Xu Ke gave a dry cough. "I was planning to come up for a shower anyway, but you were the one who called me in."

"I asked you to come in to discuss serious matters, not to whisper sweet nothings," Wong Qifu said, setting her book aside.

Xu Ke fell silent.

It seems it's really difficult to see Wong Qifu get shy…

"How are your injuries?" After tidying her things, Wong Qifu stood up and walked over to Xu Ke.

Xu Ke smiled. "I'm fine. It's not a big deal."

Wong Qifu gazed at him, her stare eventually dissolving into a sigh. "Sigh."

"What are you sighing for?" Xu Ke asked, touching his nose.

Wong Qifu didn't explain, only shaking her head. "For the next two days, have Uncle Wu stick by your side at all times. And you are to stay put right here."

The fact that trouble seemed to follow Xu Ke wherever he went already made Wong Qifu deeply uneasy. This time, she refused to watch him run around again before he was fully healed.

Hearing this, Xu Ke's expression changed instantly. "That's not going to work!"

He still had so much to do. He hadn't thanked Zhang Qiming for his help yet; he still needed to collect and organize the evidence from Jiang Yi; he had to deal with the Li Family; and his parents were visiting the day after tomorrow…

How could he possibly hide at home and recuperate?

"Why not?" Wong Qifu frowned.

"I still have a lot of things I need to do…" Xu Ke rattled off his entire to-do list.

Wong Qifu's expression didn't change. She quickly offered a solution. "Have anyone who can meet here come here. You can go out only if it's absolutely impossible for them to come."

A troubled look appeared on Xu Ke's face. "Won't that give people the wrong idea that we're already living together?"

"We're about to get engaged. What's wrong with living together?" Wong Qifu stared at him and stated frankly.

"Uh…" Xu Ke was at a loss for words.

It seems there really isn't a problem!

"If there's no problem, then go take your shower," Wong Qifu began to shoo him away.

Xu Ke had been through too much today. From going to the Jincheng Hotel at noon, to dealing with Jiang Yi and Qian Hong in the afternoon, to the conflict with Ye Chong at the bar in the evening, and finally, the ambush by Sun Luo just now… After this series of events, the stench of sweat coming from Xu Ke was bad enough to make anyone keep their distance. Wong Qifu originally had more to say, but even she couldn't stand the smell anymore.

Seeing Wong Qifu's frown deepen, Xu Ke took a couple of steps back and instinctively sniffed himself. "It's not that bad, is it?!"

"Yes, it is," Wong Qifu said irritably. "It's already turned sour."

Xu Ke was speechless. "..."

Wong Qifu continued, "There are two guest rooms on the second floor, both with their own bathrooms. Pick whichever one you want."

"Okay," Xu Ke nodded.

"Wash up properly. Don't come out until you're clean. I still have things to talk to you about, and I don't want to be overwhelmed by the smell." Wong Qifu turned and walked back to her desk.

"Alright, no problem!"

Seeing Wong Qifu, a woman who was normally so direct, nagging him repeatedly, Xu Ke began to truly realize just how bad he must smell. He turned and walked out.

***

After grabbing the change of clothes he had brought, Xu Ke chose a bedroom at random and went inside.

Open the door.

Enter the bathroom.

Close the door.

It was all one fluid motion.

The bathroom was spotless and tidy. There were no strange odors; instead, a faint, fresh scent lingered in the air. As he stepped barefoot onto the matte-textured tiles and started taking off his shirt, Xu Ke glanced around and froze.

He saw a pair of neatly folded, light-gray trousers and a light-blue towel on a shelf.

He fell into deep thought.

I must have gone into the wrong room, he realized.

He had assumed the room was unoccupied because it was furnished simply and lacked any extra decorations. But seeing the items on the shelf, he suspected this might be Wong Qifu's room.

And sure enough, Wong Qifu's voice came from outside the door just then. "Are you taking your shower in there?"

"Uh… I can switch. I walked into the wrong room," Xu Ke explained after his brain rebooted.

But he heard Wong Qifu's light laugh from the other side of the door. "No need. It's the same wherever you are. Although, I was thinking you'd gotten bolder, but it turns out you just made a mistake."

As she finished, Xu Ke cleared his throat, trying to regain some ground. "Actually, I came in here on purpose to see your…"

But Wong Qifu cut him off. "Just take your shower. You don't have to say it. I understand." Her tone was already tinged with a teasing lilt.

Xu Ke stared at the ceiling, speechless.

Why do I always end up being looked down upon by Wong Qifu?

Then, Wong Qifu asked again, "By the way, do you have a bath towel?"

Xu Ke paused.

He had forgotten to bring a bath towel.

Seeing that he was silent for a few seconds, Wong Qifu immediately understood. "Should I get one for you?"

"Sorry to trouble you," Xu Ke said.

He heard Wong Qifu's footsteps outside, followed by the sound of a closet door sliding open. Bare-chested, Xu Ke waited for a moment…

"I can't find a clean bath towel," Wong Qifu said, knocking on the bathroom door. "There's probably one on the balcony, but I'm too lazy to go get it. Just use mine."

Xu Ke's eyes widened. "That doesn't seem right, does it?!"

Using Wong Qifu's bath towel?!

This… Xu Ke's mind was clearly short-circuiting.

"I don't mind, so what are you getting worked up about? That's that."

After saying her piece, Wong Qifu turned and walked back into her bedroom. Her voice faded as she moved away.

Seeing that she truly had no intention of getting him another towel, a thought sparked in Xu Ke's mind.

Actually, it wouldn't be a big deal to get dressed and grab a bath towel from the balcony…

Xu Ke looked at the towel and fell silent.

A moment later…

The sound of rushing water filled the room.

***

Outside, Lin Qinghua came upstairs carrying a tray with herbal tea, intending to bring it to Xu Ke. But when she heard the conversation between the two from inside Wong Qifu's room, followed by the sound of a running shower, Lin Qinghua froze. A subtle smile graced her lips as she turned and headed back downstairs…

Does the young miss also have such an impatient side?

***

With a soft thud, Xu Ke gently pushed the bathroom door open until it touched the wall, releasing a cloud of steam. He walked out feeling a little unnatural, a faint fragrance still seeming to cling to him.

As soon as he stepped out, he saw Wong Qifu standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring blankly at the brightly lit Tianhai City in the distance. Even late at night, Tianhai was still bustling with light and energy.

Xu Ke walked up to a spot just behind her. "Enjoying the night view?"

"You could say that," Wong Qifu nodded. She turned to face him and nodded again in approval. "This is much better. You don't stink anymore… Did you wash my bath towel?"

"I wrung it out and hung it up," Xu Ke said, his expression still a bit awkward.

Seeing his look, Wong Qifu chuckled. "What? Are you overthinking something as simple as us sharing a bath towel?" Every time she saw this expression on his face, she couldn't resist teasing him.

"Uh, it's not that…" Xu Ke rubbed his nose.

"Then let's drop it. Come out to the balcony. There's something I need to tell you," Wong Qifu said, gesturing for him to follow.

Xu Ke immediately nodded.

As soon as they stepped out of the room, they saw a bowl of steaming herbal tea sitting on the floor.

Xu Ke fell into thought.

Have we been misunderstood?

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