Chapter 38: Hot Spring Trip

The sound wave was almost about to break through the door.

Jian Mingzhou, with his ears covered, felt like a quiet island suddenly hit by a huge wave.

He stared blankly. Is it still time to cover Xie Jing’s ears now?

…No, it would be even weirder to cover each other’s ears!

He held on to his breath for a moment.

Light filtered in from behind, casting into their corner. After a few seconds, he lifted his eyes and saw Xie Jing’s face illuminated by the light, with his gaze fixed on him without blinking.

Separated by a door, the lighting was dim and ambiguous.

His eyelashes trembled, and the sound of his heartbeat suddenly echoed in his tightly covered ears.

This scene was simply like…

Their eyes met in a silent confrontation, and it seemed like Xie Jing’s Adam’s apple moved slightly.

The place behind the door suddenly quieted down.

Then, faintly, voices could be heard:

“Are Deputy Editor and the others still there?”

“They won’t elope overnight, right? Go check and call them back…”

Following that, footsteps approached the door.

Jian Mingzhou snapped back to reality; his heart skipped a beat! The next moment, the hand covering his ears was released. The surrounding sounds and air rushed in, giving him a sudden sense of returning to reality.

He regained his composure, looked up at Xie Jing, and said, “They…”

Xie Jing considerately said, “I know, professional habit…”

Jian Mingzhou suppressed the warmth and said, “Hmm.”

As soon as these two sentences were finished, the door behind them suddenly opened with a crash!

The light instantly brightened the two of them.

Jian Mingzhou turned his head and saw Qian Qian standing at the door, blushing, with a group of people peering behind her.

Qian Qian was surprised. “Oh…! Deputy Editor, you guys didn’t leave?”

Jian Mingzhou calmly said, “If we went far, we would still be called back. Closing the door was just to avoid making noise.”

He turned and said, “Let’s go in, Xiao Jing.”

Xie Jing just made a sound of agreement and followed naturally.

Qian Qian, holding the door, watched them pass by, her eyes wandering back and forth, and then quietly closed the door again.

Inside the room, everyone’s surface seemed to have returned to normal.

But they couldn’t help gossiping in secret.

Xiaolu subtly listened for information, “Cough, Deputy Editor. Pajamas… were they coordinated?”

Jian Mingzhou and Xie Jing sat down together, and he glanced at the dark-colored pajamas next to him, trying to use a casual tone to say, “It happened coincidentally.”

The moment these words fell, the gazes around me suddenly lit up!

Xiaolu restrained his gaze; Xiaofu turned her head, pretending to be busy; Qian Qian was still savoring it beside him; while Xie Jing, leaning on his arm, looked at him, seemingly lazily smiling.

Jian Mingzhou shifted his gaze away and suddenly realized that something was missing…

He turned his head and looked at Xia Ye, who had been silent since earlier.

Their eyes met, and Xia Ye raised the corners of his mouth.

Jian Mingzhou, savoring the triumphant look of Xia Ye, realized after two seconds and sneered while showing concern,

“Your throat must be sore from shouting so much.”

Xia Ye raised his hand and took a sip of tea, his voice hoarse. “…It’s okay.”

“…” He knew it.

—

After a while, Xie Jing returned, and everyone was present.

They gathered in a circle and started playing the scene improv game.

“Time, place, characters, and what they’re doing. Add embellishments as you like in the middle.” Xiaolu succinctly explained, then waved his hand dramatically, “Starting from our Chief Editor!”

Xia Ye smiled in a somewhat dog-like manner and said, “Jian Mingzhou.”

Jian Mingzhou turned his head and asked, “?” Is he up to something?

“…at the hot spring resort.” Qian Qian revealed a very understanding expression. Xiaolu and the others continued eagerly, “Wearing bathrobes, swaying figures, walking in the corridor.”

Xia Ling flirtatiously added, “I encountered a group of handsome guys.”

Duan Tingfang chimed in, “Suddenly tripped…”

After he finished, it was Editor Wei’s turn. Editor Wei politely hesitated, finding it hard to come up with something, and after a while, he managed to blurt out an onomatopoeic word, “Plop!”

Everyone, “…”

Xia Ye gave a dissatisfied look and then glanced at Xiaofu, who was next in line for the storytelling. Xiaofu, receiving the signal, smoothly elevated the topic, “In that moment, everyone—”

She finished just as it was Xie Jing’s turn.

Jian Mingzhou looked at him, his eyes implying: It’s up to you, Xiao Jing. Save the topic, quickly!

