He scooped a ladle of water into the electric kettle to boil and turned back to look closely at Tiantian.
They were both wearing matching outfits today.
He also wore a white t-shirt, black cropped casual pants, and white sneakers.
His hair was short and neat, his features gentle and calm.
When he stared at someone, his peach blossom eyes were incredibly captivating.
Tiantian couldn't stand it after just two seconds, her gaze darting away in embarrassment.
She couldn't help but question herself internally, what was happening?
Just two days ago, she disliked everything about him, hated him, and didn't want to pay him any mind. Now, as soon as they left Nan City, his charm had returned?
Could it be that she was so pathetic, not wanting independence, wanting to become the next Zeng Hui, and relying on him whenever she saw him?
No.
Ge'er and Shang Jincheng's mother were still immersed in the pain of losing a loved one, unable to extricate themselves. She didn't deserve happiness.
She couldn't forget everything just because she changed locations, absolutely not.
She tried hard to suppress the urge to get closer to Chen Dongyang.
"I'll wait outside. Call me when it's ready."
She went outside and sat on a small stool, lost in thought. Chen Dongyang boiled two kettles of hot water alone in the room, diluted it to lukewarm, carried it to a cool shed in the yard, locked the main door, and came to call her.
"Fortunately, the weather has been hot lately, so it's not cold to shower outdoors. You can wash over in that corner. I'll watch for you."
They had been a couple who were open with each other, and there was nothing he couldn't know.
Tiantian wasn't coy either. She took her clothes and went.
Chen Dongyang stood with his back to her at the main entrance. After a rustling sound, Tiantian changed into a different dress and called him from a distance.
"Chen Dongyang."
Chen Dongyang turned back. Looking at Tiantian, clean after her wash, her long hair loose, like a fairy, he felt a sense of satisfaction at regaining what was lost.
"Finished? What's up?"
Tiantian asked him, "Where did you get this water from? What will you use after I'm done? What about washing clothes?"
Chen Dongyang said, "I've inquired about everything. There's a pool about two kilometers from here. People in town all go there to wash clothes. Leave it, I'll take it to wash for you tomorrow."
How could that be?
A grown man openly carrying a girl's clothes out to wash, who knew what others might say.
Tiantian felt embarrassed.
"Besides that place, is there no other place to wash?"
"There is. Some families have installed tap water at home. But the water is charged by the ton, which is quite expensive, so they don't like to wash at home. I bought this water from the innkeeper for five yuan a bucket. If you don't want to wash in the river, we can go to his place and negotiate a price."
Although the sun had set, the moon had risen again.
That was the good thing about being far from the hustle and bustle; at night, the moon was particularly bright, and the sky was densely packed with stars.
Tiantian felt that she might have insomnia tonight, and going back so early wouldn't help her sleep.
"Why don't you take me to the pool? I can get familiar with the path, and then I can go by myself in the future."
Whatever she wanted to do, as long as she was willing, as long as she was willing to cast aside her past troubles and embrace life anew, Chen Dongyang was willing to accompany her.
"Okay, then I'll take the clothes with me. I'll take a bath in the river. But we can't drive there, the road isn't good, we'll have to walk."
Walking was fine.
Chen Dongyang quickly ran into the room to get a set of clean clothes, put them in a plastic bag, and placed it in the bucket. He then took the bucket.
Carrying the bucket in one hand and holding Tiantian's hand in the other, he went out.
There were few trees in the small town, and the night wind blew directly on people, feeling very comfortable.
It felt as if they had returned to how they were when they first met.
Although Tiantian didn't break free from his hand, she didn't respond either.
There was a subtle, unspoken, vague sense of ambiguity between them.
Neither of them spoke, they just walked silently.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, they saw a shimmering body of water.
Chen Dongyang carefully led Tiantian down the dirt slope.
On the side of the pool, due to frequent washing by people over the years, there were several smooth, large stones.
Chen Dongyang arranged for her to sit beside one of the most firmly placed stones, and slowly entered the water with her clothes.
"Do you know how to wash? Or should I do it?"
Tiantian hadn't washed clothes by hand, but she wasn't foolish.
If she couldn't wash them well, could she ruin them?
"I can. You go wash yours."
Chen Dongyang didn't go far. In the water in front of her, he gently swung his arms, watching her rub slowly.
Tiantian finally finished rubbing her clothes, wrung them out, put them in the bucket, and looked at him.
"You don't plan to wash with your clothes on, do you?"
This was the most playful thing she had said to him all day. Chen Dongyang smiled.
"What? Do you want me to wash your clothes?"
Tiantian didn't refuse, "I'll wash yours too."
Chen Dongyang wasn't coy either. He fumbled in the water for a while and handed her the clothes.
Although they were intimate enough, and during their previous time together, nothing that should and shouldn't be seen had been hidden,
This was the first time she had helped him wash his personal clothes, and Tiantian felt quite embarrassed.
Especially since Chen Dongyang kept staring at her.
Tiantian had nowhere to hide from his gaze, so she scooped up some water and splashed it at him.
"Can't you walk a little further away? Why are you staring at me?"
Chen Dongyang was splashed with water but wasn't annoyed. He smiled and swam a little further aside.
"I haven't seen you in two days, I've missed you terribly. Everything about you brings me joy, I can't take my eyes off you. If you don't want me to look, then I won't."
Taking advantage of the moment he turned his back, Tiantian quickly washed his personal clothes, then soaked her legs in the water and played leisurely.
They dawdled for more than two hours before returning.
The clothes were hung in Chen Dongyang's yard, and Chen Dongyang escorted her back to the inn.
"I'll take you to school tomorrow morning."
Tiantian really couldn't bear to see him work so hard for her every day, so she spoke to him honestly.
"My saying we broke up wasn't a joke, nor was it to make you feel guilty. Please don't treat me like this anymore."
"I'm an adult now, I can take care of myself."
"The conditions here are too poor, they're not suitable for your work. You should go back tomorrow. I promise you, I won't overthink things, and I will live well and work well. Is that okay?"
No matter what she said, Chen Dongyang remained unmoved.
"If you don't want me to send you, then I won't. Why say these things?"
"You do your thing, I'll do mine. I'm not bothering you, so why should you care where I am?"
Tiantian: "..."
"Then I won't send you. I'll bring you your clothes tomorrow when they're dry, is that okay."
"..."
At the hotel entrance, he wanted to accompany her inside. Tiantian feared that if he went in, he wouldn't leave and would shamelessly insist on something happening.
Shang Jincheng's body was not yet cold, and she strictly refused.
"No need. It's just a few steps, I won't get lost."
Chen Dongyang wasn't as lewd as she thought. He was simply concerned about her safety.
"I'll escort you to the door and watch you lock it before I leave."
"..."
Chen Dongyang began to doubt himself: "Have I behaved very lewdly in front of you before? Is that why you're guarding me so much?"