"I wonder if the Director is done bathing, it's been so long," a ritual master yawned slightly, looking a bit sleepy.
"The Director usually bathes quite quickly, why is she taking so long this time?" Another ritual master, hearing this, also shifted her attention from her book.
The two of them had prepared hot water for Hu Tao and were waiting here. After Hu Tao and Stelle finished bathing, they would drain the water, put the bathtub back, and then simply clean the bathroom.
Normally, this work wouldn't make them wait too long, because Hu Tao didn't take long to bathe.
Even with an extra person bathing now, they should be out within an hour at the very latest.
But it had already been almost two hours, and the water was probably cold, yet Hu Tao still showed no sign of coming out.
Of course, as a Vision holder of the Pyro element, Hu Tao didn't have to worry about the water getting cold.
"Could it be that the Director and her friend were chatting too happily and forgot the time?" the ritual master asked somewhat puzzled.
They hadn't seen Hu Tao's friend, but since she was pulled along by Hu Tao to bathe together, their relationship must be very good.
Given the Director's personality, it was possible for her to forget the time.
"Maybe so… Then I'll go check," the other person stood up, pushed open the door, and walked towards the bathroom.
Upon reaching the door, she reached out and knocked: "Director? Are you finished bathing?"
There was no response from inside the room for a moment, which made her feel something was amiss.
She couldn't hear any sounds inside, but she could smell a very pleasant floral scent.
She wondered if this scent came from the soapberries they used for bathing.
"Director?" With no response for a long time, the ritual master couldn't help but knock on the door again.
"Mm!? I, I, I'll be done right away… Ugh!"
Hu Tao's voice finally came from inside the room.
However, the voice was a bit strange and intermittent.
But since it was through the door and at some distance, the ritual master didn't pay much attention as she couldn't hear it very clearly.
"You, mm, you… go to sleep first. I'll… clean up myself later," Hu Tao's voice sounded like she was suppressing something.
Even now, without hearing clearly, the ritual master could feel something strange.
However, this ritual master was also young, and she didn't think of anything else regarding Hu Tao's strange voice.
"Director, are you alright? And Miss Stelle…"
"It's nothing, nothing. Hu Tao is just using her elemental power to heat the water, and she's a bit tired," a strange voice came from inside the door again.
It must be Miss Stelle.
Her voice was much more normal, only her tone was slightly raised, with a faint, almost imperceptible hint of excitement.
"I see. Then we'll go rest first, Director?"
The ritual masters' duties didn't actually include looking after Hu Tao's daily life. They just voluntarily helped the Director with small tasks within their capabilities.
After all, as the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, although Hu Tao seemed a bit unreliable at times, she was very good to them, the ritual masters.
So, since Hu Tao told them to rest first, she didn't particularly insist.
"Ha… go, go on."
The ritual master nodded and then turned to leave.
Soon after she left, inside the bathroom.
Hu Tao finally relaxed.
Ultimately, what happened was self-evident.
"It, it scared me…" Hu Tao said in a low voice, panting slightly.
Her head rested on Stelle's chest, held in Stelle's embrace.
"I didn't expect Hu Tao to be so persistent," Stelle licked Hu Tao's reddened earlobe, while her small hands were not very well-behaved.
She was embracing Hu Tao's body from behind, but one hand was moving upwards, and the other was moving downwards.
Both were performing different actions simultaneously. The water, which was clear during the bath, now became slightly murky and even emitted a certain floral scent.
"Mmm… Stelle, no, don't do that."
"Do what?" Stelle asked mischievously.
"It, it's been a long time, we should get out," Hu Tao had no strength left at all and couldn't break free from Stelle's control. "Let's go to the bed…"
"Hmm… alright," Stelle buried her head in Hu Tao's neck, taking a deep breath.
"Then let's go to bed. The night is still long."
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The next morning, the sun was bright.
Something strange happened at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor today: the usually lively, energetic Director actually slept until late morning.
"The Director and her friend slept foot-to-foot; perhaps they chatted too long yesterday."
That's what the employees of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor said.
Anyway, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor usually didn't have much work, and Hu Tao spent most of her time outside promoting the Funeral Parlor.
So, if Hu Tao occasionally overslept, no one would say anything.
Of course, as the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, no one dared to say anything about it.
It wasn't that Hu Tao had a bad personality; no matter what, she was the boss, and everyone was somewhat afraid of her, except for the special consultant, Zhongli.
"Miss, may I ask who you are…?" A Wangsheng Funeral Parlor attendant stopped the blonde Damselette who was about to knock on the door.
Generally speaking, people who came to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for business wouldn't knock on the door so directly.
And looking at the blonde Damselette, as well as the small white Seelie floating beside her, she didn't seem like she was here for business either.
"We're looking for Hu Tao," Paimon said first.
"Looking for the Director?"
"Mm-hmm, and Stelle. She should have stayed at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor with your Director last night, right?" Lumine nodded, then asked with some anticipation.
"I see. I apologize, Miss, the Director is still asleep from her nap…" the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor attendant said, nodding.
Saying she was asleep from her nap wasn't entirely accurate. Hu Tao had been sleeping since last night and still hadn't woken up.
It was just to maintain the Director's dignity that he said so.
"Asleep from her nap!" Lumine's eyes immediately lit up. "What about Stelle?"
"Uh, sh-she's the same…" the attendant slowly said.
"Ah? They slept together?" Paimon asked, a little confused.
"Yes, the Director said she wanted to sleep foot-to-foot with her good friend, and there really aren't any empty rooms in the Parlor."
"Alright, alright, I understand. I'll come back this afternoon," Lumine said with a smile.
Then she turned to leave.
Paimon was a bit puzzled; she still wanted to say something, but then Lumine pulled him away.
"Let's go, Paimon. We'll go to Wanmin Restaurant for a big meal to celebrate."
"A big meal?! Oh, yay... Eh? Celebrate?" Paimon had just gotten excited, but hearing Lumine's latter words, he was very confused.
Had anything worth celebrating happened recently?
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