Japanese-style hot spring inns, though called rooms, were actually just small, partitioned spaces.
The wooden doors, with white paper serving as windows, offered little privacy; one could easily poke a hole through the paper with a bit of force and see inside.
However, the maidens here clearly lacked such boldness, having been well-trained, they wouldn't perform such an unseemly act.
So, when some noisy sounds emanated from the room, the nearby maidens merely blushed, looking at each other before shyly averting their gazes, offering no comments.
Yet, from the glances they exchanged, one could discern mutual teasing and shyness, and the maidens couldn't help but cover their faces with their sleeves, letting out suppressed giggles.
"Su Rui, wait a moment, I've never done such strenuous exercise as mountain climbing before, at least, let me get used to it~"
Inside the room, Yukinoshita Haruno pleaded, wrapping her arms around Su Rui's neck, looking at him with alluring eyes, yet saying she hoped he would consider her situation and slow down a bit.
"You'll adapt quickly."
Su Rui held Yukinoshita Haruno's shoulders, sending spiritual energy into her body to heal her wounds and alleviate her discomfort.
"You truly are gentle; I said I was uncomfortable, and you genuinely cared for my body."
Yukinoshita Haruno leaned into Su Rui's embrace, about to say more, but her phone rang.
"Hm?"
Yukinoshita Haruno, instinctively tensing, reached out and grabbed the ringing phone, glancing at the caller ID.
"It's Shizuka Hiratsuka?"
Yukinoshita Haruno let out a small gasp, then, as if she'd thought of something, held up the phone displaying the caller ID to Su Rui, a foxy cunning in her smiling eyes: "Su Rui, what do you think, if I answer the phone now and talk to Shizuka Hiratsuka while I'm intimate with you, would that be alright?"
The thought of Shizuka Hiratsuka, who was trying to get closer to Su Rui, making less progress than her, who was directly on the offensive, made Yukinoshita Haruno want to laugh.
However, her thought merely flashed by, and she then looked into Su Rui's eyes, awaiting his answer; whether to answer the phone or not depended on his decision.
"...Don't let Shizuka Hiratsuka know what we're doing."
Su Rui nodded, urging her while holding her waist: "So, answer the phone quickly, don't make Shizuka Hiratsuka wait too long."
As Su Rui's urging words came out, Yukinoshita Haruno smoothly answered the call, tossed her hair, and put the phone to her ear: "Hello? Shizuka Hiratsuka? Is there something you need to call me about now? Is it about Su Rui?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Shizuka Hiratsuka on the other end was first a bit agitated, then quickly lowered her voice and asked: "Haruno, is it convenient for you over there? There's something I want to ask."
Yukinoshita Haruno sat in Su Rui's embrace, turned her head to nuzzle his cheek, then suppressed her desire to laugh aloud, smiling as she spoke: "Of course it's convenient, Shizuka Hiratsuka, if there's something you want to tell me, just say it? Hiss~"
Shizuka Hiratsuka on the other end noticed Yukinoshita Haruno's sharp intake of breath and asked with some concern.
"What's wrong? You sound a bit uncomfortable?"
Yukinoshita Haruno lightly patted Su Rui's thigh with some dissatisfaction, then turned her head to continue conversing with Shizuka Hiratsuka: "Nothing, I just accidentally bumped into something, Shizuka Hiratsuka, you continue~"
"Oh, I wanted to ask, how do I get closer to Su Rui? No laughing! I'm very serious,"
Yukinoshita Haruno smiled: "Of course, I won't mock you, Shizuka Hiratsuka. Getting closer isn't an easy thing, especially with someone like Su Rui, who has a rather aloof personality."
"So, do you have any good ideas?"
"My suggestion is to be more direct. Take Su Rui to talk about your feelings and thoughts; that way, you can gradually close the distance."
"My relationship with Su Rui is also very direct. I've clearly shown that I like him, but now we're still just very familiar with each other. Su Rui always responds to me, and occasionally takes the initiative to find me... but I always feel like he's not in a hurry."
"Not in a hurry about what, Shizuka Hiratsuka? If you don't make it clear, it's hard for me to help you~"
Yukinoshita Haruno couldn't help but curl her lips, suppressing her laughter with great difficulty, and then heard Shizuka Hiratsuka's somewhat dissatisfied voice from the other end of the phone: "Of course you know, I'm naturally referring to those, those... things adults do."
"I didn't expect Shizuka Hiratsuka to be quite shy about this. However, I don't think Su Rui not being in a hurry to do that kind of thing with you means he doesn't like you, you know~"
Yukinoshita Haruno said, feeling a bit tired sitting in Su Rui's embrace, so she naturally bent forward, supporting herself with her hands on the floor, then made space and placed her phone on the ground.
This way, she could talk to Shizuka Hiratsuka while 'mountain climbing' with Su Rui.
"Of course I know that. Speaking of which, the pendant Su Rui asked me to prepare earlier is ready. Should I use this as an excuse to ask him out to talk?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka's words caught Yukinoshita Haruno's attention. While busy 'mountain climbing,' she still turned her head and looked at Su Rui with a questioning gaze.
Su Rui nodded, leaned closer to Yukinoshita Haruno's other ear, and whispered: "That's true, I was planning to go find her recently."
Yukinoshita Haruno nodded, then continued to smile and communicate with Shizuka Hiratsuka on the phone:
"That's a good opportunity! I suggest you dress up nicely, Shizuka Hiratsuka, then give Su Rui a call, and when he comes to find you, naturally invite him to have dinner with you."
"Good idea! Then, what should I talk to him about?"
"That's something you'll have to figure out yourself, Shizuka Hiratsuka. If I just pick topics for you, a topic that doesn't suit you wouldn't be convenient for you to elaborate on, would it~"
"Is there no other way?" Shizuka Hiratsuka on the other end sounded a bit anxious: "How about, I wear an earpiece then, and you tell me what to say?"
"Do you think Su Rui wouldn't notice your little tricks, Shizuka Hiratsuka?"
Yukinoshita Haruno sounded a bit helpless: "Since you usually get along very well with Su Rui, and he has a good impression of you, why don't you just let things happen naturally? No need to be so anxious."
"I see... Alright."
Shizuka Hiratsuka seemed a bit disappointed and was about to hang up, but Yukinoshita Haruno called out to her: "Wait a moment, Shizuka Hiratsuka, chat with me a bit longer."