CITM - 5

Ye Yun carried the freshly washed clothes from the washroom and hung them one by one on the clothesline in the corridor outside the door. The house door was open, and Tong Mingfang was talking to Bai Wenfu inside.

“I used all the fabric coupons to make clothes for Ye Yun. What she’s wearing now...”

Tong Mingfang glanced outside but didn’t continue. Changing the subject, she said, “Your younger brother is newly married. Before he returns from his voyage, I plan to sew them a new set of bedding. See if you can manage to get more fabric coupons over the next two months.”

Bai Wenfu paused for a moment before responding, “I’ll see what I can do.”

Bai Wenfu never commented on Tong Mingfang’s arrangements, but as a mother, she felt guilty. People at the doorstep often said that the Bai family couldn’t find a bride. The gossip had never stopped over the years, with some even saying they’d be childless. Tong Mingfang couldn’t swallow this insult, so she used all their savings to marry off her second son. The dowry money was contributed by the eldest son. It wasn’t that Tong Mingfang didn’t care about her eldest son, but their situation only allowed for one daughter-in-law. Even if they arranged a match for the eldest, knowing about his past, most girls wouldn’t agree. Compared to the eldest, the younger son had a respectable job and no health issues, making it easier to arrange a marriage.

Tong Mingfang added, “Your brother isn’t young anymore. Our Bai family can’t go without an heir. You understand my predicament, right?”

Bai Wenfu’s long lashes slightly lowered, his face showing no signs of emotion, his tone calm: “We’re all family.”

This reassured Tong Mingfang.

When Ye Yun finished hanging the clothes and returned home, Bai Wenfu happened to step out of Wenbin’s room. With an air of detached distance, he brushed past Ye Yun and walked outside.

Back in the room, Wenbin handed her something: “Big Brother just brought this.”

Ye Yun took it and asked, “What is this?”

“Burn ointment. How’s your hand?”

Ye Yun extended her hand; there was a small blister on her thumb, slightly red and swollen.

“How do I use it?” she asked.

Wenbin shifted aside, letting her sit on the bed: “I’ll help you apply it.”

Ye Yun sat down and extended her hand. Wenbin squeezed some ointment onto her hand, the cool sensation easing the pain of the swelling.

In the past, even when burned, Ye Yun still had to work. Her mother couldn’t handle everything alone, and taking care of her siblings, washing clothes, and cooking were all necessary tasks. She had never heard of burn ointment. However, she had heard of the Phoenix brand bicycle—though tickets were scarce, and even with money, one couldn’t necessarily buy one.

Curious, Ye Yun asked, “Big Brother doesn’t have a job. How did he get the bike?”

“He may not have a job, but he has his ways. I don’t know what Big Brother does all day.”

After last night’s incident at the toilet and what just happened, even the slowest person could see that the neighbors feared Bai Wenfu. Upon reflection, that fear mingled with a hint of dread.

Ye Yun didn’t understand why: “Why are people so afraid of Big Brother?”

“Something happened to my brother in the past. Though he looks fierce, he’s good to the family. Thanks to him, I can work on the ship.”

After evenly applying the ointment, Wenbin still hadn’t let go of her hand. A woman’s hand is naturally softer than a man’s, soft and boneless, with a faint fragrance filling the air. Ye Yun’s sweet and fragrant scent seemed infused with honey.

Though Wenbin had long reached the age of marriage, having been protected by his older brother since childhood, he lived as if he hadn’t matured. That day in Qingxi Village, seeing Ye Yun caught his attention—it was simply a man’s natural attraction to a beautiful woman.

It wasn’t until last night’s intimate encounter that he understood this feeling. No wonder everyone wanted to bring a wife home. During the day while on duty, Wenbin couldn’t focus, always thinking of Ye Yun’s gentle features. Finally able to talk with her, he couldn’t look enough.

The door to the adjacent room opened and closed again, followed by steady footsteps echoing through the wooden partition into the room. Bai Wenfu had returned to his room, and naturally, they stopped discussing him.

