Even though it was morning, the sky was still dark. The people in the city had a habit of bathing only once a day. Even though some take a shower in the morning before they start their daily activities, most of them choose to take a shower when they return home. The customs were similar to those of the people in Tianjing and the surrounding areas. It's actually a strange phenomenon. The gigantic city where they lived was on the equator. Apart from the air temperature being quite hot, the humidity was also relatively high. Bathing twice a day should make a lot more sense.

Yuandong, the hometown of Xinxiu and the other friends who lived in the house, was also on the equator. The temperature and humidity were more or less the same as the temperature and humidity in the city where they now resided. Therefore, they did not feel a significant difference when they just moved there. The prevailing custom in Yuandong was to take a bath twice a day. In the morning and evening. Before starting activities, and after returning home after sunset. Indeed, not everyone did exactly that. Some people bathe three times a day. That's not to say that no one showers only once a day. However, their number was very few.

"Oh, sorry!" Xinxiu realized that Yingyue might have different habits from them. "Where we come from, we usually take a shower every morning. Even in the countryside, many people shower in the morning when the sky is still dark." Yesterday, during their conversation, they had already told Yingyue they were from Yuandong. Some people's customs in Yuandong might seem strange to people from other places.

Yingyue smiled. "My mother is also from Yuandong. Regarding the issue of taking a shower in the morning. I can understand because many of my relatives also have the habit. Taking a bath in the morning is not an unusual thing."

"Regarding that, perhaps you are right." Xinxiu nodded. "Often, we only shower once a day. But it's not because we've adapted to the customs here. Even since we were still living in Yuandong, we were one of those people who were so lazy to take a bath. So in Yuandong, we just look weird." Xinxiu laughed out loud.

Yingyue also laughed at Xinxiu's words. "I also belong to the group of people who are lazy to take a shower. So often, I also only shower once a day. But usually, I choose to take a shower in the morning. But of course, after the day is a bit light. When the sun hasn't risen like this, it feels weird if I have to wet my whole body. Besides, the water must be freezing."

"Okay!" Xinxiu could understand Yingyue's reasoning. "You don't want to take a shower now, and that's fine. You can sit in the living room watching television."

"Really? Is Xiuge serious?"

"Of course, I'm serious. But I suggest you take a shower now. Because later, after they've finished checking the passage down there, they'll all be showering. By then, the queue will be long. So, now, while the bathroom is still empty, you better use it first."

Yingyue still looked hesitant.

"If you think the water is still too cold, you can take a warm bath."

Yingyue's face brightened. "But isn't the water heater broken?"

"Who said that?"

"Yesterday, I heard that the water heater was not working."

"It's not that it's broken, but heating the water just becomes slower. So, it's not that it doesn't work at all, but it doesn't work as it should." Xinxiu laughed.

"Yeah, but wouldn't it be too long if I had to wait for the water heater to work properly? I am afraid the warm water will not flow until after sunrise."

Suddenly, they heard someone open the door that separated the kitchen from the backyard terrace. A moment later, Yiren had appeared in the dining room.

"Eh! Why did Renge even come here? You have to stand guard at the edge of the hole, right?" asked Xinxiu.

"I just wanted to say that the hot water will probably be ready in ten minutes. While all of you were down there, I had the water heater on."

"Ten minutes?" Xinxiu looked at Yiren. "Are you sure?"

Yiren looked at the clock hanging on the wall. "Right! I think in ten minutes, the warm water will start running in the shower."

"It is such a coincidence!" Xinxiu cheered happily.

Yiren nodded. He promptly left the dining room to return to guard at the hole's edge.

"Okay, I'll get ready to take a shower." After saying that, Yingyue got up from the chair at once. She went straight into Shanquan's room. She came out of the room with a towel and toothbrush a moment later.

"Maybe you should wait ten minutes," said Xinxiu.

Yingyue nodded. She sat back in the dining room.

"After you shower, can you wear long sleeves?"

Yingyue nodded. The girl didn't ask Xinxiu's reason at all.

It turns out that she can also be an obedient girl.

Xinxiu did not instantly go to the kitchen to prepare the tools and ingredients for cooking. It was still too early to prepare breakfast. Xinxiu intended to wait a bit before he started working in the kitchen. Therefore, Xinxiu instead went to the living room and watched television. Just like before, he didn't turn on the light in the living room. Television sound volume was also minimal. It's barely even audible. While changing television channels, he hummed. No television show caught Xinxiu's attention enough.

Ten minutes later, Yingyue shouted. "Xiuge! I'm taking a shower now."

Xinxiu got up from the sofa and walked into the dining room. He still had time to see Yingyue open the bathroom door. The girl immediately disappeared behind the door. Xinxiu walked into the kitchen. He took drinking water to quench his thirst. After that, he returned to the living room.

Ring!

Their phone rang.

Xinxiu gasped. Calling at a time like this was not a natural thing. The phone rang once again. Xinxiu hadn't moved yet. When the phone rings for the third time. Xinxiu quickly stood up. He got up to get ready to move into the family room to answer the phone. When Xinxiu turned around, he saw Yiren running towards the phone.

It's such a quiet atmosphere. No wonder Renge, who is in the corner in our backyard, can hear the phone's ring!

Yiren picked up the receiver right away.

"Hello!" Yiren exclaimed.

Yiren frowned. It seemed something was wrong.

"Hello!" Yiren shouted louder.

Five seconds later, Yiren hung up the receiver.

"Who's calling?" asked Xinxiu.

"I do not know!" Yiren looked so annoyed. "No one answered my greeting."

This is odd!

"Who do you think they are?"

"I do not know." Yiren glared at Xinxiu. "Why didn't you answer the phone call?"

"I was just about to answer it when you ran in here."

"Are there no suspicious people outside?"

"I don't know. I didn't notice the atmosphere outside."

"It is your duty to keep watch in the living room, isn't it?"

"But it's already morning. I'm getting ready to cook."

"All right! I'm going back first to guard the backyard. I don't want Dage to be upset that I wasn't there when they needed me."

After saying that, Yiren speedily returned to the backyard. Xinxiu also turned around and sat back down in the living room.