Want to Touch?

"This sweet and sour pork ribs are so delicious, Uncle!" Shen Zhuo said, immediately reaching for another piece.

Shen Can smiled and told him to eat more if he liked them, then asked Huo Huan how they tasted.

Naturally, Huo Huan said they were delicious, because he genuinely thought so. This was the best meal he had ever eaten.

Huo Xi was equally generous with his praise, saying they were delicious. Seeing that everyone liked the food, Shen Can's lips curled up. "Of course. Who do you think picked this place?"

After saying that, Shen Can began eating in earnest as well. When everyone headed out after the meal, Huo Xi spoke up at the right moment. "It's still early. How about we find somewhere else to hang out for a while?"

Shen Can had actually been thinking the same thing. Seeing how happy Huo Huan looked, he had wanted to suggest finding somewhere to spend the afternoon.

But he did not know whether Huo Xi had anything to do that afternoon, or whether Huo Huan had any study assignments. After all, wasn't he going to attend A City No. 1 Elementary School?

Now that Huo Xi had brought it up, Shen Can naturally would not refuse. Shen Zhuo and Huo Huan were happy too, so they certainly would not object.

"I know of a rather famous swimming pool. Let's go there. The weather's hot anyway, and they can learn how to swim."

Shen Can immediately said, "My sister-in-law was just planning to have Xiao Zhuo learn swimming." Besides, swimming pools were pretty fun, and he wanted to go too.

"Can Xiao Huan swim?" Shen Can naturally would not forget Huo Huan. How should he put it? Being constantly overlooked in a group activity was actually a painful thing.

"I can swim. I learned in a river back in the countryside," Huo Huan answered truthfully, then immediately felt that perhaps he should not have said that. What if they thought countryside rivers were dirty?

Shen Can clapped for Huo Huan a few times. "Then you're amazing. There are fish and shrimp in countryside rivers, right? Can you catch them?"

Huo Huan nodded. Huo Xi added that he could too; whenever the school organized camping trips, he always managed to catch some. Shen Zhuo excitedly declared that he wanted to learn swimming and catch fish afterward too.

The awkwardness Huo Huan had worried about never appeared. The group chatted as they got into the car.

Upon arriving at the swimming pool, Huo Xi found two coaches to accompany Huo Huan and Shen Zhuo. He had them change first, then come out to warm up before getting into the water with them.

When Shen Can came out after changing into swim trunks, he saw Huo Xi. His gaze landed somewhere, and a startled cry rang out in his heart. [Whoa! Huo Xi's future other half is definitely going to be very happy. God, is this something I'm allowed to see?]

Shen Can secretly looked several more times, then defended himself in his heart. [It's not like I meant to look. Mm, it's Huo Xi's fault for wearing such flashy swim trunks. Yes, that's right. It's not because I'm horny.]

[Whoa, muscles. Eight-pack abs right in front of me, oh my god. No, I can't keep looking. I'll seem like I've never seen the world. But I really haven't! Before this, I'd only seen pictures online. Huo Xi is right here in front of me.]

"Want to touch?" Huo Xi's voice rang out in the changing room corridor. Shen Can was startled by his sudden question. "Huh? Touch what? That wouldn't be very appropriate, would it?"

Huo Xi smiled and walked over to Shen Can. "My abs." Anything else was still too soon for their current relationship.

Shen Can thought about it for a moment. In the end, the thought that there was no harm in touching convinced him.

Huo Xi watched Shen Can's hand stroke his abs several times, and only then did he feel that his muscles were actually somewhat useful.

He had trained before only because of the high standards he set for himself. Now, he felt he could add one more reason: to tempt Shen Can.

Reluctantly, Shen Can pulled his hand away. [Now that I've touched them this time, who knows when the next time will be? Sigh, I'll miss them.]

After touching him, Shen Can went out with Huo Xi. The two children were still waiting outside, so they could not delay for too long.

