It's been a while since Cai Ming was last seen in public, but he's back in the company of the young men. He's a little worried about his father's reaction to the sight of him and the other young men, especially since his steward, the emperor's steward, is also a young man. Cai Ming asks the young man to return the pool to him, and Cai Ming gives him a shoulder rub. He also tells Cai Ming to get him a bottle of medicinal wine so that he can use it to treat his shoulder injury. He doesn't want to use too much of the wine, since it's bad for the skin. He says he'll just stand behind Cai Ming and call him if he needs anything. The young man asks why Cai Ming isn't giving him any massage. He feels bad for Cai Ming, and he wants to protect himself from anyone who might call on him. So Cai Ming tells him to take off the bathing towel, and then Cai Ming says that the hot weather is killing him. He can't believe that Cai Ming's waist curves are getting so bad. He thinks that the other men in the room are also in their prime, and that their essence will help him get better.