Unexpectedly, as she grew older, apart from the courage she displayed when she encountered Lin Yu earlier, she still retained that timid and lovable demeanor. Anyone encountering such a demure and endearing girl with delicate features and a soft-spoken nature would feel a sense of pity and compassion.
"My grandfather isn't heavy-handed; you'll be fine. But your foot seems to be in a bad state. Come, let me take a look." Lin Yu placed his hand down and walked over to Liu Xiaoyan, naturally extending his hand around her waist and guided her towards the nearby stone chair.
Liu Xiaoyan was wearing a T-shirt. With a slight movement, the hem naturally lifted, revealing a glimpse of her slender waist. Lin Yu's hand, while guiding her, almost wrapped around her waist, creating a remarkably intimate touch.
Liu Xiaoyan's face reddened further. She bit her lip, not uttering a word, allowing him to support her. However, she felt as if she were drifting in a mist, finding herself next to the cool chair without realizing how she got there.
It wasn't until Lin Yu helped her sit down that she regained her composure, realizing her current location.
At that moment, Lin Yu hadn't noticed her emotional state. Furthermore, having been carefree since childhood, he was used to physical interactions, regardless of gender. Considering the person in front of him was his childhood companion, equivalent to a childhood friend of the opposite sex, after the initial awkwardness, everything felt natural. Thus, he didn't pay too much attention to the intimacy of supporting her skin-to-skin. However, he forgot that they had all grown up; they weren't the same as they were in childhood.
"Your foot is swollen. I really scared you just now. Yanzi, I'm sorry. I was just excited to see you and forgot that everyone has changed over the years. You might not recognize me and got frightened." Lin Yu somewhat blamed himself as he helped Liu Xiaoyan sit down and carefully removed her shoes, placing her foot on his thigh to examine it closely.
"Xiaoyu, don't blame yourself. It was my fault. It's not related to you." Liu Xiaoyan shook her head softly, speaking in a low voice.
Watching Lin Yu in shabby clothes, she suddenly felt an inexplicable pang of pity. "After his parents passed away, he changed drastically. Then he left home. He must have had a difficult time. Now, seeing him like this, I wonder what he went through. It's truly pitiable..." She bit her lip, her eyes slightly reddening.
However, although Lin Yu's attire appeared beggar-like, Liu Xiaoyan, being so close, didn't catch a hint of any unpleasant odor. On the contrary, there was an indescribable fragrance, reminiscent of the refreshing scent after a bath. Not a speck of dirt could be seen on his neck or behind his ears; he was utterly clean, presenting a healthy wheatish complexion. His hair was also neat and clean, devoid of any grease or dust. This contradicted his beggar-like appearance.
"He's as clean as ever from childhood, and his scent hasn't changed. Always that pleasant soapy fragrance, and his hair is consistently neat..." Liu Xiaoyan gently smelled the scent on Lin Yu's body. Suddenly, her heart settled down, as if she had returned to her childhood, back to those days worth countless cherished memories.
At that time, she was introverted, hardly spoke, and the doctors diagnosed her with autism. The children in the courtyard bullied her, and her mother shed countless tears for her.
Yet, the present Xiaoyu, during her lonely, helpless, and lost moments, had Lin Yu by her side, accompanying her through countless tough days. Perhaps, it was due to his optimistic encouragement and the joy he brought, allowing her to emerge from the terrifying childhood of an ordinary autistic child and resume a normal life.
From childhood to now, although she never said it aloud, Liu Xiaoyan's heart held an immense admiration and gratitude for this older brother next door. Despite the neighbors branding him as a prodigal son and a playboy, she never believed that. She persisted in thinking that Lin Yu turned out the way he did because of the sudden changes in his family. Give him some time, let him recover, and he will surely get better.
Look, isn't he back now?!
Thinking of this, a slight excitement and joy inexplicably bubbled up within Liu Xiaoyan, unable to fathom why.
Lowering her head to look at Lin Yu, she suddenly felt the urge to hug him or perhaps just hold his head close and smell that pleasant fresh scent from his head.
Glancing down, Lin Yu was engrossed in massaging her foot and said, "It's okay; although your foot is badly sprained, a few massages from me will make sure it doesn't hurt anymore." As he spoke, he instinctively looked up towards her.
Unexpectedly, at that moment, Liu Xiaoyan had silently lowered her head. Consequently, Lin Yu turned his head, and their lips accidentally touched – much like a cliché scene from a Korean drama, but this time, it actually happened.
Both were stunned by the electric shock-like sensation. Lin Yu's smile froze on his face, and Liu Xiaoyan was dumbfounded.
Neither of them had expected such a thing to occur.
The warm, soft, and close contact of their lips brought an indescribable fragrance, reaching their hearts and lungs. Lin Yu was slightly unsure how to react, involuntarily giving a gentle kiss. He swore it was just a natural action.
"Um, hey, you... I..." Liu Xiaoyan suddenly reacted, pushed him away vigorously, immediately covering her face. Her whole body trembled, holding her face tightly.
Lin Yu's face reddened, feeling extremely embarrassed. "This girl, why lower your head for no reason? It led to an unexpected lip contact... Tsk tsk, but, can't deny it, her lips are really sweet..." He licked his lips, a lingering sensation, a tingling sweetness inside, looking at Liu Xiaoyan, who seemed on the verge of tears, he felt both sweetness and a sense of guilt.