Failing to Wipe Down on His Own

Yu Li stepped closer to the bed. Seeing Fu Wen Xiao looking at her, she thought for a moment and asked, "Do you want to wipe yourself down?"

In Qingshi Village, the summer weather was very sweltering, and everyone was accustomed to bathing daily.

Normally, they didn't need to boil water; they could just soak in the river, or simpler yet, leave a basin of water to warm in the sun in the yard, using that warm water to bathe by evening.

In the Fu family, when Zhu Shi and the two children wanted to bathe, they also just used sun-warmed water.

For the past two days, Yu Li had also bathed daily. Going to bed after a bath felt very comfortable.

However, Fu Wen Xiao was a patient and could not bathe, though he could wipe himself down.

Fu Wen Xiao softly gave an affirmative hum, then added after a thought, "Bring the basin of water in, I will wipe myself."

He was a clean person by nature. Even though he only broke into a slight sweat while lying in bed and had no strange odor, he would find it hard to sleep if he didn't wipe down.

When Yu Li brought the water in and saw him struggling to sit up, she hesitated for a moment and asked, "Do you really not need my help?"

Fu Wen Xiao's pale face flushed slightly. He fell silent, then replied, "No need."

Yu Li was not one to force others. Hearing this, she stopped insisting and stood in place, watching.

Fu Wen Xiao looked at her for a moment.

Yu Li also calmly looked back, though her eyes seemed a bit innocent and blank.

After a long while, Fu Wen Xiao finally spoke: "Could you step outside for a moment?"

Even though he knew she was his "wife," he still couldn't truly feel it. Being stared at by a girl like this, he couldn't comfortably undress in front of her.

Yu Li seemed to finally understand. She let out an "ah" and obediently stepped outside.

Before leaving, she noticed his face was flushed and couldn't help but worry, "I wonder if he is about to faint again."

...

Yu Li stood outside the door, looking up at the night sky.

A full moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the night and casting a quiet, peaceful air over Qingshi Village.

In the distance, the faint glow of fires from various households appeared, accompanied by occasional, scattered barks of dogs.

In the yard, the chirping of insects blended into a melody characteristic of a summer night.

This world was free of pollution, so the moonlight shone clear and pure.

As the light illuminated the earth, a gentle sense of peace enveloped all things, creating a tranquil scene like still water.

Under the moonlight, everything in the yard was clearly visible.

In the midst of such a moonlit night, humans suddenly felt very small. Though there was a touch of loneliness, it brought a sense of peace to one's heart.

Yu Li gazed at the quiet scenery, so captivated that she was reluctant to blink.

She truly loved this world—a place without pollution, without mutated beasts, and without endless slaughter or sudden death.

Here, she didn't have to constantly be ready to fight or prepare for death as she had before.

Suddenly, a clattering sound came from inside the room, as if something had fallen to the floor.

Yu Li turned her head to look at the closed door behind her. After a brief thought, she decided to push the door open and enter.

As she entered, she saw Fu Wen Xiao sitting on the edge of the bed, his body slightly bent, revealing his thin spine. His hands were clenched into fists, looking as if he was trying hard to endure something. His face showed a trace of struggle, yet his elegant demeanor was still apparent.

Yu Li felt her decision to enter was correct. She immediately stepped forward, lifted him with one hand, and placed him back onto the bed.

Fu Wen Xiao: "..."

Fu Wen Xiao seemed so astonished that he froze, unable to react for a long time.

He sat there dazed, his usual calm expression replaced by bewilderment.

After placing him properly on the bed, Yu Li saw the water basin that had rolled onto the floor.

The water had spilled, spreading across the floor. She bent down to pick up the basin, thinking that in this hot weather, the water would dry quickly, so there was no need to clean it up too thoroughly.

After a quick tidy-up, Yu Li turned back to look at the man on the bed.