In that gaze, there was astonishment, infatuation, and a deep desire that seemed on the verge of breaking free.
Her throat bobbed unconsciously as she swallowed. Her breathing grew noticeably heavier, clearly audible in the quiet room where only the soft ripple of water could be heard. A faint, unnatural flush spread across her cheeks—whether from the steam filling the room or from something else entirely, it was impossible to say.
My heartbeat instantly fell into chaos, pounding wildly—partly from the shock of such sudden exposure, partly from the scorching heat in her eyes, so unhidden it felt as though it might burn me. I instinctively hugged my arms to my chest, trying to cover more of myself, but that movement only seemed to provoke her further.
She took a small step forward, her pace slightly hesitant.
"Is the… is the water still hot?" Her voice was unusually hoarse, strained with restraint.
I nodded vaguely, not daring to meet her eyes, hoping only that she would leave quickly.
But she did not leave. Instead, she moved closer and stopped beside the tub, lowering her gaze to look at me. That look felt almost tangible, inch by inch sweeping over my face, my neck, my collarbones… Wherever it passed, it was as though tiny sparks were being lit.
"You…" She lifted her hand, as if wanting to touch my damp hair, but her fingers trembled slightly in midair. In the end, she forced herself to pull back, clenching her hand into a tight fist. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the warm, humid air. When she opened them again, the surging turbulence in her gaze had been forcibly suppressed, regaining a measure of clarity—yet the desire buried deep within still burned fiercely in the shadows.
"You were worn out too much last night. Don't soak for too long—be careful not to get dizzy." In the end, she only left me with that hoarse reminder, then turned away almost hastily and strode out of the bathing room, carefully closing the door behind her.
The moment the door shut, the tension in my body finally snapped. I nearly collapsed into the water, utterly drained, left only with my violently racing heart and a single thought:
"One more time, and this body of mine really wouldn't be able to take it."
Breakfast was set in an elegant private room in the front hall of Wenyuan Pavilion. When we went downstairs together, we indeed ran into Liu Yunyì, Su Wenjin, and Su Wenyu again. They were seated by the window. Seeing us, they smiled and nodded in greeting. I returned a faint smile. Xiao Yuhuang still wore little expression, but at least she was no longer radiating coldness.
However, the atmosphere in the hall was far less relaxed than yesterday. Nearly every table was abuzz with anxious discussion, faces marked by unease.
"Have you heard? Young Master Li from the Li household in the west of the city went missing the night before last!"
"That flower-stealing bandit again?! How many has this been now?"
"The authorities even posted wanted notices, and they still can't find a trace of him! It's truly uncanny!"
"Anyone with a good-looking son at home has been on edge these days. They're checking the bolts on their doors several times every night!"
"Exactly. That villain comes and goes without a trace, targeting only handsome young masters. Once they're taken, there's no word at all—afraid that…"
The fragmented discussions drifted over, carrying an oppressive sense of panic. The name "flower-stealing bandit" hung over Yunzhou City like a dark cloud.
Chunyu, seated beside me, listened until his face turned pale. He leaned closer, lowering his voice, worry written all over it. "Young master, this… what should we do? You…" His look clearly said that, with the young master's appearance, he was practically the bandit's ideal target.
I smiled at him reassuringly and gently shook my head. Yet my gaze drifted unconsciously toward Xiao Yuhuang beside me.
She was calmly serving food onto my plate, as though all the surrounding talk had nothing to do with her. But when I looked at her, she caught my glance with precision. She set down her silver chopsticks and, beneath the table, lightly rubbed my slightly cool fingers.
The gesture carried unquestionable firmness and a warmth that set my heart at ease.
I lowered my eyes, and the faint ripple of unease stirred up by the rumors instantly settled.
I knew.
With her here, let alone some flower-stealing bandit—even if all the demons and specters of this world descended together, none of them would be able to lay a finger on me.