Several empty cardboard boxes were stacked in the corner. A folding bed had been placed there too, looking as though it had just been moved in, with a new little blanket folded on top.
Besides that, there was an old chair and a small wooden table with peeling paint.
The room looked as though it had just been cleaned.
"While we were chatting just now, I had someone bring in a bed and clean up a little."
Odette went inside and unfolded the bed completely. "Make do with this for tonight."
Her movements were practiced. She took a few extra moments to make the bed, shaking out the blanket and spreading it over the mattress.
Bai You stood in the doorway, watching her bustle about.
"I... I can take care of this myself. Sorry for the trouble," Bai You said.
Odette paused in the middle of making the bed.
She straightened up and looked at Bai You, her pale purple eyes calm in the lamplight.
"It's all right. It's no trouble."
"Besides, Varesa trusts you. The fact that she was willing to bring you back means she likes you a lot. If I didn't help out a little more, she'd have a few more complaints."
Bai You was taken aback. A little while later, Odette finished making the bed and straightened up.
"There."
Her tone was as aloof as ever. "The bathroom is right next door. Get some rest early. If you need anything, go find Varesa next door, or walk a little farther to find me. My lounge is at the other end of this hallway."
"Mm." Bai You nodded.
Odette walked out the door, then suddenly stopped.
"Bai You."
"Huh?"
"Welcome to the Korolevsky Theater."
Without waiting for Bai You to react, she turned and left. Her footsteps were still light, and she soon disappeared around the corner of the hallway.
Bai You stood where she was, looking at the empty hallway. After quite a while, she smiled softly. She really was an aloof yet gentle little swan...
She closed the door and went over to sit on the folding bed.
The bed was a little hard, but the blanket was very clean and seemed to carry the scent of sunshine.
She was just about to lie down when someone knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Bai You? It's me." Varesa's soft, sweet voice came from outside the door, carrying the damp warmth of a fresh bath.
Bai You hurried to her feet and opened the door.
As soon as the door opened, Varesa squeezed in. Her hair was still wet, a towel hung over her shoulders, and she was carrying a pile of things-a large bag of snacks, a set of clothes, and a pillow.
"I came to see if you needed anything." Varesa put the things on the bed, looked around the room, and frowned.
"This is way too bare. Honestly, Odette, making you stay here?"
"It's already very nice..." Bai You said quietly.
"What's nice about it? If Odette hadn't insisted you sleep here, you might as well have slept with me." Varesa handed Bai You the set of clothes she was holding.
"When you go bathe later, change into these pajamas. Sorry, though, I don't have any new ones left. But don't worry, even though I've worn them before, they've been washed clean."
"This pillow was a spare in my room. You can use it for now."
As she spoke, she set to work, arranging the bed Odette had made with even greater care.
Bai You stood beside her, watching her bustle about, a warm feeling in her heart.
Bai You suddenly said, "You didn't have to make a special trip. I can manage on my own."
"How could I do that?" Varesa straightened up and smiled at her.
"I said I'd come over later, so of course I had to come."
She leaned a little closer and lowered her voice. "Besides-I'm your big sister Varesa."
"I really like being called that. It would be nice if you kept calling me that from now on."
Bai You felt warmth rise to her face, her heart full of shyness.
Seeing Bai You's embarrassment, Varesa smiled and said, "I won't tease you anymore. Actually, I was worried about leaving you with Odette. She has a good heart, but she speaks so coldly. I was afraid she'd scare you."
Bai You couldn't help laughing. "She didn't. Odette is very nice."
"She is pretty nice." Varesa shrugged. "She just won't admit it."
She sat down on the edge of the bed and patted the spot beside her. "Come, sit."
Bai You sat down as she was told.
"Bai You," Varesa said, looking at her.
"If you have any problems from now on, you can always come to me. Don't be shy. You've only just arrived at the theater, so you must be unfamiliar with everything. I don't have any performances or anything these next few days, so I'll show you around."
"Mm." Bai You nodded vigorously.
"All right, enough of that sentimental talk." Varesa patted her head.
"Hurry up and take your bath. Once you're done, we'll eat snacks together," Varesa said, waving the snacks in her hand and blinking her aqua-blue eyes.
Bai You nodded gently, took the pajamas Varesa had handed her, and went into the bathroom next door.
Bai You hung up the clothes and closed the door.
When the hot water poured down, she felt that she seemed a little sensitive.
It ran down her hair, over her shoulders, and all the way down her back.
Bai You closed her eyes, able to directly feel this body for the first time.
It was light and small.
She raised her arm and looked at it through the mist-slender, fair, and tender as a white lotus root.
Her hand traveled down her arm until it reached her waist.
It was slender enough for one hand to reach most of the way around. Her ribs were faintly visible beneath her skin, rising and falling gently with each breath.
Farther down were her narrow hips, their lines soft, unlike the angular body she remembered as her own.
When the hot water ran over her chest, she froze for a moment.
There were slight curves on her chest, small and soft like two little peaches just beginning to bud, with the budding youthfulness of a girl just beginning to develop.
She instinctively glanced down, and her face turned red all the way to her ears.
Th-this is...
Although she had been here for some time, she hadn't been in the frame of mind to notice any of this.
Only now, with the hot water pouring down and steam rising around her, did she belatedly realize that she really was a very young girl.
She reached out and carefully touched her cheek.
Her skin was smooth and soft, like a peeled egg, and the hot water brought out a faint pink flush. Below that was her slender neck, where she could feel her pulse beating.
Her collarbones were faint, like two little wings hidden beneath her skin.
Her whole body was soft.
Standing under the hot water, Bai You suddenly felt a little lost.
She looked down at her body beneath the water-she was small and light, like a petal that had fallen onto the surface of the water.
This was what she looked like now.
A petite and adorable girl.
Thanks to wangyu91 for three boba milk teas and a flower, to 肥肉迷路了/. for a boba milk tea, to Xihuan Suancaiyu Meiwei for two flowers, to Wo Jiushi Baiji de Nver for an inspiration capsule, to Chengqu de Liu Defei and Xihuan Shangen Cai de Qin Furen for update reminder charms, to Fodian, YHOHJY, Dan279941, and Ye for their likes, and to the many readers who showed their love with power-ups.
Thank you all for your support.
There will be an extra chapter for every 100 power-ups, and other gifts will also be converted into power-ups, so there will be two more extra chapters later ෆ( ˶'ᵕ'˶)ෆ