Chuntao's back pressed against the hard wooden board, feeling both painful and numb.
The refreshing scent of soap from the man washed over her.
...
Outside the window, the rain began to patter down again, hitting the glass with a rustling sound.
The rain outside grew heavier. The wind carried moisture through the cracks in the door, but it could not dispel the pervasive heat inside the room.
Zhou Zhijun raised his rough, large hand. His fingertips gently brushed past her sweat-dampened temples, tucking the stray hairs behind her ear.
"Tao," Zhou Zhijun's voice was incredibly soft, "Once I marry you, I'll be responsible for earning money to support the family, and you'll be responsible for having our babies. We'll live a prosperous and happy life together..."
Chuntao's nose suddenly stung, and tears almost fell.
She bit her lip, not daring to make a sound, afraid that if she opened her mouth, she wouldn't be able to hold back her sobs.
Zhou Zhijun held her tightly. His broad chest was like a mountain she could rely on, making her feel incredibly secure.
His forehead rested against hers, and the tip of his nose rubbed against hers.
"I'm afraid my grandmother and the others won't give me the household register..." Chuntao's voice carried a crying tone.
"Don't be afraid. With me here, you don't need to fear anything."
Chuntao's eyelashes fluttered as she finally looked up at him. Under the dim yellow light, his features were exceptionally gentle; he was no longer the usual rough man.
Zhou Zhijun's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice grew hoarse, "Tao, let me kiss you properly..."
...
It wasn't until the fifth watch before dawn that he tiptoed away and returned to his own room.
Chuntao was so sleepy she couldn't even keep her eyes open, falling asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
She didn't know how long she had slept, but when she opened her eyes, she saw Zhou Zhijun's sharply contoured face.
His dark, deep eyes were brimming with passion as he stared at her face in a daze.
"You're awake?" His voice was very low, as if afraid to startle her.
Chuntao turned her head to look out the window. It was already broad daylight, and the sun outside was blazing hot. "What time is it? We still have to catch the early bus!"
Chuntao suddenly sat up in bed, only to realize she was completely bare, wearing nothing at all.
The shameful scenes from last night instantly flooded her mind, and her small face flushed red again.
She hastily pulled the bedsheet over to wrap around her body and asked in a soft whisper, "Where are my clothes?"
"Washed! They are drying outside!" Zhou Zhijun's lips curled into a smile. "I'll go fetch some water for you to wash your face!"
He quickly brought over a basin of warm water and an enamel cup containing a toothbrush, with toothpaste already squeezed onto the bristles.
He placed the enamel cup on the nightstand, letting her wash her face first before handing the cup to her.
"Here, brush your teeth!"
Chuntao had seen people in movies brush their teeth, and she had seen Zhou Zhijun do it too. She had secretly saved up money to buy a toothbrush and toothpaste before, but they were confiscated by Liu Cuilan after just one use.
Liu Cuilan had pointed at her nose and scolded, "A country bumpkin trying to act like a city slicker. Just look at your own wretched, poor self!"
Since then, Chuntao had never dared to buy them again, though she would quietly rinse her mouth with salt water every morning and evening.
Taking the toothbrush, Chuntao's eyes suddenly turned red. Her throat felt as if it were stuffed with wet cotton, and she couldn't squeeze out a single word for a long time.
She sat on the bed, imitating the movie stars, and slowly brushed her teeth while Zhou Zhijun held the water basin underneath for her.
After she finished washing up, Zhou Zhijun's warm, large hand rubbed the top of her head. "Be good and wait here. I'll go buy some food."
There was a breakfast stall right near the hostel. Zhou Zhijun didn't bother eating himself; he first bought a bowl of spicy soup and two large meat buns for Chuntao, carefully bringing them back to the room.
Only after Chuntao had eaten and drank her fill did he go to return the bowl, casually munching on two baked flatbreads at the stall while he was at it.
By this time, it was already mid-morning, and Chuntao's clothes had dried. Zhou Zhijun went into the courtyard and brought the clothes back in.
Seeing the clothes in his hands, Chuntao's heart skipped a beat, and she silently cried out in dismay.
She had actually forgotten to take out the note Zuo Jinhui had stuffed into her pocket and give it to Zhou Zhijun! When Zhou Zhijun washed the clothes, could he have ruined the note?
"There was a note in my clothes pocket! Did you see it? Sister Zuo asked me to pass it on to you!"
Chuntao looked at him anxiously, reaching out to grab the clothes from his hands.
Zhou Zhijun, however, looked calm. "There was indeed a note in the pocket. I didn't read it. I threw it away!"
"How could you throw it away? Sister Zuo said you absolutely had to read it!"
"There's nothing worth reading!" Zhou Zhijun said dismissively, waving the clothes in his hand. "Come, I'll help you get dressed! Once you're dressed, we'll head to the station!"
Chuntao could tell that the way Zuo Jinhui looked at Zhou Zhijun was different, but Zhou Zhijun was completely lukewarm toward her.
Zhou Zhijun's words made her even more certain that he had no interest in Zuo Jinhui whatsoever.
That tiny bit of inexplicable sourness in her heart instantly vanished into thin air.
Sitting on the bus back to Qingshan Street, Chuntao stared out the window, weighed down by her thoughts.
Almost everyone on the bus was from the Qingshan Commune. Afraid of being seen by acquaintances and causing gossip, Zhou Zhijun sat up straight and proper, not daring to touch a single finger of Chuntao's.
By the time the bus arrived at Qingshan Street, the sun was only a pole's length above the horizon, and most of the heat had dissipated.
Zhou Zhijun rode his bicycle, carrying Chuntao toward the village. Just halfway there, they saw several familiar figures ahead.
Wang Haihu was pulling Liu Cuilan on a handcart, with Wang Hailong helping to push from behind. Wang Xiaohong trailed listlessly beside them, her footsteps light and floating, as if she hadn't fully woken up.
"Brother Zhijun, let's... let's take another road!" Seeing the people ahead clearly, Chuntao's heart leaped into her throat.
"Don't be afraid. With me here, no one will dare lay a finger on you!" Zhou Zhijun gripped the handlebars tightly, his voice deep.
With Zhou Zhijun backing her up, Liu Cuilan and the others certainly couldn't do anything to her. But Chuntao felt a guilty conscience, especially lacking the courage to face Wang Xiaohong.
The rural dirt road was narrow to begin with, and a handcart almost completely blocked the way. Unable to pass, Zhou Zhijun rang the bicycle bell vigorously.
"Damn it, what are you ringing for! Are you in a rush to get reincarnated?" Wang Hailong cursed as he turned his head. When he saw that the person riding the bike was Zhou Zhijun, his expression instantly changed.
"It's that son of a bitch Zhou Zhijun!" he lowered his voice and shouted to Wang Haihu in front, "Haihu, don't give way! Don't let him pass!"
Hearing it was Zhou Zhijun, Wang Haihu couldn't help but look back as well. Gritting his teeth, he cursed in a low voice, "Damn it, enemies truly meet on a narrow road!"
Wang Xiaohong also turned her head and immediately spotted Chuntao on the back seat of Zhou Zhijun's bicycle. Her heart suddenly felt like a knocked-over spice rack, with all sorts of mixed feelings surging up, and her eyes instantly turned red.
