"I'm scared..." her voice was laced with a sob.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here!" Zhou Zhijun quickly hugged her back, pricking up his ears to listen carefully to the sounds outside.
The footsteps faded away, and the barking of the dogs gradually stopped. "It's fine now!"
"Let me go!" Zhou Zhijun released his grip, adding, "I bought you something else!"
He patted her back gently with one hand, while reaching into the drawer of the nightstand with the other. He pulled out the camisole and panties he had bought at the supply and marketing cooperative today and spread them out in front of her.
"Let me wash you up, and you can change into these."
Chuntao didn't dare to look directly at them, but she still caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye.
The camisole was ridiculously short, and the panties were pitifully small, looking just like the ones worn by female movie stars doing calisthenics on screen.
In those days, rural women all wore coarse cloth garments they sewed themselves. Their undershirts and underwear were always wide and baggy.
The set Chuntao was wearing had been worn for years and washed so many times it was practically sheer. It was no longer loose, clinging tightly to her body.
But she really couldn't bring herself to wear the two items Zhou Zhijun had bought. Especially those panties—wearing them would make her die of embarrassment.
"I won't wear them!"
Chuntao suddenly remembered she hadn't mentioned her main reason for being there and spoke up anxiously, "I have something urgent to tell you. Once I'm done, I'm leaving!"
Zhou Zhijun pulled the blanket up a bit and pulled her back into his arms.
Resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice softened, "Tell me, what happened?"
The night was deep. Chuntao got straight to the point, recounting in full detail how Zhou Xiaowei was stabbed that night, and how she was dragged into a small woods and threatened halfway to the police station.
Of course, she didn't dare mention that Zhou Xiaowei had brought her sunflower seeds and broad beans.
She also told him about the time before the New Year when she was returning from her family's home and was stopped and harassed by a group of men, and how Zhou Xiaowei happened to pass by and saved her.
"I want you to go to the police station tomorrow and tell the officers about this. I suspect the people who stabbed Xiaowei and the ones who blocked my way are the same gang!"
Hearing this, a cold sweat broke out on Zhou Zhijun's back, and his grip on her shoulders tightened. "You silly girl, why didn't you tell me sooner?"
His eyes turned red. He was already in his thirties and had finally met a woman he cherished in this life. If anything bad happened to her, what would he do?
"You're the one who wouldn't let me speak!" Chuntao felt deeply wronged. She had wanted to tell him ages ago, but this man was always so impatient the moment they met, never giving her a chance to open her mouth.
"I'm talking about the incident before the New Year!" Zhou Zhijun emphasized, cupping her small face, his eyes staring sharply. "Are you hiding anything else from me?"
Chuntao poured out everything about being intercepted before the New Year to Zhou Zhijun.
After listening, Zhou Zhijun's brows knitted into a tight knot, his face so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.
"Silly girl, why are you so foolish! You should have told me that day I went to pick you up! If I find out who did this, I'll absolutely destroy them!"
He gritted his teeth, a wave of lingering fear washing over him.
Chuntao was so beautiful and eye-catching wherever she went; who knows how many people were staring at her like hungry wolves!
"From now on, you must be extremely careful when you go out! Do you hear me?"
Zhou Zhijun clenched his fists, thinking that if this matter really had to do with the Wang Haichao brothers, they definitely wouldn't let it go since they failed before the New Year. He absolutely could not take this lightly.
"I know." Chuntao nodded and wriggled her body. "Let go of me quickly, it's already midnight, I'm leaving!"
But Zhou Zhijun just hugged her even tighter.
"Brother Zhijun, don't be like this..." This man had always been immune to both persuasion and coercion.
Seeing her eyes turn red and her voice grow hoarse, Zhou Zhijun sighed. "Don't be afraid, just let me hold you a little longer. Every time I hold you, I just want to hold you for the rest of my life and never let go."
Despite the millions of reluctances in his heart, Zhou Zhijun let go.
Chuntao's clothes were tossed on a chair in the corner of the room.
She wanted to get out of bed to fetch them, but she was too embarrassed, so she nudged Zhou Zhijun. "Bring me my clothes."
Zhou Zhijun hopped out of bed, but he didn't go for the clothes. He picked up the water basin on the floor.
He splashed the dirty water onto the floor of the main room, poured some warm water from the thermos, soaked a towel, and walked back to the bed.
"Tao, lie down. Let me wash you up, and then you can change into the new clothes."
"No, I'll wash myself!" Chuntao was so frightened she quickly wrapped the blanket tightly around herself.
Zhou Zhijun's face grew a fraction colder, his tone carrying a hint of a threat. "Then I won't hold back..."
Chuntao cursed softly, biting her lip hard and turning her head away, not daring to look at him.
"Be a good girl, listen to me." Zhou Zhijun softened his tone. "Once you're washed and changed into the new clothes, you'll definitely look even prettier."
After washing her, he picked up the newly bought camisole and panties and carefully helped her put them on.
But these clothes were soft and light, feeling like she wasn't wearing anything at all, extremely comfortable.
Zhou Zhijun's eye was quite accurate; the size he picked was neither too big nor too small, fitting perfectly and accentuating her exquisite figure beautifully.
His eyes were glued to her, and he couldn't help but praise, "Tao, you look so beautiful, even more beautiful than the movie stars!"
He reached out and pulled down the blanket covering Chuntao's head, smiling as he said, "Look for yourself, don't they look great?"
Chuntao covered her face, afraid to look. "I said I wouldn't wear them, I want to wear my own!"
"Yours are practically falling apart, how can you still wear them? I bought these specifically for you, and they fit perfectly! There's another set in the closet, you can change into that next time."
Chuntao thought about it and realized her old set was indeed unwearable, so she blushingly accepted it.
Afraid he would act up again, she quickly urged, "Hurry up and get me my clothes!"
Zhou Zhijun turned to get her outer clothes from the chair, and Chuntao reached out to take them.
But just as she extended her hand, her wrist was tightly grasped by Zhou Zhijun.
He stared at her, flames dancing in his eyes, his voice deep and hoarse: "Tao, you are too beautiful..."
