Thirsty Skin - Chapter 21

Chapter 21 – 【Brother Chizhou!】

Zhu Chizhou already had a heart rhythm disorder and just stood there in a daze.

Zeng Xubai ran over from the opposite field, pulled Lin Wan’s arm, and asked in a low voice: “Xiao Wan, how are you feeling?”

Lin Wan came back to his senses and glanced at Zeng Xubai: “I’m fine.”

He glanced at Zhu Chizhou again and said, “Take a break.”

【He smells really good.】

Zhu Chizhou followed them to the sidelines, secretly lifted the collar of his clothes and smelled it, but couldn’t smell anything different.

Xu Pingchuan bought four bottles of mineral water from the vending machine and came over to distribute them. When handing the bottle to Lin Wan, he paused, unscrewed the cap, and then handed it to Lin Wan.

Lin Wan didn’t take it. “I don’t want to drink.”

【We are all men, can you please stop doing this?】

Zhu Chizhou put down the water in his hand, ran to the vending machine to buy four bottles of sports drinks, and gave one bottle to each of them.

Xu Pingchuan saw Lin Wan take Zhu Chizhou’s drink, unscrew the bottle cap and drink it. He smiled awkwardly: “So you like to drink beverages, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Lin Wan didn’t say anything. He tilted his head back and took a few sips. His lips which were wet with the drink sparkled red.

Zhu Chizhou stared at the man for a few seconds, and suddenly found that Xu Pingchuan was also looking at him. His heart suddenly jumped and he shouted, “Brother Xu!”

Xu Pingchuan had no choice but to look away, “What?”

Zhu Chizhou didn’t know why he called out to Xu Pingchuan. He just didn’t like the way Xu Pingchuan stared at Lin Wan, so he could only say, “You play pretty well.”

Just now Xu Pingchuan was suppressed by Zhu Chizhou and couldn’t score a single point. Now when Zhu Chizhou told him that he played well, it sounded just like a mockery.

Xu Pingchuan maintained his composure and said, “You’re also a pretty good player. How about we have a singles match?”

Zhu Chizhou didn’t think too much about it, he held the racket and said, “Okay.”

Lin Wan was feeling a little tired, so he stood on the sidelines and watched with Zeng Xubai.

Zeng Xubai was a person who couldn’t sit still, and he shouted, “I’ll help you keep score!”

There is not much difference in size between these two people. Zhu Chizhou is only about two or three centimeters taller than Xu Pingchuan, but in terms of strength and speed, Zhu Chizhou had an absolute advantage.

However, Xu Pingchuan’s playing style was very varied and he was good at using tactics to confuse his opponents. Lin Wan didn’t think there was anything wrong with it. As long as it was within the scope allowed by the rules, using strategies and techniques could make the game more exciting.

Singles gives players more room to maneuver, which made Xu Pingchuan’s tactics more useful. According to Zeng Xubai, many people in their circle of players couldn’t beat Xu Pingchuan in singles.

Lin Wan was curious whether this varied playing style could still be effective in the face of strength and speed.

In this game, Xu Pingchuan served a short backhand ball that went close to the net, very professional. Lin Wan knew how difficult this kind of ball was to receive, and he would be restrained by the opponent every time he encountered this kind of ball.

But Zhu Chizhou seemed to be very accustomed to this kind of start. His body reacted as if by instinct. He took a step forward with his long legs and flicked the racket. The ball that was about to fall to the ground was pushed back lightly.

The ball was caught very skillfully, just passing over the net and landing at the end of the court in a perfect arc.

The purpose of the backhand short ball was to limit the opponent’s attack and force the opponent to hit a weak ball. Zhu Chizhou obviously hit a ball that was so weak that it was impossible to receive it.

【This is too strong! 】

When Zhu Chizhou looked over, Lin Wan gave him a thumbs up, while Zeng Xubai shouted, “Fuck, that’s awesome!”

Zhu Chizhou smiled and served a high ball to the opponent in a friendly manner.

Xu Pingchuan obviously didn’t want to be friendly. He seized every opportunity to attack Zhu Chizhou’s open space, using fake moves to confuse Zhu Chizhou or suddenly changing direction when hitting the ball, but Zhu Chizhou was able to hit the ball back accurately every time.

