Under the cover of night, Xiao Changhe stood with his back to the house, wearing loose boxer shorts, crouching beside a water tub. He scooped up water with a ladle, pouring it over himself again and again.
The cool water washed over his bronze-coloured skin; his broad shoulders and back formed a perfect inverted triangle, powerful and rugged, without a single ounce of excess fat.
His long legs were bent, accentuating his broad shoulders, narrow waist and pert buttocks. With every splash of water, his muscular contours became all the more defined—sexy yet brimming with wildness, making it impossible to look away.
Jiang Fusheng couldn’t help but swallow hard.
With a physique like that, it would be a waste not to become a male model and seduce rich women!
But should she speak up now?
The cubicle in front of the water tank, about the size of a shopping centre changing room, was the Xiao family’s toilet.
Inside stood a large wooden bucket; whether for a number one or a number two, everything was dealt with using that bucket.
Even bathing involved carrying a bucket of clean water in there.
But now he’s washing himself outside the toilet, and she… she really needs to relieve herself!
Jiang Fuseng felt like crying but had no tears; she was so desperate she was trembling, and goosebumps had broken out all over her body.
Yet the man squatting by the water tank remained oblivious, continuing to scrub himself at a leisurely pace; he even stood up to take off his underpants and wash them.
“Hey, hey, hey!”
Jiang Fuseng couldn’t help but cry out, covering her eyes with her hands.
The sudden noise startled Xiao Changhe into spinning round abruptly, clutching the water scoop with both hands to shield ‘Little Changhe’.
“You, you… how on earth… how did you end up… here?”
“I-I-I… I need to go to the toilet! Jiang Fuseng’s tongue tied in knots too; she parted her fingers slightly, peering through the gap to get a clear view of his current state.
“Wait a moment! Go back… back to your room first!”
“No!” Jiang Fuseng shook her head, released her hands, and without a second thought, ran over. “I’ve got to go! If I hold it any longer, my bladder’s going to burst!”
“Don’t you…”
Whether it was fate’s doing or not, at that very moment her left foot tripped over her right, sending her tumbling straight into him, her forehead smashing against his solid chest.
“Ouch!”
There was a loud splash.
She had knocked him into the enormous water tub.
The vat was enormous to begin with; she could have submerged herself up to her head in it.
Now, with the two of them crammed inside, water spilled over the rim, soaking the floor.
“Pfft!”
Jiang Fusheng poked her head out of the water, spat out a mouthful of water, and opened her eyes to meet Xiao Changhe’s dark, brooding gaze.
“I’m… I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!”
“You did… you did mean to!” Xiao Changhe gritted his teeth. His hand, still underwater, slid around her waist, gripping her tightly as he pulled her into his embrace. “Did you want to… take a… a couple’s bath with me?”
He’s slurring his words! How annoying!
“It’s not as if I wouldn’t mind.”
“You wouldn’t mind?” Xiao Changhe’s breath caught in his throat.
“I… I can’t take it anymore!” Jiang Fusheng shoved him away, stood up, and, ignoring her soaking wet clothes, scrambled out of the tub and hurried towards the toilet, slamming the wooden door shut.
She used the wooden bucket as a toilet.
Phew!
That’s better!
All around was dead silence.
The sounds she made were all the more distinct.
Xiao Changhe pictured certain scenes in his mind, and his throat suddenly tightened.
To suppress this urge, he sank down, submerging himself in the water.
When Jiang Fusheng emerged, she saw that he was ‘not in the tub’ and assumed he had already gone back inside, so she simply stood there wringing the water from her clothes.
Only then did she notice that one of her shoes was missing.
It wasn’t anywhere around the tub, so it must have fallen into the water!
She walked back, stood sideways against the tub, and reached her hand into the water.
Huh?
This sensation… something’s not right!
“Splash!”
Xiao Changhe stood up, gripping her restless hand in the water. His face flushed red as he growled, enunciating each syllable: “Jiang! Lai! Di!”
She was doing it on purpose!
“Brother Changhe, why are you still in the water?” Jiang Fuseng’s eyes widened.
