"Do you know what it's about?"
Liang Dazhuang shook his head. "I'm only a servant. Why would he tell me?"
Hu Xiaotian supposed that was true. He rose from the water, and Liang Dazhuang draped a bathrobe over him.
Hu Xiaotian went behind the curtain, dried himself, and changed into fresh clothes. Liang Dazhuang had the bathtub carried out. Just then, light footsteps sounded, and Visa came in. From outside the curtain, she asked softly, "Have you finished bathing, Master?"
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "Yes!"
Visa said, "I've come to comb your hair, Master."
Hu Xiaotian answered and sat down by the window. The afternoon sunlight fell over him, warm and wonderfully comfortable.
Visa came up behind him, dried his hair with a clean cotton towel, then combed it neatly. "Once your hair dries, we can tie it up," she said softly.
Hu Xiaotian said, "Short hair is much more refreshing. It saves all this trouble!"
Visa laughed. "Actually, many men back home prefer short hair. In the Central Plains, everyone wears their hair long except those who enter the monastic life."
Hu Xiaotian said, "Shaving it all off wouldn't be bad either. Clean and refreshing, and it feels very nice to the touch."
His words made Visa giggle. "You're always so funny, Master."
Hu Xiaotian turned and saw that Visa was already wearing the hairpin he had given her. He smiled. "That hairpin really does suit you!"
Visa's pretty face flushed slightly. "I love anything you give me, Master."
The sight of Visa's bashful beauty stirred Hu Xiaotian's heart. He stood and reached out to stroke her long golden hair. Visa shyly closed her eyes. His gaze settled on her soft lips, as lovely as flower petals, but then, as though sensing something, he glanced toward the door. *Surely that