Chapter 78: Private Hot Spring

The hot spring hotel for tonight was booked by Shi Ying, so the room type was a luxurious tatami-style suite that prioritized experience over market price. In addition to the 72 square meters of living space, there was also a private outdoor hot spring on the balcony, surrounded by golden bamboo and bonsai pines.

Cheng Simin had been to hot springs before, but only through group-buying deals—99 yuan tickets for weekday evenings. To get her money’s worth, she’d usually change into a sauna suit, head straight to the buffet, and stuff herself until she couldn’t eat anymore. Then, she’d visit the steam rooms, movie lounges, and board game rooms one by one. Finally, just before leaving, to add some semblance of ritual, she’d put on her swimsuit, wrap herself in a towel, find a less crowded pool, and slowly step down the stairs into the water. Within five minutes, if anyone started scrubbing themselves nearby, she’d immediately leave in disgust, rushing back to the shower.

She assumed today’s date would follow a similar pattern.

So when she followed Shi Ying into the room and saw the steaming private hot spring on the balcony, her jaw dropped involuntarily.

Shi Ying wasn’t as surprised. He bent down, unpacked a pair of disposable slippers, handed them to her, and then walked to the bedside to browse the room service menu.

“Any preferences for food?”

He quickly scanned the menu and turned to ask Cheng Simin, “They can bring up teppanyaki here. If you don’t like that, there’s a snack street nearby with noodle shops and stir-fry places.”

“I’m fine with whatever you choose.”

“Alright, I’ll decide then. Want some alcohol?”

“No, I want to edit videos early tomorrow morning.”

“Okay, then how about a pot of fresh-squeezed juice?”

“That works.”

Shi Ying called the front desk to place their order while Cheng Simin changed into the slippers and wandered around. She wasn’t particularly interested in the foie gras tapas or sea urchin rice he mentioned earlier. First, she circled the private hot spring on the balcony, pinching the leaves of the plants to check if they were real. Then she stood on tiptoe near the glass railing, peering down at the public hot spring pools below.

They were staying on the top floor, far from the ground level, so the people below looked like tiny ants.

When Shi Ying stepped out, Cheng Simin was lost in thought on the balcony. The wind rustled her skirt, making soft whispers as she stood alone in the night, arms wrapped around herself, seemingly cold. Shi Ying opened his jacket and enveloped her, trying to transfer his warmth. Tilting his head, he gazed into her eyes.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing.”

She felt a bit foolish, assuming they were going to a public pool. She had packed such a heavy bag, filled with swimwear, slippers, towels, and an entire basket of toiletries. But everything they needed was already provided in the room. She didn’t even have to leave—the design of the balcony ensured privacy. Each private hot spring was staggered, so no one could see them. They could strip and enter directly.

“The room is just too nice—it startled me.”

“Well, it’s been a while since we last met. The conditions in the desert were terrible last time, so I wanted to make sure this time, if we’re relaxing in a hot spring, you’d be as comfortable as possible.”

Moreover, today was an important day. Shi Ying wanted to lift Cheng Simin’s spirits before delivering the news that might unsettle her.

About selling his shares in Chixia Winery—he’d been pondering how to tell Cheng Simin. But now, there was no better timing. By tomorrow at the latest, he’d sign the equity transfer contract. Soon after, Zhao Fugui would discover that all his debts had been transferred to Qian’s hands.

If Qian exercised his security interest, Zhao, who lacked immediate repayment ability, would be forced out.

From what Shi Ying knew of Zhao, kicking him out of the winery he founded wouldn’t be easy. Furthermore, Zhao had a close relationship with Zhou Yan, and Cheng Simin and Zhou Yan had neighborly ties. Besides the legal battles, interpersonal conflicts were bound to get messy.

He didn’t care much about cutting social ties, but Cheng Simin would suffer greatly. He needed to convince her to move out of the rental apartment soon. Either way, he planned to move out himself.

