WHCTIL - 49

“But…” Xiaocheng hurriedly swallowed the meat in his mouth before continuing clearly: “I’m not good at grilling. They just complained about my cooking earlier.” 

Xiaobai teased him: “Yeah, yeah, everything you grill turns out burnt and salty. I might as well do it myself.” 

Jiang Chuan placed the corn farthest from the charcoal fire. It was rare for him to patiently do something like this. 

Qin Tang leaned closer: “Do you want some beef?”

Jiang Chuan hummed in response. Qin Tang picked out a few skewers of beef. Since she was little, her parents often took her to gatherings and barbecues with their friends. Barbecuing in the yard was a common occurrence. Though she wasn’t skilled at cooking, grilling was no challenge for her. 

Jiang Chuan watched as she skillfully brushed on the seasoning, his lips curving faintly into a smile. 

Aqi glanced at him, then at Qin Tang, who remained expressionless. Their默契 (natural understanding) seemed effortless. When had it started? 

Jiang Chuan called out to Heihu, who was darting around: “Heihu, come here.” 

Heihu immediately ran over. Jiang Chuan tossed it a few pieces of raw beef, and Heihu caught them mid-air with its mouth. 

Xiaobai asked: “Is Brother Xiaocheng still grilling corn?” 

Xiaocheng, ever willing: “Of course I’m grilling! How could I not? I’ll take care of you all.” As he spoke, he brushed oil onto the corn, but he used too much, and it dripped onto the charcoal, causing small flames to flare up with a sizzling sound. 

Aqi, standing nearby, jumped back in alarm: “Use less oil! You’re wasting it! It’s going to burn again!” 

Xiaocheng didn’t care, grinning: “Even if it burns, you guys still eat it happily.” 

Jiang Chuan glanced over but said nothing. 

Qin Tang sprinkled cumin on the grilled beef and handed it to Jiang Chuan: “It’s ready.” 

Jiang Chuan took it and bit into the skewer. He ate quickly, and Qin Tang guessed he hadn’t had dinner. She placed more food on the grill. Lü An noticed and chuckled: “Qin Tang, grill some for everyone. Your grilling seems much better than Xiaocheng’s.” 

Qin Tang glanced at him and nodded: “Alright.” 

The night breeze swept through. 

Barbecuing by the charcoal fire in summer had its own unique charm. Sweat formed on Qin Tang’s forehead, but she didn’t feel particularly hot. She wiped it away with her hand. Jiang Chuan glanced at her and said: “Move back a bit.” 

He grabbed her chair, and Qin Tang, along with the chair, was moved back a few inches. 

Qin Tang turned her head to look at him: “I haven’t finished grilling yet. This is too far.” 

Jiang Chuan: “I’ll handle it.” 

He couldn’t bear to see her work, especially when she was getting flushed from the heat while grilling. 

Xiaocheng observed this and couldn’t help but comment: “Brother Jiang, when did you start treating Sister Qin Tang so well?” 

Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow: “When have I treated her poorly?” 

“Uh…” Xiaocheng suddenly couldn’t think of anything. On reflection, Jiang Chuan had never been unkind to her. 

Qin Tang smiled and asked: “Is the corn ready?” 

She’d been sitting there for a while and had only eaten two skewers of meat. 

Jiang Chuan glanced at the golden-brown corn and held it out to her: “Try it?” 

Xiaobai and Aqi simultaneously looked at the perfectly grilled corn, then at the two burnt, blackened ears in Xiaocheng’s hands, both wrinkling their noses. Qin Tang took it, blew on it, and took a small bite. She said: “It’s done, and it’s sweet.” 

Xiaocheng handed the burnt corn to Xiaobai and Aqi, but they both shook their heads: “No thanks, you eat it.” 

Xiaocheng: “…” 

He complained: “Didn’t you just tell me to grill it?” 

Seeing the perfectly grilled corn in Qin Tang’s hand, who would want to eat the burnt ones? 

Qin Tang pursed her lips and glanced at Jiang Chuan. 

