Flushed

Shi Ailin informed her sister that she wouldn't come to work since she felt "under the weather." Shi Yen told her to take care, and that's she'd cover for her that day.

In the morning, Shi Ailin went into the master bedroom of the house. Everything was kept the same since her parents passed. When Shi Yen used to live there, she would occasionally come in to wipe the dust, preserving it as much as possible as if they were never gone. But Shi Ailin wasn't good at coming in—she never processed their deaths as well as Shi Yen.

Shi Ailin exhaled a breath. She tucked the shawl over her bare shoulders before she stepped inside the walk-in closet, finding men's clothing that may fit Luo Wanting. Her father had a tall and strong form, but she realized that Luo Wanting was bigger and broader in comparison.

She took a large grey sweater, matching it with grey sweatpants. She then found a new pair of boxer briefs still in the plastic package, and she took it.

She then went back over to her bedroom, finding Luo Wanting had finished the breakfast she left him. He was slowly gaining back his strength; the bruising on his body had purpled, but his swelling had gone down.

"I brought you some clothes," she told him.

Luo Wanting sat up slightly. "Thank you," he replied.

"I am going to set up the bath for you, you can go in whenever you're ready," she said as she removed the bandages from his body. He scowled.

"Would you mind helping me go into the bath?" he asked.

Shi Ailin reddened. "I…yes," she replied. She then went to the bath, turning on the hot water before she returned to haul him up from the bed, carrying his weight over to the bathroom. He used the toilet in front of her, as he did many times overnight, as she had gotten used to the routine of supporting him.

Luo Wanting began to slip off his pants afterward, and Shi Ailin glanced away, holding him still. When he finished, he said to her, "I'm ready to go in." With her eyes pressed tightly, she attempted to guide him, but she stumbled for not being able to see.

They paused. "Open your eyes," he said.

"I…I don't know if I can," she replied, eyes shut.

He released a breathy laugh. "I will be kept turned around. You won't see anything."

Shi Ailin opened one of her eyes, keeping the other shut. Luo Wanting took each step into the tub, and she helped him descend into the water. He hissed at the warm contact, slowing adjusting to the temperature.

Shi Ailin switched off the valve, shutting her eyes again.

She began to walk away when she heard splashes and grunts, and slight groans of pain. Shi Ailin realized he was struggling when she turned around, watching as he leaned over, attempting to use a washcloth. His mobility was limited, and she pursed her mouth.

"Let me help you," she said, approaching him from behind, realizing that he seemed to fit the whole tub.

"Thank you," he said.

Luo Wanting had soaped the water, but the water was still visible and transparent. Shi Ailin gave him another cloth, "Can you…em, cover your…uh, pecker?"

"Pecker?" he responded, disgruntled. "In some contexts, you're implying that I'm small."

Shi Ailin flushed. "I—I wouldn't mean that. I don't even know what it looks like."

He laughed. "You called it a cock yesterday. Or did you forget?" he said.

Shi Ailin's face was red throughout. Luo Wanting grabbed the cloth from her, placing it over his thighs. Noticing that she still felt embarrassed, he said, "I was only teasing you…I'm sorry."

"No, no. It's okay. I…I'm not used to this back and forth. I'm afraid I have zero social skills. I am also oblivious and terrible at reading between the lines. You know—"

Luo Wanting smiled. "Do you often ramble on when you're nervous?" he asked her.

She flushed again. "Y-yes."

"Then I hope to continue to make you as flustered as possible," he said too casually, lifting his arms over the tub with a sly half-smile.

Shi Ailin composed herself. "Like hell, I'd let you," she said. He smiled wide as she instructed him to lift his arms so she could scrub him clean. She soaped and lathered his body, carefully trailing down to his pectorals and torso.

"Lift your legs," she told him.

Luo Wanting lifted one at a time as she gently cleaned him. She felt his piercing gaze never leave her, but she ignored it.

Afterward, Shi Ailin worked roughly on his back and shoulders.

She then washed his hair; her fingers ran through his ash-blonde hair, scrubbing at the roots.

When she finished, she drained the water and she stood to rinse his entire body clean with the showerhead. His eyes were closed, lolling his head back, allowing the water to rain over him.

Shi Ailin flushed, getting a better view of his robust and muscular form from above.

When she finished, she closing her eyes, offering her hands to help him stand and get out of the tub. She then turned around to pass him a dry towel, and he quickly wrapped it around his waist before he leaned over her.

Shi Ailin guided him to the bed, and she sat him down, as he winced in pain.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes…" he replied.

She then dried his hair with a towel before she grabbed the clothes she brought him. Before he put them on, Shi Ailin wrapped his midriff with bandages.

She then flushed when she had put his underwear and pants around his ankles before she hoisted him stand. She then pulled it around his waist, underneath the towel, embarrassed by it, but she didn't show it. Shi Ailin then tossed his towel aside, and Luo Wanting quickly put on the sweatshirt on his own.

He then went back to bed. "I haven't felt this refreshed in days," he sighed. Luo Wanting looked directly into her walnut eyes. "Thank you, princess."

Shi Ailin's heart raced. "If there's nothing more, then I am going to be downstairs. Call me if you need anything."

"I don't have a phone," he said.

"There's a house phone on the nightstand. The line works, and my cellphone number is right on that sheet of paper."

Luo Wanting glanced at the nightstand. "People still use house phones?"

Shi Ailin smiled and shook her head. She went back to the bathroom to gather his clothes and wash them.

In the laundry room, she sighed, not believing that Luo Wanting was in her home, for another week or two as this wouldn't be good for her weary heart.