"No, like this." Lin Yi stepped behind her, covering her hands with his to adjust her stance. His chest nearly pressed against her back, his breath brushing past her ear. "Place your thumb here, and use the strength from your waist, not your arms."
The tips of Su Xiaoxi's ears burned instantly. Lin Yi carried a faint scent of cedar—fitting for his cool, composed demeanor, yet unexpectedly soothing.
"I... I'll try again," she stammered.
Lin Yi took a step back, extending his arm for her to practice on. This time, Su Xiaoxi barely managed the motion, but her strength was too weak to break free.
"Again," Lin Yi said, his voice devoid of emotion, like a strict instructor.
After more than twenty repetitions, Su Xiaoxi finally succeeded once. She jumped up excitedly. "I did it!"
The corner of Lin Yi's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly. "Barely passing. Now practice escaping a rear hold."
He moved behind her, his arms suddenly wrapping around her. Su Xiaoxi stiffened—this was far more intimate than any previous contact. Lin Yi's body heat seeped through his thin shirt, and she could feel the firm muscles of his arms.
"Focus," Lin Yi murmured in her ear, his voice still calm. "Remember the three steps: drop your weight, elbow strike, stomp the foot."
Su Xiaoxi took a deep breath and followed his instructions. The first step—dropping her center of gravity—went well, but her elbow strike went slightly off course, grazing Lin Yi's chin.
"Sorry!" she blurted, spinning around to check if he was hurt.
Lin Yi caught her wrist. "Never apologize in a fight. An enemy won't give you a second chance."
"But you're not the enemy," Su Xiaoxi muttered under her breath.
Lin Yi paused, then released her hand. "Keep practicing."
After two hours of training, Su Xiaoxi's entire body ached, but she had mastered three basic escape techniques. Lin Yi handed her a bottle of water and offered a rare compliment: "Not bad."
Those two simple words sent an inexplicable rush of joy through her.
"Same time tomorrow?" she asked hopefully.
Lin Yi nodded. "Every morning, until you can handle basic threats."
Not long after returning to her desk, her colleague Xiao Lin sidled up to her. "Xiaoxi, you and Lin Yi have been pretty close lately, huh?"