Chapter 21: Accidental Peeping?

Inside the room, the daylight lamp radiated its bright rays, illuminating every corner. The entrance hall and living room were deserted, while a soft sound of flowing water emanated from the bathroom corner, indicating someone was taking a bath inside. Through the frosted glass of the bathroom, one could vaguely perceive a figure's shadow, immersed in the bathing experience.

"Senior Sister, did you bring your clothes?" Jiangli's sincere voice echoed as he stood outside the bathroom.

"Yes," Senior Sister replied with a chuckle.

"In that case, you don't need me to pass them to you."

Indeed, Senior Sister seemed to have realized her mistake. Jiangli felt relieved. He continued to unpack and arrange the items he had purchased throughout the room.

"Swoosh..."

Suddenly, the sound of wheels skidding reached his ears, followed by a rush of steam escaping from the bathroom. Jiangli's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he turned to look behind him, intrigued by the commotion.

Could it be that Senior Sister really forgot something? He glanced over, only to see Senior Sister's figure behind the frosted glass door. She leaned out slightly, her maroon hair cascading along with the motion, a water droplet trailing down her neck and disappearing into her collar, leaving a tingling sensation.

Toudou Touka had removed her glasses. Suffering from severe nearsightedness, without her glasses, she was effectively blind and could only see blurry shapes within her limited range of vision. Even with 360p vision, the only clear form she could discern was her Junior Brother.

Observing her, he caught her mischievous smile.

"Junior Brother, aren't you tempted to peek?" she playfully inquired, hiding her body behind the glass door, her intentions concealed. Her words, however, were quite suggestive.

After taking off her glasses, her slightly flushed cheeks came into full view for Jiangli. She had just started her bath, and her complexion was fresh and radiant. Her graceful silhouette was partially visible through the frosted glass, stirring a certain itchiness.

"Another time," Jiangli responded with seriousness.

"Oh... alright then." Toudou Touka pouted slightly, revealing a subtle displeasure.

She closed the glass door and settled onto a plastic stool, allowing the clear water droplets to caress her cheeks as she continued to clean herself. Though she had initially intended to tease her Junior Brother, his refusal left her feeling a bit disappointed. She had expected a different response from him, something that conveyed a hint of hesitation on his part.

In her mind, she pondered the relationship between them. They had grown closer over the past two years, particularly after she sought her master's guidance in a remote mountain region. She had encountered her Junior Brother again during this time.

Back then, Junior Brother had been bedridden and incapacitated. Even after several years, he required assistance for everyday activities like eating, drinking, changing clothes, bathing, and even using the bathroom. Seeing him lying in the hospital bed, emaciated and frail, had stirred a maternal instinct within her. She had taken it upon herself to care for him as she had done before.

However, during this period, Junior Brother's behavior became increasingly peculiar. Although he was generally eccentric and often engaged in bizarre activities, his behavior during those two days was especially bold and unrestrained. While assisting him with his bath, she had been startled by his sudden actions.

However, Junior Brother had not been embarrassed by his actions. Instead, he continuously spouted explanations such as "developmental phase" and "uncomfortable sleep at night," which had left her both confused and amused. She had believed his quirky explanations.

In hindsight, she realized that Junior Brother had been under the influence of his unique ability during that time, resulting in an odd state of mind. He had recovered from this condition after two days, and from that point onward, he was a different Junior Brother altogether.

Though initially surprised, she hadn't scolded him. Junior Brother's frail body couldn't withstand physical punishment; a single blow could easily send him to the ICU. Besides, he hadn't acted with any malicious intent, and he respected her, which she found rather commendable.

In the end, this incident had faded away with Junior Brother's apology.

Nonetheless, she had discerned Junior Brother's fragrance during those days, which confirmed his innocence. It was a subtle detail, one that Toudou Touka was certain about.

At the time, she hadn't been angry with him. To some extent, it had awakened her to certain aspects of herself. She had realized that she needed to see Junior Brother from a different perspective—one that considered him as a potential romantic interest rather than a mere sibling figure.

However, Junior Brother hadn't explicitly communicated his feelings. Despite this, she sensed his interest in her physique. As a fellow swordsman, she was acutely aware of the significance of body language. She knew that he sometimes cast furtive glances at her.

Although she had teased Junior Brother earlier, she had secretly hoped that he would respond differently, revealing his internal struggle or vacillation. If he had shown the slightest hesitation, she might have let him in... No, that would be too imprudent. Allowing him inside under such circumstances would be highly inappropriate.

"Ahh..." a soft sigh wafted from the bathroom, indicating her current mood.

Their interactions continued, and Senior Sister's purity made Jiangli shake his head, feeling a pang of sympathy for her. She was too innocent to grasp the implications of his words.

Was his intent truly that obvious? Could it have other meanings? Or perhaps the meaning was more complex than what met the eye? Could it represent something else entirely?

Jiangli pondered the possibilities

.

After around ten minutes...

"Junior Brother? What did you buy?" Senior Sister emerged from the bathroom, now dressed in a casual outfit, her expression serene.

"I bought various things, like exercise equipment and so on..." Jiangli replied as he unpacked and organized their belongings.

Together, they resumed their ordinary interactions.