“What kind of compliment is that?” Dean Yu Qing pouted. “Of course we’re beautiful. You don’t need to tell us!”
Yan Zhen’s mouth twitched as he thought to himself: Cocky Little Aunt, Shrimp Head!
“So how do you want me to compliment you, Little Aunt? Do I have to recite something like ‘Clouds resemble her robes, flowers her face—spring breeze on the railing, dewdrops thick and lush’?”
The women all paused in surprise that Yan Zhen had casually recited such a beautiful poem, especially Shui Bailan. With her glasses removed, her deep blue eyes sparkled brightly.
Shui Bailan’s greatest hobby was poetry, and the artistic air that Mentor Yu Xuan carried came straight from her aunt.
Over a year ago, at the Outer Academy’s opening ceremony, Yan Zhen had come up with that thought-provoking line: “If love between two people lasts forever, why do they need to be together morning and night?” Was he inspired now by his back-and-forth with Yu Qing?
“Little Yan Zhen is so talented,” Elder Yu Yan said with a beaming smile. “What girl could resist such praise?”
Yan Zhen felt a bit shy. He did have talent, but not much of it—this was just borrowed from Brother Taibai.
“Great-Aunt, I only read it in a book.”
“I haven’t heard it before. That just shows how well-read Little Yan Zhen is~”
“I study poetry quite extensively myself, but I’ve never come across this line,” Shui Bailan said warmly. The look in her eyes as she gazed at Yan Zhen burned with intensity, as if she no longer cared to hide it. “This must be something you composed yourself, right, Yan Zhen?”
“Uh, no, I…”
“Don’t be overly modest,” the Family Head Yu Lu said coolly. “Admitting your strengths in moderation can win you goodwill from others.”
“I understand, Mother-in-Law.”
Mentor Yu Xuan frowned slightly. Everyone was praising her lover, but she couldn’t muster any joy. Instead, she wondered just how many of these four elders harbored feelings for Yan Zhen that went beyond what was proper!
Her mother was one hundred percent guilty, though she had given herself the excuse of “for the family’s sake” to deceive her own heart and cover up her private desires.
Little Aunt’s behavior was obvious too, rivaling how Ruyu had acted at first—saying no, no, hate it, hate it on her lips while craving it deep down.
Aunt seemed a little suspicious, perhaps because Yan Zhen had risked his life to save her before, sparking some feelings. Hero saving the beauty might be cliché to outsiders, but to those involved, having someone disregard life and death to rescue you was naturally moving—especially if you already had some fondness for them.
Great-Aunt’s attitude was the hardest to read. She always smiled so serenely that her true thoughts remained hidden.
Sigh.
The mentor felt deeply troubled.
As a reincarnator, she had long prepared herself to serve Yan Zhen alongside other women. She had even called Cai Lian “elder sister” upon meeting her and built a good rapport.
But elders were absolutely off-limits!
“It’s almost time. Let’s get in the pool and chat there.”
At the Family Head Yu Lu’s words, the women walked to the edge of the pool and stepped in.
This was a built-up bathing pool, with water reaching about thigh height. To enter, they had to lift their legs fairly high, and since they were all wearing sheer, robe-like cicada silk garments, the motion was somewhat indelicate. It contrasted subtly with their dignified attire, stirring the young man’s heart.
By custom, the live-in son-in-law had no right to join the women in bathing. A little indecency among females alone was nothing, but with Yan Zhen watching so intently, the women’s faces grew slightly uneasy.
Once they were smoothly in the water, the women waded through toward the milky-white Turbid Spring and elegantly sat down, submerging their bodies until only the area above their chests remained visible.
The Turbid Spring was what they called White Jade Spring. Its waters resembled milky white jade, somewhat thick but incredibly comfortable to soak in.
Seeing Yan Zhen standing awkwardly in the middle, Mentor Yu Xuan spoke up.
“Don’t just stand there in the center, Yan Zhen. Come over here. Shared bathing has its rituals: first the Turbid Spring to temper body and mind, then the Clear Waterfall to elevate the self.”
