The livestream suddenly cut out.

Right after Jiang Nanxi said those words.

The barrage went wild.

“[What did I just hear!??]”

“[This damn livestream equipment, don’t be so unreliable! I paid for VIP membership, not to watch you suddenly go black screen!!]”

“[Rubbing the waist! Wuwuwu! I also want Nan Nan to rub my waist!]”

“[When will God give me a younger sister like Nan Nan?! Beautiful, obedient, considerate!!]”

“[Sister Xia’s waist is really injured, should she go see a doctor!]”

On the first day of filming, Xia Zhiyan’s personal experience proved the saying “picking up a stone to hit your own foot” to be a universal truth.

At this moment, she was lying on the bed, hugging a pillow, face buried in it.

Jiang Nanxi was sitting behind her, probably kneeling. Xia Zhiyan didn’t dare to look back, but she could clearly feel the other’s warmth and presence, even without physical contact.

Xia Zhiyan’s thoughts drifted.

She had once read a book that said everyone is made of cosmic dust, all the molecules in our bodies are fragments of the universe. The people we pass by might have once been stars in the vast universe.

If this theory holds, Xia Zhiyan thought, she and Jiang Nanxi must be from the same planet.

Otherwise, this wouldn’t be happening.

The other person wasn’t doing anything, just being close, and she instinctively knew of their presence.

Gaze.

Gaze was certainly a reason for this feeling.

Xia Zhiyan has been watched by countless people in her life, and has naturally encountered various gazes: envious, jealous, longing, even lustful. But none were as pure as Jiang Nanxi’s.

Xia Zhiyan could clearly feel Jiang Nanxi’s gaze scanning her body.

No extra thoughts, just looking at her.

This gaze made Xia Zhiyan a little restless.

She mumbled on the bed: “Really rub it? Nan Nan, I’m really fine.”

“I brought some ointment.” Jiang Nanxi held a tube of Tiger Balm, the slightly pungent smell immediately noticeable after opening it.

This smell, some people find addictive, others would never want to smell it again.

“Sister, where exactly does your waist hurt? Tell me, I’ll rub it for you.”

Xia Zhiyan thought, it doesn’t hurt anywhere, it was all made up.

But seeing Jiang Nanxi’s determined expression, Xia Zhiyan sighed and pointed randomly: “Here.”

Jiang Nanxi looked at her right waist, nodded: “I understand.”

“Sister, can you pull up your shirt yourself?” Jiang Nanxi squeezed some ointment onto her hand, the white ointment softened in her palm, gradually warming up.

Xia Zhiyan pulled her shirt up: “Like this?”

“Yes.”

A patch of snow-white skin was revealed.

No scars, just white, almost translucent.

The room’s lights were warm yellow, shining from above, beautiful, like sunlight falling on white snow.

“Does it hurt here?” Jiang Nanxi’s eyes were serious, she gently poked the spot Xia Zhiyan had indicated with a fingertip.

Xia Zhiyan, using all her acting skills, gasped: “It hurts.”

It didn’t hurt at all.

She thought.

But the younger girl was so worried about her, she couldn’t let her efforts be in vain.

So, Xia Zhiyan began to act.

Seeing her reaction, Jiang Nanxi’s brow furrowed even tighter.

“It’s that serious?”

Xia Zhiyan: “Maybe I stood for too long today.”

“Remember not to wear high heels,” Jiang Nanxi said, “It’s not good for a back injury.”

Xia Zhiyan: “It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine.”

Xia Zhiyan was about to argue with Jiang Nanxi when she felt a hand firmly pressed against her waist. Initially cool, but the warmth of the ointment quickly spread as Jiang Nanxi rubbed.

A tingling coolness spread across her skin.

Jiang Nanxi rubbed until her palm was almost burning.

The ointment seemed to seep into her pores. Xia Zhiyan wasn’t in pain, but now, being rubbed like this, she felt a strange sensation.

Jiang Nanxi massaged intently.

She had just read the instructions, which said to ensure the ointment was thoroughly rubbed in.

This hot, it should be rubbed in, right?

Jiang Nanxi considered stopping.

But the moment she lifted her hand, Xia Zhiyan called out: “Don’t.”

Jiang Nanxi was stunned.

“Does it still hurt?” Her voice was filled with concern.

Xia Zhiyan grabbed the pillow, burying her face, mumbling: “Yes.”

“The left side hurts too.”