The two shared a knowing smile. 

Amidst the commotion, no one paid attention to them. 

Time flew by, and it was already past midnight. 

Lü An said: “Finish eating what’s left. If there’s anything uneaten, wrap it up and put it in the fridge. Tomorrow, let Aunt Gui cook with it.” 

Aunt Gui had to wake up early to sell breakfast and couldn’t stay up late, so she had gone to bed early. 

Xiaocheng glanced around: “There’s not much left.” He looked at Jiang Chuan: “Brother Jiang, you and Sister Qin Tang should eat more. We’ve already eaten our fill. Should I grill something for you?” 

Jiang Chuan said: “No need.” 

Qin Tang said: “Let me do it.” 

Xiaocheng lacked patience, and most of what he grilled ended up burnt, losing all the flavor. 

Qin Tang placed the remaining food on the grill and slowly turned it over. The others began cleaning up, washing dishes, and tidying the yard, dividing tasks efficiently. By the time Qin Tang finished grilling the last batch of meat, Xiaocheng and Xu Peng had extinguished the charcoal fire and stored it under the big tree. 

By the time everything was done, it was nearly 1 a.m. 

Jiang Chuan finished eating, and everyone had cleaned up. They yawned and headed off to bed. 

“Brother Jiang, get some rest early,” someone said. 

Jiang Chuan nodded: “Mm, go to sleep, all of you.” 

He pulled a cigarette pack from his pocket, tapped out a cigarette, lit it, and took a few puffs. Looking at Qin Tang, he asked in a low, deep voice: “Are you sleepy?” 

His voice was especially rich in the night. 

Qin Tang nodded: “Yes, I’m sleepy.” With no one else around, she looked at him: “Let’s go upstairs.” 

Jiang Chuan stared at her and smiled. 

The two walked side by side to the staircase. The lights in the yard had been turned off, and everyone had closed their doors one by one. 

The night returned to its natural tranquility. 

At the stairwell corner, Qin Tang turned around and stared at the cigarette in his hand: “Let me take a puff.” 

Jiang Chuan brought the cigarette to her lips. Qin Tang leaned forward and took a drag. The strong smoke made her frown. Jiang Chuan chuckled softly, brought the cigarette back to his own lips, and slowly exhaled a ring of smoke. Suddenly, the motion-sensor light dimmed. 

Qin Tang looked up at him, and he gazed back at her. 

The ember fell from his hand, and his muscular body pressed closer. 

Qin Tang’s heart skipped a beat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and their lips met, kissing passionately. 

Jiang Chuan could feel Qin Tang’s change—from her initial hesitation to her current boldness. 

She was growing bolder with love. 

Jiang Chuan pinned her against the wall, gently nibbling her soft lips. After being teased all day, the kiss grew increasingly uncontrollable. He bit her lip and, through her clothes, firmly kneaded her chest. Qin Tang gradually lost her breath, letting out small whimpers. 

Jiang Chuan kissed the corner of her mouth, her cheek, her ear, her neck… 

Qin Tang gasped, her body going limp, unable to stand steadily. “I want to take a shower first…” 

Jiang Chuan: “Hmm?” 

“I need to shower and remove my makeup first…” she whispered softly, “This feels uncomfortable.” 

Jiang Chuan bit her earlobe, scooped her up bridal-style, and carried her steadily toward the bathroom.

Qin Tang said: “I need to get something.” 

Jiang Chuan turned around again and carried her back into the room. “Turn on the light.” 

Qin Tang felt for the switch on the wall and flicked it on. 

The room was instantly bathed in brightness. She looked up at him, touching his stubbled chin. “You need to shave.” 

Jiang Chuan set her down and smiled at her. “Did it scratch you?” 

Qin Tang lowered her head. “Mm, it’s uncomfortable.” 

It wasn’t exactly uncomfortable—it just tickled. 

Jiang Chuan buried his face in the crook of her neck and deliberately rubbed against her a few times. He immediately heard her soft gasps and smirked. “If it’s uncomfortable, why are you panting?” 

