Lost in a dilemma
The air in the bathroom was so thick that it seemed like you could squeeze water out of it.
Water vapor lingered on the frosted glass, smooth tiles and cold metal pipes, covering them with a hazy veil.
Zhou Jianxing's fingertips touched the cold screwdriver, but Wen Lingyi did not let go immediately.
The well-maintained hand lingered, allowing the screwdriver to briefly pass between their fingers. Wen Lingyi's fingertips once again brushed against Zhou Jianxing's sweaty palm, as lightly as snowflakes melting in her palm.
His brain was so dizzy that Zhou Jianxing instinctively shrank back, trying to keep a suffocating and dangerous distance.
One step, two steps.
She stepped back and Wen Lingyi stepped forward.
Stepping on the slightly cool tiles with crystal water marks on them, it is silent, lazy and inescapable.
The ankles are slender, the arches are graceful, and each step is unhurried.
Zhou Jianxing's back soon pressed against the damp, frosted glass partition behind her. The cool touch penetrated the thin workwear fabric, causing her to shudder slightly, and a layer of tiny goiters instantly appeared on her back.
There is no turning back.
·
In front of him was Wen Lingyi's body, still warm after a bath. The collar of her white bathrobe was slightly open, revealing her graceful collarbone. There were still a few undried water droplets on it, sparkling in the light.
The wet black waves were scattered casually, and a few strands of hair stuck to the cheeks with a faint blush.
Her eyes were now looking at Zhou Jianxing without any reservation, her gaze was deep, filled with the mist of a deep pool.
Zhou Jianxing was trapped between the cold glass behind him and the warm body in front of him, unable to move. The air seemed to be squeezed thin, and breathing became short and difficult.
My cheeks were burning uncontrollably, spreading all the way to my ears, as if they were on fire.
"Master Zhou," Wen Lingyi tilted her head slightly, a strand of wet hair falling from her shoulder. Her eyes held just the right amount of concern as she meticulously portrayed Zhou Jianxing's flushed face, his tightly pursed lips, and his eyes, which were staring intently at the faucet beside him, with nowhere to turn. "Your face... is so red."
The voice was slightly hoarse, like the softest sandpaper, slowly rubbing Zhou Jianxing's most sensitive nerve endings.
Wen Lingyi's gaze seemed to inadvertently sweep across the collar of Zhou Jianxing's work shirt, which was soaked with a light layer of sweat. The fabric there was slightly darker in color and stuck to the skin below his collarbone.
The corners of his lips curled up in a very faint, almost imperceptible arc, and his tone was as natural as if he was discussing the weather: "Are you feeling unwell? Or... is the temperature here making you a little stuffy?"
She paused for a moment and suggested, "How about... taking off your coat? It'll be more comfortable if you get some fresh air."
Take off… take off my clothes?! This thought exploded in Zhou Jianxing's chaotic mind. Blood instantly rushed to her cheeks and then rushed wildly through her limbs and bones, making her fingertips numb and almost unable to hold the screwdriver in her hand.
She shook her head a little too much, and a few strands of untied chestnut curly hair fell in front of her forehead, making her look even more disheveled.
Her voice was slightly tense due to extreme nervousness, and it was sharper than ever before: "No...no need! Mrs. Wen! I...I'm fine!" She didn't realize that the tone of her voice sounded like begging for mercy.
She almost hurriedly defended herself, her eyes frantically scanning Wen Lingyi's face before quickly dropping to stare at the hem of her bathrobe. "It's...it's you...you're too close...I...I'm not used to it..."
The air seemed to stagnate for a moment.
The mist-like "concern" on Wen Lingyi's face faded away, and she was covered with her usual elegant, gentle and soft mask again.
She uttered a soft "ah", dragging out the last syllable a little, as if she had just finally understood it. Then she took two steps back very naturally and calmly, keeping a relatively "safe" distance.
There was no sound when I stepped on the tiles barefoot.
"So that's how it is." She looked at Zhou Jianxing and suddenly realized, "I was negligent, Master Zhou."
She smiled slightly, her smile was gentle and harmless, as if it could melt all the tension: "I just thought that since we are all women, it would be more convenient to talk if we are closer. There should be... no problem, right?" Her eyes fell frankly on Zhou Jianxing.
They are all women... no problem...
This sentence penetrated into Zhou Jianxing's most secretive and embarrassing corner.
