Dressing

In the stillness, a clear sound of swallowing echoed through the room.

The cool, dry air-conditioned room seemed to grow warmer, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on Jiang Wenzhe's skin.

After what felt like an eternity, Jiang Wenzhe pushed himself up and got out of bed.

He took down the clothes he had just hung up.

Jiang Wenzhe's right arm slid beneath Lin Sangyu's chest, inevitably brushing against that softness. Every muscle in his body tensed, and the skin he touched felt scorched, burning terribly.

His heart pounded like thunder. After a few deep breaths, Jiang Wenzhe suppressed the turmoil within him, lifted Lin Sangyu slightly from the bed, and drew her into his arms.

Lin Sangyu was a heavy sleeper, and hugging was something she had long grown accustomed to with Jiang Wenzhe, so he wasn't worried in the slightest that such a small movement would wake her.

Then, with his free left hand, Jiang Wenzhe began carefully dressing her in her pajamas, piece by piece.

The cool, thin fabric settled once more over her soft body. Jiang Wenzhe lowered his head, his fingers trembling slightly as he buttoned the pajama top one button at a time.

Perhaps his gaze was too focused, too burning. In the dimly lit room, Jiang Wenzhe distinctly noticed a tiny red mole on Lin Sangyu's chest, standing out vividly against her delicate, fair skin—like a brilliant red plum blossom on snow, waiting to be plucked.

So beautiful. He wanted to kiss it.

But in just two seconds, that thought was extinguished.

Jiang Wenzhe picked up the smaller piece of fabric, gently parted Lin Sangyu's legs, and, lowering his head, began from her toes, slipping the tiny garment over her feet and up.

Lin Sangyu seemed to have put on a little weight.

That thought surfaced when Jiang Wenzhe's hand brushed the inside of her thigh.

His large palm covered it, giving a light squeeze, and soft flesh spilled out between his fingers.

The night remained quiet. Some small point stretched longer, growing thicker.

Jiang Wenzhe thought that such a tranquil night was suited for wild love, for shy adaptation, for mutual acceptance, for complete embrace.

Lost in thought, he had already finished dressing Lin Sangyu in her sleep pants. He pulled the blanket back over her and even tidied the stray strands of hair on her forehead.

On a night like this, the two holding each other, falling asleep to the rhythm of each other's heartbeats—that seemed good too, more than fine.

His wife was sensitive and timid, hadn't fully accepted him yet. If he acted on every whim and impulse, he'd scare her away.

Lin Sangyu couldn't abandon Jiang Wenzhe. She couldn't leave.

*

The next morning.

Lin Sangyu rarely woke up early, but as soon as she did, she found herself tightly trapped in Jiang Wenzhe's arm. It was fine while sleeping, but awake it felt a bit uncomfortable. She propped herself on her elbow and gave him a moderate shove.

The next second, Jiang Wenzhe opened his eyes, awake.

"Up this early today?" Seeing Lin Sangyu's wide, round eyes, Jiang Wenzhe casually loosened the grip of his arm and asked.

"Hehe, that's just how amazing I am. I've seriously cultivated the good habit of going to bed early and waking up early."

Lin Sangyu scrambled up and, with a casual glance, spotted the tattered scraps of clothing on the old wooden table.

"Huh? What's that?"

"Clothes."

"Why are they cut up? Did you cut them?" Lin Sangyu was puzzled.

"Mm." Jiang Wenzhe replied offhandedly.

"Why would you cut clothes?"

Jiang Wenzhe said, "Couldn't sleep at night. Cut them for fun."

Lin Sangyu's eyelids twitched. At a loss for how to respond to such bizarre behavior, she forced a strained smile. "Th-That's... impressive."

Insomniacs were truly terrifying.

A smile lingered in Jiang Wenzhe's eyes as his gaze swept over Lin Sangyu, unabashed and direct. "Moderately impressive."

