Chapter 8
After An Tianhe pedaled his bicycle at breakneck speed to tell Xia Yan the good news, she was overjoyed as expected. Clapping her hands, she wanted to set out immediately. So, that very day, she followed him in a fuel-powered tricycle, bringing along some daily necessities and moving in there.
Usually, when he was out alone, An Tianhe would choose silent modes of transportation to stay hidden. But now, he had to carry a person and a lot of things, so he had to take a risk. Fortunately, the neighboring houses were scattered, and the villa wasn't too far.
That night, the two of them each enjoyed a long, comfortable, and satisfying shower. They also washed all their clothes inside and out. An Tianhe's clothes were washed by Xia Yan, seemingly as a reward for him finding this "treasure."
However, because they used water without restraint, just that one session had caused the water level to drop by nearly a fifth. It seemed the water tank didn't hold much. So, the two discussed it and decided that from then on, they could only use the shower water to wash their hair. For everything else, they would have to conserve water by boiling it, and washing clothes was strictly forbidden. Luckily, the house was equipped with a gas stove, fitting in with the local customs.
But for An Tianhe, these were all minor issues. The most important thing was that their relationship had been restored. Moreover, after the shower, he got to admire Xia Yan's stunning figure, which was inadvertently revealed due to the lack of properly fitting clothes. Whether it was her full, perky breasts, her round, plump buttocks, or her long, slender, snow-white thighs, An Tianhe almost got a nosebleed from the sight.
At that moment, Xia Yan, who was a bit embarrassed and annoyed, chided him a couple of times. He quickly promised that from then on, as long as she gave a heads-up whenever she was bathing, he wouldn't come upstairs, and that he would guard the first floor for her, strictly forbidding any outsiders from disturbing her. This made her both angry and amused, and she quipped, "What outsiders? Are there even people out there? I think you're the most dangerous one here!"
As soon as she said this, an ambiguous atmosphere instantly flowed between them. Xia Yan's face flushed red. She shot An Tianhe a fierce glare and quickly darted back into her room.
That night, An Tianhe slept in a room on the first floor, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Xia Yan's figure kept flashing before his eyes. He had been single for several years since breaking up with his ex-girlfriend. To have such a seductive beauty so close was something he couldn't have even dreamed up before. He felt the long night was exceptionally hard to endure.
In a daze, he saw Captain Gao, who sternly pointed at him and scolded, "Do you really like her? No! You're just lusting after her body! You're pathetic!!" He desperately wanted to open his mouth to defend himself but found he couldn't make a sound.
In his dreams, he was back in the truck on the night of their escape. The journey was fraught with danger, always on the edge of life and death, until a leaping corpse suddenly jolted him awake. He realized it was already the next morning. His head was groggy, as if he had pulled an all-nighter, and he felt exhausted.
When he ran upstairs to get a drink of water, he happened to bump into Xia Yan, who had just finished her shower. This was terrible. The promise he had made just last night was broken, and the slap to his face was resounding. No wonder Xia Yan was angry. What was even worse was that she began to suspect An Tianhe had done it on purpose, which was a matter that crossed the line.
At this point, even an apology would be useless. It wouldn't seem sincere; instead, it would look like he was trying to cover it up. An Tianhe had no choice but to reluctantly go downstairs and head out.
When he returned in the afternoon, cooked noodles and side dishes were on the table, but Xia Yan was nowhere to be seen. It seemed she was really angry this time. An Tianhe couldn't bring himself to apologize and lose face, so he just ate his noodles alone and went to rest, thinking he would wait a few days until her mood calmed down.
Who would have thought that the next few days would be the same? The food was always there but not Xia Yan. Now, An Tianhe truly felt like he was being looked down upon. She was on guard against him as if he were a criminal. A surge of anger rose in his chest. "Fine! You're so pure and noble, so high and mighty! I'm just a toad lusting after a swan! I'm only deluding myself !"
"You're nothing to me! Why should I always be the one to accommodate and put up with you?! Since we can't get along and can't walk the same path, let's just go our separate ways! I won't bother you anymore!!" But as he thought this, he suddenly felt a sense of loss and worry. If he left just like this, what if she encountered some danger in the future, or what if she did something reckless?
Then, the figure of his former goddess and her indifferent attitude toward him flashed through his mind. He mocked himself, "Stop flattering yourself! She's probably hoping you'll leave! So she won't be cooped up in the house feeling unhappy all day!!"
Acting on his thoughts, An Tianhe's anger flared again. He ran up the stairs in a few strides and knocked on the closed bedroom door: "Xia Yan, come out for a moment. I have a few things I want to say to you!"
"It's late. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow," the voice from inside the room was as calm as a stranger's.
An Tianhe, suppressing his anger, sneered, "No need. I can say it through the door just fine! You and I are just strangers who happened to cross paths. Since we can't get along now, it would be better to part ways and go our separate ways, so we can both be more comfortable. That's it. I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning and won't disturb you anymore! Lastly, I want to make it clear: what happened that morning was a complete coincidence. I just came upstairs for a drink of water. I had no intention of taking advantage of you!! Believe it or not, it's up to you!!" With that, he turned and stomped downstairs without looking back.
Meanwhile in the bedroom, Xia Yan sat up from the bed, stunned, a storm raging in her heart.
"He's... really leaving?!" She suddenly felt a bit panicked, as if she were suspended in mid-air with no ground under her feet. "Is he just saying that, or is it something he said in the heat of the moment?"
Before, thinking of him only made her feel pressured and uneasy, and brought up unpleasant associations. But now, she suddenly remembered his usual gentle face, how he asked after her well-being, his clumsy attempts to please her, and his deliberate efforts to accommodate her. How could she not understand what that meant? Besides, whenever she accidentally exposed herself, this guy's intense, burning gaze, as if he wanted to devour her, made her feel both flustered and annoyed.
She had seen looks like that all her life, even more lecherous, vulgar, and creepy ones. So, she was always sensitive in her interactions with men. As soon as the other person showed the slightest sign of overstepping, she would react reflexively, warning them to respect her personal space, or even turn cold and cut off all contact.
"Have I been too cold, too harsh to him?" Xia Yan felt a bit wronged. "But I just lost my husband! How could I possibly accept a new relationship so soon! What kind of person do you take me for?! If I just casually... then I'd be that kind of woman!"
Xia Yan's eyes reddened. The more she thought about it, the sadder she became. In a fit of resentment, she lay back down. "If you want to leave, then just go! I can manage on my own. It's no big deal! Do you think I can't live without you?" That's what she thought, but uncontrollable tears, streamed down her face, instantly soaking the pillow.
The darkness in the room seemed to grow heavier, pressing down on the weak, flickering candlelight, as if it could go out at any moment. Xia Yan sobbed, her heart in turmoil. She murmured the names of her parents, her grandmother, and her late husband, asking them what she should do, until she cried herself to sleep.