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“Welcome back, Yang!” Lan and Fei said in unison.
Yang grunted and gave them a passing glance in the hallway.
“Did you have a good hunt?” Lan asked.
“Not really,” he answered bluntly, walking past the twins. The smell of blood from his clothes curled in the air around him. Normally he wouldn’t mind the smell, but today it was particularly irksome. His clothes were tattered in blood and would have to be cleaned, and so would his weapon, but that kill hadn’t alleviated him from his boredom at all.
In the cafeteria, Lili was serving food to the other members. She noticed Yang's presence and gave a smile, her features brightening. She used to flinch and cower at the sight of blood at him, whether it be his own or someone else’s, but now it barely fazed her. She continued plating out various snacks and pouring tea, blending Italian and Chinese food on the table while the other members gave their appreciation.
Yang stared at her in contemplation for a moment, thinking of what he could do with her, before his expression shifted into amusement. “Perfect timing. Come with me,” he ordered, heading in the direction of their private bathroom. Liliana followed him without missing a beat, so used to obeying his commands.
It had been getting boring lately, but now a wide smirk curled at Yang’s lips as he thought of just the perfect idea to soothe his boredom, at least temporarily.
They entered the bathroom and Yang immediately started stripping. He threw the bloodstained clothes onto the floor without a care.
He turned his attention to Liliana next.
"Strip."
"Wait... right now?" she asked.
"What's the problem? It's not like you haven't done this before." His patience was growing thin, and he was sorely tempted to rip her dress off her by force if she didn't comply. It wouldn't be the first time he'd done that, but he bought her plenty of cheongsams to wear that tearing one wouldn't matter.
Liliana gulped but started undressing, delicately pulling the cheongsam off. She began folding it, but Yang grabbed her arm and forced her into the bathtub before she could, letting the dress fall to the floor.
"Yang!"
He pulled her down into the bathtub with him. Their legs became entangled with each other's as Liliana moved all the way to the opposite end of him to create some distance. Yang turned the water on, and warm water began to fill the tub.
"Isn't this bathtub... too small?" Liliana asked when the water was about halfway up.
Yang was leaning back, his arms resting over the edge of the bathtub. "Hmm?" He looked over the space between them. "It's meant for one person. This is my bathroom, so why would I have a bathtub fit for two people?"
"Yes, I know that, and we barely fit in this bathtub together. If we're going to wash each other, then why don't we just go into the shower? It'll be easier that way."
Yang sighed in annoyance. "Stop fussing. You're like a cat."
Liliana piped down, lips thinning into a line. She stared at Yang, her brows furrowed in obvious discontentment.
He smirked, leaning forward and tilting her chin up with his hand. "What?" he cooed, pulling her face in so his breath grazed her lips. "Do you want to be bathed like one?"
Liliana remained frozen in place, but Yang's gaze intensified as he felt Liliana's throat swallow against his hand. His eyes lowered to her chest, and he trailed a finger down to where the birthmark near her breast had all but faded. "…I wouldn't mind grooming you," he whispered. "You're my pet, after all."
Liliana chose the wisest option, which was to remain silent, but she glared at Yang.
Yang hummed. "Good girl," he purred, before forcing her forward by the back of her head and pressing a rough kiss to her lips. Liliana squeezed her eyes shut and grabbed Yang's shoulders.
He could taste the remains of xiao long bao on her lips, presumably from lunch. Yang kissed her hungrily, taking everything he could from her. When he pulled away, he licked Liliana's lips, swiping the saliva off her lips with his tongue.
Liliana was panting, her face flushed, but she pulled her expression into a pout. Yang's smirk deepened. As if she didn't enjoy it whenever he did that.
The tub was nearly full now, and Yang turned off the water. The sound stopped, and now there was only silence, with a few ripples echoing from their slight movements in the water.
Liliana spoke up. "Do you want me to start washing you first, Yang?"
"I don't mind."
Liliana grabbed the scrub and began washing him. Soap lathered up on his skin, and Yang remained still as he watched Liliana clean him. It was silent for the most part, Liliana intensely concentrated on washing him, especially when it was over the area where his tattoos were.
Then Liliana touched his face and wiped a spot there. It was probably the blood from his kill earlier.
