My Husband's Eyes Have Been Looking Different Lately After Our Marriage of Convenience - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Who the Hell Wants You to Rub It?

Li Shang suggested playing beach volleyball.

Wang Ruijing didn’t have time to process that “warning,” nor did he have time to fire back a spine-stiffening retort. Under the watchful eyes of the other two, he was forced to end that friction-filled exchange.

Beach volleyball: teams of two, one team per side. There was already a net set up, but someone had to go back to the hotel to get the ball.

Li Shang was about to go, but unexpectedly, Wang Ruijing volunteered. “I’ll go get it.”

Usually, this kind of errand fell to Li Shang or Song Ai since they were the fastest. Li Shang didn’t think much of it and simply called out, “Run fast, it’ll be too dark to play soon!”

“Mhm.”

Wang Ruijing was quick to agree, but the ten-minute round trip took him fifteen. When Li Shang took the ball, he teased him about being “weak,” earning himself a punch in the shoulder.

“Quick, quick, let’s split into groups.” Li Shang rubbed his shoulder, about to nominate himself: “I want to be with Ai—”

However, the person among them who looked the most athletic suddenly spoke up:

“I don’t know how to play.”

Li Shang was dumbfounded.

Song Ai stared for two seconds. “You don’t know how?”

Lu Tingyun gave a flat “Mhm” and suggested, “How about you teach me first before we play?”

Song Ai: “…”

Li Shang had been craving a game for ages. He looked at Song Ai with eyes pleading, My chances of playing beach volleyball today rest entirely on you, Ai-ge!

Lu Tingyun was quite calm about it. “It’s fine. If you think I’m unteachable, it doesn’t matter. I can ask Assistant Zhang to—”

Before he could finish, Song Ai took the volleyball with a stony face.

“Get over here.”

Volleyball is easy to learn and easy to teach. Once you master the “bump” and the “set,” you can get into it quickly. Song Ai led Lu Tingyun to the side, tossed him the ball, and started with the basic forearm pass.

“Watch my posture.”

As he spoke, the youth opened his palms, stacked them, and closed them into a fist. His slender, snow-white arms aligned; his shoulders were slightly hunched. Power and flexibility coexisted in his frame; his upper body looked like a leopard crouching, full of tension and ready to strike.

Lu Tingyun stared for two seconds and felt a physical reaction. However, under Song Ai’s stern gaze, he followed the instructions honestly.

“Wrong.” Song Ai reached out and slapped his arm. “Don’t lock your elbows completely here. Keep a natural curve, or you’ll break a bone the second you try to receive a real serve.”

His tone was impatient, but Lu Tingyun couldn’t help but curve his lips. He replied obediently, “Understood, Teacher Song.”

Song Ai seemingly thought of something; a faint blush touched his cheeks, but his tone remained cold. “Shut up.”

Lu Tingyun was relentless. “Yes, Teacher Song.”

Song Ai: “…”

Watching from afar, Li Shang couldn’t help but click his tongue.

“I always used to think Ai-ge was the big, tough, cool one. How come when he stands next to Lu Tingyun… he looks like a little shrimp? The size difference between them is insane!”

Wang Ruijing twitched his lips but didn’t respond.

That didn’t stop Li Shang from muttering to himself, “Hey, it’s weird. Since when did they get so close? Or do they always act like this? I feel like they’re actually… kind of sweet…”

Wang Ruijing: “…”

Just as Wang Ruijing was debating whether to interrupt Li Shang, a voice rang out behind them—

“Holy crap! It really is Tingyun!”

The two turned around. Wang Ruijing’s eyes met those of Lin Zhiyuan, who was walking toward them. Lin Zhiyuan raised a hand. “Long time no see.”

Wang Ruijing nodded back. Li Shang looked confused.

Walking alongside Lin Zhiyuan was Xu Wen from the last party. He yelled out: “Tingyun!”

Song Ai had just taught Lu Tingyun his first toss. Hearing the shout, they both looked over simultaneously. The ball fell straight onto the sand.

