Chu Xia’s face turned bright red, and she quickly urged Cen Zhenian to leave the room, telling him to stop teasing her!

When Chu Xia finished dressing and came out, she saw Cen Zhenian sitting on the sofa, casually flipping through a magazine.

Hearing her footsteps, he set the magazine aside, stood up, and walked over to her. “Are you hungry?”

He reached out and gently touched Chu Xia’s stomach. Chu Xia rolled her eyes at him and said, “Of course I’m hungry! I want to eat hot pot.”

“Alright, I’ll have it sent up,” Cen Zhenian replied.

Just as he was about to call the front desk, Chu Xia grabbed his arm. “Is it just the two of us? Let’s invite An An too, and ask if anyone else wants to join.”

Hot pot was best enjoyed with a group of people.

Although it would be cozy with just the two of them, Chu Xia didn’t want to be alone with Cen Zhenian any longer, fearing that things might escalate between them again.

In truth, neither of them had much self-control around each other. Cen Zhenian’s good looks and great physique were irresistible to Chu Xia.

She often found herself reaching out to touch his face or abs.

Cen Zhenian knew full well the effect his looks had on Chu Xia and would frequently tease her on purpose, leading to playful moments.

Chu Xia would always regret falling for it but would end up giving in the next time, too.

While waiting in the room, it wasn’t long before Cen Zhenian came back.

He had contacted Jiang Zhida and a few others via his pager and called them one by one to ask if they wanted to join for hot pot.

Since none of them had eaten yet, and they were all wondering what to have for dinner, they quickly agreed.

With so many people, they ended up needing two pots and booked a private room to dine together.

As the soup base was brought to the table, Tao Tao asked Chu Xia, “Sister-in-law, did you go to the hot springs?”

Chu Xia instantly remembered the playful chaos of that morning, and her face flushed a little as she nodded. “Yes, I did. We soaked in the rose pool.”

Tao Tao’s eyes lit up, and she eagerly asked how it felt to soak in the hot spring.

Chu Xia: She couldn’t really recall any particular sensation, only the feeling of her body floating and swaying in the warm water.

Her face grew even redder, and she fanned her cheeks with her hand. “Um… The temperature was a bit warm, but afterward, my body felt very relaxed and comfortable.”

She described the sensation from a past experience, as she couldn’t quite remember how it felt this morning.

Tao Tao’s face showed a hint of envy. “That sounds wonderful. I wish I could soak in the hot springs too, but the staff advised against it.”

Since she was less than three months pregnant, it wasn’t recommended for her to soak in a hot spring during the first or last three months of pregnancy.

Chu Xia understood the reason and patted Tao Tao’s hand to comfort her. “Well, now that you know about this place, you can come back with Da Zi later.”

After all, soaking in a hot spring wasn’t an impossible wish, like traveling to the sun.

It was easy to fulfill.

Tao Tao nodded, and Jiang Zhida had already told her the same thing.

But coming to a hot spring resort and not being able to soak still felt like a missed opportunity.

That day, both Cen Huai’an and Zhang Lu had also soaked in the hot springs.

The resort offered plenty of other activities, and they had already enjoyed quite a few of them.

Zhang Lu was excitedly sharing her day’s adventures with Jiang Zhiguan and Zhang Wei.

Chu Xia listened for a while and then turned to ask Cen Huai’an, “Did you have a good time today?”

Cen Huai’an nodded, “Yes, Mom. I really like this resort.”

It wasn’t just the fun facilities and beautiful environment; Cen Huai’an found that being here gave him a sense of peace.

Some issues he had been unable to think through before now became clear in this tranquil setting.

Unfortunately, they were only staying for three days, and soon after leaving the resort, Cen Huai’an would have to start school.

“Good, then make sure to enjoy yourself here. Don’t think about anything else, and don’t worry about studying.”

Cen Huai’an nodded again with a simple “Mm.”

As the broth began to boil, the waiter served all the dishes.

Starving, Chu Xia immediately picked up her chopsticks and urged everyone to dig in.

The hot pot at the resort resembled the old-fashioned hot pots from the past, quite different from the ones of later generations.

The pot was divided into two halves in the shape of a Taiji symbol, with two types of broth—one white and mild, the other red and spicy.