“It’s... itchy...” 

“Where’s it itchy?” 

“...” 

She dodged him, hopping a few steps away. She gathered her facial cleanser, makeup remover, and body wash into a basin. “I’m going to take a shower first.” 

Jiang Chuan watched her scurry out like a little rabbit, clutching the basin. His lips tightened as he lightly pressed his tongue against his teeth. He leaned against the wall for a while before heading to his room to grab some clothes. 

When he reached the bathroom, the sound of running water could already be heard from inside. 

Jiang Chuan shaved and brushed his teeth outside, then took off his T-shirt and headed toward the door. 

With a “click,” he turned the knob and opened the door. 

Qin Tang, startled, instinctively pulled her body back. Her snow-white, alluring figure faced him, drenched and shrouded in steam. 

Jiang Chuan stared, walking over. His bare chest pressed against her, making the space feel suddenly cramped. 

Qin Tang lowered her head, looking at the arm wrapped around her waist. His muscles were taut, every line exuding immense strength. Her pale skin contrasted sharply with his bronzed tone. For the first time, she felt overly white, overly fragile next to him—like she might break with a single touch. 

She turned in his arms and touched his chin—he had shaved. 

Jiang Chuan leaned down to kiss her lips, but Qin Tang turned her head away. She picked up a bar of soap and began lathering it onto his body, inch by inch. “Turn around.” 

Jiang Chuan chuckled, his voice hoarse, and complied with her request. 

Qin Tang ran her hands over his shoulder and softly asked: “Is this from a bullet wound?” 

He hummed in response. 

“When did it happen?” 

“Eight or nine years ago, during my first mission.” 

“What kind of mission?” 

“Pursuing a fugitive. The guy fled to the border, where he had accomplices armed with guns. We had a shootout.” 

He didn’t go into detail, but Qin Tang could tell the situation must have been perilous. 

Qin Tang gently touched the area, her fingertips trailing to his shoulder blade. “And here?” 

“Hmm?” In truth, Jiang Chuan didn’t know how many scars were on his back. It hurt when he got injured, but once healed, he never paid much attention to them or examined them closely. 

“A knife wound.” 

“I don’t remember.” 

Every time she touched a scar, she asked about it. 

Her fingertips traced patterns across his back. Jiang Chuan’s breathing grew heavier, his mind no longer focused on those old wounds. He reached behind him, grabbed her hand, and swiftly spun her around, pressing her against the cold tiles. “Still touching?” 

Qin Tang lowered her head, noticing the prominent bulge in his black pants. 

She touched the scar on his abdomen. “Did you have surgery?” 

Jiang Chuan paused for a few seconds before responding: “Mm, a car accident.” 

She bit her lip, her heart aching. “Be more careful in the future. It hurts me to see you like this.” 

Jiang Chuan closed his eyes briefly and kissed her. He guided her hand downward, through the coarse hair, until it touched him. His voice was rough: “Those things don’t matter anymore. What’s bothering me now is this. If you want to talk, we can—but only after I’ve taken care of you. I’ll stay up all night chatting if you want.” 

Qin Tang’s palm burned hot, her whole body tense. She lightly stroked upward from the base, and his heavy breathing immediately filled her ears. 

After they finished, she was always so exhausted that she fell asleep. Where would she find the energy to chat? They rarely saw each other during the day, and with so many people at the dinner table, there was hardly any chance to speak. Their nights were precious, and this man always did more than he said—both in bed and out. 

Jiang Chuan yanked off his pants, pressing his body against hers. His hand moved between her legs, kneading gently, and she let out a soft moan. 

He turned her around, making her brace her hands against the wall. Her round buttocks pressed against him as he gripped her waist and lifted her slightly, thrusting in forcefully with the wetness. 

“Ah!” 

She cried out, feeling stretched and overwhelmed. 

... 

The sound of water trickled softly. Jiang Chuan reached out and turned it off.