Otaku-18

Not long after getting off the cable car, they arrived at the starting point for rafting.

The safety personnels gave each of them an orange life jacket and a raincoat, and then began to talk about safety precautions.

“Rafting in the mountains of Fengxi Valley is very safe, as long as you pay a little attention to your balance in certain parts where the flow of the stream was a little turbulent, your boat wouldn’t capsize. But if you really capsize, you also don’t have to worry, it’s a common occurrence. There are safety personnels at every section of the river and would assist you as soon as possible.”

A girl with some worries asked, “I can’t swim, would it be a problem?”

The safety personnel confidently guaranteed, “As long as you wear your life jacket properly, there won’t be a problem. We have done this for several years and haven’t encountered any accidents.”

The girl was finally relieved.

On the other hand, Zhu Han said in a low voice, “What a coincidence, I also can’t swim.”

Ruan Cunyun turned his head and asked, “Are you afraid of water then? The announcement in the email said that if we don’t want to go rafting we can also go down the mountain with the zip line or just walk.”

Zhu Han, “I’m not afraid of water, I just can’t manage to learn how to hold my breath underwater. What a disgrace as a master of sports!”

Ruan Cunyun smiled slightly, “You can learn slowly.”

The safety personnel began to lead everyone to board the boat, “One boat for each person! Those who have never gone rafting or those who are still worried can board with our safety personnel, we will help you control the direction and speed of the boat.”

Several colleagues raised their hands and then boarded the boat with safety personnels on it.

Ruan Cunyun had gone rafting with his parents before, he also can swim, so he didn’t raise his hand.

But what surprised him was that Zhu Han also didn’t seek out the safety personnel, so Ruan Cunyun reminded him, “Don’t you also need it?”

Zhu Han smiled confidently with eight of his teeth showing, “I was a member of my university’s dragon boat team before, isn’t rafting also just rowing a boat? I’m an expert, I can manage myself.”

Ruan Cunyun nodded and then stepped onto the floating boat, saying, “Just call me if you need help.”

Perhaps such is the charm of travelling together, the moment they went to play together, everyone didn’t really pay attention to other’s position or ranking. Qin Fanglu was rafting with another high-ranking person not far in front of them. 

And Zhu Han, he was indeed experienced in rowing boats. He quickly mastered the rhythm and tempo of rowing and caught up to Ruan Cunyun after 2 or 3 rowings.

Layers upon layers of the red maple trees surround the on both sides of the banks, the water of the river winding and splashing. Fallen leaves drift along the stream current from time to time as they row through them. Not only was there excitement as they rushed through the torrential current, there was also the pleasure and joy of going through poetic atmosphere akin to classical writings of ancient period.

When they were rushing through a cascade of several small waterfalls, a burst of excited shouts sounded all around. Everyone was laughing in joy as they swayed side to side in their boats.

Ruan Cunyun looked at Qin Fanglu’s back from afar, he was calmly paddling his boat, steady and stable. Inwardly Ruan Cunyun sighed with emotion, boss is indeed the boss, even when rafting he was rowing so orderly.

Zhu Han gradually got a little impulsive and full of himself, not minding as water splashed onto his body.

He took out his phone from the waterproof bag and placed it onto a stretched selfie stick.

“Everyone——look at the camera!”

Zhu Han was smiling brilliantly, the colleagues behind him who also entered the lens and heard his shout raised their arms and shouted enthusiastically. Ruan Cunyun was the closest to him, his slightly smiling face occupied the bottom left corner of the photo.

Zhu Han put back his phone and selfie stick, the oar was put aside as the rubber boat drifted along the stream. The stream current was gradually becoming faster, but Zhu Han didn’t notice.

When Zhu Han realized it was too late, the turbulent stream swept over his boat and toppled it over. He was still clutching at his phone, his body tilted uncontrollably.

“WAAAHHH!” Zhu Han shouted, his arm erratically groped onto empty air.

