Bronya, Flying Spiral Kiss!
Bronya stepped into the brightly lit bathroom, her gaze sweeping over the smooth tiles and mirror.
She first rinsed her mouth thoroughly, the cool water brushing between her teeth. Then she squeezed out some toothpaste and brushed, the fresh scent of mint suppressing the strange taste in her mouth.
Warm water splashed against her cheeks, clearing her head a little, but it failed to fully quiet the heartbeat that had kept racing since their intimacy moments ago.
In Belobog, the Upper District did not suffer from the same extreme water shortage as the lower district, but the energy needed to keep water warm was exceedingly precious.
Even as commander of the Silvermane Guards, Bronya rarely had the chance to enjoy a hot bath.
The seemingly ordinary fixture before her represented a level of comfort she could scarcely attain.
Bronya dried her hands and face and headed for the living room to ask Lin Hai about it.
But she found Lin Hai alone, leaning back on the sofa with his face turned toward the ceiling. His gaze was distant and unfocused, while an almost dazed smile of satisfaction played at his lips.
Bronya understood at once.
Her boldness and the reward she had given him had brought him such intense pleasure that his soul seemed to be lingering in the clouds, still unable to return.
Hearing her footsteps, Lin Hai slowly came back to his senses.
Without a trace of embarrassment, he gave her a lazy smile.
After hearing her question, Lin Hai readily stood, led her back to the bathroom, and showed her how to adjust the water temperature...
His explanation was detailed, though his gaze kept lingering on Bronya's eyes, his heart full of tenderness and a sense of accomplishment.
Only after Bronya said she understood did he return to the sofa and resume gazing at the ceiling.
This time, Lin Hai's smile grew deeper.
He had to admit that Bronya's surprise had far exceeded his expectations. That peak experience had filled him with joy, body and soul.
In the bathtub, warm water flowed with the faint sound of bubbles. Bronya let out the softest sigh and sank into the relaxation.
When she appeared again, she had changed into a set of women's silk pajamas.
The smooth silk clung to her slender yet strong figure, outlining its graceful curves.
Her slightly damp hair fell over her shoulders, lending her usually somewhat cool demeanor a soft glow that made her especially captivating.
By then, Lin Hai had fully recovered from his earlier daze, and his eyes had regained their usual clarity and focus.
He brought a plate of freshly cut fruit from the kitchen, its sweet, fresh aroma filling the air.
The two sat down side by side on the sofa and shared the simple treat, after which Lin Hai chose a movie.
"Project A," starring Jackie Chan.
The film's brisk pacing, humorous scenes, and action choreography soon captured both their attention.
They became absorbed in the story.
Just as a fight scene in the movie was building toward an explosive climax, a familiar panel appeared in Lin Hai's mind.
Light shimmered, and lines of new information quietly emerged.
[Contract Lucky Star: Bronya]
[Affection: 90]
[Hidden reward triggered: Concentric Knot]
An exquisite red Concentric Knot made of pure energy materialized in the air between him and Bronya.
It slowly rotated, radiating warm yet powerful fluctuations. Then countless slender, crystalline threads of energy spread from it, connecting to both their hearts and the spaces between their brows.
A sense of resonance enveloped them.
Without a word, their emotions and thoughts naturally mingled.
Bronya's eyes widened in surprise. She could clearly feel Lin Hai's affection and care for her.
Lin Hai likewise sensed her shy yet gradually deepening trust and reliance.
The panel blazed with light once more, and new information flooded in:
[Reward: Super Burst]
[Effect: You can activate this state at will, allowing you to use all of Bronya's power and combat skills for ten minutes.]
A surging sense of power flowed through every part of Lin Hai's body.
He was already familiar with this.
It was nothing new to him.
Both The Herta and Sparkle had reached 90 affection, and both had activated the Super Burst ability.
Compared with The Herta and Sparkle, Bronya was much weaker.
But across the entire Star Rail universe, Bronya's power was not to be underestimated.
Almost at the same moment, a notification sounded in Bronya's mind, and a piece of information appeared directly in her consciousness:
[Receive affection, increase power limit]
[Effect: Maintain and deepen your bond with the contractor and receive affection to gradually break through your own power limit.]
This meant Bronya's growth would no longer be confined by her inherent bottleneck.
An entirely new way to grow stronger had appeared before her.
The two came to their senses at the same time, recovering from the impact of the information, and turned toward each other as one.
The instant their eyes met, invisible sparks seemed to flash through the air.
Each saw the same joy in the other's eyes.
Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, bathing the room in a hazy glow.
Lin Hai's gaze was deep as his fingertips brushed gently over Bronya's cheek. "Bronya... would you like to try receiving more affection from me?"
Ripples stirred in Bronya's eyes, and she did not hesitate.
There was no need to hesitate!
She had already wanted greater power.
The stronger she became, the more likely she would be to solve the problems facing Belobog in the future.
Besides, Bronya already felt a deep affection for Lin Hai.
So a kind of eager light, newly ignited, shone in her eyes.
Her lips curved slightly as she met his gaze, making no attempt to hide the anticipation in her voice. "I was thinking the same thing. When do we start?"
"Right now. Let's start a round and have a good game!"
Some of Lin Hai's words were gaming terms.
Although Bronya didn't understand their literal meaning, she could guess what they meant beneath the surface.
Start a round?
Then let's do it!
Without another word, Lin Hai smiled and took her hand.
Their palms pressed together, their warmth mingling. In perfect understanding, they turned and walked together toward the quiet master bedroom.
The door closed gently behind them with an almost inaudible click, quietly shutting out the disturbances of the outside world.
The instant the lock clicked shut, all restraint and tentative probing vanished.
Bronya turned and threw herself into Lin Hai's arms. At the same time, he tightened his arms around her, holding her slender, resilient body close.
Their gazes met, and in the next instant, their lips were pressed tightly together.
The fierce, deep kiss seemed to give their long-accumulated feelings an outlet at last.
There was no more tentative drawing close and pulling away, only unreserved taking and giving.
A kiss.
A kiss lost in passion!
Lin Hai exerted his arms, lifting Bronya into the air by her waist.
Even then, the two of them were still kissing.
The Flying Spiral Embrace Kiss.
A wholly unprecedented school had been created.
As its founder, Lin Hai had made it a reality through his extraordinarily powerful arms!