Later, Zeng Xubai was too embarrassed to call out the score because Xu Pingchuan lost too much. In the end, Zhu Chizhou beat Xu Pingchuan 21 to 6.

Moreover, Lin Wan could see that among the six points that Zhu Chizhou lost, three were deliberately let go because he did not want to embarrass the opponent.

After a singles match, Xu Pingchuan didn’t look very happy. Later, when playing doubles, he switched to the backcourt and smashed the ball to Lin Wan whenever he had the chance, because Lin Wan was their weakness in doubles.

Who knew that Lin Wan and Zhu Chizhou seemed to have telepathy. Once Lin Wan couldn’t catch the ball, he would run away and let Zhu Chizhou catch it. And Zhu Chizhou was able to catch it every time. Xu Pingchuan’s tactics didn’t work at all.

After playing for more than an hour, Lin Wan’s short-sleeved sports shirt was soaked with sweat, sticking to his well-proportioned waist. He was panting, his eyes sparkling, looking up at Zhu Chizhou with a silly smile.

【It feels so good to hug someone’s thigh! 】

【Brother Chizhou, you are awesome!】

Zhu Chizhou couldn’t help laughing either, and they stood there looking at each other and laughing for several minutes like two fools.

Until he went to take a shower, Zhu Chizhou couldn’t suppress the smile on his face. Every time he thought of Lin Wan calling him “Brother Chizhou” in his heart, he would smile for a while.

Thinking about it once would make him laugh for a while.

If Ji Xun saw him like this, he would definitely call him a moron.

But he just couldn’t help it.

Perhaps feeling embarrassed, Xu Pingchuan left while they were taking a shower.

After taking a shower, Lin Wan changed his clothes in the shower cubicle before coming out.

When he came out, he saw that even Zhu Chizhou had changed his clothes.

Lin Wan: “…”

【Oh, I didn’t see those abdominal muscles. It’s my fault for moving too slowly. 】

Zhu Chizhou was sitting on the sofa packing his bag. He glanced at Lin Wan, then suddenly stood up and lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe the non-existent sweat off his face.

Lin Wan stopped and looked at Zhu Chizhou’s abdominal muscles. Only people who were very familiar with him could see that he was raising his eyebrows.

Zeng Xubai, who was sitting next to him, happened to witness this scene and quickly helped Zhu Chizhou pull down his clothes.

Zhu Chizhou: “?”

Zeng Xubai thought to himself, “I beg you, ancestor, can you, a straight man, please not seduce him?”

“Boys should be careful about their influence when they go out and not lift their clothes casually.” Zeng Xubai was worried.

Zhu Chizhou was confused again: “Ah?”

After the three of them had packed up, they got into Zhu Chizhou’s car. Zeng Xubai wanted to treat them to a barbecue.

Zhu Chizhou was driving and sighed: “Usually I go home directly after working out and just replenish some protein, but you guys eat barbecue after working out?!”

“Why do you think we exercise?” Zeng Xubai said confidently, “Who would exercise if it wasn’t to eat more high-calorie food?”

“What about Mr. Lin?” Zhu Chizhou asked, “Do you also exercise for the sake of eating?”

Lin Wan, who was sitting in the passenger seat, hummed.

【In fact, my skin will feel more comfortable after sweating. 】

Zhu Chizhou agreed in his heart that sweating would indeed make the skin better.

When Zeng Xubai was putting the pork belly on the baking tray, he asked Zhu Chizhou if he had ever participated in professional badminton training before.

Zhu Chizhou said no, it was really the retired uncle who had taught him.

Zeng Xubai couldn’t believe it. What kind of retired old man could be so awesome?!

Zhu Chizhou gave him a detailed description. Zeng Xubai felt something was wrong the more he listened, so he asked him, “Do you know his name?”

Zhu Chizhou said a name.

Zeng Xubai wanted to smack his head off: “You call the former head coach of the national team a retired uncle? Do you know how many world champions he has trained?!”

“I don’t know,” Zhu Chizhou’s eyes were very clear, “He said he used to work in the Sports Bureau. I always thought he was a civil servant.”

Zeng Xubai: “…”

Lin Wan: “…”

Time passed quickly and it was Thursday in a blink of an eye.