All eyes were focused on Xie Jing.

After a brief pause, Xie Jing raised his eyes and met Jian Mingzhou’s gaze. They stared at each other for two seconds, and he suddenly curved his lips, a slightly mischievous taste in his smile.

“…Especially Xie Jing, who was closest.”

Jian Mingzhou’s mind went “boom.”

…Xie Jing! He’s teasing him again!!

The whole room erupted. Qian Qian couldn’t help but exclaim, “Holy…!”

All eyes immediately fell on him. Jian Mingzhou, facing the scrutinizing gazes, suppressed the rising heat, held his breath for a moment, and calmly spoke:

“…Everyone heard a loud noise.”

“…?” Xie Jing.

“…” Everyone.

He used his own fall to give a perfect ending to the first round of storytelling.

After the first round, Jian Mingzhou started with “Xia Ye” and let others continue to torment the latter.

Taking advantage of the heated atmosphere, he glanced at Xie Jing.

Xie Jing’s gaze turned to him, and after two seconds of eye contact, he couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

He can still laugh… “On purpose?”

“Yeah,” Xie Jing admitted frankly. Then he leaned in a bit closer and whispered to him, as if coaxing, “Mainly out of curiosity, Uncle, what would you come up with…”

Jian Mingzhou thought to himself that what he came up with wasn’t important.

What mattered was that a group of cooks finally got to eat!

“You…” He was about to speak when Xia Ye suddenly appeared like a lurking spirit from behind. “What secret are you whispering about again? Kid, it’s your turn for the last sentence.”

Damn! Jian Mingzhou shivered all over as he was pressed against him.

Xie Jing raised his eyes to look, seemingly unconcerned about what was being said in front, “Exiled to Ninggu Tower.”

“…”

—

By 11 o’clock, the chaos finally ended.

After a day of work and the exhausting journey to Qingyan at night, everyone had returned to their rooms to sleep.

Jian Mingzhou had just laid down when his phone vibrated.

【Jing】: Good night [the big dog curled up in a ball]

…So cute. Unable to resist, he replied with a [patting the dog’s head] and closed his eyes.

…

The next day, sunlight illuminated the mountain resort.

Jian Mingzhou finished washing up and walked out, letting out a yawn.

Before he could close his mouth, he ran into Xie Jing. Xie Jing’s gaze fell on him, approaching and asking, “Didn’t you sleep well?” He paused for a moment. “Late-night chat; talked for a long time?”

“…” Jian Mingzhou closed his mouth.

No, there was no late-night chat last night.

But he didn’t know who suddenly snored in the middle of the night, directly pulling him out of his dream.

He hesitated for a moment, expressing it delicately: “…One-sided, intermittent, chatted for a while.”

Xie Jing, “?”

Just then, Qian Qian had already called for them.

Jian Mingzhou steered the conversation, calling for Xie Jing to join him, and the two walked through the corridor paved with flowing stone slabs.

Suddenly, a light voice came from the side, “I told you to come and sleep in my room.”

His heart skipped a beat, not confirming or denying, “Oh.”

Their daytime arrangement was straightforward.

As people from the publishing house know, the team-building was for relaxation, and incidentally, it was also for shooting materials.

Qingyan Mountain had a gentle terrain suitable for strolling on forest paths.

Jian Mingzhou followed the group slowly. While Xie Jing had good stamina, he also strolled leisurely beside him.

The bright sunlight penetrated through the gaps in the leaves, casting a mottled pattern on the pebble path beneath their feet. Strands of light poured down, vigorous and full of vitality.

He was looking up at it when Xie Jing took a photo from behind.

Jian Mingzhou turned his head and asked, “What are you taking pictures of?”

Xie Jing tapped his phone screen with his fingertip and said, “They’re sharing vacation pictures in the group.”

Jian Mingzhou took out his phone and saw a wave of messages in the 13-person group led by He Yi.

【He Yi】: Party! [Image]

【Jing】: Qingyan Hot Springs [Image]

【He Yi】:????

【nini】: Damn! So cool… Wait, is that the figure in the front, Brother Mingzhou?

Did you and Brother Mingzhou go on a trip!?

…

Below, a row of “Damn!” appeared, mixed with a sophisticated message from “Lusen”:

【Lusen】: Watching a documentary [Image]

Opening the image revealed it was a documentary called “Animal Kingdom.”