There was lore like that? Yan Zhen blinked, wanting to swim to Mentor Yu Xuan’s side, but she was seated between the Family Head mother-in-law and the mentor aunt.
The five women’s positions from left to right were Elder Yu Yan, Dean Yu Qing, the Family Head Yu Lu, Mentor Yu Xuan, and Grand Mentor Shui Bailan.
No matter if Yan Zhen went to Yu Xuan’s left or right, it wouldn’t be quite appropriate.
Just as Yan Zhen hesitated, Elder Yu Yan patted the pool edge behind her.
“Come sit here, Little Yan Zhen. Per our bet, Little Qing, Little Bailan, and I are supposed to give you a foot wash. The water’s right here, so let’s wash your feet.”
Dean Yu Qing and Grand Mentor Shui Bailan both flushed at her words.
Yan Zhen touched his nose, feeling embarrassed.
“I was just joking earlier, Great-Aunt. You don’t need to take it seriously. No matter what, I can’t trouble my elders with washing my feet.”
Elder Yu Yan smiled playfully.
“A bet’s a bet—you can’t welch. Come on over. We can even give you a little massage.”
Yan Zhen glanced at Mentor Yu Xuan, who said reluctantly, “If Great-Aunt wants to spoil you, just go along with it.”
Yan Zhen figured he had no good reason to refuse, so he swam toward Elder Great-Aunt and Dean Little Aunt. Following her lead, he leaped up and settled steadily on the pool edge, letting his legs dangle freely. The water came right up to his calves.
Milky-white Turbid Spring water trickled along his skin across the pool’s surface, some spilling over the edge and some flowing back into the pool.
From this spot, he could look down commandingly at Elder Great-Aunt and Dean Little Aunt sitting so docilely by his feet, as if he had become their master.
But as he emerged from the water, his form in just short underpants was exposed to the five women. His lean, muscular build clashed hilariously with the little long-trunked elephant embroidered on the waistband.
“Pfft.”
Dean Yu Qing was the first to burst out laughing, followed by Elder Yu Yan, who chuckled.
“Little Yan Zhen still loves wearing such cute little shorts.”
Mentor Yu Xuan and Grand Mentor Shui Bailan also smiled one after another, and even the Family Head Yu Lu’s eyes gained a hint of amusement.
Yan Zhen awkwardly covered the long-trunked little elephant pattern and weakly defended himself.
“I just happened to buy a bunch of this style, so I’ve kept wearing it.”
Shui Bailan pointed at the waistband. “But the label says it’s a limited edition.”
Oh… Yan Zhen hurriedly used one hand to cover the label too.
“Ahem, Aunt, you must have misread it.”
“You act so mature all the time, but you’re still just a kid at heart,” Dean Yu Qing teased. “Fine, then. Let your beautiful and generous Little Aunt pamper you a bit.”
She didn’t act at all like someone honoring a lost bet. Instead, she took on the elder’s superior stance to lord it over him.
Yan Zhen immediately made a disgusted face.
Elder Yu Yan turned her head. “Little Bailan, you come over too?”
Shui Bailan assented and slowly swam in front of Yan Zhen. She looked up to meet his gaze, her heart fluttering with shyness. Then her eyes fell on the little elephant, and she couldn’t help but smile.
To avoid upsetting him, Shui Bailan quickly schooled her expression. But then she thought of an important issue.
“Yan Zhen only has two legs. How are the three of us supposed to wash his feet? Or should he get back in, and I’ll scrub his back instead?”
Elder Yu Yan replied, “Little Bailan, men aren’t like women—they have three legs, you know.”
Shui Bailan blinked in confusion. “Three?”
She pointed at the elephant pattern. “That’s the one. The most important leg goes to you to wash. Be gentle with it, okay?”
Her words left everyone in the bath thunderstruck inside and out, faces flushing with embarrassment—Yan Zhen most of all, mortified.
A barrage of stunned gazes converged on Elder Yu Yan. She chuckled nonchalantly. “Just kidding.”
