Chapter 505

This gave him the leisure for morning exercise.

The "side effect" of this improved body was being forced to say goodbye to the hobby of sleeping in.

Returning home, he walked straight into the bathroom to prepare for a shower.

Soon, the sound of trickling water rang out.

Listening to the water, Natsume Ruri rubbed her sleepy eyes and crawled out of the quilt slowly.

With a head of slightly messy long hair, she started to tidy up the bed in a daze, folding the quilt and putting it into the closet.

Then she picked up a comb, carefully combed her long hair, and tied it into a neat ponytail with a hair tie.

After grooming herself, she shouted toward the bathroom:

"Brother, are you done? Ruri needs to use the bathroom."

"Mm, almost done."

Natsume Chikage's voice came mixed with the sound of water.

Before the siblings finished speaking.

At the entrance, a crisp doorbell suddenly rang.

Natsume Ruri was a bit puzzled, stepped on her little white socks to the door, stood on tiptoe, and looked out through the peephole.

After seeing who it was, a smile bloomed on her face instantly, and she opened the door.

"Good morning, Reina-chan!"

Standing outside the door was Kaga Reina.

She was still wearing simple, elegant casual clothes, carrying that signature, weak and shy expression.

"Good morning... Ruri-chan."

She responded in a low voice, but her gaze drifted toward the room involuntarily, as if looking for a certain figure.

"Ruri-chan... where is your brother, did he go out?"

Natsume Ruri stepped aside to let her in and answered casually:

"He just came back from exercising and is taking a shower."

Kaga Reina blinked.

She didn't expect Natsume-brother's lifestyle habits to be so healthy; he was actually someone who loved exercise.

A sunny, self-disciplined boy is indeed more attractive than most peers invisibly.

This realization made the hazy good impression in her heart stir quietly again.

"Reina-chan, come in and sit."

"Mm... sorry for the intrusion."

Kaga Reina took off her shoes and entered the house, moving the low table to the center of the tatami with Natsume Ruri.

At this time.

Natsume Chikage had just finished washing.

He quickly dried his body and habitually glanced at the mirror on the wall.

The figure in the mirror made him startle slightly.

Compared to yesterday, his body seemed to have changed subtly again.

The originally long and well-proportioned muscle lines now looked fuller and more distinct, revealing an introverted sense of power.

The overall outline was a bit sturdier than just "long," but far from reaching an exaggerated degree, staying in a just-right, aesthetically pleasing state.

Natsume Chikage's expression was a bit strange.

Following this trend, if the strength attribute continues to improve... wouldn't he really become that kind of "big muscle guy" with knotted muscles?

Just as he was lost in thought in front of the mirror, his sister's slightly urgent muttering came from outside the door:

"Brother—are you done yet? I'm really in a hurry!"

"Alright, alright, coming out now."

Natsume Chikage hurriedly put away his thoughts, wiped his hair with a towel, put on the casual clothes he bought last night, and pushed the door out.

Natsume Ruri puffed up her cheeks, hit his arm with her little fist not too heavily, and then flashed into the bathroom quickly.

Natsume Chikage had heard Kaga Reina's voice while showering.

He walked to the low table and greeted the girl sitting there:

"Morning, Kaga-san."

Kaga Reina raised her head.

What came into view was Natsume Chikage just out of the bath.

Water droplets were still dripping from his hair, carrying the refreshing scent after a bath, and his face looked exceptionally clean in the morning light.

A kind of indescribable charm mixed with vitality and domesticity rushed toward her.

Kaga Reina's face turned red instantly.

She hurriedly lowered her head, her fingers twisting the corner of her clothes unconsciously, her voice as thin as a mosquito:

"Go, good morning... Natsume-brother."

Natsume Chikage's gaze fell on the drawing pens and a large stack of drawing paper she brought, curious:

"Why did you bring so many tools today?"

Kaga Reina tried hard to calm her heartbeat and explained shyly:

"Ruri-chan said... we are going to start drawing manga officially this morning, so I brought all the tools."

Natsume Chikage was a bit surprised:

"You decided on the theme just two days ago, and you're starting work today? High efficiency."

Kaga Reina nodded gently:

"Mm... we discussed it and decided to... draw shoujo manga."

Natsume Chikage heard this, and a gentle smile rippled in his eyes:

"So that's it, this theme suits you very well."

"Good luck! If there's anything you need my help with, just say so."

Kaga Reina raised her face, and a bit of joy appeared on her weak face.

"Mm... thank you, Natsume-brother."

Soon, Natsume Ruri finished washing in the bathroom and walked out refreshed.

She looked at her brother, remembering an urgent matter:

"Brother, yesterday's tournament prize money should have been issued, right?"

Natsume Chikage nodded:

"Mm, it arrived last night, it's in the bank card."

Natsume Ruri breathed a sigh of relief and smiled happily:

"That's great!"

"But Brother, don't withdraw that money as cash; when paying rent later, just transfer it to the landlady directly."

Mentioning "landlady," Natsume Chikage's expression stiffened imperceptibly for a moment.

According to Xiang Yutang, the old lady who often came to collect rent was probably just managing it on her behalf.

The true owner of this apartment was Xiang Yutang herself.

In other words, the rent they paid would eventually flow into that young lady's hands...

He suppressed this subtle thought and responded along with his sister's words:

"Mm, let's do as you say."

Kaga Reina listened from the side and asked softly:

"Natsume-brother, when is your next match?"

Natsume Chikage thought about the tournament schedule:

"Four days from today."

Natsume Ruri counted with her fingers:

"That's next Thursday."

She then thought of something, and a look of worry appeared on her little face:

"Brother, you've taken quite a few days off recently, is your schoolwork really okay? Should we... use part of the prize money to sign up for a cram school?"

Natsume Chikage shook his head, his tone relaxed and certain: