To put it bluntly, Xi Yi had gotten himself all dirty because of her.
The daily meals and cooking were mostly his responsibility, while she just sat back and enjoyed the fruits of his labor. Now, she suddenly felt an illusion of returning to the modern world, as if she were once again under the meticulous care and attention that only her mother had ever given her.
Xi Yi had always been overly protective of her, unwilling to let her lift a finger, which inevitably led to him bearing the brunt of the work. Meanwhile, her modern habits had made her slow to realize she should share the burden. It was frustrating, but thankfully, it wasn’t too late.
After all, she was going to stay and live with him in this ancient era, wasn’t she? If she wanted a better life, she had to do her part.
With that thought, Sha Yi felt much more at ease. She tugged at Xi Yi, urging him to go bathe.
Xi Yi tried to pull her along, but she refused. Though disappointed, he obediently found a shallow spot in the river and began undressing.
Seizing the moment, Sha Yi returned to the campfire and quickly cleaned up the remnants of breakfast. She washed the stainless steel pot, cups, and fruit knife, then grabbed the only bottle of shampoo and bar of soap. She also took out their two toothbrushes, squeezed toothpaste onto them, and headed toward where Xi Yi was bathing.
Xi Yi had chosen a shallow downstream area with clear water that reached his chest. He was struggling to remove the ill-fitting nightgown he wore, but when he saw her approaching, he brightened and waded closer to her.
A large rock stood nearby, so Sha Yi placed the toiletries on it and handed Xi Yi the toothbrush with toothpaste.
Xi Yi took it without hesitation but soon found himself puzzled. He examined it from all angles, poked at it, sniffed it, and then—much to her amusement—licked the toothpaste. The taste clearly didn’t agree with him, as he immediately frowned in distaste.
Sha Yi couldn’t help but laugh at his silly behavior. Deciding to teach him how to brush his teeth first, she picked up her own toothbrush, placed the bristles in her mouth, and demonstrated. She motioned for Xi Yi to follow her lead.
Though still reluctant, Xi Yi was fascinated by her actions. Moreover, he was always willing to listen to her. So, despite his dislike, he awkwardly shoved the toothbrush into his mouth and began brushing, clumsily mimicking her movements. He even swallowed some of the toothpaste foam, his face contorting at the strong minty flavor.
Sha Yi could barely contain her laughter. After rinsing her mouth with water from the cup, she gestured for him not to swallow the toothpaste. Without thinking, she took a few steps forward to correct his brushing technique—only to slip and plunge straight into the water.
Xi Yi, who had been watching her intently, reacted instantly. His strong arm shot out, intercepting her mid-fall, and in the blink of an eye, he steadied her. A mischievous glint flickered in his eyes.
Sha Yi didn’t notice his playful expression, too shaken by the sudden fall. Her legs felt weak, and since she was much shorter than Xi Yi, what was shallow water for him reached her neck. Standing in the same spot, she found herself struggling against the water pressure, which made breathing difficult.
Truthfully, she disliked large rivers—partly because she couldn’t swim, and partly because the deep waters with their tangled weeds unnerved her. Now, she wanted to climb back to shore, but Xi Yi grabbed her hand underwater, refusing to let her go. Sha Yi sighed in resignation.
However, Xi Yi quickly noticed her discomfort. Bending slightly, he lifted her by the hips, raising her higher out of the water. Only her waist and below remained submerged, instantly relieving the pressure.
Feeling much better, Sha Yi looked down to see Xi Yi still holding the toothbrush in his mouth like a fool. She chuckled and took the brush, helping him finish the job.
Xi Yi thoroughly enjoyed her assistance, but soon, his free hand began wandering over her body. This time, she neither stopped nor resisted him, letting him do as he pleased. Overjoyed, Xi Yi’s grip unconsciously tightened as his hand traveled from her waist to her chest.
When his warm palm pressed against her through her damp clothes, Sha Yi shivered, her face flushing crimson.
She could sense Xi Yi’s cautious exploration.
Truth be told, though she had dated before, her mother’s traditional values had instilled in her a sense of restraint. Even with her ex-boyfriend, she had never gone beyond kissing, holding hands, or hugging.
Now, however, she was gradually accepting Xi Yi. Though shyness lingered, she was growing accustomed to it.
Xi Yi didn’t push further. He seemed unsure whether she would fully accept his advances without resistance. Her current compliance thrilled him, but he dared not test her limits too hastily. If he rushed, the fragile bond they’d built might shatter—something he couldn’t risk.
Once she finished brushing his teeth, Sha Yi signaled for him to rinse. After that, she moved on to washing his hair—a trickier task. Eventually, she had him sit on the large rock to make it easier. This was Xi Yi’s first time using shampoo, and his astonishment surpassed even his curiosity about the toothbrush and toothpaste.
Given the primitive conditions, Xi Yi’s hair wasn’t particularly clean. Though he wasn’t slovenly, the lack of resources and civilization meant he couldn’t maintain hygiene as she did. Days of travel had only made it worse.
Sha Yi had to wash his hair multiple times before it was clean, using up a fair amount of shampoo. Though she felt a pang of frugality, she deemed it worthwhile. Compared to his unwavering care for her, a little shampoo was nothing.
Finally, it was time to wash his body—mainly just applying soap for disinfection. Since he had wounds, scrubbing wasn’t advisable. She only needed to help him remove the odd nightgown and teach him how to use the soap. She couldn’t stay any longer—next came full nudity…
After checking his wounds and demonstrating soap usage, Sha Yi fled the shallow waters as if escaping disaster. Behind her, Xi Yi laughed heartily.
She washed the damp nightgown Xi Yi had been wearing. Originally, she had planned to clean all their dirty clothes, but considering they’d be setting off again by noon, she abandoned the idea. Wet clothes wouldn’t dry quickly unless worn, and the added weight would only burden Xi Yi—especially since he was injured. She couldn’t bear to make him carry more.
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