Melting in Sister Charlene's Tenderness

The old TCM practitioner had already examined Xia Lin before tonight's arrangement.

This was a mandatory scheduled health check for the Xia family. Even though Xia Lin had run off to Jiang City to study and work just to avoid the hustle and bustle, she couldn't escape the medical checkups. She understood, though; when a child is away from home, what parents care about most is their health.

It is said that Grandma Ouyang held Xia Lin when she was born.

She could be considered a godmother of sorts.

Grandma Ouyang always said that Xia Lin was a child with great blessings. Growing up, this proved to be true. Among the wealthy daughters of her social stratum, Xia Lin belonged to the tier that was extremely gentle in personality, yet very sensible and presentable.

Being able to get into a top-tier university on her own merit and landing a job as a counselor at the school was already considered quite impressive.

Just look at how many little princesses went abroad to study, only to be brainwashed by strange ideologies and come back completely unhinged.

Regarding this, Grandma Ouyang had even told Xia Lin about some bizarre events that had occurred in the Shanghai social circles recently.

A certain wealthy merchant's daughter had picked up bad habits abroad. Due to legal reasons, she couldn't return to China and wasn't making anything of herself over there either, just hanging out with a bad crowd every day. It made her parents furious.

The most critical part was that she was an only child.

With no other choice, the old couple, now fifty, had to urgently figure out a way to create a "new account"—after all, their "main account" was ruined, and someone had to inherit the massive family fortune, right?

"Little Lin is already very sensible. If you meet a boy you like, don't worry too much, just go for it."

Grandma Ouyang seemed to be conveying encouragement from Xia Lin's parents. Based on what Xia Lin had probed during recent calls with her mom and dad, they must have... they must have already turned Su Bai's background inside out, right?

They simply didn't interfere with their daughter's life on a daily basis, but they didn't completely ignore it either. For someone like Su Bai, a rare member of the opposite sex who could get close to Xia Lin, her father would definitely investigate him.

So, did this mean her parents were relatively satisfied with Su Bai? Was it just that the situation was still confusing, and since Xia Lin herself hadn't shown a clear attitude, they sent Grandma Ouyang to pass a message?

To be honest, Xia Lin was quite surprised. She had thought she would have to argue with her parents to fight for Su Bai.

After all, brother Su Bai was quite the philanderer...

In the eyes of upper-class parents, he wasn't exactly a good candidate for a son-in-law.

Regardless, it was a good thing her parents didn't object. Even if they had, Xia Lin would have persisted to the end; she had always been very decisive.

So, with strong initiative, she asked Su Bai out and even brought along a box of tools for the deed, containing six units.

Sitting in Su Bai's passenger seat, Xia Lin's thoughts drifted, imagining strange things like, "How many can we use up tonight..."

Sigh.

Compared to Su Bai, she lacked experience. That damn rascal.

"Xia, since I'm going to spar with the old TCM doctor, are we doing strength training or cardio today? Do I need to make any specific adjustments..."

"Anything is fine, let's do strength. I've been running a lot on the school track recently... And what do you mean by 'spar'? You make it sound like you're going to kick down a dojo's sign!" Xia teased.

Su Bai was a person who never spoke seriously.

"Oh, my interest has been piqued recently, and I happened to learn some TCM-related health knowledge. Isn't this the perfect chance to exchange ideas with the senior..."

"That's good then. Grandma Ouyang likes young people who are eager to learn."

"It seems you are very familiar with that doctor, sister."

"Of course. She has always helped manage the health of the elders in our family. She is trustworthy."

As they chatted, the nervousness Xia Lin felt about facing her (potential) first time faded significantly.

When she was with Su Bai, it felt like a cozy, domestic conversation. This was one of the criteria Xia Lin used to judge whether someone was suitable for marriage.

If it were just about looks or the romantic palpitations caused by some other aspect, it might not actually be reliable.

Palpitations always fade. Only the tacit understanding found in daily life proves that two people are suitable to walk down the aisle together.

...

"One more set. Correct... Xia, you've improved. Your chest muscles feel stronger."

In the private gym, the area had been cleared out. Once again, it was a date strictly between Su Bai and Xia Lin.

At the bench press station, Su Bai helped Xia Lin rack the bar and praised her.

It was a bit hard not to laugh, but Xia Lin's strength training level was much better than Xue Tao's.

Xue Tao was completely frail; he was incredibly weak on the court too. Even Chu Mingzhe was much stronger than him.

"Really? Maybe I'm just performing well today." Xia Lin thought for a moment and smiled self-deprecatingly. "It's not good if the pectoral muscles are too developed; it tends to look a bit strange, hmm..."

"Indeed, since Xia is already very upright, there's no need to go further. I think the way it is now is the best."

At this moment, Xia Lin was still lying on the bench, and her gaze naturally met Su Bai's, who was looking down at her.

Obviously, Su Bai was staring into the abyss.

It was truly beautiful.

A girl who exercises regularly has a physique with traces of training that are full of vitality. Take the abyss, for example; even in a supine position, it was clearly visible. Small beads of sweat slid across the curves, dazzling like fireflies in the dark night.

Xia Lin shyly looked away. "Don't look blindly. Wait until I finish training."

"Alright. Then after the bench press is done, I want to experience the... ahem, hand feel of the muscles that have just been trained. To see if it's special."

Good heavens!

He actually stated such brazenly perverted thoughts so righteously.

But Xia Lin just happened to like it.

She had been worried that Su Bai wouldn't be proactive enough, and now he had seized the opportunity perfectly.

Enduring the desire in her heart, she did two more sets. Panting slightly, Xia Lin stood up and walked in front of Su Bai.

The tips of their noses almost touched.

"Wasn't there one set left..."

"No need to wait anymore. You can try it now, you stinky little brother~"

Xia Lin caught Su Bai's wrist.

That curvaceous... immediately made Su Bai hold his breath.

Not bad!

This fitness-type beauty was indeed different.

No wonder male protagonists in those urban novels always liked to flirt with beautiful fitness coaches.

It was so true to life.

Immediately after, Xia Lin closed her eyes, and Su Bai considerately kissed her.

After a long time.

"Phew..."

Xia Lin's arms were wrapped around Su Bai's neck, standing on her tiptoes.

She wasn't short for a girl, but she still needed to stand on her tiptoes to kiss Su Bai. This gave Xia Lin a surprising sense of happiness; she had always wanted a tall boyfriend, and now that wish was fulfilled.

"Xia."

"Hmm?"

"Your kissing technique isn't great. You've really failed the title of counselor."

"...A counselor doesn't teach this."

"Looks like I'll have to turn the tables and teach you."

"Look at you, so proud of yourself!"

Xia Lin rebuked him coquettishly, pinching Su Bai's nose and playing with his ear.

This made Su Bai reveal an expression of enjoyment. How should one put it? This feeling of being gently caressed by a tender older woman was an experience Su Bai lacked, after all, his mother had passed away early.

A god-tier person like Aunt Jiang just wasn't cut out for this kind of job.