Silent Lover (The Silent Concubine) - Chap 174

Chapter 174: Alluring

Shen Yu was in a half-asleep, half-awake state, squinting at the blurry demon mask before him. He reached out to touch it, but in his dazed condition, he missed, his hand grasping at the air a few times.

Jun Xuanxiao dodged his touch and grabbed his right hand. If Shen Yu managed to remove the mask and see his true face, all his efforts so far would be in vain.

“Dark Guard… always… always wearing a mask. Doesn’t it feel stuffy?”

Shen Yu hiccupped from the wine he had consumed. The rich scent of alcohol wafted over, making Jun Xuanxiao frown with displeasure. How drunk had he gotten? He probably wouldn’t even know if someone took advantage of him!

“Take it off, won’t you? I… I don’t even know what you look like… Come on, I promise I won’t tell anyone… You can trust me…”

Shen Yu waved his hand weakly, signaling for Jun Xuanxiao to lean closer. Jun Xuanxiao didn’t move but rubbed Shen Yu’s right hand. His fingers were long and well-proportioned, a sight Jun Xuanxiao found pleasing. But more than that, he noticed how much weight Shen Yu had lost during their journey. A pang of heartache welled up in him.

“Why won’t you ever listen…”

Jun Xuanxiao didn’t comply, causing Shen Yu to pout, half-complaining and half-scolding. His nasal voice was heavy, and his words slurred, making him sound like a little beast scratching at Jun Xuanxiao’s heart and softening it.

The dark desires Jun Xuanxiao had suppressed during the day flared up again, like embers igniting into small flames.

He was indeed a man of strong desires, though he had never let them distract him from important matters. Yet Shen Yu was more potent than any aphrodisiac—Jun Xuanxiao could never fully control himself when it came to him.

Jun Xuanxiao’s gaze lingered on the faint blush across Shen Yu’s cheeks. His drowsy eyes slowly fluttered shut, and soon, his soft breathing signaled he had fallen asleep.

The moonlight cast a silhouette of Shen Yu’s profile, lending an almost holy aura to his enticing features.

The wicked thoughts brewing in Jun Xuanxiao’s heart dissipated into a long sigh.

Shen Yu was clearly exhausted, and Jun Xuanxiao couldn’t bring himself to disturb him.

“Didn’t even bathe before falling asleep. Yu’er will turn into a stinky Yu’er,” Jun Xuanxiao murmured softly to himself. Only when Shen Yu was asleep did he dare to pretend to have casual conversations with him.

Jun Xuanxiao removed Shen Yu’s shoes and socks, then carefully untied the knots on his outer robes. Shen Yu was deeply asleep and didn’t cooperate, so Jun Xuanxiao had to support him in his arms to remove the garments.

“Hmm…”

Shen Yu let out a faint hum, reflexively reaching out and wrapping his arms around Jun Xuanxiao’s neck. His head tilted back as he relaxed, causing his loose inner robe to slip down and reveal his fair shoulders and neck. His smooth chest peeked out tantalizingly.

“…”

Jun Xuanxiao was in agony. He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing as his hands froze on Shen Yu’s back.

Shen Yu’s body, warmed by the alcohol, radiated heat. Jun Xuanxiao’s palms, pressed against the thin fabric of his inner robe, felt equally hot, as though they might ignite at any moment.

Jun Xuanxiao’s thoughts were in disarray. Desperate to regain control, he hurriedly finished removing Shen Yu’s clothes. However, he wasn’t used to serving others, so his clumsy movements only made him more flustered, fumbling with the buttons for ages.

Finally, after removing the layers of clothing, Jun Xuanxiao let out a long sigh of relief. The weather was sweltering, and he was burning with restless energy. In just this short time, he had already broken out in a sweat, his inner shirt clinging to him.

“Mm… so thirsty…”

Shen Yu mumbled, his lips dry and cracked. He stuck out his tongue to wet them, making Jun Xuanxiao jerk his hand back as if electrocuted.

If Shen Yu kept teasing him like this, Jun Xuanxiao feared he might have to leave and find some way to calm himself down.

As soon as Jun Xuanxiao let go, Shen Yu lost his balance and fell straight back.

Luckily, the soft couch cushioned his fall, and his head landed squarely on the plush pillow. Shen Yu didn’t even wake up from the tumble.

Clad only in loose inner clothes and trousers, Shen Yu looked even thinner, his frame almost boyishly slender.

Forcing himself to focus, Jun Xuanxiao turned to the washstand, wrung out a damp cloth, and began wiping Shen Yu’s face and body. He wanted to make Shen Yu as comfortable as possible, but his clumsy hands only managed a rough cleaning.

When he reached Shen Yu’s feet, the boy twitched slightly, curling his legs back.

Jun Xuanxiao grabbed his foot firmly. As soon as the damp cloth touched Shen Yu’s sole, he squirmed again, but Jun Xuanxiao’s strength easily overpowered him. Jun Xuanxiao’s arm was thicker than Shen Yu’s calf, leaving him no escape. Shen Yu whimpered in discomfort.

“Pfft…” Shen Yu eventually giggled himself awake. “It tickles! So ticklish! Hahaha…”

Jun Xuanxiao ignored his protests, meticulously wiping each toe. By the time he finished, Shen Yu was laughing so hard he was gasping for breath. Once released, Shen Yu flopped onto the bed, completely spent.

Looking back at him, Jun Xuanxiao noticed that Shen Yu’s freshly wiped face was now dotted with beads of sweat. The flush on his cheeks, coupled with his soft gasps, set Jun Xuanxiao’s imagination running wild.

Slapping himself on the forehead, Jun Xuanxiao bolted out of the room. Only after taking a deep breath of the cool, dew-laden night air did he feel somewhat calmer.

“This little devil…”

Grinding his teeth, Jun Xuanxiao walked to the courtyard’s well, drew a bucket of cold water, and splashed it over his face. Even the icy water couldn’t fully quench the heat within him.

His sweat-soaked clothes clung uncomfortably to his skin. After days of travel, he hadn’t had the chance to properly bathe.

The secluded Qionghu Pavilion guaranteed privacy, and Jun Xuanxiao was never one to fuss over decorum during military campaigns. Without hesitation, he removed his mask and stripped off his clothes, dumping a bucket of cold well water over his head.