A Quiet Rest

I was a little surprised. Ling Yan slowly swam to the edge of the pool, then pushed herself up with both hands, hoisting herself out of the water. Her perfect figure glistened in the sunlight.

I hadn’t expected Ling Yan to agree. Though I wasn’t sure if it was because of my words or because she was truly tired, I was still very happy.

“Then, Ling Yan, go sit in the rest area for a bit. I’ll get you a towel right away.”

I pointed at the bench in the rest area and said cautiously.

I was afraid that Ling Yan might have just wanted to rest where she was, and that my presumptuous request would annoy her.

“Mm, then I’ll trouble you, Zhou Chen.”

Ling Yan nodded and said softly. I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Teacher Xia, I’ll go rest for a while then.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

After saying that to me, Ling Yan added a word to Teacher Xia, then walked toward the rest area.

“Zhou Chen, as expected of you. Ling Yan agreed as soon as you said it.”

After Teacher Xia and I watched Ling Yan leave, she immediately gave me a thumbs-up and even winked at me.

“Teacher Xia, please don’t tease me. I’ll go to the storage room and bring out the equipment.”

I smiled wryly and waved my hand, not intending to continue this conversation.

“Haha, you’ve been together for so long, why are you still like a virgin? Being this shy won’t do.”

“Yes, yes.”

Faced with Teacher Xia’s double blow, I had no choice but to play along. Then I bypassed the mischievously smiling teacher and headed straight for the storage room.

Teacher Xia was good in every way, except she couldn’t read the atmosphere and loved to tease. But having been in the swimming club for so long, I was already used to it.

By the time I took out the towel, I saw Teacher Xia already standing straight by the pool, staring intently at the members in training, occasionally recording something on her clipboard with a pen.

Actually, Teacher Xia was quite handsome when she was serious, I thought. It would be even better if she didn’t tease me.

I sighed and walked toward Ling Yan in the rest area not far away. Ling Yan had been quietly sitting upright on the bench, but as if she saw me coming, her gaze shifted from the training members to me.

This immediately put a heavy pressure on me, making it hard to breathe. Damn, too many things had happened just now, and I almost forgot—I still hadn’t figured out how to explain why I was in Ling Yan’s locker.

I slowly approached Ling Yan. At this moment, I wished time could stop, so I could come up with a reason before it resumed.

“Um, Ling Yan, here’s your towel.”

I handed the towel to Ling Yan guiltily, not daring to meet her eyes.

“Mm, thank you, Zhou Chen.”

Ling Yan took the towel but didn’t dry herself off right away. Instead, she patted the empty spot beside her and looked up at me.

“Would you like to sit too, Zhou Chen?”

What? What did this mean? Was she about to start interrogating me? But I hadn’t thought of anything yet. It seemed I had to decline. This was a rare chance to sit so close to Ling Yan, damn it.

“No, no. I still have to move things later.”

Though my heart was bleeding, I quickly waved my hands and shook my head like a rattle-drum.

“Is that so? Then once I’m done drying off, I’ll come help you.”

Ling Yan tilted her head adorably, thought for a moment, and said softly while draping her wet hair over her shoulder and starting to dry it with the towel.

I was startled. Ling Yan was really persistent. But thinking about it, anyone would be uneasy if they encountered perverted behavior, right? They would definitely want to ask sooner to feel at ease. But now I hadn’t thought of anything yet—I absolutely couldn’t be alone with Ling Yan.

“No need, Ling Yan. After all, you’re so tired; you should rest more.”

I scratched my head and refused Ling Yan’s offer.

After I said that, Ling Yan paused in drying her hair but didn’t stop. She just replied softly,

“Mm, okay.”

I didn’t know if it was my imagination, but I felt a hint of disappointment in Ling Yan’s voice. However, I didn’t dwell on it, since Ling Yan didn’t insist on helping me move things. That made me completely relax.

“Then, um, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go move the stuff now.”

“Mm…”

From the side, I saw that Ling Yan had finished drying her hair. She lifted her arm and began drying her underarms. Instantly, a rush of heat surged to my nose. I quickly covered my face and fled to the storage room like I was running for my life, not even hearing the rest of Ling Yan’s words.

After rushing into the storage room, I panted heavily and stopped. Recalling the scene of Ling Yan drying her underarms, a surge of heat rushed through my body.

Had I awakened some strange fetish? I squatted down, holding my head in reflection.

(I can’t end up like Xiao Lu. I am not a pervert. I am not a pervert. I am not a pervert. Important things must be said three times!)

After a few minutes, I calmed down, but the image of Ling Yan drying her underarms only became more vivid in my mind.

I could only numb myself with work. I moved the training equipment back and forth several times, not daring to look at Ling Yan in between. Finally, I barely managed to control myself and stop thinking about those things. And I still had absolutely no idea how to explain to Ling Yan why I was in her locker.

I nervously glanced toward Ling Yan, afraid that she would call me over for questions as soon as she saw I had finished moving things.

But what came into view was not Ling Yan sitting upright on the bench. Instead, her legs were bent together, her entire body lying sideways on the bench, with her hands placed on her chest.

Could it be that Ling Yan had fallen asleep?

I cautiously approached Ling Yan and found that her eyes were indeed closed. She seemed to be dreaming, her long lashes trembling slightly with her eyelids, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, as if it were a good dream.

I sat down gently beside her, quietly looking at her sleeping face. The random thoughts that had been wandering in my mind disappeared without a trace.

This was the first time I had seen Ling Yan like this while sleeping. She looked different from her usual elegant and cool self—somehow a bit cute.

I couldn’t help reaching out to touch her smooth cheek, but she suddenly stirred, startling me into pulling my hand back.

“Ah-choo!”

Ling Yan didn’t wake up; she just sneezed softly and turned over.

I quickly came to my senses and took off my jacket, draping it over her.

Although Hualing City, where Taolisi High School was located, was a coastal city and the weather in October wasn’t cold, Ling Yan had just come out of the water and was only wearing her school swimsuit. No matter how I thought about it, she must be cold.

I looked at Ling Yan with a bit of self-blame and didn’t have the courage to touch her again.

But what made me happy was that, perhaps feeling something warm, Ling Yan’s small fingers extended from under the clothes, tightly gripping the edge of the jacket, and her whole body curled up, trying to shrink further inside.