Jian Mingzhou and Xie Jing: …

After a few seconds of silence, he turned his head and saw a refined message among the vulgar “Damn!” messages:

【Lusen】: Viewing [Image]

Clicking on the image showed a documentary called “Animal Migration.”

Jian Mingzhou and Xie Jing: …

After a few seconds of silence, he turned and showed the enlarged picture to Xia Ye, who was sweating from the strenuous climb.

“Your nemesis.”

“What?” Xia Ye opened it, and his voice suddenly rose. “I’m climbing the mountain, and he’s watching the great animal migration!?”

Jian Mingzhou considerately enlarged the image, revealing a fatigued antelope. “Doesn’t it look like you?”

“Hehe.” Xia Ye swiped and found a pair of stacked antelopes. “Like this—”

During the conversation, Xie Jing happened to walk over from behind.

Jian Mingzhou instantly turned off the screen!

“Uncle, what are you talking about?”

“Nothing.” In the gaze of Xia Ye, who was about to smile, he called for Xie Jing to move a bit farther away. “Talking about your antelope and my antelope seems to be similar.”

“…” Xie Jing looked at him for two seconds and said softly, “You seem to have heatstroke. Do you need to take a break?”

Jian Mingzhou: .

—

They also planned to soak in the hot spring at night.

Their mountain climbing activities during the day ended early.

There were about thirty hot spring pools of various sizes in Qingyan, with twenty public baths. The rest were private reservations, and the editorial department had reserved a large one this time.

Before entering the pool, you had to shower.

Jian Mingzhou took a quick shower in the public bath, changed into swim trunks, and wrapped a towel around himself before heading to the hot spring.

Upon entering, he saw a large hot spring pool surrounded by cobblestones, with the lush leaves of the forest around and hot steam rising.

Xia Ye and the others had already arrived.

Qian Qian raised her eyes and exclaimed, “Oh wow,” following her professional habits, “Deputy Editor, your proportions are great~”

Jian Mingzhou strangely felt a sense of shame in this regard. Taking advantage of the steam, he slipped into the water. Seeing this, Xia Ye deliberately spoke in a warm tone.

“Qian Qian, stop talking. Mingzhou is very pure and easily embarrassed…”

…Xia Ye’s mouth!

Jian Mingzhou stared straight at him. “What about you? Do you want to flaunt yourself like a show-off?”

Xia Ye pointed at him and said, “Flaunting myself has someone else; it’s your beloved teacher, Xueling.”

“?” Jian Mingzhou turned his head.

He saw Xueling finding a large rock, lying on it comfortably, and enjoying the hot spring.

He, “…”

While he was looking at Xueling, Qian Qian suddenly gasped.

Then, a soft voice mixed with water vapor came from behind, “…What are you looking at, Uncle?”

Jian Mingzhou hesitated for a moment, then turned his head as if he had sensed something.

What he saw was a pair of tight and slender legs, and his heart skipped a beat! He quickly shifted his gaze upward. Soon, he met Xie Jing’s gaze.

Through the mist of the hot spring, thick and humid.

Jian Mingzhou’s breath became unstable for a moment. “…Oh, Xiaojing.”

Xie Jing’s gaze dropped, and his fingertips curled slightly. Soon, he turned his gaze away. With a splash, he submerged himself from the side. The ripples spread, leaving wet marks on his shoulders.

At such a close distance, the more direct body shape.

Jian Mingzhou instantly felt his whole body heating up.

Under the semi-transparent water ripples, the figure was faintly visible. He buried himself a bit more in the water. However, it seemed that Xie Jing had swept his eyes away and didn’t look back. He leaned against the edge of the pool and looked at Xueling.

“Are you looking at Teacher Xueling?”

“Yeah.” Jian Mingzhou looked over. “He turned over, like boiling in a bronze pot.”

Xie Jing, “…”

The people from the two editorial departments quickly gathered.

Jian Mingzhou was leaning against the edge of the pool, calming down, when he heard someone from the Early River Publishing House say,

“Next, let’s ask Editor Wei to say a few words.”

He looked up. Are they being so formal?

With sporadic applause accompanied by splashes of water, Editor Wei began, “First,”

Xueling interrupted, “I’m not called Wei; I’m—”

Duan Tingfang added, “I’m called Wei Er, Wei Er…”

With the siren of an ambulance, the place instantly burst into laughter.

Jian Mingzhou’s gaze focused: It turns out they are also from a mental hospital.

…

The meeting of the two mental hospitals in the hot spring pool was harmonious.

