My cousin-in-law helped me achieve my ambitions.

"What are you thinking?" Qiu Tong looked at him amusedly. "I told you to sleep on the floor, not to sleep in the bed with me. Honestly!"

"But is this appropriate...?" Su Ming was somewhat tempted to go inside and sleep, since there was air conditioning, but the thought of a man and woman sharing a room still felt a bit inappropriate. What worried him even more was that his cousin's wife seemed to have a rather bad temper.

"Look how nervous you are! It's like I'm about to have an affair with you. Don't think nonsense, your sister-in-law isn't that kind of woman." Qiu Tong rolled her eyes, somewhat amused and exasperated.

Su Ming blushed and remained silent, still somewhat hesitant.

"Alright, go in!" Qiu Tong came up to him, gently nudged Su Ming with her hand, paused, and then said in a calmer tone, "Don't worry, it's fine. Jiang Jian is away on a business trip and won't be coming."

"All right!"

Having said all that, further refusal would only make him seem guilty. Su Ming, carrying the mat and blanket, followed Qiu Tong into the bedroom.

The bedroom was slightly smaller than the living room, with a double bed placed by the window. The air conditioning was already on, making it very cool. Qiu Tong helped him spread a mat on the floor beside the bed and tossed him a pillow: "Go to sleep!"

The lights were off, leaving only the streetlights streaming in from outside, casting a thin, grayish-blue hue over the room. Su Mingping lay on the mat, closed his eyes, but couldn't fall asleep.

His cousin's wife slept on the bed next to his on the mat. He could hear the slight creaking of the mattress when she occasionally turned over, and he could smell the faint scent of her shower gel, a blend of jasmine and sandalwood.

In the darkness, his vision was gone, but his other senses were heightened with height. He couldn't help but recall the soft flesh his fingertips had accidentally touched that evening, the curves faintly visible beneath the neckline of her nightgown, the slight furrow in her brow and the flush on her skin as she rubbed her chest…

Even just thinking about how she threw a tantrum in the bathroom and taught him how to pee gives me a strange feeling.

Oh my god, all I can think about is my cousin's sexy face. I'm even daydreaming about hugging her.

A surge of heat rose from his lower abdomen, and Su Ming abruptly opened his eyes, staring intently at the blurry shadows on the ceiling, cursing himself inwardly.

Don't overthink it, she's still my cousin's wife. Even though she's with someone else now... she's still my cousin's wife!

Qiu Tong, lying on the bed, also seemed to be suffering from insomnia, tossing and turning without falling asleep. After a while, she suddenly sat up. She slowly took off her slip dress, revealing her fair skin.

"Oh my god, what is my cousin's wife trying to do?"

Su Ming was startled and quickly closed his eyes, but his strong curiosity compelled him to peek again with half-closed eyes.

In the dim light, Qiu Tong lowered her head and carefully examined the red and swollen patch on her chest by the faint blue light of her phone screen.

A moment later, she was seen gently scratching her chest with her hand.

Su Ming's heart sank slightly, and he couldn't help but blame himself: Could it be that he accidentally touched his cousin's sister-in-law's chest this evening, and the situation was serious? Is she still in pain?

Driven by intense curiosity, he propped himself up with one hand and leaned half his body onto the bed, wanting to get a clear look.

Unexpectedly, Qiu Tong suddenly turned around and saw him.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Qiu Tong quickly pulled on her slip dress, angrily turned on the bedside light switch, and yelled at her, "You little brat, Su Ming, you were peeping at me!"

"Sister-in-law, I...I...I didn't peek..." Su Ming was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he quickly shook his head.

"If you weren't peeking, then why are you up?" She stared at him with a piercing gaze.

"I...I accidentally saw you scratching your chest..." Su Ming explained nervously, "I really didn't peek..."

Qiu Tong closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, her anger largely gone.

Seeing that she seemed to have calmed down, Su Ming asked softly, "Sister-in-law, I'm sorry. Did I hurt you this evening? Is there still a red mark on your chest?"

"You hurt me this evening? Do you think you practice Iron Palm? You only touched me lightly, it shouldn't hurt this much." Qiu Tong loosened her grip and replied with a wry smile, "The reason I scratched my chest is because it was hot the other day and I didn't turn on the air conditioner, which caused me to develop eczema. It was so itchy at night."

As she spoke, she started scratching herself through her nightgown.

"Sister-in-law, I know a kind of herb that's very effective for this," Su Ming replied excitedly. "It grows in vegetable gardens and by ponds. It's called purslane. Just dig it up, crush it, and apply the juice to the affected area. It will stop the itching immediately, and it will be better in a day or two."

"Really?" Qiu Tong sat up excitedly and turned on the room light.

Under the bright white fluorescent light, her graceful figure was faintly visible through Luo Luo's red tank top.

"Of course it's true! My grandfather is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine doctor in the surrounding area. He knows a lot about herbs and can even set bones!" Su Ming replied proudly. He was telling the truth. His grandfather not only knew about Chinese herbs but also martial arts. Su Ming had learned a lot from his grandfather since he was a child.

Qiu Tong's eyes lit up: "Is it really that effective? Then what are we waiting for? Let's go and search the neighborhood downstairs right now."

"Now?" Su Ming glanced at the thick darkness outside the window. "Sister-in-law, it's too late, and it's pitch black outside. It might be hard to find us!"

"You're such an honest kid." Qiu Tong shook her head with a smile, her tone carrying a touch of urban nonchalance. "The city's nightlife is just beginning. What's so late if it's not even ten o'clock? Let's go, let's find something and use it as soon as possible. I'm so itchy."

Seeing her resolute attitude, Su Ming had no choice but to nod: "Then... alright."

"You can go out now." Qiu Tong waved to him.

"Huh?" Su Ming was taken aback, and said somewhat anxiously, "Sister-in-law, I'm not familiar with this place, it might not be good for me to go out alone..."

"Are you stupid!" Qiu Tong was amused by his naiveté. She glanced at him, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "I'm letting you leave the room first so I can change into my underwear. You can't just run out in your nightgown, with nothing in between, can you?"

Su Ming then realized what was happening, his ears instantly turning bright red. He said "Oh," and hurriedly turned to leave.

"Wait!" Qiu Tong called out to him again, then thought for a moment, "Never mind, just turn around and don't go out."

Su Ming did as instructed, turning her back and standing facing the wall. The room fell silent, with only the low hum of the air conditioner and her own slightly rapid heartbeat audible.

However, directly in front of him was the large full-length mirror of the bedroom wardrobe. The mirror surface gleamed faintly in the dim light, taking in everything behind him.

Su Ming subconsciously looked up and saw Qiu Tong reach behind her back and untie the straps of her slip dress in the mirror. The deep red silk dress slid down her smooth shoulders and piled up at her feet. The dim light outlined her slender back—fair skin, a slim waist, and the round, full curves of her hips undulating in the shadows.

Oh no! His bare body had been seen by Su Ming like that. His heart was in his throat.