Father Song blinked in surprise, for he had not expected Rui Ye to be so sensitive. But he soon regained his bearings and clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Look at how delicate you are. And the villagers claim that you're the son of a demon? Heh," he snorted.
Despite the blatant mockery in his tone, he rubbed the ointment between his fingers to warm it slightly before reaching out to grab Rui Ye's wrist, who had kept inching backward until he nearly slipped off the couch.
"C'mere," Song Zhuyu muttered, pulling the blind man closer to him. His gaze was focused on the blisters as he resumed his task.
"How is it?" he inquired, looking up at Rui Ye. "Not too cold anymore, is it?"
"E–En…" Rui Ye managed a weak nod, his teeth sinking into his lower lip hard enough to render it bloodless.
Song Zhuyu could tell from the tenseness of Rui Ye's body that the blind man tried his best to remain still, yet each time Song Zhuyu's fingers brushed his skin, he still flinched and gasped lightly, his face contorting as if enduring some kind of unspeakable torment. Perhaps Rui Ye did not realize it himself, but he kept hunching his body as though trying to escape from Song Zhuyu's touch, unintentionally drawing his head closer and closer to Song Zhuyu's chest.
From his vantage point, Song Zhuyu could see the slender curve of Rui Ye's nape and the smooth unblemished expanse of his back that, albeit glistening with a sheen of perspiration, was devoid of any visible marks.
A frown marred the space between Song Zhuyu's brows. Had he seen wrong that day, after all? Or was it the same type as the one on his body, which could conceal itself from the eyes of others?
Lost in his own thoughts, Song Zhuyu was brought out of his reverie when Rui Ye's forehead bumped lightly against his shoulder, eliciting a startled gasp from the blind man as he quickly straightened up.
"S–S–Sorry!" Rui Ye blurted out, his face flushing in a vivid shade of crimson. But in his haste to increase the distance between them, he ended up losing his balance and teetered on the edge of the couch—
"Careful."
Once again, Song Zhuyu's quick reflexes saved him from a tumble, his hand catching Rui Ye's waist just in time!
A helpless sigh escaped Father Song as he steadied Rui Ye to prevent him from falling again, his broad palm still splayed across the blind man's back which was slightly cold and damp to the touch.
"How clumsy," he commented with a click of his tongue. "Stop fidgeting for a moment, alright? There's still a bit more area I have to…" his words trailed off when he shifted his gaze to Rui Ye's abdomen, only to notice a slight bulge inside Rui Ye's pants. Although small, the sight seared into Song Zhuyu's retina like a burning brand, causing his expression to turn weird in an instant.
Rui Ye was… hard?
Hard, as in… aroused??? Was it due to the pain stimulation? Damn, what an M!
Of course, Father Song had enough tact not to point it out lest he risk being banned from coming here ever again. Besides, it was natural for men to react to stimulation, wasn't it? He, too, would get a little excited after a thrilling battle, when the extreme rush of adrenaline was coursing through his veins. So he figured he had no right to judge the other person.
Nonetheless, this was the first time Song Zhuyu had so blatantly witnessed someone's arousal directed at him, and to add to it, the other party was blind, for God's sake!
It wasn't like Rui Ye could lust after his good looks, so it was simply due to his touch and… voice…?
Clearing his throat, Song Zhuyu squeezed another dollop of ointment onto his already sticky hand, and he had no idea why the tip of his fingers were trembling ever so slightly. "Stay still," he instructed in a voice that betrayed none of his churning thoughts. "There is still a small area left, so I'm going to make it quick."
Next, Song Zhuyu picked up his pace and applied the ointment to the blisters around Rui Ye's stomach.
Yet another faint sound escaped Rui Ye's throat, but this time, Song Zhuyu knew very well it wasn't due to the pain or anything remotely similar. The previously casual atmosphere took on a strange and ambiguous tone, and the silence in the house made it seem like only the two of them were left in the world— or perhaps it was all just in Song Zhuyu's mind.
But for the love of anything unholy, how was he supposed to ignore the fact that the person before him was clearly aroused by his touch?!
"Ngh…" Rui Ye let out a tiny moan when Song Zhuyu's warm fingers skittered dangerously close to the hem of his pants. He reached out blindly, catching the crimson-haired man's arm. "A–Are you done yet?!" he inquired with a hint of a sob, pressing his legs together in an attempt to suppress the heat rising in his lower abdomen. His body had been reacting strangely since the first touch landed on his skin, and he did not like this unfamiliar sensation. Not even a bit!
Song Zhuyu glanced at the delicate fingers clutching his arm with a tight grip before averting his gaze, clearing his throat. "...Done," he murmured in a voice lower than usual.
He intended to withdraw his hands, but Rui Ye was still clinging onto him so tightly that he couldn't budge. Not only that, the man's head once again leaned closer to him, rendering him unable to discern his expression. All he could see was the whorl of Rui Ye's hair, which exuded a faint sweet scent of shampoo.
"Rui Ye…?" he ventured, unsure of what to make of the situation.
"I…" Rui Ye choked out in a small voice, gasping. "It hurts…"
Song Zhuyu froze, his breath hitching on his throat. He had an inkling on where Rui Ye might be hurting, which was why he couldn't bring himself to utter the question. Yet it did not seem like Rui Ye needed a response either. Again, his forehead bumped against Song Zhuyu's shoulder, but this time he did not immediately move away.
His warm breath tickled Song Zhuyu's neck as he nuzzled close, murmuring, "Why… do you always smell so sweet…?"