“You—” Xue Dingqing’s neck turned red with anger.

He Feng smiled at him, then turned his gaze back to Xie Ting, opening the door wider, “Come in and sit first.”

Xie Ting said “alright” and followed him in.

Xue Dingqing wasn’t stupid. Given this man’s state of undress, even a ghost would know what had happened. What made it even harder to look at directly was that his body bore not only long and short scars, but also faint finger marks and clear kiss marks.

Wanzhi was actually so…

Xue Dingqing didn’t dare think further, falling into chaos.

He and Xie Ting stood in the center of the living room. When He Feng went upstairs and disappeared from view, he quietly asked Xie Ting, “Who is he?”

“The bandit who took away little Chi back then.”

“…” Xue Dingqing suddenly flew into a rage, about to rush toward the stairs, “He’s still here harming her!”

Xie Ting restrained him, “Don’t get excited. Let’s see what the situation is first.”

Xie Chi was sleeping face down on the bed. He Feng climbed up and said, “Get up quickly.”

Seeing Xie Chi had no reaction, he tugged at her ear, “Your brother is here.”

Xie Chi opened her eyes, “Who?”

“Your fourth brother.”

Xie Chi immediately pushed him away and sat up, “Fourth brother?”

“And your precious returned student who almost got engaged to you.” He leaned back, hands supporting himself on the bed, mouth curling up, “He also saw me like this.”

Xie Chi scratched her hair, “Clothes.”

He Feng smiled and pulled her nightgown from beneath him. Xie Chi hurriedly put it on. Just as she was about to go out, He Feng pulled her over, grasping that soft, slender waist, “You’re going out to see people like this?”

“What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?!” He Feng tugged at her straps, “Put on another layer, or change it.”

Xie Chi wanted to leave.

He Feng pressed her back down again, “Change or not?”

“Change, change, change.”

“Throw it away. Don’t wear it anymore.”

“Oh.” Xie Chi opened the wardrobe, found a shirt and pants to put on, “Is this okay now?”

He Feng said with satisfaction, “Go ahead.”

“Aren’t you coming down?”

“I don’t have clothes. The ones I wore yesterday, you threw in the water.” He licked his back teeth, “Going out like this is fine too. I’m not afraid of being seen anyway. As long as you’re not embarrassed.”

Xie Chi took her nightgown and flung it at his face, “Then you just stay here.”

He Feng smiled and lay back, letting the fragrant nightgown cover his face, “Fine.”

Xue Dingqing felt like he was standing on two nails, unable to advance or retreat.

That bandit had been up there so long and still hadn’t called her down! What were they doing!

He clenched his clothes tightly, his mind filled with images of that man’s broad back, solid muscles, and those embarrassing traces of intimate activity.

Complex emotions filled his head – anger, shame, and a trace of unbearable envy. Such a body full of masculine power would definitely be very appealing to women.

Xie Chi gathered her hair and ran downstairs, “Fourth brother.”

Xie Ting smiled to greet her, “Long time no see.”

Xie Chi looked at Xue Dingqing, “Back so soon, I thought you’d be gone for a long time.”

Xue Dingqing was too embarrassed to look at her, his ears turning red.

Xie Chi noticed his awkwardness and turned the conversation to Xie Ting, “How did fourth brother come to Nanjing?”

“Hearing you were here, I came to take a look.” Xie Ting glanced toward the stairs, “He still found you.”

“Mm. Please sit, I’ll get you some water.”

Xue Dingqing couldn’t contain himself and burst out, “Did he bully you? Or is he pestering you?”

Xie Chi turned back to smile at him, “No, we’re mutually in love.”

Mutually… in… love…

Xue Dingqing’s gaze dimmed.

Xie Chi went to pour two glasses of water and brought out a plate of cut fruit, “How long is fourth brother staying?”

“Two or three days, I still have some business to discuss.”

Xie Hui had died. Xie Chi had heard about it two years ago and sighed, “Fourth brother still inherited the family business.”

“No choice. Second brother is gone, father’s health isn’t good, someone has to manage family affairs, and tenth brother is still young.”

“Do you still paint?”

