"It would be best if we just continued to get along as before," Yu Luobai said with a smile as they exited the elevator.
"Won't Professor Yu mind?" Ji Nian asked, a little perplexed.
"Will that bother you?" Yu Luobai asked, gently patting her head.
"No, it won't." Ji Nian shook her head, having come to understand her own heart, perhaps she did have feelings for him.
The first reaction to liking someone is to avoid them, to repeatedly test the waters - she felt she had already begun exhibiting such behavior.
"Then let's go. I had Peng He prepare some Chinese herbal medicine earlier, and the staff will bring it up soon. Soaking your feet in it will help them feel better," Yu Luobai said casually.
Ji Nian lowered her head, touched. This was the first time someone had been so genuinely kind and caring towards her, and this warm feeling made her instinctively want to rely on him.
Ji Nian didn't reply, which was taken as an agreement. Seeing her walking slowly, Yu Luobai also slowed his pace, and the two strolled leisurely through the hotel hallway.
When they returned to the room, the staff had quickly brought the water for soaking feet.
"Why are you just standing there? Put your feet in," Yu Luobai said, amused by her wide-eyed, bewildered expression.
"Thank you, Professor Yu," Ji Nian expressed her gratitude, then placed her feet in the water, instantly feeling a sense of relief wash over her entire body.
"Is this the first time you've worn such high heels?" Yu Luobai asked, seated on the nearby sofa.
"Yes, I don't wear high heels very often," Ji Nian answered honestly.
Recalling her usual casual attire of canvas shoes and the like, Yu Luobai chuckled and looked at her warmly, saying, "There are not many girls like you."
Ji Nian pouted and replied, "I just wear what's comfortable for me."
Seeing that it was not too late, Yu Luobai decided it was time to leave. He stood up and, in a casual gesture, patted her head, saying, "Get some rest early. I'll be going back to my room now."
So soon? Ji Nian's first reaction was one of disappointment, but she soon snapped out of it and simply said, "Good night, Professor Yu."
"Good night, Nian Nian," Yu Luobai said, amusement sparkling in his eyes as he looked at her obedient demeanor.
Watching his retreating figure, Ji Nian then looked around the empty hotel suite, and the suddenly quiet room left her feeling a sense of loss.
Ji Nian shook her head, letting out a sigh as she muttered to herself, "I haven't even started a romance yet, and I'm already feeling anxious and insecure."
The next morning, when Ji Nian got out of bed, she nearly stumbled. She took a deep breath, thinking that after a night's rest, her feet should have felt better, but they were actually more painfully stabbing than before. What was going on?
Dragging her aching steps, Ji Nian washed up and tried to put weight on her toes while wearing slippers, but it was completely unbearable - it hurt too much.
Yesterday she had been filming all day in high heels, for over ten hours, and now her feet were ruined.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a message.
Yu Luobai: "Did you just wake up?"
Ji Nian: "(Crying emoji) Yes, just woke up."
Yu Luobai: "Your feet must be hurting even more now, after a night's rest, right?"
Ji Nian: "How did you know?"
On his end, Yu Luobai frowned, looking at the medicated ointment he had asked Peng He to bring over earlier. He stood up, intending to go to her.
Ji Nian saw the lack of response on the other end and was about to put down her phone when the doorbell suddenly rang.
She paused, guessing who it was, and slowly went to open the door.
Yu Luobai, seeing the door open, lowered his gaze to find the woman with a dejected expression, looking utterly forlorn.
"Go sit down," he said, pressing his lips together.
Ji Nian didn't know what he was up to, but obediently went to sit on the sofa.
Yu Luobai uncapped the ointment and reached out to apply it for her.
Ji Nian was startled, and the cool sensation on her feet made her instinctively pull them back.
Yu Luobai looked at her, saying, "Don't move."
Ji Nian timidly extended her feet again, saying, "It'll be fine in a couple of days, no need to use the ointment."
"This ointment helps relieve the pain. The cooling sensation on your skin will make you feel better," Yu Luobai said patiently. "I should have known not to let you wear such high heels yesterday."
Ji Nian's heart warmed as she replied, "It was necessary for the filming. I'll need to get used to wearing these in the future."
"If you're not used to high heels, you can practice beforehand. The pain today is normal, since you wore them for so long yesterday, and the heels were so high. I'll get you an excuse from filming today," Yu Luobai said.
"No, that's not necessary!" Ji Nian exclaimed, not wanting to be seen as delicate. "I'll just talk to the director about filming other scenes that don't require high heels today."
Yu Luobai frowned slightly but reluctantly agreed, "Alright, then."
Ji Nian's ears reddened as she quietly expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, Professor Yu."
Yu Luobai's lips curved upward as he said, "You don't need to thank me."
Feeling a bit awkward, Ji Nian changed the subject, asking, "Professor Yu, why did you get up so early today?"
"I've gotten into the habit of exercising every day," Yu Luobai replied, putting the ointment away and placing it on the table. "Remember to apply it regularly over the next few days. I've already ordered breakfast, it'll be brought up soon. Let's eat together."
Ji Nian, finding herself neatly scheduled from the start of the day, dumbly nodded and agreed, "Okay."
When they arrived at the filming location, the director was surprised to see Ji Nian limping, but he could understand. Those who frequently wear high heels often have sore feet after wearing them for over ten hours, let alone someone who isn't used to them, especially with such high ones.
"Nian, how about we switch to a scene that doesn't require high heels?" Director Xiao said concernedly. "Your toes look a bit red and swollen. You might need to rest for a couple of days."
Ji Nian nodded, feeling the director was very kind. "Thank you, Director. I'll follow your arrangements."
"Okay, then we'll do the midpoint of the storyline. Since the female lead is a sophisticated and powerful woman with both sensuality and dominance, she has taken a liking to the male lead's good looks, so she'll occasionally tease him."
Director Xiao flipped through the script, trying to find scenes that didn't require high heels.
"Ah, here it is! There's a scene where the female lead gets drunk, and the male lead takes her back to her room."
Ji Nian nodded, then started intently reviewing the script, only to be completely stunned! This was a kissing scene!
The script described the female lead, in a tight black dress that accentuated her perfect figure, having a slightly drunken, alluring expression. She would tenderly caress the man's chin and lean in, lightly brushing her lips against his.
The man would then respond passionately, wrapping his arms around her waist and deepening the kiss. From this moment, their relationship would transition from initial suspicion to a budding intimacy.
"I... I think I can manage wearing high heels," Ji Nian said hastily.
Director Xiao paused, saying, "No, Nian, I know you don't want to hold up the production, but your health comes first. Besides, we can still film the other scenes at a normal pace."
Ji Nian glanced sideways at Yu Luobai, her heart sinking. Oh no, how was she going to do this? She wasn't ready at all.
While outwardly composed, Yu Luobai's heart had also started racing, his ear tips reddening as he discreetly stole a glance at the woman beside him.
