DLGSW 04

Chapter 4 After finishing the meal, Zhou Yao skillfully and efficiently gathered the bowls and chopsticks and headed into the kitchen.

Wen Yue froze for a moment, then quickly followed him.

She watched as he placed everything into a wooden basin, casually grabbed the loofah hanging on the wall, and scooped up two ladles of water, preparing to wash the dishes.

“Wait.” Only then did Wen Yue realize he was actually taking the initiative to wash up. After a two-second pause, she came back to herself and stopped him, pointing at the iron pot. “There’s hot water in the pot. It cleans better if you use hot water.”

Earlier, after cooking, she had remembered that there was probably no dish soap in the countryside yet. After rinsing the wok, she had poured several ladles of water into it and even added a couple of sticks of firewood to the stove—just so she could use hot water later for washing.

No dish soap meant hot water was the next best thing. After all, it was food they were talking about—cleanliness mattered.

“Tch.” Zhou Yao looked up at her expressionlessly, thin lips pressed together, his sharp phoenix eyes under thick brows carrying a faint pressure. “Is it really necessary to make things this complicated?”

Wen Yue blinked brightly at him. “You promised you’d listen to me. Cold water won’t clean properly. You have to use hot water.”

Zhou Yao: “……”

Fine. So this is what it means to take an inch and run a mile.

With a dark expression, he dumped out the cold water in the basin and went to scoop the steaming hot water from the pot instead.

Seeing this, Wen Yue’s eyes curved slightly in satisfaction. She walked over to the stove.

The fire inside had already gone out. She grabbed a bundle of dried grass, struck a match, and tried to relight the stove so she could boil another pot of hot water and clean all the furniture at home.

Dry grass caught fire easily—but it went out just as quickly after being placed inside the stove.

Wen Yue froze.

What?

She struck another match and tried again. The grass flared up, then died out a few seconds after being placed inside.

“……”

Why is starting a fire so hard?!

Just as she was staring blankly at the stove, a pair of large, well-defined hands appeared beside her.

Zhou Yao took the matches from her, used tongs to pull out the half-burned grass, lit it again without a word, and placed it back into the stove. He adjusted it twice with the tongs, and this time the fire finally caught.

He added another bundle of dry grass, then followed with firewood.

The orange glow flickered in Wen Yue’s dark, bright eyes. Her slightly pale lips parted a little, caught between surprise and embarrassment.

“Burning it your way,” Zhou Yao said coldly, “you’d waste a hundred boxes of matches.”

He was slightly bent over, his tall, broad frame standing just a few centimeters behind her. From a distance, it almost looked like he was holding her in his arms.

They were too close. The clean scent of soapgrass on him drifted into her senses, and Wen Yue’s face turned red without any promise of dignity.

“I wanted to boil water and clean everything in the house,” she said softly, lowering her gaze, her eyelashes trembling. Her small face was faintly flushed. “Can you help me move the tables and chairs out later?”

Zhou Yao didn’t notice anything unusual. After confirming the fire wouldn’t go out again, he straightened up and glanced at her thin wrists. “Fine.”

Once the water boiled, Wen Yue mixed in some cold water and carried it outside.

Only then did she realize Zhou Yao had already moved all the tables and stools out into the courtyard. Even the dirt left behind by the livestock had been swept to the neighboring yards, clearing a clean space.

At this time of day, the sun was scorching.

Zhou Yao casually took off his dark blue jacket, revealing a plain white undershirt underneath.

In the stifling heat, fine beads of sweat formed on his skin. The golden-toned muscles glistened faintly under the sunlight, every movement outlining clean, powerful lines of strength. As he bent down, his shirt lifted slightly, revealing a lean, taut waist—broad shoulders, narrow waist, a perfect ratio.

With that face and that body, he really could have made a fortune in the entertainment industry. Fans would probably circle the globe ten times over.

Wen Yue glanced at him… then glanced again.

After all, if you’re going to pick a man, it’s better if he’s pleasing to the eye. At least right now, she felt like she could generously forgive him for scaring her earlier.

Smiling faintly, she placed the basin on the steps, dipped a cloth into the hot water, and started scrubbing the table.

The surface was filthy—grease had built up over time. Even with all her strength, she could only rub off a small patch at a time.

Soon, sweat formed on her forehead. Her face turned pale again, as if she might faint at any moment.

“……Stop.” Zhou Yao frowned. “Leave it. I’ll do it.”

