118. You Must Not Dress Like This

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Bai Jinyan fetched an old wooden basin from the corner of the room, filled it halfway with warm water, and after testing the temperature himself, brought it over to Chen Ruowen.

“Wash your face first. I’ll go make you something to eat.”

Chen Ruowen looked at the worn basin with obvious distaste. Bai Jinyan knew her temper and gently explained, “The village conditions are tough. This is the best I could find here.”

“Couldn't you buy something better at the supermarket...?” she murmured.

“There’s no supermarket here,” Bai Jinyan shook his head, placing the basin on the floor. He then untied the square cloth wrapped around Chen Ruowen’s head. “There’s cold water in the jar by the corner and hot water in the bottle. You can take a bath if you want, but there’s no large basin, so you’ll have to make do. Supplies are scarce here. It’s best if Uncle Chen airships whatever you need. The nearest market is half a day’s walk, and the things there probably won’t suit you.”

His fingers rested briefly on her cheek.

“I’ll wait outside for you.”

With that, he stepped out and closed the door behind him.

Chen Ruowen didn’t wash immediately. Instead, she took out her phone and snapped a photo of the room, sending it to Chen Liwan, but there was no signal in the village. No messages went through.

“No internet either... The conditions are really terrible.”

Despite her irritation with the small basin, after a whole day of travel, Chen Ruowen couldn’t bear the sweat and dust on her body and reluctantly managed to wash herself.

After washing, she was in an even worse state—she realized she hadn’t brought any change of clothes.

Her luggage was still in the car, to be airlifted with Old Cui tomorrow.

She whispered this through the door to Bai Jinyan, then rummaged through his suitcase for a loose white shirt to wear.

The shirt’s buttons sat a little low on Chen Ruowen, exposing half of her shoulder and collarbone, the fabric loosely draping around her. Below the hem, her long, slender legs stretched out straight. Her skin was pale, like ivory porcelain, contrasting strikingly with the thin white shirt—irresistibly alluring.

When she opened the door again, Bai Jinyan was waiting outside with a bowl. He glanced at her briefly, then quickly averted his eyes, closing the door like a thief. He set the bowl on the table and pulled out a large bath towel from his suitcase, wrapping Chen Ruowen up without a word.

“Why are you just wearing a shirt?!” Bai Jinyan’s voice sounded a little frustrated.

Chen Ruowen stretched one hand out from the towel, looking innocent and ready to explain.

But Bai Jinyan grabbed her hand and shoved it back inside the towel, snapping fiercely, “Cover up!”

“What if someone’s at the door while you’re dressed like that?”

Chen Ruowen blinked.

Was he angry about this?

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“Are you worried someone will see me?” Chen Ruowen teased.

“Do you think this is funny? Don’t you realize it’s dangerous? What if I’m not here? What if there are others? What if…”

He trailed off as Chen Ruowen slipped both hands out of the towel and wrapped them around his waist.

“Since you’re here, how could there be anyone else?”

Bai Jinyan’s anger extinguished, and he tightened the half-falling towel around her, muttering, “Don’t wear that again.”

“Not even when we’re alone?”

His ears flushed red. He pushed Chen Ruowen onto a stool, then picked up her dirty clothes tossed on the bed.

“Today there’s only egg noodles. Just make do and eat some. I’ll wash your clothes; they should be dry by morning.”

Perhaps worried she’d waste food or for some other reason, Bai Jinyan added, “I cooked the noodles myself. Try them.”

Without waiting for a reply, he left with her dirty clothes, locking the door behind him—afraid she might wander around outside wearing only a shirt.

But his words helped. Several times when Chen Ruowen wanted to throw down her chopsticks, she reminded herself, “This was made by Bai Jinyan,” and managed to finish most of the bowl.

Just as she set her chopsticks down, Bai Jinyan returned. The clothes he took were likely already drying. He had changed as well, his face still flushed, with a few sparkling water droplets in his hair, as if he had taken a quick shower too.

Chen Ruowen pushed the bowl aside and rubbed her flat stomach.

“I really can’t eat anymore.”

Bai Jinyan said nothing, took the bowl, and finished the remaining noodles.

Only then did Chen Ruowen realize that since they met, Bai Jinyan hadn’t eaten either. Not only that, he seemed not to have rested at all, busy taking care of her.

“It’s late. You should rest first. I’ll wash the bowl.”

Chen Ruowen nodded and glanced at the only quilt in the room. Seeing this, Bai Jinyan took some clothes from his suitcase and spread them on the quilt.

“Use my clothes as a cushion for now. It’s cold in the mountains at night. You should cover yourself with the towel too.”

“You gave me everything, what about you?”

Bai Jinyan stroked her hair gently. “I’ll keep watch outside for you.”

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Chen Ruowen said nothing. Bai Jinyan took a box of medicine from the drawer and pushed it toward her.

“There are many mosquitoes and insects here. Before you sleep, sprinkle this medicine around the bed.”

Chen Ruowen remained silent. Bai Jinyan left after speaking, locking the door behind him.

After a while of silence, Chen Ruowen, curious, opened the bottle of medicine he’d left, sniffed it, then tossed it aside in disgust.

Too pungent…

If she sprinkled this stuff, she wouldn’t be able to sleep at all.

She slowly climbed onto the floor mattress, carefully controlling her movements so as not to disturb the bedding under her clothes. She covered herself with the bath towel, then pulled two of Bai Jinyan’s shirts over herself, lying there wide-eyed and lost in thought.

What exactly was she here for? To suffer? To experience life?

That fool Bai Jinyan hadn’t bothered talking to her this whole time—they hadn’t seen each other in so long, and he hadn’t said more than a few words.

“Bai Jinyan, are you there?” Chen Ruowen called out.

“I’m here,” Bai Jinyan replied in a low voice from behind the wooden door.

“Talk to me.”

“Okay, about what?”

What could she say? Chen Ruowen wondered, about to speak when her expression suddenly changed.

Something seemed to crawl out from under the quilt, slowly making its way up her calf.

“Bai—Bai Jinyan, something’s biting me!!”

Chen Ruowen screamed, jumping up from the mattress, wildly thrashing her legs, shoes forgotten, running barefoot toward the door.

Startled by her scream, Bai Jinyan pushed the door open without hesitation and rushed in.

Chen Ruowen threw herself into his arms, clutching his neck and leaping up, wrapping her legs tightly around him.

“Something’s biting me…” she whimpered, utterly distressed.