So, what she’d just felt—that hard yet soft thing—was… ahem!
Her face flushed instantly, even more noticeably than his, turning as red as a monkey’s bottom.
“What do you think?” Xiao Changhe clasped her wrist and stepped out of the tub.
He was minding his own business having a wash, when she stood silently behind him, suddenly spoke up to startle him, then ran over and pushed him into the water. After teasing him like that, she ran off again, completely ignoring the fact that he was still out there and went straight to the toilet.
In the space of just a few moments, he felt as though she was driving him mad.
“I really didn’t mean to just now. I genuinely needed the toilet—couldn’t hold it any longer—and then I don’t know how I ended up falling in… Brother Changhe, you’re not angry, are you?”
With one hand restrained, Jiang Fuseng could only rest her other hand on his chest, speaking in a soft, pleading tone.
“Get your… your claws off me!” Xiao Changhe’s gaze was dark and intense.
She was playing with fire!
“But aren’t you the one holding onto my claws right now?” Jiang Fuseng, however, withdrew her finger and pointed at her wrist, which was clasped in his large hand, her face a picture of innocence.
“……”
Xiao Changhe was speechless, sighing inwardly as he released her hand.
There was simply no dealing with her!
“All right, don’t be angry. Hurry up and wash up, then go back to bed. Once we wake up tomorrow, we can go and register our marriage! Here, take this.” Jiang Fuseng grabbed the water scoop from the surface of the water and handed it to him, a smile lighting up her eyes.
Xiao Changhe nodded, took the dipper, and turned to fish her shoes out of the water jar. “Hurry back to the room and change… change your clothes. Don’t catch… catch a chill.”
“Righto! Goodnight, Brother Changhe!”
Jiang Fusheng, clutching a single shoe, darted off like a flash, faster than a mouse.
She was terrified that if she lingered a moment longer, his gaze would devour her whole!
Watching her retreating figure disappear, Xiao Changhe looked up at the night sky, scooped up a ladle of water and splashed it over his face to quell the heat rising from within.
He’d have to start the bath all over again!
……
7 o’clock in the morning.
Jiang Fuseng was startled awake by the glaring sunlight streaming through the window.
She rolled over, only to find Xiao Changhong propping his chin up, staring intently at her.
“Why are you staring at me?”
“Sister-in-law, your clothes…” Xiao Changhong’s eyes darted towards the still-damp clothes on the stool. “I thought that was the outfit you were wearing before you went to bed? How come it’s all wet?”
“I…” Jiang Fuseng was at a loss for words. Recalling the scene she’d witnessed last night, her cheeks flushed involuntarily.
Seeing this, Xiao Changhong asked in a low voice: “ “Sister-in-law, did you see Big Brother washing outside last night?”
“How did you know?” Jiang Fuseng blurted out.
Xiao Changhong covered her mouth, looking as though she’d known all along. “Actually, I forgot to tell you—when it’s hot, late at night, Big Brother always washes by the water tank. That’s when everyone’s asleep.”
“Why doesn’t he wash inside?” Jiang Fusheng rubbed her eyes.
Xiao Changhong sat up. “That cubicle’s too small, and there’s a chamber pot in there. Big Brother finds it too cramped.”
“I suppose so…” Jiang Fusheng nodded and sat up as well.
“Sister-in-law, what were you up to last night, by the way? Why are your clothes wet?” Xiao Changhong leaned in closer.
Jiang Fusheng was at a loss for words; she reached out and tapped Xiao Changhong on the head. “You’re just a child—don’t ask so many questions!”
Xiao Changhong pouted. “I’m already sixteen! I’m not a child anymore!”
“Right, right, you’re not a child anymore, but I’m getting up to brush my teeth and wash my face now.” Jiang Fuseng got out of bed.
Xiao Changhong followed her out of bed and wrapped her arm around Jiang Fuseng’s, “Sister-in-law, just tell me, what did you and Big Brother do last night? I’m really curious!”
“If you’re curious, go and ask your big brother!”
Jiang Fusheng pulled her arm free, ran her fingers through her hair, and walked out of the room, only to bump straight into Xiao’s mother, who was returning from outside.