The bitterness and sweetness are beyond words.
Try applying a little. Cheng Jiu said.
Xin Gan finally nodded. "I'll do it myself."
She took the ointment, dipped her fingers in a thin layer and applied it to her face. It was cool and had a faint fragrance, not like essence but rather like the scent of some kind of flower.
After applying it, she tightened the ointment and placed it on the table. Her eyes were tight and she didn't know for a moment whether to go to bed or do something else.
Cheng Jiu took off his coat in front of her, with a black half-sleeve underneath, revealing his wheat-colored and strong arms. His presence was so strong that Xin Gan couldn't be ignored.
She just glanced at him, wanting to speak but holding back.
Cheng Jiu said indifferently, "What? Not sleepy?"
Xin Gan shook his head and said, "How are we going to arrange tonight?"
What do you say? Cheng Ju asked in return.
Xin Gan said, "What do you think we should do?" She herself didn't know what to do. If she had known, she wouldn't have asked him.
Xin Gan couldn't help but look at him nervously. Even if she just lay in the same bed doing nothing, she couldn't remain unreacted. Although they were actually living together and no one would talk about anything, Xin Gan had a grudge in her heart.
Cheng Jiu glanced at her, his eyes very dark and expressionless, and said, "Xin Gan, you have to adapt to our relationship. In the future, it's inevitable that we'll sleep in the same bed."
Xin Gan shrank his neck and was once again at a loss for words.
Cheng Jiu was silent for a while, stopped teasing her and said, "You sleep. I'll sleep in the car."
He could tell that she was very uncomfortable. Her hands beside her were clenched into fists, and her eyes were wandering, not daring to make eye contact with him.
Xin Gan heard him say that he was going to sleep in the car, but he didn't respond either.
Cheng Jiu opened the door and walked out.
He was just about to close the door when Xin Gan suddenly said, "Cheng Jiu, it's not safe to sleep in the car. How about this? You sleep outside and I'll sleep inside."
After she finished speaking, she took off her shoes and went to bed first, curled up in the corner with her back to him.
There was only one quilt, which was relatively clean. But she recognized the bed and felt it was strange. Besides, Cheng Jiu was in the room and she couldn't ignore it, which made her nervous tense. With her eyes closed, she had no sleepiness at all.
Cheng Jiu got into bed and lay by the edge of the bed. There was a large space between the two of them. Even the slightest movement would make a rather small noise. Xin Gan felt someone beside her and her whole body was tense, not daring to move.
After the lights were turned off, the room fell into darkness.
Regarding the situation tonight, Xin Gan never imagined that she and Cheng Jiu would sleep in the same bed, purely sleeping.
Cheng Jiu closed his eyes, his consciousness extremely clear. He opened them again and faintly saw Xin Gan's back in the darkness. He silently curled the corners of his lips.
After a long while, Xin Gan turned around, not daring to make too much noise. She turned very carefully. The temperature gradually dropped. She pulled the quilt over her chin and then opened her eyes to look at the spot next to her. He was still there, with his back to her, breathing evenly. He must have fallen asleep.
He was really sleeping, while she was still lost in thought and even preparing for the worst - if he dared to take the opportunity to make a move, she would surely fight him to the death.
Even if you are definitely not his match, you should still do your best to resist.
Xin Gan slept until dawn. The next morning, the light shone through the window. Hearing the sound of the door opening, she slowly woke up. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and saw that the door had just been closed from the outside. Cheng Jiu had already woken up. Just as she stepped out of the room, she moved her hands, feet and neck and found that her sleeping position last night was too stiff, curled up in the corner, which had caused her to have a stiff neck and aches all over her body.
She got up to tidy her clothes and caught a glimpse of the overcast sky outside, but it didn't look like it was raining.
Cheng Jiu and Wa Mu were chatting at the door. Cheng Jiu took money for Wa Mu to go to the neighboring town to ask a master to come and repair the tires, but Wa Mu refused to accept it. When the two were trying to decline, Xin Gan came out. Seeing that both of them were stunned for a moment, Wa Mu said a word to Cheng Jiu and then walked out.
Wamu didn't confiscate the money after all.
Cheng Jiu folded the money neatly and placed it under the cup where Wa Mu drank water when he entered the room.
Xin Gan said, "Good morning."
Cheng Jiu looked at her and asked, "Did I disturb you last night?"
Xin Gan's ears felt slightly warm: "No, no. What's wrong?"
Xiao Shi said I couldn't sleep well and forgot to tell you last night.
Xin Gan: "No, I don't know either. I was asleep."
Cheng Jiu smiled again, "I was also worried that you would be too nervous to sleep, fearing that I might do something to you in the middle of the night and you wouldn't dare to sleep all night."
Xin Gan: "..." You won't.
Why? I'm just a man, too.
Xin Gan didn't know either. Her intuition was that he wouldn't. Although she was also very cautious at first, after thinking about it later, she realized that he wasn't that kind of person either. It was her intuition.
Xin Gan licked his slightly dry lips and said, "I just don't think I can."
Cheng Jiu looked at her coldly for a few seconds and chuckled, "You're wrong, Xin Gan."
Xin Gan: "..."
Last night I wanted to lay a hand on you, but your face hasn't recovered yet. Take care of it a little longer. It will be even more delicious when you become plump and fair.
Xin Gan was so amused that her ears turned red, red and hot. She couldn't help but glare at him and said in a warning tone, "I'm not to be trifled with."
