Hearing Bonanus's response, Xiao nodded as if relieved. His expression returned to its usual calm.
"Still, as I said before, if anything goes wrong, I'll protect you."
Hearing those familiar words again, Bonanus found it a little amusing. This little brother still worried about her constantly.
She had told him a hundred times that nothing would happen, but he just wouldn't listen.
Of course, that stabbing incident was an exception. No one expected some coward to sneak up from behind and strike.
Not that it mattered. If he wanted to worry, let him. She was used to it. As long as her personal karmic debt bank kept supplying.
"Can you think of your sister in a more positive light? Stop always saying something bad will happen." Bonanus gently poked Xiao's head with her paw.
"Sister Bonanus, you know how I feel. I've always told you not to let your guard down. Accidents always come when you least expect them." Xiao said seriously.
"Fine, think whatever you want. Being a little careful never hurts." Bonanus shrugged.
"I understand about the karmic debt. If you don't mind, wait for me here. I need to take a bath."
Bonanus touched her oily hair. She had to wash it. Otherwise, it would feel terrible.
"Alright. I'll wait." Xiao closed his eyes and continued sipping his tea.
A little waiting was nothing. He had waited years. A little more time didn't matter.
Seeing that, Bonanus didn't say more. She stood up, went to the bathroom, locked the door, and prepared to enjoy a nice bath.
...
Steam filled the room. Bonanus soaked quietly in the tub, her expression one of pure bliss.
She took a deep breath and slowly submerged her face in the warm water, letting every inch of her skin feel the warmth.
Sweat washed away with the bubbles, leaving behind soft, smooth skin. The pleasure also carried away the day's exhaustion.
If only she had a glass of sweet juice right now. That would be perfect.
Yanfei really knew how to enjoy life. She had installed such a big bathtub here. It was like soaking in a private hot spring.
Bonanus loved baths. The relaxing pleasure lifted her spirits.
"It's so comfortable. My heart feels like it's melting~"
Bonanus closed her eyes. She wished she could stay here forever. But if she did, her skin would probably get all pruney.
She enjoyed it for a while longer...
Then she stood up, feeling refreshed. She rinsed off the bubbles with warm water and dried herself with a clean towel.
She drained the tub, rinsed it out, changed into her nightgown, and walked out leisurely.
Stepping out of the bathroom, she went to Yanfei's door and knocked gently.
"Yanfei! I'm done. You can go now."
"Okay, Sister. I'll get ready in a moment."
Having delivered her message, Bonanus didn't linger. She returned to the living room and stood before Xiao, her hair still damp.
"I'm done. Let's go to my room." Bonanus smiled.
Xiao slowly set down his teacup, stood up, and followed her silently.
"Sorry for the wait. I didn't expect you to come to me about this. It's a pleasant surprise." Bonanus's eyes held a hint of curiosity. It was rare for Xiao to be so proactive.
"It's all for family." Xiao sighed softly. The thought made his mind drift into memories.
They entered the room. Bonanus sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at Xiao, who was standing like a wooden post.
"Don't just stand there, Alatus. Come sit." Bonanus laughed softly and patted the bed beside her.
Seeing the bed, Xiao realized he was in a girl's room.
In that moment, the usually stoic boy froze.
Even as an adeptus, he had never been in a girl's bedroom before. What should he do? He felt a little nervous.
Being alone with Sister Bonanus in her room... could it be...
He shook his head. He really didn't understand himself anymore. He never used to think about such things.
And he came here to discuss serious matters!
Thinking about random things was disrespectful to his sister. He clearly needed to continue his training.
With that thought, Xiao's expression slowly returned to normal. He naturally sat down beside Bonanus, crossed his arms, and said flatly,
"How do we do this?"
"Simple. Either lie down in a comfortable position, or just go to sleep."
Bonanus smiled. As long as Xiao stayed still and gave the Hydro Moon Ring enough time to absorb.
"Is it okay for me to lie down here?" Xiao frowned slightly.
"What's wrong with that? Oh~ I get it now!" Bonanus rubbed her chin, a knowing look on her face.
"Alatus is shy. It's a girl's room after all. But don't worry. I'm not a stranger. I'm your sister." Bonanus sat cross-legged on the bed and gently patted his head with her paw.
"..." Xiao was silent for a moment, then shook his head helplessly.
"It's fine. I'll just sit." He took off his shoes, sat cross-legged on the bed, placed his hands on his knees, and closed his eyes.
From Bonanus's angle, his handsome face and this pose made him look like a cultivating immortal from a novel. Very handsome.
"Alright. Don't move."
Bonanus sat behind him. She placed her paws on his back, imitating the "power transfer" poses from the cultivation dramas she had seen in her previous life.
It was just a whim. She had always thought those poses looked interesting.
Feeling her touch, Xiao noticed the karmic debt inside him being drawn away. He felt no discomfort.
"Oh, Alatus, this is going to take a while." Bonanus reminded him from behind.
"I know." Xiao replied calmly. From the time she had absorbed his karmic debt while he slept, he knew it wouldn't be fast.
"Good thing we're not ordinary people. Otherwise, we'd probably fall asleep halfway through." Bonanus chuckled. Watching the karmic debt counter rise made her feel wonderful.
This was so much easier. It was like getting money for sitting around. The only downside was the boredom.
"After everyone's together, we should gather. Do you have any plans, Sister Bonanus?" Xiao asked casually.
"Plans? I don't have many good ideas. Just shopping, taking pictures, eating, and sleeping." Bonanus thought for a moment, but couldn't come up with anything better.
"If Bosacius planned it, it would be eating, drinking, and playing his games."
Xiao shook his head. He didn't have good plans either. He would have to rely on others.
"Hmm... I remember Liyue has events sometimes. Like courage competitions, cooking contests, craft fairs." Bonanus tried to remember.
"We could join them. When we're tired, we eat. After eating, we shop. Good for digestion."
"Hey, I have an idea. What if we invite Rex Lapis too? He's great at shopping and has good taste." Bonanus said excitedly.
"Forget it. Rex Lapis has his own matters. We shouldn't disturb him." Xiao shook his head.
"We should at least ask. What if he wants to go shopping too?" Bonanus grinned.
"We'll see when the time comes..." Xiao nodded lightly.