Her body became hot, trembled, and her heart beat like a drum because of the proximity of a married woman; her mind was swirling uncontrollably with thoughts that she herself considered to be obscene.
How is this "no hindrance"?
Self-scrutiny and embarrassment washed over her like a silent tide. She felt overwhelmed and embarrassed by her own reaction, her cheeks flushed red, her eyes thinning with tears from the intense and complex emotions.
The eyes that always habitually lowered and avoided were now wet, like fragile leaves covered with thick morning dew, clearly reflecting the disturbed helplessness and panic that had nowhere to hide.
She couldn't explain this overwhelming feeling to Wen Lingyi; it was too embarrassing, too shameful. She could only panic and lower her eyelashes even deeper, trying to use her thick lashes to weave a barrier to block Wen Lingyi's gaze.
After racking his brains, he finally squeezed out a thin and pale excuse, his voice so low that it was almost inaudible: "It's... It's my own problem. I... I'm a little shy... I'm not used to being too close to people... I'm sorry, Mrs. Wen, for causing you trouble!"
Every word burned her throat.
"I've carefully checked the water heater. There's really no problem. The wiring, valves, and heater are all working properly."
She spoke hurriedly, as if reciting a boring report, trying to build a defense line with professional terms. "Maybe it's... a small error when adjusting the mixing valve, or... or a momentary fluctuation in water pressure. Please... please observe again!"
After saying that, she squatted down hastily and escapingly, and stuffed the tools scattered on the ground - pliers, wrenches, and electric pencils - into the toolbox all at once with a little panic.
The metal tools collided with each other, making a few short and messy sounds.
"That's good. Thank you for your hard work, Master Zhou." Wen Lingyi's voice was still gentle, with a soft power that could soothe people's hearts, as if the suffocating approach and conversation just now had never happened.
However, just as Zhou Jianxing closed the metal buckle of the toolbox with a "click", grabbed the heavy handle with his fingers, and prepared to escape -
“Wow!”
Without warning, a stream of warm water poured down from the shower head above my head.
It poured right onto Zhou Jianxing's shoulder as he had just straightened up and had not yet turned away completely.
Half of Zhou Jianxing's body was instantly soaked, with water droplets dripping down the ends of his hair and the corners of his clothes, forming a small puddle on the tiles under his feet.
The fabric absorbed water, becoming heavy and compliant, clinging tightly to the skin, clearly outlining the girl's slender body contours, which embodies the strength of long-term labor, as well as her slightly undulating curves.
Crystal clear water droplets slid across the honey-colored, smoothly contoured neck and sank into the wet collar.
"Oh!" Wen Lingyi let out a soft cry almost at the same time.
She took a quick step forward, then cautiously stopped at the distance she had just created, her eyes filled with regret. "Master Zhou! I'm so sorry! Look... I just wanted to test the water temperature, but my hand slipped and I wasn't paying attention!"
Wen Lingyi frowned slightly, revealing genuine worry, "Hurry up and wipe it off. If you go out with it wet, you'll definitely catch a cold when the wind blows outside.
Zhou Jianxing was completely confused by this sudden "accident" and could only take off his short-sleeved jacket to reveal the white I-shaped vest underneath.
Wen Lingyi moved quickly and took a clean, fluffy, pure white towel from the towel rack next to her.
She stepped forward again, this time closer, but still keeping a polite, not overly oppressive distance.
"Wipe it quickly." She said with concern, and gently placed a thick towel on Zhou Jianxing's wet shoulders.
Zhou Jianxing subconsciously wanted to reach out to take it and said, "I'll do it myself", but Wen Lingyi's hand had already landed on the connection between her shoulder and neck through the towel.
At first the action was normal.
Wen Lingyi gently pressed a towel against the back of Zhou Jianxing's neck and shoulders, trying to absorb the moisture. Through the soft towel, her fingers could clearly feel the firm muscles and scorching heat of the body beneath her hands.
Her eyes fell on Zhou Jianxing's white tank top, which faintly revealed the flesh color, and her eyes became deep for a moment.
Soon, the wiping motion became more subtle. Wen Lingyi's hand, through the towel, followed the lines of Zhou Jianxing's firm arm, slowly pressing down with gentle pressure, as if soothing, but also as if measuring.
Then, the area covered by the towel moved again, naturally covering the chest area that was slightly rising and falling with Zhou Jianxing's slightly rapid breathing.
