Chapter 108: Soaking in the Hot Springs Together

This famous entertainment reporter and internet celebrity’s face stiffened. “I didn’t go out at all tonight.”

“Only your weight matches here.”

“What size shoes do you wear?”

“43. But…”

“No buts, it’s you.” Zhong Jinghuan said.

“I said I didn’t do it!” Ma Xingwen’s face darkened.

“Fine, then tell me what you were doing just now?”

“I was in the room. Everyone was in the room. Why suspect only me?”

“Because you’re the only one who could have done it. The shoe prints are the best evidence.”

“I said it wasn’t me!” Ma Xingwen’s eyes filled with unwillingness and anger at being wronged. His face flushed red. “The weight thing can be faked. I saw it during the day. There’s a sandbag in the gym. As long as you carry the sandbag on your back, you can definitely simulate my weight.”

Tang Shen said to Peng Xiaoxiao, “Can one person carry a sandbag on their back while carrying a corpse and still simulate a shoe size one size larger?”

Xiao Fen, watching the show from the side: You might as well directly report my ID number. Every question is so targeted.

His shoe size was 42, which Peng Xiaoxiao had noticed during warm-up.

That’s why he had gone back the same way and stepped on the prints.

“A normal person probably wouldn’t have such good stamina, right?” Peng Xiaoxiao said.

However, if it was Xiao Fen, he could even climb such a high cliff, so doing this should be a piece of cake.

Before she could mention this exception, Ma Xingwen excitedly panted and retorted, “If there’s substantial evidence, I’ll admit it. Why say it’s me just because of a few blurry shoe prints!”

“Aiya, it’s just reasonable suspicion. It’s only a variety show. Why take it so seriously?” Zhong Jinghuan said. “It’s not like we’re making you the real killer.”

“You don’t know shit!”

Ma Xingwen could no longer hold back. He glared furiously and shouted, “Xue Chengge and Brother Ka both told me. Am I next? Come on then, if you dare! I’m just a photographer. What are you going to do to me? Is it useful!”

Xiao Fen’s lips curled into a cold smile. His gaze signaled toward Fang Si Ting’s hand, which had just returned from the snow, and he looked at it teasingly.

Ma Xingwen’s heart skipped a beat. A chill surged from the soles of his feet, and he immediately lost his momentum.

“I only know a little about your matter. I don’t know why you went after Xue Chengge. I can tell everything I know and give you justice.”

“Who are you talking to?” Li Fei looked around. All the guests were crowded at the exit under the door canopy. Ma Xingwen hadn’t named anyone, so none of them knew who he was talking to.

“This should be enough, right? I’ll tell everything I know in front of the camera, one by one.” Ma Xingwen ignored her question and continued on his own. “But before that, you and the Pursuit Team have to hand over all the clues about me first, stop pursuing me, and promise it on camera!”

“There’s nothing.” Fang Si Ting said truthfully.

“I don’t believe it!” Ma Xingwen raged. Every victim had clues about the next killer on their body. How could there be nothing when it came to him?

He shoved Bai Zhu’s hand away and stepped through the snow. He had to go to Brother Ka’s side and check. After rummaging for a long time, there really was no discovery.

He was even more convinced that Fang Si Ting hadn’t let them get close to Brother Ka earlier and had definitely taken something during that time.

“Yesterday, you said the same thing to Xue Chengge, but your expressions told me you definitely found something. You’re all in cahoots. You want me dead, right?” Ma Xingwen no longer cared about what shouldn’t be said in front of the camera. Anyway, since they’d caught his handle, once the show ended, his good days were over.

He thought that with so many people watching, maybe the Vice Squad Officers would consider the live stream’s influence and give him some leeway, not wanting to reveal it on camera.

He was already like a startled bird, yet he still spoke with a threatening tone. “I’ll give you one last night. Tomorrow morning, I want to see the thing on Brother Ka. I guarantee you, I’ll tell everything. I even have some hearsay about what Director Xu and Xue Chengge did to you. I have evidence.” He upped the ante.

Although he told a small lie.

Director Xu was a top-tier director, highly respected in the industry for many years. Offending him alone was something he couldn’t afford.

Not to mention the Lu Family.

【What is he talking about? Who is he talking to? Brother Fen?】

【No one else but him.】

【Reasonable suspicion that Brother Ka is so clean is deliberately to stir up Ma Xingwen’s panic. Fang Yama said there’s nothing and he panicked.】

【This show is getting more and more confusing. Can they stop speaking in riddles? What did he do again?】

【No riddles, and you’d have them admit what they did right in front of everyone? From their expressions, it seems pretty serious. Do you think they’re idiots?】

【The last guy who chopped off his hand recklessly in front of the live camera is still squatting in prison. Probably won’t get out for the rest of his life.】

【But it did yield a bunch of melons. Too bad the later ones are smarter and don’t say what it is. They just keep beating around the bush. Madam Lu was the most honest. I love her.】

【It’s pretty good too. Amid all the bloodshed, we’ve guessed most of what we need to. So full from the melons.】

Li Fei and the other guests, as bystanders, knew nothing of the inside story, just like the audience in front of the Live Stream Chat.

