In the new life, Shao Cheng glimpses of the time where he was pulled from the freezing ice-cold river before finally seeing each other underneath the blooming tree in the snow-white courtyard, and then the countless situations that soon followed after.

Bam!

In the large wooden bathtub which can casually fit three adults, Shao Cheng has bent over and violently hit his forehead on the smooth wood in order to retain a clear mind before slowly submerging more of his body in the cold water, his hands tightly gripping the edge of the wooden bathtub.

The grip was strong enough to cause blue veins to bulge and twitch in those delicate, beautiful hands.

"...Haa… haa… haa…"

When it comes to that man, Shao Cheng couldn't completely control his urge and desire with great ease like he usually could, while his extremely strong will became unusually fragile.

Fortunately, the man was in disguise during this kind of dangerous situation so it was easier for Shao Cheng to get his mind back, or else he would have personally broken the line he has always been dreading to cross.

"... Whitey?"

Of course… nothing will happen the way I want… Especially when the man won't even obediently listen to what I tell him to do...

"Don't come in."

Shao Cheng has spoken in an extremely deep hoarse voice while forcing those words out, especially when his lower part couldn't help but twitch in reaction to the man's voice.

Fuck…

Honestly, he was able to control and endure the torment of aphrodisiac medicine since his will is extremely firm and strong and his mind cannot be easily controlled, especially when it wasn't even the type of medicine that would make a person completely lose their awareness.

However, when Shao Cheng senses the man's presence, especially when standing before him, there is the extreme urge to push the man down, which makes it harder to restrain after never touching another person after transmigrating in the ancient martial arts world while only focusing on taking care of the people around him.

It was one of Shao Cheng's rare moments of blunder because he honestly underestimated how much his small affection toward the man seemed strong enough to easily break his firm will and reasonable mind.

Honestly, Shao Cheng felt like eating Ren Yuan right there and then without even remembering the consequences.

"Hey Whitey, I'll come in alright?"

"DON'T COME IN!"

At this moment, Shao Cheng finally realized how it felt to be tormented by an aphrodisiac medicine. It was a different experience from how he was always being able to remain in control even after the countless experiences in the previous life, and always able to resolve the situation after the difficulties.

In the previous life, he was able to escape Mei's obsession. He was even able to escape and solve the perverted cousin's hands, and even the following trouble that soon emerged because of his appearance.

And yet, just because of a person named Ren Yuan, he completely felt helpless and anxious about losing control.

After shouting a clear rejection and letting out an extremely harsh gasp a few seconds later, Shao Cheng finally detected the sudden silence of the person standing outside the door.

"..."

During that moment, Shao Cheng was unable to completely hold the feeling of dread after hearing the man's footsteps getting closer toward the door and preparing to open it.

"J-Just… please leave me be… ok?"

Haa… I accept it… I'm a complete coward when it comes to a romantic relationship.

He desires the genuine love and care of a family and friends but doesn't want… No! it's more likely, rejecting or refusing the feeling of a person's passionate love.

It was already hard maintaining a genuine familial love, so how dare he desires the most complicated emotions of all time?

Haa... romantic love? Nothing good will come out of it...

"Brother Yuan… I'll be alright… haa… just… a few hours…haa…soon, I'll be good… so for now… you can leave me alone."

Don't come closer… I'm already crossing the line…. There's no need for you to do it too... In this life... I'll be the one to endure all of it... the pain, the anxiety, the sadness, the unhappiness...

Especially since you had already experienced all of it in the previous life...So it's already enough... there is no need for you to once again experience a similar situation...

Ren Yuan, I can't guarantee you happiness and satisfaction when it comes to these feelings… sorry… this is the one thing I can't promise you…

Shao Cheng's sapphire eyes darkened considerably while the wooden edge of the tub was almost cracked by the uncontrollable strength of his grip as the supposedly dull and numb heart twisted due to unimaginable pain.

It's not good... It seems that the effect of using the incomplete skill from before is affecting my mind once again…

I can't help but feel all negative while having dark thoughts…

Shao Cheng suddenly notices the distinct heaviness in his mind after being affected from using the incomplete skill earlier. While at the same time, the person silently standing still outside the door finally made his move.

"Little Cheng, it seems that you have forgotten something important once again. I am here, so you can always count on me."

"..."

"Little Cheng, you are no longer alone. The moment we met and became close friends, I had already become a part of your life. Don't think that you can easily leave me behind whenever you want alright? I tell you now, your Brother Yu Yu is a real scourge!"

Shao Cheng couldn't help but jolt while his shoulder shook by the unusually calm and firm voice of Ren Yuan standing outside the door before finally hearing the sound of the door being opened and closed calmly.

"Although you are getting better, you are still stubborn; always insisting to carry everything by yourself. Since you are having a hard time asking for help, all I can do is to come to you, right?"

Hey... you also have the bad habit of always pushing people away... I can't do anything but forcefully break into your world, isn't it?

Even if you tried to take a step back, I will decisively come closer because the unusual emotion of concern and worry I felt is genuine and true.

Ren Yuan couldn't help but let out a helpless sigh after seeing how the entire room was dark except for minuscule light coming through the window from the countless stars in the sky, and a few night pearls placed around to brighten the room.

"... I have been drugged..."

... Even though I have a different reason for not allowing you to come closer to me, isn't it normal to request in such condition?

A flash of helplessness appeared in Shao Cheng's dark sapphire eyes with his head still lowered down while there is another thin wall to help block the wooden bathtub inside the room from instantly being seen as soon as the door was opened.

Ren Yuan who heard the young man mention the drug couldn't help but wrinkle his eyebrows, and after a few seconds of serious consideration, he finally makes a decision of what he will do and has walked to where the young man is.

"Hey, I'm older and more experienced than you. Don't worry, I also know what to do with this kind of situation. For now, let Brother Yu Yu help you out."

"..."

W-what do you mean by that?

While Shao Cheng was stunned by the sudden twist of the entire situation while completely forgetting the previous depressing emotions, Ren Yuan finally managed to bypass the thin wall blocking the inner part of the room and has quickly seen the slender figure bent in the water while tightly gripping the edge of the wooden bathtub.

Even though the room barely had light, Ren Yuan could still see how uncomfortable the young man was, only knowing how to lessen the torment of his burning body with the cold water.

"Come on, we are all men. I'll teach you how to use your hands and make you feel more comfortable since you obviously don't know how to do it just by the look of it.

"...!!!"