Chapter 20: Bath Time and the Pink Paw Pads

When the pot was lifted off the stone stove, Lin Mo realized the situation was even worse than she had imagined. She used her chopsticks to poke at a few blackened bamboo shoots stuck to the bottom; they wouldn’t even budge.

She was hesitant to eat it, but since it was Mo Jin’s first attempt at cooking, she couldn’t just ignore it. Picking out a strand of bamboo silk that looked somewhat passable, she gingerly took a bite.

A flash of surprise crossed Lin Mo’s eyes. It’s actually not that bad. It just… didn’t have any flavor.

“Can I add some seasoning?”

Mo Jin nodded and personally handed her the seasoning box. Her expression was so solemn that Lin Mo felt she wasn’t receiving salt and pepper, but rather a royal decree from an empress. She almost felt like kneeling and shouting, “Thank you for your imperial grace!”

Lin Mo sprinkled some seasoning into the pot and stirred it. The freshness of the bamboo was finally brought out, leaving only a hint of bitterness from the burnt bottom. At least it was edible now.

Peeking at Mo Jin, Lin Mo caught a rare glimpse of nervousness on the panda’s face. She remembered the last time she’d asked if the food was good—Mo Jin hadn’t answered, but her “body was honest” as she kept eating.

Feeling a bit mischievous, Lin Mo decided not to comment. She chewed slowly, taking several minutes for a single bite, then put down her chopsticks and let out a long, heavy sigh.

Seeing the flicker of anxiety in the corners of Mo Jin’s eyes, Lin Mo stifled a laugh and sighed again. “How can this be so delicious? I’ve never eaten anything better in all my years. I’ve truly lived in vain until today!”

As expected, Mo Jin’s brow smoothed over, and her expression relaxed. Giant pandas are so easy to coax, Lin Mo thought.

But then, Mo Jin picked up her chopsticks to try a bite herself. Oh no, the jig is up!

Mo Jin took a bite. Her relaxed brow furrowed again. She finished the mouthful in silence. Feeling guilty, Lin Mo quickly took a few more bites to cover for her. “It’s okay, really! It’s quite good.”

Mo Jin put her chopsticks down on the stone slab with a heavy thud. A cold chill traveled down Lin Mo’s neck. She shrank back, slowing her pace, waiting for the verdict.

“It’s not good,” Mo Jin said, her voice sounding a bit muffled and dejected.

Lin Mo looked up. Mo Jin was staring coldly at the bamboo shoots like a child who had failed a test. It was unexpectedly adorable. Lin Mo quickly hugged the pot to her chest and grinned. “If you think it’s bad, then I’ll just eat it all myself!”

When Lin Mo smiled, her eyes curved into crescents, her lashes trembling slightly with mischief. This little bamboo is provoking me, Mo Jin thought. She wants all the shoots for herself.

Mo Jin picked up her chopsticks and began “stealing” food back from Lin Mo’s side of the pot. Lin Mo watched the empty chopsticks and laughed. Even though she’s so big, she still has the temper of a child.

After dinner, Lin Mo headed to the stream to wash the dishes and the berries. She realized they both needed a proper wash and a change of clothes. Plus, she needed to sew that missing button onto Mo Jin’s shirt.

She opened the Bee Mall and spent her remaining coins:

Needle and thread (10), Comb (5), Quilt (50), Pillow (20), Basin and Bucket (20), Soap (10), Wheat seeds (50), Candles (10), Bathrobe (40), and 2 jars of Honey (35).

Bears love sweets, Lin Mo noted. Since she hadn’t seen any beehives in the forest, she ordered the honey online.

By the time she returned, Mo Jin had already boiled a large pot of water. Lin Mo mixed it with cool water to the perfect temperature, hauled the extra-large wooden bucket into the cabin, lit two candles, and nudged Mo Jin toward the door. “Alright, go have a bath. The temperature is perfect~”

Mo Jin stood frozen, her face cold.

Thinking she was afraid of the dark, Lin Mo lit two more candles. “There, it’s bright now! I’ll wait right outside. If you need anything, just call me.”

Mo Jin didn’t move. “I can use $qi$ to clean myself.”

Lin Mo nodded, looking very upright. “Dry cleaning isn’t as comfortable as a soak! Give me your clothes so I can fix the button and dry them by the fire.”

Mo Jin stared at her for a moment, thought about her ruined shirt, and finally marched into the cabin with her long legs.

Soon, the sound of splashing water filled the air. Lin Mo couldn’t help but think of the supple waist and firm abdomen she had touched before. Her throat went dry. What am I thinking?! she scolded herself.

Suddenly, the wooden door creaked open just a sliver. A cool fragrance wafted out, and a snow-white arm reached through the gap, slender fingers holding out the white shirt. Lin Mo didn’t dare look inside. She grabbed the shirt and was about to bolt when Mo Jin’s voice rang out:

“You didn’t give me the soap.”

Lin Mo slapped her forehead. She grabbed the bath supplies and a towel, but hesitated at the door. How was she supposed to get them in?

“Come in.”

That doesn’t seem appropriate… Lin Mo squeezed her eyes shut and fumbled her way inside. “I’m in! Where do I put them?”

“Step forward. I’ll take them myself.”

Lin Mo took a step, holding the items out. Suddenly, her foot slipped on the wet floor. As she lurched forward, she felt something fuzzy catch the back of her neck. She gasped and snapped her eyes open.

The giant panda was back in her beast form. One paw had caught the falling soap bottle, a pinky claw hooked a bath lily, and the other large paw was steadying Lin Mo by her collar.

In the candlelight, the panda’s obsidian eyes seemed to hold the entire galaxy. They were so close their breaths mingled. Lin Mo’s heart skipped several beats.

“You can go out now.”

Mo Jin turned around, leaving Lin Mo with nothing but a cold, furry panda-head view. She set Lin Mo back down on her feet.

Lin Mo’s mind was blank.

Mo Jin tried to gently squeeze the shower gel, but the bottle instantly crumpled under her strength. Mo Jin’s face (well, her panda face) darkened. It was truly hard to control her strength in this form.

“If you haven’t left… help me squeeze the soap onto my paw.”

Mo Jin set the bottle aside and held out a massive, furry paw, revealing her pale pink meat pads.

PAWS!

Lin Mo’s energy returned instantly. She carefully squeezed a generous amount of soap onto the soft, pink pads. Mo Jin took the bath lily and started rubbing, making the lily look like a tiny toy in her massive paws.

Lin Mo watched that fluffy head, her heart racing with excitement. I want to touch the head so bad! She took a step forward, trying to sound professional. “Since you’re a panda now, you have a lot of fur. It must be hard to wash. Do you… want me to help scrub your back?”