Chapter 72

Chapter 72

This hot spring was a service included with the hotel's luxury rooms.

"Mr. Yan, the weather is cold now, which is the perfect time for hot springs. So, the hotel has been doing quite well these past few months," the manager explained as they went, while snow continued to fall outside.

The hot spring was located in a resort area behind the hotel, just a five-minute drive away.

Only two private family-style hot spring pools remained.

The pool was about five square meters, surrounded by a one-meter-high old-fashioned stone wall. There were also privacy panels that could be pulled open to form separate compartments from other pools.

Yan Shizhou had already led Yi Wuyi to the next hot spring pool, leaving Yan Shiqi and Xie Yunshen alone.

Xie Yunshen, wearing a dark bathrobe, slipped into the hot spring and immediately felt the warmth envelop his skin.

The water temperature was a bit hotter than that of ordinary hot springs.

He leaned back against the side of the pool and glanced over at Yan Shiqi. "Mr. Yan, this water is all-natural and clean. Are you really not coming in?"

Mr. Yan hadn't changed his clothes, still wearing that black coat, sitting on a nearby chair and gazing down at him.

This was an open-air spring. In the cold winter, with a light snow falling from the sky, snowflakes landed on his hair, giving him a mysterious and cold aura.

"I'm not really used to such things."

Xie Yunshen walked up to him. "It's really comfortable. After soaking, you might even find your insomnia cured."

"No, never mind."

Xie Yunshen paused for a moment, then it clicked, and he looked at him feeling a little hurt. "...Do you feel uncomfortable being in the same pool with me? I can get out right away."

That made sense. How could the chairman of Yan's Group, the head of the Yan family, possibly soak in the same pool as a bodyguard? The more Xie Yunshen thought about it, the more he felt he had been too forward.

"That's not the reason," Yan Shiqi chuckled.

Xie Yunshen got out from the side. "Then, let's just go back."

"What's wrong?"

Xie Yunshen said, "I'm here enjoying what you should be enjoying, while you're out here in the snowy weather watching me. That makes me feel uncomfortable."

He grabbed a towel. "Besides, if I had known you weren't going to soak, I wouldn't have come either. We'd be more comfortable back at the hotel."

Yan Shiqi said, "I'll join you."

"Really?" Xie Yunshen turned his head.

"Mhm, I'll go change."

Xie Yunshen obediently walked back into the hot spring to wait for him.

"Big Boss, you're truly the best employer in the world."

As soon as Yan Shiqi entered the hot spring, Xie Yunshen launched into his usual stream of praise, not forgetting to press against the boss's shoulder and rub his head against him.

Feeling the warm water soaking his bathrobe, perhaps the heat made the scent stronger, he once again caught that unique smell on Mr. Yan. Xie Yunshen took a deep breath, and the scent grew clearer.

This was definitely not a synthetic scent, nor the smell of bath or skincare products.

"Mr. Yan, you really smell wonderful," he murmured.

Yan Shiqi asked, "Do you enjoy smelling other people like this too?"

Xie Yunshen smiled. "Not really. Most people just have a basic human smell. I don't like it."

"Human smell? What does that smell like?"

"It's that oily, sweaty smell on the skin's surface. Even perfume can't cover it up," Xie Yunshen explained.

"Is it the same for everyone?" Yan Shiqi asked curiously.

"Not exactly. For example, Old Five has a woody scent, though I don't get to smell it often."

"What about Lin Jin?"

"Lin Jin... how to describe that guy... he naturally smells a bit like bird feathers... So when he hugs me, I always feel like I'm being embraced by a talking eagle," Xie Yunshen frowned.

"Can you smell your own scent?"

A faint mist floated between the two, mixing with their breath as they spoke.

Tiny snowflakes fell into the water and melted instantly, giving a contrast of hot and cold.

Yan Shiqi shifted back a little, causing ripples to spread across the water's surface.

"I can only smell it when I'm injured and bleeding. It seems to smell like pomegranate flowers."

"Indeed, your nose is different from a human's," Yan Shiqi remarked.

The tips of his black hair were touched by mist, and the curve of his smiling lips looked warmer.

"That's why I know others can't smell the scents on people."

