Inside the bathroom, Yan Zhen had just seen off the Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law and was looking forward to a nice, relaxing soak in the tub. He never imagined that Dean Little Aunt would barge right in on her own.
—Where was his right to privacy? Could they not just get along anymore?
Yan Zhen rolled his eyes helplessly and asked casually, “Is something up, Little Aunt?”
Dean Yu Qing stood by the bathtub with her arms crossed, chin slightly raised, looking down at him like a queen. In an indifferent tone, she said, “Your Second Sister sent me to check on your injuries. Get up—let me take a proper look.”
—???
Yan Zhen mentally fired off three question marks in a row.
The Yu Family Head Mother-in-Law had just checked him over herself. Why send Dean Little Aunt now? Something was off. Wait—could she be faking orders? Very likely!
More precisely, she was using the family head’s command as an excuse to inspect his body, sneak some photos, and then blackmail him with them later.
—This scheming little aunt!
Suspicion gradually replaced the confusion on Yan Zhen’s face, though he didn’t call her out directly. Instead, he probed, “They already said I’m fine—no need for a checkup.”
Dean Yu Qing huffed. “If your Second Sister wasn’t so worried about her troublesome son-in-law, do you think I’d bother coming here?”
—So the family head came herself just moments ago. As if she’d send you, you lying little aunt!
Yan Zhen grew even more convinced she was up to no good. “So how exactly does Little Aunt want to check? It’s not like you want me bare-assed, right?”
Things had gone too smoothly. Dean Yu Qing felt a bit smug inwardly—this fool was so easy to fool. She cleared her throat twice, forcing her expression into one of utmost seriousness. “Bare is fine. Who’s interested in looking at you anyway?”
Yan Zhen chuckled to himself. Trying to prank me? Let’s see who flinches first.
He cracked his neck, planted his hands on the edges of the tub, and abruptly stood up.
Splash.
Water sprayed everywhere as his lean, muscular, perfectly masculine body emerged. The pale red medicinal liquid cascaded down his skin and dripped back into the tub, plink-plink-plink.
Without a hint of embarrassment, Yan Zhen stepped out of the tub, his wet feet slapping the floor and leaving clear footprints. Soaking wet, he stood before Dean Little Aunt, hands on his hips, boldly displaying every inch of himself.
Especially Second Master, rearing its head proudly, pointing skyward like it was begging for punishment, striking a brazen “check out my size” pose.
Dean Yu Qing, who had been secretly delighted just moments before, froze at the sight. A massive blush exploded across her refined, elegant face.
“Y-you! Why’d you come so close all of a sudden?”
—Hah, scared now? This worldly old maid thinks she can play games with me?
Yan Zhen deliberately thrust his hips forward and said calmly, “Didn’t Little Aunt say she needed to check? How can you do that from far away?”
Dean Yu Qing whipped her head away, covering her eyes with one hand as if she weren’t peeking, though she was stealing glances and couldn’t tear her gaze away. “Th-that doesn’t mean you have to be this close. I’m not blind…”
Yan Zhen chuckled inwardly. “Should I get back in the tub then?”
“Wait!” Dean Yu Qing called out. “You’re already out—just stay like that for the checkup.”
With that, she lowered her hand and lifted her head, pretending to casually meet his eyes.
Determined to call her bluff, Yan Zhen spread his arms wide. “Go ahead, Little Aunt. Check however you like.”
However she liked? Dean Yu Qing’s heart skipped a beat at those words. A vivid scene flashed through her mind:
Her arms wrapped around him from behind, teeth nibbling his ear, one hand gripping his most sensitive spot and forcing that cocky brat to obey.
Or even shoving him back into the tub, climbing on top, and rendering him helpless as she used her tongue to draw a cute, goofy turtle on his pristine chest muscles—one that wouldn’t fade for days.
“…”
Dean Yu Qing’s breathing quickened. She swallowed quietly and focused on his body, only for the lingering scars to snap her out of her fantasies.
Unable to help herself, she reached out with a delicate hand and gently touched the lightning strike wound on his chest, her voice tinged with heartache. “Does it still hurt?”
Yan Zhen blinked. “Just a little. It’s almost healed.”
“It’s peeling.”
“It’ll grow back soon.”
“Will it scar?”
“Nope. I’ve been soaking in the medicinal bath.”
“What about the other spots?”
“Almost better.”
“Do they hurt?”
“It’s fine.”
“…”
Dean Yu Qing fell silent all of a sudden, not saying a word for a long while.
Seeing her downcast, Yan Zhen was baffled. “Little Aunt?”
Looking a bit unnatural, Dean Yu Qing said, “Y-you—close your eyes.”
Even more puzzled, Yan Zhen asked, “What for?”
“Quit talking and just close them!”
“…”
—Fine, I’ll close them. No need to snap.
Since Dean Little Aunt had bought him two shares of medicinal ingredients, Yan Zhen decided not to hold it against her. He obediently shut his eyes.
“No peeking, or I’ll hit you.”
Dean Little Aunt warned him like that, and Yan Zhen casually agreed.
Soon, he felt her small hands on his shoulders, followed by a faint ticklish sensation on his chest—like being licked by a puppy or kitten.
Yan Zhen immediately opened his eyes in shock, only to find Dean Little Aunt with her pink tongue out, lapping at the wound on his chest.
“Little Aunt, you—”
She quickly covered his eyes with her hand to block his view, but her tongue kept circling the wound.
Yan Zhen keenly sensed a gentle Water Mystic Force spreading across the injury, accelerating its healing.
Was Dean Little Aunt healing him?
Among the various Mystic Powers, Water Mystic Force, Wood Mystic Force, and Yang Mystic Force all had healing properties. Mentor Yu Xuan had done the same for him before.
But couldn’t she use her hands? That was the normal way to channel Mystic Power.
Mentor Yu Xuan had admitted it was because she wanted an excuse to kiss him.
So why was Dean Little Aunt doing this?
Yan Zhen was at a loss, unsure what had gotten into her.
After a while, the tickling faded, and he heard Dean Little Aunt say, “Doesn’t hurt anymore now, does it?”
She released his eyes. Yan Zhen gazed at her complicatedly, her face flushed red. Avoiding his stare, she explained, “Don’t get the wrong idea. I just felt sorry for you and helped out on impulse.”
The atmosphere turned ambiguously intimate in an instant.
Yan Zhen scratched his head, unsure how to respond, and could only manage an “oh.”
“W-well? Aren’t you going to close your eyes again? There’s Wind Thunder Power lingering elsewhere too. I-I’ll use Water Mystic Force to draw it out for you. The wounds will heal even faster.”
Ah… It was only a half-day or one-day difference. Was that necessary?
Yan Zhen wanted to refuse, but before he could speak, his eyes were covered again.
This time, the tickling came from near his shoulders, accompanied by faint smooching sounds in his ear.
Yan Zhen fell silent, a strange thought crossing his mind: Could Dean Little Aunt be like Mentor Yu Xuan back then, using this as an excuse to kiss him?
