How To Polish A Pearl

Chapter 54 - Grovelling

A/N: I accidentally posted this chapter yesterday when I was editing it. Took me a minute to unpublish it.

Sorry for the confusion or if you got excited and then disappointed.

Also, some explicit mature content ahead.

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The pavilion is still. No Zhou Xu behind the door ready to go a round of kung fu. No Zhou Xu sitting by the table aiming a bottle of wine at his head. In fact, there is no Zhou Xu at all. I'm only a few minutes behind, where is he? Like he had said it out loud, there is a knock on the door and the servant who guided Zhou Xu to the pavilion materialize behind him outside the entrance. "Guzhu, Nu Zhuren has gone to the private spring. He said that if you arrived before he is back, to let you know where he was. He also wanted me to tell you that he brought plenty of wine."

He wants me to join him? He isn't angry?

Wen Ke Xing all but sprints past the servant, who remains where he is with a neutral expression. There were few things that he hadn't seen or experienced over the ten plus years that he had worked here. And some of the more unorthodox things had included their new Guzhu. But that was mostly because he did prefer the male beauties over the female. Who knew that the top two freaks in Ghost Valley would check in here on the same day?

The sun is drooping low on the horizon as Wen Ke Xing uses the last of the daylight to hurry along the white stone path that snakes through the bamboo forest, away from Wuming and up the mountain side. He is heading towards the plateau that part nature and part man has turned into one of the most spectacular hot springs in the valley. Thanks to the volcanic and subsequent thermal activity throughout most of the valley, they had plenty of hot springs. However, he considered this particular hot spring one of the best when it came to location. He had even thought about trying to replicate it at Wu Jing.

He can hear the thundering sound made by the waterfall at the far edge of the hot spring before he can see it. Coming around the last bend, the spring appears in front of him. The mist spreading out across the water as it slowly moves with the current towards the edge and the top of the waterfall, which has about a fifty meter drop.

Just to the left of the waterfall, Zhou Xu is resting with his arms propped up on the edge of what can only be described as an infinity pool. With his back towards Wen Ke Xing, he is looking out over the valley that is about to turn black and white as he slowly sips on a bottle of wine and absentmindedly plays with the pearls around his neck. Ah-Xu, you always take my breath away.

Wen Ke Xing steps into the small outdoor pavilion that is situated between the end of the walkway and the hot spring. Removing his clothes, he places them in the basket next to the one with all of Zhou Xu's clothes. Using the man made steps, he descends into the pool until it covers his shoulders, relaxing when the warm water embrace his cold body. Hoping to surprise his man, Wen Ke Xing slowly moves towards the edge.

When he is about five meters away, Zhou Xu breaks the silence, his voice lazy and almost purring, "Why don't we have one of these at Wu Jing?"

Wen Ke Xing can't detect any irritation or anger at all in that voice. He isn't angry? He's not jealous? Taking the final steps to join Zhou Xu by the edge, he snatches the wine bottle from his man and takes a few sips before responding, his voice a little bit confused, "I have thought about it a few times. However, I didn't see the reason to make one at home where I would only enjoy it alone, when I can come here and share it with someone." Not really sure why he is trying to test if his man really isn't jealous by prodding a bit more. He is also confused as to why he is actually a bit upset that Zhou Xu doesn't appear to be jealous. Do you really not care that I have spent many mornings, evenings, days and nights in this pool with a different man each time?