Chapter 38: A Gentle Touch on the Foot

Chapter 38: A Gentle Touch on the Foot

Such a familiar voice.

Diverting his gaze from his phone, Ying Li looked up to see Shen Yao seated in the driver's seat. One hand rested on the steering wheel, while the other leaned on the window frame. With a mischievous air, he quirked an eyebrow at Ying Li.

Ying Li, surprised, asked, "What are you doing here?"

Shen Yao tilted his head, signaling, "Hop in quick. Can't park here for too long, or I'll get a ticket."

Ying Li switched off his phone, circled around to the passenger side, and climbed in, repeating his question, "Why are you here?"

Shen Yao glanced at him, chuckling lightly, "Had nothing to do tonight, so thought I'd take a drive."

Ying Li buckled his seatbelt, "You drove quite a distance. Blue Bay is over an hour from the city hospital."

During the evening meeting, Qi Xie was absent. Zhang Shao Ling mentioned that he had dropped Ying Li off at the hospital. Upon hearing this, Shen Yao felt something was amiss since Qi Xie rarely involved himself in such matters.

After Zhang Shao Ling left, Shen Yao also drove out. Initially, he intended to just roam around aimlessly, but somehow he found himself near the hospital. The main road by the hospital entrance was congested, so he took an alternate route and serendipitously ran into Ying Li.

Shen Yao pressed the accelerator a bit, and casually inquired, "The captain drove you here tonight, right?"

Ying Li's heartbeat quickened, "Ah, yes."

"I thought so," Shen Yao internally felt an inexplicable irritation, "Has he left yet?"

Ying Li shook his head slightly, "I'm not sure, but he probably has."

As he stepped out, he glanced at the hospital entrance, noticing no cars parked by the roadside.

Shen Yao frowned, saying, "It's tough to hail a cab here at night," seemingly unsure whether to wait for Ying Li.

Fortunately, Qi Xie didn't linger, or Shen Yao wouldn't have had the chance to pick up Ying Li.

Ying Li sat in the passenger seat, half sinking into the plush chair, and after concluding their previous conversation, he remained silent.

Every so often, Shen Yao would turn to look at him, his dark, bright eyes searching as he asked, "You got a haircut?"

Ying Li nodded, "Mhm."

A pang of curiosity seized Shen Yao. He'd noticed earlier – after the haircut, Ying Li's forehead was entirely visible, and the little strands of hair by his ears were neatly trimmed. He looked fresher, more reminiscent of a high schooler.

Shen Yao couldn't resist reaching out to touch Ying Li's hair. The hair at the back of his head was cropped short, slightly prickly, reminiscent of the soft quills on a hedgehog.

Feeling the touch, Ying Li wondered if something was on his neck, "What is it?"

"Nothing." Shen Yao grinned, then added out of the blue, "You look good."

When one is good-looking, any hairstyle suits them.

Melodic English tunes played in the car. Lately, Ying Li had been visibly downcast, speaking less and often gazing into the distance lost in thought when alone.

Just like now, staring at the traffic lights without even blinking.

Several times, Shen Yao had held back from striking up a conversation.

As the car drove onto the bridge spanning the river, the soft strains of music were overshadowed by the successive bursts of fireworks.

Ying Li took a fleeting glance out the window. Fireworks blossomed one after the other, painting the ink-blue sky in vibrant hues. A hint of emotion shimmered in his eyes.

Shen Yao, too, took in the view and suggested, "It's been a while since I've seen such beautiful fireworks. Want to get out and watch?"

"Sure."

The pair stood on the bridge, watching the fireworks. Without the barrier of the car windows, the explosions sounded crisper, more immediate. On several occasions, the fireworks seemed so close they felt like they might descend upon them.

Shen Yao looked up briefly, then turned to look at Ying Li again.

Tilting his head back and using his height advantage, Ying Li saw the entire spectrum of the sky reflected in his own amber pupils. It spread like ripples on water, beautifully strange and incomparably dazzling.

Shen Yao had seen many stunning fireworks before, but none seemed as magnificent as the ones at this moment.

