Jiang Chengzhou caught the key, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
So the tactic of advancing by retreating didn’t work anymore?
Shen Man had already opened the door. Cold air rushed in, dispersing the warmth from their faces.
She waved at him, slung her cloth bag over her shoulder, and left.
Jiang Chengzhou looked around the room. It was too bare, and there really wasn’t much to tidy up.
He adjusted the stove’s ventilation damper, making sure the fire was safely banked before leaving.
After training the new recruits that morning, he went to see the logistics officer.
Years ago, many temporary barracks and sentry posts had been built here. The unused prefab buildings had since been renovated and dismantled.
Jiang Chengzhou obtained several old planks from logistics, along with some nails and a hammer. With the help of a few comrades, he made Shen Man a table and a small bedside cabinet.
There hadn’t even been a table in Shen Man’s room, so she had been forced to put her smaller belongings on her rattan trunk.
Now that there was a table, the room looked even more cramped, but at least she had somewhere to put things.
With the remaining wood, Jiang Chengzhou also made her a washbasin stand.
It had a shelf across the top where she could keep her toothbrush and cup.
After a little rearranging, the room finally looked somewhat presentable.
He even reinforced the little stool that had done such great service, so it wouldn’t collapse one day.
It wouldn’t do for her to get hurt…
When Shen Man returned at noon, she noticed the changes in the room at once.
By the time Jiang Chengzhou pushed open the door, Shen Man was tidying up. The moment she saw him, she walked over in a few quick steps, threw herself into his arms, and kissed him.
Jiang Chengzhou was caught off guard. His hands instinctively reached out and closed the door.
“Shen Man, have you become addicted to kissing me?”
Shen Man chased his lips and pecked him again, answering matter-of-factly, “That’s your reward. Aren’t you happy?”
Jiang Chengzhou smiled helplessly. “Of course I’m happy. Do I dare say otherwise?”
He lowered his head. Shen Man met his eyes, then rose onto her toes to kiss him again.
Jiang Chengzhou dodged. When she missed, Shen Man grew displeased. She grabbed him by the collar, pulled him down, and bit him.
Jiang Chengzhou stretched out his long arm and securely clasped her around the waist, holding her firmly against him.
The door behind her was cold, making the heat between them feel even more intense.
No longer content merely to receive her kisses, Jiang Chengzhou lowered his head and covered her soft lips with his own. The teasing lightness from before faded as he traced and kissed her with tender deliberation.
Their ragged breaths mingled. An intimate atmosphere spread unchecked through the cramped room, enveloping them completely.
Jiang Chengzhou held her arm so tightly that Shen Man found it a little difficult to breathe, yet she was lost in the sensations of the moment.
He pressed her down onto the table, placing one hand beneath her waist.
Her waist was slender as a willow branch, fitting lightly against him as she leaned on him in complete dependence.
All was silent. The only sounds were their breathing.
His hand moved slowly down from the back of her head and caressed her slender, fair neck. His palm was hot and warm, sending a shiver through her.
Their noses brushed, their breaths mingled, and her clean, faint fragrance drifted into his arms.
The clarity in Jiang Chengzhou’s eyes gradually scattered. He seemed drunk, utterly consumed by desire and barely able to restrain himself.
As they lingered close together, Jiang Chengzhou’s movements slowly grew gentler.
Shen Man sensed the change. She lifted her arms and wrapped them tightly around his neck, closing her eyes and letting go of all reserve and restraint as she drew him into the same sweet surrender.
Jiang Chengzhou had already been suppressing himself terribly. Her response only added fuel to the fire.
His breathing suddenly became hot and heavy. The hand at her waist unconsciously tightened, pulling her more firmly against him.
His fingertips trembled slightly as they slipped beneath the hem of her knitted sweater and lightly touched her warm, delicate skin.
A soft whimper escaped her lips.
Jiang Chengzhou froze, then abruptly regained his senses.
Not yet.
It was too soon, and it would be too much to ask of her.
But then Jiang Chengzhou thought of how much he loved her.
He had been holding back his feelings for too long. Now that the floodgates had opened, his love surged forth like a torrent, sweeping away all reason.
Jiang Chengzhou lowered his head, his chest rising and falling violently.
Shen Man’s breathing mingled with his, creating an unmistakably intimate atmosphere.
After a moment, Jiang Chengzhou stood up and helped Shen Man sit up from the table as well.
She was unsteady on her feet and fell into his arms.
Jiang Chengzhou chuckled and held her, pulling down the clothes that had ridden up.
As he did, he couldn’t help recalling what had just happened.
Her waist was slender and firm, without an ounce of excess softness. It was so narrow that he could encircle it completely with one hand.
And there was more… Even through their clothes, he could still feel the softness there.
Jiang Chengzhou had never known himself to be particularly driven by desire, but whenever he touched her, his mind filled with the dazed, alluring look she had worn moments before.
His eyes darkened. In annoyance, he bit her earlobe.
“Let’s eat!”
Shen Man hurriedly pushed him away and used the back of her hand to fan her face, forcing herself to calm down.
Jiang Chengzhou was still somewhat dazed. He only came back to himself when he heard her.
Shen Man had brought the food back from the mess hall earlier.
By now, it had gone cold.
Jiang Chengzhou had replaced the coal earlier, so he simply set the food on the stove to warm it up.
As they prepared to eat, Shen Man suddenly realized something. “Jiang Chengzhou, you remembered to make me a washbasin stand, but didn’t you think to make another stool?”
“Cough, cough, cough.” Jiang Chengzhou coughed several times, looking a little awkward. “I forgot about that.”
Shen Man spread her hands. “What are we supposed to do now? Do I sit on your lap again?”
Jiang Chengzhou’s face flushed slightly. “You can sit. I’ll stand.”
Shen Man let out an exaggerated sigh of disappointment.
Jiang Chengzhou was completely helpless against her.
Every time he felt he had been a little too bold, he discovered that Shen Man was even bolder than he was.
Unlike him, Shen Man wasn’t shy. At their age, other people already had children old enough for kindergarten.
Yet the two of them were still acting like teenagers, bickering and flirting over the smallest things.
The new stool still hadn’t been made. Jiang Chengzhou might have been deliberately putting it off, or perhaps he really couldn’t find any more wood, just as he claimed.
But it was time to remove the plaster cast from his arm.
There was no electric saw here, so they could only use plaster shears and a plaster knife.
The cast had been on for too long, and the cotton padding inside had stuck to his skin.
Shen Man soaked gauze in warm salt water and applied it to the padding. Once the material had softened, she carefully peeled it away layer by layer.
“Move your fingers.” Shen Man supported his wrist.
Jiang Chengzhou curled his fingers, then spread them again. Nothing felt wrong.
Shen Man held his wrist and moved the joints for him, checking that his range of motion was normal.
“You’re recovering well.” She gathered the broken pieces of plaster onto a tray. “But you still can’t lift anything heavy for now. Increase your activity gradually.”
Jiang Chengzhou looked a little guilty. “I’ve already submitted a request to my superior. I’m supposed to return to my unit in the next couple of days.”
Shen Man said nothing, only frowning.
Jiang Chengzhou glanced toward the door, then took her hand and coaxed, “Don’t worry. After we won last time, the other side won’t dare act recklessly. And I’ve recovered well—you know that. I can’t ask for special treatment.”
