As she continued washing him, Ailian's movements grew slower and slower.
Her fingertips wandered over Ye Wei'an's firm chest, feeling the powerful beat of his heart. When they brushed across his sensitive curves, she even lingered for a few extra seconds. She lowered her gaze to the faint outline beneath the water and felt her whole body go weak. Waves of unfamiliar heat stirred between her thighs, and even her breathing grew hot.
Because they were so close, the pale swell of Ailian's chest nearly pressed against Ye Wei'an's shoulder. As she breathed faster, it occasionally brushed his warm skin.
"Master..." Ailian bit her lip, her eyes glistening. Her voice carried a coyness and plaintiveness she would never have dared show before. "Master... you really... have changed."
"Oh? How have I changed?" Ye Wei'an leaned against the rim of the tub with his eyes closed, enjoying the loosening warmth of the water.
"It's... it's just that you've grown up." Ailian's voice grew quieter, almost buried against her chest. "Before... you were always shy. You never let me bathe you like this... You always sent me away, let alone let me... do this."
Ye Wei'an kept his eyes closed, feeling the almost teasing pressure of the girl's fingertips. He understood.
The original owner had been a boy, after all. A little awkwardness and shyness were only natural.
But the person in this body now was a transmigrator with a mature soul.
Of course, he hadn't been bathed by a beautiful girl in his previous life, either.
But since he'd transmigrated into this feudal world and become a noble's descendant, a master sorcerer, he might as well indulge in the corruption of it all.
At that thought, he suddenly turned around and looked straight at Ailian with eyes as deep as the starry sky.
Gazing at the handsome face before her, at once familiar and strange, Ailian felt as if an invisible hand had squeezed her heart.
Recalling scenes he'd picked up from a few cringey dramas in his previous life, Ye Wei'an reached out and gently pinched Ailian's delicate chin. His thumb slowly brushed her lips, damp with excitement.
"That was before." Ye Wei'an's voice was low and resonant. "Now that I've grown up, it's only natural to play like an adult. Don't you think, Ailian?"
In his previous life, those cheesy actions and words would surely have earned him scorn for being sleazy.
But they hit Ailian like a critical blow.
The girl hesitated for just a moment, then blushed and tremblingly untied her sash.
Ye Wei'an stared in astonishment, silently howling to the heavens: Just as I thought. Whether a line sounds sleazy has nothing to do with the words or the action itself. What matters is who says it.
And now he, too, had a face that could earn him a living.
As he watched, the flimsy fabric slid down the girl's smooth skin and pooled on the carpet.
The candlelight and steam rising from the tub cast a soft glow over her. Biting her lip, she stepped into the warm water, shy but resolute, sending ripples across the surface as she sat close beside Ye Wei'an.
The wooden tub suddenly felt more cramped—and hotter.
Ye Wei'an slipped an arm around her wet waist, feeling the softness and tremor of her body. Ailian pressed against him willingly, wrapped her arms around his neck, and buried her flushed face in the hollow of his throat, whimpering like a little animal.
At first she was tense as a startled deer, but with his patient guidance, she gradually relaxed.
"Lady Firehair..." Ailian murmured.
But just as their heated emotions threatened to overwhelm their reason, Ye Wei'an stopped.
He buried his face in the hollow of her neck, their foreheads touching, but didn't go any further.
He could feel the girl's anticipation, and the unease of someone facing this for the first time.
Not yet, he thought.
Though her willing surrender kept wearing down his self-control, he knew full well that this setting—a crude wilderness tent, on a night after a life-and-death battle, with an uncertain future ahead—made it all feel far too rushed.
He didn't want this precious moment to become an outlet for stress, not with a girl who trusted and depended on him so completely.
He took a deep breath and suppressed his surging desire, then kissed her forehead and the corners of her eyes, his touch growing tender and full of affection.
Their exploration didn't stop, but it changed direction, becoming more like an intimate comfort. By the time Ailian had melted into a puddle of spring water, her eyes hazy and her breath coming in gasps, she could do little but lean on him.
Ye Wei'an let out a long breath, feeling deeply pleased and relaxed. The mental exhaustion he'd been carrying faded with the release.
Just then, a system notification appeared:
[Achievement unlocked: First Contact] [Feat acquired: Charm Talent]
Information about the feat immediately flooded into his mind:
[Charm Talent]: You understand how to use your sex appeal to achieve your goals. When you influence creatures of the opposite sex based on your Charisma attribute, your effects are more potent.
A subtle blend of knowledge and instinct flowed into him, as if he'd always known how to adjust the curve of a glance or make the most of his resonant voice.
Ye Wei'an's heart stirred. It seemed that aside from ordinary level-ups, the system had other paths to improvement, like achievement rewards. He just didn't know what achievements were available or how to trigger them.
The water gradually cooled.
He helped Ailian, who was so weak she could barely stand, out of the tub. A simple Prestidigitation conjured a warm breeze that quickly dried the droplets on their bodies.
He couldn't be bothered to dress the girl, so he simply grabbed a bath towel and wrapped it around her.
Ailian's eyelids drooped with exhaustion, and her steps were unsteady. Still, she instinctively tried to turn back and tidy up the bath supplies and tub.
Ye Wei'an put a hand on her shoulder. "If you're tired, go to sleep. We can do all this tomorrow."
Half supporting, half carrying her, he led her to the camp bed.
As soon as the girl sank into the soft mattress, all the strength left her. But before her consciousness slipped into darkness, she still managed to reach out and clutch the hem of Ye Wei'an's clothes, unwilling to let go.
Ye Wei'an didn't leave. Instead, he held the half-elf girl close.
Only when he was holding her did Ailian relax. She nuzzled against him with a satisfied sigh, and her breathing soon grew steady and deep.
Ye Wei'an felt a wave of drowsiness himself. Leaning against the head of the bed, he thought he should change into his pajamas—he wasn't used to sleeping naked.
The moment the thought occurred to him, he felt a subtle change sweep over his body. The coolness of his skin exposed to the air vanished, replaced by the comfort of soft, dry fabric wrapped around him.
He looked down and saw that his pajamas were already on.
"Is this... an automatic outfit change?" Ye Wei'an was a little surprised, then understood.
Equipment in the game could indeed be changed with a click, and that feature had been brought over here as well.
This was far more convenient than fumbling with formalwear or robes. In an emergency, the feature might even come in handy.
As a spellcaster, keeping watch wasn't his responsibility, but Ye Wei'an still habitually checked the minimap.
The camp was quiet. Only the green dots representing his companions moved from time to time—that would be the sentries making their rounds. A few harmless yellow dots occasionally passed in the distance.
No red dots. It was safe.
Only then did he truly relax.
At last, Ye Wei'an had time to calmly examine the game system that had come with him when he transmigrated.
Everything today had happened too quickly—transmigration, fighting, fleeing, interrogation, traveling... He'd been swept along and had only managed to use the system's most basic functions.
Now that he finally had some free time, it was time to investigate more carefully.
The interface in his mind looked much the same as it had at first. His character sheet, Spellbook, and inventory slots were all neatly displayed, with nothing out of the ordinary.
Just as he was about to close it, his gaze was drawn to a "+" symbol beside his avatar.
It didn't seem to have been there the first time he opened the interface.
He tried clicking it, and a submenu unfolded.
It didn't show items or skills, but a row of... tiny portraits?
What new feature was this?
Before you continue