"We're not dogs either," Yan Shiqi said, looking at him with a smile.

"..." Xie Yunshen realized Yan Shiqi was teasing him.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, he held his breath and sank down until his mouth and nose were underwater. His eyes were level with the water's surface, watching the snowflakes drift down, signaling he didn't want to talk.

Yan Shiqi looked at him. "Like this, you look even more like a puppy. If only we had a frisbee."

Xie Yunshen lifted an annoyed look: "..."

But what could he do? The way Mr. Yan made him feel was always different.

Northern Border, Qin Family, Banquet Hall.

Xie Yunshen looked up at the enormous, luxurious crystal chandelier overhead, which was comparable in size to a three-bedroom apartment.

He silently guided Mr. Yan to a safe area.

In the past, there had been assassins who specifically used crystal chandeliers to try to kill a respected client.

It was only because Xie Yunshen risked danger to tackle the person that they were saved.

So now, he had a real phobia of these things.

"Well, well, Little Xie, are you following me?" a familiar voice rang out.

Xie Yunshen saw the familiar figure again—of course it was the male lead; he ran into him everywhere.

"Why would I stalk a crybaby?"

Lin Jin immediately became wary upon hearing this.

Xie Yunshen made a show of wiping away tears: "I heard someone got into a fight with his girlfriend and cried... boo hoo."

"..."

Lin Jin abruptly seized him, narrowing his eyes: "Did you bug my place?"

Xie Yunshen gave him a meaningful look but said nothing.

This threw Lin Jin for a loop.

Yan Shiqi watched Lin Jin roughhousing with Xie Yunshen and suddenly burst out laughing.

Lin Jin looked puzzled. Usually, whenever Yan Shiqi saw him manhandling Xie Yunshen, he wouldn’t exactly blow up on the spot, but he'd never look happy about it either.

He let go of Xie Yunshen with a weird look on his face: "Is your Mr. Yan having a change of heart today?"

Xie Yunshen glanced at Mr. Yan: "What? No, he's just his usual handsome self."

Lin Jin: "..." Fine... you’re both nuts.

"Mr. Yan, what a pleasant surprise! Finally meeting you in person today!"

A middle-aged man with graying temples and his wife approached, his powerful voice carrying from a distance. Even before getting close, he was already reaching out to shake Yan Shiqi's hand from afar.

All eyes in the vicinity turned toward them.

This must be the current head of the Qin family, Qin Donghai, and his wife.

Yan Shiqi stepped forward to shake hands with them: "Mr. Qin, congratulations. After so many years, you’ve finally found your beloved son and reunited your family."

"Yes, I’m truly overjoyed today. Not only have I found my son, but I also get to see Mr. Yan. The Qin family hopes to work with you much more in the future."

The eyes of everyone around fell on the young head of the Yan family—probing, scrutinizing, admiring, hostile, curious, envious...

Xie Yunshen filtered out the hostile gazes one by one, instinctively putting his guard up.

Qin Donghai suddenly looked at Xie Yunshen behind Yan Shiqi. Seeing his sharp gaze, he smiled slightly and extended his hand: "This must be Xie Yunshen, Mr. Xie, right?"

Xie Yunshen was a bit surprised that this big shot actually recognized him. He reached out and shook hands: "Hello."

"I won’t beat around the bush. I once considered poaching you, a top expert, at a high salary to protect my youngest son. But seeing how things are with Mr. Yan, I understand why you'd stay put."

Xie Yunshen thought: What? Protect your youngest son? The champion of that Sand Arena? Me protecting him? The Qin family really has too much money with nowhere to spend it.

As he pondered, Qin Donghai addressed the crowd in his resonant voice: "Everyone!"

No microphone was needed. As soon as he spoke, the vast banquet hall fell silent.

"Here today are the Qin family's closest friends, business partners, and distinguished guests from all walks of life. Each of you is an honored guest of the Qin family. Today, I, Qin Donghai, announce that heaven rewards the diligent. My long-lost youngest son, Qin Lan, has finally returned to the fold!"

At that moment, a young man in a sharp suit walked up beside him, basking in the fawning attention and praise from the crowd.

