V2 Chapter 1: The Bathroom is Full Today
The saying “July, the time of scorching heat” should be categorized as an environmental term. With the intensification of global warming, it wasn’t until October 3rd that the temperature in Chuanhai City finally started to drop. Lu Li had already switched to his autumn attire, forgoing the youthful trend of leaving jackets unzipped to look cool. Instead, he securely zipped up his nylon jacket; he was someone who preferred the cold to the heat. October 1st was Constitution Day, a seven-day national holiday. Instead of going to school, he was at the bus station, holding up a sign and waiting.
At three in the afternoon, Zou Yameng, supported by her teammates, stepped off the bus. Lu Li tossed his sign aside and rushed to greet her. “Sister!” Zou Yameng’s left leg was bandaged. Hearing his voice, she instinctively tried to hide her injured leg behind her, not wanting her brother to see it. If her teammates weren’t watching her closely, she would have already secretly removed the bandage.
Zhou Wen handed Zou Yameng over to Lu Li, not forgetting to tease him. “Take good care of your sister, little brother~”
“Sis, what happened to your left leg?”
It had only been half a month. How did she suddenly get injured? Hadn’t she just made a comeback against He Ping?
“Her leg injury acted up during the finals. It’s nothing serious, just needs some rest,” Coach Dan answered for Zou Yameng. Zou Yameng shot the coach a reproachful look; she didn’t want her brother to worry.
“Leg injury? How bad is it? What did the doctor say?” Lu Li clenched his fists, his forehead breaking out in a sweat.
“Relax, it’s just a minor issue.” Zou Yameng looped her arm around his neck, preventing him from worrying unnecessarily.
It wasn’t that Lu Li was overreacting. In his previous life, Zou Yameng had to retire from the national team because of her recurring leg injury. Out of everyone present, only Lu Li knew how serious it would become. When he was in college, he would often visit his sister’s place for meals. Whenever it rained, her knee and ankle would ache terribly, leaving her in agony. And that was when she was only in her early twenties!
“I just let you down, Silly Goose. I still lost in the finals.”
Coach Dan chimed in, “It’s not your fault, Yameng. If it weren’t for your leg, you would have won. Everyone could see who the true uncrowned champion was.”
Lu Li would have been proud if his sister had won, but he wasn’t disappointed that she lost. As long as she was by his side, that was enough. One had to be content to be happy. He smiled warmly as usual, supporting his sister. For once, he splurged on a taxi, bidding farewell to the group from the Chuanhai City Women’s Sports School.
“Does your leg hurt?” Lu Li had always thought that constantly asking “Does it hurt?” “Are you tired?” “Are you sore?” was pointless and annoying. But when it came to someone he cared about, these words tumbled out of his mouth involuntarily. Zou Yameng smiled brightly and squeezed his cheeks playfully. “Don’t be such a worrywart! I’m fine, really.”
Lu Li felt that since their trip to Lingyue, Sister Yameng had become more physically affectionate with him. In the past, she would always be mindful of the boundaries between men and women, rarely initiating physical contact. Now, even in the back seat of the taxi, she sat close to him, leaving a large gap on her right side.
When they arrived home, Zou Yameng dropped her bag and stretched with a sigh of relief. “Finally home! I’m exhausted! It’s so good to be back!”
“There’s no place like home, even if it’s a dog house.”
“I’m going to take a shower. You can watch TV.”
“Okay.”
Lu Li thought for a moment before settling down in front of the boxy television. “Sis, can you manage the shower on your own?”
“Do you want to wash me? What kind of question is that?”
“Just shout if you need anything. I’ll be right outside.”
He turned on the TV, which was playing the popular drama “You From The Sun.” It was a rather boring time-travel story about a cheerful young man who traveled back to the Three Kingdoms period and became a general, guarding the borders of the Wu kingdom for Sun Quan. Lu Li was watching the scene where the protagonist encountered his arch-rival, Cao Ang, when he suddenly heard a cry from the bathroom. He rushed over immediately.
“Sis, what’s wrong?”
“Ouch… N-nothing! Don’t come in!”
He retracted his hand from the doorknob and asked anxiously, “Did you fall? Cover yourself with a towel, and I’ll come in and help you.”
“No!” Her response was surprisingly fierce.
Then he heard rustling sounds, as if she was struggling to get up.
“Sis, can you get up?”
“…No… My foot slipped… You… you… come in and help me.”
Lu Li took a deep breath and slowly pushed open the bathroom door. The room was filled with steam, like a scene from a celestial bathhouse. Zou Yameng was half-lying on the floor, wrapped in a towel, her face flushed. “Could you stare any harder?!” she exclaimed.
Lu Li coughed awkwardly and stepped forward, taking her hand and helping her sit on a small stool. Zou Yameng avoided his gaze, her back to him. The lines of her back were beautiful, full of sensual curves, every line worth savoring, her skin flawless. From behind, he could glimpse the curve of her breasts, round and alluring, peeking out from beneath the towel.
“Get out!”
Lu Li ignored her, squatting behind her and picking up the bath sponge.
Zou Yameng stiffened. “W-what are you doing?”
“Helping you wash up.” Lu Li glanced at her left leg. “You liar. Your leg is as stiff as a board, and you told me you were fine?”
“We’re too old for this… You… you can’t bathe me.”
“It’s only natural to take care of a patient.”
He gently scrubbed her back. When his hand first touched her, Zou Yameng tensed up. But seeing that he was genuinely trying to help her, without any ulterior motives, she gradually relaxed. This wasn’t like the drunken incident last night. Zou Yameng wasn’t that bold. Maybe Lu Li would be bold enough, but he wouldn’t do that.
Sister Yameng wasn’t skinny. Her flesh was soft and yielding, his hand sinking slightly into her smooth skin, like caressing fine silk. If he had to describe the sensation with one word, he would use “supple.” If he had to use an image, he would use “milk.” Perhaps it was the steam, perhaps it was his own inner turmoil, but her skin was flushed a lovely pink, especially her shoulders, which looked like ripe peaches, tempting him to take a bite.
“Did you wash your hair?” Lu Li untied her ponytail and gently combed through her damp hair with his fingers.
Zou Yameng, at this moment, had none of her usual authority. She was as docile as a lamb. “…No…”
“Tilt your head down a bit, and I’ll wash it for you.”
“Little Pear(Li Zi)…”
“Hmm?”
“When was the last time we showered together?”
“…”
Lu Li thought for a moment, applying shampoo to her hair. “Elementary school, I think. It’s been a while.” Yes, when they were in elementary school, they were inseparable, even insisting on going to the bathroom together, which had caused quite a stir. Other little boys who accidentally wandered into the girls’ bathroom would be mortified, but not Lu Li. He had clung to his sister, even imitating her squatting posture, much to Zou Yameng’s annoyance. Perhaps that was when he developed his thick skin.
Zou Yameng also remembered their childhood antics and chuckled.
Lu Li’s hand reached forward, inches away from her breasts. Zou Yameng’s laughter died in her throat, her body stiffening. Thankfully, she heard him say, “Sis, you can wash the front yourself.”
“Okay.” Her voice held a mixture of relief, confusion, and a hint of disappointment only she could discern.
Lu Li dried her hair, glancing at her left leg with concern before leaving the bathroom.
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