The misty heat blurred their vision and amplified the throbbing in their hearts and an indescribable ambiguity gradually filled the air.
Ada lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on Shun's strong abdominal muscles, her cheeks growing hot, and her heart beating faster and faster.
She could clearly feel Shun's gaze on her shoulder, that look carrying a hint of heat. A hidden tremor surged in her heart, mixed with her admiration and affection for him, making her unwilling to look away.
Just then, Shun slowly moved. The water gently rippled, making faint sounds. He moved two steps towards Ada, stirring the pebbles beneath his feet and creating tiny bubbles.
The distance between them instantly closed by more than half.
The warm spring water, rippling with his movements, slid down his chest, outlining the smooth lines of his muscles.
"Ada, what are you thinking? Are you still thinking about Daemon?" Shun's voice, deep and pleasant, echoed in the mist.
He raised his hand, his fingertips skimming the water, creating a string of sparkling droplets. The droplets traced a short arc in the air before landing on Ada's arm, bringing a cool sensation. Taking advantage of her momentary daze, his palm slid down half an inch, gently touching her curled fingers.
Ada stiffened, snapping back to reality. She hastily looked up, meeting Shun's deep eyes.
His pupils were a faint black, appearing exceptionally gentle in the swirling heat. Her flushed cheeks were clearly reflected in them, and even the panic in her eyes had nowhere to hide.
Ada's face grew even hotter. Subconsciously, she wanted to turn her face away, to avoid that overly intense gaze, but Shun gently held her chin. His fingertips carried the warmth of the hot spring water, the touch delicate, yet the strength was just right, not making her uncomfortable.
Shun's gaze was locked on her eyes, unwilling to miss any expression on her face. "Ada, look at me. I told you, he'll be fine."
As he spoke, he gently caressed the delicate skin on her cheek, his movements soft, his gaze like one appreciating a precious treasure.
Ada's breath hitched. She stared at him blankly, the panic in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by undisguised shyness and a fluttering heart.
She could see genuine reassurance in his eyes, and most of the unease in her heart dissipated with it.
She nodded lightly, murmuring, "Shun-sama ... I... understand..."
Shun looked at her embarrassed yet docile appearance, a smile flashing in his eyes. His finger gently traced her neck, with a hint of subtle probing.
"Ada, you don't have to keep calling me 'sama.' In private, just call me Shun."
He deliberately softened his voice, his warm breath brushing her cheek with his words, making her even more flustered.
"Shu...Shun...?"
Ada tentatively called out, her voice clearly trembling, her cheeks incredibly red.
That word seemed to carry magic. The moment it rolled off her tongue, the atmosphere between them became even more ambiguous. The warm steam seemed to be tinged with sweetness, and even the rustling of bamboo leaves sounded like gentle whispers.
Seeing this, Shun slowly withdrew his hand, gently taking her hand that was in the water, his fingers interlocking with hers, clasping them together.
Ada's heart skipped another beat, and her entire body grew warm, but she didn't dare pull her hand away, letting his warm palm envelop hers.
Shun nodded slightly, gently shaking her hand, but still staying close to her, sitting beside her like that.
His gaze fell on the green bamboo in the distance of the hot spring and he spoke softly, "I accidentally discovered this hot spring. Whenever I feel tired, I come here to soak, listen to the wind and the bamboo, and my mind becomes much more peaceful."
Ada responded softly, finally daring to glance at him, "It's beautiful and quiet here."
Seeing the contours of his profile exceptionally soft in the mist, her heart pounded even faster. She quickly stole a glance, then hastily lowered her eyes, her arm unconsciously brushing against the back of his hand that was next to hers.
"Mm. Now, there's one more person to share it with. If you like it here, I'll bring you often in the future."
Shun turned to look at her, a lingering smile in his eyes. He lifted her palm and kissed the back of her hand.
Ada froze, as if her heart had skipped a beat. She bit her lower lip, not daring to look at him, and lowered her eyes once more, but couldn't help but secretly peek at him with her peripheral vision.
The warmth of the hot spring water, the surrounding tranquility, and the man she liked by her side.
She indulged in this ambiguous atmosphere, even her breathing became rapid, and she secretly thought, 'If only it could always be like this, staying with Shun-sama.'
