Dragon Boat Festival

How could Li Yang possibly withstand Jiang Manman's teasing? She was like a sly little fox, brimming with confidence, as if taking him down tonight was already a sure thing.

Li Yang fled in defeat and hurried into the bathroom to shower. Just as he was lathering his hair, Jiang Manman cracked open the door and poked her head inside, grinning from ear to ear.

"Darling, need me to scrub your back?"

Jiang Manman's bell-like voice drifted into Li Yang's ears. Startled, he hurriedly turned around, not even caring about the foam on his head as he shouted, "Jiang Manman, get out!"

"Hehehe," she answered with a burst of silvery laughter.

"What are you hiding for? I already saw it." As soon as she finished speaking, she laughed loudly like a whirlwind and shut the door, leaving Li Yang speechless as if he had been hit by a paralysis spell.

After showering, Li Yang came out wearing the loose shorts he had arrived in and slumped onto the sofa like a puddle of mud. Jiang Manman, meanwhile, comfortably stretched out her legs, propping them on the coffee table and swinging them about.

She still had a face mask on and was leisurely eating sliced apples and watermelon from a plate with a fork.

"Come on, darling, open up." Manman began feeding Li Yang with tender consideration.

The two of them ate with great relish.

"I should get going, Manman." Li Yang put on his slippers, picked up the T-shirt beside him, and prepared to slip away.

"No. You're sleeping here tonight." Manman directly blocked Li Yang's path with one leg just as he was about to stand, pouting in unhappy protest.

"Manman, just let me go home. We both have work tomorrow. You expect me to go in like this? I still need to change clothes at home!"

Li Yang gestured anxiously at what he was wearing.

"Wait here." Jiang Manman pulled back her foot, put on her slippers, and went into the bedroom. Soon, she came back holding an unopened pair of men's jeans and white sneakers.

"Here, try them on. I bought them for my dad, but they probably won't fit him either. You can wear them." Jiang Manman picked up the fruit plate again and continued eating away.

Unable to find another excuse, Li Yang could only compromise. "Then I'll sleep on the sofa." With that, he flopped down and pretended to be sleepy.

"No, you have to sleep with me. Don't worry, I promise I won't touch you. We'll keep the peace and sleep separately." Jiang Manman smiled mischievously with her big eyes as she tried to pull Li Yang up.

"I don't want to move. If you can, carry me in there." Li Yang closed his eyes, acting shamelessly in the hopes of making Jiang Manman give up.

"That's easy. Don't underestimate me." Jiang Manman set down the fruit plate, peeled off her face mask to reveal smooth, fair skin, then stepped forward and pulled Li Yang onto her back.

Li Yang could not be bothered to argue with her and let Jiang Manman drag and tug him into her bedroom.

The air conditioner was on in the room, and there was a pleasant scent of air freshener.

Li Yang immediately lay down on his side.

Jiang Manman panted and kicked Li Yang in annoyance. Then she laughed happily and lay down as well, looking beautiful. She casually switched off the bedside lamp, and the room was instantly plunged into darkness.

No one knew how long had passed before the half-asleep Li Yang was kissed by Jiang Manman.

"Mmph... Jiang Manman, how can you go back on your word? Are you even a man?" Li Yang struggled groggily.

"Hehehe." Jiang Manman became even happier when she heard that and kissed him with even more enthusiasm. You idiot, I was never a man to begin with...

Half an hour later...

The two lay together in silence. Li Yang had his eyes closed as though he were asleep.

"Darling." Jiang Manman looked at Li Yang, who was right beside her, unwilling to leave his embrace.

"Come on, darling. Let's go wash up." Jiang Manman reminded Li Yang with a seductive smile.

"No. I'm too sleepy. I want to sleep..."

There was a trace of laziness in Jiang Manman's eyes. She gently tugged Li Yang's hand, her voice slightly coquettish. "Darling, come shower with me." In the end, Li Yang smiled and nodded, getting up to shower with her.

The next morning, the two got out of bed together. Jiang Manman looked at Li Yang without the slightest embarrassment, smiling smugly.

"What? Look at that stupid face of yours. Let me make this clear: you still won't get my heart."

"Hmph, who cares?" Jiang Manman had already forgotten the principle of not forgetting the person who dug the well after drinking the water, and began acting unreasonable.

