Chapter 19: Massaging Legsâ”Xixi, Don’t Squeeze So Tight.”
After Yu Xi saw Gu Chuanzhou appear, he quickly ran back to the edge of the fence, his eyes full of amazement.
But what he was looking at wasn’t the person riding the horse, but that horse which was jet black, shiny, sturdy, and handsome.
That long mane and tail had small curls and were as soft and bright as satin. It drifted slightly as it walked, as beautiful as a war beast stepped out from a manga into reality.
Not far away, Zhang Xingkuo pulled the reins tight. Seeing the youth talking spiritedly with the person on the horse, his face twisted for a moment.
“See for yourself, just who is the show-off.” He said to Sheng Yunzhuan on his side.
Sheng Yunzhuan pinched her nose, rarely agreeing with Zhang Xingkuoâs words. “He is indeed a level above you.”
Zhang Xingkuo couldn’t continue practicing either. He rode his horse over and flipped off. “Xiao Xi, how about I help lead your rope?”
Before Yu Xi could speak, Gu Chuanzhou asked a step ahead, “Want to get on and try?”
“Really? I want to ride!” Yu Xi was already a bit impatient.
Truly, Gu Chuanzhouâs horse was too handsome; it was hard for anyone not to be moved.
“Come.”
Gu Chuanzhou got off the horse first. Both his palms gripped Yu Xiâs slender waist, and with a bit of strength, he hoisted the person up.
Yu Xi felt as if he had suddenly taken flight. By the time he realized it, he was already sitting steadily in the saddle. In the next second, Gu Chuanzhou also sat behind him.
“Iâll take you for a slow lap first.” Gu Chuanzhouâs low voice sounded by his ear, while his back also pressed against the warm chest. “Afraid of heights?”
Yu Xi came to his senses and said, “Itâs okay.”
This horse was taller and larger than the other horses, but because Gu Chuanzhou was leading behind him, he didn’t have the sense of panic he had when he was learning by himself earlier. Furthermore, Gu Chuanzhouâs hands holding the reins had to wrap around his front; thus he was almost entirely within Gu Chuanzhouâs embrace. He wouldn’t fall off, and felt exceptionally secure.
“You said you had business at the company and would be busy. I thought you wouldn’t come.”
Gu Chuanzhou nodded. “I finished early. I wanted to accompany you.”
Yu Xiâs eyes curved as he turned his head and said, “Everyone is here. You don’t always have to take time out to accompany me.”
“So,” Gu Chuanzhou lowered his eyelids, meeting his gaze, “is it not very important whether I am here or not?”
Yu Xi hurriedly denied in a panic, “No, Iâm just worried youâll be tired. Of course Iâm happy if youâre here. Youâre very important!”
Gu Chuanzhou was just teasing him intentionally. Seeing him coaxing him so nervously, he let out a low laugh and rubbed his chin against the back of Yu Xiâs ear. “I know.”
Yu Xi shrank his shoulder on that side from the rubbing, feeling his ear grow hot and an unspeakable itch.
They rode together for quite a while. He asked Gu Chuanzhou why he was dressed differently from the others. Gu Chuanzhou explained he was wearing a dressage formal suit, which could better reflect the beauty of the footwork and was also expressing respect for equestrianism.
“Want to try? I can show you a few simple dressage movements.”
Gu Chuanzhou was very skilled in equestrianism. Techniques that ordinary people find hard to learn, he had completely mastered.
The footwork was very ornamental and interesting, but it had high requirements for the rider. Yu Xi, who couldn’t keep up with the rhythm, had only been happy for a bit before being bumped and shaken until he felt a bit uncomfortable.
Noticing his state, Gu Chuanzhou immediately stopped. “Want to rest for a bit?”
Yu Xiâs expression became a bit listless as he gave a soft response.
Getting off the horse, Gu Chuanzhou similarly picked him up and brought him down. After Yu Xi stood steady, he let out a breath and smilingly refused Gu Chuanzhouâs hand of support. “Itâs okay, Iâm not that delicate. I can do it myself. You continue; Iâll go find Yunshu and A-Shen first.”
As soon as he left the arena, Zhang Xingkuo rode his horse to find Gu Chuanzhou. “Want to compete?”
Being outshone by Gu Chuanzhou and seeing Yu Xi playing happily, Zhang Xingkuo had been suppressing his unpleasantness.
Gu Chuanzhou didn’t even give Zhang Xingkuo a glance. “Not interested.”
Zhang Xingkuo let out a disdainful laugh. “Youâre afraid, aren’t you? Dressing like a peacock showing off its feathers, Iâm afraid you can’t even move properly.”
