The Librarian and the Fox Princess: a Donghua Dijun and Bai Fengjiu story, V.I

Chapter 37 - Tell Me Where It Hurts

A/N: This chapter was partially inspired by the song "Tell Me Where It Hurts" by the band, Garbage. Image above from Pinterest and credit goes to its owners. 

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"But Dijun, you're the one who needs the bath," she pointed out while stroking a long strand of his now dry hair, pulling it over his shoulder. She gave a cute shake of her hips to withdraw her tails into her aura. Reaching up, she placed her palm over his forehead. He was always cold so she couldn't tell if he had a fever or not.

"Xiao Bai, you've warmed me well; it's you who needs the attention now." He softly tapped his fingertip on her birthmark. He gently clasped his hand around hers as he brought her hand down from his forehead and placed it at her side.

"Dijun, you Celestials wear so many layers that I know I've only been able to dry probably the first two. I'm sure the next 7-8 layers are still drenched," she said sarcastically. She was also sure his purple undergarments are probably drenched, too, but wanted to save him the embarrassment so she didn't mention that part.

"Little fox, don't argue with me. I can feel that you're cold; you need to soak in some medicinal herbs," he said as he placed his hand lightly at the small of her back. 

 Her mouth formed a small pout. He was right, she had directed all of her heat over to him, so she was indeed still damp and cold from when he had laid his head in her lap and wrapped his arms around her legs. 

She was self-conscious especially when he said "I can feel that you're cold." What did he mean? How could he even feel what she could feel? She also didn't know why, but when he had firmly said "don't argue with me," she didn't take offense to it like she would have if anyone else had said that to her. The way he had said it was authoritative yet still gentle and tender, a part of her wanted to yield to him completely, physically and emotionally.

She tugged on the hair she had in her hands a few times and then decided to negotiate her terms.

"I'll take a hot bath if you take one with me," she said firmly meeting his gaze.

"Xiao Bai ... I... can't ..." She could see a glint of frustration, confusion, and warmth in his eyes. She waited another moment before leaning into him with her eyes still fixed on his conflicted gaze.

She then exploded into a cheeky smile enjoying the sight of the former ruler of everything flustered.

Still playing with his hair, she decided to assuage what she thought were his conflicts. "Don't worry, I don't mean in the same tub or anything. I know you Celestials are prudes. I meant that you can be in your tub and I can be in mine," as she pointed her finger into his chest and then to herself. 

"I'll even throw up a screen in the middle so you can rest assured I don't peek in on you." She nodded with satisfaction that she had offered very reasonable terms.

"Besides, I know you're not the type to ... casually share yourself ... with anyone." She smirked at him and raised an eyebrow.

He was still recovering from thinking that she was serious about him taking a hot bath with her. He distracted himself with the relief that she was already willing to joke about the unfortunate choice of words he had used that had hurt her so much.

"Xiao Bai, It was my fault. I shouldn't have used those words." His facial expression was static but she could feel the soft edges in his voice.

"I know now that you don't think badly of me. Just please don't scold me like that again. I grew up being scolded by my father a lot. Sometimes he'd even beat me so much I'd have to hide behind my uncles or Gugu. Once he beat me so hard I ran away to the peach forest and Zhe Yan hid me in his room and had to treat my injuries for a whole week. Even though I was sometimes naughty, I never wanted to make my father so mad. I'm not like you Dijun, I don't have the kind of thick skin you have. If you disapprove of me or something I do, just talk to me about it. Please don't shame me. Please don't get so mad at me. I've grown up to be much more reasonable."