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Sunlight poured down, and everything in the courtyard lay bare within sight, with no place to hide.
The man’s bronzed skin gleamed as he raised his hand and splashed water over himself. The stream flowed down from his Adam’s apple, tracing his neck and chest, sliding past well-defined eight-pack abs and V-lines, before disappearing into the waistband of his dark trousers.
As the water streamed over, the wet fabric clung to his body, and—cough—certain places bulged so boldly it made one’s heart tremble.
His waist was lean, the muscle lines firm and sensual, not an ounce of excess flesh. Just admiring him was like gazing upon a flawless marble statue.
After taking her medicine, Wen Qinghe’s fever subsided, and her spirits returned.
When she woke from her nap and opened the bedroom door, this was exactly what she saw.
The man stood in the yard, scooping water from the vat and pouring it over himself ladle by ladle.
The autumn wind blew fallen leaves dancing through the air; the chill in the season grew deeper.
Just looking at it made her think—the water must be freezing to the bone. How could this man stand it?
Sensing her gaze, Yan Xiao raised his eyes, meeting the clear, unashamed stare of the young girl watching him.
For a moment, his movements stiffened. The heat he had only just subdued suddenly surged back.
…
One hour earlier.
He had fed the girl medicine and half a bowl of porridge before she drifted back to sleep.
Remembering Li Huaqing’s instructions, Yan Xiao carefully unscrewed the ointment lid. The red rashes on Wen Qinghe’s neck had to be treated three times a day.
Seeing her still asleep, he sat quietly by the bed and began applying the medicine.
The exposed skin was the worst—rough and irritated compared to the smooth, fair complexion elsewhere. The sight made a dull ache spread through his heart.
After finishing the visible areas, he noticed some rashes along her collar. Carefully, he tugged her neckline open.
Yesterday, Wen Qinghe had gone to bed wearing a palace-style lace-trimmed V-neck pajama set in pure white.
Of course, for comfort, girls didn’t wear anything restrictive beneath when sleeping.
He had intended only to apply the medicine, but the tender whiteness inside was too conspicuous.
And the moment his gaze fell, he caught sight of the faint embroidered pink plum blossoms beneath the thin fabric—delicate, soft, vividly beautiful.
Yan Xiao’s breath deepened, his Adam’s apple bobbing, muscles tightening. It felt as though all the blood in his body rushed to one place.
Though he instantly let go of her collar, that fleeting view lingered in his mind, impossible to dispel.
So that’s the difference between a man and a woman?
She really was beautiful everywhere…
His thoughts swirled: My girl is so pretty! So different from me—everywhere pretty! Even there is pretty…
As he thought this, warmth surged to his nose. Hastily setting the ointment aside, he bolted outside.
Even in the biting cold wind, the heat in his body refused to fade.
So he scooped cold water over himself from the vat again and again, then stripped off his shirt and poured for half an hour until the fire finally dimmed.
But when Wen Qinghe stepped outside, the moment he saw her, his mind betrayed him—thinking of snow-white steamed buns, and plum blossoms blooming against a snowy winter backdrop.
Both were beautiful. He couldn’t decide which was lovelier.
Realizing his thoughts were running dangerously astray, he turned his reddened face aside, lowering his voice:
“It’s cold outside. Qingqing, go back in first. Wait for me—I’ll be right there.”
He then sidestepped quickly into another room to change clothes.
Wen Qinghe stared in surprise at his awkward demeanor. Broad daylight, and he still has this much energy?
…
When Yan Xiao came out dressed, he saw her still standing outside in thin clothing.
His brows furrowed. “It’s chilly—why hasn’t Qingqing gone inside?”
“The room feels too stuffy. I wanted some fresh air.”
He immediately went to fetch the coat he had washed and dried the day before, draping it over her shoulders.
Earlier, worried she might get cold, he had already lit the stove in the room. Now, inside was warm like spring, outside was biting autumn—two different worlds.
He had bought that stove in town that very morning, carrying it back on his back. Since his arms were occupied holding Wen Qinghe, he had bundled the rest of his purchases into one large package and hauled it home.
With the little girl living here now, more and more things would need to be bought.
Seeing her in the coat he had chosen filled him with satisfaction.
Wen Qinghe looked doubtfully at the beige trench coat. “This is…?”
“Ahem… I bought it this morning. Your clothes yesterday were left soaking at the educated youth spot and couldn’t be worn. So I bought some new ones and washed them. I don’t know if you’ll like them…”
She looked down at the trench coat. Knee-length, single-breasted, with a cinched waist—classic in style. Even in the modern day, it would be considered fashionable.
But in this era, it was downright cutting-edge.
And it couldn’t have been cheap.
Yet since her man had bought it, he must have done so with joy and expectation. She couldn’t discourage him—what she should do was surprise him with the happiest response, giving him the greatest sense of fulfillment.
“It’s so beautiful! I love it~ Brother Yan has such good taste~”
Hearing her words, Yan Xiao’s tense brow eased, and the corners of his lips curved.
Already, he was planning—after the team finished the current busywork, he would make time to go to the county and buy her more beautiful clothes.
And when Heizi went south again, he’d ask him to keep an eye out for comfortable, fashionable women’s wear.
His Qingqing deserved nothing but the best.