“Less often.” Xie Ting looked her over, “How’s your business? Dingqing told me you opened a qipao shop here.”

“It’s okay, enough to get by.”

Xue Dingqing had been silent the whole time, his mind in turmoil. Even seeing her toes made his face flush. Finally unable to sit still, he hurriedly stood up, “Then Wanzhi… I’ll go first.”

“Let’s have dinner together.”

“No need, you siblings catch up.”

Xie Chi got up to see him off, but Xue Dingqing raised his hand, “Don’t see me out.” With that, he quickly walked away.

After he left, Xie Ting asked Xie Chi, “If I remember correctly, his surname is He?”

Xie Chi sat back down, “Yes.”

“What does he do now?”

“Preparing to join the army.”

Xie Ting nodded, “Are you married?”

“Not yet.”

Xie Ting understood. Some things weren’t appropriate to ask about, after all, his sister was grown up and had always had her own opinions. “After you left that year, he came looking for you, making such a commotion that the whole town knew you were involved with a bandit. It made father so angry he couldn’t get out of bed.”

Xie Chi smiled faintly, “I can imagine.”

“Father insisted you had been drowned. Several aunts and sisters went along with it. He didn’t believe it at first, standing guard at the door with a gun, not letting anyone leave. I happened to be away from home. When I returned and heard he hadn’t found you, he really went into the water to search for several days. When I found him, his skin was all wrinkled from being soaked.”

Xie Chi fell silent, her heart feeling bitter.

“Though his background isn’t good, you can tell he really likes you.”

“Mm.”

“What about you? What do you think?”

“I like him too.”

“It’s been quite a few years now. Hasn’t he mentioned marrying you?”

“We only recently reunited. He’ll be leaving soon.”

“Girls should still pay attention to their reputation.”

“You’re going with Xie Jiaxing’s routine again.”

Xie Ting smiled, “Alright, I know you don’t like hearing it. I’m just saying it – you judge for yourself.”

“Mm, I know what I’m doing.”

“Why isn’t he coming down?”

Xie Chi thought, she couldn’t very well say he had no clothes to wear. “He’s not feeling well, a bit feverish. I told him to keep resting.”

A blatant lie.

He Feng hung up the clothes to dry, hearing the conversation downstairs clearly.

“Let me take you to see my shop, and we can get something to eat while we’re at it.”

“Good.” Xie Ting stood up, “What about him?”

“Don’t worry about him.”

He Feng sat boredly on the bedside. Xie Chi went to the bathroom to wash up. He stood in the doorway watching her, “You’re going out for dinner.”

“Right.”

“Not taking me?”

“You’re going out naked?”

“Sure.” He looked at himself in the mirror, “As long as you don’t mind the embarrassment, let others see how fierce my woman is, gnawing her man into this state.”

Xie Chi ignored his provocative words, saying flatly, “You stay home. If you’re hungry, go out and eat by yourself. He’s not familiar with you – it would be awkward being together.”

“I wouldn’t be awkward.”

Xie Chi smiled as she wiped her face, “Others don’t have your thick skin.”

“Aren’t you afraid you won’t see me when you come back?”

Xie Chi moved closer, looking up at him, “Won’t you wait for me?”

He Feng wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her up slightly, “Beg me.”

“Get lost.”

“…”

Just as He Feng was about to let go, Xie Chi hugged his arm, her nose touching his chin, “Please.”

He Feng immediately felt aroused, dragging her hips forward to press against him.

Xie Chi broke free, taking the towel to rub his face, “Don’t fool around. I’m leaving.”

He Feng let go, “Come back early. I’ll wait for you.”

She lightly pecked his lips, “Alright.”

…

Xie Chi took Xie Ting out for a meal, then went to her shop for half the day.

Xie Ting suggested they call He Feng for dinner. Xie Chi called home several times but no one answered – He Feng must have gone out.

Just as they were about to leave, Xue Dingqing came rushing over in a hurry.

Seeing him out of breath, Xie Chi asked, “What’s so urgent?”

“Shanghai… Shanghai… fighting has started.”

…

Xie Ting wanted to return to Wuxi, but there were no cars available, so he had to stay the night and leave tomorrow.