Ruan Cunyun was right beside him and didn’t have much time to think. Before he knew it, he had subconsciously leaned forward and forcibly held onto the leaning-to-the side boat, stabilizing it forcefully.

“Zhu Han, sit this way!” Ruan Cunyun then felt the force of the stream swept and pulled on his body.

With a loud crash, Zhu Han’s boat was stabilized, but Ruan Cunyun was also dragged underwater. His whole body was smashed into the stream.

The stream water in the autumn were cold, Ruan Cunyun was suddenly, without preparation nor expectation, thrown into something akin to an ice cave.

“Xiao Yun!” Zhu Han was flustered in his panic, frantically wanting to pull Ruan Cunyun up.

The safety personnel came quickly and Ruan Cunyun was pulled back up onto the boat without a hitch, it’s just that his body has wholly been drenched through. His shorts were sticking to his legs, his hoodie also had absorbed water and became quite heavy, and half of his hair was wet and dripping with water, cutting a sorry figure.

“I’m really sorry, Xiao Yun, are you hurt anywhere? I’m so sorry I’m so sorry, it was me who didn’t pay attention to the road!” Zhu Han apologized in a flurry, his hands had let go of the oar.

“It’s fine.” Ruan Cunyun endured the discomfort on his whole body, fortunately he successfully stabilized Zhu Han, otherwise it would have been a great loss.

“I wouldn’t have bothered If it wasn’t because you can’t swim!” Ruan Cunyun jokingly replied.

Zhu Han was also feeling extremely guilty, “I’m really sorry ah, Xiao Yun. It was my fault, my fault indeed. Once we go back you can eat steak, lobster, or anything else is fine! Just mention it, my treat!”

Their movement was too big, even Qin Fanglu and the high ranking person in the front also looked back. Ruan Cunyun hastily hung his head down and wiped the water dripping wet from his bangs. Such a picture was just too pitiful.

To prevent such an accident happening again, safety personnel were assigned for each of Ruan Cunyun’s and Zhu Han’s boats, escorting them to the finishing point.

As soon as they got off the boat, their colleagues came surrounding them. Zhu Han was indeed too dog-legged¹Kind despicable (I guess? Honestly I can’t really pinpoint the meaning in english, it’s kind of when someone you know do something annoying but it’s kinda funny/not offensive). It originally means to be an insult for someone who does things for bad people or a person who relies on their good connection (and “protector”) to bully others. Here it jokingly means reckless or despicable., he escorted Ruan Cunyun to the dressing room as if he was attending to a high-ranking woman²The term used here is 娘娘, which is a way for ancient people to refer to the empress or the emperor’s concubines, sometimes also used to refer to goddess. Also it is a dialect for mother.. Ruan Cunyun really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but inwardly he felt some warmth inside.

His colleagues were all very nice.

Ruan Cunyun’s clothes and pants were all drenched wet, obviously they needed to be changed.

But everyone’s luggages had already been sent to their lodgings, now there was just some carry-on stuff they were bringing in the bus. No one had a lot of spare clothes.

Zhu Han was in the middle of pulling his long-sleeved shirt open, “Xiao Yun, you wear mine. I will just go topless, I’m not afraid of the cold!”

“Thank you but there’s no need to, I will just endure a little, we will be going back soon anyways.” Ruan Cunyun hastily stopped him.

Ruan Cunyun has a pretty clear sense of personal boundaries. He didn’t like to touch others’ belongings, and also didn’t like others touching his.

Wearing other’s clothes that they had just worn was something that exceeded his boundaries.

Just as he said that, Qin Fanglu came out of the bus holding a black bag, and then lifted his hand to take out several things from its inside.

“I brought towel and clothes, you can change into them if you don’t mind.” Qin Fanglu said, “The towel is new, I have worn the clothes but they have been washed clean now.”

Ruan Cunyun was a little stunned. He gazed at the stuff Qin Fanglu handed over, his mind was blanking out, subconsciously just taking it.

