Chapter 438: The Thrilling Hot Spring Game

Under Li Luo's guidance, Yan Zhusheng obediently sat on the stone stool in the hot spring, then turned to look at the two sisters at the door and explained seriously:

"Li Luo didn't touch my leg just now—he was just helping me find a spot."

Hearing this, Li Luo immediately felt a wave of black lines cross his forehead: "You might as well not have explained."

Xu Youyu and Ying Chanxi walked to the edge of the pool.

Xu Youyu didn't seem to care at all, smiling warmly at Li Luo.

Beside her, Ying Chanxi let out a soft huff, but said nothing.

Yet whenever she recalled the image of Li Luo touching Yan Zhusheng's thigh, she automatically remembered the scene that afternoon when Li Luo had applied sunscreen to her—and suddenly, it felt as if Li Luo's large hand still lingered on her own thigh, making her cheeks slightly flush.

"I'm coming~" Xu Youyu had already taken off her bathrobe and stepped into the pool.

Although Li Luo had seen Xu Youyu's swimsuit several times before, seeing it again now still made his eyes brighten.

Especially when Xu Youyu climbed down the steps into the hot spring, the contours of her body shifting and warping like tectonic plates, Li Luo's gaze involuntarily fixated on this geological wonder.

Admiring it, marveling at nature's exquisite craftsmanship—it truly encompassed everything, so miraculous.

"By the way, are there chairs in here?" Xu Youyu asked, noticing both of them seated in the water at a height that didn't match the pool floor.

"There should be some over here," Li Luo pointed to the empty spots beside and across from him. "Be careful—don't bump your feet. There are still two spots left; our numbers are perfect."

"Oh, let me check." Xu Youyu walked past Li Luo, bent over slightly, and probed the spot just ahead of his right hand—her fingers immediately touched the stone stool.

But as she bent down, Li Luo instinctively glanced—and was met with a massive shock, momentarily stunned.

Especially since Xu Youyu's swimsuit top was a strap-style design, tied only around the neck, with no extra strings.

So when she bent forward, the top slightly loosened downward.

He cursed the mist rising from the hot spring's surface—it made Li Luo see mountains, yet obscure the details within, like peering through fog at flowers, catching only a fleeting glimpse of a crimson peak before it vanished beneath the haze.

Yet even that fleeting glimpse was enough to make Li Luo involuntarily hold his breath; even when Xu Youyu sat down and the water surged like waves against the slopes, he still couldn't tear his gaze away.

Only when a foot beneath the water stealthily nudged him did Li Luo snap back to reality—he looked up and met Xu Youyu's smiling eyes, then quickly looked away, clearing his throat to mask his embarrassment.

Xu Youyu was already used to that guy's lecherous gaze and just chuckled, ignoring him—yet her foot beneath the water continued its practiced teasing, her eyes turning to Ying Chanxi standing on the shore: "Why isn't Xixi coming in yet?"

"Oh… I'm, I'm coming." Ying Chanxi had watched Xu Youyu enter the pool but hadn't noticed the details of what had just happened.

Yet seeing Li Luo staring fixedly at Xu Youyu's chest, Ying Chanxi felt a slight pang of displeasure.

Thinking of how much less she had in this regard compared to Xu Youyu, Ying Chanxi couldn't help pouting—until Xu Youyu reminded her, snapping her out of it.

But just as she was about to unfasten her bathrobe, she remembered the way Li Luo had stared at Xu Youyu's chest—and her face flushed crimson. She muttered shyly: "Li Luo… could you turn your head away first?"

"Huh?" Li Luo blinked, then realized—bursting into laughter. "When we bought the swimsuits, you were right there in the changing room—we saw each other naked. What's there to be shy about?"

Saying this, Li Luo stood up immediately, escaping the foot's sneak attack, stiff as a board as he walked to the shore, reaching out to grasp the collar of Ying Chanxi's bathrobe.

