No one knew which pampered young lady had slipped first, crashing into the person ahead. That person tumbled forward into the next, and just like that, they fell one after another, like dominoes toppling in a chain. Liang Sheng ended up as the fifth lucky victim.
If this kept going, the girl at the very front was in for a world of hurt!
But no chain like that could go on forever—she was overthinking it.
It stopped at the eighth person, who managed to steady herself.
“Oof!” Liang Sheng’s nose throbbed with pain from the impact.
At last, they made it down the mountain. The ordeal had been a close call, but they’d survived unscathed.
They reached the base safely, though the umbrellas and raincoats had done little good. The downpour had turned everyone into drowned rats.
They trudged a bit farther until taxis finally came into view. By then, the rain had eased into a light drizzle.
“Here~” Ni Sihan pulled a towel from her small crossbody bag and handed it to Song An’an. “An’an, look at you, soaked to the bone. Don’t catch a cold—come on, dry off.”
With that, the girl even reached up and started gently towel-drying Song An’an’s hair.
Ding~ Favorability increased.
“Song An’an’s Favorability toward Ni Sihan: 18”
Ding~ Adoration Value increased.
“Song An’an’s Adoration Value toward Ni Sihan: 4”
Once Ni Sihan finished drying Song An’an’s hair, she bounced over to Liang Sheng. “Liang Sheng~ Let me dry you off too. I don’t want you getting sick—it’d break my heart~”
She reached out to help, and Liang Sheng didn’t refuse. Exhausted as she was, having someone pamper her sounded perfect.
Ding~ Adoration Value increased.
“Liang Sheng’s Adoration Value toward Ni Sihan: 7”
Hee hee hee~ Sister Hoshiko’s trick really worked wonders~ Ni Sihan skipped around like a headless chicken, fussing over everyone with concerned questions and offers of help.
Hailing taxis wasn’t easy with such a crowd. The school buses had long since left—they’d been rented by the school anyway.
Truth be told, the school could have arranged better transport, but the principal had spotted some newspaper article calling “St. Mary’s Aristocrat School” wasteful and extravagant. It had ticked him off, so he’d decided to play the martyr—one breath of pride for humans, one stick of incense for Buddha—and organized this whole ill-fated outing instead.
Dozens of taxis later, they finally got all the students safely to their destination.
In her mind, Ni Sihan asked Akino Kazuko why she wouldn’t share even better methods. This massive rainstorm had been a golden opportunity!
Akino Hoshiko toyed with her fingernails. “I’m not some despicable schemer like Akino Wakako, willing to harm innocent people just to line my own pockets. Besides, if you want a bigger disaster, I’d have to suffer through even more pain. I’m not about to wreck my own body for that.”
Ni Sihan nodded, half understanding.
Akino Hoshiko went on, “Besides, this is a gradual process. Rushing it won’t lead to success.”
Ni Sihan nodded vigorously again, full of admiration.
Akino Hoshiko fell silent, ignoring her host no further.
I hope… this helps you too.
The girls jostled and shoved their way back to the hotel and into their room at last.
“Liang Sheng, you go first,” Lu Ziqing said, leaning against the wall. “With that frail little body of yours, you’re bound to catch a fever. And don’t you dare pass it on to me! Hurry up and wash off.”
Song An’an chimed in, “Yeah, A-Sheng, you first.”
Liang Sheng’s face thickened with embarrassment, even for her. This was getting awkward.
“You guys go ahead, really,” she said, waving her hands frantically.
The girls kept politely deferring over who got the bathroom first.
“Oh, come on!” Liang Sheng finally snapped. “If we don’t hurry, our clothes will dry right on us! Keep arguing, and we’ll all just bathe together!”
Lu Ziqing and Song An’an froze at her words. They glanced at each other, eyes widening as realization dawned.
“You go!”
“No, you go!”
They argued even more fiercely.
Ni Sihan and Liang Sheng stood there, utterly awkward in front of the pair.
“So… we all bathe together?” Liang Sheng ventured, sensing what the other two were thinking.
Lu Ziqing coughed. “Well, if you insist…” She planted her hands on her hips, grabbed Liang Sheng’s hand, and marched toward the bathroom.
Song An’an said nothing, her face beet red as she trailed behind.
Ni Sihan blinked in confusion but followed the trio into the bathroom.
Liang Sheng felt no shame—hey, they were all girls, all built the same. Without a word, she stripped down like it was nothing.
“Eek!” Song An’an slapped her hands over her eyes, though her fingers splayed wide enough to peek through.
Young Miss Lu Ziqing pretended to be unfazed, staring straight at Liang Sheng with feigned nonchalance.
As for Ni Sihan? She flailed her arms, not knowing where to put them.
“You—you all go ahead!” Ni Sihan bolted from the bathroom. She really couldn’t handle getting cozy with other girls like this!
The remaining three stared at one another.
“Hurry up and wash—the wet clothes could make you sick if you wear them too long!” Liang Sheng grabbed the showerhead and got to work.
Young Miss Lu Ziqing and Little Coward exchanged another glance, steeling their nerves before preparing to undress.
Wow, not bad for a luxury hotel. Liang Sheng eyed the bathtub on the floor—one showerhead and a big tub. Soaking in there would feel amazing! With that thought, she started filling it.
“Let’s all squeeze in here together!” She pointed at the tub.
“Huh?!”
“What?!”
The other two gaped in shock.
“Hee hee hee~” By now, the tub brimmed with water, and Liang Sheng’s mischievous streak flared up.
“Whoa!” Young Miss Lu Ziqing yelped as Liang Sheng shoved her straight into the tub.
“You rascal!” Lu Ziqing flailed in the water before scrambling to her feet.
“Eek!” Song An’an got splashed next.
The girls devolved into a splashing, shrieking pile.
What came next was a steamy scene bathed in holy light—Google your own pictures if you want visuals!
“Let’s wrap this up quick—Ni Sihan’s still waiting outside. We don’t want her catching cold,” Liang Sheng said. After a bit more fun and scrubbing, she started drying off.
“Oh no!” She smacked her forehead. “My underwear’s still out there!”
“Sihan!” Liang Sheng called toward the door. “I’m coming out to grab something—if you’re shy, close your eyes!”
Ni Sihan squeezed her eyes shut tight. She had zero interest in girls!
Liang Sheng cracked the bathroom door and tiptoed out, water droplets still trailing down her skin.
“Whoa—!” She hadn’t even finished the word before her foot slipped out from under her.
Ouch~ Liang Sheng felt so bad for herself. Why was she always the one getting hurt? She’d tripped multiple times these past few days—when would she learn?!
Ni Sihan heard the massive thud and reflexively opened her eyes.
And so, Room 205 echoed with one cry after another.
Thud thud thud. Someone started pounding on their door.
