Chapter 28: Hot Spring Trip (Part 1)

On a weekend morning at Beishi South Station, the crowds were like a school of sardines being stirred up.

The broadcast announcements poured down from overhead, and I couldn’t understand a single word; it just felt noisy.

Song Tao, holding the small flag of the Astronomy Club, was being shoved back and forth by the flow of people.

The Orange Slice Hairpin on her bun had tilted to one side.

She stood on her tiptoes, looking for the back of the line while shouting over her shoulder.

“Li Li! Keep up! Don’t get separated!”

Li Li carried a heavy backpack in her arms, her steps light.

She didn’t speak, but she hugged her backpack a little tighter.

I gripped my ticket, my palms feeling a bit sweaty.

The Little Rabbit Hair Tie was wrapped around my wrist, its fluffy ears rubbing against my skin and making it feel itchy.

“Nervous?”

Xiao Yan’s voice drifted over from beside me.

“No,” I said.

She glanced at my fingers clutching the ticket but didn’t call me out.

In the side pocket of my backpack was an Old Basketball Wristband, a relic from my time as a boy.

That time I was flipping through the Original Notebook with Xiao Yan, she had found it deep in the drawer.

She held it under the light for a long time before saying, “This wristband is really ugly.”

I had snatched it back and stuffed it into my bag.

She just laughed, and after she finished laughing, she said, “Keep it. It’s quite meaningful as a memento.”

That was the unspoken understanding between us.

A long line had formed at the security checkpoint.

Song Tao squeezed toward the front, standing on her tiptoes to look around.

Li Li followed behind, occasionally glancing back at me as if she were afraid I would get lost.

I placed my backpack on the conveyor belt and walked through the security gate, turning back to wait for my bag.

The conveyor belt turned with a clatter.

The zipper on my backpack wasn’t closed properly.

I had forgotten to zip it back up after taking out my ticket earlier.

With the side pocket facing down, the wristband fell onto the belt with a thud, rolled twice, and stopped at the security guard’s feet.

The guard bent over to pick it up, turned it over to check the engraving, then looked up at me and smiled.

“Little girl, this men’s style wristband is quite unique. Was it a gift from your boyfriend?”

My face instantly caught fire.

It wasn’t panic; it was the embarrassment of being teased.

This wristband was something from my time as a boy, and it was engraved with the name of my old school team.

Being asked to my face if it was a gift from a boyfriend felt like a strange switch had been flipped—it was both funny and humiliating.

I instinctively hid behind Xiao Yan, the tips of my ears hot enough to fry an egg.

She rushed over almost instantly.

She snatched the wristband, looked down at the engraving, rubbed it with her thumb, and then looked up at the security guard with eyes curved in a smile.

“I gave it to her. It’s a couple’s set. Is that a problem?”

Without waiting for the guard’s response, she gripped my wrist and led me away toward the gate.

As we passed Song Tao and Li Li, Song Tao happened to trip over a suitcase and started to fall forward.

Xiao Yan reached out and grabbed her arm, her tone calm.

“Hold onto your snacks, or we’ll have nothing to eat.”

Song Tao steadied herself and patted her chest with lingering fear.

“Thanks, Yan Yan!”

Li Li also whispered, “Thank you, President.”

Xiao Yan turned and nodded to them, her hand never letting go of mine.

After passing through the security gate and reaching a less crowded area, she finally stopped.

She reached out and pinched the tip of my burning ear, smirking.

“You blush just because someone asks a question.”

“It’s because you were talking nonsense…”

I muttered.

“What nonsense did I say?”

She slipped the wristband onto her own wrist and shook it at me.

“A couple’s set. Isn’t that nice?”

I stared at that old wristband on her wrist, and the corners of my mouth couldn’t help but turn up.

—

When the line started forming at the ticket gate, Xiao Yan stuffed both my ticket and ID card into my hand and turned her back to talk to Song Tao.

I looked down.

Two tickets.

The seat numbers were right next to each other.

The interior of the train car was stuffy, and the air blowing from the AC had a plastic scent.

Xiao Yan pressed me into a double seat by the window and sat on the outside.

