Chapter 89: Close Together

Ming Can had always been meticulous when bathing, taking a long time. But this time was unprecedentedly long. The light green juice deliberately spilled on her body seemed to have seeped into her skin, refusing to wash off easily. She had to scrub over and over again, even grinding and rubbing at it, before he could finally clean herself thoroughly.

It was as if she were clinging to an automatic bathing machine—one with a malfunctioning program that couldn’t determine which area needed the most cleaning. Instead, it fixated on certain places that were particularly important to her, causing Ming Can to lose her balance, leaving only one foot on the ground. Several times, she almost fell, only to be caught again. Even when her back pressed against the wall, she still couldn’t steady herself, because even the most hidden places were being intruded upon, as if someone had pushed the door open and barged in, searching for something.

At first, Chi Xiao followed the conventional use of words, only employing that one tool for drinking.

Gradually, though, the supervisor overseeing things grew dizzy and lightheaded, and Chi Xiao became unruly. He started using his hands as well, claiming his oral skills weren’t refined enough. He even asked if she had deliberately made his task more difficult—after all, he knew exactly how many milliliters that glass of cucumber snow pear juice contained, and by now, it was far beyond that.

The person below, clearly not having bathed, had damp bangs anyway. The wet strands, contrasted against the cold, jade-like whiteness of his skin, made his short, messy black hair appear even darker and more striking.

Ming Can had always known this guy was a craftsman. From the first time they met as children—when she built a sandcastle that collapsed into a complete mess while his was exquisitely detailed—she could already tell that his craftsmanship was extraordinary.

But saying his oral skills were lacking—she would never believe that. Just in terms of drinking water, after a basketball game, he could down a 500ml bottle in one gulp. And as for his talent with words, she had long since realized he was nothing like the aloof, silent “cool god” she had first met—the kind who wouldn’t utter a single word for half a day. Now, he could say anything, dared to say anything. As for the strength of his tongue, she had felt it thoroughly, from top to bottom.

Although Chi Xiao had broken some rules, he still completed the task he was given with utmost seriousness. He drank all the way down, reaching the slender lower legs, past the ankles. Even when he lifted them up, he still wanted to continue—only to be caught off guard by a sudden kick.

“Don’t kiss me again later.”

Chi Xiao raised an eyebrow, looking completely indifferent to the warning, and instead, he went straight for her bubbling, mumbling lips.

He kissed fiercely, his fingers taking over where his lips left off. Ming Can couldn’t think at all—her mind was a blank haze. When she wiped away the fog and tried to focus, all she saw were words of praise. Compliments on his skill, how he handled things so well, how he had exceeded not just her instructions but even her expectations. It wasn’t just perfectly done—it was overflowing, flooding beyond control.

She gasped for air, turning her eyes to the window, only to see the curtains had long been tightly shut. She didn’t even know if the last trace of sunset had faded, or how dark the night had become outside.

It felt like an entire century had passed before she finally saw his eyes again. The room was lit by a row of spotlights and a single unclaimed lamp, their lights merging and reflecting in his pale, light-colored pupils, making them look almost unreal.

Leaning against the wall with her head tilted back, reality reasserted itself in the height difference between them. Ming Can bit her lip, hesitating over whether to shower him with ruthless praise. Meanwhile, his hand below was still pressing in, gripping her so tightly it was impossible to tell what she truly wanted—whether to leave or to stay.

“Are you really not hungry?” Chi Xiao lowered his head and suddenly brought up how, when he had first come home and asked her what she wanted to eat, she had responded indifferently. As if he held no grudges, he now asked again with unexpected kindness. His long, beautifully shaped fingers, which had just withdrawn, were now wrinkled from being soaked for too long. “I think you’re starving.”

Like she was about to chew up the intruder and swallow him whole.

Ming Can instinctively clung to him tightly, every pore on her body filled with unease—except for her delicate, rosy lips. She knew exactly what he was implying, yet she still forced herself to stay calm. Using a trembling voice that lacked any real conviction, she answered seriously, “I’m really not hungry. You have no idea how much I ate during those two hours of meetings.”