He shifted his feet, discreetly moving a tad closer to Ying Li.

The wind on the bridge was strong, prompting Ying Li to sneeze.

"Are you cold?"

Shen Yao pinched his arm, feeling the thin cotton fabric beneath his fingers.

Ying Li adjusted his clothing and shook his head, "It's alright. A bit of cold is like applying an ice pack."

Shen Yao teased, "Since when did you start making jokes?"

"I always have."

Ying Li curled up the corners of his lips. He never saw himself as a reserved or shy person. It's just that the burdens of recent days have been overwhelming, leaving him a bit breathless. But it will pass.

The fireworks ended on cue after five minutes.

Ying Li asked, "Shall we head back?"

Shen Yao didn't want to leave just yet, but it seemed there was no genuine reason to spend more alone time with Ying Li.

The sound of rushing water permeated through the bridge. An idea sparked in Shen Yao's mind as he pointed to something floating nearby, "What's that?"

Following his gaze, Ying Li spotted something shimmering on the river's surface, its brightness waxing and waning with the currents.

Squinting, he said, "It looks like a river lantern."

Shen Yao: "River lantern?"

"Yes, releasing river lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival is a tradition here, meant for making wishes," Ying Li pondered, "Is the Mid-Autumn Festival already approaching?"

Shen Yao looked at him and replied, "It's tomorrow."

Ying Li's eyes widened in realization, nodding in acknowledgment. He had been so swamped recently that he'd lost track of time.

Shen Yao stepped back a few paces and leaned over the railing to glance at the wetland park beneath the bridge. "It looks quite lively down there. Shall we take a walk?"

Ying Li hesitated, "Perhaps we shouldn't. There's a crowd, and someone might recognize you."

Shen Yao took a mask from the car and put it on. "This should help, right? Let's go check it out. I've never released a river lantern before."

They parked their car by the roadside. The scene below the bridge was indeed bustling. Various stalls selling mooncakes and lanterns lined both sides of the road, organized and orderly.

Given the crowd, the two men walked side by side. Occasionally, their shoulders brushed against each other, sending a tingling sensation down Shen Yao's arm.

Suddenly, a little girl darted out and bumped into Shen Yao, smearing his trousers with her cotton candy. However, his first reaction was to shield Ying Li, "Watch out! Did she hit you?"

Protected by Shen Yao's sturdy arm, Ying Li replied, "I'm fine. Is the little girl okay?"

Shen Yao was muscular and firm; being bumped into by him wouldn't be a pleasant experience.

Looking down, Shen Yao noticed the little girl holding a rabbit-shaped paper lantern, lifelike and charming, her rosy cheeks making her all the more adorable.

Not minding his stained trousers, Shen Yao bent down and inquired, "Little miss, where did you buy this lantern?"

Her cotton candy was squished, and her forehead hurt. She looked up to find a tall man in black attire and a matching mask, seemingly eyeing her rabbit lantern with ill intentions.

Bursting into tears, the little girl cried, "Mommy... There's a bad man trying to take my bunny!"

Shen Yao was taken aback, "Wait..."

"What happened, sweetheart? Why are you crying? Who's trying to take your stuff?"

The little girl's mother quickly squeezed through the crowd, eyeing the towering man before her daughter with apprehension. "What are you trying to do?"

Shen Yao struggled to explain, "It wasn't me. I didn't try to take her stuff. She bumped into me and started crying..."

Did he really look that menacing?

"Little girl, this big brother isn't a bad person. He won't take your bunny. He just wanted to know where you bought it." Ying Li crouched to her level, his eyes clear and convincing. He took out a tissue to wipe her tears, "Will you stop crying now?"

"Mommy..." Clinging to her mother's leg, the little girl felt a blush creep up her cheeks. This older boy was so handsome, and he smelled nice, even touching her face...

Shen Yao was flabbergasted again. Even at such a young age, she seemed to appreciate good looks.

After understanding the situation, the little girl's mother quickly waved her hand in reassurance, "It's alright. The rabbit lanterns are sold over there. I believe there are only a few left. You should hurry if you want one."

