Everyone Says I’m Cold and Aloof, But I Just Have Social Anxiety! - Chapter 18

Rustling sounds came from behind the screen as he undressed.

At the moment the clothes fell, Yan Luochen could not help himself and stole a glance toward the screen. Under the illumination of the candlelight, the figure behind the screen was visible in a hazy, flickering light. That blurred silhouette was enough to spark one’s imagination.

Then, there was the sound of water splashing as he entered the bath barrel—a loud “splash” that broke the brief silence.

Yan Luochen quickly withdrew his gaze, his heart pounding wildly. He tapped his forehead with his folding fan, secretly scolding himself: “How could I peek at Senior Brother like that? It’s completely improper!”

A flush of crimson rose on his face. To hide his embarrassment, he turned his head to the side and stared at the floor, pretending as though nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, behind the screen, Gu Qingzhi soaked relaxedly in the barrel. He gently closed his eyes, enjoying this moment of tranquility and comfort. After all, Gu Qingzhi possessed a soul from the twenty-first century, so he quite looked forward to things like bathing.

Now, as he sat in the barrel, the warm water enveloped his entire body. Every inch of his skin gradually relaxed under the soak, a sensation that was truly refreshing for the mind and body. The surrounding environment was quiet and peaceful; the candlelight cast swaying shadows against the walls. A faint mist filled the air, bringing with it a sense of warmth and moisture.

Gu Qingzhi had originally intended only to take a short nap to relax his weary mind, but he hadn’t expected that the physical relaxation would cause him to fall directly asleep while soaking…

Outside, Yan Luochen waited patiently at first. However, as time passed and no sound came from behind the screen for a long time, a trace of worry gradually rose in his heart. He called out tentatively: “Senior Brother…”

The other party did not respond.

“…Senior Brother?”

Yan Luochen’s voice grew slightly louder, yet there was still only silence. Becoming anxious, he could no longer sit still and walked past the screen.

The scene before him made him freeze instantly. He saw Gu Qingzhi asleep against the rim of the barrel; his long, black hair was damp with water, spilling outside the tub like a waterfall.

As if possessed, Yan Luochen reached out and lightly brushed away the strands of hair scattered across Gu Qingzhi’s cheek, his finger gently trailing over the bridge of that high nose. His heartbeat accelerated even more. He couldn’t help but lean in closer, bit by bit, feeling the other’s warm breath.

Acting on a sudden, inexplicable impulse, he lightly touched the corner of Gu Qingzhi’s lips a touch as soft as a dragonfly skimming the water.

From somewhere unknown, a faint “tsk” could be heard.

However, at the very moment his lips pulled away, Gu Qingzhi suddenly opened his eyes dizzily. Yan Luochen was instantly thrown into a panic. Like a startled deer, he jerked back several steps.

He thought secretly to himself: I was careless! I forgot about Zhuying!

His heart was nearly leaping out of his throat, terrified that the other would discover his actions. Gu Qingzhi’s eyes flashed with a mix of confusion and annoyance. He rose quickly from the bath barrel, water splashing everywhere. At that moment, he didn’t care whether the person in front of him saw him or not, and he swiftly threw on his clothes with extreme speed.

“What are you doing?” Gu Qingzhi’s voice was as cold as frost, his eyes filled with chill.

Yan Luochen’s face turned bright red instantly. He explained with a slight stutter: “Se… Senior Brother, I called you several times but got no response. I thought something happened to you. When I came in, I found you were asleep. I… I was just about to wake you up.”

Gu Qingzhi’s brow furrowed slightly, his expression remaining cold. “Get out.”

[Was he really just trying to wake me up? Did I truly misunderstand him?]

Yan Luochen hung his head like a child who had done something wrong and walked out from behind the screen. The moment he heard Gu Qingzhi’s inner thought, his racing heart finally found relief, and the corners of his mouth quirked up slightly.

After Gu Qingzhi finished tidying his clothes and came out, he looked at Yan Luochen and asked, “Do you need me to prepare hot water for you to bathe?”

Yan Luochen shook his head. Seeing this, Gu Qingzhi unexpectedly cast a Cleansing Spell on him.