...
Wa Mu borrowed a villager's car and went to the neighboring town to invite a car repairman. The repairman refused to come at first. After much persuasion, Wa Mu offered a price for on-site car repair. Only after considering the money did the repairman agree to go with Wa Mu.
While waiting for the car repairman to come over, Cheng Jiu stood at the door smoking and drinking plain water in Xinggan. Her whole body ached and she still hadn't recovered. She stared at Cheng Jiu's back for a while, lost in thought, and then realized that she had lost her composure. She then pulled her gaze away and stared at the shoes on her feet.
Cheng Jiu finished smoking a cigarette and walked over to check the condition of the car. Coincidentally, he saw the few children who had punctured the car tire yesterday come again, wandering around nearby. Those children were not afraid of strangers either. One of them had the back of his hand behind his waist, and his eyes were rather vigilant, as if he had brought something over and wanted to do something bad again.
Cheng Jiu lit another cigarette and waved at the child. The children exchanged glances one after another, stood firm and didn't come over, still quite on guard.
Cheng Jiu then said to them in the local dialect, "Come here. Why don't you dare to come here anymore?"
They were all children. Without being provoked, they all came over. When they reached Cheng Jiu's side, they reached out their hands to him and said in a childish tone, "Give me the money. I won't puncture your tyre."
Cheng Jiu sneered, "Why do you want to give you money? You punctured my tire and still want me to give you money?"
"You have money. If you have money, give us money. Hurry up."
These words didn't sound like they were spoken by a little kid at all. Had Cheng Jiu not often met them before, he wouldn't have been surprised. Instead, he understood why these children would reach out to him for money.
In this area, there are still many poor people. The economy is underdeveloped, the land is vast and sparsely populated, the mountains are poor and the waters are harsh. The sky is high and the emperor is far away. There are always some areas that are beyond one's control. Later, tourism began to develop, and more tourists visited these places. Seeing how poor the local people were, some kind-hearted people would want to do good deeds and give some gifts to the local children. Gradually, this aroused the greed of some people. No longer satisfied with just a few small gifts, but with real money, just cash.
So there is a scene where children directly reach out to tourists or strangers passing by to ask for money.
When Cheng Jiu first arrived and went on a mission, he encountered such a situation. At that time, they didn't pay him and he was even thrown stones by those children.
He bent down, took out the metal lighter he carried with him, waved it in front of their eyes and said, "I have no money. Do you want a lighter?" This is also valuable. It's very expensive.
One of the children shook his head, unmoved, and even gestured with his hand to ask for money, saying, "No, just cash, money."
Cheng Jiu chuckled softly and failed to deceive these children. He then said, "What about your family members?" Where are the parents? Why should you come out and do bad things for money?
The child had a blank expression, as if numb, and said, "It's none of your business. Don't waste words. Here's the money. If not, I'll hit you."
Cheng Jiu was tall and straight, with muscles all over his arms. He didn't take these kids seriously and said, "I have no money. I won't give it to you. Go home quickly. I won't mind this matter."
Xin Gan finished drinking water and came out. She saw what Cheng Jiu and those children were talking about. Those children were all dirty, barefoot, with very red and black skin, which was sunburned. Their eyes were not looking good. Standing there, Cheng Jiu reached out his hand.
She had no idea what was going on and dared not rashly step forward to watch from afar.
Several children, seeing that Cheng Jiu didn't pay him, suddenly threw stones at him, cursing at the same time. Cheng Jiu didn't argue with those children, but still caught one of them. The remaining two ran away. He picked up the child with one hand. The child flapped his hands and feet in the air, cursing at him and even spitting, but was dodged by Cheng Jiu.
Xin Gan was both shocked. He had never seen such a scene before.
Cheng Jiu placed the child on the hood of the car, restrained his foot with one hand, and lifted him upside down directly, saying, "Keep scolding. Don't stop."
The child didn't expect Cheng Jiu to be serious either. After struggling in vain, he finally begged for mercy, but Cheng Jiu wouldn't listen at all. Clearly, he wanted to teach him a lesson.
The child shouted, "Wait! If you don't let go of me, my father won't let you off!"
Cheng Jiu became interested: "Who's your father? Even better than a fish head?"
"My father is the fish head!"
"Your father is a fish head, kid. Do you think I'm stupid? He doesn't have a son. Where did a son of your age come from?"
"I am, I am. Let me go!" Don't touch me!
Cheng Jiu said, "If I let you go and you go back to complain, your father will still cause me trouble. Then why should I let you go?"
"As long as you let me go, I won't tell my dad. Hurry up! I'm almost out of breath!"
The child's face turned red because of the handstand.
Cheng Jiu thought for a few seconds and said, "You keep your word?"
"Calculate!"
"Done."
Cheng Jiu let him down. He collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, sweating profusely, and said, "Just wait. My father will be the first to come out and take revenge on you!"
After saying that, he couldn't help but give Cheng Jiu a fierce glare, quickly got up from the ground and ran away.
Cheng Jiu didn't chase after him. Turning around, he saw Xin Gan standing there. Before he could even speak, Xin Gan asked him, "Do you know that kid?"
Cheng Jiu said, "We just met."
"Oh."
Cheng Jiu looked at her but said nothing more. Soon, Wami returned. The car, which had a strong sense of age, made a dragging sound. There were two tires on it and an elderly mechanic.
Cheng Jiu handed a cigarette to Wa Mu and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
You're welcome.