The sound of running water drifted intermittently from the bathroom, accompanied by soft humming.
Whether intentional or not, Su Li noticed the singing grew noticeably louder when she brought in the towel for Bai Huizi.
The bathroom door opened.
Beads of water slid slowly down Bai Huizi’s fair skin.
Su Li handed her the towel and was about to turn and leave.
“Aw, I thought Xiao Su Li was ready to join me for a bath~” Bai Huizi teased.
Su Li felt her wrist being gently grasped and replied with a hint of helplessness, “Sister Bai, I haven’t found the massage oil we need yet.”
Only then did Bai Huizi release her wrist, though not without playfully dabbing foam onto Su Li’s cheek before humming her way back into the bathroom, continuing a tune Su Li didn’t recognize.
Since Bai Huizi brought her to this rented apartment, Su Li hadn’t even taken the time to properly look around what was supposed to be her new home.
She’d gone straight to the balcony.
In a place like S City, where space was at a premium, the fact that Bai Huizi was renting her a spacious two-bedroom apartment for 8,000 a month seemed almost generous.
Not long after, Su Li found the massage oil in the master bedroom.
Even though the labels were covered in English she didn’t understand, she was familiar with these kinds of products.
In her past life as the male lead in an adult game, she’d learned quite a bit about women’s items—casual conversations with clients often touched on such topics.
Over time, she became familiar.
She tiptoed to check the neatly organized rows of bottles in the cabinet.
Everything was sealed tight, clearly unused.
When she opened a bottle to sniff it, a light, herbal fragrance rose to her nose—it was far more refined than any massage oil she’d encountered before.
Bai Huizi clearly had means.
What puzzled Su Li, though, was why something so expensive would be kept in this apartment—especially after she learned that Bai Huizi owned the entire building.
Surely not every unit was stocked with such luxury?
She began to suspect that Bai Huizi never actually intended to rent out this place to begin with.
Just as Su Li had finished her preparations, the bathroom door slowly opened.
Perhaps Bai Huizi had heard her approaching—she hadn’t bothered drying off.
Water droplets glided down her pale skin in full view.
“What a shame, Xiao Su Li. I’ve finished bathing. You missed your chance to shower with me.”
She spoke wistfully, though whether the regret was for Su Li or herself was unclear.
“We can start the massage now, Sister Bai.”
Su Li glanced around—the room temperature seemed fine, though she wasn’t sure if it needed adjusting after Bai Huizi’s bath.
“Mhm. Let’s begin.”
Bai Huizi gave a casual wipe at her body and began to step out.
“Sister Bai, if you don’t dry your hair properly, you’ll catch a cold,” Su Li gently reminded.
Bai Huizi paused mid-step, then turned to her with a teasing smile. “Then should Xiao Su Li help me blow dry it?”
“That service isn’t covered by our arrangement,” Su Li replied seriously. “It’d be a separate charge.”
Bai Huizi had never clearly stated what “problem” she wanted solved—it was all very vague.
Su Li figured now was as good a time as any to define the terms.
After all, the word problem could mean anything.
If she ended up doing more for less, it wouldn’t be worth it.
“Oh?”
Bai Huizi blinked, then smiled even wider.
She stepped up to Su Li and gently wrapped a hand around her wrist. “I’ve already given you such a generous discount—why not throw in the hair-drying for free?”
As she spoke, Su Li’s arm was pressed softly into her curves, droplets from Bai Huizi’s wet curls dripping onto her skin.
Su Li responded calmly, “Sister Bai, since you’re offering me a place to live and being so kind, I’ll do it for free this time. But… I need to confirm exactly what problem you want solved.”
Still holding her wrist, she guided Bai Huizi to the sofa. Earlier, while searching for the massage oil, she’d found a hair dryer tucked into a corner.
The apartment was impressively well-stocked—pots, pans, everything was ready. She could move in with just her bag.
Though the kitchenware was untouched, clearly unused.
“Sister Bai, please let go of my arm.”
Su Li’s voice was even.
Seeing the hair dryer in her other hand, Bai Huizi finally let go.
Warm air blew from the dryer as Su Li’s delicate fingers gently ran through her hair.
Bai Huizi slowly closed her eyes, a serene expression settling over her face.
When her hair was finally dry and Su Li’s hand left her head, she opened her eyes with a reluctant sigh.
“Sister Bai, do you want to change into something else before the massage?” Su Li asked.
Without even thinking, Bai Huizi replied, “No need. Xiao Su Li’s already seen everything. The room’s warm enough—I won’t catch a cold. However…”
Her gaze landed on Su Li, growing noticeably more serious.
Su Li didn’t respond—just waited.
She’d seen clients like this before, ones who preferred to lounge naked at home. She understood, and didn’t pry.
So far, Bai Huizi seemed like a decent client.
Not like MOKA or Jin Ke’er, who had violent tendencies and liked to bite.
“But even if I don’t need to change, you do, Xiao Su Li.”
“Me?”
Su Li pointed to herself in surprise but nodded after a moment.
She followed Bai Huizi to the second bedroom, watching as she opened the wardrobe.
Earlier, Su Li hadn’t checked this room—she hadn’t expected the closet to be filled with so many clothes.
As Su Li stared silently, Bai Huizi finally said, “These are clothes I bought a while ago. I didn’t expect you’d end up picking this particular apartment, but if there’s anything in here you want to wear, you’re welcome to it~”
With that, she began pulling out outfit after outfit, holding them up to Su Li’s frame.
None of them would fit Bai Huizi—they were clearly tailored for someone with Su Li’s petite build.
From the start, Su Li had already guessed—these clothes weren’t bought for Bai Huizi at all.
Eventually, Bai Huizi handed her a maid outfit, pressed a pair of cat ears onto her head, fastened a bell collar around her neck, and flicked the tiny bell with a finger, sending soft jingles into the air.
She tried to read Su Li’s face, hoping for surprise or embarrassment.
But there was none.
So she reached out, pinched Su Li’s cheek, and scratched lightly at her chin.
“This one it is, then. Xiao Su Li~”