Four million wasn’t a small sum—it was enough to start over anywhere. Neighbors versus himself, rental apartments versus mansions—he was confident Cheng Simin would choose him.

Little did Cheng Simin know he was crafting a meticulously designed sugar-coated bombshell. Feeling cared for by her boyfriend, she naturally reciprocated with overflowing affection. And the best medium for expressing emotions between lovers? Physical touch.

When the hotel staff knocked on the door with the meal cart, Shi Ying was lying on the bed, his jacket discarded on the floor. Cheng Simin straddled his thighs, her head buried under his sweater, kneading and exploring his chest muscles and abs. Her movements created a round, trembling shape beneath his knit shirt, reminiscent of a rabbit’s butt.

The knocking continued. Shi Ying raised his eyelids, propped himself up with one arm, his cheeks flushed, and gently tapped her shoulder. “Stop licking—I’ll open the door first.”

Cheng Simin reluctantly withdrew her tongue, giving one last suck before pulling away. She wiped her lips and chin with her fingers and nodded. “Hurry up—I’m hungry.”

After the meal cart was wheeled in and Shi Ying closed the door, Cheng Simin leaped onto his back like a playful puppy. Her hands roamed mischievously under his collar, kneading his skin. He grabbed her and hoisted her onto his shoulders like Zhu Bajie carrying his wife, teasing, “Aren’t you hungry? Get down and eat first.”

Cheng Simin giggled, whispering mischievously in his ear that she wasn’t hungry for food. With that, she pushed him back onto the mattress.

A torrent of kisses rained down. Her skirt was pushed up to her waist, her abdomen exposed, as waves of pleasure surged through her. Soon, they were drenched in a warm rain of passion.

________________________________________

Afterward, still damp with sweat on their foreheads and necks, Cheng Simin straddled Shi Ying, pressing her hands against his chest. Like a nimble spirit, she moved rhythmically, her body rising and falling in sync with the water’s embrace. In the hazy mist, she leaned down to kiss his eyelashes.

For Cheng Simin, twice was her limit. Stepping out of the bed, they moved to the private hot spring for intimate embraces.

Beneath her shoulders, her body simmered in the warm water, while her neck and face cooled in the evening breeze. Wrapped in Shi Ying’s arms, she occasionally scooped up handfuls of hot water to pour over her shoulders. After a lingering kiss, Cheng Simin, brimming with excitement, prepared to demonstrate a new skill she’d learned on P Station. But then her phone, resting by the pool, rang.

She picked it up—it was Chen Xiaofen. Cheng Simin set it back down, but within seconds, Zhou Yan sent several messages. Reluctantly, she loosened her grip on Shi Ying’s sensitive parts and opened the WeChat chat.

It was more of the same from earlier in the day. Zhou Yan was apparently helping Chen Xiaofen at her stall. Back and forth, they exchanged messages, eventually creating a group chat and flooding it with evidence. They claimed Shi Ying had cheated, citing how tonight the winery staff were celebrating their awards, yet Shi Ying had skipped it, claiming he had a date.

“Minmin! Call him!”

“No, video call him!”

“Make him record a 360-degree spin—see where he is right now!”

“Is he refusing your calls?”

“He’s definitely with someone else!”

In the group chat, the two mothers bombarded Cheng Simin with overlapping messages. Overwhelmed, Cheng Simin hastily typed:

“For heaven’s sake, STOP! It’s ME on a date with Shi Ying! He’s RIGHT NEXT TO ME!!!”

Her exclamation-mark-laden text silenced the group instantly. Zhou Yan fell silent, and Chen Xiaofen quieted down. Still, moments later, they added a few more messages: “Oh, Minmin, don’t forget to ask him where he’s been these past few days!”

“I still feel something’s off…”

Cheng Simin muted her phone just as another call came in for Shi Ying. It was Zhao Fugui, likely drunk at the winery, calling without hesitation.

