Why do you look so guilty as if you've done something wrong

The door closed quietly as she jogged toward the end of the alley.

The blush on her face made her look like a kitten who had just stolen a treat, and the smile on her lips softened into something delicate and lovely.

She kept running, hoping the movement would calm her racing heart even just a little.

"Here, this is for you." Hu Yuying handed Lin Wanning one of the unopened bottles of soda.

She looked at Lin Wanning’s flushed cheeks and her glistening, slightly dazed eyes.

Hu Yuying chuckled. "Qingxue was just teasing. Of course we’d wait for you—look how worked up you got."

As she spoke, she reached out and gently wiped the sweat from Lin Wanning’s forehead.

Feeling Hu Yuying’s fingers brush against her skin, Lin Wanning couldn’t help but meet her gaze.

Those smiling eyes were so beautiful—always so gentle, so serene.

There was something almost magical about her, a quiet power that gradually soothed Lin Wanning’s restless breathing.

Noticing Lin Wanning’s stare, Hu Yuying let out a soft laugh and traced her fingertip over the teardrop mole at the corner of Lin Wanning’s eye. "What’s with that look? You seem guilty, like you’ve done something sneaky."

At those words, Lin Wanning’s eyes flickered away. "N-no, it’s just… you’re really pretty."

"You’re pretty too."

"Ugh, I can’t stand you two. Fine, you’re both gorgeous, happy now? Let’s go take a bath. It’s been forever since I’ve gotten to tease you—my hands are itching for it!"

Li Qingxue’s cheerful voice rang out, her smile as bright as ever, radiating pure joy as if she could effortlessly spread that happiness to everyone around her.

She tugged the other two toward the bathhouse.

"I want to share a tub with Yuying."

"No way! You two go ahead. I’ll get my own room—my period hasn’t ended yet."

"Then you can use the shower, and we’ll take the tub," Lin Wanning murmured, her voice soft. Maybe it was because of Hu Yuying’s earlier words, but she couldn’t bring herself to look directly at her anymore.

There was a secret in her heart now—one she couldn’t share with anyone else.

"Let’s not," Hu Yuying refused.

Even though they were all girls, even though they all had their cycles, it still felt a little inappropriate.

Besides, she had saved up some money now—she could afford her own room.

"What’s there to be afraid of? We’re all girls here. Everyone has those days—you think we’d judge you?" Li Qingxue laughed.

In the end, at Hu Yuying’s insistence, they booked one single room and one double.

"What if I come find you two after I’ve washed up?" Hu Yuying suggested, seeing Li Qingxue and Lin Wanning’s disappointed expressions.

"Sure! We’ll be waiting for you."

"I still prefer when the three of us bathe together," Lin Wanning added quietly.

It was true—the three of them had shared so many firsts.

Their first bath together, their first time renting a room together, their first time huddling under the covers to watch a risqué video… They had created countless memories as a trio.

Now, even something as simple as bathing felt wrong when they were apart.

Girls were strange creatures. When they weren’t together, they could manage just fine—bathing alone, eating alone, sleeping alone…

But the moment they reunited, they clung to each other, even for the smallest things, like wanting company just to use the bathroom…

Once inside the private room, Li Qingxue tilted her head, staring intently at Lin Wanning as they undressed.

"What are you looking at? You’ve got the same things I do," Lin Wanning asked, puzzled.

"What happened here?" Li Qingxue pointed to a faint red mark on Lin Wanning’s chest.

Glancing down at the mark, Lin Wanning instinctively covered it with her hand.

A faint blush crept across her fair cheeks.

When she had stolen a kiss from her brother, his unconscious response had been to slip his hand under her clothes, gently kneading her skin.

This mark was probably from when she had pulled his hand away.

She hadn’t expected Li Qingxue to notice it so quickly.

But then again, Lin Wanning’s skin was so pale and flawless—any blemish stood out starkly against it.

"It’s probably just from adjusting my bra earlier. My nail must’ve scratched me."

"Really? Does it hurt? Let me check." Without waiting for an answer, Li Qingxue reached out to inspect it.

Lin Wanning bit her lip, enduring the tingling sensation, too afraid of further questions to stop her.

Steam gradually filled the room, deepening the flush on her face.

This time, half of it was from embarrassment over her body’s reactions, and the other half from the heat.

Her breathing quickened as she watched Li Qingxue playfully continue her inspection. Finally, Lin Wanning decided to retaliate by helping Li Qingxue out of her clothes.

Li Qingxue was thrilled. Normally, she was the one being teased by Lin Wanning—today, she finally had her chance for revenge.

But once the red marks on her own body were replaced by fresh ones from Li Qingxue’s fingers, Lin Wanning huffed and refused to play along anymore.

Laughing and shoving each other, they settled into the freshly filled bathtub, chatting idly as they waited for Hu Yuying to join them.

"What’s on your mind?" Li Qingxue asked, noticing Lin Wanning’s distracted expression.

She seemed oddly out of it lately.

"Huh?" Lin Wanning blinked, snapping back to reality. "What did you say, Qingxue?"

"What’s up with you? You keep zoning out." Li Qingxue rested her arms on the edge of the tub, grinning. "You look guilty."

"I’m not! I just ate too much at lunch."

"You know what they say—'a full stomach leads to idle thoughts.' You’re full, you’re soaking in hot water… Are you getting frisky?"

Before Li Qingxue could continue, a knock sounded at the door.

Lin Wanning reacted instantly. "Qingxue, don’t you dare say anything weird in front of Yuying!"

Startled by the intensity of her reaction, Li Qingxue frowned slightly.

Before she could dwell on it, Lin Wanning had already slipped on her sandals and tiptoed to the door.

After confirming it was Hu Yuying, she cracked the door open just enough to let her in while shielding her body.

"You’re finally here! We were about to go looking for you," Li Qingxue called, standing up from the tub.

Her figure was perfectly proportioned—neither too much nor too little, as if any change would ruin its harmony.

"Come here, let me hug you! Soon, Long Aotian’s going to monopolize you—quick, let’s get our cuddles in now…"

Hearing this, Hu Yuying glanced at Lin Wanning. "Have you two been watching those videos again without me?"

Lin Wanning shrugged. "A certain someone asked me for the link. Judging by how shameless she’s acting now, she must’ve binged them."

Li Qingxue rested her cheek on her hand with a sigh and murmured, "What are you talking about? Compared to you all, I'm practically innocent..."