After going upstairs, Xuanxi pushed open the door to her room with Xige.
The bed was covered with a newly bought blanket, neatly folded by Xuanxi.
On the windowsill was a pot of withered flowers, which Xuanxi had planted before going to the Academy.
But now it was half-dead, its yellowed branches standing in the pot, waiting for next spring to sprout again.
“You sleep on the bed,” Xuanxi said.
“Then where will you sleep?”
“On the floor. I have a moisture-proof mat and a blanket. I can make a bed on the floor.”
“No need.”
Hildegrifa took off her scarf and draped it over the back of a chair, placing her jacket beside it.
“We’ll sleep together. It’s not like we haven’t done it before.”
Xuanxi thought of Echo Valley, of Frost Mark Manor, of the last day before break when they had made a floor bed in the dormitory.
Xige had said, “Come here.”
Her ears began to burn, from her earlobes all the way to the tips.
“I’ll take a shower first.”
Hildegrifa walked to the bathroom door, pulled it open, and glanced back at her.
“Oh, do you have a towel?”
“Yes, it’s in the cabinet.”
Hildegrifa went in, closed the door, and the sound of water began.
Xuanxi stood in the room, listening to the water, not knowing whether to stand or sit.
She walked to the bed and sat down, then stood up, straightened the blanket, adjusted the pillow.
The sound of water in the bathroom continued.
“Xuanxi.”
Hildegrifa’s voice came from behind the door, echoing in the bathroom, muffled and not very clear.
“I didn’t bring a towel. Can you get one for me?”
Xuanxi pulled out a clean light blue towel from the cabinet.
She walked to the bathroom door and knocked.
“Here you go.”
The door opened a crack.
Hot air rushed out from the gap, carrying the scent of Hildegrifa’s body wash.
Xuanxi handed the towel over.
Her fingers touched Xige’s wet hand.
Xige’s hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her inside forcefully.
Caught off guard, Xuanxi was pulled completely into the bathroom.
The door closed behind her as she entered.
Steam filled the entire space.
Hildegrifa stood before her, wrapped in a thin towel.
Her silvery white hair was completely soaked, clinging to her body.
Water droplets dripped from the tips of her hair, slid along the lines of her neck, past her collarbone, and disappeared at the edge of the towel.
Her skin was flushed a faint pink from the hot water.
Her amethyst-like eyes gazed deeply at Xuanxi.
“Come on, shower with me.”
Her voice was very soft, so soft that Xuanxi almost didn’t hear it.
“Save water.”
Xuanxi wanted to refuse, but her clothes inexplicably came off by themselves.
Seeing this, Xuanxi’s whole body began to heat up.
She just stood there, allowing Xige to touch her all over, still clutching the towel that hadn’t been handed over.
Hildegrifa reached out and pulled her under the showerhead.
Warm water poured down from above, flowing along Xuanxi’s long hair and soaking her body.
She looked at her own drenched figure, then at Hildegrifa.
In her eyes, Xuanxi saw her own reflection—hair plastered to her face, water droplets dripping down, looking as miserable as a cat just pulled out of water.
Hildegrifa curled the corners of her mouth.
“Ah! You’re all wet,” she said.
“You did that on purpose!” Xuanxi’s voice was muffled in the steam.
“Mm, I did it on purpose. So what?”
Xuanxi took a deep breath.
In the end, she said nothing, just looked at her.
After all, she could never win an argument with Xige (actually, she quite liked being close to Xige like this).
Xuanxi bit her lip.
She stood under the showerhead, letting the hot water wash over her body, washing away the last traces of cold.
Hildegrifa reached out, took the body wash from the shelf, squeezed two pumps into her palm, and rubbed it open.
Pure white foam overflowed from between her fingers.
She then applied it to Xuanxi’s shoulders.
The foam was spread by her warm palms, sliding from the shoulders to the collarbone.
Her movements were gentle, slow, as if wiping a fragile piece of art.
Xuanxi lowered her head, watching the long, fair hands move all over her body.
The foam grew more, covering her shoulders, her…
Xuanxi’s breath hitched.
Instinctively, she wanted to retreat, but Xige held her in place with her hand.
“Relax, turn around,” Xige said softly.
Xuanxi turned around.
The two stood facing each other under the showerhead.
Hildegrifa applied the body wash to her chest, her palm pressing against her, movements very gentle.
Xuanxi bit her lip hard, not knowing where to look or where to put her hands.
Her fingers dug into her palms.
Hildegrifa’s hand paused.
“Are you nervous?”
“No.”
“But your heart is beating very fast.”
Xuanxi’s face was bright red.
She couldn’t speak.
Xige ignored her, her hand continued downward.
Her fingers spread, then gathered from the sides toward the center, covering Xuanxi’s entire abdomen with foam.
Xuanxi’s abdomen was more sensitive than her arms.
As soon as Xige’s fingertips touched her side waist, she flinched, her skin trembling, raising a layer of fine goosebumps.
Seeing this, Xige’s hand paused, and she looked up at her.
After seeing that Xuanxi didn’t refuse, her fingers slid from the side of her waist to her lower abdomen, her fingertips resting on the softest skin there.
Just as her fingers were about to move further down, Xuanxi made up her mind and grabbed her wrist.
The movement was sudden.
Her fingers locked around Xige’s wrist bone, not hard, but resolute.
Xuanxi’s palm was wet—whether from steam or sweat—and her five fingers trembled slightly, clearly exerting force.
Xige looked up, her eyes meeting Xuanxi’s through the steam.
Her expression held confusion, her eyebrows slightly raised, as if asking what was wrong.
Xuanxi’s face was so red it could fry an egg.
Even beneath the foam covering her chest, a layer of pink showed through.
Water droplets clung to her eyelashes.
Her lips were bitten so hard they were almost bleeding.
The usual invulnerable stubbornness had mostly evaporated, revealing a vulnerable appearance beneath.
Her voice came out in fragments, as if she had held it in for a long time.
“The rest… I can do… myself.”
Her fingers gently brushed against Xige’s wrist bone—a subconscious gesture when she was nervous, but even she didn’t notice it.
Hildegrifa looked at her.
The corners of her mouth curled up, with a hint of indulgence and helplessness.
She took the showerhead from the shelf and placed it into Xuanxi’s hand.
“Fine.”
She turned and walked out of the shower area.
Before pulling the frosted glass door closed, she glanced back at Xuanxi.
“I’ll wait for you in bed.”
The door closed.
A blurry silhouette was visible through the frosted glass.
The sound of the shower started again, mixed with the faint sound of foam being washed away.
Amidst the water sound, a very soft sigh was barely audible—whether it was relief or something else was unclear.
Soon, Xuanxi finished washing.
She stepped onto the wooden floor, leaving a trail of wet footprints.
After drying her hair and changing into pajamas, Xige was already in her pajamas waiting for her in bed.
Xuanxi turned off the bedside lamp and also lay down on the bed.
The inside of the blanket was warm.
The two slowly warmed up in the small space.
Xuanxi reached out her hand and grasped Hildegrifa’s hand.
“Happy New Year, Xige!” Xuanxi said.
“Happy New Year!”
The two fell asleep in each other’s arms… No words were spoken that night…