Chapter 26: Bath Time Intimacy

The day’s art lesson concluded as usual, and Gu Xuanyu seemed delighted to model for Ye Qing. Upon seeing her likeness captured so vividly in the painting, her joy was palpable.

Meanwhile, Shen Congqing harbored a lingering curiosity about Gu Xuanyu’s identity.

Though she couldn’t recognize her by appearance alone, the two had fought side by side many times, developing a subtle understanding between them.

As a teacher, Shen Congqing had a habit of noting her students’ personalities, and Magical Girl Bai, being of a similar age, had left a deep impression on her.

Now, Gu Xuanyu reminded Shen Congqing so much of Magical Girl Bai that she couldn’t help but wonder if this was her magical girl successor.

Despite Silver Moon’s apparent wish to keep the magical girls from interacting privately, Shen Congqing found herself unable to resist her curiosity about her two successors.

Should I test the waters…?

But seeing Gu Xuanyu affectionately linking arms with Ye Qing, pressing close to her shoulder and making the black-haired girl blush deeply, Shen Congqing smiled and dismissed the thought.

It’s probably best not to involve ordinary people in this.

Ye Qing was led home by Gu Xuanyu, holding her small hand, feeling the stares of passersby and hiding her embarrassed face.

Gu Xuanyu’s intimacy had far exceeded Ye Qing’s expectations, always following her out and, on walks, insistently holding her hand as if proclaiming their relationship to the world.

Due to Ye Qing’s petite frame, she appeared to be the more dominated and weaker party.

Ye Qing even wondered if this was why Gu Xuanyu’s attitude towards her had changed.

Once, as a ‘sister,’ the silver-haired girl had been utterly devoted to her, though occasionally mischievous and playful, always maintaining a suitable distance between them. But now…

Feeling the soft warmth enveloping her hand, Ye Qing’s vision blurred. Why did she have the illusion that she was the younger sister? And Gu Xuanyu was always taking, always teasing her… so greedy.

Back home, after changing clothes, Ye Qing began preparing dinner for two. Gu Xuanyu, unable to help in the kitchen, busied herself setting the table and preparing the dishes.

They worked in harmony, like a cozy household of two.

But Ye Qing preferred to think of it as cohabiting siblings, with her as the older brother, responsible for taking care of the younger sister, Gu Xuanyu. Gu Xuanyu, unable to use chopsticks, had Ye Qing prepare a dish that could be eaten with a spoon.

Whatever Gu Xuanyu wanted to eat, Ye Qing would cook separately and feed her.

As usual, Ye Qing picked up her chopsticks, taking a piece of egg to feed Gu Xuanyu. But the silver-haired girl didn’t rush to open her mouth, just smiled at her.

“Krist, let’s take a bath together tonight.”

Hearing Gu Xuanyu’s crisp, bell-like voice, Ye Qing’s chopsticks slipped, and she stared at her in a daze. After a long moment, Ye Qing averted her gaze, avoiding Gu Xuanyu’s hopeful, wine-red eyes.

“No…”

“Why not? You’re a girl, and I’m a girl. There’s no need to be shy.”

Ye Qing, flushed with embarrassment, mechanically shoved food into her mouth, trying to distract herself. Her usually delicious cooking now tasted like cardboard.

Despite her stammered refusals, Ye Qing found herself unable to resist as Gu Xuanyu pulled her into the bathroom and began unbuttoning her pajamas.

“I… I can do it myself.”

Ye Qing turned away, her mind seemingly frozen, slowly undressing with her face flushed red. Though it seemed like only a minute, it felt to Ye Qing like an eternity.

As the last piece of fabric slipped from her shoulders, her gaze fell on her tempting, curvaceous form.

She had forgotten her previous shyness, as if she had completely adapted to and accepted her girlish body… but when the sound of Gu Xuanyu undressing stopped, her heart still raced.

“Krist, come here.”

The bathtub was already filled with hot water, just enough for the two girls to sit facing each other. Seeing Ye Qing hesitate, Gu Xuanyu gently patted her shoulder.

Ye Qing flinched, and a blush spread across her fair skin in an instant. She responded mechanically, half-closing her eyes, turning her back, her hands protecting her chest as she walked straight to the bathtub.

Ye Qing cautiously extended her foot towards the steaming water.

The instant her toes touched the surface, Ye Qing’s eyes narrowed, and she quickly withdrew her foot, her tender toes curling up, and her instep tensing like a startled rabbit. But in her retreat, her back pressed against something soft, leaving her no time to think.

Gu Xuanyu caught Ye Qing, who nearly fell, her hands resting on Ye Qing’s slender arms, gently supporting the petite black-haired girl, all the while wondering why she was so tense.

“Krist, you haven’t tested the water temperature yet, don’t rush.”

Ye Qing was like a drunkard, her cheeks flushed, her amber eyes glazed, her lips slightly parted, unable to speak.

Seeing Ye Qing unresponsive again, Gu Xuanyu gently shook her. Only then did Ye Qing come to her senses, frantically escaping from Gu Xuanyu’s embrace.

“It’s okay…”

After a moment, Ye Qing and Gu Xuanyu sat in the bathtub, their feet touching, their silver hair and black hair intertwining in the water, inseparable.

Gu Xuanyu looked at Ye Qing, who was silently blowing bubbles in the water, occasionally teasing her.

“Krist, don’t be so shy, how can we bathe like this?”

Ye Qing could only nod simply, blowing a few more bubbles.

“Bubble, bubble, bubble.”

Seeing the black-haired girl cowering in the water, curled up small in the opposite corner of the bathtub, Gu Xuanyu felt a mischievous urge.

She awkwardly lifted her foot, circling around Ye Qing’s calf, carefully not disturbing the water, until it rested against her soft thigh.

“Bubble, bubble? Bubble, bubble!”

For some reason, even with just a light touch, Ye Qing tensed up like she had been electrocuted, her adorable reaction like a jellyfish stung by a twig, contracting as it desperately retreated to deeper waters.

It only made one want to tease her more.

Gu Xuanyu smiled, trying to withdraw her foot, but her injured feet from the night before were even more clumsy, caught by Ye Qing’s tense, spread legs, unable to pull free, constantly brushing against her smooth skin.

The unexpected situation left Gu Xuanyu flustered, quickly calling out to Ye Qing, who was in a daze.

“Krist, don’t space out, my feet are tired…”

Ye Qing unconsciously raised her eyes, looking at the silver-haired girl, unguarded. The girl’s flawless beauty was fully revealed, and she was looking at Ye Qing with her clear, ruby-red eyes, astonished.

Vaguely, Ye Qing seemed to see a soft pink glow emanating from the silver-haired girl. “Bubble, bubble… eh!”

Ye Qing could no longer bear the embarrassment and hastily escaped the bathtub.