Those who could handle spicy food enjoyed the red, hot, and invigorating broth, while those who preferred milder flavors opted for the bone broth, which was equally delicious.

Chu Xia cooked a slice of meat for herself, and just as she finished it and was about to grab more, Cen Zhenian placed more meat and vegetables into her bowl.

“Here, you eat. Let me know what you want, and I’ll cook it for you.”

Chu Xia shook her head. “You eat for yourself. Hot pot is most enjoyable when you cook your own food!”

At her words, Cen Zhenian stopped filling her bowl constantly, though from time to time, he still placed her favorite foods in her small dish.

Everyone ate with great enthusiasm, chatting and laughing.

The entire room was filled with joy, and everyone felt completely relaxed and happy.

After two hours of eating, everyone’s bellies were round and full.

Jiang Zhida leaned back in his chair and said, “I’m seriously stuffed this time.”

Tao Tao, clutching her own belly, nodded in agreement. “Me too.”

“Come on, let’s go for a walk to digest the food,” Jiang Zhida said, pulling Tao Tao to her feet. He waved at the others in the room. “We’re heading out first!”

Everyone waved back. “Go ahead!”

Under the table, Chu Xia grabbed Cen Zhenian’s hand, asking him to gently rub her belly.

She wasn’t stuffed, but in the warm, lively atmosphere, she had unconsciously eaten a lot more than usual.

It was different from her normal eating habits, so she now felt a bit bloated.

“Shall we go for a walk too?” Chu Xia suggested. Now that the lively dinner had ended, sitting here any longer didn’t seem as enjoyable.

“Sure,” Cen Zhenian replied, standing up. Their hands, still clasped, didn’t go unnoticed by the others.

Chu Xia asked Cen Huai’an if he wanted to join them for a walk, but he shook his head vigorously. “No, Mom.”

He had no desire to interrupt his parents’ private time and just wanted to enjoy himself.

The night view at the resort was also stunning.

Though the trees around them were hard to make out in the dark, the lights placed beneath them, along with those along the path, illuminated the garden, giving it a soft, glowing beauty.

Chu Xia and Cen Zhenian strolled hand-in-hand through the plum blossom grove, the faint fragrance of the flowers filling the air.

She was completely captivated by the ambiance.

“If only our home could be like this. Then we could enjoy the scenery every day.”

Cen Zhenian responded, “We can build something like this ourselves. But such an environment requires special care to maintain, or it won’t stay beautiful for long.”

Chu Xia turned to him, “Do you really want to build one?”

Cen Zhengnian replied, “If you want it, I’ll build it.”

Chu Xia shook her head, “I don’t want to build it myself. If someone else builds a classical garden-style villa, I’d rather just buy one to live in.”

Building such a house herself wasn’t out of her financial reach, but she didn’t want to expend the time and energy required.

To her, a house like that was meant for rest, and if she couldn’t even secure her downtime, there was no point in having it.

“Of course,” Cen Zhengnian agreed, entirely supportive of her preference. “You can use my money as you please. Whatever you want to buy, just buy it.”

Cen Zhengnian’s funds were already in Chu Xia’s care, and he was simply expressing his support for her decisions.

After a few leisurely laps around the resort, Chu Xia, no longer feeling overly full, found a spot to sit with Cen Zhengnian, leaning on his shoulder as they chatted.

“I always imagine us living like this when we’re older—taking walks, enjoying food and drink together. Every evening, we could go for a run, enjoy the view, and share all sorts of interesting activities.”

Cen Zhengnian seemed to picture it as well, a gentle smile crossing his face. “We don’t have to wait until we’re old; we can start now.”

Chu Xia nodded and fell silent, the two of them sitting together, gazing at the night view of the resort. They stayed like that until she began to feel chilly, and they returned to their room.

---

Qian Ran and Jiang Zhiyi didn’t share a room, though their rooms were right next to each other.

They hadn’t married yet, and even though the wedding day was approaching, Qian Ran wouldn’t cross any lines before then.

Society’s conservatism meant that, while premarital relationships weren’t a huge issue, it was often the women who bore the brunt of any potential judgment.

Since the wedding was not far off, and he had waited this long, Qian Ran was willing to wait a little longer, wanting their wedding to be perfect and free of rumors that might harm Jiang Zhiyi.