As soon as Shi Ying answered, Zhao asked where he was.

Shi Ying replied that he was at a hot spring hotel at the foot of the mountain. Zhao pressed further, asking who he was with.

Unlike Cheng Simin, whose reactions were elastic, Shi Ying frowned, irritation clear in his tone.

“Director Zhao, what I do during my personal time and who I’m with has nothing to do with you. If it’s business, speak; otherwise, I’ll hang up.”

“How dare you talk to me like that!” Zhao, fueled by alcohol, exploded. “How is it none of my business? If you’re immoral, fooling around, I won’t tolerate it! We’re practically family! By relation, I’m half your father!”

Shi Ying’s expression turned icy. Who the hell does this guy think he is, acting like my dad? Irritated, he retorted, “Director Zhao, watch your words. My father’s in prison, not dead. You’re not stepping into that role anytime soon.”

Cheng Simin listened, shocked by their exchange. She hadn’t yet mustered the courage to tell Shi Ying about Zhou Yan’s connection to her, and now Zhao had beaten her to it.

Anxious, she shouted into Shi Ying’s phone, “Stop arguing, Director Zhao! It’s me, Xiao Cheng—I’m here with Shi Ying.”

“Oh…” Zhao fell silent on the other end.

Knowing Zhao would soon become an enemy, Shi Ying had no patience to waste. Just as he was about to hang up, Zhao asked, “Xiao Shi, were you with Xiao Cheng during your leave these past few days? I… I’ve heard rumors lately. Everything’s okay, right? Winning the award is good news, isn’t it?”

His voice grew increasingly submissive, betraying his growing dependence on Shi Ying’s decisions regarding the winery over the past few months.

“Thanks to you, our wine sales have been great. Starting this month, I’ll pay you a salary. What do you think is fair annually? Thirty thousand, fifty thousand? I’ve never hired a high-achiever like you—you name the figure. Is that okay? Your year-end bonus won’t be short either.”

Shi Ying stared blankly at his reflection on the water’s surface and gave a noncommittal “Mm.” He told Zhao they’d discuss salary matters next week.

Reassured, Zhao ended the call cheerfully. Cheng Simin, confused by Shi Ying’s lie, hadn’t yet asked about his whereabouts during his leave when his phone rang again. Without hesitation, Shi Ying stood up from the hot spring, walked to the edge, slipped on his slippers, and tried to maintain a calm demeanor. Smiling faintly at Cheng Simin, he said, “You stay and soak. I’ll go buy some water.”

“But there are two bottles of mineral water in the room.”

Within a second, Shi Ying switched to a better excuse. “I suddenly feel nauseous—maybe the food was too greasy. I’m not feeling well. I’ll go buy some medicine.”

“Are you in pain? Rest in the room—I’ll go buy it for you!”

Cheng Simin tried to get out of the water, but Shi Ying stopped her. Still smiling tenderly, though his face looked pale, like a porcelain mask on a mannequin, he assured her, “No need. I’ll go. It’s too cold outside for you. Stay in the water—I’ll be back soon. Do you want anything? Maybe a hot bubble tea?”

“Oh… alright. I don’t really want anything. Just hurry back after buying the medicine!”

“Okay.”

Shi Ying quickly grabbed his phone from the poolside and entered the room. With no room for negotiation, Cheng Simin slowly sank back into the warm water.

Shi Ying moved swiftly, dressing and leaving the room within two minutes.

Cheng Simin’s mind raced, her intuition telling her he was hiding something. But she didn’t know what. Could it be true, as Chen Xiaofen and Zhou Yan suggested, that Shi Ying had cheated on her?

Impossible…

Though this was her first relationship, every action Shi Ying took toward her was textbook-perfect, impeccable. She had no reason to doubt him.

Cheng Simin absentmindedly rubbed her stiff face. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something—Shi Ying, in his haste, had grabbed the wrong phone. His phone was flashing with incoming WeChat messages.