Xu Wen laughed heartily. “Hahaha, I didn’t expect to run into you here! What a coincidence! Tingyun, how do you have time to come out and play? You didn’t even have time for our graduation trip back then.”

Lu Tingyun glanced at Song Ai and said concisely, “Business trip.”

Lin Zhiyuan’s eyes curved. He said with a hint of pride, “I knew you were here for work. Your ambition is exactly the same as it used to be.”

“Fair enough!” Xu Wen rubbed the back of his head. “Comparing people is just depressing. No wonder Zhiyuan always compares us to you; we have no chance of winning.”

Lu Tingyun didn’t respond further.

Xu Wen noticed the volleyball on the ground and said with interest, “Oh, you were playing volleyball? Mind if two more join? We happen to be free.”

Li Shang looked around and noticed everyone’s expressions weren’t great, especially Song Ai and Lu Tingyun. He was about to decline when Old Wang spoke up first: “Sure, volleyball is more fun with more people.”

“Really? That’s great! I get to play with Tingyun again.” Lin Zhiyuan was overjoyed. “You have no idea, the last time I played with him was in the university tennis club.”

“Tingyun’s tennis is indeed great. Back then, he led us to the university league championship… I really miss those days!”

As Xu Wen reminisced, he walked over to pick up the ball and suggested, “Let’s split into groups then? Six people, three on three… how about a ‘friends’ game? Me, Zhiyuan, and Tingyun on one side, and you three on the other?”

Lu Tingyun frowned and was about to speak, but Song Ai cut him off coldly: “Fine.”

With that, he walked to the other side of the net. Lu Tingyun pursed his lips, his frown deepening.

…

The groups were set—

Left Side: Xu Wen in the middle, Lu Tingyun near the ocean, Lin Zhiyuan near the hotel.

Right Side: Li Shang in the middle, Song Ai near the ocean, Wang Ruijing near the hotel.

Li Shang raised his arms to serve, but Song Ai suddenly called out, “Old Wang, swap places with me.”

Wang Ruijing didn’t understand why, but he agreed. They swapped.

Thwack! A loud sound marked the start of the game.

Li Shang was strong and threw the ball far but centered. Xu Wen received the first ball and sent it back, but it was a bit off, caught low by Wang Ruijing. Wang Ruijing tossed it back toward the middle, and the second ball flew toward Lu Tingyun.

The toss was light and close; logically, it should have been sent back to Wang Ruijing or Li Shang. However, the moment the ball left Lu Tingyun’s arms, it flew out in a jagged curve and landed squarely in Song Ai’s hands.

It was completely unexpected. Song Ai instinctively caught it but forgot to throw it back, standing there in a daze.

Li Shang’s mouth formed an “O” shape. “Ai-ge, are you catching a bridal bouquet or something?”

Song Ai: “…”

He looked at Lu Tingyun in confusion, only to find the man staring at him intensely.

Freak. He ignored him and served again.

The ball flew out, and the next second—BAM!—it hit Lin Zhiyuan squarely in the shoulder. Lin Zhiyuan collapsed onto the sand, his expression twisting in pain.

The accident was so sudden that everyone froze. Xu Wen reacted first, rushing over to help. “Crap! Are you okay?”

Lin Zhiyuan coughed, looking pained, but shook his head. “I’m fine. Song Ai definitely didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t blame him.”

Hearing this, everyone looked silently at Song Ai. Because it happened so fast, he was still out of it. His face was expressionless, like a detached bystander, but Lin Zhiyuan’s words clearly implied he was the “perpetrator.”

Xu Wen sounded resentful. “It’s just a game. Was there a need for that much force?”

Before Song Ai could speak, Li Shang snapped back: “That’s how you play volleyball! Who told him not to pay attention? He didn’t even dodge such a straight ball—”

Wang Ruijing nudged him with his elbow, signaling him to stop. Even if it wasn’t Song Ai’s fault, they didn’t have the moral high ground here; being aggressive would only make things uglier.

Song Ai finally snapped out of it. He looked at Lin Zhiyuan clutching his shoulder. After a long pause, he said, “I didn’t use force.”

He had only used a normal serving strength. It shouldn’t have been enough to knock a grown man down. Either Lin Zhiyuan was weak and lost his footing, or he was faking it.

