For the first time in the past six months, Chu Wenyu decided to draw his own bath.
As he undressed and entered the bathtub, he slipped, accidentally falling to the floor. A vivid bruise marked his left thigh. Frustration overwhelmed Chu Wenyu, but with determination, he clung to the edge of the tub. After expending a lot of energy, he finally managed to sit inside. Along the way, he only muffled a low groan, refraining from unnecessary words.
The water had cooled a bit, but it was bearable. However, when he couldn’t reach the skin on his back, Chu Wenyu felt a strong sense of defeat. Even his nose began to tingle with bitterness.
Before meeting Alpha, he never relied on others for such tasks, and it was never a problem. Perhaps being tended to for too long had made him clumsy.
It’s normal for Jiang Ling to find these tasks tiresome after repeating them for so long.
Thinking about the time it would take him to dress and worried that Jiang Ling might fall asleep, Chu Wenyu accelerated his movements.
Pajamas were still too difficult to put on, so he settled for a bathrobe, which would be more convenient to get around. He licked his lips.
The bruise on his thigh was glaringly obvious, causing a lingering ache. Would turning off the lights later spare Jiang Ling from feeling disgusted?
Due to the withered calf that was often criticized, Chu Wenyu couldn’t help but let his mind wander.
After making up his mind, Chu Wenyu once again wheeled himself to the door, this time pushing it open with determination.
There was no way Jiang Ling could sleep. He was worried about Chu Wenyu’s emotions, but reason told him to remain in control; otherwise, he might fall into the other’s trap. Yet, when he heard the creaking sound of the door opening, he turned his head immediately, and upon seeing Chu Wenyu, he couldn’t look away for a long while.
Chu Wenyu was wearing a bathrobe, exposing a tempting expanse of fair chest. However, his attention was entirely elsewhere. He stared at other person’s familiar yet unfamiliar mask, unable to find the right words.
The always proud tyrant appeared somewhat awkward. With most of his face concealed, Jiang Ling struggled to discern his emotions through expressions.
Approaching, Chu Wenyu extended his hand and gently caressed Jiang Ling’s face before tremblingly asking, “Does it still hurt?”
At such close proximity, Jiang Ling could fully sense the tender concern beneath the mask, and his heart softened immeasurably.
Jiang Ling was more concerned about whether Chu Wenyu would be heartbroken because of his thoughtless words. However, once Jiang Ling confirmed something, his determination became unwavering. He didn’t want to witness history repeating itself, and their relationship seemed to be no blessing for Chu Wenyu.
“It stopped hurting a long time ago,” Jiang Ling shook his head, deciding not to further anger Chu Wenyu at this moment.
Originally, he strongly wanted to ask Chu Wenyu to remove the mask, but in the end, he held his tongue. He had made the decision to leave, and there was no need for unnecessary complications.
“I’ve reflected on myself. I shouldn’t have disregarded your wishes. I’ll change in the future,” Chu Wenyu tugged on Alpha’s sleeves, bowing his head first.
He was unaware that, for the first time in thirty years, he had never felt so humble. Perhaps even if he realized it, he wouldn’t care. Chu Wenyu was the kind of person who stuck to a path without second thoughts, unlike Jiang Ling, who, halfway through, would realize the wrong direction and consider turning back.
“Alright,” Jiang Ling nodded without much warmth in his attitude.
“It’s late. Shall we rest?” Chu Wenyu grabbed his shoulder, gently nibbling at his neck until the atmosphere heated up, then released him abruptly, not giving Jiang Ling a chance to react.
Guiding the wheelchair, Chu Wenyu reversed toward the edge of the bed, his gaze carrying a certain allure.
Staring at the not-so-low bed, he bit his lip. This time, he didn’t continue asking for Jiang Ling’s help, exerting force to prop himself up onto the edge. After struggling to take a few breaths, he finally managed to lift his legs off the ground, water droplets on his forehead whether from the incomplete drying after the bath or from sweat.
Jiang Ling also left the table and stood up, walking step by step towards the person sitting on the bed, he was easily enticed. However, before fully reaching Chu Wenyu, Jiang Ling regained his composure and halted his steps.
Chu Wenyu quickly sensed it and immediately reached out, grabbing Alpha’s arm. He forcefully pulled him over, pressing him against himself and then, gasping for breath, leaned in for a kiss.
Jiang Ling was quickly stirred by Chu Wenyu’s seduction, and instinctively, his hands began exploring from below, moving upward. He kneaded Chu Wenyu’s thighs, which, despite their slim appearance, retained a pleasant fleshiness, and habitually let them wrap around his waist.
Even though Chu Wenyu’s voice seemed to carry no signs of distress, Jiang Ling still detected a discomfort in his eyes.
Jiang Ling paused, looking down, thinking he might have exerted too much force. It wasn’t until he noticed a myriad of purple markings alongside Chu Wenyu’s exposed thighs, resembling either bloodshot vessels or meridians, which was very shocking, that he became alarmed.
Chu Wenyu had already entered a state of arousal. Sensing that Alpha seemed to have stopped, he couldn’t bear the urge to tighten his grip on him. However, his actions had no effect.
Chu Wenyu frowned and sat up, his bathrobe hanging unevenly on his body, while the Alpha in front of him remained fully dressed. Growing more anxious, he wondered if Alpha was still angry to this extent. Hadn’t he cooled down yet? Was he rejecting even such intimacy now?
Then he noticed Jiang Ling was fixated on his thighs.
Chu Wenyu pulled his legs together, diverting Jiang Ling’s gaze.
