Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

Night fell, the study session ended, and the lights were turned off. Xue Bingbing led Le Qi, Le Yao, and Luo Lan back to the neighboring courtyard, the sound of the door closing and being bolted faintly audible.

Zuo Qingqing stretched, her curves swaying in the dim light. She nudged He Xiaoqin and Jiang Xiaowen beside her, lowering her voice and saying with a smile, "Let's go, it's our turn."

The three of them left the house, passed through the woodshed, and entered Liu Xiangyang's courtyard.

The door to Liu Xiangyang's bedroom was ajar, letting in the warm yellow light of the lamp.

Zuo Qingqing was the first to push open the door and go in, followed by He Xiaoqin, whose steps were lighter than usual, and whose face still had that habitual, endearing blush. Jiang Xiaowen was the last to walk in and closed the door behind her.

The fire on the kang (a heated brick bed) was burning brightly, radiating warmth. Liu Xiangyang leaned against the headboard, reading a book.

Zuo Qingqing kicked off her shoes and sat down next to him, smiling as she took the book from his hand: "What are you reading... health preservation? No fun." She casually put the book aside and naturally put her hand on Liu Xiangyang's shoulder.

He Xiaoqin didn't hesitate on the edge of the kang. She took off her cotton-padded jacket, revealing a floral shirt underneath, which couldn't hide her curves that were completely out of place with her petite figure.

She climbed up to Liu Xiangyang's other side, looked up at him, and said in a soft, slightly timid voice, "Brother Xiangyang, the kang is so warm." She unconsciously moved closer as she spoke.

Jiang Xiaowen quietly took off her coat. She was tall with long legs. She sat down at the end of the kang (a heated brick bed) and carefully folded her clothes. She spoke very little, just looking at the clothes with her calm eyes.

Liu Xiangyang pulled the light cord, dimming the light and creating a more hazy and private atmosphere.

Zuo Qingqing's hands were already pressing on his shoulders and neck, her breath close to his ear: "Brother Xiangyang, let me give you a good massage. Let me tell you, I'm really good at it..."

He Xiaoqin seemed to be encouraged by Zuo Qingqing. She didn't say anything more and tugged at Liu Xiangyang's sleeve.

When she saw him looking over, she blinked, her face flushed even more, and snuggled closer, tilting her head back.

That timid demeanor was still there, but the close, soft body and the increasingly bold behavior created an exceptionally alluring contrast.

Jiang Xiaowen remained quiet as she slowly began to unbutton her shirt, her movements unhurried and graceful, revealing her slender neck and collarbone under the dim light.

……

It was still dark when Jiang Xiaowen woke up. Her stomach was rumbling with hunger. She had been so tired last night that she had slept so soundly that she had woken up because of hunger.

She glanced to the side; He Xiaoqin was curled up in Liu Xiangyang's arms, her little face rosy, a sweet, contented smile on her lips, fast asleep. Zuo Qingqing lay sprawled on the other side, breathing evenly.

She looked at Liu Xiangyang, who was still asleep, and remembered the time she accidentally witnessed Xue Bingbing and Luo Lan doing something in the early morning. Her face flushed instantly.

Her heart was pounding. She bit her lip, carefully slipped out of bed, and the cool air sent shivers down her spine. Then, holding her breath, she gently lifted the blanket covering Liu Xiangyang's side...

Liu Xiangyang was woken up. He opened his eyes and the room was still dark, with only a little morning light coming in through the window. He looked around and saw that He Xiaoqin and Zuo Qingqing were both fast asleep, but Jiang Xiaowen was nowhere to be seen.

He immediately realized that she was the one causing the trouble.

"Xiaowen," he lowered his voice, his tone hoarse from just waking up, "what are you doing?"

A muffled, slightly breathless voice came from Jiang Xiaowen: "You were biased last night... you gave it all to Xiaoqin. So... I'll just have to do it myself."

Liu Xiangyang took a deep breath, composed himself, and said in a hoarse voice, "Hmm... bring a little up. It's not my fault, you guys didn't persevere to the end... Xiaoqin fought for this herself."

"I don't care," Jiang Xiaowen's voice came out, carrying a rare stubbornness and shy boldness, "If you won't give it to me... then I'll come and get it myself."

"Clang clang clang—!!"

Just then, the production team's bell suddenly rang out, piercing through the thin window paper and the silence of dawn. Each rang louder than the last, making people's hearts race and instantly shattering the idyllic privacy of the room.

Jiang Xiaowen stopped.

Liu Xiangyang let out a long sigh and patted the blanket: "There's still time, no rush..."

The blanket shifted a few times, and Jiang Xiaowen emerged, her hair disheveled and her cheeks flushed red.

She glanced at Liu Xiangyang quickly, pursed her lips, and didn't say anything. Instead, she quickly started touching her clothes.

The bell also woke He Xiaoqin. She opened her eyes groggily, her face still flushed with the sweet blush of the previous night's passionate night. She looked blankly at Liu Xiangyang, who had already sat up, and Jiang Xiaowen, who was hurriedly getting dressed, and mumbled, "...Is it dawn?" Her voice was soft and sweet, with a nasal tone as if she hadn't slept enough.

Zuo Qingqing was also woken up, yawning widely and muttering in annoyance, "So early...this is killing me..."

"The bell has rung, everyone hurry up." Liu Xiangyang was fully awake and quickly started getting dressed. His tone returned to its usual calmness. "Get up quickly, wash up and eat, don't be late for work."

He glanced at Jiang Xiaowen, who had already put on her shirt and was buttoning it. When she felt his gaze, she paused, her face turned even redder, and she pursed her lips and lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him.

The "thump" startled her, but luckily everyone else was getting dressed and didn't hear it.

He Xiaoqin also realized what was happening. The coquettish and dependent look she had shown last night quickly faded away, and she returned to her somewhat timid appearance during the day, hurriedly looking for her clothes.

Although Zuo Qingqing complained, she moved nimbly, quickly dressed herself, and jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed).

Like startled rabbits, the three hurriedly passed through the small door of the woodshed and went back to their own yard to wash up.

Liu Xiangyang got dressed and opened the door. The crisp morning air rushed in, carrying the smells of earth and cooking smoke. There were also sounds coming from Xue Bingbing and Luo Lan's yard next door.

He walked to the kitchen doorway, where the lights were already on. Xue Bingbing and Luo Lan were cooking today, and the two were busy at the stove.

Xue Bingbing was stirring the porridge in the pot, while Luo Lan was adding firewood to the stove. The firelight illuminated her face, which was calm and focused.

"Are you up?" Xue Bingbing turned to look at him. "The porridge will be ready soon, and the pancakes are heated up too."

"Hmm, Xiaowen has learned your two early morning service techniques, and she just ate all by herself," Liu Xiangyang said to them with a smile.

The two women blushed and spat at him. Xue Bingbing pushed him out of the kitchen, saying, "Go wash up quickly, stop talking nonsense so early in the morning."

"I'm not making this up. You can ask her yourself later if you don't believe me." Liu Xiangyang took a ladle of water and went to wash up.

The cool water splashed on his face, completely dispelling the last trace of sleepiness and lingering reverie. He listened to the gradually bustling village and watched the pale dawn breaking over the eastern horizon.

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