"Back in the hallway, you weren't saying that, were you?" Li Luo held the robe's collar, smiling at Ying Chanxi. "Didn't you say that as long as I…"

"Shut—shut up! Don't you dare say it!" Ying Chanxi cut him off mid-sentence, quickly raising her hand to clamp over his mouth, her face blazing red.

"Mmmmm." Li Luo's words were muffled; when Ying Chanxi finally released him, he grinned. "Fine, I won't say it—let me help you take off your robe."

"Mm…" Ying Chanxi turned her blushing face away, avoiding his gaze, but spread her arms slightly, surrendering completely.

Seeing this, Li Luo made no hesitation—he gripped the collar of her bathrobe and slowly pulled it open, revealing the scene beneath.

Ying Chanxi wore a cute orange-yellow swimsuit: the top resembled Xu Youyu's in shape, but was smaller, more adorable.

It wasn't strap-tied—it had shoulder straps, gently cradling her two small mounds and even faintly outlining a shallow valley between them, unlike Yan Zhusheng's completely flat chest, which relied on ruffled edges to hide nothing.

Though these hills weren't tall or large, their rounded shape, firm peaks, and the delicate valley between them made for a uniquely charming sight.

Compared to the rugged grandeur of high mountains and deep valleys, this youthful, modest beauty of small hills and shallow valleys held its own special charm.

After finally removing Ying Chanxi's bathrobe, Li Luo hung it on the nearby rack, then took her small hand and guided her into the hot spring.

Ying Chanxi, face flushed, followed Li Luo into the water, carefully finding the last stone stool and sitting down, gazing across at Li Luo.

The four had barely settled around the stone table when the hot spring's door opened again.

Two maids entered, carrying trays of fruit and drinks, and also brought the chess pieces Li Luo had requested earlier.

Contrary to Li Luo's expectations, the boss's chess pieces weren't ordinary wooden ones—they were carved from some mineral Li Luo couldn't identify.

One black, one red—extremely beautiful.

Heavy in hand, with an excellent feel.

"These pieces won't be damaged by water—feel free to use them," the maid said from the shore. "If you need anything else, just press this button. Please enjoy your hot spring to the fullest."

With that, the two maids bowed and left.

Xu Youyu toyed with the chess pieces on the table, laughing. "I thought the chessboard carved into this table was just decoration—turns out you can actually play on it?"

"Why not? The boss's thinking is beyond ordinary people—we just play." Li Luo picked up a grape and popped it in his mouth, then grinned at the three women. "I am the Yinjiang Chess King—who among you three can beat me?"

"I know the rules," Xu Youyu blinked. "I played with my dad as a kid, but haven't touched it since."

"I know a little too," Ying Chanxi said from across.

"I don't know how," Yan Zhusheng shook her head honestly. "But I can learn—Li Luo, teach me."

"Cough…" Li Luo cleared his throat. "Actually, I'm not great either—I only played with my dad as a kid."

"And you still call yourself Chess King?" Xu Youyu stared at him in disbelief.

"Kings are usually male," Li Luo said seriously. "I'm the only man here—so naturally, I'm the Chess King."

"Cheeky bastard," Ying Chanxi muttered under her breath. "Fine, let's play a game."

"Alright."

"Wait, wait," Xu Youyu quickly raised her hand to stop him, then grinned mischievously. "I think just playing chess is boring—we need stakes."

As she spoke, she rubbed her fingers together, her expression dripping with innuendo.

At her words, the other three all turned their gazes toward her.

Li Luo's heart skipped a beat; Ying Chanxi's face flushed, certain the senior was about to say something outrageous.

Across from Xu Youyu, Yan Zhusheng wore an expression of eager curiosity, asking: "Senior, what kind of stakes?"

"The loser," Xu Youyu gently tugged at the strap of her black swimsuit, the contrast against her pale skin making it especially alluring, "how about taking off one piece of clothing?"

Li Luo: "…?"

Ying Chanxi: "Eh?!"

Yan Zhusheng: "Okay."

"What do you mean 'okay'?" Li Luo stared at Yan Zhusheng, speechless. "Why 'okay'?"

