Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

After finishing her meal, Chen Jie took a shower and came out with her hair still wet, wrapped in a towel.

She was wearing only a white shirt that just covered her thighs, with two buttons undone at the collar, revealing a small red mark on her collarbone—the mark from earlier.

Liu Xiangyang leaned against the headboard, watching her sit in front of the dressing table and slowly dry her hair.

There was only one table lamp in the room, its warm yellow light falling on her shoulders.

After drying her hair, Chen Jie turned around and looked at him.

Liu Xiangyang patted the spot next to him.

Chen Jie walked over and lay down in his arms.

After a while, Chen Jie gently traced circles on his chest with her fingers, her voice muffled:

"Towards the sun."

"Um."

"Are you sure you'll only be back for one day a week?"

Liu Xiangyang looked down at her.

Chen Jie didn't look up; her eyelashes drooped, casting a small shadow on her face.

"Um."

Chen Jie remained silent for a few seconds.

"Those three months... that's only twelve days."

Liu Xiangyang remained silent.

Chen Jie's hand paused on his chest for a moment, then continued stroking.

"Twelve days..." she whispered, "That's too short."

Liu Xiangyang reached out and pulled her closer to him.

"."

Chen Jie did not respond.

After a while, she suddenly looked up at him.

His eyes were different from usual; they were bright yet somewhat soft, as if he had made a decision.

"Towards the sun."

"Um?"

"I also want to..."

Before he could react, Chen Jie sat up and kissed him.

Their breathing mingled together.

Chen Jie is different today than usual.

She was usually gentle and let him have his way, and would occasionally shyly try to avoid him.

Today, however, she was very proactive, clinging to him and sticking close to him, refusing to let go.

Liu Xiangyang was aroused by her and flipped her over, pinning her down.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Jie's voice came out softly and breathlessly:

"Towards the sun..."

"Um?"

"continue"

Liu Xiangyang lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

"Take a break if you're tired."

Chen Jie shook her head.

He couldn't see her face in the darkness, but her hands clung tightly to his back, refusing to let go.

"I'm not tired..."

That's what he said, but his voice was already a little unsteady.

After a while, her breathing became more and more rapid, and her body trembled slightly.

"Take a break," he said. "You can't go on like this."

Chen Jie shook her head and hugged him even tighter.

"I can do it..."

Liu Xiangyang didn't move.

Chen Jie's voice trembled with a hint of tears:

"Xiangyang, I can really do it, don't worry about me."

Liu Xiangyang lowered his head and kissed her eyes; they were wet.

"Listen to me, take a break."

Chen Jie didn't speak, she just shook her head.

Helpless, Liu Xiangyang turned to lie down on his side and pulled her into his arms.

"Then let's try another way." He leaned close to her ear and whispered something.

Chen Jie was stunned for a moment.

She remained silent for a few seconds in the darkness.

Liu Xiangyang took a deep breath.

……

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Jie raised her head, her voice a little muffled:

"Towards the sun..."

"Um?"

Are you feeling better?

Liu Xiangyang stroked her hair and softly hummed in agreement.

Chen Jie moved closer again.

After a while, she suddenly raised her head again and said hurriedly:

"Wait, wait a minute."

Liu Xiangyang asked, "What's wrong?"

Chen Jie took a breath, her voice soft and trembling slightly:

"Wait a moment..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but Liu Xiangyang understood.

In the darkness, Chen Jie's face was burning hot.

……

When the lights came on, Chen Jie was lying on Liu Xiangyang's chest, her face buried in her hands, her ears bright red.

Liu Xiangyang gently stroked her back.

Neither of them spoke.

After a long while, Chen Jie's muffled voice came from his chest:

"Don't you think... I'm being a bit... you know?"

Liu Xiangyang looked down at her.

"Which one?"

Chen Jie didn't look up, but snuggled closer to him.

Liu Xiangyang chuckled and hugged her tighter.

"Aren't you silly? I love the way you're in bed."

"You want to have a son for me." Liu Xiangyang rested his chin on the top of her head. "I'd be overjoyed."

Chen Jie snuggled against him.

After a while, she whispered:

"So, do you think... you'll be able to get pregnant this time?"