Ying Li thanked her and headed in the direction of the rabbit lantern stall.

"Thanks for back there," Shen Yao said, scratching his neck in slight embarrassment. "Kids seem to be drawn to you. Not like me—I look stern, and if I raise my voice even slightly, it's enough to make them cry."

Ying Li chuckled, "Not at all."

Shen Yao was momentarily dazzled by his smile, his cheeks taking on a hint of color, "Am I not intimidating?"

Standing at 6'3", with well-defined muscles and a scar running through his eyebrow, many of his online fans said he exuded a sense of menace. Put nicely, he was seen as roguish, but more bluntly, he appeared fierce.

"Maybe a little," Ying Li admitted softly, "You look stern when you don’t smile, but not when you do."

Shen Yao's onstage presence was powerful. The first time Ying Li saw him perform, he was indeed struck by that intense energy. But now, having become familiar with Shen Yao's offstage persona, he was reminded of a neighbor's large dog—snarling one second and playfully rolling over the next. Fierce on the outside, but soft and endearing within.

That's the impression Shen Yao gave him.

Shen Yao chuckled, his eyes narrowing into joyful slits.

Ying Li also laughed and, glancing at the cotton candy on Shen Yao's pants, suggested, "You should wipe that off with a wet wipe?"

Shen Yao took the tissue Ying Li had used earlier for the little girl and gave his pants a cursory wipe, "It's fine. I'll just wash it later."

The nightlife in Nancheng was vibrant. At 10 o'clock, it was peak time for the locals. Beneath the bridge, it was so crowded that they struggled to make their way to the rabbit lantern stall.

"This one's lovely; I want this one."

Next to them stood a young couple. The tall, fair-skinned girl clung to her boyfriend's arm, coquettishly saying, "I want this one, buy it for me."

The young man wrapped an arm around her waist and whispered in her ear, "Call me 'hubby', and I'll buy it for you."

Displaying their affection without a care in the world, they emanated a sweetness that was almost suffocating.

Upon hearing this, the girl's face turned beet red, and she playfully shook her boyfriend's hand, coyly repeating, "Hubby, hubby..."

The young man pinched her waist causing her to let out a soft yelp, "We're in public!" Yet, he suddenly leaned down and sealed her lips with a passionate kiss, much to the surprise of the onlookers.

Shen Yao felt goosebumps rise on his skin, "Public displays of affection on the streets? Is this how bold young lovers are nowadays?"

The most surprising part was that the two of them didn't purchase anything in the end. They hurriedly left, probably eager to get home and attend to something.

Ying Li paid no attention to them, intently examining the lanterns on display.

The vendor was an elderly lady. Though she wore reading glasses, her hands were steady. She first fashioned the shapes of little animals from bamboo strips, then covered them with paper and painted them, and finally added a small light bulb.

The elderly lady had an excellent aesthetic sense. Each lantern was beautifully crafted, and Ying Li was so engrossed in observing them that he lost track of time.

"Do you like it? Want to buy one?" Shen Yao asked, then inquired of the old lady, "Grandma, how much for this rabbit lantern?"

The elderly lady replied cheerfully, "The small ones are ten, and the big ones are fifteen."

Ying Li snapped back to reality, "No need, I just wanted to look."

"Let's take a big one." Before Ying Li could object, Shen Yao quickly paid for it.

Shen Yao chose the cutest rabbit lantern and handed it to Ying Li. Seeing Ying Li's hesitation, Shen Yao played his trump card, "Take it. I've already bought it. It's not easy for an elderly person to be selling these at this hour."

Having witnessed the effort the old lady put into crafting the lanterns, and noting the reasonable prices, Ying Li reluctantly accepted, "Alright, thank you."

Shen Yao touched the tip of his nose and remarked, "It resembles you."

Ying Li looked at him, "It resembles me?"

"Yes, the nose, the eyes, the ears. And they're all so fair and smooth."

Shen Yao left the last part unsaid.

"There's a place down below where we can release river lanterns. Let's buy one and release it."

