Tao Zhi instantly snapped awake.
The wilted, listless demeanor he had shown in front of Fu Zheng earlier vanished completely. Now, he was highly focused, his face full of terror as he stared at the door in front of him.
Had he been seen?
Had the door crack he opened been too wide?
Had Fu Si Heng noticed?
His mind buzzed with questions as Tao Zhi clenched his fingers tightly.
Truly, what he feared most had come to pass.
Yesterday, he had shamefully gone along with Fu Si Heng’s actions just to avoid exposure, and yet today… People really couldn’t do things with a guilty conscience.
Tao Zhi was scared to death. His eyes fixed on the door as he swallowed hard, unsure of what he should do now.
Knock knock knock.
Three knocks sounded again, interrupting his chaotic thoughts.
“Ye Mian.” Fu Si Heng called Tao Zhi’s fake name.
His usual cold voice betrayed no irregularity: “Are you avoiding me?”
Tao Zhi: “?”
Ah.
Tao Zhi was stunned for a moment.
He didn’t respond aloud because he hadn’t yet processed what “avoiding me” meant. He was still trying to figure out if Fu Si Heng had seen his appearance just now…
How could he have been so careless? He had assumed everyone else had left, leaving only him and Fu Zheng in the villa. He hadn’t even considered that Fu Si Heng was still there.
Tao Zhi regretted it deeply, feeling as if fate was toying with the pitiful.
Right when he feared exposure the most, he had nearly been exposed.
“N-No, I’m not, Brother Fu.” Unable to reach a conclusion and unable to hide forever, Tao Zhi probed tentatively.
He steadied his voice with effort and mustered his courage to speak: “I’m not avoiding you. I suddenly shut the door just now because my clothes weren’t on properly. You… please wait a moment for me first.”
He paused, then asked: “Is that okay?”
“Sure.” Fu Si Heng replied quickly from beyond the door.
A single word, emotionless, impossible to read.
Tao Zhi scratched his cheek.
However…
If he had really been discovered, even Fu Si Heng wouldn’t have acted this calmly, right? He would at least question it. This seemed like there was no suspicion.
He could only assume that for now, since there were no other options.
Tao Zhi forced himself to accept it. After taking a deep breath, he walked to the bedside with many glances back, grabbed his wig and clothes, then headed anxiously to the bathroom.
–
Twenty minutes later, Tao Zhi stood before the door again.
This time, he had made himself presentable: brushed his teeth, washed his face, dressed in women’s clothing, donned the wig, and even applied lipstick without smudging it.
Everything was perfect.
Tao Zhi had checked meticulously three times after finishing, confirming no flaws that could expose him, before leaving the bathroom.
He psyched himself up again before opening the door.
Once more, he started with just a small crack.
Seeing Fu Si Heng’s figure, he hesitated and opened the door halfway, calling softly, “Brother Fu.”
Fu Si Heng hummed in acknowledgment.
He had lifted his gaze the moment he heard the door.
Tao Zhi entered his view, and he naturally looked at him, his eyes lingering for a few seconds on the anxious face before shifting downward.
Soon, he noticed that Tao Zhi wasn’t wearing the clothes he had bought.
A white dress reaching the calves paired with a pink jacket… very ordinary.
Definitely bought by Fu Zheng.
Tacky, with utterly terrible taste.
Tao Zhi looked good in it, having nothing to do with the clothes.
Fu Si Heng’s gaze continued downward.
The slightly curled fingers, the outlined slim waist.
Finally, back to the lips.
The spot broken by the kiss yesterday hadn’t healed.
But today, Tao Zhi had applied shiny lip gloss again.
Though not very obvious, Fu Si Heng still spotted it.
He wondered what it would taste like to swallow the lip gloss along with it this time—peach, perhaps.
Fu Si Heng’s eyes remained cold, but in his mind, he had already imagined Tao Zhi from head to toe.
“May I come in?” he asked politely.
“Yes, of course…” Tao Zhi quickly stepped aside to let Fu Si Heng enter.
As Fu Si Heng came in, he casually closed the door behind him.
Tao Zhi’s long lashes trembled slightly with the sound.
He probably hadn’t been exposed; his luck was pretty good.
The door crack had been small, and the moment brief. It made sense that Fu Si Heng hadn’t seen clearly.
Realizing this, the heart Tao Zhi had been holding lifted a little.
But he still couldn’t help feeling nervous.
Because Fu Si Heng turned around, and now they stood face-to-face.
The tall man loomed over him, his shadow bringing a wordless pressure. Moreover, after last night’s events, Tao Zhi felt guilty and uneasy, reverting to that state where he didn’t know where to put his hands and feet, head bowed, not daring to look up.
Extremely awkward.
“I brought you some medicine.” Fu Si Heng held a tube of ointment.
New, unopened.
He handed it over, but Tao Zhi reacted slowly, stunned for a few seconds. By the time he reached out, Fu Si Heng had already withdrawn it.
“…?” Tao Zhi had no idea what he meant.
Fu Si Heng leisurely began opening the box.
One opened, one watched; neither spoke.
Until it was done.
“…Is there a pharmacy nearby?” Unsure what to say, but the silence was unnerving, so Tao Zhi grasped for small talk.
He vaguely recalled there being pharmacies around.
Where had Fu Si Heng bought the ointment?
“No.” Fu Si Heng answered.
“Huh?” Tao Zhi grew more puzzled.
Fu Si Heng had brought the ointment with him before setting out.
No special reason; he just felt that Fu Zheng and Tao Zhi’s intentions were too obvious and hasty. In these three days, many unexpected things were bound to happen.
He had prepared in advance, being responsible to both sides.
For instance, the common drugging schemes in their wealthy circles.
Shameless and immoral, but exactly the kind of thing Fu Zheng would do. He was just that stupid, vicious, and brainless.
Fu Si Heng figured that even with his self-control, bodily instincts couldn’t be defied.
So, it would have to be accepted.
He had prepared thoroughly, but now only used one tube of ointment.
Fu Si Heng thought Fu Zheng was an idiot.
His expression remained impassive, voice cold and unreadable: “Do you want me to apply it for you?”
Tao Zhi blinked.
Before he could answer, Fu Si Heng had already squeezed some ointment onto his fingertip.
He raised his hand, and just as it nearly touched Tao Zhi’s lips, Tao Zhi suddenly stepped back several paces to dodge.
“I can do it myself.” Tao Zhi refused hastily.
Fu Si Heng’s hand hung in the air.
Tao Zhi: “…”
Had he not handled that well? It seemed a bit rude.
…His resolute refusal wavered.
Fu Si Heng withdrew his hand.