"Oh? Then if you've got the nerve, don't come provoke me again." Li Yang actually started threatening Jiang Manman.

"Fine, fine, darling. I was wrong, okay?" Li Yang had found Jiang Manman's weakness and had her completely in his grasp.

"We'll see how you behave from now on." Li Yang spoke casually with the air of a master addressing a maid.

"Bring me my clothes." Sitting on the bed, Li Yang began ordering Jiang Manman around.

"Yes, Master. This servant will fetch them at once." Jiang Manman cooperatively began acting out an ancient costume drama.

The two went into the bathroom together to wash up, and Jiang Manman kept playfully fidgeting.

Li Yang casually gave Jiang Manman a smack. The two roughhoused for quite a while before finally getting dressed and preparing to head out.

"Darling, are you coming to my place again tonight?" Jiang Manman stared at him with wide eyes, eagerly awaiting his answer.

"Coming to your place, my ass." Li Yang replied viciously.

"Hmph. Fine. Just you wait." Jiang Manman issued a threat.

"Can't be bothered with you." Li Yang rolled his eyes at her.

Then the two left together.

Sure enough, the clothes Jiang Manman had prepared fit Li Yang as though they had been tailored for him, which made Manman secretly delighted. As for Li Yang's underwear, Jiang Manman had thoughtfully gone out early that morning to buy him a four-pack.

Jiang Manman treated Li Yang to breakfast outside. They had beef soup, and Jiang Manman transferred all the beef from her bowl into Li Yang's.

"Hey, darling, keep it up! Eat more and build yourself up nice and strong." Jiang Manman teased Li Yang playfully.

Li Yang could not be bothered with her and ate until his mouth was greasy. Jiang Manman barely ate anything before putting down her chopsticks. She sat there taking small sips of Haibi Soda, growing happier and happier as she watched Li Yang.

After taking the bus to the entrance of Pedestrian Street, Jiang Manman and Li Yang said goodbye.

"Wait for me after work, Li Yang." Jiang Manman held Li Yang's hand, reluctant to let go.

"Why should I wait for you?" Li Yang looked utterly serious.

"Hmph, if you dare not wait for me, I'll chase you all the way to your house. Don't blame me for not making myself clear." Jiang Manman stood there gracefully, speaking to Li Yang with domineering confidence.

"Fine, fine, I'm afraid of you, all right? Six-thirty, don't be late." Li Yang teasingly provoked her again, then quickly ran off.

Jiang Manman was not angry at all. Instead, she smiled happily and only slowly turned toward their shop after watching Li Yang disappear into the distance.

At lunchtime, Lao Zhao unexpectedly came to the third floor to find Li Yang.

"Come home with me for lunch in a bit. Today's Dragon Boat Festival, and your sister-in-law made a whole lot of dishes. Let's have a few drinks." Ever since the last birthday celebration, Lao Zhao had sincerely regarded Li Yang as a sworn brother despite their age difference, often dragging him out for drinks whenever he had the chance.

"Sure, I'll be right there." Li Yang was quite happy to hear that. He also wanted to see Wang Jingjuan. After they had eaten alone together last time, they had spoken on the phone a few times, and their relationship had grown increasingly ambiguous.

Li Yang quickly tidied up and went downstairs. When he got there, he saw Lao Zhao waiting for him on the same broken three-wheeled bike that spewed black smoke. The ash on his cigarette was ridiculously long, yet somehow it still would not fall.

"I'm telling you, why don't you buy a better vehicle?" Li Yang reminded Lao Zhao as he sat in the cargo bed.

"I just finished building the house and haven't recovered financially yet. Let's wait a little longer. Then I'll take your sister-in-law's advice and buy a new Little Flying Tiger single-cab cargo truck. I can also pick up some side jobs outside and earn a little extra."

Lao Zhao and the others were paid entirely by delivery piecework. The rates differed depending on distance and whether the loads were large or small. The more they hauled each month, the more they earned, and the work was fairly flexible.

They chatted nonsense all the way and soon arrived home.

"Come in and sit, Xiaoyang." Wang Jingjuan had become even more beautiful and alluring after not seeing him for days, stirring Li Yang's heart. The charm of a mature woman was truly evident.

