DBAC 9 Part 2

DBAC

Posted by Richard, Released on May 30, 2026

Chapter 9

An Ankle Injury (2/2)

“Move.”

Tan Shen lowered his eyes from above, his gaze cold as it fell on Jiang Mingci, who was blocking the way.

Jiang Mingci looked up at him and froze for a moment, hesitating instinctively.

“Tan Shen…”

A soft, pitiful voice from the young lady sounded beside him, calling out to Tan Shen with a hint of grievance.

Jiang Mingci’s expression changed slightly.

Unable to bear seeing her suffer like this, he obediently stepped aside.

Tan Shen bent down and crouched in front of her. His warm hand supported her ankle as he lowered his eyes and briefly examined the injury.

In a low voice, he asked, “Twisted it while dancing?”

“Mhm…” The little fox’s voice was muffled.

She had always hated getting hurt. Being spoiled and delicate, she disliked even the slightest pain. Naturally, she was in no mood now.

Then the man’s fingertips, roughened slightly by a thin layer of calluses, brushed carefully over her jade-white ankle. The swollen, reddened area tingled with a dense mixture of pain and itchiness.

Xie Yurao’s long curled eyelashes trembled twice.

Her beautiful toes, painted with pale pink nail polish, curled involuntarily.

“It’s fine. The bone isn’t injured.”

Tan Shen released her ankle and withdrew his gaze indifferently.

It wasn’t anything serious. Her skin was simply too fair, making the redness on her ankle look alarming.

In truth, it probably didn’t hurt that much. If it had happened to him, it would have been barely noticeable. The little fox was simply pampered; even a minor injury was enough to make her whine and complain.

Tan Shen turned and instructed a maid to bring an ice pack.

Only then did Jiang Mingci finally let out a sigh of relief.

“It’s all my fault,” he said self-consciously from the side.

What had happened was this: the young lady had accidentally stepped on him again. The heel of her high heel was sharp, and he had instinctively dodged. As a result, she lost her footing when she landed and twisted her ankle.

Tan Shen said, “It is your fault.”

“…”

Jiang Mingci had never expected Tan Shen to say that. He was completely stunned.

Even Xie Yurao was momentarily taken aback.

She glanced at the flustered young man, whose face was bright red and who clearly didn’t know what to do, and finally softened.

“Forget it. I accidentally stepped on him first.”

Besides, speaking objectively, the blame couldn’t be placed entirely on Jiang Mingci.

Tan Shen lifted his eyes to look at her, his expression unreadable.

In the end, he merely let out a cold scoff.

“You’re quite reasonable when it comes to him.”

If he had been the one responsible for her sprained ankle—though such a possibility was nearly nonexistent—who knew how much of a fuss she would have made?

Tan Shen said nothing more and stood up, making room for the maid to apply the ice pack.

“Aren’t you going to do it for me?”

Tan Shen replied flatly, “I don’t know how to be gentle.”

Xie Yurao tilted her head back to look at his coldly handsome profile. His jawline was sharp and defined, clearer than most people’s life plans.

Liar.

He had been perfectly gentle just now.

After watching for a while, the older maid, Aunt Chen, smiled and spoke to Jiang Mingci.

“Student Jiang, since Mr. Tan has returned, I’ll have Xiaoyu escort you out. It’s been over for quite some time already.”

Jiang Mingci hesitated before nodding.

“Okay.”

After the maid Xiaoyu escorted him away, Aunt Chen loosened her grip on the ice pack.

“Mr. Tan, I just remembered there’s soup simmering in the kitchen. Could you hold this for a while?”