Ai Qi let out a little sound, hugging the coat tighter, "I came to return Fu Jingshu's coat. He lent it to me before."
"Then go ahead."
Pei Ji didn't suspect anything.
Ai Qi had no choice but to embrace the coat and dawdle her way towards them. Fortunately, the couple had stopped their intimate display.
She stopped about a meter away, "Big Brother Fu, Beautiful Sister..."
Shen Qingqing looked up, her lips a vivid red, her eyebrows carrying a captivating charm. "Is there something you need?"
"I'm here to return your coat..."
Ai Qi handed the black coat to her, her hands suddenly feeling unaccustomed to being empty. "I've washed it clean. Last night in the cave, it was thanks to Big Brother Fu lending me his clothes, otherwise I would have caught a chill..."
"It's alright."
Shen Qingqing casually placed the coat aside and looked up, noticing Ai Qi hadn't left yet, and asked in confusion, "Is there anything else?"
Ai Qi bit her lip and said, "Beautiful Sister, I still want to apologize for what just happened. My brother was too impulsive and said some unpleasant things. Please don't hold it against him. He's just worried about me."
"He's always like this, his concern makes him reckless."
Shen Qingqing waved her hand dismissively, "I'm not that petty to argue with him."
"Sister, you are truly magnanimous." Ai Qi breathed a sigh of relief at these words and genuinely admired her, "As long as you two don't have any conflict because of me."
"It's alright."
The conversation was over, and there was no need to linger. Ai Qi clutched the hem of her clothes and slowly turned to leave.
Fu Jingshu glanced at the coat. "Throw it away."
Shen Qingqing rolled her eyes at him. "This coat is still perfectly fine. Why throw it away? It's still wearable."
She knew, of course, that someone had an attack of germophobia.
But if this were in the city, she'd toss it. Here, with no facilities, clothes were scarce.
"If you disliked it so much, why did you lend it to her?"
"Troublesome."
He frowned, clearly impatient.
Whether it was falling in together with Ai Qi, or her fever at night, he had to give her his coat, otherwise, if she became delirious, it would be even more troublesome.
He couldn't possibly carry another woman.
He picked up the coat as if to discard it, but Shen Qingqing snatched it away. "If you don't want it, give it to me! Why throw it away?"
"Qingqing..."
Fu Jingshu's germophobia had kicked in. Not only could he not touch this garment himself, but even seeing it made him uncomfortable.
Shen Qingqing held the clothes tightly, refusing to let go. "You're not throwing it away, no matter what!"
Fu Jingshu was truly at a loss.
As if afraid he would snatch it back, Shen Qingqing clutched the clothes and was about to run. He quickly embraced her from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to wash the clothes again."
"Just throw it away then, why bother washing it?"
Shen Qingqing turned back and glared at him. "Now I give you two choices: either I take it to wash again, or you wear it like this."
Fu Jingshu: "..."
She raised three fingers. "I'll give you three seconds to choose."
"3."
"2..."
"I choose the first."
Fu Jingshu spoke in time.
Shen Qingqing nodded with satisfaction, gently patting his cheek with her fair fingertips, her voice even softer. "I'll go wash it again right now."
"I'll accompany you."
"No need."
Once Shen Qingqing decided on something, it was essentially settled. Fu Jingshu couldn't object, so he could only watch her leave.
By the seaside.
Shen Qingqing inspected the clothes. They were fine, not torn, and not dirty, indicating Ai Qi had washed them very clean.
It was a shame, though, about someone's germophobia.
She placed the clothes in the water and began to gently rub them.
"Beautiful Sister, what are you doing?"
Shen Qingqing turned her head and saw Ai Qi standing not far away. She instinctively pressed the clothes in her hands further into the water.
But then she realized it was a useless action.
After all, when she took the clothes out, she would still see them.
If Ai Qi saw them, she would surely overthink things.
Shen Qingqing sighed and opted for a tactful answer. "I'm washing clothes for Jingshu."
"Let me help you."
Ai Qi walked over, enthusiastically wanting to help, but was refused.
"No, thank you."
Ai Qi didn't insist, but looking at the corner of the clothes peeking out of the water, she found it somewhat familiar. She couldn't help but ask, "Beautiful Sister, is this Big Brother Fu's coat? Why are you washing it?"
Shen Qingqing hummed in acknowledgment.
What did that mean?
Ai Qi bit her lip. She knew that constantly pressing would be annoying, but she couldn't control herself. "Is it the coat I returned to you? Why are you washing it?"
Shen Qingqing paused. "It got dirty."
"But I washed it!" Ai Qi had washed it twice before returning it, just in case there was any dirt left.
It couldn't possibly be dirty!
Shen Qingqing said calmly, "It got dirty just now. I'm just giving it a quick wash."
"Beautiful Sister, are you disgusted that I wore it and it's dirty?"
Ai Qi bit her lip, sounding a little wronged.
"No."
"Then why wash it again?" Ai Qi's voice was very soft, with a hint of resentment. "Is it because I wore it?"
"...No."
Shen Qingqing didn't know how to explain. After thinking for a moment, since it was Fu Jingshu's issue, she decided to push the blame onto him.
"Actually, he has germophobia. If someone else has touched his clothes, he insists on washing them several times, otherwise he won't want them."
Ai Qi's eyes widened. "I can understand germophobia normally, but at a time like this... in an unfamiliar place with nothing around, he's having a germophobia attack now?"
It didn't sound reliable at all!
"But it's really like that." Shen Qingqing also felt a little helpless. She wrung out the clothes and draped them over her arm. "This person, he looks good, but he has a lot of bad habits. For example, his severe germophobia. If someone has touched his things, he won't want them anymore."
Ai Qi lowered her head, remaining silent.
Shen Qingqing hesitated, feeling that it was indeed a bit hurtful to Ai Qi's pride, especially since she was still a young girl. She tried to comfort her, "Don't worry, he's not targeting you. It's the same for anyone who touches his things."
"Is it the same if you touch them?"
Ai Qi suddenly asked.
Shen Qingqing was taken aback. Why did that question sound so strange?
"I'm his wife."
His wife.
Ai Qi gave a bitter smile. The question was a bit self-humiliating. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it, I just..."
"It's alright."
Shen Qingqing hung the clothes and turned to leave.
Ai Qi stood by the sea for a long time before turning back to her own spot. She saw Ai Sen talking with Pei Ji.
She walked over quietly and sat down.
Ai Sen noticed something was wrong and leaned over to ask her with concern, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
Ai Qi pouted and stayed silent.
"Oh dear, what is it? Tell your brother, or I'll worry myself to death."
The more Ai Sen thought about it, the more he was convinced his sister had been bullied. His sister was beautiful and naive. What if some pervert...
The angrier he got, the more he pressed his sister's shoulders, looking at her earnestly.
"If someone bullied you, tell your brother. No matter who it is, your brother will get justice for you!"
Ai Qi pushed his hands away and turned her face. "No one bullied me."
"Then why are you so glum?"
"Just now, I took a coat to Big Brother Fu, and then I saw Beautiful Sister take that coat to wash it again."
"Didn't you already wash it?" Ai Sen was right there when his sister was washing the clothes, he saw it clearly.
Ai Qi lowered her head, radiating an aura of disappointment.
"These two are something else!" Ai Sen was furious, but his heart ached for his sister. He put his arm around her shoulders and comforted her, "It must be that Fu Jingshu. I've never seen him give anyone a good look except his wife."
"No, Big Brother Fu isn't that kind of person..."
Ai Qi muttered softly.