The setting sun slowly descended, its brilliant afterglow dyeing the horizon crimson, painting a magnificent picture that was intoxicating to behold.
The golden-red light fell upon the man’s profile, like a flame burning, making him appear even more handsome.
Gentle. And utterly captivating.
Qiao Zhen sat on the steps, staring blankly at Qin Yichi’s tender, coaxing expression—a stark contrast to the flamboyant, unrestrained hot-blooded youth on the basketball court.
He said, “Be good, give me your leg. I’ll rub it for you.”
He had a black sling bag over one shoulder, containing iodine and medicated plaster—probably prepared for the basketball game.
Qiao Zhen hesitated for a moment.
In the past, she had often treated Qin Yichi’s wounds too. This was perfectly normal, nothing to worry about…
Besides, the surroundings were quiet, almost deserted. After mentally preparing herself, Qiao Zhen silently extended her right leg toward him:
“Then hurry up.”
Qin Yichi crouched in front of her, head slightly lowered, his tousled hair obscuring the obscure emotions in his eyes. He gave a soft “mm” through his nose.
After a moment, probably finding the position uncomfortable, he shifted his body, kneeling on one knee, inadvertently exuding an intense sense of pressure.
He slowly lifted the hem of Qiao Zhen’s long skirt, revealing a slender, fair calf. Fortunately, Qiao Zhen was wearing low-top shoes. Qin Yichi applied the medicated ointment to both hands and pressed them onto her swollen ankle bone.
The man’s palm was broad yet gentle. The moment it touched her skin, it seemed to send tiny electric currents spreading through every limb and bone.
The ointment was cool and icy, forming a stark contrast with his scorching warmth—an intense juxtaposition.
“Mmm~” A soft moan escaped Qiao Zhen’s lips involuntarily, her fingertips curling.
Hearing the girl’s sweet, clear moan, Qin Yichi’s fingers suddenly froze, a distinct heartbeat thudding in his chest.
After a long moment, he carefully spread the ointment, rubbing gently as if polishing a precious piece of porcelain.
“Does it feel good?” Qin Yichi looked up at her, his voice slightly hoarse.
Qiao Zhen propped her hands on either side of her, eyes slightly narrowed, breathing in small gasps: “Mm, it feels really good.”
Qin Yichi began to increase the pressure, pressing his thumb pad into the acupoint, searching for the painful spot with extremely skilled, professional technique.
When he pressed a certain acupoint, the taut string in Qiao Zhen’s mind suddenly snapped, her gaze losing focus.
A layer of mist instantly welled up in her eyes, and she whispered softly:
“Wuwu… it hurts… lighter…”
It was probably the spot where she’d sprained it—the pain surged instantly, making her gasp involuntarily.
Qin Yichi’s movements slowed, becoming even more gentle as he continuously circled and massaged:
“It will hurt a little. Bear with it, okay?”
Qiao Zhen bit her lip, obediently nodding, and said sweetly, “Okay.”
With Qin Yichi’s firm technique, the girl’s fair skin was faintly tinged with a rosy flush. Her eyes were slightly red, her shoulders trembling gently, her curled lashes fluttering like cicada wings.
Even her breathing became rapid.
“Mmm…”
She let out a suppressed, broken whimper, her eyes rippling with a wet mist, glistening with crystalline light—like a fragile, pitiful little creature.
This sight was enough to tempt one into sin, to make one want to bully her even more mercilessly.
Qin Yichi’s gaze flickered. He slowly averted his eyes and applied another layer of cool ointment.
Bony, well-defined fingers pressed down on her leg. The girl’s calf was slender, easily encircled by a single hand. Her skin was delicate and smooth, flawless, like a soft white cloud that made one want to poke it, squeeze it.
Even take a bite.
A deep, dark ink swirled in Qin Yichi’s pupils.
Just a few firm rubs left faint pink marks on her skin.
The girl innocently tilted her head up, a hint of grievance welling in her eyes as she weakly called his name:
“Qin Yichi.”
