Chapter 165
Am I dreaming right now?
Standing alone in the spacious bathroom, Koi blinked blankly. From the moment he stepped out of the car until now, nothing had felt real. The doorman opening the front door, the massive painting that covered an entire wall in the lobby, the dim glass elevator with dark translucent panels, and now this—an apartment with a living room large enough to swallow his entire basement home, soaring ceilings, and a grand staircase made of marble leading to the second floor of the duplex.
Ashley had led him all the way to the bathroom, but Koi was still dazed. This can’t all be a dream... can it?
Blinking in disbelief, Koi raised his hand and slapped his own cheek hard. Smack. The sting jolted him back to reality. He winced, covering his face with one hand.
It’s not a dream.
Rubbing his still-tingling cheek, he finally started preparing to shower. The luxurious bathroom featured a marble bathtub set against a wall with a large window overlooking the night skyline—perfect for soaking with a view. The adjacent shower stall, enclosed in glass, was lined with polished stones of varying sizes that sparkled under the lights.
I’ve never seen a bathroom this clean or fancy.
Though grateful for Ashley’s kindness, Koi didn’t dare touch the bathtub. He decided to keep it simple and just shower—but even that turned out to be difficult. Once he began undressing, he realized he had no idea where to put his clothes. Everything he had was so dirty and worn that it felt like even touching the bathroom might stain it. Frozen in place, unsure what to do, he flinched when he heard a light knock on the bathroom door. The door opened a second later, and Ashley stepped in.
“Koi? You okay?”
“Oh—uh, yeah.”
Startled, Koi nodded quickly. Ashley glanced him over, noting that he was still fully clothed, and without a word, placed a folded set of clothes on the counter beside the sink.
“Get washed up and change. It’s my sleepwear—it might be a bit big, but it’s all I’ve got.”