War had broken out, but people still needed to eat. They quickly grabbed a bite. Xie Ting went with Xue Dingqing to find lodging, while Xie Chi hurried home.

It wasn’t yet dark and the house was still bright, but He Feng wasn’t there.

Xie Chi lay on the bed staring at the curtains in a daze. One hour, three hours, five hours…

He still hadn’t returned.

He had promised to wait for her. Even if he had to leave, he should at least let her know.

Xie Chi fell asleep on the bed with her shoes still on.

That night, afraid of waking her, He Feng climbed up from the balcony, found a thin blanket to cover her belly, and quietly lay beside her watching her all night.

In the latter half of the night, Xie Chi woke up. Opening her eyes to find He Feng sleeping beside her, she thought she was dreaming. She pinched her face hard – it hurt wonderfully. She moved over to hold him.

He Feng was awakened by her embrace. His palm cradled the back of her neck as he kissed her forehead, “It’s not dawn yet. Sleep a bit more.”

Xie Chi didn’t ask where he had gone or what he had done, just quietly held him.

She couldn’t fall back asleep. Her head was sometimes filled with chaotic fantasies, sometimes so empty she couldn’t think. Only the warm body in her arms was real.

The room was somewhat stuffy, making it slightly hard to breathe.

Both were covered in sweat, yet she still held him tightly, as if he were a life-saving block of ice, bringing a thread of vitality, two parts clarity, and three parts refreshing coolness to this sweltering, chaotic, suffocating summer night.

He Feng had things on his mind, waking and sleeping intermittently. It wasn’t until noon that he finally woke up completely in a daze. He tapped Xie Chi’s pert nose, “Still not getting up?”

Xie Chi had maintained this position holding him, as if afraid that one moment of relaxation would make him disappear, “No.”

“What about fourth brother?”

“Don’t know. He should be staying with Xue Dingqing. He’ll tell me if he’s leaving.”

“Aren’t you afraid they’ll come knocking on the door again?” He Feng smiled and kissed her, “A grown girl keeping a man overnight every day – isn’t that shameful?”

“Not shameful.”

“Let’s have dinner with fourth brother later.”

Xie Chi looked up at him, “So you’re not leaving today?”

“Mm.”

Xie Chi was delighted and clung to him tighter, “Then let’s just sleep like this all day.”

“Not eating?”

“No.”

“You know fighting has started in Shanghai?”

“I know.”

“I originally wanted to go to Hebei, but now it seems I can’t.” He stroked Xie Chi’s hair, sighing softly, “Shanghai is so close.”

“Mm.”

“There’s a supply convoy leaving tomorrow afternoon.”

“Mm.”

He Feng smiled, “What’s with all the ‘mm’s? Talk.”

“What time is it now?”

“Don’t know.” He Feng glanced outside, judging the light’s intensity through the curtain gaps, “Probably eleven or twelve o’clock.”

“Don’t want to have dinner with fourth brother.”

“He’s the only brother you acknowledge. If I don’t go, it would be rude.” He cupped Xie Chi’s face, kissing her eyes, “Hurry up, I’m hungry. Get up.”

Xie Chi stubbornly didn’t move, “Why don’t you just not leave?”

He Feng was stunned for a moment, “When the country is in peril, how can a real man live in comfort?”

Xie Chi showed a faint smile, “I was just saying.”

He Feng knew she was suffering, putting on a playful expression, “Your man has skills aplenty, born to fight. I’ll beat those little devil brats until they’re upside down.”

“All you do is boast. Alright, get up.”

…

With fighting at the front, no one was in the mood for rich food. They ate simple fare casually.

After eating, they saw Xie Ting off at the station.

Before boarding, Xie Ting pointed to a shop nearby and said to Xie Chi, “Go buy me a box of plum blossom cakes to eat on the road.”

“Alright.”

Xie Ting deliberately sent her away, wanting to speak privately with He Feng, “I heard you’re joining the army.”

“Yes.”

“Going to Shanghai?”

“That’s right.”

“My leg can’t go to the battlefield, otherwise I’d go fight devils too.”

He Feng lowered his eyes, feeling guilty. Xie Ting saw his remorse, “That’s in the past. You didn’t cripple it.” He patted He Feng’s shoulder, “You go fight devils well for me.”

