The Unforeseen Bargain and the Bathhouse Pilgrimage

A jolt went through Jiang Li.

Though she couldn’t pinpoint the reason for her alarm, an unconscious dread whispered that this was an undertaking of immense, colossal danger.

“It should be very simple,” Xi Yao added. “Just scrub my back.”

‘Of course, it could only be her back,’ Jiang Li thought. ‘What else could it be… the front?’

Despite pondering for a long while, Jiang Li still sensed the danger, yet on the surface, it seemed like a simple request that was difficult to refuse.

“If it’s so simple,” she inquired after a moment’s thought, “why do you need help?”

“With someone’s help, it’s simple,” Xi Yao stated with conviction. “Without it, it becomes quite difficult for me.”

She demonstrated, leaning forward to show Jiang Li how challenging it was to scrub her own back without assistance.

To reach behind her back, her arms had to twist awkwardly, causing her body to naturally lean forward significantly. However, her ample physique meant that this forward lean shifted her center of gravity, making the task suddenly burdensome and exhausting, not to mention prone to losing balance.

After considering it from the perspectives of gravity, universal gravitation, and ergonomics, Jiang Li finally understood.

Her roommate truly was in dire need of a bath-scrubbing assistant.

“I understand,” the girl said, taking a deep breath. “But let’s be clear: I’m only helping with your back.”

“Mhm, mhm.”

“And another thing,” Jiang Li added earnestly, “while I’m scrubbing your back, you absolutely cannot suddenly turn around.”

Xi Yao offered no verbal reply, merely flashing an ‘OK’ gesture.

Having secured a beautiful bath-scrubbing assistant for the price of a single bread roll, the girl felt she had struck gold.

****

The first official day of school passed somewhat uneventfully.

The homeroom teacher of Liberal Arts Class Two quietly observed their students. Class Two was a unique cohort, largely due to the presence of Jiang Li, the top student of the entire grade.

Unlike the top students of other grades, where competition was fierce, with victories often exchanged or margins narrow, Jiang Li was different. In the recently concluded first year of high school, she had claimed the championship with an overwhelming, decisive advantage.

The last student to possess such a commanding lead had been named Xi Ruo.

During the first day of classes, the old teacher indeed perceived Jiang Li’s effortless mastery. The girl’s self-study had already advanced almost to the next semester’s curriculum; the classroom material posed no challenge to her whatsoever.

Given her reputation, this was entirely expected.

What truly surprised the old teacher, however, was Jiang Li’s deskmate—a beautiful girl with a well-developed figure. Despite her less-than-ideal grades last semester, she too appeared remarkably at ease today.

In understanding certain questions, she even outpaced Jiang Li by a few points.

‘She’s inscrutable,’ the teacher thought. ‘I’ll have to wait for the monthly exams.’

During Thursday’s homeroom class, the old teacher stepped onto the podium and addressed the students:

“I know some of you might not have fully returned from your vacation yet,” he began, “but please do so quickly. You’ve been given two days. For those who still haven’t settled down, no one will wait for you. Today marks the first day of official classes. If there’s anything you didn’t understand, teachers for all subjects are waiting in their offices for your questions. Don’t keep your confusion bottled up.”

The old teacher’s address was quite stern, and not a single student whispered below.

After applying a bit of pressure, the old teacher moved on to another matter: “Those of you who frequent the campus forums might already know that student council elections will be held this semester. However, I must remind you that excellent academic performance is one of the requirements for running for any position on the student council. Therefore, please prioritize your studies. Starting tomorrow, I do not wish to see as many inattentive students in class as I did today.”

Xi Yao rubbed her ears, whispering a complaint to Jiang Li: “The old teacher is so fierce.”

With no one else speaking, in the midst of such profound quiet, Xi Yao’s small gesture was clearly visible from the podium.

The old teacher considered for a moment, then decided against calling her out by name.

After all, one had to show some deference to the top student duo.

“That’s all for today,” he concluded. “Class dismissed.”

School was out!

Xi Yao stretched languidly, happily gathering her belongings, preparing to return to the dorm.

As she packed, she didn’t forget to ask the girl beside her, “Jiang Li, do you have all the tools ready?”

Jiang Li was slightly startled. “What tools?”

‘Tools? Are tools actually needed?’ she wondered.

“You know, bath towels, washcloths, shower gel, a bath scrub cloth… Actually, that last one might hurt a bit, so never mind.”

Xi Yao mused that with her current delicate skin, a rigorous scrubbing session like those at a public bathhouse might prove too much for her body to endure.

Jiang Li, realizing her misunderstanding, let out a sigh of relief. “Of course I have all the normal bathing essentials; I bought them all the day before yesterday.”

‘And come to think of it,’ she mused, ‘isn’t the most important tool a pair of hands?’

“Alright, no problem then,” Xi Yao declared, hoisting her small backpack. “Let’s go!”

****

The girls’ dormitory bathhouse was finally operational.

Located on the top floor of the dormitory, the bathhouse occupied an entire spacious level. After Xi Yao and Jiang Li returned to their room and packed their essentials, they noticed many other girls also heading upstairs.

They carried basins filled with towels and shower gel, dressed in thin, loose tops and short skirts, or pajama bottoms.

Xi Yao and Jiang Li joined the throng ascending the stairs. Xi Yao, too, was lightly clad, with a pair of small pajama shorts peeking out from beneath her top, as she ascended, a striking figure in white.

The well-endowed girl walked with such an imposing presence that nearby female students frequently glanced her way, some even deliberately making room for her.

No one seemed to know exactly why, but perhaps they were simply awestruck by her formidable aura.

Reaching the top floor, the two girls slowly entered the bathhouse doors.

Xi Yao’s spirits soared, and a voice seemed to echo within her mind—

‘Reached the highest floor of the dormitory: The Bathhouse!’

Perched at the apex of the girls’ dormitory building, it demanded that students from any floor, laden with their bathing essentials, ascend the stairs step by arduous step, as if on a pilgrimage.

‘Oh, how beautiful, the bathhouse!’

Xi Yao stepped inside, greeted by billows of swirling steam that blurred the entire world into a soft haze. Within this ethereal mist, the faint figures and soft laughter of girls shimmered into and out of view.

‘There could be no place more beautiful than this,’ she mused.

Parting the mists before her eyes, Xi Yao peered through the haze, attempting to discern any girls with particularly good figures.

‘Oh, it’s not… why are they all so flat?’

‘Heh, too many flat-chested monsters.’

Xi Yao sighed softly, casting her gaze downwards at herself.

‘I’ll just admire my own snow-capped mountains, my dear friends.’

Jiang Li, unlike her companion, didn’t immediately start looking around upon entering the bathhouse. Instead, the girl quietly located an empty shower stall and beckoned Xi Yao over.

The girls’ dormitory bathhouse featured a large communal bathing pool, as well as individual shower stalls. Theoretically, the stalls were designed for single occupancy, but given their generous space, two people could easily fit without issue.

Xi Yao stepped in first, surveying the shower area and remarking, “This is really nice.”

“So, I just insert the card to get hot water?” Xi Yao turned, a playful smile on her face. “Jiang Li, I’ll treat you to a bath.”

‘Inserting my card for hot water means I’m treating you to a bath. No problem at all,’ she thought, pleased with her logic.

Jiang Li’s mouth twitched. “I’ll go get the locker key. Wait a moment.”