Chapter 231

Chapter 231

The hot spring pool of Warm Spring Retreat was surrounded by bamboo groves, offering excellent privacy. Evan chose a corner by the window, removed his clothes, and slowly sank into the pool. The warm spring water instantly enveloped his entire body, carrying a faint sulfur scent that seeped into his pores and gradually dispelled the fatigue from his journey and the soreness accumulated from pearl diving.

He let out a comfortable sigh, shrinking deeper into the water until only his shoulders and head remained above the surface. Closing his eyes, he leaned against the rocks at the edge of the pool, listening to the rustle of bamboo leaves in the wind. The scent of steam and vegetation lingered around him, and he completely relaxed.

The rooted force at his heart seemed to awaken with the warmth of the spring, gently flowing and intertwining with the heat of the water, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.

Evan even felt that the tension caused by the black pearl’s curse over the past few days had dissipated somewhat. Without warning, Sara’s figure appeared in his mind—the man always dressed in a black robe, aloof yet with an inexplicable sense of safety. He wondered how Sara was faring in Bruckland now.

In his dazed state, ripples suddenly appeared on the surface of the spring water before him. Evan thought it was just the wind and paid no attention until the ripples grew more intense. A small black vortex abruptly appeared three feet in front of him, its rotating current carrying a chill that sharply contrasted with the surrounding warmth.

He snapped his eyes open, startled, and was about to rise when the vortex suddenly expanded. A familiar figure tumbled out of it, crashing into the hot spring with a loud splash, sending up a spray of water, some of which landed on Evan’s face.

Evan froze on the spot, his eyes widening, his breath catching.

The person in the pool slowly raised his head. His wet hair clung to his forehead, and water droplets slid down his cheeks. It was Sara—the very person he had been longing for! "Sa…Sara?" he blurted out, his voice trembling slightly. He was completely stunned, forgetting even to dodge the splashing water.

Sara looked somewhat surprised. He pushed his wet hair back from his forehead, revealing a smooth brow and deep black eyes. He glanced around at the steamy surroundings and the bamboo grove, then looked down at the hot spring he was in. His eyebrow lifted slightly, and his tone was lazily puzzled: "I didn't end up in the wrong place, did I? Are you on the fifteenth island of New Nigeria State?"

Evan came to his senses and nodded mechanically, but his gaze involuntarily fixed on Sara, unable to look away. Now, Sara wasn’t wearing his signature black robe. Instead, he had on a simple white shirt and black trousers. After falling into the water, the cotton shirt, completely soaked, clung tightly to his body, becoming semi-transparent and outlining his figure in full detail.

Evan’s face flushed bright red, his heartbeat racing uncontrollably. He tried to look away, yet couldn’t resist stealing glances. Sara’s physique was far better than he had imagined—broad shoulders and a narrow waist in perfect proportion. Under the soaked white shirt, the contours of his full chest were clearly visible, rising and falling with his breath, the lines smooth and full of strength. Below, the clear lines of his abdomen showed; his firm abs were evenly divided into six packs, each outlined distinctly through the wet fabric, with no excess fat. His waist was perfectly tapered, highlighting the golden ratio of his physique.

Water trickled down his chest, winding along the grooves of his abs and soaking the black trousers at his waist, outlining the waistband. Sara’s skin was a healthy, luminous white, glowing with a faint sheen in the steam of the spring, complementing the semi-transparent shirt and adding to the allure. The lines of his arm muscles were also pleasing—his forearms were sturdy and powerful, flexing slightly as he wiped his face with his hand, revealing smooth arcs without being overly bulky, yet full of latent strength.

Even his wet black trousers clung tightly to his legs, outlining the long, straight lines. The thigh muscles were full but not bulky, the calves had smooth lines. All of this made Evan’s heart pound faster, his breathing becoming rapid.

He had never seen such an impactful sight. Before, Sara had always seemed aloof and cool, but now, with his wet clothes clinging to him, he had a more human touch and an indescribable sensuality that made Evan unable to look away.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?" Sara asked, noticing that he only nodded and didn’t speak, his gaze fixed on him. A faint smile touched his lips, and he deliberately moved two steps closer, approaching Evan. The spring water rippled with his movement, making the outline of his figure through the wet shirt even clearer. Evan was startled, lowering his head quickly, not daring to look anymore. His voice was barely a whisper: "Yes… yes, it is. Sara, why did you suddenly appear?"

Sara watched his reddening ears and fingers gripping the water nervously, feeling inexplicably better. He leaned against the edge of the pool next to Evan, taking off his soaked jacket and tossing it onto the stone platform, leaving only the wet shirt and trousers. His tone was casual: "I’ve been appointed governor of New Nigeria State. The plan was to take office in ten days, but I thought I’d come see you first.

I didn’t expect my spatial shift to be a bit off, and I landed right here with you."

"Governor?" Evan looked up sharply, eyes full of surprise, momentarily forgetting his shyness. "You’re coming here to be governor?"

"Yeah." Sara nodded, raising a hand to tuck a stray strand of wet hair behind his ear, moving naturally and gracefully. Even in wet clothes, his outstanding temperament was undeniable. "I wanted to surprise you, but I didn’t expect you to be soaking in a hot spring." He glanced at Evan’s flushed face, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "What? Surprised to see me? Or… does this look scare you?"

Evan’s face reddened even more. He quickly lowered his head, shaking it, his voice faint: "No… it’s not scary, just… a bit sudden."

His gaze fell on the surface of the spring water, but through the ripples, he could still vaguely see the outline of Sara’s figure under his wet clothes, and his heart continued to race.

