“There are so many people here, all watching us. N-no, that’s not good, right?” Liang Sheng glanced nervously at the crowd, thoroughly intimidated.
An Hua’s hand, beneath the water, slid onto Liang Sheng’s thigh. “But doesn’t that make it even more thrilling? With all these people around, doing something naughty in secret…”
Ah… it did seem kind of exciting… Liang Sheng started getting carried away by An Hua’s words. No, no, no! She wiped at her mouth, clearing away drool. In broad daylight, under the clear blue sky—how could she even think of doing something so dirty and depraved!
“No way,” Liang Sheng declared righteously, grabbing An Hua’s wrist underwater. “Please control your urges, Masochist Senior Sister~”
“Liang Sheng~” An Hua draped one arm over Liang Sheng’s snowy-white shoulder. “You’re such a tease.”
“Hey, I’m just telling the truth. With so many people around, it’s not right. Besides…” Underwater, Liang Sheng gave An Hua’s butt a hard pinch. “I’m not that kind of improper person, you know~”
“Ding~” Favorability greatly increased.
“An Hua’s Favorability towards Liang Sheng: 189”
An Hua’s face flushed red. Just as Liang Sheng tried to withdraw her wandering hand, An Hua pressed it back down. “If Liang Sheng wants to touch, you can leave it right here.”
Whoa, this girl was getting bolder by the second. Well, since she was inviting it so openly, it wouldn’t be right to refuse and hurt her delicate feelings. And so, the ever-kind Liang Sheng naturally kept her little hand right where it was—on Senior Sister An Hua’s rear.
No helping it; she’d get mad if I pulled away~ It’s not like I want to; I’m being forced here! Liang Sheng even put on a aggrieved expression.
Hmph, the perfect picture of someone taking advantage while acting innocent.
“Hey, why are you two huddled so close?” Lu Ziqing splashed through the water and swam over.
“Oh, uh, just playing in the water for a bit.” Liang Sheng yanked her hand away from An Hua’s butt with force.
An Hua was displeased. She shot a glare at Lu Ziqing, who was staring daggers at her, but said nothing more. After all, in front of others, she still had to maintain her aloof goddess persona.
“Just relax in the hot spring and savor it slowly—hic~” Lu Ziqing leaned in beside Liang Sheng.
Right then, An Hua couldn’t hold back anymore. She reached out toward Liang Sheng with her little hand, aiming to pinch some soft flesh.
But by sheer coincidence, Liang Sheng turned around.
“Ow!”
In the end…
Lu Ziqing’s almond-shaped eyes went wide, her face turning red. She glanced back—no one was paying attention—before turning to Liang Sheng and whispering furiously, “Hey, Liang Sheng, what was that? You pinched… pinched my…”
Liang Sheng: “…?” I’m innocent here!
“Y-Young Miss, I didn’t…”
An Hua gave Liang Sheng a harsh tug, her own face looking awkward and strained.
Liang Sheng got it. Senior Sister An Hua must have been trying to pinch her, but she’d twisted around, and with Lu Ziqing right beside her, An Hua’s devilish little hand had ended up on the Young Miss instead.
“I, I…” How was she supposed to explain this? Liang Sheng wanted to cry. Couldn’t she just catch a break?
“What do you mean, ‘I’!” Lu Ziqing huffed, though inwardly she was blooming with delight. “Pervert! Wandering hands!”
Senior Sister An Hua’s expression darkened, and Liang Sheng’s little face looked even worse—like she was about to cry. There was nothing more miserable than being wrongly accused. Especially when she knew the truth but couldn’t say it—like a mute swallowing bitter herbs, full of grievance with no way to speak.
“No next time!” Lu Ziqing thought smugly to herself. This proved Liang Sheng was interested in her body, right? And if she was interested in the body, she had to be even more interested in the whole package!
Wait, no! Why was she thinking like that? Her face was burning up! Lu Ziqing patted her cheeks. Yeah, it had to be the hot spring making her overheated. Too hot, that’s all! Definitely not shyness. And absolutely not because she was falling for Liang Sheng! Hmph, as if she’d ever like Liang Sheng!
Her tsundere inner monologue was as elaborate as ever.
“She’s gone. Shall we continue?” An Hua whispered in Liang Sheng’s ear.
With Lu Ziqing’s face overheated to the max, she slunk away from this hotbed of trouble where Liang Sheng lurked. This gave the little masochist her chance, and she started groping poor Liang Sheng all over again.
“Hey, Senior Sister, it’s bad if the others see…” Liang Sheng fended her off while sneakily checking everyone else’s reactions.
Hiss—lots of people were secretly staring at them!
“Don’t mind them. As long as they don’t notice~”
Liang Sheng still wouldn’t yield. “For real, Senior Sister. Look, they’re all staring at us!”
“As long as we keep our upper bodies apart, no one will know what our lower halves are up to in secret. The steam here is so thick~”
Liang Sheng wiped sweat from her brow. “See, see! The water’s so crystal clear—if they look closely, they’ll spot it for sure! You don’t want your ice queen persona ruined, do you, Senior Sister An Hua?”
At that, An Hua hesitated. She glanced down at the hot spring water and pondered for a moment. True, the water was quite clear; a close look would reveal everything.
“Then… let’s make plans for next time~” An Hua winked flirtatiously at Liang Sheng.
Liang Sheng facepalmed. Oh, my adorable senior sister, you’re not some sugar baby! Don’t say things that’ll lead to misunderstandings!
Though she said that, An Hua’s hand lingered on Liang Sheng’s slim waist.
That was when Bai Zhen swam over, chuckling as she peered into the water. “You two seem awfully close.”
An Hua didn’t react, sticking to her aloof persona. She glanced at Bai Zhen before quickly looking away, feigning total disinterest. But inwardly, she thought: Liang Sheng sure seems popular.
Even An Hua could tell that among these women, she wasn’t the only one coveting Liang Sheng’s… pfft, pfft, the only one who liked Liang Sheng.
“Yep, Senior Sister An Hua and I are good friends.” Liang Sheng said it boldly, without a hint of deception.
Bai Zhen’s lips curved up slightly, making Liang Sheng feel uneasy.
“In that case, Little An Hua, I’ll borrow your good friend Liang Sheng for a sec~ I’ll give her right back.” With that, Bai Zhen looped an arm around Liang Sheng’s neck and started tugging her away.
An Hua’s brow furrowed faintly. Her hand reacted faster than her brain, grabbing Liang Sheng’s arm.
An awkward standoff ensued. Bai Zhen smiled enigmatically. “Hmm? Can’t share? It’s a little secret just between Liang Sheng and me.”
An Hua shot Bai Zhen an icy glance and released Liang Sheng’s arm. “None of my business. No need to explain.”
Oh god, that long-lost cool, detached voice. Liang Sheng found it both strange and familiar; An Hua hadn’t spoken to her like that in ages.
“Your friend here is quite the ice queen,” Bai Zhen said, arm still around Liang Sheng as she shrugged and grinned.
“Haha,” Liang Sheng jumped in to smooth things over. “Senior Sister An Hua is our school’s resident aloof goddess.”
