Chapter 5 - Footbath (1/2)

Chapter 5: Footbath

Of the three singsong girls of Cloudgem Lodge, Wanqing liked orchids, Yuansheng liked lotus flowers, and Xue Dongting liked red, fragrant roses. Mama Qiao always made fun of her for it, saying she was gaudy, but she didn’t care. She liked what she liked.

Song Yuming brought in a basin of hot water. His eyes flashed when he saw the red quilt on the bed. He looked somewhat surprised.

Xue Dongting saw his odd expression and quickly put in, “Mama Qiao told me specifically… when you get married you have to cover yourself with a red quilt…” She stammered it out. Some topics were not easy to broach.

Song Yuming didn’t seem to notice, he just grunted lightly. “Soak your feet a bit and you won’t be so cold.” He set the basin of hot water beside her feet.

Xue Dongting gently clenched her teeth and whispered, “You’ve been working all day, you wash up first.”

Song Yuming shook his head. He didn’t speak, but his eyes told her he would not brook any refusal.

Xue Dongting blushed and bent over and took off her red embroidered shoes.

Her feet were alabaster, normally, but were now flushed red from the cold. The moment she stuck her foot into the wooden basin it scalded her and she yanked her foot out, moaning in pain. But she had been sitting on the edge of the bed and her sudden movement made her lose her balance and she started to slide off the bed.

Alarmed, she shut her eyes. Falling on her wedding night, what a fool she was. But what was waiting for her was not the cold floor. She toppled, flustered, into a warm chest.

Song Yuming said nothing, only embraced Xue Dongting gently and set her upright on the bed. The fisherman was very strong so it was nothing for him to grab her.

Xue Dongting’s hand rested against his strong chest and she was at a loss, their faces inches away from each other.

Song Yuming released her and squatted and stuck his hand in the basin to test the temperature. “Probably because your feet are too cold.” He took her delicate, slender foot in his big hand and held it. His hand was very warm.