The steam in the hot spring grew thicker, wrapping around them. Sara watched Evan’s shy expression, and the smile in his eyes deepened. He didn’t tease him further, just quietly leaned back against the pool edge, enjoying the warmth of the spring. His gaze rested on the bamboo grove around them, but he thought that it wasn’t such a bad thing to accidentally meet Evan like this.

Evan, on the other hand, kept his head down, trying to calm his racing heart, but the image he had just seen kept replaying in his mind. His cheeks felt so hot they could bleed.

Sara was never one to stand on ceremony. Since he had accidentally fallen into the hot spring, he decided to take advantage of it. He raised a hand to unbutton his wet shirt, his fingertips gliding over his collarbone, his movements calm and graceful.

One by one, the buttons came undone, revealing more of his honey-toned skin. Water droplets slid down his neck, falling into the hollow of his collarbone, leaving a glistening trail.

He peeled off the soaked white shirt completely and casually tossed it onto the stone platform beside him. Then he unbuckled the belt of his black trousers. After removing the trousers, Sara’s well-proportioned yet sturdy physique was fully exposed in the light—broad shoulders and a narrow waist in perfect proportion. His chest muscles were smooth and full, without being overly bulky, yet imbued with latent strength; his six-pack abs were clearly defined, rising and falling with each breath. The V-line at his waist extended downward, outlining an enticing shape. His legs were long and straight, thigh muscles firm, calf lines smooth, every inch of skin glowing faintly in the steam of the spring.

Sara was about to step deeper into the spring when his peripheral vision caught sight of Evan.

Unlike before, when Evan had been shy and evasive, now he stood upright in the water, staring at him without blinking. His clear eyes were filled with Sara’s reflection, with no sign of avoidance, only a deep, unadulterated attachment and infatuation.

Sara was momentarily taken aback, then a faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth. He was about to make a teasing remark when he saw Evan move. Evan’s steps were light, walking toward him slowly through the warm water. The ripples swayed gently with his movement, lapping over his waist, creating fine, broken ripples.

His expression was unusually earnest. The timid look he usually carried was replaced by a focused gaze, as if Sara before him was the deity he would spend his whole life guarding.

That gaze was too intense, too devout, stirring something deep within Sara. The teasing words that had been on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back. He stood there, watching Evan approach step by step until they were less than a foot apart.

Evan stopped. He didn’t speak, only tilted his head up slightly, his eyes still locked on Sara’s face.

His gaze was clear and focused, reflecting Sara’s image, carrying a humble reverence and complete trust. It was as if in his eyes, everything else in the world had faded, leaving only the person before him as the sole light. The steam of the hot spring blurred their outlines, but the light in Evan’s eyes grew clearer.

The next moment, Evan slowly raised his hands and gently pressed them against the wall of the hot spring behind Sara. His movements were light and careful yet firm, trapping Sara between himself and the wall, creating an intimate, private space. The distance between them was close enough to feel each other’s breath. Their warm breaths intertwined, mixed with the steam and faint sulfur scent, making the atmosphere even more charged.

Sara raised an eyebrow but did not resist. He simply looked down at the young man before him. Evan’s cheeks were faintly flushed, his breathing slightly rapid, yet he stubbornly held his head high, gazing at him with devout eyes, like a fledgling that had found its nest, filled with dependence and attachment.

"Sara…" Evan called softly, his voice trembling slightly, yet clear and distinct. His gaze moved from Sara’s eyes to his lips, then back to his eyes, as if confirming something or expressing endless longing.

The longing of a long separation, the bond between lovers—at that moment, it overcame all shyness and reserve. Evan stood on tiptoe, slowly leaning in toward Sara, and gently pressed his soft lips to Sara’s.

The kiss was light, tender, carrying the youthful innocence and purity of a young man, yet filled with intense emotion.

He didn't deepen the kiss in a hurry. He pressed his lips lightly to Sara’s, feeling the warmth of Sara's body and the steadiness of his breath. His eyes were still open, devoutly watching Sara, who was so close, his gaze full of cherishing and adoration, as if the person before him was his whole world, the deity of his faith.

Surprise in Sara’s heart melted away, replaced by an indescribable softness. He could clearly feel the tenderness and caution in Evan’s kiss, the young man's absolute dependence and attachment.

He tilted his head slightly, responding to the gentle kiss, his tongue lightly tracing Evan’s lips, his movements tender and lingering.

The steam of the hot spring grew thicker, enveloping them.

The warmth of the water and the heat of their bodies merged, driving away all cold and distance. Evan felt Sara’s response, and a hint of joy flickered in his eyes. His hands, which had been pressed against the wall, tightened slightly, and he pressed his body closer to Sara, as if trying to meld into him.

The kiss lasted a long time, gentle as a long, lingering love poem. Until both were out of breath, Evan slowly pulled back, his forehead resting against Sara’s, his eyes still stubbornly fixed on Sara's. His breath was warm, brushing against Sara’s cheek, the attachment and devotion in his gaze undiminished.

"I missed you so much, Sara," Evan said softly, his voice carrying a hint of grievance and the joy of reunion. His fingers trembled slightly as he gently touched Sara’s cheek, feeling the warmth and smoothness of his skin, as if to confirm that this was not a dream.

Sara grasped his fingers, which were slightly cool, gently rubbing the back of his hand with his thumb, his tender gaze. "I missed you too, Evan," he replied in a low voice, with an unprecedented tenderness. "From now on, I won’t let you be alone anymore."

The water swayed gently, casting hazy, intimate reflections of their intertwined figures. Evan’s eyes instantly welled up with tears at those words, but he held back the tears.

He leaned in again, lightly brushing his lips against Sara’s, then buried his head against his chest, hugging him tightly.

Sara’s chest was warm and firm, radiating a reassuring presence. Evan pressed his cheek against his skin, feeling his steady, strong heartbeat, and all his unease and longing melted away in that moment.