Chapter 24: Bath Time Shenanigans
The bathroom was all fogged up, and despite it being summer, Zhao Mingyue had turned on the heater, making the temperature sky-high.
She was going out of her way for Bai Yu, hoping to warm her up even if just for a fleeting moment.
Standing in the steamy bathroom, Zhao Mingyue peeled off her light jacket and tossed it into the basket. She wore a tight-fitting white short-sleeve shirt, likely a size too small, which accentuated her perfect curves—curves that were extremely harmonious, being both impressive and well-proportioned.
Zhao Mingyue was still young, just a teenager barely touching twenty, but her figure was already quite stunning. With a waist that could be gripped daintily, a long and elegant swan neck, and skin as smooth as freshly churned cream, she was the envy of all.
The heat in the bathroom was unbearable, causing Zhao Mingyue’s cheeks to glisten with sweat. She grasped the hem of her shirt, gently pulling it off, and with delicate movements, slid down her convenience store work pants. Her long, straight legs showcased themselves boldly in Bai Yu’s line of sight.
Bai Yu, who had weathered her fair share of storms as a ghost, had noticed many alluring women in her time. Though she’d never studied their bodies, she could undeniably confirm that those women were utterly crushed by Zhao Mingyue’s sheer superiority in both beauty and figure.
Heaven knows how this girl in her teens managed to achieve such perfection—one more ounce and she’d be too curvy, one less and she’d seem too thin. Every part of her was breathtaking, provoking envy and jealousy, leading one to ponder why the heavens were so unfair, crafting a flawless doll like her amidst a sea of mass-produced mortals.
Bai Yu glanced down at her own chest and then at Zhao Mingyue’s, knitting her brow slightly as a sense of inexplicable inadequacy washed over her.
It was worth mentioning that Zhao Mingyue, despite her perfect look, lacked the overtly mature allure one might expect. Instead, she embodied a fresh, youthful innocence typical of a high school girl.
At that moment, with her hands clasped behind her back, Zhao Mingyue caught her bra hook and suddenly sensed something. She turned her head towards Bai Yu.
“Uh, are you going to take off your clothes too? Need help?”
Her cheeks flushed as she felt a mix of shyness and embarrassment being watched while undressing, her face heating up.
She bit her lower lip gently, her eyes shimmering like rippling water, her long eyelashes fluttering as she blinked, “Hey, Bai Yu?”
Bai Yu looked up, and without any action on her part, her bl**d-stained white dress fell to the ground, dissolving into a multitude of bl**d threads that disappeared into the cracks.
“No thanks.” Bai Yu replied softly.
The atmosphere in the bathroom shifted awkwardly. Not only Zhao Mingyue felt it, but even Bai Yu found it oddly discomforting—a feeling she had never quite experienced before.
It felt like her heartbeat was racing.
Of course, she wouldn’t blush; after all, she had no bl**d.
To be precise, she didn’t even have a heart. Whether it beat or not didn’t really affect her, yet this bizarre sensation still emerged.
At this moment, both pairs of eyes were sizing each other up.
Compared to Zhao Mingyue, Bai Yu’s physique was much more slender.
Mingyue always called her “sister,” but if we’re talking body proportions, she was the one who fit the role of the elder sister, while Bai Yu was just a little sister.
There was no denying it; in this area, Bai Yu was eclipsed by her, completely outclassed.
After shedding her dress, Bai Yu didn’t simply expose herself. She was still wrapped in layers of bandages that, like the dress, were also formed from bl**d threads.
With her bare feet, Bai Yu stepped gingerly in front of the bathtub, lifting her left foot to test the waters. She wasn’t quite sure how a ghost would react to a hot bath.
But when her foot touched the steaming surface, she felt nothing but cold.
Disappointment flickered in her eyes as she faced away from Zhao Mingyue—clearly, this technique was a bust.
The chill emanating from her soul didn’t yield to the heat.
Zhao Mingyue’s voice broke the silence, laced with nervousness, “Is it working?”
