Tao Zhi in a swimsuit.
A women’s swimsuit, no less.
Normally, a grown man dressing like that would seem pretty perverted, right? Fu Zheng thought it probably would. Wearing a skirt to pretend to be a girl was one thing, but this kind of intimate, revealing clothing… Fu Zheng pictured it.
Bikini, two-piece, one-piece.
At that moment, Fu Zheng’s memory was sharp.
His imagination, too.
An indescribable, secret thrill rushed straight to his brain. Fu Zheng couldn’t control the flush on his face at all. The redness stood out starkly against his wheat-colored skin, and even the cool water couldn’t suppress it.
His mind filled with dirty thoughts, he lifted his eyes to meet Tao Zhi’s anxious, clear gaze.
Damn it.
He was such a damn pervert.
But he couldn’t help it.
The more he told himself not to think that way, the more those images flooded his mind. Now, Fu Zheng didn’t even dare to look at Tao Zhi anymore.
The scenes he’d imagined stimulated him so much that his nose started to itch. He could only awkwardly and guiltily avert his gaze.
…
He didn’t dare, but Fu Si Heng did.
Fu Si Heng turned his head and stared at Tao Zhi’s profile for a good while, his expression similarly thoughtful.
“Fu… Fu…” Seeing that Fu Zheng ignored him, Tao Zhi didn’t know what to do.
From nervousness, his eyelashes trembled several times.
When he withdrew his gaze, he noticed Fu Si Heng sitting beside him.
Tao Zhi opened his mouth, unsure whether to ask for his help.
As he hesitated, Fu Si Heng spoke up to bail him out: “He’s tired from sitting in the car for hours. He’ll rest later.”
“Hm?” Shen Xinyuan blinked in slight surprise.
Hearing Fu Si Heng’s voice, she lifted her head, looked past Tao Zhi to the cold, indifferent man behind him.
Tired? Wouldn’t soaking in the hot springs relieve fatigue better?
So strange.
But she didn’t dare ask.
Her puzzled gaze darted between the two of them—
“I’ll find him later for something.” Fu Zheng, that idiot, finally snapped out of his stimulating fantasies and remembered to help Tao Zhi.
He took a deep breath: “You guys go soak first. Don’t drag him along.”
…Hm?
Shen Xinyuan’s mind was now full of question marks.
What were these brothers up to?
Wasn’t she just Fu Zheng’s ordinary female classmate? Why were they watching her so closely—not even letting her join for hot springs?
But since they both said so, Shen Xinyuan didn’t push. She acknowledged it and turned to chat with the others.
Tao Zhi finally let out a breath of relief.
His heart had pounded wildly just now, terrified he couldn’t refuse without raising suspicion. Now that the crisis was averted, he slumped against the chair back as if drained of strength, breathing in short, feeble gasps.
What a scaredy-cat.
Fu Si Heng watched his heaving chest and thought idly.
–
After dinner, the villa staff came to clear the table.
The girls went upstairs together to change, preparing for the hot springs. Tao Zhi stood in the hall, head swiveling left and right.
Fu Si Heng had gone upstairs, who knew for what.
Fu Zheng stood by the first-floor window smoking.
Wei Yu and the other two men had gone to play cards.
Tao Zhi was the only one who didn’t know what to do. He stood there pondering for a while before deciding to find Fu Zheng and see if his boss had any instructions.
Tao Zhi praised his own professionalism inwardly, but as he approached and saw Fu Zheng’s expression, his heart sank.
Because Fu Zheng looked in a foul mood right now.
He frowned and smoked in silence, lost in thought, looking thoroughly annoyed. Tao Zhi was utterly baffled.
Why’s he mad again?
No one provoked him. Things were fine during dinner. How could smoking make him angry at himself?
Tao Zhi truly couldn’t figure it out.
Fortunately, he’d grown used to Fu Zheng’s mood swings and had ways to deal with them.
Tao Zhi immediately turned to slip away.
Unfortunately, it failed.
The moment he turned, Fu Zheng grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back.
A long arm reached out, and the silver ring on Fu Zheng’s finger abruptly chilled him. Tao Zhi immediately begged for mercy: “Fu Zheng…”
Fu Zheng’s hand twitched.
“What are you doing here?” Fu Zheng feigned nonchalance and casually stubbed out his cigarette.
He figured his tone came off cold and detached, like the wind and snow outside—completely unmoved by Tao Zhi’s coquetry, acting totally normal.
Tao Zhi shrank his neck.
He wanted to say he’d leave right away.
But Fu Zheng beat him to it: “Why don’t you go follow Fu Si Heng? What are you doing here? Forgot your mission?”
“You stick to me all day long.”
Ah?
Oh, so he was supposed to get to work.
Tao Zhi got it.
Like receiving a quest from an NPC, he instantly clarified his task for the night, losing his earlier confusion and gaining purpose.
