Travel · Hangzhou Arc (Seventeen): Boating on West Lake (Three)

"Are you really planning to row yourselves?" Xiao Ling teased, watching Aemeath group jump onto the rowboat one after another. "Why don't you just choose the electric ones? It's so hot, don't tire yourselves out."

"It's okay, A-Yu, we've discussed it!" Aemeath said with a smile, "We've come all this way, we also want to experience what it's like to row a boat."

It's 1:30 pm, the hottest part of the day. In this kind of weather, rowing a boat by hand would be unbearably hot.

Since Xiao Ling brought them out to play, comfort should be the priority, but Aemeath and the others really wanted to try what it felt like to row a boat.

After confirming several times that Aemeath and the others insisted on rowing themselves, he said nothing, ran to a nearby convenience store to buy a lot of chilled mineral water, and then returned to deliver it to their boat.

The crew on Aemeath's ship consisted of five students from the Star Torch Academy. Each of them weighed an average of fifty kilograms, so carrying an extra bag of ice water was no problem at all.

"Here, drink this on the way. It's very hot, so be careful to avoid heatstroke," Xiao Ling instructed. "If you feel unwell, go ashore immediately. Don't try to be brave."

"A-Yu, so thoughtful!" Aemeath gave him a happy peck. "Here's your reward!"

"Hey, you little rascal..." Xiao Ling said with a laugh, pretending to hit him.

After skillfully dodging Xiao Ling's initial attack, Aemeath playfully stuck out her tongue and then, carrying ice water, prepared to board the ship with her fellow passengers.

After watching Aemeath board the ship, Xiao Ling was about to leave when his phone beeped with a message notification.

Lupa: Partner!

Lupa: You're being unfair!

Lupa: Why won't you buy it for us!

Lupa: [Little Wolf is angry. jpg]

Xiao Ling looked up and saw a small fighting wolf angrily throwing a punch at Xiao Ling on another ship not far from Aemeath.

What else can we do? Spoil them, of course.

So, the same bag of ice water arrived in Lupa's hands, delivered by courier Xiao.

"I thought you'd forgotten about us, Blank ~" Iuno teased Xiao Ling, who arrived late, her tone tinged with jealousy.

"The Righteous One is so caring towards Sister Aemeath," Cartethyia chimed in, feigning envy. "But then again, she's your Righteous One daughter, after all."

"Partner! Were you planning to just leave like this if I hadn't warned you?" Lupa pouted. "We're your comrades who've been through thick and thin with you..."

As for Augusta and Mia, who remained silent behind them, their curiosity about how Xiao Ling would handle this unexpected chaotic situation had taken over.

Looking at the group of girls, Xiao Ling couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

Although Cartethyia and the others each had their own version of events, what they actually wanted to express was quite simple.

"Iuno, since Aemeath and the others can't see us right now, it's okay if you kiss me while you're at it, right?" Xiao Ling said with a grin. "If not on the lips, a kiss on the cheek is fine too, I'm not picky."

(Your Hajiling has become increasingly straightforward since you started eating.)

"Who wants to kiss you!" Iuno's face immediately turned red. "You and Little Ai... biting your lips in front of so many people, aren't you ashamed..."

(The tsundere Iuno performs consistently well in this area.)

"Cart, here's some sunscreen for you, so the blond PE student doesn't turn into a dark-skinned PE student later."

"I don't get tanned that easily..." Cartethyia said coquettishly, but still took the sunscreen Xiao Ling handed her. "But thank you, my Righteous One, this kindness is very precious to me."

Xiao Ling nodded, then earnestly began to rub Lupa's little wolf head without saying a word.

But just doing this completely dispelled the little wolf's lingering resentment.

"Alright, everyone, be careful while rowing, and don't get too carried away, after all, this boat can capsize at any moment," Xiao Ling said with a light laugh.

"Got it!" Lupa and the others responded in unison.

