Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

The three girls shyly glanced at one another and headed toward the changing room.

The private hot spring’s dressing rooms were different from the public ones — each was in a separate, enclosed space.

The Three Little Ones looked at the private dressing room marked “Women” and then at the men’s room Lin Zhengran went into.

Jiang Xueli couldn’t help complaining, “Why even separate dressing rooms if the hot spring pools themselves aren’t divided by gender?”

Little He Qing wasn’t sure either, and just blurted out, “Maybe... so guys and girls can change clothes separately? For privacy?”

Jiang Xueli and Han Wenwen both gave He Qing a blank stare.

Jiang Xueli sighed, blushing, “That actually makes sense… pretend I didn’t say anything.”

She headed toward the changing room. “But seriously, how are we supposed to bathe with him later?”

After Lili walked in, He Qing suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth, froze, and asked Han Wenwen, “Did I just say something super pointless?!”

Maybe it’s true that girls’ brains tend to short-circuit when they’re around someone they like.

She smiled, “Not really. Honestly, that’s probably exactly what the designer was thinking.”

—

Inside the changing room,

He Qing, Han Wenwen, and Jiang Xueli all held onto their backpacks and froze up for a moment.

Then, slowly, they began changing and pulled out the carefully chosen underwear they’d brought.

He Qing, as usual, went for white.

Han Wenwen chose red.

Jiang Xueli went with yellow — to match her hair.

After they finished changing, Jiang Xueli glanced over at He Qing’s ample upper half,

Eyes wide: “Whoa... He Qing, I never noticed when you wore pajamas, but you’re actually packing?!”

He Qing hugged herself shyly. Honestly, she felt a bit uncomfortable too — it was all a little too revealing.

“Eh? What do you mean packing? I’ve always been like this.”

Jiang Xueli shook her head in disbelief. “I mean, you always looked like you were big, but I thought it was just your bra.”

“It’s not the bra... it’s just how I am.” He Qing’s voice grew even softer.

Then Jiang Xueli turned to Han Wenwen and was even more shocked.

Though Han Wenwen wasn’t as curvy on top as He Qing, her waist and hips…

“D*mn, Han Wenwen... seriously? I kind of noticed before, but now up close — how’s your body this good? This is that legendary ‘perfect-for-having-sons’ kind of figure, right?”

Han Wenwen wasn’t nearly as flustered. She just covered her face and laughed, “Thanks, Lili! You’ve got a good figure too!”

Jiang Xueli lowered her head to look at her own chest.

Then turned around and looked at her waist and hips.

She felt like crying. “Are you serious right now, Han Wenwen?”

Han Wenwen nodded earnestly. “Of course. Sure, maybe you’re not super ‘outstanding’ in certain areas, but you’re really well-proportioned! That petite, loli-like figure of yours is a rare type. I’ve always thought your cuteness is off the charts.”

He Qing nodded slowly. “I think so too. Lili’s cuteness is really special — the kind that makes you feel soft just from her standing there saying nothing.”

Jiang Xueli remembered Lin Zhengran also used to say she was the cutest among the three.

Her cheeks flushed red, and she shyly clasped her hands behind her back, twisting slightly.

“Really…? Am I really that cute? Thanks, you two.”

—

After changing, the three girls left the dressing room and walked toward the private hot spring.

On the way, Little He Qing clasped her hands in front of her like she always did.

Jiang Xueli had her hands behind her back.

Han Wenwen had a faint smirk on her lips.

Whenever the Three Little Ones acted like this, it only meant one thing:

They were expecting the upcoming situation to be super awkward.

They opened the door to the private spring —

Lin Zhengran was already in, sitting comfortably in the water with his arms stretched along the sides, letting out a long, relaxed sigh.

When he heard the girls come in, he turned around to look at the three of them — each in different colored swimsuits — and sized up their figures.

Yep, each one of them was top-tier gorgeous.

“You made it? Come on in. The water actually feels amazing.”

The Three Little Ones slowly entered the hot spring.

Once they got in, they could feel that the water was different from a normal bath — it was milky, had flower petals floating on the surface, and emitted a soft, indescribable fragrance.

It made them relax almost instantly.

He Qing and Jiang Xueli had thought the whole thing would be crazy awkward —

I mean, soaking in a hot spring with Lin Zhengran?

Just imagining it was already enough to short-circuit their brains…

But to their surprise, it wasn’t as awkward as they feared.

Lin Zhengran had his eyes closed the entire time, just leaning back and chilling.

Jiang Xueli cupped a handful of water and petals in her hands.

“So this is what a hot spring’s like, huh? The water’s always warm… but why’s it this color? Did they add milk?”

Little He Qing cupped some too. “I’ve never been in one before, but I read online that it’s from minerals in the water reacting with air — oxidation or something?”

Lin Zhengran, eyes still closed, replied,

“Yeah, He Qing’s right. But different springs have different colors depending on the location.”

Han Wenwen asked quietly, “I read online that a lot of hot springs are fake. Brother Zhengran, is this one real?”

Lin Zhengran opened his eyes and raised his hand.

“I wouldn’t have brought you here if it wasn’t. Here’s the easiest way to tell — if your fingers don’t wrinkle after soaking a while, it’s real. If it’s just regular hot water, they’ll wrinkle.”

Han Wenwen was impressed. “Really? You’re amazing, Brother Zhengran! Let me scrub your back!”

“Mhm, go ahead.”

The Little Fox swam over, squeezed some of the spa’s complimentary body wash, and started rubbing it on Lin Zhengran’s back.

Jiang Xueli and He Qing were stunned.

Wow, Wenwen’s bold — not even a hint of shyness.

After rubbing the soap, Han Wenwen began massaging his shoulders with her soft hands.

From behind him, she purred, “Does it feel good, Brother Zhengran?”

He Qing and Jiang Xueli’s faces turned bright red.

Maybe it was the heat…

Or maybe it was just that Han Wenwen was so freaking good at this.

Lin Zhengran let out a satisfied sigh.

“Feels great.”

Jiang Xueli couldn’t take it anymore — What the heck is this?! She swam over.

“Zhengran, I’ll help too!”

He Qing followed. “Me too!”

Lin Zhengran looked at the three of them now surrounding him.

He Qing and Jiang Xueli were massaging his arms and chest,

while Han Wenwen stayed behind him, working on his shoulders.

He sighed, “One person would’ve been enough… all three of you?”

None of them answered. They just kept their heads down and blushed.

Only Jiang Xueli mumbled, “Just shut up and enjoy it, you dummy.”

So Lin Zhengran didn’t argue.

After the trio finished scrubbing and massaging him, they each went back to their own spots.

After hiking for two days, a hot bath really was the most blissful thing on Earth.

Lin Zhengran said, “I’m heading to the bathroom. You guys stay and enjoy.”

The girls replied with soft "mm"s.

But the moment Lin Zhengran stood up and walked out of the water,

Little Fox, Jiang Xueli, and He Qing all blushed furiously.

Their eyes were locked right on him as he walked away.

Little He Qing, nervous as always, asked,

“Lin Zhengran… were you soaking like that the whole time? I gave you clean underwear — you didn’t change?”

Lin Zhengran reached over to the little locker beside the pool and pulled out a pair of clean men’s underwear.

“It’s a bath — why change into anything? You’re all my girlfriends. There’s nothing to hide. But I’ll put something on to go to the restroom.”

The Three Little Ones nearly died from embarrassment when they heard that.

None of them said a word.