Chapter 289: Let's Save a Little
Chapter 289: Let's Save a Little
Anran turns around and notices a large white bathtub sitting in the public bathroom, surrounded by old white tiles. Dust covers the surfaces, and spiderwebs cling to the corners, showing that the place hasn’t been used in a long time.
But the bathtub itself is brand new.
It’s obvious that Zhan Lian has moved it here temporarily. The tub is already filled to the brim with crystal-clear water—so clear it looks drinkable.
Beside it, neatly arranged, are brand-new bottles of shower gel and bath sponges. The sight makes Anran’s teeth ache.
This is too extravagant.
The amount of water in this tub could last them for days.
Anran, still suffering from the so-called "pregnancy brain" that supposedly lasts three years, momentarily forgets whatever questions she meant to ask Zhan Lian. Instead, she pushes open the bathroom door and looks at him standing outside, leaning against the wall.
"This is too much water," she says awkwardly. "It's a waste. We should save some—I just need a little to wash up."
Zhan Lian clicks his tongue impatiently. "I'll get more after you're done," he says, cutting off her hesitation. Seeing Anran’s conflicted expression, he adds, "Tiesi Village has a water-based superpower user now. Give him crystal cores, and he'll produce water. So stop overthinking and just take your bath."
Anran blinks in surprise. "A water-based superpower? Someone who can create water?"
This is the third type of ability she has encountered that isn’t just pure strength. So aside from metal-type and wood-based abilities, there are also water-based ones?!
Zhan Lian exhales a thin stream of smoke, his gaze fixed on the shadows stretching across the corridor. He gives a quiet "hmm" in response but doesn’t elaborate, as if worried Anran might start overanalyzing things.
Inside, Anran suddenly recalls something. "So... we have to buy water with crystal cores? How much does it cost?"
"That’s none of your concern." Zhan Lian reaches out, grabs the bathroom door, and pulls it shut. "Hurry up and wash, or I’ll come in and help you."
Anran opens her mouth, ready to call him a hooligan, but after thinking it over, she decides against it. If she provokes him, he just might do exactly what he says—and that would be a disaster.
She lets out a long sigh, turns back, and starts undressing. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she quickly turns back again and locks the bathroom door with the iron latch.
Only then does she carefully step into the bathtub, lifting her darkened, dust-covered leg with a pained expression before finally sinking into the water.
Outside, Zhan Lian, still leaning against the wall, hears the sound of the door locking and lets out a mocking sneer.
Did she really think that lock could keep me out?
He is a metal-type superpower user. The lock is made of iron. If he really wants to, he could break in without even using his abilities.
Not that he didn’t want to…
"Anran, I need to tell you something," Zhan Lian calls out through the door, clearing his throat.
Flicking the ash from his cigarette, he leans closer, listening to the faint splashing sounds of water.
"I left two buckets of water outside the door. When you’re done, give the baby a bath. Don’t let her heat rash get worse. I'm heading to the district for a meeting. I need to hand over some duties, I’ll be back soon. Things are chaotic in Tiesi Village right now, so don’t wander around with the baby. Just rest after your bath—I’ve already prepared food and drinks for you."
He hesitates for a moment before finally adding, as if unwillingly, "If you really want to see Yun Tao, I’ll take you to him in a couple of days."