89: Chapter 89 Hot Spring

Deep in the courtyard, an open-air soaking pool was hidden among the bamboo forest, with wisps of steam rising.

The pool water was clear, reflecting the starry sky overhead and the surrounding bamboo shadows.

The four of them stopped by the edge of the pool.

Lin Wei boldly untied the belt of her bathrobe, and the robe slipped down, revealing the halter-neck one-piece swimsuit underneath—the front looked particularly well-endowed.

As soon as Qiao Yichen's gaze swept over, he immediately looked away, pretending to look at the bamboo next to him.

Lin Wei, sharp-eyed, laughed mischievously, holding her bathrobe and looking at him: "Boss Qiao, why don't you undress? What are you standing there for?"

Qiao Yichen coughed lightly and lowered his head to undo his own bathrobe.

Lin Wei scanned his body with her eyes, then suddenly burst out laughing: "Oh, where are your eight-pack abs? I thought all you men had them."

Qiao Yichen paused, the tips of his ears turning slightly hot, and coughed twice helplessly: "... I'll go exercise when I have time."

Su Qing slowly added a jab from the side: "If he really had eight-pack abs, you'd be asking him if he spent all day at the gym right now. That would be terrifying."

Lin Wei scoffed, tossed her bathrobe onto a nearby chair, turned, and walked toward the edge of the pool.

"Wow—" She dipped a toe in to test the water temperature. "Perfect, perfect! Not too hot, not too cold, just right!"

As soon as the words fell, her whole body plunged into the pool, splashing water that rose and then fell.

She leaned against the edge of the pool and let out a satisfied sigh: "Ah... This is so comfortable. The fatigue from this whole day was worth it."

Su Qing also took off her bathrobe, revealing a one-piece skirt style, and slowly got in, leaning against the edge of the pool and closing her eyes.

Liu Yanran stood by the edge of the pool preparing to enter. Qiao Yichen walked over and reached out to support her arm.

She turned her head to look at him, the corners of her eyes slightly raised, and slowly stepped into the pool following the strength of his support, sitting down beside him.

The warm water covered her shoulders, and her whole body slowly relaxed.

Qiao Yichen reached out and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

Liu Yanran leaned over naturally, resting her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed.

The water surface rippled slightly, reflecting the stars overhead.

It was quiet for a while.

Lin Wei leaned against the edge of the pool, looking up at the starry sky, and suddenly her voice softened: "Do you think, when will we be able to go out together like this again next time?"

Su Qing opened her eyes and glanced at her: "What, is soaking in a hot spring making you sentimental?"

"It's not sentimentality." Lin Wei stirred the water, her tone unusually serious, "I just feel like days like this are too rare. Look, some are at work, some are busy. It's not easy for all four of us to gather to go out and have fun."

The pool fell silent for a few seconds, only the rustling of the bamboo forest and the occasional sound of bubbles rising could be heard.

Qiao Yichen looked down at Liu Yanran—in the rising mist, her cheeks were flushed red from the heat.

He reached out and gently brushed the damp hair clinging to the side of her face behind her ear.

She didn't open her eyes, but a faint curve bloomed at the corners of her mouth.

Lin Wei suddenly sighed again: "Sigh, if only every day could be like this."

Su Qing, with her eyes closed, replied: "Why are you daydreaming every day? Can you be a little more realistic?"

Lin Wei rolled her eyes: "No one will think you're mute if you don't talk, really."

Su Qing's lips curved slightly, ignoring her.

Liu Yanran opened her eyes and said softly: "Actually, coming out like this occasionally is already very good. It's not realistic to have this every day."

Qiao Yichen looked down at her, and she happened to look up. Their eyes met, and a smile floated in both their eyes.

Lin Wei suddenly remembered something and sat up straight in the water: "Right, right, Boss Qiao, how long did you book this pool for? Is there a time limit?"

"Forty minutes to an hour, I guess." Qiao Yichen glanced at his phone, "It's just past nine now. Let's soak until about 9:40, then take a shower, and it'll be the right time to sleep when we get back."

Lin Wei nodded and asked again: "Is it just the four of us here? No one else, right?"

"It's reserved, just us."

"That's good, that's good." She leaned back against the edge of the pool and breathed a sigh of relief. "Otherwise, it would be so awkward soaking with strangers. You wouldn't dare say anything, and it wouldn't feel comfortable."

Su Qing slowly replied with her eyes closed: "You know awkwardness now? I didn't see you being reserved when you took off your bathrobe earlier."

Lin Wei couldn't be bothered with her and looked at Liu Yanran: "Yanran, your skin is getting a bit red from soaking. Look, look, on your shoulder."

Liu Yanran looked down at her arm; a faint pinkish hue had indeed appeared.

Su Qing slowly said: "Normal. Hot water makes everyone look like that; blood circulation speeds up."

Lin Wei grinned mischievously, leaned closer, and lowered her voice: "Is it because Qiao Yichen is hugging you too tightly? Is it hot?"

