LHKE Ch 7

The barbecue was lively and lasted until nearly two o’clock. Afterward, everyone took a stroll along the lakeside to digest and decided to skip fishing and head straight to the hot springs.

The hot springs were different from the small private hot tubs in the villa. The villa had only two small hot tubs, while the hot springs were large pools, divided by gender, with separate areas for couples and completely isolated from each other.

Of course, Lu Changxue and Lu Changting wouldn’t let their two sisters mix with the group of men. After reminding them to be careful, they let the two sisters enjoy themselves on their own.

The rest of them changed clothes and headed to the hot springs.

Shen Li walked at the back, unable to muster the courage to look at Lu Changting. He had caught a fleeting glimpse of the man’s bare upper body earlier—broad shoulders, a slim waist, an upright posture, with well-defined muscles on his arms and abs that were stunningly beautiful. Just that one glance had left him feeling overwhelmed.

While he was lost in thought, someone draped an arm over his shoulder. It wasn’t an intimate embrace but rather a casual gesture, like the camaraderie between friends.

When he turned to see Xiao Yao’s face, he was a bit surprised.

“Mr. Shen.” Xiao Yao smiled and poked his waist with a finger, feeling the taut muscles, “I’ve heard you’re the same way. Can I ask, are you a top?”

Xiao Yao, a regular at “Gu Jiu,” had once thought of Shen Li in that way when they first met. In a bar setting, with its indulgent atmosphere, he assumed Shen Li was someone who enjoyed a bit of casual fun. But “Gu Jiu” was actually a serious business, including the owner, who was extremely proper.

Shen Li could smile and drink with others and tolerate light jokes, but if someone truly offended him, he could turn around and calmly ask someone to be thrown out of the bar, even putting up a sign at the door saying “No Entry for [Name] and Dogs.”

Having seen how offenders were thrown out of the bar, Xiao Yao was convinced that Shen Li’s smile could hide a sharp edge. But now, seeing Shen Li’s broad shoulders, narrow waist, long arms and legs, and the tight curve of his abdominal muscles, his earlier curiosity was rekindled.

Although Xiao Yao’s own physique was decent, he was lean and didn’t pay much attention to body management, so he had no excess fat or noticeable muscles, making him appear less impressive.

Just like how men are attracted to beautiful women, seeing a well-built “top” inevitably stirred some feelings.

Shen Li was momentarily stunned by Xiao Yao’s question, unsure how to respond.

He then shook his head lightly: “I’m not.”

From his painful unspoken love in youth to the long-standing unresolved feelings over the years, he had humbled himself to the point where just a glance from Lu Changting could calm the turmoil in his heart.

He hadn’t thought about anyone else, and if it were Lu Changting, he would always be the one bowing in submission.

“Seriously?” Xiao Yao couldn’t help but curse, drawing curious glances from others. He then awkwardly asked in a lower voice, “Did we get our numbers mixed up?”

“Mr. Shen, you don’t have to reject me like this…”

Lu Changting glanced over and frowned slightly at the sight of Xiao Yao and Shen Li with their arms around each other.

Shen Li chuckled in embarrassment: “I’m sorry, but I really am.”

Xiao Yao felt a lump in his chest, not knowing who to vent his frustration on. It was his own interest in Shen Li, so he couldn’t force Shen Li into a role he didn’t want.

He tugged at his hair, feeling frustrated: “It’s really… everywhere you go, you’re left with nothing.”

He then thought, no wonder those who tried to seduce Shen Li were all defeated; with someone like Shen Li, who could possibly keep up…

Shen Li found it amusing and comfortingly patted Xiao Yao on the shoulder.

Since they couldn’t be lovers, they could be friends. Xiao Yao quickly adjusted his mindset and, being carefree, joined Shen Li in the hot springs, chatting about “private matters” among friends.

“If Le Yi knew you and I got our numbers mixed up, I don’t know how he would react.”

“I’ve told him.” Shen Li, avoiding looking at Lu Changting, who was nearby, was lying on the edge of the hot spring with his back to everyone.

Xiao Yao followed suit, lying on the edge of the hot spring: “So he still clings to you.”

“He thinks I’m just saying that to refuse him.” Speaking of Le Yi, Shen Li’s tone was somewhat helpless. Le An worked at his bar, and Le Yi was younger, so he didn’t want to be too harsh or final about things.

Xiao Yao glanced sideways at Shen Li’s back and licked his lips: “Mr. Shen, have you ever been in a relationship?”

Shen Li’s tone became a bit somber: “…No.”

Xiao Yao was about to say something when Chen Xingye interrupted.

