Chapter 18: Is the Water Temperature Comfortable?

After dinner, darkness had fully descended, like a velvet cloth soaked through with ink, silently covering the entire city.

But the city did not sleep; instead, it awakened inch by inch in another way.

The glow of streetlights, the lights of traffic, the illumination from shopping districts, residential buildings, and the stalls lining the streets…

Each light existed without disturbing another, yet all were connected, blending and colliding in the night, gradually tracing the city’s contours anew.

For the inhabitants of the city, such sights were commonplace, woven into their daily lives. But for Chen Shian and the black cat, the view remained fresh and novel. The pair, human and feline, ascended to the rooftop terrace, gazing down at the city night from above.

The rooftop, after a full day basking in the sun, still radiated warmth. Fortunately, a nighttime breeze swept away the lingering heat as soon as it rose.

Footsteps echoed faintly from the stairs, and the iron door at the rooftop was gently pushed open.

Chen Shian and the cat turned; Li Wanyin had come up to collect her bedsheet.

“That bedsheet is yours, Sister Wanyin?” Chen Shian smiled as he watched her gather it from the drying pole.

“Yes, it is. The rooftop is a shared space. Since the balcony doesn’t have enough room, I bring my sheets up here to dry.”

Hugging the sun-dried bedsheet, Li Wanyin inhaled deeply, savoring the fresh scent—a mix of detergent and sunlight—that she particularly liked.

She looked up at Chen Shian standing by the parapet and the black cat perched atop it, curiosity in her voice, “What are you two doing here?”

“Nothing, just watching.”

“The view here must be quite different from what you’ve seen in the mountains, right?”

“Yes, very different.”

“Alright, I’ll go shower first. Do you want to wash up before me?”

“You go ahead, Sister Wanyin. I still need to go out to buy some things and get a haircut.”

“Okay, I’ll head back then.”

Chen Shian gave the cat’s rear a gentle pat, and the black feline leaped from the parapet, trotting to Li Wanyin’s feet and following her inside.

Li Wanyin was amazed; it was her first time encountering such an intelligent cat. Not only was it unafraid of unfamiliar surroundings, it could use the litter box on its own, and followed people like a dog. Its amber eyes seemed almost capable of understanding human speech!

Yet, the aloof cat was not as approachable as Chen Shian. Whenever Li Wanyin tried to pet it, it deftly evaded her touch.

As she walked down the stairs, the black cat had already run ahead, waiting at the door to apartment 901 for her to unlock it.

“Meow.”

“Alright, alright, let me open the door for you…”

Li Wanyin opened the door, and the black cat strutted in, jumped onto the sofa, and nestled comfortably into a corner.

If one asked what Ink liked best about the city, it would surely be this sofa—so soft and utterly comfortable!

…

The buildings in the neighborhood weren’t tall enough to overlook the city. Descending from the rooftop and returning to ground level, the limits of perspective became even clearer. The view was blocked by a maze of streets and high-rises, forcing every citizen of Star City to see only what lay directly ahead.

And that, simply, was life.

While in the mountains, Chen Shian rarely concerned himself with material things—not for lack, but because one's mindset changes according to their environment.

Now, having descended from the mountains into the world, even this young Taoist must think about daily necessities.

---

Chen Shian walked into a barbershop near the community gate, intending to get a haircut.

He pushed open the glass door, greeted by a rush of cool air. It was the start of the school term, so the shop was busy. As he entered, clad in his Taoist robe, both waiting customers and the barber, Tony, turned to look at him.

“Little Master, here for…?”

“A haircut.”

“Oh! There are a lot of customers, so you might need to wait a bit. But come over here for a wash first, alright?”

“Sure.”

The prices were posted on the glass door: 25 yuan for a cut, 40 for wash, cut, and blow-dry.

Chen Shian initially planned only a simple cut, but reconsidered—perhaps he should try the hair wash as well.

After all, in all these years, only his master had ever washed his hair, and those were painful memories—his master’s callused hands seemed intent on scrubbing off his scalp, making him grimace in pain.

Unlike modern hairstyles, Chen Shian wore the classic Taoist bun. As the shampoo girl undid it, his long hair fell to his shoulders.

He was meticulous about cleanliness and maintaining his appearance; his hair was clean, always tied up except when sleeping.

“Your hair is so nice…”

Few people nowadays had such good hair, and the shampoo girl couldn’t help but compliment him.

She fetched a dry towel and gently tucked it into his collar to keep his clothes dry, then guided him to the reclining chair.

“Sit here… Hmm… you’re tall, so slide down a bit more… There, try lying back.”

Chen Shian had never had his hair washed or cut outside before, so he was a bit awkward. Fortunately, the shampoo girl was experienced and unfazed by his unfamiliarity—after all, it was her first time washing a Taoist’s hair!

The recliner was soft and comfortable, with his head and neck angled perfectly into the basin. Chen Shian let out a long breath, closed his eyes, and listened to the sound of water from the spray.

The water gently touched his scalp, accompanied by the shampoo girl’s delicate, skillful fingers.

“How’s the water temperature?”

“It’s fine.”

“Good.”

Then, she began washing his hair.

First, she used a cleansing shampoo for a quick wash, then switched to a gentle, moisturizing one for a thorough clean, mixing in special massage techniques. Her nimble fingers pinched, combed, scratched, and kneaded, delighting the young Taoist and opening his eyes to new experiences.

Master, oh master! This is what hair-washing should be!

Chen Shian mused that his master had never experienced such comfort; he had outdone his teacher.

Occasionally, the shampoo girl chatted with him:

“Are you really a Taoist?”

“Yes.”

“I wouldn’t have guessed… You seem about my age, but you’re already a Taoist.”

“How old are you?”

“Nineteen.”

“Not studying anymore?”

“I wasn’t good at school. Graduated from vocational college and started working.”

---

“Where are you from?”

“Hehe, even Taoists ask that? I’m from southern Hunan. Have you ever been?”

“I’ll go someday.”

…

With idle chatter, time passed quickly.

“Is there anywhere else your scalp feels itchy?”

“No, thank you.”

“Then I’ll rinse your hair, okay?”

“Alright.”

After rinsing out the foam, she used a towel to dry his hair, then brought some clips to gather his long locks.

“Do you want a specific stylist? The chief costs an extra twenty…” Perhaps she liked Chen Shian, for she lowered her voice to offer advice, “Actually, they’re all about the same…”

Chen Shian smiled, “The regular cut will do.”

“Okay, just wait a bit, it shouldn’t be long.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

He found a seat, and the shampoo girl poured him a glass of water before moving on to serve another customer.

After about twenty minutes, it was his turn.

Tony the barber beckoned him to the chair, shook out a cape, and draped it around him.

Tony looked at him in the mirror, and Chen Shian gazed at himself as well.

“How would you like it, Little Master?”

“Just cut it short.”

Unsure how to specify, Chen Shian recalled the student handbook’s requirements: “Not below the brow in front, not covering the ears on the sides, not past the nape in back.”

Tony paused, holding up his long hair, “Cut it all off?”

“Yes, just leave it in the standard student style.”

“Okay, got it.”

The snip of scissors began, and locks of hair fell away.

Chen Shian watched his changing reflection in the mirror, momentarily lost in thought…

This time, he had truly entered the world.

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