After finishing farm work, the mother and sons were covered in sweat.
Shen Lu then remembered that the two little ones had bathed themselves yesterday and wondered if they had gotten clean.
Shen Lu started looking for clothes for the two little ones while speaking.
"Wait, Mom will help you bathe."
The two little ones immediately covered themselves up tightly, and Gu Xingyu, in particular, refused with a serious expression.
"A true man doesn't let a girl help him bathe."
Shen Lu was amused by his serious little expression and pinched Gu Xingyu's nose.
"You're still a child, and it's only natural for a mother to bathe her child."
Hearing the word "mother," Gu Xingyu paused.
He had heard before that other children had their parents help them bathe and wash their clothes.
While Gu Xingyu was still in a daze, Shen Lu had already stripped the two little ones and thrown them into the bathroom.
Gu Xingze stood obediently to let Shen Lu scrub and rinse him, but Gu Xingyu struggled like a fish on a cutting board.
After bathing them, Shen Lu was so tired she was panting, feeling like she didn't need to do her aerobics today.
After their bath, the two little ones looked like different people, their skin rosy and their hair still wet.
Shen Lu was delighted and took out the snow cream she had just bought from her backpack, applying a layer evenly to the two little ones' faces.
Gu Xingyu touched his smooth face with his hand and then smelled it.
"It smells so good..."
As he spoke, he broke into a smile, and two little dimples appeared at the corners of his mouth.
In the two days since Shen Lu had transmigrated, this was the first time she had seen Gu Xingyu smile. He was so cute, even cuter than the child stars she had seen in modern society.
Shen Lu couldn't help herself and stepped forward, cupping Gu Xingyu's face and giving him a big kiss.
Gu Xingyu's face instantly turned red.
To Shen Lu's surprise, the little one didn't dodge this time but shyly buried his face in her arms.
Shen Lu felt the soft little one in her arms, and her empty heart felt completely filled.
In the evening, after Shen Lu had tidied up, she went to the study room to sleep.
The family doctor, Gu Xingze, appeared in the study room on time with his medical kit.
Shen Lu cooperated fully as Gu Xingze applied medicine to her.
He not only treated the wound on Shen Lu's head but also the one on her neck.
Today, Gu Xingyu no longer watched Shen Lu from afar as before. Instead, he walked in with Gu Xingze, acting as a nurse.
One moment he handed over iodine, the next, gauze.
Seeing the thumb-sized wound on Shen Lu's head, Gu Xingyu bit his lip, feeling a little guilty.
After the two of them left, Shen Lu prepared to sleep.
At this moment, the study door opened a crack.
Gu Xingze, holding his small pillow, poked his little head out. When his gaze met Shen Lu's, he shyly lowered his head.
"Xiao Ze, is something wrong?" Shen Lu asked instinctively. Knowing Gu Xingze was hesitant to speak, Shen Lu deliberately got out of bed and moved closer to inquire.
"My brother is worried you'll be scared sleeping alone and wants to stay with you. I'm worried you'll bully my brother," Gu Xingyu's slightly defiant voice came from behind.
He hugged his small quilt, tilting his head to avoid looking at Shen Lu, but his flushed earlobes betrayed him.
Shen Lu was touched and leaned down to gently rub Gu Xingze and Gu Xingyu's fluffy little heads.
"Thank you, our Xiao Ze and Xiao Yu."
Shen Lu couldn't have asked for more than the two children wanting to be close to her.
However, it was clear that the folding bed in her room couldn't accommodate three people.
Shen Lu said, "How about Mom sleeps with you in the next room?"
The two little ones quickly took off their shoes and got into bed. Gu Xingyu was by the wall, Gu Xingze in the middle, and a large space was left on the outer side for Shen Lu.
Under the dim yellow light, the mother and sons were in the same room for the first time. The atmosphere was not tense as usual, but filled with warmth.
Gu Xingyu excitedly hugged Gu Xingze's arm and rolled around. This was the first time he had slept with his mother!
It felt like a dream.
In the dream, Mom was gentle, delicious, fragrant, and soft...
Shen Lu tucked the corners of the quilt around the two little ones, turned off the light, and got into bed.
This was the first time the two little ones were sleeping with Shen Lu, and they were too excited to sleep, playing and roughhousing with each other.
Seeing that they weren't sleepy, Shen Lu said, "Lie down properly, and I'll tell you a story."
A story!
Upon hearing this, the two little ones immediately lay down side-by-side, their attention fully focused on Shen Lu.
Shen Lu began slowly, "Once upon a time, there was a group of little mermaids who lived carefree at the bottom of the sea, but on this stormy day..."
Under Shen Lu's gentle voice, the two children soon fell into a deep sleep.
In the moonlight, Shen Lu looked at their tender faces and slowly stopped telling the story.
Shen Lu had always had trouble sleeping in modern times and thought she would definitely have trouble sleeping after all she had been through.
However, she didn't expect that listening to the even breathing of the two little ones, Shen Lu's consciousness grew heavy, and she gradually fell asleep, dreaming no dreams that night.
✦✦✦
The next day, Shen Lu woke up to a series of knocks on the door.
Shen Lu looked at the clock on the wall, unable to believe she had slept for so long.
Shen Lu looked back at the two little ones lying in bed, her heart softening. She wondered if it was because of them.
The knocking continued, and Shen Lu quickly put on her clothes, got out of bed, and opened the door.
When she opened the door, she found it was the Captain of the Guard from yesterday.
He was carrying two cans of Malted Milk Food, a bag of brown sugar, and a pack of crispy pastries, and had come to Shen Lu's home.
Shen Lu knew that these items were considered a significant gift in this era and tried to refuse them.
"I'm only doing what I should..."
"Please take them, Comrade Shen. This is a token of the organization's regard for you. Please do not refuse or be displeased."
Hearing this, Shen Lu had no choice but to accept.
After expressing his concern for Shen Lu, the Captain of the Guard got to the point.
"The investigation into yesterday's incident has not yet yielded results, but the list is being taken very seriously. Comrade Shen Lu, you have been a great help. With this list, our work will proceed smoothly."
"However, the organization has decreed that the matter of the spy should not be publicized. Therefore, you may have to endure some hardship regarding recognition for now."
Shen Lu shook her head. She hadn't done this for recognition in the first place.
Besides, she knew that the spy had not yet been caught. If it were publicized now, they might get wind of it and escape.
"I will follow the organization's arrangements."
Seeing Shen Lu's understanding, the Captain of the Guard nodded with satisfaction, feeling a bit guilty at the same time, as this was recognition earned with her life.
The Captain of the Guard promised, "Don't worry, I will definitely fight for you."
Shen Lu nodded, "Thank you for your trouble."
After saying this, the Captain of the Guard put down the items and went to the next house.
Their task today was to find the people who had been on the mountain yesterday and warn them house by house not to leak any information.
This was a matter of national importance and could not afford any mistakes or oversights.
✦✦✦