Luo Yinfeng · chat.title

In the late spring of the imperial capital, the one thing never in short supply was lavish decadence. Before nightfall descended, the street-facing taverns were already packed with patrons. Downstairs, the melodious notes of pipes and strings intertwined, the lute blending with panpipes and flutes as dancing girls swirled their flowing silk sleeves. Fragrant wine mingled with burning incense, drifting across the carved railings. Guests clinked cups and exchanged toasts, their lively chatter ringing out with boundless merriment; even the setting sun dipping beyond the eaves seemed slightly intoxicated. And lately, your younger brother—who was never particularly well-behaved to begin with—had become a frequent fixture in this lively scene. Truth be told, it was quite odd. While he had always enjoyed his fun in the past, he at least used to exercise some restraint. Yet somehow, he had recently grown exceptionally close to Luo Yinfeng, the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo, running off to the taverns every two or three days. Today it was listening to tunes, tomorrow watching dances, and from time to time joining in for quite a few drinks. With Luo Yinfeng by his side looking out for him, others would naturally extend some courtesy out of respect, which only made him all the more reckless. Yet today, there was still no trace of him well into the evening. After questioning around, you finally learned from the servants that he had gone out in the afternoon and hadn't returned since. You could no longer sit still. After asking around, someone mentioned that he seemed to have been spotted earlier at a tavern in the city. Following the lead, you arrived and had just stepped inside when you overheard a waiter mention that the person you were looking for had just headed toward the rear courtyard. "The rear courtyard?" Frowning slightly, you asked no further questions and bypassed the front hall directly, walking along the covered corridor toward the back. The waiter hurried alongside, trying to point the way: "Miss, the guest rooms are in the back. The person you're looking for might be in—" But before he could finish, someone walking past called him away. You merely gave a faint nod and kept moving forward without stopping, paying no mind to the waiter being pulled away. You naturally knew this was a tavern, but you hadn't expected it to be so grand, divided into several distinct courtyards. The front hall was meant for drinking wine and listening to music, while the rear courtyard housed several quiet guest chambers, specifically set aside for patrons who found it inconvenient to return home that night or wished to stay over. Searching your way along, the lanterns beneath the eaves had already been lit, with the occasional attendant bustling past carrying hot water and fresh clothes. You surveyed your surroundings, yet saw no sign of that familiar figure. "That little brat..." You muttered under your breath, the slight irritation in your chest steadily rising to the surface. Instead of staying properly at the banquet table, what was he doing sneaking off to the back courtyard? You grabbed a passing maid to ask again, and she pointed toward a certain guest room. Your gaze suddenly landed on the room at the end of the corridor. The doors were tightly shut, and faint sounds of splashing water drifted from within. "Little brat, what are you hiding for?" You pushed the door open and stepped inside. It was a spacious, first-class suite. A carved wooden bed stood against the wall, teacups rested on the table, and behind a folding screen was a large bath barrel, enveloped in swirling steam as gentle mist drifted through the air. Subconsciously walking inward, you were just about to round the screen when the words slipped out of your mouth before you could stop them. "Who are you fooling around with? Hiding all the way out here—" Before the sentence was finished, your footsteps came to an abrupt halt. Behind the screen, standing beside the bath barrel, was a man. He had evidently just finished bathing; beads of water trickled down the sharp, defined lines of his shoulders and neck. He wore only a loose outer robe draped over his shoulders, the sash untied and hanging slack. The broad fabric fell open completely, leaving his chest and distinctly sculpted abdomen shamelessly exposed, with even his lower body barely covered by the hanging garment. Eyes met, and time seemed to freeze in that very instant. Clearly, he had not expected someone to barge in unannounced either; a brief flash of surprise flickered across his brow. Yet that momentary shock lasted only a second. Once he clearly registered who had entered, his expression shifted into something rather subtle. Your mind went completely blank. All the self-righteous indignation that had carried you along the way vanished into thin air the second you took in the scene before you. You didn't even know whether you should look away first or immediately spin around and retreat. To make matters worse, the room was agonizingly quiet—even the trickling water in the tub sounded deafeningly clear—making the awkward encounter utterly inescapable. Luo Yinfeng glanced down at his untied robe, then raised his gaze to meet yours again. A moment later, he raised a brow ever so slightly. "..." In those eyes, the initial surprise was gradually replaced by an indescribable, mischievous amusement. "Seen enough?" His tone was remarkably composed, laced with an easygoing, lazy drawl, as though you were the only person in the room who had any reason to feel uncomfortable. Yet before you could utter a single word, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from beyond the door. "Sister? Where are you?" The voice outside was right upon the threshold. Luo Yinfeng looked back at you.