Qi Feng stepped elegantly, “You said you wouldn’t let me see because we’re not married. Now that we’ve agreed to marry next month, you don’t need to worry anymore. Right, my fiancée?”
Ru Feng was on the verge of tears, “I don’t want your help.”
“Silly girl!” Qi Feng stopped teasing her, kissing her forehead, “They’ll be troubling you anyway. I promise not to peek!”
She clutched his clothes, “But I’m not comfortable.”
Having reached their destination, Qi Feng looked at her in his arms and whispered in her ear, “I’ll help you take off your pants. Once you’re seated, I’ll go out. Call me when you’re done?”
“Mm!” Ru Feng’s voice was barely audible, burying her head in his embrace.
Qi Feng wrapped one hand around her and with the other, carefully pulled down her pants. He closed his eyes tightly, and only the sound of heartbeats could be heard.
After placing Ru Feng on the toilet, Qi Feng said, “I’ll go out first.”
Hearing the door close, Ru Feng opened her eyes and took a deep breath, covering her face with both hands. Without looking in the mirror, she knew her face was as red as a monkey’s bottom.
Oh my god, just strike her down with lightning! Ru Feng held her head, looking helplessly at the sky. Why did things turn out this way for her?
Outside the door, Qi Feng’s smile didn’t fade. He looked down at his hand, the smooth-as-jade touch lingering. A few strands of dark red appeared behind his ear as he flicked his fingers, taking a light breath. Who said he wasn’t nervous?
But compared to the joy of teasing Feng’er, this small nervousness was easily ignored.
If solving the people’s livelihood issues had already made Ru Feng die of shame, taking a bath was an even more embarrassing and painful process.
Ru Feng hugged her clothes, curling up in the blanket. “I won’t wash.”
Qi Feng pulled the blanket, unsure whether to laugh or cry. “Feng’er, you were choked while bathing last night. If you don’t let me help you, are you preparing to choke yourself again?”
“I won’t wash,” she repeated, fully expressing her intention.
“So you’re planning to never bathe again until your leg heals?”
“Feng’er, you’ll start to smell,” Qi Feng said seriously.
Ru Feng, hidden under the blanket, reflected on why her second brother, Qi Feng, seemed more inclined to bully her after her leg injury instead of showing sympathy.
“Feng’er?”
“Get out!” Ru Feng almost cried. Qi Feng gently patted the blanket covering her. “Feng’er, shall we skip straight to the wedding night? To save you from hiding while I help you bathe!”
Unable to bear it anymore, Ru Feng threw off the blanket. “Second Brother, if you provoke me again, I’ll get angry.”
“Angry?” Qi Feng stood up straight. “And then what?”
Ru Feng hesitated, wanting to say she’d go home where he couldn’t bully her but instead weakly replied, “I’ll go to the hospital for treatment. There will be female nurses to care for me, right?”
Qi Feng threw the towel on the bed. “Then wash yourself.” He left the room.
Is this what a brother or fiancé is like? Ru Feng pounded the bed in frustration.
Soon after, Wu Ma and Li Aunt entered. Ru Feng composed herself and allowed them to carry her to the bathtub.
With her legs resting on the edge, she observed their sweaty faces and decided, “Forget it, just wipe me.” It seemed that comfortably soaking in a bath for the next six months was unlikely.
Despite the heating lamp, her skin remained cold and covered in goosebumps after being wiped with water.
After bathing, they carried her out.
The floor was slippery from water and soap. Li Aunt stumbled, “Ah!” Ru Feng screamed as she fell.
Knowing about her lumbar spine injury, Ru Feng quickly stretched out her hands, changing direction to land face down on the floor. Although her chest hurt, she protected her tailbone.
“Miss Qiu!” Wu Ma and Li Aunt rushed over, and the door burst open.
“Feng’er!” Qi Feng picked her up, looking anxious.
Ru Feng shook her head, tugging at her loosened towel.
Qi Feng said to the two women, “Wu Ma, you both go out. I’ll handle this.”
After they left, he asked, “Did you hurt your leg?”
“No.”
Qi Feng’s hand reached for her back, but she quickly grabbed his clothes. “My spine is fine.”
“Oh!” Qi Feng relaxed. “Did you hurt here?” he asked, looking at her chest.
Ru Feng pressed his face with both hands. “Don’t look.”
“Stop it!” Qi Feng pinned down her hands. “If you get injured again, you won’t be able to stand.”
He gently carried her and placed her on a stool by the bathtub, crouching at eye level. “Let me help, okay?”
“Second Brother!” Ru Feng looked somewhat lost.
Qi Feng stood up, pressing her head to his chest so she could hear his heartbeat. “Feng’er, don’t be afraid. I’m not trying to force you, but look at yourself.”
You can’t get hurt again, whether using the toilet or bathing. I’m not comfortable leaving you with Wu Ma and the others. Your spine is moderately displaced. Even a slight additional injury could be fatal. Understand?”
He touched his forehead to hers. “If you feel shy, I can take off my clothes too.”
Ru Feng was silent, then wrapped her arms around his neck. “I didn’t wash properly. I need to wash again.”
Qi Feng sighed in relief. “Do you want me to take off my clothes too?”
“No,” Ru Feng shook her head quickly.
Qi Feng chuckled, refilling the bathtub, checking the water temperature before carefully holding Ru Feng, placing her legs on the tub’s edge.
Ru Feng closed her eyes, feeling his hand pause behind her for a moment before opening her towel.
His hand was gentle. She leaned against him, hearing his heartbeat and breath near her ear.
Whether the water was too hot or his body too warm, Ru Feng kept her eyes closed, letting him handle everything.
After washing her, Qi Feng hastily tucked her into bed without dressing her in pajamas, saying, “I’ll go take a shower and come back,” rushing out without waiting for her response.
Hearing the door close, Ru Feng opened her eyes and hit the bed twice, wondering how to get through these days. Thinking about her second brother’s situation, she couldn’t help but laugh, thinking he must be taking a cold shower—poor thing, in winter. This thought made her feel more balanced.
When Qi Feng appeared, she sensed his cold aura before he approached. He sat on the bed’s edge and uttered three words, “I’m sorry.”
“What?” she asked. Qi Feng stroked her hair, his face blushing, “That’s a normal reaction, understand?”
“I don’t understand!” she replied confidently. Qi Feng raised an eyebrow, and Ru Feng looked back innocently. Moments later, she cried out as a mischievous hand appeared under the blanket.
Qi Feng held her head with one hand, the other sliding under the blanket, gently tracing her curves while his lips lingered on hers. As her breath became unsteady, he triumphantly whispered, “This is the reaction I mean, understand?” She bit his chin angrily.
Qi Feng wasn’t angry and let her vent her frustration before kissing her neck, “Feng’er, you need to get better soon.” If this continued, her injury wouldn’t heal, and he might suffer internal damage.
The office door opened, and Qi Feng walked in.
Si Tu Jin put down his pen. “What is it?” His son rarely remembered he had an office unless called.
Qi Feng stood before him. “Why did Feng’er go to the ancestral home?”
Si Tu Jin was somewhat surprised and then laughed. “I don’t know. You might as well ask Feng’er yourself.”
Qi Feng leaned on the desk, snorting. “How can you not know? Don’t you know what you discussed with those old guys all afternoon?”
Si Tu Jin smiled, “Those were elders, young man. You should respect them. Since she went, I had to say hello. As for why Feng’er went…” He paused, raising an eyebrow. “Didn’t you ask her yourself?”
