The antique girlfriend of a chaebol heir

The next afternoon, the winter sun shone through the sparse branches, casting a soft golden hue on the pavilions and towers of Xie Garden, which were covered with a thin layer of snow.

Jiang Duo drove in, the wheels crunching softly over the snow, and finally stopped in front of a secluded courtyard near the back of the mountain.

"arrive."

Jiang Duo unbuckled his seatbelt and then helped Shen Ci tighten her scarf a little.

Yin Kuo had been waiting at the entrance of the Moon Cave. When he saw the two of them walking side by side, the worry in his eyes finally dissipated.

After what happened last time, the atmosphere around Brother Duo was so oppressive it could freeze someone to death, and he didn't even dare to breathe loudly next to him.

Today, however, Brother Duo's eyebrows and eyes are full of spring breeze, and even his steps are lighter than usual.

It seems his brother Duo hasn't been dumped yet...

Jiang Duo gently placed his hand on Shen Ci's waist, protecting her as she passed through the moon gate entrance.

Xie Shuheng was standing under the corridor, his gaze fixed on them, his expression inscrutable, revealing no emotion.

"Youyou!" Xie Shuyun quickly came out from inside, grabbed Shen Ci's hand and pulled her into the warm pavilion. "You've finally arrived. I'll take you to the changing room. The hot spring inside is fed by running water from the back mountain. It's perfect for soaking right now."

The warm room was filled with the fragrance of agarwood, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

Shen Ci followed Xie Shuyun around a sandalwood screen and saw two young girls sitting inside.

"Come on, let me introduce you," Xie Shuyun said, linking arms with Shen Ci. "This is Yin Kuo's girlfriend, Tang Ziying—" She pointed to the girl with chestnut curly hair who was looking down at her phone.

Her gaze then shifted to the girl in the beige cardigan by the window. "This is Han Xiaoqian, Yu Xingye's girlfriend. They're getting engaged next month."

"Hello, my name is Shen Ci."

Tang Ziying raised her eyes, her gaze lingering on her face for a moment, and nodded shyly.

Han Xiaoqian walked over and warmly shook her hand: "I've often heard Shuyun mention you, and you really are beautiful."

Shen Ci politely curved the corners of her lips into a smile.

After exchanging pleasantries, Shen Ci walked behind the screen and took out her swimsuit from her bag.

The original owner had various styles of swimsuits in her wardrobe, and she chose the most conservative one-piece style.

The dressing room had a large mirror. After changing her clothes, Shen Ci turned around and met Xie Shuyun's blank stare.

"...Youyou?" Xie Shuyun couldn't help but lean closer. "Your figure..."

Before she could finish speaking, her gaze lingered on Shen Ci's chest, unable to look away for a long time.

The misty blue fabric tightly hugged her undulating curves, tapering sharply at the waist to create an astonishingly slender arc.

Although the swimsuit design is conservative, with a regular neckline and a long skirt, it is precisely because Shen Ci has such a good figure that the fabric is slightly taut in the right places and so slender in the right places that it seems like you could hold it in one hand.

The combination of conservative and sexy qualities is strangely irresistible.

Even she, a girl, couldn't take her eyes off him.

Shen Ci stood in front of the mirror, somewhat uncomfortably tugging at her skirt.

She rarely wore tight-fitting clothes, and was used to wearing loose sweaters and sweatshirts. Now, being constricted by this swimsuit, she was surprised to realize that her body had changed again in the past six months—her chest felt heavy, and she could feel the subtle friction of the fabric even when she breathed.

She frowned slightly, and the person in the mirror showed a touch of aloofness and nobility.

Xie Shuyun looked at her, then suddenly let out a long sigh, her tone half envious and half wistful: "Jiang Duo's life... is really too good."

Shen Ci reached out and took a bathrobe, draped it over herself, and didn't reply, but a faint blush crept onto the tips of her ears.

Xie Shuyun took her hand and led her through a cobblestone path. As soon as the bamboo curtain was lifted, a wave of heat rushed towards them.

