A faint smile played at the corners of his lips as he said gently, “If you want to get in the water sooner, let’s order the food quickly.”
Mu Fu’s eyes sparkled like dewdrops. Without hesitation, she bounced over to the table to start picking dishes. She’d been to this place quite a few times and already knew which ones were the best. After recommending a few of her favorites to Yu Mo, she waved a waiter over to place their order.
While waiting for the food, Mu Fu couldn’t resist any longer. She tiptoed out to the open-air terrace, carefully lifted the hem of her dress, and slowly dipped her feet into the steaming pool without getting her skirt wet. The moment her ankles touched the water, she let out a soft sigh of bliss.
She didn’t know how this place managed it—despite the summer heat outside, the air inside the suite was crisp and cool, making it the perfect spot for a hot spring soak. A few delicate maple trees, clearly chosen for their beauty, stood gracefully in the quiet courtyard, their tiny red leaves glowing like embers. The fresh scent of mountain woods, tinged with a bit of earthy soil, drifted in on the breeze and filled her senses.
Mu Fu looked around, half-convinced she was standing in the courtyard of a countryside retreat, surrounded by nothing but lush green mountains. She was the only trace of life in this peaceful place—and her soft, fair feet stirred in the warm water, sending ripples echoing like tiny bells through the pool. Living here forever wouldn’t be such a bad thing, she thought.
Just then, Yu Mo came out and sat cross-legged beside her. He glanced at her glowing white ankles. “There are yukatas inside. Do you want to change into one?”
“I’ll do it later,” she replied casually.
Even though she said that, they both knew she’d end up changing—she clearly wanted to go into the water properly. Still, she hesitated, glancing down at her clothes. “But what about what I’m wearing now?”
“I had that taken care of too,” Yu Mo said calmly. “I didn’t ask because I wanted to give you a perfect date. The clothes were picked based on my taste.”
“…Okay,” she mumbled so quietly it was barely audible unless you were right next to her. Her face, pale and luminous, was just inches away from his. The soft fragrance from her body lingered in the air between them. A faint blush warmed her cheeks, and her lips—gently bitten in thought—looked even more vibrant.
Yu Mo’s cold, restrained gaze suddenly softened. He had the sudden urge to keep her tied to his side, forever.
Mu Fu hesitated, then asked softly, “Aren’t you getting in too?”
“Just watching you soak is enough for me.”
His voice was so gentle, it felt like one could melt into it. Mu Fu curled her pretty toes in embarrassment, her head dipping even lower.
A small smile played at Yu Mo’s lips. With graceful fingers, he brushed aside a few strands of her hair that had fallen forward, gently tucking them behind her ear. His fingertips lingered for a moment, brushing over the delicate earring hanging from her lobe.
She froze at his touch, and he chuckled softly. “They were covering your eyes.” The truth was, the hair was just blocking his view of her face.
Mu Fu whispered, “Thank you.” Her ear, where he’d touched, had turned a brilliant shade of red—flushed with heat beneath her pale skin. She was the very picture of someone caught off guard, rosy and radiant.
Yu Mo felt a dryness in his throat and an ache in his jaw. He wanted to bite her, just a little, just enough to ease this hunger. But he interlocked his fingers and rested his hands on his lap, holding himself back. Touching her more now would only make it harder.
Mu Fu, who had been absentmindedly swaying her feet in the water, suddenly stilled. Her instincts were warning her—don’t move. Not now.
Just in time, the server’s voice came from outside. “Hello, may I serve your food now?” The sliding paper door had been quietly closed earlier.
Mu Fu silently thanked the heavens for that server’s timing. She quickly replied, “Yes, please!” Then she sprang to her feet. “Haha, finally! I’m starving!”
“Wait,” Yu Mo said gently, his voice calm and smooth.
“Hmm?” Mu Fu turned back, puzzled.
Yu Mo had already stood up and and walked into the adjacent bedroom. A moment later, he returned with a pristine white towel. Then, to her complete surprise, he knelt on one knee in front of her.
Before she could react, he gently lifted one of her feet. To steady herself, she instinctively rested her hands on his shoulders. Her cheeks, which had just cooled, flushed hot once more.
Yu Mo carefully placed her right foot on his knee, softly wiping it with the fluffy towel.
“I can do it,” Mu Fu muttered, tugging at her ankle. But his grip was firm—gentle, but unyielding. She couldn’t break free.
“Don’t move,” Yu Mo said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He was holding her foot like it was something sacred—what choice did she have but to let him?
Like handling a priceless treasure, he took his time, carefully wiping each of Mu Fu’s toes, one by one. When he finished, he didn’t stop there. His fingers slowly traced over the skin again, making sure no spot had been missed.
Mu Fu’s face burned red. She felt utterly mortified. There was something deeply intimate about the way Yu Mo moved. She couldn’t help thinking—it was too sensual. Too much.
His hands, once cool, had grown warm, matching the flush crawling up her skin. He kept his head bowed, his gaze hot and intense, fixed completely on her feet. She could feel it—feel him. It almost felt like he was tasting each of her toes with his mouth instead of his hands. And honestly, that wasn’t just her imagination. Yu Mo was, in fact, fantasizing about doing exactly that.
His fingertips slid along the silky arch of her foot with reverence, like he had no intention of ever letting go. The dim lighting threw shadows across his sharp features, making him look more mysterious… and dangerous.
