"But I want to bathe."
Xiao Chi Zhan said, shedding the thin black robe he was wearing, about to get into the water.
Ye Luan was annoyed. She casually grabbed a towel from her body and threw it at him. It landed on the ground along his legs.
"Don't get in, are you tired of living!"
Seeing the anger on her delicate and beautiful face, Xiao Chi Zhan raised an eyebrow slightly, stopping his movements. A hint of a smile played on his handsome and bewitching face.
Immediately, he squatted by the edge of the pool and touched her face.
"I'll listen to you. Don't be angry."
His tone made it seem as if she was being unreasonable.
Ye Luan was displeased, but she couldn't show it. She pushed his hand away and sank further into the water.
"Then hurry back and rest."
With him here, she felt too self-conscious to wash properly.
Xiao Chi Zhan picked up the robe from the rack, put it on, and sat on the cold jade chair, supporting his head with one hand, quietly watching her.
Ye Luan, "----"
"Luan Luan, when we get married, we'll live in the North Palace."
"Your body is sensitive to the cold. Every part of the North Palace has special materials built into the walls. When the weather gets cold and the heating coils are activated, you won't feel cold."
After hearing his words, Ye Luan couldn't help but be speechless. He truly had money to spare and nowhere to spend it. Did two people need to live in such a large place? What a waste.
"Moreover, all areas of the North Palace have mechanisms and natural protective shields. If you open the mechanisms and the fire channels, and activate the heating coils, even if you are admiring the scenery outside, you won't feel cold."
'----'
Ye Luan was shocked. "It can be like this?"
"Mhm."
The craftsman was truly skilled.
"Oh, right. Earlier, I heard Qing Ge and the others talking about the Starry Sky Hall. What is that?"
At that time, she had been too focused on taking care of him, only vaguely hearing them outside discussing something called the Starry Sky Hall, the Underwater Royal Palace, and speaking of it in such incredible terms.
"It's a glazed starry sky made of snow crystals, located in the Cloud Palace. Do you want to see it?"
Ye Luan was astonished. "A starry sky made of snow crystals?!"
Xiao Chi Zhan looked at her with his deep eyes. Seeing her leaning by the pool, her face full of curiosity, he couldn't help but curl his lips.
"Mhm."
"Amazing. I've never seen a starry sky made of snow crystals before. I want to go see it."
Ye Luan quickly tried to wash herself clean, but as she washed, she felt something was wrong.
She looked up and saw his deep red eyes staring intently at her graceful, swaying figure in the water, fiery and lingering.
"What are you looking at?"
Her tone was fierce.
Xiao Chi Zhan smiled lightly and walked over, squatting by the edge of the pool. "I'll wash you."
"No need."
"Don't move."
He picked up the fragrant herb and rubbed it onto her dark hair, slowly massaging it.
Ye Luan leaned against the edge of the pool, feeling his gentle movements. She said with concern, "I'll do it myself. Don't pull on the wound."
"It's fine. I'll be careful."
Silence fell in the bath, and the air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood.
His movements were so gentle that Ye Luan felt drowsy.
She said, "Hurry up, I'm getting sleepy."
"Alright."
His voice was hoarse and deep. Ye Luan pouted and covered herself with a towel.
Xiao Chi Zhan saw her action and chuckled, "A hazy beauty is more alluring, you know?"
Ye Luan, "----"
What did that statement mean, was she supposed to put down the towel or put down the towel?
After he finished washing, Ye Luan said, "You go wait for me outside."
Xiao Chi Zhan stood up and walked to the rack, handing her a thin gauze robe.
"I don't want to wear this one, it's too revealing."
"It's just the two of us here. No one dares to come in without permission."
Ye Luan shook her head. "Then I won't either. I want to wear that one."
Xiao Chi Zhan glanced at it and handed it to her. "It's so hot today, and you're still wearing so much."
"It's not too much, it's just right."
There were ice blocks placed all around, so it wasn't hot at all.
This North Palace was truly built remarkably, warm in winter and cool in summer. In summer, there was no need to go to a summer resort, and in winter, there was no need to go to another palace for warmth.
"You go out."
"I want to wash too."
Hearing this, Ye Luan looked up at him and relented.
"Alright then. Wait for me to help you wash. Don't touch the water."
Xiao Chi Zhan smiled. "Okay."
Ye Luan quickly dried herself and got dressed. As she turned, she saw him staring at her with a fiery gaze. She said irritably,
"Come here."
"Luan Luan, I'll dry your hair first, so you don't catch a cold."
Xiao Chi Zhan took her hand and pulled her to sit in front of the vanity mirror, then took a towel to dry her hair.
In the dim yellow mirror, her jade-like face was reflected.
"Xiao Chi Zhan, I want to make three rules with you."
"?"
Ye Luan noticed his hand pause slightly. She cleared her throat and said, "Before we get married, I want to live at the Bai Manor."
Xiao Chi Zhan, "----"
"You can't restrict my freedom, and you can't send people to watch me."
"---"
Ye Luan continued, "Also, you must respect me. You can't be too paranoid or domineering. If there's something I don't want to do, you can't force me."
"----"
"As for other things, I'll tell you when I think of them."
Xiao Chi Zhan continued to dry her hair and said, "Other than that, anything is fine, but you have to live with me."
"No."
Ye Luan immediately turned her head, grabbed his clothes, and looked up. "Before we get married, I can't live with you. People will gossip. We must wait for a formal marriage."
Three letters and six rites, an eight-person sedan chair, ten miles of dowry, a formal marriage. He wanted to give her the grandest wedding.
"Will you or won't you?"
She tugged at his robe, acting spoiled.
Xiao Chi Zhan came back to his senses, leaned down, and nuzzled her cheek.
"Okay."
As long as she was willing to stay by his side, he would do as she wished. If she didn't want to live with him, he could sneak to the Bai Manor.
Yes, that was it.
Ye Luan hadn't expected him to be so agreeable. Her face lit up with joy, and she pecked his cheek.
"So obedient."
Xiao Chi Zhan was momentarily stunned, then smiled. "Is this a reward?"
"Yes."
If he was obedient, she would be proactive. Xiao Chi Zhan pondered for a moment and kept it in mind.
When her hair was mostly dry, Ye Luan pulled him towards the bath.
To make washing easier, she had tied up her still damp hair with a hairpin, revealing her delicate, fair collarbones, like butterflies. A few strands of hair dangled down, making her skin appear even more snow-white.
Xiao Chi Zhan looked at her appearance, his throat bobbing slightly, his expression dark and unclear.
Her hands were smooth and translucent, clean and fair. Her fingertips were slightly cool, brushing against his body, making him involuntarily close his eyes.
Ye Luan paid him no mind. She looked at the bloodstain on his chest and frowned.
"Can't you be still for a moment? The wound is bleeding again. You need to change the dressing later."
Hearing her voice, Xiao Chi Zhan couldn't help but lower his head to look at her.
Her eyes were downcast, her shoulders and neck slender and delicate. She was bending slightly to wipe him, and from his angle, he could see her front, powdery white like porcelain, incredibly alluring.
He couldn't resist anymore.
Ye Luan noticed the change and her face flushed slightly. She quickly averted her eyes.
"Why is your face red?"
Suddenly, he smiled and leaned down, touching her cheek.
Ye Luan's heart skipped a beat, and she pretended to be angry. "Stand still, or you'll have to wash yourself."
Xiao Chi Zhan straightened up slightly, his voice hoarse.
"I haven't touched you at all. This is a normal reaction."
"---"