Drunk on Madness - Chapter 86

Zhou Mingxuan and Su Mo remained secluded in the room, discussing matters for half the day. It wasn’t until nightfall that the two emerged from the study to join Li Xiang for the evening meal.

Li Xiang observed their silence and lack of appetite, understanding that persuading Zhou Mingxuan would not be easy, at least not anytime soon.

When it came time for her evening bath, Li Xiang’s injured hand couldn’t get wet, so Su Mo entered the bathroom to assist her.

The room was filled with steam, and Li Xiang, her face flushed, sat frowning in the tub. Her slender wrist, wrapped in gauze, rested outside the basin as Su Mo’s hands moved through the water, gently kneading and stroking.

His movements varied in speed, and Li Xiang bit her lower lip lightly, enduring the discomfort.

Suddenly, he applied more pressure, and Li Xiang instinctively grabbed Su Mo’s collar. In an instant, the white gauze showed traces of blood. Su Mo immediately stopped washing and examined her palm, his voice tinged with concern. “Bleeding again?”

Hearing the commotion from the bathroom, Zhou Mingxuan entered directly. Startled by his sudden appearance, Li Xiang hurriedly covered herself with a towel, but in her haste, her wound came into contact with water.

Zhou Mingxuan frowned, displeased. “It’s not like I haven’t seen you before.” But when he noticed the blood on Li Xiang’s palm, his tone shifted to reproach. “Can’t even handle such a simple task.” With that, he sat on the stool beside the tub, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to bathe her himself.

Li Xiang shrank back in alarm. “Your Highness, there’s no need. I’ll be finished soon.” A dangerous glint flashed in Zhou Mingxuan’s eyes. “Call me Mingxuan,” he said, as he directly removed the obstructive towel.

Li Xiang quickly shielded her chest, afraid her wrist would get wet again. Su Mo seized her hand and raised it above her head.

Taking advantage of her momentary shock, Zhou Mingxuan plunged both hands into the water.

Li Xiang was stunned, her pupils contracting sharply, her heart pounding wildly. She could hardly believe what was happening. Her eyes darted toward Su Mo, pleading for help, but he kept his head down, only daring to lift his eyelids slightly, unable to meet her gaze.

Zhou Mingxuan slowly washed every part of her body with bath beans, admiring the tenderness of her skin beneath the flowing water.

Li Xiang felt her head grow heavy and numb, her arms trembling slightly. Suddenly, she understood something. Her body stiffened, her breath caught, and her face flushed, alternating between red and pale.

After what felt like an eternity, Zhou Mingxuan carried her to the bed and reapplied medicine to her palm. Seeing Li Xiang still dazed, he comforted her, “Neither of us has left you. Isn’t that good?”

When she remained silent, Zhou Mingxuan said no more. Su Mo, bare-chested, emerged from the bathroom after cleaning up. Their eyes met, and with a silent nod, they shared an unspoken understanding.

Fresh from his bath, a drop of water traced its way from Su Mo’s narrow brow down to his collarbone before falling to the floor. He approached the bed, gazing at the dazed Li Xiang. Aware of his own fault, he sat on the edge of the bed to console her. “Xiangxiang, don’t be angry with me. I didn’t want this either, but if we keep fighting, one of us will end up hurt.” Hearing this, Li Xiang turned to the other side, her back facing Su Mo.

Su Mo felt a pang of hurt. No one was happy with this decision, but it seemed the only way for everyone to find some semblance of peace.

“If you truly can’t accept it, I’ll go talk to him again,” he said, rising once more and heading back toward the bathroom.

Zhou Mingxuan, who had just had the water changed and was sitting down to bathe, saw Su Mo enter. He closed his eyes and asked, “She didn’t agree?”

Su Mo stood in a corner of the bathroom, his dark eyes flickering with complex emotions. “Mm. What do we do now?”

After a moment of silence, Su Mo continued, “Maybe we should wait a little longer. After all, accepting both of us will take time for her.”

Zhou Mingxuan opened his eyes, frowned, and looked at him. “You can wait for her to accept it, but I’ve waited long enough. I don’t want to wait anymore.”

Su Mo rolled his eyes at him. Both being men, he naturally understood what Zhou Mingxuan was thinking. “Wishful thinking.”

After Su Mo left, Li Xiang turned over and stared blankly in the direction of the bathroom, her emotions in turmoil.

In Li Xiang’s mind, Zhou Mingxuan had always been rigid, someone who placed great importance on a woman’s purity. How could such a person agree to share her with Su Mo?

She felt she didn’t deserve their persistence. They were both so outstanding, they deserved to have someone exclusively for themselves. What had she done to warrant such sacrifice from them?

Yet a voice in her heart warned her: love is possessive and selfish. How could someone who truly loves you bear to share you? They don’t love you at all.

She wasn’t a stunning beauty capable of toppling cities and kingdoms, why were they so fixated on her, as if she were indispensable? She couldn’t understand it.