Chapter 52: The Bathhouse Culture
Jiang Rong studied psychology in his own ABO world.
In the ABO system, psychologists are a profession that can directly interact with all six sex types—Alpha, Beta, and Omega, with their respective variants. With six different sexes come six different psychological patterns, naturally increasing the demand for psychological counseling and making research directions far more specialized. As a result, psychology became an extremely sought-after profession.
In their world, a good psychologist’s hourly consultation fee was astonishingly high. Some people could even use this profession to leap across social classes.
At first, Jiang Rong had chosen a major related to communications. But when his mother found out that the major he applied for lacked competitiveness—and also wanting him to have future access to wealthy circles—she directly took his account password and forcibly changed his major to psychology research. His homeroom teacher never confirmed the change with him, so it was only when Jiang Rong received his acceptance letter that he realized he had been admitted into the psychology program, with no way to change it.
During the period before differentiation, when he was still a Beta, even though he wasn’t studying his favorite major, he still worked hard to do his best. He earned scholarships every year. Since he couldn’t change his major, he simply focused on studying it seriously—and achieved fairly good results.
Sometimes, being surrounded by too many outstanding people can make one feel inferior and give up. Other times, it becomes motivation. Jiang Rong belonged to the latter.
Now, Jiang Rong no longer had to worry about money. So he used his time to study, to truly master his current major. He had also developed a strong interest in computer science and had already begun learning algorithms. Every time He Siming saw how fast Jiang Rong was progressing, he praised him enthusiastically. Sometimes Jiang Rong couldn’t tell whether he was actually learning quickly or slowly—he just assumed He Siming was blindly praising him to encourage him.
The technology in this world was relatively backward. He could fully apply the knowledge he had learned before to the computers here.
After visiting He Siming’s company during winter break, he had gained his own ideas and direction.
His learning focus wasn’t limited to researching the psychology of the six ABO sexes; he wanted to combine it with artificial intelligence. Back in his freshman year, he had teamed up with students from the AI department to participate in an AI competition, and their team had won first prize.
The robot they designed, after deep learning, could provide comfort based on human needs. It could sense human emotions—similar to modern psychological therapy dogs.
They sold this robot to an AI-focused company, where it would undergo further optimization and eventually be introduced to people with psychological disorders—for example, helping those with claustrophobia endure the most difficult moments while using various forms of transportation. At the time, Jiang Rong received a considerable bonus and copyright royalties.
Perhaps bringing this technology into this world could become the starting point of his career here?
What he was currently learning was this world’s computer technology, while the technology he knew from the ABO world was different. That was why he found it so difficult at first—after all, different worlds meant differences in information.
But thanks to He Siming teaching him, he could now at least study programming languages on his own.
His memory was quite good. Perhaps before long, he would be able to recreate the programming language they had used back then.
His ideas and future direction were gradually taking shape and becoming clearer.
Jiang Rong compared the popular AI tools currently available. No matter how advanced they were, they still lagged far behind the technology of his original world. If only he could bring all of that technology over.
While his memories of the previous project were still fresh, he wrote down everything he could remember bit by bit, planning to ask He Siming later whether it could be implemented.
Although He Siming had been very busy lately, he still ate breakfast and dinner with Jiang Rong whenever possible. If he truly couldn’t make it home, he would eat at school.
They agreed to have dinner at the school restaurant today, then go straight home afterward.
Jiang Rong arrived at the restaurant earlier than He Siming.
They chose Meiling Café, a place he hadn’t visited in a long time. The manager was as warm as ever, always maintaining a friendly smile no matter who came in.
Seeing Jiang Rong after such a long time, the manager even arranged a window seat for him, showing no trace of indifference despite Jiang Rong having once worked part-time there.
The manager came over holding the menu. “Just tell me what you want to eat. We updated the menu after the New Year.”
Jiang Rong replied, “Okay, thank you.”
The manager always spoke in a way that made people feel comfortable. “You don’t work here anymore but still come to support our business. I should be thanking you.”
Jiang Rong said, “I’m waiting for someone. I’ll order when he gets here. You can go ahead and get busy.”
Understanding his meaning, the manager brought him a cup of hot water and went to greet new customers.
