"Clean this place up?"
Cheng Shanshan glanced around.
Immediately, the various assumptions Huo Mingchen had made yesterday came to mind, so he rolled up his sleeves and said, "Let's do it together!"
Given the current situation, with both internal and external troubles, it's impossible for her to leave for the time being. So, in order to make her living situation more comfortable, it's not a bad idea to take some time to tidy up.
Unexpectedly, her agreement made Bai Shi extremely happy: "I knew Shanshan would agree. Let's choose the room I just mentioned for the children's room?"
Aunt Dong disagreed: "Your room won't do. This room has the best sunlight. Children need to get more sun!"
Bai agreed, saying, "Then let's listen to you and start with this room."
"Please wait a moment."
Cheng Shanshan remembered what Cheng Shisi had just said and realized that the two of them had really misunderstood something.
At this point, she didn't know how to explain, since they had already formed a preconceived notion. She could only try her best not to be swayed: "It's better to organize from left to right, room by room."
Aunt Dong: "Alright, whatever you say."
Bai echoed, "Yes, yes, yes, we'll do whatever you tell us to do."
Both men turned to her, their eyes filled with sincerity and expectation, which left Cheng Shanshan somewhat bewildered.
Fortunately, Cheng Shisi appeared at the right time: "Sister, I'm really good at weeding. Leave the weeding in this yard to me."
"good."
Cheng Shanshan nodded.
Then she had Aunt Dong and Madam Bai wipe the furniture, while she inspected each room.
First, they arrived at the largest room, which was said to be where Huo Mingchen's parents lived. Although it was messy, it was still clear that it must have been carefully arranged by the owner in the past.
She first tidied up the overturned and damaged furniture, and then wiped each piece clean as she could without disrupting the original layout.
I originally thought this wouldn't be too difficult, but after a whole day my back was about to break and I had only managed to get it done roughly.
However, Aunt Dong was extremely excited when she saw that she had tidied up the room: "This room used to look just like this when my sister was alive." For so many years, she had not dared to set foot in it, for fear that seeing the things there would remind her of her sister and cause her to have an emotional breakdown.
Now that she had mustered the courage to come in, she seemed to be able to see all the things that had happened through the light and shadow. She finally couldn't help but start sobbing, and then she burst into tears.
Bai wanted to go over and comfort her, but Cheng Shanshan stopped her: "Let her vent her suppressed emotions, otherwise it will only make her feel worse if she keeps them bottled up every day."
"Then... I'll make her something to eat."
"good."
Cheng Shanshan nodded.
She didn't leave, but stood aside and silently watched Aunt Dong.
Aunt Dong cried for a while before sobbing, "Shanshan, do you think my sister will blame me? Will she blame me for not being able to save her from my brother back then?"
Cheng Shanshan said calmly, "You can't save him. After all, Prefect Dong started his scheme from the moment he arrived in Ping'an City. First, he built up his prestige, and then he intensified the conflicts among the people. It can be said that each and every one of his actions was interconnected. You are just a pawn in his game. How could you possibly succeed?"
"..."
Aunt Dong was speechless.
She had absolutely no idea what to say.
At this moment, Cheng Shanshan continued to persuade, "Actually, if Brother Huo's mother were alive, she would not only not blame you, but would thank you for taking such good care of Brother Huo."
"Is that so?"
Aunt Dong was a little skeptical.
“Yes, that’s what I think too.” Huo Mingchen suddenly appeared and handed over his handkerchief. “Actually, I was afraid that Aunt Dong would blame me.”
Aunt Dong knew what he was referring to, and quickly said, "This is his retribution, a cycle of cause and effect. I've seen you suffer all these years, how could I blame you?"
Cheng Shanshan chimed in from the side, "So, you two have forgiven each other?"
"right."
"right."
The two spoke in unison.
This level of understanding amused Aunt Dong: "Alright, I'll go outside and get busy, you two chat."
When only Cheng Shanshan and Huo Mingchen remained, he finally had time to look around: "This place used to be disguised as a haunted house to keep all sorts of weird people away. It's been so long since I've seen it so clean and tidy."
Afraid that he would have an emotional breakdown like Aunt Dong, Cheng Shanshan quickly held out her swollen hands to change the subject: "Look at my hands, they've gotten like this from cleaning up. How much are you going to pay me for my work?"
"How could you be so careless?" Huo Mingchen quickly took out the ointment and said seriously, "From now on, I'll do these heavy tasks when I come back. Don't do them anymore."
"..."
Why does this sound like the words of an old married couple?
When the thought popped into her head, Cheng Shanshan felt like she was going crazy and quickly explained, "You have your own things to do, I'm fine."
"Even after all this, you're still saying nothing?"
Huo Mingchen's face showed a hint of anger, but he didn't say anything more, simply carefully applying the ointment...
Time is extremely slow.
The only sound around them was their breathing.
Perhaps it was too quiet, but Cheng Shanshan's heart started racing as she looked at Huo Mingchen with his eyes downcast. She could only force a change of topic: "How's the situation outside?"
"The medicine man has been temporarily suppressed, but Prefect Dong has escaped."
"Prefect Dong has run away?"
This was something Cheng Shanshan hadn't expected.
"It was my oversight. I forgot that his specialty is deceiving people and betraying them after they've served their purpose. Not only did he run away, he also killed the people who were watching him."
How could someone be so shameless!
"He wouldn't be him if he weren't shameless."
As Huo Mingchen spoke, he blew on her hand. The warmth of his breath made Cheng Shanshan stiffen slightly. Before she could withdraw her hand, she saw Huo Mingchen look up.
In the dim candlelight of the room, his features were highlighted, and his glassy eyes were as deep as the night sky as he stared straight at her.
For a moment, Cheng Shanshan felt like running away: "Then... you go find it quickly, go do your own thing." She made a move to leave.
However, Huo Mingchen pulled her back and reached out to touch her forehead: "Why is your face red? Are you sick?"
"No, not at all."
She would never admit that she had been captivated by his good looks for even a moment!
"That's good."
Huo Mingchen looked at him with a very serious expression: "Shanshan, I think it's better to send you away. After all, the drug-using people here can't be suppressed for long. Once they all become living dead, they will be even harder to control. Why don't you leave first, and I'll come find you when I'm done here?"
To avoid making Cheng Shanshan angry like last time, he deliberately lowered his voice and made his attitude particularly gentle.
Cheng Shanshan looked at Huo Mingchen, her eyes slightly narrowed.
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