The night was deep, and the cold permeated the surroundings. The rising steam from the hot spring pool was like a layer of dreamy tulle, exuding the ultimate temptation in this cold winter night. Li Liang leaned comfortably against the stone wall by the pool. The warm water, like a mother's embrace, gently enveloped his entire body, as if a pair of soft hands were slowly dispelling the fatigue from skiing during the day.
He tilted his head slightly, looking at the vast night sky. Tiny snowflakes fell like mischievous elves, gently landing on his face and instantly turning into icy water droplets, bringing a unique coolness. "So comfortable..." he couldn't help but murmur to himself, his voice echoing softly in the quiet space. The temperature of the hot spring water was just right, like a soft cradle, making his eyelids gradually heavy, and he fell into a light sleep without realizing it.
At the same time, a series of light footsteps came from the stone path leading to the hot spring private room. The girls, wrapped in soft bath towels, carefully walked forward in wooden sandals. Bai Yaya was lithe and graceful, walking in the front. Her waterfall-like long hair still carried some moisture after bathing, reflecting a soft and charming luster under the bright moonlight, as if it had been carefully sculpted by the moonlight.
"That Li Liang, honestly, he didn't even specify which room he booked," Song Junling frowned slightly, unable to help complaining. Her eyes shifted between the two seemingly identical private rooms, filled with helplessness. "These two rooms look exactly the same."
"The one on the left, maybe? I remember he said it was the one near the bamboo forest," Shen Yueyan said softly, her voice like a clear mountain stream, as cold as ever, but with a hint of imperceptible uncertainty at this moment. Her eyes showed contemplation, as if trying to recall what Li Liang had said at the time.
Bai Shutong silently followed at the end of the group. Her bright eyes repeatedly scanned the two private rooms, always feeling an unspeakable sense of disharmony lingering in her heart. But before she could open her mouth to express her doubts, the lively and active Song Junyao couldn't wait to reach out and push open the wooden door of the left room.
"Wow, so warm!" Song Junyao, like a happy little bird, excitedly rushed in first, her crisp voice echoing in the room. The other girls followed closely, one after another. The rising steam from the hot spring pool, like a warm embrace, instantly surrounded them, making them relax their guard involuntarily. No one noticed the figure in the corner who was immersed in a dream.
Shen Yueyan slowly walked in last. Her keen senses instantly captured a faint, familiar scent in the air. But before she could carefully ponder the source of this scent, Song Junyao couldn't wait to take off her bath towel and jump into the hot spring pool like a nimble fish, splashing a burst of crystal water.
"Wait!" Bai Yaya suddenly looked tense, lowered her voice, and a trace of nervousness appeared on her face. "Listen..."
Everyone immediately quieted down. The even breathing coming from the hot spring pool was particularly clear in this quiet atmosphere. The girls looked in the direction of the sound and saw moonlight shining through the narrow gaps in the bamboo curtains, like beams of silver threads, casting a familiar profile on the water.
"It's Li Liang!" Song Junling subconsciously covered her mouth, almost crying out in surprise. Her eyes widened, filled with surprise and accident.
Shen Yueyan's heart skipped a beat, as if a deer was running wildly in her heart. She saw Li Liang quietly leaning against the pool, the crystal water droplets slowly sliding down his firm and well-defined chest. His eyes, which were always filled with a sunny smile, were now tightly closed, and his long eyelashes, like two small fans, cast a faint shadow on his face, adding a touch of tranquility and softness that was rarely seen in him.
"Is he asleep?" Bai Yaya's voice trembled slightly, whether it was because of nervousness or the unspeakable panic in her heart. Her eyes showed a trace of worry, mixed with some helplessness.
A sly glint flashed in Song Junyao's eyes. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and she tiptoed towards Li Liang. "Let me wake him up..." she whispered, like a cat stealing fish, the mischievous smile on her face becoming more and more obvious.
"Don't..." Shen Yueyan subconsciously wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Song Junyao had slowly approached Li Liang's face, her pink lips pursed slightly, and she was about to mischievously kiss Li Liang's cheek. However, just as her lips were about to touch Li Liang, Li Liang seemed to sense something and suddenly opened his eyes.
In an instant, their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still at this moment. The whole world seemed to quiet down, leaving only their rapid breathing.
Li Liang's pupils shrank suddenly. He had not expected to see such a shocking scene when he opened his eyes. Song Junyao's face was close at hand, her cheeks slightly flushed, her eyes widened in surprise, and the other girls in the distance were equally stunned... This sudden scene instantly woke him up, but his brain fell into extreme panic after a brief blank.
"Ah!!!" Song Junyao screamed and quickly retreated. Her movements were too violent, splashing a large amount of water, which fell on the surrounding water surface, making a series of crisp sounds.
Li Liang was also frightened by this sudden change. Like a startled deer, he quickly shrank into the corner, trying to use the steaming hot spring mist to cover up his slightly embarrassed appearance. "Why are you here?!" His voice trembled slightly because of panic, with obvious helplessness.
"We want to ask you that!" Bai Yaya's face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple, from her cheeks to the roots of her ears. She said angrily and embarrassedly, "Why didn't you say clearly it was the room on the right!" Her eyes were filled with a hint of anger, mixed with some embarrassment.
Shen Yueyan silently turned away, the tips of her fair ears turning a faint pink, as if dyed with a touch of shyness by the sunset in the sky. Although she always looked calm and composed on weekdays, such a sudden and embarrassing scene still made her feel a little overwhelmed, and a burst of panic surged in her heart.
Song Junling watched this scene with great interest, her eyes flashing with curiosity and playfulness, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and she said softly, "Oh, this is interesting." Her eyes moved back and forth between the crowd, as if admiring a wonderful drama.
Bai Shutong remained silent, but her eyes remained fixed on Li Liang, her eyes complex and incomprehensible. In that look, there seemed to be surprise, doubt, and a hint of imperceptible emotion, like an undercurrent hidden beneath the calm lake, making it unpredictable.
The atmosphere in the hot spring pool became unusually awkward at this moment. The steaming heat seemed to be infected by this awkward atmosphere, becoming a little heavy. The originally warm and comfortable hot spring water now made Li Liang feel as if he was in a hot pot. He could feel several gazes, like blazing flames, falling on him at the same time, each gaze carrying different emotions, making him restless, his heart beating so fast that it was about to jump out of his chest. He had never encountered such an embarrassing situation before, and his brain was running fast, trying to find a suitable word to break the suffocating atmosphere.
"That..." He opened his mouth slightly, trying to say something to resolve the awkward situation, but the words were stuck in his throat, as if choked by something, and he couldn't say anything. A trace of embarrassment appeared on his face, his eyes full of helplessness and helplessness.