He Siming told Jiang Rong that he would arrive in ten minutes. With nothing else to do, Jiang Rong opened his laptop and continued writing down the project ideas he remembered.
But halfway through, his bladder felt uncomfortably full. He asked the manager to help keep an eye on his laptop.
The manager nodded and agreed.
Jiang Rong left the laptop on the table and went to the restroom.
When he returned, someone familiar-looking was sitting in his seat.
The person’s gaze was fixed on his laptop screen. In his haste, Jiang Rong hadn’t turned on the screen lock.
What was this person trying to do?
Jiang Rong quickly walked back to his seat.
Just as he was about to retrieve his laptop, he recognized the person’s face.
This person looked… familiar.
If he remembered correctly, wasn’t this the Professor Wen whom He Siming had praised last time?
Wen Chengxu asked, “Is this laptop yours?”
Jiang Rong nodded. “Yes, it is.”
Wen Chengxu said, “Next time you go to the restroom, remember to take it with you. Someone just tried to take your laptop.”
Jiang Rong was startled and looked around. “What? Someone wanted to take my laptop?”
“They were scared off by me,” Wen Chengxu said. “A café is a public place. There are all kinds of people coming and going.”
So he had been watching the laptop for him. Jiang Rong had also asked the manager to watch it—he glanced over and saw the manager peeling mantis shrimp for two young women, earnestly teaching them the best way to eat it.
Jiang Rong said sincerely, “Thank you, Professor Wen.”
“You’re welcome. Remember to protect your laptop next time,” Wen Chengxu said, then asked, “You recognize me?”
“I’m He Siming’s classmate,” Jiang Rong replied. “You spoke with him in the library last week. I saw you then.”
“Oh,” Wen Chengxu said. “My eyesight isn’t very good at night.”
Jiang Rong quietly sized up the man whom He Siming had praised as a genius. He didn’t seem as aloof as Jiang Rong had thought before. Up close, his eyes and brows were long and narrow, giving him a naturally sharp look. His glasses were quite thick—he was probably severely nearsighted.
Jiang Rong had thought Wen looked down on people before. Turns out, he just couldn’t see clearly. That appearance really was misleading.
“You’re a student from the computer science department, right?” Wen Chengxu asked.
“Yes,” Jiang Rong replied. After Wen helped watch his laptop, Jiang Rong’s fondness for him rose rapidly.
Wen Chengxu’s attention focused on what Jiang Rong had been writing. “I accidentally saw your screen earlier. Your idea is very novel. Although this isn’t the first time I’ve seen affective computing, I’m very interested in the future of the intelligent psychological counseling robot you proposed. We’ve made some progress in facial expression, posture analysis, and emotional recognition through voice. This requires AI to reach emotional complexity similar to humans, which no one has fully achieved yet. How do you plan to realize this project?”
Jiang Rong replied, “What if it’s limited to a specific area? For example, emotional disorders, or helping people with claustrophobia get through their most painful moments. The AI could judge through the user’s expressions and physiological data, then provide psychological support. At the very least, it would be more helpful than therapy dogs.”
Wen Chengxu nodded, seemingly deep in thought. Then he asked, “Are you interested in joining my lab?”
Jiang Rong froze. “Huh?”
Just then, He Siming arrived and was surprised to see Professor Wen and Jiang Rong sitting close together on the same sofa, looking at the laptop.
Why was Wen Chengxu sitting so close to his wife?
He Siming calmly sat across from them. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m inviting your classmate to join my lab,” Wen Chengxu said. “I’m very interested in the project he wrote.”
Jiang Rong pushed the laptop toward He Siming. “I just wrote this and hadn’t had time to show you yet. Professor Wen saw it.”
He Siming skimmed through a few lines and was also amazed. Last semester, Jiang Rong had still been at an introductory level. Now he already had such deep ideas.
Jiang Rong lacked confidence. He felt he was really just an outsider. “The professor is joking with me.”
Wen Chengxu’s handsome face was serious, his gaze sharp. “I don’t joke about professional matters.”
“But I don’t think I’m ready to enter a lab yet,” Jiang Rong said. He felt he still had much to learn.