"We're just soaking in the hot spring," Yan Zhusheng blinked innocently at Li Luo. "Taking it off shouldn't matter, right?"

"It matters a lot!" Ying Chanxi's face flushed crimson, like a steaming bubble tea pot, as if she were about to emit steam. "Wearing a swimsuit is one thing, but taking it off? That's just too… too…"

"What's so wrong with it?" Xu Youyu grinned. She turned to Ying Chanxi. "Chanxi, let me ask you something."

"What?" Ying Chanxi, dazed, looked at Xu Youyu with a blank expression.

Xu Youyu slipped both hands beneath the water, fiddling with something. After a few seconds, she asked Ying Chanxi: "I say I'm not wearing swim trunks right now—do you believe me?" "Eh?!" Ying Chanxi's eyes widened, and she instinctively glanced beneath the water's surface.

The hot spring water had been artificially infused with minerals to mimic natural hot spring water, giving it a faint milky-white hue.

Ying Chanxi peered beneath the water—she saw nothing.

"You don't know whether I'm telling the truth, do you?" Xu Youyu smiled sweetly. "So even if I took it off, you wouldn't see anything anyway. What's the difference between wearing it and not wearing it? Are you afraid Li Luo will sneak a feel?"

"Mmm…" Ying Chanxi wasn't sure if she was dizzy from the heat or from Xu Youyu's logic. After this exchange, she stole a glance at Li Luo.

Seeing that although Li Luo seemed to resist on the surface, his eyes held a hint of anticipation, Ying Chanxi finally bit her lip—and gave a tiny nod.

"Great!" Seeing Ying Chanxi agreed, Xu Youyu's spirits lifted. She slammed her palm on the stone table. "Then let's start—who's first?"

Though Ying Chanxi had agreed, the thought of possibly undressing in front of Li Luo still made her shy and embarrassed. She lowered her head and said nothing.

Seeing this, Xu Youyu didn't press the little sister. She cheerfully pointed at Li Luo. "How about you and me go first? Zhusheng, you watch and learn the rules. Winner stays, loser takes the penalty and steps down."

"Go ahead."

Seeing all three girls agreed, Li Luo had no reason to refuse. He accepted the situation willingly.

He even felt a flicker of excitement.

His Memory Palace activated fully, scouring every memory of chess from his past life, barely scraping together some playing techniques from his father.

Compared to Go, chess was much simpler.

Just memorize each piece's movement rules, then find a way to capture the opponent's leader.

"The black leader is the General; the red leader is the Emperor," Li Luo said as he arranged the pieces, explaining to Yan Zhusheng beside him. "Whichever side captures the other's leader wins."

As he spoke, Xu Youyu, playing red, moved her cannon to the center, targeting Li Luo's pawn.

Li Luo advanced his horse to protect the pawn—standard opening play.

But with the Memory Palace's enhancement, even the modest skills he'd borrowed from his father were more than enough to handle Xu Youyu's level.

Within minutes, Xu Youyu was defeated.

"Oh dear, I lost," Xu Youyu blinked, her cheeks flushed despite having proposed the penalty herself. Her gaze drifted suggestively toward Li Luo. She bit her lip. "Which piece should I take off first?"

"Cough… you pick," Li Luo couldn't bring himself to say it, but his eyes were fixed on the black strap.

Xu Youyu naturally noticed where his gaze lingered. She rolled her eyes at him, then turned her back to Li Luo, glancing over her shoulder. "This strap's a bit tight—could you help me undo it?"

Xu Youyu naturally noticed where his gaze was drifting, giving him a withering look before turning around with a smile, her back now facing Li Luo, and saying, "This strap is a bit tight—could you help me untie it?"

Ying Chanxi, beside him, widened her eyes in shock—she hadn't expected her senior to pull off something like this.

Yan Zhusheng watched intently, studying the scene before her.

"You're sure?" Li Luo swallowed hard, unable to help asking.

"I already said it. What else?" Xu Youyu leaned slightly toward Li Luo, still facing him, winking seductively. "Hurry up—I've got others waiting."