Though there were two rooms, it felt like all three of them shared the same space; even their breaths had nowhere to hide.

Wenbin had washed his hair, with a few damp strands falling on his forehead. His clean, handsome features carried a smile, with light dancing in his eyes. He said to Ye Yun, “Let’s sleep.”

They lay down side by side, and the room went dark. There was no sound from the neighboring room. The quiet night seemed to belong only to the two of them. Yet each knew that any slight movement would disturb Big Brother, so they slept relatively properly.

Not knowing how much time had passed, Ye Yun became drowsy, feeling an arm around her waist. She half-opened her eyes to meet Wenbin’s fiery gaze. His eyes showed no sign of sleepiness; the burning stare seared her. Ye Yun instantly woke up, her heart racing, her body tense. Last night’s uneasy feeling returned in full force.

Wenbin lifted Ye Yun’s chin, her tension and shyness coloring her delicate face with a tender charm that stirred emotions.

Wenbin leaned down and kissed her lightly. Ye Yun, inexperienced, was more bewildered than moved, cautiously glancing at the wall panel.

Wenbin reassured her: “Big Brother must be asleep by now. Even if he isn’t, don’t worry. You’re my wife; no one can say anything.”

Ye Yun obediently lowered her eyes, her soft touch making Wenbin’s blood surge. He had never imagined a woman’s body could be so soft, like water. Once touched, a man instinctively sought it as a source in the desert, parched.

His breathing grew more rapid, pushing aside Ye Yun’s long hair, burying his face in her neck, kissing fiercely. Ye Yun’s heart raced, electric currents tingling through her body. The unfamiliar flutter startled her, raising her arms. The bed wasn’t large, pressed against the wall. Her elbow hit the wall panel with a dull thud, startling her into a cold sweat, abruptly pulling her back from the haze.

Wenbin paid no heed, his scorching kisses moving down to her collarbone. Still, this couldn’t quell the restlessness in his heart.

His hoarse voice floated by Ye Yun’s ear: “I want to see you.” His hand moved to the front of her blouse, unbuttoning it.

At that moment, there was a disturbance outside—not from inside the house, but more like from the corridor. By this hour, every household should have been asleep, so such loud noises shouldn’t occur. Somehow, the commotion grew louder.

The sound of the neighboring room door opening and closing came through. Clearly, Bai Wenfu had also heard the noise and gone out.

Ye Yun parted her lips: “What’s happening outside?”

Her soft, coquettish voice stirred Wenbin’s emotions, making him ignore the outside disturbance.

Suddenly, urgent knocking sounded, and Tong Mingfang shouted from outside: “Wenbin, something’s wrong. Xiao Lei Zi’s house is on fire.”

Xiao Lei Zi was the same age as Wenbin. Before moving to the tube building, their families lived next door, growing up together like brothers.

After shouting, Tong Mingfang ran towards Lei Zi’s place. Wenbin was momentarily stunned, then jumped out of bed, slipped on his slippers, and dashed out the door, meeting Bai Wenfu carrying two buckets of water from the washroom in the corridor. Knowing his older brother’s leg condition, Wenbin quickly took the buckets and hurriedly said, “You stay here. I’ll go.” Without waiting for a response, he rushed to Lei Zi’s house.

The fire had started in Lei Zi’s bedroom. In the dead of night, everyone was asleep inside. Neighbors rushed to help extinguish the fire and rescue people.

Ye Yun didn’t know who Xiao Lei Zi was, but Wenbin’s reaction scared her. As soon as he rushed out, she got out of bed and ran out of the room, bumping into Bai Wenfu coming in.

The dim yellow glow of the incandescent lamp illuminated her rosy face. Several buttons on her blouse were undone, revealing a tantalizing glimpse, her clothes rumpled, exposing a patch of creamy white skin marked with suggestive red marks.

Bai Wenfu’s eyes darkened, their depth like a deep pool, seemingly capable of drawing one in.

