Chapter 7: An Awkward Encounter

Bai Xueyan’s face flushed slightly.

Chen Ye hurried to explain. “If you’re uncomfortable, you can keep your clothes on. But it’ll be harder to locate the points along the meridians, and the effect won’t be nearly as strong. If you want to clear them as quickly as possible, I’ll need to touch your skin. It’s your decision.”

She understood the reasoning. Pressing her lips together, she said, “Let’s try it through my clothes first. If your technique really is that good, I can always take them off later.”

“All right.” He nodded. “Please lie face down, Bai-jie.”

She did as he asked. The problem with the blood supply to her brain might not sound serious, but it had tormented her for years, causing dizziness and migraines. She had even developed anxiety, slept poorly, and felt dreadful much of the time. She was desperate to be rid of it. A cure could transform her career and her life.

She drew a breath. “Have you treated this condition before?”

“Yes. Many times.”

In prison, some inmates had suffered from poor blood supply to the brain because of malnutrition and frail health. Chen Ye had helped cure them by clearing their meridians, so he was familiar with the problem.

“Today I’ll just give you a preliminary treatment,” he said. “The effect may not be very noticeable. You can see how it feels.”

“I understand. Go ahead.”

Chen Ye took a deep breath and moved closer. A faint fragrance reached him. He began the treatment methodically, following the body’s meridians and acupoints.

“Is the pressure all right?” he asked.

“Yes.”

She closed her eyes, her long lashes fluttering. He worked carefully: this woman was the boss who could decide his future, and the treatment was a test. He couldn’t afford a mistake.

After a preliminary round to warm the area, he began in earnest. “I’ll press harder now. If you can bear this part, I should be able to clear many of the meridians temporarily. You’ll feel a real difference.”

“All right.”

She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. He increased the pressure. She bore the deep ache as best she could, though an occasional muffled groan escaped her.

After more than ten minutes, just as he had said, the intense soreness and numbness in her back receded, replaced by a relaxation she had never felt before. Warmth seemed to flow through her back like water through newly opened channels, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her skin.

Then her mind felt unusually alert and clear. It was as though the treatment had temporarily restored the blood supply to her brain, leaving her exhilarated. The sensation was so pleasant that she found herself growing attached to it.

But Chen Ye stopped. “That’s the initial treatment done.”

Disappointed, she asked, “So soon?” She had wanted it to go on.

“It’s been about half an hour. From now on, one session every two days should resolve the problem within half a month.”

“All right.”

She sat up slowly, her face flushed. He had only worked through her clothes, yet the effect had been so good that she looked forward to the next treatment even more.

“Your technique is excellent, Chen Ye. You’ll soon stand out among our massage therapists. With your skills, becoming a master is only a matter of time.”

“Thank you for saying so,” he said with a smile.

In truth, he had no intention of being a massage therapist forever. He had much greater ambitions: he would make his mark in Shanghai. Massage was only a way to get by for now.

Bai Xueyan got off the bed to put on her shoes, but her legs felt weak and she swayed.

“President Bai!” Chen Ye caught her.

“Why are my legs so weak?”

“To open the meridians in your back, most of your qi and blood have moved to your upper body. Your lower body is a little weak, but a few steps should put it right.”

“I see.” She nodded. “I always thought I knew a lot about massage, but you’ve given me a real lesson today.”

“You’re too kind.”

She looked at him steadily. “Don’t call me President Bai anymore.”

“What should I call you?”

She gave him a warm, alluring smile. “Call me Bai-jie.”

“Oh. All right, Bai-jie.” He was a little overwhelmed by the favor.

She opened the door. “Come on. Someone will help you complete your onboarding and show you how the company works.”

“All right.”

They stepped out of the massage room and nearly collided with someone hurrying down the corridor: Bai Xueyan’s son, Xie Dong, with Wen Yu following behind.

“Mom? You two…”

Xie Dong stared at Chen Ye and his mother in disbelief. Wen Yu’s eyes widened too. She had never expected to see Chen Ye coming out of a room with her future mother-in-law.