…
But if he didn’t want to go, that was fine too.
Fu Zheng silently added in his mind.
If Tao Zhi really didn’t want to approach Fu Si Heng tonight, he wouldn’t force it. Skipping one night for relaxation wouldn’t hurt. Though the schedule was tight, and this was probably the last chance to see Fu Si Heng before the New Year.
But this little fool Tao Zhi probably hadn’t been to a place like this before.
Let alone skiing.
Maybe teach him to ski tomorrow.
And the ski resort hotel has hot springs too. Take him there then.
Let him wear men’s clothes and soak with me.
As for seducing Fu Si Heng, worst case, next year.
It wasn’t an easy task anyway. No need to pressure Tao Zhi to wrap it up in three days—that was too demanding.
A jumble of thoughts flooded Fu Zheng’s mind all at once.
But before he could speak, he suddenly felt the hand beneath his loosen.
Tao Zhi had pried his fingers open.
Fu Zheng’s hand was so cold.
Hiss, freezing!
Once freed, Tao Zhi quickly rubbed his neck to warm it up. He tilted his face up and said to Fu Zheng: “Got it. I just came to check.”
“You’re standing here by the open window in so little. You’ll catch a cold,” Tao Zhi warned him.
Fu Zheng froze.
How long had it been since someone said something like that to him? Fu Zheng felt a warmth in his chest—not in vain for all the perks he gave Tao Zhi, even transferring money for luxury goods—
“Take care of yourself. I’m off to find Brother Fu now. I’ll work hard to complete the task you assigned!” Tao Zhi bid Fu Zheng farewell, waving as he walked away.
Fu Zheng: “?”
What the hell???
–
Tao Zhi left.
Had he even glanced back, he’d have seen Fu Zheng’s shocked, incredulous expression.
But he didn’t.
He walked away decisively, even breaking into a jog with his scarf clutched tight.
—Because it was way too cold by Fu Zheng. He couldn’t wait to escape.
Just then, at the hall corner, he ran into the girls coming downstairs in their bathrobes.
“Mianmian.” Shen Xinyuan spotted him and lit up.
“Sister Xinyuan.” Tao Zhi greeted her obediently.
“We’re heading to the hot springs now.” Seeing no sign of those two brothers, Shen Xinyuan enthusiastically invited him again: “Wanna come?”
Tao Zhi: “…”
“No, no thanks.” Tao Zhi’s breath hitched as he waved her off frantically: “I have something later.”
The same excuse.
“Oh, alright.” Shen Xinyuan didn’t insist but handed him a small bag: “You said you didn’t have a swimsuit. This is for you—it’s a pink bikini. You’d look super cute in it!”
“If you change your mind, come find us at the women’s pool. Bye!”
…?
Ah.
This…
No—
Tao Zhi opened his mouth to say something, but Shen Xinyuan didn’t give him the chance.
She waved and left. Tao Zhi stood there, staring at their retreating backs, then down at the pink bikini swimsuit in his arms…
Tao Zhi was dazed, unable to process it.
Not until their figures vanished completely did he lower his head in extreme bewilderment.
A bikini? Bikini meant—
…Aaaah!
Tao Zhi was about to go insane.
Nothing in his life had embarrassed him as much as today…!
Even if he could accept women’s clothes, this skimpy, sexy swimsuit—he’d never faced anything like it!
Tao Zhi’s face burned completely red; he couldn’t even look at it anymore.
He couldn’t take it or leave it. He stood there for a good while before finally heading upstairs, cheeks aflame, head down.
For now, stash this thing back in the room.
Tao Zhi’s steps were unsteady, so he didn’t notice Fu Si Heng lying in wait at the corridor corner.
He only felt a shadow suddenly engulf him as he walked.
Tao Zhi looked up.
“Brother… Brother Fu?” Tao Zhi was still in a daze.
“Mm.” Fu Si Heng responded.
His face was beet red, like a ripe peach.
Fu Si Heng noticed the package in his arms and naturally asked: “What’s that?”
Tao Zhi: “…”
Tao Zhi struggled to tilt his face up.
The honest little peach from the mountains had no idea he could just not answer.
Even now, with his toes curling in mortification, heart racing, he remained brutally honest.
“Brother Fu, Sister Xinyuan lent it to me. It’s a swimsuit.” Shame made even his voice tremble: “I ran into them downstairs just now.”
Fu Si Heng paused slightly.
A swimsuit.
He’d gotten one after all.
“Oh.”
Tao Zhi’s voice shook; Fu Si Heng’s wasn’t much steadier.
Some hazy images in his mind sharpened right then.
His gaze slowly shifted from Tao Zhi’s face.
Downward.
Finally settling on his chest.
“So, are you going to change into it now?” Fu Si Heng’s throat tightened.
