“Um, do you feel anything when I press this acupoint?”
Streamside, Shen An sat sideways with her jade foot cradled in both hands.
His fingertips gently kneaded the sole of her foot. He searched for the right points while putting on a show of asking Wang Yuqiong’s opinion.
Of course, it wasn’t entirely for show. Killing two birds with one stone was a more accurate description.
On one hand, it satisfied Shen An’s private foot fetish. On the other, he was genuinely helping Wang Yuqiong locate the acupoints and diagnose her condition.
Wang Yuqiong shook her head. “No feeling.”
“Then how about this one?”
“Nothing there either.”
“And this?”
“Still nothing.”
He pressed one acupoint after another, but Wang Yuqiong’s reactions remained perfectly calm.
The sensation from his fingers pressing down was nothing compared to the itchy trails they left on her skin or the shyness that bubbled up from deep inside her.
“Tsk, this is getting tricky.”
Shen An slowly lowered her jade foot and looked at Wang Yuqiong with a grave expression.
Wang Yuqiong jumped in alarm. “What’s wrong?”
“I suspect you’re a vegetable. How could you feel absolutely nothing?”
Shen An rubbed the tip of her foot. “Only someone in a vegetative state would have zero response to external stimuli.”
Wang Yuqiong curled her toes, lifted her foot slightly, and poked his palm. “You’re the vegetable! Have you ever seen a vegetable as lively as me?”
She pouted. “Better to say you’re just pretending to know what you’re doing. You didn’t hit a single acupoint!”
Shen An arched a brow. “Are you questioning my professional skills?”
“Not questioning—I’m certain!”
“Heh.” Shen An lifted her other jade foot.
This time, he showed no mercy. He pressed firmly and directly on the acupoints.
Hiss.
The playful smirk froze on Wang Yuqiong’s face as pain shot straight from the sole of her foot to the top of her head.
“Ow… it hurts~”
Her small hands instinctively clutched at the grass on the ground. Her long, slender legs thrashed wildly in the air, trying to wrench free from Shen An’s grasp.
Shen An didn’t budge. His hands held her jade foot tight as his fingers kept up the pressure.
“Ah… it hurts so much!!!”
Wang Yuqiong’s face twisted in agony, but her long legs proved to be a disadvantage right then.
Because her legs were so long, her hands couldn’t even reach Shen An.
It formed a natural barrier, letting him torment the sole of her foot without a care.
No matter how she struggled, she couldn’t escape his grip. All she could do was wail and beg for mercy.
Only then did Shen An ease off a little. “So, still questioning my skills?”
“No, no!” Wang Yuqiong shook her head frantically in surrender. “You’re the best!”
When he finally released her, the pale sole of her foot was covered in glaring red marks mixed with patches of white from the intense pressure.
“But your body really is quite healthy.”
Shen An shifted his position. He stopped kneading so forcefully and switched to gentle caresses.
Wang Yuqiong shot him a glare but didn’t dare speak up. She grumbled, “Isn’t being healthy a good thing?”
“Of course. I’m praising you for your regular daily routine.”
“Hmph~”
The pain gradually faded, and Wang Yuqiong’s tense body slowly relaxed.
“I just noticed—your feet are smoother than your face.”
“Ew, gross!” Wang Yuqiong said in disgust. “Can you not say weird stuff like that?”
“Why not? I’m just stating a fact.”
“Whatever. Keep rubbing. I’m going to lie down.”
With that, Wang Yuqiong started to recline onto the grass.
“You don’t mind the dirt?”
“Quietly rub my feet!”
“What a real young miss you are. You sure know how to enjoy yourself.”
Shen An grumbled, but Wang Yuqiong had already lain down.
She squinted her eyes contentedly and stealthily dipped her free jade foot into the stream, letting it glide gently through the water.
After a while, Wang Yuqiong suddenly said, “Shen An.”
“You scared me. I thought you’d fallen asleep.”
Shen An released her foot and fished the other one out from the stream. “What is it?”
“This place seems pretty nice.”
Wang Yuqiong’s voice was soft.
“Mm, you mean the Vacation Resort? Or this moment worth remembering?”
Shen An grinned.
