Chapter 68 ☆ Bathing together

Xie Zhao, flattered, carried the bathtub back and forth several times before filling it seven-tenths full. 

After closing the door, he carefully removed the bandage from his left arm and soaked in the water. The warm water made his wounds sting, and he leaned back, resting his cast on the edge of the tub.

The bathtub’s smooth surface and the woody, faintly sweet scent reminded him of Cheng Yaoyao. As he thought about her using this tub, his feelings intensified.

Suddenly, a sweet voice interrupted his thoughts: “The flower water is ready!”

Xie Zhao stood up quickly, his ears reddening. “Sister, how did you get in here?”

Cheng Yaoyao, confidently holding a basin of water, poured it into the tub. “I had to bring you the water. It’s a bit hot; be careful.”

Xie Zhao covered himself with the towel, and Cheng Yaoyao carefully added the honeysuckle water from the spiritual spring, stirring the hot water. “Is the temperature okay?”

“Yes… yes,” Xie Zhao responded tightly, grabbing Cheng Yaoyao’s fingertips. The wound hadn’t fully healed. “Don’t touch the water. Does your finger still hurt?”

In the aftermath of his injury, Cheng Yaoyao had suffered severe pain with broken nails and exposed flesh, which contrasted starkly with her fair skin. She had never experienced such agony before and had cried from the pain. Xie Zhao had applied the last of the rhino horn ointment to her wounds, and she had gradually started to recover.

As Cheng Yaoyao watched Xie Zhao kiss his scars, she pulled her fingers back, splashing water on his shoulders. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s all healed. How’s the bath?”

Just knowing it was Yaoyao’s bathtub made Xie Zhao feel overwhelmed, and he could only nod in agreement.

Cheng Yaoyao excitedly took the soap and said, “Lean your head back, and I’ll wash your hair for you.”

Xie Zhao closed his eyes, leaning his head back on the tub’s edge, though his shoulders were tense. Cheng Yaoyao reassured him, “Don’t be so nervous. I won’t get soap in your eyes. Relax.”

Xie Zhao hummed in response, his fingers gripping the tub’s edge tightly. Cheng Yaoyao was right in front of him, her black hair brushing against his cheeks, and a warm, clean peach blossom scent tickled his nose, making him feel strangely ticklish.

Unaware of Xie Zhao’s sweet torment, Cheng Yaoyao focused on washing his hair. She wet his short, dark hair with warm water, rubbed soap into foam, and then lathered his hair.

Xie Zhao’s hair was dark, thick, and stiff. Cheng Yaoyao rubbed it carefully, skillfully massaging his scalp. Xie Zhao initially frowned but soon let out a sigh of relief.

Proud of her work, Cheng Yaoyao asked, “Is it comfortable?”

“It feels good,” Xie Zhao said gently, holding her wrist. “My fingers aren’t fully healed yet, so be careful with the wound.”

Cheng Yaoyao finished the massage and began rinsing off the foam. “I’ll help you wash off the soap now. Close your eyes tightly.”

As she poured a bucket of water, Xie Zhao was drenched before he could close his eyes. “Hiss…”

“Hey, are you okay?” Cheng Yaoyao hurriedly scooped water to help rinse his eyes.

After a moment, Xie Zhao blinked his red eyes. “It’s okay… you…”

Water and foam had splashed onto Cheng Yaoyao’s body, soaking her white skirt and making it cling to her legs, leaving her looking disheveled.

“I’ve already finished my shower! I’m fine now. It’s all your fault,” Cheng Yaoyao said, looking down in irritation.

Xie Zhao remained silent, thinking that the fault was his own. A spoiled kid like him could never do anything right.

Cheng Yaoyao wrung her wet skirt and muttered, “I’m going to shower again. I wonder if there’s enough hot water… Oops!”

Her hands slipped, and she fell into the tub with a splash, causing water to overflow. “You… cough cough…”

With her wet black hair scattered over her shoulders and her skin pale, Cheng Yaoyao looked like a water nymph. Xie Zhao’s large hand wiped the water droplets from her eyes, and she glared at him with her delicate peach blossom eyes. “What are you doing?!”

Xie Zhao replied earnestly, “There’s no hot water. Let’s bathe together.”

