What greeted his sight made him love Mother Nature all the more. His previous assumption of the end of the tunnel looking like it came from another dimension was impeccably accurate.

Before they arrived by the waterfall entrance, the sun was already down. Inside the open area of the end of the tunnel, there's a large gap on the cave's ceiling and it showed the perfect view of the moon. ​​

Its glow illuminating the cave, bestowing them more of its mystique beauty. There were also some glowing quartz crystals around that helped brighten and decorate the place more.

Peering below from where they stood, he saw a large pool emitting steam.

It's a hot spring! An underground hot spring!

"The Headmaster must've been taking care of this place in my absence." Lillie noted, noticing how it seemed to be exactly how she left it.

She turned to Ethan and urged him to dip in the warm water with her. "This hot spring has its healing properties, it'll help you with your sore muscles and some other damages you suffered from the master."

Ethan's chest felt warm, his heart fluttering. His wife is so thoughtful. He didn't need to be a genius to see and understand clearly just how much she was really worried about him.

"You're the best." Ethan laid a fervent kiss on her lips, spilling all of his emotions into it. "I love it, thank you."

Lillie hummed under the kiss, reciprocating it. "I'm glad." She breathlessly muttered as they broke away.

Their cold skin warmed up as they sank deeper into the hot spring. The warm water seeped right through their bones and soothed their tense muscles.

Breath of relief escaped from the two. Ethan leaned on the edge of the pool, whereas Lillie sat between his legs with her back against his chest.

Her body loosen up, she settled her head on Ethan, who didn't mind one bit of Lillie making a cushion out of him. He enveloped his arms around her waist and just below her breasts.

Every intimate moments like this are longed for and cherished. They relish it as much as they can as if there's no tomorrow.

As they enjoy the warmth the hot spring and each other's presence under the chilly evening, Ethan broke the silence by inquiring how Lillie found this mystical place and how is it that no one else did.

"This place is deeply secluded. If you can't memorize the path, you'll get lost. Additionally, students and teachers don't often wander around this part of the woods because the Headmaster forbids so."

Lillie adjusted her position as she started to slip down, unintentionally arousing a half awake beast.

Ethan bit his lower lip and mentally chastised his little brother to behave before diverting his attention back to Lillie's explanation.

"It was Headmaster Cheung who showed me this place and gifted it to me. He forbids everyone from going near it so that I could have a private moment for myself." She finished.

"The Headmaster treats you well. Who could've known that a place like this exists inside a cave behind a waterfall. I thought it was something that only happens in fictions."

"You haven't seen much of the world yet it those were your thoughts."

"I know I haven't." Ethan said in all honestly. "But when you came into my world, I started seeing and experiencing many kinds of things."

Lillie tilted her head up to look at him. "Like what?"

Ethan stared at the full moon as if in deep thoughts. "For starters, I experienced how it was to be loved and cherished by someone who's not my parent or sibling, and experienced how it was to love that someone more than anything or anyone in this world."

Recorded memories in his brain began to play like a movie. And that movie revolves around Lillie Bai; his first love, his rival, and now his future.

"I just knew it from the first time I met you that my life would never be dull. Call it a intuition if you will." Sounds cheesy, but that's exactly how Ethan perceived it.

It's as if your grey world was suddenly bursted with colors once your eyes landed on your soulmate.

Ethan dropped his eyes from the silver moon to Lillie's silver locks and her glistening cerulean blue eyes.

"Speechless?" He asked teasingly.

"I think my heart is about to explode." She blurted absentmindedly. Red flushed her jade white cheeks upon realizing what her traitorous mouth said.

"Ah, there's the flustered look I missed."

"Shut up. I'm not the only one who's blushing."

"That's simply because you're too breathtaking." Ethan huskily muttered behind her ear. "What did I ever do to deserve you, Lillie?"

No answer came from her for a while. Pushing herself off from his embrace, Lillie turned around to face him. Ripples spread across the pool, the water splashing out from the edge at the suddenly disturbance.

"You had the guts to challenge me." Lillie started with a firm expression. "You were insanely driven to let me know that there's someone out there who could be a worthy opponent, ambitious in hoping to stand beside me."

When the misunderstanding of Ethan's real intention was cleared, Lillie couldn't help but admire and adore his resoluteness.

He didn't gave up on her, he continue to pursue her even though that time she made it apparent that she wasn't interested.

"You saw me for who I really am and accepted all of it." Even though I tried to push you away. Even though I alluded that I didn't want you in my life.

"Hard work and determination like that deserves a handsome reward." Lillie wrapped her hands around the back of his neck.

She was kneeling on the hot spring's floor. Lillie loomed above him, so his eye level only reached her chin. He had to slightly lift his head up to meet her eyes.

"What kind of reward?" Ethan dared asked.

"Whatever the receiver wants."

"What if I tell you that...all I want is you?"

"Then you can have me." Lillie lowered her head until her lips was an inch away from his ear. She sultrily whispered, "Take me, Ethan."