Chapter 43 Chapter 43: How About I Massage It for You?
Back in the same restroom, Su Yuan found herself returning after only a few minutes. This time, however, she was far less willing.
Their eyes met. Lan Qiuzhu, embarrassed, asked, “Um… are you alright?”
Su Yuan grunted. Alright? My backside feels shattered. It still hurts.
Seeing her silence, Lan Qiuzhu tried to apologize. She knew the fall had been harsh. Regret stirred—why had she taken the sparring so seriously against a younger girl.
Lan Qiuzhu came from a martial arts family, trained since childhood. Though her parents had abandoned martial arts for business and teaching, she had secretly learned from her grandfather and brother. Even as she grew into a beautiful young woman, the foundation remained.
Moments ago, Su Yuan’s fluid attack had awakened her old instincts.
“How about I massage it for you.” Lan Qiuzhu thought she had found a solution.
“No!” Su Yuan dodged quickly.
Lan Qiuzhu misread her reaction as shyness. “Don’t be afraid. Let me help. I’m Lan Qiuzhu. It was a misunderstanding—I didn’t mean to make you fall.”
But she kept insisting on massaging Su Yuan’s sore backside. Su Yuan, blushing and annoyed, said, “No need. I believe you didn’t mean it.” She admitted her own recklessness had played a part.
“Still, you fell hard. Are you sure you’re fine?”
“I’m fine.”
“Does it still hurt?”
“A little.”
“Then let me massage it.”
The question circled back. Su Yuan rolled her eyes. “How persistent are you.”
Lan Qiuzhu smiled. “I just don’t want you injured. That must have hurt.”
“Of course it did.” Su Yuan scowled.
Falling flat on hard marble was agony. No wonder tears had come.
Lan Qiuzhu sighed. “It was my fault. Should I take you for an X‑ray?”
Su Yuan shook her head. “No need. It’s just pain, nothing serious.”
“Then let me treat you to a meal.”
“No.” Though tempted by free food with a beauty, Su Yuan’s instincts warned her. Lan Qiuzhu’s approach was too purposeful.
“Too bad.” Lan Qiuzhu sighed, finding her junior ever more adorable.
“What’s your name, anyway.”
“You don’t know me?” Su Yuan was surprised.
“Why should I? Are you famous here?”
Su Yuan realized her mistake. She had assumed everyone knew her scandalous reputation. But in truth, only a small circle—the Xiao Yiyan fans—paid attention.
Relief washed over her. I’m not as notorious as I thought.
Her confidence returned. She smiled. “I’m Su Yuan. Su from Su Dongpo, Yuan from origin. Second‑year.”
“Su Yuan? Strange name for a girl.”
Su Yuan froze. She realized Lan Qiuzhu thought she was female. No wonder she had offered to massage her. Between two girls, it seemed harmless.
Lan Qiuzhu laughed. “I’ll just call you Su Su.”
Su Yuan nodded awkwardly, avoiding explanations.
“Oh, I nearly forgot. Here.” Lan Qiuzhu handed her a stack of application forms.
“Anime club?” Su Yuan blinked.
“Yes. I’m the president. I wanted to invite you. Sorry for the misunderstanding earlier.”
Su Yuan blushed. She had misjudged her intentions.
But Lan Qiuzhu as anime club president was unexpected. She looked more like a martial arts leader.
“Take these forms. If you know good candidates, send them my way.”
Su Yuan accepted, then said goodbye. She had no intention of joining. Better to avoid risk.
Walking past a lab building, she spotted a woman in a white coat.
“Summer Jie, what are you doing here.” Su Yuan ran over, smiling.
Xia Linfei patted her head affectionately. “I’m a graduate student here, doing experiments.”
Su Yuan nodded, seeing her carry reagents. “Let me help.”
She felt natural warmth with Xia Linfei, unlike the hostility with Lu Wei. With Linfei, it was as if they had known each other for years.
Su Yuan admired her wildness, softened by gentle elegance.
“Su Yuan, what happened to your walk. Did you hurt your backside.”
“I didn’t want to. It still hurts.” Su Yuan explained the library incident.
Linfei chuckled. “Don’t blame her entirely. If she weren’t skilled, you might have been the one thrown.”
Su Yuan nodded.
The lab building was state‑of‑the‑art, filled with advanced equipment for biochemical research. Many graduate students worked there.
“Summer Jie, your field is molecular biochemistry, right.” Passing through locked gates and glass doors, Su Yuan’s mind sparked.
“Yes. Why.”
“What exactly is molecular biochemistry.”
Linfei smiled. “It’s just biology at the molecular level. You study biology, so you know. It focuses on molecules.”
“Like DNA and genes, modification and analysis.”
She nodded. “That’s genetic engineering. Molecular biochemistry and genetic engineering are similar, just different emphasis.”
Su Yuan’s eyes lit up. “So you can check chromosomes too?”
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts!