A short while later, the sound of running water in the bathroom gradually faded.
The door opened softly, and warm steam carrying the clean scent of bath soap drifted out.
Yi Chen stepped out while drying his damp black hair with a towel.
He had changed into a light-colored bathrobe Ganyu had prepared for him. Perhaps it was a little too big—or perhaps the belt had been tied too loosely—because the collar hung slightly open, revealing a small patch of chest flushed a healthy pink from the hot water, along with the smooth lines of his collarbones.
Completely unaware of how he looked, he stood there with his messy wet hair and spoke to Ganyu, who was pretending to seriously wipe the coffee table (even though she had already wiped it three times).
"Ganyu, I'm done washing. The water temperature was perfect! You should go take a shower too—after such a long day, you must be exhausted."
His tone was natural and considerate—pure, roommate-level concern.
But to the already guilty Ganyu, those words sounded completely different.
Her wiping motion froze midair, fingers trembling slightly.
She desperately tried not to turn her head, yet the corner of her eye betrayed her, precisely catching sight of the skin peeking from Yi Chen's loose collar—
S-so this is a young qilin…
He looks… really… tender…
That thought struck like lightning.
Boom.
Ganyu's face instantly ignited, the heat spreading all the way down her neck.
Ahhh! Ganyu, where are you looking?! What are you thinking?!
She screamed internally, wishing she could crawl into a crack in the floor.
And Yi Chen's innocent line—"You should go wash too"—now sounded dangerously suggestive.
What kind of outrageous words are those?!
He's dressed like that, collar not even closed properly, and telling someone to go shower?!
This—this sounds like—like something is about to happen afterward!!!
Ganyu's mind turned into a pot of boiling almond tofu, thick and steamy.
She didn't dare look up, terrified he might see her face practically smoking.
"I—I—I…"
She suddenly stood up. The movement was so abrupt she nearly stumbled. Her voice was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz, trembling badly.
"I—I'll wash later! I—I still have some work to finish!"
She blurted out the excuse incoherently, then—without daring to look at him—walked stiffly toward the study, limbs completely uncoordinated, as if fleeing a wild beast.
At the study doorway—
Bang.
She bumped straight into the doorframe.
With frantic hands, she steadied herself, slipped inside, and slammed the door shut.
Only then did she feel safe from the dangerously unaware young male qilin outside.
Leaning against the cool door, Ganyu clutched her chest, breathing hard, legs weak.
By the Archons… this is more exhausting than handling ten urgent Qixing documents…
Meanwhile, in the living room, Yi Chen blinked in confusion.
Why did Ganyu suddenly react so strongly?
…Work stress, maybe?
Looks like I should help her more.
Completely unaware, he tugged at his loose bathrobe collar again, feeling it was a bit tight around the neck.
After a long time of completely unproductive mental preparation, Ganyu finally felt her face cool down and her heartbeat stabilize.
She cautiously opened the study door a crack and peeked out.
Only a warm wall lamp lit the living room.
She immediately saw Yi Chen slumped on the sofa.
Apparently exhausted, he had fallen fast asleep.
His breathing was steady, damp hair resting softly on his forehead. He looked completely defenseless—almost… well-behaved.
On the coffee table in front of him were several documents she had brought home but hadn't yet processed.
Beside them was a note Yi Chen had left, neatly written, with some preliminary handling suggestions.
Ganyu's heart instantly melted into warm spring water.
He… he was helping me with my work…
All the tension, embarrassment, and wild thoughts from earlier vanished, replaced by overwhelming tenderness.
How can this child be so considerate… so easy to adore…
Good thing… really good thing I didn't do anything strange or immoral earlier…
That would've been unforgivable…
She tiptoed over and crouched in front of the sofa, quietly studying his sleeping face under the warm light.
The more she looked, the softer her heart became.
Unable to resist, she reached out and gently—very gently—rubbed his slightly flushed cheek, her voice tender enough to melt sugar.
"Yi Chen… wake up… sleeping here will make you cold. Let's go to the guest room, okay?"
But Yi Chen only smacked his lips vaguely, murmured something unintelligible, and instead of waking up, tilted his head slightly—rubbing his cheek against her fingertips—and sank even deeper into sleep.
With that movement, the already loose collar slipped open a bit more.
Ganyu hesitated… then carefully reached out, intending to help him up and guide him to the guest room.
The moment her fingers touched his arm—
His eyelashes fluttered.
Then—slowly—he opened his eyes.
Those dark eyes, still hazy with sleep and moisture, focused unfocusedly on Ganyu, who was crouched right in front of him, hand gripping his arm.
The air froze.
Buzz.
Ganyu's mind went completely blank.
From her perspective, this scene was irrefutable evidence.
Sneaking around late at night.
Crouching in front of a sleeping, improperly dressed young male qilin.
Grabbing his arm.
No matter how you looked at it—
She looked extremely suspicious.
An overwhelming wave of shame, panic, and "I can never explain this" terror crushed her rationality.
"Y-yaaah—!!!"
She screamed reflexively.
The string of reason snapped.
To protect her "innocence" (??) and avoid social death, her body moved before her brain—
She bent forward and, with her incredibly solid qilin horn—capable of smashing monsters—
Delivered a solid, full-force headbutt straight to Yi Chen's forehead.
Thud.
"Ugh—!"
Yi Chen, who had just barely rebooted consciousness, saw darkness instantly descend.
System force shutdown.
He collapsed back onto the sofa, unconscious once more.
Silence.
Ganyu clutched her own aching forehead, staring at Yi Chen—whom she had knocked out again—her chest heaving, face red enough to drip blood, eyes full of horror and regret.
Archons above…
What… what have I done?!
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