Song Qiuyu braced herself and followed Jiang Xiao into the Bathroom.
She had no idea where this sudden surge of courage had come from, but subconsciously, she felt she was just too cool right now.
Human beings shine like gold because of their courage. This was her, Song Qiuyu’s, exclusive anthem!
I’m just too cool.
“Jiang Xiao, your arm can’t get wet. It has to stay dry, so, if you really want to take a shower, let me help you with it!”
She lowered her eyes and glanced at his fractured right arm.
She could hardly imagine that while she was doing the dishes, Jiang Xiao had already wrapped his cast with a dry towel, secured it with an Elastic Bandage, covered it with a clean plastic bag, and sealed the opening with Adhesive Tape!
From the look of it, he’d already done a pretty good job of keeping the Plaster Cast dry.
But it was still too difficult to shower with just one hand, so—she couldn’t let Jiang Xiao bathe alone!
As for why Jiang Xiao wanted to shower, she didn’t even need to ask. She felt like she knew.
He just didn’t want to be stinky in front of someone he liked.
Besides, Jiang Xiao was always neat and tidy.
Jiang Xiao frowned.
“Maybe not, I’m afraid…”
“I’m not going to eat you, so what are you afraid of?”
Song Qiuyu strode forward a few steps, and under Jiang Xiao’s slightly shadowed gaze, she grabbed the change of clothes in his arms without asking, and put them on the rack to the side.
“I’m afraid I’ll eat you.”
Jiang Xiao’s voice was steady as a rock, but when it landed in Song Qiuyu’s ears, it was like a storm, instantly stirring up waves in her already unsettled heart.
Her whole heart pounded wildly for a few beats, and she froze on the spot.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t considered such a dangerous possibility, but his directness felt like a long-dormant volcano erupting, burning her supposedly indestructible sense of duty with scalding magma.
Now, she had no choice but to face the desire the other party had for her head on.
Jiang Xiao was not lying.
He must be serious.
What man could stand having the girl he likes help him shower, touching his body, and still do nothing at all?
Jiang Xiao wasn’t Liu Xiahui.
But in the end, duty won by a narrow margin.
She gritted her teeth, grabbed the collar of the boy in front of her—who was a whole head taller—and yanked it downward.
Jiang Xiao was startled.
“Jiang Xiao!”
Song Qiuyu stared into his eyes seriously, biting off every word.
“I came to help you shower with all the courage I could muster. How can you say something like that?”
She seemed to have suffered a huge grievance and wanted to stand up for herself, pressing her lips tightly together and even holding her breath.
Jiang Xiao met her eyes, neither dodging nor avoiding, watching her attitude carefully as a complicated look flashed through his gaze.
Did this girl really know what kind of torment awaited them, and was she still going to stick to it?
Song Qiuyu… what am I supposed to do with you?
“It was to scare you off.”
Jiang Xiao licked his lips, a little helpless and a little irritated, clenching his left fist tightly, then slowly relaxing it, his tone firm. “You’re looking down on me!”
Song Qiuyu absolutely refused to admit she’d be scared off.
Since she’d promised to take care of Jiang Xiao to the end, she’d see it through.
This was a man’s promise.
“Hoo…”
Jiang Xiao turned his face away, letting out a long sigh, helpless and at a complete loss.
Ahead lay purgatory.
Was there really no way out of it?
“I believe in you.”
Seeing Jiang Xiao still hesitating, Song Qiuyu was silent for a moment before she spoke.
She understood very well that what pure-hearted guys like Jiang Xiao loved most was that pure love story—two people, both willing, slowly wearing each other down.
Unless he truly couldn’t hold back.
Otherwise, he would never force the person he liked.
Jiang Xiao was in a real bind right now.
He didn’t trust himself or little Jiang Xiao.
She could almost imagine Jiang Xiao was about to kick her out of the Bathroom any moment.
He’d insist on bathing alone, or maybe just skip it entirely.
That would never do.
To be fair, she’d have to take care of Jiang Xiao up close every day from now on.
She herself didn’t want him to have any sort of smell.
She’d really mind. Honestly, she would.
“I believe you won’t do anything to hurt me. I believe Jiang Xiao wouldn’t hurt Song Qiuyu!”
Jiang Xiao was stunned again.
He turned back, looking at the girl before him, who was filled with determination.
In the next moment, a sweet, radiant smile slowly blossomed on her adorable face.
“I trust you this much. You won’t let me down, right?”
“I won’t.”
Somehow, Jiang Xiao answered her with certainty.
Once that promise was made, breaking it would be unforgivable.
“Good.”
Song Qiuyu let go of Jiang Xiao’s collar with relief.
“Now, I’ll help you take off your clothes.”
Jiang Xiao nodded lightly.
From now on, his only job was to cooperate with her as best as he could.
Song Qiuyu held her breath ever so slightly.
After getting Jiang Xiao’s permission, her original idea—which was just charging in out of a sense of duty—now had a trace of wild distraction mixed in.
Jiang Xiao had her to help him relieve his stress, but what about her? She had to bear all the pressure Jiang Xiao brought her by herself!
She admitted it all started as her own mistake, but even putting aside the facts, Jiang Xiao was a total lovestruck idiot, but it wasn’t like he was really wrong.
And ever since the new term started, she’d run into all sorts of trouble just trying to take care of him.
If this was all punishment she needed to suffer to atone for her sins, then so be it.
But she was human, too.
Sometimes she needed to vent!
Just a little…
Just a little payback for Jiang Xiao, teach him a small lesson to let off some steam. If she didn’t, it would be too stifling!
“Let’s turn on the water first. It’s better to shower when it’s warm, or you’ll catch cold.”
She took a few deep breaths, walked over to turn on the hot water, and let the steam fill the Bathroom with warmth.
Then she came back, and under Jiang Xiao’s lowered, focused gaze, she reached out and undid the white buttons of his light blue shirt.
“Raise your right arm a bit so it doesn’t get splashed.” Even though he’d done a decent job prepping, it was best not to get it wet.
“Okay.”
The arm in the Plaster Cast obediently rose.
The shirt came apart, revealing firm muscles beneath.
That trim waistline, the contours of his muscles were like sculpture, and his long legs—still covered by his pants—were clearly strong and powerful.
Song Qiuyu’s eyes narrowed.
She used to only care about the graceful curves of girls.
She’d never paid much attention to what guys had.
But at this moment, she actually thought the hard lines of a man’s body were just as beautiful as a girl’s.
No, maybe even more intoxicating.
What drew her attention most, as before, was his chest—the broad, solid chest muscles, rising and falling with each breath…
She’d never felt anything about it before—maybe a bit envious or jealous.
But now, it was outrageously alluring, making her want to leave marks there.
This look was definitely not suitable for public display.
It would make all the girls lose their minds and stop in their tracks.
But now, this person was obediently standing in front of her, motionless, letting her help him shower.
This sort of treatment—wasn’t it something only Jiang Xiao’s girlfriend should enjoy?
Her clean fingers pinched his shirt collar and, gently, took the shirt off and tossed it into the Dirty Laundry Basket.
Then her fingertips deliberately traced down his chest, all the way to his waist.
Song Qiuyu bit her lip and reached for his belt buckle.
“It’s time to keep going, Jiang Xiao.”