I looked up at her, and in those eyes, I saw visible pity and gentleness. When she was lively, like a rabbit or a child, it made men laugh and cry. When she was calm, her eyes could hold an entire lifetime.

  I said, "If not, I'll go help my teacher's wife..." Before I finished speaking, a soft finger landed on my face. I lifted my head and saw her awkward smile, as well as the flour powder on her raised finger. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, and indeed, white powder fell off.

  "Stop messing around." I said, but looking at her sparkling eyes like stars, the corners of my mouth couldn't help but curve into a smile. She took advantage of the situation and suddenly stood up, opening her hands wide and pressing them onto my face.

  Her ten fingers fell on my face, forehead and nose. I grasped her hand tightly, looking at her quietly. She stood between my legs, her face slightly red, but her eyes were like fog spreading.

  "Just kidding..." she muttered, I let go of her hand. Before I knew it, she came back and pressed my face with the back of her hand, saying: "That's for you to wipe away..."

  Soft and cool palm, attached to my face, the touch is comfortable beyond compare. Her eyes are close at hand. I only feel a slight numbness in my body, and my hands on the chair are also slightly stiff. I know that with one stretch of my hand, I can hold such a woman in my arms.

  I only feel my throat is dry and sore, even the faint breath I exhale from my nose feels scorching. But Tan Jiao seems to be extremely focused, continuing to wipe with the back of her hand. Occasionally, over her arm, I catch a glimpse of her eyes. She looks at me, her gaze unclear.

  I know I can't let her go on like this, raised my hand to brush away hers, turned my head to avoid her and said in a hoarse voice: "Okay, wrap the dumplings..."

  I never expected that two fingers would suddenly pinch my chin and turn my face back.

  No woman has ever pinched my face before, and she didn't used to be like this either.

  I: “……”

  Her face had a faint blush, but her eyes were still calm. She let go of my chin, took out a tissue and wiped my face, saying: "What's with the fuss? Alright, clean now, handsome again. Don't be so awkward, aren't we comrades in arms?"

  She sat down beside me, Feng Yan walked over with an empty plate, suppressing a smile, and I don't know how much she saw just now. It wasn't until then that I slowly came back to my senses. Tan Jiao lowered her head to wrap the skin and meat, humming a tune in her mouth as if nothing had happened.

  I realized for the first time in my life that my heartbeat was fast and uncontrollable. The numbness still lingered on my fingertips and face. There was a certain part of my body that itched vaguely. I picked up the dumpling wrapper to continue wrapping, but every cell in my body was holding back.

  Not long after, others came downstairs. Chen Baozhu didn't seem to want to help, holding a cup and drinking water, nor did she talk much with us. Feng Yan said: "Baozhu, how many did you eat?" Chen Baozhu replied: "10." Feng Yan said okay. The relationship between these two sisters-in-law seemed not close but not distant either. Tang Lanlan also came downstairs, her voice clear and crisp: "Oh, wrapping dumplings? Wu Yu is coming to help too?" I smiled and said yes. She also smiled, with a pretty good attitude. At that time, Feng Yan's attitude towards her was already somewhat cold and obvious, and Tang Lanlan didn't talk to her either.

  Professor Chen came down and sat in the living room reading the newspaper, and called me: "Wu Yu, let the woman talk about those things, come over and chat with us." I had no choice but to wash my hands and go over. When I left, I saw Tan Jiao also looking at me with her eyes raised, and there was still a bit of flour on the tip of her nose, which looked very cute. I don't know if it's an illusion or if I have a guilty conscience, but I feel that her gaze today is soft and moist, with an indescribable flavor. Before I realized it, my fingers had already risen and were hovering above her nose.

  She just looked at me like that, which made my heart skip a beat again. My fingers had already fallen, scratching her small nose. And she closed her eyes in response, with a very faint smile at the corner of her mouth.

  "Ru Yi? Is your cold better? Are you coming down to eat?" Feng Yan's voice suddenly rang out, extremely concerned. I lifted my head and saw Chen Ru Yi standing at the door of her room, still wearing yesterday's black skirt, with a woolen sweater draped over it, and a mask on her face.

  She stood still, her whole person like a thin shadow. Don't know how long she had been standing there.

  "It's all right, Mother." Her voice was barely audible. Our eyes met and she smiled suddenly. The smile was a little cold, a little bitter, and a little resentful, then she turned back into the house.