Xu Wen thought he was just being stubborn. “You—”

Before he could finish, Lu Tingyun interrupted: “Xu Wen, take Lin Zhiyuan back first.”

Among them, Lu Tingyun clearly held the most weight with Xu Wen. After a moment of silence, Xu Wen snorted, helped Lin Zhiyuan up, and left.

Lin Zhiyuan bit his lip, looking like he was enduring great pain, but still urged, “Tingyun, I’m fine. Please don’t argue on my account.”

Lu Tingyun glanced at him sideways and said flatly, “Don’t worry. We won’t.”

Lin Zhiyuan: “…”

With two people gone, the rest lost the heart to play. Wang Ruijing patted Song Ai’s shoulder. “Don’t let two idiots get to you. It looks like it’s going to rain; let’s head back.”

Song Ai said nothing and walked away. Li Shang followed quickly. Wang Ruijing gave Lu Tingyun a long, meaningful look before following as well.

…

Back at the hotel, Wang Ruijing suggested getting food. Song Ai had no appetite. Despite their persuasion, he stepped into the elevator alone.

As the doors closed, Song Ai checked for return flights. The earliest he could get was the day after tomorrow—their original scheduled return.

Song Ai clicked his screen off in frustration. He saw his own frowning face reflected in the elevator doors. He had been so happy when he arrived.

What the hell am I so annoyed about?

Is it because I was framed? Is it because I ran into Lu Tingyun’s first love? Is it because his first love played sports with him in university?

…Crap. I’m so annoyed.

Tortured by this strange emotion, Song Ai pushed his door open and collapsed onto the bed. He habitually turned to look at the ceiling, but seeing his “bitter gourd” face in the mirror made him even angrier. He grabbed a pillow and covered his face.

The doorbell rang. What little sleepiness he had vanished. He clicked his tongue, dragged his slippers to the door, and looked through the peephole. He saw Lu Tingyun’s magnified head.

He’s up here already? Doesn’t he need to take care of his first love?

Song Ai didn’t open the door. He stood behind it and said sarcastically, “Doesn’t President Lu have a great memory? Did you forget the passcode already?”

The lock clicked open.

Lu Tingyun walked in carrying a bottle of medicinal oil. “I thought you didn’t want me to come in.”

Song Ai ignored him and curled up on the sofa. Lu Tingyun insisted on following him, sitting on the coffee table in front of him. He opened the bottle. “Your arm is a bit bruised. I’ll rub it for you.”

Song Ai turned his head away. “Who the hell wants you to rub it?”

Lu Tingyun let the words go in one ear and out the other. He rubbed the oil between his palms until they were hot, then leaned forward and gently covered his spouse’s snow-white arm.

The oil was cool, but the palm was scorching. The alternating sensation felt good. After a few rubs, Song Ai’s foul mood softened slightly.

“Does it feel good?”

“It’s alright.”

Your eyes are closed in relief, and you say it’s just ‘alright.’ Lu Tingyun didn’t call him out. “You didn’t use force earlier?”

Song Ai knew he was talking about the ball. He gave a lazy “Mhm.” No evidence, no explanation of motives. Believe it or don’t.

He expected Lu Tingyun to press him. Instead, the man asked, “Why didn’t you use more force?”

“…?”

Song Ai opened his eyes, his gaze questioning.

Lu Tingyun looked down, saying calmly, “I don’t like Lin Zhiyuan either. That shot was good, just too light.”

Song Ai’s face was full of confusion. “But isn’t he your first love?”

Was this a “White Moonlight” turned “Stale Rice” drama? Even if they broke up, there was no need to kick a man when he was down.

Lu Tingyun’s hands paused. He looked up and asked a question Song Ai never expected:

“You think he is my first love?”

“…”

“…………”

The brief silence provided the answer.

Dammit. It was all a misunderstanding!

Song Ai felt a strange sense of relief, but he didn’t know why. Realizing his face felt hot, he guiltily looked away.

Lu Tingyun stared at his reddening cheeks, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“So… were you jealous just now?”