Through the open neckline of the bathrobe, one could see wheat-colored pecs and tight muscle lines, along with the deep, faintly visible cleft.
“Ah, sorry.” Tao Zhi belatedly remembered his female persona; this action counted as harassment. He apologized hurriedly and backed up two steps, putting distance between them.
“…”
This on-again, off-again seduction was getting to Fu Si Heng, who didn’t want to be affected but found himself strung along, neither here nor there.
“I thought you’d gone back already.” Having just harassed someone, Tao Zhi felt embarrassed. He scratched his head, his gaze drifting a bit.
“If I left and someone unaware there was a female college student inside barged in, what then?”
Huh?
Ah…
Tao Zhi’s drifting gaze stilled.
It was because of him?
Fu Si Heng was too nice.
Nice person, gentlemanly to girls, good character. And he’d even stayed to watch the door despite wanting to shower.
Tao Zhi almost felt bad about harassing him.
He seemed like the type who disliked disturbances, very ascetic.
Doing this to him wasn’t right.
But no helping it.
Fu Zheng…
“Thanks, Brother Fu.” This thanks was much more sincere.
“No problem,” Fu Si Heng replied mildly.
He wasn’t exactly gentlemanly—just guarding a little fool’s secret. Otherwise, if someone caught him, he feared Tao Zhi would bolt from the villa.
Skin so thin he’d probably flee into the snow first.
Catching him later would be hard.
Thinking of that, Fu Si Heng almost smiled. He tugged his lips. “Let’s go back.”
“Mm-hm.” Tao Zhi nodded quickly.
He followed Fu Si Heng’s steps. They walked back quietly, neither starting a chat, just like on the way there.
Tao Zhi still focused on his bathrobe, tightening it now and then, afraid Fu Si Heng… no, afraid accidentally exposing his flat chest with no swimsuit underneath.
Brother Fu was so nice; he definitely wouldn’t peek.
Tao Zhi trusted Fu Si Heng now. Having focused on his clothes before, he now split half his attention on him.
But he still didn’t know how to strike up conversation.
Though they chatted often on WeChat and he’d received many gifts from Fu Si Heng, meeting offline and being alone with him still felt awkward and distant.
Tao Zhi scratched his ear.
As his hand dropped, passing the corridor, a snowflake suddenly landed on his neck. Tao Zhi shivered from the cold and quickened his pace to cross the exposed area.
Fu Si Heng walked ahead of Tao Zhi.
As Tao Zhi passed, it was like ducking under Fu Si Heng’s arm.
“Sorry, Brother Fu,” Tao Zhi said sheepishly.
“No problem,” Fu Si Heng didn’t mind.
He really was a good person.
Tao Zhi gave him another grateful smile, a small dimple forming on his cheek.
They soon returned to the villa’s second floor.
Before parting, Tao Zhi sincerely told Fu Si Heng again, “Brother Fu, you’re really a good person. You’re especially, especially nice.”
It was a bit out of nowhere, but Tao Zhi truly felt that way.
Fu Si Heng was gentlemanly and considerate, online or off, never crossing lines.
He often sent gifts too.
Dresses, clothes, plush toys, souvenirs— all expensive.
Tao Zhi always marveled when he received them.
Then Fu Zheng called him shallow, saying he’d toss them himself and told Tao Zhi to deal with them. Basically, sell them secondhand.
Tao Zhi had considered it.
But now he decided against it.
Because if Fu Zheng’s plan succeeded, he wouldn’t go easy on Fu Si Heng. As an accomplice, he couldn’t do much for Fu Si Heng except keep the gifts for now, so when Fu Si Heng fell on hard times, he could sell them secondhand.
That was the most he could do for Fu Si Heng.
Tao Zhi was a kind college student.
“Thanks so much today. It was my first hot spring soak; I was so happy.”
Tao Zhi bid Fu Si Heng goodbye. “Rest early. I’m off to bed too. See you tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Fu Si Heng said.
Fu Si Heng watched his figure disappear through the door.
Every thanks was so earnest; he really seemed grateful.
Just for bringing him to soak once.
Naive, innocent little bunny.
Fu Si Heng chuckled lowly, wanting another smoke.
–
The next day.
The plan was skiing.
They left at 10 a.m., ate lunch at the hotel, skied more in the afternoon, back by 7 p.m.
That was what Wei Yu had set and told Tao Zhi.
He also said there was breakfast in the restaurant—breads, bagels, etc. If not to his taste, he’d order more at the ski hotel later.
Just as he finished, Fu Si Heng emerged and handed Tao Zhi a sandwich.
Freshly made, hot egg sandwich.
“What were you talking about?” Fu Si Heng asked casually.
Wei Yu: “…”
“Wow, Brother Fu, you can cook?” Compared to Wei Yu’s complicated expression, Tao Zhi’s eyes sparkled, great at giving emotional value. “Looks delicious.”
“It’s simple; doesn’t count as cooking.” Just then, Fu Zheng came out too.
Fu Zheng held a bagel from the restaurant, about to toss it to Tao Zhi, but his face froze.
Wei Yu: “…”
Tao Zhi: “?”
Fu Si Heng glanced at him, then looked away indifferently.
Utterly nonchalant.
Fu Zheng: “.”
Damn.
Tao Zhi was baffled.
Fu Zheng’s face changed so fast—fine one second, now sullen.
And why was Fu Zheng staring at his hand?
Tao Zhi didn’t get it but it didn’t stop him from eating.
He wolfed it down in two or three bites, cheeks puffed, and greeted Fu Zheng. “Morning, Fu Zheng.”
“…”
Fu Zheng wasn’t good at all.
He sulked a bit but held back in front of everyone.
