Qin Han frowned slightly, about to say something, when a lazy laugh cut in. “No can do.”
Xie Ling strolled over at a leisurely pace. He didn’t bother glancing at Qin Han’s surprised expression but instead dropped his gaze to Lin Mo with a smirk playing on his lips. “You have no idea how tricky that wound of his is. Washing it properly takes real skill. And the guy can be pretty fussy at times. School Flower, you’re such a pampered little flower under normal circumstances—if you accidentally hurt him, his pheromones will go haywire, and good luck dealing with that mess.”
As he spoke, Xie Ling casually slung his elbow over the fussy guy’s shoulder.
Lin Mo narrowed his eyes. He recalled Qin Han’s attitude toward Xie Ling outside the Small Woods that day, along with all the posts circulating on the School Forum lately. With a smile, he replied, “Even if he’s a handful, that’s fine. We’ll be living together from now on anyway.”
The two men locked eyes, and a faint gunpowder scent began to permeate the air.
A moment later, Xie Ling tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Still no.”
“You…”
“Because he wants me to wash him.”
With that, he grabbed Qin Han’s hand and started to lead him away.
Having been through this once before, Lin Mo reacted swiftly this time and caught hold of Qin Han’s other hand.
The atmosphere turned rigid in an instant.
Xie Ling tsked his tongue, a flicker of irritation rising in his chest. He was just about to speak when Qin Han said coolly to Lin Mo, “Let go.”
A polite, measured smile had been fixed on Qin Han’s face the whole time, but now it turned icy. Lin Mo felt an instinctive twinge of fear but didn’t release his grip. His eyelids drooped slightly, his lashes quivering as he put on an expression that was both earnest and a little pitiful. “Brother Qin Han, I…”
“Sorry, I’m not used to being called that. Just use my name.”
Lin Mo froze for a second before instinctively glancing at Xie Ling. “But he…”
Qin Han cut in. “He’s not just anyone.”
The annoyed Little Xie Ling, who had been spectating, paused in surprise. For some inexplicable reason, his mood lifted considerably, and the corners of his mouth curved up without him even realizing it.
Lin Mo caught the motion perfectly. A glint of gloom and disgust flashed in his eyes, swiftly replaced by that sincere, pitiful look once more. Turning to Qin Han, he said, “Our engagement was arranged by our families. I know you might not like it, but I really do like you. I know I have a lot of flaws—just tell me what they are, and I can change. Whatever type you like, I can become exactly that for you.”
Xie Ling tsked again. He hadn’t expected this little white flower to look so soft and delicate while launching such an aggressive confession.
Without thinking, he shot a glance at Qin Han.
Qin Han asked, “You can become whatever type I like?”
Lin Mo nodded vigorously.
Qin Han’s lips curved upward. He waved the hand that Xie Ling was holding right in front of Lin Mo’s face. “I like Xie Ling’s type. Can you turn into that?”
Xie Ling: !!!
Lin Mo stood there stunned. Seizing the moment, Qin Han slipped his hand free from Lin Mo’s grasp. He turned to Xie Ling with a smile. “Let’s go. Aren’t you going to help me bathe?”
Xie Ling: “…Oh.”
~~~
On the way to the bathhouse, Xie Ling didn’t say a word. He just pulled Qin Han along with his head down, marching ahead.
It wasn’t until they reached a fork in the path that Qin Han chuckled softly from behind him. “Are you taking me to the Omega Bathhouse?”
Xie Ling jolted to a stop, only then realizing he’d taken a wrong turn. He started to pivot in a new direction—
“That’s the Beta Bathhouse.”
Xie Ling: “…”
He moved to correct course again, but Qin Han gently tugged him back from behind with a low laugh. “What kind of confession haven’t you heard before? Are you really that shy about it?”
“I’m not shy!”
“Alright, you’re not.” Qin Han pinched Xie Ling’s reddened ear as if coaxing a child, his voice softening. “Then can you tell me if you were acting like that earlier because you were jealous?”
Xie Ling: “…I just didn’t like the look of him.”
Qin Han remembered Xie Ling’s excuse from last time and let out a soft chuckle. “This time, was it because he brought up the arranged marriage and hit one of your sore spots?”
The free-spirited Little Xie Ling nodded without hesitation. “Exactly.”
“Anything else?”