“What did you eat?” Chi Xiao effortlessly lifted her into his arms and walked out of the master bedroom as if it took no effort at all.

Only now did Ming Can start to feel cold. Her home was kept at a constant temperature and humidity, but it didn’t help when someone had just finished showering, hadn’t dried off, and wasn’t wearing anything—the evaporating water carried away warmth. She forced herself to suppress the shivers, clinging tightly to Chi Xiao while still pretending to be calm and aloof, carrying on a perfectly normal conversation with him. “The PhD students’ lab provides afternoon tea. It was pretty lavish, lots of different snacks… Wait, why are you carrying me outside?”

Chi Xiao: “Going back to the room to grab something.”

“Then go by yourself! Why are you carrying me?” Ming Can knocked on his shoulder while simultaneously shrinking deeper into his embrace. “There are security cameras outside!”

“The cameras can only be accessed by the two of us.”

“T-That’s still really weird!”

Fortunately, Chi Xiao walked quickly. He carried Ming Can all the way back to the guest bedroom where he was staying, casually grabbing a couple of pieces of clothing from the wardrobe—never once setting her down.

When he bent down to open the bedside drawer and took out a small item—something he had apparently prepared in advance—Ming Can’s eyes widened as if burned. For a moment, she had nowhere to hide.

She started to struggle. “Put me down!”

Chi Xiao was now holding her with just one arm, while his other hand carried the clothes and gripped the box. Naturally, as if it were nothing, he gave her a light slap on the backside. “Be quiet.”

It was the first time in her life she had ever been “spanked” like this. The sheer embarrassment was unbearable, yet she had no choice but to quiet down. In the midst of her squirming, she became acutely aware of the changes happening—meanwhile, Chi Xiao deliberately loosened his grip, letting her slide downward. Panicked, Ming Can scrambled back up, clinging tightly to his shoulders. Gritting her teeth, she asked, “Are you afraid I’ll run away or something?”

Otherwise, why insist on carrying her all the way over?

“Mm.” Chi Xiao admitted it outright. On the other hand, he clearly felt the effect—after such a brief contact, even his pants were already damp through. No wonder she was being so obedient. Even after getting spanked, she was still pressing close to him.

On the way back, he continued questioning her. “That little bit of food was enough to fill you up?”

It was as if he absolutely had to hear her say she was hungry—better yet, so hungry she wanted to eat him alive—before he’d be satisfied.

“I didn’t just eat the lab’s afternoon tea.” Ming Can refused to give him what he wanted. She hummed smugly, dragging out her words. “Boss Chen came to a meeting for the first time today, and he was being extra polite. He brought tons of fruit and pastries…”

“Boss Chen?”

“Just Chen Yixiao. A lot of people in the student council call him that, so I just followed—” Before she could finish, she was suddenly forced into silence. Her legs were finally placed on the ground—though only one.

After everything that had happened today, this was the first time he had truly and completely sealed her lips. His tongue forcefully pried open her teeth, tangling with her soft one, his scorching breath pouring into her. Meanwhile, his hands moved with practiced ease, parting her, slipping in, hiding away.

Ming Can tried pushing him away twice, but he didn’t budge. By the time she finally caught a breath, he had already let go, pulling back slightly.

Not far behind her was the bed. Ming Can’s legs were so weak she almost collapsed onto it immediately, yet her heart resisted. She couldn’t help but mutter, “It’s dirty.”

The earlier round of “cleaning” had clearly not left them in a state clean enough to lie down.

If anything, it had only made everything stickier—like running a long-distance race under the scorching summer sun, every inch of skin kissed through and through by the heat.

So they changed locations. The clean, glossy tiles reflected the bright glow of the lights, casting every thought and possibility into the tangible reality of the moment—forcing one to face it, to marvel at it, and ultimately, to embrace it more completely.

Every corner, every inch of skin, every trembling sensation—all belonged to her.

This person, entirely, was hers.

It was far more difficult than she had imagined. Ming Can had wanted to witness it, but shamefully, she couldn’t keep her eyes open. She gasped as she turned her head away, only to have it forcibly turned back. Chi Xiao gazed at her intently, his movements filled with dominance. He grasped her chin, his fingers sinking into the softness of her cheek, then leaned in to kiss her again.

