Early in the morning, Liu Zhiheng was outside clearing snow from the roof. Besides fearing the roof might collapse under the weight, she also wanted to find something to do to stay in the yard for a while.
All day yesterday, the atmosphere between her and Duan Wujiu had been strange. She could sense that Duan Wujiu wanted to get closer to her, but she deliberately found excuses to keep her distance, maintaining a subtle, ambiguous space between them.
She was somewhat attracted to his looks and enjoyed teasing Duan Wujiu, but only through playful banter to pass the boring winter days. She hadn’t actually intended for anything to happen between them…
So, Liu Zhiheng only wanted to keep their relationship within the realm of ambiguity, without letting it go any deeper.
…
Just as she was thinking this, Duan Wujiu walked out of the house, still looking at Liu Zhiheng with that gentle gaze. Seeing her tiptoeing to reach the roof with a pole, he found it utterly adorable.
Even though he was the man, she insisted on doing everything first.
A Heng really knew how to take care of people.
“Let me help you. With such a small stature, reaching the roof must be quite a struggle,” Duan Wujiu said with a smile.
Among girls, Liu Zhiheng was actually considered tall, though she was indeed no match for the tall and graceful Duan Wujiu. By modern measurements, Duan Wujiu’s height was around 188 centimeters.
But did he have to call her “such a small stature”?
“No need!” Liu Zhiheng refused without hesitation. “Tiptoeing is good for me—maybe it’ll help me grow taller.”
Considering her age, she should still have some growing to do.
Liu Zhiheng dreamed of reaching 170 centimeters. She estimated she was still about five centimeters short.
Just as she was thinking this, Liu Zhiheng lost her focus, and a large pile of snow suddenly slid off the roof, directly hitting her and burying her in the snow.
Struggling in the snow, Liu Zhiheng felt the air around her suddenly grow thin. Snow got into her nose and mouth, chilling her from the inside out.
She felt someone brushing the snow off her head. Soon, a pair of slender, fair hands with distinct knuckles cleared the snow from her face.
She could breathe deeply again!
Liu Zhiheng spat out the snow from her mouth and nose, making a few “pfft” sounds, then wiped her face to brush off the snow.
A few snowflakes still clung to the top of her head, and frost settled on her eyelashes, shimmering with every blink.
Duan Wujiu chuckled softly, seemingly amused by Liu Zhiheng’s appearance.
“A Heng looks like a little snowman.”
This was the first time Liu Zhiheng had seen Duan Wujiu laugh like this. Usually, even when he was at his most obedient, a hint of gloominess always lingered. This was the first time he had laughed so brightly.
His laughter was so captivating that it left her stunned.
Duan Wujiu reached out and gently flicked Liu Zhiheng’s nose, saying helplessly, “What are you spacing out for, A Heng? Aren’t you afraid of freezing in the snow?”
Snapping back to reality, Liu Zhiheng said angrily, “How dare you laugh at me! Hurry up and dig me out!”
In no time, Duan Wujiu had completely dug Liu Zhiheng out. He picked up the frozen Liu Zhiheng, carried her back into the house, and placed her on the heated kang bed. Then he turned and went to the kitchen to boil water for her bath.
Liu Zhiheng didn’t know what Duan Wujiu was doing. She sat inside for a while before finally recovering, but as the warmth of the room enveloped her, her hair and clothes became completely soaked.To avoid getting sick, Liu Zhiheng had to quickly take off all her wet clothes and change into dry ones.
Just as Liu Zhiheng was standing behind the screen changing her clothes, Duan Wujiu walked into the room and happened to catch a glimpse of the graceful silhouette behind the screen.
Duan Wujiu averted his gaze and deliberately cleared his throat to remind Liu Zhiheng of his presence.
“I… I’m coming in.”
“Wait a moment, I’m changing,” Liu Zhiheng said. “My clothes and hair are all wet.”
A faint blush spread across Duan Wujiu’s face. “I boiled some water for you. Wait a bit, I’ll bring it in so you can take a bath.”
Soon after, Duan Wujiu returned carrying the water.
Liu Zhiheng, draped in an outer garment, waited as Duan Wujiu made several trips to pour the water into the bathtub behind the screen.
It took quite a few trips back and forth before all the water was finally poured.
“A Heng, you go ahead and soak. I’ll go make some ginger soup for you. After you finish bathing, just go lie down in bed. Don’t worry about cleaning up—I’ll take care of it.”
With that, Duan Wujiu stepped out and closed the door.
Liu Zhiheng walked behind the screen, removed her outer garment, and stepped into the bathtub.
Conditions in the village were limited. Taking a bath was troublesome—water had to be carried in bucket by bucket, and after bathing, it had to be scooped out ladle by ladle. It was such a hassle that most people simply wiped themselves clean.
Liu Zhiheng never expected that Duan Wujiu, a prince, would be so gentle and attentive, taking care of her so meticulously.
…
Not long after, there was a knock on the door—it was probably Duan Wujiu returning.
“Xuelang?” Liu Zhiheng called out from behind the screen.
“Hmm.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve finished making the ginger soup…” Duan Wujiu said in a somewhat pitiful tone. “A Heng, it’s so cold outside, and my injuries have only just healed. Can I wait for you inside the room?”
Liu Zhiheng, soaking naked in the bathtub, felt this wasn’t quite appropriate. But Duan Wujiu’s tone was so pitiful, and he had just gone back and forth so many times to fetch water for her. She couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
“Alright.”
…
The door opened, and Duan Wujiu walked in, then turned to close it again.
Liu Zhiheng heard him place the ginger soup on the table and then find a place to sit down.
Duan Wujiu sat by the eight immortals table in the room, which was very close to the screen—only a few steps away from her.
Even though there was a screen between them, Liu Zhiheng still felt an intense sense of shame at being undressed in front of someone. But not wanting to seem overly prudish, she forced herself to continue bathing.
Listening to the sound of water, Duan Wujiu’s gaze gradually darkened, his eyes holding a surge of emotion he himself was unaware of.
Behind the screen, Liu Zhiheng felt as if there was a gaze fixed on her from outside. It made her scalp tingle, and she just wanted to finish bathing quickly.
Just as Liu Zhiheng was about to get up, she suddenly heard Duan Wujiu speak.
“A Heng, it’s been so long since I’ve had a bath. I want to take one too, is that alright?”
Liu Zhiheng’s face flushed red, and she plopped back down into the bathtub with a splash. Already warmed from the soak, she now felt even more heated.
“Don’t be silly…” Liu Zhiheng muttered.
“I’m not being silly,” Duan Wujiu’s voice still carried a hint of pleading as he asked pitifully, “A Heng, are you unwilling?”
Liu Zhiheng hadn’t expected Duan Wujiu to take such a big step. Could it be that her infatuated behavior that night had given him the wrong impression, making him think she was someone unrestrained and wanton?
Liu Zhiheng felt she needed to explain herself quickly.”Xuelang, you’ve misunderstood. I’m not actually the kind of shameless person you think I am. After all, I’m still a young lady—I could never do something like a mandarin duck bath!”
Outside the screen, Duan Wujiu seemed to chuckle triumphantly. Suppressing his laughter, he feigned seriousness and said, “Where did A Heng’s thoughts wander to? I meant that I would bathe after you finish.”
Liu Zhiheng thought to herself: So it was me who was being indecent!
But Liu Zhiheng hadn’t expected that while her thoughts weren’t indecent, someone else’s were even more so.
The second half of Duan Wujiu’s sentence immediately made Liu Zhiheng blush crimson.
Duan Wujiu asked, “A Heng, would it be all right if I used the water you bathed in?”