A Touch of Tenderness

Seeing Qi Gu remain silent, Lin Han Zhi also maintained his posture, looking at Qi Gu, lost in thought. From the moment Qi Gu stopped thinking of him, he had died. Would Qi Gu visit him?
Lin Han Zhi appeared lively, but his life was full of sorrow. His way of thinking was the same. He always thought of things in the most negative way, not daring to hope for anything good to happen to him.
After a moment of thought, a damaged fragment of his soul in his right arm suddenly throbbed with pain.
He let out a soft "Tsk," half-crouching, pressing his left hand over the painful spot. If he hadn't been so lost in thought, this sound wouldn't have escaped him. He could have even pretended nothing happened.
Since he gained consciousness, he had always been good at hiding pain. No one knew he also hurt, also struggled endlessly.
Tiny beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. Lin Han Zhi’s already pale face became even more unsightly, as if he had just been pulled from water.
Just as he escaped that feeling of despair, Lin Han Zhi stood up, wanting to pretend nothing was wrong. But the very next moment, his arm was seized by Qi Gu, held tightly, not allowing him to escape even a little.
Qi Gu was thinking very seriously, but Lin Han Zhi’s sharp intake of breath was enough to make him pause everything, looking only at him.
Qi Gu’s apricot eyes were heavy with emotion, his voice cold: “An uncomfortable technique, is it a sprain or something?”
Lin Han Zhi looked up, staring blankly at Qi Gu—Qi Gu was suddenly so close, feeling the warmth transmitted through his skin as Qi Gu held his wrist.
“…Probably a sprain.” Lin Han Zhi hadn’t expected Qi Gu to show such a loss of composure just for a little arm pain. He probed, “Can you rub it for me?”
Qi Gu said nothing, his face cold, but his warm, soft palm settled on Lin Han Zhi’s arm, gently kneading: “Is it here? Does this much force hurt?”
Lin Han Zhi watched Qi Gu, who had lowered his face, his lips tightly pressed, looking extremely displeased, yet his movements on his arm were gentle. His pale lips couldn’t help but curve into a smile.
Then he was pinched, not too lightly, not too heavily, by Qi Gu, who spoke in a terribly grumpy tone: “Your arm hurts so much and you’re still smiling? Get up early tomorrow and register for a check-up, see why it’s sprained.”
Lin Han Zhi suddenly wasn’t scared anymore. He was a pessimist, but Qi Gu truly seemed unwilling to leave him with the worst outcome. Qi Gu treated him truly differently.
“A little lighter, please?” Lin Han Zhi asked softly.
Qi Gu seemed impatient as he assented, but the movements of his hand were indeed soft, like a kitten kneading milk, pressing little by little.
Miao Yue, seeing them like this, knew that this matter could truly come to fruition. She was so happy she almost jumped onto a tree.
Zeng Qing Huan secretly chuckled, stealthily watching these two who clearly had feelings for each other but neither would admit it, creating a lively scene.
Pu Bu Ge Sang opened his phone, went to the “Health Care” section, intending to help his pet boss book an appointment with a hand specialist… It looked serious, he was sweating, it didn’t seem like acting.
Then Miao Yue snatched his phone: “Someone’s already taking care of this. You worry less about useless things.”
Pu Bu Ge Sang: “Woof.”
Miao Yue was reliable, Pu Bu Ge Sang knew that.
As for Mu Xing Chen, he saw that Master Qi Gu had been rubbing Senior Brother Lin’s arm for ten minutes. Fearing his Master was tired, he asked: “Master, if you’re tired, I can take over for you!”
Very filial, but he was immediately glared at by Lin Han Zhi with an icy gaze, and instantly shut his mouth, afraid that Senior Brother Lin wouldn’t want to help him talk in front of Qi Gu anymore.
【 If they don’t get married now, there’s truly nothing more to say, right? Aren’t you disappointing Yue Lao, Cupid, and the Magpies?! 】
【 First time seeing a whisper move so fast, instantly switching from David’s posture to… that speed could probably only be matched by an Olympic athlete 】
【 He really loves him (loudly shouting) 】
【 Fierce, yet still rubbing his hand 】
【 My boyfriend is also like this, if he sees me hurt, he’ll scold me while applying medicine, ha ha ha 】
【 A little lighter, please~ 】
【 This level of 'Green Tea' is truly too high 】
【 Actually, the level isn’t that high. Mainly, I really indulge him, eating until I’m full 】
【 What do you mean by eating, what do you mean by indulging, can you explain more clearly? I’m a child who doesn’t understand (opponent only) 】
【 The one above… 】
【 Sister Mam is the true intelligence agent, good good good good! 】
【 Dying of laughter, Pu Bu Ge Sang and Mu Xing Chen are truly my joy. They’re a little couple rubbing hands, what’s wrong with you guys! 】
【 If I’m not mistaken, Zhi Zhi just glared at little Mu… 】
【 Where is Mu Xing Chen’s agent? Get this child a blind date, continuing like this is really not right! 】
【 Agreed 】
【 No, if he knows about blind dates, where will I go to watch the fun! 】
Qi Gu was unaware of the joyous comments flooding the screen. He was solely concerned about Lin Han Zhi’s arm, pondering which hospital was more reliable for sprains, and if he could book an expert appointment.
While deep in thought, his hand movements rubbing Lin Han Zhi’s arm did not stop. Only his brows were furrowed, his eyes downcast. The warmth of his palm continuously transferred to Lin Han Zhi’s arm, warming the muscles and significantly alleviating the pain.
“Feeling any better?”
“En.” A slight hesitation.
Qi Gu noticed Lin Han Zhi’s hesitation and said, “Then I’ll press a little longer.” His hand was actually starting to feel a bit numb.
Lin Han Zhi pressed on the back of Qi Gu’s hand, shaking his head: “No need to press anymore. Just having your hand on my arm is fine. Your body temperature is higher than mine; pressing it like a hot compress can also reduce the pain.”
Qi Gu then honestly switched from massaging to being a hot compress, truly getting “whatever he asked for.”
Only, his hand movements stopped, but his inner emotions began to stir. Then he once again deeply realized that his feelings for Lin Han Zhi were truly different.
Just now, if it had been someone else crying out in pain, he would have checked, thrown them some medicine, and that would have been it. Why did he actually rub their arm, and for such a long time?
For a “salty fish” (lazy person) like him, this was completely beyond his usual exertion!
In Qi Gu’s heart, and in the little person in Lin Han Zhi’s head, complaints began to stir, both climbing back up, wanting to talk to him from a closer distance.
“Lin Han Zhi, don’t talk.” Qi Gu suddenly glared fiercely at Lin Han Zhi, saying that nonsensical sentence.
Clearly not saying a word, so honest that he was a bit unlike himself, Lin Han Zhi: “…?”
He didn’t understand, but he didn’t dare to object.