Hearing her words, everyone breathed a sigh of relief—especially Yan Zhen, who had nearly thought his innocence was lost, with Mentor Yu Xuan right there.
Shui Bailan snapped back to her senses, a touch of regret mingling with her suspicion. Sister Yu Yan had always loved her jokes, but she knew her limits. Teasing Yan Zhen like this in front of Xuan’er just didn’t seem like her.
The atmosphere turned awkward, but Elder Yu Yan seemed oblivious as she pondered aloud.
“Still, this brings us right back to the original problem. Why not follow Bailan’s suggestion? Little Yan Zhen, have a seat and let her scrub your back.”
Yan Zhen had no objections—in fact, he just wanted to end this bet as quickly as possible. He slipped neatly from the edge of the bath back into the water with a splash, sending droplets of thick white spring water splattering across the faces of the three beautiful elders.
“Ah!” Dean Yu Qing let out a delicate cry. “Are you trying to kill me? Now my face is covered in it!”
“…”
Yan Zhen’s face instantly darkened with embarrassment.
—This scene, this line… it needed censoring, muting. Don’t just blurt out something like that, you idiot Dean Little Aunt!
Elder Yu Yan lifted her hands and wiped her cheeks like a cat, saying all the while, “White Jade Spring is perfect in every way, except how thick the water is. After soaking, you have to rinse off at Clear Waterfall or circulate your qi to evaporate it.”
Shui Bailan simply froze the water droplets on her face, letting them flake off like beans and drop back into the pool.
She circled behind Yan Zhen of her own accord, resting her small hands on his shoulders as she said gently, “Shall I start with your shoulders?”
Yan Zhen smiled faintly. “Whatever you like, Aunt.”
“Let’s give it a try.” Shui Bailan kneaded his shoulders, getting a feel for them. “I occasionally massage Yu Qing, so I have a bit of experience.”
“Then I’ll have to trouble you, Aunt.”
“I’ll gradually increase the pressure. Just say if it gets uncomfortable.”
“Mm, alright.”
“…”
The two of them fell into a harmonious rhythm that made Dean Yu Qing a little jealous. She grabbed Yan Zhen’s right foot and announced, “I’ll help with your feet too, you brat!”
Without waiting for a response, she pinched his toe hard, producing a sharp snap.
“Hiss!” Yan Zhen sucked in a breath of cold air. “Little Aunt, lighter~”
Dean Yu Qing chuckled coldly. “Your mystic power advanced too quickly, and your body realm hasn’t kept up. Your muscles and bones are too stiff—they need some real force for any effect!”
“Wait—oh~~~”
Another snap, and Yan Zhen let out a strange yelp.
To be honest, it hurt a little, but the ache gave way to real relief.
Though Dean Yu Qing lacked proper foot-massage technique, her grasp of the basic acupoints was spot-on. Each press struck right to Yan Zhen’s core, sending waves of pleasure deep into his bones.
Elder Yu Yan laughed. “Little Yan Zhen’s reactions are so amusing. I’ll join in too.”
She took hold of his left foot and pressed into the calf muscle.
Elder Great-Aunt was far gentler, relying more on skillful pressure rather than brute force like Dean Little Aunt. It was utterly immersive.
Soaking in the warm White Jade Spring while three beautiful elders massaged his shoulders and feet—Yan Zhen felt pure bliss, like he might float away.
From her seat nearby, Mentor Yu Xuan watched her great-aunt, little aunt, and aunt knead and rub all over her lover, with Yan Zhen wearing that look of utter enjoyment. She couldn’t shake the feeling that all her worries were coming true, her gaze filled with quiet resentment.
It was over. Everything was over. Things never would have gone like this in his previous life. What had gone wrong?
Family Head Yu Lu frowned slightly too. Logically, she should have been pleased that her older sister, younger sister, and sister-in-law were getting along so well with Yan Zhen. Instead, a lonely sense of exclusion crept over her, stirring an impulse to join in.
But she was the family head—and his mother-in-law. Even in jest, she couldn’t just serve her son-in-law like that.
Mother and daughter could only sit motionless, watching as Yan Zhen occasionally let out “ohs” and “ahs.” Clearly, the three women had him completely in their grasp!
Pure lemon envy.
The three women tending to him heard those sounds and felt their own impulses stir—they wanted to tease him more—but they held back, wary of giving themselves away.
Elder Yu Yan chuckled. “How’s that, Little Yan Zhen? Are we serving you well?”
Yan Zhen grinned like an idiot. “Blissful. Utterly blissful.”
Dean Yu Qing smirked with pride. “If you dare say otherwise, I’ll pluck every hair off your legs.”
“…”
Shui Bailan shot her close friend an exasperated glance. “It’s a fine holiday—don’t scare him, Yu Qing.”
Yan Zhen pursed his lips. “I’m used to it. She’s Little Aunt, after all.”
Dean Yu Qing placed her hand on his calf, her tone menacing. “Say that again?”
Playing for real? Yan Zhen immediately backed down. “I said Little Aunt is wonderful.”
“That’s more like it. Want me to massage your legs too?”
“No need, really.”
“Hmph, you’ll take it whether you want to or not!”
“…”
Shui Bailan noticed that Sister Yu Yan and Yu Qing were massaging higher and higher. Emboldened, she released his shoulders and slid her small hands to his back, caressing it tenderly.
The broad, solid expanse gave a faint sense of security. As she stroked and rubbed, she suddenly leaned down and planted a quick kiss on it.
Smack~
It was over in an instant, like a thief acting on impulse.
Yan Zhen didn’t notice a thing, still lost in enjoyment. The thrill of stolen pleasure sent a spark through Shui Bailan.
But a glance at her sister-in-law and niece nearby brought her back to earth in a hurry.
Getting caught would mean instant social death.
Some time later, Family Head Yu Lu cleared her throat twice. “That’s about enough. Time for the other side.”
She and her daughter rose first.
The three beautiful elders around Yan Zhen finally came to their senses, releasing him one by one before standing slowly themselves.
The thick white spring water trickled down their soaked water cicada garments, merging back into the pool.
Yan Zhen pulled himself from his immersive bliss back to reality and followed Mentor Wife along with the four beautiful elders to the other side.
The thick, milky Turbid Spring was hot like a spa, while the crystal-clear Clear Waterfall was cool.
The five women settled once more with Family Head Yu Lu at the center, leaning against the pool wall. Yan Zhen stopped politely in front of them, keeping a respectful distance.
Elder Yu Yan narrowed her beautiful eyes. “Little Yan Zhen, shall we continue?”
Yan Zhen waved it off. “That’s enough, thanks to Great-Aunt, Little Aunt, and Aunt. I feel completely relaxed, body and soul.”
As he spoke, Yan Zhen noticed something incredible. The water cicada garments on the five women had changed.
In the crystal-clear water, the plain white garments seemed to lose their color, turning semitransparent and forfeiting their modest coverage. They revealed the scenery beneath, looking almost as if the women wore nothing at all!
What was going on? Did the water cicada garments turn transparent when wet? But they had seemed fine when they stood earlier.
“What’s wrong, Little Yan Zhen?” Elder Yu Yan tilted her head. Before he could answer, she realized it herself and looked down. Sure enough. “Oh dear, I nearly forgot—the water cicada garments change color with the water. They turn transparent over here at Clear Waterfall.”
She casually clamped her legs together and covered her chest with one arm.
The other women caught on too, their pretty faces flushing as they hurriedly made gestures—even Mentor Yu Xuan.
Yan Zhen whipped around at once.
—And here I’d thought nothing would happen. So the trap was here!