“Definitely.”

“She’s had no father’s love or mother’s care since childhood. Her only close grandfather is gone too. We siblings are virtually nonexistent. She’s alone and helpless in Nanjing. You must protect yourself well, drive away the Japanese, and come back gloriously to marry my sister.”

He Feng nodded.

Xie Chi returned with the pastries for Xie Ting.

“Alright, I’m leaving. You two go back.”

“Mm.”

Xie Ting walked out, turned back to wave at them, “Go back.”

…

The war made it impossible to feel happy about anything.

That evening, He Feng went to take a cold shower.

Xie Chi stood in the doorway watching him. He wiped his face and beckoned to her with his finger, “Come here.”

Xie Chi didn’t move.

He poured another bucket of cold water over himself, “Good looking?”

“Mm.”

He Feng slicked his hair back, took her towel to dry his body, “Help me cut my hair.”

Xie Chi looked at his drooping medium-length hair, “Alright.”

She found scissors and gave He Feng a crew cut.

Xie Chi was very meticulous, tolerating no flaws. After cutting for a long time, she looked at her perfect work, “Done.”

“Cool.” He Feng stood up to look in the mirror, running his hand over his head, “I’m so handsome.”

Xie Chi couldn’t help but laugh. He really was handsome. Removing the cumbersome hair to reveal his whole face made him look even more masculine.

Hair clippings stuck to his neck, itching. He Feng went to rinse off again.

Xie Chi undressed and walked behind him.

Women fear cold, so He Feng poured some hot water into the bucket.

While washing, they forgot they came to bathe.

Steam rose around them.

Their bodies were slippery – whether from water or sweat, unclear.

…

The next day, Xie Chi quietly got up, applied elaborate makeup, then went to the nearest clothing store to buy a red dress.

He Feng liked red. Back in the mountain stronghold, six out of ten garments he gave her were red.

After carefully dressing herself up, she sat by the bed watching his sleeping face.

Having not slept all night, she felt no drowsiness. He Feng didn’t wake until noon. Opening his eyes to see a radiant woman sitting bedside, he smiled and pulled her into his arms.

“I was wondering which family’s beautiful wife this was.” His voice carried the lazy exhaustion of just waking, “Turns out it’s mine.”

Xie Chi rested her chin on his collarbone, “Yes, from the He family.”

He Feng lifted her skirt hem. Xie Chi pressed his hand down, “I’m having my period.”

“Good timing.” He Feng’s hand settled on her waist, “Very good.”

Xie Chi’s hand moved downward to relieve him.

He Feng squinted, pressing her head to kiss him, voice hoarse: “Grip tighter.”

…

He Feng wanted to eat at home, but neither knew how to cook well. Xie Chi simply boiled some clear noodle soup.

He said, “A bit salty.”

Xie Chi watched the man gulping down noodles, never touching her chopsticks, “Want some water?”

He Feng shook his head, finishing eating and drinking in two minutes, putting down his chopsticks.

Xie Chi waited quietly, saying nothing.

He Feng vigorously wiped his mouth, looking up at her, “I’m leaving soon.”

Xie Chi nodded, “I’ll see you off.”

“No need. Seeing you would make me reluctant to leave again.”

“Oh.” Xie Chi looked at his empty bowl, “Another bowl?”

“Good.”

She took the bowl, ladled another serving. He Feng accepted it with both hands, “Thank you.”

Xie Chi sat back down, picked up chopsticks to eat a few noodles, hearing He Feng’s loud slurping again. Soon he finished again.

“More?”

“Good.”

Xie Chi put down her chopsticks, stood to take his bowl. Just as she turned, He Feng hugged her from behind, saying nothing.

Xie Chi covered his hands, “I’ll get the noodles. They’ll get soggy if left too long.”

He Feng released her.

Xie Chi emptied the pot. She collected herself, standing by the stove for a moment before bringing out the bowl, but He Feng was already gone.

Xie Chi sat down, looking at the two bowls of noodles before her, picking up chopsticks to eat slowly.

Food was precious now, many couldn’t eat their fill – couldn’t waste it.

