#58: Hotel

His eyelashes fluttered slightly, then he closed his eyes, dissipating the surge of emotions within them.

“Alright, let’s pay.”

Lin Zhan: “...”

________________________________________

Coming out of the supermarket, there was a car wash nearby. Kids were playing in the shop, splashing each other with water hoses.

Lin Zhan pulled Shen Xi, wanting to go around them.

After all, these water guns weren’t like toy ones; these kids were using water hoses to spray people. The water pressure was strong and the volume was large, so once you got close to them, you might get soaked.

Everyone laughed freely, screaming and dodging.

A little girl ran forward, happening to run behind Shen Xi. Before Lin Zhan could react, the chasing little boy had already raised his “sinful” water hose—

“That’s what you get for running!”

No one had time to stop it. The water, like a column, sprayed all over Shen Xi.

...

Seeing this situation, the parents quickly ran over, pulling the scratching boy: “Stop messing around, apologize quickly!”

The boy continued to scratch his head, his voice tiny, and the raised water hose seemed to wilt, with water slowly seeping out.

“So... sorry...”

The girl clutched Shen Xi’s clothes, knowing she had also done wrong. Head bowed, her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz: “Sorry, big brother, I shouldn’t have stood behind you.”

Shen Xi shook his head: “It’s fine.”

He paused, then pointed to the road and said, “It’s very dangerous here. Don’t play here anymore.”

“See how nice big brother is? Hurry and thank him,” the mother nudged the boy.

The boy’s voice was clear and crisp: “Thank you, big brother, thank you, big sister.”

Lin Zhan patted his head: “Alright, go back quickly. I need to take big brother to change clothes.”

As the two children walked away, they were still quietly whispering something, their voices very low. But from their frequent backward glances and unconcealed expressions, she understood what they were saying.

At the very end, the two children extended their two chubby little hands, gave thumbs up, and lightly tapped them together.

Lin Zhan watched them enter the store, then tugged on Shen Xi’s clothes.

“You’re all wet like this, what do we do?”

Not just his clothes, his hair was also a little damp.

He was wearing a jacket today, and under the jacket was a wrinkle-free white shirt.

Now, after being sprayed like this, his jacket was almost completely wet and dripping water, and the white shirt underneath, being soaked, clung tightly to his body.

Following the rise and fall of his chest, down to his lean waist, and if you looked hard enough, you could vaguely see a few lines on his abdomen.

Lin Zhan gathered his clothes for him, her throat tightening.

“Luckily we didn’t go far. Let’s go back to that hotel, you take a shower, so you don’t catch a cold.”

Rushing back to the hotel and explaining their situation, the owner promptly gave them a luxurious double room.

When they first entered, Lin Zhan felt something was off. Wouldn’t an hourly room suffice in this situation...?

She closed the door and said to the person standing by the bed, “You go ahead and take off your clothes and wash up. There’s a hairdryer here; I can dry your clothes while you shower.”

Shen Xi hummed softly, took off his shoes, and tossed his socks into his shoes.

The slippers here were disposable and very clean.

Shen Xi stepped into them; they were just the right size. A few raised blue veins appeared on his fair instep.

Lin Zhan wasn’t ready. Immediately after, Shen Xi, with his back to her, took off his jacket.

His jacket wasn’t loose-fitting; he had to pull at the sleeves to take it off.

His hands crossed, the way he took off his clothes was as fluid as an art performance.

After pulling out the sleeves, he reached behind his back, pinched the back edge of the garment, and tossed it onto the bedside table.

His movements were broad, and his close-fitting shirt lifted slightly, revealing a lean waist.

Lin Zhan bit her lip and reached out to fumble for the air conditioner remote control.

Seeing Shen Xi stop and prepare to go to the bathroom, Lin Zhan, controlling her trembling Adam’s apple, asked innocently, as if she had no other thoughts, “Aren’t you... taking off the rest?”

Shen Xi turned to look at her, his gaze candid, the corner of his eye curving into a knowing smile.

It was as if, the moment she uttered the first word, he had already seen through her thoughts.

Lin Zhan coughed: “Don’t look at me like that. What I mean is, take off all the wet clothes, and I’ll dry them together.”

After speaking, to reinforce the truthfulness of her words, she tilted her chin and said in a commanding tone, “Take it off quickly.”

She frowned, adding a hint of impatience.

This way, it wouldn’t be obvious at all... right?

No one spoke for a moment.

Lin Zhan felt a little lightheaded. She secretly guessed that the air conditioner might have been pointed in the wrong direction.

She had casually tossed the remote onto the bed earlier, and now she had to feel for it again.