“All done,” he murmured.
Mu Fu couldn’t take the charged atmosphere any longer. As soon as both her feet were clean, she pushed firmly against his shoulders and twisted her ankles free. Finally, she escaped his grasp.
She stole a glance at Yu Mo, still kneeling gracefully on one knee. A pang of guilt tugged at her. He’d done all that willingly, just for her—and she’d pulled away like an ungrateful brat.
She cleared her throat and mumbled, “Dinner’s here. Let’s eat first, okay?”
Yu Mo stood slowly, the same calm expression on his face. Not even a flicker of annoyance crossed his features, despite her abruptness. “Mm. Let’s go,” he said simply.
They sat across from each other. The waiter soon returned with all the dishes. They’d ordered quite a bit.
When the plate of tiger prawns arrived, Yu Mo pulled it toward himself. Slipping on gloves, he began to peel them with swift precision. In no time, the platter of pristine white shrimp meat was placed right in front of her.
Mu Fu stared at it, her heart melting into a soft puddle. It was the first time a man had ever peeled shrimp for her. With her head tilted slightly and her eyes glowing tenderly, she smiled. “Thank you.”
Yu Mo’s eyes softened slightly. “Eat,” he said gently. Mu Fu didn’t hesitate; she picked up her chopsticks and started eating.
After a short while, Yu Mo pointed to a piece of sushi in front of him. “This one’s really good. Want to try it?” It was on his side of the table, a bit too far for her to reach.
Mu Fu glanced at it and nodded. She hadn’t tried that flavor before and was curious. Yu Mo, ever thoughtful, used the communal chopsticks to pick up a piece. Mu Fu thought he’d place it on her plate, but instead, he held it directly in front of her. She followed his cue and leaned in, taking the bite from his chopsticks.
Yu Mo, looking satisfied, went back to eating other dishes. But just then, Mu Fu’s eyes widened. Wait—he was using the same chopsticks he’d just fed her with! She noticed the pair he had been using earlier was now set aside. He was using hers. Did he not realize what he was doing… or did he do it on purpose? Her instincts told her it was absolutely intentional.
Yu Mo seemed to notice her staring and gave her a subtle smile. “What? Is there something on my face?”
Mu Fu shook her head. “No, nothing.”
He leaned slightly toward her. “Hold still.”
Mu Fu froze. “What is it?”
“You’re so careless,” he murmured with a light sigh. “There’s sauce on the corner of your mouth.”
As he reached over with a tissue, Mu Fu instantly understood—he was going to wipe it off for her. Embarrassed, she quickly said, “I can do it.” But Yu Mo didn’t hand her the tissue. He simply began dabbing at the spot himself.
“All done,” he said calmly.
Mu Fu felt a soft brush against her skin, and then it was over. She hurried to say, “Thank you.”
Yu Mo met her eyes. “A-Fu, you don’t need to be so polite with me.”
Mu Fu understood exactly what he meant. Since she didn’t dislike the feeling he was referring to, she nodded with a faint smile. “Mm-hmm. I won’t do it again.”
Yu Mo’s lips curved in a subtle smile, his gaze darkening ever so slightly with some unreadable depth.
Under his attentive care, the meal had been more than satisfying. It was as if he could read her mind—whenever her eyes lingered on a dish for even a second, he’d quietly place some in her bowl. She ate happily, comfortably. She was fully aware of the subtle tenderness that flickered in his gaze now and then. But on the surface, she remained composed, still wearing that bashful, shy look.
Once the waiter came to clear the table, Mu Fu decided to walk around a bit to digest. Now that she was full, Yu Mo certainly wouldn’t let her go back into the water just yet. She wandered a little—first admiring the red maple tree, then crouching by the hot spring, scooping the warm water with her hands, playing around idly. Anything that might help digestion.
Of course, there was a more… efficient form of “exercise.” Her gaze slid to Yu Mo, who was sipping tea slowly and elegantly. The low tea table had been moved closer to the balcony. A freshly brought pot sat on it, steam curling up from its spout. Yu Mo lounged on a floor cushion, posture relaxed yet dignified. Another cushion lay beside him, clearly reserved for her—but she wasn’t ready to sit just yet.
He looked perfectly at ease there, framed by steam and sunlight, slowly sipping his tea. The scene was almost too picturesque—like a still from a movie. This time, he wore a pair of silver-rimmed glasses, a crisp white shirt, and black dress pants. The combination of formal attire and gentle composure carried an irresistible pull.
Unconsciously, Mu Fu licked her dry lips. She suddenly felt a little thirsty. “Full stomach, wandering thoughts”—that was exactly her current state.
Yu Mo raised his teacup slightly in her direction, his smile soft. “Want to come have a sip?”
She took a deep breath. “On my way.”
Since she was in a dress, sitting cross-legged wasn’t ideal. Instead, she bent her legs neatly behind her and sat back on the cushion beside him. The two of them were quite close.
She glanced up at his glasses and asked, “A-Mo, how bad is your eyesight? I’ve noticed you always wear glasses.”
“A little over four hundred degrees now,” he replied.
“Do you have to wear them all the time?” She, thanks to the system, had never experienced the trouble of nearsightedness.
“I don’t have to.” As he spoke, he reached up and took them off. It was the first time she’d seen him without them.
Axolotl Translations 
Leave a comment