A faint, sweet fragrance lingered in the air, refusing to dissipate. Then, Chen Yuan heard the WHOOSH of running water from the bathroom. He looked up and touched his nose; the sensation of Jiangg Yao’s cheek brushing against it was still vivid.
She was so captivating, even with such a small, inadvertent gesture.
A blissful smile suddenly spread across Chen Yuan’s face. He scratched his head, stood up, and glanced toward the bathroom before heading to the bedroom to change.
A towel was spread out on the nightstand, and on it lay the clothes Jiangg Yao had taken off. Even his windbreaker was there. On the very top of the pile was a pure white set of garments. They were so conspicuous that Chen Yuan recognized what they were with a single glance.
He froze, then quickly averted his eyes. ’Staring at a girl’s underwear makes me feel like a total pervert.’
Besides, the sight was way too much for an inexperienced young man like him. It was best not to look.
He stripped off his own clothes and pulled open the closet to change. His movements were swift and efficient, and he was in a fresh set of clothes within seconds. Now, the pile of damp garments on the nightstand seemed even more out of place.
’I can’t just leave them piled up here,’ he thought. ’They’ll be all wrinkled and musty by morning. Might as well just toss everything in the washing machine.’
As he thought this, he edged closer to the bed, his mouth a little dry as he glanced at Jiangg Yao’s clothes.
Just lying here...
A matching set... all pure white...
They didn’t look particularly small, and as he drew near, an intoxicating fragrance washed over him. It was a sweet, potent, and utterly indescribable scent.
Chen Yuan only caught a few whiffs—not even from up close—and already felt his head swim. ’Do all girls’ clothes smell this good?’
So damn fragrant.
Chen Yuan fought the urge to take another sniff and picked up the clothes. A wave of dizziness instantly washed over him. The lace trim on the edges was so delicate, the fabric incredibly smooth. Compared to his own coarse clothes, it was like they weren’t even made of the same material. And they looked so thin...
’Wait, why am I examining them in such detail?!’
Chen Yuan squeezed his eyes shut. ’I can’t be a real pervert. I promised I’d be a gentleman today. Jiangg Yao trusts me so much; I can’t betray that trust.’
But the moment he closed his eyes, he vividly recalled Jiangg Yao clinging to his arm. The feeling of her pressing against him—BOING—surfaced in his mind with perfect clarity. He couldn’t stop his imagination from running wild.
’How sinful!’
Chen Yuan tossed the clothes into the washing machine as if he were getting rid of a hot potato.
That was a relief.
He remembered scrolling through TikTok and always coming across videos about "ascetic beauties." He was never quite sure what that meant, but right now, Chen Yuan was absolutely certain of one thing: Jiangg Yao was definitely not the ascetic type. She was the criminal type.
Her every frown, every smile.
A single, simple movement could reveal a world of charm—so tender, alluring, and exquisitely beautiful.
Whether she meant to or not, the attraction was undeniable.
He was a little puzzled. The first time he met Jiangg at school, she seemed so aloof and reserved when she was teaching! She had a bright, stunning aura, but it was the kind that didn’t inspire any sinful thoughts—just an intellectual appreciation that led to pure admiration.
So why was she so completely different in private?!
Chen Yuan had no idea that Jiangg Yao had inherited Jiangg Ruxue’s most outstanding trait: her "mei," or innate allure. This trait had been exceptionally prominent even when Jiangg Ruxue was a teenager. Once she fully matured, she was an absolute knockout, with countless suitors vying for her affection.
It was an inborn quality, impossible to ever get rid of.
Being in a relationship, let alone marrying, a woman like that would surely be a mix of pleasure and pain.
After changing, the sticky feeling was gone, and he felt much more comfortable. He flopped onto the sofa and quietly watched the heavy rain outside.
A thick mist billowed outside, and a similar white steam filled the bathroom.
He didn’t know how long Jiangg Yao would be. He’d heard that girls took a long time to shower. Chen Yuan decided he might as well grab the book he’d borrowed from the library and do some reading. He went to the study, came back, and lay down to read. It had to be said, reading and studying in this kind of weather was a rare pleasure.
...
CLICK—
CLACK—
A few soft noises came from the bathroom, sounding like Jiangg Yao moving about. Then, the frosted glass door, hazy with steam, swung open.
Hearing the sound, Chen Yuan turned his head to look.
The image of a stunning beauty emerging from her bath unfolded clearly before his eyes, enough to leave anyone dumbstruck.
People often say you look better in the mirror right after a shower. Perhaps it’s true. The hot water moisturizes the skin, undoubtedly making it feel softer and smoother. In contrast, cold weather can make one’s skin look pale and bluish.
At this moment, Jiangg Yao looked absolutely breathtaking. The shallow hollows of her collarbones still held a few drops of water, which trickled down her shoulder before disappearing into her pure white bath towel. Her hair was down, cascading around her.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her skin looked even fairer than usual—so pale it seemed to glow. Plump with moisture, it looked incredibly soft, making one want to reach out and poke it just to feel the texture!
Chen Yuan was completely stunned. He held his book, frozen, for a long time, completely forgetting to turn the page.
Jiangg Yao looked in the mirror and straightened her hair, clutching the towel at her chest to hold it more securely, as if to prevent any accidental slips.
’Coming out after a shower is so embarrassing.’ She didn’t even dare to look at Chen Yuan at first, trying to act as if everything was perfectly normal.
But when she stole a glance at him from the corner of her eye, she saw his dumbfounded expression.
Jiangg Yao took two steps into the living room. She tilted her head, her legs pressed together. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes as she placed a finger on her glistening lips in an incredibly seductive pose. A hint of a smile played on her lips, but her expression was one of doe-eyed innocence.
She asked with feigned innocence, "Little Master, what’s wrong?"
"PFFT..."
A trickle of warm liquid ran from his nose. It suddenly felt itchy, and he wiped it with his hand.
The next moment.
Jiangg Yao’s eyes flew wide. She scurried over in a panic, no longer even holding her towel, revealing her sudden alarm.
"You’re having a nosebleed! Are you okay? Is it because you got caught in the rain? Oh my god, where are the tissues? Tissues!" She turned her head, her eyes frantically scanning the coffee table. She finally spotted a box of tissues, pulled out a few sheets, and carefully leaned in to wipe his nose, her delicate brows knitted with worry.
"I’m fine. I’m probably just a little overheated."
Chen Yuan couldn’t believe it. A single glance had caused such a dramatic nosebleed. ’Could it be because I’m young and full of vigor?’
’Entirely possible!’
"Are you really okay or just saying that? Should we go to the hospital?"
"It’s not that serious. Ahem—never mind. You should hurry up and get dressed. I’m going to take a shower now."
Chen Yuan stood up. He couldn’t take any more of Jiangg Yao parading in front of him wrapped in nothing but a towel. He hurried toward the bathroom, needing a shower to cool down.
Meanwhile, Jiangg Yao stood there, puzzled, thinking for a good while. Then, she belatedly looked down, tugging at her towel to glance at herself. She muttered in astonishment, "My... destructive power... is it really that great?"