Sunlight illuminates the green mountains, and the thick fog has dispersed. Since I arrived at Shidi Miao Village, it has always felt shrouded in an unclear mist, but today is a rare good day. The sunlight penetrates the dense forest, warming even the damp and chilly stilt houses.
Perhaps it’s my youth and strong recovery, or Lu Qi’s medicine is truly effective, or a combination of both; in any case, my foot injury has mostly healed. Although I still can’t stand for long, short-distance walking is not a problem for daily activities.
A few days ago, Lu Qi said the splint could be removed, but I refused.
I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to move my ankle. The bone was no longer dislocated, and there was no pain; everything seemed to be back to normal.
Just then, the sound of an iron lock opening came from outside the room, followed by Shen Jianqing pushing the door open and entering.
He looked exceptionally spirited today, holding a set of dark Miao clothing.
I instinctively flinched, hiding my already recovered right foot. But Shen Jianqing seemed to see through my thoughts and asked with concern, “Does your foot still hurt?”
I was silent for a moment, not looking at him, and simply replied, “It still hurts a bit.”
“Is that so…” Shen Jianqing said, walking forward and naturally beginning to take off my clothes.
Since he brought me back from the dense forest that day, I had only been wearing a simple tunic. It was plain, like a shirt, made of cotton and linen, and very loose.
I froze for two seconds before quickly covering my collar and holding down his hands. I composed myself and said, “Isn’t today the day to pay respects to your mother? What are you doing?”
Shen Jianqing nodded, “Yes, but first, change your clothes.” He said, pointing to the black Miao attire he had brought.
I subtly let out a sigh of relief. “I… I can do it myself.”
Shen Jianqing grinned, but his eyes were full of mischief. “Is there any part of you I haven’t seen? Besides, your foot isn’t fully healed yet, so it’s inconvenient for you to move. These clothes are quite elaborate; I’ll have to help you a bit.”
“My foot…” I retorted instinctively but then swallowed the words.
Shen Jianqing’s expression turned cold, and he took another step closer, his smile becoming chilling and meaningful. He said suspiciously, “Are you lying to me? Li Yuze, you wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”
I took two deep breaths, avoiding his question, and said seriously with a frown, “I can change by myself. You can help me when I need you.”
Shen Jianqing looked directly into my eyes. I met his gaze with a persistent, unyielding look. He scrutinized me for two seconds, then stepped back but showed no intention of leaving or looking away.
It didn’t matter. Anyway, as he said, more intimate things had already happened. If he wanted to watch, let him be. My palms were sweating profusely, and I mentally recited to myself, trying my best to ignore Shen Jianqing’s presence.
But his burning gaze was overwhelmingly strong. As I took off my clothes with my back to him, I felt as though his eyes were burning two holes into my back.
So this was what it felt like to have daggers in your back.
I quickly unfolded the Miao clothes he brought and haphazardly pulled them on. But the more nervous and flustered I became, the more mistakes I made.
Somehow, the seemingly simple Miao outfit just wouldn’t go on properly. My head was stuck in the opening, but I couldn’t get it through, instead getting tangled in the clothes.
My heart pounded faster.
“Hehe.”
Suddenly, a soft chuckle sounded right behind me!
The approaching body, though not touching yet, brought with it a wave of scorching warmth.
My whole body stiffened.
Shen Jianqing’s hand rested on my bare back, tracing upward along my spine to my nape. His hand wasn’t cold; on the contrary, it was dry and warm, but I still couldn’t help but shiver, goosebumps erupting along the path of his hand.
My head was still trapped in the clothes, my breathing somewhat constricted, and my face flushed red.
“I told you I’d help you, but you refused.” His voice was very low, as if suppressing something.
Shen Jianqing’s hand delved into the clothes, steadily searching, like a guide, suddenly bringing light to my eyes in the tangled mess of fabric, helping me find the exit.
I pulled the collar of the clothes up, adjusted them, and coughed awkwardly. After all, getting tangled up in the clothes while dressing is a foolish thing no matter how you look at it.
“Um… when are we leaving?”
“No rush,” Shen Jianqing said, looking down at me, or more accurately, at the clothes on me. “You look really good in this outfit.”
There was no mirror in the room, but simply by looking down, I could tell that this Miao outfit was extraordinary.
It was black, noble, and solemn. The chest and sleeves were embroidered with golden thread predominantly, complemented by colored threads, forming patterns of flowers, auspicious clouds, and butterflies. The butterflies were incredibly lifelike, wings poised as if ready to take flight, like living creatures.
“Is it very valuable?” I immediately felt a pang of fear, remembering how I had just tugged at the clothes haphazardly, and made to take it off. If I damaged such a precious garment, how could I ever compensate him?
Shen Jianqing placed his hands on my shoulders and said, “This outfit was made by my mother for my father.”
I looked at him in surprise: “Then you…”
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? My mother spent a year making it; all the embroidery was done by her, stitch by stitch,” Shen Jianqing said, tracing the patterns on the chest, his expression unreadable. “It’s a pity that soon after it was finished, my father passed away before he even had a chance to wear it.”
This exquisitely beautiful Miao outfit was painstakingly crafted by a woman for the man she loved, every inch imbued with her heart and soul. Sadly, she never saw him wear it before he passed away.
Shen Jianqing lifted his eyelids, held my shoulders, and, with a pleading look, said, “Li Yuze, will you let my mother see it? She never saw my father wear it while she was alive. Seeing you wear it so beautifully now, she’ll surely be very happy in her heart.”
As soon as I nodded, Shen Jianqing abruptly pulled me into an embrace. I couldn’t see his expression, but I heard his muffled voice, laced with a hint of grievance, sounding in my ear: “Thank you, Li Yuze.”
At this moment, I suddenly thought, he’s just a child who just came of age. Without parental guidance, it’s inevitable that he might make mistakes. I… I just feel sorry for him, but I haven’t accepted him, nor have I accepted this kind of life.
I let Shen Jianqing hold me, and out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly caught a glimpse of a sly, red shadow huddled in the corner of the wall.
It was that insect named “Honghong.”
It was flailing its limbs in the corner, seemingly very joyful. Noticing my gaze, the entire insect paused, then quickly scurried along the wall and disappeared.
“What’s wrong?” Shen Jianqing asked.
I shook my head, only saying, “Let’s not delay, let’s go.”
