Su Yue went to the restroom again and then to the living room for a drink of water, a habit before bed.
Unexpectedly, as she was drinking, the door opened. Chen Ziming, dressed in a police uniform shirt, appeared at the doorway. His shirt was mostly damp with sweat, and his face showed signs of fatigue.
“Not asleep yet?” Seeing her, his eyes brightened slightly as he asked.
“No, are you finished?” She suddenly felt a pang of concern for him and couldn't help but put down her water cup and walk towards him.
Calmness does not equate to indifference. To gain something, one must also give, such as emotional value.
Su Yue wasn't sure if this was an excuse to care for him or if the thought genuinely held more sway. In any case, she came to him, looked up at him, furrowed her brow, and asked:
“Are you very tired?”
“Mm, tired,” he replied.
Despite saying he was tired, he managed a smile that suggested he felt comforted by her presence.
“Officer Chen, you’ve worked hard.” Her bright eyes sparkled as she looked at him, then she spoke again:
“Your shirt is all wet, let me take it off and wash it for you.” The rule of the virtuous wife: offering comfort verbally and through actions when a man is exhausted yields twice the results.
She didn't actually want to wash the shirt. She only hand-washed her own undergarments; everything else went into the washing machine or to the dry cleaner. Her hands were fair and slender, and she didn't want to damage them.
But she had to say it. She noticed the dirty laundry basket in the master bedroom’s bathroom. Chen Ziming usually tossed his clothes there, and she figured someone would come to sort them out daily.
He would surely tell her to throw it there.
So, as she spoke, she directly reached out.
The topmost button was undone; she started from the second. Her nimble fingers gently unbuttoned the shirt.
As she focused on unbuttoning, Chen Ziming looked down at her earnest little face, which had a faint blush. He wasn't sure if it was from eagerness or shyness.
He was initially a bit surprised but seeing her like this, he didn't ask further. Instead, he replied:
“Alright.”
Her hands paused at the buttons. She looked at him with some surprise. *Alright?* Was he really expecting her to wash his clothes?
Did this Officer Chen really think of himself as a pampered lord?
She didn't genuinely want to wash it… how could she wash such a large shirt…
This was the consequence of her impulsive offer.
Su Yue inwardly cursed the man in front of her but quickly composed herself, flashed him a bright smile to cover her embarrassment, and continued her task.
Finally, after unbuttoning it all, she hung the shirt over her arm, looked at him with a smile, and said, “Officer Chen, you should go take a shower and rest. I’ll go to the balcony and wash the clothes, then hang them up.”
Meanwhile, she was silently pleading: *Tell me not to! Let me just throw the clothes in the dirty laundry basket…*
“Wait a moment,” he said.
*Yes! He’s going to stop me!* Su Yue looked up at him, her face full of anticipation.
“Your pants need washing too,” he said, looking at her with a smile.
Su Yue: ???
She deeply regretted her impulse and silly idea. What virtuous wife rule? Women should live for themselves! They shouldn't indulge men!
Otherwise, they’d take advantage of every little kindness!
But she was in a bind. If she backed out now, her virtuous persona for the night would be ruined…
“Alright, I’ll wash them.” She smiled at him, but the words were practically bitten out, and then she slightly crouched down to unbuckle his belt.
“Alright, I was just teasing you.” Chen Ziming seemed very pleased with her performance, his tone much gentler. He then pulled her up, took the shirt from her arm, and added:
“Why would I let you wash them? Come here.” He took her hand and led her to the master bedroom’s bathroom.
Su Yue let out a long sigh of relief in her heart.
“Clothes that need hand washing go here; clothes for the washing machine go here; underwear goes here; socks go here.” Four neat dirty laundry baskets were lined up. He explained them to her one by one.
“Someone will come to wash them?” she asked curiously.
“An aunt comes to do housework every morning.”
“Okay…” she replied, and then another idea popped into her head. She looked at him and said, “But I really wanted to wash them for you, Officer Chen.”
She knew she wouldn’t have to wash them anyway, so she might as well go all out with the virtuous persona.
He didn’t answer immediately. He looked at her, his eyes filled with a smile, and slowly said:
“Is that so? You looked quite reluctant just now.”
She looked at him in surprise. She thought she had been a good actress.
“Don’t forget what I study,” he gently ruffled her hair and then said with a hint of seriousness, “You don’t need to do this, Yueyue. When you’re with me, just be comfortable, alright? Understand?”