You're dumping me, huh? Fine, then I'll just pick up the school beauty and make her my wif

Seeing Jiang Che in a daze, Jiang Huaiyuan reached out and patted him on the shoulder again, adding with a firm tone, "There's no reason for you younger generation to pay for the messes that two old men made when they were young."

"The feud between Ye Heming and me is a matter of our generation. It has nothing to do with you or that girl."

"If you truly like her, then treat her well and don't let her suffer because of you."

Jiang Che clenched his fist and nodded seriously, "Yes, I understand."

"Alright, alright, hurry back, don't leave the girl alone."

Jiang Huaiyuan waved his hand, shooing his grandson away like a fly, "I have to rush back to the base. You two stay here by yourselves, I won't get in the way."

Jiang Che smiled slightly, then pushed open the car door and got out.

After taking two steps, he suddenly stopped and turned around.

"grandfather."

"Um?"

"thank you."

Jiang Huaiyuan glanced at his grandson through the car window, said nothing, and just smiled and waved.

……

When Jiang Che returned upstairs, he stood at the door for a few seconds, took two deep breaths, and suppressed all the emotions that had been churning in his mind while talking to his grandfather.

Then he gently pushed open the door.

The room was dimly lit, with only a sliver of yellowish light coming from the direction of the bathroom.

Jiang Che walked straight to the bedside, only to find that the bed was empty.

The blanket was pulled to one side, leaving only a shallow human-shaped indentation on the bed.

What about people?

Jiang Che's first reaction was that Su Qinghe might have been kidnapped again, but then he heard the faint sound of water coming from the bathroom, and his heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled back down.

Oh, so she was taking a shower.

That's true. After a whole day of running around, covered in mud and grass, anyone would want to take a nice, relaxing bath.

Jiang Che had planned to wait outside, so he sat down on the sofa to browse his phone and stuff.

But just two seconds after I sat down, the bathroom door suddenly opened a crack from the inside.

"Ah Che? Is that you back?"

Su Qinghe's voice drifted out along with the water mist.

"Yes, it's me," Jiang Che replied. "What's up?"

"Could you... come in for a moment?"

"what?"

"I said, could you come in for a second...?"

Su Qinghe said hesitantly, "I... I can't reach the injury on my back... I wanted you to take a look..."

The wound on his back?

He didn't turn her back to check when he was examining her, because Su Qinghe was sleeping on her back at the time, and he couldn't easily move her.

Thinking about it this way, it seems reasonable to go in and take a look. After all, the wound can't be left untreated. What if it gets infected if it's treated too late?

So Jiang Che didn't think much of it, stood up, walked to the bathroom door, and then pushed the door open and went in.

The bathroom was filled with thick steam, and warm lights reflected on the white tiles, bathing the entire space in a soft orange hue.

The bathtub was filled with hot water, and a layer of fine foam floated on the surface.

After leaving through the door, Su Qinghe went back into the water.

She piled her hair on top of her head and loosely tied it with a hair tie she found on the spot. A few stray hairs fell down along her fair neck and clung to her slightly reddened skin.

The area below the collarbone was covered by foam, but the lines of her shoulders and neck were faintly visible in the steam, creating an indescribably beautiful effect.

Jiang Che's gaze lingered for a moment before shifting away. He coughed lightly and asked, "Um...where are you injured? Let me see."

"here."

Su Qinghe turned slightly to the side, revealing a small portion of her back.

There were indeed two red marks on her fair skin, probably from tree branches, but they weren't very serious.

But just in case, it's better to deal with it.

So Jiang Che prepared to turn around and go out to get the first aid kit.

Just then, a wet hand suddenly reached out from behind and grabbed his wrist.

Jiang Che was forced to stop.

He glanced down at the slender hand gripping his wrist, and before he could figure out what was going on, the owner of that hand pulled him backward.

"Qinghe?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Su Qinghe suddenly pulled hard, and Jiang Che lost his balance, falling half of his body directly into the bathtub.

Whoosh—!

Water splashed everywhere, and the warm water instantly soaked through his clothes.

Before Jiang Che could react to what was happening, a pair of soft arms had already wrapped around his neck from behind.

Immediately afterwards, a warm, soft touch pressed against his lips.

……

……

After a passionate kiss, Jiang Che reached out and embraced her smooth back, while his other hand cradled the back of her head, deepening the kiss.

The water surface was rippled by the two people's movements, and bubbles overflowed from the edge of the bathtub, dripping onto the floor tiles with a pattering sound.

After a while, Su Qinghe turned her head slightly, resting her forehead against his chin, and whispered breathlessly, "A-Che... why are your clothes wet?"

"You dragged me in here, and you still have the nerve to say that?"

"Then... take it off."

……

……

Su Qinghe was more proactive tonight than ever before.

Perhaps because she had experienced too much fright and separation, she needed more than ever to be sure that the person in front of her was real, belonged to her, and would never disappear again.

The way to confirm this is to get as close to him as possible.

Get a little closer.

Get a little closer.

Until there is no longer any distance between them.

……

……

That night, the water in the bathtub cooled down and was refilled, only to cool down again.

Later, the two moved from the bathroom to the bed, where their two silhouettes sank into the soft mattress.

……

……

It wasn't until almost dawn that Su Qinghe finally and reluctantly let go of Jiang Che.

Before her consciousness faded, she heard Jiang Che whisper something in her ear.

It seems to be "Go to sleep".

It also sounds like "I love you".

She didn't hear clearly.

But it doesn't matter anymore.

Because she had already fallen deeply into a warm, nightmare-free darkness.

……

The next morning.

Su Qinghe was awakened by a rustling sound.

She opened her eyes groggily, her vision blurry for several seconds before gradually focusing.

Then she saw Jiang Che standing at the other end of the room, bending over to fold the clothes scattered everywhere and stuffing them one by one into his suitcase.

He had changed into clean clothes, and his hair was still slightly damp, indicating that he had gotten up and washed up a long time ago.

Su Qinghe rubbed her sore eyes and sat up in bed, supporting her aching back. "A-Che... what are you doing? Why are you packing your luggage?"

Hearing the noise behind him, Jiang Che turned around to look at her. "Awake?"

"Hmm..." Su Qinghe yawned slightly, pulling the blanket up to cover herself, leaving only her fluffy head peeking out. "What time is it?"

"7:30."

"Huh? So early?" Su Qinghe wrinkled her nose, looking reluctant. "You haven't answered me yet. Why are you packing? Aren't we going to stay in Atlanta for a few more days?"