Chapter 61: Zhuo Feng, Are You Thick-Skinned?
Lin Wan looked at the huge crowd and lowered her head as she followed Zhuo Feng, weaving left and right through the people.
After today's match, she had planned to go back to the hotel and sleep. But Zhuo Feng said he wanted to treat everyone and take a walk along the waterfront. He even said that coming to Capital without visiting the waterfront was the same as coming for nothing. She thought that sounded fine. Since she didn't have to spend any money, she came along.
But it was during a holiday, and the waterfront was packed with people taking photos. If you wanted to get close to the riverside for a picture, it mostly depended on who could push through the crowd better.
With Zhuo Feng blocking her view, Lin Wan didn't realize they had reached the front. When Zhuo Feng suddenly stopped, she was still trying to squeeze forward and accidentally rammed her head into him.
Hearing him let out a muffled groan, she quickly looked up and awkwardly rubbed her nose.
"Uh... sorry."
Seeing him holding his chest with a painful look on his face, she had no choice but to reach out and gently rub his chest.
"Sorry, I didn't notice that you had stopped."
"Yeah, it's okay."
Zhuo Feng moved Lin Wan's little hand away and glanced at the front of his jeans. Seeing that nothing had changed, he quietly let out a sigh of relief.
When they reached the railing, Lin Wan took out her phone, opened the camera, and started taking pictures of the tall buildings across the river.
Seeing that she wasn't taking any pictures of herself, Zhuo Feng said, "With such a beautiful view, shouldn't you take a photo with it? Otherwise, how can you prove you were here?"
After thinking about it, Lin Wan felt he was right, so she took a selfie.
"Come on, let's take one together." After Lin Wan finished, Zhuo Feng raised his phone and pointed it at both of them.
Lin Wan instinctively leaned away from the camera. For many years, because she lacked confidence, she had been afraid of seeing herself in photos and had only taken a few pictures.
Now that Zhuo Feng was pointing his phone at her, she felt a little uncomfortable.
"Take off your mask and smile."
Seeing Lin Wan turn her head away, Zhuo Feng put his hand on her shoulder and gently pulled her a little closer.
"Heh."
Lin Wan pulled one side of her mask down and forced a small smile.
Today's travel costs and meals had all been paid for by her good buddy. If he wanted to take a picture, then so be it. What if he got upset and decided not to pay later?
"Make it look more natural!"
"Heh."
"This one isn't very good. Come on, make a peace sign."
After taking the picture, Zhuo Feng wasn't satisfied with it, so he asked Lin Wan to change her pose and took another one.
Then he just couldn't stop...
One after another after another...
No one knew how many pictures they had taken before Lin Wan finally became impatient.
With a pout on her face, she put her mask back on.
"I'm done. Why do you have so many requests?"
Making a peace sign with her left hand, then her right hand was already enough. But making a heart sign? What was that even for?
It was way too strange for two grown men to make heart signs together.
Even though there were other boys nearby doing the same thing.
But... did she still count as a boy now? Emm...
Thinking about that, Lin Wan's little face fell, and her mood suddenly became gloomy.
Seeing her frown slightly, Zhuo Feng stopped taking pictures and squeezed his way back through the crowd.
They found a snack stand, bought some grilled skewers and two ice creams, and finally brought the smile back to Lin Wan's face.
After wandering around for a while longer, they returned to the hotel at almost eleven o'clock.
After taking a shower, Lin Wan walked out of the bathroom and saw Zhuo Feng sitting on the bed, moving his right wrist. His brows were tightly furrowed as if he was trying to endure the pain.
So that was why he hadn't performed well in today's match? His wrist injury had come back?
They had been training a lot lately. Since his wrist had been injured before, it was possible that too much strain had caused the old injury to return.
She walked over and asked with concern, "How's your hand? Does it hurt a lot?"
What if it affects the finals a few days from now?
They were only one step away from winning the 100,000 yuan prize!
Zhuo Feng lowered his eyes and shook his head.
"It's okay."
"Do you want me to massage it for you?"
"Thanks."
Lin Wan sat beside Zhuo Feng, lowered her head, gently held his hand, and started massaging it.
As her fingers felt the large joints of his fingers and she looked at his palm, which was much bigger and thicker than hers, her thoughts began to wander.
These hands would probably be great for controlling a basketball.
His palm is even bigger than my face. If someone used a hand like this to slap people, it would probably be pretty powerful.
Don't some places have slap competitions? I wonder how much the prize money is.
Maybe Zhuo Feng should try joining one.
But in those competitions, both people take turns slapping each other. Looking at Zhuo Feng's handsome young face, I wonder if his skin is thick enough to handle it.
Thinking of that, she looked up. Her big eyes were full of curiosity.
"Zhuo Feng, is your skin thick?"
Zhuo Feng, who was enjoying the soft little hands massaging him, froze.
"...Why?"
"Have you ever been slapped before?"
"Huh?"
His heart skipped a beat.
Did she figure out that I was only pretending my wrist hurt? Is she asking because she wants to slap me?
"Haha, it's nothing."
Lin Wan smiled, lowered her head, and continued massaging him.
Zhuo Feng became completely confused.
Did she find out... or not?
But it didn't matter. As long as she kept massaging him.
After Lin Wan finished, Zhuo Feng caught her little hand.
"What?" Lin Wan let out a yawn and looked at him with a puzzled face.
"It's only fair. I can't let you be the only one giving me a massage. We've been training so hard these past few days. Your hand must be tired too. Let me massage yours."
"Do you even know where to massage?"
"I remember... more or less."
"Alright then. Thanks."
To be honest, her right hand really was a little sore. A massage would help. Then she could perform even better in the finals, win the championship, and take home the prize money!
While enjoying Zhuo Feng's massage, Lin Wan kept yawning.
It was already past eleven, and she was getting sleepier and sleepier.
As Zhuo Feng held Lin Wan's soft little hand, he felt that her skin was unbelievably smooth and delicate. The longer he massaged it, the less he wanted to let go.
While he was still massaging her hand, he suddenly felt something heavy on his shoulder.
Lin Wan had become too sleepy and had fallen asleep with her forehead resting against his shoulder.
Seeing this, he reduced the strength of his massage as much as possible so he wouldn't wake her.
His movements became lighter and lighter.
In the end, he stopped massaging completely. He simply wrapped her entire little hand inside his own and quietly felt its warmth.
He knew this wasn't right.
But at some point, he had already lost control over his own feelings.
Not long after, sleeping in that position became uncomfortable. Lin Wan moved a little, feeling her neck grow sore.
Seeing that she was about to wake up, Zhuo Feng quickly let go of her hand and gently patted her arm.
"Mmm... I fell asleep?" Lin Wan moved her neck and yawned again.
"Yeah. We're done. Go sleep on the bed."
"Okay. Thanks."
Lin Wan stood up and flopped onto the bed as if she had no bones in her body. Her small, delicate feet casually kicked off her slippers, and she wriggled under the blanket.
Seeing how cute she looked, Zhuo Feng couldn't help smiling and quietly laughed.
Over the next few days of practice, besides their daily training to keep their skills sharp, the RSNDM team spent most of their time studying their opponents for the finals.
They prepared several different strategies and got ready for the match with great care.
After the massage that night, Zhuo Feng had been very happy.
But his happiness only lasted one day.
The next evening, Chen Jie arrived as expected.
Carrying his phone, he knocked on Zhuo Feng's hotel room door and stayed until around 11:30 p.m. before leaving.
Before he left, he reminded Zhuo Feng to calm his mind and not make the same mistakes he had made in the semifinals.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
The finals had arrived.