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

After saying goodbye to Yang Tian, ​​Su Ming wandered around the industrial area for a while. It was two or three in the afternoon, the sun was blazing, and there were few pedestrians on the street, except for a few tricycle drivers who were dozing in the shade. He didn't have any particular purpose; he just didn't want to go back so early.

My mind is a mess.

Yang Tian's smiling face, Bao Yazhong's "first shot", the bloodstains at the entrance of the skating rink that hadn't dried yet, the Golden Years signboard that glared in the sunlight... and my cousin's resolute back last night.

These images flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern, making him feel restless.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the building where I rented a room.

Upon reaching the seventh floor, Su Ming opened the door. The room was so quiet that he could hear the ticking of the wall clock. The bedroom door was closed. Su Ming tiptoed in; Qiu Tong was still asleep.

She lay on her side, her back to the door, a thin blanket covering only her waist. Her pale purple slip dress was wrinkled as she turned over, one strap slipping down to her arm, revealing a large expanse of her snow-white back and rounded shoulders. Her long hair was spread out on the pillow, rising and falling gently with her even breathing.

Su Ming glanced at it only once before hurriedly looking away. He lay down on the living room sofa, staring at the ceiling, trying to sleep for a while, but he just couldn't fall asleep.

I don't know how much time passed.

"Tick-tock!"

The sound of the door lock turning.

Su Ming subconsciously sat up from the sofa, facing Qiu Tong who was walking out of the bedroom.

She had clearly just woken up, rubbing her sleepy eyes, her long hair disheveled, and there were still red marks on her face from sleeping. Her pale purple slip dress hung loosely on her body—no, not hanging, but slipping.

The left shoulder strap had somehow slipped down to her armpit, and the neckline was open at an angle, revealing a large expanse of white skin on her chest.

Su Ming felt a rush of heat to his head. He tried to look away, but his eyes were fixed on that small patch of land he shouldn't be looking at.

Time seemed to stand still for three seconds.

"Oh my god!"

Qiu Tong screamed, clutching her chest and taking a step back, staring wide-eyed at Su Ming: "Su Ming, what are you doing?"

Su Ming finally snapped out of his daze, his face burning hot as if it were on fire. He hurriedly stood up, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet, stammering, "Cousin-sister-in-law, I...I didn't mean to! I...I..."

He couldn't continue. "Not what? Not on purpose?" But he definitely did see it.

Qiu Tong stared at his embarrassed appearance for a moment, then suddenly looked down at herself—her shoulder strap had slipped down, her neckline was wide open, revealing a glimpse of her skin.

She understood instantly.

It turns out this guy was nervous not because he was startled by her "sudden appearance," but because... he saw her body...

Qiu Tong couldn't help but chuckle. As she pulled the bra strap back into place, she glanced sideways at Su Ming: "Why are you so nervous? I didn't blame you."

She paused, then said in a relaxed tone, "I'm asking you, why are you suddenly on the sofa? Weren't you sleeping on the bamboo mat in your room?"

Su Ming's heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled. He breathed a sigh of relief, his voice still a little tight: "I...I got up early to go for the interview. I lay down on the sofa when I got back so as not to wake you."

"An interview?" Qiu Tong's eyes lit up. Forgetting to straighten her collar, she took two steps forward. "How did it go? Did you pass?"

"Okay." Su Ming nodded. "You passed. Go for a physical exam tomorrow morning. If there are no problems, report for duty tomorrow."

"That's great!" Qiu Tong clapped her hands excitedly, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Congratulations, Su Ming! You've found a great job!"

Her joy was genuine; her eyes crinkled into a smile. At that moment, she was once again like the gentle cousin-in-law in Su Ming's memory.

Su Ming smiled, paused, and said, "I might be moving out tomorrow."

"Moving away?" Qiu Tong's smile faltered slightly. "Why do you want to move away?"

"The factory provides accommodation," Su Ming said truthfully. "The dormitory is behind the factory, not far away. I thought that since I have a place to stay, I wouldn't bother you here."

What he didn't say was: living here, watching his cousin's wife walk around in her slip dress every day, watching her come out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, watching her inadvertently reveal her private parts... he was afraid that he would lose control of those inappropriate thoughts.

Distance might be the best solution. He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would lose control and do something outrageous.

Qiu Tong looked at him quietly, and after a few seconds, she suddenly sneered: "Don't move, just stay here with me."

She paused, her tone softening, with a barely perceptible pleading: "By the way, I think I've got eczema again. Could you come with me to get some more purslane?"

Su Ming nodded: "Okay. I'll go get it for you in a bit."

But he insisted, "We still have to move."

Qiu Tong glanced at him, a mischievous smile playing on her lips: "Now that you've moved out, who's going to help me apply the medicine?"

She paused, her tone casual yet as if stating a matter of course: "This time, my eczema has spread to my buttocks, and I'm finding it difficult to treat myself. If you don't help me, I really won't be able to do anything about it."

"Huh?" Su Ming was stunned.

On the buttocks?

that place...

"What's wrong? You don't want to help me?" Qiu Tong glared at him.

His face flushed again, and he stammered, "Sister-in-law, I... I didn't mean to refuse. It's just that this position... I'm afraid it's not quite appropriate..."

He was so embarrassed that he didn't know where to look, so he just stared at a certain tile on the floor.

Qiu Tong smiled.

She took two steps closer, stood in front of Su Ming, and said with a mocking tone, "Doctors give injections where they're supposed to stick them, right? You're getting this nervous just because I'm asking you to apply some medicine? Are you even a man?"

Su Ming kept his head down and didn't speak. He could smell the warm scent of her body as she woke up, along with the faint fragrance of her shower gel.

Qiu Tong suddenly raised her hand, placed it on his shoulder, leaned closer, and lowered her voice: "Tell your cousin-in-law the truth, did you...?"

She deliberately dragged out her words, getting closer and closer to him.

Su Ming's heart skipped a beat; he was extremely nervous.

Qiu Tong leaned closer and whispered in his ear, "You brat, do you have feelings for me?"

These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples all around.

Su Ming was startled and almost instinctively shook his head repeatedly: "No! That's not true!"

"Then what are you afraid of?" Qiu Tong tilted her head and looked at him, her eyes filled with inquiry.

"I'm not afraid..." Su Ming's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"Not afraid? If you're not afraid, then you should apply the medicine to me properly!" Qiu Tong's tone was light, but she pressed him relentlessly.

Su Ming was cornered by her. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found that he couldn't refute her at all.

There was a few seconds of silence.

"Okay!" He lowered his head and finally relented.

Qiu Tong's smile deepened, but her tone remained nonchalant, as if nothing had just happened: "So, are you still going to move it or not?"

Su Ming stammered, "I'll move it when you're better..."

Qiu Tong nodded in satisfaction and winked at him, "Alright, your sister-in-law is going to take a shower. Go and prepare the purslane for me!"