Spa therapy is a popular leisure activity that not only alleviates stress but also hydrates the skin. Yet many people hold misconceptions about hot springs. The ideal water temperature should be around body warmth—approximately 37°C—not higher temperatures as commonly believed. When exceeding 42°C, it accelerates skin aging through excessive heat exposure. Prolonged soaking dissolves the skin's natural lipid barrier, causing dryness and flaking that may lead to itching or cracking.

Not all hot springs are beneficial for human health either. Acidic mineral water or radioactive spring water should never be used for bathing purposes. Some sources have excessive concentrations of specific minerals which make them suitable only for soaking—not drinking consumption due to potential toxicity risks.

Peach Spring's neutral pH water contains trace minerals like calcium, zinc and selenium with soothing nerve functions and moisturizing effects on skin. However its initial discharge temperature is quite high so ancestral Peach Spring residents constructed bath pools not directly over the source but allowed underground water to flow through stone channels first until cooling reached optimal bathing temperatures.

Wang Zhuo's almond-shaped spa pool had one side perfectly heated for soaking while another section rose three-four degrees warmer already feeling slightly warm. Unaware of this temperature variance between ends, Wang chose the comfortable end without realizing its opposite counterpart maintained dangerously elevated heat levels.

Meng Shennan and Meng Shendan were born-and-raised Peach Spring natives who knew every detail about their village's thermal landscapes. Upon entering water, Meng Shennan immediately swam toward the hotter side while Meng Shendan approached Wang to suggest he speak with her sister.

Wang dove underwater then swam across eleven meters separating him from others before surfacing where mist obscured visibility without x-ray vision. After another few strokes he reached Meng Shennan's position, now partially hidden by additional foliage blocking line of sight between them.

Meng Shennan sat gracefully on submerged stone bench with hunched posture supported by arms dangling at sides. Her navel peeked just above water level while legs remained tightly together like sparse aquatic grass swaying gently in current. Her pale jade-like skin glowed against flushed cheeks—whether from shyness or steam heat remained ambiguous.

Wang hastily averted gaze after brief glance realizing his body's immediate reaction. Since Peach Spring customs strictly forbade clothing during bathing, he crouched sideways to hide embarrassment.

"Father asked Shennan and me if we want to explore outer world," Meng Shennan whispered with shy expression, "He says Peach Spring is changing so we should prepare early for outside society at our current age."

Wang reflected on Meng Mingliang's words then nodded, "You father speaks truth. Soon tourists will visit, businesses establish and real estate develop. Hotels, resorts, vacation villas—they'll bring prosperity to villagers."

Meng Shennan affirmed softly, "Father also warned us about outside complexities though. People there are tricky while Peach Spring folk remain straightforward. Meng Yu went out briefly but got tricked into... prostitution then brought human traffickers back to village. Even Father himself got cheated by foreman when he worked at mine—paid only fraction of wages owed."

"Follow me?" Wang blinked in surprise.

"Father calls you good man," Meng Shennan's face reddened further as she stole glance, "He said if we agree you'll definitely say yes."

Wang scratched head helplessly realizing his 'good guy' label had been revoked. When Meng Shennan noticed this gesture fearing rejection, she blurted out everything at once: "Shendan is young but I'm mature now—I can warm your feet..."

Warm feet?

Though rarely used in writing, Wang understood the phrase's connotation. Internet slang referenced "warm bed" services while historical foot-warmers implied intimate associations—suggesting Meng Shennan offered companionship beyond mere foot-warming.

Meng Shennan's face darkened crimson when caught staring at her. Covering embarrassed face with hands, she nearly choked from mortification.

"Erm..." Wang stammered awkwardly, "Is this about warming feet from your father's suggestion?"

Shaking head like nodding doll while covering flushed cheeks, Meng replied no.

"Oh right!" Wang chuckled in relief, "You probably misunderstood. I bet Father only meant for you to study with me at big city schools. Don't worry—agreed!"

"Actually..." Meng stammered with humiliated voice, "Father said this matter when Mother was present too. She told me not to get pregnant before eighteen and Father nodded in agreement."

...

Almond pool's other end, Qin Fei and Guan Yingying speculated on what Meng Shennan could be discussing. After several minutes without developments they whispered questions.

Meanwhile Meng Shendian played like an unrestrained child—holding breath underwater, doing handstands with legs raised above surface, finding flat stones to skip across water in games of hopscotch.

At fourteen she remained caught between childhood and adolescence, her mischievous nature still uncurbed at this age. Guan Yingying attempted conversation by asking, "Shendian, what did your father say about Uncle Wang?"

Meng Shendian pouted while skipping stones, "Sister won't tell me."

Guan nodded then asked, "Were you present when Father spoke with Sister?"

"I was there originally," Meng replied walking toward sinking stone, "But Mother kicked me out."

Shrugging helplessly at Qin Fei's direction, Guan signaled communication failure.

Finding recovered stone, Meng suddenly remembered something and said to Guan, "Actually on way here Sister asked if I wanted to go big city. I said yes—I think Father wants both daughters sent for education but why not approach Uncle Wang directly?"

Understanding dawned. It seemed Meng Mingliang preferred sending daughter to deliver message rather than speaking openly himself.

"Probably because Shennan fears our objections," Guan teased, "After all she knows Uncle Wang falls easily for pretty eyes and flirtatious glances."

"Same conclusion as me," Qin nodded with wry smile.

"What are you talking about?" Meng suddenly surfaced in water asking curiously.

Guan grinned mischievously, "We're discussing if you can skip directly to junior high school."

...

At pool's other end Wang mentally berated Meng Mingliang for his bizarre decision. As village head and party cadre of national grassroots organization, how could he arrange two daughters like luggage to be taken by Wang?

Meng Mingliang wasn't even forty years old—only five-six years younger than Wang Zhengdao. Their brotherly relationship meant Meng's daughters should call Wang uncle yet now they were being given away as "foot-warmers" instead of adoption.

"Ahh?"

Sobs interrupted Wang's thoughts when Meng Shennan began crying. Rushing to comfort her, he said, "Don't cry! I didn't refuse!"

After all how could any man not feel guilty if a virgin girl offered herself while standing there frowning without response?

Wiping tears and stuttering, Meng explained, "Father said you'd definitely agree so I came..."

Fault entirely lay with father—not me... Wang groaned anxiously, "No refusal! Because I already have woman!"

Meng continued weeping, "I didn't say to marry you though..."

Realizing Peach Spring's polygamous customs made this situation even more complicated—Wang mentally facepalmed at being offered as mere foot-warmer.

"Come up here," Meng softly suggested.

Looking at her naked body, Wang chuckled, "Better stay here myself."

When she misunderstood his hesitation, Meng smiled through tears, "Water temperature is too hot for men down there."

"Oh!" Wang finally understood why she might want him to move. Human testicles hang externally because sperm production requires 2°C cooler than core body temperature otherwise evolutionary pressure would have long pulled them into bodies eliminating this vulnerable target in self-defense training.

Modern research showed scrotal temperatures exceeding 37°C caused damage with fevers above 38.5°C potentially suppressing function for six months or more through prolonged high heat exposure. Wang recalled Fat Dragon's detailed explanations about Japanese men using hot spring immersion as birth control method so he immediately understood Meng's warning about water temperature effects on male health.