Xiao Mei ‘woahh’-ed, “Mr Qin’s preparation is so attentive ah…..”

Qin Fanglu was indifferent, “There could be some unexpected incident during rafting, so I brought a few more things.”

The crowd silently took notes. As expected of the Mr. Qin who could have a Plan B solely from a preliminary plan, he could ensure that everything was foolproof.

Ruan Cunyun said his thanks in low volume and carried the bunch of stuff Qin Fanglu gave him into the dressing room. There were a few other tourists inside, some uncles were shirtless as they washed their feet, likely because they had gotten dirty during the rafting journey.

The layout of the dressing room was simple, it’s just an empty room with some benches and clothes rack in the middle, and all around those were shower heads that could be used for washing. There were no separate partitions nor things to protect their privacy.

Ruan Cunyun was a little uncomfortable, but when he saw the male tourists beside him all big-heartedly changed clothes, his heart felt a little settled.

They were all men anyway, what’s there to fuss over?

Ruan Cunyun quickly shed off his drenched wet clothes, a layer of goosebumps rose as the cold air hit on his bare skin.

The towel Qin Fanglu gave him was really soft and felt fluffy as he held it in his hand. It was still brand new and clean, and still had a faint smell on it.

Although he knew it was brand new, he still felt uncomfortable wearing other’s stuff, especially when the other was his direct superior.

He used the towel to wipe his chest, ribs, and then proceeded to go downwards. Ruan Cunyun’s movement unconsciously sped up, hastily moving as he reached his genitals. His face blushing red in shame as he randomly rubbed it a few times before moving away.

……He should buy Boss a new towel later.

After wiping his body down, Ruan Cunyun looked through the heaps of stuff Qin Fanglu gave him, and then the redness of his cheeks intensified a little.

There’s actually a completely brand new, unopened and still sealed black underwear inside.

At the moment, there was indeed no other ways he could take, Ruan Cunyun’s clothes were all drenched through from the inside to the outsides. He could only resign to his fate and open up the underwear his boss have subsidized, silently putting it on his body.

En…..A little too big.

The waist of the underwear could barely hang onto the thin and slender hip bones. The underwear that was supposed to be skintight was worn like a boxer shorts³裤衩 here refers to the kind of pants that is loose, kinda like beach shorts. But at least there’s no need to go commando.

Ruan Cunyun picked up the clothes and then found what Qin Fanglu had handed him was a sports jacket with zipper. He could only wear the jacket on his bare body and zipped the zipper all the way to the top, the standing collar even covered a small part of Ruan Cunyun’s face.

The jacket wasn’t designed to be skintight, the material was somewhat coarse and had rubbed his skin uncomfortably.

This feeling was very subtle, it seemed as if he was being embraced by a well-dressed stranger.

It really wasn’t easy putting on clothes and underwear. Ruan Cunyun then also fell into contemplation again——There’s no outer pants in this pile of clothes.

Should he wrung his drenched wet pants and put it on, just improvise and go back?

The condition was limited, he could only make do with it.

Ruan Cunyun was just picking up his pants and wringing them when the dressing room’s door opened and a tall big figure came in.

Two people, four eyes, met their gazes.

It was his boss…. Ruan Cunyun went stiff, both his legs were cold with the rustling wind.

Qin Fanglu’s calm and still eyes were actually dodging him at this moment. He handed him something and said, “Sorry, I forgot to give you the pants.”

Ruan Cunyun quickly replied, “Thank you, Mr. Qin.”

“It’s fine.” Qin Fanglu said, “Come directly to the bus once you finish changing, no need to rush, we will wait for you.”

Without waiting for Ruan Cunyun’s reply, Qin Fanglu turned around and left.

Qin Fanglu’s pace was steady and stable as he got into the bus, but his heart wasn’t so steady.

He had just gone into the dressing room and saw Ruan Cunyun bending his waist over to wring his pants.

