Chapter 28: Restraining Rampant Desire

In truth, Sang Yu was no better off. Jiang Jingming’s physique was truly impressive, with broad, muscular pectorals and well-defined eight-pack abs. Without an ounce of excess fat, his body was nothing short of perfection. She had been struggling mightily to restrain herself from reaching out and touching the abdominal muscles right before her eyes.

Finally, the bandages were removed. Sang Yu picked up the iodophor and a cotton swab. "Try to bear with it," she said. "It might sting a little."

Jiang Jingming gritted his teeth. "Mm."

Sang Yu gently wiped away the remnants of the medication from the wound. Suddenly, Jiang Jingming drew a sharp breath.

"Does it hurt?" Sang Yu looked at the wound, realizing for the first time just how much danger Jiang Jingming had faced.

Jiang Jingming looked down to see her eyes rimmed with red. "It doesn't hurt."

Sang Yu pursed her lips and leaned down, blowing softly on his wound. The man’s hand, resting at his side, tightened instantly. The sensation felt like a feather lightly brushing against his heart. It was maddeningly ticklish. He dared not look down at her; his eyes were filled with a soul-piercing intensity, his deep gaze burning with scorching desire.

His body, beyond his control, began to heat up. It felt as if all his blood were surging toward a single point. He forced himself to suppress that wild, growing desire, struggling to steady his increasingly heavy breathing. He was terrified that the beast within him might harm the delicate flower before him. For Jiang Jingming, this was an ordeal, yet he was unwilling to let it end.

Only when Sang Yu finished applying the medicine and wrapped him in fresh bandages did he speak.

"I need to use the restroom," Jiang Jingming said, trying to make his voice sound normal. He dared not meet her eyes; he knew his expression must look terrifying right now.

"All right, I’ll help you up." Sang Yu didn't overthink it and helped him to his feet.

Once they reached the bathroom, Sang Yu asked instinctively, "Do you need me to help you?"

Jiang Jingming stiffened. Help him? How? His face flushed an unnatural shade of red. "No, no need."

In truth, Sang Yu regretted the words the moment they left her lips. Even if he had asked for help, would she have truly dared? In this day and age, when people blushed just from holding hands, she knew Jiang Jingming must think her incredibly brazen. Still, seeing his ears turn a deep, blood-red, she couldn't help but smile.

"I’ll wait for you at the door."

"All right," Jiang Jingming replied awkwardly.

Sang Yu closed the bathroom door. A long time passed, and when Jiang Jingming didn't come out, she began to worry something had happened.

"Jiang Jingming? Are you okay?"

There was no answer from inside.

Sang Yu felt a surge of anxiety. She called out again, "Jiang Jingming?"

A moment later, just as she was about to push the door open, Jiang Jingming’s voice finally came from within. His tone sounded strange, but through the door, she couldn't quite make it out.

"Are you all right?" she asked again.

"I... I am fine," his voice drifted out again.

"Oh." Do men really take that long to use the restroom?

"Sang Yu." Suddenly, Jiang Jingming called out from inside.

"What is it?" she replied.

A faint, strained groan followed. Sang Yu couldn't hear it clearly and assumed he had bumped his wound. "Did you hit your injury? Do you need me to come in?"

Jiang Jingming looked at the mess he hadn't yet cleaned up and hurriedly said, "No."

Once he had cleaned himself thoroughly and was certain no trace remained, he stepped out of the bathroom. Sang Yu immediately reached out to steady him. "Are you okay?"

Jiang Jingming didn't dare look at her, because he... "I'm fine."

"What were you doing in there for so long?" she asked, purely out of curiosity.

Thinking of the shameful things he had just done, he knew that if he hadn't feared she would grow suspicious, he would have stayed in there much longer. Forgive him; he had just desecrated her name in his thoughts.

"Nothing, nothing at all."

Since he wouldn't say, Sang Yu didn't press him. She simply helped him back to bed.

...

"Captain, we’ve come to see you."

The next day, Lin Wen and two others came to visit Jiang Jingming.

"Where is your wife?" Lin Wen asked, scanning the room and noticing Sang Yu was absent.

"She had some business to attend to and went out," Jiang Jingming replied. "You’ve come at a good time. I have a task for you."

"Captain, just say the word," Lin Wen said.

Jiang Jingming recounted the information Sang Yu had shared with him. Lin Wen was filled with righteous indignation. "Don't worry, Captain, I guarantee this will be handled. Your wife’s cousin is truly going too far!"

The more Lin Wen thought about it, the angrier he became. "Captain, let’s go arrest those two right now."

"Do it."

After leaving the fruit, they hurried off in a flurry of activity.

...

Song Jiajia was planning when she should go to the hospital to take a look. How could he not be dead? She remembered clearly from her previous life that he had died. How could this be? Was it an unintended consequence of her rebirth? If he didn't die, wouldn't that just benefit Sang Yu?

No, she had to go see for herself.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" A violent knocking sounded at the door, followed by Lu Ting’s voice: "What are you doing in there? Hurry up and come out to cook!"

Song Jiajia was already irritable, and Lu Ting had chosen the wrong time to provoke her. "Cook, cook, cook! Can’t you do it yourself?"

Hearing the retort, Lu Ting snapped, "You’re the one who cooks! Why should I? Come out and cook! I’m starving!"

Song Jiajia wasn't going to indulge her anymore. "Do it yourself. Eat it or don't." She was finished with Lu Ting. She wasn't a three-year-old; what was so hard about cooking? If she couldn't even cook, how would she ever get married? And as for Lu Hao's grandparents—they spoke nicely, but their words were always layered with expectations for her to do more work.

She decided she would go into business with Lu Hao. She wouldn't stay here and take this abuse. She wondered if Lu Hao had finished inquiring about it yet.

Hearing Song Jiajia’s tone, Lu Ting was furious. "Fine, just you wait!"

Lu Ting turned and went to complain to Liu Fenglan. "Grandma, Song Jiajia won't cook!"

Liu Fenglan’s beady eyes narrowed. "What is she doing?"

"Who knows? She’s hiding in her room, won't come out, and won't even answer when I knock."

A flicker of anger crossed Liu Fenglan’s face. "Does she really think she’s still some high-born young lady?"

"Grandma, go teach her a lesson!" A flash of excitement crossed Lu Ting’s eyes.

"It’s just cooking, Xiao Ting, why don't you just do it?" Lu Jianguo chimed in, adhering to his philosophy of avoiding unnecessary trouble.

Lu Ting pouted. "I won't."

Liu Fenglan agreed, "We brought a daughter-in-law into this house to do the work. Why should Xiao Ting have to do it!" She glared at Lu Jianguo, who sighed and said nothing more.

Liu Fenglan stood up. "It seems I need to set some rules for her. She’s getting entirely too lawless."

"That’s right, Grandma, that’s exactly what needs to happen!" Lu Ting added, her eyes gleaming with malice.

Just as Liu Fenglan was about to head toward the door with Lu Ting, the courtyard gate was knocked upon.

"Who is it?" Lu Ting asked as she went to open the door. She froze when she saw the police officers standing there. "What do you want?"

"We are here to see Song Jiajia and Lu Hao."