“No!” Cheng Yaoyao protested, trying to climb out of the tub but slipping and splashing water everywhere. “You!”

Despite several attempts, Cheng Yaoyao couldn’t get out as Xie Zhao intentionally made it difficult for her. Eventually, she gave up and leaned against the tub’s edge, trying to distance herself from him. “Then… then you better behave.”

Xie Zhao smiled, saying nothing, and began adding hot water to the tub. The temperature rose, and Cheng Yaoyao sighed in comfort. “My bathtub is useful, isn’t it?”

Xie Zhao asked, “Your bathtub?”

“Of course, it’s mine! It’s for me alone!” Cheng Yaoyao hurriedly clarified. “I’m only letting you use it this once. No more in the future!”

“…Okay, be a good girl and don’t move around,” Xie Zhao said, a hint of restraint in his expression as sweat beaded on his forehead.

With both of them in the small tub, their legs and feet tangled together, Cheng Yaoyao’s white skirt spread out like petals in the water. Xie Zhao averted his gaze, laughing at himself for getting into this situation.

Cheng Yaoyao added a lot of spiritual spring water, leaned on the tub’s edge, and closed her eyes contentedly. Xie Zhao watched her relaxed face and slightly upturned lips, feeling his own mood lift.

The warm water soothed Xie Zhao’s tense muscles and aching wounds. He was so relaxed that he suddenly stood up and moved closer to Cheng Yaoyao.

“Sister?”

Cheng Yaoyao, her breathing steady and cheeks slightly flushed, had actually fallen asleep.

…

When Cheng Yaoyao woke up, she was already lying in her bed. Turning over, she hugged a small bamboo pillow, her face flushing as she recalled the previous night. She didn’t remember how she had been brought back to bed and wondered how Xie Zhao had managed it with only one hand. He must have had a way.

Cheng Yaoyao lay in bed for a while, feeling lazy, before slowly getting up and leaving the room.

Xie Zhao was in the hall, one foot on a bamboo basket and one hand filing the bamboo thorns. Cheng Yaoyao was impressed. “Can’t you take a break? How can you work with one hand?”

Xie Zhao looked up, his eyes shining. “Sister.”

His intense gaze made Cheng Yaoyao’s pretense of indifference crumble. She turned away, blushing, and went to wash her face. Xie Zhao put down the file and followed her. “Are you hungry? Want a snack first?”

Cheng Yaoyao splashed cold water on her face, feeling refreshed. “No, I’ll be having lunch soon. You don’t need to work anymore!”

Xie Zhao said, “I feel much better now, and my bones don’t hurt as much.”

“That’s not allowed either,” Cheng Yaoyao said firmly. “It takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone. No heavy tasks for you.”

Xie Zhao nodded obediently. “Okay.”

Cheng Yaoyao picked up a water jug to pour, but Xie Zhao stopped her. “I’m washing my hands.”

Watching Xie Zhao wash his hands with the water used for his face, Cheng Yaoyao’s cheeks began to flush again. She turned and hurried into the kitchen, where she found Grandma Xie cooking.

Grandma Xie was washing vegetables, and the aroma of rice dumplings steaming in the pot filled the air. Cheng Yaoyao exclaimed, “Grandma, I want to drink rice soup!”

Grandma Xie, picking up the cabbage leaves, said, “Sure, it’s in the clay pot.”

Back then, without electric rice cookers, people in the countryside cooked rice in a pot. The rice was boiled, drained, and then steamed in a wooden barrel-shaped sieve. Rice soup was a byproduct of cooking rice in a pot. It was thick, with a sweet aroma, and very nutritious. If a baby didn’t have breast milk, they could also eat rice soup.

Cheng Yaoyao only drank rice soup as a child at her grandmother’s house. Later, with electric rice cookers becoming common, rice soup became rare. Cheng Yaoyao enjoyed rice soup mixed with rice as it was light and appetizing.

Cheng Yaoyao opened the lid of the earthenware jar to find a bowl of rice soup, white and thick, with a layer of crust on top. She deliberately peeled off the crust and ate it, then scooped up a bowl of rice soup and gulped it down, sighing happily, “It tastes so good.”

