"How did you get here?!" An Ning exclaimed in surprise, hurriedly asking, "Since when have you been here?!"

Earlier, she had swum several laps in the hot spring and didn’t notice anyone inside.

At this moment, Lin Zichan’s voice suddenly reached her ears.

"I’ve been here all along," Lin Zichan replied in a low voice, "After eating, I went for a stroll and discovered this hot spring. Seeing no one around, I thought to take a bath. I didn’t know the lady would come."

All along?!

Didn’t know?!

She didn’t believe that when she and Yan Jinyao arrived, he hadn’t heard any sounds.

"I didn’t hear the lady’s arrival," Lin Zichan seemed to sense her thoughts and said, "I didn’t fall asleep initially upon arriving here. I was leaning on this stone in the hot spring and accidentally dozed off. By the time I heard a noise, you were already in the spring. Fearing to startle you, I chose to remain silent."

"Then why did you suddenly speak up?" An Ning said angrily.

She would rather have known nothing!

"...Because you suddenly approached me," Lin Zichan explained.

An Ning was speechless.

She pursed her lips and asked, "Did you see anything?"

Although it was night, the bright moonlight illuminated the area.

It bathed the entire hot spring in a blanket of white.

As long as one paid a little attention, everything was clearly visible.

"I didn’t dare," Lin Zichan quickly answered, "Ever since you entered the water, I haven’t opened my eyes. Please believe me."

Believe?!

How to believe?!

Dig out your eyes!

An Ning took a deep breath to calm herself.

She said, "Then why aren’t you leaving now?!"

"Yes, please turn around, my lady," Lin Zichan said, "I will leave immediately."

An Ning turned her back.

She was in the water without anything on, feeling completely exposed.

And there was still a naked man behind her...

An Ning urged, "Hurry up!"

"Yes."

She heard the faint sound of water movement, clearly indicating Lin Zichan was getting out of the hot spring.

An Ning’s heart was racing, accelerating uncontrollably.

Her face felt slightly flushed.

As it was in the mountains, it was extremely quiet.

Aside from the sound of water, there was only the sound of her heartbeat.

Like this.

"Boss." Suddenly, Yan Jinyao’s voice spoke from beside the hot spring.

An Ning felt a jolt deep in her heart.

In that moment, it was as if driven by instinct.

She abruptly turned and reached out to pull the person coming ashore back down.

Lin Zichan lost his balance and was pressed into the water.

Of course, he heard the person on shore.

And so went along, staying under the water.

The moonlight was exceedingly bright tonight.

Even underwater, one could see her slender, fair, and graceful figure clearly...

"Don’t come over!" An Ning shouted to Yan Jinyao.

Yan Jinyao was puzzled, "Boss, what’s wrong?"

"I’m not used to bathing with someone nearby," An Ning said, her voice slightly anxious.

Yan Jinyao was even more puzzled.

When had the boss ever bathed without someone attending?

"Why are you here?"

"I came to scrub your back," Yan Jinyao naturally replied, "I forgot to station someone by the door earlier. Now someone’s there, so I came in to scrub your back."

"No need," An Ning said, "Please leave, I’d like some quiet time alone." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Yan Jinyao looked at the boss.

The boss seemed strange tonight.

"Alright then." Yan Jinyao decided not to delve deeper, "I’ll be right outside. Call me if you need your back scrubbed."

"Hurry and leave," An Ning urged.

Clearly more anxious.

Yan Jinyao turned and walked out.

When An Ning confirmed Yan Jinyao had left, she quickly whispered to Lin Zichan, "You can come out now."

Lin Zichan was truly at his limit by this point.

If he stayed under any longer, he would drown in this hot spring.

He rose from the water.

Breathing heavily.

He dared not make too much noise, lest he be heard from outside.

An Ning’s eyes just watched Lin Zichan.

At this short distance, she could see clearer.

Lin Zichan steadied his breath, his voice somewhat deep, "Lady, you shouldn’t look."

An Ning quickly turned around.

As if by reflex.

Turning completely, she realized it was wrong.

Who was supposed to avert their gaze, who should have turned?

Annoyed, she was about to turn back.

"Lady, my body is unsightly, likely to tarnish your eyes," Lin Zichan could precisely guess what she intended to do, predicting her next move.