Shun gently stirred his fingers in the water, occasionally touching her arm, with only the faint sounds of the spring water flowing in his ears.
But his mind had already peeked into the surging emotions in Ada's heart through his mind-reading ability.
The affection hidden behind her shy eyes, the admiration suppressed beneath her soft responses, and that murmur of "If only it could always be like this."
The smile in his eyes deepened a few shades.
He took the initiative to break the silence, his tone carrying just the right amount of intimacy. "Ada... do you like it here?"
Ada looked up, meeting his smiling eyes, her cheeks flushed again, and she quickly nodded. "Mm... I like it very much."
Her voice was still soft, her heart secretly flustered, afraid that her thoughts would be seen through. Her fingers subconsciously gripped his palm.
Seeing this, Shun naturally clasped her hand in return and slowly moved closer to her. The distance between them was so close that they could almost feel each other's breath.
The warm steam, carrying the unique scent of his body, enveloped Ada completely, making her heartbeat instantly lose control, and even her eyes began to dart around in panic.
Shun lowered his voice a few shades, with a hint of seduction. "Ada, you like it here because of me, right?"
He raised his other hand, gently brushing her hair that was floating in the water, tucking some water-beaded strands behind her ear, his fingers inadvertently grazing her cheek.
The moment his finger touched her skin, Ada trembled, stiffening in place as if struck by electricity.
She could clearly feel the temperature of his fingertips, hotter than the spring water, spreading from her skin to her heart, making her entire body go soft, without even the strength to refute. She could only let that heat spread through her limbs.
"Ada... you admire me, and you like me, right?"
Shun no longer probed, directly stating the secret in her heart, his gaze locked on her eyes, unwilling to miss any expression on her face.
He tightened his grip on her hand, as if giving her courage.
"I... I... I don't know..."
Ada hastily denied, shaking her head.
Her cheeks were dangerously red, and her eyes were tinged with a faint pink. Her gaze was full of the panic and helplessness of having her thoughts exposed. She didn't even dare to raise her head, only staring intently at the pebbles underwater.
Shun chuckled softly, his deep laughter echoing in the mist, making Ada's heart tremble.
He raised his hand, gently lifting her chin and forcing her to look directly at him, with a hint of candid teasing, yet hiding genuine tenderness.
He leaned in slightly, his nose almost touching hers. "Ada, no need to deny it, I know all your thoughts. I am a lustful man, I like beautiful things, and you are a beauty. I don't dislike you. In fact, I really like your pure heart."
These words were like a stone thrown into Ada's heart, instantly stirring up a thousand waves.
She stared blankly at Shun, the panic in her eyes gradually replaced by shock.
He actually said so directly that he was lustful and that he liked her?
Immediately, the shock was overwhelmed by intense joy. Her heart pounded against her chest, her breathing became rapid, and her eyes instantly reddened.
"Shun... I... I like you."
"Mm, I know."
Shun nodded gently, his fingertips softly caressing her jawline, his other hand still holding hers, his movements gentle yet with an irresistible assertiveness.
"From now on, no need to hide anything. With me here, you can safely do what you want to do and say what you want to say. I understand your feelings."
Ada's eyes instantly reddened even more, clear tears welling up in them.
She looked at the genuine tenderness in Shun's eyes and a warmth flowed into her heart, dispelling her last trace of apprehension.
She nodded emphatically. "Mm... Shun..."
Shun gently wiped away the tear that had inadvertently slipped from the corner of her eye, his tone growing even softer. "Ada, be mine."
Shun looked at her, slowly leaned in, and then kissed her possessively.
Ada subconsciously closed her eyes, her long eyelashes still trembling slightly, and she actively tilted her chin up slightly, awaiting his approach.
The moment their lips met, Shun felt the subtle tremor on her lips. His lips gently brushed past the corner of her lips, like a feather's touch.
The steam from the hot spring swirled, tightly enveloping their figures, and the ambiguous atmosphere reached its peak. Even the spring water seemed to cheer for this sentiment, sending out ripples of gentle warmth.
The evening breeze whispered, and the bamboo leaves rustled, becoming the most gentle background music for this moment.