CHAPTER 111: CHAPTER 110: IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, YOU MUST ACCEPT PUNISHMENT

Ye Manman unexpectedly found herself leaning over the edge of the bathtub, her arms resting on it, with the pressure creating some beautiful curves on her fair skin.

Her rounded and smooth arms seemed to have just emerged from the water, with occasional crystal-clear droplets sliding off them, "drip-dropping" onto the floor, and into He Chen’s heart.

And there she was, her eyes slightly red but with a sweet smile on her face, half-squinting as she watched him.

Her chin stained with the water from her fingers, and he could still feel the tingling sensation from that small area of contact, sending shivers from the top of his head down to his tailbone in an instant.

This scene was too much of a shock for He Chen, who only felt a sudden buzzing in his ears, and then a warm fluid suddenly streamed from his nose.

Ye Manman hadn’t even had the chance to speak before her hazy eyes widened significantly.

"Ah! He Chen, you’re having a nosebleed!"

Instinctively, she reached out to wipe it for him, but He Chen, as if startled, immediately covered his nose and turned his head away.

"I, I can do it myself."

Afraid that his nosebleed looked too ugly and gross, and not daring to open the door for fear of letting the carefully warmed room cool down, he could only grab one of his clothes to press against his nose and tilt his head back with effort.

The scene was somewhat comical.

Ye Manman found it amusing. Her arms were getting cold after taking them out, so she slipped back into the bathtub.

"He Chen, you can’t go on like this. Maybe open the door a crack and rinse it outside? A cold towel might help."

She had no experience with nosebleeds herself and hadn’t seen anyone besides He Chen with them before; it was just a random suggestion, unsure if it would work.

But He Chen heard this suggestion as if pardoned, quickly covered his nose, and ran out. Even at such an embarrassed moment, his movements opening and closing the door were still careful.

Ye Manman didn’t feel a bit of the cold wind, only feeling snug in the bath, slowly closing her eyes in comfort.

He Chen’s heart was pounding so fast that he felt he could hear the thumping. He squatted in the yard quickly washing the bloodstained clothes and then wetted them to cover his nose, repeating the cycle several times to barely stop the nosebleed.

To clear his head, he even splashed some cold water on his face before heading back to the room.

At the room’s entrance, He Chen hesitated again.

He feared that Ye Manman wasn’t dressed yet, or was drying off, and worried she might be asleep, so he had no choice but to knock lightly at the door.

"Manman, are you done washing?"

"May I come in?"

His fists clenched nervously, yet there was no response from inside.

Suddenly, He Chen remembered Ye Manman’s previous words about accidentally drowning after drinking.

This scared the wits out of him, and he didn’t wait for her response anymore, just pushed the door open.

Ye Manman hadn’t fully fallen asleep.

She could vaguely hear He Chen’s voice, knowing he was at the door, but her awareness was too blurred, and her response slowed down significantly, so she couldn’t respond to him.

"Manman!"

"Wake up! Quickly wake up!"

Ye Manman felt as if she had suddenly fallen from a very warm place into an icy cave, freezing her so much that she couldn’t help clinging tightly to the only thing in front of her like an octopus.

Then slowly regaining her senses, Ye Manman opened her eyes.

First blurred vision, then He Chen’s panic-stricken face became clearer.

"You’re not having a nosebleed anymore?"

Her voice was soft and light, and her eyes blurred, yet it calmed He Chen’s pounding heart back into place.

"Yeah, it stopped."

Even though he confirmed she was okay, He Chen still felt immensely panicked, his hands trembling so much that even the obviously slow-reacting Ye Manman noticed.

She turned her head to look, realizing she was already out of the bathtub, unaware of how it happened.

"Did you lift me out?"

Ye Manman had no memory of falling asleep in the bathtub, but since she was already comfortable, she might as well stop bathing.

He Chen hummed in affirmation, still carrying some fright in his tone.

"Just now, you fell asleep in there, almost slid down; I worried you’d be in danger, so I...brought you out..."

Saying this, his face blushed, not daring to meet Ye Manman’s eyes.

He scratched his chin, expressing his embarrassment.

"Perhaps you should bathe less often in the future; it feels quite risky."

He dared not imagine if he had hesitated a bit longer at the door due to shyness, whether Ye Manman would still have woken up.

This bathtub was really poorly designed!

Too big!

There’s time to make a smaller one.

He Chen couldn’t stop thinking of making a bathtub ensuring no one would slide in and drown.

Hearing his suggestion, Ye Manman also felt a tinge of fear, her groggy mind slightly clearing.

She puffed her cheeks, her whole little face flushed. Even when complaining, she looked like she was acting spoiled, incredibly adorable.

"That’s why I said to stay in the room; it’s all your fault for not listening."

He Chen knew it was all his fault, blaming his weak willpower for the nosebleed and leaving the room, so he sincerely bowed his head to apologize.

"I’m sorry, I, I promise not to do this next time."

In reality, bathing is generally safe; today was just special, given the alcohol, leaving her muddled, causing such a dangerous situation.

But there was no way Ye Manman would tell him this; would she let him off easy?

This was a perfect opportunity for her grand scheme!

She still had a chance to succeed!

So Ye Manman haughtily burrowed under the sheets, letting out a hum.

"If you make a mistake, you must accept the punishment, so your penalty is to help dry me with the towel."

"I’m too exhausted; you can’t just toss me on the bed in this condition; I’ll catch a cold."

She wriggled and squirmed, like a cute-headed silkworm cocoon.

He Chen’s face immediately filled with mixed emotions of embarrassment and shyness, not knowing what to do.

All these changes were witnessed by Ye Manman, who pretended to be cold, speaking in an aggrieved tone.

"He Chen, I feel so cold, if you don’t dry me off soon, I’ll definitely catch a cold tomorrow."

He Chen still wore a very embarrassed and conflicted expression, holding the dry towel but unable to bring himself to lift the sheets wrapped around her, at a loss.

Ye Manman rolled again, then started to wail.

"Wah wah wah... Are you disgusted with me, don’t want to look at me, don’t even want to help me with such tasks; other husbands help their wives with baths and drying!"

"You really don’t love me anymore!"

In truth, Ye Manman had no idea if other husbands helped their wives bathe and dry them, but she’d say it regardless.

He Chen was too cowardly, to an aggravating degree.

She had to push him a little.

Sure enough, seeing her cry again, doubting his love, He Chen quickly made up his mind, gritted his teeth, and gently lifted a part of the sheets wrapped around her.

Ye Manman felt a little chilly, curling up slightly.

Sensing He Chen’s gaze, gradually, she also slowly became embarrassed.

But the alcohol had at least given her more courage than He Chen.

So despite her shyness, Ye Manman merely pressed her lips together, covered her face not to look at him, and softly urged him.

"You, you’d better hurry up drying me, or I’ll end up catching a cold..."