In the afternoon, sunlight wasnât as intense, and a gentle breeze was brushing face-on, bringing with it strands of cooling air; it felt extremely comfortable.
On a road in the suburbs.
Lin Zichen and Shen Qinghan were training in interval running.
It was mainly Shen Qinghan who was practicing.
Lin Zichen merely played the role of coach and training partner, helping to improve her training efficiency.
Although Shen Qinghan had decided to pursue Genetic Fusion, mainly strengthening herself through the fusion of Exotic Beast Genes, physical training was still essential.
Because the stronger the body, the more beneficial it is to Genetic Fusion.
âI canât go on, I canât run anymore.â
Shen Qinghan stopped by the roadside, hands on her knees, bending over to catch her breath, large beads of sweat sliding continuously from her flushed cheeks, falling to the ground like streaming water.
Her clothes were completely soaked, clinging tightly to her body due to the sweat, excellently displaying her graceful figure, very tempting.
âHere, rehydrate.â
Lin Zichen took out a bottle of sports-specific electrolyte water from his backpack, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to her.
Sweating too much, her body had lost not only a large amount of fluid but also many trace elements.
At this time, drinking electrolyte water was more beneficial than drinking pure water.
Shen Qinghan took the electrolyte water, and though she was extremely thirsty, she still sipped little by little, not rushing.
Mainly because she had choked several times in the past from drinking too quickly and learned her lesson after Lin Zichen scolded her.
Seeing that Shen Qinghan had drunk enough, Lin Zichen said to her, âLetâs call it a day for todayâs training, letâs go to that bench up ahead and relax our muscles.â
Shen Qinghan, with her mouth full of water, could only make an âmmmâ sound in response.
Soon, the two arrived at the bench.
Shen Qinghan put down the water bottle and skillfully lay down on the bench.
Lin Zichen sat beside her, gave her butt a pat, and said, âIâll start by massaging your feet, go ahead and take off your shoes and socks.â
âI donât feel like getting up, just help me take them off.â
Shen Qinghan turned her head to look at Lin Zichen, with her clear, sparkling peach-blossom eyes, and in a whispery voice, coaxed him.
Since she was cooing already, Lin Zichen reluctantly helped her remove her shoes and socks.
Her shoelaces werenât tied tightly, so the shoes could be slipped off without undoing the laces.
With two pink sports shoes taken off, a pair of dainty, sock-clad feet was revealed.
The socks were wet with sweat, but remarkably, there was no smell at all; in fact, there was a faint scent of freshness.
Lin Zichen thought to himself that Shen Qinghanâs physique was remarkable, and if it were ancient times, she would certainly be a famed fragrance beauty renowned through the ages.
He idly considered these things.
Soon, Lin Zichen began to massage Shen Qinghanâs feet.
Considering the effectiveness in dispersing lactic acid, Lin Zichen massaged with a bit of force, causing Shen Qinghan to groan from time to time, tensing her feet and crying out for lighter pressure.
After massaging the feet, it was time for the calves.
Shen Qinghanâs calves were straight and slender; they felt incredibly soft when massaged, a touch so pleasant it was hard to let go, perfectly exhibiting the characteristics of her Water Attribute.
As Lin Zichen massaged these perfectly formed calves, he marveled and said,
âYour physique is really amazing. Despite years of high-intensity training, your muscles donât seem developed at all, theyâre soft to the touch, as if made of water, causing envy in other girls who practice martial arts.â
âWhatâs there to be envious about?â
Shen Qinghan spoke dismissively, âBecause of this mysterious Water Attribute physique, I still have to wear diapers even now, and when I was a child, I was mocked by classmates for it, which was just miserable.â
She thought that if it wasnât for Lin Zichen being by her side all the time, protecting her, she might have become withdrawn and dropped out of school long ago.
âXiao Chen, I really appreciate you.â
âWhy the sudden thanks?â
âIf it werenât for you always being there to protect me, my childhood at school would have been very miserable.â
âWith our relationship, saying thanks is just too formal.â
Lin Zichen stopped massaging Shen Qinghanâs calves, moved his hands to her thighs, and began massaging them with a slightly increased intensity. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
There was more flesh on the thighs, and without some force in the massage, it was hard to relax the muscles effectively.
âBy the way, what are we exactly?â, he asked.
Shen Qinghan twirled her hanging hair with her fingers, asking somewhat nervously, âFriends? Childhood sweethearts? Or⦠girlfriend?â
âFamily,â Lin Zichen replied.
The relationship signified by the word âfamilyâ was too broad, it could mean a wife or it could mean a sister.
Shen Qinghan, not quite satisfied with the answer, pursed her lips and prodded further, âAs family, then what kind of family?â
Lin Zichen smiled and counter-questioned, âWhat kind of family do you want it to be?â
Shen Qinghan hesitated for a moment, her cheeks tinted with a flush, âThen⦠fiancée?â
âHmm, fiancée,â Lin Zichen affirmed.
At that response, Shen Qinghanâs heart leaped with joy, and instinctively, she blurted out, âSo, shall we get married after we graduate from college?â
Lin Zichen, âOkay.â
Upon hearing this answer, Shen Qinghan was overjoyed.
Then, she sat up from the bench, stretched out her pinky finger excitedly towards Lin Zichen, and said, âXiao Chen, letâs make a pinky promise like when we were kids, to hang for a hundred years without change, agreeing to get married after college graduation.â
âLetâs do it.â
Lin Zichen smiled and extended his pinky, hooking it with Shen Qinghanâs.