Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

"It's more than just 'okay'." Liu Xiangyang's gaze seemed to carry a tangible warmth, lingering from her hair to her toes. "What are you doing? You're trying to kill me." His Adam's apple bobbed before he raised his camera. "What are you doing? Stand over here."

Liu Xiangyang pointed to the windowsill.

Chen Jie did as she was told, feeling his gaze fixed on her back. The silk of her cheongsam gently brushed against her skin with each step, a sensation that was exceptionally clear.

"Turn to the side, yes... lower your head a little more, look at your hands." Liu Xiangyang's voice came through the viewfinder, deeper than usual.

Chen Jie lowered her head slightly, but through the gaps in her eyelashes, she saw his lips pressed tightly together in focus, and his well-defined hands holding the camera. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Click."

"Very good," he put down the camera but walked straight over. "But your hand position is too stiff." His warm palm covered her hand, which was placed in front of her abdomen, and guided it to the edge of the slit in her cheongsam at her waist. "Hold it here, just let your fingertips rest lightly on it."

His fingertips inadvertently brushed against the stockings on the outside of her thigh, sending a slight shiver down her spine. Chen Jie's breath hitched.

"Yes, that's it." He seemed oblivious, took two steps back, and raised his camera again. "Now, why forget that you're mine? I'm someone who makes your heart flutter, give me that look."

These words were too direct and too impactful. Chen Jie's face flushed, and she retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

"I mean it's for the shoot." Liu Xiangyang said seriously, but a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes. "Chen Jie, be more professional. You're a photography model now."

Chen Jie couldn't do anything about him, so she could only try to adjust. She looked at him, at this tall, aggressive yet... man, and her eyes softened unconsciously, taking on a hint of bewilderment that she herself didn't realize.

"Snap! Snap!"

The sound of camera shutters became more frequent. He kept asking her to change her pose, from the window to the sofa, from standing to leaning. Each time he went forward to adjust her position, it was accompanied by seemingly unintentional touches that stirred her heartstrings.

"Chen Jie, lie down on the sofa." Liu Xiangyang pointed to the sofa, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"①?" Chen Jie's heart skipped a beat.

"Yes, lie on your side, facing me, with your hand supporting your head." He walked over and guided her to the sofa.

She sank into the soft cushion, her cheongsam taut, revealing her curves.

He knelt on one knee on the floor in front of the sofa, the camera pointed at Chen Jie. From this angle, his breath was almost hitting her collarbone, and she could clearly see his prominent Adam's apple bobbing.

"The collar is too tight. Unbutton one to loosen it and let me breathe a sigh of relief." Liu Xiangyang's voice was a little hoarse.

Chen Jie's fingertips trembled as she fumbled for the delicate Chinese knot button at her collar and gently unbuttoned it.

A small patch of snow-white skin and the faint outline of her collarbone were revealed, making her even more alluring against the backdrop of the cheongsam.

"Very good." Liu Xiangyang's camera was almost touching him. "Now, bend that leg, yes, let the back of the cheongsam hang down."

The sound of silk gliding through the fabric was subtle, yet it seemed to freeze the air.

Her bare legs, exposed to the air and to his burning gaze, were free of stockings.

Chen Jie felt her body burning up, his breathing booming in her ears. She wanted to escape, but her body felt like it was nailed to the ground, and under his guidance, she even made more shameful gestures.

When he occasionally corrected her, his brush against her waist and the back of her knees felt like igniting a fire.

He made her turn around and face the camera, just for a single glance.

When she turned her neck and looked at him with sparkling eyes, Liu Xiangyang's finger paused as he pressed the shutter.

The woman in the photo, dressed in a tight-fitting cheongsam, has a slender figure from behind. Her eyes, as she turns back, are filled with a watery, shy, and alluring gaze—a look that shouldn't be there.

"Click."

After the last click of the shutter, only the heavy breathing of the two people remained in the room. Liu Xiangyang slowly put down the camera but did not get up. He remained kneeling on one knee, looking down at her.

Chen Jie hurriedly tried to sit up, but he gently pressed her shoulder down.

"Don't move." Liu Xiangyang's voice was a little hoarse. His gaze slid from her watery eyes to her slightly parted red lips, then to her open neckline and that expanse of snow-white skin, finally settling on her curves, which were even more breathtaking as she lay on her side. "This one is the best."

Liu Xiangyang's gaze was so predatory that Chen Jie felt goosebumps rise on her skin beneath the cheongsam.

She wanted to resist, but couldn't make a sound. She only saw his face slowly approaching, his warm breath enveloping her.

"I, I'm going to change my clothes!" Just as his nose was about to touch hers, Chen Jie suddenly came to her senses, pushed him away with all her might, and almost staggered into the bedroom, slamming the door shut.

With her back against the cold door, her legs went weak, and she slowly slid down to the ground.

Her chest heaved violently, her body beneath the cheongsam burning hot, the places he had touched felt like they were on fire. She raised her hand to cover her face, feeling as if she were about to burst into flames.

But Chen Jie knew that some things, like unfastened buttons, could never be regained.

"Knock knock knock"

"What? I'm going to the Municipal Bureau now." Liu Xiangyang's hoarse voice came through the crack in the door to her ears.

"Wait," Chen Jie's trembling voice came through. "I'm not ready yet, please wait a while."

Then the door opened, and the bedding was handed out.

Liu Xiangyang grabbed her wrist: "Chen Jie, I'm willing to wait for you forever."

Liu Xiangyang let go of her hand and left.

He could have used force, but that would have been an insult to Chen Jie and a reflection of his own insecurity.

Judging from today's reaction, she's already like a duck in her own mouth, unable to fly away.

In the room, Chen Jie collapsed to the floor, feeling her body trembling. She felt she was already addicted.

Liu Xiangyang walked to a secluded corner, put his bicycle out, packed away his own bedding, placed Chen Jie's bedding on the back seat, and rode away.

I asked a few people along the way and arrived safely at a guesthouse near the city bureau. I found a chance to store my bicycle, picked up my bedding, and went into the guesthouse.

The receptionist was a young man in his early twenties. "Are you looking for a room, sir?"

"I'm here at the Municipal Bureau for training. This is my letter of introduction. Please give me a private room." Liu Xiangyang handed over the letter of introduction.

"Okay, a single room is 1.2 yuan. Since we are the city bureau's guesthouse, internal staff can get a discount, so you can just give 0.8 yuan," the receptionist said.

"Thank you so much! Here's eighty cents." Liu Xiangyang handed the money to the receptionist, while simultaneously offering her a cigarette. "Excuse me, are there any other trainees staying here?"

The receptionist took the cigarette, glanced at it, and tucked it behind his ear: "Hey, Lianhua, you're the only one here right now. Most of the people who come for training each year arrive on the same day and stay in the pre-arranged dormitories, saving a day's accommodation fee."

"Do you know where the training is held?" Liu Xiangyang struck a match, gesturing for the front desk to light it.

The receptionist waved her hand: "I just finished drawing lots, come back to my senses. The training venue isn't far from XXX."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiangyang realized that it was near Chen Jie's house.