Chapter 14: The Unexpected Cramp
In the narrow compartment, the lingering warmth of ambiguity had yet to dissipate when Chen Man's words ignited a new spark.
Su Qingge had just finished tidying her clothes, still savoring the feeling of every bone turning soft from the previous moment. Hearing Chen Man, she rolled her eyes at her without patience: "Chen Man, can't you be serious? Young Jiang just finished working and hasn't even caught his breath yet."
"Can seriousness be eaten as a meal?" Chen Man retorted righteously, twisting her body on the upper bunk like a beautiful snake. The loose white T-shirt slid up with the movement, revealing a section of her incredibly supple waist.
She didn't actually expect Jiang Chen to serve her the way he served Su Qingge; this was merely a common flirting tactic she used during dull journeys.
Among the three women, she was the youngest and the most unrestrained.
But just now, watching the way Jiang Chen touched Su Qingge—intimately yet respectfully—a trace of sourness unexpectedly welled up inside her, a feeling she found ridiculous herself.
Why did that cold woman get to enjoy such treatment?
"Little brother, just take a look." Chen Man stuck her leg out through the gap in the guardrail, letting it dangle in the air, "Are my legs better looking than CEO Su's back?"
They were indeed a pair of exquisite legs.
Even in the dim light, their lines were so smooth that one couldn't look away.
Because she had just applied body lotion, her skin was glowing. Her ankles were slender, and her instep curved into an alluring arc. Her toenails were painted with dark red polish, resembling several ripe cherries.
Jiang Chen smiled helplessly and put down the water bottle in his hand: "Sister Man, your legs are indeed beautiful; you could insure them. But..."
"But what?" Chen Man's eyes lit up, thinking there was hope.
She deliberately pressed her leg down further, her toes almost touching Jiang Chen's shoulder.
That subtle, almost nonexistent teasing was infinitely magnified in the enclosed space.
"But if you keep shaking them like that, be careful something actually happens." Before Jiang Chen finished speaking...
"Ah!"
Chen Man suddenly let out a scream.
The beautiful leg that had been swinging merrily instantly stiffened as if electrocuted. The instep involuntarily tensed rigidly, and her toes curled up painfully.
"What's wrong?" Lin Wan on the opposite side was startled and quickly stood up.
"Cramp... I have a cramp!" Chen Man cried out, tears streaming down her face from the pain. She curled up into a ball on the upper bunk, her face, which had been full of seductive charm moments ago, now etched with agony. "It hurts so much... Help me... I can't straighten it out!"
This was the so-called immediate retribution.
The movement of pressing her instep down to show off the lines just now had been too forceful. Coupled with the cold air seeping in from near the window despite the heating in the compartment, the alternating hot and cold, plus the exertion, caused her calf muscles to immediately go on strike.
"Don't move wildly!"
Jiang Chen reacted the fastest.
He didn't even have time to think before stepping onto the edge of the lower bunk and standing up.
The height clearance in the soft sleeper car was limited; when he stood, his head almost hit the ceiling. But he paid no attention to that, grabbing Chen Man's leg that was convulsing violently.
The touch was icy cold.
As expected, it was chilled.
"Relax! Absolutely do not try to pull it straight forcefully!" Jiang Chen hissed. He gripped her ankle with one hand and braced his other hand against her sole, beginning to push back with force.
"Ow, ow, ow! Are you trying to break my foot!" Chen Man screamed in pain, gripping the sheet tightly with both hands, her nails almost digging into her flesh.
The excruciating pain from the tonic muscle contraction was unimaginable for anyone who hadn't experienced it.
"Endure it! It must be stretched out!"
Sweat also broke out on Jiang Chen's forehead. He had to resist the spasmodic strength of Chen Man's muscles while maintaining his balance in such a narrow space.
Chen Man kicked wildly due to the pain, almost kicking Jiang Chen in the face several times.
"Sister Lin, hold down her knee!" Jiang Chen shouted.
Lin Wan quickly came over and pressed down on Chen Man's flailing knee through the quilt: "Manman, stop moving, Little Jiang is helping you!"
"Waaah... It really hurts so much..." Chen Man cried without any regard for her image, the tears soaking her pillow.
Jiang Chen took a deep breath and adjusted his posture.
He placed Chen Man's foot against his chest, wrapped both hands around her calf, and began forcefully rubbing the muscle that was as hard as a stone.
His movements were not gentle; they could even be described as somewhat rough.
But at a time like this, gentleness was useless.
He needed to use sufficient force to forcibly loosen the intertwined muscle fibers.
"Ah... Mmm..."
