Ning Xuan glared resentfully as he roughly rubbed at his soaking wet hair a few times, clearly considering that good enough. Damp strands clung messily across his face, but he could not be bothered to care. He hastily tied it up into a hair knot with a cord, threw on his clothes, and hurried all the way toward the main bedroom at a jog.
Inside the room stood rows upon rows of attendants waiting on standby—though in reality they looked more like a collection of perfectly still statues. Meanwhile, the very master who supposedly “lacked manpower” badly enough to urgently summon Ning Xuan over was currently lounging leisurely against a soft couch. One leg stretched lazily outward while the other bent upward to support an arm. A book rested in one hand, his head reclining comfortably against an overstuffed cushion as he read with sleepy, half-lidded eyes.
Ning Xuan froze at the doorway, looking like a drenched stray cat just fished out of water. Staring wide-eyed in disbelief at Feng Xuanyi, he stood there dumbfounded for so long that he completely forgot he was supposed to enter quietly and line himself up unobtrusively among the attendants. Instead, all he could feel was shock and fury.
Because of one sentence from this man—“I need someone to attend me”—he had been hauled out of his “comfortable” bath and forced to rush over here through the chilly night air before even drying his hair properly… only to discover this bastard lounging around sleepily out of sheer boredom?!
Damn it, is there really any need to torment people like this?! Sure, back then I rolled my eyes at him a few times, insulted him a little, and maybe got somewhat physical—but at the time I didn’t even know who he really was! Doesn’t “ignorance is no crime” mean anything to you?!
“You’re standing there silently at the door staring at me without saying a word. How am I supposed to know what you’re thinking?”
Feng Xuanyi did not even lift his eyes from the book. His appearance still looked drowsy and half asleep, yet his voice sounded perfectly clear and energetic.
Ning Xuan jolted in shock. What kind of martial art is this now? Since when can someone see with the tops of their feet?!
What Ning Xuan failed to notice was that his frantic rushing had already made enough noise to announce his arrival long before he reached the doorway. Between the loud clattering footsteps, the abrupt stop outside the room, and the obvious heavy panting afterward, even a blind man could have “seen” him coming.
Yi Xuan shook his head in disappointment, looking every bit like a teacher lamenting how he had somehow ended up with such a hopelessly stupid apprentice.
Meanwhile, Ning Xuan grimaced miserably and forced his twitching facial muscles into what he hoped resembled a respectful expression. Lowering his brows obediently, he knelt.
“Peace and well-being to Master.”
“So, you finished bathing and cleaned yourself up properly?”
Feng Xuanyi still refused to put down the book, as though whatever he was reading was endlessly fascinating. Even in his sleepy state he seemed deeply engrossed, casually asking the question without even looking up.
The moment he heard that, Ning Xuan shot Yi Xuan a resentful glare full of grievance. Under normal circumstances, it would have sounded like nothing more than a superior kindly checking on a subordinate. He might even have praised the concern as surprisingly humane.
But after everything that had happened during dinner—and with the burning soreness between his thighs still painfully lingering—Ning Xuan could only mourn bitterly inside:
I only forgot to tell you something before running off earlier, and now you’ve reported every single thing to Master…
Meanwhile, Yi Xuan looked completely righteous and unapologetic, not the slightest bit aware that he had done anything wrong. Instead, he mouthed back in confusion: What’s wrong with that?
There was nothing wrong with it. After all, Feng Xuanyi was the master, while they were merely cheap servants selling their lives away…
Ning Xuan wore a miserable expression, looking as though he wanted to cry yet could not even begin explaining himself.
Although Feng Xuanyi kept his eyes lowered on the book in a seemingly drowsy state, the “secretive” eye conversation between Ning Xuan and Yi Xuan did not escape his notice at all. His sharp brows drew together slightly before his calm voice sounded without emotion:
“All of you may leave.”
At that moment, Ning Xuan had never felt a person’s voice sound so heavenly and moving. He nearly burst into tears from gratitude. So overwhelmed that he trembled, he practically wanted to kowtow on the spot and thank him profusely before immediately fleeing the room forever—only for the next sentence to strike him like lightning and roast him crispy inside and out—
“Ning Xuan can stay behind to attend me.”
Just listen to that tone—righteous and perfectly reasonable. Why did it sound like Ning Xuan somehow owed him this?!
Naturally, none of the others dared say a word, nor was there any reason to. One by one, they bowed and withdrew from the room. As each person passed by him, Ning Xuan wanted desperately to grab onto their legs and beg them to drag him out with them. Unfortunately… he simply did not have the courage.
The room that had been crowded moments ago instantly became frighteningly spacious and silent. Ning Xuan obediently knelt upright on the floor despite the grievance plainly written across his face. Meanwhile, Feng Xuanyi suddenly chuckled softly from atop the couch. His teasing tone no longer carried even a trace of the steady authority from earlier.
“You can get up. Are you planning to kneel there as a stone statue or a door guardian?”
Ning Xuan stood at once, lowering his head enough to hide the massive eye roll he gave internally. Either being a statue or a door guardian would still be better than staying here to suffer both mentally and physically…
“Why are you standing so far away?”
Though he had heard Ning Xuan rise, there was no further movement. Looking up, Feng Xuanyi discovered Ning Xuan still standing stiffly by the doorway with full alertness, like a wary animal prepared to bolt at any second. Feng Xuanyi could practically imagine that if he had not spoken in time earlier, Ning Xuan would have been the first person rushing out the door while showering him with exaggerated thanks.
Originally, it had not been anything serious. Feng Xuanyi had simply been bored. Everyone around him was either an obedient echo or a perfectly mannered servant incapable of casual conversation. The servants could not truly speak freely with him, while the men and women from the rear courtyards only wore flattering smiles and changed themselves into whatever shape would best gain his favor, status, and affection.
There was nothing inherently wrong with that. Wealth, honor, favor, and status were the only things he could really give them anyway. Each side took what they wanted, and he himself enjoyed the convenience of it. Yet for some reason lately, the entire arrangement had begun to feel unbearably dull. Balancing the grievances between the different residences, making sure his “favor” was distributed evenly, enduring fake smiles and excessive vanity—it was all something he should have long since gotten used to, yet suddenly he found himself growing tired of it.
As he lounged around idly waiting for nightfall while thinking about court affairs, his eyes had instinctively searched for that little wildcat who was always tense and restrained. Outwardly obedient, inwardly rebellious. Quick to bare his claws no matter how much he tried forcing himself into respectful compliance.
So Feng Xuanyi had ordered Yi Xuan to summon him over. Nothing more than wanting to improve his mood by looking at him for a while. Yet the result was this ridiculous scene—Ning Xuan acting as though Feng Xuanyi had committed some unforgivable crime against him. The moment he entered the room he had hidden himself far away, radiating a “do not approach” aura from head to toe.
And somehow, that only made Feng Xuanyi want to tease him more. Want to do something to him. Just like right now.
Unable to suppress the smile at the corner of his lips, Feng Xuanyi looked toward the stiff figure near the doorway and spoke with obvious amusement:
“Are you standing by the door because it’s cooler there, or because you think I’m going to do something to you, so you’re avoiding me that desperately?”
A gleam flashed in his eyes, and his smile deepened further.
“Or perhaps… you actually want me to do something to you, so this is just playing hard to get?”
Ning Xuan abruptly lifted his head, fury blazing in his eyes so intensely it looked as though he wanted to punch two bloody holes straight through Feng Xuanyi on the spot.
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