It was past six in the evening.
After soaking in the water for over an hour, the palms and soles of the six people had developed wrinkles to various degrees, and their skin looked a shade lighter than before.
Having swum for over an hour, Xu Qingfan felt more exhausted than if he had run ten kilometers continuously, and even with his usually limitless stamina, he was the first to give up and climb ashore.
"Weren’t you shouting earlier about doing this together, and now you can’t handle it?" It was supposed to be her turn next, but seeing Xu Qingfan already exhausted and in Wise Mode, Xia Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but tease him.
"Let’s rest for a moment." Xu Qingfan could only reply wearily, gesturing with his hands while holding his waist.
"Hehe, Brother Fan, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have ridden so hard." Xiao Ruanwen, who was an excellent swimmer like a swan on the lake that caused not even a ripple, swam up to Xu Qingfan.
"Brother Qing Fan, I’m sorry, indeed, I shouldn’t have got on with Yiyi together like that."
"Brother Fan, did you hurt your back? Do you need to see a doctor?"
"Brother, are you alright?"
The five girls quickly swam to the shore, their concerned eyes fixed on him.
[My back have a problem? My back is great!]
"Wasn’t it Xia Xiaoxiao’s turn? Let’s continue!" Xu Qingfan suddenly perked up and was about to jump back in.
"Brother Fan, you better rest a bit more."
"Brother Qing Fan, we’re all tired, let’s not ride anymore."
"Yes, yes, yes, we’re all tired, can’t ride anymore."
The five of them waved their hands repeatedly, clutching his suspended legs to prevent him from jumping back in.
After spending so much time together, the five girls were very familiar with Xu Qingfan’s stubbornness; they were initially surprised to find that Brother Fan could get tired too, but later they just found Xiao Fan quite adorable.
"Well, let’s call it quits this time, but it’s not because I couldn’t!" Xu Qingfan secretly sighed in relief, his hands supporting himself on the ground as he looked out the window at the river view.
"Yes, yes, yes, Brother Fan could do it."
"Brother Qing Fan is super awesome!"
Originally, Lin Wanning wanted to ride on Brother Qing Fan’s back for a swim as if riding in a boat, a small request that Xu Qingfan naturally granted; once the others realized it worked, they found it fun too, and then his tragedy began...
The five girls also climbed out of the pool one after the other, sitting in a row at the edge and looking at the distant sunset.
Wu Lingyu sat at the very end, her concerned eyes glancing at Xu Qingfan before she got up and left.
"Is anyone hungry? I’ve got sandwiches and fruit slices." She quickly returned, holding two transparent preservation boxes in her hands.
"Wow~ Yu, when did you make these? I didn’t even notice." During their nap, she had been cuddling with Wu Lingyu, and Xia Xiaoxiao truly hadn’t realized when Wu Lingyu had made the sandwiches.
"Our Yu is so thoughtful." Xu Qingfan handed the last sandwich in the box back to Wu Lingyu with a smile.
Wu Lingyu, influenced by him, also smiled, "I made them after lunch."
"That explains it." Xia Xiaoxiao was playing racing games in her room at that time.
"Wow~ the fruits are still icy."
"Topped with plum sauce, so delicious!"
The six of them sat in a row at the edge, their feet dangling in the pool, only their soles touching the water surface, occasionally playfully splashing water.
Another ten minutes passed, and the outside evening glow had reached the most beautiful moment of the day, the afterglow spread like a brocade, Chengjiang was as tranquil as satin, a glance across the surface sparked reflections melding sky with water.
This was also why the group loved to swim here, as whenever they grew tired, they could always sit down to enjoy the sunset and sundown, and if they could also have delicious sandwiches from Yu, how could this not be considered a top-tier pleasure?
"Who else wants a ride? I’m good to go again!" After devouring a sandwich, Xu Qingfan instantly felt rejuvenated, declaring he could take on ten people now!
"I don’t feel like getting in the water anymore, it’s a bit cold." Xiao Ruawen shook her head, having developed goosebumps on her arms after a while away from the pool.
"I know, I know, water evaporates into vapor, absorbing heat!" Lin Wanning’s first reaction was a physics exam point.
"I was going to say that too."
Their brain waves synchronized, they found it amusing that they were thinking about their studies even while hanging out.
"So, what’s the maximum buoyancy Brother Fan can withstand? Do you think it would sink if the five of us sat on it?" True to form, Xiao Ruawen, ever the underachiever, raised another quirky question.
"Yiyi and I sat on it and it was fine, so Brother Qing Fan’s buoyancy must be quite substantial," Lin Wanning seriously considered, saying.
"What’s there to think about? Let’s just try it and see," Xia Xiaoxiao glanced at Xu Qingfan.
"Damn, Xia Xiaoxiao, if you want me dead just say it straight, no need to beat around the bush!" Xu Qingfan imagined the scene of five young ladies riding on him. What a femme fatale!
"Goose, goose, goose~ Brother Fan, you just said you were good to go."
"But not with all five at once! You guys together weigh over four hundred pounds. You think I can operate a tank?" said Xu Qingfan, clearly irritated.
This odd comparison once again sent the group into peals of laughter.
"Brother Qing Fan, press F to enter the tank."
"You’re the one being ridden, so it should be the tank operating you!"
"Pass it on, Xia Xiaoxiao says she’s a tank!"
In the final moments of laughter, the afterglow of the sunset gradually vanished from sight.
Xu Qingfan looked back at the pool, thinking that spending another three hundred to have the manager change the water, just because others might drink it, was a bit much. He wasn’t obsessed with cleanliness to that extent, especially since the water included his own foot-washing water.
What, you say you’re even more excited now?
Run, there’s a guard!
After showering and changing back into their clothes in the locker room, the six of them were back in their original outfits. Though they had eaten a sandwich not long beforehand, the calories burned from swimming clearly weren’t replenished by just a small piece of bread, leaving everyone’s stomach rumbling.
"Brother Qing Fan is so hungry, quack!"
"Hungry, hungry, foodie!" Xiao Ruawen also whined playfully, but her imitation of Lin Wanning always had a tomboyish touch.
"I’ve already made a reservation on my phone, it’s at that same Western restaurant, let’s go," Xu Qingfan snapped his fingers and took the lead, walking ahead.
"I wonder if they still give out toys with the kids’ meal?"
"You’re still ordering the kids’ meal?"
"Just order it, Brother Qing Fan you order too, and then I’ll pick your toy!"
"Should we get six kids’ meals?"
"Oww~ hitting people!"