"Cough… then I'll go," Li Luo bowed to necessity. He lifted his hands from the hot spring, gently pinching the bow at the strap's end.

A slight tug—and the strap came undone instantly. Li Luo couldn't help mentally grumbling: Is this what she meant by "tight"?

With just a slight tug, the strap came undone instantly, making Li Luo silently grumble inside: Is this what the senior sister meant by "a bit tight"?

"Thanks," Xu Youyu smiled, reaching out to take the strap. The loosened band dangled limply in her hand.

She turned back to face the stone table, but the strap that had once rested on her chest now floated on the water's surface.

She cupped it in both hands, cheeks slightly flushed. Noticing Li Luo's gaze, she gave him a sultry glare—then, still embarrassed, sank her upper body fully beneath the water.

The next instant, a black, sexy swimsuit top floated to the surface, drifting toward Li Luo, who reached out and caught it.

"All done with my penalty," Xu Youyu raised her hands in the water—only daring to lift her forearms. A rare blush crept across her face.

Li Luo, imagining what lay beneath the water, lost all interest in chess. He wished he had eyes that could see through the surface.

But Xu Youyu was already urging: "Who's next?"

"I will," Yan Zhusheng raised her hand.

Ying Chanxi had intended to go next—after all, Yan Zhusheng had just started learning chess.

But Yan Zhusheng moved too fast. Ying Chanxi hadn't reacted yet, still dazed as she stared at the swimsuit in Li Luo's hand.

The chessboard was reset. Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng played a game.

The outcome was predictable.

Barely two or three minutes in, Yan Zhusheng clumsily lost her entire position as Li Luo captured her General outright.

But Yan Zhusheng wasn't upset about losing. She immediately stood up from the hot spring.

Yan Zhusheng didn't want to take off her swimsuit top, so she turned her back to Li Luo, sticking out her little butt. "Li Luo, my swimsuit bottoms are a bit tight."

"You're tight for nothing!" Li Luo slapped her butt, making her plop back onto the stone bench. "Take it off yourself."

"Oh, fine…" Yan Zhusheng pouted, annoyed. She thought Li Luo was unfair—his senior got help, but she didn't.

Underwater, she removed her swimsuit bottoms, then placed them on the water's surface. Secretly, she extended her bare toes beneath the water.

So, underwater, Yan Zhusheng took off his swimsuit, placed it on the water's surface, and stealthily extended his toes beneath the water.

The next moment, Li Luo stiffened all over.

Opposite him, Ying Chanxi remained unaware, already rearranging the pieces, her face flushed as she said to Li Luo, "Our turn now."

"Mm… go ahead." Li Luo's expression didn't change, but his breathing grew heavier; he braced his arms on the stone table and straightened his back.

He roughly judged the direction of the mischievous foot beneath the water and deduced who was causing trouble.

During the game, he occasionally glared at Yan Zhusheng.

But Yan Zhusheng thought Li Luo was signaling her to keep going, so she extended her second foot as well, making Li Luo draw a sharp breath.

"What's wrong?" Ying Chanxi asked, puzzled.

"Nothing." Li Luo picked up a piece. "Let's continue."

At that moment, Xu Youyu, who had guessed something, happened to have her upper body submerged in the water, so she quietly reached out her hand.

Her hand met Yan Zhusheng's foot directly.

Li Luo's hands were both above water; now, the identity of the hand gripping his foot was clear to Yan Zhusheng across the board.

The two girls exchanged a glance across the chessboard, silently agreeing to say nothing.

Only when Li Luo won another round and Ying Chanxi was about to face punishment did they temporarily let Li Luo off the hook.

"Phew…" Li Luo exhaled deeply, feeling this game had exhausted him more than any exam.

When Ying Chanxi realized she had lost, her face flushed crimson; she lowered her head, unable to meet Li Luo's gaze.

"Looks like Xixi's swimwear's a bit tight," Xu Youyu chuckled. "Should Li Luo go help her out?"