novelcrest Chapter 286 Hermione's Decompression Massage
Chapter 286 Hermione's Decompression Massage
Chapter 286 Hermione's Stress-Relieving Massage (Part 1)
Hermione hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded, whispered her thanks, and went into Sean's room.
The room was softly lit, and the air was filled with a calming atmosphere. Hermione looked around and stood somewhat awkwardly in the center of the room, unsure whether she should sit down.
"Make yourself at home, Hermione, have a seat." Sean gestured to a chair in the room and sat back down on the bed.
Hermione carefully sat down in the chair, her hands gripping her knees tightly, as if she were thinking about how to start the conversation.
She looked up at Sean and finally mustered the courage to say, "Professor, I really feel too much pressure... I've taken a lot of courses next semester, and I thought I could handle it, but as the start of the semester approaches, I'm increasingly at a loss."
Hermione's voice was filled with obvious anxiety. As a student who always strives for perfection, she puts in far more effort into her studies than her peers, but this also makes her feel more pressure than others.
Sean believes that the start of the school year is only part of the reason.
Many students experience noticeable anxiety on the first day of school. Some are anxious because of unfinished summer homework, while others are anxious because of the fleeting summer vacation. Hermione's situation is undoubtedly special—she is anxious about whether she will be able to learn anything in the upcoming classes.
Admittedly, this mentality has its own specific term in the 21st century:
Internal mental strain.
Prolonged mental strain can lead to excessive anxiety, which can then spread to all aspects of life, affecting not only academic performance but also interpersonal relationships and self-awareness.
It even has a very important impact on the physical and mental health of the human body.
Hermione continued to recount her experiences during the summer, pouring out all her troubles to Sean.
In her heart, Professor Phillips was the person she could trust most to confide in.
All the secrets and pressures she couldn't share with her parents were released at this time.
Therefore, when she felt anxious and confused, the first person that came to mind was Professor Phillips. "Professor, I've barely rested this holiday; just reviewing and previewing has exhausted all my energy."
I'm always worried about falling behind in the new semester, and I even feel like I can't waste a single minute.
"And I always feel like if I don't try my best to learn more, it's like I'm missing out on something important." Hermione's voice was filled with helplessness, and there was even a hint of suppressed sobs in her tone.
Sean listened quietly, patiently waiting for Hermione to finish speaking.
When he looked up at her, a warm smile appeared on his face, and he said gently, "I understand how you feel, Hermione. You are an excellent student and have high expectations of yourself, which is good, but sometimes, excessive pressure can prevent you from performing at your best."
Hermione nodded slightly, looking somewhat helpless, and said in a low voice, "I know, but I always feel like there are too many things to do, and everything has to be done perfectly. It seems like if I relax even a little, I'll fall behind."
Sean pondered for a moment, then responded gently, "Studying is indeed important, but a balance between mind and body is equally important. If you don't get enough rest and relaxation, it's difficult to maintain long-term focus and efficiency. Sometimes, allowing yourself to relax appropriately can actually make you more powerful when facing challenges."
He paused for a moment, and seeing Hermione deep in thought, he suggested, "Perhaps we can try to help you relieve some stress."
For example, massage. This can effectively relieve physical fatigue, release tension, and leave you feeling refreshed.
Hermione looked somewhat surprised, a slight blush rising to her cheeks. "A massage? I've never tried one before—"
Sean smiled and explained gently, "This is just a way to help your body relax and relieve your stress. If you feel comfortable with it, we can try it."
Hermione hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. "Alright, Professor—I'm willing to give it a try."
Seeing Hermione nod, Sean smiled gently and said softly, "Okay, then relax, we'll take it slow." He walked behind Hermione, gently pressed her shoulders, and began to massage her with gentle pressure.
At first, Hermione's body stiffened, clearly not used to this direct physical contact.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her heart began to race. As Sean's massage techniques progressed slowly, her shoulders gradually relaxed, but she still felt a little uneasy, after all, this was her first time receiving a massage.
"How are you? Are you feeling alright?" Sean asked gently, trying to make her feel safe and relaxed.
Hermione nodded and responded softly, "Hmm—it feels pretty good." However, her voice sounded slightly nervous, clearly indicating that she hadn't completely relaxed yet.
Just as Sean's fingers gently pressed on her shoulders and neck, Hermione suddenly felt a strange warmth coming from her shoulders. Because of shyness and nervousness, she sat up abruptly, almost turning the chair upside down, and looked somewhat flustered.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Hermione apologized quickly, her face turning even redder, and her voice trembled as she said, "I—I didn't mean to, I'm just a little uncomfortable."
Seeing that Hermione seemed a little nervous, Sean gently suggested, "Actually, lying in bed will be more relaxing. The position in bed also allows your body to stretch out better, which will make the massage more effective. You can try it."
Hermione seemed a little hesitant, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.
Lying down in front of the professor did make her feel uncomfortable, but recalling the feeling of relaxation in her shoulder just now, she nodded as if possessed.
Realizing she had actually agreed to the professor's suggestion, Hermione hurriedly added, "Okay, okay, I can try, but only for a little while."
Sean pointed to the bed. "You can lie here; the pillow will make you more comfortable."
Hermione slowly walked to the bedside, looking somewhat hesitant. She carefully lay down, her back to Sean, her body stiff with nervousness.
Her face grew even redder, her heart filled with shyness and unease, after all, this was the first time someone had helped her relieve stress in this way.
Sean stood beside her, maintaining a professional demeanor, and gently began massaging her shoulders and back.
"You can close your eyes, try to focus on your breathing, and slowly relax," he whispered, trying to make Hermes feel relaxed and at ease.
Hermione listened to his advice, closed her eyes, and kept repeating in her mind:
Hermione, you can do it!
Don't be nervous, just relax. Don't embarrass yourself in front of the professor.
However, as Sean increased the intensity of the massage, Hermione felt a strange sense of comfort gradually spreading throughout her body. She couldn't help but let out a comfortable groan, immediately waking up with a flushed face.
"I'm sorry, Professor! I—I didn't mean to," Hermione hurriedly explained, afraid that her outburst would leave a bad impression on Sean.
Seeing this, Sean simply smiled and comforted her, "It's alright, Hermione. This is just a normal physiological reaction, which means my method is very effective. You can relax now and don't worry about those little things."
Hermione nodded, trying to relax. Sean's technique was very professional; the massage pressure was just right, and she quickly felt comfortable all over, gradually forgetting her earlier embarrassment.
Hermione couldn't help but let out comfortable gasps. Her body grew softer and softer under Sean's massage, and even her thoughts became sluggish.
"Could you take off your shirt?" Sean asked suddenly, pausing his massage of the lower back.
"W-what?!" Hermione's face flushed instantly, and she sat up abruptly, her eyes wide with surprise and embarrassment.
Her heart started racing, and she was so nervous she could barely speak.
Sean immediately realized his mistake and quickly explained, "Sorry, Hermione, what I meant was, if you feel your clothes are getting in the way of the massage, you can take off your top a little, or wear something light. That will make you more comfortable and the massage will be more effective. But if you don't want to, that's perfectly fine too."
Hermione's face remained flushed even after hearing this explanation.
After some hesitation, she realized that Sean meant no harm and was simply trying to help her relax.
Given her deep trust in Sean, she nodded and said softly, "Okay, Professor, if this helps you relax better."