Her lips, desperate for oxygen, were seized and bitten, the aggressive scent of male hormones overwhelming her senses. Ming Can was on the verge of suffocation. Instinctively, she bit back—not just in one place. Like an untamed little beast, she sank her sharp teeth into him. The moment she tasted the metallic tang of blood, a sound rippled through the air, sending a tremor straight through her core. She could hardly believe Chi Xiao was capable of making such a sound. When she lifted her heavy eyelids and saw the flush at the corners of his eyes, she became even more reckless, biting down harder. At the same time, she couldn’t stop herself from curling her neck inward, suddenly feeling as if she had truly become a volcano—the most active one in the world. Its eruption cycle was so absurdly short that even she could barely endure it.

And yet, the one being bitten still had the audacity to laugh. Mouth against mouth, he found new ways to praise her.

Shame turned into uncontainable rage. Fueled by that anger, Ming Can didn’t just bite—she clawed at him too, swearing she would never let him off for the rest of her life.

“Why so fierce?” Chi Xiao watched as her hands scrabbled helplessly against the edge of the bathtub. Amused, he pulled her tightly into his arms and said with great interest, “I really admire you. You’re acting like I have something on you.”

Wasn’t that exactly the case? No one else could ever see her like this. The only person who had witnessed it had to be held tightly in her grasp.

“I’ll never let you go for the rest of my life. Do you have a problem with that?”

“No problem at all. I’m just so overjoyed, so ecstatic that I’ve lost my mind.”

“You’re insane.”

Ming Can tried to move, but the moment the thought crossed her mind, her waist was caught again—dragged even lower.

Their eyes met once more. She unwillingly read the meaning in his gaze. This was only the beginning.

Hot water surged upward. Ming Can’s hands scrabbled against the edge of the bathtub, but no matter what she did, she couldn’t get a proper grip.

Damn bathtub. Who’s your real master here? Would it kill you to follow my hands?

Never once did it occur to her that the problem lay with herself. Only by moving in sync could she gain leverage. Right now, the only thing she could rely on was Chi Xiao.

Steam curled and spread through the air, the heat expanding endlessly, filling the enclosed space until there was no room left for anything—anyone—but them.

The catastrophic opening caused by their vast difference in experience had finally passed. Ming Can struggled to seize the upper hand.

Her mind drifted back to a few days ago at school. During lunch break, Xu Jiayun had pulled her into a game. When she logged in, she saw a relationship request—someone wanted to bind a couple status with her.

The ID was cx1234.

A sudden realization struck her. Last semester, she had played two matches with this person. Chi Yao’s younger cousin called him “Cousin,” and Chi Yao himself also called him “Brother.” Coupled with this utterly unoriginal ID, Ming Can would have to be blind not to guess who it was.

In those two matches, Chi Xiao had played Yao, perched on her shoulders and waving flowery gestures. But his main role was actually jungler, just like hers. In the game, he had given up his position for her. But now—there was no one giving way. This was a battlefield where real weapons clashed head-on. Ming Can held a slight advantage because this time, she was the one riding on top.

She wielded the enemy’s weapon, while the enemy used that very weapon to control her.

Ming Can had an unyielding spirit—she never accepted defeat. Even in moments of utter loss and disarray, she had to compete with him, to determine a winner. Chi Xiao, however, did not see it that way.

He might wield a weapon, might attempt to invade, but in the end, he should be the one firmly grasped in her hands, completely conquered.

He kept catering to what she liked best, over and over again. Yet Ming Can refused to admit it was her favorite. But her mind and body were completely disconnected. Her actions told him that she loved it to death, so much so that she wished she could force him to stay there forever. That was thrilling—because he loved it just as much.

Strange sounds slipped from Ming Can’s throat, noises even she didn’t understand. Meanwhile, her mind was still lashing out at the heavens, at the earth, cursing him for turning her into some touch-sensitive machine. And he, as the controller, was issuing commands too fiercely, too fast—leaving her no room to resist, forcing her body to obey. She was nearly losing her sense of self.

Yet the last shred of self-awareness told her one undeniable truth: Damn it, I actually love this.