In the bath, Cloud Retainer and Madame Ping were soaking together.
Cloud Retainer eyed her companion strangely. "Tell me, Ping…"
Madame Ping didn't even look at her. "What now?"
"Meeting someone under the tree at night—don't you think that's a little… improper?"
"Oh? Are you jealous?"
Cloud Retainer didn't hesitate. "Yes. I am."
"Then why aren't you jealous of Shenhe?"
"Why would I be jealous of Shenhe?"
"She came first, didn't she?"
"Yes."
"But the first one to meet Mr. Xia wasn't her—it was you, wasn't it?"
"…"
"You were the one who sent her to take care of him."
"…"
"Regretting that now?"
"…"
Cloud Retainer sighed quietly. "You really have a nasty tongue, you know that?"
"So what?"
"I'd love to find something to shut you up with."
"Oh, but all you'll do is think about it."
"Hmph… whatever. I'm going for my massage. Enjoy your soak."
She rose gracefully from the bath, wrapped a towel around herself, and left.
Madame Ping leaned back against the pool's edge, eyes half-lidded and relaxed.
After thousands of years, Cloud Retainer was still the easiest to tease.
---
In the massage room
"She bullied me again."
Cloud Retainer's tone was laced with quiet resentment.
"Why is she like that?"
Xia Zhi chuckled softly. "Don't take it to heart."
"How can I not? She always knows exactly where to poke, rubbing salt into every wound. She might as well spit on it while she's at it."
"You really regret it?"
She frowned. "That's not the point. The point is she bullied me."
"So what do you want me to do about it?"
"Get back at her for me."
"How?"
"You're playing for her later, right?"
"Hm? You want me to play something badly on purpose?"
"Of course not! That'd tarnish your name."
"I don't really care about that…"
"No. You'll play something beautiful."
Cloud Retainer thought for a moment, then said, "When you're done, she'll be lost in your music. That's when you cut her off—snap her out of it—and tell her you're going to see me next. She'll hate that. Then, when you get to me, you'll play the same piece again. I'll record half of it and send it to her, telling her that the thing she has to earn is something I get whenever I want. That'll drive her crazy."
Xia Zhi stared at her for a moment. "…You really know how to play games."
She chuckled under her breath. "Exactly. So pick your best piece, make it exquisite, make her dream about it."
He smiled helplessly. "Fine. As you wish."
What else could he do?
She was his little crane, after all.
And after those legs… well, a little favoritism was only fair.
When the massage was done, Cloud Retainer leaned close and whispered her instructions again before leaving with a satisfied smile.
---
Outside, a few girls were waiting in line.
Xia Zhen, Ei, Yae Miko, and Hanachirusato were among them.
Yae Miko watched Cloud Retainer glide out of the room, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "I've noticed something… Their skin all glistens slightly, as if with oil."
Xia Zhen nodded. "That's his signature treatment—Essential Oil Massage. A must-try."
Yae Miko turned to the flushed Hanachirusato. "You've had it already?"
She nodded shyly. "Yes."
"Is it really that good?"
Hanachirusato's cheeks turned even redder. "It's not just good… I don't even know how to describe the feeling…"
"A curious sensation, hmm…"
Yae Miko's eyes gleamed as she looked toward the closed door, a lazy, sultry smile curling her lips.
"Hearing that, I can't wait to experience it for myself…"
---
In Order
Xia Zhen was the first to go in for a massage.
She'd done this plenty of times already, so she moved with easy familiarity.
"Cousin."
"Hm?"
"That message you sent me before—was it real?"
"Of course."
"You really wanted me to convince Ei to get a massage just so you could 'check her condition'?"
"What else?"
"You're seriously not interested in her?"
He gave her a flat look. "What do you think? You and your sister have identical bodies. What's there to be interested in?"
"So you're not interested in me anymore, either?"
"…Why are all of you determined to test my patience today?"
"All of us? Who else?"
"Guess I'll have to use that trick again."
"What trick?"
"Just relax and enjoy yourself."
She frowned in confusion—then gasped softly as a wave of pure, almost overwhelming pleasure spread from his hands across her body.
Xia Zhi had activated his trait [Enjoyment].
"Ah—!"
And just like that, his cousin went quiet.
When he finally withdrew his hands, he spoke gently. "All done, cousin."
Xia Zhen lay there a little dazed, breathing softly, before she finally managed to glare at him with flushed cheeks. "You're gonna be the death of me."
"Why? Dissatisfied?" he asked, face perfectly serious. "Then I won't offer this kind of service to you again."
"You just love messing with people, don't you?"
She gave him a half-annoyed, half-defeated look. "Help me up. I can't even move—my whole body's gone limp."
He chuckled and cast a divine-level healing spell on her.
She sat up slowly, savoring the lingering warmth running through her limbs. "Make sure to give Ei the same treatment later."
He sighed. "What kind of sister are you?"
"The kind that cares," she said matter-of-factly. "She's been working hard for five hundred years. Don't you think she deserves a little enjoyment?"
He paused, then nodded slightly. "…That's actually a pretty good point."
Satisfied, Xia Zhen slipped back into her bathrobe, leaned in to steal a quick touch from him, and finally left the room looking pleased.
The door swung open—and there stood Ei, Yae Miko, and Hanachirusato waiting in line.
Xia Zhen smiled sweetly. "Ei, you're up next. Go on."
Ei glanced at her radiant, freshly relaxed sister and gave a quiet nod. "Alright."
Once Ei went in, Xia Zhen waved at the other two and headed back to the bathhouse. She'd broken a light sweat during the massage, and the towel was sticking to her skin—it was uncomfortable. Better to wash up again.
Yae Miko watched her retreating back and subtly inhaled.
As a kitsune youkai, her senses were far sharper than any human's. She caught the faint scent of sakura petals clinging to Xia Zhen's skin—and something else underneath, something… warm.
Only after the woman vanished from sight did Yae narrow her eyes and murmur, "Did you smell something?"
Hanachirusato blinked in confusion. "Smell what?"
If Kitsune Saiguu had been there, she'd have noticed it too. But Hanachirusato wasn't like them. The [Golden Circlet] around her neck suppressed her youkai senses until she was no different from an ordinary girl.
Yae Miko's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. "Nothing at all."