Each word Xia Zhiyan spoke seemed to have a hook, effortlessly ensnaring Jiang Nanxi.

Worried, she leaned closer, blowing on Xia Zhiyan’s waist.

Xia Zhiyan shivered.

Jiang Nanxi thought she was in pain, and rubbed the area with her fingertips.

She really wanted to kiss her, but she couldn’t.

Xia Zhiyan occasionally let out a muffled groan, and Jiang Nanxi would lighten her touch, but as soon as she did, Xia Zhiyan would say: “It feels like the ointment isn’t rubbed in, rub harder.”

Jiang Nanxi didn’t notice anything amiss, diligently continuing to massage Xia Zhiyan.

After twenty minutes, Jiang Nanxi felt like she had almost rubbed Xia Zhiyan’s waist to pieces.

Normally, massages make people feel invigorated, but the more Jiang Nanxi rubbed, the more relaxed Xia Zhiyan became.

Almost like melting water.

Seeing this, Jiang Nanxi was even more worried.

“Sister, if it’s this uncomfortable, let’s go to the hospital tomorrow? I’ll go with you.”

Xia Zhiyan: “…”

“No.”

Xia Zhiyan was mortified.

She buried her head in the pillow.

“I’ll just lie down, I’ll be fine tomorrow. Nan Nan, go wash your hands.”

Jiang Nanxi’s hands smelled strongly of ointment. She smelled them, and unexpectedly detected a faint scent of Xia Zhiyan.

“Okay.” She was reluctant to leave.

As she got up to leave, Xia Zhiyan called her back, asking a crucial question.

“Cough.”

“The cameras in the room?”

Xia Zhiyan’s face wasn’t visible, only her back. Her waist was red, with the scent of ointment and herbs. Her neck and ears were hidden by her hair.

But Jiang Nanxi felt Xia Zhiyan was embarrassed.

She chuckled: “Don’t worry, Sister.”

“I’ve already turned them off.”

The cameras had two switches, one on the camera itself, and one for remote control. While getting the ointment, Jiang Nanxi told the production team, and they immediately agreed to turn off the cameras.

“Sister, rest. I’ll go wash my hands.”

After Jiang Nanxi left, Xia Zhiyan breathed a sigh of relief.

She grabbed her phone and texted Dr. Xu.

Xia Zhiyan: Is there any way to cure this quickly?

Dr. Xu, surprisingly awake, replied instantly: Mental illness treatment can’t be rushed. Are you having an episode?

Xia Zhiyan: Yes, it’s kind of serious.

Dr. Xu: Do you have compulsive physical behaviors? Mainly self-harm.

Xia Zhiyan: No, I never do that.

Dr. Xu: Then you’re just feeling mentally distressed?

Xia Zhiyan: Not really.

Dr. Xu was silent for a long time, the “typing…” indicator appeared for a while, then a message came: Unable to control your desire for physical contact with others?

Xia Zhiyan: I guess so.

Dr. Xu: Can you tell me the other person’s identity?

Xia Zhiyan considered, replying: Family member.

Dr. Xu breathed a sigh of relief, sending a cute emoji.

Dr. Xu: This is normal. If it’s a family member, they might be able to help with treatment. For people with skin hunger, this physical desire stems from deep emotions, you should trust and rely on your family. Don’t suppress your feelings, express your needs honestly, let them help solve the problem, it might improve.

Dr. Xu sent a long message, Xia Zhiyan glanced at it and replied with thanks.

But she didn’t agree with Dr. Xu’s suggestion.

Letting Jiang Nanxi help her treat her illness?

Xia Zhiyan thought it was inappropriate.

She felt her condition was worsening.

When Nan Nan tried to pull her hand away, her first reaction was reluctance.

She’s the older sister!

Her younger sister cared so much about her, yet she only had these inappropriate thoughts. Using her younger sister to satisfy her desires, to relieve the pain of her mental illness.

Shameful.

So shameful.

Xia Zhiyan would never let Jiang Nanxi know about this.

If she knew, where would she put her face?!

Jiang Nanxi, of course, didn’t know any of this.

She was in the bathroom, her hands wet, the orange-scented hand soap forming bubbles in her palms. Like snow blooming in her hands.

Jiang Nanxi expressionlessly washed each finger.

The ointment had a strong smell, one wash wasn’t enough, she needed to wash twice more.

But the more she washed, the hotter her heart became.

Everything about Xia Zhiyan replayed in her mind.