He didn’t want another trip to the hospital.

“Huh?” Wen Yue paused, breathing hard. Her ears rang faintly. “What… what did you say? Say it again, I didn’t hear you.”

Zhou Yao didn’t bother repeating himself. He snatched the cloth from her hand and pushed her away from the table with little gentleness. “Go sit over there. Don’t get in the way.”

Seriously. Did she have no idea how weak her body was?

He bent down and wiped the table carelessly—but the stubborn stains that had resisted Wen Yue’s efforts vanished almost instantly under his hand.

Her eyes widened in shock, lips slightly parted. “You’re so fast… I couldn’t scrub it off at all. Zhou Yao, you’re amazing!”

He scoffed and didn’t respond.

After resting for a bit, Wen Yue recovered slightly and went back inside, sweeping the dust from the floor and shaking out the bedsheets.

There was a faint musty smell.

It was too late to wash them now—she’d just air them out for today and wash them properly tomorrow.

She carried the bedsheet outside and hung it on the only empty clothesline, patting it twice.

Zhou Yao had already moved on to washing the stools. Wen Yue returned inside, tidying the messy desk—throwing away useless junk, setting aside what could still be used.

Honestly, she also wanted to take down the mosquito net and wash it—but she didn’t know how.

Forget it. She’d leave that to Zhou Yao.

Just as she clapped her hands and turned to clean something else—

“Yao-ge! Ge!”

Zhou Yao looked up slightly at the sound.

Two young men stood outside the courtyard gate, grinning brightly as they walked in on their own.

“Bro, what are you doing?” Fang Shitao scratched his head.

Zhou Yao glanced at him. “Taking a shower.”

Fang Shitao blinked. “Huh?”

“Idiot.” Ren Yeliang smacked him on the head. “Can’t you see he’s washing furniture? Why are you asking nonsense?”

He stepped forward to help. “Bro, people in the village are saying you beat your wife and sent her to the hospital. What’s going on?”

“They’re talking nonsense.”

Zhou Yao didn’t bother explaining. He casually tossed a darkened cloth into the basin, staring at the now-clean table and chairs with mild surprise—so they weren’t naturally black after all.

Only after finishing did he look at them. “What is it?”

“There is.” Ren Yeliang lowered his voice. “Bro, didn’t you forget? Boss Sun from Shanghai is coming tomorrow. The things we asked him to bring…”

Zhou Yao paused. He really had forgotten with everything going on lately.

Seeing his silence, Ren Yeliang grinned. “Forgotten is normal. You just got married after all—busy honeymoon phase, huh? So bro, how does it feel having a wife? Pretty happy?”

“Get lost.” Zhou Yao kicked him lightly. “If you’re curious, go get one yourself.”

“Zhou Yao, could you help me take down the mosquito net? I want to wash it…” Wen Yue stepped out mid-sentence—and froze when she saw the two unfamiliar figures.

“Hello, sister-in-law!” Ren Yeliang greeted her instantly, pulling Fang Shitao along. “Say hi.”

Fang Shitao scratched his head and followed, smiling awkwardly. “Hello, sister-in-law.”

“Hi… both of you.” Wen Yue smiled gently, her sweet almond eyes curving into crescents. Inside, she was dying of embarrassment. “You guys talk. I’ll keep tidying.”

She backed away.

Zhou Yao followed her inside. “Weren’t you going to take down the mosquito net?”

He entered the room and noticed the space looked noticeably cleaner—everything that had once been scattered was now neatly arranged. Even brighter somehow.

He said nothing, easily taking down the mosquito net and bundling it into his arms.

“Stop running around,” he said flatly. “Go rest. Don’t end up back in the hospital.”

Wen Yue obediently agreed.

She could already feel how weak this body was. Cleaning felt like running a kilometer—she was breathless, dizzy, and nauseated.

She really did need to rest.

She curled up on the bed and quickly fell asleep.

When Zhou Yao came back carrying the table, he noticed her lying there. He paused for a moment and slowed his movements.

“Bro, are you taking sister-in-law to the city tomorrow?” Ren Yeliang asked as he and Fang Shitao squatted by the basin washing the mosquito net.

Zhou Yao shook his head without hesitation. “No. Her health isn’t good. She’ll stay home.”

The trip to the city would take three or four hours. With her body, she wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Ren Yeliang smirked. “Bro’s already starting to spoil his wife.”

Zhou Yao ignored him.