Right on Target (TARGET)
"Jade Pool" was an old-world style bathhouse located at the intersection near the old streets.
"Welcome!"
The robots at the entrance of Jade Pool bowed to greet guests.
These were antiquated models, relics from the old world that required battery installation. They could only understand simple commands and couldn’t process complex information, which spared them from being scrapped. Instead, they served as decorative fixtures and ushers here.
Even so, each bore a numbered chip marked by Xingtian and underwent regular inspections by the armed unit. They were forbidden from leaving and confined to the premises.
Su Heting emerged from under the umbrella, flicked the tip of his tail, and swiped it at the entrance. "I’m a distinguished monthly VIP here," he said with his tone restrained, as if just indulging in a tiny bit of bragging.
"Impressive," Xie Zhenshu closed his umbrella, still wondering why he had agreed to come.
His ordinary face and body seemed slightly mismatched. Even after fighting side by side, Su Heting would forget his features the moment he looked away—they were just that unremarkable.
This wasn’t merely a case of "not being handsome." It was more like a calculated, model-crafted face, ensuring absolute anonymity for its user.
Su Heting stared at Xie Zhenshu’s nose and eyes, trying to resist the facial fogging effect. He was genuinely worried that by tomorrow morning, he wouldn’t be able to recognize which one was Xie Zhenshu.
After all, they were newly sworn brothers—it’d be pretty awkward.
"Jade Pool welcomes both guests," the lead robot finally processed Su Heting’s information, interrupting his death glare as it raised an arm to lift the bathhouse curtain for them. "This way, please!"
The inner hall was small, bustling with tiny robots scurrying about. They were short, barrel-shaped, with trays on their heads carrying tea and snacks or towels for the guests.
The moment the curtain lifted, they cheered loudly:
"Welcome!"
"Welcome!"
"Welcome!"
The noise was chaotic, the scene disorderly.
"A private room has been prepared for the two of you…" The lead robot led them down a bamboo-patterned corridor. "A carefully selected intimate space."
The corridor’s pillars were imitation of antique vermilion columns and hung with two rows of distinctive palace lanterns that cast intricate shadow figures as they rotated. The room names were written in wild cursive, exuding classical charm. Each room would lock its door after guests entered, but with a small opening at the bottom that was draped with a cloth curtain and allowed the tiny robots to deliver refreshments.
"Turning left at the end of the corridor leads to the large communal pool, where back-scrubbing masters are on standby. If you’re interested, feel free to try. Turning right leads to the old-world cultural experience zone, where you can role-play and immerse yourselves in the charm of the past…"
The lead robot stopped at their room and opened the door as star effects flickered across its electronic eyes. "Please step inside. Should you require anything, don’t hesitate to call on us!"
＊＊＊
The air was thick with steam.
Su Heting and Xie Zhenshu stood in the changing area, where artificial flowers by the mirror blew soap bubbles.
Truth be told, Su Heting wasn’t that well-off. His monthly subscription only covered standard rooms. Tonight’s premium booking was for Xie Zhenshu’s sake, but he hadn’t expected the place to be so extravagantly decked out.
To avoid awkwardness, he decided to take the initiative and undress first, showcasing his familiarity with the routine.
Su Heting crossed his arms, grabbed the hem of his shirt, and pulled it up, revealing his waist.
The waist was pale and slender, yet well-defined, with abdominal muscles visible in movement.
Xie Zhenshu raised his hand, touching the nebulizer attached to the back of his neck. He assumed it still had enough battery and hadn’t shut off yet.
But the cat had been observing him tonight, still testing him.
Su Hetian pulled off his hoodie, and was now bare-chested. The gunstock scar at the corner of his lips hadn’t fully healed, and was still slightly red. He looked less like someone here for a bath and more like someone ready for a fight.
He studied Xie Zhenshu through the mirror before suddenly pointing at his own nape and asking, “You’re keeping that on while bathing?”
Xie Zhenshu tapped the nebulizer lightly with his index finger, as if considering. But he didn’t turn it off and replying instead, “I’m not very confident about my real appearance.”
Yeah, right.
“Looks don’t matter,” Su Hetian kept his gaze fixed on Xie Zhenshu. “Aren’t you taking yours off?”
His face was now completely exposed. No wonder people often doubted his identity as a combat arena fighter. The cat was indeed quite striking—even with messy hair, the soft curve of his eyes was noticeable.
Su Hetian had a strong youthful air, mixed with a hint of rebellion, like a troublemaker who’d skip class. In fact, he had skipped often, back when passing was good enough during his Black Panther tests.
But don’t underestimate him.
Xie Zhenshu began unbuttoning his shirt, seemingly accustomed to doing it one-handed. Halfway through, he felt Su Hetian’s gaze glued to his fingers.
Su Hetian was watching intently.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d seen those hands somewhere before—the familiarity lingered stubbornly.
Where was it?
Su Hetian asked, “Where do you usually hang out?”
“The trading floor,” Xie Zhenshu removed his shirt, “taking on freelance jobs.”
“Business must be good,” Su Hetian didn’t forget the sports car he’d lost today. “Seems like you’ve made a fair bit.”
“Barely enough to get by.” Xie Zhenshu took off his watch before meeting Su Hetian’s eyes in the mirror. “I’m single, live alone, no bad habits.”
“What a coincidence. I’m also single, live alone, no bad habits.” Su Hetian’s attention shifted to Xie Zhenshu’s physique.
