"Your dad is really taking his sweet time," Nian Suian couldn't help complaining to Gu Zhijing. She had already changed and come down a while ago, but there was still no sign of Gu Junxing.
"Well, he is getting older, please be understanding," Gu Zhijing replied. He was treating the hot spring pool like a swimming pool, cycling through various swimming strokes.
As he switched to backstroke, he saw... his father standing at the edge.
"Talking about me behind my back again?" Gu Junxing asked.
"Whistle~ Not bad, Mr. Gu," Nian Suian whistled as she saw Gu Junxing approach the pool's edge.
His exposed upper body had not an ounce of excess fat, with perfectly sculpted abs, pecs, and biceps.
Broad shoulders, narrow waist!
A prime specimen, appraisal complete.
"Ahem!" Seeing Nian Suian's gaze becoming increasingly bold and moving lower, Gu Junxing couldn't help but interrupt her. Any lower and things might get out of hand.
"Hey! Don't get in the water yet," Nian Suian called out as she saw Gu Junxing about to enter the pool.
Gu Junxing paused, confused.
"Bring me a drink, and the boneless chicken feet and braised meats from the fridge, thanks. There are disposable gloves on the table, bring the whole box," she requested.
How could one enjoy a hot spring without snacks?
Gu Junxing was silent for a moment before going to fetch the items. Meanwhile, Nian Suian continued admiring his perfect back muscles.
"Like what you see?" Little Gu Zhijing had somehow swum up beside her.
"It's nice," Nian Suian replied, then glanced at Gu Zhijing, patting his somewhat thin shoulders. "You can work out when you're older. You're still young, don't go crazy with exercise." For now, he was still just a little chick.
Gu Junxing opened the room's refrigerator and was stunned. The fridge was packed full of drinks, washed and cut fruits, small cakes, braised meats, and even two cups of takeaway bubble tea.
"When did you prepare all this?" Gu Junxing asked as he brought everything back, placing it on the small table beside the hot spring pool.
"This afternoon when you weren't home. What's the point of a hot spring trip without snacks?" Nian Suian replied.
"Why did you bring bubble tea?" Gu Junxing asked. Nian Suian had been saving that for tomorrow since they couldn't order delivery here.
"Let's drink this first, and have the other drinks tomorrow. Bubble tea isn't good if left overnight," Gu Junxing said, feeling like he had to think of everything now.
"You seem to know a lot," Nian Suian mumbled, then called out to Gu Zhijing, "Zhijing, come have some bubble tea."
She had only bought two cups, knowing without asking that Gu Junxing wouldn't drink any.
"It just came out of the fridge, let it sit at room temperature for a bit before drinking," Gu Junxing advised as he saw Nian Suian about to insert a straw.
"The room temperature is already low," she countered. Hot spring water plus cool bubble tea - a perfect combination.
Gu Zhijing didn't wait for his father's words and was already drinking.
"..."
These two were really hard to manage...
As Nian Suian was debating what to eat first, Gu Junxing had already entered the water.
Seeing this, Nian Suian took out a pair of gloves: "Want some? Nanny Zhang made these braised dishes. She says it's her secret recipe. If you don't eat, Zhijing will finish it all."
Gu Junxing glanced at his son and took the gloves. Gu Zhijing truly embodied the saying "a growing boy can eat you out of house and home." He had eaten so much at dinner, yet somehow still had such a good appetite.
"Wow... there are stars!" Nian Suian exclaimed, taking a sip of bubble tea, eating a slice of braised lotus root, and gazing at the stars.
"Here, the stars seem so much closer to me," Nian Suian said, reaching out her hand to grasp at the air, still wearing the disposable glove.
She laughed at her own action.
Gu Junxing sat diagonally behind Nian Suian. As she looked at the stars, he looked at her.
"Dad, you're in trouble," Gu Zhijing whispered in his father's ear, smelling of braised meats, "You've fallen in love."
Gu Junxing turned to look at him, frowning: "Are you in puppy love?"
"I'm not! How dare you turn this on me!" Gu Zhijing hurriedly defended himself.
Nian Suian heard and turned to ask, "What's going on?"
"I asked if he was in puppy love," Gu Junxing replied.
"I'm definitely not in puppy love, but someone here is having a late-life romance," young Gu retorted sarcastically.
"How long have you been in the spring? You shouldn't stay in for more than twenty minutes, and it's been over half an hour, hasn't it? You should get out," Gu Junxing advised.
Gu Zhijing had gotten in before them, so he must have been soaking for quite a while.
Obediently, Gu Zhijing stood up, indeed feeling a bit dizzy. He had intended to squat by the poolside, but it was too cold, so he had to wrap himself in a towel and head back to the room.
After Gu Zhijing left, Gu Junxing turned to Nian Suian: "You too, fifteen minutes is enough. If you want to soak more, go rest for a bit and come back later."
"I know, I know. I did my research before coming," Nian Suian replied.
She had set an alarm. When fifteen minutes were up, she stood, ready to clean up the snacks and trash they had brought out.
"Are you coming back out later?" Gu Junxing asked.
Nian Suian shook her head: "Not tonight. I'm going to take a shower and get to bed early."
"Alright, then hurry back. Don't catch a chill. I'll clean up here," he offered.
Hearing this, Nian Suian didn't stand on ceremony. "Okay, I'll head back first. Remember to watch the time yourself, don't pass out in here."
"I know."
After they both left, Gu Junxing sat alone in the pool, leaning against the edge, looking up at the sky.
Lost in thought for a while, he finally smiled at the night sky.
After returning to her room, Nian Suian went straight for a shower and then to bed.
As soon as her skin touched the bed, she let out a contented sigh. How luxurious, even the bedding was real silk.
She had always liked hotel beds, finding them particularly soft, with a feeling of sinking in. This bed was even better, and Nian Suian had a feeling she would sleep very well tonight.
Her prediction proved correct. She fell asleep soon after lying down and slept through until morning. Whether it was the effect of the hot spring or not, she felt especially refreshed and energetic when she woke up.
Nian Suian walked out of her room in high spirits, only to find Gu Junxing sleeping on the couch outside.
Gu Junxing hadn't really been asleep and woke up as soon as he heard Nian Suian come out.
"What happened to you?" Nian Suian asked, noticing the red veins in Gu Junxing's eyes. "Don't tell me you didn't sleep all night?"
"Pretty much," Gu Junxing replied, his voice husky from lack of rest.
"That little rascal nearly kicked me to death," Gu Junxing explained. It was his first time realizing how terrible Gu Zhijing's sleeping posture was - it was hard to tell if the boy was sleeping or staging a martial arts performance.
Moreover, Gu Junxing was a light sleeper, so he couldn't fall asleep at all. After tossing and turning until midnight, he finally couldn't take it anymore and came out to catch some sleep on the couch.
Nian Suian clicked her tongue, truly not expecting this turn of events. Seeing how pitiful Gu Junxing looked, she said to him, "Why don't you go sleep in my bed for a while? I'm already well-rested."