“No…”
“Ling Bro never dodges.”
Xie Ling: “…”
Qin Han continued to toy with his ear, coaxing gently, “Come on, be good and tell me the truth.”
…Damn it.
“Fine.” Xie Ling huffed, steeling himself. “He was getting way too close to you. That’s one of the reasons I was pissed.”
Qin Han hadn’t expected Xie Ling to be so upfront. A warmth bloomed in his chest, and he leaned in to kiss Xie Ling’s cheek.
But Xie Ling was ready for it this time. He slapped a hand over Qin Han’s mouth.
No way was he going to indulge this!
Blushing furiously, Xie Ling flashed a smug grin. “Hurry up. Don’t you need to get to the bath quick?”
Without waiting for a response, he yanked his hand back and dashed ahead.
Qin Han watched that flustered yet triumphant retreating figure, his teeth practically itching with the urge to bite.
If this had been before, he definitely would have landed that kiss.
The little guy was getting smarter…
~~~
When they reached the bathhouse entrance, Qin Han held Xie Ling back for a bit longer.
Xie Ling said, “The manager’s not around right now. We can sneak in.”
Qin Han shook his head. “No. There are still some people inside. It’s dangerous for an Omega like you to squeeze into the Alpha Bathhouse.”
“It’s not dangerous. I’m just helping you wash up.” Xie Ling shrugged it off. “Did you forget I’m a pro at faking Alpha?”
“Still no.” Qin Han lowered his eyelids. “You’re only allowed to see my naked body.”
Xie Ling: “…”
He’d seen plenty of other guys’ before, after all.
Better not to mention it, lest he set this guy off again.
They waited until the bathhouse had mostly emptied out. Then, taking advantage of the manager’s absence, the two slipped inside.
No sooner had they entered than they ran into two familiar Alphas. The pair stared at Xie Ling in shock. “Ling Bro, what are you doing here?!”
Xie Ling hushed them frantically. “Shh, shh, shh. We sneaked in—keep it down.”
Qin Han explained from the side, “He’s here to help me wash up.”
The two Alphas’ expressions turned profoundly subtle in an instant.
“Uh, Ling Bro… an Omega helping an Alpha bathe? That doesn’t seem right.”
“Nah, what’s wrong with it? What kind of relationship do Ling Bro and Qin God have!”
“True that. Don’t worry—we’ll head out soon and hang a sign on the door saying the pipes burst and it’s under repair. No one will come in to bother you two.”
“Yeah, yeah. Take your time washing, haha. We’re out.”
Having finished their little routine, the pair retreated with knowing winks.
Xie Ling: “…”
The changing room was right in front of them. Qin Han calmly set his things aside and began to undress.
Xie Ling suddenly felt a bit awkward. He snatched up Qin Han’s belongings. “I’ll head inside first and grab us a spot. I’ll put your stuff away—you come in after.”
Qin Han pulled him back with a laugh. “There’s no one here. No need to grab a spot. Otherwise, I’ll have to search room by room for you… and what if I slip on the way?”
“Fine, fine, I’m not going anywhere. Can we skip the self-cursing?”
Whenever Qin Han phrased it like that, Xie Ling couldn’t help imagining the worst. The more he did, the tighter his chest grew.
Qin Han sneaked a laugh and started shrugging off his camouflage jacket.
Xie Ling instinctively averted his gaze.
The changing room fell silent, filled only with the distinctive rustle of clothing being removed.
For some reason, Xie Ling’s heartbeat began to quicken.
Why’s he taking so damn long? It’s just a few pieces of clothing.
Right then, the sound of a zipper being pulled down reached his ears. Xie Ling’s hackles rose, and he whipped around on instinct.
Get it together, Little Xie Ling. Stay calm. It’s not like you haven’t seen a guy undress before.
As Xie Ling’s mind raced with random thoughts, Qin Han spoke up. “Aren’t you going to undress?”
Xie Ling turned back in a daze. “I’m not bathing, so no need to… Wait, why are you taking off your underwear too?!”
His eyes collided without warning with a sizable package. Xie Ling’s already racing heart skyrocketed to its peak.
Qin Han gave him a meaningful look. “You don’t bathe naked?”
“…” Fair point.
Realizing how stupid his question had been, Xie Ling scratched his head and quickly looked away. “It’s easy to catch a chill in this weather. Let’s make it quick.”
