After becoming a widow, I became the apple of a rough man's eye.

Even after nightfall, the rain showed no signs of abating. Water dripped heavily from the eaves, turning the yard into a muddy mess where every step made a "plop" sound, making it impossible for anyone to go outside at this hour.

Gu Qiangying turned off the lights in the room, leaving only the cold white beam of her flashlight, which she waved back and forth on the floor. Her tone was crisp and decisive: "Listen up, everyone. There are only two beds at the clinic tonight. One in the east room, and one in the master bedroom. Qingqing will sleep in the east room, and no one is allowed to disturb her."

Jiang He raised his hand almost immediately, as if he were answering a question before anyone else: "Then I'll sleep by the door of the east room."

"You'll sleep on the floor in the master bedroom," Gu Qiangying said, immediately putting him back down. "You and Xiao Yong will sleep on the floor. Make your own beds, and don't fight over blankets in the middle of the night, and don't snore."

Xiao Yong nodded without saying a word: "Okay, I'll sleep on the floor."

Jiang He was unconvinced and muttered, "I don't snore."

Gu Qiangying sneered, her gaze behind her glasses cool: "Last time you hit the window so hard it resonated."

"My second brother hit me first!"

"I don't care who goes first." Gu Qiangying put away her flashlight, her voice lower but more weighty, "Whoever wakes Qingqing up tonight will have to chop up all the firewood in the yard tomorrow."

Jiang He opened his mouth, wanting to argue again, but Lin Qingqing gently tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Listen to Third Brother."

Upon hearing this, Jiang He immediately fell silent, letting out a dejected "Oh."

Lin Qingqing turned to Gu Qiangying and asked, "And you? Where do you sleep?"

Gu Qiangying waved the pharmacy key in her hand: "I'm going to the reclining chair in the pharmacy. I'm used to sleeping there on night shifts, it's more convenient."

"That recliner is too hard."

"Try to wake you up." He raised his hand and gently ruffled the top of her head, his voice softening. "You can sleep peacefully."

As soon as the people dispersed, Gu Qiangying added, "No one is allowed to visit other rooms after ten o'clock, especially you, Jiang He."

Jiang He puffed out his cheeks in anger: "You're the one who called my name."

"Because you're the most disobedient."

"What about the second brother?"

Gu Qiangying glanced at Xiao Yong, her tone tinged with helplessness: "He doesn't run around; he just keeps his head down and works."

Xiao Yong exclaimed "Huh?", not understanding the convoluted explanation, and simply scratched the back of his head.

……

In the latter half of the night, another round of thunder roared. A bolt of lightning rolled close to the roof, shaking the paper windows.

Lin Qingqing was startled awake by that sound. She had just turned over when the door hinges suddenly creaked softly, and a damp, cold draft, carrying the scent of rain, crept in through the crack. Her heart tightened, and just as she was about to speak, the covers suddenly sank in, and a hot, firm body squeezed in.

"Don't be afraid, it's me."

The voice was low and rapid, filled with panting. It was Xiao Yong.

"Second Brother?" Lin Qingqing was stunned. Her hand touched his arm, and her palm immediately became wet. "Why are you so soaked?"

"I just went to check on the woodshed, worried the wind might blow it away." Xiao Yong's voice was low, as if afraid of frightening her. "When I got back, I heard a lot of noise coming from your room, and I knew you were afraid of thunder... so I came to check on you."

After he finished speaking, he stopped moving and awkwardly pulled her into his arms, pressing his palms against her back to warm her. His breathing was heavy, but he controlled it very well, his hands holding her carefully, as if he were holding some fragile treasure.

Lin Qingqing whispered in his arms, "I'm fine."

"Mm," Xiao Yong replied, but his arm tightened a little. "I know. I'm just worried you won't sleep soundly alone."

A flash of lightning streaked across the window, the cold white light sweeping across his profile, making his jawline appear even more sharp and defined. Yet his eyes were tense, as if he had done something wrong and was afraid of upsetting her.

Lin Qingqing's heart softened instantly. She raised her hand to touch his chin, leaned in, and gently kissed his lips.

This kiss was like snapping the last taut string.

Xiao Yong's breath hitched, and the next second he rolled over and pressed her down into the covers, his kiss landing on her—rapid, hot, and direct. He didn't know any tricks or subtleties; he simply poured all the emotions he'd been holding back all night into this kiss. Lin Qingqing's body went limp from his kiss, her fingers unconsciously gripping his shoulders, her breathing becoming erratic.

He was halfway through kissing her when he lowered his palm to support her waist, and for a moment he couldn't stop the force.

A faint voice suddenly came from outside the door, not loud, but clearly piercing through the sound of rain:

"Second brother, you crushed her."

Xiao Yong froze on the spot, as if he had been struck head-on by lightning.

He sat bolt upright, his ears and neck instantly turning bright red, and he stammered, "I...I didn't...I..."

There were no more words spoken outside the door, only the incessant patter of rain under the eaves.

Xiao Yong scrambled out of bed in a flurry, nearly kicking over the stool beside the bed, grabbed his coat, and rushed out. Reaching the door, he abruptly turned back, his face flushed crimson: "You...you go back to sleep! I'm going out...I'm going to chop wood!"