Proportionate muscles, broad shoulders, narrow waist—nothing exaggerated, but undeniably powerful.
He added the rest: “But I have to maintain my implants regularly, so I can’t save much.”
The nebulizer on Xie Zhenshu’s nape might be connected to a brain computer interface, but Su Hetian couldn’t see the port’s model, making it impossible to identify the type. Even now, he still didn’t know where Xie Zhenshu had been modified or what implants he had.
This guy was too mysterious, keeping everything tightly under wraps.
“My implants are a bit special—they don’t need regular maintenance.” Xie Zhenshu turned his head, intercepting Su Hetian’s gaze. Before he could ask anything else, Xie Zhenshu glanced toward the shower stall. “Want to rinse off before the bath?”
Flawless deflection.
“Sure,” Su Hetian said. “You go first.”
Xie Zhenshu stepped into the shower.
Su Hetian’s cat ears twitched at the sound of running water.
Inside, steam filled the shower stall, the rising humidity making the nebulizer damp and his face even more uncomfortable.
Xie Zhenshu braced a hand against the wall, letting the hot water pour over his head.
The water was turned to full blast, cascading over his shoulders and back. His vision blurred further, nearly to the point of blindness. But it wouldn’t affect his reflexes—even if someone barged in right now, he’d know exactly how to snap their neck.
He meticulously reviewed his words and actions, trying to separate “Xie Zhenshu” from “Inspector.” Maybe he should’ve acted a little more warmly.
Xie Zhenshu lifted his head from the hot water and wiped the steam off the wall mirror.
What had the hermit said at the bar earlier?
"I'm so scared you'll get caught."
Facing the mirror, Xie Zhenshu silently practiced: "I'm so scared you'll get caught."
I'm so scared...
Such emotionally charged words needed to be delivered vividly.
Xie Zhenshu felt his imitation fell short—he wasn't good at this. He understood calmness, understood fear. But he was different from others; even his fear was calm.
About ten minutes later, Xie Zhenshu stepped out.
Su Heting was playing with a hairdryer and blowing air at his tail until the fur puffed up. Seeing Xie Zhenshu emerge, he reluctantly turned it off.
"The bath is inside," Su Heting said as he entered the shower stall, then popped his head back out. "Wearing the nebulizer might make you faint."
Xie Zhenshu had an impeccable internal clock, but he still glanced at his watch in response to Su Heting's reminder. "I'll come out for air at set intervals."
Su Heting: "..."
Fine.
You win.
Su Heting showered quickly—just five minutes—his mind fixated on soaking in the hot spring. However, he'd never bathed with anyone else before, and being naked made him self-conscious. Since Xie Zhenshu had tied a towel around his waist, Su Heting did the same before stepping in.
The two sat not far apart in the spring, with a wooden basin floating between them with clean hand towels inside.
The unfamiliarity made the atmosphere awkwardly quiet.
The tip of Su Heting's tail surfaced, gently nudging the basin toward Xie Zhenshu. Crossing his arms, he grasped for conversation. "...Where do you live?"
"Near the trading grounds," Xie Zhenshu replied while resting his arms on the edge as the basin bumped lightly against his side.
His gaze shifted slightly, catching sight of a tail tip lazily swaying in the water.
"Where do you live?" he echoed, equally at a loss for words.
"I live in the tenement building..." Su Heting grabbed a towel, folded it into a square, and plopped it onto his head. "Didn't you already know that?"
Xie Zhenshu forced himself to look away, but the tail dipped and resurfaced in his peripheral vision.
Xie Zhenshu: "..."
Finally, he said, "Is your implant automatic?"
"Sort of, but not really." Su Heting couldn't ignore Xie Zhenshu's stare. He grabbed his tail and dunked it underwater before turning with a blank expression. "I can't explain it to you."
The tail was an extension of his emotions, but he refused to admit it.
The two stubbornly continued soaking, as if competing to endure the full duration.
This was the most uncomfortable bath ever.
When the robot knocked to remind them, it felt like a mutual relief. Both exhaled deeply in unison and climbed out of the pool with synchronized movements.
A short service robot entered the bathing area and politely announced, "Please hand me your clothes for automated cleaning service!"
Su Heting immediately lifted his hoodie and gave it a shake.
A cascade of items tumbled out—lollipops, discount coupons, storage devices... and one of Viper's modified eyeballs.
The eyeball rolled to Xie Zhenshu's feet.
Ha.
Su Heting hesitated, unsure whether to pick it up or not.
Xie Zhenshu bent down and picked it up with the towel. "A collectible?"
"No," Su Heting said.
He raised a thumb, tilting his chin proudly.
"It's loot I can sell for profit."
Thanks to Viper, the cat had his gratitude expenses covered for the night.
The eye was made of premium materials—it would fetch a good price on the trading grounds.
The viper's tail wasn't bad either. Su Heting had never seen that kind of mech before—highly agile and capable of storing venom. It was a shame he couldn't snap it off tonight.
The thought left him feeling rather regretful. He handed the hoodie to the little robot and turned on the hair dryer. "Wonder if he'll come back next time," he mused.
The hot air blasted out with a whoosh, instantly flattening his cat ears against his head in the wind.
Ah—
Su Heting was happy again.
Xie Zhenshu heard a soft pattering sound. When he glanced down, he saw Su Heting's tail lightly tapping against the side of his leg.
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