Chapter 33 Truly Feeling the Strength of His Build…

Chapter 33: She Felt His Insecurity...

The amusement park was packed on the weekend.

A long line snaked at the entrance gate.

"So many people," Gao Youhe exclaimed repeatedly, standing at the main entrance.

"Brother, where's the camera? I want to take a picture."

"Where do you want to take it?"

"At the main entrance. Let's take a picture together for proof we were here."

She waved Lu Yingxiao over to stand beside her and asked Gao Yan, who was holding the camera, to find a helpful stranger to take their picture.

Gao Yan kept getting turned down. His face was simply too intimidating, and he was built so big and tall. When he approached others, it didn't look like he was asking for help but rather like he was picking a fight. Before he could even reach them, visitors would scatter as if fleeing from a monster.

Even when Gao Yan tried to smile, deliberately softening his expression to appear less fierce, it still didn't work.

Gao Youhe was used to this and even made a bet with Lu Yingxiao excitedly, "Sister-in-law, guess how many tries it will take for Brother to succeed? I bet at least ten or more."

Hearing the certainty in Gao Youhe's tone, Lu Yingxiao asked with a complicated feeling, "Is it always like this when he asks strangers for help?"

Gao Youhe nodded, "Yes, I'm used to it. I think Brother is too."

Her tone was light and breezy, showing no hint of feeling wronged for Gao Yan. But how could that be? Even she, an outsider with no blood relation, felt bad for him seeing Gao Yan face rejection again and again, let alone Gao Youhe, whom he had raised single-handedly?

It was simply a matter of being unable to change the situation and having to accept it.

"I'll go help your brother."

After saying this to Gao Youhe, Lu Yingxiao hurried over to Gao Yan.

"Let's split up the task. I'll find a kind visitor, and then you can handle the talking."

Visitors might fear Gao Yan, but they wouldn't fear her.

Once she explained the situation to a visitor, they probably wouldn't turn and leave upon seeing Gao Yan.

So, with Lu Yingxiao's help, Gao Yan finally handed the camera to a young, kind-hearted visitor.

The visitor took several photos for them.

Afterward, Gao Youhe went to check the photos, while Lu Yingxiao thanked the kind visitor.

The visitor glanced at Gao Yan, who had followed Gao Youhe to look at the photos, and said a bit apologetically, "My photography skills aren't great. I didn't capture you all very well."

Actually, it wasn't really about the photography skills. The main issue was that Gao Yan's naturally fierce face and Lu Yingxiao and Gao Youhe's serene, pleasant faces seemed to exist on completely different layers. No matter how she adjusted the angle or mustered the courage to guide Gao Yan's pose, she couldn't make his face look even a bit more serene.

Hearing the visitor speak so sincerely, Lu Yingxiao thought the photos really hadn't turned out well.

After thanking the visitor repeatedly and once she was gone, Lu Yingxiao went over to Gao Youhe to look at the photos. She thought they looked quite good.

Whether it was the composition, lighting, or negative space, everything seemed at a professional level.

"We're really lucky. A random visitor we pulled over could take such beautiful photos."

Lu Yingxiao praised repeatedly.

Gao Youhe also excitedly agreed, "Right? Look at this composition, this lighting—it's simply perfect."

After the sisters-in-law finished speaking, they looked at Gao Yan.

But Gao Yan had a different opinion. He said, "If we could have asked that visitor to take a separate photo of just the two of you earlier, I think it would have been even better."

Gao Youhe slapped her forehead, filled with regret. "Why didn't I think of that? That sister was so good at taking photos. A picture of just me and Sister-in-law would definitely have been beautiful too."

Before the visitor left, none of the three had thought of this. Mainly because Gao Yan had faced so many rejections when asking for help earlier. Finally having a visitor willing to assist, they naturally wanted to quickly take a group photo of the three of them before the visitor backed out.