Lin Qingqing, wrapped in the blanket, was speechless: "...It's the middle of the night now."

Xiao Yong panicked even more, stammering, "Then I... I'll go guard the door!" He then fled in panic.

The door slammed shut. Immediately following was the dull thud of him hitting the doorframe, and a low hiss.

Lin Qingqing's cheeks were burning hot. She had just sat up, clutching the blanket, when the door was pushed open again.

Gu Qiangying stood at the door, his white shirt collar loose, holding a small kerosene lamp in his hand. The flame flickered slightly, making his expression appear excessively calm, as if he were merely conducting a routine rounds. He closed the door behind him, slowly locking it, the latch clicking crisply in the quiet night.

"Were you scared?" He walked over and placed the lamp on the bedside table.

Lin Qingqing's throat was a little dry: "When...when did you get standing outside the door?"

"I heard everything I needed to hear." Gu Qiangying reached out and touched her side first. "Does it hurt?"

"I was pressed down a little bit just now."

Gu Qiangying frowned slightly, lowered his head to check, his fingertips were very light, but the movement didn't allow her to dodge. Once he confirmed she wasn't hurt, he looked up at her, his voice low and slow: "I told you, don't cause trouble."

Lin Qingqing retorted softly, "I wasn't making a fuss..."

Gu Qiangying's gaze fell on her reddened lips, and he chuckled softly: "Alright, let's say the second brother started it."

He leaned down and kissed her, completely different from Xiao Yong's straightforward approach. First, he kissed her slowly, until her breath trembled, then he deepened the kiss gradually. His palm held the back of her neck, while his other hand firmly supported her waist, protecting her without leaving her any way out.

Outside, wind and rain raged, raindrops pounding against the windowpane, and thunder rumbled in waves, sometimes distant, sometimes close. Inside, however, it felt like another small world, with only the soft rustling of breaths and the gentle friction of clothes against each other.

Lin Qingqing's eyes were slightly moist, her fingers gripped his clothes tightly, and her voice was soft: "Third Brother..."

"Mmm." Gu Qiangying whispered in her ear, his voice low and husky, "I'm here."

He coaxed her while patiently wearing her down. First, he warmed her up, then kissed her, then stopped to give her a couple of sips of water to help her catch her breath, making sure she wasn't truly uncomfortable, but also not letting her easily get away with it. Lin Qingqing was so overwhelmed by his persistence that her head was spinning. She listened to the thunder rumbling outside the window, the clock on the wall ticking away, and time seemed to stretch out in the rainy night.

The rain still hadn't stopped by late at night. She was completely exhausted and slumped softly in his arms, unable to even lift her eyelids.

Gu Qiangying carefully tucked the blanket in, then bent down and kissed the top of her head: "Go to sleep."

"And you..." Her voice was muffled, almost inaudible.

"Here." He placed his palm on her back, patting her gently, like soothing a child. "Go to sleep."

Lin Qingqing hummed in agreement and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

……

As dawn broke, the sky remained overcast, and a fine drizzle continued, with water lines hanging from the eaves forming a continuous stream.

On the makeshift bed in the master bedroom, Jiang He rolled over, sat up with his messy hair, and glanced at the empty seat next to him: "Where's Second Brother?"

Xiao Yong was squatting by the door, wringing out a wet towel. The veins on the back of his hands were bulging, and his ears were still faintly red. Without looking up, he said, "I went to chop firewood this morning."

Jiang He narrowed his eyes and leaned closer suspiciously: "I heard you running around in the middle of the night, you..."

"Shut up and go brush your teeth," Xiao Yong interrupted in a muffled voice, his tone harsh.

The pharmacy door creaked open, and Gu Qiangying came out with the medical records in her hand. She looked slightly tired, but her tone remained calm: "Now that everyone is awake, sweep the yard and clean the ditch by the gate so it doesn't get clogged with mud."

Jiang He immediately complained, "Why bother sweeping in this heavy rain? It'll get dirty again in a minute."

"Just sweep it when I tell you to." Gu Qiangying glanced at him and added casually, "And while you're at it, wash the medicine pot from last night."

"It's me again?"

"You drank the most medicine last night, so you're the one who should wash the pot."

Jiang He looked utterly dejected: "..."

In the east room, Lin Qingqing heard a commotion outside. She put on her coat and got up when the courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open from the outside with a loud "bang".

In an instant, all sounds in the courtyard ceased.

A tall man stood in the downpour, wearing a black raincoat with his hat pulled low. His shoes were wafting into the mud, bringing with them a chill. Rainwater streamed down the hem of his coat, revealing only his taut, cold jawline. He seemed to have emerged from a mountain pass, exuding a heavy, oppressive aura that made one instinctively hold their breath.

Xiao Yong stood up straight first, and Jiang He subconsciously took half a step forward, their eyes all focused on him.

Gu Qiangying recognized the person who had come in, her expression hardened, and she immediately put down the medical record book in her hand, her tone becoming both upright and steady:

"Big brother."