Hot Spring (2)

“Xiao-Ruan’s mother, we will take the children to soak in the hot spring at night. What do you think? The main attraction of this place is this activity. Those who come here usually have a good soak on the first day of arrival and then arrange an oil spa afterward. My friend had come here before and said it wasn’t too bad.”

Qin Zhufeng was grateful to Ruan Qingmu’s family and was always polite in his speech and conduct. Of course, Mu Wanli also knew what was right and wrong. As the expenses for the journey were covered, she listened to the arrangements made by others and nodded with a smile on her face. “Okay, okay. I’m afraid the children are very eager to soak in the hot springs.”

Qin Zhufeng smiled and led the group toward the hot springs area. “There are quite a few specialty pools here, some larger and communal, and some smaller ones that you can book yourself. I’ve booked a few, so everyone can pick your own depending on what you like.”

When they arrived at the hot springs area on the mountainside, there were several large open-air pools in the resort. Although they were described as open-air, they were covered with a fully transparent glass canopy overhead, allowing the starry sky to be visible from the outside. At the same time, the inside was closed to keep it as warm as spring in the cold.

Inside, it was steaming hot with a view of the mountains, with strange rocks and flowers. The pool was paved with pebbles, with a few people inside, all wearing proper swimwear and soaking comfortably.

Wei Qinglian only glanced at it before turning her head away in disgust. “Not soaking here. It’s too dirty.”

Qin Yuan stood behind his father and agreed in a rare moment. “Mm. It’s inconvenient to be with strangers.”

Qin Zhufeng nodded. “It is. We should soak in the private pools there. Oh right, there’s also the tiny fishpond. Xiao-Quan and the others will certainly like it.”

Mu Wanli smiled. “The outdoors one is also good. The pool is big and comfortable. Or else, I’ll take Xiao-Zhuang to play here.”

The open-air pool was free, but if you booked a small private pool, you had to pay extra by the hour. When she arrived, she had looked at the price list in the room and had been on the edge of her seat for a while.

All the small private pools ranged from 2,888 yuan to 4,888 yuan per hour and a few hours of casual soaking for two families would amount to a few thousand yuan. Although she knew the Qin family was rich, this level of wealth was still beyond her imagination.

She had visited a nearby hot spring, which was only one or two hundred yuan an hour. Was this water mixed with gold leaf or hyaluronic acid that could rejuvenate one after only a short soak?!

Wei Qinglian turned her head to look at her, smiling warmly. “We should go together. There’s a specialized beauty milk pool. It’s excellent for the skin. We, sisters, can go together and have a good time.”

Qin Zhufeng chuckled. “Then, I will take these several children to soak in the fishpond. You guys can go together and have a chat.”

He turned his head to look at his son. “Why don’t you guys come together with us?”

Qin Yuan looked at a small cabin not far away and indifferently said, “Let’s forget about it. We will book a pond by ourselves. We’ll chat about the exam and discuss our fellow students. You guys won’t understand what we’ll be talking about.”

Ruan Qingmu stood at the side, not speaking. It was unknown if he was hot from eating, but his porcelain white face showed a bit of redness.

… Two people stood in front of a small wooden cabin in the woods and stared blankly at the sign on the door.

“Blissful Immortal Pool.”

Ruan Qingmu muttered softly, “Damn. What a fiendish name. Is it saying people with heart disease and high blood pressure can’t soak here? Will they die and become immortal?”

Qin Yuan pushed the door open and looked inside. “Oh, it seems to be a lover’s pool. The focus is bliss.”

Ruan Qingmu poked his head in and almost choked on his breath.

Qin Yuan must be doing this on purpose! This was simply not a proper place for them!

In the middle of the wooden cabin was a small hot pool made of light blue mosaic, about a dozen square meters, with steaming hot air and blue ripples inside.

On the other side of the pool was a changing cabinet with large, new bath towels and essential oil bottles. On the other side was a shelving unit with a large tray of fresh fruit, wine, and various drinks. No wonder it cost several thousand dollars an hour.

The wall was decorated with a colorful, old-fashioned picture of a pleasure house, showing a courtesan with her breasts half exposed, her snow-white hand holding a handkerchief, soaking in the water with the man in the picture in a lazy, satisfied manner.

Qin Yuan only took one look at the picture before averting his eyes. Walking in, he casually pulled Ruan Qingmu in as well. “It’s quite peaceful here. The environment isn’t bad.”

Ruan Qingmu panicked and tried to turn around and run, but Qin Yuan moved slightly and blocked the door silently.

He casually picked up the “Do not disturb, already booked” sign placed by the door and hung it on the outside door handle with a backhand, then turned back around and looked at Ruan Qingmu with an innocent face. “Let’s change into our swimming trunks.”

***

The changing cabinets next to the room were filled with good-quality disposable swimming suits and trunks that guests could either bring their own or use the ones here. Ruan Qingmu opened the cupboards and looked at them for half a day, hesitating.

Fuck. Why were they this snug and tight? How come there were no big flat trunks? This was a hot spring and he needed to be loose in order to be comfortable.

As he was frantically searching, Qin Yuan’s voice suddenly came closer next to him. “Is there no small size?”

Ruan Qingmu: “… Qin Yuan, who gives you the courage to slander your boyfriend?!”

When he turned his head, he was caught off guard and his gaze collided with a very impactful body. His boyfriend had a slender waist, long legs, a broad chest, and straight shoulders, and his entire body was stripped naked, leaving only the close-fitting black swim trunks wrapped tightly around the smooth lines.

The teenager’s body wasn’t quite as toned as an adult male’s. Still, it had shed its teenage youth, with just the right amount of muscle mass in his chest and belly, vaguely revealing his waistline without the threat of hormonal explosions.

Well, it was his body that gave him courage. … But wasn’t this just a soak? Why was his boyfriend flexing his body while he stretched candidly?!

He hardened his heart, grabbed a swimming trunk, and changed into it swiftly, then casually grabbed a large bath towel and carelessly tied it around his waist, blocking the pathetically small piece of fabric.

Without even looking at Qin Yuan, he jumped into the pool with a splash.

Just as he went down, he couldn’t help but utter a loud “ouch.” The scalding water instantly flooded his whole body and the sudden stinging pain hit him in full force, which was not much different from torture.