Chapter 419: Helping Each Other Through Hard Times

Outside the window the cold wind howled, and inside the room it was just as unusually cold, but the two of them nestled under the blankets were very warm.

The room was quiet, with only the two of them talking. Liu Tianxian's face burned unbearably, and she couldn't help but pat his back: "What's the matter with you?"

"You can't blame me, I'm out of practice too." Fang Hong was also frustrated — it's been so many years.

"Then how about we just forget it." Liu Tianxian was a little scared too; right at the start both of them had that kind of psychology.

She didn't blame the man — both of them were out of practice.

"How can we? We've already taken our pants off."

Fang Hong refused, holding her hand: "How about you help me."

"No." Liu Tianxian pulled her hand free.

"You have to cooperate. This kind of thing is something only a man and a woman working together can finish. If you leave it all to me, I can't finish it either." Fang Hong said anxiously.

"You watch little movies every day, you should know how." Liu Tianxian said.

"I don't watch them every day, don't wrong me. Besides, watching and doing are two different things." Fang Hong argued.

"Ah, just do it yourself anyway." Liu Tianxian was afraid of that thing, it felt especially wicked.

There was no choice, Fang Hong had to do it himself, while paying attention to her reaction.

"Take it slow, don't rush."

Liu Tianxian's voice was very gentle; she knew he was anxious.

Fang Hong, on the other hand, wore a look as if he'd lost all will to live, lying beside her without saying a single word, as if he'd just gone through something terribly miserable.

Liu Tianxian looked at him and didn't scold him either.

Instead she took a roll of paper from the bedside — this must have been deliberately placed there by Xu Liyun; the older generation still knew what they were doing.

If it had been left to these two, they probably wouldn't have even put out any paper.

She looked at the paper, folded it neatly and put it in her coat pocket, afraid someone would see and she'd be embarrassed.

"Do you want one?" she handed over a sheet of paper.

Fang Hong took it and cleaned himself up too. The whole time he didn't say a single word — just silence.

The fiery passion from earlier was gone, as if the fire had been put out.

Liu Tianxian also put that sheet of paper in her own coat pocket — no traces could be left. Once she was done, she looked at the man beside her, pulled the blanket up over him properly; once the passion faded, it got cold.

Seeing him stare blankly at the ceiling, she turned his head to face her and said: "It's okay, you were just nervous."

Fang Hong stayed silent, in no mood to talk.

"Take it slow, next time will be better. Let's try a few more times." Liu Tianxian comforted him, her voice very gentle; she knew she couldn't hurt this man's pride.

"Do you think I'm useless?" Fang Hong finally showed a little reaction.

"Of course not. This is just our first time, neither of us is very skilled — it's perfectly normal."

Liu Tianxian said again: "I read online that the first time it's easy to be nervous and excited. Just calm down, try a few more times and it'll be fine."

"You read that kind of stuff too?" Fang Hong found it quite surprising — Liu Tianxian shouldn't be the type to read that kind of content.

"Hehehe, just took a little peek." Liu Tianxian laughed.

Of course she was curious about that kind of thing between a man and a woman too, and had fantasized about how her first time with Fang Hong would go.

She thought of everything — she just never imagined the first time would be spent in this shabby room, yet it was also an unforgettable memory etched into the bones.

Fang Hong reached out and pulled her into his arms, kissed her forehead, and an inexplicable wave of gratitude welled up in his heart — understanding, caring — perhaps this is what it means to help each other through hard times.

"Alright, alright, let's take it slow, don't rush." Liu Tianxian gently patted his back, as if soothing a child, her whole being radiating a maternal glow.

A woman before being held, and after being held, are in two completely different states.

The two of them held each other like that, smelling each other's scent and breathing, their hearts gradually calming down.

"How about we go again?" Fang Hong seemed to have been comforted back to life.

"Again?!" Liu Tianxian wasn't too willing.

"Come on." Fang Hong pleaded.

Liu Tianxian was silent.

"I'll be very, very gentle, I promise." Fang Hong coaxed.

Seeing her not speak, Fang Hong kissed her lips, then kissed her cheek, kissing and coaxing at the same time: "Good Xiao Feifei, good wife, good baby."

"Alright, alright, one more time." Liu Tianxian relented.

"Wait — is there any cloth at home?" Liu Tianxian stopped him.

