Chapter 6: Upgraded Bandeau

After closing the door, Liu Yao began demonstrating to Wei Lan how to wear intimate clothing. As she explained, she demonstrated each step, and Wei Lan carefully observed, nodding from time to time.

“The menstrual cloth should be folded into a long strip like this,” Liu Yao unfolded and folded the cotton cloth again, “then secured in this position.” Wei Lan followed along and tried it herself.

“Try this.” Liu Yao handed her a bandeau with a floral pattern. Wei Lan untied the straps and lowered her head. As soon as the fabric pressed against her chest, it left deep marks.

“Sister Yao, this… this doesn’t seem to hold properly, it’s too tight. I feel like I can hardly breathe.” Wei Lan furrowed her brows, her cheeks flushed as she murmured in a barely audible voice.

“Oh dear, I didn’t expect this…” Liu Yao chuckled, poking Wei Lan’s waist. “But little sister Wei, with the way you run around, don’t you hop around like a little rabbit? Aren’t you exhausted?” The room was suddenly filled with silver-bell-like laughter.

Wei Lan puffed her cheeks and widened her round eyes in feigned anger. “Sister Yao, you’re always teasing me!” But as soon as she spoke, she couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Still, having a sister like you makes me feel so lucky. You’re so good to me.”

Liu Yao looked at her with a gentle smile and pinched Wei Lan’s soft cheeks affectionately. “You silly girl, if I don’t take care of you, then who else should I take care of? You’re my dearest little sister.”

Wei Lan giggled, and the room was filled with warmth. As they laughed and chatted, the sun outside rose a little higher.

Liu Yao rolled up her sleeves and started cleaning. She tidied the hall first, wiping the dust off tables and chairs and sweeping the accumulated dust in the corners. The hall had rooms on either side—her father’s, her younger brother Liu Mingyi’s, Wei Lan’s bedroom, and a study.

Liu Yao entered her father’s room first. The furnishings were simple—just a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk. She shook out the faded bedding and neatly arranged the yellowed medical books on the desk by height.

When she stepped into her brother’s room, the scent of herbs filled the air. A medicine cabinet stood in one corner, with labeled drawers containing various homemade herbs.

Next to the cabinet was a medicine-preparation table, with a mortar, pestle, sieve, and rows of bottles and jars filled with different powders and ointments. She carefully avoided the tightly packed medicine jars and only wiped the table’s surface.

Then, she entered Wei Lan’s room. In one corner were several parcels wrapped in cotton cloth, likely items Wei Lan had brought from afar. Liu Yao wasn’t familiar with them, so she simply dusted the furniture without disturbing her belongings.

Finally, she stepped into the courtyard. The yard was enclosed by a wooden fence. On one side was a vegetable patch where she carefully weeded and watered the plants. On the other side was a pond, its surface covered with fallen leaves. Though there were no fish, it had a certain charm. Liu Yao took a broom and swept the leaves aside, making the pond look cleaner.

As Liu Yao busied herself with chores, Wei Lan examined the bandeau in her hands.

She ran her fingers over the soft fabric and muttered, “This body is still developing. This bandeau is like a vest, squeezing me tightly every day. If I keep wearing it, won’t it ruin my figure?” She frowned, then her expression grew determined. “No, I have to find a way to make a supportive undergarment with a steel wire.”

She sat at the table, took out paper and a brush, and began drawing a design. She sketched the front and back views of the undergarment, clearly marking the positions and shape of the steel wire. It needed to be flexible yet supportive, conforming to the body’s curves.

Once the design was complete, she took an old undergarment and prepared to modify it. She found some fine steel wire in Liu Mingyi’s medicine cabinet, originally used for securing herbs, and repurposed it as material for her new undergarment.

She carefully bent the steel wire to match her design, adjusting with pliers until it was perfectly curved. This process required extreme patience and precision, but with her surgical skills, she meticulously shaped the wire.

Next, she had to secure the steel wire to the fabric. She wrapped the ends with clean cotton strips and stitched them securely into place, ensuring the stitches were tight and smooth to prevent discomfort.

After securing the wire, she cut soft cotton padding to fit her contours, placing them strategically so they wouldn’t appear awkward.

Once finished, she eagerly tried it on. The rigid wire felt slightly uncomfortable at first, but she wasn’t discouraged. She adjusted the position and shape repeatedly, even unpicking and resewing the stitches multiple times, until she found the most comfortable fit.

After much effort, she finally created a well-fitting, supportive undergarment. Seeing her reflection in the mirror, Wei Lan smiled in satisfaction.

At noon, as sunlight poured into the courtyard, Liu Yao was sweeping leaves when she suddenly heard a metallic clinking from inside. She followed the sound and found Wei Lan hunched over her table, fiddling with something—fine steel wire gleaming in the sunlight.

Liu Yao’s eyes widened when she saw what was on the table. The curved steel wire, wrapped in cotton fabric, was sewn neatly into the undergarment with incredible precision. She asked, “Wei Lan, what is this?”

Wei Lan held up her creation and explained, “I modified this undergarment with steel wire for support. It’s more comfortable and fits better.”

Seeing Liu Yao’s puzzled expression, she pulled her to the bed. “Just try it, and you’ll see.”

Though skeptical, Liu Yao tried on the undergarment at Wei Lan’s insistence. Once she put it on, she was amazed by its support and praised Wei Lan’s craftsmanship.

“This really feels different,” Liu Yao remarked in awe.

Since Liu Yao liked it, Wei Lan decided to make one tailored for her. She had Liu Yao sit on the bed while she took measurements with a soft ruler. Wei Lan’s hands were gentle yet precise, and Liu Yao let her work without hesitation.

Once the measurements were taken, Wei Lan got to work. With her refined skills, she skillfully stitched fabric and wire together. Soon, a custom-fitted steel-wire undergarment was completed.

After three rounds of adjustments, when Liu Yao finally put on the improved version, her eyes lit up with surprise. “It’s definitely more comfortable than a bandeau,” she admitted, feeling the curve hugging her form. Then she suddenly asked, “By the way, have you remembered anything from before?”

Wei Lan shook her head. “Still nothing.”

Liu Yao continued, “Then do you remember your age?”

Wei Lan estimated based on her appearance and physical condition. “Maybe fifteen? Or sixteen?”

Liu Yao chuckled and teased, “You don’t even remember your age, let alone your birthday. I was thinking of preparing a gift for you!”

Wei Lan almost blurted out her real birth date but caught herself, remembering her supposed amnesia. “Sister Yao, I really don’t remember.”

Liu Yao thought for a moment and suggested, “Why don’t we go to the Earth God Temple? Maybe the Earth God can help you recall your past.”

Wei Lan was curious. “What’s the Earth God Temple?”

Liu Yao patiently explained, “It’s a place where we worship the Earth God, the guardian of this land. He keeps us safe and healthy. Legend says he can also guide lost souls home. If we pray there, he might give you some clues.”

Although Wei Lan didn’t believe in superstition, she couldn’t refuse Liu Yao’s kindness. She smiled and agreed.

Liu Yao, always quick to act, immediately prepared offerings and dragged Wei Lan along.

Soon, they arrived at the temple. Though not grand, it had a solemn presence, with incense smoke curling through the air.

As Liu Yao bowed and prayed sincerely for Wei Lan to regain her memories, Wei Lan watched in silence, feeling a mix of guilt and warmth.

She hesitated. Should she reveal that she was actually from another time?