Gu Fan’s slender fingers slid along the arch of my foot, pushing the canvas shoe off from the tip of my toes.
“Ah—mm, ha~”
Damn it… I really couldn’t hold it in—way too ticklish.
One hand braced against the wall behind me, the other clamped tightly over my mouth, using brute force to physically suppress any weird sounds that might slip out.
Wherever Gu Fan’s fingertips brushed felt like playful arcs of electricity flickering across my skin, seeping in and then zipping through my whole body. It nearly made me moan out loud.
This body—so hopelessly sensitive—it’s totally unfair.
If he keeps handling me like this, I’ll break sooner or later.
Already weakened from my period, now having my foot held like this made my waist go soft.
I barely managed to keep upright by leaning on the wall, narrowly avoiding collapsing onto the floor.
Maybe I hid it well enough, or maybe Gu Fan was just naturally dense—my slight foot trembles were simply interpreted as me losing balance.
“It’ll just take a second, hang in there. Now for the other foot.”
“Ah… mmm…”
I figured Gu Fan must’ve thought squatting down would be uncomfortable for me, maybe even press on my stomach too much, so he knelt down to help take off my shoes.
I just hadn’t expected how incredibly sensitive I’d be around my feet.
I almost lost it right there.
The mess I made, I have to grit my teeth and endure it myself!
My clean white sock pressed softly against the doormat.
I gently lifted my left leg, presenting the still-on, faded canvas shoe to Gu Fan.
So embarrassing…
I swear I won’t use such a clumsy excuse again.
If I have to take off my shoes like this a few more times, I might not even be able to control my facial expressions.
As Gu Fan moved steadily and methodically, I silently wrapped my arm around my cheek to hide my unfocused eyes, biting down hard on the sleeve of my shirt to stop the tingling sensations from escaping as sounds.
I don’t know how long passed before Gu Fan gently supported my ankle, letting my foot settle safely on the floor.
“All done. Do you need to rest a while… Zhi Nian? Why are you covering your mouth? Feeling like you’re going to throw up?”
“Mhm… uh… no, I’m feeling fine.”
Through the folds of my sleeve, I vaguely saw Gu Fan worryingly try to get closer, which immediately scared me into shaking my head to stop him.
My self-control is terrible.
If Gu Fan got too close now, who knows what unimaginable things I might do.
I remember reading online that catgirls don’t have periods…
No, wait—that just proves there’s something wrong with me!
I’m definitely not some perverted weirdo with dirty thoughts!
“No, you should lie down on the bed for a while. I’ll help you in, and I’ll bring you some water soon.”
“…Okay.”
My head was already a jumbled mess from all the sensations, and my earlier plan to show Gu Fan around my home was completely ruined.
With no other choice, I had to hand over control to Gu Fan again and obediently let him help me into the bedroom to lie down.
Gu Fan treated me like a child, pulling the blanket up to below my neck and tucking in all the corners tightly.
My cat ears trembled with lingering excitement.
Gu Fan’s gaze lingered on them for a moment before turning to me.
Do my cat ears look even more attractive than I do?
“Zhi Nian, are you thirsty?”
“Mhm, a little.”
I wasn’t thirsty before we got home, but after that sudden playful teasing of my foot, my mouth had gone dry.
“Wait here a moment, I’ll be right back.”
Maybe because my home’s decor was simple and the furniture arrangement wasn’t complicated, Gu Fan really did come back quickly, holding a glass of water.
“Go ahead and drink. I’ve already tested the water temperature — it’s not hot.”
As I took the cup, my mind wandered to how Gu Fan had tested the water temperature.
I knew he probably just dipped his finger in, but I couldn’t help imagining his lips brushing the water surface…
Gulp Gulp
With that slightly embarrassing thought, I finished the warm water and felt a bit satisfied.
“Want some more? You’ve been sleeping all day, you need to stay hydrated.”
I shook my head:
“Ah, not for now.”
Drinking too much water means having to go to the bathroom.
Although the painkillers hadn’t worn off yet, I still wanted to avoid suddenly having to sit down to pee — any pressure on my abdomen triggered sharp, pounding cramps.
After quenching my thirst, we rested quietly for a while — Gu Fan sitting, and me lying down.
The window was open, and the autumn breeze gently fluttered the blue-pink patterned curtains.
The sunset’s afterglow spilled softly over me.
Seeing the wind was quite strong, Gu Fan got up and closed the window, leaving only a small crack open.
He also drew the curtains to block the sunlight.
“Still sleepy? I’m not sure if menstrual cramps make you drowsy.”
So there were things even Gu Fan didn’t understand.
Resting my head on the pillow, I gently shook my head:
“Not sleepy for now. I’ve already slept almost half a day — if I sleep more, I’ll turn into a lazybones.”
“Ha, that’s true.”
Gu Fan paced once near the window, then leaned against the windowsill to look at me.
This time, he didn’t sit back down on the chair by the bed.
“Zhi Nian, you have to take good care of yourself. Menstrual cramps are really tough for girls, and catgirls seem even more sensitive — it hurts even more.”
“Gu Fan… have you done any research on this?”
“I stumbled across it once while scrolling. Anyway, you have to be extra careful.”
“I will.”
After replying to Gu Fan’s advice, I saw him pull out his phone from his pocket to check it, then straighten up and look at me solemnly.
“It’s getting late. I should head home. Next time, if there’s a chance, you have to properly show me around your house.”
After saying that, Gu Fan smiled at me in the orange-red sunset glow, then took steady steps toward the door.
“……”
If it weren’t for this fragile body of mine, I probably could’ve toured the whole house with Gu Fan.
It wouldn’t have ended up with him taking care of me like this — it feels so unfair.
I followed his movements with unblinking eyes.
Watching, just watching.
So unwilling, so unwilling, so unwilling.
Is there really going to be a next time? If I miss this chance, maybe I’ll never find a reason to invite Guo Fan to my home again in this lifetime.
It’s so frustrating — my mood is so heavy it feels like my entire skeleton is coated with a thick iron armor, crushing the breath out of me.
The bedroom isn’t big; the path from the window to the door is short, but my thoughts are racing at triple speed like a fast-forwarded video.
When Gu Fan’s hand reached for the doorknob, I finally snapped back to reality.
“Wait.”
As soon as the words fell, Gu Fan’s previously smooth movement seemed to hit pause.
It was as if… he was waiting to see if what I was about to say was worth him giving up this action.
Otherwise, he’d press pause again and restart his motion.
“What’s up? Is there something else you need me to do?”
There was no trace of displeasure in his voice; Gu Fan calmly turned around, smiling at me.
But his hand never left the doorknob.
I smiled blankly:
“Could you… stay and keep me company?”