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Su Niannian’s calf was delicate and fair, making the redness and swelling around her knee even more noticeable.
In fact, it wasn’t that serious.
Before, when Su Niannian had just returned from the expedition, she had numerous cuts and bruises on her body. But with the nourishment of the spiritual spring water, not a single scar remained.
Seeing the swollen knee, Gu Nan’s eyes filled with concern. Furrowing his brows, he turned and walked into the main room.
Beside them, Gu Zhi and Gu Ningning also wore expressions full of concern.
“Child, does it hurt? Your knee is all swollen…” Gu Zhi felt heartbroken for Su Niannian. With her fragile and slender figure, with her small arms and legs, she didn’t eat much.
If only she had a bit more flesh on her body, her knee wouldn’t have ended up like this.
Although Gu Zhi thought this, she still couldn’t help but notice that where Su Niannian’s body should have flesh, there was indeed some.
Just as Gu Zhi thoughts wandered slightly, Gu Nan had already returned.
He was holding some medicinal oil, but with both his mother and younger sister still present, it wasn’t the most appropriate moment for him to massage Su Niannian’s knee.
Gu Zhi looked at Gu Nan, standing in the yard with the medicinal oil in his hand, looking somewhat at a loss. She was about to speak when Gu Ningning beat her to it.
“Mother, let’s go make dinner. Let’s leave Sister Niannian and Brother Nan to handle her knee inside.” As soon as Gu Ningning finished speaking, she didn’t wait for her mother to respond and pulled her towards the kitchen.
“Gu Nan, be gentle!” Although Gu Zhi was pulled away, she couldn’t help but give one last piece of advice.
After they left, Gu Nan helped Su Niannian off the small stool.
“Shall we go to my room?”
The words were actually quite ordinary, but as soon as Gu Nan said them, it seemed like he remembered something, and his ears instantly turned red.
Su Niannian curved her lips into a beautiful smile and nodded, showing no sign of embarrassment whatsoever.
She knew that Gu Nan meant nothing else by his words, but she could tell from his expression—his ears turning red and his lips slightly pursed—that he had thought of something else. Su Niannian absolutely adored it.
Seeing how confidently Su Niannian responded, Gu Nan could only blame himself for overthinking. He supported her as they made their way to his room.
Whether in this life or the previous one, this was the first time Su Niannian had entered Gu Nan’s room in Kaoshan Village.
The room wasn’t very large, about twenty or so square meters. Inside, there weren’t many items, which made it seem somewhat empty.
The walls were covered with newspapers, and about a meter from the floor, the area was painted green. The room only had a table, a chair, a wardrobe, and a simple earthen kang (heated platform bed).
Everything was arranged neatly, all in perfect order.
Seeing Su Niannian examining his room, Gu Nan spoke up, “Sit down and look around.”
He was worried her knee might still be uncomfortable, so he helped her sit on the edge of the kang.
Then, he pulled the chair from the side and sat down next to the bed.
“I’m afraid there might be some bruising, so it might hurt a little when I massage it,” Gu Nan’s voice was unusually gentle. The two were very close, and Su Niannian could even feel his breath.
After seeing Su Niannian nod, Gu Nan gently placed her leg on his knee.
He poured some of the medicinal oil into his palm, setting the bottle on the table.
Rubbing his hands together, he warmed the oil thoroughly before gently placing his hands on Su Niannian’s knee.
The moment his hands touched, it was soft and delicate. Gu Nan felt a burning sensation in his palms. He wasn’t sure whether it was from the medicinal oil or from the warmth of his own body.
Gu Nan made an effort to calm his mind, trying not to think about anything else, and focused intently on massaging Su Niannian’s knee.
When he saw that she wasn’t wincing in pain, he gradually adjusted the pressure of his hands.
Su Niannian sat there, opposite him, watching as Gu Nan carefully massaged her knee.
She no longer paid attention to anything else in the room, her entire focus was on Gu Nan.
Gu Nan’s hands were quite handsome. Although they were a little darkened from working outside and had some calluses on the joints, it didn’t take away from the fact that they were beautiful hands.
He massaged carefully, paying close attention to the pressure he applied. Su Niannian felt that everything was just right.
When he finished with one leg, Gu Nan finally noticed that Su Niannian had been staring at him the entire time.
She hadn’t said a word, but her smile, those eyes, seemed to speak volumes.
“Now, the other one.” Gu Nan gently placed Su Niannian’s right leg down and gestured for her to switch to the other leg.
Su Niannian casually placed her other leg on Gu Nan’s lap.
Unlike earlier, when she had rolled up her pants herself outside, this time she didn’t make any move to do so.
Gu Nan motioned for her to roll up her pants, but Su Niannian just smiled and silently looked at him.
It was clear that Su Niannian wasn’t going to do it herself.
This time, not only were Gu Nan’s ears red, but his neck had started to flush as well.
After clearing his throat, Gu Nan unconsciously glanced toward the door, then gently grabbed the hem of Su Niannian’s pants and pulled them up.
He rolled up her pants legs to her knees.
Su Niannian, she hadn’t done anything, but Gu Nan felt his heart rate quicken.
He repeated the actions: pouring the medicinal oil, rubbing, pressing on the knee.
“Tell me if it hurts.”
“It’s just right.”
Actually, Su Niannian’s knee no longer hurt. If there had been any problem, Su Niannian would have already drunk the spring water.
It really was as the saying goes, “Hurry to the hospital, walk slowly, the wound will heal.”
But even though she was fine, Su Niannian received the care from Gu Zhi, Gu Ningning, and Gu Nan.
Su Niannian truly loved, loved Gu Nan’s earnest, gentle, and attentive care.
Last time, it was the same. Gu Nan carefully cared for her, accompanied her, treating her as his everything.
He always put her first, this kind of Gu Nan truly brought Su Niannian immense happiness.
But, at that time, Gu Nan had sacrificed and given up so much for her.
This time, Su Niannian would definitely not let Gu Nan be so tired, bearing so much.
Su Niannian didn’t want Gu Nan to experience the regret of not returning to his unit last time, again this time.
Gu Nan had finished rubbing her knee and put Su Niannian’s leg down.
Although he was a little reluctant, he couldn’t keep holding the girl’s leg. If the girl thought he was being creepy, that wouldn’t be good.
“Is it better?” Gu Nan’s gentle voice brought Su Niannian’s thoughts back.
“It did hurt a little, but now it’s better after you rubbed it.”
“You’re so good at rubbing,” Su Niannian moved her knee. It truly didn’t hurt anymore, and Gu Nan’s massage felt very comfortable.
“Then rest a little longer. Drink this,” Gu Nan handed her the water bottle Su Niannian had used last night.
It contained prepared malted milk. Gu Nan had waited a whole day to finally give it to Su Niannian.
Because Gu Ningning wasn’t feeling well, Gu Nan often bought malted milk for home.
But Gu Nan himself had never actually drunk any of it.