“Of course I mean the Vacation Resort~” Wang Yuqiong’s lips curved up slightly. “Should we come back a few more times?”
“You’d have to ask Senior Sister Zhao about that.”
“Idiot~” Wang Yuqiong sat up and stared at him. “I mean the two of us. What does she have to do with it?”
Shen An paused, then chuckled lightly. “You mean just the two of us on a little getaway?”
Wang Yuqiong turned her head away. “Not exactly a getaway… just the two of us coming here to have fun or something.”
“Ah~ That might take a while.”
“Eh?” Wang Yuqiong blinked in confusion. “Why? There are plenty of holidays.”
“It’s not about holidays. It’s about money.”
Shen An made an international money gesture. “Even one night here isn’t cheap, let alone treating it like a vacation spot.”
“I don’t know how long it’d take me to save up for even one trip.”
Wang Yuqiong pouted. “That’s all?”
“What else? Money’s always the deadliest problem.”
“I…” Wang Yuqiong’s eyes flickered as she murmured, “I wouldn’t mind… treating you.”
Shen An raised a brow. “Finally ready to reveal your true identity as a rich girl?”
“Don’t get the wrong idea!”
Wang Yuqiong hurried to explain. “I didn’t mean for free… just…”
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch. You know what I mean~”
Her eyes swirled with suggestion.
“I get it, so I’m choosing not to take it.” Shen An said earnestly.
“Tch…” Wang Yuqiong puffed out her cheeks. “Fine, don’t then. I can come with someone else. It’s not like I can’t live without you.”
She turned away, still mumbling, “It’s not like I need you specifically. Don’t overestimate yourself!”
“Then why even ask me?”
“I… This is an invitation!”
“Ah~ I rejected your invitation, and now you’re mad about it?”
“I…”
Wang Yuqiong bit her lip. Suddenly, her curled toes flexed like nimble fingers and hooked onto Shen An’s hand.
“I didn’t ask you to do anything extreme. Just… take good care of me when we come~ Is that so hard?”
“How do you define ‘taking care’ here?”
Shen An stroked her plump toes. “Like this? Rub your legs when you’re tired from walking?”
Wang Yuqiong whispered, “Something like that~”
“Then I won’t have to sleep with you at night, right?” Shen An arched a brow, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips.
“Pah!”
Wang Yuqiong kicked his hand away. “What are you thinking? No way!”
But a moment later, she turned back. “Though… it’s not entirely impossible.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“The problem isn’t with me—it’s you.”
“Me?” Shen An asked.
“Yes. Are you ready to let me freeload off you?”
Wang Yuqiong: ……
She pulled her jade foot back. Seeing this, Shen An asked, “No more rubbing?”
“Eh? What are you trying to do?”
Wang Yuqiong withdrew her foot, stood up from the grass, and loomed over him with murderous intent.
“Go die!”
With an angry shout, her small hands precisely clamped onto his neck. She shoved with all her might, pinning him flat on the grass.
With a thud, Shen An had no chance to resist as Wang Yuqiong straddled him.
“Take that for talking nonsense!!”
Wang Yuqiong pretended to be fierce as she pinched his neck, shaking him hard while muttering under her breath.
“That’s enough! Keep it up, and I’ll fight back.”
“Go ahead! It’s not like you can beat me!”
“Getting pretty cocky, huh?”
“You forced me into it!”
“Fine. Don’t regret it.”
Shen An did a carp flip. Wang Yuqiong let out a squeal—this bizarre position was something she hadn’t anticipated at all.
The force surging from his abdomen kept jolting her, like she was a fragile boat adrift in raging waves, without anyone at the helm.
Shen An chuckled to himself as he exerted himself.
He wondered: if they were in a different setting, a different mood, but the same position—what kind of reaction would she show then?
But Wang Yuqiong wasn’t one to back down easily.
She clung desperately to his clothes, refusing to be thrown off no matter what.
The two of them wrestled and played until they were both exhausted.
Wang Yuqiong had no strength left. She simply collapsed onto him, pillowing her head on his chest.
Her small hand gently stroked his face. Then, with a cute nuzzle, she rubbed against him lazily.
Shen An’s mouth twitched. “Can you rein in your impulses a little?”
“No way!”