Once they were in the stall, Xie Ling helped Qin Han set his things down. He took down the showerhead to test the water temperature, saying as he did, “I’ll scrub your back later. You handle the front yourself?”
“Sure,” Qin Han replied. “Leave the back to you. And don’t forget to wash my butt too.”
“…” Xie Ling chuckled a little. “Qin God, you sure care about your idol image—even down to your butt. Want me to take a photo after for your review? See if you’re satisfied?”
Qin Han lowered his eyelids and hooked his lips. “I don’t need to be satisfied. As long as you are. It’s all for your eyes from now on.”
Xie Ling: “…” Who asked to see it!
Qin Han’s back wound had healed well and was starting to scab over, but it still carried a risk of reopening if bumped carelessly.
If not for saving him, Qin Han wouldn’t have had to endure this…
Recalling that night, Xie Ling’s movements grew especially gentle. He took a wet towel and wiped carefully from Qin Han’s shoulders downward.
An Alpha’s body hovered between that of a youth and a full-grown man—muscles even and firm. Every so often, his fingertips brushed against one, feeling the surging power beneath.
He had to admit, the guy’s physique was top-tier. Even male models in magazines probably couldn’t compare.
Xie Ling secretly elevated Qin Han to godlike status in his mind, a fresh wave of envy washing over him.
His muscles were attractive too, but they belonged to an Omega’s body. No matter how much he trained, they could never develop into the solid, masculine build of an Alpha.
How nice…
Steam filled the bathroom, the sound of water pattering from the showerhead echoing in his ears. The more Xie Ling looked, the more his heart raced with desire. Pretending to scrub his back, he “accidentally” ran his hand over Qin Han’s back.
What a great feel!
Xie Ling sneaked a glance at Qin Han. The other man seemed lost in the simple pleasure of washing up and hadn’t noticed. Xie Ling held back once, twice, but finally couldn’t resist. He “accidentally” groped him two more times, boldly overstepping the bounds.
“Feels good, does it?” Qin Han’s voice came out hoarse. Through the misty water vapor, his deep phoenix eyes gleamed with barely restrained lust.
He’d been caught!!
The person who’d been bouncing around excitedly just moments ago went dead silent, his gaze darting everywhere but at Qin Han.
“I’m asking you.” Qin Han pressed closer, unrelenting, murmuring into his ear, “Does it feel good?”
Xie Ling found himself cornered by the question. Amid his initial panic, a surge of defiance suddenly welled up inside him.
No, he couldn’t back down!
“It’s pretty nice to the touch.” Xie Ling mustered his courage and met Qin Han’s eyes. “You keep in good shape.”
Qin Han’s gaze darkened even further. He grabbed Xie Ling’s hand and placed it on his chest, his smile carrying a dangerous edge. “Want to feel somewhere else?”
The skin under his palm felt almost scorching. Xie Ling regretted it a little. He’d sworn to keep his distance from Qin Han before, so why was he the one losing control this time…
But it was too late. Qin Han’s grip on his wrist tightened, guiding his hand inch by inch—half-forcing him to trace the lines of his collarbone, pectorals, and abs…
The heat from his fingertips grew more intense. Xie Ling couldn’t hold back any longer. “Stop…”
The single word had barely left his mouth when Qin Han froze.
Xie Ling blinked in surprise. Just as he wondered why Qin Han was being so obedient this time, a restless whiff of summer sea breeze hit him.
He reacted instantly. “Your susceptible period’s come early again?”
By his calculations, it shouldn’t have been for a few more days. Qin Han’s susceptible periods were more erratic than some female Omegas’ monthly cycles.
Without a second thought, Xie Ling turned around, baring his gland to Qin Han. “Quick…”
“Wait.” Qin Han’s voice wavered. “You go out first. I’ll rinse off a bit more and come find you.”
That wasn’t like Qin Han at all. Xie Ling grew anxious and turned back. “You can rinse after marking. It’s dangerous for you like this. If…”
His words cut off abruptly.
Xie Ling’s eyes flicked to something, and his face flushed visibly red.
Qin Han let out a slow breath, gently pushing the stunned Xie Ling away. His voice was thick with restraint. “You got me worked up earlier.”
Xie Ling: “…”
