"Professor, please teach me. I'm about to see my girlfriend, and I want to stimulate her acupoints a bit."
"Alright, seeing how much you care about your girlfriend, I'll pass on everything I know. I'll teach you two massage techniques—one is the kneading method, and the other is the stroking method. Let's use my chest as an example. This acupoint here…"
The professor used his own chest as a model, demonstrating each point for Lin Can.
They made their way through stop-and-go traffic while Lin Can listened attentively.
After learning the two massage techniques, he thought, So what if my hands get tired? Just grit my teeth and keep going. A man should take responsibility!
From now on, I, Lin Can, will be the guardian of their "bears"!
"Got it?"
"I think I more or less understand... Uh, Professor, since you know about women's health, do you also know about men's health?"
"You... have performance issues?"
"No, I can perform—really well. I just mean, uh..." Lin Can scratched his head, embarrassed. "Is there any way to, like, keep up an indulgent lifestyle without draining the body too much?"
He finally said it. Greedy, aren't we?
"There's no perfect solution in this world, young man. You need self-control."
The middle-aged man hesitated. He wanted to say more but decided against it. After all, at 18 or 19, hormones are raging. Talking to a kid this age about "restraint" or "abstinence" was basically nonsense.
Still, fate had brought them together, and since he got a ride, it was only fair to give something back.
He pulled a pen from his bag, scribbled down a prescription in his notebook, tore it off, and handed it to Lin Can.
"I wrote down a formula for you. It's a tonic from ancient times that emperors used in the palace. It won't let you indulge endlessly without consequences, but it's good for preserving vitality."
"Thank you, Professor. Thank you so much."
"No need to thank me."
Lin Can looked at the prescription and thought to himself: Qingning-jie, Meina-jie, Youxi-jie, Ayi Re—are you ready?
…
As they talked, the RV arrived at Donghu Park.
"Thanks, kid. Go find your girlfriend."
The professor got out early, briefcase in hand, and walked off.
Lin Can restarted the RV and drove a bit further. He spotted Chu Qingning waiting by the roadside, pulled over, jumped out, scooped her into his arms, and spun her around before putting her down.
"What took you so long? Youxi's already here, and Meina and Ayi Re are on their way too."
"I ran into an old man who fell down on the road. I helped him with a professor—he's a gynecologist, actually. Gave him a ride since he lives in Emerald City like you. We had a good chat, which delayed me."
Chu Qingning paused. "A gynecologist from our community? What's his name?"
"Total coincidence, didn't ask. He's walking this way—there, that guy."
Lin Can pointed at the approaching middle-aged man and waved.
His steps were heavy. His smile... frozen.
"Him?!" Chu Qingning gasped.
Wait—he came back with my dad?!
"Come on, I'll introduce you. Hey, Professor—"
She was practically dragged over by Lin Can.
No no no…
They stopped in front of the man. Lin Can wrapped his arm around Qingning's shoulder.
"Professor, this is my girlfriend."
As he spoke, he glanced at Qingning, who stood with her head down and cheeks bright red.
Smack—
He lightly slapped her on the butt.
Lin Can: "Why are you just standing there? Say hi."
The professor stared as Lin Can hugged and smacked his precious little girl—his baby whom he protected like treasure.
Held her in my mouth, afraid she'd melt. Held her in my palm, afraid she'd fall… And this is how you treat her?
The corners of the professor's mouth twitched.
"I..." Chu Qingning blushed and looked up at the man. "Dad~"
Pfffft—
Lin Can nearly coughed up blood on the spot.
"Your dad?!"
"Stop talking and just say hello!"
"Uh… Hello, Uncle…"
Now it was Lin Can's turn to panic. My future father-in-law?! Chu Xuliang?!
He remembered Qingning saying her dad was a doctor, but he didn't ask for more details.
Oh crap—what were we even talking about in the car…?
Father and future son-in-law discussing women's health?
Awkward wasn't the half of it.
Lin Can immediately straightened up, smiling like a fool at Chu Xuliang.
…
Chu Xuliang first glanced at their interlocked hands, then at his bashful daughter, and finally at the nervous-looking Lin Can. Tall, handsome—not bad.
He had a good impression of the boy, mostly because of how helpful he had been earlier.
And, well, the topic of conversation in the car wasn't inappropriate. As an expert in the field, it was professional.
The only strange part was—why was he discussing this with my daughter's boyfriend?
This kid took my daughter on a trip… and wants to use my formula?
The sudden urge to strangle him rose.
Chu Xuliang patted Lin Can on the shoulder. "So, you're Lin Can."
"Yes sir, that's me. Hello, Uncle."
"No need to be nervous. We had a good chat earlier."
"What did you guys talk about?" Qingning asked curiously.
"Oh, nothing much," Chu Xuliang brushed it off, stepping beside her and pulling out his phone. "You're going on a trip—you can't go without money. Here, let me transfer you 5,000 yuan. If it's not enough, just tell me."
Families that study music usually aren't doing too badly.
