Yan Hechuan chimed in, "Right, give the order to clear the place for today."
Assistant Chen didn't dare to ask more. Why is our President Yan taking a young man to the hot springs together? Is that appropriate?
He could only nod silently.
"Received!"
"Any other instructions, President Yan?"
Yan Hechuan shook his head, then added, "Charge today's losses to my personal account."
Assistant Chen nodded.
"Understood, President."
After hanging up, Yan Hechuan was about to put his phone back in his pocket, his hand still inside.
Suddenly, another soft and cool little hand also slipped into his jacket pocket.
Their hands intertwined, fingers lacing together, separated only by the thin phone.
Yan Hechuan's body stiffened slightly, and he tilted his head.
Though he couldn't see, he turned a questioning gaze towards Xia Liuyue's side.
"What's wrong, Hechuan?"
Xia Liuyue pretended nothing had happened, the corners of her lips curling up slightly as she tilted her head with her usual gentle smile.
The rims of Yan Hechuan's ears were already gradually turning red, the flush quickly spreading down to his neck.
His lips felt dry, and his Adam's apple tightened.
He wanted to pull away.
Meng Xiang, who was driving in the front, also turned his head to ask, "What's wrong, Brother Yan? Am I driving too fast?"
Yan Hechuan's Adam's apple bobbed. He slowly shook his head and finally uttered two words.
"It's nothing."
On the way to the Tangshan Hot Springs, their fingertips remained interlaced, hidden in the pocket with only the thin phone between them.
They were, after all, rightfully engaged.
Yet, for some reason, a faint sense of impropriety rose in Yan Hechuan's heart.
Upon arriving at their destination and getting out of the car,
Xia Liuyue first glanced at his arm and said,
"No rash. Looks like the desensitization training is working."
Yan Hechuan pressed his lips together, his expression cool and aloof, though the rims of his ears reddened once more.
As the group reached the hot spring entrance, a manager came forward to greet them.
"President Yan, hello. I'm Xiao Zhang, the person in charge here."
Yan Hechuan gave a slight nod.
The person in charge then looked at the two people behind him.
Meng Xiang immediately spoke up, "Hello, Manager Zhang. I'm Xiao Meng, Brother Yan's caretaker for this period. This is my senior sister."
He spoke rather vaguely.
Manager Zhang listened rather confusedly.
So you're President Yan's caretaker, I get that. But the woman next to you is your senior sister?
No name? No surname?
And what's her relationship with our President Yan?
He had heard President Yan had a fiancée. Could it be... he's here for a secret rendezvous?
Manager Zhang's mind began weaving all sorts of scenarios. Coupled with today's clearing of the venue, he became even more convinced.
President Yan is really something, he thought. Even blind, he still has the spirit for this kind of dalliance.
Following his own assumptions, Manager Zhang laughed heartily and said,
"Hello, hello, welcome. Please come in this way."
"The entire place has been cleared, and all the pools have been refilled, guaranteeing the cleanest water quality."
"The men's entrance is here, and the women's entrance is over there."
"After changing, please proceed to the main hall. There are three outdoor hot spring pools. The private pools are in the small rooms on the left. President Yan, we've reserved the exclusive Night-Blooming Cereus room for you as usual."
Xia Liuyue's steps turned towards the women's area. She waved at them.
"Alright then, Hechuan, Junior Brother, see you in a bit."
"Mhm," Meng Xiang responded.
Yan Hechuan also nodded.
Watching from the side, Manager Zhang felt his guess was quite reliable. See, see, that form of address, using such an intimate nickname for President Yan.
There's definitely something going on!
Fortunately, he was a smart man with a tight lip, guaranteed not to breathe a word.
After escorting the two men to the men's entrance, Manager Zhang added,
"President Yan, I hope you enjoy yourself. I won't utter a single word about today's arrangements."
Yan Hechuan found this strange.
What?
Is coming to the hot springs with his fiancée some sort of shameful secret?
But before he could react, Manager Zhang finished speaking and scurried off. Hearing the retreating footsteps, Yan Hechuan shook his head helplessly.
How odd.
...
Xia Liuyue wore a light white one-piece swimsuit. It appeared modest, yet a large portion of her fair back was exposed.
The V-neck design accentuated the fullness of her chest, while the fitted fabric highlighted her slender, seemingly graspable waist. Below were long, pale, shapely legs.
It was quite eye-catching.
She had been waiting for the two men in the main hall for a while.
After some time,
Yan Hechuan and Meng Xiang finally arrived.
The former wore simple black swim trunks, as rigid and uninteresting as his personality.
The eight-pack abs revealed on his pale chest were just as defined and sculpted as those seen in the bathroom last night.
They looked like they'd feel good to the touch.
His spine was straight as a pine, his browbone refined.
His sharp, slanting eyebrows seemed to press down over his eyes; even though his blind gaze was misty, it held a penetrating sharpness.
He still held his white cane. Despite Meng Xiang being right beside him, he refused to be assisted.
Meng Xiang, walking behind, wore brightly patterned swim trunks with a large blue base adorned with green palm trees and waves, looking vibrant and youthful.
His drooping bangs were slightly damp, probably from rinsing off earlier.
His deep, peach-blossom eyes were clear and bright, the corners naturally upturned.
"Senior Sister," Meng Xiang looked up and called out, but the next second felt a warmth in his nose and couldn't help turning around.
The wealthy lady's figure was simply too hot.
Curvy in all the right places.
The fat distribution was just too perfect.
Mustn't think about it, mustn't think about it. The more he did, the redder his face and neck became.
Catching a glimpse of Yan Hechuan out of the corner of his eye, he thought: Brother Yan is better off. He can't see anyway, so he probably isn't affected by the impact.
"You finally made it. I've been standing here freezing for ages."
Xia Liuyue pouted, unable to hold back her complaint.
Before the men in front of her could react, she fluttered like a butterfly into Yan Hechuan's arms, claiming,
"Hechuan, you're warm. Warm me up quickly."
This was no ordinary hug.
Both were in swimwear now. Yan Hechuan wore only swim trunks.
And Xia Liuyue's swimsuit left her entire back bare. As she nestled into his embrace, it was almost skin-to-skin contact.
His warm chest pressed against the woman's soft, eggshell-smooth skin.
Yan Hechuan froze, utterly at a loss.