After their walk, Qian Ran escorted her to her door, waiting for her to go inside before he left.

Just as she reached the door and opened it, Jiang Zhiyi suddenly turned, hugged him, and kissed him on the lips, smiling up at him, “Goodnight kiss.”

His throat tightened, and he pulled her into a deep, fervent kiss, far removed from his normally gentle demeanor.

Jiang Zhiyi, more familiar with the idea than with the reality, found herself lost in the intensity, clinging to him as he kissed her.

When he finally let go, he ran his fingers through her hair, once again wishing their wedding day would arrive sooner.

She sensed his desire, and although her face turned bright red, she whispered, “You don’t have to hold back, you know…”

Qian Ran’s resolve nearly faltered, but he managed to restrain himself, patting her on the head as he urged her to go inside. “Not now.”

Closing the door behind her, he headed back to his room, where a cold shower awaited him.

---

The next day, the resort offered activities like shooting and horseback riding, which Chu Xia tried her hand at.

She was particularly interested in shooting, though it didn’t seem to return the sentiment.

Both Cen Zhengnian and Cen Huai’an were excellent shots, having learned during military training.

While Chu Xia enthusiastically cheered them on with shouts of “Great shot!” and “Amazing!” their enthusiasm only grew.

Eventually, she wanted to give it a try herself.

She quickly picked up the shooting stance and remembered the movements, but she soon discovered that remembering them wasn’t enough.

Her aim was erratic, and the recoil left her shoulder sore after just a few shots.

Cen Zhengnian took the gun from her, “Let’s call it a day.”

Realizing he was right, Chu Xia still sighed, “I thought I’d be a sharpshooter by the end of today.”

He gently patted her head, “You’re off to a good start. You just need more practice.”

With renewed determination, Chu Xia replied, “I’ll keep practicing until I’m as good as you and Huai’an!”

---

Tao Tao, due to her pregnancy, couldn’t participate in more strenuous or potentially risky activities like shooting or horseback riding.

Watching from the sidelines, she felt a twinge of disappointment.

The past few days had been wonderful, filled with beautiful sights and delicious food.

Jiang Zhida had been attentive, ensuring she had things to do that suited her condition.

She reminded herself to be content and not dwell on the activities she couldn’t partake in, thinking that after the baby was born, she could enjoy them freely.

Noticing Tao Tao tapping her face, Jiang Zhida took her hand, “What’s on your mind?”

Tao Tao, not wanting to burden him with her thoughts, tried to brush it off, but he could read her too well. “Do you want to join them?”

She shook her head, “No, I’m fine. It looks intense; I’m not interested.”

Jiang Zhida leaned back, smirking, and brushed a thumb over her knuckles, “Nice try. I know you too well.”

Realizing she couldn’t hide it, she sighed. Stroking her belly, she replied, “With the baby, it’s not a big deal. I’ve had a great time so far, and I’ve done almost everything I wanted. You should go play, though—I’ve never seen you shoot.”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, “I’ve done plenty of shooting in my time. Without you, it’s no fun.”

Tao Tao’s heart warmed, and she rested her head on his chest, unable to hide her happiness. “You’re the best.”

With a chuckle, he held her close, “That’s all it takes? Don’t worry—there’s plenty more in store. Marry me, and you’ll be smiling for life.”

Tao Tao’s eyes sparkled, “How did you know I’m already smiling?”

Jiang Zhida laughed, a deep, hearty laugh that made his chest rumble.

Her joy was infectious, and they both ended up smiling. “Tao Tao, you’re truly a treasure.”

With a lighthearted laugh, he got to his feet, “Come on, let’s go find something else to do. Watching them shoot is boring.”

Curious, she asked, “What are we going to do?”

He gave her a mysterious grin, “You’ll see.”

He led her away from the shooting range.

---

The three days at the resort passed happily for everyone, and on the way back, Chu Xia was still brimming with excitement, chatting to Cen Zhengnian in the car. “Let’s come back here next time we have a break. I’ve only just started to bond with Jujube.”

Jujube, a chestnut-colored horse at the riding center, had won her heart.

She’d given it extra treats as they left, already looking forward to their next visit.