Wow, what did we even eat for it to cost so much? Han Lie mused when he saw the bill.

It had only been a few dishes and two glasses of wine to complement the meal; basically, nothing was wasted.

Good grief, Wenhua is certainly pricey.

Han Lie didn't actually care about the money, as it was a trivial sum to him. He just suddenly understood why he and Pan Ge had never crossed paths in his previous life.

Outside of school, their lives were complete parallels.

Even at school, a distinct barrier existed between them.

Of course, this wasn't simply because Han Lie had been poor; the main reasons were his lack of ability and, more importantly, confidence.

After his rebirth, Han Lie hadn't spent much money on Pan Ge at all. In fact, before buying today's gift, he had been freeloading off her.

Despite this, their relationship was advancing by leaps and bounds.

So, it wasn't entirely about money; what mattered more were confidence and attitude.

The notion that one needs money to have confidence is a fallacy.

Many men, despite not having much money, are brimming with confidence—Wei Shen, for example.

Is that example a bit too high-profile?

Anyway, that was roughly the gist of it. Knowledge, abilities, and mindset could all provide a man with confidence; there was no need to constantly bring money into the equation.

Courting a girl who was short on money required one approach, while courting one who wasn't required another. Self-improvement, however, was the universally foolproof method.

Han Lie had a new understanding, feeling his flirting skills and mental maturity leveling up significantly.

Yep, this trip was well worth it.

"Where to next?" Han Lie asked casually, though he was eagerly anticipating the next activity.

Pan Ge, however, was full of enthusiasm. She swung her arm decisively. "Follow me!"

Riding in her family's car, Han Lie was taken to a private bathhouse club.

It was an unmarked, four-story building with a small courtyard—quite a luxury in the city center.

As for the term "private bathhouse club," Han Lie couldn't quite wrap his head around it.

"Dumbass," she scoffed, clearly pleased with herself. "It's a private bath styled like a club! You didn't expect a little fairy like me to go to a public bath, did you?"

Well, that makes sense! Han Lie thought it was quite logical.

Top-tier hot spring baths, costing several hundred yuan per person, were already a luxury for high-earning city dwellers. However, those were still public places where one couldn't control who they might encounter or what unexpected incidents might occur.

A private bath was different. It was more expensive, but also more private and freeing.

Upon entering, Han Lie once again felt his horizons broaden.

The first floor housed the lobby and separate changing rooms for men and women. The second floor was the bathing area, but instead of communal baths, it consisted of individual rooms.

The décor was Japanese-style, complete with sliding doors. Guests could choose a relatively traditional barrel bath or opt for a room with a jade-lined pool.

Han Lie chose a room with a pool.

The water wasn't from a natural hot spring, but one could request additions like Chinese medicinal herbs, milk, or flower petals. The temperature was adjustable, and the water was changed for each guest.

The pool, just over two meters in diameter, wasn't enormous, but it could comfortably fit three people.

Han Lie initially had some ideas. He had just started to say, "How about—"

"Scram!"

Oh. Brother Lie shrugged and decided to forgive her.

Then, he turned to the attendant leading the way. "Do you offer companion bathing services?"

The young waitress was stunned, her eyes wide with a dumbfounded expression. She instinctively glanced at Pan Ge.

Veins throbbed on Pan Ge's forehead. "Get him one!" she declared through gritted teeth, a cold laugh on her lips. "I'll pay extra!"

The timid waitress replied, "I'm sorry, honored guest, we truly don't offer that..."

Brother Lie emphasized, "But you *could*."

The waitress was on the verge of tears. "But," she pleaded, "we really are a legitimate private bathhouse..."

Brother Lie felt greatly insulted. "What are you thinking?" he retorted. "I'm asking for legitimate services; who would want illegitimate ones?"

SNAP!

Pan Ge slapped Han Lie on the back, pushed him into his room, then turned to the attendant. "You can go. Don't pay any attention to him!"

"Yes, honored guest." The waitress scurried off like a frightened rabbit.

Pan Ge's delicate eyebrows shot up, and she looked ready to explode.

Han Lie let out a couple of sly chuckles, quickly slid the door shut, and pinned her against it, kissing her fiercely.

Shut your mouth! No, wait, open your mouth, but don't say a word!

Pan Ge finally realized she'd been thoroughly tricked, but it was too late...

***

The sudden ringing of a cell phone startled Pan Ge awake.