Wang Yuqiong could switch seamlessly between gentle affection and fierce aggression.
Suddenly, footsteps approached.
Shen An noticed first.
He turned his head to look, while Wang Yuqiong—whose hearing wasn’t as sharp—remained blissfully unaware, still resting on his chest.
“Someone’s coming.”
He said in a low voice.
Wang Yuqiong’s body stiffened. She jerked her head up and looked around. “Really?”
The footsteps grew closer, and a figure gradually came into clear view for Wang Yuqiong.
That figure spotted their current position and came to an abrupt halt.
Their eyes met. A flash of embarrassment crossed Wang Yuqiong’s face, but it quickly turned to composure.
She spoke first. “Song Rui, what are you doing here?”
Song Rui?
Shen An lay on the ground, his view completely blocked by Wang Yuqiong, so he could only hear the sound of approaching footsteps without seeing who it was.
With great difficulty, he turned his head. Sure enough, it was Song Rui.
Song Rui stared at the two of them in disbelief. She stood there in a daze, momentarily at a loss for words.
This…
Was she walking in on them in the act?
No…
Or maybe…
Shen An smoothly eased Wang Yuqiong down onto the ground and stood up. He greeted Song Rui casually. “Yo, are you heading back?”
Song Rui gave Shen An a deep look and said in a low voice, “Senior Sister Zhao sent me to look for you two.”
“Hah, no need to go to all that trouble. Just give us a call.”
Shen An chuckled lightly as if nothing had happened.
Song Rui pulled out her phone. “I did call, but neither of you picked up.”
“Really?”
Shen An fished his phone from his pocket and tapped the screen. It was pitch black.
“Uh… looks like my battery died.”
Wang Yuqiong rose slowly as well. “Mine too.”
“You two…”
Song Rui’s emotions were an utter tangle right now.
But she had no idea how to even broach the subject.
No matter what, it wasn’t her place to pry.
The water droplets on Shen An’s feet had long since dried in the sun. He slipped on his shoes and walked over to Song Rui. “How’s everything going over there?”
Wang Yuqiong still had to wait a moment, so for now, she could only glare daggers at Shen An with fierce eyes as he approached Song Rui.
Song Rui lowered her head. “It’s fine. Everyone’s having fun together.”
“And you?”
Shen An’s voice softened. “Did you join in the fun with them?”
As he spoke, he tilted her chin up slightly. “How many times have I told you? Chin up, chest out.”
The turmoil in Song Rui’s heart stirred once more.
She desperately wanted to know how Shen An could act so nonchalant… just what was going on with him?
It was as if lying there with Wang Yuqiong was the most natural thing in the world, something he didn’t care about or mind in the slightest.
She wanted to know what he was really thinking.
Why… why had he let Wang Yuqiong pillow on his chest just moments ago, only to come over now and get intimate with her?
But rather than confront him, an unbidden sense of relief and satisfaction welled up inside Song Rui, despite herself.
Sure, he had been lying there with Wang Yuqiong…
But he still cared about her.
Didn’t he?
Song Rui’s thoughts twisted into knots. She glanced at him, mustered the will to question him, then helplessly let it go.
“Five flavors mixed into one” was the perfect way to describe her mood at that moment.
She didn’t dare ask.
She truly didn’t.
Some truths, once uncovered, meant there was no going back to how things were.
And if the answer wasn’t what she hoped for… what would she do then?
“Cat got your tongue? Why so quiet?”
Shen An tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, his tone growing even gentler.
After a moment of inner struggle, Song Rui finally yielded to his tenderness.
No matter what, he still cared about her.
“I… I came to find you guys. How… how is she?”
She lifted her head and spoke softly.
“Tch, she’s fine. Just throwing a little tantrum. Looks like I really ticked her off earlier. Took a while of coaxing before she calmed down.”
Shen An grinned and pointed to the red mark on his neck. “See this? She doesn’t hold back.”
Song Rui timidly raised her hand, wanting to touch it lightly.
But her hand hovered in midair.
Shen An simply took her small hand in his. “Be gentle.”
He guided her hand and pressed it softly against the mark on his neck.
Song Rui stroked it gently, her fingers tracing every inch.
She bit her lip and murmured, “Serves you right.”