“Don’t belittle yourself,” He Siming said. “You learn very fast. Be confident.”
He Siming was also surprised that Wen Chengxu could spot Jiang Rong’s uniqueness at a glance. It felt like his little treasure had been discovered by someone else, leaving a sour feeling in his heart.
Jiang Rong looked to He Siming for confirmation. “I really learn that fast?”
“Really,” He Siming replied, then asked, “How did you end up sitting together?”
Jiang Rong explained how Wen Chengxu had helped him.
He Siming thanked Wen again. “Thanks, Professor Wen.”
“You’re welcome,” Wen Chengxu said. “His topic is more interesting than yours.”
He Siming smiled, not offended by the comparison at all. His wife being more creative than himself was something he took pride in.
“Jiang Rong is very capable,” he said. “He just started late. If he’d had the opportunity earlier, he’d probably have finished graduate school already.”
Wen Chengxu looked at Jiang Rong. “Young man, think carefully. My invitation only comes once. Make good use of this opportunity.”
Jiang Rong knew that getting into the school’s computer labs wasn’t easy, and he didn’t really have any impressive achievements yet.
He really needed to think it over.
A few days ago, he had thought Professor Wen was arrogant and unapproachable. Now his impression had completely changed.
After Wen Chengxu left, He Siming and Jiang Rong finished dinner and drove home.
On the way back, Jiang Rong couldn’t help praising him. “Professor Wen is really handsome.”
He Siming asked, “Am I not handsome?”
“You’re our school’s campus heartthrob,” Jiang Rong said. “Of course you’re the most handsome.”
He Siming wondered if he’d praised Wen Chengxu too much before—why was Jiang Rong complimenting him now?
“Let me tell you,” He Siming said, “Professor Wen has a lot of little flaws.”
Jiang Rong’s gossiping instinct kicked in. “What flaws?”
“He has social anxiety. When he sees people he doesn’t know, he turns around and leaves. Kind of rude, right?”
Jiang Rong seriously explained, “That’s not really a flaw. From a psychological perspective, it’s a subtype of neurosis—also known as social anxiety disorder. We shouldn’t judge people with prejudice.”
He Siming continued trying to smear him. “Well… he didn’t change his coat for a whole week.”
Jiang Rong was still basking in the joy of being praised by a genius professor. “Professors are busy. He probably doesn’t have time to do laundry. In winter, it doesn’t matter anyway—it’s just a coat.”
He Siming: “…”
If he’d known, he wouldn’t have told Jiang Rong about Wen Chengxu at all. He felt his position in Jiang Rong’s heart plummeting.
Jiang Rong didn’t really take the lab invitation too seriously. But learning that Professor Wen’s earlier coldness was just due to poor eyesight—and not disdain—put him in a much better mood.
Back home, Jiang Rong sat cross-legged on the sofa, hugging a cushion and looking up at He Siming, who was peeling an apple.
He kept asking, “Is my project really that good?”
He Siming patiently replied again and again, “It’s excellent. At least, I’ve never seen anyone propose an AI for psychological comfort before.”
Jiang Rong asked happily, “Then do you think Professor Wen is my benefactor?”
He Siming paused while peeling the apple. “I’m your benefactor.”
“But you said he’s a genius,” Jiang Rong said. “I just got praised by a genius.”
He Siming regretted praising Wen Chengxu earlier. “I praise you all the time. And others often praise me as a genius too.”
Jiang Rong laughed and collapsed onto the sofa. “Why are you competing over this?”
He Siming pinched his lips shut, physically stopping him from laughing.
Buzz buzz buzz.
The phone on the side vibrated with messages from the 519 men’s dorm group chat.
Yao Shule: Tomorrow’s Saturday—bathhouse time, guys!
Jiang Rong mumbled through his sealed lips, eager to try bathhouse culture. “Shall we go to the bathhouse?”
He Siming released him. “You can’t go right now.”
Jiang Rong knew about bathhouse culture. Yao Shule had told him it was a northern specialty—rare in the south. When people first went, they were too shy to strip naked and soak, but after going a few times with friends like Li Yizhou, they relaxed. Bathing was one of life’s great pleasures.
