Chapter 13

"I... I..." Song Xiamin felt embarrassed and wronged. In fact, her foot had been twisted when she was abducted by human traffickers before. It didn't hurt much at the time, so she didn't pay much attention to it. Today, she dressed up carefully for the visit, wearing high heels. The stairs in this old neighborhood were steep and narrow, with many items piled up in the corridor. She never expected to take a big tumble. It was embarrassing enough to fall, let alone be seen by Mr. Zu.

"Let me take a look." Zu Mo put the little one in the child seat and squatted down to check Song Xiamin's feet.

"Your right foot is sprained, and it's starting to swell... Does it hurt?"

"Yeah, it hurts..."

"Just bear with it for a moment." Zu Mo took off her high heels, supporting her foot with one hand while gently massaging the swollen ankle with the other.

One had to admit, stockings and women's beautiful legs and feet were a perfect match.

Just like what was in front of him:

The nude crystal stockings wrapped around Song Xiamin's symmetrical and slender legs and her delicate feet, giving off a translucent, charming, and smooth appearance.

The transparent ultra-thin fibers covered the plump instep, reflecting a faint and wonderful luster. The slender calves had clear and light lines, while the naturally formed arches on the soles of her feet were extremely soft and charming, emitting a subtle and sexy charm.

She was an absolute beauty...

Under the transparent crystal stockings, her legs were straight, long, and perfectly proportioned, with firm thighs and slender calves. They were neither too thick nor too thin, devoid of any excess fat or visible muscle. This symmetry was the epitome of beauty. Beneath the transparent crystal stockings, her toes looked round and smooth, with bright blue nail polish adorning her toenails. Combined with her hydrated skin, soft heels, and slender arches, each aspect was impeccable.

The slightly swollen and reddened ankle evoked a sense of pity.

The woman sat on the sofa, while the man half squatted in front of it...

If it weren't for the child nearby, the atmosphere in the room could be described as quite ambiguous and romantic...

Suddenly, Zu Mo asked, "Um... Can I call you 'Xiamin'?"

Song Xiamin was taken aback and said, "Um... sure. I was actually going to tell you that calling me 'Teacher Song' sounds a bit... awkward."

However, Zu Mo changed the subject and asked, "A Xiamin, do you have a boyfriend?"

Song Xiamin replied, "Yes... but our relationship isn't good. We're about to break up..."

Zu Mo said, "Then let's break up, and after that, I'll be your boyfriend, okay?"

"Huh? Ah—"

Song Xiamin's first "Ah" was a question, but the second one turned into a scream because Zu Mo suddenly exerted force and pinched her ankle!

The girl's scream startled the little one next to her.

She really jumped in her child seat.

Then she blinked her big, dark eyes, looking at her dad and Aunt Xiamin, not understanding what they were doing.

Song Xiamin's eyes filled with tears from the pain, looking like a pear blossom in the rain. The other high heel on her foot also fell off with a "clatter," revealing the same crystal-clear and charming foot.

Gritting her teeth and biting her lip, she couldn't help but scold, "What the hell are you doing?"

Zu Mo let out a long breath and said, "Alright, I've already corrected your dislocated ankle... Next, let me apply some medicine to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. This won't hurt, so don't worry."

With that, he took out a bottle of reddish oil from the cabinet and asked Song Xiamin to take off her socks.

Song Xiamin hesitated a bit. "No... it's okay, really..."

Here is my translation of the passage:

Zu Mo said sternly, as if scolding a child, "This isn't a matter of whether you want to or not. If you don't treat a muscle or bone injury early, it could lead to lasting complications. You'll be the one suffering, often spraining your ankle in the future." 

Though Song Xiamin felt wronged, she also understood his good intentions. "Then...then turn around, don't peek..."

Zu Mo turned around as told and played with the little guy. From behind, he heard rustling sounds, it seemed she was having trouble removing her thigh-high stockings.

The human mind is strange - the more you're told not to think about something, the more you end up thinking about it. Now Zu Mo's mind conjured up the image of Song Xiamin taking off her stockings, lifting her skirt, her plump thighs tightly encased in sheer nude crystal stockings down to the roots, the elastic stocking tops slightly digging into her flesh. Then using her hands to pull the stockings down, past her knees, past her calves, past her ankles, revealing smooth jade-like legs and tender bare feet...

After who knows how long, she said she was done from behind. Zu Mo turned back around, and Song Xiamin's bare legs and feet were indeed alluring, giving off a tender, dewy, youthfully smooth jade-like quality.

She had taken off the stockings from both legs, though for some reason, perhaps it didn't feel right wearing just one, she removed them completely.

Zu Mo focused his mind, bending down again and pouring some safflower oil into his palms. He rubbed them together to warm the oil slightly, then cupped his hands around Song Xiamin's right ankle, rhythmically kneading and allowing the medicinal oil to absorb into the muscles, tendons, joints, bones, meridians and blood vessels through the massaging.

