More than ten minutes passed, and the soreness gradually weakened, replaced by an indescribable relaxation and comfort.
Aria subconsciously narrowed her eyes, feeling so comfortable that her legs became weak and couldn't muster any strength. The hand she was holding also unconsciously relaxed.
Ryder raised his eyebrow bones, sized her up for a while, looking at her like a cat, seemingly thinking about where to start rubbing to make her reveal her soft belly and mew softly.
He asked, "Doesn't it hurt anymore?"
Aria looked at him and obediently nodded.
It doesn't hurt anymore.
It's also very comfortable.
"Then enjoy it well," Ryder chuckled in a muffled and lazy voice, "There will still be pain for you later. Don't cry."
Aria didn't feel the pain, and her attention began to wander, delicately landing on the boy crouching in front of her.
He was still wearing all black today.
A loose black T-shirt, paired with sporty pants, dressed very casually, and not from any brand name. But no matter what he wore, he would stand out more than others.
Whether it was his appearance or his temperament.
He always had an indescribable unrestrained air, like the wind. It seemed that no one could keep him. As soon as he fell into the fingertips, he would run away.
Aria stared at his fine eyelashes. Every time his palm rubbed on her knee, those eyelashes would tremble along, fragile and gentle.
At this moment, Aria was in a trance, feeling that at this moment, this boy kneeling on one knee in front of her belonged to her.
His technique was really proficient.
It seemed that he had rubbed for others countless times. There was no greenness when he started, and he was lazy and noble. He shouldn't do this for others.
Another ten minutes passed. Ryder put down her trouser leg, rolled up the other trouser leg, and paused for a few seconds.
He raised his eyes to look at her and didn't speak.
Aria knew that this was telling her to be prepared.
She took a silent breath and nodded.
Ryder curved his lips, and a shallow smile floated in his eyes. He held her knee and his eyes paused for a moment.
The little girl's skin was smooth and astonishingly fair. She didn't know what she ate to be like this. There wasn't even a pore. Compared to a boy's leg, it was a world of difference.
Ryder didn't say that when he started, he had actually deliberately restrained his strength by seven or eight points, but still made her cry from the pain.
He was a little afraid to start.
"If it hurts, hold onto me." He handed his hand to Aria.
Aria paused for a moment, gently held his index finger, and said "Um", quiet and soft, so obedient that one couldn't say anything.
Ryder burst out laughing.
Perhaps it was because she had gotten used to the unbearable soreness when rubbing the first leg. This time, her pain tolerance had significantly improved.
She could even spare her mind to chat with Ryder.
However, in her gentle and soft voice, there was an imperceptible tremor, and the ending was elongated, which sounded like coquetry instead.
"Ryder." She called him.
The boy lifted his eyelids, indicating for her to speak, "Um, does it hurt?"
"No."
She hesitated for a moment and asked, "Did you learn this before?" She paused, "It seems very proficient."
"Sort of."
He chuckled, "The instructors trained us even more severely. When it hurt too much, I rubbed it myself and gradually figured out the tricks."
"Oh." Aria said. She distracted herself from the pain and was somewhat absent-minded. "Then have you rubbed for others too?"
She didn't realize that she had unconsciously asked the question in her heart.
Ryder raised his eyes.
The little girl was looking at the playground.
Completely not realizing that this question was a bit over the line.
He lowered his eyebrows and eyes, casually, "No. Just you."
"Um?"
"Others don't have this treatment."
Aria came to her senses and belatedly realized what she had just asked. Her heart was beating so hard that her chest felt dull. For a long time, she couldn't think of how to respond.
She pursed her lips and simply fell silent.
Ryder seemed not to take it to heart either. Neither of them spoke anymore, and the training sounds on the playground kept echoing.
Until it ended, he released the little girl's leg, but saw no movement from her. When he looked up, he found that the little girl had closed her eyes, her eyelashes gently pressed down, and she had fallen asleep holding his hand.
He paused for a moment.
Slowly and gently, he put down her trouser leg with one hand.
The fair legs were completely covered.
He had maintained one position for too long. Only when he moved now did he realize that his body was stiff and numb. He remained quiet for a while.
He raised his hand and carefully touched the little girl's face. It was warm and soft, and a smile crossed his eyes.
It was a kind of astonishing and passionate halo.
He touched the little girl's eyelashes again. His fingertips felt itchy. He quietly withdrew his hand and slowly sat back on the chair.
The hand that was being held moved.
Before it could be pulled back, it was unconsciously held tightly by the person in her sleep. She made a soft humming sound, and her eyelashes seemed to tremble.
Ryder immediately stopped moving.
The little girl rubbed her face against her hand and fell asleep again.
He curved his lips and smiled.
Like a child.
The sun slowly moved westward until it was mostly covered by the evening glow in the sky, depicting a rich and colorful ink-wash painting. The playground became quiet, and each class sat on the ground to rest.
Some hugged their knees and slept, some secretly played with their mobile phones, tilted their heads and whispered to each other, joking with the instructor.
The mobile phone on the table kept lighting up and up.
The screen was a simple black and white half-and-half picture. The large time was hanging on the upper left, and looking down were several messages.
4:03
「Ryan」: Boss, where are you?
「Ryan」: I saw that several girls from other classes have gone back. Should your punishment be almost over??
4:30
「Ryan」: Did you hide the girls in our class?
5:10
「Ryan」: You son of a bitch!
「Ryan」: Just now during the intermission, I passed by the playground and saw with my own eyes that you made the face of the little girl in my class turn red from teasing! Do you have ulterior motives??
「Ryan」: Let go of your devilish claws!!
6:20
「Ryan」: Okay, you have guts :)
Ryder glanced at the screen with drooping eyelids, expressionlessly turned off the screen, and picked up the whistle thrown aside.
He lowered his eyes, and his gaze landed on the girl who was sleeping with a slightly red face.
Five more minutes passed.
He sighed lightly, rescued his hand from the little girl's embrace, casually moved it a few times, held the whistle in his mouth, and placed both hands on the sides of the little girl's ears, covering them.
The next second.
The sharp whistle suddenly blew, resounding throughout the entire playground.
Accompanied by the commands to stand up one after another, everyone stood up quickly as ordered and stood straight in line according to the team.
The skin covered under his hands moved gently, rubbing against his palm, warm and hot.
The continuous whistle suddenly stopped for a moment.
After a one-second pause, it continued. Ryder slightly lowered his eyelashes, and the expression in his dark eyes, which were hard to discern, slightly concentrated.
His fingers, imperceptibly moved a little.
Even though her ears were covered, the sharp sound still couldn't be blocked and drilled into her ears. Aria's eyelashes trembled, and her consciousness gradually returned. She opened her eyes drowsily.
Sensing the warm touch by her ears, she tilted her head, half-opened her eyes, and unconsciously hummed softly, "... Um?"