The hot spring is naturally drawn, with bluestone slabs paving the bottom of the pool. It is surrounded by a low fence about half a person's height made of logs, and there are a few winter-hardy green plants in the corner, with water droplets hanging on the tips of their leaves.

Shen Ci stepped into the water on the wooden steps, and the warmth climbed up from her ankles, gradually spreading over her waist and shoulders.

She exhaled softly, leaned against the edge of the pool, and the steam misted her eyes and brows.

In a daze, I recalled the day I first came into this world.

She opened her eyes to find herself immersed in a hot spring, surrounded by unfamiliar surroundings, with the sound of flowing water. She was so flustered that her fingertips trembled and her breathing became disordered.

At that moment, her mind went blank, and she felt like a boat capsized by the waves, drifting aimlessly.

Now, soaking in the hot spring water again, she can lean back so calmly, listening to Xie Shuyun and the others chat, occasionally responding with a word or two.

Shen Ci looked down at the reflection on the water's surface, which swayed slightly, both blurry and clear.

—So she's been living in this world for so long.

Han Xiaoqian sat diagonally opposite Shen Ci, her gaze subtly sweeping over the noodles before settling on her.

The misty vapor blurred the outline, but it could not obscure Shen Ci's inherent aloof and otherworldly temperament.

She lowered her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes casting a light shadow beneath them, and leaned quietly against the pool, like a carefully framed painting.

Han Xiaoqian looked away, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

Her marriage to Yu Xingye was decided by the two families' fathers.

She knew in her heart that Yu Xingye, like the young master of the Yin family, was young and playful, with a string of female companions and never staying for anyone.

But she had no choice.

It wasn't just her.

Which of her close girlfriends didn't dream of getting close to someone like Jiang Duo or Xie Shuheng?

He has a distinguished background, outstanding looks, and most importantly, he is morally upright and has a clean and virtuous life with no romantic interests.

But fantasy is just fantasy.

Jiang Duo is too cold.

He was so cold that all the self-proclaimed outstanding young ladies of marriageable age in the circle returned empty-handed, unable to even touch the hem of his clothes.

She used to sigh to herself, thinking how lucky a woman must be to be chosen by Jiang Duo.

But today, when she saw Shen Ci with her own eyes—

Han Xiaoqian's gaze fell on it again, and this time she looked at it more carefully.

Shen Ci had her eyes closed, her eyelashes damp with fine mist, and the lines of her shoulders and neck were faintly visible in the mist, as pure and aloof as a white plum blossom blooming after a snowfall.

Even though she did nothing, she was still captivating.

No wonder...

The hot spring was filled with steam, and the faces of the group were slightly flushed after soaking in the water. After getting out of the hot spring, Xie Shuyun had hot tea prepared in the side hall.

Everyone sat around the mahogany table, holding warm teacups, chatting idly.

Xie Shuyun suggested, "The pool outside has the best view. Let's soak in it while enjoying the snow. I've had some hot wine and fruit prepared."

Shen Ci imagined a scene of extreme contrasts between ice and fire in her mind, and shook her head: "You guys go ahead, I'm a little sensitive to the cold."

"Then you can soak in there for a while, we'll be back in a bit."

Xie Shuyun considerately didn't insist, gave a few more instructions, and then led the other two out through the curtain. A cold wind blew in from the corner of the curtain, carrying a few snowflakes in.

Shen Ci walked further in, and at the very back was a small hot spring pool. The water was slightly brownish, and the heat was stronger than outside. Several pieces of unknown medicinal herbs floated on the surface.

She took off her bathrobe and slowly stepped into the pool.

The gentle aroma of medicine enveloped my body, and the warmth seeped into my pores, making even my bones feel soft and yielding.

Shen Ci leaned against the pond, her eyes half-closed, listening to the soft sound of snow falling on bamboo branches outside the window, and drowsiness gradually crept in.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of rippling water reached my ears, growing louder as it approached.

Shen Ci's long eyelashes trembled slightly as she slowly opened her bewildered eyes.

Through the rising white steam, she saw Jiang Duo walking towards her step by step.