Plus, Chu Xuliang wasn't some old-fashioned parent. He thought it was normal for a girl her age to date.
He just worried about her getting hurt. But earlier in the car, Lin Can kept asking about women's health. It felt awkward now, sure—but clearly, he cared about her.
That was enough for Chu Xuliang to approve of him.
"I don't need it, I've got money. Dad, you don't have to."
"Yeah, Uncle, I'm here. No need for Qingning to spend her own."
Chu Xuliang knew Lin Can had money—he'd asked Qingning about it before.
Still, he transferred the 5,000 anyway. He'd raised Qingning with a "wealthy upbringing," believing financial stability helps a girl develop independence and confidence.
And he could afford it—he was a professor at Huaxia Hospital, a well-paid, in-demand position.
"Alright, I transferred it. You guys go have fun. Lin, take good care of my daughter."
"Of course, you can count on me."
It's because you're here that I can't count on you…
"I'll head back now."
"Take care, Uncle."
"Dad, I'll bring you something tasty!"
"Alright~"
Chu Xuliang waved and walked into the community.
Suddenly, he remembered that tonic formula.
Giving that to Lin Can... was a huge mistake.
"Hey, Lin, about that—"
But before he could finish, the RV sped off like it was fleeing a crime scene.
"..."
Left standing in the breeze, Chu Xuliang was a swirl of complicated emotions.
…
Back in the RV.
"CanCan, what were you and my dad really talking about in the car?"
"Nothing major."
"LIN CAN—tell me right now!!"
Faced with Qingning's wrath, Lin Can cracked.
"Alright, alright! We were talking about women's health."
"What?! You were discussing women's health with my dad?! Are you serious?!"
Chu Qingning felt like her scalp was going to explode.
"Well, he's a gynecologist! I just said I had a girlfriend and asked if he knew any massage techniques. He taught me two."
"What else?"
"Um… but promise not to hit me?"
"I promise not to hit (you to death)."
"I asked if there was a way to indulge myself without damaging my health… and since I gave him a ride, he wrote me a prescription."
"AAAAHHH!!!"
Chu Qingning lost it.
"You asked my dad for a prescription to let you indulge without draining yourself?!"
"Wait wait wait, don't be mad—I didn't know he was your dad at the time!"
"I don't want to hear it! Blah blah blah!"
She was livid.
How am I supposed to look my dad in the eye after this trip?!
…
They crawled through traffic to the airport and finally arrived around 7:30.
Ayi Re, Qiao Meina, and Miao Youxi were already there, sprawled across their luggage outside the terminal, totally exhausted. They doodled imaginary curses at Lin Can for making them arrive so early—only for him to be late.
Then the RV pulled up.
"Meina, Youxi, Ayi Re—I missed you all so much!"
Chu Qingning opened the door, arms spread wide, and rushed over for a group hug.
The squad was back together again.
"Meina, Youxi, Ayi Re—I missed you too! Hugs, kisses, let's go!"
Lin Can jumped out of the driver's seat and charged over with open arms, aiming to scoop up all four goddesses in one big group hug.
"Don't hug me! You're not forgiven yet." Qingning hmphed, twisted her hips, and knocked Lin Can aside.
He stumbled back dramatically with an "Ow~" like a fragile little flower, toppling toward the other three girls.
Ayi Re and Youxi quickly shoved Meina forward and ducked behind her.
"You two little traitors!" Lin Can whined, then suddenly hugged Meina around the waist in front of Qingning.
"Meina-jie, it's been days since I last j—mmmph!"
Meina clapped a hand over his mouth before he could finish the dangerous "j" word that might break their sacred sisterhood.
She leaned close and whispered, "If you dare tell them you came to Shanghai just to see me, I'll drag you to hell with me."
Then she turned and said brightly to the group, "I, Qiao Meina, declare this RV road trip officially underway!"
"Yay~!"
Miao Youxi hopped around excitedly, absolutely adorable.
Once the four girls were together again, every moment was pure joy.
They boarded the RV one by one, humming and smiling.
Lin Can loaded their luggage, basked in the envious stares around him, then climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine.
…
The RV moved steadily along. Though it could carry passengers in the back, they had to sit in designated seats with seat belts.
Sunshine poured in, time flowed gently.
The four girls, in great spirits, pulled out their instruments.
Ayi Re strummed her guitar and began to sing…
"Nothing can stop
Your yearning for freedom
A life of wandering
Your heart, unburdened..."
Her voice soared through the warm air.
"…Through the shadows of the years
You once felt lost…"
Under the blue skies and white clouds, Lin Can listened from the driver's seat as their voices wove together.
And then, at the chorus, the four girls belted out together:
"Forever blooming, the Blue Lotus—!!!"
"Hahaha, Chu Qingning, you totally cracked your voice!"
"Sorry! My throat's been sore lately."
"Haha, why's your throat sore? Been yelling too much?"
"You three little brats! I'll kill you!"
"HAHAHAHA—!"