Hong Zhengyuan hadn't expected anyone else to be around. As if he had been scalded, he abruptly let go of Tang Nai’s foot and stood up instantly.
Unexpectedly, he also overturned the water basin, spilling the entire contents onto his trousers.
The water soaked downward from his waistband, leaving dark stains on his pants. Panting heavily, Hong Zhengyuan looked as pathetic as a drowned rat. Almost immediately, his embarrassment turned into rage as he spun around. "You little—"
The rest of his words died in his throat because he saw Gu Qing leaning against the wall, watching him with a smile and her arms crossed. He shuddered instantly.
His impression of Gu Qing had always been positive. Among the three people they had rescued, Gu Qing had the smallest presence, yet she was the most pleasant to be around. Although she enjoyed smiling just as much as that fellow Chi Jing, her smile was warm and friendly, making her much easier to deal with than that old fox Chi Jing.
But now, as she leaned casually against the wall with the corners of her eyes slightly crinkled, she made his blood run cold.
"Gu Qing… what are you doing here?"
Gu Qing straightened up and walked toward them. "I saw Brother Hong pull Meng Siyao away in a fit of anger just now. The others were worried something might happen, so they sent me over to check."
Hong Zhengyuan felt an inexplicable sense of pressure, similar to what he felt facing Jin Xiao. He irritably ruffled his damp hair. "It’s nothing. I was just talking to her about… some private matters."
"By 'private matters,' do you mean washing a girl's feet?"
Hong Zhengyuan’s face turned bright red with a "poof." He hadn't expected Gu Qing to have watched the whole thing and then expose him so ruthlessly. He wanted to be angry but couldn't; he wanted to be annoyed but found no ground for it. After all, it was a fact that he had intended to make things difficult for Meng Siyao, only to inexplicably end up gripping her foot and refusing to let go.
He wanted to explain that it was an accident, but when he looked up, he was surprised to see that Gu Qing had already crouched down in front of Meng Siyao and lifted her foot.
"It seems Brother Hong’s foot-washing skills are lacking. Her foot has been scalded red."
Gu Qing smiled, and Hong Zhengyuan felt as if someone were choking him; he opened his mouth but couldn't find his voice. No matter how he looked at it, the fact remained that her foot was red.
Gu Qing’s hands weren't as hot as Hong Zhengyuan’s, but they bore faint calluses. As they pressed against the sole of Tang Nai’s foot, which had yet to lose its heat, they brought a rough itchiness. Tang Nai flinched, trying to pull her leg back. "Gu Qing… I’m fine. I just need to sit for a bit."
Gu Qing kept her head down, her hands full of the soft flesh. She looked up and smiled at Tang Nai. "How can you leave them without drying them?"
With that, she turned to Hong Zhengyuan. "Brother Hong, could you take off your shirt?"
Hong Zhengyuan was stunned. "What?"
"Don't tell me you only know how to wash feet but not how to dry them?"
Hong Zhengyuan felt his flushed face turn a shade of purple. Gritting his teeth, he ripped off his only tank top and threw it forcefully at Gu Qing. In the dim stairwell, only a single ray of sunlight pierced through, dancing across his chest and casting shadows on his rising and falling pectoral muscles, creating a contrast of brilliance and depth.
Tang Nai quickly looked away, trying to pull her foot back. "Gu—Gu Qing, I’ll do it myself."
Gu Qing said, "It’s alright, it’s just a small favor."
She easily held Tang Nai’s foot, carefully wrapping Hong Zhengyuan’s tank top around the instep to meticulously soak up the moisture. Water droplets seeped into the fabric, creating round marks like bubbles rising in a pond. Once the top of the foot was dry, she gripped the ankle. Her left thumb pressed slightly into the skin while her right hand wiped the moisture from the toes bit by bit.
Unfazed and deliberate, she watched as Tang Nai’s toes turned from a tender red to a pale pink, curling slightly from the ticklish sensation and hooking against her long fingertips.
Hong Zhengyuan had been watching casually, but for some reason, his chest felt tight and his throat itchy.
It was as if his feet were nailed to the floor; he couldn't look away for a second.
