"Oh my gosh! Is this... is this the legendary women's changing room? Oh heavens! You're so good to me!" Tran stared at the racks of colorful bras and panties, excitement bubbling over.

"What are you waiting for?" said a girl with long pink hair, undressing as she spoke. "I need to enjoy a commoner's hot spring before they find me!"

"Huh? You're undressing here?" Tran quickly covered his eyes, but the gaps between his fingers betrayed him.

"What else?" the pink-haired girl said. "It's been ages since I changed clothes myself. Come here and unhook this for me." She took off her yukata and turned her back to Tran.

"Aren't you done undressing?" Tran didn't get it. After all, he was a fine sixteen-year-old boy; it was only natural for him to be innocent.

"Are you blind? I can't unhook my bra!" the pink-haired girl urged Tran. "Hurry up! If I'm found, I won't get to soak!"

"Oh, okay." Tran forgot the old rule about men and women not touching. She'd asked him; if anything went wrong, he wouldn't take the blame.

Honestly, girls' bras were tricky. Tran fiddled with it for ages before realizing he needed to unhook the clasp.

"Are you even a girl? Why did it take so long?" the pink-haired girl said, stripping completely naked and wrapping herself in a towel.

Tran really wanted to tell her he wasn't a girl. Just as he was about to speak, several women entered, chatting and laughing.

"Crap! No way out now..." Tran had planned to turn and run, but now he was completely doomed.

"Stop dawdling! Hurry up! Inside, you block me so no one sees me!" The pink-haired girl quickly stripped Tran of his yukata. He swiftly wrapped himself in a towel. Luckily, she wasn't paying attention to him. Though Tran was good-looking, this pink-haired girl was no less beautiful.

And so Tran was dragged off to bathe.

But inside, Tran felt helpless. If discovered, jail was a done deal. He'd ended up in this men's sanctuary because just as he was about to enter the men's changing room, a pink-haired masked girl called out and dragged him into the women's without a word.

......

"Wow! So this is the legendary open-air hot spring! I've only read about it in books!" After bathing, the pink-haired girl dragged Tran to the pool.

Some might wonder why Tran hadn't been exposed yet. He'd chosen a corner to wash. Though she'd asked why his chest was so flat, he'd covered it up with malnutrition.

"Salvation!" Seeing the mist-shrouded pool, Tran quickly jumped in.

"Hey! How can you jump in before me? Wait for me!" The pink-haired girl unwrapped her towel and jumped in.

"So refreshing~~" Tran and the pink-haired girl said in unison.

"Huh? Your voice is a bit deep." Tran had forgotten to disguise his voice, catching the pink-haired girl's attention.

"Well, it's natural..." Tran said in a high-pitched voice.

"Oh, I thought you were a man. By the way, I don't know your name. I'm Bai Xing. What about you?" She leaned her rosy face close to Tran. Luckily, the water was deep; he could only see above her shoulders.

"Well, I'm Tran..."

"Huh? Tran, 'super lazy'... What a fun name!" Bai Xing laughed.

Tran noticed she was speaking Chinese, yet her features clearly looked Western. She seemed like a girl with a story.

"By the way, Tran! Let's go further in. I heard from Mary this place has many small pools, each with different effects." Bai Xing slowly stood up from the water. Immediately, Tran's eyes blurred out—don't look where you shouldn't! "Hurry up, Tran! That pool says it boosts Superpower awakening chances! So awesome."

"Oh, okay." With no choice, Tran wrapped his towel around himself the moment he emerged, using the fastest hand speed of his life.

Superpower awakening chances... What was that? Could Superpowers awaken? Anyway, none of his business.

The two moved between the hot spring pools, enjoying bliss. But Tran noticed fewer people around—only leaving, no one entering.

Besides the quiet springs, there were lively water amusements: slides, water guns, everything imaginable.

For Tran, that place was a nightmare! If he played, who'd watch his towel? What if it fell? His lifelong reputation!

Luckily, heaven didn't abandon him. Just as Bai Xing was about to suggest playing, several women appeared in view.

"Hide quickly!" Bai Xing whispered, pulling Tran behind a giant artificial rock.

"Miss Bai Xing, do you know them?" Tran asked.

"Hmm, bodyguards Mary hired temporarily. I've seen them twice. Today's their first day. They've found us," Bai Xing whispered.

"So you escaped?" Tran said. "Shouldn't you go out then?"

"No way! If I go out, I'll be stuck in the hotel until enrollment finishes!" Bai Xing pouted. "Too boring!"

"But hiding like this isn't a solution," Tran said. Truthfully, he preferred they take Bai Xing away—it'd reduce his exposure risk.

Just then, one woman noticed something unusual and walked toward them. Tran was about to warn Bai Xing, but she ran straight over and appeared before them.

"Found her! The princess is here," the woman said.

The other four gathered, forming a circle around them.

"What are you doing? Don't you fear punishment for surrounding this princess?" Bai Xing looked at them strangely. Since when did her guards dare this?

"Sorry, Princess, but for the greater good, you must die! And you beside her—you'll see what you shouldn't, so you must die too." The woman's dagger flashed, stabbing at the princess.

Tran was stunned—killing without warning? But his body reacted fast. He darted in front of Bai Xing and punched the dagger away.

"Can someone tell me what's happening?" Tran didn't understand, but he knew Bai Xing couldn't get hurt.

"I get it! You're the minister's people! You really want to usurp the throne!" Bai Xing said angrily.

"Hmph, the White Emperor Kingdom isn't suited for the current king. Only the minister can lead us to the truly correct path!" A cold female voice rang out.

Immediately, she appeared before them. Dressed in business attire, blue eyes and yellow hair, she radiated shrewdness.

"Mary? How could it be you?" Bai Xing stared in shock, her heart churning with complex emotions.