Chapter 20 A flame, so small it could be grasped in one hand, so fragile it seemed it would...
A typhoon is approaching, and the weather has been getting increasingly hot and humid these past few days. As soon as you leave a place with air conditioning, you can feel the humid heat wave about to envelop you.
Xin Mian doesn't go out much anymore, and neither does Qin Shengtian.
But the two often video chat, and Fat Orange occasionally appears on camera, with its spring-loaded tunnel, darting out of the frame in a flash and then darting back in a flash.
A few days ago, Chen Xiulian dried seafood and then dried wampee and lychee peels. She just brought the wampee from the yard and is now sitting on the sofa in the living room organizing them.
Xin Mian, curious, put down her paintbrush and sat down. "Grandma Chen, what are you doing?"
Chen Xiulian looked at her with a smile, "We're going to make salted wampee."
"Salted yellow peel?"
“Yes,” Chen Xiulian said as she sorted, “It involves soaking the wampee in salt water, drying it in the sun, steaming it in a pot over water, removing the pits after steaming, and then layering the wampee and coarse salt in a jar. It’s pickled for about 30 days before it’s ready to eat.”
"This salted wampee is a way of using wampee for medicinal purposes, and it can be stored for a long time."
Xin Mian became even more curious, "Won't it be too salty?"
Chen Xiulian laughed, "If you're not afraid of saltiness, you can eat it directly as a snack. If you're afraid of saltiness, just soak it in water. It can promote digestion and also remove dampness."
Wangshui Island is located by the sea and is very humid. The island's residents have their own set of folk remedies to dispel dampness.
Salted yellow peel is just one of them.
At this point, Chen Xiulian seemed to recall something, and her eyes shone with even more joy. "When Ayu was little, she didn't like drinking yellow peel water. She thought it was salty, sour, and sweet all at once, and she would always make a face when she drank it."
When Chi Yu was mentioned, Xin Mian paused in her action of picking out yellow skin for Chen Xiulian, and her expression became somewhat unnatural.
That day at the dining table, after putting a band-aid on Chi Yu, she fled in panic.
But every word the man said was imprinted in her heart, and that very night, Xinmian had a shameful dream...
In the dream, Chi Yu had just finished taking a shower and was lazily leaning against the table drying his hair, his long legs outstretched.
He wasn't wearing a shirt, revealing his strong, muscular physique.
She inexplicably appeared in his room, staring intently at his shark-like muscles.
Chi Yu was not surprised by her gaze at all, and even turned his body around to show her his muscles more generously.
Those dark, deep eyes stared straight at her, like a seductive fox or a cheetah biting its prey's neck.
Then he said something—
"Xin Xiaomian, you can touch me if you want."
She moved to his side as if possessed, reached out and touched his abs as if possessed.
Unlike the previous accidental touches, this was a proper, uninhibited touch.
The texture felt so real.
The man's muscles were well-defined, almost without an ounce of excess fat, from his broad shoulders to his straight collarbones, from his strong pectoral muscles to his smooth sculpted abs, from his clearly defined abdominal muscles to his prominent V-line...
Every line is tight and sharp, incredibly sexy.
She, like a rogue, couldn't put it down.
As he leaned down slightly, his deep, magnetic laughter suddenly spilled into her ear, his warm breath brushing against her ear. She looked up abruptly, but accidentally bumped her head on his chin.
I woke myself up with a sharp pain.
When I woke up, I realized that I had bumped my head on the headboard while I was sleeping.
She sat up, clutching the blanket. Her head ached, and her cheeks felt incredibly hot. She could only try to hypnotize herself over and over again.
People who don't love beauty will be punished by heaven and earth.
People who don't love beauty will be punished by heaven and earth.
People who don't love beauty will be punished by heaven and earth.
For the next few days, she deliberately avoided him like a mouse would avoid a fat orange.
Just then, a typhoon was approaching, and internet cafes needed to take precautions. These past few days, Chi Yu had been leaving early and returning late every day, so she felt more comfortable staying at home.
After lunch, Fatty Orange went back to its little nest and fell fast asleep.
The sky, which was barely cloudy in the morning, suddenly darkened.
The dark sky seemed to be shrouded in a curtain, completely blocking out the sunlight, and the whole world entered a strange, damp silence.
In the living room on the first floor, the TV station was providing commentary on the latest news about the typhoon's path, while also continuously broadcasting emergency measures in case the typhoon arrives.
Xinmian remembered the potted plants on the third-floor terrace and said to Chen Xiulian, "Grandma, I'll go up and bring the potted plants from the third-floor terrace in."
Chen Xiulian only remembered after being reminded by her, "Oh right, I'll also bring in the potted plants from Ayu's balcony."
Xinmian grabbed her hand and hesitated before saying, "...Grandma, I'll put them away later."
She had seen the potted plants on Chi Yu's second-floor terrace when she was on the third floor. For young people, moving them in and out might not be a problem, but Chen Xiulian was already 70 years old, so it was quite difficult for her.
Chen Xiulian was worried and said, "I'll go up and help you."
Xinmian smiled, "Grandma, I can do it."
——
As soon as the glass door to the third-floor terrace is opened, a wave of heat and humidity rushes in.
At this moment, the oppressive feeling of the dark sky was amplified.
The gloomy atmosphere, as if a storm was brewing, was particularly evident.
Standing on the third-floor terrace, you can see the beach a little further away. Tourists have been persuaded to return to the hotel, and only the police officers on duty are patrolling to ensure the final inspection.
The wind gradually picked up, and the leaves and branches rustled in the breeze.
