...
Walking along a certain path, Lucian suddenly heard a burst of playful laughter and splashing.
He stepped to the roadside railing and looked down—below was a large swimming pool hidden from view. The pool water had absorbed the color of the sky, with countless flecks of golden sunlight dancing across its surface.
He had originally planned to head to the kids' play area for a while, but he immediately changed his mind and set off toward this pool instead.
...
"So comfortable~"
With his legs curled up and leaning back in the reclining chair, sleepiness crept in uninvited.
But the sunlight was indeed too glaring, forcing Lucian to put on his sunglasses.
Moreover, he didn't dare fall asleep—afraid that when he woke up, the sun would have etched the shape of his sunglasses onto his face.
"Hello sir, would you be interested in trying this drink?"
While Lucian was enjoying the moment, a voice sounded beside his ear.
He turned his head—three girls in bikinis stood there. "Are there part-timers here too?"
Lucian looked behind the three girls—no tails. Definitely not horse girls.
"Mm... we're here part-time to begin with." One of the girls answered.
"Working part-time here lets you use all the facilities for free, right?" Lucian asked again.
"Yes, but work comes first." The girl lifted the tray holding many small tasting cups to chest level. "Would you like to try one, sir?"
"Sure, thanks."
The ice-cold, refreshing drink melted on his tongue—the flavor was unexpectedly good. In the middle of summer, maybe he could develop something similar as a functional beverage later.
Even though the horse girls weren't around, he had already subconsciously started thinking about them.
Lucian confirmed it: he really was a good man.
"Sir, would it be convenient to add your contact info? You could learn about other products in our shop~" the girl said next.
But Lucian noticed that when she spoke those words, the corners of the other two girls' mouths lifted in barely perceptible smiles.
He quickly understood the girl's intention of mixing personal motives with business. Still, having taken their sample, he felt it would be rude to refuse outright—he gave her a thin face by exchanging contacts.
But once the three girls walked far enough away, he deleted her information.
"So comfortable~" Pillow his arms behind his head, watching the tourists splashing and playing in the pool, Lucian sighed from the heart once again.
"Is it really that comfortable?"
A familiar voice rang right beside Lucian's ear.
He pulled his sunglasses down and looked at Grass Wonder, who had appeared beside him at some point. "Grass? How did you end up over here too?"
"Those rides are too childish. I don't really feel like playing them." There happened to be an empty reclining chair nearby—Grass Wonder sat down gracefully.
Her swimsuit today was in blue and white tones.
The top was a short white gauze blouse, with a blue ribbon tied into a pretty bow at the collar. The sheer double sleeves were like veils, wrapping around a pair of slender arms; the ruffled cuffs resembled clustered petals.
The bottom was a lace-patterned triangle bikini, with ribbons at the waist tied into playful arcs—looking both snug and relaxed at the same time.
The girl's lively elegance seemed woven entirely into this small piece of fabric.
But there was one slight imperfection... no, not imperfection—more like a characteristic. Grass Wonder also had a little tummy pudge.
Perhaps because she'd spent too much time hanging around Mejiro McQueen and Special Week, indulging in too many delicacies and grains.
"Is it really because the rides are too childish, or is Grass just scared to play them?" The same excuse—Lucian had already heard it once from Mejiro McQueen.
The young ladies all had their own image management to maintain.
Only now did Lucian fully understand why Tokai Teio was so obsessed with snapping embarrassing photos of Mejiro McQueen: the huge contrast provided huge amusement.
Grass Wonder twirled her fingertip around her own hair, her heart like a balloon that had been poked—not exploding, but slowly deflating. "It's just boring, that's all. Trainer Lucian, don't overthink it."
"And why is Trainer Lucian lying here? Are you scared?"
Her counter-question had little effect on Lucian.
Sincerity was the ultimate killer move.
"Yeah, after two rides I couldn't take it anymore, so I came here to retire early. What's wrong with that?"
Lucian adjusted his reclining position, speaking with utter ease. "That's why I asked Grass the same thing. Anyway... I'm lying down."
"Fine, got it." A cold glint flashed through Grass Wonder's eyes—like a coiled snake flicking its tongue out then swiftly retracting.
She really wanted to teach this arrogant Trainer Lucian a lesson at every possible moment...
Grass Wonder also leaned back in her chair, hands folded over her neat navel. "Trainer Lucian really is full of charm. Just lying here casually, and three little girls come up to hit on you."
"Those were just newly spawned summer part-time college students~" Lucian hadn't expected Grass Wonder to have seen it too. "They were only trying to sell me drinks."
"Oh~ Oh oh~ Go tell that to Suzuka and the others."
"Tell Suzuka and the others..." Lucian tapped the armrest twice. The words caught in his throat, as if he were swallowing back some unspeakable emotion. "What does that have to do with anything?"
At times like this, sunglasses were truly wonderful—they hid the eyes behind them, showing not the slightest panic.
"Of course it does. If Trainer Lucian gets swept away like that, all your thoughts will go toward dating, won't they?"
"Hah~ How could that be? Grass, you're overthinking it way too much." Lucian suddenly felt much more relaxed.
"Hey, Trainer Lucian—do you see that couple over there in the pool, laughing and chatting?"
Lucian took off his sunglasses and looked ahead. "Yeah, I see them."
But there were at least five or six couples in the pool—Lucian didn't know which one Grass Wonder meant.
"They're just hugging and kissing so brazenly like that? Don't they care about everyone else watching..." Grass Wonder said in astonishment.
Lucian immediately knew which pair she was talking about.
Gotta say—these two lovebirds had some guts. The guy stood behind the girl, leaning over her head to kiss her deeply.
One hand held her waist, the other hidden underwater—judging by the ripples stirred by his arm, he was conveying some secret, hidden message.
"Not suitable for kids... you probably shouldn't watch." Lucian said.
"Trainer Lucian, I've been an adult for a long time too. I'm just curiously observing this sort of thing from a rational, objective perspective."
Grass Wonder's tone was far too matter-of-fact.
And her narrowed eyes were like book pages glued shut—prohibiting anyone from reading them—so Lucian couldn't discern her true feelings underneath.
But since she put it that way, Lucian really had no reason to stop her. "Then go ahead and watch..."
"Trainer Lucian, have you ever kissed someone? What does it feel like?" Grass Wonder asked like a complete novice apprentice, full of exploratory curiosity. "Can you tell me about it?"
...