Chapter 56

Chapter 56 5. Curve-02

Liu Yi never had the problem of not being able to sleep in a new bed. He slept deeply, waking only as the sun began to set.

When he woke, the room was already dim. Qi Shanyu had left only a night lamp by the bed. Because the heating was on and the windows had been frost-protected, a thick layer of frost had formed on the outside glass, making it impossible to see the weather outside.

Liu Yi snuggled under the blanket, the softness and warmth making it difficult for him to summon the energy to get up.

The door from the living room to the bedroom was half-open, emitting a warm light.

The smell of food drifted through the air. Liu Yi reached for his phone on the pillow. It was 6:50 p.m. He listened carefully and heard occasional clinks of cups and plates, clearly Qi Shanyu busy outside.

Liu Yi got out of bed, saw his shirt wrinkled beyond repair, and decided to put on a bathrobe first and take a shower.

After freshening up, he stepped into the living room and saw that Qi Shanyu had already set up dinner for the two of them on the bar counter. Qi Shanyu was holding a large jug, pouring the reddish-brown liquid into two glasses.

“I was just about to wake you.”

Hearing footsteps in slippers behind him, Qi Shanyu looked back at Liu Yi. “I had dinner delivered to the room. Shall we eat now?”

“Mm.”

The indoor heating was warm. Liu Yi wore only the bathrobe over his underclothes and didn’t feel cold.

He pulled out a chair and sat next to Qi Shanyu, uncovering each plate to reveal the food.

The hotel provided authentic Russian cuisine for presidential suite guests.

Cold plate of caviar, borscht, Olivier salad, marinated salmon, small potatoes with pan-fried sausage, canned beef, roast meat, and large rye bread. Drinks were kvass, a famous Russian beverage, and dessert was Russian soft candy, resembling roasted marshmallows with crushed nuts.

The portions were generous, enough for two grown men to eat their fill.

Neither Liu Yi nor Qi Shanyu had much experience with Russian cuisine. Whether it was truly delicious was secondary; it was novel and enjoyable enough to eat happily.

They chatted while eating. By the time they finished, it was past 8 p.m.

The waiter collected the plates politely and asked if the guests needed anything else. After being declined, he smiled and presented a tray of assorted bath salts, saying that it had started snowing outside and suggesting they open the skylight on the terrace to enjoy the snow while soaking in the hot spring.

“Okay, I’ll definitely try it.”

Liu Yi accepted the bath salts calmly, watching the waiter’s subtly flirtatious smile, expressing satisfaction with the service and promising to use it.

Once the waiter left, he picked a bottle of milk bath salt, opened it, smelled it, and waved it at Qi Shanyu. “This smells good.”

He smiled: “It’s very similar to your scent.”

Qi Shanyu blushed at the blatant teasing.

He wanted to retort—he no longer used the milk-scented body wash—but thought it silly to argue, so he lowered his head and fiddled with the bottles of bath salts, pretending interest.

Liu Yi smiled and stopped teasing, carrying the milk bath salt to the outdoor pool, filling the small pool with hot spring water, adding the bath salt, and testing the temperature.

The water felt around 46–47°C—hot, but comfortable once adjusted.

Liu Yi removed his bathrobe, wearing only a towel around his waist, and slowly entered the hot spring.

Surrounded by the hot water, he leaned back, closed his eyes, and exhaled deeply.

After soaking until completely relaxed, he lazily called to the still-hidden Qi Shanyu in the living room: “Comrade Qi, want to soak too? It’s so comfortable!”

Qi Shanyu didn’t respond. Liu Yi added: “The pool’s large, plenty of room for both of us.”

This time, Qi Shanyu didn’t pretend not to hear. “No rush, I’ll soak later…”

Liu Yi chuckled lightly, not forcing him, and used the remote to open the skylight.

He leaned against the pool wall, holding a glass of cold kvass, watching snowflakes fall onto the white marble terrace through the small skylight, enjoying a rare sense of carefree leisure.

After a while, Liu Yi finished the drink, feeling warm. He set the glass down and called to Qi Shanyu in the living room: “Comrade Qi, help me out!”

After a moment, Qi Shanyu pushed open the terrace glass door and peeked out slightly, eyes downcast, casually asking: “What is it?”

“Could you bring me a towel?”

Liu Yi leaned on the edge of the pool, bare arms extended, patting the empty clothes rack with a crescent-moon smile.

“Mm.”

Qi Shanyu nodded, went to the bathroom next door, grabbed a large towel, removed his indoor slippers, and stepped barefoot onto the terrace.

His gaze stayed slightly downward, avoiding looking directly at Liu Yi in the pool.

Liu Yi’s skin was very pale. Wet from the spring, in warm light, it looked like white jade washed in water. Even partially submerged, it created a striking visual effect, enhanced by the shimmering water and steam.

“I’ve got the towel.”

Qi Shanyu forced himself not to be distracted by Liu Yi’s alluring body.

He had seen everything before when helping Liu Yi dress and dry off during illness, so it wasn’t the first time seeing his body.

But now, seeing that arm with subtle red tones resting on the pool’s edge made his heart race.

“Thanks, put it here.”

Liu Yi pointed to the nearby shelf.

Qi Shanyu bent to place the towel, but suddenly felt a wet hand grab his arm. Before he could react, he was yanked sideways, splashing half-human-high waves from the small pool.

Qi Shanyu fell into the center, soaked by the hot water. The culprit, thrilled by the prank, laughed hysterically, hands on his shoulders.

“How’s that? Hot springs are really comfortable, right?”

Liu Yi wiped water from Qi Shanyu’s eyelashes and cheeks, grinning innocently.

He grabbed the soaked towel, shaking it out like a cape, and wrapped Qi Shanyu in it, pulling him closer. “I wasn’t lying, was I?”

They looked at each other, only a towel around the waist, one covered in the bath towel, clothes soaked and clinging to skin.

Their noses were only two fingers apart, breaths mingling, heated by milk-scented steam. Both could feel the other’s rapid breathing.

The atmosphere was intoxicating, and Qi Shanyu’s face so close was irresistible.

Liu Yi held the towel, tilting Qi Shanyu’s head lower, leaning forward, lips pressing against his…

The kiss was exquisite.

Not Liu Yi’s first kiss, but the sweetest and most comfortable, as if their lips were meant to touch, breaths intermingling.

Liu Yi’s tongue parted Qi Shanyu’s lips, exploring and teasing, until Qi Shanyu could not resist and returned the kiss fiercely.

They pressed together in the small pool, each unwilling to lose in the passionate embrace.

Eventually, Liu Yi, soaked for too long, couldn’t handle it.

His heart raced, head dizzy, struggling for breath. Another kiss and he might faint in the pool.

He had to pull back, retract his tongue, rest against Qi Shanyu’s shoulder, slightly increasing the distance, panting, reaching under the water for Qi Shanyu’s important parts.

Initially, he only meant to tease a bit, not escalate.

But now, it seemed natural to go further; hesitation would be pointless.

Liu Yi didn’t think either of them could stop now.

Unexpectedly, Qi Shanyu suddenly pushed him away, grabbed the towel over his head, hiding his face in shadow, flipped out of the pool, and stormed off the terrace, slamming the door shut.