Chapter 23: A Massage
For the latter half of the journey to Yu Yeqing's home, he carried her on his back.
His back was broad, and Song Hemei only needed to loosely loop her arms around his neck to be carried steadily by him.
This time, she showed no sign of reluctance. She leaned openly into the hollow of his neck, her cheek seeming to feel the warmth radiating from his body, along with the faint pulse beating from his neck.
When they arrived home, Yu Yeqing set her down. He went ahead into the house to check on Minglian, then came out to set up the stove and decoct the medicine.
He told her to go inside and rest, but Song Hemei remained seated on the small stool without moving: "The room is too stuffy."
Yu Yeqing lowered his eyelashes. He thought, his room was indeed crude—stiflingly hot in summer, damp and cold in winter.
He lit a small fire under the medicine pot, but inwardly, he was secretly considering whether he should find some way to renovate the house properly.
Song Hemei watched his practiced movements. Seeing that he had only brought back a few packets of medicine, she couldn't help asking: "Why didn't you buy some tonics for Minglian? Things like ginseng and deer antler; I imagine the medical clinic would have them."
Yu Yeqing used a fan to stoke the fire: "Her body is too weak to handle tonics; they aren't suitable for her."
He paused, then picked up a wrapped packet of yellow paper beside him and handed it to the person next to him.
Song Hemei was startled: "What is this?"
She took it and unfolded it to look. Inside were wrapped sweet fruits. Yu Yeqing's low, clear voice also reached her ears at the same time: "Sweet."
His Adam's apple bobbed: "Minglian eats them often."
Song Hemei's eyelashes trembled slightly. In an instant, she understood his intention.
He thought she was sad and wanted to cheer her up.
A faint smile curled at the corners of Song Hemei's lips. She was truly surprised; she never imagined he could be such a delicate and thoughtful person.
However, things like malt sugar were just for coaxing young girls. Since she turned ten, gold, silver, jewelry, and makeup powders had been used to cheer her up at home.
Thoughts of this made the smile on her lips slowly fade away.
Yu Yeqing's home was poor and had nothing to begin with. Could she really ask Yu Yeqing to use expensive things to cheer her up?
Moreover, they weren't family or lovers anyway.
But in reality, even the family who used to dote on her and cherish her like a pearl in the palm, after she married, hadn't hesitated to try and send her to Shao Wen'ang's bed.
Song Hemei picked up a sweet fruit with her fingertips and placed it in her mouth. The sweet taste dissolved between her lips and teeth. A breeze blew from somewhere, and she took a deep breath, looking at the focused and serious Yu Yeqing beside her. She was able to set aside the chaotic thoughts in her mind for a moment, gaining a brief respite.
The medicine was decocting very slowly, and she sat quietly in the small courtyard, letting the wind blow over her. When a bowl of thick, black medicinal juice was finally poured out, she rose together with Yu Yeqing and went into the house to see Minglian.
The young girl was still looking sickly. Seeing her enter, she propped herself up awkwardly: "Second Miss Song."
She looked at the medicine bowl in her brother's hand, then at Song Hemei, and said apologetically: "Second Miss doesn't need to come see me. My room smells strongly of medicine; I wouldn't want to bother you with the fumes."
Song Hemei smiled, not minding at all. She walked directly over to sit on the edge of her bed and placed the sweet fruits Yu Yeqing had given her into Minglian's hands: "Your brother bought these for you. I secretly ate one just now; it tastes very good."
Minglian's bright eyes blinked. She pushed them back to her: "Since Second Miss likes them, then please, have them all."
Song Hemei's heart softened. She found this girl really quite endearing.
She gently shook her head, then casually untied a pouch from her waist and pressed it into her hands: "The medicinal smell isn't unpleasant, you don't need to feel uneasy about it. Take your medicine properly and recover soon, that's what matters."
She pointed a finger at the pouch: "I've only worn this for a day. It's filled with osmanthus flowers. Keep it with you; if the medicine makes you feel unwell, give it a sniff—it might help a little."
Minglian was both surprised and delighted. This time, she didn't bother to glance at her brother for his opinion. She just blushed and accepted it, staring at Song Hemei as if she were too happy to know what to say.