Such terrible noodles.

How did she make them like this?

Her heart ached, her nose stung, her eyes burned.

Suddenly she ran upstairs to grab something and chased after him.

“He Feng—”

He turned at the end of the road, steadily watching the woman running toward him.

Xie Chi reached him, handing him a dagger, “Your second uncle’s knife. Better give it to you.”

He Feng took it.

“Every time I killed with it, I was lucky – never failed, never got hurt.” Xie Chi caught her breath, “I have nothing else to give you. Hope it brings you luck, and hope you never need to use it.”

He Feng opened his arms, “Come, one hug.”

Xie Chi didn’t hug him. She feared that one touch would make her unable to hold back tears.

She was already struggling to hold them back.

“Let me see you off.” She gripped his shirt corner, “I won’t talk much, just watch.”

He Feng nodded.

Three vehicles were leaving together. He Feng helped several younger men load grain.

After loading, He Feng got in the passenger seat. Xie Chi stood below watching him.

They looked at each other calmly.

“Leaving now.”

“Mm.”

The driver said, “Not going to hug goodbye?”

A sense of powerlessness filled his body. He struggled to give Xie Chi a bright smile, “She’s shy.”

The cars left one by one. Xie Chi stood in place watching them off.

He Feng rested his hand on the window, staring unblinkingly at the rearview mirror. She wore a red dress today, making her skin glow white. So striking that even in a vast sea of people, she could be spotted at a glance.

Only when the car turned and the red figure disappeared did he look away.

…

People flowed constantly around her.

Xie Chi stood dazed for a few seconds, her heart aching with emptiness.

Being accustomed to solitude before, she hadn’t minded. But after being together for two or three days, the sudden separation felt particularly uncomfortable.

With this departure, there would be virtually no news. What remained was endless waiting.

When her body perceived this enormous sadness, emotions expanded willfully, finally wrapping her like a dark net, making even breathing feel difficult.

She wouldn’t expose vulnerability to outsiders. Even facing He Feng, she always gritted her teeth and acted strong. But in this moment, on this crowded street, she desperately wanted to cry her heart out.

She lowered her head slightly, forcibly suppressing the constant surge of bitterness in her chest, trying to distract herself from thinking of him.

What to do next – leave Nanjing, or stay and continue cleaning up the filth.

Walking dejectedly, she suddenly heard distant cannon fire, growing closer.

Then air raid sirens sounded, like heavy hammers striking everyone’s chest.

People around discussed excitedly, pointing at the southeastern sky. A Japanese plane hit by Chinese forces smoked and curved downward.

Watching several enemy aircraft fly overhead, dropping bombs on the crowded marketplace and strafing.

People immediately scattered in all directions, running frantically.

Buildings collapsed, debris flew, chaotic yellow smoke rose from the ground.

Post-explosion tinnitus lingered like electric current. After a long time, she finally heard the piercing screams of people around her.

She was pushed and jostled forward stumblingly.

Then thunderous roars came continuously from multiple directions.

Rolling black smoke billowed up.

He Feng’s car hadn’t gone far. Seeing enemy aircraft fly overhead straight toward the city center, without time to think or tell the driver to stop, he jumped directly through the car window, rolled on the ground, and ran back.

People panicked and scattered everywhere – some hiding by the river, others rushing toward air raid shelters.

A girl was buried under rubble, one leg crushed bloody by stones. Xie Chi rushed over to lift the stones and pulled the girl out. Checking her breathing – she was dead.

Another loud blast nearby. She looked up at the sky. A Japanese plane continued flying south under Chinese fighter interception, heading toward the airfield.

“A’Zhi—”

“A’Zhi—”

His voice was covered by surrounding voices.

Xie Chi didn’t hear He Feng calling her, heading toward the qipao shop.

“A’Zhi—”

Her heart jolted. She turned sharply to see He Feng pushing through the crowd toward her.

“Why did you come back?”

He Feng didn’t bother answering, grabbing her arm to examine it, “Where’s this blood from? Are you hurt? Where are you hurt?”

“It’s not mine.”

Xie Chi was bumped by someone and fell into his arms. He Feng protected her as they headed toward the air raid shelter.

…