After confirming that everything was absolutely fine, Xiao Ling bid farewell to the two groups of girls who would have to fend for themselves and headed to another dock to board a boat.

"Master! To the Mid-Lake Pavilion!" Xiao Ling scurried into the rowing boat like a monkey.

Once everyone had arrived, the boatman gave a strong shout and began rowing the stern, slowly moving the boat away from the shore.

"This ship... it's quite rocking, is that one of its characteristics?" Jinhsi watched the ship swaying from side to side. "What if it loses its balance..."

"Don't worry, young lady," the uncle at the stern said heartily. "This is my livelihood. I've worked with this old buddy for almost twenty years. I know exactly what this ship is thinking. It's guaranteed to be fine."

"Moreover, this young master is incredibly generous. He only has one request: to get you to the Mid-Lake Pavilion in the middle of the lake safely and comfortably. So, young lady, you can rest assured. Even if this old man falls into the water, I won't let you get a single wet patch!"

"Then the safety of everyone on this ship is entirely in your hands, sir," Suisui said with a bright smile.

Alright.

After the boatman gave a shout, he rowed even harder towards the Mid-Lake Pavilion in the middle of the lake.

During their journey, they met up with another rowboat.

"Rover! How's your boat?" Xiao Ling called out to the Rover sitting on another boat.

Upon hearing Xiao Ling's call, the seated Rover immediately turned around, nodded to the person who had called out, and then sat back down.

Immediately afterward, Xiao Ling's phone received a message from her.

Rover: Everything's fine.

Rover: Encore is a bit seasick, and she's got a long face now.

Xiao Ling: That really made her suffer.

"Xiao Yu, whose message is this?" Yangyang asked, turning her head to the side.

"I'm asking about the situation on that boat over there."

"Even though we were only temporarily separated, Young Master Xiao still cared about the others as always," Jinhsi said with a gentle smile.

"Since I brought you out to have fun, I should be responsible for you," Xiao Ling said gently.

"A-Yu!" A familiar, sweet, girlish voice rang out.

"Yo?" Xiao Ling turned his head and looked at the Aemeath team waving at him from not far away. "You guys row pretty fast!"

"Of course! After all, I'm the great hero who's going to save the world, so rowing a boat is nothing to me!" Aemeath said proudly.

"How long did you row?"

"Less than half an hour!"

"Hey, that girl has a strong voice," the boatman grinned. "I've never seen a girl row this far in half an hour before. I've really seen something new today."

At this moment, another self-rowing boat also approached Xiao Ling's boat.

"Partner!" Lupa exclaimed with a bright smile, "We've finally caught up with you!"

"Wow, Lupa, you've sweated a lot. Are you alright?" Xiao Ling asked with concern as always.

"Absolutely no problem! I've had all this energy for nothing since I got here, and it's finally coming in handy today!" Lupa exclaimed excitedly, then called out to Aemeath across the lake, "Little Ai, let's have a race and see who gets to the Mid-Lake Pavilion in the middle of the lake first!"

"And the stakes?" Aemeath asked with a smile.

"The bet..."

"Forget it, let's talk about this after the competition." Aemeath started to exert herself, "I'm off now~"

"Hey! Little Ai is cheating!" Lupa wasn't going to be outdone, and she followed suit, charging forward with all her might.

"Master, can you keep up?" Xiao Ling asked with a smile. "I can pay extra."

"Hey, talking about money hurts feelings~ You've already given me quite a bit, sir, save it to treat those two rascals properly." The boatman grinned. "Old Li, show us what you've got, we're chasing after the boat!"

Encore:?

The boatman, whom the boatman affectionately called Old Li, did not reply, but instead rowed the boat even more vigorously.

"Hold on tight!" the boatman called out loudly, then quickened the pace of rowing.

The boats were noticeably faster than before, closely following the two boats in front.

The four boats, each vying for space, rowed side by side toward their destination, leaving only ripples in their wake.