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The faint sound of water echoed in the quiet room as Han Yan poured it into the wooden basin. Steam rose lazily, curling through the lantern light and carrying the faint scent of herbs.
He rolled up his sleeves and dipped a hand into the water, testing the heat. Warm enough he thought. With a short nod, he straightened and began to untie his outer robe.
The rustle of fabric broke the stillness as he stripped off the layers one by one, folding them neatly before setting them aside. The light traced the contours of his body long, toned muscle wrapped in the golden warmth of countless days beneath the sun before he stepped into the wooden basin.
The warmth closed in around him instantly. He let out a low breath of relief, tilting his head back as tension eased from his shoulders. For a while, he just sat there, arms resting on the rim, the fire crackling softly in the corner he was enjoying the silence.
His gaze flicked to the surface of the bath water.
…Right. He still hadn't checked how this body looked like.
It couldn't possibly beat his own face that much was obvious but well, as long as it wasn't too unsightly either, he could live with it.
A face stared back calm, steady, but not one he'd gotten used to seeing yet. Brown skin, sword-like brows, dark eyes that seemed deeper than they had any right to be. The jawline was sharper, the features clearer under the glow of lantern light.
He studied it for a long moment nearly an hour passed without him noticing it, his expression unreadable. Then, his brow furrowed slightly.
He blinked once. Then twice.
"…You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, leaning closer to the water
No… that face. It looked familiar too familiar in an unlikely way.
Wait.
It wasn't just similar.
It was his own face.
The resemblance was so exact it made his fingers tighten slightly against the wooden basin. Of all the bodies he could have ended up with in this silly novel, he actually ended up in his own body how could that be possible What kind of cosmic joke is this?
He splashed the water lightly as if it might change the reflection. It didn't. The same sharp features stared back at him.
A quiet scoff slipped out, half amusement, half disbelief.
"Really?" he muttered under his breath, raking a damp hand through his dark long hair. Guess even the Heaven's had a sense of humor. Firstly he died from choking on noddles, now he got his body back... he couldn't tell if it was really a joke or a miracle.
He brushed his hand across the water, breaking his reflection into ripples until it vanished. Then he sank deeper into the warmth, eyes closing briefly. The day's fatigue pressed down again, heavy and exhausting.
In the next room, the faint glow of the oil lamp softened the shadows along the walls. The house wasn't new, but to them it felt so unfamiliar, the faint scent of smoke and old wood and the quiet hush of a place that had only just began to feel like home.
The bath room was a little way off not too far, it was just beyond the small corridor which connected to their bedroom. Lin Xin could still hear the faint splash of water if he listened closely.
He sat at the edge of the bed, absentmindedly folding and unfolding the corner of the thin blanket. He felt Han Yan had been in there for a while now it was too long for just a regular bath.
He told himself not to worry. Han Yan was strong, even after what happened, but still… Lin Xin's fingers tightened slightly around the fabric. Was he too tired that he fell asleep. Or maybe something worst happened.
His eyes drifted toward the doorway, he heard a faint sound though the dim corridor. "Yan-ge?" he called softly, almost hesitant.
There was no answer, just the faint dripping of water and the low crackle of the fire from the main hall.
He let out a quiet breath, torn between going to check and staying where he was. In the end, he simply sat there, listening to the quiet space of the night.
"Honestly…" he murmured under his breath, "does he plan to soak until morning?"
The corners of his lips twitched faintly. He shook his head, setting the blanket aside, and waited until the faint sound of water finally began to still, and the house slowly grew calm again.
When Han Yan finally stood, droplets slid down his back and broad shoulders, catching the light as they fell. He dried himself off, movements brisk but unhurried, and pulled on a clean robe beside him.
After arranging the washing corner he pushed the bamboo screen aside then stepped into the corridor, the soft creak of the wooden floor following his steps. With the faint scent of herbs and steam still clung to him as he made his way back to the bedroom.
Lin Xin looked up the moment the door slid open. The lamplight flickered across Han Yan's damp hair and the faint sheen of water still clinging to his neck.
"You're finally done," Lin Xin asked, his voice gentle but it couldn't not hide his earlier worries.
Han Yan gave a low hum in reply, brushing a hand through his hair as he crossed the room. "Didn't mean to take that long," he said, though his tone carried a kind of calm that came after all his many thoughts were sorted out.
Lin Xin hesitated, fingers tightening slightly on the edge of the blanket. "I thought you might have… fallen asleep in there," he murmured, his eyes lowering.
Han Yan shifted his attention"...The bed's small,"he said dryly, after a pause, tone caught with unease as his gaze swept over the bed it had a thin blanket, one pillow, barely enough room for two.
Lin Xin's fingers stilled. "It's the only one," he said quietly. "I can sleep on the mat if..."
Han Yan shook his head before he could finish his sentence. "No need. I'm not that heartless."
He sat down at the edge of the bed, the wooden frame creaking under his weight. The closeness made the air shift slightly, and for a moment neither of them spoke.
Lin Xin adjusted the blanket between them, careful to keep a bit of space. While Han Yan tried to look relaxed, leaning back, but the stiffness in his shoulders betrayed him. The faint warmth of Lin Xin's presence beside him was far more distracting than he cared to admit.
"You don't have to sleep like that," Han Yan muttered, keeping his voice low. "You'll be sore in the morning."
Lin Xin gave a soft hum, barely audible. "I'm fine."
They both weren't.
Han Yan could feel it in the stiffness of his own shoulders, in the faint, uneven rhythm of Lin Xin's breathing beside him. The silence wasn't exactly uncomfortable, but it felt far from peaceful.
He shifted slightly, pretending to get comfortable, but the wooden frame groaned in betrayal. Lin Xin glanced up for a brief second before looking away again, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of the thin blanket.
The silence stretched, broken only by the faint whisper of wind against the paper windows. Han Yan shifted slightly, tugging the thin blanket up to his chest. "It's cold at night" he said under his breath, half to himself.
Lin Xin hesitated for a moment, then shifted closer. He adjusted the blanket again so it could cover them both a little better. Their warm hands brushed briefly against each other making Han Yan go completely still.
Lin Xin's breath caught, but he said nothing, only turning his face away, the tips of his ears faintly pink in the dark.
Han Yan exhaled slowly, pretending to be calm even as his heartbeat refused to listen. "…Good night," he said at last, closing his eyes.
"Good night," Lin Xin murmured back.
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