His hand also lightly touched it.
Through the slightly damp towel and an equally damp white vest, the warmth of the palm and the gentle yet significant force were clearly transmitted to Zhou Jianxing's skin.
His whole body suddenly stiffened, as if suddenly tied up by invisible silk thread, and all his senses instantly focused on the area on his chest that was touched.
She could clearly feel Mrs. Wen's hand pressing gently on her chest through the wet cloth.
It made her heart tremble and her scalp tingle.
The honey-colored skin was faintly visible under the wet fabric, and the falling water droplets looked like tiny starlight in the warm light of the bathroom, sparkling with an alluring luster.
Mrs. Wen's hand was pressing and moving on it gently and slowly in a "wiping away water marks" gesture. Every subtle movement seemed to be touching her most sensitive nerve.
The air was so quiet that it seemed as if the only sound one could hear was the two people's increasingly rapid heartbeats.
"No... no need! Mrs. Wen! I can do it myself!" Zhou Jianxing finally found some strength from this dizzying, slightly aggressive warm touch. The uncontrollable slight tremor was like a whimper overflowing from between his teeth.
She stretched out her hand, her movements even a little roughly, and hurriedly, almost snatched the thick towel from Wen Lingyi's hand.
The thick towel rubbed against Wen Lingyi's palm, bringing a slightly itchy touch.
Zhou Jianxing wiped his wet upper body with a towel hastily and forcefully, his movements were hasty and awkward.
"Thank you... thank you! I... I should go!" She spoke quickly, keeping her head down, not daring to look up at Wen Lingyi again.
With one hand tightly grasping the wet and heavy shirt, he picked up the toolbox that seemed to weigh a thousand pounds with the other hand, turned around and walked towards the bathroom door, his wet trouser legs sticking to his legs, feeling cold and sticky.
"Wait," Wen Lingyi's voice rang out from behind him. It wasn't loud, but it clearly penetrated Zhou Jianxing's hurried footsteps. It carried a gentle, businesslike reminder, "Master Zhou, I haven't paid you for the repairs yet."
Zhou Jianxing's footsteps were nailed to the cold marble threshold of the bathroom door.
With his back to Wen Lingyi, his body was as tense as a fully drawn bow, so stiff that one could almost hear the creaking of his bones.
"No... no need, Mrs. Wen!" She paused, as if trying to convince herself, "The water heater... was fine to begin with, and I... didn't fix anything! It's free!" She tried to make her voice sound steady, although a hint of instability still leaked out at the end of her voice.
Before she finished speaking, she suddenly opened the heavy soundproof door of the bathroom and walked out without looking back.
The hurried footsteps echoed rapidly in the empty corridor of the villa, from near to far, and the panic of fleeing quickly disappeared at the end.
The bathroom returned to silence.
·
Wen Lingyi stood there alone and did not move closer to the door.
My eyes fell on the empty doorway, and I seemed to still clearly see the back of the young man who was fleeing in panic, full of vitality but fragile - the wet white vest stuck to his thin but strong back, the bundled chestnut curly hair was a little messy, and his steps were staggering but determined to escape.
She lowered her eyes very slowly.
His eyes fell on the hand that had just touched Zhou Jianxing's body through the wet towel, which was now slightly relaxed.
The fingertips seem to still retain the tight, warm and elastic texture.
The touch is so clear, as if it is imprinted on the nerve endings.
The body wrapped in the tough work clothes... after taking off the slightly loose coat, the image of the body wearing only the simplest white tank top appeared clearly before her eyes - honey-colored, smooth skin, with a healthy luster under the mist and wet fabric.
Covered with weak yet resilient muscle lines, rising and falling slightly with breathing.
It has the flexibility and fluidity that is unique to women, and also contains a sense of strength that cannot be underestimated, which is bestowed by daily hard work.
The image of water droplets slowly sliding down the firm skin texture, with a primitive, unpolished vitality, silently exudes a strong attraction to a half-dead person like Wen Lingyi.
Especially... when her hand gently pressed against it through the wet towel and cloth, the panicked and violent heartbeat in the young body was instantly transmitted, like a trapped bird frantically flapping in the chest, pulsating with the full force of life.
Wen Lingyi unconsciously twisted the tip of her index finger very gently with the tip of her thumb.
The more panicked the prey fled, and the more clumsy and vivid its escape posture was, the more it aroused her inner desire to control and explore it in depth.
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