"Bessie is incredibly timid. She's afraid of everything—rats, cockroaches, snakes, bugs. Because of that, she's been bullied by the bad boys since she was little. Her parents are doctors—kind people, but also very timid. They can't do much about her being bullied except sigh at home. Fortunately, she has Pearl. Pearl's personality is a lot like mine; she loves standing up for justice. They're neighbors, and they've always had a good relationship…"
At the dinner table, Taraga kept talking animatedly about her classmates. The two main characters in her story were Bessie Oliver, a timid but pretty white girl who often became a target for bullies, and Pearl Selsey, a black girl.
Hearing the name, Jiang Hai suddenly remembered another black man in town, Hodge Selsey, who ran a parts store in Winthrop. He wondered if Pearl might be related. If so, that would be quite a coincidence.
"Alright, alright, we know you're excited. But it's time for a shower and then bed," Qi Jie reminded her gently, glancing at the clock. It was already close to nine.
For the adults, bedtime was also near—work awaited them the next morning, and Taraga had school.
After Qi Jie's words, everyone smiled knowingly. Once the table was cleared, they each headed to the hot spring. Jiang Hai's hot spring had proven its worth ever since it was built.
In the winter, when no one wanted to bathe outside, the hot spring water could be piped directly into their homes. Now, in warmer seasons, they could soak directly in the stone pool—a real luxury. After changing clothes, Jiang Hai entered his private bath, rinsed himself clean, and then slowly sank into the steaming pool.
As the warm water rose to his chest, a look of satisfaction spread across his face. He leaned back against the stone edge, eyes closing in relaxation.
The hot spring pool wasn't just a simple stone enclosure. Its construction had been carefully designed: the basin was reinforced with cement beneath the stone surface, fully waterproof and equipped with a circulating system. Fresh water bubbled up constantly, filling the pool before draining away into a filter system, which purified impurities and released the excess into the artificial river nearby. It was clean, efficient, and waste-free.
Feeling the gentle current swirl around him, Jiang Hai let his mind drift. The vice principal's earlier request surfaced again. A charity basketball game with NBA players… On the surface, it sounded like a great chance to show off. But the memory of being scolded the last time he played basketball still stung.
"Forget it. I won't go," he muttered with a soft sigh.
"What do you mean by 'not going'?"
The sudden voice startled him. Turning, Jiang Hai saw Feng Yunchen stepping into the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, pink slippers on her feet. Meeting his gaze, she smiled faintly, loosening the towel until her graceful figure was revealed.
Although Jiang Hai and Feng Yunchen had known each other for a long time, her position in the manor was now second only to his closest partners. He rarely dwelled on the balance of relationships, but in this moment, with her standing before him, he felt a ripple of uncertainty.
Without hesitation, Feng Yunchen slid into the water beside him.
"Why are you here?" Jiang Hai asked softly, wrapping an arm around her and drawing her closer until she was pressed against him. Resting his head on her shoulder, he held her lightly around the waist. To his surprise, she seemed to welcome the gesture, even enjoying it.
"I missed you," she said with a smile, glancing at him. "It feels like we haven't had time alone in forever." Turning, she embraced him, and the scent of her skin filled his senses.
For a moment, Jiang Hai nearly lost control, but he steadied himself, remembering her words.
"I… don't even know what to say," he admitted with a helpless scratch of his head. With so many women around him now, he sometimes didn't know how to respond when one of them bared her heart.
"I know. You don't know how to refuse anyone. And to be fair, I share some responsibility for how things turned out," Feng Yunchen said with a small, wry smile.
It was true—she had been the one to introduce Ai Xiaoxi to him in the first place. Back then, she hadn't truly been in love with Jiang Hai. Their relationship had started for convenience—partly to satisfy her own needs, partly as a backup plan. But over time, she had discovered his strengths: his wealth, his reliability, his kindness. Slowly, she had grown attached, almost without realizing it.
"As the saying goes, time breeds affection," she thought quietly. And that affection had taken root in her heart.
"Now that it's just us, maybe we could…" Jiang Hai murmured, holding her more tightly, his intent clear in his eyes.
"Not yet…" Feng Yunchen's face flushed, though her voice was gentle. "Tonight's our night, but let's not rush. I just came here to talk with you."
Even as she spoke, Jiang Hai's hands beneath the water made her blush deeper. She knew she needed to distract him, or she would lose control.
"By the way, what was that about not going?" she asked, quickly shifting the subject.
"Oh, that. I took Taraga to school today, and the vice principal told me that some NBA players are coming to organize a charity game. Since I'm a local 'celebrity,' he asked if I'd represent the town team," Jiang Hai explained with a shrug.
"Then go! It's a great chance to show off," Feng Yunchen replied without hesitation.
"I don't know… The last time I played, I just went for a physical, and people criticized me endlessly. What if this time's the same?" Jiang Hai frowned.
"Come on, you're not going pro. It's just a charity game. Go out there, play a little, look cool, and leave. Perfect, isn't it?" she teased, smiling at his hesitation.
Jiang Hai blinked, then chuckled. Maybe she was right.
"See? Don't overthink it. Go if you want. Don't go if you don't. Nobody else gets to decide for you," Feng Yunchen said warmly.
"Ha, you've helped me make up my mind. I should thank you properly," Jiang Hai grinned, scooping her up from the water.
"Put me down! If you do that, I'll scream…" Feng Yunchen protested, blushing furiously, though her voice was more shy than angry.
"Let them hear," Jiang Hai whispered with a mischievous smile, before lowering his head toward her.
And so, the night began.
(To be continued.)