Now that they had the group photo, Gao Yan's comment made Gao Youhe even more regretful about not taking a photo with just Lu Yingxiao.

"That kind sister has already entered the amusement park. I wonder if we'll run into her again later. If we do, I must ask her to take a photo of just me and Sister-in-law."

Gao Youhe was filled with regret about not taking a photo with Lu Yingxiao, but Lu Yingxiao looked at Gao Yan with a complex expression.

Somehow, she sensed another layer of meaning in his words.

His face was too fierce. A group photo of the three was nice, but it would be even better without him.

Was this... insecurity?

She felt her guess was pretty ridiculous. After all, aside from his appearance not aligning with mainstream aesthetics, Gao Yan excelled in almost every other aspect—high education, good family background, highly capable, high social status, etc. If other men had his attributes, their confidence would have already inflated to outer space. They might even take pride in looking fierce, considering it a sign of masculinity.

"Fate isn't something you can force. It's good if we meet her again, but it's fine if we don't. I think our group photo is already as good as it can be."

Her words were a response to Gao Youhe, but they were directed at Gao Yan.

Comforted by Lu Yingxiao's words, Gao Youhe's regret about not having the kind visitor take a photo of just the two of them lessened considerably. "Sister-in-law is right! The group photo of the three of us is the best!"

Gao Yan didn't speak.

Lu Yingxiao observed him carefully. Though he remained silent, when his eyes met hers, they were filled with unmistakable surprise and emotion.

So, he really had felt insecure just now?

Lu Yingxiao found it almost unbelievable.

They had already purchased their amusement park tickets online on the way. The three of them went to queue at the entrance gate.

Gao Youhe was at the front, Lu Yingxiao in the middle, and Gao Yan at the back.

Lu Yingxiao was distracted, occasionally glancing at Gao Yan behind her with the corner of her eye.

"Uncle, why are you cutting in line?"

Gao Youhe's angry voice snapped Lu Yingxiao out of her reverie.

Lu Yingxiao looked at the obese man who was shamelessly squeezing in front of Gao Youhe. She placed her hands on Gao Youhe's shoulders, supporting her in bravely scolding the man. Raising her voice, she joined in, "A grown adult like you doesn't know you have to queue? Get to the back!"

The obese man glanced at Lu Yingxiao and Gao Youhe.

Seeing they were just two women, one older and one younger, he cursed with extremely foul language and stood firmly in front of Gao Youhe, ignoring them.

The sisters-in-law were furious.

Just as they were about to step in again, Gao Yan had already acted for them. His huge hand effortlessly yanked the obese man out of line.

The obese man swore loudly.

Turning around and seeing Gao Yan, who was not only taller but looked a hundred times more intimidating, the obese man immediately lost his arrogance. With a fearful expression, he pleaded and fawned, "Sir, sir, let's be reasonable, be reasonable."

Gao Yan grabbed the back of the obese man's collar and shoved him aside. "Get to the back of the line!"

The obese man bowed and scraped, agreeing profusely.

As he passed by Lu Yingxiao, she stomped hard on his toes.

His earlier curse had been so foul it offended both her and Youhe's ears.

Seeing this, Gao Youhe followed suit, stomping heavily on the obese man's other foot.

The obese man grimaced in pain.

Instinctively, he wanted to lunge at the two women, but deterred by Gao Yan's intimidating presence nearby, he could only endure it silently. He didn't even dare to curse, slinking away in disgrace.

Watching the obese man's wretched, pained retreat, Lu Yingxiao felt invigorated and supremely satisfied.

In a cheerful mood, she said to Gao Yan, "Today, I got to ride on your coattails."

Gao Yan smiled. "Glad I didn't scare you."

Lu Yingxiao shot back, "Anyone who saw that would only want to clap and cheer. How could they be scared?"

"Really?"

"I mean it."

"Hearing you say that makes me feel a lot better. Many people have been scared by me before. I never thought there'd be a day when someone would clap and cheer for me."