She got up, walked to the edge of the bed, and reached out to retrieve the air conditioner remote near Shen Xi.

As soon as her hand extended, her wrist was precisely intercepted by someone.

The next second, her world suddenly flipped. She instinctively closed her eyes, feeling herself fall onto the soft mattress.

Shen Xi pressed one of her hands, placing it beside her ear.

The scent from his body was too scorching, surging into her nostrils in wisps.

Lin Zhan’s scalp tingled, and she clearly felt the weight of his body.

He hadn’t even fully pressed down yet, and she was already breathless.

His knee pressed against the other side of her body, just slightly closer to her, and that invisible sense of oppression spread through her body.

Lin Zhan finally dared to open her eyes.

Shen Xi saw her open her eyes, looked down and suppressed a smile, but he was not as gentlemanly as before.

His movements, in fact, weren’t gentle at all.

Shen Xi increased the pressure on her hand, and Lin Zhan’s entire body suddenly tensed, electricity coursing through her.

No, I’m going to die.

He lowered his head, close to her ear, his voice like water droplets repeatedly tapping Lin Zhan’s eardrum.

“Try to provoke me again?”

The instinct for survival made Lin Zhan forget her previous bold words. She wasn’t prepared at all—even in this position, before Shen Xi had done anything, every cell in her body was already trembling with nervousness.

“I won’t, I won’t...”

He seemed to let out another snicker, his voice magnetic, drawing away all of Lin Zhan’s rationality.

The next second, the restraint was lifted. Lin Zhan heard his footsteps slowly move away, and then the bathroom door closed.

The sound of the shower water gradually reached her.

Only then did she let out a long breath, her temples still throbbing.

She hadn’t done anything, yet her whole body was so tired she couldn’t lift a finger.

...

She started it, and she’s the one chickening out.

So embarrassing...

No, next time, I’ll have to steel myself and go for it.

Warrior Lin Zhan, with trembling hands, held down her shaking legs.

...

________________________________________

Next, Lin Zhan’s schedule entered an even busier phase.

Because of the collaboration with the hotel, she had to first select the paintings that fit the theme, then frame them, and finally take them to the hotel.

The school had professional courses, but there was also a lot of free time. Lin Zhan didn’t join any clubs, leaving more personal time.

Shen Xi was also very busy, but fortunately, the two schools were close, so Shen Xi could accompany her to some more important events.

The outdoor party was held as scheduled. The paintings had been transported to the venue beforehand. With no evening classes, Lin Zhan and Shen Xi naturally attended the party.

The event jointly organized by the hotel had a significant impact. Plus, Lin Zhan shared it on her social media, so at the event itself, Lin Zhan saw quite a few familiar faces.

Upon entering the main hall, there were abundant fruit platters and cakes in the center, and unlimited drinks on the side.

Lin Zhan was about to enter the corridor when she heard a shout from behind—

It wasn’t calling her, but someone else.

“Qiqi, over here—”

The name made Lin Zhan reflexively turn around and indeed saw Sun Qiqi’s figure at the entrance.

She had an SLR camera hanging around her neck and was dressed in black.

Lin Zhan tugged on Shen Xi and walked towards the corridor.

“Let’s go, let’s go in first.”

Lin Zhan’s paintings were hung in the corridor. The lighting provided by the event was ample, and the paintings were meticulously framed, amplifying their charm infinitely.

Lin Zhan knew very well that the attendees of this event were not only local citizens, but also some peers hidden behind those seemingly ordinary faces—

Various events always needed decorations. As long as she could get exposure, more collaborations would slowly come her way.

People passing by would also admire these paintings during conversations with their companions.

“This name sounds familiar, I think I’ve seen it at an art exhibition somewhere.”

“Lin Zhan? That’s a pretty name.”

...

Lin Zhan slowly walked ahead, intently listening to everyone’s comments about her work, when suddenly a cheer erupted in front.

The cheer was loud and enthusiastic, mixed with whistling.

Someone quickly ran past her.

Still calling out to a companion: “Hurry up, the most exciting part is coming!”

Lin Zhan was infected by their excitement and also quickened her pace, wanting to go forward and see what event could make everyone so thrilled.

When she reached the end of the long corridor, she finally understood why these male counterparts were so excited.

It turned out to be a pool party.

Models, dressed provocatively, emerged from the back amidst a row of dazzling lights.

The men’s screams almost deafened Lin Zhan.

At the same time, she quickly reacted, walked up to Shen Xi, and stopped him from going any further.

Then she turned around, facing him.

Shen Xi looked down at her.

The shoes she was wearing today were very tall. With a raised hand, she easily covered Shen Xi’s eyes.

She hummed twice: “You’re not allowed to look.”