Song Hemei stroked her head, watched her drink all the medicine, stayed to chat with her for a while, and noticing the sky darkening, she tucked Minglian's blanket in, told her to rest well, and left the room together with Yu Yeqing.
Once the wooden door to Minglian's room was closed, Yu Yeqing stood beside her and said in a low voice: "Thank you, Second Miss."
Song Hemei looked at him, puzzled: "What are you thanking me for?"
Under the bright moonlight, Yu Yeqing's eyes appeared even clearer and more beautiful.
"Thank you for being willing to keep Minglian company and talk with her."
Song Hemei realized belatedly. It was true—a girl who had been frail since childhood, confined to her room, must find it very dull. Who would be there to talk with her?
All Minglian had was her brother, Yu Yeqing. But he had to work as a study companion at the Song residence to make a living. Even if he could stay home permanently, Minglian spent most of the day sleeping; how long could he really spend talking with her?
Song Hemei sighed softly: "I can't do much either."
She walked slowly around the courtyard, with Yu Yeqing following behind her, seemingly lost in thought.
After a long silence, he suddenly blurted out: "Second Miss, do you need me to heat some water?"
Song Hemei stopped in her tracks and instinctively turned to look at him. She saw him looking very uncomfortable. As her gaze met his, his Adam's apple moved slightly, and even the tips of his ears turned red.
He seemed to be asking about that matter.
His question made Song Hemei feel uncomfortable as well. She cleared her throat lightly: "Not tonight."
Originally, she had come to see him with the intention of addressing that matter. But today, her heart was too heavy; she didn't have the inclination.
She went into Yu Yeqing's room first. Easy the second time around, she lay directly down on the bed, staring at the clean but somewhat crude canopy above the bed, murmuring: "I'm a bit tired."
Yu Yeqing watched her for a while, but in the end, he went out to heat some water anyway.
But this time, the water was only for washing up. After they had washed and lay down on the bed, Song Hemei found that she was somewhat accustomed to lying side-by-side with him.
Her body relaxed, and her hand fell unintentionally, brushing against Yu Yeqing's little finger.
The person beside her stiffened, but didn't pull away.
Song Hemei's heart was heavy. She didn't want to say a word, and closed her eyes intending to sleep, but inexplicably, the soreness in her legs kept her from dozing off.
Today at the Shao residence had truly been exhausting.
The person beside her suddenly stirred. There was a soft rustling sound of clothing rubbing together. Song Hemei opened her eyes and saw that Yu Yeqing had already sat up.
The next moment, he grasped her ankle.
His long, slender fingers closed around her ankle. Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting a pure, soft glow only on Yu Yeqing. She couldn't see the shape of the hand on her leg clearly; she could only feel the warmth of his palm.
And his hand was large, able to completely encircle her ankle.
Song Hemei's heart pounded so fast it felt like it might leap out of her throat. For the first time, she felt so flustered and uneasy in front of Yu Yeqing.
"You… what are you doing?"
She didn't even notice the stammer in her own voice as she felt his other hand settle on her calf, causing her whole body to stiffen.
"Isn't your leg sore, Second Miss?"
It was sore, but—
It wasn't that she had never been served with massages before, but the ones who served her since childhood were always maidservants. When had a man ever done so?
Even though this man was the one who had been skin-to-skin with her, the one closest to her in the world now, she still felt uncomfortable, and a shyness she couldn't control began to rise within her.
Yu Yeqing's hands began to move, applying his strength along with a gentle kneading, working slowly up from her calf.
Song Hemei felt that not only her leg, but her entire being was in his grasp, being measured inch by inch under his long fingers.
Until his hand passed her knee, she suddenly sat up. This caused Yu Yeqing to turn his head and look at her, abruptly shortening the distance between them.
"What's wrong?"
He stopped his movements and asked in a low voice: "Is it uncomfortable?"
Song Hemei swallowed hard. The feelings she didn't have earlier now seemed to flare up like a single spark starting a prairie fire.
She heard herself, as if possessed or bewitched, speak uncontrollably: "Say… do you have any of that hot water left?"
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