Chapter 687: Shared Bath

Just as Ying Chanxi stumbled, Li Luo turned off the showerhead, lathered himself with body wash, then squeezed shampoo onto his scalp and rubbed vigorously to create foam.

Just as he was about to turn the showerhead back on to rinse off, he seemed to hear a voice coming from outside—Ying Chanxi's voice.

After hesitating a moment, Li Luo first thought he'd imagined it, until he turned off the shower, walked to the door, opened it, and listened closely—only then did he clearly hear it was indeed Ying Chanxi's voice.

"Li Luo!"

"H-help! Help!"

Hearing Ying Chanxi's cry for help, Li Luo shuddered all over, no longer thinking of anything else—he assumed she was in some kind of danger.

Foaming from head to toe, covered in body wash, Li Luo dashed out of the bathroom in his slippers, racing to the bathroom door at the end of the corridor.

Ying Chanxi, likely hearing Li Luo's footsteps rapidly approaching, suddenly realized something and shouted loudly again: "No! No no no! Don't come in!"

"What's wrong?" Li Luo stopped at the door, frowning with concern. "Why are you screaming for help?"

"Mmm…" Ying Chanxi lay sideways on the shower floor, tears welling in her eyes, her right ankle throbbing painfully, her left wrist also twisted.

She had tried to stand up earlier, but her slippers had kicked off, and the floor was slick with water.

After several attempts, she winced in pain.

She didn't realize that at this point, even with a little pain, she could have gritted her teeth and barely managed to stand up.

After all, her left leg and right hand were unharmed.

But at this moment, Ying Chanxi suddenly remembered Li Luo's earlier invitation to bathe together—and a clever idea flashed in her mind.

Yet now that Li Luo had come, she hesitated again, her face flushed with embarrassment.

After hearing Li Luo's worried voice outside, she hesitated for a long time before finally stammering: "I—I just slipped and fell… I can't get up."

"Slipped? Is it serious?" Li Luo frowned from outside. "Should I open the door and check?"

"Mmm…" Ying Chanxi's heart leapt—thinking of how Li Luo would see her in this state, her pulse raced and her cheeks instantly burned red.

But this time, she finally mustered the courage, hugged her chest tightly, and whispered: "Then… then come in… help me up."

Hearing Ying Chanxi's consent, Li Luo finally grasped the doorknob, pressed gently, and pushed the bathroom door open a crack.

He took a deep breath, slowly widened the gap, and his gaze involuntarily turned toward the shower area.

To be honest.

The scene before him still carried a considerable impact on Li Luo.

Li Luo now knew Xu Youyu inside and out—he'd touched every inch of her body.

And although he'd never seen Yan Zhusheng naked, he'd still kept the bathing photos she'd sent him stored in his memory palace.

But Ying Chanxi's body—this was his first time seeing it in truth.

She wasn't like Yan Zhusheng, whose skin was snow-white with a porcelain-like delicacy, glowing translucent.

Nor was she like Xu Youyu, whose skin was pale with a rosy flush, soft and plump to the touch.

Ying Chanxi's white was a milky, silken tenderness, like fresh tofu just taken from the pot—wobbly, white enough to squeeze water from.

Li Luo stared, frozen at the doorway, stunned for a long while.

Only when Ying Chanxi couldn't bear his gaze and softly reminded him did he snap back to himself and hurry into the bathroom.

"Ah!"

As soon as Li Luo stepped in, Ying Chanxi couldn't help but cry out, quickly covering her eyes.

"Y-you're not wearing any clothes?!"

Li Luo stopped at the shower door, helplessly saying: "Think about it—I was showering too. When I heard you scream for help, did I have time to put clothes on? I haven't even rinsed off the foam."

"Wu…" Ying Chanxi was too shy to open her eyes, feeling her whole body burn.

The water from the showerhead wasn't even hot, yet she felt like she was being cooked through.

At this moment, Li Luo slid open the shower door.

Hearing the sound, Ying Chanxi heard the squelch of his slippers stepping into the water—and her heartbeat surged violently.

