In the end, Shen Shuangjian still couldn't throw away the white veil, Xie Jinghui moved it to a different position, covering half of Shen Shuangjian's face completely.
A group of several hundred people followed behind. Under the increasingly scorching sun of the desert, Shen Shuangjian slowly advanced through the yellow sand. Occasionally, the wind would whip up sand that would sting Shen Shuangjian's face.
In the desert, once the sun sets, the temperature drops drastically, making it very easy for a group of celebrities with no wilderness survival experience and generally poor physical condition to fall ill.
Before the afternoon sun had even set, the production crew arrived at the safe area they had scouted beforehand and began setting up camp, starting a fire, and pitching tents.
When the camel stopped, Shen Shuangjian's physical condition was already not optimistic.
He felt a little dizzy from the sun. The endless yellow sand not only made him feel dry but also made him feel nauseous after looking at it for a while.
The most painful part is between the legs. The camel walks in the desert with uneven steps, the hard leather and the raised areas rubbing against the same spot repeatedly, and I'm afraid there are already bruises.
When Xie Jinghui helped Shen Shuangjian down, Shen Shuangjian's knees buckled, and she fell heavily into Xie Jinghui's arms.
" Shuangjian--!"
Xie Jinghui knelt down to help him up. Shen Shuangjian was pale, and the inside of her thighs, rubbed by the fabric, ached slightly. She couldn't tell if she was dizzy or just lightheaded.
Shen Shuangjian was completely unaware that his hand was gripping Xie Jinghui's forearm sleeve, while the other's hand was around his waist, and Shen Shuangjian did not even think to resist.
Are you alright? Is anything bothering you?
Xie Jinghui's whispered words rang in her ears, delicate and gentle. Around her, others hurriedly gathered, casting shadows over Shen Shuangjian and obscuring the fading sunlight.
"I... I'm fine." Shen Shuangjian pursed his lips slightly, his brows furrowed, and he spoke hesitantly, "My leg just hurt a little earlier."
Leg pain?
Xie Jinghui hesitated for a moment, then leaned closer to Shen Shuangjian's ear. "Why does it hurt? Did you rub it against something?"
Like riding a horse, beginners often can't stand the bumps and friction when riding a camel. Since Shen Shuangjian's legs and bones shouldn't have any problems, the issue must be with the camel.
"Um..."
Shen Shuangjian responded weakly and didn't say anything more. Xie Jinghui understood. He looked at the tent that was already being erected not far away and slowly exerted force on his hands.
Just like when Shen Shuangjian drunk in Donglin City, the people present had different expressions, but no one stood up to say that it was inappropriate.
Except for Xie Qingchi.
Before he could even organize his thoughts on comforting or worrying her, his uncle had already left with Shen Shuangjian in his arms.
Xie Qingchi: "?"
What do you mean? He touching his arm is offensive, Xie Jinghui hugging him directly isn't?
Xie Qingchi's face was ashen. His expression changed repeatedly, and his tightly closed lips opened and closed again, but not a single word came out.
After a moment, he took out his phone. The signal was poor in the desert, but the production crew had brought equipment to extend and stabilize the signal.
He opened WeChat group chat and tagged several people in a menacing manner.
Xie Qingchi: [What terrible ideas are you all coming up with!]
Xie Qingchi: [Utterly useless! You still have the nerve to call yourselves emperors of love? I think you're more like emperors of a fallen kingdom!]
Less than two minutes after Xie Qingchi sent the message, everyone else in the group chat typed question marks.
Passerby A:?
Passerby B:?
Passerby C:?
Passerby A was the first to react, sending a message asking, "[What did you do? Did you do what we said?]"
Passerby B: [You gave them a bad impression before, how could they be so friendly to you so quickly?]
Xie Qingchi: [He ignored me. He wasn't feeling well earlier. I remembered what you said, and before I could think of what to say, he was taken away.]
Passerby C: [...]
Passerby A: [...]
Passerby B: [Dude, aren't you going to admit you like her?]
Passerby C: [Pursuing someone you like and making friends are two different things. I advise you to tell the truth.]
Xie Qingchi: [...]
Xie Qingchi gripped his phone tighter and tighter. Messages in the group chat kept refreshing, and after a long while, he impatiently typed out a line.
Xie Qingchi: [Yes, I like it, okay!]
Passerby A: (Emoji: Give me five bucks and I'll be your lapdog)
Passerby B: (Emoji: I just love being a simp, what's it to you?)
Passerby C: [Bro, take my advice, just go for it.]
Passerby A: [After listening to what you said, we all agree that someone with that kind of personality needs to be straightforward.]
Passerby B: [You should apologize to him first, explain that your previous bad attitude wasn't intentional, but because you like him, and then confess your feelings directly.]
Xie Qingchi: [?]
Xie Qingchi: [Are you guys serious?]
In response, the group of brothers unanimously stated:
[Zun Du Zun Du.]
Speechless for a moment, Xie Qingchi was upset, but he could only turn off his phone. He looked at the camp that had already been set up, and finally sighed heavily.
What could he do? Xie Qingchi had never actively pursued anyone in his life; it was always others who pursued him and tolerated him.
He had never been in contact with anyone as gentle and sensitive as Shen Shuangjian in his life, because he simply disliked people with that kind of personality.
Why can't we just say what we mean? Why do we have to rely on others to guess and interpret our joys, sorrows, and anger?
But ironically... he liked it terribly.
The tent was set up, Xie Jinghui was the first to lead Shen Shuangjian inside. He gently put her down, then took out his medicine box before turning around and pulling the tent up.
The tent was dimly lit, Shen Shuangjian sat in the corner, looking listless and unguarded.
"Your leg." Xie Jinghui spoke first, kneeling before Shen Shuangjian and reminding her with downcast eyes, "It still needs to be checked. If it's chafed, it needs to be bandaged."
"..."
Shen Shuangjian finally realized that if Xie Jinghui were here, he wouldn't be able to apply the medicine at all. But if he changed his approach, making Xie Jing examine himself with his thighs exposed would be shameful enough.
Shen Shuangjian pursed his lips instantly, and a faint blush appeared on his neck. No matter what color it was, it made him feel uncomfortable.
"If it's just the inner thigh, you can apply the medicine yourself, but you can't see the back of the leg..." Xie Jinghui's eyes trembled slightly. "How do I apply the medicine?"
Shen Shuangjian he still didn't answer; he just lowered his head and didn't even glance at her.
This took quite a while, so long that Xie Jinghui even began to wonder if he had been too hasty, causing Shen Shuangjian somewhat dissatisfied and want to distance herself again...
Shen Shuangjian suddenly turned his head away, raising his wrist to cover his eyes and brows. The exposed side of his neck and ear was a patch of red, a mixture of embarrassment and shame.