Mr. Zhang, Lin Wan and Zhu Chizhou, a group of three, arrived at Chengdu by plane.

At two o’clock in the afternoon, they held a meeting with Secretary Wei and several other government officials in the conference room of the Chengdu Municipal Government Building.

The two parties had exchanged information in the early stage, and Chengdu City had decided that Xinrong Development Co., Ltd. and Gengyan Capital should jointly invest.

At the meeting, only the outline of the cooperation model was set. As for the details, Lin Wan needed to connect with the people in Xinrong Development.

After the meeting, Mr. Zhang went to Secretary Wei’s office alone to reminisce about the past, while Lin Wan and Zhu Chizhou were arranged to rest in a small reception room.

The window was shaded by green trees, and the sunlight leaked through the scattered branches, shining only some bright and dark spots into the room.

Lin Wan was sitting on a low-back wooden sofa by the window, holding a local newspaper in his hand, and wasting time idly.

He was wearing a peak-lapel suit today, with elegant dark blue vertical chalk stripes, and a neat and fitted cut.

Paired with a water blue tie, a silver collar pin was pinned to the shirt collar, which complemented the silver jewel cufflinks on the cuffs.

With a pair of thin-rimmed silver-framed glasses on his nose and his cold and aloof expression, today he is the complete embodiment of “This is Director Lin, keep away from strangers”.

Just now at the meeting, his speech was clearly structured and logically rigorous.

Faced with the sharp questions from senior government officials, he did not show any fear, and always maintained a humble and arrogant attitude to give rational and powerful explanations, which made the Chengdu Municipal Government highly recognize the overall strength and professionalism of Gengyan Capital.

No wonder Mr. Zhang only took him with him when he went out for meetings. Director Lin alone was enough to support Gengyan Capital.

Zhu Chizhou organized the minutes of the meeting on his laptop and sent them to Lin Wan and Mr. Zhang’s email addresses respectively. He looked up and saw that Lin Wan’s sitting posture had changed from leaning to crossing his legs.

The suit pants were a no-break length with clean lines. Because of the sitting posture, the trouser legs were naturally lifted up, revealing the black socks underneath.

Lin Wan was dressed very appropriately, and even in this posture, the length of his socks ensured that his calf skin would not be exposed.

The socks are smooth and shiny, and match the style of the suit very well.

Zhu Chizhou paused for a moment, closed his laptop, and sat down next to Lin Wan.

Lin Wan just glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and continued flipping through the newspaper.

If it were in the past, Zhu Chizhou would not dare to be so presumptuous to Lin Wan, but now he not only dared to go and sit close to Lin Wan, but also dared to reach out and touch Lin Wan’s socks.

“You…” Zhu Chizhou asked as he touched it, “The fabric is so smooth, how come it won’t fall off?”

Lin Wan held up the newspaper and looked at Zhu Chizhou with the eyes of an adult looking at a child.

【You are still too young. 】

Zhu Chizhou: “?”

Lin Wan stretched out his hand, pinched the trouser leg with his index finger and thumb and gently lifted it up to show Zhu Chizhou the black leg ring sock clip inside.

Zhu Chizhou: !!!

He lifted up his trouser leg for a second and then put it down. He took a quick glance and felt his head buzzing.

The black garters with metal buckles create a strong visual impact on Lin Wan’s white calves.

It was obviously a very serious little detail, but it inexplicably made Zhu Chizhou’s cheeks hot and his heart beat faster.

Lin Wan crossed his legs to the other side and looked back at the newspaper.

【There is also a thigh-loop shirt clip of the same color, but I can’t show it to you. 】

Zhu Chizhou lowered his head and saw a very shallow mark, two fingers wide, on the thigh of his trousers.

He had seen Lin Wan’s legs, in the swimming pool and in the hotel room that night.

Not only had he seen it, he had also had those legs wrapped around his waist.

Then Lin Wan told him that he was wearing a garter belt on his thigh under his suit pants!

His heart was beating like thump, thump, thump!

Zhu Chizhou felt that his brain was congested with blood, and his face and ears were burning. He stood up suddenly, turned his back to Lin Wan, and walked out without looking back: “I’m going to the bathroom!”

Lin Wan was still reading the newspaper, his eyelids drooping, with no emotion: “Yeah.”