But they sensed it more acutely than the viewers—they seemed to have gotten caught up in something very dangerous.

Seeing that it wasn’t early, the corridor formed a fierce wind tunnel, bitterly cold. Everyone gradually returned to their rooms and went upstairs to sleep.

“Mr. Black Cat, want to soak together?” As the others left one after another, Xiao Fen called out to him.

Fang Si Ting gripped the protruding wooden ball on the stair railing and stopped in his tracks.

“You’re in a good mood?”

“What good mood? Don’t talk nonsense. Seeing them get stabbed one by one weighs heavy on my heart—heavy enough to drip water. Now I need to soak in the hot springs to dispel the dampness.”

“Want some little wine and snacks?”

“You really get me.” Xiao Fen snapped his fingers.

Fang Si Ting had no reason not to accompany him.

Next to the mansion, through a winding corridor about twenty meters long, there was a small courtyard. They opened the courtyard gate, walked across a few stone slabs laid on the ground, pushed open the wooden door, changed out of their slippers, and the dry, warm scent of the fireplace wafted over.

In the middle of the room was a low rectangular table, flanked by all sorts of coffee machines and tea sets. It seemed the Lu Family Members often soaked here for chats—very leisurely.

Pushing open the next door revealed a semi-outdoor Hot Spring Pool. Three sides were indoors, the front was outdoors, with a snow-piled railing not far beyond, overlooking the cliff.

As soon as they entered the gate, the four cameras automatically shut off and stayed at the door.

Closing the door, Xiao Fen had just sensed a scorching, fierce breath closing in when his shoulder was grabbed the next moment. His whole body flipped around, and Fang Si Ting’s breath invaded his mouth and teeth.

One hand passed under his armpit. He was forced back a few steps by the tall frame. Just as he was about to crash into the uneven pebble wall, a hand cushioned his back.

“Wait, we’re recording the show… mm… Fang Si Ting…” Xiao Fen struggled to say a few words, which instead gave the other’s tongue an advantage, directly barging in. The rest of his words drowned in their lips, teeth, and saliva.

The atmosphere around them grew hotter. Fang Si Ting’s palm was dry and scorching, burning against his cool skin, making his legs go a bit soft.

His hand pressed on Fang Si Ting’s shoulder, wanting to push him away. He had come tonight to talk, after all. Give him a chance at least.

“Mm…”

His tongue tip was sucked hard, sharp teeth slowly nibbling. The ant-like pain carried dense itch straight to the top of his skull.

His legs softened more, his head dizzy. He wanted to slump but was steadily confined and supported by two arms.

The fist placed on the shoulder blade slowly unfurled powerlessly. His palm wandered over Fang Si Ting’s full, scorching chest. The arm around his waist tightened further. Xiao Fen’s fingertips suddenly clenched, lightly scratching the light wheat-colored skin on his chest. A muffled hum leaked from the corner of his mouth, and he swallowed the rest of the soft sound.

Who knew if the microphones on the cameras outside had been turned off.

Scorching nasal breaths roasted his cheek, temple, slowly downward, spraying into his neck hollow—one after another, rapid and forceful. It made his scalp numb, neck skin taut.

Only after a good while did Fang Si Ting’s breathing subside with restraint. He reluctantly lifted his head and licked his lips controllingly.

Xiao Fen had been kissed until his hands and feet went soft, face flushed and heart racing. He elbowed him and grumbled discontentedly, “Are you a dog!” Coming at him with bites and licks right away.

“Mm.” Fang Si Ting tightly hugged his waist and lowered his head to stare at him.

It felt like a long time, but it had only been two days since they parted.

Xiao Fen saw his straightforward response and suddenly didn’t know what to say.

A knock sounded at the door. He hurriedly struggled free from his embrace.

Fang Si Ting’s eyelids drooped a bit.

The servant came in, set out wine, dishes, and snacks, then silently retreated.

Xiao Fen wiped his lips with the back of his hand and slipped into the water.

His cool skin met the warm spring water, drawing a comfortable sigh from him.

Mist filled the air. Snow piled on the poolside pebbles and railing. From here, they could see neatly trimmed bushes not far off, a sharp corner of forest by the cliff, and twinkling stars in the deep blue sky.

Fang Si Ting approached step by step. Through the hazy mist, he saw Xiao Fen hesitate to speak, as if wanting to say something, but it turned into something else.

“Go to the other side of the pool. Hey, Fang Si Ting!”