Grandma Xie said, “Save some room for us. We’ll have something delicious later.”

“What’s delicious?” Cheng Yaoyao leaned over to see.

Grandma Xie smiled and said, “Fei Fei’s mother sent me some pig brains yesterday. They were so fresh I couldn’t keep them. I cooked them with lots of shredded ginger, and they’re ready for the meal!”

“Pig brains?” Cheng Yaoyao said excitedly. “It’s a waste to cook them. Why not steam them? Pig brains are best mixed with rice!”

Grandma Xie asked, “Won’t they smell fishy if steamed?”

“They won’t be fishy if done right.” Cheng Yaoyao rubbed her hands together. “Grandma, you cook the other dishes. I’ll prepare the pig brains!”

Confident in Cheng Yaoyao’s cooking skills, Grandma Xie handed over the pig brains and went to prepare other dishes.

Cheng Yaoyao took the pig brains out of the well. There were four or five, still very fresh. She carefully removed the blood with a bamboo stick—a crucial step to eliminate the fishy smell. Pig brains that aren’t cleaned properly retain a strong odor, which is why many people dislike them. Many hot pot restaurants don’t clean the blood, leading to a negative impression of pig brains.

Cheng Yaoyao cleaned the pig brains thoroughly, soaking them in cooking wine and Spiritual Spring water. She cut ginger into thin strips and mixed soy sauce, cooking wine, a bit of sugar, pepper, and salt. She placed the pig brains in a large bowl, poured the mixed seasoning over them, and drizzled a little sesame oil.

Once the rice was cooked, Cheng Yaoyao removed the rice sieve. The water in the pot was still boiling, so she placed the pig brains in the pot and steamed them for 20 minutes. Afterward, she sprinkled chopped green onions on top, and a rich, inviting fragrance filled the air.

Lunch was quite rich. Thanks to Xie Zhao, the parents of the rescued children always sent food. Grandma Xie, who adored her grandson, included meat in every meal. Today’s lunch featured crucian carp soup, minced meat, and eggplant and tomato scrambled eggs. However, the steamed pig brains captured everyone’s attention.

The steamed pig brains were hot, white, fragrant, and soft. Mixed with sauce and added to hot rice, they emitted a rich, tempting aroma. Xie Zhao didn’t even reach for the other dishes with his chopsticks and ate three bowls of rice mixed with pig brains.

Initially, Xie Fei was hesitant and avoided pig brains. But after Cheng Yaoyao encouraged her to try a piece, she ate two bowls of rice without needing any further persuasion.

Grandma Xie tasted the pig brains and praised them, “In the past, Brother Zhao used to bring pig brains when he slaughtered pigs, but his brother and sister always disliked the fishy smell and swallowed them while pinching their noses. Yaoyao’s steamed pig brains are delicious and have no fishy smell!”

“Sister Yaoyao’s cooking is amazing!” Xie Fei praised enthusiastically.

Cheng Yaoyao proudly replied, “I have a secret!”

Xie Zhao smiled at her smug expression, unable to stop the corners of his lips from curling up.

Grandma Xie casually remarked, “Yaoyao, be careful when you bathe next time. When I got up today, the utility room floor was covered in water.”

Cheng Yaoyao fell silent for a moment, her face turning red as she wished she could hide in her bowl.

Xie Zhao calmly added, “Grandma, I don’t have to work outside recently, so I’ll study with my sister.”

Grandma Xie’s attention was immediately diverted, and she nodded enthusiastically, “That’s important. I’ve been busy and haven’t studied in a while. Now that I have some free time, it’s a good opportunity to study hard! Yaoyao, Yaoyao?”

“Ah?” Cheng Yaoyao, still blushing, stared at Grandma Xie in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

Grandma Xie said, “What are you staring at? You and Zhao need to come up with a study schedule. That one is called… called…”

Grandma Xie struggled to recall the term. Cheng Yaoyao tentatively suggested, “Schedule?”

“Yes, that’s it,” Grandma Xie confirmed. “Don’t do like before, thinking about everything and sleeping until noon every day.”

Cheng Yaoyao immediately pouted, “It’s hot, I want to sleep!”

