Chapter 11: Don’t Peek

A kettle of hot water was poured into the washbasin, with two additional thermos flasks placed beside it so that more hot water could be added once the temperature dropped.

Luo Yaqing rummaged through the camphor chest for clean clothes. Underwear from this era was completely unappealing—simple vest-style with side buttons, no underwire for support, and certainly no pretty little lace details.

“You’d better wash quickly, don’t catch a cold,” Han Zhixu said as he carried the empty kettle, gently urging her.

Luo Yaqing turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “How can I be fast? I still need to wash thoroughly. I even want to soak a bit longer.”

Han Zhixu frowned. “No. It’s too cold. You might catch a cold if you stay in too long.”

This time of year, people usually bathed at the public bathhouse.
No one washed at home…

Luo Yaqing smiled sweetly as she walked over. “Alright then, I’ll try to be quick, okay?”

“Mm,” Han Zhixu responded coolly.

Luo Yaqing tilted her little face up at him. “You’re really easy to talk to.”

Han Zhixu felt uncomfortable under her direct gaze and looked away. But when he caught sight of the undergarments in her hand, his ears burned. “I’ll go boil more water,” he said, fleeing like he was escaping a disaster.

Luo Yaqing tested the water temperature, then undressed and sat in the basin.

She slowly poured warm water over herself with a wooden ladle, letting out a long, comfortable sigh.

As she washed, she admired her body. Curves in all the right places, not a trace of excess fat.
Full, round breasts, a delicate waist, a pert bottom.
Her legs were long and slender.

Her looks and figure could easily outshine any modern-day celebrity.

Since it was winter, the water cooled quickly, so she added more hot water to the tub.

Though the basin was small, she managed to lie back and enjoy a rare moment of relaxation.

In the outer room, the aluminum kettle on the stove had already boiled several times, steam puffing from the spout.

Han Zhixu glanced at the door to the inner room, starting to feel restless.

It had been half an hour.

What if she had fallen asleep in there?

What if she caught a cold…

Nervous, he walked to the door, about to knock when a voice called from inside:
“Han Zhixu?”

“I’m here!” he responded immediately.

Inside: “There’s no more hot water.”

“Okay, I’ll bring some right away.”

He turned, grabbed the kettle from the stove, and hurried back. Hand on the doorknob, he paused.

How should he deliver the water?

She’s a woman, and he’s a man.
It didn’t seem proper to go in.

Inside, there was no movement for a while. Luo Yaqing held back a laugh and called out through the door:
“Han Zhixu, is the hot water ready?”

Outside, he replied awkwardly, “The water… it’s ready.”

“Then hurry and bring it in.”

“I…”

“What’s wrong with you? Hurry, the water in the basin is getting cold!” she urged.

Han Zhixu was flustered, throat dry. “…Can I come in? I’m a man…”

“Of course you can come in,” Luo Yaqing interrupted, “but you have to promise me something.”

“What?”

“Don’t peek.”

Her voice came out soft and timid, as if he was the one insisting on barging in…

“I promise…” Han Zhixu muttered, ears turning red.

He pushed open the door, head lowered, afraid of accidentally seeing something he shouldn’t.

Staring at the ground, he placed the kettle down. “Hot water.”

Then turned to leave immediately.

“Wait a minute!” Luo Yaqing called after him.

Han Zhixu paused, back still to her. “Is there something else?”

“Help me scrub my back,” Luo Yaqing said.

Han Zhixu froze, his handsome face flushed red. “I’m not good with my hands… too rough… better if you do it yourself. I’ll go boil more water.”

Before she could respond, he quickly fled.

Luo Yaqing burst into laughter.

She hadn’t even done anything!

Just asked for a back scrub, and look how scared he was.

Looking down at the towel covering her, she pouted, stood up, quickly dried off with a clean towel, then crawled into bed and put on her thermal underwear.

…

A hot water bottle was tucked under the covers—warm and cozy.

Luo Yaqing lay under the blanket, propped on her elbows, watching Han Zhixu clean up.

He carried the bathwater out and dumped it, then mopped the floor clean.

So meticulous. So serious. Everything done in order.

“Han Zhixu, do you want to take a bath too?” she suddenly asked with a smile.

Without looking at her, he replied, “No.”

Luo Yaqing persisted. “Actually, bathing at home isn’t that cold. Look at me—not cold at all.”

After a pause, she added, “Anyway, from now on I’m just going to bathe at home.”

At that, Han Zhixu gave her a sideways glance. “When it snows, it’ll be colder. You’ll still have to go to the bathhouse.”

Luo Yaqing frowned. “No way. There are too many people. I’d be totally exposed! What a loss for me!”

“They’re all women,” Han Zhixu reminded her.

“Still no good,” Luo Yaqing shouted. “How can I let them see my body? If anyone’s going to look, it should be you!”

Han Zhixu’s composed face cracked.

What kind of statement was that…

He didn’t even know how to respond. He grabbed the mop and silently walked away.

Luo Yaqing watched him go, giggling to herself as she turned over to lie on her back.

A while later, Han Zhixu knocked and entered, holding a bowl of ginger tea.

Luo Yaqing sat up in bed, wrapped in the quilt, and glanced at the dark yellow tea. Steam rose from it, carrying a pungent spicy scent.

“Do I have to drink this? I’m not even sick,” she said pitifully.

Han Zhixu’s face was expressionless. “To prevent catching a cold.”

“But it’s so spicy…”

The dark color showed it was brewed with old ginger, which made the flavor intense.

Feeling perfectly fine, Luo Yaqing really didn’t think it was necessary.

Han Zhixu replied, “It’s not spicy. I added sugar.”

“…”

With no more excuses, Luo Yaqing accepted the bowl and took a sip. Spicy with a hint of sweetness—barely tolerable.

“Finish it,” Han Zhixu ordered.

Holding back the sharp flavor, Luo Yaqing gulped it down.

She still didn’t like the taste.

Covering her mouth, she felt like gagging.

Han Zhixu quickly reached out to pat her back, and Luo Yaqing flopped right into his arms.

Reflexively, afraid she’d fall off the bed, Han Zhixu caught her.

In his embrace, Luo Yaqing grinned ear to ear. “You’re holding me a bit tight.”

Realizing it, Han Zhixu quickly let go. “Sorry!”

Luo Yaqing lay back down in a starfish sprawl, dazed, watching him disappear out the door as it closed behind him.

Sigh…

The next morning, Han Zhixu had already brought breakfast back from the base.

While tying up her hair, Luo Yaqing walked over. “I overslept…”

Han Zhixu, setting down the food containers without looking at her, said, “The unit has field training all day. I won’t be back for lunch.”

“Training again…” Luo Yaqing muttered.

“I already washed and chopped the vegetables. Just throw them in the pan at noon.”

Having said that, he turned and left before she could reply.

Luo Yaqing scratched her head in frustration.

Running off so fast…

She’s not a tiger—was he afraid she’d eat him?

She sat down at the table and opened the lunchboxes. Inside was millet porridge, and another box held fried dough sticks and stuffed buns.

The buns were filled with cabbage and pork—more cabbage than meat, but they smelled great and tasted delicious.

After breakfast, she took yesterday’s dirty clothes to the courtyard to wash.

It was her first time using a washboard. Bending over a stool, she scrubbed the clothes hard.

“Yaqing, doing laundry?”

An older woman’s voice called out.

Luo Yaqing looked up and saw Granny Su standing by the fence, holding her little grandson’s hand.