【Interstellar Contract Magician】Ruyuanke

Chapter 348 [Empire] Like a Woman

That night, we returned to our rented house, nestled between the city and the danger zone. It was a simple, unadorned room with few amenities except for a bathroom. The furniture was all old-fashioned, arranged in a chaotic manner.

I stood in the cramped bathroom, the steam shrouding the mirror until it was blurry. Hot water poured from the overhead showerhead, its warmth washing over me, dispelling the day's fatigue. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, letting the water and its refreshing aroma envelop me. It was as if the entire world had vanished, leaving only a moment of peace and warmth.

I generously poured a full cup of body wash into my palm and smeared it all over my body. The fragrance instantly filled the air, a touch of floral and fruity scent. The warm water, accompanied by the fragrance, slid over my skin, washing away all the fatigue and dust from my body.

Every drop of water that slides across my skin seems to soothe my inner anxiety. In this moment, immersed in the warmth and fragrance, it seems as if nothing else matters, all my worries and concerns are drowned out by this moment of tranquility.

I've long been accustomed to this feeling. Whenever everything that's been bothering me becomes unbearable, I find a place to escape and soak in the hot water. No one to bother me, no responsibilities or burdens, just the warm water and its fragrance, and the world seems to have become lighter.

I stretched, tilted my head back, let the water soak my hair, closed my eyes, and let my thoughts drift away. After a while, I opened them again and looked at my reflection in the mirror, blurred by the steam—a face that was unfamiliar yet familiar. The questions and worries buried deep within my heart, as if they had never been touched, gradually faded away, dissipating in the steam.

When I came out in my white pajamas, I was not surprised to hear Nightingale's teasing voice: "Kid, I seriously suspect that you spent all the star coins you earned from the mission on the bath soap. This smell, tsk tsk..."

I ignored Nightingale's teasing. Instead, I slowly adjusted the collar of my white pajamas and gently stroked my hair, which was wet from the hot water, before turning to look at him. Nightingale's gaze was fixed on me, with a hint of helpless smile and teasing in her eyes, a hint of playfulness flashing.

"Do you think it's too fragrant, or too expensive?" I asked him in a deliberately provocative tone. Although my tone was nonchalant on the surface, I felt inexplicably proud inside.

Nightingale shook her head, feeling somewhat helpless. "Kid, this really makes me suspicious. Your quality of life is even higher than the reward for the mission."

"Humph, life should be about quality. How can we just focus on speed?" I smiled disapprovingly. "How about you give it a try? Judging from your appearance, I don't think you'll ever have the chance to experience the charm of 'premium' body wash."

Nightingale stood aside, a helpless smile on his face, as if he didn't want to continue this boring conversation, but he couldn't help but participate in it. "If I get a chance, I'd like to see what the 'premium' body wash you chose for me smells like." He raised an eyebrow, revealing a half-smile.

I looked at him and smiled, "Don't worry, let's talk about it when we have a chance." After that, I turned and walked to the table to prepare my equipment.

The nightingale stood there, looking at me thoughtfully, her eyes slightly deep, as if she was thinking about something.

There is a faint fragrance in the air.

"Hey, kid, your neck is so thin... It feels like I can break it with one hand." His tone was a little strange, "Like a woman." I frowned instantly.

I glared at Nightingale coldly, feeling a bit displeased. "What do you mean? If you want to provoke me, just say it." My tone was devoid of smiles, and my eyes held a hint of warning.

Nightingale seemed to sense my displeasure and raised an eyebrow slightly. The smile on his lips remained unchanged, but instead held a hint of provocation. "I'm just observing. Don't be so sensitive," he shrugged, his eyes teasing. "You say you're a man, but sometimes you look like a delicate little girl."

I glared at him, but inside I felt a surge of inexplicable anger. Although I didn't like being told that, Nightingale was always good at teasing people, making them secretly angry without any reason to be angry.

"Don't think you can make me angry just by teasing me." I chuckled and pretended to be relaxed. "If you say something like that again, I'll really break your neck."

He seemed to be amused by what I said, and the mockery in his eyes deepened. His tone was still teasing, "Then I'll wait and see what you can do." But he didn't continue to provoke, he just smiled and lowered his head, as if he felt that this topic was already exciting enough.

I felt helpless and decided not to argue with him about such trivial matters. I turned around and went to organize my equipment. The atmosphere in the air gradually became slightly silent, but I could still feel that subtle spark, as if there would never be true peace between us.

Nightingale looked at me without saying anything, but suddenly said, "You know, many times, our weaknesses are not on the outside, but in our hearts. You have to treat yourself as a man and live up to this identity."

I paused and turned to look at him. The seriousness in his eyes changed the atmosphere, making it seem less relaxed than before. "What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

He didn't answer directly, but just looked at me. The corner of his mouth still had that provocative smile, but his eyes were much deeper.

I glanced down at my chest, flat and devoid of any sign of growth, and a wave of inexplicable confusion rose within me. What on earth was Nightingale going on? What did he mean by those words? Could I really tell?

My ID clearly states "male," and my physical characteristics have never raised any suspicions. So why did he suddenly come up with such bizarre remarks? Was it just his bad taste?

My mind was in a turmoil, but I tried to maintain a calm exterior. I didn't respond to his words, instead quietly gathering my things and pretending nothing had happened. If Nightingale had truly discovered something, then hastily refuting him would only backfire. Better to remain silent and observe his next moves or probing attempts.

Nightingale remained standing there, arms folded, a half-smile on his face, his eyes occasionally flicking over to me. His seemingly casual demeanor gave me a glimpse of veiled scrutiny. This only solidified my resolve—to remain calm and not reveal my true identity.

The air became quiet for a moment, with only the sound of dripping water from the shower echoing in the small room.

"What's wrong?" Nightingale finally spoke, breaking the silence. His voice was lazy but with a hint of inquiry. "Not going to refute it? That's not like you, kid."

I looked up at him, my expression indifferent, unmoved by his words. "Arguing with you about such boring things is a waste of time."

Nightingale raised an eyebrow, and the smile on her lips deepened: "Oh? Are you bored?"

"Yeah, it's boring." My tone was still calm. "You suddenly came up with this weird joke, just like those drunkards who have nothing to say." After saying that, I turned around and pretended not to care and continued to organize my equipment.

Nightingale didn't say anything else, but just let out a meaningful chuckle, as if she was not surprised by my reaction.

"Okay, kid, if you say it's boring, then it's boring." He raised his hand and waved it casually, as if he was letting me go, or as if he was putting an unclear end to the matter.

However, his eyes made me feel that this matter was far from as casual as he let on. His eyes were still tentative, as if waiting for me to reveal something.

I secretly clenched my fists, silently telling myself: No matter what Nightingale discovered, I can't let him lead me astray easily. Before things become clear, the best option is to remain calm.

I lowered my head and continued to pretend to be busy, secretly observing the nightingale's every move.