The sound of rushing water came from the master bedroom's toilet. Jiang Yuan went to take a shower first and planned to let Chi Xu help her wash her hair later.
Chi Xu crossed his hands and propped them on his legs. He leaned forward and rested his chin on his hands.
The gurgling sound hit his taut nerves.
Chi Xu licked his lips. Feeling that just sitting there waiting wasn't an option, he quickly took out his phone and searched for how to wash a girl's hair.
"Introduction to Being a Good Husband - How to Wash Your Wife's Hair"
"Tips for Strengthening the Bond between Lovers: Washing Your Girlfriend's Hair"
"When Your Girlfriend on Her Period Doesn't Want to Wash Her Hair"
"..."
All the content was about girlfriends or wives.
Chi Xu quickly skimmed through a few videos and got a general idea.
Well, it's simple. It's just washing hair. What's so difficult about it?
On the other side, Jiang Yuan finished her shower, put on her cotton pajamas, and came out. She walked over to the public bathroom near the kitchen in her slippers.
She put the shampoo and conditioner in place, then poked her head out and shouted to Chi Xu, "You can come over now."
Chi Xu responded, then looked down at Jiaojiao, who was lying on the sofa with her little head constantly drooping. He gently patted her, as if to boost his own courage.
"Your brother is going to wash your sister's hair."
As he said that, he got up and walked towards the public bathroom.
The drowsy Jiaojiao was suddenly awakened and meowed in confusion.
"Later, I'll cover my ear holes with both hands. You use the showerhead to wet my hair. I'll direct you... Hey, what are you doing with those stools?"
Jiang Yuan stopped halfway through her sentence when she noticed that Chi Xu didn't respond. She looked up and saw Chi Xu carrying in three or four stools stacked on top of each other. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"What are you doing with those stools?"
Chi Xu blinked innocently but said matter - of - factly, "To help you wash your hair."
"You just lie on the stools, and I'll be careful while washing. This way, you won't get wet."
That's how they did it in the online posts for washing their girlfriends' or wives' hair.
It must be the right way.
Jiang Yuan was speechless for a while. She had planned to stand, protect her ears, and let Chi Xu stand beside her to wet her hair with the showerhead, then squeeze out the shampoo and rub it.
"Fine... Won't I fall off?"
It's such a big deal just to wash her hair.
"No. If you're worried, I'll put two more tall stools on both sides of you just in case."
Chi Xu really went to get a few more stools and arranged them in a 3×3 pattern.
Jiang Yuan lay down carefully, untied her hair, and her long black hair fell down.
Chi Xu swallowed hard, picked up the showerhead, and gave her one last chance to back out, "I'm really starting?"
"Okay, start. I won't protect my ears." Jiang Yuan closed her eyes and replied.
The warm water splashed on the ends of her hair. Chi Xu's movements were very gentle. The water trickled down her long black hair, and Jiang Yuan only felt a warm sensation on her scalp.
Then, Chi Xu squeezed out some shampoo and first rubbed it on the ends of her hair. The bubbles got bigger and bigger as he rubbed, and then gradually covered the rest of her hair.
His fingers accidentally touched her scalp and gently rubbed it. The strength was just right.
Jiang Yuan would occasionally direct him on where to rub.
The steam filled the bathroom, gradually blurring their vision.
He turned on the showerhead again to rinse her hair.
"Is the water temperature okay?" Chi Xu asked softly. His voice sounded especially gentle in the steamy air.
"Yeah, it's just right." Jiang Yuan opened her eyes slightly, glanced at him, and quickly closed them again. Her heart started beating a little faster for no reason.
Chi Xu lowered his eyes and looked at Jiang Yuan. She had her eyes closed, and her long eyelashes were slightly trembling. Her cheeks were flushed a little because of the steam.
The bathroom was stuffy, humid, and hazy.
The ambiguity blended into the air with the mist and gradually fermented, spreading bit by bit.
Maybe it was really too hot in the bathroom. At a certain moment, Jiang Yuan opened her eyes. From the corner of her eye, she saw the boy bending over with the showerhead, carefully rinsing the foam.
He didn't notice that she had opened her eyes.
She saw his fringe hanging on his forehead. She reached out her hand involuntarily and smoothed his messy fringe.
Chi Xu stopped his movement and looked up at Jiang Yuan. His gaze was calm but contained hidden emotions.
Meeting his eyes, Jiang Yuan paused, then casually shifted her gaze and took back her restless hand, making up an excuse.
"I saw your hair was messy. I was afraid it would block your view and you'd miss some foam."
"Really?" he said.
His voice was a bit hoarse, and the end of his tone rose slightly. It carried a hint of disbelief and lingered lowly, making her ears tingle and burn.
Jiang Yuan could clearly feel her cheeks getting hot. In front of her was the boy's dark eyes, which were like the endless night outside at this moment.
She decided to just be bold.
"I admit it. You're so good - looking that I couldn't resist the temptation. I just lost my head."
Her cheeks burned even more.
"Really?" It was another rising tone. Chi Xu's eyes were full of smiles. He gently washed off the last of the conditioner for her, "You have good taste."
Jiang Yuan: "..."
This arrogant, sassy, and tsundere Chi Xu!
After washing her hair, Chi Xu picked up a towel and dried her hair.
When it came to blow - drying her hair, Jiang Yuan turned around and wanted to take the hair dryer.
"I'll do it myself."
Chi Xu was faster than her. He took the hair dryer first, raised his eyebrows, and said with a smile, "Haven't you heard the saying 'see a task through to the end'? I've already helped you wash your hair. It doesn't take much more time to blow - dry it."
Jiang Yuan: "..."
Seeing his insistence, Jiang Yuan just let him do it.
Jiaojiao heard the noise, jumped off the sofa, turned a corner, and came to the sink. She stared at the two people who were almost snuggled up together with her big watery eyes.
She meowed in confusion again.
"Hey, it's Jiaojiao~ Come to sister quickly." Jiang Yuan's voice became coquettish.
Chi Xu, who was concentrating on blow - drying her hair behind her, let out a soft laugh and said in a rising tone, "It's the first time I've heard you talk like this."
Jiang Yuan glared at him. Chi Xu surrendered and continued to concentrate on blow - drying her hair.
Jiaojiao understood Jiang Yuan's gesture of calling her over. She tilted her head and thought for a while, then looked at the stool beside her.
She jumped onto the tall stool, then stepped onto the sink.
There was water on the sink, and Jiaojiao didn't like it at all. She meowed pitifully, aimed at Jiang Yuan, and jumped into her arms.
Jiang Yuan was startled herself. She quickly caught Jiaojiao and stroked her little head.
Jiaojiao lay there contentedly.
In the mirror above the sink, the girl was looking down and gently stroking the cat. The cat let out a comfortable purr. The boy behind her was holding the hair dryer and carefully drying her hair.
They looked like a family that had been together for a long time.
No one broke the rare warmth in this room.
It wasn't until Chi Xu turned off the hair dryer after her hair was dry that he felt as if a hole had been torn in his heart. There was an empty feeling as if something was missing.