When the hot spring was built, indulgence was the priority. Three layers of stone steps were laid, allowing one to fully submerge in the pool while sitting on the steps. Fang Chuning sat side by side with Xie Jue on the stone steps. This was a pool meant for one person’s pleasure, and the steps weren’t very long. Fang Chuning’s shoulder was tightly pressed against Xie Jue, his heart pounding like a deer caught in headlights, stiff as a stone, unable to move, silently lamenting. If he left now, it would seem even more abrupt.

"When we went to Sannan, we also soaked in a hot spring outdoors," Xie Jue’s voice was low, carrying a hint of laughter. Hearing this, Fang Chuning’s heart rhythm went out of control. The memory of that hot spring was unforgettable for him, it was too thrilling. What does Ting Feng mean by bringing it up? Fang Chuning felt parched, silently inching sideways, nearly slipping off the edge of the steps.

"Comfortable?"

Fang Chuning, "..."

"The experience isn’t bad!"

Fang Chuning, "..."

Fang Chuning was almost about to explode. What experience isn’t bad? Is it the hot spring experience, or some other experience? Could he interpret it differently? It surely wasn’t the hot spring experience that was so good, as their attention wasn’t on the soak at all.

While he was distracted, the water swirled, and Xie Jue suddenly stretched out his hand, hooking it around his waist, pinning Fang Chuning against the stone wall. Xie Jue’s tall and lean body was almost pressed against him. The moonlight was gentle, and Fang Chuning could clearly see the droplets on his nose. He had an urge to lick away those droplets but could only forcefully restrain himself.

He heard Xie Jue say, "So, I want to try again."

Fang Chuning, "..."

He truly seemed like a scholar whose soul had been enchanted away by a mountain spirit, tossing aside the dignity of two decades of scholarly wisdom. His mind was filled with nothing but desires and longing. His eloquent tongue was swallowed by the heat, unable to utter a single word. The person before him was like a tempting delicacy, but he couldn’t have it. He hadn’t confessed to Xie Jue yet. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Try... try what?" Fang Chuning stuttered, instinctively retreating. Whether in the past, when love was just budding, or when they were deeply entangled, Xie Jue had always been cold about this matter. So cold that Fang Chuning once asked if he wasn’t at all attracted to him. Fang Chuning was always the most passionate, the one who knew best how to entice Xie Jue to cross the line.

But now the roles were reversed, and even the feigned confidence couldn’t conceal the lack of assurance.

Xie Jue’s hand gently moved up from his waist. Fang Chuning was only wearing a thin inner garment, soaked by the hot spring, clinging to his skin, outlining his strong and handsome frame. Xie Jue watched him playfully, not exposing his tension. Since Fang Chuning came close, he heard the chaotic heartbeat, a undeniable attraction between them.

"Anning, with half of my memories returned, and the matters of Beiman already recalled, tell me... what do you think I want to try?" It was Xie Jue’s first time seeing Fang Chuning like this, finding it amusing, unable to resist pecking his cheek. The fleeting touch was like water hitting hot oil, making Fang Chuning overreact, grabbing Xie Jue’s waist, pulling him onto himself.

The two were too close; physical reactions couldn’t lie. The new experience was intoxicating for Xie Jue, finding it increasingly interesting. Fang Chuning still stubbornly asked, "Ting Feng, did you... did you drink?"

Xie Jue chuckled softly, moving even closer, "Do you smell alcohol?"

No, there was no trace of alcohol. Xie Tingfeng was perfectly sober.

He braced against Fang Chuning’s shoulder, leaning by his ear to ask, "Anning, do you want it?"

Fang Chuning, "..."