That child was wearing his clothes, the jacket was way too big several sizes over and just covered right below his butt. He looked as if he wasn’t wearing any underwear, exposing two white and slender legs with no blemishes under the hem.

It was the previously popular “Bottomless fashion” trend.⁴下衣失踪 is a trend where your top looks oversized and covered your butt and you look like you wear no pants. Like this

Both of them were all men, there’s nothing they should be embarrassed about, and yet Qin Fanglu took a glance and subconsciously averted his eyes from Ruan Cunyun’s legs. He fixed his gaze on his face, handed him the pants, and then walked away.

This scene was a bit familiar, but Qin Fanglu couldn’t remember when or what it was for a moment, so he just focused on another thing and ignored that train of thought until it vanished.

Ruan Cunyun stepped into the bus, carrying a bag of wet clothes in his hand.

The bus seats were already full, the remaining empty one was in the first row, the seat beside Qin Fanglu.

Ruan Cunyun, resigned to his fate, went to sit over there.

“Thank you, Mr. Qin, for the clothes.” Ruan Cunyun awkwardly said, “I will wash the jacket and pants clean before returning them to you, I will also buy you new towel and underwear…..”

“No need to buy.” Qin Fanglu handed him a disposable paper cup containing medicine, “To prevent cold.”

Right at this moment, Ruan Cunyun truly felt a little overwhelmed by his superior’s favor. Qin Fanglu even considerately used hot water, the temperature was also just right. After drinking a whole cup, his body felt warm all over.

Although Mr. Qin looked and behaved so seriously, he was actually someone humane and wasn’t really that high on a pedestal.

Zhu Han scuttled from the back row to the front, pestering from the back of Ruan Cunyun’s chair to solicitously ask about his well-being. He swore oaths and apologised again, making Ruan Cunyun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Qin Fanglu, sitting beside him, was opening his phone’s notes.

[Approachable and Friendly Leadership de Fighting Plan (Travelling Record Edition]

Remember to bring some essential medicines and clothes; if subordinates were feeling unwell, you can show them your approachability fully la~ let them know you don’t just lead them, but also have their back oh!

Qin Fanglu drew a tick mark at the end as usual, it’s just that his movement was a bit slower.

The weather in the mountains during autumn changes quickly. The bus window suddenly became blurry, a heavy rain akin to downpour bucketing down had come, the sky had become gloomy.

“Ai ya, fortunately we are done with the rafting, otherwise wouldn’t we have become drowned rats……” Zhu Han’s voice drifted along the pitter patter of the rain.

Qin Fanglu looked at Ruan Cunyun’s reflection from the window.

This child, from the inside to outside, everything he was wearing were his clothes. His whole person was enveloped in clothes sized too large for him, body carrying a smell of his wardrobe, subtly rousing his sense of smell.

Qin Fanglu forced himself to shift his attention elsewhere. On the window two lines of water traces crossed through the surface, appearing kinda similar to a pair of long and slender legs.

A light flitted pass, Qin Fanglu suddenly remembered why Ruan Cunyun seemed familiar in the dressing room——

He really resembled that little angel he himself drew at home a few days ago.

Trespassing the mortal realm, not the least bit guarded against anything, shamelessly sticking his butt in the air, just because he was too pure and untainted.

The sky went bright for a moment with the lightning as the rumbling of thunder followed, the bus’s engine also let out rumbling⁵I’m no expert at car and machinery so I have no clue whatsoever, what’s the engine making 呜呜 noise means (yeah here it is worded like the wuwuwu from someone crying), so I guessed that it refers to rumbling when the gas was being stepped on to overcome some hurdle in the road sounds. Their ears were filled with thumping noises, the hammering of their heart against their chest.

Qin Fanglu suddenly turned his head, directly meeting with Ruan Cunyun’s calm as a lake eyes.

The edge of his lips were still moist and glistening, likely the medicine that was not sipped clean.

The sound of thunder subsided, all around was quiet, Qin Fanglu’s Adam’s apple moved as he gulped, hearing his own clamoring heart beat.

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