Grandma Xie was adamant about studying, refusing to indulge her this time. After Grandma Xie left the table, Xie Fei cleaned up the dishes and went to wash them, while Cheng Yaoyao continued to pout on a small stool.

Suddenly, Xie Zhao said, “I’ll hang a carrying pole on your mouth.”

Cheng Yaoyao jumped up and chased him around the yard, trying to hit him.

Even with a broken arm, Xie Zhao moved briskly, teasing Cheng Yaoyao around the yard. After a long chase, Cheng Yaoyao, out of breath, could only mutter, “You… you’re annoying!”

Despite her frustration, Cheng Yaoyao knew she needed to make a study plan. She took a piece of red paper, drew a table, and wrote out the schedule: study from 8:30 to 11:30 every morning, and from 3 to 4:30 in the afternoon, with homework and review in the evening.

Grandma Xie’s approach to studying was still very traditional, insisting on a 5:30 AM start. Cheng Yaoyao was nearly in tears, arguing that in modern society, there was no need for such harsh study practices.

Seeing Cheng Yaoyao’s pale, frightened face and her pleading glance, Xie Zhao finally agreed to the 8:30 AM start time. Grandma Xie also understood Cheng Yaoyao’s delicacy and had only mentioned 6:00 AM to scare her, so she agreed to the compromise.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, the countryside was silent except for the chirping of cicadas. The Xie family’s yard was cool, with sunlight filtering through the window panes and casting diamond-shaped shadows on the ground. Even the voices seemed to be tinged with laziness.

Cheng Yaoyao lay on the table, working on math problems and explaining in a low voice, “Put the formula in like this, you see… eh?”

Confused, Cheng Yaoyao wrinkled her nose, picked up a pen, and started calculating again. The more she calculated, the more puzzled she became. She glanced secretly at Xie Zhao and met his steady gaze.

Xie Zhao looked at her patiently, a hint of a smile in his eyes. “Teacher, what’s wrong?”

The word “teacher” was emphasized, sounding almost mocking to Cheng Yaoyao. She tried to deflect by saying, “This question is wrong; it doesn’t make sense!”

Cheng Yaoyao turned the page after speaking. Xie Zhao took her hand and said, “Let me see.”

“Look, look, you won’t understand even if you look at it!” Cheng Yaoyao pushed the book toward him angrily.

Xie Zhao responded with a half-smile, “What if I can solve it?”

Having been outwitted before, Cheng Yaoyao thought carefully and finally shook her head, saying, “…You won’t.”

Xie Zhao proposed, “Bet on a one-hour nap.”

This bet was too tempting for Cheng Yaoyao. Her eyes lit up, and she lost her ability to think. “Okay! The only condition is that you have to write down the entire solution. Just remembering the answer doesn’t count!”

Cheng Yaoyao remembered her lesson from the melon field and was determined this time.

Seeing her self-righteousness, Xie Zhao lowered his eyes to hide his smile, took the paper and pen, and began calculating.

The question was challenging. Xie Zhao worked seriously, writing and stopping, crossing out several lines of calculations. Cheng Yaoyao, resting her face on her hands, watched him with growing pride. “If you don’t know how to do it, just admit defeat. I’m going to sleep first!”

Xie Zhao, focused on the problem, ignored her antics. Cheng Yaoyao took the opportunity to run to the bed, hug a small pillow, and lie down comfortably, swinging her legs proudly.

Xie Zhao’s frown relaxed. The problem was based on a formula Cheng Yaoyao had mentioned, but slightly modified. He applied the modified formula and quickly got the answer. After writing down the solution and answer neatly, he looked up impatiently, only to find the seat next to him empty.

Cheng Yaoyao had fallen asleep, hugging a small bamboo pillow. Her rosy lips were slightly parted, with a suspicious sparkle at the corners. She looked so sweet and innocent while sleeping that Xie Zhao couldn’t bear to wake her from her dream.

Xie Zhao sat half on the edge of the bed and said expressionlessly, “You’ve gained weight.”

Cheng Yaoyao hummed, turned over, and leaned against Xie Zhao’s wrist, her cheek against his hand, continuing to sleep soundly.

As expected, she was asleep. Xie Zhao gently covered her with a thin blanket and scratched the tip of her nose with his finger. “I’ll ask you about the bet when you wake up.”