Yan Luochen: “…”

Night fell, and all was silent. Inside the room, the candlelight flickered under the gentle caress of the breeze, dim yellow shadows dancing on the walls.

Before heading to bed, Gu Qingzhi looked at the large bed. After pondering for a moment, he suggested making a bed for himself on the floor. However, after searching the room, he couldn’t find any extra bedding. He frowned, prepared to go out and ask the waiter for more.

Just as he had taken a few steps, Yan Luochen’s voice sounded from behind him: “Senior Brother, this bed is so spacious. Why not come up and sleep with me?”

Having said that, he reached out and lightly patted the half of the bed he had pointedly vacated. His eyes were full of expectation as he signaled for Gu Qingzhi to come over. Hearing this, Gu Qingzhi was momentarily stunned, and his footsteps halted.

He looked up at Yan Luochen and, after a brief hesitation, thought:

[We are both men, anyway. There shouldn’t be anything improper about it!]

Thus, he did not refuse. He walked toward the bed with long strides and lay down directly. The corners of Yan Luochen’s mouth curled up; his smile was light yet exceptionally moving, like a flower blooming in spring.

Gu Qingzhi turned over on the bed to face him and happened to catch that smile. He couldn’t help but ask, “What are you laughing at?”

Yan Luochen blinked and said playfully, “Nothing. I just think Senior Brother smells very good; it’s a very pleasant scent!”

After speaking, the corners of his mouth curved even more. The smile was so thick it seemed as though it would overflow. Gu Qingzhi was left speechless by the remark, unsure of how to respond. Being stared at from such a close distance, he felt his face heat up slightly, accompanied by a touch of unease.

[How strange.]

Yan Luochen: Strange?! It certainly is strange—strangely handsome!

At this moment, Zhuying existed in some unknown corner, feeling fortunate that he had no presence!

Yan Luochen’s gaze was fixed on the back of Gu Qingzhi’s head as he watched the person sleeping beside him. The more he looked, the more he felt a strong urge to pull him into his arms. This feeling grew stronger and stronger, and his heartbeat accelerated along with it.

Is this what it feels like to like someone? he asked himself secretly.

To restrain his inner impulses, Yan Luochen took a deep breath, turned over to lie flat on his back, and closed his eyes tightly. He forced his thoughts to go blank, trying to fall asleep as quickly as possible. The room was extremely quiet; only the sound of their even breathing intertwined, appearing exceptionally harmonious in this peaceful night.

When they woke up, sunlight was quietly spilling into the room through the cracks in the window frame, forming golden pillars of light where small dust particles danced happily. Birds were singing on the branches outside, their crisp chirps waking the world to a new day.

Yan Luochen slowly opened his eyes, only to discover that at some point, he had wrapped himself around Gu Qingzhi from behind, one arm encircling his waist.

This discovery made Yan Luochen’s heart instantly blossom with joy. While he was secretly gloating, Gu Qingzhi began to wake. A soft “Mhm” escaped his throat. Yan Luochen was startled and, fearing he would be caught, immediately closed his eyes to feign sleep.

This scene was once again witnessed by a certain “person” who was faceless, pitch-black, and lacked any presence.

After Gu Qingzhi woke up, he felt a hand encircling his waist. He was momentarily stunned but quickly felt relieved. After all, a person’s behavior is hard to control while asleep; if he’s holding me, then so be it. He decided to get up quickly before the other woke to avoid embarrassment.

He squeezed the other’s hand, then gently picked it up and placed it to the side. He rose and methodically put on his outer robes. Just then, Yan Luochen began his performance.

He pretended to have just woken up, sitting up with a dazed look. He gave a massive stretch and said while yawning, “Morning, Senior Brother!”

“Mhm.” Gu Qingzhi gave a flat response. While tidying his clothes, he said, “Get up and eat something. We are heading up to the Danxia Sect in a moment.”

While rubbing his eyes, Yan Luochen answered, “Alright, Senior Brother.”

In his heart, however, he was relishing the feel of Gu Qingzhi’s waist in his hand just now.

So soft!

Gu Qingzhi looked at Yan Luochen’s bleary-eyed state and shook his head helplessly.