She pulled a box of Strawberry Daifuku from her bag, opened the lid, and first handed two pieces across the aisle to Song Tao and Li Li.

“Thanks, Yan Yan!” Song Tao took it and immediately bit down, her cheeks bulging.

Li Li took hers with both hands and whispered, “Thank you, President.”

Xiao Yan waved them off and stuffed the remaining half of the box into my hands.

I was about to take it, but she simply pinched one piece and held it to my lips.

“Open up.”

“I can do it myself—”

“Open up.”

I opened my mouth and bit into it.

The sweetness of the strawberry dissolved on my tongue.

She took the opportunity to slip her fingertip into my mouth, leaving it there for a moment before withdrawing.

“Is it sweet?”

She asked, her eyes sparkling.

“…Sweet.”

I lowered my head, not daring to look at her.

I didn’t know if she was asking about the daifuku or her finger.

“I bought it specifically for you.”

Her voice was very soft, as if she were only saying it for me to hear.

As the train started moving, the scenery outside began to race backward.

The city skyline slowly transformed into fields, then mountains, then the flickering light and shadow of a tunnel.

I stared out the window, my eyelids getting heavier and heavier.

I had tossed and turned last night, unable to sleep.

My head was full of the weekend trip, and the memory of her blushing when she said, ‘I’ll wear it for you this weekend.’

My head started to drop, bit by bit.

Just as I was about to hit the window, a hand reached out and pressed my head against a soft spot.

Xiao Yan’s shoulder.

She draped her jacket over me, and it carried the scent of her Orange Candy.

“Sleep.”

Her voice drifted down from above.

I gave a muddled “Mm,” and my nose brushed against the crook of her neck.

From across the aisle came Song Tao’s lowered voice.

“Senior Xiao Yan, let me take a picture.”

“Make sure it looks good,” Xiao Yan whispered back.

“Send it to me.”

“You got it!”

Song Tao said excitedly.

My eyes were closed, but the corners of my mouth twitched upward.

—

When I woke up, the train car was quiet, save for the clack-clack of the tracks.

My face was pressed against her shoulder, and my mouth was slightly open.

Drool.

I jolted upright, so panicked I almost hit the window.

There was a small wet patch on Xiao Yan’s jacket, which stood out clearly on the dark blue fabric.

“I-I’m sorry!”

My face burned.

I reached out to wipe it, but then realized that might be even more awkward.

Xiao Yan looked down at the wet spot, then looked up at me.

She reached out and pinched my cheek, her thumb pressing against my jaw, her voice laced with amusement.

“What’s the rush?”

“Your clothes!”

“If they’re dirty, I’ll just wash them. Besides, a little rabbit’s drool isn’t dirty.”

She let go and leaned back against the seat, tilting her head to look at me.

“Or — “

She dragged out the word.

“Maybe I’ll think of another way for Han Han to pay off her debt later — “

A pfft of laughter came from Song Tao across the aisle.

I turned to look.

She was covering her mouth, her eyes crinkled into crescents.

Li Li had her head down, her ears red, though her lips were also curled upward.

My face felt hot enough to spontaneously combust.

I stared at Xiao Yan, speechless.

She was still smiling, looking particularly mischievous.

When did she become so bad!

—

The hot spring homestay on the outskirts of Liaohe City was quieter than I had imagined.

The wooden building was tucked away at the foot of a mountain.

The courtyard was paved with stone slabs, with moss growing in the cracks.

A wooden sign hung by the entrance with the words “Little Cabin Homestay” written on it, the characters slightly blurred by wind and rain.

There were no flowers or grass, just a clean, minimalist look.

Song Tao charged ahead with her suitcase while Li Li followed, turning back every now and then to wait for me.

The owner was a round-faced man standing behind the counter. He smiled when he saw us.

“The students from the Astronomy Club? Your rooms are ready.”

He looked down at his ledger, and his smile froze.

“Uhm… there’s been a bit of a problem.”

He rubbed his hands together.

“Of the two double rooms you booked, one has a burst pipe. We haven’t had time to fix it yet. Right now, all we have left is a communal bunk room.”

