"Whine, whine, whine..." Xue Yang sounded annoyed, even as he moved back over, having grabbed a fresh towel. He grabbed Meng Yao by one arm and pulled him up. Then he held him from behind, wrapping the towel around him. He rubbed his chest to dry him off, holding him in what might as well have been a lover's embrace. His grip was tight, but not painfully so. "Is that better?"

Speaking in a lower voice now, it could be mistaken for gentle.