Bai Yu hesitated, glanced back at her, and then nodded, “Mm.”
“Great! As long as it’s working.” Zhao Mingyue beamed a very sweet, heartfelt smile.
Bai Yu turned around and let both feet slip into the tub, her body gradually sinking into the water, but it was less like soaking in a hot bath and more akin to plunging into a freezing spring.
The bandages began to loosen, revealing the true, ghastly nature beneath.
Her skin bore no color, shockingly pale with a hint of blue, decorated with dark veins that resembled cracks.
Bai Yu turned her head, not wanting to watch Zhao Mingyue undress any further. She was caught up in her own thoughts, questioning why she was doing this silly exercise in the first place. Wasn’t it ridiculous for a ghost to take a bath?
‘This is to strengthen my bond with Zhao Mingyue and complete my mission,’ she told herself, repeating the mantra internally to convince herself.
Then suddenly, she felt another foot enter the tub behind her.
Zhao Mingyue rested her hands on Bai Yu’s shoulders and stepped into the bathtub too. Thankfully, the tub was large enough and Bai Yu petite enough for them both to fit without much trouble.
However, the positioning was a tad awkward—Zhao Mingyue settled behind Bai Yu, making it look like Bai Yu was practically sitting on her lap, embraced tenderly.
She hesitated to lean back, realizing the startling sensation that would come with it; she wasn’t oblivious to what was behind her.
“Your body is still so cold. Is this helping at all?”
Bai Yu tried to squirm away, but Zhao Mingyue wrapped her arms around her, pulling her tighter.
Only then did Bai Yu realize why Zhao Mingyue insisted on sharing the bath. It was to use her body heat, her so-called “human warmth,” to help Bai Yu warm up.
Oddly enough, once Zhao Mingyue held her close, Bai Yu did feel a flicker of warmth.
“Mingyue, if you keep hugging me like this, we might run into some problems.”
“No way, I’m the one who’s cursed. I’ve heard that getting too close to ghosts brings bad luck, but it’s all good! I’m already pretty unlucky as it is. I mean, if I were truly a lucky person, my family wouldn’t have run into trouble, right? So I’m already a walking disaster; I’m not worried about more bad luck.” Zhao Mingyue whispered in Bai Yu’s ear.
“No, I mean, if you keep this up, you might catch a cold tomorrow.”
“Ah…” Zhao Mingyue scratched her cheek.
“Let go; the hot water should be enough.”
“Okay.”
With that, the atmosphere fell silent. Bai Yu wasn’t sure what to say, and Zhao Mingyue was momentarily at a loss for words.
After a while, Zhao Mingyue took the initiative, “Bai Yu, you know, even though we met under such terrifying circumstances, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. In fact, I’m grateful for that night’s mission.”
“Why?”
“Because it brought me to you.”
“Are you not afraid of me?”
“Nope, not at all. My subconscious tells me we’re going to be great friends. Thank you for saving my life, and thank you for that sense of safety you give me.”
As Zhao Mingyue managed Bai Yu’s messy hair, she herself was taken aback; she could actually touch a ghost’s body! Quite the achievement, right? Bai Yu, so adorable yet drenched in bl**d, with messy hair—if she could just tidy her up a bit, even as a ghost, she would be an adorable evil spirit.
If only Bai Yu knew Zhao Mingyue’s thoughts; she would have bolted.
Evil spirits should look every bit the part, yet here was Bai Yu, cute as can be, with absolutely no scary vibes.
“Mingyue.”
“Mm?”
“I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours. Do you even know what you’re doing? We only just met two days ago!”
“I know, but so what? You treat me well, and I’ll treat you well. That way, even if you really do decide to k*ll me one day, you might just spare me out of fond memories.” Zhao Mingyue chuckled playfully.
Bai Yu remained silent. She could admit she didn’t quite understand this girl’s logic. Even if she was a little dense, she didn’t expect her to act like this. Was she really not frightened at all?
Why did she trust her so much… Bai Yu just couldn’t wrap her head around it.