While declining in the group chat, Jiang Rong sighed regretfully. “I really want to experience bathhouse culture. Yao Shule said body scrubbing feels amazing.”
He Siming cut the apple into small pieces and fed one to Jiang Rong. “Want to try it?”
“Yeah,” Jiang Rong said, chewing the sweet apple, while catching the increasingly strong scent of He Siming’s pheromones.
He Siming ate the remaining half of the apple. “Tonight, I’ll scrub you.”
Jiang Rong blinked. “You know how to scrub?”
“I’m a genius,” He Siming said seriously. “I can do anything.”
Jiang Rong was curious about all kinds of cultures in this world. “Do we need to prepare anything?”
“No,” He Siming said. “The bathroom has everything.”
“But I’ve never seen you scrub before,” Jiang Rong said, puzzled.
He Siming gave him a deep look. “I shower every day. I don’t need to scrub every day.”
Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Rong sat in a bathtub filled halfway with warm water, while He Siming sat behind him.
Steam filled the room, water gently rippling.
Having never truly experienced body-scrubbing culture, Jiang Rong asked hesitantly, “Is… is scrubbing done like this?”
“Mm. You soak first,” He Siming said, not planning to let him soak too long.
Jiang Rong was pregnant now, so his body temperature was slightly higher than normal. But He Siming’s temperature seemed even higher—like a warm furnace pressed against his back.
“Then… we don’t need to soak while hugging each other, right?” Jiang Rong said.
He Siming reached into the water. “I’m afraid you’ll get cold. Okay, I’m going to scrub you now.”
Jiang Rong instinctively pressed his legs together. “Y-you’re going to scrub where?”
He Siming kissed the back of his neck. “Naturally, all over—neck, back, chest, butt, thighs, even your toes. I’ll scrub you completely clean.”
Using gentle techniques, he lightly scrubbed. Jiang Rong curled up in his arms, trembling slightly.
“I—I don’t want to scrub anymore,” Jiang Rong whimpered, his face flushed red, the corners of his eyes wet with either water or tears.
He Siming turned his chin and gently kissed his lips, chuckling softly. “Really not scrubbing anymore?” He knew exactly what Jiang Rong liked—and was more than happy to indulge him.
“Then… then be gentle when you scrub,” Jiang Rong gave in instantly, wrapping his fair arms around He Siming’s neck, completely unable to resist his sexy low voice and the room filled with citrusy pheromones.
Ugh—He Siming was too bad.
On Sunday, He Siming accompanied Jiang Rong for his prenatal checkup. Aside from the fetus growing a bit faster, everything was normal.
Doctor Liu couldn’t help marveling again. This little one really was growing faster than normal—a result of both parents nourishing it with pheromones. A true biological miracle.
March in the capital was still cold, but compared to January and February, it was slightly warmer.
In the new week, He Siming went to the lab on Tuesday afternoon.
Seeing him, Wen Chengxu asked, “Siming, why hasn’t that young classmate of yours contacted me?”
He Siming looked around at the machines. “He doesn’t have your contact information. And for now, he’s not suitable to join the lab.”
Wen Chengxu adjusted his glasses. “Send me his WeChat. I’ll talk to him myself.”
“…Fine.” Though reluctant, He Siming still sent Jiang Rong’s contact, and the two added each other.
He thought adding Jiang Rong wouldn’t make a difference—Jiang Rong would surely refuse. But over the next two days, he noticed Jiang Rong replying to Wen Chengxu’s messages even while eating.
Thursday afternoon was a large lecture. He Siming usually left early to stop by the company.
Normally, Jiang Rong would go straight home after class, eat, and wait for He Siming to return.
But not long after He Siming arrived at the company, he received a message from Jiang Rong.
Jiang Rong: He Siming, Professor Wen wants to talk to me. He’s treating me to dinner tonight.
He Siming: …Okay.
He Siming: Don’t eat greasy, heavy, or cold food.
Jiang Rong: I know. I won’t talk now—Professor says he’s coming to pick me up.
He Siming: ……
Tang Yucheng called him to a meeting. Seeing his irritated expression, Tang stabbed him right in the heart. “What, did that guy you still haven’t won over dump you?”
He Siming ground his teeth. “We’re doing just fine.”
