Perhaps because he had finally shed the identity of a worker, he slept until evening after a nap.
Feeling somewhat listless, Chu Xunsheng sat up and turned on his phone to check the time, when a text message popped up.
[Respected resident, hello. Due to community renovations, a water pipe was accidentally broken. We are currently performing emergency repairs. You may choose to purchase a super water tank to meet your water usage needs.]
Since when did this run-down building have property management?
Chu Xunsheng frowned, clicked on the link for the super water tank, and immediately exited the next second.
Would anyone really buy this at such an exorbitant price?
Well, apparently, some people would. Chu Xunsheng opened the window to see students below guiding workers to connect a water tank into the building, all while greeting him with immense delight.
“Good evening, Teacher Chu! Would you like to come over for a cup of tea? I happen to have some questions about weapon forging that I haven’t quite understood…”
Chu Xunsheng’s mouth twitched, and he replied, “No need, I’ve already resigned.”
With that, he closed the window, ignoring the reaction of the students downstairs.
He turned to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and waited for a long time, but only a single bead of water trembled as it fell.
Well, there really was no water left.
Chu Xunsheng was left speechless. After standing silently for a moment, he grabbed his towel and toiletries and went out to knock on the door next door.
Ji Yan had just finished bathing and was drying his hair with a towel when he heard the doorbell.
He frowned. Was it the water delivery? Hadn’t they already delivered it?
It must be for someone else; they probably went to the wrong door.
Ji Yan walked over and opened the door, speaking with a touch of annoyance, “Already delivered, what do you want—Teacher Chu?”
His tightly knit brows instantly smoothed out, and his eyes narrowed slightly, shining with a glint of amusement, looking extremely pleasantly surprised.
“Come in quickly.” Ji Yan glanced at the towel and toiletries in Chu Xunsheng’s hands, smiling even more genuinely, “Did Teacher Chu’s house run out of water too?”
Chu Xunsheng smiled and nodded, tilting his head to ask, “Could I borrow your bathroom, Your Highness?”
Ji Yan was completely smitten by his unconscious expression, his inner self already cheering and rolling on the floor in excitement. He gestured, “Teacher, please feel free.”
Chu Xunsheng entered the bathroom, which still held some mist, and was once again blinded by the sight.
As expected of the prince’s temporary residence, it was formed by connecting several rooms. The exquisite renovation made it impossible to see any trace of the original dilapidation, and the bathroom had been converted into a high-end style within a single day. The continuous stream of hot water brought tears to Chu Xunsheng’s eyes, having spent the entire winter bathing in cold water.
This is what you call living, Tutti!
Something on the marble vanity was sparkling under the lights. Chu Xunsheng leaned in for a closer look: two familiar silver bells.
Chu Xunsheng didn’t want to linger for too long; he quickly washed up, wiped the water droplets from his body, and made sure he was wrapped up tight before stepping out.
Ji Yan was sitting on the sofa outside, swirling a glass of red wine.
“So fast?”
Chu Xunsheng nodded, “Thank you, Your Highness. I’m leaving.”
He reached for the door, only to find that it wouldn’t open at all. It had been locked from the inside.
Chu Xunsheng turned his head. The imperial prince reached out, produced a key, and dangled it from his fingertips, smiling like a cunning fox.
Just as Chu Xunsheng stepped forward to snatch the key, Ji Yan tossed it backward, sending it flying out the window.
Ji Yan watched Chu Xunsheng with composure, resting his chin on his hand and smiling, “Teacher Chu, you can’t get out now.”
He approached Chu Xunsheng, took a deep breath, and inhaled the scent of the same body wash he used on Chu Xunsheng with satisfaction. He brought the wine glass close to Chu Xunsheng’s lips, “Have a sip, Teacher Chu. We will both be very happy.”
He isn’t an important character in this plot, right?
The system nodded blankly, then placed its hands on its hips in anger, “I will protect Little Chu’s purity! Let’s not let this villain succeed!”
Chu Xunsheng was silent for a moment, force-closing the system, and looked up with a smile.
“Are you really not going to open the door?”
“Of course not. A lonely man and a widowed man, a beautiful night—why would I open the door… Ngh!”
Chu Xunsheng grabbed the imperial prince by the waist and threw him onto the bed. Straddling him, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “Are you really not going to open it?”
Ji Yan smiled again, looking up at Teacher Chu, who seemed different today—radiating a dangerous, extraordinarily sexy vibe, “What will you do if I don’t open it, Teacher Chu?”
The man’s aura was very close. Ji Yan held his breath slightly, a sliver of expectation blooming in his heart.
Chu Xunsheng calmly and methodically unwound the black binding tape that had been wrapped around his arms and fingers.
The long rope was incredibly durable. Chu Xunsheng threaded it through the crossbar of the bed frame, tied Ji Yan’s hands together, and hoisted them above his head.
Ji Yan remained silent, staring at this black binding tape—the very item he had coveted for so long, and which so many others had desired—and bit down on it provocatively.
He watched in bewilderment as Chu Xunsheng threaded the rope through, pulled it across, and finally wrapped it around his fingertips. He was just about to ask a question when—
“Ah…”
The imperial prince’s entire body was hoisted up by the black binding tape. The rope was tied with exquisite precision, running right between the prince’s legs. The weight of his entire body pressed against that sensitive area, and the pain forced a string of ambiguous sounds from his lips.
“Will you open the door?”
Ji Yan’s body trembled, his toes pointed straight, yet he still shook his head.
Chu Xunsheng raised an eyebrow and gave the rope a fierce yank.
Tears of physiological pain immediately welled up in the imperial prince’s eyes, his lips trembling unconsciously.
His long silver hair draped down, spreading across the bed like a fluttering butterfly, inexplicably carrying a hint of decadence.
“Your Highness doesn’t remember me, but I remember Your Highness.”
Chu Xunsheng smiled and stroked the imperial prince’s silver hair. Ji Yan, tormented to the point of silence, did not hear him clearly.
The imperial prince’s clothes remained perfectly intact, making him look like the same pampered prince as before, yet his wrists were already rubbed raw, the sight absolutely heartbreaking.
“Where is the key? Tell me and I’ll let you down.”
Chu Xunsheng leaned in, gazing at his eyes with a smile.
Ji Yan’s wet silver hair stuck to his forehead. He slowly lifted his head and smiled.
Arching his body slightly, he leaned his handsome face toward Chu Xunsheng, his voice low: “Is that all you’ve got, Teacher Chu?”
Chu Xunsheng was momentarily stunned. He suddenly loosened the binding tape in his hand. Caught off guard, the imperial prince felt the retracting rope chafe painfully against his body. He bit his lip hard to stifle his voice.
Chu Xunsheng spread his hands innocently, tied Ji Yan to the headboard, and turned to rummage through the room.
Not in the small cabinet, not in the box…
After thinking for a moment, Chu Xunsheng stepped forward and squeezed Ji Yan’s waist.
The person on the bed went limp, and Chu Xunsheng took the opportunity to catch his body, fishing a small key from his pocket.
Giving it some thought, he turned back and said, “Your Highness, we will meet again.”
“Until we meet again.”