I sighed, feeling helpless. Leaving Ming Hai like this wasn’t an option, so I carried Xiao Yao to her room to find a blanket. Stepping inside, the room was pitch black—barely a sliver of light. Xiao Yao, slightly afraid of the dark, clung tightly to my neck.

The curtains were drawn shut. The table stood empty. Only a spotless bed remained, a large pillow propped against the headboard and a fluffy blanket folded neatly atop it. The once-empty bookshelf now held several thick books. Too dim to read the covers—I recalled Old Chu was quite the bookworm.

I grabbed the blanket, returned to the living room, and covered Ming Hai. Xiao Yao leaned down to tuck the edges snugly. I pinched her cheek playfully, switched off the light, and sighed.

The little girl clung to my neck, eyes curiously scanning the room. Still full of energy. I’d planned to carry her to Old Han’s room once sleepy—but I’d underestimated a child’s stamina. I’d likely doze off before her.

I set Xiao Yao on the bed. She swung her feet, gazing up with soft, innocent eyes. I shrugged, sniffed my shirt. The smoke smell was strong. Worried it might bother her, I patted her head. “You sleep first. Brother Lu Ren’s taking a shower.”

She’d already flopped onto the blanket—but at “shower,” she jumped up. “Me too! I want to bathe with Brother Lu Ren!”

*Good grief. This kid’s pushing me to commit a crime. In this country, that could mean a death sentence…*

I bent down, stroking her soft hair. “Xiao Yao, naughty? Boys and girls shouldn’t bathe together. It’s not proper.”

She tilted her head, eyes half-closed in comfort, tugged my sleeve with a mischievous grin. “I’ll be Brother Lu Ren’s fiancée! Then marrying you is totally fine!”

I sighed. “You feel that now. But when you grow up? You might not like me anymore… We can’t bathe together. Be a good girl, okay?”

She clung to me pitifully, big eyes glistening. “No! I only want to bathe with Brother Lu Ren! I refuse!”

I crouched, stroking her soft cheek, lost in thought. *She’s just a little girl. Doesn’t understand anything. Should be fine…*

Besides, alone? She’d struggle with the heater—and not wash properly. Hesitantly, I nodded. “Okay… but behave. Or I’ll wash separately. No bathing together. Understand?”

Xiao Yao giggled, lunged to hug my neck—nearly bumping my nose. I caught her as she rubbed against me, a faint strawberry milkshake scent clinging to her.

Carrying the fidgety girl to the bathroom, I set her down, adjusted the heater, plugged the drain, and filled the tub. Turning back, I undressed her. She quietly clung to my neck. I removed her socks, unzipped the dress from behind. She slipped her pale arms free and hugged me again. I gently eased off the fancy princess dress, folded her undergarments carefully, and placed them in the wardrobe.

Naked and obedient, she followed me to the tub. Her skin was milky smooth. My hands occasionally brushed soft, tender spots—faint signs of early growth. *Just a child. Nothing to dwell on.* But Xiao Yao shivered slightly, growing shy, eyes glistening. Thinking she was cold, I rubbed her cheek gently.

I tested the water—just right. Lifting her under her arms, that silky-soft touch sent a quiet flutter through me. *Damn it. Kids’ skin really is perfect.*

She dipped a tiny toe in, then cautiously settled into the water.

I ran a hand through my hair, peeled off my shirt—when suddenly she dove underwater. My heart jumped. Five seconds later, *plop!* A small head popped up through the steam. She shook her hair like a puppy, grinning happily.

I sighed, stripped, folded my clothes by the sink, checked the temperature, and sank into the tub. Barely seated when Xiao Yao wobbled over and plopped into my lap, grinning up at me. Helplessly, I hugged her. Her skin felt like milk jelly. I splashed water playfully. She squirmed and dodged, laughing joyfully.

A delicate little girl squirming in my lap—but all I felt was warmth.

*If I ever hit rock bottom… maybe becoming a monk wouldn’t be so bad.*

An only child. No sisters, not even cousins. Parents abroad since childhood. Raised by relatives. I never grasped family bonds.

As a kid, I thought “family” meant: an adult feeds and houses you—you obey. Disobey? You get beaten. I’m not sure that bias is gone. But with Xiao Yao… I’d never raise a hand to her. Her pure, unwavering affection—that was family.

If I’d never known what it felt like to be relied on… then when she clung to me, I realized: being depended on felt… nice.

Xiao Yao was Old Han’s sister. And she was my sister too.

The bath turned into an hour of playful chaos. I stepped out to wash her hair—struggling to keep her still. After rinsing, I lathered body wash. She struck a “qi blast” pose, yelled “Hya!”, flung bubbles at my face, and burst into adorably silly laughter. *Yep. Old Han’s sister alright.* Sighing, I wiped foam off my face, scooped water from the tub, and rinsed her clean.

Water poured over her. She sputtered. Her messy hair now flowed smoothly. She shook like a puppy, spraying droplets everywhere. I covered her head with a towel and dried her gently. She obeyed quietly. I dried myself, slipped underwear on her. We walked out wearing only that.

Couldn’t have her sleep in the princess dress—it looked expensive. Wrinkles would ruin it. No pajamas fit her, so I gave her my white T-shirt. It hung on her like an oversized robe. Exhausted after over an hour, my eyes half-closed. Xiao Yao wobbled behind me, tripped on the hem—nearly fell. Startled awake, I caught her fast.

She stumbled, gripped my arm, looked up, then down—sniffing the T-shirt collar again. I lifted her onto the bed, smoothed the quilt, turned off the light. No sooner had I lain down than a wriggling little body squirmed into my arms, peering at my chin. Streetlight seeped through the curtains. I stroked her hair, cradled her head, closed my eyes.

She stilled—but kept sniffing me curiously. Tickled, I asked softly, “What now? Still smell like smoke, Brother Lu Ren?”

She shifted. I adjusted my arm. “A little… but it smells nice…”

*So smoking really soaked into me. No way I smell good—must be the body wash.* Silent, eyes closed.

After a pause, she added, “It smells like winter!”

*Candied hawthorns?* I sniffed my shoulder—just floral body wash. Curled in my arms, she sniffed again and giggled. “Same as what I’m wearing…”

I sighed, ruffled her hair. She squirmed, turned over, back to me. I hugged her little belly, poked gently. She jolted like a startled cat. “Tickles!” she mumbled.

I chuckled. She snuggled deeper, quiet now—surely tired.

Freshly washed, she smelled sweet. I knew that floral body wash scent. Same as mine.

Yet… a faint hint of strawberry milkshake lingered. *Could this be the legendary “loli body scent”?*

Holding Xiao Yao, my thoughts blurred. Sleep pulled me under.