Gradual change

Thinking of this, Chu Ge realized he had one more thing to do. He could no longer spend his whole life holed up at home writing.

For instance, he might have to attend some of the gatherings he had planned to turn down, including but not limited to online writers' association gatherings, local writers' get-togethers, and class reunions.

He should make more of an effort to socialize with people in professions like Lin Wuyang's, too. Who knew? He might stumble across information about something beyond ordinary reality.

It wasn't that he was particularly interested in whether other people had special abilities. Rather, he really needed to get out there to find clues about how Qiu Wuji had escaped from his book. If he just sat at his computer writing, he would never figure it out.

The more Chu Ge thought about it, the more of a pain in the ass it seemed. He really didn't like socializing. He used to turn down practically all these invitations. Honestly... Not only had his story gone off the rails, but his entire life was going to change, too?

But watching Qiu Wuji quietly clear away the dishes and take them off to wash, his irritation vanished again, as instantly as if a little hand had soothed it away.

The advantage of having an immortal cultivator around was that she could wash the dishes in seconds, too. The usual division of labor between male and female roommates-if the woman cooked, the man had to wash up-became completely unnecessary. This was even better than eating out: delicious, cheap, hygienic, and easy on the eyes, with her wearing black stockings and heels for him to admire.

It was immensely satisfying on a psychological level, too. In her own world, she was an unrivaled master admired by everyone; here, she cooked and washed dishes like a little housewife. Chu Ge knew that Qiu Wuji probably hadn't been completely hoodwinked by the rent arrangement. She certainly felt guilty about disrupting his story and was deliberately making it up to him.

For that alone, what was the big deal about making a few changes?

The first change: exercise.

After dinner, he wrote another bonus chapter. By nine, his meal had more or less settled, and Chu Ge stepped onto the treadmill.

He already had a treadmill. He had splurged on it one day when he'd resolved to start exercising. Before now, though, you would never have recognized the thing as a treadmill-it was piled high with miscellaneous boxes, like some kind of wheeled storage rack.

As Zhang Qiren had put it, "That treadmill of yours sure is useful, Brother Chu. Holds plenty of stuff."

Just clearing everything off left him drenched in sweat in the summer heat. He ran at an embarrassingly slow eight kilometers an hour, and in less than ten minutes, he hopped off, panting like a dog. He stood beside it with his hands braced on his knees.

Qiu Wuji lounged lazily on the couch reading. She cast him a sidelong glance, with a sigh whose meaning was hard to decipher.

Chu Ge wanted to die.

"This running artifact of yours is quite inventive." Qiu Wuji leisurely withdrew her gaze. "It just lacks a few restrictions. Would you like me to place a barrier around it so you can't get out until you've run for a set amount of time? I think that would be more effective."

"What do you take me for, Huang Bo?" After resting a moment, Chu Ge felt he was recovering fairly quickly, and his confidence returned. "This is just what happens when you haven't exercised in ages. If I stick with it, I'll be able to go longer and longer! I could run a marathon back in college, you know..."

Stick with it... Qiu Wuji curled her lip. The way you used that thing as a storage cart tells me all I need to know about your so-called persistence. No wonder you wrote such an incredibly determined protagonist. You're just living out everything you can't do yourself through your book... Just like the woman you can't have.

As she was thinking this, she saw Chu Ge lower himself face down, his arms bent beside his chest and his hands planted on the floor.

Qiu Wuji shifted several feet away, watching him warily. "What is that lewd pose?"

"These are called push-ups. What would an old lady like you know?" Chu Ge began doing push-ups, huffing and puffing.

No matter how Qiu Wuji looked at it, the pose resembled that sort of thing... This world is so strange. Judging by the changes in his body, he seems to be training his muscles, but why does he have to use a position for doing that...?

Then, three minutes later, Chu Ge collapsed on the floor.

Qiu Wuji's gaze turned odd again.

So this is your half an hour?

Unable to bear the embarrassment any longer, Chu Ge sprang to his feet. "Why do you keep staring at me? Read your book!"

"Tch." Qiu Wuji lowered her gaze to her book.

Chu Ge couldn't keep exercising anymore. Disgruntled, he took his pajamas into the bathroom. Just after entering, he poked his head back out. "Do you want a shower? Since your current cultivation hasn't even reached the point where you can go without food, I'm guessing you can't keep dust and grime off yourself yet, either."

