Flora’s voice drifted from outside the door, laced with obvious nervousness.
Chen Mian lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling in a daze for a second.
He had actually forgotten about this.
He sat up, straightened his black short-sleeved shirt and gray sweatpants, and walked to the door to pull it open.
The warm yellow light from the hallway cast a glow over Flora from the side.
She stood outside the door with her hands hanging in front of her, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her dress.
The oversized dress actually made her look even more slender.
Her hair had just been dried, falling loosely over her shoulders with a soft luster under the light.
Her eyes were cast downward, the shadows of her eyelashes falling onto her cheeks. Her ears were bright red, and her voice was almost inaudible. “...Sorry for the intrusion.”
Chen Mian leaned against the doorframe and watched her for a couple of seconds.
“Come in.”
Flora took a deep breath and walked into the room with her head bowed. Her steps were slow, each one cautious and deliberate.
At this moment, she felt a trace of regret. Her landlord hadn't even brought it up, so why had she been so fixated on whether she had fulfilled her promise?
The room contained only a bed, a nightstand, and a desk lamp. Chen Mian had very few personal belongings.
“Sit.” He pointed toward the edge of the bed while he walked over to the desk, pulled out the chair, and sat down.
“...Sit on the bed?” Flora’s voice was barely a whisper.
“Relax, I’m not going to eat you.”
Flora’s ears turned even redder. Without saying another word, she sat down on the edge of the bed.
“...I know,” she said, pursing her lips. “It’s just... I’m not quite used to this.”
“Have you ever given anyone a massage or a backrub before?”
“No...” Flora shook her head.
Chen Mian chuckled slightly and said, “Then lie down. I’ll teach you.”
Flora’s face flushed instantly. “I—I should lie down?”
“Yeah. Didn't you say you don't know how?” Chen Mian said with a straight face. “If you just press randomly, it won't be comfortable. Is there really a difference between me massaging you and you massaging me?”
The logic was incredibly warped, but Flora was so nervous that she didn't realize it for a moment.
“...Then, where should I lie?”
“On the bed.”
Flora hesitated for a long time before finally lying down on her side, facing the window and turning her back to Chen Mian.
She curled her legs and folded her hands by her face, her posture as stiff and tense as a curled shrimp.
The hem of her dress slid up slightly due to her position, revealing a portion of her thigh above the knee.
Chen Mian averted his gaze and pulled the chair closer to the bed.
He reached out, his fingers landing on her shoulder.
Flora’s body jolted and went rigid.
“...So stiff,” Chen Mian said, somewhat annoyed.
“What?”
“Your shoulders. You’re way too tense.”
Chen Mian’s fingers pressed into her shoulder with moderate pressure, slowly kneading along the contours of her shoulder blade. A faint trace of mana flowed from his fingers into Flora’s body, slowly beginning to extract the curse that had seeped deep into her system.
Flora’s body had been eroded by the curse for some time. It was manageable when she still had her mana, but without that protection, she would eventually die.
Chen Mian could only help her slow down the erosion of the curse; as for restoring her mana, he had no way of doing that for the time being.
Flora bit her lip and remained silent.
“Does it hurt?”
“A little.” Her voice was muffled, her face buried in the pillow.
Chen Mian lightened his touch.
Flora’s body gradually became less rigid.
Her breathing slowly became even, and occasionally, she would let out a very soft breath that sounded like a sigh.
The room grew quiet, save for the faint rustling of fabric.
“Has Mr. Chen Mian... massaged someone else before?” Her voice was muffled by the pillow, making it sound somewhat surreal.
“No.”
Silence returned to the room.
“Mr. Chen Mian.”
“Yeah.”
She paused for a moment. “Since you live here alone, what do you usually do?”
Chen Mian thought for a bit. “Read books, take walks in the forest. Occasionally, I go to Linyu Port to buy supplies.”
“Don't you find it... boring?”
“To be honest, a little.”
Flora was silent for a while. “...Then why don't you go travel and see other places?”
Chen Mian’s fingers paused for a split second before he continued kneading. “Where would I go?”
Flora didn't answer; she didn't know the answer herself.
She simply felt that someone who had lived in a place like this for so many years would surely want to go out and see the world.
Chen Mian spoke again, “It’s quite nice here. Quiet.”
His fingers moved from her shoulder to the back of her neck, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Flora let out a soft groan.
“Does it hurt here too?”
“...A little.”
“Just relax.”
Chen Mian didn't speak again. His movements were light, his strength perfectly controlled, but most of his energy was focused on dispelling the curse in Flora’s body.
He could only provide temporary relief for now. Forcing a full purification was something her current body simply couldn't handle.
Flora closed her eyes.
“All done.” Chen Mian suddenly withdrew his hands. “That’s enough for now.”
Flora opened her eyes and realized that less than ten minutes had passed.
She sat up, straightened her dress, and lowered her head. “...Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Today’s condition is fulfilled.”
Chen Mian stood up, walked to the door, and pulled it open.
Flora also got off the bed and followed behind him.
When she reached the doorway, she stopped for a moment.
“Mr. Chen Mian.”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you, truly. My body feels much better now.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Then... goodnight.” Her voice was very soft. After saying that, she quickly walked back to her own room, and the sound of her door closing was also very gentle.
Chen Mian leaned against the doorframe, watching the closed door at the end of the hallway.
He looked down at the system panel.
【Sense of Belonging: Level 1 (Passerby). Note: The tenant believes this place is safe and a decent temporary residence.】
He closed the panel and turned back into his room.
Lying on his bed, he opened the system panel and looked at the Taming Contract in his inventory.
Rate on N.U.
