The memory faded, leaving Li Hua with a bittersweet smile. The ghost of antiseptic still lingered in her nose, mixed with the remembered scent of coffee and gunmetal. How ironic that in this new life, she'd encountered someone who might actually meet her impossibly high standards.
After a moment longer, Li Hua rose from the tub, dried herself off, and slipped into her cotton undergarments before quickly making her way back to her room.
When she entered her room, she sat in front of her bronze mirror, combing through her damp hair. The repetitive motion triggered a fresh memory that made her cheeks warm: his voice calling after her as she sprinted away—"Spirit ginseng! Golden cloud mushrooms! Nine-star spirit fruits!"—followed by that dangerous, seductive growl about wanting something to "really sink his teeth into" when he saw her next.