Ye Yun’s watery eyes met his, immediately unsettling her. She turned around, hastily buttoning up and smoothing her clothes, lowering her eyelashes to ask, “Is the fire big? Should we go help?”

Bai Wenfu took a few steps into the house, sitting at the table, pouring himself a glass of cold water and drinking it silently: “There are plenty of people over there. Don’t go and cause trouble.”

Ye Yun softly replied, “Mm,” clutching her hands anxiously by the side. She dared not turn to face Bai Wenfu’s calm, jet-black eyes. Though Big Brother wouldn’t point it out, under his gaze, Ye Yun inexplicably felt guilty. Wenbin was a man, living under the same roof, and she couldn’t be as forthright as him. Not knowing how to deal with this awkward atmosphere, she could only avoid it.

A short while later, the incandescent light in the house suddenly went out. Whether due to fire damage to the circuit or someone cutting the power, the entire corridor—and even the whole building—was plunged into darkness simultaneously.

Instantly, everything was pitch black. The endless darkness brought an oppressive sense of the unknown. Having just arrived, Ye Yun was unfamiliar with the house layout. With her vision restricted, she lost all sense of direction. Being in an unfamiliar environment, with a fire breaking out and the power cut in the middle of the night, panic was inevitable.

At this moment, footsteps echoed in the room, heading towards the door, leaving Ye Yun alone. She hurriedly called out, “Big Brother, where are you going?”

Bai Wenfu, one foot already out the door, turned back, glanced at the petite figure pressed against the wall, retracted his step, and said, “Nowhere. I’m staying right here.”

One person sat at the doorway, another stood inside the room. Though there was no communication, it was still more reassuring for Ye Yun than being alone.

People gradually passed by the corridor. Bai Wenfu leaned out and asked, “Is the fire out?”

Someone outside replied, “Out, out. His wife and son are fine. Lei Zi’s been taken to the hospital.”

Minutes after this person left, Tong Mingfang returned holding a one-year-old boy. Apparently, Da Lei Zi’s loud snoring forced his wife to sleep outside with their son to feed him during the night. Unexpectedly, a fire broke out in the middle of the night. Lei Zi’s wife managed to escape with their son, while Da Lei Zi suffered burns. Wenbin had taken Da Lei Zi to the hospital, and Lei Zi’s wife also went along, leaving the little one temporarily with Tong Mingfang.

The child, frightened, whimpered incessantly. No matter how Tong Mingfang tried to soothe him, rocking him on her lap for a while, nothing worked. Bai Wenfu reached out and took the child. He had never held a baby before, and the tiny figure in his arms seemed especially miniature. Before Tong Mingfang could sigh in relief, the baby looked at Bai Wenfu and suddenly burst into tears. Bai Wenfu raised his eyebrows: “Do I really look that scary?”

The baby’s face turned bright red. Ye Yun stepped forward and said, “Let me try.”

As she approached, the baby extended his chubby arms towards her, seeking salvation. Bai Wenfu helplessly handed the baby to Ye Yun.

Infants are sensitive to scents. Perhaps the comforting warmth of Ye Yun’s presence calmed the baby. Once in her arms, the baby rested his head on her shoulder, and his crying gradually subsided.

Ye Yun often held her youngest brother at home and had her own way of soothing babies. Humming a gentle tune, she paced back and forth. Gradually, the baby closed his eyes and fell asleep on her shoulder.

Seeing the baby asleep, Tong Mingfang tried to take him to sleep with her. But as soon as she held him, the baby began to pout and whimper. Before he could cry out loud, Ye Yun took him back and said, “I’ll sleep with him.”

By the time Wenbin returned, it was already early morning. He washed his face, changed clothes, and went back to the room. Ye Yun, sleeping soundly with the baby, presented a warm picture that touched him. Wenbin gently climbed onto the bed, careful not to press on the baby. Turning to his side, he gazed at Ye Yun’s peaceful sleeping face, a smile forming on his lips as he reached out to embrace them.