Chapter 24: A Sweet Journey to the Hot Springs

At that moment, Chief Yang's phone rang—it was Yang Dianfeng calling. He put the call on speaker.

“Brother, I don’t think those Koreans have really learned their lesson yet. Why don’t you come stay at my place when you get back? My home’s safe.” Yang Dianfeng suggested on the other end.

“Brother-in-law, don’t worry. If a dog won’t learn from a beating, sometimes you just have to put it down and serve it as stew.”

Gu Xiangnan laughed. “I want them to taste the true despair of being utterly crushed.”

The two younger men hurriedly described to Yang Dianfeng how Gu Xiangnan had just held back a car with one finger, and then lifted it up.

Yang Dianfeng and Chief Yang were stunned by the account.

“Brother Gu, are you really that incredible? What a shame I wasn’t there to see it for myself.” Chief Yang struggled to imagine what such a sight must have looked like.

Suddenly, Bai Huabing’s voice came from the phone. When she heard Gu Xiangnan had come to gather herbs for her, she insisted Yang Dianfeng bring her over as well.

As for clearing up the aftermath, that was left to Chief Yang and his men.

Gu Xiangnan and Su Hanyan got back in the car. Aside from their sweet trip together, tonight’s most important task was to obtain the fruit of the Celestial Spirit Plant.

So, despite the little episode earlier, their journey continued.

“Wow, the air is so fresh!” Su Hanyan stepped out of the car, squinting her eyes and taking a deep breath.

The hot spring resort was perched on the edge of a cliff, surrounded by clouds and mist, like a paradise on earth.

The two of them checked in at the front desk, booking two rooms—one for themselves, one for the two young men.

Their own room was set further inside, offering more privacy.

Inside, there was a large bed, a sofa, and a small open-air courtyard with a private hot spring pool.

Facing the soaring mountains, soaking in the hot spring with a loved one and sipping red wine—what more could one want from life?

They put their things away in the room. Since it was still early, Su Hanyan took Gu Xiangnan out for a stroll.

Outside the resort lay a vast field of medicinal herbs.

Standing on the hotel’s observation deck, Gu Xiangnan gazed out over the fields and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Senior Sister, this plantation is enormous. Everywhere you look, the hills are blanketed in medicinal plants.”

Su Hanyan smiled, pointing to several neighboring mountains. “See those hills over there, and there, and there? All of them are ours. This is the largest medicinal herb plantation nearby.”

“No wonder Sister Wu sent me to you when I was short on herbs. Looks like you have everything here!”

“Let’s stay humble—almost everything,” Su Hanyan replied with a confident smile. She led Gu Xiangnan toward the entrance of the plantation, explaining, “Our management is very strict. The key to the gate is kept by designated staff on duty. To ensure the quality of our herbs, we have a dedicated water storage and irrigation system, guaranteeing clean water supply.”

Gu Xiangnan followed her gaze and saw a huge water tank.

“Senior Sister, you’re amazing. This is beyond anything I imagined,” he praised sincerely.

Back at the hotel, Gu Xiangnan ordered room service.

A server arrived with a cart laden with steak, red wine, roses, and candles.

Everything was perfect.

He gallantly cut Su Hanyan’s steak and fed her, sweetening her heart with honeyed joy.

Gu Xiangnan poured her a glass of decanted wine. They clinked their glasses, the sound ringing clear.

After a few drinks, the wine began to take effect.

Suddenly, Su Hanyan stood up, walked over to Gu Xiangnan, and leaned down to whisper, “I’ll go change, and then... let’s soak together.”

Her voice tonight was especially soft and alluring, as if there were a little hook catching at Gu Xiangnan’s heart, making it itch.

Su Hanyan went into the bathroom, and Gu Xiangnan downed the rest of his wine in one gulp.

He undressed and slipped into the small hot spring in the courtyard.

Resting his arms on the edge, he found himself recalling scenes from romance films.

Lost in his thoughts, he looked up to see Su Hanyan approaching in a bathrobe.

Her face flushed, she slowly slipped off her robe.

A vast expanse of fair, enticing skin dazzled Gu Xiangnan’s eyes.

Her bikini, barely larger than a face mask, could not conceal her impressive curves.

Her stomach was flat and toned, her waist slender and graceful, not a trace of excess flesh.

Those long, shapely legs made Gu Xiangnan’s eyes go wide.

The black bikini was tied together with thin black straps. The stark contrast only made her skin look even more radiant.

Bikinis really do top every man’s list, Gu Xiangnan thought to himself.

A bit shy, Su Hanyan slid into the pool beside him.

The pool was small; with both of them inside, they had to sit close together.

Su Hanyan settled onto Gu Xiangnan’s lap, her upper body leaning slightly, arms naturally draped around his broad shoulders.

Their bodies pressed tightly together.

It was a secluded open-air courtyard, bathed in moonlight like a clear spring, draping the little space in a veil of dreamy romance.

Su Hanyan tilted her head back, gazing at the sparkling stars above.

There seemed to be starlight in her eyes as well.

Unable to hold back, she spoke softly, “Xiaonan, do you know? Today is the seventh of the seventh month by the lunar calendar—the Festival of Daughters. Legend says that on this special night, countless couples pray to the stars, hoping for a happy, blessed romance.”

Gu Xiangnan murmured to himself, “So white, so full.”

“What?” Su Hanyan turned to look at him.

“Oh, I was talking about the moon.”

Su Hanyan glanced up at the sky. “But the moon isn’t that big tonight.”

Gu Xiangnan wiped his face with a towel. “The moon is always full and bright—it’s just hidden behind those dark clouds, so you can’t see it.”

Su Hanyan glanced down at her own chest. “Were you looking at me?”

Gu Xiangnan raised an eyebrow, his eyes darkening, “I haven’t seen nearly enough.”

Su Hanyan hesitated for a few seconds, then guided his hand to the knot at the back of her bikini.

Gu Xiangnan’s slender fingers slid over her smooth, porcelain back, sending a shiver through her.

The twin ‘masks’ slipped away from her body, and Gu Xiangnan was instantly overwhelmed.

One arm pulled her close, the other caressed her chest as he leaned in to kiss her.

Perhaps the hot spring water was too warm; Su Hanyan’s pretty face was bright red, her crimson lips alternately pursed and parting to reveal a glimpse of fragrant tongue.

In her daze, her hand accidentally grasped a certain spot.

“Mmm,” Gu Xiangnan groaned.

“Senior Sister, don’t let go. That’s right, just like that.”

Su Hanyan obediently followed his instructions.

Gu Xiangnan’s eyes glowed red; he bit into her with fervor, his muscles taut with exertion, veins bulging beneath his skin.

“Help! Somebody help!”

A woman’s scream for help suddenly echoed from one of the rooms in the hot spring hotel.