Liu Yanran's ears heated up, and she reached out as if to splash her.

Lin Wei was prepared and dodged to the side, splashing water onto Su Qing's face.

Su Qing wiped her face and looked at Lin Wei expressionlessly.

Lin Wei quickly waved her hands: "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding! Yanran splashed her, not me! You should go find her!"

Su Qing didn't speak, just slowly moved toward her.

Lin Wei became alert and retreated slightly: "What are you doing? Don't come over here, Su Qing!"

Su Qing suddenly reached out and pushed her into the water.

Lin Wei flailed and popped her head up, coughing water, and whined aggrievedly: "Su Qing! Are you even human?!"

Liu Yanran couldn't help but laugh, leaning on Qiao Yichen's shoulder, shaking with laughter.

Qiao Yichen also laughed and put his arm around her to prevent her from sliding into the water.

Lin Wei wiped the water from her face and glared at Su Qing with a pout.

Su Qing looked calm, leaned against the edge of the pool, and closed her eyes again.

After enough commotion, the group gradually quieted down.

Su Qing suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze paused on Qiao Yichen and Liu Yanran for a second, then glanced at Lin Wei, and said lightly: "It's rare to see you all so quiet."

Lin Wei pouted: "Aren't you tired today? You still have the energy to talk."

Su Qing ignored her and closed her eyes again.

Liu Yanran leaned on Qiao Yichen's shoulder, her voice soft: "What time is it?"

Qiao Yichen reached for his phone by the edge of the pool—the movement of leaning forward made the water surface shake, sending ripples outward in circles.

He looked at the screen: "It's 9:40."

He put the phone back and settled back into position.

He lowered his head and placed a kiss on Liu Yanran's forehead.

The water surface trembled slightly, reflecting the inverted image of the two of them nestled together.

Suddenly, Lin Wei's voice came from nearby: "Ooh—"

The two turned their heads simultaneously.

Lin Wei didn't know when she had opened her eyes, and she was looking at them with a smile.

Su Qing also opened her eyes, glanced over, and closed them again, too lazy to bother.

Lin Wei drew out her voice: "Did we interrupt you two? Should we step aside? Go wait in that corner over there?"

Liu Yanran's ears turned slightly red, and she glared at her: "Soak in your bath."

Lin Wei chuckled, leaned back again, muttering under her breath, "Okay, okay, I won't look, I didn't see anything."

After soaking for another ten minutes or so, Qiao Yichen glanced at the time—9:50.

"It's about time, right?" he said. "If we soak any longer, we'll get dizzy. Let's get up."

The group reluctantly got up, threw on their bathrobes, and walked back.

Lin Wei was the last one out. She stood by the edge of the pool, looked back, and suddenly said: "I really don't want to leave, this feeling is too good."

Su Qing picked up a bathrobe and handed it to her: "Then you stay here by yourself, we're going back to sleep first."

Lin Wei scoffed, put on the bathrobe, and followed: "Let's go, let's go. Who wants to stay here alone? I'm scared by myself."

Back in the room, Qiao Yichen reminded them: "Take a shower before you sleep, okay? You need to rinse off after soaking in hot water, otherwise, you'll feel uncomfortable."

The two nodded.

He took Liu Yanran's hand and walked upstairs.

The bathroom upstairs was small, and the two squeezed inside.

The hot water poured down, washing away the lingering scent of the hot spring from their bodies.

Liu Yanran stood under the stream of water with her eyes closed, letting the warm water pour down from above her head.

Qiao Yichen squeezed out some body wash and rubbed it on her back.

She didn't dodge, only turned back to give him a look.

After rinsing clean, the two changed into their undergarments and came out.

Liu Yanran sat on the edge of the bed, took body lotion from her bag, squeezed some into her palm, and slowly applied it to her legs, bit by bit.

Her movements were slow, starting from her ankles and moving upward, deliberate and unhurried.

A faint fragrance spread in the air, sweet and slightly milky.

Qiao Yichen leaned over and sat next to her: "Why do you smell so good?"

Liu Yanran turned her head to look at him, her hands still coated in lotion.

She reached out and gently rubbed her hand on his arm, rubbing the excess lotion onto his skin: "I'll put some on you too, don't waste it."

That bit of coolness and fragrance on his arm, coupled with her flushed cheeks after just washing up, suddenly made Qiao Yichen feel a bit restless.

He stared at her, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Liu Yanran met his gaze, paused for a moment, and then a smile surfaced in her eyes.

She leaned close to his ear, her voice lowered, carrying a hint of coaxing:

"I'll give it to you when we get home."

Qiao Yichen took a deep breath and leaned back resignedly.

He reached out, pulled her into his embrace, rested his chin on the top of her head, and said stuffily: "... Let's sleep."

Liu Yanran chuckled softly in his arms, found a comfortable position, and closed her eyes.

The light went out.

Faint sounds of Lin Wei and Su Qing talking drifted up from downstairs, the content indistinct.

Soon, those sounds also disappeared.