Fang Hong was puzzled. Liu Tianxian whispered something in his ear, her face flushed red with shyness, her phoenix eyes looking at him pleadingly.

Fang Hong understood, and felt rather proud of himself too, saying: "There isn't. There's nothing at home — just a few things I brought from Beijing."

"Bring me my suitcase over, look through my suitcase." Liu Tianxian said.

Her suitcase was in Xu Liyun's room.

"It's so cold." Fang Hong said.

"Go on, good baby." Liu Tianxian acted coy.

Fang Hong seemed to gain strength, sprang up in one motion and threw on Liu Tianxian's windcoat. Her clothes were big, covering both his upper and lower body, but he was still shivering from the cold — underneath he was wearing nothing but his underwear.

"Grab my phone for me." He needed light.

"Just use my phone, it's in the inner pocket, the password." Liu Tianxian pointed.

"That password is really simple." Fang Hong took her phone out of the inner pocket, unlocked it and turned on the flashlight: "I'm going."

"Mm, be careful." Liu Tianxian nodded, watching the big man wearing women's clothes and finding it a little funny.

Fang Hong opened the door and sneaked off toward the other room. His mom's room was pitch black, he could only use the phone for light.

Just as he was moving the suitcase, there was still a bit of a noise.

"Who's there?!" Xu Liyun was on alert.

"Mom, it's me." Fang Hong was a bit embarrassed.

"Honghong, you startled me. What are you doing up so late?" Xu Liyun said.

"Xixi's hungry, so I came to grab her luggage." Fang Hong casually made up an excuse.

"Hungry? I'll go cook something for her." Xu Liyun assumed the two of them had overexerted themselves and eagerly tried to get up.

"No, no, she'll just have a little something. You keep sleeping." Fang Hong didn't want to trouble his mother. He picked up the luggage, closed the door, and went out.

Back in their own room, Liu Tianxian said, "Your mom didn't notice, right?"

"She definitely noticed. How could she not?" Fang Hong set the luggage on the floor and asked, "How do I open this case?"

"The secret code is 123. Did your mom say anything?" Liu Tianxian lay in bed, unable to move easily—mainly because she wasn't wearing any clothes, and it was cold outside.

"I just said you were hungry. She didn't say anything."

Fang Hong replied, aimed at the combination, and opened the case: "You're not even afraid of theft—got it cracked for you."

"It's just clothes and stuff, nothing valuable. Have a look—I think I put a handkerchief inside."

For Liu Tianxian, nothing in the case was indeed valuable. She stretched out a bare, fair, slender arm: "Give me my phone."

Fang Hong handed her the phone and started rummaging.

While he was searching, Liu Tianxian snapped a few photos of him as a memento.

Fang Hong glanced up at her: "You're taking nude pics of me again, aren't you."

"I'll make you a sex-tape scandal." Liu Tianxian teased.

Fang Hong found a small white handkerchief, still embroidered on it, and held it up: "Is this it?"

"That's the one." Liu Tianxian took it from him, then rustled around under the covers and tucked the handkerchief under her bottom.

It was just too small, but there was no choice—make do. Better than getting it on the sheets and being found out the next day; if that happened, she'd feel like she could never face anyone again.

Fang Hong hissed in a cold breath, closed the suitcase, took off his clothes, and got back into bed. In the blankets he held Liu Tianxian's body close, instantly feeling warm. His hands roamed up and down: "Tell me, are you trying to expose me?"

"Ahahahaha."

Liu Tianxian was tickled by his teasing, her body twisting uncontrollably. The movements were quite big, shifting the quilt so cold air rushed in: "Stop it, the cold air is getting in."

Fang Hong stopped his hands, held her tightly, drawing warmth from her body.

Liu Tianxian fussed with the handkerchief again—the earlier play had dislodged it: "Don't move too much later, the cloth is too small."

"You look down on me? Is that it, you look down on me?" Fang Hong buried his head in her neck and nuzzled, like a child who hadn't grown up.

"Hehehe, I don't look down on you, I just want you to perform a little better." Liu Tianxian giggled, holding his head.

The two played around for a while. When he felt it was about right, Fang Hong looked at the lovely Liu Tianxian beneath him and gently stroked her face.

Liu Tianxian looked at her, saying nothing.

Fang Hong took a deep breath. This time he had a bit of experience, and he understood.

Quite a bit was cut, sorry about that—the author has no choice either.

(End of chapter)