Rebirth: My Reclusive Husband Helps Me Get Revenge!-Chapter 22: Take off your clothes

He paused for a moment, unsure of what to make of her presence. The alcohol still buzzed in his system, dulling his senses but sharpening his frustration. He had expected to be alone, the quiet of his room his only company. But instead, there she was—awake, calm, but distant.

"What are you doing up?" His voice was sharper than he meant it to be, a tinge of irritation laced with the raw edge of his loneliness.

"You said you wanted to sleep together didn’t you? But you reek of alcohol.."

Lixue didn’t answer right away but she did after assessing Mo Ran.

She just studied him, her gaze steady, inscrutable. There was no judgment in her eyes, only the faintest trace of curiosity, as if she had been waiting for him to speak first.

Mo Ran’s shoulders sagged. The weight of the night—the fallout with Du Yuan, the endless games and lies, the exhaustion from pretending to have it all together—was pressing down on him. His body felt heavy, his mind was clouded. He didn’t want to return to an empty room, to lie alone in a bed that had started to feel like a prison. He wanted... something. He didn’t know what. Maybe just some comfort, even if it was fleeting.

Without thinking, he moved to the bed and sat down beside her. Lixue didn’t pull away. She just watched him, her expression unreadable. The space between them felt like a vast ocean, yet neither of them moved to bridge it.

Mo Ran didn’t speak, and neither did she. Instead, he leaned in toward her, his body instinctively seeking her warmth. He didn’t need her to say anything, didn’t want to hear the weight of words. He just needed her presence—silent and steady.

He closed his eyes, feeling the tension in his chest slowly release as he rested his head on her shoulder. The alcohol in his bloodstream seemed to dull everything, and for a moment, he just let the quiet settle around him. His breath evened out, slow and heavy, as he sank into the comfort of the simple, unspoken connection.

Lixue hesitated for a moment before her arms encircled him. She didn’t ask questions, didn’t demand explanations. She just held him there, her fingers brushing gently against the fabric of his shirt. She didn’t need to understand why he was like this or why he seemed so broken. Sometimes, she thought, the best thing you could do for someone was just to be there.

Mo Ran didn’t need her to fix anything. He didn’t need her to speak or offer solutions. He only needed her to stay.

And for the first time in a long while, that was enough.

Lixue sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze lingering on Mo Ran, who seemed to be too drunk to properly move. The stench of alcohol on him was overpowering, and she wrinkled her nose in distaste.

"You really smell like an entire bar," she remarked, unable to hide her amusement.

Mo Ran let out a lazy chuckle, half-slouching against the bed. "I know, I know... One drink turned into a whole lot more."

Lixue stood up with a sigh, hands on her hips. "I’m not letting you sleep like this. You need to shower."

He groaned in response, his face scrunching in a way that was both adorable and frustrating. "I don’t want to move. Too tired..." His voice was low, his words slurring slightly.

Lixue rolled her eyes, turning to leave. "Well, then you’re staying here smelling like a brewery," she teased over her shoulder.

But before she could step out, she heard him mutter, almost too softly to hear, "Help me..."

She froze for a second, her heart skipping at the pleading tone in his voice. Lixue turned back to face him, blinking in surprise. His half-lidded eyes stared up at her, clearly exhausted but still trying to smile through it all. "What?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Can you... help me get in the shower?..." His voice was softer now, quieter, and it made something stir inside her.

Lixue hesitated for only a moment before walking over to him. His exhaustion was palpable, and though he was usually so self-sufficient, tonight he looked like he needed her—just for a bit.

She sighed, not entirely thrilled by the idea but knowing she couldn’t just leave him like this. "Fine. But you’re doing the washing," she said, her voice teasing as she guided him up from the bed.

Mo Ran smiled lazily, leaning into her for support. "I’ll do it all."

She rolled her eyes but helped him toward the bathroom, steadying him as he swayed slightly. When they entered the spacious bathroom, Lixue flicked the shower on, adjusting the temperature before turning back to him. "Take off your clothes," she instructed, doing her best to keep her voice casual.

Mo Ran didn’t argue. He slowly pulled his shirt off, and then his pants, moving with exaggerated slowness as if he was still processing the simple act. Lixue gave him a moment, but when he started to reach for his boxers, she quickly turned her back to him, trying to maintain some sense of privacy.

She wasn’t prepared for what came next.

Mo Ran stepped into the shower, but before Lixue could move to leave, he called out her name softly. "Lixue..."

Her heart skipped again. "What?"

His voice was muffled by the sound of water, but she could hear him clearly enough. "I need help with the towel when I’m done."

Lixue took a deep breath, trying to calm the flutter in her chest. Of course, this was the point where her embarrassment set in. She was not prepared to see him standing in front of her, bare and vulnerable, even though she’d been helping him since he could barely stand. And now, the idea of handing him a towel... when he was standing there completely exposed...

Her face burned as she quickly glanced at the shower. "Just... just hurry up and finish, I’ll get it for you when you’re done."

A few minutes passed in awkward silence, the only sound being the water splashing against the walls of the shower. Lixue did her best to keep her thoughts focused elsewhere, but when she heard the water turn off, her nerves were on edge. She looked away quickly, feeling heat rise to her cheeks.

But Mo Ran stepped out, and the sight of him, water droplets dripping down his toned body, stopped her in her tracks. He was standing there, completely bare, his damp hair clinging to his forehead. He looked at her with a lazy, almost mischievous smile, as if he didn’t even notice the effect he had on her.

"Lixue..." he murmured again, his voice much softer now. "The towel?"

Lixue’s breath hitched. She wasn’t prepared for this moment, and she quickly grabbed the towel from the rack, holding it out to him with both hands, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Here. Take it."

But as she extended it to him, Mo Ran took a step closer. He was so close she could feel the warmth of his skin, and she could see the playful glint in his eyes.

"Thanks..." he whispered with a grin, his eyes lingering on her face, before wrapping the towel around his waist.

Lixue immediately turned away, her face burning. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, but she quickly cleared her throat and stepped back toward the door.

"Just—just go to bed already," she stammered, trying to regain some composure.

Mo Ran watched her retreating back with a smirk, but he said nothing, only following her lead and stepping out of the bathroom.