Damn, what the hell is wrong with me…
After a while, his vision suddenly went dark as the tank top was tossed back at him. it felt slightly damp and carried a faint, lingering sweet fragrance. Hong Zhengyuan let out a breath and instinctively moved to put it back on and leave. But then he heard Gu Qing ask casually, "Brother Hong, do you still want to wear that? It’s already wet, after all."
Hong Zhengyuan froze in place, staring at the water stains on his body as if he’d been struck by a blunt club. He immediately recalled what he had said the night before: "No one would wear clothes that have been dirtied by that woman again."
Yet the dampness on his skin clearly and undeniably showed how much of a fool he had just acted! He had instinctively put on a garment that had been used as someone’s foot towel, yet he had the nerve to mock Jin Xiao and the others for keeping the clothes Tang Nai had worn?
Damn it, Hong Zhengyuan, were you the one scalded stupid by the water?!
He felt a sudden ache in his teeth and said harshly, "So it’s wet! I can't exactly walk out naked, can I?!"
With that, he fled the scene, dripping wet.
The corners of Gu Qing’s mouth curved up, a faint, cold light flickering in her eyes.
She moved to help Tang Nai swap her high heels for her own sneakers, but after a moment’s thought, her fingertips paused. She naturally helped Tang Nai up. "Let’s head back quickly. If something really happens to you, Captain Jin will be angry, and none of us will have a good time."
Tang Nai felt inexplicably relieved. She shook her head. "Hong Zhengyuan didn't bully me."
As her gaze shifted, she suddenly remembered her persona. Why was she chatting so normally with the female protagonist? She quickly asked the system what she should do. Gu Qing was being so nice to her; should she push her away?
【That’s not necessary…】 The system, which had been silent for a long time, sounded hesitant. 【After all, your persona is that of a female supporting character who relies on her connections to bully others. Just assume Gu Qing is trying to suck up to you because of Jin Xiao, so there’s no need to push her away. Gu Qing… as the female protagonist, it’s normal for her to show kindness occasionally.】
"Then Mr. Xi, does this mean my mission was a success?" Tang Nai couldn't help but feel a bit giddy.
【Huh?】
"Hong Zhengyuan was so angry just now. I think it’s because my performance was exceptional…"
【…Ah, indeed!】 The system’s voice carried a sense of gritted-teeth certainty. 【It’s clear your acting pushed him past his limit, to the point where he didn't hesitate to use a basin of water to prove your wastefulness. Tang Nai, you must keep working hard—maybe even double down!】
"Thank you for the encouragement, Mr. Xi!"
Seeing Tang Nai’s flushed face and shaky legs, Gu Qing’s lips curled into a flat line. "If I hadn't come, I'm afraid you would have been bullied quite thoroughly."
Tang Nai stiffened her face, acting as haughty as a character on TV. "Thank you for coming over. Don't worry, since you helped me once, Jin Xiao will reward you well."
Gu Qing smiled slightly, the arm she was using to support Tang Nai vibrating. "Is that so…"
Hong Zhengyuan was the first to burst out from the back. He was covered in water, his gaze vacant, giving everyone a fright. Everyone knew he had gone to the back to "teach Meng Siyao a lesson," so why did he look like he was the one who had been traumatized?
Jin Xiao and Chi Jing had just returned and were startled into laughter by his "drowned rat" appearance. "What happened? We just stepped out, and you found a ditch to roll in?"
Hong Zhengyuan snapped back to reality. He glanced at Jin Xiao and suddenly felt guilty. He had just grabbed the other man’s ex-girlfriend’s foot… Though she was an ex, and it was an accident, they had once… Damn, what kind of madness came over me just now?!
"Piss off! Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth!"
He cursed and laughed as usual, but his voice was dry. "I just pre-emptively used three days' worth of my water ration to take a bath…"
Hearing this, Chi Jing raised an eyebrow. While supernatural ability users wouldn't die of thirst after a week without water, water resources were currently extremely scarce. No matter how impulsive Hong Zhengyuan was, he wouldn't do something so abnormal.