Seeing the man seriously cradling and massaging her bare right foot, Song Xiamin spaced out for a moment, her mind wandering. 

After kneading until the oil absorbed fully, Zu Mo took a deep breath, "Okay, done." 

As he looked up, he saw Song Xiamin's flushed face, her beautiful gentle eyes gazing at him with tender affection. Zu Mo's heart skipped a beat as he hurriedly stood up to wash his hands.

Coming out of the washroom, he said, "Miss Song, your foot is completely fine now. But for the next couple days, avoid strenuous exercise and limit wearing high heels. It's best to wear flats or sneakers."

Song Xiamin sat there somewhat glumly, muttering, "Weren't you just calling me 'Xiamin' earlier? How come it's 'Miss Song' again now?"

Recalling the earlier scene, Zu Mo felt awkward, scratching his head and stammering, "That...Song...Xiamin, earlier I said three things to you. The first, since you don't mind, then consider it done - I'll call you 'Xiamin' in private from now on. But the third thing, please allow me to take it back. I didn't mean to damage the relationship between you and your boyfriend. I only said that to divert your attention and reduce your pain during the bone-setting process...If I caused you any distress, I sincerely apologize."

Despite the awkwardness, he had to clarify, after all his "little lover" was right there, and he also had someone he deeply loved in his heart.

Actually, after entering society, Song Xiamin was no longer as naive and innocent as she was in her student days. She could distinguish between a man's true feelings and false pretenses, and she understood that what Zu Mo said was all true. Men like him, who were so open and honest, were rare to come by nowadays. If it were someone else, they would likely choose to be ambiguous or even act on their words. However, upon hearing the truth and honesty, she felt a bit angry and a bit lost.

She lowered her head in silence.

Zu Mo really couldn't guess a woman's heart, feeling the situation was extremely awkward.

He scratched his head and asked the little one, "Yuzu, did Daddy... say something wrong?"

He didn't really expect anyone to answer; he was just speaking to himself. But the little one just smiled with narrowed eyes, not understanding what they were doing.

Finally, Song Xiamin spoke up, "I didn't expect Mr. Yu to not only cook but also know how to treat injuries..."

Zu Mo scratched his head and said, "Just a little... little knowledge..."

He was being modest. Having lived for six hundred years in his previous life, fought countless battles, and seen countless injuries, Song Xiamin's minor injury was nothing.

Song Xiamin put on her shoes, took a few steps, and said, "My foot is really better now... Mr. Yu, thank you. Then I'll leave first. Yuzu, goodbye."

Waving to the little one, the girl turned and left.

Zu Mo was a bit stunned, not sure what to say. He felt her attitude had changed slightly, becoming slightly more distant.

...

The next two days, Zu Mo persisted in exercising to enhance his life force, and he also did some simple training with his daughter within her capacity. Then, eating well was essential. They ate meat at almost every meal, with the meat containing extracts from herbs, and even added essence to the bathwater.

Zu Mo wanted to improve his daughter's physique from a young age, ensuring she wouldn't be troubled by common illnesses, avoiding injections and medicines, gradually elevating her life level, and preparing her for the arrival of the High Martial Era and the Galactic Era.

One afternoon, Zu Mo took the little one out. He didn't have to cook today because someone else was treating.

Year Ring Restaurant was a mid-range restaurant in Beijing City, specializing in local home-cooked dishes, with a nice environment and delicious food.

Zu Mo arrived at the restaurant's entrance and made a call. Shortly after, a person came out to greet him warmly.

The person was tall and stout, with a smiling face, resembling a Maitreya Buddha.

His name was Min Sang, Zu Mo's classmate, best friend, and former dormitory leader during college. They had the best relationship in college, and he was one of the few classmates Zu Mo still kept in touch with after graduation.

"Hey, Lao San, long time no see!"

Looking at Min Sang, Zu Mo couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic. It felt like it had been centuries since he heard that nickname.

Zu Mo ranked third in their college dormitory, so his roommates called him "Lao San" (Third Elder Brother).

"Boss, I feel like... it's been centuries since I last saw you." Zu Mo also smiled.

"Are you mocking me? It's not the same as being in school after graduation. Everyone's busy, and it's not easy for me to organize a gathering, you know?" Min Sang didn't know if Zu Mo was telling the truth or just using exaggerated rhetoric to indirectly criticize his incompetence as the dormitory leader and boss.

"Hey, who's this?" At that moment, Min Sang noticed the little one in Zu Mo's arms and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Come on, Yu Yu, say hello to Uncle. This is Uncle Min," Zu Mo said to the little one.

"Uncle..." the little one exclaimed, her baby voice sounding incredibly cute.

Min Sang stood still in disbelief. "This... this is your daughter?"

"Yeah, my daughter, Zu Mo," Zu Mo said with a smile.

"What? Really your daughter? When you mentioned two people on the phone earlier, I thought it was you and your girlfriend. I didn't expect you to bring your daughter along. You've completely baffled me..." Min Sang still found it unbelievable. "Your daughter, how... how old is she now?"