Song Tao’s suitcase fell over with a clank.

“Four people in one room?”

Her voice rose.

“That’s going to be so inconvenient for changing clothes!”

Li Li frowned and glanced at me.

She knew how thin-skinned I was.

I gripped the hem of my shirt and peeked at Xiao Yan.

It wasn’t that I was afraid of my secret being exposed; my mind was full of the realization that my exclusive “Xiao Yan in a Black Swimsuit” moment might be gone.

Xiao Yan patted Song Tao’s shoulder first, her tone gentle.

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

She then smiled at Li Li.

“Rest assured, I won’t let you guys be inconvenienced.”

When she turned to look at the owner, her smile vanished.

“The communal room isn’t an option. Find us two rooms. We can pay extra, but solve this now.”

The owner looked panicked under her gaze.

He flipped through the ledger for a long time, wiping his sweat.

“There is one more… a double room, but it only has one bed. It’s a couple’s suite.”

Song Tao’s eyes lit up, and she raised her hand.

“Li Li and I will take the other room with two beds!”

Li Li nodded quickly.

The two shared a glance.

Song Tao winked, and Li Li’s ears turned red.

Xiao Yan made the final decision immediately.

“Han Han and I will take the room with the large bed.”

She turned to Song Tao and Li Li, her tone serious.

“The beds in the double room are a bit small, so you’ll have to squeeze a bit. Call me if you need anything; I have plenty of supplies in my room.”

She paused, the corners of her mouth curling up as she whispered a final word to Song Tao.

“Don’t come over and bother us tonight.”

Song Tao covered her mouth and laughed, nodding vigorously.

“Got it, Yan Yan!”

Xiao Yan looked down and pinched my chin, her eyes full of warmth.

“No objections, Little Rabbit? The two of us staying together means we can peek at the stars tonight without having to hide from anyone.”

I nodded with a red face.

‘I couldn’t ask for more.’

As soon as we put our luggage in the room, the laughter of several girls echoed from next door.

“Did you hear that? Two young girls in the couple’s suite? That’s so sweet — “

My face turned completely red in an instant.

I instinctively huddled closer to Xiao Yan.

Being teased by strangers was too embarrassing.

Xiao Yan pulled me into her arms and shouted toward the wall.

“Stop eavesdropping. We need to unpack.”

Her tone was cold and firm, carrying an aura that brooked no interference.

The room next door went quiet for a second, followed by stifled giggles and the sound of footsteps fading away.

Xiao Yan looked down and rubbed the top of my head, her voice softening.

“Don’t be afraid. They were just talking.”

She walked to the door and closed it.

The latch fell into place with a click.

“We’ll lock the door tonight. No one will bother us.”

She turned back and smiled at me.

—

The Changing Room was more crowded than I expected.

The chatter of girls, the hum of hair dryers, and the splat-splat of slippers on the wet floor all blended together, making my head throb.

Several girls were gathered in front of the mirror trying on swimsuits.

One of them looked back at me, her gaze sweeping from top to bottom.

I clutched the bag containing my Rabbit Swimsuit, standing at the entrance unable to move.

I had never changed clothes in front of so many strangers, let alone in a women’s changing room.

Even taking a single peek felt inappropriate, let alone stripping down.

“What are you standing there for?”

Xiao Yan stood beside me with her own swimsuit bag, raising an eyebrow with a smile.

“Surely you aren’t planning to change at the door and give everyone a free show?”

I shrank back.

“There are too many people… Can we come back later?”

She didn’t reply but scanned the changing room.

The girls trying on swimsuits were still gesturing in front of the mirror; some lifted their hair to reveal their backs, while others bent over to adjust their straps.

Xiao Yan’s brow furrowed slightly—it was faint, but I saw it.

She reached up and pulled the scarf from around her neck.

It was a light blue thin scarf she had grabbed on her way out this morning.

It still carried her scent of Orange Candy.

“Turn around,” she said.

I obeyed.

The scarf wrapped around from behind, covering my eyes.

She tied a knot at the back of my head.

The pressure was just right.

The fabric felt soft against my eyelids, and I could no longer see a thing.

“No peeking.”