She forcefully pushed Han Lie away, scrambled to put on her bathrobe, and, grabbing her phone, dashed back to her own room.

I had to run. If I'd lingered any longer, I'd have been tossed into the pool for sure. Yinyang baths sound romantic, but in reality, they're the ultimate form of torture. Double oxygen deprivation—only those who've experienced it truly understand.

A short while later, Pan Ge sent a voice message. "Xi Luting is here. Just bathe quietly. When you're done, come up to the third floor. I've booked steam room No. 6."

Han Lie replied lazily, "What's on the fourth floor?"

"Massage rooms and guest lounges."

"Oh, then I'll go upstairs for a back massage first, and then I'll come find you two."

"Sure, do as you please."

Pan Ge had no objections, which implied she didn't really care if Han Lie got a massage from someone of the opposite sex or flirted with the masseuse.

Her earlier anger stemmed solely from how infuriating Han Lie's request had been.

Asking someone to join him for a bath... What on earth was he thinking?! He must be crazy!

***

Han Lie lounged contentedly in the 41-degree Celsius hot pool, feeling utterly relaxed.

Most vigorous young men couldn't tolerate high temperatures well; a 39-degree pool would feel unbearably hot to them. Han Lie, however, could withstand water up to 43 degrees.

He was more resistant to heat and cold than the average person, likely due to his high 'Health' attribute.

This 'Secondary Attribute', while seemingly insignificant at first glance, was constantly beneficial in daily life: rarely getting sick, recovering quickly, and seldom feeling unwell.

For most ordinary people, this was the most crucial attribute of all.

Only those who are frequently ill truly understand its importance.

Just as he was feeling sufficiently soaked, Han Lie suddenly heard the door of the opposite room open.

"Why did you suddenly think of inviting me for a private bath?"

This private bathhouse was extraordinarily expensive.

A standard 45-minute shoulder, neck, and back massage cost 1,998 yuan.

A standard 65-minute Thai massage was 2,998 yuan.

A 75-minute aromatherapy relaxation treatment was 3,998 yuan.

The expense wasn't the primary concern; more importantly, the quality of their masseuses was excellent.

Brother Lie had personally vetted several of them.

Initially, he requested a Thai massage.

A Thai masseuse needed to be both strong and skilled. The woman who arrived was robust, with a powerful build, yet she moved with surprising lightness, looking exceedingly professional.

Consequently, Brother Lie graciously chickened out. "Sorry, could you please send someone else? I suddenly feel like trying that royal herbal compress for kidney health..."

But Brother Lie found her not pretty enough, so he asked for another change.

The next one was beautiful but too young. The moment she spoke, he could tell she was a post-95s girl with a strong personality.

He switched again. Finally, a beautiful, mature woman with a cool, aloof aura arrived.

Brother Lie was finally satisfied. Time to begin!

So, it's all about experience... During a massage, if you're not satisfied, you absolutely must ask for a change; don't be embarrassed. Even if you are satisfied, you can still switch. Try out a few more, and if none work out, you can just call back the previous one, right? Of course, the massages themselves were still legitimate.

Brother Lie and the sophisticated lady chatted happily. Good heavens, he unleashed his full arsenal of 'Rogue Skills', teasing her until she was shaking with laughter, barely able to apply any pressure during the massage.

But Brother Lie was all talk; his hands remained respectfully still, not making a single untoward move.

The whole point was the atmosphere, the playful, flirtatious back-and-forth; actually doing something would have ruined the fun.ŸŸŸ

After the 65-minute session, he signed to confirm payment and added half the session's fee as an extra tip. Both were pleased; it was a win-win.

Getting up and stretching his limbs, Han Lie sent Pan Ge a message. "Where are you two?"

"Steam room No. 6. The code is 111999," she replied.

"Wait for me, I'll be right there!"

Han Lie slung a towel over his shoulder and headed downstairs in high spirits.

Before he entered the code, he could hear faint sounds of laughter and playful shouting from within the room.

The instant he pressed the final digit, the room fell abruptly silent.

Xi Luting pricked up her ears, asking Pan Ge in alarm, "Hey? Is someone opening our door?!"

Pan Ge, who was pinned beneath Xi Luting, suddenly stopped struggling. A knowing, mischievous smile played on her lips.

*****

Author's Note: My appeal for the previous content didn't go through. I'm fuming.

I've been coughing up blood lately. I'll make up for the missed chapters next month. I owe everyone 8 updates, totaling 32,000 words.

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