Qin Yu had just emerged from the bathroom after a shower, his body clad only in a towel wrapped around his waist, with nothing underneath.
His damp hair clung together in clumps, but he made no move to dry it, allowing water droplets to fall from the ends and trace the contours of his muscular physique.
Xie Cen, seated on the sofa engrossed in his phone, looked up at the sound.
“Nice body,” Xie Cen remarked in a deep voice, his expression serious as ever, though his gaze kept drifting to Qin Yu’s lower half, making him somewhat uncomfortable.
Hah, as if any respectable person would book a hotel room like this.
“Likewise,” Qin Yu replied modestly, casually running a hand through his wet hair.
“By the way, when did you figure out the truth?”
Qin Yu had sprawled onto one of the twin beds, his muscular back against the headboard, legs spread naturally. The towel around his waist had loosened with his movements, now barely clinging to his hips. He was clearly at ease.
Xie Cen had just gotten up to find a bathrobe in the bathroom, his disposable slippers tapping against the polished hotel floor.
Though ostensibly looking down for something, his eyes kept darting towards Qin Yu.
“I always knew,” Xie Cen admitted frankly, swallowing hard as he tore his gaze away from Qin Yu. “I just never expected Lin Ke to rent me an online dating partner.”
“You’re quite elegant, aren’t you? Playing along with me for a whole week.” Realizing the other had long known the truth, Qin Yu felt he’d been made a fool of and couldn’t help but tease.
“Indeed, I didn’t expect it either,” Xie Cen replied, draping the bathrobe over his muscular arm as he padded barefoot into the bathroom.
“Don’t rush off to shower, let’s chat,” Qin Yu said mischievously, his tone reminiscent of a rogue. He watched as Xie Cen’s left foot, which had just entered the bathroom, retreated.
“We’ll have plenty of time later,” Xie Cen said, turning back.
“Who just talks under the covers? If we don’t chat now, we won’t get the chance later,” Qin Yu persisted shamelessly.
“Fine, come in and we’ll talk,” Xie Cen countered, turning back into the bathroom.
This… This guy clearly knew Qin Yu was just trying to tease him, but he didn’t take the bait. He’d calculated that Qin Yu wouldn’t actually follow him into the bathroom, hadn’t he?
Well, he’d read Qin Yu correctly. Qin Yu did have some shame; he wasn’t brazen enough for that. Besides, going in would be playing right into Xie Cen’s hands.
Qin Yu really couldn’t outmaneuver him in these mind games.
With nothing else to do, Qin Yu picked up his phone from the rosewood table. As luck would have it, Lin Hai had messaged him just three minutes ago.
[You there? Your bro Lin’s landed another big deal]
[This time it’ll only take three days to wrap up, and the price isn’t much less than your gig. We’re raking it in!]
[Call me big bro, and I’ll hook you up with some high-quality online dating jobs]
[(Sunglasses emoji)]
Qin Yu smirked and typed a reply.
[I’m out]
The response was brief and to the point – just a question mark.
[?]
[The online relationship became real]
[!???]
Lin Hai sent a string of question marks in response.
[Holy shit holy shit holy shit]
[For real?]
[How did you manage to both get paid and fall in love? Share your method, will you? Asking for a friend who’s curious.]
[I |] Qin Yu was still typing when Xie Cen emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered.
He wore a thin bathrobe, seemingly intentionally left open at the chest, easily revealing the enticing view within.
“Nice body,” Qin Yu complimented generously. The physique was clearly well-trained, each muscle hitting all of Qin Yu’s sweet spots, a feast for the eyes.
On second thought, it was a bit of a shame. This brother, from all appearances, was likely cut from the same cloth as him. Though Xie Cen’s attitude towards the whole situation seemed rather nonchalant.
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