"It's fine, Sister-in-law. Don't stand on ceremony." Li Yang secretly brushed Wang Jingjuan's fair, tender hand and glanced at her in pleasant surprise. They both smiled, as if they shared an unspoken understanding.

Lao Zhao brought out a bottle of baijiu. Knowing Li Yang still had work, he had already taken chilled beer from the refrigerator, opened it, and handed it to Li Yang.

"Come on, don't be polite. Eat, eat, eat!" Lao Zhao boisterously called out as he started digging into the dishes with Li Yang.

Looking at the appetizing spread of four dishes and a soup, Li Yang's appetite surged. He stopped being polite and began eating voraciously. Wang Jingjuan was still as delicate as a kitten. She did not eat any rice, using her chopsticks to fill Li Yang's bowl before taking only a few small bites herself.

"Don't be a stranger. Your sister-in-law is always talking about losing weight, so she never eats properly. Don't mind her. You can't leave until you finish these dishes today." Lao Zhao spoke to Li Yang with the air of the head of the household.

"Sure, no problem. Sister-in-law's cooking is so good, I can't get enough of it." Li Yang tactfully praised her.

Wang Jingjuan did not say much. With a happy smile on her face, she casually watched TV.

After quite some time, the two had eaten and drunk nearly enough. Lao Zhao was getting on in years, and after drinking, the alcohol quickly went to his head. Before long, his eyelids began fighting each other.

"Ah, Brother can't do it anymore. Keep eating slowly. I'm going to lie down for a while. Rest a bit after you finish eating too before you leave."

Lao Zhao stood up unsteadily and slowly walked toward his bedroom.

"It's fine, Zhao Ge. I'll leave after I finish eating. The shop is still busy. Go sleep." Li Yang called after Lao Zhao's back.

Not long after, Lao Zhao's earth-shaking, ghost-weeping snores rang out.

"Sorry you had to see that, Xiaoyang." Wang Jingjuan frowned slightly, got up slowly, and went to close Lao Zhao's bedroom door. The living room immediately became much quieter.

"Are you full? Sister-in-law can get you some more rice." As she spoke, Wang Jingjuan took Li Yang's beer glass and directly drank the half glass he had left.

Then she wiped her mouth, looking thoroughly content.

"Do you still want some, Sister-in-law?" Li Yang casually asked without much surprise.

"Then get another bottle. Can Sister-in-law have a few drinks with you?" Wang Jingjuan asked expectantly.

"Of course. Wait here, Sister-in-law." Li Yang quickly got up, took another chilled beer from the refrigerator, and opened it.

"Sister-in-law, are you okay drinking something cold?" Li Yang asked worriedly.

"Hehehe, you're quite thoughtful. Don't worry, Sister-in-law isn't on her period, so I can drink it." Wang Jingjuan smiled, looking charming and alluring.

"Then I'll get you a glass." Li Yang was about to stand up.

"No need. Sister-in-law can share one with you. There isn't much; we'll finish it in a few sips."

Li Yang did not make a fuss about it. He and Wang Jingjuan shared a glass and finished a bottle of beer. Though they barely exchanged a few words, the looks they gave each other were already full of unspoken affection.

"Xiaoyang, I'm going to the bathroom." Under Li Yang's attentive watch, Wang Jingjuan had obediently drunk only one full glass, while the rest went into Li Yang's stomach. With a faint blush on her face, she looked even more enchanting and seductive.

Li Yang waited for a while, but Wang Jingjuan still did not come out. Could she be drunk? Thinking that, he got up and walked toward the bathroom.

Li Yang glanced at the half-closed door and carefully pushed it open. His eyes instantly widened!

Li Yang's head was already foggy from the alcohol, and at that moment, he completely lost his reason.

At Wang Jingjuan's urging, Li Yang immediately regained his senses. The two smiled as their eyes met, and only then did Wang Jingjuan reluctantly pull away.

"All right, hurry out..."

After leaving the bathroom, Li Yang leaned against the wall like a statue, recalling the poetic, picturesque beauty of what had just happened.

Afterward, the two silently cleaned up the kitchen. Sunlight streamed through the window and fell upon them in warm beams. In that instant, it was as though the entire space had been filled with tenderness.