"Do you want me to wash your hair for you?" she asked.
Yang raised a brow and studied her expression, wondering what her intentions were. But she obviously wasn't motivated by any malicious intentions, and her face gave it all away that she just wanted to help him.
"Sure," he eventually replied, sounding neither particularly eager nor bothered.
"Could you turn around, then?"
Yang observed her. Normally he wouldn't listen to a woman's orders, but...
He turned around.
Liliana undid Yang's braid and gently ran her fingers through his hair, carefully removing any knots she came across. She was cautious not to tug on his hair even though he'd hardly feel any pain from that. Liliana then grabbed a nearby bucket, scooping up some water and pouring it over his hair to get it wet.
Yang stayed still as Liliana spread the shampoo over his hair, her fingertips gentle against his scalp. She washed Yang's hair diligently, taking care not to rub too harshly. Yang soon closed his eyes, falling prey to her tender hands, the soft tugs on his scalp comforting and soothing.
It's not a bad feeling… was his prevailing thought.
"Yang," Lili started, waking him from his idle state.
"What?" He opened his eyes.
"I asked you this before, but why don't you cut your hair?"
"Why are you asking this again? Is it an annoyance for you to braid every day?" he drawled.
"No, not at all," she replied. "I like doing it for you. It means you trust me enough to let me."
"Hmm." Trust. That was an interesting concept. "What makes you think that?"
"I don't think I've seen you let anyone else touch your hair. I mean, I've never seen Lan or Fei touch it. And you took the time to braid your own hair every morning. If it wasn't important to you, then you'd cut it off instead of braiding it every day. You said it was annoying to cut, but you could just ask me to cut it for you. I've learned how to cut hair from doing it for the kids at the Church."
"How observant of you," he replied, unimpressed. "So, what's all this rambling supposed to lead to?"
Lili's breath shifted. "I like your hair, and I'm happy you don't want to cut it. I've never seen anyone with hair as red as yours." Lili washed the shampoo off him. "…I think you have very beautiful hair," she said quietly.
The compliment quelled something in Yang. He'd been told that he had beautiful hair by plenty of women before, but it was different hearing it from someone who was sincere about it. A bit of his boredom went away. He could admit he was... enjoying this a little.
"Then wash my hair for me too from now on," Yang said.
"What? But that means..."
"That means?" He turned his head around to look at her.
She was clearly having difficulty conveying the rest of her words. She was fidgeting, her cheeks tinged red. It was always amusing to see her in this state, and Yang's smile remained curled as he waited for her answer.
"The bathtub is too small," she finally said, resigning herself to the inevitable. "It's easier in the shower."
"I'll buy a bigger one." It would be difficult to have their playtime in such an enclosed space, after all. But there was something thrilling to being forced to have their bodies pressed up against each other like this.
Liliana remained silent and Yang turned around to fully face her again.
"Lili," he said. "Turn the other way."
Lili's eyes widened a little. "Why?"
"It's my turn to wash your hair."
"O-Oh," she said, before shaking her head. "You don't have to."
"Why not?"
"I don't want to burden y—"
"Who said it was a bother?" Yang's brows creased, and his voice turned rough. "I want to do it so I'll do it. Is there a problem with that?"
"But I can wash it myself…" she said.
"You're my woman," he said, giving her a reminder. "I'll do as I please with you."
That silenced Lili. She turned the other way, exposing her back to Yang.
Yang sighed, lowering his voice. "If you're my woman, it also means it's my responsibility to take care of you," he said, smoothing his fingers through her hair. "So just shut up and stay still."
Lili remained quiet as Yang poured water over her hair. Her hair was long and voluminous, but Yang didn't mind. He washed her hair without uttering a word, rubbing her scalp with the same amount of care that she used on him.
You say my hair is beautiful, but yours is clearly silkier.
"Is this not boring for you, Yang?" Lili asked, drawing him out of his mundane thoughts.
"I'm not bored," he said.
“I thought it would be boring for you… it always takes me a while to wash my hair because it’s so long.”
“Don’t assume to know what I like and don’t like.”
Lili went into silence again, and it was peaceful until Lili let out something that sounded like a small moan.
“Sorry…” she muttered under her breath, dipping her head.
"...Are you trying to turn me on?" He smirked. "Well, I don't mind. We're in the bath right now after all."
