After taking off his jacket and pants, Xinhai, wearing only a pair of shorts, stepped onto the hardened wall of the pit and slowly lowered himself into the water.
The temperature was just right—not too hot, not too cold—as it enveloped his body perfectly.
"Phew..." Xinhai let out a long breath and leaned against the pit wall, submerging everything below his neck.
The exhaustion from pulling the boat all day seemed to be soaked out of his muscles by the hot water. Every pore on his body relaxed.
Above him stretched a sky full of stars. Beside his ears came the low rumble of waves striking the shore, while the campfire crackled behind him, occasionally tossing sparks that traced tiny streaks of light through the night sky.
Eevee squatted by the edge of the pit, their big brown eyes watching Xinhai in the water. Their fluffy tail swayed gently behind them as a soft purring sound rose from their throat.
"Vee~"
At some point, Eevee had run over and squatted beside the pit, their big brown eyes fixed on the steam rising from the water as their fluffy tail gently swayed behind them.
Seeing that the little one wanted to soak with him, Xinhai reached out, scooped Eevee up, and gently placed them in the water.
"Vee!" Startled by the warm water, Eevee's fur stood on end. Their four little paws flailed wildly twice beneath the surface before they quickly adapted.
They floated on the surface, their four little legs paddling now and then like a fluffy little boat.
"Vee~" Eevee let out a comfortable hum, their eyes narrowing into slits as their fluffy tail lightly slapped the water, splashing tiny droplets.
Seeing this, Axew came pattering over as well and leaped into the water after a short run-up.
Splash—