His words had a sad ring to them.

Although she had once been scared by Gao Yan too and was prejudiced against him because of it, at this moment, she only wanted to tell him in a firm tone that he wasn't scary at all. Instead, he brought her a real sense of safety.

That's why, when they entered the amusement park and couldn't see the performance ahead due to the large crowd, and Gao Yan suggested she sit on his other shoulder like Youhe, Lu Yingxiao didn't hesitate. She let Gao Yan hoist her up to sit on his strong, powerful shoulder.

From her high perch, she had a great view, and Lu Yingxiao easily watched the enjoyable performance.

But as for what was performed, she could hardly remember.

She only deeply felt Gao Yan's formidable strength and endurance, steadily holding her and Youhe up for nearly an hour of the performance.

"You must be tired," Lu Yingxiao asked with concern after getting down.

Gao Yan rolled his shoulders. "Tired, not really. It's just that holding still like that made my arms a bit stiff."

Gao Youhe immediately said, "Brother, let me massage them for you."

She diligently worked on Gao Yan's arm.

Gao Yan praised, "After your massage, it does feel much better."

But his arms were so thick and muscular. After a while, Gao Youhe was out of breath and tired, unable to continue. "Brother, the muscles on your arms are too hard."

"Just rest then, you don't have to."

"What about your other arm? Doesn't it hurt?"

Lu Yingxiao piped up, "Let me do it. I'll massage your brother's arm."

She felt she was partly to blame for the stiffness in Gao Yan's arm, so it was the least she could do.

Although this was a very intimate gesture, she had already leaned against Gao Yan's arm in the morning and sat on his shoulder for nearly an hour just now. It would be too late to get all shy and awkward about touching his arm now. Thinking this to herself, Lu Yingxiao's hands, before she could think twice, had already landed on Gao Yan's firm, solid arm.

She knew Gao Yan's arms were strong.

You could see how strong they were.

But when her hands truly touched his arm, her palms fitting snugly against it, the imagined strength became a physical reality.

It felt like with just a slight wave of his arm, he could send her flying a mile away.

She used to be very afraid of such power.

Now, she explored with curiosity, her slender fingers moving back and forth over the strong arm, carefully feeling the raw, masculine power beneath her palms.

Gao Yan looked down at Lu Yingxiao.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he let Lu Yingxiao's hands wander over his arm.

"Brother, you're all sweaty." Gao Youhe suddenly pointed at the fine beads of sweat on Gao Yan's forehead.

Gao Yan swallowed. "No wonder I'm parched. It's almost noon. You guys must be hungry too. There are lots of snacks ahead. Let's go take a look?"

Gao Youhe nodded.

She walked ahead to lead the way. "There's an empty spot right there. Brother, Sister-in-law, hurry up."

It was packed.

The three of them inched forward with difficulty.

When Gao Youhe spoke earlier, Lu Yingxiao's hand had already moved away from Gao Yan's arm. She silently followed behind Gao Yan and his sister.

A strong, powerful hand suddenly appeared in front of her.

Without looking up, Lu Yingxiao knew whose hand it was.

"It's too crowded. Easy to get separated."

The explanation came from above, from the owner of the large hand.

Lu Yingxiao didn't speak, just quietly looked at the hand before her.

After a moment, seeing she still hadn't responded, the hand withdrew. But the next second, it returned, holding the corner of its owner's shirt.

This time, the hand's owner offered no explanation, but the meaning was clear: if you won't hold my hand, then hold the corner of my shirt.

Hands aren't faces; they can't show expressions.

Yet, from this simple action, Lu Yingxiao inexplicably sensed a hint of dejection from this large hand.

Lu Yingxiao smiled slightly, reached out, brushed aside the shirt corner held in the large hand's palm, and then took the place of the shirt corner, letting the broad hand firmly grasp hers.

"Let's go."

"Okay."

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In the end, there was no escape; she still ended up in his grasp.