadn’t even thought about it—just refused outright.
But he couldn’t give Fu Si Heng a reason for refusing, and in the end, he was half-pushed, half-coaxed, half-tricked back into the room.
Fu Si Heng waited outside while he changed into the swimsuit… and had a staring contest with the bikini.
Tao Zhi felt like he might have died a little.
Cross-dressing for money, he could grit his teeth and endure wearing it. But this bikini—no matter what, he couldn’t convince himself.
It was just too shameful…!
Unpacking it had already used up all of Tao Zhi’s strength; he couldn’t even bring himself to pick it up, let alone wear it.
Tao Zhi buried his face in the pillow, cooling down for a good while before lifting his head.
Bewildered, embarrassed, at a loss—he lifted his head.
Then he thought it over.
He wasn’t a complete idiot.
Earlier at the dinner table, when Shen Xinyuan invited him to the hot springs, Tao Zhi had felt that cross-dressing had really screwed him over.
How could he possibly wear a swimsuit and join the girls in the hot springs? That would be taking advantage of them. Plus, he’d definitely get exposed if he went.
He had genuinely felt doomed back then.
But now, it was completely different.
He was a “girl” now. When he went out, he could just wrap himself in a bathrobe like Shen Xinyuan and the others, right? Fu Si Heng wouldn’t make him take it off to check the swimsuit underneath. Impossible.
He probably wouldn’t join him either, since he’d just said he didn’t like crowds.
Realizing this, Tao Zhi finally found a way out.
He didn’t put on the swimsuit. Instead, he stripped down to just a pair of small underwear, then wrapped himself tightly in the bathrobe from the room.
This should work.
After preparing everything, Tao Zhi finally opened the door.
Like before, he only cracked it open a little at first, then slowly, mustering his courage, stepped out of the room.
“Brother Fu.” Tao Zhi had done plenty of mental preparation in the room, so he wasn’t as nervous as before—just still cautious.
Fu Si Heng hummed in acknowledgment.
His gaze slid slowly from Tao Zhi’s face downward. Just as it reached the collar, he saw Tao Zhi wrap himself even tighter.
A look of full wariness on his face.
Fu Si Heng: “…”
He started to doubt whether the task Fu Zheng had given him was really to seduce.
Fu Si Heng tugged at his lips.
He said nothing, turned around, and led Tao Zhi to the hot spring pool. Tao Zhi followed his steps.
Tao Zhi wasn’t much of a talker; he was the obedient and quiet type. Back when Fu Zheng often took him out, he would just stand or sit quietly, never disturbing anyone.
Fu Si Heng was even less talkative.
The walk was peaceful.
Only occasionally, Tao Zhi worried about exposing himself and would repeatedly adjust his bathrobe, wrapping himself up tightly whenever he thought of it, covering himself completely—not even a hint of collarbone showing.
This was a perfectly normal action.
Anyone would think it normal.
But Fu Si Heng didn’t see it that way.
With Tao Zhi at his side, every move felt like seduction. Even the slightest motion drew his gaze.
Along the way, every time Tao Zhi adjusted his bathrobe, Fu Si Heng’s eyes followed—yet the culprit remained oblivious, fiddling nonstop and wrapping tighter and tighter.
Fu Si Heng reasonably suspected that if the bathrobe weren’t too short, he might have covered his neck too.
It was just a swimsuit.
Was there really need to be this scared?
Scared enough to forget his duty—could Tao Zhi really complete the task Fu Zheng had given him?
Take him down within three days.
Fu Si Heng had no doubt that’s exactly what Fu Zheng had told Tao Zhi.
He knew exactly what kind of person Fu Zheng was—that brainless idiot must have pressured Tao Zhi relentlessly.
Thinking this way, Fu Si Heng felt Tao Zhi was quite pitiful, bullied so badly by Fu Zheng. If he failed the task, there might even be punishment.
Scolded until he couldn’t hold his head up, eyes red-rimmed, tears swirling but not falling.
He wouldn’t dare cry.
Because Fu Zheng hated whiny crying the most.
So he’d have to bite his lip and endure it.
When changing in the room, he must have thought of this, so despite the shame turning his body red and hot, he trembled as he forced himself to put it on.
Right under this bathrobe.
A pink bikini.
Fu Si Heng’s eyes darkened.
The little roommate who failed the task was truly pitiful; who knew how Fu Zheng would torment him.
Since that was the case, Fu Si Heng didn’t mind teaching Tao Zhi how to seduce him.
So he could give Fu Zheng an explanation.