Jin Xiao frowned even deeper. He had strictly ordered that no food or water be wasted in the team, and everyone followed it. No one had ever wasted water by taking an advance on their ration, and this person was his brother. If he allowed this precedent, it would be unacceptable.
"Damn it, don't look at me like that!" Hong Zhengyuan ruffled his hair irritably. "I was just so hot I couldn't stand it. Can't I take a bath? I know I broke the rules. You don't have to say it, Boss—I’ll punish myself by not eating for three days!"
Chi Jing bumped his shoulder. "Did a dog eat half your brain…"
Before he could finish, he suddenly caught a familiar sweet scent on Hong Zhengyuan. It wasn't just a trace; it was as if his entire body had been soaked in this sweetness, making it impossible to ignore. His eyes flashed instantly.
Hong Zhengyuan didn't notice at all. He avoided Jin Xiao’s gaze and gave a warning look to the remaining subordinates, then turned to Jin Xiao. "Boss, I…"
Before he could finish, the sound of two pairs of footsteps came from behind the building. Everyone turned and saw Gu Qing supporting Tang Nai as they returned. Tang Nai’s cheeks were flushed, her legs were weak, and her fingertips gripping Gu Qing’s arm were white from the effort.
Zhou Ping and Wang Ya were startled. "Gu Qing, what happened to you two?"
Jin Xiao’s expression darkened. His gaze fell on the wet marks on the ground and the overlapping footprints from Hong Zhengyuan and the others. It was obvious all three had come from the same place.
Chi Jing, being closer, saw more clearly. He could see Tang Nai’s flushed cheeks and her legs struggling to stand straight. His gaze then shifted to Hong Zhengyuan’s guilty face.
He pushed his glasses up. "Were you all just behind the building?"
The crowd fell silent. Everyone looked down or away; not a single person answered.
Hong Zhengyuan’s throat moved, and just as he was about to speak, Gu Qing smiled. "It’s nothing. Miss Meng just accidentally walked in on Brother Hong while he was bathing in the back. She was startled and sprained her ankle. I heard the noise and hurried to help her out."
Hong Zhengyuan was stunned. Chi Jing’s smile remained as he kicked Hong’s rear. "Is that all? What’s the big deal about a grown man being seen? Why are you still standing there? Go change your clothes."
Hong Zhengyuan let out a breath, his gaze flicking over Tang Nai before he quickly headed to the back of the building.
Jin Xiao’s gaze shifted from Hong Zhengyuan and naturally landed on Tang Nai. His eyes were dark and deep, carrying the dampness of morning dew, like raven feathers slicing through raindrops—heavy and thick with gloom.
"Did you sprain your ankle?"
Tang Nai looked at Gu Qing and nodded. her legs felt like jelly, supported only by a thin heel. If Gu Qing weren't holding her, she probably would have collapsed onto the ground long ago.
"Can you walk?"
Tang Nai nodded again, then quickly shook her head, remembering her high-maintenance persona. Being unable to walk meant becoming a drag, which would help her rack up dislike points.
Jin Xiao pressed his thin lips together and suddenly dropped to one knee, grabbing Tang Nai’s ankle with one hand.
Wang Ya and Zhou Ping instantly covered their eyes. If Jin Xiao wanted to forcefully check if Tang Nai was faking her injury, a little bit of force would probably snap her ankle easily. But since it was Jin Xiao, while some people frowned, most chose to watch the drama unfold.
Mr. Xi had mentioned that after Jin Xiao and Meng Siyao broke up in university, he had joined the army. She didn't know what kind of soldier he had been, but the calluses on his palms were even thicker than Hong Zhengyuan’s. When he gripped her ankle, it felt like hot sand rubbing against velvet. Tang Nai squeezed her eyes shut and let out a small cry.
"Don't move."
His frown deepened. Ignoring everyone’s stares, he lifted her foot. Tang Nai couldn't help but lean forward; Jin Xiao’s shoulders shifted, and her hands naturally braced against them. Jin Xiao was wearing a leather jacket that still carried the morning chill. The wound on his arm hadn't healed yet, and the cold, bloody scent made Tang Nai shiver instantly.