Her voice was soft and pliant, the ending syllable gently curling upward, like a pure white feather brushing against the tip of his heart.
Just like a well-behaved little rabbit.
Qin Yichi looked at her. “What, still hurts?”
He had already been so gentle, so light.
The girl shook her head, sniffled, and lowered her eyes slightly. “It doesn’t hurt, I’m itchy…”
Too firm, and she’d hurt;
too light, and she’d itch.
Hard to please.
Qin Yichi was at a loss for words. He knelt on one knee, slowly deepening the pressure—neither too much nor too little, just right—and his gaze grew more focused.
His voice was low and magnetic, his tone slow: “Don’t worry, I’ll make you feel comfortable.”
The sky gradually darkened, and the golden sunset gilded the two of them, shimmering brightly, adding a vivid stroke of color.
The autumn breeze swept gently across their faces, rustling the camphor leaves, scattering green leaves dancing in the air around them.
Qiao Zhen took in every careful, meticulous movement of the man before her.
Her breathing was uneven, her calf and ankle still tingling with residual heat, and even the tips of her ears burned.
In truth, she had tended to Qin Yichi’s injuries more times than she could count.
So many that she’d lost track—as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Back when Qin Yichi’s father was still alive, he spent his days drinking and gambling, and would inexplicably beat his wife and son with bamboo poles, whips, leather belts…
Qin Yichi was covered in wounds, drenched in blood, like a stray dog bullied on the roadside, utterly miserable.
The two of them lived right across from each other, and Qiao Zhen saw it all. Her heart ached for him. She would feed him candy while holding a medical kit to disinfect his wounds, wrap bandages, and apply ointment.
Her little face was tense as she said seriously, “Brother Chi, if you ever get hurt, you must come find me!”
Back then, they were still young. Qiao Zhen would unabashedly apply ointment to his back, his legs, all over—even on his butt…
In the blink of an eye, time had flown by. He had grown so tall, with sharp, defined features, even more wild and unruly than when he was a child, looking even more fierce.
But deep down, he was so, so gentle.
The next second, the sound of footsteps suddenly rang out, growing closer and louder in their ears.
“Holy shit!”
Niu Yifeng stood frozen in place, staring wide-eyed at the two of them, and let out a loud shout.
“Da Niu, what the hell are you yelling about? Making such a fuss…” Another guy frowned and followed Niu Yifeng’s gaze.
He stopped in his tracks, his expression shifting slightly. After a few stunned seconds, he burst out with an even sharper shriek:
“Fuck!!”
Five or six of their buddies stood nearby, all with pupils dilating in shock, collectively dumbfounded, staring at the scene in disbelief.
What the hell was going on!
Qin Yichi was actually kneeling on one knee, massaging this pretty childhood sweetheart’s leg?
And with such gentle, doting care!
Was this really the same cold, aloof, arrogant, and ferocious bastard who kept his distance from women?!
Countless shocked gazes focused and burned on her, and Qiao Zhen immediately shrank her neck, whispering a reminder: “Qin Yichi, your friends are here…”
A faint blush gradually spread across her earlobes.
Qiao Zhen kept her head down hard, plugging her ears like stealing a bell, wishing she could just take her head off.
Help, help, so embarrassing, so awkward!
Who knows what others would misunderstand about the two of them, wuwuwu QwQ
Qiao Zhen closed her eyes in agony, wishing she could just crawl into a crack in the ground and move to another planet to live…
Qin Yichi leisurely looked up, glaring at these guys, as if they had interrupted something good, and said casually: “What’s up?”
Niu Yifeng stammered: “We won the basketball championship, the college gave out a bonus, and we planned to have a team-building buffet, but we couldn’t find you!”
He didn’t reply to messages, and suddenly disappeared out of nowhere, as if he had evaporated.
They thought something had happened, so they ran back to the basketball court, searching everywhere, and ended up bumping into him sweetly flirting with a girl!
Flirting with a girl!