Xuanye Bu quickly rinsed off and was ready to finish his shower. As he toweled dry, he noticed his physique was truly slim in clothes yet solidly built underneath—his well-defined pecs, abs, and biceps were a genuine pleasure to behold.
Though the former Xuanye Bu had neglected his studies completely, he’d poured effort into training his body to fully embody the “delinquent” role. If that version of him was all brawn and no brains, the current Xuanye Bu was both sharp and strong. Even though academics were now his priority, seeing such a hard-earned physique made him feel it would be a shame to let it fade. After all, building muscle might take years, but maintaining it was a lifelong commitment. He began considering setting aside time each day for exercise.
As the saying goes, a healthy body is the foundation for study. That was one reason for his resolve; the other was preserving this hard-won build. Everyone appreciates beauty—even Xuanye Bu, whose mental age surpassed forty. As a straight guy, he admittedly had little resistance to a muscular frame. So he decided: wake up early, exercise outdoors for an hour, shower, then head to school. Japanese high schools had no morning study sessions, first period started late, and his home wasn’t far—perfect for squeezing in a morning workout.
From entering the bathroom to stepping out took under fifteen minutes—remarkably fast. When Shuiye Yangcai saw him emerge, she kept her eyes firmly down. One glance at him would inevitably conjure up some very *not*-for-minors mental images.
“Bu, why finish so quickly?”
Xuanye Rongnai, familiar with his usual shower length, was genuinely puzzled. Her question stirred Yangcai’s curiosity too. Logically, if Xuanye Bu had done anything *unmentionable* to her underwear, plus bath time, he couldn’t have exited this fast. Truth was, the longer he stayed in there, the more Yangcai would’ve preferred it.
“I skipped the soak today. Showered and came straight out.”
Yangcai might wonder if he avoided the shared bathwater out of disdain. But she was overthinking—he wasn’t squeamish about cleanliness, just a little particular.
“Shuiye-san, you’ll share a room with my mom tonight.”
Xuanye Bu intended to settle her sleeping spot before turning in. To him, as a girl, she couldn’t possibly share his room—so bunking with Rongnai was the only option.
His plan was well-meaning, but clashed with both women’s thoughts. Yangcai, of course, wanted to share *his* room. Two reasons: first, Rongnai was an elder—sharing felt awkward; second, she simply wanted closeness, hoping it might deepen their bond.
Rongnai felt similarly. Housing a girl she’d just met—same age as her son—felt off. Even though Yangcai was female, mentally it sat poorly. Plus, she *wanted* Yangcai and Bu closer. No reason to keep her in her own room.
“Bu, Yangcai is your classmate. She should stay in your room,” Xuanye Rongnai said slowly.
Her tone was calm, yet firm. She deliberately stressed “*your* classmate”—the message clear: *You stirred this pot; you handle it.*
Without waiting for protest, she vanished into her room, returned with bedding, locked her door, and left Bu and Yangcai staring awkwardly at each other in the living room.
“Bu-kun…” Yangcai hesitated, words caught.
Inside, joy bubbled uncontrollably—but for modesty’s sake, she stayed reserved. Classic case of acting coy after getting her way.
Xuanye Bu, oblivious to her true feelings, assumed she felt uncomfortable. To him, a girl sharing his room must feel put out.
“How about… I sleep in the living room? You take my bed…” he suggested again.
Problem was, the living room was tiny. No space for a proper floor bed, and the sofa was too small to sleep on.
“No!” Yangcai blurted—too loudly, too fast.
This chance was hard-won; she wouldn’t let it slip. Only after seeing Bu’s startled expression did she realize her outburst. Flustered, she scrambled to cover it.
“Bu… Bu-kun, I—I meant the living room’s too small! Even a floor bed… should be… in the bedroom!”
Xuanye Bu weighed it. She had a point. Someone might trip over him during a midnight bathroom run. Reluctantly, he gathered the bedding Rongnai provided—sheets, quilt, pillow—and led Yangcai to his room.
This was Yangcai’s first time inside. She scanned the space: neat, clean—expected. But startlingly sparse. No toys, sports gear, manga, or clutter. Only textbooks and study guides on the desk.
“Bu-kun… do you spend *all* your free time studying?” she asked, surprised.
As a former delinquent, she’d expected *some* playfulness. Finding zero “fun” items left her puzzled. She’d hoped room decor might hint at his hobbies, deepen her understanding.
“Lately… mostly, yeah,” Xuanye Bu replied after a pause—measured, honest.
While Yangcai observed, Bu finished laying the floor bed right beside his own. The room was small; this was the only way. Thankfully, his bed sat low with no gap underneath—no need to stare into a dark, shadowy void while sleeping on the floor. That *would* have been unsettling past midnight.
