AN: I am taking a mental break for Easter break. I haven’t had a break longer than a day for a long time. This is why I have been lagging behind. I appreciate you guys so much and promise I will he back soon.
Xiang Yu finally stopped coughing, the sound echoing in the quiet room. He looked up at Han Xin, his eyes earnest. "I gave it to you because I thought you would like it. If you don’t like it, I can take it back."
Han Xin stared at him, trying to unravel Xiang Yu’s motivations. A few moments ago, his anger had surged, hot and sharp. He had been prepared to kick Xiang Yu out. But now, his gaze drifted to Xiang Yu’s bruised lip, and a troubling thought crept in. He was thinking maybe... just maybe he should give him another kiss.
Shaking his head, Han Xin broke his gaze and said, "I am going to take a shower." He turned on his heel, trying to shake off the strange warmth in his chest.
"Can I join you? I can help you wash your back," Xiang Yu called after him, a teasing lilt in his voice.
Han Xin froze, his back stiffening as the request hit him. "No need," he said, his tone clipped, as he walked away quickly.
But he hesitated, pulse racing. He suddenly turned back and added, "Don’t go anywhere."
Xiang Yu, who had been watching him intently, bit his lower lip and replied, "Okay."
Internally, Han Xin swore, feeling the heat rise in him. Xiang Yu was like a walking aphrodisiac, stirring something restless within. He slipped into the shower, allowing the warm water to cascade over him, while Xiang Yu remained behind, his mind racing with thoughts.
He remained on the cough, lost in contemplation. He bit his thumbnail, frustration gnawing at him. This was progress, yes, but it wasn’t fast enough. He needed to find a way to draw Han Xin closer, to ensnare him in his trap tonight.
He stood up and began to survey the room. It was a minimalist space, stark and simple, just as Han Xin liked. But as he looked around, he noticed the small details. There was a shelf lined with books and magazines from a bygone era. Their covers faded, and they told silent stories of another time.
Xiang Yu smiled to himself. He knew these magazines must have belonged to Han Zhan. That’s because there was no way Han Xin would have chosen issues about fashion, home decor, or nature.
He wandered over to the shelf, brushing his fingers along the spines with great curiosity as the water ran in the background.
He flipped through the nature magazines, skimming the pages but quickly losing interest. The images of distant landscapes and exotic animals felt too distant from his reality.
He set them aside and picked up a fashion magazine instead. As he flipped through, his gaze caught on bold red letters. Curious, he flipped back to find the title: ’How to Be a Pro in Bed’.
Intrigued, Xiang Yu slumped onto the couch, settling into a comfortable position. He started to read, skipping over the parts that didn’t apply to him. When he reached the section on men-on-men action, his interest piqued, and he began to absorb the words seriously. He wouldn’t mind expanding his knowledge in this area.
Meanwhile, Han Xin emerged from the shower, droplets of water cascading down his toned body. Wiping himself dry with a towel, he thought of Xiang Yu, imagining how the other man might look at him... how he might lust after him if he stepped out wearing just a towel. To avoid being gawked at, he grabbed a robe and tied it tightly around himself, pulling the fabric closer as if to fortify a city against a siege.
He walked out of the bathroom and headed toward the bedroom, mentally bracing himself for Xiang Yu’s usual playful attack. But as he entered, he found Xiang Yu not waiting to pounce, but deeply engrossed in something. Xiang Yu didn’t even glance up from the magazine, his attention fully captured.
Han Xin paused, feeling a wave of confusion. He had been worrying for nothing. He stood there for a moment, watching Xiang Yu’s focused expression, lips pressed together in concentration. The sight made Han Xin’s lips twitch. He hesitated, unsure if he should interrupt.
Breaking the silence, he finally said, "Han Zhan is coming soon. He will bring dinner as well."
Xiang Yu didn’t raise his head. Instead, he muttered, "Okay," his voice flat and distracted.
Han Xin waited a second, expecting a response... anything. But Xiang Yu continued to read, oblivious to his presence. Frustration built within him, both with Xiang Yu and himself. It felt ridiculous to be ignored while standing there, but he couldn’t help but feel a budding annoyance at the lack of acknowledgement.
He could only sigh in exasperation. He turned and walked into the bedroom, the air heavy with unresolved tension.
Once inside, he leaned against the wall, allowing a moment of reflection. Annoyed, he scolded himself for letting Xiang Yu’s indifference get under his skin. Why was he so affected? Was he really losing his mind?
Xiang Yu was completely engrossed in the glossy pages of his magazine, utterly unaware of Han Xin’s earnest attempts to catch his attention. He leaned back leisurely on the plush couch, his eyes deeply glued to on the paragraph discussing the fascinating intricacies of erogenous zones.
Each word seemed to pull him further into the depths of the topic, causing his brow to furrow thoughtfully as he flipped the pages with quiet determination and a sense of purpose, eager to absorb every detail and nuance.
Time seemed to slip away unnoticed until, quite unexpectedly, the door swung open with a slight creak. Han Zhan stepped inside, a look of concentration etched on his face as he precariously balanced three neatly arranged bentos in his arms.
He paused for just a moment at the threshold, his eyes widening in astonishment as he took in the sight of Xiang Yu, who was so immersed in his reading that he looked almost serene.
It struck Han Zhan as surreal to see Xiang Yu here once again. Han Xin had told him to get three bentos but he just thought his cousin’s appetite had increased. Who would have thought the third bento was not for Han Xin but Xiang Yu?