Zila wasn’t sure what had happened.

All she felt was a faint pinch under both arms, so she slowly opened her eyes.

Her feet were off the ground—she was floating.

A pair of delicate hands held her there, tickling slightly.

“Alright, Master! Look at you—all messy! Big Sister Xia Mo’s taking you for a bath, okay?”

Xia Mo lifted Zila and set her before the mirror.

The girl reflected was undeniably pretty, yet smeared with grime—like jade stained in mud.

Zila’s youthful charm still peeked through, but the dirt ruined the view.

Before she could stare longer, Xia Mo carried her toward the bathroom.

“Hey, hey, hey! Wait!” Zila cried just a step away.

Flustered and squirming, she stammered, “What do you mean ‘*you’ll* take *me* bathing’? Men and women shouldn’t be this close! Don’t you know that? Aren’t you embarrassed?!”

Her cheeks flushed cherry-pink to the ears at the mere thought of “bath.”

“Oh, Master~ Why keep insisting you’re a boy? Right now, you’re the most perfect girl~—the *cutest girl in the whole village*~!”

“Cutest girl in the village…”

“Cutest girl…”

“Girl…”

The words echoed in Zila’s ears. Defiance flared.

“Ahhh! I’m not a girl! Let me go! Let me go!” She thrashed like a cat dragged toward water—limbs flailing, her long slender tail bristling straight up.

But Xia Mo ignored her. Into the “dreamy paradise” she went.

Uniform set aside, sleeves rolled up, Xia Mo filled the tub with warm, steaming water.

Cradled against Xia Mo’s chest, Zila had stopped struggling. Limbs limp. Face etched with shy despair.

*Swish swish~*

In seconds, the torn dress vanished. A soft white towel wrapped around her.

Xia Mo lifted her like fragile porcelain and eased her into the water.

“Master, no need to be so shy, right?”

Warm water lapped over Zila’s petite yet perky chest.

Hands clamped over her eyes, face red as an apple, she dared not look.

Xia Mo gathered her long hair into a neat bun.

Chill faded. Warmth seeped deep.

Every brush of Xia Mo’s fingers sent a tiny tremor through Zila’s skin.

Helpless, she endured the wash.

Was it nerves? Embarrassment? Her body felt absurdly sensitive—

a simple back rub felt like ten thousand ants crawling.

She shivered nonstop in the tub.

“Wow! Master’s back is gorgeous! Smoother than a newborn’s—I’m so jealous!”

“Mmmph~”

As Xia Mo turned her, a light touch jolted Zila.

*Plop!* She scrambled backward, pressing flat against the tub wall.

“Mmmph~ Don’t touch me!”

That accidental graze on her chest had struck like lightning.

Arms crossed tightly over herself, tears dripping into the water, she pleaded, “Please… don’t touch me anymore, Big Sister Xia Mo~"

What overwhelming sensation could make a girl—who clung to being a boy—break down like this?

Begging like a helpless child to escape the “torture”?

“Waaah~ Waaah!” Genuine sobs spilled out.

“I’m sorry, Master! I didn’t know you were this sensitive—I’ll be careful!”

Seeing the trembling, tear-streaked girl, Xia Mo’s guilt surged.

Then her eyes dropped to Zila’s chest—*exactly* the shape she’d dreamed of.

*Wait… is this real? For a girl who looks eight or nine? Unreal. Perfect. Like art carved by gods.*

*Such elegant curves…*

Her hand drifted to her own “wealth symbol”—flat as a cutting board.

Face pale, she stared in silent devastation.

“I’m so jealous, Master… Why can’t I have a body like yours?!”

Her expression held no joy—only hollow despair.

Confused, Zila inched closer. *Did I hurt her?*

“Dear disciple… don’t cry! Flat chests have perks too! In my Blood Clan, all the women are flat—even flatter than you!”

“Master’s touched them?”

“Huh?!”

Zila froze. “N-no! Books say so!”

“Waaah! So what?! I’m still flat!”

Panic sparked. *Think!*

A mental lightbulb flashed.

“Disciple! Stop crying! After the bath… you can dress me however you want! Anything! Just please stop crying~"

“Anything?”

“Eep! I mean—*change clothes*! Whatever you pick! Just… no more tears~"

“Okay okay!” Xia Mo’s face brightened instantly—stars in her eyes, bouncing with joy. “Master promised! Your word is bond!”

“Huh? You’re… not sad anymore?” Zila blinked, utterly baffled.

“Mm-hmm!” Xia Mo grinned. “If I didn’t act like that… would Master ever wear cute dresses?”

“You… YOU TRICKED ME!!!” Zila’s roar echoed through the steam.