Entwined in the Steam

Chapter 2: Can I Stay in Your Room for a Bit?

Next door, Ethan Hawthorne sat in the bath. His bare chest was lean and well-muscled. One arm rested on the edge of the pool, the other held a phone to his ear. He looked utterly relaxed and at ease.

"I'm not in Capitalis for a few days. Hold the project until I get back..."

"Mhm, let them make a fuss..."

"Day after tomorrow, I expect..."

Oliver Adler listened quietly. When he heard that last sentence, his eyelashes trembled faintly, and he lowered his gaze.

Beep beep beep.

The timer went off. The talking next door stopped as well.

Oliver Adler switched off the timer and rose from the pool. His movements were gentle, stirring only the faintest ripple of water.

Once out, he wrapped himself in a white bathrobe, gathered his soiled clothes, and slipped away silently. A soft creak of the door closing, and then complete stillness.

Two minutes after hanging up his phone, Ethan Hawthorne also rose. Likewise clad only in a bathrobe, he left the room.

Truth be told, he really couldn't stand the pervasive scent of herbal medicine. He'd just had a sudden whim to try it.

He exited only minutes after Oliver Adler and saw the hotel receptionist clutching Oliver's slender, pale wrist, hurrying him toward the elevator, all the while chattering anxiously.

"Oh, my dear boy, have you lost your mind? Your cold just got better! You mustn't wear so little after soaking in the hot springs, do you hear? It's still freezing outside."

"If the boss finds out, you can expect to be scolded until you cry!"

"Really, you give me no peace..."

The receptionist pressed a floor button. "Hurry up and get some proper clothes on... Ah, Mr. Hawthorne..."

Just as the elevator doors were about to slide shut, Ethan Hawthorne, striding over, pressed the button and opened them again.

The receptionist greeted him respectfully.

He gave a slight nod and stepped inside, pressing the close button.

Oliver Adler's hands tightened around his clothes. He retreated into the corner once more.

It was the same situation as the previous night, with one difference: neither of them was dressed particularly properly, and they both carried the lingering scent of herbal medicine.

Ethan Hawthorne studied Oliver Adler in the reflective surface. His hair was slightly damp, with a few messy strands falling across his forehead. His face, the exposed stretch of his neck, and a small patch of chest were all tinged pink. Huddled in the corner clutching his clothes, he looked rather pitiful—like someone who'd been thoroughly bullied...

His thoughts began to wander into rather inappropriate territory. He was still lost in them when the elevator doors opened.

The gust of cold air from outside made Oliver Adler shiver involuntarily. He slipped past the motionless man and hurried out.

Just before the doors closed, Ethan Hawthorne followed. He inwardly cursed himself. What a beast.

At Oliver Adler's door, Adrian Adler—who had been knocking for some time without an answer—turned around. He stared for a few seconds at the two figures emerging from the elevator one after the other. Then he noticed their identical attire. A vein began to throb at his temple.

"Oliver Adler!"

The name was ground out between clenched teeth. Oliver Adler's steps slowed. The color that had just faded from his face was replaced by a flicker of guilt.

He forced himself to appear calm and called out softly, "Brother..."

Adrian Adler clenched his fist. He managed a strained smile for Ethan Hawthorne behind him, then fixed his gaze back on Oliver's face, now pale from the cold. He hissed, "Your cold just got better and you're causing trouble again! Get inside and put some clothes on, now!"

Oliver fumbled in his bundle of clothes for the room key. Once inside, he shut the door swiftly, cutting off his elder brother's death glare.

Adrian Adler glared at the closed door for a moment, composed himself, then smiled at Ethan Hawthorne. "You tried the herbal spring too? What did you think?"

Ethan shrugged. "I feel like a walking medicinal herb."

"People not used to it really can't stand the smell. But it feels better than an ordinary hot spring afterward."

"Mhm." He swiped his key card. Then he turned back suddenly. "That was your brother?"

Adrian Adler nodded. "Yes, that's my brother, Oliver Adler. The weather's turned cold, so I had him come stay for a few days, soak in the herbal baths to regulate his health."

Ethan silently repeated the name Oliver Adler to himself. "I'm going to shower."

"Alright. I need to go to the company in a bit. You and Sebastian Sterling can amuse yourselves."

"Mhm."

Oliver Adler washed away most of the herbal scent clinging to him and burrowed back under the covers for a nap.

He was half-asleep when he heard knocking. He clambered out of bed and, with his hair a tousled mess, went to open the door.