Ignoring the humid weather, Xinmian quickly bent down and carried the potted plants inside.
Most of the potted plants on the third floor are succulents, and the pots aren't very big; they can be arranged in just a few minutes.
After moving everything from the third floor, Xinmian went back to the second floor.
Chi Yu's door was slightly ajar and unlocked.
It opened with a gentle push.
She had been to Chi Yu's room before, but last time she hadn't had a chance to look at it properly.
The room's decor was much like his personality, with a cold, stern black, gray, and white base, but the boxing gloves on the table and the Swiss Army knife hanging on the wall revealed his arrogant and roguish side.
The items were neatly arranged, and there was no sign of the messy state that was rumored in boys' rooms.
Xin Mian still felt a little guilty for "entering the other person's room without permission" deep down, and silently grumbled to herself a few times.
I'm here to help you move your potted plants; I'm here to do a good deed...
She kept repeating this phrase to herself as she pushed open the French doors to the balcony.
The wind outside was blowing much stronger than when she was on the third floor.
Xinmian was startled by the gust of wind, and her buttoned shirt was inflated like a balloon.
She casually pressed down on it and walked straight to the potted plant placed next to the bottom of the railing.
The plants on the second floor were much heavier than those on the third floor. She was like a busy little bee, constantly moving back and forth between the terrace and the room with her head down.
When Chi Yu returned home and went upstairs, this was the scene that greeted him.
The girl had just placed a potted plant in the pot when she hurriedly returned to the terrace.
The wind was so strong that her shirt billowed out as soon as she stepped outside the glass door.
She casually flicked her sleeve, then pressed down hard on the hem of her dress, unintentionally outlining her slender waist.
However, the two straps tied around her waist came undone without warning the next second.
Drifting aimlessly in the wind.
The two pieces of fabric on the back of the shirt were blown up by the wind, offering almost no protection.
Her soft, porcelain-smooth skin came straight into his eyes, so white it was dazzling, and so small it seemed as if he could break it in one hand.
He could even see the two dimples on her supple lower back.
Chi Yu's Adam's apple bobbed heavily, and his eyes darkened suddenly.
He looked away after only a few moments.
But the hands that were originally crossed in front of her chest suddenly felt itchy again.
This time, he didn't just want to touch her dimples.
Xinmian was completely unaware of all of this.
There was only one potted plant left on the terrace. She bent down and squatted down, about to reach out, when a dry and warm coat suddenly fell from the sky and wrapped her up completely.
Someone grabbed her shoulder and pulled her into an embrace.
A familiar yet unfamiliar, crisp fragrance wafted from behind me, I couldn't tell if it was coming from my coat or from behind.
Xin Mian froze, instinctively wanting to resist.
The moment they made a move, their hands were pressed down.
"It's me."
A deep voice came from the top of her head, drifting in the sea breeze.
She turned her head, her gaze meeting Chi Yu's dark, narrow eyes. In that instant, her heart pounded erratically, yet she still wanted to break free.
Chi Yu was about to laugh in exasperation when he saw her raise her hand several times. "What are you doing?"
She retorted, "What are you doing?"
"Wear your coat."
"I'm not cold."
A typhoon is coming soon. It's humid and stuffy outside. Although the wind is strong, she's already sweating from carrying potted plants back and forth.
Chi Yu straightened up slightly, creating some distance between them, and looked her up and down with a gaze that seemed almost tangible.
The words, spoken in a calm tone, dropped a bombshell: "The strap at the back of your clothes is loose."
Xinmian: !!!
She quickly looked back and, sure enough, saw two pink and white ribbons fluttering in the wind beneath the men's coat draped over his shoulders.
It was indeed the strap at the back of her clothes.
Today she wore a pink and white shirt with a butterfly design. The shirt had buttons in the front and the fabric in the back was cut in the middle, like butterfly wings. When wearing it, you need to tie the straps on both sides.
Otherwise, almost the entire back would be exposed.
Perhaps the wind was too strong, or perhaps she had accidentally pulled on it while she was busy running around.
In short, the strap on her back came undone without her noticing.
Xin Mian's expression was as if she had been struck by lightning.
She didn't plan to go out today. It was just her and Chen Xiulian at home. Because she was afraid of the heat, she didn't wear a tank top under her shirt, only an underwear.
Her ears turned red at a visible speed, but she tried her best to remain calm.
I kept telling myself that it was okay, it was okay, it was just my back being exposed, it was no big deal.
Chi Yu leisurely admired her bright red ears for a while, then grabbed her by the collar and dragged her back to her room. "Let's go in."
"One left..."
She pointed to the potted plant on the terrace.
Chi Yu nodded knowingly, then bent down decisively and picked up the potted plant with one hand.
In addition, they also took the trash cans and other miscellaneous items outside indoors.
Xin Mian wore his coat and looked around his room. Not seeing a mirror, she could only pretend to be nonchalant and casually reach behind her to tie the straps.
But since it's a blind bluff, how could it be so easy to tie it up?
I tried several times, and each time the knot I tied would slip off naturally as soon as I loosened my grip.
She had no choice but to clutch his coat tightly and stand against the wall.
Leaving is not an option, nor is staying.
After Chi Yu finished packing everything, he turned around and saw her standing there with her lips pursed, looking serious but also a little embarrassed, her small face flushed red.
The two ribbons hung down from behind her.
He washed his hands, came to her, leaned down slightly, looked at her carefully, and asked, "Do you need my help?"
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Author's Note: There will be another chapter right after midnight! [kissing emojis] [sprinkling emojis]
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