"What are we doing today?" Lin Sangyu asked, automatically tuning out the cold, serpentine look in his eyes.

Jiang Wenzhe's expression returned to normal in a flash. He carried her off the bed and replied, "Farm work."

"Huh? What kind of farm work?"

Jiang Wenzhe made something up: "We're going to put you out in the sun to dry."

"We're going to sun-dry the grain, right?" Lin Sangyu said.

"You actually know about sun-drying grain?"

Jiang Wenzhe was a bit surprised. Lin Sangyu had no common sense about life, yet she had a bit of agricultural knowledge.

"But we're not going to sun-dry grain. I'm just taking you to pick a few lotus roots for fun. Those tasks are too tiring."

Before heading out after breakfast, Jiang Wenzhe clamped onto Lin Sangyu's deeply displeased face and applied sunscreen thoroughly, covering every inch.

"It's so sticky. I don't like it." Lin Sangyu complained.

"Mm, I know."

With that, Jiang Wenzhe plopped a ridiculously rustic straw hat onto Lin Sangyu's head.

Under her watchful gaze, Jiang Wenzhe retrieved a pair of full-body waterproof waders from a tool shed. When he came back, he crouched down, looked up at her, and said, "Lift your foot a bit."

Once everything was fully on, Jiang Wenzhe took in Lin Sangyu's appearance and couldn't help but let out a low chuckle.

The wide straw hat covered the girl's delicate, soft face, and from his angle, all he could see was a length of fair, neat chin. Her lower body was wrapped in the bulky waders, the loose fit concealing her figure's curves, making Lin Sangyu look even more childishly adorable.

"Let's go." Jiang Wenzhe quickly donned his own gear, carrying a bucket in one hand and holding Lin Sangyu's hand with the other.

Lin Sangyu squirmed a little, but at the thought of picking lotus roots soon, she got excited again.

The distance wasn't far. After a short drive, a stretch of lotus ponds came into view.

It wasn't yet the official lotus-picking season, and only a few middle-aged women were tending the ponds.

Lin Sangyu couldn't wait to step into the soft, cold black mud. The murky water rose past her calves, and each step felt heavy as she lifted her legs. The pond breeze carried the fresh scent of lotus leaves. Standing in the pond, she raised her fair face and smiled at Jiang Wenzhe.

"Why aren't you coming down?"

"Not as eager as you."

With that, Jiang Wenzhe waded through the murky water and came to stand beside Lin Sangyu.

"Do you know how to pick them?"

"I've seen it. You just fish for lotus roots in this dark mud." Lin Sangyu said.

"Remember to follow the vines and feel around. We only need to pick a few."

Jiang Wenzhe was dressed casually today—a simple black T-shirt hugging his alluring, well-built chest, with a narrow, sharp waist. Wearing the waders over it, he bent over in the mud, skillfully groping for lotus roots, exuding a rare, down-to-earth air.

Lin Sangyu watched for a while, then obediently copied him, doing her best to learn.

She found one. Using brute force, she yanked hard, and a section of plump, white lotus root, still coated in black mud, saw the light of day in her hands.

"Jiang Wenzhe, am I amazing?" The moment she dug out the root, Lin Sangyu showed it off to him.

Using the same tone he'd use to coax a child, Jiang Wenzhe replied casually, "Wow, that really is incredible."

"You're so half-hearted." Lin Sangyu huffed, turned around, and trudged off with heavy steps to pick roots on her own.

After pulling out the root he'd been feeling for, Jiang Wenzhe followed her. She moved a step, and he moved a step; she backed away, and he advanced two steps.

"You're so annoying." Lin Sangyu puffed out her cheeks.

"Really?" Jiang Wenzhe smiled lazily.

"Yes," Lin Sangyu suddenly turned her head and smiled, crooking her finger. "Jiang Wenzhe, come here."

Hiss—

Something was off. Very off.

But seeing the finger she crooked, Jiang Wenzhe still, against his better judgment, took a few more steps toward her.