Ethan Hawthorne stood outside, dressed in white casual wear. A gentle smile played on his lips, and his voice was pleasant. "I'm sorry to disturb..."

Oliver Adler's mind was still foggy with sleep. He looked at Ethan, slightly bewildered. "Hmm?"

The emotions in Ethan's eyes were hard to read. He pointed toward his own room, the door standing open. "Does the air conditioning in your family's hotel not have a heating function?"

It was cold outside, warm inside. Oliver Adler wore only thin sleepwear. A draft of cold air made him instinctively start to close the door a little.

Thinking he meant to shut it completely, Ethan reached out a hand to block it.

Oliver's gaze rested on the large, well-defined hand against the door for two seconds. He took two steps back, opening the door wide so the warmth from his room spilled out. Still sleep-dazed, his voice carried a heavy nasal tone. "It does."

Only then did Ethan notice how lightly he was dressed. A flicker of something passed through his eyes. He took the initiative, pulling the handle to close the door until only a c***k remained. "Well, the air conditioning in my room seems to be broken. It only blows cold air."

Oliver Adler peered at him through the c***k. He mumbled, "You should call the front desk. All the rooms have landlines."

"..."

Ethan was silent for a moment. He withdrew his hand. "Oh."

Click.

Oliver Adler closed the door.

Ethan Hawthorne turned away, expression indifferent, returned to his room, and used the landline to call the front desk.

Knock knock knock.

He had just hung up when knocking came at his door.

He walked over and opened it.

Oliver Adler now wore a beige wool coat. He tilted his pale, delicate face up to look at Ethan. "Did you call someone?"

Ethan Hawthorne looked down at him, a hint of amusement appearing in his eyes. "I did. I thought the service at your family's hotel was remarkably prompt. The moment I hang up, someone arrives."

The corners of Oliver's eyes crinkled slightly. He said nothing more, simply stood by the doorway waiting for the staff to come up.

Ethan Hawthorne's gaze swept over Oliver's lips, which had lost some color. "You should go back to your room. It's too cold out here."

Oliver Adler shifted to the side a little, letting Ethan block the cold air seeping from his room. He pretended nothing was amiss. "I'm not cold."

A smile tugged at the corner of Ethan's mouth. He left his door slightly ajar, leaned casually against the frame, and looked down at his phone.

A few minutes later, the housekeeping manager arrived with a repairman in tow, apologizing profusely. She instructed the repairman to check the air conditioning fault and offered to move Ethan to a suite.

Ethan Hawthorne raised a hand. "Fix it first. If it can't be fixed, I'll move tonight."

The manager bowed in apology. "Mr. Hawthorne, we truly are sorry for the inconvenience..."

"It's fine."

"Sister Lily." Oliver Adler, who had been standing quietly nearby, spoke up. "Are there any better rooms available?"

Lily Bennett's face showed her difficulty. "All the superior suites are taken..."

The resort had just opened. The big boss had invited many friends for the soft opening, plus several young masters and misses from Capitalis. Naturally, the superior suites had to be allocated to them first. What remained were ordinary standard rooms.

Judging by this Mr. Hawthorne's appearance, demeanor, and the boss's level of regard, his background was certainly not insignificant. For a problem to occur precisely with this VIP... it was truly a disaster.

Oliver Adler frowned slightly and looked at Ethan Hawthorne. "How about we arrange another hotel for you? There's one down the mountain..."

"No need."

Ethan cut him off before he could finish, his tone perfectly amiable. "Let's see if it can be fixed first. A standard room is fine. It's so cold, I can't be bothered to move."

Oliver pressed his lips together.

Lily Bennett hurriedly added, "I'll find two more repairmen. We'll get the air conditioning fixed as quickly as possible."

She then rushed off to make calls.

Ethan Hawthorne went back into his room to fetch an overcoat. He looked at Oliver. "Could you find me a warm place to wait for a bit?"

Oliver Adler's hands, tucked into the pockets of his coat, curled slightly. He said softly, "I'll have Sister Lily get you..."

"Can I stay in your room for a while?" He didn't seem to find this request the slightest bit presumptuous. "I really am not accustomed to small standard rooms."

"..."

You just said a standard room was fine.

Ethan Hawthorne tilted his head slightly. "Is that not allowed?"

Oliver Adler met his gaze for several seconds, then turned. "It's allowed."

Ethan's lips curved into a smile. He didn't bother putting on his coat, just slung it over his arm, and ambled leisurely after Oliver Adler back to his room.