Chen Xingye had waded over at some point and splashed a handful of water on him: “Xiao Yao, why are you sticking to Mr. Shen? I didn’t realize you two were so close.”

Xiao Yao wiped the water off his neck and immediately lunged at Chen Xingye: “How dare you splash water on me!”

The two began to playfully splash each other, and Shen Li, caught in the crossfire, tried to avoid them. However, their playful splashing created quite a mess, with water splashing everywhere.

Shen Li had to move further away, only to find himself next to Lu Changting.

Maybe it was the heat of the hot springs, but Shen Li felt his mind becoming foggy from the steam… Wasn’t Lu Changting on the other side earlier? When did he come over?

His gaze involuntarily lingered on the man, exploring the heat and steam that cloaked his alluring physique.

Even Lu Changting, though usually slow to catch on, noticed the almost audaciously burning gaze. He glanced at his own abs and felt a bit proud: “What are you looking at?”

Shen Li, belatedly realizing his behavior was rather obsessed and bordering on creepy, felt his face flush: “You, um, have a great physique.”

Recalling the tall, lean body he had glimpsed under the water last night, Lu Changting’s throat felt itchy: “Thank you. You do too.”

“Do too” what?

Good physique?

Shen Li’s gaze wandered away, his heart pounding uncontrollably, making him want to find a crack in the ground to hide in, thoroughly concealed from view.

He was too embarrassed to face anyone.

…

After the hot springs, a massage, and a hearty meal of Jianghu cuisine, everyone comfortably returned to the villa.

The villa had an entertainment room with KTV facilities and plenty of alcohol. With the girls around, Lu Changxue, worried that the rough men might get too drunk and cause trouble for his sisters, had laid down the rule from the start: “No one is allowed to pressure or force drinks tonight. Everyone can drink as they please.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Xingye set out a row of glasses and handed a bottle of vodka to Shen Li: “Come on, Mr. Shen, show us what you’ve got.”

“Let’s do the depth charge.”

Shen Li didn’t refuse. He arranged the wide-mouth glasses, used the bottle opener to open the vodka bottle smoothly, poured two-thirds of the beer into the glasses, placed the vodka glasses in the middle of the beer glasses, added small ice cubes, filled the vodka glasses, and then clinked the vodka bottle against the vodka glasses. The glasses fell into the beer glasses with a crisp clink, causing the liquid to splash and eliciting a cheer from everyone.

While everyone was busy dividing the drinks, Shen Li discreetly placed a vodka glass with only ice into the first glass, then handed it to Lu Changting. The first drink was just ordinary beer, and no one noticed his subtle move. With the vodka glass and ice cubes, it almost looked like a depth charge. He had often used this trick to deal with customers in the past.

When Lu Changting took a sip, he noticed something was off about the taste of the drink. He understood the hint and clinked glasses with Shen Li.

After drinking into the early hours, the two young girls, exhausted and sleepy, went upstairs to bed.

Fu Jiashu was drunk, and Fu Qingshan helped him back to his room to rest.

Xiao Yao continued drinking with Shen Li, getting increasingly loud and boisterous, claiming he wanted to “commemorate his lost love.”

Chen Xingye was puzzled by his behavior and didn’t understand what kind of love Xiao Yao was commemorating.

Only Shen Li, with his complicated emotions, felt a sense of kinship with Xiao Yao’s unfulfilled love. Every time they clinked glasses, he drank another shot of strong liquor.

Lu Changxue, feeling slightly tipsy, noticed that most people had dispersed and decided he didn’t want to drink anymore. He and Chen Xingye helped Xiao Yao back to their room, the three of them stumbling and leaning on each other, and didn’t forget to remind Lu Changting: “Make sure Mr. Shen gets back to his room.”

Thanks to Shen Li’s special attention, Lu Changting, the guest of honor, had only had a few beers tonight. He was still quite sober and, under the influence of alcohol, was in a good mood.

He helped the drunk and disoriented Shen Li back to his room and settled him on the bed, preparing to find a glass to get Shen Li some water.

Drunk Shen Li was unexpectedly clingy. As soon as Lu Changting let go, Shen Li sat up, grabbing his shirt’s hem, pouting, and silently gazing at him with eyes full of tears.

Lu Changting, feeling helpless, said, “I’ll go get you some water.”

Shen Li hesitated and loosened his grip slightly, mumbling, “Will you come back?”

He was heavily intoxicated, his mind foggy, and although he clearly remembered Lu Changting had gone abroad, Lu Changting was now standing right in front of him, talking to him.

He dully thought he must be dreaming.

He hadn’t dreamed about Lu Changting for a long time…