"Hmm... online, some say Sparrows take sand baths, others say water baths. So both should work fine."

In front of the bathroom sink, Zhou Ruiyang had set out a basin of hot water and was doing final research on his phone.

"Hey! Be careful! Don’t just use me as an experiment!"

Mujin was scared. Her life was fragile now; if she got sick from a bad bath, it’d be trouble.

"It’s fine. Your body structure differs from other Sparrows. Plus, I have a hairdryer. Dry you right away, and no big issue."

"Wait... Ah~ Too hot!" Pushed underwater, the scalding heat made Mujin fly straight up. Furious, she yelled, "Zhou Ruiyang! This isn’t bathing—it’s cooking!"

"Weird. That hot?"

"Not really. At least, it’s a tiny bit shy of boiling me alive." The little Sparrow showed a minuscule gap with her wings.

"Still not quite there?" Zhou Ruiyang sighed.

"What do you mean by that!"

"Haha, small mistake. Adding cold water."

After adjusting, Zhou Ruiyang placed Mujin back in.

This time, the water was perfect. Wrapped in warmth, Mujin felt comfort and relaxation, letting out an involuntary soft sigh.

"Mmm~"

Zhou Ruiyang shuddered. "Whoa—don’t make sounds like that!"

Everyone knew Mujin’s voice was now sweet, cute, and girlish. That moan made Zhou Ruiyang deeply uneasy.

Mujin thought the sound was odd too but was too embarrassed to admit it. She just glared.

"What? Can’t I make noise when I’m comfortable? I’ll make noise if I want—none of your business!"

"Alright."

Zhou Ruiyang scooped water, gently wetting Mujin’s feathers. Just as he moved to continue, he froze.

"Wait, Mujin. Serious problem."

"Huh?" The Sparrow opened her eyes. "What problem?"

"Body wash or shampoo for you?"

"Duh—shampoo for the head, body... wait. My body’s feathers too. What do I use?" Mujin was stumped.

The man pondered. "Soak a bit."

"What’re you doing?"

Zhou Ruiyang shook his hands, grabbed his phone, fiddled, then shook his head. "Nope. Baidu gave no answer."

"Who’d Baidu whether to use body wash or shampoo on a Sparrow!"

"No answer means we think for ourselves." Zhou Ruiyang looked down, serious. "Historically, body wash and shampoo only appeared in the 1970s. Before that, people used mud, alkali, rice water, soap nuts. Through experience, they invented this convenient tool: sulfur soap! Fights dandruff, soothes itching, moisturizes and cleanses, inhibits—"

"Pfft! Behave! Water’s splashing my face!"

Before he finished, Mujin thrashed in the basin.

"Just say ‘use soap’! Why the history lecture? Why not start from Pangu creating the world!"

"You told me to be rigorous. I was—and got splashed. Fair’s fair."

Zhou Ruiyang wiped his face, lathered soap in his palm, and gently rubbed Mujin’s body.

Though a bird now, the touch felt different yet comforting. Comfort soon turned to embarrassment. She’d never imagined Zhou Ruiyang bathing her. Even as a Sparrow, it felt strange. Her feathers made it like being touched through a sweater—less sensitive.

But his gentle strokes were like a massage. She wanted to moan but held back, remembering his warning. Like a foot massage at its peak, sounds escaped anyway.

"Mmm~"

"Ah..."

"Mmph!"

Mujin’s voice was so girlish. Eyes closed, Zhou Ruiyang felt like massaging a naked girl. He recalled the brown-haired girl from earlier, and the smooth patch under her skirt. Combined, it felt like caressing her body.

He snapped his eyes open.

No—what was he thinking? This wasn’t a girl. It was his buddy.

"Ah... it hurts! Be gentle." Mujin cooed.

"Sorry." Zhou Ruiyang flipped her onto her back in his palm.

He stopped, staring at Mujin.

Her gaze grew uneasy. For a moment, she felt like that pretty girl again—trapped, naked under his eyes. Remembering today’s overindulgent "perks," she tensed her claws. "What’re you looking at?"

"I’m wondering—are you male or female? Can’t tell." Zhou Ruiyang lifted her, peering underneath. Nothing visible.

Mujin froze. She’d thought herself male before, but now transformed female, she might be a hen. She couldn’t let him check—discovery meant suspicion.

"What’re you studying on someone else’s body! Go. I’ll wash the rest. Bros scrub backs, but washing privates isn’t bro-like."

"You’ve no hands. How?"

"I’ll splash. Watch." Mujin flipped in the water, shaking hard.

Water sprayed everywhere. Zhou Ruiyang stepped back, avoiding a faceful. "You’re tiny—how so much water?"

"Because you filled it too much!" Mujin pointed at the basin.

Zhou Ruiyang opened his mouth when a voice cut in.

"Bro Yang!"

He turned sharply. A figure moved outside the bathroom.

He and Mujin locked eyes—both screaming the same thought.

Oh no!

Mujin had hidden so hard, yet slipped.

Zhou Ruiyang shushed, tucked her into a towel, and opened the door. Hao Ren stood there, face dark.

"Weren’t you online? Why back?"

"Account ran out. Seriously, Zhou Ruiyang—hiding this from your bro?"

Zhou Ruiyang breathed deep. He’d wanted to protect Mujin, but secrets burn through paper. Caught, he had to confess.

"No, A-Ren, listen. It’s not that I didn’t tell you—it’s just this thing is really..."

"Cut the crap. Bold move, naked-chatting in the bathroom. Not scared we’d catch you?"

"Huh?"