“Why did you stop?” he covered the bruised area, pouting.
Jiang Ling removed his hand, carefully examining the injured spot, blowing a gentle breath on it.
“I’ll go get some medicine.”
Almost immediately, Jiang Ling deduced that Chu Wenyu might have slipped and fallen during his bath. Still, he didn’t have the authority to inquire further. Ultimately, this was the result of his actions. He didn’t intend for Chu Wenyu to refuse any help, after all.
Chu Wenyu sat on the bed, a little lonely. The broken strands of hair in front of his eyes were wet, and his gaze followed the tall figure moving around. Pressing his finger on the bruise, it did hurt, but not unbearably so. Yet, the thought that Jiang Ling would worry because of his injury made it seem more painful, and he felt like he should apply some ointment.
Jiang Ling acted swiftly, returning with the medicine and sitting back on the bedside.
Chu Wenyu looked at Jiang Ling with teary eyes, deliberately stretching his leg, assuming Jiang Ling would help apply the ointment and eagerly awaiting his assistance.
Initially, that was what Jiang Ling had in mind. However, upon observing Chu Wenyu’s expression, he retracted his hand. All he did was to quickly cut off Chu Wenyu’s current fondness for him. If he softened at this moment, wouldn’t it make the entire day futile?
“Your Majesty, it would be more appropriate for you to apply the medicine yourself,” Jiang Ling handed the medicine bottle to Chu Wenyu, finding a suitable excuse, then sat on the other side of the bed.
Chu Wenyu was visibly disappointed, but considering his earlier promise to rid himself of the habit of always troubling Jiang Ling, he took the medicine bottle. Since he was the one applying the ointment, the process wasn’t something to look forward to. Not to mention, the medicinal scent was somewhat pungent, disrupting the atmosphere. Once that scent hit, all other sensations seemed to fade away.
Quickly, he casually applied the ointment, covered it with the lid, and then used a bathrobe to conceal that part of his skin. Only then did he turn his gaze back to Alpha, shifting towards his position.
“Are you still angry about that slap?” Chu Wenyu awkwardly inquired.
“No,” Jiang Ling genuinely wasn’t angry. He also felt that he deserved it, and, of course, he hated his own lapse in judgment. If he had been obedient and patiently waited for the rescue from Charles Star, none of this would have happened.
“But it’s obvious you’re still upset.” Chu Wenyu wasn’t foolish; how could he not sense Jiang Ling’s lack of enthusiasm?
“Then you hit me back, and we call it even, alright?” Chu Wenyu sternly lifted his face, thinking his proposal reasonable. He grabbed Jiang Ling’s hand, intending to deliver a playful slap to his own face.
Predictably, he was freed from the grip. Jiang Ling sighed, realizing that a simple reconciliation was impossible. He had compromised before, but now, fully awake, he understood it was utterly ineffective.
“Your Majesty, stop fooling around. It’s late; let’s rest properly.” Jiang Ling took the initiative to lie down, closing his eyes and sleeping in his designated area.
The bed was spacious, and unless the other party actively moved closer, it was challenging for Jiang Ling to have physical contact with Chu Wenyu. However, Chu Wenyu wasn’t willing to let it go. He deliberately circled Alpha’s shoulders and murmured, “Not continuing? Why stop now?”
Feeling the intense gaze on him, Jiang Ling, unable to bear it, opened his eyes, avoiding Chu Wenyu’s stare. His current mindset was completely different from before, and he couldn’t engage in such activities with Chu Wenyu anymore. Since he had decided to end this unhealthy relationship, there was no room for roguish behavior.
Once he successfully departs from Burke Star in the future, Chu Wenyu probably won’t have any feelings left for him. By then, Chu Wenyu can naturally encounter someone truly suitable for him. Jiang Ling couldn’t change Chu Wenyu, and accepting control was challenging. Perhaps in the future, someone else could bring about that change. Moreover, Chu Wenyu is an Alpha himself. In the ethics of this world, as a monarch, he might need to return to the right path and have his own descendants.
Jiang Ling hadn’t thought about his own future; perhaps being single, much like the past twenty-something years, wouldn’t be too bad.
“Your Majesty, you’re injured; you need to rest properly,” Jiang Ling evaded with this excuse.
“But it doesn’t matter,” Chu Wenyu, faced with numerous rejections in a single day, started to doubt himself a bit. He gazed steadily at the Alpha in front of him.
“It does matter,” Jiang Ling’s tone was even more resolute than his.
Chu Wenyu’s eyes reddened, a sense of confusion washing over him. How did it suddenly come to this? Everything was fine, right? He had confirmed that Jiang Ling had no ambiguous relationships with anyone else. Anna’s feelings were unrequited, and Jiang Ling had even confessed to liking him.
Could it be that he had grown disgusted with him all of a sudden?
Perhaps his actions had only intensified the aversion towards him. Now, even seeing him cry didn’t stir any emotions in Jiang Ling.
Gathering his composure, Chu Wenyu reluctantly nodded, pretending to rest against Alpha’s chest. He wasn’t one to admit defeat; in reality, his mind had already started to churn. But no matter what, he felt utterly lost, akin to a headless fly.
Feeling a somewhat prickly sensation on his chest, Jiang Ling, considering that Chu Wenyu wore a mask to sleep, thought it might be uncomfortable for him. After some contemplation, he said, “Your Majesty, take off the mask and rest. It’ll be more comfortable.”
Chu Wenyu, however, shook his head.
He’s not comfortable with it at all, and really, what did it matter anyway? Besides, he was scared— scared to show what’s under the mask.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
