262. The Promised Date with Himeko
Yun Ling: "I have to go to class now, let's talk later."
Wendy: "Yes, Yun Ling, your studies are important. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me. I used to be number one in theory classes at St. Freya Academy every year."
Yun Ling: "Oh dear, doesn't that put pressure on me, the current number one? It'll take a lot of effort to surpass such an excellent graduate as Wendy."
Wendy: "Then I look forward to Yun Ling surpassing me! Perhaps in the future, Yun Ling will become Headmistress Theresa's most prized student."
Yun Ling: "Thanks for your kind words."
Wendy put down her phone, but felt a little empty inside.
The two were just chatting casually, but for Wendy, it was a rare pastime.
She was a self-disciplined person, and entertainment was sometimes too far removed from her life.
Now, suddenly having so much free time, she felt quite unaccustomed to it. Fortunately, after getting her contact information, Yunling would chat with her whenever he had free time, which became one of the few ways she could pass the time.
Besides routine checkups and rest, Wendy either read or waited for Yun Ling to message her, sharing interesting things happening in her life.
Wendy rubbed her legs, but still couldn't feel them.
She tried to get out of bed, but her legs felt like they weighed a ton; no matter how hard she tried, she wouldn't budge.
Wendy lay on the bed in despair, her fingers lightly tracing the screen of her phone, watching the time tick by.
...
Finally, the weekend arrived, and the hot spring hotel that Yun Ling had planned was ready.
"Stay calm...stay calm...he's just a little kid..." Himeko kept telling herself in front of the mirror.
The closer the promised time got, the more nervous Himeko became.
This was different from previous dates; after all, this time it was the two of them spending the night at a hot spring hotel. Who knew what might happen?
But it was precisely this nervousness that showed she was also afraid, or perhaps anticipating, something.
Himeko took a deep breath, trying to hide her slight nervousness.
She carried a small bag, her makeup impeccable, exuding the unique charm of a mature woman.
She pushed open the door, and Yun Ling was already waiting outside.
"Phew... let's go," Himeko said to Yun Ling.
"Okay... but can I hold Sister Himeko's hand?" Yun Ling asked tentatively.
"...Whatever," Himeko said, feigning indifference.
Yun Ling gently took Himeko's hand.
Himeko's hands weren't as soft and smooth as Mei's or Kiana's; on the contrary, they were somewhat rough and calloused.
This was because Himeko frequently went out on missions, and her weapon was a greatsword. Its formidable weight, combined with a lack of care, meant that hands like a young girl's would be absurd.
Yun Ling didn't seem to mind, and instead, despite Himeko's slight trembling, he intertwined his fingers with hers.
"How is it? Doesn't it feel as comfortable as other girls' hands?" Himeko asked, but her tone carried a hint of self-deprecation.
"Sister Himeko, do you want the truth or a lie?" Yun Ling raised an eyebrow, feeling like he was being tricked.
"Hmm... I'll hear the lie first," Himeko replied.
"Actually, they all feel about the same," Yun Ling lied.
"Heh, that's a bit too fake. What about the truth?" Himeko pressed.
"When I hold Himeko's hand, my heart starts racing." Yun Ling avoided directly answering Himeko's question.
Sure enough, Himeko paused for a moment upon hearing this, then gave him a reproachful look.
"You cunning little devil," Himeko said with a smile, pleased with the clever answer. Because praising Himeko directly would feel insincere, her hands simply weren't as comfortable to hold as Mei's; that was a fact, and forced praise would only cause resentment.
After all, Himeko knew that Mei was Yunling's official girlfriend. Praising someone by belittling his girlfriend was undoubtedly a serious landmine, a major turn-off for someone wanting to build a harem.
And genuinely commenting on the quality of Himeko's hands would be even worse. No woman likes to expose her imperfections, especially in front of someone she's romantically interested in.
Yun Ling cleverly avoided the trap, speaking from his own perspective and expressing his genuine feelings. This was both authentic and sure to make Himeko's heart flutter.
"These are my honest thoughts," Yun Ling smiled, squeezing Himeko's hand tighter.
"I'm not going to run away. Why are you holding so tight?" Himeko continued to ask.
"I want to express my burning love to Sister Himeko, but I'm tongue-tied, so this is the only way I can do it. Can you feel it?" Yun Ling looked at her playfully.
"Tongue-tied? If you're tongue-tied, then there are no men in the world who can talk." Himeko pouted.
But… well… she seemed to really feel that burning love through the warmth of his fingers.
Even though they hadn't known each other for long, Himeko could always feel that deep love emanating from Yun Ling.
It was as if he had known her for a long time.
To love recklessly? What beautiful words.
"We're here, Sister Himeko. If you want to turn back, I won't stop you." Yun Ling stood in front of the hot spring hotel and said to Himeko beside him.
"It's just Yun Ling, what do I have to be afraid of?" Himeko grasped Yun Ling's hand and pulled him inside.
This time, she no longer called Yun Ling "little brat," but simply "Yun Ling." This was the choice Himeko had made.
She always tried to draw a line between them with her mature demeanor, but Yun Ling repeatedly ignored her attempts, stubbornly standing by her side.
Yun Ling successfully opened a hole in her heart, sheltering himself within it.
How to put it? He truly was a stubborn and domineering man.
The hot spring emitted billowing white steam. There were public hot springs, but Yun Ling would never take Himeko to such a place.
So, he spent a little money to book a VIP room, where only the two of them could enjoy themselves...
Mixed bathing!
Yun Ling changed his clothes first and jumped into the hot spring, immersing himself in it. A warm current surged from his feet to his heart, and the tension in his muscles and the fatigue in his body seemed to gradually dissipate with the ripples of the water.
At this moment, his soul also found peace and solace in the rising steam and the gentle sound of the water.
"This feels amazing! I'll bring Kiana and the others next time," Yun Ling praised.
A short while later, a vibrant red figure appeared before Yun Ling through the steam.
A black swimsuit perfectly outlined her figure, while a white, sheer T-shirt added to her allure.
Her toes cautiously touched the hot spring water; the slightly hot water made her delicate, lychee-like toes curl slightly.
But she still mustered her courage and continued dipping her toes in.
Ripples spread across the surface of the water, and Himeko's body was completely immersed in the hot spring.
Through the steam, her graceful figure beneath the water appeared even more alluring.
A few drops of water landed on her chest, paired with the seemingly seductive mole on her chest, making one want to peek inside.
"What are you looking at?" Himeko felt a little uneasy under Yun Ling's gaze.
It was like being stared at by a large predator.
"Ahem, Himeko is so beautiful, I got me captivated without even realizing it," Yun Ling coughed lightly.
Himeko's gaze was also unconsciously drawn to Yun Ling's physique.
His well-defined muscles, usually hidden beneath loose clothing, made it impossible to tell how good his body truly was.
After all, Yun Ling didn't appear particularly muscular, so Himeko hadn't really noticed.
"Want to touch it?" Yun Ling teased, noticing Himeko's gaze.
"In exchange, how about you touch me?"
"Sure!"
"Dream on."
Himeko lightly tapped Yun Ling's forehead with her finger, then produced a small bottle of sake from somewhere and began to sip.
...