Lili shook her head vehemently. “It just felt really nice to have someone wash my hair for me. Sister Sofia used to do that for me a long time ago, but of course she stopped as I grew up.”
He assumed he was talking about someone from the Church. He remained silent for a few seconds before calling her name.
“Lili.”
“Yes?”
“From now on, I’m the only one who can wash your hair. Understand?”
“What? You mean I can’t even wash my own hair?”
“That’s correct.”
“But how can you wash my hair if I’m showering alone?”
Yang smirked. “Simple. We’ll bathe together every day starting today.”
Lili was starting to sound exasperated. “What about the days when you come back late because of work?”
Yang brushed off her concerns. “Just don’t wash your hair on those days.”
“You’re so unreasonable…” Lili murmured, bringing her knees to her chest. He could hear the pout in her voice, but she had submitted relatively quickly compared to other things she often protested.
Yang washed the lather off Lili’s hair, running his fingers through her strands one last time before announcing, “I’m done.”
“Thank you,” she said, and started to get out of the tub.
Yang pulled her back down. “Where are you going?”
“To dry myself…?” She blinked at him. “I thought we were done.”
Yang smirked. “Hardly. I haven’t washed you yet.”
Lili seemed to realize what he meant, and her face flushed. She turned away from Yang, tensing as Yang wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in.
“It’s playtime, Lili. Don’t disappoint me.”
Yang sighed and plopped himself onto the bed, shirtless. Lili followed into bed with him, carrying the panda that he’d gotten for her a long time ago.
“Forget about it.” He forced the panda out of her hands, and despite his urge to throw it onto the floor, he cast it aside next to the pillow on the bed. “I’m the one you need to hold right now,” he murmured, pulling Lili close to him. He was tired, which was unusual.
Lili wrapped her arms around him, and they stayed in each other’s warmth.
"Yang,” she said after a while.
"What is it?" he mumbled into her neck.
"Do you think you could teach me some Chinese sometime?"
Yang opened his eyes. "Why?"
"I sometimes hear you conversing in Chinese with the other members, and it made me realize… I want to be able to talk with you in your native language. You only speak in Italian with me." Liliana's voice was quiet. "I want to learn more about you and your culture. Lan and Fei have already taught me a lot about Chinese food and clothes, but I want to learn even more."
"…"
"Yang?" Liliana touched him gently on the arm.
He sighed and patted her head. "I'll order some language learning books for you from the mainland."
"Thank you!" she said, a smile adorning her face.
"It will be difficult though. Are you prepared?"
Liliana nodded, resting her head on Yang's shoulder.
Yang smiled. That was the answer he expected, because that was the kind of person his woman was.
"For now, I'll teach you a few words. What do you want to know?"
Lili pondered over it for a moment before responding, "Could you teach me how to say good morning and good night in Chinese?"
Yang gave a low hum. "Good morning is zhou san. Good night is mahn on," he said. "Practice it."
"Zhou san… Mahn on," Lili murmured, testing the words on her tongue. She tried to imitate the way Yang said it, but there was a distinct Italian accent that almost made her sound cute, and the tones were totally off.
"Not bad," Yang said. "But you have a lot to learn." Lili blushed as Yang stroked her hair.
"Lili," he said.
"Yes?"
"Touch my hair."
She hesitated. "Are you sure?"
"Don't make me repeat myself."
"It's because you've never asked me to touch your hair like this before. You only let me touch it when I'm braiding it."
"Then I'm giving you permission now." His voice raised in irritation. "Hurry and touch it."
Lili slid her hand into Yang’s hair, running her fingers through it gently like when she was washing it earlier, and Yang relaxed in her hold.
"...Lili," he said, quieter this time, his breath light.
"Mm?"
"Call me by my name."
"Mao."
"More." He closed his eyes and held her closer, breathing in her scent. She was soft and smelled nice. "Say it again."
Liliana didn't find his request strange in the slightest. She didn't hesitate to repeat his name, saying it over and over, and she managed to make it sound like a lullaby with her voice instead of something dreadfully monotonous.
"Mahn on. Sweet dreams, Mao," she said, stroking his hair.
He never dreamed, because dreams were fleeting and worthless. But tonight, he might.