However, Jin Xiao’s palm was burning hot, like a branding iron melting cheese, sinking easily into the soft flesh of Tang Nai’s ankle. He gripped her ankle with one hand and placed the other beneath her high heel. With a crack, the heel was snapped off.
Tang Nai’s fingertips curled—so he was modifying her shoes. She stopped moving around, but his hands were too hot. With her legs weak, she was forced to lean her entire weight against his shoulder. She knew she must look a mess, so she didn't dare look up.
She didn't realize that with her hands on his shoulders and her body curled up with eyes closed, she looked exactly like a soft milk cake melting in someone's arms. Feasting on her with one's eyes was the height of restraint. Because she was trapped in his embrace, not daring to move, it looked as if she wouldn't make a sound even if a layer of her milky-white skin were licked away…
At some point, the subordinates who had been watching for entertainment put down what they were doing and looked over with burning gazes.
Chi Jing turned his head slightly and adjusted his glasses with his index finger.
At this moment, Jin Xiao lifted Tang Nai’s other foot, but the loss of height caused her to tilt to the side. He instinctively reached out, but a slender hand with light calluses had already steadily caught Tang Nai. Chi Jing’s hand retracted mid-air, and he tucked it nonchalantly back into his pocket.
Jin Xiao shot a glance at Gu Qing beside him, then frowned at Tang Nai. "Hold on tight!"
Tang Nai nodded quickly. She thanked Gu Qing, who didn't reply, but merely watched Jin Xiao’s hand with a slowly curling smile.
That expression was identical to the one she had while talking to Hong Zhengyuan…
What was so interesting about breaking off a shoe heel?
Tang Nai lowered her long lashes. Her right hand was held by Gu Qing, and her left was braced against Jin Xiao’s shoulder. The heat from Gu Qing’s palm and the chill from Jin Xiao made her alternate between a daze and clarity, sending goosebumps across her skin.
Jin Xiao lifted her other ankle and suddenly paused. Her abdomen was braced against his shoulder, and she could see nothing but the ants on the ground, so she didn't know that Jin Xiao was staring at a water droplet trailing from her calf to her ankle. His brow pressed down slowly.
If she had just fallen, it was impossible to have no bruises and only water marks.
He lowered his long lashes, masking all emotion as he snapped off the remaining heel and helped her up. He tossed the heels aside. "Don't wear these kinds of shoes again. If you delay us because of a foot injury, I won't save you."
Previously, he had only been indifferent toward Tang Nai; this was his first warning.
Chi Jing’s smile remained as he patted Jin Xiao’s shoulder. "Why so much anger? After last time's lesson, I'm sure Miss Meng won't repeat the same mistake."
It actually had nothing to do with the heels… Tang Nai put on an act of being attached to her high heels and nodded reluctantly. She hadn't wanted to wear them anyway; they hurt.
Jin Xiao’s brow relaxed slightly. He said to Gu Qing, "Thank you for the trouble, Miss Gu."
Gu Qing let go of Tang Nai and said with a smile, "It’s no problem. I have Captain Jin to thank for his care on this journey. There will be many more opportunities to help each other in the future."
Jin Xiao’s gaze swept over Gu Qing’s face, a hidden light churning in his eyes, but Gu Qing’s smile remained unchanged. He said nothing more and turned back to find his subordinates all looking dazed or evasive. Since when were his men so undisciplined?
"Everyone, pack up! Prepare to move out!"
The group snapped to attention and stood up quickly.
Chi Jing pushed his glasses up, nodded to the others, and followed Jin Xiao out of the abandoned building.
After a hurried meal of biscuits, everyone resumed their journey.
Only Tang Nai and Jin Xiao were in the car. He was looking at a map with a furrowed brow, his mouth drawn into a straight line.
The last time she had sat with Jin Xiao was right after she woke up. Back then, Hong Zhengyuan had been in the car too. All three of them had sat together, one glaring at her, one scowling silently, but she felt that time was much better than now.
At least with Hong Zhengyuan shouting, there was some noise in the car.
"Um… Mr. Hon— where did Brother Hong go?"
Jin Xiao paused and slowly lowered the map.
"Why are you looking for him?"