"This is my youngest son, Qin Lan."

The young man nodded: "Hello everyone, I’m Qin Lan."

Xie Yunshen was completely stunned—this wasn’t Sand at all: "That’s not right..."

Had his transmigration into the book caused the plot to go awry?

Standing behind the crowd, Yan Shizhou stared incredulously at this young master of the Qin family.

Yan Shiqi’s eyes darkened, his expression cold and stern.

If he were the Qin family’s young master, then the Yan family was fated to be mortal enemies with the Qin family.

Yi Wuyi frowned, his face pale.

Indeed, standing beside Qin Donghai was none other than the gold-digger who had once been by Yan Shizhou’s side—Han Yuqiu.

Han Yuqiu was enjoying the crowd’s attention when his face suddenly turned deathly pale. He shrank back, looking at Yan Shiqi in terror, his gaze evasive, not daring to meet his eyes.

Qin Donghai proudly pulled him forward: "Mr. Yan, let me introduce you. This is my youngest son, Xiao Lan. Come, greet Patriarch Yan."

Yan Shiqi’s dark, heavy gaze fell on Han Yuqiu, his voice laden with pressure: "Hello, Young Master Qin."

Han Yuqiu’s heart pounded wildly. Intimidated by his aura, he grew flustered and forced a guilty smile: "...Hello, Mr... Mr. Yan."

Xie Yunshen clearly sensed the shift in Mr. Yan’s mood. He pulled Yi Wuyi aside and whispered, "What’s going on?"

"He’s Han Yuqiu," Yi Wuyi said with a grave expression.

"Why isn’t this guy dead?" In the original novel, he had died long ago.

"He fell into the sea back then. Someone must have fished him out."

Xie Yunshen was briefly surprised, then gave way to a cold sneer of understanding: "This is a classic fake-young-master switcheroo."

"What do you mean?"

"Anyway, that guilty look proves he's no Qin young master," Xie Yunshen said.

Yi Wuyi frowned: "Regardless, I need to leave first to avoid Han Yuqiu seeing me and causing unnecessary trouble."

But it was already too late. They heard Han Yuqiu suddenly cry out in terror: "Ah, no, don’t kill me!"

Yi Wuyi froze in his tracks.

Qin Donghai asked worriedly: "Xiao Lan, what’s wrong?"

Han Yuqiu hid behind Qin Donghai, pointing at Yi Wuyi, his face filled with extreme fear: "Dad, it’s him! He’s the one who pushed me into the sea!"

Qin Donghai followed his gaze and saw Yi Wuyi, exclaiming in surprise: "You mean..."

Han Yuqiu trembled all over, unable to speak. His pitiful, cautious appearance made Xie Yunshen inwardly exclaim: *What great acting!*

Qin Donghai looked at Yan Shiqi: "What’s going on, Mr. Yan?"

Yan Shiqi remained calm and composed: "Mr. Qin, my bodyguard and I are visiting P City for the first time. Could your young master have mistaken someone?"

Xie Yunshen whispered behind Yan Shiqi: "Mr. Yan, he’s not the Qin family’s young master. Don’t be deceived."

Hearing this, Yan Shiqi’s breathing steadied slightly. His gaze toward Han Yuqiu grew deep and cold.

Yan Shizhou nearly rolled his eyes on the spot, clenching his jaw to hold back his irritation.

Mrs. Qin hugged Han Yuqiu with concern. "Xiao Lan, what's wrong?"

"Mom... Mom... They're bad people!" Han Yuqiu pointed at the Yan family, his face a mask of terror.

Xie Yunshen finally witnessed this fortune hunter's skills firsthand—a grown man playing the helpless victim in Mrs. Qin's arms, doing it with such practiced ease.

As soon as those words were spoken, the high-society guests in the banquet hall held their breath, eyes fixed on the Yans, terrified of missing a single bit of gossip.

No one saw the sinister smile on Han Yuqiu's face as he hid in Mrs. Qin's embrace.

-----------------------

Author's note: I might write an ABO side story later. Would you guys be into that?

Just for fun: Why did Mr. Yan smile when he saw Lin Jin with his arm around Xie Yunshen? [laughing-crying emoji]