Hot flashes

Outside the window was a courtyard, and the moonlight had already risen, illuminating the stone table and benches in the courtyard. A night breeze blew by, carrying the unique fragrance of mountain grass and trees.

Zhou Heng stood by the window and let out a long breath.

Xiao Jue ran into the kitchen and directed the servants to boil water.

"Hurry, hurry, heat the water up a bit more."

"Use the best wooden barrel, yes, the big one."

"Add some of that stuff, that fragrant stuff, the kind my mom used to use..."

The servants were completely at his beck and call, but none dared to say a word. Their young master usually seemed quite easy to talk to, but that was only if they hadn't offended him. If they had, he would turn on them faster than flipping through a book.

What's wrong with me today?

Why care so much about a stranger?

Once the water was boiled, Xiao Jue directed people to carry the wooden bucket into his room. After it was inside, he began rummaging through drawers and cabinets.

New handkerchief.

Clean inner garments.

Perfume balm.

Once it was placed properly, he nodded in satisfaction and turned to wave at Zhou Heng.

"Okay, you can go wash now."

Looking at the large bucket of steaming water and then at the neatly arranged items beside it, Zhou Heng suddenly felt a sense of gratitude.

"Xiao Jue," he said, "thank you."

Xiao Jue was stunned for a moment.

Then his ears turned red again.

"Don't thank me," he muttered. "Hurry up and wash, it'll be harder to wash if the water gets cold."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and ran outside.

He ran to the door, then stopped.

"I'll be waiting for you outside!"

The door closed.

Xiao Jue went out and stood under the eaves.

He stood there for a while, then suddenly remembered something and started walking forward.

After walking a few steps, he stopped and waved to a servant in the courtyard.

The man ran over.

"Young master?"

Xiao Jue said, "Clean up that room in the east wing."

The man paused for a moment, then asked, "Which one?"

Xiao Jue said, "It's the one next to mine. Quick, let's go now."

The man responded and turned to run away.

Xiao Jue stood there for a while longer, but still felt uneasy, so he followed after him.

The room in the east wing was separated from his room by only one wall. It was usually uninhabited and empty, containing only some old furniture.

Xiao Jue stood at the door, watching the people coming and going busily.

"Move that cabinet, yes, put it against the wall."

"What about the mattress on the bed? Make sure there are several layers, and it's soft."

"Hang up the tent, the blue one."

"Put that bottle on the table, and that one too, right."

The servants exchanged glances, but none of them spoke.

What's wrong with their young master today?

Normally, he never bothers to tidy up his own room, let alone clean it.

Whether the mattress is thin or thick, it doesn't matter to me. Whether there's an extra or missing item in the room, I never care. Why am I being so attentive to a guest today?

The mattress was layered upon layered, until finally, one could sink in halfway down. The curtains were hung up, the bottles were placed, and even the incense burner was lit, wisps of smoke rising gently.

Xiao Jue was still not satisfied, so he walked around the room again, touching this and that.

"Isn't this table a bit low?"

"Young master, this table is of normal height."

"What about this one? Isn't this chair a bit too hard?"

"Young master, this chair has a cushion."

Xiao Jue was still not satisfied, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

He was standing in the house when he suddenly remembered something and ran back to his own room.

Zhou Heng was taking a shower when he heard the door open and was startled.

Xiao Jue rushed in, went straight to his cabinet, opened the door, and started rummaging through it.

Zhou Heng stood there, stunned.

Xiao Jue pulled out a new quilt, hugged it to his arms, and ran out again.

The door closed again.

Zhou Heng: "..."

This child is so easily startled.

Xiao Jue rushed into the east wing with the quilt in his arms and put the new quilt on the bed.

"Change to this."

Those servants had become numb.

After changing the blankets, Xiao Jue walked around the room again and finally nodded.

"Alright."

The servants breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Jue waved his hand, and they filed out.

Xiao Jue stood alone in the room, looking at the neatly tidied room, and suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

Isn't this too deliberate?

He looked at it again and thought it was pretty good.

He closed the door, ran back to his own doorway, stood on the porch, and waited.

After Zhou Heng finished showering and changed into his clean undergarments, he opened the door and saw Xiao Jue standing at the door.

Xiao Jue heard the door open and turned around.

His gaze fell on Zhou Heng, and he paused for a moment.

Zhou Heng was wearing his undergarments, his hair still slightly damp, strands clinging to his forehead. His face was clean and appeared exceptionally fair in the moonlight.

Xiao Jue was stunned for a moment before he remembered what he was going to say.

"Um," he pointed to the room next door, "your room is over there."

Zhou Heng followed his finger and saw a door, not far from the door behind him.

He walked over and pushed open the door.

The room was lit and spotless. The mattress on the bed was ridiculously thick; it must have been incredibly comfortable to lie on. A bottle sat on the table, and incense burned in the burner—everything was just right.

Zhou Heng stood at the door and looked back at Xiao Jue.

Xiao Jue stood under the eaves, looking at him with bright eyes.

"How was it?" he asked, his voice tinged with nervousness. "Are you satisfied?"

Zhou Heng looked at him, suddenly unsure of what to say.

This kid spent the whole night running around for him, boiling water and tidying up the house, thinking of everything so thoroughly. We've only known each other for a day, but it feels like we've been friends for ages.

"Satisfied," he said. "Very satisfied."

Xiao Jue was overjoyed.

"That's good!" he said. "Then you should go to sleep early. Call me if you need anything; I'm right next door."