Steam drifted through the room.

Tantai Qingyue lay in the water, her snow-white body submerged.

She'd worked up a sweat practicing the sword, which was why she'd decided to take a bath.

As the first in the martial arts, with ears that sharp and eyes that keen, how could she fail to hear what was happening outside? (TL Note: Literally "sharp of ear and bright of eye," an idiom for someone whose senses miss nothing.)

Damn it. Why would that lecher Ning Chen come looking for me now of all times?

A lecher like him, knowing I am in the bath? How could he possibly resist a peek?

She sprang out of the tub, snatching up the clothes beside it, and by the time she landed they were wrapped around her pale body.

She dressed in a flash, grabbed her sword and crept to the door.

If Ning Chen dared to ease the door open and sneak in, it would be the perfect chance to teach him a real lesson.

But she waited and waited, and nothing stirred at the door.

Then her eyes went to the window.

She crept to the window next and eased it open a crack to look out.

What she saw took her completely by surprise. Ning Chen wasn't peeping at all. He was sitting on a stone stool in the courtyard with his head slightly bowed, thinking about who knew what.

Tantai Qingyue could hardly believe it. The lecher hadn't even tried to watch her bathe?

That wasn't right.

Going by the way Ning Chen usually behaved, he should have been peeking for sure.

Was this Ning Chen a fake?

Tantai Qingyue shook her head. What am I thinking? It was almost as if she was disappointed he hadn't peeked.

She straightened her clothes, crossed to the door and stepped outside.

At the sound of the door, Ning Chen looked up.

His face instantly took on its usual devil-may-care look. "Little Tanzi, all done with your bath?"

Tantai Qingyue ignored him.

Ning Chen laughed. "Come here and let me smell you. All nice and…