However, Gu Chuanzhou didn’t pay any attention to his mockery, nor was he provoked into any emotion. After seeing Yu Xi say something to Sheng Yunshu and the others before leaving, he handed the horse rope to someone else and left the field.
“Where did Xixi go?”
Sheng Yunshu flipped her E-ink reader, taking time to answer, “He went back with the staff to change clothes; heâll be back in a bit.”
After hearing this, Gu Chuanzhou also walked toward the equipment room.
“Hiss… mmm…”
After entering the equipment room alone, Yu Xi could no longer maintain a normal standing posture. He wanted to sit down and rest first but felt pain.
Earlier he had been playing so happily that the dopamine secretion made him ignore the signals of discomfort sent by his body. By the time he reacted, he discovered that not only was he a bit motion-sick from the horse, but his thighs also hurt particularly bad.
He didn’t want to dampen everyoneâs spirits, nor did he want to worry everyone. Moreover, the place that was uncomfortable was a bit embarrassing… so he kept it to himself and didn’t speak.
Entering the fitting room, he sat on a soft stool and took off his riding boots and breeches, spreading his legs slightly and looking down.
It was red, but fortunately, the skin wasn’t broken.
He carefully pressed it with his hand, immediately letting out a sharp intake of breath.
The muscles that needed excessive use while riding were aching severely, to the same degree as doing a hundred frog jumps in high school PE class.
While he was troubled about what to do in this situation, a manâs voice suddenly came from outside the fitting room.
“Xixi?”
Yu Xi was first startled into a shiver. Realizing it wasn’t anyone else but Gu Chuanzhou, he gave a very small response.
“Are you inside?” Gu Chuanzhouâs voice was closer.
From the gap under the door, Yu Xi saw a pair of riding boots and answered, “Mhm, Iâm planning to change my clothes.”
Gu Chuanzhou asked directly, “Are you injured?”
Yu Xi was slightly stunned. After hesitating for two seconds, he chose to conceal it. “N-no injury, Iâm just a bit tired.”
“If youâre uncomfortable, you should tell me, otherwise Iâll be even more concerned.” Gu Chuanzhou paused slightly. “I understand. Itâs my fault. I didn’t do well when I took you riding. You don’t want me to blame myself, so youâre enduring it and not speaking.”
Hearing Gu Chuanzhou about to take all the responsibility upon himself, Yu Xi suddenly became anxious. “No! Iâm really not injured. My legs just hurt a bit; itâs not a big deal.”
“Really?” Gu Chuanzhou still seemed to not quite believe it. “Xixi, open the door and let me see for myself, okay?”
Yu Xi hesitated.
But in just that moment, Gu Chuanzhouâs tone became more and more self-blameful: “Sure enough, itâs all me…”
“Click.”
The lock of the fitting room snapped open. The door was opened by a very small gap, first revealing Yu Xiâs face which was sweat-dampened at the temples and slightly red on the cheeks.
A pair of ink-colored eyes looked over with bashfulness. His lips seemed to have been bitten several times because of internal struggle and were a bit red. As if he had made a great resolution, he spoke: “You… come in.”
Thus, Gu Chuanzhou rested his hand on the door edge, pushed open the gap, and stepped inside.
The fitting room wasn’t small, but for some reason, as soon as Gu Chuanzhou walked in, Yu Xi inexplicably felt a sense of pressure. He unconsciously backed up until the back of his legs hit the soft stool, losing his balance and falling onto it.
Upon discovering that Gu Chuanzhouâs gaze had fallen below, Yu Xi instinctively pressed his knees together and blocked the space between his clamped legs with both hands.
In the next second, he saw the man bend his body and kneel on a single knee in front of him.
Gu Chuanzhou hadn’t changed out of his tailcoat equestrian formal suit. In such a posture, he was like a loyal knight performing a salutation to him.
This wasn’t the first time Gu Chuanzhou had knelt on a single knee before him; the last time was to help him change into new shoes. But Yu Xi was still very unaccustomed to it and couldn’t help but want to dodge to the side.
As soon as he moved slightly, his knees were immediately pressed down.
“Xixi, don’t squeeze so tight.” Gu Chuanzhouâs expression was natural, as if he didn’t feel there was any problem with his posture at all, only caring about the pain in Yu Xiâs legs. “Open your knees a bit.”
A very low, very light voice, like an enticement, echoed in this private space.
Looking at Gu Chuanzhouâs handsome face which was very close to his legs, inexplicably, his stiff knees moved along with the palm that was slightly applying force.
Gu Chuanzhou lowered his head. His line of sight was almost parallel to the gap that had opened.
