After waiting, Shan Si finally returned with a worker, who began to set up the basics. Luckily, for Tao Hua's sake, Shan Si assisted them in getting things done, and it was ready in only a matter of time!
Despite there now being a subtle understanding between the two, Tao Hua still heavily insisted on the bath and bed being separated by the screen. From not allowing Shan Si to undress him, to shoving him out from behind the screen door, Shan Si lay helpless in the bed, a sour look darkening his face as he stared daggers at that damned screen blocking the way.
He had a sword; that sword could destroy it in a matter of seconds. Who gave a shit about deposits, money, and shit when there was someone sending the sweet fragrance in the room with an inescapable scent?
It just so happened Shan Si chose out a fragrance bar with the tender notes of peach, honeyed plum, and vanilla.
He was a man with a love for sweets, after all.
Looking back at the sword, he tapped his fingers against the sheets in contemplation—it wasn't such a bad idea. However, that risked scaring Tao Hua, so he just relented with a sigh.
A poor, poor man he was. He couldn't understand why people like Qian Jue or Suo Han could be granted the opportunity to see this beauty bare fucking naked, but not the person who stole his first kiss? Unacceptable. Unfair. Banned.
Yet, he didn't do anything about it. Operation play the best possible…whatever he was to Tao Hua was initiated. Lover, or whatever.
Turning his head away, he folded his arms against the pillow, laying the back of his head against them. He stared at the ceiling for a good moment, and stared at it more, and more, and just a bit more.
He! Was! Struggling!
At every sound Tao Hua made, from the swish of the water, creak of the basin, and the fumble of cloth, his eyebrows twitched uncontrollably.
And the noises coming from that small body—the noises of struggling when reaching for something, or heavy breaths before dunking under the water.
How…annoying.
His mind wandered to many inappropriate things.
Things better left unwritten. Like aphrodisiacs. Hm, actually, it wasn't such a bad idea if he could actually convince him. To watch someone fumble under the innocence of such things…
Shan Si stared blankly back up at the ceiling; he wondered if Tao Hua even understood what an aphrodisiac was.
"…"
Nevermind, it felt too illegal, even for a thief. He'd have to save it for later and slowly ease Tao Hua into it.
"If you need someone to wash your hair," he announced. "I'm here. I won't do anything to you."
But under his breath, eyes flattened, he grumbled, "Maybe."
"I-I know! I'm fine!" Tao Hua lied, fumbling with the bucket.
He was, indeed, not fine and barely had the proper experience with such things outside of dreams and maybe two experiences. He'd have to find a book on the matter before they did anything. Yeah. A book! Since when did those ever fail him?
Besides, he wasn't sure how well he could control his reactions. He still needed time to process them properly and let things simmer.
"Sure, fine. Suit yourself." But the longer Shan Si had to deal with the sounds, the more agitated he began to feel. North, and south. Digging the nubs of his nails into his palms, Shan Si lowered his lashes and attempted to relax with subtle, calming breaths.
To distract himself, he decided to strike up a conversation. Anything, really, to keep his mind off the issues happening down "south."
"Do you have an itinerary made for tomorrow?" he asked.
Sitting in the tub, knees against his chest, Tao Hua's hands froze just before he was ready to pour the bucket over his head.
Itinerary? He didn't even know the first thing about the world, let alone its capital. All he understood were stories, palaces, and a small town; what good would an itinerary be to him?
Shyly, he trickled the water over his head, his eyes blocked out by his hair, and replied, "Maybe the library?"
"No. That's something we have to do, and I already have it planned for the morning. What's something you want to do? Come on, I know you have wants and needs, Tao Hua." Shan Si started with the inaudible mumbling again, something Tao Hua really couldn't hear. "I was one of them."
Something I want to do…? Tao Hua thought long and hard about it, but in the end, he still felt lost. Despite this, a small smile curved his lips as his fingers rubbed against the bucket. He watched, through the soaking strands of his black hair, ripples flare out until their small waves gently crashed against the edges of the wooden basin.
"If you're unsure, we can work—"
"I'd like to see the lanterns with you," Tao Hua finally answered.
Shan Si paused for a moment. After a moment of brief silence, all he uttered was: "Ah."
That's when Tao Hua quickly realised his mistake and why they were in the capital in the first place.
"Um! I know you have things you need to do during that time. I spoke without thinking," Tao Hua hurriedly replied. This was what people meant by licking the barrel clean, he understood. He'd got what he wanted and still asked for more. "I should have considered your time, Shan Si. I'm Sor—"
Shan Si interrupted before Tao Hua could say the word. "I'll just have to do better this time."