Fang Si Ting ignored him, entered the pool, and saw him rise to leave. He hugged him from behind.

“We’re still recording the show. What are you afraid of?”

Wet, hot lips printed on his round earlobe, making Xiao Fen’s body shudder.

“You know that!”

He bared his teeth and twisted his head to glare at the person behind him, legs awkwardly pressed together. “Who knows if the walls have ears.”

He didn’t have a fetish for being watched in live action.

He irritably pointed at his lips. “How do I explain this to them tomorrow? Heat sores, or dog bite?”

“Mm, dog bite.” Fang Si Ting generously admitted it. His face showed no expression, just his high nose bridge rubbing against the soft flesh of his neck hollow.

An arm splashed up water. He twisted around, and a warm, spring-soaked fist smashed into the full muscles of the chest behind him.

“Can you have some shame now?” Xiao Fen laughed and cursed, his fox eyes curving.

The fist had smashed into the soft, bouncy pecs and forgot to move away.

The water on his hand left a clear, bright trail on his chest. Water droplets slowly flowed down the checkerboard lines of his chest and abs.

Neither spoke, but the light in their eyes grew darker and harder to discern.

Fang Si Ting finally reached out, unable to resist grabbing the wrist at his chest, but caught nothing.

Xiao Fen broke free and headed toward the shore.

“Where are you going?” His brows pressed down, tone thick with dissatisfaction, pent-up fire in his heart.

“Calling someone to join.” Xiao Fen, in his shorts, quickly fled to the chair nearby and pulled out his phone.

If Fang Si Ting caught him again, it’d be like catnip—he’d definitely suck him dry, and something would happen.

My little chrysanthemum was in danger.

Ten minutes later, the two small Hot Spring Pools were packed.

Fang Si Ting: “…”

“Couldn’t you just call one person?”

“You’re right, so I only called Ou Yu.” Xiao Fen said.

“Then this one…”

Matthew grinned and squeezed between Xiao Fen and Ou Yu, sitting into the bath.

“Pleased to meet you.” He gave a respectful and friendly slight bow toward Fang Si Ting across the pool.

It looked more like provocation.

Why was he here? Fang Si Ting’s face pulled long.

Xiao Fen read his displeasure. “He’s chasing Brother Ou Yu, so of course he’d come along.”

“Then him?”

“It’s my family’s hot springs. Do I need your permission to come?” Lu Jin stretched lazily, elbows on the pool edge, scoffing disdainfully.

Stalking Ou Yu’s movements had its surprises—now he had a chance to soak with Xiao Fen.

“Then these…”

Song Hui, Li Fei, Zhong Jinghuan, and Jiang Xu grinned apologetically.

“I’m just following Brother Fen. I overheard you two talking earlier and felt bad about it, but then I saw Ou Yu and them come, so I tagged along.” Song Hui said.

Jiang Xu pointed embarrassedly at the person beside him. “I’m with Young Master Lu.”

Li Fei wore a bikini and slipped into the water without the slightest hesitation. “I originally thought you two were a criminal and a vice squad officer secretly discussing the case here. I wanted to eavesdrop a bit. Turns out it was a misunderstanding, haha. Just purely soaking in the bath.”

Actually, it wasn’t that simple. Xiao Fen grumbled inwardly. He had originally wanted to talk to Mr. Black Cat, but they nearly ended up getting intimate.

Zhong Jinghuan wasn’t as thin-skinned as her. “Everyone gathering together means we have fate. I’ve long wanted to hang out with you guys privately. First time joining this kind of live stream—it was so oppressive I could hardly breathe. So many things I couldn’t say freely. No fun at all.”

“You’ve said plenty already,” Li Fei muttered softly.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.” Li Fei laughed it off, then asked curiously, “Brother Fen, why did you wear your bathrobe into the hot spring?”

As she said that, she noticed Fang Si Ting had done the same.

“Don’t you two feel uncomfortable?”

Xiao Fen showed a fake smile. “Not uncomfortable.”

It was all because a certain someone was petty about too much exposure.

If calculated by surface area, Fang Si Ting had exposed more, okay.

But seeing his jealous, sullen little eyes, Xiao Fen couldn’t help but soften.

Fine, fine. Whatever he wanted. Worst case, they both wore them.

But with the bathrobe on while soaking in the water, it didn’t take long before he was drenched in sweat.

Xiao Fen stood up and walked toward the opposite shore, joining Fang Si Ting.

Unexpectedly, when he reached the center of the pool, his foot slipped.

He let out a soft cry. His arm instinctively lifted as he staggered, but he steadied himself in the blink of an eye.

Li Fei, Zhong Jinghuan, Jiang Xu, and Song Hui stared blankly at the scene.

In that instant, four outstretched hands appeared beside Xiao Fen.