They reached the river. The water sparkled in the afternoon sunlight, cool and clear and inviting.
Qing Lin waded in, still holding her. The cold water felt AMAZING against her burning skin.
"Ohhhhh," she moaned. "That's.….that's so good."
"Better?"
"So much better."
He set her down gently on a smooth rock in the shallows. The water came up to her waist, and to her delight it was cool and soothing.
As the relief of the water settled in, Xin Yi realized what she was wearing was soaked and clinging to her, heavy with the grime of the construction site. She reached to remove it, but hesitated, her fingers trembling.
Qing Lin didn't miss the hesitation. "You need to take it off, Xin Yi. It will only irritate the blisters once the soap touches it."
Xin Yi's face went a violent shade of crimson. "I... I can do it myself! Just turn around!"
