Hot Pot, a Swimming Pool, and the Intoxicating Sparkle!

Lin Hai and Sparkle pushed open the glass door of a Sichuan-style hot pot restaurant.

A rich, fiery aroma hit them, blending the mellow richness of beef tallow with the numbing bite of Sichuan peppercorns and the heat of chilies.

It was enough to set their taste buds and nerves alight.

The restaurant buzzed with voices and billowed with steam. At the center of every table, a pot bubbled away.

The bright red broth churned, giving off a mouthwatering aroma.

Lin Hai and Sparkle chose a relatively quiet booth and sat down.

Sparkle wanted it extra spicy.

Lin Hai ordered an extra-spicy broth.

A little excited, Sparkle picked up the electronic ordering screen and swiped quickly through it.

Beef tripe, beef aorta, goose intestines, beef, brains...

She added all sorts of dishes to the cart, one after another.

Before long, small plates arrived at the table in a steady stream, surrounding the pot of red-oil hot pot bubbling more and more fiercely in the center.

The two cooked their food in the broth and chatted casually.

Sparkle gently swished a tender slice of beef through the boiling broth and suddenly said, "No matter how beautiful Penacony's dreams are, I'll always get bored of playing in them eventually. Right now, I really want to visit somewhere a little more... different."

Lin Hai picked up some cooked beef tripe and put it in his bowl, then looked up at her.

"Then how about staying by my side?"

His voice was calm.

Sparkle burst out laughing and shook her head.

"Just staying isn't exciting enough~ What I want is the kind of feeling... that sets my blood on fire!"

"There's plenty of excitement here too," Lin Hai said, trying to persuade her.

"Not that kind." Sparkle put down her chopsticks, leaned forward slightly, and lowered her voice. "The kind of excitement... where you're walking the line between life and death, with your life hanging by a thread!"

Lin Hai fell silent for a moment, then told her the truth. "There are basically no places like that in this region. It's relatively peaceful here. As for places where life hangs by a thread... they do exist, but things are complicated there. It wouldn't be a good idea to get involved rashly."

"Oh?" Sparkle immediately caught the opening in his words and pressed him. "So there is a way to get involved, right?"

Lin Hai pondered for a moment, then said, "I know a place where conflicts are tangled together and danger lurks around every corner... Are you sure you want to get involved?"

"Yes, absolutely sure!" Sparkle answered without hesitation.

The weariness vanished from her face, replaced by keen interest.

"All right. The first thing we need to do," Lin Hai continued, "is make sure there's a food supply there. Survival always comes first."

"So where is it?"

"Belobog, a city covered in ice and snow. It could be plunged into a Stellaron crisis at any time."

"A Stellaron crisis?" Sparkle repeated. "How interesting!"

"Then..." Lin Hai extended a formal invitation. "Will you come with me and try to solve the problems Belobog is facing?"

"Yes, I'd be delighted!"

Just then, Lin Hai noticed that the tripe Sparkle had put in earlier was cooked just right.

He picked up a crisp, tender piece and gently placed it in her dipping oil.

"Try it. It's cooked just right."

Sparkle took it and popped it into her mouth, chewing with relish.

The crisp texture and the intensely numbing, spicy, savory flavor bloomed on her tongue, but what made her heart truly blossom with joy at that moment was undoubtedly the adventure in Belobog.

The warmth of the hot pot spread through their stomachs.

Lin Hai gently wiped the corners of his mouth and asked, "Are you full?"

"I am."

"Then let's go home."

"Let's not rush back. I haven't had enough fun yet."

"Oh?" Lin Hai raised an eyebrow. "Any other good ideas?"

"Let's go swimming!" A note of eager anticipation entered Sparkle's voice. "What do you think?"

"Of course," Lin Hai agreed.

Sparkle leaned close to Lin Hai's ear, her breath fragrant as orchids. "I'll leave the swimming arrangements to you... As long as I'm satisfied, I'll give you a special reward when we get home."

"What kind of reward?"

"The kind that's guaranteed to... send you to heaven."

Sparkle's voice was soft, like a feather brushing the tip of his heart, leaving endless room for imagination.

"Even more wonderful than Penacony's Dreamjolt?"

"Of course! I guarantee you'll never forget it!"

The conversation kindled Lin Hai's enthusiasm.

He immediately took out his phone, his fingertips sliding rapidly across the screen as he carefully looked through the nearby swimming facilities.

He soon found a temperature-controlled pool with a pleasant setting and modern facilities.

With one phone call, he promptly settled the details.

He rented out the entire pool, solely so they could enjoy some private time without being disturbed.

Before long, the two arrived at the swimming facility.

The lighting inside was soft, the air warm and humid. Tiny lights dotted the great glass dome overhead, complementing the crystal-clear pool below.

First, they had to pick out swimsuits.

Lin Hai quickly chose a simple pair of dark swim trunks for himself.

Sparkle, meanwhile, carefully browsed the dazzling array of women's swimsuits.

Lin Hai's gaze swept over a row of racks before he finally took down a one-piece swimsuit with a distinctive design.

It would trace her figure without sacrificing a touch of understated elegance.

Sparkle accepted the swimsuit, surprise and satisfaction showing in her eyes.

After changing, she emerged from the changing room. The swimsuit fit her curves perfectly, as though it had been tailored for her, making her shapely figure and clear, fair skin look even more alluring.

"Does it look good?"

"It does."

"Do you like it?"

"I do."

Sparkle embraced Lin Hai and said with a smile, "As long as you like it, I'm willing to wear anything!"

Lin Hai pinched Sparkle's little cheek. "You really are a vixen! A first-rate vixen!"

"Then do you like this vixen?"

"I like you more than anything!"

Arm in arm, they walked to the edge of the pool.

The water was a clear azure, its ripples scattering flecks of light beneath the lamps. A faint mist of moisture hung in the air.

Lin Hai stopped, his gaze falling on Sparkle. For a moment, he found it hard to look away.

The mist softly enveloped her, and droplets occasionally slipped from the ends of her hair, traveling down the graceful curve of her neck.

Her figure was reflected in the rippling water, like a lotus emerging from the water. She possessed the freshness and vivacity of a young girl, yet unwittingly gave off an innocent allure that made his heart race.

Innocence.

Allure.

Those two words seemed somewhat contradictory when used to describe a girl.

Yet the experience and feeling Sparkle gave Lin Hai were just that contradictory and harmonious.

Sparkle carried those two completely different qualities well.

So instinctive, so natural.

Lin Hai felt his mood improve.

He stretched, feeling the most lively youthful energy from Sparkle. She was free-spirited and impossible to control, yet so captivating!