The PR department of Early River fully displayed their entertaining spirit, making Qian Qian and the others laugh. Duan Tingfang even squeezed his hands on the water’s surface and said, “Sending you a flower.”

Splash! Water splashed out, “Water flower~”

“…” Jian Mingzhou.

Whether it was because the scene in front of him was too absurd or because he had soaked in hot water for too long, he gradually felt drowsy as the noise and laughter continued.

He leaned against the poolside, his head nodding.

With a slight tilt, he splashed onto Xie Jing.

Skin touched under the water, and Jian Mingzhou suddenly woke up, turning his head to see Xie Jing looking down at him. “Tired?”

“A bit, I might also be dizzy.”

“Do you want to go back and rest?”

“No, everyone is still chatting.” Jian Mingzhou propped up his eyelids and looked around. “Maybe I’ve been in the water for too long. I’ll sit up there and listen to them.”

Xie Jing seemed to be silent for a moment. “It’s cold up there. Uncle, put on your clothes before coming back.”

Jian Mingzhou nodded and greeted the others before splashing up from the water with a “splash.” Wrapped in frost-white with a hint of water, he passed by Xie Jing.

Xie Jing pursed his lips and turned his head away.

Summer Ye, who saw this, adjusted his foggy glasses.

The hot spring pool was not far from the room.

Jian Mingzhou went back, took a quick shower, dried himself off, changed into pajamas, and returned.

The hot spring pool was still lively.

He leaned on a lounge chair by the shore, feeling a comfortable breeze as the night wind blew. Seeing him come back, Xie Jing also got up from the pool, and with droplets of water on his long legs, he walked over.

“Why did you come up, Xiaojing?”

“Fear you’d be bored, so I’ll keep you company for a while.”

Xie Jing said as he sat down next to him.

Jian Mingzhou felt a warmth in his heart and gave a slight “Hmm,” looking into the pool. After a few seconds, he shared with someone, “Looking from here, I feel more like a head nurse.”

All around were patients with mental disorders.

“…” Xie Jing turned to him.

Jian Mingzhou gestured with satisfaction, “Here is our nurse station.”

A hand reached over and covered his eyelids.

Xie Jing’s voice came close to his ear. “Take a nap.”

Perhaps it was due to soaking for too long that Jian Mingzhou, with the warm hand covering his eyes and listening to the noisy background, actually fell asleep unconsciously.

…

When he opened his eyes again, it was already broad daylight.

Bright sunlight streamed in through the window lattice. He was lying in bed, and for a moment, he couldn’t figure out where he was.

Two seconds later, Jian Mingzhou sat up abruptly!

In a slightly smaller space with familiar furnishings. The sleepwear opposite him belonged to Xie Jing’s room.

“…” Why?

Why did he sleep here??? 

Next to him, the other bed was neatly made. Xie Jing wasn’t in the room, and he didn’t know where he had gone.

Jian Mingzhou gradually regained his senses and saw a note on the bedside table:

“Uncle, you were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t want to wake you up.

I’ve gone to the restaurant for breakfast. Message me when you wake up. If you don’t, I’ll finish eating and bring breakfast for you. ^^

Below is a drawing of a big, happy dog.

Jian Mingzhou, “……”

He took a deep breath, sent a message to Xie Jing, and then got up.

He was still wearing yesterday’s sleepwear.

Jian Mingzhou returned to the editorial department to freshen up and change his clothes. When he entered the room, no one from his department was there—only Early River’s people.

Seeing him, a group of people turned their attention.

Several gazes were meaningful, sparkling with mischief, and their mouths were subtly turned away.

Jian Mingzhou stopped in his tracks. “?”
 
“What’s wrong?” He directed his gaze towards Xueling, and Xueling looked at him deeply, touched his chin, and smiled.

“Well… nothing. Let’s go eat first.”

“???”

This is getting more bizarre! Jian Mingzhou temporarily suppressed his doubts, finished washing up, and then went straight to the restaurant.

Once he stepped out of the corridor, the sunlight outside was bright.

Just as he walked onto the corridor, he bumped into Qian Qian.

Seeing him, Qian Qian’s eyes suddenly lit up!

Jian Mingzhou felt a slight tension as she looked at him. In a hurry, he grabbed her.

“Wait, what happened last night?”

“What happened…!”

Qian Qian pressed her face, flushed with excitement and clenching her teeth. “…Last night, Deputy Editor, you fell asleep! Your sports student carried you back.”

“Princess carry!”