Xia Zhiyan’s waist, Xia Zhiyan’s back.

Xia Zhiyan pulling up her shirt.

Her voice.

—!

A thousand fireworks exploded in Jiang Nanxi’s mind.

Perhaps out of guilt, she turned the faucet on full blast, the sound of water growing louder.

What was this?

Xia Zhiyan’s waist hurt, she was uncomfortable, yet she was filled with all sorts of messy thoughts.

How could a younger sister be like this?

But she never intended to just be a younger sister.

Jiang Nanxi sighed, splashing water on her face. It seemed like this would clear her mind.

Not yet.

Jiang Nanxi looked at herself in the mirror, saying to herself.

Not yet.

She needed to stand higher, beside Xia Zhiyan, to tell her that the reliance and expectation buried in her heart had transformed into longing and possessiveness.

She needed to stand by her side.

Jiang Nanxi grabbed a paper towel, drying her face and hands. She went out and found Xia Zhiyan changing clothes.

Jiang Nanxi: “…”

Her hard-won resolve seemed to have gone to waste!

Xia Zhiyan didn’t mind.

“Nan Nan, you’re out?”

“Yes.” Jiang Nanxi didn’t know where to look.

Xia Zhiyan: “The ointment smells strong, I want to change clothes, then take a shower.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Nanxi pursed her lips, considering what to say, when a knock came on the door.

Jiang Nanxi quickly went to answer: “Who is it?”

Xia Zhiyan quickly changed her clothes.

Outside, Tang Wanning’s voice: “It’s me, it’s me.”

“I want to ask if you have water in your bathroom?”

“Yes,” Jiang Nanxi said.

“Hot water?”

“Yes.”

Tang Wanning was overjoyed, shouting outside: “Come quickly! They have hot water in their room!”

This sounded like she had found a half-price sale at a department store.

Three minutes later, Jiang Nanxi looked at the people crowding into her and Xia Zhiyan’s room and fell silent.

“So, your room is out of water?”

Tang Wanning complained: “Yes, I ran out of water halfway through showering.”

Si Ying also said: “I asked the production team, they said there’s a water pressure problem in the village, the water heater isn’t working well, so this might happen.”

Leng Yuanzhi was relieved: “Fortunately, your room is closest to the water outlet, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to shower tonight.”

Jiang Nanxi smiled: “Yes.”

But inwardly she was thinking, “Heh.”

She rarely shared a room with Xia Zhiyan, thinking it would be a special night for the two of them, but a bunch of people came to use their water.

Eventually, the room became a mini-bathroom.

Everyone took turns showering, those who hadn’t showered played cards on the carpet.

Ruan Qiuci casually asked: “We’re showering here, what about He Xi?”

Si Ying said casually: “Who cares about him?”

“He’s a man, he can’t shower here, right?”

Jiang Nanxi held her winning hand, and played it.

If He Xi came, she wouldn’t just throw this winning hand on the carpet, but in his face.

After the game, Jiang Nanxi won again.

Tang Wanning fell back: “This isn’t fair! You’ve won all night!”

Xia Zhiyan hooked Jiang Nanxi’s shoulder: “It just means your card skills are bad.”

Tang Wanning snorted, suddenly sniffing, smelling something.

“Who used ointment?”

Jiang Nanxi explained: “Sister’s waist hurts, I just applied some for her.”

Tang Wanning: “Comfortable?”

Xia Zhiyan: “…Very comfortable.”

Her eyes narrowed: “Why are you asking?”

Tang Wanning sprawled out: “My waist hurts too, Nan Nan, rub mine too.”

Jiang Nanxi was about to refuse when Xia Zhiyan pushed Tang Wanning aside: “Scram.”

“What do you think my Nan Nan is?”

Tang Wanning pondered: “A very skilled massage girl?”

Xia Zhiyan: “…”

Tang Wanning confidently said: “We’re both sisters! What’s wrong with asking for help!”

Xia Zhiyan was annoyed, about to say something, when she felt her wrist being pulled. Jiang Nanxi handed over the ointment, saying thoughtfully: “Wanning Jie, do it yourself. I accidentally twisted my hand, it’s not convenient.”

Tang Wanning: “Great!”

She started applying the ointment.

Xia Zhiyan looked into Jiang Nanxi’s eyes. She playfully blinked, like twinkling stars.

Thump, thump.

Xia Zhiyan thought, her little girl can lie too.