When only about a dozen centimeters of distance remained, Lin Sangyu showed her true colors. A lump of foul, stinking mud had somehow appeared in her hand.

With lightning speed, both hands shot toward Jiang Wenzhe's arms, scraping down hard from top to bottom.

Just like that, ten streaks of mud appeared on Jiang Wenzhe's tanned arms.

Having pulled off her ambush, Lin Sangyu immediately turned guiltily and ran awkwardly backward, trying to escape before that petty-minded someone could retaliate.

But she hadn't gotten more than a few steps before Jiang Wenzhe caught up and grabbed the back of her collar.

The collar was cruelly yanked, and Lin Sangyu turned her head to see Jiang Wenzhe's face, caught between exasperation and laughter.

"Running?" he said.

"Afraid you'll get back at me." Lin Sangyu offered an ingratiating smile.

"No need for revenge. Just wash me clean."

Jiang Wenzhe switched into his pampered young master mode, supervising Lin Sangyu as she had to fetch water from the well and wash his arms.

Lin Sangyu didn't complain. After all, she was the one who'd gotten him dirty, and drawing well water wasn't troublesome—just lower the bucket, hook it, and turn the hand crank of the windlass.

The damp mud had begun to dry in the sun, clinging tightly to his skin with cracked lines. Jiang Wenzhe sat on a large rock while Lin Sangyu crouched beside him, cupping handfuls of clean water and patiently rinsing his arms.

Her fingers were slender and long, the well water between them cool. The contrast in their skin tones made Jiang Wenzhe's eyes grow hot.

"It's clean now. You can't blame me anymore." Lin Sangyu stood up.

Jiang Wenzhe tilted his head. "Not clean. Wash a while longer."

Lin Sangyu's eyes widened. "Where's it not clean?"

"It's just not clean."

"Fine, fine, fine."

Lin Sangyu crouched back down, but this time she wasn't as gentle as before. She scrubbed his arms with all her might, rubbing hard until his skin turned red. Only then did she look up with a malicious grin.

But Jiang Wenzhe merely said in a flat voice, "Keep going."

"Keep going? Doesn't it hurt?" Lin Sangyu was shocked.

Jiang Wenzhe lifted his eyelids. "Not that delicate."

"Right, you're not delicate, but my hands are rubbed sore," Lin Sangyu said. "I'm not washing anymore. You can stay dirty for all I care."

"Fine, no more washing then." Jiang Wenzhe stretched lazily, stood up, and wiped the drop of sweat hanging from Lin Sangyu's lashes. "I need to go see someone. It's a bit hot now, so you don't have to come. Wait for me here, and don't run off."

"Go, go, go." Lin Sangyu said.

Jiang Wenzhe stepped out of the shade, gave a few instructions to a worker on the ridge of the field, then left.

When his figure had completely disappeared, Lin Sangyu scrambled up onto the large rock Jiang Wenzhe had been sitting on and lay down.

The sun was bright, the scent of earth filled the air, and cicadas chirped all around.

Listening to the cicadas, Lin Sangyu thought,

Hehe, fried cicadas are delicious. When we get back, I'll make Jiang Wenzhe buy some for me.

Thinking, she suddenly grew drowsy. Summer noons had a way of lulling you to sleep. Lin Sangyu yawned, turned over, and drifted off in a daze.

When Jiang Wenzhe finished his business and came back, he saw Lin Sangyu curled up quietly on that large rock, like a cat.

Through the gaps in the leaves, sunlight was cut into golden specks, falling on Lin Sangyu's brow, the tip of her nose, her lips...

So dazed. So obedient.

He wanted to ruin it.

Once the seed of a wicked idea broke through the soil, there was no stopping it. Jiang Wenzhe returned to the lotus pond, scooped up a handful of mud, and came back.

With malicious glee, he drew a big tabby cat's face on Lin Sangyu's fair, clean face.