After becoming a widow, I became the apple of a rough man's eye.

A short while later, Jiang He returned. Steam was rising from the basin, and he was holding a towel in his hand.

He placed the basin beside the bed, squatted down, and held Lin Qingqing's ankle.

-

"I'll wash it myself..."

"Be good." Jiang He didn't look up, but his actions left no room for argument. He unbuttoned the sandals and put those delicate white feet into the hot water.

The water was slightly hot, which made Lin Qingqing's toes curl up.

Although Jiang He was the youngest among his brothers, he had large hands with thin calluses, and he gently massaged the insteps and soles of her feet in the water. His movements were delicate, even a little... devout.

When my fingertips glide over the chafed area behind my ankle, I deliberately avoid it.

After washing his feet, he didn't rush to pour water, but instead carried Lin Qingqing to the headboard to lean against the bed.

"Have a peach to quench your thirst." Jiang He picked out the largest peach from the bag.

It's peach season, and the peaches are large and plump, with a rosy blush at the top, and skin so thin it looks like they could burst with juice at the slightest touch.

He washed the peaches and came back to carefully wipe the fuzz off the peach skins with a handkerchief.

Lin Qingqing watched his actions, and for some reason, her face felt hot.

"Open your mouth." Jiang He held the cleaned peach to her lips.

Lin Qingqing took a small bite. The skin was very thin, and it broke with the slightest tap, instantly filling her mouth with abundant juice.

"Is it sweet?" Jiang He stared at her lips, which were glistening with peach juice.

"Mmm...sweet." Lin Qingqing nodded.

"I'll try some too."

Jiang He leaned closer, but instead of biting into the peach, he curled it around her lips and scooped the juice into his mouth.

"It really is sweet." He smiled, his eyes crinkling.

Lin Qingqing's face turned bright red, holding the half-eaten peach in her hands, unsure whether to eat it or put it down.

"Why aren't you eating, sister?" Jiang He asked, looking at her. "These peaches are too ripe; it would be a waste not to eat them."

As he spoke, he took the peach from her hand.

"Since my sister can't eat, I'll eat for her."

Jiang He took a bite of the peach, swallowed it without even chewing it twice, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. His eyes became somewhat dark and unfathomable, and his gaze, which was fixed on Lin Qingqing, was no longer on his sister, but on the peach.

"However, just eating peaches isn't enough."

Jiang He suddenly threw away the remaining half of the peach, leaned forward, and braced his hands on either side of Lin Qingqing, trapping her in the small space.

"Sister, I want the sweeter one."

***

Jiang He's arm was wrapped around her waist, heavy with weight.

Her eyelids were drooping, and all she wanted to do was fall asleep.

But the people around him clearly didn't have that plan.

"elder sister."

Jiang He's voice rang out in the darkness, clear and cool, waking me up completely.

Lin Qingqing's eyelashes trembled, but she remained silent, pretending to be asleep.

"Pretending to be asleep?" Jiang He chuckled, his chest vibrating against her back.

Lin Qingqing's voice was soft and weak, still trembling with sobs: "Xiao He... stop making a fuss, I'm tired."

She was really tired.

"If you're tired, just lie down and listen to me."

Jiang He grabbed her wrist with his other hand, pulled her hand to his mouth, and nibbled on her fingertips intermittently.

"Sister, the Li family came to our door yesterday, aren't you scared?"

Lin Qingqing's body stiffened for a moment.

How could I not be afraid?

Seeing that she didn't speak, Jiang He moved closer. "Sister, have you ever thought about why a scoundrel like Li Ergou dares to keep haunting us?"

Lin Qingqing bit her lip and opened her eyes in the darkness.

Why?

Because she's a widow, and widows are always surrounded by gossip. Without a man to back her up, being even slightly attractive is considered a sin. Even if she has someone protecting her now, her position is still illegitimate.

"Because he thinks you're easy to bully, and my older brothers are reasonable and honest," Jiang He said for her, his tone cold. "And also because he thinks that even if he does something to you, you'll just have to swallow your pride and suffer in silence. Maybe you can even extort money from my older brother. Reputation is life itself for a woman, but for a man, it's just something to talk about at the dinner table."

"Second Brother is a formidable fighter, a notorious brute," Jiang He said casually, playing with her fingers. "But even if Second Brother broke Li Ergou's leg on the spot, what then?"