Liu Xiangyang thought for a moment.

"There is a chance."

Chen Jie said "Oh" and then lowered her voice.

Liu Xiangyang lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead.

"If you can't get pregnant, just keep trying," he said. "It's not like this is the only time."

Chen Jie looked up at him.

The light shone on his face, making him look slightly smiling.

She looked at him for two seconds, then buried her face back.

"Xiangyang, I've rested enough, I'll come again later."

The night outside the window was dark, but the warmth inside the room was like an oven, melting the two of them.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Liu Xiangyang woke up.

Chen Jie was still nestled in his arms, fast asleep, breathing shallowly, her hair spread out on the pillow, her face turned to the side, her brows slightly furrowed.

He gently withdrew his arm, and Chen Jie stirred, mumbled something indistinctly, turned over, and fell asleep again.

Liu Xiangyang put on his clothes and pants and tiptoed out of the room.

The streets were still quiet, with only a few early-rising old men practicing Tai Chi by the roadside.

Liu Xiangyang rode his bike around two streets and found a breakfast shop. The shop was steaming hot, and the aroma of fried dough sticks wafted from afar.

He bought four fried dough sticks, two sesame seed cakes, and two bowls of soy milk, packed them into a lunchbox, wrapped them in oil paper, and hung them on the handlebars to ride back.

Chen Jie was still asleep when they got home.

After Liu Xiangyang finished his portion, he put the rest on the stove, took out a pot from the cupboard, poured in the soy milk, and kept it warm over a low flame. He then covered the fried dough sticks and sesame cakes with a cloth and pressed them down.

After tidying up, he wiped his mouth and went back into the room.

Chen Jie was still asleep, in the same position.

Liu Xiangyang sat down by the bed and reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from her face.

Chen Jie's eyelashes fluttered, and she groggily opened her eyes.

"Hmm... what time is it?"

"It's still early." Liu Xiangyang lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "I'm leaving."

Chen Jie snapped back to reality and sat up abruptly: "Leave now?"

Liu Xiangyang nodded: "Let's go early to avoid being late, and we need to take attendance early."

Chen Jie didn't speak, she just looked at him.

Liu Xiangyang smiled and said, "There's soy milk warming in the pot, and fried dough sticks and sesame cakes on the stove. Remember to eat them when you get up."

Chen Jie remained silent.

Liu Xiangyang reached out and pinched her cheek.

"Alright, I'll come back to you once I've gotten to know you better."

Chen Jie then gave a muffled "hmm".

Liu Xiangyang stood up, picked up the bundle of bedding that had already been packed, walked to the door, and looked back at her once more.

Chen Jie sat on the bed, wrapped in a quilt, her hair messy, her eyes a little red, but she held back her tears.

Liu Xiangyang smiled at her.

"Wait for me to come back."

When we arrived at the hospital, the sun had just risen.

Liu Xiangyang carried his bedding bundle toward the dormitory building. On the way, he encountered several early-rising students. Some nodded at him, while others gave him a second glance.

The door to room 206 was open, and Wang Dazhu was putting on his shoes inside. When he saw Liu Xiangyang come in, his eyes lit up.

"Hey, you're back! I thought you were going to scout out the location."

Liu Xiangyang put the bedding on the bed: "It's not time yet."

Wang Dazhu leaned closer and lowered his voice: "When you weren't here last night, several female nurses came over to visit, asking about you."

Liu Xiangyang glanced at him: "Why are you asking about me?"

"I was just saying you look good," Wang Dazhu said, winking and mimicking a woman's tone. "Which room does that very pretty Liu Xiangyang live in?"

Liu Xiangyang smiled. "Is it really that exaggerated?"

"Yes, they really are. Those nurses all seem to be infatuated with him."

Wang Dazhu helped out from the side, muttering as he worked, "You weren't here last night, you missed a good show."

"Oh right, classes officially started today. I heard Dr. Sun is teaching one of them. He's very famous; he was supposed to be retired."

"I heard that in response to the Chairman's call, he specially came down from the mountains to teach us barefoot doctors. Don't you think we're lucky?"

"Yes, it's really good."