The youthâs body was slender and thin, his waist just a narrow section. But somehow, some places grew quite a bit of meat.
The curve where the thighs met the buttocks was soft and full, just right. When it was tightly wrapped in pure white breeches, it was completely revealed, with slight tremors when walking or riding… making oneâs gaze uncontrollable.
At the thought of the countless gazes falling on Yu Xi, Gu Chuanzhou was consumed by jealous fire. The thought of hiding the person away had countless times almost broken through his reason. He had tried his hardest to suppress it, acting like a normal person as if nothing was wrong.
“Chuanzhou Ge?”
Seeing Gu Chuanzhou staring without speaking and the palm holding his knees gradually applying more force, Yu Xi called out with uneasy confusion.
Gu Chuanzhou instantly retracted his thoughts and looked up with a light smile. “Fortunately, the skin isn’t broken or bleeding; it hasn’t reached the point of needing medicine. For muscle soreness, Iâll help you alleviate it with a massage.”
Yu Xi wanted to say he could do it himself. Gu Chuanzhou further explained, “I have experience with leg pain caused by riding and I also understand the techniques. Iâll pinch it for you and itâll get better quickly, otherwise by tomorrow you won’t even be able to walk steadily.”
Yu Xi could only nod. “…Okay, then Iâll trouble you.”
Subsequently, Gu Chuanzhouâs hand left Yu Xiâs rounded knees and pinched the place where Yu Xiâs leg muscles were sore.
As soon as the white glove and the soft meat touched, Yu Xi let out a whimper, instinctively shrinking back.
The small sound echoed in the fitting room. Hearing it himself, the tips of Yu Xiâs ears turned red. He explained incoherently, “No, I, I… your glove makes me a bit uncomfortable; itâs too abrasive…”
After a brief daze, Gu Chuanzhou said a word of apology and took off his gloves.
Touching again this time, aside from the scalding temperature of the hand, Yu Xi no longer felt discomfort.
Gu Chuanzhouâs technique was indeed very good. He could accurately find the places where he was sore. His palms were exceptionally large, enough to wrap around half of his thigh. His fingertips circled with neither too much nor too little pressure, while combining with the squeezing of his palms.
At first, Yu Xi was a bit embarrassed, but gradually he felt comfortable. He began to hum unconsciously and would also proactively lift his legs to cooperate.
He was like a cat having its chin scratched, squinting his eyes, his cheeks crimson, and a few beads of sweat appearing on the tip of his noseâwhether from the heat or something else.
his stiff spine went soft, leaning against the wall behind him. Both hands braced on the soft stool, his whole person relaxed.
“Is the force too heavy? Is the position correct… want me to press a bit further in?”
Yu Xi heard Gu Chuanzhou inquiring in a low and gentle voice. Just as he was about to answer, the call of another person sounded inappropriately outside.
“Xiao Xi, are you still there?”
It was Zhang Xingkuo.
Yu Xi immediately held his breath, looking up alertly. His legs followed by closing together, instantly clamping Gu Chuanzhouâs hand.
He heard the sound of Zhang Xingkuoâs footsteps outside looking for him. In his peripheral vision, he noticed Gu Chuanzhou opening his lips as if to say something. Without even thinking, he reached out his hand to cover them.
“Shh…”
Gu Chuanzhouâs gaze flickered slightly, as if expressing confusion, and also as if in surprise. But he very obediently didn’t move or speak, glancing at his palm which was clamped by the soft place, his breathing slightly heavy.
Yu Xi pursed his lips tight. He didn’t know how to explain his current behavior and panic to the other person.
He just had the intuition that he couldn’t let Zhang Xingkuo know that he was currently bottomless, letting Gu Chuanzhou kneel and massage his legs…
Translator’s Note:
Things are getting intense!
- Peach Blossom Eyes (ćĄčąçź – TĂĄohuÄ yÇn): This is a specific literary term for a shape of eye that looks like a peach blossom petalâwatery, slightly curved, and naturally “flirty” or affectionate even if the person isn’t trying to be.
- Pingâan Kou (ĺšłĺŽćŁ): As mentioned before, itâs a “safety button.” For Yu Xi to sleep on Xingkuoâs chest and see it means they are physically very close.
- The Tailcoat (çĺ°žć – YĂ nwÄifĂş): Gu Chuanzhou is essentially dressed for a formal Dressage competition. Itâs the peak of equestrian elegance.
- The “Kitten Fishing” (ĺ°č˛éŁé) Wood Carving: This is a cute folk motif in China.
- Lin Shuhuai (ćčż°ćˇ): The “Music Prince” who plays dark nursery rhymes… He sounds like a very interesting character to meet later!
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