The two of them immediately began warming up after going out and only got into the water once they were done. The children were not far away. The two coaches were teaching Shen Zhuo how to swim while Huo Huan watched from the side.

Seeing people's gazes constantly drifting toward Shen Can, Huo Xi felt that perhaps he should have rented out a pool exclusively. There was actually a way to make that seem less deliberate.

Next time, he would have to book the whole place for an occasion like this. Shen Can really was too attractive.

Shen Can was always complimenting him, but Shen Can himself was also very good-looking. He was 182 centimeters tall, and though he had not deliberately trained his muscles, he still had a lean build. His legs were long and well-shaped, and his waist was slender too.

After finishing another lap, Shen Can looked at Huo Xi and asked, "Why aren't you swimming?"

Huo Xi watched droplets slide from Shen Can's hair, across his stunningly handsome face, then slowly drip from his chin.

"There are too many people," Huo Xi said only after his Adam's apple bobbed.

Shen Can looked around. There really were quite a lot of people, and there would definitely be even more in the afternoon. He did not mind, but Huo Xi was probably not used to this kind of environment.

Before, he had thought the children might like crowded places. But Shen Zhuo was so focused on learning to swim that he had no mind to make friends, and Huo Huan was even less likely to.

"Then let's rent a pool just for ourselves." As soon as Shen Can said it, Huo Xi immediately had someone arrange it.

Shen Can called the two children over, and the four of them went to another pool with the two coaches.

There was no one here, so Huo Xi began swimming freely as well. Shen Can looked over at the children and saw that they were having a good time too. Now, everything was perfect.

Looking ahead, Shen Can said, "Huo... Huo Xi, let's race. I'll chase you."

How had it gone from Brother Huo to not even wanting to call him Huo-ge anymore? Shen Can was briefly annoyed, then thought that it was only a form of address. As long as he felt comfortable saying it, that was enough.

Huo Xi stood up and said yes to Shen Can before diving back into the water.

Not calling him Huo-ge anymore—did that mean Shen Can no longer wanted to see him only as an older brother? He just did not know whether Shen Can himself had noticed the change in his feelings.

Seeing that Huo Xi had agreed, Shen Can immediately dove into the water too and swam toward him.

Shen Can looked at Huo Xi, who was already about to reach his side, then at the long stretch of lane still remaining before the finish.

He decisively swam straight into Huo Xi's lane and hugged him. After the two surfaced together, Shen Can raised his brows. "Caught you."

"Cheating?" Huo Xi smiled as he looked at Shen Can, who was hugging him without letting go.

Shen Can could tell from Huo Xi's tone that he was not angry. "I'm not. You got in the water way earlier than I did."

Huo Xi laughed. Seeing him laugh aloud, Shen Can huffed. "So what if I did cheat?"

If they had kept swimming, with the gap between them, there was no way he could have caught Huo Xi. He had no idea what he had been thinking, suddenly suggesting a race.

At the time, he had watched Huo Xi swimming ahead alone, and the words had slipped out as if by some strange impulse before he followed him. Thinking back on it now, he had truly gone mad.

"So what?" Huo Xi said, then rubbed Shen Can's head. This was the second time Huo Xi had touched Shen Can's head. The difference was that Shen Can was awake today.

Shen Can was dazed at first, then blushed when he realized what had happened. "I'm not a child anymore. Why are you touching my head?"

After saying that, Shen Can dove straight into the water and swam away. Huo Xi swam after him and only spoke when Shen Can surfaced again. "I touched it because I think you're cute."

Afraid that Shen Can would run away in embarrassment again, Huo Xi quickly added, "Let's go swim with Huo Huan and Shen Zhuo for a while."

Shen Can's face was still a little red, but he still said yes. The four of them did not leave the swimming pool until before dinner. The Shen Household had something to do that evening, so they did not have dinner together.

Huo Huan was not in a hurry to invite Shen Can over for dinner. He would be visiting the Shen Household again anyway, so he would have another chance to tell Shen Can. He had truly been happy today, and in the future, he could have another day as happy as this one.