When Yu Xi returned to the room, he called out casually, "I am going to take a shower."
He didn't wait for a response. Jian Ci's dog nose was too sharp. He would pick up the scent of smoke in seconds, and Yu Xi didn't feel like being interrogated. Jian Ci wouldn't let it go, not when it came to things that could hurt him.
The water was hot, the steam thick. Yu Xi scrubbed every trace of smoke from his skin, from his hair, until all that lingered was the familiar scent of amber and vanilla.
He stepped out of the bathroom with a towel slung low around his waist, another in his hand as he dried his hair. The room was dark, the only light spilling in from the narrow passageway. He blinked, adjusting to the dimness.
"Ci?" he called softly.
No answer. He was about to reach for the panel when arms wrapped around him from behind, firm and warm. He froze, heart thudding in his chest.