"I know a cleansing spell," Qiu Wuji said calmly. "Would you like me to use it on you? It would save time and effort."

Chu Ge ducked back inside. "No thanks. It feels strange, like I haven't properly washed myself. That's only a stopgap for when you're away from home."

The bathroom door closed, and soon the sound of running water came from inside. Qiu Wuji rested her book on her knees, her gaze wandering. This is exactly why a man and a woman living together is such a nuisance. A naked man showering just beyond a single door... It really unsettles the mind.

Hmm. Keep your thoughts pure and open. It's not as though you can see anything.

And she didn't know whether Chu Ge's last remark had been slightly deliberate, but it had certainly struck a chord.

Never mind using cleansing spells-even though her original body had long been untouched by dust, she still wanted a nice soak in the bath from time to time. She was a woman, after all...

He probably did it on purpose. How could he not know my habits? Does he want to experience having a woman bathing on the other side of the door, too?

Pah! Shameless! I simply won't bathe, then! Qiu Wuji rose indignantly and returned to the spare bedroom.

She stopped short as soon as she entered.

The spare bedroom originally had no bedding, just a bare bed frame, and she had planned to continue cultivating cross-legged. But now, as soon as she entered, she saw that a sheet, pillow, and blanket had been neatly laid out, giving off a faint, fresh fragrance.

Did... Chu Ge buy these and put them here before I came back?

Just how much was he hoping to have someone live with him?

I really don't need to sleep... Qiu Wuji silently looked at the little pig cushion on the bed, unsure how she felt.

The night deepened.

Determined to straighten out his daily routine, Chu Ge wrote almost half a chapter to build up a buffer for tomorrow, then went to bed.

The air conditioner hummed softly, bringing pleasant coolness to the sweltering summer night and subtly soothing the restlessness in his heart. Chu Ge lay with his eyes open, staring at the ceiling, wondering whether Qiu Wuji knew how to use the air conditioner. Oh, it probably didn't matter if she didn't. Her usual resistance to heat and cold should still work, right? She had gone out in those thick enchanted robes before.

He waited for a long while, but there was no sound from next door. Tired from exercising, Chu Ge didn't stay awake long that night. As he waited, he unknowingly drifted off to sleep.

The instant he fell asleep, Qiu Wuji seemed to sense it. She slipped out of the next room like a thief, clutching the pajamas she had bought that day, and darted into the bathroom.

That lecher thinks he can fantasize about me bathing through the door. Does he think I can't hear when someone's asleep? Hmph.

After a little examination, she found that the bathroom fixtures weren't difficult to figure out. Qiu Wuji carefully removed her clothes, revealing a body as white and smooth as cream.

A bath feels so lovely... What a shame it's a little small in here. There isn't even a tub to soak in...

As it turned out, whether they were mortal women or immortal maidens, the time they spent bathing was downright outrageous. Chu Ge had slept groggily for almost an hour when, unaccustomed to going to bed so early, he was woken by the need to pee. Rubbing his eyes, he staggered toward the toilet.

He had just stepped out of his bedroom when he saw Qiu Wuji sneaking out of the bathroom like a thief.

They met in the middle of the living room, both taken aback. Chu Ge stared blankly at Qiu Wuji, fresh from her bath. Her hair was wet and fragrant with shampoo, and she looked like a flower in full bloom, radiant and alluring.

They wore identical matching couples' pajamas. The smiling cartoon faces on their clothes looked at one another, utterly adorable.

For a moment, everything went quiet.

Qiu Wuji's face gradually turned crimson.

Getting caught sneaking a bath was bad enough, but these clothes were unbearably embarrassing. How was this anything like disciples wearing a sect's standard uniform?

Several full seconds passed in silence. Just as Qiu Wuji was about to find an excuse to fly into a temper, Chu Ge suddenly gave a small smile and said softly, "Good night. Get some rest."

Qiu Wuji swallowed her outburst. She turned to watch his retreating back as he entered the bathroom, remaining speechless for a long while.

Thanks to the generous A Boat Full of Clear Dreams Weighs Down the Starry River z for becoming an Alliance Leader...

(End of chapter)

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