Blinking, Tao Hua glanced away from the settling water and toward the screen. "Huh?"
"In and out. Yup. How hard could it be? Shan Si continued, as if trying to convince someone. His hand swam through the hair, swirling at each sudden declaration, whimsically encouraging himself. "Yeah. I just need motivation, that's it."
Tao Hua's arms tightened around the bucket, watching the shadow of Shan Si's hand clench into a fist.
"I'll sneak into the palace, steal the relic from those imperial losers, and in record time. Then, when I'm done, I'll come back to bring the madam out for the lanterns. Perhaps get something in return for my good work," he jested.
The smile slowly returned to Tao Hua's face, lowering his head back down to the bucket. Was he really this lucky? Reaching his hand over to his other one, he pinched it once, twice, thrice, flinching at the pain. He kept this up until the same area reddened.
He was awake—that alone made his heart race, just as Shan Si simply continued.
"They're all idiots, anyway. The emperor, that shit father of yours, and all of his lazy ministers," he sneered. "How hard could it be?"
Hard. The last fifty or more years of thievery hard.
Shan Si was out of his mind, but he was now at the point where he didn't have any other choice. Someone was waiting for him to return.
"It's okay," Tao Hua rubbed the red spot on his hand with a bit of water. Regardless of his condition and his words, his cheek collided with his shoulder, all in an attempt to conceal the happiness that overtook his temperament. "I understand if you can't."
"No, I'll do it," Shan Si replied. "Mark my words, you will see those lanterns even if my life depends on it."
Tao Hua lifted his head, and a small, innocent laugh escaped. Concealing happiness was something he couldn't do, much like all emotions. "Maybe not your life—I still…want you around."
"Not much of it left if I don't get the damn thing," Shan Si said dryly. Suddenly, the sound of splashing resounded from behind the screen, and a bucket dropped to the ground. "I'm kidding, Tao Hua! Since when don't I solve things?"
Staring at the shadow beyond the screen, dripping with water, Tao Hua held his hand to his chest. He still couldn't tell if Shan Si was joking or not. "Not funny!"
"I'm sorry," Shan Si said, to Tao Hua's complete shock. Shifting to his side, he rested his fist against his jaw, elbow propping up his head. Those eager eyes of his, however, never once leaving the silhouette. "An immortal dragon—what can he not do?"
"Mmm…" Slowly, Tao Hua lowered himself back into the tub. "Fine. I trust you."
"Oh, well, call this husband overjoyed. My own wife finally trusts me," Shan Si teased, before changing the subject. "But really, what do you want to do? I've been here more times than I can count and have seen it all. Tomorrow is a day for you."
"I think…I'm just happy doing anything, as long as we're able to spend time together," Tao Hua said, his cheeks flushed. "I'd really like that, even if we can't watch the lanterns."
Shan Si's lids fell watching as Tao Hua merely sat in the tub. He wasn't sure what expression was on his face. As if testing the water, Shan Si submerged his entire foot in it.
"You think I'd just leave you?"
"No!" Tao Hua's head whipped toward the screen. "I-I'm just answering your question and telling you what I want!"
"Oh?" Head tilting toward the bed, strands of Shan Si's loose hair flooded against the ruffled sheets, and it wasn't long until the corners of his lips curved into a satisfied smile. An ever-so-impish one, just as he asked, "Can I tell you what I want to do?"
Brows pinching, Tao Hua was confused. This was the second time that day he'd asked for permission to do something, and it was entirely out of character. But the more he thought about it, the more he realised that perhaps it was never really asking for permission.
A warning, perhaps.
But the way it was said, in such a low, velvety voice, Tao Hua couldn't help but nod his head. He placed his hands on his knees and agreed with a quiet "Mm."
Tao Hua was so captivated by that voice, he hadn't yet registered the creaking of floorboards, and it was only when the screen jostled that his entire body jolted.
Wholly embarrassed, Tao Hua's eyes widened as he watched Shan Si treat that high-quality screen—one made of hardwood and built for support—as if constructed of nothing more than flimsy bamboo.
"To fucking wash your hair like everyone else gets to!" Shan Si shouted with complete determination, and perhaps irked. He reached for the bucket on the ground.
Staring at the mess of Tao Hua's hair, barely cleaned of suds, Shan Si gripped that bucket with such strength that his words were loud and boisterously demanding.
"Now let me wash it, for fuck sakes!"
Tao Hua sank lower and lower into the water, capable of heating it up with his rising body heat alone.
It turned out that the next hour of thrashing, cries, and splashing water indicated that neither of these men understood the things Suo Han and Qian Jue did. They were entirely inept in the world of servitude.
Chapter end.