As Jiang Chen pressed and kneaded vigorously, Chen Man's screams slowly changed pitch.
Following the intense pain came a sour relief tinged with agony.
The feeling of blood flowing freely again made her involuntarily let out a series of whimpers laced with crying.
In this compartment occupied by only four people, the sound was rather embarrassing.
"Lighter... lighter..." Chen Man sobbed, her voice as soft as a puddle of water.
Jiang Chen's palms were scorching hot, enveloping her icy calf.
Due to the position, Chen Man's leg was almost propped up on Jiang Chen's shoulder.
From Jiang Chen's perspective, he could clearly see her eyes reddened by the pain, and her face tear-streaked and pitiful.
Where was even a trace of that fiery, mature 'Big Sister' persona now?
She was simply a little cat that had been bullied too hard.
"Better?" Jiang Chen felt the muscle under his hands slowly soften, and only then did he slightly ease the pressure.
"Mmm..." Chen Man sniffled, turning her head away somewhat embarrassedly, "It seems... the cramping stopped."
But Jiang Chen didn't let go immediately.
"It's not over yet," he said. "It's just not cramping now, but the muscle is still congested. If I don't knead it open, you won't be able to walk tomorrow."
He continued massaging. This time, the movements became much gentler, carrying a sense of soothing.
His fingertips moved up and down along the curve of her calf, occasionally pressing on pressure points.
Chen Man fell silent.
She lay on the bed, feeling the warmth and strength of those large hands.
The desire to flirt from earlier had flown away to the nine heavens, replaced instead by a sense of security she had never experienced before.
Having worked in nightclubs, she had encountered countless men.
Some wanted to get her drunk, some wanted to throw money at her, and some wanted to take advantage of her.
Never once had anyone, when she was at her most helpless and in the most pain, helped her massage her leg with such a serious expression and sweat pouring down his face.
He hadn't even taken the opportunity to grope her a couple of times.
Jiang Chen's technique was professional and proper.
"Little brother..." Chen Man suddenly spoke, her voice a little hoarse.
"What? Does it hurt again?" Jiang Chen stopped his movements.
"No." Chen Man turned her head, looking at the tall young man close to her, "I just feel... you are a very good person."
"Is that so?" Jiang Chen smiled, gently placing her leg back into the quilt, then meticulously tucked in the corner of the blanket. "Sister Man, your screaming earlier was also quite good; the next compartment probably thought I was slaughtering a pig."
"Go to hell!" Chen Man laughed through her tears and weakly kicked out, but Jiang Chen easily dodged it.
The atmosphere quickly became relaxed again.
Jiang Chen jumped down from the upper bunk, stumbling slightly upon landing.
This was not just physical labor; it was also a test of willpower.
The posture just now, the tactile sensation, coupled with Chen Man's misleading sounds... He was a normal twenty-two-year-old man; it would be a lie to say he wasn't affected.
He turned his back to adjust his clothes, using this to conceal certain physical changes.
This scene happened to fall into the eyes of Lin Wan on the opposite lower bunk.
She hadn't spoken much, merely watching silently.
Watching Jiang Chen massage Su Qingge's back, watching Jiang Chen relieve Chen Man's cramp.
Watching the sweat on his forehead, watching the bulging veins on his arms due to exertion, and his slightly awkward silhouette now.
Lin Wan unconsciously rubbed the diamond ring on her ring finger.
It was the one her husband had put on her when they married five years ago. At the time, he said he would take care of her for a lifetime.
But over these five years, whenever she was sick or uncomfortable, all she ever received was a cold "Drink more hot water" or a bank transfer.
There had never been a pair of warm hands like this, reaching out without hesitation when she needed them.
"Little Jiang," Lin Wan suddenly spoke.
Her voice was very soft, carrying a barely perceptible tremor.
Jiang Chen turned around: "What is it, Sister Wan?"
Lin Wan looked at him, a faint blush coloring her cheeks at some unknown time. She pointed to the empty thermos on the table: "The water got cold, I'll go pour it out."
"No need, I'll go," Jiang Chen was about to reach out.
"I'll go," Lin Wan insisted. She stood up, and as she passed by Jiang Chen, her footing seemed slightly unsteady, and her body swayed a little.
Jiang Chen instinctively reached out to steady her arm.
Through the gray cotton loungewear, the arm felt incredibly soft.
Lin Wan didn't pull away immediately.
She looked up. Her eyes, usually gentle as still water, now seemed to hide a ball of fire, or perhaps an entire ocean.
"Thank you,"
She murmured. But the emotion contained within those two words made Jiang Chen's heart skip a beat.
That look... something was off.