Chapter Forty-Three: Bathing

Chu Bing was brought into a mansion by Li Yuxi.

She had been dragged along the entire way, with no sense of direction or idea where she was, but the residence itself possessed a unique charm. Bamboo groves surrounded a small cottage, winding streams flowed beneath arched bridges, and under the corridors stood maids and young attendants, each with a face beautiful enough to be the star of any brothel.

This man truly knew how to enjoy life.

Chu Bing muttered under her breath, but before she could finish her thought, the man suddenly threw her onto the floor.

"You!" The pain blossomed across her backside as she scrambled to her feet, pointing accusingly at Li Yuxi. "You bastard!"

"You say the same thing over and over—aren’t you tired of it?" Li Yuxi flicked his sleeve, shed his outer robe, and reclined onto a rattan chair, exuding an effortless air of elegance.

Chu Bing’s lively eyes swept over her surroundings. "Is this your home?"

She studied the structure of the garden, weighing her chances of escape.

Li Yuxi’s gaze bore into her, as if he had already guessed her intentions. He snorted lightly, "Save yourself the trouble. Every ten steps here is guarded. Not even a mosquito could get out."

Chu Bing’s expression drooped, nose wrinkling in frustration. She found a spot, sat down, hugged her knees, and fell silent.

The door creaked open.

A maid entered. "Master, would you like a bath?"

Bathing was Li Yuxi’s routine; he never returned from outside without first cleansing himself.

With a nod from him, a group of attendants carried in a bath tub, swiftly filling it behind the screen.

"You may all leave. No need to attend me tonight," Li Yuxi said with a curve of his lips, dismissing the maids.

A bad premonition flickered in Chu Bing’s mind. Before she could react, she was grabbed and brought behind the screen.

"I’m not going to bathe you! Li Yuxi, let me go!" Chu Bing struggled.

Her strength was nothing compared to his; no matter how she flailed, it was futile.

One maid lingered, clearly unwilling. "Master, this young lady has just arrived. She probably doesn’t know how to serve you properly yet. Perhaps I should do it instead?"

Yes, yes! Let the little maid do it!

Chu Bing nodded like a pecking chicken; she had no intention of serving this man’s bath.

Li Yuxi’s eyes narrowed, his voice unreadable. "Are my words useless now?"

Suddenly, a cold aura swept through the room. Chu Bing was surprised by the intensity—it was pure intimidation. The maid, terrified, dropped to the floor.

"No, master… I’ll leave!" Her shoulders trembled as she retreated, no longer concerned about jealousy or rivalry.

Now, only Chu Bing and Li Yuxi remained in the room.

Chu Bing blinked, forced a dry smile, and waved her hand. "Brother—no, grand master—I’m clumsy, really not fit to serve you…"

Before her words were finished, Li Yuxi shot her a glance and tossed his coat onto her head, blocking her vision.

Chu Bing fumed. By the time she pulled the garment away, Li Yuxi was already in the bath, only his rounded shoulders and faintly visible collarbones exposed.

Chu Bing swallowed hard.

How could a grown man be so alluring!

Li Yuxi’s masked gaze fixed on her, the smile at his lips deepening. "Do you find it pleasing?"

"Pleasing—my foot!" Chu Bing rolled her eyes; she refused to fall for his tricks.

"Come here. Bathe me," Li Yuxi suddenly ordered.

Chu Bing instinctively stepped back.

"Don’t you want to leave? Or do you wish to stay forever?" Li Yuxi knew her weakness, always effortlessly seizing her attention.

Forced by necessity, Chu Bing lowered her head.

She bit her lip, deliberated for a moment, then decided to help him.

Just think of it as scrubbing a pig’s back!

She gave herself a pep talk, quickly calming down and dutifully scrubbing Li Yuxi’s back.

She dared not use force, afraid he’d think she was taking advantage, so her movements were gentle.

The sensation beneath her hand seemed to carry a strange warmth. Chu Bing had assumed Li Yuxi would seize the chance to tease her, but to her surprise, he closed his eyes.

Was he asleep?

She pressed her lips together, reached out, and tentatively poked his shoulder.

No reaction.

Chu Bing’s eyes brightened. She was about to drop the towel and flee, but remembered the guards outside, and her enthusiasm waned.

It wasn’t the right time to escape!

Having realized this, she glanced back at Li Yuxi, saw his eyes closed, and instinctively reached out, wanting to remove his mask.

She had seen his real face once before, and even now, the memory of that stunning visage lingered.

Just one more look! she promised herself.

Her fingers touched the cold mask, slowly lifting it, revealing his chin, his pursed lips…

Just as she was about to remove the mask entirely, Li Yuxi suddenly opened his eyes. First, a flash of murderous intent passed through those dark irises, quickly dissipating into amusement.

He caught Chu Bing’s wrist. "What do you intend to do?"

A simple question, but from his lips, it carried an inexplicable hint of flirtation.

Chu Bing tried to pull away, but it was useless. Her face flushed. "How can you bathe without washing your face? Let me help!"

That’s right—she wasn’t lovesick for his face!

Li Yuxi paused, then burst into laughter—a low chuckle at first, then a broad, gleaming grin.

The maids outside heard his laughter and paused, a trace of disappointment flashing in their eyes.

Who was this woman who could make their master so happy?

Chu Bing was equally stunned, her heart pounding wildly.

She quickly scolded herself: Damn it, this man’s insane! Why was her heart beating like this?

Suddenly, Li Yuxi grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the bath.

"Ah!" Chu Bing was caught off guard, face plunging into the water, gulping a mouthful before surfacing.

She was drenched, struggling to stand, but the man gripped her waist tightly, forcing her against his body.

Separated only by a thin layer of clothing, their bodies were pressed together, each able to feel the other's warmth. Chu Bing’s blood seemed to boil—not from embarrassment, but from rage.

She gritted her teeth. "Li Yuxi, you scoundrel!"

He was taking advantage of her!

If she were an ordinary woman of ancient times, she would have resigned herself to fate and married this rogue already!

But even though Chu Bing had come from another world, her mindset different from everyone here, it didn’t mean she could accept being manipulated like this!

"Let go of me! Let me get up!" she struggled incessantly.

Li Yuxi held both her hands. "You want to stand up? Are you sure?"

Chu Bing froze. What did he mean?

As she hesitated, his grip loosened. She scrambled to her feet, only to find her clothes soaked through, every curve exposed. Worse still, her chest was embarrassingly visible.

Her face burned crimson; she dove back into the water, leaving only her head above the surface.

The man wore a smug smile. "I did it for your own good, and you’re ungrateful."

Chu Bing was furious—she hated men like him most.

"Shameless beyond compare…"

Though she was fuming, all she managed to spit out were those four words.