Thump! Thump!

"Where are you hurt?" Li Luo crouched down, gently placing his left hand on Ying Chanxi's shoulder, asking softly.

"Mmm… my right ankle seems sprained," Ying Chanxi peeked open her eyes, but Li Luo was now behind her, so she couldn't see anything. "My left wrist is twisted too."

"Then don't put weight on your right leg or left hand—I'll help you up first," Li Luo said, sliding one hand under her knees and the other around her shoulders.

Then, with a firm motion, he lifted her into a full princess carry.

Ying Chanxi gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms around Li Luo's neck, her eyes locking with his.

When she realized her current state, her face flushed crimson as she averted her gaze, her heart pounding as if it might burst from her chest.

"Uh…"

He'd planned to carry her straight out, dry her off, and put her to bed.

But Li Luo had just lathered himself with body wash—and now, holding Ying Chanxi, some of it smeared onto her skin.

So Li Luo tilted slightly, speaking as he lowered her: "Put your left foot down first, yes—I'm holding you, steady now."

Ying Chanxi planted her left foot firmly on the ground, gripping Li Luo's shoulders, finally standing upright, leaning against his chest.

But now their contact area had grown much larger.

Feeling the pressure against his chest, Li Luo took a deep breath and couldn't resist—he tightened his grip slightly, pulling Ying Chanxi fully into his arms.

Hss…

So good.

Ying Chanxi, deliberately held tight in Li Luo's arms, offered no resistance—her whole body went limp, her flushed face resting against his chest, feeling how hot the thing on his belly was.

She couldn't help herself—she quietly lowered her head in his arms, pretending to be too shy to look up, but in truth, she had forced her eyes wide open, finally seeing its shape and outline clearly.

"How about… I rinse you off?" Li Luo wrapped his arm around her slender waist, his fingers gently stroking her smooth skin—if she weren't injured, he felt he'd already lost control and devoured her.

"Mm." Ying Chanxi nodded lightly in his arms, too shy to lift her head, keeping her gaze fixed on his.

Soon, Li Luo first removed the showerhead and said to Ying Chanxi, "I'll wash my hair first—hold on tight, don't fall again."

"Oh, got it." Ying Chanxi, hearing this, followed the showerhead to above Li Luo's head; for the first time, she lifted her gaze and sneakily glanced at Li Luo.

At this moment, Li Luo was already rinsing his hair, eyes tightly closed.

Seizing this chance, Ying Chanxi stepped back half a step, creating space between them, then quickly scanned him up and down, blushing as she stole glances.

Only when Li Luo rehung the showerhead and wiped the water from his face did Ying Chanxi press herself back against him, snuggling close.

This back-and-forth made Li Luo feel something soft and slippery against his chest—exquisitely pleasant.

If not for Ying Chanxi's injury, Li Luo felt he could spend an entire day just washing her.

"Mmm…"

The showerwater fell over both of them.

Li Luo stroked her back, helping her clean her body.

After washing her back, Li Luo turned around, standing behind Ying Chanxi, his hands moving forward.

Ying Chanxi couldn't help letting out soft whimpers; even her ears burned red.

Thinking that Li Luo had touched every inch of her body, she curled her toes involuntarily, her head spinning dizzily.

"Done." Li Luo turned off the showerhead and finally exhaled deeply.

He told Ying Chanxi to stand still and hold on, then turned to fetch her towel, meticulously drying her body.

Afterward, he ran back to his own bathroom, dried himself, then rushed back and scooped Ying Chanxi up in a princess carry, heading straight for the bedroom.

"My pajamas…" Ying Chanxi, carried out of the bathroom like this, felt the cool air on her skin and muttered softly.

"I'll get them for you once we're in bed," Li Luo said. "You can't put them on in the bathroom."

"Oh…" Ying Chanxi pressed her hands against her chest for cover, lowering her head and nodding slightly.

Even though Li Luo had already touched every part of her, she was still terribly shy, too embarrassed to let him see her.

Only when Li Luo set her gently on the bed and tucked her in did Ying Chanxi finally relax a little.