Shen Yao purchased two river lanterns for a total of ten, with Ying Li attempting to pay but not managing to do so before Shen Yao.

Below the bridge and adjacent to the riverbank was a wetland park with a long set of stairs, with many people taking strolls below.

The lights installed on the stairs were a tad too bright, blinding Ying Li who wasn't wearing his glasses. Suddenly, he missed a step and nearly slipped, but Shen Yao swiftly supported him, "Are you alright? Did you twist your ankle?"

Regaining his balance and feeling an unusual sensation in his ankle, Ying Li frowned, "I think I might have sprained it a little."

Panic flashed in Shen Yao's eyes, "Which foot?"

Ying Li: "My right foot."

"Take a seat."

Ying Li promptly sat down on the steps, pressing the spot on his ankle where he had just twisted it.

Shen Yao squatted down two steps below him and reached out to feel the injured area, asking, "Does it hurt?"

Ying Li's brows furrowed even more, responding with a simple, "Mhm."

Shen Yao, looking up at him, suggested, "Take it off, let me see."

Ying Li hesitated for a moment, his eyelashes fluttering lightly, "No need."

"Is it a sprain or a twist? A twist can be serious; the bone might be dislocated," Shen Yao said with a grave expression, his tone growing stern, "Do you want to take it off yourself or shall I help?"

Ying Li resisted, "Really, it's not necessary."

Shen Yao gave him a stern glance and proceeded to lift Ying Li's foot himself. Ying Li struggled but couldn't break free.

Shen Yao, being tall, could still meet Ying Li's gaze even when squatting in front of him. The weight of his gaze felt oppressive.

After a brief standoff, Ying Li conceded, "I'll do it myself..."

Ying Li removed his shoe, followed by his sock.

Shen Yao's eyes widened in admiration. Ying Li's foot was so fair that the veins on its top were clearly visible. The toes were delicate and lustrous. The overhead light cast a glaze-like shine on his porcelain-white skin, making his foot appear brilliantly white and stunning.

As if having a handsome face wasn't enough, even his feet were equally captivating. Was there any part of Ying Li that wasn't beautiful?

Ying Li, unaccustomed to having his foot stared at so intently, shifted uncomfortably, curling his toes as the top of his foot almost straightened out, "Shen Yao..."

Shen Yao placed the foot on his knee. The texture was astonishingly smooth. With undivided attention, he pressed inch by inch, searching for the source of the pain, "Does it hurt here?"

Ying Li nodded slightly, "A bit."

"It's likely a sprain."

Shen Yao continued to examine the foot, but soon became distracted. Ying Li's ankle felt so soft and smooth, it seemed small enough to grasp with a single hand.

Due to resting on his knee, the hem of the pants was slightly raised, revealing a shapely and toned calf. It wasn’t overtly muscular, but pleasing to the eye. Furthermore, there was no leg hair. It's said that those with little leg hair have sparse body hair elsewhere, implying that certain parts must be especially clean.

A warm palm encased Ying Li's slender ankle. The thumb gently massaged over the protruding bone, "Does this feel better?"

Many passersby were gawking at them. Ying Li, feeling self-conscious, said, "It doesn’t hurt anymore. Please, stand up."

For a moment, Shen Yao seemed reluctant to let go, making an excuse, "Let me massage a bit more; otherwise, it might swell tomorrow."

Ying Li had no choice but to acquiesce, his head hung low.

Shen Yao, having done rough work in the past, had calloused hands. The rough calluses brushing against Ying Li's skin reddened it, even though he was being gentle. How could someone's skin be so delicate?

Ying Li, with his face nearly buried, muttered, "That's enough."

Holding the sole of Ying Li's foot in his substantial hand, Shen Yao suddenly commented, "Your feet are so cold. Why are they this chilly?"

"Are they?" Ying Li hadn’t noticed.

"Very cold."

Shen Yao leaned in closer, unzipping his jacket and placed the foot he was holding inside, hugging it tightly, his voice husky with concern.

"Stay still. Let me warm it up for you."

Author's Note:

Paper-thin people don’t have foot odor, and neither does the author. I'm so cheeky (waggling hips).