But as she watched him walk back to the bathroom to fetch her pajamas, she felt a pang of disappointment—she wished he'd hold her a little longer.

Yet the moment such a thought surfaced, she shook her head vigorously, banishing those shameful ideas.

"Here." Li Luo quickly brought her pajamas, underwear, and white cottons, standing by the bed. "Can you put them on yourself?"

"Mmm…" Ying Chanxi hesitated, curled up under the covers.

She probably could dress herself—but in the end, she whispered, "I don't think I can…"

"Alright." Li Luo sighed, though his lips curled slightly. He reached out, pulled back the covers, and helped her sit up. "Raise your arms."

"Mm." Ying Chanxi obediently raised her hands, waiting for him to slip the pajama top over her.

But after speaking, Li Luo deliberately paused, savoring the sight before him.

Ying Chanxi noticed his mischief, blushed furiously, and hugged her chest, pouting, "You're so mean! Pervert! Bad guy!"

"Cough… it's all your fault—you're just too beautiful." Li Luo smiled.

He adored this look of hers.

Especially when she was shy—her adorable expression always made him want to tease her.

"Hurry up and help me put it on!" Ying Chanxi lowered her head, whispering urgently.

"Alright, alright, I won't trick you anymore."

Li Luo lifted the pajama top, stretching open the hem.

Ying Chanxi raised her arms obediently again, finally slipping into the top.

After helping her into the top, Li Luo picked up the white cottons and held them up in front of her: "Do you want me to help you with these too?"

Ying Chanxi felt embarrassed, her face blazing red, but nodded slightly, turning her head aside—though her legs had already stretched out.

Li Luo looked down at her soft, pale little legs, stretched open the white cottons, slid them over her tiny feet, and pulled them upward until white clouds obscured the forest.

After helping her into them, he pulled on her pajama pants too, then sat on the bed, pretending to examine her injury as he lifted her little foot, stroking it as he asked, "Where does it hurt?"

Ying Chanxi, just beginning to recover from her shyness, gave him a look of exasperation: "... Not this foot—the other one."

"Oh oh." Li Luo awkwardly let go and immediately lifted the other foot.

But now Ying Chanxi felt a little awkward—Li Luo had apparently forgotten to put on his own pajamas and was still bare.

Yet she didn't want to remind him; instead, she sneakily stole glances, occasionally darting her eyes toward him, satisfying her curiosity.

"I asked where it hurts," Li Luo said, staring at her in disbelief. He noticed her gaze was off, looked down, then chuckled wryly. "Didn't know you were a little pervert?"

"Ah!" Ying Chanxi was caught red-handed, her face flaming. She flopped onto the bed and buried her face under the covers, muffled: "I—I was just going to tell you you hadn't put on your pajamas, but I was too shy… I wasn't peeking!"

"Your 'I didn't do it' excuse? Totally unconvincing." Li Luo chuckled, leaning in to pull the covers off—but Ying Chanxi held on tight, refusing to let go.

"Go put your pajamas on!"

"You like looking, right? Let you look a little longer won't hurt."

"No! Pervert! Go away!"

"Aren't you sprained? How come you're so strong?"

"It's not that bad…"

"Then why couldn't you stand up in the bathroom earlier?"

"Mmm… you talk too much! Go put your clothes on!"

Li Luo laughed, stood up, stopped teasing her, and finally turned toward the bathroom to put on his pajamas before returning to the bedroom.

It was nearly nine at night.

Li Luo checked Ying Chanxi's injury again, confirmed it was merely a simple sprain—not serious—and only needed a week or two of rest; he relaxed slightly.

But since she was injured, the two of them couldn't do anything too intimate.

So Li Luo said, "Just lie still. If you're sleepy, go to sleep—I'll write for a bit."

"Oh." Ying Chanxi felt a hint of disappointment, but still nodded obediently.

Li Luo pulled the blanket over her, then sat at the desk and began typing.

When he had been typing past ten, the sound of a door opening came from outside.

(End of Chapter)